They Wouldn't Dare

by Deanna Grey

362 pages, Paperback

Published March 12, 2026

Reviews

[lili · Rating 2 out of 5]

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 Naomi claimed to 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.

[Disgusted Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

The banter is really what I loved the most

[shaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a cute enemies-to-lovers book with lots of tension and build up. I loved the inclusion of queer characters without the queerness being a thing..just part of who they are.
the writing was kinda amateur/sloppy at times and the book loses steam towards the end, and I hate how authors always write dialogue so over the top in romantic scenes... normal people do not talk like they are reading a poem lmao. but I appreciated the way the relationship unfolded and it was an enjoyable read with great bisexual representation!

[Phila❤ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not impressed. I think the idea was kind of there but the execution was off. At first I thought I was reading an enemies to lovers story, then I thought it was friends to lovers only to realise that it’s also fake dating..? It didn’t expand on both of the main character’s backstories enough. I mean we spent the whole book hearing about the main character being “royalty” and her etiquette classes but only found out halfway through that it’s because her mom is the mayor. I just feel like it would’ve been nicer to have the context to why she’s so prim and proper earlier on in the book. There’s so much more I could say but I’ll just say this is not Deanna’s best work. Everything just felt underdeveloped.

[chloe w. 🧸🫧🪩📖 · Rating 4 out of 5]

format: ebook
platform: ARC copy from the author
4.5⭐️ 2.5🌶️

“David always talked to me like this when he thought I needed it. He was soft when he felt I’d slipped and needed some place to land.” 😭

i was lucky enough to receive the ARC for They Wouldn’t Dare. i find so much comfort in Deanna’s writing so it should be no surprise to me that i absolutely adored Yara and David’s story.

Yara and David absolutely hate each other but for some reason they spend all their free time thinking of ways to be together. 👀 i liveeeeeee for banter like theirs. genuinely can’t get enough. even though we only get Yara’s POV, i could still see and feel how much David yearned for her. that being said, i would have loved to see more of David’s background and hear more of his story as well. Yara also had a lot of different things going on and i started to get worried none of it would be resolved. somehow, it was all wrapped up, a little quickly, by the end. regardless, it was an absolute delight getting to know these characters. the mental health rep was handled with so much care, the diverse friend group is so appreciated, and the spice was DELISH.

tropes to expect:
♡ bi4bi
♡ mental health rep
♡ fake dating
♡ childhood frenemies
♡ found family

[Qadira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favorite Deanna Grey book to date! I really enjoyed the chemistry and banter between Yara & David! I do wish Yara softened a bit sooner and gave her boo more of that verbal validation he needed in some moments. That frustrated me about her character at times but overall I really enjoyed this and didn’t want it to end. David’s entered top 5 book boyfriends of 2026 💛

[Maya Camryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first 30% of the book was just not it but I LOVED the last 70%!! Actually so cute little enemies to lovers moment

[LaNee Tay · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a minute to get into the store, but once it got me, I was locked in. I love how their love story turned out how they both had challenges they had to overcome at the end of the day they were there for one another overcome obstacles with life can be hard. Sometimes you have to do it alone, but it’s grateful when you have somebody to go through it with love a good love story

[UCHE💗💗 · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars acc

One thing about a Deanna grey book is that it’s most definitely gonna hook me and bring me out of my slump
HOWEVER.
I didn’t really like this one 😭😭
They had their cute moments icl, but I didn’t feel the chemistry between them that much , and they were lowkey bland in my opinion 😔
And then the whole fake dating trope wasn’t well executed to me , but oh well
It’s still a chill read I guess .

[Kiara Johnson Polcyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the banter between the characters. I just wish that more would have been explored when it came to both characters and their OCD and mental health issues. It just lacked in certain parts for me, but was overall an easy read.

[book lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

•Football Romance
•Opposites
•Hate to Love
•Dares
•Funny Banter
•Pegging
•Bi-Sexual MCs



I don’t know what she put in this book but I couldn’t put it down. I loved the characters, the banter, the tension. I loved the dares and how they pushed one another out of their comfort zones. David was so cute with her and I loved how when Yara realized she was developing a crush she had to fight to hide it. Side note: I really like the name Yara.

David was so obviously jealous of pretty much every guy that talked to Yara although he tried his best to mask it lol. He put decor that was her favorite color in his dorm after she came over the first time and mentioned how empty it looked. At one point their shopping and she mentions he got lead shaped pillows and his explanation was that she loves leaves 😆

I was a little sad we didn’t get to read a spicy scene where he penetrates her but the spicy scenes we did get were hot so I can’t complain too much (and it obviously didn’t hinder my rating lol).

[A Reader Named Riya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yara and David’s unique relationship with one another will draw you in for sure. LOL! Have you ever had that one person you couldn’t quite say you love but also couldn’t really said you hated? That’s very much the story of David and Yara. They Wouldn’t Dare is a story about self discovery, growing up, college life, vulnerability, romance, family drama, and love. The more you read the book, the more you fall in love with the story, its characters, and appreciate the author behind the story. I was kicking my feet, covering my face, and giggling for sure! But, I also found myself tearing at the vulnerability the characters shared. We all have our own personal baggage. You never know what someone else is going through. This story reminds you to keep that into consideration and serves as a reminder to always extend kindness to others. Add they wouldn’t dare to your TBR !!!

[Theresa Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The frenemies to lovers story we have all been asking for!

I loved Yara and David! They had such a unique relationship in the beginning. They were constantly getting under each others skin, but were still respectful of each other and helpful when needed. As the story continues, they began to open up more and give each other the chance to see and accept their true selves. Yara had a few different side plots going on and I really enjoyed watching her grow and succeed, but David didn't have much change throughout the story. I would have liked to see a conflict for him to reveal more about himself and his motivations.

I loved the bi for bi rep and really appreciated the moments exploring David's OCD. I think they were done very well.

[Moriah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this wonderful book about yara and david and I loved it so much! fake dating, & frenemies to lovers what’s not to love?? I love how they started off as fake dating but it just melted into being a real relationship between the two of them and how they were comfortable and just owned up to their feelings. the way these two were their for each other through their troubles and didn’t try to push each other away was amazing and the spice? it was not the much but it was just enough! I loved the build up and reading about these two and learning about them separately and together!! I wanted more of yara and david ahh!!

[Coyah Tahagi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Deanna Grey for the arc.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK. The tension, the heat, the banter, the hilarity, the love. I couldn't get enough of this book. Yara was so lovable and her struggles were relatable as well. David was just so..... yeah. I appreciated his vulnerability and how reliable he was for Yara. A REAL MAN! I need more of them omg

[Destini · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was a bit clunky and the story was underdeveloped in some parts, but I really enjoyed the second half. This was basically Sunny Disposition in a different font and with less interesting characters.

With that being said, I don’t think I care enough about the other characters to keep reading this series, but it was cute and cozy. A perfect fall read!!!

[fentasies · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the best romances i have read in a while

[Taylor Dalton · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[nyas.library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the premise of this! Deanna grey takes the cake for most coziest reads for sure. I always eat up her romances and I will keep doing so

[Chelsea Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugh I wish it was longer!!! But this was a very cutesy story.

[Jordyn Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

finished in a day, ate it up honestly, vv cute!!

[Jada · Rating 3 out of 5]

protect them at all costs!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting way to follow the path to the love of your life omg.