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How to Date #1
My So-Called Love Life
I’ve got a list of people I absolutely don’t ever want to be stuck with on a boat, or a plane, or a train, and it starts and ends with the broody, grumpy, too-sexy-for-my-own good Axel Huxley.
Also known as this romance novelist’s number one nemesis.
The man is legendary for his mighty pen and his even mightier scowl. I tried to work together with the cocky thriller writer once upon a time, but the two of us are like vodka and good decisions. We don’t play well together.
Only now, our publishers are sending us on a joint trip across Europe to mingle with our most devoted readers on an old-fashioned luxury train. And thanks to a booking snafu, we have to share a sleeper car.
You guessed it--there's only one bed.
I'm not sure I can survive the next seven days and nights with my dangerously sexy enemy and all our fiery tension.
Which explodes one night in a desperately needed hate bang.
But the bigger plot twist is this – the more time we spend together, visiting the most romantic cities in Europe by day and discovering each other at night, the more I’m forced to face our past.
To let go of the hurt.
To see the man he’s become.
And when I do, I wonder if it’s too late to write a new happy ending for us?
Also known as this romance novelist’s number one nemesis.
The man is legendary for his mighty pen and his even mightier scowl. I tried to work together with the cocky thriller writer once upon a time, but the two of us are like vodka and good decisions. We don’t play well together.
Only now, our publishers are sending us on a joint trip across Europe to mingle with our most devoted readers on an old-fashioned luxury train. And thanks to a booking snafu, we have to share a sleeper car.
You guessed it--there's only one bed.
I'm not sure I can survive the next seven days and nights with my dangerously sexy enemy and all our fiery tension.
Which explodes one night in a desperately needed hate bang.
But the bigger plot twist is this – the more time we spend together, visiting the most romantic cities in Europe by day and discovering each other at night, the more I’m forced to face our past.
To let go of the hurt.
To see the man he’s become.
And when I do, I wonder if it’s too late to write a new happy ending for us?
376 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2023
2957 people are currently reading
14071 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Blakely
256 books24.2k followersYou can find Lauren on TikTok at @laurenblakelybooks! A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sexy, feel-good and witty. Lauren likes dogs, cake and show tunes and she is the vegetarian at your dinner party.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 609 reviews
March 15, 2023
5 Axel , Hazel and Book Bestie Stars
I loved this friends to enemies to lovers book. Axel and Hazel were friends and writing partners until Axel left her with very little explanation and for a year they have been enemies. They have to put their differences aside to take part in a reader /author event and train journey across Europe , including Italy , France and Denmark. I thought this was an awesome concept. It felt as if it was great fun to write. The main characters are immediately likeable but the secondary characters definitely bring a huge amount to the story.
The pace of the story is good, it held my interest for sure. It's very funny in places , hot in others and always with a gorgeously intense romance running through it. I mean, a train journey with only one bed and a couple with sizzling hot chemistry...what's not to love?
I listened to the book and read it.
Fab narration by Vanessa Edwin and Sebastian York - five stars!
HEA? Yes - it's a very quirky first epilogue , it was so good and I really enjoyed it.
Cheating? No
I loved this friends to enemies to lovers book. Axel and Hazel were friends and writing partners until Axel left her with very little explanation and for a year they have been enemies. They have to put their differences aside to take part in a reader /author event and train journey across Europe , including Italy , France and Denmark. I thought this was an awesome concept. It felt as if it was great fun to write. The main characters are immediately likeable but the secondary characters definitely bring a huge amount to the story.
The pace of the story is good, it held my interest for sure. It's very funny in places , hot in others and always with a gorgeously intense romance running through it. I mean, a train journey with only one bed and a couple with sizzling hot chemistry...what's not to love?
I listened to the book and read it.
Fab narration by Vanessa Edwin and Sebastian York - five stars!
HEA? Yes - it's a very quirky first epilogue , it was so good and I really enjoyed it.
Cheating? No
February 28, 2023
6 stars!
Hazel Valentine is a romance author who is witty, plucky, resilient, and independent. She believes in all the good fluffy love tropes for her characters, but her own love life is not fairing so well. But she has a good group of friends that support her.
Axel Huxley is a romantic thriller author who seems cocky, arrogant, sarcastic, and broody. But he wears it like armor and resists letting people get to know the real man with fears and insecurities.
These two used to be friends and writing partners. But now they are enemies. But under the snark and taunting, there is pain from the past, secrets, misunderstandings, and personal issues.
These two have a not-so-cute-meet-up and are forced to converse, but their antagonistic banter and barbs fly fast. But they also realize they have to play nice for some author events and will have to learn how to fake it for their fans...especially the ones eager to have them continue their joint series.
These two are so much fun! They have fiery banter and sizzling chemistry that they try to avoid just like they do with the secrets and pain from their past. But the more time they are stuck together, the more they start letting their walls back down and realize what made them friends before.
These two are really struggling with issues from their past, reconnecting in the present, and fighting feelings that they're just not sure could ever be reciprocated. But then there's a kiss...and some thoughts...and a whole bunch of togetherness in beautiful foreign settings. There’s so much banter and just a general understanding and affection for each other, but their previous relationship was damaged due to Axel's actions and Hazel's not understanding. But now there is also a new sizzle and spark that is heating up their time on a train.
Axel is the king of self-protection, and has some damage and guards up, but I loved seeing the cracks in his armor and softer heart. He is also protective and caring and even when he is being obstinate, he is careful with his words. And Hazel has been one of my favorite sidekicks in the LB universe for a while so I loved getting more with her. She is just a firecracker but also has a big heart and such a great sense of humor. But she has her own issues and coping strategies too. The dynamics of their relationship really do change by degrees as certain things are gradually revealed and their outlooks and feelings start to evolve, but there is such delicious tension along the way. I was totally immersed in their journey that was not just a trip with various destinations, but also an emotional one full of passion and tumultuous thoughts and feelings.
I was happy to see some cameos from the LB world. Their friends and siblings and the other train passengers all have their roles in this story. The foreign sights are almost a character in themselves and add depth to many of the scenes.
This is a witty, steamy, former-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity romance with two snarky authors sharing new adventures and falling in love. It is humorous and sarcastic but also brings all the feels, passion, and swoon. The situation overflows with unresolved feelings for them both, but also allows them the time, place, and motivation to actually deal with them, and figure out if they could move forward.
By the end, I was so excited that I was cheering and clapping even if it was all by myself with my Kindle. I absolutely adored these characters and this story, and they have claimed the top spot in my fave M/F LB couples. Hazel and Axel are couples goals! I could not love them more!
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Hazel Valentine is a romance author who is witty, plucky, resilient, and independent. She believes in all the good fluffy love tropes for her characters, but her own love life is not fairing so well. But she has a good group of friends that support her.
Axel Huxley is a romantic thriller author who seems cocky, arrogant, sarcastic, and broody. But he wears it like armor and resists letting people get to know the real man with fears and insecurities.
These two used to be friends and writing partners. But now they are enemies. But under the snark and taunting, there is pain from the past, secrets, misunderstandings, and personal issues.
These two have a not-so-cute-meet-up and are forced to converse, but their antagonistic banter and barbs fly fast. But they also realize they have to play nice for some author events and will have to learn how to fake it for their fans...especially the ones eager to have them continue their joint series.
These two are so much fun! They have fiery banter and sizzling chemistry that they try to avoid just like they do with the secrets and pain from their past. But the more time they are stuck together, the more they start letting their walls back down and realize what made them friends before.
These two are really struggling with issues from their past, reconnecting in the present, and fighting feelings that they're just not sure could ever be reciprocated. But then there's a kiss...and some thoughts...and a whole bunch of togetherness in beautiful foreign settings. There’s so much banter and just a general understanding and affection for each other, but their previous relationship was damaged due to Axel's actions and Hazel's not understanding. But now there is also a new sizzle and spark that is heating up their time on a train.
Axel is the king of self-protection, and has some damage and guards up, but I loved seeing the cracks in his armor and softer heart. He is also protective and caring and even when he is being obstinate, he is careful with his words. And Hazel has been one of my favorite sidekicks in the LB universe for a while so I loved getting more with her. She is just a firecracker but also has a big heart and such a great sense of humor. But she has her own issues and coping strategies too. The dynamics of their relationship really do change by degrees as certain things are gradually revealed and their outlooks and feelings start to evolve, but there is such delicious tension along the way. I was totally immersed in their journey that was not just a trip with various destinations, but also an emotional one full of passion and tumultuous thoughts and feelings.
I was happy to see some cameos from the LB world. Their friends and siblings and the other train passengers all have their roles in this story. The foreign sights are almost a character in themselves and add depth to many of the scenes.
This is a witty, steamy, former-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity romance with two snarky authors sharing new adventures and falling in love. It is humorous and sarcastic but also brings all the feels, passion, and swoon. The situation overflows with unresolved feelings for them both, but also allows them the time, place, and motivation to actually deal with them, and figure out if they could move forward.
By the end, I was so excited that I was cheering and clapping even if it was all by myself with my Kindle. I absolutely adored these characters and this story, and they have claimed the top spot in my fave M/F LB couples. Hazel and Axel are couples goals! I could not love them more!
October 13, 2023
Jeez, I'm on a roll with these Lauren Blakely books-----I loved this one too! Who knew I'd love a very hot train romance?! Or should that be 'A romance that takes place on a train'?:)
March 5, 2023
My So Called Sex Life is book 1 of the How To Date series by author Lauren Blakely. It is a standalone rom-com told from both POV with a HEA.
Tropes:
✔️ friends to enemies to lovers
✔️ forced proximity
✔️ hero falls first
✔️ road trip via train in Europe
✔️ single bed
Hazel Valentine & Axel Huxley are both writers. She writes romance while he writes thrillers and when they met the because such good friends that together they wrote a successful romantic suspense series until unexpectedly left to Europe and they became enemies.
A year has gone by and their publishing house arranged a joint trip across Europe to interact with their top fans on a luxury train. Where not only to they have to make nice, they also have to share a room with one bed.
But even with their antagonistic banter their bond had been deep and will fan the sparks of undeniable attraction between them along with their forced proximity. As the days go by visiting the places where they’ve set their stories, walls start crumbling and their bond and attraction takes hold.
Oh boy, where to start… Lauren Blakely writes a super fun, sexy and swoon worthy story. I loved everything about it, from traveling Europe in close quarters on a train, to the authors within the story. She always delivers escapes I crave!
Both Hazel and Axel are magnetic characters separately and together. Hazel is fiesty, tenacious and independent. He’s broody and smart-mouthed with a wretched childhood. All their exchanges whether they’re in person or through text are like foreplay. I LOVED it.
My So Called Sex Life includes plentiful cameos from Lauren’s previous books who support and help Axel and Hazel and make me want to re-read each of their stories. I also loved the backdrop that made me want to visit all the wonderful places that were visited.
★ I received an ARC of this title from the author via Candi Kane PR. The excerpts are from that copy. I am voluntarily reviewing this title.
★See all my book edits on Instagram
Tropes:
✔️ friends to enemies to lovers
✔️ forced proximity
✔️ hero falls first
✔️ road trip via train in Europe
✔️ single bed
Hazel Valentine & Axel Huxley are both writers. She writes romance while he writes thrillers and when they met the because such good friends that together they wrote a successful romantic suspense series until unexpectedly left to Europe and they became enemies.
A year has gone by and their publishing house arranged a joint trip across Europe to interact with their top fans on a luxury train. Where not only to they have to make nice, they also have to share a room with one bed.
