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They Wouldn't Dare: A Fake Dating College Romance
Three simple words changed everything between I dare you.
David Evans is a thorn in my side. A smart-mouthed, egotistical, philosophizing know-it-all who wants nothing more than to beat me at our silly little game.
I come from a family of five, so shying away from the competition isn't in my DNA. I will win anything he throws my way.
The game was harmless at first. Dare you to skip class, dare you to take a shot, dare you to tell a stranger last night's dream. Child's play. I should have known that wouldn't be enough for him. David seems determined to bring out the worst in me.
Once again, he uses five words that force me to question Be mine for the night.
It's a challenge that someone with any common sense would refuse. Especially since I'm familiar with all his tricks. But I lost my common sense a long time ago.
So I accept, because playing his girlfriend can't be that hard.
They Wouldn't Dare is a fake dating college sports romance featuring an optimist student org president and a cynical tight end who have been frenemies since middle school. This book is intended for 18+ readers.
David Evans is a thorn in my side. A smart-mouthed, egotistical, philosophizing know-it-all who wants nothing more than to beat me at our silly little game.
I come from a family of five, so shying away from the competition isn't in my DNA. I will win anything he throws my way.
The game was harmless at first. Dare you to skip class, dare you to take a shot, dare you to tell a stranger last night's dream. Child's play. I should have known that wouldn't be enough for him. David seems determined to bring out the worst in me.
Once again, he uses five words that force me to question Be mine for the night.
It's a challenge that someone with any common sense would refuse. Especially since I'm familiar with all his tricks. But I lost my common sense a long time ago.
So I accept, because playing his girlfriend can't be that hard.
They Wouldn't Dare is a fake dating college sports romance featuring an optimist student org president and a cynical tight end who have been frenemies since middle school. This book is intended for 18+ readers.
- GenresRomanceFake DatingQueer
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
February 24, 2026
3.75⭐️(Arc Review)
oh Deanna Grey how i adore how you write characters relationships. The softness and carefulness whilst the couple tend to each other HITS ONCE AGAIN. I’m such a lucky girl i got this beautiful arc. The stores centers a childhood rivals to lovers story (yes i adoreee this trope) between Yara and David. These two has spent years daring each other just to annoy the other to see who quits first. Their relationship has a bit of distance untill they have to start fake dating (yess another trope i love thank you) and start to build something more sincere and deeper. They take the time to possibly acknowledge maybe their “hatred” for each other might be something else. Beautyyy!! I do prefer single pov love stories but i do feel like we missed so much regarding David character that i would have loved to explore. Possible 2nd book pled👀. Another bone to pick is a few times in the first half of the book is everytime they would bud on something regarding their relationship it would be brushed past quick maybe displacing Yara avoidant occasional behavior. Guys no third act breakup YAYYYY. But deffo third act tension which i prefer much more.
oh Deanna Grey how i adore how you write characters relationships. The softness and carefulness whilst the couple tend to each other HITS ONCE AGAIN. I’m such a lucky girl i got this beautiful arc. The stores centers a childhood rivals to lovers story (yes i adoreee this trope) between Yara and David. These two has spent years daring each other just to annoy the other to see who quits first. Their relationship has a bit of distance untill they have to start fake dating (yess another trope i love thank you) and start to build something more sincere and deeper. They take the time to possibly acknowledge maybe their “hatred” for each other might be something else. Beautyyy!! I do prefer single pov love stories but i do feel like we missed so much regarding David character that i would have loved to explore. Possible 2nd book pled👀. Another bone to pick is a few times in the first half of the book is everytime they would bud on something regarding their relationship it would be brushed past quick maybe displacing Yara avoidant occasional behavior. Guys no third act breakup YAYYYY. But deffo third act tension which i prefer much more.
March 11, 2026
Bisexual people!! Wake up, this is our pokemon calling card!
Thank you to Deanna Grey and her team for the e-arc!
Give me bisexuals doing bisexual activities such as having a "dare" rivalry between each other and I'll go feral!
I was guaranteed an amazing time reading this, given the remise and an amazing time was most certainly had.
Yara and David have undeniable chemistry with killer banter, there is tension but there is also understanding that no one but them sees.
The vulnerability between these characters is so tender. It's a form of art to be able to write from such a raw place.
Deanna writes amazingly complex characters with phenomenal mental health rep. I am in constant awe of her work, I also constantly feel exposed because how is it humanly possible to read my mental health and write a book about it.
Yara is a character that is dear to my heart, I have struggled with Trichotillomania for about 5-6 years and it's something I constantly battle everyday. It's a disorder I've been ashamed of having and don't openly discuss with others. Seeing Yara actively struggle with the same thing felt so validating and human, I burst into a million tears.
Yara is passionate, determined, and so incredible. I just would like to give her a hug.
David is football player of my dreams, he's confident and humble! As a fellow psych college student, he is on my roster. He's introverted but he's absolutely whipped for Yara and has eyes for no one but her!
This book means so much to me. I know that like myself many will love this book, I cannot recommend this book enough. You'll laugh, want to cry, and crave more by the end!
Join me in the beauty of the chaotic bisexual hype!
Thank you to Deanna Grey and her team for the e-arc!
Give me bisexuals doing bisexual activities such as having a "dare" rivalry between each other and I'll go feral!
I was guaranteed an amazing time reading this, given the remise and an amazing time was most certainly had.
Yara and David have undeniable chemistry with killer banter, there is tension but there is also understanding that no one but them sees.
The vulnerability between these characters is so tender. It's a form of art to be able to write from such a raw place.
Deanna writes amazingly complex characters with phenomenal mental health rep. I am in constant awe of her work, I also constantly feel exposed because how is it humanly possible to read my mental health and write a book about it.
Yara is a character that is dear to my heart, I have struggled with Trichotillomania for about 5-6 years and it's something I constantly battle everyday. It's a disorder I've been ashamed of having and don't openly discuss with others. Seeing Yara actively struggle with the same thing felt so validating and human, I burst into a million tears.
Yara is passionate, determined, and so incredible. I just would like to give her a hug.
David is football player of my dreams, he's confident and humble! As a fellow psych college student, he is on my roster. He's introverted but he's absolutely whipped for Yara and has eyes for no one but her!
This book means so much to me. I know that like myself many will love this book, I cannot recommend this book enough. You'll laugh, want to cry, and crave more by the end!
Join me in the beauty of the chaotic bisexual hype!
February 22, 2026
I absolutely loved this book! I was so hooked from the very beginning because while this book has common tropes in it, they are done in a way that I’ve never seen before! I always love a dislike to lovers, fake-dating book but the dares?! The mental health rep?! The bi4bi rep?! The fact that they’ve known each other since childhood and have always secretly been drawn to each other?! These are the factors that REALLY made this book. Deanna’s writing is truly such a breath of fresh air!
