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Heartburn
Ten blind dates in ten days...
How bad could it be?
Unfortunately, Dana Ripley is about to go on the bad date carousel.
Heartburn, a romantic comedy for the dating app age.
How bad could it be?
Unfortunately, Dana Ripley is about to go on the bad date carousel.
Heartburn, a romantic comedy for the dating app age.
116 pages, Paperback
First published March 2, 2023
1 person is currently reading
5 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 28, 2023
Today, I was in the mood for a novella, and I'm really glad I picked this one because it's a blast!
Dana is unlucky in love, so she signs up to the Ten-in-Ten app. Ten blind dates in ten days. Sounds like a great opportunity to find someone. Or a recipe for disaster...
OMG. This story is SO MUCH FUN!!
It's a modern romcom packed with very familiar pop-culture references and real-life frustrations, all wrapped up in a lighthearted zany humorous package that kept me glued to the page.
On the surface, this novella might be all fun and games, with situations we all know very well, but there's also plenty of commentary about introspection. Among all the gatekeeping, mansplaining, everyday sexism, and sheer stupidity that people like to hide behind, there's also the very real responsibility we each have when it comes to being judgmental. No one's immune, and I loved how this is dealt with in one woman's quest to find romance.
Also, I have to comment on the dialogue because Damien sure has an awesome grasp on it. I laughed out loud SO many times. Especially during the wrestling chapters and the Mortal Kombat 2 'illegal' move. 🤣
This is a wonderful story.
Dana is unlucky in love, so she signs up to the Ten-in-Ten app. Ten blind dates in ten days. Sounds like a great opportunity to find someone. Or a recipe for disaster...
OMG. This story is SO MUCH FUN!!
It's a modern romcom packed with very familiar pop-culture references and real-life frustrations, all wrapped up in a lighthearted zany humorous package that kept me glued to the page.
On the surface, this novella might be all fun and games, with situations we all know very well, but there's also plenty of commentary about introspection. Among all the gatekeeping, mansplaining, everyday sexism, and sheer stupidity that people like to hide behind, there's also the very real responsibility we each have when it comes to being judgmental. No one's immune, and I loved how this is dealt with in one woman's quest to find romance.
Also, I have to comment on the dialogue because Damien sure has an awesome grasp on it. I laughed out loud SO many times. Especially during the wrestling chapters and the Mortal Kombat 2 'illegal' move. 🤣
This is a wonderful story.
April 12, 2023
Damien has a style of writing that is all his own. It's a breath of fresh air. Heartburn is no exception, it's dead on how crazy it is to date once you reach a certain age. It's a fun highly enjoyable crazy story that will have you laughing till the very end, or till your date shows up. Enjoy dinner.
July 17, 2023
Dana is trying to find that magic moment in the romantic world, the one makes her heart skip a beat, without it being in terror or disgust cause the dating world is an ugly place. She signs up for basically a speed dating experience via an app, 10 dates in 10 days.
I did not know what I was walking into with this one. I'm reading another one of Damien's books to my partner so I couldn't keep reading that one while he's asleep, but I liked the style so I gave this one a go. I LOVE the humor. This made me think of running into the different stereotypes online but giving them a physical experience instead, funny but at the same time a little frightening just because you know these people exist. I laughed out loud a couple of times and had to quickly smother them because of the sleeping partner.
There were a couple of times where the dialogue made it difficult to tell who was speaking and I had to reread it to grasp who was speaking, but overall, the book flowed well and I needed to see how it ended.
I wish it had been longer though. Dana's dive into the dating world was hilarious and I loved how it ended. I would have liked to see more of her world. I also found the intimate scenes sweet and almost innocent, just adding to the experience without destroying it.
I bought this as an e-book but enjoyed it enough I will be buying a physical copy. I would recommend it.
I did not know what I was walking into with this one. I'm reading another one of Damien's books to my partner so I couldn't keep reading that one while he's asleep, but I liked the style so I gave this one a go. I LOVE the humor. This made me think of running into the different stereotypes online but giving them a physical experience instead, funny but at the same time a little frightening just because you know these people exist. I laughed out loud a couple of times and had to quickly smother them because of the sleeping partner.
There were a couple of times where the dialogue made it difficult to tell who was speaking and I had to reread it to grasp who was speaking, but overall, the book flowed well and I needed to see how it ended.
I wish it had been longer though. Dana's dive into the dating world was hilarious and I loved how it ended. I would have liked to see more of her world. I also found the intimate scenes sweet and almost innocent, just adding to the experience without destroying it.
I bought this as an e-book but enjoyed it enough I will be buying a physical copy. I would recommend it.
August 10, 2025
I received a free code for the audio version of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was a very fun time! A romantic comedy about online dating that made me laugh and route for the main character throughout. Like all good comedy, it held a mirror up to society and so it could laugh at itself. Each date the MC goes on is a stereotype that is exaggerated for comedic effect, but at no point did it feel cruel or in bad taste. Also the rant against the MAGA dude was as brutal as it was beautiful!
My only criticism, and the only reason this isn't five stars, is that the end felt a bit rushed and some aspects of it felt forced. I don't want to go into too many details so as to prevent spoilers. Otherwise this story is a short and sweet novella for an afternoon.
I listened to the audio version and thought the reader did a great job! The voices were distinct, the cadence was easy to follow, the quality was solid, and the characters came through well!
