A review by madelineslibrary
Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake

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.