Five First Dates

I Absolutely adored this book. Erin Mccarthy has such a wonderful humorous writing style that made this book a winner for me. The characters and the storyline are both fun, sexy and romantic. The characters wormed their way into my heart and made me not only laugh but gave me that warm fuzzy HEA feeling as I read along. The synopsis is spot on with the gist of the book, so I won’t restate the obvious, but what it doesn’t tell you is the amazing way this heartfelt, fun romance is written or how love for single mom can be found right under our noses with the help of 4 besties and a very sexy next door neighbor. Just watch out for a few humorous bumps along the way. I Highly Recommend grabbing this up and simply enjoying Maddox and Savannah's journey.

Kudos Ms. McCarthy for giving me another outstanding romance that I am sure will be a go to book for me on many occasions to come. 2 Thumbs Up and 5 Stars

Jennifer Wilson

349 reviews12 followers

A.BookNerd.Bookseller&Bibliophile.Blog

I absolutely loved Maddox! He was so sweet and loved Savannah so much. Savannah is struggling to get through the day with a baby and work. When Maddox offers to help her out she jumps at the chance. Only problem is that he is no longer her brothers nerdy best friend. He is gorgeous, tattooed and amazing with her son. When she realizes that she hasn’t had a date in over a year, she challenges her friends to find dates for her. Standing on sidelines, Maddox is not thrilled with this idea. He needs to find a way to make Savannah see him as man and not a little kid. I really loved this entire book. Everything was kept at a good pace with lots of funny, sexy scenes. Really hoping that the other friends get their own books!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Pelusa Rivera

2,354 reviews14 followers

March 30, 2020

This book was so cute and let me tell you that I am not minding this quarantine right now because it is giving me a chance on reading some great books and this my friends was one of them. We meet Maddox and Savannah who from pretty much the beginning you are rooting for and hoping that they get there chance. So we have Maddox who used to have a crush on his best friends sister, and now is helping her out as her mannie and sleeping on the couch so win win for both of them. So Savannah does not know how to pick them so her friends are going to help her with that and Maddox is not going to step back and not get his chance..Seriously cute book, and my only regret is that I didn't know that this cast of characters were in a previous book, however I plan on remedying that. Enjoy!

rcvd and ARC at no cost to author...voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions.

2,787 reviews107 followers

3.5 Stars

This is the first book that I have read by Erin and I thought that it was cute and enjoyed the writing. Savannah is a newly single mother trying to find the balance in life. She is looking for her real life romantic comedy but has the tendency to pick the wrong guys. I loved how Savannah was determined to do what is best for her son. She has a great group of friends and a job that offers her the flexibility she needs. Then there is Maddox, nerd turned tattooed eye candy. I found him to be so sweet and kind. I love his big heart. I love the history between Savannah and Maddox. I also enjoyed how patient Maddox was with Savannah. If you are looking for a friends to lovers/brother's best friend with humor, romance, and feel good vibe this is the book.

~Alexis💜

Erin Hockman

472 reviews22 followers

April 1, 2020

5 stars!! I love all of Erin’s books she was the one to change my mind about romance and she still makes me laugh out loud swoon and want more. I feel like her books are never long enough for me I can’t get enough of her stores!!
Maddox needs a place to crash and where else would he go but his best friends sisters place. It doesn’t hurt that he’s had a mad crush on her since they were young and he also might even have a chance with Savanna.
Savanna new mother and single needs some help and love. When Maddy asked to stay with her in exchange he will be a nanny she jumps on that offer. She needs some help bad and maybe she will even be able to go on a date or two. Savannah didn’t expect little Maddy to be sexy Maddox. He may be younger but he grew into that body and those tattoos...
Maddox will do whatever it takes to show Savannah he wants to be with her. He wants to love her and have a relationship with her. Will he be able to change her mind?
When Savannah gets this crazy idea to have her four best friends each pick a date Maddox asked to pick the fifth. Will she find love in one of these dates? Who would Maddox pick?
When it turns a little complicated and the lines of friendship start to blur to more than just friends what will she do?
This book was so good and I love seeing Leah again! This new series is just fantastic. I’m so excited for book 3 who will find love next and how??

books-i-own

Erin Lewis

6,164 reviews218 followers

chick-lit friends-with-benefits insta_lust

5 Star Review of Five First Dates by Erin McCarthy

Erin McCarthy is a new author to me and I have no idea why that is. Five First Dates was an entertaining read that drew me in and get me riveted from the first to the last chapter. A friends to lovers story with heart and soul, with secondary characters that added to my reading pleasure.

Offering to help look after Savannah’s baby while she goes on the dates arranged for her by her four friends, Maddox was swoon worthy. Not only does he babysit for her, she suddenly finds herself with a new roommate.

I fell hard and fast for Maddox, there is something about him that ticked all the boxes. Add in baby Sully and I was a goner.
I loved how the relationship was built from friendship, it added an additional layer.

This was a romantic, steamy, funny book and is a little gem which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Isha Coleman

8,868 reviews172 followers

March 18, 2020

McCarthy brings light to an often times dreary day. Her mysteries are eccentric, her characters are eclectic and her sense of humor is a welcome breath of fresh air. Five First Dates is a perfectly, imperfect temptation that proves itself irresistible on multiple levels. Chase away your blues and open your heart to an addictive kind of fun.

first-reads

Anja

565 reviews103 followers

April 21, 2020

Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog)

5,868 reviews210 followers

May 11, 2020

Maddox has been in love with his best friend's older sister for what seems like forever. He's not the shy nerdy comic book-reading guy he used to be anymore, and now that he's rooming with Savannah while he's filming a reality show, he plans on showing her just how much of a man is now. Only he doesn't just want to be with her in that kind of way, he wants everything from her - her heart along with her body.

Savannah cannot believe the change in her little brother's best friend. No longer awkward and skinny, he's now gorgeous, bulked up and tatted. Still unbelievably sweet, though, and so great with her new baby. Yep, baby. Sully's father isn't in the picture, though, and Maddy is so great with him. Thank God, because he's the one who's going to watch Sully while she's on the 4 dates her friends set her up on. She needs help in her love life because she's an unrealistically romantic woman who falls for the wrong guy while looking for Prince Charming. Will Maddox be her last first date or is she too scared to let him in and give him the chance to hurt her?

Brother's best friend is one of my favorite tropes, especially when the two leads in question are so unbelievably sweet together like Maddox and Savannah are. Their story is slightly slow burn with snappy, witty dialogue and serious, serious chemistry. Like Weekend Wife, Five First Dates is sexy and fun and I can't wait for more of this circle of friends that Erin McCarthy has created.

ARC via Social Butterfly PR for an honest review.

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Roselyn_Reads

436 reviews21 followers

When the first line in a book is,

"I should have worn a bra."

you know you're in for a treat. Five First Dates was my second book by Erin McCarthy and I absolutely loved it, especially because this book follows the group of friends we were introduced to in Leah and Grant's story, "The Weekend Wife."

Savannah is a single-mother to her six-month old son Sully. Despite having bad luck in relationships she continues to have hope of one day finding her true love. She dreams to be whisked away by her Prince in Suit and Tie wearing prince of wall street to a white picket fence house in Connecticut, or so she thought. What happens when she opens her door to find her younger brother's, nerd turned sexy, hot as hell tattooed best friend?

Maddox is extremely mature for his age. He doesn't like playing games and he has always known what he wanted (or who he wanted). Raised most of his life by a single mother himself, Maddox or "Mad" is very respectful of women. He puts their needs above his own and he is caring and wonderful with kids. He was definitely not what Savannah was expecting.

Now, living together "temporarily" in order to help one another, Savannah finds herself having some very lustful thoughts about Maddox, but is this simply because that aspect of her life had been lacking for some time now? In an effort to shake off those thoughts and not trusting her own judgment, Savannah summons her best friends to set her up on a series of first dates.

This is one of those books that had it all - brothers best friend, single-mother, friends to lovers, older woman/younger man. I DEVOURED it in one sitting. It was filled with a lot of laugh out loud and swoon worthy tender moments. Savannah and her group of friends + Jenna are exactly the team of power house diverse ladies I need on my side. They are hilarious, caring and loyal. I hope Erin McCarthy gives us more of these characters in future stories.

To sum it all up and in the wise words spoken by Jenna, "What Would Reynolds Do?"

I voluntary read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Maureen

1,326 reviews50 followers

Kay Daniels (Kay Daniels Romance)

A view weeks ago I read my first Erin McCarthy book ‘Weekend Wife’. I absolutely loved that book, so when I got the opportunity to read this book, I couldn’t resist. And the fun part, although this book isn’t part of a series, the main characters of both books are from the same circle of friends.. and I love that.

In ‘Five First Dates’ we meet Savannah, a single mom who is known for being one to easily get swept of her feet. Now she is a mom, and she tries to change her ways. The first thing she has to do is make life a little easier, and help a friend out. That’s why her brother best friend Maddox, is coming to stay for a little while. In exchange for no rent, he babysits her little boy whenever she needs it. But Savannah hasn’t seen Maddox in five years. What she didn’t expect is the sweet nerdy boy, being changed into the handsome sexy guy who stands before her now.

‘Five First Dates’ was definitely a book I enjoyed very much. The two main characters Savannah and Maddox, where easy to like. Savannah is this young mom, who easily falls in love and who is desperate to find a ‘real’ relationship now she is a mom. But she has very bad taste in man. Savannah is slightly naïve, but very hard working and she is not afraid to ask her friends for help. I found her character very fun to read about. Especially as a young mom myself, I could picture her being a mom easily.

Maddox, is handsome, hardworking and overall just a very sweet guy. He loves kids, and he always wanted the opportunity to show Savannah who he really is. Not only the shy young guy who used to hang around her childhood home. I loved how Maddox was around Savannah and her kid. And above all I loved how hard Maddox tried to so things to make Savannah see who he really was.

The chemistry between Savannah and Maddox was definitely flying of the pages. And I loved how they interacted with each other. This book was just really fun, and relaxing and I truly enjoyed myself! Sure, Maddox seemed a little to desperate at times.. but it didn’t bother me.

And I loved the fact we got to see little parts of the characters of ‘Weekend Wife’. And we definitely got to read more about other potential main characters, I think. I for sure can’t wait to read more by Erin McCarthy.

romance

2,143 reviews73 followers

Adorable, smexy, hot tattooed man, and one cooing baby that will melt your heart. First Five Dates has it all! Every ovary bursting moment that I read in one sitting!

Maddox has had a crush on Savannah since he was a teenage boy. He's best friends with her brother, so it was a bit awkward to ever say much about that crush when he was a gangly teen, but it's now years later and Savannah is a single mother which only has intensified his crush into a deep lust now that they are adults. Savannah has graciously opened up her home to him, allowing him to stay there while he films for his new job, but Maddox also has a secondary plan to win her over. He plans to finally show her that he is no longer just a skinny boy who is best friends with her brother, he is now a man who wants to take care of her and her son.

Savannah has the worst taste in men. Take being a single mother with a six month old son. When her last relationship ran out when she informed him she was pregnant it only goes to prove that her taste in men haven't improved in all the years she has dated. When her brothers best friend, Maddox, agreed to move in and help her with her son, Sully she was thankful beyond belief. What she didn't know was that Maddox is now hot AF. She hadn't seen in him in person in several years and the tattooed, ripped man who shows up on her doorstep is not the same gangly boy she last saw years ago. Her hormones may not be in charge with him staying under her roof.

Savannah enlists her friends to help her set up blind dates to get back on the dating scene. This begins the first of four dates. When Maddox gets wind of her plan he wants in and becomes the fifth to join in on this plan. While living under Savannah's roof the two of them not only get to know one another better, but they also "get to know one another better" (wink, wink). Savannah and Maddox have a natural chemistry and everytime they are together it is wicked hot.

Maddox is the absolute best. As a manny he is glorious. He has a natural instinct with Sully which is ovary melting, especially when I imagine him covered in his tattoos. Totally yummy.

A fun, smexy read that is exactly what is needed during this stressful time.

romcom

Lexi

110 reviews5 followers

I haven’t read too much by Erin McCarthy so far but this was the perfect low key story to bring some laughs during the crazyness the world is going through right now!

Savanah is a new mom working on raising her six month old son by herself. While it’s hard work she wouldn’t trade it for the world. She knows she has a history of picking all the wrong guys so she has her four best friends each pick a date for her to go on! Sound like it might be a disaster in the making? Well it just may be.

Maddox is in New York for work, broke and needs a place to stay. Savanah is his best friends older sister who has no idea that Maddox has been hiding his feelings for her for years He stays with her for a free place to crash in New York and hopefully have her fall for him in the process. For Savannah she is finally able to get some help with her baby so maybe she can go out and find the man of her dreams.

These two are hilarious! They have an easy going nature since they’ve know each other forever but will their friends with benefits continue? This is a hilarious, light, sexy and fun read just what I know I needed during this difficult time! If you’ve never picked up Erin McCarthy I think Five First Dates is the perfect place to start!

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Reading Addict

1,081 reviews20 followers

I will start my review by saying that I am an Erin McCarthy fan. I have read and own most of her books. Five First Dates was a very fun, sweet with just a touch of spice rom com. We were first introduced to Savannah in Weekend Wife. It is not necessary to read it before however it was a great book and shouldn't be missed. Savannah is the single mom of a 6 month old son, Sully and her younger brother's best friend has offered to help out. Savannah hasn't seen Maddox in 5 years and when she opens the door to this tattooed, buff hottie she cannot believe her eyes! Maddox has had a crush on Savannah ever since he noticed girls but she was older and unattainable in his mind. Now he is 23 and has an opportunity to show his tattooing skills on a reality TV show filming in NYC and staying with Savannah is his chance to show her that he is the man of her dreams. Savannah has had horrible luck with men in the past and is not going to let her attraction to Maddox sideline her plan to find the right man for her and her son. She wants her friends to set her up on a date with 5 different men and hopefully she'll find her match. Maddox is determined to be that man so let the shenanigans begin! I really enjoyed this fun, light, no angst rom com. It was told from dual POV and is a definite must read for all Erin McCarthy fans!

Emily Goodman

1,070 reviews39 followers

Erin McCarthy brings yet another wonderful book to your collection with Five First Dates. This new release features a single mom trope as well as brother's best friend trope. As a sucker for both, it was no surprise that I fell hard and fast for Maddox and Savannah.

Oblivious to Maddox's childhood crush and everything she has to offer a man, Savannah takes her four friends up on being a matchmaker. Except Savannah has no clue Maddox wants to get her last first date.

Maddox and Savannah's relationship is a unique one. Having not had the stability in his life that Savannah and her family gave him, Maddox is determined to have it all with Savannah. It's his unique background and crave for the normalcy of love that really reeled me in from the beginning.

My only complaint is I wished McCarthy had upped her slow burn game. As an author with several novels under her belt, sometimes the sweetest slow burn angst driven part of romance novels fall behind. I think that was the case with this one. The heat, chemistry and idea was there, I just wanted them to tiptoe around their feelings more.

All in all, McCarthy delivered a solid, well thought out, and interesting novel ready to be devoured by you.

Becca

2,003 reviews27 followers

March 25, 2020

Maddox is... sigh. He's flirty, fit and one filthy talker who is just what single mom Savannah needs in her life. Who cares if Maddox is her little brother's best friend? Well, Savannah cares but what is she to do? Maddox is helping her as a part-time Manny while he's in town filming a reality show.

Savannah is SHOCKED when she opens her door to Maddy. The cute best friend of her little brother, whom she hasn't seen in 5 years. And boy has those 5 years been good to him! Filled out and no longer the scrawny teen she remembered, Maddox is causing all kinds of feels for Savannah. She's having an identity crisis - being a newly single mom who spends most of her time in sweats with milk stains all over her.

The only thing is there is this magnetic connection between the two that Savannah thinks is a little too dangerous and so she convinces her friends to each set her up on a first date, hoping to find Mr. Right and pulling her away from her attraction to Maddox.

