Cute premise, but certain behaviors and issues took me out of the story. I toed the line of enjoying it to being utterly ready to DNF. The amount of pop culture references was too much.

I'm sure this book has an audience as it was not me.

Thank you Berkley for the complimentary copy.

“It takes a strong person to apologize, and an even stronger person to forgive.”
~~~
Rating:🌕🌕🌕🌗
This was a cute book. Liked the idea of a “How to Loose a Guy in 10 Days” book version. It was humorous also and a quick read.
So if you like the movie mentioned above and really into quirky, funny romcoms, also with a funny grandma! This book is a fun quick read! Thank you NetGalley, Devon Daniel’s, and Berkley Romance the chance to read this via eARC!

I’m OBSESSED with this book! How come nobody told me Devon Daniels writes masterpieces? If I’m not mistaken this is her second book and now I have to run to the book store to buy her first. I’m absolutely obsessed with this book.. with the plot… the characters.. with everything!! Highly recommend it!

I don't know why it took me so long to pick up this book, because it is absolutely delightful. Between Cassidy's wit, Jack's burning questions, and the immediate sexual tension, we're off to the races immediately! The premise of trying out 1950's dating advice in the modern age is absolutely hilarious and it plays so well here. Brittany Pressley's man voice is top notch and drips with wanting. I also really enjoyed Cassidy's relationship with her family - her gran is next level and her sister is hilarious. Also I kind of want a cherry print apron now??

For fans of classic rom coms like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Dates or who dream of simpler times, try this one on for size.

*Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review and to PRH Audio for the gifted ALC*

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5/5 stars

The Rom Con is a new spin on How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days. After a brutal breakup, Cassidy is done with dating. When her grandmother gives her a dating guide from the 1950s, Cassidy decides to use it for an article on what not to do while dating. She will try out the tips on an unsuspecting man and who better than the creator of her magazine’s rival publication, Jack? However, things take a turn when the tips begin to actually work and Jack turns out to be way different than Cassidy expected.

I loved this romance! It was so fun and entertaining and just joyful. The romance was swoonworthy and I loved Jack. Cassidy was an excellent main character and I adored her grandmother. Also, the audiobook was perfection.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Rom Con by author Devon Daniels is a romantic comedy at its best, taking us back to the 1950s and how to win a man. The tips to get and keep a husband were a definite throwback to what I grew up hearing since I was born in the 50s in a very traditional Italian family.

It is sometimes romantic and other times cringeworthy—at least to Cassidy, who works at Sirens, an online women’s publication. Jack is a co-owner of Brawler, a rival company that caters to men. So much so the male population takes everything to heart that Brawler stands for. Cassidy and Jack’s story is comical, intriguing, and hard to believe at times, as well as filling a void that neither realizes is there.

Jack gets Cassidy, much to her chagrin, and she doesn’t like knowing there’s an attraction when she’s supposed to be going undercover to destroy him.

There are unexpected twists and turns in the story, along with romance, lies, family and friends, and lots of work. The story has wonderful closure and went in a few directions I certainly wasn’t expecting. The epilogue was the icing on the cake for the happily ever after! I liked the playfulness of the cover, along with the backdrop of the New York City skyline, where the book is set, and the play on the title.

The Rom Con is a delightful romcom with laugh-out-loud moments, a throwback to the fifties, subtle interactions, and wordplay that left me wanting more. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Daniels.

The Rom Con is a delightful rom com!

Cassidy works writing for Siren, an online magazine/site focused mainly on women. The women at Siren are strong, girl power, women supporting women gals.

There is a men's online magazine/site called Brawler which is basically the anti-Siren. It is derogatory to women, objectifying them and not at all empowering. The women at Siren despise Brawler.

Cassidy is close to her grandmother who has talked about how a women got a man back in the day. She decides to test out a 1950's published book of tips on hooking a husband on a man and write about it. While attempting to find that man, she stumbles into Jack - literally - who is part owner of Brawler. And she decides to expose him for what he is and bring him and Brawler down.