But even with their antagonistic banter their bond had been deep and will fan the sparks of undeniable attraction between them along with their forced proximity. As the days go by visiting the places where they’ve set their stories, walls start crumbling and their bond and attraction takes hold.
Oh boy, where to start… Lauren Blakely writes a super fun, sexy and swoon worthy story. I loved everything about it, from traveling Europe in close quarters on a train, to the authors within the story. She always delivers escapes I crave!
Both Hazel and Axel are magnetic characters separately and together. Hazel is fiesty, tenacious and independent. He’s broody and smart-mouthed with a wretched childhood. All their exchanges whether they’re in person or through text are like foreplay. I LOVED it.
My So Called Sex Life includes plentiful cameos from Lauren’s previous books who support and help Axel and Hazel and make me want to re-read each of their stories. I also loved the backdrop that made me want to visit all the wonderful places that were visited.
★ I received an ARC of this title from the author via Candi Kane PR. The excerpts are from that copy. I am voluntarily reviewing this title.
★See all my book edits on Instagram
March 26, 2024
absolutely yes. 1000% yes
March 21, 2023
5 stars!
I adored this book. It’s a fantastic combination of friends to enemies to lovers and forced proximity, and it is so much fun.
Hazel is a romance writer and Axel writes thrillers and at one time wrote a much loved series. However, their writing partnership ended abruptly and they only just tolerate each other now. When both are invited to do a book tour through Europe, it’s too exciting to turn it down even when they find out the other will be there. What follows is a wonderfully delightful, entertaining love story, and I couldn’t put it down.
Hazel and Axel are adorable. I love that even as so-called enemies they give us fantastic banter and entertaining interactions. We don’t know exactly what happened to cause their falling out but I love that we get deeper bits and pieces of who they are and slowly realize what went down in the first place.
I love Hazel and Axel together as friends, as enemies, and also finally as a couple because they have so much fun together no matter what they are doing. They fight the attraction that was always there but never acted upon. I felt their chemistry and knew these two would eventually combust.
I adored the way the story goes and the way Hazel and Axel are pushed together. It’s like every force on earth wants these two together and they won’t stop until one of them makes a move. I love how they truly understand each other even when they are trying so hard keep their feelings in check. And when the truth comes out, I love that they dive in.
I also love that the story takes place in different areas around Europe. The scenery was beautifully described and I felt like I was there. I also loved how they incorporated their locations in their own stories.
Overall, this is a fantastic start to the new series and I can’t wait for more!
*ARC generously provided by Candi Kane PR*
I adored this book. It’s a fantastic combination of friends to enemies to lovers and forced proximity, and it is so much fun.
Hazel is a romance writer and Axel writes thrillers and at one time wrote a much loved series. However, their writing partnership ended abruptly and they only just tolerate each other now. When both are invited to do a book tour through Europe, it’s too exciting to turn it down even when they find out the other will be there. What follows is a wonderfully delightful, entertaining love story, and I couldn’t put it down.
Hazel and Axel are adorable. I love that even as so-called enemies they give us fantastic banter and entertaining interactions. We don’t know exactly what happened to cause their falling out but I love that we get deeper bits and pieces of who they are and slowly realize what went down in the first place.
A persistent part of me wishes I could go back in time to that day in Chelsea when we blew up…I could say something different. Say a lot of things different.
But you can’t go back. You can only go forward and learn to live with your regrets.
I love Hazel and Axel together as friends, as enemies, and also finally as a couple because they have so much fun together no matter what they are doing. They fight the attraction that was always there but never acted upon. I felt their chemistry and knew these two would eventually combust.
I adored the way the story goes and the way Hazel and Axel are pushed together. It’s like every force on earth wants these two together and they won’t stop until one of them makes a move. I love how they truly understand each other even when they are trying so hard keep their feelings in check. And when the truth comes out, I love that they dive in.
I also love that the story takes place in different areas around Europe. The scenery was beautifully described and I felt like I was there. I also loved how they incorporated their locations in their own stories.
Overall, this is a fantastic start to the new series and I can’t wait for more!
*ARC generously provided by Candi Kane PR*
July 26, 2023
you might be wondering how i even found this book and why i read it in the first place. great question. i don’t know. reading this was like watching reality tv. my brain was on low power mode. it was kind of a mind fuck though bc it was the most weird and random thing ever and hard to follow while also being so easy to read and predictable. idk how else to explain it but somehow both things are true. i think my confusion mostly came from there being hella background characters that i felt like i was supposed to know. did i miss a prequel series or??? bc even if i did she should’ve a) done a better job reintroducing since this is the first book in a series and also b) not had that many background characters in the first place it was so distracting and they didn’t serve any purpose!!! and they all had extremely obvious romance-y jobs like professional athletes and shit. it was way, WAY too meta for me. i swear i could feel the author reach through the book and wink at her jokes sometimes. i honestly couldn’t tell if it was self aware or not but i’m leaning towards yes. the 3 separate epilogues had me dead. i originally read this bc i saw a tiktok about the second book in the series, but i think i’m gonna bow out gracefully. listen i LOVE a cheesy romance. some books i read i see reviews that give it 3 stars and are like yeah whatever it was a romance, but they don’t understand that there is an ART to it. there’s value in it. however THIS bad boy right here was your classic so-bad-it’s good vibe. i honestly can’t hate on the writing bc she took a story that was soulless and added some random ass shit and made me confused. at least she made it memorably bad! and i think that’s funny and i’m gonna give claps. like the half done con artist dad plot. this is probably an AWFUL book to judge this author on bc like i keep saying i can’t tell if she’s just fucking around in this book or not. like i imagine this books a lot different than her others.
honestly if i liked the main romance more and it was more believable i would forgive a lot of what i said above. i would chalk it up to the author just trying to be quirky and id give it 3 stars probably. but they cringed me out. this book was a train wreck i couldn’t look away from. so once again— claps.
honestly if i liked the main romance more and it was more believable i would forgive a lot of what i said above. i would chalk it up to the author just trying to be quirky and id give it 3 stars probably. but they cringed me out. this book was a train wreck i couldn’t look away from. so once again— claps.
