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Designs on You
If graphic designer Scott Parker has to design one more cupcake company logo, he might lose it. So when tasked with retouching photos for a big fashion client, a stunning, lanky model mesmerizes Scott and occupies his thoughts and fantasies long after the assignment is finished.
Scott soon discovers that the object of his desire is nothing like the backstory he imagined. Despite Jamie Donovan’s aloof and dismissive behavior, Scott struggles to forge a friendship with him, all the while trying to keep his attraction at bay.
Will Jamie follow through on signals that he may be interested, or will he forever be the beautiful man in the photograph, an untouchable fantasy?
Scott soon discovers that the object of his desire is nothing like the backstory he imagined. Despite Jamie Donovan’s aloof and dismissive behavior, Scott struggles to forge a friendship with him, all the while trying to keep his attraction at bay.
Will Jamie follow through on signals that he may be interested, or will he forever be the beautiful man in the photograph, an untouchable fantasy?
178 pages, Paperback
First published August 16, 2014
1 person is currently reading
341 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Pack
7 books88 followersCarrie Pack is an author of books in multiple genres, including Designs on You (2014), In the Present Tense (2016), and Grrrls on the Side (2017). She is a recipient of two Foreword Reviews INDIES Book of the Year Bronze awards: in 2016 for In the Present Tense (science fiction) and in 2017 for Grrrls on the Side (young adult). Grrrls on the Side was also a finalist in the Bi Book Awards.
Her novels focus on characters finding themselves in their own time—something she experienced for herself when she came out as bisexual in her thirties. She also hosts the BiSciFi podcast and is creator of the #BiSciFi Twitter chat. She's passionate about science fiction, feminism, and red lipstick. Carrie lives in Florida, or as she likes to call it, “America’s Wang.”
Her novels focus on characters finding themselves in their own time—something she experienced for herself when she came out as bisexual in her thirties. She also hosts the BiSciFi podcast and is creator of the #BiSciFi Twitter chat. She's passionate about science fiction, feminism, and red lipstick. Carrie lives in Florida, or as she likes to call it, “America’s Wang.”
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 25, 2014
Is this the first book by author ? Wow, really?
This story is among the most beautiful love story, gay or hetero that I ever have read: poetic,lyric, intense,poignant and yet so credible and realistic. Beautifully wrote with riches of words and lines, one feast of images and colours of love.
This story is among the most beautiful love story, gay or hetero that I ever have read: poetic,lyric, intense,poignant and yet so credible and realistic. Beautifully wrote with riches of words and lines, one feast of images and colours of love.
July 2, 2014
Designs on You is in many ways an average love story. One that, had it been a movie, would have kept you entertained for a few hours, giving you the satisfaction of boy-meets-boy love. But it is also much more than that. It is about being young. About not knowing where you are going with your life. About being insecure, even when everyone tells you that you are perfect, and consequently feeling the need to put up an unbreakable facade. Not every love story is capable of carrying themes like these along with the main story, but Designs on You does not only carry them as secondary, they are an inevitable part of the plot, which is exactly why it is not just a nice, quick read, but a truly good book.
The story follows the life of Scott Parker, a young man, who came to New York with big dreams to be an artist. And who, as so many others, has had to face that succeeding in the art world is a hard and unforgiving task. He is less than happy with his life until he has to edit pictures from a photo shoot for one of the company’s biggest clients and sees the new male model, Jamie Donovan, who has been hired for the job. We follow Scott as he works on editing every detail of the model’s body. The detailed description of Jamie’s looks is what really makes this part of the story. The building desire and curiosity that Scott feels towards Jamie are intensely relatable and even though it is apparent that Scott’s lust for Jamie is purely superficial, yet the reader senses that he has a desire to get to know this young model even better, even if he might not yet be aware of it himself.
As chance will have it, Scott gets an opportunity for this not long after, as he is suddenly put in charge of the next photo shoot with Jamie. It turns out, however, he is not a very friendly person; in fact, he his cold and reserved, and more so towards Scott than anyone else. This becomes the start of a turbulent working relationship between the two men, which somehow develops into drinks and from thereon to awkwardness and then somehow into friendship.
