Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

That Thing You Do

Rate this book
Friends don’t let friends marry the wrong man. But where, oh where, is Mr. Right?

In high school, Greta Steinburg and her two BFFs made a none of them would get married unless they all approved the man in question. Since then, Greta has had her fair share of romantic ups and downs―but now, after her latest failed relationship, she is done. Greta announces that her days of dating are officially over, and she’s kissed the idea of happily-ever-after goodbye. . .

Of course her friends will hear none of it. Instead, they insist that Greta go out with Jon, the hottest new DJ who just happened to be at her sister’s wedding. To get her friends off her back, Greta proposes that they pretend to date. The only problem is, for every fake date they have―from feeding angry rhinos to crashing a kiddie roller-skating party―Jon wants a real one. Each time they get together, their attraction grows. . .and soon there’s no turning back. Could it be that true love requires a leap of faith―and that Jon is the one Greta’s been waiting for all along?

Kayti McGee's That Thing You Do is a charmingly sexy novel about finding love in the least likely place.

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 29, 2017

6 people are currently reading
1534 people want to read

About the author

Kayti McGee

38 books1,395 followers

Kayti McGee lives in Kansas City.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
25 (17%)
4 stars
60 (42%)
3 stars
37 (26%)
2 stars
15 (10%)
1 star
5 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
Profile Image for Laurelin Paige.
Author 118 books15.8k followers
July 10, 2018
Waited an embarrassingly long time to finish this amazing book for reasons that are inexcusable - mostly because I knew how it was going to end, and I didn't know if I could handle the emotions. It was definitely as heartbreaking as I suspected, but worth every tearjerking moment. A beautiful, sweet, funny, captivating, sexy, honest love story. Kayti McGee's best work yet. Read with a hanky. You'll need it.
Profile Image for Shayna.
1,812 reviews615 followers
August 21, 2017
Sometimes you just need THAT book that will pull you out of a never-ending reading slump. You need a book that is charming, sweet, sexy, and lighthearted to chase away all the nonsense that reality has to offer. I'm telling you right now...THIS is that book! I'm very familiar with Kayti McGee's writing and I have to tell you that she kicked it up a notch with her latest release. THAT THING YOU DO has heart. It has humor. It has the perfect blend of sexy and sweet. Greta and Jon's story will leave you will such a HUGE SMILE on your face, I guarantee it. 

THAT THING YOU DO is the kind of book you can completely lose yourself in. I was entranced by page one, and never let go until the very last page was turned. I wanted to dive into this book, become a part of it, become a part of this group of characters that just made my heart and soul a little lighter. Be warned, the heroine, Greta, will frustrate the hell out of you, but she will also charm the pants off of you, which makes up for the love sabotaging that goes on throughout. And our hero, Jon the famous DJ, well, he was just a pure delight, a breath of fresh air cover to cover. He was determined. He was absolutely sweet and charming with a little naughty mixed in. I fell HARD for him pretty damn fast. He has his work cut out for him with Greta, but to him, she's worth it, and once the walls start to crumble around her heart, there is NO GOING BACK for either one of them.

I absolutely ADORED this side of Kayti McGee's writing. I can only hope she ventures on and continues to brighten my days with her fabulous love stories.

That Thing You Do Teaser

Unknown
Profile Image for Michelle.
2,103 reviews1,417 followers
August 29, 2017
ARC provided by author/publisher in exchange for an honest review

51f1012221ef735285c598b39e570f

Kayti McGee brings forth a romance that was a delicate symphony of sweet and heartfelt. In That Thing You Do, McGee introduces readers to three single best friends who made a pact that they won’t get married unless they all agree with the match.

Greta is that one cynical friend who doesn’t believe in happily ever afters. After witnessing her parents marriage crumble, it leaves a very sour bitter taste with her. And so when she attends her sister’s wedding as one of the bridesmaids, she didn’t think the hot DJ even noticed her but he did.

#ThatThingYouDo

Jon aka DJ Force sees Greta at the wedding and is very much attracted to her and when they agree to meet up again so Greta can return his jacket, he is taken aback by Greta’s proposal that they should be in a fake relationship so she can get her family and friends off her back. Jon agrees to date her but makes several condition to the dating terms. In fact, he wants a real dates with her.

Soon it didn’t take long for Jon to break down Greta’s hard exterior. With Jon’s ability to bring a smile to her face, he shows her what it means to let go. Let go and let whatever is happening between them take it’s natural course. Will Jon be able to show Greta what forever loves looks like?

