Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

I Do, I Don’t

Rate this book
Can data predict who we fall in love with? Reality television is here to find out, and thousands of viewers are along for the ride. Two total strangers, matched by the world’s most advanced romance algorithm, meet at the altar to say, “I do.” Their every awkward moment and moonlit kiss are filmed to uncover if happily ever after is a simple perfect data match.

When executive producer Annie Jackson convinces Nicole Hart to leave her prestigious job and write and refine the romance algorithm for I Do, I Don’t , their success is almost guaranteed. So, when one of the brides backs out days before the wedding, Annie panics and Nicole steps in as the algorithm’s second choice to get married on national TV, or else.

Nicole can’t believe her bad luck when the backup turns out to be…her. To test the system she designed, she used her own data, but she sure as hell didn’t expect to be hauled to the altar against her better judgment. Her algorithm is flawless, but her growing feelings for Annie could destroy all her credibility and sink the show.

Kindle Edition

Published July 11, 2023

8 people are currently reading
62 people want to read

About the author

Joy Argento

29 books22 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
8 (18%)
4 stars
16 (37%)
3 stars
14 (32%)
2 stars
2 (4%)
1 star
3 (6%)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for Kaye.
4,310 reviews68 followers
July 2, 2023
I liked the idea of what I thought this book would be more than its actual execution. Annie Jackson quits a solid job to start her own production company and create a reality tv show. The premise is that two woman will be match based on fancy algorithms for compatibility. They will meet on their wedding day and agree to stay married for four months to see if it is a forever match. Of course everything will be filmed for tv episodes. When one of the selected brides backs out at the last moment Annie runs the data base for the next best match.

Nicole Hart works for Annie and wrote the algorithm for matching strangers. She put her own information into the data base for testing and draws out as the best match for the current bride. So the show can go on she agrees to be the second bride. But instead of her new wife she finds she is drawn to Annie.

I like the idea of the reality show but the actual description sounds very dull and fake. Even when intentional drama is added it lasts only a blip of a second. Because the romance is not taking place on the show itself the interactions with the brides is friendship filler. And Nicole is honestly trying to make the marriage work so the real romance is slow burn.

This is nice story with kind MCs and side friends and family. But I wasn’t very invested in the main characters or their romance. It is a light and easy read with little angst. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I am leaving an honest review. (3.5 Stars)
Profile Image for Clara Addicted to sapphic books.
353 reviews233 followers
August 13, 2023
This was a nice romcom. "I do, I don't" is a real reality show I sometimes watch and always complain there isn't sapphic couples so I was happy to put my hands on this book.
It was interesting to have a glimpse of how reality shows are manipulated to follow a certain narrative to attract audience.
I enjoyed the parallel between the growth of the relationship between Annie and Nicole/ Nicole and Lisa : seeing one relationship blooming but fighting against it VS a relationship not going where it should go despite efforts. I was rooting for Annie and Nicole but I admit Lisa was so perfect and nice, I wouldn't have been mad if Nicole explored something with her.
The storyline had a lot of potential but I don't feel like the characters feelings were explored with real depth to make me really feel invested. When the characters finally get together after all the prenuptial dance, I expected to feel the fireworks but that wasn't the case.
The third act break up came late and was resolved late in a way that I wished was a bit more romantic; and my reviews are pretty constant if the author doesn't give me two or three chapters of bliss post break up : my heart stays a bit mad. I don't mind some miscommunications but this one left me really frustrated with Nicole's behavior.
Another point I wanted to mention : I am used to read books who alternates pov between the MCs or with unique POV. This was the the first time I read a book with both of their POV mixed in same chapters and it was a bit a bit unsettling.
The execution of the book fell a bit short for me, but it is still was an enjoyable low angst and fun read. Some spin off with new brides would make a good serie.
Profile Image for Aleana.
716 reviews20 followers
July 6, 2023
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.


