"The Single Dad's Guide to Recreation" by Karen Grey is a hilarious read with wonderfully engaging characters. Grey thoughtfully addresses sensitive topics, adding depth to the story. However, the language in the love scenes felt a bit cringeworthy, and the heavy reliance on miscommunication could have been resolved with more openness between the characters, making it feel somewhat overdone. That said, it's a quick, fun read that had me laughing out loud and definitely deserves a spot on your TBR.
Thank you to NetGallery and Home Cooked Books for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for this book!!! This was such a sweet & easy read. I related to Avery in so many ways & Josh was a sweetheart of a single dad. I had plenty of giggles & feet-kicking moments 💕 I think I wanted a little bit more of their build-up because I love the tension, but I still had a splendid time reading this one!

I saw this book on a friend’s IG page and thought it looked great, I absolutely love a rom com so I requested it straight away.

Sadly though it ended up being a DNF for me as I really struggled with the characters and couldn’t connect with any of them. I felt that so much happened at the start that it was hard to keep up with who was who so that didn’t help either.

I’m absolutely gutted as it looked very promising but I knew pretty much straight away that it wasn’t for me, I tried but in the end it was a DNF.

I won’t be sharing this book on any of my socials as this is my opinion only and others may love it.

Karen Grey's "A Single Dad's Guide to Recreation" presents a narrative of contrasting worlds and burgeoning connection, yet ultimately delivers a reading experience of moderate impact. The character of Josh, a recently relocated corporate vice president from Manhattan, is portrayed as a figure of efficiency and fiscal responsibility, tasked with cost reduction within the local public sector. His arrival disrupts the established rhythm of the small town, particularly impacting the program overseen by Avery.

Avery, positioned as the antithesis to Josh's pragmatic approach, is a natural caretaker and community pillar, particularly adept at engaging with young children. Her personal narrative is underscored by a profound vulnerability, stemming from the dissolution of her previous relationship amidst the revelation of her inability to conceive. The author effectively establishes the stark contrast between Josh's business-centric worldview and Avery's nurturing, community-oriented ethos.

Can Avery convince Josh that her job is worth it? That her program is worth saving? Can Josh convince Avery he's worth a chance despite all the baggage he brings with?

The story although quick and fast-paced contained too much voice and humor for me.

So so so cute and fun! I loved every single minute of this book. I just didn't want it to end. I rooted for the MCs and loved watching their love story unfold. I giggled and kicked my feet so many times!

Thank you to NetGalley and Karen Grey for allowing me to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The book follows Avery, who's trying to save her mother's recreation center and Josh, a golden retriever single dad who works for the man who's trying to destroy said recreation center.

It was a cute read but sometimes Avery's wording would give me the ick and I just didn't connect with the characters.

Overall 3.5 stars!

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for an advanced arc!

This book follows Avery and Josh, and unlikely but likely pair. Avery the loving, overworked pushover and Josh the widowed dad of two that just moved to Climax (yes you read that right) with for his new job with Trede.

Rachel's Review 4/5
First of all, I appreciated this was NOT an age gap romance. Every romance novel I read with a single dad, the FMC is ALWAYS much younger and the babysitter. I'm glad this book didn't follow that cliche. This book was a cute and easy romance book to read that I was able to finish in one sitting. Overall I liked the characters, but insta-love tropes are my least favorite romance trope, however there was a "magic clock" in this story that maybe makes it okay? I liked the representation of a single parent that was fleshed out and not seemingly just for the plot and the characters were surprisingly well fleshed out for a shorter read. Overall I would recommend this book for the cute romance and more realistic story plots (for the most part).

Karen Grey delivers a heartwarming and witty small-town romance in The Single Dad’s Guide to Recreation. Avery, a devoted toddler class teacher, clashes with Josh, a widowed father whose new job threatens her program’s funding. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry undeniable, and their journey from adversaries to something more is both heartfelt and humorous.

Grey balances humor with emotional depth, making Climax feel alive with quirky characters and genuine moments. Fans of single-parent romances and opposites-attract dynamics will love this charming, feel-good read.

This is the first in the "Welcome to Climax" series and has all the hallmarks of being great reads. Josh and Avery work on opposite sides of the business divide; Avery is trying to keep the programs that her mom started alive at the local recreation department and Josh has the job of making sure all the programs are profitable. But sometimes the heart doesn't listen when it's supposed to! Josh is a widower with two young children who has moved to be closer to family, who he hopes will help with his children. With the world seemingly against them, Avery and Josh still manage to spend time together and eventually, the chemistry explodes. With many traumas in their pasts, both Josh and Avery do not trust easily, but once again, their hearts don't seem to listen!

This was a cute, fun story, well written with character development that is on point. The life experiences that shaped Avery and Josh's outlook on life were complex and dealt with compassion and this book was peppered with funny moments that kept things from getting too serious. I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of this series.

📚 BookTok Review: The Single Dad's Guide to Recreation by Karen Grey 💘🎡

If you love grumpy-sunshine romance, single dad struggles, and nostalgic '90s vibes, this book is a must-read! Josh, a dedicated but overworked single dad, isn’t looking for love—until Avery, his carefree and adventurous new friend, crashes into his life with her infectious energy. Sparks fly as she helps him rediscover the fun in life, but can he let go of his fears and take a chance on love?

✨ What to Expect:
🎡 Opposites attract with sizzling chemistry
😂 Witty banter & heartwarming dad moments
💘 Slow-burn romance with all the feels
🎶 A perfect dose of '90s nostalgia

Sweet, steamy, and packed with charm, this book will have you laughing, swooning, and rooting for Josh & Avery the whole way through! 📖💞

#TheSingleDadsGuideToRecreation #KarenGrey #SingleDadRomance #GrumpySunshine #90sRomance #BookTokRecs

This was a really cute read. I loved the kiddos. I liked that the author didn't make this too unrealistic and gave real-life problems that that the MCs dealt with: death of a spouse, relationship failures, caring for sick family, trying to make ends meet, trying to raise kids with the help of your family, small down gossip and meddling, trying to better your community. They were perfectly normal MCs, which I appreciated.

The third act breakup was a bit dramatic, but given the high stress of that moment in time, I suppose it was an acceptable and forgivable response to the situation. The epilogue was perfect.

This was my first Karen Grey book, so I look forward to reading more by the author in the future, especially with this series.

I will note that the use of 'chronic COVID' as a term to describe a health condition confused me since I've never heard it referred to that, only by the usual term, Long COVID. Even Google says it's most commonly called Long COVID. That makes it more relatable and understandable once you hear that. Chronic COVID sounds like someone keeps getting COVID over and over again. So if you're confused, just know the author means Long COVID :)

This was really cute book. I enjoy Karen’s writing style. I found this to be easy to read. It was a fun quick read. I read it in just a few hours.

The story follows Avery and Josh.
The are the embodiment of opposite attraction. Enemies to lovers. Josh works for the mayor and is helping to cancel the very program that Avery is struggling to keep going.

Very enjoyable. Lighthearted and funny.

A Single Dad’s Guide to Recreation is a heartwarming read, brimming with fun, relatable characters and a charming storyline. Sparks ignite between Avery and Josh the instant they meet, but their situation is far from simple. Josh has been tasked with shutting down the very community program that binds Avery to her mother’s legacy. Together, they embark on a mission to revitalize and enhance the recreation center, striving to prove its value to the community—while grappling with the undeniable pull drawing them closer to one another.

Both Avery and Josh face personal struggles that add depth and complexity to their journey. Watching them confront their fears and find the courage to embrace bravery is both inspiring and moving. Their growth is beautifully woven into a story that had me laughing and feeling all the emotions.

A Single Dad’s Guide to Recreation is a fantastic kick-off to a promising new series, and I can’t wait to explore more of this delightful world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Karen Grey for allowing me to read the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This book was super cute and sweet. It follows Avery and Josh who are the very definition of opposites attract. Avery is fighting to keep her mom’s community program alive while Josh, the man she is trying not to have feelings for, is working for the mayor to basically get rid of it. If you enjoy small town romance, single dads, forced proximity this is definitely one to check out.

I was really enjoying the topics addressed in this book, the handling of an STD is not something you often see in romance and I loved how it and the partial infertility was handled. A few things detracted from the overall read- the use of fake curse words was overdone. I get supplementing them in the story but this was overwhelming. The sex scenes were very awkward. The word choices were just over done- soft globes, cleft, describing pubes. Overall, just not a fit for me.

I'll be honest, I blew through this book, it was an easy quick read and had a lot of elements that I like, but I absolutely hate the miscommunication trope and this book had it in spades. I wish we had gotten to see more of the kids and I really enjoyed the Parks and Rec feel of the book. Another thing that really made me cringe was Avery and her personality. she's supposed to be this 29 year old and yet she talks like a teen. I don't feel like I wasted my time reading this book and I think this series has the potential to be great, but it will need editing to get there.

This book follows Avery and Josh, a wonderful pairing that are the definition of opposites attract. As Avery fights to keep her mother's community programs alive, she runs into just a roadblock: the man she is supposed to hate for coming after them is also the one she is starting to grow feelings for.

Karen's delightful humor and lovely ways of weaving romance into a woman's story of resilience and growth is apparent in this new release. The found family, small town, and single dad tropes come together perfectly to create a sweet romance with lots of laugh-out-loud moments alongside some more serious ones as well!

I absolutely loved this book! Karen Grey has delivered a heartwarming, laugh-out-loud romance that had me hooked from the very first page. The Single Dad’s Guide to Recreation is the perfect mix of humor, heat, and heart, with characters that feel so real, you’ll wish you could hang out with them in Climax, MA.

The dynamic between the tightly wound corporate VP and the spirited Parks & Rec employee was pure gold. Their banter had me grinning constantly, and the chemistry between them? Absolutely electric. I couldn’t get enough of their opposites-attract tension, which was both hilarious and swoon-worthy.

I’m already counting down the days until the next book in the series—Karen Grey has officially earned a spot on my auto-buy list!

Such a cute single dad romance
This kept me company during an infusion treat
It had great banter and chemistry between the leads
Highly recommend