Iris Kelly Doesn't Date
Ratings50
Average rating4.1
This was my first Ashley Herring Blake book and it was an exceptional (queer) romance. Her writing paints the characters in such lovely detail, and I really felt at home in their little world. It was great to read about queer friend groups too, and also commenting on queer stereotypes and showing more of reality. The theatrical setting was an excellent choice. ‘Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date’ is one of the few romance books of a similar vibe that I didn’t really cringe at because it felt grounded in reality. I can’t wait for my other queer friends to read this book!
//☆ ┆ 5 stars (spoilers ahead)
“ i spent a lot of time ... convincing myself i wasn't built to last, wasn't built for romance, for love. but maybe ... maybe i was just built for you. ”
i think this book was a really nice way to end the story. i didn't read the blurb of this book so i was pleasantly surprised to see the fake dating trope! i loved reading how stevie started to slowly fall in love with iris and vice versa. the bits talking about stevie's struggle with GAD definitely hit home as someone with the same diagnosis.
i really loved seeing claire more in this story - there was something about it that really made me happy, as i dont think claire had many appearances in the second book.
after the breakup arc, it really hit hard when stevie opened that package to reveal the graphic novel that iris drew about their love story. i figured that something was going to be done about iris' drawings of stevie .. their reunion was so sweet, i absolutely loved it.
lastly, the wedding scene where iris and astrid walk delilah and claire down the isle was a very sweet and bittersweet way to end their stories. the first book started with those four getting close and becoming a fairly tight knit group, and it ended with them going into a new chapter in their lives. i got attached to all these characters.
i definitely recommend this book and the trilogy.
Im so sad this series is over:( they're super light reading but it's so heart warming and, more than the romance, seeing the recurring characters be them is just adorable
5 stars I don't remember the last time I waited so long for a book. I waited for Iris for YEARS. It was everything. I'm sad the series is over. Someone needs to turn this into a tv show.