Really enjoyed this one. It had been a while since I read a book with an older aka not teenager/in their twenties main character and this one was amazing. Dating in this time with all the online dating really is a struggle. So seeing Saffie and her friend trying to figure things out was a fun ride.

A sweet read! This book was cozy like a good rom com. I didn’t get through it as quickly as I’d hoped, but I still enjoyed the story. Thank you NetGalley for this absolute treat!

*The 24 Hour Dating Agency* by Mary Jayne Baker is a major letdown. Despite being marketed as a hilarious rom-com, the humor feels forced and fails to land. The plot, centered around a quirky dating agency, is predictable and lacks originality, relying on tired tropes instead of fresh ideas. The characters are one-dimensional, with the protagonist’s behavior often annoying rather than endearing. The romance lacks chemistry, and the pacing drags, leaving little room for meaningful development. The writing feels clunky and the attempts at wit often fall flat. Overall, this book is neither funny nor engaging, making it a forgettable read.

It took me some time to get into this book. The stories were interesting but there's just a tad bit too much about the newspaper. I enjoyed friendship more than the romance in this book

I am a huge fan of Mary Jayne Baker and this book didn’t disappoint. I adored the main circle of characters and I was rooting for them all the way (apart from Tamara’s ex husband I wanted to slap him at first). The 24 hour dating agency was a genius idea and I loved how it played out. If you love a story about a small group of friends sprinkled with a bit of drama you will love this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGallet for tge ARC. Not my usual read by had me laughing out loud. Took me a while to get into the book but after that i could not put it down

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria for the ARC of this book.

Pretty standard romance book. It deals with dating apps so feels a little more contemporary. Not a bad choice for a beach weekend when you want something you can pink up quickly and get right into.

A fun sweet read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC.

The 24-hour dating agency is a contemporary cozy multi-romance novel set in Yorkshire Dales by Mary Jayne Baker about friends and coworkers Milo, Tamara, and Saffie.

The family business, The Throttler, a quirky periodical that dates back to 1939 is going through a hard time, relaying the magazine's survival on old subscribers and a few overseas readers. But so are its three employees:
Tamara, who has taken the position of editor from her grandmother, is in her forties, divorced, and with three children of her own. To add fault to injury, his ex-husband now wants to play his father role, since he is having a baby with his super young new girlfriend.

Milo, Tamara's younger brother and graphic designer of the journal, can't seem to find the One he so desperately yearns for, as a helpless romantic. Feeling like time is running out in his 30s, he would settle down with anyone good enough, yet they all end up running away when Milo drops the “I love you” bomb too early.

Saffie, on the other hand, is known as the office skeptic and, while trying to find someone through dating apps, her focus is on advancing in her journalism career and being noticed by a big company.

When Milo hears about this new and incredible Dating Agency that promises you'll find your soulmate with them, he convinces Tam and Saffie that the three should go and try it out. Milo, earlier dumped by a questionable choice of a boyfriend, sees this opportunity as the solution he is looking for. Tamara as a way to feel again young and desirable, and Saffie as a great story yet to be told. But could a questionnaire and a mysterious woman, though a 24-hour date, really bring soulmates together?

This novel is a perfect example of a beach read: Easy to read, lighthearted, and entertaining. It's a low-stakes story with a heavy theme of family bonds (either blood-related or founded) although out of the book and a nostalgic feeling to tradition as the idea of simpler times and comfort. As the magazine the main characters work on, The 24-hour Dating Agency is a quirky story with a dose of the real world with topics like motherhood, loss and belonging.
The story tries to share equally the spotlight to three love stories with their main issues (being judgmental, trying too hard to fit in, not being your true self…) and is full of funny situations and heartwarming characters. The text is dialogue-heavy, and every character is efficiently presented through the plot.

All that being said, Baker's voice as a writer sometimes made it hard to get immersed into the story, because that unconventionality and easy-going nature of the narrative felt somehow artificial at times. Like a puzzle where the pieces fit together but not perfectly.
It also felt too long since the third-act drama unfolded, being out of nowhere too intense for the intensity we have throughout the whole story. It felt unnecessary and forced.
The characters, even when they got their individual love stories, felt not exploited enough. And some got less importance in their own love story, even when having the spotlight; Milo's case is the most evident one since a lot of his chapters actually helped progress the girls' love stories instead of developing his own.

The novel has a nice and funny premise, and it's developed well enough to be enjoyable, even if it has some issues that some readers may find a little “too much” for their liking.

This book was so fun. It is a little tedious in parts, but it oozes charm and the friendships are top notch. If you want a hilarious, feel-good romance then this needs to be on your TBR.

3.75 stars

I received this arc in exchange for an honest review. 🤍

this was just the book i needed! i’m so frustrated that i didn’t pick it up sooner.

it follows three friends with their own storylines where they decide to sign up with the 24 hour dating agency, where they are matched with their supposed soulmate and have a 24-hour date with them.

i loved tamara and harry’s development and i knew it would be christian as milo’s date!! i sensed that russ and saffie would get together but i had NO idea he was richard. so so good.

Staffie is a thirty something singleton, wanting to change that status.
Saffie's boss Tamara has been single since her divorce but has no time for dating.
Saffie's best friend Milo has just been dumped again, and has a terrible taste in men.

Staffie then decides to go to the 24 Hour Dating Agency, a matchmaking service with a difference. Instead of wasting months on casual dates, they promise to send you on an intense twenty-four-hour date with your perfect match – like speed-dating but in reverse.

The three friends decide to sign up.

This book was fun, funny, and a very quick read.

I love the story being interwoven and that were following the love life of the three friends, as well as the newspaper that Staffie and Tamara work at.

Unfortunately I will be unable to give feedback on this book. I requested this book and had intentions of reading it. However my taste in books has changed and I do not feel that a review from me would do the book justice

This is so much fun, what a fabulous story, so much fun.

And a 24 hour dating agency is certainly a novel concept and I loved the various dates the three friends all went on.

Of the three matches it was the one for Tamara that I was most enamoured with initially, a man called Harry, who wasn't phased when she had to bring Willow on the date with her, and it lead to some truly wonderful moments.

Milo who recent had broken up with West, who sounded like a nightmare, was paired with someone that he might have upset in the past. I didn't warm to his date at all, nothing wrong with the guy, I just didn't quite get the same connection between them - but the actual concept of the 24 hour date for them was so brilliant.

And then there is Saffie, who really is only going along with this, to hopefully write a feature for the quirky periodical they all work for. But things didn't exactly go according to plan.

I also loved this newspaper they all work for, the features are totally barmy but equally I think it is something I would have enjoyed reading!

This is just a feel good book, with a wonderful cast of characters, some great storylines, and Tamara is ultimately my favourite character, she's just amazing for reasons you will discover when you read this.

For what was my final book of 2023, I've got to say I've totally finished my reading for the year on a big high! Woohoo!

Thank you to Aria and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I really love the cover and the fact that dating apps are included. Dating apps gave me no hope for the future and it feels nice to see that represented in a book.

When three friends sign up to a new matchmaking service, all the fun starts! Guaranteed to find their soulmate, will it really happen? What a fun book this was! I can't believe I waited so long to read it. I loved all three storylines and getting to know the characters. Will definitely be looking out for more books by this author in future.

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide me review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

This book got me back into reading romance. I am not typically a fan of the various POV's, but the way Baker delivered the storylines made it endearing to the point where I was excited for every woman.

"The 24 Hour Dating Agency" by Mary Jayne Baker is a delightful and hilarious romantic comedy that promises to captivate readers with its witty humor and charming romance. Baker's storytelling prowess shines as she crafts a tale of love, laughter, and the unexpected twists that come with finding a perfect match. The book's relatable characters and laugh-out-loud plot create an immersive reading experience that resonates with fans of both romance and women's fiction. Baker skillfully navigates the complexities of modern dating and the dynamics of relationships, adding depth to the narrative. "The 24 Hour Dating Agency" is a heartwarming reminder that love can be found in the most unexpected ways, leaving readers with a smile and a sense of joy as they embark on a humorous journey of romantic escapades and unexpected connections.

I personally hated dating. All of the pressures attached, the emotional investments and mind games make me feel very lucky I met my now-husband in my early 20’s. The premise of this book following three friends signing up for a blind-date/matchmaking service was something I thought would be interesting as I would never be able to sign up myself for sheer social anxiety.

It was important to the story that we were able to get the three stories and perspectives from the trio of main characters, but I wish their voices were a bit more distinct. They all vibed as a group of friends, but I found the interactions and tone to be a bit flatter and more similar than I like. And although this was very easy to get into, I found it hard to actually get engaged in the story. I never found myself itching to pick it back up.

This read definitely had me smiling at parts and rooting for the characters, but also rolling my eyes at others. I will likely read from this author again when I’m looking for a light rom-com!