This is my first YA/adult book review on here, and first romance genre book review on here. I believe that good romance writing doesn't include just the warm fuzzies and cuddly moments. It shows us two characters who we invite into our imaginations, in our minds, and who grow and change both apart and with each other. They strengthen each other instead of distracting each other. And, of course, the happily ever after endings that come with most romances are always nice. A well-written, Christian romance is even better (which describes the book here!). I hope that soon I'll get even more chances to promote these type of wonderful, worth-your-time books in this genre.
Title: Off Script and Over-Caffeinated
Authors: Kaley and Rhonda Rhea
Series: None
Targeted Age Range: Adults
Synopsis: Finding the beauty of Not-Like-Me! If there's one thing Harlow Cruise hates more than those schmaltzy Heartcast TV movies, it's the fact that she loves those schmaltzy Heartcast TV movies. She loves them angrily. With popcorn. Pop-scorn? As if she doesn't get enough drama in her day-to-day--directing a ministry-minded community theatre that cranks out three shows a month and trying to keep up with her aspiring screenwriter bestie, Teagan, a self-described "dramagician." When the Heartcast Channel Movie division announces they'll briefly be allowing submissions for new, original Christmas movies, Teagan is convinced this is her time. Roped into workshopping scenes from Teagan's in-progress spec script, Harlow finds herself paired with an even more reluctant co-star. Jack Bentley might have the most Heartcast Original Movie name on the planet, but he is anything but formulaic. How different can two people be? It's fine. Made-for-TV plot-points do NOT a romance make. Right? Right?
Language: Some mentions of cursing. One supporting character is said to use swearing as a way to communicate. When she's annoyed at her brother, Ransom, Harlow calls him "Rancid." Judgemental, surly, uncompromising, unnecessary, kooky, dumb, sassy, dead-faced, hooligan, over-theatrical, bossy, jerk, and accursed are used as insults/insulting descriptions. Jack calls himself a coward. "Bleeping", "For Pete's sake", "blast", "crust", and "Oh, my goodness" are used once.
Violence: A few of the characters get bangs, scrapes, and bruises. A time is mentioned when Ransom cracked his head on a coffee table. Harlow accidentally dead-legs Jack. Jack remembers a time at tennis camp as a kid where a machine shot tennis balls at him, and he had to deflect them. Harlow remembers trying out for cheer and accidentally pulling a hamstring. Ransom stubs his toe. While working on a theatre project, Jack worries that he'll be seen as someone with serial killer tendencies. During a stage makeup workshop, Harlow gets a nasty-looking fake gash on her face. While nervously hiking with Ransom, Jack wonders if he plans to murder him. Emergency rooms, and Ransom's career as a nurse, is mentioned. While waiting in a hospital, Jack plays a game with Harlow where he reads a bunch of children's poems and she gets to hit him with a rubber band if she thinks a theme is ridiculous. Teagan tries to get Jack to take her place on a hospital bed.
Romance/Sexual Stuff: Harlow's friend Teagan is married to Harlow's brother and pregnant throughout the book. There is non-detailed and semi-detailed hugging and kissing between Teagan and her husband. Teagan confesses to Harlow later that she thinks her husband is physically attractive. When Teagan calls Jack during work, his desk mate implies that he wants to date/is dating her, to which Jack struggles to clear up. As they fall more in love with each other, Jack and Harlow think about kissing or hugging the other. Harlow expresses her idea that she shouldn't date people if she knows for sure the relationship wouldn't end in marriage. Later she talks about her clueless actions in third grade toward a kid who might have liked her. Harlow meets a woman, Lana, who seems to have hidden feelings for Jack. During a poetry reading, a married couple believes all the poems read are about sex. Through the book Harlow wants to date Jack, and then gets moody when she realizes she is dating him.
A main part of the story is Harlow and Jack being guinea pigs for Teagan's Heartcast (Hallmark-inspired) movie script. This means that a lot of the plots and tropes in Hallmark-type movies, such as waltzing, romantic staring, ice skating, brushing flour off faces, the Almost-Kiss, eavesdropping, and dramatic arguing are used or mentioned in the book.
Spiritual Elements: The related main characters joke about possibly being a "cult." Harlow wonders if a certain activity can be considered as a "dating ritual."
All of the main characters in this book are strong Christians, and mention going to church every Sunday. There are references to King Solomon, Jesus' life and ministry, the Devil, Proverbs, Jonah, Joseph, Aaron, and Moses. Bible verses are also quoted (Psalm 119: 1-6, Proverbs 27:10 and Proverbs 27: 19). Harlow treats her job as the director of a theater ministry as her calling to serve others and show them Jesus. Jesus is portrayed as good, kind, and wise, and the Bible is portrayed as good, poetic, and wise. Through the book, Harlow works on showing the love of Jesus to someone she finds unlovable, and Jack works on surrendering his own desires to the Lord. All of the main characters pray regularly.
Magic: The play Harlow's theater group puts on is an allegorical production featuring a dragon and a wizard. Jack Bentley refers to his mainly non-interacting roommate as a ghost. Teagan splays out her fingers like she's about to do magic. Teagan jokes about Jack being "the Chosen One." While apologizing to Jack, Harlow mentions a worry about possibly using "dark magic" to prove a point.
