Not If I Date You First

by Krysti Meyer

She's a paparazzo. He's a celebrity. And when they get together, cameras will flash and sparks will fly.

Eighteen-year-old Ada Datchery just landed her dream internship, working as a celebrity photographer. Ada's determined to do whatever it takes to turn her internship into a permanent career. But after she gets into an altercation with Liam Anders, Hollywood's hottest young celebrity, Ada becomes the center of a tabloid scandal. When rumors about an unlikely romance between Ada and Liam fly, giving an unexpected boost to both their careers, they decide there's no harm in faking a relationship for the cameras.

But as the line between what's real and what's pretend begins to blur, Ada finds herself under constant media scrutiny. And when her new boss pressures her to expose Liam's biggest secret, Ada realizes that making her dreams come true could cost her everything, including her heart.

Not If I Date You First is an upper YA, closed-door romantic comedy with dreamy kissing scenes, fabulous friend groups, and a hate-to-love romance that will keep you laughing and swooning until the end.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary

308 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 11, 2023

Reviews

[Courtny · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say I’m OBSESSED with this YA RomCom is a freaking understatement. Meyer’s writes a beautiful young love story that makes you remember your first love. My heart was beating quickly as Ada went on a journey of self discovery. This is a 5/5 ⭐️. If you love enemies to lovers, YA, amazing and powerful female relationships, and found family this is the freaking book for you. You can bet your ass I’ll be getting it in a physical copy to go on my forever bookshelf.

[Megan Braun · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cute and fun book! The characters and their interactions make this a smile inducing read. Seriously, I just kept smiling.

[Tara Kat (MagnoliaPigeonBookBlurbs) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shut the front door - this was amazing!!!

Sparks fly, cameras flash and love blooms in this fantastic debut novel by Krysti Meyer!

Not If I Date You First is everything I want in a romcom - there’s fake dating, enemies to lovers, banter, all the tension, hoot and a half moments, supportive friend group with all the hype energy, a conflict and of course a swoon worthy romance!

We follow Ada Datchery as she is working towards her dream of becoming a celebrity photographer while interning as a paparazzo. Her world is turned upside down while snagging photos of hot shot actor Liam Anders goes awry - juice is thrown, cameras flash, insults are spat and a deal is struck to save both of their careers.

Can they overcome their misconceptions about each others careers, save their own and learn to work together? Or will their careers fizzle while the world watches? Find out on July 11, 2023 when Not If I Date You First hits shelves!! I seriously loved this book and cannot wait to see what Krysti Meyer comes up with next!!!

Thank you so much to Krysti Meyer for the advanced copy!

[Aly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable!

I had a great time reading this. I loved the unique pairing of a celebrity and paparazzo, the setting of NYC, and the friendships new and old. The side characters were great and rounded out the story well. I wish I had a friend like Elodie to make me fun coffee drinks and always be there to cheer me on!

I'm excited for this to be released to the world and get my beautiful physical copy!

[Kyle Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The humor and tension was weaved together seamlessly. I really felt the connection between the protagonists in such a genuine way. Be warned, this story will hit you right in the feels!

[Ashleigh (edwardanddamon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received an arc for review from the author. All thoughts are my own*

I absolutely adored this book! I started out doing a buddy read and had to confess to my friend that I was finishing early. I could not put this down! If you love romcoms, swoonworthy romance, enemies to lovers, fake dating and meet cutes, this one if for you!

Ada Datchery has just landed her dream internship photographing celebrities, and she’s hoping that she can turn this internship into something more permanent. But after getting into an altercation with Liam Anders, one of Hollywood’s hottest young celebs, she’s thrust into the middle of a tabloid scandal. Rumors begin to fly about an unlikely romance between Ada and Liam, which unexpectedly boosts their careers, and they decide there isn’t any harm in fake dating for the cameras.

Although it seemed like a great idea at first, lines begin to blur between what’s real and what’s pretend, and Ada finds herself under constant media scrutiny. Her new boss threatens to expose Liam’s secrets, and Ada realizes that she may land her dream job, but at the cost of her heart.

