I usually love single-dad trope. Unfortunately this one wasn't the best I ever read.

It wasn't bad book at all, it's just that my outlook on life is so different from what was happening in the book, so I couldn't really enjoyed it as much as I expected. And it was sooo "woke", really too much with all the pronouns etc.

I wrote more about the book on my Instagram.
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I would like to thank NetGalley for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you netgalley for this arc!


It was an amazing vacation read!
Super fun, Not boring and just wholesome?!

Loved Josh and Averys interaction, and while 3 act drama is never good I did like that both of them had to learn something and that it will help them in the long run!

Would’ve loved to have a bit more family fluff! But otherwise I had a good time reading this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Karen Grey, and Home Cooked Books for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This cover alone is adorable - and I must admit that the little "Welcome to Climax" is honestly what peaked my interest. I am who I am!

This book was just incredible cute, and oh so sweet. I loved Avery and her strong desire to keep her mom's legacy going in the community program, and Josh is so strong willed and is working with the mayor of Climax to get rid of the program. The small town is perfect (and I mean, come on - it's called Climax!) and the vibes are just everything. Avery & Josh truly rock at the opposites attract trope as that couldn't be more accurate, but the forced proximity was spot on and created such delicious tension and steam.

Perfect book for small town and single dad romance lovers!

I have never read anything by this author, but I will be looking out for other books they write in the future. I really enjoyed the story as well as the pacing of the story.

you know when youve hit upon a brilliant author. when they can make you feel warm and fuzzy even when touching some hard and tough real life subjects. i dont know how Karen does it but does it she does and so so so well. it isnt fluffy or cliche or non issue based at all in her books. so its not like we can think its all a load of wishy washer happy ever after stuff that sooooooo many people complain of within romances(frankly i think even those are brilliant and serve their place). Karen touches on real. she touches on heart. she touches on loss and big human issues. but she does so with hope. and strength, tenderness and heart. it still managed to then give you that vibe and feeling you go into a book like this wishing for.
the kind where you have a sort of upturned mouth throughout and sometimes a big goofy upturned mouth!
i love these kind of books. they bring me so much joy. and when done well they truly hit every single spot.
this also states "book 1" so im more than excited that we could have more from this town and people. i can sure see a fair few of them i want to know and learn more from. yes please.
in this book we are given the very definition of opposites attract. we have the fun and bright Avery. shes the people who others can and frankly do rely on. shes there for everyone. the kind of person that really is a kind hearted, wants the best for everyone soul. she runs a toddler playgroup at her tired community center. she the strength behind keeping her mother legacy program alive. shes also said caregiver for her mother.shes not without her heartbreak though. the one thing she yearns for shes been told wont be possible. a family of her own.
when she realizes her program is up for the axe she isnt happy. whats worse is the man that could be here to wield that axe is the man she cant get her mind off. even though hes completely not for her. at all. nope. but. but. but...
widower Josh is feeling the strain. hes dealing with his young children having uprooted them to try and help and heal them after the loss of their mother. hes got the pressure of work. and the pressure of family. their is a brightness that enters his world, but its one he cant fathom, because its the sweet and lovely Avery. but his job says he might have to ruin hers.
the two are getting feelings. the two are falling. but both have baggage. both have people around them telling them whats best and pressuring them, meddling into their lives. is this too much and will end up causing such a gap between the pair?
we ALL no what the reader wants. and as the book goes on us meddling readers ALL now know what best lol. these two need to be together!
so coming along to watch what unfolds is both a tense ride but a brilliant one.
this was once again a gorgeous read of a book. the way this author has with words is so lifting. and id read anything and all by her whenever i get given the chance. i only hope i get the lucky pleasure of reading what comes next. especially if includes this series.

This one is taboo. I felt that there was quite a bit of the book that dragged on, over detailed or just wasn’t needed for the story. Took a small break, came back and chugged along. I felt for an office romcom book it could’ve been better.

Small town ✔️
Romcom ✔️
Single daddy ✔️
Banter ✔️

I ate this up ! What an easy light read . Loved it

Funny, cute with small town drama. Enemies to lovers with likable characters that banter keeps you hooked. Totally recommend but be sure to read the trigger warnings.

This book is a blanket to comfort, laughter on every page and the most interesting people to meet!!
The small town of climax has my heart. Every person in there made a warm space in my heart. The kids with their cuteness, the elders with their words of wisdom and the characters in their own unique ways shared their attributes of life!

Avery and josh's chemistry is slow burn, sizzle and the most real heart felt story I have read so far. Josh is a lovely guy with beautiful kids and both, mabel and percy reflect his personality in them. I was happy-teary to see mabel forming a sweet bond with avery 🥹🥹 it was soul touching!!!
Author's writing reflects her quirkiness, wits and the grace with which she dealt deep topics without triggering. I loved the writing style very much!!!
I do demand a book 2 for Leia and Eli🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

Thank you so much Netgalley for this lovely read!

⭐️ 4/5 🌶 2/5 🩷 3/5

This was my first read by this author, and it was a lovely small town spicy romance.

♡ Small Town
♡ Single Dad
♡ Colleagues
♡ True to Life Romance
♡ Low Stakes
♡ Open Door Spice
♡ Banter / Comical
♡ He falls first... and hard
(Lmao Josh's pining over Avery from the first moment was hilarious and had me giggling on his behalf. We love a Josh).
♡ Swooning & longing
♡ Dual POV

In the little town of Climax, yes *sigh*, we follow Avery and Josh as they navigate their meet cute at work after Avery completely embarrassed herself.

“𝑴𝒊𝒔𝒔, 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒐𝒌𝒂𝒚?”
𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆, 𝑰 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒂𝒔𝒑. 𝑻𝒂𝒍𝒌 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑻𝒂𝒍𝒍, 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒄𝒌. 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌, 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒄𝒌, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒛𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒓. 𝑨𝒂𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆, 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒄𝒌, 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒍𝒖𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒌𝒚 𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒂𝒚.
“𝑫𝒊𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒊𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅?” 𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒔𝒌𝒔, 𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆.

╰┈➤ the inner monologue of both Avery and Josh is comical, light-hearted, and cute... and very relatable.

I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to read a swooning romance with a good laugh that has low drama and a HEA.

I would like to start with thanking you, Karen and NetGalley for gifting me this ARC.

There is something enjoyable about a town called Climax and all the innuendos that come with it, especially when the mayor of said town uses it as a tourism selling point. I, for sure, would visit and hope I would hear the bell toll for me.

Avery was an interesting POV to be inside of when reading her chapters. As a recovering people pleaser myself, I celebrated the moments she started stepping into herself and looking out for her best interests, especially after finding out that she wasn't a bad omen on relationships, that the healthcare system had 'slut shamed' her for something that wasn't even true. It was refreshing to see her shed her 'happy-all-the-time' persona and actually live in her authenticity, even if it felt strange to do so in the beginning.

Josh was also a fascinating character to read through, especially around the guilt he harbours over his failed marriage and the death of his wife. It was healing to see his in-laws acknowledge their own mistakes with their daughter and to alleviate his feelings of failure. I thoroughly enjoyed Josh's emotional becoming when he realised that his love for Avery melted the snow and ice that had encapsulated him for a very long time.

I loved the dynamic between Josh and Avery. The uncertain flirting, to them fully realising that they were so smitten for each other. The weekend away at the conference was the best chapters to read, especially when the little easter egg you had dropped regarding Avery's favourite green shoe showed up at the very end. I loved that little nod to a 'Cinderella' moment.

Overall, I gave this book a 4/5 Star rating. I am looking forward to seeing what you do with the other characters in Climax, especially with the bomb you dropped about the twins at the end of the novel. That fallout is going to be a sweet one to witness.

I have also included the review link to my StoryGraph profile with my additional thoughts on the book.

I really enjoyed it. It was a cute, funny, small-town romcom about two people who may have some baggage and responsibilities but find themselves and are pushed closer to each other and fall in love.
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Spicy: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Avery is the reliable but often overlooked facilitator of a parent-toddler playgroup at a worn-down yet cherished community center. She also lives with and cares for her aging parents. When a major tech company moves into her small hometown of Climax, a new partnership is formed with the Parks & Rec department where she works. Unfortunately, her program isn’t gaining traction and is at risk of being cut.
Josh, a widower and devoted dad of two, is leading the partnership. He’s struggling with impostor syndrome and pressure from his late wife’s parents about the life he’s building for his kids. Amid all the changes, he’s quickly drawn to Avery’s warmth and wit.
As feelings grow between them, their personal baggage and responsibilities threaten to get in the way. But thanks to some meddling friends and family, they find themselves pushed closer—both at work and in life.
Even though the story touches on serious themes like grief, caregiving, and betrayal, it’s still a fun, heartfelt read with humor, heart, and plenty of steamy moments. Karen Grey balances the tough stuff beautifully, and it’s a treat to see familiar faces and places from her other books. I can’t wait for more in this series—especially to see what’s ahead for Leia and Eli! I really enjoy Karen’s writing style—it feels authentic and grounded. Her stories focus on real, relatable relationship development without being overly dramatic or centered on just the romance or the spice. There’s a natural flow to it, with just the right amount of humor and chaos mixed in, and I absolutely love that. As this was my first book from her.

Thank you NetGalley for this Arc!

This story was cute if not frustrating. Honestly I found most of it cringey. The way Avery talked and some phrases in the book was so uncalled for. They threw me out of the story when it started to get interesting. I understand that Avery works with kids but this isnt a kids book everything doesn’t have to be filters through kids bop. As for the romance, I had a hard time rooting for them. I loved the concept of the clock and would have enjoyed that being more prominent in the book but it honestly got overshadowed by the quirky characters and kids approved writing.

Plus I don’t think we got to know if CPR ended up getting the turn around Josh came there to do.

4.25 stars!
This was such a sweet, warm, and grounded small-town romance! I absolutely loved the chemistry between Avery and Josh—opposites in so many ways, yet perfectly in sync when it mattered most. Josh being a soft, devoted single dad completely stole my heart (his kids were hilarious and adorable), and Avery's passion for her mom’s community program added so much heart to the story.

Karen Grey does such a great job blending real-life challenges—grief, caregiving, single parenthood—with humor and charm, all without losing the romantic thread. I laughed, I swooned, and I felt for these characters. The only reason this wasn’t a full 5-star read for me is that I’m just not a fan of third-act breakups, and this one, while understandable, still made me wince a bit. But the epilogue absolutely made up for it and wrapped things up beautifully.

A lovely start to a new series—I’ll definitely be coming back to Climax (lol) for more!

Perfect book to pick up when you're looking for something fast-paced, funny, easy to read romance with a HEA!
The play on words made me giggle ('climax' town, 'come again' bar, baby Percy pronouncing his name as 'p-ssy', as well as the unhinged cuss word replacements Avery uses because she's trying to stop swearing0, very funny.

My only downside is i wish there was more of a build-up and more tension before the two MCs got together.
That said, if unlike me you're one for insta love, this one is for you!

Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC copy.

This book is a sickly sweet, cute, instant-lovey romance with all the charm you can pack into a small town romance.

The story follows Avery, the delightful and quirky sunshine heroine that runs the towns 'Parks + Recs' program after taking over for her mother, who is suffering from the longterm effects of COVID. When meeting the ever pragmatic Josh who has moved to town to manage the town's budget, her program included, she feels and instant connection. While falling in love with the newly widowed Josh, she also falls in love with his two adorable children. With both parties struggling with real-life problems, managing the work/life balance, grief, family, while being surrounded by the usual small town gossip.

This is one for those who love all the hallmark movies and the drama in small town romance novels with all the cuteness of a HEA.

This book was a fun read and it totally gave Parks and Rec meets Schitts Creek vibes and I was all for it.

Avery, who is from the small town of Climax, is trying hard to save the playgroup that her mother created at the community center and Josh is the new VP of the company that is trying to make big changes at the center that will shut down some of the programs. They have to work together to figure out a way to save the center.

Along with trying to save the program, Avery also takes care of her parents and Josh is a widowed, single dad trying to adjust to his new life in the small town. They both have a lot of responsibility and don’t want to burden others with their baggage. Their love story unfolds with flirty banter, heartache and the grand gesture to their HEA.

3.75⭐️

This is the ideal book to pick up if you’re wanting something that’s funny and easy to read!

I really enjoyed this book, the humour throughout the story kept me hooked. I loved both the characters on their own, reading about what they both were going through/had already been through and how they learned to be there for each other was wholesome. I loved the relationship that Avery had with Josh’s children, and how they got along so quickly given what they’d already been through with others.

Josh and Avery are fun together, they bring out the best in each other. The only thing I would’ve wanted was a bit more tension before they got together, it felt it bit insta-love at the beginning of the story.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author in the future!

The Single Dad’s Guide to Recreation is such a cute rom-com with opposites attract characters. The story follows Avery and Josh who are working on opposing teams and struggling to deny their attraction to one another.

This story is one for the book people who love a good small town/single-dad/forced proximity romance!

The Single Dad’s Guide to Recreation is so . . . so . . . so Karen Grey. If you are a long-time fan like I am, you’ll see it right away. It’s not that all her stories sound alike, they most certainly do not, but it’s an almost indescribable feeling you get. The story just seems to blossom and unfold before your eyes: the setting becomes alive and vibrant, the characters are developed dimension by dimension and the plot just rolls along, gathering emotion, humor, will-they, won’t-they to its very satisfying conclusion.

We come to Climax, New York via author Grey’s contribution to the Bedd Fellows Farm four-book series. Familiar characters and animals and we had just a little peek at Josh Harmon.

Josh’s life blew up about a year and a half ago when his wife Lisa died. He’s still overwhelmed and he’s come to Climax so his parents can help with his two small children. Avery Mills was born and raised in Climax but left to work in the big city. After a brutal betrayal she came back to heal, and when she realized the state of her parents’ health she stayed to care for them. When they meet, it’s typical Grey: touching, sweet, funny. Josh has been stumbling and slumbering through his life, more asleep than awake until the first time he sets eyes on Avery, or more accurately when she literally falls into his arms. It’s like a bucket of ice water to the face – he’s awake now. And Avery? It’s as if she looked up and Prince Charming was standing there, except instead of curtsying like a princess would she tripped and fell into him. One look, and one feel of those arms around her, and her life is suddenly Before Josh Times and After Josh Times. She sees a ring and thinks he’s married, then that he’s still wearing the ring because he’s still grieving, but her pesky subconscious won’t let that attraction go. What is wrong with her? And Josh wonders what is wrong with him. He can’t decide whether to take that ring off or not, but there was a lot of turmoil and sadness in his marriage and these emotions he’s feeling around Avery are new to him. Maybe he has Before Avery Times and After Avery Times?

Josh needs his job. Avery needs her job. And Josh’s job is to get rid of Avery’s job. This isn’t going to be conflict-free, is it?

His job is the only thing Josh feels certain of, capable at, and he needs it to support his family. Avery’s “big city” dreams went away when she decided to stay in Climax and her job at Climax Parks & Rec, her friends, her family are everything to her. And especially important to her is the parent-toddler class called Playgroup, created and run by her mother before she became too ill to continue.

Josh works for Trede Corporation, founded by Elijah Ransom (maybe a little hook there for the next book?) who spent time as a young man in Climax and decided to establish headquarters there and invest in the community, but part of the deal is to upgrade facilities and programs and make improvements to serve the entire community. Playgroup is very valuable and very popular – but serves only a tiny portion of the community, and logically it should be first on the list of cuts. This makes Josh and Avery enemies – but they’re not. Not when those clock tower bells ring whenever they are close together. In fact, they are very, very compatible except for the Playgroup thing.

Grey expertly populates the story with colorful family and friends, relationships that have gone awry, tough decisions that have to be made and with humor and tenderness and a whole lot of spice running through it all. Imagine those bells, Avery’s hilarious word substitutions to avoid using naughty words around the toddlers, an exciting, sexy work trip (yes, you heard me) and scene after scene of pure reading enjoyment. If you can only take one trip this year, take it to Climax. You will love your time there as much as I did. I received an advance copy of The Single Dad’s Guide to Recreation from the author. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.