But as Cassidy and Jack start spending time together, she realizes Jack isn't necessarily what Brawler represents. And is she getting feelings? What should she do about the article? Jack? What a dilemma.

This was fun and funny and I loved the romance, as well as Cassidy's relationship with her grandmother, who was a hoot.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing/Berkley Romance for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a very fun pop culture filled book that has an adorable romance at the center.

Cassie and Jack are both very relatable characters. It feels like the kind of people that you have run across with have been friends with or met at some point in your life. Maybe even you. They both have problems and faults but they both also do have some redeemable qualities.

There were a couple of things about this book that felt like they didn't fully get resolved, so I can't give it a full five stars. However, that doesn't take away from the enjoyment that I got throughout reading this entire book.

I don't really want to give too much away because part of the fun of this book is not knowing much going in. If you pick this book up I recommend going in blind and just enjoy the journey.

Thanks to Let’s Talk Books and Berkley Romance for the copy of this book!

Do you love How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days or 27 Dresses? You need to read this book.

Our main character, Cassidy, works for a women’s online publishing company, Siren. One thing all the women at Siren hate? Their rival publishing company, Brawler, which focuses on content for college-aged guys — which is usually not so empowering to women. Cassidy has the opportunity to date Jack, one of Brawler’s owners, and decides she’s going to use a 125 Tips to Hook a Husband guide from the 1950s to prove that he’s a misogynistic dirtbag and write an exposé for Siren. But of course, there’s more to Jack than it seems…

I binged this book in a day and adored the banter, funny moments, and tender, heart-clenching moments. It’s just such a perfect rom com read!

Delightful, fun, witty and entertaining. I enjoyed Daniels’ sophomore novel so much more than her debut—and I really enjoyed her debut. I usually struggle with deceitful plots in books but this one I loved, I think it was because it was resolved rather quickly and while there was drama it was such good drama that I didn’t mind it one bit. I also love the light it shines on feminism and at the same time it talks about the toxicity between men and women gender battle. It was interesting. loved this book and can’t recommend it enough!

I have so many things to say but, above all, no one writes sarcastic wit like Devon Daniels. If you thought you loved Ben, just wait until you meet Jack.
Gilmore Girls meets How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days with innumerable laughs (no, really, never have I ever highlighted an ebook so many times), amazing pop culture references (Devon speaking straight to my soul with my favorite Christmas song 6 ), and so much heart. (The sister relationship, I actually died for)
It was also so fun to see Kate and Ben again - however briefly.

The Rom Con
by : Devon Daniels
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
(rounded up to a 5 ⭐️ on GR & NetGalley)
genre : romance, rom com

Dear Devon, I am a bit mad at you. I took an everything shower the day before finishing this book and now have stubble on my legs due to your book giving me the goosebumps. how dare you 😝

xoxo, blythe (also sometimes known as blanche 😉)

anyway here are some main takeaways :

🤍 JACK BRADFORD. ugh this man. made to believe he was a huge DBAG only to find out how much of a huge HEART he has 🥹

🤍 CASSIDY ( AKA CASSIE 🥹 ) is one of my favorite FMC to date. she had a good heart & a conscience..

🤍 GRAN.. all I’m saying is that Jack better have asked Gran before proposing to Cassidy 👀 but truly Betty White from the Proposal 🥹🫶🏻 (one of my fav rom coms)

🤍 I feel like Devon Daniels does it best when she writes a single POV novel. I rarely find that anymore but I swear her single POV writing style is perfection 🤌🏻

🤍 I truly LOVED all the side characters. not a single one was anything but loving and caring and truly perfectly written.

👎🏻 I only had two things that were just meh for me. but fair warning, this is very much a me thing… 1.) the longest chapters. there was a lot going on in these chapters (although I was still hooked into the book) && 2.) there were just a bit TOO much pop-culture references for me (again, very much a me thing) 🙃

overall, this book felt like a nice warm blanket. the kind you snuggle up under on a fall / winter friday night while watching the best late 90’s early 2000 rom coms.

