So, what we have: grieving Sam stops at a pub to numb her feelings after the sudden loss of granpa , meets with Ryan and WHAMBAMTHANKYOUMAAM ! One night stand! They think they will never see each other again but here we go: They couldn’t be so wrong. She finds out her own company hired a new software developer. And he’s… yes BINGO! He’s Ryan! So here’s our dilemma!

I was expecting some hot chemistry in work place kind of book. Yes, there is chemistry. There are different personalities. Our brooding bar guy has a real rough past, chip on his shoulder, terrible childhood. He hides himself behind his emotional barricades and Sam is so determined to destroy those walls by swinging her axe.
So far office romance+ chemistry+ different personalities+ ex- douchebag appearance formula always works for me. But I didn’t like heroine so much. We learn so much about the hero’s struggles but there are so much attributes that help to connect with her or like her a little. And ending parts, unnecessary angsty repeating made me want to throw the book against the wall and scream at the characters to get a grip and pull themselves together.

I still like stories full of clichés because you know what you get when you start reading them. But sometimes edgy, angsty, way too much drama ruin your motivation and your dedication to the couple.
So this is another Switzerland read for me. I enjoyed some parts and I got bored at some parts. Overall it is solid three stars. Some parts got my attraction but at the end I just a little bit lost my full interest. At least it was soft, easy reading among with the angsty parts. If you want to take a break from mind numbing thrillers or heavy dramas, it could be a great choice for you.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for sharing this ARC COPY in exchange my honest review.

Could not finish! I had suchhhhh high exceptions due to the cover and description. Who doesn't like an accidentally meeting that turns intimate with the new guy at your job? Oh and did I mention the new guy is Sam Huxton's employee?!? Started out strong with a funny and slightly awkward meet-cute at a bar but slowly the personality of Sam comes to a screeching halt. And the new guy, Ryan, becomes a prick with a chip the size of Africa on his shoulder. The main characters needed a reality check, which made it difficult to read without being annoyed. Might be someone else's cuppa though.

Sam is a CEO and has had a tough time recently, all topped off by the death of her grandfather. Ryan has his own problems. Both of them are drowning their sorrows at a bar and end up having a one night stand and therefore, not exchanging names or intending to see each other again... until Ryan turns up for his new job the next day, at Sam’s company!

As soon as I read the synopsis, I wanted to read this book and thought it would be right up my street. Overall, it was an easy, predictable 3 star read. I liked the characters but was frustrated by their lack of communication and I didn’t feel like there were dramatic highs and lows of the story to keep me hooked. Bonus points for side character, Lucas, I really liked him!

In many ways “The New Guy” is just the next romance novel but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it. In fact, I had a great time reading this book, it being the kind of read you start and finish in one go. There’s an interesting set-up, good chemistry, a fast pacing and a likable set of characters. So if you’re in the mood for something light and easy, I definitely recommend.

When Sam Hudson meets a tall and handsome stranger in a bar on the night of her grandfather’s funeral, she is ready to forget all about her grief. So what could be better than a night of no-strings-attached distraction? Exactly. It doesn’t even matter that the man isn’t very kind and a terrible talker. He has other qualities. And it’s glorious, heavenly some might say. So much so that she can finally understand the attraction people feel towards a one night stand. But fate has a twisted sense of humor because when Sam shows up at work the next day, her nightly benefactor turns out to be no less than the new tech guy her firm hired when she was taking some time off to mourn her grandfather. The firm she’s in charge of. Which means he’s now her employee. And for Ryan? He slept with his boss. And that’s a whole other kind of complicated. Especially as no one in the firm seems to like him very much to begin with.

Office romances are hot. I mean, I could pretend they’re not but I’d be lying so I’m embracing the cliche part of me that gets invested in these sort of things. I liked Sam and Ryan, they were more than just their relationship with each other. The book takes the time to develop their lives outside of each other, to explore more than just romance. I always appreciate that. And while the chemistry between them may not have been “off the charts” as was advertised, it was good enough for me to care. And I like broody men. Yes yes it’s a problem, I’m aware, shhh.

This book is not the most creative, nor is it the one that will change your life forever. But sometimes a book being enjoyable is simply enough. The turn of events felt logical, the attraction natural and it made me inclined to forgive the obvious. Maybe lives are obvious in a way. It’s not a bad thing to have read this kind of thing before. It was still its own story.

I will read more from Kathryn Freeman.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of The New Guy in exchange for my honest feedback.

This was a fun British rom-com! I enjoyed reading about the antics of Sam the CEO, who finds out the morning after the guy she had a one night stand with is now her new employee...
It was quick to read and fun!

