Seeking a Plus One

Seeking #1

by Tabitha Bree

32-year-old male seeks a female companion for wedding: intelligent, approachable, and good conversationalist are non-negotiables…

Let me start by saying I am not the kind of girl who answers personal ads on Craigslist. But when the veterinarian says my precious fur baby Wilson needs surgery, I need to come up with some cash and fast. After all, he’s the only family I have left.

I mean, how bad could it be? I just have to be this stranger’s wedding date—no romance, no funny business, just pretend to be his girlfriend in front of his family. Just one weekend away and I’ll have the money I need. He seems pretty normal in his emails; no serial killer or pervert vibes.

But now I’m sitting here, meeting up with this stranger for the first time, and who shows up? Robbie Marshall—the obnoxious, wise cracking, stupid handsome guy from my office. The guy whom I hate, and who hates me back. Turns out both of us using aliases has its drawbacks.

But it’s too late to back out now. We’re both out of options.

It’s just one weekend… right?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Enemies To Lovers, Novella, Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance, Rom Com

100 pages, ebook

First published January 29, 2021

About the author

Tabitha Bree is an author, crafter, and sometimes yoga instructor based in Melbourne, Australia. A long-time fan of chick lit and romantic comedies, she is happiest (and most neurotic) when creating worlds for her fictional lovers to frolic in.

Rules of a Breakup is Tabitha’s fourth (and longest!) book in her catalogue, and a standalone. Check out the Seeking Series if you’re interested in a rom-com trilogy.

Visit tabithabree.com to receive a free short story and hear the latest books news!

Reviews

[Sarah * Between the Lines Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! I’ll be reading more by Tabitha Bree. 🩷

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saving My Dog with Romance

Alexis Blake has been the dump on girl at the newspaper she works at for seven years and can’t seem to stand up for herself to get a promotion or a raise. The Robbie Marshal, the guy who has the job she wants is the son of the owner and he is just too arrogant and not-to-mention lacking in talent, and they have had a hate-hate relationship for years.

Alexis leads a simple life with her best friend Wilson, her golden retriever. Unfortunately Wilson has cancer and she’s try to figure out how to pay for his expensive surgery and treatments. She sees an ad in the paper asking for a plus-one to go to a wedding that pays $5000. The downside turned out to be that the person who placed the ad was Robbie.

This was a reasonably good enemies to lovers romance, and it actually made sense. There was sexual content, but it was more suggestive than overt and it had a plot! The story was good and the characters were well developed and I admit to enjoying this little romantic interlude.

[Mrs. Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish it were a full blown novel🥰

[Anne Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella, Tessa Bailey and Sally Thorne!

Loved escaping into this Novella with Alexis, she was witty and funny and this story will have you both laughing and swooning. Perfect if you need to escape for a little while from regular life, I need to know what happens next and also what the real MVP Wilson gets up to.

I can’t wait to see what Tabitha comes out with next!!

[Sam Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was exactly what I needed to give me a little bit of joy during Lockdown. Funny, smart and cute you can't help but smile (and appreciate the sass of the main character) as you read . I couldn't put it down and ended up binge reading in one session. Now I need another, can't wait for the next Tabitha Bree book to escape into!

[Angel Graham · Rating 1 out of 5]

There was nothing funny about this. A dying dog, a sexist asshole, a lying former girlfriend, and the female MC never bothers to find out if ex gf was lying...

Also, this is the 1st of 3 books you have to read to find out if there's a HEA.

That makes this a serial, not a series.

Each book is short enough, they could have been 1 larger book.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it. Loved the characters. A lovely story, wish it was longer!!

[Aubree · Rating 5 out of 5]

A witty rom com with compelling and real characters that kept me hooked from the first pages!

[Lilivette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seeking a Plus One ended up being one of those random books I find online that 1) are short and 2) look like they’re going to be one sweet ride. The synopsis sounded cute, interesting and like something I’d enjoy and, thankfully, I wasn’t wrong! This little book of just a 100 pages made me enjoy romance books more than full-length novels have done before. It may have been just a 100 pages long but the story inside felt a lot longer, deeper and enjoyable than that. I really enjoyed Alexis’ character and how far she’s willing to go to save her baby Wilson–which ends up being further than even she expected. As a small writer for a newspaper she doesn’t make enough money to cover Wilson’s surgery and treatment so she ends up going to Craigslist and look for some urgent and easy money. The ad she ends up finding and applying to sounds too good to be true, and I loved how we all get to see why when she finally meets up with the person that put up the ad. This ends up being Robbie, the rich dude from work she can’t stand because he’s simply there because his family owns the firm and not because he has any talent at all. After all, she’s the one that makes his messy work publishable in the first place.

