Ahhh in love!!!! This is my first from Solomon and definitely not my last! I was sucked in right from the start and couldn't stop reading. I loved Finn and Chandler's relationship and how easy their communication and relationship was. Amazing read!!

*Thank you @berkleyromance and @prhaudio for the #gifted egalley and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.*

Chandler , after graduating as a journalist is promptly fired from her first job. She settles into ghostwriting career that she is not too happy about. Finn was a star of a teen ware wolf show that still has a big following. She is hired to travel with him to comic-con all around the country and write a memoir. As you might have guessed, dear friends….things get heated up.

Solomon is back again with another great romance story. This book follows Chandler who is a ghostwriter and has a hook-up with a person who doesn’t know what he’s doing until it turns out he’s a famous actor who she will be writing for. This book was something not what I was expecting and honestly, I loved it. It was a fun story with a great storyline. Some scenes were a but longer than necessary but the pacing was great. I enjoyed the multiple different settings and learning a bit more about the cons that Chandler traveled to. There was a lot of personal development in this story. This book is told from Chander’s perspective which I enjoyed.

Chander is the main character of this story and I enjoyed her character. She was fun to read about and I loved seeing her character development. Then there is Finn who’s not so great in bed but has a great personality. He’s caring and wants to make sure Chandler is happy. There were other side characters and the only one I enjoyed was Chandler’s bff. This book has forced proximity, sex ed, and a one-night stand with a bit of spice. I loved the mention of mental heath and being sex-positive.

The ending was okay but not the best though the overall book was great. I enjoyed Weather Girl and this one didn’t disappoint. I will for sure be reading more of Solomon’s books in the future and can’t wait to see what else she comes up with.

Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon was a fun (and steamy!) book. I thought that both of the main characters were well developed. The parameters behind their relationship were interesting, and I thought the author did a great job of pulling in a lot of relevant topics throughout the book - religion, mental health, family, job insecurities. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

What does a ghostwriter do after a disastrous one-night stand with an incognito actor? Write his memoir while traveling from city to city and give him lessons on how to please a woman along the way, of course.

That’s the basis of Business or Pleasure, but the execution is far more charming and humorous.

Rachel Lynn Solomon gives us an actor on the convention circuit who wants to be known for more than his role in a defunct werewolf drama and a floundering journalism graduate who ghostwrites to make ends meet while waiting for the right time to work on her own novel.

Chandler and Finn both want more from their careers, but they need a change to make that happen. Helping Finn write his autobiography is the perfect opportunity for both of them to see how much they have accomplished as well as how much they have been missing in life.

For fans of Solomon’s previous works, all of her trademarks are here: well-developed characters with realistic struggles, a workplace romance between co-workers, and of course, a cinnamon roll hero you want to cuddle.

However, compared to her previous novels, Solomon cranks up the heat by several notches, as evidenced by a lesson plan crafted by Chandler that Finn eagerly follows to glorious results.

I think what I enjoyed the most about the book is the immense growth between the characters from start to finish, with their communication being top-notch throughout almost the entire storyline. Finn took the criticism Chandler had for him to heart and really listened, while Chandler realized that the only person limiting herself was her.

Business or Pleasure really should have been named Business and Pleasure, in my opinion, but I enjoyed it all the same.

This was another adorable, relatable win for me! In Business or Pleasure, we meet Chandler, who is a ghost writer. She has just finished writing a memoir for some crappy "influencer" or another, who shows exactly zero gratitude for the fact that Chandler has written this great book for her. Rude, that. Even though she isn't loving ghost writing, she gets another opportunity that she can't pass up.

So who is her next client? A dude she had a very uninspiring one night stand with, and also, he is famous. Whoops? But as Finn's ghost writer, she will be accompanying him around the country to a series of fan conventions, taking her out of her comfort zone in more ways than one. And as you can imagine, all kinds of awkwardness ensues, but it is very charming, and you can tell that Finn is a decent guy (you know, outside of the bedroom heh).

Obviously, we get to watch Chandler try to navigate both her personal and professional relationship with Finn, which is messy at best. And I really did enjoy their chaotic relationship, but there is so much more to this story than that, as always! First, I loved that there is a lot of talk about mental health. Not just on Chandler's end, but Finn's too. I loved how open and honest they are about these topics, and how healthy it is that they have these discussions. I also loved that Chandler was open about her past relationships, including an abortion. I think it is so important to present this topics in non-stigmatized ways, and the author has nailed it yet again.

There is a lot of growth for both characters, too. They are both kind of trying to figure out what comes next for them, personally and professionally. This trip teaches them both a lot about who they are and who they are hoping to be, and what is most important to them. It was heartwarming and lovely and at times hard, but that made it all the more realistic.

