“Maybe I was just built for you.”

Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date is the 3rd and final installment in the Bright Falls series by Ashley Herring Blake.

I always struggle to write reviews for books I love and therefore, I have been sitting on this review for quite some time. This series is so special to me and has become the ultimate comfort read.
Every time I finish a book in the series, I immediately listen to the audiobook. Kristen DiMercurio does a phenomenal job bringing the characters to life.

Blake writes endearing but flawed characters with depth and an underlying softness. I have adored every character from this series but found myself strongly resonating with Stevie.

Stevie is the sweetest; she suffers from General Anxiety Disorder and social situations can be triggering for her. Despite her shy disposition, she finds peace while performing in plays as an aspiring actress.

Iris has sworn off dating after her 2 most recent breakups left her feeling unworthy. She comes across as confident and extroverted, but deep down has a lot of pain and insecurities from those experiences.

It was so special to watch Stevie and Iris fall in love. Stevie shows Iris that she is worthy of a grand love full of romantic gestures and declarations. Iris fights her every step of the way, but Stevie is consistent and steadfast which allows Iris to finally fall.

Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date is a tender romance filled with heart, humor and heat; the perfect conclusion to a wonderful Queer series. This series has cemented Blake as an auto-buy author and I cannot wait to see what she writes next.

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the e-ARC; all thoughts are my own.

THINGS
•Bisexual/ lesbian pairing
•Rake and wallflower but contemporary and Queer
•Romance novelist and Apsiring Actress
•Hook, Line and Sinker vibes (Iris is Fox)
•Disastrous one night stand turned Fake Dating
•Anxiety Rep
•Found family

The very first thing I wanted to point out in this one was the anxiety rep. As someone with anxiety, who often times gets migraines and pukes because of them from my anxiety, I felt SO SEEN. The day I met my husband’s aunt (who raised him) I got a migraine that made me throw up. The day I turned in my EOP test to get my Masters degree I had a migraine so bad I threw up. I know the effects of anxiety, and vomit is a nasty one, but to have it portrayed in a romance novel and for the person it happened in front of be grossed out but also so gentle with them made my eyes water. And I get it, there’s going to be someone somewhere that says this representation wasn’t great, but to that just a simple reminder that we are not all a monolith and I say for me and my anxiety, I felt seen and I would like for no one to try to erase that.

Well, that was a hell of an opening paragraph lol I almost never do that! But I was really touched by that and I thought it needed to be said. Moving on from that, I just thought it was ok. What I liked about the first two books was their friends and the small town and how they all hung out and were doing things with those same friends. In this one we get a whole new set of people, and let me tell you, I didn’t like any of them. They were all terrible and I didn’t feel like any of them were her real friends. Which was proved in the middle of the story because that dinner? WTAF. And the fact that she didn’t see it? Lordt I was like girl, are you not seeing on purpose? Had to be. Only way I’d accept that lol

Plot wise I liked it. With everything that was happening I was talking to the book out-loud, and that was saying something because my ass listened to the audio. I had to pause it, talk to Iris, and then unpause it again lol Her stubborn was unmatched and at times I was rolling my eyes because it got to be too much at some points. I get what the author was doing, and of course it needed the build up, but I did think it made the book long and drawn out. And I wish we could have seen some of the things that Iris had written while she was “learning from Stefania.” Like just small snippets of what she wrote as the time went on. It could have been really cute.

I expected more from the romance tho. Like they kept arguing about getting together and arguing about why they just knew they didn’t need to be together and it was annoying. I always find myself wishing there was more romance than they got. Like why couldn’t we get more scenes of them together? I like the build-up ok, but I stay for the love and the romance. And the things they do for each other. This was actually kinda meh. I wanted more. I mean like, if you’re giving romance lessons, GIVE SOME DAMN ROMANCE LESSONS. They seemed like an afterthought during the whole thing.

The ending was cute tho. I liked the turn the friend group took. They’ve always been my favorite, so when it was time I was crying my face off. I thought it was the perfect celebration for them and I think it went full circle. AND, as a reader I would be remiss if I were to get on here and not talk about the grand gesture. Was that not the cutest thing? Not gonna lie I think about the fact that I won’t get anything like that in real life smh lol

The narrator was someone I’ve listened to before from the rest of the series. And they were still perfection. I really don’t know how Kristen DiMercurio was able to do all of those different voices for all those different people. I still don’t know how she was able to get those characters to be completely different like that.