tropes :
🤍 Romance
❤️‍🔥 Rivals to lovers
💃 Dancing
🙋🏻‍♂️ Guy falls first
👩🏻 Single POV
🤫 Fake Dating (one sided)
🍂 Fall Vibes in NYC
🍾 Pop Culture References

songs that made me think of The Rom Con :
🙋🏻‍♂️ What a Man Gotta Do by the Jonas Brothers
👩‍🦳 How You Get The Girl ( Taylor’s Version ) by Taylor Swift


also, a huge shout out to @devondaniels, @netgalley, & @berkley for the advanced copy 🫶🏻🥹

I loved many things about this book.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 days vibes
workplace rivals romance
smart feminist fmc
sweet supportive family/friends support

However, I’m picky about a miscommunication trope and don’t care for outright lying.

*spoilers ahead*

Cassidy kept it up until it blew up. Ouch. And Jack went a bit overboard when he found out. When Jack was cinnamon roll supportive, he was amazing. When he was snarky and arrogant it was kind of fun because Cassidy held her own. But when Jack was angry he was downright mean. So mean I almost couldn’t believe it was the same character. I just didn’t care for his Jekyl and Hyde personality. And the ending was a disappointment. Weeks of ghosting and then instant forgiveness. Cassidy and Jack both needed to work through some things, make individual decisions and then figure out their relationship.

However, even with all that, the writing is wonderful and is quintessential romance drama for all of us who love to root for love. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Women’s magazine writer Cassidy has ended yet another relationship, while all her friends are getting married left and right. When her grandmother gives her this antiquated list from the 50’s on how to successfully land a man, she uses it as a writing piece to bring down Siren’s sexist rival Brawler. Ready to make her mark, Cassidy just might have stumbled upon the one man she least expected to fall so hard for—Jack Bradford, CEO of said sexist rival.
The banter, the charm, the How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and classic rom-com vibes had me laughing, awwing, and swooning! I absolutely loved it! And yet another Jack to add to my list of book boyfriends. I had become a fan of this author after Meet You in the Middle, so reading another rivals to lovers by her hit the spot!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I love good cover art and I’ll start by saying that the adorable art for The Rom Con immediately grabbed me. It totally gave Jessica Day (from the show New Girl) vibes to me with the female leads hair and styling. Add that to the premise which promised a “modern battle of the sexes” a la the romcom How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days? I was hooked.

This was solid romcom fare - a great pick for a flight read or a beach / poolside day escape. I liked the How To Lose vibes the story gave off. The 1950s retro tips on courtship were kind of hilarious, and some cringe of course - though accurate. (Have you ever seen some of those old magazines / articles? 👀)

I really liked Cassidy’s family, they were secondary characters but her grandmother and sister were funny and offered some fun moments. I really enjoyed the retro / vintage dress details those were really cute and brought the ‘looks’ to life for me. I had some conflicting feelings on both out mains, Cassidy and Jack.

Cassidy had her moments, but sometimes made me want to yell at her too 😅 her take on ‘feminism’ was not one I felt really encapsulated it and was a bit polarizing. Also the pop culture references, not my thing so a few was okay, but it makes it hard for me to reread books later when they have many 🤷‍♀️ Just a personal preference.

Jack at first and generally I really liked, he seemed pretty perfect and I would have loved some dual focus or pov so we could have had some more insight into his side / experience of things. My biggest hang up with him was not ever getting a good explanation for the Brawler bit, and what seemed an overreaction to the third act.

Overall, an easy way to slip away or escape for an afternoon. The pacing is good and makes it easy to get lost in the pages for a bit.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read if you like:
🔟 How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
⌨️ Work Adversaries to Lovers
💋 One Sided Fakish Dating
💬 Banter
🔥 Delicious Tension

Oh my gosh! This was my first book finished in November and is likely my favorite book of the month!

If you love how to lose a guy in ten days this is a perfect read! This one took me back with all the references to the movie and I loved the twist on the plot of it being for an article on feminism and outdated steriotypes for how women should be as romantic partners.

