Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Natalie and Eugene are both designers. She is an interior designer and he is a video game designer. She is a divorced mom trying to get her life on track and he is her sister’s, boyfriend’s younger brother. Natalie keeps coming up with reasons why Eugene isn’t any good for her but the only thing standing in her way is herself. This was a fun one with a good cast of characters.
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Thank you to Berkley Romance for the free book. These opinions are my own.

Natalie is a single mom who has recently started pursuing a career as an interior designer. Linc is her sister's boyfriend's brother, so they are thrown together a lot. When he buys a new house, he asks her to assist with the design.

This was a sweet, low angst romance. There's lots of magical travel that made me wistful for similar getaways. And there are great interactions with her two children. I enjoyed reading about his roller coaster design and would love the opportunity to ride the roller coaster. And of course, I loved all the many dogs.

This was a pleasant book that took me to another place for a bit.

Rounded up to 4 stars

When newly divorced Natalie finds herself agreeing to decorate her sister’s boyfriend’s brother’s new place, she’s thrilled to have a new project. What she’s not so thrilled about is Eugene and the attraction they share. While she does not want to get into another relationship, there’s no harm in a little fun. There’s no denying that Eugene’s enamored by Natalie and more than ready for a good time but he has to convince her he’s in for more than just a little fun.

I always enjoy Jaci Burton’s books so I knew that I was in for a good time but I was a bit worried as Natalie wasn’t a favorite of mine in the previous book. Thankfully, she’s changed in this one.

Natalie’s been through some things and she’s trying to figured out who she is and what direction she’s taking with her life. She’s starting a new career, healing things with her sister and mother, and trying raise two young children on her own. She’s also determined not to enter into another relationship. Natalie has a lot of fight and determination in her and, while it’s not a bad thing, it seems to interfere with her happiness at times.

Eugene’s easy to like, which surprised me given his job as a video game designer. I’ve known a few game designers who have been very immature so I wasn’t expecting a lot of maturity from Eugene, so I was pleasantly surprised at how adult he was and how eager he was to enter into a relationship with a single parent. He’s just a fun, charming, family-first guy but I don’t feel that we really go to know Eugene down to his core.

There’s no denying there was chemistry from the start and they fit perfectly into each other lives but Natalie was cautious, which I understood. What I struggled with was how much Natalie was in her own head. Every time something great would happen between the two of them, Natalie would start an inner monologue of why they wouldn’t work. She also made too big a deal out of the fact he was younger than her but it was only 5 years, which I don’t feel is a major difference. I also found the conflict lacking, as it could have been settle with a conversation, which is something I’ve noticed in several of her romances.

I’m on the fence about rating this one. I think I’m going to settle on a 3.5. While I liked this one, I don’t feel that it was a romance but rather a women’s lit with a side of romance due to all the issues Natalie was going through. I also feel like too much of book took place in Natalie’s head.

Overall, I do recommend this one. I enjoyed it but it did have its issues.

Cute story. I didn't realize that it was connected to a previous story I read by her called Housebroke but since I enjoyed that one I am not sad about it. Short chapters, which I like, and realistic plot lines.

Overall 4 stars

I like the cute rom-com cover on this book, but it’s not a rom-com. The book is a low-angst escape.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

The premise sounded fun and I wanted to like this one. But everything was just PERFECT and HAPPY and there was zero tension, ever. It was basically just a book about what they ate for every meal. I found the FMC to be kind of annoying. She complained about her ex all the time and while he may have been a bad partner for her, he really did seem to be a dad who was trying to do better. She was also really hung up on the “major age gap” between her and the new love interest, Eugene. It was a three year age gap, which at one point, the FMC tried to say it was almost a 5 year difference. But if you’re looking for light, fluffy, with no conflict, this is a book for you.
2 stars.

While Housebroke follows Hazel and the dogs she fosters, Designs on You is about Natalie and her journey as a single mother. She’s recently divorced and trying to get back out there while taking care of her kids. Simply put, she’s not having an easy time yet things get a little bit easier once Eugene comes into her life.

At first, she doesn’t want to take him seriously as he’s a video game designer and he acts like a big kid. Eugene is able to wear her down and the two end up becoming friends before eventually dating and deciding to sleep together. The two even go on trips together and Natalie introduces him to her kids which is just so adorable.

Ultimately, this book is mostly about Natalie and Eugene growing and becoming better people thus making them better partners for each other. Seeing the way these two complimented each other was just delightful. While I enjoyed Housebroke, I feel like Designs on You was just slightly better.

