Name: Lilia Fitipaldi's review of Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake
Item: Iris Kelly Doesn't Date
Rating: 5
Author: Lilia Fitipaldi

Ashley Herring Blake

From the author of Delilah Green Doesn't Care comes a new queer romcom in which a woman who refuses to date after her latest devastating breakup ends up fake-dating a woman with whom she had a horrible one-night stand while they both participate in a local theatre production. Perfect for fans of Alexandria Bellefleur, Casey McQuiston and Rosie Danan. Why readers love Ashley Herring Blake . . . 'A hot, frothy romcom with a relatable heart beating at its centre. I can't wait for the rest of the series!' Talia Hibbert 'A truly exquisite romance . . . I'm wildly in love with this book' Rachel Lynn Solomon 'A swoon-worthy, laugh-out-loud romp of a romance' Kosoko Jackson 'Snappy banter and seriously scorching chemistry; you'll need a very cold shower after this read!' Lana Harper 'Charming and entertaining . . . Blake's masterful blend of sexual tension and growing affection will have readers swooning' Karelia Stetz-Waters 'Snarky, steamy, and swoony in equal measure, I never wanted this book to end' Meryl Wilsner

Iris Kelly Doesn't Date

A fake relationship with a one-night stand is anything but an act in this witty and heartfelt new romantic comedy by Ashley Herring Blake.

Everyone around Iris Kelly is in love. Her best friends are all coupled up, her siblings have partners that are perfect for them, her parents are still in marital bliss. And she’s happy for all of them, truly. So what if she usually cries in her Lyft on the way home. So what if she misses her friends, who are so busy with their own wonderful love lives, they don’t really notice Iris is spiraling. At least she has a brand-new career writing romance novels (yes, she realizes the irony of it). She is now working on her second book but has one problem: she is completely out of ideas after having spent all of her romantic energy on her debut.

Perfectly happy to ignore her problems as per usual, Iris goes to a bar in Portland and meets a sexy stranger, Stefania, and a night of dancing and making out turns into the worst one-night stand Iris has had in her life (vomit and crying are regretfully involved). To get her mind off everything and overcome her writer's block, Iris tries out for a local play, but comes face-to-face with Stefania—or, Stevie, her real name. When Stevie desperately asks Iris to play along as her girlfriend, Iris is shocked, but goes along with it because maybe this fake relationship will actually get her creative juices flowing and she can get her book written. As the two women play the part of a couple, they turn into a constant state of hot-and-bothered and soon it just comes down to who will make the real first move…

It's giving Leighton Murray from sex life of college girls.

Nina Herder

"Fuck that!" she screamed to her empty apartment, her voice echoing off the walls. She swiped at her face, willing the tears to reverse their path. She pressed her palms to her kitchen counte breathing in... out ...

Jacqueline Jordan 

O fim perfeito pra uma trilogia deliciosa. 🥹💗🌈

Lilia Fitipaldi

Welcome to the Final book in the Bright Falls series and what a final instalment this is, and it felt very much like the Author left the best book to the end and what a perfect ending to the series. Once again It was amazing to get lost into the story, the setting and the characters.  

Iris Kelly and Stevie Scott are both looking for a one-night stand but after hooking up gone wrong, they do not expect to see each other again. However, fate brings them back together when they both end up auditioning for the local Much About Ado production. Each having their own reason, the two make a pact to fake date and help each other get through some personal barriers. Of course, with time, the line between fake and real starts to blur…

This had a fake dating as the trope in this one and I have to say that it was well executed. As I have come to expect in this series, I have loved the cameos of the friends and their partners who have this wonderful friendship group that help each other with everything.

The one drawback in this one was the third act break up made me a bit frustrated. I understand Stevie comes from a long way and it’s good she puts herself first at some point, but she hurts Iris and Iris’s wounds are as valid as Stevie’s. But I know that Blake is an expert at grand gesture scenes and this one might be my favourite.  

Bright falls was a fun, entertaining, sometimes moving series, portraying colourful and very different kind of women and it’s sad to say goodbye to them.

Ian Brakspear

Welcome to the Final book in the Bright Falls series and what a final instalment this is, and it felt very much like the Author left the best book to the end and what a perfect ending to the series. Once again It was amazing to get lost into the story, the setting and the characters.  

