A pragmatic attorney. An optimistic associate. An unexpected desire.
Carina
I live by a simple motto - nothing handed to you feels as good as something you’ve worked for. Like landing my dream job as an attorney, where I devote all my time to helping women navigate through their toughest seasons. Which leads to my second credence; men are never worth the trouble.
When I find myself on a case with the one man I’ve worked to keep at arm’s length, my rules become hard to remember. Will his persistence to be more than a good time be enough for me to rethink everything I know? Or will he remind me that I can only count on myself?
Levi
I believe life is best lived when you don’t take yourself too seriously, and reminding my hard-to-please coworker of my mantra is my favorite pastime. It may have taken me longer than most to find something worth working for, but I am finally on my way to a law degree while scaling the mile-high walls that keep me from the only woman I want.
But sometimes persistence isn’t enough. Faced with an impossible decision, I end up unraveling everything I did to prove she could count on me. Can I show her everything we had is not all lost? Or will her heart be impenetrable this time around?
Brittney is a Northern California native who spends her nights crafting love stories. When she’s not writing you can find her amongst friends deciding what game to play next, performing Taylor Swift songs to her unsuspecting husband, and binge watching period romance movies.
She built walls to keep everyone out. He never tried to tear them down—just stood there, waiting, until she let him in.
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Whatever You Need completely stole my heart… and then shattered it, glued it back together, and made me fall in love all over again. I went into this expecting a workplace enemies-to-lovers romance, but what I got was so much deeper. It’s emotional, slow-burning, and full of that quiet kind of love that sneaks up on you and refuses to let go.
Carina is a powerhouse attorney who’s got everything together on the outside—successful, confident, completely in control—but underneath it all, she’s lonely and guarded. Then there’s Levi Decker, her charming, infuriating coworker who knows exactly how to get under her skin. Their banter crackles. Their chemistry simmers. And the moment you realize Levi’s been gone for her all along? Instant heart melt.🤭😍😍
Somewhere in the middle of all that tension and snark, things shift. Suddenly the teasing feels different. The air changes. And I found myself holding my breath, waiting for them to finally get there. (or more like waiting for Carina to get there *sigh*)
Carina’s emotional journey broke me. She’s spent so long believing she doesn’t need anyone, and watching her slowly let herself be loved was just… wow. It’s vulnerable and messy and real. And Levi? He’s that rare kind of hero who’s patient without being passive, steady without being boring. The way he just simply shows up for her —especially when she doesn’t know how to ask— made me fall even harder for him. (he’s just the best 🤷🏼♀️)
And don’t even get me started on Levi’s family. The chaotic dinners, the teasing siblings, the unconditional love…it all felt so warm and familiar. (i grew up with 6 sisters so it hit close to home) Those scenes had me smiling so hard. 💞💞
Then there’s that one moment in the middle of the book. I won’t spoil it, but O. M. G. My jaw literally dropped. 😭😭😭 Everything shifted in an instant, and I just sat there, heart pounding, completely undone. It’s the kind of emotional punch that reminds you exactly why you love reading romance.
If I had one small gripe, it’s just a few typos and small errors sprinkled here and there, but honestly, the story is so strong it barely mattered. (and I know it’s just the arc so I’m hoping those mistakes get fixed before it’s published 🤞🏼)
Love, tension, healing… Brittney Lauren gives us Whatever You Need, and then some—a story that will make your heart race, your chest ache, and leave you completely obsessed with every moment. 💜💜💜
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I wanted to get lost in her the way people found religion to be saved from the darkness. I would worship her body like someone would at an altar, begging for salvation and I would be redeemed even if it was only in her eyes.
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"Knowing you is my favorite hobby."
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"I would endure a lifetime of heartache if it meant I got to love you for even a second, Carina. You are worth the heartbreak."
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things to know about the book ↓
💜 workplace romance 💜 enemies → lovers 💜 guarded heroine x softhearted hero 💜 secret pining 💜 chaotic family drama
A huge thank you to Love Notes PR and Brittney Lauren for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
Carina a workaholic, and a tough attorney.Levi the more lose and fun version. Working together was hard, as he had crush on Carina,one night in a bar and the meeting outside the work start to lead to something else. Carina does not look for love,and Levi just wants to love her.
Will they get HEA?
It was a good first half of the book,then it got downhill for me.I don't want to spoil the story,but two years? What were they thinking?I guess it was not for me,half rated as I liked the first half.
Thank you author for arc copy,my review is honest and my own.