The only complaint I have is the lack of dogs. While Housebroke had all of the dogs, Natalie did adopt a dog with her kids but the pup doesn’t get nearly as much page time. It felt like a tease as Grizelda was on the cover. While she was featured in the book, I was hoping for more puppy love on the page. Either way, this was such a fun and low-stakes romance so it’s perfect if you’re looking for a light and fun read near the holiday season.

Natalie, a newly divorced interior designer, gives in to her brother-in-law Linc’s hot younger brother Eugene, agreeing first to take him on as a client and decorate the new home Linc is renovating for him, and then agreeing to a date. Her sister Hazel cheers the match on, while Natalie’s mother pressures her to get back together with her ex “for the sake of the children.” Natalie and Eugene decide to embark on a low-key, no-strings-but-still-exclusive situationship. Eugene is direct but patient as Natalie works through her issues, insecurities, and fickleness.

This novel, with its stilted, amateur writing style, reads like there was very little editing, yet three editors are credited in the end acknowledgements. Paragraphs alternate between long chunks of descriptive action, inner monologue relying on telling instead of showing, and bland dialogue—skillful blending of types of exposition is lacking. The writing is blow by blow, like the author and editors don’t understand you do not need to put every single thing on the page. Sensory detail is missing, for example: “They ordered drinks. She had X and he had Y.” And, Natalie says something along the lines of, I have A,B,C, and D in my beach carryon, do you want me to carry anything for you? like a robot reciting a list of items. “Delicious cabernet” is all the detail we get about a glass of wine. Every meal they share includes a laundry list of what they ate. Same with each outfit: each article of clothing is listed, for both, like a checklist. Descriptive details beyond occasional color or cut are left out. Natalie wears a lot of capris, is that indicative of her character in some way? Eugene plays an “awesome virtual reality sequence”—what, specifically, makes it awesome?

There’s a lot of very superficial objectification and ogling to emphasize Natalie looks good for her age (what IS her age??? His???) to emphasize their chemistry. Sex scenes are detailed but repetitive, and she orgasms easily and often. The story itself is predictable and boring, with little at stake—the biggest issue is Natalie’s hang up on Eugene’s age and it’s not a large gap (less that five years, we’re told someone near the end of the book). A larger issue that is barely addresssed is dating with kids and waiting before introducing them to dates and potential partners. Natalie’s ex Sean has an unattractive double-standard around her bringing beaus around and accuses her of flaunting her affairs—they’re DIVORCED. Sean relaxes once he starts dating one of his kid’s teachers (ick).

Preferences that could be dealbreakers, like where to live (Natalie wants to stay in Orlando, while Eugene would be happy to live anywhere, which makes her cringe) and future children together (she doesn’t want more kids, which earns a “Huh” and walking away from Eugene) are mostly avoided. They joke about having their first fight over pizza toppings. They eventually have a conversation about kids that settles… nothing. It’s not actually important to either of them, and I found this ambivalence unbelievable and conflict avoidant.

There is little sense of time or place. Orlando is mild in the winter and it must be baseball season, but there are no clues to indicate time of year or uniqueness of Orlando specifically or Florida in general: flora, fauna, customs, cuisine. Miami is notable for mention of the ocean. We only know a few months have passed because the author gives that away near the end, in a “these past few months have been great, but” conversation. Indicating the timeline and release date for Eugene’s game or even saying if the baseball team is mid-season or in the playoffs would give us contextual clues to lay some foundation.

There is little distinctive about the voices of the characters, tone and language are indistinguishable. There are numerous instances of action described not matching with dialogue that follows. We’re told the couple stays up all night talking about their childhood, high school and college years, and then Eugene asks about Natalie’s romantic history at breakfast the very next morning as if it’s a new subject and they didn’t actually have the conversation we’re told they covered the night before, in the previous pages.

Eugene picks his new home based on the space for entertaining, mentioned twice, confesses if money was no object he’d have a huge house, and when Natalie suggests a housewarming, he says he doesn’t like parties… even though he’s already told the reader and the pool and interior spaces are perfect for entertaining, and Natalie describes her impression of him as a pool party blow out guy. He resorts to a sort of helpless weaponized incompetence at the idea of inviting people over.

