I don't usually come across novels where the lead characters are Koreans. Yes, I watched Kdramas, but I seldom read stories about them.

It started with a dare. Tara and Seth could not even tell their close friends and families because dating in a small town where everyone knows each other is a complication.

As these two became closer and got to know each other, they found that they had a lot of similarities and the attraction that they felt was soaring.

I will never forget how the story of these two ended. It was out of the ordinary, and I, too, wished for a Seth in my life! 😁❤️

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and Netgalley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for providing an ARC of this novel to me in exchange for an honest review.

When I received this book to read and review, I did not realize that it was the second book in the installment. When I discovered this, I decided to read the first novel first before continuing with this one. Boy am I glad I made this decision. The first novel was great and providing a nice back drop to this novel. I also discovered that I did not need to read these two book in order - each one stands nicely on its own.

Jayci Lee has a nice, heartwarming way about her writing. It is simple and easy with a lovely infusion of every day communication and anecdotes that made me laugh out loud continuously. Our romantic couple, Seth and Tara, were just perfect - a lovely blend of romantic corny and stressful baggage that allows the reader to enjoy the story without getting bored or losing hope that love will eventually prevail.

If you like a nice wholesome romantic book, then this story is for you and Jayci Lee is the author you want to read.

Happy reading and enjoy!

Very cute romance. I enjoyed it and thought the writing was well done. Although this isn’t my favorite romance of the year, it’s cute and I would recommend.

It’s so refreshing to read a rom com with character depth , steamy romance, banter and wit, relatable characters with weakness and flaws .Read this funny light romcom , so enjoyable

I hadn’t read A Sweet Mess but I don’t think you need to in order to follow this book. I thought it was super cheesy and predictable but a lot of it was pretty chuckle worthy. Some of it was ridiculous and a little repetitive at times but overall I think it was a cute romance!

I loved that Tara owned a brewery because that isn’t the typical job for a female lead in books but I thought it was refreshing. Her sarcasm though, was my favorite, and I could definitely relate to that. I thought their back and forth was entertaining even though their relationship was a little odd. We didn’t really get to know the characters much until the second half of the book so it was a bit hard to connect to them but I still think it was a quick, fun read.

I was a big fan of A Sweet Mess so I was quite excited to get Tara's story.

How fun that we get not only Tara, but Landon's brother, Seth, as well.

I loved the Asian representations expressed in this novel. The game that Tara and Seth come up with to pass time is entertaining. Their chemistry was equally golden.

This did feel that at times it was dragging a bit too much.

Overall I enjoyed this read. Thank you @stmartinspress @macmillanaudio @librofm @netgalley for the advanced e copy and audio listener copy. All thoughts are my own.

Tara Park does not do serious relationships. Neither does Seth Kim, but when a game of truth or dare turns into Tara going on 4 dates with Seth, but not falling for him she accepts the dare. I thought this had such a cute premise that I was excited when I got a copy of the audiobook through Macmillan Audio and NetGalley.

This was such a fun story, and the chemistry between Tara and Seth was undeniable from the first scene. I did not realize how steamy this book would be though. I’m moderate spice when it comes to romance, but the steam factor did not bother me at all. It worked for their storyline. The author, Jayci Lee, did a great job with character development while combining it with the steam.

Both characters had their reasons for not wanting serious relationships, but I felt that part of the story was a bit drawn out. I just wanted them to admit their feelings for each other and after a while I got a little annoyed that they wouldn’t.

When I requested this ARC, I did not realize this is the second book in a series, but it can be read as a standalone. I do plan to go back and read it at some point. Jayci Lee is a new to me author, but I look forward to reading more of her books.

The synopsis of this book truly grabbed me. However, I've attempted for months to get into this book. I never made it past 25%. Not sure I can pinpoint what didn't grab me, but I'm sure someone else will pick it up and fall in love. Sadly, it's just not for me.

***DID NOT FINISH***

I didn't realize that this was book #2 and found it can be read as a stand alone.

This was a quick, fun read and very steamy!! I loved the banter between Seth and Tara I was hooked from page one and read it in under 24 hours
If you need a quick, easy fun story I highly recommend

My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An enjoyable but predictable rom-com. If you need a book that delivers in a fun quick way look no further than this one. Loved the characters and the plot.

Everything a feel-good story should have!

This was my first Jaci Burton book and I really enjoyed it, even though I haven't read the first one in this interconnected series. The characters were both light and funny, with nice chemistry between them. And the plot was a sweet delightful from start to finish, with lots of tropes that I really enjoy reading.

A fun and lighthearted romantic comedy. There were a few cute scenes as Tara and Seth began their dates. I thought it was really cute the way they orchestrated ways of meeting up with each other for 'non dates' just so they could hang out together. They made a great pair and it was fun watching them fall in love.
There is plenty of angst, romance and comedy in this feel-good romantic story.