 

Iris Kelly and Stevie Scott are both looking for a one-night stand but after hooking up gone wrong, they do not expect to see each other again. However, fate brings them back together when they both end up auditioning for the local Much About Ado production. Each having their own reason, the two make a pact to fake date and help each other get through some personal barriers. Of course, with time, the line between fake and real starts to blur…

 

This had a fake dating as the trope in this one and I have to say that it was well executed. As I have come to expect in this series, I have loved the cameos of the friends and their partners who have this wonderful friendship group that help each other with everything.

The one drawback in this one was the third act break up made me a bit frustrated. I understand Stevie comes from a long way and it’s good she puts herself first at some point, but she hurts Iris and Iris’s wounds are as valid as Stevie’s. But I know that Blake is an expert at grand gesture scenes and this one might be my favourite.  

 

Bright falls was a fun, entertaining, sometimes moving series, portraying colourful and very different kind of women and it’s sad to say goodbye to them.

 

This series has come to an end and it was so good!!!  

I loved this series and would recommend to anyone!!!  

Brittany Peterson

This series has come to an end and it was so good!!!  

From this book you can expect;

- sapphic romance

- fake dating 

- community theatre 

- found family

- friend group series 

I loved this series and would recommend to anyone!!!  

A fake relationship after a horrible one-night stand is anything but an act in this witty and heartfelt new romantic comedy by Ashley Herring Blake. Everyone around Iris Kelly is in love. Her best friends are all coupled up, her siblings have partners that are perfect for them, and her parents are still blissfully married. And she’s happy for all of them, truly. Iris doesn’t want any of that—dating, love, romance. She’ll stick to her commitment-free hookups, thanks very much, except no one in her life will just let her be. Everyone wants to see her settled down, but she holds firmly to her no dating rule. There’s only one problem—Iris is a romance author facing an imminent deadline for her second book, and she’s completely out of ideas. Perfectly happy to ignore her problems as per usual, Iris goes to a bar in Portland and meets a sexy stranger, Stefania, and a night of dancing and making out turns into the worst one-night stand Iris has had in her life. To get her mind off everything, Iris tries out for the lead role in a local play, a queer retelling of Much Ado About Nothing, but comes face-to-face with Stefania, whose real name turns out to be Stevie. Desperate to save face in front of her friends, Stevie asks Iris to play along as her girlfriend. Iris is shocked, but when she realizes the arrangement might provide her with some much-needed romantic content for her book, she agrees. As the two women play the part of a happy couple, lines start to blur, and they’re left wondering who will make the real first move....

Wes Michaud

( I listened to the audiobook of this so I will also be talking about the narrator's performance) 
Iris Kelly Doesn't Date is the perfect conclusion to the Bright Falls series like every other book in the series it was the perfect mix of sweet, spicy, and messy. I've never been a huge fan of the fake dating trope but it worked for me in this book. seeing where the characters the previous books focused on is always nice. this book made my theater kid and writer heart sing. 
I was so happy to see that Kristen DiMercurio was narrating the audiobook for Iris Kelly as it just wouldn't feel like a Bright Falls book if she wasn't the one narrating it just like with the previous books in the series she did a wonderful job bringing the book and characters to life in a way you wouldn't get by just reading the physical book.

Once again, the Bright Falls series is my fave. It’s so nice to finally see yourself in characters for the first time in your life 💕

Molly

I can’t believe this series is over!! What a great wrap-up. It’s a standalone but I loved in particular seeing the original crew from a stranger’s set of eyes in MC Stevie. This book is everything I wanted Business or Pleasure by RLS to be (that one was so disappointing to me), this brought all the tension and didn’t overdo it in the fake dating or “lessons” aspect. I honestly loved the meet disaster and having two characters who are actually compatible have to make their way back from a failed one night stand and fun moments of forced proximity. There’s just so much I loved about this. 

Abigail

Brionna Palm

ADORE THIS BOOK. wishing i had read the bright falls series in order (even though i know it's not needed) but i'm still glad i read this one. i haven't felt this excited/happy to read a book series since middle school tbh

Love love love Iris and Stevie are magical together. 

