Thank you Berkley for my copy! All thoughts are my own.

The Bright Falls series is one of my favorites of the last couple years. I’m a little sad to be saying goodbye to this group, but I loved their ending so much. Astrid Parker still remains my favorite of the series, but it was really special to have a book feature one of my favorite plays (Much Ado About Nothing) and dive into my profession (Acting). I had a great time reading this book!

Synopsis:

“Everyone around Iris Kelly is in love. Her best friends are all coupled up, her siblings have partners that are perfect for them, and her parents are still blissfully married. And she’s happy for all of them, truly. Iris doesn’t want any of that—dating, love, romance. She’ll stick to her commitment-free hookups, thanks very much, except no one in her life will just let her be. Everyone wants to see her settled down, but she holds firmly to her no dating rule. There’s only one problem—Iris is a romance author facing an imminent deadline for her second book, and she’s completely out of ideas.Perfectly happy to ignore her problems as per usual, Iris goes to a bar in Portland and meets a sexy stranger, Stefania, and a night of dancing and making out turns into the worst one-night stand Iris has had in her life. To get her mind off everything, Iris tries out for the lead role in a local play, a queer retelling of Much Ado About Nothing, but comes face-to-face with Stefania, whose real name turns out to be Stevie. Desperate to save face in front of her friends, Stevie asks Iris to play along as her girlfriend. Iris is shocked, but when she realizes the arrangement might provide her with some much-needed romantic content for her book, she agrees. As the two women play the part of a happy couple, lines start to blur, and they’re left wondering who will make the real first move….” —StoryGraph

What I Liked:

The Theatre Aspects—When Ashley told us about the premise of this book on the podcast, I absolutely freaked out. And I LOVED seeing the theatre world of the PNW in this book.

The Characters—I loved getting to know Iris better and fell in love with Stevie. Her anxiety was something I could totally relate to.

The Setting—I have built up Oregon and Washington State so much in my head that I worry when I finally go there, I am going to be disappointed. I LOVE it.

What Didn’t Work for Me:

Missed Some of the Small Town Charm—I love the Bright Falls series so much and I loved getting to see another part of the PNW, but I missed Bright Falls.

Tropes Didn’t Work—It’s said to be fake dating…and it is…but it didn’t feel like fake dating! Maybe it’s because I did the audiobook or it felt like they spent most of their time alone, but I didn’t click with the use of it! And I LOVE fake dating so I’m not sure what happened.

Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 3/5 Overall Rating: 4/5

Content Warnings:

anxiety, panic attacks/disorders

Rating: 4/5
Steam: 3.5/5
Tropes: fake dating, it's just a hookup, forced proximity


Thank you to Berkley Romance and PRH for access to these advanced copies in exchange for my honest opinion.

Since I first read Delilah Green, I was excited to read Iris Kelly's book. The characters are wonderfully portrayed, endearing with all their quirks and miscommunications. It's refreshing to see the ladies of Bright Falls find their humans, celebrating queer joy and cherishing their friendships.

The premise of a fake relationship evolving from a less-than-ideal one-night stand adds a unique twist to the story. Iris's commitment to her no-dating rule is both relatable and intriguing, setting the stage for a compelling narrative. I loved Stevie's journey and also adored watching Stevie try and woo Iris. All of their dates were so adorable as was their excuse to dance in any moment. However, the one aspect that left me wanting more was Iris's character development.

There's a sense that the author grappled with how to fully flesh out Iris's story. The narrative flip-flops a bit, leaving me craving a deeper understanding of her motivations and desires. Additionally, the third act breakup could have been more finely tuned for added emotional impact.

Overall, I will miss this series and can't wait to see what AHB writes next!

Rating: 4/5
Steam: 3.5/5
Tropes: fake dating, it's just a hookup, forced proximity

Thank you to Berkley Romance and PRH for access to these advanced copies in exchange for my honest opinion.

Since I first read Delilah Green, I was excited to read Iris Kelly's book. The characters are wonderfully portrayed, endearing with all their quirks and miscommunications. It's refreshing to see the ladies of Bright Falls find their humans, celebrating queer joy and cherishing their friendships. The premise of a fake relationship evolving from a less-than-ideal one-night stand adds a unique twist to the story. Iris's commitment to her no-dating rule is both relatable and intriguing, setting the stage for a compelling narrative. I loved Stevie's journey and also adored watching Stevie try and woo Iris. All of their dates were so adorable as was their excuse to dance in any moment.

