Customer Reviews

The Guy I'm Not Dating

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Kara Richardson decides that from now on she will take time to get to know a guy and just be friends before even thinking about dating. Then she meets Gabe Paolino and that no-dating decision becomes a problem.
Instead of being scared away by Kara's determination to just be friends, Gabe sticks tighter than super glue. He even offers to drive Kara to Florida to see her parents. They end up taking Gabe's teenage brother Ricco,and Ricco's twin sister Rachelle with them, plus Jake, Rachelle's boyfriend. Ren, Kara's friend is invited to go too, and Tiffany, a sultry blond who wants Gabe, invites herself along. Then they pick up Addie and Lurlene, Kara's elderly relatives. All that togetherness can't leave room for romance can it?
This is a fast-paced, warm, humorous story with a great Christian message. The characters are great. Don't miss this one.

The premise of this story was intriguing, but after reading the first chapter I was up till 2am reading, laughing, and thoroughly enjoying this delightful book.

The characters were endearing, the spiritual thread well-woven and heartwarming, and the ending...well, let's just say Trish knows how to write and wrap up a book packed with humor, insight, and a ton of fun.

Chick lit gets a bad rap for being bubblegum, but Trish's book was filet mignon. In the midst of the fun, there were deep insights into the world of dating and time honored wisdom shared within the pages of this story. The life issues touched on in this book~ divorce, aging, fear, and honesty~ were not wrapped up in nice little bows either. They were handled with integrity and hope, a very nice break from edgy for the sake of being edgy.

The Guy I'm Not Dating is a book I want my daughters and the teens I teach to read because the real life lessons within teach through the power of story. And the fun factor makes learning a pleasure.

Kara-- Physical trainer, klutz extraordinaire, but only in front of the guy she's so not dating.

Gabe-- Hot, sexy, caring, hunk-of-a-man, who is so not the guy dating Kara. Huh? Then just what are these two to each other? As if?!! Read, The Guy I'm Not Dating, to find out.

Jeremy-- British man... Hottie McLicious, who every woman shoves aside because he's... nice? Surely not. And just how does he fit into Kara's life?

Ren-- Best friend to Kara and almost divorcee. Or is she divorced? Hmmm. Also, Friend/co-worker to Jeremy, aka, Hottie McLicious. Potential romance between them? Does the book even mention that? And how does Kara fit into this threesome? I'll never tell. *smiling coyly"

Tiffany-- Pain in the backside and all out annoying bomb-shell, who wants Gabe all to herself. Can the sometimes breathy Marilyn Monroe imitator capture Gabe's heart? If you think I'm going to tell you, then you have another think coming. *grin*

Rachelle, Ricco, and Jake-- Cause of road trip. Seven, soon eight, almost strangers and some family members head from Virginia to Florida, where one will be added, and one will be left. Soon, another is added and four are left. Later, three are left. And then there was one. Which one? And who are all of these people, heading on this wild road trip, where one rescues a little girl from a squirrel. Or was that a badger? ~wink wink~ I know, but I'll never tell. You have to read the book and find out for yourself. Oh yeah, will the ones bitten by the critter have to endure a series of rabies shots? Hmmm.

Addie-- Oh! Oh! You'll love Addie! She's one amazingly forgetful, eccentric, bossy, fun-loving aunt. Or is she a friend? hmmmm. Just exactly who is this Addie woman to Kara, Morine, Stan and Lurlene? And who are THESE people? Well, buy the book and find out. *cheeky grin*

And last by not least, and perhaps not even lastly, I would be no kind of person if I didn't warn you about some things first. #1. You must give yourself oodles amount of uninterrupted time to read, The Guy I'm Not Dating. #2. You must not eat while reading, as to avoid choking while laughing hysterically. And, #3... please note that when you've finished reading this fantastic, amazingly wonderful, delightfully entertaining story, you will miss every one of these zany characters terribly. Well, maybe not everyone of them. There is one certain auburn-haired person, who shall remain nameless, that you won't miss. But, I guarantee that you will miss everyone else. Especially Addie.

I warned you it might not be lastly. ~wink wink~ Seriously. Make haste. Don't delay. Run, don't walk, to wherever it is you purchase books and get your copy of, The Guy I'm Not Dating. Or,let your fingers do the jogging online and purchase a copy from your favorite Internet vendor. Notice, I said, jogging and not walking. That denotes a sense of urgency. *smiling* Truly, this is one story you won't want to miss.

And finally... aren't you glad... (hehe) Trish Perry, Kudos to you. You are one gifted writer! Your characters are amazing. And the sense of humor you portrayed in this story is a giggle a minute. A hoot every five. And a belly laugh every ten. Thanks for sharing your story with us. And thank you for Addie. *smiling*

To the rest of you... Happy Reading!
Debra

I had heard good things about this book, so I took it along on my honeymoon to read on the airplane. I could not put it down! It was easy to imagine Kara and Ren and Gabe as real people... they are so much like my own friends. Perry wrote a story that was funny, poignant, and not schmaltzy.

My husband read it, too, despite the pink cover & chick-theme. Once he picked up the book, he had a hard time putting it down, too- even on our cruise!

Hooray for a true romance & a fun read!

At last, moms of teenaged girls have a book their daughters will want to read that promotes friendship rather than sex on the first date. Trish Perry uses humor entwined around a realistic story to emphasize an important message. The book moves at a fast clip as the plot makes the reader feel part of the action. The characters are as real as the people in your neighborhood. This is a book I'll be recommending to my friends!

A great debut novel from Trish Perry. Kara is a personal trainer who has sworn off 'dating' after a hard break up. Of course who should then enter he life but Mister Tall Dark and Handsome. What to do? Sounds very cliched but the supporting characters - especially the great Aunt - make this a fun and enjoyable read. Have to admit the convenient 'conversion' scene was a wee bit convenient for me but not as bad as some I've read.

I'd much rather read a humorous novel with a message than those revenge/horror/"describe the flies in the body" downers that pass for entertainment these days. That's not to say this is a fluff piece. If you're an avid reader, you'll read the ingredients list on a cereal box, or the 10-year-old magazine in a doctor's office, but you draw the line at poorly written novels. When a story unfolds this seamlessly, with humor, you're hooked. Not just on this novel, but whatever else Perry turns out. I'm a fan now.

I am not a fan of chick lit and entered into reading "The Guy I'm Not Dating" with real skeptisism. I was pleasantly surprised and completely caught off guard when I found myself laughing out loud as the characters' true colors emerged! I shared the book with a friend who is raising teenagers and although she never reads chick lit, she thoroughly enjoyed the book. We both thought it was refreshing to read a book that highlights romance WITH friendship WITHOUT sex. Finally, I had my 11 year old daughter and 14 year old son read the book. They found it very entertaining and enjoyed the playful relationships between and among the characters. In this age of frequent sexual activity among our youth, I was thrilled to have children read a book about relationships that developed through friendship. We are looking all looking forward to more!

At first I didn't get the title, but after I read the story it made total sense.

Kara Richardson is a personal trainer at a gym. Gabe Paolino is a new deli owner in town. Both are Christians and drawn to each other. But they have a problem. Kara was burned in a prior relationship and promised herself she will stop dating men and be friends first. Then if the Lord leads...

Gabe is a fairly new Christian who attracts women like bees to honey, but he's only interested in one woman, Kara. The concept of not dating intrigues him so much he buys the book Kara references. Then he decides he likes the idea and they resolve to be friends. Friends who see each other A LOT. Friends who travel together with several teens, two hilarious old ladies, and one conceited woman who won't leave Gabe alone. Friends who share their hopes and dreams and discuss matters of the heart.

The laugh-out-loud adventures of Gabe and Kara, who are so incredibly attracted to each other, lead to some pretty tense, but poignant moments in this novel. So many times I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for one of them to grab the other. LOL! Great romance here, but also very clean! Well done!

An innocent desire to know each other more drives a lot of Gabe and Kara's behavior, but it tortures Kara that she's so attracted to him. However, she realizes there are traits Gabe has that have nothing to do with his looks, but have made him totally endearing to her. Like putting other people's needs before his own. That speaks volumes to Kara. Gabe is truly the ultimate hero. I loved him!

In case the reader missed that point about beauty not being as attractive as character, the author portrays it again in Tiffany, who is completely into herself and thinks of no one else's needs...ever. The author shows how being Christ-like can attract people to Christ, though in this story not every soul is saved. But that's real life.

The elderly women, Addie and Lurlene, added a lot of charm to this novel. I guess when you're as old as dirt you can tell it like it is, and those old ladies had some real zingers... especially with Tiffany, the character most readers would love to hate. And sweet Addie was practically senile, making for some very humorous situations.

In this novel there were some very touching and insightful moments that I think every Christian should experience. And the ability the author had to make you care about the characters was truly amazing! This book was not only fun (though it was hilarious), but it also caused me to think differently. I'm very impressed with the underlying theme in The Guy I'm Not Dating, and I highly recommend it.

A bright star on the horizon, Trish Perry is an author worth watching. Her newest release, The Guy I'm Not Dating, kept me laughing out loud from start to finish. Undeniable and infectious, Ms. Perry has woven a thread of humor through this tale that reaches deep into the heart and leaves the reader hungering for more. Her characters are real, believable, someone the reader can relate to with an honesty that will appeal to all ages. Bring on book two, Trish Perry. I'm hooked!