From New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy comes a funny, sexy love story about what happens when your best friend’s brother becomes your new roommate. Oh, and you two still haven’t talked about that one night stand you had a year ago… plans to take to the grave.
She’s certain Carter feels the same, since they haven’t talked about it once in the past year. Not that they’ve ever been much on talking. The two can hardly stand each other on a good day.
If there is a single worse idea than sleeping with her off-limits enemy, it’s inviting him to move in with her.
What can she say? She’s bored. Her barista job is her passion, but it seems to be all she has in her life these days. Even fighting with Carter would be preferable to another night alone. Besides, he needs a place to crash after burning out on the Los Angeles grind.
Neither of them expected the chemistry to come roaring back.
Should they admit that one night wasn’t enough? Or will secretly dating each other turn into the epic fail Stella feared?
Only one way to find out…
The Dating series are standalone romances with interconnecting characters. Each novel completely stands alone (no cliffhangers!) and can be read in any order, but you’ll enjoy reading them as a series!
Save The Date
Fake Date
Holidate
Hate to Date You
Rate A Date
Wedding Date (December 2020)
more
Love reading more of the dating world by Monica Murphy. This is the 4th book in the series and I was excited to hear that Stella Caroline’s bestie was going to find her one. Carter and Stella are sexy, witty and fun. A romance that is grounded in a no commitment theory that quickly becomes everything.
A fun read that was binge worthy and definitely a read that kept my mind off of sitting on my couch contemplating the real world. An escape to the beach and romance!
I can not wait to add this paper back to my collection of the Dating series.
Take two commitment-phobes throw in super hot chemistry and sit back and watch the show. Carter and Stella had some really great banter. So many wonderful secondary characters as well. Really enjoyable read.
This was an “easy” read and sometimes is just what is needed….great characters…HEA
Moved a little too slow for me. Loved the family dynamic.
Loved the book
It tackled on how people look at relationships these days.
I loved this story! Monica Murphy is an author I read whenever I can. She definitely did not disappoint with this book. I love how her characters reach into your heart and become one with the reader. Like many of her other wonderful stories, this one was hard to put down. Who am I kidding? I read it all in one night! I can’t wait for the next one.
Really enjoyed the storyline. A cute and fun read. Got the whole series – did not disappoint! Totally recommend it.
Enjoyed reading this all in one sitting. Humor interjected throughout the book…her grandmother was a hoot with her comments about Carter, but right on the mark. Good job.
Fun quick read
Stella and Carter drove me crazy. I did not like them. I almost stopped reading several times. But, then the author would come up with something that made me laugh, so I kept reading. I did like Nonna. I found them lucky to have the friends that they have … especially the 3 sets that have already resolved and matured in prior stories. Part of the issue for me is that her Italian family becoming very wealthy from a Starbucks type store in Carmel is just not believable for me.
Loved this book! Real life scenarios that catch you up but don’t let you down – awesome! Stella is a strong character and is beautifully balanced by Carter”s love. Wonderful!
A good story, but too much explicite sex or better rating.
03/22/2021 “Hate to Date You” (nook) was a cute book. I liked how Carter and Stella hooked up for one night and gradually got involved. Of course there was heartache because both thought that they had messed-up. But, they took a chance and found a HEA. I actually rate “Hate to Date You” as 4-1/2 stars.
A hot and steamy “second chance romance”. This was cute, entertaining, and a little frustrating. Stella and Carter felt their feelings for each other through the majority of the story. Oh, they let their lust drive them together but they fought hard to move forward. I enjoyed their journey.
“I like you, Stel. I like you a lot.”
Stella can consider herself a woman ahead of her time. With a blasé attitude when it comes to relationships, this barista with an overprotective family prefers casual dates to the search for the prince charming. But perhaps, the right person has already crossed her path, however much she tries to deny and forget.
Carter is back in his hometown after a long time. With no job, this ambitious workaholic needs to slow down and figure out what direction to take in life. With so many events, facing Stella’s wrath can be distracting. Or a nightmare.
When Caroline, Carter’s sister and Stella’s best friend decides to move in with her fiance, she innocently suggests that Carter move into her old apartment and become Stella’s roommate. The only problem: the night they spent together a year ago and Carter’s escape in the morning without saying goodbye.
