*3.5
Wow I never thought my extensive knowledge of Marvel lore would be useful when reading a romance book, but here we are! Plus the Pride and Prejudice (2005) references?? I was definitely the target audience for this one.

Regarding the writing, some things didn’t fully work for me. There were multiple scenes where things happened and I didn’t understand how we got there. Also, there were some character interactions that I feel like would’ve played out differently in real life, so that kind of threw me off a bit. But I did enjoy how real the characters felt. We got to see them deal with a variety of things — like navigating family dynamics, single parenting, job hunting, and more — that made them feel really grounded.

Unfortunately, I was left wanting a little more from the romance. A lot of what we did get was great, but other parts of it felt like they were rushed or kept at a surface level. However, I did appreciate how Sam and Nick constantly expressed themselves to each other and there was no unnecessary miscommunication!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!

3.5 stars rounded up

Admittedly You, Again was going to be a tough act to follow. Kate Goldbeck's Nora Ephronish first book is quite literally my favorite romance book of all time. While Daddy Issues does have some notable moments, it alas was unable to replicate that lightning in a bottle feeling, bogged down by pop culture references and a shift in writing style that left the story feeling a little too "product of the current times" and a lot rushed.

For those considering reading this, it's worth mentioning that the romance is very much a secondary plotline throughout the story. I've seen some of the lower reviews perhaps unfairly deducting stars because their expectations for a hot, romance centric book were not met. For me personally, the central arc of a woman stuck in arrested development since the pandemic and struggling to pull herself out of limbo is where the book really shines. Sam is buried under a mountain of student debt, sleeping on a daybed in her mom's apartment while she applies to PhD programs by day and bartends at a tiki-bar by night. She's also in a toxic situationship with an aspiring lit bro and is hanging on to an impressive comic book collection in the hopes that her absentee father will re-enter stage right.

Instead, she meets Nick, a single dad pushing 40 who moves in next door with his daughter Kira. He's newishly separated, is a general manager at Chili's, and Sam immediately hones in on his large, strong, hands. This is not a storybook romance - both Sam and Nick are kind of a mess (jury's out on who is more chaotic as they both have their moments) and their path to a relationship feels authentic and true to life. Where the book lost me a little, is there's simply not enough of them together. A lot of time is spent by Sam grappling with the idea of taking on a stepmom/dad's girlfriend identity, so much so that key moments in her romance with Nick felt rushed and underexplored. I had no issue with the romance being second to Sam's journey out of her mom's apartment and into real life as a functional adult - but if felt like this arrested development arc in addition to the stepmom saga was too much for the story to effectively handle. The author's notes at the end of the book make it clear that aspects of both major storylines were borrowed from real life experiences, and I think both may have been better served by being developed across two separate books. In retrospect the stepmom/dad's girlfriend arc in particular read as though some cathartic demons were being exorcised behind the scenes that the reader wasn't really privy to. Fixating on that journey and saving some of the "what am I doing with my life?" angst for another book would have left the book feeling more focused. While I rooted for Sam and Nick, they felt kept at arm's length and I wish we'd gotten to know them better.

There's still some classic Kate Goldbeck banter, thought it felt a little more guided by the romance tropes that crowd out the genre these days. The intimate scenes in particular felt like a bit of a step down from You, Again. Ali Hazelwood fans - I think you may appreciate this change in direction more than I did, but stylistically these changes weren't really for me.

Long story long, despite my quibbles, I'll still be first in line to read whatever Goldbeck puts out next, and Daddy Issues is absolutely work picking up on November 18th!

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

While this is my first Kate Goldbeck Novel, I liked her writing and characters. I feel like both the MMC Nick and the FMC Sam are fleshed out and relatable to the audience, the romance is believable and I do like how the main characters communicate and listen to each other without a breakup scene. As someone who has graduated and feels stuck in what to do in one's life this book feels like a letter to all of us who dont have it 100% figured out and know that it'll be ok! 5/5
stars ! Thanks Netgalley, Kate Goldbeck and Dial Press Trade publishing for an EARC in exchange for a fair reveiw! :)

Everyone is a mess but they are working on it. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There is so much good communication throughout. I love how genuine every character felt. Flaws and all.

At times the romance felt a bit rushed but we follow Sam’s journey of getting herself out of the rut she’s fallen in to over the past 5 years, so there’s a lot of ground to cover. I just loved how real and candid everything felt.

And I loved Nick. Sweet and sexy.

I enjoyed reading the author’s letter detailing her own experiences and inspiration for the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC. I sure do love Kate Goldbeck’s writing.

I genuinely loved this book so much!!! The writing was amazing so unique, the characters were perfect, I loved the comic book aspect of the story, it just felt so real it was refreshing to read a story like this, 100% recommend this to everyone!

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Kate Goldbeck for the eARC!

I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this. While on one hand, I had read Kate’s first novel and loved every single thing about it…. The other hand held a single father trope- which kids in books aren’t my cup of tea. I still wanted to give it a chance, though, because I love Kate’s writing and thought maybe the age gap trope would redeem things in my eyes. And it did! I wasn’t bothered at all by the presence of a kid and I think it’s because of how Kate wrote the entire scenario. It was refreshing and the perfect read for millennials.

I very much enjoyed the overall plot and love story in this. I did find some of the characters extremely irritating. I wanted Sam and Cara's relationship to be a little bit more effortlessly normal because the beginning of the book felt like it was setting it up for them to be easy BFFs.. I also felt like Sam was very infuriating in some of her conversations and was wishy-washy with the character of Hal. I did absolutely love the character of Nick. He seemed so lovable and so perfect for Sam. I felt like maybe they could have had some ending with Sam's dad although it probably is realistic that she wouldn't. Overall, a 4 1/2 in my eyes.

Kate Goldbeck has such a unique way of writing! Her characters feel like real people falling into real love.

I devoured Daddy Issues in a day—Kate Goldbeck’s sophomore novel delivers a fun, spicy, emotionally layered romance with well-developed, relatable characters. Sam and Nick’s dynamic is both tender and electric, and the writing shines with humor and heart. I was fully invested in their story, especially the honest exploration of family baggage and growing up in your late twenties. I appreciated Nick's maturity a lot. That said, I really wish there had been an epilogue—the abrupt ending left me wanting more.

there were a few distracting typos and some jarring formatting issues (repeating dialogue?) that will need to be fixed before print.

I absolutely loved this book. I read it in a day! It was so great just like You Again. I loved how loving and understanding and normal Nick was as a character.

i'll start with a disclaimer: i'm a renowned hater of motherhood books. i won't get into it. but i think it's safe to say my aversion extends to books with children in general, so the fact that i still mostly enjoyed this book says a lot.

sam is a directionless 20-something whose dream job falls apart during the pandemic, sending her back home to live with her mom. her depression is palpable but never melodramatic, and i really appreciated how real her emotional stasis felt. i also appreciated that nick, the love interest, isn't a billionaire or a sexy brooding recluse. he's a manager at chili's. he hates his job. he's a single dad with a star trek obsession. i loved that.

but this book isn't without friction. sam's relationship with her dad is a major thread, tied to a shared love of comic books, but it's clear he doesn't actually see her. that hunger for connection to an absent parent felt deeply relatable. on the flip side, her mom is present but weirdly manipulative, dismissive, and never held accountable. the storyline about her marrying a nonbinary partner is great on paper but underdeveloped, and her treatment of sam is framed as helpful when it's honestly just controlling.

