From the publisher:
A modern battle of the sexes about a journalist who hatches an elaborate plan to take down her professional rival, in a rom-com perfect for fans of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.
After a particularly brutal breakup, Cassidy Sutton has had it with dating. So when her grandmother gives her a 1950’s dating guide entitled 125 Tips to Hook a Husband, she decides to turn the retro advice into an ironic “What not to do” article for Siren, the popular online women’s publication she writes for. And who better to secretly test the old-fashioned tips on than Jack Bradford, chauvinistic creator of rival men’s site Brawler? She’ll write an article that will entertain female readers everywhere and embarrass their sexist nemesis at the same time. Two birds, one stone.
But her perfect plan soon proves to be anything but. Those vintage courtship tips Cassidy was so quick to poke fun at? They actually seem to work, calling her most closely-held beliefs into question. Even worse? Jack isn’t falling for any of her tricks—and it’s not long before their ‘fake’ relationship starts to feel like the realest one of her life. As her cat and mouse game starts to spiral out of control, Cassidy has to decide if she’s playing to win, or if she’s willing to lose it all for love.“Full of likable characters, bizarre and antiquated dating tips inspired by real lifestyle magazines and books, examples of healthy relationships, and ample steam, Daniels’ tale will find fans among readers who recall those crazy Cosmo tips or who have seen the sour side of dating apps.” —Booklist
https://amzn.to/46a4fxU
I loved the Kate Hudson/Matthew McConaughey romcom How To Lose a Guy in Ten Days, so when they used that comparison in the publicity, I was all in. The author even references it in the book!
Cassidy is a senior editor at Siren, a women’s focused website filled with clickable content. She writes several articles each day and assigns several more to the dozens of writers who report to her. She loves her job but secretly wishes to write a book.
Cassidy is dating Brett for a few months, until she invites him to her grandmother’s 90th birthday party. He turns her down, citing “sacred Saturdays”, a bro term embraced by the misogynistic men at rival website Brawler. She dumps him and complains to her grandmother who in turn, presents her with an old article from the 1950’s on how to “hook a husband.”
The article inspires Cassidy to try out some of these dating tips to see how they fare more than a half-century later, figuring it will be a fun series of articles. Her co-worker/best friend/roommate is all in on the idea, as is their boss. First up: a party for a celebrity cologne launch where Cassidy literally bumps into Jack, the co-founder of Brawler. Cassidy decides to narrow her dating tips to him, hoping to bring him and his frat-boy website down. But a funny thing happens while she is implementing the old-fashioned dating tips; Jack isn’t falling for any of it, and he seems like a really great guy. The kind of guy Cassidy has been waiting to meet all her life.
Three dates later, Cassidy is done with the idea of the article and taking Jack down. She wants to keep dating him, and as they get closer, they fall in love. Until Jack finds out what started their relationship – and his humiliating way of ending it.
This was such a fun read! I loved these characters and all they went through to find their happy ending, and all the secondary characters did their part to round out the story. There is so much to enjoy here. Lots of laugh-out-loud moments, some serious chemistry bringing the heat, and all the vintage clothes are just an added bonus. Don’t miss it!
11/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE ROM COM by Devon Daniels. Berkley (November 7, 2023). ISBN: 978-0593199237. 384p.
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