Dating-Ish - Penny Reid

Dating-Ish

By Penny Reid

  • Release Date: 2017-05-16
  • Genre: Contemporary Romance
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 309 Ratings

Description

There are three things you need to know about Marie Harris: 1) She’s fed up with online dating, 2) She’s so fed up, she’s willing to forego the annoyance and consider more creative alternatives, and 3) She knows how to knit.

After the most bizarre first date in the history of dating, Marie is looking for an alternative to men. With the help of her friends, she quickly identifies a few possibilities: Need a cuddle? Use a professional cuddler. Need affirmation? Get yourself a life coach. Need an orgasm? Try orgasm meditation! Why does she need the hassle of a romantic partner when she can meet all her needs with paid services?

But then her irritating date resurfaces. And he’s not at all the person she thought he was. And he suggests a different—and crazier—solution to her dilemma . . .

★★★★★ Goodreads Choice Award Semi-Finalist for Best Romance ★★★★★
★★★★★ Amazon Top 10 Romances of 2017 ★★★★★

Dating-ish is book #6 in the Knitting in the City series. Each book is a standalone, full length (110k words), contemporary romantic comedy novel, and follows the misadventures and exploits of seven friends in Chicago, all members of the same knitting group.

Reviews

  • Best book ever. I am recommending it to everyone.

    5
    By mk mathis
    It’s like real like when you are afraid the other doesn’t feel the same way and it’s frustrating instead of going straight to the point. I know I am clueless with men.
  • Marie does nothing for me

    2
    By Mih_Hall
    I adore Penny Reid, but boy was this book hard to read. From the beginning, Marie has never left much of an impression on me, but I was hoping this book would change that. Not the case. There’s really nothing special or interesting about her, and therefore I couldn’t get invested in her love story at all. I liked Matt, just wished he was paired with someone remotely exciting. Unfortunate.
  • Another winner from Penny Reid

    4
    By isalaur
    I’ve been on a Penny Reid binge-read-a-thon and am still quite a fan of her work. Each book in the knitting series, while similar in theme and having the same characters is different in very enjoyable ways. This book was probably the most heart wrenching for me. The theme of loneliness is very well done and the discussion of robots, artificial intelligence as a way to help people stem loneliness was an interesting one. Marie came off a bit more pathetic in this book than she has in the previous books. I pictured her as much more her own person than she is made out to be here. I really liked Matt and was so deeply touched by his background and how it impacted his sense of self-worth. Once again Reid has done a great job incorporating deeply philosophical discussions with warmth, humor, intelligence and emotion. I’ll be moving on to the Winston brothers series now while I wait for the last Knitting series book about Kat and Dan!
  • smart, cute, fun and real

    4
    By Toni FGMAMTC
    Marie and Matt are wonderful people with interesting jobs. She's a journalist and he's a computer science professor. In this book, both are focusing on companionship as their subjects. She's consulting different things like cuddle groups, and he's collecting dating data for a computer program. Every situation is like a fascinating adventure. I loved the journey, falling in love with them as they did. Their romance stands out. It's quirky and sincere. I adore how intelligent and real these characters are. Marie is a total sweetheart, and Matt completely won me over. He's a little awkward socially sometimes, which makes him more endearing. He's a heartthrob who doesn't know his own appeal, which is extremely enticing. They have cute discussions and sexy connecting. I definitely recommend Dating-ish.
  • Holy cow!

    5
    By Sara E. Gallimore
    I am already awaiting her next book! I loved this one! Keep them coming please!
  • Dating in the City...ish

