NetGalley is once again the reason I didn’t DNF this, but I did read 59% and decided that this was the worst book of 2024. This book starts off with the most boring vanilla sec scene I’ve ever read and then dives straight into fighting and yet I’m supposed to believe that the sex is so good that [they] have it all over town” (to badly quote Marsi)?

This whole book is the epitome of toxic relationships and begging others to perceive you that I’m surprised it wasn’t written by Colleen Hoover. Olivia is a love child of a Hollywood star and some unknown who both died when she was barely a toddler- this whole thing is mentioned as a reason for why she has the job she does, which is how she met Chuck, and also why she doesn’t do films… anyways 🙄. Chuck himself is a struggling actor who is total prick all the time and deemed “impossible to work with” but refuses to discuss why (probably because he’s a prick).

At 26% of the way in, I had absolutely no doubt that I could predict the entirety of the book, so truly, Holly James has taken a hint out of TikTok writers and made no effort. Like imagine having such a unique premise in contemporary romance and then fumbling it this hard? Also, I don’t know why authors have to remind us of something every other page. Anytime we’re stuck with internal monologue from Olivia or even descriptions, two things are always mentioned: 1) how great Chuck looks and 2) how much she wants to touch him. Like I get it, he’s good looking and your self control is nonexistent. Also, if you told me this was originally written in the early 2010s and then shelved before getting published in 2024, I would believe you because what the fuck do you mean “no internet” but you have cellular data YOU CAN USE THE DATA.

I skipped to the end and I still didn’t care like I skimmed up to the 59% mark, skipped to the epilogue and still didn’t manage to actively read the ending? I was so bored and the entire book read like a fanfic but without anything to keep it interesting. I just think the characters coulda been so much more but I found them to be two dimensional at best.

Thank you to Holly James, Dutton, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I loved the premise of this book. Two exes get locked inside a house and if they last the entire time, they win a million dollars. I loved the challenges that Olivia and Chuck had to do.

I liked both Olivia and Chuck. I loved how they pretended to hate each other but in reality, they still loved each other and wanted to rip each other's clothes off.

Was cute! Give it a whirl if you are into rom coms. Second chance romance isn’t usually my jam, but add in a little enemies to lovers tension to the mix and it’s a match made in heaven. Was a quick read, though chapters were pretty long, fair warning. But moved fast!

This book ended up being a skim read for me. It's a nice enough summer/beach read if you're in the mood for something spicy and light.

I guess I wasn't because it just never really clicked for me. It has a lot of fun rom-com tropes though and would probably be great to read while lounging by the pool.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

I really enjoyed this one! It took the reality tv trope & spun it on its head. This will they or won’t they romance was full of chemistry, passion, and tenderness. I loved that this had some celebrity drama/scandals and that there was tons of humor & pining. I’m always looking for romance books that will make me laugh & be full of passion & pining and this delivered. I enjoyed the premise, the side plots - the FMC is the product of a celebrity scandal and the MMC is an actor who is basically blacklisted in the industry and we don’t learn why until later. This was entertaining and had a lot of heartfelt moments. This was wonderful.

Thank you to Dutton books for the arc!

Holly James continues to blow me out of the water and is an auto-read author for me. Chuck and Olivia's chemistry is off the charts and they were such a delight to read as a couple. Knowing their explosive history, and seeing them work through and learn to communicate was so refreshing. Second chance romance isn't always a win because sometimes it feels like there's a reason that the couples fell apart.

With these two, they're able to grow so that they can maintain a healthier relationship and I loved that.

I will 10000% be reading every one of James' future novels and so glad I got the chance to read this one.

Thank you to Penguin Group and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cute/silly novel! I love MCs who feel like they would be my friends and this fit that so well. The reality TV aspect was lovely and I enjoyed that James wasn’t afraid to create scenarios where her characters were forced to confront their own issues. I need to read her other books immediately

Ahhhhhh what did Holly put in this book? I was obsessed, literally. Started it yesterday and stayed up until 2am reading because I dreaded putting the book down. This was my first book by Holly, but I am definitely reading her other work and screaming to everyone to buy/read this.

