Not Like the Movies

By: Kerry Winfrey

Narrated by: Reba Buhr

Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

What happens when your life is a rom-com...but you don’t even believe in true love?

Chloe Sanderson is an optimist, and not because her life is easy. As the sole caregiver for her father, who has early-onset Alzheimer’s, she’s pretty much responsible for everything. She has no time - or interest - in getting swept up in some dazzling romance. Not like her best friend, Annie, who literally wrote a rom-com that’s about to premiere in theaters across America...and happens to be inspired by Chloe and her cute but no-nonsense boss, Nick Velez.

As the buzz for the movie grows, Chloe reads one too many listicles about why Nick is the perfect man, and now she can’t see him as anything but Reason #4: The scruffy-bearded hunk who’s always there when you need him. But unlike the romance Annie has written for them, Chloe isn’t so sure her own story will end in a happily-ever-after.

©2020 Kerry Winfrey (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Winfrey excels at upending typical romantic comedy tropes, and Chloe is a complicated, realistic, believable character. Sitcoms, movies, and music are all heavily referenced in the story; fans of the TV series New Girl will no doubt love this book. A quirky novel perfect for rom-com fans and readers looking for a little sweet escapism.” (Kirkus Reviews)

"Humor and love abound in Winfrey’s delightfully meta rom-com...This is a winner." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

good sequel

this book is not as good as Waiting For Tom Hanks but its still a cute rom com story! if you enjoyed the first one you'll enjoy this one

Feel good book

Great follow up to Waiting for Tom Hanks. If you are a fan of RomComs you will enjoy this book! I loved it!!

Pretty cute

Pretty solid 4/5. Thought it was cute and liked the backstory, there could have been a little more to some of the other characters. Overall really cute and the narrator did a pretty good job.

4 🌟

Really enjoyed this spin-off to Waiting For Tom Hanks diving into the world of Chloe and Nick a little more closely. I feel for Chloe and find that I am a bit like her in some aspects, such as, feeling like I have to do it all including that for others, not having believed in there being a really true love cuz life isn't a Rom Com. In trying to figure it all out, Chloe was true to get stubborn self and felt it was a little too "woe is me" and was a bit perturbed by her constant denial and self pity. As if she's the only one in the world going through things. She went as far as insulting and using Nick with how much she pushed him away when he has always, always been there for her.

Aside from that, I really enjoyed the overall story and how it played out. Like it would in real life discussing "pigs in a blanket" instead of a typical cliche Rom Com ending. Because even in a Rom Com, people's problems don't always go away, they just become easier to deal with because they allow love in no longer having to deal with anything alone. Thanks Kerry for that love life lesson!

A happy, real life ending

This is a good read - but I found myself frustrated with the main character’s treatment of the love interest, Nick. Chloe is all “positivity” in the beginning of the book & then whines about her, albeit unfortunate, circumstance the whole second half. I’ve been a caregiver for family, so it hit close to home for me. I did love the ending 🩷

Another good rom com --sequel to Waiting For Tom Hanks

Love that we learned more about Chloe, Annie and the gang in the sequel to waiting for Tom Hanks. Nevertheless, I did think Chloe and Nick's relationship dragged a little bit at times as I was waiting for the inevitable romcom ending. If Annie were around
a little more, I don't think it would've taken so long for Chloe to see the light! Still enjoyed it and wondering if there is a third Romcom in this series?

Not bad at all

The other reviews made me apprehensive as I read them after having purchased the book but honestly, I thought it was pretty good. The main character has the relatable perspective of “it’s up to me” and pauper pleasing that plague many of us. But I like their “voices”, their conversations in addition to the “will they/won’t they”. Chloe has some great lines and Reba Buhr had great delivery of them.

crass

I really liked the first book, but I remember it being much cleaner. This one was depressing (all woe is me) and so much more crude. I was really looking forward to this book, but I am not a fan, unfortunately.

Meh

Main character is selfish and whiny. Male lead has very little complexity/purpose except to compliment the main character’s life and take care of her. The characters’ personality traits and interests seem to be stereotypical like the author is trying to pander to a specific demographic without adding additional depth.

Eh- just eh

Couldn't finish it. I wanted to finish and tried to finish. The plot sounded good in theory but it just didn't get there. The main character came off as whiny and immature. The other characters never felt developed or fleshed out. I really wanted to like this based on the description but couldn't. The bones were there but the will they or won't they became tedious and felt very high school. Flaky...the characters were flaky and joyless.