I loved this novel! It was cute and enjoyable. It was the perfect beach and vacation read. I started it at the beginning of my holiday and finished it on the plane ride home! Such a great book!

Seth is a famous fashion photographer, a rumored womanizer, and Tara knows better than to get tangled with a guy like him. Seth is the groom’s brother, Tara’s the bride’s best friend, and after their inevitable rendezvous at their wedding, a totally drunken night leads to a silly arrangement—four dates in four weeks. The more time they spent together, the more their feelings grew, but what happens at the end of four weeks when Seth has to move to Paris?

Pseudo-fake dating with a predictable premise, THE DATING DARE is a light and fun rom-com to read while sipping on an iced cold pint this summer. I liked that Seth can be cocky, and the swoon came from all the sweet gestures he did for the woman he was falling for. The playboy reputation was just a facade. Photography, the brewery, the adorable promposal were added elements I also enjoyed.

3.5/5 Stars

* I received this as an E-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review, Thank you!**

I think this was a super cute book. The overall plot was cute and I enjoyed it. I did find it a little difficult to connect to the story and characters. There was just something missing that kept me from feeling fully invested in the romance. Overall if you are looking for a super cute and quick read, I would recommend it.

THE DATING DARE by Jayci Lee follows Tara and Seth, neither of whom are looking for another heartbreak. Which is why the dating dare is the perfect plan—four dates, with no strings attached, before Seth moves to Paris for his job.

But it isn’t long before Tara realizes that Seth might not be the playboy she thought he was. And they both quickly find that the walls they’d put up are beginning to crumble as they fall for each other.

*Some potential spoilers ahead*

While The Dating Dare was very cute, it was just… not for me. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the concept. I loved that even though they agreed to four official dates, they found ways to hang out additionally, helping their relationship along. I love the clock on their relationship and the fact that they both were forced to acknowledge their feelings or lose the one person they’d managed to fall for after their last heartbreak. And I really loved that when Seth put it all on the line and confessed his feelings, Tara got scared and lied and said she didn’t feel the same. This part was done very very well, making me feel awful for Seth. (Not to mention a past lover showing up… I love the tension a third person can cause in romance!). And I loved that the story between them started from the very first page.

However, aside from the fact that they were both in the wedding party, I didn’t really get if they really knew each other beyond maybe a rehearsal or something. If so, what is their history? What were their interactions like before? Was there tension? And if they didn’t talk before the wedding night (page 1), then I almost feel like there was a lack of tension, getting to know you, and build up to them wanting each other. This might be because I just couldn’t get into it. Again, it’s a personal thing, but I have a harder time getting into stories written in third person, unless they are super stellar. But in general, there wasn’t enough tension between the MCs and the dialogue fell flat. The conflict got a little redundant with the two of them fighting themselves about falling in love while going on romantic dates (which is fine, but there wasn’t a whole lot else going on… until Roger showed up). And, to be honest, AGAIN a personal preference, the steam level was too low for me. It was a lot like reading a YA romance. There was so much potential. In the beginning, there was so much sexual tension with them making out, wanting each other… but then come time for actual steamy stuff, it was all off page (which I realize that’s what some people prefer!) So overall, while it wasn’t my cup of tea, it might be someone else’s!

I thought this book was a super cute fun read. I enjoyed the premise. It was fun to watch the main characters find their way to each other. The writing was solid and the character development was on point. Huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

Very much a summer rom-com quick read! Light story about two people who meet at a wedding and agree to a few dates with no commitment. Seth and Tara are no looking for any long-term relationship or any at all. They have fun, and one thing always leads to another!

I received an advanced copy from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I love the concept, but didn't click with the writing style. I think this was a 'me' issue, not the fault of the book though. I hope fans of contemporary romance will embrace this one.

The Dating Dare is the second book in the Sweet Mess series. It is a bit cheesy and cliched but overall I enjoyed it more than the first in the series. There was one trope used at the end of the first book that is usually a turnoff for me, but seeing how it paid off in this book lessened my distaste for it.

