A review by kba76
The 24 Hour Dating Agency by Mary Jayne Baker

4.0

The 24hour Dating Agency sounds like the kind of thing you’d make up in a crazy moment. Conventional dating apps don’t seem to work, so for a £500 fee you are promised a 24hr date with a match and your money back if you don’t fall in love. Who would ever fall for such a scam?
At the start of the book we’re introduced to Tam, Milo and Saffie. All in their mid-thirties and all rather unlucky in love. Fed up with speed dates and awful experiences with exes, they decide to sign up for a new experience. Saffie, as she’s determined to get a good news story out of it, and the others because they want the love that’s eluded them so far.
The book follows the three in their daily lives as they navigate their dates and the fall-out. Not everything is quite what it seems, and it was hard not to get caught up in the drama surrounding them. It highlighted how much we prioritise appearances when choosing partners and it was a definite push for learning to put yourself first. There was little doubt we’d end happily, though they all had to work for it.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this. A 3.5 stars read rounded up (though I’m still unsure about the ventriloquist dummy).