    5
    By BrookeNoWhiskey
    One of the many things I love about Penny Reid is the way she treats her readers. This is a book review and not an author review so I won't go into detail about how amazing she is to her fans. But bear with me. Penny treats her readers like they have brains in their heads. She treats them like she has expectations for them. She treats them like she wants them to read relevant material that is not only entertaining but also informative. Penny has respect for her readers, and it shows in every book she writes--including, to my very delight, Dating-ish. Marie (one of our knitting crew) and Matt (previously met and adored) come together in a story that is romantic and heartfelt and smart and funny. Dating-ish is a book that will speak to and appeal to a large audience. Anyone who has ever felt the very real pressure and struggle of dating will commiserate with an exasperated Marie. The unrealistic expectations for both men and women seeking companionship will feel a kinship with both Matt and Marie. The adventures of dating and the alternatives to them are explored in this book. Marie is looking for her person, and you will be cheering for nerdy, adorable Matt along the way. Knitting in the City fans will get more glimpses into the group and what has been happening since the last book in the series. Dating-ish really shows the depth and the progression of their friendships and how they have branched out to include their partners as well. Dating-ish is another winner for me because of these characters that I love, and the unexpected elements that give me an opportunity to be engaged as well as entertained. Another wonderful aspect of this book that sets it apart from others is the interaction between those characters. If you like seeing the heroes fall in love--witnessing it firsthand with their thoughts and words--Dating-ish is for you. Penny doesn't skip over the discussions, conversations, and dialogue. You get to experience those right along with Matt and Marie. Readers get front-row seats to the best part of a burgeoning new relationship. Here's what you need to know about Penny Reid: She writes thoughtful, witty, and sexy books that you'll love, and Dating-ish is one of the best.
  • Perfection

    5
    By Honolulubelle
    Clever and smart humor, delicious steam, amusing storyline, quirky characters, one of her best works!
  • Wow

    5
    By Cchimni
    Marie and Matt! Just wow! I couldn't stop laughing through out the book. But I also had moments where I almost reared up. With the life Matt had grown up in, it's not wonder he had as many walls as he did. A great story about not judging a book by its cover, trusting your gut, friendship, love and passion. Can't wait for the next one!
  • 5 AI Loving Stars

    5
    By Musings of the Modern Belle
    Leave it to Penny Reid to take robots and make an incredible love story that I never wanted to end! What makes this series so special and one of my favorites is the characters. All of them. Every single member of the Knitting crew and their significant others is unique and special, and I have loved every single one of them, often looking forward to seeing them again as much as a new story from Ms. Reid. Matt and Marie are no different. I absolutely fell in love with Matt, his intelligence, candor, kind heart, and his clear devotion to Marie will have readers swooning over this odd yet lovable man. And when he finally makes himself vulnerable, gah, it is completely heart warming! I just wanted to hug him. Marie is the woman with the heart of gold, looking for love. The one that fits into her life. She is kind and compassionate, and cares deeply about the happiness of those she cares for. Watching her fall for the professor/scientist and open herself up, becoming vulnerable, is just as wonderful as watching Matt. One thing that I adore about Penny Reid's story is that there is so much put into the couple. While there is physical intimacy, and it is always good, so much focuses on the actual relationship, and I love it. It is refreshing to see two unique people meet and fall in love before succumbing to their physical desires for each other. Setting up her stories in this manner makes the eventual connection more meaningful, and in Dating-ish I lived for this moment, waiting for the walls to crumble and for them to see what everyone else saw. It is absolutely completely worth it, and seeing a new side of Matt only made me fall for him even more. Just as in previous Knitting in the City books, Penny Reid not only details the romance of two engaging and complex character, but she brings so many other issues relevant to our society today. The conversation on loneliness, the use and possible abuse of robots, the need to have rules established to protect and sustain humanity, and even the discussion of what makes a good relationship are all topics addressed, but she infuses these ideas in an organic way that matches the personalities of the characters she has created. Her stories become more than a romance, but also focused solely on the romance (if that makes sense). The couple and their relationship still remains the forefront of the plot while making the readers think about the other topics brought up and discussed. Readers will be entranced by the relationship of Matt and Marie, and their quirks and honesty will win over readers, making them one of my favorite couples of the series. Every time I hear Penny Reid is releasing a new book, I can barely contain my excitement. With each book, I know there will be something unique, something I haven't read before, and I know that it will be smart and intelligent story-telling. Dating-ish is simply another story to exemplify the talents and Ms. Reid, and adds another reason to the list of why she is one of my absolute favorite writers ever!