By Tessa @TessaTalksBooks Posted on

Nobody Puts Romcoms in the Corner by Kathryn Freeman #BlogTour #BookReview #RomCom

Thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my space on this blog tour.

Not an expert, not even close, not in any of this. But nobody will try harder than me to make you happy.

Sally is a classic romantic and Harry is a classic cynic, but when a drunken bet leads the new flatmates to (badly) recreate ‘the lift’ from Dirty Dancing, and the video goes viral (#EpicRomcomReenactmentFailure), they both realise there’s potential financial benefit in blundering their way through the romcom lexicon for their suddenly vast social media following.

Now, as Harry and Sally bring major romcom moments to new life – including recreating that classic diner scene – their faking it turns to making…out and suddenly they’re living a real life romcom of their own! But like all the greatest love stories, the road to happily ever after is paved with unexpected challenges for this hero and heroine…

Purchase Links

Amazon UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B67CGBVM

Amazon US:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B67CGBVM

What’s it about (in a nutshell):

Nobody Puts Romcoms in the Corner by Kathryn Freeman is a romantic comedy that is every bit a love letter to rom-com movies. Sally lost her parents much too early, but the one thing she has held onto since their passing is how full of light and love their home had been. She will not accept anything less than that dream for herself. When Harry moves in, Sally meets her opposite in almost every way. Can she make him believe in love, or is their relationship doomed before it even begins?

My Reading Experience:

The first half was slow but very entertaining. I loved the reenactments of romantic comedy movie scenes and could see how they might go viral on TikTok. It was a bit of a stretch to believe that someone like Harry would agree to do the scenes with Sally, but it is still a lot of fun.

The second half, though, had me going through the whole range of emotions: happy, mad, and utterly devasted. The story definitely touched me in powerful and definitive ways. It has meat, and I love that in a romantic comedy. All of this was aided by the chemistry between Harry and Sally, which was palpable and intense.

Relationships, in general, are a big theme in the book. I particularly loved Harry and Sally’s friendships with their separate friends. Their friend groups were an incredible mix of loving and authentic. They weren’t afraid to speak the truth even when it wasn’t wanted or expected. Everyone needs small friend groups such as they have.

Characters:

The character development is extensive. By the end, I had a good understanding of why Harry and Sally thought and felt the way that they did. Is Sally a bit bubbly and addicted to romcoms? Yes, but the reason for that is unearthed as her layers are peeled away. Same with Harry – is he a bit overly surly and unmovable – again, yes, but the reasons are made clear by the end. I also liked the nod to When Harry Met Sally – they are similar to those characters though their story is much different.

Narration & Pacing:

The pacing is slower in the first half and faster in the second half, which I always prefer fast-paced from beginning to end. The narration alternated in focus between Harry and Sally, which worked very well for character development.

Setting:

The setting was inconsequential in this story, for the most part, so it scored poorly on my chart. It’s essential for your environment to, at least in a small way, mean something to the story.  

But, setting aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I laughed out loud, cried buckets, and wanted to throttle both Harry and Sally at various times. This story really surprised me with how much it made me feel!

Read if you like:

  • Close-proximity romances
  • Romantic Comedy movies
  • Stories that make you feel a whole range of emotions.

Overall Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐

Originality10
Writing Quality10
Pace8
Character Development10
‘Couldn’t Put It Down’-ness8
Use of Setting10
All scores, except the overall rating, are on a scale of 1-10. The overall rating is converted to the standard 5-point system.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to write a book. It may have had something to do with my obsession with reading romance. Real life interfered and I headed off in a different direction – into the world of science, becoming a pharmacist before joining the pharmaceutical industry. I did end up writing, but it was about disease and medicines. Decades later, I’m finally doing what I always wanted to do.

With a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), all the romance in my life is in my head. Then again, his unstinting support of my career change proves love isn’t always about hearts and flowers – and heroes come in many disguises.

Social Media Links –

Website:  http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/kathrynfreeman

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/KathrynFreeman1

Check out these reviews that were posted earlier this month:

28 Replies to “Nobody Puts Romcoms in the Corner by Kathryn Freeman #BlogTour #BookReview #RomCom”

  2. Janette says: Reply

    A lovely review Tessa. I saw this on NG but didn’t request it as I already had so many March releases. Now I’m beginning to regret that as it sounds like a great read.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Janette says: Reply

        I’m gradually getting through mine but April is just as bad. April 13 seems to be a very popular day for book releases here 😀

        Liked by 1 person

  5. energyrae says: Reply

    I was going to ask if this was a nod to the movie with the character names until I got to your review. (Which is lovely!) I’m glad you enjoyed this!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. WendyW says: Reply

    Nice review, Tessa. I thought this was a lot of fun. I agree with you about the setting, it could be almost anywhere.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says: Reply

      It does add to a story when the setting is utilized for its unique qualities. But I agree, this story was a lot of fun.

      Like

  12. Carla says: Reply

    I really love the sound of this one, Tessa. I love the nod to When Harry met Sally with the names of the characters. I am looking forward to this one. Great review.

    Liked by 1 person

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