I loved the romance in this book - it's gradual development as Atlas and Gem learned more about each other and their genuine connection. The only issue being the manufactured start - if Gem had followed her intuition it wouldn't have been able to develop as Atlas gave Gem 'the Ick'.

It's clear that this is Gem's way to protect herself, and it was wonderful to see what happens when she is forced to break down her barriers. And who wouldn't want to be with Atlas - he was wonderful. My real question was why did he persevere when Gem is really rather rude and standoffish initially. I was waiting to find out he was conducting his own study as to how to make someone fall in love with him when they are clearly not into him, but no; it turns out Atlas is just downright lovely.

I'm not a big fan of the third act breakup - I couldn't understand what made Gem's actions such a massive issue that couldn't be resolved by good communication, but that didn't distract from this great little read.

I loved this book! The title instantly intrigued me as ‘the ick’ is so commonly used now. It is the perfect romcom book with great characters. To begin with, Gem really annoyed me! Her ick’s seemed so…petty? But as the book goes on and you learn more about her character and background, I can understand why she was the way she was! Atlas was such a lovely, genuine character who had his own difficulties growing up. Shanti was just fantastic, I’d love to be her friend! All in all, a great book and would recommend to everyone - especially if you love a romcom with some depth to the characters!

Gemma easily gets the ick, leading her to a lot of first dates. Often they're for petty reasosns as hearing they eat soup for lunch or carry an large backpack. Which is exactly why she feigns an emergency to leave her first date with Atlas. A little fed up with Gemma's attitude, best friend and clinical psychology student Shanti offers to pay her to participate in her final study. All she needs to do is agree to dating Atlas for six weeks to see if she can overcome her ick.

This was such a fabulous read. Gemma's fear of emotional intimacy and rejection is relatable, but she was so frustrating, especially at the end when she refuses to tell Atlas about the study. She's someone whose been closed off to everyone except her disabled mum, uncle and best friend after childhood experiences taught her to be disappointed by people. Atlas was such a sweetheart, his backstory was heartbreaking but gives insight as to why he's a solid and dependable man who keeps surprising Gemma at every turn. He knew to give Gemma space while showing he saw her and wanted to be with her. If I had any complaint it would be that I found the research study unbelievable. For any studies involving human test subjects, you need ethics approval well in advance of any study (and I also doubt you'd be paid that much!).

Another heartfelt and charming rom com from Holly McCulloch.

Thanks to Renegade Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

Gem and Atlas... What can I say...
At first I wasn't too sure what to make of them both, but now?
I love them!
I also loved Gem and Shanti's friendship.
Uncle Mike... Uncle Mike... He had me giggling!
I'm off to reread this now!

A fun easy to read romance based on a prevalent concept of modern society - the ick!

I didn’t find the female main character relatable because of these ridiculous perceived icks but it did make for some laugh out loud moments. There is a more tender side for the reasons behind her motives and I found like MC likeable if not a bit intense why he was so interested in seeing this FMC who was so clearly uninterested.

In true rom-com style there were definitely some cheesy moments but it didn’t put me off, a bit too much football in the storyline but that’s me personally, my husband loved that I was reading about main characters that were bonding over football (my personal ick haha)

Overall your typical romcom story which is a good read but nothing exceptional.

TROPES:
🎐Golden Retriever MMC,
🎐Miscommunication Trope,
🎐Stubborn FMC
🎐Disability Rep

I was THIS CLOSE to throwing my Kindle when Gem ditched a date over "soup". But somehow, this book totally won me over.

Gem is the queen of The Ick - every guy she dates has *something* that makes her run for the hills. But when her best friend ropes her into a psychology experiment, she agrees to keep dating Atlas (a guy she already wrote off) just to prove her theory that The Ick is real. Except… it turns out, maybe it’s not.

This book had me cackling with its deadpan humor and painfully relatable dating struggles. I loved the chemistry, the slow realization that Atlas is actually GREAT, and the way it captured those early relationship butterflies. Atlas is the ultimate cinnamon-roll hero (seriously, what a patient man), and while Gem frustrated me A LOT, her growth made the journey worth it.

A quick, fun rom-com with a little extra depth - definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dialogue Books for the eARC!
#TheIck #NetGalley

The gradual realisation of The ick ruining someone’s chance at finding love amused me and the rest of the novel did too. I really liked the characters, especially the ridiculously named Atlas (if the name wasn’t icky enough then surely she could have powered through). At first I thought he was going to be awful but he was delightfully normal. I did wonder if the big catalyst for the necessary argument was quite as horrific as it was made out to be but that’s always the way. Just once it would be nice to read about someone who knows they are hurtling towards disaster just sorting it out like and adult but where would be the fun in that I suppose?