This was a sweet story with a big bit of steam thrown in. I love Maddox from the start and Savannah was a little all over the place but what new mom isn't. It was a fun story and I loved the chemistry between the two of them and of course baby Sully! Maddox with Sully made my heart melt! Great read.

Thuy Taylor

1,400 reviews19 followers

Savannah and Maddox have pretty much known each other from their teenage years. Sav is slightly older, and have always had a caring spot for Maddox. But, boy has he grown up. This is definitely the brothers best friend/best friends sister "forbidden" story and I enjoyed it. Maddox will have you swooning over how much he is so in love with the girl that was off limits. How much he respects and adores her and now what comes with her. You could feel their chemistry, their sweetness towards each other and how much they really belonged together.

The book before this is Weekend Wife, these are the set of friends who are getting their happily ever afters. I think it could be read as a standalone and told in dual POVs. The only issue I had was when it changed POVs, there is no label or name, I had to go back several times to figure out which POV it was. I think it was the same issue in Weekend Wife also. But overall, it was a good book to read.

Kari Hansen

12.1k reviews91 followers

When it comes to men Savannah’s experience has shown her that her judgment can’t be trusted which is how she finds herself a single mother to her son Sully. Her friends have decided to take matters into their own hands and arranged four date with four different men.

Maddox is her brother’s best friend and is staying with her while he films a reality show and in return he will help her out with her son. He has been attracted to Savannah for years and he isn’t about to let the opportunity go to waste and is determined to show her that the fifth date is the only date she needs.

Maddox is not the boy she remembers, and she is very attracted to the man that he has become both physically and emotionally which leads to some hot and humorous interactions. This is an enjoyable story that is sure to bring a smile to your face.

Sharon Moritz-rosenthal

2,269 reviews29 followers

I received a complimentary ARC - early release copy of this book in Kindle format from the author for review purposes.

This was a really adorable and HOT romance between Savannah and Maddox. She is a new mom and a little bit older than our hero, Maddox but he is a very mature guy and has always had a thing for S. But she has always seen him as her younger brothers best friend. Now she has a new roommate who is staying with her while he films a reality show and he helps out with her new baby.

I have not read much by this author but I was missing out. This was a very hot and fun romance between two people who have known each other a long time but who have a slight difference in ages and at 16 that's a big deal but in your twenties so so much.

The five dates premise is that S friends find her a date and Maddox gets to pick her 5th date.

Jackie Wright

6,461 reviews152 followers

Erin McCarthy is a relatively new author to me and I’m really struggling to understand why I have read more of her books, well that’s about to change because after reading Five First Dates I need to play catch up with her previous works as soon as time permits.
Maddox is a man on a mission for over 10 years he has wanted and needed his best friends older sister but Savannah has only ever seen him as her baby brothers nerdy friend..... but Maddox has done a lot of growing since she last saw him and when he arrives to help her with her new baby while working on a local reality show she can’t believe her eyes. The nerd has gone and been replaced by a hunky hot muscled up stud who still wants her but will she be brave enough to cross the line and take a leap of fate or will Maddox always be her brothers best friend who really should be off limits......
This is a fun entertaining read that ticked all my boxes, I laughed, I swooned and smiled a lot throughout this story. I was captivated from the first page and there was no putting down until I had read the final line and I was left so excited for the next book.

TheLazyCatLady

364 reviews9 followers

Savannah is a new working single mom. Her brother's best friend needs a place to stay for a short time and Savannah needs a nanny so she can try dating again. She always picks the wrong guy including baby daddy so she let's her friends set her up with guys they think are perfect for her. Two things happen. Maddox is all grown up and he wants to pick out a date for her, too. What could possibly go wrong? Sure Maddox is hot enough to set off the smoke detectors and Savannah is feeling the heat. A lot of heat. But this is Maddox. He's like family. Too bad Maddox has a different opinion. Maddox is adorable and pretty swoony. If you read the book you will see just how swoony he can be. Great read for some fun and romance. Go ahead. Give it a read.

Becky Wise

2,828 reviews54 followers