thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy of The First Date Prophecy. This was so cute and sweet, i have been such a sucker for romance novels.

What. A. Sweet. Novel. I really enjoyed reading this joint venture by Danny and Kate. Inspired by their real-life romance, this married couple wrote a sweet, quirky, funny romance that is a real page turner. The characters were interesting, the writing was good, and the story arch was believable—even the inevitable conflict. This quick read is definitely one I’d read again and recommend to romance lovers.

Super fun rom com written from both main characters perspective. Perfect summer read and well written. Loved it!

ARC via NetGalley from publisher, but the opinions are my own.

The First Date Prophecy is a fun, nostalgic rom com. When I saw Danny Tamberelli's name, I was immediately intrigued. I had adored him on The Adventures of Pete & Pete in the 90s on Nickelodeon. I haven't really kept up with him, but this novel seems thinly veiled to be about him with some changes. It has a dual perspective of Rudy and Lucy, both young 30-somethings in Brooklyn, New York. They are struggling with their careers and end up matching on a dating app. They're both unique and quirky and I enjoyed their rapport and the silly things that happen to them in a few situations. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Danny Tamberelli and Mara Wilson (Matilda!!!). I didn't love Tamberelli's narration, but Wilson's was on point. Overall, an enjoyable read, especially for those who loved Nickelodeon in the 90s and are looking for something light.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing this ebook / audiobook ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Is there anything cuter than a book about a former child actor meeting a cute, funny, and quirky girl writer by a former child actor and his wife? While I will admit preteen me would never have believed that Little Pete would write a rom-com current fully adult me approves. This book was absolutely great with the humor. The rom wasn’t always as strong, but I loved it. I also liked that the characters felt real and used real language. (There are no “fudge” or “heck” instances in this one). I did think the plot was a little lacking in the beginning. The search for their destiny didn’t feel like it was quite what it could have been. But I loved both characters and they were well developed and a pleasure to root for. The side characters weren’t as great (except the Myrtles, they were stellar), but they weren’t bad. Overall it was a fun book and I would love to see more from them, these authors clearly make a good team.

cute romcom, lots of first date anecdotes. The beginning was a bit of a downer but as it went on turn a bit more lively.

This had a lot of potential! Two NYC millennials tired of online dating take a prophecy from a dying psychic on their first date as a sign that they were meant to be together. What follows is the two of them going on a series of dates trying to force a relationship. This book felt like it was trying too hard to be funny and just fell flat for me. There was zero chemistry between the MCs and honestly there felt like there wasn't much of a plot either. Sadly a miss for me on this one. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review.

'90s themed merchandise and more have been popping up lately. So, when I heard about this book, I just had to give it a try.

I loved the '90s and rom-com theme throughout this book! The authors did a wonderful job with the theme, as well as the storytelling and characters. Readers who like these themes, will enjoy this book.

My thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGallery for a digital copy of this book for my review!

What a cute freaking book!
I had no idea what this book was about when I first got it, but I was along for the ~crazy~ ride.

Rudy and Lucy’s love made me giddy, tension-filled, and hopeful all at the same time!

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC!

{Read this if: you love awkward first dates, redemption arcs, rom-coms}

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for the eARC.

This book was honestly just fun. A fun read about a couple who meet through a dating app and the mishap(s) that follow. I thoroughly enjoyed!

The First Date Prophecy was a cute romcom with an out there idea. The main couple, Lucy and Rudy, meet on a dating app which is a very common and relatable thing. The first date was not what they expected but leads them to spending more time together. Overall, not a bad read but could have used a little more.

Thanks to Kensington Books, Netgalley and the authors for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

What an absolutely charming and funny book. This story is written by a real-life couple and draws on their own experiences with dating and finding each other. It's hilarious and I found myself laughing in some parts until my stomach hurt - a rare occurrence when reading. But the writing is so evocative that I could picture everything playing out in front of me.

I also really liked the interesting approach that the Rudy and Lucy took towards Elvira's prophecy - totally believable and a different way to approach romantic comedy. It's not insta-love between these two - it's something more raw and realistic.

I bet this was as much fun to write as it was to read and I hope we get more from these talented authors in the future.

Lucy Minninger is an aspiring writer doing odd jobs just to get by. She has horrible luck with dates, and has been on more than her fair share of disastrous dates. On her latest scroll through her dating app she comes across Rudy, a child star from her youth app and swipes on him hoping for a match. Rudy Riziero hasn't been a someone in a long time, he does music jobs he can find, a small comedy show and other bits to get by. After going on a date with a fan after one of his shows, that ends horribly he checks his dating app, and matches with Lucy. Their initial banter goes well and they go to a psychic bar for their first date. There the psychic gives them a prophecy that together they could build something beautiful. after the reading the psychic dies suddenly and they both agree to give her words a shot. This leads them in directions they don't expect and the building of something truly beautiful between them.

This book was such a pleasant surprise. I remember Danny one of the authors from tv in my youth. When I saw this story was inspired by the authors own love story I was so intrigued. This was quirky in all the best ways. The way the love story developed felt so natural, and well paced. The characters were flawed and so real I could relate to both of them. I had such a blast reading this one, and would be super interested to read anything they write in the future.

A fun read, the story of Lucy and Rudy who meet on a dating app. A mishap on their first date leads to them spending time together but will they end up together. A great read, looking forward to more books from this author.

A fun read. I don't read much romantic books and this is definitely more for that audience. Not a lot happens but it's a quick read.

The First Date Prophecy by Kate and Danny Tamberelli
Contemporary romance, romantic comedy. 2015 New York. Alternating POV.
Lucy Minninger is weary of first date disasters but they do make good fodder for stories for her friends. She pays her rent and bills, barely, by Craigslist jobs and as part-time author’s assistant. Lucy spots former child star Rudy Riziero on a dating app and decides to swipe right and take a chance. Rudy sends a hypothetical question and the two chat and eventually decide to try a date in person. Their first date includes a psychic that declares them “destined” but dies in the middle of the reading. Talk about first date stories!

Based loosely on the true lives of the authors and their dating meet cute in New York. They tell stories of memorable first dates in New York that can be smiled at, or commiserated over, as their romance grows. It’s sweet and hopeful with a dash of splashed water in the face.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

I'm working my way through the Kensington Books Between the Chapters Summer Challenge. This was my selection for Reminds You of Your First Crush/love. I had zero expectations going into this read and I thought the beginning was a bit slow and I wasn't really connecting with the characters. However, I really want to complete this challenge so I forged on and I'm so glad I did. I DID connect with Lucy and Rudy and I thoroughly enjoyed their hilarious banter. While it was a bit of a predictable ending, the ride sure was a hoot getting there. Now I'm actually pretty excited about the next book of this husband and wife team to be released in 2024. I can only hope there's more of the Myrtle's somewhere along the way!! Thank you so much to Kensington and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

Quirky, fun, and romantic. I really enjoyed this romantic comedy written in alternating points of view.

Lucy and Rudy have both been having their fair share of bad dates. Lucy is about to give up on the dating app altogether when she matches with someone unexpected. A famous childhood crush. She has to give it a chance. Then the mother of all bad first dates happens. Or is it so bad after all?

I thought this was really cute and different. Lucy is someone I want to hang out with and be best friends with. The romance is light. It’s more about the story of how a relationship came to be. But it’s cozy and fun and I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the advanced copy.

Thanks for the ARC NetGalley-
This was a super cute romance story. Loved that it was based of real life people!
All the characters were fun and relatable, especially Frank & Estelle.

Is this book cheesy and cute? Totally. But did I love it? Absolutely.

Rom-coms have their own brand of crazy to deal with and this one definitely fell in line (I don’t think there’s a dead psychic tag on AO3 yet but maybe?) but the writing was clever and funny. Both Lucy and Rudy are oddballs with their own off-brand sense of humor but what drew me in most is how authentic it felt. Obviously it draws heavily from the authors’ dynamic and experiences but it’s difficult to capture that well, especially in a rom-com.

Highly recommend to any fan of 90s pop culture and readers who want to have a good time.

Thank you to NetGalley, the authors, and Kensington books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.