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angelalibrosymiscelaneas's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The 24-hour dating agency is a contemporary cozy multi-romance novel set in Yorkshire Dales by Mary Jayne Baker about friends and coworkers Milo, Tamara, and Saffie.
The family business, The Throttler, a quirky periodical that dates back to 1939 is going through a hard time, relaying the magazine's survival on old subscribers and a few overseas readers. But so are its three employees:
Tamara, who has taken the position of editor from her grandmother, is in her forties, divorced, and with three children of her own. To add fault to injury, his ex-husband now wants to play his father role, since he is having a baby with his super young new girlfriend.
Milo, Tamara's younger brother and graphic designer of the journal, can't seem to find the One he so desperately yearns for, as a helpless romantic. Feeling like time is running out in his 30s, he would settle down with anyone good enough, yet they all end up running away when Milo drops the “I love you” bomb too early.
Saffie, on the other hand, is known as the office skeptic and, while trying to find someone through dating apps, her focus is on advancing in her journalism career and being noticed by a big company.
When Milo hears about this new and incredible Dating Agency that promises you'll find your soulmate with them, he convinces Tam and Saffie that the three should go and try it out. Milo, earlier dumped by a questionable choice of a boyfriend, sees this opportunity as the solution he is looking for. Tamara as a way to feel again young and desirable, and Saffie as a great story yet to be told. But could a questionnaire and a mysterious woman, though a 24-hour date, really bring soulmates together?
This novel is a perfect example of a beach read: Easy to read, lighthearted, and entertaining. It's a low-stakes story with a heavy theme of family bonds (either blood-related or founded) although out of the book and a nostalgic feeling to tradition as the idea of simpler times and comfort. As the magazine the main characters work on, The 24-hour Dating Agency is a quirky story with a dose of the real world with topics like motherhood, loss and belonging.
The story tries to share equally the spotlight to three love stories with their main issues (being judgmental, trying too hard to fit in, not being your true self…) and is full of funny situations and heartwarming characters. The text is dialogue-heavy, and every character is efficiently presented through the plot.
All that being said, Baker's voice as a writer sometimes made it hard to get immersed into the story, because that unconventionality and easy-going nature of the narrative felt somehow artificial at times. Like a puzzle where the pieces fit together but not perfectly.
It also felt too long since the third-act drama unfolded, being out of nowhere too intense for the intensity we have throughout the whole story. It felt unnecessary and forced.
The characters, even when they got their individual love stories, felt not exploited enough. And some got less importance in their own love story, even when having the spotlight; Milo's case is the most evident one since a lot of his chapters actually helped progress the girls' love stories instead of developing his own.
The novel has a nice and funny premise, and it's developed well enough to be enjoyable, even if it has some issues that some readers may find a little “too much” for their liking.
Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The family business, The Throttler, a quirky periodical that dates back to 1939 is going through a hard time, relaying the magazine's survival on old subscribers and a few overseas readers. But so are its three employees:
Tamara, who has taken the position of editor from her grandmother, is in her forties, divorced, and with three children of her own. To add fault to injury, his ex-husband now wants to play his father role, since he is having a baby with his super young new girlfriend.
Milo, Tamara's younger brother and graphic designer of the journal, can't seem to find the One he so desperately yearns for, as a helpless romantic. Feeling like time is running out in his 30s, he would settle down with anyone good enough, yet they all end up running away when Milo drops the “I love you” bomb too early.
Saffie, on the other hand, is known as the office skeptic and, while trying to find someone through dating apps, her focus is on advancing in her journalism career and being noticed by a big company.
When Milo hears about this new and incredible Dating Agency that promises you'll find your soulmate with them, he convinces Tam and Saffie that the three should go and try it out. Milo, earlier dumped by a questionable choice of a boyfriend, sees this opportunity as the solution he is looking for. Tamara as a way to feel again young and desirable, and Saffie as a great story yet to be told. But could a questionnaire and a mysterious woman, though a 24-hour date, really bring soulmates together?