What I Liked:
This was a fabulous sequel to A Sweet Mess! They flowed together SO well.
Such an interesting trope - daring each other not to date and slowly quickly falling for each other.
STEAMY
The narrator of this audiobook was fabulous.
I loved the characters and I loved their relationship.

What I Didn't Like/Wanted More Of:
Really predictable (but what romances aren't honestly?)
The characters seemed too much like the same person.

You Should Read if You Like:
Cheesy romances

I enjoyed The Dating Dare by Jayci Lee. It was entertaining, it was sweet, but in the end, it wasn't really memorable for me. It was good, not great, and I wanted it to be great after experiencing A Sweet Mess, the first book in the series.

Although Tara and Seth are attracted to each other, Seth is leaving town in a month, and Tara is not looking for a relationship. But they decide to date until Seth needs to leave. I really enjoyed them falling for each other. But what keeps this from being a 4 or 5 star for me is that they would complain that the other doesn't communicate, and then they wouldn't communicate. They both had the same compliant. And then they were freaking out because real feelings were developing, which I know is scary sometimes, but it felt like they dealt with all of this a little immaturely.

This book was cute. Tara and Seth are attracted to each other but they both have sworn off love forever. With Seth leaving for Paris in a month, a quick fling relationship should be easy for the two. The beginning was meh, the middle was great, even if a bit insta-lovey. The constant need to not care about one another yet be all over one another was just annoying after a point.

I have been terrible at reading my ARC's this year. I have so many now that it is kind of nerve-wracking and stress inducing. I have been wanting to read this one since I saw the cover. I am just one of those people who picks a book up based on the cover and sometimes never even reads the description. This is one of those.

Tara attends the wedding of her best friend and runs into Seth, her best friends new brother in law. Tara and Seth have both had such terrible times with love that neither are open to falling in love. Seth is set to leave in a month to head to a new life in Paris. They decide there is no harm to a dating dare of four dates and the deal to not fall in love with each other. However, with every Rom-Com things don't go according to plan and their dates are interrupted and they find that they want to spend more and more time together. Will they open up to true love or go their separate ways?

I really liked this book. I knew from the beginning how this book would end. That's why I love rom-coms there are always comedy and happy endings. This book was such a light read. I blew through it. It is very PG-13, things are implied, but not detailed. I haven't read any of Jayci Lee's books before, but I cant wait to see what else she has out there. I rate this book a three out of five stars. I just find that I read so many rom-coms that I cant rate them all 5's. This was a really good book just wouldn't make the top of my Rom-com list. I do recommend for others to read as well if you are looking for a light read.

I did receive this book as an ARC from Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to read it.

I read this second book in Jayci Lee's A Sweet Mess romance series without having read the first, and it works fine as a standalone (romance series do usually work this way) - and I'm glad I didn't bother reading the first one, because as it turns out, I found The Dating Dare to be pretty mediocre.

The plot is fine, as cheesy as the premise kind of is (I don't mind a cheesy premise though, honestly!), but the prose was just clumsy and unappealing. I wasn't interested in the characters and didn't feel enough chemistry between them, and what else is there, really, in a romance novel?

Thank you to St. Martin’s and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Dating dare by Jayci Lee

There is a saying that, "Like calls to like" which is most definitely the case with commit phobic Tara Park and Seth Kim who give in to their mutual attraction on the conditionality that they can go on four dates but they can't fall in love.

The Dating Dare is a cute rom-com with a great premise and a decent reflection of Korean influences in the dialogue and culture. I enjoyed the emphasis placed on the role of family and the familial bonds created with Set and Landon and Tara and her brothers (I smell spin-offs). I also relished the fact that Tara's job as a master brewer was highly unconventional and totally badas*.

I had high hopes for The Dating Dare but there were some elements that dropped the ball for me. The dialogue felt very stiff and the inner monologues of Seth and Tara were eerily similar. I have no problem with the "I want to love but am afraid of getting my heart broken" but I think my issue stems from the transition between friends to something more. The communication was sorely lacking and while I agree attraction and lust are starters, they cannot be all that fuels love. Any opportunity for a slither of emotions was quickly shot down not allowing an emotional connection to form which was slightly disappointing to me.

Overall this could be labeled as a cheesy rom-com but I did enjoy the cultural representation, strong familial bonds, and the unwavering friendship between the couples.

Thank you to St. Martins Press for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I've been in a slump for a few months, of course until I finally got a chance to read this book. Tara and Seth are Maid of Honor and Best man to Aubrey (Tara's Best Friend) and Landon (Seth's Brother) wedding (from the first book). Seth is planning to move to Paris, so the two decide to date for the next month and think they can with out falling for each other.

I especially loved the banter and interaction between Seth and Tara, as well as all of the supporting characters throughout the story. The flow was great, as well as the growth of the characters. I hope Tara's brother's Jack and Alex will get books in the future.

I received a copy of the book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This was such a fun read. I loved the banter between the characters. They had great chemistry and I’m always a fan of enemies to lovers! I think both characters were well written and had great story arcs.
This is an adorable romcom!