A Guy Walks Into My Bar

N’awww this was a lovely book from Lauren Blakely – loved the snarky interactions, and glimpses of London, and the references to scenes shot for Harry Potter movies in the city… A strong romance, plus sexy times. Recommended. More MM from Lauren can only be a good thing!

If you’ve followed my reviews for any amount of time, my Lauren Blakely fandom is not new information. I cannot get enough of her writing, especially her contemporaries and romcoms, and I’ve seriously enjoyed those deliciously decadent After Dark romances of hers. Now, I absolutely enjoy a good M/M romance, but they’re just not the first type of story I reach for when deciding what to read next, and it’s for no other reason than the “too many books, too little time” struggle we all face. Still, I have read many M/M romances, I’ve loved the ones that I have read, and I will certainly read more of them if or when the mood strikes. But when Lauren Blakely announced that A Guy Walks Into My Bar was going to be her first ever M/M, you can bet your sweet bippy that I sat up and took notice. I was so excited to see what she would do with this type of story, and immediately upon hearing that news, A Guy Walks Into My Bar became one of my most anticipated reads of the summer.

So let me start out by simply saying “wow, wow, WOW!” A Guy Walks Into My Bar blew me away on every single level, and it was so much more than I expected it to be, in every possible way. It was unexpectedly emotional and incredibly refreshing, yet it still had the core elements – heat, heart and humor – that have me consistently reaching for Blakely’s work. I really don’t want to spoil this wonderfully passionate love story in any way for anyone. So I’ll just say go into this book knowing that this is Lauren Blakely, it’s a given that this is going to be a gorgeous romance. From page one, it was abundantly clear that Blakely poured her heart and soul into this book, and based on the care and authenticity of the story she penned here, it was obviously a passion project, a labor of love. Against the wonderfully romantic backgrounds of London and New York, Blakely worked her magic with vivid acumen, applying her finely honed attention to detail to create one of the great love stories in her catalog.

Further, go into A Guy Walks Into My Bar with the knowledge that if you’ve read certain of her more recent works, you already know Dean, a British bar owner, and Fitz, an American hockey player, and you’ve wanted their stories. These characters were dynamic and diverse and fantastically charismatic; they were unfailingly genuine and so very real and relatable; and finally, they were beyond charming and amusing, and, of course, perfectly naughty. Well matched on every level, Dean and Fitz’s pairing was an addictive blend of vulnerable yet alpha, and I loved that they were able to pass the reins, letting the other lead when the situation warranted it. There were no stereotypes at play here, just two devastatingly sexy men, with their hearts on the line, fighting hard for something neither was looking for, neither expected to find but both ultimately wanted.

A Guy Walks Into My Bar had all the components that I look for in a contemporary romance. That push and pull – the “will they or won’t they” moments; sincere emotion without unnecessary dramatics or abundance of angst; naturally witty banter and smart humor that both entertained me and made me think and feel; and the absolutely undeniable blaze of attraction, mentally, emotionally and physically. A Guy Walks Into My Bar had it all, and it came together perfectly in a love story that earned the “most anticipated” designation from me and was well worth the wait. I loved every single thing about this heart-tugging, amusing and incredibly sexy romance, and it’s not only a new top favorite amongst a catalog of my favorites from Blakely, it’s also a top favorite of the year for me. Five smooches from me for A Guy Walks Into My Bar by Lauren Blakely!
~Danielle Palumbo, Red Cheeks Reads

After finishing A Guy Walks Into My Bar, it took me a while to process everything. I’ve been waiting for this book for several months, and the little teaser breadcrumbs Lauren sprinkled did their job and made the anticipation of its release that much greater. I was fortunate to get an early listen to this audiobook, and I wasted no time diving in.

Fitz is a hockey player in the NHL. With hockey, family, and friends being his priorities, Fitz has no desire for any long-term entanglements. When his sister has an opportunity to attend school in England, big brother Fitz is happy to accompany her. While there, Fitz plans to check out the fellas before heading back home to New York for training camp. When he stops into Magpie, a proper English pub, Fitz is immediately drawn to Dean, owner of the pub. There’s definitely some chemistry between them, but Dean never crosses the line with customers, and he certainly isn’t looking for a relationship of any kind. But Fitz isn’t easily deterred, and eventually gets Dean to relax his rule a bit. Besides, Fitz is only in town for a week, so a temporary fling might be just what they both need. However, the more time they spend together, and get to know each other, they find they don’t like that their affair’s end date is quickly approaching.

