Dating-ish

Knitting in the City #6

by Penny Reid

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 . . .

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, Fiction, Humor, Adult

356 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 16, 2017

About the author

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Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she writes kissing books. Penny is an obsessive knitter and manages the #OwnVoices-focused mentorship incubator / publishing imprint, Smartypants Romance. She lives in Seattle Washington with her husband, three kids, and dog named Hazel.

FOLLOW PENNY:
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Just Released:
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2023: Pride and Dad Jokes, Ideal Man, Book 1

Reviews

[Penny Reid]

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[Angie - Angie's Dreamy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll tell you this, Dating-ish is a guaranteed book hangover. A standalone novel that will surprise you with its depth and intensity. One that'll have you laughing and crying, swooning and wanting, needing all good things for these characters. You'll ache, feel devastated at times, but it will leave you so happy and fulfilled. It's deep. Heartfelt. Very, very heartfelt. In fact, this is the most HEARTFELT novel I have read this year. Memorable. Profound. Well written. Heart tugging. Man, do I LOVE IT!

OK! So... Here are some of the things I am thinking! (Sorry, I have to structure my thoughts because they're a mess of a million and one things when it comes to this book!)

1. I read Dating-ish in a day. ONE. SINGLE. DAY! That's crazy for me. Because...
a) I'm a super slow reader.
And b) Penny's books aren't short.
So the fact that I sat down, did not get distracted, and finished this novel in less than 12 hours tells you just how fantastic it is.

2. These characters are quirky and charming, funny and sweet and also, REALLY SEXY! Yes, sexy as in "whoa, baby!" I was WOWED by the sexy times. I mean, hey, hey, heyyyyyyyy, hottie Matt! ::waggles brows:: My jaw dropped. The man has MOVES. And Penny Reid had her couple getting down and dirty for her readers. Maybe I've been living under a rock. I certainly haven't read all of Penny's books, only several in this series, but I don't remember them being this crazy hot. Matt had my heart pounding! Delicious. And ooohhhh, did it make me feel ALL THE FEELS. ::giggles:: Goodness!

3. THIS BOOK HURT. A lot. There's no other way to say it. It hurt in way that I felt pain everywhere. A way that will make me remember every moment of this novel. It felt profound. It touched on human connection. It explained things so eloquently. I felt like Penny didn't just write a standard romance (not that I was expecting that), she dug DEEP and wrote a romance that was layered, smart, well thought out, and authentic. It felt genuine. And again, heartfelt. This book had so much soul.

4. Matt and Marie's romance is a decadent slow burn. A sizzling, heart stopping, chest aching, belly tingling, goose-bump inducing, soul searing, slow burn. They start off disliking each other and then it shimmies into this sweet friendship that developes into so much more. It's WELL PACED. Everything in this novel has a purpose, a reason. Every chapter moves the plot forward. There's no filler. It's not contrived or over the top. These characters are developed and shaped, given life one word at a time in the most exemplary way.

5. Matt and Marie's connection, their chemistry, their dynamic steals the air right out of your lungs. Matt's a complex, broken man and he RUINS YOU. He makes you want to wrap your arms around him and snuggle him forever. He's had a childhood that's been devoid of love. It shows in who he is. And the way Marie responds to that brokenness will set your pulse racing. These two have a connection that felt intrinsic. It's certainly tangible. I felt it, and I fell in love with them! With my nose buried in the pages, my lungs breathing the words as if they were my air, I was memorized, hypnotized, intoxicated by their need for one another. It felt like everything to me.

6. The writing is smart. WHIP SMART. Though I'll admit, I struggled with the first 30-ish%. The robot topic wasn't my thing. I was a tad bored. I wanted more Matt and Marie times. I'm selfish like that. Kind of an "instant gratification" kind of reader. I'll admit that. LOL. ::hangs head in shame:: And you know what? Penny taught me a lesson. She taught me to be patient. To NEVER give up on characters because I'm not getting what I want, when I want it. I mean, oh my God, could you imagine? If I had stopped reading because I was a little bored, I would have missed out on the most beautiful romance ever. A romance that's buried itself inside me and made me feel so alive and happy and full of good things. So yes, pay attention. Keep reading. Everything in this book is there for a reason!

And 7. The story line is endearing. Marie and Matt start off badly. SUPER badly. It's hilarious and I wasn't sure how these two were going to handle each other from that first impression. I felt like the story was unique and had everything in it to kept you on your toes. Charming, sweet, and so moving! Such an incredible romance.

Overall, I'm in love with these characters and with their journey from start to finish. They are such good people. They made me want what they wanted. They made me feel what they felt. They made me understand them, where they were coming from, what made them tick, and who they were. I connected to them on a deep level, and I loved seeing their growth and progression throughout the book. Everything about Dating-ish felt RIGHT, AND FULL OF LIFE, AND PERFECT. I'm so impressed with Penny Reid. This is a story to be proud of. A sexy, smart, heartfelt romance that's so fantastic. Obviously, five stars from me!

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+ stars!!!



I’ve read most of Penny Reid’s books. I think she is one of the most talented, smart, and funny authors out there. So when I say this I don’t say it lightly. This could very well be my favorite Penny Reid book. I thought Dating-ish was such a spectacular read. It was funny, emotional, witty, and so much fun. Marie and Matt were both incredible characters and I feel like I could just spend this entire review gushing about how wonderful this book is, but I’ll try to actually review the book instead of just rave about how in love I am with this story!

Marie Harris is a knitter, a journalist, and is at the end of her rope when it comes to dating. On-line dating specifically. She’s about to throw in the towel on it all, when against all odds, she finds her perfect match. She has to meet him, just to see. Well, meeting her match isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

In less than twenty minutes, my perfect match had irrevocably propelled himself to the top of my worst-date list.

It’s safe to say, this date put Marie over the edge. So much so, that she’s decided to look in to alternative things to dating. Cuddle therapy? Orgasm meditation? Professional dry humping? The list of her research is endless. When she and Matt officially meet… well… I won’t ruin that fun. But it’s highly entertaining. Anyway, Matt has a different alternative to dating he’s been studying. Robots.

Maybe this wasn’t crazy. Maybe this was the next logical step in our evolution. If you can’t find companionship with another person, why not find it with a compassion robot?


Marie and Matt become unlikely friends. But my god. You feel it between them. Right under the surface. Something else is there. Something far beyond friendship. I love how they went from enemies, to friends, to more. It was everything.


This story was so entertaining. And it made me laugh. I’m talking seriously laughing out loud and having people give you funny looks laugh. I can’t count the times I cracked up while reading this. One of Penny’s funniest books by far. Whoremones. I die.

“If you’re going to send a woman a dick pic, at least send something worth seeing. Not a gherkin dwarfed by hairy potatoes.”

And the feels. I’m going to be honest with you here… based on the title, cover, blurb, and on the other Penny books I’ve read, I did not expect this one to hit me so hard. There were a few moments I had tears streaming down my cheeks. I felt so much for these characters. There is a truly heartbreaking moment or two, but thankfully, by the end, my heart was mended.

Dating-ish is a book you won’t be able to put down. It’s got everything I love in a read. Fun and quirky characters, lots of laughs, steamy scenes, emotional parts, and a truly unique plot. Penny’s books always have that original story line. That is my favorite thing about them. This book is like no other book you’ve read before. Be prepared to fall in love with Matt and Marie. It’s such a smart read and a completely amazing slow burn romance. Dating-ish will most definitely be on my top favorites list this year!

[Rachel L · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!

“I’d had some terrible first dates since breaking up with David, but this one took the cake. It took all the cakes. In less than twenty minutes, my perfect match had irrevocably propelled himself to the top of my worst dates list.”



