First Date

The Dating Games #1

by Melody Carlson

Five high school friends have one thing in common as they start their sophomore year: none of them have ever been on a "real" date. With homecoming looming, they make a pact and start a secret club they call the DG (Dating Game). They're sworn to secrecy--and to purity--but the club is their way to set each other up on their first dates so they can report back to the DG. Of course, they all make different choices about how to deal with their parents and how to act on their dates, and they discover that they all have totally different experiences. Still, the things they learn about boys and dating will stick with them throughout high school.
Bestselling author and teen favorite Melody Carlson starts off her newest series with a good dose of fun, tackling two topics teen girls love to read about--friends and boys.

Genres: Christian, Young Adult, Contemporary, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Teen

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2013

About the author

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, The Christmas Bus.

She also writes many teen books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series.

Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon.

Reviews

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 2 out of 5]

About this book:

“When it comes to catching the eye of that cute boy at school, sometimes you just need a little help from your friends.
Devon, Emma, Cassidy, Bryn, and Abby have one thing in common as they start their sophomore year: none of them have ever been on a "real" date. With homecoming looming, the girls make a pact and start a secret club they call the DG (Dating Games) that has just one objective--dates for the dance.
They're sworn to secrecy, but the club is their way to set each other up on their first dates so they can report back to the DG. They'll have to navigate expectations and rules from their parents, figure out how to act on a date, and endear themselves to the guys they like.
What could possibly go wrong?”


Series: Book #1 in “The Dating Games” series.


Spiritual Content- A Scripture is remembered; Set at a private Christian high school; Prayers; Talks about God, peace, faiths, Heaven, outward appearance, & dating; ‘H’s are not capitalized when referring to God; Cassidy, Emma, & Abby are Christians (Devon used to go to church and while she says it’s falseness/hypocritical now, she does believe in God; Bryn goes to church, but doesn’t get the big deal); Mentions of God & Jesus; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of Heaven; Mentions of churches, church going, services, small groups, youth group, camps, & youth leaders; A few mentions of the Ten Commandments; A few mentions of witnessing to others; A couple mentions of being Christlike; A couple mentions of being blessed; A couple mentions of a Christian college; A couple mentions of VeggieTales; A mention of a Christian counselor;
*Note: A mention of Devon’s anti-Christian soapbox; A mention of a devilish grin; A mention of an atheist.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘freaking’ and eight ‘stupid’s; Lots of Eye rolling; Mentions of Devon’s and Emma’s parents’ divorce after their fathers left their families; Mentions of drugs & addicts; Mentions of jealousy; Mentions of lying & lies; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A couple mentions of the lottery; A mention of gangsters; A mention of a morgue;
*Note: Mentions of celebrities & TV shows (including The Bachelor); Mentions of brand names (including Apple products, Victoria’s Secret, Banana Republic, Louboutins, Nikes); Mentions of social media (Facebook); A couple mentions of Girl Scouts; A couple mentions of car brands; A couple mentions of magazines; A mention of zombies.


Sexual Content- twenty forms of ‘hot’, and then ‘babe’s & ‘hunk’s many times (used as nicknames for two people often); Noticing, Staring, & Blushes (barely-above-not-detailed); All about many mentions of boys, boyfriends/girlfriends, dating, dates, stringing boys along (and enjoying it), & breakups; Mentions of thinking a girl was date raped (she was not, but the guy had kissing and more on his mind); Mentions of a boy who thinks of girls as nothing more than sex objects & that girls were put on the earth for his happiness (along with the mention of him thinking of one thing and not his brain doing the thinking); Mentions of purity pledges & pledges not to have sex before marriage; Mentions of flirting; Mentions of jealousy; Mentions of homecoming & dances; A few mentions of out-of-wedlock pregnancies; A few mentions of wondering if guys at the school aren’t into girls; A few mentions of kisses & kissing; A few mentions of hand-holding; A couple mentions of date rape & date rape drugs; A couple mentions of boy crazy girls; A mention of (not) having a guy’s babies; A mention of thinking a father left his family for a woman; A mention of a hot and heavy relationship;
*Note: Mentions of boobs, bras, & bra shopping; Mentions of curves, lack of curves, & curvy figures catching boys’ eyes; A few mentions of hookers & strippers; A few mentions of hormone-driven teen boys; A couple mentions of strapless dresses; A mention of Bryn wearing an outfit that shows her “best boy-attracting assets”; A mention of tight clothing; A mention of long-legged blondes; A mention of hot-blooded teenage guys; A mention of kicking a guy where it hurts; A mention of senior citizens’ underwear.

-Devon Fremont, age 16
-Cassidy Banks, age 16
-Emma Parks, age 16
-Bryn Jacobs, age 16
-Abby Morrison, age 16
P.O.V. switches between them
212 pages

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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars (and a half)
This definitely isn’t my favorite Melody Carlson, but it’s a fun one. It does follow a similar pattern of her past YA series with one girl being a “Goody-Two-Shoes” and another being a boy-crazy, rebel girl with the rest of the group falling in between, however. Those who enjoy teen and dating drama would probably like this one the best, but do be aware of some content in this first book.


Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Devon Fremont - Madelaine Petsch
Emma Parks - Elena Kampouris
Cassidy Banks - Madison Davenport
Abby Morrison - China Anne McClain
Bryn Jacobs - Madison Iseman
Harris Martin - Tom Holland
Isaac McKinley - Noah Centineo
Lane Granger - Colin Ford
Kent Renner - KJ Apa
Jason Levine - Booboo Stewart
Mrs. Parks - Jennifer Aniston
Mrs. Banks - Mariska Hargitay
Callie Banks - Anna Cathcart
Mrs. Jacobs - Nicole Kidman
Tara Jacobs - Billie Lourd
Mrs. Morrison - Danai Gurira
Mr. Morrison - Anthony Mackie

[Jesten · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's really cute, and written well, but I feel like this isn't the best message to spread. I don't like that love is a game to these girls, and it was surprisingly religious with no indication on the cover.
Ps. I didn't know she was a Christian author.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Date is a humorous story about five high school girls who want to get dates to an upcoming homecoming dance. I enjoyed the story but I didn't like the way the girls treated each other sometimes. I was glad to see that they treated each other better closer towards the end of the book. I would recommend to those who like to read a quick, funny, and clean book to 13 years old and up.

[Halee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm...This book was interesting. Honestly, I was expecting this to be good, because Melody Carlson is usually pretty good! Despite the fact that I knew this book was all about dating, still, I thought there might be a redeeming factor to it. Eh, there wasn't. I was disappointed. If you like "just for fun" books that are pretty light, this will be great for you! Seriously!


BUT, if you really only like books with some sort of messages or lessons....This book was very meh.

I just couldn't see the good in this book. Yes, it was entertaining. Yes, it was clean with really no negative element to it......But yeah.



The positive take away: I got one book closer to my GoodReads goal!!! Yay!!!
The negative take away: I'm still, like, 50 books away from completing my GoodReads goal. Boohoo.

[Jack Vasen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book tells a complete story but has a cliffhanger of sorts where a new thread starts on the last page. It could stand alone. If reading the series, it makes sense to read in order.

I never should have started this. It seems aimed at teens and probably female teens. I found it difficult to keep interest despite it being relatively short.

I disliked Devon strongly. She is arrogant and narcissistic which we learn springs out of her insecurities.

This is actually a pretty good book for Christian teens because it lays out dating struggles in detail. I wouldn't think non-Christians would identify as well because the real meat of the story is about how a Christian approaches these issues. The book uses the story more than preaching religion. It focuses more on living a Christian life than on the basis of the gospel.

I would say there are three approaches to living described.

One approach which is mostly exemplified by Devon is do what you want. As I said, she acts like a narcissist. The flaws in this approach should be obvious especially as played out in the story.

The second approach is rule based. This approach masquerades as the spiritual approach. It may even be that the girl is lulled into thinking this is the way God wants her to approach dating, or any moral issue. Certainly the person needs to have guidelines, but saying that a dress must have two straps or it is inappropriate is living legalistically. The guideline is helpful to provide direction, but it isn't an end in itself. Also, this approach is religion as opposed to faith.

The ideal approach comes out of a close relationship with God. This directs the girl's steps because she is in tune with not only what God wants, but what is best for her life. It leaves room to question a rule and perhaps modify it if appropriate. Most importantly, it is the basis of living by faith. This approach is mentioned in the book but I wouldn't say any of the characters were faithful to this approach, at least not as described.

Mature themes: any sex or description of it is avoided. Some "making out" is implied but not described. There is some moderate use of physical force also implied but not described. (Mild spoiler) Jason won't accept Devon's request to stop and she has to kick him where it hurts. Alcohol is not used.

[Danielle Turko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devon is bored. It's not so much that she lacks worthwhile hobbies, although she has been having a hard time finding something other than shopping. Its that in her new school there's no drama. The boys don't even seem to notice the girls. Her friends; Emma, Bryn, Abby, and Cassidy; don't seem to notice anything unusual but it's almost like all the girls are invisible to the boys. So she sets up a game with her friends: the dating game. The purpose of the game is for all of them to get a date for homecoming, and for incentive if one doesn't a date none of them get to go. Learning about the challenge issued to the boys to not date anyone for the school year by Worthington is merely a speed bump. After all, what could go wrong with 5 teenage girls trying to find a date for the same event?
I did enjoy this series, but it may not be my favourite. Devon is somewhat unlikable, although she was written that way for a reason. I also was slightly uncomfortable with importance that was based on looks. 2 of the characters get a makeover to find a guy, and at 16 it's something that was probably not necessary. I would think the message that should be conveyed is that if you feel comfortable that's when you will look your best, but that theory was mentioned by a character and quickly shut down by the others.

