The Dating Debate

Dating Dilemmas #1

by Chris Cannon

Nina Barnes thinks Valentine’s Day should be optional. That way single people like her wouldn’t be subjected to kissy Cupids all over the place. That is, until her mom moves them next door to the brooding hottie of Greenbrier High, West Smith. He’s funny, looks amazing in a black leather jacket, and he’s fluent in Harry Potter, but she’s not sure he’s boyfriend material.

West isn’t sure what to make of Nina. She’s cute and loves to read as much as he does, but she seems to need to debate everything and she has a pathological insistence on telling the truth. And West doesn’t exactly know how to handle that, since his entire life is a carefully constructed secret. Dating the girl next door could be a ton of fun, but only if Nina never finds out the truth about his home life. It’s one secret that could bring them together or rip them apart.

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book is not for anyone who has to get in the last word, but it is for all book nerds, especially those who live next door to so called unapproachable gorgeous guys. There’s no debating the chemistry.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, High School, Mental Illness, Young Adult Contemporary

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 5, 2018

About the author

Chris Cannon is the award-winning author of the Mysteries of Mystic Hills series, Going Down In Flames series, the Crossroads Chronicles, the Boyfriend Chronicles, and the Dating Dilemma series. She lives in Southern Illinois with her husband and several furry beasts.
She believes coffee is the Elixir of Life. Most evenings after work, you can find her sipping caffeine and writing paranormal adventures. You can find her online at www.chriscannonauthor.com.

Reviews

[aimee (aimeecanread) · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Unless you can magically pull tape out of your"--wait, we were still at school--"ear."

I wish I had a dollar for every time I rolled my eyes. I'd have a million dollars. One of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to contemporary novels is probably when the book is either a.) a formula book, b.) a compilation of all the high school stereotypes ever, or c.) full of forced dialogue. The Dating Debate wins at all there.

We have our typical "sassy" hero and heroine (who are, in fact, not actually funny), with a weird-ass relationship I can't wrap my head around. One minute, they're cold as heck, and the next, they're attracted to each other?? SOMEONE EXPLAIN THIS TO ME.

Of course, we can't have a formula book without a bajillion high school stereotypes! Just take a look from these snippets (these are from the ARC and might change in the finished copy):

No way was I going to talk to the fashionistas.

Lisa and I sat at our normal table in the smart girl/bookworm section of the cafeteria.

BRB, I have to go bleach my eyes.

***

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[Dianna ☾midnight reads☽ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reading this book was about as exciting as watching paint dry. Or as interesting as stating each and all the contents of your fridge to me. (Except if you have a lot of chocolate in there, I'm intrigued.)

At first, I thought I'd like this book. We got this bookworm heroine and the love interest is this brooding and leather jacket-wearing guy who, surprisingly, is also a bookworm and they have this common love for Harry Potter. Sounds about fascinating, eh?

I'd just like to say that the Harry Potter thing in this book is some kind of a bookish clickbait that was mentioned in the synopsis to entice readers about the "supposedly bookish characters they could relate to." But loving the Harry Potter books and/or movies alone does not make someone a bookworm. They're just fans of Harry Potter, not bookworms at all. It was mentioned a bit here and there but it was done so distastefully, in my opinion, that they feel like they're pretending to be fans of HP or something.



And even if the main character Nina, did all these bookish activities like going to the library, buying books, reading books, and preferring fictional book boyfriends than real ones, somehow it did not feel genuine at all. It felt forced and as a reader who inhales books to live, I can't relate to her and she just feels fake to me. You know what I mean? Also, Nina is supposed to be this girl who loves debates but the truth is, she just likes confrontations and pushing her opinions on people and not minding that other people are entitled to their own opinions as well. No, it frustrates her that other people have opinions very different from her own.

The other main character, West, was as bland as my sister's pasta dishes. He's dull and dry. And yes, he's a rare guy who "loves" books but again, it felt fake. And although I can understand him being frustrated with his mother's illness affecting their lives, the statements he and Nina made here just further perpetuates the stigma regarding mental illnesses. As someone who has depression and anxiety, I find this as distasteful and narrow-minded.

The romance thing is also kind of nonexistent for me. The attraction seemed to come out of nowhere and there's just no chemistry between West and Nina that made me swoon. It's not even a bit cheesy at all.

Another thing that just turned me off with this book is the writing style. I was bored to tears with it. This book is just like a play by play of the characters' everyday routine from waking up, eating breakfast, driving to school, going home from school, petting the dog, eat again, sleep and REPEAT THE NEXT DAY. The pacing was sluggish and the book was just overall uneventful. Nothing really much happened. Even the conflict felt lame and nonsensical.

The only thing that inspired me not to DNF this book was Gidget, the dog. That dog just has this halo of rays of sunshine whenever she's mentioned. Dogs are life for me and Gidget was the light at the end of the tunnel for me in this book.

➹ARC provided by Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC in exchange for an honest review➷

[Schizanthus Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warning for issues surrounding mental health.

Of course I had to read an actual romance novel during 💔 Achy Breaky Heart Month! 💔. Apologies to Chris Cannon in advance for choosing The Dating Debate. Chris, you may recall that I previously reviewed Boomerang Boyfriend and I’m sorry for any therapy bills you incurred as a result. I remain staunchly anti-romance yet your blurbs keep sucking me in. Excuse me while I continue one of my many arguments debates with Nina and West.

Me: Hold on. Weren’t you just having an anti-Valentine’s Day rant a few pages ago?

Nina: Yeah, but -

Me: Yet now you’re planning to go to the Valentine’s Day dance at your school with the boy next door, who is gorgeous and can speak fluent Harry Potter.

Nina: Uh-huh, but note that I’m not going with the gorgeous boy who doesn’t get Harry Potter at all.

Me: Okay, so I get the book thing but why are all of the guys gorgeous?

Nina: Well, I am one of the main characters in a romance novel.

Me: Hmm... So, West. Are all the girls in this book good looking as well?

West: Well, duh! Nina is cute, obviously. I’ll bet that even spatula makeup girl is a stunner. Romance novel, remember?

Me: Gotcha. So, West, you’re named after a direction. Are you a Kardashian offspring by any chance?

West: I dunno. Let me go ask my mother.

Nina: Whoa! You have a mother?

Me: So, Nina, back to the whole Valentine’s Day dance thing. You don’t like Valentine’s Day or Valentine’s Day dances and you don’t want to go, yet you’re going with the gorgeous next door neighbour just to be stubborn. Is that right?

Nina: That pretty much sums it up. You want some chocolate?

Me: Obviously! Thanks! [grabs the chocolate and starts munching] Why don’t you just stay at home and read a book on Valentine’s Day? That’s what I’ll be doing.

Nina: Sounds great, but unfortunately as a main character in a romance novel it’s in my contract that my decisions don’t have to make sense and if I stay at home I can’t all of a sudden fall in love with the gorgeous boy next door, then find something to cry over before we decide we’re meant to be together forever due to our mutual love of Harry Potter.

Me: Okaaaay… So, West. Any thoughts?

West: I just hope Nina doesn’t find out my secret. Any chance we can change this from a romance novel to another genre so I can keep my personal business private?

Me: Nope, but I’d love that because I’m sick of watching you two kiss and argue.

West: This is going to end in tears. I just know it.

Me: Yeah, me too, but what can you do. Romance novel, after all. Personally I think the two of you need some therapy to sort out your trust, self esteem and shame issues before you seriously consider dating. I hear Lisa’s mother is a good therapist. Hey, what’s the deal with you two juggling issues beyond your years within your respective families, yet you act like 12 year olds when you’re dating?

West: You’re asking me? I’m just doing what Chris Cannon tells me to do! You’re the one with a choice here! Why are you reading this book when you’re so anti-romance?

Me: Sucked in by Harry Potter, just like you. Chris Cannon found and exploited my weakness - again. [sigh] And she just had to go and include an adorable dog too, didn’t she.

West: Tell me about it! I’m still trying to get dog fur out of my clothes.

Nina: So, you coming to the bookstore tonight with Lisa and I?

Me: Of course! Got any more mini bars of chocolate?

So, Chris Cannon, you sucked me in again. If I can enjoy the non-romance parts of your romance novels then I can certainly understand the appeal for readers who actively seek out that genre. I really enjoy the way you write, despite the genre.

If you ever decide to write a YA book that doesn’t major on romance and holds onto the social issues themes but delves deeper into them, I’ll be front row centre of your cheer squad. Regardless, I’m definitely interested in reading your next book (sorry!).

My Nitpicking: Without giving anything away I think there was more to one person’s mental health diagnosis than what was revealed in the book and would have loved for this to have been dealt with further as they were an interesting character. Unfortunately they came across as though the wheel was spinning but the hamster was dead and I think they were actually a lot smarter than they seemed.

My Nitpicking - The Sequel: Some of the characters without much page time came across as fairly two-dimensional. However, with the length of the book and the issues raised in it, there probably wasn’t enough room to add another dimension to these characters. Their contribution wasn’t pivotal to the story anyway.

Favourite Sentence Snippet: “then he kissed me again, a slow, deep kiss that scrambled what was left of my brain.” (53%) Vindicated! Kissing in romance novels does cause brain damage in characters!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Crush, an imprint of Entangled Publishing, LLC for the opportunity to read this book.

[Scrill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite not liking Valentine's Day, or many other holidays for that matter, Nina finds herself the object of a lie when West says they are going to a dance together. Not one to go back on her word, Nina insists that they stick to what they said was happening. The closer the dance comes the more she starts to get to know West, except he's keeping something important from her, and the one thing she hates most is being lied to and feeling unwanted.

The Story-This will be my fourth Chris Cannon book (previously reviewed: The Boomerang Boyfriend , Blackmail Boyfriend, The Boyfriend Bet. I decided to give her yet another go because I just a sucker for Entangled Crush books. In the world of judgement upon adults reading YA books, this is probably where I have zero shame. I like reading about silly teen kids juggling their fragile hearts. Maybe it's just nice to get away from some of the heavier fantasy world building. Cannon tends to stick with the same basic formula with her stories, and I think in this book was one of her better stories. As far as YA contemporary it's not awful, but it's not the most amazing thing I have read. If you are easily eye-rolled over cute cringey-ness I would say to stay away from this book, in fact...any Entangled Crush book if it wasn't obvious enough. But if you're a fan non graphic (hugs, hand holding, & kissing only), dual POV of confused swoony teens then by all means, read it. 

There were a few things that were just a little off as far as this book went for me. One being that sometimes the characters didn't really speak their age. I don't know any American teenage that would full on say "lets watch television" when as a norm we say "TV" or even a much more relevant term of asking to binge watch some Netflix would have fit the story a bit better.

There was this instance where one of the characters Googles the number for the police. As in, he had to look up the number for 911. Now before you go and point out that maybe he was looking for the crime check number for a non emergent reason, let me just say that the reason for calling the police warranted the actual 911. A full grown teenager should know one of the most memorable phone number besides 867-5309 (now that warrants an okay reason for a Millenial to Google a number)

What I did like was that, though this was a typical YA contemporary, it was pretty void of any generalized girl hate, there wasn't an excessive amount of half smirking boys, and there was minimal mention to anything happening to our protagonists' bodily functions (blushing, feeling hot, stomachs turning, skin tingling). 

The Characters- Nina was continually referred to as a hippy chick and I found no instance in the book that made me think that. I'm not sure if it was in reference to her natural instinct to hand out hugs or for her and her mom to try and feed people when they come over. Neither of these traits scream hippy to me. 

Another thing that bothered me was that Nina was supposed to be this huge book nerd, but only Harry Potter references filled the book, and a LOT of them. Now I am a fan of the ol' HP, but come on, here is a girl that a lot of us can relate to: stays up late reading, ogles book cases, is excited about going to the library or bookstore...but in reality, we don't ONLY refer to Harry Potter.

West was supposed to be this brooding hottie next door, and rather than calling the guy broody, introvert probably would have fit better. Broody gives me the impression that he is perpetually angry, when he really wasn't, just more or less kept to himself and told his neighbors to stay on their side of the driveway.

I liked that both characters had personalities that were obviously stemmed from their home lives and how their family drama and experiences have honed how they react. Nina's perpetual need to stick to commitments and telling the truth as well as West's tidiness as well as dislike of having things are both reasonable reactions to what has happened in their lives. 

