I decided to DNF this book at about the 20% mark. I am just not the target audience for this. The How to Lose a Guy in 10 days comp is what made me interested but there were just too many little icks coming up as I was reading.

Actually a 3 and 1/2 star. I would have rated it higher and it really was until about 80% in, and a few elements bothered me. I’m not a fan of miscommunication tropes and to have two of them - ugh. The zero to maximum sexual encounter just didn’t fit right. Then six weeks of total silence followed by instant forgiveness? Nope. I know it’s a romance, but there were too many forced elements for me to give a solid 4 stars. I liked the characters, but once again, they were almost caricatures of who they were supposed to be, in my mind. It was good, I just wanted a few things different.

An unputdownable story from the get-go, entirely character-driven, and with a perfectly paced build-up of romance and emotion, I felt positively giddy while reading this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Pub for this earc

This book was cute. Did I expect a little more enemies to lovers? Yes. Did we get it? Not really.

The idea behind the book sounded great but the main love interest maybe had one good fight. Very quickly did it turn to sweeter than sugar romance.

I wasn’t a huge fan of how the big blow out went down or how either of the characters dealt with it.

Overall, it’s cute and you’ll read it in one sitting but it won’t make you read over and over again

This "How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days"-inspired rom-com was such a fun read!

First of all, we love a strong, sassy grandma. Gran kicked off Cassidy's whole article idea, so I was sad that she disappeared for the middle part of the book. Never fear, though--she comes back strong in the end. Her character really made me miss my own grandparents.

I loved Cassidy's banter with Jack. I especially liked once she stopped trying to be "Betty" and was a little more herself around him. Cassidy grew a lot throughout the book, so if she seems a little naive at the beginning keep reading. The romance was a little insta-lovey for my taste (they only went on three dates!), but overall enjoyable.

While I typically prefer dual-POV romances, the single POV of The Rom Con added an intriguing sense of mystery to the relationship. Was Jack genuinely interested in Cassidy, or was he pulling a Ben and up to a con of his own?

dating tips from the 50's sounds like a terrible idea but its actually pretty funny, and amazing and one of the best books ive read and i loved every second of it

Thanks @berkleypub @berkleyromance for this @netgalley ARC of The Rom Con!

Buckle up and hunker down y’all because this is a rollercoaster you will not even want to get off of (even if you don’t like rollercoasters, like myself).

(US Pub Date: Nov 7th ‘23)

🌟🌟🌟🌟✨

Cassidy Sutton is sick and tired of dating and also probably the entire concept as a whole (same, girl), but she also doesn’t want to be alone forever (also same, girl). So when yet another relationship blows up in her face - and she complains a little too bitterly to her grandmother about it - the two of them come up with an idea that could fix her up in more ways than one.

Cassidy works for an online women’s publication called Siren, and her grandma’s 1950s dating guide seems like the perfect way to mix both a work piece and a new attempt at relationships. It’s simple: Cass will attempt the outdated tips on random men, and then she’ll write about it.

Enter Jack Bradford: owner of Siren’s fiercest (and grossest) competitor, a men’s publication called Brawler that Cassidy holds personally response for the end of at least her last relationship. With his life’s work devoted to counteracting all of the strides Cassidy and her coworkers make, it seems only fitting that she make him the unsuspecting victim of her vintage dating experiment.

Except two wrenches are thrown in rather quickly: one, the tips are working (though not quite in the way you’d expect) and two, Jack is not the chauvinist blow hard Cassidy has always thought him to be. He’s actually… pretty great.

But the thing about rollercoasters is they’re nearly impossible to get off - and Cassidy has strapped them both in for a ride that has spiraled rapidly out of her control.

This is a great book. The banter between the characters is lovely. The relationship between the female and male protagonist is firey and sweet at the same time. Although, it devolves a bit into melodrama and the male progtagonist reacts a little differiently then you feel he should, it's still an enjoyable read. Library patrons should eat this one up.

Oh my little heart…I am still not fully recovered. Devon Daniel’s has done it again with a fresh take on a rom com in The Rom Con…I was HERE for this fun spin on How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days meets 1950s Doris Day meets the BEST grandma role I’ve maybe ever read. The story was fresh, the characters felt so real, the tropes weren’t cheesy, the dialogue was whiplash fast in a good way and the entire plot was just SO GOOD and fun and fresh. Can you tell I loved it? I think what took this from an average romcom to a 5 star read for me, was the element of Cassie’s Grandma. She reminded me so much of my Nana. From a totally different era, but full of sass, class, wisdom and wit and has adapted to the times while holding on to what made her era so special and unique. I loved the Easter eggs from Meet Me in the Middle and I hit the highlight function on my Kindle loads of times, saving quotes that felt very poignant for where I am at in my life. Preorder NOW! Devon…I’m a fan for life!!!

I am utterly convinced Daniels laced these pages with crack or something equally as addictive. What started out as a laugh-out-loud funny story about a girl using 1950s dating tips to attempt the takedown of a man she views as a misogynist setting women’s rights back several decades transformed into the sweetest, most heartfelt and vulnerable love story ever. Not to mention hot? These two barely do more than kiss for a good 65% of the book, but the slow burn was absolutely delicious. I cannot say enough good things about how flawless Daniels’ prose is, and how immersive every aspect of this story felt. I would sell my soul for Jack Bradford, and I saw SO much of myself is Cassidy. Plus, Gran was just…the best. She reminded me so much of my late grandmother, and I am absolutely weak for the relationship between her and Cassidy.

All that to say…I couldn’t read this fast enough, and I simply cannot recommend it enough.

Dating tips from the 50s? Cassidy agrees to use a book her grandmother gave her to write an article for the online Siren and she choose Jack the creator of the website Brawler as her target. Some of this is very funny but other parts are cringeworthy (part of the point). It is amusing to see attitudes and outlooks from the 50s brought forward to today and this couple makes a perfect pair to show them off. It's a light entertaining read that might make you chuckle. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This would make a good movie.

Hearing the concept for The Rom Con, I was immediately intrigued by it. Cassidy is tasked by her 90-year-old grandmother to use some of her dating tips from the 1950s to help her find a partner. While she thinks she’s too “evolved” for it, she decides to use it to make her grandmother happy.

From there, it snowballs after she tells her boss and it ends up being her next article for the publication she writes for Siren. She decides to try them out at a big event and meets Jack who seems charming but owns Brawler which is her site’s main rival. It all comes to a head when she decides to use the tips to get some “revenge” on Jack for his site’s content.

Of course, since this is a romance, these two end up developing real feelings for each other. As you might imagine, things don’t go exactly as planned for either Cassidy or Jack. He doesn’t match the idea Cassidy has of him in her mind and Cassidy starts to realize that grandmother might be right about some of her tips but not all of them.

While the third-act conflict can make them closer, I do feel like the one in The Rom Con went on entirely too long. I feel like it could have been shortened or at least, reworked so it didn’t seem so all-consuming. Either way, the book was a lot of fun and unlike anything I’ve ever read before.

In a way, it felt like a mix of the old and new without disparaging the other. It did seem that way at first, but Cassidy and Jack were able to find a balance. Plus this book has an adorable cover so if you like the cover, I think you’ll enjoy the insides even more.

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 Daniels after MEET YOU IN THE MIDDLE, so reading another rivals to lovers by her hit the spot!

“I realized I could live without her. And I want someone
I can't live without."

"He'll either prove himself or he won't. But love is a leap of faith either way. It takes a strong person to apologize, and an even stronger person to forgive.”

Absolutely adored this story! If you like the movie “How to lose a guy in 10 days” then you will love this! It has similar attributes.

Cassie is a strong FMC which I adore. She doesn’t need a man and is perfectly ready to put one in his place.

Jack is just amazing. He isn’t what everyone assumes he is, and goes to show never judge someone by not only their looks but their jobs.

I loved how the author shows the characters have flaws, but are willing to admit to those flaws. This story was so true to life. I just couldn’t get enough.

I vote for a second book!

Thank you Netgalley, Devon Daniels, Berkley Publishing for the e arc.

Pub Date 11/07/23. Check it out! It’s a true gem!

Ohhhh my gosh! Okay, I wanna start by saying that Meet You in the Middle is my all time favorite romcom, so I was super excited to get this one. And it… did NOT disappoint! It was so cute! I will admit I was skeptical at first because of Cass’s “out there” way of thinking, but I loved how Jack got her to see his point of view and vice versa. They… well, they met in the middle. Their relationship was just so swoon-worthy and amazing! Love love love!

I LOVED this book.

It was funny (I feel like I say this a lot but it’s true!) and had heart. I love when a romance book has an elderly side characters, and Cassidy’s grandmother lent humor, wisdom, and empathy to the story.

Cassidy and Jack were such great characters! I loved their dates, particularly a hilarious double date with Cassidy’s sister and goofball brother-in-law.

I did not predict how the third act was going to play out. I thought it was going in another direction but was so pleased with how Devon executed the story. It flowed so well and I couldn’t stop reading.

I really appreciated the thoughtful look at gender roles and the conclusion of this theme.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for an advanced copy of this book! All thoughts are my own.

RATING: 3.75/5 STARS

If you are a fan of classic romantic comedies like HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS and want those vibes funneled into a book with modern pop culture references, THE ROM CON may be perfect for you. This book was fun to read - I breezed through the snappy banter and swoony moments between Cassidy and Jack. From a pure romance perspective, the writing and chemistry in this story were great.

Daniels juxtaposed vintage values with modern-day dating, examining work-life balance, relationship pressures, and couples' gender roles in a way that was thoughtful without the intention of weighing down the story.