3.75 ⭐
The title is was made me interested to read this book, and I thought it was a really clever story line. That Gems friend wants to study her intuition, or as she calls it "the ick". Some of those icks were honestly ridiculous :D I did find Gem a little annoying at times, especially when she didn't tell Atlas the truth, even though Shanti told her multiple times!
The friendship between Gem and Shanti though might have been one of my favorite things <3
I also loved Atlas, he was such a fun character with lots of depth and I loved the chemistry between him and Gem. Him being a soccer fan, player and coach was also cool to read about. I was so happy to see how everything worked out in the end between them, even though he gave her the ick at the first date ;)

So all in all it was a quick and enjoyable read!

Book Review: The Ick by Holly McCulloch
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to Dialogue Books, Holly McCulloch, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

The Ick is a fun, lighthearted rom-com that explores modern dating with a relatable twist: Gem, our protagonist, is plagued by the dreaded “ick” that ruins every potential relationship. The premise is fantastic—quirky, unique, and perfect for anyone who’s ever judged a date for something trivial (we’ve all been there).

While I loved the idea behind the story and its exploration of intuition in relationships, I found the writing style (third-person present tense) a bit off-putting—it’s not my personal preference, though others may enjoy it. Some sections felt repetitive, which slowed the pacing for me. That said, Gem’s journey, her growth, and the dynamics with Atlas were enjoyable, with plenty of humor and heart along the way.

If you’re after a charming, easy read about the ups and downs of dating and the ick-factor, this is worth checking out.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC!

This is a very funny, enemies to lovers romance book about a girl who seems to find an "ick' in everyone! The cover hooked me in previously, who could walk away from a cute dog on the cover and a potential enemies to lovers trope!!

This book was a nice, quick, funny, romance book that I would suggest to anyone looking for a light hearted read! I enjoyed discovering a new author and following the journey of Gem and Shanti!

I'd highlight that it was written in third person, though in the present tense. This often isn't everyone's favourite style, however, I feel it worked well in this book as a reader who mostly only reads first person books.

Gem never makes it past the first date. Everyone she dates gives her The Ick, and Atlas is no different.l and has no intention of seeing him again. Gem then makes a deal with her best friend Shanti who is doing a study on intuition and agrees to keep dating Atlas, to prove that The Ick is in fact real. Spoiler, in this story - it’s not.

I really enjoyed this! The romance was really sweet, even if you knew what was coming. I really liked Gem’s family elements and how that’s impacted her ability to form close relationships.
Atlas’ back story was kind of forgettable, I did feel like it was only there to make us feel bad for him as it was never addressed or aleuded to again but I guess that’s ok.

Overall a fun, cute read - would recommend!

3.5🌟
It has to be said, the characters were written well in this book and intertwined well. From Jay, the corner shop owner to Atlas, the romantic interest, to the friendship between Shanti and her - they're well written and developed throughout. I enjoyed reading it and liked the premise of it being a study and the reason she felt she had to take part. Strong familial ties were evident throughout, and it was clear just how much she truly cared. At times it may have been predictable, but it was heartwarming and cute!

Every date Gem goes on results in her getting the ick. She just can’t get past it. Talks with their hands. Winks. Too big of a bag. They snort when they laugh. Uses too many exclamation marks. You name it, it will put Gem off.

So when her best friend offers her the opportunity to participate in her study to prove that this innate feeling that Gem has, isn’t actually a warning, she knows she needs to prove the ick is real.

So for six weeks Gem has to date the same man, even if she feels the ick, to see if she can get past it. But what happens if she does get past the ick? And starts actually falling for someone?

I really loved this one as it really gives you an insight on modern dating and how maybe you shouldn’t always just a book by its cover. Really what’s the worst that could happen if you go on that second date?

Thank you Holly McCulloch, Dialogue Books and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘙𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘈𝘙𝘊.

FMC Gem is chronically single because every first date leads to her catching the dreaded "Ick". And once the ick has been acknowledged, it's impossible to see past it. Even the hottest of eligible bachelors becomes grotesque if he admits to something as unforgivable as eating soup for lunch. Gem's housemate and best friend, Shanti, thinks Gem's so-called "intuition" is a load of bull and decides her friend would make an excellent subject for her psychological study. She'll pay Gem to date a guy that gave her the ick, to test Gem's theory that ickiness is actually her brain's way of protecting her from a relationship that is doomed to fail. Gem agrees, because there's no way in hell this ick-tainted relationship will ever amount to anything. Right?

POOR ATLAS!! It's worth a read for the MMC alone because that cinnamon-roll, sweet bby angel puts up with A LOT. There's a good amount of diverse storytelling/characters here, and it shirks surface-level for something a little deeper (think Ashley Poston's 𝘚𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘚𝘭𝘪𝘱), but the only thing that never quite rang true for me was why Atlas put up with Gem in the first place. She was beyond rude to him and her whole 'ick' thing made me want to slap her through my kindle. GET OVER YOURSELF GIRL. The lack of self-awareness made her POV painful to read at times, but there's no denying she gets a pretty satisfying character arc at the end of it all.

