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Bad at Love
She's bad at love, but he's even worse...
Marina is hot, blonde, and wickedly smart, but when it comes to men? She's hopeless. Between her quirks and her lack of filter, there isn't a man in Los Angeles that will stick around after the third date.
Her handsome, charming friend Lazarus has the opposite problem. Everyone wants to be the sexy Brit's girlfriend, but he gets bored and moves on quickly.
There's only one way to figure out why neither of them has cracked this love thing-- they'll date each other. On paper, it's the perfect experiment. But in reality, things between Marina and Laz get complicated quickly.
They might be bad at love, but they are even worse at being friends.
Note: This full-length romance is a complete standalone with no relation to any other books and was inspired by the Halsey song "Bad at Love."
It does contain ample amounts of profanity, filthy language and graphic sex scenes.
Sensitive readers should be advised.
Marina is hot, blonde, and wickedly smart, but when it comes to men? She's hopeless. Between her quirks and her lack of filter, there isn't a man in Los Angeles that will stick around after the third date.
Her handsome, charming friend Lazarus has the opposite problem. Everyone wants to be the sexy Brit's girlfriend, but he gets bored and moves on quickly.
There's only one way to figure out why neither of them has cracked this love thing-- they'll date each other. On paper, it's the perfect experiment. But in reality, things between Marina and Laz get complicated quickly.
They might be bad at love, but they are even worse at being friends.
Note: This full-length romance is a complete standalone with no relation to any other books and was inspired by the Halsey song "Bad at Love."
It does contain ample amounts of profanity, filthy language and graphic sex scenes.
Sensitive readers should be advised.
Audiobook
First published November 16, 2017
1395 people are currently reading
3101 people want to read
About the author
Karina Halle
124 books19.7k followersKarina Halle is a screenwriter, former music & travel journalist, and the New York Times bestselling author of Grave Matter, Blood Orange, & The Royals Next Door, as well as 80 other romances across all sub-genres, ranging from spicy rom coms to gothic horror and dark fantasy. Needless to say, whatever you're into, she's probably written an HEA for it.
When she's not traveling, she, her husband, and their pup Perry, split their time between a possibly haunted 120 year-old house in Victoria, BC, and their condo in Los Angeles.
When she's not traveling, she, her husband, and their pup Perry, split their time between a possibly haunted 120 year-old house in Victoria, BC, and their condo in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 533 reviews
November 22, 2017
4.5 stars!!!
Karina Halle did an amazing job with this book! Bad at Love is one of the best friends to lovers books I’ve read in the longest time. Marina and Laz are fantastic characters and I loved their story to pieces!
Mariana and Lazarus have been friends for a long time, and even though they have loads of chemistry, they’ve never taken their relationship past friendship. Why? Because they’re both bad at love. Horrible at it, in fact. Mariana can’t get passed the third date to start a relationship, and Laz is a serial monogamist jumping from girlfriend to girlfriend getting bored after a few weeks or months.
Laz has this great idea… Mariana and Laz date each other to see what they’re doing wrong and why things aren’t working out for them. Their dates were so much fun. They both had me laughing so hard and I adored them! I loved their lighthearted friendship, but even more than that, I loved when they started to really let each other in.
Laz is one of those heroes who I couldn’t help but love. Honestly, he was a great guy and had a huge heart. He wanted something more, something real, he just needed the right person to bring that out. Mariana was a hoot! One of the funniest heroines I’ve read in a while. Seriously, she made me laugh out loud several times! And I loved her bees!
Bad at Love is an entertaining and enjoyable read that is full love humor, romance, friendship, and steam. Halle kept a smile on my face the entire time! This book was a lot of fun and one I’d recommend to all!
She’s bad at love, but he’s even worse…
Karina Halle did an amazing job with this book! Bad at Love is one of the best friends to lovers books I’ve read in the longest time. Marina and Laz are fantastic characters and I loved their story to pieces!
Mariana and Lazarus have been friends for a long time, and even though they have loads of chemistry, they’ve never taken their relationship past friendship. Why? Because they’re both bad at love. Horrible at it, in fact. Mariana can’t get passed the third date to start a relationship, and Laz is a serial monogamist jumping from girlfriend to girlfriend getting bored after a few weeks or months.
Laz has this great idea… Mariana and Laz date each other to see what they’re doing wrong and why things aren’t working out for them. Their dates were so much fun. They both had me laughing so hard and I adored them! I loved their lighthearted friendship, but even more than that, I loved when they started to really let each other in.
“Let me in. Let me be here for everything, all the good, all the bad. All your light and all your dark.”
Laz is one of those heroes who I couldn’t help but love. Honestly, he was a great guy and had a huge heart. He wanted something more, something real, he just needed the right person to bring that out. Mariana was a hoot! One of the funniest heroines I’ve read in a while. Seriously, she made me laugh out loud several times! And I loved her bees!
Bad at Love is an entertaining and enjoyable read that is full love humor, romance, friendship, and steam. Halle kept a smile on my face the entire time! This book was a lot of fun and one I’d recommend to all!
“Love is our biggest adventure.”
It was her. It was always her. My kind of weirdo.
February 12, 2019
DNF @ 20%
I tried but this book wasn't for me. Sorry. My bad.
The writing is good as always, after all KH used to be one of my favorite authors.
Don't mind me. I'm sure the book is awesome.
I tried but this book wasn't for me. Sorry. My bad.
The writing is good as always, after all KH used to be one of my favorite authors.
Don't mind me. I'm sure the book is awesome.
June 6, 2020
Normally, I would have passed this book as soon as I see it is between a serial-dater rock star and a virgin. I hate to read about virgin hero or heroines. However, I saw a quote my dear friend Carol shared and I decided to read this book despite my prejudice and thank God, I did because otherwise I would have missed a very good book that made me very happy!
So, now I am confessing:
I loved it although she was practically a virgin.
I loved it although he was a serial dater and commitment-phobic.
I loved it although he was with so many women during the period they were only friends.
I loved it although all of the above issues would normally piss me off.
It is so beautifully-written that I got to love all the characters, with their weaknesses and all.
It is so beautifully-written that I felt what they lived through deep in my own heart.
I would go even further and say that it is Karina Halle’s best book ever in my opinion!
Soooo, the book is 5 stars out of 4,5 for me.
(That 0.5 point is of course taken for the above issues but still the book made a 5-star effect on me and 5 it is!)
The points that helped me to embrace it:
She wasn't a virgin because she was keeping herself for the "one", she just scared the guys away with her quirks. She had this one time when she lost her virginity to a guy back at school but no full penetration happened as it hurt. Nothing sexual happened with anyone else afterwards as her dates never went well. She used her vibrator, though, in those years. She wasn't a total prude or something like that. She was just a girl who couldn't find the right guy for her!
And he wasn't a man-whore just for the sake of having fun, he knew no other way. He didn't have casual hook-ups. He dated the girls he liked and he was loyal to all of them. He just didn't know how to love as he was not loved by his parents and his relationships didn't last for this reason.
THE PLOT:
Marina is a beekeeper who is in love with her bees and she tries to make everyone understand that they are necessary for sustaining our planet’s ecosystems. She has her own quirks but she is a sweetheart!
Lazarus is a musician and a poet. He sings in a band and he has a lot of followers on Instagram where he publishes his poems. Tattooed and pierced with dark hair and dark eyes, Lazarus is the ultimate definition of hotness!
Marina is as sweet as the honey she always carries with her to put in her tea and coffee. With blue eyes and blonde hair as well as a killer body, she is the epitome of sweet-sexy!
Marina and Lazarus meet at a rock concert. Marina’s friend Jane invites them there as she plays with the band “Magic 8 Balls”. The lead singer Lazarus happens to be Jane’s step-brother. And when Marina and Lazarus first meet, Lazarus unfortunately has a girlfriend.
Although he dated a lot of girls in the past and none of them lasted long, Lazarus is not a cheater! So even though there is immediate attraction, nothing happens because of this and many other reasons.
4 years pass.
They become very close friends, suppressing their attraction to each other in those 4 years. Although they act as best friends, they both still have an undeniable attraction to each other, which they do not act upon.
The night I first laid eyes on her, the attraction was instant, more than I thought it would be. Not just because she’s insanely pretty, but she was charming in an odd way. Blurting out what was on her mind, not acting like girls normally act around me.
Something drew me to her already and all I could think was, shit, if only I was single.
If only she wasn’t my sister’s friend.
If only …
***
All the years I’ve known Laz, I’ve put my feelings for him to the side until I convinced myself there were no feelings at all. I’ve told myself over and over again that whatever things I’ve felt, whether it be jealousy, attraction and lust, that it wasn’t based in anything. I’ve actively worked hard to see Laz as a friend and just a friend, all the while it would have been so incredibly easy to just give in and just admit to myself that I want him.
Both Lazarus and Marina has had a dating history in those 4 years but they seem to have the same-ongoing problem:
Lazarus cannot continue dating the same woman for more than 3-5 months and Marina cannot get past the 3rd date because they all disappear after the third date.
