10 Resolutions. 2 Friends. 1 Shot At Love
I’ll admit, having nine New Year’s resolutions makes me twitchy. After all, I’m Allison Gottlieb; overthinker, overachiever, hot mess extraordinaire. I’ve spent my entire life trying to be the best but for some reason, I’ve always fallen short. When a near meltdown (and maybe too much champagne) lands me in front of an old friend, things finally start … finally start looking up.
If Mateo Ramirez, personal trainer, self-discipline junkie, and the Internet’s favorite smoothie-making underwear model, offers to help you, you say yes. We haven’t seen each other in years but if anyone can help me turn my life around, it’s him. His smokin’ hot body is cold, hard proof of that.
Don’t judge me; I’m a lawyer. I like proof. A lot.
Mateo promises to test my limits and help me face my fears. He’s even feeding my neurosis by giving me that wonderfully even-numbered tenth resolution. But what I don’t know is that, in the midst of helping me check each item off my agenda, he has some resolutions of his own. And they all lead to one thing: becoming more than friends.
Eleven romantic comedy authors have teamed up to bring you Happy New You, a sexy, funny, heartwarming story about friendship, perseverance, and finding love in this crazy thing we call life. Oh, and the magic of onesie pajamas.
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What a way to start the New Year…
I enjoyed reading this book. Was a wonderful read throughout. The characters pull you in and make you want to read more. Keep it coming…
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
An absolutely fun romantic read, written collectively by some of my favorites authors. I never quite understand how authors are able to get together and create a cohesive read but this is really well done. A story about Allison, a workaholic with no social life and Mateo, the friend that has always loved her from afar. A witty, sweet, cute story that flows easier between writers. Definitely worth a read.
Extremely entertaining, captivating and interesting sexy collection. I could not put it down. Wonderfully written with strong, intriguing characters. I want to read more from these authors.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Great combination of writers in Happy New You. The story flowed easily and was so light and heartwarming. Allison and Mateo are the perfect way to start the New Year. I enjoyed how they came back together after years apart and how they were friends years ago. Mateo is swoonworthy and has you cheering for him the whole time. Pick up this wonderful collaboration and begin this journey of Happy New You.
I love this story and cute characters! I enjoyed reading to see what Matty and Al were going to do next and what would happen with them. I like the concept of several authors working together to write one book! I received an ARC from Booksprout in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first I read a book written by multiple authors and I wasn’t sure how it would be but I absolutely loved it. I loved the dual voice and the way the chapters were set up. You never knew what was going to happen next, very unpredictable but extremely entertaining.
This book had wonderful characters that capture you heart and you hate to put it down. You can’t wait to see what happens next. It was great watching the relationship develop in unique fun ways ending with your HEA of course.
ONE HEARTWARMING TREAT!!!
Wow! Talk about one amazing little treasure. These authors worked really hard with this little gem. So touching and sincere. The love and chemistry between characters is such a beautiful thing to behold. All the twists and turns, unexpected circumstances and unpredictable surprises around every corner make for one heart melting adventure. Throw in a little mystery and a dab of suspense you have the making for one amazing tale that draws you in so deep it makes for fantastic feel good reads. Watching as they are instantly drawn to one another. All the drama, love, heart pounding, pulse racing, smooth flowing, page turning delight add a little intrigue and you have one incredible read. With a whirlwind of emotions and events that really make the storyline pop. The characters and scenes are written with such realism it really pulls this little treasure together beautifully. These authors totally nailed this little jewel with their talent and gifts hands down, 100% on point details and descriptions. You feel everything the characters feel. You become part of the story instead of a bystander. You can’t help but fall deeply in love with the main couple, and even secondary, root for them to make it. You guys did a remarkable job bringing these tales to life flawlessly. Magnificent job guys, thanks for sharing this little jewel with us.
Normally when you see multiple authors on the cover of a book, you would assume that the book is an anthology but Happy New You is not the case. This is a collaboration of eleven different authors telling us the story about Allison and Mateo.
I’ve read other books written by two authors before and it was written so smooth you couldn’t tell the difference between the two authors so I wasn’t sure how well eleven different authors writing this book would turn out. They did an awesome job on this collaboration.
The story flows from chapter to chapter and while there was a slight change it actually went with the story because the characters grow and change through the course of the story. While the story starts out on New Years Eve, with ten resolutions, it continues over time allowing us to experience a very heartwarming story of 2 friends. It is a light and easy read that gives you laughs along with not giving up which makes it a difficult book to put down.
Of the eleven authors, ten are new to me authors and I look forward to reading books by them as well as other books by the one author I’ve already read because if they can do such a wonderful job co-writing, I’m excited to see their individual work.
An inspiring and sweet story about how to become a better version of yourself!
4,5 stars
Such a sweet and appropriate book for this time of year. It was also a stand alone, slow burn romance about two people that, even being made for each other, had to work on being together…just like in real life.
Allison is a controling workaholic and has been that way for a very long time. She is involved and absorbed in her work, that her job became all her life, so some changes were needed asap.
Mateo almost got into that crazy life as well, but seeing it wasn’t for him, years before he decided he wanted to work just as much but at something that would fullfill him, and that is how he became a personal trainer, focused on health and balance between everything in his life, since the smoothies he teaches on Instagram, to his love life and dreams.
They met in high scool and since then they had a crush on each other, but never acted on it, favoring their friendship over a romance that couls blow. They went to law school together, and that is when Matty realized that life wasn’t for him, but Al wasn’t so understanding at the moment, and that brought a gap between them.
Years later, when her dreams at work are crushed for having no social life, right on New Year’s Eve, Life gives another chance, not only to fix her job, but more importantly, to fix her choices at life and about herself, and that had the potential to change all her path. So, with the help of a sweet, loyal and heck of a patient Matty, she decides she wants to be a New Person.
Their feelings grew slowly, or, better yet, their aknowledgment about those feelings, but step by step, resolution after resolution, they became closer and stronger.
I got to say, Allison drove me crazy a lot of times. She was self centered and spoke ill words without thinking about them first, always priorizing her work above almost everything else.
But that made sense to the story and the plot. Actually, it made it more realistic. It’s not an easy task to build a “New You . It demands a lot of mental and emotional work. It’s hard to fight some instincts you fed for so many years. The good point is that she wanted to change, she liked the changes that she already accomplished and she had Mateo by her side to help her through it all.
I loved how Matty stood up for himself and needed, it showed amazing self respect and loyalty to himself, and it was necessary to push Al to find out what she trully value.
It was not about sacrificing dreams and likes, it was about compromising, acting like a team and finding a real space in your own life for the one you love.
As I said, it was inspiring and even made me want to be a better version of myself. A New Me.
Happy New Year/You , guys!
What do you get when you have 11 wonderful authors contributing to a story … an epic friends to more romance that’s funny, touching, sweet and fulfilling. Allison is a work obsessed lawyer who thinks that the only way to get ahead is to work, work and more work. Mateo is a personal trainer who has had a crush on Allison since they met in law school (which he subsequently dropped out off). Mateo challenges Allison to get out of her comfort zone and meet people in an effort to get past this image that people have of her as a boring workaholic with no charisma or friends and absolutely no life. Mateo has taken it upon himself to get Allison out of her comfort zone and (without her knowing!) into his arms. Well crafted story from 11 amazing women.
I have to start off by saying how amazing it is that eleven authors were able to create one book that read like one author wrote it. To be honest, I couldn’t tell where one author ended and the other would begin. That is definitely a talent!
Happy New You was a fun book to start off the year with. Everyone thinks about resolutions, but most people don’t write ten to complete for the year. Except if you’re Allison. She’s an overachiever and overthinker (exactly how she describes herself) and kind of had a breakdown at a party New Year’s Eve. All her hard work apparently won’t be paying off and she doesn’t know how to deal.
Mateo seemed like a hardworking guy and is only at a party to have the chance to speak to a potential investor. That doesn’t go as planned and the last person he expects to see is Allison, the woman who he’s had a crush on since high school.
Allison and Mateo are so much fun and reading about them at a café writing resolutions was really fun. Allison is determined to change in the new year. Getting in shape, learning how to flirt, cooking a signature dish are all resolutions she’s got planned to accomplish. Mateo being a personal trainer just happens to work out perfectly.
Every chapter tells us what month of the year it is. I loved reading both POVs and how they were experiencing everything. Mateo is determined to open his own gym where even the less fortunate can come and work out. He’s a hardworker and I love how much he cares for people. I’m sure the shirtless smoothie selfies help the following as well, haha. Mateo is the perfect gentleman even when he doesn’t want to be.
Allison was a frustrating character at times. Her mother won’t leave her alone about settling down and having kids when all she thinks about is her career. Staying up all night or even working all weekend is something she sees as normal. Allison doesn’t seem to know how to let loose until Mateo starts getting her out of her comfort zone. I loved seeing Allison do things she never would and start to feel good about herself.
The romance in this book was a lot of fun. I loved that it was slow burn. It was clear there was an attraction, but they took it slow. It took Allison awhile to realize what was going on. Mateo was so sweet and patient while Allison started figuring things out. Her work definitely caused some issues though. She just couldn’t let go. Allison takes awhile to understand that there is more to life outside of work. And she frustrated me when she would let this amazing man go for a contract that could be fixed on Monday morning!