My biggest criticism is that I feel like Tara and Seth’s love is too instant. I don’t feel like they have the foundation to make it work forever based on what we see in this book.

I love books involving lots of food and dating arrangements that become real attraction so those positives outweighed my disbelief in their insta-love.

Thank you to St Martin’s Griffin and Jayci Lee for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was just okay. I don’t feel like is was anything to get excited about. There was so much miscommunication throughout the story that I was frustrated reading it because they could have gotten together much sooner than they did.

The concept of this book was intriguing, but it really fell flat. After reading 2 books by the author, I don’t think Jayci Lee is an author for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced digital copy of this book.

ngl i enjoyed this one much more than a sweet mess also THE COVER??

the concept for this book was so fascinating! a dating dare? friends with benefits kinda thing? (wish it wasn’t fade to black) SIGN ME UP!! this book is such a quick read (yes it took me a week to finish shh) i really enjoyed their tension like oooof. this was so cheesy but it was right up my alley.
it was nice how it picked up right after a sweet mess and seeing what aubrey and landon are up to.

while both tara and seth dealt with their own personal baggage, i’m glad they eventually found solace in each other. i adored seth so much. he has my whole heart.

I'm always a fan of a feel good rom com and The Dating Dare did not disappoint. It was a fun read and shows how sometimes the best things are the ones that you never see coming. This was the perfect feel good book to read during the summer .

Thank you so much to #NetGalley and St. Martin Press for the arc.

Trigger Warning - past partner abuse discussed.

What happens when you put two people together that are very attracted together but also very broken from past relations? The dating dare, in which one dares the other to go on 4 dates with them without strings and not fall for each other…

…Of course they fall for each other, but that’s where the real dare begins. Do they dare to do the work and look into themselves to let them make this 4 date arrangement into something more permanent?

Both Tara and Seth have a history of partner abuse that tarnishes their views on relationships and love. They both had so much to work on that at points I found this romance hard to read. There was a lot of self sabotaging and generalizing about the opposite sex or partners. I did find it interesting that both he male and female leads used casual relationships to both boost their self esteem and to erect a barrier from getting hurt again.

This was not an easy read for me. The characters underlying issues made it difficult for me to truly enjoy their journey to the HEA. I respect that there are people out there that need stories like this to relate to, but for myself, it just wasn’t the light hearted story I was hoping for.

The Dating Dare by Jenna MacGregor is scheduled to release August 3rd, 2021.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.


#TheDatingDare #JayciLee #Netgalley #pinkcowlandreads

The Dating Dare is the second book in the Sweet Mess series, but I didn’t realize this when I started it. It read well as a standalone novel, but it did take me a little while to adjust because there wasn’t much backstory to provide perspective. I’m thinking you can dive into this one much easier if you have read the first book, but it is not necessary.

It is a cute, quick read with witty banter and a lot of chemistry between Tara and Seth and some great steam. I just didn’t feel like there was a lot to the story though. It seemed a little superficial and flat. I don’t know if I’m so used to contemporary romances and rom-coms that also tackle other topics. It touched a little on an abusive relationship, but not until the end.

Overall, I enjoyed it but I’m not sure if I am interested enough to read the first book. I alternated between listening to the audiobook and reading it on my Kindle and I was able to finish it in two days. The audio was fun to listen to and I’ve heard the narrator, Natalie Naudus, in other audiobooks (i.e. One Last Stop) and she really fit the story and the characters.

Thank you so much to @macmillian.audio, @librofm, @stmartinspress, @netgalley for the gifted copies!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Griffin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a sweet, small town romance and the second book in a character series by Jayci Lee. Tara and Seth are friendly acquaintances that end up committing to a “Dating Dare”- four dates without falling in love. Neither think it should be a problem, but as they start spending more time together their minds begin to change.

