I have only read one other book set in this world. It was only when I started reading this one I realised there must have been more since more couples appeared in this volume. The previous book I read did not rely too heavily on previously established couples, but this picks up the emotions of being a single friend where everyone else is paired off.
Our leading lady is Paige, a math teacher who loves her subject. She does not go into any particular details about the subject, but it is often mentioned enough that it is a foundational part of her style. She and her best friend spent a lot of time together until the latter found her forever partner. Now Paige is the nth wheel on their outings among another couple who sometimes join in.
Opposite Paige is the local single man who decided to come home to take over from his father and nurse a semi-broken heart. He was one of the popular kids at school growing up, and Paige carries that distinction with her even now.
When Paige decides to join a reality show that was supposed to be a nice, clean version of where couples actually find happily-ever-afters, she does not know what to expect. Things at the show do not go according to plan either. This was a surprising addition, but it made sense once I saw how things ended!
I like the author’s style and the way the romance builds. There is just enough detail to keep the book interesting without me having to skip a few paragraphs of content.

I recommend this to others who like this genre, and will like to read the next if I get the chance.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I don’t like reality tv shows. I thought this would be a story poking fun at the genre… a hapless woman forced or tricked onto a reality show. I’ve read that trope before and enjoyed it.

This character, however, fits right in with the craziness of reality tv worlds. She is hard to like. Whiny. If I knew her in real life, I bet she would be shrill.

I have not read any of the other books in this series but I read Whitney Dineen’s royalty series and enjoyed them. This isn’t it.

A reality tv romance in a small town.
I think this might be my favourite in the pity series so far!
When Paige goes on a reality tv show she’s not expecting the drama and manipulation that comes with it. Not all is what it seems and the only one she gets along with is Tim her high school crush.
This was a fun ride with a few twists and lots of funny moments. A sweet romance with likeable characters. I really liked Paige and could relate to her. The chemistry between her and Tim is sweet. Also we get to see Tim in a different way than the last book. An easy fun read!
Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for this advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

I always love picking up one of Ms. Dineen's rom-coms. She delivers such a fun, quality read every time, and this latest one also did not disappoint. This is the third book of the series, and although I loved the first two, this one just might be my favorite. When it comes to the dating scene, Elk Lake has pretty slim pickings, especially for a sweet and single girl like Paige. So she does what any single, young, and available girl would do in her position - she signs up for a reality show. But boy is she in for a surprise when she realizes how the whole thing is nothing but an orchestrated performance. She's not at all happy with how the show plans to portray her as a stereotypical small town girl looking for a rich husband. Another hurdle in the show is that one of the contestants is her childhood crush, Tim, who is still a little hung up on his ex-wife. But although Tim may not have come on the show looking for love, he just may have found the real thing with Paige.
With the premise being a reality show, there were plenty of twists and turns that I didn't see coming, but enjoyed every moment of them. The story was filled with fun and humor and had me laughing and smiling all the way through. It was well-written and very entertaining and I had a fun time reading it. I hope there is more of this series to come!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I enjoyed it while reading but in looking back, it was just ok. It's not going to leave a lasting impression on me and there were no major deep thoughts.

Pity Pact, a captivating novel by Whitney Dineen, delves into the tumultuous world of reality dating shows through the experiences of Paige Holland, a seventh-grade math teacher from a small town. Intrigued by the allure of finding love on television, Paige takes a leap of faith and embarks on a journey that challenges her perceptions and tests her limits. Dineen's writing is both relatable and humorous as she chronicles Paige's misadventures on the show. From awkward dates to public meltdowns, Paige faces a barrage of setbacks that question her initial decision. The author cleverly explores the complexities of human relationships, particularly the dynamics between Paige and the two potential suitors vying for her affection. While Tim, a wounded divorcé, seems like a promising candidate, his guarded nature and ulterior motives create a sense of unease. On the other hand, the substitute teacher, despite Paige's initial aversion, emerges as a potential match. Dineen skillfully weaves together these contrasting characters, creating a love triangle that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Through Paige's journey, the novel sheds light on the often-overlooked aspects of reality television. Dineen exposes the calculated manipulations behind the scenes and the emotional toll it takes on the participants. The reader is left to ponder the ethics of such shows and the lengths people are willing to go in the pursuit of love and fame. Overall, Pity Pact is a highly entertaining and thought-provoking novel that offers a unique perspective on the world of reality dating. Whitney Dineen's witty writing and relatable characters create a compelling story that will resonate with readers long after they finish the last page.

This is my first Whitney Dineen novel. MC is from a small town in Wisconsin and we love a good Midwest plot since I live in South Dakota.

Our MC Paige Holland is a middle school math teacher who has signed up for a reality show called Midwest Matchmaker, which is being filmed in her home town of Elk Lake, Wisconsin. She's looking for love and hoping for one that allows her to stay in her home town. Tim went to high school with Paige and also ends up on the show but he's not looking for love, he's looking for revenge.

