The audio for this book was fantastic! The narrators were great and I love Holly and Jax and their story so much! Highly recommend!

Katie Bailey writes a top notch, closed door romance full of superior banter and will leave you smiling to the very end.

Holly is a hospitality specialist in a downtown Atlanta hotel and is doing the most to find THE ONE. She has always done the right thing, played it safe, and she feels like she's wasted time on people and things that don't serve her. Jax is a bartender at an upscale restaurant and witnesses Holly go on ten bad dates in a row on each Saturday night over several weeks. When one of the dates violent, rude and out of line, Jax steps in.

Jax is surprised at himself--as he rarely inserts himself in situations. And, he does not want to catch feelings--for anyone. But, when Holly surprises him and quips back, a true friendship is born. He helps her with her dating woes, and she consults with marketing ideas for his new backcountry wilderness outfitting company.

This one was so fun. As an avid backpacker on the Appalachian Trail, it was fun to nod to some of the beautiful flora of the Southeast. The audio version of this was excellent. The dual POV and narration worked very well together. Easy to follow, and it was just a lot of FUN!

I love the idea of a quit list - a list of things to stop doing to oneself. This book was funny, it was sweet, it was adventurous, it showed growth, and it could be all the happy rom com things done in the best ways. Except one scene but it came back around to work out. But the rest of the book easily overrides any quibbles. Being familiar with the area that they hike, it made me want to go adventure too.

#arc
#netgalley
#thequitlist

First of all, friends to lovers, 0 miscommunication, a healthy friendship/healthy man, no waffling about their feelings, and NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP. It's also closed door.

Katie Bailey did THAT!

You know when authors think they are writing men that are unproblematic and are hoping the girlies on tiktok will say "oh he's a man written by a woman" and then they don't get it right??? I'm very happy to report that Katie Bailey got. it. right!

This was a delight to listen to, start to finish. Holly is trying to get over her horribly toxic ex/boss who keeps stringing her along. And after a slew of bad dates, she enlists a bartender to give her dating advice since he's able to identify exactly what's wrong with all of her dates. To no one's surprise they start to fall for each other.

This book feels like a rom-com movie. It's very "He's Just Not That Into You" where Justin Long eventually falls for Ginnifer Goodwin, it's very "How to be Single" with Alison Brie and Anders Holms (except that one doesn't work out the way things normally do).

Anyway, I had another Katie Bailey book on my tbr but I had never picked it up, but this book has convinced me to do so.

I'm not FERAL about it the way I am after finishing some books, but still 5 stars. No notes!

4.5⭐
Genre ~ romantic comedy
Setting ~ Georgia
Publication date ~ book ~ April 5, 2024, audio ~ June 11, 2024
Est Page Count ~ 346 (44 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 8 minutes
Narrators ~ Abigail Reno, David Bendena
POV ~ dual 1st
Featuring ~ slow burn, opposites attract, friends to lovers, no steamage

Holly & Jax
Holly is nearing 30 and ready to find love and goes on date after date after awful date. Jax doesn't believe in love, but offers to help her find the one. It's obvious where the story will lead us, but it was a fun hike there.

I really liked how they became great friends first, which slowly and realistically developed into more. She was pushed out of her comfort zone and loved doing outdoorsy things she never thought she would. He was totally taken by surprise with feelings he never thought he'd feel.

Overall, super sweet, super fun and the banter was top notch. Be sure to check out Katie's other books because I've enjoyed every one I've read so far, well this is only my 3rd but still.

Narration notes:
Abigail did a great job. David did, as well, however he did not sound like he'd be a mountain man at all, which is how Jax is described.

Additional notes:
I haven't read it yet, but Season's Schemings is Maddie's book and she is Jax's step sister. I do wish I had read that one first, but I see nothing written anywhere that these are a series, so how was I suppose to know? Now I know what's happening with her life, so that'll be a bit spoiled if I read it.

I enjoyed this one quite a bit. I would consider it "palate cleanser" caliber, but it was still a super enjoyable listen and I'm going to go back and see what else this author has written. I really enjoy strangers-friends-lovers. That friendship period is just 👨‍🍳💋. The banter in this one was a delight.

Holly Greene is a little desperate to find the perfect man and it's not working out until one of her disastrous dates at her preferred restaurant ends with sexy bartender Jax Grainger coming to her rescue. At first glance, they have nothing in common. Jax is a loner who hates commitment and is about to launch his dream company doing wilderness tours. Holly is a city girl who wants nothing less than a fully committed relationship. But their differences seem to mesh together and it's making both question what they truly want out of life.

