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13 Dates
When Noah Wilson first encounters the quirky, opinionated and very beautiful Angel Fallon, his world is turned upside down. It’s clear she’s not his normal type, but Noah can’t stop thinking about her—which doesn’t bode well for the blind date he’s already late for.
Convinced by his friend (and self-professed dating expert) Marlon that thirteen dates is all you need to fall in love, Noah decides to give it a try with Angel. They should be incompatible: she’s impulsive and he’s a planner; he wants to settle down and she doesn’t ‘do’ relationships—or anything, for that matter—the way Noah is used to. But there’s something about Angel, and Noah can’t shake the idea that all they need is twelve more dates.
Despite some near-disasters involving rock climbing, saddle sores and jellied eels, it seems his plan may actually work. But even if they do reach the magic number, can that really mean they’ll just fall into their happily-ever-after?
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 15, 2017
672 people are currently reading
838 people want to read
About the author
Matt Dunn
29 books362 followersMatt was born in Margate, but eventually escaped to Spain to write his first novel (in between working as a newspaper columnist, and playing a lot of tennis). Previously he has been a professional lifeguard, fitness equipment salesman, and an IT head hunter, but he prefers writing for a living, so hopes people will keep buying his books.
Matt is the author of four contemporary romantic comedy novels; Best Man, The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook (which was shortlisted for both the Romantic Novel Of The Year award, as well as the Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance), From Here To Paternity, and Ex-Girlfriends United. He's also written about life, love, and relationships for various publications including The Times, Guardian, Cosmopolitan, Company, Elle, Glamour, and The Sun.
Several of Matt's novels have been translated for various European markets (he's big in the Balkans, apparently), as well as as far afield as Malaysia and Indonesia. He's a regular on the literary festival scene, and rates the recent lecturing stint he did on the Creative Writing degree course at London Metropolitan University as one of the most rewarding things he's ever done - and not only because of the number of ideas he was able to appropriate from his students for his books.
Matt is the author of four contemporary romantic comedy novels; Best Man, The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook (which was shortlisted for both the Romantic Novel Of The Year award, as well as the Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance), From Here To Paternity, and Ex-Girlfriends United. He's also written about life, love, and relationships for various publications including The Times, Guardian, Cosmopolitan, Company, Elle, Glamour, and The Sun.
Several of Matt's novels have been translated for various European markets (he's big in the Balkans, apparently), as well as as far afield as Malaysia and Indonesia. He's a regular on the literary festival scene, and rates the recent lecturing stint he did on the Creative Writing degree course at London Metropolitan University as one of the most rewarding things he's ever done - and not only because of the number of ideas he was able to appropriate from his students for his books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
September 20, 2017
Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
Angela (Angel), is 29, free spirited, beautiful, and trying to live life to the full. She doesn’t want to be tied down, which means that relationships are out of the question for her.
Noah, in his 30s, single and quite conservative, though he is also completely barmy. He is at the time in his life where he would like to find that special one, get married, and have children.
A chance encounter at Starbucks throws these two together, not literally, but they do end up have an argument when Noah picks up Angel’s coffee by mistake.
Noah immediately thinks that he had met the woman of his dreams, Angel just thinks he’s a bit nutty. Not able to get Angel out of his head, Noah goes to some drastic lengths to try to find her again. Then all he has to do is convince her to go out with him, 13 times, and then she will fall madly in love with him – well according to his colleague, and serial womaniser Marlon, she will.
13 Dates, is a romantic comedy written from the POV of the lead male, Noah. It isn’t often that you find this genre of books written by a man. Matt has this knack of grabbing hold of you and making you invest your time in his characters, whilst also making you laugh. He has a wicked sense of humour and the ability to bring stories to life.
Whilst I loved getting to know Noah and Angel, I adored elderly Mary. Her words of wisdom, and the way she looked at life was special. I also think it is a brilliant idea where she decided to live out her years.
The book is filled to the brim with laugh-out-loud scenes, one liners and insane situations. That being said, there is also a serious side to the book. I can’t say too much about this as it would be a major spoiler, but what I can say is that I am personally in a similar situation (parent wise), and can understand how the character felt – sorry for being cryptic but you will understand if you give this book a read.
I was hooked from the beginning and I truly believe that this would make a great romcom film. A book to definitely add to you TBR list.
Angela (Angel), is 29, free spirited, beautiful, and trying to live life to the full. She doesn’t want to be tied down, which means that relationships are out of the question for her.
Noah, in his 30s, single and quite conservative, though he is also completely barmy. He is at the time in his life where he would like to find that special one, get married, and have children.
A chance encounter at Starbucks throws these two together, not literally, but they do end up have an argument when Noah picks up Angel’s coffee by mistake.
Noah immediately thinks that he had met the woman of his dreams, Angel just thinks he’s a bit nutty. Not able to get Angel out of his head, Noah goes to some drastic lengths to try to find her again. Then all he has to do is convince her to go out with him, 13 times, and then she will fall madly in love with him – well according to his colleague, and serial womaniser Marlon, she will.
13 Dates, is a romantic comedy written from the POV of the lead male, Noah. It isn’t often that you find this genre of books written by a man. Matt has this knack of grabbing hold of you and making you invest your time in his characters, whilst also making you laugh. He has a wicked sense of humour and the ability to bring stories to life.
Whilst I loved getting to know Noah and Angel, I adored elderly Mary. Her words of wisdom, and the way she looked at life was special. I also think it is a brilliant idea where she decided to live out her years.
The book is filled to the brim with laugh-out-loud scenes, one liners and insane situations. That being said, there is also a serious side to the book. I can’t say too much about this as it would be a major spoiler, but what I can say is that I am personally in a similar situation (parent wise), and can understand how the character felt – sorry for being cryptic but you will understand if you give this book a read.
I was hooked from the beginning and I truly believe that this would make a great romcom film. A book to definitely add to you TBR list.
April 19, 2019
13 Dates was an okay kind of book. It didn't necessarily blow my mind or make me fall in love with the characters and their journey. It was just an okay book.
In the beginning, you meet Noah and Angela, aka Angel. At first I didn't really like these two, together or apart. Then Angel definitely started to grow on me because I honestly liked that she didn't sugar coat anything. Nope, she told everything like it was. Then there's Noah, and I'm still not quite sure how I feel about this character. He seemed really needy or desperate for her attention throughout the book. Well, until the ending of course.
This book is about a character falling in love, and eventually getting married, all within 13 dates. No, the marriage isn't on the 13th date but it's assuming that once they have fallen in love with each other that these two will get married. Not every date went smoothly planned, but then again what date does? Some of them were hilarious and others were just kind of unrealistic. For example, the date at the burger/lentil restaurant.. no wait staff will be that rude to any customer. I get that the restaurant only had two options to eat and drink.. but they wouldn't be rude to people who haven't been there before or to regulars. Unless that said company is known to being rude to customers - which is a rare case.