there are a few questionable moments with the daughter, kira that, in a more realistic book, would've had major fallout. sam yells at kira for accidentally ruining one of her comic books. this is a full-volume, unfiltered adult outburst at a minor, in front of her father. and yes, nick says "don’t yell at my kid," but that's it. it's brushed aside so quickly it's almost surreal. like, we're just going to pretend that didn't happen? that sam didn't completely lose it on a nine-year-old? and then there's the moment where sam drunkenly dms kira on discord and rants about how men suck, another action that would realistically have huge consequences, especially for someone trying to form a relationship with that child's father. it's never mentioned again. not by kira, not by nick. it disappears into the void. i'm not saying i needed a long redemption arc, but the silence around both events felt off. the book otherwise aims for emotional realism, so these moments felt like a break in tone, like they should've been louder, messier, more complicated.

i did love sam's hero moment with kira near the end. i also liked that she never forces herself into a step-parent role she doesn't want. she doesn't pretend to be maternal, and no one makes her feel guilty for that. she fits herself into the 'cool friend' role instead, and that felt like a small but important victory for agency.

the writing was excellent, funny, sharp, and compulsively readable. i usually struggle with focus and tend to read audiobooks instead, but i devoured this. this was still a success for me, despite its issues. the portrayal of someone feeling directionless in a post-pandemic world felt incredibly accurate. and sam's obsession over the comics, her desire to hold onto the one thread she shared with her dad, really hit. even though i didn't like her mom’s actions - and honestly think her mom is just as bad as her dad in a quieter, more insidious way - i appreciated that neither parent was framed as perfect or even all that redemptive. i liked that nick admits he hasn't always been a great dad either. he owns up to how easy it is to default to traditional gender roles, how hard parenting really is.

pretty much all of my issues with this book might’ve been resolved with 100–150 more pages expanding the secondary characters. the bones were there. i just wanted more time in the mess.

This book dragged me out of my slump, and I inhaled it all in one sitting. Daddy Issues follows Sam, a twenty-six-year-old working a dead-end job as a bartender for the Lōkahi Lounge who has been staying at her mother’s apartment for the past five years after graduating from college, and Nick, a single father and manager at Chili’s, who moves next door to Sam’s mother’s apartment. Sam lives a stagnant life while dealing with the uncertainties of her professional and personal life. As she haphazardly navigates through the unpredictabilities of her life’s journey, she finds something stable and solid within Nick, who mirrors the same sentiment towards Sam.

Kate Goldbeck crafted a stunning yet gritty story that was vulnerable, raw, and realistic, though exceptionally hopeful and considerate. Sam is relatable. She is written realistically and thoughtfully. Her messy, monotonous, and aimless life is something a majority of undergraduates would be able to relate to after graduating from college. On the other hand, Nick is steady and secure; however, he also feels lost and unfulfilled despite having a stable career and a daughter he loves. Both Nick and Sam complete the parts of each other that they find inadequate within themselves, especially regarding their age group. Their acceptance of each other and the way they allowed themselves to be vulnerable with each other, and the way they genuinely saw the best of each other, all while being gentle yet firm when needed to, was tenderly written and emotional.

Daddy Issues is for people who are lost in life and don’t know where to turn to. It’s for the people who think love isn’t for them after being let down and left behind by the ones who were supposed to matter the most to them. Additionally, it’s far more than just a love story. It’s about rekindling your passion, rediscovering yourself, and taking on the courage to challenge yourself in all aspects of life. I loved You, Again by Kate Goldbeck, but Daddy Issues far exceeds my feelings for her debut novel. This book stayed with me even long after I finished it, and it’s something I’ll hold, keep, and reside within me for a long time. And whenever I’m feeling lost or dejected, I’ll take this special magnificence of a book out, and I’ll read it all over again, knowing the comfort it’ll bring me. I absolutely adore this book with everything in me, and it has exceedingly become one of my top ten best reads of 2025. As of yet, this is fundamentally Goldbeck at her best, and I cannot wait to read more of her writings in the future.

Thank you so much to Dial Press Trade and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

I loved Kate Goldbeck’s “You, Again” and I admit I started this book with high expectations. I felt the ending was a bit abrupt, but on second thought, this is a rom com, obviously it’s not going to show the behind the curtains, the hard parts, the messiness of co-parenting.

