The Blind Date Agreement

by Jessica Cunsolo

Carina’s fifth wheel status is making things awkward, so she agrees to let her two best friends set her up on a series of blind dates—each worse than the one before…

This laugh-out-loud, YA contemporary rom-com comes laced with a dose of high school friendship drama perfect for fans of authors like Emma Lord and shows like Never Have I Ever.

Carina has zero issues with being single—even though her best friends, Emi and Kalani, are coupled up. She’s got more than enough to keep her busy between schoolwork, her part-time job at her family’s bakery, and her art. Besides, Carina adores Emi’s partner, Daphne, they always make her feel included and not like a third wheel. Kalani’s another story—being around her and her boyfriend is complicated. That’s why Kalani takes matters into her own hands and arranges a series of blind dates for Carina. 

 There’s just one Carina doesn’t want to go. Being single isn’t the problem. The fact that she’s in love with Kalani’s boyfriend, Emmett, is and no amount of distraction can fix that. But with prom on the horizon, the idea of being a fifth, seventh, or eleventh wheel weighs heavily on Carina’s mind. So, she agrees.  

 And it’s a complete disaster. And every date is worse than the one before. Except for one, pink-short-wearing Jay, who pushes Carina in ways she never expected. Soon she finds herself in a complicated battle between friendship and romance, and she must decide which form of love matters most to her—and which one will surprise her.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Young Adult Romance

352 pages, Paperback

Published April 21, 2026

About the author

Jessica Cunsolo’s young adult series, With Me, has amassed over 140 million reads on Wattpad since she posted her first story, She’s With Me, on the platform in 2015. It has won a Watty award, been published in multiple languages, and is in development for a feature film with Wattpad WEBTOON Studios. Jessica lives just outside of Toronto, where she enjoys the outdoors and transforming her real-life awkward situations into plotlines for her viral stories. You can find her on Instagram @jesscunsolo.

Reviews

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

I'm a little conflicted, I don't really know how I feel about this book. The first part of the book was really hard to get through, but I like how it all ended.. I kind of hated everyone at the beginning, but most of them did grow on me..

Carina has been in love with Emmett for a few years, but when her best friend Kalani starts dating him, she has to hide her feelings. With both of her friends in a happy relationships, she feels like a fifth wheel, which leads to her going on blind dates to please her friends. Blind dates that all go horribly.. But Jay, her first date gone wrong, he's there to help her when she least expects it.. She starts seeing a whole new side to him and feelings start to develop..

I have to say, I really didn't like Carina or Jay at the beginning. They were both judging each other unfairly and after what happened at the cliff, I honestly wouldn't have spoken with Jay ever again.. As someone who's also afraid of heights, that was such an awful thing to do... Carina needed to work on herself a lot and seeing her grow and finally doing things she avoided for far too long was very satisfying. She wasn't perfect, but at seventeen, who is.. The dates she was forced to endure were honestly so bad, it was hilarious!! I couldn't pick the worst one even if I wanted to. Every bad thing that could happen, it did, it was so entertaining.
Jay was such a jerk at the beginning, I couldn't stand him, but as we learned more about him, he did grew on me. He was an amazing brother and kind and loyal and smart, I loved how honest he was, even if he was an asshole sometimes. He really knew how to get under her skin..
I loved Emi and Daphne the most, they were such a cute couple and while Emi did have some moments, she was generally a great friend and I loved how fiercely she was prepared to protect Carina.
Emmett was such a bland character and Kalani was an awful friend. Carina was a far better person than I ever would, she should've been more angry honestly..

Carina and Jay didn't start on the best terms, but I love how far they came. Carina felt safe with him and I loved how he was always there to help her. The party scene was so fun and that was such a great thing to do. The art exhibition was my favourite, it was the scene where I finally started to love them together!! I love how he made her laugh and how she always felt comfortable to tell him off, it made her feel braver to be herself in other aspects too. The panties thing though, I know it's their inside joke, but it was a little weird... But, honestly, so are they.. I did love the painting scene, that was incredibly sweet and precious, as well as the second cliff scene.

Even do the beginning was rough, I did fly through the rest of the book.. I was really frustrated at the characters and some scenes weren't all that great and while everything was very predictable, I did still enjoyed it overall.

*Thank you to Netgalley and to Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for providing me with an ARC.*

[sophia_thesecond · Rating 4 out of 5]

started on 4/12 finished on 4/12 3.85 stars!

thank you netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely FLEW through this book! I read it about 3hrs! this book was exactly what I needed right now to get me back on track for my reading goal. it was a cute, light, quick romance! the romance was so cute, but I loved how it wasn't the only component of the book. the plot was good and intriguing, and I liked our main characters. jay and carina didn't get off on the best foot, but they're fine tion was cute and I loved it. this book honestly had me giggling at times. I would totally recommend this! read it when it comes out!

𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴:
sure thing- miguel
0:55 ━●────────── 3:15
ㅤ ㅤ◁ㅤ ❚❚ ㅤ▷ ㅤㅤ
-------˖⁺. ༶ ❤︎ ⋆˙⊹ 𐦍 ˖⁺. ༶ ❤︎ ⋆˙⊹-------

characters:

carina: I actually liked her. a lot of times the fmcs in romance books are not that great, but I did like her. she was kind, caring, and ten times better when she found her voice.

jay: listen, he may have been a jerk in the beginning, but I love him. I loved his banger with carina. and him calling her princess. he was actually so so nice and sweet to her. the things he did for her, ommmgggg

emi: she was such a great friend

kalani: I never liked her

emmet: he was alright, kinda annoying

daphne: she was sweet

ralph and other friends: low-key iconic. I liked them

"𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒛𝒚 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕? 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑰 𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒆. 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒐𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆."

[tristyn dawn]

dnf at 20%

[NerdyWordyReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Blind Date Agreement was such a cozy read. A light hearted romance with the friends to lovers trope infused. Young adult Romance.

The story is based in Ontario, Canada and written by a Canadian author. I found the description of Toronto area, the falls and timmies helped ground the location.

In this book we follow Carina as she finishes off her last year of high school. Hanging with her best friends and their partners has been fun, until she starts feeling like the “third wheel” and her best friend makes her feel uncomfortable about it. So, why not set her up on some blind dates to see if they can find someone for the upcoming prom. Great idea right? Absolutely not. What a disaster.

