While We Were Dating

Ad executive Ben Stephens lands a major campaign featuring Hollywood star Anna Gardiner. Their professional relationship transforms into flirtation and chemistry as they work together on the high-profile advertising project. Anna and Ben navigate their budding connection while managing the complexities of their respective careers and personal lives. She deals with the pressures of Hollywood and maintaining her public image, while he confronts family obligations and professional ambitions. The fake relationship they craft for publicity purposes begins to feel increasingly real. Their arrangement forces them to confront their own fears about intimacy, vulnerability, and what they truly want from life and love. Through Anna and Ben's story, the novel explores themes of authenticity in the age of carefully curated public personas, mental health stigmas, and the challenge of finding genuine connection amid the glare of fame and social expectations.

Readers praise the chemistry between leads Ben and Anna, noting their authentic conversations about mental health and body image. Many reviews highlight the author's handling of anxiety and depression through Ben's character. The casual representation of therapy resonated with romance readers who appreciate seeing mental health destigmatized. Common criticisms focus on the rushed ending and underdeveloped side characters. Several readers found the final third of the book less engaging than the build-up. Some felt the celebrity-civilian romance relied too heavily on familiar tropes. "The mental health discussions felt natural rather than forced," noted one Goodreads reviewer, while another found "the ending wrapped up too neatly after strong character development." Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (52,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (3,800+ ratings) BookBub: 4.2/5 (2,400+ ratings) StoryGraph: 3.75/5 (3,900+ ratings)

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🌟 While We Were Dating was released in 2021 as the sixth book in Jasmine Guillory's "The Wedding Date" series, though each book can be read as a standalone romance. 💫 Author Jasmine Guillory worked as a lawyer before becoming a full-time writer, graduating from Stanford Law School and practicing in San Francisco. ✨ The novel tackles important themes of mental health and anxiety, with protagonist Anna dealing with panic attacks while navigating her career in Hollywood. 🌟 The book features a body-positive narrative and diverse representation, which are signature elements throughout Guillory's works. 💫 The story's male protagonist, Ben, works in advertising - a field Guillory researched extensively by interviewing advertising professionals to ensure accuracy in the novel's portrayal of the industry.