Nicole and Annie team up to produce a reality show I Do, I Don't where Nicole have created algorithms that can match you with your soulmates. Nicole program is flawless but when one of the bride backs out at that last minute and not risking losing money and lawsuit they scramble to find another bride. When they run the program Nicole is shock that she is pick decide to do it to save the show but has to keep a secret that she works for the show. Nicole and Lisa gets married and start to get know each other but it’s feels more a friendship than romantic between them. The real story really is Annie and Nicole realizing their feelings for each other wether to act on them. I enjoy this read all characters are likable but it’ll would’ve been a nice twist if one of the employees were actually filming Nicole and Annie love story instead of Nicole with Lisa. I understand because the premise is about a algorithm predicting your soulmate but you know sometimes your soulmate can be right in front of you that you miss it because rather believe a algorithm then your own feelings.
Profile Image for S.
35 reviews3 followers
July 13, 2023
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Queerness Level: 🏳‍🌈🏳‍🌈🏳‍🌈

I Do, I Don't by Joy Argento follows Annie Jackson and Nicole Hart who work together on a reality tv show of the same name. The show aims to match up brides based on a matching making algorithm. Annie is the creator and executive producer of the show while Nicole had designed algorithm in question.

The plot gets rolling when one of their brides drops out of their pilot season. Nicole being the next best match, is then thrust into the spotlight to replace her. Nicole's program is perfect and this could save the show. Yet her developing feelings for Annie throughout the process could potentially blow up the whole show.

***
Overall it was a lovely queer book that had it's own story with established queer women. I really appreciated that it wasn't a coming out story. We need more books where queer characters are past that and just living their lives. The writing style and plot was simple and easy to get into. The characters were likeable as well.

However, it could have been more developed and in depth. I think as a huge reality dating tv fan and a filmmaker, I did have some expectations going into it. The behind-the-scenes of making the show could have been more fleshed out and immersive. The book could have leaned more into Annie's producing to create a more compelling conflict on Annie's side as well.

All in all, it was still a nice book with a lot of potential. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a lighthearted read who loves romance reality shows and queer romances. Should there be a spin off with another set of characters with the depth built upon, I would love to read it. Joy Argento can only go up from here!
Profile Image for Fran Sappharc.
795 reviews40 followers
July 4, 2023
Interesting premise and I can’t decide which couple I’m rooting for!
I'm definitely not liking who I assume is one of the mains 'cos we see more of her and the more I see the less I like. The author will have a job to have me rooting for her!
The author didn't quite manage it. In the break up part of the story arc I was rooting for my original couple.
I also didn't enjoy aspects of the make-up scene.
For personal taste I would probably rate this lower. I don't think the book is bad so it's up to a 3 but not for me. It's not that one main was bad or unlikeable, I just didn't like her.
Profile Image for Carol Hutchinson.
1,109 reviews73 followers
August 16, 2023
Such a fun romance!

Annie’s reality TV show, ‘I Do, I Don’t’, runs into a hitch when one of the brides due to get married drops out. Using Nicole’s algorithm to find the next possible match at the last minute throws up Nicole up as the match. Torn between disappointing Annie and letting the show down and not really wanting to be in the spotlight, Nicole eventually agrees to marry Lisa but when she starts working out why she really said yes, things get complicated.

There was so much cuteness, fun, and drama going on in this story it really suited the idea of two strangers getting married and just going with whatever happened. Although Nicole sort of knew why she was agreeing, she seemed to be ignoring her thoughts about Annie until she could do so no more. I believed she did try with Lisa because Nicole just wanted what was best for everyone. If she hadn’t done this, not only Annie would have been let down but Lisa too. You just know the second Nicole agrees this will be anything but simple because whichever way it goes, someone is at risk of getting hurt.

What I loved was the focus on doing the right thing. Nicole didn’t do anything that would be deemed as breaking vows to her friend, employer, or new wife. She had a great set of morals, which inevitably leant well to her spending time with Lisa and them finding a mutual understanding to do what they had to for their marriage and the show. It wasn’t without its bumps in the road, but it was Annie who eventually had everything on the line and more to lose in exploring the sudden feelings she too realised she had for Nicole. I just really hoped it would all work out for the best.