But, it’s not just the dates that are losing control and going haywire other things are on the fritz. Until someone she least expects, opens her eyes.

I found this a very light-hearted and fun read. I read it very quickly and found it relatable for those aged 17. It is age appropriate.

The thing I liked most about this book is the underlying messages. The lessons learned about self worth, individual strength, belief in oneself and the value of real friendship.

This releases April 2026.

[thebeespot72 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica Cunsolo just gained a new fan. After zipping through The Blind Date Agreement—because you couldn’t pry this out of my hands—I did a full search on what else I could read from her. Though The Blind Date Agreement is a YA romance featuring high school seniors, its themes will resonate with readers of all ages.

Carina has been in love with her friend Kalani’s boyfriend for a long time. And no, there is no cheating in this. Her friends are all coupled up, and she’s just fifth-wheeling it. The thing is, she’s genuinely okay with it. She would like to spend more time with her friends sans their boyfriends. But she’s cool not having a boyfriend of her own. But her friend Kalani is insistent on setting her up.

All the dates are hilariously disastrous. I laughed countless times for the poor girl. But the one disastrous date that does stand out is with Jay. They do rather butt heads, but he challenges her in a way that definitely sparks her interest. It’s the type of slow burn that is quite sweet and special.

The Blind Date Agreement is a lot about friendships and growth. I liked how Carina navigated herself within her friend group, Kalani, and with Jay. I believe the story is also very well suited for my teen daughter, and I’ll be passing this one along to her next.

Thank you to Wattpad Books and Author Jessica Cunsolo for the #gifted copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Thebiblioholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun YA romance featuring one of my favorite tropes, enemies to lovers. Carina is in the second half of her senior year, just trying to enjoy her time with her two best friends and survive exams. Unfortunately, she has been the third wheel for a while, and it does not help that one of those best friends is dating her longtime crush. Now she is stuck trying not to swoon over him so she does not wreck her friendships.

To distract herself and avoid being the awkward fifth wheel to prom, she agrees to go on blind dates set up by her friends, but every single one turns into a disaster. Still, she cannot deny her strong attraction to one guy in particular, Jay. With his smirk and sharp comebacks, he irritates her to no end, yet somehow he is always there to help her through her chaotic dating attempts. He drives her crazy in all ways.

There were definitely a few laugh out loud moments, and I really enjoyed Carina’s coming of age journey as she finds her voice and learns to speak her mind. There is just enough drama to keep things interesting, and Jay was a fun love interest to root for. Their dynamic was sweet, playful, and easy to invest in.

Overall, it was a fun read. Even though the characters are in high school, there are not many scenes that actually take place in class, so it is easy to forget their age at times. It is a cute, light romance with a great dynamic, perfect for young adults or those who read zero spice romance, and love plenty of adorable moments.

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Marie Girulat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to @jesscunsolo and @wattpadbooks for the incredible #gifted book!

This charming high school drama centers around a relatable group of seniors navigating friendship, love, and self-discovery. Carina, Emi and Kalani have been best friends since grade school. Carina, the "fifth wheel” with the group has harbored a secret crush on Kalani’s boyfriend for four years. To keep her feelings hidden, she agrees to go on a series of blind dates, leading to hilarious and unexpectedly awkward encounters.

The dates are packed with funny moments, especially as Carina finds herself paired with some truly interesting guys. But the real sparkle emerges in her connection with Jay, whose presence and witty banter become a breath of fresh air. Carina's personality shines as she's funny, relatable, and never confrontational. As secrets behind the blind dates come to light, she finally finds her voice and learns to stand up for herself among her friends. She also finds the courage to go after her dreams.

This quick read kept me hooked, and I appreciated how the story's ending wasn’t all perfect roses, adding a touch of realism to the group's interactions that made it all the more enjoyable. This book is available now.

[CECILIA · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you, Penguin Teen Canada, for sending me a physical arc copy <3

The Blind Date Agreement by Jessica Cunsolo was a fun and quick-paced story, but I found it to be a bit too YA for my taste. I wouldn't say I'm not a YA romance fan, but I might need to reconsider whether I can get through a YA romance without cringing at the dialogue.

From the beginning, I immediately hated Kalani, and my hate was completely justified. If I were Carina, I could never forgive Kalani for what she did. Though I understand she was going through a lot, it doesn't make her actions forgivable, especially since she's old enough to know better. Her actions completely infuriated me, and Carina handled it all so maturely, in my opinion. I would have been more like Emi and could not have been the bigger person.

I loved Jay and wish he were in more of the book, though I understand it focused more on Carina's character development. Speaking of, I thought it was very well done.

Overall, this was a fun read, and I think my middle school self would have thoroughly enjoyed this. However, I just couldn't connect with it, likely because I feel so far removed from the characters' ages that I questioned everything they were doing. But I do love supporting Canadian authors, especially when they include Canadian references (proud Torontonian!)

[Damsel in Delight · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted a fun light rom-com read and this was not it at all. If this had been the beginning of a revenge arc or a thriller then I would have kept reading but as a rom-com it was awful.
Let me begin with the three main issues
- the romantic lead was the most toxic man to ever be put to a rom-com page
- Her friends were awful and from the blurb i know it gets worse
- The main character had a smoke wisp of a spine and i have no words for how annoying it was to read.

Jay is the biggest red flag of this book which made me DNF it because honestly if she dates him she’s going to end up on an episode of Dateline. The first time they meet he starts of by insulting her on what she is wearing while ogling her (which falls also into section two on the friends are the worst breakdown and then THREATENS TO DROP HER OFF A CLIFF IF SHE DOESNT ADMITT SHES AFRAID OF HEIGHTS! Wtf is wrong with this boy? She is terrified, and he holds her out over the edge of that cliff for several lines of dialogue - it’s not banter it’s the beginning of a trauma dump therapy session or it should be. This should be the end of it - right?

No, no, no this isnt even the start. He comes to the place she works at and antagonises her, admitting that he looked up her skirt when she was on the edge of the cliff and starts asking about her underwear (not the only time either and I dnf’d early from this car wreck). I think this was supposed to be banter, he’s a creep and she’s uncomfortable.

