Single Dads Club Review:
I have pretty mixed feelings about Single Dads Club. I definitely had certain expectations on what the book would be about but I was completely wrong. I think my main issue with the book was that the dynamic between the main characters, Rowan and Delilah, just felt odd. But despite that, they were excellent communicators and they had great personal development. They kinda remind me of a couple who theoretically have all the right ingredients for a lovely relationship but I'm just not convinced of their chemistry.

My Issues with Single Dads Club:
When I say this book is a slow burner, I mean, it's a slow burner. And although I don't necessarily think it's a bad thing, I feel it didn't exactly work with Single Dads Club.
Rowan, who unexpectedly becomes a dad and moves to Sugarbush Bay, is anxious about providing the best life for his kid. Delilah works at a cafe and that is where she meets Declan. She's got a bubbly personality and is very caring but also has a past that she tries to shy away from. The two develop a romance but I couldn't help but feel like Declan started liking Delilah out of circumstance and what she could do for him. The whole "she could help me out with making friends and integrating into Sugarbush Bay's community for the sake of my son" just made me think that he was using her in a way.
Then there was the constant back and forth of "we shouldn't act on our feelings for each other" and "we should act on our feelings for each other." It was getting repetitive and I just feel like the dynamic between Rowan and Delilah was a bit odd. It was very hard for me to root for them as a couple.

What I Loved About Single Dads Club:
Despite what I feel about their relationship dynamic, I really like their individual development. They both went through traumatic things in the past and they were aware of how it impacted their actions in the present. AND THEY COMMUNICATED THAT WITH EACH OTHER which was refreshing to see!
I also appreciate the way Single Dads Club highlights what social anxiety feels like. Black men showing signs of social anxiety isn't very common in books and even in general media so it was comforting seeing it represented.

🦇 Book Review 🦇

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

❓ #QOTD If you had to pack up your life and start over somewhere new, where would you go? ❓

🦇 Rowan never thought a one-night-stand, with protection, would leave him with a son, an amicable yet platonic co-parenting relationship, and new home in Sugarbush Bay. He's always struggled to make connections, yet his attraction to barista and neighbor Delilah is almost instantaneous. Along with help from Delilah's brother, Rowan begins to build a home and community for himself, hoping to create a stable foundation for his son--to surround him with the love Rowan himself lacked growing up. Will he and Delilah continue denying their feelings for one another--and their pasts?

💜 Single Dads Club is a light, cute read with an important mental health focus—not only for Rowan, but Delilah as well. Both allow their pasts to define their present, despite trying to break those molds. I was excited to find a story set in South Africa, but I wish it was confirmed Sugarbush Bay WAS in South Africa from the story's start. The story relied a lot on showing rather than telling—for example, we rarely saw the culture, whether in the setting or food. The concept of a single dads club was cute and exciting, while also setting up a potential series focused the other dads and their relationships.

🦇 Delilah and Rowan's attraction toward one another is pre-established from the story's start, which makes their mutual pining a bit exhausting, especially as they continue skirting around their feelings for one another. Once they do admit their feelings aloud, they still don't communicate. Instead, too much of the story relies on exposition, which makes single moments stretch into chapters, dragging the pacing. The title and premise of a single dads club made it seem like the story would focus on the relationship between Rowan and the other dads (and the scenes we got of them were cute), but rather, the main focus was the tension between Delilah and Rowan.

🦇 Recommended to anyone loves:

☀️ Grumpy vs Sunshine
🌊 Found Family
☀️ Small Town
🌊 Single Dads
☀️ (Excruciating) Slow Burn

🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #SingleDadsClub

This one is just a feel-good book for me. It didn't necessarily wowed or surprise me, but it gave what it supposed to give. We get a low stakes contemporary romance set in a small town with our single dad, Rowan, and our waitress/nanny, Delilah. The characters were okay. They didn't stand out much for a main character and the writing and plot was very straight forward that I kind of want a little bit of drama just so we could explore more emotions and thoughts from our MCs. Overall, this is not a bad book, but it is also not a great one. It underwhelms me but I still can see this being enjoyed by other readers.

I wish you could physically see how excited I am about this book! Let me count the ways:

1: THERAPY!!
2: Communication...failure and then LEARNING TO DO BETTER!
3: Personal Growth
4: Men being men...meaning supporting and uplifting each otherand the ones they love!!

Ok, list out of the way, I loved this. I loved Delilah, I loved Rowan, I loved the brotherly grunting, I definitely loved the baby. The setting was brilliant. It was strange to see the whole town so involved in people's lives but also really sweet and wholesome. So, in conclusion, I love this book. I love this author. I want to live in the world's she creates. And I hope this is just the start to a new wonderful series!!

This wasn’t what I was expecting from this book, but I actually ended up really enjoying it! This was a story about finding love (and finding yourself) after your life changes. The MCs were both incredibly endearing and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them grow and discover new things about themselves and each other.

