Author: Kris Ripper
Length: 336 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Imprint: Carina Press (Carina Adores)
On-Sale: September 29, 2020
Format: Trade Paperback (also available in eBook
and audiobook formats)
Price: $14.99
ISBN: 9781335943194
Book
Description: What happens
when the search for the perfect date goes perfectly wrong? Don’t miss this
charming romantic comedy from critically acclaimed author Kris Ripper.
Declan has
commitment issues. He’s been an office temp for literally years now, and his
friends delight in telling people that he left his last boyfriend at the altar.
And that’s all
true. But he’s starting to think it’s time to start working on his issues.
Maybe.
When Declan
meets Sidney—a popular nonbinary YouTuber with an advice show—an opportunity
presents itself: as part of The Love Study, Declan will go on a series of dates
arranged by Sidney and report back on how the date went in the next episode.
The dates
are…sort of blah. It’s not Sidney’s fault; the folks participating are (mostly)
great people, but there’s no chemistry there. Maybe Declan’s just broken.
Or maybe the
problem is that the only person he’s feeling chemistry with is Sidney.
Excerpt
“I don’t date people,” Sidney said.
I hid my disappointment relief by
forcing a laugh. “Oh, me neither. Mostly. Well. Not for a long time. Like…” I
focused on the gentle sweep of their hair back from their face as if it would
introduce a new topic of conversation. It didn’t.
“See, that sentence seemed like it was going to be
followed by another thought.”
“Um, sorry, I realized I was basically spilling my
guts to a stranger. You are totally not obligated to listen to me ramble. Only
my oldest friends are contractually bound to deal with me being a hot mess.”
Cue self-deprecating smile.
“You don’t seem like a hot mess to me and I don’t
feel obligated. What were you going to say?”
What the hell. “Just, for a long time my not-dating
policy worked? But lately it’s kind of getting…old. I’ve thinking maybe I
should…at least try again. With the dating thing.” I wrinkled my nose. “Then I
think that’s a horrible idea because oh my god where do you even start? Apps?
Bars? I have no idea where people meet to date instead of hook up.”
Their eyes were light brown behind their red-framed
glasses and I felt a bit exposed under their gaze, like maybe the glasses had a
filter that could read my thoughts. Right when I was starting to shift
uncomfortably, they cleared their throat. “I have an idea. It might be a bit
obscene, though.”
I batted my eyelashes at them. “I enjoy the
obscene.”
“Would you be interested in coming on my YouTube
channel? It’s an advice show. I do one livestream and one pre-taped show each
week.”
“Er…”
“An interview would be cool, but what if we did a
series? You could come on once a week and talk about your recent dating
adventures. I could find you the dates if you wanted, since you’d be supplying
me with content.” Now their hands sort of danced in explanation. “And if you’re
trying to get back into the dating thing anyway, maybe it’s two birds with one
stone.”
My brain flooded with words and images—everything
from danger,
Will Robinson to a vision of Sidney and I shaking hands for the
camera at an awards show where we’d just won for “Spectacular Advances in
Dating Advice”—but I couldn’t seem to speak.
“Yeah, you’re right, it’s a terrible idea.” Their
eyebrows were now a straight line behind their red frames. “Excuse my shameless
desire to exploit your emotional turmoil for views.”
“Oh, no, I didn’t…I didn’t think that at all. I
mean, I guess yes on the exploiting thing, but that doesn’t bother me. I was
more…processing.”
“If it makes it any less gross, if I dated, I would
absolutely mine my dating experiences for views.” They frowned. “Okay, no, that
doesn’t make it less gross. Sorry. This is a nonideal first impression.”
“I like your glasses,” I blurted. “Just, that was my
first impression. Well, actually I thought, Those better not be fucking fashion glasses, and then when I
saw they weren’t I was impressed. They look really good on you. Not everyone can
pull off red frames.”
“Oh. Um.” They straightened their shoulders. “Thank you.”
Carina
Adores is home to highly romantic contemporary love stories featuring beloved
romance tropes, where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters.
A new Carina
Adores title is available each month in trade paperback, ebook and audiobook
formats.
·
The Girl Next Door by Chelsea M. Cameron (available now!)
·
Just Like That by Cole McCade (available now!)
·
Hairpin Curves by Elia Winters (available now!)
·
Better Than People by Roan Parrish (available now!)
·
The Secret Ingredient by KD Fisher (available October 27)
·
Just Like This by Cole McCade (available November 24)
·
Teddy Spenser Isn’t Looking
for Love by Kim Fielding (December 29)
Buy The
Love Study by Kris Ripper
IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781335943194
About Kris
Ripper
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