Then THEN! they end up on a blind date (again which needs to fall into section 2 as well) and he asks about the underwear again - seriously why is this supposed to be attractive, this is a first date you weirdo and you literally have been antagonising (and threatening to drop her of a cliff in a mini dress and stilettos). When she texts her friend the exit word - the phrase itself needs to be noted down as a horrible idea “i have a hairy possum” this text accidentally goes through to him (I HATE that accidental text thing, do all female main characters have three thumbs and no names on their phone screens?) and he takes it as a sexual innuendo (because of course he does) and teases her about it at which point I DNF’D and I’m running because I’m not going to stick around for this car wreck, i don’t have enough five stars under my belt to follow this one sink into the negative stars.

Then the friends. Oh boy where do i start? To begin with, they all treat her like she’s pathetic because she’s single and the other two girls in her friend group are paired of. However, her ‘best friend’ is dating the boy she has liked for years whom she KNEW the MC liked, and dated him behind her back. This wasn’t enough for a blow up, no, the mc just held her tongue and DROVE THEM TO A PARTY MONTHS LATER LIKE NOTHING HAD HAPPENED WHILE THEY MADE OUT IN THE BACK.

Of course, Khalei’s boyfriend Emmett is gorgeous and perfect and the one who is trying to include Catrina (our very unfortunate mc in this friend group who should be applying to a university in Australia to get away from these people but instead is staying in Carolina *silent scream of frustration before i close these very long parentheses brackets*). They are doing all these couple activities, and she’s the fifth wheel all the time (because she has had horrifically humiliating failures at dating and so doesn’t want to try again oh and did i mention she’s in love with the boy her darling pyschopath oblivious or perhaps sociopathic best friend is DATING.

To recap, her best friend (imagine the finger quotes here) is dating the boy she has liked for years and her best friend knows and is doing this anyway, they are rubbing her singleness publically in her face, saying she has to get a boyfriend that fits with the group so that they’re not sad and pathetic at prom because Khalei is running for prom queen and a prom queens friend cant be sad and single! (Insert a jab about her talking about colour theory too much because she’s an artist - dear god I’ve read about bullies that pulled their punches less than this, its like a dissertation in how to be spineless and be bullied by your friends), and Emi is playing these weird power games with the rest of them telling them the wrong things to wear so that they turn up at the said party in mini dresses instead of bikinis and not letting them know they are going CLIFF DIVING (sixty feet up!) when one of her friends cant swim and the other one is scared of heights like um what the ——?

The main character would have been relatable but she was such a victim and i need her to run not walk away. She had some spunk when she was fighting back against Pink Shorts but she was a complete floppy spine with her friends. I feel really sorry for her but I’m not staying to see her end up in an abusive relationship so no.

One review said they were DNF’ing because they’re a Christian I’m dnfing because I’m a feminist. My hopes are at the bottom of Jay’s cliff and I hate him so much.

[Zøe Haslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: The Blind Date Agreement by Jessica Cunsolo



⭐ The Blind Date Agreement by Jessica Cunsolo - Quick Overview
• Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
• Themes: friendship, first love, insecurities, blind dating, loyalty, self-discovery, getting over romantic crushes, peer pressure, emotional growth
• Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Recommended for fans of: Better Than the Movies, The Distance Between Us, Rule #2: You Can’t Crush on Your Sworn Enemy
“You’re not just annoying. You’re annoyingly unforgettable. Which is so much worse.”
Summary of The Blind Date Agreement
Carina is single and genuinely fine with it, staying busy with school, her bakery job, and her art, while her best friends are all in relationships. With prom coming up, Kalani sets her up on a series of blind dates even though Carina doesn’t really want them.
The dates are a disaster—until she meets Jay, who challenges her in unexpected ways. Carina is then forced to navigate complicated feelings between friendship, romance, and what kind of love truly matters most to her.


💭 My Thoughts of The Blind Date Agreement
This is a fun, romantic read with a good dose of drama and a hint of emotional growth. It feels like a light, feel-good high school rom-com, with Carina stuck as the fifth wheel between her two best friends (Kalani and Emi) and their dates. To make matters worse, she’s crushing on Emmet—one of her best friend’s boyfriend—and will do everything she can to hide it, including going on blind dates.________________________________________
💖 The Disastrous Blind Dates

With prom around the corner, Kalani refuses to let Carina attend dateless—or worse, ruin the night by worrying about her fifth-wheeling best friend. That’s why she sets her up on three different blind dates. Each. One. Worse. Than. The. Previous. One.

As much as Carina tries to keep an open mind and push all romantic thoughts of Emmet aside, the dates definitely don’t go well. In classic rom-com style, her misadventures in the dating world are full of laugh-out-loud moments.

Due to a series of misunderstandings, when Carina shows up to her first date and finds her nemesis, she wishes the floor would open up and swallow her whole. Jay is not only the handsomest boy she’s ever seen, but also unexpectedly annoying, abrasive, and self-assured. He has also figured out her secret—and since the only thing they agree on is how irritating they find each other, Carina is terrified he’ll tell Kalani the truth.

Even though the date ends abruptly before they even order appetizers, Carina and Jay keep running into each other. And surprisingly, Jay becomes the one person who offers her comfort—or an escape—during the following dates. In an unexpected turn of events, he gives Carina a refreshing perspective on life, telling her not necessarily what she wants to hear, but what she needs to hear, especially when the truths and confrontations are hard to digest.

________________________________________
❤️What I Loved the Most

• Enemies to lovers trope
• Slow-burn romance
• Emi’s animal code phrases, playlist and fashion style
• Jay being the polar opposite of Carina’s crush, Emmet
• Jay challenging Carina to speak her mind and be honest
• Jay inspiring Carina to live up to her potential

________________________________________
💔 What Didn’t Work for Me (But worked for the story)

I have one word.
Kalani.
I found it hard to like her from the very first chapters, and as the story progressed, she became increasingly self-centered, hurtful, toxic, and… well, annoying. However, she is one of the main characters and is essential both to the plot and to Carina’s journey into adulthood. At the end of the day, this isn’t just a story about a girl falling for a boy, but also about a friendship breaking apart—childhood best friends growing in different directions. It’s heartbreaking, but incredibly real. I also found it refreshing that the author made this a central theme, perfectly balancing the romance with the heartache of growing up and drifting away from those who were once the center of your universe.________________________________________
✨ Favorite Quotes from The Blind Date Agreement

• “You’re not just annoying. You’re annoyingly unforgettable. Which is so much worse.”
• “Apparently, I’ve got a thing for pretty girls who annoy the hell out of me and still manage to live rent-free in my head.”
• “Is your possum hairy?”
• “Maybe your abrasiveness is infectious.”
• “You drive me crazy, Princess, you know that?” Jay breathes against my lips. “Since the first moment I spotted you, I knew you’d be trouble. You got under my skin and stayed there.”
• “You don’t owe your friendship to anyone, and sometimes it’s best to let people go rather than force yourself to give your time and energy to people who no longer connect with you.”