One day, Lazarus has this crazy idea. He suggests that they should be their fake-date and they should help each other to see what they are doing wrong. Although Marina is shocked at his proposal at first, it is an offer she cannot refuse.
And so the fake-dating starts…
Yummy parts!
And as you can imagine, their suppressed feelings come to the surface and explode!!!!
And what an explosion!
It was emotional and very hot at the same time.
I don’t know where the lines started to blur. Maybe it was last week. Maybe they’ve always been blurring and I’ve had my head too far up my arse to notice. But yesterday, yesterday that line was crossed. Just one toe over it. But it was crossed.
***
I’ve always been protective of her but now I just want to keep her to myself. I don’t want to give her my opinion on what she’s doing wrong, have her fix that, and then sleep with the first guy she gets past the third date with.
“By the way, I f*ck better than I dance,” he whispers in my ear. “Better than I sing. Better than I write. Better than I do most things.” He brushes a swoop of hair off my shoulder and slowly licks up the side of my neck before his lips come together right behind my ear. “Bet you didn’t know that about me. How much I love to f*ck and how good I am at it.”
Woo-hoo! Pages burning... fire fire fire!!!
Hotness 100 °C !
If you love “friends-to-lovers” books, this is one of the best ones you shouldn’t miss. Even though it may sound like a plot you have read many times before, its difference is in the way it is written. It is written in dual-point of view and the whole book is like a poem… or like a piece of music ... so so beautiful!
I’ve hungered for too long
For that one drop of honey
That has hung from that lonely branch
Waiting to fall
Onto my tongue
Into my mouth
Coating my throat
Until I can’t breathe anymore
But it’s okay
Because death tastes sweeter
Than the world without you
Marina is a sweet and pure heart, bringing sunshine to everyone’s lives and Lazarus is the broody one who is sometimes lost in his own mind.
Despite his dark moods that sometimes come and go, Lazarus has this aura of a romantic bad boy hot as hell, which makes him a very attractive lover.
Both Marina and Lazarus have a very sweet sense of humor, which makes them an adorable couple together.
“God... Laz,” she moans, breathy, sweet.
“I answer to both of those,” I tell her against her neck.
***
“Mmm,” she says softly. “This isn’t a bad way to wake up.”
“It’s enough to make me a morning person,” I murmur, nibbling on her bottom lip before leaving a trail of kisses from the corner of her mouth to her jaw.
***
The way she tastes, smells, feels - I’m not sure I’ll ever get my fill.
I’m loving this as much as she is.
Her body responds to me like she’s answering questions I didn’t know I asked.
The fact that they didn’t become lovers when they first met bothered me at the beginning but then, I was OK with it as I believed that they weren’t ready for each other, then.
“Marina, I was an absolute fool until we got together. You would have not wanted to date me back then. Fuck, you wouldn’t have wanted to date me a month ago. The time is right, finally, now, for both of us.”
He’s right. I know he is. The timing would have been off. We would have dated then broken up because he’s such a commitment-phobe or whatever his problem is and then we would have never been friends. We would have never had what we have now.
When things turn into real in their fake-dating, it is pure bliss for both of them at the beginning. Life is too good to be true for a few weeks. They are on cloud nine.
For a moment I thought that maybe this had been a dream.
That there was no way one of my deepest fantasies could have come true.
But here she is. Here she is. Looking like an angel.
I can hardly believe it.
We had sex last night.
Her first time. My first time with her.
It was…
I have no words.
This isn’t even writer’s block.
I don’t think I’m talented enough to even try.
It was more than just two bodies reaching for a climax together.
It was more than just getting off.
It was about the two of us, together, finally.
All these years, all these desires, coming to a head, a connection taken to another level, one I didn’t even anticipate.
It was bloody spiritual is what it was and believe me, I am not a praying man. But I will make this woman my religion if she lets me. I will worship at her altar for another glimpse at the heaven I saw last night.
The way they clicked and the chemistry between them was unique. And the writer expresses what they feel in a very successfully-written prose. I felt their connection deep in my heart.
As every “too good to be true” thing, this happiness doesn’t last forever because Marina’s sunshine and Lazarus’s darkness collide at a certain point!
Those words, those beautiful words. "I love you."
The more they mean to me, the scarier it gets.
The more I want to run.
***
You will lose everything if you lose her!
I don’t know why my mind is automatically going there, but it is.
Both Marina and Lazarus had a hard childhood and they still have problematic parents. One day, facing some childhood issues at present destroys the delicate balance of Lazarus and this incident tears them apart for a while.
“Really, there’s no mystery to why I’m bad at love. Most of the time, I don’t even think I want it. I might not even deserve it.“
“If you don’t believe you’re worthy of love you’ll never know what to do with love when you get it.”
Lazarus had it - he had it all - he had this love but he really didn’t know what to do with it as he believed that he couldn’t give Marina what she deserved.
Lucky for my fragile heart, their separation doesn’t last long and Lazarus comes to his senses soon and we have a very happy end. Yessss, you can bee-live it!
This is basically a “will-make-you-happy” book 😊
Totally recommended!
“I love you. Even more now than I did five minutes ago. I’ll love you even more five minutes from now. I will love you and love you and love you more and more and more. Until the end of the world.”
My heart swells, swells, pops.
Confetti in my soul.
So, now I am confessing:
I loved it although she was practically a virgin.
I loved it although he was a serial dater and commitment-phobic.
I loved it although he was with so many women during the period they were only friends.
I loved it although all of the above issues would normally piss me off.
It is so beautifully-written that I got to love all the characters, with their weaknesses and all.
It is so beautifully-written that I felt what they lived through deep in my own heart.
I would go even further and say that it is Karina Halle’s best book ever in my opinion!
Soooo, the book is 5 stars out of 4,5 for me.
(That 0.5 point is of course taken for the above issues but still the book made a 5-star effect on me and 5 it is!)
The points that helped me to embrace it:
She wasn't a virgin because she was keeping herself for the "one", she just scared the guys away with her quirks. She had this one time when she lost her virginity to a guy back at school but no full penetration happened as it hurt. Nothing sexual happened with anyone else afterwards as her dates never went well. She used her vibrator, though, in those years. She wasn't a total prude or something like that. She was just a girl who couldn't find the right guy for her!
And he wasn't a man-whore just for the sake of having fun, he knew no other way. He didn't have casual hook-ups. He dated the girls he liked and he was loyal to all of them. He just didn't know how to love as he was not loved by his parents and his relationships didn't last for this reason.
THE PLOT:
Marina is a beekeeper who is in love with her bees and she tries to make everyone understand that they are necessary for sustaining our planet’s ecosystems. She has her own quirks but she is a sweetheart!
Lazarus is a musician and a poet. He sings in a band and he has a lot of followers on Instagram where he publishes his poems. Tattooed and pierced with dark hair and dark eyes, Lazarus is the ultimate definition of hotness!
Marina is as sweet as the honey she always carries with her to put in her tea and coffee. With blue eyes and blonde hair as well as a killer body, she is the epitome of sweet-sexy!
Marina and Lazarus meet at a rock concert. Marina’s friend Jane invites them there as she plays with the band “Magic 8 Balls”. The lead singer Lazarus happens to be Jane’s step-brother. And when Marina and Lazarus first meet, Lazarus unfortunately has a girlfriend.
Although he dated a lot of girls in the past and none of them lasted long, Lazarus is not a cheater! So even though there is immediate attraction, nothing happens because of this and many other reasons.
4 years pass.
They become very close friends, suppressing their attraction to each other in those 4 years. Although they act as best friends, they both still have an undeniable attraction to each other, which they do not act upon.
The night I first laid eyes on her, the attraction was instant, more than I thought it would be. Not just because she’s insanely pretty, but she was charming in an odd way. Blurting out what was on her mind, not acting like girls normally act around me.
Something drew me to her already and all I could think was, shit, if only I was single.
If only she wasn’t my sister’s friend.
If only …
***
All the years I’ve known Laz, I’ve put my feelings for him to the side until I convinced myself there were no feelings at all. I’ve told myself over and over again that whatever things I’ve felt, whether it be jealousy, attraction and lust, that it wasn’t based in anything. I’ve actively worked hard to see Laz as a friend and just a friend, all the while it would have been so incredibly easy to just give in and just admit to myself that I want him.
Both Lazarus and Marina has had a dating history in those 4 years but they seem to have the same-ongoing problem:
Lazarus cannot continue dating the same woman for more than 3-5 months and Marina cannot get past the 3rd date because they all disappear after the third date.
One day, Lazarus has this crazy idea. He suggests that they should be their fake-date and they should help each other to see what they are doing wrong. Although Marina is shocked at his proposal at first, it is an offer she cannot refuse.
And so the fake-dating starts…
Yummy parts!
And as you can imagine, their suppressed feelings come to the surface and explode!!!!
And what an explosion!
It was emotional and very hot at the same time.
I don’t know where the lines started to blur. Maybe it was last week. Maybe they’ve always been blurring and I’ve had my head too far up my arse to notice. But yesterday, yesterday that line was crossed. Just one toe over it. But it was crossed.