Giving away much more of the plot would be unfair to anyone who wants to read this book for themselves, something that I cannot recommend enough. Let it be sufficient to say that the play of off Scott’s softer, almost shy character and the much younger Jamie’s ice queen facade has exactly the right amount of drama and tension to fill the 163 pages of this book. Throughout the novel, the relationship between Scott and Jamie builds and fades, leaving the reader wondering if it will ever work… or if it is even supposed to. And it only gets more captivating as you read on!
The story follows the life of Scott Parker, a young man, who came to New York with big dreams to be an artist. And who, as so many others, has had to face that succeeding in the art world is a hard and unforgiving task. He is less than happy with his life until he has to edit pictures from a photo shoot for one of the company’s biggest clients and sees the new male model, Jamie Donovan, who has been hired for the job. We follow Scott as he works on editing every detail of the model’s body. The detailed description of Jamie’s looks is what really makes this part of the story. The building desire and curiosity that Scott feels towards Jamie are intensely relatable and even though it is apparent that Scott’s lust for Jamie is purely superficial, yet the reader senses that he has a desire to get to know this young model even better, even if he might not yet be aware of it himself.
As chance will have it, Scott gets an opportunity for this not long after, as he is suddenly put in charge of the next photo shoot with Jamie. It turns out, however, he is not a very friendly person; in fact, he his cold and reserved, and more so towards Scott than anyone else. This becomes the start of a turbulent working relationship between the two men, which somehow develops into drinks and from thereon to awkwardness and then somehow into friendship.
Giving away much more of the plot would be unfair to anyone who wants to read this book for themselves, something that I cannot recommend enough. Let it be sufficient to say that the play of off Scott’s softer, almost shy character and the much younger Jamie’s ice queen facade has exactly the right amount of drama and tension to fill the 163 pages of this book. Throughout the novel, the relationship between Scott and Jamie builds and fades, leaving the reader wondering if it will ever work… or if it is even supposed to. And it only gets more captivating as you read on!
January 8, 2015
Designs On You, by first-time author Carrie Pack, doesn’t feel like a “first timer’s” book. The development of plot, character and theme is very well handled and sustained throughout the narrative. In Scott, Jamie, and Preston, I was especially pleased to find gay male characters that felt like real people I have known, not some idealized version of a guy (even the “idealized” guy). This character development is appropriate since one of the major themes of the book is the interplay between image and reality, perception and fact, delusion and honesty.
These themes are one of the more appealing aspects of the book which moves it beyond just a “boy meets boy” tale. Ms. Pack is playing with some pretty heady stuff here as Scott struggles with merging the idealized and perfect person from his computer screen with the real and less-than-perfect person he meets in real life. Like the main character, the reader wants to know more about the boy in the photograph as well. I also love the irony of Scott being able to photoshop Jamie's picture to make him more "perfect" but having to learn the "imperfect" parts of the real person.
That is not to say there isn’t a sweet and sexy romance underneath it all. The attraction the boys feel in the book makes sense, even touching on the sometimes shallow things we are attracted to but try to convince ourselves are more meaningful. The flirty dance between the main characters feels realistic and I found myself rooting for this pair to figure it out. The more “adult” scenes in the book also read very honest and feel like they are a necessary part of the narrative, not just naughty for naughty’s sake.
Ms. Pack also does an great job building the friends around the pair and the world they live in, giving her characters a chance to develop as more than just “Man A and Man B.”
I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a fun, funny and sexy story that will also encourage you to think.
My only complaint? It ended too soon! When do we get a sequel?
These themes are one of the more appealing aspects of the book which moves it beyond just a “boy meets boy” tale. Ms. Pack is playing with some pretty heady stuff here as Scott struggles with merging the idealized and perfect person from his computer screen with the real and less-than-perfect person he meets in real life. Like the main character, the reader wants to know more about the boy in the photograph as well. I also love the irony of Scott being able to photoshop Jamie's picture to make him more "perfect" but having to learn the "imperfect" parts of the real person.
That is not to say there isn’t a sweet and sexy romance underneath it all. The attraction the boys feel in the book makes sense, even touching on the sometimes shallow things we are attracted to but try to convince ourselves are more meaningful. The flirty dance between the main characters feels realistic and I found myself rooting for this pair to figure it out. The more “adult” scenes in the book also read very honest and feel like they are a necessary part of the narrative, not just naughty for naughty’s sake.
Ms. Pack also does an great job building the friends around the pair and the world they live in, giving her characters a chance to develop as more than just “Man A and Man B.”
I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a fun, funny and sexy story that will also encourage you to think.
My only complaint? It ended too soon! When do we get a sequel?
September 25, 2014
This was utterly delightful. The emotions in Designs on You were palpable and made this such a page-turner. Everything Scott was feeling had such an urgency behind it and that aspect really was the driving force for the story. The love story felt wonderfully real. Too often, I run into love stories that don't convince me. I'll find myself saying, "Are you sure you two even like each other? What do you even do together?" I'm glad to say this doesn't fall into that trap. Scott and Jamie have the kind of chemistry that feels viable as a real relationship. Their feelings and motivations come from very real places. I can see why Scott wants to look beyond Jamie's icy exterior. I can understand why Jamie is so guarded in the first place. The emotions run passionate and deep in this novel. They take a fairly common literary trope and make it come to life and shine.
By illustrating the difference between Scott's early infatuation and his growing love for Jamie--the difference between the idealized world and reality--Pack is able to create strong themes and depth into this fairly short love story. Alongside the main theme of fantasy versus reality, there is a strong commentary on entitlement in the novel. This pairs well with the backdrop of the modelling industry and the ideal it presents by taking away the flaws of reality. By playing off of these strong themes, Pack managed to create a love story that pops off the paper.
The sex scenes each had a purpose in driving the story and characters forward. Not a single one felt gratuitous. They not only added depth to the characters involved, but tied nicely into the overarching themes of the novel. Each one packed a punch of emotion that I felt in the pit of my stomach. The writing is quick witted and fresh and literally had me laughing aloud. For a debut novel, this is wonderful. I can't wait to see what Ms. Pack will give us next. In the mean time, I'll just have to settle for reading this one over and over again.
By illustrating the difference between Scott's early infatuation and his growing love for Jamie--the difference between the idealized world and reality--Pack is able to create strong themes and depth into this fairly short love story. Alongside the main theme of fantasy versus reality, there is a strong commentary on entitlement in the novel. This pairs well with the backdrop of the modelling industry and the ideal it presents by taking away the flaws of reality. By playing off of these strong themes, Pack managed to create a love story that pops off the paper.
The sex scenes each had a purpose in driving the story and characters forward. Not a single one felt gratuitous. They not only added depth to the characters involved, but tied nicely into the overarching themes of the novel. Each one packed a punch of emotion that I felt in the pit of my stomach. The writing is quick witted and fresh and literally had me laughing aloud. For a debut novel, this is wonderful. I can't wait to see what Ms. Pack will give us next. In the mean time, I'll just have to settle for reading this one over and over again.
October 14, 2014
Scott Parker is an ordinary guy who leads an ordinary life. He has friends who care about him and a job that he usually loves, but sometimes hates. Spending most of his evenings at home doesn't lead to many chances for love, but he's mostly happy with his life. Then one day he is assigned to work on pictures of a new model, Jamie Donovan. Warned by his friends that Jamie is a snob with the face of an angel, Scott can't help but fall in lust with the man with such beautiful eyes, and his infatuation begins.
The day Scott meets Jamie face to face for the first time, it would seem that his friend's assessment of Jamie's personality is correct, but Scott thinks he sees more behind the carefully constructed walls that Jamie uses to protect himself. As the two slowly become friends and those walls begin to crumble, what started as lust turns into love, but Jamie is haunted by his past, and Scott's own insecurities may not allow him to be the man Jamie needs him to be.
A story of lust, love and friendship, Designs on You is a well written and paced romance with comedy, sensuality and heart. It's novella length makes it the perfect read for a lazy day and has a happy ending that left me feeling a romance reader's high. It's strong underlying story of self discovery is as easy to read as chocolate covered cherries are to eat. I loved every moment of Designs on You!
