Pub date: 1/18/22
Genre: romance
In one sentence: Upper East Sider Violet is the picture of propriety - can she turn Louisiana native Cain into the perfect New York gentleman?

Everyone loves a makeover, and this gender-swapped My Fair Lady was a fun ride. I liked Violet a lot - it became clear that she used her NYC etiquette as a shield to protect her from her childhood trauma. I enjoyed seeing her grow and question her assumptions about the world. I liked Cain as well, but his transformation was more physical than emotional (although he did surprise me a few times!)

I'd recommend this one as a cute romcom - it reminded me of some of my fave romcom movies. And of course, who doesn't love a book about NYC?

Thank you to Gallery Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I haven’t read these YET, but they are on my TO READ list and I cannot wait to dig into them!


Made in Manhattan by Lauren Layne looks to be a fun story, described as a reverse of My Fair Lady. I was immediately hooked by the synopsis, let me know what you think-

Synopsis:

Violet Townsend has always been a people pleaser. Raised in the privileged world of Upper East Side Manhattan, she always says the right things, wears the right clothes, and never rocks the boat. Violet would do anything for the people closest to her, especially her beloved grandmother. So when she asks Violet to teach the newly-discovered grandson of her friend how to fit in with New York City’s elite, Violet immediately agrees. Her goal? To get Cain Stone ready to take his place as heir to his family company…but to say he’s not exactly an eager student is an understatement.

Born and raised in rural Louisiana and now making his own way in New Orleans, Cain Stone is only playing along for the paycheck at the end. He has no use for the grandmother he didn’t know existed and no patience for the uppity Violet’s attempts to turn him into a suit-wearing, museum-attending gentleman.

But somewhere amidst antagonistic dinner parties and tortured tux fittings, Cain and Violet come to a begrudging understanding—and the uptight Violet realizes she’s not the only one doing the teaching. As she and Cain begin to find mutual respect for one another (and maybe even something more), Violet learns that blindly following society’s rules doesn’t lead to happiness…and that sometimes the best things in life come from the most unexpected places.

I expect this to be a fun, light novel that is perfect for a cold afternoon!

Raised in New Orleans by a struggling single mom, Cain Stone is the furthest thing from New York elite that one could imagine. Long dark hair held back in a pony tail, large hulking - very nonsuit shoulders - and ripped jeans that he likes just fine. As the long lost grandson of Edith Rhodes, a socialite who runs the family’s billion dollar corporation, Cain is being groomed to keep the Rhodes name alive. Violet Townsend, lovely, polished and politically correct in every possible way, is positioned to help Edith prepare Cain for the interviews, meetings and hopeful role of CEO to follow. At first Violet is merely assisting Edith with what she assumed was a big city makeover; clothes, art, wine lists and which fork to use. But what began as a mere task has turned into much much more. The immediate bickering between Cain and Violet is nothing compared to the magnetic electricity that runs between them at every turn. Violet has been following the rules of society for her entire life. It is only now as Cain awakens all of her senses that she can begin to choose the path of her very own future. Modern day version of My Fair Lady and deliciously enjoyable entertainment for even the most well bred women.

Lauren Layne has always been one of my go to romance writers. Her characters have always seemed real and believable. I loved Violet and how this ‘cleaning’ up Cain helped her to grow and find herself. Having lost her family while so young, she still has kept a positive attitude and is still an extremely kind and polite person.

Cain was a disappointment for me. The one-night stand thing – ugh. Really ….. picked up the blonde, bombshell bartender. And, five, maybe more f-bombs in the first 15% of the book. Louisiana is not that back country, just southern. The south prides themselves on good manners, just as New Yorkers do. The Adam and Eve connection to Cain – funny.

Yes, Cain came around but not in any special kind of way. It is still a good read, just know what you are picking up if you want something light-hearted and loveable.

Thanks to NetGalley for my gifted copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Marion Manhattan is a super cute rom-com. In this reverse My Fair Lady, Violet is tasked with making a long lost grandson into Manhattan CEO material. It’s starts as a enemies to lovers but Layne also incorporates cute banter and a modern twist to this cheerful story. Solid 4 stars! Definitely recommend for lovers of authors like Lauren Layne and Christina Lauren, etc.

Made in Manhattan is a twist on My Fair Lady. Instead of the man making over the woman, Violet is the one tasked to "makeover" Cain so that he fits the mold and is suitable to take over the family business. Cain isn't so sure he wants the business and definitely is resistant to the makeover. Violet learns that Cain is a lot more than he appears and finds that she needs a few changes in her life as well.

I really enjoyed this story. Not being from a big city and never having known anyone from that kind of upbringing, I wondered if people in those circles are really as described? I hope not. I was happy to see both characters grow and change but not give up what made up their true characters. Lauren Layne's writing drew me in and kept me engaged. The descriptions of New York City and especially Central Park were well done.

