Lauren Layne is back again with another Manhattan Romance classic and there was no hesitation whatsoever when I requested for this ARC. Suffice to say, I immediately delved into this from the moment I saw that I had been approved. There’s just something magical injected into her books whenever I read them because they give me a feeling no other Romance author has yet to give. If I could sum up Lauren Layne’s books with one word about how I feel every time I read them it would be: wanderlust.

Like her other books, this one had the typical Lauren Layne-ness and I enjoyed it. However, I wouldn’t say that I /immensely/ did. While I was feeling very excited as I jumped into this book, I’m not sure I was left feeling the same way at the end.

Let me list the good things first:
- Firstly, the plot was interesting. Reading it felt like I was watching a Hallmark movie in my head and there was a “feel good” emotion as I flipped page after page.
- The development of the female character was superb. I love seeing progress in characters throughout my reading and Violet’s development was read-worthy. From a wallpaper to a woman who knows what she wants, I felt really proud of her.

Now, onto the bad (I am sorry this exists):
- The male LI was just terrible and unlikeable. By the end of the book, all I felt was emptiness. I couldn’t feel the chemistry between him and Violet at all and unlike Violet, I didn’t see any development even though it was written that he did. He was just so bland and forgettable, I have even forgotten his name.
- Violet’s nickname. Ah, yes. Men with pet names. Usually I love it when the male characters call the female character a unique nickname that no one else does. But can this Male LI please remember that “Duchess” isn’t exactly her name??? I understand him mocking her at the start, but we didn’t even get One scene where he calls her by her actual name?! How do you fall in love with someone who doesn’t sound attractive when he uses your name. I don't get it.
- Finally, the epilogue. Usually, when I see book couples already married with kids at the end, I’d feel something. But like what I’ve mentioned in my first Dislike point, I didn’t feel anything here. The romance was bland and rushed to me and that made the ending really unrealistic. One month and they know they’re going to get married? If I were the guy, I’d run for the hills the moment Violet told him about wanting kids. It seemed like they barely knew each other and there they are, happy and content. Then again, I can’t say anything about love because I’ve never experienced it.

In conclusion, I enjoyed the book for its plot. However, the romance surprisingly did not attract me nor did the Male LI. Nonetheless, I still rate it in the “okay” tier because it gave me a warm fuzzy Hallmark movie feeling as I was reading. Can’t wait for more of Lauren Layne’s books in the future!

Lauren Layne is my alll time favorite author..
this rating hurts my heart.
For me maybe the male character (Cain) was too well written becuase there was zero connection, affection or desire to understeand him as he was so standoffish I actually was annoyed. Vi was developed beautifully and i think if this becomees a series i will need to read it becuase i will not judge a series by one book!

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Made in Manhattan by Lauren Layne is the perfect rom-com for a nice night in! The story is a genderswapped My Fair Lady and revolves around Violet, who was raised as a society elite in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. She sees herself as a Blair Waldorf meets Holly Golightly and she owns it. Enter Cain, the illegitimate heir to one of Violet's closest friends, who was raised in Louisiana. Can Violet teach Cain proper manners and etiquette so that he can inherit his family fortune? Can you really take a Louisiana boy out of the bayou? And will sparks fly along the way?

Here is an amusing excerpt from Chapter 1, which introduces us to Violet:

"Violet Victoria Townsend was plenty aware that she was the very epitome of a stock character for snob.
Ask any sketch artist to draw a pampered Upper East Side princess, and Violet would skip straight to the top of the suspect list. Shiny, bouncy hair? Check. Expertly applied yet barely noticeable makeup? Check. Pretty, but not in the “look again” kind of way? Yup.
Her nails were never chipped, her ends never split. Her outfits tended toward neutrals and were always paired with a strand of simple, understated pearls around her neck. Even her home address was eye-rollingly cliché. She’d lived in the same apartment off Madison Avenue since age eleven, when her grandmother took her in."

Overall, Made in Manhattan is a rom-com that plays to the author's strengths and will appeal to fans of Gossip Girl or Sex and the City. One highlight of this book is the plotline with a goal. A lot of rom-coms don't have goals, and I think they're essential to maintaining interest in the plot. I enjoyed the addition of the goal here (turning Cain into a proper Upper East Side gentleman). If I had to complain about one thing, I would say that the book is rather short at 200 pages, but it makes for a quick and easy read. If you're intrigued by the excerpt, or if you're a fan of rom-coms in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in January!

