A terrible one-night stand is an unexpected end to a meet-cute and an even more unexpected start to a romance, but it does make things interesting in Business or Pleasure. Rachel Lynn Solomon’s newest is a sex-positive romance that isn’t afraid of honesty and open communication. I really enjoyed Finn and Chandler’s love story; it was sensual, fun, and the fact that it was such a healthy romance made it stand out.

Chandler is a ghostwriter whose life is kind of at a standstill. She doesn’t expect the shakeup she didn’t know she needed to come from her terrible one-night stand turning out to be a C-list actor from a college werewolf show needing a ghostwriter for his new memoir. Finn may have been bad in bed, but the deal he’s offering is too good to pass up. And when Chandler reveals to him that their night together wasn’t exactly mind-blowing, Finn is embarrassed but doesn’t get his masculinity in a twist over it. Instead, he’s an eager pupil, ready to learn the art of satisfaction. Between trips to conventions, drafting the book, and lessons in the bedroom, Chandler and Finn lower their guard and open up to one another. Their relationship developed organically over the course of the book and I really liked that. Chandler and Finn are complex, well-drawn characters with realistic thoughts, fears, and foibles. I really enjoyed seeing them come out of their shells and embrace their potential. Solomon manages to blend sex education, mental health discussions, career anxiety, and more into the story, intertwining it with our protagonists’ growth and the romance.

Business or Pleasure is sexy and engaging, which characters who face their fears and are open and vulnerable with each other. Solomon has delivered a romance with depth and isn’t afraid to let things get messy. I finished Chandler and Finn’s book a well-satisfied (no pun intended) reader and I’m very much looking forward Solomon’s next book.

I love all of Rachel Lynn Solomon's books. She's written multiple of my all-time favorites. But somehow, the most that I can articulate about how much I loved this book is that it feels different from her others in the best way. It's made me even more excited to read whatever she writes next. I finished it over a week ago, and there are still parts I've thought about every day.

CW: ableism, past abortion, panic attack, past emotional abuse

As a ghostwriter, Chandler’s experiences with her subjects have been less than fulfilling. When she attends a signing for her recent book, the subject doesn’t even recognize her! Chandler retreats to the bookstore’s bar where she flirts with a man sitting nearby. Surprised at how much she enjoys the banter, she spends the evening showing him around Seattle. They retire to his hotel room and proceed to have the worst sex of Chandler’s life. She slips out the next morning before he awakens figuring if nothing else it will be a funny story.

That morning her agent calls asking her to meet with a client who is visiting Seattle. Not only will she be paid more than on any other project, she’ll have more access to the subject, C-list actor Finn Walsh who gained fame on a teen werewolf show but now makes his living through made-for-tv movies and convention appearances. Chandler is nonplussed to see that Finn is the man from her disastrous evening.

Nevertheless, they agree to a writing contract in which Chandler will travel with Finn for several weeks. In the course of their interactions, Finn learns the truth about his performance, and Chandler agrees to give him sex lessons. As their business of pleasure becomes ever more pleasurable, it also gets more complicated, and Chandler must negotiate her own sexual and emotional needs while writing a book for Finn that will make them both proud.

BUSINESS OR PLEASURE is a great read, maybe my favorite romance of the year so far.

🍆 Sex-positive, though I liked that the couple didn’t have amazing sex at first and learned how to communicate their desires. Be prepared for lots of steam!
🍆Likable and quirky though relatable main characters and entertaining side characters.
🍆Laugh out loud funny.
🍆Jewish representation.
🍆Mental health representation (OCD & Anxiety).
🍆Very fun setting (fan conventions).
🍆Script excerpts and media reports about Finn’s old show “The Nocturnals” are amusing.

Why have I waited so long to read Rachel Lynn Solomon? Trust me, it's a mistake I won't make again...

I loved Business or Pleasure! Chandler and Finn's story was absolutely delightful, from the most awkwardly awful intimate scene ever (that was written that way on purpose, anyway...but I digress ;)) to the happy-tear-inducing epilogue, I adored every moment of reading this one. It's sex-positive, choice-positive, laugh out loud funny, swoony, sexy (yes, the sexy times get SO MUCH better!), and just plain fun, with extra dollops of OMG, I get that for anyone who's ever been a part of a fandom, gone to a con, and/or read a celebrity memoir or three.

