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Always Satisfied #3
Never Have I Ever
What happens when two frenemies can't stop pushing each other's buttons? Find out in this tender, laugh-out-loud funny romance from number-one New York Times best-selling author Lauren Blakely, available in audio first!
Never Have I Ever been so infuriated by a man I wanted to kiss.
They say opposites attract, but I beg to differ. Combust is more like it. Because every single time I talk to Zach Nolan, I see red.
The too-good-looking, too-smart, too-effortlessly-charming single dad who works down the hall from me has turned getting under my skin into a sport. Call it the battle of wits between the wedding planner and the divorce attorney. Trouble is, when we’re forced into closer quarters, planning an engagement party for our best friends, I start to see his other sides.
And I fear I’m falling for the enemy.
***
I’m not out to make friends. My goals are simple -- fight till the end for my clients, and my family. The last thing I need is a vibrant, outgoing, snarky, and surprisingly big-hearted wedding planner to spend my precious free time with…except, watching Piper bond with my daughter just might break down the cinder block walls I’ve built around my heart these last few years. Second chances don’t come around for guys like me…or do they?
Never Have I Ever been so infuriated by a man I wanted to kiss.
They say opposites attract, but I beg to differ. Combust is more like it. Because every single time I talk to Zach Nolan, I see red.
The too-good-looking, too-smart, too-effortlessly-charming single dad who works down the hall from me has turned getting under my skin into a sport. Call it the battle of wits between the wedding planner and the divorce attorney. Trouble is, when we’re forced into closer quarters, planning an engagement party for our best friends, I start to see his other sides.
And I fear I’m falling for the enemy.
***
I’m not out to make friends. My goals are simple -- fight till the end for my clients, and my family. The last thing I need is a vibrant, outgoing, snarky, and surprisingly big-hearted wedding planner to spend my precious free time with…except, watching Piper bond with my daughter just might break down the cinder block walls I’ve built around my heart these last few years. Second chances don’t come around for guys like me…or do they?
9 pages, Audible Audio
First published July 30, 2019
765 people are currently reading
6942 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Blakely
256 books24.2k followersYou can find Lauren on TikTok at @laurenblakelybooks! A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sexy, feel-good and witty. Lauren likes dogs, cake and show tunes and she is the vegetarian at your dinner party.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 687 reviews
July 30, 2019
4 stars
Frienemies to lovers, single dad, and fantastic narration. This audio book hit the spot!
Piper and Zach hung out with the same crowd in college, but they never quite got along. Piper is a wedding planner and Zach is a divorce attorney who is happily married. Years later, they're still in the same crowd and work in the same building.
Zach is a widower with 2 amazing children and Piper is still single. These two are oil and water together, and it seems like they would make the most impossible pairing, but the more time they spend together, the more they realize they just fit. Piper fits into Zach's life and adores his kids. Their enemies turns to friends, and that turns into so much more.
I loved the build up and banter between Piper and Zach. They were great together. Piper is one of those heroines you can't help but love and Zach is truly incredible as a single dad and all around good guy. Their relationship changed so organically and without any unnecessary drama.
I read this book in audio format and it was a joy to listen to. Jason Clarke is quickly becoming one of my favorite male narrators. He voiced Zach so effortlessly. Amanda Ronconi did a fantastic job with Piper's voice. It was a top notch audio performance.
I haven't read a ton by Lauren Blakely, but I love her writing style. It's fun, flirty, sweet, and entertaining. This book was easy to listen to and I enjoyed it lots! If you're looking for a great enemies to lovers that's got just the right amount of feels, pick this one up.
Frienemies to lovers, single dad, and fantastic narration. This audio book hit the spot!
Piper and Zach hung out with the same crowd in college, but they never quite got along. Piper is a wedding planner and Zach is a divorce attorney who is happily married. Years later, they're still in the same crowd and work in the same building.
Zach is a widower with 2 amazing children and Piper is still single. These two are oil and water together, and it seems like they would make the most impossible pairing, but the more time they spend together, the more they realize they just fit. Piper fits into Zach's life and adores his kids. Their enemies turns to friends, and that turns into so much more.
I loved the build up and banter between Piper and Zach. They were great together. Piper is one of those heroines you can't help but love and Zach is truly incredible as a single dad and all around good guy. Their relationship changed so organically and without any unnecessary drama.
I read this book in audio format and it was a joy to listen to. Jason Clarke is quickly becoming one of my favorite male narrators. He voiced Zach so effortlessly. Amanda Ronconi did a fantastic job with Piper's voice. It was a top notch audio performance.
I haven't read a ton by Lauren Blakely, but I love her writing style. It's fun, flirty, sweet, and entertaining. This book was easy to listen to and I enjoyed it lots! If you're looking for a great enemies to lovers that's got just the right amount of feels, pick this one up.
October 6, 2019
Enemies to lovers ✔
Single dad ✔
Second chances for love ✔
A sexy, emotional, enemies-to-lovers romance AVAILABLE ON ALL RETAILERS!
✦Kindle ➜http://blkly.pub/NeverKindle
✦Apple ➜ https://blkly.pub/AppleNever
✦Nook ➜ https://blkly.pub/NookNever
✦Kobo ➜ https://blkly.pub/KoboNever
✦Google ➜ https://blkly.pub/GoogleNever
✦Paperback ➜ http://blkly.pub/NeverHIEPB
Single dad ✔
Second chances for love ✔
A sexy, emotional, enemies-to-lovers romance AVAILABLE ON ALL RETAILERS!
✦Kindle ➜http://blkly.pub/NeverKindle
✦Apple ➜ https://blkly.pub/AppleNever
✦Nook ➜ https://blkly.pub/NookNever
✦Kobo ➜ https://blkly.pub/KoboNever
✦Google ➜ https://blkly.pub/GoogleNever
✦Paperback ➜ http://blkly.pub/NeverHIEPB
August 4, 2019
TITLE: NEVER HAVE I EVER
AUTHOR: Lauren Blakely
RELEASE DATE: July 30 2019
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
TROPES: Enemies to Lovers, Single Dad
NARRATORS: Amanda Ronconi, Jason Clarke
LENGTH: 8 hrs and 20 mins
RATING: 5 Stars
CLIFFHANGER: No
READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG
This story checked all my boxes.
- single dad
- enemies-to-lovers
- a strong, astute heroine
- a sexy, sweet hero
- a cute, romantic love story
I loved that Zach was a divorce lawyer, not because he was bitter but because he wanted to help women get out of a marriage without being taken advantage of or being threatened by their former spouses. He was a shark alright but only for his clients. With his kids and Piper he was a big ole softie, albeit one with a sexy mouth. You know how widowers are often times still grieving the passing of their wives in romance? This was such a refreshing take with Zach being over it and emotional ready for a new relationship.
Piper was a wonderful heroine. Clever, astute, full of humor and a big heart. She was Zach's perfect match in every way and I loved how she loved his kids. Their banter was absolutely delightful and funny. While listening to NEVER HAVE I EVER I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.
I have no idea why but before this audiobook I'd never had the pleasure of listening to Amanda Ronconi. I am tempted to listen to her whole back list! She is amazing! I even heard the humor and twinkle of Zach's character when she spoke in his voice. It was awesome!
I have head of Jason Clarke before but damn, that guy has a chance running Sebastian York off. Wow. So good, so sexy! LOVED his performance.
If you love any or all of the above, don't hesitate - Never Have I Ever is a light-hearted, adorable, thoroughly entertaining romance and once again, Lauren Blakely didn't let me down!
July 27, 2020
4 Always Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
I am going to keep this short and sweet, Say WHAT...
Yes, I know I usually write a bunch but with this book and Lauren Blakey, I can honestly say...
Never Have I Ever been disappointed by anything written by Blakely. This tale has a man who has the desire to make sure women are represented well in divorce court...Making sure they are able to stand up against those who are trying to hurt them.
Then we have a woman whose heart is in the right place. Loves weddings and HEA's. She is strong and determined. Both are equals and they fall hard even though they try not to.
As I said, never have I ever been let down by Lauren Blakely.
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
Take a Woman who will go to Any Lengths...
To Make a Wedding Perfect for her Lucky Couple...
Take a Man who is Dedicated, Focused, and Determined...
To Fight for Women in the Midst of an Ugly Divorce...
Have these two be of the Same Friends Circle...
And have Them Not be Chummy...
Have them Actually Be...
The Ones Who Push...
Each Others Buttons...
Yet More Importantly...
Have an Undercurrent...
Banter, Flirting, and Desire...
Now Throw Them Together...
Put Them in Charge of an Engagement Party...
Before They Know It...
Secrets are Revealed...
New Eyes and Open Hearts Happen...
It Is Almost Like They are Playing...
That Game We All Know...
Never Have I Ever-Ebook October 4th, 2019
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * * Spoiler Free
I am going to keep this short and sweet, Say WHAT...
Yes, I know I usually write a bunch but with this book and Lauren Blakey, I can honestly say...