References: There are references to Slip N' Slides, social media, records, Biddy Chambers, the romance and dystopian genres, YouTube, the live-action Super Mario Brothers movie, zombies, DVRs, Christmas, Pride and Prejudice, politics, government funded education, DMs, Garfield, Instagram, doctoral committees, Vanna White, Eastern Standard Time, Lifetime, Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis, If the Price is Right, Frank Oz, Popeye, Wednesday church youth groups, America, Europe, Count Dracula, Count Chocula, pumas, 2011, indie bands, superhero powers, the Hulk, Westerns, The Chronicles of Narnia and C.S. Lewis, Achilles, ringworms, the 1980s, the 1990s, prom, homecoming, The Simpsons, scalpels, Anne of Green Gables, Airbnbs, B&Bs, hashtags, the Mona Lisa, celebrity roasts, Bob Ross, William Shatner, Socrates, the running man, Vacation Bible School, Star Wars: A New Hope, Chewbacca, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Billy Joel, bingo, fanfiction, allegories, Marvel, Bucky Barnes, flannelgraphs, silly putty, video chatting, A Christmas Carol, Mr. Potato Head, and Etch-A-Sketches.
Other Issues: During a committee meeting, Harlow mentions losing a strip light, which apparently leads one member to imagine something more inappropriate. One of the supporting characters is a moody barista who often uses sarcasm and snarky attitudes as part of his personality. Harlow jokes about making the barista wear linen pantaloons to a wedding. Later, while trying to avoid a subject, she asks Teagan's mom if there's anything high she can jump off of. One of the places in the book is called "Thrifty Dan's Shady Dealin's", which allows Jack to wonder if something "shady" might go on there. During a heated moment, Harlow inadvertently accuses Jack of being sexist. Teagan decides she doesn't want to name her baby Ann because she knew a mean Ann. Ransom and Harlow briefly consider vandalizing someone's house. After hearing a poem, Harlow applauds before she finds out the poem is about menstruation. During one scene Jack can't find his belt.
Throughout the story, there are inner monologues and dialogue that may or may not be sarcastic, inappropriate, or insulting.
Where To Buy: Off-Script and Over-Caffeinated is available on Amazon and Bold Vision Books.
My Age Range: Based on the fact that this is a romance, I wouldn't suggest giving this to little ones. However, the main focus here is character growth, so I'd recommend this for ages 14 and up. Maybe you and your teenager could read this delightful story together!
Read Aloud: Based on the issues above, I think this book is better read alone.
My Opinion: I originally got this book because it seemed like a similar style to one of my favorite authors, Erynn Mangum. (So excited to review her books in the future...especially an unreleased-as-of-yet book she's calling Mind The Gap.) Both novels and types of novels have the same lighthearted, funny narration, but Off-Script and Over-Caffeinated turned out to be different. Unfamiliar. I had to wade through a couple of chapters before I really got into "the feel of it."
But once I did, the story hit me with its grace, truth, and yes...quirkiness. (These type of chick-lit writers make quirky into a thing to be celebrated.) I loved how different Harlow and Jack seemed from each other, and yet how God moved in them at the same time. Leading them to a different place in life that they never would've reached without Him. I also loved the unique events that pulled Jack and Harlow together. If the real-life Hallmark offered a script contest, what would this writer girl do? Sign up. And give them their best movie ever.
In all seriousness, read this book. It's fresh. It's funny. It's clean but interesting, has memorable characters, and boasts a drama-packed, relatable narration. It has something for everyone, whether they're religious skeptics, seasoned Christians, or just starting in their faith journey. It's one of those books that give you things to feel, and then makes sure your imagination never lets go of them. What they're doing. What they've taught you. In my opinion, a book that grabs you like that is a book worth reading. (And rereading, and rereading, and rereading.)
Discussion Questions:
-Harlow and Jack experience growth in different ways. Jack learns to be more comfortable around people, while Harlow learns to speak the truth in love. Which journey did you relate to the most, if any? Why?
-Which character would you most like to meet and why?
-Which character did you think changed the most in this book? Why?
-Aden and Annabelle are only one of a couple of characters that Harlow, Jack, Ransom, and Teagan support. Which do you think was impacted by this support the most? How would these characters be different if they had never met Harlow, Jack, Ransom, or Teagan?
-Ellie tells Harlow, "You don't have to be wrong about a person to be wrong about a person." Do you think this is true or not? Why? How did this idea help Harlow?
-At first Harlow believes that she and Jack are too different to invest in a romantic relationship, but they seem to make it work out. Other romance novels play on the idea that "opposites attract." Do you think that this is an actual concept? How different (or similar) do you think a couple can be to stay together?
-Where do you see Jack and Harlow in ten years? Where do you see Ransom, Teagan, and Linda in ten years?
Thank you so much for joining me for this book review! I personally had a blast being able to write about this gem. I hope this gave you another book to add to your list, or a suggestion for a friend. I am currently open to book review ideas, so if you want to recommend one you think should be shared, check out my Review Policy page to see what kind of books I'm open to. If your idea hits one of those categories, go for it and send me your recommendation.
Join me next week for a new way of looking at church history...
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