This wasn't my favorite book. I did read it all the way through, although it took some time. It was a slow-paced & just not very exciting.

Hello

Apologies for the late notice, but I have decided not to review this title. While I am certain it's obvious by now, I wanted to also clear this off NetGalley, so it's not showing as open for either of us.

I look forward to continuing to work with you in 2023 and beyond.

Laura

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me a free copy of this advanced copy of the book to read and review.

Mac has rather high standards for the men she dates, and her friends are all somewhat convinced that she compares them all to Jake, her teenage crush. She denies it for some time, however when she finally accepts that they are in fact right, she begins to see her relationships in a new light.

I loved the premise of this book. I found the characters to be well developed, and the storyline engaging throughout.

I, too, was a sucker for the title of this book. Jake Ryan? What kid watching Sixteen Candles didn't think Jake was just the best thing ever? This made this book an instant request for me. Sadly, the build up in my head was for nothing. I hate to give bad reviews on books, but I just can't give anything more than 2 stars for this one. Mac is a 39 (yes you read that right) year old woman, that has went to med school, has a practice, and still compares every potential boyfriend to fictional Jake Ryan. Sorry, but that is craziness. She reads more like a teenager than a grown a$$ woman. I also don't get the reviews saying that she was a strong heroine. Like what? She's a 39 year old woman that is still lying to her family about a fictional boyfriend. Sorry, but that's not strong in my book. The title sucked me in, but in the end, this book just wasn't for me.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.

This was a fun n books that told a fun story. It could have been just another in the genre but the nostalgia sprinkled in the story give it an extra twist and more life. The book isn't groundbreaking but does bring new life into a oversaturated field.

I grew up loving Jake Ryan like a lot of girls my age. The main character in this book could be any one of us. This book was cute and made me laugh out loud at some of the silly situations. I really enjoyed daydreaming about finding my own Jake while reading this.

New to me author but definitely won't be last. Thoroughly enjoyed this story. Thanks Netgalley and to the publisher for letting me read this advance copy.

This was a cute book and I loved the premise behind it. Mac has a high standard for the men she dates and her friends are convinced she compares them all to her teenage crush, Jake Ryan. Once she admits that they're right, she sees her relationships in a new light. She lies about having a boyfriend to appease her meddling mother but when she finds a real prospect for love, her lies come back to haunt her. A sweet HEA that was an overall fun read.

Thank you for the review copy. Unfortunately this book was not for me. I tried the ebook and audio and it just didn't work.

Chicago obstetrician Mackenzie “Mac” Huntress is an obstetrician & her standards for men are very high. Over 20 years ago she fell for the fictional movie character"Jake Ryan" and decided to wait for the real life version to come along. Her mom doesn't like that she doesn't have guy in her life, so Mac makes up one to make her mom happy.

But when Mac’s little sister announces her engagement, Mac is expected to introduce her “plus-one” at the wedding, leaving her with only forty days to find a flesh-and-blood stand-in for the imaginary Michael. And the only potential Mr. Right comes with a big hitch.

However, it turns out Mac’s not the only one bringing secrets to the wedding. With expectations high, and shocking truths to be revealed, Mac’s left to find her own happy ending, which isn’t as simple as in the movies…though it’s definitely worth waiting for.

This was a sweet, swoony rom- com that I highly recommend..

As soon as I heard about THE JAKE RYAN COMPLEX, I was IMMEDIATELY intrigued! While I'm not a John Hughes diehard, I do love his films, and I definitely thought Jake Ryan was one of his more swoony heartthrobs, so I went into this one expecting to love the nods towards SIXTEEN CANDLES and other classic films, and sure enough it was sweet, funny, and definitely gave me John Hughes-vibes just as the title suggested! ;)

While Mac's reluctance to be honest with her mom about her singledom was a bit much at times, it did totally suit the rom-com genre...and was right out of something you'd see in a film where you just kind of shake your head at the heroines antics. It had me cringing, and laughing more than once! I also really loved the chemistry between Mac and her "Mr. Right," and I loved seeing everything in the story all come together.

It’s on the fade-to-black spectrum of romance, so don’t go into it expecting sexytimes on the page, but if you’re looking for ridiculous movie-like awkward scenarios because of the heroine’s antics and some epic family drama mixed in with an adorable senior dog, a sexy love interest, and some dates-gone-wrong, then you’ll love this. It’s also perfect for anyone, who like Mac, loves Jake Ryan from SIXTEEN CANDLES.

It reminded me of WAITING FOR TOM HANKS by Kerry Winfrey with the rom-com goodness, and MAN HANDS by Sarina Bowen and Tanya Eby for the handyman hotness...just not quite as steamy. ;)

Overall, I loved THE JAKE RYAN COMPLEX! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet, funny rom-com with a super sweet HEA!

Star Rating:
★★★★★

Read If You Like:
Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey, John Hughes movies, and classic rom-coms.

I was so hopeful for The Jake Ryan Complex when I saw it on Netgalley. Unfortunately I could not get into the storyline at all. The premise sounded so cute, I think I just wasn’t in the mood when I tried to read it. DNF at 15%

This was such a fun story. I adored Mac and found myself laughing so many times. I will definitely be looking to read more from Bethany Crandell.

As soon as I saw that this novel had the name Jake Ryan in the title, I knew I would have to check it out. I love eighties teen rom coms and Sixteen Candles is a classic. The actor who played Jake Ryan is still hiding in plain sight, forever young in our eyes.

This was the perfect rom com novel for me, full of eighties references, funny dating mishaps, a cute dog, and-of course-a swoonworthy book boyfriend. I had such a fun time reading this story and loved the characters. (Even though Mac's mom was a handful, she still kept the story interesting without stealing thunder from the main characters.) Mac was placed into some pretty bizarre situations, especially with her own family. And J.T. sounds so amazing.

I love that the story takes place in the Chicago area and that Mac is a Cubs fan. There were a lot of spoilers for Sixteen Candles, so if you haven't seen it by now, you may want to before reading this novel. (It provides a good frame of reference, despite the problematic issues that stand out when you watch in this day and age.)

Overall, this was a great debut adult novel from Bethany Crandell. I even cried at the end, from happiness. I can't wait to read her next novel, See Jane Snap, later this year!

Movie casting suggestions:
Mac: Erin Karpluk
J.T.: Geoff Stults
Caroline: Dani Kind
Gia: Harley Quinn Smith
Hope: Mae Whitman
Mac's mom: Donna Murphy

I was kind of into this book until about 40%. Then my interest went downhill. Not really sure why. I can see it appealing to some a little older than me.

I voluntarily read an early copy.

DNF at 33%. Fake dating is one of my favorite romance tropes so I’m basically always in for that. Add in some movie nostalgia and I’m sold!

Mac lied to her mom and claimed she had a boyfriend to get her to stop setting her up. Only now her sister is getting married and she needs a date. There were a few moments that made me laugh but in general I’m not feeling invested or interested in how this will end so decided to stop here.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free advance reading copy.

The Jake Ryan Complex by Bethany Crandell is a fun romance, and my first book by this author. Doctor Mackenzie “Mac” Huntress relationships never work because she holds men to high standards. After talking to her friends, they point out she wants Jake Ryan from the 1980's movie Sixteen Candles. This book was easy to read and perfect for an escape from cold weather or life's problems. I will be reading more books by this author, I highly recommend this book if you enjoy romances.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Initial Thoughts

I was excited to read this book. I love 80s references and Sixteen Candles is a classic.

Some Things I Liked

80s references. I loved the references to pop culture and movies from the 80s woven into the story. I’ve seen so many of those movies and I thought this was a fun way to incorporate them into a rom-com.
Mac’s friend group. I loved her circle of friends and wished we had seen more of them in the story.

Some Things I Wasn’t Crazy About

I hated the last scene. That ending was the worst. It literally rendered one of the primary issues between Mac and J.T. useless.
The lies. There were far too many lies in this story and they really didn’t make sense by the end. I thought the web was too complex.
The horrible dates. Some of them were so weird I literally cringed.

Series Value

I don’t really think there’s much series value here. I didn’t really fall in love with any of the characters and most of their issues were resolved within this story.

I’d read more of Bethany Crandell’s writing though. I enjoyed the humor in this story.

Final Thoughts

I didn’t love this story. The lies and deceit became too complex and I felt like it all wrapped up too neatly in the end for the years and years of issues that were unraveled during the story. I thought it was good but not great.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

Truth, Lies, and Second Dates by MaryJanice Davidson – if you liked the idea of a slightly older main character who somewhat resigned herself to single life, try this standalone.
Knocked Up Cinderella by Julie Hammerle – if you liked the idea of an almost 40 heroine who’s sassy and independent, try this standalone.

I am probably one of the few readers who hadn't seen Sixteen Candles before starting this book. Still, I could absolutely relate to the main character and her struggle to find a decent guy. If her standards are based on a fictional character, it doesn't mean she isn't onto something. Sometimes you have to date a lot of people before you find the person who is right for you and you are the best judge of what is right for you, not your friends or your family.Mac is a fun character and there are many laugh-out-loud moments in the book. The wedding at the end is THE most dramatic wedding I've ever read about.. There was just one thing- I really hate it when a single guy wears a wedding band to protect himself from unwanted attention.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.