Murphy-Ann Craig

(also my issues w/ the previous books still stand so... there's that yk.)

ash (smokedshelves)

i wish there was more theater :(

(also my issues w/ the previous books still stand so... there's that yk.)

When I first started reading this little series I didn't think it was gonna get any better than Delilah Green doesn't care BUT I was quickly proven wrong with Iris Parkers' story which was even better. 

Now, with the newest book of the three published and read, I think it's fair to say that i fell in love with the series and Ashley Herring Blakes' writing.

I love how every character is so unique, lovable and imperfect. As a reader you can not only relate to the characters but also learn from them. 

In this most recent book i especially appreciated the introduction of loads of new characters with different identities of all shape and color. Great representation of people of color and non binary folks such as Ren, Stevies best friend.

But not only the new characters were amazing to read about! We also got to see what all the people (we already know and love) from the previous books are up to AND seeing the friendgroup around Iris from her perspective really added another dimension to the group dynamic we thought we already knew.

Delilah Green doesn't care...

Iris Parker doesn't fail and now:

Iris Kelly doesn't date.

Well,

Ashley Herring Blake doesn't miss!

When I first started reading this little series I didn't think it was gonna get any better than Delilah Green doesn't care BUT I was quickly proven wrong with Iris Parkers' story which was even better. 

Now, with the newest book of the three published and read, I think it's fair to say that i fell in love with the series and Ashley Herring Blakes' writing.

I love how every character is so unique, lovable and imperfect. As a reader you can not only relate to the characters but also learn from them. 

In this most recent book i especially appreciated the introduction of loads of new characters with different identities of all shape and color. Great representation of people of color and non binary folks such as Ren, Stevies best friend.

But not only the new characters were amazing to read about! We also got to see what all the people (we already know and love) from the previous books are up to AND seeing the friendgroup around Iris from her perspective really added another dimension to the group dynamic we thought we already knew.

Hannah

girl who thinks she’s impossible to love, girl who loves her like it’s NOTHING. 
REALLY SWEET AND JUST WHAT IM LOOKING FOR, I will be reading the other books by this author. I loved the dual perspective and am so endeared to these girls.

sidenote: the bar in the book is called lush so the characters will be like “omg let’s go to lush tonight” and i’m immediately picturing like the retail bath bomb store but maybe that’s just me

Man, I just love Ashley Herring Blake’s writing so much. She is SO good at writing characters. How is that across 3 books and 6 romantic leads, I have found something personal about myself reflected in every character even though they all feel like distinct individuals from one another? I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book as much as the last two, as I found Iris to be a little cartoonish as a side character, but then this book came out of nowhere and said, “Yeah Iris is like that on purpose because she thinks everyone expects her to play that role and she’s afraid that no one will love her true self” and just sucker punched me right in the gut. I could write a whole essay about the dynamic she has with Stevie and how they both help each other grow, but I don’t want to get into spoilers. I just want to say I love this book and I love this series and I’m so sad it’s over but I’m also excited to see what the author does next! 

I could probably find something to critique about this book if I searched for it. But I’m giving it 5 stars because it was just such a joy to read, and this series means a lot to me because it makes me feel so damn SEEN. 

Cloudface

Man, I just love Ashley Herring Blake’s writing so much. She is SO good at writing characters. How is that across 3 books and 6 romantic leads, I have found something personal about myself reflected in every character even though they all feel like distinct individuals from one another? I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book as much as the last two, as I found Iris to be a little cartoonish as a side character, but then this book came out of nowhere and said, “Yeah Iris is like that on purpose because she thinks everyone expects her to play that role and she’s afraid that no one will love her true self” and just sucker punched me right in the gut. I could write a whole essay about the dynamic she has with Stevie and how they both help each other grow, but I don’t want to get into spoilers. I just want to say I love this book and I love this series and I’m so sad it’s over but I’m also excited to see what the author does next! 

I could probably find something to critique about this book if I searched for it. But I’m giving it 5 stars because it was just such a joy to read, and this series means a lot to me because it makes me feel so damn SEEN. 

Jacqueline Jordan &
Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake

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Jacqueline Jordan &
Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake