Review Detail

THE ASSASSIN’S GUIDE TO DATING is the sequel to The Assassin’s Guide to Babysitting. Following the events of the first book, this book switches to Lila’s point of view rather than Tru’s. Still recovering from the events of the first book, Underhill has put Lila on watch. All bombshells are being scrutinized, from their actions to their heart rates.

One major note: This is a sequel that definitely requires you to have read the first book. It’s not a standalone, you can’t just drop into it and expect to understand what is going on. There’s a bit too much backstory involved in understanding the plot without the previous knowledge from the first book.

Natalie C. Parker knows how to write a compelling novel! The worldbuilding is fantastic, an entire world that you get to see more of in this second book. The world feels fleshed out and lived in, but not overwhelming. It’s introduced, or expanded, as the characters experience the world. It’s not just dropped all at once, it’s fed to the readers in bits and pieces.

Lila and Tru are a really fun duo and it’s cute to watch them try so hard to get through a date with each other. There’s always something interrupting them, which is both funny and a little sad at the same time. It’s clear that the two really want to go on a date with each other and it hurts that things seem to keep interrupting them.

Lila is also a fantastic character to follow in this book. I enjoyed her in the first book, so switching to her PoV and getting to explore more of her mental state is wonderful! It adds to the complexity of the characters and the world. The book sometimes goes from the present to Lila’s past, showing the different “explosions” that she’s had. Giving these scenes specific chapters makes the backstory feel even deeper.

The tension in this book was fabulous. It kept me glued to the page and eagerly invested in everything that was happening with the characters. At times it felt a bit uneven, too much or too little followed by the just right amount, but that was so scarce that it didn’t detract from my enjoyment.

If you want a solid sequel with great tension and a fun romance, THE ASSASSIN’S GUIDE TO DATING might be right up your alley. Just make sure to read the first book to get the full experience!