Was this my favorite of the series? No. Was it still a good read and worth your time? Yes. I hope all of you have followed this story till the end and I really hope this isn’t the last story in this series. Maybe we can get Ruby’s dad? Idk I just don’t want to be done with these friends/people yet!

the perfect ending to a perfect series! I knew Iris was going to be my fav of the bunch. Fake dating x romance lessons? ugh I LOVE!!!!!! this was so cute, sweet, funny and charming. The writing was sharp and I want someone written by Ashley Herring Blake. She's an auto-buy author for sure.

Iris Kelly Doesn't Date is a fake dating, horrible one night stand turned more, and a cozy sapphic found family romance. Iris is tired of being the only one who is single in her friends group, and not to mention she's trying to write her second romance novel but is running out of ideas. To get away from her problems she goes to a bar and has a horrible one night stand. She thinks she's never see the woman again but they meet again at a local play production and start fake dating.

2.5 stars!!

My first reaction to this book was damnnn it's spicy but also so relatable and real! I liked the anxiety rep. Iris was a great character and I felt so connected to her. However, I did not like Stevie lol. She was hard to root for and kind of unbearable? She is in love with her ex for a majority of this book. I wanted more for Iris and thought she deserved a little better (especially in that ending). I really liked the first two books in this series but this was unfortunately my least fav.

Thanks NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reading copy! Iris Kelly is the last of her friends to find a happy ending, after being hurt and left by previous partners. Then she meets Stevie, who due to various reasons, needs to fake date Iris. A sapphic love story ensues! This is the third (and I think last) book in this trilogy and it did a lot of great things. I really liked the intimate moments between Stevie and Iris; Blake I think is a master at writing thoughtful progression and growth through relationships and the art of getting to know your partner and falling in love. I thought that the past relationship trauma of Steve and Iris was handled great. My issues with this book were that Stevie’s friends were awful and the ending felt a little rushed (and I won’t spoil why). But these were pretty minor to an overall sweet and thoughtful ending to this great series with great female friendships and love stories. Overall, highly recommend for fans of Blake and this Bright Falls series, LGBTQ+ love stories, fake dating and Shakespeare, and contemporary steamy romance.

This book was perfect. It is bittersweet to say goodbye to Bright Falls, but Ashley Herring Blake did so in such a beautiful wrap up with Iris and Stevie. These two imperfect perfect love birds were so fun to read about, their fake dating shenanigans, and the obvious feelings they have for one another. It made me tear up at the end to think that this is it. A touching story that definitely was a top read for me this year.

This book is very adorable. The characters are endearing and the plot is fun. It's a feel good read for anyone

The absolute perfect LGBTQ comfy cozy rom-com – I lovvved it, and based off of the reviews so did many others.

I have enjoyed all 3 books in this universe. They all are cute, quick reads with an HEA. I highly recommend this author. The writing style was cute and enjoyable yet meaningful!!

I loved, loved, loved this installment from Bright Falls!!! It might be my favorite which is a bit if a surprise considering how much I didn’t care for Iris in the first book. What an amazing character arc and development for her and I absolutely adored Stevie!!

ngl I was worried about this final book because Iris was my least favorite Bright Falls girl, but holy shit was was incredible.

I loved Stevie. I loved Iris. I loved their wild relationship complete with a really shitty attempt at fake dating and romance training and sex lessons.

There's also Shakespeare and community theater and anxiety rep and so much else that I really adored. And now it is over and I will have to figure out what else to do with my life without being able to fall into these bi/lesbian sapphic romances for the first time.

I absolutely loved this book!
I have not read the first two books in the series, but will definitely go and read them now.

The author has written a wonderful story of two very different people who each need to find their confidence and strength to be successful on their terms. Through fake dating, they can be fully honest with each other, sharing their concerns and fears, take chances, and explore parts of themselves they had previously ignored.
Slowly, the fake dating becomes real, more real than they ever anticipated and perhaps can handle.

I particularly loved the ending and how we got to the HEA for Iris and Stevie. They came together on their terms, having both grown into their independence and gaining the confidence to be themselves in life and in a partnership.

An absolutely wonderful book.