That Thing You Do is indeed a charming and lovely story that will bring a genuine smile to your face. While Greta can be at times frustrating, I love that Kayti McGee showcased her as flawed and vulnerable. It allowed us as readers to see and feel for Greta as she was pushed in the right direction of listening to her heart. So if you are looking for an uplifting romance that light, easy-going and beautiful then I suggest you pick up this book from Kayti McGee.

 photo MICHELLE1_zps3515xymk.jpg Kayti McGee

 photo goodreads_zpsna4ngwbp.png  photo facebook_zpsb15keiet.png  photo twitter_zps5ypmd8tr.png  photo instagram_zpsknttjerv.png  photo networked-blogs_zpsjyfwlrfk.png
Profile Image for Asheley T..
1,577 reviews122 followers
October 19, 2019
I read this book in matter of hours, which is exactly what I both wanted and expected. The blend of humor and romance is perfect which is what kept me flipping the pages so fast. There is also a teensy bit of serious thrown into the story by way of the family that Greta works for – but it isn’t too much. Just enough to keep it interesting. In fact, at about two-thirds through the story, when things started to get a little serious for one of the secondary characters: THAT’S when I think the book became its best. From then on, I read until my eyes burned, even walking around my house with my Kindle in my hand so I didn’t have to put the book down.

Even with the obvious HEA (because: look at the cover), Greta went on for ages with her steadfast insistence that her relationship with Jon was fake. At times, I wasn’t sure if she was refusing to admit that there was more to them, or if she just really couldn’t see it. It was almost a relief when the big conflict came near the end because I knew something would be changing soon, and I was hoping it would be with Greta’s train of thought. (Sometimes there is just no helping someone! You have to let them figure out things for themselves, even when it is painfully obvious and even when you know it hurts them.) Things resolved and everything turned out okay, but mercy, Greta took quite a path to getting there.

Can I just say that I loved the leading man, Jon? He’s a British DJ with fun mannerisms, great manners, and tons of patience. I love the way that he talks and the things that he says. He complements Greta very well. And he eventually stands up for himself in a way that I appreciate so much. I also love Greta’s young charge, Mina. She takes her job as a nanny more serious than anything else, it seems, and the love she feels for Mina is true. When everything goes down with Mina’s family, Greta does a great job of making sure that Mina feels is as little as possible. Even though kids-in-romances aren’t a favorite thing of mine: this one was great and furthered the story perfectly.

Given the cover of the book, I wasn’t expecting much of the ending to be the way that it was – BUT! I think that in keeping with the romantic comedy theme of the book, everything turned out well. This is a fun book for people that are looking for a quick, fun read with some humor in it. It gets bonus points for great book and TV show references.

Sidenote: I would love for this to be a series so Greta’s best friends get a chance to find their mutually-agreed-upon grooms!


See this review and many others on my book blog, Into the Hall of Books!
Profile Image for Laura McGee.
409 reviews11 followers
January 20, 2018
This book was so cute! Very amusing, lots of pop culture references, and a really surprising twist at the end that had me crying on my couch at 6:50 am this morning... that was certainly unexpected!
Wouldn’t mind hearing from the three main girls in the book again, maybe another book about another girl. Amy most likely, who seems misunderstood yet delightful.
I expect good things from this author, she seems to come from good stock. 😊
Profile Image for Treena.
1,343 reviews82 followers
August 30, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book!

First of all, the cover is misleading. It's not really about a bride-to-be or weddings. This is the first book in what seems to be a series involving 3 best friends. At a wedding, Greta, Summer, and Amy made a pact that none of them would marry someone the others didn't approve of.

This is Greta's book.

Greta is quirky, nerdy, and funny. While I liked her and Jon, what I loved most about the book was Greta and even Jon's scenes with Mina --- Greta's charge. She's a great kid and she really stole the show for me.

This book has humor and fun with enough steamy scenes to balance out the sweet. The drama that unfolds was well-timed and not overly drawn out. It's a perfect beach or weekend read.

I hope Summer's book is next. She's the one that I really want to get to know. :-)
Profile Image for ✰  BJ's Book Blog ✰Janeane ✰.
3,032 reviews12 followers
August 15, 2017
ARC received for an honest review

Firstly, am I the only one who gets that song from that Tom Hanks movie in my head every time I read the title? No? Just me then?

That Thing You Do is a cute, fun read that I really enjoyed. I adore Greta and her two besties! I love their quirks and their love for each other, and at first their teenage pact is fun.

DJ Force - aka as Jon, he is just the thing that she needs - even if she doesn't know it yet!