This book was good, and in ways I don't expect. I did not like Ryan for a bit there. He definitely had a real prickly exterior and was not afraid to show that. As Sam was falling for him... I was too a little. Sam is such a happy upbeat person and they could not be any more different...yet they work! Opposites really do attract. They had chemistry for sure, but once Sunshine Sam broke through the brooding grump that is Ryan, you could see his soft gooey center.
One thing that I really loved about this book was how real it was. We all have our soft underbelly that we try to protect, our secrets we keep and the hard exterior we show the world. It felt like I as reading about real people who take things wrong, the wrong things slipping out of their mouths and being overly sensitive about things -all so real. Being an Okie in the US I had to look up a lot of the British slang that was throughout the book but I don't feel like it took away from the story.
I really did love the book, though I wish I got to see more of Damien getting his comeuppance and more of the HEA between Ryan and Sam. And honestly, more of Maggie, Erin, and Sam's parents. I liked their personalities, funny and sweet, just like this book.

I read a lot of romance novels and this one missed the mark for me. The whole story moved very slow and I started to get bored with it about halfway through. I did enjoy the ending and I appreciate my copy from NetGalley.

Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would.

I read a lot of romcoms, and from the summary I was expecting a cute and funny read, but it was kind of dull. The pace was very slow and it started to drag towards the end.

I liked that the POV flicked back and forth between the two main characters, however, I didn't find either of them very likable. They seemed to lack common sense and their thoughts and actions were inconsistent.

Unfortunately, it just wasn't for me.

Not the typical guy and girl walk into a bar and fall in love although the loves story between Ryan & Sam was a little predictable at times! Loved the fact she had the upper hand and he was the vulnerable one, role reversal of typical roles! Love Kathryn Freeman exploring this angle! A really enjoyable read, read in two sittings

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

I loved reading this! It was fun, quirky, and romantic. I loved the spin on the boss falling in love with employee trope, and that it wasn't too saccharine. I knew what the ending would be, and it all worked out the way I wanted it to.

When Sam decides to have a one night stand to take her mind off of her grief, she doesn't expect to ever seen the handsome stranger again. Imagine her surprise when she goes into work the next day to meet her new employee and it's her handsome mystery man. Can they really leave it at just one night? What will happen if their feelings become stronger? Sam's about to find out!

A sexy story with heart:
Ryan is gruff and taciturn; Sam is bubbly, not to mention his boss. There are many reasons why they shouldn't be together however the attraction they have is strong and irresistible. Their journey is tumultuous and they have to fight their way to a meaningful and lasting relationship. Both Ryan and Savannah have insecurities and issues to deal with and it was nice seeing them develop as individuals and as a couple.
I enjoyed the work aspect of the story as the team works to developed the new app and appreciated that it wasn't too techy nor geeky. The side characters were also a hoot and balanced out the story well. All in all a good mix of sweet, tender, witty and entertaining!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

I absolutely adored The New Guy by Kathryn Freeman! I was expecting the typical workplace romance story with subtle sexism woven throughout, but I was thrilled to find a strong, smart, and capable female at the center of this story!

The story follows Sam, the CEO of a tech company, and her newest employee, Ryan, after they have a one night stand, not knowing who the other is, and then begin to work together. From the very first chapter, I was hooked and couldn’t wait to see how their relationship developed. Each of them was flawed but acted true to their characters as the story progressed and Freeman crafted a romance that was honest and heartwarming. I loved that Sam wasn’t a pushover and that she was great in her own right, without a man having to step aside to allow her to be recognized for her success.

My only complaint was that sometimes the perspective changed too quickly and without warning, and every so often - typically mid-chapter - I’d have to take pause and figure out who exactly was speaking. This occasionally interrupted the flow of the story and I wish it had always been more clear who was speaking and when.

Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the free electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The New Guy is a pretty standard romance novel. Guy meets girl, one night stand ensues, girl turns out to be guy’s boss, both try to deny attraction and remain professional, drama, misunderstandings and ultimately a happy ending. This book was cute and easy to read but unfortunately it felt like it was just snarky comment after apology after loaded looks. Over and over and over again.

Kathryn Freeman is a new author to me. This is the first book of hers that I’ve read. When I read the synopsis of The New Guy I couldn’t wait to get started. Drunken one night stand leads to embarrassment when guy arrives at his new job and ‘champagne lady’ is his new boss. I love stories like this.

Unfortunately I lost some interest around 30% into the book and struggled to keep going. The paragraphs were quite confusing too, jumping between Sam and Ryan’s point of view without any differentiation. I have read many his/her POV books and authors usually separate chunks with a divider line or a new chapter, so this was quite challenging to read.

I plodded on with the story, and found myself hooked again around the 80% mark.

I liked the book. I liked Ryan’s character. I’m a big fan of brooding alpha males in stories. Not a massive fan of the ‘poor/damaged childhood’ backstory though. However, the book was good. A nice story and ended well.

Thank you NetGalley for my advanced copy of the book. 3.5 stars

#thenewguy #NetGalley #amazon


🤢

I got this book from Netgalley for an honest review. Since most reviewers enjoyed this book, I feel a little out of synch, but I really did not enjoy it. It's soooo long. I mean I read Anna Karenina with no complaints. This book is long!

I'll start with the positive... I liked the cover of the book. The writing style is simple and straight forward. There is attention to detail in developing the main characters personality and lives outside of each other which I appreciate. I did not connect with these characters and found their romance problematic, but that's just me.

