Date Night

Dating by Numbers

by Meghan Quinn

Alex and Lauren are married, madly in love and it’s their monthly date night. The kiddo is with a sitter, yummy takeout has been ordered and…wait…they have a murder to solve?

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Novella, Contemporary, Rom Com, Contemporary Romance, Humor

Audiobook

First published August 26, 2019

About the author

Like me on FB: https://www.facebook.com/meghanquinna...

When I was in high school I occasionally read books but was consumed by other teenage things so I didn't take the time to appreciate a good book on a cloudy day, wrapped up in a blanket on the couch. It wasn't until I received a Kindle for Christmas one year that my world completely flipped upside down. When looking for books I came across the Contemporary Romance genre and was sold and I haven't turned back since.

You can either find my head buried in my Kindle, listening to inspiring heart ripping music or typing away on the computer twisting and turning the lives of my characters while driving my readers crazy with anticipation.

​I currently reside in beautiful Colorado Springs where the sun is always shining and there is a trail waiting to be hiked on every corner. I share a lovely and warm home with the love of my life and my five, four-legged children.

Reviews

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a novella about a married couple that once a month get a night for themselves and do some role-playing.

It was an okay short read and I really liked how the H was talking about his wife in the last chapter. 3 ⭐

[Tracy C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally laughed out loud while listening to this in the car. Meghan Quinn is so funny!

[Steph's Romance Book Talk · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars / 3 Steam Fans

This is the perfect story to keep the spice in your marriage life. Lauren and Alex are married and they make time to have a date night once a month. During that date night they role-play different situations and this one is freaking hilarious. Meghan Quinn gives us super funny and sexy in a very relatable way.

This specific video review will be included in the August 2019 wrap-up.

For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.

[Antonella · Rating 4 out of 5]

short & funny
3,5⭐

[QuinnReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic Tits

Oh em gee! This had me in stitches, fake spiders, semi-naked video calls and all!

Lauren / Mary Sue and Alex / Clyde Weatherbottom are QUITE the couple! I love how they keep things fresh in their relationship on their date nights. It's abso-fucking-lutely hilarious and refreshing.

Lauren: “But I’ve always wanted to do it with a virgin. The fumbling hands, the uneasiness, not knowing where to stick it.”
Alex: “So, basically you want to relive the first time we had sex.”
Lauren: “Don’t you?”
Alex: “No.” I shake my head. “No, I really don’t.”
Lauren: “But it was so magical.”
Alex: “Uh . . .” I stare her down, blinking a few times. “Lauren, I stuck my finger in your ass thinking I was hitting your G-spot.”
Lauren: “Well, you hit a spot all right, but it didn’t start with a G.”
😂😂😂

These two really are awesome!

I listened to this on the Read Me Romance podcast and read along on my copy of the book. At the time of this review, these older episodes are still available (Episodes 43.1 & 43.2).

The narrator is Logan McAllister. I enjoyed listening to him. He was terrific. 😍

Story: 4.5 stars
Narration: 4.5 stars
Listening Speed: 1.5x

[Ren · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5-Murder-Stars.

I laughed out loud with this one.
Really excited to read the rest of the series!

(Also loved 🤠.)

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y’all this was absolutely hilarious. I was almost in tears laughing (while on public transportation). I got some looks from other passengers. I loved that this one is about an established couple trying to spice things up. Just what I expect from a Meghan Quinn rom com.

[Ｋａｔｅ · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎧 Read Me Romance 🎧

Thanks to this aural gem, I smiled, chuckled and LOL’d my way across 310kms of the (notoriously monotonous AF) Hay Plains, N.S.W.

My first Meghan Quinn book (*hangs head in acknowledgment of two MQ titles purchased previously...annnnd....not read*), I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Elsa Gomes (BookishAurora) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ehh this was fun and sexy but not nearly enough length to satiate me.

[Shari · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️: 4
🌶️: 4

🤠 novella
🤠 married couple
🤠 role play

A refreshingly relatable novella about a couple keeping the spice alive in their marriage. Complete with role playing and the unscripted, out of character, dialogue that happens in between and threatens to kill the mood.

I grabbed this free novella on Meghan’s website and I’m so glad that I did!

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️= open door, multiple scenes, descriptive

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the professionally narrated audiobook on the Read Me Romance Podcast for FREE!

Read Me Romance FREE Audiobooks ➝ https://bit.ly/2PzD65g

Listen for FREE here:
iTunes ➝ http://geni.us/A888vRA
Google Play ➝ http://geni.us/7lB4UBK
Stitcher ➝ https://bit.ly/2yX2zeH

[Sonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keeping it spicy in a marriage

It was a nice surprise hearing this at the end of See Me After Class, annnnnd, apparently, I had the ebook that was sent to me via bookfunnel at some point 😅 (thanks MQ).

Alex and Lauren have been married for years/together for 15 (and have a six-year old daughter), so once a month, they have Lauren’s sister (h from Three Blind Dates) watch their kid so that they can have an uninterrupted date night.

Every month, Lauren organizes this date night with a theme/storyline, and for this date night, they’re going to figure out who murdered Carl, the stable boy/teddy bear 😅. Of course, they’re role playing as Clyde and Mary Sue, who’s had a crush on Clyde for a long time now. Clyde’s a rancher who works for Mary Sue’s father.

Alex and Lauren adopt these roles like it’s nobody’s business, and they also can’t keep their hands to each other while solving the crime 👀.

Even though it’s short, we get some 🔥 and lots of tension.

We also get 🤣 and lighthearted moments lol.

I loooove that these two are so in love and attracted to each other 🥵. And Alex/Clyde’s all about pleasing his woman 😉. They’ve changed in the 15 years they’ve been together and love every curve, mark, and scar just as much or more so than before 🥹. They do whatever they can to keep the spark in their relationship and it’s definitely #goals 🫶🥰

It was an enjoyable listen/read. I loved it ❤️

Some of my favorite quotes:

The best part of date night you would think is the sex, right? The guaranteed sex, which without a doubt never fails to bring us both pleasure. But it’s not. It’s the role playing. The laughter. The smile I see on my wife’s face when I fall into whatever crazy story she’s set up. The chance to spend a fun and exciting night with my wife, without clammy little hands pawing at us. Well, and Martha. She really is creepy as hell. Noely is not wrong. Because Lauren isn’t just my wife, she’s my best friend. What gets me through a long day at work is knowing I get to come home to the girl of my dreams.

🥹🫶”What are you waiting for, cowboy?” Her charming smile reaches her eyes. “Just taking in the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” Her eyes soften. “Still believe that?” “Till the day I die.”

🤣”If you give me a hickey, I’ll hurt you.” “You said that last time and treated it like a medal of honor.” She laughs and sucks in a sharp breath when I pull tightly on her skin. “Just didn’t want to seem like a hussy. Please, continue what you’re doing.”

🫶 “Do you know what I truly love about you, Lauren?” “What?” I can feel her smile against my skin. “That you don’t look at a challenge as a hindrance, but rather than a chance to find joy in something new.” “Why sweat the small things, when you can learn from them and try to make them enjoyable?”

❤️Lifting her chin, I press her lips against mine and say, “Thank you for the perfect date night. You amaze me.” She kisses me back. “Thank you for dealing with my brand of crazy.” “I can’t live without your brand of crazy.” Thank fuck she can deal with mine. “Love you, beautiful wife.” “Love you too, studly husband.”

⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/sharing/owd/omd
-marking
-HEA

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super short. Cute though

[Kimberly / Love Notes Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. Quickie review: This was another book I listened to on the Read Me Romance podcast. I didn't really enjoy this book. The book was not bad, but the male narrator was terrible for me. He sounded like a formal newscaster reading a book. I'm not really interested in hearing this fun, sexy story told by Tom Brocaw. The story also was just a little slice of life with no real conflict or beginning and end. It wasn't bad but didn't feel like a real book. I was disappointed in this read.

