Daddy Issues by Kate Goldbeck was a refreshing take on a single father, age gap romance. Although Sam and Nick have had different experiences are at different places in their lives, they fit with each other. Most importantly, they know how to communicate!

Things I Loved:
Sam and Nick were regular people with normal problems.
The banter.

Things I Did Not Love:
Started to feel too long towards the end.
Sam's relationship to her father did not feel concluded.

Single dad, age gap? Oh my word, sign me up for this ride ASAP.

This book was so wonderful and fun, I had an absolute blast reading it! It was so well done, to the point where the characters were properly communicating with one another and it made a WORLD of difference reading this book. I loved how well this was written and how mature the characters felt the entire time. This was such a perfect approach to age gap romance books, and I could not put it down!

If you like the tropes, this book is IT for you!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!

Thank you to Dial and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f contemporary romance
-single parent
-age gap
-neighbors
-two dorks falling in love

I loved this one. There is such a wittiness to Kate's writing. The integration of the comic book scenes, it was so smart and just made the storytelling that much more vivid. I am trash for a single parent romance and foudn this story so relatable. No matter what age you are you may not have it all figured it out yet. A great book that makes me so excited to read whatever Kate writes next.

This was not the depraved book I thought I was getting but loved it all the same. It was kind of a deep book and I really loved the characters. All their individual personalities and the growth that Sam had. Now do I believe based on their story that Nick and Sam should have been telling the other that they loved them, no. But you do you, I guess.

Thank you to NetGalley for the early version.

Wow. This book healed something in me.
Sam was the FMC I never knew I needed. As someone who also flailed - and still is, in someways - I felt so seen, so validated, so humbled. She had moments where she was deeply unlikeable, and that made me love her even more. Her self-doubt, her persistent need to chase a path that was no longer serving her just to avoid failure, her fear of falling head-first into love after being so deeply hurt by men in her life… it felt like looking into a mirror. This aspect of the book, Sam’s struggle and growth, was what made this book a favorite read for me.
The romance was fantastic, so realistic and so warm. Nick was such a mature breath of fresh air. His relationship with his daughter, Kira, was sweet and wholesome, and the interactions between the both of them and Sam were so funny at times.
Sam’s struggle with her parents, living with her mother and her partner, Perry, was something that I found myself wanting to delve deeper into. Sam’s unresolved feelings with her father did, in some ways, find a sense of resolution, but I definitely wanted more, maybe her to confront him, face that hurt head on.
I suppose that would be my only critique of this book, though it isn’t much of one. I wanted more - more of Sam and Nick and what comes after their reunion, more of Sam’s journey to find her career and purpose, more of her healing her relationship with her mom and dad.
Besides that, this book was fantastic. Funny, deep, reflective, painful, real. I loved it.

okay i’ll be the first to say i’m not one for the single dad trope, especially with an age gap - but i feel like this was done so well?? sam is basically having a (younger version of) mid-life crisis while living with her mom and partner, and dealing with some heavy ~daddy issues.~ then we meet her new neighbor nick, a single dad, who manages a chili’s after living a lot of life when he was younger. they’re in two VERY different stages of life but I loved how easily they communicated with each other.

I will say, this book did reconfirm that I truly could never be a stepmom and I applaud all who can and do that well 👏🏼 overall I really enjoyed this, especially because the characters and their story felt so real and just normal, average people. The comic book aspect was also a unique addition to the story. I’m excited to pick this one up for my shelf once it officially releases! Thank you to Random House & Netgalley for the opportunity to read this arc 🤗

Kate Goldbeck can do no wrong!
After You Again she became an auto buy author for me!

Daddy issues was no different. I just love the raw , realness Kate gives her characters. The complexity of a true age gap romance. This was beautiful. And will be stocking this in my store asap!

Another 5 star from me !

As the CEO of Daddy issues, I LOVED this book. I found the FMC to be extremely relatable in a non-cringe way and she just had she just had so much heart. I laughed, cried, and was just swept away by these guys.

This was my first book by Kate Goldbeck and it was not bad, but this review is going to be all over the place. I loved Sam's character development at the end of the book, even though I wanted a brutal confrontation with her father to sweeten the deal. I wanted her father to be dragged to filth for all the traumas he left her with. One scene that stuck with me was when her mom told Sam that her dad never held on to the magneto drawings, and that broke something inside of me. I wanted all those damned comics in the trash at that point. Honestly, I could go without the spice, It wasn't my cup of tea. It was very mild, especially since it's being advertised as SPICY, but let's be real, it wasn't. One thing I liked was how realistic the problems were in this book like dating a single dad with an annoying kid, which was very much accurate, but, Kira grew on me at the end. I wanted Nick to fight for Sam, although I understood that she had to leave to jumpstart her life, it still would've been nice to see some yearning from his side. And that loser Hal, because when I catch you Hal... Like I couldn't stand him from the beginning. Honestly, I wished the beginning of each chapter didn't feel like we skipped 5 chapters in between, I don't know how to explain it. Overall, once I got to 30% I was locked in, before that it was kinda dragging, but it was a cute story and I liked the development at the end.

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