Solomon turns up the heat in this book about a ghostwriter who discovers she’ll be writing a memoir for the celebrity responsible for her worst one-night stand ever. As they notice their continued intense chemistry, the two agree on bedroom lessons on nights after the business of memoir writing is done. Tender, sex positive, and full of fan conventions, this is a howling good read. For fans of “The Roommate” and “Spoiler Alert.”

This was a really cute and a type of a romance that radiates so much warmth and fuzzy feelings. It was a soft and comfortable. I absolutely loved it. Also, I loved the Jewish rep in it too.

I absolutely adored Business or Pleasure from Rachel Lynn Solomon!

Chandler Cohen has made a career for herself ghostwriting celebrity memoirs. When the latest memoir is released and the wellness influencer author didn't even recognize her, Chandler drowns her sorrows at the bookstore bar where she strikes up a conversation with the handsome guy next to her. In something truly out of character for her, Chandler goes home with the stranger and it is .... anti-climatic in all the important ways. The next day she meets a potential new client who turns out to be Finnegan Walsh, the beloved star of a teen werewolf series from the early aughts and also her one-night stand. Finn needs a ghostwriter willing to join him on his tour of comic cons while they draft the book, and Chandler needs to force herself out of a rut. Early on, Chandler lets slip that their rendezvous was less than ideal for her which, of course, leads to an offer of sex lessons.

Chandler and Finn just absolutely stole my heart right from the start. The sparks began flying during their meet cute and I had butterflies all the way to the final page. Finn is such an endearing nerd and the way he is head over heels for Chandler was just adorable. Chandler was so relatable - having put herself in a box of security and responsibility while her dreams of writing fiction take a back seat. The sex lessons chapters are *so hot* with Finn such an eager student, but I loved all the moments in between as Finn and Chandler build a friendship and get to know each other. The third act conflict is fairly predictable but resolved quickly so these two get their well-earned HEA!

As with her other books, Solomon writes about mental health and Judaism really beautifully. Finn has OCD and Chandler has general anxiety disorder. We see both of these struggles on the page and the characters loving each other through them in a really tender and authentic way. Finn and Chandler are also Jewish and there's a really lovely chapter where they attend services together than had me grinning from ear to ear.

Content warnings: On page anxiety attack; on page instance of a coworker making fun of Finn for his OCD

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is a really great romance, full of humor and heart. I loved how the central conflict toward the end was more about the characters deciding where they wanted to be in their lives and not about a silly miscommunication that can be cleared up in a five minute conversation. All of Rachel Lynn Solomon's books are fantastic and this is no exception.

If there’s one genre I love and am drawn to, it’s rom-coms. Business or Pleasure is literally the perfect rom-com and I feel like this could be a movie.

Upon reading the synopsis, I was a bit unsure of this one, just because I generally don’t love one-night stand trope. However, Rachel really pulled this one off!

What I loved: 

- Rachel makes both Finn and Chandler feel like real people. This is a bit of a slow-burn for me, but it’s so worth it. The chemistry here is INSANELY good.
- The plot was so unique. First, Chandler is a ghostwriter. This allows Rachel to delve into the world of publishing. There is mental health representation (OCD), family and career problems and the uncertainty of planning for the future. This book just feels so real and Rachel does this so well.
- The. STEAM. This book is steamy. Steamy in a good way though. That is to say, there’s an equal balance of plot and steam, in my opinion. The steam complimented the story and didn’t overtake it.
- I loved all of the character growth in Business or Pleasure. There’s growth in Chandler, Finn and both of them as a couple. It was amazing to watch the intimacy build between them and watch them build a healthy relationship.

All in all, I really loved Business or Pleasure! If you’re looking for a rom-com to pickup this summer, look no further!

A massive thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Lynn Solomon, and Berkley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This one was really really cute, I liked the whole concept of it and loved that there was no unnecessary misunderstandings leading to chapters and chapters of fights. Had every romance novel trope ever but in a good way.

Really loved the set up of this book!!!! I thought it was SO cute. Interesting to be in the perspective of a ghost writer, not something I think about a lot so I appreciated that perspective. As for the romance, I thought the chemistry was fantastic and the sex scenes were really great; I loved the dynamic of her teaching him how to be better, really fun time!

What an incredible delight! Rachel Lynn Solomon has done it again.

RLS has long been an auto-buy author for me, and the reasons for that are all clear in this book: she writes strong and nuanced characters with a real tenderness and concern for their well-being, the mental health rep is always (to me) incredibly spot-on, there's both religious and cultural Jewish representation, and the humor is incredible. I loved every moment with Chandler and Finn.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for this eARC.

Loved this!

Rachel Lynn Solomon really excels at creating characters who feel real and who you want to root for. I wanted Chandler and Finn to succeed, both in their "lessons" and with the book. This was such a fun twist on a second chance romance, and I'm in for whatever RLS writes next!

There has never been a Rachel Lynn Solomon book that I do not love. I am more used to the YA selections by this author so the spice, while a little surprising was not unwelcome because it was so well done.

It’s incredibly refreshing to read a romance that doesn’t have a buff, muscular giant with a giant dong that automatically doses out multiple orgasms. Finally a (somewhat) normal guy. And he’s a ginger with freckles! Yes, thank you. I like romance with realism, so this had it all. The honest conversations. The lovely characters. It even had wonderful spicy scenes.

Chandler Cohen is a writer. A writer of other people’s stories though, not her own… even though that was once her dream. After her newest ghostwritten memoir for a mega water influencer hits shelves and the influencer doesn’t even know who Chandler is at the book signing, Chandler resorts to self-pity at the bookstore bar. While at the bar, she meets a charming and handsome lad and her night turns into a sexually traumatizing hook up. Chandler never expects to see him again, nor would she want to. Because YIKES that was bad!!! But not only does he show up in her life again shortly, but it turns out he is also a famous television star for a wildly popular supernatural werewolf show. Andddddd he’s also in the market for a ghostwriter… and maybe also a sex coach?! Can Chandler and Finn keep business and pleasure separate or will the quirky socks come flying off?

PHEWWW 🥵 When Rachel said this was her spiciest book yet.. she wasn’t lying!! It’s not tooooo X rated though. It’s ALSO equal parts sweet and funny and romantic. A perfect romcom!

As someone who lives in the PNW, I’m obsessed with the partial Seattle/PNW setting and references. In fact, I live near a “Sleater Kinney” road and didn’t even know it was a band until I read this book and looked them up! I also loved the odes to Agatha Christie and cozy mysteries.

Rachel is so talented not only did she write this romcom novel, but she also wrote an entire plot of a five season supernatural young adult tv show (I looked it up- it isn’t a real show BUT IT SHOULD BE!!), multiple scenes from fictional tv and movies, and the plot of a bookshop mystery novel too just for the story. I loved it!

The plot is so unique - involving a celebrity ghostwriter. I definitely won’t ever look at celebrity memoirs the same again knowing they may have hired someone to write it for them because I never even thought about that! 🙊

I laughed, I smiled, I swooned. Finn Walsh is definitely my new book boyfriend.

4.5/5 stars. Well done Rachel!! Can’t wait for the next one!

Thank you so much to Berkley, Rachel, and NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy and review an advance reader’s copy of this highly anticipated masterpiece in exchange for an honest review!

THIS BOOK. It was one of my most anticipated romance reads for 2023, but I was simply not prepared for how amazing it is. I devoured it in one sitting and have been waiting to write my review because I had to figure out how to make "AHHSDFLKSJDFLKJ" into something more coherent.

BUSINESS OR PLEASURE was incredible—instant fave status. There was SO much to love in this hilarious, steamy, and heartfelt book. Here’s a recap of the good stuff in a non-spoilery list format.

-The nerdiest of nerdy love interests (of the LotR variety—be still, my heart)
-Consent is front and center, where it should be
-The communication between Finn and Chandler: It’s not portrayed as *simple* but instead as a conscious effort between two people who are putting in the work.
-CHEMISTRY, goodgolly yes
-Sex-positive and kink-positive
-Terrible dirty talk skills that build into some seriously top-notch sexytalk /expertise/
-A hilariously *terrible* one-night stand attempt with a heavy helping of “oh no”
-Fantastic mental health rep (OCD and anxiety)
-Sex lessons, just… *chef's kiss*
-Character growth: in bed, as individuals, as a couple

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

Berkley never approves me for ARCs, but when they do, I'm never disappointed.

I loved The Ex Talk but was super bummed out by Weather Girl, so I wasn't sure where I would land on the spectrum of liking this book. But one look at the synopsis and I knew I had to read it. And it was so much fun! This is hands down Solomon's best romance so far.

The romantic relationship in this is so healthy and positive!! Like, Chandler and Finn truly showed the world what it's like to be next level for communication, vulnerability, honesty, compromise, and trust. Especially when you consider what they have is supposed to be a casual temporary friends-with-benefits type situationship. These two have a better relationship than I've seen across 100 romance novels and it is so incredibly refreshing how open they are with each other.

Also, the fact that this book alone is probably a better sex-ed tool than what many would have gotten in school?? The conversations had about the female body and sex are so candid and informative without coming across as out of place, and even though I didn't learn anything I didn't already know, I can see this being so helpful to women--and men--in learning and understanding a uterus-possessing body.

As you might expect given the premise, this was incredibly steamy. That said, even going into this knowing it was about giving a man hands-on lessons about how to satisfy a woman, I did not expect it to be this much! Solomon did not hold back on the sexual aspects of this book. Lessons on kissing, where to touch, dirty talk, reading the signs of another's body--T*ssa B*iley could never compare to how real and enjoyable it was to read. There are so many empowering scenes for Chandler where she takes control to get what she needs and wants and I have mad respect for the author in how well she interlaced these scenes with the wider narrative. Because the story isn't just about sex. There is so much more at play between these two characters, including family life, career woes, mental health, and planning for the future.

I also love that this focused on a publishing career, something Solomon is obviously familiar with. Publishing is messy and hard to make work. The timelines are unrealistic, the money is not steady, and there is no stability from one book to the next, and I say 'next' with great optimism because you're lucky if you even get a second book deal right after. So with all that in mind, I really enjoyed Chandler's inner struggle of what to do with her life. To give up ghostwriting, the one thing that's bringing in money that will let her start to live her life, to write her own book that may never be published is not an easy choice to make. I really appreciated how that panned out.

If I must have one complaint, it is found in the show Finn acted in and the plethora of pop culture references scattered throughout the book. I really don't care for that in contemporary novels because a) they never mean the same to me as they do the author or character and b) they never hold up over time. Secondly, the Nocturnals show that gets everyone so excited is not my cup of tea, so I couldn't quite get on board with that. Despite this though, it was not enough to detract from my enjoyment of the book's actual story itself.

I sincerely hope Solomon continues writing adult romance because I really enjoyed this and need so much more!

Rachel Lynn Solomon is an auto read for me and she never disappoints! The writing is always solid and funny and the romance very spicy.

I wanted to enjoy this but overall found the story, characters, and plot to be something not what I was longing for or one that I would pick back up.

I don't even know where to begin with my adoration for this book. I have so much love for this book!!!! Everything was SO relatable and so cute and funny and charming and spicy I just am obsessed. I was especially grateful for the spicy scenes in this book - they were so realistic and TRUE to many female experiences that aren't talked about enough in romance.

Chandler and Finn have a mixed-review one night stand. Now they are introduced as ghostwriter to actor (who's writing his autobiography). They can set the sex aside, travel the convention circuit together, and write the book, right? But Chandler is gently honest with Finn and tells him the hook-up was not good, despite the great chemistry, and now they are having lessons on the finer points of the female anatomy, how to build anticipation, and how to communicate to give and receive pleasure. Who said you'd never use your minor in human sexuality, right, Chandler?
Rachel Lynn Solomon once again gives us a journalist/writer who is a little lost, a little stuck, a little quirky, a lot like her other heroines (and Jewish, of course), but once again Chandler is different and unique, like each of her heroines before. I love this about her. Finn is a red-headed hot nerd actor with a bumpy childhood and a stalled career. He's faded a bit but still beloved and he's ready to open up and use his success as a platform for mental health care.
This contemporary romance is written with great research and care and is a virtual handbook for building intimacy between two partners. Solomon works it in so well and even gives reference to sources in the acknowledgements - bravo! Another solid book by RLS!
Thanks so much for the ARC.

I loved this book very much. It felt very intimate and grounded, sincere, organic...I loved the lack of a miscommunication trope. I was just reading two mature adults form a real and special connection. Solomon is such a good writer, really top tier of the genre, and I love that the spicy scenes are long. I would honestly compare this to Rosie Danan's The Roommate. I know people use this comp all the time, and (in my opinion) none of them have lived up to it. For me, this is it.

Very sweet story. I really enjoyed it. The characters were well developed and romance was believable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.