I’m giving this book a 2/5, and it’s because the story has potential. The world of the story was fleshed out well, the side characters were interesting, and the start of the book was engaging.
Unfortunately, the writing needs more work. I knew reading an ARC there would be some typos and small errors that would be caught prior to the book’s publication, but this ARC was riddled with typos, grammatical errors, mixed verb tenses, and the writing was overly repetitive at times. We know Carina has a hard time letting people in, she does not need to remind the reader every chapter.
Brittney Lauren does have talent, and I am interested in reading her previous and future books. I think her story would be much stronger if she reworked the text a few more times before publication.
Dedication page: The women who want to be loved without having to change.
Antecdotal notes as I was reading -
Slow burn, until it wasn't, then back to Levi having patience, but being so persistent
Sometimes, we can be our own worst enemies, we can doubt, overthink, and run scared.
How sad to not hear the words "thank you" or "I love you" from your parents. Actions are great, but those few words mean so much.
Levi, WTF?? You are a no-show and quit?? Ghosted for 2 years and now this??
Carina, where is your tattoo to show you missed and longed for Levi?? While he's exploring, he should be finding something, anything as physical proof.
And Levi, this is why you are perfect..."I wasn't going anywhere and I would take whatever parts of her she was willing to share with me and love her for who she was." There is nothing wrong with a partner supporting a fiercely independent female.
Sorry Carina, but fiercely independent women can have their HEA if they are willing to take a leap and believe.
2⭐️ "I would endure a lifetime of heartache if it meant I got to love you for even a second, Carina. You are worth the heartbreak."
Arc Review This was a cute co-worker romance where he fell first and the hardest! Overall, I did like the story. It has a good foundation and a clear plot. Levi is literally Mr. Perfect, and Carina is a no-nonsense, smart, independent woman, who is competent, which I do love and appreciate in a FMC. I loved the court case subplot with Kelly and her loser ex-husband! I like it when books show how our FMC is smart rather than just telling us. And every time Carina was at work, her smarts and dedication were on full display when she was helping her client.
Levi Decker is hot. Like hot hot hot. Don't even get me started on the long hair and tattoos!😝 And he is everything that most people would want in a man. I love how attentive, patient, thoughtful, and calming his character is. Even with his sisters, he is such a well-rounded guy. And ironically enough, he seems almost too perfect.😭 I absolutely went crazy during their first intimate time together and said "All you have to do is ask, I live to please." SWOOOOONINGGGGG! The more the story went on, the more I realized Levi literally has no flaws as a character, and I wish he did. Not in a bad, toxic way or anything, but him have only positive emotions for 90% of the book made him feel a little underdeveloped. He rarely has a bad day or gets upset at Carina (and there were a few moments he could've), and overall, there's no conflict between them growing their relationship, until the climax. And in my opinion, he wasn't in the wrong for leaving during his family emergency, buuuut he could've found a way to communicate with Carina. Having a dead phone/being blocked is not the end of the world, sir.💀
I really liked the pacing in the beginning, but as the story went on, the dynamic of Carina and Levi felt like he was interested in every fathom of her being, and Carina began to feel like she only liked him for his body and his long hair. which isn't 100% true because as they do become more familiar, she says things that are akin to falling for someone/having affection for someone, and she just blows it off and is in denial for a large majority of the book. I absolutely loved the intimate scenes of her letting him in and sharing things about herself and her life as a way to show she was becoming more emotionally connected with him. I wish we had gotten a little more of it, especially since there are a lot of times when it sets up that they're spending time together, but it does more telling instead of showing. Like their first time getting dinner, we didn't see them chat. I also would've loved to see more of how the relationship between Carina and her mother affected how she navigates relationships. Same thing with her past relationship, I wish we saw more of how that made her swear off dating on a deeper level.
As much as I love his obsessive and unweavering devotion to her, Levi's "I would change everything about myself if it meant I got to be something to her." was troubling to hear. And it made me wonder where does his sense of self stem from? And Carina's "I am who I am and I refuse to change for anybody." was also troubling to hear. not because I think you should change yourself completely for your partner, but because she definitely has some traits and behaviors she needs to work on to be in a healthy relationship. Like emotional regulation. I think those two statements from our MCs set the tone for the story and are why it feels like their relationship is unequally yoked.
Additionally, I loved all of the side characters! Which is not that common for me! The story between Lennon and her passed husband, and seeing her fall in love again, was so touching. And it was sweet how both her and Abby were gentle safe spaces for Carina when she was navigating her new feelings for Levi. Same thing with Levi's 52730237 sisters, jk just 5 lol. But it makes sense that he is such a family man when he comes from such a loving household. And the Epilogue in Italy! *chef's kiss*
Whatever You Need is a workplace romance novel that is a part of the Anything & Everything series by Brittney Lauren. I obtained an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own.