This book follows Yara, a perfectionist who is the president of a student org and is desperately trying to stop it from failing, and David, a sarcastic student athlete dealing with ocd and trauma who’s also dead set on annoying Yara. These two immediately captured my heart and I related to them both so deeply! As a youngest child, perfectionist, afraid of driving girl, I related to Yara and as a social work student, sarcastic, yearning girl, I related to David. I seriously think I may be their secret child because I’m truly a mix of both characters. Besides the amazing main characters, this book also has such a fun and diverse cast of other characters that I absolutely need to read more about! Every book I read by Deanna Grey gets better and better and I cannot wait to read many more from her in the future!
Thank you Deanna for the ARC!
This book follows Yara, a perfectionist who is the president of a student org and is desperately trying to stop it from failing, and David, a sarcastic student athlete dealing with ocd and trauma who’s also dead set on annoying Yara. These two immediately captured my heart and I related to them both so deeply! As a youngest child, perfectionist, afraid of driving girl, I related to Yara and as a social work student, sarcastic, yearning girl, I related to David. I seriously think I may be their secret child because I’m truly a mix of both characters. Besides the amazing main characters, this book also has such a fun and diverse cast of other characters that I absolutely need to read more about! Every book I read by Deanna Grey gets better and better and I cannot wait to read many more from her in the future!
Thank you Deanna for the ARC!
March 19, 2026
This beautiful book reminded me that I need to read wayyy more bi for bi romances! Yara and David were so raw in their struggles and the ways they viewed themselves, and I felt so seen by them both. Watching their relationship grow from dislike to confusing feelings to admiration and unwavering support to love was sensational. Deanna knows how to weave a story that hooks you, I devoured this in under a day! Hope to see more of the Westbrooke crew!
March 18, 2026
This is my 4th Deanna grey book. Each and every one had been a different but enjoyable journey. This is a really slow burn but the build up was worth it. Somehow Deanna makes me root for the men(I’m a misandrist). David and Yara were both fighting very different demons. I enjoyed the journey for them to come together. I dare you to read this story and not swoon.
April 28, 2026
There’s a lot of individual elements I liked but nothing quite hung together so it felt really disjointed. The pacing made no sense and I think it suffered from the lack of a dual pov.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.75 ⭐️
I always head into a Deanna Grey book with peak excitement.
She delivers vibes, representation, joy, and romance that makes you feel seen every single time. When the ARC opportunity for They Wouldn’t Dare dropped, I nearly snapped my laptop racing to fill out the application.
And honestly? It delivered exactly the emotional reset I needed. After a run of darker, angst-heavy reads, TWD felt like a complete serotonin reboot.
Because how did Grey casually give us a college romance with:
• an interracial Bi4Bi couple
• fake dating
• frenemies-to-lovers where he loved her from the beginning
• mental health representation
• Black girl magic
• no third-act breakup
• pegging
• and cameos from some Mendell Hawks favorites???
Yara and David felt like the perfect blend of dynamics Grey has already proven she excels at: the emotional knowing of Naomi and Finn in Sunny Disposition paired with the banter and chemistry of Aderyn and Sam in Team Players.
But what really made this story land for me was Yara.
Her characterization hit incredibly close to home. The way her persistence and drive show up not just as ambition, but as the byproduct of being a young Black woman surrounded by excellence and feeling the constant pressure to match it. The internal tug-of-war between pride, expectation, and intrusive thoughts felt painfully real at times.
And David?
David is the kind of romance hero I will never get tired of reading.
The way he sees Yara—not just the confident version she shows the world, but the version of her wrestling with doubt and afraid to say the quiet things out loud—and consistently reminds her that she isn’t difficult, she isn’t broken, she’s simply herself… and that is exactly who he loves.
One of my favorite things about Grey’s writing is that she never tells us who her characters are. She shows us through their actions, their interiority, and the way they move through the world. The disability representation here follows that same pattern. It’s never over-explained or labeled; instead, we understand it through the characters’ lived experiences.
If I had one small wish, it’s that we had seen Yara extend David a little more grace earlier in the story regarding his struggles.
From the moment he appears on page, she notices his rituals and how cleanliness functions as a trigger for him. While I understand the narrative reasons for that tension—and how it plays into David’s fear of her seeing the harder parts of his experience—I did find myself wishing that the same instinctive grace he offers Yara had been reflected back toward him sooner.
I also think I would have loved just a bit more exploration of David’s childhood. We’re given context about his home life, but because David understandably avoids revisiting those memories, the narrative moves on quickly. Sitting with those moments a little longer might have made the significance of certain later scenes—especially when he allows Yara to touch him in a way that never felt safe before—feel even more powerful.
That said, these are incredibly minor wishes in a book that otherwise absolutely worked for me.
They Wouldn’t Dare is warm, funny, deeply affirming, and full of the kind of romance that reminds you why you love the genre in the first place.
TL;DR: A joyful, emotionally grounded college romance with fantastic representation, a swoony “he loved her first” hero, and just the right balance of humor, heat, and heart.
I always head into a Deanna Grey book with peak excitement.
She delivers vibes, representation, joy, and romance that makes you feel seen every single time. When the ARC opportunity for They Wouldn’t Dare dropped, I nearly snapped my laptop racing to fill out the application.
And honestly? It delivered exactly the emotional reset I needed. After a run of darker, angst-heavy reads, TWD felt like a complete serotonin reboot.
Because how did Grey casually give us a college romance with:
• an interracial Bi4Bi couple
• fake dating
• frenemies-to-lovers where he loved her from the beginning
• mental health representation
• Black girl magic
• no third-act breakup
• pegging
• and cameos from some Mendell Hawks favorites???
Yara and David felt like the perfect blend of dynamics Grey has already proven she excels at: the emotional knowing of Naomi and Finn in Sunny Disposition paired with the banter and chemistry of Aderyn and Sam in Team Players.
But what really made this story land for me was Yara.
Her characterization hit incredibly close to home. The way her persistence and drive show up not just as ambition, but as the byproduct of being a young Black woman surrounded by excellence and feeling the constant pressure to match it. The internal tug-of-war between pride, expectation, and intrusive thoughts felt painfully real at times.
And David?
David is the kind of romance hero I will never get tired of reading.
The way he sees Yara—not just the confident version she shows the world, but the version of her wrestling with doubt and afraid to say the quiet things out loud—and consistently reminds her that she isn’t difficult, she isn’t broken, she’s simply herself… and that is exactly who he loves.
One of my favorite things about Grey’s writing is that she never tells us who her characters are. She shows us through their actions, their interiority, and the way they move through the world. The disability representation here follows that same pattern. It’s never over-explained or labeled; instead, we understand it through the characters’ lived experiences.
If I had one small wish, it’s that we had seen Yara extend David a little more grace earlier in the story regarding his struggles.
From the moment he appears on page, she notices his rituals and how cleanliness functions as a trigger for him. While I understand the narrative reasons for that tension—and how it plays into David’s fear of her seeing the harder parts of his experience—I did find myself wishing that the same instinctive grace he offers Yara had been reflected back toward him sooner.