This might be a 5 star honestly. I absolutely love Iris but Stevie wow is she an amazing character. The way they both meet each other is perfect and gross and obviously the best start to a rom com. Plus the complexities of both of their characters and their vulnerabilities and growth. I teared up so many times during this book. I wanted Stevie to realize her worth and also wanted Iris to realize that she is worthy of love. The side characters (and seeing Claire, Delilah, Astrid, and Jordan) again was fab. The "Delilah Green didn't care about anyone" line had me HOLLERING and SWOONING remembering that book. I loved having Simon be so involved. I really enjoyed many of Stevie's friends but wish they are in it more (except Adri she absolutely sucked. Vanessa and Ren were amazing).

The sex scenes were amazing and so thoughtful of how two women, bi and lesbian, might have sex in different ways. And they were SO HOT oh em gee. I absolutely loved how the story ended, how Iris came to her senses and how Stevie bet on her. And then the wedding - good lord my eyes. Just a perfect wrap up.

Now I do think that Blake really recognized how much feedback she has gotten about how racially and gender un-diverse the community of Bright Falls is and by opening it up to Portland she was able to bring in more diversity. Ren being non-binary and Black is great, plus Vanessa and the other rep. I did think it was funny that the requisite "box braids" on a Black woman came up lol. But still, I appreciated the effort to show a wider community.

LASTLY THE DANI BROWN CAMEO HAD ME DYING.

i'm so disappointed by this book! delilah green is one of my favorite romances of all time, astrid parker was another fav, but this completely was not for me. i just didnt feel like the characters made sense. they acted out of character so often. there was also soooo much miscommunication. stevie was just also not a character i liked. the third act breakup was eye roll inducing. im sorry im all over the place but i wanted to love this so bad. the positives though are that of course, it was written well and the steamy scenes were very steamy. i also loved iris, even if she started to get on my nerves by the end as well.

Out of all the bright falls books, this one was my favorite. I wasn’t sure how I was going to like Iris pov, but I cried multiple times while reading this. Such an amazing book.

I am not at all emotionally prepared enough to say goodbye to Bright Falls and all of these characters! Saving Iris for last was the perfect decision. I loved being able to see how Iris and Kelly slowly found their confidence and trust in each other, I loved all their dates an how hard Stevie was working to woo Iris, overall so freaking cute!

Pros: Gah, I love this series so much. This is the 3rd and final book in the Bright Falls series and I am very sad to say goodbye to these characters that I’ve fallen in love with. Iris was a supporting character in the first 2 books of the series and finally gets her love story after watching everyone around her fall in love and settle down. The “meet cute” in this book was unique and mortifying and I love how both Stevie and Iris handled the situation. Stevie’s anxiety disorder was well-written and Iris’s struggles with her family were realistic. Herring Blake is very good at writing romances that allow the reader to escape into the character’s world while also grounding those characters in reality. The care and respect Stevie and Iris have with each other was wonderful and one of my favorite parts of the book.

Cons: Stevie’s friend group is THE WORST and I wanted there to be more of a “come to Jesus” moment where she realizes that she deserves more in love and friendship.

4.5! This might be my favorite romance of the year and I still might change it to 5 stars. I just loved and connected with Iris and Stevie so much. The way their relationship builds and the heated tender moments at the beginning are what really sold it for me. This was truly both sweet and spicy. The level of care, consent, and trust that they built and the respect they had for each other makes my eyes water. Their personal growth!!! Amazing to read. This was so real and fun with just the right amount of drama and wacky circumstances. A complete delight. & As always, I was even obsessed with the side characters.

‼️ *spoilers ahead* ‼️

I do wish that Stevie and Adri’s relationship would have had a more satisfying close. Adri is honestly on my list and I wanted Stevie to cut her off for good so badly. I LOVED Ren so much I am manifesting their story in the future. It did take me out of the story a bit that Vanessa’s parents paid to fly everyone to Malibu when apparently the theatre was going under? Like babes, skip the retreat and just add that money to the fundraiser. Why did we all have to go to Malibu? I also felt the ending was dragged out a bit.

Overall, I loved it! & The bonus of getting a Claire and Delilah wedding scene with them all walking down the aisle together? Chef’s kiss 💋

These characters become more and more real the more this author writes! Each one is so fleshed out and whole it's amazing to think I don't know them in real life. I will miss these women and their LGBTQIA+ coven!

Iris and Stevie are very different characters than our last four ladies, and I really loved that. Ashley Herring Blake creates very realistic characters who each have their own strengths and flaws.
At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to like Iris' story, but we really dug into her insecurities and fears about love and I think that was really well done. And the steamy scenes were amazing.

This book really tied all the relationships together at the end and I am sad that we may not get any more of Bright Falls.