[Lydia Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't think I'd enjoy this book when I first started it, but I ended up really liking it! Warning, *SPOILERS!!!*

It's very Christian. They go to a private religious school and they talked about church and their religion a lot, but it's not over powering. It's about these five girls at school who are sort-of-friends and one of them is a busy body and loves excitement. She wants to know why none of the guys are even looking at her! They act like she's invisible and the dance is only three weeks away! So she starts a club. She calls it the 'Dating Games' and she ropes all of her friends into it. If they don't all have dates for the dance, then she quits as the leader, but for now she's in charge. Somehow they have to get the guys to ask them out.

Each girl picks one guy she wants to go after and each girl gets a different guy to work on for a her friend. They get code names and makeovers and go dress shopping... But some of the guys aren't cooperating! Once the girls know who and what their competition is, though, they step up their game slightly and it works! They start to get noticed!

I'll let you read it to find out what happens. ;)

It's actually a fun, good book and it isn't too bad for a teen book. I enjoyed it.

[Ava Phelps · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not amazing, not terrible. It gets a solid 2.5 stars.

Cassidy, the one character who actually had good Christian values, was labeled as a “goody two shoes”. She took time to think things through and decide whether or not it was a Godly thing to do. I guess it is an accurate representation that even if you’re surrounded by like-minded people, you will still be mocked for your innocence. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there’s Devon. She really reminded me of Lindsey Lohan in a lot of the early 2000s movies. Wanna be bad girl, and is obviously much more educated in dating than the rest of the girls. She acts like a brat until the end of the book when she needs help after which she apologizes for being so rude. The rest of the characters are mostly fine.

Another thing that got on my nerves was the repeating of phrases between very different characters. Multiple times the same lines were used without even rephrasing them.

Last was that all of these girls seemed to think that they need to have makeovers, act differently, and set each other up in order to get dates which is just so wrong. If it took that much to get a guy to notice them, then what was the point? I would maybe recommend this book if you’re traveling or have a few spare hours to kill.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

First date is the story of five girls, Emma, Cassidy, Abby, Bryn and Devon and their quest to go on a first date. I love Melody Carlson and wanted to read this book to see how she handled the friendship dynamic and also to see how the whole idea of girls that are Juniors going on their first date.

Overall I think this was a fun story. I really had to suspend disbelief though to think that 5 girls who were witty, smart and mostly attractive had never been on dates. Even worse was suspending disbelief that guys would listen to a teacher and decide not to date during their Junior and Senior years. Maybe things are different now and different at a Christian high school, but 20 years ago, I know we were all about dating in 11th and 12th grade.

So once you get past that let me move onto what worked for me in the story. The girls and their friendship worked. Why? Because Devon is the new girl but she's been friends with Emma forever. So when she starts at Northwood Academy she falls right into the role of Emma's best friend and becomes part of her group. But of course this causes problems. Cassidy had been Emma's best friend so now she's feeling left out. All of this is normal. Also when one or two do something in the group at least one of the others becomes paranoid and feels left out. Also normal. So I think Ms. Carlson really captured the girl group dynamic well in this novel.

Another thing I liked is when the girls decided to form their secret club and go after the boys, a couple of them needed makeovers. The nice thing is even though Devon was a little outspoken and could seem mean, she and the others could always mainly play up and fix small things about the girls. Just a little makeup that suited them or a wardrobe update. So it wasn't as much about looks as it was appearance. Here's one quote that I loved:

"Maybe I don't base my self-worth on my looks," Emma said. "I know I'm smart and I have a few talents. I'm a good artist. I'm not a beauty queen. I never will be. Besides that, it's not healthy to obsess over your appearance."

As far as characters go, Devon was a little brash and unlikeable in the beginning but as the book progresses she becomes more likeable. Cassidy seemed too goody-two-shoes, but by the end of the book she was one of my favorite characters. Emma and Abby are the sweet girls, and Bryn is the attractive one that offers competition for Devon. They all have their niche and I liked getting to know each one. I found ways to relate to each one as well. I was sometimes the loner like Cassidy, feeling a little left out. I was Emma thinking people should see me for what was inside not outside. I was Devon, looking for a good time and wanting to liven things up at times. I am Bryn now because she found ways to improve herself, by working out, updating her clothes but she's not completely obsessed with herself. And finally I was Abby because she respects her parents, has a tight-knit family and constantly wants to please them. So I think girls or adults reading this would find something relate-able in each girl. Not necessarily what I did, but there are many facets to the girls.

Concerning the plot, again suspending disbelief, it's mainly centered around the girls getting the boys interested in taking them to the homecoming dance. Along the way their are bumps. The girls learn lessons. Christianity is discussed but in a low-key kind of way. There are examples of the girls going to church and Devon's not going to church. There is talk of prayer and Cassidy consults with a youth group leader about dating. All of this worked for me. Melody Carlson is a Christian writer so all of this was expected.

What I didn't like. The whole not dating in high school thing. It was just hard to wrap my head around that. Also sometimes the secret club and the tactics the girls used just seemed a little middle school. But that was just me. These definitely weren't technical problems with the book, just things that bothered me personally. I still enjoyed reading the book.

All-in-all, First Date was a quick read and an interesting introduction to Ms. Carlson's new series. I will be reading the next book just to see what is up next for the girls because I really felt a connection to each one. The characters were interesting and while the plot was a little out there, it was fun.

I'll leave with one of my favorite profound statements in the book, it's a little long, but I love it:

This is when Cassidy talks to Julia, one of her church's youth leader about whether she should be dating or not since she made a personal pledge not to date in high school. Julia's answer is:

"I think you need to ask God those questions. For sure, if God tells you not to date, then you better listen and obey. But sometimes we run ahead of God and start making up rules for ourselves. Rules that aren't eally from God. It's almost like we think we can impress God, which is totally ridiculous. The next thing we know we're caught up in legalism - you now where you make a rule and think God is going to be pleased with you for keeping it. That's not how it works. That's how religion works. But God doesn't want us to be religious. He wants us to have a relationship with him. Not a bunch of rules."

My Rating: 4.0/5.0

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of First Date by Melody Carlson. A group of girls at a Christian School start a Secret Club to try to get dates to the dance. Devon thinks it odd the boys aren't interested in dating. I liked the way they had a group dinner for the group before dance to save guys money. I also liked idea of group dates especially as it allows them to get to know each other and not be alone with a guy they don't know. I read the book before giving to my granddaughter.

[Laurel Solorzano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not very descriptive

I read a lot of Melody Carlson's books as a teen, but this one lacked details. I felt like I was reading an outline instead of the story. For example, instead of detailing a conversation, it would just say Devon flirted with Jason. It made it hard to get to know the characters deeply

[Marianne Daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ripped through this book. It had me hooked the first page. One of those page turners that you just can't put down (i mean why would you?) and want to finish right away. I finished it in two days. Absolutly amazing. I recommend this book to everyone.

[Jeffrey L]

Was pretty Good but a little dull. Not nearly as engaging as the color series also by Melody Carlson.
You don't get attached to the characters. I am not currently planning on reading the 2nd book but I might later on.

[Kait Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was great! 😊 My favorite part was when Devon finally talked Emma into getting a makeover. Overall this book deserves 5 stars.

[K · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yeah no.
I’m sure there’s someone out there who’d like this but
No

[Danyelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devon has just transferred to the Christian Northwood Academy and is bored not only with school but with the environment and the lack of attention boys give her. So determined to make her junior year something to remember, she decides to try ad get her and her new friends to get dates to the dance coming up and break the daze everyone seems to be in.

Devon, Emma, Cassidy, Bryn, and Abby are completely different from each other but they all have one thing in common: none of them have been on a "real" date. So determined to get a date to homecoming, the girls decide to make a pact and start a secret club they call the DG (Dating Games) that has just one objective - dates for the dance. If only it turns out as easy as it sounds.

As the girls overcome insecurities and try ad nab dates, they learn a lot about themselves and each other. However, just when it seems like everything is going okay, the girls seem to get on edge and start bickering amongst themselves turning what was a good idea into a disaster. If they can get along long enough they might just grab dates to homecoming, but if they can't they might just fail in their main goal.

Can the girls get dates to homecoming or will their differences year them apart? Is the DG a good idea or is it a bad thing waiting to happen? Can DG be something good for them all or will it turn into a disaster? What will each girl learn along the way about themselves and the other girls in their group? Can the girls combat dating and still keep their values or will they sacrifice them to get a date?
----------------------------------

Melody Carlson has been a favorite Young Adult author of mine ever since I discovered her a few years ago and ever since then I have looked forward to her ingenious stories and engaging storyline. So far there has never been a book by her that I haven't liked and this book was no different. In fact, I found this book dramatic but fun and an awesome idea on how to date for teens.

The concept at first sounds a but weird and I couldn't help but view the club, at first, like Cassidy. However, the more the story progressed and the more each girl's limits and values came to light, I started to change my views and by the end of the book I felt that this is an incredibly genius way to date safely and smartly for teens. Not only do the girls group date, awesome idea, but they share about their dates and experiences so that the other girls I the group can assess whether said guy is good or bad for them. It's genius! I might have to initiate this for myself someday.

Each character in this book are different, some in more ways than others and I thought it was really neat how the author played upon each character's strengths and weaknesses and made each one part of the story. I also liked seeing the transformation in the characters, some changed quite a bit and some definitely need some work but all changed somewhat and it was nice to see how each changed and grew, tough I would've liked to have delved more deeply into their lives just a bit.

I always say it but Melody's grip on teens and the way they think astounds me every time. Though a bit of her slang could be updated, the overall tone of the book is very teen-like and I always feel like a teen wrote it whenever I pick up one of Melody's books. I think this newest book's club is a genius idea and something teens everywhere should consider doing, particularly since girls love talking about their dates anyway. I absolutely loved the teen tone and felt it hit the nail on the head as far as relatibility goes.

Melody Carlson has written over two hundred books and though I haven't near that many from her, I still know that her writing is amazing and her style is completely teen. I love her books so much and even though I won't be a teen for much longer, I feel like I will read her books for years to come, even as I venture into a new chapter in my life. This author's books come highly recommended, particularly this one.