Chandler and Finn are relatable characters, even for those who haven't ever starred in an iconic TV show or written a word of fact or fiction since they were (encouraged to? forced to?) in school. Everyone has probably felt a degree of imposter syndrome, worried about their career path--stay in a less than satisfying but secure job, or take a major risk and follow your heart?--and been worried about their performance in bed. Or maybe NOT worried about their performance in bed, when they really should... ;) Their banter is fun, their "lessons" are OMG hot, and their relationship at every stage is absolutely wonderful.

(But of course I'm a little partial the almost-at-the-HEA stage, even though that means we're almost at the end of the book and I wasn't quite ready to leave them yet)

There's also absolutely adorable puppies. You have been warned.

And--the only truly terrifying part of the story--LOTS of aggressive nail polish peeling. It hurt me, not gonna lie. I may never recover...

But still--beta heroes for the clear win with this one!

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

One of the things I always liked about romance is learning about people's professions and issues. This is not a book for that. You will not be delving into ghostwriting or acting or the way they navigating mental health daily here. In fact, the more you think about this book, the more it falls apart, so best not to think about it and just enjoy it. The sex scenes are great, he's a nerd (it's LotR but I'll take what I can get), I read it fast. Good way to pass the time.

I actually like this one more overall than her other adult ones (I still like the other ones, don’t worry). Chandler felt very much like a version of myself, so sometimes she got on my nerves (I get on my nerves all the time) but I enjoyed it.

My main criticism is that the banter was there for me in the beginning but I wish that their love story has more…oof? Like the spice was great! Their relationship was healthy and I enjoy it! But I wanted more. I always want more. I think that because of chandler’s self doubt, most of the book was spent reassuring her that she wasn’t worthless or a bummer, which took more of a women’s fiction vibe to me instead. I do love a romance novel with some self-growth though!

All in all good though! Would recommend.

Special thanks to Berkley for an E-ARC!

Business or Pleasure has everything that you could ever want in a romance. Yes, including spice. Initially this book had me CRINGING so hard. Finn and Chandler’s first encounter is…. Not ideal, to put it nicely. When I finished that chapter I thought ‘there is NO way this can be redeemed.’ And Rachel Solomon had me wrong! This chance ‘one night mistake’ actually develops into a learning opportunity for Flynn (who quickly realizes he isn’t as great in bed as he’s always thought-he checks multiple resources even) while Chandler ghostwrites his memoir. Through the lessons and getting to further know each other professionally and personally, feelings start to grow and change. This book will have you gasping, laughing, and believing in love. Did I mention that Flynn is a celebrity? This will be in my top ten of books this year for sure. #NetGalley #NetGalleyARC #ARC

I love Rachel Lynn Solomon’s fun writing and how her stories are always so entertaining but emotional at times. I love her characters and dang, this one had some STEAM!

Ghostwriter Chandler Cohen meets former teen heartthrob Finnegan Walsh at a bar one night and had an… interesting night together. The two then become closely acquainted when she signs on to ghostwrite his memoir! Their romance starts out unconventionally but their love is timeless.

I was so eexcited to receive this eArc from Netgalley and Berkeley (check) and THEN to see it as a ALC from PRH Audio I became even more stoked! I really loved the narrator in this one.

Now, this wasn’t my favorite romance but it was so cute and loveable.

What a fun book. It was spicy and cute. I spent a good bit thinking who the inspo could be. I love any book that deals with writing or publishing. Also SO sex positive, it was refreshing. Loved the book.

Quick Breakdown

One Night Stand
Celebrity Romance
Bookish Book
Bed First, Feelings Later
Sexy Time / Intimacy Lessons
Cinnamon Roll Hero
Jewish MCs
Road Trip Vibes
Forced Proximity
Only One Bed
Single POV
Open Door - Moderate Detail

Chandler, a ghost writer, has a terrible one night stand, only to finds out her partner is the subject of her next project, Finn Walsh - a C-list actor know for playing the lovable nerd on a cult classic werwolf show from a decade ago. The two talk out their history before working together & the truth comes out. The pair strike up a friends w/ benefits situation - for (sexy time) education, of course!

I REALLY loved this book. It’s one of the best from this year for sure & I think a lot of that is how much I love these characters.

Chandler & Finn were both bumbling & awkward at times but I found it so endearing, especially since those are two words that I’d use to describe myself. I connected so hard to Chandler with her feeling stuck with her career path & her journey to start pushing herself out of her comfort zone. Finn was the cinnamon roll hero of my dreams. I loved how he took the news that he was subpar in pleasure. He didn’t get defensive, but inquisitive. He was the BEST student 😉

The biggest takeaway for me was the conversation this book starts in regards to sex positivity. We need more books that champion a lack of shame surrounding a woman’s pleasure, showing healthy sexual relationships with open communication & all the trust.

