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Dating by the Book
Is love just something you find in books?
Six months ago, writer and bookstore owner Maddie Hanson was left at the altar. Since then, she’s had zero interest in romance—despite the fact that she runs a book club full of sexy eligible bachelors. But when her latest novel is panned by an anonymous blogger who goes by the name Silver Fox—and who accuses her of knowing nothing about passion—she decides to prove her nemesis wrong by seeking a romance hero in real life . . .
There’s the smoldering rock musician, the bookish college professor, and her competitive childhood friend who may want to steal her bookstore more than her heart. Even Silver Fox is getting in on the action, sending Maddie alarmingly—and intoxicatingly—flirtatious emails. And that’s not all. Her ex wants her back.
Now Maddie is about to discover that like any good story, life has twists and turns, and love can happen when you least expect it—with the person you least expect . . .
“Romance junkies will get a kick out of this fun, self-referential spin on just about every trope in the book.”
--Kirkus Reviews
"A uniquely clever exploration of love, literature, and self-discovery, DATING BY THE BOOK is an unexpected, refreshing read."
—Robinne Lee, author of The Idea of You
Praise for Mary Ann Marlowe’s Some Kind of Magic
“Marlowe makes a name for herself in this hilarious and sexy debut.”
—Booklist
“Frisky, Flirty Fun!”
—Stephanie Evanovich, New York Times bestselling author of The Total Package
“Fun, romantic and sexy. . . . This love story will make readers smile!”
—RT Book Reviews
“Sexy, engaging and original. . . . An amazing first novel.”
—Sydney Landon, New York Times bestselling author of Wishing for Us
Six months ago, writer and bookstore owner Maddie Hanson was left at the altar. Since then, she’s had zero interest in romance—despite the fact that she runs a book club full of sexy eligible bachelors. But when her latest novel is panned by an anonymous blogger who goes by the name Silver Fox—and who accuses her of knowing nothing about passion—she decides to prove her nemesis wrong by seeking a romance hero in real life . . .
There’s the smoldering rock musician, the bookish college professor, and her competitive childhood friend who may want to steal her bookstore more than her heart. Even Silver Fox is getting in on the action, sending Maddie alarmingly—and intoxicatingly—flirtatious emails. And that’s not all. Her ex wants her back.
Now Maddie is about to discover that like any good story, life has twists and turns, and love can happen when you least expect it—with the person you least expect . . .
“Romance junkies will get a kick out of this fun, self-referential spin on just about every trope in the book.”
--Kirkus Reviews
"A uniquely clever exploration of love, literature, and self-discovery, DATING BY THE BOOK is an unexpected, refreshing read."
—Robinne Lee, author of The Idea of You
Praise for Mary Ann Marlowe’s Some Kind of Magic
“Marlowe makes a name for herself in this hilarious and sexy debut.”
—Booklist
“Frisky, Flirty Fun!”
—Stephanie Evanovich, New York Times bestselling author of The Total Package
“Fun, romantic and sexy. . . . This love story will make readers smile!”
—RT Book Reviews
“Sexy, engaging and original. . . . An amazing first novel.”
—Sydney Landon, New York Times bestselling author of Wishing for Us
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 25, 2019
126 people are currently reading
2455 people want to read
About the author
Mary Ann Marlowe
14 books373 followersMary Ann Marlowe is a romance junkie with wanderlust. She’s lived in twelve states and three countries, but she’s called the Charlottesville, Virginia area home for nearly twenty years. She’s held dozens of jobs from university-level French teacher to Wall Street computer programmer, got her black belt in karate, and beat Zelda Breath of the Wild. She loves to pull from her experiences when creating her fictional worlds. When she isn’t writing, she day jobs as a developer, hangs with her two amazing kids, and dreams of travel. She also writes under the name Lorelei Parker.
No AI used in the writing, audio, or cover art of any of my books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
June 14, 2019
A Rom-Com taking place within the setting of an actual bookstore! What more could a reader ask for?!
Maddie Hanson is a fledgling author preparing for the release of her very first novel. She’s also trying to keep her quaint little bookstore afloat.
She’s received a three-star review for her upcoming first release from a gentleman nick-named the Silver Fox. Slightly miffed, if not down-right incensed, she can’t help but engage Mr. Silver Fox! (Never a good idea)!
But for Maddie it may just turn out to be the best thing that could happened to her. Maybe he can help elevate her writing by adding a little extra soul and spice to her books, by way of kindly reminding her what romance truly means.
This is a sweet and quaint Rom-Com, though I found it to be somewhat predictable. If you’re in search of a light, lovely read that will put a bit of romance back in your life, Look no further!
Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Mary Ann Marlowe for an ARC to read and review.
Maddie Hanson is a fledgling author preparing for the release of her very first novel. She’s also trying to keep her quaint little bookstore afloat.
She’s received a three-star review for her upcoming first release from a gentleman nick-named the Silver Fox. Slightly miffed, if not down-right incensed, she can’t help but engage Mr. Silver Fox! (Never a good idea)!
But for Maddie it may just turn out to be the best thing that could happened to her. Maybe he can help elevate her writing by adding a little extra soul and spice to her books, by way of kindly reminding her what romance truly means.
This is a sweet and quaint Rom-Com, though I found it to be somewhat predictable. If you’re in search of a light, lovely read that will put a bit of romance back in your life, Look no further!
Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Mary Ann Marlowe for an ARC to read and review.
July 31, 2019
I can’t express how excited I was when I first got to know about this book, and that joy doubled when I was approved for this ARC. I don’t know if it was my high expectations or the book itself, but I’m not quite happy with the experience.
Maddie is still struggling to deal with the grief over her ex-fiancé ditching her at the altar six months ago, while also figuring out how to manage her not so well running bookstore in her small town. I liked that she passionately loves her books and the store, and also wants to find her very own romance hero. But I just didn’t like her as a person. She is so flighty and indecisive and occasionally selfish, and just can’t make up her mind about anything. I’m all for introspection in a character when they are at a critical juncture in their life, but Maddie is not introspecting anything. She just doesn’t want to critically examine anything in her life, always living in her imagination and hoping for someone to come and sweep her away without putting any actual effort.
The side characters were all pretty interesting. Dylan was the typical flirty rockstar but he wasn’t obnoxious and could be very charming. Max came across as very critical of Maddie initially but as the book goes on, we realize he really cares about her and just can’t stop himself from giving unnecessary(sometimes even necessary) advice. Charlie is a literature professor and his conversations with Maddie tended to be more fun and bookish than flirty. While I hated how the initial contact with Silver Fox happened, I definitely enjoyed her emails and messages with him. That was the only place I thought Maddie tried to be honest. Peter, the ex-fiancé is a manipulative jerk and I absolutely hated that she even contemplated going back to him even though his true colors were right there to see.
The writing was actually pretty easy and amusing to read. The plot itself with the anonymous online friend trope and a whole gang of interested suitors was quite promising, but I think it faltered somewhere in the execution. Except for the emails, I don’t think I felt connected with any of the possible couples, so I wasn’t even rooting for anyone. One thing I liked was that I couldn’t guess the real identity of Silver Fox until it was very obvious, and it was impressive of the author to be able to maintain the mystery. I also thoroughly enjoyed the book club discussions because everyone seemed to bring a different perspective to the well known stories, though I was slightly miffed that Maddie seemed to think only classics were the right books for her book club. I also didn’t like the first time she emailed Silver Fox just because he gave a 3 star review. Even though I understand that he could have worded his review better, I hate the idea of an author finding out the email of a reviewer and then messaging them in a drunken rage. It just put me off immediately and that might have totally changed my perception about Maddie as a character and overall, the book itself. We’ve seen enough of this passive aggressive stuff in real life, and I don’t think romanticizing this behavior in a book is the right way to go.
