I’ve read a number of Lauren Layne (LL) books somewhere between eighteen and twenty and there are a few things I’ve come to expect. I always expect a thoroughly enjoyable story, an eventual HEA, a group of fun friends that are pretty hilarious and one or two steamy sex scenes. Passion in the Park had most of this, except when it came time for the sex scene, it was completely fade to black. I think that was the most surprising thing in this book, since it made the ‘Passion’ in the Park feel almost young adult or Harlequin.

But moving onto the actual story of how Naomi and Oliver eventually fell in love. Naomi and Oliver actually met as children, young children, around the age boys are awful and pull girl's hair. Oliver used to call her carrots and he told a lie that got her and her mother kicked out of the apartment on Park Avenue. They struggled to survive for years after that, fast-forward a few decades later and Naomi has made herself into a strong business woman and the head of her self made company. It seems she still has a bit of a chip on her shoulder about how she grew up.

Naomi is all set to move when she gets an invitation to interview for an apartment in a super exclusive apartment on Park Avenue, the very same one she and her mother were kicked out of once. Intrigued by whatever possessed her mother to submit an application on her behalf, Naomi goes to the interview and sees none other than the hair pulling boy all grown up; she recognizes him but he has no idea who she is.

Naomi is an interesting character in that she is holding on very tightly to her roots and hasn’t really accepted where she came from. Most of the time she projects confidence, but closure on that part of her life seems important too. Only the boy she used to know is quite a different man, and his father whom she blames for most of the situation with childhood is a shadow of the man he once was. The closure she is looking for, just might be more of a new beginning.

Like always, LL has a fun cast of characters written into her book. I really liked the girl posse that was created by a very unusual circumstance. Naomi with her two female besties is fantastic. They are what every girl needs to bolster her up in this unfamiliar time in her life. Oliver is so likeable; I think that has a lot to do with his family situation at the moment and how he is handling it.

Overall, I liked a lot of things in the story. I think the steaminess of the romance would have worked so much better if the sex scene wasn’t fade to black. But I like the family dynamic explored here between Oliver and his father that eventually included Naomi too.

Passion on Park Avenue is the first in a new series from Lauren Layne and follows Naomi. A girl who came from humbled beginnings in the Bronx and now is topping all of the 30-under-30 lists. She meets two close friends Audrey and Claire under bizarre circumstances and they make a pact: never let one another be duped by a man again.

Naomi gets a call that an apartment on Park Ave that she “applied” for is now available and she’s been invited for a tenant interview. There she meets Oliver and instantly recognizes him as the young boy who contributed to shattering her childhood but he doesn’t seem to be able to place her. She realizes her mother must’ve applied for the apartment before she died and Naomi soon understands it was to get some closure from a colored history with Oliver’s family.

But Oliver isn’t a young boy any more and no matter how much she should hate him she finds herself like a moth to a flame instead. And the feeling is mutual. Verbal sparring and electric connections aside, will Naomi ever be able to move on and forget the past?

I really LOVED this one! It’s such a quick read that I finished it in a few hours. If you know anything about what I read then you know hate-to-love is my absolute TOP trope in romances. The banter and sarcastic quips are golden. If you’ve been wanting to try reading romance but don’t want all the explicit details this one would be a great place to start! It’s all anticipation laced with sexual tension without going into all the specifics - and I still loved it! This is the first in @laurenlayneauthor new Central Park Pact Series and I can’t wait for the next book already! This one releases TOMORROW so preorder a copy today or go grab one tomorrow when it’s released!! // ☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️

Thanks to Gallery Books, Lisa Fillipe and Netgalley for an advanced copy to review. All opinions are my own!

Such a sweet and fun story.I find it refreshing and I liked the writing a lot.Even though it has romance I felt it wasn't a lot.I wish the story had more of the romance.

"She gave him an icy glare and turned away, but he grabbed her arm, a little surprised by his own action. Still, he didn’t let her go. “I’m not a bad guy, Naomi.”
Naomi remained stubbornly silent before letting her gaze drop deliberately to where he held her arm."

Naomi is strong and I liked her a lot!I loved the premise of this book and it was a quick read.

Anne of Green Gables was one of my favorite childhood stories, I especially adored the story between Gilbert Blythe and Anne. So to have Passion on Park Avenue emulate some of the plot points of Anne of Green Gables was simply put, wonderful.

Like Anne and Gilbert, Naomi and Oliver had a past where Oliver tormented her as a child but this story took a twist from the original.. in this story, Naomi had been the housekeepers daughter, and her mom had done the cliche of sleeping with the man of the house only for the lady of the house to kick them to the curb the second she found out. Fast forward a couple years and Naomi is now a very successful entrepreneur with a jewelry business whose love life had gotten just a bit.. interesting. Meaning that she’d realized that her ex boyfriend was really married and she was Mistress #2 at the man’s funeral. What started out as a disastrous situation, ended in harmony with these three women coming together in the light of all that and becoming friends.

After everything was seemingly going well now, Naomi surprisingly moves into the apartment where she and her mother had been thrown out of all those years ago. And here is where the story starts, with Naomi coming face with the man who had tormented his mother only to realize he wasn’t the same man he was before having been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s but also reuniting with her own tormentor, Oliver.

What starts out as a hateful relationship ends up developing into a friendship then into a love story. Of course, the past had to come back and bite Naomi in the behind but thankfully.. just like Gilbert and Anne, Naomi and Oliver were able to work through their past and end up together.


I loved this story and truly hope the other two friends get their own happily ever afters, I can’t wait to hear more from this author.

I love Lauren Layne’s book but this book was just meh to me. I really liked Naomi and Oliver but felt something was off with the pacing of the story. I feel like a book with the word “Passion” in it needs just that...passion, which, unfortunately, I thought was lacking in this book. I love those slow burn, steamy romances and this just didn’t deliver. It was a good story but lacking that something special for me.

Lauren Layne kicks off a new series with some characters you immediately enjoy and find intriguing.

Naomi meets Claire and Audrey when the three realize a connection they share with one man. These three very different women become friends and make a pact: they will open their hearts to finding love, which means they have to date.

Passion on Park Avenue focuses on Naomi, a self-made woman forced to come face-to-face with the very grown up boy she blames for ruining her life when they were kids. Oliver, the son of Park Avenue wealth, is Naomi’s new next door neighbor.

Theirs is a relationship borne of dislike (hers for him), curiosity (his for her), and attraction (his for her and—whether she wants to admit it or not—hers for him). You know these two will wind up together, but Lauren Layne makes how they get there so much fun. And occasionally heartfelt.

I loved Naomi. I loved her belief in herself, her “gives no f*cks” attitude, and her willingness to admit when she’s wrong, even if said willingness takes her a while to get to. She proves far more willing to forgive than she expects, which is a good thing because Naomi has to learn to forgive herself.

Oliver is wonderful. He’s the kind of Hot Hero you just love. He tries to do the right thing, even for people who may not deserve it.

The heart of this story is the friendship between Naomi, Claire, and Audrey. I appreciate that Lauren Layne didn’t make them bitter or resentful toward each other, and I liked how the three women recognized how much they needed each other’s support.

There is a little telegraph of the other romances coming up in the series, and I can’t wait to read them. I also look forward to seeing more of Naomi and Oliver.

Passion on Park Avenue is a blend of romance and women's fiction. The focus of the story is the women. In this case, Naomi. She has a rags to riches story and has really pulled herself up to the top of the world. When she runs into a man from her childhood, she has to face some of those emotions of being a poor kid.

Naomi is fierce in every sense of the word. She is whip smart and gorgeous. She runs into Oliver, whom she knew as a child because her mom cleaned his house. Naomi faces the need for revenge at first, leading to some great banter. Oliver doesn't recognize her at all! Like I mentioned, I consider this a blend of Women's fiction because the focus is on Naomi's character and her growth throughout the story. While there is romance between her and Oliver, the focus isn't sex, its the connection between the two.

If you enjoy Layne's high class NYC characters and settings but want a story with some emotional growth and depth, Passion on Park Avenue is a great pick! Take it to the pool or the beach and enjoy a light read! Also, I am intrigued by the other girls (because how these 3 women meet is truly unique and interesting)!

Count on Layne to help you find your smile. Hidden in every heartache is a ray of sunshine that her stories always manage to find. Passion on Park Avenue is a tad cliched but no less fulfilling. I love the message lurking in the shadows of Naomi and Oliver's relationship. The housekeeper's daughter and her childhood nemesis are at a crossroads. Do they leave the past behind or allow the painful memories to destroy any chance of a future? Ms. Layne picked the sweetest way to voice her opinion on the value of self worth. With love, laughter and insight.

As my number one go-to author, any novel by Lauren Layne is a must read for me and this, I'm happy to say is exceptional. 

Naomi Powell is a self-made businesswoman and CEO of one of the biggest jewellery businesses in the country. Yet despite her success and wealth, she's shunned amongst the affluent residents of the Upper East Side of Manhattan. When fate brings an invitation and a chance to live in a building where she spent time as a child, she grasps the chance to attend the interview. Surprisingly, she's accepted and it doesn't take long to come face to face with her childhood nemesis. Only he's now grown-up, handsome, charming and can't remember the girl he once tormented. 

Oliver Cunningham was born into an affluent family and as an adult is rich and successful in his own right. To the outside world, he's every woman's dream but little do they know the secret he holds and the sacrifice he's making. When a new, young neighbour moves into his building, he's instantly attracted to her. Only, she's not very friendly. Can he change her mind and more importantly, will she run a mile when his secret is exposed? 

I love the unique and imaginative way we are introduced to Naomi and the two women who become significant in her life. It's tragic but hilarious how these women became acquainted due to a link none of them knew about before their chance meeting in Central Park. The result captures the essence of friendship as they turn a bad situation into a positive one. As I've come to expect from this author, these women work and help each other find 'the one' as they bond over similar experiences against the glamorous Manhattan skyline. 

Whilst retaining all the elements I love about Ms Layne's writing, this novel has a more grown-up feel to it. Besides the slow burn romance brewing between the protagonists, there's a powerful message about the realities faced by many people with ageing parents who need extra care due to health issues. It's a tricky topic and the author manages to balance this and evolving romance perfectly. Even injecting humour into an otherwise challenging situation for the protagonists. It highlights how circumstances can alter a person's life, resulting in selfless sacrifices and the need for compromise to fulfil basic requirements. It's a sobering dilemma for two people with far too many differences between them and yet Naomi and Oliver find their way eventually. 

To sum up, I'm hooked on this Central Park Pact series and can't wait to find out the fate of Claire and Audrey and read about their journeys to a happily ever after. 

Lastly, I'm very much a reader who is more drawn to the blurb than a book cover when deciding what to read, however, this cover is perfect for Passion on Park Avenue makes my heart sing and the kind I love to see on my own bookshelf...love it! 

***arc generously received courtesy of Gallery Books via NetGalley***

3.5 'Solving the puzzle' Stars!
ARC provided by the author via Netgalley.

A new series from Lauren Layne about love stories in the city that never sleeps? Oh yeah, as you probably know I definitely got curious since I enjoy everything this woman writes! I am always excited when Lauren starts a new series and after reading this book, I can say I am surely ready for the other two books. I do have to say though, even though I loved this new crew of characters, I found myself a bit underwhelmed after finishing this story, I was just expecting a bit more.

Passion on Park Avenue is the first installment in Lauren's new series called Central Park Pact and it is focused on three women who meet in Central Park after discovering they were involved with the same man. They decide to make a pact and stop each other from falling for bad boys ever again. Naomi Powell is the protagonist of this book and she is a self-made woman, proud of what she has achieved. Her past though is still on her mind, especially when she moves in next to the people that ruined it. Oliver Cunningham does not remember her but he is decided to found all the pieces in her puzzle. Will they be able to leave the past behind and fall in love?

"It's hard for you, huh?" he said with faux sympathy.
"What?"
"Dealing with your attraction to me."

So, this book is definitely slow paced. The slow burn is definitely there and very well developed. The chemistry between Oliver and Naomi is beautiful when it finally starts showing. But, in my opinion, it took too long to appear. Their actual "relationship" takes too much to start and I definitely missed the climax of that slow burn. Passion on Park Avenue is surely on the sweet, lower steam side. I missed seeing more of these two as a couple, I missed having some sexy times (because I adore how Lauren writes them) and everything felt rushed in the end to me.

Did I enjoy the story? Of course I did! I loved the characters, I loved the couple and I loved the theme and how it is focused in New York. I loved the friendship between Naomi, Audrey and Claire and I loved already seeing the other two heroes too (Scott and Clarke). I loved what I saw of Oliver and Naomi actually together but I wanted more. I missed seeing more their interactions as a couple and the romantic and sensual side of their relationship. Still, I enjoyed the story as a whole and I am curious to read the next two in the series.

To give them a chance, he needed to get them beyond the walls of 517 Park Avenue, to show her -to show himself- that they could make it in the real world.