However, the one aspect that left me wanting more was Iris's character development. There's a sense that the author grappled with how to fully flesh out Iris's story. The narrative flip-flops a bit, leaving me craving a deeper understanding of her motivations and desires. Additionally, the third act breakup could have been more finely tuned for added emotional impact.

Overall, I will miss this series and can't wait to see what AHB writes next!

I’m a puddle of feelings in a mess of love cuz I can’t handle how much I adore this series. Their story is everything, and I just about died at the “can you teach me” I mean….where has this trope been all my life ? Fake relationship is one of my favorites and watching the two fall into something real. Ashley’s writing and weaving a storyline between the characters is so real and raw, and I am so sad this series has to end (but does it Berkeley…let’s get some more…please…) this series has my heart- can’t wait for what’s to come from Ashley’s next books

This book absolutely sticks the ending of the Bright Falls series. It's full of light and laughter, but also angst and coping with adult issues. And dildos, also dildos.

I think Iris is the most similar of the trio to me - into planning, art, and has severe commitment and emotional vulnerability issues. Pair that with Stevie with her generalized anxiety? Yeah, I felt pretty dang seen. This book felt like the perfect reason for IRL fake dating and sparked creativity both in Iris and myself. Also COUNT MY FRECKLES???? My heart melted. I want to curl up inside this book for the rest of my life, thank you.

*Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review and to PRH Audio for the gifted ALC*

Both main characters are lovable, even with all their miscommunications. I'm excited to see what Herring Blake does after this series--will miss Bright Falls.

A delightful finish to the series. These will forever be some of the cutest covers (go Leni Kauffman) to support stories full of heart and growth 🩵

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC.

While I love Ashely Herring Blake’s writing, this book just didn’t live up to my expectations. I didn’t feel a connection it the characters and really didn’t enjoy Stevie’s friend at ALL. I found myself just wanting to skim read anytime they appeared

The Bright Falls Series quickly became one of my favorites. Ashley Herring Blake continues to write amazing stories with great characters. Iris and Stevie were so easy to root for. I loved their awkward and gorgeous love story. The fake dating, sex lessons, and romance lessons made this book so fun to read! This book was deliciously spicy. I loved the way Herring Blake wrote the chemistry between them. I am sad to see this series end but I loved the way it wrapped up.

Bittersweet moment to have finished this series, this one has been my favorite of the three. From the first moment Iris appeared on the page, I knew I wanted her story. And it came to me with fake dating, messy friend groups, Shakespeare, and wing-womaning; what more could I ask for? I loved meeting Stevie's friend group and was hoping for more interaction of them and Iris's friends, but alas. The chemistry, the anxiety discussions, the epilogue, loved it all! I have thoroughly enjoyed reading a series that is full of queer representation, from the first page to the last.

This is the last in a series of interconnected romances from Blake. She knows Iris well, loves her and wants the best for her. Iris is interesting. Stevie is a total cutie, but the author doesn't know what to do with her. I very much got the sense that Iris's struggles with her own writing were how the author was feeling with this one. When Iris gets feedback that the third act break up isn't well formed, yeah, yeah it's not. I wish the romance publishing cycle wasn't so aggressive, because this just needed a few more months to bake into something wonderous. As is, it's okay, but I definitely had to talk myself into finishing it.

I really liked the first two books in the “Bright Falls” series This book did not live up to the other two for me. It was alright, but a tad too spicy for me. 😜

I’m honestly not ready to say goodbye to this series. I feel like I loved each book more than the last, which seemed impossible.

Fake dating is one of my favourite tropes, and Blake pulled this one off masterfully.

Iris had been my favourite character of the friend group from the start, so I’m really glad we finally got her story. Seeing her softer side and being able to see inside her head and her heart was fantastic; as was Stevie. Her POV might actually be my favourite I’ve read from Blake. I’d honestly read 100 more books about these two.

I loved my time spent in Bright Falls. I’m going to miss it, but thankfully rereading exists and I can see myself doing that often over the years. It will feel like coming home.

I freaking loved this book! This whole series has been fantastic, but I absolutely adored Stevie and Iris's love story. I loved the theater elements and the way both Stevie and Iris had to grow into themselves in order to find happiness with each other. All that and this book was HOT. I loved every second of it!

Iris Kelly Doesn't Date is a great ending to the Bright Falls series. I loved the characters in the series and catching up with them in each new story. If you are a fan of the fake dating trope and theatre, this is the book for you!

This book follows Iris Kelly who as the title suggests "doesn't date" because of past bad relationships. That all changes when she meets Stevie Scott, who is dealing with her own past relationships issues. After a disastrous one-night stand, the 2 enter a fake relationship that each benefit from in their own ways. I loved how well these characters opened up with each other. There was still miscommunication, but each really tried to learn and grow. I definitely recommend this book to any romance readers.

Thank you Netgally, Berkley Romance and PRH audio for the free ALC in exchange for my honest review. Holy holy is this Ashley Blake's BEST book yet oh em geeeeee. I loved the characters, the steam the story the narration the whole dang thing perfection!!!!!! I need to preorder this book asap one of the best books I've read in a long time!!!!!!!!!!

“Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date” is the perfect conclusion to Ashley Herring Blake’s Bright Falls series. I really enjoyed that Ashley explored the softer side of Iris in this book while staying true to all the spunk and fire that makes Iris who she is and what we saw in the other 2 books. I adored Stevie so much. Her storyline regarding her experience with anxiety is handled so well and I loved seeing her blossom as the book went on. Iris and Stevie’s banter and chemistry were spectacular; you could really feel the fire between them. I loved that it was a dual POV rom-com. It was so great being able to read both Stevie and Iris’s thoughts and feelings about each other and it made it so easy to see why they fell for each other. The love, care, and respect Iris and Stevie had for each other was superb. Seeing the way they communicated with each other and learned to support each other was beautiful to read. I loved that we also were able to catch up with Delilah, Claire, Astrid and Jordan. Stevie’s friends are the worst. Not just Adri, her ex-girlfriend, who I think we’re supposed to kind of hate, but also Ren, who is supposed to be her closest friend in the group. The way they treated her and the things that they said and did were really not cool. Iris’s grand gesture at the end (no spoilers) was one of the best that I have ever read. It was just so perfect for who Iris and Stevie were as a couple. I do wish that we got a little more wrap up to Iris and Stevie’s story, but I did enjoy the epilogue. Thank you to Ashley Herring Blake, Netgalley and Berkley Romance for the ARC. I would highly recommend this and all three of these books to anyone who loves romance and LGBTQIA+ fiction. I’m so sad that the Bright Falls series has come to an end. These were some of my favorite Sapphic romance books. Maybe down the road we can revisit these great characters and awesome town. I can’t wait for Ashley’s next book, which she previews at the end of “Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date”!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ebook ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Ashley Herring Blake has done it again! If she writes it I will read it.
This novel has everything. One night stand gone wrong, fake dating, and neither feel like they should make their first move.
Having all of the original characters back once again is amazing! It shows the reader how in love these characters still are even though their story has ended.
Ashley Herring Blake knows how to write chemistry! You can feel the attraction they feel towards each other. A great mix of romance and found-family friendships. Loved.

AHB writes some killer romance books! I love the way she writes complex, multidimensional characters with realistic struggles and desires. I also love the queer and female friendships in these books. Iris and Stevie are a fun, frustrating, lovely couple you can’t help but root for.

One note: I noticed a pattern of side characters being explicitly described as POC and then never developed (or even referenced again). Even Vanessa, who is an important character and one of Stevie’s close friends, doesn’t get much development or dialogue beyond being the super hot Latinx girlfriend of Stevie’s ex. I appreciate the attention to including a diverse cast, but that should go beyond naming a character’s race/ethnicity/physical appearance. It felt a little checklist-y.

If you’re unfamiliar, the Bright Falls series features Delilah Green Doesn’t Care, Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail, and is rounded out with Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date. Iris is the lone wolf of the friend group as she’s the only one uncoupled yet she’s down to be free as a bird.

All of that changes when she meets Stevie or Stefania. The two immediately have instant chemistry and are all set to get together until Stevie freaks out. We quickly find out that Stevie has an anxiety disorder and is reeling from a recent break-up and just needs some help which is great because so does Iris.

Iris needs some romantic help as she’s a romance writer while Stevie needs her friends to get off her back. The two end up fake-dating and it goes from there. Honestly, this book surprised me with all of the tropes it managed to pack in without feeling like it was going overboard.

It had fake dating, a romance writer heroine, a disastrous meet-cute, sex lessons, and lots of pining from both sides. Coupled with the adorable cover, Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date felt like such a refreshing story as it featured a more intense case of anxiety and gave us a look at the girl being the “player” which we rarely see.

Coupled with the adorable cover, Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date was a steamy and sweet sapphic romance. As with the previous books in the series, I do think the book could have been cut down a bit. It did feel a bit meandering at points yet that’s more of a me problem than the actual book. I’m honestly still shocked by how much I liked this and I’m happy to see this was a great ending to Ashley Herring Blake’s Bright Falls series.