Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - While We Were Dating

Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory

36 reviews

snabb1's review against another edition

Go to review page

medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

onegalonelife27's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny inspiring 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

Earlier this year, I really enjoyed one of Jasmine Guillory’s works so I decided to listen another one of hers. I found a sweet, spicy tale of two people finding strength and love in one another.

The main characters meet in an ad company’s pitch with instant chemistry and respect for one another. Ana Gardiner, after a difficult year, is ready to get back to her old groove-and the Oscars and this ad campaign is the first step back there. Ben Stephen’s wants this campaign to go well so he can leading more projects rather than smiling at meetings. Just when Ben’s star is rising with this new ad campaign, a sudden email sends him reeling.

At first they try to keep things professional, if not a bit flirty. Yet one family emergency, spontaneous road trip and a pair of thrown panties later, they find themselves in a complicated partnership: full of humor, steaminess, tenderness, understandings and misunderstandings until the last chapter.

One topic I’m glad the book talked about is mental health. Ana struggles with anxiety and it’s a large part of the plot for her. Dealing with the struggles and the shame you feel when your mind panics, coming up with so many terrible scenarios or freezing up in stressful moments, it’s something I related to since I have anxiety myself. Yet Ana learns to be kinder with herself and her journey is wonderful.

I am glad that Ben is self aware of his flaws, admitting that he runs away in one way or another. Also I can heavily relate to Ben not wanting to tell therapists the bad things in life, despite going to therapy for bad things in the first place. Ben’s own struggle with his trauma is also wonderful to see progress. It’s not always straightforward, but then again, so is dealing with mental health and that’s wonderful too.

Overall, if you’re looking for a romance that isn’t afraid to talk about deep subjects yet still gives hope, laugh, and of course love, then this is an excellent one to try!

Content Warnings

rachel_taylor97's review against another edition

Go to review page

lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Content Warnings

what_karla_reads's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

bookedbymadeline's review

Go to review page

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

The fourth book I’ve read (and finished) from Guillory! I’ve loved this series, it’s so fun and lighthearted. For this book, I loved the flirty banter and switching POVs! I loved Ben, he’s my new favorite leading man 🥰 I didn’t always like Anna, there were certain actions she did but then would criticize Ben for wanting to do the same so she could be a hypocrite sometimes.

Despite not always liking Anna, I think the characters were well written and developed. I loved the discussions on mental health and therapy! It was such great rep and I enjoyed how open Anna and Ben were about their struggles.

As with all Guillory books, there was a third act breakup with some miscommunication, but it was one sided lack of communicating their feelings, so it didn’t bother me as much as it usually does. There was also one plot point that could’ve been more developed. Anna talks about a movie role she really wants and how she was made for it but we never hear what the movie is about or what the role is, so it felt like there was a gap where we could’ve gotten to know her better.

I loved seeing the cameos from past characters again! It was so much fun, but once again I loved Maddie and Theo in everyone else’s book, just not their own book that I DNFd 😂

Overall a light, easy read and definitely a favorite for the month! I love Guillory’s books and now I’m done with the series (unless she decides to write more).

And with that here’s my ranking for the series (of the ones I read, I won’t count the 2 I DNFd):

The Proposal (Carlos forever has my heart no matter what)
Royal Holiday

While We Were Dating

The Wedding Date

Tropes: work romance, celebrity, fake dating

Rep: Black MCs, plus sized FMC, anxiety rep

Content Warnings

annahamburger's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.25

Content Warnings

peachani's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional slow-paced

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

3.0

Content Warnings

yassiesj's review against another edition

Go to review page

hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

3.75

Content Warnings

jillkaarlela's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I will not put any Taylor swift songs for this book.
No offense to people who like this book, but it was definitely not for me. It was so incredibly boring, I almost DNFed it. I am not into the fling/one night stand to lovers thing. It did have plus size and POC rep which I love, but the rest of the book really fell flat to me. The characters were just boring and I did not really connect with them. Also, I think a lot of my problem was that most of what draws the characters to each other is physical attraction, and it doesn’t really say much about why they like each other on a personality level, just that they do. It was also so slow paced that I was dragging my feet to finish it. They also never really fixed their problems, they were just like “I’m in love with you”, and ignore the problems. Like where’s the conflict resolution?? Like I don’t understand. It just was so predictable and it made it very unenjoyable. We’re getting into spicy hallmark territory, which is fine if you like that, but I don’t. I haven’t read any other Jasmine Guillory books so I can’t compare it to the others, but I will not be reading them in the future.

Age rating: 16+, more spicy than Emily Henry, and not just a few scenes, heavily interspersed throughout the book, spice rating: 2.5/5🌶️

Content Warnings

destynee's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted reflective 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? No

5.0

Surprisingly, this is my first book where it’s just romance. I loved everything about it. From the time Ben and Anna met to the end of the book I couldn’t help but smile. This couple will have you rooting for them. They’re so adorable. I’m definitely going to read the other books in Jasmine’s series.

Content Warnings

More...