If I Can't Have You

by Penny Clarke

Everything he knows about seduction…

The first time I meet Nora Cutler, she sticks her finger in my mouth and nearly brings me to my knees with longing.

The second time, I return the favor.

And the third? She’s drunk-crying about the asshole that doesn’t love her.

Look, I keep my distance. Don’t involve myself with other people’s problems. But the librarian bursts into my life in a daze of sun-bleached hair, canary-yellow dresses, and lemon-sweet smiles. Something about all that sunny charm draws me in, and the more she’s in my space, the more I want her to stay.

So when she asks me to teach her how to attract a man—selfish bastard I am, I say yes.

Because if I can’t have Nora…

I’ll make it so she doesn’t want anyone else.

…he’ll use to seduce her.

Everyone thinks Dex Reynolds is this big, rude brute of a bouncer, but he doesn’t fool me. I’ve seen how he spoils his dog. Big, ol' softie is more like it.

Despite his gruff exterior, Dex just needs a friend. I’m more than happy to volunteer. I like his surly cynicism. His zero-F’s attitude. Those tattoos. His smile. Oh, that smile, downright ravishing and full of sensual secrets—ones he can show me.

Because with an unrequited crush on my best friend and an inconvenient, uh, inexperience issue, I’m desperate.

If I can’t have the man I want…

I’ll make him want me instead.

Now, I just need to remember that man’s not supposed to be Dex…

Genres: Friends To Lovers, Contemporary

301 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 27, 2022

Reviews

[Оля (hiatus) ***]

I don't know how to rate it, but I read this book without interruption from beginning to end without missing a single word. And in different periods I had different grades. At one point I even thought that I would give 3 stars, but after reading to the end, I think that this book deserves more. I liked the heroine, she went from a weak fool in love to a woman who knows what she wants. This is the story where the heroine loves her best friend for 10 years, while he fucks everything that moves. But in the end it remains with OM (in this book, OM is our hero)

[Sunflower Moon · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, this author is a great writer. They have become one of my auto-buy authors.
This story was fun and hot af but I wish with the amount of other characters, that we got to see them interact with the main couple more. This book was lacking the friendship and banter that Penny has written in their other books.

I also read this on kindle and it was riddled with so many mistakes and typos. Please please have someone read through it and future books properly and fix it because it was a level of mistakes I've never even seen before.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you read a book from Penny Clarke? If not, PLEASE do! This author has a great way with words, instantly captivates you from start to finish. Her work just flows so well from one chapter to the next - I can't describe it, besides asking you to clear your plans because you will be separated from reality for a minute haha.

I first stumbled across Penny with the Main Desire Series (can I get a moment of swoon for Spencer and Kennedy? Favorite couple!). Ever since I have devoured anything with Penny Clarke's name.

I really enjoyed Nora and Dex's story. There were a lot of elements to their relationship that made things on such a deep level. I loved seeing Nora grow more confident with herself throughout the book! Although I really liked this couple, I didn't connect with them well. I think it was Dex? *shrugs shoulder* There was just something missing from him that I really would've liked to see. I can't put my finger on it. All in all, this was a fun, light read. (In my opinion) I would highly recommend for someone who is looking for a light romantic comedy with low angst.

[ScavengedReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not perfect but I really enjoy Penny Clarke's writing.

Nora is not as self sufficient as I would prefer in a FMC but the more we learned about Dex the more they worked as a set since he was also a little reliant on others.

[Kirsty McCracken · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

If this hadn't had had so. many. typos. I would have had an even better time than I already did.

Dex made my heart hurt and Nora grew so much throughout this book. Also, the animals. THE ANIMALS!

[Esmee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Het was oke hoor. Ze was snel over haar beste vriend heen in dit verhaal. De 'drama' op de laatste 15 procent was echt onnodig en snel afgeschreven. Hun scènes samen waren wel echt leuk. Echt erg dat zn vertrouwen zo geschonden was door exen en familie..

[Vi]

DNF. Not the book for me

[zen_s]

[did not finish @ 7%] sorry~ not my cup of tea, in a bad reading funk...

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it, but I understand the other reviews that say they miss interactions of the couple with other people. Although I do also think that is the point with Dex's character.

[Rah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well damn. Ooooh Dex. I do not regret staying up waaaaaay too late to finish this.

I’m not getting over Dex anytime soon.

[Christine P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved them separately and loved them together.

[Paige Lemmex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fire!

This book had my toes curling and my cheeks blushing. Penny Clarke brought the heat to this quick read. Can’t wait to see what she writes next!

[Princess_jime · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet romance, I really liked both leads since they are not perfect, nor do they get over their imperfections by the miraculous magic of true love 😆 nope, they have to work at it. Mainly this impression was left by the epilogue though.
There were lots of phrases that made me scratch my head, like I feel dear author left some words out that would make the phrases work. Maybe it was formatting errors? Who knows, but it wasn't so horrible that it would put me off the book anyway.
The citrus love was real, made me make an orange frosting for a chocolate cake we had at home ✨🍊