The Serial Dater's Shopping List

A laugh-out-loud comedy about the highs and lows of dating

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Pub Date 12 Jul 2018 | Archive Date 26 Jul 2018

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Description

***Published by Bombshell Books, a sister imprint of Bloodhound Books.*** 

31 days. 31 dates.

Izzy is a journalist who usually writes a technology column for a Northampton newspaper. Her somewhat-intimidating boss William sets her the task of dating thirty-one men, via an internet dating site, all within a month, and writing about it for the paper.
Having an active, though fruitless, social life with her friend Donna, Izzy knows what she wants in a man, so creates a shopping list of dos and don’ts and starts ticking them off as she meets the men.
Follow the ups and downs of the dating process including Tim ‘the Weeble’, whose date leads Izzy to see banoffee pie in a whole new light, Lawrence the super-skinny social worker, Felix with his bizarre penchant for Persian Piranhas, and ‘the music maestro but don’t talk about dead pets’ Jake.
By the end of the month, will Izzy have met Mr Right?

A laugh-out-loud comedy about the highs and lows of dating.

***Published by Bombshell Books, a sister imprint of Bloodhound Books.*** 

31 days. 31 dates.

Izzy is a journalist who usually writes a technology column for a Northampton newspaper. Her...


Available Editions

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ISBN 9781912604487
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Average rating from 74 members


Featured Reviews

I found myself really enjoying this book! The cover and the title drew me in and the blurb just made me want to read it even more! It sounded fun and an amusing read and I couldn't wait to delve in. Izzy was a relatable character and just reading about her dates made me laugh out loud. It was interesting, funny and lighthearted - just what you want from a book.

Really enjoyable and I'm glad I requested this book.

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This is not my genre but it sounded so interesting that I just had to read it

The story itself was funny as it seems to poke at those who use the dating websites. It made me laugh as the whole book was just fun. It was an easy read where you could get lost in the story.

Izzy seems to me to be an unlikely serial dater and I was confused as to why she agreed when she is technology writer. It didn't seem to make sense but it worked.

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The cover and blurb sold this book to me instantly. It looks and sounds great so couldn't wait to delve into it and I was disappointed.

Izzy lives on her own and works for a paper. I actually quite envied her life style. Coming and going as she pleases with no one to answer to. To be able to watch what she wants on television and when she wants, she certainly sells the single life to the readers. Well apart from the dating side of things that is. 

I couldn't think of anything worse than going out on 31 dates, especially in 31 days. I was exhausted just reading of Izzy's numerous encounters. Apart from a few emails back and forth, Izzy has no idea what the men look like before turning up or much about them. I was just grateful that some of them weren't some sort of mass murderers. Then again it might have made some of them a bit more interesting.

Being tall myself I felt Izzy's pain when it comes to dating men of a certain height. Then again their height is the least of her worries! Some of the men she finds herself dating are quite nice and I was actually wishing that things may progress further with them. Others, well I was just so glad it wasn't me having to sit and endure being in their presence. It does make for some fun reading though.

The Serial Dater's Shopping List is very much a tongue in cheek read that was highly entertaining. It is perfect for readers that love books by authors such as Gill Simms. A definite must read this summer and one I will be recommending to all my friends.

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Thanks to Bloodhound Books for being so kind and grant my wishes. Being a huge fan of Sophie Kinsella, I love this book just for it's title and amazing cover. The book is too funny to handle, and I am loving a women's fiction right now.

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This was a light hearted fun summer read. I enjoy this type of humor and it was witty. I smiled through this book.

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I was intrigued by the title and description of this book .Its a great lighthearted read that made me laugh out loud at times. Izzy a journalist on the local paper,is set a task by her boss to set up an online profile on a local dating site and write about her dates for the next month. The shopping list refers to the notes Izzy makes regarding do’s and don’ts when on a date or looking for a potential partner . Needless to say the list changes as the month progresses . Not being single or having tried meeting someone online ( and hoping never to having read this book !)I was intrigued to see how Izzy got on . Blind dates are not for the faint hearted , Izzy however guides her readers , of her column in the paper,through it with some surprising results for both her ,her readers and her colleagues. Turns out that often love is found in the most unexpected places after all. Lovely holiday read or if you want a book that leaves you feeling uplifted .

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This was an easy fun read. It is good for a day at the beach. I recommend it if you want something light to read or a laugh or two.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

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Thanks to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for this early release copy.

