Don't You Want Me Baby is an okay read. The story didn't flow as well as it could have, but the premise was good!

This is a cute romance between 2 best friends who set out on a path together and end up falling in love.
The characters did lack a little depth for me and it could have been spicier :)

**Book Review: "Don’t You Want Me Baby" by Rachel Dove**

Rachel Dove’s *Don’t You Want Me Baby* is the perfect mix of humor, heart, and romance that fans of feel-good fiction will love. The story centers on Amber Fitzpatrick, a woman on the brink of turning thirty, feeling like she’s fallen short of her dreams. Her business aspirations feel out of reach, and she’s just had her heart broken by her boyfriend. To make matters worse, the ticking of her biological clock has become deafening.

Amber decides that maybe the next chapter in her life doesn’t require a man—perhaps she can go it alone and start a family by herself. This decision sets the stage for a hilarious and heartwarming journey, where her exasperating yet undeniably charming best friend, Tyler Williams, enters the scene. Tyler thinks Amber’s plan to have a baby on her own is a bit out there, and he’s determined to change her mind. He believes she just needs to wait for the right man to come along—and maybe, just maybe, he’s the one who’s been there all along.

The dynamic between Amber and Tyler is what truly elevates this story. Their "grumpy sunshine" best friends-to-lovers relationship is filled with delightful banter, moments of vulnerability, and undeniable chemistry. Tyler, with his witty charm and protective instincts, is the perfect foil to Amber’s determination to do things her way. As the tension builds and both characters wrestle with their feelings, readers will find themselves rooting for them to take a chance on love, no matter how crazy or unconventional it seems.

Dove’s writing is warm, engaging, and full of heart. The pacing of the story keeps you turning pages, eager to see how Amber and Tyler will navigate their complicated feelings and personal growth. *Don’t You Want Me Baby* is the kind of book that will make you smile, laugh out loud, and maybe even tear up a little. It’s a sweet escape into a world where love, friendship, and following your heart come together in the most unexpected ways.

Fans of Portia MacIntosh, Laura Carter, and Phoebe MacLeod will find *Don’t You Want Me Baby* to be a delightful addition to their reading list. Rachel Dove once again proves she has a knack for crafting relatable, lovable characters and stories that are both funny and emotional.

If you’re looking for a rom-com that will leave you feeling warm and satisfied, this is the book for you. *Don’t You Want Me Baby* is a must-read for fans of romantic comedy and anyone who loves a good “best friends to lovers” story!

Thoughts:
Amber is turning 30 and is starting to panic that she getting to old she had expected by now to have her business going and children by now and a boyfriend that would help with that but does she. There’s a lot on miscommunication going on between the two but then there Tyler her friend who has wanted her from day one will she let Tyler in to make her HEA happen?
This is a fast read with a message of sometimes the best things in life are worth waiting for. If you’re in the mood for a feel-good story this one will met that.

Yes baby I do want you. Tyler is absolute perfect and I ate this one up. It's not new knowledge that I love the pregnancy trope especially when it is a lady down on her luck and her best friend steps in to help her live the dream of being a mom. Of course they fall in love while making a baby and it was slap every time.

This is a delightful, heartwarming story about Amber Fitzpatrick, a woman on the verge of turning thirty, confronting the harsh realities of her life. From shattered dreams to an unexpected breakup, Amber is grappling with a sense of failure. Yet, instead of wallowing in her situation, she embarks on a bold new plan: she decides to have a baby on her own. Her independent spirit drives her, but there’s a catch—Tyler Williams, her frustratingly handsome yet irritating best friend, who thinks she’s making a huge mistake.
The tension between Amber and Tyler is palpable, with their witty banter and undeniable chemistry. Their dynamic is what really makes this story shine, as Amber's determination to take control of her future clashes with Tyler’s belief that she’s rushing into something important without considering what she might already have. Their push-pull relationship is beautifully written, complete with an emotional rollercoaster of laughs, heartache, and hope. Amber’s journey of self-discovery, along with the charming tension between her and Tyler, makes this book a truly enjoyable read. The author has created characters that are real, flawed, and relatable, and completely endearing, making this a perfect pick for anyone who enjoys rom-coms with a bit of depth. It’s a wonderful exploration of the importance of friendship, love, and embracing life’s unexpected turns.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and Boldwood Books and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I loved Ty and the small town vibes in this story, but it was a very slowwww burn. The little spice the story did have was a bit cringy for me. While Amber wasn’t my favorite FMC, I understood her and where she was coming from, even if I didn’t agree with her choices. The side characters and Ty really made the story more enjoyable for me. The ending was cute, but I was kind of mad the ex got a happy ending too, I guess I’m just spiteful that way!