Bottom Line: Rachel Lynn Solomon cannot write anything less than an incredible book. At first I was afraid of jinxing her by writing that, but I’m pretty sure her gift is beyond jinxes.

I thought this was going to be formulaic. I was wrong. It was sweet and funny and very sexy. The characters grew as individuals and as a couple as they went on thei cross country con journey. I would read more by this author.

POV: Single FMC
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

This is my first book by the author (I know, shocking) so I can’t compare to her other popular books, but I absolutely loved how it’s a different kind of romance! In fact, if you went in blind, you would assume that the MMC was actually the guy before Chandler meets her HEA and that they all laugh about later. Chandler helps Finn become more like the book boyfriend we are used to, but he is still unique, and he also helps her to become the best version of herself.

The ghostwriting and Hollywood aspect add another different and interesting layer to their story, especially with them traveling for all of Finn’s comic con appearances. Finn ended up being my favorite character so I just wish he would’ve had his own POV! Their story is awkward and funny but also deals with some tough and emotional subjects, but is otherwise mostly a feel good read!

“I know it’s only been a few months, but you’ve become so important to me. Every time we’re not together, I miss you, and every time we are, I feel like I have to hold on tight to make it last as long as possible. I’ve been so uncertain about everything in my life, but the way I want you is crystal clear.”

Chandler and Finn. She’s a ghostwriter, and he’s an actor. Her new client ends up being the same man that she has a one-night stand with, and he also happens to be terrible in bed. So he asks her to give him lessons while they write his book together.

✍🏻READ IF YOU LIKE✍🏻:
- she’s a celebrity ghostwriter, he’s a C-list actor
- one night stand
- strangers to friends with benefits to lovers
- a cinnamon roll, nerdy hero that loves lord of the rings & speaks elvish
- only one bed
- forced proximity
- an abundance of cozy socks
- workplace romance
- comic con
- sex positivity + sex lessons
- witty banter
- a cult classic werewolf show
- neurodiverse, mental health, therapy rep
- traveling around the usa

cw: ocd, anxiety, abortion, bullying, emotional abuse by parent, mention of anti-semitism, divorce

Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleyromance for the advanced copy! Business or Pleasure is now available!

This book was fabulous. I couldn’t put it down.

Chandler is a ghost writer for celebrities. Feeling stuck after her last project, she meets a cute guy at the bookstore bar. She proceeds to go home with him and have the worst sex of her life. The next day, she gets invited to an interview for her next ghost writing project. When she walks in, she finds the celebrity is her horrible one night stand. After starting their writing project, Chandler informs Finn that their night together wasn’t great for her (and he confirms this has been the same with his exes). They decide that Chandler is going to teach Finn how to be a better lover.

This book. Oh man.

Chandler is funny and Finn is sweet. Both are dealing with mental health issues and they’re handled beautifully. Chandler has anxiety and Finn has OCD. I really appreciated how these illnesses were talked about and found a lot of realism in the way they were portrayed.

My one warning is that this book is SPICY. There are a lot of spicy scenes right from the very beginning. If you don’t like that, you won’t like this book. But I did feel they were very well done. None of them felt cringey to me. I actually found a lot of humor in tem which I enjoyed. When I read Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood, there were scenes that I felt were so icky and cringe inducing that I knocked it down a star. This was not the case with Solomon at all.

Chandler and Finn’s chemistry just leaps off the page. He is so earnest and kind from the beginning that you can’t help fall in love with him. I was a little worried Chandler would fall into some of the insecurity trope, but it toed a line I was able to handle. I also appreciated that there wasn’t truly a third act conflict. There was a small conflict but it was something that was talked about immediately between the characters and handled maturely and realistically. It was wrapped up quickly and I appreciated it so much.

I also felt like I learned so much about ghost writing and life of an actor after they were on a big show. I found myself frequently picturing Finn like Tom Felton from Harry Potter.

I love love loved this book. It is definitely a top 3 of hers for me. This book is definitely more along the lines of the old school bodice ripper shirtless Fabio on the cover type of book rather than contemporary fiction. If you don’t like steamy, you will not like this book. But if you do, you will fall in love with Finn and Chandler. I enjoyed every minute of reading this book.

🌟 Business or Pleasure 🌟

Rachel Lynn Solomon is one of my favorite authors. She captures your attention with humor, animated descriptions and personable characters. My oh my, Business or Pleasure had me laughing so hard right off the bat. 

On a chance encounter, our main characters have the perfect date. They meet in a bookshop, find the perfect late night pizza place and stroll through Seattle area parks. After a perfect evening one thing leads to another & they have a one night stand only to find out that one of them is horrible in bed. How could that be with such fantastic chemistry everywhere else? Since they won't see each other again it shouldn’t matter.

Until his agent sets up an appointment to have her ghostwrite his autobiography. The scene where they find out who they each are when not on a date is hilarious and mortifying. Turns out Finn is an actor with a cult-like following. He’s one of those names that sells a Comic Con.

Our other main character Chandler is a ghostwriter who doesn’t follow celebrities. She had no idea who was asking her to do the writing but the pay is fantastic and an opportunity like none other. 

Paired up with plans to be together for the next few months they find an arrangement to help him become better in bed for future girl friends. While he has all the star power, he’s been led astray when it comes to his sexual prowess. This was my 1st central Teach Me trope read. I thought it was well done. I wanted the connection to come through a bit stronger after it was clear they both were falling for each other. As a romance reader, I wanted all the happily ever after tied up with a bow and gifted to me faster. You will love these characters. 

Read this for:
 
✨ Jewish Rep! 
✨ Vegetarian ( As a Jewish vegetarian I was excited)  
✨ Cinnamon Roll
✨ Mental Health Rep
✨ Found Family
✨ Nerdy Celebrity 
✨ Witty Banter
✨ Ode to Seattle 

Thank you to Berkley Netgalley and Rachel for the gifted copy. I am so excited to see her in our hometown of Seattle next week.

BUSINESS OR PLEASURE by Rachel Lynn Solomon is a contemporary, adult, erotic, romance story line focusing on thirty-four year old, former teen actor Finn Walsh, and thirty-one year old journalist/ghost writer Chandler Cohen.

Told from first person perspective (Chandler) BUSINESS OR PLEASURE focuses on the building romance and relationship between thirty-four year old, former teen actor Finn Walsh, and thirty-one year old journalist/ghost writer Chandler Cohen. Chandler Cohen is a journalist by degree but a ghost writer by career, and her latest assignment ends with an awkward one-night stand meant to forgettable and uninvolved, only to discover said one-night stand is Chandler’s next assignment, the man with whom she spent one uncomfortable night. Enter former teen actor Finn Walsh, and the man with whom Chandler will fall in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Chandler and Finn, as Chandler must navigate ghost-writing a memoir for the man who is asking for so much more.

The relationship between Chandler and Finn begins as a bumbling one-night stand of which Chandler was hoping never to remember but Finn, having lied about his true identity to our story line heroine wants Chandler to write his story, and teach him how to please a woman in the bedroom and beyond. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate.

The world building continues to focus on Finn’s career as a teen heart-throb, his emotional struggles, and his ineptness with the opposite $ex but also focuses on the growing relationship and love between our story line couple.

Finn Walsh’s character overcame many obstacles in his life but his development throughout the story reveals a man who is struggling with his success and his life. Falling for Chandler was never in the cards but fall he did for the woman who knew more about Chandler than anyone else.

Both Finn and Chandler are likeable characters but from the outset Chandler battles with what she remembered about their one night stand, and the discrepancies with what Finn is about to reveal.

The sexual tension is palpable especially in light of their mutual attraction and failed one-night stand, a night Finn believes was a success. As the story line builds, Finn will discover there is more to $ex than reaching the end.

BUSINESS OR PLEASURE is a slow building story line about family, friendships, relationships and love. The premise is engaging, entertaining and captivating but there is limited conflict other than neither one knowing what happens next. The characters are determined; the romance is fated and fun. Like most of author’s books I have read, she does address the Jewish faith in her story line.



THE READING CAFÉ: http://www.thereadingcafe.com/business-or-pleasure-by-rachel-lynn-solomon-dual-review/


GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5560918469


AMAZON COM: https://www.amazon.com/review/R1WHKOSVKB9COL/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8


BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/852042980

I loved this! This was definitely steamier than I was expecting (definitely more than her previous works), but so good! I loved how Chandler and Finn's relationship slowly developed and all the trust they had in each other.

Chandler is a ghost writer who feels that things are going pretty well until she attends a signing for a book she wrote and the “author” doesn’t even recognize her. Wallowing at a bar, she connects with a man there… but the night doesn’t end how she would like.

Her next ghost writing project is writing for an actor Finn Walsh… who also happens to be that awkward hookup she had the night before. Trying to get a feel for the book, Chandler goes with Finn to all his comic cons. Trying to keep things professional is harder than it seems, especially since Finn doesn’t seem to realize he was the problem in their failed hookup. Now he has a deal to make with Chandler: when not working on the book, she will “school” Finn in how to satisfy his partner.

I absolutely enjoyed their communication skills (which always seems to be the downfall of most MCs). I loved that as Finn started to realize that he may be the problem, he contacts all his exes to find out why they never lasted.

As they grow closer, the question remains - will Chandler and Finn figure out which is more important: Business or Pleasure? Perhaps there’s a compromise in there too.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the opportunity to read and review this. Can’t wait to see what Rachel Lynn Solomon comes out with next.

Put this one on your tbr right now because this is a summer read you don’t want to miss! One of my favorite books of 2023, it gets ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 stars from me!

I find Rachel Lynn Solomon's characters so relatable in their struggles, goals, and experiences and Chandler and Finn are no exception! The shockingly bad end to their hookup was brilliant and totally unexpected. This leads into a few things that I adored about these characters: Chandler's ability to honestly share her thoughts, what she needs, and her advocacy for the sexual positive for women and Finn's acceptance of critique and his desire to learn, after getting past his denial. I appreciate how therapy positive Solomon is in her writing and her sensitive portrayal of neurodiversity, OCD in particular in this book. I loved getting a look inside the world of fandom conventions, Jewish community, and ghost writing, which I have been curious about since beginning to read memoirs. I learned so much!

I do wish that during their lessons, the focus hadn’t been so one sided. It seemed slightly selfish on Chandler's part and reciprocity would have been nice for Finn! While I would have made different decisions than Chandler, I accept that it was the path she needed to follow, even if I found it frustrating. I wish it hadn’t taken so long to get to the final HEA because I felt bad for Finn. He owned my heart in this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley, and the author for the advance review copy. I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

unfortunately this book just didn't work for me. i felt really separated from the characters on an appreciation level, and also because of the parameters of this romance — the morals around their arrangement, their power dynamic, and their business deal felt off to me. i like rachel lynn solomon a lot, a lot of the time, but this one just didn't click.

Business or Pleasure is a remarkable blend of wit and wisdom, capturing both the edgy and vulnerable aspects of romance. It is an absolute delight, offering a smart and incredibly enjoyable reading experience. From the very first page, this funny and delightful book will captivate you, celebrating the values of consent, love, and compassion.

This is my favorite Rachel Lynn Solomon of all time. I thought I enjoyed The Ex Talk but Business or Pleasure knocked it out of the damn park. The main characters are a freaking delight and their relationship was absolutely amazing. He's bad at sex and she thinks they aren't going to ever see each other again so she fakes it. Of course then she's hired to ghostwrite his memoir and they have to talk about the night she wants to forget.

These two are just so freaking good together. They have mostly healthy communication, they actually like each other and want to see each other succeed and Chandler teaching Finn how to actually listen to a woman's body was A+++ work. I don't know when Rachel Lynn Solomon became an auto buy author for me but I'm not sorry. I also loved the reference to The Ex Talk hidden in here.

Thank you to Berkley for an early copy of this amazing book. It comes out on July 4th and I think you should buy it for yourself as a happy birthday America present.

3.5 stars!

I love Rachel Lynn Soloman books and I adore books about writers PLUS I love books that play on the relationship coach trope so it was a given that I wanted to read this book.

I can only think of a few romance books where it’s the male lead who needs the instructional help in the bedroom so this book became one of my most anticipated romance books of 2023.

In Business or Pleasure, we meet Chandler who had aspirations of being a journalist then a writer but who is stuck “ghostwriting” for others.

She’s also adrift after being let down by her friend/crush and is constantly worrying about her older parents.
When presented with the opportunity to ghostwrite the book of a C-list actor who happens to be her one-night stand fail, she surprisingly signs on because she needs the money.

What follows is her offering to “teach” Finn how to be better in bed while they travel around the country on the Con circuit while he meets and greets fans and they learn more about each other while she writes his memoir.

As I mentioned, the relationship coach angle of this book is what totally hooked me for this romance and it is what shines the most.

I loved Chandler’s confidence in the bedroom which made her a perfect tutor for Finn.

Reading her advice made me think of Emily Nagoski’s book, Come As You Are, and sure enough Rachel noted at the end that she did indeed read this book in preparation for writing this book.

I’d recommend this book for women who need confidence to share their needs in the bedroom and for men who aren’t sure they are cutting it for their partners and could use some helpful suggestions.

But while I loved the relationship coach aspect, I never got really invested in either character.

Finn is such a nice guy and his OCD was intriguing, but you never really see it on the page to understand its significance for his memoir.

Chandler’s struggles to take a risk with her career were understandable and yet they didn’t really grab me.

I love Soloman’s writing and I do recommend this book to anyone who loves the relationship coach trope but it just didn’t knock my socks off overall.

*Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Oh boy, I was not prepared for the level of spice in this book…but that’s ok, it was a delightful surprise! Needless to say I loved this celebrity romance, adored Finn and impressed with the mental health (OCD specifically) rep. Honestly, I think I would have died swooning if this had been a dual POV. Lately I’ve been alternating the audiobook and e-book (both great btw), which has helped me to get through books faster than usual, but this one needed no help with that. A totally bingeable read!