attolis's review against another edition
3.5
What it gains with a surprising level of uniqueness and complexity, it partially detracts from by being, honestly, a little tedious.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment
vsrkive's review
3.0
This was so much fun because I enjoyed all that knowledge about robots.
Well, I don't like the characters that much.Matt is cute but sometimes oblivious and Marie, I don't know how to fell about her.Though I am very excited for the next book.Dan is getting his book and I wish it's getting released soon.
what_alice_saw's review
5.0
I could easily call this my favorite Penny Reid novel, but “favorite” is too limiting. We’ll just say that Matt & Marie’s story is icing on her cupcake of a series that is Knitting in the City. Dating-ish is such a great book. The characters are so well developed, it’s a joy to read their story. The plot & dialogue are intelligent & humorous. I don’t want to spoil anything, but when Marie has a setback, I was bawling my eyes out & I don’t usually cry about fictional people. I just loved this book so much. Gah! It can be a standalone, but if you really want to fall in love with Marie, read Happily Ever Ninja first. Actually, do yourself a favor & read the entire series. You won’t be sorry.
komal_darksoul's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
3.75
symbioticalgae's review
3.0
I love Penny Reid and her writing style. Neanderthal Meets Human was my first true "gateway" romance. The first romance that I read proudly and told everyone about, the first time I didn't read in a romance in secrecy. Beauty and the Moustache and the spin off Winston Bros series are go to rereads when I'm in a book rut.
I always wait impatiently for her newest releases my excitement growing like Christmas morning each day that I'm closer to getting my grubby little hands on a copy of whatever she's written.
Dating-ish is Marie’s story and the 6th book in the Knitting in the City series but could be read as a standalone without too much difficulty.
Based on early buzz and comments from Penny herself online I was expecting a weird and whacky, non-traditional love story. Since Penny’s books are already so different and smart with lots of weird but endearing characters I was bracing myself for something REALLY different. For me, the weirdness didn’t materialize. It didn’t seem that strange at all. All the hype made me think of this book as the person who reminds everyone how weird she is all the time, but ACTUALLY isn’t weird at all.
The book got off to a great start with Marie and Matt’s first meeting, it was funny and unique. Unfortunately for me, the first half of the book continued on way too slowly.
I liked Marie, but she was almost too perfect. She was beautiful but didn’t know it and when she wasn’t busy being a hard-working journalist who was her bosses favorite she was looking out for everyone else and showering everyone with her kindness and generosity.
Matt is a socially-awkward, hot nerd scientist. Normally that is my favorite type of guy (in books AND in real life) but Matt didn’t seem that socially awkward but instead came across as downright mean. He didn’t really struggle with other relationships- he had a solid friendship with Fiona and Greg, was once married and has a great friendship with his ex and her new partner and doesn’t struggle with meeting women, he just chooses not have long-term relationships them. So, when his difficult childhood became the explanation for why he wasn’t good at letting anyone in I had a hard time buying it. It seemed like a lame excuse to explain away his wishy-washy, asshole-y behaviors.
Matt and Marie were both intellectually smart people but most of the story was dumb book drama, hiding shared feelings and “friend-zoning” each other. This portion of the story went on far too long for me, to the point where I was getting annoyed that two such smart people couldn’t figure out basic communication.
It was when they finally got together that this book become different from a typical Penny story. Usually they feature very little sex and have more fade to black but the sex in Dating-ish were hot. And detailed. And frequent. So much dirty talking and I LOVED it.
Overall, this book was just “okay” for me. Penny Reid is still a must-read author for me, Dating-ish gave a great peak into Kat and Dan’s story and now I’m even more impatient for their book!
I always wait impatiently for her newest releases my excitement growing like Christmas morning each day that I'm closer to getting my grubby little hands on a copy of whatever she's written.
Dating-ish is Marie’s story and the 6th book in the Knitting in the City series but could be read as a standalone without too much difficulty.
Based on early buzz and comments from Penny herself online I was expecting a weird and whacky, non-traditional love story. Since Penny’s books are already so different and smart with lots of weird but endearing characters I was bracing myself for something REALLY different. For me, the weirdness didn’t materialize. It didn’t seem that strange at all. All the hype made me think of this book as the person who reminds everyone how weird she is all the time, but ACTUALLY isn’t weird at all.
The book got off to a great start with Marie and Matt’s first meeting, it was funny and unique. Unfortunately for me, the first half of the book continued on way too slowly.
I liked Marie, but she was almost too perfect. She was beautiful but didn’t know it and when she wasn’t busy being a hard-working journalist who was her bosses favorite she was looking out for everyone else and showering everyone with her kindness and generosity.
Matt is a socially-awkward, hot nerd scientist. Normally that is my favorite type of guy (in books AND in real life) but Matt didn’t seem that socially awkward but instead came across as downright mean. He didn’t really struggle with other relationships- he had a solid friendship with Fiona and Greg, was once married and has a great friendship with his ex and her new partner and doesn’t struggle with meeting women, he just chooses not have long-term relationships them. So, when his difficult childhood became the explanation for why he wasn’t good at letting anyone in I had a hard time buying it. It seemed like a lame excuse to explain away his wishy-washy, asshole-y behaviors.
Matt and Marie were both intellectually smart people but most of the story was dumb book drama, hiding shared feelings and “friend-zoning” each other. This portion of the story went on far too long for me, to the point where I was getting annoyed that two such smart people couldn’t figure out basic communication.
It was when they finally got together that this book become different from a typical Penny story. Usually they feature very little sex and have more fade to black but the sex in Dating-ish were hot. And detailed. And frequent. So much dirty talking and I LOVED it.
Overall, this book was just “okay” for me. Penny Reid is still a must-read author for me, Dating-ish gave a great peak into Kat and Dan’s story and now I’m even more impatient for their book!
tchien's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This wasn't the devouring page-turner that would normally get a five star review for me. But Penny Reid incorporates so many excellent and thoughtful elements to the MCs and has clearly done an exhaustive amount of research that I can't help but give it the highest rating possible. Some reviews complain that the hero is unbelievable and unlikable. I can understand this, but I'd argue that this kind of man is far more prevalent in real life than the alpha and overly cinnamon bun-sweet heroes we read in most romances. The self doubt and issues Matt had are understandable and relatable for anyone who has ever had an emotionally immature parent. The self confidence, patience, and ABSOLUTELY BELIEVABLE NORMAL behavior of Marie drew me to her as someone to emulate. And wow, the level of scientific research that went into this book alone is to be commended. Add to that Reid's signature found-family theme in all her KITC books, and this book is chef's kiss. Everyone should use Matt and Marie's relationship and interaction to learn what a healthy, communicative relationship ought to be like.
juliied96's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lugysuperfly's review
3.0
This was cute and kind of funny. However, I do love how Penny Reid touches on current event topics without feeling like you're being lectured. It was smart and compassionate. As for the MCs I wasn't entirely invested in them but there were elements of the story which made me want to continue reading it.