Recommended for fans of short rom-coms with queer rep and society introspection.
This was a very fun time! A romantic comedy about online dating that made me laugh and route for the main character throughout. Like all good comedy, it held a mirror up to society and so it could laugh at itself. Each date the MC goes on is a stereotype that is exaggerated for comedic effect, but at no point did it feel cruel or in bad taste. Also the rant against the MAGA dude was as brutal as it was beautiful!
My only criticism, and the only reason this isn't five stars, is that the end felt a bit rushed and some aspects of it felt forced. I don't want to go into too many details so as to prevent spoilers. Otherwise this story is a short and sweet novella for an afternoon.
I listened to the audio version and thought the reader did a great job! The voices were distinct, the cadence was easy to follow, the quality was solid, and the characters came through well!
Recommended for fans of short rom-coms with queer rep and society introspection.
March 10, 2023
This was not the kind of book I would ever pick to read but I need to change that outlook because I loved this.
It was so much fun and full of humour we can all relate to. Who hasn't had a bad date? Most of us have and that's how the main character, Dana, is a little bit of all of us. The dates are hilarious and the people are extreme versions of characters we all know in life ( actually not so extreme now I think about it) Satire, parody, wild humour and also, this book is actually really sweet, the story has it all and it's charming too. A feel good romantic comedy literally everyone can relate to. I truly hope this gets found and read because it's a beam of light and happiness in a dark world. I would seriously love to read a part 2 and that cover is brilliant!
It was so much fun and full of humour we can all relate to. Who hasn't had a bad date? Most of us have and that's how the main character, Dana, is a little bit of all of us. The dates are hilarious and the people are extreme versions of characters we all know in life ( actually not so extreme now I think about it) Satire, parody, wild humour and also, this book is actually really sweet, the story has it all and it's charming too. A feel good romantic comedy literally everyone can relate to. I truly hope this gets found and read because it's a beam of light and happiness in a dark world. I would seriously love to read a part 2 and that cover is brilliant!
March 3, 2023
Whether Damien is writing horror, romance or kid lit, he always manages to make me smile, and his debut romcom HEARTBURN is no exception. It's wacky, it's zany, there's a cat named Sir Kurt Russel III and a likeable heroine going on a slew of bad dates, and I bet it's unlike any romance you've ever read before. With a guaranteed HEA (or happily-ever-after) this unconventional romcom goes heavy on the comedy while still meeting the genre expectations romance readers know and love. I hope Damien writes more wacky heart-felt romances!
March 5, 2023
Damien Casey woke up one morning and chose violence. Then the next day, he felt bad about it and chose love, so he wrote Heartburn.
In his romcom debut, Casey takes on us 10 blind dates with Dana as she tries to find someone to settle down with. This quick, sweet story is in true Casey style, everything is fun and to the extreme. As always, his humor is front and center, and spot-on as ever. I loved the wild ride of this extreme dating in the world of apps, big opinions, and our 30s.
In his romcom debut, Casey takes on us 10 blind dates with Dana as she tries to find someone to settle down with. This quick, sweet story is in true Casey style, everything is fun and to the extreme. As always, his humor is front and center, and spot-on as ever. I loved the wild ride of this extreme dating in the world of apps, big opinions, and our 30s.
July 21, 2023
This is the best thing Damien has written that I have read. Clearly, I need to read more rom coms. Damien knows how write comedy. He also knows how to comment on the ridiculous world we live in and the people in it — combine those two strengths and you get this enjoyable rom com about a woman going on ten dates in ten days, and trying to stay sane in the process.
April 12, 2023
This is like the 10 worse dates you could imagine and you get to watch them all without having to go on them. It's in true Damien form and I love that.
I would say he missed a trick in not showing how toxic girls can be too but it's a fun read nonetheless.
4.5 rounded up 😁
I would say he missed a trick in not showing how toxic girls can be too but it's a fun read nonetheless.
4.5 rounded up 😁
February 12, 2024
10 dates in 10 days...crazy! The book was an absolute riot. It perfectly captures what it's like dating. Was the perfect little romcom to read right before valentines day
October 19, 2024
I’m not usually into romance literature, but this book was fun, witty, and relatable. Being in my mid 30s, I felt a strong connection to Dana’s mindset. The story offers a sneak peek into the complexities of navigating the dating world in your 30s. I just wish we had more bad girl dates to balance everything out. Apart from that, this was fantastic - I read it all in one go.
July 11, 2025
I found this wee book very funny. Thoroughly enjoyed it. A glimpse into the horrors of modern day dating.
August 17, 2025
Absolutely delightful!
Seriously, this was everything I could ever want in a romcom. It's queer, hilarious, pokes fun at the toxicity of the dating world, and it doesn't take a million pages to do it!
I had the magical experience of listening to the audiobook of this one and the narrator Marina Dawn was perfection. The way she delivered the story with such seriousness despite the absurdity of the story made everything exponentially more entertaining.
No matter the format, I highly recommend this adorable love story.
Seriously, this was everything I could ever want in a romcom. It's queer, hilarious, pokes fun at the toxicity of the dating world, and it doesn't take a million pages to do it!
I had the magical experience of listening to the audiobook of this one and the narrator Marina Dawn was perfection. The way she delivered the story with such seriousness despite the absurdity of the story made everything exponentially more entertaining.
No matter the format, I highly recommend this adorable love story.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews