I DNF'd this at about 5% in. Not only was the intro lacking depth, it just wasn't written well. It kept explaining what had happened with little to no detail and the dialogue was weak. I really wish the writer/editor could sit down and do a strong rewrite overall because the plot sounds, good, romantic and funny and could possibly spur off more sequels among the group of friends. Too bad.

I’d like to thank Atria Books for providing me with this ARC via NetGalley.

I knew I had to read this book just from the title and cover alone. I was even more excited when I read the description. Three beautiful, successful women find themselves still single in their mid-thirties. Tired of today’s dating culture and its misadventures, the ladies decide to go the way of the previous generations and introduce each other to eligible men within their own friend/family circles. Awesome; right?!

Imagine my disappointment when it took me nearly a month to read. This book had so much promise and started out really well. Unfortunately it fell short a little less than halfway through. I found myself confusing the characters, their respective relationships and who introduced whom. There wasn’t enough distinction between the characters to set them apart from each other (the lines were blurred).

I will say that the writing was very good with very few grammatical errors.

I will post my review to other platforms closer to the release date.

I was super excited to get this book as I liked the premise of this. Three best friends in their 30's get together and decide they want to find Mr. Right. They all have male friends who they are close to but not right for them so why not introduce them to your friends and see if they hit it off. Dylan, Ivy and Brooke must refer men who they men who they think will be a match for their friends.

You will set up the date and if the first one doesn't work move on to next on the list. Hoping that you will find your match.

Everybody managed to couple up. The three woman's point of views were all very similar and seemed to blend instead of being distinctly different. Also I figured there would be some bad date horror stories to make this a little funnier and draw it out more.

Thank you to Netgalley for an arc of The Referral Program! Here is my honest review.

Rating : 1.75-2 / 5 (DNF)

DNF'd at 15% or around chapter 10. I was excited for this arc, found the premise very interesting but unfortunately this fell flat for me. I was having difficulties keeping up with the POV changes and the characters didn't feel fully developed to me. I truly wish I could've enjoyed this but as a fast reader, the POV switches were getting me lost.

Dylan: "Tell me, Ace, who has been making you feel that you're enough the way you are? That you don't need to have goals or strive for better? Was it whoever was texting you repeatedly yesterday?" (3%)

HOLY. A lot to unpack here. Dylan is allowed to feel angry Ace is breaking up with her. That said, she's asking for an explanation he doesn't want to give, he tells her he feels like he isn't ready for marriage with her and wants to end their relationship and let her find someone who is ready for marriage, and she goes off with the above accusing him of cheating and pointing out that no, he isn't enough. She is just mean, and I don't want to root for her. Have a bit of grace for someone you were ready to marry yesterday. Just say goodbye.

Not rooting for her. Not interested in reading more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC.

Hey there, bookworms! Today, I'm here to share my thoughts on "The Referral Program" by Shamara Ray, a novel that promises a fun and engaging story about a group of single ladies trying to find Mr. Right. Buckle up and let's dive into it!

At the heart of this book are Dylan and her best friends, a trio of single ladies in their mid-thirties who are facing the harsh reality of not having found their perfect match. They reminisce about their college days when love seemed so much simpler, and now they find themselves pondering the daunting possibility of being alone forever. Cue dramatic music

During one of their regular get-togethers, fueled by wine and girl talk, the ladies come up with a brilliant plan: The Referral Program. The idea is simple yet intriguing. Each woman must refer a potentially good man for her friend to date. It's like a matchmaking adventure, full of laughter, surprises, and perhaps a little bit of chaos.

Now, this is where the story lost me a bit. I managed to reach 43% of the book before deciding to put it down. While I initially thought it had loads of potential, it ultimately fell flat for me. Why, you ask? Well, let me tell you.

The novel employs three different points of view, each representing one of the three friends. At first, I was excited to delve into the unique perspectives of these women and witness their personal journeys unfold. However, I quickly realized that their voices weren't as distinct as I had hoped. Instead of experiencing diverse personalities, it felt like I was reading the same point of view over and over again, just with slightly different contexts and men. It became a bit repetitive, and I longed for more variety and individuality among the characters.