My OFFICIAL REVIEW written for Carly's Book Reviews
The day Scott meets Jamie face to face for the first time, it would seem that his friend's assessment of Jamie's personality is correct, but Scott thinks he sees more behind the carefully constructed walls that Jamie uses to protect himself. As the two slowly become friends and those walls begin to crumble, what started as lust turns into love, but Jamie is haunted by his past, and Scott's own insecurities may not allow him to be the man Jamie needs him to be.
A story of lust, love and friendship, Designs on You is a well written and paced romance with comedy, sensuality and heart. It's novella length makes it the perfect read for a lazy day and has a happy ending that left me feeling a romance reader's high. It's strong underlying story of self discovery is as easy to read as chocolate covered cherries are to eat. I loved every moment of Designs on You!
My OFFICIAL REVIEW written for Carly's Book Reviews
June 16, 2019
I finished this novel last night and had to come over here this morning to squee out a review. Carrie Pack's debut doesn't feel like a first novel at all. The characterization of her leads is solid. The story is crafted, not cliché. Read this book. You will not be disappointed.
August 18, 2014
Review posted on Books on Silver Wings blog: http://onsilverwingz.blogspot.com/201...
Jamie has the perfect face and attitude to be a model for the One West line but he's too short to pass their six feet two requirement. Scott comes in as a graphic designer to touch up on his photos so that Jamie looks taller. Scott loves Jamie's photos and tries to guess his personality through them since he has never seen Jamie in person. His chance comes when the art director of the photo shoot gets sick and he's the substitute. Unfortunately for his fantasies, Jamie is an ice queen and gives him lots of mixed signals.
I really like how much Scott's capabilities shows through. He's a great graphic designer and through his abilities, he rises to be an art director. He's also a very capable photographer. However, he's not over his ex at the beginning of the story. When he declares he's ready to start dating again, he's unconsciously hesitant. That makes him seem wishy-washy but also very realistic in that regard. He changes a lot by the end of the story and wins Jamie by being loyal and persistent.
Jamie gives me mixed impressions. Jamie is insecure even though he's perfect. He uses a cold and bitchy attitude to cover up his feelings and prevent himself from getting hurt. Most of the difficulties in their relationship are caused by him. Scott survives and gets close to Jamie by calling their relationship friendship-only. That gets old when everyone knows they should just go out together but they themselves keep saying they are "just friends." That drags out the story a little bit.
Overall, this is a very enjoyable book that builds up the romance between the two MCs. A lot of detail is given to guide the readers through the photo shoot process and how Jamie and Scott interact in different settings. Scott seems to have made the most effort to get their relationship to work and sacrificed the most, but their individual back stories explained their actions. All of Scott's hard work paid off in the end and their love is worth it. I definitely recommend this for those who want a quick read with a great romance.
*review copy received in exchange for an honest review*
Jamie has the perfect face and attitude to be a model for the One West line but he's too short to pass their six feet two requirement. Scott comes in as a graphic designer to touch up on his photos so that Jamie looks taller. Scott loves Jamie's photos and tries to guess his personality through them since he has never seen Jamie in person. His chance comes when the art director of the photo shoot gets sick and he's the substitute. Unfortunately for his fantasies, Jamie is an ice queen and gives him lots of mixed signals.
I really like how much Scott's capabilities shows through. He's a great graphic designer and through his abilities, he rises to be an art director. He's also a very capable photographer. However, he's not over his ex at the beginning of the story. When he declares he's ready to start dating again, he's unconsciously hesitant. That makes him seem wishy-washy but also very realistic in that regard. He changes a lot by the end of the story and wins Jamie by being loyal and persistent.
Jamie gives me mixed impressions. Jamie is insecure even though he's perfect. He uses a cold and bitchy attitude to cover up his feelings and prevent himself from getting hurt. Most of the difficulties in their relationship are caused by him. Scott survives and gets close to Jamie by calling their relationship friendship-only. That gets old when everyone knows they should just go out together but they themselves keep saying they are "just friends." That drags out the story a little bit.
Overall, this is a very enjoyable book that builds up the romance between the two MCs. A lot of detail is given to guide the readers through the photo shoot process and how Jamie and Scott interact in different settings. Scott seems to have made the most effort to get their relationship to work and sacrificed the most, but their individual back stories explained their actions. All of Scott's hard work paid off in the end and their love is worth it. I definitely recommend this for those who want a quick read with a great romance.
