The premise of this looked fun and original and it was that.
Down on her luck with her own writing career plans. Alex agrees to write as an agony Uncle instead. There she comes across Ryan. And her helping him swings and turns into so much more. For both of them. But Alex isn't telling the truth. And so can their relationship heal from being built on a lie.
I loved the building of personality and relationships. Both together and apart Alex and Ryan had things to work on. Their growing bond was really sweet,witty and fun. I really liked them together.
Alex as a character helped iron out some real life clichés and tropes which I think was clever.
This was a good book. A bit more humorous than my previous choices so that was nice.

Alex, struggling with multiple jobs in London, lands a role writing an online advice column for a men's magazine, where she gives relationship advice to Ryan that leads to unexpected complications. As the two grow closer, Alex conceals her true identity as his "agony uncle," but their romance is built on a lie. Simultaneously, Alex is ghostwriting the biography of a retired MP with his own secrets, and as her life spirals, she must figure out how to fix both his and her own unraveling world.

This RomCom had me laughing at loud at the banter and tearing up at certain points. This book just HIT for me. The characters were very well developed and I was completely invested in the story. I could not get enough of Alex’s relationships with Ryan, Adam , and Sir John. I would highly recommend this quick, fun read! My only note is that I want MORE of Ryan & Alex!

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are mine.

This was an interesting premise. It follows Alex who lives paycheck to paycheck until she gets a job as an agony uncle. Her advice doesn’t go well for Ryan and by trying to fix it sparks fly. Interesting premise and would be a huge hit for fans of slow burn.

This was a sweet read! Alex is quite the writer and liar. Ryan is such a a sweet architect. I felt like there were some holes in the story and quite a few time jumps.

I'm happy👍🏽 that despite the start, there was definitely character development💫 throughout the book. With Alex's situation with the men’s advice emails💻. I couldn’t help but feel frustrated😤 at how she forgot that she’s supposed to be a man🥸. Like, dudes are messaging other guys for advice, not some woman coming in and giving the same advice their girlfriends would💥🗣️. There’s also this whole thing with Alex complaining about how girls have to put up with guys having best girlfriends. It didn’t sit right with me because not all guys are like that, and girls have done it too😕. But then, as I read on, Adam basically said what I was thinking, and I could see that this was a problem that would be explored🗻 and overcome 🏁.

I liked how Alex and Adam came together🤜🏻🤛🏻 to rewrite the emails. That moment felt genuine✨, and I could see them working as a team. I also have to respect Alex for doing her research💯—props to her for taking it seriously. Though I would have liked it if they stay led writing the emails togrther.

I didn’t feel any connection💫 between Alex and Ryan. Maybe it’s just me, but it didn’t feel like there was enough to really pull me in.

Lastly, the letters. I wish we’d seen more of Alex’s letters📃 throughout the book. If we could’ve had one every chapter, it would’ve added more depth and made it feel less like the emails were just randomly thrown in. Right now, they don’t feel as integrated into the story as they could’ve been.😔

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC 👏🏻 💝⭐

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc!!

uhhh okay where do i start with this. i liked the premise of dating under false identities, but sometimes i feel like it should stay in the fanfic zone and not in books because this didn't work for me. perhaps it was the length of it, but i didn't connect with any of the characters.

Alex is just a full blown liar digging a bigger and bigger hole for herself and i totally get everyone around her telling her to just come clean. i liked Ryan as a character as well, but he didn't feel particularly developed, he was just a really nice guy who loves architecture. that is all i know about him. i had no idea how long they were even together when suddenly the truth is out and wham i am hit over the head that the lie has gone on for.... THREE MONTHS. i'm pretty sure Ryan spent a bulk of that overseas, and they are already in love?? absolutely no frigging way.

also, Ryan forgives her way too easily. Alex shohld have grovelled more. blueprints to a chapel for his birthday should not do the trick, no matter how much of an architecture nerd he is. but still, the overall story is cute, though i can't shake the feeling that i've seen all this before.

i am more interested about the plot of Sir John and his daughter Ophelia, but it is a very B story kind of plot. Alex's ghostwriting is very quickly sidelined and i think we read more of her writing on reptiles than Sir John's autobiography. we barely see any of this plot and i wanted more!! or better yet, make this the A story. please, it would fix this book.

Bea, Adam, Emma and Javier are also very interesting characters. unfortunately they got downgraded to wither Alex-supporter or Ryan-supporter. i needed more!!

those last three words are basically how i felt about this book.