I found Natalie to even more be hypocritical and frankly, unlikeable. When her son is injured in the custody of her ex, while she’s on a date, she rightly excuses herself to go focus on her child while Eugene stews in concern at even though she promised to give him an update. Yet, when Eugene misses a date because he’s been stuck at work for over 24 hours and is so immersed he forgets to reach out, she is upset and then concerned about not hearing from him, she gets her sister to send Eugene’s brother Linc to check on him and is pissed he didn’t text or call. He gets the full silent treatment: she can ignore him but he can’t ignore her. Eugene worries at one point about upsetting her—it’s not healthy to accept responsibility for managing another person’s emotions, and having to constantly walk on eggshells around your lover is a huge red flag.

The pair go on expensive dates, including a weekend getaway to NYC. Natalie arranges childcare and dog sitting and wholehearted enjoys her break from her kids, which is admirable. Eugene proposes a getaway to Miami to see a ballgame and preemptively assumes she’d say ye, sso he has (thoughtfully!) asks her sister to watch her new dog. Natalie freaks out and tells him she can’t just drop everything for him and she’s pissed he asked on her behalf without speaking to her first—this is after several incidences of her blowing off work to hang out and setting a precedent of clearing her schedule and prioritizing this new sex-only relationship. Oh, and the mother does a complete 180 and clears HER schedule to take care of the grandkids so Natalie can go off to Miami to watch the game. The wealth display was unrelateable: a private jet to catch a baseball game? A gift of an extravagant watch to a man you’ve been dating, what, a month?

I expected from the title and interesting occupations to have a focus on design and eye for detail: lots of details about architecture and gaming, but no. There’s a fabulous scene where Natalie pours over fabric selections, and that’s it. A scene where Eugene brings over Mario Kart to play with her kids had so much potential. Jenny L. Howe beautifully integrates gaming and game play into her newest book How to Get A Life in Ten Dates (without relying on naming the series, I might add) and in Give Me Butterflies by Jillian Meadows integrates board gaming in a way that advances the ploy, lets the couple get to know one another, and builds on character, so this, in comparison, just falls flat. When Eugene invites Natalie to play games with him—try virtual reality, specifically—she says she’s not really into games unless they’re Ms. Pac-man. Bless his heart, Eugene backs her up with a “yes, and” by validating that Ms. Pac-Man is a great game, but excuse me, why are you dating a gamer then, Natalie? What about “yes, and” in relationships, especially fledgling ones?

The central failing of Natalie and Sean’s marriage is that her husband allowed his work to take over his life, and left her out of it, which in part explains why she is so upset when she thinks Eugene is blowing her off… but doesn’t explain why she doesn’t take an active interest in something so vitally important to him. Likewise, he wants to leave all the design work to her and just doesn’t care about anything related to his home except the appliances. He does eventually admit he wants a cast iron pan, but eaves all other choices to her good taste. Don’t even get me started on the ick of having sex with someone you pay to work for them.

The third act breakup comes at 97% of the way through the book and is resolved immediately, after Eugene reacts with anger and immaturity to Natalie’s impetuous breakup. The whole saga had a soap opera feel and I kept reading because I was incredulous not only that it was published but that the author has 80! books under her name.

I received a free advance readers review copy of #DesignOnYou via #NetGalley, courtesy of Berkley.

This is part of the boots and bouquets series and it is a good story. This book has some interesting characters, some you will love and one is particular you will not like. It is a story of being able to put the past behind you and move on with your life. The book is a good contemporary romance that is a quick read.

This was a really fun reverse age gap, divorced single mom romcom that had amazing banter, great chemistry between the leads and tons of humor and heart. Another win for me by Jaci Burton and just an overall light-hearted, feel-good love story with memorable characters. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Designs on You is a fun and quick contemporary romance that I read in one sitting. I liked both main characters and their romance. Natalie is a single mom just getting into the groove of her new life without a demanding husband, and Eugene is the younger brother of Natalie's sister's partner. A few years older than Eugene and with two young children, Natalie's hesitant to get involved with the carefree game designer. Eugene, on the other hand, has no reservations, and I love that about him. lol He was interested in her from the start, even before he hired her to design his house.

Natalie and Eugene have a wonderful romance, and Eugene sounds like a total dreamboat boyfriend. Handsome and charming, he gets along really well with her kids and family. They complement each other and fit together so well. However, I totally understood Natalie's hesitancy. Newly divorced and finally forging her own path and following her dreams instead of her partner's, Natalie likes her independence and worries about committing to another man. Undaunted and patient, Eugene works hard to prove to Natalie that she should take a chance on them.

