Dating-ish, an all new standalone from the USA Today bestselling Knitting in the City romantic comedy series by Penny Reid is available now!
‘Dating-ish’ can be read as a standalone, is a full length 100k word novel, and is book #6 in the Knitting in the City Series.
There are three things you need to know about Marie Harris: 1) She’s fed up with online dating, 2) She’s so fed up, she’s willing to forego the annoyance and consider more creative alternatives, and 3) She knows how to knit.
After the most bizarre and irritating first date in the history of humankind, Marie is looking for an alternative to men. With the help of her friends, she quickly identifies a few possibilities:
Need a cuddle? Use a professional cuddler. Need affirmation? Get yourself a life coach. Need an orgasm? Try orgasm meditation! Why does she need the hassle of a romantic partner when she can meet all her needs with paid services?
But then her irritating date resurfaces. And he’s not at all the person she thought he was. And he suggests a different–and crazier–solution to her dilemma . . .
As everyone knows (or will soon come to realize), traditional relations between humans are a thing of the past. Robots are our future. And if robots are our future, then why do we need other people at all?
*ARC received as part of a blog tour. The thoughts are entirely my own and in no way biased.*
So, as you all know, I am a Penny Reid fanatic. I absolutely love all of her work. She has a way with words that always leaves me smiling and wanting more. I have yet to be disappointed by any of her books and I am so glad that the trend continued with Dating – ish.
Dating – ish is the cute love story between Marie and Matt, two people who meet through an online dating site (not for reasons you are imagining, let me assure you.) and form a reluctant friendship. As time passes, they start spending more time together and then eventually fall for each other. I love the way the story is told. The slow burn romance is just so frustrating at times but then when you reap the rewards… AAHHH! Let me tell you, it is so worth the torture you went through.
Both Matt & Marie have reasons to not want to be in a committed relationship and they decide early on that they’ll be friends. But, that doesn’t stop Marie from developing feelings for Matt and as time passes and their relationship progresses, she starts to hope that Matt feels the same. They hit a few snags along the way but eventually get their heads out of their behinds. Thank God for that!
What I like about Marie is how determined and strong willed she is. She is focused on her career, but her friends are equally important to her. She is incredibly smart. She likes to knit. She’s a great cook. She’s thoughtful and kind. It was easy to identify with Marie because we share so many personality traits. It warmed me to her even more. I like how her character grows through the story. It is real and believable and not something that just happens overnight.
Matt. What should I say about this man? *sighs* When the story began, I honest to God hated him. He came off as a douche and narrow minded and just so selfish. But, as the story progressed, he just became so damn likable and thoughtful and cute! He was just this dorky, cute guy and I started to like him and then eventually love him too.
And, of course. The romance. It was such a slow burn. God, I was absolutely dying of anticipation and frustration. Throughout the book I was like “GET TOGETHER ALREADY!” This GIF below is so me throughout the book before they got together.
And then I absolutely rejoiced when they did get together. It was so fulfilling and all I could think was finally. It was awesome!
Apart from the shipping, I loved the friendships throughout the story. What I love about Penny’s books is that friendship is so important. And the ladies of the Knitting in the City series are absolutely amazing friends. They’re always there for each other no matter what and they’re just such good friends and sounding boards and pillars of support. I love it. I also love how these ladies carry on intelligent conversation that doesn’t center all around men. They talk about so many different things. It is such a delight to read all that.
I love this story. I do. I love it so much. And you should most definitely read it too! Go, grab your copy ASAP!
He was quiet for bit, we both were, and I felt myself relax more and more. His palm took a detour every so often, dutifully skipping my hip and sliding along my side, and then back to my leg. Soon, I was so relaxed I felt drowsy.
I felt fingers in my hair, moving the mass away from my neck with treasuring strokes just before Matt nuzzled the back of my neck, causing goosebumps to scatter over my skin.
“Mmm.” I smiled. “Hey. Jared said no tickling.” My voice sounded sleepy.
“Does this tickle?” Matt asked softly, nuzzling me again. I felt the brush of his lips—not a kiss, a brush—paired with hot breath against the bare skin of my neck and a zing shot straight down my spine, making my toes curl and a sudden hot ache twist in my lower belly.
Oh no.
I knew that ache. I hadn’t felt it because of another person’s touch in quite a long time. Nevertheless, no one ever forgets that ache.
My back arched instinctively, my bottom pressing back against his crotch, and I stiffened. I felt my nipples harden, strain beneath the cotton of my bra. I was now fully awake. No longer drowsy.
Nope.
Not even a little.
Matt stiffened, too. His movements abruptly ceasing.
“Are you okay? What’s wrong?” he asked, alarm coating his words, and in the next moment his hand was suspended in the air above me. “Did I touch something I shouldn’t?”
I exhaled a short, nervous laugh, gripped by the urge to sit up.
“No. No. You didn’t.” I moved to the edge of the bed, righting myself, away from Matt, needing distance. “I’m good.” I gathered a silent breath and released it slowly because my pulse was racing.
Crap, Marie. Get a grip. It’s Matt Simmons. Professor Matt. The big kid. Why are you reacting this way?
“Did I . . .” These initial words were hesitant, and a moment of silence stretched before he continued, his tone comically teasing as he finished his thought. “Did I arouse you?”
I snorted, shaking my head, laughing at his silly tone. Turning at the waist to peer at him over my shoulder, Matt was grinning at me, twisting a make-believe mustache between his thumb and forefinger.
But then he stopped.
“I did, didn’t I?” he pushed, his hand dropping. He looked pleased, if not a little amazed.
I sighed, feeling a smidge embarrassed, and nodded. “Actually, yes. That’s a sensitive spot for most women.”
“The back of your neck?” He lifted himself to one elbow, his eyes darting to my neck with keen interest.
“My neck in general, actually.”
“Huh.” Matt frowned thoughtfully. “Where else?”
I pressed my lips together and gave him an incredulous look. “I’m not telling you that.”
“Why not?”
“Matt.”
“What if I needed it for research reasons?”
“Matt.”
“What if I told you it was part of our questionnaire?” He tossed his legs over the side of the bed and stood, walking around to my side and offering me his hand. “You should give me a schematic of your body with the erogenous zones circled and rated.”
“Let me guess, you want them rated on a ten-point scale,” I deadpanned as I accepted his hand, stood, and stepped away to gain some distance and straighten my shirt.
He shrugged, crossing his arms, stalking after me. “Or exponential. I was going to say a Likert scale, but a logarithmic scale works, too.”
Chuckling, appreciative of his attempt to diffuse my embarrassment and awkwardness with the joke, I realized Matt Simmons wasn’t a bad guy. He might even be a good guy, just a little . . . peculiar.
And wants to replace romantic relationships with robots. Best not forget that detail.
Yeah, he’d make an interesting friend.
“Thanks.” I gave him a small smile.
“For what?” His eyes moved between mine.
“For the cuddle. Thanks for the cuddle, Matt.”
“Anytime, Marie.” He grinned down at me, his eyes dancing as he leaned forward and whispered, “Anytime.”
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Penny Reid is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. When she’s not immersed in penning smart romances, Penny works in the biotech industry as a researcher. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.
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