Eight Nights of Flirting by Hannah Reynolds ~ a Review

by MK French

Shira Barbanel is determined to make her great-uncle's new assistant Isaac her boyfriend by the end of Hanukkah. Unfortunately, she can't flirt and is anxious in social situations, which makes her seem aloof. Her Nantucket neighbor and former crush Tyler Nelson is in the area, and has always been charming and the center of attention. She strikes a deal with him: teach her to flirt to get Isaac's attention, and she will introduce him to her great-uncle. The problem is, he's not as shallow as she thought he was.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

October 2022; Razorbill; 978-0593349755
audio, ebook, print (400 pages); YA rom-com

Eight Nights of Flirting is a fun teen rom-com, and Shira is instantly relatable. She second-guesses herself, gets nervous, and doesn't want to be seen as a burden. She always thought she had to be perfect at whatever she tried, which took the joy out of piano and ice skating. She had bluntly told Tyler that she thought he was cute and wanted to date him, which had horrified him and led him to turn her down. Mortified, Shira retreated even further from potential dating and social scenes. She's at a distinct disadvantage with getting Issac to like her, and Tyler is a convenient person to teach her to flirt. Their "lessons" are hilarious, and it's clear from the beginning that he's very comfortable in the middle of her large family as they prepare a Hanukkah play and do wintery things. She's just as comfortable with his mothers in their home and with their Christmas traditions. Isaac, however, is pretty and not much else.

We the reader know where the story is going, and it's an absolute delight to see it all unfold. From the meet-cute to the text messages, the search for who might have kept items hidden in Shira's attic, discovering parts of Nantucket history, and the traditions in each family, I felt part of Shira's journey. I understood what it was like to be an awkward overachiever, hoping for that real connection and friendship as well as romance. She and Tyler have great chemistry together, and I enjoyed reading this.

Buy Eight Nights of Flirting at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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