This book was a bit of a reverse cinderella story. Violet, a rich New York socialite is brought to task when Cain a New Orleans bad boy comes to town. His grandmother tasks Violet to turn him into a cookie cutter New York City CEO in order to keep her family business in the hands of the family. To say the least Violet and Cain get off on the right foot and become enemies with a ton of sexual tension and witty banter.

This was fun and light. Nothing too serious and substantial. You get a nice look at upper east side socialites. And a cute little getaway to New Orleans over Marti Gras. This was so opposite of the last book I read by Lauren Layne, so I was very surprised. At first I wasn't super interested, but by the end of the book I was left in all my feels. It's a slow burn read, and I really wished we would have gotten more substance in their relationship. It was like 95% of the book of enemies with sexual tension, 3% relationship all of a sudden they were OMG I LOVE YOU, and then the epilogue was in the future where they had a bunch of kids and their HEA. Violet and Cain had so much sexual tension and banter I wished we would have seen them more as a couple.

I finished reading this book in a single day. I can't even remember the last time I devoured a book like that!

Noteworthy features:

- Modern My Fair Lady was a nice twist
- Enemies to Lovers
- Slow burn romance, but with plenty of steamy tension and worth the wait!
- Fun location in NYC and New Orleans
- Heart-warming side characters (Edith, Alvin, Ashley, & even Coco!)

Neither of our main characters (Violet & Cain) were particularly likable, or even relatable, at first. But reading the back stories, watching them grow, and seeing their relationship flourish (despite their best attempts to ignore it), kept me hooked to the page.

In the beginning of the story, Violet was agreeable to the point of having no personality of her own. In an effort to keep the peace and avoid any kind of confrontation or friction, she would become a chameleon, becoming what everyone else needed her to be, instead of truly trying to figure out what it is that she wanted. Though it made her pleasant, it also made her frustrating to read about because of how willing she was to settle (side eyes ex-boyfriend, Keith).

Cain, on the other hand, had a plethora of strong opinions that he stubbornly refused to compromise on - even sometimes to his detriment. From the first time we meet him, he's grumpy and stand offish, pushing Violent away with his sometimes mean outbursts, even when she's' just trying to help him.

But, as we read on, we learn the reasons why Violet seeks stability over passion, and why Cain is weary of trusting new people and so fearful of being left. Watching them both grow, become less judgmental, and learn that they don't need to earn someone's love, was a rewarding process as a reader.

Even if the story wasn't perfect, I had such a great time reading it! I would definitely recommend adding this one to your tbr!

If you love a rom-com with opposites attract, grumpy-sunshine and forced proximity and the sweetest love story Made in Manhattan is for you.

Made in Manhattan follows Violet Townsend raised in the Upper East Side Manhattan she's learned all the rules of society and tries to be perfect. Violet to teach, Cain Stone, the newly-discovered grandson, of her friend how to fit in with the elite so he can take place as the CEO of his families company. Cain was born in Louisiana and definitely doesn't fit in with the elite so Violet tackles the difficult job.
In the process of this Cain and Violet begin to have feelings for each other. While Violet is helping Cain, Cain is helping Violet realise that she doesn't always have to follow the rules.

I adored Violet and Cain. I absolutely loved Violet, she felt like a friend. Cain was swoon worthy and I loved him. I loved their slow burn romance and their banter. Their romance was written amazing and their connection felt so natural and real. This book is perfect if you're looking for a cute and light romance to make you swoon.

This is a My Fair lady retelling and the genders are switched from the original. I like that change to make it fresh and unique.
It’s also the sunshine/grump romance trope which is a favorite of mine.
I liked the banter, I’m a sucker for banter and the push and pull of the enemies to lovers style. There was chemistry in that respect.
I really have enjoyed this author’s previous books, this one didn’t hit the mark for me.
Violet is the Manhattan socialite and she’s likable (which is usually the reverse in the original, I’m ok with that though.)
Cain is the Southern bumpkin who needs to learn the ways of the upper crust from Violet.
So, here’s my major issue- Cain is a jerk. The grump is just too grumpy, it borders on too extreme and unkind. I just couldn’t like him for the most part.
So, that then kills my longing for the characters to have their happily ever ever after.
I liked the fairy tale feel, I liked the NYC backdrop and everything that comes with that.
I still enjoyed the author’s style of writing, unfortunately I couldn’t love Cain.
This one is a mixed bag for me.

Thank you @gallerybooks @valentine_pr_ @laurenlaynebooks for Made in Manhattan. I am a huge fan of Layne’s books and this was so perfect. I love the juxtaposition between Cain and Violet and insane their chemistry was. I love how Cain was certain of who he was while Violet questioned her life and what she wanted. I enjoyed the setting of NYC and NOLA and explored these cities. The slow burn was so worth the wait in this story.

Cover to cover - I picked this book up in the late evening, started reading it and couldn't put it down until very late into the night. Violet and Cain - they're the type of fantastic characters you're hoping end up together from the first time you meet them. Lauren Layne has a phenomenal way of pulling you in, keeping you turning the pages until you hit the last page.

Violet - raised and part of New York's elite has been given the task of turning a long lost heir, Cain, from Louisiana into the next CEO of his grandmother's billion dollar company. Resistance on both sides at first, soon turns into something else entirely. I loved this book so much and will always be picking up Lauren Layne's books in the future!

Thank you NetGalley, Gallery Books and Valentine PR for the opportunity to review Made in Manhattan in exchange for my honest review.

In this interpretation of My Fair Lady, we get a role reversal, with Violet trying to groom our rugged hero to belong in high society. Edith is the head of the family business and desperately wants the business to stay in the family, but doesn't have any surviving heirs to step into the CEO position. When she discovers Cain, a grandson she never knew existed, she enlists Violet in smoothing out his rough edges to endear him to their board of directors.

Cain has no desire to be changed into Violet's kind of people, and struggles with the changes that she tries to make in his life. Meanwhile through seeing Cain's passion for living life to the fullest, Violet starts to wonder if the way she has been existing up to now is really who she is.

This is everything I always wanted the Pygmalion/My Fair Lady story to be. As with Lauren's last book 'To Sir, With Love' she has taken a story we all knew and turned it onto it's head. I'm generally pretty skeptical of retellings. but Lauren Layne has a wonderful way of making them her own, and of turning them into all the things I never knew I wanted in the original story. I loved everything about this one!

What a delight to read Lauren’s books. Her writing style calls to me. One of the things that always impress me is her talent to write charismatic female leads! I liked Violet from the beginning. She had that apparent prim and proper attitude and was always polite and controlled. But was she? She just needed a challenge, someone to help her see she deserved more from life. Surprisingly, this person was the brash and, most times crude, long lost grandson of her friend/employer: Cain.

I loved to see Violet and Cain learn from each other. Cain fighting tooth and nail every step of the way. Always wary and suspicious. Sometimes I wanted to shake him! Also, the secondary characters were incredible, all of them: Edith, Ashley, Alvin, Coco. All
of them contributed to make this book as enjoyable as it was.

I recommend this book for everyone who likes an opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine, slow-burn romance.

I’m so glad I received an ARC of this book I immensely enjoyed reading (read it in one sitting). Thank you Lauren and PR Valentine for providing this copy through NetGalley.

This book is like a cupcake, and I mean that in the best way possible. It's cute, sweet, and super easy to consume in a single sitting.

Made in Manhattan is a fun and fluffy take on the Reverse Pygmalion trope, with prim and proper Violet tasked with making over rough and harsh Southern boy Cain. Obviously, sparks fly almost immediately. I loved watching their sniping turn into grudging respect and finally into genuine affection. Violet and Cain were definitely an "opposites attract" couple on the outside, but as with all the best versions of that type of romance, they helped each other grow by sharing the best parts of themselves. I especially loved seeing them share their favorite parts of their respective cities - New York and New Orleans - and the quiet moments between them (cuddling on the couch with Coco???). The moments where Cain and Violet both let their guard down were among the best in the book. (Also, it must be said. The true star of this book was Coco the Yorkie.)

*spoilers ahead*

Because this is such a quick read, it makes sense that some of the secondary characters didn't really get much screen time to develop multi-dimensional personalities. Edith, at least, got to show a different side of herself near the end, and I adored Ashley even though she occasionally was a little too "Best Friend (TM)" at times, but I never quite got the point of Alvin or understood why Keith proposed to Violet at the gala after she had dumped him. To be honest, Keith never made much sense at all, except maybe as a prop for Violet to grow out of. But a book like this does demand a terrible ex, and he certainly was that.

I also found myself wanting a little more from Violet's hopes and dreams. There's nothing wrong with wanting to be a wife and mother and having a vision for that, but she clearly had tons of skills that she'd been wasting on "volunteering" for Edith and I was so hoping that she'd voice some desire to use them for, you know, a real job. I guess in this day and age - and in a contemporary romance - it's a little hard to fully get behind a character who's never needed to work and doesn't ever really want to. At times, I almost wondered why Cain wasn't more resentful of that fact, given that he clearly worked hard - and wanted to continue working hard - for everything he had.

But maybe that level of realism doesn't totally belong in a book like this. And when I turned off that part of my brain, this book was a delightful confection and a fun way to pass an afternoon!

4/5

“Just trying to figure you out,” she said, deliberately keeping her voice pleasant. “I’m not your project.” He looked back at her. “Well, actually, you sort of are.”

The thing is, I've binge read every single one of Lauren Layne's books and now I am constantly searching for something similar to her writing. I've got a serious case of "lauren layne book hangover" and this is another amazing read. I couldn't put it down even for a minute and not once did I feel that it was getting boring.

“Maybe I can teach you something in all this, Duchess.”“Like what?” “Like the fact that life should be better than fine."

Violet Townsend has lost every single one of her family members but luckily, she found a sense of belonging with her grandmother's best friend when she took care of her instead of leaving her to fend for herself. For years, Violet felt like she owed Edith her dedication and loyalty so she decided to work as her assistant in her billion dollar company without expecting anything in return. Now it's time for Edith to retire but she wants to keep the company in the family so when she finds out that she may have a long lost grandson, she wants him to take over as the CEO of the company and in order to do so, they have to convince the board of directors that he would be the perfect choice to run the business. The problem is- Cain Stone is far from the uppity, rich snobs with a prim and proper attitude. Ergo Violet has been assigned the task to transform him into the perfect NYE socialite in order to check all the boxes of expectations. The complication stars when sparks fly between them and Violet starts to see that Cain might be perfect just the way he is.

“Maybe you’ve been kissing the wrong women,” Violet countered. “Maybe I have.”

The character development of both Violet & Cain was perfectly executed. Violet became this insanely vibrant and laidback person from initially being judgemental, elitist, people pleaser and a rule follower and Cain, well, he remained an a***ole but a cute one at that. I loved it when he went from being a total a** to Violet to safely choosing his words and give her a reality check. He definitely toned down his effrontery once he started to enjoy spending time with her. Violet & Cain may not have been what others would look for in a couple but they were just what the other needed.
The book had amazing banters, a real good chemistry (I could literally feel the sparks flying) and so many cute moments that had me squealing and needless to say, I enjoyed reading it!