To keep this short, Whatever You Need is a modern romance that involves a lawyer and associate. There was a lot of push and pull between the two main characters. As a career driven woman, Carina doesn't believe in love or fairytales. Levi is an associate working at the same law firm as Carina and they are partnered on a case together. While working together, a relationship between them forms.
While I did like the push and pull between Levi and Carina, I feel that Carina needed a bit more character depth. I wanted to learn more about why she was the way she was. While it was briefly touched on, I felt that what's in the book could have been expanded upon. Levi is described as attractive with long dark hair and tattoos and devoted to his sisters and their families. The way he talks about Carina and to Carina is swoon-worthy, in my opinion.
What added substance to the book were Levi's sisters and Carina's friends. It helped me understand what both characters were like outside of the law firm and it added some humor. There are some serious scenes and a time jump, so readers should be prepared for that. There were also some graphic intimate scenes throughout the book, however, I would rate the scenes as a 2.5/5.
Overall, for not reading any of the other books in the series, the book was easy to follow and can be read as a standalone.
One of my favorite quotes from the book was:
"After seeing so many fairytales with the headstrong, over-worked woman giving up parts of herself in order to fall in love, I convinced myself I would be better off alone. I convinced myself that love wasn’t worth it, but even I could admit when I was wrong. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would be able to find someone who not only saw me for who I was but lifted me up higher to continue to achieve what I’d set out to do."
Thank you Brittney Lauren for an advanced e-copy of this book!
This is a legal workplace romance, not really a boss x employee situation, more of a colleague situation ship! Also takes place in a divorce law firm, so there are some case dealings with difficult divorce.
I loved the first half of the book, but I gotta say, I was not a fan of the last half ish 😅 I guess I wouldn’t call it a 3rd act breakup per say, but there is a separation of the characters and I wish we had either Levi’s POV during it ooorrrrr it was just different 😂 cuz the way it is now…I just didn’t vibe 🤷🏽♀️ And the relationship after was also a strange, I feel like Carina focused a lot on her and Levi and pushed her other relationships to the wayside a lot. I get that she was emotionally coping in that way (being closed off and not burdening others) but I think I struggled with this aspect of her character.
Levi is so enamored with Carina, and I love an obsessed MMC 😍 but it also felt kinda off 🤔 idk how to explain it, but I wish she’d chased him too? Like what was his fav coffee or food? Idk 🤷🏽♀️ I think I just loved my boy Levi too much and I’m like, she didn’t deserve his love and affection 😂
The spice! I think I expected more since this did start as a physical relationship between the characters. There is a short early on and all scenes are pretty scattered, not very long for most scenes. I think between 2-3 scenes total.
⚖️ Co-workers with benefits turned lovers 💜 Secret relationship ⚖️ Opposite attracts 💜 Small town law office ⚖️ ‘We’re a secret’ FMC x ‘Let me love you’ MMC 💜 Open Door ⚖️ Second Chances
“I needed her to see me and everything I was willing to do to have her”.
Do you get all mushy over a guy falling first and hard, a man that wants to spoil an “miss independent”girl, a forbidden office romance, and a sceond chance at something that could be great? This is a book for you! This is not my typical read but I loved that the book took place in a law office with the FMC being a lawyer. I loved how the story developed and was obsessed with finding out how it would end and loved the way the main characters compromised and grew to be happy in the end.
Carina (FMC) is a lawyer who has devoted her whole life to her law career and her families italian restaurant - with no time for anything or anyone else. Levi (Decker) (MMC) is a paralegal in the same office as Carina and has had eyes for her from day one. The book explores the ups and downs of life, work and love and shows that if something is worth having that is will take work and commitment to be successful. The two characters were opposites and with different life challenges - and sometimes you need someone to lean on and be your rock in a hard time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ARC Review: Whatever You Need by Brittney Lauren
Okay this one was such a fun workplace romance read! It’s an opposites attract story. Carinas strong, loves her career and doesn’t believe in fairytales. Levis the tattooed softie who’s ready to wait for her. 🥹💜
I really liked the push and pull between them and Levi…he is SWOON WORTHY! The way he talks to and about her?? Oh em gee. I just wish we got more into why Carina is the way she is. There were hints but wanted a little more info on why 🤷🏼♀️
The smalltown law office setting , Levis sisters and Carinas friends were adorable. I love me some small town love stories! It wasn’t all heavy though, theres some humor, some sweetness, and a little bit of spice 🌶️🌶️
✨ Tropes: • Co-workers with benefits → lovers • Secret relationship • Opposites attract • Small town romance • Second chance
I really enjoyed it! Definitely can be a standalone book even if you haven’t read the other books in the series. Thank you Brittney Lauren for the eARC 🫶
I actually really enjoyed the first half of this book a lot. I liked that Carina was like “I am who I am and not changing for some man.” I think a lot of women can relate especially women in demanding careers who want that to be their focus and don’t want the kids or wedding. I also liked the secret pinning by Levi. I loved the club scene 🥵 and honestly the twist that happens really got me. Like I had my jaw slacked, and the reasons behind it totally understandable.. the reason for everything else, not understandable. I think I couldn’t get past that once we were explained everything.
There are some grammatical errors that I hope will be fixed by the publisher.
✨ secret relationship ✨ opposites attract ✨ co workers with benefits ✨ second chance ✨ small town law office ✨ some spice scenes
I was provided an ARC copy by the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review. Carina is an independent, successful attorney who never asks for help from anyone. She’s serious, hard working, and doesn’t have time for anything extra between her clients and helping at her parents restaurant. Levi Decker is her complete opposite— fun loving, flirtatious, and attentive to those around him. Carina does her best to stay away from Decker, however, a friends with benefits situation pushes them together and Carina begins to realize her feelings for Decker run deeper than she thought. However, life tries to tear them apart, leaving the couple picking up the pieces of their relationship. This was a great workplace/friends with benefits romance. It had themes of unrequited love, somewhat enemies to lovers, and opposites attract. It was definitely heavy on the angst and twists, but had sweet, romantic moments built in. Overall, I really enjoyed reading it!
ARC review- I loved the storyline between Carina and Levi! It was a fun and cute read. I love how the characters from the other two books were sprinkled into this book. I think the author did a great job of showing the complexities of being a woman in a “man’s field” especially in the scene at the court house! Having grown up in the same area of where the story was written, it was really fun figuring out “what” certain locations were and reminisce.
Only 3 stars since there was quite a bit of spelling errors, this made it difficult to stay focused and I found myself rereading often. ARC readers were given their copies on 9/30 and the book was published on 10/16. This put ALOT of pressure onto the readers and wasn’t practical to finish within that timeframe for myself personally. Maybe next release, a bit more time or a heads up you were chosen as an ARC reader so you could plan ahead to read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
ARC Review - I throughly enjoyed this book! It was a cute romance and I love a second chance/enmities to lovers romance . I did have some issues with the turmoil that Carina had with herself. At times it felt a little redundant. Levi was an always at the right place at the right time. What happened to Carina directly affected Levi and sometimes that hero scene was predictable. Otherwise I truly loved how Carina had to face her past trauma in order for her to grow. Her growth was beautiful and she was a great FMC for this book. I don’t want to ruin much for the book, but I do appreciate the ending where they ended up staying true to themselves. I know you will enjoy this read! Cuddle up with your favorite blanket, drink, and get comfy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Such a fun story that includes second chances, co-workers with benefits, and a secret relationship. Carina wants to be successful in her job, but what she really wants is to be seen for who she really is. Unbeknownst to Carina, Levi is the guy for her. Levi is able to see through and eventually thaw the icy exterior that Carina shields herself. After Levi disappears for 2 years, he is back and ready to start his life with Carina again, however, Carina has other plans. The story shows that if the love is real that it can get through some very difficult situations. I recommend this book who LOVES second chances as this is a huge plot of Whatever You Need.
Arc Review- I loved the relationship development and the moments where Carina or Levi opened up and shared pieces of themselves with each other. I loved Carina’s independence but would have loved to see more of her personal growth as a partner within the story. Levi Decker is the blueprint of a man down bad and I love his devotion to being with her while making sure she’s comfortable. He doesn’t force her into anything but supports and loves her at every turn. I didn’t love the two major conflicts of Levi disappearing and getting shot, but I think they served their purpose in furthering the plot. Overall it was a sweet read and I enjoyed the characters learning how to love each other.
3.5 stars After reading the other two books in this series I was highly anticipating this book. I was excited for Carina's shot at love. While I was thoroughly entertained by the narrative a few parts fell flat for me. The third act breakup fell flat for me as it did not seem deep enough reason to be separated for so long. As much love was blossoming, the lack of communication was excessive. I was also a little disappointed in the level of spice, I was expecting more.
Overall, I love me some Brittney Lauren so I'll keep reading what she writes. This book just didn't hit as hard as books 1 and 2 for me.
Dual POV Workplace romance Slow Burn Open door spice
Thank you to Brittney Lauren for the ARC!
I am a first time reader to this author.
If you like a forced proximity workplace romance then you should give this book a try! I enjoyed the banter between these two characters and it had me wanting more. Levi is so sweet and funny. This story is a case of he fell first, she resisted, then she fell hard!.
There were two shocking plot twists in this book which kept me reading to see how it resolved.
The only reason I have this book 4 stars is because I felt like the slow burn was too slow.
Whatever You Need is the third installment of the Fairvale interconnected standalone series. This installment follows Carina and Levi. Carina is a no nonsense attorney at the firm her and Levi work at. Levi is the guy who doesn't take anything too seriously. They fight their attraction to each other before finally giving in. Their relationship is full of ups and downs, tension (hot 🥵) and meddling family.
I love Brittney Lauren's writing and will read anything she writes. I love that her characters always go through some growth while also writing amazing romances.
ARC review After reading Whatever You Need, I enjoyed the storyline of workplace romance and the different personality that Carina has from the other two female characters. I enjoyed reading the first two books from this series, and I was more into their storyline. While reading the book, I did get a bit frustrated with her character because it felt like a repeating thing with her and how she dealt with having her walls up. Towards the end of the book, I was happy seeing the ending with the other characters and seeing how they were included as well.
I had been looking forward to Levi and Carina’s book since book 1.
I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed Levi and Carina in this book and their back and forth between their banter and their romance.
I wanted to know more about Carina’s family and why she felt so lost and unloved but yet still divorced to her parents. I also found Levi’s family tree confusing.
I like how they found their own love story not defined by societies idea of labels.
I also really enjoyed the side story about the divorce case.
I really enjoyed this book. Especially the second half. Carina is the always in control attorney and Levi is the coworker that doesn’t take anything too serious. It turns into a basic workplace enemies to secret workplace relationship and well, Carina doesn’t do relationships. When she finally lets her guard down everything changes and she’s left cleaning up the pieces. This book had such good banter and gives all the feels. I’m happy I was able to read it!
I really loved the book and the plot as well as the characters. I related so much with Levi's character it made me connect with him in a way I haven't with any male character before. I also related to some parts of Carina and it was majestic. Her character was damn fine I get Levi 100%. The only thing that made me kind of like sigh was that I didn't get enough of Levi's point of view. It was mostly Carina but the book was epic none the less.
I have to start by being honest and admitting I love a workplace romance. So for me this book was perfection! Levi was meant for Carina and was so patient with her heart. I’m so happy I got to experience their love story, and even more fun that we got to see Lennon and Theo get married!! A beautiful end to the Fairvale series if I do say so myself.
Thank you to the publisher and Brittney Lauren for the arc read!💕 was a great contemporary workplace romance. Levi is exactly what men should be trying to be! However, I felt next to nothing for Carina. I understand she is supposed to have walls up, but it got frustrating after a while. I would still recommend for anyone who likes these microtropes though!
I enjoyed reading this book. Carina is a divorce attorney who doesn't do relationships. Levi is a paralegal/attorney who has been in love with Carina since the uni, but he doesn't take anything too seriously. When Carina finally lets her walls down, everything shifts, and she's left to pick up the pieces. Honestly, it was a roller coaster ride of emotions, from sharing bits of pieces from the past to giving a second chance. But I was happy to have the chance to read it.
3⭐️ — Workplace slow burn! Carina was such a refreshing FMC—confident, stubborn, and not willing to change herself for anyone. Levi falling first (and hard) was the best part. The reasons behind the 3rd act breakup kind of gave me the ick which made it fall just short of a re-read for me. Still, a solid pick if you like your workplace romances with a side of “he fell first” energy.
life has been lifeing but this book released yesterday and had a great opportunity to help with the author a few months ago and beta read it! i haven’t read the other books but this book made me love office romances again! if you love these tropes i really recommend you read it!
- co workers with benefits turned lovers - small town law office - open door - secret relationship
I received this book as an arc. This is a slow burn. Really wanted it to go faster but I get why it didn’t and omg. I really wanted to hate Levi. Especially after leaving Carina. But I ended up loving him. He loved Carina who was a workaholic. This was a great work romance type book and didn’t realize that was a trope but I’m here for it.