You know what I like reading at the moment? I am loving a story where the guy is all in, knows what he wants, and the woman fights it. For years we have been reading about the girl waiting for the guy to catch up. This is the 3rd book this week that has been the opposite - and I like it!

There is a beautiful push/pull between our lovelies - well, she pushes, and he pulls!

Right from the start, the reader can tell that Greta and Jon are going to be together, it was just the wonder of the journey they would take to get there.

Greta did frustrate me at times, and I may have yelled at my kindle for Jon to run away, however I could understand some of her reasons why.

That Thing You Do was a fun read, and now I can't wait to see who knocks the other two ladies off their feet.



Smokin Hot Book Blog Email
Profile Image for Peggy Jaeger.
Author 73 books1,667 followers
August 15, 2017
The cover of this book took me a little by surprise because it's not a central theme about a wedding, but about a couple who meet at a wedding. Having said that, forget about the cover. The story is strong enough on its own.
Greta Steinburg made a pact with her two best friends that none of them would marry a man the others didn't like. When her friends want her to date the DJ at her sister's wedding, Greta fashions a plan to fake-date him so she can prove the plan was made after too much alcohol and not enough thought.
The only problem is that the guy, Jon, REALLY does want to date Greta and he goes along with her plan so he can spend time with her and convince her to forget about fake dating him and go full out real relationship.
What starts with a lie soon become all too real for Greta.
Greta is a starving artist who is employed as a nanny to Mina, a total darling. Mina's father, Bob, is a total douchebag though and Greta becomes more a surrogate mom to Mina than a minder. Jon isn't bothered by MIna's presence on many of their fake outings because he finds the little girl just too darling for words.
As this couple is together more and more the fake part disintegrates but Greta refuses to acknowledge her feelings for Jon because of her past horrible experiences with men, beginning with her father. When a tragedy befalls the little group, truth, emotions, and plans for the future all move to the straightaway forcing Greta to re-examine her life and choices.
This was a really good book and I highly recommend it. There were a few really hot and heavy sex scenes between the H/H, so it's not by any standard a sweet romance! But it is a goodie!
Profile Image for Laura.
2,596 reviews113 followers
September 2, 2017
***ARC Provided by the Publisher and Author via NetGalley***

Kayti McGee is a favorite of mine. Her characters are fun, they are quirky, and her stories always feel just slightly different than other books out there in the romance genre.

Jon and Greta meet at a wedding, as part of a "fake" dating arrangement, and then life becomes a little more real, as life often does while you are trying to make other plans, or as Greta was, avoid something by being a little less than forthcoming.

Usually, I love Kayti's characters. And, in this title, I really connected with Greta, with her desire to have just a little more than what she thought she had...which I think we all connect with. I definitely felt her frustration and disappointment with her job and employer. Unfortunately, I was never really all that on board with her attachment to Jon, as I never really connected with him.

I am not sure why, but he felt a little flat to me...and there is something he does at the end that really turned me off to him. It was in his personality to behave that way, and it was in Greta's to forgive him, but the connection with the hero was never really there for me.

That said, I enjoyed this overall...and as this is the start of a series (or at least looks like it has the potential to be) I do recommend it. There is definitely a heart here, and there is a heartwarming relationship as well as a story of growth for Greta, which was a lot of fun to experience.

I recommend this title.
Profile Image for Preri.
1,504 reviews463 followers
November 22, 2018
Could have been better.

First things first, I can't believe I lasted through an entire novel where the main character's name was Greta. Greta. I don't even know what to say.

And the main guy's name was Jon.

Just shoot me now.

Ignoring those tragic names, Greta became really unlikeable at the end. I mean, her thoughts about love were manageable at first, but as she became a huge dick towards the end, it was hard to see why Jon was in love with her.

The majority of the novel was okay and arguably cute. The end was not.
Profile Image for The Book Junkie Reads . . ..
5,029 reviews154 followers
August 29, 2017
Greta was a nanny that took her job serious. She loved her friends. She was somewhat satisfied with her life. She was forever the bridesmaid. She was determined to not be pitied. Grand idea, fake dates with men she could never really take seriously. That was until one man had his one agenda underway. I found Greta sweet, loyal, loving, and a bit in self-denial. There were slow changes in Greta, which was needed for me to actually find her worthy of a man to love her. The way she was at the beginning left me thinking she just was not ready for a real relationship. I liked Jon right from the start. He I could get behind.

This was an entertaining read that gave laughs and some mini-drama. There were so good characters and good lines. I would love to see the other ladies of the high-school pact to get their HEA.
Profile Image for ✰  BJ's Book Blog ✰Janeane ✰.
3,032 reviews12 followers
August 22, 2017
ARC received for an honest review

Firstly, am I the only one who gets that song from that Tom Hanks movie in my head every time I read the title? No? Just me then?