Margo has Money Troubles meets a Dear Abby-esque columnist

Alex is a down on her luck freelance writer who is in desperate need of money and in a late night haze comes across a job listing for 'Agony Uncle' an anonymous advice column for men and applies. With the help of her cousin Alex secures the job and chats with Ryan who needs some confidence when it comes to dating. Alex takes it upon herself to boost his confidence in real by pretending to be someone else. What started as an innocent plot to her a stranger turns into 1, 2 and many more dates.







This book was good, but I didn't connect with the romance or even really like Alex. I feel like Alex and Ryan met too soon and there was a lot of implied through the characters in person conversation that Ryan and Agony Alex exchanged a ton of communication about Alex's alter ego. I did enjoy the story line with Sir John, but I wished Alex's passion for writing was seen more like how is the book coming along. It was a lot of telling rather than showing that caused parts of it to drag on for too long. I think had this not been marketed as a romance and rather a literary fiction expectations would have been appropriately met.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Book Guild for an Arc of this book in exchange for a review.

I found this one really difficult to get into and can't remember what happened however. I can see others enjoying this. It is just too slow paced for what I personally enjoy.

I unfortunately dnf'd this one two chapters in. There were so many words - it was a wordy book for no reason! The dialogue was painfully cringe and hard to follow. Ugh. I had high hopes for this one but it read like a messy debut novel!

Thank you net gallery for the opportunity to review Dear Alex

My pre thoughts:
Opposites attract romance book

Post thoughts:
This is a lovely quick read romance novel.

The Relationship between the FMC and the MMC develops though the novel, with memorable side characters integrated in to the story line. It did take me a little while to become invested in the characters, once about 1/4 way though it was quote a breezy read.

Sir John is iconic and is a great grandfather figure for Alex.

Overall this book was a great rom-com read.

3.5 stars

This was another quick and cute little romance novel!

The writing style is super easy and helps to make it feel like the book is flying by (I know that's such a random thing and such a personal preferences, but I really do think it makes all the difference in the reading experience).

The characters were relatable, but they felt a bit two-dimensional to me, despite making the kinds of references that should make them feel real to me, they didn't feel totally real. The characters were funny and that is always so important to me. I like to have a little giggle moment when reading a romance, I think it should be a requirement! So yay for that!

I just wish there was a little more oomph. I wish we got a little more with the characters, giving them more depth and making them feel like real people (but that could be a personal thing, others might read this book and not share that same sentiment).

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_LIpman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Book Guild for an ARC!

It was difficult for me to get invested in this one at the beginning. I really disliked Adam’s character and felt he was too involved in Alex’s life in an overbearing and unhelpful way.

I feel that the book had too much going on, between the Agony Uncle storyline, the Alex/Anastasia and Ryan storyline, and the Alex and Sir John storyline. I wish that one of these elements had been dropped in order for the book to be a bit more focused.

Overall, it was a cute read but nothing revolutionary.

Thank you to The Book Guild/ NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review ‘Dear Alex’.

Firstly, reading a book where your own name is the FMC probably makes me biased to loving the character however, I found Alex to be instantly relatable nonetheless. Not only that but the tone of voice set by the authors is so easy, conversational and witty - like talking to a friend about your life problems but in book form.

The entire storyline was fun and I definitely found that I was giggling to myself when it came to Adam’s commentary and his general personality, as well as Alex’s eye roll attitude. The surprise visit from her parents and the whole Javier debacle comes to mind!
Also, so many references to life in London, Harry Potter, and even football made it very real and relatable for me.

The relationship with Sir John throughout is an endearing addition to the plot and you can’t help but love the grandpa vibes he gives.

My only qualm was that I wanted the story to delve a bit more into the romance with Ryan and possibly have a few more back and forth ‘Dear Alex’ scenarios where she abuses her position as the Agony Uncle a bit more!

Overall I read this in one sitting and found it an enjoyable romcom-esque book! 3.5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and The Book Guild for an Arc of this book in exchange for a review.

Despite being a bit unsure at the beginning of this book I did actually end up thoroughly enjoying it. I do wish we got a little more of Alex and Ryan as their relationship built as I feel as if I could've been much more invested in the relationship and how it was developing. I was still rooting for them the entire time though!

A surprising aspect of the book I loved was the side plot involving Alex and Sir John. I found him to be such an interesting character through the story and was very intrigued by his story and the way he and Alex interacted made me so happy at the friendship that developed.

Overall it was definitely an enjoyable book and worth the read.

3.5 stars rounded to 4.

2.5

Many thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for a review

Now here is the thing....

I binged this book and found it enjoyable and cute and liked the FMC however this did feel like a debut novel unfornately

I just think the writing and the plot were very average and very "debuty"