She thought he was a great guy after he suggested a movie based on a book she loved — his reaction afterward revealed the red flag
The start of a relationship can be colorful and perfect, but you only discover if a partner is actually a green flag after spending some time with them. For TikTok creator Rachel Dawson, who goes by @alltheradreads, an initially promising month-long connection quickly changed after one seemingly harmless movie night. In a post shared on June 4, 2026, she mentioned how she was excited to watch "Project Hail Mary," a film based on a book she loved, after her date suggested it. However, his reaction to her emotions quickly changed how she saw him. What he said later convinced her that he was not the right person for her.
@alltheradreads juuuuust when i was starting to think i had found someone… 🚩🚩🚩 #datingstorytime #dating #rva #redflags ♬ original sound - rad 📚 all the rad reads
Dawson had been seeing a man for about a month and had gone on a few dates with him. He was a film fanatic and suggested they watch "Project Hail Mary," adding that it was based on a book she loved. She became emotional during the movie, but said he seemed amused by her reaction. As they left the theater, he asked, “Are you ever going to get over this?” before adding, “You've got to see more movies, kiddo.” The woman already felt belittled after that comment, and it only got worse. He discussed Sandra Hüller's role in the movie, and when his date admitted she didn't know the actor's name, he laughed and told her, “You're a funny one,” leaving Dawson feeling disrespected.
She noted how there were so many other ways he could have educated her about the film, but he chose to ridicule her instead. The interaction made her realize that there won't be a next date. Instead of telling her more, the man went on to list the actor's movies and said "most Americans" would know her. She was initially impressed by the good communication, and the two even agreed to be exclusive. But that movie date changed everything. Dawson later told her partner that his comments hurt her. Instead of acknowledging her feelings, she said he became “dismissive, aggressive, rude, hurtful, and narcissistic,” which quickly convinced her to end things.
Her story also had viewers enraged. @aerin426 wrote, "First of all, never call me 'Kiddo.' I’m out after that." @vita.b295 offered a blunt take: "A crush is just a lack of information." Meanwhile, @frrrenzy sided with her, commenting, “I’ve never heard of Sandra Hüller.” First impressions can be misleading, and it often takes time and the right situations to truly see someone for who they are. In another similar story, a woman thought she had a date planned with a charming and respectful man until the bill arrived. She had matched with him on Hinge just days earlier, and he had even insisted on picking her up because he wanted to be a “true gentleman.” However, after the meal was done, he disappeared before the check could arrive, leaving her to deal with the bill by herself. The restaurant manager eventually stepped in and allowed her to pay only for her share.
For more content related to her life and reads, you can follow @alltheradreads on TikTok.