as an anxious girly myself, Stevie was so relatable and i know so many of my friends that give major Iris energy… this is such a perfect installment to the series!!

"Iris Kelly Doesn't Date" is a triumphant conclusion to the "Bright Falls" series. Ashley Herring Blake's heroines are fully developed, relatable characters that you can't help but root for.

This Bright Falls series is such a true delight. I think the loveliest thing about it is the found family in Iris, Clare and Astrid. That said, I really enjoyed how Stevie's found family showed that they can be as complicated and messy as a bio family. I also think Ashley Herring Blake really knows how to write spice. She knows when in the book to introduce it and how much to put in to keep us folks who like it engaged. I could spend more time in Bright Falls, just saying.

LGBTQIA+ Pride Month #8 ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

rep: bi, lesbian

As evidenced by my Astrid review, I am reading these out of order. In my defense, Delilah Green Doesn't Care has a monstrous wait at my library.

I got into this series because of Ekene, who always recommends the best books, and because Ashley spoke so devotedly about this series at LA Times Festival of Books. Hearing an author talk about their books really brings them to life for me.

I fell in love with Astrid's story. Not that these books are terribly long by any means, but I read it in a couple of days.

I did not fall in love with Iris' story. I found her rather unlikeable in Astrid's book, and that somewhat continued in this one. Two points I will make that endeared her to me: 1) Growing up Roman Catholic with immigrant parents, and 2) Knowing her own mind and leaving a partner that she loved because she knew she never wanted children. I don't know how many times I had to explain the latter to my parents. They insist I haven't met "the right man." So in this way, I found Iris' parents entirely unbearable. So, too, were her siblings. Be understanding. It doesn't hurt you any.

Even with all of this, I think Iris will be my least favorite of the three. Delilah is a tattooed woman from New York. I know I won't hate that. It gives Jane Su energy.

I just felt Iris deserved more. Stevie was fine. Clearly hung up on her ex and anxious to a tee (I know this is her disorder, it just felt a little repetitive). I hated her friend group. Ren was also fine. Her ex is absolutely fucking trash. Vanessa felt a little pick-me.

Yes, I read more romance now. Diverse romance, anyway. Do I still hate the third act breakup? And the ensuing drama? Yes, yes, and more yes. Will I continue to torture myself? Probably yes.

Last note, but an important one. I realize this is an ARC so it hasn't gone through final edits yet, but Colombia the country is spelled with two Os. Not a U. Please please can someone fix this?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

A satisfying third entry in the Bright Falls series. I will say, this one does some unique and well-thought-out twists on the fake dating trope, but fake dating still isn't for me.

This is an easy 5/5 stars. Technically 4.9999/5 if only because Delilah and Claire are still THAT couple for me, but we round up in this household. I was not planning on burning through the whole book in a day, but Ms. Blake had other ideas for me, it would seem.

If there's one thing that I want known about me as a reader, it's that The Charm Offensive is one of my favorite books of all time, and Iris and Stevie gave me Dev and Charlie vibes like CRAZY in the best ways. The fake dating, the mental emotional blocks, the hiding behind masks, the blurred lines of who was in need of fixing and who was the most traumatized by their past. It gave and it gave and I ate it up. The sex scenes didn't feel as spicy as the other two books, or maybe I'm just more used to her writing by this point, but still carried the appeal of the growing relationship, and I really loved how the romance of it all was treated as an entirely separate entity for them to build. I liked the mental health conversations around Stevie, and the blend of sexual/romantic identities the book got to represent. Even a tiny conversation about someone being aromantic and presenting it as a genuine possibility with no judgments attached was wonderful. The backdrop of the queer community theater putting on genderbent gay as hell Shakespeare was also everything to the little theater kid ruminating somewhere in my heart.

The only thing that borderline threatened to drag the book down for me was the absolute IRRITATION I felt for like every member of the supporting cast. Not a single side character in this entire book could look at a boundary and actually respect it. Iris and Stevie were on very similar journeys with respect to their social groups with the whole "everyone thinks they know what's best for me" elements, and it got really repetitive to go through the same journey twice. Obviously it wasn't bad enough to drop it any stars for me, but I would've liked to see more differentiation there.

But this is a must book.

Ashley Herring Blake’s Bright Falls trilogy feels like it’s everywhere on my bookstagram feed, and so when I saw Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date available on Netgalley, I jumped at the chance to request it. Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date is told in dual POV, following Iris Kelly, and Stefania “Stevie” Scott. With all of Iris’ friends coupled up, her family constantly trying to set her up with someone, and the looming deadline of her second book hanging over her head, it’s hard for Iris not to spiral. Especially when given the fact that she’s got a serious case of writer’s block. When she goes to a bar in Portland, she has a memorable night with a stranger, Stefania, that goes south. Deciding to listen to her agent, she auditions for a local play only to come face to face with Stevie. Unbeknownst to her, Stevie’s told her friends that the two of them are together in an attempt to get them off her back, and to prove to her ex-girlfriend that she’s moved on. Stevie and Iris make a deal — Iris will play along as Stevie’s girlfriend, if Stevie provides romance fodder for her next book.

In a book that’s called Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date, I was a little bit shocked that one of my main criticisms of the book was around Iris’ storylines. I felt like a lot of Iris’ storylines felt unfinished, or underdeveloped, in comparison to Stevie’s. Particularly around Iris’ dynamics with her family — I felt like I was missing a conversation between Iris and her siblings, or at the very least, her parents, and I was left pretty disappointed on that front. In a way, it almost felt like Herring Blake relied on readers remembering and loving Iris from her two prior books, and since it had been a while since I last visited Bright Falls, I was left feeling a little empty.

On the other hand, I absolutely adored Stevie. Stevie was such an easy character to root for, despite the initial secondhand embarrassment, and the way that Ashley Herring Blake wrote Stevie’s anxiety really resonated with me. Following Stevie’s storyline and watching her become more comfortable in her own skin, advocating for her own needs, and standing up for herself was so lovely to read. I particularly treasured watching Stevie integrate herself within Iris’ friend group — getting to see how Delilah and Claire were doing after all this time was very sweet, and I particularly loved Claire’s bond with Stevie. The two of them felt like character foils in a way, and given that Claire was one of my favorite characters from the Bright Falls series, I’m not even remotely surprised that Stevie & Claire’s dynamic was one of my favorites. The Bright Falls friend group has always been one of my favorite things, and catching up with them was a true delight.

As someone who loves theatre, I was really hoping that the cast of As You Like It and the show itself would have a bigger role in the book. In fact, if Ashley Herring Blake wrote another book about the theatre company itself, I would jump to read it. The concept behind that specific production was so cool, and I really wish I could watch it come to life. As You Like It felt a bit like a vehicle to get Iris and Stevie from point a to point b in a small amount of time, and a bit like a movie montage. It was simply more telling than showing, and I personally prefer being able to see more of the more mundane, smaller moments in books.

I think that Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date could’ve benefited from being longer, and just from being more fleshed out. There were a lot of plotlines and characters that were introduced, and I felt like they either felt incomplete, or just dull. There was a lot of potential and that was what was most frustrating for me. I also felt like the pacing felt off, and that the last 20% felt really rushed.

Still, fake-dating is a superior trope, and I did really enjoy Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date, despite my criticisms. I particularly loved how Iris and Stevie both come to realize that while their friends love them and may have their best interests in mind, their friends can still be misguided and not know what’s truly best for them — especially if they aren’t ready for it at that point in time. I’m a bit sad to know that this is the end of Bright Falls, but can’t wait to see what Herring Blake writes next!

This is my favorite book of this trilogy!

This book was somewhat cliché and gimmicky but in a good way. This book knew what it was and leaned into it. It was a fake dating story that also made fun of the fake dating trope. It was done in such a wonderful way that had me laughing along the whole way. It was hilarious and heart warming, but it was also so freaking hot. It was steamy and I got blue balls so many times because it was a little bit more of a slow burn but did such a good job of making me want these characters to get together.

Stevie and Iris were both such wonderful characters and they worked so well together. I may be slightly biased because I am a bisexual who was a theater kid for almost my whole life. I loved this book so much and I am so sad that one of my favorite trilogies of all time is over now.

