The Ick by Holly McCulloch (March 6, 2025) Many thanks to FMCM associates and the author for the #gifted advanced reading copy!
Gem hasn’t had much luck with dating, but if she’s being honest, a lot of that is her own doing. She believes wholeheartedly in the ick – the instant, gut-level reaction that tells her when a potential partner is a hard no. It only takes one tiny thing to send her running. Case in point: her first date with Atlas, who seems sweet, handsome, and perfectly nice… until he casually mentions that he eats soup for lunch. Immediate ick. Date abandoned.
Her psychology-student roommate, Shanti, thinks this is ridiculous and challenges Gem to take part in a study on the ick. The catch? She has to go out with Atlas at least six more times, enduring every cringe-worthy moment, in the name of science (and, let’s be honest, for the money). But as the dates progress, something unexpected happens – each “ick” she once found unbearable starts to seem… well, kind of endearing. And as the weeks go by, Gem realizes she’s falling hard. Now, if she has any chance at a real relationship with Atlas, she’ll have to come clean about the experiment before it’s too late.
I won’t lie – this book took me a bit to warm up to. At first, Gem’s fixation on the ick was frustrating, but as her backstory unfolded, I really grew to understand and appreciate her character. Her journey felt realistic, and the book does a great job of exploring how past experiences shape our relationship fears. Shanti, her best friend and roommate, was one of my favorite characters – her sharp psychological insights and unwavering support added so much depth to the story. And Atlas? He’s not just there as the love interest; we get to see his personality, ambitions, and struggles, making him just as well-developed as Gem.
This is a quirky, heartfelt rom-com that might take a little time to click, but once it does, it’s fun, funny, and surprisingly insightful.
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Book Smart Kate 