This was a worthy conclusion to the beloved Bright Falls trilogy. Ashley Herring Blake once again developed robust characters and nuanced dynamics, created chemistry that was palpable and love that was believable. If you liked the first two, you're sure to enjoy this one as well!

I enjoyed this book, but I think I might have built it up too much in my head before reading it because it was not my favourite. I was REALLY looking forward to Iris’ story as I felt like she was the most relatable of the trio for me, but this just felt like it was missing something. I’m not sure if it was because the theatre production storyline was not that appealing to me, or if it’s because it felt like too much of Iris’ story focused on Stevie’s insecurities and frustrations. While I could definitely relate to Stevie as well, I think I just wanted more Iris.

What an incredible conclusion to the Bright Falls trilogy!

I was always curious about Iris since she was a background character in the previous books. Were there times when Iris annoyed me as a character? Yes. But that's mainly because she as a character had a lot of development in order to get past the rut she's in with how she views herself compared to how she is seen by others.

I absolutely ADORED Stevie! Her generalized anxiety felt so real, and it’s great to see that representation accurately portrayed by Ashley Herring Blake. At first, I was afraid that Stevie’s anxiety was going to be one of her main character traits, but this was redeemed later on in the story.

Iris and Stevie are both messy people, but that's part of what makes them great protagonists/love interests. They're able to help each other despite the denials and anxieties each of them carries with them. The "deals" they make through the fake dating scenario of the book are also messy, considering no one would do this in real life, but that's what made it so fun to read.

I also loved how diverse the cast of characters is in this book, considering all of the couples in the three books are white. This also goes for the gender identities of some of the side characters, where some of the more prominent ones aren’t cisgender and gender-neutral language is also used when unnamed characters are first introduced.

While I’m sad that there aren’t any more Bright Falls books, I’m excited to see what Blake comes out with next, like the holiday romance that is being released in the near future.

Blake does it again! She has quickly become one of my favorite romance authors. Stevie was such a relatable character and it was so refreshing to see anxiety portrayed so accurately. Iris and Stevie are perfection!

I love the fake dating trope and Ashley Herring Blake hit this one out of the park! I found this book to be such a fun read and while I can do without the drama towards the end (that stuff always gets to me) I loved this book as a whole. I know many readers are going to adore this forced proximity, fake dating romcom!

The Bright Falls gang gets a great conclusion to their stories with Iris Kelly Doesn't Date. Loved learning more about Iris and meeting Stevie. Can't say I've ever read a steamy scene that concluded the same way their first one did! Their chemistry was sexcellent. Their friends are fun. Highly recommend this inclusive romantic third installment to the Bright Falls series.

Ashley Herring Blake does it again. I already adore the Bright Falls trilogy (Astrid Parker is my all time fav sapphic romance) and she did not disappoint with the ending to the trilogy. Iris Kelly had fake dating with tons of mutual pining (but it’s all fake right?!). I also loved the plot line where Iris needed romance training and Stevie needed training in the bedroom. Such a fun addition to the classic fake dating scenario. I will say I am not a theater gay so I was hesitant when I saw the community theater plot line but I thought Ashley did a great job of balancing that they were in a play together with the rest of the plot-line.
Also for fans of the other couples from book 1 and 2 there was tons of fun cameos (with a surprising amount of Claire the romantic!) and an adorable epilogue that features all our favs together. I’m sad the series has to come to a close but I eagerly await the new books Ashley has waiting for us!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC!

This had such a fantastic start and middle, but then the end really dragged for me, and I lost interest. The set up? Incredible. I really loved Iris and her anxieties, and could relate to them. And I loved the boldness of Stevie and related heavily to her anxiety.

This book made me laugh from their first moments together, and cry during the harder ones. Both Iris and Stevie had great chemistry and character development!

This weekend I was completely obsessed with reading Ashley Herring Blake’s third installment in the Bright Falls series. After falling in love with Delilah and Claire, Astrid and Jordan, it’s time for Iris’s story! And honestly, I think it is the best one yet!

Where should I begin with Iris and Stevie? I loved both of them so much. Blake develops them so well while packing in some really fun tropes, including a few meta scenes as Iris is writing her own romance novel. This story has just about everything and yet it comes together seamlessly.
One night stand gone wrong✅
Opposites Attract ✅
Forced Proximity ✅
Fake Dating ✅
Grand Gesture ✅
Found Family ✅
Mix that in with casting the main couple in a queer retelling of Much Ado About Nothing and this becomes perfection to me!