This story pulled so many emotions out of me, most of which I can’t share without the risk of giving spoilers. First off, there’s lots and lots and lots of action between Fitz and Dean, and it’s SO HOT!! Lauren had me blushing in a few instances, and that’s not an easy feat. I loved throughout this story there’s a theme of acceptance, support, respect, and love. It makes no difference who you love, but that you love. This story is one of finding that big, great love that lasts forever. It just happens to be two men who fall in love with each other. Love is love, and it makes the world such a great place when you experience and witness it. For this book, Joe and Shane carry the main characters, but the supporting cast is so integral to this story. Fitz and Dean have so many people in their lives that are so important, we need to hear from them to assist in telling his amazing love story.

Joe is that guy that’s so beautifully open and brings his life experiences to the character he becomes—in this instance it’s Fitz. You know he feels everything Lauren has written, and that shows in his performance. As Dean, Shane has upped his narration game big time, and for me this is one of, if not the best emotional performances he’s done. With his and Joe’s obviously strong friendship, they elevate each other’s wide-ranging talents, and as a listener, I’m truly blessed to reap the benefits of their gifts. Joe Arden and Shane East are two of my top 5 narrators. Their job of narrating Dean and Fitz’s story reaffirmed why audiobooks done well tell the story in a way that’s so different from reading it.

I don’t remember the last time I actually read a Lauren Blakely book, because she turns each audiobook into an aural production, and she has such a gift matching the character to a narrator. With every story Lauren writes, I’ve come to expect something wonderful with each audiobook release. And she NEVER disappoints. She gets just as excited with the story, and that projects onto the readers/listeners, and we get so giddy about it. It makes the listening experience that much greater.

**re-read 02/04/2021**
If I thought reading the book blew me away, then the audio was incredible!! I’ve never listened to a audiobook with a full cast before much less an audiobook where the two main characters are voiced by two different narrators. It made the story that much more intense and somehow, I fell even more in love with Fitz and Dean. Shane East and Joe Arden are two narrators I can’t wait to hear more of. They both had beautiful crisp voices that really resonated in their own way with the characters they were portraying. If I could give this book more than five stars, I would!!

**original review 11/18/2020**
Apparently, my new thing is finding books that make me want to sob into my pillow!! This book wasn’t sad at all and yet with the way Blakely weaves this story I found my heart breaking for Fitz and Dean after their week was up. I mean who expects to fall in love in a week??

Now I know, I know, I always gripe about instalove but on occasion an author comes along and really hits it out of the park and A Guy Walks Into My Bar was one of those. From the first moment that Dean and Fitz meet you feel this instant fiery connection but between all their witty banter and sexual chemistry you also feel them falling in love. To me, that is hard to convey with words especially in the way that Lauren Blakely did.

Dean Collins is a 30-year-old business owner in London who has the life he wants. He finally has the bar he and his best friend Maeve have been dreaming about since college, he has a great relationship with his dad and some of the best friends a guy could ask for. What he doesn’t need or want is a relationship or to fall in love. To prevent this from happening he and Maeve have a game going whereas whoever breaks first in going home or kissing a customer must do chores or buy the one big ticket item they both want for their bar. Dean thinks he has this thing in the bag until a very sexy American guy walks into his bar and while he knows he can resist for now he doesn’t know how long he can keep that up.

James Fitzgerald or Fitz to his friends is a professional hockey play in London for one week to help his sister get settled into her new flat and ready for art school. With Spring training coming up for the NHL he has a deal going with his teammates that after the season starts no distractions and that includes sex. Whilst in London Fitz plans to find a hot and willing participant to scratch the itch that he won’t be able to scratch until after preseason. When Fitz goes out for drinks with his sister, he finds just the guy to keep him busy for the week. The hot as sin bartender who apparently can resist his charms, or so it seems. Fitz knows he has the goods but now he just has to convince Dean that one night is worth it.

“I didn’t want to feel this, but this couldn’t be stopped. I feel it all. I feel everything.”

Can one kiss really change your life?? Apparently for Dean and Fitz that is the case. One hot afternoon leads to one hot night but what was supposed to be just that ends up being five days of conversations, make out sessions, searing hot pleasure and feelings that neither of these guys planned on. As it draws closer to the end of their 5 days of no strings, just fun both men find themselves heartbroken over saying goodbye, for good.

