The Final Move

Love, New York #2

by Lauren Penny

After becoming accidental roommates, a flailing lawyer and a betrayed billionaire must navigate lies, loyalty, and their long-denied attraction when an old rival complicates their chance at love.

She’s out of options. He’s out of excuses.

When Celine Beaty quits her corporate law job in a quarterish-life-crisis, she finds herself living with her brother’s best friend, tech billionaire Carter Wolf, in his penthouse apartment—who just so happens to also be her lifelong nemesis. Little does she know that Carter Wolf has harbored a crush on her since childhood, and his cold shoulder is just a cover for his broken heart.

While Celine lies to her family about her life and career, Carter is blindsided by a corporate coup that could end with him losing his company. As their professional lives grow more complicated, their personal lives follow suit.

Because the longer the two live together, the more Celine realizes she may have misread Carter . . . and that living in the wolf's den might not be so bad after all. But as their carefully laid plans begin to crash down around them, they’ll have to lean on each other to have a shot at saving their careers—and their budding romance.

Genres: Romance

368 pages, Paperback

Expected publication April 13, 2027

About the author

Lauren Penny graduated from NYU with degrees in English, journalism, and dramatic literature. After working in magazine publishing, she earned her MBA and is now on the corporate side of the media business. When she’s not working or thinking up the next toe-curling comment for a bad boy team captain to whisper, she’s volunteering at adoption events for a local dog rescue, learning new languages, or making pasta. She lives in New York City (her true love) with her husband and latest foster pup.

Reviews

[Becca T · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had some of my favorite tropes (enemies to lovers and brother’s best friend) and on top of that, the yearning was next level! I love it when a main male character has been lost for his girl for a long time!

Celine and Carter have known each other for a very long time, and all of a sudden become roommates. This becomes one of the worst things to happen because Celine is convinced Carter can’t stand her, but in reality, Carter can’t trust himself around her. The story follows their shift from enemies (were they really?) to lovers filled with the funny banter and flirting every romance book needs!

I really enjoyed being able to jump back into the same world as Lauren Penny’s previous book, The End Goal. One thing I really love about Lauren Penny’s books is that her main female characters are strong and capable women. Celine is a fantastic lawyer and we get to see that in the book. Also, I loved watching as Carter pined for Celine! They finally figured it out and are a perfect match. This book was funny, engaging, steamy, and pretty cute. I’d recommend this book if you are looking for a fun and steamy romance!


Thank you to Lauren Penny, Dell, and NetGalley for an eARC of The Final Move in exchange for my honest review!

[Allie Duax · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley.

EEEEEEEEEK this book was so cute!!!!! I actually requested and was approved for this second book first, rather than book one. However, the OCD in me definitely wanted to read them in order and I’m so glad I went back and did!!!

Book two did NOT disappoint - I didn’t want it to end. It had all the best tropes… brother’s best friend, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, slight grumpy x sunshine, and so on. I really enjoyed reading Celine’s feisty, quick-witted personality up against Carter’s broady, stoic self and seeing their relationship unfold starting as literal childhood enemies. I cannot WAIT to recommend this series to my friends and continue reading the rest of Mob C’s books!!

Thank you NetGalley and Lauren Penny!

[anj (acozyday) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love any of the following tropes: brothers (billionaire) best friend, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, you'll love this book.
Celine is having a quarter life crisis questioning her career choices, Carter is a billionaire fighting to keep control of his company and naturally - Celine needs a place to live and Carter happens to be a billionaire with only one penthouse so they must share it together 🤣
It's steamy, sweet, and entertaining. I did have to laugh when he says she "bewitches him" bc it is a very contemporary novel but then at times slide into some Jane Austen dialect but who am I to complain bc I love Jane Austin.
Entertaining and enjoyable if you want a cozy read (that is def on the BRAD side of things!)