This novel is a perfect example of a beach read: Easy to read, lighthearted, and entertaining. It's a low-stakes story with a heavy theme of family bonds (either blood-related or founded) although out of the book and a nostalgic feeling to tradition as the idea of simpler times and comfort. As the magazine the main characters work on, The 24-hour Dating Agency is a quirky story with a dose of the real world with topics like motherhood, loss and belonging.
The story tries to share equally the spotlight to three love stories with their main issues (being judgmental, trying too hard to fit in, not being your true self…) and is full of funny situations and heartwarming characters. The text is dialogue-heavy, and every character is efficiently presented through the plot.
All that being said, Baker's voice as a writer sometimes made it hard to get immersed into the story, because that unconventionality and easy-going nature of the narrative felt somehow artificial at times. Like a puzzle where the pieces fit together but not perfectly.
It also felt too long since the third-act drama unfolded, being out of nowhere too intense for the intensity we have throughout the whole story. It felt unnecessary and forced.
The characters, even when they got their individual love stories, felt not exploited enough. And some got less importance in their own love story, even when having the spotlight; Milo's case is the most evident one since a lot of his chapters actually helped progress the girls' love stories instead of developing his own.
The novel has a nice and funny premise, and it's developed well enough to be enjoyable, even if it has some issues that some readers may find a little “too much” for their liking.
Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
coldasyou's review
4.0
I received this arc in exchange for an honest review. 🤍
this was just the book i needed! i’m so frustrated that i didn’t pick it up sooner.
it follows three friends with their own storylines where they decide to sign up with the 24 hour dating agency, where they are matched with their supposed soulmate and have a 24-hour date with them.
i loved tamara and harry’s development and i knew it would be christian as milo’s date!! i sensed that russ and saffie would get together but i had NO idea he was richard. so so good.
suzyq436's review against another edition
5.0
This was an absolute treat!
I thoroughly enjoy this author's writing. She knows how to throw in that British humour and had me laughing quite a few times throughout.
I loved the relationships in this story. A fun chick-lit that truly let's you forget about the real world and let's you escape into the creative mind that is Mary Jayne Barker.
I thoroughly enjoy this author's writing. She knows how to throw in that British humour and had me laughing quite a few times throughout.
I loved the relationships in this story. A fun chick-lit that truly let's you forget about the real world and let's you escape into the creative mind that is Mary Jayne Barker.
kariniwonderland's review against another edition
3.0
The premise about a 24 dating agency that guarantees you a soulmate was very refreshing. It was a funny delightful read. It follows 3 main characters on their dating adventure and i especially loved Tamara's story. I did guessed some of the twists, but that didn't make the read less enjoyable. Ideal for romance lovers.
I got this arc in exchange for an honest review.
I got this arc in exchange for an honest review.
aliceluciew's review against another edition
5.0
A fantastic feel good read. I truly enjoyed this book, and it was a step above the usual ‘fluff’ available on Prime reading.
I especially liked the 3 separate main characters and their POVs, and thought the entire premise of a 24 hour dating agency was a brilliant idea. I also didn’t see any of the twists coming, which was a nice little treat!
I especially liked the 3 separate main characters and their POVs, and thought the entire premise of a 24 hour dating agency was a brilliant idea. I also didn’t see any of the twists coming, which was a nice little treat!
emmalux1991's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
4.0
emily_loves_2_read's review against another edition
3.0
24 Hour Dating Agency
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 11/1/22
Author: Mary Jayne Baker
Publisher: Head of Zeus
Pages: 336
Goodreads Rating: 3.70
Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for providing a digital copy of the book for me to read in exchange for my honest opinion.
Synopsis: Tamara wants to meet someone but self-employed with kids makes it difficult. Milo just had his heart broken, still a hopeless romantic. Then there is Saffie who has not been in love. Step forward The 24-hour Dating Agency, a match-making service with a difference. Instead of wasting months on casual dates they promise to find you the one through an intense twenty-four hours date – speed-dating but in reverse and even better, the agency boasts a 100% success rate. Figuring they have nothing to lose, the three friends decide to sign up. But when one of their dates turns out to be an undercover journalist researching the dating agency's unique approach for a feature, it looks as though one of them, at least, is headed for heartbreak. Or are they?