First impression of the dude Ryan is that he's an asshole. I know and love some assholes, so I don't object on principle, but he's rude and mean on top of it. I seriously don't get why Sam is into him. At. All. He tells her to piss off (twice!) upon meeting her, he's not listening when she talks to him and he gives her the worst, grossest pick up line... Which she falls for.

But, what really annoyed me, is that when he took a moment to evaluate her drunkenness and see if she was really able to consent (which a basic human person is supposed to do) she is annoyed with him. This author can kick rocks. 🤬

I can admit Ryan improves somewhat - he's umm smart? Honest. He's honest. To a fault, but it's cool. Apparently he's a deep thinker and an introvert. Huh. I mean, I am a thoughtful introvert, but I can say I have never been as rude to random strangers as this man is... Maybe it's because he's a white man? There I go with my thinking again.

Ryan is himself to everyone (that is -constantly rude and mean), but somehow he gets his shit together enough to have a whole dinner with Sam's family on the fly. And he's charming. Dear reader, I shit you not. This felt very inconsistent with a personality we are lead to believe he has no control over.

Sam, I just don't get. She's a creative, outgoing CEO running her own company, yet she is insecure and reactive AF. Like all her boss lady interactions seem like she's faking it. Her attraction to Ryan is a complete mystery. If I have to hear about his "magnetic eyes" one more time...

I don't even know if I want to discuss the power dynamics. I'll try and be brief. She's his boss. Ok, technically she wasn't when they slept together, but she mentions their sexual encounter in tandem with his performance eval. Gross. GROSS. So gross. And this dude Ryan is in constant fear of being fired. I don't get it...

At one point Sam reflects on his perspective, and genuinely acknowledges (finally!) how fucked up she has been toward him, BUT she does very little to help him understand that. Like, she just seems to commit to allowing people to talk shit about him, but doesn't commiserate. Um, lady. You're the boss. You're not allowed to talk shit about employees to other employees.

Ok, secondary characters. Lucas and Becky. Gay friend/employee & BFF/employee of Sam, and Ryan's coworkers. Oh, wait this lady already has complex relationships with ppl she works with. I guess the whole plot is over? Nope, we still have 80% of this book to get through. I digress... Becky is kind of a mess. She hired Ryan on her brothers recommendation, but hates him. But throws Sam and him together. IDK what is happening.

Lucas is possibly the only likeable person in this book (Alice is a plot device, not a character). He gives Ryan a chance and actually has some consistent and logical growth. I like it. Unfortunately, this author won't stop with the BS flirting with the straight man. Like, why? This is not a thing. It never stops! So fucking annoying.

My sincere apologies to Netgalley for my honesty. (You see, I'm just like Ryan.)

One Night Stand with the hot guy in the pub? No names, No Numbers exchanged just one night only! So you think until the next day Mr Hotty One Night Stand walks into your office as your new employee.

Sam is floored when her super hot one night stand turns into her newest programmer Ryan Black. Same is very clear that there will not be repeats of the one night stand. As time passes and Sam spends more time with Ryan you realized he is a likeable, that there is more to him than hotness. Ryan seems to be just as attracted to his stunning boss. He can not shake Sam from his mind.

Can Sam and Ryan give in to their attraction for each other? No relationship is without its own share of drama, especially in the office. Can threatening rivals, passed heartbreaks and two adults extremely attracted to each other move past all that is in their way and find love together?

A new twist on the office romance with alternating points of view. Totally worth the read. You will fall in love with Ryan and Sam.

What would you do if your steamy one night stand walked into your office the next day...as your employee? After having an out-of-character night with an unnamed stranger, Sam finds him in her front lobby the next morning when she is expecting to meet her new software programmer. I got a lot of Grey’s Anatomy vibes from the beginning! As they attempt to work together and get to know each other at the same time, Sam and Ryan are also forced navigate through office drama, family ailments, class differences, and past heartbreak.

Like the majority of romance novels, the story is a little predictable, but the chemistry and supporting cast of characters made the novel for me. I recommend “The New Guy” to those looking for a light read that reminds them what the power of love can do.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kathryn Freeman for the ARC of “The New Guy.”

"The New Guy" is a romance based on the storyline that a woman is surprised to find that a man who was meant to be a one-night-stand is now her new employee. While it had some cute, romantic moments, I felt that the relationship was rather exhausting and filled with frequent disagreements.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

***I received a copy through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.***

If you’re a fan of The Hating Game and/or Boomerang, you’ll love this book!
I love how the story is told from both perspectives. It’s a light read but definitely will make you smile and laugh. I love that, while the focus is the love story, the details don’t get lost. The plot of the app development stays consistent throughout the entire story and the character development is also really great.

Laugh out load funny and heartbreaking at the same time. A little drawn out but I had a hard time putting it down. Would totally recommend for a light read.

Having a clearer switch between points of view would have been great, but I wasn't too difficult to follow.