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.
Buy The Love Study by Kris Ripper
IndieBound | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple | Google | kobo
“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.
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 Hideaway Inn by Philip William Stover
(available now!)
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)
About Kris Ripper
Kris Ripper lives in the great state of California and
zir pronouns are ze/zir. Kris shares a converted garage with a kid, can do two
pull-ups in a row, and can write backwards. (No, really.) Ze has been writing
fiction since ze learned how to write, and boring zir stuffed animals with
stories long before that.
Connect with Kris Ripper
0 comments:
Post a Comment