My sincere thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book and give my unbiased opinion of it.

From her apartment, to her clothes, to her tiny purse-sized dog, Violet Townsend is your classic Manhattan socialite. And while not rocking the boat is basically her specialty, the moment she meets her newest make-over project, her life suddenly seems to be as hum-drum as can be...

Cain Stone has no desire to fit in with Manhattan society norms, but when it's a stipulation of inheriting a billion-dollar company? Even a back-woods Louisianan can give into a little personality polishing... but he doesn't have to like it...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Made in Manhattan was a delightful and adorable, opposites attract, romantic treat! Violet and Cain come from two very different worlds, but the more they try to change each other, the deeper they may just fall...

This story was an emotional and super sexy, slow burn romance that I simply couldn't get enough of! Starting with an absolute favorite, enemies-to-lovers vibe, I loved that although Violet and Cain are vastly different, they find themselves in the best parts of each other. 

For all of the trappings of her fantastic life, Violet was lonely and felt lost in who she was, as opposed to what the world thinks she should be. I adored her journey throughout this story and the way she embraced her newfound realizations on what she wants in life.

Cain may be viewed as a uncouth bumpkin by those he is supposed to prove himself to in New York, but he can't really find in within himself to care all that much. He decides to play the game and get through the company vetting process... but he never assumed he would start to have feelings for the one woman he could never have...

This book was such a fantastic and refreshing read! I loved the New York vs New Orleans vibe and how it coincided with the very personalities of the main characters. The chemistry between Violet and Cain was sexy and fun, and yet the best part of all was the growth they experienced by getting to know each other. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

I love Lauren Layne and this book does not disappoint! What do you get when you combine a confused but stable heroine with a hurricane of a man, this delightful tale. Violet knows who she is, but that doesn't mean she's entirely satisfied with it (even if she doesn't realize it at first). Cain is too sure about who he is, even if he does need someone to take him down a peg. Add a busybody grandmother and a supportive best friend and you have a great romance!

Brooding, grumpy roughneck meets prim and proper woman in a meet-cute set in NYC.

Cain, a long-lost grandson, is heir to the Rhodes family business and needs board approval to takeover. The one hurdle to his CEO title, is his unpolished appearance. Long hair, scrappy clothes, beard and his no nonsense attitude will NOT land him in the corner office overlooking the Hudson.

Violet, on the other hand, is the typical Upper East Sider in New York City - polished, pearls and heels. Her task, make him CEO worthy.

What happens is Violet's coming of age and a opposites of attract romance. And, don't judge a book by its cover with either, Violet or Cain. The forced proximity, and my favorite trope, enemies to lovers makes Made in Manhattan an adorable love story. LOVED THIS NOVEL!

Thank you Gallery Books and NetGalley for the advance reader copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Galley Books for an e-copy of MADE IN MANHATTAN to review. I adore Lauren Layne and I was curious as to how she would portray Violet's love-interest, Cain, who is from Louisiana.

Being a Louisiana native myself, I often see characters from Louisiana being portrayed as dumb, backwoods, swamp-living people who don't wear shoes. I was pleasantly surprised (and relieved) that Lauren wrote Cain as a smart, somewhat rough around the edges, man who wanted to earn his way into his surprise grandmother's successful business.

Cain's grandmother's assistant, our heroine, Violet, was at a stalling point in her life. An uppity New Yorker with a penchant for her mother's pearls and a small Yorkie, Violet was interesting because Cain helped her not to settle in love and in life.

There was a love triangle in MADE FOR MANHATTAN, but I thought it played out nicely.

The setting eventually made it's way from New York to New Orleans and the typical French Quarter haunts were mentioned. There are so many fun, wonderful places in Louisiana outside of the French Quarter and Bourbon Street that I wish authors would explore in their writings. However, I know Mardi Gras, the music and the food are what most attracts people to the state.

I give MADE IN MANHATTAN four out of five stars.

Thank you NetGalley for my arc.! I really enjoyed the story and the characters of this book! The storyline kept me reading until I finished! I loved the characters and how well everyone connected. Big fan of Lauren Layne!

I was in a seriously huge slump and this book was JUST what I needed. I loved how cranky and grumpy Cain is. I loved watching Violet discover herself and her own voice. And really, any book that bounces between NYC and NOLA is everything for me. Made in Manhattan feels so much closer to the Oxford and Stiletto series that it was almost a comfort read. I can't rave enough about this book and have a feeling it will be one that I flip through and reread when I need a cozy chapter or two.

5 Star Romance!!!

I loved this book! Cain’s broody behavior was a stark contrast to Violet’s ever-pleasing personality, but they brought the best out in each other in this wonderful story.