I also think I would have loved just a bit more exploration of David’s childhood. We’re given context about his home life, but because David understandably avoids revisiting those memories, the narrative moves on quickly. Sitting with those moments a little longer might have made the significance of certain later scenes—especially when he allows Yara to touch him in a way that never felt safe before—feel even more powerful.
That said, these are incredibly minor wishes in a book that otherwise absolutely worked for me.
They Wouldn’t Dare is warm, funny, deeply affirming, and full of the kind of romance that reminds you why you love the genre in the first place.
TL;DR: A joyful, emotionally grounded college romance with fantastic representation, a swoony “he loved her first” hero, and just the right balance of humor, heat, and heart.
March 6, 2026
🏈📋🧠🤳🎟️⛲️
david & yara are two resilient people who fear inadequacy & desire a hyper-specific control to ensure that, if they are inadequate, their peers/family won’t perceive their disappointment in their inadequacy. (they’re not actually inadequate, they just think they are. but we’re working on it.)
together, the pair helps each other realize that, despite their past, they deserve closure & mental rest, but that feat is never easy. yara promises david that she’ll never make . . . anything easy for him, but that also reassures him that the best rewards come from accepting uneasiness & unpredictably as they come rather than trying to control them for a predictable outcome (that rarely works & makes rumination a hell of a lot worse). on the flip side, david’s vulnerability helps yara acknowledge that she deserves to receive help for her physical & mental symptoms of rumination, because she treats david with such care when he ruminates & she deserves that same care.
TWD has a type of OCD rep i don’t see much of, which is the “maybe this is your fault. maybe that bad ‘what if?’ has come true. but that doesn’t mean you can’t move forward.” challenging obsessive thoughts & compulsive behaviors is physically & mentally taxing, all while dealing with physically & mentally taxing day-to-day life. david & yara do a beautiful job of navigating this unwanted balance while extending grace to each other, which makes them more willing to accept that grace towards themselves.
yara is FIERCE. she is unstoppable & she serves even when she thinks she’s not. she is dedicated to her org & THAT is her passion, regardless of her legacy. her work ethic & intentionality are inspiring.
all thanks & forehead kisses to deanna grey & book funnel for the ARC!
david & yara are two resilient people who fear inadequacy & desire a hyper-specific control to ensure that, if they are inadequate, their peers/family won’t perceive their disappointment in their inadequacy. (they’re not actually inadequate, they just think they are. but we’re working on it.)
together, the pair helps each other realize that, despite their past, they deserve closure & mental rest, but that feat is never easy. yara promises david that she’ll never make . . . anything easy for him, but that also reassures him that the best rewards come from accepting uneasiness & unpredictably as they come rather than trying to control them for a predictable outcome (that rarely works & makes rumination a hell of a lot worse). on the flip side, david’s vulnerability helps yara acknowledge that she deserves to receive help for her physical & mental symptoms of rumination, because she treats david with such care when he ruminates & she deserves that same care.
TWD has a type of OCD rep i don’t see much of, which is the “maybe this is your fault. maybe that bad ‘what if?’ has come true. but that doesn’t mean you can’t move forward.” challenging obsessive thoughts & compulsive behaviors is physically & mentally taxing, all while dealing with physically & mentally taxing day-to-day life. david & yara do a beautiful job of navigating this unwanted balance while extending grace to each other, which makes them more willing to accept that grace towards themselves.
yara is FIERCE. she is unstoppable & she serves even when she thinks she’s not. she is dedicated to her org & THAT is her passion, regardless of her legacy. her work ethic & intentionality are inspiring.
all thanks & forehead kisses to deanna grey & book funnel for the ARC!
February 28, 2026
𝒔𝒚𝒏𝒐𝒑𝒔𝒊𝒔
Yara Every is smart, driven, optimistic, & dedicated, especially to the student-org she leads. Her full focus should be on the end-of-semester masquerade they’re throwing, hoping it will save the org from impending obsoletion. Her full focus WOULD be there if it wasn’t for the permanent thorn in her side, David Evans, who solidified his place under her skin with a perpetual dare war. When his dare gets her in a sticky spot with her sister and sister’s soon-to-be fianc��e (aka Yara’s ex-girlfriend), Yara enlists David in un-sticking her via a fake relationship.
𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘
(for the sake of transparency, I received an e-ARC from the author)
I had a sneaking suspicion I would love ‘They Wouldn’t Dare’. I fell in love with Deanna Grey’s romances with ‘Outdrawn’ & the ‘Mendell Hawks’ series, so I definitely had some expectations going into this.
I was NOT disappointed. Two big things stood out to me:
1. The rivals to lovers of it all. While enemies/rivals to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, it feels like people have shoved the tension to the extreme. I’ve read multiple books where the dynamic will border on cruel, leading me to question if the romantic interests even see each other as people. Before Yara & David even admit their feelings, they treat each other with an undercurrent of empathy & respect; their romance feels like a natural progression of their relationship.
2. The representation of OCD, anxiety, and rituals. This gives readers who can relate a chance to see themselves in a beautiful love story where everything doesn’t HAVE to be perfect.
Over all, the romance was sweet & spicy, the banter was fantastic without being quippy, and the characters were flawed yet so easy to love. I can’t recommend it enough 🤎
Yara Every is smart, driven, optimistic, & dedicated, especially to the student-org she leads. Her full focus should be on the end-of-semester masquerade they’re throwing, hoping it will save the org from impending obsoletion. Her full focus WOULD be there if it wasn’t for the permanent thorn in her side, David Evans, who solidified his place under her skin with a perpetual dare war. When his dare gets her in a sticky spot with her sister and sister’s soon-to-be fianc��e (aka Yara’s ex-girlfriend), Yara enlists David in un-sticking her via a fake relationship.
𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘
(for the sake of transparency, I received an e-ARC from the author)
I had a sneaking suspicion I would love ‘They Wouldn’t Dare’. I fell in love with Deanna Grey’s romances with ‘Outdrawn’ & the ‘Mendell Hawks’ series, so I definitely had some expectations going into this.
I was NOT disappointed. Two big things stood out to me:
1. The rivals to lovers of it all. While enemies/rivals to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, it feels like people have shoved the tension to the extreme. I’ve read multiple books where the dynamic will border on cruel, leading me to question if the romantic interests even see each other as people. Before Yara & David even admit their feelings, they treat each other with an undercurrent of empathy & respect; their romance feels like a natural progression of their relationship.
2. The representation of OCD, anxiety, and rituals. This gives readers who can relate a chance to see themselves in a beautiful love story where everything doesn’t HAVE to be perfect.
Over all, the romance was sweet & spicy, the banter was fantastic without being quippy, and the characters were flawed yet so easy to love. I can’t recommend it enough 🤎
April 1, 2026
This was not Deanna Grey's best work. Juvenile and clunky writing, tropey and lacking the build up and tension that I've come to expect, They Wouldn't Dare was a huge letdown.
