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Man of the Year #2

Yours to Keep

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Pro baseball shortstop Carter Ramsey is about to be Citizen magazine’s Man of the Year, but the only title that matters to him is out of reach: World Series MVP. Benched by a recent injury, Carter retreats to his hometown to recover. His ten-year class reunion and a potential reconciliation with the sweetheart he left behind could be perfect distractions. Until another old acquaintance throws Carter a curveball.

Olive Dunn admits that her former high school science partner is still a handsome charmer. But she wasn’t swayed then, and she won’t be swayed now. Because Olive remembers Carter’s little shortcoming: he tends to bail the moment it suits him, without a backward glance. Best to keep her feelings strictly platonic while he’s in town.

Except the entitled boy she knew is a changed man: solid, reflective, and generous. As they ease back in to their familiar friendship, things take a surprising turn, and Carter and Olive must decide if what they have is a passing flirtation or a real shot at love.

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2020

477 people are currently reading
2959 people want to read

About the author

Lauren Layne

61 books10.5k followers
Lauren Layne is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen novels, including Hot Asset, Hard Sell, and Huge Deal in her 21 Wall Street series, as well as her Central Park Pact series. Her books have sold more than a million copies in nine languages. Lauren’s work has been featured in Publishers Weekly, Glamour, the Wall Street Journal, and Inside Edition. She is based in New York City.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 337 reviews
Profile Image for Phuong ✯.
682 reviews9,153 followers
June 11, 2020
~ 2.5 stars

When picking up a Lauren Layne book, I have two requirements: short and entertaining

1. This book is 228 pages long, which is really short, but it felt like 2280 pages. I mean sure I closed my kindle after every second sentences so no wonder it felt like this book would never end, but that's not the point 😂. It shouldn't have felt that long.

2. It was not entertaining. It was rather very boring. Nothing about the story catched my attention. I wasn't invested in the characters nor their romances, even though some of Olive and Carter's banter was cute. Carter's whole life revolves around baseball and now that he is injured he has this midlife crisis I didn't care about and Olive is busy planing this high school reunion that I even cared less about.

So it didn't quite hit the brief for me.

*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Alba and Her Secrets..♥.
948 reviews1,157 followers
September 1, 2020
4.5 'Green glitter' Stars!
ARC provided by the the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
description

I devoured this book! Here is the thing: I started it late already and then, for the life of me, I could not stop reading. The back and forth banter between Carter and Olive had me completely ADDICTED. I literally had to stop myself at around 70% because it was SO late. I finished it as soon as I got up and now I can assure again that Lauren Layne is killing it with this series! I loved the first one and I loved this one. This is the LL style that got me hooked on her stories.

Yours to Keep is the second installment in her Man of the Year series and this time it focuses on Carter Ramsey, an injured pro baseball star that goes back to his hometown while recovering and reconnects with his former high school science partner now also neighbor. Olive Dunn happens to be one of Carter’s sister best friends and Cat forces them to spend time together to organize the ten-year class reunion. Friendship begins, sexual tension and sparks engage and a love story neither expected flourishes.

He had just been yanked back into small-town life by an admittedly strange source, and... he didn’t hate it.

I love Lauren Layne’s books. I LOVE THEM. You probably know that by now since I’ve read the majority of them. Yours to Keep is one good example of why I love Lauren’s creations. A drama-free, mid-steam contemporary romance filled with humor, friendship, sexual tension and a beautiful connection. That’s exactly what I got with the always-amazing LL touch. I fell in love with these characters from the start, especially Carter and Olive, of course.

He wanted his dumpy, impersonal rental home, the warmth of Cedar & Salt or his mother’s kitchen. He wanted the stupid red truck he’d become rather attached to. He wanted the noisy high school biology teacher he’d become very attached to.

Carter is just all around good guy who loves baseball, loves his family and now his new found friendship/relationship with Olive. And Olive probably is one of my favorite heroines from Lauren. She is nerdy, loving, chatty and confident. I loved her personality and how it developed. I loved her chemistry with Carter, the banter, the sexual tension, the sexy scenes and the emotions around this couple. There was little to no drama (just a bit with Carter’s ex) and I am always a fan of that! Olive and Carter’s relationship was just beautiful to read and I loved every second.

“What I am is a very smart woman who’s figured out how to have the life I want with the man I want. And that man is you.”

Therefore, I am rating Yours to Keep with 4.5 STARS because this friends-to-lovers romance hooked me from start to finish. I loved Carter and Olive together and how their journey to love developed. I loved their unique friendship and their passionate relationship. This series just reminds me why I love Lauren Layne’s writing so much and I cannot wait to read the third and last installment which I think is about a character we already met in another series. So exciting!

CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:
Profile Image for Astrid - The Bookish Sweet Tooth.
796 reviews917 followers
September 7, 2020



TITLE: YOURS TO KEEP
AUTHOR: Lauren Layne
SERIES: Man of the Year #2
RELEASE DATE: September 1, 2020
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
THEMES & TROPES: Smalltown Romance, Baseball
RATING: 4 Stars
CLIFFHANGER: No

READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG





Lauren Layne is a wonderfully talented author and while not every book by her hits the spot 100% I keep returning to her stories because many times they are very enjoyable.
In YOURS TO KEEP we meet Carter, an MBL star who while mending from an injury takes up the opportunity to go to his smalltown home to reconnect with his high school sweetheart. Instead he moves in next to his former lab partner, nerdy, busybody Olive.

I loved Olive, she was so self aware and a little quirky, confident, she knew who she was and what she wanted and knew how to express it. Something Carter admired. He has come home to find out who he is beyond the baseball player with the plethora of top model ex-girlfriends.

Olive is a typical smalltown girl, sticking her nose in everybody's business, at first, hilariously, to Carter's dismay. But he soon found himself helplessly attracted to Olive and I really loved the chemistry between them.
“What I am is a very smart woman who’s figured out how to have the life I want with the man I want. And that man is you.”

Carter was an all around good guy and Olive grounded him. I loved how down-to-earth he was. His love for Olive snuck up on him and it was quite funny how confused he was at first. Their relationship was based on friendship and came so naturally.
“It’s so annoying,” she said, folding the newspaper closed.
“What is?” Carter took a sip of coffee. It was excellent.
“All your hidden depths.”
“Starting to fall for me now, are you?”
“Let’s not get crazy.”

YOURS TO KEEP is a pretty low-drama, lighthearted quick read that made me smile and reminded me why I love Lauren Layne's books. Olive and Carter made my heart sing and I'll be grabbing the next one for sure!
Favorite school subject: Science. Because it’s damned important. And because I met a girl there my senior year. I think I love her.


Profile Image for zae.
322 reviews151 followers
January 30, 2022
This book snuck up on me. It wasn’t until I was at the last 20% of the book that I fully realized how much I’ve been loving the story.

Carter Ramsey, a professional baseball player who holds the current Man of the Year title, goes to attend his high school reunion to reconnect with his high school sweetheart but instead ended up reconnecting with his old lab partner, Olive Dunn (who is so unapologetically herself and I love her for it).

This just checked all the marks I expect and love from a typical romance story from the author. I loved all the flirty banter, the conversations they have, all the swoony moments, and the grand gesture at the end. Olive and Carter are also serving the sunshine and grump trope <3

I recommend it if you’re looking for a quick but entertaining romance read.

Rating: 3.5/5
Profile Image for Jacob Proffitt.
3,311 reviews2,153 followers
July 13, 2021
This is second in a series, but they're barely related at all. So reading out of order isn't a problem.

I let this go too long since finishing it to be able to give much of a review, I'm afraid. I hate when that happens, though that's indicative of what I thought in a way. I mean, I barely remember it and it has only been a week or so.

I really liked Olive. I liked her gumption and drive. And I liked how much she loved her job and community and how attached she was to them. I didn't like so much how she starts the story with explicit reference to being an introvert (which is why she lives a bit off the beaten path), but that kind of disappears as a thing before too long. I also liked that her resistance to Carter made sense as the temporary guy she knew wouldn't be around long.

