Made in Manhattan is a mixture of some of my favorite tropes- grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers (ish), forced proximity, workplace (ish), AND the amazingness that is Lauren Layne’s writing. This story is super enjoyable, light on the angst, and funny. Perfect for someone looking for a low steam, swoony rom-com escape.

Violet was brought up in the privileged upper east side of Manhattan and knows how to navigate that world. When she’s asked to help introduce Cain Stone to society as a possible heir apparent to the family business, she knows she’s going to have to do a little Eliza Doolittle-ing. Cain’s New Orleans joie de vivre is all man, but it’s not an upper east side man. As Violet gets to know Cain she realizes that he is smart, driven, and it shouldn’t matter what he looks like if he’s the right man for the job.

I love opposites attract novels. Violet seems to be all uptight upper east side, and Cain is low-country New Awlins casual and you wouldn’t think those two would bring the heat, but there’s an immediate tension between the two characters that makes their story fun. There is also some depth to these two characters. Violet was orphaned as a child and raised by Cain’s grandmother and wants to belong to a family. Cain never knew his father but built a business and has created his own sense of worth through that success. They are both insecure when it comes to family and that connects them despite their outside differences.

I read Lauren Layne novels because I know I’m going to get characters who I can believe in, an easy to read story, and hidden depth that somehow always surprises me. Made In Manhattan is all of that plus some sizzling tension between our hero and heroine that made me want to keep turning the pages. This is the perfect weekend read, so snuggle into that blanket and check out Violet and Cain’s story. You’ll be hooked from the first page. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest.

Reverse My Fair Lady? Sign me up!

Violet Townsend is a member of the upper echelon of New York society when out of the blue, she is tasked the challenge of all challenges: turn Cain Stone, a crass, rough around the edges, sexy Southern man into a New Yorker that can handle the boardrooms and the responsibilities as the inheritor of a conglomerate. Although she is a rule follower and all around “good-girl” she jumps in wanting to prove to Cain (and herself) that she can make it happen.

Caine’s paternal grandmother recently learned about his existence and insists he must inherit the family’s business and keep the Rhodes legacy going. He is not having any of it and is not going down without a fight. But can he resist Violet’s (or the Duchess as he refers to her) charms?

Talk about grumpy-sunshine, enemies to lovers and slow burn…my favorite romance tropes! It was a fun fast read and I found myself laughing and SWOONING…wtf, I am not the swooning type! I am a fan of fast paced books and this didn’t disappoint. From the first paragraph I was hooked and it was game on. This is my first Lauren Layne book but I will be reading many more!

**Thank you to Gallery Books, NetGalley and Lauren Layne for this ARC in exchange of my honest review!**

A rom-com with elements of grumpy-sunshine, opposites attractt and forced proximity.

Made in Manhattan tells the story of Violet Townsend, who is asked to teach Cain Stone all about the rules of the Upper East Side of Manhattan's society, as he is the only heir, and grandson of Edith Rhodes. And who better than Violet to teach him all the ways to successfully inherit the company and become CEO, when Edith steps down. But things seem way more difficult than Edith presents them, as Cain isn't one to always follow the rules, and likes to live his life as he wants to. Along the way not only does Violet teach him how to fit in with the elites, but Cain teaches her a thing or two about not always having to follow the rules.

I loved the slow burn aspect of this, and their banter was cute. But character-wise, there was something lacking for me, and I couldn't always connect with the characters.

An advanced reader copy was given to me, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

An amusing and charming bit of fluff. Predictable rom-com that kept me flipping the pages. While the four letter words and intimate details are not my cup of tea (there is some drinking of tea), that did not keep me from enjoying the tale.

Easy breezy read and since star ratings (for me) are arbitrary let's round on up. Honestly, this gender-swapped My Fair Lady kept me smiling from start to finish and was quick and charming while being easy to fly through, so it's not hard to say that most people will find this story enjoyable.