I liked the premise of this book and the tension created by a relationship with a deadline. The dual POVs also allow you to see into both characters minds, which I always love.

What disappointed me about this story was the dialogue. I found myself annoyed with every conversation between Seth and Tara- and the conversations Tara had with her family. It felt like a repetitive lifetime movie, and the banter gave me “Disney Channel-ish” vibes at times.
I was also looking forward to the steamy scenes (it’s a romance- who isn’t?) but felt unimpressed with them as well. It’s somewhere between explicit and fade to black- meaning I wouldn’t recommend it to my mom but also wouldn’t recommend it to a spice-loving romance reader.

If you’re looking for a cheesy, lighthearted, small town romance- this one might be for you. For me, unfortunately it just fell flat.

This story started off really strong. I loved the writing style from the first page and the chemistry between Tara/Seth was very appealing.

Unfortunately it didn't get much better for me. The constant back and forth between the 'intense feelings' and the 'it can't happen' drove me a little crazy.

It was a very cute story and an adorable couple, but not enough to make me want to continue with this series.

I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, this wasn't my favorite romance. Something just didn't click for me; I thought there'd be more depth. The dialogue was a little stilted, the whole thing was very predictable, and it just felt too much on the surface. Tara and Seth are interesting and developed characters and I liked that they are flawed. But interactions between them that should've been easier weren't and others that should've been more difficult/awkward were kind of glossed over.

I would have loved to see more Korean culture and heritage involved in the story, too. There were bits and pieces, oblique nods, but nothing significant. It feels like a bit of a missed opportunity.

I'd recommend this book but only with the caveat that it reads like a Lifetime movie: a little over-the-top, a little unrealistic, and with an obvious happily-ever-after.

Thank you the the publisher for e-ARC via netgalley!

I absolutely adored A Sweet Mess and this one was definitely a lot of fun. We follow Landon's brother, Seth, and Aubrey's best friend Tara. And because of this we get to read about some of them in the book, but we also get to read about Tara's brewery, Aubrey's bakery, and Landon's restaurant as it's built.

Tara and Seth have both been burned in relationships and have sworn off giving up their hearts to others and have their own flaws because of it.

This was a believable romance and also still very cute. Would recommend.

I didn't read the first book in the series, but I think you can read this book as a standalone.

This is a cute light-hearted rom-com with a fun premise. When Tara's best friend (Aubrey) and Seth''s brother (Landon) tie the knot, Tara and Seth find themselves playing a game of Truth or Dare at Tara's brewery. The two of them are attracted to one another but Tara won't give Seth the time of day, until he dares her to go on four dates with him. Not one to back down from a dare, Tara agrees and is determined to have a no-strings attached fling with Seth. They both agree not to get feelings involved, but they soon realize what's going between them is more than a dare.

This was a cute take on the enemies to lovers troupe. While I enjoyed the book, there were a few times were I felt like I wanted a little more conflict/obstacles for the Seth and Tara. But overall, I thought it was a fun read.

If you're looking for a summer beach read, this might be the book for you! I give this book a 3.5/5.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

When I got this book and looked at it on Goodreads I realized it was book 2 in a series. So never having read anything by Jayci Lee, I went and read book 1 first. I enjoyed it just as much as I enjoyed this one! I've always loved books with HEA, but I want them to work for it. It can't be easy, or too difficult, they have to have some kind of conflict for me. This was just right, hit all my buttons for a perfect romance with HEA. Some characters from book 1 make an appearance but this could still be read as a stand alone story. I loved Tara's snarky attitude and I don't drink beer, but I loved the beer names! Great entertaining summer read!

This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. All opinions are my own.

It was difficult for me to get into reading this book considering the first chapter deals with Seth ogling over Tara while she is drunk. Seth was overwhelmingly misogynistic and toxic from the very beginning. As well, I found the story to be extremely slow-paced.
However, all in all it is a fast read considering the length of the book. It is your typical romance novel and if you are interested in reading about a toxic love story turned good, then this is the book for you.