Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - While We Were Dating

I was nervous going into this but was delightfully surprised.

I liked getting to know Ben more, after meeting him in The Wedding Party. And it was cool getting to know Anna who was mentioned in The Proposal. What I enjoyed most about this story was the discussion around mental health. I was worried all we’d get is a mention that Ben and Anna go to therapy but we really got to explore their mental health journey and I loved that. Ben’s therapist reminds me of mine lol. There’s also a scene with a suitcase that was absolutely hilarious.

I think this was the spiciest of all the books in this series. Do with that information what you will.

This story uses the fake dating trope but only for the last third of the book, which is the exact opposite of The Wedding Date, now that I think about it, which uses it in the beginning of the story.

I’m gonna talk about specific things I liked and didn’t like below so spoilers for this section:
- Theo and Maddy are on the road to engagement and I love that for them
- I was really worried we wouldn’t see or even get a mention about Nick but not only did we get to see her but also we learned that her and Carlos are engaged! I hope Olivia and Drew are ready to attend all these weddings
- I would say my biggest disappointment is that we didn’t get to see Ben meet Dawn. I was really invested in that subplot and was sad that we didn’t get to see him interact with her outside of emails

All in all, I liked this story and would recommend it if you’re looking for a fun summer romcom read

Content Warnings

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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

3.0

This love story is such a Guillory Whirlwind. There are repressed feelings, stolen weekends, and a deep appreciation for food-- all infectious qualities in a book. It stars Ben, emotionally unavailable playboy and genuine gentleman, and Anna, an anxious actress trying to climb back to normalcy and success after a difficult year, mental health-wise. Their fling becomes a fake relationship when the positive press can be put towards solidifying Anna's chances at an Oscar-worthy role.

There was a lot to enjoy in this fluffy romance. I enjoyed all the sneaking around to hide Anna from the paparazzi, especially a certain contortionist suitcase scene. I also stan the open conversations and respect between our two lovebirds. Anna was a great heroine; she's seeking perfection in a profession (a whole world, actually) where being fat and being Black set her at unfair disadvantage. She's coming to terms with seeing the progress in her life and not judging herself for needing help or for prioritizing her own well-being. The story is a rallying cry for therapy and for leaning on each other.

It was all a bit too fast and furious for my personal taste, but I think the pacing suited the characters. Also, the banter didn't leave me either swoony or laughing out loud, which are my preferred outcomes. However, I liked all the ideas in this story, and I thought both leads were genuinely excellent people. I think that fans of the author will find that this latest installment does not disappoint.

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