322 reviews for:

Hard Sell

Lauren Layne

3.84 AVERAGE


Hard Sell is the second book in the series 21 Wall Street. The stories follow three best friends who all work for the same firm.
In this book we get the nitty-gritty on Matt and Sabrina. They can't be in the same room without bickering and you want to throw your hands up and just say get it over with already. But they aren't truly enemies, just deeply cautious of what the other makes them feel. When Matt has some unflattering press it forces his bosses to take drastic actions, clean up your act or you're gone. Who else would Matt turn to but the "fixer" Sabrina. If you aren't rooting for them to fight their demons and find happiness then you probably shouldn't be reading this series.

Enemies-to-lovers romances are my favorite. Lauren Layne is one of my favorite authors. I had high expectations for this book for those two reasons. I was NOT disappointed!!

The tension between Matt and Sabrina and their history of hooking up while managing to "hate" each other made for some excellent reading and, frankly, I couldn't put the book down once I started. The slow build for them from frenemies and sometime lovers to more was perfectly written. Watching them discover who they thought they were and what they thought they wanted to understanding that they shared a lot of the same hopes and dreams and how perfectly matched they actually were was heartwarming and a little bit fun. Even though that journey was made up of some not so happy baggage leftover from growing up with parents who weren't exactly great examples of living and loving the right way, it was the journey that made their relationship so worthwhile.

Lauren Layne is fantastic at character and world building and every time I read a new book of hers I find myself caught up in the worlds that she creates, longing for the friendships she weaves and not wanting to move on and/or wait for the next installment. Alas, that is what I find myself doing every time. Longing for more.

I am loving this series! I can’t wait for Kennedy’s story, as well as the story of the new male character introduced in this book. I’m a big fan of this author and I’ve read almost all of her books. Unfortunately, I’ve lost interest in the Oxford series, and I was hoping this series would be as good as the earlier titles. Let me assure you, it is. This two main characters are sexy and snarky and also vulnerable. It was a lot of fun to read. As I said previously, I can’t wait for the rest of the series! I received a copy from Netgalley and this review is my own opinion.

4.5 stars ✨ man oh man was I waiting for this one all through lara and ian's story. sabrina might be one of my favorite female leads I have ever read. and layne, as usual, is so good. not much drama in this one either! nothing makes my heart beat like a very tame conflict.

Matt Cannon is a hotshot broker on Wall Street, and has it all: good looks, great friends, a successful career. The wunderkind is caught having too much of a good time in Vegas at his cousin’s bachelor party and ends up featured in a less-than flattering article in the Wall Street Journal. His CEOs and more conservative clients are not impressed by his philandering ways and demand that he rescues all of their reputations by getting a girlfriend. The idea here is that a Matt in a committed relationship is a more reliable Matt.

Sabrina Cross is a fixer, and exactly what Matt needs to return the shine to his image. Despite their contentious past, these two enemies with benefits enter into a contract that has Sabrina pretending to be Matt’s girlfriend for a fixed period of time.

This story kicks off with an intriguing start, then takes the reader on a fun ride filled with humorous and engaging dialogue, well-meaning interfering friends, unexpected situations, and moments of tenderness and sharing.

I am a big fan of Lauren Layne, and this book lived up to my expectations. I definitely recommend it.

I was very happy to receive this book as an ARC from Netgalley.

SABRINA & MATT

Enjoyed this!

Lauren Layne's writing has always been an enjoyable read for me. This book is no different. Slow burn with chemistry, with characters I like.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Love Lauren Layne's books and this one was no exception. A fun couple and great to revisit old characters. I really hope there is a third!