The stars have finally aligned. The girl I’ve crushed on for years and I are finally single at the same time. Too bad she has me planted firmly in the friends-with-benefits zone. Ever since I met the girl I affectionately call Cheese, I’ve wanted her. She was dating a buddy when I was single. When she was single, I was living with someone. So, when I found out she and her fiance called it quits, … someone. So, when I found out she and her fiance called it quits, I was ready to make my move. Cue the music where the hero gets the girl, right? Not so fast.
Being dumped right before her wedding has done a real number on her. So this beautiful, funny, smart, amazing woman has decided she’s not ready for a relationship. She’s just looking for something physical, so I offer up my services. I offer to be the alternative she’s looking for.
The trouble is, the more time I spend with her, the more I realize she’s the one. The one I want to date…and maybe the one and only woman I want to have in my life forever.
I’m poised to make my move from this arrangement we’ve made to serious boyfriend status when she completely ghosts on me.
I have a hard time believing none of it was real. I could’ve sworn she was feeling the same things I was. So maybe there’s more going on than I realized…and maybe there’s something I can do to get her back after all.
Full of laughs, heart, and plenty of heat, The Dating Alternative will have you cheering for sweet Brie, and falling for sweet, sexy Max.
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When I read the blurb for The Dating Alternative by Jennifer Woodhull, I knew I wanted to read it. A jilted woman, by her ex-fiancé who apparently forget he was engaged, is now looking for a no-strings casual affair. A relationship is the last things she wants right now. You just know this story is going to have all the feels!
Brie is taking a break from dating. I mean she picked the absolutely wrong guy to want to marry and now she just wants to enjoy being single. So, she decides to have some light and casual fun. Enter Max. Max and Brie have known each other for a while and have enjoyed flirting with each other. Now they are both single. Max is ready to be the man she needs right now, but the more time he spends with her, the more he wants from her. What’s a guy to do?
The Dating Alternative by Jennifer Woodhull was a very enjoyable read. I loved Max and Brie so much. Max was just so sweet and charming. Brie was hesitant at first as she is trying to safeguard her heart. But as soon as these two connected, you felt the sparks fly! I loved their banter and journey so much. Overall a fun and sexy read!
~ Liz
Brie’s fiance` walks out on her three weeks before they are to be married. All to be with a tan goddess. Brie’s whole world crumbles and her self-esteem has taken a huge hit. Six months later, Brie’s friends decide it is time to get back out there.
Max is a ex-lawyer turned bartender. He just could not take the life of a lawyer anymore. So he left his father’s firm and decided to bar tend and save to open his own bar. After he caught his live in girlfriend in an uncompromising position with her boss, he has taken a break from dating.
On Bries’ night out with the girls she runs into Max. He is tending bar in the spot her and the girls go to. Her and Max have known each other for a few years, through other social circles.
Max has always crushed on Brie. But the timing was never right. So when the planets align and they find each other single, Max decides that he must jump on this golden opportunity. The only problem with that is that Brie’s ex did a number on her and she doesn’t want to date. She is only looking to scratch that itch. No strings attached. Max can do that. But he wants more. He is just going to have to convince her she is his.
This book has some amazing characters in it. It has some crappy ones too…wink wink. I absolutely loved Max. He is amazing. He is smart, funny caring and sexy. Holy hell ladies…this man is HOT!!!!
Brie is a sweet girl. She really does get the shit end of the stick. She is caring and her ex really did a number on her. Her self-esteem took a really hard hit. As a result she is very insecure and constantly doubts herself. Not to mention her other issues that knock her for a loop. You will see when you read it.
I have to say this book was a great read. It was not just your normal friends to lovers to forever type of romance. This book is so much more. It has an excellent twist in it that will have you dropping a few choice words.
This book will pull at those heart strings, so be prepared. Tissue…check. Wine…check. Comfy jammies…check. Pull up that blankie, curl up on the couch and get ready to have your emotions played with. You will be so glad you did.
A great feel-good story, with the right amounts of sweetness, steam and plot twists to keep my interest from begining to end. I really enjoyed it !
Brie whose real name is Sabrina has been out of dating since her crummy fiancé left her two weeks before the wedding for some woman he recently met but that’s ok Brie has to concentrate on her career. Brie’s boss hates her and she struggles to please her but it’s impossible so when she and her friends go to the local bar she and Max the bartender strike up a conversation. They agree to have a friends with benefits thing but both feel to much for it to be casual but they are to gun shy to take it further till something happens to Brie.
This was a really fun story to read, serious but staying on the lighter side and I really enjoyed reading it. The author is new to me but I enjoyed this story so much I will be on the lookout for more of her books.