Overall, I really liked this one. I would've liked to have delved more deeply into each character's life, but I still really liked this book and the idea of a dating club stuck with me and I can't wait to see what other hiking the group will get into. This book is perfect for fans of Young Adult fiction. This book is perfect for teens and YA friendly adults, though it's probably best to keep it out of children's hands just yet. I give this book a four and a half out of five.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.*

[Ashley Osborn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love reviewing young adult fiction, so of course I jumped at the opportunity to read First Date by Melody Carlson! Most of the young adult fiction I read is aimed at ages 13-18 and I would say that this book definitely fits that category.

The story centers around 5 teenage girls who have formed their own clique at their school despite the fact that they are not especially fond of all of the members. The girls: Devon, Abby, Brynn, Cassidy and Emma all come from unique backgrounds and family styles.

Devon's parents separated when she was young and she has a track record of being wild and irresponsible. Abby is the only daughter of a racist African American family who is very vocal about the fact that they disagree with an African American dating or marrying a White person. Brynn has a great family life, but since her older siblings have all moved away to college or have gotten married, her life feels empty and lonely. Cassidy has grown up in a Christian home her whole life, but lately has been feeling far away from her faith. She doesn't really know where she stands with "religion" or how she feels about sharing her Christian faith with her non-Christian friends. Emma's parents just recently divorced, and she lives with her mother while she struggles to make ends meet.

Devon and Emma used to be close friends, but after Devon moved away a few years ago, Emma grew closer to Cassidy. When Devon moved back to town, she was eager to share her dating advice and created a dating game/club called "The Dating Games". The goal of the game was for each girl to help another girl find a date for the homecoming dance which was only 3 weeks away. They had 10 rules for the club which varied between "Helping other DG members find "good" guys" to "Not being jealous of a fellow DG member's boyfriend." The girls all agreed to the rules and began "working" on guys for their friends.

Despite the fact that all of these girls go to a Christian school, throughout most of the book, none of these girls are living a Christian lifestyle. All of their decisions are made primarily based on social status, good looks and their ability to "snag a guy". All of the girls in this book were fairly shallow, excluding Cassidy. The characters were quick to point out the other girl's flaws regarding their appearances, and even gave 2 of the girls makeovers because they felt that no guy would ever take a second glance at them without highlights in their hair or brand new clothes.

The girls all end up with dates for homecoming, and have a great time. All except for Devon, who finds herself in a bit of a problem because of the type of guy she has chosen. At the end of the book, the girls discuss shutting down the DG club or whether they should continue. All of the girls decide they should continue in the club, and even announce that they should start looking for different dates for the Halloween party.

It seems The Dating Games is exactly that. A big game. I don't mean to sound harsh to the author. As a writer myself, I know how difficult it is to write a good story. But this would not be a book I would allow my daughters to read. The story was just so superficial and shallow. The girls were so self centered and dating was just a big game to them. This is not how I want my girls (or sons if I ever have one) to think about dating. I want them to focus on the personal qualities of their future mate. Not how expensive their clothes are or whether or not they have colored hair and wear makeup.

There was little or no spiritual content at all in this book except to say that Cassidy was a Christian, and that Devon "used to be a Christian." I would expect a Christian young adult book to have quite a bit more spiritual content.

I am sorry to say that I was not a fan of this book. I rate it as 1 star.

**This book will be available October 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.**

I received this book for free from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group to give my honest unbiased opinion.

[Vera Godley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Melody Carlson and as I started through the first couple of chapters, I was convinced that I was not going to like this book. In fact, the more I read the more I felt that it was a waste of my time and most certainly was not something that I was going to recommend anyone else to read. However, as I remembered the target age for this book (High School: 10th grade and up), the story began to make sense to me and how it would possibly appeal to this age group simply because of the topic of dating and let’s face it, most young girls are interested in dating. The characters in the book are real and you could easily see any of these girls walking up and down the halls of any high school – Christian or Public.

Devon is the new girl at Northwood Christian School. She transferred from the local public high school because of her parents’ divorce and her mother wanted a “better place for Devon.” Devon has no interest in the spiritual side of the Christian school and is only interested in basically one thing – guys. She can’t understand why the boys aren’t paying any attention to her. She never had that problem at the public school. Was everyone at Northwood a stick in the mud?

What she doesn’t know is that one of the teachers at Northwood, Mr. Worthington, has given all the high boys a talk about dating and showing respect to the girls and being careful about who you date and that perhaps the young men would consider making a pact to not date and wait on God to show them whom they should date. Once Devon is told of the “talk” by Mr. Worthington, she makes it her mission to break “the pact” and the Dating Games club is borne.

She talks her best friend Emma into joining the club, as well as three other girls who are friends with Emma and tells them all that they can help each other get dates for the Homecoming Dance.

“First Date” is not a bad book, The girls in the story do develop a deeper friendship because of the Club, but I was disappointed that there was so little spiritual application until well into the book – more than half way through before the thought is introduced that if you’re a Christian, then you need to be very cautious about who you might date and how that might affect your testimony. Oddly enough, though, I remember some of these same situations during my high school years and I am sure things are pretty much the same now.

Ms. Carlson has done a good job in character development and any high school girl who may read “First Date” would/could see herself in one of the five girls of the Dating Game Club. Hopefully, however, they will also realize that it’s okay if you don’t date. That may sound a little naïve’, but one can hope. (guest reviewer: P. Howard)

DISCLOSURE: A complimentary review copy was received to facilitate this review. Opinions expressed are solely those of the reviewer. No compensation was received for this review. "First Date" published by Revell a division of Baker House Publishing.

[Amber Strawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Date is the first book in The Dating Games series by Melody Carlson. Carlson is my favorite author, so I've read most of her books. Considering her teen series that I've finished, this isn't my favorite. That being said, I did enjoy it. I only had minor complaints. I'd say The Dating Games probably won't be near as good as the Carter House Girls or Bloomberg Place, but it may be better than the On the Runway series.

First Date follows a group of high school girls who decide to make a game of dating. The thing is, none of them have ever been on a date before, and the boys at their christian high school aren't showing any interest. A teacher gives a speech to the boys every year challenging them not to date and to respect the girls. Most of the boys take this challenge seriously. So this group of girls decide they're going to somehow get dates to the homecoming dance. Carlson has always been able to write teens in a very realistic way, and she doesn't disappoint here! I could definitely believe these girls exist--there's the struggling christian, the athlete with overprotective parents, the new girl from a broken home, the beauty who secretly wants friends, and the down-to-earth girl who is caught between old friends and new. The group dynamic works well--we see these girls forge friendships and improve each other's lives. There's not a super strong faith element to this book, but it's definitely evident throughout. As the girls band together to get each other dates, there are inevitable misunderstandings, backstabbing, gossiping, and intense situations. My few complaints included a couple of words that were used that I don't think a teenage girl would ever say (miserly, apropos), a couple of redundancies, and a few comments that made me think they were being too hard on parents (starting a sentence with 'despite being a mom...'). Apart from those minor things, I enjoyed the book. I was especially impressed with the way a situation was handled towards the end of the book. One of the girls has lost a grandparent and feels guilty. The things another character said to help her through it astounded me! I was impressed.

Overall, I gave this book three stars. It was enjoyable and believable, but I've liked several other Carlson titles more. I'd recommend this book for high school girls (but be aware that there's a lot of superficiality in this story).

*I received this book free through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Ashley Strawser · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't finish this book. I started it, and I read about 1/3 of the book before I stopped. I wasn't impressed. At all. When I was a younger teen, I adored Melody Carlson. I loved to read her books, and I felt like I could relate to them. So when I received the email to review this book, I jumped at the chance to try another one of her books for teens, so that I could review it here and maybe give my younger readers something to check into reading.
On the first page of this book, the word "freaking" was used. While I occasionally use this word in my own life - I say it sometimes - I don't like reading it in books, and I honestly think that it is really unnecessary in a Christian book for teen girls. I was not impressed with this.
Also, not far into the book, the girls are making it sound fun to try to find dates for everyone in their group - calling it a "game". Well, as an almost 20 year old who has never had a date for the reason of not wanting to date just for fun, I didn't find this to be appropriate. I thought that it was kind-of stupid, really. There is no reason for sophomores - like the girls are in this book - to be starting a club called "The Dating Games", and trying to get guys to ask them out on dates.
I should also mention that most of the guys in this book seemed to not be the least bit interested in dating. The book takes place in a Christian school, and it mentions that the guys were given a "talking to" from a teacher in the school about respecting girls and not dating just to date. So the girls were trying to go against what the guys were feeling, trying to get them to ask them out even though guys weren't interested in dating.
Some of the characters did makeovers to make them more appealing to the guys, making it seem like they didn't think they were good enough before.
Now, to be fair, I didn't finish this book, so I'm not sure how it turned out in the end. I couldn't get past the first half of this book . . . I found way too much wrong with it.
Do I recommend this to other teens? Absolutely not.
I feel girls are worth a lot more than this book is making it out to seem.
Maybe this wasn't Melody Carlson's intentions while writing this book - I think it was more for fun than anything - but I didn't appreciate it, and I don't think a lot of parents of younger teens would appreciate it either.

[Victoria (TheMennomilistReads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this would be a cute series for a Christian teenage girl to read who is hoping to start dating. A group of girls that attend a Christian school decide that they will start dating boys that they may or may not have a crush on already. Some of them aren't too keen on the idea while others really want to date badly.

A "game" of sorts is created between these girls where they just want to find good guys that can take them to the homecoming dance. We learn a bit about who each girl is and what their personalities are like. The book is also very much about friendship and working together. There is talk about faith in God too, but it isn't focused on a lot. It is more in the background.

As a woman who has only dated one guy (to whom I am married), I found some of this to commend some bad ideas. For instance: what is wrong with these girls? They can't approach a guy themselves at all to get a date? They can't try to talk to them and have their friends talk to other guys for them to get their dates? This mentality and way that many girls do things is terrible. Maybe I'm just crazy because I was always one to approach a guy to say, "I like you." The thing is that these girls are just trying to go on a date that may not even last longer. That is weird to me, maybe because I had a mentality where if I were to date someone, it was to work towards an eventual marriage (and I started dating my husband less than a month before my 17th birthday and now I am 31).

I definitely felt like I was back in high school with some of this, as a lot of people I knew who were dating or trying to had lots of drama with their own friends. This made me chuckle a bit.

I read this book basically because I have read some of Melody Carlson's books and enjoyed them in the past. This was not bad, but I think it was a bit too short.

[Sara I · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you read Christian YA fiction then you've no doubt heard of Melody Carlson. Her books can tend to go either way for me, I think she's a good writer but probably not one of my favorites. However I'll still pick up one of her new books or series when I get the chance. I think she has done close to twenty series which is pretty impressive.

This book was like a lot of her other books, set in high school where a girl/girls are trying to figure out who they are what choices to make with their life. And boys, of course boys. The rest of it was a bit different though and while the idea of this dating game was really interesting at first I felt like after the first couple of chapters it fell through for me. The girls were interesting enough I guess, a few of them got a bit annoying, and there were four or five of them and each chapter would be a different POV. That got a little confusing to me.

I feel like the book had a pretty good message, there was one scene where one of the girls is talking to her youth leader and I thought it was very uplifting and good wording as sometimes Christian YA can be a bit too legalistic. The ending was a sweet and as was the ending message, which was that friendship is much more important than getting a date to a dance. However there was another part of the ending that I thought was a little off.

So while I liked the message and this book was a pretty easy read, I got a bit bored and some areas of the dating game felt weird and a little too forced. I don't know, there were just some parts that didn't make sense, the characters acting out and such. I'll probably try to read the second book, which comes out June 17th, but so far I haven't exactly loved this series.

[Chelsey Wolford · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book sounded like a wonderfully interesting idea, and as someone who teaches high school, I always enjoy reading from the perspective of teenage adolescents. High school was not a fun time for me, not because I was picked on or not liked, but just because I think it is a tough time in every kid’s life. They are discovering who they are, growing both physically and mentally, and trying their best to prepare for the life that is ahead of them. I must say that I would have never made it through high school without my best friends, so this group of girls was reassuring for me. High school is a tough place and I believe this book is a good representation of that.

Devon is the new girl at school and has only recently been transferred because of her mother and father’s divorce and her mother’s need for her to be at a better school/place. Devon finds herself at odds with her feelings for her new school. She is really only concerned with meeting new guys and cannot seem to understand why they are not interested in her. Devon comes up with a “Dating Club” and entices some of her closest friends to join it with her in hopes that they can all have dates before the Homecoming dance.

The friendship that these girls form is deep because of the bonds and the vows they share as both friends and as part of the club. The central message of this book is not revealed until towards the middle and is key to the story as a whole. As a teenager I wish that I had a book like this one to read. The message it offers for young girls is powerful and beneficial, especially for someone who is at such a crucial stage in their lives.

***A copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Revell in exchange for my honest review***

[Rebecca Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two weeks into her junior year & Devon Fremont felt dangerously bored.

________________________

I've read some of Melody Carlson's other books & really enjoyed her writing so was excited when I got the change to get this new Young Adult book & review it.

Its the story of girlfriends who get together to form a group & try to break a rule some of the guys are sticking to - to not date. Devon is behind this "Dating Games" & gets her friends to join in as a club.

Devon, Emma, Cassidy, Abby & Bryn are all different, coming from different backgrounds. Christian homes, divorced parents, different races, different values. And while some of the friendships start out on shaky ground, they learn a bit more about each other & they try to 'help' each other out with getting the guy they want to go to the dance with.

After teaching many lessons myself on dating to youth groups, I was anxious to see how this book would go. I'm also a fan of some young adult books & find they can be just as entertaining for adults to read.

This one? I have to say, it seemed very juvenile for an adult. Some of the characters got on my nerves & I just wanted to sit some of them down & have a talk with them as I do in our youth ministry.

Do I think a young lady would enjoy reading this book? Probably. Its full of friendship drama, boy drama, all the things young ladies are going through.

And while I do appreciate the story of the friendships getting stronger, I wish they would have taken the idea of dating & put it on the back burner... but no, its set up for the next book - Blind Dates in the Dating Games.

In my opinion, I'll pass..

[Danielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I was given the opportunity to pick from a list of available books to review, First Date caught my eye immediately. The cover itself is chic and gave it natural appeal.

I was impressed by the authors style of writing. I found it to be clean and it flowed nicely. I also appreciated the fact that the story was written from each of the girls view points, independently. I felt hearing each characters point of view brought the story together as a whole.

Having said that, I really wanted to like this book. I was, however, rather disappointed. While quite possibly the intent, I viewed the message relayed about dating to be nothing more than a game. A message I was not expecting from what I understood to be a Christian novel.

While the characters superficial views on social status, appearances, and their ability to get the guys to notice them is true representation of reality for most teenagers, at no point did the story re-direct the readers thoughts- in an effort to express that the characters approach was indeed superficial.

I certainly would not want my teenage sons or daughters reading this book and getting the idea that dating should be viewed as a game, that their social status defines them, or that their appearances are everything.

This book was a nice escape into YA fiction, for myself, as an adult. I would not, however, recommend this book for its target age group of 13-18.

I was provided First Date by Tell Us The Truth Reviews in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. The above is my own personal opinion and should be regarded as such.

[Rosie · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I cannot speak for Melody's other books, I am sad to say I was not impressed with First Date.

Maybe it's because I'm homeschooled (it probably is), but I found most of the book aggravating. Please realize that this is just my experience with the book and truthfully those who go to public school or a Christian school might enjoy this one better than I. There were only two characters I liked, Emma and Cassidy. I saw part of myself in both of them, though I don't really want to go into much detail.

The problem I have with the girls is simple. The girls were thinking with their hearts instead of thinking with their brains. All, if not most, of the girls were only looking at the present, not to the future. They had this mindset of, "Oh well it's not like we're going to get married someday."<- And that right there is another problem. If you aren't planning on a long, lasting, relationship with a guy, then why mess with dating? Anyway, I don't want to turn this into a long ramble, so I'll move on.

All things aside, Carlson's writing is great. I just had a problem with her characters and plot. I probably won't be picking up another Carlson YA book anytime soon and I don't recommend this book to other homeschoolers, as it isn't worth it.

This book will be available October 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

I received this book from Revell in return for an honest review of my opinions, which I have done. Thanks!

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this fun YA novel! It was such an interesting concept and had a very realistic view in if a group of girls really started the dating games! There was a good dose of drama that had many surprises, makeovers, and the true bonding of friends!

Throughout First Date each of the girls give their point-of-view every few chapters with all of them struggling with their self-worth concerning their looks. Only one of them truly knows that their self-worth ultimately comes from a personal relationship with God. However, in the end they all learn a valuable lesson that boyfriends don't define who they are and that friends are more important.

The lesson that Melody delivers concerning dating is great! I love how she encourages girls to pray about who they want to date and if she has peace about it! I thought that was so powerful! Cassidy (the only girl who's really a Christian) might have made mistakes in how she treated the others about not having a date, but in the end she realized that her relationship with God was more important then scoring a date as well as friendships! She not only asked God as well as prayed regarding who and how she should date, but she also did this for the other girls!

Overall this was an enjoyable and slightly humorous Pre-Valentine read! It had a very positive message concerning dating and the power of friendship! I'm looking forward to reading more of The Dating Games series!

I give First Date a 4 out of 5 stars!

[Meagan Myhren-Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Date
The Dating Games #1
By Melody Carlson

I have to admit I was intrigued about the premise behind the Dating Games (DG). Having gone to a High School where dating wasn't allowed, "dancing" was a 4 letter word, uniforms were uniform, and six inches between students was enforced with ruler wielding teachers I was looking forward to experiencing the trials and troubles of a group of high school girls trying to get their first date.

Though the goal of these girls was to get a date in time for the dance it quickly became something more as they developed deep friendships with one another. They got to know one another as people on a personal level, not based on their preconceived ideas from before starting up their group/club/friendship.

I guess that was what I liked best about First Date was the friendship that the girls formed. I also liked that they valued that above the dating aspect of their club. It took them awhile to see that the friendship was what they really got out of the DG and that dating isn't as great as they had originally thought.

When 5 girls with different opinions about boys and dating decide to form a club and get their first "real" dates you know trouble is just waiting to make an appearance. But that's where friends come in!

I was provided a copy of this title by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Available October 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

[books are love · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was not what I expected. It was a fun read one not to take seriously but the superficiality of some of these girls was just unbelievable.

This is a story of four girls out to get dates for a dance so they start a date club. Why do this? Well the boys have been challenged by a teacher and they are taking this challenge seriously. These girls wish to change that. One is stuffy and religious, one is insecure and when she feels scared she gets witchy and selfish, one is lonely and another has parents that are snobby in their own right. These four do not make you think they would get along and in some ways they don’t. They are at wits end but do pull together in the end and see that their is a friendship and support system amongst them.

The guys though really I mean they could use a little more backbone. Perfect gentlemen except one but he doesn’t count. They are manipulated and used for these girls higher goal of getting dates. Some really like the girl they are going with and these girls are acting afterwards like they are just boys. Bad bad bad.

I am not saying this is a bad book but I am saying that these girls were a little selfish in their ways and didn’t think of others as they did this little game.

The book was a fun read that will have you entertained to the end and how it ends makes you wonder if these girls will survive the next book as friends for they are putting blind trust and faith in each other and that was already tenuous at best in the first book.