I’m completely obsessed with Ada and Liam! They’re one of my new favorite fictional couples. Pick up this amazing book that is out now for free on Kindle Unlimited and also available as a paperback. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this one!

[Bella and the Bookstack · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

•Enemies to Lovers
•Fake Dating
•Upper YA Rom-Com
•Closed Door Romance
•Kindle Unlimited
•Dual POV

Paparazzo and a Celebrity fake dating? Yes please!

Ada has just landed her dream internship as a celebrity photographer. On her way to her first day, a mishap occurs between her and famous young actor Liam Anders. She gets splashed with green juice AND all over the news. Rumors fly that she is dating the paparazzi hating Liam. Seeing that the dating charade could be beneficial for both of their careers, Ada and Liam agree to fake date. But the spotlight is not all that Ada thought it was, as she discovers the harsh reality of the other side of the camera. When Ada’s boss pressures her to expose Liam’s secrets, she must decide what matters most.
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This one was super cute!! I loved it so much! The banter between Liam and Ada was so much fun. I really loved their relationship and the growth they both had. I was so happy to see Ada find herself and discover what she wanted in life.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars, rounded up.

NOT IF I DATE YOU FIRST, by Krysti Meyer, is a YA Rom-Com that centers on a celebrity-photographer intern, who runs (literally) into an actor who happens to despise anyone in her profession. After the accidental meeting fuels rumors that the two are dating, it has the unexpected consequence of boosting BOTH of their careers.

While this is not a genre I regularly read, I've been trying to broaden my reading choices and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel. The characters were believable and interesting--ones that I honestly wanted to see succeed. We see everything from a type of "found family", to Ada's own two-parent/one sibling home.

The emotions from both sides felt real, and I sympathized with EACH of the main characters. "The grass is always greener" was part of the theme throughout.

Overall, a fast paced novel with enjoyable characters, humor, and a cute plot.

Recommended.

[Kenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it was so cute! First I’m a photographer myself so that was fun to see the passion Ada had for photography. I personally could never be a paparazzo but to each their own. The situation Ada got herself into morally got dicey and it really had her questioning and second guessing everything. And for Liam it was the asking permission and making sure she was comfortable that did it for me. This was such a sweet cute read for me. I highly recommend it! Kristi did an amazing job on her debut novel! Definitely picking up her next book.

[Cathy | A Case Full of Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun contemporary romance! It has enemies to lovers, fake dating, celebrity tropes, and so much more! I adore Ada and Liam and the way their relationship grows throughout the book. I also love all of the little side relationships we get to see with Ada and Liam's family and friends.

Congratulations to Krysti Meyer on her wonderful debut! And also thank you for the ARC. 😉

[Tammy Theriault · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable romcom that i read in just a few days💜💜

[Lori Leaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

In short: paparazzo and a celebrity fake dating.

Tropes: enemies to lovers, fake dating, closed door

What I liked:
📸 Banter and chemistry between Ada and Liam
📸 Told in dual POV
📸 NYC setting
📸 Humor

Final thoughts: This book review is way overdue. I started it early summer, got busy traveling with work and then re-read it recently with the audiobook release. This was a really cute, funny, witty Romcom. The main characters were great. Ada has no qualms, is crazy & klutzy and someone I rooted for. I also enjoyed seeing the more “normal person” side of Liam instead of his celebrity persona.

[Damita Perez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Not If I Date You First felt like being wrapped in a cozy, rom-com blanket—the kind of book that makes you smile through the awkward parts, swoon at the sweet moments, and silently cheer for the characters to get their act together already.

Ada Datchery is the kind of heroine I love: determined, slightly awkward, and caught in a mess of her own making (well, partly the tabloids’ doing). Her chemistry with Liam Anders, the annoyingly charming movie star, was instant but not rushed. Their banter had me grinning, and the gradual shift from reluctant allies to real emotions gave the fake-dating trope exactly the payoff I was hoping for.

