As per the pattern in The Wedding Date series, While We Were Dating lifts a minor character, Ben Stephens, from a previous book and creates a story around him. Ben's story employs the fake dating trope, but that does not come into play until the 50% mark, so the title is a little misleading. The main characters, Ben and Anna, are pleasant and likeable. The reader gets a glimpse into Anna's struggle with anxiety. Ben, who is initially portrayed a "player," is the quintessential gentleman, always making sure that Anna is comfortable before moving forward throughout all of Guillory's trademark sex scenes. Fans of the series will be enjoy this return to the Wedding Date universe. I admire Guillory for getting this book done during the pandemic. Thank you to Netgalley for an Advanced Readers Copy for review.

A fake dating romantic comedy that was sweet, sexy and funny. Our heroine is a plus sized Hollywood actress who had the confidence to embrace her curves and our hero is the lead advertiser on her new campaign.

Ben was a bit star struck with Anna at first and their relationship starts out as just physical. There are a lot of vulnerable moments though from both MCs as they share their history, especially with mental health, and get to know each other on a deeper level. I was especially pleased to see how open Ben was to therapy and how supportive and understanding he was to Anna in regards to these issues.

The chemistry between these characters were fantastic and there are quite a few steamy scenes in this book. Really descriptive up until the the big finale and it happened in every single sex scene. It was like open door and then someone shut the door in your face. I'm sorry but they fell short for me because of that.

I absolutely loved Ben! He was a huge cinnamon roll and he really put himself out there and made Anna know that he was really "all in" this "fake" relationship. I felt like she sort of took advantage of him and took him for granted. It took away from her likeability as a character especially since she was in a slightly more powerful position than him with her fame and wealth.

There are cameos of characters from the previous books in this series and I enjoyed the family dynamics/ issues that both characters faced. It definitely added more layers to the story.

Overall I really liked this romance and I loved how the author put such priority and importance on mental health.

This was such an enjoyable installment in The Wedding Date series and I really enjoyed finally getting Ben’s story after getting to know him a little in the past books!

I will say that the set up of their relationship did seem somewhat rushed at first, like I was missing some of the time they spent getting to know each other, but there is no doubt that there is angst and chemistry and some fantastic banter between Ben and Anna.

I really appreciated the aspects of this story that touched upon the way women and people of color are treated in Hollywood and publicity fields, as well was the representation of anxiety and the pressures of fame. While We Were Dating is certainly more than just a romance, though that quality is strong and consumingly fun, but it has a much deeper story beyond that and I am glad Ben and Anna found each other!

Thank you, thank you so much for the ARC of While We Were Dating. Jasmine Guillory is becoming one of my favorite authors in romance and While We Were Dating did not disappoint. I actually ended up buying the book as well to add to my growing collection.

This book was the quintessential summer romance read for me! Ben (Theo’s younger brother for those who have read the series) is working for an advertising agency and ends up making the pitch for a watch advertisement. The talent, movie star Anna Gardiner, requests that Ben be the lead from his agency. In the time they spend filming the ads, their spark of attraction grows and the more time they spend together the more they like about each other. Given that neither of them is looking for a long-term commitment, it might not have gone far except Anna is in need of a boyfriend and Ben seems perfect. So what started with real connection and fun shifts into fake dating. They can both handle that, right?

I really enjoyed Anna and Ben together. I appreciated both their connection and worries as they navigated Hollywood craziness. 😊 I thought the audio narrator did an excellent job bringing the story and characters to life.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 rounded up to 5.

I’ve been a big Jasmine Guillory fan ever since I read The Wedding Date a couple years ago, and this one did not disappoint.

Heading into While We Were Dating, I was excited for the glitz and glam of Hollywood and a behind-the-scenes look what being in the limelight and dating a celebrity can be like, but wow, this book encompassed so much more than that. I CANNOT SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH to Jasmine Guillory for writing a book that gracefully and sensitively discusses anxiety, prioritizes therapy, and seeks to de-stigmatize mental health through its main characters. As someone who has struggled with anxiety most of my life, I am so happy and encouraged to see this in more contemporary romance and young adult books.

Although I wasn't totally sold on Anna and Ben's relationship at the outset of the book and thought it seemed a bit rushed, I came to truly love and appreciate both of these characters as they exposed more of their internal struggles to family, friends, therapists, and each other. I loved seeing some of Guillory's other characters making cameo appearances in this book; I appreciated the banter, steam and very consent-driven sexual interaction between Anna and Ben; and I couldn't get enough of Anna's best friend, Penny. PLEASE, PLEASE tell me she is getting her own book sometime soon because she is amazing and we all need more of her in our lives.

TL;DR - Grab a copy of this one ASAP!

While We Were Dating is a great page turner of a book. Anna and Ben's story begins with a very unexpected meeting and the story then has many unexpected twists and turns. I liked how they dealt with stress, anxiety, and unexpected things happening in their lives.. I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy watching two people fall in love who don't realize what is happening to them. The book also introduces us to the wonderful people who are in Ben and Anna's orbit.

While We Were Dating is another installment into the rom com universe of Jasmine Guillory. We've got a fake dating trope this time between an actress and an advertising dude. It was cute, maybe a little steamier than some of the previous books in the series, and ultimately provides a soft world to live in, which is something that is key to any good rom com. This book wraps you in a comfy hug and allows for an escape of our shitty world, which I so appreciate.

This latest addition to Jasmine Guillory’s Wedding Date series (which can be read as a stand alone) was a fast, enjoyable read. Ben works at an advertising firm and his presentation makes such a positive impression on the Hollywood actress who will be featured that his company not only secures the job but Ben is requested by the star to lead the project. Anna has had some success as a film star already but she has further goals and aspirations. Ben and Ann enjoy a flirtatious working relationship on the ad but both are determined to keep it professional. However, when a family emergency arises for Anna, Ben is quick to provide assistance and learns more about Anna’s past and her challenges. As they get to know each other sparks fly and their flirtation turns into a fling. They agree to have a pretend relationship to further Anna’s career aspirations but the line between real and pretend rapidly becomes blurred. This was a fun and entertaining romance with cameos from characters from previous books in the series. A must read for fans of Guillory’s previous books.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another great one from Jasmine Guillory!I was excited for this as soon as I was approved for this book on NetGalley. Even though I was excited, I wasn’t sure how much I would enjoy it because the last few in this series weren’t my favorites. But this really did it for me. I liked both of the main characters and were interested in them as both individuals and as a couple. Also, I’m a sucker for a fake dating trope. It was a fun, sexy time while addressing some very real life situations and I loved every minute of this book..

While We Were Dating is a Hollywood-inspired rom-com and a good summer read for fans of the fake dating trope.

I like The Wedding Date series as a whole, but sadly this book is not the new favourite I predicted it to be. The story really struggled to hold my attention, and felt busy in one chapter but choppy or slow in the next. And while I loved Ben, I wasn’t all that keen on Anna and the secondary characters

As expected, Jasmine Guillory’s writing is enjoyable and witty. I always adore the dialogue between the characters in her novels, and While We Were Dating is no different. This book feels much more character-driven than her previous stories, which I think gave it a lively edge despite the disjointed narrative. The personalities feel realistic, even in their mistakes, which contributes to their development and growth.

The romance is a nice one, and lovely to read, but not overly memorable. Guillory didn’t hold back on the steam, which isn’t for me and felt too close to awkward, so I did skip the intimate moments. Still, I found myself rooting for the protagonists and their happily ever after.

My favourite element of the story is the focus on mental health. I really appreciated the way the author used the character of Anna to highlight anxiety, racism and sexism. Guillory often tackles important issues into her books, but it really shines in While We Were Dating and earned the three stars above all else.

As for the series, The Wedding Date and Party of Two are still favourites. The Monroe sisters are so brilliantly written! Although While We Were Dating isn’t in the top tier, it certainly won’t put me off Guillory’s future romance releases.

Loved this one! Always such a treat to read something from Jasmine Guillory. I really enjoyed the way these two characters discover their way between their strong physical chemistry & that slow-burn emotion connection.

Jasmine Guillory helped me survive the pandemic! Between her thoughtful and engaging Instagram content and rereading her books, I was able to escape and engage and enjoy reading again. I recommend her backlist over and over! While We Were Dating is the newest treasure and I found it to shine! The characters, the setting, the story, and the steam were fabulous.

A great conclusion to The Wedding Date series. Loved this one for the celeb romance and the fake dating drama. Excited to see what the author does next,

Jasmine Guillory is a power house in the romance genre, for a good reason. When I got the opportunity to read her latest book, While We Were Dating, early, I jumped on it. Y’all. This might just be my new favorite Jasmine Guillory book.

My favorite part of this book by far was the honesty and openness about mental health. Ben was in therapy and spent the book actively reflecting on his therapist’s advice and guidance – and actively applied it to his life. I really enjoyed his journey of figuring out how to better his mental health and how he could more healthily handle the relationships in his life. Likewise, Anna was dealing with the mental health repercussions of her fame and the stress that went along with it (and the stress from having aging parents).

Ben and Anna are definitely my favorite of all of The Wedding Date series couples - they had phenomenal chemistry right off the bat and were just plain fun together. From their impromptu road trip to their steamy hookups to their dates where they fooled the paparazzi - these two were just a blast to read about. I really loved how they were so open and honest with each other - about their mental health, about their life struggles, and more.

While We Were Dating is my new favorite book by Jasmine Guillory for sure - between the amazing couple, the honest discussion about mental health and therapy, and the little cameos from characters from earlier books, there was a whole lot to love about this book. If you haven’t already you should definitely check out the previous books in this series (especially The Proposal and Party of Two, my faves). 5/5

Ben Stephens is in advertising and lands a huge job featuring movie star, Anna Gardiner. Anna is gorgeous, down to earth and Ben can’t help flirting with her on set.

Anna takes on the advertising job to distract her from her Hollywood life. She’s waiting to hear about her next big movie role and welcomes Ben’s flirting and flirts back.

A family emergency brings Anna and Ben together on a road trip together where they share secrets and their attraction between for each other is undeniable. Their attraction gives them the opportunity to have a fake fling in front on the spotlight. But when the cameras stop rolling will they be able to go their separate ways?

I really enjoyed this one. I loved the chemistry between Ben and Anna and their banter was fun. They had the sweetest relationship, and I loved how they supported each other. Mental health was a big theme through the book and both characters were very relatable in the affects and how they each were dealing with it. If you love the fake dating trope this is for you!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Although every single Jasmine Guillory book is centered on two funny, smart, hot, sexy, well-rounded characters with interesting and diverse struggles and strengths and uniformly excellent taste in food, While We Were Dating has I think the best premise so far. Maybe its the fake relationship angle—I’ve always been a fan of this trope in romance—or maybe its the window into celebrity culture and the craziness that comes along with that, but Anna and Ben’s relationship felt even electric than usual. I particularly loved seeing how their care for each other—their friendship—grew alongside their very hot chemistry.

And as a bonus, I’ve realized that I’ve come to enjoy trying to suss out what character in this Guillory rom com universe (which needs its own hashtag, btw) will be next to find love. My money is on Penny…

4 Learning There Is More Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
Jasmine Guillory has become an automatic read for me. I have been there from the beginning with The Wedding Date and this is the sixth entry. When you read Guillory expect smart people, lots of banter, and most importantly, people who learn about themselves and the one they fall for.

This has a focused advertising ex who will be handling an up-and-coming movie star with her project. Both are looking for this project to further their careers, yet the attraction between them is extremely tempting.

When a situation happens involving our movie star, our fella comes to the rescue and they end up doing the standard pretend relationship...but for these two, nothing is standard. They start to see each other differently, seeing who the other person truly is.

Be prepared for another delightful Guillory Read.

'While We Were Dating' is a cute, fun, and sexy story.


Anna is an actress whose star is about to rise. Her career is incredibly important to her. She yearns to be recognized as the talent she knows she is. But will earning that Oscar fill the void she has inside?

Ben is in advertising and yearns to be acknowledged for the talent he has and climb the ladder of success. One-night stands no longer fill the void he has inside but is a relationship with an actress the answer?

Their two worlds collide when Anna is the actress in the ad campaign Ben is working on. Their relationship simmers when Anna's manager suggests a 'fake relationship' to the hunk of a man, Ben Stephens will help boost her image and get her in the news. Anna and Ben strike a deal; a couple of dates, a few photos, and a very public breakup.

What ensues is an entertaining and sexy story with characters you can't help but enjoy!

I love this series and this book is a great addition!! Ben is Theo’s from The Wedding Date’s little brother, and I loved seeing glimpses of Theo and Maddie (The Wedding Date has been my favorite book so far). Anna is a famous actress and Ben works for an advertising agency. He pitches an idea for an ad campaign featuring Anna, and they start working together. Ben is kind but not into relationships, and Anna is at a crossroads in her career. A tragedy brings them closer together but then there’s a gender-switched Pretty Woman situation. A great book with a very satisfying ending. I love the universe Jasmine Guillory has created, and I hope there are more books in this series!!