While We Were Dating

3.5/5

Ben is chosen as the lead on an ad campaign starring a very beautiful and very famous actress, Anna. The two have immediate chemistry and after some time, decide to explore their attraction in a mostly no-strings-attached relationship. When Anna is up for a role that could change the course of her career, she asks Ben to pretend to be her boyfriend so she can gain more popularity and star power. Ben eagerly agrees, but soon realizes it may be a bit more complicated that he expected. 

Jasmine Guillory writes such fun romances that feature women of color and really highlights complexities and nuances involved in being a woman of color not only in a relationship, but in the world. While We Were Dating was no different. There were important conversations about mental health, specifically in the Black community, and Guillory did not have her characters shy away from therapy and getting proper help. This story was a unique twist on her typical romances in that it also explored what it’s like being a Black celebrity— how the general public will view you and judge you. 

As far as the romance, I wasn’t feeling it as much in this latest book. The fake dating trope didn’t work as well for me because technically, Anna and Ben were an item before they started fake dating. There wasn’t much buildup or tension to their relationship. I did appreciate how both of their mental health states were explored and it was clear that it takes two people working to be healthy to be in a healthy relationship. 

Overall, While We Were Dating wasn’t my favorite of Guillory’s books in the series, but I did appreciate the unique story and necessary conversations about being a woman of color and taking care of your mental health. If you haven’t read a book in the series yet, you can start here. Characters from previous books show up, but you won’t be missing anything if you aren’t familiar with your backstory.