This is a pretty low-stakes story and was a nice palate cleanser for me after a much heavier read. The characters are endearing, the romance is lovely, and the themes of family, friendship, and taking a chance on love are woven well throughout the plot. Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

This was a quick, cute read that is women's fiction with a romance plot. this book is very sweet and I recommend it for anyone that likes short romance books. Thank you Berkley Romance for this arc for an honest review.

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this story. Natalie and Eugene were so likable and relatable. They clearly have chemistry out of the gate, but because she hasn’t been on the receiving end of that for quite some time she isn’t sure if she is imagining how good it is. Natalie finally has her life back on track after her divorce with her Interior Design business. She is a few years older than Eugene and has her two children to consider, and she doesn’t really seem to think they will be a good match. When her sister pretty much volunteers her to design his renovations for his new house, feelings start to emerge. She hops on the age difference a lot even though it is not that big, and the way he was from the beginning with her two kids should have clued her in that maybe they were a good match. The kids are adorable as is the pup they adopt! I really enjoyed their journey and seeing them fall in love, and of course their sizzling chemistry. Another wonderful romance by Jaci Burton!

this was a cute romantic comedy. I love interior designer and gaming designer so having both of them in this was fun for me. I enjoyed the writing style and plot as well

Designs on You by Jaci Burton is a captivating and steamy romance that explores the dynamics of a slight age difference relationship. Eugene, the charming and thoughtful protagonist, is portrayed as the perfect guy - fun, considerate, and undeniably attractive. On the other hand, Natalie is depicted as a character still navigating her path in life, unsure if she is ready for a relationship with Eugene. However, as their story unfolds, it becomes evident that Eugene is exactly what Natalie needs. I was hooked from the beginning and could not put this one down.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Natalie has never been happier since her divorce. Her sister needs her help with her new house. She meets Eugene, who checks off all her boxes. The only issue is that he is younger than her. I liked this book.

Recently divorced and returned to her career, Natalie Parker has a lot going on in her life. With two young children and plenty of design work to keep her busy, Natalie is not in the market for a relationship. Natalie agrees to a backyard project for her sister in her new home that includes a boyfriend, Linc, and lots of dogs. Linc’s younger brother, Eugene Kennedy, who develops video games; he is very interested in Natalie who is resistant to his flirting. Natalie believes their age difference, although it is not actually very great, is a no go.

Eugene thinks that he and Natalie have a chance at something more than a causal relationship. He knows they have a strong attraction, he likes her kids and enjoys being around them, and so Eugene feels that pursuing Natalie is worthwhile. Because of his job, where he basically plays computer games all day long, Eugene does appear behind the curve for maturity at times.

Natalie seems to put a big emphasis on the fact Eugene is younger; however, it is only a five-year difference. Because of issues from her failed marriage, Natalie keeps throwing up roadblocks to Eugene. If she is willing to take a chance on love again, good things might be in store. Fans of this author will most likely enjoy this latest addition.

A lovely reverse age gap romance.

I really liked this one. The development of the relationship was well written and filled with romantic, swoon worthy moments. A slow burn that’s worth the wait!

Would recommend!

Natalie Parker is 34 years old, divorced and has two kids, 7 year old Cammie and 4 year old Christopher. Instead of living a life revolving around her ex-husband, Sean, she is now living for herself. Natalie has a job doing interior design which is what she went to college for. Since she lives in the same house in Orlando, FL, she is still close to her sister Hazel and Hazel's boyfriend, Linc Kennedy.

At a dinner at Hazel's house she meets Linc's youngest brother, Eugene who is 31 years old and is instantly smitten. Their chemistry is off the charts! Eugene being new to town is interesting in pursuing something with Natalie. At first Natalie is not interested, but Eugene wears her down and gets her to agree to a date. Things go wonderfully and the next thing Natalie knows they are dating. Her kids, her sister, her mom all love him. Natalie is worried about their age difference and where they are in their lives. They both agree to keep things simple and fun but soon feelings start getting serious.

Just when it looks like Natalie and Eugene are headed for a happy ever after, things come crashing down. It will take a little inner conversations along with an amount of trust before these two can find their way back to each other but when they do, it's perfect.

I just loved this very steamy, fun slight age difference romance. Eugene was the perfect guy...thoughtful, fun and hot! Natalie was still trying to find her way and may not have been ready for Eugene but he was exactly what she needed. Overall this was a fun follow up to Housebroke which was Hazel and Linc's story.

Actually meant to hit “will not be leaving feedback” — couldn’t get past the first 10 pages of incredibly stiff writing.