I want to study Penny Reid’s brain. Like not in a murdery creepy way, but a you fascinate me tell me all of your secrets and make me interesting kind of way. Not weird at all, right? Nope. K. Brilliant.

Anyways my first draft of this review looked like this:
I LOVED IT. YOU WILL TOO. ROBOTS, CUDDLING, OMG. PIZZA SHOES.

But I’ve had a while to think on it now and I may sound a bit more coherent. On Facebook Penny had mentioned she didn’t know how readers would respond to this novel, citing it as really weird. To be completely honest, I get really friggin excited when she says things like this, because those are the books by her that I love the most. I always enjoy her books, but those are the ones that feel most free to me, like she had no barriers when writing them.

I should probably talk about the plot. This book opens with Marie going on an internet date, meeting a stranger and it just goes completely wrong in every possible way. Like it is literally her worst date EVER. As a result of this Marie decides to do research for an article on alternatives to men. This leads Marie to an interesting world of professional cuddlers, dry humpers and orgasm meditation.

While researching, her date reappears, and he’s not the man she met on that disastrous date. And he may have a solution to her dating problem….



“ Where are all the men? And I don’t mean man-children. I mean men. You know, the guys whose interests extend beyond playing Halo on their Xbox, and who actually make eye contact, and aren’t constantly scanning the room for a better option.”

It’s hard to say this fellow Reiders, but Dating-ish may have become my favorite book in the Knitting in the City series. It hurts me to say that because I feel like I am betraying/cheating on Sandra and Alex, but this book was SO DANG GOOD. Like I mentioned above, I had a very hard time writing a review after reading it, my mind just needed to wrap itself around all of the awesomeness that was thrown my way. I loved Marie, I loved Matt. I loved them together, I pined, I burned I perished when they were apart. This book had the perfect combination of humor and angst that we only ever get in a Penny Reid novel. I am like a drug addict waiting for my next hit of Reid, even though the woman puts out numerous quality books a year I want MORE. There will never be enough!!! Lol.

Honestly, go into this book without spoilers, don’t even look at key plot points. I feel this book is better experienced if you go in almost blind. I went in not even knowing who the hero was and it totally enhanced the reading experience for me.

There’s a reason Penny Reid has made a name for herself in a community that is oversaturated with thousands of authors and books. She delivers original and unique concepts, is able to make them relatable, and she makes you fall in love with her odd yet realistic characters. You’ll never get the same book twice with her. And that’s why she’s one of my all time favorite authors EVER. And why I will read any book written by her, even if it’s about a person watching paint dry while eating rice crackers.

“You are my person.”

ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review


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[Wendy'sThoughts · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 To Touch, To Feel, To Love Stars
* * * *1/2 In Kindle Unlimited-The Whole Series FREE!
Spoiler Free-
Leave to Penny Reid to approach online dating, Artificial Intelligence, the human need to love and be loved and wrap it all up in a charming and deeply moving Knitting in the City book. Naturally, Reid would have the wherewithal to present these issues and make them work. I'm not surprised and we are fortunate she turned her mind's eye on these subjects.

The main thing I want to talk about is how Reid is able to take human interaction to another level in her writing. She takes characters who can be so oblivious to how "normal" interaction goes... and brings them along in the tale so we see they're opening up, becoming full and real.

This struck me with Matt Simmons. We had briefly met him in past books and in this one, he is front and center. The way he is introduced to this story is so unique. It is almost like he is an alien from another planet....and in many ways after our learning more about him and his life....we begin to understand and get it. Even with this understanding as the story progresses, Mark has much to learn and process... But it is his way... his wanting Marie to see how wonderful she is...which will touch you the most....because even when he makes mistakes...his wanting only good for Marie is pure.

And Marie...she is a terrific character... so smart and capable. She is someone who has figured out what she loves to do; discovering stories and telling them for others to learn from... makes her day.
Yet this very smart and capable woman... has had zero success in relationships. She was in a long term one and it ended up dying a slow death. Now she backs out there and has experienced all of the ICK of online dating.

Yes, ICK... because these people out there are just all sorts of wrong...But the human-animal wants and needs connections... touch and caring...so women like Marie are on these dating sites, trying to find The One.

Marie is about to cancel her membership to the site which has been useless when an email pops up showing her ... "Her Perfect Match"...

She looks...
She reads...
She writes back...

She decides to go for it when the response comes back right away all friendly...They make a date for coffee. As Marie sits, pretending to read a book she grabbed at the bookstore across the street just before entering the coffeehouse...she looks around at all of the people. Couples everywhere...gah...

A man walks in and she side-eyes him to see if it is Derek, her date. Nope, not his face or build. However, to her shock, he walks over to her and introduces himself as Derek.

So right, off the guy is a FAKE, A LIAR... Great!

This Derek then begins to have the strangest conversation with her...if you can even call it that...It is like he has this set group of questions... or he is saying things by rote... it just isn't connecting right at all...Marie can't figure out what is happening and things go from bad to worse... where she really thinks this guy is a FREAK...Running out of the coffeehouse, she gets home and has to recoup.

OMG... that has to be the worst experience ever...

And at her next Knitting meeting with all of her girls, she is retelling of the story and gives the punchline of what she discovered after she had come home...(Nope, won't share) and everyone is HOWLING....tears are streaming down all of their faces... sides are being held because the pain from laughing is so intense...

Yeah... that was hysterical... but still with all of this being "so funny"... all of the women who are not paired up... understand Marie's pain. Online dating and just trying to find the one who is your Right Person.... has become close to impossible...And to be "A Woman in her Thirties" Forget about it.

So everyone is having the best time... the entire group is here with the use of Skype including those out of town...bonding. Couples are pregnant...Fiona having an easy time...Janie, not so much. Their men are adoring and loving. All is well in the world, basically.

One of the guys is waiting for neighbor Matt to come so they could go and run...and when he shows up...You'll never guess...

Oh, You Did... Correct...He is the Fake Derek!

So, that is the setup. What happens next is so good, so delicious and so touching... you need to experience this for yourself. You will go through an arc that is unusual, layered and deep. Both of these people have their issues... and they just do not know the way to communicate their feelings to each other... without the fear of taking that leap...

All of this is surrounded by the snippets of information doled out by our Ms. Reid of the advancements of AI and how it can impact human connections or substitute for it. She also brings to light other alternative ways to receive what we all crave...human warmth and touch. Oh, and don't miss out on any sly editorial comments about current events.

It is no secret I am a died in the wool lover of anything Reid. She just does it for me in so many ways. This book is no different in the ways she presents relationships, idiosyncrasies of people and the way true caring and love can be expressed.

The really cool thing about this book is how we know there is another coming after it...Woot, Woot Kat, and Dan...Cannot Wait!


Neanderthal Seeks Human (Knitting in the City, #1) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Neanderthal Marries Human (Knitting in the City #1.5)
Friends Without Benefits (Knitting in the City #2)
Love Hacked (Knitting in the City, #3) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Beauty and the Mustache (Knitting in the City, #4; Winston Brothers, #0.5)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Happily Ever Ninja (Knitting in the City, #5) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Dating-ish (Knitting in the City, #6) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Marriage of Inconvenience (Knitting in the City #7)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
October 27, 2016
We are getting MORE????
More Knitting in the City???
More situations between adults who actually talk about things that bother them...
WHEN IT HAPPENS...

More Smexy times... with passion, confusion, and heart...
And more real-life experiences to consider, contemplate and ponder...
Thinking that maybe we could learn something from this crafty, well thought out book...
Created by an author who isn't afraid to use words which stretch the mind and cause us to think while reading...
Yup...
Penny Reid is giving us more...
And I will take whatever she wants to give me...

