Designs on You

by Jaci Burton

Sparks fly when an interior designer and a game designer cross paths, but they must learn if they can design a happily ever after in this heartfelt romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Jaci Burton.

Natalie Parker is in her mid-thirties, divorced, and firmly focused on her newly resurrected career and her two children. When her sister asks her to help design the backyard in the new home she shares with her boyfriend, Linc, Natalie’s more than happy to take on the project. What she isn’t prepared for is Linc’s younger brother, video game designer Eugene Kennedy. He’s smart, incredibly good-looking, and constantly flirts with Natalie. He’s also too young for her, which makes him totally off-limits.

Eugene is intrigued by Natalie’s beauty, smarts, and especially her sarcastic wit. When he teases her, she throws it right back at him. Besides that, they have an instant chemistry, but she keeps trying to get rid of him despite the sparks that fly between them. And Eugene never backs down from a challenge.

Natalie is running out of reasons to think being with Eugene is a bad thing. Her kids adore him, her sister loves him, and even her always negative mother does, too. The only person holding her back is...her. Maybe it’s time she take that leap and design herself a love for the ages. After all, if she can create the perfect home, she sure as hell can design a happily ever after.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, Fiction, Adult, Rom Com

352 pages, Paperback

First published December 3, 2024

About the author

Jaci Burton is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of over 85 books. She lives in Oklahoma and when she isn’t on deadline (which is often), she can usually be found wrestling with her uncooperative garden, wrangling her dogs, watching an unhealthy amount of television, or completely losing track of time reading a great book. She’s a total romantic and longs for the happily ever after in every story, which you’ll find in all her books.. Visit her website at www.jaciburton.com for excerpts, book information and contests.

Reviews

[Southern Lady Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m really sad to say this because I was super excited about the premise - but the writing in this really needs editing. I couldn’t even get into the story because I found myself editing the scenes as I read - disrupting all fluidity and potential romantic build up. On to the next unfortunately.

[Laura A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natalie has never been happier since the divorce. Her sister needs her help with her new house. She meets Eugene, who checks all her boxes. The only issue is that he is younger than her. I liked this book.

[Kait · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel bad giving this 2⭐️ but I genuinely disliked both main characters and their problems..

The 5 year age gap was brought up A LOT by her that I’m not sure why she even continued seeing him. Their whole relationship was just bizarre.

*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review with my honest opinion.*

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was really just bad.

What it needed was some serious editing.

There were a few times when Burton switched up the sisters' names and I had to go back and figure out who she was talking about. That could (should) have been easily fixed.

She loves the term "running amok" so much she used it three times in as many pages and that's beyond too much. Lol

Check out this exchange:

"How's the new job going?"

"The job's amazing."

"I wasn't asking about the job. I was asking about you and Natalie."

?????

Aside from those jarring issues (and more), the plot was just rough.

There's this whole subplot about how much Natalie hates her mother. But we only see very pleasant exchanges. The frustrations are all in Natalie's head and never shown. Then midway through the book, the mom shows up to offer support and Natalie goes "Whoa! I love my mom!" If you're not going to use it, grow it, or expand on it, don't include mommy issues at all.

Burton also does a great job normalizing how deprived society has become and how broken families are now:

The one time we see a negative interaction with her mom is when her mom says it's a shame that Natalie's kids have to grow up with divorced parents and Natalie says so many kids's parents get divorced that it doesn't really matter. But statistically speaking kids are impacted by having divorced parents and just because it's increased in popularity does not mean that kids are not impacted.

"The kids were so focused on whatever show was on that they completely ignored Hazel." Put kids in front of a screen and they'll be zombies and you won't actually have to interact with them.