________________________________________
🌍 Vibes / Tropes of The Blind Date Agreement
• 💕 Enemies to lovers
• 🔥 Banter & tension-filled chemistry
• 💖 Slow burn romance
• 🏫 High school setting
• 🎭 Peer pressure and identity
• 👯‍♀️ Friendship, loyalty & conflict
________________________________________
📚 Books Similar to The Blind Date Agreement
• The Distance Between Us by Kasie West (witty banter, rich boy vs working girl tension, strong “I don’t trust you” vibes, emotional resistance)
• Rule #2: You Can’t Crush on Your Sworn Enemy by Anne-Marie Meyer (sworn enemies, high school drama, growing trust, slow burn)
• Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter (high school setting, enemies to lovers, love triangle with “childhood crush” vs “new guy” energy)
________________________________________
🎯 Final Verdict on The Blind Date Agreement

The Blind Date Agreement is a cute YA Contemporary Romance that’s perfect for readers looking for a light, feel-good read. Packed with sizzling chemistry, slow-burn scenes, and witty (and sometimes not-so-witty) banter between the FMC and the MMC, it also promises a good dose of high-school drama alongside heartful moments of self-discovery and growing up.
________________________________________
💬 Reader Question
Have you read The Blind Date Agreement or any other books by Jessica Cunsolo? What did you think? Would you recommend it?

[lucy]

Beware, some spoilers ahead!

I had the best time reading this book! I’ve been in such a reading slump lately, but this book completely pulled me out of it. Jessica has been one of my favourite authors for over 10 years and I was really looking forward to reading this!

What I loved most is that this story is so much more than what it seems on the surface. It’s incredibly funny and the romance completely drew me in, but it also explores some really important and meaningful themes. I think it’ll especially resonate with younger readers navigating similar experiences, but honestly, it’s relatable no matter your age. I connected so much with Carina, and her love for her family/friends, her growth, awkward moments, all just felt so real.

The blind dates were chaotic in the absolute best way (bad for Carina, but for me, they were so much fun to read). Every time I thought they couldn’t possibly get worse… they got SO much worse! Carina truly went THROUGH it. I felt so bad for her, but at the same time, I was laughing so much I literally couldn’t put the book down. I stayed up way too late because it was just too much fun. From Barbara, to Carina attempting to crawl through a window, to the tacos, these moments were hilarious. I loved how Jay always seemed to appear at just the right time, and their banter made every scene even better.

Jessica knows exactly how to write a swoon-worthy love interest!! This book is enemies-to-lovers at its finest!! I loved how their relationship developed, the misunderstandings, the way their opinions of each other shifted, their friendship, and how they slowly fell for one another. It felt so natural and earned. They had so much chemistry, and every time he would text her, I was legit kicking my feet, it was so cute!! When he would say things like “you’re annoyingly unforgettable”, I was squealing!

I also really appreciated that Carina’s growth didn’t entirely depend on Jay. He supported her and encouraged her to speak her mind, but she still ultimately had to find her own voice, and I loved that message. Sometimes all you need is someone to help bring that side out of you, but the growth still has to come from within. I really enjoyed watching her character arc and how her perspectives and feelings changed over the course of the book.

The plot twists were so good!!! I know I shouldn’t have expected anything less after the With Me series, but some genuinely shocked me, and a few moments felt like a betrayal 💔 It definitely kept me turning the pages.

Jessica is such a witty writer and never fails to make me laugh. The dialogue felt very natural, and she always writes such vibrant, personality-filled characters who feel fully fleshed out, with relatable experiences and thought processes. I loved details like Carina's passion for art and her love for colour theory (and her aversion to Ralph's sense of fashion). One of my favourites parts what realising how sweet Jay truly is.

I loved that no one was perfect and nothing felt overly black-and-white, you could really see the complexity of every characters behaviour.

I absolutely loved the friendship between Emi and Carina. I was grinning every time she said “and I’d be like bam!” and also the lip-reading scene lmaooo 😭She is such an awesome character.

The ending was really heartfelt and felt realistic. Not everything was neatly resolved, and I actually loved that - friendships weren’t magically fixed overnight. You could really see how much the characters had grown. I felt so much for Carina and everything she went through, but I was so proud of who she became by the end.

Overall, I really adored the vibes of this story. I want to be hanging out at the cliffs and swimming with friends. This book was the perfect escapism and everything i hoped for. If you’re reading this i would highly recommend reading this book. This story had so much depth beneath its fun, romantic surface. I loved every second of it! 💛

As always, I’m super excited to see what comes next from Jessica Cunsolo!

And Arthur!!! Please don’t bring Barbara!!! 😭😭 (but honestly… by the end i was like you know what good for you Arthur!😂)

[Liberty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before getting into the review, a quick thank you to both NetGalley and the publishers over at Wattpad Books for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review, The Blind Date Agreement follows a Canadian high school student and her friends in the final few months of the their Senior year. Now that prom is looming Carina is made more aware of her third--and fifth--wheeling with her friends. Not to mention the giant crush she has on her best friend's boyfriend. To avoid acknowledging her feelings and to hopefully find a date for prom, Carina agrees to be set up on blind dates by her friends. The only problem seems to be that her friends are bad at picking dates for her. Leading to way too many thoughts about fleeing through bathroom windows and secret "get me out of here" texts. Can Carina make it through these dates? And can she keep her crush a secret? The Blind Date Agreement comes out on April 21st and is available for preorder now.