Not sure what went wrong, but it felt like I was reading a book by a different author. The thing that stood out to me was how there wasn't really a proper thread in this. Tara is supposed to be a (struggling) put together and ambitious leader, but that's not something that's sufficiently revisted through the story, for example.
To me, it seemed like disparite storylines were mashed together to have "cute" quotables without any concern for who the author said these people are and why they do certain things. We didn't get to see their perspectives shift through call-backs or interactions with friends without the love interest being present. For those familiar with Sunny Disposition, imagine if Naomis claimed enjoy streaming but all we saw was her going to the mall with Finn. That's what this book was.
How could this possibly be the woman who wrote Outdrawn and Safety Net and Team Players??
I also don't know if this is a consequence of having read a lot of her work, but I've noticed she follows a very rigid formula (group of male best friends, one guy from the group gets with a girl who only has one friend, either the girl or the guy has a hectic family life, rinse and repeat) and I look forward to seeing something new.
I'm gonna keep reading her work because I love her other books. I hope this isn't a sign of worse things to come.
Not sure what went wrong, but it felt like I was reading a book by a different author. The thing that stood out to me was how there wasn't really a proper thread in this. Tara is supposed to be a (struggling) put together and ambitious leader, but that's not something that's sufficiently revisted through the story, for example.
To me, it seemed like disparite storylines were mashed together to have "cute" quotables without any concern for who the author said these people are and why they do certain things. We didn't get to see their perspectives shift through call-backs or interactions with friends without the love interest being present. For those familiar with Sunny Disposition, imagine if Naomis claimed enjoy streaming but all we saw was her going to the mall with Finn. That's what this book was.
How could this possibly be the woman who wrote Outdrawn and Safety Net and Team Players??
I also don't know if this is a consequence of having read a lot of her work, but I've noticed she follows a very rigid formula (group of male best friends, one guy from the group gets with a girl who only has one friend, either the girl or the guy has a hectic family life, rinse and repeat) and I look forward to seeing something new.
I'm gonna keep reading her work because I love her other books. I hope this isn't a sign of worse things to come.
April 12, 2026
A Nice Balance
The start, Yara and David's childish back and forth was a little bit too much for me, but I trusted the author's process. The arc of Yara realizing that she's been making assumptions, especially when masking her stress felt lovely. As well as the eventual cracking of David's emotional fortress around his feelings and past.
There were a lot of characters in this, I'm assuming future couples for more books. Also, the references and cameos from characters from The Mendell Hawks series was a nice touch. Some subplots weren't as engaging as when they're introduced versus resolved.
Hart deserved better! 😂 I'm an anti-capitalist so the poor, little rich girl teasing made me roll my eyes, but the depictions and discussions around wealth were, meh for me. Still, the car network of diverse characters was lovely to see, as well as what it looks like when they have community.
The intimate scenes were nice. Consensual, considerate, hot and queer-friendly fun. I'm an older millennial, so I'm far from the age of these characters, but it's soothing that they have sex in such a casual and safe manner. Compared to the mess I've seen that age, it's always nice to see in a book.
Usually I don't read about young people, especially in college framework, but Deanna's writing and heart always pulls me in. Enjoyable read!
I hope one day she writes a series about older adults managing college. Maybe they aren't exactly where they wanted in life or maybe they're going back for more. 😂🖤
The start, Yara and David's childish back and forth was a little bit too much for me, but I trusted the author's process. The arc of Yara realizing that she's been making assumptions, especially when masking her stress felt lovely. As well as the eventual cracking of David's emotional fortress around his feelings and past.
There were a lot of characters in this, I'm assuming future couples for more books. Also, the references and cameos from characters from The Mendell Hawks series was a nice touch. Some subplots weren't as engaging as when they're introduced versus resolved.
Hart deserved better! 😂 I'm an anti-capitalist so the poor, little rich girl teasing made me roll my eyes, but the depictions and discussions around wealth were, meh for me. Still, the car network of diverse characters was lovely to see, as well as what it looks like when they have community.
The intimate scenes were nice. Consensual, considerate, hot and queer-friendly fun. I'm an older millennial, so I'm far from the age of these characters, but it's soothing that they have sex in such a casual and safe manner. Compared to the mess I've seen that age, it's always nice to see in a book.
Usually I don't read about young people, especially in college framework, but Deanna's writing and heart always pulls me in. Enjoyable read!
I hope one day she writes a series about older adults managing college. Maybe they aren't exactly where they wanted in life or maybe they're going back for more. 😂🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
Deanna did her big one yet again! I love all of her stories and how well they represent not only characters that are physically diverse but mentally and emotionally as well. The descriptive language used to describe the anxiety and OCD behaviors truly made me feel connected to these characters. I always relate to the FMC’s being an anxious, queer black woman myself.
Yara’s anxieties about her relationships with her large family and their reputation, how she needs to uphold that same standard and how they manifest in her behavior not only at home but at school. How she behaves when she thinks no one is watching, they are incredibly developed. I love that she found, with a therapist and David’s help, acceptance within herself. Maybe it’s the pettiness within me but I would have liked to see some of those doubters get an I told you so moment but it wasn’t necessarily needed.
I would have loved to know a little more about David’s home life growing up. We got bits and pieces but what was it that happened in highschool. Was it a fight? There were somethings that were heavily implied and not necessary for a solid completion but would have made it feel a little more rounded out.
I just loved these characters and their banter, my only complaint was that I didn’t get more of them. Hopefully we will get a sneak peek of them in the books to follow like we did with so former Mendell Hawks
Yara’s anxieties about her relationships with her large family and their reputation, how she needs to uphold that same standard and how they manifest in her behavior not only at home but at school. How she behaves when she thinks no one is watching, they are incredibly developed. I love that she found, with a therapist and David’s help, acceptance within herself. Maybe it’s the pettiness within me but I would have liked to see some of those doubters get an I told you so moment but it wasn’t necessarily needed.
I would have loved to know a little more about David’s home life growing up. We got bits and pieces but what was it that happened in highschool. Was it a fight? There were somethings that were heavily implied and not necessary for a solid completion but would have made it feel a little more rounded out.
I just loved these characters and their banter, my only complaint was that I didn’t get more of them. Hopefully we will get a sneak peek of them in the books to follow like we did with so former Mendell Hawks
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
They Wouldn’t Dare follows Yara and David, childhood rivals who attend the same college. They’ve never seen eye to eye, they’ve always had a back and forth but a mutual respect of that back and forth, of the way their relationship evidently is. And in college, they start a game of giving one another dares to carry out, but they follow three simple rules — which I would tell you but you should read it to find them out!) There’s a familiarity about each other that neither of them want to give up, despite the fact they’ve never really gotten along, never saw one another as a friend, or even an acquaintance, and find it difficult to pinpoint exactly what they are to one another
The story is beautifully written, which is to be expected from Deanna Grey’s work, and I honestly fell in love with Yara and David immediately. Their sharp tongues and back and forth were so much fun to read. Their banter and witty comments are super entertaining and both characters are incredibly likeable.
