Parental Guidance by Avery Flynn
Narrator: Tim Paige
Series: Ice Knights #1
Published by Dreamscape Media, LLC on May 31, 2019
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 6 hours 27 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
All I want is to play hockey on the Ice Knights, instead, I’m in a viral video for all the wrong reasons and my mom—yes, my mom—has taken over my dating apps. Then, when I think it can’t get any worse, the fates deliver Zara Ambrose, a five-feet-nothing redhead with more freckles than inches and who’d rather be anywhere other than on a date with me.
Now a bet with her friends and my PR nightmare have us both stuck in this go-on-five-dates-with-the-same-person hell situation. But if we band together, we can get the whole thing over with and go on with our lives. It’s perfect! No feelings. No future. No fuc— *ahem* fun. No naked fun.
What could go wrong? Nothing—as long as I remember the rules. Don’t notice the way she looks in a dress. Don’t react when she does that little shivery sigh thing whenever we touch. Don’t think about the fact that she’s never had a toe-curling orgasm that wasn’t self-delivered and just how badly I want to change that.
Five dates—that’s it—and then we go our separate ways. At least, that was the plan..
All I want is to play hockey on the Ice Knights, instead, I’m in a viral video for all the wrong reasons and my mom—yes, my mom—has taken over my dating apps. Then, when I think it can’t get any worse, the fates deliver Zara Ambrose, a five-feet-nothing redhead with more freckles than inches and who’d rather be anywhere other than on a date with me.
Now a bet with her friends and my PR nightmare have us both stuck in this go-on-five-dates-with-the-same-person hell situation. But if we band together, we can get the whole thing over with and go on with our lives. It’s perfect! No feelings. No future. No fuc— *ahem* fun. No naked fun.
What could go wrong? Nothing—as long as I remember the rules. Don’t notice the way she looks in a dress. Don’t react when she does that little shivery sigh thing whenever we touch. Don’t think about the fact that she’s never had a toe-curling orgasm that wasn’t self-delivered and just how badly I want to change that.
Five dates—that’s it—and then we go our separate ways. At least, that was the plan..
My top thoughts:
I am so glad Parental Guidance was picked for our first COYER book club read. I enjoyed it so much and probably wouldn’t have picked it up otherwise. I tend to not go for sports books, even though the sports are just in the backdrop. Avery Flynn is an author I like though, so maybe I would have.
What I liked:
- Fake relationships are a favorite trope of mine and this one did not disappoint. I enjoyed seeing it turn into something real and the way they struggled to know what to think of the relationship as it morphed.
- The humor! The reason I like Avery Flynn is that she makes me laugh and she delivered here too. Especially with the parents – the dad is especially ridiculous at moments and it’s just good fun.
- The characters are truly great. Very relatable (despite having incredibly unrealistic professions… a miniatures artist and professional hockey player), particularly for the insecurities.
- The dog!! She has this hilarious dog that in some ways makes the book.
What I didn’t love:
- The scenario that led to them dating was very contrived. It made no sense at all. Not enough to spoil the book, but annoying.
- Some of their bumps in the relationship were also dumb/contrived. I get that their had to be conflict to resolve, but I would have liked something more realistic.
Clearly I struggled to think of anything I didn’t like — this was a solid 4 star read for me. And I listened to it, with a narrator I really enjoyed as well. I don’t remember the narrator specifically, so I can’t comment on that element, but I know I enjoyed the listen. I would like to read more in this world, for sure.
Oh I have this one I should have managed it with book club since I LOVE the fake relationship. Great review!
So glad you enjoyed this one! I’ve had this one on my TBR for ages and just haven’t got to it yet. I’m not a huge fan of fake dating but this one does seem like a lot of fun. 🙂
I still need to try my first Avery Flynn. Humor and fake mates both strike a chord with me. Small niggles, but I can see them being a little distracting, too.