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Work Less, Play More #1
The Workation
When twentysomethings Molly Kidd and Ryan Murphy formed a startup company in Seattle three years ago, they agreed that they were perfect for each other—as business partners.
Molly made the they will never date each other, they will never talk about their personal lives, they will never visit each other’s homes. Fortunately, they have so much fun spending so much time working together at the office that they barely have time to do or talk about anything else anyway.
Now that it’s winter and everyone at their small successful company is overworked and grumpy, Murphy gets this crazy idea that they should all take a work vacation at a resort in Hawaii. Yes, the woman who organizes the workations at this resort happens to be gorgeous, but Murphy believes it will benefit the whole team to have more work-life balance.
Molly refuses to admit that she’s intimidated by the thought of the most important guy in her life falling for this perfect lady, so she agrees to the trip despite being equally uncomfortable with the idea of relaxing in a bikini in front of her coworkers.
Turns out it’s impossible to draw a line between business and pleasure in the sands of Oahu, and giving in to temptation could lead Molly and Murphy to lose more than just their hearts. But would it be worth it?
THE WORKATION is a standalone, the first in the Work Less, Play More series.
It's a friends to lovers romantic comedy that works!
Molly made the they will never date each other, they will never talk about their personal lives, they will never visit each other’s homes. Fortunately, they have so much fun spending so much time working together at the office that they barely have time to do or talk about anything else anyway.
Now that it’s winter and everyone at their small successful company is overworked and grumpy, Murphy gets this crazy idea that they should all take a work vacation at a resort in Hawaii. Yes, the woman who organizes the workations at this resort happens to be gorgeous, but Murphy believes it will benefit the whole team to have more work-life balance.
Molly refuses to admit that she’s intimidated by the thought of the most important guy in her life falling for this perfect lady, so she agrees to the trip despite being equally uncomfortable with the idea of relaxing in a bikini in front of her coworkers.
Turns out it’s impossible to draw a line between business and pleasure in the sands of Oahu, and giving in to temptation could lead Molly and Murphy to lose more than just their hearts. But would it be worth it?
THE WORKATION is a standalone, the first in the Work Less, Play More series.
It's a friends to lovers romantic comedy that works!
301 pages, ebook
Published November 14, 2016
222 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
About the author
Kayley Loring
42 books1,679 followersAmazon Top 25 and USA Today bestselling author Kayley Loring spent many years as a screenwriter (under a different name) in Los Angeles before moving to the Pacific Northwest to live out her childhood dream of being a Disney heroine who talks and sings to woodland creatures. When not trying to keep animals alive, she’s writing steamy romantic comedy novels, obviously. She’s breathing cleaner air, writing dirtier words, and staring at her computer screen until her eyeballs dry out instead of prancing around Southern California in miniskirts and going to the hair salon. Still waiting for the woodland creatures to clean her house, though.
Read or listen to Kayley’s books when you want humor, heat, and heart. You’ll enjoy top-notch banter, strong heroines, lovable characters you’d want to know in real life and you’ll swoon over perfectly imperfect book boyfriends. All Kayley Loring books are steamy open door romance. Be sure to check out her next-level audiobooks!
Learn more at www.kayleyloring.com
Come join Kayley in her Facebook reader group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/kayle...
Follow Kayley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayleyloring/
Listen to Kayley talk to the wildly talented narrators who narrate her audiobooks on the Multiple Eargasms with Kayley Loring podcast!
Read or listen to Kayley’s books when you want humor, heat, and heart. You’ll enjoy top-notch banter, strong heroines, lovable characters you’d want to know in real life and you’ll swoon over perfectly imperfect book boyfriends. All Kayley Loring books are steamy open door romance. Be sure to check out her next-level audiobooks!
Learn more at www.kayleyloring.com
Come join Kayley in her Facebook reader group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/kayle...
Follow Kayley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayleyloring/
Listen to Kayley talk to the wildly talented narrators who narrate her audiobooks on the Multiple Eargasms with Kayley Loring podcast!
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 1, 2021
A book about two characters lives seem to only include work, and the same with their coworkers. Sounded rough.
