Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake

114 reviews

bryelle's review against another edition

emotional funny 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

4.5

Very cute fake dating. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

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

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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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Alcohol

Minor: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Infidelity

cat_demon's review

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content

dylansday_'s review against another edition

emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content

Moderate: Vomit

bloomington_st's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing tense 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

Cried towards the end 
Could not put it down
Gotta love friendship ngl (specifically iris) 
The smutty bits 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

hello_lovely13's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Abandonment

Minor: Homophobia

paula357's review against another edition

emotional funny fast-paced

4.0

perfect feel good book, intense sex scenes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content

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

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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! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content

Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Minor: Infidelity and Abandonment

Stevie has anxiety and this story represents scenes where she has anxiety attacks from her pov and how she comes down from them. It's also discussed with other characters in the book. Some of the supporting characters seem borderline emotionally abusive at times even though they have good intentions, but they're put in their place and learn from that experience by the end. An ex that's still in the friend group is manipulative and sometimes gaslights. Cursing language is used. Sexual scenes are graphic and wonderfully written. Brief mention of being abandoned and betrayed by an ex through infidelity.