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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
Thank you to Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books via Netgalley for the free review copy in exchange for my honest opinion!
Oh my gosh, this book was exactly what I was looking for right now! So sweet, romantic, funny, something to put a smile on my face - it was just fabulous!
Both main characters were wonderful, but I have to say it was Josh Tanner who really wormed his way into my heart. After a somewhat rocky start (I really didn't love the first scene between him and Heather - in fact, it had me scoffing and doing the eye roll thing!) I was not expecting to like him so much! But honestly, I dare anyone to read this book and NOT like him - it's impossible! Mostly, Josh acts like a big kid, which can be appealing on a certain level, but not so much to Heather. It drove her absolutely NUTS, which was so funny to see! It may have been lust at first sight, but there was definitely no love between the two of them.
I also really loved the plot for this book, as well. The idea of Heather working so hard to make her way independently in the world made her an empathetic character to me. The idea of an independently wealthy genius of a guy who almost lost his life to cancer and is living every moment as if it could be his last also drew me in. The fact that Josh is a musician on top of all that just makes him even more attractive, in my mind! Will Josh and Heather be able to meet in the middle, compromise somehow, in order to have a future together? Read for yourself to see how "For Better or Worse" pans out, I don't think you'll be disappointed! As for my reading plans, I already have the next in the series queued up - this is definitely one series I don't want to miss a moment of!
Oh my gosh, this book was exactly what I was looking for right now! So sweet, romantic, funny, something to put a smile on my face - it was just fabulous!
Both main characters were wonderful, but I have to say it was Josh Tanner who really wormed his way into my heart. After a somewhat rocky start (I really didn't love the first scene between him and Heather - in fact, it had me scoffing and doing the eye roll thing!) I was not expecting to like him so much! But honestly, I dare anyone to read this book and NOT like him - it's impossible! Mostly, Josh acts like a big kid, which can be appealing on a certain level, but not so much to Heather. It drove her absolutely NUTS, which was so funny to see! It may have been lust at first sight, but there was definitely no love between the two of them.
I also really loved the plot for this book, as well. The idea of Heather working so hard to make her way independently in the world made her an empathetic character to me. The idea of an independently wealthy genius of a guy who almost lost his life to cancer and is living every moment as if it could be his last also drew me in. The fact that Josh is a musician on top of all that just makes him even more attractive, in my mind! Will Josh and Heather be able to meet in the middle, compromise somehow, in order to have a future together? Read for yourself to see how "For Better or Worse" pans out, I don't think you'll be disappointed! As for my reading plans, I already have the next in the series queued up - this is definitely one series I don't want to miss a moment of!
This was a pretty sweet read, but I somehow found it a little bit more generic than [b:To Have and to Hold|27271035|To Have and to Hold (The Wedding Belles, #1)|Lauren Layne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1446598399l/27271035._SY75_.jpg|47324612]? The book definitely reminded me of some mid-2000s romcoms - Heather Fowler and Josh Tanner are next-door neighbours who can't seem to stand each other but also can't seem to stay away from each other.
Heather is an assistant wedding planner at the Wedding Belles and has been working towards a promotion, to a full-fledged wedding planner when an infamous influencer decides that she wants the Wedding Belles to plan her wedding (which could very well be broadcasted to her 5 million followers). She's determined to do whatever she needs to to get that promotion. Hers is the story of a quintessential small-town girl made good. Josh, however, finds her too tightly wound-up. Heather thinks that Josh is an overgrown frat-boy who's pretending to be a musician. What Heather doesn't know is that Josh had a cancer scare while he was slaving away in the workforce as a hedge fund manager. Josh's health scare means that he's determined to go with the flow in life. His is the story of a playboy with a mysterious secret.
As it turns out, aside from being neighbors, Josh and Heather have another reason to spend time with each other - Josh is the ex-boyfriend to Danica, Heather's newest and most famous client:
This story has the same witty banter that Layne's other stories have, a ton of chemistry between Heather and Josh and I appreciate that she's trying something new with Josh's character. Because there's definitely an underlying darkness to his actions due to his fear of getting sick again and making his loved ones worry about him.
However, I do feel like parts of the story were way too rushed.
Heather is an assistant wedding planner at the Wedding Belles and has been working towards a promotion, to a full-fledged wedding planner when an infamous influencer decides that she wants the Wedding Belles to plan her wedding (which could very well be broadcasted to her 5 million followers). She's determined to do whatever she needs to to get that promotion. Hers is the story of a quintessential small-town girl made good. Josh, however, finds her too tightly wound-up. Heather thinks that Josh is an overgrown frat-boy who's pretending to be a musician. What Heather doesn't know is that Josh had a cancer scare while he was slaving away in the workforce as a hedge fund manager. Josh's health scare means that he's determined to go with the flow in life. His is the story of a playboy with a mysterious secret.
As it turns out, aside from being neighbors, Josh and Heather have another reason to spend time with each other - Josh is the ex-boyfriend to Danica, Heather's newest and most famous client:
"You know what this means? I no longer have to plan this wedding blind. It means that I have an insider track."
Josh dropped the spoon back into the bowl. "Tell me you're not suggesting what I think you're suggesting."
She patted his arm. "Let's just say I think we figured out how to make amends for all those sleepless nights you've caused me." Heather looked around at the other Belles' encouraging expressions and smiled almost maniacally. "You, Josh Tanner, are going to help me plan this wedding."
This story has the same witty banter that Layne's other stories have, a ton of chemistry between Heather and Josh and I appreciate that she's trying something new with Josh's character. Because there's definitely an underlying darkness to his actions due to his fear of getting sick again and making his loved ones worry about him.
However, I do feel like parts of the story were way too rushed.
Spoiler
Such as Josh just suddenly proposing to Heather after he realised that he had mono and wasn't actually seriously sick again. I mean, the guy just jumped straight from something like friends with benefits to marriage? There's no in-between stage here? Because right before all this happened, he didn't even want to tell Heather about how he was sick previously and basically shut her down each time when she tried to talk about his past. Then we jump straight into marriage?"Hate at first site, love ever after! Happy book birthday"
Absolutely swoon-tastic. Lauren Layne writes a fun, flirty and sexy romance novel I couldn’t put down.
Heather Fowler had a dream. To be a successful New York wedding planner and she’s one wedding away from achieving it. Does it matter that the bride is totally hands off but has set impossible to meet expectations? Of course not, because she’s dead set on having her dream job in her dream city and no one, not even her loud, arrogant, too good looking for her own good womanizing neighbor will slow her down. But will a promotion truly make her happy or is she really hoping to get the fairy tale happy ever after every little girl dreams of?
Josh Tanner had it all, a great job on Wall Street a gorgeous girlfriend and a movie like lifestyle, until he was diagnosed with leukemia. His girlfriend left him to go it alone and after he recovered, he no longer had the desire to keep the slick yet grueling job or lifestyle knowing that there was a lot more to life. Going against his own no relationships with the opposite sex rule, he seeks the too hard working Heather out and tries to convince her to have fun and relax once in a while. But will he drop his walls long enough to risk his heart?
Lauren Layne strikes again with her smart and sexy banter that kept me smiling, laughing, getting a bit weepy and blushing scarlet red from start to the oh-my-gosh so swoony finish. The story is fast pace and smooth flowing story with brilliantly fun characters. Heather is driven, smart and sassy with a tough as nails exterior and a sweet, vulnerable inside.
Even though he’s a cancer survivor, Josh came out a bit scathed and lost. Thinking that he should not subject anyone to the possible pain and suffering if the cancer ever came back, other than his family who never leave him, he’s determined to live his life alone hoping from one bed to another without actually living his life to the fullest.
He puts on witty and cocky front, there’s a lot of fear underneath, along with a huge dollop of sweetness. Heather wasn’t the only one who fell a bit for the man who loved his mother and family so much.
I loved how Josh and Heather fall into friendship and love. Their frenemy banter at the beginning was hysterical, their flirty banter after they got over the bickering was deliciously hot and while they were trying to figure out that they had fallen completely fell with them while Josh good-naturedly helped Heather plan his ex-girlfriend’s wedding so she could get her promotion. This is definitely one of my favorite Lauren Layne books and I like them all!
Having the entire Wedding Belles gang was a lot of fun. It completed the story and piqued my interest for what’s to come!
For better or Worse is book #2 in the The Wedding Belles series by Laruen Layne. It’s perfect continuation of a series that’s hailed as the marriage between Sex in the City and The Wedding Planner. It can be read as a standalone. Told from both points of view.
Author's Pinterest board -> https://es.pinterest.com/LLayneAuthor/for-better-or-worse/
* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via NetGalley. The excerpts are from that copy. *
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I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
Heather Fowler has always dreamed of moving to Manhattan and being a wedding planner. She is now *this close* to her goal – she just signed a lease for an apartment in Manhattan and is working as an assistant wedding planner for the Wedding Belles. Unfortunately, her dream isn’t quite what she had pictured because her neighbor keeps playing loud music into the middle of the night. Since Josh Tanner, Heather’s neighbor, went into remission, he has decided to live his life as if there will be no tomorrow because he knows it isn’t promised. He hopes he can convince his workaholic neighbor to loosen up, too.
This book is your typical we’re-fighting-all-the-time-because-we-have-so-much-chemistry romance story. If you like books like that, you will enjoy this book. It is part of the Wedding Belles series but can easily be read as a standalone. I will say that Alexis’s and Logan’s story interested me more, and I am curious to read the next book in this series.
Heather Fowler has always dreamed of moving to Manhattan and being a wedding planner. She is now *this close* to her goal – she just signed a lease for an apartment in Manhattan and is working as an assistant wedding planner for the Wedding Belles. Unfortunately, her dream isn’t quite what she had pictured because her neighbor keeps playing loud music into the middle of the night. Since Josh Tanner, Heather’s neighbor, went into remission, he has decided to live his life as if there will be no tomorrow because he knows it isn’t promised. He hopes he can convince his workaholic neighbor to loosen up, too.
This book is your typical we’re-fighting-all-the-time-because-we-have-so-much-chemistry romance story. If you like books like that, you will enjoy this book. It is part of the Wedding Belles series but can easily be read as a standalone. I will say that Alexis’s and Logan’s story interested me more, and I am curious to read the next book in this series.
I was excited to see more of the Belles and this awesome new series by Lauren Layne. And Heather and Josh did not disappoint... Josh was so swoony, while being the jerk musician next door and Heather was so funny and sweet it made for a great combination to read. I am dying to get my hands on Alexis' story and see what is next for the Belles.
ARC provided by the publisher, via Netgalley for an honest review.
ARC provided by the publisher, via Netgalley for an honest review.
I loved this story. You can't help but love the Heather and Josh. After a cancer diagnosis Josh doesn't let anyone in. He can't stand to see the people he loves go through that again. He thinks by bedding a new girl every other night and not having a job he can live his life, or what he has left of it. When Heather meets her new neighbor Josh, she dislikes him. He is a loud womanizer. When their playful banter turns into friends with benefits it makes Heather question if that is enough. Can she show Josh what he has been missing? Is Josh's fear of his cancer returning enough to make him push Heather away forever? Great read. Can't wait for the third book in the series, To Love and To Cherish.
I liked For Better or Worse more than the first in this series, and I’m excited for the third book. Lauren Layne writes cute love stories that are cheesy but fun.
Coffee Dates with For Better or Worse
Copy provided by publisher This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer
- First Date: While the series is set in New York and has as Sex and the City vibe, the characters and their close connections to each other and family really give this a small-town feel. Heather Fowler is our heroine. She is an assistant wedding planner at Wedding Belles and is working hard for a promotion. Heather is a small-town girl who dreamed of living and working in Manhattan. She has worked hard to make her dreams a reality. Recently she made the move to her own apartment. Bliss! Or maybe not. Her neighbor Josh Tanner is an overgrown playboy who jams with his band all hours of the night. From the moment they meet, the zings are flying and the chemistry is sizzling. I am all in.
- Second date: Oh man, I didn’t read the synopsis and Josh’s backstory and actions packed an emotional punch. I am swooning and wanting to hug him even if he is a player. Josh and Heather continue their dance in this “haters to lovers” romance. I love the banter, obsessive talk about coffee and obvious attraction. On the work front, Heather is dealing with a strange high-profile bride who wants a wedding at the Plaza in three months’ time and she wants it ON A SATURDAY! Epp! However, this is Heather’s chance to shine and she will enlist any help she can get. Layne took her time allowing us to get to know Heather and Josh. I enjoyed their budding friendship and teasing. When these two finally give into their attractions Layne heated up the pages making it was worth the wait.
- Third date: These two are perfect together, only Heather has no idea about Josh’s past and he shuts down when she asks. We spend time with them, their family and friends. What began as a no-strings affair is turning into anything but. The last part of For Better or Worse had my heart in my throat. I experienced so many emotions as our couple had to grow, trust and more. Of course, in the back of mind I knew we would get our HEA, but I became swept up. All I can say is that, “It was worth the truffles.”
Copy provided by publisher This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer
