Whitney Dineen's "Pity Date" is like a dose of laughter medicine injected into the heart of a romantic comedy. This book is a hilarious rollercoaster that keeps you chuckling from start to finish.

The protagonist, Julia, is the kind of character you wish was your best friend – witty, charming, and completely relatable. Her misadventures in the dating world are both cringe-worthy and utterly entertaining, making for a delightful reading experience.

Dineen's writing style is sharp and filled with humour that lands effortlessly. The banter between characters is on point, and you can't help but appreciate the author's knack for crafting comedic situations that feel both absurd and oddly plausible.

While centred around the classic rom-com theme, the plot takes unexpected turns that keep the reader engaged. It's not just about the romantic aspects but also about self-discovery and embracing life's awkward moments with a sense of humour.

The supporting cast adds depth to the story, each contributing quirks and comedic elements. The fast-paced dialogue and the witty banter are standout features that elevate the overall enjoyment.

"Pity Date" is a delightful escape into the world of awkward dates, unexpected connections, and humour that can be found in the most embarrassing situations. If you need a good laugh and a feel-good story, this book is a perfect pick-me-up.

I never heard of the author before this book, but from here on, she will be my go-to for a read when I'm in a funk. I've read a lot of heavy thrillers lately and this was the perfect novel to get me back into the romance genre. Faith and Teddy were such a cute couple and I loved the friends to lovers dynamic. The side characters were enjoyable too and I especially loved the relationship between Teddy and his grandfather. The jokes were funny in the book besides a few weight-related digs made by Faith's BFF that didn't land in my opinion. Ending was perfect and I can't wait to read more from the author.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Faith and Teddy. Faith runs the family’s bakery. Teddy is an actor,who is in town to check on his grandfather. There is an instant attraction. Faith lives next door to his grandfather. They each have issues but together they work them out and fall in love.

This was the first book in the Pity series and it was the perfect rom-com to start it off with. I loved all the witty dialogue. This was the first book I've read by the author and it was a wonderful, easy book to read. I sped through the book and couldn't put it down until after I had finished it. It had wonderful characters and an entertaining storyline.

The cover may lead the readers to believe they are going to get a different kind of book than they ultimately do. I think I went by the blurb when I requested this book, which was a good thing. The cover shows a ditzy-looking girl who is not exactly the kind of person we end up meeting. She is a small business owner, someone who is struggling with personal issues, and the only thing she has a problem with is her love life. She is too trusting to make good choices, and the last jump she made basically has her in shambles.
She has been so preoccupied with her life and not up to date with the latest blockbuster movies. This essentially means that when the latest superhero star walks into her shop, she has no idea who he is and ends up making judgment calls based on his suave behaviour.
There was one flashback moment that seemed unnecessary, given how everything else turned out.
I had fun with this book, and it was an easy read. We have two separate viewpoints, each with its own issues from the past and their needs for the current situations.
It is not exactly a fake dating trope, but it also almost is - if that makes much sense. A close-knit community, aged grandparents and great friends add well to the mix.
I would recommend this to fans of the romance genre, and I would definitely read another book by the author.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I usually don't read this kind of books, but this time I really had to because I heard only good things about it. And I agree, the book was wonderful and I liked it a lot.

I had the pleasure of immersing myself in the captivating world of Pity Date by Whitney Dineen, and I must say, this heartwarming novel left me utterly charmed and invested from start to finish.

The story follows Faith, a woman who, despite her best efforts, seems to have a tumultuous love life. Just when she thinks she has found the perfect partner in Astor Hill, her world is shattered by the discovery of his infidelity. Enter Teddy, an incredibly handsome and kind-hearted stranger who comes to Elk Lake to support his ailing grandfather. Their paths collide at Rosemary's Bakery, and what begins as an innocent encounter turns into an unexpected connection filled with laughter, warmth, and undeniable chemistry.

The characters in Pity Date are wonderfully crafted and relatable, making it easy for readers to empathize with their joys and sorrows. Faith's vulnerability and resilience make her a heroine worth rooting for, while Teddy's genuine kindness and understanding are incredibly endearing. As their pretend relationship evolves, so do their feelings, and the journey of self-discovery and emotional healing is both touching and heartrending.

One of the novel's standout features is the seamless blend of humor and romance. The witty banter and humorous escapades between Faith and Teddy infuse the story with light-hearted moments that effortlessly transition into deeper, more meaningful encounters. As their connection deepens and they confront their own emotional baggage, the novel takes on a profound and tender tone, leaving readers with a warm and fuzzy feeling in their hearts.

In conclusion, Pity Date is a delightful read that has all the elements of a captivating romance. Whitney Dineen has skillfully penned a tale of love, growth, and second chances that will leave readers longing for more. If you're in search of a charming and touching story that will sweep you off your feet, Pity Date is the book for you. I can't recommend it enough, and I extend my heartfelt thanks to NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to discover this gem of a book. I eagerly await the chance to explore other books in this heartwarming series.

This was really cute and I loved the setting of a small lake town. I could easily enjoy some coffee cake at the moment. Teddy was absolutely adorable but Faith was so fickle with her feelings. I really didn't like the way she treated Teddy at the end. And Lindsey--what a deranged cow! I would like to read Pity Party. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

This book has a sweet quirky quality. Basically, Faith has horrible taste in men. She gives her heart looking for what she thinks will be the one. She believes she finally finds him. He is perfect, friends with her friends and best man to their friend’s wedding. However, only to find out he’s been cheating on her and to dump her right before the wedding. He is bringing the other girl as his plus 1. She is a mess and trying to hold it together at her bakery. In walks Teddy, back in town to take care of his grandfather. He understands about cheaters and having his heart broken. Over a cup of tea in the bakery, he decides he will help her, and he will be her plus 1. Faith jumps at it as the perfect revenge because Teddy is very good-looking, and it will drive her ex-crazy. However, she misunderstands when he says his heart has been broken and then believes he is gay. Teddy does not correct her because he figures it’s just one night. But as they become friends it gets harder and harder to tell Faith. Teddy has a big secret- not only is he single and straight. He is a catch movie star. When the truth comes out, they have to deal with themselves, what they want in life, and their past relationships. I did enjoy this book but felt Faith was too winey about her ex. Get over it already. I like her supporting friends as well. I would recommend this book, it was entertaining. I will be looking forward to her other books.

**I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review and my opinions are my own.

Pity Date is a cutesy romance. Easy read with lovable characters. For the more mild romance crowd, no spice here.

I am not sure what I expected, but I was delighted with what I got in Pity Date by Whitney Dineen.

Faith lives in the small town of Elk Lake. Raised there by her grandmother, they now run Rosemary's Bakery together. She is happy running the bakery during the week and visiting her boyfriend, Astor in nearby Chicago on the weekend. Even better, Astor is best friends with her best friend's fiancé. She can't wait for both of them to stand up for their friends at their wedding next month.

Then she finds out Astor is cheating. She can't believe this is happening and the timing couldn't be worse. As she is sobbing hysterically, a very hot guy walks into her bakery.

Teddy is in Elk Lake to visit his grandfather who is grief-stricken after losing his wife. Teddy spent many summers in Elk Lake and is looking forward to spending the summer there. He is on a much needed break from Hollywood after his last film propelled him to stardom.

When Teddy walks into Rosemary's Bakery to get the cookies he remembers from his youth, he encounters a hot mess named Faith. After a series of mishaps, Faith tells Teddy why she is so upset. He understands, having been cheated himself and volunteers to be her date for the wedding. Somewhere in their conversation Teddy realizes that Faith has no idea he is famous and that she thinks he is gay.

It turns out Teddy's grandpa lives next door to Faith. Teddy and Faith become friends, the whole time she is thinking he is gay (and wishing he wasn't). Teddy is falling for Faith but can't find a way to tell her he isn't gay without sounding like he's been lying.

As the wedding gets closer, the tabloids and Teddy's past come to Elk Lake and things get crazy.

Pity Date is sweet, funny, and steamy - highly recommend if you like rom coms!

Thank you to Net Galley for a chance to read an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Ms. Dineen is, hands down, one of my favorite rom-com authors. Her books never fail to make me laugh and bring me joy. This one also did not disappoint! It is the first of a new series, Pity Series, and is off to a great start. The story has a wonderful cast of characters, and they were so easy to fall in love with. These were characters I wanted to get to know more and become friends with. Faith has not had much luck in love, and unfortunately things are not different with her current boyfriend. He ends up breaking her heart, too, by cheating on her. Teddy comes into town to visit his grandfather and meets Faith post break-up, while she is comforting herself with some much deserved comfort cookies. Spilling tea on him wasn't the best way to make a first impression, but that made no difference to Teddy, as he became completely enamored with her. When he learns she needs a date for her best friend's wedding, he is more than happy to help out. Funny thing though, while Teddy is completely crushing on her, Faith seems to come to the conclusion that Teddy is gay. He really likes her, and does want to take advantage of her while she is so vulnerable, so he let's her believe that for now, because she really needs a friend. But once his feelings for her start growing stronger, he needs to find a way to clear the air and let her know how he really feels about her.
This was an absolutely delightful and charming story that had me hooked from the start. A sweet, feel-good story that was truly enjoyable. This was a great first installment and I'm looking forward to reading the next one!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I loved this so much!! I couldn't stop reading it!! This is the book you need to read having out in the sun and just getting lost in the book. This is a great book and one I will keep to read again.
I just reviewed Pity Date by Whitney Dineen. #PityDate #NetGalley
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Once again fooled by a cute cover.

