BUSINESS OR PLEASURE

A ghostwriter and a C-list actor supplement their working relationship with lessons in seduction.

Chandler Cohen is a ghostwriter, and her insecurities about her work only grow larger when an author whose memoir she wrote fails to recognize her at their launch event. In need of commiseration, she strikes up a conversation with a fellow event attendee. Following an immediate attraction, they cap off the night with a surprisingly mediocre one-night stand. Her next assignment is yet another celebrity memoir, this one written with Finn Walsh, known mostly for playing the nerdy character in a werewolf drama with a cult following. It turns out that he was also her lackluster hookup. At first, they agree to keep things professional, but when Finn learns that Chandler was left unsatisfied by his bedroom prowess, he seeks to spice up their arrangement: Perhaps Chandler could improve not only his memoir, but his seduction skills as well. He thinks getting Chandler to go along with this plan is a long shot, but she readily agrees. It’s always a pleasure to see the woman in a heterosexual couple being more experienced in intimate matters and having no problem communicating her desires. Chandler knows she deserves better at work and in her romantic life, and it’s a joy to root for her as she makes changes for her own happiness and independence. Finn is pretty close to the definition of a cinnamon-roll hero; he’s genuine, communicative, and has an earnest desire to make sure Chandler feels seen and heard in all aspects of their nebulous relationship. Solomon consistently balances spicy and sweet, making her romance novels a sure bet for a good read.

A must-read modern romance that emphasizes silliness and sexiness in equal parts. Solomon’s best yet.