Book Smart Kate

Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟  Audiobook: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Spice: 🌶️🌶️

by Devon Daniels

When Cassidy finds herself at the end of yet another disappointing relationship, she has a heart-to-heart with her grandmother that results in some surprising advice. Her grandmother gives her a 1950s dating guide entitled 125 Tips to Hook a Husband. Although Cassie thinks it is foolish and outdated, she also thinks it would make an excellent story for her women-focused website. Do men really still want a passive 1950s woman? After an unexpected run-in with Jack, the founder of Brawler, the sexist male-focused rival website, she devises a plan to test the theory and take down the competition. But Jack isn’t at all who she expected, and Cassidy might be learning a few things from this experience.

Ok, there were parts of this book that I loved! The How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days vibes are strong; there is an excellent commentary about relationships and expectations we put on ourselves and our partners; Cassidy’s grandma is an absolute stand-out character; Daniels writes superb banter and steamy scenes. There were also parts of this book that I struggled with (mild spoilers ahead)… 

First, if you are going to have open-door scenes, you have to include discussions of birth control. You have to. Second, whenever a book does a double third-act breakup, it tests my patience as a reader. 

Overall, I found this book to be a fun read, and, on balance, the things I loved far outweighed the things I struggled with. The audiobook narration is perfect and keeps you deeply engaged in the story.