The Dating Plan by Sara Desai
Goodreads blurb: Daisy Patel is a software engineer who understands lists and logic better than bosses and boyfriends. With her life all planned out, and no interest in love, the one thing she can’t give her family is the marriage they expect. Left with few options, she asks her childhood crush to be her decoy fiance. Liam Murphy is a venture capitalist with something to prove. When he learns that his inheritance is contingent on being married, he realizes his best friend’s little sister has the perfect solution to his problem. A marriage of convenience will get Daisy’s matchmaking relatives off her back and fulfill the terms of his late grandfather’s will. If only he hadn’t broken her tender teenage heart nine years ago… Sparks fly when Daisy and Liam go on a series of dates to legitimize their fake relationship. Too late, they realize that very little is convenient about their arrangement. History and chemistry aren’t about to follow the rules of this engagement
My take: 3.5 out of 5. This is the equivalent of my Hallmark Movie ranking of Predictable but nice. I mean you know what’s going to happen from the start but its a good ride and the characters are fun. Fake relationship stories always end up in the same place – a real relationship, you are just there along for the process. This one was a cute one. IS it the best romance book Ive read this year? no, but its still fun and worth a look for a summer book. I love that the character is a smart, no nonsense, marvel loving coder – definitely not your usual romance heroine.
How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams
Goodreads blurb: One daring to-do list and a crash course in flirtation turn a Type A overachiever’s world upside down. When her flailing department lands on the university’s chopping block, Professor Naya Turner’s friends convince her to shed her frumpy cardigan for an evening on the town. For one night her focus will stray from her demanding job and she’ll tackle a new kind of to-do list. When she meets a charming stranger in town on business, he presents the perfect opportunity to check off the items on her list. Let the guy buy her a drink. Check. Try something new. Check. A no-strings-attached hookup. Check…almost. Jake makes her laugh and challenges Naya to rebuild her confidence, which was left toppled by her abusive ex-boyfriend. Soon she’s flirting with the chance at a more serious romantic relationship—except nothing can be that easy. The complicated strings around her dating Jake might destroy her career. Naya has two options. She can protect her professional reputation and return to her old life or she can flirt with the unknown and stay with the person who makes her feel like she’s finally living again.
my take: 4.5 out of 5. I adored this book. It’s exactly what a romance or a chick lit book should be about. I read it in a day and did not want it to end. It has a bit of everything, good characters, good stories, normal appropriate obstacles. I loved how awkward and real the main character is, how natural it all flows and how relatable it is. There are enough twists and turns that it is not a predictable tale. It is also not all light and fluff. It deals with some serious issues about trauma, assault and the invisible scars that can throw a relationship in disarray. It really got to me, I so enjoyed it and think all of you who love a good rom com would absolutely adore it. Go and read it!!!
Yes & I love you by Soni Loren
Goodreads blurb: Everyone knows Miz Poppy, the vibrant reviewer whose commentary brightens the New Orleans nightlife. But no one knows Hollyn, the real face behind the media star…or the fear that keeps her isolated. When her boss tells her she needs to add video to her blog or lose her job, she’s forced to rely on an unexpected source to help her face her fears. When aspiring actor Jasper Deares finds out the shy woman who orders coffee every day is actually Miz Poppy, he realizes he has a golden opportunity to get the media attention his acting career needs. All he has to do is help Hollyn come out of her shell…and through their growing connection, finally find her voice
My Take: 4 out of 5. I’m all about having inclusive characters in stories and a romance book with a tourettes lead is pretty great and inclusive. The way they deal with her anxiety and how she overcomes a lot of her obstacles is really sweetly written and the development of the relationship between the two of them I enjoyed. One of the things I liked the most, is that I really Loved some of the Miz Poppy columns in the book. Some of them seemed really close to what i do here, and some are just things that i might need to do, or follow her advice. for example I loved her movie lists of best fake romances, love triangles etc – they were all movies I love! It is another fake relationship story within the same review blog, but I stick to this one over The Dating Plan. It was way more steamy than i expected given the cover, but it was still a very enjoyable book. Side note, it made me want to take improv classes again!
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