I have no idea how Jasmine Guillory continues to release books that are so good but also stick so close to her tried and true formula for a romance book. Strong heroines, sweet heroes, conflict that takes a little more than just a quick conversation to resolve, love letters to California, and law-adjacent careers! While We Were Dating wasn’t my absolute favorite (I think that’s Party of Two so far for me), but it hits a comforting spot. A great read!

Jasmine Guillory is always going to give you a charming, funny, diverse romance novel that tackles big issues. But to do this with fake dating and famous/not famous? You're in for a treat. I loved this book and I adored getting to see Maddie and Theo again.

Jasmine Guilllory continues to reign supreme when it comes to adorable, low-drama romances. An actress and ad lead begin a secret relationship that turns into a publicity stunt to help her career even though their feelings are very real. Cute and feel-good and even features some good anxiety / mental illness rep!

This was so much fun and the characters were fleshed out so well, it was hard not to feel like I knew them!

I obsessively read anything Jasmine Guillory writes, but this was easily my favorite book of hers. Only the most talented writer can make a famous actress a relatable main character without it being cringey, but Jasmine managed to do just that. I loved it!

Jasmine guillory has done it once again. I absolutely loved this book! I loved the characters so much. I loved the discussion of mental health and therapy, it really helped myself figure out things with my own mental health and what I should do. I kind of felt like the surprise sister plot was a little unnecessary but it was well done. Again, a great book and I’ll read anything JG writes

I’d give this a 3.5 but rounded up! Jasmine does it again with fun characters, a cute plot and a really readable read. The point of conflict, which I found to be trying and too drawn out in some of her others, is just the right size. It well satisfies my love of a fictional celebrity romances and the fake dating trope never disappoints. I’ll always look forward to a new Jasmine release and this doesn’t disappoint!

I’ve been a Jasmine Guillory fan since ling before I joined booksta and I still preorder all of her new releases.

Jasmine Guillory books are consistently fun, sweet, and heartwarming reads. This story exists within the Wedding Date universe so we get some appearances from some of our other favorite characters, which I love. I enjoyed how mental health and other important and deeper conversations were had all while still being a light and fun read.

Read if you like: Celebrity romance, any of Guillory’s other books

⚠️TWs: Fatphobia, panic attacks, mental illness, racism

Fake dating done really well, but of course it is, as it's Jasmine Guillory. Watching these two catch feelings, and finally come clean, was a delight.

Another great book by one of my favorite authors . This one did not disappoint. I wasn’t a fan of Theo in While We Were Dating, I ended up loving it. I liked how the author weaved in mental health. This is a great continuation of the Wedding Date series. Loved Theo and Maddie , Ben and Anna.

Fun romance from Jasmine Guillory, who always delivers! I liked the characters, their story and the ending. I will recommend for purchase!

Howdy! This week I read Jasmine Guillory’s newest in The Wedding Date series: While We Were Dating. The more Jasmine Guillory I read, the more disillusioned I become with its quality. I enjoyed While We Were Dating, but it didn’t blow others out of the water.

Anna Gardiner is on a mission to get herself back to the Oscars. After a year facing anxiety and panic attacks, she’s getting back on the horse with an advertising campaign led by Ben Stephens, a sweet and funny flirt who also happily drives celebrities hundreds of miles in a family crisis. Their flirtation quickly blossoms into friendship and hookups.

When her manager catches their chemistry, he suggests a plan to help Anna launch back into stardom: the two should fake date in the months leading up to a huge movie premiere that will heavily influence the future of her career. It’s just what Anna needs…and maybe Ben is, too.

I have to say, I noticed last night that there were a lot of times where I genuinely laughed, like it was just too funny to keep inside, or how often I smiled at how sticky sweet the dialogue was. With the exception of Royal Holiday (review here, I’m sure you’ve all picked up how much I hate this one), this is what Guillory excels at: her characters are real, and feel real to the reader. Their emotions are accurate, not overstated. Their problems are legitimate. This book, in spite of being about celebrities, is genuine, grounded in reality, and lovely to read.

Like I said, it just didn’t blow me away is all. It’s a fun story! I love the de-stigmatization of mental health issues, and the healthy relationship behavior displayed throughout this book, too: too often you read romance and there’s at least one really problematic element that just makes you cringe, but Guillory is so good at covering all her bases. Even when behavior is unhealthy, her characters call it out and change. Their growth throughout the book makes the romance stronger, and their story feel more real. I love it. It feels grounded in truth and actual experiences even when the story is fantastical and whimsical like this one; for example, Guillory writes Anna with anxiety in this book. Her panic attacks sound like real panic attacks to me, a haver of panic attacks, lol. Her responses to the way people treat her in regards to her mental health also sound like real responses. I have a whole other level of appreciation for romance books where the characters have lives outside of their loves lives, and Guillory nails that time and time again. Ben and Anna both have their own set of issues that they’re working through, but it’s clear throughout that they’re stronger together, and make better decisions when they have each other to reflect with.