Dating-ish (Knitting in the City, #6)-Spring 2017

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Bibi · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5 stars*

I feel like I'm cheating on Sandra and Alex (from Love Hacked), but really, Marie and Matt are too adorable for words.

I loved it.

[Samantha Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s no secret that I’m a massive Penny Reid fan, having fallen in love with her smart romances when I read Neanderthal Seeks Human. Every book in this series has been a winner for me because even though I know what to expect from Penny’s style, I never know where her next story will take me. Her novels are continually surprising. That’s rare to find in romance and Dating-ish was no exception.
Perhaps it’s because I could relate so completely to Marie but this has to be my favourite so far in the Knitting in the City series. In fact I read this while I was on a flight to the US and I found myself understanding Marie so completely that not only did I have to bite my lip to stop from laughing out loud, but I had to blink rapidly (a lot) to stop the tears.

I love that Penny can write sexy heroes who are also a little nutty, a little kooky, and yet maintain their serious level of hotness! The character development and chemistry between Matt and Marie was, as always, phenomenal. And like every book written by Penny, I also learned from the story.

Yet what was really special about this novel was the way Penny handled the subject. Marie is a journalist and her research topic in the novel could have led her down a seedy path or two. However, Penny flipped this on the reader; she dug below the surface of the subject matter, questioning loneliness and the nature of our need for companionship. In the end it was Marie’s discoveries here that really brought tears to my eyes. Extremely moving!

Funny, witty, quirky, sexy as hell, emotional and beautifully captivating, I devoured Dating-ish in one sitting. No one writes romance like Penny Reid. Each story is truly one of a kind.

[Ⓐlleskelle - That ranting lady ッ · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Are you a romance Reider? Sure you read some romance, but have you read a Reid Romance before?
In any case, here are a few things you should know about Knitting in the City series.

▸It’s 100% certified happy feels.
▸It’s about friendships forged in… yarn.
▸The characters are imperfect and flawed therefore very relatable.

Dating-Ish is certainly no exception to the rule, happy feels were found, yarn was fashionably crafted around drinks, and characters revealed facets unbeknownst to them before.

But what is the story about?
Have you ever experienced the rush and anxiety of a blind date? The pressure behind online dating? It doesn’t matter if you didn’t, you’ll feel how awkward and stressful such a date can be and sympathize with Marie, the heroine, navigating through dick pics, fake profiles and impostors until her fateful date with Matt.



But there is so much more to Dating-ish. Unrequited love addicts will get their fill of sweet and delicious angst. The kind that makes you want to take rein of the story and make the heroes together NOW. Penny Reid is devilish and here is why : she set up the parameters of this story so you have no other choice but to be a simple by-stander but at the same time making it impossible to watch the play unfold without vehemently protest. (picture yourself shouting at the book, throwing the book against the wall, shaking your head at how clueless a man can be, cursing the author for putting yourself through such a debilitating state while going through your easter chocolate stash. Oh you ate it all already? You fool! )

Datingh-ish is brilliant that way. You’ll love it but hate it almost as fiercely. Unrequited love? My favorite kind of romance! Unrequited love between best friends? Even better. And the growing friendship between both main characters felt so genuine, so real, so sweet…
Gah! All the feels for this strangers / enemies / friends to lovers story orchestrated by… robots.
That’s right. Robots are responsible of it all.



What if human relationships could be replaced? What if we could avoid deception, heartache by creating the perfect mate?

That’s the underlying question Penny Reid is asking throughout Matt and Marie’s journey. Robots are everywhere but would you leave morals and flaws behind — everything that makes us humans and individuals— to save you from the heartache and risks of the dating pool? Would you feel more safe with an entity programmed to fit your needs and set with a rigid set of morals? Can intelligence equals emotions?
An intelligence of our own designed to control us all? Don’t you find it frightening?

This question is extremely relevant and interesting in a world dominated by electronics but I’m probably not utopian enough to wish for such a thing. I think I love the mess of social interactions too much, the surprise of blends too much to ever wish such a thing to become a reality. Perfection is boring, flaws make you interesting!



Through cuddle sutra and professional humpers Marie and Matt are trying to get answers to those questions getting closer and closer while exploring alternatives to the idea of an artificial intelligence companion. And the let me tell you I never craved a cuddle like I craved one with Matt reading this book. The charge of sexual tension emanating from the pages of Dating-ish is positively dangerous.
Worse or better even, the moment Penny Reid let it all go? Not only you’ll feel the relief, but guys, I can’t remember reading a scene THAT hot in one of her books EVER. And that damn saxophone!



To conclude, Penny Reid delivers here a perfect addition to the Knitting in The City series with a romance story like I truly love them, entertaining with a lot of built, a yearning so real you can feel it through the pages, her own brand of humor —nerdy robot jokes are everything— making light of tense situations, a subject to reflect on, the whole thing cottoned in happy feels, yarn and a set of friends you can only wish you were part of. Oh and Careless Whispers. That damn saxophone.

(‘Dating-ish’ can be read as a standalone, it’s a full length 100k word novel, and book #6 in the Knitting in the City Series.)



* I received an advance copy from the author in exchange for my honest review. *
More reviews and book talk at :

You can find me here too ☞

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Drinking the Water Stars

So basically, this is me after each and every Penny Reid book I read.



I just love the characters she creates and the situations she gets them into. Going into Dating-ish, I thought the idea of professional dry humpers and cuddlers was a little...odd. I'm also not a science kinda gal so anything too specific regarding robots and their quest to take over the world (it's going to happen, people!) is bound to go right over my head.

“He’s not a serial killer. I had to call in a few favors just to get his number. He’s the most sought-after dry humper in New York.”

That being said, I loved each and every word of this book. Marie and Matt made me laugh and broke my heart over and over and I couldn't get enough. It's a testament to some wonderful writing that even though we only get Marie's voice for most of the book, I still managed to feel everything right along with Matt.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'll read absolutely anything this woman writes. Take a shot at the phonebook, Ms. Reid. I promise I'll be first in line to give it a try.


June 16, 2017 Reread new favorite bit of goodness:

I waited until he’d brought the glass to his mouth and had taken a gulp before I said, “It’s so I can be dry humped by a professional.”

[Patty ~ Wrapped Up In Reading Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

*****4.5 STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}



I could only stare at him, feeling both paralyzed and caught by the thrilling yet terrifying current of his intent. Terrifying because this was Matt. My crutch. My crush.







DATING-ISH the latest installment of Penny Reid’s Knitting in the City series is filled with the author’s silly and nerdy sense of humor which I happen to love so much. At times while reading this book, I felt like I was watching an episode of one of my favorite shows, ”The Big Bang Theory”! I fell in love with Marie and Matt from their awkward and comical first date! The book can be read as a standalone, even though all the characters from the previous books are in this one quite a bit. I’ve only read the first book and now I’m dying to go back and read all the ones I have missed! This was an absolutely fabulous and entertaining read!



Marie Harris is one of the last two in her circle of close girlfriends that is still single. She had been in a relationship for over six years and yet she has never experienced all-consuming love like some of her besties. She had tried joining an online dating site but after a long period of time of finding absolutely no prospects, she was resolved to living her life without romance. Marie was ok with focusing on her career and spending time with the terrific group of friends whom she loved dearly until that online dating service sent her an alert that they’d found her perfect match. She decides to be open and give this site a chance and so she makes plans to meet her soul mate at a local coffee shop.



Her date turns out to be disastrous. The man who shows up is not the man whose picture was displayed on his profile. Marie isn’t too disappointed since the guy is as gorgeous as a male supermodel. But it all goes to hell quickly when she learns that Dr. Matt Simmons is actually conducting a study with his colleague on single women in Marie’s demographic who turn to online dating services to find their Mr. Right. A little misunderstanding has Marie running for the hills and declaring Matt a psycho. And since fate sometimes has to step in to steer people in the right direction, Marie runs into Matt again during one of her knitting get-togethers at Fiona’s apartment. Turns out he’s Fiona’s neighbor but he’s also known Fiona for a long time since she used to babysit him when he was a young boy.






Matt and Marie are able to strike up a friendship after their initial misunderstandings are cleared up. Marie is a journalist and her new article is focusing on some highly unusual services that people pay for to feel the human connection. She’s also interested in using some of the data from Matt’s study in her article. Matt agrees to provide her with the data so long as she completes the questionnaire that he had planned on giving her on their first date. What started out as a mutual agreement to help each other with their work projects quickly turns into a deeply personal connection between them.



Unfortunately, they are both skittish and insecure when it comes to relationships and for a huge majority of the book, the two continuously miss clear signs of the growing attraction between them. It was beyond frustrating, to say the least. I wondered how two highly intellectual people could be so clueless about matters of the heart. It was obvious that the only way these two were ever going to find happiness with each other, was for one of them to take that huge leap of faith and risk getting their heart broken by the possibility of rejection.



The slow build to the steam was almost agonizing but well worth the wait and suffering once the passion finally ignited between the main characters.



DATING-ISH is currently available and if you haven’t read it yet, it’s worth bumping up your TBRs!


Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2mowgNq
Amazon UK: https://goo.gl/1pnSeh
iBooks: https://goo.gl/F3o9Qw
Nook: https://goo.gl/imzdIJ
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[Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Life is a struggle for relevancy."

Special announcement : let it be known that from this day, when asked the following question,

'But, really, are you sure you shouldn't stop reading romance novels, because it damn seems like you can't love them?'

I'll point to Dating-ish as a proof that I don't need a book to be clinically perfect to give it a flat-out 5 stars.

I'll be using Dating-ish for future reference of what I want in my romance novels : not perfection, but a story that makes me ridiculously happy. Giddy. Insert heart-eyes emoji or whatever it is you use when you're infatuated - sorry, besotted - and consider it a relevant description of my face right now.

And... That's it. SLOW-BURNS ARE EVERYTHING. MATT IS EVERYTHING. MATT AND MARIE ARE GLORIOUS AND THAT'S ALL I'M GONNA SAY ABOUT IT.**

** for now

For more of my reviews, please visit:

[Maria✦❋Steamy Reads Blog❋✦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

➦I finally picked up a book in this series. Starting with #6, people. But no worries, I will certainly be reading all of this, or listening on audio, rather. I enjoy Penny Reid's sense of humor and she's quickly becoming one of my favorite romcom authors.

➦So, who hasn't tried online dating? God, the horrors, right?


➦What if we could eliminate this whole dating nonsense and just, I don't know, buy a nice companion robot? It sounds like bs but there might be something to it and that's what the reporter heroine of this book sets out to investigate with a help of one grumpy AI specialist. He doesn't really want to help her, but nothing that a little blackmail can't fix.


➦Listen, I won't go too much into the plot, I think I've revealed enough, but if you're looking for a fun and sexy romance with an enemies to lovers trope, then this is definitely it. It has a lot of computer nerdy humor and even some knowledgeable facts so you might even learn a thing or two about technology! :D I didn't, but I'm married to an AI geek, so there's that. And yes those can come with a great set of buns/biceps. lol

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Live http://amzn.to/2mowgNq

5 Marie and Matt stars <33

"Marie, you are the sine to my cosine."

I devoured every word of this story.I was hooked from the first page and I couldn't stop reading until the end.This is happening each time I read a new story from Penny Reid, her characters feel so real!Dating-ish is a smart,funny,emotional,sweet and beautiful story.

You will definitely laugh with me but I find this story in some way emotional,there were parts I cried a little bit. I don't know what happened but I could feel whatever Marie was feeling and this make the story so intimidate to me.



I fell in love with Marie and Matt!Their build up is realistic and I loved every minute of these two together.Marie is by far one of my favorite heroines.She is strong,sweet and funny.Matt omg this man, he is vulnerable,smart,funny and super hot!!There are some really steamy moments between these two!

Penny's writing is phenomenal and her characters swoon worthy.If you are looking for a refreshing,original and a heartwarming story then this is perfect for you!!


 

  

[Dali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penny Reid books are like crack to any romance book lover! You can never get enough of her wonderful heroes, awesome heroines and the all-around feels that she elicits. Original and captivating, Dating-ish is contemporary romance at its best.

I am obsessed with this series. Everything Penny Reid writes is irresistible, with its perfect mix of humor, steam and heartfelt moments. Every time I open up one of her books I think “this is DEFINITELY my favorite couple” and then she writes a new story, with a new and original plot, an equally adorable couple and bam! I fall in love all over again.

If you’re a Reid fan like me, you may have met Marie in the previous Knitting in the city books. What you might not know about her is that she’s wholly frustrated with online dating. Case in point, her latest blind date. A complete epic fail.

But as luck, fate or both would have it, Marie will get ample time to get to know the real Matt (not the guy with in the fake photo profile) and possibly, reluctantly, very slowly fall in love with a man who can’t reciprocate because he believes he can replace human relationships with an artificial intelligent companion.

“Your brain gives me lado-boners. I’ve been walking around with a serious case of blue bean for months.”

Matt Simmons is a wonderful hero. Despite his wacky obliviousness, he’s lady-boner inducing attractive with his blunt honesty, goodness and incredible smarts and. My heart broker for his sterile upbringing, but I was so happy that he found his perfect match, the sine to his cosine! Yes ladies, Penny Reid provides copious amounts of nerd humor that had me doubling over with laughter. I wish I could share all of them with you, but luckily Penny made a few teasers!

I loved how Marie and Matt, meet and become instant enemies, then genuine friends and finally after much angst sweetly fall in love. I couldn’t get enough of their smart banter, their back and forth and incredible chemistry. This delicious slow burn kept me glued to my eReader while both wanting to devour it and coveting each word hoping it would last until the next Reid release.

There are so many great things to share about this book that I would need an entire different post to wax poetic and list all the reasons why every romance lover should read it, from Penny’s very informative epigraphs, to the way she tackles the matter of loneliness and humanity’s need for companionship, to the wonderful character development of past, present and future protagonists. Reading about this wonderful group of ladies who have knitting in common but are united by ties that go beyond friendship is a guaranteed way to warm your heart and bring a huge smile to your face.

“Nothing you say is going to make me stop loving you.”
“What if I told you I was a Slytherin?”
“I would still love you.”

Dating-ish is book #6, an incredible addition to the Knitting in the City series by Penny Reid. It is a standalone contemporary smart romance. It is touching, heartfelt, full of wit, fun and sexy moments. Told from the heroine’s points of view with a happy ending.

5++ stars
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* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via Social Butterfly Promotions. The excerpts are from that copy. *

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[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review


Dating-ish is a smart, sexy, modern romance that will have every Penny Reid fan smittened. This book was a gem of a read. It incorporated every element of romance, humor, uniqueness and smart witty dialogue that have become a signature of Penny Reid.

I felt the brush of his lips—not a kiss, a brush—paired with hot breath against the bare skin of my neck and a zing shot straight down my spine, making my toes curl and a sudden hot ache twist in my lower belly. Oh no. I knew that ache. I hadn’t felt it because of another person’s touch in quite a long time. Nevertheless, no one ever forgets that ache.”

In today’s age where swiping left and right have become a thing, Penny Reid beautifully tackles the world of online dating, artificial intelligence, and human interactions. And so when Marie Harris was notified that they found her “perfect match,” she was intrigued. She wanted to know who this mysterious man that this online dating site paired her up. And let’s just say, it was not perfect at all. But what happens when she sees her odd date again at a knitting get together, who happens to be one of her close friend’s next door neighbor.

Matt Simmons who we have briefly met in the previous books of the Knitting in the City Series happened to be the date of Marie. What he didn’t tell Marie was that there was an explanation for his odd behavior and why they were matched.



After her disastrous date, Marie decides to write an editorial article that explores human interactions from the need of cuddling, orgasms, and how robots might be the new thing. It so happens that Matt Simmons is developing a robot that will replace human interactions and so she needs Matt’s help with her article. As these two begin to spend more time with each other, they soon begins to grow a fondness and attachment to one another. Soon friendship begins to blur with real feelings. Feelings of love. So will all the data, facts, algorithms and human feelings determine that these two are indeed statistically and irrevocably a perfect match? What happens when science and technology meets love?

He not only felt right, he felt like he’d been made especially for me. And I for him. For the first time in my life, I was encouraging my hopes. I allowed them to run and fly. To the sky. To the stars. Because that’s what my life was going to be from now on. Matt, me, and perpetually soaring hopes.”

Dating-ish is a prime example of a smart, beautiful, and funny romance done right. This book was sexy, intriguing, and full of charm. I loved everything about this book from the characters to Penny Reid’s amazing way to bring forth her kind of smart modern romance. So if you are looking for a story that had class, originality, humor and smarts then I suggest you be better read this book. Hands down one of my favorite reads by Penny Reid.

Penny Reid

[JewelsyGoolsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I enjoyed the 2nd half of this book very much. The first half read a little too slow for me. Or... maybe I lack the intelligence to get all interested and invested in Artificial Intelligence and robotics information. It's probably the latter, so don't let me discourage you from this super cute, intelligent and adorkable story.

The heroine was my favourite character in this story as I found her fair, clever and fun. Was she too wonderfully perfect for her own good? Yes, she was.

The hero started off pretty meh for me, but I enjoyed his backstory and watching him develop. Was he an alpha hero that swept me off my feet with swoons? No, he wasn't and no, he didn't.

All in all, I had a comically entertaining and thought provoking time with this book. I highly recommend this to readers that love an intelligent, romantic comedy, as well as fans of this author and series.

Told in only the h's 1st person POV and standalone story in a series. Can totally be read as a standalone because I've only read book #1 and #4, skipping the others and not getting confused or left behind on information. Had a nice HFN that left me mildly satisfied.

[Natalie ~ The Biblioholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've loved every single one of Penny Reid's books. They're full of humor and wit, her characters are realistic, and the romance is always warm and sweet. In DATING-ISH, Marie and Matt were amazing. Together and apart they were quirky, awkward, sweet, and just plain adorable.

I have to tell you that as much as I loved Marie... and I did because she was awesome... generous, giving, cares more about others than herself... it was Matt who stole the show for me. I don't know how he did it when this story was told from Marie's perspective, but his cool hit every mark. His brain turned me on just as much as it did her.

If you're looking for a book that is original, fun, optimistic and romantic, then I can't help but recommend this book for you. Not only do you get to see all of your favorite characters of the Knitting crew once again, but maybe you'll fall in love with Marie and Matt just like I did.

Release Date: May 16, 2017
Genre: Romantic Comedy
POV: Heroine - 1st person
Steam: 3.5 out of 5
Book Type: Standalone - Book 6 of the Knitting in the City series with character crossover

[Christie«SHBBblogger» · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Dating-ish
Series: Knitting in the City #6
Author: Penny Reid
Release date: May 16, 2017
Cliffhanger: No
HEAYes



Maybe this wasn’t crazy. Maybe this was the next logical step in our evolution. If you can’t find companionship with another person, why not find it with a compassion robot?

Penny Reid gives good romance. She takes risks, and thinks outside the narrow minded so-called ideal of what we as romance readers should be looking for. Her stories are always something fresh, innovative, and thought-provoking. Once again, she followed through with that expectation because a big central theme of this book is robots. That's right, you heard me correctly. When I first heard that she was integrating this into the plot, I admit that I was a little bit uncertain how she could pull this off. Romantic/sexy/passionate/ love + the future of Artificial Intelligence? As unusual as it sounds, she made it happen as only she can do.

Another topic Penny explores (with great hilarity) is the many varied ways that modern dating can suck the life force right out of you.

I mean, if you’re going to send a woman a dick pic, at least send something worth seeing. Not a gherkin dwarfed by hairy potatoes.

Our heroine Marie has tried online dating for years, and has nothing to show for her efforts. Besides frustration and entertaining stories for her friends in the knitting group, that is. She's finally at her wit's end, but decides to go on one last date before throwing in the towel. The disaster that ensues from Matt and Marie's first meet was one for the record books, and it certainly didn't convince her to give love another chance. She was officially D.O.N.E. Stick a fork in her, she's burnt out on dating worse than a slab of charred beef. She has her fabulous knitting girls, and is now actively seeking other alternatives to the ever elusive romantic relationship.

Unfortunately, the solace of her knitting circle is invaded by none other than Matt shortly after. And his friendship with Fiona and Greg means that she won't be seeing the back of him any time soon. His first impression was bad enough, but somehow he manages to sink to even further depths the more she interacts with him. Matt is a brilliant computer science professor, but when it comes to people skills, he is sorely lacking.

“Just because I’m a reporter doesn’t mean I don’t get to have an opinion about people.”
“And your opinion of me is?”
“Very low.”
His eyes narrowed infinitesimally. “Is it my hair?”

He had a child-like bluntness about him, that like a child was completely innocent. Often times examining things from an analytical perspective, and questioning subjects in a way that was unintentionally insensitive. But he was also quick witted, warmhearted, and a loyal friend.

The good professor also has something very valuable that Marie would love to get her hands on. So she makes a deal with the devil...so to speak.

A truce is called, and a bargain is made: she will agree to take part in his research aiding in creating a Compassion AI (Artificial Intelligence Companion). And he will share his research data with her in return. Her recent decision to find other methods of personal fulfillment other than dating has inspired her to do her own research, and write an article about its viability. They move from enemies, to reluctant partners, to friends. But the attraction that flares between them quietly smolders. They're both dead set against relationships. Right? Why risk rejection or failure and possibly lose that person for good?

Sure, he hadn’t said anything, but he was just so . . . so . . . big sigh. Brilliant and affectionate, and hilarious—so hilarious—and handsome—so handsome—and just wonderful. I felt like maybe our friendship was on the precipice of becoming something more.

The different dating alternatives tested by them were creative, unique, and loaded with humor. I really enjoyed seeing these two dance around their feelings for one another. The angst built to an extraordinary level just waiting for them to work through their fears.

My only reason for not giving this a full five was because admittedly, the first half I had difficulty in engaging with the main characters like I should have. My guess would be that it was due in part to the fact that there had to be substantial foundation built around the AI topic and how it could theoretically replace relationships. While it was all very fascinating and aimed towards the overall message, I was struggling to feel the romance. Or maybe it was just the pace of the slow burn? Whatever the case may be, the second half had me swooning and rooting for their hard-earned HEA.

This book was sweet, sexy, and the bonus time with the previous couples was like a cherished reunion with best friends. But even if you're new to the series, this is a complete standalone so you're ready to read whenever you choose. Dating-ish is sure to provide hours of entertainment and an original story that will educate you on the varied roles of robotics. It's everything you've come to expect from Penny Reid in an unexpected package.

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[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the book that's going to make or break me. I love this series so much, so I have high hopes.✨✨✨
------
For the record, it made me, then broke me, and then it… Have you ever read a book where you literally loved everything EXCEPT for that ONE thing? And if that one thing weren’t there, you’d love it more than life, but because it’s there… you can’t help but feel…disappointed? So close!

Anyway, I love this series, really do. And I adore this hilarious, close-knit (See what I did there? …. Ignore me) group of friends. It warms my heart to see the friendships and romances from the previous books here again, and it truly makes me adore them all the more. Also, Marie is awesome. She is sweet and adorable and GOOD. Her romance with Matt can be cute, but because I’m a bitter bitch who holds grudges no matter that I understand the reasoning, my heart just wasn’t into the romance anymore after that certain turning point.

I’m giving this book 2 stars. I like the “friends to lovers” concept in general (who wouldn’t want to be lovers-best-friends-soul-mates with a person?), but I have never actually read a book where I loved it because too much stickiness and miscommunication. I can certainly see the appeal to this book because it gets so damn cute and funny at times, but it is simply not my cup of tea because I’m like anti-angst. I am looking forward to the next book, and even though this book is not my favorite, I appreciate a lot of the smart conversations, cute bantering, and touching moments. I am sure a lot of people would enjoy it because it has very nice, well-thought-out characters and that romcom feel.

Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Is there a happy/satisfying ending? Cute, yep.
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level? No actual love triangle. No “technical” cheating, but during the time when Marie and Matt were “friends” who like to cuddle, flirt, hang out 24/7, etc., and while Marie is ready to take it to the next level, she sees Matt making out with a woman in front of his apartment (with the intention obviously to have sex with her), but it got disrupted by the kids Marie were babysitting at the time. This was the scene that bothered me A LOT.

I mean, OK. I definitely see his mindset at the time. Marie initially “friend-zoned” him (but she also said that they start at friends and see where it goes there, and how she’s not with him because he said before that he wasn’t into long-term, committed relationships – yes there were a lot of misunderstanding and miscommunication between them in this book), so he was thinking she didn’t want him at all, so he decided to find someone. I understand that, but it’s not fun to read about it either.

But also, my heart was breaking for Marie because she was SO HOPING and ready for a relationship between them because all of their hanging out seems to be hinting at more. And then she pined after him for MONTHS – and the moment she was ready to move on and find “her own person,” he started actively going after her. And I’m like NOW? REALLY NOW? Not that I’m not on Team Matt. But at the same time, I’m not exactly on it either. And to be fair, he technically didn’t have sex with that girl that night, and technically AGAIN, he hadn’t have sex since that one crazy woman he dated 2 years ago (before he met Marie). But still, I hate thinking that if the kids didn’t decide AT THAT VERY SECOND to go find Matt to invite him over for pizza, he would have MOST LIKELY been having sex with that other girl.

And really, it gutted me because he misunderstood how she initially asking him to be her friend (thinking she didn’t want more than that when SHE DID), and it gutted me that she pined after him thinking he didn’t want her when HE DID. And they were both just not communicating - in a rather realistic, understandable way, in my opinion, but I just don’t prefer reading romance with that.

Medium-high angst. So yep that’s my big rant. Like I get the situation, and it makes sense, and it’s realistic, and they both made mistakes in this miscommunication issue, but ouch that hurt to read.
Tears-worthy? Not a particularly sad book, but I did cry in some scenes. There were some touching scenes and some sad scenes (not depressing though).
Humor? Yes.
What age level would be appropriate? Mature audience. Explicit details on sex.

[Astrid - The Bookish Sweet Tooth · Rating 4 out of 5]

After re-reading I need to correct my rating, it was better than just 4 Stars <3

4.5 STARS

Review @ Vanilla & Spice Books


"Whoremones."

In this book Penny Reid touches on a controversial topic and she definitely has done her research. Can you imagine a robot substituting for human relationships? For raising children? This author's hero, Matt, can. He is the brilliant scientist working on an AI which will do exactly that. The data he intends to feed into his AI comes from dates with people he and his colleague pick out on an online dating platform.



After two years of online dating, Marie is tired of it. The dates she has had range from mediocre to horrible and she was actually about to delete her account from the platform she uses when her perfect match pops up. Her "man unicorn." She is tempted to give it one last try. She meets up with this guy but he doesn't look at all like the pic on his profile. Plus, he is weird and asks all these strange questions. Throwing the towel she considers alternate methods of satisfying the needs of a relationship. Professional cuddling, dry humping and orgasm meditation - are these the future? Or can a robot replace a relationship? Since she is writing an article about these methods anyway, she might as well try them.

On one of the knitting group's weekly get-together she finds out that her bizarre date is one of her friend's neighbor and childhood friend. Matt wants to use the data from their date but can't do it without her permission. Marie needs Matt's data from his AI research for her article. She propositions the exchange of information and Matt agrees. OK, maybe a little coercion was involved.
What started out as a strong dislike soon becomes a friendship until Marie finds herself half in love with the quirky scientist. Alas, he has sworn off relationships. So what's a girl to do?



Marie is a likable heroine. Her longing for a relationship is strong and I admired her for not giving into her attraction to Matt only because she needed a quick fix. She knows exactly what she wants. Marie is relatable - many women after their twenties struggle to find the right person for them.

My love is worth a lot. A. Lot. Because I know I’m awesome.”

“

But the real star in this book was Matt. He was such an amazing character. Although it took me a while to fall in love with him when I did I fell head over heels. He is as socially awkward as a person can be and totally clueless when it comes to heart matters. He steals your heart with his childlike curiosity, nerdy jokes and genius mind.

“They also rely heavily on repeated parallel matrix calculations.”
“Get out!” I said. “That’s awesome.”
He nodded. “I know.”
He then touched my nose lightly with his index finger.
“You are super cute when you pretend you know what I’m talking about.”

And the guy can dirty-talk. Holy hotness. Who would have thought? But Matt also made me sad. His questions often come out of the blue and oftentimes the conversations they trigger are like a 1-2 punch where it hurts most. The reason behind his avoidance of relationships and his research and development of AI was terribly painful.

It totally tickled my funny bone how stumped Matt was whenever Marie surprised him. She didn't behave and act the way he predicted.

Turning away from me, both of his hands now in his pockets, he said,
“Congratulations,” more a growl than a word.
“For what?” I called after him. Pausing outside the door next to Fiona and Greg’s and withdrawing his keys, he said unhappily,
“For being unpredictable.”

The first 20% of the book are about the technicalities of AI, their uses and how to integrate them into society. There is a lot of talk about the pros and cons between main and side characters and I have to admit that it felt a little slow for that part of the story. It did pick up, however, and developed into an incredibly smart and very relevant tale.
I adored Matt's and Marie's friendship, how they took care of each other and just enjoyed being together. It wasn't a far stretch that they would eventually fall in love. While this might not have been my favorite Penny Reid book it still made for a very enjoyable, angst-filled read about unrequited love, childhood woes and heartache. You can count on this author to give you something truly distinctive. Penny Reid's stories are always one of a kind.

"Marie, you are the sine to my cosine."

Dating-ish can be read as a standalone.

[Dee Montoya · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 +++++ EXTRAORDINARY STARS

A Hilarious and heartwarming story that is destined to steal the heart of all readers. This is Penny Reid style at its finest. Page after page, we get high doses of humor, smart writing, and sexy times. I know I say this every time I review a book from this series, but I really believe that Dating-ish might be my most favorite book yet. Penny outdid herself with Matt and Marie's story, it was so good I'm still hugging my kindle.




Marie has been a victim of online dating in more than one occasion. When she had been ready to finally give up on the concept she goes on one more date, which unfortunately for her ends up being her worst one yet. Naturally, she has to share all the details of her horrendous date with her best friends, during one of their awesome knitting get togethers, when the guy from her date suddenly makes an appearance. Turns out the crazy but sexy dude from her date is Greg and Fiona's neighbor, Matt.

Matt is into robots, he believes he can build machines that can replace human affections, and he needs Marie's input from their "date" for his latest project.This is all fine because Marie also needs Matt's help to write her latest article, which is about dating. The two enter an agreement where each will help the other with their career assignments. This wonderfully weird couple will explore together the modern age aspects of dating and/or the solutions to today's humans loneliness.




As always, but even better than the last book; believe it or not, we get a high injection of interactions from all the different characters from books past, which made my heart giddy with happiness. With this book, Penny Reid goes back to basics; balls to the wall with the corky, funny, smart writing that we all love, her very best if you ask me.

No matter who you are, or what you are about, this book can translate to you. Because we've all been on terrible dates, we've all felt lonely or misunderstood, or been let down by love. But reading this story gives you hope and happiness, which seems to be Penny Reid mission in life, to make people happy or at least smile big for the duration of her book.

Friendship and passion for love, or for what you believe in, I believe are the root of all these wonderful stories, that even though they are all completely different from each other, go perfectly together. I urge you to indulge in the weird, the fun and the wonderful world of any of the Knitting In The City books.

Purchse links:
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2mXDLLV
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2mxOFuN
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2mG5GAc
iBooks: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/...
Nook: http://bit.ly/2mtxBVQ
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/dati...
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Googleplay: http://bit.ly/2nECCs2
Paperback: http://amzn.to/2nVI1Ow

[Aisling Zena · Rating 5 out of 5]

+5 stars

Awesomeness! This book was awesome for me! The only thing possibly missing is quotes from Terminator/Skynet because I can't fathom a discussion for AI/Robots without mentioning that eventuality. But then again what do I know?



Anyrobotuprising, I loved everything about this book! The subject matter (wholly fascinating to me, I actually would read Marie's articles on it), the plot, the couple! Everything! I know that some of you might find it frustrating as it does take most of the book for them to get together but I loved the ride.

Penny Reid is already my go-to-feel-good author and she is fast becoming a never-disappoints one too!



P.S. Now I want an AI that will save my reviews from being eaten by GR and my PC(happened twice with this one). Also one that reads my thoughts as I go to sleep and records them.

[FMABookReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, she did it. Penny Reid has surpassed my expectations. With Dating-ish, Reid has penned my favorite from this series.

Be warned! Dating-ish is different! While there is humor as we have come to expect in a Penny Reid book (because Penny is wickedly smart and sharp with her tongue), this story is so much more. It is complex, it is deep, it is emotional and passionate. I experienced the gamut of emotions while reading about unrequited love and self-doubt. I laughed and OMG, I cried.

I felt a sadness deep in my soul.

Professor Matthew Simmons stole my heart. He was awkward at best. He was undeniably funny, wickedly smart and weird. He lacked social intelligence which caused him to miss social cues as well as kept him from using a filter when he spoke. Being the smarty that he was, Matt had an idea to develop a robot that would be a replacement for human relationships. Robots are better, more efficient, and bonding with them isn't necessary to get your needs met.

I mourned for him. I mourned for what he lost in life and his deep sadness.

Marie was unlucky in love. But she wasn't willing to settle for less, she wanted to find the right person, the perfect match. When her boss needed an article, she decided to use her situation as the story. What is the substitute for human interaction/relationships?  Was it Matt's robots or was it hired companionship? Marie decided to go all out and immerse herself in the world of hired companions, from dry humping to cuddle buddies (yes, it's a real thing, I googled it -- Cuddle Sutra) she's determined to prove she doesn't need a partner to get her needs met. She coerces Matt into sharing with her his study information. She wants to explore both sides for her story.

What starts out as a relationship based on a lack of respect and a business partnership, turns into unrequited love and a deliciously angst-filled read.

Lord Have Mercy! Penny Reid brought the steam to this book. That sex scene was scorching hot!

The tribe of women that Penny created in this series is the envy of many. They aren't just characters in a book, they hold a place in our hearts. The strength of each woman provides an undeniable support system to not only the female character whose focus the book is on but to the entire story.

If you've read any Penny Reid book, you know she writes the best "weird" characters, usually female. That is to say, they aren't perfect, they have something about them that sets them apart from others. What I loved so much about this book in this series was it was the male character that was "weird".



I struggle to remember what I ate for breakfast most days, so to assume I will remember a character in a previous book is a stretch. I hate that I didn't remember more of Marie because I loved her in this book! What a spectacular character!

Penny Reid has been a one-click author for me since 2014 when I read Neanderthal Seeks Human. Her voice is unique, her writing is spell-binding, her characters are captivating. Each book she writes, Reid continues to raise the bar as her stories delve deeper into the human psyche and the issues that every-day people face.

Dating-ish was an un-put-downable, extraordinary read. 5 Stars!

**I received an Advanced Reader Copy. This did not influence my opinion of the book, nor my review.**

** Pre-Order Links **
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[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody good!

Still a great read but geez these two take a long time to get there. It's also funny when you're re-reading/listening and you know a bad bit is coming but you can't quite remember when? You brace... then, brace again... then, brace again... 😉

Can't complain, it's a bloody good story and fabulously narrated. I will be back soon...ish for Dan, Dan, The Security Man.

I was SHATTERED

I was on a deadline. Hair, makeup and outfit needed to be sorted with a departure time of 1:30 pm. I was on track (sort of) but I knew that coffee would need to be consumed before I left. I don't know about you but I prefer to drink my coffee doing something fun. So, 12:30 pm arrived, coffee in my hand, I decided to listen to Dating-ish while I drank my coffee. It was just meant to be for 10 minutes. Well, my deadline went to hell in a handbasket. 1:00 pm and I still needed to have a shower...but I was down. Like, shocked, discombobulated and devastated. The 50% mark, and I was shattered.

I had to socialise, act happy and be effervescent when my book world was in an uproar and my heart was broken. I eventually bucked up after a few glasses of champers, but it was touch and go for a while there. I even contemplated an earpiece to subtly keep listening. Luckily, I regained my senses...sort of.

I think the Knitting in the City series is perfect for audio. I never struggle to stay focused and I'm captivated from start to finish. Dating-ish was a fascinating study into feelings, emotions and robotics. Can artificial intelligence replace human connection? Are we able to receive the right affection and connection from something that says the right thing every time? Is it a good thing to be satisfied with your wants and desires all the time? You can't help but question what we all accept as the right way? Maybe it is time to find alternative ways to gain satisfaction and connection?

Again, I was overwhelmed with emotions while listening to Dating-ish. Penny Reid writes amazing and original characters that you can't help but love.

The narrator does a fantastic job, but I admit that some of the accents were a bit annoying.

I love Penny Reid's love stories. While the characters are original, quirky and different they're also relatable. I like them and enjoy reading about their love and adventures.

This was definitely a slow burn romance but when we got to the juicy parts they were HOT!!

Loved Dating-ish so much that I'm going back to the beginning and trying out the narrated version for the previous ones I have read.

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

One quote from Dating-ish can pretty sum up how I felt whilst reading:
“he was just so...so...big sigh.”

I make no secret that I am a complete sapiophile, and Matt well and truly sated the beast. And, in true Penny Reid style, expect plenty of build-up, romance, humour, heartache and the unexpected.

“You said yourself, I’m full of surprises.”

Friends-to-lovers is a staple in my literary diet and, after a rocky start, Marie and Matt begin their journey down the path of true friendship, which is where the slow-burn pacing worked an absolute treat, giving you the opportunity to watch the chemistry between them work it's magic; teasing, tantalising and gathering momentum as the story unfolds and their friendship reaches the point of no return. And all that build up? Seriously worth it.



Had it not been for the fact that I felt the AI aspect was a tad drawn out in the first 25%, then this would have been another 5-star read for me. But that's really quite minor and all-in-all Penny Reid has created another smart, sexy couple to fall head-over-heels in love with and who have that fabulously real-feel. Do I recommend? Think the answer is obvious on that one.

“I don’t want anyone but you to power on my CPU.”

[Jaime Fiction Fangirls · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite of the series to date!!

This book started off making me very sad. The thorough examination of the idea that Artificial Intelligences could take over the need for human interactions is a scary and depressing idea.

It was scary and depressing because Penny did such a great job presenting both sides of the argument that, although I knew the side I would firmly stick to, still made question everything.

Yet again, Penny's smart romance sent me on a tailspin of information overload and made me feel highly unintelligent but thirsty for knowledge on something I might not normally even think about.

Beyond the thinking and the questioning she made me fall in love. She made me fall in love with Matt and with Marie and the very idea of falling in love itself.

There's something whole pure about the romance that Penny Reid writes. It's a sort of perfect fantasy that somehow also seems simple and real. And raw. I FEEL it when her characters fall in love. Down to my very soul, and when each book ends it's like the story has taken control of every part of me. The hardest part of finishing her books is knowing that the feelings I have at that very moment won't stay. Luckily for me the books live forever in my kindle and I can revisit them whenever I want.

Marie and Matt just might be my favorite Penny Reid coupling of this series!!

[Lacey (laceybooklovers) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at Booklovers For Life

Dating-ish is absolute perfection. As soon as I finished reading it, “WOW” was all I had in my mind. This book was so much more than I was expecting, even from Penny Reid. It’s without a doubt my new favorite read of hers. It seriously blew my mind – I don’t know how to describe my immense love for this book!! The powerful message, wonderful writing, heartfelt characters, and laugh-out-loud humor all made Dating-ish one of the best books I’ve read this year.

All Marie Harris wants is to find that one person who is meant for her – and in this day and age, it’s all about finding someone through online dating. When she’s notified of a “perfect match,” she agrees to meet with him. But her “perfect match” couldn’t be less perfect for her, and the date ends in a disaster. When Marie goes to her next get-together with her knitting group, though, who should show up but her friend’s neighbor, who is also her not-so-perfect match?

Matt isn’t exactly who he claimed to be when Marie met him, but he has a perfectly good explanation for his strange behavior during their date. It turns out Matt is Professor Matt Simmons, a computer scientist who’s working on building an AI, essentially a robot, to replace human interactions. Marie completely disagrees with the notion of erasing human interactions and proposes to write an editorial on the various methods on human interaction, from cuddling to orgasm meditation. Marie and Matt couldn’t be more different, but after getting over their rough start, an unexpected friendship forms as Matt helps Marie out with her article. The more time they spend together, the more Marie realizes… Matt might actually be her perfect match.

“Marie, you are the sine to my cosine.”
My eyelashes fluttered and so did my heart, but I managed to tease, “Are you saying we’ll never be on the same wavelength?”

Matt and Marie are ridiculously charming and hilarious. Their teasing and banter is fun-filled perfection – I literally couldn’t stop smiling every time these two talked to each other! The development of their friendship felt so genuine and real. It grew slowly and honestly, just like their romance. Honestly, I grew to appreciate their romance so much more thanks to the foundation of their friendship – this book is the definition of slow burn, and though it takes a while for Marie and Matt’s relationship to go anywhere, I promise the wait is so worth it!

“You should have someone who adores you. Who is worthy of you, Marie.” His mouth firmed into a determined tight line. “Never settle for less.”

Funny, charming, quirky, and heartfelt, Dating-ish is another phenomenal read from Penny Reid. Who knew robots and romance could mix so well – or be so sexy!? Let me tell you, our nerdy professor has got a serious dirty mouth on him. The steam in this book might not be high in quantity but trust me, it is definitely high in quality. Dating-ish is everything you can expect from a book Penny Reid – intelligent, unique, hilarious – and so much more. I simply adored this gem of a book. It’s truly a special read, and I highly recommend everyone give this a try, because it’s nothing like you’ve ever read before in a romance.

“You—being with you—was the first time I wanted real life over a virtual existence. You distracted me. I’d never been distracted before.”

Thanks to the author for generously providing me an ARC to review.

Quotes are taken from the ARC and are subject to change in the final version.

Amazon Ebook: http://amzn.to/2m20gz5
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/2qbpSuB
Audible: http://amzn.to/2rv7e4J

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[BrookeNoWhiskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title generously provided by the author.**

Here's where you can find Dating-ish...

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2mXDLLV
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2mxOFuN
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2mG5GAc
iBooks: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/…/book/d...…
Nook: http://bit.ly/2mtxBVQ
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/dati...
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
Googleplay: http://bit.ly/2nECCs2
Paperback: http://amzn.to/2nVI1Ow
Audiobook: Releasing on May 16th!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penny Reid romances are always a treat. In Dating-ish, it’s finally Marie’s turn at love. Matthew, who we remember from Fiona’s book as the neighbor across the hall with a bit too much love for her coconut cream pie, shows up on a blind date with Marie, pretending to be someone else. Worse, he’s really conducting a study on dating and Marie was just a test subject. Needless to say, she’s not particularly take with him at first. But these two slowly grow on you, and while Marie doesn’t have too many demons, Matthew has a slew of them, and watching Marie slowly work her way down to the core of why he’s so afraid to get close is heartbreaking and deliciously fun. This one was delightful.

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.

[MELISSA *Mel Reader* · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 "You Are My Person" Stars!



Marie Harris is a gorgeous woman living in Chicago & working as a contract writer/reporter. She loves her job and her life. The only thing she's missing is love. She has a great group of friends. Almost everyone in her close knit group has found their special someone. Marie wants that for herself, but is tired of online dating. Just as she's about to give up, she gets an alert from a site that they've found her perfect match. She makes plans to meet a man named Derek with high hopes that they will hit it off. Unfortunately her date turns out disastrous. The man looks nothing like the picture she'd seen & on top of that he's arrogant & just plain strange. She leaves annoyed and feeling discouraged.



Marie later has a run in with her attractive but odd date from hell & finds out his real name is Matt Simmons. She learns he's a professor at the University of Chicago who focuses on artificial intelligence. He's passionate about his research & believes machines can help humans. He eventually begins to grow on her & they strike up a mutually beneficial deal. She realizes her first impression of him was wrong. Not only is he confident & funny, but he's so damn sexy. He's a brilliant nerd who brings out her playful side. She enjoys his company & while collecting date together they become the best of friends.



-"I think I've just always wanted someone to adore."

-I was beyond attracted to him. I was so far beyond platonic, I'd jumped head first into the deep, dark waters of desire.

-Everything about him felt like the perfect combination of heavenly and sinful.

-I'm desperate for you. I think about you all the time.



Suddenly their friendship has turned more affectionate. As they are becoming more than friends, Marie wonders if he'd ever return her feelings. Soon she wants more than she thinks he would ever give her. Their friendship turns intimate as they indulge in their desire for one another, but can Matt give her what she deserves. She wants it all. She wants her person, her soul mate & won't settle. Matt has become her crutch lately. She knows she's important to him, but will he take that leap & put himself out there for love?

I adored this book so much! Every time I read a Penny Reid book I know I'm going to laugh & swoon hard over a new book boyfriend. She creates these beautiful men you can't get enough of!



-I loved how he made me feel, like I was the most beautiful woman he'd ever known, both inside and out. He not only felt right, he felt like he'd been made especially for me. And I for him.

-"I'm yours. Forever."