I freaking loved this book. I've liked some of the earlier Christina Lauren books, but the more recent novels are way better. They dig into emotions and true to life scenarios and click with me way better than a billionaire romance story. In My Favorite Half-Nite stand, Millie and Reid are best friends who become friends with benefits, who get matched on a dating site and only one of them knows it, so there are all kinds of angsty scenarios that play out. I could relate to Millie's emotional stuntedness on so many levels and she tore at my heartstrings like so few characters can do. I found myself totally crying as Millie is crying and that kind of emotional connection doesn't happen with just any book. It only happens with the really good ones, and THIS book is a really good one.

I received this ARC book from Netgalley for a honest review. This was my first Christina Lauren book and I was not disappointed. The has some great humor and some sad revaluations. Millie has a great circle of guy friends that all love her very much.As a friend. Almost. Reid is the best friend you always need even when you don't know you do. This book as some of that classic friends need to be more romance. A bunch of funny stuff and a few surprise. This book kept my up way past my bedtime. I will be reading more of Christina Lauren books soon.

2018 has been a great year for Christina Lauren. They have graced readers with the emotionally gripping Love & Other Words and the hilariously entertaining Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating. Now they are releasing their third book of the year, My Favorite Half-Night Stand.

My Favorite Half-Night Stand had a lot to live up to after the two completely different and amazing books Christina Lauren released earlier this year. To be completely honest, it wasn't as good as Love & Other Words or Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating. I'm not saying that to drag My Favorite Half-Night Stand. It was still a great book. There were just some things that drove me a little batty at times.

The story starts off with the reader getting to know five friends and co-workers: Millie, Reid, Chris, Alex and Ed. Millie is the only girl in the group of guys, and she's never thought of having anything, but a platonic relationship with any of the guys...until that one night when suddenly she's noticing things about Reid she hasn't noticed before. Just when Millie is considering new feelings for Reid, the group decides to sign up together for online dating. As they create profiles and being receiving matches Millie, Millie decides to create an account with a fake name. She's immediately matched with Reid under her new persona. Unsure of how to proceed, not-Millie sends Reid a message and what follows could be a reality television show.

Let me start out with my favorite thing about My Favorite Half-Night Stand. I adored the friendships. They were so special. Millie and the guys had this amazing camaraderie and support system going. I loved how they played off each other. I honestly could read a separate book about each and every one of them. I was kind of sad that I only got Millie and Reid's story because I wanted to know more about all of them.

Another thing I loved about this book was that it was written in dual point of view. I loved being able to see what was going on in both Reid and Millie's heads at different times. I think if I only had Millie's perspective, I would have been angry a lot of the book.

Okay, I have to deviate from what I liked to what I didn't like after mentioning Millie's POV. Millie drove me batty. I couldn't believe for someone so smart she made such a horribly mean decision. She deserved what ended up happening to her relationship with Reid and her friends. I understand why she did what she did, but I didn't like it. I didn't really like her...until the end. Once she finally let all those bottled up emotions out and became real, I loved her. I wish I would have loved her the entire time.

Back to things I loved! REID! The guy was amazing. He had patience of a saint when it came to Millie. I was surprised given how emotionally in touch he was that he was okay taking what Millie would give him for as long as he did. I loved reading his thoughts and his online dating communications. He was the main star in this book for me -- quickly followed by all of his friends.

I want to keep gushing about the friendships in this book! Partly because I love them, party because without them this book might have tanked for me in the middle when Millie was being dumb. I'm really happy they helped carry that middle because I absolutely adored the end of My Favorite Half-Night Stand. It was so sweet and vulnerable. It pretty much made me forget how irritated I was with the decisions Millie made before it and made me like her. The ending brought the story full circle in the best way possible.

So while My Favorite Half-Night Stand wasn't a Love & Other Words or a Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating, it was a good romance with some of the best side characters I have read in a long time. It is worth reading simply for the friendship aspect.

