04/29/2024

Allen’s delightful latest (after 2022’s Guidance) combines snarky one-liners with some serious spice. Aaliyah James, 29, hasn’t found Mr. Right yet, but her family’s putting pressure on her to settle down ASAP. It doesn’t help that her eccentric uncle Al is sure her weight is the real problem keeping her from a relationship. To prove him wrong, she’s determined to bring a boyfriend to her 30th birthday party—which is just seven weeks away. Despite some trepidation, she agrees to a blind date with a friend of a friend, which goes disastrously wrong. The only saving grace is that Ahmad Williamson, the very sexy bartender who watches it go up in flames, can’t take his eyes of Aaliyah. She and Ahmad click when she tells him about her mission and he encourages her to try dating apps, promising to look out for her so long as she brings all her dates to his bar. Aaliyah takes him up on it, but as their friendship grows increasingly flirtatious, his presence becomes a distraction when she’s supposed to be on dates with other people. Allen makes the friends-to-lovers romance sing with a body-positive message, some laugh-out-loud moments, and charming supporting characters—including Aaliyah’s enviable friend group. Readers will hope for more time with these endearing characters in future installments. (June)

05/01/2024

A couple of months before her 30th birthday, Aaliyah is hurt to learn that her family has been talking behind her back and discussing their belief that her larger body will prevent her from ever finding a life partner. She knows that she's healthy and that her weight hasn't negatively affected her dating life, but to minimize her family's negative comments, she invents a boyfriend she'll debut at her birthday party. In an effort to turn her impulsive lie into reality, Aaliyah ignores her aversion to dating apps and begins feverishly dating. This is how she meets Ahmad, a bartender and owner of the restaurant where Aaliyah meets all her first dates. As he witnesses and comments on Aaliyah's attempts to find a boyfriend, the two develop a friendly yet antagonistic relationship. The ring on Ahmad's finger situates him firmly in friend territory, which is a shame, since Aaliyah connects better with him than any of her internet dates. When she learns that Ahmad is actually single, Aaliyah feels betrayed, until she learns the reason for his ruse. VERDICT Allen's (Guidance) sexy and hilarious novel illustrates the importance of self-acceptance and healing in one's own time.—Nicole Williams

★ 2024-03-23
An IT professional sets out to find a boyfriend before her 30th birthday.

Aaliyah James’ family thinks she needs to find a man. Though she can’t stand their meddling or her opinionated uncle’s fatphobic remarks about why she’s single, she’d like a partner, too. Convinced to try an app, she embarks on a series of dates, each one ending in comedy or boredom. Her exasperation is partly mitigated by the friendly ribbing she encounters from Ahmad Williamson, the bartender at the place where she meets her dates. Dishing back the snark in equal measure, Aaliyah appreciates Ahmad’s presence as a wingman. Inevitably, seeing him begins to seem more fun than going out with the online matches who are a letdown in person. Unwilling to fall for a man who appears to be taken, as suggested by a ring on his finger, though, Aaliyah persists in her boyfriend quest. But as the summer passes and Aaliyah and Ahmad learn more about each other’s past losses and start to heal their trauma in each other’s presence, they must figure out if they’ll be able to overcome the boundaries they had set. Allen’s twist on the “fifty first dates” comic plot provides a strong structure for Aaliyah and Ahmad’s romantic connection, and the skillful way she writes their banter is a refreshing update of classic screwball rom-coms. While weaker in the sections in which the intelligent and competent Aaliyah spirals into misunderstandings and fight-or-flight mode, the narrative shines during the times when she stands up for herself, including her physical appearance. The chemistry between the couple sizzles, while the conversations between Aaliyah and her girlfriends and family, and Ahmad and his friends, provide more nuances to their personalities.

A fat-positive romance that blends the witty repartee of a buddy comedy with sexual tension.