I also found it an interesting choice to never have Sam’s father show up, he’s just mentioned. I did kind of hope for some major confrontation where he gets how shitty of a person he was, but realistically, who has the time or energy for something like that?

Personally, I like “You, Again” better but I still recommend “Daddy Issues”. The relationship between Nick and Sam is sweet and genuine and omg the competence porn.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC!

3.5/5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed the comic book references and use in Sam's narration. It gave us a glimpse into one of the deeper parts of her character and made for a unique and interesting storytelling tool. Sam is flawed and a victim of having her life upended by something completely out of her control which I think is relatable for a lot of people.

However, the romance never quite clicked for me. The age gap was done well and the communication was clear and mature between our two main characters, but I never fully believed they were in love.

Overall, this is a solid and quick read with some really fun elements.

3.75 stars.
As a Midwest girly, I really appreciated that this was set in Columbus, it gave the story a grounded, relatable vibe that I don’t often see in romance. I enjoyed the premise and thought Sam’s character was well done in her uncertainty and growth. The relationship with Nick and his daughter was sweet, and the parenting and step-parenting themes was cool to see.

I will say I had to adjust to the post-COVID setting, it hit a little close to home at times LOL and felt more real-life than I usually look for in a romance. The pacing also dragged in places, and while the chemistry was cute, it didn’t always feel fully developed for me.

Still, this is a great read for those who like second chances, single dad storylines, and characters figuring it out in their mid to late 20s. A solid read!!
Thanks to Dial Press and NetGalley for this eARC!

Daddy Issues is not the book you think it is, and that’s what makes it so freaking good. Sure, there’s steamy truck moments and making out in the Chili’s kitchen (iconic), but it also hits way deeper than you'd expect. Sam is stuck in her hometown, in a toxic situationship, in her own head and Nick, the hot single dad next door who reverses like a pro with one hand on the wheel (and owns actual DVDs??), somehow ends up being exactly what she didn’t know she needed. This book had me laughing, blushing, and trying not to cry in public. It’s a breath of fresh air in the congested romance genre we’ve got going on, and it’s just so Kate Goldbeck! It’s sharp, heartfelt, and unexpectedly tender. Also, shoutout to Perry, my favorite little scene-stealer. If you’re expecting fluffy, think again: this one’s got depth, sass, and Cajun pasta ;)

I went into this with an open mind, even with the whole single dad situation because I really do enjoy this author’s prose and think she’s a talented writer. But i wasn’t not at all prepared for the direction this book headed towards.

The MMC is a nearly forty year old single father with a long, chaotic sexual and romantic history that he brings up way too casually and little too often for my like which I thought was quite distasteful. Meanwhile, the FMC is a twenty-something who’s underemployed, still living at home, and honestly just trying to figure herself out. The main “relationship” experience that the author touches on for her is a toxic situationship that barely counts as a relationship.

So, this man has had a full life and she’s just getting started. The imbalance there was quite unsettling.

The worst part is that it’s not just me who saw the red flags, the FMC was made aware of them too. She had doubts, she hesitated, and the author still steamrolled her into a hea for them that felt way more like a compromise than a win. I kept waiting for her to pull back, move to New York, focus on herself… but nope. She just walked straight into the mess like everyone wasn’t screaming at her to run the other way.

Her mom, who I was side-eyeing at first actually ended up being the voice of reason. She gave the realest speech in the whole book, and I genuinely wish the FMC had actually listened. Her mom laid it all out, and it went in one ear and out the other. The author kept trying to make the FMC’s choice feel romantic, but to me, it read like she was being slotted into a life that was already built without her. I was never convinced that that life was something she really wanted especially the kid that came with it.

To be fair, there were things I liked. The MMC being a Chili’s manager and the FMC kind of floating post-grad made it feel grounded in a way a lot of romance novels don’t recently. And I really respected the inclusion of a nonbinary side character and the fact that the FMC had an abortion without being demonized for it , that kind of representation truly matters.

