Hey, Jude....

This was a contemporary Cyrano...Olive, she's an influencer (ugh!), large, plus-sized, decides to slide into Jasper's DM's. He's a pretty celebrity. But, its his sweet younger brother, Jude, who begins responding to Olive's DM's. They flirt and banter and tell secrets...but Jude is not Jasper....Hey, Jude!
Recommend.

What a cute, heartwarming, entertaining and overall perfect rom com from Teagan Hunter. A mistaken identity encounter in Instagram DM started the journey of Hollywood star Jude Rafferty and up and coming model influencer Olive but it became something much deeper and beautiful at the end. This light hearted entertainer is full of warm cozy feels but will also surprise you with depth of feels. It's a slow burn with slow spice. But I guarantee you a good time.

🎬 Hollywood star and influencer model
🎬 rom com
🎬 mistaken identity
🎬 frenemies to lovers
🎬 plus size heroine
🎬 Great secondary characters
🎬 slow burn and low spice

Hollywood star and coming from Hollywood royalty, Jude Rafferty is counting on his upcoming action romance to resurrect his career. But after a disastrous TV interview ( that was hilarious BTW), his manager plans to use his older and more successful brother's social media for some positive publicity. Jude encounters a strange and intriguing thing. Someone has been using his brother's DM as a diary. He just doesn't know she is the same feisty girl he has been having a frenemy moment at the coffee truck. Influencer and upcoming model on a mission to promote sustainable fashion..Olive is initially mortified.They start talking and forms a very special connection but what will happen when Jude's deception will be out? Hollywood is a ruthless world..can Olive handle the drama and scrutiny?

Olive is such a badass character. She comes from a small town and has fought for every bit of space in the social media kingdom. Her missions are important. Size inclusiveness in high fashion and sustainable fashion. And she won't compromise with any of it. It is a case of some level of grumpy sunshine because I cannot call Jude grumpy but he is definitely anti- people. His profession requires a lot of publicity and PR games and he loathes this part. He wants to be a successful actor doing meaningful movies but he is so awkward in spotlight and has to work hard to keep his name out of headlines for embarrassing reasons. But Olive put him at ease with her compassionate and easy going personality. She never treated him any different because of his stardom or his family. I loved that the author didn't drag the mistaken identity part very far and it was revealed when they were just good friends..before falling in love. The Hollywood drama played an important part and it almost broke them both. But thank god for awesome best friend and nose-y loving obnoxious siblings. Jude can be so adorable and cute...though I probably shouldn't use the words for a hot movie star but he was that! Charming. Witty. Down to earth. And Olive brought out his spicy sides!

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

This book gave me all the joy! The representation was sublime and was done so well - Olive is a bigger FMC and she was fierce. She is a model who is loved for who she is and what she stands for and she is starting to become more well known. Insert a hot actor who thinks she is gorgeous from day 1 and we have a winner! This book swept me away in the romance of stardom, but it also dealt with some serious concepts. I love that Olive is all about sustainable clothes and will only work with companies that also support that. Jude is newly back into the acting scene and is trying to find his place within the world he was born into. I adored both of these characters, they both had to learn and adapt together and it just made me so happy. I giggled at so many points in this book and I just loved reading it. If you loved a Teagan then you won't want to miss this! I cannot wait to see if we get more from this world!

Teagan Hunter's "The DM Diaries" is a charming and engaging romantic comedy that brings together the worlds of social media and celebrity. Olive O’Brien, a plus-size influencer, finds comfort in sending DMs to movie star Jasper Rafferty, never expecting a response. However, it's Jasper’s brother Jude who reads and responds to her messages, sparking an unexpected connection. The story is filled with witty banter, heartfelt moments, and the intriguing dynamics of mistaken identity. The slow-building romance between Olive and Jude, coupled with the tension of their impending reveal, makes this a delightful and enjoyable read. Perfect for fans of lighthearted, contemporary romance

"The DM Diaries" is a fun, fairly light-hearted read, with a super cute main couple and highly amusing secondary characters. I like the premise but I do think it requires a bit of suspension of disbelief - I have trouble believing that anyone would use someone else's DMs as their personal online journal, especially someone as well-versed in social media as Olive. Regardless, it allows for an interesting way for her and Jude to get to know each other, even if she at first believes she is talking to Jude's brother, Jasper.

This book has excellent banter, not just between Olive and Jude but also between various other characters. Jude's sibling dynamics are especially amusing - and touching. I love Olive's friendship with Annie and I also love how Olive and Jude build a friendship through messages and texts before they became more. Hunter handles the plus-size representation well, making it somehow important and yet not, if that makes sense.

I was less impressed with the third-act breakup. I am not a big fan of this trope in general and it felt out of character for the initiator, and the other's reaction even more so. I understand the desire to add drama to the story, but I think there were different ways it could have been done. Regardless, I still really enjoyed this book and think it is worth adding to your summer reading list. I would definitely read more by Teagan Hunter.

4 stars. Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own.

A fun book that ALMOST tempted me to try this myself. A great summer read that will make you smile while enjoying the fresh air.

Teagan does it again and brings us a book that made me laugh, fall in love, and nearly lose my workday just to finish it.

Olive and Jude were lovely together. They didn't start off on the right foot because (as the synopsis says) Olive believes she's chatting with Jasper, who happens to be Jude's brother (both are actors, but Jasper is more famous than Jude) and when Olive discovers the truth, she feels betrayed, but there's no major drama about it.

The story revolves around Olive sending DM (instagram) to Jasper, sharing her secrets with the illusion that he, being a famous actor, will never find out. However, Jude reads everything and responds, leading to an unexpected friendship. Eventually, they have a chaotic encounter (neither knowing who the other is), which blossoms into a genuine connection. While the message exchange is central to the plot, once they're finally together, everything is sweet. Jude supports Olive in her influencer career, and Olive helps Jude figure out his path in acting. Their friends and family play a crucial role in the book, providing unwavering support.

These two have great chemistry, and although there's significant drama toward the end (which I saw coming), I appreciated how they resolved it. The book is so captivating that it practically reads itself, and it's infused with Teagan's signature style.

📌I received an e-arc through netgalley, and this is my honest opinion/review of it.

Teagan is one of my favorite authors. She writes some of the best and funniest banter or texting (or emailing) conversations. The way she’s able to write funny and sarcastic females but who also have great personalities is amazing. There’s not a book I won’t read from her. This book was a little different than her norm (obsessed with her hock) but it was fun and captivating.

I was lucky enough to receive as an ARC 🥰

The DM Diaries is a delightful romantic comedy that perfectly blends humour, heart, and a touch of celebrity intrigue. It's a charming tale about unexpected connections and the beauty of being true to oneself.

Olive O’Brien, a plus-size influencer with half a million followers, is navigating the pressures of standing out while staying authentic. In her quest for solace, she pours her heart out in the DMs of Jasper Rafferty, the hottest movie star, never expecting him to read them. Little does she know, it's actually Jasper's younger brother, Jude, managing his social media to salvage his own career after a disastrous interview.

Jude's responses to Olive's messages are driven by his growing admiration for her wit and vulnerability. As their DMs become increasingly flirty and personal, Jude faces the daunting challenge of maintaining the facade. The central tension revolves around what will happen when Olive discovers the truth behind "Jasper's" responses.

Hunter's storytelling is engaging, balancing humour with emotional depth. Olive's character is refreshingly relatable, and her journey of self-discovery is inspiring. Jude's struggle to come clean while developing genuine feelings for Olive adds a compelling layer of conflict.

The DM Diaries is a witty and heartwarming read that explores the complexities of identity, honesty, and love in the digital age. Teagan Hunter delivers a feel-good romance that's sure to leave readers smiling and rooting for a happily ever after.

When I see a new book by Teagan Hunter, I’m going to read it. I love both of her hockey series and was excited for something different!

I really love the anonymous texting type of trope. This book has a little bit of a different twist, and I was really intrigued.
Although, I don’t know how it took them so long to realize who the other was. Especially him! 🤣

The DM diaries was full of cute, fun banter. Plus, some likable side characters which helped round the story out.

I absolutely love the plus-size rep!

Read if you like:
Online romance
Mistaken identity
Plus size FMC
Cinnamon roll MMC
Actor/Influencer

A NYC influencer using a famous actors dm’s as a diary…. Sign me up! Loved the banter between these characters for sure! Jude and Olive were such a cute couple. I did struggle a bit with how Olive handled some things, but overall enjoyed this book! 📚

What an outstanding story! It's captivating and emotional. Once you start reading this book, be prepared to ignore everything else because I can almost guarantee that you will devour Jude and Olive's road to their happily ever after.

Thank you Montlake for the e-arc!

I love Tegan’s hockey series and I was excited to see a new book from her on Netgalley. I think she does text chains so well, so when I saw this was called the DM Diaries, I immediately wanted to read it.

I thought the premise of this story was fun, especially living in the world of when sliding into people’s DMs, celebrity or not is normal. I was really happy with how parts of the story line played out because at first I was wondering, how could this keep happening and they not know? But no fear, Tegan had it handled!

I love the plus size representation in this one, and the normalcy of a celebrity falling for her. It’s refreshing and an all around fun read.

In the DM diaries we following who Jude is the son of Oscar winning actors and Olive is a plus size model. The two don’t know each other at the start and their story begins when Olive follows Jasper, Jude’s brother and movie star on social media and after loosing her father and going through a breakup. She begins to DM Jasper’s account, knowing he’d never open the messages and uses it like a diary. One night whilst at the bar with Jasper, Jude decides to open his brothers DMs and discovers Olives messages. From here, they begin chatting through DMs but Olive has no idea she’s actually talking to Jude and not Jasper.

From here they meet in person but they don’t recognise eachother and I didn’t really understand how Jude didn’t realise Olive was the girl he nicknamed ‘Sunshine’ after seeing her profile and then her in person.

However Jude felt very human in his character in the sense I liked that he didn’t rely on his name or family and had more depth to him than just being a movie star. I liked the plus size representation with Olive. This was the first book I’ve read by this author and I would like to read more!

I really enjoyed this book - although I felt like the 3rd act break-up was sudden and rushed. I definitely called it too - I am still angry about it.

What I really liked about this book was the positive portrayal of a plus size person sticking to her values and wanting to portray herself in a positive light.

This was so stinkin’ cute !!! The characters were absolute perfection in my eyes - both lead and so many supporting. The banter was top tier. Just a really easy, light read with the right amount of humor and heart as well as a dash of drama.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: July 2, 2024

Okay—set not only in NYC, but in my actual neighborhood and y’all know my pet peeve is unrealistic NYC settings so here we go…

There are a number of descriptions that could relate to NYC neighborhoods in general, but were not accurately descriptive of Hell’s Kitchen. I don’t mind if it’s not the real setting/places in a book—but if you walk around the neighborhood, you just won’t see some of the things described in this one. The vibes were a little off, as they’d say.

Now for the real surprise—the above didn’t stop me from reading this one! This was a ridiculously cute escapist read that I couldn’t put down!

I read an advance readers copy (ARC) of this novel and I am here to say this was a FUN one! I was laughing, smiling, and cheering on these characters! Teagan created such a fun and adorable story, that more readers need to prioritize getting a copy of once it publishes on July 2nd!

Olive is an NYC influencer who is plus size and who is using a famous actor’s DMs as a digital journal with the thought that he will not see it. Jasper’s brother Jude however stumbles upon the account and begins responding to Olive. Olive quickly realizes whom she is talking to.

Begin banter and more banter because things get fun! Olive and Jude take the banter to a whole new level. Olive is a strong FMC and Jude is a cinnamon roll if I have ever seen one. Both of them have great support systems around them and become great supports for one another. I loved that this book took influencing and social media to a realistic level unlike some books I have read in the past. I also love that Teagan created characters and a setting that were not toxic or horrible to be in for either character. I definitely fell in love with this celeb romance and also adored that Teagan focused on a plus size FMC.

I received a digit ARC of this thanks to Montlake and Netgalley.

This was just an OK read for me. A lot of inner monologue to wade through, from both points of view. The banter in this book, especially the DMs, that was gold. Funny and endearing!

Overall cute plot, just too much inner thinkings for the characters.

OLIVE + JUDE were perfect in this steamy new story out of Teagan (my first of hers that wasn't hockey related, lol).

I'm endlessly grateful to both Montlake and Brilliance Publishing for access the ARC/ALC of this title via NetGalley. These are my honest thoughts!

I ate this story up! There was tension and drama and celebrity and family... it was fun, with serious topics and lots of inclusion as well. The IDEA of the DM diaries is quite funny. Olive uses her celeb crush(ish) to send these semi-anonymous messages via DMs, knowing full well this big celebrity actor will never read them. But through a series of unfortunate events in Jude's life, he ends up with control of his brother Jasper's instagram, stumbles across the messages, and replies. The two form a friendship and both develop crushes. SIMULTANEOUSLY, our two main characters are hating each other while waiting in line at their favorite coffee truck (LOL). These two were meant to interact.

Things I loved:
- Olive is a plus-sized model with a vision for her life, confidence, and the gumption we all deserve
- Jude is just.. sweet. He's down to earth in a way most celebrity actors from famous families aren't.
- THE NICKNAMES. Unique but also not :)
- The slow build up of their relationship to something more than friendship felt SO NATURAL... ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT THESE TWO PEOPLE HAVE 500K FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM (HER) or are part of a super famous Hollywood fam (him)!
- Jude's family dynamics and siblings... gotta love older siblings, pregnant sisters with chocolate shops, meddling moms, etc.
- Olive's bff and her support and her intervention when necessary; truly a wonderful example of a modern day relationship
- Olive's mission, which she holds fast to even when lucrative modeling deals come her way
- Jude playing Barbie's
- Jude's behavior towards protecting Olive at all costs when it comes to the media
- Jude's first and second and third attempts at groveling

Big fan of this one! Out July 2nd! FANTASTIC on audio if that's your thing!