Admittedly, I am picky when it comes to POV in novels so I was a bit sad to find that this was written in third person (I prefer first person present-tense). I've read a few Lauren Layne novels in the past (all in first person POV) so I assumed this would fall into the same line.

I loved the concept of the story but decided to DNF based on this preference. Sending much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Lauren Layne can do no wrong. Her latest book, Maid in Manhattan, is fun and frothy, fast-paced and filled with saucy banter. Violet and Cain are absolutely delicious on the page together, and I loved the twist on My Fair Lady. I laughed out loud during their first meeting, then at their first shopping trip, then at their... You get the idea. I completely devoured this book and my face hurt from smiling by the time I got to the last page.

Can posh Manhattan Violet turn crass backwater Cain into a picture perfect CEO or will this socialite clash with this stubborn New Orleans man?

What a truly delightful book. While the rags to riches makeover story has been done this was such a fun fresh update on a classic theme. The characters were rich (in development and in money which is always fun to read) and I found myself easily connecting with both Violet and Cain. Having been to New Orleans and NYC I could feel the way the author described the cities. Definitely recommend!

Cute romance between opposites, Violet and Cain. Violet, the ultimate "Upper East Side princess", has been tasked with helping her mentor's grandson, Cain, fit into society since he will be inheriting the family billion dollar business someday. Cain didn't even know about his high society family until recently and is determined to thwart any plans to change him. He's not ashamed of being from Louisiana and illegitimate. Sparks fly and they both learn things about themselves and each other that changes them. Recommended.

The "enemies to lovers" tropes is one of my favorites, and Lauren Layne is one of the best at it! In "Made in Manhattan", Violet is a born-and-bred NYC woman with unlimited resources. She is tasked with helping New Orleans native Cain become adapted to the NYC business scene. What starts with intense hatred soon gives way to sparks flying and the two of them realizing they have a lot more in common than they first realized. This was a fun, easy book to get me out of my reading slump!

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

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I desperately need to read more by her.

This was such a sweet book. While I initially thought it would be full out enemies to lovers, it wasn't exactly that. But, Cain and Violet definitely had a "dislike' for each other. However, they also had so many sweet moments together.

This was a cute book that I really enjoyed. I look forward to more from this author!

This was a cute, quick read but nothing groundbreaking. I wish there was a little more interaction between Violet and Cain because it felt like we went from hate to live fairly quickly.

that in this book.

I’m totally in love with the love of the Duchess and Cain. I can’t wait for people more creative than I am to create some fan art!

5 out of 5 stars

2 & 1/2 out of 5 steam level

5 out of 5 stars means it made my REQUIRED READING LIST FOR ROMANCE LOVERS! Click the link to find out the other romance books I’m obsessed with!

thank you to netgalley and Gallery Books for the advanced readers copy of this book, which releases on January 18,2022

xoxo,
dux

Violet Townsend helps her grandmom’s BFF in getting her long-lost grandson ready to take the reins at the family company. But the more time Violet spends with Cain, the more she feels…torn between who he is and who he’s becoming.

I absolutely loved MADE IN MANHATTAN. This modern “My Fair Lady” had me laughing out loud, swooning, and falling in love with this sweet and perfect couple. Lauren Layne does it again with another beautiful love story.

This book was so adorable, I immediately bought one of Lauren Layne's other books.

I adored the relationship between Violet, a rich Central Park princess who has everything but a family, and Cain, a southerner with a big chip on his shoulder. I love reading about New York and this love story makes the city another character. The book is light, fluffy, adorable and a great read.

I love Lauren Layne's books. They are always winners. I buy them for my library, where they are popular. Made in Manhattan was another solid novel. If you like Lauren Layne's books, this will be another well-liked book.

I have been a fan of Lauren Layne for a long time now, and truly her books never disappoint and this was no different!

Lauren Layne has a knack for creating characters and putting them together in unique ways, her books are like little rom com movies I love to watch.

This story between Violet and Cain was so fun, flirty, and perfect. Loved it.

Made in Manhattan by Lauren Layne is a fun, My Fair Lady retelling, but in reverse. I enjoyed this lighthearted, enjoyable book.

Violet Townsend grew up in the privileged world of the Upper Eastside of Manhattan. Although she grew up in a life of excess and privilege, her life isn’t all parties and balls. Her parents passes away when she was a child, and she went to live with her grandmother. When her grandmother passed away, she was left without any family, except for her grandmother’s best friend Edith, who treats Violet like her own granddaughter. Violet spends most of her time running errands for Edith who is the CEO of a huge family business and going out in the evenings with her boyfriend Keith, who is hoping to take over that family business one day.