Yara is someone who likes structure and order, she likes to be in control of situations, and she likes to have familiar people around her; it comforts her. She’s intelligent and hard on herself, she’s ambitious and caring. She’s someone who appears perfect at all times, just to keep that sense of control about herself. Whereas David is a little more carefree, more extroverted. He’s charming and outgoing. A football player. And where he was once a loner at school, he has become more popular at college, which friends who deeply care about him. Yara has her best friend, and she has David.
I loved this story so much. I loved Yara and David’s dynamic and the book also has some super likeable side characters throughout. All in all, this book is amazing. Their relationship develops and changes steadily over time but they both stay true to who they are, they help one another and still never go easy on each other. It’s wholesome, fun and at time spicy! If you like fake dating, banter, college romances, dislike to lovers and lgbt+ representation, this one is for you. Both Yara and David are bisexual main characters and the representation of that is so good.
The book does cover sensitive topics such as OCD, self harm, physical child abuse and neglect but Grey handles it so, so well!
They Wouldn’t Dare follows Yara and David, childhood rivals who attend the same college. They’ve never seen eye to eye, they’ve always had a back and forth but a mutual respect of that back and forth, of the way their relationship evidently is. And in college, they start a game of giving one another dares to carry out, but they follow three simple rules — which I would tell you but you should read it to find them out!) There’s a familiarity about each other that neither of them want to give up, despite the fact they’ve never really gotten along, never saw one another as a friend, or even an acquaintance, and find it difficult to pinpoint exactly what they are to one another
The story is beautifully written, which is to be expected from Deanna Grey’s work, and I honestly fell in love with Yara and David immediately. Their sharp tongues and back and forth were so much fun to read. Their banter and witty comments are super entertaining and both characters are incredibly likeable.
Yara is someone who likes structure and order, she likes to be in control of situations, and she likes to have familiar people around her; it comforts her. She’s intelligent and hard on herself, she’s ambitious and caring. She’s someone who appears perfect at all times, just to keep that sense of control about herself. Whereas David is a little more carefree, more extroverted. He’s charming and outgoing. A football player. And where he was once a loner at school, he has become more popular at college, which friends who deeply care about him. Yara has her best friend, and she has David.
I loved this story so much. I loved Yara and David’s dynamic and the book also has some super likeable side characters throughout. All in all, this book is amazing. Their relationship develops and changes steadily over time but they both stay true to who they are, they help one another and still never go easy on each other. It’s wholesome, fun and at time spicy! If you like fake dating, banter, college romances, dislike to lovers and lgbt+ representation, this one is for you. Both Yara and David are bisexual main characters and the representation of that is so good.
The book does cover sensitive topics such as OCD, self harm, physical child abuse and neglect but Grey handles it so, so well!
March 15, 2026
ARC REVIEW ✨
Oh Deanna, you never disappoint 😭 I loved everything about this book. This was a REAL (fr)enemies to lovers, grumpy x sunshine, fake dating story!!!! Deanna executed these tropes so well. I was giggling and kicking my feet the entire time. The storyline of Yara and David having a dare off for years kept me fully engaged.
I related to Yara in so many ways. Seeing how she portrays herself to others vs her inner thoughts was done so well. Her dynamic with her family and not always being fully open with them really hit home for me. Yara is such a great example of Black women and the high expectations we place on ourselves. Reading her thoughts and how she processes things felt very healing and validating. Deanna also reminds readers that our past mistakes do not have to define our future and that it is okay to slow down and take breaks.
David!!!! THE MAN YOU ARE DAVID OMGGGGG. I will admit going in I did not think I would care much for him. But wow, the layers to David. Without giving too much away, the way his character unfolds shows that you never know what someone else has gone through. I loved his banter with Yara and it never felt like negging. He has truly been yearning for her since middle school. He is definitely in my top 5 book boyfriends. The begging alone secured him at least #3.
Overall, this book made me believe in romance again. Deanna always executes the tropes she promises and I HIGHLY recommend this if you are in a reading slump like I was.
Oh Deanna, you never disappoint 😭 I loved everything about this book. This was a REAL (fr)enemies to lovers, grumpy x sunshine, fake dating story!!!! Deanna executed these tropes so well. I was giggling and kicking my feet the entire time. The storyline of Yara and David having a dare off for years kept me fully engaged.
I related to Yara in so many ways. Seeing how she portrays herself to others vs her inner thoughts was done so well. Her dynamic with her family and not always being fully open with them really hit home for me. Yara is such a great example of Black women and the high expectations we place on ourselves. Reading her thoughts and how she processes things felt very healing and validating. Deanna also reminds readers that our past mistakes do not have to define our future and that it is okay to slow down and take breaks.
David!!!! THE MAN YOU ARE DAVID OMGGGGG. I will admit going in I did not think I would care much for him. But wow, the layers to David. Without giving too much away, the way his character unfolds shows that you never know what someone else has gone through. I loved his banter with Yara and it never felt like negging. He has truly been yearning for her since middle school. He is definitely in my top 5 book boyfriends. The begging alone secured him at least #3.
Overall, this book made me believe in romance again. Deanna always executes the tropes she promises and I HIGHLY recommend this if you are in a reading slump like I was.
April 5, 2026
Deanna Grey never disappoints🥰
This is my favorite book of the year so far! I was hooked from the first chapter with Yara & David’s banter. The chemistry was jumping off the page the entire time. This book had me giggling and cheesing the whole time reading it!
While it did have me giggling, it also had me crying. Deanna Grey’s books are healing for me. They make me reflect on my own emotions & experiences. Sunny Disposition helped me through a lot of inner work within myself, as did They Wouldn’t Dare. I have some personal similarities with the main characters. We’ve gone through similar things, one of those things being the struggle with OCD. The OCD representation was very relatable to me. The way that it was explored in the story gave me some of what I’ve needed to hear in my own life, and hearing those things through these characters was truly a beautiful experience. I had a similar experience while reading Sunny Disposition. So, I will reiterate that Deanna Grey’s books HEAL me. She will forever be one of my favorite authors.
I did wish at times that we also got chapters from David’s point of view. And I was left with a couple of minor questions when the story was over. However, nothing could dampen my enjoyment of this book. Even with a couple of flaws, it still felt perfect! I really hope we get more books for other characters in the story!!
Thank you Deanna Grey for the review copy! All opinions are my own.
This is my favorite book of the year so far! I was hooked from the first chapter with Yara & David’s banter. The chemistry was jumping off the page the entire time. This book had me giggling and cheesing the whole time reading it!