There’s something undeniably comforting about a romance that feels both wildly entertaining and emotionally grounded—and Daddy Issues delivers just that in the best way possible. Kate Goldbeck has written a messy, tender, sharply honest story about the in-between years—the ones where you’re old enough to feel the weight of missed expectations but still fumbling your way through what it means to really grow up.

At twenty-six, Sam Pulaski is stuck. Her dreams of academia and art have stalled under the weight of student debt and dead-end jobs. She’s back at home (okay, technically her mom’s condo), her love life is more chaotic than romantic, and her confidence is on life support. Enter Nick: the grounded, quietly attractive single dad next door whose world revolves around his daughter and the steady rhythm of responsibility. He’s everything Sam is not—and exactly what she doesn’t know she needs.

What unfolds is a story that glows with slow-burn intimacy and quiet revelations. The romance builds not with sweeping grand gestures, but with careful, thoughtful moments that feel real—sharing space, awkward first impressions, unexpected laughter, a minivan kiss that steams up more than just the windows. Their connection isn’t easy or instant—it’s earned. And it’s all the more satisfying because of that.

But what I loved most is how this book isn’t just about falling in love with someone else—it’s about figuring out how to love yourself when you feel like you’ve failed your own blueprint for life. Sam’s growth is deeply relatable: frustrating at times, hilarious in others, and ultimately full of heart. And Nick? He’s the dream—not because he’s perfect, but because he shows up, listens, and makes space for someone figuring it all out.

There’s a raw charm to Goldbeck’s storytelling, with witty dialogue, unexpected vulnerability, and just the right amount of steam. The dynamic between Sam and Nick never feels forced—it’s chemistry built on empathy, banter, and mutual healing. And while not every subplot lands perfectly, the emotional payoff is undeniable.

This is a second chance story—not just at love, but at life, purpose, and the belief that it's okay for dreams to shift as we do.

A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback for sharing this heartwarming, extra sweet second chance romance’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. I absolutely adored it, and I’ll be thinking about Sam and Nick long after the final page.

Samantha’s in a rut- she’s 26 year old, living in her mom’s house, with no career prospects in sight.

5 years ago, she was heading to Italy to do original research on an obscure Italian artist. But then Covid happened, closing down the whole world and derailing her life goals. Now she’s stuck in Ohio, wasting her days, and working as a server in a tiki bar by night.

When Nick, a divorced dad with a young daughter moves next door, they click. But despite their undeniable feelings for each other, their unconventional relationship poses too many challenges. Samantha has to decide whether she’s ready to be a stepmom and if she’s willing to stay in Ohio rather than follow her dreams of becoming a big city art historian.

As the title implies, this book explores father- daughter relationships but also delves deeply into a multitude of relationships including mother-daughter, friends with benefits, and the role of step-parents roles within families.

This slowburn age-gap romance is full of nuanced characters and is rooted in realistic everyday issues that will appeal to readers who are looking for emotional and relatable storylines about career ambitions, finding love, and growing up.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: ❤️Romance
Recommend:✅

“Daddy Issues” is romance perfection and I truly found myself giggling and kicking my feet at multiple points. And, it was HOT. Sam and Nick (and Kira) are fully formed and both absolutely hilarious. This one is an absolute knockout.

Sam is a 20-something is finds herself living in her office five years after the pandemic sent her there when her PhD program is cancelled. She soon meets and falls for her mom’s new neighbor, Nick, a 40 year old single dad to a spunky little girl, Kira. Sam and Nick’s chemistry is off the charts and even more importantly, their love story was very realistic and actually relatable. The third act breakup that is obviously in most romances actually feels so true to life and is probably one of the best breakups written into a romance I’ve read.

Between “Daddy Issues” and “You, Again”, Kate Goldbeck is a must buy romance writer for me now. And, this one took place in Columbus, Ohio, where I live so it was extras special to me!

You’ll love this book if you love:
✅Hot Dads
✅Lost 20-somethings
✅Columbus, Ohio