Izzy is a journalist who's usual articles are reviewing the latest techy gadgets on the market.
As one of the few single gals in the office she is asked to do an expose of online dating by doing 31 dates in 31 days.
This was kinda like smashing Bridget Jones Diary together with How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and it works well.
Izzy is an accessible character, who had giggling and nodding in agreement with her a lot.
It was funny, interesting and sweet.
From the date descriptions I would believe the author actually completed a few random dates for research since they had a very realistic approach in them.
This is a really great light read that I will totally be referring friends to.

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4/5 hilarious stars!

This book was such a fun time from beginning to end - full of the type of dating horror stories we all love to share with our girlfriends. Izzy really experiences just about every dating stereotype out there, which makes for great reading - if not great dating for her.

Izzy and her friend Donna were a cute pair, very much like people we all know in real life - maybe a little too picky on one hand, maybe not picky enough on the other. I’ve decided that I want to work at their paper, they sounds do fun and like good girlfriends.

This book was the perfect break from the day’s stresses - just like any good chick flick. It will appeal to anyone who enjoys comedy, a little drama and a whole lot of fun.

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The shopping list refers to notes Izzy makes regarding do's and don'ts when on a date or looking for a potential partner and the list continues to change as the months go on.

The story is a little unrealistic as who could do 31 dates in 31 days but I laughed out loud from start to finish and honestly couldn't put it down.

This book is highly entertaining and the perfect summer read. I will be recommending it to all of my friends.

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The Serial Dater's Shopping List by Morgen Bailey is a truly delightful and entertaining read.
I enjoyed immensely reading about Izzy's adventures and misadventures as she walks her path down the dating road.
When Izzy, self proclaimed tech geek and journalist in the local paper gets assignement to write about her dating experience she is not thrilled at all. However, being the geek she takes on the task as a true pro. She joins dating web site and sets herselp up with 31 dates, one for each day in May.
Will Izzy find her perfect match on one of the dates or is the right man already under her nose without her not knowing, you will find out when you read this no conventionaly romance book.
Very modern, without usual romantic sapp this will be a real pleasure to read. Full of laugh out loud moments, it made me cry, made me cringe and root for out girl Izzy.
If you enjoy modern romance stories with a bit of laugh this is the perfect choice.

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I love a happy ending to a story!! I liked the writing style where each chapter was a different date! Throughout the whole book I was hoping for a certain ending, and it did not disappoint. As someone who has participated in online dating, I felt so much of this book was spot-on to real life, and even though it was just an experiment, you felt her frustration and happiness she experienced throughout! I will say that 31 dates seemed like a lot as I was reading - probably because I was anxious to see how it was going to end up for Izzy, Donna, Duncan, and William! A good read!

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I found this book to be enjoyable, as well as happily married.

Izzy has an undercover assignment. 31 dates in one month. The book is told date by date.

It is a laugh out loud comedy that in actuality could be non-fiction.

I recommend this book. It was a fun read.

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If, like me, you've forgotten what it's like to be in the dating game, this will bring back memories - but most of all it will make you laugh!

Izzy has her own column in the local newspaper; she is the tech-geek and loves her job as she gets to try out all the new tech toys. When her boss, William, gives her the new assignment of joining an online dating site, meeting up with a man each day for a month and writing about it she thinks 'why not?'. It's not as if her love life is bursting at the seams and it may be fun - right?

Izzy begins by making a list of what she is - and isn't - looking for in a boyfriend. As the days progress the list gets longer and even if some of the items seem obvious judging by some of the men she meets they are necessary! As well as the month's dates, we get to meet Izzy's colleagues, including her best friend Donna and the rest of the varied bunch. To say the dates are a motley crew is no exaggeration; I suspect her experiences are more true to life than we normally get to hear about and boy, did this author give me the giggles. I thank my lucky stars I met my 'the one' years ago!

This is a very easy read; split into a chapter for each date I raced through it, eager to find out what happened on the next outing. The characters are wonderfully created; Morgen Bailey obviously has a real eye for people watching and it's paid off in this novel. Fresh and funny, the clever writing kept my full attention from beginning to end and left me with laughter in my heart and a warm, fuzzy feeling. What more could I ask? A fantastic summer read and one to pack for your holidays!

My thanks to Bombshell Books for providing my copy via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.

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This was a fast and fun read! The author's writing style of making each chapter a different date made it easy to leave and come back to without feeling lost.

