I really enjoyed this story and found it cute and entertaining, while also wonderfully inclusive. While it was very obviously a sweet rom-com there were also a lot of moments that were deeper and more introspective, especially for Declan. Seeing him and Sidney explore relationships and their perceptions of what dating and relationships are was both hilarious and heart warming. I did kindof want Declan to show more growth over the entire story, but not everyone can do that.

The cast was both racially and sexually diverse, and I loved how that cast of characters fit together and interacted. Overall it was a story I really enjoyed, and feel multiple age groups could enjoy this book as the steamier portions were fade to black, so it's something YA readers could enjoy as well if they don't like explicit scenes.

Oh, my heart. Kris Ripper's The Love Study made it feel all full and fuzzy. This novel is probably the cutest romance I've read all year (and you all know I read A LOT of romances).

Here's the synopsis:

What happens when the search for the perfect date goes perfectly wrong? Don’t miss this charming romantic comedy from critically acclaimed author Kris Ripper.

Declan has commitment issues. He’s been an office temp for literally years now, and his friends delight in telling people that he left his last boyfriend at the altar.

And that’s all true. But he’s starting to think it’s time to start working on his issues. Maybe.

When Declan meets Sidney—a popular nonbinary YouTuber with an advice show—an opportunity presents itself: as part of The Love Study, Declan will go on a series of dates arranged by Sidney and report back on how the date went in the next episode

The dates are…sort of blah. It’s not Sidney’s fault; the folks participating are (mostly) great people, but there’s no chemistry there. Maybe Declan’s just broken.

Or maybe the problem is that the only person he’s feeling chemistry with is Sidney.

I had all of the feels with this book. Usually that's only happening with Karina Halle's lighter romances that are also full of angst. But Ripper's novel is dealing with characters who are facing their issues with romance and dating head on and, well, it's not pretty. There's anxiety, panic attacks, crying, and friends who tell their friend that he's being an idiot. BUT there's also dating hijinks, buddy watching documentaries (SO CUTE), and an amazing friend group (seriously, everyone needs a groups of friends like Declan has). So while I was swooning over how adorably awkward Dec and Sidney were and loving the lead up to them dating, I was also almost in tears with how hard it was for Declan to really let go and feel like he deserved love, or at least to date such a lovely human like Sidney. (Maybe I was also just super stressed and emotional this week and the book was really hitting me hard?)

I liked the pace of this novel, particularly that the relationship part of things started early on. There was enough teasing and flirting and enough time to get SUPER invested in their dating. Then, as you would expect, it all went to hell and then they needed to work together to get to the Happily Ever After I was desperate for. I liked that it explored all kinds of relationships and issues people may have with dating and the norms and rules we're supposed to follow.

And have I mentioned the friends enough? The group - Mason (who Declan left at the altar), Oscar, Ronnie, and Mia (the latter two are a couple about to be married) - call themselves the Marginalized Motherfuckers. They found each other in college and sort of clung together because they were all, well, marginalized in different ways. They tease but they are so caring, too. Whether that's talking Declan into patching things up with Sidney or the guys preparing a "staycation" for Ronnie and Mia's honeymoon (complete with erotic fruit, of course). Come for the romantic relationship, stay for the friendship.

This book hasn't been written to teach straight people like me anything but it did. There were a couple of new to me gender terms that I had to look up and I'm really glad about that. I like to think this romance is an example of why so many of us read: to gain a deeper understanding through fiction of what others' lives might be like.

Finally, I'm really happy this is the first book in a series. Next up will be The Hate Study which will feature Oscar, one of Declan's friends (and part of the Marginalized Motherfuckers) and I think Declan's "underling" from his temp job.

I don't know if it's come across enough in this review but I'll say it like this: I cannot recommend The Love Study enough. It's a ridiculously cute, smart, heartfelt rom com (heavy on the rom) that I'm going to remember for a long time to come. Kris Ripper has written such a fun and important sex positive, entertaining queer romance that I am so here for.

Buy The Love Study
IndieBound * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Apple * Google * Kobo

About the Author
Kris Ripper lives in the great state of California and zir pronouns are ze/zir. Kris shares a converted garage with a kid, can do two pull-ups in a row, and can write backwards. (No, really.) Ze has been writing fiction since ze learned how to write, and boring zir stuffed animals with stories long before that.

Connect with the Author
Website * Twitter * Facebook Group * Instagram * Goodreads

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Harlequin, in exchange for a review for the purposes of a blog tour. All opinions are honest and my own*

We’re back with another beautiful Carina Press read. The Love Study is my first venture with a non-binary lead and I am always up for books like this that allow me to learn more things about the LGBT spectrum that I did not know before. The Love Study gave me a sweet story that did not overwhelm. It was light, fluffy, fun, and it had very low angst.

If you are looking for something comfortable, this book definitely delivers. Its a perfect easy read. But, at the same time, this book was educational. It had many moments of sex positive conversations, intimacy without taking your clothes off, and a wonderful friend dynamic.

Just one thing, if you want to see some steam, everything happens off the page.

Overall, this book was a joy to read and I had a great time. Not sure if this will continue on as a series, but if it would, I’m open to it!

A romance featuring a non-binary character? I signed up so fast for this, you've no idea.

I admit this book that the makings of a fun story. A nonbinary youtuber who hosts a segment called The Love Study, who asks a guy to be the subject of said study? Thus having him go on dates where they can give advice and such? But the whole time, there is a spark between both? Yes please.

Though here's the thing, I expected more than just the few dates we got. I was in it expecting a more slow burn type of romantic feel, though that's completely my fault. I wanted so much more out of Declan's dates and storylines involving them. Not that i'm sad the romance was with Sidney, not at all. I just felt this portion of the plot could have been explored a bit more.

My second issue was maybe how quick the dialogue felt. There were moments where there was so much dialogue that I started to have to reread things to get a feeling of were the story was at. What didn't help was also the amount of first person monologuing in Declan's mind. While I loved hearing his thoughts, they ran on for a tangent multiple times. It was cool to see at first, considering how often my own mind tends to do the same, but when so much dialogue was surrounding it, it ended up being too convoluted.

The pop culture references (Heck, I smiled when Overwatch was mentioned) were pretty fun to see, and didn't over saturate the book like some tend to do.

Overall I enjoyed the book, and if people can get past the quick, smart dialogue then I feel it could be a good romance featuring a vast array of characters.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. The Love Study is the first book in what looks to be a delightful new series by Kris Ripper. This story begins when Declan Swick-Smith is introduced to Sidney Worrell, who is non-binary, because his friend Mia who fancies herself a matchmaker works with Sidney and thinks they will be perfect for Mason Declan’s former fiancé. Declan has decided that he would like to try dating again but is not really sure how to go about it, so when Sidney asks him to participate on their The Love Study YouTube show, to go on dates that Sidney arranges and then come on the show and talk about the dates he agrees mostly because the idea of spending time with Sidney appeals greatly. I loved the group of friends in this story as well as that everyone in the book is accepted for who they are. The relationship between Declan and Sydney was delightful and I highly recommend this book. Low Steam. Publishing Date: September 29, 2020. #TheLoveStudy #KrisRipper #CarinaPress #HarlequinRomance #LGBTQIARomance #ContemporaryRomance #bookstagram #bookstagramer

Declan Swick-Smith’s group of tight-knit friends have given him his very own tagline: he left his last boyfriend at the altar, so watch out. True, Declan got cold feet some six years ago, but the tagline hasn’t worn off any more than Declan’s feet have thawed. He’ll go out with someone for a good time, just not a long time. And for a while, that suits his needs just fine. Time even seems to have healed the chasm that opened in his chest after refusing the man he thought he loved; hell, his ex is still very present in their group of friends and they talk frequently. But relationships have soured for Declan, which is why it feels so odd to him that a new comer to their circle sparks a bit of interest. Sure, their mutual friends were thinking of connecting Declan’s ex with this new person, Sidney Ertz-Scott…but after one night of hanging out at the bar, suddenly Declan finds himself starring in Sidney’s YouTube program “Your Spinster Uncle” and crushing hard.