On a final note, I think this book had a lot of potential but it just didn’t work for me. There is an interesting group of characters, some wonderful conversations about books and the lovely setting of a small town bookstore, but ultimately I just couldn’t like the main character and didn’t feel invested in any of the relationships. It was still a mostly entertaining read, which I was able to breeze through quickly and enjoyed some laughs along the way. I guess I was just hoping for something more. It’s not really a bad book per se, so I would definitely recommend that you pick it up if the premise interests you. It might however be better to temper your expectations a bit.
Maddie is still struggling to deal with the grief over her ex-fiancé ditching her at the altar six months ago, while also figuring out how to manage her not so well running bookstore in her small town. I liked that she passionately loves her books and the store, and also wants to find her very own romance hero. But I just didn’t like her as a person. She is so flighty and indecisive and occasionally selfish, and just can’t make up her mind about anything. I’m all for introspection in a character when they are at a critical juncture in their life, but Maddie is not introspecting anything. She just doesn’t want to critically examine anything in her life, always living in her imagination and hoping for someone to come and sweep her away without putting any actual effort.
The side characters were all pretty interesting. Dylan was the typical flirty rockstar but he wasn’t obnoxious and could be very charming. Max came across as very critical of Maddie initially but as the book goes on, we realize he really cares about her and just can’t stop himself from giving unnecessary(sometimes even necessary) advice. Charlie is a literature professor and his conversations with Maddie tended to be more fun and bookish than flirty. While I hated how the initial contact with Silver Fox happened, I definitely enjoyed her emails and messages with him. That was the only place I thought Maddie tried to be honest. Peter, the ex-fiancé is a manipulative jerk and I absolutely hated that she even contemplated going back to him even though his true colors were right there to see.
The writing was actually pretty easy and amusing to read. The plot itself with the anonymous online friend trope and a whole gang of interested suitors was quite promising, but I think it faltered somewhere in the execution. Except for the emails, I don’t think I felt connected with any of the possible couples, so I wasn’t even rooting for anyone. One thing I liked was that I couldn’t guess the real identity of Silver Fox until it was very obvious, and it was impressive of the author to be able to maintain the mystery. I also thoroughly enjoyed the book club discussions because everyone seemed to bring a different perspective to the well known stories, though I was slightly miffed that Maddie seemed to think only classics were the right books for her book club. I also didn’t like the first time she emailed Silver Fox just because he gave a 3 star review. Even though I understand that he could have worded his review better, I hate the idea of an author finding out the email of a reviewer and then messaging them in a drunken rage. It just put me off immediately and that might have totally changed my perception about Maddie as a character and overall, the book itself. We’ve seen enough of this passive aggressive stuff in real life, and I don’t think romanticizing this behavior in a book is the right way to go.
On a final note, I think this book had a lot of potential but it just didn’t work for me. There is an interesting group of characters, some wonderful conversations about books and the lovely setting of a small town bookstore, but ultimately I just couldn’t like the main character and didn’t feel invested in any of the relationships. It was still a mostly entertaining read, which I was able to breeze through quickly and enjoyed some laughs along the way. I guess I was just hoping for something more. It’s not really a bad book per se, so I would definitely recommend that you pick it up if the premise interests you. It might however be better to temper your expectations a bit.
April 17, 2020
“All this time, I’d been looking for a romance hero. I’d never realized he was waiting for me.”
Major Character
Maddie (late 20's, book store owner):
Three things about Maddie:
- Her first book is on the cusp of being published and she's writing on her next book.
- She co-owns her book store with her ex fiancé (who left her at the altar and moved to a larger city). “Ever since my fiancé, my groom, my husband-to-be failed to show up to our wedding, leaving me humiliated at the altar, all we ever did was fight over the business we shared.”
- She loves her hometown and doesn't want to ever leave it
Some quotes about Maddie:
“Small pieces of my soul remained unfulfilled. I’d been abandoned by the one man who’d promised me forever, but that was only one hole in my heart.”
“After so many years studying other authors, I longed to move from behind the cash register to the shelves myself.”
“my bookstore was foundering and I was afraid I’d end up alone thanks to my pig-headed independence.”
The Story:
Maddie is a bookstore owner, a soon to be published author and a jilted bride. She receives a 3 star review and some negative comments from a blogger who receives an ARC. In a drunken state, she decides to write a scathing response to the blogger. Before long they begin to see things from the other’s POV, apologize and begin an online friendship. Meanwhile, Maddie’s bookstore is floundering and she is struggling to keep it open. As far as romance, Maddie doesn’t have anyone in her life. Her bookstore and her books are her entire world.
My Thoughts:
The following are my thoughts about this book:
- The book started out great and I had to chuckle over a comment from the reviewer..... 😂. "I’ve felt more chemistry between my kitchen appliances.". OMG, too funny. I'll have to remember this.
- I loved Layla (Maddie's best friend). Your best friend should be able to be brutally honest, it's a sign of true friendship. Although Layla could have been more compassionate in her delivery, she's just like me and definitely doesn't hold back when delivering the truth (maybe that's why I liked her so much, lol). “Remember. You signed up for this. You can’t now complain that your diamond shoes are too tight.”
- Maddie’s scathing e-mail to Silver Fox in response to his review was completely unprofessional. If an author did this to me I would be furious. It certainly didn’t make me like the heroine
- Well, ok. I can’t honestly say I’ve ever contemplated how to describe a man’s facial hair....but then again, I’m not a writer 🙂🤷♀️ “As a writer and a connoisseur of scruff, I lamented the dearth of words to describe the beauty of a man’s facial hair.”
- I heard this all throughout my childhood, and it’s not a lie 😉 ”The phrase “knee-high by the fourth of July” was a lie.” 🌽 🌾
- Maddie started to irritate me because of the way she saw Max. I saw him as trying to be helpful and offering opinions about how to help her business. Maddie clearly had a different opinion of his motives and I disliked that she constantly found fault with his suggestions. “If I were Rapunzel and Max showed up at the foot of my castle, I’d cut off my own hair to prove I could take care of myself, thank you very much.”. 😏😡
- I loved Maddie's mom. She was a fantastic single-mom.
- OMG.....all the way up to 55% before there was any romance between the H/h. In fact, the book had not even really pointed out a definite H. I had a good guess, but no romantic interaction until the first kiss at 55% Ugh!!! 😠 You can’t build chemistry and steam if you don’t even know who the H is. 👎
- With no real romantic interest in the first part of the book, it became a bit of a snooze fest 😴
- 61%, she kissed a different guy
- 66%, she kissed yet another guy. So, she kissed 2 different guys since the one at 55%. How can you build chemistry between a H/h when the h is confused and goes around kissing other guys? IMO....you can’t.
- Only from the h POV, so I didn’t feel like I knew the H at all. Sad, because I think I really would have swooned over him.
- If you don’t know the "classic" romance stories by Austen, Bronte, Alcott, etc., you won’t understand a lot of the references Maddie uses for book Hero’s (Darcy, Rochester, Frederick Bhaer, Rhett Butler, etc.)
- Having said that, Maddie annoyed me with her constant comparisons to real life and fictional book characters. I felt like she wasn’t able to really live in the here and now. She measured every man against a fictional book hero. Argh 😤 “I used to think you were my Laurie, but you’ve always been my Gilbert Blythe, haven’t you? Gilbert was always going to end up with Anne Shirley.” “Maddie, I’ve never been Gilbert Blythe. I’ve always been (name hidden). His nostrils flared, but his voice remained calm. “I’m not a hero in a book. I’m just me. I’ve been waiting for you to get your head out of the clouds long enough to see me, right here, just me.”. Thank God someone finally said it!!
Overall:
I thought it started out good, but when it became clear the story didn’t even have a clear Hero nor a budding romantic relationship to root for, it became very boring. Maddie finally kissed the hero at 55% and then no romance for them again until the end of the book. Maddie’s inability to view any man without comparison to a fictional book hero became frustrating. After awhile it just made her seem a bit wacky in the head. Unfortunately this would not be a book I recommend.
———————————————
- POV: heroine POV only
- Tropes: secret identity (online alias), friends to lovers, childhood best friend, best friend’s brother
- H likable? Because Maddie didn’t have a romantic relationships with the Hero until the very end of the book, he just felt like another character in the book and didn’t stand out like a Hero character should.
- h likable? she annoyed me
- h virgin? No
- First time they kiss: 55%
- First time they sleep together: 99%
- steamy? No
- OW/OM drama? Maddie’s indecisiveness about men was really the only drama.
- H/h cheat? seeing as there was no relationship, there couldn’t be any cheating (even if she shared a kiss with a few others guys)
- Did I skip pages? Yes
- Big secrets? Yes
- Did I cry? No
- Did I laugh? I chuckled a few times
- Cliffhanger? no
- Epilogue? no
- Recommend? no
Quotes
“If I hadn’t known him since he’d worn diapers, I might have pictured him as the hero of some paperback romance”
“You know, the fact that you won’t lean on your support system doesn’t make you stronger.”
“I know you want to believe in happy-ever-after, but you don’t always get an after. You have to try to be happy now.”
“He was serious and reliable.”
She wrinkled her nose. “So are most vibrators.”
“Do you honestly think you’d be living happily-ever-after in a castle with your Prince Charming if Peter hadn’t run off at the stroke of midnight when he discovered all your nicely dressed friends were just jumped-up mice?”
“No, Maddie. You are the one in love with an idea. You’re so enamored with this narrative you’ve constructed you can’t even see the story unfolding before you.”
“I’d just like to see you take a chance on someone. You’re going to over-judge every single guy against unrealistic expectations, and nobody will measure up.”
Major Character
Maddie (late 20's, book store owner):
Three things about Maddie:
- Her first book is on the cusp of being published and she's writing on her next book.
- She co-owns her book store with her ex fiancé (who left her at the altar and moved to a larger city). “Ever since my fiancé, my groom, my husband-to-be failed to show up to our wedding, leaving me humiliated at the altar, all we ever did was fight over the business we shared.”
- She loves her hometown and doesn't want to ever leave it
Some quotes about Maddie:
“Small pieces of my soul remained unfulfilled. I’d been abandoned by the one man who’d promised me forever, but that was only one hole in my heart.”
“After so many years studying other authors, I longed to move from behind the cash register to the shelves myself.”
“my bookstore was foundering and I was afraid I’d end up alone thanks to my pig-headed independence.”
The Story:
Maddie is a bookstore owner, a soon to be published author and a jilted bride. She receives a 3 star review and some negative comments from a blogger who receives an ARC. In a drunken state, she decides to write a scathing response to the blogger. Before long they begin to see things from the other’s POV, apologize and begin an online friendship. Meanwhile, Maddie’s bookstore is floundering and she is struggling to keep it open. As far as romance, Maddie doesn’t have anyone in her life. Her bookstore and her books are her entire world.
My Thoughts:
The following are my thoughts about this book:
- The book started out great and I had to chuckle over a comment from the reviewer..... 😂. "I’ve felt more chemistry between my kitchen appliances.". OMG, too funny. I'll have to remember this.
- I loved Layla (Maddie's best friend). Your best friend should be able to be brutally honest, it's a sign of true friendship. Although Layla could have been more compassionate in her delivery, she's just like me and definitely doesn't hold back when delivering the truth (maybe that's why I liked her so much, lol). “Remember. You signed up for this. You can’t now complain that your diamond shoes are too tight.”
- Maddie’s scathing e-mail to Silver Fox in response to his review was completely unprofessional. If an author did this to me I would be furious. It certainly didn’t make me like the heroine
- Well, ok. I can’t honestly say I’ve ever contemplated how to describe a man’s facial hair....but then again, I’m not a writer 🙂🤷♀️ “As a writer and a connoisseur of scruff, I lamented the dearth of words to describe the beauty of a man’s facial hair.”
- I heard this all throughout my childhood, and it’s not a lie 😉 ”The phrase “knee-high by the fourth of July” was a lie.” 🌽 🌾
- Maddie started to irritate me because of the way she saw Max. I saw him as trying to be helpful and offering opinions about how to help her business. Maddie clearly had a different opinion of his motives and I disliked that she constantly found fault with his suggestions. “If I were Rapunzel and Max showed up at the foot of my castle, I’d cut off my own hair to prove I could take care of myself, thank you very much.”. 😏😡
- I loved Maddie's mom. She was a fantastic single-mom.
- OMG.....all the way up to 55% before there was any romance between the H/h. In fact, the book had not even really pointed out a definite H. I had a good guess, but no romantic interaction until the first kiss at 55% Ugh!!! 😠 You can’t build chemistry and steam if you don’t even know who the H is. 👎
- With no real romantic interest in the first part of the book, it became a bit of a snooze fest 😴
- 61%, she kissed a different guy
- 66%, she kissed yet another guy. So, she kissed 2 different guys since the one at 55%. How can you build chemistry between a H/h when the h is confused and goes around kissing other guys? IMO....you can’t.
- Only from the h POV, so I didn’t feel like I knew the H at all. Sad, because I think I really would have swooned over him.
- If you don’t know the "classic" romance stories by Austen, Bronte, Alcott, etc., you won’t understand a lot of the references Maddie uses for book Hero’s (Darcy, Rochester, Frederick Bhaer, Rhett Butler, etc.)
- Having said that, Maddie annoyed me with her constant comparisons to real life and fictional book characters. I felt like she wasn’t able to really live in the here and now. She measured every man against a fictional book hero. Argh 😤 “I used to think you were my Laurie, but you’ve always been my Gilbert Blythe, haven’t you? Gilbert was always going to end up with Anne Shirley.” “Maddie, I’ve never been Gilbert Blythe. I’ve always been (name hidden). His nostrils flared, but his voice remained calm. “I’m not a hero in a book. I’m just me. I’ve been waiting for you to get your head out of the clouds long enough to see me, right here, just me.”. Thank God someone finally said it!!
Overall:
I thought it started out good, but when it became clear the story didn’t even have a clear Hero nor a budding romantic relationship to root for, it became very boring. Maddie finally kissed the hero at 55% and then no romance for them again until the end of the book. Maddie’s inability to view any man without comparison to a fictional book hero became frustrating. After awhile it just made her seem a bit wacky in the head. Unfortunately this would not be a book I recommend.
———————————————
- POV: heroine POV only
- Tropes: secret identity (online alias), friends to lovers, childhood best friend, best friend’s brother
- H likable? Because Maddie didn’t have a romantic relationships with the Hero until the very end of the book, he just felt like another character in the book and didn’t stand out like a Hero character should.
- h likable? she annoyed me
- h virgin? No
- First time they kiss: 55%
- First time they sleep together: 99%
- steamy? No
- OW/OM drama? Maddie’s indecisiveness about men was really the only drama.
- H/h cheat? seeing as there was no relationship, there couldn’t be any cheating (even if she shared a kiss with a few others guys)
- Did I skip pages? Yes
- Big secrets? Yes
- Did I cry? No
- Did I laugh? I chuckled a few times
- Cliffhanger? no
- Epilogue? no
- Recommend? no
Quotes
“If I hadn’t known him since he’d worn diapers, I might have pictured him as the hero of some paperback romance”
“You know, the fact that you won’t lean on your support system doesn’t make you stronger.”
“I know you want to believe in happy-ever-after, but you don’t always get an after. You have to try to be happy now.”
“He was serious and reliable.”
She wrinkled her nose. “So are most vibrators.”
“Do you honestly think you’d be living happily-ever-after in a castle with your Prince Charming if Peter hadn’t run off at the stroke of midnight when he discovered all your nicely dressed friends were just jumped-up mice?”
“No, Maddie. You are the one in love with an idea. You’re so enamored with this narrative you’ve constructed you can’t even see the story unfolding before you.”