[Lindsey Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

This read put me into a position I’ve never been in before. I requested the second book in a series without reading the first, but I missed out on an ARC of the first. Strange, I know! I got enough of a glimpse of Bree and Jake’s story not to be lost. The second book in the Love, New York series focuses on Celine, a lost lawyer, and Carter, a man fighting a corporate coup.

Celine’s brother, James, has been Carter’s best friend since childhood. While Celine thought Carter always hated her, she slowly found that opinion was very far from the truth. Celine quits her lucrative job at a top New York law firm when she realizes her ethics don’t align with the firm. She ends up moving into the apartment her brother lived in, but it is owned by Carter. It’s only until she can regroup. Celine and her cat, Cleocatra, spend their days in the cavernous penthouse perfecting resumes, performing self-care, and mixing odd ingredients into delicacies. When Carter comes home in the middle of the night, he is frightened to see a woman wearing a green face mask, her hair balled up in a bun.

From there, it is on! Celine wants to find a job as soon as possible, and Carter wants to do everything in his power to calm his libido anytime she is in his presence. Their banter is legendary. Slowly, Penny paints a picture of over a decade of longing on Carter’s side while Celine believed he detested her for just as long. While their professional lives are messy, they begin to develop somewhat of a friendship as they live as roommates.

My heart hurt for Carter when his relationship with his father was revealed. Celine’s relationship with her mother was another knife to the chest. These two were both dealing with difficult situations with a parent while their professional lives imploded. They slowly began to trust each other, and that trust finally let them cross the line.

I absolutely adored the Mob C, aka Movie of the Book Club. Celine, Bree, Alana, and Rory decided that talking about a book after they all read it wasn’t what they wanted out of a book club. Instead, they would get together and watch the movie version of the book. Sounds like a wonderful club to be in. Friends, popcorn, wine, and a good book boyfriend on screen is what I consider a good time. Plus, these four have such beautiful friendships; it makes me long for my old friends and some of the girls’ nights we “lit the world on fire”.

The Last Move was a magnificent combination of romance, comedy, friendship, and family drama. The chance to read as Carter and Celine’s walls came down made the journey worth every page. I may have started with book two, but The Last Move definitely left me wanting to go back and experience where this series began.

I received The Final Move for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Katy · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Thank you to Lauren Penny and Ballantine/Dell for a copy of this ARC via NetGalley!

This is such an incredible 2nd novel in the Love, New York series. The Final Move is a best friend's brother, "enemies" to lovers, forced proximity, he falls first story. This is an interconnected standalone, but I highly suggest reading the 1st book in the series, The End Goal, as it was also fantastic.

With this being my second read from Lauren, one thing you can expect from her is a solid, strong female lead. Our FMC, Celine, is hilarious, independent, badass lawyer and a little unhinged but in a "I need her as my best friend immediately" kind of way. She is learning to stand up for herself and go after what she truly wants. Her girl gang, Mob C, is what every woman strives to have in a friend group. Their friendships are a big reason this story was top notch to me.

Our MMC, Carter, is broody genius billionaire and comes off as closed off and cold but this man is SICK over Celine. I mean absolutely, pathetically, down bad for the last 15 years. She is his best friend's sister so he has done everything in his power to stay away and come off as uninterested. He has never had a girlfriend and has never been in love because it was always Celine or no one. Once that door opens with her, he is all in and there is no going back.

I love Celine and Carter's relationship. They are both what each other needs. Carter is a solid presence in Celine's corner and makes her feel brave and gives her the courage to stand up to her family. Celine makes Carter softer and makes him come off more "human" to other people. She also makes him brave, and gives him strength. Their banter and chemistry is top tier. I loved how Celine would do or say something unhinged and Carter would have to look up to the ceiling and ask the universe why. LOL So hilarious.

I just love this series so much so far and I cannot wait to see what Mob C member is next.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW 📚

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell / Random House for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This book completely blew past my expectations. Going in, after reading the blurb, I thought I knew exactly what I was getting: billionaire romance, best friend’s sister, dislike-to-lovers. You know the drill.