I went into this with some lower expectations. There's a review that I saw that did NOT beat around the bush about the reader's feelings for this one. I had already been approved for the ARC before I saw the review so I was a bit worried going into it. And I think that was possibly the right headspace to go into it with? I always like to say that you should meet a book where it's at. It's a YA RomCom about a girl who's into her best friend's boyfriend and all the drama and cringe that entails. So, no, it's not going to be the next great American novel. But I had so much fun with this one. I really like the romance here which is apparently not a given? I wouldn't call it Enemies to Lovers, but it's definitely a You Rubbed Me the Wrong Way the First Time We Met and Now I Think You're a Dick to Lovers (YRMtWWtFTWMaNITYaDtL). I found Jay to be a lot of fun. Especially in comparison to the guy Carina originally has feelings for. I think him having a bit of a chip on his shoulder about the private school kids makes sense given his history with them so I don't blame him at all for how he is when they first meet. There were also some really sweet moments with him as the story progresses that clues the reader into the fact that he has been down bad for this girl from the first snarky "Princess" he shoots her way. I felt like we ended the story in a way that makes so much sense. A lot of the times, a Romance will end with everything wrapped up in a neat bow to keep the reader light and happy, but that's not reality and it was so good to see Carina stand her ground with her (horrible) friends and enjoy prom with the friends who actually treated her like a friend the whole time.

There were a few things that were really cringe for me. First, I'm not a huge RomCom fan. I blame it on me getting second hand embarrassment. Second, there's this whole thing where Jay knows about Carina's thing about her wanting her underwear to match her outfit because it makes her feel put together or whatever. I could laugh it off once or twice but when it kept getting brought up it pulled me out of the story at that point. Maybe it's because I'm a 36 year old woman and I don't want to keep reading about a teenage boy asking a teenage girl if her underwear is [insert whatever color she's wearing] that day. Her friends! Oh my god. I end up liking Emi by the end but everyone else is horrible. They never really treat her like a friend until all this bad shit goes down. Even just the fact that Emily and Kalani are so wrapped up in their relationships that they stop doing girls' night is infuriating. Maybe it's because I've been there but that got so far under my skin.

Overall, this was a fun and quick read. Despite being swamped with work and real life annoyances, I finished this one in less than 72 hours. I would say this one is good for fans of Kasie West.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything is awkward, feelings are illegal, and apparently the worst person to fall for is already taken—honestly, high school romance should come with a warning label. The Blind Date Agreement by Jessica Cunsolo threw me straight into a whirlwind of bad decisions, chaotic emotions, and that painfully real kind of teenage longing that sneaks up on you when you least expect it. Published by Wattpad Books—huge thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.

I went in expecting something light and cute, and while yes—it absolutely delivers on the rom-com chaos—it also quietly digs into something deeper. Carina is trying to survive senior year while being the permanent extra in her own friend group, balancing school, her family’s bakery, and her art, all while harboring feelings for the one person she absolutely should not want. And that tension? It’s not loud—it simmers. The kind that makes your chest feel tight because you know exactly how it’s going to hurt.

The blind dates are a parade of disasters, and I mean that in the most entertaining way possible. I was laughing, cringing, and mentally begging her to fake an emergency exit at least twice. But underneath all the awkwardness, you can feel Carina slowly waking up to herself—realizing that maybe being “easygoing” has cost her more than she thought.

And then Jay walks in—pink shorts, sharp tongue, and zero interest in playing nice. Their dynamic starts off like nails on a chalkboard and somehow turns into one of the most unexpectedly tender parts of the story. He doesn’t just challenge her—he sees her. And that shift? It hits.

“You’re not just annoying. You’re annoyingly unforgettable. Which is so much worse.”

Tell me why that line lived rent-free in my head the entire time.

What really grounded this story for me, though, was the friendship layer. Emi is the kind of steady presence you wish everyone had, while Kalani… let’s just say she tested my patience in ways that felt a little too real. Because this book understands something a lot of others don’t—sometimes growing up means realizing not every friendship is meant to last in the same way.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This one is for readers who love messy emotions, chaotic dating energy, and that slow, aching shift from who you thought you were to who you’re becoming. It’s fun and bingeable, but it leaves behind just enough emotional weight to make it stick.

So be honest—would you risk everything for the person you’ve always wanted, or take a chance on the one you never saw coming?

#TheBlindDateAgreement #JessicaCunsolo #YARomance #BookReview #RomComReads #EnemiesToLovers #Bookstagram #WattpadBooks #ContemporaryRomance #CozyReads #BooksAndCoffee #RomanceReaders #ComingOfAge #MustReadBooks

[Emily Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to #NetGalley, Jessica Cunsolo, and the publisher of the book for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Carina is perfectly content being single, even if her best friends, Emi and Kalani, are deep into their relationships. Between school, helping out at her family’s bakery, and pouring herself into her art, she doesn’t exactly have time to worry about dating. Plus, Emi’s girlfriend, Daphne, always makes sure Carina feels included. Kalani and her boyfriend, Emmett, are a different story—being around them is… complicated. Mostly because Carina is secretly in love with Emmett.
So when Kalani decides to “fix” things by setting Carina up on a string of blind dates, Carina wants nothing to do with it. Being single isn’t the issue. Being hopelessly in love with her best friend’s boyfriend definitely is. But with prom coming up and the thought of being the odd one out yet again, she reluctantly agrees.
The dates are a disaster—each one more awkward than the last. Except for one: Jay, the guy in the pink shorts who challenges Carina in ways she never expected. Suddenly she’s caught between old feelings, new possibilities, and the fear of hurting the people she cares about most.
As everything starts to collide, Carina has to figure out what she really wants, what she’s willing to risk, and which kind of love—romantic or friendship—she’s ready to fight for.

This book delivers a heartfelt mix of friendship drama, romantic confusion, and the pressure of figuring out who you are when everyone around you seems to have it all together. Carina is the standout of the story. Her independence—balancing school, her family’s bakery, and her art—makes her easy to root for. She isn’t afraid to handle things on her own, even when her feelings get messy, and that strength gives the story real depth.
Jay was a surprise in the best way. At first, he feels like just another awkward blind date, but as the book goes on, he becomes one of the most grounded and genuinely likable characters. Watching him slowly grow on Carina (and on me as a reader) added a layer of warmth the story really needed.
Kalani, on the other hand, is complicated. She clearly cares about Carina, but she isn’t always a good friend. Her pushiness—especially with the blind dates—crosses lines, and it’s frustrating to watch her ignore what Carina actually wants. That tension adds realism, though, because friendships aren’t always perfect.
Overall, the book earns its 3.5 stars with strong character moments, emotional honesty, and a main character who’s easy to cheer for. It’s a story about choosing yourself, even when the people around you make that harder than it needs to be.