“I’d just like to see you take a chance on someone. You’re going to over-judge every single guy against unrealistic expectations, and nobody will measure up.”
June 30, 2019
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Emma Knight
Dating By The Book by Mary Ann Marlowe is the perfect read for a rainy day. With a mix fun romance, mystery, and never-ending book references, what’s not to love about this heart-warming book? Set in a small town book shop named the Mossy Stone, the story unfolds with Maddie, a soon-to-be published author, who is struggling to keep her business afloat. After receiving a negative review for her new book, she takes it into her own hands by replying to the online reviewer, Silver Fox. Little does she know that this one email leads her down an enlightening path of banter and friendship.
Finding a romance hero in real life seems pretty much impossible, but Maddie wants to prove to Silver Fox and herself that true romance is real. As you watch her journey through her past and current love affairs, there is an urge to root for everyone on her live life spectrum. Whether it be an ex-fiancé, an old flame, a cute regular customer, childhood friend, or even mysterious internet guy you really hope isn’t a total creep, you hope Maddie finds the love only books talk about.
Maddie is an easy character to relate with as she questions her love life constantly, struggles to keep her beloved bookshop afloat, and compares people she knows to book characters to try to understand their position better. Then again, while connecting similar traits to beloved fiction characters can have its charm, it becomes her downfall. As she puts labels and unneeded expectations on the friends surrounding her, it leaves little room for her opinion of them to change. Throughout the book, she learns not to judge people from their past actions and to instead look at them in a new light.
It’s great to see the incorporation of socialising through technology to watch how readers and writers can actually interact. Through a book review, Maddie gets to know one of her readers on a more personal level after multiple emails and messages exchanged. What makes this part of the book even more enjoyable is that you are constantly guessing who the mysterious ‘Silver Fox’ is. There are small hints towards each character which keeps you on your toes.
When a book adds multiple references to classic novels plus has book clubs within the book, you know you have picked up a gem. It’s fun to watch the individual characters have discussions about books and all you want to do is join in with them. Their witty banter and points about if the protagonist ended up with the right person leave you wanting to read the books over again.
At the centre of this novel is finding where your heart lies, whether it be a person or a place. It reminds us that love can be over-exaggerated in books sometimes and that it isn’t always fluffy or chasing after people in the rain. Love is not limited to a first kiss. That our heart can lie within a bookshop that is slowly falling apart.
"And when I write romance, yes, I want there to be chemistry and tension, but also respect and real palpable love. The kind that cab survives obstacles, separation, or cultural differences that render them ostensibly incompatible. That is romance."
Dating By The Book is a hidden gem that can be read in one go as you are sucked into the engaging characters and fun story that leaves you with an appreciation for bookstores along with the sense of belonging. This book is the feeling when you are curled up in the corner with a hot beverage and the warmth of a blanket. I highly recommend this book for a fresh sense of home and just because it makes you feel good.
Dating By The Book by Mary Ann Marlowe is the perfect read for a rainy day. With a mix fun romance, mystery, and never-ending book references, what’s not to love about this heart-warming book? Set in a small town book shop named the Mossy Stone, the story unfolds with Maddie, a soon-to-be published author, who is struggling to keep her business afloat. After receiving a negative review for her new book, she takes it into her own hands by replying to the online reviewer, Silver Fox. Little does she know that this one email leads her down an enlightening path of banter and friendship.
Finding a romance hero in real life seems pretty much impossible, but Maddie wants to prove to Silver Fox and herself that true romance is real. As you watch her journey through her past and current love affairs, there is an urge to root for everyone on her live life spectrum. Whether it be an ex-fiancé, an old flame, a cute regular customer, childhood friend, or even mysterious internet guy you really hope isn’t a total creep, you hope Maddie finds the love only books talk about.
Maddie is an easy character to relate with as she questions her love life constantly, struggles to keep her beloved bookshop afloat, and compares people she knows to book characters to try to understand their position better. Then again, while connecting similar traits to beloved fiction characters can have its charm, it becomes her downfall. As she puts labels and unneeded expectations on the friends surrounding her, it leaves little room for her opinion of them to change. Throughout the book, she learns not to judge people from their past actions and to instead look at them in a new light.
It’s great to see the incorporation of socialising through technology to watch how readers and writers can actually interact. Through a book review, Maddie gets to know one of her readers on a more personal level after multiple emails and messages exchanged. What makes this part of the book even more enjoyable is that you are constantly guessing who the mysterious ‘Silver Fox’ is. There are small hints towards each character which keeps you on your toes.
When a book adds multiple references to classic novels plus has book clubs within the book, you know you have picked up a gem. It’s fun to watch the individual characters have discussions about books and all you want to do is join in with them. Their witty banter and points about if the protagonist ended up with the right person leave you wanting to read the books over again.
At the centre of this novel is finding where your heart lies, whether it be a person or a place. It reminds us that love can be over-exaggerated in books sometimes and that it isn’t always fluffy or chasing after people in the rain. Love is not limited to a first kiss. That our heart can lie within a bookshop that is slowly falling apart.
"And when I write romance, yes, I want there to be chemistry and tension, but also respect and real palpable love. The kind that cab survives obstacles, separation, or cultural differences that render them ostensibly incompatible. That is romance."
Dating By The Book is a hidden gem that can be read in one go as you are sucked into the engaging characters and fun story that leaves you with an appreciation for bookstores along with the sense of belonging. This book is the feeling when you are curled up in the corner with a hot beverage and the warmth of a blanket. I highly recommend this book for a fresh sense of home and just because it makes you feel good.
June 27, 2019
By all intents and purposes, Dating by the Book should have worked for me. Cute bookstore owner who writes under a pen name to stay private, friends to lovers tropes, romance with a book reviewer and more. But something was missing here. It's hard to put my finger on exactly what it was but the best way to sum it up is that the characters never really leaped off the page for me and the "surprise" was exactly what I thought from page one. There is some light steam in this one but nothing too much for those of you who prefer it on the mild side. I won't give up on Marlowe in the future but this one just wasn't a winner for me.
Thank you to Kensington Books for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Kensington Books for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
January 28, 2019
As I was reading this book (I received an ARC and yes, you should be envious) I kept thinking how sweet it was. How cute. How easy it was to read, and how relatable all the characters are. But once I finished and realized how many layers this book has, I was even more impressed. It's still sweet and cute, and if you devour it in one sitting like I did, that might be all you need. However, there are similarities between happenings in the main character Maddie's life and the selections she offers up to the participants at her failing bookstore's reading club. Even if you're not intimately familiar with those titles, you will be deftly guided toward seeing the parallels between them and the goings-on in Maddie's life.
To complicate matters, Maddie's sworn off romance but when her upcoming release under a pen name garners a harsh review from anonymous blogger Silver Fox, she breaks the first rule of negative reviews and argues back. As Maddie and Silver Fox become closer online, the potential romantic heroes of her day-to-day life become frustratingly difficult offline. There are a few mysteries thrown into the mix: could one of her bachelor friends be the mysterious reviewer, or is Silver Fox truly a stranger? And which one of them, if any, is sabotaging her bookstore? It's not just the graffiti on the front door: a series of mishaps occur...could the person behind them be her ex-fiance, who has her over a financial barrel? The childhood friend eager to turn the bookstore into a cafe? The ex-boyfriend rock star who wants her back? Or the English teacher who's allegedly only there for the sweets and free wifi, but clearly has something else up his sleeve?
As the complexities of Maddie's situation broil and stew, her online relationship with anonymous reviewer Silver Fox heats up. Uncovering Silver Fox's identity will be a delicious treat for readers of this book.
Five stars because it's fun, breezy, and far more complex than it seems on the surface. Thank you, Mary Ann, for another wonderful book.
