✔ #NewRelease REVIEW & EXCERPT: ASKING FOR A FRIEND by Lauren Blakely

Posted December 17, 2019 by Nicole Collins in Blog Tours, Book Love, Guest Posts & Reviews, Home, Nicole Review, Our Reviews, Release Blitz, Special Content & Excerpts / 0 Comments

Asking For a Friend
by Lauren Blakely
Series: Boyfriend Material #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
Publication Date: December 16, 2019
Publisher: Little Dog Press
Pages: 312
Buy the Book: Amazon, Audible, iBooks, B&N, Kobo
Goodreads
Source: eARC

I was only trying to help a friend. I swear. I was legit asking for a friend who was finally ready to date again.

I knew what she wanted in a man -- smart, funny, ambitious, well-read (no, the sports section doesn't count), and plays a wicked game of badminton.
So I did what any good friend would do. Posted it for her. It seemed like a good idea at the time — I’d weed through the candidates, and bring her my top picks.
But then he responded.
Is it wrong to date the guy I screened for my bestie? Not asking for a friend.

Indulge in the BOYFRIEND MATERIAL series! Three best friends. Three outrageous proposals. Three chances to fall in love. Three brand new standalones from Lauren Blakely!

4 Pinkies Up…aka 4 stars!

Asking for a Friend by Lauren Blakely is a sweet, happy, drama free story about two people destined to be together. This is a fun, light, heart warming read that will put a smile on your face courtesy of the sheer cuteness of the story.

Amy and Linc both have a “no dating at work” rule, but they have an instant connection when they meet on Linc’s first day at his new job. To redirect the feelings they’re avoiding, the both turn to a dating app where they end up finding the exact relationship they were both trying to avoid.

The banter between Linc and Amy is adorable. They’re both quick and witty, and I felt like I was reading an episode of Gilmore Girls with their back and forth dialogue. They’re both word nerds, at heart. But, Linc is that hot, sexy librarian who’s a superstar at work; and Amy is sultry, confident, and an all-around awesome woman.

I had a few small issues with this book. The “asking for a friend” storyline was really a small part of the book. It didn’t feel like a main theme, at all. So, this book wasn’t what I expected based on that. My other peeve is all the epilogues. They felt a little like random thoughts that didn’t fit in the book, so why not make them epilogues 1, 2, 3, and 4. The final epilogue is the only one we needed, in my opinion. But, these little gripes of mine didn’t take away from me enjoying the overall story. It’s still a super sweet book.

I’m certainly curious to see how Amy’s hypothetical book idea from this story turns into Peyton and Tristan’s actual love story in the second book of the Boyfriend Material series, so I do look forward to reading the next book in this series.

“No. I was just getting the lowdown on office allergies.” He moves closer, leaning against the bar, looking like a tall drink of man. I break out my mental yardstick. Yup, I’m betting he’s over six feet. I’m going with six foot one. Which might even push him to a fifteen on the goes-to-ten babe-o-meter.

“So you’re on drinks detail,” I say, trying to sound all cool and casual, like I’m not busy sizing him up.

Not consumed with checking out his arms.
Not occupied admiring his blue eyes.
Not tied up enjoying his smile.

He points his thumb at his sternum. “New guy. That means I fetch all the drinks and buy them too. And you? What put you on errand duty?”

“I made my friend snort her drink out her nose.”

He looks impressed. “You officially have the best reason for being on drink detail.”

I preen, enjoying his praise. “Why, thank you. I was hoping to win that contest.”

“What was the snort-inducing remark, may I ask?”

Flashing back, I recall the culprit—my “you need V-time” comment to Peyton—but that’s too personal to share. I give him another one. “I referred to her ex-fiancé by his proper name.”

Clark Kent gives me a curious look. “Is his proper name amusing?”

“Of course. It’s Richard Cranium,” I say, and I wait. Will he pass the test?

Nicole’s REVIEW of Sex And Other Shiny Objects – HERE

A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sweet, sexy and witty. She also writes red-hot love stories for her Lauren Blakely After Dark line.