That Thing You Do is a cute, fun read that I really enjoyed. I adore Greta and her two besties! I love their quirks and their love for each other, and at first their teenage pact is fun.

DJ Force - aka as Jon, he is just the thing that she needs - even if she doesn't know it yet!

You know what I like reading at the moment? I am loving a story where the guy is all in, knows what he wants, and the woman fights it. For years we have been reading about the girl waiting for the guy to catch up. This is the 3rd book this week that has been the opposite - and I like it!

There is a beautiful push/pull between our lovelies - well, she pushes, and he pulls!

Right from the start, the reader can tell that Greta and Jon are going to be together, it was just the wonder of the journey they would take to get there.=

Greta did frustrate me at times, and I may have yelled at my kindle for Jon to run away, however I could understand some of her reasons why.

That Thing You Do was a fun read, and now I can't wait to see who knocks the other two ladies off their feet.



Smokin Hot Book Blog Email



489 reviews2 followers
August 28, 2017
I've fallen head over heels for the "fake dating" trope and this one was a great ride! I loved the pace of the storytelling and the nice blending of backstory into the present action only as it became useful for moving the story forward. Friends and family members figured into the plot but the story always focused on Greta and Jon and their relationship stayed front and center despite the circumstances life threw at them. I liked that neither one was robbed of their agency in deciding whether to try to make the relationship work and that in the end, the party in denial of their feelings was given the space to sort them out and to take responsible for the necessary grovel to achieve the happy ending.
I read an advanced review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley and offer my honest opinion in response.
Profile Image for Bette Hansen.
5,073 reviews40 followers
August 27, 2017
That Thing you do is a cute, fun, sexy read that was completely entertaining! It's very well written with great characters and a story that had me flipping page after page. Greta is such a fun character and she and Jon work so wonderfully together. Olivia is a bit disillusioned about love and relationships so when her friends start trying to fix her up she decides to take matters into her own hands. She makes a deal with Jon for several fake dates to make it look like she's perfectly happy and not needing any help dating. Of course she never counted on the sparks that fly between them or the feelings that start to develop. Could she have had everything all wrong?

Don't miss this one. I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Isha Coleman.
8,990 reviews173 followers
September 1, 2017
That Thing You Do by Kayti McGee  
Society seems to forget, there would be no bromance, if sisters of the heart never paved the way.  Kayti McGee, makes that point loud and clear with her ode to sisterhood, That Thing You Do.  It's a tale of friendship and finding that special someone. Not only do we get to fall in love with Greta on her quest for true love,  we get to explore the bond she has with her best friends.  
Profile Image for Courtney.
1,986 reviews210 followers
August 31, 2017
3.5 Stars

I first came across Kayti McGee when I read a book by her and Laurelin Paige (together they are Laurelin McGee). She's one of those authors that I know what to expect from her and that is really ok sometimes; it's nice having those expectations. And that really worked for me when I started reading this book because I needed a sweet romance after my last read.

That Thing You Do we discover three best friends who made a pact back in high school to never get married unless they all agree on the match. And they've all held onto that pact, which really sets the stage for this series.

This book is Greta's story and she is the more pessimistic one when it comes to love. She's witnessed a lot of downfall when it comes to love and experienced some bad relationships so she's just a tad skeptical about it all. Jon is the DJ that she meets her sister's wedding and he just can't seem to get Greta off his mind.

Greta forms a plan to fake date Jon to appease her friends. But the fake starts to turn a little more real than she planned on. Jon is able to worm his way under Greta's cynical demeanor and win her over. There were times that Greta really frustrated me with her antics or cynicism on everything. I enjoyed that Jon kept things light and his mannerisms helped even out everything else.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was nice read and a good start to a new series. I look forward to see who the other two girls end up with.
Profile Image for Linda Rea.
2,190 reviews15 followers
August 29, 2017
When Greta meets DJForce at her sisters wedding she thinks he is gorgeous but she doesn't have time to date with being a nanny to Mina. When DJ Force introduces himself she finds out his name is Jon and he agrees to fake date her to get everyone off her back. Jon turns out to be a great date but Greta won't go there even if her friends all see it and when something happens Jon is right there to pick up the pieces. This is one of those stories that make you want to slap some sense into Greta and get her to see what's going on in her life and Jon is just the perfect guy. The story seems slow but it picks up pretty quickly and definitely makes you feel good.
Reviewed on behalf of Once upon an Alpha
Profile Image for nick (the infinite limits of love).
2,120 reviews1,528 followers
September 14, 2017