It's a very fun rom-com with both tender and exciting moments that kept me turning pages to see the relationship between Holly and Jax develop. I loved their relationship and how they interacted with one another because they push each other to be more than they believe themselves to be. It's a lovely relationship dynamic that sets up some of the book's best moments.

Special props to Abigail Reno and David Bendena for bringing the characters to life with their excellent narration. They both made sure to give their characters a very distinct voice and tone that helped the story shine.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the most excellent listen/read!

Katie Bailey has been on my list of authors that I will read anything they write. I loved both books in the Donovan family series and with The Quit List, Bailey continues to knock it out of the park.

The Quit List delivers something that I don’t find common in rom-coms. From the start, I loved both characters. I feel I usually like one and the other grows into someone I like but not here. Both characters have enormous growth but I didn’t need that growth to like them.

Holly is looking for her happily ever after. She turned to online dating and has a different date every weekend and it seems each date is worse than the last. On one terrible date, Holly is saved by Jax, the bartender of the restaurant she continues to go to on her dates at. Holly is attracted to Jax but realizes he is everything she shouldn’t want. She wants her Prince Charming, not a playboy.

Jax tries to convince himself that he does not have feelings for Holly. He is sure that he is incapable of love and settling down due to his father's actions. Knowing this Jax agrees to be Holly’s dating coach to help her find her soulmate.

This story was truly a gift to everyone who loves rom-coms. You will be screaming how badly you want Holly and Jax to wake up and realize they are perfect for each other. Make sure you put this on your summer reading list!

First of all, thank you so much to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ALC! I thought this was a nice romance with likeable characters. There were some funny moments and witty banter which I always love. However, the romance to me just felt a bit surface level and nothing that I was really invested in. Everything was nice enough but nothing that will really stand out. A good one if you’re in need of a palate cleanser.

I received an audiobook copy for my honest review.

I really enjoyed the narrators for this dual POV audiobook!

Our FMC is trying her hand at online dating, and let's just say, it's not going great. But, since she's still trying to get over an ex who keeps dragging her along, she keeps going on dates. While on a date she decides, let's just end this now - put us out of our misery. Her date is taken aback because he was assuming they would hook up - pass. When the date tries to come back into the restaurant, our MMC cuts in. He is a mountain man who's been working as a bartender while preparing to start his dream job as a wilderness guide. He sees the whole thing go down and ends up pretending he is her backup date. They talk for a bit, have a kind of spark - but nothing will happen because he refuses to be in a relationship and she is looking for marriage. But when they run into each other again, and he nails why her date stands her up, she asks him a favor. Help me to read people better so I can actually find a match. She offers to help him set up some of his guest service and marketing needs for his new business, since that's what's she is passionate about. He helps her see she needs to step out of her comfort zone - and by doing this she agrees to go on a 3 day hike with him so she can take pictures and he can get experience. What could go wrong?

Tropes: Friends to Lovers
Cute, closed door romance.
Wonderful narration by Abigail Reno and David Bendena.
I loved that it had no third act breakup and a wonderful FMC and MMC.
Jax and Holly complimented one another well.
Felt a little slow for how long it took Jax to realise he liked Holly.

Thanks to Netgalley, Katie Bailey and Dreamscape Media for providing me with the audio copy for my honest review.

The Quit List was such a fun, sweet, slow burn, closed door romance. The banter was amazing, the tension was off the charts, the romance was adorable, it was everything I needed right now. I loved the wilderness and hiking vibes. I thought it just added that extra to the book.

Jax.. this man.. I am OBSESSED. He is a walking green flag. He is pure perfection. The way he is such a kind-hearted, caring soul but shows a rugged exterior made my heart melt. How he fell so hard for Holly. They both brought out the best in each other. I loved seeing their relationship evolve from friendship to lovers. That screw it moment just made me melt completely 🫠

Such a fun romcom with never a dull moment. It was a refreshing read with an original concept and I highly recommend it! This was my first book by Katie Kennedy and it won't be my last!!

🎧 The narration by Abigail Reno & David Bendena was amazing. They just fit perfectly together and played the characters so well. The tones and emotions were on point and made for a great listening experience.

