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3.5k reviews for:
The Dating Plan: The One You Saw on TikTok! the Fake Dating Rom-Com You Need
Sara Desai
3.61 AVERAGE
3.5k reviews for:
The Dating Plan: The One You Saw on TikTok! the Fake Dating Rom-Com You Need
Sara Desai
3.61 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
I picked this book for my Janurary Book of the Month subscrption and boy, was I disappointed.
I really hate to nitpick, but I noticed a couple of errors that made me pause and sigh. For one, the prom fiasco was intially described as Daisy being the nerdy freshmen going with the popular senior. Near the middle of the book, the story becomes that Liam stood her up during her senior prom. So which was it? Second, this book could have used a few more rounds of editing because there were some run-on sentences that confused the heck out of me!
Second, I LOVE the fake dating trope. However, the point of the fake dating trope is for everyone to believe the couple is actually together. In this book, mored than half of the characters know that Daisy and Liam are lying and they talk about it loudly in public settings/her work like it’s NBD. Only a select number of family members (on both side) actually believe their relationship is real.
Third, the characters are straight up ANNOYING. There was no part of me that liked either Daisy or Liam. My biggest issue with Daisy is that she reads as neurodivergent, but she (and everyone else) just calls her nerdy and/or quirky. Her distant-mother used the phrase “weirdly smart” and part of me believes her mother probably thought that Daisy was on the spectrum and meant it to be hurtful. I’m honestly so tired of authors coding characters as neurodivergent as if it’s cute and quirky, especially if they are in the technology field. It’s ugly and boring and needs to stop! Second, I had no respect for Daisy because she would say one thing and then either do/or show something else. She claimed to loathe Liam after their first re-encounter, but she jumped on the chance to be his fake fiancee. Honestly, I generally felt little depth for both Liam and Daisy. They were so one-dimensial that I wasn’t rooting for either of them.
Lastly, this book was described on BOTm as ‘LOL’ and ‘salacioius’ and that is simply not true lmfao!! First, the “funny” scenes were so cringy I had to put the book down several times. Desai tried to use the quirky aunts as jokes, but they grew old fast. One aunt makes bad dishes, such as mixing all the food at a stadium together and the gag was liam eating it to impress the aunt. After that moment, the aunt kept making it for Liam and everyone around them would laugh. Second, the sex scenes (sorry, this is not a graceful transition) were anything but steamy. I love a good romp but god, there was no spark or tension between Liam and Daisy! Desai made a joke about them breaking all the furniture in Daisy’s bedroom and I’m like...okay but how?? There was nothing steamy enough going on for Liam to break a headboard with his bare hands.
I really hate to be negative in book reviews, but oof! This one was a serious doozy to get through. If I had gotten it from the library, I would have simply put it down, but because I spent money on it, I forced myself to get to the end.
I really hate to nitpick, but I noticed a couple of errors that made me pause and sigh. For one, the prom fiasco was intially described as Daisy being the nerdy freshmen going with the popular senior. Near the middle of the book, the story becomes that Liam stood her up during her senior prom. So which was it? Second, this book could have used a few more rounds of editing because there were some run-on sentences that confused the heck out of me!
Second, I LOVE the fake dating trope. However, the point of the fake dating trope is for everyone to believe the couple is actually together. In this book, mored than half of the characters know that Daisy and Liam are lying and they talk about it loudly in public settings/her work like it’s NBD. Only a select number of family members (on both side) actually believe their relationship is real.
Third, the characters are straight up ANNOYING. There was no part of me that liked either Daisy or Liam. My biggest issue with Daisy is that she reads as neurodivergent, but she (and everyone else) just calls her nerdy and/or quirky. Her distant-mother used the phrase “weirdly smart” and part of me believes her mother probably thought that Daisy was on the spectrum and meant it to be hurtful. I’m honestly so tired of authors coding characters as neurodivergent as if it’s cute and quirky, especially if they are in the technology field. It’s ugly and boring and needs to stop! Second, I had no respect for Daisy because she would say one thing and then either do/or show something else. She claimed to loathe Liam after their first re-encounter, but she jumped on the chance to be his fake fiancee. Honestly, I generally felt little depth for both Liam and Daisy. They were so one-dimensial that I wasn’t rooting for either of them.
