REVIEW: Semi-Scripted by Amanda Heger

In Semi-Scripted by Amanda Heger, Marisol Gutierrez is in Los Angeles to win a grant to help her family’s medical clinic in Nicaragua. While waiting for the conference to begin, she desperately wants to be on a game show with the hopes of winning money. When she’s not picked as an audience member, she’s invited to go across the street to see a taping of the show “So Late It’s Early” by Evan Abramson.

Evan, an intern on the show, is immediately drawn to Marisol. When the pair’s interaction catches the attention of the producers, they’re asked to do a nightly skit, with Evan supposedly being a clueless dater and Marisol providing him hints of what to do.

While I thought the premise was promising, it fell flat for me. A part of the reason was that I didn’t feel the chemistry between Marisol and Evan, which made it hard for me to root for them to have a happy ending together. At one point another potential suitor is thrown into the mix, and honestly, I found myself not really caring which man Marisol ended up with.

This would be classified as a romantic comedy. There were some humorous moments, then there were some attempts at humor that didn’t work for me, and then there were some instances that were over-the-top, and some that felt a bit juvenile.

“You ready then?” Annie asked, tucking a bobby pin back into Marisol’s hair.
“Depends. I want to make sure we get there too late to see any part of–” James pulled a pink piece of paper from his back pocket. “Foreskins of Our Forefathers. I don’t need to know anything about George Washington’s foreskin status, thank you very much.”

I did enjoy the show segments that Marisol and Evan filmed for “So Late It’s Early”. They were fun and the cast and crew interactions were enjoyable. It was nice to see Evan going from simply being the intern to stepping up and playing an active role with writing scenes and trying to save the show. The show aspect was really the only thing that saved the book for me.

Despite the fact that this is the second book in the series, you can read it as a standalone. The intended audience for this would be readers who enjoy romantic comedies.

Book Info:

Publication: November 8, 2016 | Diversion Publishing | Wanderlove #2

Marisol Gutierrez has come to Los Angeles with a single goal: win the prestigious grant that will save her family’s struggling medical clinic back in Nicaragua. But, when a cute guy invites her to sit in the audience of a hip-but-failing comedy program, Marisol figures she’ll get a little entertainment out of her otherwise stress-filled trip.

Evan Abramson thought an internship at “The So Late It’s Early Show” would be the start of a long television-writing career, but their ratings are sinking. With every show, his plans seem one step closer to collapse. When a backstage crisis throws him into an onstage encounter with a gorgeous and charming audience member, Evan and Marisol become overnight sensations. And soon their made-for-television romance is the only thing keeping “So Late” from cancellation.

As things heat up onscreen and off, Marisol and Evan are caught between their careers and their growing feelings for one another. Being together in front of the cameras puts Marisol’s grant at risk, but keeping their romance offscreen means Evan’s show is sure to fail. Together they have to decide whether to stick with the script and save their careers or improvise their way toward a happily ever after.