[Miranda · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. 🤦🏻‍♀️ I’m not sure what I just read. Not the usual MQ books, the forced immature humor was just out there.
Doesn’t discourage me from reading her other books because they are good but this one I’m glad was a freebie.

[J.E. Benoit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize when I started this that it was about Noely's brother (from Three Blind Dates) and his wife. I remember them being a fun couple in that book and this was a cute little glimpse at one of their monthly date nights and how they keep the magic alive in their relationship. It's silly at times but I thought it was funny and it was worth the hour or so it takes to read it!

[Dar Nicholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re in any form of long-term relationship this book is for you. It’s so fun! This honestly gave me Bluey vibes in the least weird way possible. If Chili and Bandit were human they would be Lauren and Alex!

[Audiobook Obsessed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and funny! Plus definitely told what it’s like to be parents 😂

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so cute. Alex and Lauren are adorable together.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moderate short story. Not the best. Not the worst.

[Joey Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would be so fun!
I took notes. ;-)

[Alison (Ali's Books) Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just so freakin' entertaining! I had a smile on my face through the whole thing, with the exception of the very beginning that didn't seem to fit the rest of the story. It was super fun and imaginative, and I loved that it was about a married couple with zero drama involved. I definitely recommend this for a fun, quick read! 4.5 Stars

[Christie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun and very light-hearted audio novella about a married couple who have date night every month. This month, the wife sets up a cowboy-themed murder mystery.

As with all Meghan Quinn books, this was hilarious. I love reading about married couples and it was nice to listen to a 'slice of life', no drama novella for once. I've given this 3 stars just because not enough happened story-wise to rate it higher, and also the narrator's voice (the whole thing was told from the husband's perspective) was kind of weird. He sounded like a newscaster and so the sexual references made me laugh more than anything.

[mandy ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars!

Alex and Lauren were fantastic! So much love and humor packed in this short novella! Absolutely adored every second of it! Such a great couple and Alex *sigh* what a great husband to have! Lauren is one lucky lady! Definitely check this one out on the Read Me Romance podcast - it's so worth it!

[Jenny Bunting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to this on the Read Me Romance podcast for free.

I really liked the story and the narrator and it entertained me on commutes and during a workday.

It also looks like I will be reading Three Blind Dates now since I enjoyed the style of this book very much. I have read one other book from this author, The Locker Room.

[Georgina Parkin · Rating 1 out of 5]

These 'humour' type romances are never my thing they're just cringy for me to read because they never align with my humour, MQ's writing style just isn't going to be for me. If you like OTT funny you'd like it, but yeah, not me.

[HeadOverBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://headoverbooks.home.blog/

What it is about
Alex and Lauren have been married for years and one day a month they have a date night where they do something crazy. 

POV- first person from Alex

HEA/HFN- yes

Funny parts- yes

Sad parts- no

Love triangle- no

Insta-love- no

Cheating- no

Super insecure character- kind of

Trigger warning- none

Realistic scale- 3/5

Pick this up if
You want a hilarious novella. You like to read about couples who are already married. You want something steamy. 

Don’t pick this up if
You don’t like over the top humour. You don’t like novellas. You read the synopsis and think it’s a mystery.

BUY THE BOOK OR AUDIOBOOK HERE

I get asked how I read so many books. This is how I do it:
Kindle Unlimited (definitely worth it for romance readers)
Audible (2 free audiobooks for your first month); I have the Audible Premium Plus with 2 credits a month
Prime membership allows me to get new books at my doorstep fast (get the first month free). I have Prime Student which comes with a 6 month free trial.
Scribd
I also had Audible Escape but it got cancelled :(
But Audible Plus is supposed to have a lot of books across all genres

The perfect gifts for a loved one
Audible gift membership
Prime gift membership

(paid links)

[Dar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such fun, and so sexy, I belly laughed, and then had my breath taken away - absolutely loved every second of it!

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Cute but definitely cringeworthy.

[Claudia Pinillos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was sweet and sexy and hilarious and I loved every second of it.