The Dating Equation

by Emily Merrill, Charlie Sanderson (narrator), HarperNorth (publisher)

2 best friends. 1 perfect match. Could you solve the equation for love if you’ve never had it yourself?

Twenty-six-year-old Penny Webber has never had a boyfriend, but she’s about to launch a new dating app with her best friend, Rory, designed to make dating less shallow. What could possibly go wrong?

As soon as LEVEL launches, it’s an immediate hit. Challenged by her team, but discouraged by Rory, she hits download on her very own app to prove a point. Alongside dating, she juggles her brother's wedding plans, mediating between divorced parents and supporting her flatmate through heartbreak. All while navigating her increasingly complicated partnership with Rory…

As LEVEL sends her further down a rocky path of failed dates, Penny’s faith in her ability to help others find love falters. But what if Penny is wrong about her ability to crack the equation for love? What if, all this time, it’s been where she least expected it?

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers, Workplace Romance, He Falls First

Audible Audio

Published July 4, 2024

Reviews

[jade 🎀 · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you to net galley and harper collins for sending me an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. for the first almost half of this book i was obsessed and thought it was gonna be a five star. i found it so relatable and couldn’t put it down but then around 50% of the way through it just completely fell off for me? i’m not sure what happened but i just found the main character so annoying all of a sudden and i just didn’t believe in or care about the ‘romance’ or anything that was going on. i felt like if the characters were as close friends as they were made out to be surely their communication would be so much better? it just got a bit ridiculous and ending was also so rushed.

that being said, i loved the found family aspect and the amount of taylor references 🦋🩵 this book also had a lot of relatable, powerful messages about dating which i really liked.

[Anna Sawlani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life has been overwhelming lately so all I can think about reading is cosy comforting easy reads. I enjoyed this book more than I thought, I found the characters enjoyable and I enjoyed the pacing.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5

[Bianca Meggitt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like the market of dating and romantic books is so oversaturated at the moment that I really struggle to find one I enjoy. I absolutely ADORED Emily Merrill's first book and found it so honest and authentic that I was really disappointed in this one. As a main character, Penny was quite insufferable and INCREDIBLY selfish. I have no idea why on earth she decided to essentially cut off her two best friends because she was under the impression that they were in a relationship, rather than just asking them straight up. She completely risked ruining the company her and Rory had worked for, along with her two closest friends because she was too immature about two boys she barely even knew. I also don't know if it's just because I had success on a dating app, but I find it so unrealistic that she had two bad 'relationships' (one of which wasn't even FROM her app) that she then lost ALL hope in the app. The reveal of who Daniel actually was couldn't have been less of a surprise, as he was a total sleaze bag the whole time. Also, you're seriously trying to tell me that Penny thought Rory and Maeve were together but she was still essentially harbouring feelings for Rory and having what would then be inappropriate thoughts about him??? Also if my maid of honour rocked up to my wedding with ZERO speech prepared, and spoke a total of 3 paragraphs I would be SO MAD!!!!! She spent so much of this book only caring about herself that she completely let down every single person and she totally deserved to be called out for it more. Also, who rocks up to their brothers wedding NOT speaking to the best man (who is also your best friend) and then HOOKS UP WITH HIM and just continues to do so on her brothers big day.

Selfish.

[✨Cara✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Dating Equation
3.5⭐️

•Single POV
•Workplace romance
•Friends to lovers
•Slow Burn

Penny and her best friend, Rory have launched a new dating app with a difference. The app focuses more on the person and not on looks. But can Penny make the app successful if she’s never been in love herself?

This is such a fun and sweet story about how two friends manage to find love (with a little help from their friends) while trying to juggle life and running their own business.

The book shows the highs and lows of dating in real life and finding love on dating apps.
The characters are all very relatable in their own way and it is enjoyable to see how they interact together as friends.

I recommend reading The Dating Equation if you are looking for a lighthearted easy read with lots of laughs.

Thank you @harpernorthuk & @netgalley for sending me a copy of this book.

[Madelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️!!! this book in one word: CUTE!!! this was a sweetie pie friends-to-lovers rom-com that i gobbled up! i loved reading along and seeing the two friends grow their business + build their relationship, and eventually, (with a LOT of help from their friends) find love <3 genuinely adored this whole cast of characters, and the found family in this was seriously SO CUTE 🥹🩷

i probs would’ve rated this higher if there hadn’t been so. dang. much. miscommunication. like cmonnnnnn you are ‘best friends’… can we just like… talk pls? but other than that and the rushed ending, it was a very cute story!

[Caitlin Macdonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

i absolutely devoured this!!! suchhh a fun, easy read and the author really knows how to make such relatable, realistic characters that you can’t help but like despite their flaws

i loved the plot and the different relationship with family and friendships, it was just a goofy, easy going read

i would have rated this higher if it didn’t end how it did, it felt too rushed and was resolved far too quickly. there were a few things i didn’t like so much but it was just a nice easy going palette cleanser!! and so quick to read too

[Emily Goulding · Rating 5 out of 5]

2024’s best romcom, i’m calling it now x

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading "The Dating Equation" was a breath of fresh air after two long and difficult books. I read it in just about a week, as I found myself unable to put it down.

This wonderfully written and an extremely accessible story that explores the intricate connections between friendship, love, and work. While the author presents these themes in a seemingly simple narrative, the book cleverly displays how complex life and love truly are, showcasing both their normalcy and challenges.

I found myself getting surprised, angry, upset, and happy – as I got to know the characters so well throughout the book.

[Alice ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this in a day! One of my fave niche plots is a dating app romance so this was a great book for me! The FMC towards the end was kinda annoying but honestly she redeemed herself. Loved the main characters, the side characters, the plot. Just loved it, definitely give it a read if you want a cute and easy story!

*kindly gifted by harper collins, forever grateful thank you*

[Sarah (blissbubbley) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes when we think about a dating/romance book… we’ve all read so many and we look for something a bit different. A new author for me and just a bit more vibrancy and fun got me reading through this really quickly.

[Bethy’s Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tropes:
✔️ Friends to Lovers
✔️ Workplace Romance
✔️ Slow Burn

This is the second book I've read from Emily Merrill and it did not disappoint!

The Dating Equation follows Penny and Rory who met in university and have been best friends since. It’s 8 years later and they are launching their own dating app together, an app designed with the perfect formula for love… Even if at the age of 26, Penny has never had a boyfriend! After being challenged by her coworkers (excluding Rory), she decides to give her own dating app a go.

At the same time as trying to navigate her dating life, Penny is also trying to help her brother and soon to be sister in law plan their wedding, as well as support both her parents who each coped with their divorce in very different ways.

I loved the character development of both Penny and Rory throughout this book. As well as all the other characters we follow along the way, it’s a tight knit friendship group which I loved and I felt like we got to know each character just the right amount.

This book shows the real life highs and lows you find in the dating world nowadays, especially when using an app.

A book perfect for anyone looking for a lighthearted, easy read. Also, I would recommend checking out Merrill's other book Heartbreak Houseshare if you enjoyed this one.

Thank you to @netgalley and @harpernorthuk for allowing me early access to this book!

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Dating Equation follows a 26 year old who has never had a boyfriend! Penny is going to be launching a new dating app called 'Level' with her best friend that has been made to make dating about the person and not their looks. Turns out, everyone loves the app!
Penny decided that she wanted to give her app. Penny goes on a few dates which turn out to be horrible and then she realises that love has always been right in front of her.

I found that this story had such great potential but there was just something missing! I didn't particularly like Penny through most of the book which is a shame as she could have been such a lovable character. Rory grew on me for sure. By the end of the book, I ended up liking him! It depicts what it is actually like to be out in the dating world in the 21st century! It is a bit of a slow burn so if that is what you are looking for, definitely give it a read!

It is a classic romcom and It would be a great holiday read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperNorth for my ARC in exchange for an honest review. Views are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Penny and her best friend have developed a dating app, and despite her own disinclination towards finding love, she ends up trying it herself. But the launch of the app turns out to be life-changing for her in all sorts of unexpected ways.
I really enjoyed this; it sucked me in in that “just one more chapter” kind of way. I sussed out pretty quickly how it was going to play out (maybe I read this kind of book too much…) but it didn’t matter because the writing style flowed well and there were all sorts of descriptive little details which really helped to set the scenes. Penny, as the sole narrative voice, is a capable but flawed character whose struggles are understandable (even if you want to shout at her a few times for her obliviousness), but for me the best part was her relationships with her friends and family, which were full of affectionate banter and support and honest growth. A genuinely fresh and fun read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Tashnuva · Rating 2 out of 5]

I suspect this is a self-published book without an editor. On paper, the concept is really good. Two driven and ambitious best friends create a dating app. But when they use their own app, they start realizing they're actually the perfect match for each other. Not a bad concept at all.

The problem is the writing itself. There are several grammatical errors ("I'm sat right here" --> Really?). Also, several sentences are like paragraphs. It's alright to describe, but why use five lines for one sentence? It feels redundant and not easy to read. Also, there's no description of the characters themselves. Who's a blonde? Or person of color? What about their dialect? These are all blank canvases for several chapters.

There are also several spacing errors which went unnoticed. Moreover, the scenes are abrupt. One moment they're at the office. Then all of a sudden, the scene becomes a house party.

As I said, the concept is great. The execution? Not good at all. Please hire a good editor for the next book.

