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A review by justmevictoria
Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake
5.0
Romancing the romance author who doesn’t do romance…
With her best friends finally settling down and her mother setting her up every single person in her life, Iris Kelly is getting just a little bit annoyed about how those around her view her life. She’s more than happy pursuing hookups, being the fun aunt of the group, and focusing on getting her next romance book written. Except the novel writing isn’t going that well, and when her editor suggests she takes a step back from writing and do something else creative, she jumps at her friend’s suggestion to audition for a community theater Shakespeare production. What she’s not expecting to find at the audition is Stevie Scott, the woman who threw up on her during a recent failed hookup. When Stevie inadvertently tells her friends she and Iris are dating, the pair embark on a fake relationship, with Iris teaching Stevie how to be confident with casual hookups, and Stevie teaching Iris about romance for her book. As the line between fiction and reality begins to blur, Iris has to face the real reasons she hasn’t want a relationship before two hearts end up broken.
Iris has been a fun and sassy character since book one and I have been not-so-patiently waiting for her book. And the wait has been totally worth it! Ashley has gone from strength to strength with each installment in this series and I’m a little bummed that we wont’ be returning to Bright Falls again. I’ve loved every single leading lady in this trilogy, and Iris was the best character to go out on a bang with!
Just like with Delilah and Astrid, Ashley’s writing style instantly pulls you into the story, and I genuinely struggled to put down to the book to be a productive human - I just had to finish the book and see Iris get her HEA! As I’ve said before, Ashley’s writing it just so easy to consume, and her books are just so familiar and comforting, as if you are coming back to an old favourite.
I love when romance authors make one of their leading characters an author, specifically a romance author, because it allows things to get super meta. Iris talking about how she doesn’t understand the fake relationship trope and then getting into a fake relationship herself and falling in love? Love it. Genius. So fun.
Iris and Stevie’s relationship was so sweet and swoony as they straddled the line between fiction and reality, especially when Stevie really started wooing Iris. And quoting lines from Shakespeare at one another? Absolute SWOON. I don’t mean to pick favourites in this trilogy, but I think Iris and Stevie are my favourite, at least until I reread the books and fall in love with these characters all over again.
I really enjoyed Ashley’s portrayal of GAD (Generalised Anxiety Disorder) when it came to Stevie, especially how different people around her help her with her anxiety and panic attacks. Meanwhile it was interesting to see how those around Iris reacted to her mother and the comments she makes about Iris and her love life. Both women had toxic people in their lives that took a toll on their mental health, and both were able to finally stand up for themselves and break away from that toxicity.
This book is hands-down one of my favourite reads of the year, and this trilogy as a whole is one of my favourite romance series. And while I’m sad to be saying goodbye to the Bright Falls ladies, I’m SO excited for whatever Ashley is cooking up next!
With her best friends finally settling down and her mother setting her up every single person in her life, Iris Kelly is getting just a little bit annoyed about how those around her view her life. She’s more than happy pursuing hookups, being the fun aunt of the group, and focusing on getting her next romance book written. Except the novel writing isn’t going that well, and when her editor suggests she takes a step back from writing and do something else creative, she jumps at her friend’s suggestion to audition for a community theater Shakespeare production. What she’s not expecting to find at the audition is Stevie Scott, the woman who threw up on her during a recent failed hookup. When Stevie inadvertently tells her friends she and Iris are dating, the pair embark on a fake relationship, with Iris teaching Stevie how to be confident with casual hookups, and Stevie teaching Iris about romance for her book. As the line between fiction and reality begins to blur, Iris has to face the real reasons she hasn’t want a relationship before two hearts end up broken.
Iris has been a fun and sassy character since book one and I have been not-so-patiently waiting for her book. And the wait has been totally worth it! Ashley has gone from strength to strength with each installment in this series and I’m a little bummed that we wont’ be returning to Bright Falls again. I’ve loved every single leading lady in this trilogy, and Iris was the best character to go out on a bang with!
Just like with Delilah and Astrid, Ashley’s writing style instantly pulls you into the story, and I genuinely struggled to put down to the book to be a productive human - I just had to finish the book and see Iris get her HEA! As I’ve said before, Ashley’s writing it just so easy to consume, and her books are just so familiar and comforting, as if you are coming back to an old favourite.
I love when romance authors make one of their leading characters an author, specifically a romance author, because it allows things to get super meta. Iris talking about how she doesn’t understand the fake relationship trope and then getting into a fake relationship herself and falling in love? Love it. Genius. So fun.
Iris and Stevie’s relationship was so sweet and swoony as they straddled the line between fiction and reality, especially when Stevie really started wooing Iris. And quoting lines from Shakespeare at one another? Absolute SWOON. I don’t mean to pick favourites in this trilogy, but I think Iris and Stevie are my favourite, at least until I reread the books and fall in love with these characters all over again.
I really enjoyed Ashley’s portrayal of GAD (Generalised Anxiety Disorder) when it came to Stevie, especially how different people around her help her with her anxiety and panic attacks. Meanwhile it was interesting to see how those around Iris reacted to her mother and the comments she makes about Iris and her love life. Both women had toxic people in their lives that took a toll on their mental health, and both were able to finally stand up for themselves and break away from that toxicity.
This book is hands-down one of my favourite reads of the year, and this trilogy as a whole is one of my favourite romance series. And while I’m sad to be saying goodbye to the Bright Falls ladies, I’m SO excited for whatever Ashley is cooking up next!