The romance was okay as well. It didn't really make me ooh and ahh but it was a little bit enjoyable. I'm glad that these two got their happy ending, even after going through certain situations. In the end, Noah and Angel were a cute couple, weird even, and I sort of enjoyed reading this book.
In the beginning, you meet Noah and Angela, aka Angel. At first I didn't really like these two, together or apart. Then Angel definitely started to grow on me because I honestly liked that she didn't sugar coat anything. Nope, she told everything like it was. Then there's Noah, and I'm still not quite sure how I feel about this character. He seemed really needy or desperate for her attention throughout the book. Well, until the ending of course.
This book is about a character falling in love, and eventually getting married, all within 13 dates. No, the marriage isn't on the 13th date but it's assuming that once they have fallen in love with each other that these two will get married. Not every date went smoothly planned, but then again what date does? Some of them were hilarious and others were just kind of unrealistic. For example, the date at the burger/lentil restaurant.. no wait staff will be that rude to any customer. I get that the restaurant only had two options to eat and drink.. but they wouldn't be rude to people who haven't been there before or to regulars. Unless that said company is known to being rude to customers - which is a rare case.
The romance was okay as well. It didn't really make me ooh and ahh but it was a little bit enjoyable. I'm glad that these two got their happy ending, even after going through certain situations. In the end, Noah and Angel were a cute couple, weird even, and I sort of enjoyed reading this book.
November 5, 2017
כשנואה פוגש את אנג'ל בסטארבאקס, הוא לא מדמיין שחיו עלו על פסים של רכבת הרים.
אנג'ל צעירה תוססת, שאינה מנהלת מערכות יחסים. היא מוכנה לתת הזדמנות לדייטים של אקסטרים, כמו טיפוס הרים, אבל הם חד פעמיים.
נואה בן ה 35, מנהל גלרייה לאמנות, בדיוק נמצא בדרכו לבליינדייט שארגן לו מרלן, העובד שלו.
הוא כמהה למערכת יחסים משמעותית, אבל הוא לא מצליח למצוא אישה מתאימה. הוא די חנון, אירוני ומודע לעצמו.
ואנג'ל מצליחה להוציא אותו ממרובעותו. היא מזמינה אותו לחלוק איתה שולחן קפה ומשם המציאות בכל פעם מפתיעה את נואה מחדש.
הסיפור נמסר מנקודת מבטו של נואה. אין בו הפתעות גודולות אבל הוא כולל כמה קטעים מצחיקים בטירוף. הקטע שהכי הצחיק אותי היה הקטע של הרכיבה על סנטוריום. בכיתי מצחוק מהתיאור.
ספר נעים לקריאה וחביב.
אנג'ל צעירה תוססת, שאינה מנהלת מערכות יחסים. היא מוכנה לתת הזדמנות לדייטים של אקסטרים, כמו טיפוס הרים, אבל הם חד פעמיים.
נואה בן ה 35, מנהל גלרייה לאמנות, בדיוק נמצא בדרכו לבליינדייט שארגן לו מרלן, העובד שלו.
הוא כמהה למערכת יחסים משמעותית, אבל הוא לא מצליח למצוא אישה מתאימה. הוא די חנון, אירוני ומודע לעצמו.
ואנג'ל מצליחה להוציא אותו ממרובעותו. היא מזמינה אותו לחלוק איתה שולחן קפה ומשם המציאות בכל פעם מפתיעה את נואה מחדש.
הסיפור נמסר מנקודת מבטו של נואה. אין בו הפתעות גודולות אבל הוא כולל כמה קטעים מצחיקים בטירוף. הקטע שהכי הצחיק אותי היה הקטע של הרכיבה על סנטוריום. בכיתי מצחוק מהתיאור.
ספר נעים לקריאה וחביב.
September 18, 2018
This book is a quick, predictable read. I did struggle to like the main characters ‘Noah’ and ‘Angel’. I felt Noah came across as too needy and desperate and at times and found myself cringing at a lot of his actions/decisions. I felt Angel wasn’t very appreciative at times and found their quick relationship difficult to get into. However, I did like the concept of the book and loved a few of the other characters within in.
March 27, 2019
there is already a review below that says this is "an okay kind of book. It didn't necessarily blow my mind or make me fall in love with the characters and their journey" and that hits the nail on the head for me.
the main character noah, has he literally just woken up as a boring 30-something year old man? he is pathetic, condescending and yet somehow reckons he's entitled to this picture-perfect family life when he is 0% equipped to actually deserve any of it.
his love interest angel has been cookie-cut from the manic pixie dream girl stereotype dough, baked to wild and wacky perfection - and given a sad flaw that noah hopes to heal in the three minutes he's known her.
there is a reason why this author has written so many chick-lit books, anyone can churn out this crap, dress it up with a sprinkle of glitter and make a quick buck off a tired and dying genre
the main character noah, has he literally just woken up as a boring 30-something year old man? he is pathetic, condescending and yet somehow reckons he's entitled to this picture-perfect family life when he is 0% equipped to actually deserve any of it.
his love interest angel has been cookie-cut from the manic pixie dream girl stereotype dough, baked to wild and wacky perfection - and given a sad flaw that noah hopes to heal in the three minutes he's known her.
there is a reason why this author has written so many chick-lit books, anyone can churn out this crap, dress it up with a sprinkle of glitter and make a quick buck off a tired and dying genre
May 1, 2018
🌟🌟🌟
Boy meets girl. Boy falls in love with girl. Girl has Congenital Heart Disease. Boy is devastated. Boy proposes. Girl gets pregnant. Boy and Girl complete 13 dates
That pretty much sums it up. It was kinda cute in places but it just didn’t give me the feels I look for in a romance. I enjoyed it and it was a really easy read but I was hardly turning pages in excitement. I’d put it down and pick it up to pass the time but it didn’t really make me feel any kind of emotion at all.
That’s not because I’m an emotionless void...I promise.
Boy meets girl. Boy falls in love with girl. Girl has Congenital Heart Disease. Boy is devastated. Boy proposes. Girl gets pregnant. Boy and Girl complete 13 dates
That pretty much sums it up. It was kinda cute in places but it just didn’t give me the feels I look for in a romance. I enjoyed it and it was a really easy read but I was hardly turning pages in excitement. I’d put it down and pick it up to pass the time but it didn’t really make me feel any kind of emotion at all.
That’s not because I’m an emotionless void...I promise.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2017
About a chapter in I knew this book was not for me and I put it down.
After requesting it I realized this had happened ones before with one of his books and I'm sorry I didn't realize before I requested it, Its not fun to give a bad rating when Its my own personal taste that is the problem, not the book.
The cover is appealing, the synopsis has me hooked and then.. there are no sparks. His writing just doesn't sit with me and no matter how much i'm dissecting my brain as to why, I don't have a better answer than that its just not my cup of tea writing. It doesn't suck me in but spits me right out.
After requesting it I realized this had happened ones before with one of his books and I'm sorry I didn't realize before I requested it, Its not fun to give a bad rating when Its my own personal taste that is the problem, not the book.
The cover is appealing, the synopsis has me hooked and then.. there are no sparks. His writing just doesn't sit with me and no matter how much i'm dissecting my brain as to why, I don't have a better answer than that its just not my cup of tea writing. It doesn't suck me in but spits me right out.
June 17, 2018
Noah Wilson is instantly enamored with a woman in line in front of him at Starbucks one morning. After an awkward conversation, they sit together and his interest only grows. His shyness/awkwardness prevents him from getting Angel's contact information before he departs the coffee shop. Convinced that he just needs 13 dates to fall in love with each other, he must find her and make it happen. It turns out she needs a lot more convincing than he ever imagined.
This book isn't exactly as advertised. I thought it would be a funny book about 13 disastrous dates, but instead it was more about I still liked the book, but I think because I expected it to be different, my rating suffered a little.
This book isn't exactly as advertised. I thought it would be a funny book about 13 disastrous dates, but instead it was more about I still liked the book, but I think because I expected it to be different, my rating suffered a little.
July 27, 2017
Matt Dunn is a great author of very easy-reading chick lit, which you can completely absorb yourself in without too much thinking.
13 Dates was a very enjoyable read, however I found the main character, Noah, to be extremely irritating as he was very socially awkward and quite calamitous. The idea is that it takes 13 dates to fall in love, so the plot centres around these dates. Some of the dates and things that happened I found to be more on the comical side rather than on the side of believable romantic fiction, which was slightly off-putting.
My main irk about this book, was the punctuation used (or NOT used!) There were some sentences that were so long they consisted of almost half a page. There were some sentences that included so many commas, that by the time you got to the end of the sentence, you couldn't remember the start of it. I find Matt's use of punctuation a little questionable, and he has a habit of writing these ridiculously long sentences. However, I did enjoy his writing beyond that, so overlooked it.
If you're looking for a bit of romantic fiction to absorb yourself in or a quick holiday read, this will tick the boxes, if you can deal with the predictability of the story line!
(Thanks to NetGalley for this copy).
13 Dates was a very enjoyable read, however I found the main character, Noah, to be extremely irritating as he was very socially awkward and quite calamitous. The idea is that it takes 13 dates to fall in love, so the plot centres around these dates. Some of the dates and things that happened I found to be more on the comical side rather than on the side of believable romantic fiction, which was slightly off-putting.
My main irk about this book, was the punctuation used (or NOT used!) There were some sentences that were so long they consisted of almost half a page. There were some sentences that included so many commas, that by the time you got to the end of the sentence, you couldn't remember the start of it. I find Matt's use of punctuation a little questionable, and he has a habit of writing these ridiculously long sentences. However, I did enjoy his writing beyond that, so overlooked it.
If you're looking for a bit of romantic fiction to absorb yourself in or a quick holiday read, this will tick the boxes, if you can deal with the predictability of the story line!
(Thanks to NetGalley for this copy).
December 31, 2017
13 Dates is apparently the number needed to make a couple fall in love. So its on that reasoning that Noah tries to keep persuading Angel to go out with him, as he has fallen in love at first site with her.
Of course nothing is ever easy and wow is there a good reason for Angel not really wanting a relationship, and with it is the storyline that gives the whole book an added layer of depth, complexity and emotion that I wasn't expecting at all.
I was expecting and received plenty of light hearted moments, funny bits, and and rather different ideas for dates.
What Matt Dunn does so well is create realistic characters that are likeable and easy to relate to and with Noah and Angel you have just that. I was willing them to be happy, but at the same time there was a certain unpredictability that you don't normally find in rom-coms, and I genuinely thought at one point there could be a major change of direction.
Easily one of the author's best books to date, it has everything you want from a romantic comedy, and its all written from the male perspective which I am always a fan of, after all any insight into what makes a man tick is always useful to know!!
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Of course nothing is ever easy and wow is there a good reason for Angel not really wanting a relationship, and with it is the storyline that gives the whole book an added layer of depth, complexity and emotion that I wasn't expecting at all.
I was expecting and received plenty of light hearted moments, funny bits, and and rather different ideas for dates.
What Matt Dunn does so well is create realistic characters that are likeable and easy to relate to and with Noah and Angel you have just that. I was willing them to be happy, but at the same time there was a certain unpredictability that you don't normally find in rom-coms, and I genuinely thought at one point there could be a major change of direction.
Easily one of the author's best books to date, it has everything you want from a romantic comedy, and its all written from the male perspective which I am always a fan of, after all any insight into what makes a man tick is always useful to know!!
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
September 6, 2017
Some readers will undoubtedly give this book more stars. I've decided that it's a role reversal form of chick lit. The central character is male but he is outclassed in terms of physical ability and adventurousness by the lady he is dating. He tries to increase his fitness, capability and outlook to match, and he also tries to overcome her phobia of attending weddings.
Angel is interesting - we learn that she has a heart defect and does not expect to marry or have a family, so she is just living a full life, including horse riding and climbing walls, in London. Whereas Noah never even considered doing more than a fun park run despite having a healthy body. Much easier to muck around in Starbucks after work. I have to give him points for trying.
Noah's mate has told him it takes thirteen dates before you know if you're in love, though on what authority I'm not sure. So the story chronicles the dates of various sorts.
While it's clear the author is deliberately sending up office working guys, and giving women an insight, I did find it hard to identify with either main character - surprisingly as I'm a horsewoman and tree climber.
I downloaded an ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
Angel is interesting - we learn that she has a heart defect and does not expect to marry or have a family, so she is just living a full life, including horse riding and climbing walls, in London. Whereas Noah never even considered doing more than a fun park run despite having a healthy body. Much easier to muck around in Starbucks after work. I have to give him points for trying.
Noah's mate has told him it takes thirteen dates before you know if you're in love, though on what authority I'm not sure. So the story chronicles the dates of various sorts.
While it's clear the author is deliberately sending up office working guys, and giving women an insight, I did find it hard to identify with either main character - surprisingly as I'm a horsewoman and tree climber.
I downloaded an ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
October 24, 2017
This is the first book I've read from this author and it definitely won't be my last! I found Matt's writing style to be refreshing, intelligent and quirky; just like Noah!
Noah had been looking for love without much luck. Then Angel fell into his life, and while, it seemed, he stood no chance with the upbeat, unpredictable, beautiful woman, he was determined to get her to fall in love with him, no matter the cost. His self-dignity took more than a couple of hits in this upbeat romantic comedy, but even though he didn't feel worthy, suffered extreme self-doubt and was constantly second-guessing everything, he persevered, because 'when you know, you know.' His antics were that of a bumbling idiot at times, his mind going off on a tangent, and I found that so damned endearing. The fact that he made mistakes, said the wrong things and made a fool of himself in the name of love made him an unforgettable character.
The rambling and quirky dialogue in this book was extremely entertaining and though it was laugh-out-loud funny at times, this story was also a sad reminder that you should always live each day to its fullest and pursue your dreams.
Noah had been looking for love without much luck. Then Angel fell into his life, and while, it seemed, he stood no chance with the upbeat, unpredictable, beautiful woman, he was determined to get her to fall in love with him, no matter the cost. His self-dignity took more than a couple of hits in this upbeat romantic comedy, but even though he didn't feel worthy, suffered extreme self-doubt and was constantly second-guessing everything, he persevered, because 'when you know, you know.' His antics were that of a bumbling idiot at times, his mind going off on a tangent, and I found that so damned endearing. The fact that he made mistakes, said the wrong things and made a fool of himself in the name of love made him an unforgettable character.
The rambling and quirky dialogue in this book was extremely entertaining and though it was laugh-out-loud funny at times, this story was also a sad reminder that you should always live each day to its fullest and pursue your dreams.
December 27, 2018
A refreshing story line that keeps the reader engaged and curious. It is quite easy to read and does not require a lot of mental power to enjoy.
July 23, 2022
3.5 stars = I liked it. The ending was a bit odd, but the lead (a guy) trying get the girl to fall in love with him was pretty adorkable
December 4, 2017
A really enjoyable read. It was well paced with relatable characters and just the right balance of humour and pathos to keep me fully involved.
September 8, 2017
Matt Dunn has been on the writing scene for donkeys years. I rank The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook as one of the funniest “lad lit” novels there is. It’s proper old-school lad lit, and I remember how amazing it was to get a fella’s perspective in a book for the first time, and I liked it. It led me to Jon Rance and Nick Spalding and Mike Gayle, and they’re definitely the four core lad lit authors I’d recommend if you wanted a fella’s perspective on life, love, dating, because they write so well (and they’re hilarious!). I was pretty excited to spot his new book on Netgalley, 13 Dates, and I dove into it blind – I hadn’t read the synopsis, I had no idea what it was about, who the characters were, and it was brilliant. It’s been so long since I read a Matt Dunn book, that it was such a refreshing, new read.
According to Noah’s friend (and work colleague) Marlon, the best way to know if you’re in love with someone is to go on 13 dates with them. So when Noah meets Angel in Starbucks, making for one of the funniest scenes, ever, as Angel winds the barista up something chronic with her order (to be fair, it’s confusing, I’ve never been in Starbucks for this precise reason), he decides to put Marlon’s theory to the test. Except, Noah being Noah, he’s a) on the way to a blind date already and b) he doesn’t actually manage to get any of Angel’s info. Like her number, her email address or even her last name (or even her FULL name, come to think of it). But Noah is determined! Noah will not be beaten! And so Noah goes off in search of Angel and once he finds her (because, duh, there’s no book otherwise), he’s determined to make her fall in love with him, made harder by the fact that Angel’s evasive and (apparently) allergic to love, and so the whole concept of the book is born!
13 Dates was a brilliant read. It kicked off with that hilarious Starbucks scene, followed by the Noah-going-on-a-blind-date scene, with a SECOND fake-Noah, and I just knew this was going to be a winner for me. I do question the wisdom of making it 13 dates, if only because of the whole superstition around the number 13 thing, but otherwise I loved this book immensely. Noah is a brilliant narrator. Funny, sweet, determined, and I liked how Angel pushed him to be creative with their dates – the horse riding date was by far the best, for so many reasons. Angel was brilliant, too. I read a review on GoodReads where the reader didn’t like Angel, which is pretty bizarre because she was amazing. She stuck up for herself, she knew what she wanted (or didn’t want), and I like that she pushed Noah to really work for their relationship. It made it worthwhile, it made it what it was. And if that reviewer had read more of the novel, she would have understood exactly why Angel ran off when they went to Margate, which was another gripe. Considering what we learn about Angel as the novel progresses, she got her head screwed on pretty well, and I don’t know what I would do in the same situation, so I can’t judge any of her decisions.
Matt Dunn is such a talented writer, I forgot how much I loved his books until I started 13 Dates. I vaguely remember trying to read one a little while back and not being into it (it happens – I can try a book and not be in to it, then come back a few weeks later and devour it, I am a mood reader to the highest degree) but 13 Dates was incredible. It was fast-paced and funny and everything about it hit all the right notes you expect in a rom-com. It made me laugh, it made me teary, it had a wacky Banksy-like figure, since Noah works in an art gallery, it had park runs (which seem terrifying, actually) and a lovely grandma-figure, it had romance and spontaneous, one-of-a-kind dates, it had characters you care about right down to your bones. I felt like I knew Noah and Angel personally. Sometimes you pick up a book and it was EXACTLY what you needed and that’s what 13 Dates was to me. It was exactly what I was looking to read, without even knowing it and I enjoyed every single page. It was a brilliant, brilliant read.
According to Noah’s friend (and work colleague) Marlon, the best way to know if you’re in love with someone is to go on 13 dates with them. So when Noah meets Angel in Starbucks, making for one of the funniest scenes, ever, as Angel winds the barista up something chronic with her order (to be fair, it’s confusing, I’ve never been in Starbucks for this precise reason), he decides to put Marlon’s theory to the test. Except, Noah being Noah, he’s a) on the way to a blind date already and b) he doesn’t actually manage to get any of Angel’s info. Like her number, her email address or even her last name (or even her FULL name, come to think of it). But Noah is determined! Noah will not be beaten! And so Noah goes off in search of Angel and once he finds her (because, duh, there’s no book otherwise), he’s determined to make her fall in love with him, made harder by the fact that Angel’s evasive and (apparently) allergic to love, and so the whole concept of the book is born!