Therefore, my rating for Passion on Park Avenue is 3.5 STARS. You all know my reasons by now if you have read the whole review. A sweet, slow paced love story of hate to love in Lauren Layne's style! I enjoyed it but I expected more. The slow burn was so great and I wanted the explosion of that chemistry and feelings more developed. As I said, I still will check out the other stories because I want to read what happens with Audrey and Clarke and Claire and Scott.

I have long been a Lauren Layne Fan. Her romances are sexy and fun and always enjoyable. Passion on Park Avenue was a little less sexy and a little more romance than her other books, but still had the same Layne charm. Naomi is trying to prove a point. Her mother was a housekeeper and she runs a successful business so she's out to prove to those looking down at her mother all those years ago that she's made it. That's how she finds herself in an exclusive building with her childhood nemesis Oliver.

Oliver doesn't remember Naomi from his childhood, which makes sense to me. She's changed a lot and he didn't have the most stellar upbringing. I really liked Oliver, you can see how much he's grown from the child he used to be. And I enjoyed seeing how perplexed he was over why Naomi hated him so much.

The best part of Passion on Park Avenue was Naomi's friends. They met in a very unconventional way and forged a friendship from it. To be honest, I found these relationships to be more intriguing than Naomi and Oliver's.

What a cute romance! To me this leaned slightly more Women’s Fiction than typical contemporary romance and I enjoyed it a lot. I also appreciated the structure and pacing which made the story flow well. If you enjoy quick romances with friendship and emotional storylines I would definitely pick this one up!

Lauren Layne has long been one of my go-to authors. Every single story puts me in a happy place and I'm elated that she's kicked off a new series, one with a most interesting premise; three women, who were on cheated on by the same man, come together because of his funeral. I'm calling this a “meet-cute” and it certainly is one of the more interesting ones I've read. Better yet, When Naomi, Claire and Audrey work out the connection they share, a friendship blooms.

The series begins with a focus on Naomi as she embarks on a move to Park Avenue and a building that holds some not so pleasant reminders of her upbringing. What starts as a “I’ll show them” (being the Cunningham family), turns into the need to be a part of their lives, both Olivers and Walters. My heart melted at the compassion she shows Walter, Oliver’s father, and pounded at the sizzling connection she shares with Oliver. As always, Layne provides moments of elation and a time where things between Oliver and Naomi seem to sour – which gives us the always loved attempt at redemption and much needed forgiveness.

Perhaps my favorite thing about this book is the friendship and family the women create. They are complicated women building a support system that shows so much promise. Once again, I recommend anything and everything by Lauren Layne and am excited about this new series and learning more about these women.

My motivation for reading this book was simply because Lauren Layne wrote it. I didn't even read the synopsis. I saw it was an LL book, and immediately added it to my TBR. This is my 24th Lauren Layne book, and it was yet, another solid read for me.

I have to give Layne some extra points for the premise. Whoever thought a friendship would flourish between three women, who were simultaneously having some sort of romantic relationship with the same man? Yep, they met at the funeral - one was his hook up, one was his girlfriend, and one was his wife. They were so different from each other, yet they were able to bond over their bad judgement, when it came to men, and from there, a fantastic female friendship was born.

Though all three women played a role in the book, the star of this story was Naomi. She was now an extremely successful business owner, but she was still nursing old wounds from her past. Olivia's journey was tough on me sometimes, but it was fabulous to see her working through her emotions and allowing herself to make peace with the past. She was also just such a vibrant and interesting woman. I wanted to know her better, and also had no problem cheering for her to work through her issues. She was tough on the outside, but had a heart of solid gold. What she was able to find in her heart was impressive, and there are some really touching moments in this story resulting from that.

And, who better to make peace with, than the lovely Oliver. What a wonderful hero Layne gave us! There were so many things I loved about this man. He was sweet and funny and a bit nerdy. He had put his on life on the back burner to first care for his sick mother, and later, to care for his sick father. It takes a special person to do something like that, and it takes an even more special person to love a person like that.

As I expect from every LL book I read: fabulous heroine, fantastic hero, stellar circle of friends, a heartwarming romance, and lots of feels.

This was my first Lauren Layne book and will not be my last. My friend Megan from Reading Books Like a Boss raves about this author so I couldn't wait to start the first book in her new series.

Three women all sleeping with the same man and finding out at his funeral... this was the start of a beautiful friendship. I simply adored their dynamic, how they turned something so heartbreaking into a truly close friendship, looking out for each other's best interests and happiness.

When Naomi moves back to her childhood home to confront and have revenge on her past... it turns out to be something so different than what she expected. Oliver has grown and matured as an adult and quite frankly I loved him, his care of his father, his winks, their banter.

What I wished for more... I would have loved that the big reveal didn't take quite SO long because I felt like it made the story drag for a bit. I would have loved to see more from his POV especially after the big reveal, and honestly, more time with them because as soon as things were resolved, we were done.

I do look forward to reading more in this series and reading Lauren's backlist. It's a summer goal of mine. I enjoy this author's work immensely. <3

Passion on Park Avenue was fun and flirty! I absolutely adored the characters and I loved that this book had one of my favorite tropes ever, love to hate. It had a Sex and the City vibe and the way the story unfolded made it feel like a movie was playing in my head. With laugh out loud humor and moments that kept me smiling, this book was so easy to devour. So if you adore cute romance stories that also hold an emotional edge, definitely add this one to your tbr!

She gave him an icy glare and turned away, but he grabbed her arm, a little surprised by his own action. Still, he didn’t let her go. “I’m not a bad guy, Naomi.”
Naomi remained stubbornly silent before letting her gaze drop deliberately to where he held her arm.


From the moment we met Naomi Powell, I liked her! She was a hard worker and created her billion dollar business all by herself. She was kind yet she was jaded from her past. She always wanted to prove her worth to the Upper East Side. So when she ended up getting an apartment with her dream address, her goal seemed within her grasp. Except her neighbor was the son from the family her mother use to work for. And when they were kids, Oliver Cunningham was ruthless to her.

She couldn’t resist a quick glance back over her shoulder, but Oliver had already closed the door, shutting her out.
It was just as she wanted, and yet . . . it wasn’t at all.


While Oliver was horrible to Naomi as a kid, he had changed as an adult. Oliver was the sweetest guy ever. He had a huge heart, he put others happiness above his own and he was so kind. His words and his gestures easily melted my heart. But I loved that he had another side to him since he could be charming and seductive. Oliver definitely didn't have any problems putting himself out there and I loved how he took control of some of their situations, sigh.

And just as Naomi was pep-talking herself that she wasn’t jealous, that she didn’t care that he didn’t even seem to be aware of her, Oliver glanced over and caught her eye. And winked.
And she knew, with that one should- have-been-cheesy-but-was-unbearably-sexy wink, that he was right.
She was attracted. They did have a thing.
And she didn’t have a clue what to do about it.


While Naomi wanted to hate Oliver and his life, it wasn't anything like she thought it would be. But regardless, her memories tainted how she viewed him. Naomi kept seeing Oliver as the child who ruined her life. Even though he showed her again and again what a good guy he was. And while she held onto those thoughts, it all led to some fabulous banter. Especially since Oliver had no clue who she was. And when some of their banter was sexually charged, you couldn't knock the grin off my face!

Naomi extended her right hand. “Hands in, girls, we’re making a pact, high school–style. May neither of you ever fall victim to a cheating bastard again. Not on my watch.”
“And to helping each other find the right man. That’s on my watch,”Audrey said, placing her palm on top of Naomi’s hand.
After a moment of hesitation, Claire set her hand atop Audrey’s. “Oh, what the hell. I’m in. To no more assholes.”


One of the huge gems I always love reading about in LL's books are the friendships. Audrey and Claire were beyond fabulous and I quickly connected with them too! And while I can't wait for Audrey's story, the moment something was said, I just knew Claire's story would be next. I can't wait to pick it up! But there was a difference between this book and the 24 other LL books I have read. This story faded to black. Personally I love getting more because Lauren Layne writes the best sex scenes! She is truly gifted with writing moments that are classy but beyond scorching hot. So while I was sad that wasn't the case with this story, I'll know going into the next books exactly what to expect.

“Screw it,” he muttered, taking a step toward her.
She instinctively stepped back, even as her heart pounded.
“Wait. Wait. You don’t even like me,” Naomi said quickly.
He smiled. “Wrong. You don’t like me. I’ve never said a damn thing about not liking you.”


Passion on Park Avenue would make the perfect movie that I'd binge again and again! It was funny and sweet, while also holding some more emotional moments. And between the friendship, banter and jealousy this book was so entertaining. So yes, I definitely recommend this book!

Lauren Layne is one of my favorite go-to authors for when I need a story with a guaranteed happy ending, some fun romance, witty banter and not a lot of smut. Her new series, Central Park Pact, centers on three women who meet in a not so usual way. This first book focuses on Naomi and her childhood nemesis Oliver. When the two reunite, Oliver has no idea who Naomi is and she of course, intends to keep it that way.

As usual for book centered on friends, I found the fledgling friendship the most interesting relationship of the story with the actual romantic part taking back seat. I enjoy relationships where the women are friends first and then the romance part happens around the friendship. Anyway, back to the romance part. As Naomi begins to navigate her new normal, she ends up realizing that she actually *likes* Oliver and maybe, just maybe, she isn't as broken as she thought.

In terms of content, minor spoilers but potential content issues for some people so (view spoiler) None of this distracts from the story and while all incidents play into the here and now, if some of that is not your thing, maybe steer clear of this one.

I'm giving this book a 3 out 5. It was fun and quick to read. The book comes out on May 28 but is up for pre-order on Amazon now.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy.

Absolutely adorable – Layne has taken another redheaded heroine with a take charge attitude and brought her a never-hoped for chance at happiness! Naomi has taken her idea for an accessories company that collects and sources unique pieces from her small Bronx apartment into a very successful enterprise. A surprise to her after the life she knew with her mother fell apart and existence became a series of one-bedroom apartments, hotel rooms and sleeping rough. But, with the need to move into larger office space and finding the “perfect’ Tribeca apartment, the time is right for new beginnings. Of course, she’s still stinging from the death of her ex-boyfriend: less the death than finding out he had both a wife and another girlfriend. At his funeral. Or rather, after ditching his funeral for a walk in Central Park and coming upon his widow and the other – other woman. Funnily enough, the three find that friendship between them is a far better option than anger at one another – consolidate their anger against the cheating, lying man who still has managed to upset their lives from the grave.

Yet an unexpected twist in Naomi’s life happens when she gets a call for her interview with the co-op board for a building at 517 Park Avenue, the same building where her life with her mother started to unravel. Discovering that the interviewer was her 10 year old nemesis Oliver instantly reduced Naomi to the spiteful little girl who wanted to get back at the bully. Soon she finds herself with two apartments to choose from, and an unreasonable attraction to Oliver, her new neighbor in her 517 Park apartment. A pre-war building, the residents are mostly older, with Oliver and Naomi being the only under 50’s in the building, but Oliver’s time and availability are limited, not that she’s asking. He’s caring for his father now fully consumed with Alzheimer’s, having help to care for him during the days, while he takes nights and weekends. But, Oliver’s father Walter, after a chance encounter with Naomi, likes her, and it seems to take a bit of the bite from Naomi’s anger, fueled by her mother’s lack of adult sense, to blame everyone but herself for their decreased circumstances when she was 10.

Naomi and Oliver are lovely together, and the moments between Naomi, Claire and Audrey (the wife and the other-other woman) are lovely, as are the insets of Naomi’s PA Deena – a Jersey Housewife if ever there was one. Slow friendship, a coaxing out of more, and plenty of moments that illustrate the stressors of caring for an aging and ailing parent, unfinished business, and plenty of ‘running scared’ from Naomi as the ‘not quite fitting in” voices in her head vary in their insistence. They are well-matched but not in the “oh he will fix everything” sort of way, with a genuine interest in one another, Oliver’s recognition of his own bad behavior as a child, his actually READING all of Anne of Green Gables through to discover what ever became of Anne and Gilbert, and the steps the two make on their way to something more is classic Layne – engaging, funny, heartwarming and with a depth that sneaks up and takes your breath away with the gentleness with which she handled the difficult moments in their lives.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

When she was young, Naomi Powell's mother used to work as a housekeeper for the cream of the crop of New York society (at least that's what they believe themselves to be). When her mother was fired from one job she was blacklisted and had difficulty finding another job. This gave Naomi an often turbulent childhood. She's spent nearly everyday after this trying to prove that she belongs in the upper echelons of society, and being the CEO of one of the biggest jewelry empires, I think it's safe to say that Naomi has made it.

But when Naomi is set to move into a new apartment on Park Avenue (in the same building her mother used to work), she'll come face to face with the family who was instrumental in setting her and her mother down the path of poverty including an all grown up Oliver Cunningham - her former childhood nemesis.

Naomi reckons she'll get closure for the past. But when her past memories and the present situation don't line up - and especially when she starts to fall for Oliver - she'll have to rethink all the grudges she's always held so close.

I always enjoy Lauren Layne and she certainly has a promising start with Passion on Park Avenue. What really stood out for me about this story was the idea of closure. Moving past the grudges and letting go of the wrongs done to us. Looking at a situation out of eyes that have seen and done more.

I was cringing when Naomi's reason for moving into her new apartment was to get "closure". Especially when her first interaction with Oliver shows that he doesn't remember who she is at all. It's an interesting commentary on what people remember / what events people hold close. I'm not saying that he was right to forget Naomi and what happened with her and her mother, but it speaks to someone's different circumstances and the things they put importance on. Also, kind of reiterating the idea that your ideals and values can change significantly from when you're a child to when you're an adult. I think the cringe-factor was suppose to be an intentional reaction set by Lauren Layne. As things progress I could understand Naomi's need for closure, maybe not the initial way she goes about it, but I understood the need. Of course, things don't go as planned for Naomi which is what I really loved about this book.

Oliver tormented Naomi like none other when they were kids. So she kind of holds those memories as truth despite the fact that they're both adults now. It's easy to see Oliver is a good person. He maybe forgets sometimes that he's lived (and is living) a privileged life, but it's not to the detriment of those around him. In contrast, Naomi vividly remembers all the climbing she had to do to get to the top, and her achievements speak very well for her. But sometimes it clouds her judgement of others.

The overarching conflict felt a little too rushed for me. I loved the back and forth between Oliver and Naomi, but that took up a little too much of the book while their romantic feelings for one another weren't explored as much as I would have liked. I think the sting of the past could have been felt more if they were just a tab bit more caught up with one another.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I wish there was more having to do with Naomi's newly formed friendship with Audrey and Claire. These two will undoubtedly get their own books in this series and the way their friendship comes about is quite interesting. I wanted to see a little more of their navigating this, but I'm hoping it will be continued to be explored in upcoming books.

3.5 stars

Passion on Park Avenue kicks off the Central Park Pact series by the fantastic Lauren Layne. Three ladies become friends after finding out that they were all dating the same douchebag. They promise to look out for one another as they go back into the dating scene and ultimately become really good friends.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: Lauren Layne should consider writing screenplays. She has a way of writing the most vivid romantic comedies that the reader can easily visualize as movies. My only issue with LL’s books is that even though they’re set in NYC, I have yet to encounter characters of colour. Her books make the famous city seem completely white, which is so far from the reality of NYC. Regardless, I love her writing and really enjoy her books.

I loved the first half of Passion on Park Avenue – it had everything I could ever want in an enemies to lovers romance. Although, in this case, the enmity is only on the heroine’s side because she is unable to move on from the past. The chemistry between Oliver and Naomi is sizzling and their romance is a total slow burn. However, this book completely lost me in the second half. The slow burning kind of died out and Naomi continued to be stubborn by going on dates with the wrong guy and by refusing to tell Oliver the truth. It was so frustrating because there were so many wasted opportunities, other than jealousy, that could have been used to further develop the relationship. This whole process of Naomi constantly being hot and cold, Oliver being jealous, and Naomi insisting that she will date a douchebag got old real fast.

I’m all for slow burn, but the payoff has to be worth it. Here…the payoff is pretty much nonexistent. The sex scene is fade to black, which is fine. I've read and enjoyed many sweet romances in the past. But I felt like this type of sex scene did not fit the tone of the story at all. It’s like LL tried to make this book sexy without actually making it sexy, if that makes any sense. Normally, I wouldn’t give a warning about sweet romances because they are generally easy to spot, if not from the synopsis, then from the tone of the book when you start reading it. This was not the case with Passion on Park Avenue. This book made me feel like I was headed in one direction and then BAM! All of a sudden, it takes another unexpected route.

I was also pretty annoyed by the fact that Naomi and Oliver's childhood past was a wall between them up until the very end. This leads me to conclude that the resolution was weak because it 1) happened too quickly and 2) we didn’t get anything from Oliver’s POV as he processed everything.

Overall, this was a cute, if somewhat draggy, romance. I am invested in the series and can’t wait for Claire’s book next (the jury is still out on Audrey...). I can't say that Passion on Park Avenue is a book that I will ever pick up again, which is unfortunate because I LOVED the first half of the story so much.