Rate a Date

I’ll admit, I groaned when I saw the ‘dating app’ premise—how many times can we watch a heroine ‘accidentally’ fall for the guy who’s *not* her type? But *Rate a Date* won me over by making Eleanor’s frustration the star. Emma Wilder’s narration sells it: her timing on lines like *“I’d rather text my gynecologist than go on another date”* had me laughing out loud. The humor isn’t just quips; it’s baked into the rhythm of the story, like the way Eleanor’s internal monologue cuts through romantic clichés (her mental eye-roll when a date calls himself ‘an old soul’? *Perfect*.) The dual narration could’ve been a gimmick, but Patrick Zeller’s performance as the love interest adds layers. He doesn’t just *sound* attractive—he sounds *real*, especially in the scenes where his character’s confidence falters. My only critique? The middle act drags slightly with a subplot about Eleanor’s job that feels tacked on for conflict. And while the steamy scenes sizzle, a few transitions between narrators are clumsy, with abrupt shifts in tone. But the chemistry carries it. This isn’t a fairy tale; it’s a romance for anyone who’s ever swiped right with low expectations and ended up surprised. The ending? Satisfyingly un-cynical, but not so neat it erases the messiness of modern dating. For fans of *The Hating Game*’s banter or *Beach Read*’s meta-humor, this is your next listen—just don’t blame me if you start side-eyeing your own dating app matches.