I absolutely loved this book! Karen Grey has delivered a heartwarming, laugh-out-loud romance that had me hooked from the very first page. The Single Dad’s Guide to Recreation is the perfect mix of humor, heat, and heart, with characters that feel so real, you’ll wish you could hang out with them in Climax, MA.

The dynamic between the tightly wound corporate VP and the spirited Parks & Rec employee was pure gold. Their banter had me grinning constantly, and the chemistry between them? Absolutely electric. I couldn’t get enough of their opposites-attract tension, which was both hilarious and swoon-worthy.

I’m already counting down the days until the next book in the series—Karen Grey has officially earned a spot on my auto-buy list!

Such a cute single dad romance
This kept me company during an infusion treat
It had great banter and chemistry between the leads
Highly recommend

This book follows Avery and Josh, a wonderful pairing that are the definition of opposites attract. As Avery fights to keep her mother's community programs alive, she runs into just a roadblock: the man she is supposed to hate for coming after them is also the one she is starting to grow feelings for.

Karen's delightful humor and lovely ways of weaving romance into a woman's story of resilience and growth is apparent in this new release. The found family, small town, and single dad tropes come together perfectly to create a sweet romance with lots of laugh-out-loud moments alongside some more serious ones as well!

A Single Dad’s Guide to Recreation is a heartwarming read, brimming with fun, relatable characters and a charming storyline. Sparks ignite between Avery and Josh the instant they meet, but their situation is far from simple. Josh has been tasked with shutting down the very community program that binds Avery to her mother’s legacy. Together, they embark on a mission to revitalize and enhance the recreation center, striving to prove its value to the community—while grappling with the undeniable pull drawing them closer to one another.

Both Avery and Josh face personal struggles that add depth and complexity to their journey. Watching them confront their fears and find the courage to embrace bravery is both inspiring and moving. Their growth is beautifully woven into a story that had me laughing and feeling all the emotions.

A Single Dad’s Guide to Recreation is a fantastic kick-off to a promising new series, and I can’t wait to explore more of this delightful world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Karen Grey for allowing me to read the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This book was super cute and sweet. It follows Avery and Josh who are the very definition of opposites attract. Avery is fighting to keep her mom’s community program alive while Josh, the man she is trying not to have feelings for, is working for the mayor to basically get rid of it. If you enjoy small town romance, single dads, forced proximity this is definitely one to check out.

This was really cute book. I enjoy Karen’s writing style. I found this to be easy to read. It was a fun quick read. I read it in just a few hours.

The story follows Avery and Josh.
The are the embodiment of opposite attraction. Enemies to lovers. Josh works for the mayor and is helping to cancel the very program that Avery is struggling to keep going.

Very enjoyable. Lighthearted and funny.

This was a really cute read. I loved the kiddos. I liked that the author didn't make this too unrealistic and gave real-life problems that that the MCs dealt with: death of a spouse, relationship failures, caring for sick family, trying to make ends meet, trying to raise kids with the help of your family, small down gossip and meddling, trying to better your community. They were perfectly normal MCs, which I appreciated.

The third act breakup was a bit dramatic, but given the high stress of that moment in time, I suppose it was an acceptable and forgivable response to the situation. The epilogue was perfect.

This was my first Karen Grey book, so I look forward to reading more by the author in the future, especially with this series.

I will note that the use of 'chronic COVID' as a term to describe a health condition confused me since I've never heard it referred to that, only by the usual term, Long COVID. Even Google says it's most commonly called Long COVID. That makes it more relatable and understandable once you hear that. Chronic COVID sounds like someone keeps getting COVID over and over again. So if you're confused, just know the author means Long COVID :)

📚 BookTok Review: The Single Dad's Guide to Recreation by Karen Grey 💘🎡

If you love grumpy-sunshine romance, single dad struggles, and nostalgic '90s vibes, this book is a must-read! Josh, a dedicated but overworked single dad, isn’t looking for love—until Avery, his carefree and adventurous new friend, crashes into his life with her infectious energy. Sparks fly as she helps him rediscover the fun in life, but can he let go of his fears and take a chance on love?

✨ What to Expect:
🎡 Opposites attract with sizzling chemistry
😂 Witty banter & heartwarming dad moments
💘 Slow-burn romance with all the feels
🎶 A perfect dose of '90s nostalgia

Sweet, steamy, and packed with charm, this book will have you laughing, swooning, and rooting for Josh & Avery the whole way through! 📖💞

#TheSingleDadsGuideToRecreation #KarenGrey #SingleDadRomance #GrumpySunshine #90sRomance #BookTokRecs

This is the first in the "Welcome to Climax" series and has all the hallmarks of being great reads. Josh and Avery work on opposite sides of the business divide; Avery is trying to keep the programs that her mom started alive at the local recreation department and Josh has the job of making sure all the programs are profitable. But sometimes the heart doesn't listen when it's supposed to! Josh is a widower with two young children who has moved to be closer to family, who he hopes will help with his children. With the world seemingly against them, Avery and Josh still manage to spend time together and eventually, the chemistry explodes. With many traumas in their pasts, both Josh and Avery do not trust easily, but once again, their hearts don't seem to listen!

This was a cute, fun story, well written with character development that is on point. The life experiences that shaped Avery and Josh's outlook on life were complex and dealt with compassion and this book was peppered with funny moments that kept things from getting too serious. I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for an advanced arc!

This book follows Avery and Josh, and unlikely but likely pair. Avery the loving, overworked pushover and Josh the widowed dad of two that just moved to Climax (yes you read that right) with for his new job with Trede.

Rachel's Review 4/5
First of all, I appreciated this was NOT an age gap romance. Every romance novel I read with a single dad, the FMC is ALWAYS much younger and the babysitter. I'm glad this book didn't follow that cliche. This book was a cute and easy romance book to read that I was able to finish in one sitting. Overall I liked the characters, but insta-love tropes are my least favorite romance trope, however there was a "magic clock" in this story that maybe makes it okay? I liked the representation of a single parent that was fleshed out and not seemingly just for the plot and the characters were surprisingly well fleshed out for a shorter read. Overall I would recommend this book for the cute romance and more realistic story plots (for the most part).

Karen Grey delivers a heartwarming and witty small-town romance in The Single Dad’s Guide to Recreation. Avery, a devoted toddler class teacher, clashes with Josh, a widowed father whose new job threatens her program’s funding. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry undeniable, and their journey from adversaries to something more is both heartfelt and humorous.

Grey balances humor with emotional depth, making Climax feel alive with quirky characters and genuine moments. Fans of single-parent romances and opposites-attract dynamics will love this charming, feel-good read.

So so so cute and fun! I loved every single minute of this book. I just didn't want it to end. I rooted for the MCs and loved watching their love story unfold. I giggled and kicked my feet so many times!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for this book!!! This was such a sweet & easy read. I related to Avery in so many ways & Josh was a sweetheart of a single dad. I had plenty of giggles & feet-kicking moments 💕 I think I wanted a little bit more of their build-up because I love the tension, but I still had a splendid time reading this one!

Very cute! Sets up a fun series I’m interested in reading! Loved the kids too, cute but not cloying and I appreciated the parts about aging parents and caregiving.

"The Single Dad's Guide to Recreation" by Karen Grey is a hilarious read with wonderfully engaging characters. Grey thoughtfully addresses sensitive topics, adding depth to the story. However, the language in the love scenes felt a bit cringeworthy, and the heavy reliance on miscommunication could have been resolved with more openness between the characters, making it feel somewhat overdone. That said, it's a quick, fun read that had me laughing out loud and definitely deserves a spot on your TBR.
Thank you to NetGallery and Home Cooked Books for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

From the first page, I knew I was going to enjoy the wittiness of this book. Karen hooked me from the first paragraph and I knew I was going to be laughing while reading this. Avery is a delightfully quirky heroine - her clumsiness and people pleasing make her exceptionally relatable. Josh is a sweet cinnamon roll single dad who it's easy to root for even when he is making poor decisions. The dialogue is fun and the author's sense of humor really shines through. Oh, and did I mention the town where they live is called Climax? A quick and humorous read, perfect for if you like a little small town eccentricity in your romance!

This was a really cute romance book. The banter and romance was so cute and fun. I would highly recommend.

Cute story about a woman who has moved back home to sort out her life and take care of her ill/aging parents and a man just trying to do the best he can for his kids. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

The Single Dad's Guide to Recreation by Karen Grey is a small town, romantic comedy.

Avery is back home helping to care for her ill parents while working at the local recreation center attempting to keep her mothers programing alive. Josh is a widowed father who is attempting to figure out life as a single parent. His new job has tasked him with revamping the towns rec center programing, putting he and Avery at odds. I loved the fun puns and lighthearted nature of this novel that contrasted with some of the tough topics it dealt with throughout. I enjoyed how their relationship grew during the book and am excited for more books from the town of Climax.

Thank you to NetGalley, Home Cooked Books, and the author for the e-ARC.

This book was adorable. And it was QUICK, I finished it in a couple of hours. It definitely felt like the start of a series, and enough attention was given to the side characters that I’m pretty sure will be in the next installment- not too much to take away from the main couple, but enough to tease!

I love small town romances and I got such a kick out of the name of the town (and also the bar!). Avery and Josh are great together and Josh is everything you want in a love interest. He had depth and he’s so wonderful with his kids (who are also written well, which isn’t always the case), I loved reading his interactions with them.

This one’s a dual POV and it’s just spicy enough without being too over the top. There’s also insta-attraction on both sides, but neither acts on it immediately.

You can never go wrong with a Karen Grey romcom read and THE SINGLE DAD’S GUIDE TO RECREATION is that and more! Welcome to the fictional small town of Climax where the only thing funnier than its name is its quirky inhabitants. In this book the main characters are Avery and Josh but you get to meet a whole slew of secondary characters that are book worthy in their own right. I enjoyed everything about this hilarious romance including an adorable little boy with the cutest lisp ever and a female friend group that I’d like to be a part of. From start to finish you will embrace the crazy that is Climax and want to book a one way ticket to this special place. I’m giving this book the judy.ann.loves.books stamp of approval, TBR and Enjoy!

4.5 stars!
A cute story with lovable characters. The HEA is quick, but very satisfying!!!!

One thing I really love is that the kids are important, but not story stealing. The book is still all about Josh and Avery!!!

I just wish there was an epilogue teasing the next story (because you’ll know when you read it how easy this can become a huge CPR series!)

Small town rom-com features Avery working three jobs at the community rec center in the ironically named town of Climax. When a big city firm moves to town, they get involved with big plans for improving the rec center. And the main person liaising with the community rec center is a hot single widower. An immediate attraction and a town full of matchmaker set the stage for a fun story. Thanks to netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for the Arc!

Avery has semi-recently moved back to Climax after a breakup, and to help take care of her aging parents. Josh is new in town and is working for a company that wants to help revitalize the town and the rec center.

What follows is a sweet, quirky, romantic story of two people falling in love while navigating life's challenges.

I really enjoyed this story, and the town bell was a fun little twist.

Tropes:
Small town
Forced proximity
Single dad x caregiver

Avery and Josh are a very funny couple. They are immediately attracted to each other, but they both have very complicated lives. They have to learn to see their baggage in new lights before they can move on. The kids are also very cute.

A great read, the story of Avery and Josh. A great setting, and I liked how it was told from both points of view. Can't wait to read the rest of employees series!

Living in Climax might have its perks. Or so you would think. But the three years spell for Avery, after have her broken and returning to her parents home, is not funny. Add to the mix a widower with two small children and his job is to take her job away. What can go wrong? Avery and Josh’s story is sweet, cute but also full of deep feelings, tough topics and great chemistry. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC copy. This is my honest review.

Absolutely loved this read! It pulled me in from the very first page and kept me turning pages late into the night. The writing was smooth, engaging, and full of heart. A truly enjoyable experience that I’d recommend to anyone looking for a great escape.

This is an easy, engaging read that balances some serious themes with small town sweetness and a heartwarming romance. Avery and Josh have an instant connection (possibly even fated…), but both are beholden to family commitments and job-related pressures that seem certain to keep them apart. I really liked how those everyday issues are depicted and more importantly, how they are resolved entirely realistically without resorting to unnecessary drama. The chemistry between the main characters builds up beautifully and there’s also a well-rounded supporting cast (definitely setting up at least one more instalment) who provide both empathy and humour. I did wonder if Avery’s creative approach to profanity would get wearing, but it’s so well integrated into her point-of-view chapters that I found myself smiling at the phrases she deploys. In fact, I ended the whole book with a smile on my face, and I’m definitely looking forward to the continuation of this series.

Rating: 4.5⭐️/5

A sweet, small town romance touching on grief and loss with some realllll spicy scenes and witty banter. I really enjoyed this one! There wasn’t as much slow burn for the initial romance and I’m not a huge fan of the third act breakup, but I did really enjoy the love story between Avery and Josh. I think Josh being a widow really added to the complexity of his character and gave some strong character development!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I loved Everything About This!!!

Avery Mills had a bad breakup - we learn about it more as the book progresses. She is helping her parents who both have medical issues, and working at CPR (Climax Parks & Rec). Gotta love a town called Climax.

Josh Harmon from Trede is to analyze programs at CPR and make suggestions. He is a widower with two small children. Lots of small-town quirkiness (in the best way), witty banter, and also some real-life issues.

Special town bells, family, community, a matchmaking mayor, romance, and some personal revelations. A delight to read from first page to the last!

The Single Dads Guide To Recreation is a cute, sweet easy read starring Josh and Avery. It’s an opposites attract romance that was captivating, witty, entertaining and well written. It’s book one in the Welcome to Climax Series.
Josh is a single dad trying to do the best he can for his kids and Avery is new in town trying to get a fresh start and take care of her elderly parents. When Avery fights to keep her mums community program alive she finds herself fighting the man she is extremely attracted to….. and that’s when the fun and games begin.
I laughed, I giggled and I smiled a lot throughout this entertaining read.

This book did exactly what it came here to do because all I want to do now is read more about the quirky characters of Climax and their love stories!!!

Avery, a caregiver for her sick parents, with a traumatic past in love and life, and Josh, a widower father of two who questions if he's capable of loving someone how he truly wants to, come together as in a professional setting and are kind of, almost working against each other...but it certainly doesn't get in the way of their chemistry.

Karen Grey did such a wonderful job letting us into these characters lives and giving us just enough of the supporting characters to feel hooked in finding out what happens to them as well.

Thank you NetGalley, Home Cooked Books, and Karen Grey for an eARC of this story!

The story was fun and lighthearted and I had a good time reading it.
This was a wonderfully written romantic comedy.
I absolutely loved these characters and really enjoyed getting to know them.
A sweet, funny and heartwarming read!
I can’t wait to read book two!

I think it’s been established that I really like Karen’s style of writing. She writes true-to-life fiction that isn’t angst driven nor sexually driven. Just a normal relationship development with shenanigans on the side of course, and I love it! It is always a pleasure to be inside one of her worlds!

The town of Climax (yeah, you read that right lol) is an absolute hoot! I cannot wait for this town to develop into a much bigger series! As I mentioned before, I like Karen’s style because of the levity she brings to her stories even when dealing with serious circumstances. She did that really well with this story and I found myself smiling even when the story wasn’t being humorous at all. I don’t know what it is, but she just makes me feel good when I’m reading her stories! The story of Avery, Josh and of course, little Percy & Mable was entertaining with excellent banter. Circumstances relatable and realistic with a sprinkle of smalltown shenanigans at almost every turn! There was nothing ”dramatic” about any part of their journey which very much added to my enjoyment! It’s a story full of laughs, hope and love! I honestly can’t wait to see what Karen has in store for the audiobook! Eeepppp!

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.

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!

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.