tltravis's review
5.0
As always, I loved it!
Your stories are so well written, pulling me in from the get go. The characters are warm, love-able, hot and exciting.
I look forward to reading all of them.
Your stories are so well written, pulling me in from the get go. The characters are warm, love-able, hot and exciting.
I look forward to reading all of them.
stevia333k's review against another edition
4.0
took a long ass break from this book, but wanted to finish it because it was like 60% done already & like yeah I need the read count for my reading challenge.
I liked it. probably would have given 4 stars a year ago, though 3 stars might be appropriate based on how I judge books now. I'll go with 4 & give it 3.5 (might lower it later).
going to wait for the sequel to get discounted, though I need to check the price anyway.
I casted Landon Conrad (from gay porn circa 2010-12) for Nathan & the illustration on the cover for Owen. the illustrated man still makes me drool... ;-)
I liked it. probably would have given 4 stars a year ago, though 3 stars might be appropriate based on how I judge books now. I'll go with 4 & give it 3.5 (might lower it later).
going to wait for the sequel to get discounted, though I need to check the price anyway.
I casted Landon Conrad (from gay porn circa 2010-12) for Nathan & the illustration on the cover for Owen. the illustrated man still makes me drool... ;-)
eleftheriareads's review against another edition
3.0
Could have been a really great premise but the dialogue was just... so... average... sorry.
bfdbookblog's review
4.0
this is my first jay northcote read (i'm not sure why) and it was just a really cute story. i liked that there was minimal angst and the writing was really good. both the characters have a decent history with each other and fall into a believable, sweet and loving, albeit quick relationship. their chemistry is hot and sweet at the same time. owen's relationship history leads us to believe he's a bit shallow and the first scene in the bar solidified that. as his relationship develops with nathan we see him for the man he is underneath the facade - a closet romantic that wants nothing more than to please nathan. nathan is a bit pessimistic that owen can change and be a worthy boyfriend. that coupled with his desire to not be just a casual, one-night stand with owen leads to the 'five dates'. during their time together they both grow into relationship stable men. i'm anxious to see how things unfold in book 2.
the_novel_approach's review
5.0
4.5 Stars
Owen had a crush…a secret crush on someone he thought he knew was a quiet straight boy, Nathan. But that was before and Nathan hadn’t been around for a while, until he walked into the same pub Owen was in, declaring he was back in Bristol to stay. However, misconceptions run on both sides of the road for these two young men, and when Owen suggests a hookup with Nathan after finding out that he is indeed gay, he is dismayed to have his reputation thrown back in his face. You see, Owen never stays around for second dates, so when Nathan insists on five— with a no sex clause—Owen swallows his frustration and agrees. The real question now is, can these two men see it through and make it to date number five without throwing in the towel along the way.
Jay Northcote’s The Dating Game takes a simple love story and puts a twenty-first century spin on the dated practice of good old courtship! Owen must woo Nathan and somehow convince him that despite all evidence to the contrary, he is not a love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of guy—well, not anymore. As this story unfolds, we watch a mating ritual as old as time: one man courting another, slowly trying to convince him to take a risk and fall in love. For anyone this would be a tricky task, but for Owen, who is not really sure he even knows what love looks like, this could be nigh on impossible. And yet, as is often the case, when we find that we are drawn to another person, all those worries seem to disappear…until the fifth date.
The Dating Game is, simply put, a story about falling in love, one date at a time. The beauty of this short novel is its two main characters. Owen and Nathan both came to the table with a heaping sense of insecurity but a determination to make it work. The slow building friendship that rapidly led to deeper emotions was fun to watch. For a story that focuses solely on two characters, I never felt a lull in the action and yet this is not some epic saga with tons of plot twists. Instead, it’s a story of exploration, of tiny moments that come together to make a story that moved along swiftly, and easily held my interest. I was rooting for these guys by the second chapter!
Author Jay Northcote took two lovely young men, threw in some sexual tension and some delightful getting to know you moments, and crafted a sweet love story. If you are looking for a lighthearted story that leaves you feeling warm and cozy, then The Dating Game is the one for you!
Owen had a crush…a secret crush on someone he thought he knew was a quiet straight boy, Nathan. But that was before and Nathan hadn’t been around for a while, until he walked into the same pub Owen was in, declaring he was back in Bristol to stay. However, misconceptions run on both sides of the road for these two young men, and when Owen suggests a hookup with Nathan after finding out that he is indeed gay, he is dismayed to have his reputation thrown back in his face. You see, Owen never stays around for second dates, so when Nathan insists on five— with a no sex clause—Owen swallows his frustration and agrees. The real question now is, can these two men see it through and make it to date number five without throwing in the towel along the way.
Jay Northcote’s The Dating Game takes a simple love story and puts a twenty-first century spin on the dated practice of good old courtship! Owen must woo Nathan and somehow convince him that despite all evidence to the contrary, he is not a love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of guy—well, not anymore. As this story unfolds, we watch a mating ritual as old as time: one man courting another, slowly trying to convince him to take a risk and fall in love. For anyone this would be a tricky task, but for Owen, who is not really sure he even knows what love looks like, this could be nigh on impossible. And yet, as is often the case, when we find that we are drawn to another person, all those worries seem to disappear…until the fifth date.
The Dating Game is, simply put, a story about falling in love, one date at a time. The beauty of this short novel is its two main characters. Owen and Nathan both came to the table with a heaping sense of insecurity but a determination to make it work. The slow building friendship that rapidly led to deeper emotions was fun to watch. For a story that focuses solely on two characters, I never felt a lull in the action and yet this is not some epic saga with tons of plot twists. Instead, it’s a story of exploration, of tiny moments that come together to make a story that moved along swiftly, and easily held my interest. I was rooting for these guys by the second chapter!
Author Jay Northcote took two lovely young men, threw in some sexual tension and some delightful getting to know you moments, and crafted a sweet love story. If you are looking for a lighthearted story that leaves you feeling warm and cozy, then The Dating Game is the one for you!