[Jessica Kompelien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, for this advance copy!

High school senior Carina's biggest goal for these last few months of high school is to spend as much time with her best friends Kalani and Emi before they go their separate ways for university. The problem? Both of them have significant others who are great, but now Carina's the fifth wheel on all their hangouts. The bigger problem? Kalani's boyfriend is none other than Emmett, the boy Carina's had a crush on since freshman year. Kalani is determined to set Carina up with a date for prom, so she proposes a series of blind dates to help Carina get out of her comfort zone and find a boy for the dance. The first one? A boy named Jay who gets on Carina's every last nerve; they don't even make it to appetizers. And the dates only get worse from there. But somehow, with each disastrous date, she keeps finding herself talking more and more with Jay, who helps her out of more than one sticky situation. Could her feelings for Jay be more than Carine wants to admit? And why is Kalani setting her up with these terrible guys? One thing is for sure, Carina's last few weeks of high school will be one for the books.

For this book, I wavered between giving it three and four stars. I settled on four because of its bingeability and banter. I read the whole thing in a single afternoon, and I found it really hard to put down. Carina was a character I could relate to (bottling things up, never saying what she wants to, feeling left out by friends with partners, etc.), and her relationship with Jay throughout the book was fun to watch develop. Jay had no problem saying what was on his mind, which makes him seem abrasive, but he also has a good heart that wants to take care of people. Her friends were a bit underdeveloped, but let's just say I have some words for Kalani, and I'm happy with how her relationship with Carina played out in the end, though I think Kalani deserved worse than she got. I mean, come on... you start dating the boy you KNOW your BFF since SECOND GRADE has had a crush on for three years without even talking to her about it? I did find it somewhat hard to believe that Carina didn't have words for her when that happened, but she is characterized as someone who doesn't want to rock the boat. My biggest pet peeve in the book? The number of times I had to read the word "panties." Maybe it's been too long since I was in high school, or maybe I was just a sheltered child, but I can't comprehend talking to a boy about my underwear color that much as a seventeen or eighteen year old.

[Brittany Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went back and forth on this one a lot, mainly because I love Jessica Cunsolo's writing and really enjoyed her first book, The Best Summer Ever.

At the beginning of The Blind Date Agreement, I didn’t really connect with the characters; Carina and Jay especially both came off as pretty judgmental, and after that early cliff scene, I was very close to being done with him entirely. It just wasn’t a great first impression, and it took me a while to warm up to either of them.

The setup itself is solid, though. Carina has been quietly in love with Emmett for years, only for her best friend to start dating him, which leaves her stuck in that awkward, painful “smile through it” position. Add in feeling like a third (or fifth) wheel and being pushed into a string of terrible blind dates, and you’ve got plenty of room for both chaos and character growth.

And the dates? Absolutely unhinged in the best way. Every single one manages to go wrong in a new and increasingly ridiculous way, and those moments were easily some of the most entertaining parts of the book.

Even though I struggled at first, both Carina and Jay did grow on me. Watching Carina slowly step outside her comfort zone and face things she’s been avoiding was really satisfying. She’s messy and not always likable, but at seventeen, that felt realistic. Jay, on the other hand, starts off as a total jerk, but as more layers are revealed, you see his loyalty, his honesty, and the way he shows up when it matters. He still pushes buttons (a lot), but their dynamic starts to shift in a way that feels earned.

I also really loved Emi and Daphne; they were probably my favorite part of the friend group. Meanwhile, Emmett felt a bit flat, and Kalani… not a great friend, to put it lightly. I wanted to punch her in the face, and Carina showed way more restraint than I would have in that situation (even as an adult).

As for the romance, it’s definitely a slow turnaround. They don’t start on great terms, but I did end up enjoying where they landed. The art exhibition was the moment it really clicked for me; I finally believed in them as a couple. There are some really sweet moments too, like the painting scene and the way Carina starts to feel safer and more herself around Jay. That said, a few of their inside jokes didn’t quite land for me.

Overall, even with a rough start and some predictable beats, I ended up enjoying this more than I expected. Once it picked up, it was an easy, quick read, frustrating at times, but still fun in the end.

[Living My Best Book Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute, witty teen romance about finding your voice, stepping outside of your comfort zone, and the value of friendship. Carina is in her senior year and is the only single one in her friend group. And she just so happens to be in love with her best-friends boyfriend. She is no cheater but needs a distraction, and her friends Emi and Kalani have just the thing; they are going to be setting her up on blind dates. While Carina is happy being single, the pressure of being a fifth-wheel convinces her to take a step out of her comfort zone and go out with the guys that her friends choose. The dates are awkward, funny, and a surprising connection between Carina and Jay grows into something beautiful.

This book will take you back to your teenage years. Well, at least it did for me. All the heightened emotions, pressures of wanting to fit in, and wondering if you are enough is all present. Carina is a beautiful soul and since she is the only single friend in her group of friends, she feels like being single may be a problem. Are her friends getting tired of her being the fifth-wheel? Her feelings and the ups and downs she goes through are so valid. And while at first I assumed her friends wanted to help her find love, things take a bit of turn when you begin to see the fractures in her friendships. But there is a cute surprise to help Carina and his name is Jay. I loved the sparks they had from the beginning. They did not get off on the right foot and tbh I don't think Carina and Jay being friends or anything more was on their bingo cards. To see them go from wanting to rip each others eyes out to being the people they could call to tell their secrets was a beautiful surprise. Readers will enjoy their growth, especially all their sexual tension and witty banter.

The Blind Date Agreement reads like a cozy rom-com with heart, character development, laugh out loud date horror stories, and the signature 'aha moment'. Jessica Cunsolo has found a home in my book collection!

[Kelsey Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨ ARC Review ✨
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

All in all, The Blind Date Agreement was an easy, quick read. I flew through it in a little over a day and was mostly entertained the whole time. This is very much a “pick it up, breeze through it, move on happy” kind of book.

💙 The MMC
The male main character is easily the standout here. He carries the majority of the book for me and was consistently enjoyable. His charm, humor, and overall presence kept me engaged even when other parts fell a bit flat.