The Soundtrack- Taylor Swift - Call it What You Want

Publish date: February 5, 2018
Thanks to Netgalley and Entangled Crush for an ARC for a fair review.


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[Danielle's · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nina is a bookworm, Harry Potter lover, animal enthusiast and an unusual cookie. She is comfortable being herself and wants to date someone like minded. Valentines Day is just around the corner and Nina wishes being single didn't make the holiday so cringeworthy. Her brother has set her up for a potential date, all she needs to do is accept.

West has just split with his girlfriend and enjoying the company of his new neighbours, when his ex shows up. She wants to go to the Valentine's Day dance. Luckily for West, he thinks fast on his feet. He manages to get his ex a date, but himself one at the same time. He's hoping he can convince Nina she doesn't want to go with him.

Nina doesn't really want to go to the dance but enjoys holding West to his promise. These two easily form a bond and have lots in common. They challenge each other and keep things interesting.

Nina is quirky and at first, West thinks she's a little crazy, but soon realises how loveable she is. I really enjoyed this book. It had an original story. Nina was funny and they bonded over family madness. This book had a lot to offer and I would easily recommend it to teen romance readers like myself.

"The fact that she just accepted it- accepted me- made my world a brighter place."

4.5 stars out of 5. *I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a delight. Cannon captures that essential teen-ness and presents it with all the warts but with kindness, as well. Nina and West are seniors (in high school) and neighbors and both have weathered some emotional family trauma, so it makes sense that they're more mature than most might be. And it also makes sense for why they might form a connection.

My favorite part of the story, though, is how multi-dimensional Cannon kept things. Nowhere is that more evident than in the central lie West is living under. You know that's going to blow up in his face with the lie-shy Nina. I had some dread after the middle of the novel fearing the worst. I was enjoying their interactions so much that it was never more than a slight worry but I just knew that it'd be milked for all the drama it was worth. I was so pleased with how Cannon ended up presenting it, though! Not that there wasn't drama and emotional wreckage. Just that it fit the characters so well and illustrated both their weaknesses and strengths and just felt so very real. Better, though, is that it worked as a catalyst for growth in a believable, enduring way.

So I enjoyed the characters very much with some great banter and wonderful interactions. The ending and conflict wrap-up pushed this to five stars but it was headed there all along, anyway. It's an outstanding teen romance and I enjoyed every minute.

A note about Chaste: Both protagonists have some caution with emotional trust so it totally makes sense that there's no emotional intimacy. Since both are the kind of people for whom emotional mirrors the physical, all we see in the story is kissing. At one point, they're kissing relatively frequently, but not in the kind of way that would lead to sex. So I'm calling this pretty solidly chaste and doubt many would care to argue.

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost never pass up an opportunity to read an Entangled contemporary, because I know I will get a low angst, low drama story with a sweet romance and likable characters. Once again, I got what I expected with The Dating Debate.

Who?

Nina, an avid reader, who had sworn off all boys, except fictional ones, following the demise of her parents' marriage. She was still reeling from the betrayal and abandonment her father inflicted on her, and was struggling with trust issues.

West, the boy next door, with his brooding good looks and his lone wolf approach to life. He appeared to be content with his solitary status, but was actually weighed down by a family secret.

What?

When Nina butted in and saved West from his ex-girlfriend, he concocted a lie, that he and Nina would be attending the Valentine's dance together. This led to forced time together, and eventually, real attraction. However, as West and Nina grew closer, he was forced to decide between letting Nina in or protecting his family secret.

Why?

I found The Dating Debate to be a fun read. There were quite a few things that charmed me, and I smiled quite often as I read this book.

•West and Nina were easy to ship. I liked both of them, and also liked them together. They would get into these "arguments", which Nina would always call "debates", but they were not dramatic. In fact, they were often quite amusing. They were very sweet together too, and I appreciated the way their romance grew slowly.

•I actually found Nina's love for books adorable. She had these dates with her best friend, where they would go to the book store and loiter in the cafe and read. She also often wore bookish merch, and even discussed the importance of having the hardcover, paperback, and ebook version of the same book.

•I thought "the secret" was handled well. We saw the effect it had on the person suffering from the problem as well as the family members.

•West was a complicated boy, and it really broke my heart when he finally opened up to his parents about how their secret was affecting his life. I loved seeing him let his guard down with Nina, because the boy really needed to be able to do that sometimes.

•Gidget, the dog, was pretty fabulous. She stole just about every scene she was in.

•There was this side plot, that seemed a little random at first, but then I sort of understood its purpose. I may not have fully embraced the secondary plot, but I got a grand gesture out of it, and you all know how I love me a grand gesture. Therefore, I was happy.

•I got an epilogue!!! I always want more. I want to know what happened after, and this epilogue was the perfect kind of epilogue for me. It was jump ahead, and it made me very happy.

Overall: A sweet romance, punctuated with quirky characters, fun "debates", and lots of bookish love.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

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[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book on a whim. Honestly, I was trying to clear books that I had lost interest in from my Kindle - not permanent interest, but temporary-genre-interest. I go through phases. Most often I am reading fantasy, sci-fi, and urban fantasy of some sort. But occasionally, which is getting more and more occasional, I enjoy a good contemporary or historical romance. Not long ago I was in one of these romance phases and loaded my Kindle with hundreds of books that I thought would tempt me. As quickly as I entered that phase, I fell out of it. I lost interest. But I still had hundreds of books on my Kindle, taking up space, and making it difficult for me to find what I actually wanted to read.

For some reason I decided it was only fair that I try to start this book before I unceremoniously deleted it from my Kindle. And once I started, I was charmed. I liked Nina, a bookworm who is not (really) insecure in herself. I liked that she was comfortable with who she is, and that she really didn't feel the need to conform to anyone else's ideal of what's "cool." Not terribly common in high school by my experience, but I liked it all the same. I hope the same for my kids as they transition from the tween to teenager phase.

West was, on the surface, the boy that girls want to change. Moody and (apparently) cool, he had no shortage of girls interested in him. I would have rolled my eyes but we learn more about West and his life early in the book and it gave him some incredible depth.