A really enjoyable romance that as a bit different and filled with twists and turns that made it as dramatic as a reality show itself. Even though, like Nicole, I don’t really like reality shows like this one, I am a huge fan of this book and the idea of Annie’s show. It was so exciting to join Nicole and Annie on this venture and I hope there will be future stories either about them, or about other amazing couples that go on I Do, I Don’t in their search for love!
Profile Image for Samantha.
319 reviews10 followers
September 3, 2023
Another sapphic rom com banger. Argento really brought Annie and Nicole's struggles and love to the forefront with such an interesting premise.

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.
Profile Image for Sue Plant.
2,283 reviews32 followers
January 6, 2024
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

a reality show
contestants
a wedding

that is the aim of the show i do i dont.... all around the data algorithms .... the computer will pick to brides from their answers with a more or less promise of finding your ideal partner for everlasting love

nicola is the one that has written the algorithms and to test it she inputted her own data so imagine her shock when she becomes the next bride in line and with two weeks to go before the wedding can she walk down that aisle for the show and her algorithms and find ever lasting love

anyone that likes reality show will love this book.... this did remind me a little bit of cilla blacks blind date show...

not a bad read
Profile Image for D. L. Foley | My Last Romance.
966 reviews22 followers
July 17, 2023
My Rating: ❤️❤️❤️.5

Disclaimer: I received a review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks Netgalley.

General Thoughts: First f/f romance I have read. Think we need more of the genre. I think that’s partly why I had high hopes a f/f stem coding romance with a lesbian marriage reality tv show. It sounded utterly unique, so major props to Joy for creating such a fun story and plot. For the most part, I really liked the characters too. They were unique and interesting. The novel was also paced well. So the story did have a lot going for it. And on the whole, I enjoyed it. Enough to give it a 3.5.

It fell slightly short for me though. There was a bit of head hopping sometimes where the POV switches rapidly and I couldn’t figure out whose head I was in. It had a few tropes I didn’t love too.

I think because I went in with high hopes is why it fell a bit for me. But I would read more by the author.

Steam Meter: ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥very few sexual scenes and pretty tame relatively speaking.

Romantic Tropes
-kind of some other woman drama (but no cheating)
-slow burn
-stem romance
-dual pov third person
-F/F
-miscommunication trope

You can read more of my reviews at mylastromance.com. You can also find me on Insta @mylastromancenovel.
Profile Image for Kay.
292 reviews6 followers
July 12, 2023
This is a wonderful easy read with great characters. They were fully developed and likeable. It was a joy going on this journey with this piece. It was like watching a reality show.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley
Profile Image for Tempe Luvs Books.
547 reviews2 followers
June 28, 2023
4.5. This was an absolutely delightful slow-burn romantic rom-com. I had a delightful time reading it.

Executive Producer, Annie Jackson, teamed up with Nicole Hart, a computer programmer, to create a totally unique twist on a reality show. Sophisticated algorithms were created from information supplied by contestants. The two ideally compatible applicants would become brides 1 and bride 2 and get married on the television show, I Do, I Don’t. After four months one or both would have the option to opt out and divorce.
Bride 2 suddenly backed out shortly before the wedding and the next ideal match, #3, accidentally happened to be Nicole, who had entered her data during test programming and unknowingly forgot to remove it.
However, it was too late and Nicole couldn’t back out and blow up the whole show.

The wedding went forward with Nicole marrying Lisa, the lovely bride 1 who was naive to all the behind the scenes happenings.The story continued with humorous and tense-filled moments, from discovery by national entertainment shows that wanted interviews, to possibly exposing the growing feelings between Nicole and Annie, all while trying to keep Nicole’s position as an employee quiet.