Now let me tell you that when that plot-twist hit this book took a whole new meaning for me. Since the book started I always wondered why Robbie’s introduction as the most annoying character on earth was important and it wasn’t until this moment that I noticed why. He was obnoxious and so full of himself that I couldn’t stand him but everything changes the moment Alexis accepts his offer and joins him on a weekend trip to Santa Barbara for his sister’s luxurious wedding at a fancy resort. They were only there for a short weekend but I loved everything that happened as she faked being his date. I loved meeting his rich family and seeing how Robbie felt like none of them liked him. I loved how Alexis ends up having to go to Stephanie’s bridal shower and tries to mingle with her friends. And I simply loved how she gets to see Robbie in a new light and how he realized that she’s a lot stronger than he thought she was. There weren’t plenty of interactions or action sequences, but the ones we get to see are all enjoyable and meaningful to the plot, making them a lot more enjoyable.

In the end, Seeking a Plus One ended up being one of my favorite books of 2021. I loved the plot, I loved the characters, I loved the pace, and most importantly I loved the romance! It was sassy and soft at the same time and even though it was short it was still cute. If you’re looking for a short yet steamy little romance that grows from enemies to lovers then this might be the one for you!

[Kaylee Carrier · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG IF YOU LOVE A GOOD ROM COM THIS IS A MUST-READ!!!! I can’t say enough how much I think you should pick this one up if you like a good laugh out loud rom-com! I have been in a bit of a reading slump recently (starting a bunch of books I am struggling to finish, why am I like this?) and this was just what I needed! I definitely feel like this book should have more hype and should be closer to five stars on Goodreads! Will definitely continue the series as enemies to lovers is just one of my favorite tropes! 💕

[Shreya Vijay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seeking a Plus One is a Romcom starring two archenemies - Alexis and Robbie. Alexis has suffered a lot in life, and Robbie had been given pretty much everything on a silver platter. When Alexis responds to an ad on Craigslist, and her path collides with Robbie, drama is bound to ensue. The book draws inspiration from Sophie Kinsella and Sally Thorne but doesn't really match up to them.

Even though the writing is engaging, witty, and funny, I found this book lacking. This was one of the books I randomly found while scrolling and decided to give it a go because it is short and sounds like a sweet and soft read. Luckily, I wasn't a hundred percent wrong. The romantic aspect of the book is bearable; the writing, as I mentioned, is witty, but the characters are unlikeable.

Alexis is basically a doormat, and she spent her life working in an underpaid job because she was too afraid of standing up. Even in the end, the promotion she got was because her romantic interest (the one whose family owned the company) recommended her name to the management.

Robbie was thoroughly unlikeable. He treated Alexis worse than a used tissue and was downright immature. He didn't really respect Alexis until the point she told him her sob story, which, in my humble opinion, is pathetic.

I really tried to like the characters but, I didn't. Throughout the book, I never grew to care about them. The plot is sure is interesting enough to make me read the book in one sitting. But, all things considered, I did not enjoy the book as much as I had hoped.

[Kami Dodson-Perry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robbie is the owners son of the newspaper. Alexis has been working at the paper for 7 years and has been jealous of the nepotism. Robbie and Alexis do not get along. But Alexis needs me for an expensive surgery for her dog Wilson. And Robbie needs a date for a family wedding. The 2 come to an agreement and hope for the best. During there time together they get to know more about each other and actually start a kind of friendship. Things get a little heated between the 2 and feelings get hurt but they find their way back to each other in the end. Continued in the next book of course.

Rating 2 1/2 Stars

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I couldn’t remember the last time I had felt this with someone, but as I lay there, staring up at the trees, I couldn’t imagine anyone I’d rather be with.”

I might actually be obsessed with Robbie and Alexis! This novella was the perfect introduction to their story (immediately downloading and reading the next books). Seeking a Plus One was funny, emotional, romantic, and had the perfect amount of drama (not to mention an adorable dog)! I loved this so so much and can’t wait to read more Robbie and Alexis!

[Catarina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice and easy read if you’re looking for a quick escape from the real world. The writing was good, and the plot was entertaining enough to keep up until 4:30 AM because I simply could not NOT read it in one seating. I liked how well-developed the main characters’ backstories were considering this was a novella. I also appreciated the insight on how they became enemies, because sometimes I feel like we don’t get that enough?

And a quick shoutout to Wilson for being the best good boy ❤️

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t expect to like this as much as I did. I wanted so much more to the story. It looks like there is a part two.

The story was actually very well set up. Alexis’s dog is dying and she needs money to get a life saving operation done. So she answers a Craigslist ad of someone who needs a date to their sister’s wedding and they would pay her $5,000.

And the date is with her nemesis from her job , Robbie. There is actually a decent reason why he hates her.

[Lena Duke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this series completely blind.

This book did not disappoint! It was kinda predictable but that didn’t sway me from enjoying it while I read it.

I’m glad I get to see more of Alexis & Robbie’s story in book two, Seeking Mr. Right.

[Kate McMurry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this as a freebie but it's not for me

I did not like the MCs or the plot and, to add to the problem, this is the first of a three-part serialized novel. I don't like having to pay for three books to get one novel.

[Hilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it. Even though it was the standard "haters to lovers" story, it was amazing. I even cried some and I usually never cry

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was just looking for a palette cleanser between thrillers and stumbled on this - decent writing and story but I really struggled to feel connected to any of the characters.
Funny quick read gave it some redeeming points. Would probabaly read more from the series in the future if I remember these people exist.

[Alex L Criddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun, quick read!! It’s a novella, so it was very short, but the characters were really well-developed. I was expecting a light read and while there is definitely some wonderful romance happening, there were a couple of deeper plotlines that made this story more substantial and even more enjoyable. The enemies to lovers banter and tension was on point and I loved every second of it!! I was so excited to learn there are two more books in this series and look forward to reading them. If you need a quick romance read and love enemies to lovers, I highly recommend this book!!

Content warning: profanity, sexual scenes, parent death (mentioned), and cancer

[Helen Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was witty and emotional. I liked Mindy and Wilson. Mindy was not a typical pushy best friend in romances who forces the heroine to do things. And Wilson was a good boy. However I did not like the book. Alexis the female romantic was not unlikable, but pathetic. I did not admire her, but felt sympathy for her. She is a doormat, who for nearly a decade did a thankless job. She demands nothing out of life and settles with too little. The woman finally got a promotion because the male lead whose family owns the company recommended her to her boss. Robbie was off-putting too. He basically had zero positive traits. He is unlikable. He was condescending to Alexis, immature. He had no respect for Alexis until she told him her sob story. Then all of a sudden he is friendly towards her, as if only people who had suffered are worthy of others' respect and friendship. Alexis is the same too. But anyway the writing was fun and witty.

[Ivana · Rating 5 out of 5]

FINALLY, I have read something I adore and something I can give a five star review to.

When I saw the book was kind of short I was afraid I wasn't going to have time to truly get into it and love with, but luckily I was wrong.

The book is short, but it's sweet and easily read and the characters are simply adorable, just such a feel good book. I've read it in one heartbeat and I am so happy I did. Just what I needed to feel better.

[Alexine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute 🥰

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seeking a Plus One is funny, emotional and full of heart. Thank you Tabitha Bree for bringing Alexis Blake to life - she is the approachable, relatable every woman. I can’t wait for the sequels!

[Heather Costigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seeking A Plus One is sassy a sensitive read allowing you to bounce along with the wit and emotion.

[Missy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book but unfortunately I just couldn’t get into it. I think it had to do partly with how short the book is (136 pages for the ebook version!) and partly to do with the writing. It was full of misogyny that I only tolerated because of the book’s short length; as harsh as it sounds, I knew I didn’t have to suffer through reading it for long. This book is part 1 of 3 to this couple’s story, but it does end on a happy note and could be considered a completed story. As always, trigger warnings are at the end of my review.

Despite my other problems with this book, the fast pacing wasn’t one of them; the quickly moving plot worked well within the amount of pages the author used to tell the story, and though I think making the book longer would’ve given more time for readers to connect with the characters, this book was fine as a novella. Being as short as it was, it didn’t drag on unnecessary stuff, but also didn’t dwell on the bigger moments of the plot, coming together to create a story that breezed past plot points big and small without much time for readers to grasp anything. A plus was the lack of typos or errors in the book, making it easy for me as a reader to ignore the few that did slip through the cracks and focus on the story.

As for the characters, although the MCs had solid backstories that influenced how they acted throughout the book, I just couldn’t connect with them with the book moving as fast as it did. The MCs did surprisingly have good character arcs that I enjoyed reading about, but other than that, this book was too short for me to feel any real warm fuzzies about this couple. I liked their back and forth banter and their agreement to be reluctant allies, but their relationship beyond that happened too quickly for me to feel anything other than a surface level of happiness for them. I’m assuming their relationship is explored more in the rest of the series, but I don’t feel connected with the MCs enough to read more about them. I’m not trying to hate on novellas or books that separate their overall story into different parts, but I do think this book would’ve been better off as a full length novel. As it is now, I was disappointed in it.

The writing on the other hand was a struggle for me to enjoy, with so much of it full of misogynistic takes from the FMC that gave huge “pick me” vibes. Every single time another woman was on page that didn’t match the FMC’s view of how a woman should be, she would go off about different aspects of them she disliked. She would look down on and essentially hated them for no other reason than they didn’t live their lives the same way as she did so they must be desperate and without substance. The amount of times I rolled my eyes must’ve hit a record. The FMC would hate on other women for doing literally anything; enjoying going to parties or even just drinks with friends at a bar, their choice to get aesthetic surgeries and wear nice clothes, and she even took to hating on their jobs or personal goals. It was gross to read and I grimaced through it every time, only choosing to finish the book because it was so short. Otherwise, I would’ve stopped reading it solely for the negativity towards other women.