I loved the message that actually taking it slower and romanticizing dating isn’t necessary a bad thing, nor is it inherently sexist or anti-feminist.

I don’t want to say too much but I absolutely loved this one and can see myself wanting to reread it again in the future because it was just that good!

Thank you so much Berkley for my ARC in exchange for my honest feedback!

Thanks to Berkley for my advanced copy of The Rom Con by Devon Daniels.

I loved Meet You in the Middle so was looking forward to Devon Daniels's next book! This had How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days vibes when a journalist hatches a plan to take down her adversary.

Cassidy has had it with dating after some not-great luck with online dating, so her grandma gives her some 1950s dating advice she decides to take the tips and use them for an article for the online women's magazine she works for. After meeting the co-founder of the chauvinistic rival men's site she decides to use him as her subject for her article. It all starts to be a problem when the vintage courtship tips work and she finds out that Jack isn't falling for her tricks (and he's actually lovely).

I really liked this book, but didn't love Cassidy. I found her a bit too dismissive and hate it when a character goes into a relationship with plans to trick or be deceitful. I really liked Jack and there was some great banter.

If you like enemies to lovers and pop culture references you'll enjoy this!

Not all books are for all readers, and this one wasn't for me. I don't think this was the author's intention, but in some ways this book felt like it was a little too embracing of a return to 1950s style dating and relationship rules in a way that felt icky. I might be a grouch, but I also don't think I would have been able to look past the MMC's career, regardless of how much he's "not a part" of the gross rhetoric his site spews.

The Rom Con by Devon Daniels
Narrator: Brittany Pressley
Rating: 4 stars
Steam: 1 chili
Pub date: 11/7

Cassidy Sutton is a journalist who’s looking for a new story idea. After a conversation with her grandmother about how dating was done back in her day, she decides to turn her grandmother's 1950s dating guide into an ironic experiment for her work at Siren. Can she snag a guy using the ridiculous dating tips from the past? She sets her sights on Jack Bradford, the co-founder of the rival men's site Brawler, as her unwitting subject. However, as Cassidy continues to pretend to like Jack, she finds herself falling for him. And what follows is a rollercoaster of unexpected twists and turns as Cassidy's plans are foiled.

This book was super cute, and I was immediately drawn in by the clever premise. It’s basically How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days but with more emotional depth and a few fun twists thrown in.

The chemistry between Cassidy and Jack sizzles, and their honest, unguarded conversations pulled me in just as much as their witty banter. Cassidy is relatable and independent, and her insecurities make her more endearing. Jack’s respectful attitude toward women is refreshing, and I think his character struck the perfect balance between strength and vulnerability.

I went back and forth between my ebook and the audiobook, and I loved the narration by Brittany Pressley! She brought every character to life.

The story is set up in such a way that you know there’s going to be a big confrontation or third-act breakup when Jack finds out about Cassidy’s duplicity. Even though I was prepared, that was my least favorite part! Still, this book is perfect for anyone seeking a funny, heartwarming, and surprisingly deep romantic comedy. The Rom Con comes out on 11/7!
Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for my advanced copy and PRH Audio for my complimentary audiobook.

Read if you like:
*How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
*retro vibes
*rivals to lovers
*pop culture references
*close-knit family

Cassidy works for online women’s publication Siren. Her date decides to bail on her grandmother’s birthday party, because it’s “Sacred Saturdays” – a time to hang out with the bros, as advocated by their rival website, Brawler.
Her grandmother gives her a dating guide from the 1950s, so Cassidy decides to pitch a story about following the etiquette rules to see how it goes in the modern world of online dating.
But when she meets Brawler co-founder Jack at an event, she ups the ante by proposing an article where she dates him as an obedient 1950s woman, and records his expected chauvinistic response.
But Jack, despite not knowing he’s being played, doesn’t respond how she expects, and is far sweeter and loveable than first thought.
This is a witty battle of the sexes story that brings to mind the movie, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. There’s plenty of pop culture references, banter and one-upmanship.