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sophk8's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I would give Ashley Herring Blake a kidney to write a novella following up these characters in several years because she has ruined me and I am going to miss these gays
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Toxic friendship
boba_nbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️ / 5
Ashley Herring Blake has delivered one beautiful sapphic romance after another in the Bright Falls series, and Iris Kelly Doesn't Date is no exception.
Iris Kelly is a woman surrounded by friends and family who have found their soul mates. She's happy for them, but she's also getting a little tired of being the stereotypical "good lay" and bitter single friend. Stevie went through a terrible breakup six months ago. But her ex is still in her friend group, and Stevie watches as she falls in love with another one of their friends. Another of Stevie's friends thinks all Stevie needs is a one night stand to get her ex off her mind. Iris and Stevie have a disastrous one night stand but are forced to work together in a Shakespearean play which leads to their fake dating scheme. Both women start to feel that this fake dating might just be starting to feel real.
I love how these characters felt like opposites but really had so many things in common. Both of them felt as though they couldn't be who their family and friends wanted them to be but found solace and realness in each other.
I'm going to miss the Bright Falls crew so much! Seeing all the characters from the other books come together was a ton of fun and made me realize how important it is to have your people.
Ashley Herring Blake has delivered one beautiful sapphic romance after another in the Bright Falls series, and Iris Kelly Doesn't Date is no exception.
Iris Kelly is a woman surrounded by friends and family who have found their soul mates. She's happy for them, but she's also getting a little tired of being the stereotypical "good lay" and bitter single friend. Stevie went through a terrible breakup six months ago. But her ex is still in her friend group, and Stevie watches as she falls in love with another one of their friends. Another of Stevie's friends thinks all Stevie needs is a one night stand to get her ex off her mind. Iris and Stevie have a disastrous one night stand but are forced to work together in a Shakespearean play which leads to their fake dating scheme. Both women start to feel that this fake dating might just be starting to feel real.
I love how these characters felt like opposites but really had so many things in common. Both of them felt as though they couldn't be who their family and friends wanted them to be but found solace and realness in each other.
I'm going to miss the Bright Falls crew so much! Seeing all the characters from the other books come together was a ton of fun and made me realize how important it is to have your people.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Alcohol
Minor: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Infidelity
fanboyriot's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
♡ Fake Dating
♡ Gay Theater
♡ Opposites Attract
I really this book. The queer rep was amazing and the anxiety rep was written so well. I really love the fake dating trope and that plays such a lovely role in this book. If you like actress x romance author then I highly recommend this sapphic read.
The characters worked well together and I really loved getting to see Delilah and Claire again. It was so wholesome and heartwarming. I would have liked to have more of the theater moments though. I really enjoyed those. The small town vibes were great, this book was a comforting read.
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (4/5)
Angst Level: 💧 (1/5)
POV: Duel, Third Person
Release Date: 24, October 2023
Rep: Bisexual (Main Character), Lesbian (Main and Side Characters), BIPOC (Main Character), Non-Binary Japanese-American (Side Character), Agender (Side Character), Pansexual (Side Character), Transmasc (Side Character) Anxiety
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Minor: Toxic relationship and Alcohol
madelineslibrary's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Iris Kelly Doesn't Date perfectly wraps up the Bright Falls series, although I seriously wish that there was more. This world she's created is a space that feels realistic and full of such love between the characters. With Iris needing inspiration for the romance novel she's writing, and Stevie needing seduction lessons, this book is romantic, hilariously funny, emotional, and heartfelt.
This book is for you if you like...
😘Fake dating
👩🏫"Teach me" seduction lessons dynamics
🌇Small Town
💔Afraid of commitment
🎭Theatre life
💕Found family
🌈Sapphic romance (Bisexual FMC & Lesbian FMC)
🫂 Anxiety / mental health rep
The story for Iris and Stevie that the author crafted is so uniquely appropriate for them. I loved seeing both of these characters grow, and also peeking in at the lives of the previous books' MCs. Iris and Stevie make such an adorable couple, and watching them carefully unravel each other with their fake dating trope and "teach me how to seduce someone" lessons had me unable to put this book down! Plus, the gender-bent queer representation in the Much Ado About Nothing production happening in this book was phenomenal to imagine. Now I want to see all of Shakespeare's plays to be re-envisioned this way!
This book is for you if you like...
😘Fake dating
👩🏫"Teach me" seduction lessons dynamics
🌇Small Town
💔Afraid of commitment
🎭Theatre life
💕Found family
🌈Sapphic romance (Bisexual FMC & Lesbian FMC)
🫂 Anxiety / mental health rep
The story for Iris and Stevie that the author crafted is so uniquely appropriate for them. I loved seeing both of these characters grow, and also peeking in at the lives of the previous books' MCs. Iris and Stevie make such an adorable couple, and watching them carefully unravel each other with their fake dating trope and "teach me how to seduce someone" lessons had me unable to put this book down! Plus, the gender-bent queer representation in the Much Ado About Nothing production happening in this book was phenomenal to imagine. Now I want to see all of Shakespeare's plays to be re-envisioned this way!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Minor: Infidelity and Abandonment
nightworldlove's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing and Alcohol
megj23's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Minor: Toxic relationship
jkribbit's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
wisewayfarer's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
fromjuliereads's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
While I loved the anxiety rep and did still enjoy this one, it was my least favourite of the 3 surprisingly. It was still a good read! Just not my favourite in the series.
It was great having the friend groups as big parts of it!
It was great having the friend groups as big parts of it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Anxiety is heavily featured, internalized trauma from past relationshipsreadwithria's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Iris Kelly Doesn't Date was such a fun time! Stevie and Iris are so adorable together, and I love their dynamic.
As a theatre maker I love reading books with actors in them, and this book did such a great job! I feel like the premise of the play was balanced really well within the book so that it didn’t overshadow the character growth and relationships.
Speaking of relationships, they’re all so good! Not only are Stevie and Iris adorable together, but I loved getting the friendship dynamics both from our beloved coven and from Stevie’s friends. Found families are just as important as blood relatives and life partners, and seeing those support systems was so lovely!
Read this book if you love
🩵 fake dating
🩶 anxiety rep
🩵 queer found family
🩶 theatre people
🩵 strong character development
I loved reading the Bright Falls books so much! I can’t wait to read more from Ashley Herring Blake. 4 stars
As a theatre maker I love reading books with actors in them, and this book did such a great job! I feel like the premise of the play was balanced really well within the book so that it didn’t overshadow the character growth and relationships.
Speaking of relationships, they’re all so good! Not only are Stevie and Iris adorable together, but I loved getting the friendship dynamics both from our beloved coven and from Stevie’s friends. Found families are just as important as blood relatives and life partners, and seeing those support systems was so lovely!
Read this book if you love
🩵 fake dating
🩶 anxiety rep
🩵 queer found family
🩶 theatre people
🩵 strong character development
I loved reading the Bright Falls books so much! I can’t wait to read more from Ashley Herring Blake. 4 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Vomit
Minor: Infidelity