Blog Tour Review: It Started With a Book by Camilla Isley

I received this book for free from Rachel's Random Resources in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

It Started With a Book by Camilla Isley
Published by Boldwood Books on July 5, 2024
Genres: Adult Contemporary Romance, Adult Magical Realism
Pages: 426
Source: Rachel's Random Resources
Format: E-galley
My Rating:
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Blurb:

Lose yourself in Lakeville Hills in this gorgeous new romance from bestselling author Camilla Isley…

When she’s ghosted by yet another Tinder match, Leighton swears off dating for life. Who needs apps and blind dates when she has the perfect-in-every-way (apart from being fictional) heroes of her beloved romance novels?

That night Leigh finds a second-hand book on her TBR pile, which transports her to the small-town of Lakeville Hills, where the heroines wear shorty-shorts and the men drink bourbon. And as Leigh drifts off to sleep, she dreams of billionaire cowboy Killian St Clair, who could win a gold medal for smouldering and bicep flexing.

For a while, Leigh finds it easier to stomach misogynistic supervisors, newly coupled friends, and extravagant bridesmaid duties knowing she can return to Lakeville Hills each evening. Until one day, she wakes up to find she’s brought a bit of Lakeville Hills back with her: the impossible sexy and entirely implausible Killian St Clair is in her apartment.

Now Leigh must help Killian navigate the real world. But as she gets to know the man behind the trope, can she keep her heart safe, or does she risk falling in love with her book boyfriend in real life?

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/startedbooksocial

My Review

I have really enjoyed all of this author’s books, so I was immediately intrigued with the synopsis of this one! I mean, as a single woman who is pretty sure she is always going to be single, what could be better than the book boyfriend of my dreams popping out of the current book I’m reading or me being able to pop into the book to fill out the rest of the story?

So much of this was a single romance reader’s dream come true story. But what made this even more fun was when Killian actually showed up in Leigh’s world outside the book, in her bed even! Suddenly this billionaire enemies to lovers romantic interest from her book must figure out how to go about his new life in the real world. Figuring out if he was real, or if he was a figment of her imagination took some time to decide as well.

As much as I adored this story, and totally got the direction the author took it in the end, I did have a few things that didn’t quite work for me. For instance, the fact that Leigh’s work had to do with AI made me think maybe there was going to be some kind of connection to Killian coming out of the book. But there was not. And honestly, we never really got a reason for how he came out of the book, and my brain needed just a little bit more about that. What they did about the book later in the story, well, again, it was a bit anti-climactic for me.

Besides those things though, it was a fun read, and I did really enjoy this fun little foray into a world where a book boyfriend comes to life. Now I’m off to bed, hoping to dream about one of my own many favorite book boyfriends, even I don’t get them appearing in real life out of my dream when I wake up in the morning.

About the Author

Camilla is an engineer who left science behind to enter the whimsical realm of romantic fiction.

She writes contemporary rom-coms. Her characters have big hearts, might be a little stubborn at times, and love to banter with each other. Every story she pens has a guaranteed HEA that will make your heart beat faster. Unless you’re a vampire, of course.

Camilla is a cat lover, coffee addict, and shoe hoarder. Besides writing, she loves reading—duh!—cooking, watching bad TV, and going to the movies—popcorn, please. She’s a bit of a foodie, nothing too serious. A keen traveler, Camilla knows mosquitoes play a role in the ecosystem, and she doesn’t want to starve all those frog princes out there, but she could really live without them.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/camillaisley

Twitter: https://twitter.com/camillaisley

Instagram: Camilla Isley (@camillaisley) • Instagram photos and videos

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/CamillaIsleyNews

Bookbub profile: Camilla Isley Books – BookBub