Even with that sticky sweet dialogue that made me smile as I cringed, I also must say that Anna and Ben’s chemistry was cute and didn’t feel forced. They have an easygoing friendship from the start, in part because of the way they both interact with other people. They’re both open and friendly, so there’s never any ice to break. They’re both very warm characters, and their dialogue was fun and humorous. I liked them both a lot (maybe not as much as Nik and Carlos, or Maddie and Theo, but quite a bit).

The more I write, the more I realize I just don’t have anything bad to say. It’s not a bad book! It’s just not my favorite. I don’t know if I love Guillory’s books as much as I used to, but after reflecting on my reading experience I still couldn’t tell you exactly why that is. Any other readers who have been around since the beginning starting to feel that way, or is it just me? Nothing wrong with tastes changing, I just couldn’t tell you exactly what it is that changed for me. I still like and recommend Guillory’s works. But I’m not knocking down the library door to read them anymore. You know?

So I feel comfortable giving While We Were Dating just 3.5 stars. Didn’t love it, definitely didn’t hate it. Would I recommend? Maybe. Depends on whether you’re a casual romance reader or if you’re like neck deep in all these new releases and new authors now like I am. I’ll let you make that call.

Happy reading friends. 🙂

I have been loving this series. I feel like it just keeps getting better and better. If you haven’t read this series yet, I highly recommend it!

This romance is great for several reasons - therapy as a part of normal life, body positivity and dealing with anxiety. I like that Guillory has made this issues part of her romance writing. The drawback about this book - I didn't love the female lead in this romance - she just kind of rubbed me the wrong way. The male lead kind of made up for it because he was just dreamy!

Jasmine Guillory never disappoints with her romances, and this one was no different. Really cute and would recommend.

Asalways, I loved this Jasmine Guillory bool. She always writes fun romances! The actress character. Anna, was my favorite!

I dnf'd this pretty quickly - not due to not enjoying the story, but due to enjoying it so much and being told I should read the series in order - and as this is number 6 which I didn't realize when I cover-requested this book. I didn't want to ruin the story for me, so I dnf'd. I'm thoroughly excited to read this book and continue to love the series!

BOOK: While We Were Dating
AUTHOR: Jasmine Guillory
GENRE: Romance
RATING: 8/10
4 stars

This was my first Jasmine Guillory and it did not disappoint! I think the messages portrayed through this story were incredibly apparent and real for a lot of readers and will be received well. The characters in this story, Anna and Ben, were both likable in my eyes and I loved their relationship. A prime example of being better together. The normalization of mental health and anxiety in this story are extremely important and I love how Guillory entwines them into her romance story.

Very well done, I cannot wait to read the rest of the Wedding Date series!

This is book 6 of the Wedding Date series, though only the third I’ve read. Each stands strong on its own, so you really can jump in anywhere.

Anna is a fresh-faced, rising star in Hollywood. Now what she really needs is to create a buzz around herself to land the next “big part.” What better way than with a steamy, scandalous romance. Only she doesn’t have a boyfriend. Well…not exactly.

Ben is heading up an advertising campaign featuring Anna. She’s certainly caught his eye. And not just as an up-and-coming actress. But Ben has serious doubts whether a star-like Anna could ever be truly interested in a regular guy like him.

Well, the attraction is there in spades! So, what’s to lose? Why not use this unique opportunity to “create a relationship” and let the world know the two are in love!😉

Ben is all in! But what happens when they don’t need to pretend for the public eye anymore? Will they continue on together or go their separate ways?

I’m a bit hit and miss with this series. This one missed the mark just a bit. I wanted more from Anna and didn’t quite feel the chemistry develop between the two characters.

Jasmine Guillory touches on some serious topics to this read, including the mental health of our leading lady as she battles anxiety issues. I thought that aspect was handled very well.

A buddy read with Susanne.

Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group.

Review posted to blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend.com/

Romantic and Sweet, with Serious Undertones.

Another installment of The Wedding Date series by Jasmine Guillory, While We Were Dating takes a look inside a Hollywood starlight’s life. When Ben Stephens, an Ad Exec, is hired to work on a commercial with the gorgeous and talented starlet Anna Gardiner, sparks fly.

I’m talking flirting, witty banter and chemistry galore.

Though Anna and Ben are working side by side and shouldn’t give into their attraction, neither can help themselves. After all, what’s the harm in a little flirtation that is fun, yet sincere and wholly genuine?

When Anna realizes that she needs to up her marketability if she wants more jobs in Hollywood, her manager comes up with a solution: Fake Date Ben Stephens.

While it sounds like fun and games, not all is fair when it comes to romance.

While We Were Dating is a cute and fun read that tackles serious issues, such as anxiety and mental health. While I enjoyed it, I wish I had felt more connected to the characters.

Another fun weekend buddy read with Ms. Kaceey.

Thank you to Elisha at Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley for the arc.