Honestly, for me, this story could’ve gone on longer as I felt like there was more I wanted from it. Don’t get me wrong, I was happy with the ending, but I wouldn’t be mad at an extended version 😂

I was given an ARC by NetGalley and Montlake. All opinions are my own.

Rowan is new to the world of parenting and uproots his life to move closer to his grandmother to get help raising his son. There, in the small South African town, he meets Delilah who introduces him to a group of single dads like himself.

I liked the premise of Single Dads Club, and loved seeing Rowan grow in confidence as a father, but feel like Rowan and Delilah's romance fell short. I think I would have loved this more without the romance aspect to be honest.

i enjoyed this book and read it in a day but it somehow fell quite flat for me. i think the 3rd person writing didn’t help but it also felt like the characters weren’t developed enough for the story that was trying to be told.

in better terms though, it was a refreshing story and really enjoyable at times.

if you enjoy 3rd person and single parent romances, you’ll devour this :)

thank you to montlake for the arc via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

out 6th june !!

*posted to goodreads, twitter, instagram, storygraph

Rating ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Spice 🌶 🌶

My thoughts ~ Ahhhhh I loved this book so much honestly, the connection and relationship between Rowen and Delilah was so sweet and sincere I feel like it just happened organicly. Another thing I completely adored was Delilah and her love for his son. Delilah was for sure a top teir character. As a mom I heavily respected the author for writing this story so well where there was no bad vibes from either side of the parents. I love that it wasnt in any way a toxic situation...Definitely recommend this book for sure 👌 it was definitely a slow burn and when you got to the spice it got me,definitely a tease.

one thing about me? i'm gonna read a single parent trope and ESPECIALLY if they're black.

Rowan Quinn knows fatherhood is a role he doesn’t want to take on—until he unexpectedly finds himself a single dad. He uproots his perfectly constructed life to move to a tight-knit coastal community in South Africa where, with the help of his grandmother, Rowan has a shot at giving his son the family he never had.

Once footloose and fancy-free, former heiress Delilah Huntington is now a waitress in Sugarbush Bay determined to build a better life and a better self. So when she meets introverted Rowan, she makes it her personal mission to induct him into the town’s circle of single dads to give him the support he needs.

The more Delilah lends her help to an out-of-his-depth Rowan, the more Rowan begins to realize that family is what you make it…and, just maybe, Delilah could be part of his.

This was such a wholesome read and low drama from the main characters which I love in romance books. I loved the authors writing because it made it easy to follow the story and it kept me engaged. It’s dual POV which is my favorite in books. And it also addressed fatherhood, lack of good parenting, family issues and more. 10/10 recommend reading it.

I ate this up!

This book catches you from the very beginning. I was worried it would start off slow but I was happily surprised. This was a trope I didn't know I needed.

Rowan is a newly single father that also co parents with the mother. They move to Sugarbush Bay to be closer to Rowan's grandma. Delilah moved to Sugarbush Bay a year before to be closer to her brother and niece. Rowan walks into the cafe Delilah works at and sparks fly. However, they are both going through a lot of different emotions because of their parents.

I loved going through their journey of forgiveness, love, family, acceptance, and learning who they are now. There was a lot I could relate to when taking care of a baby. I am not a single mother but so many fears and discouragement that Rowan feels, I could relate 100%. It was refreshing.

Highly recommend!

Thankyou to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this ARC.
This is my first title from this author, i really enjoyed and will be reading more from them in the future.
The cover drew me in on this one and i found it to be a cute book which i really enjoyed.
Thankyou.
3/5 stars

Rowan Quinn knows fatherhood is a role he doesn’t want to take on—until he unexpectedly finds himself a single dad. He uproots his perfectly constructed life to move to a tight-knit coastal community in South Africa where, with the help of his grandmother, Rowan has a shot at giving his son the family he never had.
Once footloose and fancy-free, former heiress Delilah Huntington is now a waitress in Sugarbush Bay determined to build a better life and a better self. So when she meets introverted Rowan, she makes it her personal mission to induct him into the town’s circle of single dads to give him the support he needs.

Ok this was SEXY. The chemistry was off the charts with these two almost instantly and I loved watching that develop.

I do think everything happened very quickly but I think it was the nature of the book and it portrayed how quickly you can become so obsessed and in love with someone.

I rated this 3.5 stars!

I’ve read this book and it was a cute romance.
A little previsible but cute.
It change a lot of what I originally read but I loved it.
I lived the characters and the plot. This was a cute book.