Never Have I Ever been disappointed by anything written by Blakely. This tale has a man who has the desire to make sure women are represented well in divorce court...Making sure they are able to stand up against those who are trying to hurt them.
Then we have a woman whose heart is in the right place. Loves weddings and HEA's. She is strong and determined. Both are equals and they fall hard even though they try not to.
As I said, never have I ever been let down by Lauren Blakely.
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
Take a Woman who will go to Any Lengths...
To Make a Wedding Perfect for her Lucky Couple...
Take a Man who is Dedicated, Focused, and Determined...
To Fight for Women in the Midst of an Ugly Divorce...
Have these two be of the Same Friends Circle...
And have Them Not be Chummy...
Have them Actually Be...
The Ones Who Push...
Each Others Buttons...
Yet More Importantly...
Have an Undercurrent...
Banter, Flirting, and Desire...
Now Throw Them Together...
Put Them in Charge of an Engagement Party...
Before They Know It...
Secrets are Revealed...
New Eyes and Open Hearts Happen...
It Is Almost Like They are Playing...
That Game We All Know...
Never Have I Ever-Ebook October 4th, 2019
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
August 21, 2019
This is second in a series, though it isn't marked anywhere I can find. It's clearly a follow-on from Satisfaction Guaranteed, though there's not a lot of carry-over. Well, okay, there's some because Sloane is Piper's bestie and they talk a bit. But you can definitely read this one first if you like. And I kind of did since I dnf'd the other book so hard I was lucky to twig to them being related at all.
It's just as well I didn't know this was in the same series as the first book because I just couldn't stomach that one at all. This one was a completely different story and I loved it from the very start. We get to see Zach and Piper ten years before the present when they clash over him predicting that the wedding Piper is working on (she's a wedding planner) will fail and pretty quickly. Which totally rubs her the wrong way, the more so when she finds that he's a divorce attorney. So I was expecting an enemies to lovers romance. Only this was so much more.
You see, Zach had a great marriage back in the day. His wife was awesome but died when their two children were still young. So we see him now with his kids and because they work in the same building (not a stretch as they're connected through a friend group that includes the landlord) they interact often and since he's an involved dad and his kids visit him at his office, Piper has been drawn into their lives. Zach is, in fact, just exactly my jam and I fell for him steadily more the entire story. Yes, some of that is his care for his kids. He worries about them and for them but not in a smothering way and him dealing with a precocious ten year-old daughter was just meltingly awesome the entire book. When I learned his motivation for being a divorce attorney, and owning the shark label applied to him, I wanted to high five my brother-from-another-mother.
And Piper is a great match for him and her mixture of kindness and hope are such a great match I could weep. Okay, maybe I did actually cry real tears at some point (awkward in the company café) and maybe it was because they were so sweet and perfect together and Zach's daughter Lucy might have played a role. But I won't confirm or deny...
Anyway, I was drawn into the story and it never let me go. Yeah, Zach was perfectly my type and I fell for him hard. But more importantly, they were a great match together and I just loved seeing mature, competent adults actually be mature and competent. And talk things out. And do the hard things because they were right to do. Their miscues were both understandable and endearing and seeing them work through them clinched this as one of my favorite romance reads this year.
So yeah, you can probably see the five stars coming for this one. It might as well have been written for me, I enjoyed it so well.
A note about Crude language: I wouldn't normally tag this as crude because mostly it comes up as dirty talk during sex. Only, it was consistent and persistent enough that it did bug me, just a bit. So crude-language tag it is...
A note about Steamy: There are four or five explicit sex scenes putting this in the high end of my steam tolerance. Every one of them were completely gratuitous, and that doesn't help. I mean, their intimacy and connection were already pretty well established and the sex play was kind of "extra" in both variety and in, er, enjoyment. It was firmly romance-novel sex and dipped into the NA space a bit, (IYKWIMAIKYD - if you know what I mean and I know you do)...
It's just as well I didn't know this was in the same series as the first book because I just couldn't stomach that one at all. This one was a completely different story and I loved it from the very start. We get to see Zach and Piper ten years before the present when they clash over him predicting that the wedding Piper is working on (she's a wedding planner) will fail and pretty quickly. Which totally rubs her the wrong way, the more so when she finds that he's a divorce attorney. So I was expecting an enemies to lovers romance. Only this was so much more.
You see, Zach had a great marriage back in the day. His wife was awesome but died when their two children were still young. So we see him now with his kids and because they work in the same building (not a stretch as they're connected through a friend group that includes the landlord) they interact often and since he's an involved dad and his kids visit him at his office, Piper has been drawn into their lives. Zach is, in fact, just exactly my jam and I fell for him steadily more the entire story. Yes, some of that is his care for his kids. He worries about them and for them but not in a smothering way and him dealing with a precocious ten year-old daughter was just meltingly awesome the entire book. When I learned his motivation for being a divorce attorney, and owning the shark label applied to him, I wanted to high five my brother-from-another-mother.
And Piper is a great match for him and her mixture of kindness and hope are such a great match I could weep. Okay, maybe I did actually cry real tears at some point (awkward in the company café) and maybe it was because they were so sweet and perfect together and Zach's daughter Lucy might have played a role. But I won't confirm or deny...
Anyway, I was drawn into the story and it never let me go. Yeah, Zach was perfectly my type and I fell for him hard. But more importantly, they were a great match together and I just loved seeing mature, competent adults actually be mature and competent. And talk things out. And do the hard things because they were right to do. Their miscues were both understandable and endearing and seeing them work through them clinched this as one of my favorite romance reads this year.
So yeah, you can probably see the five stars coming for this one. It might as well have been written for me, I enjoyed it so well.
A note about Crude language: I wouldn't normally tag this as crude because mostly it comes up as dirty talk during sex. Only, it was consistent and persistent enough that it did bug me, just a bit. So crude-language tag it is...
A note about Steamy: There are four or five explicit sex scenes putting this in the high end of my steam tolerance. Every one of them were completely gratuitous, and that doesn't help. I mean, their intimacy and connection were already pretty well established and the sex play was kind of "extra" in both variety and in, er, enjoyment. It was firmly romance-novel sex and dipped into the NA space a bit, (IYKWIMAIKYD - if you know what I mean and I know you do)...
August 6, 2019
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was fun! I have had a lot of luck with Lauren Blakely's writing in the past so it was a pretty easy decision to give this book a try especially after I realized that it was a enemies to lovers romance. I thought that this was a really solid story from beginning to end. I really enjoyed the time that I spent listening to this sexy and romantic story.
Piper is a wedding planner. One that is willing to go that extra step when needed. Zach is a divorce attorney who is a single father to two great kids. These two just don't get along despite the fact that Zach's kids love Piper. When Piper and Zach are put together because of a friends wedding, things could go very badly or they could go better than anyone expected.
I liked Piper and Zach a lot. They were great together and had fantastic chemistry. I thought that both characters felt really authentic. Zach has been through a lot and so have his kids but they all seem to be really well adjusted. I loved the fact that he wasn't afraid to show his emotions or make a commitment. Piper was a lot of fun and incredibly caring. She really just seemed to light up a room and she made a positive impact in the lives of Zach's kids. Her life hasn't been perfect but she has kept a great attitude. I love that Zach's kids played a really big part in this story. Both Piper and Zach played important roles in their lives before the romance started so I think their inclusion in the story just made a lot of sense.
Amanda Ronconi and Jason Clarke did a wonderful job with this story. They were both able to put a whole lot of emotion into their reading. I thought that they were both able to really bring their characters to life. This was a fun story and their reading really helped to shape the feel of the story. Both narrators had very pleasant voices and were easy to listen to for hours at a time. I think that their narration made the story even more enjoyable than it would have been if I had read the book in another format.
I would recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance. This was a great romance with just the right amount of heat. The characters in this story were a lot of fun and you couldn't help but cheer them towards their happily ever after. I will definitely be reading more from Lauren Blakely soon!
I received a copy of this audiobook from Audible Studios.
Initial Thoughts
I thought that this was a fun audiobook. The narrators did a great job with the story and I thought that Piper and Zach had a lot of wonderful chemistry. Zach's kids were incredibly well done as well.
This was fun! I have had a lot of luck with Lauren Blakely's writing in the past so it was a pretty easy decision to give this book a try especially after I realized that it was a enemies to lovers romance. I thought that this was a really solid story from beginning to end. I really enjoyed the time that I spent listening to this sexy and romantic story.
Piper is a wedding planner. One that is willing to go that extra step when needed. Zach is a divorce attorney who is a single father to two great kids. These two just don't get along despite the fact that Zach's kids love Piper. When Piper and Zach are put together because of a friends wedding, things could go very badly or they could go better than anyone expected.