If you’re looking for a fun romance, with hardworking characters who have amazing chemistry, this book is definitely for you. Add the scenes with onesie pyjamas and you get a fun book. Happy New You is filled with love, friendship and chasing your dreams!
This was a fun read written by 11 romance authors. I loved the hero and heroine and that this was a dual POV story. If you enjoy friends-to-lovers romances, this book is definitely worth the read.
New years resolutions. We have all made them and usually break them by the end of January. Well not Al. She has Matty on her case to ensure the 9 resolutions she made for herself and the 1 he set for her come true. A very sweet and funny book. It shows that sometime what we think we want isn’t actually what want.
Workin’ On A “Happy New You” Is A Hard Battle; Will She Come Out Ahead, or Flounder Under The Burden
What’s a Gal to DO,
When she realizes she’s basically the Butt of EVERYONE’S joke!!
Her colleagues are laughin’ at her in the Bar at Happy Hour,
To Make Matters Worse, she just overheard her Boss…
Telling the client she’s got NO personality so NO Chance at Promotion!
Too BAD she’s worked her Tail off like a Slave, givin’ ALL she’s got,
ONLY to learn, she’s not Even gettin’ a SHOT!
What follows Next is the Ultimate Quest…
To turn her New Year into a “Happy New You!”
If she’s got any semblance of a Chance,
It’ll be comin’ with a Smidgen of Romance…
All wrapped up Tight in the S€X¡€ST Delight,
He’s High School’s Crush, College’s Drool, & RIGHT Now…
He’s an Internet Sensation, Personal Trainer, Fitness Underwear Model, & of course Every Gal’s Fantasy!
But the best part… He’s rootin’ for ME!
Although, it seems he’s got his own agenda…
Guess he’s hopin’ MY “Happy New You” comes with an I LOVE You!
I was granted an ARC of Laura Lee’s “Happy New You” via Booksprout; I recommend this book to others based upon its own merits. All opinions expressed within this review are uniquely my own & freely given!
Until next time… Happy Reading!
I enjoyed this story so much!! The story flowed so well with each author adding their part in Allison & Mateo second chance, each author did so well!!
I enjoyed this friends to lovers story. Well written and entertaining. Relatable characters.
She tries to do too much at once and her life is far from prefect. He is an old friend who offers to push her beyond her years but what she does not know is that he wants more than being friends. Will it end that way? Will it fail? Follow them to see
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
We all start the New Year on a positive note with a promise to exercise more, possibly finding a new job, or taking more time for yourself. The calendar is new and full of empty pages to fill in with fun activities to make this year something to look forward to.
Allison is a hard working lawyer who has absolutely no time for a personal life. She found herself at her co-worker’s New Year’s Eve party and she definitely wished she had stayed home. She did look fabulous in her red dress but she wasn’t interested in meaningless conversations with people from work. If only she had a sign as to what direction her life should take, or an idea of how to be more spontaneous and fun loving. Allison snuck out of the party early, wrapped in her warm coat, and the cold and windy night gave way to a chance meeting that would change her life.
Mateo saw Allison sneak away from the party and was determined to follow her so they could catch up. Their friendship had always been important to him and he felt bad that they had lost touch over the years. She was just as beautiful as he remembered but he was unsure how she would react when she saw him. Mateo was happy with his life and career but something was missing, and he knew who it was.
How does Allison react when Mateo reappears in her life?
Could this possibly be the sign she was looking for?
I never thought that making a New Year’s resolution was important but after reading “Happy New You”, I think that Allison had the right idea. She just wanted to have fun, try new things and become a better version of herself. Lucky for her, Mateo was there to join her on her journey.
For a book written by eleven different authors, this is incredibly cohesive. It’s a great story that is incredibly character diverse and inclusive without feeling forced or clichéd. I loved the romance, the characters, the conflict, and the perfect portrayal of a Jewish woman of a certain age.* I hope these authors collaborate again, as their combined powers worked for the betterment of romantic novels rather than, as is often the case, the detriment!
*I speak from experience.
Al finds out the shocking truth about how work sees her at a New Years party, luckily for her Mateo a friend she lost touch with when he left Law school to follow his dreams is also at the same party and when she leaves he follows and as the countdown to midnight approaches she makes 9 resolutions and allows Mateo to make the last. Al is a full on work alcoholic so Mateo has his work cut out for him to try and get Al to keep to their agreement, there are plenty of laughs, sexual tension, frustration, forehead slapping and times when you want to shake Al sooo bad!! This is definitely a slow burn but it needs to be as Al needs to work out who she is and Mateo needs to decide what he wants, I get Mateos frustrations at Al but you can’t expect someone to change over night so we are left with will they or wont they realise they are meant for each other and they need to work towards in and for the love of god communicate!!! lol