I may have mentioned this before but I have a thing for books with wedding themes on the cover, so I picked up That Thing You Do without even bothering to read the back. For the most part, this was a cute book, but there was just something about the writing style that didn't entirely work for me. I guess it missed a spark for me, and I kept waiting to be wowed. The characters here were likable, but I can't say that they were memorable for me. I read the book just a few weeks ago, and there's not much I remember about the main character Greta, other than she's a nanny and is a cynic who doesn't particular want romance in her life. The only thing I remember about her love interest, Jon, is that he's British and a DJ. I found Jon's Britishness to be very stereotypical and he kept calling women "birds" which I don't know if this is a British thing, but why? Personality-wise, I don't remember anything, which I guess means to me these characters were forgettable. That's something that's never a good thing when it comes to character-driven books like romances. The romance itself was cute. I liked how persistent Jon was, and their dates together actually had me smiling, which is what had me flipping through the pages of the book. Anyways, I did really enjoy the friendship between Greta and her friends. They were an eclectic group, but they fit well together. I loved how they were unafraid to voice out their opinions of each other's decisions, and were always there to support each other. Honestly, is there anything better than good girl friendships in books? Certainly not for me! The one character I didn't like in the book was the kid that Greta nannies. Now don't get me wrong. She's a sweet kid who just wants her dad's love, but I felt like the way she was written was a little jarring. She came across as an adult at times with the way she talked, and at other times she would seem young. It was strange. All in all, That You Do wasn't a terrible book, but I'm not sure if I'm invested enough to want to continue the series.
Profile Image for Mary-Megan.
290 reviews24 followers
January 30, 2018
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Since I read a lot of romances, it takes a lot to really impress me. For me, this book fell in the middle of the pack. It wasn't bad but it wasn't that great. It probably didn't help that this is the second book in a row that dealt with a couple pretend dating. That right there told me the plot wasn't entirely original.

Greta doesn't believe in love and thinks all men are going to leave her disappointed. A lot of this stems from her father who abandoned her family and a handful of boyfriends who did the same. Her best friends think they know who would be perfect for her and try to set her up with the DJ at her sister's wedding. Sure she's attracted to him, but she's not looking for a relationship, so to give her friends what they want, she asks the guy to pretend to be her boyfriend. The up-and-coming DJ - Jon - doesn't just want to pretend to be her boyfriend, so he insists on real dates to go along with the fake dates, hoping he'll be able to woo Greta. She, however, insists on sabotaging those dates, although Jon isn't that easy to get rid of...

I can't say that I was a big fan of either main character. Jon was too perfect. He didn't seem to have any flaws or problems and that felt a bit unrealistic. Sure he makes a bet that he'll win Greta over but nothing ever happens with it - a second bet is made after they start dating and then never brought up again. There really needed to be some sort of fall out regarding that, especially given how hesitant Greta is regarding relationships. Sure that's another predictable/unoriginal plot device, but to put it out there with no follow through wasn't fair. Either way, Jon didn't grow as a character, which was a bit disappointing. As for Greta, the way she sabotaged everything was a bit of a turn off. It got to the point that I wasn't rooting for her to get her happily ever after because she wasn't even trying - she didn't feel worthy.

Aside from the characters, there were a few other issues that left me not really loving this novel. This is probably just me nitpicking, so take it all with a grain of salt. A twist in the story regarding Greta's boss occurs, which initially felt like a cop-out to avoid the problems the character had created and as a way to throw Greta and Jon together. While it forced Greta to grow-up a bit and created conflict, it also showed how immature she could be. Then the solution to her financial issues comes in an all too perfect manner that made things way too easy for her future. It didn't feel very realistic (I know it's fiction, but still...) There were also a lot of pop culture references that might be a bit of a turn off for people who don't know or don't relate to the references. While it helped define the character, it also played into my preconceived opinions of those references and worked against her. She's also obsessed with baths and wine, which was mentioned multiple times and became a little annoying.