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A light hearted and fun read as we follow Izzy through the month of May and her 31 dates. With the dates as the focal point, we as the reader accompany Izzy as she meets an assortment of men in a range of places. Through her column Izzy then reflects on her dates and her month of dating and develops a 'shopping list' of dos and don'ts for online dating - hence the title of the book. Within the context of writing her column we get to meet Izzy's best work friend - Donna a lively character and her boss William as well as observing the general office dynamics.
Written entirely in the first person I enjoyed this book a lot, while I struggled to hold in mind the 31 men as individuals this didn't matter although there were many funny moments along the way. I particularly enjoyed the newspaper column entries where Izzy reflected on how the date had gone and what she had learnt from the experience. These articles bought to mind Carrie Bradshaw (who I love) and I could almost hear the voice of Sarah Jessica Parker as she 'couldn't help to wonder'. Make no mistake though, this isn't Sex and the City - it's a great story in it's own right.
Izzy as a character was likeable - as a professional journalist she was strong and confident, she took the task in her stride and although some of the men she met can only be described as fools, she was unaffected by knock backs and refused to let the words or behaviours of some of her dates affect her confidence. I found this stance admirable as she engaged in the task assigned to her in a pragmatic manner, committed to enjoy the experience as well as creating a terrific column for the newspaper.
Overall a very enjoyable read - short chapters, generally broken down into sections detailing the date, the office and the article, maintained my engagement as a reader. Despite being a 'light' read Izzy's reflections carried words of wisdom as did her attitude as a strong female character. Recommended reading by me!

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Isobel MacFarlane is a technological writer for a Northampton newspaper. That is until William her boss gives her a new assignment. She is tasked with setting up a profile on a dating site and going on 31 dates in 31 days and then writing about each of her dates for the paper. Isobel is far from happy with this request, but sometimes a girl has to do what a girl has to do just to stay employed.

Isobel is single and forty years old. She really enjoys her life as is and really is unsure about this new segment the paper wants to run. But, Isobel sets to the task at hand and comes up with a list of do’s and don’ts in regards to a potential mate. Oh don’t act like you never had a list! Even I had a list. Some things on the list included looking for someone tall as she was a tall woman herself standing at 5’10”. Some of the other qualities she is looking for is a great conversationalist, smart appearance, passionate and likes animals. These seem like reasonable requests right? I have all of these on my list. Now we get to the good stuff – the don’t list. Things Isobel does not want in a man – someone shorter than her, too ugly, body odor, greasy hair and the list goes on and on. With her profile now live on the dating site, it is up to Izzy to pick and choose which guys she wants to meet. Like me, I am sure you know all about internet dating. So what could possibly go wrong?

Everything goes wrong. The first guy she meets is rather nice, but just a tad bit too short for her tastes. Then, it all goes downhill from there. Let’s be honest here. When I was in my twenties internet chat rooms were in “in thing” if you were single and looking. Virtually no one had pics and setting up a date meant going in blind. Much like Isobel did on her dates, most of the guys she chose to meet did not have a picture on their profile. So, it was really funny to see and hear about some of the guys she was meeting off this dating site. I really got a huge kick over the body builder guy who flirted with everyone and also the guy she met that automatically wanted to get a room.

I really had a good laugh at The Serial Dater’s Shopping List because it reminded me of the times I met someone off of the internet. Some went well where the majority of the other times I wanted to run home screaming and hide under my covers being all dramatic like “I am never going to find someone!” I think for the most part Izzy felt the same way and it was funny to see how jaded she becomes after each of her dates. I can relate sister!

If you love a laugh out loud account of one woman’s journey through many dates from hell that will bring back memories of your less than stellar dating disasters, then this story will be right up your alley. Come along with Izzy on her quest to find out if a Mr. Right actually does exist in the internet dating pool of bachelors.

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What could go wrong with this story....31 dates in 31 days. Simple no? I feel tired just thinking about it! God knows how Izzy feels!

Each chapter of the book is a day in the life of Izzy, her day to day and then the evening for her dates. Some of these dates are epic failures and so laugh out loud funny that you could relate to the disaster. Izzy writes a column for a paper about technology when her boss William sets the task of dating thirty-one men and then write about it. The column becomes a hit, and she starts a "shopping list" of the Do's and Don't's for dating and what she wants in a man. When I picked it up, the film - How to lose a guy in 10 days resonated for me. 

Her list cracked me up as every other word was tall! It made me think of the list I had in my head of what type of man I want (before I met said husband....although he did not tick everything on my list!) and I remember talking it through on the beach one night with a friend, who tried to rip it apart....anyway I digress.

Izzy has her list and is sets up a profile on a dating website, where she whittles down the messages to get a date every night for 31 days (still tired at the thought!). In the day we follow her work life, her friends and her boss William (I had a soft spot for him!), and then in the evening, it is the date! We do meet some stereotypical characters and we definitely see the highs and lows of dating and after every date, in her write up she answers the question "What did I learn last night?" 

This book is a laugh out loud, tongue in cheek look at online dating and dating in general. I liked Izzy a lot, although a couple of times I found her a bit insensitive to some of the other people, but she then recognised this and sorted out her behaviour. To me, this made her a much more fleshed out character and much more relatable. This is perfect for a summer read and I am now on the hunt for the book that Izzy is reading! 

I must say that my favourite date was the Hunky Dunky at the Picturedrome as it seemed the most honest and the best connection...but you will have to read it to find out what happens.

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4 Delightful Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

31 dates in 31 days! Sounds exhausting, but it sure made for a fun book... A little reminiscent of Sex in the City minus New York and shoes...

Isabel is a journalist who has been tasked by her boss to forgo her usual tech column and write a dating column.... she signs up with a online dating site and buckles up for 31 dates in as many days.... this book really explored the good... the bad... and the ugly of dating.... as you can imagine Isabel dated a wide variety of different men in this book... some of them I thought were really well-suited for her and others probably weren’t well-suited for anybody 😂 thank goodness Isabel had her good friend Donna to share her trials and tribulations with... what did you learn last night?

A fun story filled with lots of humor that did not take itself too seriously... absolutely recommend as a light summer read either on the beach or poolside be sure to pack it in that beach bag!

*** many thanks to Bombshell Books for my copy of this book ***

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I really enjoyed this funny, witty book about the perils of online dating. It's a fun quick read. Perfect for the beach.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

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#NetGalley
#SerialDater'sShoppingList
#MorgenBailey



My thanks t NetGalley for an advanced e book in exchange for an honest review. And thanks to Morgen Bailey and Bloodhound Books Publisher


I was interested when I saw the pretty cover and the title of this book.

Isobel is a 40ish journalist who has an intimidating boss who surprisingly gives her an intersting assignment : 31 days to meet 31 men on the internet and date them in person!

She creates Do's and Dont's which are funny enough and they are in every single column she writes.

In the beginning I thought she was a bit judgemental even picky, but at the end she softened just a bit. It was a blast reading and laughing at her daily columns.

I really liked the friendship she had with Donna, her coworker, who even accompanied her on the Speed Date event.

I enjoyed the ups and downs the mishaps and the way she even helped one of her dates.

Did she meet Mr. Right? I won't spoil the ending of the book, but I will encourage you to read it if you want insights into dating, if you want to really laugh and spend an afternoon with a mostly light-hearted book then this one is a must-read. It would make a good beach read.

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This book is just brilliant and seemed to feature every bloke that I have ever known! Right from the start I just connected with Izzy, a journalist who normally reviews new techno stuff but has agreed to a bit of an undercover mission from her boss William. Izzy has to date 31 men, of her own choosing, from an online dating site and she has to complete it in within 31 days. This makes for some pretty funny reading. It is an absolute perfect pick me up to put a smile on anyone’s face.
After each date Izzy has to write a piece about the good, the bad and the darn right weird stuff that went on, then make a bit of a shopping list of what to look for when choosing a date. The column really takes off and the dates are as memorable for me as her. What I really loved about Izzy the most was she was a normal woman, tall, size 14 and still not found Mr. Right.
Because the story revolves round a date every day the whole story revolves round work for Izzy. If she isn’t on a date then she is at the office but there is plenty going on there to keep the story flowing beautifully. From best buddy with relationship problems to the boss Izzy makes it total entertainment for the reader. As each chapter unfolded it brought a new man into her life for a brief time, mostly hilariously memorable but a couple a little sad.
A super book that makes you feel part of what is going on. This is a book that I could pick up time and time again. A perfect feel good read!

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This book is hilarious! When Izzy (a writer at a local newspaper) is given a new assignment, she dives right in. The assignment? Go on 31 dates with 31 different men, and live to tell about it!

From the beginning, I loved Izzy. She is so funny and is the type of person I can see myself being friends with. Hearing her describe the dates she goes on had me laughing out loud as well as just cringing! Having been in the dating world and meeting people through online dating sites, I could identify with the various types of men Izzy encountered. It’s is a crap shoot…you never know what you’re going to get!

This book is perfect for getting out of that dreaded reading slump. It is a light read that goes by quickly. It’s long, but don’t let that intimidate you. The writer did a great job of moving things along at a fast pace. I loved reading about Izzy’s dating adventure and I know you will too!

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What a great surprise! I rarely choose a book from this genre. I was pulled in by the cover and description.

Izzy's mission is to set up a dating profile online and go on dates for 31 days during the month of May. It may sound like fun.
Her journalism experience is challenged by the assortment of men (characters?) she meets and dates.

At 5'10" Izzy is quite particular about height. This is her main stipulation. She has to set up a dating profile that must not betray her actual persona or her task of writing about her experiences.

Izzy runs into a myriad of characters; too short, too fat, too thin, too obnoxious, too self-centered and even too dirty and stinky. Meanwhile, there are her co-workers who she is also involved with. As much as she tries not to mix the dates and her co-workers together, they somehow intertwine.
Unfortunately, so do some of her dating experiences.

However, for the most part, Izzy's newspaper column about her 31 dates have mostly positive reviews. Her boss, William, is supportive and maybe more...

A great read! Humorous and down-to-earth characters (well, SOME of them) are fun and a delight for Izzy to write about


HIGHLY recommend!!!


Many thanks to Bloodhound Books and Netgalley for another GREAT read!!!

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Izzy was a fun main character surrounded by plenty of events, good times and dates to keep you intrigued and keep reading. My favorite was seeing the couples that ended up together, and her own ending.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bloodhound Books for the chance to read this title in exchange for a personal review.

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When Izzy's boss at the newspaper gives her the task of dating 31 men in 31 days from internet dating sites and writing an article on it she rises to the challenge! Making up a tick list she sets about the task with hilarious results

A lovely fun light heated read with great comedy moments and some momentous dates....perfect easy summer beach read

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4☆ A Humorous look into the world of internet dating.... 31men.... 31 dates... what could possible go wrong!!

The Serial Daters Shopping List is a funny look at romance and internet dating to find the perfect partner.

Izzy works as a journalist. But she has been called in by her boss and asked to write a dating column in order to spice things up.
31 dates.... 31days!! ..... He has challenged Izzy to date 31 men over 31 days and to write all about the dates. Lol what could possible go wrong!
I would of been exhausted after 2dates let alone 31!

So what better way to find 31 dates then on a dating site.
So Izzy signs herself up. Making a list of all the qualities she looks for in her perfect partner. The characters pretty much expand a whole spectrum of men, as Izzy experiences the dating scene.

This was a very funny look into the crazy world of internet dating.
Morgen has bought her book into the present as we experience the highs and lows women and men face in the dating scene nowadays.

This truly is a very entertaining, laugh out loud, wild feel good read that is perfect for a little escapism.

Thank you to Bloodhound Books and Bombshell Books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

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Light hearted and humourous, this book explores the world of internet dating with Izzy, our heroine, attempting 31 dates in 31 days. What could possibly go wrong.....mr almost, mr not quite right, mr well he’s ok are just some of the characters Izzy meets.
It’s a little Sex and the City, a little How to Lose a Guy and a little Bridget Jones. It’s also not quite any of these. But it’s worth a read!

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I started this book with some reservation as I have seen some bad reviews, so I wasn't sure to like it or not. I found the subject of the book quite fun and interesting. I was myself single for a year last year and met several guys via dating apps. So it was a lot of fun to see what kind of guys Izzy, the main character of this story was meeting. I laughed quite a lot. I enjoyed the parts when Izzy was meeting the 31 guys but I didn't really enjoy the parts in between, when she was at work writing up her articles about her experiences. I found it pretty repetitive and at some point quite boring. At some point during the book, I was thinking about giving this book a 3 stars but then the end of the book came and what can I say... I totally loved the ending of this book! It was very surprising and so romantic! Totally LOVED it! So it will be a 4 stars for me :-)

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Really enjoyed this book and the idea of Izzy going on a blind date every day for a month was one that really intrigued me. As expected, her dates were a mixed bunch and some of the dates were funny, others just totally bizarre. I couldn't wait to find out whether Izzy would hit it off with any of them. The only downside was the chapters focusing on her writing her column, which I found a bit tedious and often skipped past these parts to get to the plot. A great, light hearted read with some genuinely funny moments and I will definitely look out for more of Morgen Bailey's work in the future!

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A lighthearted and easy read!

The Serial Dater's Shopping List follows Izzy as she takes on an assignment at her newspaper to write about online dating. Izzy must date a different man every day for a month and write about her experiences.

The books chapters are split by date, which leaves you eagerly gorging every page wanting to know how each date goes.

Moregn Bailey does an amazing job at bringing the characters to life and makes The Serial Dater's Shopping List an easy and fun read.

I couldn't get enough of this gem!

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Fun Fun Fun ! Very original story that keeps you turning the pages. characters that you just love !

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Isobel MacFarlane is a technological writer for a Northampton newspaper. That is until William her boss gives her a new assignment. She is tasked with setting up a profile on a dating site and going on 31 dates in 31 days and then writing about each of her dates for the paper. What a great read so thank you Netgalley and the Publisher.

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I really enjoyed this book.I really enjoyed the storyline i like the characters was laughing at some parts i didn't want this book to end.

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