The Practice Date by Victorine E. Lieske

The Practice Date Reviews

• 
  Coco (Semi-Hiatus)

  3.5 Stars
  Cute & clean YA romance
  
• 
  Craig Hansen

  After a foray into science fiction, New York Times bestselling author Victorine E. Lieske returns, in part, to familiar territory. The Practice Date is a roughly 11,000-word novelette that is a romance (like Not What She Seems) and is young adult (like The Overtaking) but is neither a suspense story nor a science fiction tale.
  
  Think of it as a short John Hughes film, in print form. Like the Reader's Digest annotated version of Pretty In Pink. Or, for you readers who grew up in the '90s, maybe more like She's All That. Or maybe, considering the premise, more like Some Kind of Wonderful, with the focus on Mary Stuart Masterson instead of Lea Thompson.
  
  You get the idea. It's a high school age rom-com. Most people who've liked Lieske's other books will like that.
  
  The Practice Date places it's focus on the plainly-named Jane, who is troubled that her one-time best friend, Lance, has abandoned her to hang out with the high school in-crowd.
  
  Then one day, he shows back up in her life, which she welcomes. But he wants her to help train him up to land a date with a cheerleader ... which is definitely not a welcome development. Because in their time apart, Jane's figured out she has feelings for Lance that go deeper than friendship, and she's so smitten that for the chance to spend time with him, she'll agree to almost anything ... even if it means allowing him to practice his dating etiquette ... on her.
  
  At such a brief length, Lieske's lean, taut prose paints a nice portrait of Jane and Lance, and keeps her supporting cast small. Unfortunately, those who do appear in support are not as well-developed as they might be.
  
  The most interesting of these is Nick, the jock who befriended Lance and brought him into the In Crowd. Nick barely appears in the novel directly, but his role in critical in many ways, and he receives an interesting, cliche-breaking backstory.
  
  Only slightly less interesting is Colleen, Jane's best pal, who plays a solid support role, trying to knock some common sense into her friend, but never has a chance to break out and establish a life outside of her role as Jane's friend.
  
  Tiffany, the cheerleader of Lance's affections, is virtually invisible in the book, except by reference in dialog, and so is underdeveloped as a rival for Lance's affections.
  
  So the third-most-interesting supporting cast member ends up being Andrew, Jane's little brother, who is by turns a terror and a surprising source of support at times. In other words, he's... a little brother.
  
  The parents in the novel don't quite reach John Hughes level, and barely show up to say, "Hi," a couple times. Of course, the life of a teen girl with a crush rarely revolves around her parents, so with only 11,000 words to play with, they relative invisibility of both Jane's parents, and Lance's, is forgivable.
  
  Like all novelettes, the short form enforces a precision of focus upon the narrative, which is why the supporting cast feels a bit underdeveloped. Fortunately, this focus also allows both Jane and Lance to shine as the stars of the brief tale.
  
  The characters inhabit a seemingly-nameless Middle American town that, fortunately, is not lacking in some personality; after reading about Jane and Lance's outing to Stuff-It Burger, I immediately wished there were such a franchise and that one existed near enough to visit.
  
  (And it automatically sounds like a better restaurant concept than Soul Daddy, winner of America's Next Great Restaurant, which saw all three initial locations close after about six weeks to two months in operation. I still say Brooklyn Meatball Company was a broader-appeal concept.)
  
  But I digress.
  
  Taking the tale for what it is ... a very short novel with a tightly-focused tale ... The Practice Date is a lot of fun for as long as it lasts. The book will certainly leave the reader wanting more, and for that, there is Not What She Seems and The Overtaking. The Practice Date serves as a pleasant appetizer for both of Lieske's other works, but isn't enough to constitute a full meal on it's own.
  
  P.S. Believe it or not, I did not write this review on an empty stomach!
• 
  Zury

  This was such a cute short story. And that's exactly what it was - a short story. Fairly fast paced since you can read it in maybe a day or two. I got it from Amazon as a freebie and since I'm a sucker for romance, I downloaded it and was left saying "Awww how cute" so it was nice.
  
  This is about a teen girl named Jane who has been in love with her friend Lance since they were kids. Of course he's oblivious to this fact and when he approaches her for a favor, she agrees to helping him. Unfortunately that favor involves her helping him get another girl to Prom with him... not her. He practices all of his moves on Jane who is falling hard for him with everything he does, but it's leading to heartbreak knowing all of this is not for her but for the popular cheerleader he wants.
  
  Very cute book and as her mother says, "Things like this have a way of working out." Enjoyable read with a nice twist in the end.
• 
  Jackie

  Too short but super quick to read as a way to introduce oneself to the author.
• 
  Sara

  A sweet, short story, about teenagers and a light romance without drama.
  I'm not sure I liked it but I wasn't bothered.
  
  
• 
  Mackenzie

  Short and sort of sweet
  
  Two kids who used to be friends rediscover their friendship when he asks her to help him with an image makeover in order to win over a cheerleader. It was mostly sweet but it was sometimes hard to get past the fact that she was willing throwing herself into heartbreak just to spend time with him. And he was "in love" with a girl he barely knew. Still, it was short and a good way to pass the afternoon.
• 
  Kaitlyn

  This book was a clean cut short teen romance novel. If you are around ages 10-13 I think this is the book for you. However, because I am not in that age range. I felt this book was just not my “cup of tea” it was too immature and underdeveloped. Now, just because this novel was not right for me and I give it a 3.2 rating.
  *If you are in between the ages of 10-13 and like romance novels read this novel I think you would enjoy it. *
• 
  PollyAnna Joy

  I've been attempting to avoid books with teens as the main characters, but since I have loved everything else I've read by Anne-Marie, it was a no-brainer for me to choose The Practice Date. Lance and Jane are absolutely precious together. As usual, the guy is totally clueless...until he isn't. And it's adorable.
• 
  Misty

  Short and sweet
  
  I would have changed one thing about this story. Of course I won't say whAt because I don't want to ruin it for anyone but other than that it was really cute and sweet.
• 
  Bhavya sareen

  I think after reading this I know which books I shouldn't read
  And if a guy asks you to Practice and says you are someone else Date please don't even think of that guy you will get hurt and be shattered in real life
  
  Things don't work that way🙂
• 
  Dystopian Mayhem

  Another young adult romance by the same author that didn’t disappoint, with good story and characters development. I liked how it says that if you have a crush on your best friend and they don’t feel the same about you, you shouldn’t stop being a friend to them, even if it hurts.
  
• 
  Jesica

  CLASIFICATION: 2.0 ESTRELLAS
  
  Hace años lei una historia (o varias) con una premisa parecida a esta, y mucho mas interesantes y mejor desarrolladas. En este mini-relato nos dejan con mas preguntas que otra cosa, porque le falto mas...
• 
  emmy

  2.5*
  Novelettes, I guess, are just either not my thing or this STORY's just not my thing. Either way...eh, it was okay.
• 
  Donna Campbell

  I just finished listening to this story and found it really cute. It is a great young adult story with fun characters. This is a sweet, clean romance.
• 
  ⛧°。⋆༺angie༻⋆。°⛧

  its so predictable and just bleh
• 
  paaati

  1,75/5 ⭐
• 
  Moushmi Radhanpara

  A very short, sweet story. But I don’t really like the stories where the girl pretends to help out the boy to get him some other girl. I get it why they do this but it is not my personal choice.
• 
  Char (1RadReader59)

  Jane had been friends with Lance her neighbor since they were kids, she now 16 and he is now 17. They used to hang out playing the video game Avengers, but for a little over a year now he has been hanging out with the popular kids. Not once thinking to include her or visit her.
  On this day on her way home from school he is waiting on his porch as she passes so he can talk to her. When he speaks to her she acts like she didn’t notice him. Then he asks if she wants to hang out. She knows there is something up and wants to get mad but instead says okay to see what it is. When they get all settled in her den playing several rounds of Avengers, he drops the bomb. He needs a complete makeover to get the right to ask Tiffany, the most popular cheerleader out. The love of his life, out to prom. With each word he is stabbing her in the heart.
  Of course she wants to drop kick him at this point for not seeing she is in love with him. She agrees to help only because she thinks of all the time they will spend together, in each other’s arms while she teaches him to dance. Some time with him is better than no time with him. During the last event a kiss was stolen and the nerd who was turned into the swan panics and leaves. He tells her he will be back tomorrow. She thinks she’s blown it.
  Does he come back? Can Jamie ever tell Lance her true feelings? Or is she doomed to create but never be the princess at the ball?
  I really enjoyed this young adult short story. Lance ended up being a really sweet guy that brought a happily ever after to this story. Which was nice truly a sweet story.
  Got it free from Amazon.
  
• 
  Change211

  It was short, fast-paced and it spares me from drama. I couldn’t relate ‘cause I have never been in love with a friend, but it was easy to put yourself into the character.
  
  The thing was I don’t like it that much, yes, it was less dramatic…but maybe that’s what it lacks. Imagine, your childhood friend shut you out without a word and you could just let him back in your life that easily? Only because you like him and you want to be with him? What is that? Isn’t it more painful for you? You like him, you’re friends and he forgot about you until he asked for your help. I was waiting for the girl to act, like to make him realize what he did to her. How painful it was to be detached to his life without even knowing why. I know, the guy has his reasons, but you’re friends, right? Why hide something from her? Doesn’t he trust her? Plus the fact that he told her he loved someone else on the face then changed his mind on the process. I don’t understand. Anyways, since it’s just a novelette I gave it a chance. It was sweet and cute, and confusing at the same time, but I enjoyed it.
  
• 
  Katie (hiding in the pages)

  Jane's friend and neighbor, Lance, has broken her heart. They used to hang out all of the time, but now that he's "in" with the popular crowd, she's history. She's also in love with him. When Lance asks Jane for help in training him to be the perfect date for a popular cheerleader, Jane jumps at the chance to spend time with Lance again. Even if it means having her heart broken again.
  
  This was a short, cute, sweet (clean) story. Lance was pretty clueless, but that's probably pretty typical of the age. His reasoning for ditching his friend was kind of sad, but it did explain a lot. Still...if they were that good of friends, he should have told Jane.
  
  Jane was pretty true to a teen girl--bending over backwards to spend a few precious moments with her out-of-reach crush.
  
  I thought it was cute, but lacked depth, probably due to the length of the story.
  
  
  Katie's Clean Book Collection blog
• 
  Kim

  At the beginning of this title I wanted to just shake the clueless hero over and over! Then there was the devastating tragic twist of why the hero stayed away from the heroine for a year when he needed her the most. Then I was like, "Oh!...". Then after that the perfect dates, holding hands, thoughtful gestures, and those sweet but heart attack inducing kisses that followed just for practice and I was like in total swoon readers. The near end HEA twist was expected, but still loved it! So this clean young adult romance was like a John Hughes film that made me go from mad to sad to swooning squeal. This is recommended if you need a quick romantic sunshine in your day wrapped in an authentic realistic adolescent drama.
  
  This was a new author to me. I have downloaded some of her clean adult romances as well and plan to read them soon.
  
  Profanity: None
  
  Sensuality: Squeaky clean. Sweet emotion evoking kisses of first love only.
  
  Source: My personal purchased library.
• 
  Elaine

  Actually this is one of the better romances out there because it lacks the fluff.
  
  Jane's crazy about her childhood friend Lance but for some time, he's excluded her from his life while he hangs out with the "cool" crowd. Now he's asking for her help in transforming him from the nerd that he is so that he can ask pretty Tiffany to the prom. Jane's heart sinks but to spend time with him, she tells him she'll do it. When they go out looking for "cool" clothes for him, he treats Jane to lunch and she sees that as a date. He still brings up Tiffany and her heart drops. At what point will she tell him "Enough is enough" or declare her feelings for him?
  
  Romance writers would do well to follow the lead here and be original. Limit the fluff. And by all means, nix the dead parent sob story.
  
  Ya, 4 stars for originality. And decent story.
• 
  Charissa

  Jane has always had a crush on her neighbor and friend, Lance. But after he joins the more popular crowd, he ditches her and breaks her heart. After months of being apart, Lance reenters her life to enlist help in sprucing up his image so he can ask a pretty cheerleader out to prom. Jane helps him (just to spend time with him), knowing she will have her heart broken again by her friend. Lance takes her on practice dates and she helps him learn how to dance to prepare him for the real one. This was a great story that made me love and cheer for the characters. I'll read more by Leiske in the future.
• 
  Sienna Logan (Lost to Books)

  More reviews at
  http://losttobooks.blogspot.com
  
  Actual rating 3.5
  
  This was just what you'd expect from a novella; it was short, sweet and enjoyable. The narrative was fun and lighthearted and although you don't connect with the characters because o the length, it does keep you wanting to read more.
  
  The plot is a standard girl-likes-friend-but-he's-clueless and although it's predictable, it's still a nice read that's okay for relaxing. There were some parts moved a little too quickly and could have done with slightly more development as even with a novella, it could have been slightly longer, but it was a sweet read nonetheless to break up the time.
• 
  Theresa Needham fehse

  The Practice Date is the perfect read for someone looking for a sweet tale of first love and a romantic read. I really enjoyed how the two main characters, Lance and Jane, slowly rekindled their friendship after many years of not talking to each other. This eventually led to them developing into more than friends.
  
  Lieske does a nice job of writing Jane's confusion and frustration of what she feels for Lance. I connected with Jane just like I am sure many others will. It is a quick read but definitely worth checking it out. I am giving it 4/5 stars due to its fun and romantic plot that has you hooked.
  
  Thanks!
  Elianna
• 
  Ines Bautista-yao

  I woke up at 4am to finish reading this story!
  
  You read that right. I fell asleep reading it and woke up in the middle of the night because I wanted more! It was that good.
  
  I love the author's clean, crisp writing style and how she makes you care about the characters from the get-go.
  
  I also particularly like the whole practice date scenario. I read a Sweet Dreams (Bantam) book that had a similar theme when I was in high school and I loved the movie Some Kind of Wonderful, which also involved practice dating, two good friends, and falling in love.
  
  This story reminded me why it's so much fun to read YA! And I am now on the hunt for more of Lieske's books!