The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden

 The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden-368 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sydney Shaw, like every single woman in New York, has terrible luck with dating. She’s seen it all: men who lie in their dating profile, men who stick her with the dinner bill, and worst of all, men who can't shut up about their mothers. But finally, she hits the jackpot.

Her new boyfriend is utterly perfect. He's charming, handsome, and works as a doctor at a local hospital. Sydney is swept off her feet.

Then the brutal murder of a young woman―the latest in a string of deaths across the coast―confounds police. The primary suspect? A mystery man who dates his victims before he kills them.

Sydney should feel safe. After all, she is dating the guy of her dreams. But she can’t shake her own suspicions that the perfect man may not be as perfect as he seems. Because someone is watching her every move, and if she doesn’t get to the truth, she’ll be the killer’s next victim...

Thoughts: I am starting to understand why so many are reading Freida McFadden. She writes thrillers with unexpected twists and she does it so well. This one did not disappoint. I thought I had it all figured out, but I was wrong. The perpetrator turned out to be someone I wasn't expecting. If you like twisty thrillers (think Ruth Ware and Alice Feeney), then you should definitely check out Freida McFadden's books. 

Last Girl Ghosted by Lisa Unger

 Last Girl Ghosted by Lisa Unger - 394 pages

Think twice before you swipe.

She met him through a dating app. An intriguing picture on a screen, a date at a downtown bar. What she thought might be just a quick hookup quickly became much more. She fell for him—hard. It happens sometimes, a powerful connection with a perfect stranger takes you by surprise. Could it be love?

But then, just as things were getting real, he stood her up. Then he disappeared—profiles deleted, phone disconnected. She was ghosted.

Maybe it was her fault. She shared too much, too fast. But isn't that always what women think—that they're the ones to blame? Soon she learns there were others. Girls who thought they were in love. Girls who later went missing. She had been looking for a connection, but now she's looking for answers. Chasing a digital trail into his dark past—and hers—she finds herself on a dangerous hunt. And she's not sure whether she's the predator—or the prey. 

I never read this author and would recommend this book to others. I did have a hard time relating to the main character because of how attached she was to this guy she was seeing. I felt my eyes roll every time she spoke of how much she missed him because they weren't together that long in my opinion. However, I really loved the mystery behind the book and couldn't stop reading because I had to find out who he was and what happened.

How (Not) to Ask a Boy to Prom by S.J. Goslee

How (Not) to Ask a Boy to Prom by S.J. Goslee - 236 pages

Nolan's sister Daphne has given him an ultimatum.  Ask someone to prom or she will do it for him.  During her attempt to get him a prom date, he ends up "dating" Bern.  It's a great deal for both of them as it will Daphne off his back and will hopefully get Bern back with his girlfriend Gia.  But nothing in Nolan's life ever goes as expected . . .

I enjoyed this book of mistakes and misunderstandings.  While the romance story was good, what I really enjoyed was the relationship between Nolan and his sister Daphne.  Their family is one that I think anyone would want to be part of.

Blue is the Warmest Color by Julie Maroh

Blue is the Warmest Color by Julie Maroh - 156 Pages

"In this tender, bittersweet, full-color graphic novel, a young woman named Clementine discovers herself and the elusive magic of love when she meets a confident blue-haired girl named Emma: a lesbian love story for the ages that bristles with the energy of youth and rebellion and the eternal light of desire."

How to Date Men When You Hate Men by Blythe Roberson

How to Date Men When You Hate Men
by Blythe Roberson, 272 pages

I'm not sure if Blythe remembers me, but I am married to her mother's cousin.  I believe she played with my children a few times.  With that being said, I had to read her book.  I knew she graduated from Harvard, wrote for the Onion, and writes for the Stephen Colbert show.

Blythe is a very talented writer.  I can see her on the path to writing many more books.  This book is funny, and I like when she makes lists, like good flirts/bad flirts, places to meet men, etc.  I like how she divides the book into simple chapters.   This is an awesome book if you are looking to date.  However, I am over 50 and didn't relate too much because I am married and don't anticipate dating anytime soon.  My twenty something children would probably benefit from reading this book.  I know Blythe must wonder how men feel dating her after she wrote this book.

Dating with Pure Passion by Rob Eagar

Dating with Pure Passion by Rob Eagar -- 256 pages

The messy game of dating. How ought a Christian to go about it? Well, maybe this book will help you, maybe not. The first chapter I found to be very helpful, encouraging, and Biblical....but after that the theology got very shallow, and Eagar seems to want to simply take the worldly form of dating and modify it.

I Kissed Dating Goodbye: A New Attitude Toward Relationships and Romance by Joshua Harris

I Kissed Dating Goodbye: A New Attitude Toward Relationships and Romance by Joshua Harris -- 221 pages

Recreational dating: find someone who makes you happy, brings you pleasure, makes life exciting and then when their charm is gone, or when you find someone else, or, heaven forbid, when your partner leaves you, then it's over, leaving your heart intact or otherwise. More often otherwise.
Is there a better way to find a life partner? Is there an alternative? Joshua Harris presents one.

Published in 2003, I Kissed Dating Goodbye is still widely read in Christian and homeschooling circles and continues to be a source of counsel.

Harris is very good at explaining problems with worldly dating and also very good at getting to the root of the problem, the heart issues. I greatly appreciated it.

My Little Monster, v.8-10 by Robico

My Little Monster, v.8 by Robico - 174 pages
My Little Monster v.9 by Robico - 175 pages
My Little Monster, v.10 by Robico - 183 pags

These volumes continue the story of the romance between Haru and Shizuku.  They finally start dating but then they are hit with the truth behind Haru's family.  Will their fight break them up forever?

I can't wait for the final volume to come in.  It's being released this month.  A great series for teens.

Drinking & Dating: P.S. Social Media Is Ruining Romance by Brandi Glanville with Leslie Bruce

Drinking & Dating: P.S. Social Media Is Ruining Romance by Brandi Glanville with Leslie Bruce, 242 pages

This is the second book by Brandi Granville who is better known for being on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills on Bravo.  Or, maybe she is more famous for her cheating ex husband who left her for Lee Ann Rimes.  Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed in her second book. This book follows her dating adventures, mostly while drunk.  There is a couple things that bothered me about this book, or maybe more.  The book is full of the "F" word, a little more then I care to read.  She describes many of her dates and boyfriends, but disappointingly does not drop names.  I guess she is protecting their identity.  Also, the hash tags throughout the book became slightly annoying.  I read this book in a day, so if you are a fan of team Brandi or Twitter, then I would recommend this book.