In the traditional sweet but fire hot writing style of Lauren Blakely (and collaborating author Lili Valence) – we are taken back to New York for yet another tongue in cheek best friend’s sister to lover trope. 

CJ can’t believe she is a 25 year old virgin! With her 26th birthday within her grasp, she refuses to hold onto her V-card for another second. Granted, most of her life had been under the watchful eyes of her brother and the last few years coping with his untimely death had not been easy; but, CJ finally feels like she is in a good place to move forward with her life. She is tired of missing out and feeling like a social pariah. As luck would have it, the perfect opportunity arises when her good friend (and her brother’s best friend and business partner) Graham needs her help with an upcoming meeting to save their business. When Graham meets CJ for brunch, he has no idea that the quid pro quo would be stepping into the role as CJ’s “teacher” for a week. Believing, even in death – his best friend would kill him, he gets a second opinion and decides to take on the challenge – teaching CJ everything she wants to know between the sheets. As the cities most infamous playboy, he knows he can show her the ropes (and then some), but isn’t prepared for what she can teach him.

In typical playboy/rake fashion, we get to enjoy the evolution of Graham as he falls desperately for CJ and learns the hard way, what it feels like to be so consumed with someone and then let go. Watching the tables turn on Graham was shattering. It wasn’t just witnessing/experiencing his heartbreak, it was the realization of how he potentially made so many feel – being the dumpee instead of the dumper. That eye opening experience jumped straight off the page, draping over the reader like an emotional blanket.

Going back to the beginning of the story, what I found humorous was how much Graham was against the idea of sleeping with CJ for like a nanosecond, and then was 100% behind it, as if the he hadn’t viewed her as a “little sister” for most of her life. While a little disturbing that he was able to flip the switch that quickly and defile his best friend’s sibling, I did appreciate that coming to that conclusion was at the help of his friend Luna (versus just shrugging it off and going with it). 

The lessons between CJ and Graham were in true Blakely form. Never for the subtle, always for the adventurous, creating scenes so visual, so scorching, so breathtakingly delicious that you need a second to make sure your seatbelt is securely fastened before she grabs you and throws you into another blistering hot scenario! 

I also loved Lauren and Lili’s message about taking chances and not missing moments. Instead of going the miscommunication route and spending so many chapters doing the “I’m fine” dance before someone finally caves, they jumped right into the resolve – both characters realizing what needed to be done but Graham taking the plunge.

Savoring almost everything about the story, the one thing I found off-putting was the movie references. Charming at times, they seemed to be very out of place for Graham’s character. I felt like those moments took away from who he was more than added to it. There is an explanation for them at the end; however, I feel that insight would have been more relevant at the beginning.

Seriously though, Lauren is making me rethinking my current living situation, especially if there is any truth to the Manhattan tradition of those town cars! Never bored with how much they can twist a traditional trope, Lauren and Lili are the perfect pair for this short, sassy, and seductive love story.