ROMANCE

The Dating Dare

by Jayci Lee
St. Martin’s Griffin. (A Sweet Mess, Bk. 2). Aug. 2021. 320p. ISBN 9781250621122. pap. $16.99. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
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In Lee’s follow-up to A Sweet Mess, Tara attends her best friend’s wedding, where she spends time with the bride’s new brother-in-law. Feeling lonely and worried about the change in her friendship, Tara flirts with Seth, who’s the groom’s brother. She agrees to go on four dates with Seth before he’s supposed to leave for Paris. Tara likes temporary relationships, where she can shield herself from feeling more. Seth goes all in on their dates and quickly realizes their bargain is more than he could’ve hoped for. While Tara continues to deny her feelings, and Seth becomes more open with his, they must decide if they’re destined for a happily-ever-after, or if four dates is the end of their story.
VERDICT Though Lee tries to create chemistry between her leads, much of their banter falls flat. Tara’s growth at the book’s end feels forced and insincere, and Seth’s journey offers no surprises. Fans of the first book will likely enjoy this follow-up, but new readers may be disappointed with the lackluster story.
Reviewed by Claire Brown, Red Deer P.L., AB , Jun 01, 2021
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