Book Smart Kate

Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 Audiobook performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 Spice: 🌶️🌶️

by Kate Robb (September 3, 2024)

Many thanks to @prhaudio and @thedialpress for the advanced listening copy. Below is my honest review of this nostalgic homage to 1990s teen dramas!

Brynn never expected to find herself divorced and sharing her home with a random roommate just to make ends meet. Her life hadn’t turned out the way she’d imagined, but at least she had one small solace: her new roommate, Josh, worked late nights as a bartender, giving her the perfect opportunity to binge-watch her beloved (and tragically canceled) 1990s teen drama, Carson’s Cove, in peace. But on Brynn’s birthday, everything changes. When Josh unexpectedly joins her for an evening of Carson’s Cove, a birthday cake is delivered to their doorstep. As Brynn blows out the candle, she makes a wish for her happily ever after. The next morning, they wake up in the last place they’d expect—Carson’s Cove itself, where they’ve assumed the roles of the town sweetheart and the resident bad boy. Now, they must navigate the unresolved plotlines of the show and find a way to return home—or risk being stuck in this fictional world forever.

This book is an absolute treasure trove of 1990s teen drama references! From a bar called The Bronze to characters named Chad Michael and Danny Strong (a true deep cut), it’s packed with nods to beloved shows like One Tree Hill—though at its heart, this story is a love letter to Dawson’s Creek, and I adored every second of it. As Brynn experiences the show from the inside, she begins to question her long-held opinions on how she wanted it to end, seeing the characters through new eyes. This journey also forces her to confront her own desires and expectations for her life. Josh’s parallel journey as the show’s bad boy is equally compelling, as he grapples with feelings of inadequacy that mirror those of the character he’s now embodying. Watching Brynn and Josh develop feelings for each other in such a surreal, high-stakes situation was both sweet and captivating.

Everything about this book was an absolute blast. It skillfully balances being a heartfelt homage to 1990s teen dramas with offering a sharp critique of some of their more problematic elements. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves those iconic shows or simply enjoys a fun, inventive romance.

The audiobook is brilliantly narrated by Kristyna Ruth Zaharek and Sean Patrick Hopkins, who perfectly capture the banter and sarcasm in this dual POV story.

What’s an old school TV show you love?