December 14, 2016
2.5 stars
The Workation was a decent read that tugged at a couple heartstrings, but left a lot of room for improvement.
The first third of the book gave me so much information on the company Molly and Murphy own, I thought it was a business proposal, not a romantic novel. And the info-dumping to learn about the supporting cast was a bit much at times.
Once they get to their destination, things got better, but only marginally. The back and forth of unspoken desire and love went of forever. Add in a second “love interest” and I was less thrilled. I don’t mind a rival, they add tension a lot of the time. But this one was a little too far fetched to buy into the tension.
The Workation was a decent read that tugged at a couple heartstrings, but left a lot of room for improvement.
The first third of the book gave me so much information on the company Molly and Murphy own, I thought it was a business proposal, not a romantic novel. And the info-dumping to learn about the supporting cast was a bit much at times.
Once they get to their destination, things got better, but only marginally. The back and forth of unspoken desire and love went of forever. Add in a second “love interest” and I was less thrilled. I don’t mind a rival, they add tension a lot of the time. But this one was a little too far fetched to buy into the tension.
July 20, 2019
Having previously enjoyed a couple of books by this author along with the fact that they are free reads on Amazon Prime, I thought I’d give this series a try. This is a friends to lovers trope and as with most of those the main stumbling block to getting from friends to lovers is one party's fear that if the relationship changes it will ruin their perfect friendship. If I’m being completely honest for about the first seventy percent of Workation I kept asking myself why I was continuing to read the book? The main characters Molly Kidd and Ryan Murphy might as well have been aliens for all I could relate to first their educational and then career goals as if graduating at the top of your class at Wharton and then living to work seventy-two hour or longer weeks was the secret to happiness. Then there was their executive staff, one guy was begging his shrew of an unfaithful wife to come back to him. One woman had talked her husband into letting her be with a paid escort a few times a year because he wouldn’t give her the rough sex she wanted. I don’t know who I found more annoying there, the woman for using her husbands love for her against him to get him to agree to letting her be with other men to get her kink or the husband for allowing it to happen rather than giving her what she needed himself? She seemed selfish and he seemed pathetic. And then there was the endless internal dialogues for Murphy and Molly where they contemplated their work-spouse relationship and whether to act on their feelings and turn it into something more. It wasn’t until Molly and Murphy find themselves on a deserted beach that the story really got interesting for me. Fortunately like all contemporary romances I’ve ever read the story results in a happily ever after which being the sucker for happy endings that I am, left me feeling better about the story than I had for most of it.
September 8, 2023
Another sweet romance by Kayley Loring. I love how they both tiptoe around their feelings for one another, clearly in a relationship but just not admitting it to themselves. Their e-board was also a fun little group. Short and sweet.
This book had some funny moments, but I mostly enjoyed the fun and sexy romance. Some really great moments of them coming together, and then finally having such a wonderful time admitting their feelings. I was also pleasantly surprised by the ending .
My Take on the Main Characters: Murphy was cute, and it was a nice change to see some OW drama, where there really wasn't any drama at all. Just enough to stir up some romance, and I was glad to see that Murphy wasn't really interested in her, further than he was attempting his best to move on. And he was gracious to a degree at being happy for the h, his friend, when he considers her trying to find happiness as well.
Molly was a cute little neurotic FMC. I found her 'boundaries' interesting, and it made for a good story in terms of her own growth.
What I liked:I liked the depiction of the startup business culture. I mean, I don't like the idea of working all day, and I don't want to be defined by my job, but it was an interesting take for the two main characters to bond over.
What I didn't like: N/A
This book had some funny moments, but I mostly enjoyed the fun and sexy romance. Some really great moments of them coming together, and then finally having such a wonderful time admitting their feelings. I was also pleasantly surprised by the ending .
My Take on the Main Characters: Murphy was cute, and it was a nice change to see some OW drama, where there really wasn't any drama at all. Just enough to stir up some romance, and I was glad to see that Murphy wasn't really interested in her, further than he was attempting his best to move on. And he was gracious to a degree at being happy for the h, his friend, when he considers her trying to find happiness as well.