And so, war is declared. The last one to go crazy is the winner. But you didn’t expect it to be a fair battle, did you? And between sharp words, animosity and a lot of confusion, maybe they will find that spending time together is not so bad. And that maybe the chemistry still exists and can turn into something more, if they admit what they feel. When a nosey and hilarious grandmother decides to play Cupid, the confusion only increases. And the decision to be “sex buddies” just puts more fire into that equation.
The book is funny, light and well written. Stella is a strong woman, determined and comfortable in her role. But even so, she shows vulnerability, fear and uncertainty. Carter is funny, focused and determined. I just thought he could be further explored. The question of his indecision as to the professional future, as to the direction of his life ended up being forgotten throughout the plot.
Fourth book in the series, the next one will be about Eleanor.
~4.5 STARS~
The Dating Series by Monica Murphy are interconnecting stories, and this one is the fourth book in the series! I loved Stella and Carter’s story. It was the perfect mix of sexy and sweet!!!!
Stella and Carter are quite a pair!!! While they are a driven pair, they find themselves at a crossroads of sorts in their lives. Stella is bored with her life. She has a good job in her family’s coffee shop, but she wants more. Carter had a successful career in California before coming back home, and he isn’t quite sure what direction he wants to take in his life. So, Stella’s roommate, BFF, and Carter’s sister, Caroline, suggest Carter stay with Stella until he knows what he wants to do. Plus, she won’t feel so bad moving out to be with her fiance. She has NO IDEA what she is asking, especially if she knew her brother and friend had a hot one-night stand a year ago!!!!
Even though they haven’t talked about it, unless Stella’s snarky comments or dirty looks count, the chemistry is still off-the-charts! It was fun to see their sexy banter back and forth, but I liked seeing them become friends mixed with their attraction sizzling under the surface. I kept hoping they would discover they had found the “one” in each other, even if it was fast. As her Nonna said, “Love can start in many ways. All encompassing. Fast and passionate. Slow and thoughtful. We each fall in love at the pace we’re meant to.” I felt like Carter and Stella were meant to be!!!!
Their romance was only a part of the equation. The two of them had to also discover who they were as individuals as well. I just love a relationship where they not only grow together as a couple, but they each grow as independent people as well. That just makes them better together.
I can’t leave this review without giving my thoughts on Stella’s family. They were overprotective, and at times, I thought didn’t give Stella or her grandma the respect they deserved. It did come from a place of love though. My favorite was her Nonna. She was the best…she was feisty and a bit of a matchmaker. She had a lot in common with her granddaughter. That is probably why they had such a special bond!!!!
I haven’t read the other book in the series, but I have to say Murphy has made me a fan, and I can’t wait to get to know the couples in the other books!!!
3.5
“It’s dangerous, how much I like this woman. She makes me forget. She makes me want more.”
I was so charmed by these characters! And the heroine is talking directly to you in the beginning – I though that was so amazing, refreshing and cute.
Roommate stories are my gem. And Monica did not disapoint with Hate to Date You. I love her writing, her books are one of my favourites and this one gets easily stored in a ‘good’ pocket of mine.
Loved it!
“The a**hole snuck out while I was sleeping and I haven’t seen him since. No text, no note on the pillow or lipstick on the mirror saying had a great time, TTYL.” Yes, Stella isn’t likely to forget any of THAT! But Carter is her best friend’s brother. There will be necessary contact, as in the same room, because her best friend’s wedding will be coming up. But no way in hell did Stella see herself as actually sharing an apartment with Carter! What has she gotten herself into?
Carter definitely has a thing for Stella. He screwed up big time when he “hit & run” her a year ago. Now that they are sharing an apartment, he’s rethinking the ability to keep his distance. He can’t figure out for the life of him why he wanted to in the first place.
I love this series by Monica Murphy! I continue to look forward to each new book!
Love/Hate relationship at its best!
This installment of Monica Murphy’s Dating books is just what the series needed. Each installment brings a fun new relationship.
Best Friend’s Brother… Definite No No… Even worse when you end up living with the guy after he acts like it meant nothing.
Stella and Carter have known each other for years. She has had an attraction to Carter for years and now after a year away, Carter is back in town. To her luck, or not, Carter is now her roommate. He walked away from his life in Los Angeles and has to rebuild himself.
This series continues to get better and better. While I love all the couples, Stella and Carter find a way to overcome what is holding them back personally and open up to the person that they have found a connection to. It isn’t the easiest journey.
While this is a standalone, it doesn’t hurt to read the other books in the series. You get to meet the secondary characters and you appreciate how much these two deserve to find that special someone! But either way this was a great read form Monica Murphy!