I liked Piper and Zach a lot. They were great together and had fantastic chemistry. I thought that both characters felt really authentic. Zach has been through a lot and so have his kids but they all seem to be really well adjusted. I loved the fact that he wasn't afraid to show his emotions or make a commitment. Piper was a lot of fun and incredibly caring. She really just seemed to light up a room and she made a positive impact in the lives of Zach's kids. Her life hasn't been perfect but she has kept a great attitude. I love that Zach's kids played a really big part in this story. Both Piper and Zach played important roles in their lives before the romance started so I think their inclusion in the story just made a lot of sense.
Amanda Ronconi and Jason Clarke did a wonderful job with this story. They were both able to put a whole lot of emotion into their reading. I thought that they were both able to really bring their characters to life. This was a fun story and their reading really helped to shape the feel of the story. Both narrators had very pleasant voices and were easy to listen to for hours at a time. I think that their narration made the story even more enjoyable than it would have been if I had read the book in another format.
I would recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance. This was a great romance with just the right amount of heat. The characters in this story were a lot of fun and you couldn't help but cheer them towards their happily ever after. I will definitely be reading more from Lauren Blakely soon!
I received a copy of this audiobook from Audible Studios.
Initial Thoughts
I thought that this was a fun audiobook. The narrators did a great job with the story and I thought that Piper and Zach had a lot of wonderful chemistry. Zach's kids were incredibly well done as well.
August 6, 2019
This stands up there as one of my favorite books!! It is a beautiful romantic comedy that makes my heart glow.
Two characters could not be more mismatched when it comes to love. She is a wedding planner and believes in true love that lasts forever. He is a divorce attorney.
When the story begins our heroine has just successfully pulled off the perfect wedding. She even stepped in as a bridesmaid when one got sick. Since she is so average every color looks good on her and she can easily blend into the background.
Enter our hero who is also at the wedding. He and the heroine have a lot of common friends since they all hung out in college together. His first comment is to make a bet on how long the marriage will last. Its not that he doesn't believe in marriage. He is happily married and has a little girl. He just reads people really fast and can predict the crash and burn relationship early on.
Years pass.
Our heroine is a more successful wedding planner and has an office next door to our hero. (A wedding planner and a divorce attorney next door to each other? One stop shopping?)
Meanwhile our hero has become a widower and his little girl is great friends with our heroine.
Then the unthinkable happens for these two frenemies, their best friends are getting married and they are the best man and maid of honor. Now they have to work together to help two people they love plan the perfect wedding.
A fun story with wonderful characters!
Two characters could not be more mismatched when it comes to love. She is a wedding planner and believes in true love that lasts forever. He is a divorce attorney.
When the story begins our heroine has just successfully pulled off the perfect wedding. She even stepped in as a bridesmaid when one got sick. Since she is so average every color looks good on her and she can easily blend into the background.
Enter our hero who is also at the wedding. He and the heroine have a lot of common friends since they all hung out in college together. His first comment is to make a bet on how long the marriage will last. Its not that he doesn't believe in marriage. He is happily married and has a little girl. He just reads people really fast and can predict the crash and burn relationship early on.
Years pass.
Our heroine is a more successful wedding planner and has an office next door to our hero. (A wedding planner and a divorce attorney next door to each other? One stop shopping?)
Meanwhile our hero has become a widower and his little girl is great friends with our heroine.
Then the unthinkable happens for these two frenemies, their best friends are getting married and they are the best man and maid of honor. Now they have to work together to help two people they love plan the perfect wedding.
A fun story with wonderful characters!
January 4, 2021
Non ho idea del perché abbiano deciso di iniziare a pubblicare questa serie dal terzo libro ma è stata comunque una piacevolissima sorpresa! Una storia veramente dolcissima da cui non sono riuscita a staccarmi, una storia semplice senza drammi inutili che mi ha conquistato dall’inizio. Poi si parla di un papà single meraviglioso che è anche un uomo fantastico, come si fa a resistere? 😍😍😍
Consigliatissimo ❤️
Rilettura: proprio carino questo libro 🥰🥰🥰
Consigliatissimo ❤️
Rilettura: proprio carino questo libro 🥰🥰🥰
August 10, 2019
Spicy, addictive, and intriguing!
Never Have I Ever is a hilarious, alluring, enemies-to-more romance that introduces us to the sweet, sassy, charming Piper who spends her days making brides happy and fairy tale weddings come true, and the intelligent, sharp, confident, divorce lawyer Zach who after losing the first love of his life is content to fill his days battling for his clients and spending time with his children.
The writing is titillating and fun. The characters are appealing, gregarious, and witty. And the plot is a sultry, push-pull tale full of red-hot chemistry, flirty banter, sexual innuendoes, tender moments, friendship, family, and unconditional love.
I have always been a fan of Lauren Blakely, and Never Have I Ever has just become one of my favourites. I loved the characters, I loved the storyline, and I loved the dual narration by Ronconi and Clarke. This story is an Audible Original title and is available now for free with any Audible Escape subscription.
Thank you to Audible for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Never Have I Ever is a hilarious, alluring, enemies-to-more romance that introduces us to the sweet, sassy, charming Piper who spends her days making brides happy and fairy tale weddings come true, and the intelligent, sharp, confident, divorce lawyer Zach who after losing the first love of his life is content to fill his days battling for his clients and spending time with his children.
The writing is titillating and fun. The characters are appealing, gregarious, and witty. And the plot is a sultry, push-pull tale full of red-hot chemistry, flirty banter, sexual innuendoes, tender moments, friendship, family, and unconditional love.
I have always been a fan of Lauren Blakely, and Never Have I Ever has just become one of my favourites. I loved the characters, I loved the storyline, and I loved the dual narration by Ronconi and Clarke. This story is an Audible Original title and is available now for free with any Audible Escape subscription.
Thank you to Audible for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 28, 2019
Never Have I Ever is a refreshing take on a divorce attorney and wedding planner trope. I was completely prepared to not love Zach’s character, with him being a divorce attorney. But, I was surprised to find his reasons for being a divorce attorney were inspirational and different and a welcome change from the usual anti-love divorce attorney character. Zach was a great character; a single father of two young kids, trying to navigate all the changes in his life. As for Piper, there is literally nothing not to like about Piper. She is a wedding planner, kind, generous, sweet and great with kids. My favorite parts were all the bonding she did with Zach’s daughter. Zach and Piper were frenemies in college. They’d had many friends in common and now they were working down the hall from each other. Their banter was so fun! This was a grown up relationship, with very little drama. It was entertaining, sweet and fun and I would highly recommend it.
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 15, 2020
3.5 stelline
September 9, 2021
I had not read a Lauren Blakely's book in quite some time. I think the last I had read was over 3 years ago. No particular reasons for my staying away. I had mostly great experiences with her stories in the past, though I do remember wanting to try some of her new releases over the last couple of years but felt intimidated by the sheer number of her backlist and her intense publishing rhythm. I never knew which book to settle on, so I would move onto something else instead.
A few days ago though I was determined to finally READ something by Blakely so I resorted to ask other readers their 5 favorite books by the author. I mean, she did release about 150 distinct books (!!!) over the years. I needed guidance! I need help and the wisdom of my fellow romance readers friends.
'Never Have I Ever' was mentioned as well as a couple key points that were definite winners for me:
Widower hero/single dad — Enemies To Lovers
I can't stay away from single dads in romance novels, they're pure catnip to me!
I'm so grateful this book was mentioned, I had a great time reading! I was grabbed within the first chapters, the writing just clicked for me and the care Blakely took portraying mature and kind characters won me over. Actually I think the characterization of the hero's children what was made me love this book even more. The family dynamics were golden.
The romance arc was also gradually and reasonably built between a wedding planner believing in happily ever afters for everyone but herself and a divorce lawyer finally ready to move on from two years of grief, not sure how to connect family life and dating scene.
Their romance didn't happen all of sudden, Blakely takes us through an enemies to friends to lovers with ease and dexterity. I loved witnessing the steady but gentle shift in Piper's and Zach's relationship. Watching them becoming friends was lovely. When both reached that shifting moment from friendship to something more I may have swooned a bit from it all. The feels were felt is all I'm saying.
As both characters let their walls down, we're privy to a sweet and vulnerable side of Zach that is utterly charming. Blakely crafted a hero that is a definite wholesome package. Merciless at work, adorable and loving with his kids, sexy, charming and ravenous for his woman.
This was a solid win for me on all acounts, the entertaining banter of enemies to lovers, the newfound complicity and confidences between friends, the tender family moments, the playful sexy banter of lovers, the seriously HOT lovemaking. And very little drama. The maturity of both love interests is somewhat of a rare thing in romance. DELIGHTFUL!
I'd love to know your TOP 5 favorites by Lauren Blakely! ;)
More reviews and book talk at :
You can find me here too ☞
A few days ago though I was determined to finally READ something by Blakely so I resorted to ask other readers their 5 favorite books by the author. I mean, she did release about 150 distinct books (!!!) over the years. I needed guidance! I need help and the wisdom of my fellow romance readers friends.
'Never Have I Ever' was mentioned as well as a couple key points that were definite winners for me:
Widower hero/single dad — Enemies To Lovers
I can't stay away from single dads in romance novels, they're pure catnip to me!