🌸 The FMC
I did like the female main character, but she read juvenile at times, especially when it came to her crush. As an attractive senior in high school, some of her behavior and inner dialogue just didn’t feel believable to me. It occasionally pulled me out of the story.

🙄 Side Characters
Her friends and her crush, who is also a friend, really bugged me. There’s no gentler way to put it. They kind of… suck. I understand the point was to show her needing to learn how to speak up for herself, but they mostly came across as self absorbed and frustrating rather than nuanced.

🏠 Family Dynamic
This part felt a little off. She talks about being very close with her parents, but outside of the beginning, they barely show up. Because of that, what we’re told versus what we’re shown doesn’t fully line up.

🔥 Romance & Vibes
Spice is basically nonexistent here, so definitely keep that in mind. The dates themselves are fun, if a bit extreme at times, and the banter between the two main characters is genuinely great. That back and forth really shines.

✨ Final Thoughts
This would make a great palette cleanser between heavier reads. It’s short, quick, and fun. I do wish there had been a bit more resolution between the main characters at the end, but even so, it wraps up in a cute and satisfying way.

Overall, an enjoyable, lighthearted read with some standout moments, even if a few elements missed the mark for me.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 3 out of 5]

With an original twist, this is an enjoyable, easy-to-read tale with characters to sometimes like and sometimes frustrate.

Carina's been playing tag-along with her two best friends and their heart-throbs for a few months. To make matters worse, she's been secretly crushing on her very best friend's guy for many years...and her best friend knows this. Still, Carina embraces being the bigger person and is 'happy' single. Her friends decide that it's time she joined them in their two-some bliss and set her up on a series of blind dates. Not only is Carina not really on board with any of this, but none of them run well.

This was a grabbing read from the get-go as Carina is accompanying her best friends and their partners for a surprise day of fun. The author immediately makes Carina's situation clear, and it easy to feel for her as well as build some immediate impressions of the other characters around her. The surprise day of fun also includes some very interesting twists, and the plot heads along from there with many unexpected moments. The writing is smooth, the characters interact naturally, and the settings are just right to make the moments sit.

But just as enjoyable as it is to read, there are aspects which frustrate to the point of almost wanting to lay the book down. Carina's character is funny, relatable, and sometimes...spineless. While this weaves character ARC in the relationship with her best friend (to a certain extent) and builds in some relatable moments, it also directs to a male lead who has some issues. These are never dealt with and ignored. There are also some problems on the friendship plane, which aren't truly addressed because of this, either. For a teen romcom, it doesn't have Carina in not the most wholesome place without letting that be known.

Still, in general, it's an enjoyable read with moments to snicker, irritate, swoon, laugh, and gasp. So, there's aspects to truly enjoy and others which might bother some readers.

[Brittany Blackerby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this book was a fun read. I remember being that friend in high school whose friends were in relationships while I was single, and that's how it still is today. Reading about the struggles of her dating life was funny and relatable to my friend's stories as well.

That being said, this does indeed read as a Wattpad story (though I already have my biases as a fanfiction girlie who much prefers AO3 to Wattpad). It feels like all of the characters are written in the same voice, and the book can get very repetitive, as if the author wrote a couple of phrases and then copy and pasted them throughout the book. Surely there was another way it could have been said, and it didn't help in differentiated the various voices of the characters to have multiple people saying/thinking the same thing, especially when they didn't know each other previously.

Not a super spoiler, but just in case. I also found the synopsis of the book to be misleading as I read the book. The synopsis made me think that Carina was a more active participant in the planning of the blind dates, but she's more bullied into it. And the part about being a fifth wheel at the prom wasn't a concern for Carina so I expected that going into the book or Carina caring more about being single, and she didn't care. It was a weird choice since they (the publishing house) gets to decide the summary.

It was cute enough though and there is some good banter, but overall, I think this could have aged up to college and fit the vibe that the author seemed to be going for much better. If you want a fun rom-com full of dating mishaps and learning to find your own voice, this might be the read for you.

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

💔POV: You agree to blind dates to forget your crush but your crush is your best friend’s boyfriend.💔

I picked up The Blind Date Agreement by Jessica Cunsolo expecting chaos and wow, it DELIVERED in the most entertaining, cringey and heartfelt way possible.

From my perspective, Carina felt so real. She’s juggling school, working at her family bakery, and being the forever third okay fifth seventh eleventh 😅 wheel while secretly in love with the worst possible person. The emotional mess? Immediate. The relatability? Painfully high.

And the blind dates? An absolute disaster lineup. I was literally laughing and secondhand cringing through every awkward interaction. But that’s what made the story shine: it balances humor with genuine emotional depth. Because underneath all the chaos, Carina is dealing with something seriously complicated: choosing between friendship and love.

Enter Jay yes, the pink shorts king 👀, who completely surprised me. I loved how he challenged Carina and brought out a different side of her. Watching her slowly question what she thought she wanted versus what she actually needed? Fantastic!

This book gave me major Never Have I Ever vibes with its mix of messy feelings, friendship drama, and swoony moments. It’s fun, fast-paced, and full of heart perfect if you love YA rom-coms with a little emotional bite.

✨Overall, this was such a bingeable read that made me laugh, stress, and root for Carina to figure it all out even when I wasn’t sure what the right choice was.

✨️Thank you Wattpad Books and Jessica Cunsolo for sharing The Blind Date Agreement with me!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Wattpad Books for this gifted finished copy!

I am pretty conflicted on this one. I love young adult books, I think they have some of the best stories and some of the best yearning romances out there. However I did not feel like this was romance focused enough to be marketed as a young adult romance. I think this should just be marketed as YA Fiction and leave the romance aspect aside.

This was way more of a book for coming of age, realizing people can be harmful despite what you perceive a friendship/relationship to be, and starting to stand up for yourself and your wants/needs. The MMC was also kind of creepy to me, and Im not sure if he was supposed to come off as adolescent/immature, and I can get that to an extent, they are high school and applying to University age. But he was a little off putting to me, and the way the FMC didnt have more to say about the creepy behavior just unsettled me.

I think this could have been a great YA book, I think taking out the male character focuses and maybe focusing this as a whole on just the friendships of the FMC and those challenges, itwould have been a better read. It was an incredibly short book, less than 300 pages, but Im not sure I would have finished it if it hadnt been gifted.