Book was too goofy for my taste, Faith acted like a child. She meets Teddy and just decides he’s gay? On what grounds? Because he’s nice? Faith also seemed to have an underlying eating disorder? She was constantly talking about eating too much a not fitting into clothes.

Book is supposed to be a “tribute” to 90’s rom-coms, I get It, but those themes don’t really work in 2023.

What a great fun rom-com! An easy quick read with lovable characters that you are immediately drawn into. Some laugh out loud moments that will definitely put a smile on your face. Clever writing that’s right out of the best rom-com movies!! Will definitely miss Teddy and Faith but am so glad Whitney is adding a second book to this series!!

3.5 stars
Cute Rom-Com. Celebrity romance.

I really liked the plot of this book. It was a little wordy at the beginning, and the characters seem to be describing things that weren’t essential to the plot.

The characters were cute together and caught feelings pretty quick.

I wasn’t a fan of the 2-3 foreshadowing moments. I don’t think that it’s something we see a lot in Rom-Coms and kind of made me feel like maybe this book was going to turn into a thriller (it did not).

I love the cover, it is just so cute and the colors are beautiful.

Teddy's a movie star visiting his much-loved grieving grandfather in West Elk. His path colides with Faith, a baker whose just found out her boyfriend of nearly a year has been cheating on her the past month. Worst still, they're best friends are marrying each other so she will have to face him at the wedding. Teddy then offers to be her date for the wedding, and thinking he's gay Faith accepts.

This book is sweet and fun and easy to read. I liked it however the reason why its a like and not a really liked is the pace. I think it took too long to get to the wedding and move the story along, especially with the gay misunderstanding. Which brings me to my next point. While the thinking he's gay thing was a bit funny (and intrigued me enough to want to read this book). I still wish this storyline was resolved a lot earlier in the same way she finds out he's famous, as I feel a bit icky about the premise that he's assumed gay because he's groomed, hot and has good manners. I mean it's 2023, this seems like the sort of misunderstanding premise from the 90s.

Then we had drama with the ex-girlfriend, especially THAT trope (I really freaking hate it). I'm also for moving the story along (see comment above about the wedding), I could've done without this and more about how his celebrity would change Faith's life/anonymity, etc.

I did like the characters though and the humour. I would happily read another Whitney Dineen book.

Thanks to 33 Partners and NetGalley for the ARC.

I had two major thoughts while reading Pity Date. The first one was that this read like a debut novel written in the early 2010s. Now, it is not a debut novel. The author actually has written many books, which surprised me because this was not well-crafted at all. I'll expand on that point later on because my biggest issue had to do with the topics covered and the way they were handled. The reason why I say this reads like a novel from ten years ago is because a major plot point is the love interest pretending that he's gay, or okay, not pretending, but the main character assumes he's gay and he says nothing to contradict her. That's bad. That shouldn't be a plot point in a novel published in 2023. We also have a main character who has issues with emotional eating, and so her best friend keeps commenting on how that might affect her weight and her size because, you know, she cares about her friend. Towards the end we also get a pregnant woman who lies about who the father of her baby is, so that was super tasteful.

I'm not giving this book one star because I don't care enough about it. I finished it a few minutes ago, and I'm already starting to forget it, but considering there are so many amazing romance novels out there (see my previous reviews), you shouldn't waste your time with this. Now, my second thought had to do with the plot. Years ago in a review I wrote that it seemed like the author was rolling dice or spinning a roulette to determine the way in which their story would continue. This is what I felt reading Pity Date, like every few pages the author would go "but wait, there's more" and dump an absurd and completely unbelievable situation that added nothing to the plot or to the relationship between the main character and the love interest.

I wanted to love this book. Really I did. For the most part I enjoyed the interactions between Teddy and Faith. I just felt so weird about him hiding the fact that he was straight for as long as he did. I also really didn’t like any of the story that involved Lindsey. Like at all. I just feel like there was a lot of lying by so many people in this book and it just made me uncomfortable.

Sweet and innocent romance about a celebrity and a baker. I really enjoyed this story and I don’t usually like celebrity romances. This book had just enough mild drama to keep it interesting and lots of sweet moments. It’s nice to see the characters develop as friends before starting a relationship. This is a closed door romance with some kissing.

A few things that bothered me about this book, constant discussion of weight and fat shaming in relation to food. I feel like this topic could have been handled differently to make this book appeal to a wider audience.

The links to the bonus recipes was a great idea and the ginger snap cookies are the best!!!

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.