To complicate matters, Maddie's sworn off romance but when her upcoming release under a pen name garners a harsh review from anonymous blogger Silver Fox, she breaks the first rule of negative reviews and argues back. As Maddie and Silver Fox become closer online, the potential romantic heroes of her day-to-day life become frustratingly difficult offline. There are a few mysteries thrown into the mix: could one of her bachelor friends be the mysterious reviewer, or is Silver Fox truly a stranger? And which one of them, if any, is sabotaging her bookstore? It's not just the graffiti on the front door: a series of mishaps occur...could the person behind them be her ex-fiance, who has her over a financial barrel? The childhood friend eager to turn the bookstore into a cafe? The ex-boyfriend rock star who wants her back? Or the English teacher who's allegedly only there for the sweets and free wifi, but clearly has something else up his sleeve?
As the complexities of Maddie's situation broil and stew, her online relationship with anonymous reviewer Silver Fox heats up. Uncovering Silver Fox's identity will be a delicious treat for readers of this book.
Five stars because it's fun, breezy, and far more complex than it seems on the surface. Thank you, Mary Ann, for another wonderful book.
October 30, 2018
I read an early copy of this hilarious, romantic book. It’s infused with all of Marlowe’s trademark humor and wit—the characters are so alive they practically step off the page. No spoilers, but good luck guessing which guy Maddie chooses. This book is like The Bachelorette, but for smart people. :)
November 20, 2019
D- review: https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/r...
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
January 30, 2019
Smart. Fun. HOT. Tension-filled. The web Maddie weaves turns into an awesome plot!
This book is like a warm hug. Set in the small town of Orion, the heroine is the perfect mix of Lizzie Bennett and Jo March. Maddie wants to be independent and awesome, but she's also seeking love in all the wrong places...or is she?
I laughed out loud several times over her antics--both relatable and blush-worthy. The heroes (and ultimate hero) of the book are charming, hot, and, well, they make me want to visit a small town. They are where the hotties are at! I was rooting for them all (except one stinker) until my heart started tugging me toward one. Rarely do I get so invested, but, honestly, I didn't know how Maddie was going to sort her life until the very end. And then I had myself a little sigh of relief on the last page (which, you should read with a fan. It's sizzling). Do yourself a favor, though, and read the entire thing. It makes the ending so much better.
I love this authoress:)
This book is like a warm hug. Set in the small town of Orion, the heroine is the perfect mix of Lizzie Bennett and Jo March. Maddie wants to be independent and awesome, but she's also seeking love in all the wrong places...or is she?
I laughed out loud several times over her antics--both relatable and blush-worthy. The heroes (and ultimate hero) of the book are charming, hot, and, well, they make me want to visit a small town. They are where the hotties are at! I was rooting for them all (except one stinker) until my heart started tugging me toward one. Rarely do I get so invested, but, honestly, I didn't know how Maddie was going to sort her life until the very end. And then I had myself a little sigh of relief on the last page (which, you should read with a fan. It's sizzling). Do yourself a favor, though, and read the entire thing. It makes the ending so much better.
I love this authoress:)
May 16, 2019
3 stars
The whole time while reading this book, I thought about the main character, Maddie Hanson, emailing me about giving her story 3 stars.
This book was ok...and that is the best I can say about it. I felt like I was being ping ponged all over the with her possible love interests. To be honest, she was a little selfish. Like her book. I felt no romantic connection with her and any of the the men.
The whole time while reading this book, I thought about the main character, Maddie Hanson, emailing me about giving her story 3 stars.
This book was ok...and that is the best I can say about it. I felt like I was being ping ponged all over the with her possible love interests. To be honest, she was a little selfish. Like her book. I felt no romantic connection with her and any of the the men.
January 14, 2019
I received an ARC which does not influence my review.
Title: A new voice from Mary Ann Marlow!
Her readers will be delightfully surprised by this book. Kind of a Jane Austen take on life and love with humor and a darn good puzzle!
Enjoy!
Title: A new voice from Mary Ann Marlow!
Her readers will be delightfully surprised by this book. Kind of a Jane Austen take on life and love with humor and a darn good puzzle!
Enjoy!
July 31, 2019
Poorly written with shallow, unlikable characters. Very disappointing.
May 30, 2019
How did author Marlowe know to pen a character after my own heart? Maddie owns a rustic bookstore/café in her small town! Ummmm…This is my absolute dream of all dreams! Since I basically want to be Maddie, I read his book as if I was her - well without the romance. Sadly.
Maddie struggles to keep her bookstore afloat due to it being in a small town, few sales, some sabotage from a fellow business owner, a rectangle of a love life and most of all - herself! Yep – for most of this book, Maddie is her own worst enemy! Thank goodness, she clues herself in by the end and we get a happy ending. What I loved about this book is the multiple places it went. It felt like four fully developed novellas that the author artfully intermingled into one really good story! There was never a time when I was unclear as to what was happening but it was all entangled so well – this had to be a bear of a book to develop!
Maddie writes a book under a pen name and ends up in an online push/pull electronic relationship with an early critic of her book. They have wildly abandoned conversations while debating the merits of intimacy in romance. They do this while discussing books like The Little Prince, Pride & Prejudice and Little Women! Then there’s her friendship with her best customer, Charlie. This relationship also has ups and downs with unexpressed feelings and emotions between the two of them throughout the book. Charlie seems like a super nice guy! Maddie also has to contend with Dylan, her sexy rock star ex who just happens to be back in town to find himself and his music again – and maybe her if she’ll participate. Peter is her ex-fiancé who left her at the alter when it was determined that she would not leave her bookstore and the town for him and finally, there is Max. Sigh…Max….Max is the guy next door that grew up with Maddie; in fact, she’s best friends with his sister, Layla. Max is everything that Maddie needs and wants but of course – she doesn’t see that! How could she! She is a busy women with a lot of men, feelings and books to juggle! I won’t spoil the book but I will say that I love where it goes and where it ended up! It’s a twisty fun journey that will be sure to make your day at the beach extra fabulous! I sure had a fun time “being Maddie” for just a little while! This is the perfect book for summer! Oh, and it will want to make you re-read some of the classics!
Maddie struggles to keep her bookstore afloat due to it being in a small town, few sales, some sabotage from a fellow business owner, a rectangle of a love life and most of all - herself! Yep – for most of this book, Maddie is her own worst enemy! Thank goodness, she clues herself in by the end and we get a happy ending. What I loved about this book is the multiple places it went. It felt like four fully developed novellas that the author artfully intermingled into one really good story! There was never a time when I was unclear as to what was happening but it was all entangled so well – this had to be a bear of a book to develop!
Maddie writes a book under a pen name and ends up in an online push/pull electronic relationship with an early critic of her book. They have wildly abandoned conversations while debating the merits of intimacy in romance. They do this while discussing books like The Little Prince, Pride & Prejudice and Little Women! Then there’s her friendship with her best customer, Charlie. This relationship also has ups and downs with unexpressed feelings and emotions between the two of them throughout the book. Charlie seems like a super nice guy! Maddie also has to contend with Dylan, her sexy rock star ex who just happens to be back in town to find himself and his music again – and maybe her if she’ll participate. Peter is her ex-fiancé who left her at the alter when it was determined that she would not leave her bookstore and the town for him and finally, there is Max. Sigh…Max….Max is the guy next door that grew up with Maddie; in fact, she’s best friends with his sister, Layla. Max is everything that Maddie needs and wants but of course – she doesn’t see that! How could she! She is a busy women with a lot of men, feelings and books to juggle! I won’t spoil the book but I will say that I love where it goes and where it ended up! It’s a twisty fun journey that will be sure to make your day at the beach extra fabulous! I sure had a fun time “being Maddie” for just a little while! This is the perfect book for summer! Oh, and it will want to make you re-read some of the classics!