And I liked Carter, mostly, too. He's struggling with a bigger loss than he's letting on, but doing his best with optimism while staying realistic. I thought it was interesting that he was in town to pick up with his ex only to find himself captivated by Olive. And I'm glad that he pushed to be understood when the dark moment hit so that communication and reconciliation could be reasonable.

So I remember more than I thought once I got going, I suppose. And it's enough to go with four stars for a mostly-serviceable story that delivered the feelz without too many absurdities. I particularly liked their resolution for their geographical attachments because it took both of them working together and compromising reasonably to figure out a way to be together.

A note about Steamy: There was steam, but I frankly don't remember how much. Below or within the middle of my steam tolerance, at any rate.
Profile Image for nick (the infinite limits of love).
2,120 reviews1,528 followers
January 27, 2021

The last few books I've read from Lauren Layne haven't been my favorite, so I put off reading Yours to Keep for a long time. Having read it now, I 100% regret it because this book had all the elements I enjoy in a good Lauren Layne book. This is a neighbors falling in love romance between Olive, a high school teacher in a small town and Carter, a pro baseball player recovering from an injury. The two went to high school together but didn't share anything romantic. When they are forced to co-chair the upcoming high school reunion, they become fast friends. The romance in this book progressed from a friendship to more, which I was 100% here for. In typical Lauren Layne fashion, Olive and Carter exchanged plenty of witty banter that had me smiling. Their chemistry together was hot and that sexual tension was definitely palpable to this reader. I really did love watching the two come together. Though there was a little of drama in the form of Carter originally wanting to reunite with his high school sweetheart and his career prospects, I found Yours to Keep to be light on the drama overall. It made for a very pleasant reading experience. I'm thrilled that I had a good time reading Yours to Keep because it's rekindled my excitement for Layne's books. If you want a friends-to-lovers that's light, sexy, and plenty of banter, this one is for you!
Profile Image for Wendy'sThoughts.
2,670 reviews3,284 followers
Want to read
September 1, 2020
It Can Be Hard To Not Seem Ungrateful...
By Being Named Man Of The Year By A Popular Magazine...
And Wishing It Was Something Else...

Something Like Being The MPV Of The World Series...
Sad Part It Wasn't Something Out Of Reach...
When Pro Baseball Shortstop Carter Ramsey...
Is Playing And Not Injured...

Unfortunately, Carter Needs to Recover...
So He Is Back At Home...
Just In Time For His 10 Year Class Reunion...

Back in the Day, Olive Dunn...
And Carter Were Science Partners...
He Would Hit On Her...
And She Would Shoot Him Down...

Now They Are Adults...
Changes and Growth...
May Open Olives Eyes...
To How Carter Has Become...
A Much Better Man...

The Only Question Bouncing Around...
Between These Two Is Whether...
They Will Become...


Yours to Keep (Man of the Year #2)-September 1, 2020

Yours in Scandal (Man of the Year, #1) by Lauren Layne Yours in Scandal (Man of the Year, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Yours to Keep (Man of the Year, #2) by Lauren Layne Yours to Keep (Man of the Year, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


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Profile Image for Robin (Bridge Four).
1,943 reviews1,655 followers
September 14, 2020
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart

Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Lauren Layne does the rom-com-chick-lit up right.  She usually brings flirty fun to the table and builds characters and situations you can root for.  The Man of the Year series is one of the few she has written that so far, where characters between books have had no crossover interactions and so even though Yours to Keep is the second book of the series, it can be read easily without knowing anything about the first book.

Let’s start with Olive since I loved her.  She is quirky and unapologetically her.  Olive seems to know all the goings on in the small town and when Carter shows up to help out his twin sister, Olive is all over making sure the new neighbor isn’t creep material.  Then she up ends him from any comfort zone he has to make sure he has everything he needs while in town.  Boundaries are not something Olive really has and Carter is in for some interesting times with her.

Carter is about to be named Man of the Year in a magazine and reading the article it makes his life seem a little hollow.  Currently on the injured list, he needs to figure out who he is without baseball in his life. He didn’t expect that his former science partner would have grown into herself so well and it has been forever since someone didn’t like him for his fame.  Between trying to teach her baseball and helping her put together a 10-year high school reunion, there is plenty of space for cute flirtations and sexual innuendos.

