Too Good to Be Real by Melonie Johnson -> Starting March 2nd, 2021

[Alaina]

In her trade paperback debut, Melonie Johnson brings her signature humor, sexy romance, and strong female friendships in this hilarious romantic comedy about finding perfectly imperfect love, Too Good to Be Real.

She plans to prove there's a dozen reasons why life isn't like a romantic comedy, only to discover the one reason it is…

While her friends wish for meet cutes worthy of their favorite rom-coms, Julia is ready to give up on love. Swiping right has replaced getting swept off your feet and good old-fashioned romance has become, well, old-fashioned.

A writer for a popular website, love becomes the last thing on her mind when impending layoffs threaten her job. As Julia searches for the ultimate pitch to impress her boss, she stumbles upon a resort offering guests a chance to live out their romantic comedy dreams. Real life dating is so bleak, who wouldn't want to spend a week in a fantasy rom-com world with your best friends?

At the resort, Julia literally falls into a not-quite-meet-cute involving an aggressive seagull and an adorably awkward guy named Luke who is also participating in the rom-com experience. Julia hides the fact she is there to do a story, but Luke harbors a few secrets of his own. Among further encounters with thieving seagulls, a gaggle of corgis, kisses in the rain, and even a karaoke serenade, their feelings deepen quickly. But could their love be real when they haven't been honest about their true identities? Once the fantasy is over, can they have a relationship in the real world?

[Trisha]

OMG the first line!!! lol

starting now

[Aly]

I'll get to this eventually... too many books, too little time

[Alaina]

hahaha I was hoping to dive into this today.. but I think it might be tomorrow :( not sure yet!

[Trisha]

lol no worries!! I know that alllll tooo well!! I have such a back log, I'm going to try to catch up over the next few months. :) Fingers crossed we ALL get caught up!

[Trisha]

Through 9 chapters/ 27%

(view spoiler)[ yikes, I don't know if I could do this. RP isn't....really my thing but it seems pretty cute

love how they met
love that they are still talking

and I think the conversations between the friends have been good so far. Funny and full of silly quirky stuff

oh and I love that her friend is getting the special treatment! lol (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

thorough Chapter 16 / 50%

(view spoiler)[ oh god the big O contest - how funny! I love it
loved the quoting during the paintball and the awkward couple! yeesh lol

I like these two, they are cute
but clearly she's going to find out he's an actor and think it's all fake. Yikes. Maybe she'll get a Say Anything boombox serenade moment!!

Or Can't Buy Me Love lawn mower scene!! lol (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

Through 24 / 78%

(view spoiler)[ awe, I'm glad she knows now
but I wonder how she will rate the experience and write her review

Interesting that Zach has been caught....sleeping with guests before? Yikes

I wonder how this will all end (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

and I'm done

this one was adorable (view spoiler)[ huh, I thought they'd been clear with each other but I guess they had to have it out

I'm sad the boombox gesture didn't work for her, I thought it was cute. I'm glad that he found her and they got to talk!

and Zach, that guy sucked
I'm glad (what did she call him? Her Bean?) Curt was a good guy too! (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

I'm starting this now!

[Alaina]

27%: (view spoiler)[Okay so this is reminding me of Austenland but like way cuter. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Trisha wrote: "Through 9 chapters/ 27%..."

I think it's a cool idea for a hotel but at the same time I don't think I would go to one?!? Lol.

[Alaina]

57%: (view spoiler)[Oh god the seagulls are killing me. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

82%: (view spoiler)[Well.. at least all the secrets are out now? lol (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Trisha wrote: "thorough Chapter 16 / 50%..."

LOL yes, some of those scenes were pretty funny and cute

[Alaina]

Trisha wrote: "Through 24 / 78%..."

Very happy that secrets are out now. Just so everyone can get over it and move on.

[Trisha]

Alaina wrote: "57%: [spoilers removed]"

OH YES!!! (view spoiler)[ stealing the suit!!! and then a partner in crime?! OMG I was dying! LOL (hide spoiler)]

I love that they are on the cover!! HAHA!

[Alaina]

Trisha wrote: "Alaina wrote: "57%: [spoilers removed]"

OH YES!!! [spoilers removed]

I love that they are on the cover!! HAHA!"

If they weren't on the cover I would riot.

[Alaina]

100%: (view spoiler)[Okay this was cute even if I think the whole proposal between Jay and Pen was rather sudden. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Trisha wrote: "and I'm done .."

Yeah Zach was a douche but the other guys were definitely wins in my book. Hopefully Kat finds genuine love some day.

[Trisha]

Right?! Zach sucked

but I loved the other 2. So glad you liked this one too!!! YAY!

[Trisha]

Alaina wrote: "100%: [spoilers removed]"

I agree but by then(view spoiler)[ I was just like, whatever
sure you love each other. Good luck! LOL (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Trisha wrote: "Alaina wrote: "100%: [spoilers removed]" "

HAHAHA same feeling though.

[Aly]

Trisha wrote: "OMG the first line!!! lol

starting now"

Yeah what a line to start with lol

[Aly]

BTW, I started this.

[Alaina]

Thank you for informing us lol

[Aly]

I thought you might want to know

[Aly]

Ch 9 (view spoiler)[ I think this is a fun idea! Playing a character and doing all these activities sounds cool. Luke walking with his eyes closed and running into Julia was funny, but when he got pooped on I died (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ch 16 (view spoiler)[ It's funny they're both pretending to be someone else. Definite romantic comedy material.
His sister and friend are either together already or will be soon (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ch 23 (view spoiler)[ Corgi cuddle sounds perfect! The owner is funny and eccentric but I like her. She doesn't care what people think of her.
I'm glad Luke and Julia got together, now it needs to last past the lies (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Alaina wrote: "Trisha wrote: "Through 9 chapters/ 27%..."

I think it's a cool idea for a hotel but at the same time I don't think I would go to one?!? Lol."

I would totally go!

[Aly]

Trisha wrote: "thorough Chapter 16 / 50%

oh god the big O contest - how funny! I love it
loved the quoting during the paintball and the awkward couple! yeesh lol

I like these two, they are cute
but clearly sh..."

The contest was pretty awkward haha

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "I thought you might want to know"

ALWAYS!

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "Ch 9 [spoilers removed]"

haha yes but I think I would totally forget who I was supposed to be while here..

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "Ch 16 "

YEAH he was blind to that thing going on.

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "Ch 23 ..."

Dog cuddles? Heck yes - sign me up for that event!

[Aly]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I was disappointed that Julia wouldn't listen to Luke after he did the Say Anything moment. She only delayed her happiness.
But in the end they both got dream jobs and ended up together so that's good. This was pretty cute overall (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Trisha wrote: "and I'm done

this one was adorable huh, I thought they'd been clear with each other but I guess they had to have it out

I'm sad the boombox gesture didn't work for her, I thought it was cute. I..."

The boombox would totally work on me lol

[Aly]

Alaina wrote: "100%: [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, it definitely was

[Aly]

Trisha wrote: "Alaina wrote: "100%: [spoilers removed]"

I agree but by then I was just like, whatever
sure you love each other. Good luck! LOL "

Haha great attitude

[Trisha]

Aly wrote: "The boombox would totally work on me lot ..."

right?! I think it might have worked on me too. Ugh, it's just such an iconic gesture (and so perfect for the moment)