Iris Kelly Doesn't Date: A swoon-worthy, laugh-out-loud queer romcom

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I can't believe this series is over. It's so bitter sweet. I fell in love with these fictional characters! First, Delilah and Claire, then Astrid and Jordan, and finally Iris and Stevie. I also think Blake does a disservice to Iris in that everyone--and I do mean everyone--in this novel is really judgemental of Iris's choices not to date and to only seek meaningless hookups when Iris insists that's what she wants. I had hoped her friends would have been more supportive. But there was a moment where I wondered if the friendship had run its course because they were all so judgmental and just in wildly different places in life. And that's what happens sometimes. I'm glad Blake didn't take it there, but I wasn't sure how she'd pull them out of that mire. Two talented chess players challenge each other on and off the board in bestselling author Hazelwood’s YA debut. Iris Kelly isn't interested in love or relationships (so she says), and Stevie is looking for a way to get over her ex and their long-term relationship! When an attempt at a one-night stand goes disastrous, Stevie tells a little white lie, and Iris decides to play along! Ashley Blake has a great way of righting these couples who seem like they shouldn't fit together but making you route for them to fall in love!

Iris's growth was wonderful, it was so hard for her to let go and trust again and fully give her all to Stevie. But when she did...it made my heart so happy. I also loved Iris' commentary on her friends' perspectives of her having a lot of sex. She wasn't wrong - there was definitely that judgemental tone of slut shaming without actually outright saying it. Iris agrees to fake date Stevie to get her creative juices flowing for her novel, but it turns into so much more. These two end up caring for each other more than they expected to. And there were some incredibly beautiful moments, too. Stevie & Iris are legit messes in their own adorkable ways in this and yes the paths they chose tug at even my broken heartstrings. The growth they both undertake to get where they need to be for each other despite their lesbe honest [ sorry not sorry] failed attempt at fake dating from disastrous first encounter through swoony woo'ing to the often inevitable third act breakup (I saw what you did there AHB having Iris be an author who loves this trope - sadly I rarely do) culminating in a very sweet GG (yes you got me again 😬)

Reviews

A bisexual romance author burned by love and an anxious actress fake-date in hope of keeping their meddling friends at bay. Yes, I chose me, but I choose you too. That’s what love is, right? I want both, and I know you do too.”

I found it here, and Stevie found it in Iris. Crazy, over the top, energetic, kind, understanding Iris. All things I didn't realize until I watched her soften her pointy feelings over Stevie's too-rounded ones. I felt it every time Stevie lost the ability to breathe, and felt it ten-fold every time Iris did something silly to combat it. It seems... a choice to make the few POC characters obscenely rich, some of them from generational wealth

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 . . . Speaking of support and understanding, their dynamic was fantastic. The love, care, and respect they had for each other was next level and reminded me of my relationship with my partner and how we support each other through trauma, mental health struggles, insecurities, and more. In some ways, this felt like the most real, authentic, deep, and fully developed relationship from this series, and seeing the way they communicated with each other and learned to support each other was beautiful to read. stevie's anxiety really hit home for me - i too find making decisions difficult, i stress about mundane tasks and i can't speak to new people to save my life. she was very relatable and while others might not like her character, i understood where she was coming from. her awkwardness made her likeable - for me at least. Ofc the characters have a "disdain for literary fiction" and think it's pretentious. Boohoo a book makes you think and doesn't rely on tropes

Stevie Scott is fresh out of a long term relationship that had fizzled out long before the relationship had officially ended, and she is in a rut with her acting career. She loves the stage - is an amazing theatre performer. She just wishes she could channel that confidence into her every day life. And also Stevie? She was amazing! I loved the banter between Stevie and Iris, and how they just came together so easily, even if it wasn't what they both wanted originally. It was just lovely. All of Iris Kelly's friends are in loving relationships but after a failed relationship and being the unknown mistress in another, she believes she isn't built for relationships. One night she goes to her favorite queer bars and meets Stevie Scott from across the room. After a failed one-night stand between the two, they meet up again during auditions for a play. They proceed to enter a fake relationship where Iris gets inspiration for her second romance novel while Stevie gets lessons in how to be confident. Two gorgeous queer women in a fake relationship…what could possibly go wrong?Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date is a perfect conclusion to Ashley Herring Blake'ssexy-cozy Bright Falls series. It's sweet, it's spicy, it's sapphic, it's satisfying—everything readers of Blake's work have come to love."—Elissa Sussman, bestselling author of Once More with Feeling When Stevie used the above quote to remind the people who love her that she can take care of herself, all I could think was... I can, too. And I loved seeing Stevie take on her dreams for herself, not for anyone else. I loved everything about her. This book frustrated me to a point where I had to make copious amounts of notes while reading it, so let me just organize them thematically, starting with...

My problem with Iris Kelly Doesn't Date is actually the fake-dating aspect of the plot. And that's an odd thing to write because that is literally the entire plot and because I normally love this trope. But it didn't quite come off as genuine. (It's fake-dating, I get that's it's not supposed to be completely genuine). And it didn't feel romantic, even with the romance "lessons." It's like it was all too clinical to be believable? The rules/parameters of their fake relationship didn't quite work. It didn't help the novel that I read immediately after reading this was another fake-dating book ( Fly with Me), which pulled off the trope in a much more romantic/believable way. I also felt like Stevie RLLY needed to learn how to be by herself, not jump into another relationship after the toxic shit with Adri (also, RLLY confused abt her and Vanessa’s whole deal throughout the book, they honestly, seemed like shit friends. Ren, too, for that matter. so, that was a bummer bc we saw a lot more of them than of the crew I loved from book 1). I can't believe I'm saying goodbye to the amazing ladies from this series! Their friendship, drama, strength, and love will always hold a special place in my heart! ❤️ these two fmcs had the most believable chemistry, and actual tension, godbless. perhaps i wanted more of a slooow burn but when stevie put on her big girl pants, i was eating the words as though i were starved let me tell you.

Iris Kelly Doesn't Date

A hot, frothy romcom with a relatable heart beating at its centre. I can’t wait for the rest of the series! ‘Talia Hibbert I found the setup of Iris writing a romance book and agreeing to fake date Stevie so she could get inspiration for writing the romantic scenes and Stevie trying to prove to her friends that she was self-sufficient and was moving on from her past relationship by fake dating Iris quite fun, and especially loved the inclusion of a production of a Shakespearean play. As a theatre nerd and big lover of Shakespeare, that’s always a plus in my book! Iris' Irish family is full of Irish stereotypes and if her parents are actual 1st gen immigrants, they don't speak like Irish people and AHB should have looked up Irish name spellings