The chemistry between Olivia and Chuck was alive and well, they just needed that little push to get to know one another more to fully absorb each other in a relationship. I was entertained with their banter, rooting them on from day one. The nonchalance they attempted to give each other was hilarious, because one second, they're arguing, the next they're taking each other's clothes off and honestly very real of them.

Agreeing to spend one month locked inside a house with your ex, absolutely no touching nor leaving the premises allowed in exchange for a million dollars each. Easy...? Absolutely not when Chuck and Olivia rile each other up so bad and fast. "I wouldn't be with you for a million dollars," Olivia loudly declared in public, and well, being the daughter of a scandalous relationship between two celebrities gets you recorded and splashed on the news without your knowledge. Famous last words though. Because Name Your Price, a reality tv show swooped in and asked both Chuck and Olivia to take part in their show for a million dollars. Yes, the same million dollars Olivia declared she wouldn't do.

Chuck and Olivia on their own were incredible characters too, I loved reading the little snippets we got to see when they unleashed their emotions and talked about their feelings. The character development was there, and it was powerful.

The forced proximity in this book was chef's kiss because as soon as their first kiss occurred, I dropped my kindle, and my jaw dropped. It was hot, hot, hot and I could not be more surprised it happened. Chuck and Olivia had it really bad for each other. Being forced to not touch, when all they did was touch, oof. But, when money is on the line, I imagine resisting should be a tad bit easier. You should definitely read to find out!

The pacing of this book, the scenario, the dialogue, every single detail that created this book was ultimately perfect, I truly haven't been so captivated as such before. Holly, where has this book been my whole life, I genuinely never knew I'd need it. Thank you a million times NetGalley, Dutton, and Holly for the arc of Name Your Price in exchange for my honest review, out now!

A couple breaks up very publicly and gets pulled into a reality show where they have to stay in the same house for a month for 1 million dollars! And they can’t touch each other!!

Read this if you like: Too hot to Handle, second chance, forced proximity, reality TV, he falls first, kinda celebrity romance

👍
+ I thought the premise was quite fun! I could have done with more of the book taking place in there.
+ Great chemistry, tension, banter, fights. The no contact rule made the tension even better. And all the arguments were written very well, not feeling forced.
+ If I break this book down into bits, I really enjoyed the separate parts. Before the show starts, during, and after are all great. They were super cute going from fighting to realizing maybe they do love each other. But there’s a lot of inconsistencies in the characters and action between these sections.
+ His affection for her is so obvious from the get go and it’s so sweet! In fact it was so obvious, I didn’t even think the book hurt from not having his POV.
+ Overall very fun and easy to read.

👎
Things in general didn’t add up for me. Few examples:
- The MC keeps talking about how they keep having fights and that their relationship is basically only physical. But then the rest of the book sells us on how deep their connection actually is.
- At the beginning he comes across as really selfish. But then by the end he’s painted as the most thoughtful and selfless. And his previous acts of selfishness aren’t really addressed.
- She’s really immature and some rash decisions she makes are egregious and feel so out of proportion with what’s going on.
- Both of the “mysteries” surrounding their lives are so obvious that treating them as these big problems and how other people handled them didn’t really make sense.

Also, from the get go, they don’t really come across as a couple that you’d wanna root for. I genuinely have no idea why he likes her?

Thank you to Dutton Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

Rating: 3.2⭐

Olivia Martin is not an actor. She never wanted to be on screen, even though her mother was a well-known actress. Olivia hadn’t gotten a chance to get to know her mother, though, because her parents were killed in a car accident when she just a baby. Her grandmother had stepped in and raised her, and Olivia would do anything for her. Even if it means spending all her money on her grandmother’s care. Olivia has a good job working for an entertainment magazine, but she doesn’t make enough to sustain the monthly payments on her grandmother’s care facility, and she needs an influx of money, fast.

And then, she gets into (another) big fight with her boyfriend, actor Chuck Walsh. They met when Olivia showed up to interview him for a story, and by the end of the day, Olivia had gotten the interview reassigned to someone else and she and Chuck had gone on their first date. Since they first met, their chemistry is off the charts, so when they come together, it’s nothing but sparks. But when they disagree, those sparks turn fiery. And when Chuck went to an audition instead of Olivia’s grandmother’s birthday celebration, Olivia has had enough.

Olivia tells Chuck that it’s over, and she walks out of his apartment. He follows her, taking the argument into the hallway, then the elevator, then the lobby of his apartment. It evens goes outside, with the two of them yelling at each other as Olivia goes to her car. When Chuck points out that she’s wearing his shirt, she takes it off and throws it at him before getting into her car and driving away. What they don’t know is that someone on the street got that on video and posted it online. By the next day, the video has gone viral, including the part where Olivia yelled, “I wouldn’t get back together with you for a million dollars!”

And that was all reality show executive producer Parker Stone needed to hatch his next great idea. He runs a show called Name Your Price, where he takes people out of their lives and challenges them to do things they normally wouldn’t for an exorbitant amount of money. And he calls up Olivia and offers her a chance to be on the show. She would have to live with Chuck together in a house for one month, and if they both stay in the house the entire time. And there can be no physical contact. Any touching will cause them to be fined against the final amount they could win. Which is a million dollars. Each.

Olivia needs the money for her grandmother, and Chuck needs the money because he got fired from the film that was supposed to be his big break. Parker only gives them a day after the contracts are signed to pack their bags and get their ducks in a row, so Olivia and Chuck find themselves walking into a house together before they know it. There is not a lot of furniture in the house, and there is only one bedroom. With only one bed. Olivia thought she’d be able to find some space in the house where she could get away from Chuck, but the producers had other ideas.

The days to come bring challenges, like putting together furniture while they’re handcuffed together. They have to sit through interviews. They have to agree on dinner and make it themselves. Then they have to clean up the kitchen, but the dishwasher is locked until they can win some challenges. But with the producers making them face personal secrets in interviews and pushing them together while they struggle to find their own space in the house, the chemistry between Olivia and Chuck become more combustible. But will they be able to keep things from exploding long enough to win the money?

Name Your Price is an adorable rom com about reality television and true love. Author Holly James brings two strong characters together and throws them into a series of difficult situations, letting them figure out how to get along and seeing if they can work out their differences or if they will just completely walk away from each other There are several fun surprise scenes throughout, and as these characters learn how to get out of their own way and open up to each other, they finally figure out how to make love work at any price.

I loved Name Your Price. There are steamy scenes and hilarious scenes, and I even got to bring out my moral outrage for how the media and the reality television producers were treating these characters. There is a lot of warmth as well as a lot of heat between Olivia and Chuck, and I just couldn’t stop rooting for them to figure things out and get together already. This one is just fun and perfect when you need a steamy escape from the world for a while.

Egalleys for Name Your Price were provided by Dutton through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Name Your Price by Holly James sure brings the drama. It's a fun, enjoyable read especially if you love reality tv. For me, though, Olivia's impulsivity is a bit over the top. The couple's chemistry is definitely evident, but because we are thrust into the story after their breakup and the couple only relaying the past story through the couch interviews, it's hard to know what drew them to each other besides "love at first sight". The ending was satisfying and overall it was an enjoyable read, invoking most of the feels that rom coms should.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Big Brother meets Love Island with two people. Seriously two of my favorite shows so when I read "Big Brother-Love Island spinoff" I knew I was going to love this book. It made me laugh quite a few times and also made me mad a few times. Olivia and Chuck both drew you in and left you wanting to read more. Such a great rom-com and page turner. I couldn't put this book down! Holly James just gained a new fan and I can't wait to read more from her!!

After a video of their explosive fight goes viral, Olivia and Chuck find themselves in the Studio office of Name Your Price, a reality game show. Locked together in a house without the ability to leave leaving them questioning their decisions. A million dollars on the line is a huge payday for two people who are broke but will they be able to last given the multitude of tests they're about to be put through? One bed, one bathroom and a lot of rules including no touching. Olivia and Chuck are perfect for each other and have explosive chemistry. Will being locked in a house together push them back together or keep them apart?

Thank you to Holly James, NetGalley, and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the ARC of Name Your Price.

Name Your Price is a great book to read on the beach (or by the pool) - perfect for summer! It starts with the viral breakup of Olivia and Chuck, which draws the attention of a couple of producers of a reality show who approach them about the idea for a show with a challenge to live under one roof for a month without touching (or killing) each other – think MTV show in its prime – for a significant monetary prize. Olivia needs the money to care for her grandmother and Chuck’s career hasn't progressed as he hoped so surely he could use the publicity. This was an easy, fun read!

Thank you to Holly James, Penguin Group Dutton, and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The plot of this book was top notch and I feel it was executed well! The chemistry between the two leads was amazing. I enjoyed my time with them and would definitely read more!

I've been a fan of Holly's books and loved The Deja Glitch, so was eager to give this one a read. Such an unusual premise where exes vow that they wouldn't get back together even if paid 1 million dollars to then find themselves on a reality TV show, stuck in a house together to try to win 1 million dollars. This was cute and quirky with classic forced proximity & enemies to lovers tropes. The FMC, Olivia is endearing with relatable character flaws as she struggles to overcome the notoriety of her famous parents' relationship, her birth, and their deaths. Chuck is a struggling actor with his own relatable character flaws, and the two together are like a flame to gasoline. This was unique, funny, and entertaining with some slow burn romance, and definitely one to check out! Thanks so much to Holly James, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this e-arc!

I'm not vibing with the writing or the plot. The synopsis seemed fine and like it could be a good spin on Too Hot To Handle or Love Island... but I can't. I got to the part where Olivia and Chuck are moving into the house together and there's just something about it that makes my skin crawl. It just sounds like one heck of a boring reality tv show. If Olivia is going to do everything she can to avoid Chuck in the house.... how is that going to make for good reality tv or a good story? It's a no from me.

If you’re a fan of reality shows, then this romance is for you. Olivia and Chuck are Hollywood stars who have a tumultuous relationship. They have intense chemistry together, yet easily butt heads. This causes an endless cycle of break ups and make ups between the two. They took their last heated dispute to the streets where a viral video caught the attention of a reality game show. They are presented with a contract offering the two exes to survive living in a house together for one month and have everything taped. If they accomplish this, they will each earn a million dollars. Catch is, they get deducted money from that sum every time they physically touch one another.

Here’s what I loved:
- A cute, entertaining, fun romance.
- Reality game show was a great setting.
- Major chemistry, tension and banter!
- Sweet relationship between Olivia and her dear grandma.
- Mysteries surrounding Olivia’s parents and Chucks recent quarrel with a director.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dutton - all opinions are my own.

I enjoyed NAME YOUR PRICE's premise as a massive reality TV fan. There were a few places that I felt like the books could have used a bit more exposition, character building, and motivation. I loved the tension that Holly James was able to achieve between the characters, but I would have loved to see a bit more of the "why." A fun romcom read, nonetheless.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the eARC.

Second chance romance is a trope that I either love or hate. With the setting of a reality TV show Holly James managed to put it into a setting that made me swoon. I loved this book. I loved the characters and the relationship development. I found myself so engrossed in this story.

Name Your Price brought together a combination of things I love: reality tv, specifically game shows like Big Brother and dating shows like The Bachelor or Love Island. Olivia and Chuck have the type of chemistry that took them from lovers, to enemies, to lovers again. Their hot-tempered relationship ended in an explosive fight that turned into a viral video. Olivia was put to the test when the Name Your Price reality show approached her and Chuck about making good on her break-up vow. Suddenly, 1 million dollars was on the line, and they were forced to live together for one month with rules that only skyrocket the tension. Can they do it? You'll have to read to find out!
Holly James did a beautiful job weaving in character development and personal growth for both Olivia and Chuck while also maintaining a fast paced, tension-filled, romcom love story. I recommend this book if you like: family drama, second chance romance, lovers to enemies to lovers again, forced proximity.