Lauren Layne has always been one of my favorite romcom authors. With Made in Manhattan, she shows once again how good she is at writing the New York scenes and giving us that authentic experience.
Cain and Violet are opposites: Violet the self-aware Manhattan heiress and socialite, and Cain the rough and tough guy who doesn't fit into the upper crust of NY royals. Circumstances have Cain arriving in NY, and Violet is tasked with making him fit in.
From the very first time they meet itself, the chemistry was there. Layne is brilliant at always making each interaction between her main characters meaningful. Cain is antagonistic practically whenever Violet has him trying to fit into his new life. And Violet has had enough with being the person who just accepts whatever is asked of her and the person melts into the furniture without creating any waves. Gradually they start to get to know and understand each other, and eventually develop feelings for each other.
I loved it, I read it within a few hours. But I just felt like I needed more? I don't know how to explain, j'étais restée un peu sur ma faim.
Still, Lauren Layne books are rarely under 4-stars for me, they always make me happy. Loved this one.
Thank you to Valentine PR, Simon & Schuster and Lauren Layne for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

QOTD: What's your favorite hot beverage? If it's coffee, what's your favorite way to make it or drink it? ☕️ 🫖 🍵
#wannabebookstagrammerreview
Made in Manhattan by Lauren Layne
Pub date January 17, 2022

Thank you to @netgalley & @gallerybooks for the eARC. It was such an honor to be an early reader of one of my favorite authors’ new releases. 🥰

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Steam: 🔥🔥 (0-4 scale) Sensual Romance

What I’m Starry-Eyed About:

🤩 Top-notch snarky banter we hope for in an enemies-to-lovers/opposites attract/grumpy-sunshine.

🤩 A little close-proximity thrown in for fun!

🤩 The phrase “my fair lady” becoming a verb.

🤩 Mix of social classes in all the ways: speech, interactions, experiences, fashion and daily life.

🤩 Strong main characters that are so beautifully revealed on the exterior as well as the interior as they learn to be their real and true self.

🤩 Lauren Layne has gotten me with this before—I just swoon over how Cain calls Violet Duchess.

🤩 And, of course, he plays piano. No, scratch that—they play piano together.

🤩 Adorable and loving side characters who stay to the side.

🤩 Settings that are movie material and so romantic: corporate office board room, NYC apartments of different styles (brownstone and industrial), NYC cafés and restaurants, a balcony (always gets me), and a fun little stop in New Orleans for a cherry on top.

🤩 All the feels we hope for in a romcom: laughs and smiles of delight, a few tears of strong love (no blubbers thank goodness), and longing/yearning for them to be together and to get together. 😛

What I’m wishing/dizzy about:

💫 All the opportunities for love triangles—it makes for good entertainment, but I sort of lose my mind worrying.


Picture: #booksandornaments #bookandornament I couldn't help myself (with our beautiful tree still up 🎄) because I just love the coffee press scene so much! And my cute little @starbucks coffee press ornament is just adorable. ☕️

🏷 #wannabebookstagrammerreview #wannabebookstagrammer #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammerreview #bookstagramreview #madeinmanhattan #madeinmanhattanbook #laurenlaynebooks #laurenlayneauthor #laurenlaynebook #romcombooks #oppositesattractromancetrope #enemiestoloverstrope #grumpysunshinetrope #readmoreromance #romcomreaders #romcomreads #netgalley #gallerybooks #arcreader #earcreader

We read "To Sir, With Love" by Lauren Layne for book club. When I saw her newest book "Made in Manhattan" I knew that I had to request it. I loved the characters Cain and Violet. For some reason, I kept picturing Cain as
Jason Momoa and think if this is ever turned into a movie that maybe he should play Cain. ANYWAY, I loved this book it reminded me of "Succession" meets "Emily in Paris." Both, written with humor, but also at times serious. I also love that Layne lets us travel to the French quarter in New Orleans. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a light, airy read.

