kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
This is a fresh, fun addition to the series. Actress Anna Gardiner is determined to relaunch her acting career and she's beginning with a new ad campaign for a snazzy new phone. Ben Stephens is handling the campaign, and he agrees to pose as Anna's boyfriend to get her better publicity so she's in a better position to get a movie role she really, really wants. But the fake relationship gets in the way of their true feelings as their relationship develops. I truly enjoyed both of these characters and loved watching them head toward HEA. I love this series.
karty_v's review against another edition
4.0
All & all a great smutty book!
I did have 1 issue... Anna Gardiner? I hated that as the MC's "celeb name" when her real name was Anna Rose (but ig it does sound like a video vixen name lol).
I appreciated the author highlighting anxiety in a MC POC bc it IS NOT talked about alot in the black community and it needs to be. Yet she highlighted it in a way that wasn't preachy or "over the top".
I did have 1 issue... Anna Gardiner? I hated that as the MC's "celeb name" when her real name was Anna Rose (but ig it does sound like a video vixen name lol).
I appreciated the author highlighting anxiety in a MC POC bc it IS NOT talked about alot in the black community and it needs to be. Yet she highlighted it in a way that wasn't preachy or "over the top".
gladyschapterone's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
whosbradpitt's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
I struggled to get through this one in print, but I decided to give it another shot as an audiobook and I'm glad I did. The narrator does a great job with both main characters, and I found them to be a fun wrap on all the linked Wedding Date books. It looks like Guillory has moved onto something new now, but if she ever revisits this world, I'm in.
treebjork's review against another edition
3.0
Love Guillory's last two books, but this was just OK. The chemistry was off. The banter was a little dull. A lot of what's on the surface, but not much depth. And the lost sister subplot didn't seem necessary -- I actually forgot about it until it's brought up again.
jnvreads's review against another edition
3.0
While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory - Rating: 3/5⭐️
.
.
Ben finally gets his shot of leading a campaign featuring a movie star named Anna. Unintentionally shooting his shot with her as well. As each of them be one smitten, some things are brought into each of their lives that they have to navigate.
.
.
LIKES:
• I got it stuck in my head that Ben was the actor Lance Gross and I pictured him the whole way through.
• A lot of resemblance to my family. From the bay area, nurse mother who worked nights growing up to take care of them during the day.
• The suitcase part...very Taylor Swift. Thank you @dovesnook on Booktok for mentioning thus scene to me to get me to read thus book haha.
• I'm usually not one who likes the actress/actor type romance books but I really loved that this one captured the black side of the industry. With the struggles and successes that come with being a black female fuller female in the industry.
• Subplots about mental health, family, work life, balance in life and work, charity, and more. I especially applaud the normalization of therapy for both parties.
.
.
DISLIKES:
• I liked Anna, but sometimes her complaining became too much. She always pulled out a sob story.
• The chemistry wasn't all the way there for me during the spicy parts. And it might be due to all the talking that went on. But something just felt off the whole time they got busy.
• The pacing was a little slow.
• I really liked Ben so I wish we could've got more of him over everything revolving around Anna.
.
.
Overall, I happened to pick this book up at the B&N buy 1 get 1 50% off table, and I enjoyed it as a change to the normal romances that I read.
.
.
Ben finally gets his shot of leading a campaign featuring a movie star named Anna. Unintentionally shooting his shot with her as well. As each of them be one smitten, some things are brought into each of their lives that they have to navigate.
.
.
LIKES:
• I got it stuck in my head that Ben was the actor Lance Gross and I pictured him the whole way through.
• A lot of resemblance to my family. From the bay area, nurse mother who worked nights growing up to take care of them during the day.
• The suitcase part...very Taylor Swift. Thank you @dovesnook on Booktok for mentioning thus scene to me to get me to read thus book haha.
• I'm usually not one who likes the actress/actor type romance books but I really loved that this one captured the black side of the industry. With the struggles and successes that come with being a black female fuller female in the industry.
• Subplots about mental health, family, work life, balance in life and work, charity, and more. I especially applaud the normalization of therapy for both parties.
.
.
DISLIKES:
• I liked Anna, but sometimes her complaining became too much. She always pulled out a sob story.
• The chemistry wasn't all the way there for me during the spicy parts. And it might be due to all the talking that went on. But something just felt off the whole time they got busy.
• The pacing was a little slow.
• I really liked Ben so I wish we could've got more of him over everything revolving around Anna.
.
.
Overall, I happened to pick this book up at the B&N buy 1 get 1 50% off table, and I enjoyed it as a change to the normal romances that I read.
donttakemybooks's review against another edition
3.0
Cute. Celebrity romance feels kind of done as a conceit though.
effinalice's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
While We Were Dating is the sixth book in Jasmine Guillory's Adult Romance series The Wedding Date. These books are companion novels and can be read as stand alone books. This is my first book read by Guillory thanks to a recommendation from my friend Heather.
In While We Were Dating we follow Ben and Anna as they fake date in order to help build some media buzz around Anna.
I had so much fun reading this book. Guillory did a wonderful job at creating a fun and cute romance while also incorporating realistic and important topics like mental health representation and going to therapy. Ben and Anna are both going through their individuals struggles in the book and they are each working on it independently. I loved the chemistry between them. The romance was cute, fun and the banter was *chef kiss*
I will be picking up more books in this series.
In While We Were Dating we follow Ben and Anna as they fake date in order to help build some media buzz around Anna.
I had so much fun reading this book. Guillory did a wonderful job at creating a fun and cute romance while also incorporating realistic and important topics like mental health representation and going to therapy. Ben and Anna are both going through their individuals struggles in the book and they are each working on it independently. I loved the chemistry between them. The romance was cute, fun and the banter was *chef kiss*
I will be picking up more books in this series.
merrittarment's review against another edition
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
3.5