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Up Dawson's Creek Without a Paddle

Writer's picture: Julie MackinJulie Mackin

In which we realize that our teenage dreams might not make for a good reality


Stars: 4.5

Spice: R

52 Book Club Summer Prompt #17 - Team Pursuit: Featuring a Group of Friends


Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.


Ok, for a prompt about a group of friends, what could be better than a romance about a woman who makes a wish on her birthday and wakes up to find herself in the fictional world of her favorite teenage drama series? 


Brynn is an almost 30-something divorcee living in Toronto. Josh is her 30-something bartender roommate. After Josh comes to Brynn’s rescue the night before her birthday, they spend the evening watching Brynn’s favorite show, the 90s teen drama, Carson’s Cove. But just after midnight, and before they can watch the show’s cliffhanger, a stranger appears at their door, cake in hand, and tells Brynn to make a wish. Next thing she knows, she and Josh are in Carson’s Cove and in order to get home, they need to bring the series to its conclusion. But what happens when Brynn realizes that the teenage heartthrob she thought she would want can’t really compare to Josh? Will they be able to break the spell and return home?


So I sat down to just read a little bit of this book before I got started with my day and you know what happened? Nothing, nothing happened because I spent the next five hours devouring this novel. Much like Robb, I am a huge lover of 90s teen dramas, so this was a true homage to the genre (and Josh Jackson). But I wouldn’t have torn through this book if it just existed on that superficial level. No, Robb writes these two wonderful characters who are struggling to find themselves after the dreams that they thought were realized had been ripped from them. And, like all good romances, they start to grow together and find new dreams. 


Look, this was a delight of a book, it made my entire day just getting to spend it with Brynn and Josh and all those crazy kids in Carson’s Cove. This one is out in September, just in time for back to school, so put it on your list.


And oh my god, Kate Robb,  anyone that loves both Jann Arden and Don’t Trust the The B—-- In Apartment 23 is just good people.

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