I really enjoyed this book! This is my second book by Rachel Solomon, and the thing that never ceases to amaze me is how she represents mental health in her characters. She is so authentic in building these relatable characters and this book was no different.

This book followers Chandler and Finn. Chandler is a ghost writer and after a terrible experience with her client she meets this charming man who takes her out and it ends in a night of a terrible, one night stand gone wrong. She thinks she can put it all behind her, until she is called in for a business meeting to meet with her new author, none other than Mr. One night stand himself!

A forced proximity lovers dream. This book has Jewish main characters, mental health reps, celebrity and writer trope, along with teaching him how to please her. I mean ow ow 😓 can’t wait for others to read this!

4.5 Stars!

I tend to read a lot of romance novels (what can I say? I love them!), but I've never encountered one like this, and I absolutely loved it! Chandler and Finn have such a healthy relationship. They communicate! (amazing how that works 🤣), listen to one another, and are both willing to learn. This book had a lot of representation for mental health, as both main characters have different disorders -- anxiety/panic attacks and OCD. Both MCs were so well written, and I could feel the chemistry coming off the page. This one definitely has a bit of spice, and I loved the inside look at Chandler's job as a ghostwriter for celebrity memoirs. This is definitely a book you should read if you like romance (just be sure to check trigger warnings!)

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book.

Business or Pleasure releases tomorrow, July 4, 2023!

I always love anything that Rachel Lynn Solomon writes and this was no exception. The story follows Chandler, a ghost writer, and Finn, an actor who starred in a supernatural teen drama. Chandler and Finn meet by chance and have a one night stand that leaves her spectacularly unsatisfied. The next day she meets with her new celebrity client... and it's none other than her one night stand from the night before. After some awkwardness, Chandler signs on to ghostwrite his book, and then after a moment of radical honesty about their night together, agrees to give him a series of practical lessons about sex.

Things I liked: Mental health representation: both MCs have mental health issues that rang true to me, particularly Finn's OCD. We don't often hear about OCD in this kind of fiction and it was refreshing to read about a person living with it. Sex positivity, especially re: a knowledgeable, confident woman. Bookishness. Love for fandoms. No colossal third act misunderstanding. Good amount of spice.

I'd definitely recommend this to any fan of the genre. Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this even more than WEATHER GIRL! This was surprisingly very spicy for a cartoon cove rom-com! Rachel Lynn Solomon writes books with the perfect balance of character development and romance. I was rooting for Chandler and Finn the entire time. I loved the way BUSINESS OR PLEASURE explores mental health. Rachel takes such care in talking about mental illness in a way that is both serious and light-hearted.

BUSINESS OR PLEASURE literally has everything you could ever want in a romantic comedy. This book solidified Rachel Lynn Solomon as an auto-buy author for me!

Business or Pleasure brings the unseen elements of the popular culture we consume to the forefront in a way that’s clever, thought provoking, and real.

Rachel Lynn Solomon takes generationally relatable experiences: the “WTF, this is not what you told me I was signing up for” of the millennial experience, the cringe of one night stands and less-than mind blowing intimate encounters, the fear that comes with watching your parents age before your eyes, the awestruck thrill of meeting the actor who plays your favorite character, and makes it something we can learn from and laugh with.

Vulnerabilities are a big part of the story and characters journeys. What it means to be vulnerable with another person, intimately and emotionally- all the way down to your weird sock obsession you hoped people wouldn’t notice. The vulnerability that comes with sharing- or having people find out about- your diagnosis. The vulnerability you expose yourself to by being, as Solomon aptly put it, “visibly Jewish.” And ultimately, the reward of sharing those vulnerabilities with someone worthwhile (it is a romance, after all).

I loved seeing Judaism and it’s significance to the characters woven throughout in both the cultural and religious aspects. It was just such an obvious extension of “them,” and just… if this isn’t a blinking sign as to why representation of all kinds matters, I don’t know what is.

One thing in particular that resonated with me was the vulnerability you expose yourself to by being “visibly Jewish,” online, in the media, wherever. It. Sucks. And it’s an awkward topic to tackle, but one that she did so relatably through Chandler and Finn.

We love a healthy adult relationship!!

After the worst one-night stand of ghostwriter Chandler’s life, she is eager to put it behind her. Unfortunately, when she meets the actor who’s memoir she is to write next, he is none other than the disaster himself. As the two work together on more than just the book, they learn there may be pleasure in business.

LOVED IT ALL. The communication and vulnerability>>>

The MMC is all the green flags and I am here for it! This book did an excellent job of mental health rep, and was serious while still being lighthearted. A well-written rom-com with the perfect combination of humor and heart. I also absolutely adored all the pop culture references!

Here I am, once again, begging Rachel Lynn Solomon to do a little bit of research. Sigh. There are so many comic con / press details that are just straight wrong / unrealistic. It took me out of the story every time and just ticked me off. A simple Google search fixes several of the issues.

Stepping off my soap box now.

The story itself was fine. A smidge unrealistic but overall, fine.

Positives: there's a bit more spice than her other books and there's great Jewish, anxiety, and OCD representation.

DNF @ 45%

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance, Netgalley, and PRH Audio for providing advanced copies of this. All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

I was so excited about this book. A bad one night stand turned coworkers stuck in hotels together, mixed with sex lessons sounded like a guaranteed win for me.

Unfortunately very little about this book worked for me.

I appreciated the sex positivity in this. The heroine is extremely comfortable in her sexuality and isn't afraid to ask for what she wants. I also liked how soft the hero was.

But the rest just didn't work for me...

While I liked those aspects of the characters, overall they were completely one dimensional. Finn's only personality trait was good looking and nice. And it made him so boring.

The one night stand was beyond uncomfortable. I kept waiting for it to get funny, but instead I just cringed and waited for it to be over.

Then when the sex lessons began it was the most clinical approach to sex I've ever had the misfortune of reading... The heroine sends the hero a syllabus/outline and then breaks out diagrams in the bedroom...

Which took any inkling of chemistry straight out. Not that the characters had much to begin with.

Unfortunately I don't think this author is for me and don't see myself trying again with any of their books in the future.

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.
I’ve read romances before where I thought that the leads didn’t actually seem to get to know each other that much throughout the book. That is not the case with Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon AT ALL.

The conversations between leads Chandler Cohen & Finnegan Walsh are magnetic & revealing, & there’s an openness to what they say & how they respond to each other that is also present in Chandler’s relationship with her BFF & cousin.
​
Great communication & willingness to accept constructive feedback all around .

This book immediately made me adore it—I mean a heroine with a pixie cut who feels confused about what she should be doing career-wise to feel fulfilled *and* fed & sheltered etc & a hero who learned LOTR Elvish & blushes & has a “soft” stomach & graying hair at his temples? Give me more *any swooning GIF.

This book has steam & it is great. But where it really gets to me is just that willingness of the MCs to hear someone out, to think I don’t have to get defensive about this, I can sit with what this person is saying for a minute, & I can change if I want.

That & there’s so much softness in this book. Finn & Chandler’s sensitivity & care for each other is really beautiful.

The stellar OCD rep—something that’s really important to me—anxiety rep, & forthright conversations about a past abortion, make this book—like Finn’s—one that has the potential to help & uplift people *&* to make them swoon.

5⭐️. Out 07/04.

CWs: Past abortion. Anxiety & panic attack on page. OCD.

ID: pic 1, Jess’s feet in book-covered blue socks stretch out under a white blanket & over a pink sheet. The ebook is beside her feet. Pic 2, Jess holds the ebook out over her sock-covered feet over a pink sheet.

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for an advance copy of this!

Rachel Lynn Solomon has been one of my go to authors since rediscovering my love of reading. And when this book was announced I was naturally so excited! This book was so good!

It is like she knew that I am in my celebrity trope phase and hand delivered it to me. And as always bear with me as I try to gather all my thoughts because I just loved it so much!

"I'm going to kill you."
"With the spiked dildo or the leather flogger?"

I thought the concept of this book was executed perfectly and love that this relationship started as a one night stand and memorable for not how you think.

I absolutely love the relationship between Chandler and Finn. I thought he was such a great MMC and the glimpses of how he felt for Chandler was sprinkled throughout the whole book. I definitely hate the "trope" of the FMC who gets in their own head and in this one I wanted to shake Chandler.

Now I know Chandler was hired to ghostwrite for Finn so Finn was expected to open up to her and let him get vulnerable but as a reader you know that he genuinely wanted to share his story with her. And because of this, she felt comfortable opening up to him as well. This book had great Jewish, OCD and anxiety rep.

"Come here, sweetheart."

I never knew that I could be attracted to a redheaded book boyfriend but that changed with Finnegan Walsh. There was just something about him that as so endearing and knowing that he was a huge Lord of the Rings nerd made him even more charming. There were just so many moments where I felt myself swooning over him.

Also I don't know how many times I write a review and bring up a karaoke scene. If a book has a karaoke scene, it is usually my favorite part of a book. And well I loved everything about it in this scene!! The before, the during and the after - whewwwwww!

This is Solomon's most spicest book but it's spicy in a way that is unique compared to other romance books. Chandler becomes a sex teacher to help Finn communicate with his future partners in the bedroom but they practice on each other. Could this be fake dating adjacent? Maybe? And I was here for it. Because like with any fake dating scenario, you know feelings would get entangled in. Chandler confidence really shown through when doing these lessons and not scared to tell him what she likes and wants.

This book is perfect for summer & you'll love a celebrity romance and dirty talk!

PS - Rachel Lynn, I need to know if there was ever a scene where Chandler dressed up as a LOTR character for him?!

The splayed open honest communication in this book was so refreshing that I had to make sure I mentioned it. There was no “saving face” or long breaks due to miscommunication. Rachel Lynn Solomon did what every romance reader begs authors to do, she made the characters talk to each other, not just about the easy things but the hard, embarrassing, vulnerable truths we have a tendency to avoid. Add in the humor, sultry scenes, and (as always) fantastic writing and Business or Pleasure will be yet another book by Rachel that you simply can’t put down.

“Reach for the moon. Even if you fail, you will land amongst the stars!” What a load of crap! Chandler had reached for the stars when she graduated with her journalism degree and landed her dream job. She reached for the stars when her unrequited love for Wyatt finally lead somewhere. Where has all of that gotten her! Sitting in the back of a bookstore watching yet another author take full credit for her ghostwriting work, nursing a broken heart. All she ever wanted to be when she was a child was an author. Cozy mysteries were her passion and her family loved the ones she would share. Now, sans a real job since the company she worked for folded, making do in the land of freelance writing, Chandler doesn’t know which way is up and she is drowning. Seeking refuge from her spinning thoughts and quickly recognized rock bottom, Chandler meets a gorgeous man at the bar and hits it off instantly. Never one to be a risk taker, Chandler decides to throw caution to the wind as Drew invites her to enjoy the evening with him. Mind blowing connection, sparks everywhere, this night looks all kinds of promising until it ends with the worst sex she has ever had in her life! How?! How could a connection so strong go south so fast! Mortified on his behalf, Chandler sneaks out to survive yet another day only to receive a call from her agent that a potential ghostwriting job is up for grabs and she has minutes to make it to the interview. Not what she pictures but a fan of job security and paying her bills, Chandler walks in to find no other than her one night stand sitting at the table. Turns out the illustrious “Drew” is no other than Finn Walsh from the hit show “The Nocturnals”. Realizing she definitely did something to warrant this level of bad luck, Chandler pretends to not know Drew/Finn until the agent leaves the table. Frustration, confusion, and hushed whispers aside, Chandler knows she can’t possibly take this job but can’t argue against Finn’s reasoning for wanting her talent. She concedes but quickly regrets her decision when a truce to forget the past reveals how she truly felt about their night together. Hoping that brief moment of confession is forgotten, once they reconnect to work – Finn shares that he did some “research” to validate her claim and finds out it is absolutely true! Simply making a joke to lighten the mood, Chandler offers to give Finn a few pointers to improve his bedroom etiquette. She can’t believe her surprise (and excitement?) when he agrees. As if her life wasn’t a mess before, now she has been tasked with not only writing a memoir, but helping Finn become a rockstar between the sheets. What is happening?!

While this was not a dual POV book, it almost felt like it as Finn was so transparent with everything – what he was thinking, how he was feeling, what was going on his life. Yes, Chandler was writing his memoir so that setup was perfect for the reader but the way Rachel presented it just seemed so natural. I loved how they were from different walks of life but were able to relate on the same level.

I loved Chandler’s spiraling as a character. She didn’t just look at that world and say “Here I am, take me or leave me”. She felt like her life was a dumpster fire but she was doing what she could to just stay above water and be happy. She didn’t want to rock the boat and her safety net had become her lifeline. She had no problem saying what needed to be said, speaking her truth, and being honest with others. It was being honest with herself, facing her fears, believing in her own capabilities that always tripped her up. Again, I applaud the communication throughout the story – it was so open and freeing. Her discussions with Noemie, her parents, no one sugar-coated in this story and it was never taken as an insult when someone said what “needed” to be said instead of what someone wanted to hear. The characters Rachel created were thoughtful, well-rounded, relatable, and simply the best.

As for Finn’s character, I don’t think it is possible to talk about him without hearts in my eyes. He was sweet, dorky, kind, loving, and very self-aware.