It was a very quick and easy read – best for those who like friends to lovers, slow burn, and small towns – but with some heavy topics.

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC!

I thought the premise sounded great and I tried to read this but the large blocks of text made it difficult to stay focused.
If the formatting was different, I think I could've stayed connected to the story.

Book Review: Don’t You Want Me, Baby? by Rachel Dove

Rachel Dove’s Don’t You Want Me, Baby? is a heartwarming and hilarious romcom that masterfully blends humor, romance, and personal growth. With its engaging storyline, relatable characters, and undeniable charm, it’s sure to captivate readers who love a good friends-to-lovers tale.

Amber Fitzpatrick is approaching thirty and feeling like she’s missed the mark. Her dreams of owning a business are far from realized, her boyfriend has just dumped her, and her biological clock is ticking louder by the day. Faced with these challenges, Amber makes a bold decision—she’ll have a baby on her own. But there’s one problem: her grumpy best friend, Tyler Williams, who thinks Amber’s plans are nothing short of crazy. As Amber stubbornly tries to navigate this new phase of her life, Tyler sets out to prove that maybe, just maybe, he’s the one who can give her everything she wants—if she’s brave enough to take a chance on him.

What makes Don’t You Want Me, Baby? so enjoyable is its perfect balance of humor and heart. Amber is an endearing, relatable character who’s struggling with both societal expectations and her own desires. Tyler, on the other hand, is the grumpy, protective best friend who secretly harbors deeper feelings for Amber but is too afraid to reveal them. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their banter is often hilarious, making their journey from friends to something more a truly engaging read.

Dove does a fantastic job of exploring themes of independence, self-discovery, and the complexities of modern relationships. While Amber is determined to go it alone, she slowly begins to realize that maybe she doesn’t have to choose between independence and love. The romance builds gradually, offering plenty of swoon-worthy moments while also addressing Amber’s personal journey and the support she gets from her close-knit friendship with Tyler.

Fans of grumpy-sunshine romances will find a lot to love here, as Tyler’s brooding personality perfectly complements Amber’s sunny, optimistic nature. The chemistry between them is palpable, and the slow-burn romance is both satisfying and heartwarming.

Don’t You Want Me, Baby? is the perfect read for fans of Portia MacIntosh, Laura Carter, and Phoebe MacLeod, with its witty writing, endearing characters, and a romance that feels both real and aspirational. Rachel Dove once again proves why she’s a beloved voice in the romantic comedy genre, delivering a book that will make you laugh, swoon, and reflect on the idea of finding love when you least expect it.

Rating: 4.5/5
This delightful, feel-good romcom is a must-read for anyone in the mood for a fun, heartwarming story with lovable characters and a romance that will leave you smiling long after the last page.

A quick and enjoyable read. Amber and Tyler’s story, best friends to eventual lovers with plenty of miscommunication thrown in as well making an interesting read
Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel Dove for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

Don’t You Want Me, Baby? by Rachel Dove has an intriguing premise, exploring friendship, ambition, and unconventional paths to motherhood. However, the story leans too heavily on tired miscommunication tropes, making the protagonists’ choices frustrating rather than compelling. While there are moments of humor and heart, the execution lacks the depth needed to make the characters truly resonate.

Friends to Lovers, quick and easy read.

Amber is turning 30, and she can't stop obsessing over the idea that her biological clock is ticking, constantly stressing about how her eggs will soon be "dried up," and so on. Her fixation on having a baby is all-consuming, to the point where it feels like it’s the only topic she ever discusses. Personally, I think the plot would have felt more believable if she were turning 40—or even 35! Her reproductive panic at 30 seems a little overblown and premature.