On the positive side, I must acknowledge the author's exploration of different aspects of relationships through each protagonist. They touch on various themes, from trust and compromise to personal growth and self-discovery. I appreciate how the book addresses these important elements, as they provide food for thought and give the story depth.

Despite my reservations, I believe "The Referral Program" could still be an enjoyable read for those who crave light-hearted romantic adventures. If you're in the mood for a book that delves into the ups and downs of modern dating, sprinkled with friendship and a dash of self-reflection, then give it a try. Who knows, you might find yourself more captivated by the characters than I was.

While this book didn't quite hit the mark for me, I encourage the author to further develop the distinct voices of the characters in her future works. Adding more individuality and uniqueness to their perspectives will undoubtedly elevate the reading experience.

That's it for today's review, my book-loving buddies! Remember, even when a book falls short of expectations, there's always something to take away from the reading experience. So, grab a cup of tea, cozy up with a new novel, and keep exploring the vast literary world. Until next time, happy reading!

I dnfed. I was so excited to read this especially as it's my first ever arc. Don't get me wrong I loved the idea of best friends getting together and telling each other the tea about the men they date and playing cupid for each other but this just didn't do it for me.

I really wanted to like this book, but in the end, it just wasn't meant to be. It started out well enough, but first the storyline and then the characters all just rubbed me the wrong way. The Referral Program will surely have its fans, I just wasn't one of them.

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I didn’t know much about this book going into it and I have to say it wasn’t necessarily my favorite. I liked the premise of the book, but what was hard for me was trying to keep track of all the characters and all the relationships taking place. It was a bit overwhelming to me and I really had to stop and think who was with who. I think if the book would’ve focused on just one or even two couples it would’ve been a little easier to follow along but with three couples and some woman having multiple men it was a bit much.

I really enjoyed this book. This book follows the lives of 3 women, Dylan, Brooke, and Ivy, who have been best friends since college. They are single and at the age where they feel like they will never get married. One day Dylan comes up with the referral program and their lives change. I truly love the way this book was written. It was a very quick and easy read. It was simple and cute and had deep moments. It definitely helped with some of my viewpoints on love. There was 1 part that had me upset with the whole kiss situation. I have to understand that not everyone is the same and the way I would have reacted wouldn't be how someone else reacted. I loved watching each of the girls grow individually and romantically. If you are looking for a fun and simple read definitely give this book a chance.


Thank you so much to netgalley and atria books for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review

The Referral Program is about three single women in their thirties who decide to set one another up with men in their lives - family, colleagues, friends, etc. Dylan, Ivy, and Brooke have been close friends since college and are all strong-willed, career-driven women. Although they want to find "the one", they struggle with opening up and balancing love with their careers. That is, until Dylan comes up with the idea of the Referral Program where they each come up with a list of potential mates for the others and embark on a very unique dating experience.

This was a light read and I powered through in two days because I wanted to know how each woman's story ended. I enjoyed the message of being open, honest, and communicating well both in friendships and relationships. The spicy scenes were also a nice surprise. At times, the female characters sounded a bit desperate, and I did not like that; I think the concept of the Referral Program could have been delivered in a way where they didn't sound quite so desperate. The characters and interactions also felt a bit rigid throughout the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

DNF-ed at 43%. I thought this book had a lot of potential, but it fell flat for me. There are three POVs (three friends) who refer their male colleagues, friends, etc to each other so that that can find their forever partner. While I appreciate how each female protagonist addresses different things in a relationship, I couldn’t really find any distinction between the three women. Therefore, it felt like reading the same POV over and over again with slightly different context and men.

Would I recommend this book? N/A because I didn’t finish it.

Dylan and her best friends are in their mid-thirties and they dont want to be alone for the rest of their lives. They decide to take charge and everyone has to refer a good man for a friend.

Love the friendship among the women. The guys are great but it's the women who interest me the most. I love their dynamic with each other... An engaging fun read.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.