Ruby Graham has just found out she’s been made co-owner of her favorite place in all of London – The Royale, a crumbling yet still beautiful independent cinema in Notting Hill. It’s a place where she gets to live in a world of dreams and happy endings, a place where there are no lost causes and where falling in love is just like a movie romcom in which Ruby is the star…

But all that comes under threat when Luke Devlin, an elusive Manhattan property developer and rumored son of a Hollywood icon, arrives to claim his half of The Royale. As they butt heads over their plans for the place, Ruby and the infuriatingly gorgeous Luke find themselves in a dramatic plot of their own that’s fit for the silver screen… The only problem is, it’s so not the romcom Ruby wanted to star in!

Previously published as “Just Like in the Movies”.

Standalone

This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.

Title:  So Not a RomCom (previously published as Just Like in the Movies)
Series:  Standalone
Author:  Heidi Rice
Published:  June 1, 2026 (previously published 2021)
My Rating:  4.5 stars

So Not a RomCom is a standalone title set in Notting Hill, UK, where the descriptions of the settings are almost as delightful as Ruby and Luke’s unexpected romance.  I somehow missed this one when it was first published in 2021, but I completely enjoyed this sorta grumpy/sunshine romance with characters who, well, each have a strong mind of their own… and each believes that they have the best plan for the future of The Royale, a cinema that has been left to both of them by Ruby’s best friend (even if he was an older than her man, Mattie had become her safe place) and Luke’s uncle.  These two are about to argue and try to outdo each other along the way of falling in love, something neither of them had ever expected.  Suddenly, not just the future of The Royale is in play.

I had such fun with Ruby and Luke.   They’re a believable couple who kept me in giggles and the occasional tearing up throughout their romance.  Their story is well-written, emotional, funny, witty, and a bit steamy.  If you love a really good rom/com with a couple you can’t help but root for to find their happy ending, then you’d enjoy So Not a RomCom.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author’s team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This title is available at Amazon