May 8, 2024
Totally missed the mark for me!
FMC+MMC are writers: FMC strictly rom-coms (generic ones with smut)
MMC: romance thrillers (they are really action packed series about one hero falling in love with a different heroine every book)
Anyway: MCs used to write together and used to be friends. MMC had a crush on the heroine so he introduced her to his agent which was a fuck-boy.
MMC knew the FMC had daddy issues and will like his agent and thus he'll move on. However he never did move on, he got quite jealous and ended up leaving the heroine in the dust.
The heroine lost her best friend aka MMC and her boyfriend (his agent) when he cheated on her. And we have kinda of "enemies situation" since MCs don't like each other. But they are forced to interact when they travel across Europe for book promotion trip.
I know a lot of people hate it when authors portray MCs as authors (it sounds ego-centric) but I don't have a problem with that.
However, the story felt like a rough draft. You know when you want to write a speech or some paper for school. Beforehand you need to have an outline and random ideas.
You write what your brain conjures. And that's what the book is about.
The author is thinking out loud and putting random ideas in the mouth of MCs.
This becomes crystal clear when you have two different POVs (FMC+MMC) but they both speak and think the same way.
And all that weird sex talk is sooooo cringey: NOOOOO BODY talks in real life like the smut written in books. +++I'm pretty sure writing is a job and most writers get fed up of their consuming job so the rest of their time, they simply live their life.
They do not impersonate their characters. However the characters of this book were like: I'm going to the French riviera and hope to get kissed like in a book. Oh, look to that beautiful countryside, I want to be fucked on the grass like they do in smutty books.
Even when the author, set up a Q and A for MCs the questions of the audience were like: What do you have in common with your main characters? ( Who asks that in real life!?)
It shows that the author is either pretentious and ego-centric OR which is more likely: she never went to a book fare/ club or a marketing trip.
She's just trying too hard!!!
FMC+MMC are writers: FMC strictly rom-coms (generic ones with smut)
MMC: romance thrillers (they are really action packed series about one hero falling in love with a different heroine every book)
Anyway: MCs used to write together and used to be friends. MMC had a crush on the heroine so he introduced her to his agent which was a fuck-boy.
MMC knew the FMC had daddy issues and will like his agent and thus he'll move on. However he never did move on, he got quite jealous and ended up leaving the heroine in the dust.
The heroine lost her best friend aka MMC and her boyfriend (his agent) when he cheated on her. And we have kinda of "enemies situation" since MCs don't like each other. But they are forced to interact when they travel across Europe for book promotion trip.
I know a lot of people hate it when authors portray MCs as authors (it sounds ego-centric) but I don't have a problem with that.
However, the story felt like a rough draft. You know when you want to write a speech or some paper for school. Beforehand you need to have an outline and random ideas.
You write what your brain conjures. And that's what the book is about.
The author is thinking out loud and putting random ideas in the mouth of MCs.
This becomes crystal clear when you have two different POVs (FMC+MMC) but they both speak and think the same way.
And all that weird sex talk is sooooo cringey: NOOOOO BODY talks in real life like the smut written in books. +++I'm pretty sure writing is a job and most writers get fed up of their consuming job so the rest of their time, they simply live their life.
They do not impersonate their characters. However the characters of this book were like: I'm going to the French riviera and hope to get kissed like in a book. Oh, look to that beautiful countryside, I want to be fucked on the grass like they do in smutty books.
Even when the author, set up a Q and A for MCs the questions of the audience were like: What do you have in common with your main characters? ( Who asks that in real life!?)
It shows that the author is either pretentious and ego-centric OR which is more likely: she never went to a book fare/ club or a marketing trip.
She's just trying too hard!!!
November 12, 2025
Once again, because of course she did, Lauren has entertained me from beginning to end with one of her stories! I mean who can possibly get away with writing cliché after cliché in a storyline and still turn out a unique romance journey with two people you have to have in your real life or you might just die! LAUREN, that’s who!
She hasn’t always wow’d me with her stories, but I think that’s only normal because reading is such a (hormonal) experience and can be different from one day to the next and just never quite know if a story is going to hit you the right way or completely fall flat! HOWEVER, no matter how you might feel, facts are facts and factually speaking, Lauren is pretty much going to be a hit because her genuine enthusiasm for the world she is creating flows into the story which them turns the story into not just an #entertainmentfest, but a #swoonfest and all kinds of other fests I can’t come up with right this minute!
Now that I’ve digressed completely off the path of this story (lol), give this story a try!! That’s it, that’s my review :)
She hasn’t always wow’d me with her stories, but I think that’s only normal because reading is such a (hormonal) experience and can be different from one day to the next and just never quite know if a story is going to hit you the right way or completely fall flat! HOWEVER, no matter how you might feel, facts are facts and factually speaking, Lauren is pretty much going to be a hit because her genuine enthusiasm for the world she is creating flows into the story which them turns the story into not just an #entertainmentfest, but a #swoonfest and all kinds of other fests I can’t come up with right this minute!
Now that I’ve digressed completely off the path of this story (lol), give this story a try!! That’s it, that’s my review :)
March 4, 2024
🖤
3.5/5
If you dislike the miscommunication trope, this is NOT for you. 😅 The whole storyline of this book could have been avoided if a certain someone had just said how they felt from the very beginning.
This book was fun though! It was very meta. Two authors on a book tour with some readers. The interactions with the readers were really sweet. The way both of the main characters had very colorful inner monologues because they’re both romance writers was pretty cool too.
I will say that at certain times it felt like I was reading a book two instead of the first in the series… like I was missing something or some of the characters were people I should have known ? Idk it was a very small thing that came up only a couple times but it was kind of weird. I’m still not sure if this is a branch off another series or not.
This book was a good time. It’s not life changing but it’s a good time. On to the next!
3.5/5
If you dislike the miscommunication trope, this is NOT for you. 😅 The whole storyline of this book could have been avoided if a certain someone had just said how they felt from the very beginning.
This book was fun though! It was very meta. Two authors on a book tour with some readers. The interactions with the readers were really sweet. The way both of the main characters had very colorful inner monologues because they’re both romance writers was pretty cool too.
I will say that at certain times it felt like I was reading a book two instead of the first in the series… like I was missing something or some of the characters were people I should have known ? Idk it was a very small thing that came up only a couple times but it was kind of weird. I’m still not sure if this is a branch off another series or not.
This book was a good time. It’s not life changing but it’s a good time. On to the next!
March 2, 2023
**Audio Review**
My So-Called Sex Life by Lauren Blakely was a sweet and spicy enemies-to-lovers romance that captured my heart and had me happy sighing and swooning from start to finish. Hazel and Axel were once a romance writing dream team that abruptly ended, and now they can’t stand to be around each other. However, a little forced proximity on a book tour train through Europe may just reunite this team in more ways than one. Hazel and Axel may just be my new favorite couple from Lauren, and I simply loved everything about their journey to HEA!
Vanessa Edwin and Sebastian York narrate this audiobook, and both embodied their characters so well! Vanessa was an absolute aural goddess in her performance of the passionate and desirable, Hazel. Plus, SebYo portrayed Axel’s broody, raw emotions, and charm brilliantly in an enticing performance. Not to mention, the sexual tension between these two will burn up your earbuds, and both SebYo and Vanessa brought the heat with their performances! (Grab a fan!)
Overall, I LOVED this book! If you are a fan of an enemies-to-lovers romance with a hot confident romantic thriller writer, a witty, sassy romcom writer, second chances, forced proximity, a seven-day train trip through Europe, accidental first kisses, book plotting, scavenger hunts, book besties, steamy book sex, dirty talk, multitasking while writing, revealing true feelings, and a HEA that is even better, then you will love Axel and Hazel’s love story. I always look forward to more from Lauren Blakely.
My So-Called Sex Life by Lauren Blakely was a sweet and spicy enemies-to-lovers romance that captured my heart and had me happy sighing and swooning from start to finish. Hazel and Axel were once a romance writing dream team that abruptly ended, and now they can’t stand to be around each other. However, a little forced proximity on a book tour train through Europe may just reunite this team in more ways than one. Hazel and Axel may just be my new favorite couple from Lauren, and I simply loved everything about their journey to HEA!
Vanessa Edwin and Sebastian York narrate this audiobook, and both embodied their characters so well! Vanessa was an absolute aural goddess in her performance of the passionate and desirable, Hazel. Plus, SebYo portrayed Axel’s broody, raw emotions, and charm brilliantly in an enticing performance. Not to mention, the sexual tension between these two will burn up your earbuds, and both SebYo and Vanessa brought the heat with their performances! (Grab a fan!)
Overall, I LOVED this book! If you are a fan of an enemies-to-lovers romance with a hot confident romantic thriller writer, a witty, sassy romcom writer, second chances, forced proximity, a seven-day train trip through Europe, accidental first kisses, book plotting, scavenger hunts, book besties, steamy book sex, dirty talk, multitasking while writing, revealing true feelings, and a HEA that is even better, then you will love Axel and Hazel’s love story. I always look forward to more from Lauren Blakely.
April 17, 2023
My So Called Sex Life by Lauren Blakely
Narrated by Sebastian York & Vanessa Edwin
Standalone, Enemies-to-Lovers.
4.5 Stars rounded up
affiliate links
My So Called Sex Life by Lauren Blakely is the perfect example of why Lauren Blakely is one of my top 5 authors and my number one audiobook author. She writes her characters with the narrators already in mind and I just love how perfectly casted these characters were.
I love books that take place in the book world, so that made My So Called Sex Life even more special. We have met Hazel and Axel in previous Lauren Blakely books, but you absolutely don’t need to read any of them before this book.
Hazel Valentine & Axel Huxley are both authors. He writes thrillers, and she writes romcoms. They used to write a popular series together, but one day in the middle of writing, he just ended it. No explanation, he just walked away. Now they are enemies, with all the snarkiness that goes with it.
When they are both offered an amazing book promo tour via train through Europe, it sounded great until they realized who else was on the tour. Let the banter begin! Being a romcom in the book world, I loved how Lauren teased the genre a bit by giving us all the super obvious tropes, yet keeping the story so creative and fun you can’t help but love it.
We have friends-to-enemies-lovers, forced proximity, single bed, slow burn, and unrequited love all rolled up into a fun ride with booklovers! I was listening to this book as I was planning Readers Take Denver, so it was a lot of fun listening to book signing stuff right as I was planning one. I have never met a Lauren Blakely character I didn’t love and admire, and My So Called Sex Life was no exception.
“I’m thirty-one, missy. I can work a phone, a power drill, and a twenty-speed vibrator.”
Likes:
•It took place in the book world.
•I loved both main characters and the side characters.
•All the cameos from other series, but you never needed to know that at all, they were more like Easter eggs for fans.
•The fun banter.
•Just the perfect amount of hot sex.
•Amy’s side story.
•I loved the train ride.
Dislikes:
•I didn’t like that it was a mystery why they parted ways the first time.
The Narration:
It’s been a while since Sebastian York has narrated a Lauren Blakely book, and I was so glad to hear it again! He was perfect for Axel, and Vanessa Edwin was spot-on for Hazel. The narration made the book even better.
The Down & Dirty:
Lauren Blakely never disappoints. I honestly love almost every book she has written, but I will say that this is one of my favorites, I think because it was in the book world, and I liked how she kind of made fun (in a loving way) of all the tropes. I hope we get more in this series.
Rating: 4.5-5 Stars, 3.5 Heat, 5 Narration
Purchase My So Called Sex Life by Lauren Blakely
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March 19, 2023
I liked it.
It was about 2 writers and there was fun being had about romance tropes and them creating them and living them.
MMC had unrequited feelings for FMC. It was a pleasant change.
No shock for those who know me that it was Sebastian York's narration that kept me going on this more than the writing.
But it's solid Lauren Blakely so if you like her work, you won't be disappointed.
It was about 2 writers and there was fun being had about romance tropes and them creating them and living them.
MMC had unrequited feelings for FMC. It was a pleasant change.
No shock for those who know me that it was Sebastian York's narration that kept me going on this more than the writing.
But it's solid Lauren Blakely so if you like her work, you won't be disappointed.
February 3, 2024
I'm writing this before I finish it. Because if I ever allowed myself to DNF a book, this would be it.
It started out nice enough, but for goodness sake PLEASE stop talking about the "book sex" and tropes and anything related to writing. Every move they make relates to something in a freaking book. And they just jumped in the sack? I felt nothing. No chemistry here. This is brutal to read
It started out nice enough, but for goodness sake PLEASE stop talking about the "book sex" and tropes and anything related to writing. Every move they make relates to something in a freaking book. And they just jumped in the sack? I felt nothing. No chemistry here. This is brutal to read
September 12, 2025
Hazel is a successful romance author and she has not met a happy-ever-after she could not imagine. However, years ago a writing-partnership with her then-friend Axel Huxley ended before they could finish the last book and the world has been yearning for the end ever since. Now the both of them are forced together once more, while on a book tour through Europe, and not only will they have to address their feelings, they also have to confront the issues that ended their friendship too.
Pro's:
+ The romantic aspect of this story is written really well, multiple steamy scenes that are not only easy to follow, but also very fun to read. Between Hazel and Axel is more then enough spark and it was fun to be included in their romance.
+ I read this book in a single morning reading session, this book was that easy to read. No real darkness or problems, just heartwarming story and two MC's going on a fun journey through Europe.
Con's:
- The storytelling in this book is pretty chaotic and I missed parts of the story due to the chaotic writing. I felt like the author, at times, kept writing new ideas on paper but forgetting to complete the previous bit of the story she was trying to tell.
This was a fun and lighthearted read to read just in between other books or when you feel the need to read something that does not require a lot of effort from you. The tropes are fun, but nothing special or unique. Nit that this story is completely blank, but I don't think I will pick-up anything from this author in the near future as this really felt like a standalone to me. It was fine, but I have a hard time finding something truly special to say about this.
Pro's:
+ The romantic aspect of this story is written really well, multiple steamy scenes that are not only easy to follow, but also very fun to read. Between Hazel and Axel is more then enough spark and it was fun to be included in their romance.
+ I read this book in a single morning reading session, this book was that easy to read. No real darkness or problems, just heartwarming story and two MC's going on a fun journey through Europe.
Con's:
- The storytelling in this book is pretty chaotic and I missed parts of the story due to the chaotic writing. I felt like the author, at times, kept writing new ideas on paper but forgetting to complete the previous bit of the story she was trying to tell.
This was a fun and lighthearted read to read just in between other books or when you feel the need to read something that does not require a lot of effort from you. The tropes are fun, but nothing special or unique. Nit that this story is completely blank, but I don't think I will pick-up anything from this author in the near future as this really felt like a standalone to me. It was fine, but I have a hard time finding something truly special to say about this.
January 20, 2025
I mean this in all honestly, and it is a complement. Whenever I need to flush my head out of another genre, I love coming to read one of Ms. Blakely's books. They are always a fun and easy read that most often leave me with a smile on my face.
I just finished about 2 weeks DEEP into an Epic Fantasy series, probably read about 5000 pages over the course of 2 weeks and after that, I just NEEDED to read something light and fun. This totally fit the bill.
The story revolves around two romance authors who used to be writing partners, but something happened a year or two ago and they broke off their writing relationship. They both now consider the other a nemesis. Unfortunately, they are both ordered by their publishers to go on a 7 day train r book tour through Europe. It starts with 3 authors, but at the last minute, the other author breaks her leg and can not go. Uh Oh.
I enjoyed both of the characters and it was even better because the level of angst on this was rather low. It completely fit the bill for exactly what I needed.
I just finished about 2 weeks DEEP into an Epic Fantasy series, probably read about 5000 pages over the course of 2 weeks and after that, I just NEEDED to read something light and fun. This totally fit the bill.
The story revolves around two romance authors who used to be writing partners, but something happened a year or two ago and they broke off their writing relationship. They both now consider the other a nemesis. Unfortunately, they are both ordered by their publishers to go on a 7 day train r book tour through Europe. It starts with 3 authors, but at the last minute, the other author breaks her leg and can not go. Uh Oh.
I enjoyed both of the characters and it was even better because the level of angst on this was rather low. It completely fit the bill for exactly what I needed.
December 22, 2023
This was a steamy, rivals to lovers, forced proximity, dual POV, travel romance that sees two former writing partners forced to go on a European promo tour for their books on a luxury train where of course there's only one bed. Lots of spicy banter, he falls first, sexy fun and good on audio too narrated by Vanessa Edwin and Sebastian York. I look forward to reading more in this series!
Steam level: open door
Steam level: open door
March 23, 2024
Cute, fun, and entertaining. This screams Netflix romcom, and I ate it up. "Hold the tuna" "book-sex" haha
Read
September 1, 2025DNF.
No doubt cute, but because the writing style's so chick-lit, I found it hard to focus.
No doubt cute, but because the writing style's so chick-lit, I found it hard to focus.
July 16, 2023
3.75 ⭐️
It wasn’t exactly “enemies-to-lovers”, more like a bad falling out and bitterness due lack of communication and unrequited love. So, I’d say more of a second chance trope. It gives off a bit of “(former) friends-to-lovers” as well and that specific trope isn’t necessary one of my favorites. I feel like the authors writing might not be my style but I’ve read great reviews on the next book in this series, so I’m definitely going to give it another go! All in all, an okay read.
It wasn’t exactly “enemies-to-lovers”, more like a bad falling out and bitterness due lack of communication and unrequited love. So, I’d say more of a second chance trope. It gives off a bit of “(former) friends-to-lovers” as well and that specific trope isn’t necessary one of my favorites. I feel like the authors writing might not be my style but I’ve read great reviews on the next book in this series, so I’m definitely going to give it another go! All in all, an okay read.
March 8, 2023
All aboard!!
What a fun, sweet angsty love story! There were so many quick lines of humor and the chemistry between these two characters was amazing. Even as enemies their connection was so strong. I ABSOLUTELY love the communication in this book. There really is no holding back. A few kept secrets and thoughts but not like the usual if only he knew kind of story where you are just yelling at the characters to talk! This was super refreshing and Lauren Blakely is just a master of these stories. The narration was phenomenal! Sebastian York does dry quick humor lines so well and has the best range of emotion. Vanessa Edwin is just amazingly talented! Her range of emotions for her characters are portrayed so well and her male voice is impeccable! Another smash for Lauren Blakely as are all her books!!
What a fun, sweet angsty love story! There were so many quick lines of humor and the chemistry between these two characters was amazing. Even as enemies their connection was so strong. I ABSOLUTELY love the communication in this book. There really is no holding back. A few kept secrets and thoughts but not like the usual if only he knew kind of story where you are just yelling at the characters to talk! This was super refreshing and Lauren Blakely is just a master of these stories. The narration was phenomenal! Sebastian York does dry quick humor lines so well and has the best range of emotion. Vanessa Edwin is just amazingly talented! Her range of emotions for her characters are portrayed so well and her male voice is impeccable! Another smash for Lauren Blakely as are all her books!!
September 4, 2023
This book was so backwards. 2 romance writers on a book tour together in Europe get stuck in 1 cabin. But when the 2 become lovers, the scene is ridiculous. Questions stop action over and over. Since these 2 write hit sex scenes in their books, it is like 2 4th graders trying to figure out what to do with a lost dog. Axel and Hazel. Shane as the landscapes sound beautiful in the book. Romme, Paris, Nice, Spain. I don't read just got the sex scenes, but when the author got this so screwed up, I wanted to stop reading. The actions are not with the characters.
December 22, 2023
1. The title is horrible and doesn’t equate to the book at all.
2. It was boring (as I picked this up and put it down multiple times and didn’t care about these characters at all)
3. Miscommunication trope = thumbs down
4. Picked the audio for the narrators and even they couldn’t salvage this one.
2. It was boring (as I picked this up and put it down multiple times and didn’t care about these characters at all)
3. Miscommunication trope = thumbs down
4. Picked the audio for the narrators and even they couldn’t salvage this one.
May 28, 2024
Idk, this one just didn’t do it for me. I love Sebastian York’s rumbly voice, but the female actor and the characters just fell flat for me. Very underdeveloped and the big traumatic rift that happened a year before this book took place didn’t feel like that big of a deal,
The premise was a stretch, too.
The premise was a stretch, too.
July 21, 2023
started so promising but THIS IS NOT AN ENEMIES TO LOVERS. IT IS PINING FRIENDS TO STRANGERS TO LOVERS. misleading marketing. and i’m mad about it. i liked that they were both writers that wrote books together bc it made me think of zodiac academy <3 but overall boring
February 28, 2023
"𝑰'𝒎 𝒔𝒐 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝑰 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚."
"𝑰'𝒎 𝒔𝒐 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝑰 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒂 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒆."
𝐌𝐲 𝐒𝐨-𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐱 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞, the first book in the Hoe to Date series by Lauren Blakely is Axel and Hazel's story.
Axel and Hazel were best friends and writing partners until Axel mysteriously ended everything between them and disappeared. A year later they are forced to take a train trip together across Europe, which may help them get back to the way they were or maybe become even more.
Axel and Hazel are full of witty banter and undeniable tension, making for an entertaining frenemies-to-lovers international journey. I enjoyed the journey through Europe and how Axel and Hazel slowly opened up to each other and finally came together. I really enjoyed also getting little glimpses of past characters and how all of Lauren Blakely's books blend together but can be read as standalones.
Get ready for... mf, frenemies to lovers, close proximity, forced proximity, only one bed, unrequited love, slow burn, he falls first, dual first-person point of view.
𝐌𝐲 𝐒𝐨-𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐱 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 has a heat level of 3 flames and gets 4 maple leafs!
*A copy was kindly provided to Canadian Girl Book Blog*
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"𝑰'𝒎 𝒔𝒐 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝑰 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒂 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒆."
𝐌𝐲 𝐒𝐨-𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐱 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞, the first book in the Hoe to Date series by Lauren Blakely is Axel and Hazel's story.
Axel and Hazel were best friends and writing partners until Axel mysteriously ended everything between them and disappeared. A year later they are forced to take a train trip together across Europe, which may help them get back to the way they were or maybe become even more.
Axel and Hazel are full of witty banter and undeniable tension, making for an entertaining frenemies-to-lovers international journey. I enjoyed the journey through Europe and how Axel and Hazel slowly opened up to each other and finally came together. I really enjoyed also getting little glimpses of past characters and how all of Lauren Blakely's books blend together but can be read as standalones.
Get ready for... mf, frenemies to lovers, close proximity, forced proximity, only one bed, unrequited love, slow burn, he falls first, dual first-person point of view.
𝐌𝐲 𝐒𝐨-𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐱 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 has a heat level of 3 flames and gets 4 maple leafs!
*A copy was kindly provided to Canadian Girl Book Blog*
Follow → ❤️ Facebook 🖤 Instagram ❤️ TikTok 🖤 Twitter ❤️ Blog
February 21, 2023
***ARC Provided by the Author***
4.5 Stars
This book was such fun. As Lauren Blakely said, it's a love letter to readers, and I definitely feel the love.
Hazel and Axel are romance authors who used to be friends and are now enemies...who are forced to go on a tri together and get stuck in a train compartment with one bed. Because, if course they did and of course there is only one bed.
This book is a book that knows it's messing with clichés of the romance book, and authors, and readers of romance...but it's a teasing that is full of love.
It's also a really fantastic romance with characters that have fabulous chemistry, and you want to see them work out their differences and find themselves together...even after they are off the train. I loved the blend of the loving laughter at the trope while at the same time, being a romance novel that is in a trope of it's own. If that makes any sense.
I am likely not explaining this well. If you love romance, or a good story, or getting lost in words, read this one.
I enjoyed and recommend this title.
4.5 Stars
This book was such fun. As Lauren Blakely said, it's a love letter to readers, and I definitely feel the love.
Hazel and Axel are romance authors who used to be friends and are now enemies...who are forced to go on a tri together and get stuck in a train compartment with one bed. Because, if course they did and of course there is only one bed.
This book is a book that knows it's messing with clichés of the romance book, and authors, and readers of romance...but it's a teasing that is full of love.
It's also a really fantastic romance with characters that have fabulous chemistry, and you want to see them work out their differences and find themselves together...even after they are off the train. I loved the blend of the loving laughter at the trope while at the same time, being a romance novel that is in a trope of it's own. If that makes any sense.
I am likely not explaining this well. If you love romance, or a good story, or getting lost in words, read this one.
I enjoyed and recommend this title.
August 28, 2024
DNFed this at 71%
See, I have a gate for short sentences. But another thing that I hate is poor revisions and childish scenarios!
This book, with its very title, is very shallow and very hard to read as an adult. The beginning was good but then the build up to the plot, and the plot itself was showing lack of depth and experience in reading not just writing.
I believe that the writer needs to have the characters planned out in their head then write the story according to the story line they primarily thought of.
What I read was very uneducated, underwhelming, and cringe-worthy to say the least. Idk how the writer thought to write some of the things the male character (Axel) said because the man is punchable from the first dialogue let alone the sex-scenes. But all in all, I’ve seen better- way better.
See, I have a gate for short sentences. But another thing that I hate is poor revisions and childish scenarios!
This book, with its very title, is very shallow and very hard to read as an adult. The beginning was good but then the build up to the plot, and the plot itself was showing lack of depth and experience in reading not just writing.
I believe that the writer needs to have the characters planned out in their head then write the story according to the story line they primarily thought of.
What I read was very uneducated, underwhelming, and cringe-worthy to say the least. Idk how the writer thought to write some of the things the male character (Axel) said because the man is punchable from the first dialogue let alone the sex-scenes. But all in all, I’ve seen better- way better.
May 31, 2025
Thank you to Lauren and team for the gifted audio code!
This was such a quick cute and fun read! Axel and Hazel are both authors. She contemporary/rom coms and he, romantic thrillers. They were once great friends and even cowrote a series (unfinished) together. Until out of nowhere he ended their writing and friendship. Now they can’t stand each other. That is until they are forced on tour together and get stuff sharing a bed. Feelings and sparks fly. He ended things because he was in love with her. While I really think he could have gone about it all differently he made the story interesting. He’d had a crush on her from the moment they met. This was a really cute read!
Read:🎧Audible
MMC: Axel Huxley
FMC: Hazel Valentine
Spice: 2🌶️
Tropes: Friends to Enemies to Lovers, Authors, Forced Proximity, One Bed, European Tour, He Falls First
This was such a quick cute and fun read! Axel and Hazel are both authors. She contemporary/rom coms and he, romantic thrillers. They were once great friends and even cowrote a series (unfinished) together. Until out of nowhere he ended their writing and friendship. Now they can’t stand each other. That is until they are forced on tour together and get stuff sharing a bed. Feelings and sparks fly. He ended things because he was in love with her. While I really think he could have gone about it all differently he made the story interesting. He’d had a crush on her from the moment they met. This was a really cute read!
Read:🎧Audible
MMC: Axel Huxley
FMC: Hazel Valentine
Spice: 2🌶️
Tropes: Friends to Enemies to Lovers, Authors, Forced Proximity, One Bed, European Tour, He Falls First
March 14, 2023
3.5⭐️
2/🌶
This was the real fun read i was looking for, to tone down effect of those back to back thrillers I've read ,tho it wasn't as spicy as the title may fool you into thinking 😂
nevertheless i enjoyed it so much, its so brilliantly written . It gave me beach read vibes like cool refreshing enemies to lovers ,no trigger warnings just pure humor and banter and some angst 🔥
Sex scenes were numerous but weren't as decriptive as i hoped they would be ..
I did really love the "Hold the tuna "scene , it was so beautifully written I'm still in awe of that scene 🤩❤️❤️
Perhaps my only issue is with the title "My so called Sex Life" , imo it should've been different it didn't suit the storyline at all
2/🌶
This was the real fun read i was looking for, to tone down effect of those back to back thrillers I've read ,tho it wasn't as spicy as the title may fool you into thinking 😂
nevertheless i enjoyed it so much, its so brilliantly written . It gave me beach read vibes like cool refreshing enemies to lovers ,no trigger warnings just pure humor and banter and some angst 🔥
Sex scenes were numerous but weren't as decriptive as i hoped they would be ..
I did really love the "Hold the tuna "scene , it was so beautifully written I'm still in awe of that scene 🤩❤️❤️
Perhaps my only issue is with the title "My so called Sex Life" , imo it should've been different it didn't suit the storyline at all
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