While it did have me giggling, it also had me crying. Deanna Grey’s books are healing for me. They make me reflect on my own emotions & experiences. Sunny Disposition helped me through a lot of inner work within myself, as did They Wouldn’t Dare. I have some personal similarities with the main characters. We’ve gone through similar things, one of those things being the struggle with OCD. The OCD representation was very relatable to me. The way that it was explored in the story gave me some of what I’ve needed to hear in my own life, and hearing those things through these characters was truly a beautiful experience. I had a similar experience while reading Sunny Disposition. So, I will reiterate that Deanna Grey’s books HEAL me. She will forever be one of my favorite authors.
I did wish at times that we also got chapters from David’s point of view. And I was left with a couple of minor questions when the story was over. However, nothing could dampen my enjoyment of this book. Even with a couple of flaws, it still felt perfect! I really hope we get more books for other characters in the story!!
Thank you Deanna Grey for the review copy! All opinions are my own.
April 1, 2026
Cute and escapist while keeping characters human. My only gripe was not exploring the racial dynamic of the main relationship. That felt like a missed opportunity, but as I said— veryyy escapist. If swirling was in my cards, we’d definitely be having the “conversation”… but that’s just me though… however I appreciated the examination of class (although the mmc ends up rich all the same. Does that make it moot? /srs).
I appreciated the OCD and anxiety representation. I thought the build up, tension, and backstory just all made sense. The support and care was THERE. I do really like that the conflict existed mostly outside of the couple, they just had to stop denying their feelings and get together. Very much me and mine against the world (🤏🏾) BECAUSE THEY WERE FRIENDS AND CARED FOR EACH OTHER PLATONICALLY FIRST DAMMIT.
The dares are… juvenile, but I’ve read some crazyyy shit. This is tame/normal by comparison. I’m glad it wasn’t as integral to the plot as I thought, just a device every now and then.
Lastly, this shit had STEAM. Bi- heart? Full. Vibes? Ascension. Like giggling and kicking my feet. I WILL be checking out the standalones to see what that’s about. I fully intend to circle back to this series.
Every time I write a review, an angel gets their wings. 4/5 ⭐️
I appreciated the OCD and anxiety representation. I thought the build up, tension, and backstory just all made sense. The support and care was THERE. I do really like that the conflict existed mostly outside of the couple, they just had to stop denying their feelings and get together. Very much me and mine against the world (🤏🏾) BECAUSE THEY WERE FRIENDS AND CARED FOR EACH OTHER PLATONICALLY FIRST DAMMIT.
The dares are… juvenile, but I’ve read some crazyyy shit. This is tame/normal by comparison. I’m glad it wasn’t as integral to the plot as I thought, just a device every now and then.
Lastly, this shit had STEAM. Bi- heart? Full. Vibes? Ascension. Like giggling and kicking my feet. I WILL be checking out the standalones to see what that’s about. I fully intend to circle back to this series.
Every time I write a review, an angel gets their wings. 4/5 ⭐️
February 22, 2026
💟 ARC REVIEW 💟
First of all, I’m so honored to get an early copy of this. This however, has no sway on my review. These are my honest opinions.
It’s been awhile since I’ve read such a slow burn that did not start off as enemies to lovers. The pace is slow and the build up is not intense. But the banter? TOP TIER.
Yara and David are two sides of the same coin, both believing that they are opposites. I even believed it until about 40% of the book. But the more they interact and feed off of each other, that’s when you realize that these two people were MADE FOR EACH OTHER.
This was so sweet, while being so raw & so real at the same time. Yara battling her anxiety & David battling his OCD made me CRY. But watching them both help each other overcome each other’s battles… the chemistry… the EMOTIONS.
Nobody does this better than Deanna. She’s perfected the craft. 10/10, no notes. I also was excited to see my favorite couple from a previous book in there too🤭
I loved this so much!!
First of all, I’m so honored to get an early copy of this. This however, has no sway on my review. These are my honest opinions.
It’s been awhile since I’ve read such a slow burn that did not start off as enemies to lovers. The pace is slow and the build up is not intense. But the banter? TOP TIER.
Yara and David are two sides of the same coin, both believing that they are opposites. I even believed it until about 40% of the book. But the more they interact and feed off of each other, that’s when you realize that these two people were MADE FOR EACH OTHER.
This was so sweet, while being so raw & so real at the same time. Yara battling her anxiety & David battling his OCD made me CRY. But watching them both help each other overcome each other’s battles… the chemistry… the EMOTIONS.
Nobody does this better than Deanna. She’s perfected the craft. 10/10, no notes. I also was excited to see my favorite couple from a previous book in there too🤭
I loved this so much!!
March 29, 2026
3.75
I feel like the book needed some ironing out and a little something extra but other than that I had a fun time.
I loved David
Yara was cool but it was the classic “oh he doesn’t even like me” for way too long. It got annoying.
Also I feel like we didn’t deal with David’s issues enough. It was like aw tell me we can get through this together then fuck and forget.
Also this may not be cool to say but every time I opened my kindle app to this read book I was accosted by the cover art showing David and I low-key wanted to give it one less star for that.
Ok I’m saying a lot of not so great stuff but I swear I got so much butterflies and loved her and her commitment to her org and black women. I loved how kinda without knowing it they were always there for each other. I loved what little we saw of their friends and would love books on them.
Oh and do people actually date their siblings exes because that is just so fucking weird. I would not touch someone who has been with mine with a 10 foot stick whether they were together for 2 months or 3 years.
I feel like the book needed some ironing out and a little something extra but other than that I had a fun time.
I loved David
Yara was cool but it was the classic “oh he doesn’t even like me” for way too long. It got annoying.
Also I feel like we didn’t deal with David’s issues enough. It was like aw tell me we can get through this together then fuck and forget.
Also this may not be cool to say but every time I opened my kindle app to this read book I was accosted by the cover art showing David and I low-key wanted to give it one less star for that.
Ok I’m saying a lot of not so great stuff but I swear I got so much butterflies and loved her and her commitment to her org and black women. I loved how kinda without knowing it they were always there for each other. I loved what little we saw of their friends and would love books on them.
Oh and do people actually date their siblings exes because that is just so fucking weird. I would not touch someone who has been with mine with a 10 foot stick whether they were together for 2 months or 3 years.
February 24, 2026
Thank you Deanna for the ARC.
This book called me out and forced me to confront parts of myself I didn’t expect. It reminded me how healing reading can be when a story feels honest and intentional.
The mental health representation was beautifully done. I loved watching the characters slowly open up and allow themselves to be vulnerable. What I loved most was how they respected each other’s boundaries. They knew when to step in and offer support and when to step back and let the other person work through their feelings independently.
Their love wasn’t loud and over the top. It grew quietly with every interaction. They learned to trust themselves first, and then each other. Healing happened both individually and together, which made their connection feel earned. The smut deepened their connection. Once they learned each other’s tells, they were able to communicate in silence, and their intimacy felt intimate in a way that was more than physical.
This book called me out and forced me to confront parts of myself I didn’t expect. It reminded me how healing reading can be when a story feels honest and intentional.
The mental health representation was beautifully done. I loved watching the characters slowly open up and allow themselves to be vulnerable. What I loved most was how they respected each other’s boundaries. They knew when to step in and offer support and when to step back and let the other person work through their feelings independently.
Their love wasn’t loud and over the top. It grew quietly with every interaction. They learned to trust themselves first, and then each other. Healing happened both individually and together, which made their connection feel earned. The smut deepened their connection. Once they learned each other’s tells, they were able to communicate in silence, and their intimacy felt intimate in a way that was more than physical.
Review of advance copy received from Author
MY CHEST!!
Every single time Deanna Grey writes, I’m in love, I’m obsessed, I’m cycling around these characters forever.
This book was no different. Every single one of her books is heart-grabbing; it’s impossible not care about the characters. You are wrapped up in them, and Deanna’s world is just a wide range of characters and experiences, and yet I always feel seen.
Yara and David’s relationship was so obviously a hit from their first interaction. When they’re perfect for each other but can’t see it was so amusing to me. Their banter was top-tier. My bi4bi BABIES!
The neurodivergent representation was, as always, meaningful.
I just keep screaming, and I’m not sure if what I’m screaming is even understandable. I just LOVED LOVED LOVED.
He’s protective of her
She’s protective of him
They’re fake dating, but like there’s never been anything fake between them!
UGH, if I could just inject this into my veins immediately!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much Deanna Grey for the advance reader copy!!
✨️ARC REVIEW✨️
One thing I've always liked about Deanna Grey's book is how real her characters feel, like they're more than just fictional. They Wouldn't Dare feels no different. I loved everything from the non stereotypical Black women and family representation to the main couple's dynamic.
You don't know how much I appreciated that mental health wasn't treated like a taboo stubject and was properly addressed. I especially loved the fact our main guy, David, was willing to be open and vulnerable about his struggles. It's very rare to see in media and in real life. And although Yara, at first, had trouble letting people in on her struggles with anxiety, she opened up to seeking help and taking steps to help herself.
My absolute favorite part of the book was despite the rivalry between Yara and David, there was never any ill will between them. They mutually respected eacother, was there for each other when one was in need and never caused irreparable harm to each other. That made their relationship so much more beautiful! Their love came so comfortable and they truly brought out each other's best version.
I do wish David's character was explored a bit more. I would have loved to have some chapters in his pov, get a look inside his head and see Yara the way he sees her.
All in all, I loved it and I highly recommend!
✨️ARC REVIEW✨️
One thing I've always liked about Deanna Grey's book is how real her characters feel, like they're more than just fictional. They Wouldn't Dare feels no different. I loved everything from the non stereotypical Black women and family representation to the main couple's dynamic.
You don't know how much I appreciated that mental health wasn't treated like a taboo stubject and was properly addressed. I especially loved the fact our main guy, David, was willing to be open and vulnerable about his struggles. It's very rare to see in media and in real life. And although Yara, at first, had trouble letting people in on her struggles with anxiety, she opened up to seeking help and taking steps to help herself.
My absolute favorite part of the book was despite the rivalry between Yara and David, there was never any ill will between them. They mutually respected eacother, was there for each other when one was in need and never caused irreparable harm to each other. That made their relationship so much more beautiful! Their love came so comfortable and they truly brought out each other's best version.
I do wish David's character was explored a bit more. I would have loved to have some chapters in his pov, get a look inside his head and see Yara the way he sees her.
All in all, I loved it and I highly recommend!
March 23, 2026
I love a romance that manages to capture your heart from the first chapter, and Deanna does that and more. Yara feels the way many have felt in life - stacked with a bunch of goals and life choices, trying to decide which ones end up on top. The drive and endurance to find perfection on that path runs deep, while questions on if its really worth it rise to the surface. Yara goes through this emotional journey, with David quietly (and not so quietly) supporting her along the way.
These two start off as frenemies who want nothing to do with each other. Except finding out how to get even closer to each other. Watching these two build each other up while facing the many things that tore them apart on the inside was a beautiful thing to witness. Deanna has a special way of putting words to the thoughts that sometimes might stay in your head, and providing emotion that blossoms into something entirely heartfelt. This needs to be a book you read this year!
These two start off as frenemies who want nothing to do with each other. Except finding out how to get even closer to each other. Watching these two build each other up while facing the many things that tore them apart on the inside was a beautiful thing to witness. Deanna has a special way of putting words to the thoughts that sometimes might stay in your head, and providing emotion that blossoms into something entirely heartfelt. This needs to be a book you read this year!
Review of advance copy received from Author
(ARC REVIEW)
Deanna Grey scores again with a perfect mix of push/pull, frenemies to lovers, slow burn romance. The main characters are endearing and easy to see bits of yourself in- Grey writes characters that feel like friends! This setting doesn’t take place at Mendell, but there were mentions and subtle crossovers! Overall, a good read that tackles some tough situations with grace and understanding through the eyes of our FMC.
Content Warnings:
Discussions and depictions of self-harm, discussions of OCD, physical child abuse & neglect, a car accident resulting in injury, mention of a parent with addiction, character previously in foster care, and sexual content
Tropes:
Childhood frenemies
Fake dating
College romance
Grumpy x sunshine
Representation:
Bisexual leads
Black FMC
MMC with OCD
FMC struggles with hair-picking
Deanna Grey scores again with a perfect mix of push/pull, frenemies to lovers, slow burn romance. The main characters are endearing and easy to see bits of yourself in- Grey writes characters that feel like friends! This setting doesn’t take place at Mendell, but there were mentions and subtle crossovers! Overall, a good read that tackles some tough situations with grace and understanding through the eyes of our FMC.
Content Warnings:
Discussions and depictions of self-harm, discussions of OCD, physical child abuse & neglect, a car accident resulting in injury, mention of a parent with addiction, character previously in foster care, and sexual content
Tropes:
Childhood frenemies
Fake dating
College romance
Grumpy x sunshine
Representation:
Bisexual leads
Black FMC
MMC with OCD
FMC struggles with hair-picking
April 21, 2026
Great Story
I loved Yara and David's story. It dealt with abuse, anxiety, depression, guilt and so many things that we experience in life. I loved how David really saw Yara and loved her through everything and how Yara realized that David was her safe space and allowed herself to love him. They were always connected to each other and turning that so called rivalry into friendship and then love was just so sweet. I'm glad David had his football friends who became his family and taught him how to open up and let Yara in. And I'm extremely happy that Yara was put on the spot and David was the only person she thought of that could protect her in that situation. Everything worked out as it should and seeing Yara and David grow together and fall deeper in love while healing from their traumas is icing on the cake. Such a sweet HEA. Definitely a worthy read.