I was very excited to read this because of all the glowing reviews I’ve seen and the STUNNING cover! I loved the grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers tropes, but as I got farther into the book it didn’t do it for me. I was kind of bored after the halfway point because it was at the point where you knew they both wanted to be together, but they weren’t. I think one problem for me was I adored Violet but I didn’t really care for Cain. I think I would’ve understood him more if it was a dual POV book so I can be in his head. The ending was cute and I thought it fit them perfectly! I wasn’t obsessed with this book, but it was a cute, solid, enjoyable read. I feel like I would’ve been in love with this book if I was obsessed with the couple!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Gallery, and Lauren Layne for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

A phenomenal read, couldn't put it down! Read it in just a couple hours. Violet and Cain are deeply complex characters in a way that keeps you hooked on every moment. Cain's (hidden) vulnerability and honesty makes this a beautiful story. Definitely enemies to lovers in a fun way.

Lauren Layne never fails to make me love her characters and become intrigued by them from the very first chapter.

Made In Manhattan is a sweet and enjoyable read! Cain and Violet are great characters and I loved reading their moments. I really liked the way they brought out the realest aspects about each other. The moments they had together were everything and getting to know them more whenever they’re around each other was cute! I especially loved getting to know Violet’s character. Everything about her I absolutely loved and the way she discovered things about herself was something I enjoyed reading in this book. Together Violet and Cain are amazing and the way they developed throughout the story was written really well!

The romance in the book is everything and the characters are so interesting to get to know more about. Overall I enjoyed this book and the characters! The epilogue is one of the cutest ever!!!

I really enjoyed the premise of this book. The storyline was great. The book cover and title were catching. The MC was enjoyable. But my biggest problem is that I couldn’t stand the love interest. Cain was so rude and dislikable that it was hard for me to the ship them, which is the whole point of a romance novel. I just feel like if he was a little less straight up rude to her I’d have gotten on board. But it went past “grumpy but sweet” and into just plain being a jerk to be a jerk at times.

Oh how I love Lauren Layne! Her quick paced romances and swoony Manhattan fairytales are some of my faves.

When I saw that Made in Manhattan was a My Fair Lady retelling I thought…wait…hasn’t LL already done this? Her book, Isn’t She Lovely, is also a retelling of My Fairy Lady. I was a little skeptical just because Isn’t She Lovely is one of my favorites from Lauren Layne, but was pleasantly surprised to see that there are basically no similarities between those two books.

Violet is a pearl wearing, kind hearted, uptown girl, while Cain is a Louisiana alpha with a bad attitude. I really enjoyed the quick pace of this book and the bingeability of LL’s writing, but I had my moments where I was thinking, “Is Cain ever going to stop being such a dick…orrrrrr not?” LL has written a few other heroes like this before, where they teeter on the edge of being completely unlikable, and I really missed Cain’s POV. I think getting in his head would’ve lightened him up substantially and made me like him more.

But overall, I loved it. Great read from LL!

Thank you, Gallery books for the ARC!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I need a good romance sometimes and this one did not disappoint. Your classic “enemies to lovers” story between Violet and Cain - I’ve seen this compared to a reverse My Fair Lady and while I think there’s similarities, it’s a wonderful romantic story about finding love in someone unexpected. One very minor flaw I didn’t love was it seemed like both Violet and Cain did a total 180 on their characters and I would’ve liked to see a bit more of the growth aspect between both of them, rather than such a sudden switch. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and read it in one afternoon!

Lauren Layne is back!

Thank you Gallery Books and Netgalley for an eARC of this novel.

The cover alone gave immaculate reading vibes. Not to mention, Layne is the master at weaving a tale around dazzling NYC. Add in a dash of My Fair Lady comparisons and this one seemed to be a hit.

Made in Manhattan is a grump/sunshine romp between city girl snub, Violet and down home Louisiana boy, Cain as he must be turned into a city slicker to fulfill a role he didn’t know he was going to fill. I enjoyed the atmosphere as always and revisiting two cities (New Orleans as well) that I love dearly. The story held a charm throughout with some seriously swoon-worthy scenes. I will say that I didn’t care for either of the characters for much of the book and their transformations were a bit too perfect, but hey, it’s a romance after all. Suspend your disbelief for a while...

If you’re looking for a great Valentine’s Day read, add this to your list!

Made in Manhattan is available on January 18.