I had a hard time connecting with these characters. The premise of the story was intriguing, but it didn't hit the mark because Millie and Reid were not convincing as a couple to me. While Millie did show her struggle with the circumstance she placed Reid and herself in, Reid came across as almost unemotional? For the first almost 75% of the book he seemed completely okay with being just friends with Millie even if they occasionally slept together. He'd say things like "sex with Millie is great, but I also really enjoy chatting with another woman on the dating app, so I'll keep doing that." It just seemed so detached, which is ironic since the whole issue with Millie was that she was a closed book to her family and friends. I think if he would have shown a genuine struggle with liking Millie more and feeling bad about opening up to someone other than her (no matter that she refused to open up herself), it would have made a difference with his characterization. We finally get a more three dimensional look into Reid at the end when the truth comes out, but I felt like it was a bit too late by then. Overall, it was an entertaining story (I did enjoy the group interactions between the friends), but it wasn't very convincing when it came to the romance.

I loved this story! It made me laugh and fall in love with all of the different characters. The writing style of including text conversations, emails, and chat messages really appealed to me. The authors never fail to write a story that grabs you and pulls you in from the beginning!

I was so excited to get an arc of this from the publishers on Netgalley but unfortunately, I didn't love this book. I really enjoyed Roomies and Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating (both of which I read early on Netgalley, also) but this book felt like a step backward for me.

Millie is an emotionally closed off woman with four best guy friends and when the way she views one of her male besties changes she realizes she has no idea how to handle the relationship that is forming. The thing is...that's just so unbelievable to me. She's also studying female serial killers, is a professor talking about serial killers, and right as Fall hits I wanted a bit of a spooky vibe but really, we never learn much about her obsession with serial killers or her career-which bummed me out.

The friend group is diverse, and I did like them, but the challenge to all find dates on a dating app together felt like American Pie in adult version and I didn't connect to it, at all. When you tell me a pretty woman is using a dating app I want to see tragic dates, except she never even goes on one. Not a single one.

The story felt a bit forced, rushed, surface, and underwhelming. It was still fun and it's still Christina Lauren so I mean, I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it, either. It was a fine read but a bit of a let down considering I expected a lot from it.

Reid is Millie’s favorite half-night stand. Reid and Millie, along with the rest of their crazy cast of college professors have been good friends since Millie’s ex introduced her to them. One night after too much wine, Reid and Millie become friends with benefits. Millie lost her mother to cancer when she was very young and has repressed her emotions since then, so Reid doesn’t have a clue about how she feels about him. After a complete farce in which the all sign up for a dating service, Reid and Millie break up. After much soul searching, and some therapy for
Millie, they reunite. This book has the perfect mix of humor and heartbreak..

I liked the 2 person perspective. Knowing how they were both reacting to situations was different and fun. Reid had a much happier upbringing than Millie so he was more open and got frustrated with Millie the deeper they got involved. Millie knew this so the Catherine persona helped her to be open like she really wanted to be, but just didn’t feel comfortable doing.

This was my first time reading a book by Christian Lauren. It was comical and witty. I found myself rooting for the characters. Sometimes what you need is right there in front of you all along. I think I may read their other books.

Thank you Simon and Schuster for the advanced review copy of My Favorite Half-Night Stand. A full review will be posted closer to release.

Omg this story is everything, it was emotional and intense .I loved every minute of it and I just wish I had more!I felt so connected to these characters and especially to Millie and I felt like I was a part of the story.Millie,Reid,Ed,Chris and Alex have an amazing relationship.

The story line was fun and interesting.I laughed so much with their chat about the dating app, and their profiles!Like I said the concept of the dating app was brilliant!Millie is an interesting heroine, some may be frustrate with her behavior but for some reason I relate with her and I find myself feeling the same as her. Reid is sweet,sexy and smart!All of them have different and original personalities.

My Favorite Half-Night Stand is my new favorite book!It was captivating,quick,sweet,funny and steamy.Christina Lauren impressed me for one more time!

Book Review: My Favortie Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren

I got to read an ARC of this book months ahead of its release and it was so good. This is a quintessential Christina Lauren rom-com.

This book dives into the world of online dating.

Millie is best friends with 4 guys. However she is closest to Reid who she is also attracted. Here is the thing Millie keeps her cards closely and she keeps her relationship on the surface. Reid wants to break through the wall but he seems at a loss. One night after a few drinks, Reid and Mlllie hook up.

They decide that they would remain as friends and decide to dive into online dating as they are searching for dates to a black tie gala featuring President Obama.

Well as you know, online dating is a joy for woman with dick picks and sexual pick ups. So Millie sets up a secret profile which she is matched with Reid. Over a period of time, Millie and Reid connects at a deeper level. Milie opens up about her life, her struggles and what she wish it would be different. Here is the thing Reid doesn’t know he is talking to Millie. How it will unravel?

