Blind Date Book Club (TV Movie 2024) Poster

(2024 TV Movie)

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8/10
Good Chemistry, Good Story, Well Cast
lisamlaucsr8 April 2024
Nantucket bookstore owner Meg (the charming Erin Krakow) is at a crossroads of sorts on whether to continue running the store, a dream of her deceased mother that has been financially supported by Meg's aunt, who is her mother's sister. Best-selling author Graham (the equally charming Robert Buckley) is also at a crossroads of sorts, yearning to stretch his talents as an author from the teen coming-of-age genre to the historical romance genre. He's, in fact, written such a romance novel under a pseudonym, but it got a lukewarm response from his agent, so he decides it's time to take a short break to regroup. Meg and Graham meet cute at the docks of Nantucket when a tourist mistakes them for a couple. Eventually, he finds his way to the bookstore and it's then that their journeys unfold separately and together.

What I like most about this movie is that it's just as much about the heroine's journey as it is about the hero's story and I found myself just as interested in their separate storylines as I was in their potential romance. The supporting cast is great and provides believable, tangible support; namely, Meg's friend and bookstore employee Alice, who has dreams of becoming an author herself; Graham's sister, who is his cheerleader just as much as he is hers; and Graham's agent, who is also his good friend. The two leads have naturally good chemistry with each other and everyone else. This one is interesting and worth the watch, in my opinion.
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8/10
Two great protagonists.
MIssM1910 April 2024
Meg is a bookshop owner that hosts the "Blind date with a book club", which has become popular enough to be featured on the radio. One listener, Graham, travels to Nantucket to convince Meg to put his book on the list for said club.

Big shot writer from big town travels to a small town in pursue of a bookshop and has a meet cute with the owner. Who doesn't love a cliche?

Hallmark knew what they were going when they put these two together. Erin is definitely a fan favorite who manages to have chemistry with every single one of her co-stars. Put Robert in the mix who is so very charming and you have a hit.

I really liked the movie. There were a few silly things that had me rolling my eyes, like they didn't think anyone would see his picture in the back of the book? But hey, this is still Hallmark and we like it for it.

It's true it was kind of slow at times and definitely something we have seen before but it's definitely worth the watch alone for our two leads.
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6/10
So close, almost there
sahobbs-407668 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I was hoping that this would not be a typical Hallmark treatment of a romantic involvement, that just maybe, there wouldn't be the cringe-worthy, embarrassing, and/or ludicrous made-up reason for why our hero/heroine might not be able to get together. All went really well until the last quarter of the show, when the established writer posing as an unknown neophyte was exposed by his attending the book club where his new book was roundly canned in front of an NPR reporter who recognized him. The plot line of our heroine caught between selling her bookstore and her possible return to selling real estate was just submerged under the weight of the author's embarrassment and exposure as a fraud. Overall, I wanted to like the love story but the crashing thud of the plot near the end made it a moot point. Who cares whether they get together or not?
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7/10
Hallmark Star Power
allmoviesfan4 May 2024
It's refreshing to see Erin Krakow in a Hallmark movie that isn't a period piece. She and Robert Buckley (of "One Tree Hill" and "Chesapeake Shores" fame) are both big Hallmark guns, and are both well cast in an original and well-written story (no tired tropes or cliches to be seen here!) set on Nantucket, but filmed - like most Hallmark movies - in British Columbia.

The chemistry between Krakow's Meg, a book store owner, and Buckley's Graham, a writer suffering from that terrible affliction of writer's block, is on point from their very first scene together. It's this chemistry that makes the movie so good.

I enjoyed this one. Hope we see more movies with Krakow and Buckley starring together.
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8/10
Great chemistry
jpyshny12 April 2024
Meg and Graham have a great chemistry.

Very interesting concept a " blind date, book club."

Purchase a book without knowing what the book is, and then show up in person at a later date to discuss your perceptions of the book.

In addition, participate in some theme of the book. For instance, a book concerning wine tasting would include wine tasting during the discussion, or a book concerning Flower arranging, would include Flower arranging during the discussion of the book.

The owner of the bookstore, the aunt of the main character, needs to liquidate her ownership of the bookstore. This puts the leading character in a quandary. Does she purchase her aunts bookstore, or does she go back to selling real estate?

The parallel plot is the male lead who has successfully written seven young adult books, and must produce an eighth on a specific timeline, but wants to write in a different genre. His new product is under a pseudonym, and is not being well accepted.

Very cute dialogue great acting good directing great writing..
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8/10
There is some depth
MickyG3338 April 2024
8.0 stars.

Been some days since a Hallmark movie was a pleasurable experience for me. Krakow usually makes for a decent film, and this was no exception.

How does this movie utilize the usual bag of tricks for soft romance? Actually, it doesn't fully. What I witnessed was something a bit off the beaten path. Sure it contains the usual ingredients, but there is a distinct feeling evoked watching the main characters interact. The romance seems forced, yet more authentic than most. It's as if the two leads are actually playing their parts with as much passion as possible, but doing their best to hold back. It's hard to explain, but I was actually impressed by their portrayal of two conflicted people.

He is a bit of an adventurer, but lackadaisical in his pursuit to take a detour with his writing career. In doing so, he produces something way below his standards, but seems oblivious about the ramifications this may have on his career. She, on the other hand, is the perfect female for his situation and with this particular dilemma. She has a passion for books, although it's not her primary goal to own a bookstore, and she would rather be doing real estate. But we can see that her true passion is him, she just doesn't realize it. He knows immediately that she is his match, and he formulates a plan to casually charm her.

I feel like the theme is that sometimes fate knocks us on the head to course correct our lives back to the status quo. They both belong right where they've been for a long time, yet both feel out of place. They simply needed to meet each other.

This film is not a masterpiece, but as I'm writing this review, I realize the writer had something memorable in mind, and I caught it (even though I may have overanalyzed a bit).
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5/10
Toxic book club owner lives happily ever after
dryice-019769 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I've seen Erin in a lot of movies, but I feel the writing and direction of her character in this movie didn't make sense. She's fostering a culture of nasty book snobs. To quote Taylor Swift, "so casually cruel in the name of being honest." Yup, that's her.

Robert's character is so nice and positive and yet he's constantly berated by her. She demeans his writing, saying it's just for teens, and "formulaic."Somehow those insults are a turn-on because he finds them "refreshing" and "honest". Sorry, I don't buy it. At one point you think that Erin's character feels some kind of remorse for her sharp criticisms, but nope, she doesn't.

If you find this review to be nasty thus far, you can chalk it up as inspired by the protagonist being a truth teller. I'm just following her lead, right?

Some positives of the movie: the acting was good. This was the first movie I've seen Robert Buckley in, and he's pretty solid. The premise of the movie was great. I was really excited for this one because Hallmark generally nails it on movies centering around authors and writing. Also, Erin's usually solid. I'm a Heartie, Team Nathan. But her character, as written, does not espouse the values that Hallmark normally embodies.
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9/10
Nice movie!
robert-e-handley8 April 2024
I would like to know who the artist is and the name of the song that played for 2min and 22 seconds toward the end of the movie. I can't find it listed in the credits some of the words that are repeated offen are"on my mind" she has a nice voice would like to get a copy of it, Hallmark was no help , in fact they were rude at my request. I am guessing that questions might not be appropriate here but worth a try. It was a very good story line. The characters were well matched. I also liked the scenes and scenery. It was a beautiful believable story. Would like to see more like this produced by this production company.
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8/10
Absolutely loved it! Buckley and Krakow are golden in this book focused romance.
cgvsluis8 April 2024
I enjoyed the blind date with a book concept being added to this Hallmark romance starring When Calls The Heart's Erin Krakow and Robert Buckley from iZombie. I really like Robert Buckley, he seems so genuine in every role I have seen him play. He plays famous YA fantasy writer Graham Sterling. He owes his publisher book at of his famous YA series, only instead he has written a historical romance novel which his publisher not only doesn't want, but doesn't want his name even associated with. Determined to try this new genre, Graham self publishes his romance under a pseudonym and when he hears a public radio interview of a Nantucket bookstore owner who has combined her self cultivated "blind date with a book" books with a book club, he hightails it to Nantucket where he hopes to get her to choose his book for some honest and unbiased criticism.

This is a sweet slow build romance that highlights how people's love for books brings them together. I loved the concept and who could say no to Robert Buckley's sensational smile and charm? I wish there were more book clubs like this because I would absolutely join and I really like highlighting the importance of small independent bookstores for introducing smaller and lesser know authors...and just bringing people together over their love of books. This is a strong recommendation to fellow romantics, particularly book lovers and want to be writers. Positive, inspirational and romantic.
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