*review copy received in exchange for an honest review*
August 16, 2014
This story rang a bell with me because of the PhotoShop theme, something I always wonder about when I see photos now. Here, Scott is an creative type who once dreamed off photography and sculpture but decided starving artist wasn’t his forte. Now he works as graphic designer and is usually stuck designing logos for cupcake shops and vintage boutiques. Not what he thought his career would be like but it pays the bills. He has a painful history due to a cheating ex and he’s really starting over.
When he is finally able retouch the images from a photo shoot, he falls in lust with the model. He rhapsodizes about him, obsesses over him, rambles on about him. And then, lo and behold, he gets to meet the man of his dreams. Who turns out to be Jamie, a rude brat with diva behavior. Uh oh.
Scott has to work with Jamie, who is condescending and bitchy, yet Scott never gives up on him. Scott is polite, sweet and sometimes seems a bit of a doormat while Jamie continues to be icy cold. As they finally agree to be friends, it’s sometimes so hard to watch Jamie’s interactions. He sends a lot of mixed messages, pushing and pulling.
When a model from Jamie’s past comes to work with them, things get complicated and honestly, I was sort of pissed by some of the behavior. Jamie’s insistence on being only friends, Preston’s snark and Scott, well, he’s in a difficult place. And when Jamie makes Scott feel used, I wanted to smack him.
I did think Scott made nearly all the effort here and that sometimes made me annoyed with Jamie because it was painful for Scott. But everyone’s past causes them to react differently, and so it was for Jamie. It took a quite a bit to get them to where they needed to be but it’s worth it.
When he is finally able retouch the images from a photo shoot, he falls in lust with the model. He rhapsodizes about him, obsesses over him, rambles on about him. And then, lo and behold, he gets to meet the man of his dreams. Who turns out to be Jamie, a rude brat with diva behavior. Uh oh.
Scott has to work with Jamie, who is condescending and bitchy, yet Scott never gives up on him. Scott is polite, sweet and sometimes seems a bit of a doormat while Jamie continues to be icy cold. As they finally agree to be friends, it’s sometimes so hard to watch Jamie’s interactions. He sends a lot of mixed messages, pushing and pulling.
When a model from Jamie’s past comes to work with them, things get complicated and honestly, I was sort of pissed by some of the behavior. Jamie’s insistence on being only friends, Preston’s snark and Scott, well, he’s in a difficult place. And when Jamie makes Scott feel used, I wanted to smack him.
I did think Scott made nearly all the effort here and that sometimes made me annoyed with Jamie because it was painful for Scott. But everyone’s past causes them to react differently, and so it was for Jamie. It took a quite a bit to get them to where they needed to be but it’s worth it.
August 31, 2014
Just when you think you've read every take on a "does he/doesn't he?" romance, you find this little gem. Designs on You is truly original--I can't even remember the last time I could say that about a story. As I came to the end of each chapter, I can honestly say I had no idea what would happen next. I kept expecting conventional plot twists and turns and what I discovered instead was a love story that seemed true to life.
We all wish we could say what we mean and ask for what we want, but it's not that simple. Most of us are romantically challenged. More often than not we get in our own way, we make wrong assumptions and we try to force boundaries on relationships that just won't work. In Designs on You, Scott and Jamie are just like us--beautifully flawed as they fumble toward their happy ending. Loved it.
We all wish we could say what we mean and ask for what we want, but it's not that simple. Most of us are romantically challenged. More often than not we get in our own way, we make wrong assumptions and we try to force boundaries on relationships that just won't work. In Designs on You, Scott and Jamie are just like us--beautifully flawed as they fumble toward their happy ending. Loved it.
July 21, 2015
If that hadn't been a buddy read, I would have DNF. Seriously I'm not against a little "I love you but I won't tell you because I think you don't love me even if everybody tells me the opposite", but when it takes the whole book? Well no thank you. And the end was too rushed, from the sex scene to the declaration. It's not realistic and disappointing at the same time.
There is also too much "blabla" in Scott's head even if I like him because he's funny. And I can't empathize with Jamie. I had a hard with him being 19 yo from the beginning, because he acts like a kid! I think that the book would have been much better if we had been able to read Jamie's POV. In the end we don't know much about him. In my opinion he's an incomplete character.
There is also too much "blabla" in Scott's head even if I like him because he's funny. And I can't empathize with Jamie. I had a hard with him being 19 yo from the beginning, because he acts like a kid! I think that the book would have been much better if we had been able to read Jamie's POV. In the end we don't know much about him. In my opinion he's an incomplete character.
December 4, 2014
Just like Killian Brewer said, this doesn't feel like a debut novel. Pack delivers scenes and characters in a way that feels effortless, like she's been doing this for years. This novella has so much life that it sucks you into the characters' world and makes you feel like one of their friends.
A fantastic, spirited debut--I can't wait to read more from this author!
A fantastic, spirited debut--I can't wait to read more from this author!
January 10, 2016
Reviewed for Prism Book alliance
Holy slow-burn Batman. I know that I have used that line before, but man does it fit. Designs on You is my first novel from author Carrie Pack. After reading Designs, I will happily read more from this talented author.
March 25, 2016
I love stories with great dialogue and this is one. It moves smoothly and evenly. And it's a quick read for that short vacation.
November 21, 2014
It didn't take that long to read!!! This was such a fun, light read!! I can't wait to see what she puts out next!!!
January 30, 2017
Finished it, when will we get a sequel?? Cause there needs to be a sequel! This can't just end here! Please?
August 22, 2014
On the surface this looks to be your average boy meets boy love story but as you read further you get a story of emotional intensity and having the strength to go after what you really want both in love and life. With its two larger than life main characters and sweet and sexy story I found myself put through the emotional wringer but enjoying the journey wholeheartedly.
Scott is a true talent but he's not where he wants to be in his career. He longs for more challenge and something of worth, both in his work and play. After being dumped by a cheating ex he's finally ready to move on after becoming obsessed with the object of his lates advertising job, the sexy and seemingly perfect Jamie. Scott sees immense promise looking into his eyes and at a body made for sin. Too bad the reality isn't as good as what Scott created in his head for Jamie is cold and aloof. Despite all that Scott still sees something worthwhile behind that crusty exterior and becomes his friend and ultimately something more in a journey full of heartbreak. Scott is immensely loyal and accepting of Jamie working through his issues. I loved Scott from the start with his self-deprecating humor and cheered him on as his patience finally paid off in an ending that made me smile.
Jamie is a sexy man who uses his looks to make a living. People see what they want to see when looking at him and it's led to heartbreak in the past for him. He's closed his heart off to keep the hurt away which gives the impression of being cold, aloof, and unlikable. His first meeting with Scott crackles with sexual tension as he's drawn to Scott but he constantly gave mixed signals that left me frustrated. Because of his wishy-washy nature and ill-treatment of Scott it took almost the entire book before I warmed up to him.
The characters in this book were easy to relate to despite their foibles. Their romance evolved in a believable way that put them and me through the emotional wringer as they both knew they had something beyond friendship but Jamie refused to fully commit to Scott in a turbulent journey to an immensely satisfying HEA. Fans of the m/m genre will find this a delightful read with good romance and a few laughs that I wholeheartedly recommend and I look forward to reading more from this new-to-me author.
Scott is a true talent but he's not where he wants to be in his career. He longs for more challenge and something of worth, both in his work and play. After being dumped by a cheating ex he's finally ready to move on after becoming obsessed with the object of his lates advertising job, the sexy and seemingly perfect Jamie. Scott sees immense promise looking into his eyes and at a body made for sin. Too bad the reality isn't as good as what Scott created in his head for Jamie is cold and aloof. Despite all that Scott still sees something worthwhile behind that crusty exterior and becomes his friend and ultimately something more in a journey full of heartbreak. Scott is immensely loyal and accepting of Jamie working through his issues. I loved Scott from the start with his self-deprecating humor and cheered him on as his patience finally paid off in an ending that made me smile.
Jamie is a sexy man who uses his looks to make a living. People see what they want to see when looking at him and it's led to heartbreak in the past for him. He's closed his heart off to keep the hurt away which gives the impression of being cold, aloof, and unlikable. His first meeting with Scott crackles with sexual tension as he's drawn to Scott but he constantly gave mixed signals that left me frustrated. Because of his wishy-washy nature and ill-treatment of Scott it took almost the entire book before I warmed up to him.
The characters in this book were easy to relate to despite their foibles. Their romance evolved in a believable way that put them and me through the emotional wringer as they both knew they had something beyond friendship but Jamie refused to fully commit to Scott in a turbulent journey to an immensely satisfying HEA. Fans of the m/m genre will find this a delightful read with good romance and a few laughs that I wholeheartedly recommend and I look forward to reading more from this new-to-me author.
January 30, 2015
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
"Designs on You" is a delightful read if you're looking for a quick and light pick-me-up. I read it in the course of 24 hours and found it to be perfect for dispelling the gloomy, gray winter skies.
Normally, romance stories with a significant age difference aren't my thing, but I never felt uncomfortable about it throughout this story, despite the 10-year gap between protagonist Scott and the young model Jamie, who captures his interest from the very first page. Perhaps it's the way Scott consistently refers to Jamie as a man, rather than a boy, because he sees him as mature from the start. And throughout the course of the story, Jamie proves that Scott isn't just assigning maturity to him in order to assuage his guilt for nearly obsessing over someone so much younger than himself -- Jamie is an adult who manages his own career and schedule, and has had time to grow up on his own outside his family home.
The slow burn between Scott and Jamie is satisfying to watch unfold. Things don't move too fast, and in fact, they move just slow enough that I was anxious to see their overdue union by the end -- which is exactly what I love in a romance. It was good to see Scott learn the difference between the Jamie in the photographs and the flesh-and-bone Jamie who was his friend, just as it was good to see Jamie slowly come to trust Scott despite a bad first impression.
I do wish the secondary characters had been fleshed out a little more. I thought they were all very likable (even the third party introduced to drive conflict between Scott and Jamie, after a point), but they were also a bit flat. They were all a little unrealistically invested in Scott's life, the way romcom friends and coworkers usually are. So it would have been nice to hear a bit more about their lives outside of their determination to figure out what exactly was going on between Scott and Jamie. I also think the story could have benefited from a beefier subplot other than the fashion campaign bringing all the characters together, but it's not uninteresting as it stands.
Overall, I'd recommend "Designs on You" for anyone looking for a lighthearted m/m romance with plenty of pining and misunderstandings.
"Designs on You" is a delightful read if you're looking for a quick and light pick-me-up. I read it in the course of 24 hours and found it to be perfect for dispelling the gloomy, gray winter skies.
Normally, romance stories with a significant age difference aren't my thing, but I never felt uncomfortable about it throughout this story, despite the 10-year gap between protagonist Scott and the young model Jamie, who captures his interest from the very first page. Perhaps it's the way Scott consistently refers to Jamie as a man, rather than a boy, because he sees him as mature from the start. And throughout the course of the story, Jamie proves that Scott isn't just assigning maturity to him in order to assuage his guilt for nearly obsessing over someone so much younger than himself -- Jamie is an adult who manages his own career and schedule, and has had time to grow up on his own outside his family home.
The slow burn between Scott and Jamie is satisfying to watch unfold. Things don't move too fast, and in fact, they move just slow enough that I was anxious to see their overdue union by the end -- which is exactly what I love in a romance. It was good to see Scott learn the difference between the Jamie in the photographs and the flesh-and-bone Jamie who was his friend, just as it was good to see Jamie slowly come to trust Scott despite a bad first impression.
I do wish the secondary characters had been fleshed out a little more. I thought they were all very likable (even the third party introduced to drive conflict between Scott and Jamie, after a point), but they were also a bit flat. They were all a little unrealistically invested in Scott's life, the way romcom friends and coworkers usually are. So it would have been nice to hear a bit more about their lives outside of their determination to figure out what exactly was going on between Scott and Jamie. I also think the story could have benefited from a beefier subplot other than the fashion campaign bringing all the characters together, but it's not uninteresting as it stands.
Overall, I'd recommend "Designs on You" for anyone looking for a lighthearted m/m romance with plenty of pining and misunderstandings.
