Dating-ish by Penny Reid is a romantic comedy that follows Marie Harris, a hardworking journalist who has been single since her long-term relationship ended. When Marie is asked to co-write an article about replacing human relationships with paid services, she enlists the help of AI scientist Matt Simmons, who had shown up on her last disastrous date. As Marie and Matt navigate their friendship and delve into the world of online dating, they discover a unique connection that leads them on a journey of self-discovery and love. The book is filled with witty banter, intelligent characters, and a slow burn romance that culminates in a passionate and heartfelt love story.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, with Marie as a caring friend and journalist, while Matt is an endearing, socially awkward scientist, and both undergo significant growth throughout their journey.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by clever wit and humor, featuring engaging dialogues and relatable inner thoughts that resonate emotionally with readers.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around Marie's challenging experiences with online dating, culminating in a disastrous date with Matt, which unexpectedly opens the door for a unique partnership that explores the nature of love and companionship.

Setting:

The setting is contemporary and urban, framing the story in a relatable environment that enhances the exploration of modern relationships.

Pacing:

The pacing is slow and deliberate, allowing for a gradual build-up of romance and emotional tension, keeping readers engaged throughout.

A neural network that learns in a fashion similar to that of humans and may be able to access an external memory like a conventional Turing machine, resulting in a computer that mimics the short-term ...

Notes:

The book is titled 'Dating-ish' and is part of the 'Knitting in the City' series by Penny Reid.

The main character, Marie Harris, is a journalist and has been disillusioned with online dating.

Marie goes on a disastrous blind date with Professor Matt Simmons, who is actually her friend's neighbor.

Matt is conducting a science experiment involving AI to create a companion robot.

The story explores the concepts of love, companionship, and the societal implications of AI in relationships.

Marie decides to write an article exploring alternative methods of companionship, like professional cuddlers.

The romance between Marie and Matt starts off slowly and develops through mutual friendship and exploring emotional connections.

The book tackles themes of emotional unavailability and personal growth, particularly through Matt's character.

Humor is blended with emotional depth throughout the narrative, keeping it relatable and engaging.

Readers have described the chemistry and tension between the protagonists as 'simmering' and 'deliciously tortuous'.

There are humorous elements such as cuddle therapy and 'orgasm meditation' introduced in the story.

Penny Reid is praised for creating intelligent, relatable characters with witty dialogue and real-world themes.

Has Romance?

The book contains a strong romantic element as it revolves around the relationship between the protagonists, Marie and Matt.

explicit steam level

From The Publisher:

There are three things you need to know about Marie Harris:

1) She's fed up with online dating,

2) She's so fed up, she's willing to forego the annoyance and consider more creative alternatives, and

3) She knows how to knit.

After the most bizarre and irritating first date in the history of human kind, Marie is looking for an alternative to men. With the help of her friends, she quickly identifies a few possibilities:

Need a cuddle? Use a professional cuddler. Need affirmation? Get yourself a life coach. Need an orgasm? Try orgasm meditation! Why does she need the hassle of a romantic partner when she can meet all her needs with paid services?

But then her irritating date resurfaces. And he's not at all the person she thought he was. And he suggests a different-and crazier-solution to her dilemma . . .

As everyone knows (or will soon come to realize), traditional relations between humans are a thing of the past. Robots are our future. And if robots are our future, then why do we need other people at all? more

Ratings (20)

Incredible (6)
Loved It (9)
Liked It (4)
It Was OK (1)

Reader Stats (41):

Read It (21)
Want To Read (15)
Not Interested (5)

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Dating-ish

Penny Reid

Book 8 in the series:Knitting in the City