Robin’s Reviews 2025

WAITING FOR TOM HANKS by Kerry Winfrey is a 5-star read for me! Is it a literary marvel? No. It’s a 5-star-I-was-thoroughly-entertained romcom. Putting Tom Hanks name in the title was great marketing. After all, that’s what attracted me to check it out. Who doesn’t want a Tom Hanks-type happily ever after?

Kerry Winfrey revives the 90s romcom movie format in this novel, including some of the cheesy, yet lovable elements, cliches that just fit, and a predictable yet charming storyline. If you loved those 90s movies and secretly wanted a Tom Hanks-type romance for yourself, you’ll love this book!

Summary

Annie Cassidy often writes at her friend’s coffee shop in Ohio. Her freelance writing pays the bills, but what Annie really wants it to write screenplays. Obsessed with romantic comedies, Annie compares every man she meets to the leading men in her favorite films. She’s waiting for her own perfect meet-cute, just like in the movies. Annie is confident that moment is just around the corner because admitting life isn’t like the movies would mean giving up her fantasy idea of the perfect man.

When Annie is hired to work on a movie filming in her neighborhood, it has to be a sign, right? Could meeting lead actor Drew Danforth be the meet-cute moment she’s waited for? Unfortunately, Drew is far from the Tom Hanks type. Their flubbed first encounter sets up the enemies-to-lovers romance trope.

My Thoughts

Throughout the story, Annie references some of my favorite movie romcoms – Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, and While You Were Sleeping. (Yes, that last one starred Bill Pullman, not Tom Hanks, but I’m good with that.) WAITING FOR TOM HANKS is a fun, quick read with witty banter and quirky characters. Pick this one up for an enjoyable escape that will life your spirit and make you smile.

Consider buying WAITING FOR TOM HANKS through this link to Bookshop.org. You will be supporting small, indy bookstores with your purchase.

Kerry Winfrey, author of romantic comedies, including WAITING FOR TOM HANKS, NOT LIKE THE MOVIES, VERY SINCERELY YOURS, and JUST ANOTHER LOVE SONG, lives in Columbus, Ohio.

If You Like…

If you like WAITING FOR TOM HANKS, check out this past recommendation: One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery.

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors?  Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

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