November 3, 2016
Really, really enjoyed this story. Most importantly for me, I felt like I really understood the characters. I got where both Scott and Jamie were coming from. Their individual histories and personalities and motivations made sense to me, so even when they might have made a choice that I WISH they hadn't made, I understood why they made it. I rooted for each of them as individuals, and OF COURSE I absolutely wanted them to get together. The whole thing was incredibly sexy but also sweet, and the ending just made me grin and grin and grin.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2015
The present tense writing made this book a little awkward to read. But Scott's habits of 1) making nearly baseless assumptions and 2) having surprisingly frequent moments when he senses a fundamental shift in his relationship with another person are even more annoying. I really have no sense of whether or not Scott and Jamie are good together -- they spent most of the book either being angry at each other or talking about superficial topics as they were trying to be friends. I finished it yesterday, and I've already forgotten most of the details.
February 10, 2015
4.5 stars! This was an absolutely adorable romance! Realistic, entertaining, and although its a short book, really makes you fall for the characters. Loved it! Can't wait to read more Interlude Press titles!
October 10, 2014
Very funny story. I liked the characters a lot. Interesting insights into the graphic design & fashion world. It was frustrating at times to the see the missed connections between the characters, but I held out the whole time for a happy ending.
April 2, 2016
Read this when it was Glee fanfic and loved it.
Edit: I actually preferred the fanfic version. The characters lost something in translation. Still a sweet story.
Edit: I actually preferred the fanfic version. The characters lost something in translation. Still a sweet story.
April 2, 2018
Scott’s fascination with Jamie, a beautiful model, was something I was concerned would come off a creepy. But it didn’t. I understood Scott’s appreciation and interest. He didn’t start to feel for Jamie until after he got to know him. He was interested before that, but he didn’t fall in love with an idea or a pretty face. He fell in love with Jamie once he knew him. And I really liked Jamie in this story. He’s not what I expected when he was introduced. The cold, beautiful model turned out to be sweet and vulnerable and I melted a little. I was also really all on board with him and Scott as a pairing. They were adorable and hot and I loved them. The books problem was too many complications were based on lack of communication. For 19 year old Jamie, I could write some of it off to his age, but he acted so maturely in other areas that it didn’t really sell for me. And Scott was almost 30. By that point, he should be able to express himself reasonably. The lack of communication as a motivation for the plot just didn’t come off as believable or interesting. It hurt an otherwise sweet book.
September 18, 2020
Basically, a graphic artist/photographer becomes fixated on a model, but ends up fighting his attraction when it seems like the model really isn’t into him. They sort of dance around each other for the rest of the book, but it wasn’t exasperating.
August 7, 2021
*3.75 Stars*
October 1, 2015
Okay. With the summary, you see exactly what you get. The beginning of this story really annoyed and frustrated me, because I didn't like Jamie's utterly ridiculous (and slightly unbelievable) attitude, and Scott getting a little bit creepy obsessed with him was embarrassing and weird. I should've DNF'd, but I kept going and I'm not sure why - maybe it was the writing? Either way, keeping on going was a great idea because it really improved! And I ended up quite liking it!
January 31, 2017
I know that I shouldn't expect much from a romance book but come ON. This was just awful. It was full of cliches, poorly written prose, and completely lacked any character development. The main character was Too Stupid To Live, the secondary character, though he was supposed to be 19, acted like a 14 year old at best. The ending was abrupt - though I have to say I was thankful it was over.
March 27, 2017
Wow, Scott takes obliviousness to a whole new level. I can't fault Jamie for rolling his eyes and becoming increasingly disgruntled - it's beyond frustrating how long it takes for Scott to cotton on!
And yet, Scott is a delightful character, and I fully understand why even Ice Queen Jamie falls for him :-)
The chemistry between them is palpable, their friendship is beautiful, and you can't help rooting hard for them to get together.
The ending feels abrupt, though. I'd have liked to bask in their happiness a little longer :-)
And yet, Scott is a delightful character, and I fully understand why even Ice Queen Jamie falls for him :-)
The chemistry between them is palpable, their friendship is beautiful, and you can't help rooting hard for them to get together.
The ending feels abrupt, though. I'd have liked to bask in their happiness a little longer :-)
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