I think this book is well-written and humorous. The characters did feel a little bit underdeveloped but the book was a light and funny read. The female MC Paige really didn't do it for me. She comes off as a spoiled brat, basically a gigantic rude asshole. I actually disliked her for the majority of the book. About 20% of the way through, I basically could not stand her. The male MC Tim provides some much needed respite from Paige's attitude and he made the book much more enjoyable to me. The ending honestly felt rushed, if the ending was more filled out it would have been a more satisfying read.

That being said, I think that this author has great potential. I'd check out another romcom by her, probably not one in this series though.

I am sorry, I did not realize that Pity Pact was a part of a series. Will it have a significant impact on the storyline? It does provide additional context to the characters, but it is not mandatory to enjoy the book. Nevertheless, I found it to be a delightful read.

The story follows Paige, a small-town girl from Elk Lake, who seeks assistance with her love life. Along with her best friend, she decides to give the reality TV dating show, Midwestern Matchmaker, a chance. However, things take an unexpected turn when Paige is cast as "the small town girl ready to be swept away from her small town to the big city troupe" by the show's producers. Meanwhile, Tim, who resides in the same town and manages the Elk's Lake Country Club, is dealing with his own problems. While his parents are away for Greg's (Tim's father) retirement vacation, Tim has come back home and has taken over the club's management. The show's crew will be filming at the club for five weeks, and Tim has no choice but to cooperate. The producers of Midwestern Matchmaker, as expected, find Tim charming and want him on the show.

As the story unfolds, we see Paige and Tim's relationship evolve from friendship to pretend dating. However, things don't always go according to plan, and the two find themselves in unexpected situations.

Although the book did not have any plot twists, it was a heartwarming and enjoyable read. It reminded me of a Hallmark movie, with no explicit scenes, profanity, or scandalous content, except for the fact that reality TV isn't entirely genuine, and the characters are often portrayed in a certain way to make the show more entertaining.

Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a cute read! I started it yesterday evening and finished it before bed. I could not put it down!

Normally I’m not a fan of this miscommunication trope but it really worked here for this story.

This is the third book in the series but can absolutely be read as a standalone.

This was sweet and hilarious at the same time. It’s no spice but was such a cute story I didn’t even mind!

I would have liked to get more character development as some parts did feel a little rushed but overall it was a great read!

Solid Romantic Comedy Builds On Characters From Prior Book. This was a solid romantic comedy - yes, in the Hallmarkie type vein - where two people in Small Town USA suddenly find themselves on the same reality dating show that is being shot not only in their small town, but actually in the country club one of them owns. Both of the main characters here played fairly heavily into the prior book, Pity Party, and it was nice to see some strong character growth from the male lead in particular between the two books. Otherwise, there are yet again some fairly hefty subjects broached here, including high school bullying. There are a few laugh out loud moments - always great in something billed as a comedy ;) - and I enjoyed that this book was much more directly about our lead couple and the people surrounding them. Yes, including the couple from the prior book. One scene in particular may give the clean/ sweet romance crowd a case of "the vapors", but to be clear even that scene isn't actually a sex scene. Overall a fun romance that at least somewhat sets up the next book as well, which I'm very much looking forward to reading. Very much recommended.

Pity Pact is the first book I have read from Whitney Dineen and I was immediately besotted by her humour and fun rom-com. Pity Pactis based in the "real" world behind the scenes of reality TV dating with a bubbly humour and delightful wit

Paige is a darling and utterly relatable. I adore how real she is. A small town girl just poddling along with life, happy with her lot, but not happy with her relationship status. Things have been a bit stale on the dating front so she applies to be on a Reality dating show, hoping to meet the man of her dreams. Paige is in for a rude awkening as she begins to realise just how contrived the show is, when she finds out she is due to be portrayed as the stereotypical small town girl who matches with the rich country club owner Tim (A cinderella trope is always a winner in TV land) The thing is, this is not the type of guy our Paige was looking for, but she powers on regardless and he's in it to make his ex jealous (red flag, red flag!)

This was a really enjoyable read as the story twisted and turned around the sneaky sneaky manipulative host Trina (booooo hissss) and her antics at producing drama for TV as opposed to a real love match. The endearing miscommunications and gaffes between the couple and the hilarious side characters

I really enjoyed this introdction to Whitney Dineen and I will be definitely reading more of the Pity series

Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for this highly entertaining eARC. My review is left voluntarily

Pity pact is the third installment in Whitney Dineen's pity series. Paige goes on a reality dating show cause her prospects are slim but end up even slimmer on the show. Part romcom, part slow burn makes for an enjoyable read.

I could not put this book down. Stayed up alright to finish this story. You really brought the characters to live I felt lime I wad. a part of the story. Love it

Pity Pact is my first book by author Whitney Dineen. I didn't read the first two books in the series, but I will go back and read them now, since the characters cross over from books 1 and 2 and are mentioned in this book.

This was a sweet read, no major surprises but was still an enjoyable read. I think it would be a great summer/beach read.

I look forward to more from this author

Pity Pact is the anticipated sequel to Whitney Dineen’s romantic comedies Pity Date and Pity Party. Pity Pact will be better understood and enjoyed if read after Pity Party. This is a clean second-chance romance that doesn’t contain any sex or profanities.

32-year-old Paige Holland is a seventh-grade math teacher in her hometown, Elk Lake, Wisconsin. She is the only single person in her friend group, all of whom were featured in Pity Date and Pity Party. Paige hasn’t dated much because she is self-conscious from having scoliosis as a teen-ager and wearing a back brace. She is a big fan of the reality dating show Midwestern Matchmakers and auditions for their season of filming in Elk Lake. Part of her reason for being on the show is to earn enough money to get her roof replaced.

Tim Ferris has recently relocated back to his hometown of Elk Lake after his wife of less than two years leaves him for a NBA player. Tim has been dating a lot but he’s really heartbroken and isn’t really ready for a relationship. He gets talked into appearing on Midwestern Matchmakers because they are filming it at his father’s country club that Tim is now running. Tim’s plan is to make his ex-wife, Eva, jealous by dating a castmate on the show.

Paige and Tim are platonic friends at the beginning of Pity Pact; Tim dated Paige’s best friend, Missy, in Pity Party. Tim begins to develop genuine romantic feelings for Paige while faking a relationship with Cami on Midwestern Matchmakers. This leads to multiple comedies of errors. Eventually they admit their true feelings for each other and work things out.

I enjoyed the continuation of the storyline and seeing the characters’ relationships develop more. I really liked that Tim wasn’t portrayed as a “player” or “heartbreaker”, just a lonely man trying to move past a failed marriage. Paige had her act together and was a wonderful, engaging character. The behind-the-scenes look at a reality show is fascinating. I’m looking forward to reading the final book in the series, Pity Parade, featuring Midwestern Matchmakers host Trina Rockwell.

I received an advance review copy (ARC) from NetGalley and the author for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I love Whitney Dineen's novels and Pity Pact was as cute and funny as the previous ones.

While there are a lot of real tv shows now, they're not so much talked about in novels and it was a fun (and scary) insight.

Paige definitely needs to learn to let her hair down... hopefully, Tim will help :D

The writing is terrific, the setting... oh I've already talked about the setting in my reviews of the previous books in the series ! You'll love it too.

I am pretty sure to know who will be next in the series (please please, Dear Author, tell me it's Trina and that she's into women ! that's the vibe I am getting from the ending, and I love it !) We could expect to see all the nice folks we discovered in Pity Pact again.

Thank you Netgalley and Whitney Dineen for provinding an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Pity Pact delivered: romance, small town, heartwarming, wholesome ( zero smut🤣), humour that was actually cute and funny, etc. This was a sweet read, no major surprises but was still an enjoyable read. I'm going to have to read the first two books in the series and this book left off with the premise for the next one, which I will also have to read. It was a very pleasant and quick read, nothing shocking or traumatic happened, it was quite refreshing. And that cover artwork!!! Love it❤

Cute rom-com dating show plot lime. Clean and funny. Loved the supporting character and that MFC knows what she wants.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When middle-school teacher Paige lands on a dating reality show, she falls for Tim, a divorced country-club manager from her own Wisconsin hometown. But Tim’s only reason for being on the show is to make his ex-wife jealous. As Paige’s quest for love plays out chaotically on the world stage, she questions the wisdom of seeking romance on TV rather than in real life.

This hilarious rom com has loveable characters and a light-hearted tone. Paige and Tim are cute together, and I couldn’t help rooting for them.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC.
The premise of the book is our main guy and girl characters grew up together in a small town.One signs up for a dating show looking for true love; the other fell into it by chance (chance being one of the bachelors breaking both his legs). Our male lead lives with his meddling parents. I am still baffled by this. He is supposed to be successfully managing a country club. He is fresh off a divorce, so there is that. His mother is always asking him to give her gandbabies. Sorry lady, but that isn't happening with you're sharing a wall with your ADULT son. The female lead is a bit judgemental, and she is called out for it by her best friend. Win for strong female friendships. The characters are one-dimensional, and the story is a very linear, one note book. The characters didn't seem to know what they were looking for in a SO. I suppose that is the reality of a dating show. Throw out your net and see what you catch. That recipe just doesn't work to manifest chemistry between characters. The lack of conflict, of desire, of any stakes at all is what caused the story to fall flat. I will give The Pity pact credit in that it knows what it is. It is simple, easy, and cute.