Sweet, funny, and full of love, Made in Manhattan gives us group of characters that will burrow right under your skin, and the entire thing could absolutely play out as a movie (tbh it did in my mind). While the My Fair Lady comparisons basically go no further than "Upper East Sider tries to make lost heir to a billion dollar company from New Orleans classy and sharp," it was a nice twist on the story, and while the plot and character growth remained pretty surface level from start to finish, Violet's transformation by the end was delightful and made me so proud.

I do wish this hadn't been written in single-person POV because I think if we had gotten Cain's POV the story would have had an added layer of depth to it, but the lack of it wasn't unbearable for me (sometimes it's awful and I get frustrated and rage) and I didn't mind too much. And while the love story happened pretty quickly, blossoming quietly through little stolen and unintentional moments of intimacy, it didn't feel too off because the whole story moved at a pretty quick pace.

All in all, Made in Manhattan was a sweet, cute, quick, take on the My Fair Lady trope, and gave us easy to love characters that made for a relaxing little read.


[I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review]

This was my first Lauren Layne and I'm so happy I was able to read her! I always love a slow burn and this was well done.

This modern day, gender swapped retelling of My Fair Lady was so much fun! Violet, a New York socialite has to help unpolished Cain, who was born and raised in Louisiana, become part of her world.

I loved Violet’s journey and how in the process of trying to “fix” Cain she really learned a lot about herself. The grump and sunshine romance was a fun one and I loved seeing Violet and Cane really open up to each other. This was a quick, fun read that really just made my heart happy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advanced copy!

I had the biggest smile reading this fast-paced, addicting, witty, super entertaining, opposites-attract romance! This was an incredible story with these in-depth and complicated characters and I loved every second of it. I was immediately captivated and pulled in. Together they had such great interactions. I loved the building connection between the two. The tension, the push and the pull was freaking enticing. And their chemistry…. ah-may-zing!

Cain Stone has recently been brought to New York by the grandmother he always wished he had growing up. But with her wishes for him to take over the family billionaire business, she also wants him to undergo a transformation to fit in her world. And what better person for the job, but Violet Townsend who is like her granddaughter and is perfectly poised and perfect in every way.

Violet Townsend is a pampered privileged Manhattan socialite, working as an assistant for free for her older friend Edith. When Edith asks for assistance with her newly discovered grandson, Violet readily agrees to take on the unpolished denim loving hunk of a man from the Louisiana Bayou and help him fit in with the upper crust of New York.

This is a charming, swoony, and a must-read delight. Sizzling with romantic tension, and sparkles with an electric connection. These two characters are absolute perfection. And I was unable to put this story down until I was finished as I rooted for their HEA!

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
STEAM: 🔥🔥🔥
I love retellings, and this reverse My Fair Lady retelling hits the spot.

Violet is being asked by Edith -- the woman who took Violet under her wing as her own after they both lost all of their family -- to groom her newly discovered grandson to become the next CEO of Edith's billion-dollar company. Cain is a little rough around the edges for New York's East Side society, and the Louisiana native needs to fit in before his biological grandmother's board of directors vote on him to inherit the company.

While Cain agrees to be made over by Violet, it doesn't mean that he won't make her task harder than it already seems.

I love the progression of Cain and Violet's enemies-to-lovers story. They both have good intentions tangled in miscommunication and emotional baggage, and we get to see that being unraveled as they see it, too. Cain is really a big softie underneath that gruff exterior, which he throws up when he is feeling mighty defensive. But we slowly discover that there is more to him other than being the prodigal grandson, and while he sometimes pushes the boundaries of being an irredeemable jerk, he manages to put himself back into Violet's and our good graces. Violet is on the other side of the same coin as Cain. I love the character arc of this people-pleasing uptown girl finding her own voice and her own passion, and while Cain encourages her on this path, the journey is driven completely by her.

The entire cast also captured my heart. I love the no-nonsense Edith. A woman who can honestly say whatever she is thinking and put grown men in their place is #lifegoals for me. Violet's best friend Ashley is really all of us trying to yell at Violet and Cain to get their act together. Alvin and his ailments. Adorable little Coco who not only melted Cain's stone heart, but ours as well.

This read is a slow burn, but the tension kicks off in the early chapter. Lauren Layne does a fantastic job of inserting small touches, gasps, and side looks that keep us wondering when these two will finally get their act together and do it.

I love the exploration of New York and New Orleans, two of my favorite cities. It was great to see the balance between well-known tourist spots and activities and the hidden gems. It made imagining Violet and Cain's story in my head all the more vivid.

If you're looking for a classic enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity read with lots of tension and steam, I highly recommend this book.

2 reviews:

5 stars
This is my first time reading a book by Lauren Layne and I am so very happy that I had the chance to read this. I mean a reverse "My Fair Lady" is what intrigued me but the writing/story telling is what captured me.

Violet Townsend is the perfect upper east sider - always wanting to please everyone/being who she thought they wanted. But when her grandmother's friend, Edith, tasks her with polishing up her long lost grandson, Cain... well Violet has her work cut out for her. This task makes Violet re-evaluate everything.

And Cain, broody, sexy Cain is the consummate bad boy. He is always giving Violet a hard time but there 'lil glimpses at his vulnerability.

So can Violet refine Cain? Have they both met their match? Definitely one-click this story - you will not be disappointed.
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4 stars

What a sweet story. You can really feel the connection between the characters! This flip flopped "My Fair Lady" take is one not to miss! Violet and Cane share a true connection, and it was nice to see Violet making over Cane for this book! Easy read and well worth your time! One click this one today!

Once again, Lauren has written a couple that I fell hopelessly in love with. The perfect grumpy sunshine romance, with tension and chemistry that makes you want to scream every time you turn a page and the couple still hasn't kissed yet.

Cain being a grumpy, stubborn asshole and Violet being the complete opposite, nothing is better in a Lauren Layne book. The perfect amount of interaction between the two of them, along with the drool worthy push and pull between them - everything in this book encouraged me to devour this book in less than a day but as with every book I'm obsessed with, I managed to prolong it slightly, and yet I was still left empty when I finished it.

My only complaint about this book is the fact that I want more and more of them. I haven't had enough of any of Lauren's couples and I don't think I ever will.

Lauren Layne has written some of my favorite books so when I saw that this one was being published, I jumped at the chance to read an early copy. While I was a little surprised to see that the characters in this book were a bit snobbier and mean than the characters in her previous ones, I couldn’t help but read this one from beginning to end (in one sitting!). There’s just something so addicting about “watching” a socialite try and get an out of towner to fit into her world.

If you’re looking for opposites attract/city romance novel, then look no further because Lauren’s latest release has all that. There are some funny moments, and times when you’ll probably roll your eyes at the characters but all in all it’s a good book!

𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙:
• City Romances
• Opposites Attract Romances
• Lauren Layne’s Previous Novels

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lauren Layne writes the perfect lighthearted and sweet romance novels.
Made in Manhattan is about Violet who is trying to live her best life. When her grandmother's best friend, asks her to transform her long lost grandson into a New York CEO, Violet is up for the challenge. However, Cain isn't going to make it easy for her.
I loved how the relationship grew between Violet and Cain. They felt very real as characters and I loved getting to know them.

A cute and easy to read romance with a bit of opposites attract, rags to riches and self realization. This book highlights Violet who is a rule following socialite and Cain who is a newly discovered heir to his grandmother Edith. Edith asks Violet to help introduce Cain to New York society and this these two embark on a bumpy course to love. One of my fave parts of this book was when these two connected about their love of jazz- it made them realize that they had more in common than they thought. Overall an enjoyable and sweet read.

A fun, fast read with a My Fair Lady feeling.

Violet is an Upper East Side rich girl set in her old-school ways. The only family she has left is her grandmother's best friend Edith, to whom she acts as a right-hand woman. When Edith discovers a long-lost grandson, Cain, in Louisiana, she asks Violet to help transform Cain into someone befitting the UES life so that he can take over her company. Cain is testy and resistant to Violet's makeover, but deep down, he wants to succeed. The two clash, but from the outset, there is heavy sexual tension between them. Cain's entry into her life forces Violet to contemplate what it is she really wants, and whether she's happy living the life expected of her.

Slow burn, single 3rd person POV, no frills. This book didn't really dig deep into the characters, so the story felt a bit surface-level, but not necessarily in a bad way. Just made for a more lighthearted read.

I'd say it was a solid 3.5, but enjoyable enough to round up to a 4 as far as ratings go.

Standout Quote: “The apartment no longer felt old-fashioned; she just saw old. It didn’t feel so much elegant and timeless,as…stuck. And the more she dwelled on it, the more she knew the apartment was merely a representation of herself. Tired. Dated.Boring”

(There were other quotes I really liked too, but they deserve to be read for the first time while you’re fully immersed in the story)
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My thoughts:
🗽This book was right at the sweet spot in terms of length. It wasn’t too long so it didn’t feel like it dragged on unnecessarily, but it was still long enough so you had time to connect to the plot and the characters!
🗽I actually loved how bold Violet was. I feel her character could’ve easily become boring, and I’m so glad she was polished but feisty.
🗽I also love how Cain pushed her to discover who she is outside of who she thinks others expect her to be. I think if you identify at all with wanting to people please- you’d probably also identify with Violet to a certain degree.
🗽I really liked the balance of Cain and Violet. They were very different characters but you could tell from the beginning they had loads of chemistry.
🗽 This is a book that was fun to read,but I could also see it being the perfect movie!
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Overall: I thought this was such a fun read! If you have ever seen the show “Hart of Dixie” Violet and Cain give me serious Zoe and Wade vibes… which I loved. Keith also gave me first season of Gossip Girl Chuck vibes… which if you’ve seen the show is not a compliment.

I would describe Violent and Cain’s love story as being a sparky slow burn. If you’ve read @laurenlaynebooks you also know she’s the Queen of HEA endings which I LOVE. Overall I recommend! Especially if you are looking for a fun romance with steam!
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Comes out tomorrow!🗽✨📖

Thank you @laurenlaynebooks @gallerybooks @netgalley @simonbooks @simonandschuster for the ARC📖🤍
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#laurenlayne #madeinmanhattan #outtomorrow #gallerybooks #gallerypublishing #simonandschuster #romancebooks #manhattan #romancereads #violetandcain #heaendings #funromancereads #bookstagram #bookblogger #netgalley #netgalleyreview #madeinmanhattanbook

This book was such a fun and quick read. I loved watching Violet and Cain’s love story and how they grew with each other. This is a love story I’ve heard lots and in many different ways and I still love it. This was the perfect book for a romance lover!

Vintage Lauren Layne: New York society and its famed Central Park
I received an ARC courtesy of Net Galley and Simon & Schuster.

One could say that Violet Townsend is a bit of a people pleaser. So when her mentor asks for a favor Violet has to find a way to make it happen. Cain Sloan is the newly found grandson of that mentor. And Violet's task is to help him with his entrance into New York's high society A task that Cain doesn't make easy.
I would characterize this book as dislike to like and then to love. It becomes clear that both characters are searching for more. What they learn is that"" More"' sometimes comes differently than expected.

Grumpy sunshine meets <i>Gossip Girl</i> in this reverse <i>My Fair Lady</i> romantic comedy. If you’re looking for a quick pick-me-up that immerses you in two gorgeous cities, be sure to read <i>Made in Manhattan</i>!

<i>Thank you to Valentine PR for sending me an early copy!</i>