EmmyMy bad reputation is coming back to haunt me. Now, I need a date for my brother’s wedding just to keep the vultures at bay. I’ve noticed Jake around the building and he’s the perfect man for the job.The thing is, I don’t actually have what I promised in return for his help, but I don’t want this to end.JakeI’ve seen Emmy and she’s out of my league, but that doesn’t stop me from taking her up … me from taking her up on her offer and upping the ante. I have rules, however, the more time we spend together the more the lines get blurred.
Her lie made her more like me than I ever thought possible. Too bad liars don’t do it for me.
A little boyfriend maintenance goes a long way…
After all, 425 Madison Ave is the perfect place to fall in love!
*Each story is completely standalone, but you’ll want to read them all.
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I am entirely hooked on the 425 Madison Series. With each book, I meet a new resident and get the joy of watching them fall in love. They not only fall in love but they discover things about themselves that they didn’t know, they open their hearts to feelings they never thought they deserved, and they find their happily ever after.
Boyfriend Maintenance is the story of Emmy, who walked away from the privileged lifestyle that her parents were offering in order to be able to make her own choices and live her own life. She feels that men are only after two things…sex and her money(which she doesn’t have). When she needs a date to her brother’s wedding festivities the maintenance man at 425 fits the job perfectly. He accepts her proposal and the fun starts.
Jake is just looking for hook-ups and a way to provide a good home for his someday (he hasn’t even met her yet) wife and family. He wants a house in a good neighborhood, a well-paying job, and someone who doesn’t look down on him for what job he does have. When the opportunity to make some “easy” money comes knocking on his door he just can’t turn it down. Little did he know that with this easy money comes so much more.
From their first meeting it was obvious that a fake relationship was not what this would end up being. The two of them had sparks flying from the beginning as Jake fixed Emmy’s garbage disposal. I loved reading about them figuring each other out, opening their hearts, and learning that they can trust and love each other.
This is a cute fake relationship romance that had both humor and heart, and even though Jake was not my most favorite of characters, I really enjoyed the overall story and loved the relationships between all of the supporting characters.
Emmy was my favorite. She’s determined to do things on her own and make her own way and this has caused some issues with her family. I love that she refuses to compromise on what she wants and works hard for everything she has. Jake, on the other hand, was not my idea of the perfect fake boyfriend – he might have done all the right things when out in public, but the way he treated Emmy was infuriating at times. His past had a bit to do with that so some of his attitude was understandable, but overall his attitudes and presumptions had me a bit riled up at times. I was glad he finally came to his senses, but I wouldn’t have blamed Emmy for walking away.
What I really loved most in this book was the supporting relationships between characters. Emmy and Becca were such great friends and I loved how different from each other they were but how those differences only helped create such a strong bond between the two. And seeing Emmy with her brother Levi and watching their relationship become even closer throughout the book brought a smile to my face. I also loved Jake and his brother Kevin and how close they were – and thank goodness Jake had Kevin to set him straight on things and force him to man up and re-evaluate his own thoughts and actions when it came to Emmy.
This was another fun read in the 425 Madison Series. We did get a chance to see a few characters from previous books – the scenes with Sara had me cracking up – and I love how that gives this series a closer connection than just the tie in to the 425 Madison building.
This is the first book from Lauren Helms that I have read but I will definitely be checking out her other works!
This book is a quick, sweet read. I am not always a fan of the fake relationship but this one does it well.
Jake and Emmy come from different social classes which upped my interest. Emmy needs Jake’s help to get her snooty family off her back.
I really admired who this couple is as people. Oh I liked the gaming element of this book too. It also has the right amount of humor and spicy. (Wink)
Happy Reading!
Have you ever really, really needed a date for something and would do anything to make it happen? This story is about Emmy who is facing her brother’s upcoming wedding festivities which include facing her ex that is still interested in her, as well as, her father and step-mother that are constantly and overly disappointed in Emmy from foregoing her huge trust fund to make her own career choices. Jake, the sexy maintenance guy at 425 Madison is tired of the residents throwing themselves at him, content to work and save up for a new home, although occasionally using an app to meet a girl. Suddenly, all his normal rules about work, women, and dating are thrown out the window one evening when a tenant makes him an offer that he can’t refuse.
Hats off to Lauren Helms for creating the wonderfully yummy Jake! I loved Emmy’s character also, but something about Jake just made me feel all warm and fuzzy! He was unique character and I loved the banter between him and Emmy. Especially once things were out in the open about Emmy’s mysterious and secret hobby that kept her geeking out with her phone all the time. There were times with Emmy that I just wanted to shake her and remind her that she was her own person and didn’t have to tolerate her creepy ex or evil step-mother, but besides that, I loved her character.