My Thoughts: This is marketed as a Romance but I think it is more Contemporary Fiction as the focus is on the friendship of the three co-workers and how it blossoms throughout the story while they are trying their chance at love through this dating app. While I did enjoy this book, I thought it would have been better to introduce their friendship in this book with the same premise, but then focus on one character’s love life and then spin off two more books with the other two characters love life’s. It just felt like there was a lot impacted into this one book and would have worked better as 3 separate books. However, in the end, I still enjoyed the book. It was emotional, complex, and the characters did have some depth, but not enough time was spent individually on the romances. All in all, I would read other books by this author as I did enjoy the writing style and the character development.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 11/1/22
Author: Mary Jayne Baker
Publisher: Head of Zeus
Pages: 336
Goodreads Rating: 3.70
Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for providing a digital copy of the book for me to read in exchange for my honest opinion.
Synopsis: Tamara wants to meet someone but self-employed with kids makes it difficult. Milo just had his heart broken, still a hopeless romantic. Then there is Saffie who has not been in love. Step forward The 24-hour Dating Agency, a match-making service with a difference. Instead of wasting months on casual dates they promise to find you the one through an intense twenty-four hours date – speed-dating but in reverse and even better, the agency boasts a 100% success rate. Figuring they have nothing to lose, the three friends decide to sign up. But when one of their dates turns out to be an undercover journalist researching the dating agency's unique approach for a feature, it looks as though one of them, at least, is headed for heartbreak. Or are they?
My Thoughts: This is marketed as a Romance but I think it is more Contemporary Fiction as the focus is on the friendship of the three co-workers and how it blossoms throughout the story while they are trying their chance at love through this dating app. While I did enjoy this book, I thought it would have been better to introduce their friendship in this book with the same premise, but then focus on one character’s love life and then spin off two more books with the other two characters love life’s. It just felt like there was a lot impacted into this one book and would have worked better as 3 separate books. However, in the end, I still enjoyed the book. It was emotional, complex, and the characters did have some depth, but not enough time was spent individually on the romances. All in all, I would read other books by this author as I did enjoy the writing style and the character development.
jackiesreadingjourney's review against another edition
3.0
This is a story about three friends who work together for a newspaper who sign up for a 24 hour dating agency which promises that after the 24 hour date you'd find your soulmate. It is an unconventional method after the friends have absolutely exhausted all online/speed dating options. The three friends are in their mid-late 30s and 40s, and they all have an entirely different love story. Milo is a homosexual man who feels like he has already dated all of the eligible bachelors in his town, Tamara is in her 40s and is divorced with three children, and Saffie has simply never been in love. We follow all three before, during, and after their dates and how this "soulmate guarantee" works out for them.
I gave this 3.5 stars. I really enjoyed how quirky and unique the story was, but it felt like there was way too much going on with all three stories, plus the author threw in a lot about the newspaper they work for. It felt like information overload at times, and that the stories weren't fleshed out enough. I would have loved three separate books focusing on each character because there actually were really surprising twists and it was such an entertaining book. Milo definitely got the short end of the stick with his story as his had the least going on, and Saffie's could have benefited from more details. However, Tamara's story was nicely done. I very much enjoyed this book, and I will read more books from this author in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus, Aria for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. This is being published on 6/30/22 ❤️
I gave this 3.5 stars. I really enjoyed how quirky and unique the story was, but it felt like there was way too much going on with all three stories, plus the author threw in a lot about the newspaper they work for. It felt like information overload at times, and that the stories weren't fleshed out enough. I would have loved three separate books focusing on each character because there actually were really surprising twists and it was such an entertaining book. Milo definitely got the short end of the stick with his story as his had the least going on, and Saffie's could have benefited from more details. However, Tamara's story was nicely done. I very much enjoyed this book, and I will read more books from this author in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus, Aria for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. This is being published on 6/30/22 ❤️