In this new rom-com novel from Rachel Dove, readers meet Amber Fitzpatrick, nearly thirty and dissatisfied with her life and career choices because her dream of owning her own business seems out of reach. Thinking that she, as an independent woman, can have and raise a child on her own, Amber starts making plans that her handsome and incredibly annoying best friend Tyler Williams thinks are crazy for a multitude of reasons. Intent on proving Amber wrong in a couple key ways, readers meet Tyler and Amber at a critical and volatile point in their relationship that might just change everything. With two totally opposite characters with a long history together, Dove does a masterful job in creating the characters’ relationship and history in vibrant detail that convinces readers of their long friendship. Besides the two excellent main characters, the atmosphere and conflict of the novel are also incredibly written and add excellent tension and stakes to this otherwise tropey and enjoyable spicy romance. The antagonizing characters are brilliantly unlikeable and add an excellent contrast to Amber and Tyler throughout this escapist new book, which romance readers of all kinds will love for the tropes, the tension, and the drama.

A decent read with a good storyline. I did enjoy this read and the romance element however I felt the miscommunication trope was overused and it was frustrating at times

My Thoughts: this book was utter perfection! – as much as I’d love to leave my review there because nothing I say will do it justice, I can’t so I’ll give it my best shot.

We’re following Amber, she’s almost 30 & she’s starting to realise that her life isn’t going as planned, she’s just been dumped, so she starts spiralling.. she wants to run the pub that belonged to her gran, but doesn’t yet have the funds to make it happen yet, she wants a baby but now doesn’t have the boyfriend.. but there are ways around that!

I love how organised she was, lists for everything and bookmarks on her browsers, she was a girl after my own heart ❤️

Then there’s Tyler, he’s grumpy but protective & it comes across instantly to the reader that he is absolutely besotted with Amber, but he’s kept his feelings to himself, after all he’s just the best friend and he doesn’t want to risk losing that..

The slow burn in this book was everything, now I normally hate slow burn, I just want them to realise the inevitable and then we can enjoy the rest of the book with them in their happy little bubble… this book changed that for me, I was here for it.

The will they won’t they, the tension, the angst it all almost had me holding my breath & when they finally get together believe me it’s worth it 🥵🌶️

I need more Amber and Tyler, I wasn’t ready to leave them behind.

I personally didn’t think the cover fitted the book, but only because I assume it’s Tyler on the cover and he didn’t fit how I pictured him in my head 😂 (don’t get me wrong the cover is eye catching!)

You absolutely need to add this one to your TBR, you will not be disappointed.

🐧🩷

This was okay. I do like a friends to lovers slow burn, but I'm really frustrated by the lack of communication and martyrdom. Both characters are guilty of it. Tyler was pretty great, but needed to man up and talk to her. Amber was strong, then a bit annoying and then the martyrdom kicked in. It was nice to see Bradley take a punch, but everyone got where they needed to be

This book was very cute. The main characters, Amber and Tyler, have some great banter throughout the book. I did find some conversations quite repetitive during the book but overall, it was a quick and enjoyable read. I found this to be a very quick read and was a very cute story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC.

It is a cute friends to lovers book with pregnancy done extremely well! The book is extremely well written and I thoroughly enjoyed it 😁

A fun rom-com with some self discovery thrown in the mix! The main character, Amber, was very likeable and easy to relate to for me. Amber has a freakout about turning 30 (didn't we all?), and realizes that she needs to make some hard decisions to get her where she wants to be. She realizes she can create her own happiness and creates meaningful relationships along the way. The book was filled with humor and heart making it hard to put down at times.

ARC Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I went into Rachel Dove’s Don’t You Want Me Baby? fully expecting to eat this book up. The friends to lovers trope is my absolute favorite. Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t a fit for me. However, that does not exclude it from being the ideal read for someone else.

I recommend reading it if you are a fan of the friends to lovers, long slow burns (and I mean the long) and spicy scenes.

Special thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books, and Rachel Dove for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.