I'm so grateful this book was mentioned, I had a great time reading! I was grabbed within the first chapters, the writing just clicked for me and the care Blakely took portraying mature and kind characters won me over. Actually I think the characterization of the hero's children what was made me love this book even more. The family dynamics were golden.
The romance arc was also gradually and reasonably built between a wedding planner believing in happily ever afters for everyone but herself and a divorce lawyer finally ready to move on from two years of grief, not sure how to connect family life and dating scene.
Their romance didn't happen all of sudden, Blakely takes us through an enemies to friends to lovers with ease and dexterity. I loved witnessing the steady but gentle shift in Piper's and Zach's relationship. Watching them becoming friends was lovely. When both reached that shifting moment from friendship to something more I may have swooned a bit from it all. The feels were felt is all I'm saying.
As both characters let their walls down, we're privy to a sweet and vulnerable side of Zach that is utterly charming. Blakely crafted a hero that is a definite wholesome package. Merciless at work, adorable and loving with his kids, sexy, charming and ravenous for his woman.
This was a solid win for me on all acounts, the entertaining banter of enemies to lovers, the newfound complicity and confidences between friends, the tender family moments, the playful sexy banter of lovers, the seriously HOT lovemaking. And very little drama. The maturity of both love interests is somewhat of a rare thing in romance. DELIGHTFUL!
I'd love to know your TOP 5 favorites by Lauren Blakely! ;)
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October 22, 2021
So this book, this book is THE book of this series.
Vintage LB.
A gentle enemies to lovers book, LB gives us Zach, a swoony, cocky, gorgeous single dad (divorce lawyer) and Piper, a sassy, sweet wedding planner. They've known each other since college but only in so far as being in the same friend group. Piper never much liked Zach and he married fairly young so they didn't cross paths too much.
They are in each other's lives more a bit later on (they have offices in the same building) and then need to work together for the wedding if friends.
There are his children present in the story but not in a way that too cutesy, dramatic or ridiculous.
There's banter, genuine affection as well as lust, some drama but not to much.
Overall I really enjoyed this -Again it's the audiobook and the narration was spot on.
Excellent driving audio ☺️
Vintage LB.
A gentle enemies to lovers book, LB gives us Zach, a swoony, cocky, gorgeous single dad (divorce lawyer) and Piper, a sassy, sweet wedding planner. They've known each other since college but only in so far as being in the same friend group. Piper never much liked Zach and he married fairly young so they didn't cross paths too much.
They are in each other's lives more a bit later on (they have offices in the same building) and then need to work together for the wedding if friends.
There are his children present in the story but not in a way that too cutesy, dramatic or ridiculous.
There's banter, genuine affection as well as lust, some drama but not to much.
Overall I really enjoyed this -Again it's the audiobook and the narration was spot on.
Excellent driving audio ☺️
September 30, 2019
Edited 9/29/19
Reread the ebook and fell in love with Zach and Piper all over again! It was just as emotional and heartwarming as it was the first time. If you get a chance to listen to the audiobook though, I definitely recommend it!
*****
Audiobook Review
Overall 5 stars
Performance 5 stars*
Story 4.5 stars
This was such a fantastic listen! Never Have I Ever was such a great blend of funny, sexy, and heartfelt moments. It has all the classic Lauren Blakely romcom laughs, but it also has some very tender and emotional scenes too. This story has a little bit of everything, from enemies to lovers, to single parent, to forced proximity.
I loved Zach and Piper! Their playful back and forth heightened the sexual tension between them so deliciously. Truthfully, I wouldn't have minded if they stayed in the enemies/frenemies zone longer! Events in their pasts have left them feeling vulnerable and guarded, but as they each open themselves up to possibility, those defenses drop and it really is beautiful. I appreciated so much that our characters were mature adults who (for the most part) spoke openly and honestly about what they wanted and desired. They don't play games and there isn't a whole lot of angst or unnecessary drama. Zach is always a father first, and I loved that the happiness of his children was always his top priority. His relationship with Henry and Lucy was so sweet, especially his bond with Lucy. Girl Power! The scene between Lucy, Zach, and Piper at the end warmed my heart so much and was beyond perfect. I'm not usually the biggest fan of the deceased spouse trope, but Blakely handled it so realistically and beautifully that I couldn't not root for Piper and Zach.
Jason Clarke and Amanda Ronconi were amazing! I was so impressed by their versatility and ability to convey so much emotion in their performances. This is my first time hearing Amanda Ronconi, but what a treat it was! This audiobook couldn't have been more perfectly cast! I think my only minor issue with the audio overall is that there seemed to be some static or fuzziness when both narrators spoke loudly or emphatically. Almost like they were too close to the microphone? I'm not sure what caused it, but it made their words not as clear. It didn't detract from the story, but was something that I noticed.
Never Have I Ever felt a little more serious than some of Lauren Blakely's lighter romcoms, but it's definitely worth the credit! You don't want to miss this heartwarming love story!
*I voluntarily listened to an advance review copy of this audiobook*
Reread the ebook and fell in love with Zach and Piper all over again! It was just as emotional and heartwarming as it was the first time. If you get a chance to listen to the audiobook though, I definitely recommend it!
*****
Audiobook Review
Overall 5 stars
Performance 5 stars*
Story 4.5 stars
This was such a fantastic listen! Never Have I Ever was such a great blend of funny, sexy, and heartfelt moments. It has all the classic Lauren Blakely romcom laughs, but it also has some very tender and emotional scenes too. This story has a little bit of everything, from enemies to lovers, to single parent, to forced proximity.
I loved Zach and Piper! Their playful back and forth heightened the sexual tension between them so deliciously. Truthfully, I wouldn't have minded if they stayed in the enemies/frenemies zone longer! Events in their pasts have left them feeling vulnerable and guarded, but as they each open themselves up to possibility, those defenses drop and it really is beautiful. I appreciated so much that our characters were mature adults who (for the most part) spoke openly and honestly about what they wanted and desired. They don't play games and there isn't a whole lot of angst or unnecessary drama. Zach is always a father first, and I loved that the happiness of his children was always his top priority. His relationship with Henry and Lucy was so sweet, especially his bond with Lucy. Girl Power! The scene between Lucy, Zach, and Piper at the end warmed my heart so much and was beyond perfect. I'm not usually the biggest fan of the deceased spouse trope, but Blakely handled it so realistically and beautifully that I couldn't not root for Piper and Zach.
Jason Clarke and Amanda Ronconi were amazing! I was so impressed by their versatility and ability to convey so much emotion in their performances. This is my first time hearing Amanda Ronconi, but what a treat it was! This audiobook couldn't have been more perfectly cast! I think my only minor issue with the audio overall is that there seemed to be some static or fuzziness when both narrators spoke loudly or emphatically. Almost like they were too close to the microphone? I'm not sure what caused it, but it made their words not as clear. It didn't detract from the story, but was something that I noticed.
Never Have I Ever felt a little more serious than some of Lauren Blakely's lighter romcoms, but it's definitely worth the credit! You don't want to miss this heartwarming love story!
*I voluntarily listened to an advance review copy of this audiobook*
October 7, 2019
5 "Just right! Never have I ever." Stars!
I just loved this story. Zack is down right swooney. He's a dirty talking protective sweetheart. And the icing on the cake, he's a fantastic single daddy. Piper is a feisty sweet cutie with a great sense of humor. I fell hard for her. And the kids!!! I do love me a story where the kids are active in the story. I loved everything about this book.
I listened to the audiobook. It's duel male/female narrators. Both were very good!
Happy reading/ listening!
I just loved this story. Zack is down right swooney. He's a dirty talking protective sweetheart. And the icing on the cake, he's a fantastic single daddy. Piper is a feisty sweet cutie with a great sense of humor. I fell hard for her. And the kids!!! I do love me a story where the kids are active in the story. I loved everything about this book.
I listened to the audiobook. It's duel male/female narrators. Both were very good!
Happy reading/ listening!
August 18, 2020
"Mai e poi mai" avrei pensato di emozionarmi tanto con questo romanzo (quando lo leggerete capirete la mia citazione iniziale)
Esso rappresenta una storia di rinascita per entrambi i protagonisti, un po' di più per Zach e i suoi "cuccioli" meravigliosi Lucy ed Henry.
Hanno alle spalle un evento spiacevole ma non è mai trattato con tristezza o in maniera pesante, anzi, con quella commozione che sa di speranza per una futura seconda possibilità.
Zach è il mio uomo perfetto: è prima di tutto un padre fantastico, attento, premuroso e che vive per i suoi bambini. Ma è anche uno squalo di avvocato che difende con le unghie e con i denti i clienti che segue. E infine scopriamo essere un compagno che quando ama lo fa totalmente, prendendosi cura della sua donna, dividendo con lei gioie e dolori. E poi è molto passionale, il che non guasta!
Piper è una donna ed una wedding planner molto dolce ed empatica. Riesce ad instaurare con le sue spose un rapporto di fiducia, ma soprattutto con la piccola Lucy nascerà un' amicizia unica in nome dei libri, delle liste e del girl power! Ma Piper è anche una sorella e un'amica eccezionale ed altruista e scoprirete perché leggendo il libro!
Nella relazione tra Piper e Zach sinceramente non ho mai percepito odio come dice la trama, piuttosto delle schermaglie che nascondono il fuoco dell'attrazione. Difatti, nella prima parte del romanzo si percepisce una forte tensione sessuale che nella seconda parte potrebbe trasformarsi in qualcosa di più, ma troppe sono le paure e le responsabilità di Zach.
Forse ho trovato in questa metà dei punti un po' più lenti e con poco mordente, ma assolutamente bilanciati dalla commozione che mi ha provocato la piccola Lucy.
Ho adorato profondamente questo romanzo, perché molto scorrevole, dolce, divertente e sensuale e poi alcuni personaggi mi sono entrati nel cuore!
Ho letto che probabilmente la serie rimarrà incompiuta in Italia e devo dire che mi dispiace moltissimo! Spero che qualche casa editrice ci pensi!
Esso rappresenta una storia di rinascita per entrambi i protagonisti, un po' di più per Zach e i suoi "cuccioli" meravigliosi Lucy ed Henry.
Hanno alle spalle un evento spiacevole ma non è mai trattato con tristezza o in maniera pesante, anzi, con quella commozione che sa di speranza per una futura seconda possibilità.
Zach è il mio uomo perfetto: è prima di tutto un padre fantastico, attento, premuroso e che vive per i suoi bambini. Ma è anche uno squalo di avvocato che difende con le unghie e con i denti i clienti che segue. E infine scopriamo essere un compagno che quando ama lo fa totalmente, prendendosi cura della sua donna, dividendo con lei gioie e dolori. E poi è molto passionale, il che non guasta!
Piper è una donna ed una wedding planner molto dolce ed empatica. Riesce ad instaurare con le sue spose un rapporto di fiducia, ma soprattutto con la piccola Lucy nascerà un' amicizia unica in nome dei libri, delle liste e del girl power! Ma Piper è anche una sorella e un'amica eccezionale ed altruista e scoprirete perché leggendo il libro!
Nella relazione tra Piper e Zach sinceramente non ho mai percepito odio come dice la trama, piuttosto delle schermaglie che nascondono il fuoco dell'attrazione. Difatti, nella prima parte del romanzo si percepisce una forte tensione sessuale che nella seconda parte potrebbe trasformarsi in qualcosa di più, ma troppe sono le paure e le responsabilità di Zach.
Forse ho trovato in questa metà dei punti un po' più lenti e con poco mordente, ma assolutamente bilanciati dalla commozione che mi ha provocato la piccola Lucy.
Ho adorato profondamente questo romanzo, perché molto scorrevole, dolce, divertente e sensuale e poi alcuni personaggi mi sono entrati nel cuore!
Ho letto che probabilmente la serie rimarrà incompiuta in Italia e devo dire che mi dispiace moltissimo! Spero che qualche casa editrice ci pensi!
September 27, 2019
This is my first ever audiobook review! Last time I tired an audiobook was when it was just starting out and I didn’t really enjoy it and I stopped after hearing a few mins so I decided to give it another go and what do you know, I had a lot of fun. I will definitely be trying more audiobooks in the future. I think it was a safe bet to choose an authors books I enjoy and Lauren Blakely and the enemies to lovers trope was good choice to begin with. Onto the review…
Zach Nolan is widowed single dad of two amazing kids and a total ‘shark’ (his words) of a divorce attorney and Piper is a wedding planner slash whatever else you need on your big day girl. They met each other back in university, they have the same circle of friends so however much they wish they didn’t have to see each other, they do and then they started sharing a building which meant more interactions.
I loved Zach and Piper together; from their enemies, your existence annoys me relationship to sharing a work building to their budding romance to them falling in love, all aspects of their developing relationship were so much to fun to listen to. I think the narrators really did a great job at expressing the emotions in the voices and you know making them sound ‘real’. Also Amanda’s voice reminded me so much of Dianna Agron’s voice it was slightly ?? Honestly Zach and Piper were adorable together, even when they were bantering when they didn’t get along in the beginning. They made me smile.
Zach was a great dad, he’s trying his best. Even though he is a divorce attorney, he isn’t a guy that hates the institution of marriage or doesn’t believe in love, on the contrary he really loved his late wife. Piper on the other hand, has attended her fair share of marriages even before she become a wedding planner and while she doesn’t think she’d ever find someone or get married herself, she believes in the marriages she plans for. I liked how they had great friends and familial relationships. They weren’t isolated, even though they were both complete workaholics. I also really adored Zach’s kids, they were great, Lucy was a precious child. I loved seeing Zach and Piper interact with her. They had a lot of love to give, and were you know just good people, that you think deserve the best.
Overall, this was such a fun book to listen to, the protagonists, them as couple and their circle of friends made it all a worthwhile read. There is just the right amount of drama, angst, humour, romance and chemistry in Never Have I Ever and the narrators Amanda Ronconi and Jason Clarke did a great job at bringing Piper and Zach to life and the narration/voices they did for the other characters were distinct which was really nice as well. It entirely based onto the narrators that I would call this a very successful start of my audiobooks/audible journey.
Quibbles: Obviously this was my first proper audibook listen so I didn’t really know what to expect and how things in general go, so I’m a complete novice at this and so my quibbles will probably won’t mean anything to you but I just want to share my opinions on certain things; I didn’t like hearing them having sex, it creeped me out (thank fully the book doesn’t have that many), I didn’t understand why they had the actual male/female narrator use their use when they texted each other but not when they were talking to each other ? Is that normal ? It just felt weird, for them to use it for one thing but not the other. And it takes a long time to finish a book (which I guess can be a positive since I tend to gobble books up at times) but thats about it.
ARC was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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Zach Nolan is widowed single dad of two amazing kids and a total ‘shark’ (his words) of a divorce attorney and Piper is a wedding planner slash whatever else you need on your big day girl. They met each other back in university, they have the same circle of friends so however much they wish they didn’t have to see each other, they do and then they started sharing a building which meant more interactions.
I loved Zach and Piper together; from their enemies, your existence annoys me relationship to sharing a work building to their budding romance to them falling in love, all aspects of their developing relationship were so much to fun to listen to. I think the narrators really did a great job at expressing the emotions in the voices and you know making them sound ‘real’. Also Amanda’s voice reminded me so much of Dianna Agron’s voice it was slightly ?? Honestly Zach and Piper were adorable together, even when they were bantering when they didn’t get along in the beginning. They made me smile.
Zach was a great dad, he’s trying his best. Even though he is a divorce attorney, he isn’t a guy that hates the institution of marriage or doesn’t believe in love, on the contrary he really loved his late wife. Piper on the other hand, has attended her fair share of marriages even before she become a wedding planner and while she doesn’t think she’d ever find someone or get married herself, she believes in the marriages she plans for. I liked how they had great friends and familial relationships. They weren’t isolated, even though they were both complete workaholics. I also really adored Zach’s kids, they were great, Lucy was a precious child. I loved seeing Zach and Piper interact with her. They had a lot of love to give, and were you know just good people, that you think deserve the best.
Overall, this was such a fun book to listen to, the protagonists, them as couple and their circle of friends made it all a worthwhile read. There is just the right amount of drama, angst, humour, romance and chemistry in Never Have I Ever and the narrators Amanda Ronconi and Jason Clarke did a great job at bringing Piper and Zach to life and the narration/voices they did for the other characters were distinct which was really nice as well. It entirely based onto the narrators that I would call this a very successful start of my audiobooks/audible journey.
Quibbles: Obviously this was my first proper audibook listen so I didn’t really know what to expect and how things in general go, so I’m a complete novice at this and so my quibbles will probably won’t mean anything to you but I just want to share my opinions on certain things; I didn’t like hearing them having sex, it creeped me out (thank fully the book doesn’t have that many), I didn’t understand why they had the actual male/female narrator use their use when they texted each other but not when they were talking to each other ? Is that normal ? It just felt weird, for them to use it for one thing but not the other. And it takes a long time to finish a book (which I guess can be a positive since I tend to gobble books up at times) but thats about it.
ARC was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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January 30, 2023
Never Have I Ever is book 2 of the Always Satisfied series by Lauren Blakely. It is told from both points of view with a happy ending.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✔️ big city
✔️ single father
✔️ love after loss
✔️ frienemies to lovers
Piper and Zach met during their college years but didn’t really like each other. Being in the same group of friends though meant they kept bumping into each other through the years. And now two years after Zach’s wife’s passing they still don’t see eye to eye, but have to play nice as the plan their best friend’s wedding together.
Things I love about Lauren’s books:
- Flirty, witty banter
- Mature and kind characters
- Strong family/friends bonds
- An organically developed romance
- Low drama
- Lots of sexy times
And Lauren delivers on all counts. I loved both Piper and Zach on their own as well as together. She’s so sassy, sweet and loving. He’s confident and smart with a sweet center.
The relationship between Piper and Zach changed with time from frenemies to friends to lovers steadily and was beautiful to watch as was witnessing how Piper bonded with Zach’s daughter. Never Have I Ever was sweet, sexy and emotional.
★ I own a copy of this title. The excerpts are from that copy. I am voluntarily reviewing this title
★See all my book edits on Instagram
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✔️ big city
✔️ single father
✔️ love after loss
✔️ frienemies to lovers
Piper and Zach met during their college years but didn’t really like each other. Being in the same group of friends though meant they kept bumping into each other through the years. And now two years after Zach’s wife’s passing they still don’t see eye to eye, but have to play nice as the plan their best friend’s wedding together.
Things I love about Lauren’s books:
- Flirty, witty banter
- Mature and kind characters
- Strong family/friends bonds
- An organically developed romance
- Low drama
- Lots of sexy times
And Lauren delivers on all counts. I loved both Piper and Zach on their own as well as together. She’s so sassy, sweet and loving. He’s confident and smart with a sweet center.
The relationship between Piper and Zach changed with time from frenemies to friends to lovers steadily and was beautiful to watch as was witnessing how Piper bonded with Zach’s daughter. Never Have I Ever was sweet, sexy and emotional.
★ I own a copy of this title. The excerpts are from that copy. I am voluntarily reviewing this title
★See all my book edits on Instagram
August 20, 2020
Una storia dolce e romantica su due amici della stessa comitiva che ad un certo punto della loro vita si sono trovati.
January 21, 2022
LOVED THIS. It was so cute and man, single parent, office romance, AND enemies to lovers in one book? Perfection. Loved it !
July 31, 2019
“You make me feel so many things. You make me feel everything.”
5 stars!
OMG, I love this book! A snarky, sweet and sexy frenemies-to-lovers romance with all the feels! I laughed and swooned and I fell in mad love with these characters and their chemistry-filled journey to a HEA. It’s such a fun read, and a definite fave from Lauren Blakely.
Zach and Piper are a part of the same group of friends from College. They didn’t get on then, and now in their 30s, they still don’t get on, which is really awkward considering they share office space.
Zach is a straight-talking divorce attorney with a reputation for fiercely protecting his clients, but as a widowed father of two, we get to see his softer side as his love for his children, and his commitment to being there for them, absolutely shines! *melt*. Piper is a happy, outgoing wedding planner. She is positive and perky, and with her hard work and sincere desire to make her clients’ dreams come true, she’s made a huge success of herself. Complete opposites, their relationship consists of bickering and bantering, constantly undermining each other and other general hilarity. And that’s complicated by the fact that Zach’s sweetly perceptive and intelligent ten year old daughter thinks Piper is the greatest thing ever, and they have a close friendship that exists even regardless of the snark that exists between Piper and Zach.
When Zach and Piper are asked to stand in as Best Man and Maid of Honor for their best friends, they are thrown together even more than normal, and as the wedding festivities take them across the globe, they begin to realize just how well they get along, and everything begins to change.
I love this romance! It’s a beautiful slow burn as they move from enemies-to-friends-to-more. It’s natural and easy, and it’s functional without any unnecessary drama, and I love that! The sexy time is sizzling, they talk about what’s going on between them and how they are going to deal with it, and their feelings for each other are beautifully explored as their relationship develops and deepens. I could feel every single moment of their fall, and I fell right along with them.
Zach’s relationship with his children is just gorgeous – he’s everything you could want for a father. And Piper’s relationship with his kids is just as beautiful. We get to see lots of time with them together, and I loved that. There’s also a great cast of side characters – some of who have books of their own (Sloane and Malone from Satisfaction Guaranteed and the hero from the upcoming release, Instant Gratification). It’s a great bunch, and I loved seeing the dynamics as they all interact.
I also really loved how the ‘Never Have I Ever’ theme was beautifully carried through the whole story. From a kiddie version to an adult one and even a way hotter one, I thought it was really clever how it was used, and it definitely put a smile on my face.
I listened to this as an audiobook, narrated by Jason Clarke and Amanda Ronconi, and they do a great job with it! They bring so much life to these characters, perfectly capturing the high and the low moments, and bringing so much emotion to their performance. Definitely a book I recommend listening to.
I loved this story so much. I was completely swept up, and I honestly adored every moment of it.
5 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy of this book was generously provided by Audible in exchange for an honest review.
5 stars!
OMG, I love this book! A snarky, sweet and sexy frenemies-to-lovers romance with all the feels! I laughed and swooned and I fell in mad love with these characters and their chemistry-filled journey to a HEA. It’s such a fun read, and a definite fave from Lauren Blakely.
Zach and Piper are a part of the same group of friends from College. They didn’t get on then, and now in their 30s, they still don’t get on, which is really awkward considering they share office space.
Zach is a straight-talking divorce attorney with a reputation for fiercely protecting his clients, but as a widowed father of two, we get to see his softer side as his love for his children, and his commitment to being there for them, absolutely shines! *melt*. Piper is a happy, outgoing wedding planner. She is positive and perky, and with her hard work and sincere desire to make her clients’ dreams come true, she’s made a huge success of herself. Complete opposites, their relationship consists of bickering and bantering, constantly undermining each other and other general hilarity. And that’s complicated by the fact that Zach’s sweetly perceptive and intelligent ten year old daughter thinks Piper is the greatest thing ever, and they have a close friendship that exists even regardless of the snark that exists between Piper and Zach.
When Zach and Piper are asked to stand in as Best Man and Maid of Honor for their best friends, they are thrown together even more than normal, and as the wedding festivities take them across the globe, they begin to realize just how well they get along, and everything begins to change.
I love this romance! It’s a beautiful slow burn as they move from enemies-to-friends-to-more. It’s natural and easy, and it’s functional without any unnecessary drama, and I love that! The sexy time is sizzling, they talk about what’s going on between them and how they are going to deal with it, and their feelings for each other are beautifully explored as their relationship develops and deepens. I could feel every single moment of their fall, and I fell right along with them.
Something breaks inside me. Something breaks beautifully … It’s not the awareness of what I’m feeling. I’m not a stupid guy. I’m smart and I’ve known for weeks what’s been happening. Instead, it’s the acceptance of it, the surrender to it, to falling ridiculously in love again.
Zach’s relationship with his children is just gorgeous – he’s everything you could want for a father. And Piper’s relationship with his kids is just as beautiful. We get to see lots of time with them together, and I loved that. There’s also a great cast of side characters – some of who have books of their own (Sloane and Malone from Satisfaction Guaranteed and the hero from the upcoming release, Instant Gratification). It’s a great bunch, and I loved seeing the dynamics as they all interact.
I also really loved how the ‘Never Have I Ever’ theme was beautifully carried through the whole story. From a kiddie version to an adult one and even a way hotter one, I thought it was really clever how it was used, and it definitely put a smile on my face.
I listened to this as an audiobook, narrated by Jason Clarke and Amanda Ronconi, and they do a great job with it! They bring so much life to these characters, perfectly capturing the high and the low moments, and bringing so much emotion to their performance. Definitely a book I recommend listening to.
I loved this story so much. I was completely swept up, and I honestly adored every moment of it.
5 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy of this book was generously provided by Audible in exchange for an honest review.
June 4, 2024
Review from 2019
I've given this an A- for narration and a B- for content at AudioGals.
Never Have I Ever is the latest Audible Original story from the powerhouse of contemporary romance, Lauren Blakely. It’s a charming, funny and sexy enemies-to-lovers tale that follows the development of the romance between a vivacious, successful wedding planner and a widowed hot-shot divorce lawyer. The principals are likeable, the story is low on drama but still packs an emotional punch here and there, and the narration is excellent, so fans of the author and audio rom-coms alike are sure to be delighted with this latest offering.
Around ten years before the story proper begins, fledgling wedding planner Piper Radcliffe is basking in the glow of a job well done – a wedding well planned – only to have that glow stomped on during the reception by Zach Nolan, who predicts the marriage won’t last. Piper and Zach don’t know each other all that well, even though they have a number of mutual friends and have known each other vaguely since college, and Piper is naturally pissed off by his message of doom and gloom. For the next decade or so, they avoid each other or behave coolly whenever they meet (which is as infrequently as they can manage) until they end up taking office space in the same building.
By the time the story opens, Zach has been a widower for two years, and is the father of two children, Lucy – ten, and Harry – seven, who are his pride and joy and his top priority in life. He’s a great dad and is determined to be there for his kids no matter what, and even though their mother’s death hit them hard, they’re doing well and moving forward, and so (for the most part) is Zach. The fact that he and Piper have offices in the same building mean they’re at least cordial to one another – and Lucy has really hit it off with Piper, loving that her office is always full of pretty things – but mostly Zach and Piper are still a bit prickly around each other and their relationship consists mostly of slightly antagonistic banter and snark.
But things between them start to change when two of their best friends announce their engagement. Zach is asked to be Best Man, and Piper is asked not only to plan the wedding, but to be Maid of Honour as well, which is going to throw them together more often than they would like. Part of the pre-wedding celebration is to include a trip to London for the bride, groom and several close friends (with a wedding on a remote Caribbean island to follow) – and it’s during the London trip that Zach and Piper start to see each other in a new light and realise that they’re strongly attracted to one another – and that maybe there’s the chance for something more than attraction to grow between them.
To be honest, I didn’t get too much of an “enemies” vibe from Piper and Zach to start with; they seemed more like two people who didn’t know each other that well and just hadn’t clicked, which – given their professions at the “opposite ends” of marriage – wasn’t surprising. But that didn’t stop me from enjoying their slow-burn attraction in the first half of the story as it built up to something far hotter. The second half, however was a bit of a disappointment and dragged somewhat; I was worried at one point that the rest of the book was going to be bogged down in misunderstandings and wrongly-attributed assumptions (Piper is, at one point, thinking that she’s probably going to want more from Zach than he can give, and he’s wondering if he can give Piper all she’s going to want) – but fortunately, both characters man up and realise that they need to actually talk to one another about where they want to go from here (Here being hot sexxin in a London hotel room!) I really appreciated that they both realised that although they had baggage, it was important to allow themselves to be vulnerable with one another and open up to the possibility of second chances. So often in romance novels, conflict is created by characters who can’t – or won’t – let certain things go, so it was a big relief that didn’t happen here. I also have to give props to Ms. Blakely for the way she handles Zach’s widowerhood and his feelings towards his late wife. Tender and touching, but not maudlin and guilt-laden over moving on, she got that element of the story just right.
I haven’t listened to either narrator before, although I know that Amanda Ronconi is a favourite here at AG, so I was confident going in that I would enjoy her performance, and I did. Her voice sits in a range that’s pleasant to listen to, her pacing is just right, her differentiation is sound and her comic timing is excellent. She delivers the humour and snark in the text perfectly and without going over the top, and is equally good in the quieter moment of introspection and vulnerability. I also can’t think of anything about Jason Clarke’s performance I didn’t like. Not only does he have an incredibly sexy voice (*swoon*) he also conveys the various facets of Zach’s character really well, from doting dad to take-no-prisoners-lawyer to passionate lover; this romantic hero is all that and a bag of chips, gorgeous, thoughtful and well-adjusted in spite of the tragic loss in his past. Both narrators do a great job when it comes to voicing the children and characters of the opposite sex and their English accents aren’t bad either ;)
In the version of the audiobook I listened to, there were some fairly irritating issues with the sound quality. The chapters read by Amanda Ronconi sounded somewhat distorted throughout; each time she raised her voice slightly, the sound distorted in much the same way as, say, it would if you played music way too loud for the speakers you were using. (Although it happens at much lower volumes.) Jason Clarke’s chapters were fine to start with – but the same issue crept in after a few chapters. I can’t say it completely spoiled the listen for me, but it was one of those things I couldn’t just “unhear”, and was aware of all the way through.
BUT. I’ve been told that this issue is being corrected, so it’s likely that there will be a new version available by the time this review runs. I’m only mentioning it here so that anyone who has the first-release version of the audiobook can go back to Audible and re-download the corrected version.
Never Have I Ever is funny, sexy and poignant; a romance between grown-ups who are prepared to take a chance on something new. At time of writing, it’s available as part as Audible Escape (formerly the Romance Package) and is audio ONLY – the book comes out later this year – but honestly, given the choice between reading it and listening to Jason Clarke’s sexy rumble I know which I’d pick!
I've given this an A- for narration and a B- for content at AudioGals.
Never Have I Ever is the latest Audible Original story from the powerhouse of contemporary romance, Lauren Blakely. It’s a charming, funny and sexy enemies-to-lovers tale that follows the development of the romance between a vivacious, successful wedding planner and a widowed hot-shot divorce lawyer. The principals are likeable, the story is low on drama but still packs an emotional punch here and there, and the narration is excellent, so fans of the author and audio rom-coms alike are sure to be delighted with this latest offering.
Around ten years before the story proper begins, fledgling wedding planner Piper Radcliffe is basking in the glow of a job well done – a wedding well planned – only to have that glow stomped on during the reception by Zach Nolan, who predicts the marriage won’t last. Piper and Zach don’t know each other all that well, even though they have a number of mutual friends and have known each other vaguely since college, and Piper is naturally pissed off by his message of doom and gloom. For the next decade or so, they avoid each other or behave coolly whenever they meet (which is as infrequently as they can manage) until they end up taking office space in the same building.
By the time the story opens, Zach has been a widower for two years, and is the father of two children, Lucy – ten, and Harry – seven, who are his pride and joy and his top priority in life. He’s a great dad and is determined to be there for his kids no matter what, and even though their mother’s death hit them hard, they’re doing well and moving forward, and so (for the most part) is Zach. The fact that he and Piper have offices in the same building mean they’re at least cordial to one another – and Lucy has really hit it off with Piper, loving that her office is always full of pretty things – but mostly Zach and Piper are still a bit prickly around each other and their relationship consists mostly of slightly antagonistic banter and snark.
But things between them start to change when two of their best friends announce their engagement. Zach is asked to be Best Man, and Piper is asked not only to plan the wedding, but to be Maid of Honour as well, which is going to throw them together more often than they would like. Part of the pre-wedding celebration is to include a trip to London for the bride, groom and several close friends (with a wedding on a remote Caribbean island to follow) – and it’s during the London trip that Zach and Piper start to see each other in a new light and realise that they’re strongly attracted to one another – and that maybe there’s the chance for something more than attraction to grow between them.
To be honest, I didn’t get too much of an “enemies” vibe from Piper and Zach to start with; they seemed more like two people who didn’t know each other that well and just hadn’t clicked, which – given their professions at the “opposite ends” of marriage – wasn’t surprising. But that didn’t stop me from enjoying their slow-burn attraction in the first half of the story as it built up to something far hotter. The second half, however was a bit of a disappointment and dragged somewhat; I was worried at one point that the rest of the book was going to be bogged down in misunderstandings and wrongly-attributed assumptions (Piper is, at one point, thinking that she’s probably going to want more from Zach than he can give, and he’s wondering if he can give Piper all she’s going to want) – but fortunately, both characters man up and realise that they need to actually talk to one another about where they want to go from here (Here being hot sexxin in a London hotel room!) I really appreciated that they both realised that although they had baggage, it was important to allow themselves to be vulnerable with one another and open up to the possibility of second chances. So often in romance novels, conflict is created by characters who can’t – or won’t – let certain things go, so it was a big relief that didn’t happen here. I also have to give props to Ms. Blakely for the way she handles Zach’s widowerhood and his feelings towards his late wife. Tender and touching, but not maudlin and guilt-laden over moving on, she got that element of the story just right.
I haven’t listened to either narrator before, although I know that Amanda Ronconi is a favourite here at AG, so I was confident going in that I would enjoy her performance, and I did. Her voice sits in a range that’s pleasant to listen to, her pacing is just right, her differentiation is sound and her comic timing is excellent. She delivers the humour and snark in the text perfectly and without going over the top, and is equally good in the quieter moment of introspection and vulnerability. I also can’t think of anything about Jason Clarke’s performance I didn’t like. Not only does he have an incredibly sexy voice (*swoon*) he also conveys the various facets of Zach’s character really well, from doting dad to take-no-prisoners-lawyer to passionate lover; this romantic hero is all that and a bag of chips, gorgeous, thoughtful and well-adjusted in spite of the tragic loss in his past. Both narrators do a great job when it comes to voicing the children and characters of the opposite sex and their English accents aren’t bad either ;)
In the version of the audiobook I listened to, there were some fairly irritating issues with the sound quality. The chapters read by Amanda Ronconi sounded somewhat distorted throughout; each time she raised her voice slightly, the sound distorted in much the same way as, say, it would if you played music way too loud for the speakers you were using. (Although it happens at much lower volumes.) Jason Clarke’s chapters were fine to start with – but the same issue crept in after a few chapters. I can’t say it completely spoiled the listen for me, but it was one of those things I couldn’t just “unhear”, and was aware of all the way through.
BUT. I’ve been told that this issue is being corrected, so it’s likely that there will be a new version available by the time this review runs. I’m only mentioning it here so that anyone who has the first-release version of the audiobook can go back to Audible and re-download the corrected version.
Never Have I Ever is funny, sexy and poignant; a romance between grown-ups who are prepared to take a chance on something new. At time of writing, it’s available as part as Audible Escape (formerly the Romance Package) and is audio ONLY – the book comes out later this year – but honestly, given the choice between reading it and listening to Jason Clarke’s sexy rumble I know which I’d pick!
October 7, 2019
4.5*
Although Never Have I Ever is quintessential Lauren Blakely when it comes to the sexiness, the heat, the witty banter, and the fun and flirtiness, it also has a more emotional element than many of her contemporary romances and that’s what really drew me into Zach and Piper’s story.
I like that Ms. Blakely can bring the feels without bringing the drama.
Piper and Zach are what I’d call frenemies- not quite enemies, yet not quite friends. I really enjoyed their dynamic- the wedding planner and the divorce attorney sure had the sparks flying!
But I loved that this wasn’t just their story, as a couple. It was Zach’s story of coming to terms as a widower, learning to move on, live and love again. It was his story as a single father, navigating the new normal for himself and his kids. It was Piper’s story, as a strong, independent business woman, as a sister and aunt, as someone who was dealing with her own past insecurities. All of this made for such a heartfelt, endearing, and really delightful read.
Zach is such a wonderful father, I really love the relationships he has with Lucy and Henry- they each have such a special bond with him. You could just feel how much Zach adored his kids and my heart would just be bursting with love at their scenes. I appreciated that Lucy and Henry weren’t just used as a plot device, they really were the third main character in this story.
Lucy kind of stole the show there at the end, and I loved it.
Never Have I Ever is probably my favorite book from Ms. Blakely in this past year. I’m definitely going to grab the audio so I can revisit these characters.
Although Never Have I Ever is quintessential Lauren Blakely when it comes to the sexiness, the heat, the witty banter, and the fun and flirtiness, it also has a more emotional element than many of her contemporary romances and that’s what really drew me into Zach and Piper’s story.
I like that Ms. Blakely can bring the feels without bringing the drama.
Piper and Zach are what I’d call frenemies- not quite enemies, yet not quite friends. I really enjoyed their dynamic- the wedding planner and the divorce attorney sure had the sparks flying!
But I loved that this wasn’t just their story, as a couple. It was Zach’s story of coming to terms as a widower, learning to move on, live and love again. It was his story as a single father, navigating the new normal for himself and his kids. It was Piper’s story, as a strong, independent business woman, as a sister and aunt, as someone who was dealing with her own past insecurities. All of this made for such a heartfelt, endearing, and really delightful read.
Zach is such a wonderful father, I really love the relationships he has with Lucy and Henry- they each have such a special bond with him. You could just feel how much Zach adored his kids and my heart would just be bursting with love at their scenes. I appreciated that Lucy and Henry weren’t just used as a plot device, they really were the third main character in this story.
Lucy kind of stole the show there at the end, and I loved it.
Never Have I Ever is probably my favorite book from Ms. Blakely in this past year. I’m definitely going to grab the audio so I can revisit these characters.
September 28, 2019
The wedding planner and the divorce lawyer. It shouldn’t be a match made in heaven, but fate decided otherwise. Zach and Piper have known each other since their college days, and thought they hated each other. Zach certainly didn’t do much to endear himself to Piper when they met unexpectedly at one of the weddings she had planned. That was ten years ago.
Today, they have offices across the hall from one another, but their feelings haven’t changed. They’re drawn together when both are picked as best man and maid of honor when their respective best friends are getting married.
Zach is a single dad now. He’s juggling life and work. He has no time to date and Piper would be the last woman he’d ask out, or so he used to think.
Now, he’s seeing her in a new light, as is she.
This was a sweet and very sexy, very swoony enemies to lovers romance. I loved these two characters and was happy to catch up with old ones too. Lauren has written a fabulous story yet again.
Their attraction and chemistry was kindle-meltingly hot. The banter fast and furious. Sassy and snarky. But it was the addition of Zach’s kids that made this such a hit in my opinion. Loved it.
Today, they have offices across the hall from one another, but their feelings haven’t changed. They’re drawn together when both are picked as best man and maid of honor when their respective best friends are getting married.
Zach is a single dad now. He’s juggling life and work. He has no time to date and Piper would be the last woman he’d ask out, or so he used to think.
Now, he’s seeing her in a new light, as is she.
This was a sweet and very sexy, very swoony enemies to lovers romance. I loved these two characters and was happy to catch up with old ones too. Lauren has written a fabulous story yet again.
Their attraction and chemistry was kindle-meltingly hot. The banter fast and furious. Sassy and snarky. But it was the addition of Zach’s kids that made this such a hit in my opinion. Loved it.
September 9, 2019
Narrated by Jason Clarke and Amanda Ronconi I loved the back-and-forth banter between divorce attorney Zach Nolan, a widowed, daddy of two and, single wedding planner, Piper Radcliff. The two have known each other quite a while and have the same circle of friends, heck they even share office space in the same building. I quickly slipped in and was ready to see how things unfolded.
Add in two adorable kiddos, their best friends’ weddings then stir in some sizzling chemistry and destination locations oh, yeah…
Blakley delivered all the feels with a touching backstory, summer bucket lists, and delicious thoughts. I laughed, swooned and even shed a tear or two.
Clarke and Ronconi were amazing together on audio. I liked their chemistry and pacing. They meshed perfectly speed wise for the dual narration and I didn’t have to adjust once I found a comfortable setting.
If you are looking for a feel good, swoony-worth romance that will hug and squeeze you then grab your earbuds, and listen to, Never Have I Ever. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Add in two adorable kiddos, their best friends’ weddings then stir in some sizzling chemistry and destination locations oh, yeah…
Blakley delivered all the feels with a touching backstory, summer bucket lists, and delicious thoughts. I laughed, swooned and even shed a tear or two.
Clarke and Ronconi were amazing together on audio. I liked their chemistry and pacing. They meshed perfectly speed wise for the dual narration and I didn’t have to adjust once I found a comfortable setting.
If you are looking for a feel good, swoony-worth romance that will hug and squeeze you then grab your earbuds, and listen to, Never Have I Ever. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
November 4, 2019
This is a cute enemies-to-lovers romance. Piper and Zach has known each other since college. They never quite gotten along. Years later Piper and Zach found themselves working in the same building where Zach is a lawyer and Piper is a wedding planner. Zach was married with two kids but his wife passed away. Piper and Zach’s situation hasn’t improved at all - still hating each other I like the banters – so much fun and flirtatious. Zach’s children are adorable and they got along well with Piper. I have a soft spot for single Dad especially this one who is so sweet and loving with his children all awhile working hard and navigating life on his own. Totally swoony and melt my heart. I adore Piper – she is sassy toward Zach but incredibly kind to his children. I like the steamy chemistry going on as well. Over all, this is an endearing, heartfelt, fun, non-drama and happy read.
October 25, 2022
This story was a sweet frenemies to lovers, with a whole lot of friends, easy banter and smart kids.
I used to love Lauren Blakely's books, and I'm happy to say that I still do.
There's no angst, drama or plot twists in this story. Probably why it's not a 5 stars for me... I need to at least have some of those.
Just a widow hot daddy with two amazing kids, that starts to fall in love with the sassy and happy girl in their group of friends since college.
It's a perfect cleanser and with a great narration.
I used to love Lauren Blakely's books, and I'm happy to say that I still do.
There's no angst, drama or plot twists in this story. Probably why it's not a 5 stars for me... I need to at least have some of those.
Just a widow hot daddy with two amazing kids, that starts to fall in love with the sassy and happy girl in their group of friends since college.
It's a perfect cleanser and with a great narration.
October 6, 2019
3.25 stars
I have read and enjoyed this author's books in the past, and if I am right I rated them 3.5 on an average. Then, I think she started a single-mom series which I didn't quite like. This is a story of a single-dad and h/H who have known each other a long time. The hero has been widowed 2 years and is raising his kids and working. This was a decent book, but nothing special.
I have read and enjoyed this author's books in the past, and if I am right I rated them 3.5 on an average. Then, I think she started a single-mom series which I didn't quite like. This is a story of a single-dad and h/H who have known each other a long time. The hero has been widowed 2 years and is raising his kids and working. This was a decent book, but nothing special.
September 30, 2019
Never Have I Ever was absolutely fantastic!!!!
Enemies to lovers ✔
Single dad ✔
Second chances for love ✔
Strong heroine ✔
All of the above is packed into this head-over-heels, heartfelt, story of sexiness.
Something I love about this story was how deeply emotional it was in moments. You don't see that much in LB's books because she keeps things light and fun. Don't get me wrong, it was definitely fun in many ways, but between Zach's love as a father and his developing love for Piper, I was most certainly swooning over how emotionally vulnerable his character was.
I also adored Piper's relationship with his kids, as their friend.
Overall, an extremely sexy and deeply heartfelt read.
Enemies to lovers ✔
Single dad ✔
Second chances for love ✔
Strong heroine ✔
All of the above is packed into this head-over-heels, heartfelt, story of sexiness.
Something I love about this story was how deeply emotional it was in moments. You don't see that much in LB's books because she keeps things light and fun. Don't get me wrong, it was definitely fun in many ways, but between Zach's love as a father and his developing love for Piper, I was most certainly swooning over how emotionally vulnerable his character was.
I also adored Piper's relationship with his kids, as their friend.
Overall, an extremely sexy and deeply heartfelt read.
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