Seeing the fact that part of Finn and Chandler’s time together was spent giving intimacy lessons, yes – yes it was steamy and educational. With Chandler’s gender and sexuality educational background, Rachel had a chance to provide knowledge as well as heat to the reader. Asides for the initial mishap that will have you peeking through your fingers and cringing on Chandler’s behalf, their spicy moments could melt the pages but the communication factor between knowing one’s desires and feeling empowered to share them was invaluable. I did appreciate that all of this started because Finn put his ego aside and actually reached out to prior partners to see how he was in bed. Who does that?! Just one more reason why his character quickly became a personal favorite.

If the review hasn’t reveal it by now, communication, as well as acceptance, was the cornerstone of this book. Whether it was accepting who you are despite what others believed, communicating the good as well as the bad and being open to speaking and listening – without judgement, or simply trusting your own inner voice – Rachel reminds us that the journey of finding ourselves and following our hearts can be arduous but worth it in the end.

Ghostwriter, Chandler Cohen just had the worst one night stand of her life. Imagine her surprise when last nights poor decision is seated at the table of today’s business meeting. This one hooked me pretty quickly and I enjoyed the steamy sex and witty banter. A+ in my book.

Let me paint you a picture... you're having a hard day so you decide to sit down for a drink and you stumble upon a handsome stranger. He wins you over and you decide to go to his hotel room. Heaven right? Wrong. Well lets take it a step further. After the worst one night stand ever, you get the pleasure of "meeting" him at a meeting for you to become the ghost writer for his upcoming book LOL

When Chandler finds herself traveling with Finn so they can write his book, they come up with the brilliant idea for Chandler to teach Finn how to become a better lover. And you know what follows after that...

This was my first read by Rachel Lynn Solomon but will not be my last! She has been on my TBR for so long and reading this has me kicking myself for waiting so long to try her. I was instantly hooked and loving the story. My only complaint was the ending felt a little off to me but because I can't really pinpoint why, I'd say that's pretty minor. I was a big fan of the mental health rep, sex positivity, and overall good times included in this book. We love seeing a good healthy relationship in a sea of toxic romances

4.75/5

REVIEW FOR BUSINESS OR PLEASURE

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars

Thank you to @netgalley, @berkleyromance and @berkleypub for the advanced copy!

I feel like all of Rachel Lynn Solomon’s books are unique storylines, and this is no exception! I loved the characters in this story, and I read the first couple of chapters while waiting for my workout class to start and people were totally judging me for laughing out loud randomly 🤣

𝕊𝕐ℕ𝕆ℙ𝕊𝕀𝕊:
Chandler Cohen is a ghostwriter who is in a career rut, amplified further when her most recent client doesn’t even remember her. When a one-night stand goes terribly wrong, Chandler jumps back out there into the writing world and gets the opportunity to write the memoir for Finn Walsh, a C- list actor known for his role in a movie from the late aughts. However Chandler can’t work with him as all she can think about is their terrible night together. Deciding to take a chance, she reveals to Finn how wrong their night went, and he asks her to coach him- on how to be better in bed. Lined blur, books get written. But can they keep their deal all business?

𝕎ℍ𝔸𝕋 𝕀 𝕃𝕀𝕂𝔼𝔻:
• unique storyline
• strong FMC and strong family dynamic
• semi-Hollywood storyline
• this had significantly more love scenes than I thought there would be
• s*x positivity, mental health rep

𝕎ℍ𝔸𝕋 𝕎𝔸𝕊ℕ’𝕋 𝕄𝕐 ℂ𝕌ℙ 𝕆𝔽 𝕋𝔼𝔸:
• I loved the two main characters, but I didn’t love them together. I just didn’t buy their chemistry
• I feel like it was so centered on their relationship that some key scenes got overlooked
• it grabbed my attention in spurts, but it didn’t suck me in

𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔸𝕃𝕃 𝕋ℍ𝕆𝕌𝔾ℍ𝕋𝕊:
This is the second book of Rachel’s I’ve read, and so far I haven’t been disappointed. She has a way of writing sweet but real characters, and I love that she doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff. Business or Pleasure comes out Tuesday, 7/4 so add it to your TBR today 🫶🏼

TW: mentions of emotional abuse, bullying, OCD, anxiety and abortion

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I really enjoyed this book. The spice was great, and there were many laugh-out-loud moments. It’s a must-read for anyone looking for a cinnamon-roll MMC. Or anyone looking for a sex-positive FMC. Or if you’re into a sort of friends-with-benefits meets lessons in the bedroom vibe. My only complaint is that some of the moments and tension/stakes felt forced, and some moments felt rushed, like more telling than showing. But no matter - I’ll definitely be picking up more books by Rachel Lynn Solomon!

Thank you NetGalley, Rachel Lynn Solomon, and Berkeley for a free copy of Business or Pleasure (coming out July 4th!) in exchange for an honest review.


For 2023, I’ll be using this rating scale:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I mourned the ending of this journey 🥹
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ really enjoyed and would recommend
⭐️⭐️⭐️ it was fine
⭐️⭐️ I didn’t enjoy this journey
⭐️ I dnf’d or wish I’d dnf’d
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ this is smutty smutty erotica 🥵
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ medium burn
🌶️🌶️🌶️ slow burn
🌶️🌶️ romantic b plot / closed door / YA romance
🌶️ no romance / nonfiction

Thank you Berkley Publishing for my complimentary eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is only the 2nd novel of Rachel's that I have read, but it is my favorite. I will need to add her back list to my TBR.
I thought the story was very relevant to life as we know it. While I am not the same age as Chandler, I can remember having the same fears and anxieties in college. Does anyone really know what they want to do for the rest of their lives in their early 2o's??? I know some people do, but for everyone else, it is a very stressful realization.
The relationship between Chandler and Finn is so honest and open. I found that to be very refreshing in a romance. While it is not always easy to be so truthful, this shows how much growth and potential any future relationship between them will have. They are starting off on the right foot.
I hope Rachel's spotlight on mental health and the physical part of relationships will open up many heartfelt and thought provoking conversations. This would be an awesome buddy read for many, if not all, partners in a long term (or new) relationship. IYKYK.

WOW! STEAMY. This is probably my first honestly spicy contemporary romance novel. I THOUGHT that I had read some spice before, but no. Now I understand what the 3 chili peppers mean. I enjoyed this book so much!

Chandler is a ghostwriter and her latest client, Finn, is a former teen heart throb who starred in a hit werewolf show. He is also an unfortunate one night stand from her very recent past. Finn is...not good at sex. Chandler agrees to write his book AND teach him a thing or two about how to please your partner in the bedroom.

Business or Pleasure is a slow burn, forced proximity, cinnamon roll, spicy DREAM. Aside from the excellent spice, Chandler and Finn were the sweetest MCs. They were vulnerable and totally relatable. I loved that Finn was a cinnamon roll MMC and that he and Chandler were able to talk about deep and meaningful parts of their lives. It was the perfect blend of plot and spice. I will be reading many more Rachel Lynn Solomons when I am in the mood for something with heart and spice.

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Bookstagram Review: https://www.instagram.com/p/CuNCr_RLjRz/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

AI was invested in Chandler and “Drew”/Finn from the very start and physically cringed and laughed out loud at the awful-ness of that first hook-up. I loved that even though that first experience was so epically bad, it didn’t lessen her attraction to Finn. rather, their attraction to each other was almost palpable.
I thought that the whole approach to the sex lessons and what constitutes sex was very well done, and the scenes themselves were very well-written. I really liked that, even though you are always in Chandler’s POV you could tell that Finn was always into her; and that while she was trying to remind herself that she was teaching him to be good for the next person, he was interested in what she liked.
I also really appreciated the representation of secular Judaism. Both Chandler and Finn don’t necessarily practice the religious aspects of Judaism, but their Jewish identities are incredibly important to them. It was meaningful to see that represented and validated.

All the stars again for RLS!

Thank you Rachel and Netgalley for my advanced copy of Business or Pleasure!

Read it you enjoy:
♠️ Fan Cons (conventions)
♠️ Writer’s Life (Chandler is a guest at writer)
♠️ For “practice” to real feelings type of relationship
♠️ Jewish characters
♠️ OCD rep

I loved Chandler and Finn! This one was so fun and I enjoyed the premise of Chandler going with Finn around the US to all of his con stops in order to fulfill ghostwriting his memoir.

The characters and story in this novel were pretty straight forward and there wasn’t a ton of will-they-won’t-they. From the beginning, it was pretty clear how it would turn out and there wasn’t any stupid wastes of time with them being overly afraid or running away from true feelings (thank gosh, in my opinion).

As someone who attends fan cons and enjoys this kind of culture, my inner geek was really excited by this premise, and of course, it wasn’t a let down. I enjoyed the traveling throughout the novel and I’m glad Chandler did too as she wrote Finn’s story and also got to learn more about herself.

These were two fully formed characters but I still was able to feel their growth throughout the novel, which to me, is an accomplishment. I just think Rachel is an amazing writer and definitely knows how to do this genre well! I can’t see what she has up her sleeve next.

Truly enjoyed Business or Pleasure. It was my first Rachel Lynn Solomon book and I will be back for more.