If you're looking for a heartwarming romance novel that will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired, look no further than Therese Beharrie's latest book about a single dad in Cape Town. This novel is a beautifully written story about Rowan Quinn, a devoted father who uproots his life to give his son the family he never had.
Through the help of his grandmother and the kindness of a determined waitress named Delilah Huntington, Rowan learns that family is what you make it. Delilah, a former heiress turned Sugarbush Bay waitress, strives to build a better life and recreate herself. She is one of the strongest forces that motivates Rowan to immerse himself into the town's circle of single dads, through introduction of her brother, Matt, which sparks the 'single dads club' and gives Rowan the support he needs.
Though the slow burn that develops between Delilah and Rowan is wholesome to read, the most notable part of this novel is the honesty of parenthood challenges. It is no walk in the park and these dads share the tidbits and life lessons that helped them navigate their paths in fatherhood. We watch Rowan take in these lessons and apply it with his own insight, which is informed by his fears and anxieties. However, through the support of his newfound community, he is able to begin to quell those and his doubts about his fathering and his life. Beharrie incredibly illustrates the inner workings and facets of Rowan's mind, which adds much important context to his decisions.
This tight-knit coastal community will make you want to pack your bags and move there yourself, for the banter alone. Her characters are so well-developed and relatable, you'll find yourself rooting for them every step of the way. An amazing feel-good read that has me hopefully anticipating a series featuring the other dads and Kirsten.

Rowan never expected to become a father, and certainly not after one night with a woman he hardly knew. But while he and McKenna might not be right for each other, they're both determined to do right by Declan. When they move from Cape Town to Sugarbush Bay, Rowan finds himself struggling with fatherhood and an undeniable attraction to Delilah, his beautiful neighbor who is battling her own demons. Along the way, he finds a community, particularly in Delilah's brother Matt and his friends Corey and Lucas who are also single dads.

I picked this book up largely because I loved the idea of this club of single dads helping each other through the ups and downs of fatherhood. So I was pretty disappointed that the focus was on the romance between Rowan and Delilah and less on the dads, we only really ever get a sense of Rowan's challenges outside of a few anecdotes about the others..

I did like reading about his relationship with McKenna, and how they were both determined to be there for Declan but still struggled with their choices and the complexity of their relationship. The supporting characters really shone in this story and I wish we had gotten more of them.

For a story set in South Africa, we didn't get much about South African food, or culture, or anything really. Apart from the references to Cape Town, it sometimes felt like this could be set in any small town.

Overall though, it was a light, easy, slightly steamy read and I thought it set things up well for a series with the other dads. Since I loved the supporting characters, especially Matt with his gruff personality, I hope that's really the case..

3.5 STARS

Single Dads Club by Therese Beharrie focuses on Rowan and Delilah, our main characters, and how they navigate their respective pasts and develop new long-lasting bonds, along with new feelings that they develop over time.

With the support of his grandmother, Rowan hopes to provide a better life for his son. Moreover, he wants to work through the trauma he suffered from his parents. This is the very reason he uproots his life and moves to the small coastal town of SugarBush Bay in order to make a fresh start. It is there that he meets Delilah. She is so kind, welcoming, and helpful, and makes him feel like life will be great for him in this new place. This is once he meets her at the coffee shop/cafe. In the same vein, Delilah, too, hopes to work through the traumas of her past as well as overcome the burdens of her traumatic past.

It was the premise of this book that led me to request it, but when I first started reading it, it felt longwinded. However, once I finally sat down and focused, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a light palate cleanser for those who have read some heavier stuff.

This book was enjoyable to read and I enjoyed several aspects of it, such as the loving community, family bonds, and growing friendships. Although I enjoyed both Rowan and Delilah, I wish Rowan would just stop thinking of every possible wrong and go with the flow (though I understand why he wouldn't). The romance (not much to me personally) was fascinating and the self-discovery of both characters, as well as their helping hands, made the book enjoyable to read. Delilah's love for Declan shines through in virtually every interaction she has with him.

Despite the feelings of unworthiness, this story shows how you deserve kindness and find your way to love and happiness even when it is challenging.

Honest reviews are given in exchange for receiving an ARC from Netgalley.

"Single Dads Club" is a beautiful and emotional romance novel that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a heartwarming and uplifting read.

This is a cute romance that presents a different reality to the usual 'nuclear family' trope. I particularly appreciated the diversity of the family experience presented, especially because it breaks the mold a bit, which I think is very much needed. Readers come from many different backgrounds and experiences, and it's nice to see that reflected in genre romance fiction.

This was a very very adorable read!! I loved reading about the residents of Sugarbush Bay!!

AND delilah with a crush is soo me hahaha.
Rowan and Delilah’s relationship was so slow, but they had explosive chemistry since the moment they met!

The author wrote about the struggles of parenthood/ single father’s so well!! I was really invested in these characters.

I LOVED delilah!! she was such a cutie. And her relationship with her brother was so sweet, i was about to cry!!

I will absolutely check out the author’s future works!!


Arc received from netgalley in exchange of honest review