August 21, 2019
Sigh , The writing was good ..... Too much romance for me I need to stick to cozies , I love murder 😈
June 25, 2019
This was my first book by Mary Ann Marlowe. Wonderfully written. The book takes an ordinary woman through the twists and turns of life. It will be a warm hug the entire time you read. I have to tell you, that this book is definitely of the most fun books that I read all year. Will recommend to anyone that wants a vacation read!!
June 24, 2019
Ever had four men interested in you at the same time? Yeah, me neither. There is Dylan, Maddie’s rock star first boyfriend recently in town again, and looking to rekindle their passionate connection. Followed up by Charlie, her one true loyal customer who comes into her bookshop everyday. What might lack in passion, he definitely makes up in intellectual discussions and common interests.
Or what about Peter, Maddie’s ex-fiance who left her at the altar, and also still owns half of her bookstore. Regret might be a bit too late, and I never fully understood why she was giving this guy even a chance to grovel. And then there is Max, the guy next door/brother of best friend/boy she grew up with. While Maddie might think he has a superiority complex, seeing him as a potential love interest doesn’t occur to her until some unexpected kissing.
Oh, and on top of all of that there is Silver Fox, a book blogger who gave her debut novel a mediocre review, and now they’re pen pals. Who is probably one of the above mentioned men.
Yes, there is a lot going on. It’s not only Maddie’s love life that is a mess, her bookshop isn’t doing well either, and a lot of freak accidents are making it even harder. While I loved the setup of Dating by the Book, I feel it could have done with less love interests, certainly when it was so clear from the start who Maddie would end up with.
Also for someone who wrote a fantasy romance novel, I was a bit surprised how Maddie’s choices for her weekly book club were only eighteen hundred classics, and how she shunned the idea of trying something more recent. For me this showed how stuck she was, trying to play it safe when it came to her book shop and her love life.
I was definitely there for Maddie trying to pave her own way, and not wanting to give up her hope and dreams to fit in with the men’s lives. A man can chase his own dreams, while also support a women in her ambition, they’re not mutually exclusive.
I do would have loved to get to know some of the men better. Because there were so many, a lot of the interactions between Maddie and the men felt fleeting. There were no real unexpected plot twists, and there is a happy ending. Dating by the Book was fun, and sometimes me and Maddie were butting heads, but she pulled through in the end.
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
Or what about Peter, Maddie’s ex-fiance who left her at the altar, and also still owns half of her bookstore. Regret might be a bit too late, and I never fully understood why she was giving this guy even a chance to grovel. And then there is Max, the guy next door/brother of best friend/boy she grew up with. While Maddie might think he has a superiority complex, seeing him as a potential love interest doesn’t occur to her until some unexpected kissing.
Oh, and on top of all of that there is Silver Fox, a book blogger who gave her debut novel a mediocre review, and now they’re pen pals. Who is probably one of the above mentioned men.
Yes, there is a lot going on. It’s not only Maddie’s love life that is a mess, her bookshop isn’t doing well either, and a lot of freak accidents are making it even harder. While I loved the setup of Dating by the Book, I feel it could have done with less love interests, certainly when it was so clear from the start who Maddie would end up with.
Also for someone who wrote a fantasy romance novel, I was a bit surprised how Maddie’s choices for her weekly book club were only eighteen hundred classics, and how she shunned the idea of trying something more recent. For me this showed how stuck she was, trying to play it safe when it came to her book shop and her love life.
I was definitely there for Maddie trying to pave her own way, and not wanting to give up her hope and dreams to fit in with the men’s lives. A man can chase his own dreams, while also support a women in her ambition, they’re not mutually exclusive.
I do would have loved to get to know some of the men better. Because there were so many, a lot of the interactions between Maddie and the men felt fleeting. There were no real unexpected plot twists, and there is a happy ending. Dating by the Book was fun, and sometimes me and Maddie were butting heads, but she pulled through in the end.
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
June 4, 2019
ARC courtesy of Netgalley
I thought highly of Marlowe's A Crazy Kind of Love, and so was pleased to see her latest book up on Netgalley. But I wasn't taken with this story about an extremely passive small town bookstore owner who, six months after being left at the altar, is on the cusp of having her first novel published. After reading a somewhat snarky review by a blogger ("Silver Fox") before the book comes out, Maddie can't resist writing back to the guy with some snark of her own. The two end up snarking, apologizing, then writing to each other about books, until soon they're sharing personal stories of their difficult romantic lives.
Of course, we know that one of the four men revolving around Maddie must be the aforementioned Silver Fox (we've seen Shop Around the Corner and You've Got Mail). Is it her ex-fiancee, who dumped Maddie because she wouldn't move back to Indianapolis with him and give up her bookstore dream? Her old high school boyfriend, newly returned to small town Indiana to rest up from his busy life as a rock star? The intellectual English professor who hangs out in the bookstore's coffee shop? Or the bossy childhood best friend, whom Maddie worries wants to take over her business?
Maddie herself seems strangely passive about the whole thing, waiting to see which guy declares himself without really trying to understand who SHE is attracted to, who SHE wants to make a life with. The exchanges between Maddie and Silver Fox are pretty bland, too, making it difficult for the reader to become invested in their developing relationship, or in figuring out which of the four potential guys he really is. Maybe because the story is told entirely from Maddie's POV, the story doesn't give us much of a sense of the personalities of any of the four men. It turns out to be somewhat of a process of elimination, as one candidate after another gradually reveals that he isn't the right man for her. And so her sudden leap into being sexually attracted to the final option feels rather contrived and unconvincing.
I thought highly of Marlowe's A Crazy Kind of Love, and so was pleased to see her latest book up on Netgalley. But I wasn't taken with this story about an extremely passive small town bookstore owner who, six months after being left at the altar, is on the cusp of having her first novel published. After reading a somewhat snarky review by a blogger ("Silver Fox") before the book comes out, Maddie can't resist writing back to the guy with some snark of her own. The two end up snarking, apologizing, then writing to each other about books, until soon they're sharing personal stories of their difficult romantic lives.
Of course, we know that one of the four men revolving around Maddie must be the aforementioned Silver Fox (we've seen Shop Around the Corner and You've Got Mail). Is it her ex-fiancee, who dumped Maddie because she wouldn't move back to Indianapolis with him and give up her bookstore dream? Her old high school boyfriend, newly returned to small town Indiana to rest up from his busy life as a rock star? The intellectual English professor who hangs out in the bookstore's coffee shop? Or the bossy childhood best friend, whom Maddie worries wants to take over her business?
Maddie herself seems strangely passive about the whole thing, waiting to see which guy declares himself without really trying to understand who SHE is attracted to, who SHE wants to make a life with. The exchanges between Maddie and Silver Fox are pretty bland, too, making it difficult for the reader to become invested in their developing relationship, or in figuring out which of the four potential guys he really is. Maybe because the story is told entirely from Maddie's POV, the story doesn't give us much of a sense of the personalities of any of the four men. It turns out to be somewhat of a process of elimination, as one candidate after another gradually reveals that he isn't the right man for her. And so her sudden leap into being sexually attracted to the final option feels rather contrived and unconvincing.
June 4, 2019
** All of my reviews can be found at theoxfordcommamomma.com **
Goodness, I am in such a funk right now with reading! I really wanted to love this book, but it just wasn’t for me.
I’ll start out with the things I enjoyed about this book! I really loved that the main character, Maddie, was an author, owned a bookstore, and ran her own book club. As a total book lover, this was so fun! I also enjoyed the talk about Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) and how the way you review a book can really be a huge deal to the author. As I’ve said before, I never want to bring an author down or make them think I don’t appreciate all the work they put in to publish a novel. However, each person has different opinions when reading a book and the beauty of it is that there is no “right” answer.
What didn’t really jive with me was the overall chaotic feeling of the characters and storyline. There was just a bit too much going on for my taste. I never fully connected with the main character or any of her love interests and, because of that, there was no one I was rooting for her to end up with.
I’d also like to note that if you enjoy many of the classics such as Pride & Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Little Women, Gone with the Wind, and The Little Prince, then I would guess that you may absolutely love this book! I, unfortunately, have yet to read any of the aforementioned titles so I felt a little lost during the book club discussions the characters in the book had.
While this book was just okay for me, please do not hesitate to pick it up! I have seen some rave reviews so I know I’m not necessarily in the majority.
Goodness, I am in such a funk right now with reading! I really wanted to love this book, but it just wasn’t for me.
I’ll start out with the things I enjoyed about this book! I really loved that the main character, Maddie, was an author, owned a bookstore, and ran her own book club. As a total book lover, this was so fun! I also enjoyed the talk about Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) and how the way you review a book can really be a huge deal to the author. As I’ve said before, I never want to bring an author down or make them think I don’t appreciate all the work they put in to publish a novel. However, each person has different opinions when reading a book and the beauty of it is that there is no “right” answer.
What didn’t really jive with me was the overall chaotic feeling of the characters and storyline. There was just a bit too much going on for my taste. I never fully connected with the main character or any of her love interests and, because of that, there was no one I was rooting for her to end up with.
I’d also like to note that if you enjoy many of the classics such as Pride & Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Little Women, Gone with the Wind, and The Little Prince, then I would guess that you may absolutely love this book! I, unfortunately, have yet to read any of the aforementioned titles so I felt a little lost during the book club discussions the characters in the book had.
While this book was just okay for me, please do not hesitate to pick it up! I have seen some rave reviews so I know I’m not necessarily in the majority.
January 5, 2019
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was so much fun to read! The classic small town and the fun twist on the movie YOU'VE GOT MAIL, this book is one that will leave the reader satisfied until the end.
While I'm a sucker for small town books (and the nosy, know-it-all secondary characters!), what I really loved was everything Maddie went through from owning her own business and the struggle to keep it afloat, being a young debut author and wading through the ups and downs of deadlines and reviews and her desire to find love, trying to see if perhaps she's overlooked something that has been in front of her all along--from her douche canoe ex, to Charlie the book nerd, Max her childhood neighbor and friend, Dylan--the sexy musician and the one who got away, and let's not forget the mysterious Silver Fox. Maddie's struggles with her love life and career were real, honest, and relatable to anyone who has ever struggled to make ends meet while following their heart.
While Maddie struggled to write romantic chemistry, Mary Ann Marlowe did not! From following Maddie's heart through each of her possible suitors, you find yourself rooting for the eventual couple in a sweet ending.
This book will be a great summer read when it hits the shelves later this year!
This book was so much fun to read! The classic small town and the fun twist on the movie YOU'VE GOT MAIL, this book is one that will leave the reader satisfied until the end.
While I'm a sucker for small town books (and the nosy, know-it-all secondary characters!), what I really loved was everything Maddie went through from owning her own business and the struggle to keep it afloat, being a young debut author and wading through the ups and downs of deadlines and reviews and her desire to find love, trying to see if perhaps she's overlooked something that has been in front of her all along--from her douche canoe ex, to Charlie the book nerd, Max her childhood neighbor and friend, Dylan--the sexy musician and the one who got away, and let's not forget the mysterious Silver Fox. Maddie's struggles with her love life and career were real, honest, and relatable to anyone who has ever struggled to make ends meet while following their heart.
While Maddie struggled to write romantic chemistry, Mary Ann Marlowe did not! From following Maddie's heart through each of her possible suitors, you find yourself rooting for the eventual couple in a sweet ending.
This book will be a great summer read when it hits the shelves later this year!
July 3, 2019
Mary Ann Marlowe always whisks me away with her writing, and Dating by the Book was no exception. From book club chats to the heartwarming quaintness of living in a small town, I sunk into every page of this book. I adored trying to figure out which dating prospect was her secret book reviewer, and which man she'd end up falling in love with. I also appreciated the heartfelt message woven into the theme: “I know you want to believe in happy-ever-after, but you don’t always get an after. You have to try to be happy now.”
September 15, 2019
Dating by the Book a such a great bookish rom-com! Maddie is a twenty-something bookstore owner, and secret author of fantasy novels. Books are such a big part of this novel which I loved, there's references to lots of classic novels and their romances. As things unfold Maddie tries to figure out how to keep her bookstore afloat and who her 'romantic hero' is and if she even wants one at all. I found the plot to be a little predictable, which is by no means bad because I love some good romance tropes. I suppose it just felt obvious to me who she would end up with from the start even though it could have been any of the men, that might have been the intended impression though. The only other negative that I have is that I found some of the writing to be a little awkward at times but that could just be me,
I wouldn't detract stars for this but I also need to confess that I passionately dislike the cover. I kind of just wish it did better justice to the book, the bright pink and the dress just don't seem to represent what's inside very well, in my opinion anyway. I could totally imagine a cute illustrated and slightly bookish cover, in the same vein as the ones on trend at the moment.
I adored this book, I was addicted and it had me reading until late to finish it because I really didn't want to put it down. I'm definitely planning on keeping an eye out for other books by Marlowe!
Thank you NetGalley and Kensigton book for a free review copy!
I wouldn't detract stars for this but I also need to confess that I passionately dislike the cover. I kind of just wish it did better justice to the book, the bright pink and the dress just don't seem to represent what's inside very well, in my opinion anyway. I could totally imagine a cute illustrated and slightly bookish cover, in the same vein as the ones on trend at the moment.
I adored this book, I was addicted and it had me reading until late to finish it because I really didn't want to put it down. I'm definitely planning on keeping an eye out for other books by Marlowe!
Thank you NetGalley and Kensigton book for a free review copy!
July 24, 2019
I feel kinda weird rating this book three stars since that's the crux of part of the book when an author receives a three-star review. Let me explain.
So Maddie is a small-town bookstore owner who is still reeling after her ex-fiance ditched her at the alter six months ago. She adores her bookstore and loves the people who make up her small town. But honestly, she was so wishy-washy to me. She wanted help from her "family" of townsfolk, but balks when people give her ideas to help her. She's so indecisive and somewhat annoying. Plus, I don't think it helped that I had just read "Waiting for Tom Hanks" in which the main character believes her life should reflect a rom-com. This book referenced Maddie's life and wanting a real-life book her to sweep her off her feet. (It also didn't help that I haven't read "Gone with the Wind," "Little Women," or "Pride and Prejudice" to get all the references.)
Her old flame Dylan comes back into town, and he's now a rockstar. He was rather charming and I don't understand why she didn't act out on a lot of her desires with him. Max runs the bakery next door with his mom and Layla is Maddie's best friend and Max's sister. He's rather critical of Maddie. And then there's Peter who's her ex-fiance and has co-signed the bookstore's mortgage with her. And we can't forget Charlie, who comes to the bookstore every day to grade papers since he's a professor.
So Maddie writes a book on the sly using a pen name and ends up reading a review that wasn't that positive. She ends up emailing the reviewer (Silver Fox), and the two start a banter that turns into confessions. Now honestly, what are the odds that she would know Silver Fox? I was getting annoyed as to the fact that it wasn't divulged as to which one of the guys he was.
I really didn't even care who the real identity of Silver Fox was because the story just went on awhile. And I ended up skimming a lot of the parts when they texted each other. And the ending was just too "perfect" with everything wrapped up in a bow. It just wasn't for me.
So Maddie is a small-town bookstore owner who is still reeling after her ex-fiance ditched her at the alter six months ago. She adores her bookstore and loves the people who make up her small town. But honestly, she was so wishy-washy to me. She wanted help from her "family" of townsfolk, but balks when people give her ideas to help her. She's so indecisive and somewhat annoying. Plus, I don't think it helped that I had just read "Waiting for Tom Hanks" in which the main character believes her life should reflect a rom-com. This book referenced Maddie's life and wanting a real-life book her to sweep her off her feet. (It also didn't help that I haven't read "Gone with the Wind," "Little Women," or "Pride and Prejudice" to get all the references.)
