Too good to be real

Johnson ("Sometimes in Love" series) pulls out all the rom-com stops--and tropes--in this fun and fluffy read. Julia Carpenter, an online writer, agrees to visit and review Notting Hill, a brand-new resort that promises to give guests an immersive romantic comedy experience; Julia herself isn't convinced that romantic love is possible. Her first night at Notting Hill, she has a meet-cute on the beach with Luke O'Neal, who she assumes is a fellow guest, but he's actually the resort's game developer. Julia and Luke each have their own reasons for concealing their true identities, which becomes increasingly difficult as they grow closer. At the end of the week, will they be able to tell what was real and what was just part of the Notting Hill experience? VERDICT A setting that readers will undoubtedly wish to visit, a relatable hero and heroine, and a flock of feathered and furry sidekicks make this story memorable. It's sure to please fans of romantic comedies, whether of the in-print or on-screen variety.--Rebecca Moe, Alden Ewell Free Lib., NY

A reporter falls in love at a resort designed to provide guests with the full rom-com experience. Julia Carpenter writes listicles and pop-culture puff pieces for a Chicago-based website, but she worries about rumors of a new round of layoffs. Determined to prove she's an integral part of the team, she pitches a story for the site's booming travel section. A few hours north in Wisconsin, the newly opened Notting Hill Resort promises guests a full role-playing experience based on rom-com movies. Luke O'Neal is the head game developer, in charge of creating characters, activities, and experiences for guests, allowing them to choose everything from paintball to karaoke. If the resort's opening week is a success, Luke will receive a bonus large enough to fund his own startup. After a chance meeting with Julia on the hotel grounds, Luke decides to pretend to be a guest and experience the game from the inside; meanwhile, Julia keeps her status as a reporter secret in order to avoid special treatment that might influence her review. Johnson's homage to rom-coms focuses on developing the hallmarks of the genre--quirky secondary characters, outdoors shenanigans, and complicated misunderstandings--at the expense of the romantic relationship between Luke and Julia, which falls flat. The lack of communication between the protagonists and the rushed ending make for an emotionally unsatisfying resolution. The 20-something characters all have extensive knowledge of 1980s and '90s rom-coms but never reference pop culture from their own generation, which gives the novel the feeling of a stale time capsule. A cute premise meant to honor the rom-com genre fails to deliver. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.