When Edith discovers a long-lost grandson, Cain, she insists he learns the ropes of the family business so she can leave it to someone in her family. The problem is that Cain is a bit rough around the edges as he’s spent his entire life in New Orleans, building his distribution business. Edith tasks Violet to show Cain around New York, and teach him how to fit in with Manhattan’s elite social crowd. Violet agrees to the task only to please Edith. When Violet and Cain spend time together sparks start to fly. But, can perfect socialite Violet ever be compatible with the rough, cursing, and resentful Cain?

I enjoyed this reverse My Fair Lady story and was rooting for Violet through the entire book. The story is fast-paced and enjoyable from cover to cover. I don’t usually like to read about the privileged and elite, but I found Violet to be a very engaging and likable character. Her grandmother’s friend Edith was delightful and so were the other side characters in this book. I also enjoyed the banter between Violet and Cain as they worked together to make him more palatable to the snobby elite crowd in New York. The author does a great job mixing the dialogue and description so the book moved quickly, but I still had a good sense of the surroundings.

Lauren Layne’s love of New York City shines through in this fun novel and it’s always fun to travel around the city through her eyes. I did want to learn more about Cain and know more about his backstory. I think knowing more about Cain would have made this book more complete and give it some depth. But, it was still very enjoyable.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves NYC and romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Made in Manhattan by Lauren Layne is a modern version the My Fair Lady story only in reverse. Violet Townsend was raised in the wealthy upper Manhattan society. She strives to be the perfect person, always saying and doing the right thing, wearing the right clothing and just adapting to whatever situation she finds herself in. When her grandmother’s friend asks her to help her newly discovered grandson and only heir adapt to society, Violet reluctantly agrees. Cain Stone is the exact opposite of everything Violet is. He grew up on rural Louisiana and is currently living in New Orleans. He wears worn jeans and faded t-shirts. He uses uncouth language and would rather eat in a diner. He is definitely not on board for a society make-over. Watching Violet and Cain go from antagonistic adversaries to wary friends and finally to lovers was quite an interesting journey. I enjoyed the snappy banter between the main characters. The secondary characters were interesting too. I think this is the first in a series, so they may get their own story.

This was such an entertaining book that kept me engaged and made me smile. If you like romantic comedies with lots of fun, this is one you will like. I actually have read most of Ms. Layne’s books. Many of them are my comfort reads when I just need something to make me happy.

I asked for and received an Advanced Reading Copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

Violet is the perfect NYC society woman. Cain is a self-made man from Louisiana, rough around the edges and only recently aware his deadbeat dad was a billionaire who was intended to inherit a large company. In order for Cain to be voted in as CEO, he needs to be polished and trade in his boots and jeans for suits and ties.

This story goes about how you would expect it to. As the story progresses, each of our main characters learn not just about one another, but themselves. The makeover portion is amusing, but felt a little jarring. Though I suppose that is intentional.

By about halfway through, it really catches its stride, and Violet and Cain start to open up more. I liked Violet's arc the most of the two, since it felt like she did the most growing up.

The settings were well-described, and the supporting characters just present enough. Adored Coco, the dog, as you can't really go weong with cute dogs! :)

Overall, this was lighthearted and fun, a bit light on the steam.

3.5 Stars
2.5 Heat

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a disappointing novel by this popular author. It portrayed these opposites attract characters that are so cookie cutter that it pained me to continue to read. The characters were uninteresting and the storyline stagnant. Just not what I was expecting.

First of all, I love Lauren Layne and I was so happy to be approved for the ARC of this book. I have been waiting very patiently for her next read and this one did not disappoint. Oh I absolutely loved Violet. The way she became such a fierce heroine was inspiring. And Cain was the perfect hero to her counterpart.It started off at the reader expecting one thing and then took a deliciously great twist to something else entirely. Layne’s writing for this book is nothing short of magical. I found myself smiling and rooting for them both. Also, on a sidenote I loved Layne’s descriptions of Manhattan as well as New Orleans. In these trying times it was nice to not have a “on “pandemic story and to think about these two people falling in love in life as we knew it. Layne absolutely hits it out of the park with this one. I just loved it. Thank you to netgalley . All opinions are my own.