This book tended to do what I don't like at all in any genre. So it wasn't that this was a contemporary, that this didn't work for me. It was that it had aspects that I have found I don't personally like seeing in any book, and whether this was a fantasy, or a contemporary; I don't think I would have liked it either way. Will doesn't believe in love after suffering from years-long dysfunctional relationships of his own parents. And Annie is a full commitment girl who wants to survive through a date without making her significant other bored to death. But she realizes she is more than a boring, inexperienced wallflower. Will helps her explore her restrained true identity and her adventurous side. But what if Annie doesn't want to date any man instead of her brooding coach, who is a cinnamon bun hiding behind a rough facade? And what if Will breaks his strict rules and opens his heart to true love? The characters were...ok. Nothing special but definitely fun to read. On one hand, it was zingy, funny, fast paced, relevant, and well written. JD as a hero was both fantasy material, and also very realistically flawed. Peyton was smart and honourable, and a heroine I could easily empathise with. I liked that it wasn’t overly gushy and that Payton did not become all flustered and silly in J.D.’s presence, like a lot of heroines have been written. I liked her a lot. before starting this i was so sure that nobody could top grumpy pie making Noah Walker but holy damn was i wrong. Will Griffin is THE book bf of the year for me. i honest to god actually BLUSHED multiple times over how charming and smooth talking this man was. not even the dirtiest toe curling things i have read in the past have ever accomplished that??? i also seriously adore how he was so desperate to help Annie in her journey to find herself but always asked her to never change the things that make her Annie :’) Their love had so many tropes like strangers to friends to lovers, dating practice and slow-ish burn. Sarah completely understood the assignment.

It seems to me, Annie, that you are just waiting for someone to give you permission to be yourself out loud.” If you loved The Hating Game (which I know everyone did lol), then there's no doubt you'll probably love this book too! To add insult to injury the hero *never* bothers to set the record straight, he had the chance when the boss said that or later in a meeting. He owed it to her to tell the truth which he never did. Seriously, the conversation and banter between these two is just perfect, fresh and honest. I didn’t want the book to end because I loved the authenticity of these two characters and how seamlessly they fit together from the start. It was just inevitable. It puzzles me because it is obvious that certain characters understand how patriarchal society damages so many people. The heroine experiences sexism and misogyny. A lot of the sexism and misogyny comes from the "hero". I thought this would be a redemption story. But it seems to be a story about a douche bag who does not have to change to get the girl.I love Tyler! He gives fantastic advice, and there's a scene where he gives J.D. advice using PRIDE AND PREJUDICE on how to win the girl. It was amazing how knowledgable he was of P&P. I couldn't stop laughing! The taxi driver was a hoot, too. CY, ADEQUACY OR COMPLETENESS OF OR RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED FROM USING THE WORK, INCLUDING ANY INFORMATION What a loopdidoo of good and bad this was….so LET’S separate this into the good (what worked) and the bad (ooof). I enjoyed seeing Annie and Will navigating and working through what they thought they wanted in life for reasons entirely rooted in circumstances/trauma from the past. if you’ve been reading my updates you OBVIOUSLY knew this would be a 5 star but review to come bc i need to sit in my puddle of emotions for a bit 😭🩷😭🩷😭🩷😭🩷

I giggled, sighed, laughed out loud, and even shed some tears. This book awakened so many emotions in me at the same time. From the moment I first read Will and Annie talk, their chemistry was sizzling and came across as genuine. Their conversations are so fun. The two, especially Annie are hilarious. But as I reached the 60% mark, I thought the two denying their feelings for each other despite having open communication was dragging unnecessarily, which is why I rate it 4 stars instead of four. As the lines of their friendship become dangerously blurred, Annie reconsiders her dream guy. Maybe her love life doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to be real. Practice Makes Perfect: My ReviewOn top of that, it was sweet, easy going with some profound moments, there’s fake dating involved but it’s not dragged out, and relatable mostly bc of the FMC (hello social anxiety/introvert rep) which Sarah conveyed in a humorous way and I definitely related to Annie on this front. its operation will be uninterrupted or error free. Neither McGraw-Hill nor its licensors shall be liable to you or anyone else for any inaccuracy, error or Will can share about his past and Annie can share the feelings she’s kept hidden about hers and how she doesn’t like the mold people have cast her in all of her life. Amid steamy practice dates and strictly “educational” tutoring lessons, Annie discovers there are more layers to Will’s usual stoic attitude. The playing field ins't level––that's the problem... You know as well as I do that these days, if a man and a woman are equally qualified for a position, the woman gets the job. It's this socially liberal, politically correct society we live in. Men have to be twice as good at what they do to remain competitive in the workplace. Women just have to stay in the race."

Sorry, I just don't have a lot of patience with romance books like this these days. I want some romance and some chemistry. But I hate/loathe romance books that have strong women just going along with a man treating them like crap. What gets me is that I don't think the hero (JD) changes at all in the end. He still has appalling as hell views of women/equality/liberals and the heroine (Payton) I don't see putting up with that in the end. Sarah writes books that truly make me smile. They're kind and hopeful, playful and feel-good. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT was all of that in spades.' CHLOE LIESE He knows for a fact that some stuffy, straitlaced guy won’t make her happy, but he doesn’t have the heart to say no. They couldn't be more different. He comes from money, her single-parent mother is a rights activist. He's a republican, she's a democrat. He drives a Bentley, she takes the bus. He lives in a high-rise, she has a small house. BUT, they're both lawyers, they both work their butts off, they both were tops in their class, and now they're both up for partner...at the same firm...and there's only one opening. Oh, did I forget to mention that they've been involved in a quiet passive-aggressive war for the last eight years? Or that they're quite attracted to each other? Or that their shenanigans kept me in stitches? For introverts like me with social anxiety, the process of dating is equivalent to waxing your bikini line. Menstrual cramps on day two of your cycle. An emergency dental procedure you weren’t expecting—and guess what: they’re fresh out of novocaine.”Uh... I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT! He cannot even hold it together for a moment to really truly see how awesome she is and apologize. SAYING "I'd do it" shouldn't give her fuzzy feelings. Actions speak louder than words, and his actions are wretched so far! I won't believe it until I see it. It was deliciously romantic. Kind of like watching a 90s rom-com but with still it having the magic of being a book.' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