What made this story stand out for me was that beneath the swoony romance and red carpet moments, there’s a deeper thread of personal integrity, ambition, and sacrifice. Ada’s struggle to balance her dream career with doing the right thing felt very real. And Liam? He wasn’t just a two-dimensional heartthrob—he had secrets, yes, but also vulnerabilities that made his character more than just a romantic lead.

As someone who enjoys closed-door romance, I appreciated that the tension was romantic and emotional without getting explicit. The intimacy was in the way they looked out for each other, how their guards slowly came down, and in the choice Ada ultimately had to make.

Overall, Not If I Date You First is fun, fast-paced, and surprisingly heartfelt. Perfect for fans of fake-dating, “hate to love” arcs, and anyone who enjoys seeing a girl chase her dreams and maybe fall in love with a movie star along the way.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to Krysti Meyer for the opportunity to read an ARC of this charming young adult romance novel. This debut novel is a sweet enemies-to-lovers fake-dating story if you enjoy young adult fiction.

Ada's first day at her internship as a paparazzi is a big one - she captures exclusive pictures of actor Liam Anders and his girlfriend, gets in an altercation with them, and inadvertently becomes the center of a tabloid scandal. Quickly, Liam and Ada realize that faking a relationship could help both of their careers. Still, as they fake a relationship, they learn more about what drives the other and begin to develop genuine feelings.

Meyer does a lovely job of creating tension with Liam and Ada's careers more than with their relationship. When she draws on the miscommunication and third-act breakup tropes, they are realistic and not drawn out. In my opinion, the true strength of a great YA novel isn't the romance but the way relationships are portrayed overall. Ada and Liam's friend groups are well-written and supportive, and when conflicts arise, they are well-handled. Additionally, we get two very different parent-child relationships. I did feel like the characters' lifestyles read older than their ages in the book, but overall, I recommend this to YA readers.

[Meezan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before I get into my thoughts on the story, I want to comment on this phenomenal, eye-catching cover. From the moment I saw it in the cover reveal, I was drawn to it. I will admit that I love photography, so when I saw the camera, that alone was enough to draw me in. However, the entire cover certainly makes a statement and, after reading the book, I can say it fully captures the essence of the story.

This is an entertaining story told from the perspectives of both Ada and Liam. There is never a dull moment as Ada and Liam experience life and are faced with obstacles personally, professionally, and as a couple. All of this adds depth to their characters. I was as interested in the stories of the supporting cast, their friends and family, as I was in Ada and Liam.

The book contains a lot of cursing, frequently used by the main characters in both their inner and outer dialogue. I know that this won't bother a lot of people, but for me, it made it difficult to fully connect with the characters. If I can't connect with the characters, then I can't fully connect with the story.

This is otherwise an engaging enemies to lovers romcom. The relationships, friendships and otherwise, are nicely developed in an entertaining way. Some of it turned out differently than I had hoped, but that's okay. It's a depiction of real life for many people, so I can appreciate that. If the cursing won't bother you and you enjoy YA romcoms, I think you will want to read Not If I Date You First, by Krysti Meyer.

Thank you to Krysti Meyer for providing me with an ARC of Not If I Date You First.

[Kelli Ayala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scoop this book up so fast if you love:

-Characters that you want to be your friends IRL
-the setting of NYC (Welcome to New York, it’s been waitin’ for you!)
-coffee
-Celebrities in front of and behind the scenes
-Taylor Swift swoon-worthy vibes
-Hilarious meet cutes
-young love
-ambition
-the best, most supportive friends
-Fake dating tropes (my fav!!!)
-Laugh out loud moments (see meet cute)
-Genuine, down to the bone good feels
-closed door YA romcoms


This book was so much swoony fun!! Heartwarming, perfect amount of tension, and hilarious!

Ada and Liam are burned into my coffee-coated heart forever.

[Marissa Busk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn’t love a good enemies to lovers, fake dating trope, especially when it is so well written.

Liam is a famous movie star who hates the paparazzi and has gained quite the reputation after punching one.

Ada is an intern at a company that sells celebrity images to the tabloids. Being a paparazzo has always been her dream.

These two are destined to hate each other, but they quickly realize them being together can benefit both of their careers. There is fake dating, fake flirting, and even fake kissing, but is it all fake?

[Michaela Aurora Teuscher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not If I Date You First, by Krysti Meyer

Fake Dating ✅
Hate to Love ✅
Great supporting roles ✅
Clean Romance ✅
Celebrities ✅
KU ✅

You can look forward to all that and more if you pick up a copy of Not If I Date You First, by Krysti Meyer. I loved seeing Liam and Ada find themselves and each other, and Ada's best friend Elodie was my favorite! I would love to see her get her own book someday. Fake Dating is one of my favorite tropes so I was crazy excited to read this one, and it definitely delivered.

[Jose Ayala · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! The multiple POVs, the banter, the humor, the cuteness, the tension, it was all fantastic. I caught myself a bunch of times just smiling at what I was reading which goes to show how great the writing is. If you're a fan of Rom-Coms then this is one that you'll want to pick up. Excellent!

[Jen Deezy]

This one was quite cute! A paparazzo & a movie star fake dating? A not so very cute meet cute? But then real feeling a start happening? Yes please to all of it! This one gave me but When It's Real by Erin Watt & I loved it! Pick this one up if you're looking for a fun book with flirty banter & a cute happy ending.

[Bridget Van der Eyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very sweet - a nice easy read and some fun characters! My favourite thing about it, though, was the setting. It turns out that not only do I like to write the characters in my books as celebrities leading fabulous lives, but I also like to read about the same type of characters as well! Would definitely recommend for readers who like a good YA romance!

[Ashley Dewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Spice - 🚫

Tropes include -
📸 Fake dating
📸 Celebrity/paparazzi relationship
📸 found family
📸 enemies to lovers

Krysti Meyer’s books have me kicking my feet the entire time I’m reading them! If you’re looking for a wholesome no spice read this is for you! Can’t recommend her books enough!

[Andra Loy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written and held my attention, but I found Ada's motivations for being a paparazzo weak. Had she never really thought about how invasive to people's private lives that job would be? It did add good tension - pap and actor romance. Very unique. I probably would have enjoyed it more without all the profanity. I loved seeing her parents' relationship with her, it's uncommon and was well done.

[Raeann Wolfley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute and fun read for me! If you love romcom like me, this is a must read! You will fall in love with Ada and Liam’s story! They are just the cutest!!! It has everything you possible want in a book! I can’t wait to read more from this Author!!!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally fell in love with Ada and her bff El. I loved the suttle lesson about finding your own way vs. what you think is expected of you. I knew what the ending would be but the journey to it was seamless and modern.

[Cynthia Wasco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my VERY FIRST upper YA romcom and I LOVED it! The back and forth of Ada and Liam was precious and entertaining. I was rooting for this relationship the whole time! This was a wonderful introduction to romcom and brava to Krysti Meyer for an adorable first YA book.

[Rektok Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

A can’t-miss, summer rom-com with some of my fave romance tropes like enemies to lovers and fake dating! Watching Ada chase her dreams was relatable and fun, and Liam is absolutely going to be your next book boyfriend! Flirty and funny, this is a perfect beach read!

[Rachel Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so cute! I couldn’t put it down. I love the two main characters and the plot is cute. I really enjoyed Krysti’s writing style as well. I hope Krysti will write more books like this in the future! ❤️

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like dual POV, celebrity trope, photography, NYC, enemies to more, fake dating and a healthy serving of a lack of communication, read this one! It's really very cute, I laughed out loud a few times, and sighed while basking in the bliss of the romance.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book totally sucked me in, I couldn't put it down. I absolutely loved the banter between Liam and Ada. And can we talk about chemistry? Krysti has a way with words that evokes so much emotion. I highly recommend this book!