This book is told in alternating 1st person point-of-view. Thankfully it's clearly marked which chapters are in which character's POV. I don't remember a hugely significant difference between the sound of their voices, but I always knew whose head I was in so it was clear. There wasn't a lot of angst, which was a nice relief. There was something of a "misunderstanding" or "willful omission" that became a problem. It was slightly irritating to me, in the way that misunderstandings and not talking always are to me, but I liked how realistically it was resolved. I liked how the characters seemed to be fairly level headed, while still learning who they are and what is acceptable to them, or what they can forgive. It made an idealized version of being a teenager, I think - or at least one that I, nor anyone I've ever known, experienced.

I say idealized because, for me, growing up was never filled with extra money, a car I could count on, and the ability to do whatever I wanted. I don't ever recall them doing actual homework, working, or earning any money through chores. They just had money to spend on gifts, movies, food, and gas - apparently. It's a background consideration in a story, but it makes everything more real to me. And here it felt unrealistic. Which isn't a bad thing. This was a cute story that deftly dealt, I think, with some surprisingly heavy topics and issues.

I saw some discussion on it, but I actually thought the love of reading for both Nina and West was nicely shown, as was their enjoyment of Harry Potter. I would have liked to see the deeper connection that most HP-lovers I know have, but it still felt mostly natural to their characters.

Overall, this is a cute, fun book with a minimal amount of angst, and characters that seem to have their heads pretty straight. I liked it.

[Angelica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, color me surprised, but this book was a thousand times better than I had expected it to be. Most of all, this book was exactly what I needed right now. I’ve been feeling stressed due to school, and I’ve been on the verge of a reading slump due to dissatisfying books and I thought I was on the point of giving up and taking a little break from reading. Thankfully, this was just what I needed to get my mental energy back up.

The thing I liked most about this book is that it turned out to be nothing like what I had expected. For the first five pages or so I thought I was getting yet another cliché story that I would probably only mildly enjoy. Then, ten pages in and I was ready to fall in love with these characters.

Nina and West were witty and funny and I loved watching their interactions. There was never a dull moment between the two and I could really feel the evolution of their relationship. No insta-love here, thank God. Instead, we get a slow friendship that gradually develops into something more.

I also greatly enjoyed all the side characters. From Lisa to the twins, to even all the parents in the book. I love seeing background characters being fleshed out and given personalities that I can cheer for.

Another thing is that I was smiling the whole time I was reading. The conversations and little debated between West and Nina were absolutely golden. Heck, the interactions between all of the characters were absolutely amazing. And, this book acknowledges something that I wish more YA romances did:

“If this were a novel, the love of a good woman would save West and turn him into a happier person.”

“I’m pretty sure that only happens in books,” Lisa said. “In real life, if you’re unhappy, you need to work to change yourself. Having someone who cares about you helps, but it’s not a magic anti-jerk pill.”

When I read that quote I had to stop for a moment and mentally applaud the author. This is something that seriously needs to be said, and that everyone seriously needs to realize. Having a hard life doesn’t give you an excuse to be a jerk! And it shouldn’t be your girlfriend’s job to fix you!

Thankfully, West wasn’t a jerk, and Nina didn’t need to fix him. So, again, thank you, Chris Cannon!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Much more so than I ever imagined I might. It is a short book and it reads even quicker because I didn’t want to have to stop reading. The writing style is smooth and well done and easy to read. If you like YA contemporary romances, I definitely suggest this one.

This review first appeared on The Book Cover Girl's Blog

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5

This is a contemporary young adult romance but with more depth than such stories usually have as it also involves coping with a mentally ill parent and reactions to feelings of abandonment experienced after parents split up. However, don't let that make you think this won't be a fun read - it certainly is! I found it to be an engaging and entertaining read with well developed characters, humorous interactions and (thankfully) missing the 'popular' peers making life difficult for others.

Nina Bates doesn't like Valentine's Day and, being the honest, vocal, without a filter, character that she is means that everyone knows it! She is a bookaholic who finds something to debate about in most conversations. If you don't love Harry Potter then she'll really not want anything to do with you . . . . She lives with her Mum and brother next door to their landlord and his family - which includes another Harry Potter fan and bookaholic, West Smith. They go to the same High School and their interactions are hilarious!

This is a contemporary High School story, with plenty of debates, discussions, dilemmas and drama - I thoroughly enjoyed escaping into it. The characters are realistically portrayed, their angst and turmoil related sensitively as the story is told from the dual points of view of the main characters. If. like me, you're a Harry Potter fan, you'll find the Potterisms really add to the story and I totally agree with West that Nina is a Luna type of character. I highly recommend giving this book a read, I'll certainly be looking out for more by this author in future!

I requested and received a copy of this book via NetGalley. I chose to read it and this is my honest review after doing so.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three words to describe Chris Cannon's The Dating Debate? Bookish, charming and laugh-out-loud funny!

The Dating Debate introduces Nina Barnes and West Smith - neighbors, classmates, and...potential...love interests?

Nina is a girl after my own heart. She loves - and I mean LOVES - books. Throughout The Dating Debate, Nina talks about everything book related - eBooks versus physical copies, libraries, her favorite series, etc. - and I ate it right up. Plus it didn't hurt that I completely related/agreed to almost everything she said. Besides the book aspect, I also loved that Nina was her own person. She's not afraid to let her personality shine through no matter what people may say. She's also passionate as well as truthful. I gave her major props for always following up on her commitments, even if it meant going to her school's Valentine's dance with the swoon-worthy yet arrogant boy.

I also found West to be lovable. Honestly, West is kind of a grouch - think old man in teen's body. However, I came to love grouchy West, especially when his grouchiness ended up landing him in messes (i.e. the Nina dating dilemma). Beneath the surface, though, West is anything but a jerk: he's kind, a book-loving nerd, and most importantly, a protective and loving son. His family situation broke my heart, especially since West felt so responsible for making everything perfect.

The Dating Debate is more character driven than plot driven, and I was completely okay with that. I loved getting to know West and Nina. It was fun to see them doing ordinary things, especially when those ordinary things brought them together. The romance between West and Nina was slow-burn and well developed. Their banter was also hilarious. I could honestly read an entire book based on their back-and-forth. Additionally, I loved the family aspect. Both Nina's and West's families play a big part, and I appreciated that greatly.