***
I’ve always been protective of her but now I just want to keep her to myself. I don’t want to give her my opinion on what she’s doing wrong, have her fix that, and then sleep with the first guy she gets past the third date with.
“By the way, I f*ck better than I dance,” he whispers in my ear. “Better than I sing. Better than I write. Better than I do most things.” He brushes a swoop of hair off my shoulder and slowly licks up the side of my neck before his lips come together right behind my ear. “Bet you didn’t know that about me. How much I love to f*ck and how good I am at it.”
Woo-hoo! Pages burning... fire fire fire!!!
Hotness 100 °C !
If you love “friends-to-lovers” books, this is one of the best ones you shouldn’t miss. Even though it may sound like a plot you have read many times before, its difference is in the way it is written. It is written in dual-point of view and the whole book is like a poem… or like a piece of music ... so so beautiful!
I’ve hungered for too long
For that one drop of honey
That has hung from that lonely branch
Waiting to fall
Onto my tongue
Into my mouth
Coating my throat
Until I can’t breathe anymore
But it’s okay
Because death tastes sweeter
Than the world without you
Marina is a sweet and pure heart, bringing sunshine to everyone’s lives and Lazarus is the broody one who is sometimes lost in his own mind.
Despite his dark moods that sometimes come and go, Lazarus has this aura of a romantic bad boy hot as hell, which makes him a very attractive lover.
Both Marina and Lazarus have a very sweet sense of humor, which makes them an adorable couple together.
“God... Laz,” she moans, breathy, sweet.
“I answer to both of those,” I tell her against her neck.
***
“Mmm,” she says softly. “This isn’t a bad way to wake up.”
“It’s enough to make me a morning person,” I murmur, nibbling on her bottom lip before leaving a trail of kisses from the corner of her mouth to her jaw.
***
The way she tastes, smells, feels - I’m not sure I’ll ever get my fill.
I’m loving this as much as she is.
Her body responds to me like she’s answering questions I didn’t know I asked.
The fact that they didn’t become lovers when they first met bothered me at the beginning but then, I was OK with it as I believed that they weren’t ready for each other, then.
“Marina, I was an absolute fool until we got together. You would have not wanted to date me back then. Fuck, you wouldn’t have wanted to date me a month ago. The time is right, finally, now, for both of us.”
He’s right. I know he is. The timing would have been off. We would have dated then broken up because he’s such a commitment-phobe or whatever his problem is and then we would have never been friends. We would have never had what we have now.
When things turn into real in their fake-dating, it is pure bliss for both of them at the beginning. Life is too good to be true for a few weeks. They are on cloud nine.
For a moment I thought that maybe this had been a dream.
That there was no way one of my deepest fantasies could have come true.
But here she is. Here she is. Looking like an angel.
I can hardly believe it.
We had sex last night.
Her first time. My first time with her.
It was…
I have no words.
This isn’t even writer’s block.
I don’t think I’m talented enough to even try.
It was more than just two bodies reaching for a climax together.
It was more than just getting off.
It was about the two of us, together, finally.
All these years, all these desires, coming to a head, a connection taken to another level, one I didn’t even anticipate.
It was bloody spiritual is what it was and believe me, I am not a praying man. But I will make this woman my religion if she lets me. I will worship at her altar for another glimpse at the heaven I saw last night.
The way they clicked and the chemistry between them was unique. And the writer expresses what they feel in a very successfully-written prose. I felt their connection deep in my heart.
As every “too good to be true” thing, this happiness doesn’t last forever because Marina’s sunshine and Lazarus’s darkness collide at a certain point!
Those words, those beautiful words. "I love you."
The more they mean to me, the scarier it gets.
The more I want to run.
***
You will lose everything if you lose her!
I don’t know why my mind is automatically going there, but it is.
Both Marina and Lazarus had a hard childhood and they still have problematic parents. One day, facing some childhood issues at present destroys the delicate balance of Lazarus and this incident tears them apart for a while.
“Really, there’s no mystery to why I’m bad at love. Most of the time, I don’t even think I want it. I might not even deserve it.“
“If you don’t believe you’re worthy of love you’ll never know what to do with love when you get it.”
Lazarus had it - he had it all - he had this love but he really didn’t know what to do with it as he believed that he couldn’t give Marina what she deserved.
Lucky for my fragile heart, their separation doesn’t last long and Lazarus comes to his senses soon and we have a very happy end. Yessss, you can bee-live it!
This is basically a “will-make-you-happy” book 😊
Totally recommended!
“I love you. Even more now than I did five minutes ago. I’ll love you even more five minutes from now. I will love you and love you and love you more and more and more. Until the end of the world.”
My heart swells, swells, pops.
Confetti in my soul.
November 17, 2017
4.5 BEE STARS
I very much enjoyed this story of two people who are so very bad at love finding love within one another. Their transfer from the best of friends to lovers was very well done. I found the characters' humor was spot on and super entertaining as was the quirkiness of the poet’s fall for the beekeeper.
"We go on some dates. Definitely at least three. And see what we’re doing wrong.”
The story has just the right amount of fun while both characters have very serious family issues. Laz and Marina’s attraction and connection was fantastically written and I definitely adored both characters. These two truly had it all as a couple, steam, humor, and when they get it right LOVE!
"Love is our biggest adventure.”
I very much enjoyed this story of two people who are so very bad at love finding love within one another. Their transfer from the best of friends to lovers was very well done. I found the characters' humor was spot on and super entertaining as was the quirkiness of the poet’s fall for the beekeeper.
"We go on some dates. Definitely at least three. And see what we’re doing wrong.”
The story has just the right amount of fun while both characters have very serious family issues. Laz and Marina’s attraction and connection was fantastically written and I definitely adored both characters. These two truly had it all as a couple, steam, humor, and when they get it right LOVE!
"Love is our biggest adventure.”
November 28, 2017
3.75 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was a cute, easy read. I liked the idea of "finding your weirdo", and that they loved each other's quirks as much as everything else about them. They were fun mcs that I instantly liked and was rooting for the whole story. Some mistakes were made, some mean words exchanged, and I teared up some -- but we got some decent grovel to make up for it all in the end. I wouldn't say this is going on my favorites shelf or will be all that memorable in the long run, but it was enjoyable all the same. I think I just needed a little bit more with the ending and closure. Ms. Halle will still remain one of my go-to authors.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Marina and Laz's story. They meet through Laz's step-sister and Marina's good friend. They are instantly attracted, but over the next four years become best friends instead of pursuing anything more. They realize that they are both seemingly bad at relationships, and decide to fake date each other to try to find out why. Lines get crossed and stronger feelings start to develop, there are some sexy times, some family drama...and they get a HFN ending.
POV: This alternated between Marina and Laz's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they've known each other for years as friends.
H rating: 4 stars. Laz. I liked him. He messed up, but he gave some good grovel to be forgiven 😉
h rating: 4.5 stars. Marina. I really liked her. She was a little nutty, and she was okay with that!
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I teared up but no tissues were needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
Safe sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had okay closure with what I would call a HFN ending. I am picky though, so others might be fine in calling this a HEA .
How I got it:It was part of my kindle unlimited subscription.
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
Overall Opinion: This was a cute, easy read. I liked the idea of "finding your weirdo", and that they loved each other's quirks as much as everything else about them. They were fun mcs that I instantly liked and was rooting for the whole story. Some mistakes were made, some mean words exchanged, and I teared up some -- but we got some decent grovel to make up for it all in the end. I wouldn't say this is going on my favorites shelf or will be all that memorable in the long run, but it was enjoyable all the same. I think I just needed a little bit more with the ending and closure. Ms. Halle will still remain one of my go-to authors.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Marina and Laz's story. They meet through Laz's step-sister and Marina's good friend. They are instantly attracted, but over the next four years become best friends instead of pursuing anything more. They realize that they are both seemingly bad at relationships, and decide to fake date each other to try to find out why. Lines get crossed and stronger feelings start to develop, there are some sexy times, some family drama...and they get a HFN ending.
POV: This alternated between Marina and Laz's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they've known each other for years as friends.
H rating: 4 stars. Laz. I liked him. He messed up, but he gave some good grovel to be forgiven 😉
h rating: 4.5 stars. Marina. I really liked her. She was a little nutty, and she was okay with that!
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I teared up but no tissues were needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
Safe sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had okay closure with what I would call a HFN ending. I am picky though, so others might be fine in calling this a HEA .
How I got it:It was part of my kindle unlimited subscription.
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
November 23, 2017
Over the years I've read a lot of books. So many characters, so many book boyfriends, so many off the wall heroes and heroines. Being introduced to Marina in this book brought me a mix of emotions. I loved her yet I rolled my eyes at her, I laughed at and with her yet I wanted to strangle her. And lucky for me, I'm getting to read about the brooding, confident (or it seems), sexual, over achieving, and hot as fuck character Lazarus, or Laz as his one million Instagram followers call him....