One thing I can't abide in modern rom/coms is a lack of specificity - cookie cutter characters that say and do things with the emotional range of a build-a-bear, within the geographical range of a label-less map. The reason I love Ali Hazelwood's writing so much is because she makes references to specific things. I will care SO MUCH MORE if a character visits a Pret instead of a non-descript café, because then suddenly we're grounded in an actual world that we recognise and can draw from. That's something that Holly McCulloch does really well. And how refreshing to read something set in the UK for a change! The jokes land because the humour is specific and acknowledges the world around it.

A super quick and energising read, recommended for people who like their romcoms with a little bit of edge.

Flavourings: Golden Retriever MMC, Miscommunication Trope, Disability Rep, Commitment Issues, Stubborn FMC, Money Worries, Strong Mother/Daughter Relationship, Parent Death (off-page).

I wanted to read this book because I fully believe the ick is a real thing and I was so intrigued by how this book was going to be written and how it would develop. And boy did it meet every expectation. This book is so light and hilarious. I laughed so much and the writing was exactly how I would talk in real life which I loved. The characters were all so likeable (even gem with her silly little icks). Atlas is one amazing guy and I just loved their story so much. It was so nice to read something a little different and within the first couple of chapters I just knew I’d love this. It was so nice to read a book about someone who lives day to day in real life that is relatable too. I can’t recommend this enough!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Totally fine if unremarkable, dealt with some real world problems with sensitivity, all wrapped up in a bow at the end.

Really fun modern romance, especially enjoyed Shanti!

Atlas was 🥵 whilst I didn't really take to Gem. I totally get the ick premise and had it myself while in the crazy dating world, I think some of her reasons where a bit wild, like the ick because someone has soup for lunch? (Or maybe this is because I'm an avid soup lover!)

All in all fun read but lower rating for me as I didn't gel with the FMC and I also really do not enjoy third person (this is a me thing)

Is the ick a form of intuition or a way of keeping people at arm's length? Gem seems to find something wrong with every perfect man that she meets, and it isn’t until her best friend Shanti proposes an idea that Gem truly comes to terms with the deeper meaning of her chronic case of the ick.

“She collects icks the way other people collect loyalty points”

I enjoyed this book, but I really struggled with Gem, the main character. Her obsession with finding flaws in other people drove me mad. After a first date with Atlas, perfect on paper and handsome beyond belief, she starts racking up icks like no tomorrow. How can you bring a date to an end just because he said he had soup for dinner?

It began feeling like Gem was conceited and refused to overlook the simplest of things. However, her best friend Shanti, who is training to become a clinical psychologist, proposes an idea. Gem is to continue dating Atlas for six weeks to determine whether the ick is her intuition warning her off, or if the ability to be put off by something as simple as a large backpack that makes you look like a snail, is real.

As part of a study for Shanti’s course, Gem would be rewarded with some well needed cash and finds herself unable to say no. However, it quickly comes apparent that Atlas and his icks aren’t as bad as Gem initially thought.

“Beautiful people get away with (or simply just get) too many things”

Atlas is perfect in so many ways, even to me as the reader. And is not deterred by Gem’s standoffish behaviour. As things begin to escalate between the two, Gem is stuck between continuing to pursue what is making her happy or subsiding the guilt by telling Atlas the truth behind their growing relationship.

I loved the way that the beginning of a relationship is portrayed in this book. The butterflies as you begin to get to know someone new and start to fall in love was represented so perfectly it had me kicking my feet and swooning.

“You have someone who is contractually obliged to listen to even your most boring and ridiculous worries and thoughts”

I kind of wish that the reason that Gem is so determined to find something wrong in other people was established earlier on in the book so that I didn’t spend the majority of it angry at her. I also wish that Atlas received a clearer explanation for the betrayal.

Other than that, it was an enjoyable read and the relevance of certain ‘icks’ gave it a sense of relatability and humour.

Thank you NetGalley and Dialogue Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Loved it - a perfectly pitched modern day romcom with some loveable characters and some deliciously awkward situations. Gem gets the ick with every man she meets- she's desperate to be in a decent relationship but Every. Single. Time. she finds herself irreparably turned off by the smallest detail - whether its the bag that they carry, their choice of food or something equally innocuous-once she's switched off, there's no going back.
Until Gem's best mate , psychology student Shanti, needs Gem to help her with her dissertation research - is it possible to get past the Ick and fall for the man again?
Luckily Gem has just the man in mind, and as long as he doesnt find out he's part of a dastardly experiment, no harm will be done...
The story-telling was fab, the pages flew by and I was totally rooting for Gem and her man throughout.

I loved this book! Funny in all the right places, good storyline and good characters! I love Hollys writing style! Will definitely be recommending this one!