Don’t miss it! Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date comes out Oct 24!

Ashley Herring Blake is the queen of the Sapphic romance for me. She writes deeply interesting, flawed characters that are able to grow and change without losing themselves. The Bright Falls books are so deeply important to me and this one punched me right in the heart. Herring Blake wrote so much tenderness and bravery into Iris and Stevie and I'm forever grateful to her for this book.

This book was such a great conclusion to this series. I loved Iris so much! I'm so sad to say goodbye t0 these girls but it was a lovely farewell!

What a different take on the fake-girlfriends trope. Honestly, it’s one of my least favorite types of stories in the lezfic world. There’s just so many of them, and most just read as the same blueprint over and over. Then recently I read this and The Fiance Farce, and dang, yep, totally worked for me.

Though I did enjoy the other books in this series (I think Iris is #1, then Delilah, and then Astrid – for me the first two (especially Astrid), had way too much unnecessary angst and unnecessary plot ploys --- reading Iris Kelly Doesn’t date left me with smiles throughout the whole story. Yes, it was the worse meet-cute ever, but the way anxiety is discussed, and how sweet Iris is to Stef regardless of her anxiety… I was rooting for them from their first awkward (and believable) conversation.

Sure, there was some drama that could have been avoided towards the end with a simple conversation – but – the ending in itself is beautiful and I forgive the few moments where I was not diggin’ the situation. I also thought it was beautiful how Iris’s friends all showed up in their own ways for Iris. Their text group is awesome [and I was happy to see Jordan wasn’t included…though, I was happy that Delilah was…yep, book 2 not my fav even though I do love Astrid]. I digress.

I have loved being a witness to all the characters in this group of friends – seeing the good and not so good, but how they just always showed up, no matter what, and called each other out on their sh*t. Even Delilah Green’s heart melted just a bit. I do think this one pulled at my heartstrings more, and although I thought Iris was a character/unfiltered best-friend in the first two books, I had a feeling that was all part of a show. I am happy that we finally got a chance to see all that was going un from the other side of her very thick shields.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! 4.5/5

I love this series, it's so fun and sexy and gaaaay. I'm sad to see the trilogy end, but I think it was a strong enough finish. This one felt extra emotional to me, but they all have an emotional intensity that I think heightens the eventual happily ever after. I liked the mental health rep here, and while I don't know Shakespeare very well I'm sure the play they do will be an extra fun element for some readers. Honestly, my favorite part was seeing a preview for AHB's next rom-com at the end of the digital ARC I read from NetGalley. We can rest easy knowing that there's more Bright Falls-esque romance to come.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book!!

I'd die for Stevie. End of discussion.

I absolutely loved this book. While I think Delilah Green Doesn't Care is still my favorite, this is a close second. This touched on so many deep things while still remaining to be fluffy and fun - the balance was just immaculate.

I love Iris's friendship with Delilah as well. I think her friendship with Astrid and Claire could have been built up a bit more - there was almost no interaction with Astrid and everything with Claire made her seem like overbearing, but that could just be me. Jordan was almost irrelevant in here. So much of the other two books rely on friendship that this one seems lacking in that field almost.

I also wish there were more of a wrap up with Adri - that plot line kind of just died after her admitting her feelings. I think it could have wrapped up a bit better, but otherwise it was still a good storyline.

Now Stevie and Iris? Perfect. I loved their interactions and I love them as a couple. Two gay artsy nerds 💕 Ashley Herring Blake is quickly becoming one of my top authors!!

- Maeve & Liam are adorable
- Addison sounds like a real treat
- Yeahh Jillian sucked big time
- I don’t know why people treat being single like it’s some sort of disease or condition
- So long as the person is happy, who cares?????
- I love Iris so much
- Zach sounds like an asshole so you know what, good for her. Take that Maeve
- We love a very queer group of friends
- Stevie has good buddies
- Ughh gay Shakespeare is the best
- Stevie is a wreck
- We would get along swimmingly
- I strongly dislike parents who are obsessed with their kids having children
- Will the parents be raising their grandchildren full time? No? Then shut the fuck up
- It’s not your call
- Iris & Simon’s friendship is really cute
- Oh Stevie, girl, you really are a mess
- Well that was painful to read
- Talk about a meet disaster
- I am HERE for it
- Wow this book does not pull any punches with the feelings
- I would like to wrap Iris in blankets & tell her it’s going to be okay
- The cameos from the previous books are lovely
- Simon is a good friend
- Stevie is a chronic people pleaser & I sincerely hope Iris changes that
- This is going to be interesting
- We’ve made it to the fake dating!!!!!
- Iris there are literally 9000 books involving fake dating
- Now is not the time for your trope superiority complex
- For someone who is so dramatic & outgoing, Iris is sometimes shockingly bad at communication
- There’s a 99% chance that Vanessa is fine, but the vibes are off
- Stevie meets the crew
- 10/10
- Well fuck you Lucy & fuck you too Jillian
- The sauna scene was 🥹🥹
- Wow okay Adri literally all of that was unnecessary
- Also
- You don’t talk about someone’s meds in front of someone new that’s just being a raging asshole
- Wow I relate so hard to Stevie & the being very uncomfortable with some words 😂
- This is going to be fun
- The candles!!
- I really appreciate the emphasis on separating romance from sex
- Iris you are in so much trouble
- Ahh yes, there are obviously no feelings happening here
- Nary a single feel to be found
- The running vomiting joke is the best
- Have I mentioned that I do not like Adri
- She sucks so much
- Oh Stevie
- I don’t know that I’m loving the whole lessons thing
- “Her eyes like shovels” is not my favourite analogy
- Wow Iris has a lot to work through
- I think Stevie is the right person to help tbh
- Dr Calloway sounds like a party
- Stevie is too precious
- Iris my friend just give it up
- I’d just like to say that I’m a very big fan of Astrid’s character development over the series
- *gasp* have we made… progress?????
- Iris I’m going to punch you in the fucking face
- STEVIE BOOKED YOU A HOT AIR BALLOON DATE. COME. ON.
- Foiled by the teenager
- Well at least we relieves some sexual tension
- Look I know Ren means well but that doesn’t mean that they have the right to get all up in Stevie’s business
- God fucking dammit Ren this is not your place
- Stevie you have been a bit of a dink
- Well that was heart wrenching & awful & terrible
- Iris!!!!!! W H Y
- “Stevie clicked her phone dark” is an incredibly awkward & unwieldy sentence
- Iris you stubborn little shit come on
- We did the thing!! It just took way too fucking long
- Okay the book thing was really adorable
- Love love love the foursome walking down the aisle
- Man I’m sad to leave Bright Falls. It was so incredibly gay & I loved every minute of it

Rounding out Blake's Bright Falls sapphic romance trilogy, this book delivers another heartfelt and intimate romance while not quite getting me as invested as its predecessors. The inclusion of characters from previous books felt more like necessary callbacks here than in Astrid Parker, and sometimes took away from chances for the main couple to grow on their own. This is still, however, a solid romance, with brutally realistic anxiety representation from the LI.

Another great sapphic book by Ashley Herring Blake in the Bright Falls series! After reading the first 2 books I wasn’t a huge fan of Iris so I wasn’t sure about her as the lead character. I loved the chemistry between Stevie and Iris and their romance!

Thank you to Berkeley Publishing for this eARC! Ashley Herring Blake always knows how to get me so invested, serve up hot SPICY romance and manage to stab me right where I’m most sensitive and Iris Kelly is no different. Iris and Stevie are so relatable I needed to put the book down and walk around the room for a while. And then rinse and repeat that when things heated up because MY MY has Ashley got a talent for sex scenes. It felt so right for this to be the closing chapter for Bright Falls and this beautiful sapphic queer friend group that I have so deeply fallen in love with. The beauty of romance is in the mess and how the characters choose to make sense of it. No one is doing it like Ashley. Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date is going to remain very special to me for an exceptionally long time

so so good! Loved the anxiety rep and bisexual rep. The fake dating was really well done which is very impressive. The spicy was excellent. Great character development.

I'm obsessed with this series and so sad it's coming to an end!!! The Bright Falls cast was so lovely to immerse myself in and I adore Blake's writing style and the way she builds out her characters. THE SPICE TOO!!!! Just so good, can't wait to reread over and over again