Like I said, maybe I'm just nitpicking this novel. I don't generally write reviews of romance because they're escapist reading and I don't expect much from them. Since this was a Giveaway and I felt like I should review it, I paid more attention to what worked and didn't. The overall story worked like all typical romances - it was a little escape with a happy ending. What more could you honestly hope for? The secondary characters in Greta's life were a nice addition and fully developed, although I can't say the same for the people and Jon's life. Overall, I just think that this novel could have been better. Jon could have been a bit more developed and Greta could have lightened up a bit more. The book does have the potential to have sequels and it would be interesting to see what happens to Greta's friends.
Profile Image for Anita Byars.
1,429 reviews13 followers
August 24, 2017
Romantic Comedy at its Best! If you want to read something entertaining, charming, sweet and sexy, with a good amount of heat, lol moments full of sass, as well as heart, this is it. Kayti McGee is a new author to me and I am so glad I found her. I Loved this refreshing storyline with hilarious banter and sexual chemistry that is off the charts.
Greta Steinburg and her two best friends made a pact at the age of fifteen that they, would never marry without the agreement of all of them. So after always being the bridesmaid, but never the bride, Greta, finds herself manipulated into another pact, allowing her trusted friends to pick her next date, the DJ from her sister's wedding. But for Greta no man had ever failed to disappoint her, from her father to the string of ex-boyfriends that had led her to stop dating in the first place. She was not going to let them, set her up for heartbreak now. So she comes up with a great plan to trick her friends into thinking that she is putting herself out there, by talking "DJ Force" or Jon Hargrove into going out on some fake dates with her.
Jon Hargrove is the hottest thing on the San Francisco music scene. He is also friends with Greta's new brother in law Matt. Tired of being wanted and used only for what people can get from him. When he sees a gorgeous, silly, carefree girl at the wedding he volunteered to DJ at for his best friend, it is her seeming reluctance to connect with him, that draws him in. He is tired of the fake relationship game, and is ready to settle down with the one. Could it be fate that has him meeting her in the coat room as she is leaving? Or will Greta's quirky idea about fake dating be the end?
But Jon is so much more than Greta expected, and he has a condition to her fake dates. For every fake date there would be a real date. Let the games begin and the sizzling chemistry fire up. Because their heartwarming romance will give you all the feels, I laughed, I cried, I melted, I swooned. I Loved It!
Highly Recommended.
Received an arc through the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily wrote an honest review.


Profile Image for Arys.
651 reviews34 followers
August 31, 2017
That Thing You Do by Kayti McGee hits on a lot of themes. Teenage pacts. Bridesmaid pacts. Popular Sci-Fi references. And the star of the show, fake boyfriend agreements. Greta and her freinds Amy and Summer made an agreement to use each other's judgment to guide their love lives as teenagers, eleven years later as perpetual bridesmaids, they make another pact to actually select dates for each other. Their prospective target for Greta? The DJ at her sister's wedding, Jon Hargrave aka DJ Force a popular DJ who was only doing a wedding gig as a favor to his friend Matt, the groom. 

Greta doesn't really want anything to do with her friends new deal, or guys in general so when Jon appears interested in her she makes him a deal, be her fake boyfriend to appease her friends. He agrees, with one condition, every other date has to be real. 

That Thing You Do weaves in popular Sci-Fi references (The Doctor plays a starring role) and pits a series of comedy of error sabotage dates from Greta against Jon's rapidly growing fascination and love for her. How long will it take for Greta to realize all guys aren't a-holes? Will it be soon enough to keep from driving Jon away?

I thoroughly enjoyed both the characters of Jon and Greta, as well as the supporting cast. I liked that it was Jon who was committed first and that he managed to make all Greta's sabotages not just fail, but turn into passionate successes. There are times when I wished Greta would just realize that love is real and Jon is really worth being in love with, but that is just not the character she is, and the fight for "Jetta" makes it that much sweeter and more real. 

Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend That Thing You Do by Kayti McGee, it hits on so many levels, fun, funny, passionate, frustrating, and incredibly romantic. You will love Jon and Greta and That Thing You Do.

(I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book I received for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)


Profile Image for Sue Galuska.
1,046 reviews25 followers
August 28, 2017
Greta and her two best friends, Amy and Summer make a pact when they were 15....no one can get married to a guy unless the other two both give their approval! Fast forward 11 years and her friends are making another pact....two of the friends will pick the guy for the other girl to date.

At Greta sister's Angie's wedding, Greta is drowning her sorrows with her two best friends when she notices the cute DJ, Jon. Ends up he is good friends with the groom. Also great is that the DJ had already noticed her! Summer and Amy decide the hot DJ is who Greta has to date! Greta's on the floor dancing and keeping Jon amused. Just when he thinks Greta is going to approach him, she takes off. He asks the bride and groom who that bridesmaid was. Angie explains it is her sister, and good luck with that. A small bet ensues and now Jon is up for the challenge. He meets up with Greta in the coat room with a fun exchange and she ends up with his coat and phone number.

