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mayareads4fun's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
After reading exclusively books for my classes, picking this up was a joy. I was dying for a 5 star read and thank YOU Ashely Herring-Blake for delivering. A romance writer AND fake dating??? It's like the book was calling my name for real.
I feel like I should read the other two in the series, even if I've started out of order.
I feel like I should read the other two in the series, even if I've started out of order.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Vomit and Alcohol
Minor: Emotional abuse
fran2567's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity, Vomit, and Alcohol
description of panic attacks is accurate, but the character gets help and the issue gets resolved immediatelypidgepodge's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.75
Honestly this was an adorable book. Got the next two in the series from my local library lined up to read next. Just the right amount of spice, humor, and angst. One cringe worthy sex scene (at least it was short and not the only one).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Minor: Vomit
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
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Moderate: Vomit
cristina_margarita's review against another edition
emotional
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
My feelings on this one are a little mixed. It definitely took me the longest to get into of the trilogy.
I found the opening few chapters with Stevie painfully difficult to read as a person who struggles with anxiety & panic attacks.
I thought the story itself was cute once I got into it & I ended up really liking Stevie. Stevie was such a sweet character & I loved the set up of the play. I’m not exactly sure how I felt about their deal/sexual arrangement but that’s probably just my own sensibilities. Also I do think that Ashley should have kept the play a bigger part of the book since it & Stevies friends basically dropped out at the half way mark.
At the beginning I found it odd that Iris had had a big life/career change off screen but once Thayer came in, it made sense why the author made that decision. It did feel super convenient but Iris did not take advantage of it in time to prevent their second third act break up, which was frustrating. But I am glad Iris made a grand gesture herself (it made me tear up) otherwise I don’t think I could fully get behind the story. (She would have been a Landon.)
Part of me thought the epilogue was the perfect way to wrap everything up but another part of me felt that it was too neat & took away from Stevie & Iris’s story to focus on the conclusion of the trilogy.
I found the opening few chapters with Stevie painfully difficult to read as a person who struggles with anxiety & panic attacks.
I thought the story itself was cute once I got into it & I ended up really liking Stevie. Stevie was such a sweet character & I loved the set up of the play. I’m not exactly sure how I felt about their deal/sexual arrangement but that’s probably just my own sensibilities. Also I do think that Ashley should have kept the play a bigger part of the book since it & Stevies friends basically dropped out at the half way mark.
At the beginning I found it odd that Iris had had a big life/career change off screen but once Thayer came in, it made sense why the author made that decision. It did feel super convenient but Iris did not take advantage of it in time to prevent their second third act break up, which was frustrating. But I am glad Iris made a grand gesture herself (it made me tear up) otherwise I don’t think I could fully get behind the story. (She would have been a Landon.)
Part of me thought the epilogue was the perfect way to wrap everything up but another part of me felt that it was too neat & took away from Stevie & Iris’s story to focus on the conclusion of the trilogy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Vomit
abby_can_read's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
📱
I had a good time reading this book and the series. I thought Iris and Stevie were cute together and their relationship was sweet.
I had a good time reading this book and the series. I thought Iris and Stevie were cute together and their relationship was sweet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Alcohol
Minor: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Toxic friendship
luna_98's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
so spicy and so cute. i loved the balance in iris and stevie’s relationship. loved the ending and thought it was the perfect ending to the series :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Vomit
llams's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I loved this final iteration of the bright falls trilogy! I feel like the characters choices were true to themselves. I loved the honest mental health rep as well as the normalized (albeit brief) normalization of exploring the ace/aro spectrum. Ashley Herring Blake continues to be an auto-read author!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Vomit, and Alcohol
fleur____'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Biphobia, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia and Infidelity