The one aspect I didn't like, however, was West and Nina's debate over the library. Yes, I love libraries, and yes, I agree with Nina in the fact that it should stay open; however, I thought she was a bit ridiculous when it came to arguing with West about it. She made a mountain out of a molehill, and honestly, it was annoying and frustrating. I just wanted her to realize that people can have their own opinions, and while you don't have to agree with them, you should respect them. It's a part of life.

Overall, The Dating Debate is still a sweet book, perfect for Valentine's Day. I can't wait to see whose Dating Dilemma is featured next. Personally, I'm hoping for a pairing between Nina's brother and best friend.

*ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

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[BookLionQueen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher Crush an imprint of Entangled Teen in exchange for an honest review

4 out of 5 stars

I highly enjoyed this book. Nina was very bookish and I appreciated that. West was bookish as well but a completely different way. I really appreciated the variety of different book type people. Some of the issues I had with this book which makes it a 4 out of 5 rather than a 5 out of 5 is that some of the characters are very flat. I forgot Nina even had a brother. The people that had true character development are Nina, West and West's mom. I really enjoyed reading from the perspective of someone who lives with someone with a mental illness but doesn't have one themselves although the use of OCD when someone doesn't actually have it can be frustrating to people that have it. Other than that I really enjoyed the mental health rep in this book.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Entangled's books have always been perfect, since I first started reading them, and this book was no different. In The Dating Debate, two very different people realise that they may not be as different as they first thought. Neighbour's Nina and West run in very different circles, and the only thing they seem to share is a driveway. Nina's life has more of a hippy feel to it, whereas West doesn't let anyone get close, and has a bad boy persona. When West makes a joke about him and Nina going to the Valentine's Day dance together, she holds him to it, and on the way, they discover the truth about each other, secrets they have never told anyone else.

Both of the main characters in this book were wonderful to read about. Nina was so relatable, and her sense of humour made every page a joy to read. Though she tries not to show her emotions to everyone, the abandonment by her father had affected her greatly, and she didn't want to risk opening up to anyone else. West is so similar, but on the outside so different, that they were perfect for each other. His mother has a severe hoarding problem, and West's only friends are his cousins who know the truth about his fragile home life. He's been told again and again by his father not to let anyone get close, in case it harmed his mother's mental health, and he had took that to heart. However, Nina's perseverance pays off, and he can't help falling for her. They both need someone they can talk to and trust about their issues, and by doing so, they start to find ways to come to terms with their past, and their futures.

I love books like this, and Chris created a fantastic story and plot that kept me hooked from the beginning. I can't wait for more from her in the future!

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
The Dating Debate is the first book in the Dating Dilemmas series by Chris Cannon. The Dating Debate is a young adult contemporary romance. I have read Chris Cannon's other young adult series, the Going Down in Flames series, which is a young adult paranormal romance. I really love that series, so I was excited to read something completely different from this author. The Dating Debate was a super quick read that was light, fluffy and a lot of fun. The Dating Debate is perfect for when you are looking for a quick fun book that you can easily finish in one afternoon.

The Dating Debate follows our spunky main character, Nina. Nina is an unapologetic bookworm, which I totally loved about her. She cracked me up when she found out that her next door neighbor, West was "fluent in Harry Potter", which was so obviously a major plus in all bookworms books. Nina cracks me up. She is spunky and adorable and she really loved debating, over everything. Which, in some of her arguments makes her seem more than a little stubborn and a tad immature, but overall she was a pretty age appropriate character.

West is a great guy. I really liked him, and I loved the added illness he was dealing with, with his mom. It is a topic I haven't seen addressed in many young adult books, and the secret he was keeping was an interesting one. Honestly, I was pretty intrigued to see how that aspect of the story was going to play out. But the main focus of The Dating Debate is the romance between Nina and West. It starts out as a way for both of them to avoid going to a valentines day dance with people that they don't like, but it turns into a really nice and natural relationship between the two of them. I loved that Nina and West just started hanging out more. It wasn't so much about a fake relationship as it was the start of a real friendship. It was really cute.

Bottom line: The Dating Debate is a great reader for younger YA readers. It is a cute romance that has a fast paced plot with adorably quirky characters. There are moments of immaturity, but overall this was a very fun read.

This review was originally posted on Book Briefs

[WycEd Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out our The Dating Debate post on Wicked Reads OR our The Dating Debate post on Wicked Reads: YA Edition.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆☆
5 Banterific Stars

The Dating Debate is sure to please both young adults and those young at heart. Zany, lighthearted, charming, angsty, and swoon-worthy, I was hooked from page one. There was also surprising depth, with intriguing familial background, instead of how most books in the young adult genre have absentee parents, leaving an opening for unlimited interactions. In this case, the parents were both supportive yet also the obstacle.

Another plus in my book was how supportive the side cast of classmates and friends were, with no scheming to inject themselves into the budding relationship. No Mean Girl drama, all of it was realistic, character-building situations.

Nina and West are neighbors, with West's father as Nina's landlord, which adds a few bumps along the road.

Nina is absent a filter, a truth-telling debater, after the betrayal her family was dealt. While she may be cynical when it comes to romance, she's the best friend anyone could ever find. Caring and compassionate, a natural caregiver. She's also a book nerd after my own heart.

West is a brooding, self-sacrificing swoon-worthy hero, who's only made more appealing by the fact that he's always reading a novel. He puts his father and mother's wishes and needs before his own, and this is both heartbreaking and sweet.

Nina and West spar for the entirety of the book, whether they are agreeing with one another, arguing semantics, or using it as age-appropriate foreplay. This witty exchange was both comical and blush-inducing.

Debates. Hugs. Home-cooked food. Libraries and Recycling Centers. Shedding retrievers. Harry Potter. Chocolate. TMNT blankies. Books and more books. What more does a reader need?

Favorite quotes, because it felt like they were taken directly from my head. [Blog Note: The quotes have been turned into the teasers included in this post. Enjoy!]

Young Adult age-range: 13+ kissing and mental illness in a parent.

Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

[Caitlin Audet · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating: 3.5

The Dating Debate by Chris Cannon is a great shout out to all us book nerds. Very rarely have I read about a heroine or hero who loves to read and funny enough you get both who are book lovers. I'm also always intrigued with reading an opposites attract good girl/bad boy story, and the Harry Potter references were a great bonus.

Our main character, Nina, was set up by her brother to be asked to the Valentine's Day Dance by one of his friends. After being caught trying to sneak off to the neighbors house the whole situation turns interesting when West, the neighbor, asks Nina to the dance instead. Although it was meant more as a joke Nina is a stickler for keeping to the truth and thus begins the bonding of her and West.

It's interesting how one small thing can change how you view a person. Nina and West go from being neighbors and schoolmates to pretty close friends, especially after an incident involving a car and a mirror which had both carpooling to school together. Surprisingly to Nina they had a lot in common and West certainly didn't seem to mind all the dabating that Nina liked to do.

What lacked for me in The Dating Debate was not much time passed in the entire story. Each chapter was literally a continuation of either a conversation being had or something taking place. Also the characters seemed a lot younger to me than what they were supposed to be. Both West and Nina are seniors in high school but how they spoke and acted said differently. Nina especially was very naive to me, especially when it came to West. I would think at that age you would know more about boys and dating but it was like Nina had no clue. Which was the complete opposite of her strong opinions and even stronger will.

I would still recommend The Dating Debate to anyone who likes to read about first loves and also likes a lack of drama in their story. This was a cute, clean book that was at times funny and of course I have to say again how much I loved Harry Potter mentioned quite a bit. A nice change of pace from what I normally have been reading, I'm happy I got a chance to read this book.

[Erica Chilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads

5 Banterific Stars

Young Adult age-range: 13+ kissing & mental illness in a parent.

The Dating Debate is sure to please both young adults and those young at heart. Zany, lighthearted, charming, angsty, and swoon-worthy, I was hooked from page-one. There was also surprising depth, with intriguing familial background, instead of how most books in the young adult genre have absentee parents, leaving an opening for unlimited interactions. In this case, the parents were both supportive yet also the obstacle.

Another plus in my book was how supportive the side cast of classmates/friends were, with no scheming to inject themselves into the budding relationship. No Mean Girl drama, all of it was realistic, character-building situations.

Nina and West are neighbors, with West's father as Nina's landlord, which adds a few bumps along the road.

Nina is absent a filter, a truth-telling debater, after the betrayal her family was dealt. While she may be cynical when it comes to romance, she's the best friend anyone could ever find. Caring and compassionate, a natural caregiver. She's also a book nerd after my own heart.

West is a brooding, self-sacrificing swoon-worthy hero, who's only made more appealing by the fact that he's always reading a novel. He puts his father and mother's wishes and needs before his own, and this is both heartbreaking and sweet.

Nina and West spar for the entirety of the book, whether they are agreeing with one another, arguing semantics, or using it as age-appropriate foreplay. This witty exchange was both comical and blush-inducing.

Debates. Hugs. Home-cooked food. Libraries and Recycling Centers. Shedding retrievers. Harry Potter. Chocolate. TMNT blankies. Books and more books. What more does a reader need?

Favorite quotes, because it felt like they were taken directly from my head.

"I love my Kindle, but I like paper books, too. I buy the paper books to keep on my shelf and read the ebook instead."

"Why?"

"What if there's an EMP blast that destroys all the digital content? You'd have nothing to read. And that would be a true apocalypse scenario. Plus, I like the way books smell."

---

"As long as you leave our books alone and don't interrupt our flow of coffee and chocolate, we are a peaceful bunch."

[Deniz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5Stars
A good mix between serious issues and cute & fluffy
But in the end I found that the problems were handled to lightly. Were solved and dismissed to quickly.
Still cute & enjoyable

[Nicole Evelina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nina is a bookish Harry Potter nerd with a crush on the (literal) boy next door, bad-boy West. He, on the other hand, isn’t sure whether to kiss or have her committed. Who questions and debates everything, anyway? And what is with all the hugging? Geeze. But a shared love for Harry Potter isn’t the only thing drawing these two unlikely lovers together. Unbeknownst to them, they both harbor secrets that have shaped their lives and would be devastating to them if anyone found out. Though their relationship begins as a joke, Nina and West soon find themselves asking if love is worth the risk of letting the other one in and possibly divulging their secret to the world.

This is such a cute book! Thanks to Chris Cannon, we finally have a YA novel that lacks the overwrought drama populating so many of the genre. It was so refreshing to read a book about two (fairly) normal teenagers just pursuing love and happiness the way teenagers do, in a realistic setting with the issues and stakes that teenagers actually face. I loved the support provided by Nina’s family, which is unusual in YA, where parents are rarely present, often dead, and if they are there usually don’t provide a stable home life. Even those whom you believe to be harsh turn out to be merely human beings who have reasons for their actions and often make mistakes. I can see everything in this book actually happening in real life, and that is part of what makes it so relatable and genuine.

Nerdy, bookworm girls everywhere will rejoice that one of our own is the heroine of a novel, and not just any book, one that treats us with respect and dignity and show that brainy IS attractive. And West…he is the kind of bad boy every girl secretly wants, one who is cool, but deep down is really more of an intelligent dork than he would ever let on. (Let’s be honest that though we are attracted to the dangerous veneer, many of us really hope the guy is a prince or that we can “fix” him into one.) The friendships in this book are well drawn, believable, and often funny, and people’s quirks and struggles are treated with respect and hopeful support. If everyone took lessons from the characters in this book, the world would be a much kinder place. Very highly recommended.

[Arceli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soaring Up High

The Dating Debate is one of my top YA Contemporary Romance reads for 2018. This book is super cute and has the ability to make your day.

The Dating Debate features West and Nina, both of whom are next door neighbors. Nina is dead honest and is a book worm. West is continuously annoyed by Nina’s honestly and her ability to constantly turn things into a debate. He really does not know what to make of her.

West and Nina are such a funny couple. I love that both of them are book worms. Their debates on books like Harry Potter and constant references to my favorite characters in the Harry Potter series really made me laugh. Plus, that made them super relatable. In addition, both of them are strong individuals. Nina is extremely honest and she is an anti-valentines day person. I love her arguments and strong opinions. She really reminded me of myself.

