Gracie's Guide to Dating

by Rebecca Jo Jackson

Gracie Rhodes has a secret. She’s just moved back home with a degree in dance after finishing college, and while her family and old dance studio are ecstatic to have her back in Sweet River, she recently had an audition that might whisk her away to NYC.
She’s not telling anyone…except for Nathan Hadaway, the older brother of her longtime crush, but only because she ran into him in New York during her secret audition. Luckily for her, she never sees Nathan around anymore.
Or never did…until he shows up at the dance class she’s teaching over the summer to pick up his niece. But maybe it isn’t so bad to have someone she can talk to about her big opportunity?
Nathan and Gracie decide to do more than just swap secrets: if she’ll give him dance lessons so he can help his niece for the upcoming Father and Daughter dance competition, he’ll play matchmaker and give her help in the dating department.
Nathan proves to be a pretty bad matchmaker constantly distracting his student from her potential suitors. And as a dance instructor, Gracie can’t seem to find anything wrong with being in his arms.
Gracie’s not sure where her future leads…except that she just might want to spend it with Nathan.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 30, 2026

About the author

Rebecca Jo Jackson writes love stories that make you swoon. She grew up in a small town in TX, but now lives and writes in California.
Find her on Instagram @authorrebeccajojackson

Reviews

[Sarah Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of beta reading this one & it’s just the sweetest story.

I enjoyed seeing Gracie fall in love after witnessing her issues with her ex in the previous books. She is a high achiever with dancing in her blood. Although she struggled with people-pleasing, her character arc took her on a journey of letting herself unashamedly follow her dreams without apologizing for it.

Nathan was incredibly swoony. He saw Gracie so well & became a great friend and cheerleader for her. Their easy conversation and connection led to them providing a safe place for each other to just be themselves without expectation. His relationship with his sister and niece was just precious, and the NOTES he wrote were one of my favorite parts of the whole read.🥹🤩💃🏼

Sweet River & the Rhodes fam are top tier y’all. I loved the Mama Rhodes storyline as well. ‘Twas too cute!

Rebecca’s writing just keeps getting better & better. I’m excited to see who gets their story next, but please know, Rebecca, I will never stop petitioning for Katie and Terrence’s story lol.

Thanks for the opportunity to beta read & for the ARC, Rebecca! All thoughts are my own & no positive review was required.

This is a closed door romance with non-descriptive makeouts and no language. There’s mention of absent parents.

[Randi Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is just something about the way that Rebecca Jo Jackson writes a romance that I absolutely adore. She has such a beautiful way of blending the swoon worthy romance with small town and strong family vibes. Her stories bring such a coziness about them that I cannot help but be drawn into. And Gracie's story was certainly no exception. Gracie and Nathan together were simply perfection. I love a good 'dating coach/matchmaker' romance and this one was done really well... his notes were a highlight, and I loved how he kept distracting her from the men he was setting her up with. These two definitely had some obstacles to figure out, but their chemistry was undeniable and I loved seeing them figure it all out. I'm also a sucker for a MMC who has a soft spot for only her (or a select few, at least) and Nathan certainly had just that! This was an excellent addition to the series and one that I adored.

Gracie's Guide to Dating is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language. It is the fourth book in the Sweet River series, but I do think it could be enjoyed as a standalone as well.


**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Kiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gravie's Guide to Dating by Rebecca Jo Jackson makes you feel warm and fuzzy all over.

Rebecca has such a beautiful way of writing that makes you feel seen, and makes you feel heard. She writies beautiful conflicts that goes on the inside, and the resolution isn't always the way you expect. Life isn't perfect and we all have our fears but each of her characters has the courage to overcome them.

The chemistry between the Gracie and Nathan was to die for. I couldn't put the book down and I had to read where they would end up and what next they would talk about together. Their banter was heart pounding, and their dedication to people in their corner was beautiful. I loved and loved it even more. I love that Rebecca teaches us to aim high, and dream big. There aren't right moments, there are only the right people. Don't settle because of what they want for you, what do you want for yourself. That... that was beautiful.

If you want a beautiful book that'll make you smile and teach you not to settle. This is the one for you.

Thank you Rebecca Jo Jackson for the free book.

[Lauren Goodson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is truly one of those books that has you giggling and kicking your feet! And I didn’t want to put it down.

Gracie and Nathan both end up back in their small town after running into each other again in New York. They end up making a trade for him to be her dating coach and for her to teach him how to dance to stand-in for his brother in law with his niece for a daddy daughter dance competition.

The chemistry and the banter between Gracie and Nathan was so great. I loved how Nathan only opened up with his family and Gracie and how he always noticed her and wanted her to see how great she was. They both saw through each other’s walls and got the real version of each other.

Some of the best parts:
- the notes he left in the notebook he bought her 😍
- the matching tattoos
- the dance
- kisses in the rain
- he wrote her a song!!!
- the hotel bar
- him showing up at all of her dates
- “Oscar”


I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion.

[Samantha Lamb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my god Sami is reading another book set in series but can be a standalone where it follows a group of friends falling in love with cameos from couple/people from other books. Yeah and what about it!?
I feel like this whole dating coach trope is VEERRYYY timely with Off Campus (The Deal) coming out and I love it. I loved the main story being Gracie being torn between going and staying in Sweet River but not fully because of the guy. I for sure thought she was going to leave us hanging at the end but we got our HEA and I will have it no other way. I kinda enjoy how the "Third Act Breakup" didnt feel forced or thrown in there to set up the HEA like it sometimes can.
I love this series and I dont exactly know where this is headed but im sat for it all!

[Torie Sheffield · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so grateful I got to read the ARC of Gracie’s Guide to Dating!! 🤗

Pros:
-I am a sucker for an MMC that only smiles for her and slow burn.
-Even though it’s single POV you can feel Nathan’s yearning which was *chef’s kiss*. 💋
-I feel most girls can relate to Gracie and her people pleasing tendencies and need to feel spark and comfort from a potential love interest.
-Gracie’s passion for dancing on stage was beautifully written. 💗

Cons:
- There wasn’t a whole lot of conflict going that kept you on the edge of your seat so I read it slower than most books I read.

It was still a sweet story. This one has all the chemistry and swoon with no spice and can be read in a day or two if you are looking for a sweet summer read! ☺️

[Jackie Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gracie’s Guide to Dating was so cute! What a sweet story. I loved the relationship with Gracie and her sisters, and I also loved some of the big themes of the book: moving back home after having big dreams of being elsewhere and the desire to make other people happy and disguising that as your own happiness. Watching Gracie get closer and closer to living her own authentic happiness made me happy! And of course I always love a book with multiple plot lines. Following Nathan and Gracie as well as Gracie’s career kept me engaged and interested. Such a good read! Thank you Rebecca Jo Jackson for giving me the opportunity to read this as an ARC!

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a feel-good book. The chemistry between Gracie and Nathan was so fun to watch unfold, and I found myself having to read just “one more chapter.” I also really liked the relationship Gracie had with her mom and sisters.. total goals! I loved how from the very beginning I could tell the author was a Gilmore Girls fan. Lots of little nods to the show.

This was a pretty quick read and a sweet story that definitely had me feeling swoony!

No spice/no language.
Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Kaitlyn Mausser · Rating 4 out of 5]

the PERFECT summer read
this book had everything — multiple character storylines that kept things interesting, a slow burn that actually delivers, and just enough spice to make you fan yourself
but honestly? gracie stole my whole heart. watching her dance through life and figure out what truly makes her happy was such a joy to read
if you need a warm, swoony weekend read — this is it. grab it, find your sunny spot, and enjoy