Overall, this quickly moving book had good characterizations given its short length, but the negativity to other women and lack of real depth to the plot was a let down. I finished the book and am happy the couple got together but I won’t be reading the rest in this continuing series.


TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Misogyny: This book is full of putting other women down and general hate to any woman who has a personality that differs from the FMC. Aside from two women—her longtime best friend and a new acquaintance who is similar to the FMC—she has nothing good or even decent to say about anyone else. This doesn’t change as the book progresses.

This book also includes mentions of the past death of a parent from cancer (off page; declining health leading to his death mentioned), absent parents (on and off page), a sick dog who has cancer (on page; he lives, but it includes mentions of vet visits, surgery, survival rates, and scenes highlighting his pain and declining health), cheating (off page; not between MCs), OW drama (on page), and several mentions of suicide in a joking way (on page).

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

“When you’re a kid you get told that what goes around comes around, that you reap what you so, yadda, yadda. But the truth was, life didn’t play fair. Most of the time, those born to privilege stayed privileged, and those who had to work hard for everything, had to shlep away forever.”

This was such a great rom-com novella! In this enemies to lovers, fake dating novella, we meet Alexis. She works at a newspaper writing obituaries. She’s better than that, but has been with the company for 7 years! When she finds out her dog is ill, she answers a Craigslist ad to be a fake date to a wedding so that she can pay the vet bill. When she goes to meet the guy from the ad, she finds out it’s none other than her co-worker Robbie, her enemy. But it’s only for one weekend, and she really needs the money.

I really enjoyed this novella! It was cute and it was a fast read. It honestly was a really good length at 136 pages. Could it have been a little longer? Absolutely, but I don’t feel like I missed out on any thing with this one.

I felt both the hatred and the desire between these two characters. I wound up liking both of the characters. I did however hate Ryan (Robbie’s brother) and Sophie (Robbie’s ex). But the author definitely made it so that these characters weren’t liked.

Then of course there’s Wilson, Alexis’ dog. I pictured him so vividly. This sweet dog that has so much meaning to Alexis. And if I were her, I would have done everything in my power to get him the help that he needed.

This is a series, so I will probably read the next one because I want to see how things go for Robbie and Alexis.

[Jennifer Lui · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Alexis finds out some bad news about her beloved dog, she knows she needs to raise some money quick. After trying different money-making endeavors, she finally gives in and responds to a Craigslist ad searching for a paid plus-one for a wedding. But when she finds out that her arch-enemy is the one who placed the ad, will she go for it anyway?

From the beginning I was drawn into this book. The characters were fun and the storyline was promising from the start. Sure, I did wonder if Alexis tried your typical sell anything you can bear to part with route to raise the money, but that's neither here nor there. I found Robbie intriguing and although I wasn't his biggest fan at the beginning of the book, as the story went on, I began to understand him a bit better. There's a reason he is the way he is.

Overall, this was a great book. Lots of parts that you wouldn't expect and parts that you kind of would expect that were written well. Definitely would recommend.

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

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Story . . .

I think this book will surprise you and fill you with good feelings about what you learn.

Alexis Blake takes her sweet dog to the veterinarian who has some bad news for her. She could lose her dog if she can’t get enough money quickly for his surgery and treatment. So when she sees an ad for a plus-one to a wedding, all expenses paid, she accepts the date.

However, she finds that she knows the guy and he isn’t someone she likes at all! Will she go ahead with the date anyway for the sake of her dog, Wilson? Or will she bail out on this obnoxious guy? And if she does still agree, will they find that each of them was not at all like their initial impressions, and that they could truly care for the new version in front of them?

And don’t forget to grab your copy and find out about Wilson’s fate. This is a good story with well-depicted characters. Just beware of first impressions!

[TimetoFangirl · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, I finished it.

"Seeking a Plus One" is marketed as an enemies-to-lovers, fake-dating novella wherein a woman agrees to pose as her work nemesis' girlfriend at a family wedding so she can afford surgery for her dog. So basically, the kind of not-particularly-realistic-but-entertaining Rom Com plot we've all come to know and love.

Somehow, "Seeking a Plus One" managed to miss the exceedingly low bar I'd set for it. Even ignoring the grammatical issues, weird paragraph breaks, a POV character who randomly exhibits omniscient knowledge, and cheap writing techniques (EG using "??" in the regular prose, not like a text or something), the behavior of the characters is all over the place. Neither of the MCs behave in a consistent way, so I never felt like I got to know them. They were basically just plot devices, not people. Maybe that wouldn't have bothered me in a thriller or something, but I just can't get into romances when I don't care about the characters.