I credit finding the romance genre & reading books like this with helping me shed the stigma/shame associated with sex, become comfortable in communicating not only my wants / needs, but being able to openly discuss my reading preferences here. I wish that for every woman.

I went back & forth between the audio & ebook for BOP. Hathaway Lee did a phenomenal job; her voice fit Chandler perfectly. I highly recommended the audio for this one 🙌🏻

I am loving ghost-writer books right now (it’s sort of my dream job) and Business or Pleasure was no exception. Having just finished ghost-writing a book for an Instagram sensation famous for making bank by reminding people to drink water, Chandler Cohen is drowning her misery over the “author” not recognizing her or her name at the book signing (after month of correspondence, no less) when she has a meet cute with a sweet, quick-witted guy at the bar; dinner leads to an impromptu tour of Seattle, and the evening ends with the worst sex of her life, in spite of their amazing chemistry.

The next day she’s focusing her attention on her next ghostwriting gig… and it turns out to be for the bad-in-bed dude who gave her a fake name but is in fact, Finn Walsh C-list television actor whose series she’s never even watched. Their connection supersedes their embarrassment, and Chandler agrees to take the job, which involves trailing Finn for a few months while he attends cons and does a press circuit for an upcoming reunion of The Nocturnals, on which he played the nerdy hot scientist boyfriend of a werewolf. Eventually, Chandler admits their one-time thing was less than stellar, and Finn asks for her help: In return for her cleaning up his words, Chandler agrees to help Finn with his bedside manner, but after you contract to train someone to be your perfect lover, how do you wrench yourself away when the terms or timeline ends?

The travel scenes highlight US destinations and becomes a metaphor for their burgeoning relationship: as much as Chandler is getting to know Finn through seeing him interact with fans and co-stars, his childhood best friend and his rabbi mother, their intimacy grows as she shares things with him about past relationships, her love of cozy mysteries and own author aspirations, and her aging parents. Finn suffers from OCD, and Chandler from GAD, and normalizing of mental health is a strong theme throughout the book–trigger warning, Finn experiences some bullying over this and his peers don’t stand up for him.

I love a slow burn as much as the next person but sex upfront and at the beginning is trend I’m starting to appreciate. The chemistry between Finn and Chandler is wonderful, and the scenes detailed. I love that Solomon writes awkward, realistic sex, sex-positivity, and exquisitely rendered detail with heartfelt emotion. Judaism is both a routine and special part of all of her novels, and I love stories where being Jewish is neither history nor misery, but a natural part of her character’s backgrounds, alongside plenty of nerdy pop-culture references, a fair amount of trauma, and relatable relationship struggles. For all of these reasons, and because Solomon writes with attention to detail and palpable emotions and has the elusive amazing plot/setting/character trifecta, her new releases are a must-own for me.

Fans of Olivia Dade’s Spoiler Alert series will appreciate the deep fandom around Finn’s television show, the con experience, and the narrative interspersed with articles about The Nocturnals and excerpts from various scripts from Finn’s past projects; fans of Talia Hibbert’s The Brown Sisters series will catch all the feels for a sexy, sweet leading man who is vulnerable, accountable, eager to please, and living his best life with therapy, medication, and a wellness practice; and fans of Rosie Danan will appreciate finding another author who makes sex ed hot, lubed up, and positive.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #BusinessOrPleasure from #NetGalley

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I’m a huge fan of Rachel Lynn Solomon’s novels. She just never misses when it comes to delivering heartwarming romances filled with humor and relatable characters, and I knew within the first few pages of Business or Pleasure that I was going to love it.

Chandler is a celebrity ghostwriter. She would rather be writing her own books, but she’s not ready. When she attends a signing for one of the books she wrote and the celebrity she worked with doesn’t even recognize her, Chandler heads to the nearest bar to drink away her frustration. While there, she hooks up with a charming man named Finn, but what starts out as a sexy one-night stand, ends up being the worst sex Chandler has ever had.

Then as if things weren’t awkward enough, she learns the celebrity she’ll next be working with is none other than Finn, who is an actor on a cult classic werewolf TV show.

I adored watching Chandler and Finn as they are forced to be together for months while they work on Finn’s memoir. They try so hard to keep things professional even though there are clearly some feelings there, and I just loved watching them grow closer and closer in spite of themselves. There’s of course plenty of witty banter and fun moments that kept me thoroughly entertained.