Soon, Declan discovers that he very much might like to jump back into conventional dating, but only if gender-queer Sidney can serve as a guide. The dates Sidney sets up play into their YouTube program as a new feature called “The Love Study” that aims to explore queer relationships and provide answers. The dates Sidney picks for Declan run the gamut from “fine” to “very not fine.” But the longer the two collaborate on the program, the more Declan realizes he doesn’t want Sidney’s advice, he just wants Sidney. However, the fact that he “left his last boyfriend at the altar” is an albatross around his neck. Plus, Declan is worried he will expect too much or be too conventional for a relationship with Sidney. On top of all that, Declan’s work expectations are mounting and it’s only a matter of time before Declan convinces himself there is nowhere to go but down, down, down. Can he really learn the lessons of The Love Study?

The Love Study is a contemporary novel featuring a colorful cast of millennials exploring their lives through the lenses of friendship and love. The story is told in first-person narrative from Declan’s perspective, so readers can get a great feel for the events that have shaped him as a character. Both his inner monologue and audible dialogue reflect his world view. I understood Declan to be a very compassionate friend who is concerned with respecting individuals. This comes across in subtle ways, like how he automatically seems to pick up on pronouns, and more overt ways, like bringing coffee to a coworker who is having a tough day, even though Declan doesn’t necessarily like that coworker. Personally, however, I found the narrative to be rather…distracting. This is mainly conveyed through the speech patterns, like ubiquitous use of “um,” and his very careful language. At times, it was a bit tiring reading Declan because of the constant “I think X…unless that somehow offends you, because I totally mean it in a non-offensive way.” The combination of seemingly constant self-monitoring and filler words made it hard to remember Declan is supposed to be a whole grown adult rather than a struggling teen.

For readers looking for a story that places a hefty focus on queer narratives, there is a lot to enjoy in this book. In addition to the romance featuring a genderqueer character, there is also the theme of exploring and rejecting conventional portrayals and acts of “love.” Specifically, Sidney identifies as they/them and just wants potentially to explore a relationship where the focus is on doing activities that make the participants comfortable, happy, and satisfied. I also enjoyed the challenge of NOT applying even “queer” labels to Sidney, because the whole character felt like seeing them through any lens (cis, trans, straight, gay, whatever) necessarily sets up boundaries that may artificially influence one’s behavior.

As far as pacing goes, there was a clear emphasis on Declan and his group of friends. This later shifts towards an emphasis on Declan and Sidney as they begin working together on Sidney’s YouTube videos. Personally, I found the lead up to the two main characters declaring their interest a bit tiresome. It was clear from the first time Declan meets Sidney that Declan is extremely attracted and interested in Sidney in any capacity. Once they finally decide to get together, there is a shift to a lot of self-doubt on Declan’s part. His past failed engagement ends up playing a significant role in the book and is the catalyst for the big conflict in the romance part of the story. I should also mention that Declan’s day job gets mentioned a lot. I suppose I can see how his professional life mirrors his personal life…commitment averse at first, but finds a comfortable fit at the end. But on the whole, that thread seems superfluous to the main threads of identity, conventionalism, and (self-inflicted) emotional trauma.
On the whole, this is a fine book for anyone interested in in-depth, involved narratives set largely within a queer community. Younger readers may enjoy the narrative voice more than I did (I had to constantly remind myself these people were 29 give-or-take). Regardless, the themes Ripper incorporates are an interesting challenge to read vis-a-vis one’s own experiences of life, culture, and romance.