13 Dates was a brilliant read. It kicked off with that hilarious Starbucks scene, followed by the Noah-going-on-a-blind-date scene, with a SECOND fake-Noah, and I just knew this was going to be a winner for me. I do question the wisdom of making it 13 dates, if only because of the whole superstition around the number 13 thing, but otherwise I loved this book immensely. Noah is a brilliant narrator. Funny, sweet, determined, and I liked how Angel pushed him to be creative with their dates – the horse riding date was by far the best, for so many reasons. Angel was brilliant, too. I read a review on GoodReads where the reader didn’t like Angel, which is pretty bizarre because she was amazing. She stuck up for herself, she knew what she wanted (or didn’t want), and I like that she pushed Noah to really work for their relationship. It made it worthwhile, it made it what it was. And if that reviewer had read more of the novel, she would have understood exactly why Angel ran off when they went to Margate, which was another gripe. Considering what we learn about Angel as the novel progresses, she got her head screwed on pretty well, and I don’t know what I would do in the same situation, so I can’t judge any of her decisions.
Matt Dunn is such a talented writer, I forgot how much I loved his books until I started 13 Dates. I vaguely remember trying to read one a little while back and not being into it (it happens – I can try a book and not be in to it, then come back a few weeks later and devour it, I am a mood reader to the highest degree) but 13 Dates was incredible. It was fast-paced and funny and everything about it hit all the right notes you expect in a rom-com. It made me laugh, it made me teary, it had a wacky Banksy-like figure, since Noah works in an art gallery, it had park runs (which seem terrifying, actually) and a lovely grandma-figure, it had romance and spontaneous, one-of-a-kind dates, it had characters you care about right down to your bones. I felt like I knew Noah and Angel personally. Sometimes you pick up a book and it was EXACTLY what you needed and that’s what 13 Dates was to me. It was exactly what I was looking to read, without even knowing it and I enjoyed every single page. It was a brilliant, brilliant read.
September 3, 2017
13 dates is fun read. I like the characters and the plot. Reading this book felt like reading Rosie Project. It got same vibe and the main chara, Noah remind me of Don Tillman. I would recommended it for Rosie project fans.
September 14, 2017
I was disappointed in this book I didn't find it funny. It was pretty serious life of a events.
Wouldn't read it again. I usually like Matt Dunn's books. This one just wasn't for me.
Wouldn't read it again. I usually like Matt Dunn's books. This one just wasn't for me.
July 15, 2017
Netgalley copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is the type of quality, sweet book I am coming for! I loved it!
For me, the strong point of this book is the cast of characters. Noah is a sweet guy, very awkward and always so corny/funny, and Angel is the strong, independent woman who is still vulnerable but hides it well. And I love them both dearly. Still, I have to admit my favourite character is Mary, Noah's landlady who is the greatest gran in the history of all fictional grans (if such thing exists).
I also love the fact that we're reading a romance novel from the point of view of a man. Especially Noah's, who is more like ordinary guys than not. I would love to give him a hug, just saying.
The theory of the thirteen dates is a little scary, but it is a fun and clever way to craft the novel: it keeps the pace intact, gives you a goal, and you can't get bored.
I really had so much fun reading those pages!
And so you will, too.
This is the type of quality, sweet book I am coming for! I loved it!
For me, the strong point of this book is the cast of characters. Noah is a sweet guy, very awkward and always so corny/funny, and Angel is the strong, independent woman who is still vulnerable but hides it well. And I love them both dearly. Still, I have to admit my favourite character is Mary, Noah's landlady who is the greatest gran in the history of all fictional grans (if such thing exists).
I also love the fact that we're reading a romance novel from the point of view of a man. Especially Noah's, who is more like ordinary guys than not. I would love to give him a hug, just saying.
The theory of the thirteen dates is a little scary, but it is a fun and clever way to craft the novel: it keeps the pace intact, gives you a goal, and you can't get bored.
I really had so much fun reading those pages!
And so you will, too.
November 14, 2020
Noah is mid-30s and rather bland & needy. Angel is 29 and a bit uncoventional. They have a meet cute and Noah's gallery assistant Marlon tells him that it takes 13 dates to fall in love with someone so Noah sets out to have 13 dates with Angel.
Overall the book was, with some early laughs. Marlon is a self-professed ladies man and is largely one dimensional throughout. Noah's landlady, Mary, is a sassy octogenarian and my favorite character in the book.
This was available with Prime Narration and I listened to it rather than read it. James Langton did a good job especially with Noah's wry, self-deprecating humor.
Overall the book was, with some early laughs. Marlon is a self-professed ladies man and is largely one dimensional throughout. Noah's landlady, Mary, is a sassy octogenarian and my favorite character in the book.
This was available with Prime Narration and I listened to it rather than read it. James Langton did a good job especially with Noah's wry, self-deprecating humor.
August 11, 2017
When Noah Meets Angel he's certain she is the one but she's not his normal type. Convinced by his self proclaimed expert friend Marlon that it only takes 13 dates to fall in love Noah decides to give it a try with Angel. After 13 out of the box dates will it be a happily ever after for Noah and Angel?
Usually I'm not a fan of romance novels but this novel had such an interesting description I couldn't help but give it a go. Unfortunately it just reminded me how awful romance noels can be. I disliked the characters, I disliked the story line, it gave me a few laughs and that's about it.
Noah: I can't imagine a more annoying character then Noah. He's whiny, manipulative, and awkward(I know its supposed to be part of his charm but it wasn't). He pretty much stalks Angel and were supposed to think this is adorable but its not its downright creepy! Speaking of creepy if I had to read one more time about how Noah was staring at Angels Breasts, Butt or other body parts one more time I might throw up.
Angel: Oo look here's another off beat I'm not a regular girl I'm a cool girl. Stop. This stereotype has been long played out. I get that her "thing" makes her want to live life to the fullest but that being said Angel has no respect for her parents or Noah.
Mary: My saving grace! I loved Mary. She was my shining hope in the swirl of terrible characters. I could easily imagine she was my grandmother and she even made Noah look better. (I didn't think that would be possible). In the end I love what she decides to do and it made me extremely happy (although admittedly I saw most of that coming)
Overall, The only people I would suggest this book to is die hard romance fans that don't look to much into the future (Its pretty predictable)
Thanks so much to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author Matt Dunn for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Usually I'm not a fan of romance novels but this novel had such an interesting description I couldn't help but give it a go. Unfortunately it just reminded me how awful romance noels can be. I disliked the characters, I disliked the story line, it gave me a few laughs and that's about it.
Noah: I can't imagine a more annoying character then Noah. He's whiny, manipulative, and awkward(I know its supposed to be part of his charm but it wasn't). He pretty much stalks Angel and were supposed to think this is adorable but its not its downright creepy! Speaking of creepy if I had to read one more time about how Noah was staring at Angels Breasts, Butt or other body parts one more time I might throw up.
Angel: Oo look here's another off beat I'm not a regular girl I'm a cool girl. Stop. This stereotype has been long played out. I get that her "thing" makes her want to live life to the fullest but that being said Angel has no respect for her parents or Noah.
Mary: My saving grace! I loved Mary. She was my shining hope in the swirl of terrible characters. I could easily imagine she was my grandmother and she even made Noah look better. (I didn't think that would be possible). In the end I love what she decides to do and it made me extremely happy (although admittedly I saw most of that coming)
Overall, The only people I would suggest this book to is die hard romance fans that don't look to much into the future (Its pretty predictable)
Thanks so much to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author Matt Dunn for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
April 2, 2019
I found 13 Dates to be a bit disappointing. I've enjoyed the few other books of Matt Dunn that I've read, but this one just felt kind of lazy. Angel is basically a manic pixie dream girl - she has to make every day count because of her congenital heart defect, and Noah is, of course, immediately enamored of her because she's just so cute and quirky ordering her coffee. After some light, spontaneous stalking- which at least the book nods at being creepy, though not nearly enough- he, through the power of love, is able to completely change her outlook on weddings, babies, and wanting a heart transplant. Because after 30 years of forming opinions on these topics, all she really needed was to meet the one to show her the future is worth it. Insert eye roll here. It was all just a bit ridiculous, and not even in a fun way. I would definitely recommend passing on this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2017
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for giving this ebook for an honest review.
13 Dates gave me so many feels. 13 Dates was funny, thoughtful, exciting, happy, sad, hopeful, hopeless and inspiring.
It’s about Noah who wants to find a girl, fall in love and settle down. So when he’s about to go to a blind date, he finds Angel who is adventurous, funny, different and lives in the now. After meeting her, his life turns upside down trying to keep up with her. Artless art shows, dangerous rock climbing, comical horse riding, exhausting park runs and horrible restaurant experience.
I have to say that this is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I thought it would be *spoiler* a cliche romance story where the girl would be quirky and the guy too lost and alone then in the end, he would be more confident and learned something but stay alone like The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider or Me Before You by Jojo Moyes.
However, it wasn’t like that. Yeah there was a message for the readers too. It was that we shouldn’t just enjoy now but also anticipate our future. I love how this book addresses this because I always hear good things about living for today but mostly never about how exciting a future can be. It was an eye opener and really fun to read about. And to learn this in a romantic comedy like 13 Dates is a perfect way.
From the beginning, this book is hilarious as Noah just get into situations that are comical and it gets even funnier to see how he reacts in them. It’s really interesting to see whether he could make Angel fall in love with him by their 13th date. It set a good pace for this book and something for readers to want to stay till the end. Matt Dunn is a brilliant writer and I liked his writing which seemed effortless and descriptive.
Noah is sweet, funny and quirky. He owns an art gallery and is a hard worker. Angel is smart, independent and decisive. Angel and Noah are the opposites of each other but somehow they work. It’s obvious to see their chemistry and I love their relationship. I love these characters. They are lovable and hilarious. Also, they are both real in the sense that I’ve met people like this and I like that. It’s easy to create the perfect characters but hard to imagine someone with their pros and cons. Angel and Noah are far from perfect but they are both so endearing I’d love to meet them and be their friend. Hahaha. Do you get like this about characters too?
Overall, I am super happy with this book. It is a wonderful romantic comedy which also displays a powerful debate about the ways of living life. Reading this has made me want to binge read Matt Dunn’s books. Maybe I will. If you’re looking for a book to read on a warm, lazy afternoon while lounging in a chair, well this is it for you. Preferably alone because you’ll definitely be laughing out loud after almost every chapter. You’ll be holding in your laughter like me or just burst out laughing and turning your pages quickly just to see what happens next to Noah and Angel together or with their family and friends.
13 Dates gave me so many feels. 13 Dates was funny, thoughtful, exciting, happy, sad, hopeful, hopeless and inspiring.
It’s about Noah who wants to find a girl, fall in love and settle down. So when he’s about to go to a blind date, he finds Angel who is adventurous, funny, different and lives in the now. After meeting her, his life turns upside down trying to keep up with her. Artless art shows, dangerous rock climbing, comical horse riding, exhausting park runs and horrible restaurant experience.
I have to say that this is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I thought it would be *spoiler* a cliche romance story where the girl would be quirky and the guy too lost and alone then in the end, he would be more confident and learned something but stay alone like The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider or Me Before You by Jojo Moyes.
However, it wasn’t like that. Yeah there was a message for the readers too. It was that we shouldn’t just enjoy now but also anticipate our future. I love how this book addresses this because I always hear good things about living for today but mostly never about how exciting a future can be. It was an eye opener and really fun to read about. And to learn this in a romantic comedy like 13 Dates is a perfect way.
From the beginning, this book is hilarious as Noah just get into situations that are comical and it gets even funnier to see how he reacts in them. It’s really interesting to see whether he could make Angel fall in love with him by their 13th date. It set a good pace for this book and something for readers to want to stay till the end. Matt Dunn is a brilliant writer and I liked his writing which seemed effortless and descriptive.
Noah is sweet, funny and quirky. He owns an art gallery and is a hard worker. Angel is smart, independent and decisive. Angel and Noah are the opposites of each other but somehow they work. It’s obvious to see their chemistry and I love their relationship. I love these characters. They are lovable and hilarious. Also, they are both real in the sense that I’ve met people like this and I like that. It’s easy to create the perfect characters but hard to imagine someone with their pros and cons. Angel and Noah are far from perfect but they are both so endearing I’d love to meet them and be their friend. Hahaha. Do you get like this about characters too?
Overall, I am super happy with this book. It is a wonderful romantic comedy which also displays a powerful debate about the ways of living life. Reading this has made me want to binge read Matt Dunn’s books. Maybe I will. If you’re looking for a book to read on a warm, lazy afternoon while lounging in a chair, well this is it for you. Preferably alone because you’ll definitely be laughing out loud after almost every chapter. You’ll be holding in your laughter like me or just burst out laughing and turning your pages quickly just to see what happens next to Noah and Angel together or with their family and friends.
October 3, 2017
Noah Wilson is a single man in his 30s. He knows that there is no such thing as love at first sight. And while standing in line at a Starbucks, where he first encountered Angel, he is still convinced that there is definitely no way a man falls in love at first sight. First sound, however, sends him reeling, as the sound of her voice gives him weak knees, sweaty palms, and the singular knowledge that maybe for the first time in his life he is truly, completely, helplessly in love. Underline the helplessly part, as his attempt to talk to her is filled with a level of awkwardness that should send her running in the opposite direction. But it doesn't. However, she does tell him that she's not interested in a relationship, that it's just not for her.
Devastated, Noah doesn't know what to do. But he doesn't want to give up. With the encouragement of his elderly landlady Mary and his friend and co-worker Marlon, Noah decides to give it another chance and tracks down where Angel works. Marlon explains to Noah that it takes 13 dates to find out if you're compatible with someone, but the good news is that the Starbucks conversation counts as the first date, so he's ahead of the game. During an opening at the art gallery where he works (date 2!), he gets her to agree to another date with him, where they go rock-climbing, and things go from there.
Through many adventures and near-disasters, Noah keeps trying to make Angel fall in love with him. But even if he does manage to get in all those 13 dates, is love inevitable? Is happy ever after realistic? Can a relationship really develop between these two very different people, or will Noah be left broken-hearted?
Matt Dunn's latest novel, 13 Dates, is an utterly charming surprise that sparkles with cleverness, interesting dialogue, genuinely funny situations, and well developed characters. Noah is an everyman with slightly worse luck than average, more intelligence than average, and a keen self-awareness that keeps him from becoming maudlin. I thought this novel was absolutely adorable, and it made me irritated that I'd ignored Dunn's A Day at the Office, despite seeing it everywhere. That was my mistake, and one I will not repeat. Matt Dunn is a delightful writer, and I can't wait to dive into more of his books.
Galleys for 13 Dates were provided by Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley.com, with many thanks.
Devastated, Noah doesn't know what to do. But he doesn't want to give up. With the encouragement of his elderly landlady Mary and his friend and co-worker Marlon, Noah decides to give it another chance and tracks down where Angel works. Marlon explains to Noah that it takes 13 dates to find out if you're compatible with someone, but the good news is that the Starbucks conversation counts as the first date, so he's ahead of the game. During an opening at the art gallery where he works (date 2!), he gets her to agree to another date with him, where they go rock-climbing, and things go from there.
Through many adventures and near-disasters, Noah keeps trying to make Angel fall in love with him. But even if he does manage to get in all those 13 dates, is love inevitable? Is happy ever after realistic? Can a relationship really develop between these two very different people, or will Noah be left broken-hearted?
Matt Dunn's latest novel, 13 Dates, is an utterly charming surprise that sparkles with cleverness, interesting dialogue, genuinely funny situations, and well developed characters. Noah is an everyman with slightly worse luck than average, more intelligence than average, and a keen self-awareness that keeps him from becoming maudlin. I thought this novel was absolutely adorable, and it made me irritated that I'd ignored Dunn's A Day at the Office, despite seeing it everywhere. That was my mistake, and one I will not repeat. Matt Dunn is a delightful writer, and I can't wait to dive into more of his books.
Galleys for 13 Dates were provided by Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley.com, with many thanks.
September 21, 2020
Gallery owner, Noah, has almost given up on finding ‘the one’. And, at the age of 35, he’s getting desperate. What is he doing wrong? Will he ever meet the woman of his dreams? Fresh hope comes in the form of his friend, Marlon, who has a theory that it takes 13 dates to fall in love. Noah needs to focus on getting to that magical 13th date. So, when Noah meets Angel, a gorgeous, quirky redhead, he pursues her with this very aim in mind. Angel, however, is a free spirit, a ‘live for the moment’ kind of woman, who’s all about new experiences, having fun and cramming as much as possible into life. Commitment and relationships are simply not on her agenda. Can Noah win her heart and fulfill his dreams?
I’ve read and enjoyed several Matt Dunn books. It’s rare to find a male author who can write great romcom with a little bit of depth that adds an extra layer to the story. And in the case of 13 Dates, it was this facet that really made the narrative work for me. The first half of the book, as Noah valiantly strives to find common ground between Angel’s expectations and his own, is very funny, if somewhat overplayed in places. There are some great, laugh-out-loud lines, but I expect more than humor from Matt Dunn, so it was a relief when the reason for Angel’s ‘live for the day’ attitude was revealed. Finally, some meat on the bones, and in the end a very satisfying read.
If I’m being critical, what I didn’t like so much were Noah’s long, rambling, single-sentence monologues, which were difficult to follow at times, particularly when they included chunks of parenthesis. I would often lose track of his train of thought and have to go back and re-read the text. I found this really annoying and, had it been any other author, I would probably have given up the book altogether.
I’ve read and enjoyed several Matt Dunn books. It’s rare to find a male author who can write great romcom with a little bit of depth that adds an extra layer to the story. And in the case of 13 Dates, it was this facet that really made the narrative work for me. The first half of the book, as Noah valiantly strives to find common ground between Angel’s expectations and his own, is very funny, if somewhat overplayed in places. There are some great, laugh-out-loud lines, but I expect more than humor from Matt Dunn, so it was a relief when the reason for Angel’s ‘live for the day’ attitude was revealed. Finally, some meat on the bones, and in the end a very satisfying read.
If I’m being critical, what I didn’t like so much were Noah’s long, rambling, single-sentence monologues, which were difficult to follow at times, particularly when they included chunks of parenthesis. I would often lose track of his train of thought and have to go back and re-read the text. I found this really annoying and, had it been any other author, I would probably have given up the book altogether.
September 19, 2019
Matt Dunn is a writer of romantic comic novels. I have read and enjoyed Fat Chance in the past and thought I would give 13 dates a whirl. I was not disappointed. Noah is a 35 year old who runs a small art gallery in London. He is desperate to meet Miss Right and can’t wait to be married, with kids, living the suburban dream. The moment he sees Angel in Starbucks, he knows she’s the one, despite not looking or acting like he always assumed his ideal mate would. The reason Nathan is not with anyone is that he’s the opposite of Mr Smooth so he manages to let Angel leave without asking her for her phone number or offering his or finding out anything concretely useful which would help him find her again. Luckily for him, Noah has two friends who don’t let that stop them from helping him track her down; one is Mary, Noah’s landlady who’s in her eighties and the other is Marlon, Noah’s assistant from the gallery. Once Noah does track Angel down, it’s still not plain sailing as she tells him she absolutely does not do relationships and that she’s only interested in trying new experiences. As Noah is very much an inside the box, rather than outside the box, kind of guy, this proves very challenging and very funny. Except this only leaves the reason for why Angel insists on these conditions. When she tells Noah the reason, Noah finds that love does not necessarily conquer all.
Angel and Noah’s relationship is very touching. The funny bits are definitely funny. The tear jerking bits had me reaching for the beach towel to dab my eyes. Lucky me, I’m on holiday and didn’t want to risk sun tan lotion in the eyes. 13 dates is certainly good, light holiday reading.
Angel and Noah’s relationship is very touching. The funny bits are definitely funny. The tear jerking bits had me reaching for the beach towel to dab my eyes. Lucky me, I’m on holiday and didn’t want to risk sun tan lotion in the eyes. 13 dates is certainly good, light holiday reading.
March 4, 2019
It’s been a while since I read anything at all, and I’m stuck halfway through a couple of epic books, so I needed something light to kick-start my reading habit again. I borrowed this book for free from the Amazon Prime Reading section, and I was quite looking forward to something a bit cosy and heart warming.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t really find any kind of empathy for either of the main characters which really spoilt my enjoyment of the book.
We have Angel who is living life to the full at every minute (for supposedly good reasons), but she is extremely unappreciative of anything that anyone tries to do for her.
And we have Noah, who I think is supposed to appear charming and lovestruck, but to me felt borderline stalker-ish and a little bit desperate.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good romance book as much as the next person, but I like to be able to feel like I could be friends with the main characters, as if the story could be being told to me over a glass of wine in someone’s sitting room.
I did like the pace of the story, and the idea behind it that it supposedly takes 13 dates to fall in love with someone, but because of the lack of feelings I had for the main characters it just didn’t do it for me really. I did read through to the end and I did feel slightly invested in how it turned out, but I think the main attraction of a so-called ‘chick-lit’ book for me is how it makes me feel, and I was lukewarm at best.
Posted on: http://emmaloui.se/2019/03/04/matt-du...
Unfortunately, I couldn’t really find any kind of empathy for either of the main characters which really spoilt my enjoyment of the book.
We have Angel who is living life to the full at every minute (for supposedly good reasons), but she is extremely unappreciative of anything that anyone tries to do for her.
And we have Noah, who I think is supposed to appear charming and lovestruck, but to me felt borderline stalker-ish and a little bit desperate.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good romance book as much as the next person, but I like to be able to feel like I could be friends with the main characters, as if the story could be being told to me over a glass of wine in someone’s sitting room.
I did like the pace of the story, and the idea behind it that it supposedly takes 13 dates to fall in love with someone, but because of the lack of feelings I had for the main characters it just didn’t do it for me really. I did read through to the end and I did feel slightly invested in how it turned out, but I think the main attraction of a so-called ‘chick-lit’ book for me is how it makes me feel, and I was lukewarm at best.
Posted on: http://emmaloui.se/2019/03/04/matt-du...
August 27, 2019
I found a book that made me laugh!!
I doubt I would have got around to listening to this if it hadn't appeared as a free audiobook under Kindle Unlimited. KU offers plenty of e books, but considerably fewer audios, so I decided to give it a try and I really enjoyed it. It did something that books very rarely do for me, it actually made me laugh.
It starts out a bit guy-lit and I thought I could see where it was going. Girl meets boy, falls in love, overcomes problems, lives happily ever after. But this had more to offer, quite a bit more to offer, in fact.
Noah and Angel first meet at Starbucks, an awkward encounter typical of most of Noah's meetings with women he fancies. He's convinced she's the one and all his previous dates were just building up to this.
The 13 dates of the title refers to Noah's friend's conviction that it takes 13 dates to fall in love. This becomes Noah's target - if he can just persuade her to go out with him 13 times, then she will be besotted.
There are some wonderful characters, especially Mary, the elderly woman who rents a room to Noah. Then there are Noah's lovely parents and Angel's awful ones, and the artist who is showing his works in Noah's art gallery.
Written from the man's perspective, which makes this an unusual read, it also has a more serious side. I can't say much about this as it would be a spoiler, but it made the book a more thoughtful read.
The narration by James Langton was spot on, for both male and female voices and I was sorry to say goodbye to everyone when the book ended.
I doubt I would have got around to listening to this if it hadn't appeared as a free audiobook under Kindle Unlimited. KU offers plenty of e books, but considerably fewer audios, so I decided to give it a try and I really enjoyed it. It did something that books very rarely do for me, it actually made me laugh.
It starts out a bit guy-lit and I thought I could see where it was going. Girl meets boy, falls in love, overcomes problems, lives happily ever after. But this had more to offer, quite a bit more to offer, in fact.
Noah and Angel first meet at Starbucks, an awkward encounter typical of most of Noah's meetings with women he fancies. He's convinced she's the one and all his previous dates were just building up to this.
The 13 dates of the title refers to Noah's friend's conviction that it takes 13 dates to fall in love. This becomes Noah's target - if he can just persuade her to go out with him 13 times, then she will be besotted.
There are some wonderful characters, especially Mary, the elderly woman who rents a room to Noah. Then there are Noah's lovely parents and Angel's awful ones, and the artist who is showing his works in Noah's art gallery.
Written from the man's perspective, which makes this an unusual read, it also has a more serious side. I can't say much about this as it would be a spoiler, but it made the book a more thoughtful read.
The narration by James Langton was spot on, for both male and female voices and I was sorry to say goodbye to everyone when the book ended.
August 18, 2017
There's something about romantic comedies which, despite many of them having predictable endings, really fulfills all my desires for a story in one go. 13 Dates is one of those tales which involves a kooky theory about the rules of love, some delightful supporting characters (I loved the character of Mary and imagined her as actress June Squibb for some reason), and a sizable emotional hurdle. These elements and more check off the required boxes for me to fully enjoy this relatively short read. I love the way Matt Dunn writes dialogue. It's very cute and offbeat but in a way that's not annoying.
I wasn't super into either of the main characters at the beginning. Noah seemed a little like a doormat while Angel initially fit a "manic pixie dream girl" stereotype (the cool girl who wears retro band t-shirts and Converse). However, once I particularly learned more about Angel's backstory and the lengths Noah goes to make Angel feel special and appreciated, I too fell in love with these characters. Every person deserves a Noah in their lives.
I would definitely recommend 13 Dates to anyone who loves chick-lit and/or romance. This is the perfect book to read on a rainy day with a mug of hot chocolate or tea.
I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you Goodreads and Lake Union Publishing for the release day copy!
I wasn't super into either of the main characters at the beginning. Noah seemed a little like a doormat while Angel initially fit a "manic pixie dream girl" stereotype (the cool girl who wears retro band t-shirts and Converse). However, once I particularly learned more about Angel's backstory and the lengths Noah goes to make Angel feel special and appreciated, I too fell in love with these characters. Every person deserves a Noah in their lives.
I would definitely recommend 13 Dates to anyone who loves chick-lit and/or romance. This is the perfect book to read on a rainy day with a mug of hot chocolate or tea.
I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you Goodreads and Lake Union Publishing for the release day copy!
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