One highlight for me was how Chandler addresses her previous sexual encounter with Finn. She decides she’s not doing women anywhere a favor by letting Finn think he’s doing a good job in bed and so she tells him the truth. Finn strikes a deal with Chandler to teach him some tips on how to help better satisfy his partners. I loved how Solomon writes these spicy scenes, with Chandler & Finn having very open discussions about sex & the art of pleasuring a woman. I loved how this new aspect of their relationship makes it even more challenging to keep things professional.

Other highlights included the wonderful Jewish rep, OCD rep, & the he falls first & forced proximity tropes.

Rachel Lynn Solomon definitely has another winner on her hands with Business or Pleasure!

This is an absolute riot! Chandler, a ghostwriter, has a cringe-worthy one-night stand with an incognito actor, only to find out she has to write his memoir. But it gets even wilder when she becomes his personal sex coach! The chemistry between Chandler and Finn is electric, and their witty banter had me in stitches. It's a hilarious and steamy rom-com that will keep you hooked from start to finish. I couldn't get enough of the lovable characters and their journey of personal growth. If you're in the mood for a laugh-out-loud read with a side of spice, this book is a must-read!

Thank you @berkleyromance @berkleypub @rlynn_solomon for the advanced reading copy, receipt of which did not impact my review. Business or Pleasure is out now, and I highly recommend you pick this one up! (Pub date: 7/4/23)

Chandler Cohen is a ghostwriter at a crossroads in her career when she meets a cute, nerdy stranger at the bookstore bar. After a disasterously awkward one night stand, she is offered a new ghostwriting job that seems too good to be true. The catch? It’s her one night stand partner - who happens to be Finn Walsh, an actor most famous for his role on a paranormal college drama and a regular on the comic con circuit.

As Chandler and Finn spend more time together, the truth behind their night together comes to light and some 🔥 lessons 🔥 commence. I couldn’t help but falling in love with both Chandler and Finn and their crackling connection. Their communication and willingness to be vulnerable together was *chef’s kiss.* And the honest and open representation related to imposter syndrome, OCD, and anxiety were so well done.

I’ve been a huge fan of Solomon’s books since I read Weather Girl last year, and Ex Talk after that. Business or Pleasure has cemented her further as a favorite author of mine and I can’t recommend her books enough!

“This is how I die, I think: confessing to Finnegan Walsh over falafel that he did not rock my world.”

Hahahaha omg I adored this book! @rlynn_solomon nails it. Business Or Pleasure is full of heart and is laugh out loud funny. There is a lot of Jewish and mental health representation which I loved and we definitely need more of. The chemistry between Finn and Chandler is hot Hot HOT and off the charts!

“Blame the siren song of the gray sweatpants, but I move closer, reaching for the fringe of his scarf.” #IYKYK 😂😂

This is like a handbook for how to have respectful and honest conversations about sexuality and what you want in the bedroom. No offenses. No hurt feelings. Just being open to pleasuring another person in the way they need, and then letting them pleasure you. Amen!

It was quite refreshing to read a book with such mature and honorable characters. The audiobook, narrated by @hathawaylee, was 10/10, especially considering all of the *ahem* sensitive talk. She really captured the heart of these characters…and the comedic timing. Spot on! Add this to your summer TBR asap. You don’t want to miss this one!

Thank you to @berkleypub @berkleyromance and @netgalley for the #gifted ARC and @prhaudio #PRHAudioPartner for the free audiobook.

Business or Pleasure is the absolutely adorable story of Chandler, a woman making a living as a ghostwriter of celebrity memoirs, who gets hired to ghostwrite the memoir of the star of a teen show about werewolves. This book had everything. It was hilarious but emotional and heartwarming. It tackled mental health in a very honest way while also being super steamy and spicy. Whoa. And there was so much communication - so much because communication was one of the themes. As someone who cannot stand books with miscommunication, this made me love it even more. Such a fun romcom to read over the holiday weekend.

Chandler Cohen is a ghost writer in Seattle. After the “author” of a book she wrote doesn’t recognize her, she picks up a stranger in a bar. Chandler and Drew have an amazing night, but after an awkward hook up, Chandler is glad she’ll never see him again. Finn Walsh is a C-lost actor looking for someone to write his memoir. Enter Chandler. The problem is she knows Finn as Drew, the guy she had the awful one-night stand with. Can they work together to help both of their careers?

Business or Pleasure had me hooked from the beginning, and I didn’t want to put this book down. From the awkward one-night stand, to the humor and emotion throughout, this book was everything I look for in a romcom.

I absolutely adored Finn. Who doesn’t love a nerdy guy with a heart of gold? His character was written so well, and I loved that the author gave his character OCD, which we don’t see often in books. Chandler’s sarcasm reminded me of myself especially how she used it to hide her insecurities in life. She was written realistically, and I could totally relate to her.

Even though these two didn’t have the perfect first sexual encounter, there were still such chemistry between them. The deal the came up with was clever and original and a great way to avoid the miscommunication trope we get in so many romance books.

The character development was on point in this story, and watching Chandler and Finn grow individually was just as satisfying as watching them grow into a couple.

Thank you Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

This is the third Rachel Lynn Solomon contemporary romance I’ve read and I think that’s enough data to conclude that she’s now an auto-read author for me. Her voice is just a perfect blend of biting wit and vulnerable self-doubt, her characters are beautifully rendered with layers of complexity and the romance just feels like a punch to the solar plexus. There’s so much care taken, with the characters’ development, the relationship’s progression, and the way the plot unfolds. She truly is a masterful storyteller and I just feel like she doesn’t get quite enough love for her contemporary romances.

Business or Pleasure features a particularly favorite microtrope of mine, in which the MMC is bad at sex and the FMC has to tutor him in it. It’s not very commonly found in romance novels, the idea being that the main characters are immediately able to tap into their love interests’ sexual needs and desires and fulfill them. That is, after all, part of the fantasy, the escape we readers want when we pick up a romance novel. However, one reason I truly adore this microtrope, where the MMC is bad at sex, is because it forces the MMC to be in a vulnerable position, where he’s admitting to a lack of knowledge and skills and a need for help. And it showcases an MMC who is willing to listen and learn and is eager to please his partner. Though the impetus may be that he’s not great in the bedroom, there is nothing sexier than an MMC willing to do anything to please his partner, even if it means acknowledging he needs a little guidance and instructions on how to do so.

Most of the books I’ve read featuring this microtrope usually have one scene illustrating the MMCs lack of knowledge and perhaps in the same scene or a follow-up scene, the FMC gives him a singular tutorial upon which time he is declared a master at giving pleasure. However, this delightful book takes things to a whole new level. Chandler, the former journalist turned ghostwriter of celebrity memoirs meets Finn, the former star of a teen drama turned C-list actor of the occasional Christmas themed movies at a bar. She doesn’t recognize him especially when he uses a fake name to introduce himself (Drew) and therefore is completely unaware that the man she’s currently flirting with also happens to be one half of a popular pairing from a werewolf show who now pays the bills by traveling the country and appearing at fan conventions. The two engage in witty banter and verbal foreplay before moving things to Finn’s hotel room, where they engage in one of the most hilariously terrible and awkward sex scenes I’ve read in a romance novel. I kid you not, I laughed so hard I woke my husband up. It is truly awful, poor Finn knows his way around sets and can hit his mark on the first try but has no idea where the clitoris is, resulting in Chandler faking her way to a good time and then sneaking out of the hotel room once Finn falls asleep after mistakenly assuming the sex was mind-blowing. After all, she assumes, he’s just passing through Seattle, so it’s a one and done and she’ll never have to see him again.

Cut to the following day when Chandler’s agent calls, having set up a last minute meeting between her and an actor who wants to potentially hire her to help him write his memoir. When she shows up at the restaurant, harried and a half sweaty mess, it’s only to discover that the man who introduced himself as Drew the night before and very much did not blow her brains out with incredible sex, is actually Finnegan Walsh, one-time star of the hit tv series Nocturnals. Hemming and hawing because she doesn’t know if she really wants to travel the country with him, going from con to con as she gets to know him and hep pen his memoir, Chandler reluctantly agrees. She is broke, currently at loose ends, trying to figure out what she wants to do next, and even though the thought of spending the next few months in close proximity with a man responsible for one of the worst sexual experiences of her life does not fill her with joy and excitement, the money is too good to pass up. And so, the book finds them crisscrossing the country together, Finn making appearances at various cons while Chandler undertakes the task of unwrapping who he is beyond the public facade he presents to his adoring fans.