The story was fun, lighthearted and actually had me laughing out loud, especially during a particular love scene! I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did. My thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Jasmine Shouse.
Author 6 books87 followers
July 1, 2023
I love a good queer reality TV story, and this was a solid read. I think my biggest issue was the narration jumping between characters without warning. It was really jarring to be in Annie's head one moment and Nicole's the next. But the premise was interesting, and the spice was hot, if a little oddly timed.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the opportunity to read and review.
561 reviews14 followers
July 11, 2023
Annie Jackson is putting together a reality show, ‘I Do, I Don’t’. There women can find other women that want the same thing as they do, a happy marriage. One of the most important parts is choosing the first bride and then going on her personality Annie and her crew pick the second bride, They have to marry right away without meeting each other and stay married for four months.
In order to do that she’s hired Nicole Hart, with the computer skills to select the brides using the algorithm she has developed. When the second bride backs out if she deals with the show they have no choice but to find another woman who’s a perfect mate for their bride. Luckily enough Nicole turns out to be the best match.
Ms Argento has given us another wonderful read. Great characters you can’t help but like, an interesting plot make this a very, very enjoyable read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books
Profile Image for Megan.
294 reviews8 followers
August 5, 2023
3 stars. Executive producer Annie Jackson wants to believe love can be found with a computer algorithm. Her programmer, Nicole Hart only put herself in the system as a test. When she comes out as a high match, she is convinced to be part of the dating show and marry the woman they picked. The highest match dropped out last minute, so Nicole has no option but to fill in the role or the show can be cancelled. She does not feel a spark with her wife but with the producer of the show.

I wanted to like this book so much, but I could not. There were parts of the book that I thought should have been expanded and I felt like their romance was not what I wanted. I thought they could have had more tension earlier on in the book and I feel like some of the book could have been better written. I really wanted to like this book but I did not. I do not really recommend this one. I fee like the concept wasn't bad but it could have been better executed.
66 reviews1 follower
July 11, 2023
This is my second book by Joy Argento and she is going to the top of my reading list. I read this is in one day which is very unusual for me as I am a slow reader as English is not my first language. Not sure what it is about books about reality shows that I love but I guess I am shallow that way. I imagine the premise of the book must be based on the reality married at first sight, I have never watched this show, so not sure how similar they would be, but honestly, it got my hooked from the beginning.Love the chemistry between the main characters and some hot scenes were a plus. Loved it.

ARC provided in an exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Nathalie.
347 reviews2 followers
August 11, 2023
I felt like there could have been more to this story than what found its way on the pages. It took a long time for the MC's to get together and even though I don't mind a slow burn, it took me a bit too long. Or something was missing. I don't know how to put my finger on it. It just wasn't there.

Lisa seemed like a really kind person but I didn't get enough to really root for her or get to know her. It all felt superficial.

Annie and Nicole had their cute moments but it all felt wrapped up pretty quickly. Even the drama was thrown in there pretty hastily and then resolved in just a couple of pages.

An ARC was provided to me via Netgalley in return of an honest review.
254 reviews3 followers
July 26, 2023
This was a good book. This slow burn reality show romance had all the feels. I loved that it matched women to their ideal mate, but you know there's always something that will go wrong with trying to match anyone by algorithms. Especially when said person has feelings for someone else. I really liked this book and the characters were very well written and the emotional aspects of this story were spot on especially the idea of disappointing everyone involved. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family and I look forward to what's next from this author.
388 reviews2 followers
July 23, 2023
This book showed lots of potential, with a decent plot and plenty of scope for a variety of scenarios. Sadly it just didn’t seem to go anywhere. I really wanted to be interested in the characters, but they ended up being so bland. The story seriously needed either humour or drama, preferably both. It’s all there and close to being good, but ultimately it needed more.
Profile Image for Plot Twist.
55 reviews
August 10, 2023
Interesting plot with well developed characters. It’s a slow burn romance that focuses on two people matched by an algorithm. Executive producer of the reality show works with a computer program to develop the algorithm. The main characters are likable. I enjoyed the story and would recommend.
Profile Image for Rikki Ziegelman.
188 reviews21 followers
September 6, 2023
I’ve never given a 1-star rating. I wanted to like this book so bad. I love sapphic books about reality TV, but this one was not great. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.