Goodreads Monday: The Ick by Holly McCulloch

Goodreads Monday is a really simple weekly meme, hosted by Budget Tales Book Blog, where you choose a book at random from your Goodreads TBR and explain why you want to read it. This meme is also an opportunity to share any progress you have made on your current books, Goodreads Reading Challenge or anything else Goodreads related.

This week’s pick is: The Ick by Holly McCulloch

Is it love? Is it hate? Or is it a chronic case of the ick?

Gem is chronically single, with a chronic case of the ick. Every man she meets seems perfect on paper, some of them even seem perfect in person – until she notices something… They snort when they laugh, they use too many exclamation marks, they love wearing a silk dressing gown, their jeans are just a bit too blue and a bit too skinny – and she’s completely, irrevocably put off.

Gem claims it’s her intuition telling her that they’re incompatible, but her housemate, Shanti, doesn’t agree. After a string of bad dates, Shanti, who is training to become a Clinical Psychologist, tells Gem that she’ll pay her to take part in her study: Is intuition real?

Cue Atlas, who’s putting the theory to the test. On paper, he passes with flying colours. He’s employed, his hair appears to be his own, he has friends, a nice smile, and a decent sense of humour. But, as soon as she sees Atlas in person, Gem gets hit by the ick. He’s carrying a bag that is so big it makes him look like a turtle. This, combined with his ridiculous name, means he already has two strikes against him. Every fibre of her body is telling her to leave the date early, but thanks to Shanti’s study, Gem breaks all her own rules — going on a second date, a third, and even a fourth, until she starts losing count.

Can Gem do the impossible and actually start falling for Atlas? And what happens when he finds out she’s being paid to date him?

A sexy, swoon-worthy and hilarious romantic comedy, perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Ali Hazlewood.

Why do I want to read it?:

They had me at sexy, swoon-worthy and hilarious…..sounds perfect.

This week’s reading progress:

I’ve completed my latest ARC – Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez and loved it. The time it took me to read, may have taken a little bit away from the story but it was still 4 star worthy.

I also read We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes on audio – another 4 star read. I feel like the majority of my reads this year have been 4 stars, which is fantastic but I’m wondering when I’ll read my first 5 star read for the year. Also wondering what it might be.

2025 Goodreads Reading Challenge: 20/75 books

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