Early on in their working relationship, they have a clear-the-air conversation about their one night together and Chandler lets it slip that the night was hardly mind-blowing for her. One of the reasons I also love this trope is the way that the MMC responds to this criticism and Finn does not disappoint. He is humiliated and crushed but never, not once, does he become angry at Chandler, instead choosing to focus his disgust at himself. He even calls up past girlfriends and partners to verify whether his ill-fated night with Chandler was a one-off or if in fact, he is just bad at the sex. When he realizes he’s kind of a sexual dud, he begs Chandler to tutor him, and what might normally be just one scene turns into an entire book of “lessons”. Chandler, who also minored in gender and sexuality studies in college, is uniquely qualified to provide tutoring in this manner and the book goes deep into the lessons. She even creates a syllabus! (Oh, what I wouldn’t do to get my hands on this syllabus).

So while Chandler is tutoring Finn in the art of pleasure (lessons include enhancing the sexual tension and building up desire, the importance of foreplay, a guide to finding the clitoris and how to handle it, and yes, even dirty talk) the two also find themselves learning about each other, their hopes and dreams and fears. That Chandler should learn about Finn is sort of inherent in the job description – after all, she’s been hired to ghostwrite his memoirs. But he also gets to learn about her, initially through the sex lessons but also through their deepening conversations, and before long, the working relationship/tutoring sessions grow into actual feelings.

I love that both of these characters are searching for purpose and there is a lot of growth that happens in this book, for both of them but especially for Chandler. The dark moment, when it comes, isn’t so much as dark as it is a much necessary time to reset, to take some time, and figure out who Chandler is and what she really wants. And I love that Finn gives it to her, and allows her the time and space to figure out her own future without inserting his own needs into it. In fact, this is a thing Finn does remarkably well for much of the book once the sex lessons start, putting his own desires aside to figure out how to give Chandler what she needs and wants. And there is nothing sexier than that.

I simply adored this book. There are a lot of side characters as well, Finn and Chandler certainly don’t exist in a vacuum. We meet their families as well as Finn’s co-stars from werewolf shows, all of whom give depth and context to who these two people are. There is a great mental health rep (Chandler has anxiety and Finn has OCD) and Jewish rep and we also see Chandler opening up to Finn about the abortion she had while in college. All of it is addressed very matter of factly, without judgment or regret, an unapologetic recounting of something Chandler was fortunate enough to get to choose for herself. And Finn, to his credit, reacts perfectly, without judgment, just full of understanding and support.

The beauty of this book lies in the character development. It is not very plot heavy beyond the sex lessons microtrope. But the growth shown within each of these characters and the journey each of them takes to a place of self-acceptance and love is as important as the development of their romance. I truly loved this book, adored the characters, and found myself rooting for them, both as individuals and also as a couple.

The Ex-Talk was my favorite book of 2021 and I recently read Solomon's latest YA book, See You Yesterday and LOVED it also so I was really excited about this one. Business or Pleasure is a good, very steamy romance. Because I LOVED her other books, I think my expectations were a bit high - plus this is getting a lot of great buzz! I did really enjoy it but I think because of the premise of the book, it lacked a little of the tension that I normally love.

This is the story of ghostwriter Chandler, who meets a really cute guy that she vibes with really well and decides to have a one-night stand, but it ended up being the worst sex! The next day she gets a new assignment, to be ghostwriter for a famous actor, and it just happens to be her one night stand!

I loved the meet-cute. I loved their open communication. The miscommunication trope is not my favorite. These two main characters are great and I was rooting for them. This had so many good things going for it but I just missed the anticipation and tension that I usually find in a romance. I do think this book is deserving of the praise and it would be a great book for heterosexual men to read, ha!

*Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

It was such a delight to read a romance with open, honest communication between the two main characters. Chandler Cohen is a ghostwriter who is feeling a bit lost. After being disappointed by someone she works with, she heads to the bar area of a bookstore where she meets Drew. The two have instant chemistry that leads to the worst one night stand of Chandler's life. She sneaks out on Drew believing she'll never see him again. Little does she know, Drew is really Finn Walsh, an actor who hit it big years ago on a teen classic only to be currently touring the con scene years later. Finn also turns out to be the next assignment in Chandler's ghostwriting career.

There are so many great parts to this book. The communication between these two is downright refreshing. Solomon does a great job of building the tension and portraying a relationship that grows organically. Neither character is perfect. The reasons for them not jumping into bed together are very real feeling which is tough to do in a contemporary. The teen heartthrob scene was a lot of fun to see in this book. Another great aspect is Solomon's inclusion of mental health rep and sex positivity. I laughed multiple times and enjoyed watching these two interact as they toured around together.

This is my second book of Solomon's I have read and I enjoyed it more than the first, which I loved. I would recommend this one to anyone looking for a slow burn romance with lots of steam and great conversation.