✨️ Thank you to @netgalley, @dreamscapemedia & @katiekennedy for my gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a swoony romance. Jax was cynical towards love for himself, but took Holly under his wing to help her find a man truly deserving of her after her clearly poor choice in dates showed she could use a little help. I loved the dynamic between the two. Jax had a heart of gold under his tough guy persona. I think Holly was really relatable to all the women out there simply trying to find true love and a man to appreciate them. My favorite thing was how Jax helped Holly to be comfortable and confident in being herself and that that self is who he fell hard for.
The romance level was probably PG 13 if this was a movie. There was a lot of innuendo and some mild swearing, but the romance was super swoony while staying in the closed-door category. I enjoyed how the two characters made each other better by simply being themselves together. It was really cute.
I listened to the audiobook version and loved the narrators. The dual POV narration was top tier and I would definitely listen to not only this book specifically again, but other books narrated by them as well. I highly recommend the audiobook version.
I received an advance listening copy of this novel. Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape media for the ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 4.5 stars

Synopsis: Holly has had her fair share of bad luck with online dating, so she recruits Jax, the bartender at her go-to first date spot, to be her dating coach.

Thoughts: What always impresses me is how Katie Bailey writes closed door romances filled with so much tension and top notch banter. The platonic and romantic relationships never feel juvenile, and the spicy kisses delivered. I loved seeing Holly grow as a person and realize what is truly important in a relationship versus what she originally wanted. Jax, on the other hand, was a closed off wilderness man (with forearms) that slowly opened himself up to the idea of a relationship and love. What more can you want?! Oh and if you read Seasons Schemings (which is not necessary to understand this standalone), it was nice to see so much of Maddie and Seb’s happily ever after.

Read if you like:
-Friends to lovers
-Opposites attract
-Modern dating
-Outdoor adventures
-Only one tent
-Forehead kisses
-Closed door romances

Honestly, it wasn’t until I was nearly at the end of the book that I realized this was closed-door.

Holy cow… this book was somehow super charged by anticipation alone.

The MC’s are an excellent pair. Jackson is 💯 up for book boyfriend of the year, and Holly’s growth was a joy to read.

I don’t know if this is a book in a series, because at times there were characters introduced that I felt like I was supposed to already know, however it didn’t impede my enjoyment of the story, so I’d still say it works as a stand alone if it is part of a series.

You won’t be disappointed by this steamy slow-burn!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this cute wild rom-com.
 
This book is for all the TikTok girlies in love with the most famous lumberjack ever Thoren Bradley, because yes, the MMC is him and no one will ever change my mind about it. I don´t know if the author did it purposefully but the result is still a book the same - not that I´m complaining -.
 
This book follows Holly and Jack. She is in search of the one, he doesn´t want to be emotionally attached to anyone, but when he sees Holly on a streak of horrible dates in the restaurant he works at, Jack decides to coach her to find the perfect man. Little did he know that maybe he didn´t fit even one of Holly´s parameters, but she sure fit his.
 
As rom-coms go, this one was full of 4 stars. Enjoyed it and it´s a perfect cute and fun read for the summer.
 
Dreamscape Media always has the best productions and here they prove it again. Loved the voice actors, their voices were so soothing and engaging I couldn´t stop listening. I basically finished it in one session.

Katie Bailey has become a go to author for me. Her stories have good banter, healthy relationships and make you smile and laugh. I loved this book. The characters are well written and come alive with the narration. The story is relatable and believable. A win!

Holly is throwing herself into dating, but finds herself on one terrible first date after another. After a particularly rough one, she finds herself chatting with the bartender Jax who offers her dating advice.

I really enjoyed this one — there was great banter and I loved the friendly connection between Holly and Jax. He helped push her out of her comfort zone and she helped him get past his fear of commitment. I loved the outdoors setting of Jax’s wilderness guide business too. Also appreciated the open communication and no third act breakup.

Enjoyed the audiobook for this one — thanks Dreamscape Media for the complimentary copy!

MeH....I had high hopes for the book but quickly lost interest due to excessive speaking and little shown. The abrupt scene cuts and time jumping were criticized, and the emotional connection between the characters could have been more engaging. The author tried to avoid making the book too lengthy without sacrificing the reader's emotional connection. The portrayal of Jax as an untamed mountain guy was difficult to imagine, as he was only told of his immense love for nature. Although not a DNF, the rom-com was readable but not recommended due to its slow pace and lack of interest in the characters or plot. I also had the audible version from Netgalley and the male narrator's voice just did not fit this character.

Thanks so much to Netgalley for this ARC for an honest review.

Very fun, very cute. If you’re looking for something short, sweet and full of fluff—you cannot go wrong with this one.

My favorite thing ever is two characters who support each other to the fullest.

These characters on the precipice of something big—each other.

I will definitely be picking up more from this author!!!