Greta wants to pretend to date Jon to appease her friends, but he really wants to date her so they agree for every pretend date that Greta sets up, Jon will set up a real date. Oh, was this fun. Greta kept picking things that she thought would scar off Jon (think Harry Potter!), while Jon picked things that would reel Greta in closer. It was so enjoyable to watch these two pretend date/really date. Of course, as things started to get serious, Greta freaked out. Jon realized that he needed to do something dramatic with Greta to really get her attention....and boy did he.

I really enjoyed both of these characters. Jon was so dreamy and add in that British accent and SWOON! Greta just wanted to be loved but was so afraid to try. Add in Greta's two crazy friends, along with Mina, the tween that Greta was a nanny for for and it makes for a great, enjoyable story. Be warned, you will laugh and cry during this one. It really tugged at my heart strings.
1,383 reviews22 followers
August 18, 2017
This is a romance with a bit of a twist. Greta and her two friends have made a pact that they will not marry someone unless the other two approve of him. Coming out of a bad relationship, Greta is all for this, or, better still, all for not even having a relationship. At another wedding, Greta finds herself set up with the DJ, Jon. Greta decides to fake-date Jon so her friends will stop bugging her about a relationship. The only problem is that Jon really wants to date Greta, so he is way more into the “fake-date” thing than Greta. As the fake-date relationship continues, Greta finds herself questioning her motives more and more, mostly because Jon is just what she needs. Finally, Greta is forced to re-examine her beliefs, life choices and decisions.

This is a good chick lit, romance. It was interesting that the guy is more into the girl than vice versa, as it usually the case. I enjoyed reading it. I thought the insertion of the other side of her life, being a nanny for darling, little Mona, with a less than optimal father, was a good note because it allowed the reader to see another side of both Greta and Jon as well as helping the reader to better understand Greta. This is a great book to curl up with on a rainy afternoon or to take along on vacation or to the beach. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.
Profile Image for kgagnon.
2,389 reviews1 follower
August 21, 2017
This is a sweet and sexy romance. It started out when Greta and her friends were young teens trying to figure out love and how not to have their hearts broken. They make a pact that they will only date men who they all agree on. Fast forward a decade and they are all at Greta's sister's wedding as Greta mourns being a bridesmaid yet again. As the friends have a few too many drinks, Greta catches the eye of the sexy DJ playing music. Her friends talk her into dating him. Greta doesn't thing she is capable of love, and decides to fake date him to get them off her back. Jon the DJ is tired of being used for his fame and wants to find someone to settle down with. He agrees to fake date Greta if she will date him for real as well. When you try to pull one over on your friends, what could go wrong? So begins a fun and flirty, hot and steamy story of finding true love in unexpected places. Jon is so sweet, kind, and sexy. He easily charms Greta's friends, the adorable little girl, Mina, who Greta takes care of, but also drawing in Greta as well. I was a bit frustrated with some of Greta's decisions and actions but I loved the twist and grand gesture at the end. There are some emotional situations and twists that keep this story flowing. I loved the unconditional support from Gretas wonderful and funny, family and friends. If you like fun, heartfelt, emotional and hot and steamy romance, you will definitely enjoy this book.
Profile Image for Book Loving Fairy-Blog.
1,263 reviews31 followers
August 31, 2017
5 stars

We’ve all made pacts as kids with our best friends but what happens when you actually live by them? When that pact involves your happiness of falling in love with the right man, it’s easy to live by that pact, especially when you don’t believe in love.

Greta Stienburg doesn’t believe in love and has good reasons not to. She’s happy to live her life with her sister and new brother-in-law, her best friends and the cutest and sassiest little girl she is a nanny to. But when she sets her eyes on the DJ at her sister’s wedding, she decides to prove everyone who thinks she is afraid of commitment wrong. A little deception never hurt anyone, right?

Jon Hargrave aka DJ Force is known in the industry, has a sexy British accent and wants to know more about the adorable pintsized bridesmaid with no rhythm. When she propositions him (and not the way he thought she would) in to a scheme that would also be in his best interest, how can he refuse?

