I read this book sporadically over the span of roughly a month. I found the plot very interesting and not at all similar to things I have read in the past, however, there were many plot lines to follow which made it difficult to keep track of. There were three main characters throughout the story and each had their own plot that tied into the main plot of the story, wherein the trio all enrolled in the "24 Hour Dating Agency" where they would be matched with someone for a 24-hour long date. The main character enrolled under a fake name for the purpose of writing a story and dragged the other two along with for the fun. I would like to repeat that the overall plot was very interesting and creative, however just not something that went well with my lack of attention span.

I enjoyed the quirkiness of the characters. Sometimes I felt like the writer was writing too many details in the book and it was just overload with needless information. But I did enjoy the book . Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC

Saffie, Milo and Tamara are friends and coworkers at a small periodical that focuses on covering sort of weird local news. Milo doesn't have the best track record of choosing men he dates but is determined not to end up alone. Saffie has been experiencing the hell of online dating after leaving her fiance practically at the altar. And Tamara's ex-husband who abandoned her and her kids is back in her life attempting to reconnect with the kids and with some major news to boot. When Saffie and Milo come across an ad for a new dating agency with a different kind of premise - they set up their clients on just one 24 hour date promising a soulmate level connection - all 3 friends decide to sign up but for extremely different reasons.

I rarely pick up romcoms but when I do I wish they all were like tHe 24 Hour Agency! I read it in basically one sitting and I adored the story, the characters and the ending. I highly reccomend this especially during summer time and especially for romcoms readers!

Sick of how their love lives are going, best friends and colleagues Tamara and Milo sign up for the 24 hour dating agency. Neither of them meets who they expected, but will it lead to true love for either of them? A fun read.

This was a fun story that follows three main characters in their 30s who are fed up with dating. I appreciated the concept of finding a match based personality, not appearance. The MCs’ journeys to find love are quirky and funny, while also feeling realistic. There was a good balance of entertainment and real emotion. There were also a few twists, so I was kept on my toes for a bit, but ultimately I enjoyed the satisfying HEA.

I loved this book. The 24 hour date idea was different and made the book different from your typical romance. Each person ended up with someone they weren't expecting at all, and it made the book so much better.
I loved that everyone got their happy ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

I loved this book! The characters, the pacing, the storyline…all of it. The 24 Hour Dating Agency is a perfect beach read and I highly recommend it.

I’m not sure what I expected from this book, but I came away absolutely delighted with the story. The 24 Hour Dating Agency follows three friends, as they agree to try out a new dating service that guarantees a successful 24-hour day in which they’ll meet their soulmate (or their money back).

What I loved about this book is the dynamic of the friendships, family and co-working relationships, as well as the fact the book dives deeper into the lives (past and present) of the main characters. It really helped me to understand and empathize with the characters. And left me sad to leave them at the end!

I highly recommend this read to those looking for a quick, fun rom-com.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Aria for the ARC. All thoughts in this review are honest and my own.

I tried really hard to like this book but it was just not for me.

I was not hooked in and it felt extremely cliché. The characters didn't feel realistic or likable and I didn't have a buy in for the story.

I honestly just didn't care about it. I would argue this wasn't really a 'romcom' either.. it almost felt like a slice of life?



Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a great story about finding love blindly and learning to understand your quirks while also navigating life's changes. Each of the characters had their own hidden struggles in life, a divorcee, a character who wants to make moves in a career and another who is trying to beat their age clock. All three co-workers at a unique magazine that needs a refresh. With just enough twists and turns, while keeping characters relate-able and easy to root for! I loved this feel-good romance!

This is a fun read that was better than I expected. Three good friends see ads for the 24 Hour Dating Agency, a dating agency that promises you’ll meet your soulmate or get your money back.
After they fill out extremely detailed questionnaires, they get a notification with the details of their upcoming date.
The dates were fun to read about, they were all very different but all of them were entertaining. One character says the match isn’t someone you’d pick, but it might be someone you need.
All in all a charming book that I really enjoyed, 4 stars.

Synopsis

Tinder, Hinge, Bumble – thirtysomething journalist Saffie has tried them all. Now she's wondering whether it's time to throw in the towel and give up on love for good – and she's not alone...

Saffie's boss Tamara has been single since her divorce four years ago, but at forty-five, running her own magazine and with three kids at home, she doesn't feel she has the time, energy or confidence to go through the dating mill again. Meanwhile, Saffie's best friend Milo has just been dumped – again. A hopeless romantic with terrible taste in men, this is his fourth break-up in six months. There must be a secret to finding Mr Right, surely – but what?

Step forward 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. And even better, the agency offers a soulmate guarantee: meet The One or your money back.

Figuring they have nothing to lose, the three friends sign up. But when their matches turn out to be not what they were expecting, it seems like even the soulmate guarantee can't find them what they're looking for. Or can it?

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my Own.

A very new concept indeed. Not a concept that some of us might not have thought of but a concept woven so beautifully into a tale that makes you smile as the last page of the story comes into view. Like the title suggests, the story revolves around a concept of a date that spans for 24 hours and guarantees a soulmate. There are other variables that get plugged into this date but if I had to summarize it in a line that’s what the date means.
It’s rare for us as humans to chuck our preconceived notions about qualities that we want in our partner. Very often the thin line between what we actually want and what we want so that the society regards us better mixes up and we might end up with a person who makes us feel look better in society but really doesn’t understand is. That’s what the story tells us. At times, we might need someone who is not biased and can match us to people who complement the true us, who really are the yum to our yang.
It took me a while to get into the story. But by one fourth of the book, I was pulled in and then it was hard to keep the story down. There are 3 main characters in the book; Saffie: a cool journalist who loves showcasing her mood as her hair color and loves tattoos; Milo: sibling to the editor of the journal and a hopeless romantic (if I can say) who just wants a man to love him as he is; Tamara: an editor to an amazing magazine and a beautiful single mom to three kiddies. They’re all working for The Throstler’s Nest which is a quirky little magazine and in their 40’s. With the constant date failures, an opportunity knocks on their door with the concept of 24 hour dating agency and they sign up for it. Through twists and turns, they find their partners but mind you there’s a fair lot of fun, drama and suspense in their journey to find them. This is what makes the book an amazing one! Thank you NetGalley and Aria books for this review copy!

I really enjoyed this book, all the characters are great but Tam holds a special place in my heart as the favourite. I loved the writing of the friendship, family, complex issues and love.

I liked Saffie more at the beginning than in the end just because I found her story a bit boring towards the end and there were so many misunderstandings and not enough development with the plot point. Although I was surprised at the twist for her story.

Milo is a loveable character and I really enjoyed his scenes but there just wasn't enough. I wish we had seen his relationship grow more with his partner as it felt confusing understanding how he felt the way he felt. Also their ending was really rushed.

I loved Tamara's story the most and I think its because we saw the most growth, plot and change which was really nice. I love her relationship with her kids. Her strong will to move past the awful moment that rocked her life and love that she got to have a word against her ex for walking out.

The reason I knock it two stars is because one I felt Saffie and Milo's stories needed a bit more substance and plot development. Two I hated the ending with a passion, like I was happy for them all but Natalie's ending was ridiculous, she should have left that man and everyone essentially had the same ending and although nice is a bit wasted on a chapter.

This was really cute. I enjoyed that the main characters weren't in their 20's any longer. There was a lot going on, but it kept moving and kept my attention.

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for this ARC.

What a charming, sweet ensemble romantic comedy! I enjoyed the tripod of friends/family/coworkers each pursuing happily-ever-afters through a matchmaking service that promises to find your soulmate and have you fall in love over the course of a 24 hour date. Only Saffie, Milo and Tamara each cry foul - Milo is set up with Ana ex who despises him, Tamara is set up with a man she doesn’t think she has anything in common with, and Saffie thinks she’s found someone with potential - until she finds out it’s Tamara’s cousin, who lied about his name, marital status, and profession and just happens to be her new boss. Over the course of several months, each one of them has come to terms with their “soulmate” and that maybe they were set up with the person they needed, not necessarily the person they thought they wanted. It was interesting to see how each of them had to grow and evolve, and in doing so, what they really want and need in order to find their happiness.

I had a 24 hour reading date with this book! It was light and fun with quirky characters and a cute premise.

Saffie, Milo and Tamara are friends and coworkers at a small periodical that focuses on covering sort of weird local news. Milo doesn't have the best track record of choosing men he dates but is determined not to end up alone. Saffie has been experiencing the hell of online dating after leaving her fiance practically at the altar. And Tamara's ex-husband who abandoned her and her kids is back in her life attempting to reconnect with the kids and with some major news to boot. When Saffie and Milo come across an ad for a new dating agency with a different kind of premise - they set up their clients on just one 24 hour date promising a soulmate level connection - all 3 friends decide to sign up but for extremely different reasons.

The 24 Hour Dating Agency is the kind of rom-com I gravitate towards. The kind that makes me feel like I'm on vacation and I simply have to read "just one more chapter". If you're a fan of the genre or are simply looking for your next great beach read, I highly recommend the adventures of this trio of underdogs.

Grateful to NetGalley and Head of Zeus publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review! Considering how much I enjoyed this one, I'll definitely be picking up some of Mary Jayne Baker's earlier works!

3 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This was an ok contemporary romance novel. It follows the exploits of three co-workers and friends at a monthly periodical (not a magazine, mind you) as they sign up with a dating service that promises to deliver your soulmate during one 24 hour long date. The service boasts a 100% success rate, and promises a money-back guarantee if the match is not successful.

Thirtysomethings Charlie and Milo are tired of the same old dating app failures. Milo finds an ad for the 24 hour dating service and begs Charlie to sign up with him. Charlie is more skeptical and decides to go "undercover" to write an exposé on the dating service. She's matched with someone she never would have chosen for herself, and yet...as the date progresses, the couple find themselves completely enamored with each other. Charlie quickly abandons her plans to write the story. Milo, having suffered 3 breakups in 3 months, is desperate to find Mr. Right and settle down. When he's matched with a man he had an unfortunate encounter with while he was in his 20s, he's certain the date is doomed. But, 24 is a long time and who knows what can happen in that time? Tamara, 43, divorced with 3 kids and a business to run, had decided that a love life for her was something in the past, but at the last minute decides to join Charlie and Milo. Her date is nothing like she expected at all. But, perhaps there is something to be said for someone choosing what you need, rather than what you want.

This all sounds like a great set-up, doesn't it? I thought so too. I was excited to read this book. Sadly, it fell short for me. Firstly, it's way too long for what it is. The book reads very slow, which was frustrating. I almost gave up about half-way through, although I'm glad that I finished it because it did pick up about 3/4 of the way through and I ultimately enjoyed the book. Secondly, there was too much stuff about the periodical. It halted the story in its tracks every time. A little bit for backstory is fine, but too much takes away from the romance story and that was the story the author was trying to tell (I think) - not one about a family's long-term magazine business.

I liked all of the main characters. Charlie was smart and ambitious, with just enough snark to be funny but not mean. Milo was a hoot and was by far my favorite character. He was loving and caring and earnest, but in a cool, not desperate, way. Tamara was a bad-ass boss lady who did the best she could with her kids and was too hard on herself. I'm sure a lot of people will relate to her. If the book was pared down to just the dating agency and romance storylines, I would have given it a higher rating. Sadly, all of the extra magazine stuff slowed the story down and hence, brought my rating down.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Head of Zeus, Aria. All opinions are my own.

This was a quick and breezy read for anyone who has driveled in internet dating. I really enjoyed all of the characters in this book. Tamara being my favorite has overcome a bitter divorce meets "Harry", an unlikely match. The book seamlessly flips from character perspectives and their daily dramas at their magazine. This was a fun book to read and I look forward to reading more by this author.

I requested this book expecting it to be nothing like it turned out to be! I was pleasantly surprised and I really enjoyed this book! I love how wholesome and sweet this story was and how it followed three people who’s lives are intertwined in so many different ways. It just right all the cuteness spots for me and I think I’ll be checking out the others other works for a light feel good read in the future!

The 24hour Dating Agency sounds like the kind of thing you’d make up in a crazy moment. Conventional dating apps don’t seem to work, so for a £500 fee you are promised a 24hr date with a match and your money back if you don’t fall in love. Who would ever fall for such a scam?
At the start of the book we’re introduced to Tam, Milo and Saffie. All in their mid-thirties and all rather unlucky in love. Fed up with speed dates and awful experiences with exes, they decide to sign up for a new experience. Saffie, as she’s determined to get a good news story out of it, and the others because they want the love that’s eluded them so far.
The book follows the three in their daily lives as they navigate their dates and the fall-out. Not everything is quite what it seems, and it was hard not to get caught up in the drama surrounding them. It highlighted how much we prioritise appearances when choosing partners and it was a definite push for learning to put yourself first. There was little doubt we’d end happily, though they all had to work for it.