However, I can see why this book and author may not resonate with everyone. It was taxing as a reader to try to reconcile Jack's professional life with his personal ideals (which I felt were hard to get a comprehensive understanding of, even by the end of the novel). I also felt the cognitive dissonance Cassidy experienced dating someone who was complicit in the publication of misogynistic material, and though the ending provided a resolution, this could have been further explored.

So overall this wasn't a slam-dunk 5 star read for me, but it gave me a lot to think about and didn't shy away from including two main characters with different ideological viewpoints, which is a difficult undertaking. Overall, THE ROM CON was a dynamic and interesting rom-com and I predict it will have a diverse spectrum of reader reactions.

This book was so good! Not totally open door, not totally closed door either. It was the perfect amount of steam for those who don't need in your face spice,

Cassidy was adorable, but HOT DAMN Jack Bradford stole the show. He was amazing. Perfect quote: "A guy with serious alpha male energy but none of the ego that typically comes with it."

I loved their first meeting. Devon writes the best enemies to lovers. She really knows how to add those hilarious jabs. Hilarious writing, but also deep and personal. I loved this book so much and can't wait for other readers to love it, too!

Cassidy Sutton has had it with men, especially those who embrace the “bro” life. When her most recent boyfriend lets her down yet again because of platitudes from a seemingly misogynistic website called Brawler, Cassidy decides to get even in a big way. She writes for the antithesis of that site; a women’s online publication called Siren. Cassidy’s ninety-year-old grandmother has some advice for her plucked strait from the 1950’s women’s magazines. With the decades old 125 Tips to Hook a Husband, and various pieces of advice from her grandmother, Cassidy sets her sights on one of the two founders of Brawler, Jack Bradford.

In the beginning, Cassidy can barely stand to remodel herself into the perfect fifties girlfriend groomed to be a housewife. Not only does she dress differently, but Cassidy holds back from her normal snarky comments, pointed arguments, and tries valiantly to only be supportive and complementary to Jack. He seems to be going along with her surprising prim and proper throwback attitude being a gentleman in return. As they spend time together, Cassidy realizes her preconceived ideas about Jack, despite her initial abhorrence of his job, begins to change so that she wants the fake to become real.

One big surprise for Cassidy is that some of what she thought were antiquated ideas are not all completely wrong. She and her women friends have not been happy with the current typical App style dating which mostly just seems to be for either hook-ups, or wildly inappropriate men who are less than honest on their profiles. The big paradigm shift in Cassidy’s life gives her some time to realize not only what she wants in a relationship, but what her professional goals are and how to achieve them. Cassidy realizes that there is value in the way relationships were in the past while celebrating the choices that women have now; neither is all good or all bad. This book is heavy on the pop culture references especially TV and movies which is sometimes a bit overdone; however, the story is an enjoyable read with some possibly thought-provoking ideas for life the dating world.

Reminiscent of the TV show The Bold Type and the movie How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, The Rom Com made me laugh so much but it also has a surprising amount of depth.

The story opens with Cassidy spending time with her grandma and showcasing their relationship. Any book that can remind me of my special bond I had with my grandmother has me immediately sold. From there, she decides to use the book her grandma gave her about dating in the 1950s to conduct an experiment of sorts and write about it for the online site, Siren, that she works for.

She finds the perfect mark in Jack, the co-founder of Brawler, a brash men’s site and the antithesis of what Siren stands for. However, as Cassidy puts her plan in play, Jack surprises her at every turn and she begins to question the morality of the piece. She also finds herself wondering if some of the outdated dating advice may have some validity to them.

Cassidy was a funny, independent woman who had her share of insecurities but still managed to be a spitfire and confident woman who knew her worth. She felt very real and I related to her a lot. The bond with her family was especially heartwarming. And the hijinks she gets into while trying to fit the mold of a 1950s prim and proper girl were hilarious.

I absolutely loved Jack. As Cassidy puts it, he’s “a guy with serious alpha male energy but none of the ego that typically comes with it.” He is sweet and thoughtful, respectful of women’s boundaries, but still very much the strong, driven alpha that makes so many women swoon. I loved how open he was in communicating. I also like that he had flaws that reared their heads and a vulnerability that was a nice contrast to his confidence.

The chemistry between Cassidy and Jack was off the charts, but I loved their honest and unguarded conversations as much as their banter. Cassidy abandons her article a few dates into her time with Jack, but with all good romance novels, I knew the fallout was coming. It was epic and uncomfortable and I couldn’t wait for it to be over, yet it also led to growth in the characters and a great ending.

I think the only thing I didn’t love about this book was the epilogue. It was a great way to see how everything ended, but I felt it could have not been in there and the story would have stayed the same.

I often use romance novels, especially rom coms, as palate cleansers and quick reads that will make me laugh and swoon, but will forget in a few days time. However, I feel like this one will stay with me a while.