West has a secretly guarded secret. His home like isn’t as cracked up to be. He struggles with his relationship with his father. And, he does have typical teenage issues. However, his family is dysfunctional. West is one of my favorite YA book boyfriends. I love how he is extremely real. He does prefer to bottle up issues and can be stupid and extremely dense at times. However, when he mans up it is super swoony.

The romance between West and Nina is super sweet with tons of chemistry. I love how their chemistry sizzles the pages, but there is real emotion. Their relationship gradually turns from enemies-friends-lovers. I like how there is a gradual progress and you get to feel their love.

The biggest plus in this book is that there are parents involved. In many YA novels, there is absentee parent syndrome. Here, family plays a big aspect. The family shapes the characters and I love how they finally come to terms with their parents.

Overall, this is an extremely sweet romance. It’s a great filler and a nice quick read. I highly recommend this book if you are into sweet YA romance!

[Lyn *Nomadic Worlds · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book by Chris Cannon that I have read though I’ve seen her dragon series and they’re on my TBR. Nina, a bookish nerd and West, a brooding hottie, are neighbors. A whim of fate sends them in each other’s path and as they start dating, they learn more about each other.

Nina’s point of view was quirky and being a fellow bookworm myself, I liked reading about her love of books and her fluency in Harry Potter. It highlighted similarities that other bookworms and I share. Not to mention her addiction with chocolate. I’m a certified chocoholic myself lol.

What was interesting was that West was a reader too and the fact that they both read on their Kindle? I know there are tons of people who read on Kindle but I felt like I was friends with two fellow bookworms like me since my Kindle is my first love.

I empathized with West over his problems. It’s hard when you’re seventeen and carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. No teenager should have to bear such a burden.

I thought at first, that Nina was a carefree person, but as I read on and learned more about her, I found that she had her own issues to deal with. The banter between Nina and West was original, fun and witty.

However, there were a certain depth of emotion that I found lacking in the story and the supporting characters were passed over a bit too quickly. Also, for a seventeen-year-old, Nina seemed a bit childish. West showed more maturity as he made hard decisions which showed his decency and strength of character. Other than the issues mentioned above, The Dating Debate was a good book, fun and cute to read.

***Note: Received from Netgalley for an honest review.

Posted on Blog

[Lissa Hawley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely perfect!
Readers everywhere will fall in love with self professed "hippy-chick bookworm," Nina and her maybe not-so-brooding neighbor West.

The delightful sparring that is their courtship, filled with Harry Potter references and dueling causes just kept making me smile.

Perfect for fans of Kasie West. Highly recommended.

[Angy Potter - Collector of Book Boyfriends · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: 4,5 Stars

Sweet young love alert! #MyNewObsession

This is my first book from Chris Cannon and I really hope it’s not the last. The Dating Debate is the first book of The Dating Dilemmas Series, featuring the lovely, sweet, funny and heartwarming story of West and Nina.

Nina is a 17 years old girl who loves books, chocolate, her family— even though she insists her brother is adopted LOL —and her happy furry dog, Gidget. She’s a fierce defender of the truth, which makes her an argumentative girl who tends a little bit to always want to have the last word on everything… A little… Just a little… But this is the one thing that first leads her to West, her neighbor from the house next door— one very handsome and grumpy neighbo r—they day he came to her doorstep asking her to move her jeep in their joint driveway.

Nina is a little picky with guys and she had reasons to be that way, but Wes has one big point on his side: He loves to read too and he’s fluent in Harry Potter #MyKindaGuyTOO!!

“I couldn’t date someone who didn’t read, much less someone who didn’t understand the fabulousness that was Harry Potter.”

Once I read this line, I knew I’d love this book and the characters so much!! #PotterheadALERT!!

Anyway… Nina and West start hanging out together, and the sweetest young love starts. But everything isn’t just hearts and Valentine chocolates for them. Both Nina and West have their own family issues and despite Nina is completely honest with him, sharing all her family embarrassing secrets and personal fears, he isn’t ready to share his own, and this causes drama between them, and only one big beautiful gesture from West will show her how much she means to him.

I totally loved this book, the story, the characters, the teenage drama and the innocent love was amazing. Aside from the main story, I totally loved Nina and Lisa’s awesome friendship. #SquadGoals

“Lisa was picking me up in an hour for our Friday night Nerd Girl festivities. We go to the bookstore, ooh and ah over all the books, and then pick out a precious few to buy. Afterward, we drink frothy coffee concoctions in the cafe while we discuss how book boyfriends are so much easier to deal with than guys in real life.”

I completely recommend this book for YA readers, and if you wanna start a new genre, you can totally pick this book and enjoy a good debate with Nina and West.

[books are love · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was just so freaking cute. A absolutely adorable clean romance.

Nina was a quirky smart girl who saw life as a when life hands you lemons make lemonade way. That doesn’t mean she didn’t have sadness in there she did. Her dad was a point of contention for her but she didn’t let it get her down. She was also a self proclaimed unvalentine’s day gal. She is also a book nerd and proud of it.

West is the broody next door neighbor who flusters her. He is a mystery that so many want to unravel.West is the closet book nerd. West and Nina love to get the other’s gander up. for West though he is hiding behind a mask. A mask that is meant to protect his family life and his mom. His is a sad but encouraging tale for he loves his mom and just doesn’t know how to let anyone in without hurting her and being embarrassed.

Him and Nina challenge one another and each has to have the last word around one another.For example the dance-each challenges the other until one wins and isn’t wanting to win but won’t back away from it because it proves a point. Their biggest challenges their feelings and a recycling center. For West the work for the recycling center is extra credit but also close to his heart due to his home situation for Nina it was about saving the library until the new one was built..Both have a passion for the project but for different outcomes and reasons and watching them one up each other on it is a hoot.

So is watching Nina wiggle her way into West’s heart. She makes him forget and feel lighter about things. Gives him new perspective and shows her that not everything is as it seems. He is a good listener for her and to an extent he confides in her as well. Slowly they become an item and it is too cute to watch. They fit together and just help the other gain more perspective. Only West’s homelife does come to light and Nina takes a hard stance. A stance that isn’t a black and white issue and he does something to protect her at the same time. IT’s the mom’s that help each see perspective and reason. When West does he does a swoony thing for Nina to get her back...and continues to swoon to the end...

A really cute adorable story with two characters in Nina and West that you can’t help but love and just become engrossed in their entertaining tale.

[Romancing the Book · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by JoAnne
Book provided by the publisher
Originally posted at Romancing the Book

This was a fast paced book that flowed smoothly but didn’t have the depth of the characters I’d hoped for. Nina and West are in high school and happen to be next door neighbors but each have family issues they are dealing with that are revealed a little at a time along with how they’re affected. They become friends after a fashion but could there be more? Each chapter is told from Nina or West’s point of view. There are hugs and some kisses and lots of dog hair flying from Nina’s family dog, Gidget.

His support system are his twin cousins, Matt and Charlie, and her support are her mom along with her friend, Lisa. They all hang out together occasionally but Lisa is hoping for more from Matt but he only wants to be friends. Nina and Lisa are working on a project to save the town library until the new one is built and West and his cousins and others are working towards converting the library into a recycling center. Which side will prevail?

This was a sweet, clean romance with some angst, embarrassment, heartache, sadness, sorrow, insecurities, apologies, arguments/debates, some joking and lightheartedness, laughter, Harry Potter stuff, family and friendships. The friendships and the family dynamics played out nicely. There’s a shared driveway and backyard that sometimes causes havoc. There is some closure with a happily ever after in the offing especially with the epilogue. There are some loose ends but knowing this is the first book in the series I’m hoping we are reunited with Nina, West and the others.

Cannon is a new to me author. I’ll give some of her other romances a try.

[Cee · Rating 1 out of 5]

*I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

DNF @ 11%

I gave up on this book because it has no depth to it. Everything is going by super quick, yet not although there is no thoughts, no time to catch our breath and understand the characters. They seem to be given stock personalities and looks which we are supposed to go with. Also, who tells someone they are "brooding" or even talks to others like 'oh, so and so is the sexy brooding loner--yum" like, no. Sorry, no that seems so weird to me.

The interactions were so....strange and so forced! She doesn't like him, yet is soooo against lying (EVEN THOUGH SHE LIED PREVIOUSLY) that she is going to go to the dance with him. Yeah, that makes sense.
*rolls eyes*
I'm also NOT OKAY with forced hugs. Plus, it was soooo awkward. This girl doesn't like debates, she like confrontations and pushing people out of their comfort zones. Hugging people--touching people, when they don't want to be isn't cute or quirky, it is a b*tch move.

I stopped reading after a mental illness was being introduced in a character and could already tell it wasn't going to go well.

This might be a book I recommend to a reader who wants more dialogue, more fast-paced reads, but not someone who reads often and I will probably forget about this so soon I won't get around to recommending it.

[Jules.Bookverse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was definitely an adventures/ emotional ride.

Firstly, the two main characters can be seen as two parts of the classic love stories where she/ he falls for the boy /girl next door. But there is so much more going on! A lot of really tough topics have been discussed in this book. Some of them made me feel the anger the characters must feel and other had me blink back some tears.

Along these more 'serious' topics is of course, a lot of YA drama. Most prominent are the main characters fights or as Nina would say 'debates'. ;) Love their chemistry and the classic approach of opposites attract. But actually, once you look closer the two main characters Nina & West have much more things in common that help them understand the problems of the other. :)

A big plus in this book, besides the magic chemistry of the couple, was reading about another bookworm, the passion for books & chocolate, and some nerd out Harry Potter and Ninja Turtle facts. ;)

Also, I didn't have to miss my at least kind of Happy End which also counts as a new start and promises a better future for most of the characters.

This just leaves questions open about Lisa, Nina's best friend and whether she found/finds someone. But maybe these remaining questions will be answered in the second book of this lovely new series!????? :)

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Chris Cannon and definitely wont be the last. The Dating Debate had me cracking up on more than a couple occasions. The back and forth banter with the main characters was hilarious and adorable. I loved that there was some problems that people face every day and the fact that they were high schoolers and showed that not everything is easy. Once I started The Dating Debate, I couldn't put it down. West and Nina were characters you wanted to get to know more about. West was definitely my favorite character out of them all. Although I kind of wanted more from some of the other characters, so Im hoping to see more of them in the other series, because I will definitely be following along. Nina was an odd character but you couldnt up but like her, she was quirky lol I havent read much Romcom but this series is a def must read! I really couldnt get enough of these characters.

[Nicole Strand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nina thinks Valentine’s day should be optional. That way all the single people aren’t subjected to the humiliation that comes with kissy cupids. Until her mom moves them next door to none other than the schools broodful hottie, West Smith. He’s all punk rock, but has a sense of humor and is fluent in Harry Potter but Nina isn’t sure he’s boyfriend material( WTF NINA!?!?!)

West doesn’t know what to think of Nina. She’s cute and shares an interest in books like he does but she feels the need to debate everything and is 100% honest. All. The. Time. Dating her could be fun as long as she doesn’t find out about his home life. It could make or break them.

I want to start off by saying I really liked this book. A Harry Potter Bookworm is THE perfect main character. But the one fricking thing that ticked me off is Nina talked about West being “fluent in Harry Potter” when all he literally said was ” I’m trying to figure out if you’re Ginny or Hermione”…. how does that equate to a Harry Potter fluent bad boy!?

Other than that this book was a great, cute book. A lot of romance, a bit of angst, it was perfect. Just needs more Harry Potter .

[Colleen's Conclusions · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Dating Debate by Chris Cannon had a promise of a cute plot line. The heroine was a bookworm who LOVED Harry Potter. I liked that fact and the fact that she had the same views on reading as I did. She liked both ebooks and regular books to sit on shelves just in case all things digital disappeared. That's pretty much the exact reason why I buy books once in awhile still.

I love books that are about books but this one was just ok to me. I felt like I was missing the spark between the two characters. And the interest in Harry Potter felt like it was a bit too much, but when I was the main character's age I did Harry Potter RPG, checked out mugglenet constantly especially when the sixth Harry Potter book came out, wrote Harry Potter fanfiction, etc. So maybe I'm just missing that DIE HARD FAN feeling I used to have.

It's still a fast read especially if you are looking for a quick romance type books. There was nothing really wrong with it, I think I just missed the connection between the two main characters. Thank you Entangled Teen for giving me the chance to review this.