My feels: I really enjoy this book. The steamy factor was a bit tame in comparison to other Christina Lauren’s book. I love how they dive into the world of online dating where for men they can find quality matches with ease while it’s such a struggle for women. This was a fun read! You should pick it up when it releases in December.

A review will be posted closer to publication date on What to Read Next Blog.

Christina Lauren has a way of taking my heart out of my body, stepping on it, and continuing on with their lives. This book did just that. I have never related to a character more than I did with Millie, from being closed off to being obsessed with serial killers. This book was an amazing feel good story with incredible chemistry between Millie and Reid. This was easily moved up to my five star reads list of the year, and maybe of all time!

Thoroughly enjoyable best friend turned love romance. I particularly enjoyed the Central California setting.

A pleasing romance read featuring five friends from the world of academia. The friendship of the characters was nice, and provided a lot of laughs. Fans of "chick lit" will enjoy this.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I would say it’s a mixture of romantic comedy with a bit of friendship mixed in. I loved the bantering among the characters. They were funny down to earth people. Definitely would read Christina Lauren again .

Okay so at this point I would read Christina Laurens grocery list. I've been a fan for awhile but somehow they keep getting better and better. I loved Josh & Hazel but this book was EVEN better. I fell in love with this quirky group of friends. Their banter and conversations were hilarious. I was laughing out loud for most of the book. Millie was a phenomenal main character. She was guarded and flawed but girl was HILARIOUS. Seriously this is level of snark I aspire to be. I don't agree with all her decisions in this book but I loved her regard less. Okay, so Reid, despite his douche name, was amazing. I loved him. TOTALLY swoon worthy! Millie and Reid's chemistry was threw the roof. I loved it. I can't say enough about how much I loved My Favorite Half-Night Stand. It might be my new favorite Christina Lauren book, but I say that every time I finish one of their books.

The fact that I have been able to read THREE new books by Christina Lauren (and fall in love with each) just this year makes my heart incredibly happy. Once again, the main couple was very easy to fall in love with along with their group of friends. Oh. My. Gosh. I adore when a book or series has a group of secondary characters that you end up loving just as much as the main characters. Ed, Chris, and Alex were so funny and likeable that I wouldn’t have minded if each of them had gotten their own book, tbh! Along those lines, can we just talk about how amazing the banter was in this book (and let’s face it—is in all of their books)?! I was cackling out loud to myself on multiple occasions. My husband kept having to ask me why and then I would annoy him by saying “oh nothing, just this book I’m reading.” Sorry, Kyle!

The only thing that had me initially worried was the trope of one of the MCs lying about something and then the fallout that is sure to follow when the truth comes out. Depending on how big the blowup is, and how it’s resolved really impacts my view of the book drastically. It if isn’t handled well, it could take what was a five star book down to a three. It’s happened enough before that when I run into a book that has a similar situation, I get extremely nervous.

Judging by my rating I’m sure it’s pretty obvious that I was okay with how things panned out. Millie got herself into a bit of a tricky situation but it was one that was understandable. Her mom died when she was fairly young so she basically had to help raise her sister. Because her father kind of withdrew and she had to mature a lot faster than any child should, she got used to suppressing her feelings. She kept them deep inside because who was she going to tell her problems to? Not her barely-keeping-afloat dad or baby sister that’s for sure. All of those years of keeping quiet led to an adult who still couldn’t talking about feelings. After she made her profile in IRL she found that she could suddenly express things that she had never been able to before, ironically enough, in real life. Of course by the end of the book she learns from her mistake and has her HEA. OF COURSE. And Reid. BBF material x100.

~Also, you better believe I have a TON of quotes to add later on.

Huge thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

OH MY GOODNESS I laughed all through this book.
I especially liked the "Group Messages"
You wont want to put this one down once you start it.
It took a couple of chapters before I really got to laughing with and at the characters.
Nice read and a great way to spend a chilly afternoon.

Loved it! I've read Christina Lauren before, and this is my favorite! I laughed out loud on several occasions as this book brought all the awkwardness and humor that comes with online dating and falling for a friend. I enjoyed how the authors play with format and allow the readers to experience the characters' texts and chats in real-time. Millie and Reid's story, enhanced by the dynamics of their circle of friends and families, was charming. I definitely recommend this book!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!