Review by Booklist Review
Seth Kim is in town for a month before his move to Paris for his fashion photography job, and he wants to spend that time with brewer Tara Parker. He dares her to go on four dates with him and not fall in love. Since Tara doesn't do serious relationships, and she's wildly attracted to Seth, she agrees. Although their secret dates don't often go as planned, their fiery attraction remains strong. Both have been hurt by exes who didn't believe in their dreams, so they have a hard time being vulnerable. Yet they start opening up to each other, and soon real emotions are at play that they can't ignore. As in the first book in the series, A Sweet Mess (2020), Lee provides mouth-watering descriptions of food and charming, relatable relationships with friends and family. Some conflicts feel forced or annoyingly petty, but happily, more emphasis is placed on the fun, teasing, flirtatious banter, making for a playful, spicy rom-com.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Lee dishes up a half-baked rom-com grounded appealingly in cultural specificity but littered with tired romance clichés--including treating jealousy and leering as signs of true love. At the wedding of the couple from Lee's A Sweet Mess, sparks fly between craft brewery owner Tara Park and the groom's younger brother, photographer Seth Kim. But Seth is moving to Paris soon, so despite their killer chemistry, he doesn't want to commit. And that suits attachment-avoidant Tara just fine. So when, during a drunken game of truth or dare, Seth challenges Tara to go on four dates with him without falling in love, both think it should be easy. Readers are told that Seth and Tara are kindred spirits, but their connection is never convincingly shown, thanks to uneven pacing and constant interruptions on their dates. An early scene where Seth becomes aroused by a blackout-drunk Tara taking off her clothes may not sit well with readers; the narration hurries to assure them that Seth would never take advantage of Tara, but for many that will be setting the bar too low. Lee's devoted fans will enjoy her signature fluffy approach, but other rom-com readers can skip this one. Agent: Sarah Younger, Nancy Yost Literary. (Aug.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
In Lee's follow-up to A Sweet Mess, Tara attends her best friend's wedding, where she spends time with the bride's new brother-in-law. Feeling lonely and worried about the change in her friendship, Tara flirts with Seth, who's the groom's brother. She agrees to go on four dates with Seth before he's supposed to leave for Paris. Tara likes temporary relationships, where she can shield herself from feeling more. Seth goes all in on their dates and quickly realizes their bargain is more than he could've hoped for. While Tara continues to deny her feelings, and Seth becomes more open with his, they must decide if they're destined for a happily-ever-after, or if four dates is the end of their story. VERDICT Though Lee tries to create chemistry between her leads, much of their banter falls flat. Tara's growth at the book's end feels forced and insincere, and Seth's journey offers no surprises. Fans of the first book will likely enjoy this follow-up, but new readers may be disappointed with the lackluster story.--Claire Brown, Red Deer P.L., AB
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A photographer on the verge of an international move and an ambitious craft-brewery owner agree to a casual fling that quickly grows into something more. Tara Park doesn't exactly hit it off with Seth Kim when she's the maid of honor and he's the best man at her best friend's wedding to his brother. She tells him to quit ogling her, and he claims he can't help it: "I'm a photographer. It's hard for me to ignore things of beauty." What a line! But with the chemistry sparking, the two of them head to Tara's craft brewery to continue the festivities--and a highly alcoholic game of truth or dare heats things up. When Seth dares Tara to go on four dates with him, her competitive nature makes her say yes, but they both know that time is fleeting. Seth is only in town to housesit while the newlyweds are on their honeymoon, and then he's relocating to Paris. The California setting is vibrant, and the details about the craft-beer industry and Tara's experience as a brewer are fascinating. It's in the relationships, both romantic and platonic, where things go wrong. This isn't a romance for the modern reader, as red flags from both characters are too easily explained away as the result of passion. Seth's initially unwanted attention is quickly forgotten as the drinks start flowing, and Tara routinely acts petty and downright rude at the mention of Seth's previous romantic partners even though she's had plenty of physical connections with men. Both characters ultimately lack maturity, especially Tara, who repeatedly insists love doesn't fit into her life. It's hard to care when the main characters border on unlikable. A frustrating read. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