Boyfriend Maintenance isn’t my favorite from the 425 Madison series, but I did really enjoy this one. A prominent theme in this one is the importance of honesty, being open with one another, etc. Considering Jake’s incredible aversion to lying, I found his choice to “date” Emmy interesting. Then there were several times I wanted to jump into the book and yell at him, “pot, meet kettle.” Another huge theme was about accepting yourself and being proud of yourself. Jake had hang-ups about his life growing up and his middle-class lifestyle. Emmy had issues about breaking away from her family and their money. Their story certainly was a good reminder to love yourself and feel worthy of love from others despite upbringing, finances, career choices, and so on.
This was a cute addition to this series which I have loved! Lauren Helms’ writing is flawless and I love how she inserted such different characters into 425 Madison.
I loved this story. Emmy and Jake were perfect for one another once they got passed all their hang ups.
Jakes failed dates made me laugh.
I loved that it didn’t matter what the other one did only how they felt is what mattered.
I love this series! The books are standalones but Leo shows up or is mentioned in all of them.
I’ve reviewed many of the books in this anthology, and this one tickled me. Jake has an effortless about him – he was probably my favorite character of all. Getting to know him was very interesting. The same with Emmy. While I did enjoy the story, I think my overall feeling was I wish I could have gotten more… More “what was up with the skeeball?”, “what about Levi?”, and “what about Becca??”. I can only guess that if you were to read Lauren Helms, then you would get a lot of these answers. So from that angle, the author did a phenomenal job of giving teasers about the characters and making you want to read her other books. She’s got me on the hook for Levi and Becca for sure.
Our protagonist, Emmy, had a lot going for her. We learn a lot about her backstory and you come to admire her for her need for independence and desire to make her mark on the world. There were times when I wish I could have gotten to know her a bit better, but I think the taste of her home life with her parents definitely suits the needs of the story. I love a woman who knows herself, and that is certainly Emmy.
A part of the fun of the story comes from how things evolve between Jake and Emmy. There are certainly moments when I would like to kick Jake in the man bit for his stupidity…because well, they are supreme moments of stupidity. However, he does have great redeeming qualities.
Overall, the only issue that I found with this story is how the ending felt rushed. Things were going well, the flow of the story made sense, and then the ending wrapped up too quickly. If the author could have slowed it down a bit, I probably would have given it 4.5 stars.I give this a thumbs up and dub it a fun read!
I fell in love with Emmy and Jake as characters and then as a couple! Emmy is a strong, independent woman who comes from a family with money but left it behind in pursuit of her dreams and her true self. She feels pressure sometimes from her family to come back to the fold but she isn’t willing to compromise who she is to make them happy.
Jake thinks he is happy with who he is but comes to realize that he is concerned about what kind of life he can offer the potential woman of his dreams. He has preconceived ideas about all the people who live in the building where he works. But then he meets Emmy and everything he thought he knew is turned upside down.
As Jake runs and attempts to come to grips with who he is, what he has to offer and who Emmy is, she continues to be true to herself. I absolutely LOVE her character and backbone! It was great to read a book where the male character questions if he is good enough for her. Great read, I totally recommend it!
OMFG!!! YES!!! BOYFRIEND MAINTENANCE by Lauren Helms was Such an Emotional and Entertaining Book but at times I wanted to Throw my Tablet across the room for Jake!!
It was a Surprisingly Fun and Heartwreching book that will Leave you wanting more. The characters will grab you into their world and keeps you on your toes! Plus the chemistry between the two characters- Emmy & Jake that are Off the Charts Hot with their “fake” relationship!
Gotta warn you….Once you Start, You will Not Put It in Down and devour it in ONE Sitting since it is So Captivating from the Start!
Lauren Helms is a New Author for me and She Had me Intrigued from the Very Beginning & CANNOT WAIT TO read more from this Author!!
Emmy is a native New Yorker, she’s a little geeky and loves to play DigibotGo(PokemonGo). Emmy walked away from her family’s fortune, so she could live her own life and not do what her family expects of her, and now lives with her socialite BFF Becca.
Jake is also a native New Yorker and is a Maintenance man at 425 Madison. He has a major chip on his shoulder about the rich people that live at 425 Madison, and how he thinks they look down on him
Becca asks Jake to be Emmy’s fake boyfriend for her brother’s wedding events. Emmy agrees to pay Jake to be her date. At first Jake declines, but he thinks on it some more and decides he’ll do it and wants more money, since he thinks Emmy is a spoiled trust fund baby.
From the first event they attend the chemistry and attraction builds, and Jake realizes Emmy is more than a spoiled socialite. Jake soon comes to realize Emmy is not the rich socialite he thought she was, and is upset that she lied to him. Jake calls off their budding relationship in a pretty harsh way, and pretty much breaks Emmy’s heart. After a reality check from his brother, Jake realizes Emmy is worth putting his heart on the line, and goes to try and win her back.
I can honestly say I was not a big fan of Jake in this book. I didn’t like the giant chip on his shoulder, and how he assumed all rich people were spoiled brats. He dis redeeem himself in the end though. I was happy to see Boyfriend Maintenance had a playlist like the first 3 books in the 425 Madison series, but it was not my favorite. I recieved an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Another enjoyable story in the 425 Madison Avenue series. Entertaining and interesting characters! Enjoy! I read an arc copy of this book
I absolutely loved how the roles were reversed in this book. So often in books, especially romance, the hero is the one with the wealth while the heroine is the one struggling. Now while these roles weren’t exact, I loved that the perception was there. Definitely a great story!!!
A wonderful addition to the 425 Madison Avenue series. Emmy needs a boyfriend to attend some family functions. Jake is available but it comes with an agreement. Little do either one of them realize there is something between them. But will a lie tear them apart? I loved the storyline and the chemistry. Emmy and Jake are perfect together. I love how easily they get along. Sweet lovable enjoyable.
Boyfriend Maintenance is the 5th book in the 425 Madison series and it’s written by Lauren Helms. I didn’t like two things about this book. The first one was Jake. Jake has issues that are not even aware of for most of the book. These issues made him act like a douche to Emmy and kept my dislike of him growing. For me, he fell into the category of the boyfriend that you have before you meet your soulmate. He is the main reason I didn’t like the book. One of the things I don’t like in a book (but don’t hate) is when practically all the people from the opposite sex are attracted to one of the MCs. Jake had a couple of women throwing themselves at him and one even named little Jake without even seeing it. Emmy needed to have a guy like that because Jake needed to be jealous and realize how good Emmy actually is. He didn’t deserve her.
The second thing that bugged me was the mention of a potential love interest for Emmy’s roommate and another 425 Madison resident, but no actual proof that they will be or not a couple in the future. I have teasing like that. If I recall correctly another author did something similar in the series, so I hope that the series will expand to more than 9 books.
The last thing that didn’t exactly made me dislike the book, but still seemed weird was having Emmy say that she is the forever/relationship kind of girl on the next sentence say that Jake was the one night stand kind of guy and then immediately proceed to tell us that she had casual sex in the past, but not in a way that was implying that it happened in the past and it’s not true now. He didn’t do commitment, she didn’t seem to want to be in a relationship to fall onto a bed with a guy, so why even bother saying that she is not like Jake?
Boyfriend Maintenance is another great addition to the 425 Madison series! These books stand perfectly well on their own so need to read them in order.
This was a light, fake relationship story with some laugh out loud moments and just a dash of drama. While I adored both characters, for the most part, there were a few times I wasn’t quite sure what to make of Jake and his attitude. Who cares if she didn’t share her life story up front. It was a fake relationship and she didn’t owe Mr. One Night Stand anything.
Overall, this was an enjoyable addition to the series and I truly hope we see something down the road for some of the secondary characters introduced here.
Oh Emmy how much I loved this character. She is everything everyone should be. Jake is my man he’s everything I need in a book boyfriend. This stories is about opposites but not really. You’ll understand what I mean when you read it. Lauren Helms you killed it like always. You are someone I always love to read.
I recommend any book written by Lauren Helms. This book is no exception! She creates amazing characters in Jake the maintenance guy for the swanky NYC high rise building at 425 Madison Ave. He meets Emmy one of the tenants who badly needs a date for all the events leading up to her brothers wedding and she’s willing to pay dearly for it.
Helms is a different kind of writer. She leads with heart and finds her way from there. Perhaps, that’s what gives Boyfriend Maintenance an irresistible appeal. Emmy and Jake are less than perfect, but that’s what makes them a perfect fit for each other. The best reads are the ones that aren’t afraid to convey a dose of reality. Hidden behind the mischievous antics, the impending heartache and the unforgettable romance is a little bit of wisdom that goes well with an overabundance of heart.
I am loving all of the books out of this series. All books are standalones but you’ll get a tiny glimpse of past characters which makes me happy.
This book was sweet and easy to read. It kept me engaged the whole time. Great read
Oh wow, I’ve been looking forward to reading Jakes story and I loved every bit of it. At some points I just wanted to shake him but then he knew he was being a douche so I forgave him. This story is a fabulous read. Emmy is a charismatic beautiful woman who doesn’t need Daddys money and tries and conquers that. We do see ups & downs, but we see romance & passion to, as well as banter & fun. Another book in the 425 Madison series xx
Boyfriend Maintenance Book 5 in 425 Madison Ave
Apartment building in Manhattan.
Emmy needs a boyfriend to go to her brothers wedding things. Jake, the maintenance guy, agrees to this.
“This thing between us isn’t a real relationship. If it were, then absolutely, honesty is key.”
Kept my interest throughout! Great romance. Can’t wait for the next book!