I love a good queer reality TV story, and this was a solid read. I think my biggest issue was the narration jumping between characters without warning. It was really jarring to be in Annie's head one moment and Nicole's the next. But the premise was interesting, and the spice was hot, if a little oddly timed.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the opportunity to read and review.

4.5. This was an absolutely delightful slow-burn romantic rom-com. I had a delightful time reading it.

Executive Producer, Annie Jackson, teamed up with Nicole Hart, a computer programmer, to create a totally unique twist on a reality show. Sophisticated algorithms were created from information supplied by contestants. The two ideally compatible applicants would become brides 1 and bride 2 and get married on the television show, I Do, I Don’t. After four months one or both would have the option to opt out and divorce.
Bride 2 suddenly backed out shortly before the wedding and the next ideal match, #3, accidentally happened to be Nicole, who had entered her data during test programming and unknowingly forgot to remove it.
However, it was too late and Nicole couldn’t back out and blow up the whole show.

The wedding went forward with Nicole marrying Lisa, the lovely bride 1 who was naive to all the behind the scenes happenings.The story continued with humorous and tense-filled moments, from discovery by national entertainment shows that wanted interviews, to possibly exposing the growing feelings between Nicole and Annie, all while trying to keep Nicole’s position as an employee quiet.

The story was fun, lighthearted and actually had me laughing out loud, especially during a particular love scene! I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did. My thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

First of all, what a gorgeous cover! I was drawn by it and the synopsis that promised drama.

Showrunner Annie Jackson is banking on the success of her own reality show, I Do, I Don’t. In it, a selected candidate will marry an absolute stranger on tv that she has been matched with by a romance algorithm. When the candidate’s matched bride backs out, her replacement came in the form of the algorithm’s developer, Nicole Hart. If this is not enough drama, Annie and Nicole start falling for each other.

When Nicole met her bride for the first time and liked her, it set me on edge wondering how it will all pan out. While she has to stay married for 4 months, it became a catalyst for Annie and Nicole to realise and decide whether to act on their feelings.

The main leads are likeable characters but with the show as the centrepiece, I thought it stole some of the attention between the pair. With so much at stake, their attraction had to take a back seat but I wish for a bit more angst and bite as their feelings grew. Overall this is a good book with an excitable plot.

I just reviewed I Do, I Don’t by Joy Argento. Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC.

I liked the idea of what I thought this book would be more than its actual execution. Annie Jackson quits a solid job to start her own production company and create a reality tv show. The premise is that two woman will be match based on fancy algorithms for compatibility. They will meet on their wedding day and agree to stay married for four months to see if it is a forever match. Of course everything will be filmed for tv episodes. When one of the selected brides backs out at the last moment Annie runs the data base for the next best match.

Nicole Hart works for Annie and wrote the algorithm for matching strangers. She put her own information into the data base for testing and draws out as the best match for the current bride. So the show can go on she agrees to be the second bride. But instead of her new wife she finds she is drawn to Annie.

I like the idea of the reality show but the actual description sounds very dull and fake. Even when intentional drama is added it lasts only a blip of a second. Because the romance is not taking place on the show itself the interactions with the brides is friendship filler. Because Nicole is honestly trying to make the marriage work the real romance is slow burn.

This is nice story with kind MCs and side friends and family. But I wasn’t very invested in the main characters or their romance. It is a light and easy read with little angst. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I am leaving an honest review. (3.5 Stars)

4 ⭐ Captivating from the beginning, a unique take on the reality TV trope, amazing friendships, and unexpected love. So many of my favorite tropes together in this gem! Total delight!

TV Producer Annie Jackson is running a reality TV show. Two total strangers, who've been matched together by the world's best romance algorithm, meet each other for the first time at the alter. At the last minute, one of the brides backs out, and the next best match ends up being Nicole, the computer programmer who wrote the code for the algorithm.

In order to save the show (and her job), Nicole agrees to do it. They can get divorced after four months if it doesn't work out, so why not? But as she gets to know her new wife and settles into married life, she realizes she has feelings for her boss, Annie, and Annie seems to be interested in her too.

I love the twists on popular tropes in this book. The friendships in this story enriched the plot, the subtle shift of feelings as the book progressed were delightful, and it the budding romance between Nicole and her boss while she's legitimately trying to make her fledgling marriage work was a trip to read! Definitely check this one out if you are into slow burn sapphic romance!

[Thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!]