*This ARC was gifted by Wattpad Books, all opinions are my own.*

[Victoria Rogers · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy from Net Galley

This book was very easy to read but in a bad way. It felt like watching a train wreck that was about to happen. I give it 2 stars because it was a good read but like I said in a bad way. Carina was surrounded by people who were just toxic all the time Emi for not realizing how deeply either of her "best friends" were hurting, Kalani for everything she caused, Emmett for also not realizing that Carina was uncomfortable with the whole situation and for going out with someone when he liked someone else and Jay was really a jerk who honestly even though he saved her so many times he was awful to her at first and his personality doesn't get better she just learns to like it. The only people who aren't awful are the more side characters who we don't get to know very well.

This book is full of petty high school drama that while it makes sense for their age doesn't really enhance the book it just makes it harder to not cringe all the way through. It had an okay sort of Enemies to Lovers plot but it kinda feels forced like one second she hates him and the next she likes him. It also didn't help that a lot of the book just felt like pure fluff with little substance

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Jessica’s books ugh.

This one was a cutesy love story, I loved Jays idgaf attitude but he was a big softy. Reminded me of Aiden’s persona from shes with me

All the dates were entertaining and it was so cute when Jay took Carina to the art show for her. I enjoyed it because it was about her so called best friend setting her up with all these crappy dates because she knew that Carina was into Emmett, THE ENTIRE TIME, AND STOLE HIM FROM CARINA IN THE FIRST PLACE CAUSE SHES A LIAR, anyways….

The dates were funny though, the drug dealer walking out, the guy bringing his mom, it’s all what you could think of for horror story dates.

I’m glad Jay was there to help her, he helped pay for the bill the guy left on, called her when she was trying to sneak out of a window on her bad date, and gave her fun times.

The cliff jumping scenes sound so fun I can picture them. I love the whole dynamic how they made it their spot no matter what school was which. F*** Kelani or however you spell her name she’s a fake friend, Emi and daphine are my girls.

I’m glad Carina stood up for herself at the end and got everything off her chest, and that her and Jay end up together.

Such a cute summer story 🥹

[Katie | niftyreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I definitely have found my new favorite Jessica Cunsolo book with her new book, THE BLIND DATE AGREEMENT!!! I loved high school romantic comedies back when I was in hs and I love them now. Shh 🤫 sometimes I even felt like the ones back in the day were better, and this book felt like reading one of the good ones!⁣
⁣
It had everything a hs romcom needs in a quirky friend group. Carina is fortunate to have two groups in the book, and each character adds their own flavor to the story. I especially loved what Emi, Pink Shorts, and Ralph added, and I enjoyed all Carina’s interactions with them. Also, Ralph just had a stellar sense of style!⁣
⁣
The blind date aspect of the plot was a lot of fun. I love how Cunsolo used it as a plot device for Carina to just go on dates to make her best friends happy, then unbeknownst to her, it was actually a revenge plot - see?? Total hs romcom, right?!? The dates were entertaining, along with each fallout, but it was interesting to see how Carina figured out her life, her friends, and her heart in the last third of the book.⁣
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Oh! Shoutout to my favorite character, Kevin!! 🐾⁣
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Thanks, Wattpad Books, for the arc!⁣

[Sabina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carina has been friends with Emi and Kalani for a long time, but everything seems a little bit odd now that Emi has a girlfriend, Kalani's got a boyfriend Emmett (Carina's forever crush) and Carina is still single (wonder why?).

Fifth-wheeling wouldn't be so bad if Kalani hasn't kept calling Carina on it. So, without other options Carina decides to go on dates set up by her friends (mostly Kalani).

The dates seem to be a disaster after disaster and the moment Carina's most embarassing moment goes viral online Carina decides to take some steps and finally have a serious talk with her friends.

Thank goodness on the first date she meets Jay who gets under her skin soo much that Carina can't stop thinking about him, he also turns out to be a good advisor as he encourages Carina to be more upfront with her friends.

I give it 3 stars out of 5.
Thank you NetGalley for a free galley in exchange for an honest review.

[sparkypink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blind Date Agreement is a young adult fiction book about navigating friendships and relationships, and being strong enough to speak up for yourself.

Carina, Kalani, and Eli have been BFFs forever, but when it comes to senior year and Carina is the only one not in a relationship, Kalani plans to set Carina up on a series of blind dates, each one worse than the last. Carina eventually learns to speak up and stand up for herself. It’s messy and funny and toxic and everything you expect from a group of high school kids. Without giving away the ending, I loved that everything didn’t end up as sunshine and roses, making it feel much more realistic.

I received a digital ARC of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.

[zasou.reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

The female main character is just annoying, always complaining that she's in love with her best friend's boyfriend and that she always feels like the fifth wheel when they go out together, because her 2 best friends are in the relationship, and that she doesn't want to go on dates with other guys. Also, the main male character is a walking red flag. I would absolutely never go out with a guy who would threaten to throw me off a cliff unless I admit I'm afraid of heights... WTF? The female main character is simply surrounded by toxic people. Let's face it, with a best friend like Kalani, I'd rather have enemies. Emi was actually the only decent character.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rachel Kerwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and WattPad for the ARC. I enjoyed this as an easy read during the school holidays. It was light and although I was frustrated at some of the characters and their actions the second half of the book was where it grew on me more.

The friendship twists and turns that happen as teens mature, look to their futures, and leaving school are well observed. The banter between Carina and Jay was often laugh out loud and the situations she gets herself into have all the hallmarks of good romcoms! I also really liked Emi and Daphne as characters and as a couple.

Teen readers will enjoy it and I liked the relationship development and resolution - she could have been a bit more feisty/angry about everything though!

[Ashlyn Tickle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Wattpad books for this gifted early finished copy!! This does not affect my honest review.

Woah this was such an interesting YA romance!! I had such bad vibes from *redacted* from the start but I honestly didn’t expect that level of betrayal!! Ugh but I’m so proud of Carina for standing up for herself! I was a “yes” person for so long and it’s refreshing to see someone (even a character) be the same way but finally put a stop to it.

Jay and Carina felt like they had opposite personalities but they complemented each other’s strengths and weaknesses. This was obviously shown when Carina finally stood up to *redacted*. I liked the ending and how it kinda leaves the future up for interpretation even though it’s a happy ending!