Lastly, this book was described on BOTm as ‘LOL’ and ‘salacioius’ and that is simply not true lmfao!! First, the “funny” scenes were so cringy I had to put the book down several times. Desai tried to use the quirky aunts as jokes, but they grew old fast. One aunt makes bad dishes, such as mixing all the food at a stadium together and the gag was liam eating it to impress the aunt. After that moment, the aunt kept making it for Liam and everyone around them would laugh. Second, the sex scenes (sorry, this is not a graceful transition) were anything but steamy. I love a good romp but god, there was no spark or tension between Liam and Daisy! Desai made a joke about them breaking all the furniture in Daisy’s bedroom and I’m like...okay but how?? There was nothing steamy enough going on for Liam to break a headboard with his bare hands.
I really hate to be negative in book reviews, but oof! This one was a serious doozy to get through. If I had gotten it from the library, I would have simply put it down, but because I spent money on it, I forced myself to get to the end.
Would give 0 stars if I could. The depiction of "being a nerd" is borderline offensive. The marvel undergarments? No, just no. I HATED THIS BOOK.
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
2.5 out of 5. It was cute. Not great. I also didn't realize it was the second in the series so I mean I'll go back and read the 1st. But it was a decent way to spend the day.
Fun and fluffy read. Sassy banter. A few open door scenes.
The Dating Plan was a super fun read.
Daisy and Liam have some history. He was her big brother’s best friend and her teenage crush, but after he ghosts her and her family on prom night they don’t see each other for the next ten years. When they run into each other again, Liam is instantly reminded of the feelings he’s buried. He inherits his grandfather’s distillery on the contingency that he is married by his next birthday and that’s where he comes up with a plan.
Daisy is harboring a grudge towards Liam, but the idea that matchmaking aunties will leave her alone for at least a year and Liam’s promise to help her company convince her into a fake engagement.
Daisy is pretty type-A so she creates what she calls “The Dating Plan,” a way to convince everyone that their relationship is real. And while they both tell others that it’s fake, and themselves that it is fake, it definitely feels real. Their dates and their banter are fun and genuine. The chemistry between them was believable and steamy.
Yes, the plot was predictable and at times, cheesy. Does that take away from how much I enjoyed The Dating Plan? Nope. Daisy was sometimes too quirky and Liam was too broody but overall it was fun and easy to read. Looking forward to more from Sara Desai.
Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy.
Daisy and Liam have some history. He was her big brother’s best friend and her teenage crush, but after he ghosts her and her family on prom night they don’t see each other for the next ten years. When they run into each other again, Liam is instantly reminded of the feelings he’s buried. He inherits his grandfather’s distillery on the contingency that he is married by his next birthday and that’s where he comes up with a plan.
Daisy is harboring a grudge towards Liam, but the idea that matchmaking aunties will leave her alone for at least a year and Liam’s promise to help her company convince her into a fake engagement.
Daisy is pretty type-A so she creates what she calls “The Dating Plan,” a way to convince everyone that their relationship is real. And while they both tell others that it’s fake, and themselves that it is fake, it definitely feels real. Their dates and their banter are fun and genuine. The chemistry between them was believable and steamy.
Yes, the plot was predictable and at times, cheesy. Does that take away from how much I enjoyed The Dating Plan? Nope. Daisy was sometimes too quirky and Liam was too broody but overall it was fun and easy to read. Looking forward to more from Sara Desai.
Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Here I thought the Iron Man bra would be the worst of it but unfortunately it just went downhill from there
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Abandonment
Minor: Alcoholism, Car accident, Death of parent
lighthearted
fast-paced
4⭐️
Fake dating, meets ex-friends to lovers in this fun romcom! This book had a sort of dual pov with it being written in 3rd person, it let you see into both Daisy and Liam’s thoughts. The Dating Plan is a super sweet read with plenty of banter to have you laughing out loud. I greatly enjoyed the little anxiety and ocd rep, it was done in such a natural way that was extremely relatable.
Fake dating, meets ex-friends to lovers in this fun romcom! This book had a sort of dual pov with it being written in 3rd person, it let you see into both Daisy and Liam’s thoughts. The Dating Plan is a super sweet read with plenty of banter to have you laughing out loud. I greatly enjoyed the little anxiety and ocd rep, it was done in such a natural way that was extremely relatable.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4.5 stars — I really enjoyed this book. It started a little slow for me but when it picked up I couldn’t put it down. I loved that the girl was for the most part confident with minor insecurities - something I related too. And Liam, the perfect ladies man with a good side has you falling in love with him too. I could see this being an adorable movie.