A review by mirandalikesbooks
Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This was my favorite of the series! I genuinely cared about both Iris and Stevie. Fake dating is one of my favorite romance tropes and I think the author crafted a scenario where fake dating actually made sense.
I liked Stevie's growth the best - the way her confidence grew throughout the book as she learned who she was beyond a small-stage actor in a somewhat controlling relationship was a fun character arc to root for.


Misses a 4 for me because some of the writing choices felt a little unnatural to me. Like instead of saying Stevie has anxiety the book specifically said several times that she has Generalized Anxiety Disorder which, for me, felt a little more clinical and stilted than the text required.
Also some of Iris' decisions felt a little forced. Was her dating history really bad enough for her to swear off dating and make her question whether people would accept her as she is? I wasn't fully convinced.
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