3.5-3.75⭐️

Firstly, thank you NetGalley for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I had a slow start getting into this but it picked up around the 10% mark. I really enjoyed Sam as a character and how flawed and real she was. I related to her a bit too much for my own liking (not the daddy issues part but the rest) but I really understood her and her character which made this story great for me.

Nick was interesting to me, because he seemed really put together but if you read between the lines he was also super flawed and I think seeing him from Sam’s eyes made him better than he was which I actually really liked. I did love how open he was in his communication and his wants and it made me giggle and blush a little bit.

I think the overall story progressed well, however there were some slow moments and the last 30% of the book was super bitter sweet to me and unfortunately for me it didn’t work the way I wanted it to. However, just because it didn’t work for me doesn’t mean others won’t absolutely love it.

Overall, it was a really enjoyable read and easy to consume. I loved the comic book references throughout and made my inner nerd happy

Thank you to Random House for the opportunity to read and review an ARC copy of Daddy Issues.

I found this book to be absolutely refreshing in its relatability. Sam is a young woman in her mid twenties who has failed to launch and lives in her mom's apartment. Nick is nearly 40. He's a devoted dad who manages a Chili's and moves in next door. They're both adorably nerdy.

While we don't get Nick's POV, it's clear that she wasn't initially drawn to him in the same way he is to her. It's not an insta-love story where they fall into bed in the first 20% of the book. Their first intimate encounter happens after Sam experiences rejection from another man. While some readers may find this off-putting, to me it feels rooted in truth and reminds me of stories my friends have experienced in the own lives.

There is a third act breakup and a happily ever after, but they feel earned and genuine. We see character growth and contentment without everything getting wrapped up in a perfect little bow.

This is my first time reading Kate Goldbeck and I'm really looking forward to reading more from her.

I loved this, it was so heartfelt and emotionally complex and layered. Romance readers, do not miss out on this one!

Kate Goldbeck does it again with this hilariously relatable story about figuring your shit out, growing the fuck up, and finding your person(s) along the way. Our FMC, Sam, is a bit of an entitled, “woa is me” artist type living her mom’s office. She is insufferable, but she knows it, and we love a self aware queen. Nick is capital D, Daddy. Not only is he a bonafide nerd (Trekkie), He is dependable, responsible, and would do anything for his daughter. Coming from my own daddy issues, Nick’s care and total adoration for Kira healed something in me.

The way these two fall into each other was so real and navigating dating with child was handled authentically. Sam is freaked the F out about step momming, but totally steps up for Kira.

I loved the comic book aspect, very unique and gave me some insight into that media. Regardless if you vibe with the characters or like comics, the writing is incredible, so sharp witted and makes it impossible to put this down.

4.5⭐️ Thank you Net Galley for the ARC, I feel so lucky to have received this copy!

Thank you Netgalley and Dial Press Trade for the arc in exchange for my honest review. I loved this book. I really connected with Sam. I too finished my masters right before Covid while living with my parents. I understand what it feels like to be stuck just waiting for someone to hire you. I also had to move out of the state to find work. I also really loved Sam’s and Nick’s relationship. Definitely swoon worthy!

I had different expectations for this book. It was difficult for me to keep my interest and feel connected with the characters. The FMC was just getting on my nerves. Here decisions were aggravating as a 26 year old. And I understand it to an extent but I just couldn't bring myself to care

I’m not sure what Goldbeck does in her writing, but I can read her writing SO fast. This book was emotional and, often, sweet. I missed some of the sizzling romance factor that I felt when reading You, Again, but I also think I just connected, personally, to those characters a little more. All in all a great follow up novel from this author.

Growing up sounds easy, until you’re there and expectations meet reality. Sam is 26 years old with a mountain of student debt, terrible job and a tiny bed in her mothers apartment. Nick on the other hand seems to have adulthood down to a science. With a steady paycheck and a thriving daughter. Sam has zero interest in him but staying out of his way isn’t as easy as she’d hoped.

A single dad romance with age gap where the characters can actually communicate. There’s also a good amount of spice and a whole lot of character growth. Sign me up!

Growing up isn’t everything I’d hoped it would be either so this topic hit home for me. In fact I bet most people can relate to Sam and Nicks story in some way.

I adore Goldbecks writing style and how she manages to mix humor with emotional storylines. I’ll read anything she writes.

Read this if you like
🧡Single father
💫Character growth
🫶🏼Opposites attract
🔥Spice

This book did everything right for me up until the third act breakup. I absolutely adored the instant connection between Sam and Kira, it felt like that made it so much more natural for Sam and Nick to feel comfortable and close to each other. I found Sam really relatable and Nick really charming as both a love interest and an amazing dad. The pacing and plot were incredible but I just not a fan of third act breakups at all and the resolution felt like it was lacking for me, hence the deducted star but I will still always recommend this to friends as a really nice romance.

Daddy Issues follows Sam whose life is completely different than how she imagined it after the pandemic derailed her life. She's living in her mom's guest room, has no money, and is working a dead end job. (All very relatable and maybe a little too close to home?) But then comes a very kind and hot single dad...

Spoilers ahead!

I do wish that the dad was already divorced when he met Sam/before they started to get romantic. It was kind of clear that the relationship was fully over/there was no chance of them getting back together.

I really liked the comic aspect of the book, it really added to the story and was something that I'd never seen before in a book.

First time reading a book from this author and now I need to read her past work! I loved this book such a fun quick read

There’s something incredibly comforting about the tone of this book. It doesn’t pretend that love solves everything, but it does show how it can anchor you, even when the rest of your life is a mess. I loved every quiet, hopeful, yearning second of it.

*arc review*

This is definitely not my usual read but it was fun! The story did take me awhile to actually get into and I almost felt like I was watching a tv show and not so much reading so that was a different feeling but I enjoyed the FMC and MC although I do wish we could’ve got to see more of Kira. Some characters I felt were just kind of useless and brought no proper plot to the story but overall it wasn’t a bad read, I had fun.

I couldn't get into this story. I felt like I was reading a collection of chaotic diary entries. Maybe I'm too old for this young woman's story.

I genuinely liked Goldbeck’s debut novel but I had a difficult time adjusting to the tone/voice of the FMC. She was distracting in a way that wasn’t productive and I just couldn’t find it within myself to care about the couple. This was disappointing.

The cover is great & I really wanted to like this, but unfortunately I found it be pretty dull. The quirkiness of the characters felt kinda forced. I’m not sure if I just wasn’t in the mood for this or what.

“Daddy Issues” by Kate Goldbeck is not just a single-dad/age-gap romance. This story explores the trauma left behind from failed parent-child relationships even those who stuck around and who it affects those children as adults. Sam is a 27 year old leaving her my mom’s office for that last 5 years when the pandemic shut down her art history internship. Sam is the stuck trying to achieve her goal of graduate school and has a hard time thinking of how else she can achieve her career goals. When a new neighbor, Nick, moves in with his daughter sparks fly and her “daddy issues” come to the fore as she witnesses both Nick’s love for his daughter and his love for her.


I both loved and did not love this book. I felt the chemistry between the main characters, but I think a lot of the relationships weren’t well developed. I am having a hard time putting a finger on what exactly annoyed me, but while I read I was invested and then I found it hard to get back into the story.

I think many readers will enjoy this story. It is definitely more a character study with a side of romance than a romance on its own. Thank you, NetGalley for this eARC!

I was very excited to get a copy of this as I loved Kate Goldbeck's debut novel, and I was excited to see more from her! Full honestly, I would not have picked up a book with this premise if it hadn't been from an author I knew I liked. Single father romances with a side of messy situationship would not appeal to me generally, but Kate wrote this beautifully. The characters felt so real - like they could walk off the page. As someone who had a life altering event that drove me back to living with my parents, Goldbeck portrayed those feelings beautifully. And she did an excellent job of really showing the true difficulties and potential pitfalls of a woman being with a man who already has a child. Most stories I've read like this portray the children as little darlings who create this deep and meaningful relationship with the new girlfriend quickly, and Goldbeck didn't fall into that trap. She did an excellent job showing how children can be quirky and wonderful and also how they can get on your last nerve. I enjoyed the comic book element woven into it as well.

SPOILERS AHEAD! READERS BEWARE!

I appreciate that all of Sam's dreams didn't suddenly come true at the end of the book (because that's not real life), but that she did start moving forward and figuring herself out! Also, the way that Sam cut off her situationship was deeply, deeply satisfying to read about. This book also made me think. I was asking the people in my life questions that the book made me consider like "Do you like other children better when you have your own?", which led to some very thoughtful conversations. There are only a couple of things I would really change. One is the last meeting Sam had with Hal. It felt unnecessary since she'd closed that chapter so well already - it felt unnecessary and regressive for her to meet up with him. The other is, I don't know that Nick would have forgiven Sam so quickly for yelling at his kid based on the father he's been shown to be. Yes Kira messed up and Nick should have held her more responsible, but it didn't work for me that Sam took it so far and Nick was like "Hey, it's not a huge deal." There were just a few moments like that and sometimes the absolute messiness of Sam got to me a little bit, but overall this was an excellent read that I loved.

Thank you to Random House, Dial Press Trade, and Netgalley for this e-arc!

Sam had big PHD plans for her life until the pandemic hit which catapults her into slogging through life working at a bar instead of towards her artistic academic dreams. Enter in her new single father neighbor who is completely steady and also many years older. Romance unfolds!!!


This rom is for people who love:
-Single dad trope
-Comic books and art
-Quirky 9 year old daughters
-Girlie trying to figure out her life

I thought aspects of Daddy Issues was fun and tender and I loved how the MMC is a straight shot with our girlie (she deserves one person to be forward with her!!!!). Lots of familial navigating in this one! I was not in love with so many comic book and comic references and I thought the beginning was overboard on the down on her luck vibe. Very doom and gloom and stuck (and annoying).

Not my fav single dad book (hello Cade Eaton exists), but it wasn’t bad either.

This book was full of warm fuzzies, healing your inner child, and growing pains. I loved Kate's previous book, so I was excited to dive into this one. The interactions were so lovely with Kira and I was just rooting for these imperfect characters to live HEA.