I loved Yara and David's story. It dealt with abuse, anxiety, depression, guilt and so many things that we experience in life. I loved how David really saw Yara and loved her through everything and how Yara realized that David was her safe space and allowed herself to love him. They were always connected to each other and turning that so called rivalry into friendship and then love was just so sweet. I'm glad David had his football friends who became his family and taught him how to open up and let Yara in. And I'm extremely happy that Yara was put on the spot and David was the only person she thought of that could protect her in that situation. Everything worked out as it should and seeing Yara and David grow together and fall deeper in love while healing from their traumas is icing on the cake. Such a sweet HEA. Definitely a worthy read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
🎀 ARC REVIEW🎀
I read the first of the Westbrooke serie this week, without realizing this was part of the serie AND on the same timeline.
I had a lot of fun reading it. David appears quite a bit in 'Just Please Me', Yara as well towards the end and it was sooooo soooo entertaining to get to know them beyond that.
The character development is very strong. Chemistry is flying off chart. I loved the banter between those two and how it took active work and will to break down those walls one by one in order to build this connection and trust.
It was a great story. Little Miss Deanna Grey is safely securing her spot as one of my favorite romance author and definitely my fav indie one.
HAT'S OFF !!
I read the first of the Westbrooke serie this week, without realizing this was part of the serie AND on the same timeline.
I had a lot of fun reading it. David appears quite a bit in 'Just Please Me', Yara as well towards the end and it was sooooo soooo entertaining to get to know them beyond that.
The character development is very strong. Chemistry is flying off chart. I loved the banter between those two and how it took active work and will to break down those walls one by one in order to build this connection and trust.
It was a great story. Little Miss Deanna Grey is safely securing her spot as one of my favorite romance author and definitely my fav indie one.
HAT'S OFF !!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Deanna Grey does it again!
The author really knows how to write a story that hooks you from beginning to end. A story that pulls you in and you don’t want to let go of. A story full of emotion, depth, and tension.
The banter between the fmc and mmc was my favorite thing throughout the book. I was constantly wanting more of it, I ate up every interaction between them. The build up of tension between the two was palpable.
I didn’t expect this book to be so emotional! I had tears streaming down my face. I truly felt everything the fmc and mmc were feeling. I was able to connect so much with the characters.
Overall, this book was fun, emotional, and sweet!
I highly recommend if you’re into:
- College Romance
- Fake Dating
- Rivals to Lovers
- Mental Health Rep
- BI4BI
The author really knows how to write a story that hooks you from beginning to end. A story that pulls you in and you don’t want to let go of. A story full of emotion, depth, and tension.
The banter between the fmc and mmc was my favorite thing throughout the book. I was constantly wanting more of it, I ate up every interaction between them. The build up of tension between the two was palpable.
I didn’t expect this book to be so emotional! I had tears streaming down my face. I truly felt everything the fmc and mmc were feeling. I was able to connect so much with the characters.
Overall, this book was fun, emotional, and sweet!
I highly recommend if you’re into:
- College Romance
- Fake Dating
- Rivals to Lovers
- Mental Health Rep
- BI4BI
March 12, 2026
They Wouldn't Dare is a college frenemies to lovers between Yara and David. These two have known (and disliked) each other for years, but away from home for college, they find themselves clinging to the familiar.
What I enjoyed most about this was the banter. I love a sharp-witted FMC and a MMC who rolls with the punches. This was definitely a case of perfect for each other once we can admit it.
The characters' struggles were also so realistic. I remember being Yara in college. I was isolated and lonely and even now, 10 years later, my best friend is still the one person I knew on campus before starting college. It was sweet to see Yara and David lean on each other. And it reminded me that I need to text my bestie.
So, another 5 star read from Deanna Grey. Thank you for the ARC.
What I enjoyed most about this was the banter. I love a sharp-witted FMC and a MMC who rolls with the punches. This was definitely a case of perfect for each other once we can admit it.
The characters' struggles were also so realistic. I remember being Yara in college. I was isolated and lonely and even now, 10 years later, my best friend is still the one person I knew on campus before starting college. It was sweet to see Yara and David lean on each other. And it reminded me that I need to text my bestie.
So, another 5 star read from Deanna Grey. Thank you for the ARC.
April 24, 2026
4.5/5⭐️
This had me swooning a couple of times. Yes to healing (hopefully David got therapy as well) and yes to safe sex!
The following are all the thoughts I had while reading this book so it may contains some spoilers:
You know with him being the underside of a palm I immediately thought “he still smells like himself” because he probably didn’t wash his whole body.
Oh lord! You’re pushing it with the love thing but lowkey not. Lmao
Wait has it been the summer this whole time?? I’m trying to remember and I’ll have to go look back at my notes because if I remember correctly the author isn’t from America. It might have been a different author. If it’s the Fall semester then football would have definitely started.
This had me swooning a couple of times. Yes to healing (hopefully David got therapy as well) and yes to safe sex!
The following are all the thoughts I had while reading this book so it may contains some spoilers:
You know with him being the underside of a palm I immediately thought “he still smells like himself” because he probably didn’t wash his whole body.
Oh lord! You’re pushing it with the love thing but lowkey not. Lmao
Wait has it been the summer this whole time?? I’m trying to remember and I’ll have to go look back at my notes because if I remember correctly the author isn’t from America. It might have been a different author. If it’s the Fall semester then football would have definitely started.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW!!
Firstly, Deanna Grey is an amazing writer and if you haven’t read her other books please do!!
Second, I’m very very excited for this new series now!
I loved David and Yara’s story. There is just so much banter and rivalry yet they both care for each other so deeply and it’s beautiful. The mental health representation in this book is also done really well, which always makes a book just that much better when you can connect to the characters at a much deeper level. Thank you so so so much Deanna Grey for the ARC! Read their story this Thursday!
Firstly, Deanna Grey is an amazing writer and if you haven’t read her other books please do!!
Second, I’m very very excited for this new series now!
I loved David and Yara’s story. There is just so much banter and rivalry yet they both care for each other so deeply and it’s beautiful. The mental health representation in this book is also done really well, which always makes a book just that much better when you can connect to the characters at a much deeper level. Thank you so so so much Deanna Grey for the ARC! Read their story this Thursday!
March 17, 2026
4.1 🌟
1.5🌶 (Not a huge amount of spice, but the spice is spicing TW: pegging)
So this was a great book. The mental issues were written quite well, even if for convenience, more than anything.
It's a simple easy to read book, with a cute story.
I will admit that I'm disappointed the dare game fell off, and it didn't become a fun thing they would continue throughout the book as a cute quirk / dynamic in their relationship.
He fell first, She fell harder style.
I still can't pinpoint why she was at his throat so much, other than a feeling of annoyance towards him.
Worth a read.
1.5🌶 (Not a huge amount of spice, but the spice is spicing TW: pegging)
So this was a great book. The mental issues were written quite well, even if for convenience, more than anything.
It's a simple easy to read book, with a cute story.
I will admit that I'm disappointed the dare game fell off, and it didn't become a fun thing they would continue throughout the book as a cute quirk / dynamic in their relationship.
He fell first, She fell harder style.
I still can't pinpoint why she was at his throat so much, other than a feeling of annoyance towards him.
Worth a read.
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