Kayti McGee has written another smash in That Thing You Do. There’s humor and smart remarks but there’s hope for love and happiness that our heroine is determined not to think about. The characters all have unique qualities and charm that you can’t help but fall in love with and if you’re lucky you see in your friends too. This is a light read with just the right amount of anxiety of what’s to come.
Profile Image for patrick Lorelli.
3,768 reviews37 followers
October 11, 2017
Greta and her friends had made a pact that they had to approve who they would marry before the time. Now she is the only one that is still single. Being a bride’s maid once again even though it is for her sister is just wrong in her mind especially when her friends are married and now having children. To deflect attention off herself she is hopping that a series of fake dates will send her friends away from the truth that she is nowhere near a relationship of any kind. Her friends decide that they need to change the pact that they had agreed on many years ago and over a bottle of tequila have decided that the DJ that is at this wedding is the person for her. In order to facilitate there plan with hers she talks to Jon the DJ and she comes up with a plan and he agrees with her plan if she will agree with his rules. His are very simple for every one fake date he goes on she must go on a real date with him. She reluctantly agrees because she feels it will not work out, not knowing that Jon is attracted to her because why would someone be attracted to her. Jon makes their dates whether fake or real fun and most of all he makes her special and makes her feel like a woman and important to him and to herself. A fun book with good characters. I got this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
Profile Image for Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews.
2,913 reviews214 followers
August 30, 2017
Funny, romantic and a little steamy!

I loved this book on many fronts - the 3 friends making a pact to pick each other's dates; Mina who Greta is the nanny for; the bet that Jon makes with Angie & Matt (Angie is Greta's sister); Greta realizing that maybe men aren't all bad.

It doesn't hurt that Jon and Greta are attracted to each other when they start dating - or fake-dating as Greta wants to call their situation. She is going along with this because of the pact but I liked how Jon is able to turn it around to his benefit. Greta chooses some interesting things to do on their dates, but Jon is ok with it all as he really likes her. Plus he is willing to give her the space she needs to realize that he is not like her father and won't leave. That will take time.

And of course we can't avoid the chemistry that sparks between Jon and Greta. There are some detailed scenes that turns the heat up in the book.

Mina does steal the show a few times in the book. I feel sorry for her having a father that pawns her off on the nanny (Greta) and doesn't seem to want to spend time with her. However, we get a little peek into why that might be. Mina reminds him very much of his deceased wife and I can see how that might be hard to take at times.
Profile Image for Candy76.
699 reviews25 followers
August 23, 2017
Kayti that was a cute story. A sassy lady and a sexy Brit and shenanigans.
Greta is always the bridesmaid and for her it's getting old. She may never find Mr. Right and that's ok with her but her friends feel otherwise. Amy and Summer decide to choose the next man in Greta's life who happened to DJ her sister's wedding. Jon a DJ with a British accent has finally seen his other half but Greta doesn't know it yet. He decides to go along with Greta's fake dating to deter her friends but he's gonna try and change her mind.
This was a cute story of finding love when you don't want to and having it stare you in the face at the same time. Kayti brought together two people that were opposites but seemed to work. We are given a glance into why Greta doesn't believe in love and that Jon just might be the one to change that. Kayti you give us a bit of drama with a side of funny when bringing Greta to the realization that life isn't what you know it's how you make it different from that.
This is a funny read and worth it to find out if Jon can change Greta's mind about love.
**Reviewed for Sweet and Spicy Reads, ARC provided in return for and honest review**
Profile Image for Becky Rendon.
3,859 reviews81 followers
August 21, 2017
That Thing You Do is bloody perfect. Hot British guy. No need to say more.


But if you must know, Kayti McGee makes this painful situation absolutely funny while also making you simultaneously want to smack Greta and hug Jon. That didn't make sense you say...too bad.

If you are a McGee fan, then you know what kind of fun and sense of humor is inside. If you are a McGeegin (inexperienced in the ways of the master), please note you are about to be highly entertained with whimsical conversations, off the wall texts, and a sense of denial so great a river in Egypt was named after it.

This book is too much fun. Consider a valium or a margaritas if you are too high strung for fun...or maybe be a rebel...use the force...

Oh and The Comic Book Legal Fund is totally a thing. I googled it.

So before I go, raise your glass and toast to the best wedding bet ever because clearly bad decisions made by friends are truly the best!

Book received in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed on behalf of Once Upon An Alpha
Profile Image for Dana Busenbark.
2,801 reviews29 followers
August 29, 2017
Who are Amy, Greta, and Summer? What are they doing and why? Who is Tommy? What are Amy's dreams? What is she 'sure' about? Who is Mina? Who is Bob? What is Mina's relationship with Greta? Who is DJ Force? Reading about how close Amy, Greta and Summer are, and have been since an incident in Kindergarten was truly heartbreaking. Watching as Jon works his magic in changing Greta's mind on things like love and romance is quite interesting. Once we learn about her family life growing up, things suddenly made a lot more sense. This is truly a book that symbolizes hope, dreams, yearning, love, and sticktoitiveness. You'll have to read to see what had me crying here and there as I read this book, and smiling broadly in other places. Can Jon win a place in Greta's heart?

RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin' With M. Brennan.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.