Reviewed on behalf of Once upon an Alpha
When I read the blurb for The Dating Alternative by Jennifer Woodhull, I knew I wanted to read it. A jilted woman, by her ex-fiancé who apparently forget he was engaged, is now looking for a no-strings casual affair. A relationship is the last things she wants right now. You just know this story is going to have all the feels!
Brie is taking a break from dating. I mean she picked the absolutely wrong guy to want to marry and now she just wants to enjoy being single. So, she decides to have some light and casual fun. Enter Max. Max and Brie have known each other for a while and have enjoyed flirting with each other. Now they are both single. Max is ready to be the man she needs right now, but the more time he spends with her, the more he wants from her. What’s a guy to do?
The Dating Alternative by Jennifer Woodhull was a very enjoyable read. I loved Max and Brie so much. Max was just so sweet and charming. Brie was hesitant at first as she is trying to safeguard her heart. But as soon as these two connected, you felt the sparks fly! I loved their banter and journey so much. Overall a fun and sexy read!
Read and reviewed for Reviews From The Heart.
Happy reading!
The Dating Alternative was amazing!!!
I loved that it was opposite of so many stereotypes. It was Brie who wanted to only to date casually and explore friends with benefits…. Max was the one who was trying to win her over.
This book was filled with some funny moments, passionate moments, awe moments and some page turning moments.
Seriously loved every aspect of this book! Jennifer Woodhull has a total fan in me now. I love her work!
I loved Max he was so sweet and patient! Lord was he patient. Max had met Brie years ago and they were both attracted to each other but the timing was never right for them, one or the other was in a relationship whenever they saw each other but now they were both single and interested. Unfortunately Brie had a difficult breakup her sleezy ex had cheated on her and broke up with her right before her wedding leaving her scared. But, Max also had a similar experience but he was ready to start a new relationship and Brie was the one for him. Brie was gun shy and she annoyed a little with the (not part of rules) bit, but she wised up only to have her world crash down on her but Max saves the day!!..Grab a copy and Enjoy!
Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..Voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions.
Max and Cheese, just their names together sounds perfect in every way. Well in Max’s eye it does. The problem is that Cheese aka Sabrina is more than just a friend something he is finding out. The chemistry between them just sizzles the pages and man Max is one hot sexy bartender. Jennifer Woodhull blew me away in this book not only the storyline but showing us that to never give up on meeting the right one. Loved it.
“I received an eBook copy from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own.”
What a great book. Wonderful characters in a story that is sexy, sweet and swoon-worthy. Brie and Max have major chemistry and are a lot of fun to read about. A book with all the feels.
This is my first time reading a book by Jennifer Woodhull, and I am very interested in reading more of her work. I read it in about 24 hours, and enjoyed it a lot. The storyline was a new take on an old theme: Friends-with-Benefits, but with a fun twist. I liked “Cheese” and “Max” very much. I enjoyed their relationships with their friends and family, especially “Alexander’s” spunky grandma.
There were a few jaw-dropping “no way!” moments, and an expected twist. A couple of times, something happened that maybe crossed the line into unbelievability. For the most part, this was a fun, interesting, fast-paced story. This author writes “sexy times” really well, and I’ve found that not all authors do. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this terrific book.
Getting your life back together after your fiancé has dumped you right before your wedding? Easy or not? The Dating Alternative tells the story of Brie, who had her heart broken big time. Luckily there’s Max, who just is what she needs. I love this sweet story.
“I’ve always liked this girl, but since she told me she’s single, I’ve been thinking about her a lot more than usual.”
Brie thought she had it all; a fiancé and a job she liked (well, sort of…). That’s until fiancé-dear decides he wants somebody else and is gone before Brie can blink her eyes. Nowadays its just work and spending time with her friends for Brie; no men and certainly not a new relationship. But then Max shows up, a sweet guy who had a similar experience like Brie. And the best part; Brie and Max know each other. Not that they’re close friends, but they’ve run in the same circles. And both are single now…
“He leans down, and brushes his lips, those soft, sweet, strong lips against mine, and I melt against him.”
Brie and Max are a cute, swoon worthy couple, they are perfect for each other. However, Brie isn’t so sure about Max (or starting a new relationship in general). Her fiancé’s betrayal has made her skittish, and she doesn’t want to get hurt again. Max is an amazing guy who finally sees his chance with Brie, he takes whatever she’s willing to give him. Of course, their ‘arrangement’ is doomed to fail (hello, this is a romantic story) and Max and Brie have their Happily Ever After.
The Dating Alternative is my very first read by Jennifer Woodhull, and I’m pleasantly surprised. I love her writing, and her characters. Max and Brie feel like real people, who talk and react realistically. No over-the-top drama, no annoying exes who try to destroy the couple’s happiness. Is there no drama at all? Well, there’s a secondary storyline, but that doesn’t take away from Brie and Max. As I said, I have enjoyed reading this book, and I will definitely pick up other books by this author.
“This isn’t really dating. This is something much, much more.”
This is the first book by Jennifer Woodhull that I have read and I absolutely loved it. I loved Brie and Alex(Max) together. Alex was just the perfect guy that we all wish we had. Sexy, smart, dirty talker and so in love with Brie or as he likes to call her Cheese. Brie was a great person and I love that even though she went into her arrangement with Alex she wasn’t closed off enough to not see what a good thing she had with him. You could feel the chemistry and attraction between them when they bumped into each other at the bar where Alex was working. When they came up with this arrangement and started it it was HOT! Like I said before- Alex is a great dirty talker and Brie really liked it!
I liked how Alex didn’t play games with Brie and basically laid all his cards on the table on how he felt about her and what he wanted from her. And Brie kept an open mind about what he told her. When I was reading the last chapter of the book I had a smile on my face the whole time. It made me happy and was the perfect ending for this couple.
4.5
I liked it!
This is my first book by Jennifer Woodhull.
What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Nana
Dual POVs
Standalone
HEA
I look forward to reading more from this author.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC from NetGalley.
Brie was abandoned by her the fiancé just three weeks before the wedding. And after a long time suffering, she’s ready to get back with her life. At least that’s what her friends think. In fact, a relationship is the last thing she wants in her life right now, everything that happened left her with no confidence in the opposite sex. But according to her friends, what she needs to move on is a lot of casual sex, several one-night stands, to just relax and enjoy. A pity that in practice, this decision does not go as expected.
Max has given up a promising career and today is a bartender as he saves money to start his own business. Coming home and finding his fiancee fucking her boss was not his best moment. But he’s finally single, and may be focusing on himself for a change.
Brie and Max share friends in common, and so are known. And for a move of fate, the two are finally single at the same time. The truth is that Max has always been attracted to her, and now that he can take a chance, she does not want a serious commitment, just fun. A role he can play with great pleasure, after all, being close to her, he can make her fall in love, right? After all, who would resist his charm?
It is obvious that this casual arrangement will not last long as the two spend more time together, feelings come up, and with a passionate Max and a reluctant Brie, these two will have a long journey to the happy ending.
Add lots of funny and cute messages, a hilarious grandmother, a countdown to Sunday, and some perfect dates, and the book will spark romance.
A situation in Brie’s work will add some tension to the book. The “villain” is predictable, but nothing to disrupt the narrative. This whole situation serves to Max shows his side “enchanted prince who rescues the damsel in distress”.
Brie was sometimes a bit annoying. Max was perfect. Overall, it was a good read, a good novel, light, unpretentious and funny.
If you are a lover of slow burn romance with a mix of humour, steam and a little drama thrown in then you need to be reading The Dating Alternative! Jennifer wrote characters with depth, likeability, humour and chemistry. The story was endearing and overall a really enjoyable read.
5 STAR Review by Jodi for Ruby Red Romance Review
I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this book from start to finish. I loved Sabrina. Her character has gone through so much, but has come out a stronger woman in the end. Max and Sabrina have major chemistry, but as with most things the timing was always off. I loved watching these two become so much more to each other. In the beginning, it was just about getting over and moving on, but evolved into so much more.
I think what I loved most about this story was the depth of these two characters. Max was such much more than a character for me. He was honest, raw, and had emotions that I’ve not felt from a male book character in a long time. This story was developed and made me feel like it was actually there watching two of my friends fall head over heels in love with one another. I love that. I love when I get sucked in and feel like I’m part of the story, I’m part of the fall. The Dating Alternative did just that for me. Please check out this awesome story.
This was one of those books where I was completely sucked in by the synopsis (really well written, BTW). I even liked the premise…unrequited love becomes more after a start at friendship. I think where I began to stumble is that my brain didn’t process it as a romantic comedy, especially because of some intense turns at the end. And Woodhull does flip the script a bit; Max is the one who is crushing on Brie and she has friendzoned him. That was pretty cute. What I had a hard time getting into was his almost inst-love for her (because a crush doesn’t equate to love automatically). And I think there were times when Brie could have let Max in more, especially since it made it obvious that he was playing for keeps. Yes, I know that many relationships are like this in the real world… I guess I thought there would be more laughs than what I found for a romantic comedy.
But don’t get me wrong; the writing is still good and the story flowed well. I think there were some aspects of the character which weren’t my cup of tea…maybe they’ll be yours. I am certainly open to trying this author again, so don’t let this dissuade you. Just make sure you know what type of read you’re going into.