[L Powers (Bookish_Mum) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dating Equation by Emily Merrill
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5


This my first time reading a book by Emily Merrill and thankfully it did not disappoint.

Penny and best friend, Rory have created a dating app with a difference called Level. A app that was created to make dating more about the person, than what the person looks like. Alongside launching this app and testing it out for herself, Penny has to a juggle a lot of balls in her day-to-day life.

This was a pleasant and enjoyable romcom. The author did a great job with developing the main characters as well as the secondary characters, all of which were very relatable.

I would recommend The Dating Equation if you’re looking for an easy read filled with lots of laughter.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperNorth for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Magical Hopathon - fave author & summer vibes) This was good but not as good as Heartbreak Houseshare by Emily Merrill... it was a good idea for a storyline but as someone who has not used dating apps, I could not relate to the storyline much. Penny was a sweet character and her relationship with Rory was interesting but predictable, I do enjoy the 'friends-to-lovers' romance trope a lot! I enjoyed the side story of planning her brothers wedding and seeing other characters develop like her Mum and Dad. Loved the writing style and length of chapters - it felt like it took ages to read and although not a long book, felt it could have been shorter... However, I did enjoy it and would recommend, has made me want to get the physical copy of Heartbreak Houseshare ♥️

[Rhya Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book didn't disappoint in anyway and I found it difficult to put down. I found that the book truly captured the struggles of dating in the model technology obsessed world. All the characters were written in such a way that made them so likeable and relatable. I really enjoyed the friendship they all shared and the aspects of falling in love also. I felt that the struggles of juggling business and personal life were portrayed really well.

Overall the book was a really fun and interesting story. Therefore I would really recommend The Dating Equation to anyone after a cute romcom.

Thank you @harpernorth and @netgalley for letting me read the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh what a pleasant and fun romcom! I could not wait to read this; I read Emily’s other book - Heartbreak Houseshare and absolutely loved it so I was very eager to read TDE and it didn’t disappoint 🫶🏻

I loved the whole storyline with the dating app and how well we get to know the characters, especially Penny and Rory - I definitely feel like they were both in denial on their true feelings.

Penny is a great character and it’s clear she has her struggles and appears to be focusing a lot on everyone else and running a business. Her character development throughout is fantastic and I loved how her confidence grows.

There’s a bundle of other side characters and I really liked the tight knit group of friends. All round relatable characters in this book!

Stunning writing focusing on various things; family, friendship and the fear of falling in love. Many descriptive details. I adored the friends / work place romance and I feel like it tied up perfectly 🥲

Very much looking forward to what Emily writes next ♥️

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest to god, this felt like a 90s romcom in all of the best ways.

Penny and Rory run a dating app. Penny doesn't believe in love. You get the idea. This is a romance that features a deliciously strong friendship group, incredible side characters, pining for days, a twist that literally made me gasp out loud and an incredible strong FMC. It's sweet, it's summery, it's funny and I really, really want to either live inside the book or have it wiped from my mind so I can reread it for the first time again.

[Becsbook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twenty-six-year-old Penny Webber has never had a boyfriend, but she’s about to launch a new dating app with her best friend, Rory, designed to make dating less shallow. What could possibly go wrong ?

➡️ Workplace Romance
➡️ Slow Burn
➡️ Friends

This was a cute & easy read. Following Pennys dating journey and her navigating her friendships.

Thanks to Net Gallery for the opportunity to read this book.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a slow burn workplace romance. Penny is the CEO of a dating app her co COE is her best friend Rory. One thing you should know about Penny is she claims to know nothing about love. This book is fun and relatable. It is definitely laugh out loud sometimes. If you want an easy to read book this book is for you. Highly recommend. Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review

[Becka · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute and light-hearted read and I liked the characters.

There were some parts of the book that I found annoying or boring and found myself skipping a few parts due to this.

The ending was cute but felt like it went from denial to acceptance very quickly.

I would read this author again.

Tropes:
• Friends to lovers
• Colleagues

[Yasmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet and quick read, exactly what I expect from a romcom!

[Tilly Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating 4.5.

[Jenna Vaughn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute- clueless in love with the best friend/ business partner. Finally figured it out in the 3rd act

[Katie Marriott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this romance - the characters and their friendship group were great. Really fun to read and feel like part of their gang.

[Phée · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://booknode.com/the_dating_equat...

[Elena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and dumb. Emily Henry type vibes but worse.

[Sharley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story has all the right ingredients for a great romcom and was a fun read but it just wasn’t hitting the right spot for me… I wasn’t loving Rory and found Penny to be annoying a big chunk of the time. So as much as I can see how this is a good read and people will love it I know I am not one of those people and it’s through no fault of the book or the author

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and provide my honest review