I found the story easy to enjoy and hard to put down. I devoured this book! I loved the epilogue, it made the HEA complete. (But, of course I would LOVE to read more about their romance…. Maybe in a book for Ashley?!?!?)

I received a pre-published copy of this story from the publisher. I read it as fast as I could and am sharing my honest opinions. Don’t hesitate- download Made in Manhattan now!

What happens when you mix a slightly spoiled Manhattan socialite with a rough-around-the-collar man from the deep South? Sparks and lots of them. In Lauren Layne's newest book, Made in Manhattan, polished Violet Townsend finds herself playing fairy godmother to a true diamond in the rough, Cain Stone. Long-lost grandson of a close family friend, Cain is in need of some polish in order to take over the family company and Violet is just the girl to do it. Maybe. Probably. What starts out as a simple project becomes a journey of discovery and romance for both characters.. Layne adds her signature spark and sass to this modern take on a classic. An enjoyable read from cover to cover.

Lauren Layne writes such beautiful romances! This reverse take on my fair lady was hilarious and heartfelt!

Violet is our main character and the story is told through her point of view and though Cain is growly and gorgeous Violet just steals the show! Her growth throughout the book is what really held my attention and kept me hooked! She was a very quiet and meek woman who turned into a lioness that wouldn’t settle for mediocre! I loved her quick wit and how she viewed life!

Cain was a very stubborn and difficult man to deal with but under all his gloom was a man just trying to find his place especially when his world was just turned upside down! He had his moments when I just wanted to scream at him but you could see his kindness and his gestures though little spoke volumes!

A very romantic and sweet read!

Lauren Layne is pretty much a sure bet for me and this new romance was no exception. Violet is a very proper 20-something who has lost all of her family except for a surrogate grandmother, Edith (best friend of Violet's own grandmother who raised her). Always afraid of losing more, Violet has made an adult life out of pleasing other people, including her long-term boyfriend, Keith, who is a boring jerk. Edith, who is just about to retire from her billion dollar company, learns that she has a long-lost grandson, Cain Stone, who is a bit rough around the edges, and she asks Violet to give him an upper class NYC makeover. I loved the gender swapped Pygmalion/My Fair Lady premise, and while the romance was satisfying, I think what I liked the most was seeing Violet grow so much as a person while she navigates this process. I do wish that there had been even more discussion of the privilege inherent in this world that Violet lives in (there's some discussion, but not quite enough) to round this out a bit more.

I absolutely ADORED Lauren Layne’s Central Park Pact series. I mean, come on—the plot was so original and it had amazing female friendships and swoony romance. Made in Manhattan was pretty different from that series, but I loved it all the same.

Besides romance, this book really focused on family and Violet’s personal development. Tasked with fixing up her honorary’s grandmother’s real grandson, she undergoes a journey of self-growth (I’m making it sound way cheesier than it was). We see her change so much, but it’s all done in a way that seems natural rather than rushed. I really enjoyed seeing Violet change while remaining true to who she was and who she wanted to be.

Now the romance—loved it!! It was very swoony but also steamy. There was so much tension between Violet and Cain. The way he called her Duchess—sigh. I really liked how she went after what she wanted and even how in the midst of trying to transform Cain, she realized the wrong of her actions.

Gosh, Lauren Layne never disappoints. New Orleans to New York with a twisted storyline of trying to change someone to fit a mold. I loved the main characters and the way this story played out.

I am a huge fan of Lauren Layne's books and recently I have binged both her Sex, Love and Stiletto series as well as her Wall Street series and I loved all the books. The way she writes her characters and the growth they go through is amazing so I was super excited to get an ARC of her new book Made in. Manhattan (Thank you NetGalley).

I had high hopes for this book especially because I am a huge fan of grumpy/sunshine and enemies to lovers which this book sounded like it was. Sadly I was a tad bit disappointed in this book mainly in Cain. The heroine herself - Violet was amazing. She went from someone who followed all the rules to finding herself by the end of the book and she was so self aware and just an overall nice person. Cain however, I found his character lacking and I was disappointed in his character growth and I felt like the book would have been better if we got a glimpse of his perspective. He was also pretty mean towards Violet and he would constantly say things to hurt her even near the end of the book. It was really hard to pin point the moment that he fell for her because he was just mean to her and in the end I was disappointed that there was no grand gesture to win her back.

Honestly I just wanted / expected more from this book and was slightly disappointed. But overall it was a quick easy read and pretty light hearted. It was from third person perspectively - mainly from Violet's though and I felt like it would have been better if we got it also from Cain's perspective.

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery books for an advanced copy in exchange for my review.
Lauren Layne never disappoints. This was a fun & sweet read.