This is a book about friends to lovers and its an adventure of finding love, your first love, your first everything. I throughly enjoyed this story. The beginning was slow for me but the development of the story was amazing. After about 45% into this story, I didn't want to put it down, I couldn't wait to see what happened between this crazy characters. I simply couldn't get enough of Marina & Laz
If you want a sweet, enjoyable read, I recommend this one wholeheartedly!! This book will leave you with a permanent smile 😁
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This is a book about friends to lovers and its an adventure of finding love, your first love, your first everything. I throughly enjoyed this story. The beginning was slow for me but the development of the story was amazing. After about 45% into this story, I didn't want to put it down, I couldn't wait to see what happened between this crazy characters. I simply couldn't get enough of Marina & Laz
If you want a sweet, enjoyable read, I recommend this one wholeheartedly!! This book will leave you with a permanent smile 😁
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November 21, 2017
4 Stars
I forgot how much I used to love Depeche Mode. Thank you much, Laz.
Oh, and this book was absolutely delightful. You better bee-lieve it!
I forgot how much I used to love Depeche Mode. Thank you much, Laz.
Oh, and this book was absolutely delightful. You better bee-lieve it!
November 16, 2017
5 AMAZING stars
Bad At Love was such a beautiful story.It was heartwarming , sweet,funny and sexy.I can’t even express how much I loved it.I had a smile on my face all the time. Marina and Laz stole my heart.
They are both amazing characters.I couldn't get enough of them and when I finish the story I was sad because I need more.Both are cute,funny,sweet and sexy.I adored them and the concept was so good.This one especially felt so natural.Marina is weird in a great way and so funny.I could easily connect with her.Laz is sexy,flirty and funny.
If you are looking for a light and sweet story but at the same time hot and intense this is exactly what you should read!
Bad At Love was such a beautiful story.It was heartwarming , sweet,funny and sexy.I can’t even express how much I loved it.I had a smile on my face all the time. Marina and Laz stole my heart.
They are both amazing characters.I couldn't get enough of them and when I finish the story I was sad because I need more.Both are cute,funny,sweet and sexy.I adored them and the concept was so good.This one especially felt so natural.Marina is weird in a great way and so funny.I could easily connect with her.Laz is sexy,flirty and funny.
If you are looking for a light and sweet story but at the same time hot and intense this is exactly what you should read!
November 24, 2017
I loved this book! The chemistry was OFF the CHARTS, and I could FEEL the explosive energy between these two. Karina Halle has a gift for sexy story telling, and she flexes every muscle of it in these pages.
Sexy, unique and honey-drippingly romantic. The perfect friends-to-lovers romance!
Sexy, unique and honey-drippingly romantic. The perfect friends-to-lovers romance!
November 16, 2017
I am OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK. I am so friggin crazy in love. And as Marina would say, my heart is all rainbows and unicorns and confetti and mushy gushy feels for these characters. I mean, holy freaking moly. What a ride. What a sweet, magical, absolutely delicious ride. From start to finish, I was like an addict for this story. I couldn't put it down. Couldn't stop thinking about it. Couldn't even deal with my LIFE until it was done. This is 'THE FEEL GOOD OF FEEL GOOD' books! And I cannot get over it. I swear, I'm on cloud nine, so happy and whole and fulfilled, and it's because of this gorgeous romance that swept me away.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Okay.. so this is the thing. Bad at Love is a friends to lovers romance. It follows Laz and Marina--which, I must say, have great character names, btw. Typically when I read a book, I have to go back and look at what the characters names were when I write a review. LMAO. I know, it's terrible, but with this book they were imprinted on my brain. All things were...
LAZ LAZ LAZ LAZ.
MARINA MARINA MARINA MARINA!
Like seriously, I was stolen by not only their names but by them. I want these two as my friends. I am so smitten. So enamored. So friggin charmed.
God! I'm swooning again! Sigh.
THIS IS A SIDE EFFECT OF READING THIS BOOK. YOU WILL NOT STOP SWOONING. There will be random moments where you zone out and re-live scenes from this delicious book. You will want to dance in the rain after it's done, eat all the candy, snuggle your kindle, because SWOONNNNNNNN! Swoon. Swoon. Swoon. God, guys. I just CANNOT STOP HAVING A MINUTE OVER THIS BOOK. I know these shouty caps are over the top and totally indulgent, but how can I contain myself?
This story was magical. Laz and Marina warm your heart and soul. They are the most amazing thing. And their romance and friendship is so #goals. Truly, they are REAL friends. Like best best friends. And man are they ever adorable! While they're great at being each others friends, they're really bad at falling in love with other people. Marina cannot get past the third date with ANYONE, and Laz can't stay in a relationship more than a couple months. He's a serial monogamist. Just moves from one relationship to another. He has no idea how to be alone. And Marina doesn't know how to find the guy who will understand her brand of weirdness. They're a mess when it comes to love. So, Laz (being super brilliant) has this idea that they are going to help each other out. He's going to fake date her past the third date and she's going to pretend to be in relationship with him. <<--- can we say winning? Yep. So they're going to do that, and then they're both going to critique each other and try to fix what's broken.
AND GOSH DARN IT. THIS IS A MACIAL CRAZY BOOKISH SITUATION THAT I JUST COULD NOT GET ENOUGH OF.
Not only is their friendship so real and authentic, but individually Laz and Marina were my kind of people. I got their weirdness, and I loved it. Marina our quirky beekeeper is so happy that she made my happy, even happier. And Laz our moody, broody musician and poet made me feel all melty inside. These two are fun. And it only gets funner when they get together.
AND HOLY SPARKS OF YUM!
YUM. YUM. YUM. YUM!
This book is Hot. Romantic. Delightful. Wonderful. YOU NEED TO READ IT. LIKE RIGHT NOW GO READ IT. I honestly, can't get over Bad at Love. A TOP READ OF 2017 for me. And actually, this makes TWO books that Karina has on my TOP reads of 2017 list. Before I Ever Met you and now, Bad at Love. Hooray!
So yeah, overall, I had the BEST time reading this. And I want everyone to read it and feel the same way. What a great read.
PS: Standalone romance.
PPS: I am sorry for all the shouty caps. I told myself I was going to be less OTT this year and more eloquent, but darn it all, this book just makes me feel shouty. It makes me feel so freaking shouty. It's sooooo good.
PPPS: PLEASE READ THIS BOOK.
PPPPS: ARE YOU READING YET?
PPPPPS: GOOOOOOO. READ. THIS. BOOK.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Okay.. so this is the thing. Bad at Love is a friends to lovers romance. It follows Laz and Marina--which, I must say, have great character names, btw. Typically when I read a book, I have to go back and look at what the characters names were when I write a review. LMAO. I know, it's terrible, but with this book they were imprinted on my brain. All things were...
LAZ LAZ LAZ LAZ.
MARINA MARINA MARINA MARINA!
Like seriously, I was stolen by not only their names but by them. I want these two as my friends. I am so smitten. So enamored. So friggin charmed.
God! I'm swooning again! Sigh.
THIS IS A SIDE EFFECT OF READING THIS BOOK. YOU WILL NOT STOP SWOONING. There will be random moments where you zone out and re-live scenes from this delicious book. You will want to dance in the rain after it's done, eat all the candy, snuggle your kindle, because SWOONNNNNNNN! Swoon. Swoon. Swoon. God, guys. I just CANNOT STOP HAVING A MINUTE OVER THIS BOOK. I know these shouty caps are over the top and totally indulgent, but how can I contain myself?
This story was magical. Laz and Marina warm your heart and soul. They are the most amazing thing. And their romance and friendship is so #goals. Truly, they are REAL friends. Like best best friends. And man are they ever adorable! While they're great at being each others friends, they're really bad at falling in love with other people. Marina cannot get past the third date with ANYONE, and Laz can't stay in a relationship more than a couple months. He's a serial monogamist. Just moves from one relationship to another. He has no idea how to be alone. And Marina doesn't know how to find the guy who will understand her brand of weirdness. They're a mess when it comes to love. So, Laz (being super brilliant) has this idea that they are going to help each other out. He's going to fake date her past the third date and she's going to pretend to be in relationship with him. <<--- can we say winning? Yep. So they're going to do that, and then they're both going to critique each other and try to fix what's broken.
AND GOSH DARN IT. THIS IS A MACIAL CRAZY BOOKISH SITUATION THAT I JUST COULD NOT GET ENOUGH OF.
Not only is their friendship so real and authentic, but individually Laz and Marina were my kind of people. I got their weirdness, and I loved it. Marina our quirky beekeeper is so happy that she made my happy, even happier. And Laz our moody, broody musician and poet made me feel all melty inside. These two are fun. And it only gets funner when they get together.
AND HOLY SPARKS OF YUM!
YUM. YUM. YUM. YUM!
This book is Hot. Romantic. Delightful. Wonderful. YOU NEED TO READ IT. LIKE RIGHT NOW GO READ IT. I honestly, can't get over Bad at Love. A TOP READ OF 2017 for me. And actually, this makes TWO books that Karina has on my TOP reads of 2017 list. Before I Ever Met you and now, Bad at Love. Hooray!
So yeah, overall, I had the BEST time reading this. And I want everyone to read it and feel the same way. What a great read.
PS: Standalone romance.
PPS: I am sorry for all the shouty caps. I told myself I was going to be less OTT this year and more eloquent, but darn it all, this book just makes me feel shouty. It makes me feel so freaking shouty. It's sooooo good.
PPPS: PLEASE READ THIS BOOK.
PPPPS: ARE YOU READING YET?
PPPPPS: GOOOOOOO. READ. THIS. BOOK.
November 17, 2017
5 'Find your weirdo flower' Stars!
ARC provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.
I seriously don’t know how this amazing woman does it but her books just check all my romance expectations! I’ve been completely hooked since the first book I’ve read be hers and I loved everything that I’ve read since that moment. I do have to say, I am always into lighter romance novels (I still have to check out Karina’s darker side! Lol) and all Karina’s newest releases are so I am definitely not complaining! And, of course, she just added another masterpiece for me to love because Bad at Love is absolutely beautiful!
So, Bad at Love is already LIVE and this baby is a standalone romance that happens to involve one of my favorite romance troupes: friends to lovers. Marina and Laz meet through one of Marina’s best friends who also happens to be Laz’s stepsister. Their connection is instant, but the circumstances decide for them and they do not act on their attraction: actually, they become best friends. Four years pass and these two are the most weirdly adorable friends but there is just one thing: they don’t know how to remain in love relationships. They are bad at love! Or that is what it seems... Everything changes when Laz presents a new “strategy” to Marina: to date each other. And as you can imagine, the sparks start flying all over the place!
“Darling, you deserve all of that and more. And you will have that. I promise you, you will find love. You will find that man who will wrap his arms around you as you drift off to sleep. You will find everything you need.” I pause. “You’ll find your flower.”
Okay, I am IN LOVE! Yes, Bad at Love is just that good! Let me just say it: this is now on my top favorite novels by Karina Halle. There, I’ve said it. And you may be wondering why... Well, because of the outstanding couple that features this book, of course! Laz and Marina are perfect for each other. They are two lovable weirdos who still deal with very difficult situations from their pasts, but everything seems to disappear when they are together. These two have a beautiful friendship but when it becomes more, it made me melt all over! And not just because of the off-the-charts chemistry they have!
“Marina,” he says, reaching for my face, his fingertips holding my chin until I’m looking at him. “Let me in. Let me be here for everything, all the good, all the bad. All your light and all your dark.”
Obviously they do have SOME STRONG CHEMISTRY. Because, holy mother of God, when they are together, things get oh-so-sexy. In my opinion, Karina is one of my favorite authors when it comes to the hottest sex scenes. The woman knows how to write, that is for sure! And not just the sexy stuff, oh no! When things get difficult and emotions rise, wow, just WOW. Marina and Laz are amazing together and not just because of their friendship and their hot chemistry. Also because they are always there for each other in difficult times and because their feelings will make you love them even more. The sentiments in Bad at Love run high and that is what makes it such a fantastic book!
“I wish you could see yourself as I see you. See how unbelievable you are. Every single inch of you is pure poetry.” [...] “I want to write you with my tongue.”
Also, did I mention it has a great list of characters? Not only the main characters but also the secondary ones! I love that. I love familiarity and friendship. I love that even though this is a light book it's still has lots of emotion and some drama in it. That is what I love in a good romance novel: that it has a little bit of everything. And what do I even love more? A good ending. A good, sexy and emotional ending. And Bad at Love did not fail on that either. The ending is brilliant and that is always important to me. It is one of the other reasons I gave this rating to the novel. Because it made the novel finish perfectly. It made it magical!
It was her.
It was always her.
My kind of weirdo.
Therefore, my rating for Bad at Love is 5 STARS because I fell in love with absolutely everything this book has: the plot, the outstanding characters, the beautiful and sexy chemistry between the couple, the emotions and the ending! Marina and Laz stole my heart completely and I am sure they will steal yours too! Karina Halle is ending this year with a fantastic release and I can’t wait to read more in the next one. Highly recommend reading this one!
CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:
ARC provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.
I seriously don’t know how this amazing woman does it but her books just check all my romance expectations! I’ve been completely hooked since the first book I’ve read be hers and I loved everything that I’ve read since that moment. I do have to say, I am always into lighter romance novels (I still have to check out Karina’s darker side! Lol) and all Karina’s newest releases are so I am definitely not complaining! And, of course, she just added another masterpiece for me to love because Bad at Love is absolutely beautiful!
So, Bad at Love is already LIVE and this baby is a standalone romance that happens to involve one of my favorite romance troupes: friends to lovers. Marina and Laz meet through one of Marina’s best friends who also happens to be Laz’s stepsister. Their connection is instant, but the circumstances decide for them and they do not act on their attraction: actually, they become best friends. Four years pass and these two are the most weirdly adorable friends but there is just one thing: they don’t know how to remain in love relationships. They are bad at love! Or that is what it seems... Everything changes when Laz presents a new “strategy” to Marina: to date each other. And as you can imagine, the sparks start flying all over the place!
“Darling, you deserve all of that and more. And you will have that. I promise you, you will find love. You will find that man who will wrap his arms around you as you drift off to sleep. You will find everything you need.” I pause. “You’ll find your flower.”
Okay, I am IN LOVE! Yes, Bad at Love is just that good! Let me just say it: this is now on my top favorite novels by Karina Halle. There, I’ve said it. And you may be wondering why... Well, because of the outstanding couple that features this book, of course! Laz and Marina are perfect for each other. They are two lovable weirdos who still deal with very difficult situations from their pasts, but everything seems to disappear when they are together. These two have a beautiful friendship but when it becomes more, it made me melt all over! And not just because of the off-the-charts chemistry they have!
“Marina,” he says, reaching for my face, his fingertips holding my chin until I’m looking at him. “Let me in. Let me be here for everything, all the good, all the bad. All your light and all your dark.”
Obviously they do have SOME STRONG CHEMISTRY. Because, holy mother of God, when they are together, things get oh-so-sexy. In my opinion, Karina is one of my favorite authors when it comes to the hottest sex scenes. The woman knows how to write, that is for sure! And not just the sexy stuff, oh no! When things get difficult and emotions rise, wow, just WOW. Marina and Laz are amazing together and not just because of their friendship and their hot chemistry. Also because they are always there for each other in difficult times and because their feelings will make you love them even more. The sentiments in Bad at Love run high and that is what makes it such a fantastic book!
“I wish you could see yourself as I see you. See how unbelievable you are. Every single inch of you is pure poetry.” [...] “I want to write you with my tongue.”
Also, did I mention it has a great list of characters? Not only the main characters but also the secondary ones! I love that. I love familiarity and friendship. I love that even though this is a light book it's still has lots of emotion and some drama in it. That is what I love in a good romance novel: that it has a little bit of everything. And what do I even love more? A good ending. A good, sexy and emotional ending. And Bad at Love did not fail on that either. The ending is brilliant and that is always important to me. It is one of the other reasons I gave this rating to the novel. Because it made the novel finish perfectly. It made it magical!
It was her.
It was always her.
My kind of weirdo.
Therefore, my rating for Bad at Love is 5 STARS because I fell in love with absolutely everything this book has: the plot, the outstanding characters, the beautiful and sexy chemistry between the couple, the emotions and the ending! Marina and Laz stole my heart completely and I am sure they will steal yours too! Karina Halle is ending this year with a fantastic release and I can’t wait to read more in the next one. Highly recommend reading this one!
CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:
December 6, 2017
4.5 ★'s
I love almost all of Karina Halle's books and this one is no exception. Laz and Marina met over four years ago when she goes to see her friend's, Jane, band perform. That's where she meets Jane's stepbrother, Laz. She's immediately drawn to him but Jane warns her off since he's a serial monogamist.
So, they become best friends instead. Both are quirky (I think I learned more about bees than I ever wanted to!) and both feel unfulfilled. Laz comes up with the idea to fake date so they can each figure out what the other's problems are. And it works to an extent...or at least until Laz kisses her. Then, things go to a whole other level.
What started off as an attraction becomes a full blown obsession with each other and they can't stay away. And the steamy scenes are quite steamy indeed!
But...we all know what's coming. I was just surprised at how quickly it did come. However, I was sooo happy at how Marina stood up for herself and tried to talk sense into Laz.
I loved the angst and I wish it would have taken longer for Laz to get his head on straight. Ha! Thankfully, he does some good groveling.
There's a side drama that happens with Laz's family that was really intense. The good thing that came out of that was Noah. I'm certainly hoping we get more of him a few years in the pretend future.
I loved the wrap up...I think it was perfect for these two. If you're a fan of Karina Halle, you don't want this one to pass you by!
I love almost all of Karina Halle's books and this one is no exception. Laz and Marina met over four years ago when she goes to see her friend's, Jane, band perform. That's where she meets Jane's stepbrother, Laz. She's immediately drawn to him but Jane warns her off since he's a serial monogamist.
So, they become best friends instead. Both are quirky (I think I learned more about bees than I ever wanted to!) and both feel unfulfilled. Laz comes up with the idea to fake date so they can each figure out what the other's problems are. And it works to an extent...or at least until Laz kisses her. Then, things go to a whole other level.
What started off as an attraction becomes a full blown obsession with each other and they can't stay away. And the steamy scenes are quite steamy indeed!
But...we all know what's coming. I was just surprised at how quickly it did come. However, I was sooo happy at how Marina stood up for herself and tried to talk sense into Laz.
I loved the angst and I wish it would have taken longer for Laz to get his head on straight. Ha! Thankfully, he does some good groveling.
There's a side drama that happens with Laz's family that was really intense. The good thing that came out of that was Noah. I'm certainly hoping we get more of him a few years in the pretend future.
I loved the wrap up...I think it was perfect for these two. If you're a fan of Karina Halle, you don't want this one to pass you by!
October 3, 2022
Bad at Love is a friend to lover romance. I usually do not like this particular trope. Miss Halle proves me wrong. The story is not straight forward full of attraction and then go to sex. Bad at Love has some depth in the plot. I do like the fact that both Mariana and Lazarus has some in depth into their characters.
Mariana for example, she is quirky and dorky. She is very awkward with the opposite sex. She lacks of self confident. Meawhile Lazarus is not exactly a man whore who just want to have ONS. He actually have committed relationship before. Its just the women he dated in the past, did not ignite a spark with him. And he is a laid back guy.
The sexual tension between Lazarus and Mariana is simmering nicely and Miss Hale build it until it reached climax. So hot. I like this kind of sexual tension. The writing is beautiful and flow nicely.
4 stars
Mariana for example, she is quirky and dorky. She is very awkward with the opposite sex. She lacks of self confident. Meawhile Lazarus is not exactly a man whore who just want to have ONS. He actually have committed relationship before. Its just the women he dated in the past, did not ignite a spark with him. And he is a laid back guy.
The sexual tension between Lazarus and Mariana is simmering nicely and Miss Hale build it until it reached climax. So hot. I like this kind of sexual tension. The writing is beautiful and flow nicely.
4 stars
November 27, 2017
5 "The poet and the beekeeper" stars.
"...sometimes even the best intentions and the purest hearts can get fucked over by love."
I sit here, enjoying the emotions swirling inside me, sipping my Blue Moon and grinning like a fool, because THIS BOOK. This romantic, funny, and heartwarming book.
There's no secret I love Karina Halle's writing. I have enjoyed and loved her stories. But you know there are always some of them that hold a special place in your heart. And Bad at Love has fallen into that category. I just didn't fall in love with this story. I'm addicted to it. Addicted to bees, to poems, and to magic 8-balls.
This book was a total breath of fresh air. The perfect blend of heat, heart, and humor. Bad at Love is friends to lovers at its best. It had me flipping pages so quickly I could barely control myself. Not only did I love the dialogue between the main characters Marina and Laz, but I found myself laughing out loud and loving the scenes with Jane, Naomi, Noah and even Scooby. To top it all off, I fell in love with bees. Can you bee-lieve it? That was all Karina's magic, she has this ability to make me fall in love with things I didn't think it was possible to fall in love with. She's that powerful.
Bad at Love is a gorgeously written friends-to-lovers contemporary romance that will definitely warm your heart and possibly other body parts. A total MUST READ.
"Find your weirdo, embrace your weird."
You can find me here: FB PAGE | INSTAGRAM
November 21, 2017
4.5 stars.
I was really smitten by this story about the poet and the beekeeper.
A definite feel-good and oh so sweet romance. Funny, tender and I loved the writing.💖💖💖
I was really smitten by this story about the poet and the beekeeper.
A definite feel-good and oh so sweet romance. Funny, tender and I loved the writing.💖💖💖
November 17, 2017
OMG! This was so so SO GOOD! I love EVERYTHING Karina Halle writes! One of the BEST friends-to-lovers romances I’ve read this year!
BAD AT LOVE is just another example of how FREAKING TALENTED this author is! Sexy, angsty, swoony, funny, and just an all around BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE, this friends-to-lovers masterpiece just stole my heart and ran off with it, and I don’t even want it back. The characters…these characters were EVERYTHING! A hero that will completely MELT your heart and a heroine who is adorable, awkward, and downright relatable, there is no way you could go into this book and not fall HEAD OVER HEELS in love with Marina and Lazarus! In fact, I DARE you to try!
The poet and the beekeeper….I mean, how FREAKING CUTE is that! And so damn unique! From their very first meeting to the moment they knew they were IT for each other, it was just PURE BLISS the whole way through, with plenty of angst and hilarity mixed in!
A man, thinking he wasn’t capable of love, found something even deeper in his very best friend. The flow of the story and the development and growth of Marina and Laz’s relationship just warmed my heart and soothed my soul. Whenever Karina Halle writes a romance, I’ll be FIRST IN LINE every single time. She blows me away with each release and her characters ALWAYS have a place in my heart. BAD AT LOVE was truly remarkable and a TRUE JOY to DEVOUR!
BAD AT LOVE is just another example of how FREAKING TALENTED this author is! Sexy, angsty, swoony, funny, and just an all around BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE, this friends-to-lovers masterpiece just stole my heart and ran off with it, and I don’t even want it back. The characters…these characters were EVERYTHING! A hero that will completely MELT your heart and a heroine who is adorable, awkward, and downright relatable, there is no way you could go into this book and not fall HEAD OVER HEELS in love with Marina and Lazarus! In fact, I DARE you to try!
The poet and the beekeeper….I mean, how FREAKING CUTE is that! And so damn unique! From their very first meeting to the moment they knew they were IT for each other, it was just PURE BLISS the whole way through, with plenty of angst and hilarity mixed in!
A man, thinking he wasn’t capable of love, found something even deeper in his very best friend. The flow of the story and the development and growth of Marina and Laz’s relationship just warmed my heart and soothed my soul. Whenever Karina Halle writes a romance, I’ll be FIRST IN LINE every single time. She blows me away with each release and her characters ALWAYS have a place in my heart. BAD AT LOVE was truly remarkable and a TRUE JOY to DEVOUR!
November 22, 2017
You're right in that you don't deserve my love.
The man who deserves my love is somone who gives as much as he takes.
Who faces the fear head on and moves past them. Who has hope. Who tries.
You, Laz, you're stuck in the past.
Stuck with what's easy, what's shallow.
You sing songs that don't belong to you, you pen poems that you don't let yourself feel.
You're a fraud, even to yourself.
You don't even know who you are."
I'm a sucker for a "friends to lovers" romance, hence perhaps why I gave this book 2 chances.
I actually gave up first toward 40%, came back after reading something else and gave up once again around 80%. And that's while turning the pages really fast, if you know what I mean.
I was torn about this book, those characters, I actually had a real debate - with myself ah ah - about who's more pathetic. Is it the guy commonly named "The manwhore" that has a different girl in his bed each week/each night or is it the guy that has a different girlfriend each month and writes poems about them on Instagram when it's over?
How was I supposed to even like Laz a.k.a your male version of Taylor Swift? First, the guy has a band that only covers songs from Depeche Mode. As much as I love Depeche Mode, that was one strike against him. Then, he is a serial...I don't even know how to call that...it is said at some point in the book, that at 30, he has had 32 girlfriends. 32 at 30!! If that isn't a big, fat sign for "Run the over way!! RUN!!!" I don't know what that is.
Marina, the female character...the author said, on her IG account, that she was inspired by actress Beth Behrs. If you've ever watched 2 Broke Girls, you'll see that the inspiration was not just physical but came a lot from Caroline's character in the show. I love Caroline, she's fun, quirky and somewhat clumsy...but she's also created by real Hollywood show runners that makes it so she doesn't become annoying at some point. Here, I'm forced to remind you as I had to remind myself, that Miss Halle is not one of them. As a result, Marina felt too naïve, even a little stupid at times and I mean, how come you even DARE to ask yourself why a man won't call you back when you've spent the night getting drunk, talking about BEES...because yup, that's her thing, she's a beekeeper and when she's nervous, she talks about bees. I'm all for the originality of the job but I'm sad to say that as much as I didn't care about bees when I started the book, I still didn't care about them at the end. I mean, she wants people to have dates on her property and...I don't know what...I mean, why would you deliberately go on a date where you have to deal with bees?!
That was for the characters. Now, the plot. That thing with the best friends that date each other "just for the sake of science" has been done a hundred or a million times before. But sometimes, it works. Here, though, it didn't. Laz - the guy that just can't stay single - comes up with the idea because he wants to find out why Marina can't get passed a 3rd date. They've been friends for years, it took me 3 pages of the book to find out what was wrong with her. Either Laz is a really selfish friend that doesn't pay attention to her, or he just didn't want to stay single any longer.
The idea sounded ridiculous and I can't say it looked any better when they actually started to date. There was 0 chemistry between them as a couple, they made better friends than anything else and that's after that realization that I first decided to DNF.
So, why did I came back? LOL Don't judge me, I wanted to know if he had a Prince Albert or a Jacob's Ladder. Yup, I'm not even ashamed to say that's the only thing that kept me up at some point, in this book.
To sum up my review, I found the characters...not unlikeable, but that quote at the beginning of my review says exactly how I felt about Laz all along the book and it came from the ONE moment Marina was smart enough to speak up. I felt like Laz was kind of taking advantage of how naïve Marina was in order to have his 33rd girlfriend - because guess what, the moment it became "too much" he bailed - and he didn't give me ONE proof of why he deserved to be loved by her. In this sense, the title is actually pretty accurate, both characters were bad at love.
The man who deserves my love is somone who gives as much as he takes.
Who faces the fear head on and moves past them. Who has hope. Who tries.
You, Laz, you're stuck in the past.
Stuck with what's easy, what's shallow.
You sing songs that don't belong to you, you pen poems that you don't let yourself feel.
You're a fraud, even to yourself.
You don't even know who you are."
I'm a sucker for a "friends to lovers" romance, hence perhaps why I gave this book 2 chances.
I actually gave up first toward 40%, came back after reading something else and gave up once again around 80%. And that's while turning the pages really fast, if you know what I mean.
I was torn about this book, those characters, I actually had a real debate - with myself ah ah - about who's more pathetic. Is it the guy commonly named "The manwhore" that has a different girl in his bed each week/each night or is it the guy that has a different girlfriend each month and writes poems about them on Instagram when it's over?
How was I supposed to even like Laz a.k.a your male version of Taylor Swift? First, the guy has a band that only covers songs from Depeche Mode. As much as I love Depeche Mode, that was one strike against him. Then, he is a serial...I don't even know how to call that...it is said at some point in the book, that at 30, he has had 32 girlfriends. 32 at 30!! If that isn't a big, fat sign for "Run the over way!! RUN!!!" I don't know what that is.
Marina, the female character...the author said, on her IG account, that she was inspired by actress Beth Behrs. If you've ever watched 2 Broke Girls, you'll see that the inspiration was not just physical but came a lot from Caroline's character in the show. I love Caroline, she's fun, quirky and somewhat clumsy...but she's also created by real Hollywood show runners that makes it so she doesn't become annoying at some point. Here, I'm forced to remind you as I had to remind myself, that Miss Halle is not one of them. As a result, Marina felt too naïve, even a little stupid at times and I mean, how come you even DARE to ask yourself why a man won't call you back when you've spent the night getting drunk, talking about BEES...because yup, that's her thing, she's a beekeeper and when she's nervous, she talks about bees. I'm all for the originality of the job but I'm sad to say that as much as I didn't care about bees when I started the book, I still didn't care about them at the end. I mean, she wants people to have dates on her property and...I don't know what...I mean, why would you deliberately go on a date where you have to deal with bees?!
That was for the characters. Now, the plot. That thing with the best friends that date each other "just for the sake of science" has been done a hundred or a million times before. But sometimes, it works. Here, though, it didn't. Laz - the guy that just can't stay single - comes up with the idea because he wants to find out why Marina can't get passed a 3rd date. They've been friends for years, it took me 3 pages of the book to find out what was wrong with her. Either Laz is a really selfish friend that doesn't pay attention to her, or he just didn't want to stay single any longer.
The idea sounded ridiculous and I can't say it looked any better when they actually started to date. There was 0 chemistry between them as a couple, they made better friends than anything else and that's after that realization that I first decided to DNF.
So, why did I came back? LOL Don't judge me, I wanted to know if he had a Prince Albert or a Jacob's Ladder. Yup, I'm not even ashamed to say that's the only thing that kept me up at some point, in this book.
To sum up my review, I found the characters...not unlikeable, but that quote at the beginning of my review says exactly how I felt about Laz all along the book and it came from the ONE moment Marina was smart enough to speak up. I felt like Laz was kind of taking advantage of how naïve Marina was in order to have his 33rd girlfriend - because guess what, the moment it became "too much" he bailed - and he didn't give me ONE proof of why he deserved to be loved by her. In this sense, the title is actually pretty accurate, both characters were bad at love.
November 16, 2017
★4 STARS★
I have to say, I’m really enjoying my Karina Halle revival this year. I adore her WILD RIDGE series and I had so much fun reading her contemporary standalone, AFTER ALL.
BAD AT LOVE is a friends to lovers romance which to me embodies what I love most about the trope. The tentativeness and hesitation of taking friendship to the next level vs the blistering chemistry and emotion that lies just beneath the surface.
Marina and Laz are long time, firm friends who are basically pretty Bad at Love. Marina is a wonderful character who is free with her feelings, thoughts and emotions. She’s an open book, but for the life of her, she can’t find someone to hang around long enough to hear her story. On the other hand you have Laz. He’s an enigma of sorts with his broody artistic ways. When it comes to love he’s happy to be in a relationship but he can’t seem to find someone who can read him the way Marina can.
In an effort to help identify where the other is going wrong, they agree to “date.” It has the makings of a recipe for disaster, but when they get a taste of what life could be like, there’s no going back.
In terms of a cute and sweet read, BAD AT LOVE is the bee’s knees.
November 26, 2017
DNF 65%
Bored out of my mind. Like...so bored I started people watching from my balcony just to avoid reading. Here’s what I learned: Mrs G from across the street got new boobs...that was a newsflash...could not miss them in her tank top. Mrs R next door is hanging her Xmas lights in eye-competing booty shorts. Mr and Mrs W are playing with kids out front...Mr W is enjoying an eyeful. Mrs W is fit to be tied. Mr J on the other next door is looking mighty fine (he’s single Pringle too, so I can comment ;) He’s waxing his truck tires. The brothers who live at the front of the cul-de-sac are, I swear to god, off loading a full-sized stuffed deer. And the neighbors across from them are washing their boat. Okies are an odd bunch.
Fuck. I miss NOLA.
6 more months.
FUCK.
sigh.
Zö, this author is now on my short list...near to be no list. Loved some of her series’ hated the rest.
Bored out of my mind. Like...so bored I started people watching from my balcony just to avoid reading. Here’s what I learned: Mrs G from across the street got new boobs...that was a newsflash...could not miss them in her tank top. Mrs R next door is hanging her Xmas lights in eye-competing booty shorts. Mr and Mrs W are playing with kids out front...Mr W is enjoying an eyeful. Mrs W is fit to be tied. Mr J on the other next door is looking mighty fine (he’s single Pringle too, so I can comment ;) He’s waxing his truck tires. The brothers who live at the front of the cul-de-sac are, I swear to god, off loading a full-sized stuffed deer. And the neighbors across from them are washing their boat. Okies are an odd bunch.
Fuck. I miss NOLA.
6 more months.
FUCK.
sigh.
Zö, this author is now on my short list...near to be no list. Loved some of her series’ hated the rest.
December 2, 2017
4 “Because life is short and love needs to be indulged often.” Stars!
Best friends to lovers.
A serial monogamist rocker poet male.
A quirky bee-keeping California girl.
They are both bad at love.
They pretend to date to help each other out, and well... you’ll have to read to find out. I really enjoyed Laz and Marina’s story. I loved that their friendship does feel sweet and natural, before it turns into a relationship. This romance truly feels unexpected even though it’s absolutely expected as the reader. Halle does a fantastic job giving both Marina and Laz a back story that feels relatable, ties them together, and also reasonably explains why they are so “bad at love.”
All in all, this is a great contemporary read. I loved the quirky main characters. I loved their friendship, their fake relationship, their relationship, the side characters in this story. It’s just a great read all in all. If you’re looking for a friends to lovers that feels unique because the characters feel so fresh, then look no further!
https://instagram.com/p/BcNb58HgR8X/
https://instagram.com/p/BcNU5g9gHh-/
^a fan edit I made on IG!
Best friends to lovers.
A serial monogamist rocker poet male.
A quirky bee-keeping California girl.
They are both bad at love.
They pretend to date to help each other out, and well... you’ll have to read to find out. I really enjoyed Laz and Marina’s story. I loved that their friendship does feel sweet and natural, before it turns into a relationship. This romance truly feels unexpected even though it’s absolutely expected as the reader. Halle does a fantastic job giving both Marina and Laz a back story that feels relatable, ties them together, and also reasonably explains why they are so “bad at love.”
All in all, this is a great contemporary read. I loved the quirky main characters. I loved their friendship, their fake relationship, their relationship, the side characters in this story. It’s just a great read all in all. If you’re looking for a friends to lovers that feels unique because the characters feel so fresh, then look no further!
https://instagram.com/p/BcNb58HgR8X/
https://instagram.com/p/BcNU5g9gHh-/
^a fan edit I made on IG!
March 1, 2018
2018 Romance Challenge.
Category: Friends to Lovers
4 "Bloody Brilliant" Stars
I read Bad at Love on a whim. I had been meaning to try my hand at a Karina Halle novel for awhile now but never actually done it. This was my first, but certainly not my last. I’m not sure if this is still on for FREE-NINETY-NINE on Kindle Unlimited but if it is I would recommend giving it (and her eloquently named Smut) a second glance.
I’ve always enjoyed a good friends to lovers story, not as much as enemies to lovers but perhaps that speaks of my perversity more than anything, and this definitely was a well crafted one.
Marina and Lazarus (more commonly called ‘Laz’) meet at one of his band’s performances. It’s a cute little moment which kicks this story off well. Laz is the stepbrother of one of Marina’s best friends and despite her attraction to him he quickly becomes one of her best friends too.
Time passes, as it is wont to do, and their friendship becomes one of the biggest constants in both of their lives. So much so that when relationship, and lack of relationship, troubles come up they are the first that either seek out for guidance or simply to vent frustration on same. They care deeply for one and other, even love each other as friends. There is so much warmth between Marina and Laz.
“I want to find a guy. I want to fall in love. I want a future with someone, maybe marriage and babies, maybe right now all I need is to have someone’s arms around me as I fall asleep. I want love. I feel it’s absence in my life, every day.”
You’re breaking my heart, sweet girl.
And even though I find both of their occupations a bit “on the nose” as it were (him being a twitter poet/musician and her being a bee keeper) I still really enjoyed the use of same within the story. It creates a couple rather adorable scenes that I would have missed had they been given more believable occupations.
Overall, I find Halle’s writing really fun and entrancing. While believability may take a backseat for the sake of the storyline at times I find myself forgiving that because I enjoy the characters and their quirky, crazy and delightful love story so much.
February 24, 2021
try to read this and not sing Halsey's Bad at love!!
I really really enjoyed this one!!
It reminded me of why I love Karina Halle's writing...
despite the overdone premise, this was delightful and steamy..
I really really enjoyed this one!!
It reminded me of why I love Karina Halle's writing...
despite the overdone premise, this was delightful and steamy..
November 15, 2017
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
4.25 stars
"Wild and free and full of light. I want to be a part of that light in your eyes. I want to be the cause of it."
I was in the mood for a fun and light contemporary romance, and knowing that Karina always delivers, I decided to read this book. Let me tell you that I was not disappointed. I am a very difficult reader, and I am especially picky with contemporary romance novels. So it isn't that easy to grab my attention, and keep me interested until the end. But Karina did such an incredible job with the characters and the story she created for this book. It was just such a fun read, and I loved that Laz was a Poet and that Marina was a Beekeeper. They are best friends but both of them are bad at love in a different way. Laz is switching girlfriends every few months, and Marina can't get past the third date. So Laz proposes that they date each other as a test to see what they are doing wrong, and how they can be better at dating. I loved this idea so much, and I already knew feelings would be involved pretty fast. What I loved about this book is how everything developed in a very organic way.
"Marina, I've never wanted anything, anyone, in this whole bloody world as much as I want you."
What made me love this book the most were the personalities of the two main characters . They were the opposites in some ways, but also had a couple of things in common. I absolutely loved their friendship. Marina is the sweetest girl: she is nurturing, positive, loyal and has such a kind heart. She is the forgiving type and will help anyone who needs it. Plus she is a Beekeeper, which is so awesome! I need more unusual occupations in books. I loved all the fun and weird facts she would cite about bees at the most random times. Laz, is a Poet and is also is the lead singer in a cover band. Plus he has a sexy British accent, which I LOVE! He was this fun guy, but also has an other side that he doesn't share with anyone. There were a couple of heartbreaking scenes and my heart went out to both Laz and Marina. I do love how they supported each other. These two were made for each other, and I couldn't get enough of them. Bad at Love is such a great friends-to-lovers contemporary romance, with very hot and steamy sex scenes. I highly recommend this book.
4.25 stars
"Wild and free and full of light. I want to be a part of that light in your eyes. I want to be the cause of it."
I was in the mood for a fun and light contemporary romance, and knowing that Karina always delivers, I decided to read this book. Let me tell you that I was not disappointed. I am a very difficult reader, and I am especially picky with contemporary romance novels. So it isn't that easy to grab my attention, and keep me interested until the end. But Karina did such an incredible job with the characters and the story she created for this book. It was just such a fun read, and I loved that Laz was a Poet and that Marina was a Beekeeper. They are best friends but both of them are bad at love in a different way. Laz is switching girlfriends every few months, and Marina can't get past the third date. So Laz proposes that they date each other as a test to see what they are doing wrong, and how they can be better at dating. I loved this idea so much, and I already knew feelings would be involved pretty fast. What I loved about this book is how everything developed in a very organic way.
"Marina, I've never wanted anything, anyone, in this whole bloody world as much as I want you."
What made me love this book the most were the personalities of the two main characters . They were the opposites in some ways, but also had a couple of things in common. I absolutely loved their friendship. Marina is the sweetest girl: she is nurturing, positive, loyal and has such a kind heart. She is the forgiving type and will help anyone who needs it. Plus she is a Beekeeper, which is so awesome! I need more unusual occupations in books. I loved all the fun and weird facts she would cite about bees at the most random times. Laz, is a Poet and is also is the lead singer in a cover band. Plus he has a sexy British accent, which I LOVE! He was this fun guy, but also has an other side that he doesn't share with anyone. There were a couple of heartbreaking scenes and my heart went out to both Laz and Marina. I do love how they supported each other. These two were made for each other, and I couldn't get enough of them. Bad at Love is such a great friends-to-lovers contemporary romance, with very hot and steamy sex scenes. I highly recommend this book.
no-way-jose
November 24, 2017November 23rd: I had to add this:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Not a single chance to read this.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
That’s funny how things work. This is a 5 stars review, but so many things she mentioned would not make me a happy camper if I read this book. Definitely not my kind.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Not a single chance to read this.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
That’s funny how things work. This is a 5 stars review, but so many things she mentioned would not make me a happy camper if I read this book. Definitely not my kind.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
June 22, 2018
Una historia muy linda de friends-to-lovers, me encantó, con un ritmo fluido, diálogos divertidos y dulces que te ponen una sonrisa en la cara.
La relacion entre los protagonistas Is so sweet, so bee-autiful que te dejan sonriendo como tonta, you better bee-lieve it!!😊😍
La relacion entre los protagonistas Is so sweet, so bee-autiful que te dejan sonriendo como tonta, you better bee-lieve it!!😊😍
December 10, 2017
4 Bee-utiful Stars
I enjoyed this friends to lovers romance. Lazarus and Marina are pretty much opposites in most ways. She is a bright, bubbly, bee keeping heroine who cannot move past the third date with a man. Laz is a dark, brooding poet who can't find the woman for him despite multiple attempts. Finally, the stars align and these two decide to fake date but it doesn't stay fake for long.
This book was quite melancholy and dark in places but it was well balanced with humour. It really is all about love and finding your person. Low angst. High passion after a bit of a slow start.
HEA? Yes
Cheating? No
I enjoyed this friends to lovers romance. Lazarus and Marina are pretty much opposites in most ways. She is a bright, bubbly, bee keeping heroine who cannot move past the third date with a man. Laz is a dark, brooding poet who can't find the woman for him despite multiple attempts. Finally, the stars align and these two decide to fake date but it doesn't stay fake for long.
This book was quite melancholy and dark in places but it was well balanced with humour. It really is all about love and finding your person. Low angst. High passion after a bit of a slow start.
HEA? Yes
Cheating? No
November 20, 2017
Bad at Love is a friends-to-lovers romance, that features a loveable Mancunian hero who is an Instagram Poet (who knew?) and a nervous but adorable beekeeper with a quirkiness that I really loved.
Laz & Marina have been friends for 4 years, but decide that they are so bad at dating that they come up with a plan to date each other for 'practice'.
They had great banter which is always a bonus, but what I loved most was the chemistry that started off a slow sizzle and ended up pretty explosive!
Definitely one of my fave Karina Halle books of 2017
4 Stars
Laz & Marina have been friends for 4 years, but decide that they are so bad at dating that they come up with a plan to date each other for 'practice'.
They had great banter which is always a bonus, but what I loved most was the chemistry that started off a slow sizzle and ended up pretty explosive!
Definitely one of my fave Karina Halle books of 2017
4 Stars
December 17, 2018
Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK
I thought this was a sweet friends-to-lovers novel. Both characters were likable and it was interesting to get to the root of both of their problems with romance. Marina was a super awkward heroine but I liked that about her and that it made her unique. I did think that the story slowed down at times and it was a little hard to stay focused on it but I still enjoyed it.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
I thought this was a sweet friends-to-lovers novel. Both characters were likable and it was interesting to get to the root of both of their problems with romance. Marina was a super awkward heroine but I liked that about her and that it made her unique. I did think that the story slowed down at times and it was a little hard to stay focused on it but I still enjoyed it.
November 15, 2017
Loved this book!!!! Laz and Marina are wonderfully quirky characters and have amazing chemistry together. Sweet, funny, sexy, heartwarming, and emotional -- I loved everything about this book! This is my favorite friends to lovers story and a top book of 2017 for me! Highly recommend!!!
November 19, 2017
4,5. Não consegui parar de ler esse livro. Tão lindo, sincero e sentimental.
A autora conseguiu fazer com que os personagens principais tivessem uma quimica incrível. ADOREI!
Adoro essa autora!!!!
A autora conseguiu fazer com que os personagens principais tivessem uma quimica incrível. ADOREI!
Adoro essa autora!!!!
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