Molly was a cute little neurotic FMC. I found her 'boundaries' interesting, and it made for a good story in terms of her own growth.
What I liked:I liked the depiction of the startup business culture. I mean, I don't like the idea of working all day, and I don't want to be defined by my job, but it was an interesting take for the two main characters to bond over.
What I didn't like: N/A
September 11, 2022
Definitely a worthy light romantic read
I wouldn’t have reviewed but then I saw this was rated 4.3/5 on Amazon. Although it’s not a 4.7+ overall, the kind of romances that pull you so deep into the story that you laugh and seriously cry with the grande arc and denouement, this is definitely better than 4.3 overall. It was light, took place over a few weeks for characters with years of friendship under their belt, and mostly believable. Aside from being a lovely brief sojourn into these characters heads, it was also more realistic money-wise than almost 90% of the genre- meaning neither main characters were über wealthy. Plus, the side characters had more depth than most, including a co-worker who gave at least an interesting perspective on her own marriage to help guide the heroine. Decent sex scene -1 and a half I guess all together. Not crazy hot but it fit the pacing of the book and was more believable with the characters in the story. No office sex, in case that’s what you need at the moment.
In sum, this should be at least a 4.5 overall on Amazon, so please don’t be deterred by where it currently stands at 4.3.
I wouldn’t have reviewed but then I saw this was rated 4.3/5 on Amazon. Although it’s not a 4.7+ overall, the kind of romances that pull you so deep into the story that you laugh and seriously cry with the grande arc and denouement, this is definitely better than 4.3 overall. It was light, took place over a few weeks for characters with years of friendship under their belt, and mostly believable. Aside from being a lovely brief sojourn into these characters heads, it was also more realistic money-wise than almost 90% of the genre- meaning neither main characters were über wealthy. Plus, the side characters had more depth than most, including a co-worker who gave at least an interesting perspective on her own marriage to help guide the heroine. Decent sex scene -1 and a half I guess all together. Not crazy hot but it fit the pacing of the book and was more believable with the characters in the story. No office sex, in case that’s what you need at the moment.
In sum, this should be at least a 4.5 overall on Amazon, so please don’t be deterred by where it currently stands at 4.3.
May 20, 2020
Workation of love, sign me up
If I had a colleague as got as Ryan Murphy, I would always want him to be on a beach in Hawaii in as few clothes as possible.
I only recently discovered the talented Hayley Losing and in the space of a month, I have read and loved three of her books. As this is book 1 in a series, I am heading straight into book 2, and after reading the sneak peek at the end of this, I will also be downloading another of her books shortly!
I loved Murphy and Kidd's romance, friends since college both with feelings for the other, but instead of getting together, they start a business together, but when they are finally out of the office, the attraction spills over.
Loads of great characters in this book, whose stories of also love to read.
If I had a colleague as got as Ryan Murphy, I would always want him to be on a beach in Hawaii in as few clothes as possible.
I only recently discovered the talented Hayley Losing and in the space of a month, I have read and loved three of her books. As this is book 1 in a series, I am heading straight into book 2, and after reading the sneak peek at the end of this, I will also be downloading another of her books shortly!
I loved Murphy and Kidd's romance, friends since college both with feelings for the other, but instead of getting together, they start a business together, but when they are finally out of the office, the attraction spills over.
Loads of great characters in this book, whose stories of also love to read.
August 14, 2021
So… this book just didn’t really do it for me. I just didn’t feel like I ever connected with the characters… any of them. The hard, fast rules/boundaries that Molly put in place & held onto didn’t feel like something anyone could live with. Workaholics who never ever discuss personal things?? If these are the people you spend the most time with (& they’re all admittedly workaholics, so their work family is their family by default), of course you talk about personal matters. Made no sense to me. And even the sexy parts of the book didn’t feel that hot… no real passion. Love this author, but this definitely feel up to her standards.
May 26, 2020
Very cute. They're both a bit quirky with adorable banter. I wasn't so sure about it at first since I didn't know how I was going to like a character that was against personal lives at work. That's a person with some serious issues. However, the book carried it off well. I like how they didn't hide too much of their feelings like some books do to create tension. It was cute how their mouths said things without their permission. I also loved that she found peace in the office supply store. That's my jam!
June 16, 2021
Workaholics find Love during a Workation❣️
Two top of their class Business School friends reconnect a few years later in Seattle and decide to partner in a startup company. Molly and Murphy have denied their attraction and chemistry since they met in college and as work partners. An executive getaway (work and vacation…Workation!) in Hawaii challenges their workaholic avoidance tactics nd they must face their feelings. I love Kaylee Lorings humor and quirky characters along with lots of fun and beach blanket bingo aka sexy times!
Two top of their class Business School friends reconnect a few years later in Seattle and decide to partner in a startup company. Molly and Murphy have denied their attraction and chemistry since they met in college and as work partners. An executive getaway (work and vacation…Workation!) in Hawaii challenges their workaholic avoidance tactics nd they must face their feelings. I love Kaylee Lorings humor and quirky characters along with lots of fun and beach blanket bingo aka sexy times!
January 17, 2021
Fun, cute, engaging couple!
I enjoyed this story. The cuteness & weirdness of the gang of co-workers going on this working vacation added some fun - all were just weird enough for it to work and the leads are smart, sassy & very engaging - you just want it all to work. And of course, the location perfect! Hotness level Whooo!
Great distraction for our crazy times!
I enjoyed this story. The cuteness & weirdness of the gang of co-workers going on this working vacation added some fun - all were just weird enough for it to work and the leads are smart, sassy & very engaging - you just want it all to work. And of course, the location perfect! Hotness level Whooo!
Great distraction for our crazy times!
December 20, 2022
So Sweet!
This may have been Kayley’s first book, not sure, but if so it was the beginning of her wonderfully sweet collection. Ryan and Molly meet in B-School, while dating other people, but become fast friends, study partners, business owners, and eventually - you guessed it. Loved it!
This may have been Kayley’s first book, not sure, but if so it was the beginning of her wonderfully sweet collection. Ryan and Molly meet in B-School, while dating other people, but become fast friends, study partners, business owners, and eventually - you guessed it. Loved it!
May 8, 2018
Cute & enjoyable
This was such a cute story! I love that Molly & Murphy we’re both oblivious to their feelings about each other, but that they were finally able to see that they were meant for each other.
This was such a cute story! I love that Molly & Murphy we’re both oblivious to their feelings about each other, but that they were finally able to see that they were meant for each other.
September 2, 2018
Sweet and realistic
I love a friend to lovers book and this had everything it should have. I love that the story was organic and natural. It was about normal people who fall in love in a normal way.
I love a friend to lovers book and this had everything it should have. I love that the story was organic and natural. It was about normal people who fall in love in a normal way.
May 26, 2019
Okay but a bit sappy for me
An okay read, but all rather sappy and predictable.
I read this book as part of my Kindle Unlimited subscription (free book but I have to pay £7.99 a month for the subscription)
An okay read, but all rather sappy and predictable.
I read this book as part of my Kindle Unlimited subscription (free book but I have to pay £7.99 a month for the subscription)
September 9, 2019
This is one of her earlier books and it shows. Bad pacing, annoying heroine. Random cast of characters I don’t need to care about because they don’t get their own books.
Still, I see the glimmers of Loring’s trademark humor and she writes a compelling, modern hero.
Still, I see the glimmers of Loring’s trademark humor and she writes a compelling, modern hero.
December 18, 2019
Heartwarming
Not sure why this book only has 4 stars. I have been reading the authors books lately and as usual this was a wonderfully funny, heartwarming, and sexy story. Don’t hesitate to read it!
Not sure why this book only has 4 stars. I have been reading the authors books lately and as usual this was a wonderfully funny, heartwarming, and sexy story. Don’t hesitate to read it!
January 14, 2020
Hooked
I'm going through Kayley Loring's books at an alarming rate. She continues to make me laugh,smile and sigh. The only thing to put me in heaven would be if one of the characters turned into a bear ;-).
I'm going through Kayley Loring's books at an alarming rate. She continues to make me laugh,smile and sigh. The only thing to put me in heaven would be if one of the characters turned into a bear ;-).
December 22, 2020
Not A Kid Anymore
- Ryan Murphy and Molly Kidd aren’t college students anymore. They’re business executives and their former crush has been stoked to a raging flame. Also I want to work for their company.
- Ryan Murphy and Molly Kidd aren’t college students anymore. They’re business executives and their former crush has been stoked to a raging flame. Also I want to work for their company.
July 12, 2024
workplace romances always fail
Yep that’s the theory we all have heard and usually live by. However Kayley Loring has corrected that theory with the adorable book about Workplace inc. enjoy this quick read and all of its cute characters.
Yep that’s the theory we all have heard and usually live by. However Kayley Loring has corrected that theory with the adorable book about Workplace inc. enjoy this quick read and all of its cute characters.
November 21, 2018
Workation
Not a big fan of this book. I love her other books better. I am wondering if this is one of her first books....
But enjoyed reading it.
Not a big fan of this book. I love her other books better. I am wondering if this is one of her first books....
But enjoyed reading it.
April 6, 2019
❤️💕
Loved this book. I so wish my company would do such a thing!!! I can’t stop reading this author!! She’s great!
Loved this book. I so wish my company would do such a thing!!! I can’t stop reading this author!! She’s great!
October 14, 2019
4 stars
What a fun book! I really liked Molly, Murphy and their staff. My first time reading this author and I look forward to more.
What a fun book! I really liked Molly, Murphy and their staff. My first time reading this author and I look forward to more.
March 23, 2020
2.5 "I like this author but there is a very big disconnect with the writing style (very little dialogue!) in this one" stars
January 8, 2024
cute
Cute but I’ll never understand workaholics. I love my off times too much. Even though I do check my emails often. Fun read.
Cute but I’ll never understand workaholics. I love my off times too much. Even though I do check my emails often. Fun read.
February 20, 2021
2.5
Ok. I guess Loring's go-to move for conflict is internal turmoil, spiraling and lack of communication. I just read Green, and would not have read this if I realized it was another attempt at friends to lovers(It was just sitting on my kindle so I didn't know what it was about, and that's on me). The angst and misunderstandings had me rolling my eyes. Much like Green, this is closer to garbage fire than slow burn.
I'm glad this was on KindleUnlimited, because I get to return it.
What is the point of friends to lovers if you don't give them chemistry or a solid background? Ugh.
Ok. I guess Loring's go-to move for conflict is internal turmoil, spiraling and lack of communication. I just read Green, and would not have read this if I realized it was another attempt at friends to lovers(It was just sitting on my kindle so I didn't know what it was about, and that's on me). The angst and misunderstandings had me rolling my eyes. Much like Green, this is closer to garbage fire than slow burn.
I'm glad this was on KindleUnlimited, because I get to return it.
What is the point of friends to lovers if you don't give them chemistry or a solid background? Ugh.
November 30, 2016
Received an ARC for honest review for netgalley. The book was not bad, however, the back and forth was annoying. Molly and Ryan were in love however, due to Molly's rules at the beginning, they had a strict work only relationship. The company goes on vacation, a work vacation, and of course, both Molly and Ryan are jealous of other people who show interest in them. They end up alone and cross boundaries, and then are terrified of ramifications. (that part in the waterfall was actually funny) We know that things can not go back to they were after crossing boundaries, and since they truly do have feelings for each other, tension is in the office and everyone is uncomfortable, and Molly and Ryan are truly miserable. They end up getting help and advice from the least expected, Chuck. Finally, and this is still the part I can't get over, they end up together, after seven years!!! Wow, that is crazy, but they do get there HEA, and honestly, I would love to know, how everything goes for them.
January 4, 2017
Describing itself as 'a friends to lovers romantic comedy that works', The Workation does a good job of playing up to its description. I do love a good friends to lovers story, and this is a good one, but something about it just fell a tiny bit flat. It doesn't have that certain something that would make me love it instead of just liking it. There's nothing particuarly wrong that I can put a finger on, so I'm putting it down to pure personal preference. I enjoyed reading it, it made me smile, but I didn't connect enough to laugh out loud, cry or squirm in my seat.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews