Dating Season, Bundle 2

By: Laurelin Paige, Kayti McGee

Narrated by: Erin Mallon

Length: 5 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

Fall Hard: They say autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go - but I’m keeping Ryan’s beard.

I've made a number of questionable decisions, but drunkenly turning Ryan down on a dating app? Currently top of my list. I love fall most of all, but oh my gourd, Ryan’s beard is fast becoming a close second.

Luckily, he’s ready to give me a second chance. We have everything in common, from art to weird history facts to the correct opinions about Titanic. And boy, does he know how to pumpkin spice it up in the bedroom. We could easily be the cutest new couple in Boulder - if we ever leave his place.

Winter Bloom: They say winter is coming, and thanks to Logan, I am too.

If the past year has taught me anything, it’s that I am an idiot. Between "the incident," the upcoming nuptials, and finding a new place to live, I’m about ready to find a cave to hibernate in. Nearly murdering the lead singer of my favorite local band really should have been on everyone’s bingo card. Their drummer going from medic to love interest was a plot twist I didn’t expect.

Logan has all the things I’ve been looking for - the newness of spring, heat of summer, comfort of fall, and the distraction I’d like. It may not be the traditional third date, but I’m bringing him to my best friend’s wedding anyway - Charlotte’s not the only one who can lock a good time down.

The second two books in the laugh-out-loud Dating Season series together in one bundle. Includes Fall Hard and Winter Bloom.

©2021 Paige Press, LLC (P)2021 Paige Press, LLC

I’m too old for casual rom-coms

First, the rant:
These aren’t two books; these are two parts out of six in a single, 15 hour rom-com. Selling these “books” for 1 credit each is highway robbery. Shame, shame, especially for authors who wrote in GoT references. I deducted one star for the greediness and recommend listeners hold out for a sale to purchase this 1/3 of a story. And yes, I say this having blown 3 credits, like the sucker I am.

Update from August 2022: DO NOT get this portion of a book. All six novella “books” are now available for
1 credit in a collection; that, I can get behind and recommend.

Now, the review:
I was entertained by Sex in the City and the humor of Samantha and Carrie’s casual escapades. I didn’t notice the toxic vibes in some episodes until much later. With this book, I didn’t have to wait years for my perspective to shift; I simultaneously enjoyed and cringed at the antics and concepts. It’s funny and clever, but also raunchy and wrong on multiple levels.

Mild spoilers that should already be obvious from the summaries:
By this middle part, Chloe has embraced dating apps, casual sex with four men in one year, and the stupidity of living with her crush Austin throughout all of it. My Chelsea Handler, Abby-normal brain laughed uproariously at kinky hijinks and sexy-food euphemisms while my Notorious RBG feminist brain eye-rolled and chastised me for supporting MC Chloe in multiple unhealthy scenarios. Chloe throws in with guys based upon a superficial love of beards, goes full-on-doormat and lets herself become the third wheel in a boyfriend-Chloe-mom sandwich, and continues to lead men on knowing she’s only dating them because they are runner-up stand-ins for the man she really wants. Meanwhile, Austin gas-lights all of her attempts to find love, like the evil peanut butter to her insane jelly… as they spend the whole book not acknowledging they are the perfect sandwich.

Was this juvenile, crass, and full of people and plots I’d hate in real life? Yes.
Did I have a blast listening? Also yes.
Apparently, I am exactly the twisted listener this was written for.