What I wasn’t expecting was for the writing to make this my favorite romance read of October 2026.

My favorite snack is sweet and spicy pickles, and somehow that is the perfect way to describe this book. 😂 It had plenty of sweetness, just the right amount of spice, and that satisfying snap from the characters’ personalities and banter.

Celine is Carter Wolf’s best friend’s sister, and Carter has been crushing on her forever. Unfortunately, his brilliant strategy for hiding that crush has been to basically make himself her nemesis.

Celine has just quit her corporate lawyer job and is trying to figure out what comes next. She wants a job she can actually believe in, she’s hiding the truth from her family, and Carter has plenty of his own workplace drama happening at the same time.

Then Celine ends up sharing his apartment. And slowly, every little thing Carter does starts unraveling the picture she has always had of him.

Now, Carter has been in love with Celine FOREVER, so every day he spends living with her is basically torture of the best kind. His inner thoughts? A+ grade pining. This man was down bad, and I loved every second of it.

What really made this book work for me was the way these two actually got to know each other. Their relationship evolution felt natural instead of rushed, and the individual drama they were each dealing with added real depth beyond the romance.

And the crème de la crème? Celine’s girl mob.

The banter whenever those women got together was hilarious. I would happily read an entire book of them just sitting around talking.

Lauren Penny just became an auto-buy author for me. ❤️

[Kasey Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will start with the obvious, I am upset that the main character has the same name as my brother that’s unacceptable. Moving on, this book is a delightful follow up to the first, the women of this friend group are all funny and have a backbone without falling victim to having the same personality. I really appreciate how fully formed the characters are without being caricatures of common personality tropes. Carter (blegh change the name I beg) was irritable sure but did have a personality beyond madly in love, building out the friendship with James was helpful in establishing that. He does need some serious therapy as his control issues are the worst I have ever seen and I’m saying that. Hello pot, I’m kettle. A Prozac prescription would change this man’s life. Also this is separate but I need it to be known that as I was reading this all I could think was this guy saw The Odyssey in 70mm imax, which is a lot more thought than I usually give to the men of romance books as typically they just stand there and grunt. I will say there is a serious Dobler-Dahmer situation happening here, if a not hot billionaire did the things this man did in this book they would in fact be served a restraining order. However, he is a hot billionaire so hello Jay Gatsby, I’m taking it easy on you because I’m a sucker for the he’s been in love with her his whole life trope for some unknown reason. Additionally, very much enjoy the third act whoa is this a thriller instead of a third act breakup some people may think it’s a bit much but I’m just having fun. Very ready for Rory’s book, Lauren I can get you my email if you finish it early, also I like James can he get a book, he passes my biggest test for men in romance books already in that he has at least one singular friend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for this advanced copy!

[Second Chapter Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently one of my weaknesses is a man who has been hopelessly in love with the same woman forever, because Carter had me overlooking some behavior that would have had me telling Celine to change her locks in any other book. 😂

The Final Move was a fun contemporary romance that gave me several of my favorite things: forced proximity, childhood history, enemies-to-lovers energy, a billionaire love interest, and plenty of “these two just need to admit what is happening here” frustration.

What really worked for me was that Celine and Carter felt like actual people outside of their relationship. Both of their careers are basically imploding while they're trying to figure each other out, so there was enough happening beyond the romance to keep me invested. I also really enjoyed the history between them because it made the tension and eventual shift in their relationship feel earned rather than instant.

Now, Carter. Sir.

That man has some serious control issues. There were definitely moments when I thought, if you weren't the hot billionaire love interest, we'd be having an entirely different conversation right now. But then we get the man-who-has-loved-her-forever trope, and apparently I lose all ability to remain objective.

I also appreciated that the third act didn't fall into the predictable breakup-for-the-sake-of-having-a-third-act-breakup trap. Instead, things take a much more dramatic turn, and I was absolutely here for it.

This was funny, dramatic, romantic, and just an easy book to sink into. It didn't quite hit five-star territory for me, but I had a really good time with it and would absolutely continue the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Due out April 13, 2027, The Final Move by Lauren Penny has a lot going on as a romance: forced proximity, a best friend’s forbidden little sister, a billionaire MMC, and an enemies-to-lovers plotline. Not only does he fall first, but he fell over a decade before she even had a clue.

It’s also a story about a 30-year-old woman who finally finds the courage to be herself rather than who her family wants her to be.

After quitting the job that made her miserable at a big New York law firm, Celine is temporarily living in her brother’s best friend’s empty luxury penthouse while she hides from her judgmental family and looks for a job that will let her afford a place of her own. But when the penthouse’s owner, Carter, makes a surprise visit home, Celine discovers that her brother had never asked permission for her to be there.

Successful technology entrepreneur Carter has spent the past decade avoiding his best friend’s little sister like the plague—ever since his feelings for her became impossible to ignore or act on because of bro code. Avoidance and rudeness have been his go-to tactics to keep her at bay. Celine detests him as a result: he’s hurt her too many times to forgive. But when they find themselves living in close proximity, Celine gradually uncovers the warm, generous man beneath the cold façade.

The Final Move is a solid forced-proximity romance, though not one of the greats. Perhaps there’s too much going on here, as the ending feels rushed and the character arcs are a bit thin. We needed more depth to both Celine and Carter. But Celine’s Mob C friend squad is a delight. If billionaire, enemies-to-lovers, he-falls-first romances are your jam, by all means give The Final Move a read. I'd give this 3.5 stars.

[Mallory Dean · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Ballantine, Penguin Random House, and Netgalley for the ARC!

Asking for a friend but is it possible to like a romance book for the FMC and not really care about the MMC? Like don't get me wrong dude was hot, rich, and loved her for so freaking long, but SHE is iconic. She is absolutely going on my list of top women I have read about and I am so scared to see what mischief she would come up to if she were to ever meet Willa Grant and the rest of the iconic women I aspire to be. Her narration, the way she looks at the world, her internal thoughts, her actions, everything about her. I have never giggled so many times or had to sit up in my bed when I was reading some of the quotes that I DESPERATELY want to share with you but also don't because I need you to experience these with me. But like also can I just be her friend? I genuinely could not put this book down because I could not wait to see what she would get up to next, and I was NOT disappointed.

If for some reason you are out there judging my review and saying "how could you love her so much but only give the book 4.5 stars?" First off, don't judge my brain because if I have learned anything from Celine MF Beaty, its that I'm perfectly iconic in the way it makes no sense. But also, Carter was a D1 YEARNER and I totally loved that but also there were times when we were right up on the edge of red flag territory, and my rose colored glasses (or should I say green tinted) only applied to Celine. But also I kind of get why he is so obsessed with her, sooooo maybe I should rethink the review?

Anyways if you need me I will be googling "how to become a fictional character" and praying that my google search isn't flagged

[Rebecca W · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Final Move by Lauren Penny is a contemporary romance featuring brother’s best friend, forced proximity and he fell first tropes – long story short, I’m here for it!

I really liked this title from new to me author Lauren Penny and I will most definitely be checking out her other books. This is also the second in a series but I had not read the first in the series and that did not make any difference in my understanding of characters or relationships or enjoyment of The Final Move.

Brother’s best friend has long been one of my favorite tropes and adding in that Carter fell for Celine a long time ago but was afraid to break bro code makes this story even better. Y'all know I love a man who loves in secret for years.

I really liked how we saw Celine’s opinion of Carter change as she gets to know him better and she realizes he’s not this cold dude who’s never even noticed her – quite the opposite in fact as he’s secretly been down bad for her the whole time. They have engaging dialogue and the story feels realistic (even with the billionaire storyline and the lying to her family parts).

I also loved how we see Celine make her own life choices as far as her career and life trajectory goes. She’s learning who she is and what she wants and she goes for it. I really liked that about her.

Do yourself a favor and grab The Final Move when it releases April 13th!

Thanks as always to NetGalley and Ballantine/Dell for the advanced copy!

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Dell Publishing for my ARC

This is the second book in Lauren Penny’s series and it was a fantastic read. Celine is a little down on her luck. She recently quit her job at a prestigious law firm because she is someone who cares about law and fairness. She is living in her brother’s best friend penthouse. Carter Wolfe is never around, always traveling and on the move. He is the CEO of a tech company. Celine has always disliked Carter. Her brother James and Carter have been friends since high school. Celine did harbor a crush on Carter but that soon faded after an incident when they were teens. Now Carter has returned because of a lawsuit with his company. And Celine and Carter are now in forced proximity. Each are harboring some secrets. Celine’s family except for her brother do not know she has quit her job as a prestigious lawyer and found employment as a legal aide. Carter has been distancing himself from his father because of his Alzheimer’s. The push and pull between them is always teetering on an almost kiss or confession of true feelings. Once they do they give in, it is so good. The spice is just right and the tenderness that Carter shows Celine demonstrates all the green flags. They each bring out more vulnerability with each other. This book does the tripe of brother’s best friend right. I cannot wait for the next book.

[Luv2TrvlLuvBks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girl power indeed.

.Can Readers join the fabulous girl crew a.k.a. Mob C.?

Know it's a fictional group but what an amazing, group of women. While this is certainly the highly anticipated romance of Carter and Celine, after the sly hints given in the Author's prior novel, "The End Goal", these fictional women embody 'girl power'. They show up for Celine, time and time again.

Her relationship with her mother has been tested since childhood as theoretically, her sister should be at her side. She's not. Thankfully, she has a wonderful brother in James (hope to see more of him in the future). Celine goes to great lengths to stay true to herself and yet live up to the image projected by her parents. With her friends, she's got a bite in her humor, support for their antics, and in a respected profession where she is at the top of her game but seems lost.

Carter is her childhood nemesis. Always on the periphery due to his best friend status with her brother, he seems rigid and unfeeling to her. Little does she know....

This is part of an interconnected series but truly can be read as a standalone. With all the little hints, can guess that Rory's story is next and cannot wait!

Thank you Ballantine | Dell. for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

#TheFinalMove #NetGalley

[Elizabeth • LizziePageReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Dell Romance for the gifted copy of the Final Move!

I read Lauren Penny’s debut, The End Goal, and wasn’t ready to leave the world she created, so I immediately downloaded her second book, The Final Move, out in April 2027. It didn’t disappoint!! She blends classic romcom tropes with richly developed characters and meaningful plot points outside of the romance to create a story that’s both funny and full of heart.

The Final Move has a bit of a Pride & Prejudice vibe, with a Darcy-esque billionaire hero who comes across as aloof and heartless when he really cares too much. Celine has the same intelligence and independence as Elizabeth Bennet as she strives to find meaning in her work as a lawyer. I loved these characters for who they are, but also for the A++ banter between them. I seriously had SO much fun reading this book, especially the scenes with the two of them together.

The other standout feature of this book (and the whole Love in NY series) is the friend group. They call themselves MOB C (movie of the book club), and they’re one of my all-time favorite book friend groups! They’re ride or die for each other, and each member is getting their own book.! We’ve gotten Bree and Celine’s stories, and now I can’t wait for Rory and Alana’s!!

Lauren Penny is a bright new author to watch! Make sure to grab The End Game while you wait for The Final Move!

[Sherry Steveson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a joy it is to pick up a new to me author’s second book that has not been published yet. I also can’t wait to go back to Bree and Jake’s story in her debut novel.

We have some great banter, strong female sisterhood friends and a brooding but totally love sick brother’s best friend. We see our FMC grow her wings to become stronger in her own skin. Love an empowering storyline.

There were times when Carter comes off a little too stand offish to the point of appearing to be cruel but we understand with this duel narration that he feels this is the only way to maintain control of his attraction to Celine. I liked Carter’s evolution from angsty enemy to lovers but would have loved the transition to be less abrupt.

My other question was when Carter keeps thinking James (his best friend and brother to Celine) would not approve of him loving Celine. That revelation and his reaction didn’t line up with how he acted in earlier scenes.

If you love
Enemies to lovers
Brothers best friend
Forced proximity
Billionaires
He’s loved her from afar their whole life.

This book checked all those boxes and I thought the banter was snappy and sarcastic without feeling cheesy.

Who’s next in the 4 some group? Can’t wait!

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, I enjoyed checking out a new author!

I enjoyed the premise of this book and while it is part of a series the first book does not need to be read for this to make sense. Both books can be read independently however there are some spoilers if this book is read first.

I had several issues with the book.

My first being that I had to re-read many sentences several times because they did not make sense or didn't flow well.. I have never had to re-read as much as I did with this book.

Second, I don't think Carters full personality matched up. I find it hard to believe that a polite guy who has shyly watched and helped from afar and then was as gentlemen like as we was, was the same guy during spicy scenes. He felt like a complete different person once the scene became spicy, normally there would be some overlapping actions; making comments in the car, public or wherever, maybe some teasing or something. But he completely changed once sexy time started and it didn't flow well for me.

Third, the end felt very very rushed. He disappears and then his explanation is a short paragraph and all is forgiven, the vase gets more spotlight throughout the book verses his absence.

[carissa mae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

Review:

To begin, I love me a good rom-com, especially one with tropes. Best friend’s brother? Um, yes please, all day. So suffice it to say, when I read the description for this book, I was excited.

Now, I will say that my tastes in romance can sometimes be a little picky. I prefer my romance to be cheesy, but not so cheesy that it becomes unreasonable or cringey. And let me tell you: this book rides that line perfectly!

The banter between the two main characters was SO good, and Celine was such a lovable character, which I feel is sometimes rare these days. She’s blunt and has a dry sense of humor that had me cackling out loud like a gremlin at times. She comes across as the raunchy bestie you can tell absolutely anything to, and it makes watching her love story unfold all the more sweet.

As for Carter, although his character follows the typical macho, rich, “nobody can touch me” type, his interactions with Celine really allow the audience to see his soft, gooey center, with just enough of that same humor sprinkled in.

Overall, this book was a great time for me, and I had a lot of fun reading it! I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from Lauren Penny.


Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Caitlyn Herbst · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun enemies-to-lovers/roommates romance. Celine and Carter have that perfect history where they’ve spent years getting under each other’s skin, only for living together to force them to actually see each other differently. I especially liked the fact that Carter’s coldness isn’t just because he dislikes her—there’s clearly a lot more going on underneath it.

Celine was really easy to root for. Her quarter-life crisis and career struggles make her feel more relatable than the typical romance heroine, and I liked watching her figure out what she actually wants instead of just following the path she thought she was supposed to take.

The roommate setup gives them plenty of opportunities for tension, awkward moments, and eventually realizing that their “nemesis” relationship might have been hiding something else all along. Carter’s personal struggles with his company also add some stakes beyond just the romance.

Overall, this was a cute, dramatic, and spicy read with a fun billionaire/roommate twist. The childhood history, forced proximity, and long-denied attraction made the romance especially entertaining.

[Lauren Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

eARC review!

4.5 stars

I had a great time with The Final Move. The first book in this series foreshadowed this couple pretty hard, so I was expecting the setup, but that didn’t make me enjoy it any less. I’m always a big fan of the brother’s best friend/billionaire/forced roommates tropes, and boy, did Carter deliver on the pining MMC. That was some top-tier yearning. No notes.

My only real issue with this book is that the ending felt overly quick, like we ran out of time to put a bow on everything. I didn’t hate the ending, I just thought the situation with the ex-business partner could’ve been handled a little differently. I also wanted just a little bit more of a reaction to Celine’s declaration of love at the end. I was hoping for a little more from that moment, especially after everything leading up to it.

Overall, I was really happy with all of the tropes throughout this book. I thought the pacing was done well, the romance worked for me, and I am so relieved that there was no third-act breakup. But while I liked the ending, I wanted just a little bit more out of it. It felt like we got to the finish line and then just ended.

[Dana Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley

The Final Move is a cute rom-com with great banter and a delightful FMC.

Celine is a lawyer who quit her high-powered job and is searching for a career that will fulfill her. Carter is an uptight tech billionaire who's been in love with Celine since they were teenagers. Celine and Carter are connected through her brother James, who's Carter's best friend, James arranges for them to room together in Carter's New York City penthouse while Celine tries to find a new job. After a rocky start, Celine slowly begins to realize that Carter's cold, aloof attitude is there to conceal his true feelings.

The banter between Celine and Carter is sweet, and a scene involving the accidental ingestion of marajuana cookies is one of the funniest things I've read in a long time. Celine is a great FMC-sassy, independent and totally relatable. It took me a while to warm up to Carter, but when I did, I was rooting for him 100%.

I highly recommend this book, and I look forward to more from this author.

[aayat · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5✨

review of advance copy received from netgalley.

not me requesting book 2 without realizing it was a series 😭 the first book isn’t even out yet and somehow i ended up reading the second book BUT honestly i’m so glad i did.

i love a good brother’s best friend romance when it’s done right, and carter secretly pining after celine since childhood while thinking she hates him??? yeah that does something to me 😭 the banter between them was SO good and i loved that celine actually had a backbone and stood up for herself.

i also really related to her wanting to figure herself out and find something she’s passionate about. and the mom??? she was such a bitch 😭 i was so irritated with her but towards the end i was like damnn - why am i about to cry???

i was a little stressed towards the end because ALEC??? fucking bitch. i just wanna talk 🙂‍↕️🔫

overall i really enjoyed this and i can’t wait for everyone else to read it 🥞🐈‍⬛🗽

[Honey Bee21 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Final Move was an okay read overall. The banter was fun, and I really enjoyed the male main character. Honestly, he carried the book for me. My biggest frustration was with the female main character and how determined she seemed to be to misunderstand him. He was constantly showing up for her, supporting her, and making his feelings clear, yet she continued to question his intentions.

And I hate to defend a man, but he really wasn’t doing anything wrong. I wish she had given him a chance a little sooner instead of holding his personality and past against him. It also bothered me that she spent so much time questioning his feelings without showing much curiosity about his life or what he was going through.

Overall, it was still an entertaining read, but I found myself much more invested in his character and background than hers. I just wish their relationship had felt a little more balanced.

[Samantha · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Such a fun read! The premise drew me in, and the humor, witty writing, and characters kept me entertained. The female lead and I definitely share a sense of humor—she kept me laughing throughout. I loved having a funny, chaotic heroine and a love interest who finds her completely endearing! I also enjoyed his perspective and all the yearning—so good!

I especially enjoyed looking up the real NYC spots mentioned throughout the story—it added another fun layer to the reading experience.

The dancing scene was a standout for me. It was brilliantly done, and I could picture it playing out in a movie adaptation!

I loved the ending and how everything came together so satisfyingly. Overall, a funny, entertaining read with memorable moments and an ending that left me smiling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for providing a free advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Kerry Glynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the eARC of this book.

This was a sweet and spicy ready. Carter and Celine had amazing chemistry even when “he hated her”. I loved the yearning from his POV and he was so good at taking care of her. One of my favorite scenes was when they were in the kitchen making breakfast and they just moved so fluidly around each other’s orbit. Mod C is amazing as always and I just love how these ladies show up for each other.
When Carter and Celine finally figured it all out, sparks flew and it was perfection. Carter taking care of Celine and her friends for the Paris trip was so sweet. I loved the epilogue and their HEA which I hope we get more of a glance into with future books for Mod C!!!

[Jineth Vazquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Celine is seriously SO funny 😂💕 I loved her personality, her unfiltered/unplanned thoughts, and especially her choice of words 🤣 She had me laughing throughout the book!

And Carter… the man that he is 😮‍💨❤️ The minute he finally came forward with his feelings, his actions spoke louder than words. 🥹 The redo prom scene was SO sweet, and the lengths he went through to make sure Celine felt appreciated? 🥺🫶🏼 MY HEART.

This book really gave us ALL the tropes 😍✨
💙 Brother’s best friend
☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine
🏠 Forced proximity / unexpected roommates
🔥 Enemies to lovers… but honestly, more like misunderstood 😏

I’m not surprised I loved this story because book one was such a breeze to read! 📖💫 And now I’m officially SO ready for book 3.. Rory & Aaron, I can’t wait 👀❤️‍🔥

[Leah · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me this ARC!

There are some tropes I simply love (enemies to lovers (but one of them has never been an enemy and is actually horrendously down bad), chaotic/controlled, secret softie) and basically all of them stem from my first true romance novel that I read being pride and prejudice. So I am always down to read a book that does appropriate nods to what I consider one of the godmothers of the romance genre.

So I loved this. Carter is a dream for me because there is nothing more romantic than a man who notices, listens, and does the little things for you. Celine’s struggles in finding her calling are too real and I loved their dynamic together. Their relationship and struggles also felt really real and never frustrated me (which is rare)

[IMBooked.Babe · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, angsty “he fell first,” brother’s best friend — THIS IS A MUST ADD TO YOUR TBR.

I really enjoyed this novel so much, I will be going back to read the first in the series! Celine was fun and relatable. Carter was broody and moody (and sometimes bordered on being a jerk). But their banter and chemistry left me satisfied at the end.

Honestly, with these types of tropes in a romantic comedies, I usually fear the pacing will be tragic and the story too similar to others on the market. I was SO SURPRISED that wasn’t the case here. Lauren’s voice an author was fun and fresh to me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[max ✮ · Rating 3 out of 5]

i went into this without reading the first book in the series, which is totally on me, but i definitely think this easily works as a standalone as well. at first of course i was quite confused about some things due to my lack of background knowledge but i quickly connected the dots. it was such a cute, fun, and feel-good story, and i found myself really enjoying the characters and their dynamics. there was just something so comforting about the whole book, and it was the kind of read that made me feel all giddy. im really glad i got the opportunity to read this, and i actually ended up enjoying it way more than expected!

[Gianna Sizemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

I liked this book!! I loved the plot and the characters. I could tell that the writing was planned out, and the language the author used was very well done. I love it when the characters are roommates, and Celine & Carter had great banter when they were! The yearning was so good!! You could tell that Carter had wanted her for years just by the writing.

I do think that the book could have been a bit shorter in the middle, because it felt like it was dragging on for a little. It soon picked up at the end though!

Overall, I recommend this book. Thank you, NetGalley, for letting me read an early copy of The Final Move!

[Caitlyn Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from netgalley. I genuinely adored this book. It's a subtle Pride and Prejudice retelling. Like the apartment building being named The Pemberly and various characters actions. But it was so uniquely its own that I never felt like I was just reading P&P again. The yearning in this book is top tier. Chefs kiss. I will definitely be reading this again once it's in print. The Carter was never so broody that he was a dick and you could tell he truly loved Celine in a way that everyone dreams of! Love love love!