Declan has issues- for six years he hasn't dated anyone, and for very good reason. Any time his close group of friends (self named The Mother Fuckers) introduce him it's always like this "This is Declan, he left his last boyfriend at the altar, so watch out.". Commitment issues also show in the fact that he's been an office temp for years, and has steadily declined to stay at one job permanently. Obviously he is a little uneasy when he thinks about dating again... but maybe it's time?
Enter Sidney, nonbinary Youtuber with a great idea. They create a show- a love study- where Sidney finds dates for Declan and they talk about them while answering questions on how it feels to be dating when you are LGBTQ. While not terrible, the dates aren't what Declan's looking for and he begins to think he's broken... until it hits him- the one he's most interested in is his co-host. Can the two make something meaningful together, or will Declan make a run for it again?
I will be honest, I am still processing how I feel about this book. I usually like a good flow to a story, something that stays at one pace. That didn't happen here, but it seemed like it was supposed to be that way because of the MC. There were times where it had a great energy, the characters were clicking, things were happening.... and it was so, so easy to fall into the story. There were also pockets of all-things-awkward where it will drag to the point that I had to keep putting the book down because it was simply too painful. Do people really put that much thought into dissecting things- whether it's allowable to touch a hand, their hair... how they feel about each and every step? I would think that one conversation about attraction and boundaries could have done this without prolonged awkward moments? At the same time, I am not trying to date a genderfluid person in my 30's, so what do I know?
I absolutely loved The Mother Fuckers and their complete acceptance of each other while refusing to gloss over flaws (though, maybe they could give Declan a break? He and Mason, the ex, are still very close and it has been six years after all). I loved Oscar especially (though I always heard him talk in the voice of Eyore), and am super excited that he'll be getting a story next May. Awkwardness aside I did like how they talked openly about relationships, and I did like Dec and Sidney together. For me this was a three star book. It was good, but I doubt it will be one of the most memorable of the year.
On the adult content scale there is a lot of language. There's some sexual innuendo, some crass jokes, but the actual sexual encounters are written so as to not be too explicit. I would say this is acceptable for teens 17 and up, so let's give it a five.
I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book from Netgalley and Carina Press in exchange for an honest review. My thanks!

Like a lot of people I've been reading more romance as a pandemic comfort, and it's definitely nice to read a queer rom-com that avoids Trauma type storylines, but overall I found this one sort of...boring? I don't think it needed to be wildly dramatic, or to reinvent the wheel - so much of the romance genre relies on tropes and familiar beats - but there seemed to be little in the way of actual plot. I don't think I needed fireworks or shocking developments, but if one (1) event could have Happened, I would have appreciated it.

Declan, the MC, is pretty hot mess-y, sometimes in a funny, endearing way, and sometimes in an aggravating way, but at least he seemed a fairly fleshed out character. I didn't find Sidney, the LI, or many of the non-MC characters to have really strong personalities or distinct voices although I liked the idea of a queer found family group who have stuck together through the years. The ideas of consent and communication, particularly when navigating a relationship which from the outset fits outside the idea of gender roles, were interesting and well-handled. It did, however, feel like almost every aspect of the book revolved around Declan's life and romance: there is a work-related storyline which seemed mostly meant as a commentary on Declan's commitment issues - which also relates to the romance - but it barely seems like the book is even interested in it or the co-worker character introduced through it. Not a lot goes into making the characters seem as if they have other parts of their lives. The wedding between Declan's two friends, for example, is moved past in perhaps a couple of pages to focus on Declan's feelings/further developments in his life.

Like other reviewers, I found the book quite dialogue heavy, which didn't necessarily appeal to me, especially when it leaned more toward clunky than witty. There were certainly points when it hit on humor, but I think much of it could have used some additional polish. The epilogue was quite sweet, however; it made me wish I'd felt more affection toward and chemistry between the MC and LI in particular during the rest of the book.

Here’s how my friends describe me to new people: “This is Declan. He left his last boyfriend at the altar, so watch out.”



Bro I'm super glad I got the chance to read this fantastically queer, quirky, rom-com love story with a genderqueer love interest. Not everything about it worked for me, but mostly I liked the ways in which it was different, the ways it broke the mould. Declan, a grade-A commitment-phobe, finds himself as a guest on a YouTube show, being set up on blind dates. It's not exactly the plan for him to fall for the charming host, but that's what happens.

I love all the on-page character interaction we get, the way the author doesn't skimp on showing us little moments that bring the characters close together, mundane conversations that give a great sense of their personalities and character. There's a lot of great dialogue and communication in this book, and it's one of the rare cases where I'm not frustrated when lack of communication becomes an issue. Declan is kinda going through it, and his anxiety manifests in believable ways. That was one of my favourite things about this; how realistically and pragmatically anxiety is portrayed. I really loved Sidney, my new favourite spinster uncle, and how they were gentle and practical and sort of like a guiding force for Declan, while also prioritising themselves? This isn't quite friends to lovers, but we definitely get a deep sense of Declan and Sidney's friendship, which I loved. Maybe more so than their attraction? But I hesitate to list that as a detracting factor, because it worked for this love story imo.

I really liked the core group of friends; that's something I always like seeing in romances. They had a lot of banter and chemistry, and I look forward to seeing them in future books! The characters are in their late twenties, but this definitely had a kinda new adult feel to it sometimes? At least in the writing style/dialogue. It sometimes felt TOO quirky and a bit young and didn't totally work for me (as well as like, the strikethroughs). But it might for someone else. There WERE a couple fun references that I really enjoyed (those are my fave Zen/Mercy voice lines too!!) that might be lost on other people.

3.5 stars. This was a lot of fun; a quick read that made me smile in a lot of different places.

“I didn’t envy them exactly. But it was a little hard to watch them all wrapped up in each other without sincerely doubting I could ever be that guy. The guy who gets to be all wrapped up in someone else, and deserves to have them all wrapped up in him.”

This inclusive romcom was so cute! The story follows our main character Declan, a queer dude with commitment issues who left his previous boyfriend at the altar. When he’s introduced to a non-binary Youtuber named Sidney, they decide to collaborate on a new dating advice series called The Love Study. In this series, Declan is to go on dates and report back to the show in order to discuss the ins and outs of queer dating with the audience and hopefully find love in the process. But when Declan starts to see that none of the dates are what he’s looking for, he starts to realize the undeniable chemistry between himself & Sidney and things start to unfold.

First of all, the diverse representation in this book blew me away. There were characters of all sexualities, races, and genders and that warmed my inclusive heart. For example, we got non-binary/gender queer, trans, gay, queer, and pansexual characters in this story. On top of that, the humour in this book really got me. I was cackling during some scenes and the story had me smiling from ear to ear. The romance also had me swooning a bit, I can’t lie! The chemistry between the main two was clear and I just wanted them to be happy together.

As much as I enjoyed this one, there were some things that just didn’t work for me. First of all, this is an adult romcom but it’s written like a YA book. The characters are going in to their 30’s but somehow still talk like they’re in high school. The dialog just seemed unrealistic and cringey. There was also almost no passion in this because of including fade to black for every romantic scene. I’m not a big fan of reading sex scenes, but anything more than brief pecks were omitted through fade to black. That really took away from the build up of the relationship between the main two, and felt like there was no actual pay off to the plot. On top of all this, the conflict at the end of the book seemed forced and not at all necessary. It felt like the author wanted there to be some sort of bump in the road before the conclusion, but it just didn’t work for me.

Overall, this was a cute queer read! I enjoyed the amount of representation and it made me laugh out loud. There were some things that didn’t work for me, but I still recommend it to people looking for a fun read with inclusivity.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Carina Press for giving me this eARC in exchange for an honest review*

I'm officially declaring The Love Study my favorite read of 2020. There is nothing--absolutely nothing--I didn't love about this story.

Declan and Sidney are delightfully awkward, and I enjoyed every single one of their interactions. Their conversations are intellectual, and they learn a ton about each other at the start that two people wouldn't normally find out about their potential partner/friend upon first meeting.

I love how unconventional their relationship is, and how Declan's personal evolution and relationship with Sidney throughout the book helps him to see that what works for him is not what the majority of the world would view as a "traditional" relationship. I also love that Declan's fear of commitment also extends to his career--office temp for life!--and how he find a balance between temporary and permanent that works well for him in the end.

Sidney is a fantastic character. They dole out relationship advice on their YouTube channel but seem to need some guidance themselves with their budding relationship with Declan. (Is it weird to say that I have a bit of a crush on them? Seriously, they are just AMAZING.)

They even have the perfect view on Valentine's Day that succulently describes my feelings for the wretched holiday:

"I feel nothing about Valentine's Day. it has no relevance to me at all. It's part of a pre=formed idea of what a relationship is supposed to look like and it means nothing to me."

Declan's group of friends, the Marginalized Motherfuckers, is a treat as well. The diversity represented in each member of the group (and other side characters) is refreshing and rounds out the story.

I highly recommend The Love Study to anyone searching for a different take on romance.

***ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest, an unbiased review.***

Really fun. Just what I wanted in romance. I especially appreciated how inclusive this romance was.

The Love Study is a funny, sweet, clever romance between two people who REALLY know how to overthink a situation. It's very queer, and maybe a little self-conscious. I spent about a third of the book going ‘awww’ and another third giggling (as for the other third… look, Declan has anxiety and commitment issues and what he does with them are a bit distressing to witness).

I liked that this story championed unconventional families, friend groups, and romantic relationships. If you are looking for a fluffy, queer romance that is frank about mental illness, celebrates unconventional relationships, and is very big on talking about feelings, I think you’ll enjoy this a lot.

My full review will appear on Smart Bitches Trashy Books.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

Declan has commitment issues. He left his boyfriend to the altar, he's been an office temp for years and he decided not to date anymore. Then he meets Sydney and they convinced him to be part of their YouTube advice show, The love study. Declan will go to dates and then report how it went. But there's no chemistry between Declan and his dates and the only reason may be that he's interested in Sydney.

I found this book really cute and sweet. There's an amazing queer rep, non-binary character (Sydney), trans (Ronnie), pansexual and so on. The story is so sweet, full of supportive and funny characters and I love the chemistry between them, between Declan and Mason, Declan and Sydney, Ronnie and Mia and so on. It was a very interesting read and I love the concept of the study.

I just love Kris Ripper. I'm always looking for more light-hearted romances that still contain plenty of depth, which seems to be a hard ask. I want sweetness and feels, but I want you to make me think at the same time. And Ripper's books always engage my brain in interesting ways.

I have almost nothing in common with either of these MCs -- who are of a distinctly different generation than me, although this book showcased it in a way that made me smile *for* them, not laugh *at* them, which was a nice change of pace :) -- but I finished this book feeling like I learned something about myself. While reading a romance novel. About two characters who would be horrified that I described their story as a romance novel 😂 I loved it.

"I felt like I'd been cast as the guy who's charmed by chivalry in a movie I never auditioned for. And it's
totally okay for people to get off on that shit. I just...don't. I tried to! That whole night I kept telling myself I
should like it. But I didn't."
"Why? I mean, why did you try to like it?"
"I...dunno. I guess because the people who do have it easier in a way? That script is written, they just have
to show up."

"That script is written, they just have to show up." Yeah. Must be nice :) I feel like if you can relate to that sentiment in any way -- not just about romantic relationships -- you can relate to these characters.

And for Sidney, as a genderqueer human being, that's a pervasive sentiment.

"I'm not sure you can try yourself into someone else's mold. Actually, I'm entirely convinced you
can't, or I would be a totally different person."

But that's about the closest thing you'll get to a discussion about Sidney's gender identity. (From a conversation that had nothing to do with gender.) This is the very definition of a book with a genderqueer love interest that isn't in any way *about* being genderqueer. I couldn't even tell you how they identify for sure. (I know they don't identify with the "enby" label and didn't object to being called "GQ", so that's what I'm going with.) This is a romance novel where the gender of the love interest is a NON-ENTITY, is what I'm saying.

The fade-to-black sex scenes were a genius choice in that regard. I wasn't expecting it -- I mean...I could read this author's sex scenes for DAYS; and literally did when I binged 10 straight books from the SMU!! -- but it's a perfect way to honor a character who doesn't feel the need to process their gender in real time for the benefit or enlightenment of others.

5 out of 5 on The Love Study's "intellectual chemistry" scale.

*A note on the writing style:* Declan is the single POV character, and he has a very strong and distinct voice. It's also a voice that's prone to rambling when he's feeling anxious, and that carried over into the internal dialog. It came close to being too much at times, but I thought it was worth it to hear what he had to say. It made the writing style feel very different from the other Ripper books I've read in the past, though.

I was very excited to try The Love Study by Kris Ripper, but it took me over two weeks to force myself to finish so, alas, I've concluded that it just isn't the story for me.

I've read a number of stories by Kris Ripper, and I appreciate zir writing an own voices romance with a genderqueer MC. There are not many romance books with genderqueer characters, so it's very excited when I find one and get to try one out. However, I really wished I loved this and found it as funny as it was trying to be.

Right off the bat, the premise seemed forced, but I decided to roll with it. I felt like the set up wasn't very organic, and the chemistry wasn't quite there. I was hoping I would root for the romance more as the story went on, but I just didn't feel the physical chemistry or draw between these two.

I also really, really, really hated how the characters giggled constantly. It's a personal pet peeve of mine when adults in romances giggle.

I don't know, I just felt underwhelmed. The dialogue dominated the plotline and I didn't even get sucked into the story. It was a miss for me.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

As intrigued as I was by the plot and that gorgeous cover, I didn't exactly enjoy The Love Study. I wish I could pinpoint it to one thing that didn't work for me but it was more so the accumulation of all the things that in the end, made me want to stop reading.
While I liked the concept of the Love Study, I feel it was really rushed and the pacing was quite off. There could have been more dates or at least more substantial descriptions of them.
I also wasn't a fan of the constantly trying to make sexual innuendos and the stilted dialogue. I am someone who will take dialogue over descriptions of scenery any day, but the dialogue felt so - surreal? I kept wondering if anyone actually talks like that and that definitely took away from my enjoyment.
What I will say is that I really liked the characters and think that this was a quick read - stilted as the dialogue was, I still flew through the pages!

I finished up the adorable The Love Story. Declan gave up on love after leaving his fiancé at the altar. When he meets non-binary Sidney, who runs a program on YouTube, he decides to sign up for The Love Study. He’s open to dating people of all different genders, ages (over 21), sexualities, etc. As time goes on, he realizes he’s vibing best with Sidney and is wondering how best to pursue a romance with them. Kris Ripper writes a fun novel with a cast of characters that represents the LGBTIA+ community with fervor. This book has a lot of heart, laughs, and warm moments to keep you reading. Declan is one of those characters that makes you feel like you’re in a conversation with a friend. The Love Study comes out Tuesday and if you’re looking for a light hearted Rom-Com, look no further! 3.5 stars rounded up

This is a completely charming read! The story is about Declan, who has chronic commitment issues (seriously-- he left his last boyfriend at the altar 6 years ago and has not dated since) and Sidney, a popular nonbinary YouTuber who invites Declan on his show. Their segment is called The Love Study and it tracks Declan as he reenters the dating world. The only problem? He isn’t interested in meeting someone new-- because Sidney has already caught his eye. This book was really wonderful. Although the plot was not anything unexpected the open discussions the characters in the book had about nontraditional relationships, open communication in relationships, and consent were truly fantastic. I loved the candid way queer relationships were discussed and felt that I learned a lot about pressures and societal expectations. This book is a rom com on the outside but it is truly a book that will push you to think about relationships differently as well.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

Ok let me say I am not exactly sure what caught my attention about this book because this is everything that is happening in the world today and while I have no problems with any of it I do not usually read the genre. But I requested it so I read it and it was a cute lighthearted read. But the part I loved best was the relationship of Declan’s circle. I can see the conversations happening just the way they are written.

Now the next thing I want to say, since I am not into this type of read and do not have friends/family who fall under the LGBQT description I did live in San Francisco for awhile and was used to seeing same sex couples but I do not understand the “nonbinary” label and other things so that was hard for me to read about.

All of this being said it is still a funny book with a lot of good lines from the author. And I can imagine it would be a hit with fans of the genre.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.