A sweet conclusion to the bright falls series. This one took me a little longer to get into than the previous instalments, but I enjoyed Iris’s growth throughout the series and especially this book.

I have a mixed relationship with this series, but I actually really liked this book! The characters were fun and I enjoyed the plot and all the tropes. Recommended to romance readers especially.

4.5 Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date kick started a romance binge for me.

I absolutely loved this book!! I relate so much to Stevie and her struggles with anxiety and it was nice to see her working through that. I can’t tell if I want to be Iris or if I just want to kiss Iris but I LOVE her!! She is so fun and has such a spunky personality so I was happy to dive into her story more! She had me giggling the entire book and I couldn’t put it down. It was also nice to see Delilah again <3 love love love.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC

Iris Kelly, wild middle child, has been hearing an ongoing tune from her family for years: Get Serious. Her agent, reminding Iris about the deadline for her second romance novel, only repeats the theme. And when Iris looks around at her best friends Claire and Astrid, seeing the HEA sparkling in the heart-eyes interactions with their partners, she can see that they have Gotten Serious and would love for Iris to find her own HEA as well.

But since Iris is struggling with writer's block and the lingering aftereffects from two "relationships" gone wrong, all she wants to do is escape with a quick hookup. When she meets Stevie at her favorite queer bar, Iris is intrigued by Stevie's shy but sexy demeanor, but after an abrupt ending to their evening, she doesn't think she'll ever meet Stevie again. Instead she decides to take her agent's advice and to try something creative to break her writer's block -- like auditioning for a play.

Stevie, a regular fixture in the Portland theatre scene, is kind of stuck in a comfort zone that is no longer comfortable. She's still good friends with Adri, her ex, and Vanessa, Adri's current partner -- after all, Adri runs the community theatre where Stevie regularly appears on stage, including in an upcoming queer production of Much Ado About Nothing. But her anxiety prevents her from breaking free of the pull Adri still exerts on Stevie's life, and it definitely prevented her from enjoying a one-night stand with the gorgeous Iris. To save face in front of her friends, Stevie says she's dating Iris -- which makes things really challenging when Iris is cast as Beatrice to Stevie's Benedick.

Book 3 in the Bright Falls series is a banger! Iris's character gets some impressive development here, with a deeper look into what forces have led to the creation of her playful and super-sex-positive persona. This plot makes it clear that Iris is much more vulnerable than she seems, and even with all her confidence, she has a challenging road to her HEA. Stevie has her own challenges to deal with: her Generalized Anxiety Disorder diagnosis, a toxic relationship, and her long-time habit of allowing others to speak for her because it's easier than speaking up herself. The two bring out the best in each other, except when they retreat behind old habits, and the healing and HEA they get by the end is *chef's kiss*.

I have to add, the plot thread about Iris's second novel felt very meta -- a big wink and a wave from AHB herself!

Everything about this book -- the character development, the mental health rep, the banter, the friendships, the steamy sex -- made for a perfect ending to the series. 4.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you, Berkley Romance and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

this book was such a fun read! the chemistry between both iris and stevie was amazing to read about, they seemed to fit together so well! but, as much fun as this book was to read, the overall story fell a bit flat for me. the plot felt like it just fell through about halfway which caused the story to sort of just sit there. there were also a few moments where there would be side characters introduced through weird descriptions, an example being "a black woman with box braids" or "a brown latinx guy" which just didn't hit the way I'm sure the author intended it to. overall, this was an enjoyable read and the characters were super fun to read about but by the end this was just a simple read that unfortunately didn't meet all my expectations.

Loved! Stevie journey throughout this book was so well done. Generalized Anxiety Disorder isn't something that is done as well and nuanced as Blake did in this book. I loved all the spicy sense (there were more than I was expecting!) Can't wait to read any and all books Ashley Herring Blake writes in the future!

Also, Happy Pride!

Thank you to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

Quick Synopsis: After a series of bad relationships that ended in a not so great way, Iris is only interested in sex without emotion or romance. Stevie is an out of work actress commissioned by her ex to star in the play they wrote together before they broke up. Stevie needs a fake girlfriend to combat her ex’s extreme PDA with her new girlfriend, and Iris needs help with romance to inspire her new novel. The two embark on this deal and then real feelings get involved.

Trigger warnings: Anxiety; hard break-up; vomit; social anxiety;

What I liked:
-I love Stevie and how the author tackled social anxiety. Despite these attributes, Iris finds Stevie undeniably attractive.
-I think the difficulties Iris faces overcoming fears instilled in her from previous relationships is so real and raw and well depicted as well.
-It’s so romantic. The romance romances hard in this novel and I loved it. The dancing, the hand holding, the candles and the dates. It was so beautiful.
-I loved the choice Stevie made at the end, for herself.
-You get some great spice. Truly great spice.

What I struggled with:
-I found the first 20% of the novel very slow. It takes that long to really get to the plot.

I have loved this whole journey in Bright Falls from Delilah and Claire to Justine and Astric and then to Stevie and Iris and I’m sad it’s over, but I’m so glad I was here for the ride.

I've loved this series of books, including this new one about Iris Kelly. It was a fun and super fast read and I very much enjoy how the author, Ashley Herring Blake, portrays her characters. The humor she uses, the characters she develops, the family dynamics are all right up my alley and this installment is no different. Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to get a peek at this book early!

A lovely ending to the Bright Falls series! As a huge theater nerd, this was an absolutely delightful way to tell this story and a hilarious mirror of Much Ado About Nothing and Beatrice’s feelings. Sad to say goodbye to all these characters, but so excited to read more of Ashley Herring Blake’s work!

"You assume you know what's best for me before even giving me the space to figure it out myself."

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for a chance to read & review an ARC of this book. I never take it lightly, and I am so happy to spread so much joy for it!!!

What a perfect way to end this sweet little Bright Falls timeline. I was so happy inside these pages: I know I'll go back to them every time I need a story that will only bring me comfort, and show me happy, honest growth.

While I will always lean towards the first as my favorite, this one snuck up on me. I never really understood Iris' character, and if I'm honest, I still don't, but I think that's what made this story so fun. Because I did know Stevie. I am Stevie. I'm the friend who feels crippled by her anxiety, and to see my truth lived so freely in these pages felt like a breath of fresh air.

Which is ironic, because that's all Stevie and I are ever looking for.

I found it here, and Stevie found it in Iris. Crazy, over the top, energetic, kind, understanding Iris. All things I didn't realize until I watched her soften her pointy feelings over Stevie's too-rounded ones. I felt it every time Stevie lost the ability to breathe, and felt it ten-fold every time Iris did something silly to combat it.

I loved the nicknames. I loved the inside jokes. I loved that even though this was a "fake relationship", it never read like one because consent was so important to both of them. I love that Stevie was the one with generalized anxiety, but Iris needed just as much help to believe in herself. I love the idea Iris took on of refueling your creative side with a new passion to find the love for your real one. I love that Stevie was never portrayed as weak, but also never told how strong she was. I loved that anxiety was a part of the story, but it was never the plot.

Because that's how it is in reality as well.

When Stevie used the above quote to remind the people who love her that she can take care of herself, all I could think was... I can, too. And I loved seeing Stevie take on her dreams for herself, not for anyone else. I loved everything about her.

I want to be like her when I grow up. Because we aren't broken, we aren't lost, we aren't just making out way through life. We're living it. And we get to choose how we see it.

& last, but certainly not least. These friendships. Have I ever read a more beautiful last line to a book about childhood friends that truly only want the best for each other? Even seeing Iris struggle so passionately because of her love for her friends meant the world.

I need every author to take some tips for Blake. This is what written friendship should be.

This reads very much like Blake's other works of the trio. Fans of Delilah and Astrid will enjoy this one as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

Much like Delilah Green Doesn’t Care, I liked this fine but I don’t think I’ll reread it. For the first half I was definitely thinking I’d rank it above Delilah Green, but unfortunately the second half didn’t work for me quite as much.

Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail is still definitely my favourite Bright Falls book though.