Basically this book was bad. Don't read it.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interior designer Natalie Parker has had enough of men and feeling like she's not heard or appreciated. This divorcee has two adorable children and a resurrected career. Though with children around which makes life hectic she's able to get some me time in without her husband's demands anymore.
Yeah, she's an interior designer and can't resist the chance to pop over to her sisters and look at her backyard of her new house and give a few tips on decorating and styling it. Not counting on seeing the most gorgeous man alive there, Eugene the brother of her sister's boyfriend.
Telling herself she's not getting involved in another relationship is like telling the grass not to grow. Shortly after meeting the book takes on an instalove theme between the characters Eugene and Natalie. Things get spicy pretty quickly, but the book does have some substance to it. It's a feel-good fun book, not one to be taken seriously but a great relaxation book when you don't want a heavy read. The relationship goes through its ups and downs, some growing pains and some things that need ironed out. I loved the addition of the two children and how much page time they had in book and how they were made to feel like important characters.
A book I enjoyed a lot.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[amarachireads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick, cute read that is women's fiction with a romance plot. The fmc is a divorced single mom that is just getting her life back and trying to grow into her new life after her ex took a lot of her dreams and aspirations away. The mmc is a a video game designer and he hires the fmc to design his house.

I liked the journey and character development that the fmc went through and how it impacted the romance. This is an instant love kinda book because they are attracted to each other immediately and the mmc gets close to her and her kids. This book is very sweet and I recommend it for anyone that likes short romance books. Thank you Berkley Romance for this arc for an honest review.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. #PRHInternationalPartner

What a cute story, I really enjoyed this book!

[Kristine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you for the free ARC PR international.

Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. Both the plot and the characters were too simplistic, with little happening beyond the typical romance plot: instant connection, dates, a small misunderstanding, and then love. The rest of the story focused on just their every day life with lacking excitement and boring dialogue.

I was also uncomfortable about a comment the main character made about how her body looked good because her boobs and butt weren’t droopy. It would be better to avoid saying things like that about women’s natural body changes.

In short: though the romance had some cute moments, the book didn’t live up to my expectations due to the uneventful plot and negative commentary on women’s bodies.

[Julie - One Book More · Rating 4 out of 5]

Designs on You is a fun and quick contemporary romance that I read in one sitting. I liked both main characters and their romance. Natalie is a single mom just getting into the groove of her new life without a demanding husband, and Eugene is the younger brother of Natalie's sister's partner. A few years older than Eugene and with two young children, Natalie's hesitant to get involved with the carefree game designer. Eugene, on the other hand, has no reservations, and I love that about him. lol He was interested in her from the start, even before he hired her to design his house.

Natalie and Eugene have a wonderful romance, and Eugene sounds like a total dreamboat boyfriend. Handsome and charming, he gets along really well with her kids and family. They complement each other and fit together so well. However, I totally understood Natalie's hesitancy. Newly divorced and finally forging her own path and following her dreams instead of her partner's, Natalie likes her independence and worries about committing to another man. Undaunted and patient, Eugene works hard to prove to Natalie that she should take a chance on them.

This is a pretty low-stakes story and was a nice palate cleanser for me after a much heavier read. The characters are endearing, the romance is lovely, and the themes of family, friendship, and taking a chance on love are woven well throughout the plot. Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

[Signey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wish I enjoyed this but there were too many problems. I have read other romance books from this author that I liked - and since it has been several years since I picked up something from the author, I was looking forward to this book. The synopsis was intriguing and an author should get better with time, right? But unfortunately not.

There were a bunch of little things that added up, but it was manly the writing that I did not like. I found there was no connection between Natalie and Eugene. And I do not believe that this book was edited, like at all. There were too many errors that it continually pulled me out of the story. Also, who says "Bruh"???

[Silvia]

Dnf 20%
Felt outdated and cringy. Needed an editor. Lots of unnecessary details in the text. Very clunky. The characters lacked depth. Boring and uncomfortable dialogue.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one needed time to grow on me. I liked Natalie and how she was determined to take back her life, but hated how hung up she was that Eugene was younger than her. At times it seemed like she would get past it, then the same issues would rear back up. But when Natalie allowed herself to just be present things were great between the two of them. It was interesting that from the start Eugene seemed more into Natalie than she in to him. Here he is thinking he found what he was looking for and for her it seemed like fun times.

It was nice that they were able to work things out by the end, as both of them deserved the happiness they found.

[Victoria Lanigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
.
Natalie and Eugene are both designers. She is an interior designer and he is a video game designer. She is a divorced mom trying to get her life on track and he is her sister’s, boyfriend’s younger brother. Natalie keeps coming up with reasons why Eugene isn’t any good for her but the only thing standing in her way is herself. This was a fun one with a good cast of characters.
.

[Jana]

Dnf @ 30%

I really tried to give this book a chance, but the writing style wasn't it at all. There was a lot of dialogue and all of it sounded so unnatural and forced. Chemistry between the main characters was mentioned so many times and i have to ask WAS CHEMISTRY IN THE ROOM WITH US. I think this was objectively poorly written and should have at least went through a couple more rounds of edits. Idk.

Thank you Penguin Random House International for providing me with an e-ARC!

[Manon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This didn't do it for me. I felt the story and characters were both ridiculous, and there was zero depth to it, which made me zero invested in it. The only reason I finished and rate this 2 stars is because I flew through the book thanks to the great writing style. But this is not a book I can recommend, unfortunately.

[Emma Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute and easy to follow read. It's the perfect book to curl up with after reading more heavier fantasy novels. The story was fun and easy to follow with a great cast of characters. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was sweet. Just exactly what you expect it to be: low-angst, cute kids, lots of meals, HEA. I received a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

[Clara Gilleland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light, breezy romance - very quick read! The writing style felt a bit too “stream of consciousness” for me, but I REALLY enjoyed their chemistry and was hooked on their relationship from the start.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eugene was perfect and so adorable. *chef's kiss*

[Amy Malek Concepcion · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I usually enjoy books from this author. This one was good but it had a third act breakup just for a little drama and for some reason I wasn’t feeling it.
Enjoyable overall.

[Kayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not my cup of tea. the writing was meh. the FMC was BEYOND irritating, and every conversation with her sister was the same. written as dual pov, but I dont think it really added to the story. wanted to snf but powered through

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ooof.
DNF.
Right from the first couple of pages, I could tell the writing style was not for me. The characters sounded like robots.

[Teneisha (Teesbookjourney) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Designs on You by Jaci Burton is a heartwarming story about second chances and breaking down self-imposed barriers. Natalie is a relatable, strong protagonist who juggles being a single mom and restarting her career with grace and determination. Her interactions with Eugene are full of humour and undeniable chemistry, making their slow-burn romance satisfying to watch unfold.
What I loved most was how the story balanced Natalie’s growth with the budding romance. Eugene’s persistence and charm complemented Natalie’s cautious nature, and it was refreshing to see a hero who respected her boundaries while subtly encouraging her to open up. Including her children and family, dynamics added depth and warmth to the story, making it more than just a romance.
While the pacing felt slightly uneven, mainly as Natalie worked through her hesitations, the payoff was worth it. The blend of humour, heart, and family made this a delightful read that left me rooting for Natalie to design a backyard and a future filled with love and happiness. Te delivers the emotional punch or engaging character arcs I sought.

[Emilie]

DNF. I couldn't get into Designs on You. I just didn't like the writing voice. It was hard for me to relate to the main characters with the third-person narrative. Along with that, I felt like there were a lot of additional writing details that didn't need to be added in. I wasn't the biggest fan of Natalie. I found her unnecessarily antagonistic towards Eugene. I sort of felt bad for him. Perhaps the story got better after I put it down. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

[Angela Simmons · Rating 3 out of 5]

A single mother, a slightly younger man, two young children, and an adorable rescue pup? Yes, please!

When newly divorced Natalie finds herself agreeing to decorate her sister’s boyfriend’s brother’s new place, she’s thrilled to have a new project. What she’s not so thrilled about is Eugene and the attraction they share. While she does not want to get into another relationship, there’s no harm in a little fun. There’s no denying that Eugene’s enamored by Natalie and more than ready for a good time but he has to convince her he’s in for more than just a little fun.

I always enjoy Jaci Burton’s books so I knew that I was in for a good time but I was a bit worried as Natalie wasn’t a favorite of mine in the previous book. Thankfully, she’s changed in this one.

Natalie’s been through some things and she’s trying to figured out who she is and what direction she’s taking with her life. She’s starting a new career, healing things with her sister and mother, and trying raise two young children on her own. She’s also determined not to enter into another relationship. Natalie has a lot of fight and determination in her and, while it’s not a bad thing, it seems to interfere with her happiness at times.

Eugene’s easy to like, which surprised me given his job as a video game designer. I’ve known a few game designers who have been very immature so I wasn’t expecting a lot of maturity from Eugene, so I was pleasantly surprised at how adult he was and how eager he was to enter into a relationship with a single parent. He’s just a fun, charming, family-first guy but I don’t feel that we really go to know Eugene down to his core.

There’s no denying there was chemistry from the start and they fit perfectly into each other lives but Natalie was cautious, which I understood. What I struggled with was how much Natalie was in her own head. Every time something great would happen between the two of them, Natalie would start an inner monologue of why they wouldn’t work. She also made too big a deal out of the fact he was younger than her but it was only 5 years, which I don’t feel is a major difference. I also found the conflict lacking, as it could have been settle with a conversation, which is something I’ve noticed in several of her romances.

I’m on the fence about rating this one. I think I’m going to settle on a 3.5. While I liked this one, I don’t feel that it was a romance but rather a women’s lit with a side of romance due to all the issues Natalie was going through. I also feel like too much of book took place in Natalie’s head.

Overall, I do recommend this one. I enjoyed it but it did have its issues.



*I want to say that while this is labeled as a ‘stand-alone’ this does follow Housebroke and they are connected. While you don’t have to read one to follow the other, I do recommend that you read them in order just to get a better sense of the characters and their behavior. I can’t seem to find a title for this series, and I’m not sure if there is one, but if you know what it’s called, please let me know.

[Pj Ausdenmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed Linc and Hazel's book, Housebroke and was curious about what the author had planned for Linc's brother, Eugene. At the time I had no idea that plan included Hazel's (then married) sister, Natalie. However, once Natalie and Eugene hit the page in Designs on You and their chemistry was obvious, I was totally on board. Eugene was a sweetheart and Natalie deserved a happy, fulfilling relationship on equal footing after exiting her toxic marriage.

One of the traits that I most enjoyed about Eugene was his respect and support of Natalie in all facets of her life. I loved how he lifted her up time after time, how he respected her design opinions and her parenting decisions, and especially how determined he was to do special things just for her. So different from her ex-husband. I also loved Eugene's relationship with her children. His scenes with them were among my favorites in the book.

Natalie had a more significant growth arc. Her ex did a real number on her self esteem and some of the emotional baggage that exited her marriage with her spilled over onto her relationship with Eugene. I cheered her on as she continued to pursue the career she was denied during her marriage. I appreciated how hard she worked to ensure her children were happy and had a healthy, loving relationship with their father, even if she wasn't his biggest fan. But she had a lot of growing to do when it came to a healthy work/family/relationship balance in her life. She continued to evolve and eventually reached a point where I felt like she and Eugene could finally meet on equal footing and create a happy, loving, and long-lasting family together.

One of the facets of this story that didn't work for me was the emphasis on the age difference between Natalie and Eugene, in particular from Natalie's perspective. It's used as justification for a number of her opinions/decisions throughout the book. So how big is this huge age gap that has an almost 34-year-old woman treating a successful, financially-secure, sexy, committed man like a teenager who doesn't know his own mind? Three years. Three. Years. I understand the need for conflict, and if Eugene had been, say, ten years younger it would have made sense but the almost non-stop emphasis on three years being insurmountable threw me out of the story more than it drew me in.

While there were a couple issues that detracted from my overall enjoyment of Designs on You, for the most part it was a satisfying read with multi-faceted characters I could root for, endearing kids, adorable dogs, relatable family dynamics, and a hard-won happy ending. It can stand on its own but for a better understanding of all characters and their backgrounds, I would recommend reading Housebroke first.

[Ann Lorz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to Natalie's story. We meet both her and Eugene in Housebroken as they are brother and sister of the main characters in that book. When you first meet Natalie, she is going through an unhappy marriage that has made her both stressed and a bit of a bitch. You understand with all she's going through, but she wasn't always likeable. You also meet Eugene and think of him as kind of a playboy.

What I love about meeting characters in prior books is that until you are reading their story you don't really know who they are. You learn how Natalie's crappy marriage really pulled her under and caused her to feel like she wasn't anything more than a mom and wife. Her husband didn't really respect her and treated her like she was less than. I liked seeing a happy Natalie. She is a hardworking mom who loves her kids and family.

You also learn much more about Eugene. Turns out he's a workaholic who often gets lost in his job. You also see how much responsibility he has at his job. He seemed kind of carefree a man that lived for the next party but really, he's not like that at all. He's a very hardworking guy who cares about those around him.

I really enjoyed the story and watching Natalie and Eugene fall in love. I liked how sweet he is to her kids and her. They work together even if it took them a while to figure that out. I did feel at times Natalie worried about too much. She seemed to be taking her feelings from her first marriage and mixing it with this relationship. They are two different men and her relationship with each of them will be different.

You don't have to read Housebroken first because neither book is considered part of a series, but I will say that you meet these characters in it and the characters from that book play a big part in this one. I'd read them in order just to enjoy them more.

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ARC received for an honest review

[Marian. · Rating 3 out of 5]

📌Thanks for the free book PRH International, this is my honest opinion/review of it.

Tengo sentimientos encontrados con este libro porque me gusto aunque no como pensé que me iba a gustar. Soy fan de una serie de esta autora y estaba emocionada de leer este libro para ver otro tipo de historias de ella y si, los personajes fueron buenos Natalie fue un personaje completamente relacionable, sus pensamientos también pero a la misma vez, sentí que le ponía mucho pero a todos y mucho más con lo que pensaría su ex marido y bueno, creo que eso hizo que no disfrutara al 100% este libro. Con respecto al romance, estuvo bien, me gusto que el MMC se enamorara de los niños primero y luego de ella porque se vio real, aunque el tema de “diferencia de edad” entre ellos dos fue muy repetitivo (más de parte de ella que de él). Aparte de todo eso, fue una lectura rápida, un poco dramática pero a la vez buena para pasar el día leyéndolo.

---

I have mixed feelings about this book because I liked it although not how I thought I was going to like it. I am a fan of a series by this author and I was excited to read this book to see another type of story from her and yes, the characters were good Natalie was a completely relatable character, her thoughts too but at the same time, I felt like she put a lot of but to everyone and a lot more with what her ex husband would think and well, I think that made me not 100% enjoy this book. Regarding the romance, it was okay, I liked the MMC falling in love with the kids first and then with her because it looked real, although the “age difference” issue between the two of them was very repetitive (more on her part than his). Other than all that, it was a quick read, a bit dramatic but still good to spend the day reading it.

[Sue Galuska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natalie Parker is 34 years old, divorced and has two kids, 7 year old Cammie and 4 year old Christopher. Instead of living a life revolving around her ex-husband, Sean, she is now living for herself. Natalie has a job doing interior design which is what she went to college for. Since she lives in the same house in Orlando, FL, she is still close to her sister Hazel and Hazel's boyfriend, Linc Kennedy.

At a dinner at Hazel's house she meets Linc's youngest brother, Eugene who is 31 years old and is instantly smitten. Their chemistry is off the charts! Eugene being new to town is interesting in pursuing something with Natalie. At first Natalie is not interested, but Eugene wears her down and gets her to agree to a date. Things go wonderfully and the next thing Natalie knows they are dating. Her kids, her sister, her mom all love him. Natalie is worried about their age difference and where they are in their lives. They both agree to keep things simple and fun but soon feelings start getting serious.

Just when it looks like Natalie and Eugene are headed for a happy ever after, things come crashing down. It will take a little inner conversations along with an amount of trust before these two can find their way back to each other but when they do, it's perfect.

I just loved this very steamy, fun slight age difference romance. Eugene was the perfect guy...thoughtful, fun and hot! Natalie was still trying to find her way and may not have been ready for Eugene but he was exactly what she needed. Overall this was a fun follow up to Housebroke which was Hazel and Linc's story.