Carter is supposed to go back to the big city soon and Olive loves small town life and teaching.  Even if it is more than just a little summer fling how will they work it out?

Totally a fun and cute story that doesn’t spend a lot of extra time or page space on unnecessary stuff.  A quick easy read to scratch that rom-com itch you might be feeling.  Also, I now have a new appreciation for green glitter and all of its uses.

Narration:
Alexander Cendese and Samantha Martin do up the dual PoV right.  I enjoyed each narrator as they brought the fun flirtations of the characters to life.  I listened to this at my usual 1.5x speed.

Listen to a clip: HERE
Profile Image for book bruin.
1,526 reviews353 followers
August 27, 2020
4.5 stars

This was such a fun and sweet slow burn, friends to lovers romance! It was exactly the kind of story my heart needed. I loved that Olive and Carter knew each other from childhood, but that a bit of forced proximity gave them the opportunity and time to truly get to know one another. I did think that Olive’s behavior in the beginning was a little over the top, but it was also quite hilarious and endearing. She was such an intelligent, strong, and determined heroine and I loved how unapologetically confident she was. She knew just how to push Carter’s buttons too and their banter and back and forth was fantastic. Carter had a lot of growing to do through the course of the book, and I liked that he struggled to get things right. A little more groveling would have been great, but he came through when it counted. The plot was fairly predictable, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story at all. There was just enough drama to keep things interesting, but I did feel that the ending felt a little rushed. The epilogue put a huge smile on my face though and left me feeling all warm and fuzzy. Definitely recommend this wonderful small town romance!

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*
Profile Image for Wendy.
509 reviews
April 18, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for a gifted copy of this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Yours to Keep doesn't come out until the fall but as soon as I got a copy, I knew I couldn't wait that long to read it. Pro baseball player Carter Ramsey is about to be Citizen magazine's Man of the Year, but due to his recent injury his career may be over, so he goes to his hometown to recover and sulk. A perfect distraction comes in the form of Olive Dunn, his old high school lab partner, who is as quirky as ever and she happens to live next door. As they develop a friendship, she's determined to not fall for his charm and be left in the dust when he leaves town again.

Lauren Layne is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors and she didn't let me down with Yours to Keep. This book is fast paced, well written, funny and swoon worthy. I blew through it in 2 sittings. I loved how Olive always put him in his place when his ego gets a little big. And Carter is adorable and super sweet. The story not too angsty but still has enough to make you ache a little for them. It totally reminded me of Josh and Hazel by CLo. And it's a standalone novel so you don't have to pick up the first to get into the story!
Profile Image for Samantha (WLABB).
4,252 reviews277 followers
August 27, 2020
Rating: 4.5 stars

After suffering a major injury, MLB star, Carter Ramsey, returns to his hometown to recuperate and contemplate his future. What he didn't anticipate was his former high school lab partner, Olive Dunn, barreling her way into his life and into his heart.

I found this book so delightful. Both Carter and Olive charmed my pants off, and I had the best time with them.

Carter was the golden boy, who found major league success, but he was reaching an age where success wasn't everything and was looking for more. He found it difficult to make real connections with people, and felt like when they looked at him, all they saw was Carter the baseball player. They never seemed to want to know the man underneath the uniform. There were a few times in the book, when Carter was reflecting on this and it really broke my heart. I felt his loneliness and longing, and to me, Olive was one of the best people to fill that empty space in his life.

Carter may have been the golden boy, but Olive enjoyed just as much status in their hometown. She was energetic and upbeat, and her rosy outlook was contagious. But for all the smiles and sunshine she left in her wake, Olive was very much on her own. She suffered through a string of failed relationships and didn't believe there was anyone out there who would want her in that way. Again, my heart broke.

Carter and Olive were a perfect pairing. They bantered like champs, and there was also a good deal of heat between them too. I found it easy to fall under their spell and thought they were pure magic together. It was so sweet watching them slowly realize what they saw in each other. Carter was especially precious, because a man that can say such adorable and tender things will always win my heart.

Not only were Carter and Olive fantastic, but I loved being in Haven. I am a sucker for a small town, and I found all its denizens quite marvelous as well. In the afterword, I found out that Haven was the setting of An Ex for Christmas, which is one of my favorite Lauren Layne books. Not only did I get to go back to Haven, but I got to catch up with Kelly and Mark. What a nice surprise!

I was already reveling in all the fun, banter, and sweetness of this story when I got to (drumroll please) THE EPILOGUE! You guys know how much this girl loves an epilogue, and Layne did not disappoint me. As the cherry on top, it was a jump ahead epilogue showing me the fabulous future for this couple. To quote a popular song, their "future's so bright, I gotta wear shades."

Overall, Yours to Keep was a hit for me. I smiled, laughed, swooned, and just felt happy as I read it. What more could I ask for?

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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Profile Image for maggieandteddy.
1,223 reviews143 followers
September 4, 2020
3.25 stars. I really love LL's writing style. This seemed a little wackier than her sly, dry humor
Olive is kinda out there. She grew on me, but other times, she was a bit much.
I'm not really a fan of looking back at high school- like not at all. Carter doesn't have a choice since Olive was his science lab partner & is currently a teacher at their high school.
Carter's family is really funny when they're together. His mom knows what's going on at all times.
"I'm just sayin'" is her favorite saying.
I read and listened to this. I think that the ebook is a little easier to connect with. This is a slow burn.
I do like it when the MCs are friends first.
I would like to read the next book in this series.
Profile Image for abire.
1,056 reviews96 followers
May 5, 2020
"Fast facts about the man beneath the uniform
Favorite wine: Zinfandel, especially shared with good neighbors
Favorite color: Green, particularly in glitter form
Favorite animal: Haven Lions
Favorite possession: Jody
Favorite school subject: Science. Because it’s damned important. And because I met a girl there my senior year. I think I love her."


I have to admit, I am a little bit sad over my rating.. Not that 3 stars is a bad one it's just... not what I was expecting.

This book was enjoyable... but not anything I was to engrossed in or anything memorable.

Starting this, I was excited. But the more I read, the more I realized I just didn't care much about the characters or the romance. I didn't feel anything romantic between them or even saw the potential of romance for a good chunk of the story, even their friendship felt a bit too rushed and forced in my taste. They were cute, I have to admit it... but that was it.

Both characters felt.. whatever to me in a way. Although, I did like Olive more than Carter, it wasn't really by much. Neither of them stirred up any huge feeling for me, I was mostly meh about them as much as I was about their relationship.

Honestly, for the most part, I just didn't care about the romance. The characters didn't feel suited to me, I didn't feel the chemistry or that tug that makes you root for two people to be together, and the side storyline with Carter's ex absolutely didn't help matters. It was unecessary and made absolutely no sense.. the only purpose it served was make me even more uninterested in seeing Olive and Carter together.

I did, however, enjoy the side characters more. Especially Kelly and Mark, their relationship intrigued me and had me grinning and wanting to read their book so much, I genuinely was more interested in their tiny little scenes than the main relationship; and I was SO happy to find out that they already have a book!!

This, sadly, wasn't one of my favorite of Lauren's work, but I am still very excited for the next installment which is(finally!!) Jarod's book, one that I've been wanting ever since I read Hard Sell in the beginning of last year and have wanted even more after reading Marriage on Madison Avenue!!


*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Kate R.
1,162 reviews42 followers
August 23, 2020
Yours to Keep is the second book in the Man of the Year series. It is a complete standalone though. There are some mentions of characters from the first one but really just in passing. However, if you read An Ex for Christmas, you will recognize some of those characters in here and they do make appearances throughout the story but again not necessary to read this beforehand.

Carter is a professional baseball player with a recent injury that will keep him off the field for now. After getting pressure from his twin sister to come home, he reluctantly agrees to come for the high school reunion, hoping to see his high school sweetheart, Felicity. But, when he rents a house, he finds his next door neighbor is his high school lab partner, Olive. Carter was a hard character to get to know. He was lost and not sure what he was outside of baseball, and really concentrated on who he was in the past. On the other hand, Olive was hilarious, quirky, nerdy and easy to love from the start. They become friends, that eventually turns into more. All the supporting characters brought so much to the story. This was a sweet, entertaining friends to lovers romance, and I would recommend this one.

* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Profile Image for TSN ☮.
1,577 reviews28 followers
August 18, 2023
Re-read August 2023
Re-read April 2022

Normally I'm not all that impressed by small town romances, but this one... It was not just good, it was AWESOME. And a very easy FIVE star rating, which is something I don't throw around very often.

Olive simply is to die for!
She's happy with her life as it is. Being a quirky science teacher at the local high school in the small town where she grew up, and far from your usual romance novel heroine. She is not easily impressed by much, not even her former science partner, and now a pro athlete celebrity. The interactions between her and Carter, were both fun and flirty, and the chemistry was just spot on. I already admitted to absolutely love Olive, but Carter was rather cute as well.

I adore these unexpected gems, that you start reading without any expectations, but ends up being absolutely fantastic.

I'm already looking forward to reading it again.

☛ I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and I'm voluntarily making this review.
Profile Image for Jeeves Reads Romance.
1,683 reviews797 followers
August 30, 2020
A small town romance with a whole lot of charm, this is a departure from what the author has been writing recently - and I kinda loved that. Layne has mastered "high end" romance set in the city, but I've always preferred her everyday heroes and heroines. This one is a new spin on her best trope - friends to lovers - and is distinctly the author's work while still feeling fresh. It pairs a hometown hero with the girl he overlooked in high school as they reconnect after years apart. It's a slow burn with the serious tone I've come to expect from Layne, and the romance grew on me more and more as the book went on.

The story follows Carter, a pro baseball player whose life has revolved around the sport for as long as he can remember. When an injury takes him out of the game temporarily, Carter's got some extra time on his hands and soon finds himself returning home for his high school reunion. Fame has made relationships difficult, so Carter half wonders if he can rekindle something with his old high school flame. What Carter doesn't realize is that there IS a girl who got away in his hometown - but it's not the one he expects. As Olive and Carter build on the casual friendship they had in high school, the two discover that they may have grown into people who are perfect for each other as adults.

I've gotta admit - I was a little worried when I read that Carter was returning home in order to get the girl who got away, only to fall for another woman. So I was very pleasantly surprised to discover that there's almost no OW drama. Sure, Carter thought he was coming home to win over one girl and ended up with another, but Olive and Carter begin as friends first and it all felt pretty organic. This has a definite laidback, small town vibe that's different from what new fans of Layne may have come to expect, but that was a major bonus for me. It's low angst and low on the steam, with a slow burn romance that got better as it went on. All in all, it's a light, easy read that will certainly satisfy. I received a free copy via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review of this small town romance.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
1,577 reviews119 followers
September 6, 2020
I am always happy when a new Lauren Layne book comes out. This was cute and bantery and fun. I really liked both Carter and Olive and loved watching as their friendship evolved into more. I also liked that it was set mostly in a cute, small town. Most of Layne's books these days are set in NYC with super rich, polished characters and it was a nice change to see a quirky high school teacher as the lead.
Profile Image for Under the Covers Book Blog.
2,840 reviews1,343 followers
September 24, 2020


Something about the characters felt a bit flat to me. I never really fell in love with Carter and Olive didn’t really shine for me either.”
~ Under the Covers

This year, I’ve made the decision to catch up on all of Lauren Layne’s books, so when I saw that she had this new series, I knew that I wanted to give it a shot. YOURS TO KEEP is the second book in the Man of the Year series. It features a baseball player named Carter Ramsey and his former high school science partner, Olive Dunn.

I was definitely looking forward to this book, but I found it a little hard to get into. The writing is fine in that it flows nicely. However, something about the characters felt a bit flat to me. I never really fell in love with Carter and Olive didn’t really shine for me either. I kept reading, hoping that something would change or a spark would finally ignite, but the book just went on smoothly until it finished and I was left still wanting more.

So unfortunately, I was a little disappointed in it. I don’t know if that’s because I had high hopes for it, but the romance just didn’t dazzle me like I hoped it would. YOURS TO KEEP is a very easy read though. But I wish there was more to the plot and romance. Something just felt like it was missing despite it having an interesting premise. Nevertheless, I look forward to seeing Layne’s future books. Hopefully, they will enchant me more.

Reviewed by Ann❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
Profile Image for Alison.
3,685 reviews145 followers
September 2, 2020
Three and a half stars.

Carter Ramsay is about to be splashed all over Citizen magazine as its Man of The Year, unfortunately he's also broken his arm and got some serious damage to his shoulder which may mean an end to his career as a professional baseball player. Bribed to return to his hometown by his twin sister with the lure of his high-school sweetheart, who herself is returning after her divorce from a Hollywood film director, Carter is feeling a bit sorry for himself.

Enter Olive Dunn, who lives in the house next door to the place Carter has rented for a few months while he recuperates. Olive has always marched to the beat of her own drum and she doesn't let other people define who she is. When she and Carter get roped into organising their school's ten year reunion they have a friendly bet to see who has the harder job, organising a party or playing a game for a living.

Olive isn't the ethereal, petite, model-type that Carter has dated in the past, she's brash, interfering, organising and strong. But as thy spend time together friendship turns into something else. But when Carter's first love returns to town will a decade's-old promise change everything.

Who doesn't love a small-town high school reunion romance? Especially when this time its the Prom King and the high school nerd. This was a break from Lauren Layne's more typical stylish New Yorker romances and I loved the slower pace, the gossipy town, the interfering family, the minutiae of small town life. And yet … I can't help feeling it lacked a bit of oomph, it was cute like a Hallmark movie but maybe (whispers) Carter and Olive were just too nice?

Overall, a cute slice of small town romance, makes you feel good and fun to read.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Bumped for release.
Profile Image for A_Stylish_Bookworm.
2,356 reviews116 followers
April 13, 2020
Thank you @netgalley for a copy of Yours to Keep. I zoomed through this book in a day and did not want to put it down. I love banter and chemistry between Olive & Carter. This is second book of Man of the Year and is a stand alone.
Profile Image for Mia.
2,870 reviews1,051 followers
April 3, 2020
“𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙤’𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”


As someone that has read all of Lauren Layne's books, I truly enjoyed this story.
It had witty banter, swoon-worthy small town romance, and general rom-com feel. 
Olive and Carter are really good for one another and their romance is slow growing and understated for much of the story.

Yours to Keep great installment in Lauren Layne’s Man of the Year series. The characters are quite charming and although flawed, they are very easy to like. The storyline is fun and engaging and I can't wait to read Jarod's book.

*𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘪𝘢 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.
Profile Image for Kate.
351 reviews58 followers
January 4, 2021
Really enjoyed this one. Overall really likable characters and lots of fun banter.

Olive Dunn is tasked with planning her 10-year high school reunion and unexpectedly ends up co-chairing the event with her old lab partner turned baseball star Carter Ramsey. Olive and Carter, while not close in high school, fall into an easy friendship that seems like they've been close for years. As their relationship grows into something more, they're both torn over the fact that, logistically, their relationship couldn't work outside of their tiny home town.

I'd definitely recommend this, especially if you're a fan of high school reunion stories.
Profile Image for Addie Yoder.
1,084 reviews87 followers
May 17, 2020
I am a ride or die Lauren Layne fan. I am all in on pretty much anything she writes. Yours to Keep lived up to the standard I expect from her books. I loved Olive and her confidence and determination. I loved Carter. Their banter was just so fun and the return to Haven and it's small town feel was just right after the city vibe in Yours in Scandal. I am going to keep on reading everything Lauren puts out there and loving it! Perfect for readers who love rom coms, sports stories, strong women and love.
Profile Image for Janae.
450 reviews28 followers
May 22, 2020
I have been a fan of Lauren Layne's since I first read the Avenue series. I love that her books take place in NYC. There is magic in that city and it shows through her writing. I have been impressed by her romance stories, but this has been my favorite by far! I am a sucker for a sports romance. It's one of my favorite tropes, and boy did Layne deliver.

Carter and Olive's chemistry was so great. I love that they were friends to lovers. Olive's wit along with Carter's charisma was just fantastic. The supporting characters were fantastic! I want to know more of their stories as well. I know that this is a mark for a good read, when I leave wanting more.

Thank you Netgalley, Montlake, and the author for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this story. All views and comments are my own.
Profile Image for Rochelle.
1,642 reviews
December 21, 2020
Book 2 in the Man of Year series and it was a great read. Loved Carter and Olive. A quick friends to lovers romance that will have you smiling the entire time you are reading. Great characters and a wonderful story.
Profile Image for Peggy Jaeger.
Author 73 books1,664 followers
April 1, 2020

It’s no secret I love me a Lauren Layne book and her newest, YOURS TO KEEP, has – hands down – my favorite heroine she’s ever written.

Olive Dunn is a plain speaking, good hearted biology teacher in the small town she grew up in. She doesn’t suffer fools, is independent to a fault, and everyone loves her. When her best friend asks her to help co-chair their 10th high school reunion – the same school Olive attended and now teaches in, she readily agrees. But then she’s thrown a curve ball when her bestie’s twin brother, Carter, comes back to town and is recruited to help, too.

Olive and Carter were lab mates once upon high school class ago and although he was a good guy back then, Carter had eyes for one girl only, his girlfriend Felicity.

Carter agrees to come home for his 10th reunion only when he hears his ex will be attending too. They have some unfinished business and now seems like the best time to get it over with.

Since this is an LL book, plot twists abound, backstory is important, and love is in the air, so I will leave the storyline there because I hate spoilers.

But….

I need to offer 2 thanks yous to Ms Layne.

First, for Olive. She is by far my favorite LL heroine EVER. Complicated, sweet, independent, obnoxious (at times), devil-may care, she is the most well rounded and fully drawn heroine she’s ever created – and that’s saying a great deal because all LL heroines are fabulous. She’s not your average, small boned waif, but a 5’10” fully formed ( in every sense of the word) gal. I simply adore her.

Second, thank you for Carter. Thank you for giving the book reading world a sports hero who is not the baby daddy for 8 kids who’s never married any of his baby mammas. Thank you for not giving him a scandalous, douche, celebrity background. Thank you for making him a basically good guy who followed his dream. Thank you for having him follow his heart and not his ego. And thank you for the epilogue! I won’t spoil why I’m thanking her for that, but once you read the book, you will, too.

Thanks also to Montlake and Netgalley for giving me a sneak peek into what will surely be a major bestseller.

YOURS TO KEEP is a five star read from one of my favorite one-click authors.
Profile Image for ies.
1,549 reviews24 followers
December 12, 2020
mbak writer ini ma jarang mengecewakan lah ya, suka gw sama karakternya b2, kocak & slow burn ^^
Profile Image for M..
510 reviews735 followers
September 2, 2020
Fast facts about the man beneath the uniform
Favorite wine:
Zinfandel, especially shared with good neighbors
Favorite color: Green, particularly in glitter form
Favorite animal: Haven Lions
Favorite possession: Jody
Favorite school subject: Science. Because it’s damned important. And because I met a girl there my senior year. I think I love her.


3.5☆| Even though I enjoyed this book more than the previous one, I didn't necessarily love it. In a classic Lauren Layne style, this was short and fun, but in parts it felt a bit off. Like when it was drama time and I hadn't realized until the scene had already happened and they were already making out.

As for the characters I didn't feel much for Carter, but I really liked Olive a lot. She was loud, outgoing, funny, straightforward but she also had some hidden insecurities that made her vulnerable. She kind of reminded me of Chloe from The Redemption Series. And I liked the grumpy-sunshine dynamic between the two of them and all that flirtation between jokes and sarcasm.

The truth is that as much as I liked this book I can't wait for the next installment because it's finally Jarod's time!!!
Profile Image for m.
360 reviews49 followers
April 9, 2020
ngl i was gonna give this 3 stars and then the epilogue happened <3
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