This book is one of the best M/M books I’ve read in 2020, hell it is one of the best books I have read in 2020 period. I fell hard for this couple in a way that I didn’t expect. With plenty of swoon worthy moments and enough love to leave you begging for more A Guy Walks Into My Bar is one of those stories that I won’t be forgetting any time soon.

I’d been wanting to read this for awhile and I was not disappointed. The author gives us two hot, yummy characters both determined to “just have fun”. It doesn’t quite work out that way (in all the best ways!) and that’s the beauty of this book. In true Lauren Blakely style, readers join the characters on their journey that includes off the charts attraction and compatibility, humor, immediate intense connection with lots chemistry and passion. Readers also get heartbreak when the main characters try to imagine maintaining a relationship living on separate continents. I loved Fitz and Dean and I really liked their story. The only criticism I have is that the author couldn’t seem to decide when to end the book. Just when I thought it had been brought to a satisfying conclusion, it kept going. And it happened again … several times. I’m not sure why Lauren Blakley chose to write the ending this way but it did take a little away from the entirety of an otherwise very good book. Still, I do recommend this one.

Holy smoking M/M hotness, this book!

When Fitz walks into Dean’s London bar he was not expecting to hook up with anyone, he just wanted a drink at a bar recommended by one of his teammates back home. He is in town to see his sister who is studying there and before his season begins in the NHL he wanted to spend time with her. Meeting Dean was not something he could have ever anticipated.

Dean co-owns a bar with his best friend and they jokingly bet on who will find someone sexy to hook up with this particular night. When his eyes meet those of Fitz it feels like everything else around him melts away. Even more so when the blatant flirting begins. This leads to a night that neither of them will forget.

Fitz has ever felt a connection like this and Dean finds himself wanting to spend as much time as he can with Fitz until he leaves in 5 days time. They both know there is a time limit on what they have so that seems to make it that more intense between them.

These two have completely different lives on opposite sides of the globe but when the time comes to say goodbye it just seems too harsh of a word. I’ll see you again is more what they are both thinking. There is no doubt that they have fallen for each other, they just need to figure out how to make things work. They can then say ‘a guy walks into my life and never leaves.’

I listened to the audio version so I got the added enhancement of hearing the British and American accents of Fitz and Dean taking my reading experience to the next level. Shane East and Joe Arden did a superb job bringing these two characters to life with their duet narration.

Performed with a full supporting cast including: Vanessa Edwin, Emma Wilder, Ron Butler, Jakobi Diem, Zachary Webber, Vikas Adam, Maxine Mitchell, Stella Hunter, and with a special appearance from Sebastian York.

This was such a fun read. I was swooning over the flirty fun banter between the two heroes, Dean and Fitz. There were alot of great secondary characters (that I’d like to hear their stories as well). I loved how both Dean and Fitz had great support systems in their families and friends. Both H’s have past baggage that makes neither of them want anything more than a fling…no commitments, no strings…just a few days of steamy sexy fun. But what can you do when have this sizzling off the charts chemistry, and a connection so strong that it feels like you’re home when you’re with the other person?!!? Well you’ll have to read it to find out that part… I’ll just say they have an amazing HEA and there’s no end in site for this endearing couple.

Loved it !!!

This has got to be the best audiobook I’ve ever listened to. Shane East is a fantastic British narrator and Joe Arden has the amazing American voice as well. I absolutely love that there isn’t any homophobic content in the story and it’s just how it should be. I loved that Fitz is a total softy and Deans the stiff upper British lip and they make a beautiful fantastic couple to follow in this story. Would have loved this to be series and follow all the other characters

Wow! Lauren please continue to write MM romance, because this was everything. I loved loved that there was no unnecessary angst, and that this book had such chemistry and just the writing. Wow it was so good. I listened the entire book on audio, which I very rarely do, as I move back and forth, but the audio of this book is like none other. It is an entire case, and such an experience, that it was hard not to listen to again right when finished. This was insta-lust into inst-love, but ooo sooo good. Fitz was swoon and Dean was right there! Like their names are even fire. So, guy meets bartender and they fall into a lusty relationship that quickly turns to love. Then they decide they cannot live without each other, so they don’t. It is perfect.