Thank you for my eARC of this book. This was a lovely lighthearted read that I read at the perfect time. Definitely recommend for those wanting a book to make them smile.

"The Cheap Dates Club" by Lottie Brook is a delightful romantic comedy that proves love doesn't have to break the bank. In a world where dating can often feel like an expensive and exhausting endeavour, this novel offers a refreshing take on finding love on a budget.

The story follows Isla and Leigh, two strangers who are struggling with broken hearts and empty wallets. When they stumble upon an ad for a new dating service promising to help cash-strapped singles find love for free, they decide to give it a try. What follows is a series of quirky and unconventional dates, from dog walking to litter picking, that bring Isla and Leigh closer together in unexpected ways.

One of the highlights of the book is the chemistry between Isla and Leigh. Despite their initial scepticism about the dating service and each other, they soon find themselves drawn to one another in ways they never expected. Their banter is witty, their interactions are heartfelt, and their journey towards love is both entertaining and relatable.

Brook's writing is engaging and humorous, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments sprinkled throughout the story. She has a knack for creating lovable and quirky characters that readers can't help but root for, from Isla's quirky best friend to Leigh's charming rival for her affections.

At its core, "The Cheap Dates Club" is about more than just finding love on a budget. It's about overcoming past heartbreak, embracing the unexpected, and learning to appreciate the simple joys in life. It's a feel-good read that will leave you smiling long after you've turned the last page.

Everyone is feeling the pinch of the cost of living crisis and The Cheap dates Club is the book for all those who love their romance with a side order of realism. We meet Isla and Leigh who are both a little down on their luck and looking for love. When the local paper sets them up on a Guardian Blind dates style series of meetings, they find themselves getting to know each other while exploring their home city of Sheffield. This is a gorgeous story with gentle romance, characters you invest in and cracking Northern humour. Expect parrots, cheeky old ladies and biscuits. And love, of course.

4☆ A Quirky, light hearted Romance!

This is such a warm hearted must read.
I absolutely adore Isla & Leigh! Watching their budding romance fizz as they continue on their cheap dates is so heart warming.
The banter and chemistry feels so genuine which is a credit to the author.
There's plenty of smiles & giggles along the way.
Although it's not all plain sailing, so buckle up it might get a lil bumpy!

I just have to mention Doris a resident at the care home Isla works at.
Not only is she Isla's biggest fan, she is a lil minx! Proving your Never too old to fall in love! 🩷

What I loved about this book was how current and relevant it felt to dating and the current cost of living situation. It was quirky and intriguing to see what date would be next.

My only teeny tiny niggle was the ending. I wanted a little more from it. Yes it ended perfectly but I felt it ended a lil too quickly. However I do want more please!

Loved this book!! Highly recommend! Such a good read!

Loved the idea and the concept of cheap dates - with the development of the characters! ahh it was just fab!!

The title of this book captured me because it instantly made me laugh., And it didn't disappoint on that front.

In this book we meet Isla and Leigh who are matched through the cheap dates app. At first they are sceptical but decide to give it a go anyway. There are so many ideas for dates in this book. Which at first you might dismiss but are actually very good ideas to get conversation started. Like going litter picking for a first date. I mean if the date fails at least you have a funny story to tell everyone about. I mean not many people can say they have done that on a date albeit first date or not.

The characters in this book are amazing. Especially Doris who is an absolute hoot.

I haven't discovered this author before. But I certainly will be looking out for them in the future. This book was fresh and funny and really made me smile.

Leigh and Isla are matched by the cheap dates club. Will they hit it off, or will secrets and rivals keep them apart? A fun read.

The Cheap Dates Club is an authentic and genuine portrayal of modern dating, with all the self doubt and red flags you'd unfortunately expect.

If you're looking for a sweet contemporary romance this is both heartfelt and genuine, with the addition of the cutest old lady, then this is definitely one for you.

It was the title that attracted me most to this book, in addition to its very bright cover, as in a cost of living crisis, it makes sense for dating to be done in more unusual and less expensive ways

Isla and Leigh though sceptical at first, decide to give it a go, and I loved hearing their dates and the newspaper's reporting of them.

I can't say many people would be litter picking on a first date, it certainly would never occur to me but amazingly it did provide prompts for conversations, well nothing deep and meaningful but basic small talk.

I loved Isla and Leigh so much, the book is written with chapters dedicated to each of them, so we can see things from both sides, and I enjoyed getting to know them both.

But easily my favourite character was Doris, from the care home that Isla works at. She's a breath of fresh air!

I can't believe how fast I devoured this fabulous story, especially for an author i've never read, Which to me is mark of how much I was loving what I was reading.

I'm definitely keen to read more from this author in the future.

What a great book.

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

ARC Rating 4/5 ⭐️

‘I think that you are the kind of woman I could one hundred per cent fall in love with.’

I really liked the neon bookcover for this and just had to read it 💟

This is a sweet modern contemporary romance.

The story follows Isla and Leigh, who have been burnt from previous relationships but decide to sign up to the local paper's dating service ad, and give love another go. The dating service/experience aims to match couples up and set them on cheap dates.

The story was really nice, and I enjoyed alot of the humour and northern references. And the main and supporting characters were well written.

I think the story touched on a lot of important things regarding the reality of living on the bread line, balancing job satisfaction, renting/ housesharing, and living paycheck to paycheck. While still being a nice, funny cute read.

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins and Lottie Brook for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.

This was a simple, fun, easy and quick read. The perfect type of book for your holiday, beach, pool kind of read.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Isla decides to try the Gazette’s “Cheap Dates Club”. A new take on dating, a bit of a social experiment, where applicants try dating doing community service instead of spending money. Living in a shared house, struggling to work out how to make her £7 last a week, she figures “why not?”
Will Isla find love? Or will it be a complete disaster?

A funny, lighthearted and very cute read. The characters were likeable (Doris was just adorable and my favourite). The friendships were very genuine and believable and I was absolutely rooting for Isla and Leigh. A heartwarming and enjoyable book.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

A fantastic book with a great set of characters I was completely immersed in the world from the outset. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a review.

Well, now! This book is a bit special! I absolutely loved the premise of TCDC and found it completely adorable. I want to be friends with Isla, and I wouldn't mind going on a date with Leigh.

The activities chosen for the cheap dates are so cute, and I think it's a genius idea!

There was not a single second that I didn't love about this book. Highly, highly recommend!

The Cheap Dates Club, perfect for a cost of living crisis!
I thought this book was fabulous. Set in Sheffield, I love the Northern references and humour. A book that delivers with every page.
I loved Isla, but she had no luck in the dating game. Living in a shared house, skint with a low paid job. She didn’t really feel like a grown up yet. She worked in a care home sorting out the activities for the residents. Doris was a great character, liked a bit of Boggle.
Also short on cash is Leigh, divorced graphic designer. He comes with the baggage of a parrot, left over from his marriage to Serena who is also his boss.
An ad is put in the local paper for a dating experiment, cheap dates which also help in the local community. Isla and Leigh both sign up.
I thoroughly recommend this book. A brilliant concept which should be rolled out nationwide, even as a TV show. It would certainly be better viewing that the pretentious over-preened current dating shows.
Thanks to Harper Collins, Harper North and NetGalley for the review copy in which I give my honest opinion.
(I've missed Anna Mansell, so good to see her back!)
Will post to blog on publication day.