Her old flame Dylan comes back into town, and he's now a rockstar. He was rather charming and I don't understand why she didn't act out on a lot of her desires with him. Max runs the bakery next door with his mom and Layla is Maddie's best friend and Max's sister. He's rather critical of Maddie. And then there's Peter who's her ex-fiance and has co-signed the bookstore's mortgage with her. And we can't forget Charlie, who comes to the bookstore every day to grade papers since he's a professor.
So Maddie writes a book on the sly using a pen name and ends up reading a review that wasn't that positive. She ends up emailing the reviewer (Silver Fox), and the two start a banter that turns into confessions. Now honestly, what are the odds that she would know Silver Fox? I was getting annoyed as to the fact that it wasn't divulged as to which one of the guys he was.
I really didn't even care who the real identity of Silver Fox was because the story just went on awhile. And I ended up skimming a lot of the parts when they texted each other. And the ending was just too "perfect" with everything wrapped up in a bow. It just wasn't for me.
July 4, 2019
This was a decent read. I really liked the premise of it; it sounded super cute and I'm the BIGGEST closet romantic so I though this was perfect. But. It wasn't. I liked all the characters; Max is the actual love of my life sorry not sorry. But the plot fell very flat. Absolutely nothing big really happened. I could pretty much guess all of the plot twists which kind of made me skim through a few chapters.
The one thing that really made me keep pulling through was the fact that this was so relatable. Like, this could actually happen in real life, and that made me appreciate the story more, because it wasn't fantasy, or made up. The romance wasn't over dramatic and I didn't roll my eyes at any of the scenes or dialogue so that was a huge thumbs up!
Anyways, I think people should give it a whirl. I think readers will over look the boring spots in the book because the romance is worth it!
The one thing that really made me keep pulling through was the fact that this was so relatable. Like, this could actually happen in real life, and that made me appreciate the story more, because it wasn't fantasy, or made up. The romance wasn't over dramatic and I didn't roll my eyes at any of the scenes or dialogue so that was a huge thumbs up!
Anyways, I think people should give it a whirl. I think readers will over look the boring spots in the book because the romance is worth it!
October 21, 2021
Es tut mir leid, das so schonungslos sagen zu müssen, aber das war verschwendete Lebenszeit. Der Schreibstil hat überhaupt nicht meinen Geschmack getroffen - das war weder locker-flockig, noch poetisch, mehr wie ein Aufsatz eines Teenagers -, könnte aber natürlich an der Übersetzung gelegen haben. Die Charaktere waren recht eindimensional und besonders die Protagonistin ist mir extrem auf die Nerven gegangen - im Prinzip gibt es vier Männer in ihrem Leben und natürlich sind alle potentiell irgendwie an ihr interessiert und sie projeziert munter ihre Vorstellungen in sie hinein. Am schlimmsten fand ich, wie wenig selbstbestimmt sie in manchen Situationen handelt, so als wäre sie eine Sklavin ihrer Libido (die dazu noch überaus schlecht beschrieben ist). Nein, das war wirklich gar nichts für mich, abbrechen wäre da die bessere Wahl gewesen.
June 25, 2019
This is almost a five......
Madeleine Hanson, aka Maddie, knows where she wants to be - doing what she loves to do - but not who she wants to be with, or how she can succeed. Four men in her life is complicated: she almost married Peter - had a wildly free, intense High School relationship with Dylan - has an interesting mysterious customer named Charlie - and her BFF Layla's older brother Max, who's been a BFF & big brother to Maddie. But who is the mysterious Silver Fox book reviewer that has gotten under her skin when her secret authorship first novel is reviewed?
Things got a bit bogged down when Maddie was flipping & flopping making decisions but the plot was overall quite good and it has a HEA (Happy Ever After) that made sense all along.
Contains a reading group guide.
Madeleine Hanson, aka Maddie, knows where she wants to be - doing what she loves to do - but not who she wants to be with, or how she can succeed. Four men in her life is complicated: she almost married Peter - had a wildly free, intense High School relationship with Dylan - has an interesting mysterious customer named Charlie - and her BFF Layla's older brother Max, who's been a BFF & big brother to Maddie. But who is the mysterious Silver Fox book reviewer that has gotten under her skin when her secret authorship first novel is reviewed?
Things got a bit bogged down when Maddie was flipping & flopping making decisions but the plot was overall quite good and it has a HEA (Happy Ever After) that made sense all along.
Contains a reading group guide.
July 28, 2024
Maddie ist zwar anstrengend, aber eine Protagonistin mit gewissem indetifikationspotenzial für alle regelmäßigen Lesern von Romanzen.
Für meine Geschmack sind allerdings viel zu viele Bewerber für die Stelle des "romantischen Helden" vorhanden, die Hälfte hätte auch locker gereicht.
Dieser Männer Überschuss hatte jedoch den Effekt, dass ich zum ersten Mal bei einem romantischen Buch zwar ahnte mit wem sie zusammenkommt (ist ja bei solchen Büchern offensichtlich), aber dennoch hin und wieder mir meiner Theorie ins wanken geriet.
Sehr geliebt habe ich die Bezüge auf Klassiker, wie "Stolz und Vorurteil", "Jane Eyre", "der kleine Prinz" und weitere, sowie zum Lesen allgemein, z. B. das Maddie am liebsten zum nächsten Kapitel ihres Lebens springen würde etc.
Alles in allem eine recht süße (wobei auch zunehmend explizite 🫤) Geschichte, die mich etwas an "E-Mail für dich" erinnert hat.
Für meine Geschmack sind allerdings viel zu viele Bewerber für die Stelle des "romantischen Helden" vorhanden, die Hälfte hätte auch locker gereicht.
Dieser Männer Überschuss hatte jedoch den Effekt, dass ich zum ersten Mal bei einem romantischen Buch zwar ahnte mit wem sie zusammenkommt (ist ja bei solchen Büchern offensichtlich), aber dennoch hin und wieder mir meiner Theorie ins wanken geriet.
Sehr geliebt habe ich die Bezüge auf Klassiker, wie "Stolz und Vorurteil", "Jane Eyre", "der kleine Prinz" und weitere, sowie zum Lesen allgemein, z. B. das Maddie am liebsten zum nächsten Kapitel ihres Lebens springen würde etc.
Alles in allem eine recht süße (wobei auch zunehmend explizite 🫤) Geschichte, die mich etwas an "E-Mail für dich" erinnert hat.
July 12, 2019
Dating by the Book by Mary Ann Marlowe is an enjoyable sweet and fun romance, that kept me reading. Maddie Hanson is a romance author, but since she was left at the alter, romance is the last thing on her mind. When an anonymous blogger, Silver Fox, criticizes her for not knowing passion, the online bickering is on. This book was so fun, and I loved the ending. So perfect for a summer or beach read. I highly recommend this book, just read, relax and enjoy. I am looking to read more books by this author.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.
July 6, 2019
A difficult start for me, but midway through, after getting a grasp on the male characters in the story, the second half brought it home. The couple of unexpected twists and turns kept me entertained.
July 3, 2019
This heart-warming rom-com is truly a love letter too all of the things I love most about the bookish community. There’s a charming bookstore full of magic and joy, an author struggling to reconcile the career she loves with the harsh realities of incoming reviews, and a blogger with ostensibly something to prove. But in the midst of all of this bookish fun blooms a sexy romance that will warm your heart and make you cheer. What could be better than a little mistaken identity romance? One that blossoms between the seemingly most unlikely of lovers. I fell hook, line, and sinker with every flirty email and every missed connection. If you love swoon-worthy contemporary romance that just leaves you smiling with every page, you’ll love DATING BY THE BOOK!
April 5, 2020
Just one sentence ... what can first “You’ve Got Mail” (movie) or “Dating by the book”... if you know the answer ...: you know what is in the book 🙄
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