USA TODAY BESTSELLER • A game of seduction between two best friends goes deliciously wrong in an irresistible Oxford Novel that brims with wit and sexual tension. Library Journal hails Layne’s work as “exemplary contemporary romance.” Brit Robbins knows that dating in New York City is hard—she just hoped to have it mastered by age thirty. But after yet another promising suitor says they have no … after yet another promising suitor says they have no sparks, Brit decides it’s time to torch her dating game and try a new plan. And who better to coach Brit through the art of seduction than the guy who first gave her the “let’s be friends” card?
Hunter Cross has always figured there’s nothing his best friend Brit can do to surprise him. But Brit’s request is a surprise he doesn’t see coming—and one he’s definitely not prepared for. Hunter and Brit have always been careful to keep things perfectly platonic, but the fake dates and faux flirting are starting to feel like the real deal. And soon Hunter realizes he has taught Brit too well. Not only has she become an expert at seduction, the man becoming thoroughly seduced is him.
Praise for I Think I Love You
“This girl always makes me smile—another must-read by Lauren Layne.”—New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett
“Poignant, sexy, and romantic . . . I Think I Love You will leave readers wanting more.”—Tracy Goodwin, internationally bestselling author of Ice Hot: A New York Nighthawks Novel
“I Think I Love You is a sweet, charming, sexy friends-to-lovers story and a fun return to the Oxford/Stiletto characters. I can always count on Lauren Layne for a five-star read!”—Jessica Lemmon, bestselling author of Rumor Has It
Lauren Layne’s New York Times bestselling Oxford Novel series can be read in any order:
IRRESISTIBLY YOURS
I WISH YOU WERE MINE
SOMEONE LIKE YOU
I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE
I THINK I LOVE YOU
Don’t miss any of Lauren Layne’s hot reads:
The Love Unexpectedly series: BLURRED LINES | GOOD GIRL | LOVE STORY | WALK OF SHAME | AN EX FOR CHRISTMAS
The Sex, Love & Stiletto series: AFTER THE KISS | LOVE THE ONE YOU’RE WITH | JUST ONE NIGHT | THE TROUBLE WITH LOVE
The Redemption series: ISN’T SHE LOVELY | BROKEN | CRUSHED
The I Do, I Don’t series: READY TO RUN | RUNAWAY GROOM
Includes an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
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I Think Love You is a super sweet and swoon-worthy romance. It is the ultimate friends to lovers/workplace romance. The characters are real and easy to connect with. Their story will suck you in and keep you glued to the pages. It’s the kind of story that you can easily devour in a single day and that will leave you with a ridiculous smile on your face.
I Think I Love You is a fantastic addition to The Oxford Series and follows the story of Hunter and Brit. Hunter and Brit are the best of friends. Brit knows she can count on him for anything. So, when her dating life produces less than perfect results, Brit decides she needs help in the seduction department. And who better to call on for help, but her BFF, Hunter…When Hunter hears Brit’s request, his world is knocked off its axis. To him, Brit is the total package and even though he knows he shouldn’t, he can’t help but agree to his friends request. Will Hunter and Brit be able to keep things strictly friendly? Or will all these lessons uncover a passion unlike any Hunter or Brit have ever experienced? There’s only one way to find out….
I absolutely adored Brit and Hunter together. They had the best friendship and the most explosive chemistry. It’s the kind of chemistry that is so palpable, you can feel it oozing off the pages. It’s the kind of chemistry that everyone around them can see and will be left wondering how long Brit and Hunter can ignore it. I knew from the moment that Brit came up with her “I need to learn to seduce” plan that things were going to head in a certain direction. But, that didn’t stop me from enjoying the story. Nope. There is just something about a Lauren Layne book. I can’t help but get lost in the characters and their story. And when it comes to Hunter and Brit…I just couldn’t get enough of the two of them. I mean their pull was just insane and I appreciated how careful and real they were about what was happening. They knew the risks, but sometimes you have to jump in order to get what you’ve always wanted…
I Think I Love You was the perfect icing on the cake to The Oxford Series. I loved everything about it from beginning to end. From smart writing to a sweet story-line. To familiar faces and happy endings. To swoon-worthy romance and light drama. This story was just the read I was looking for.
Favorite Quotes:
That man was the physical form of halitosis.
“If I use some of your face stuff, will I grow ovaries?” “Nah,” she said, not lifting her eyes. “Just leave your man card on the table, and we’ll be even.”
“It’s gardenia,” she said, as she turned him around and began washing his back. “And it’s nice. I bet Lincoln would like it.” … “Because he’s like an old woman trapped in Clark Kent’s body,” Hunter grumbled.
My Review:
I have enjoyed each and every witty and amusing book in this series, as I adored each and every one of the enticing Oxford crew. I groove on Lauren Layne’s breezy writing style and clever humor. Her uniquely flawed yet endearing characters tend to be whip-smart, alluring, and more than capable of holding their own with snappy retorts and witty banter. If this is truly the last installment, I’ll miss this distinctive grouping of friends and beautiful New Yorkers.
Oh, how I loved this story! I was so excited to know that the Oxford series was book. Brit and Hunter’s story did not disappoint. There’s something about friends to lovers that I just can’t get over, this story was no different.
I’ve always been intrigued with Hunter since we first learned about him. Lets just say I feel hard for Hunter in this story. Watching Hunter and Brit interact was so much fun. Seeing them navigate Brit’s request to Hunter was hilariously awkward at first and then the magic happened. There was something about these two and I think it was the strong relationship of friends that created their amazing connection and made their story perfect for them.
I couldn’t put their story down. It was exactly what I needed when I started to read their book and had me out of my book funk at the end of it.
I received I Think I Love You by Lauren Layne from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. This is the 5th and last book in her Oxford Series but can be read alone as I have never read anything by Lauren Layne. However, ALL the other couples from the series are in the book as they are a close knit friends circle. I will be going back and reading all the other stories.
Brit Robbins and Hunter Cross are best friends that work at Oxford together. After Brit has a string of break ups with “let’s be friends” card, she enlist Hunter to help her turn sexy. At first, Hunter turns her down, however, when he sees Brit flirting with another man, he steps in “for Brit’s protection.” When the lessons start, the heat between these two explode. But Hunter knows he is going home so can he continue falling for Brit, and leading her on, if there isn’t a future for them?
Wonderful slow burn romance between two people who truly start as friends. It is difficult to balance that male/female friendship in the beginning but I think Layne did it perfectly showing the ease of friendship. Wonderful heat as the relationship evolved and conflict between the two seem genuine. On a side note, THIS COVER IS EVERYTHING!!! So Sexy and appealing and the reason I even requested this book. I am looking forward to reading more by Lauren Layne. #IThinkILoveYou #NetGalley
* A review copy was provided by the author/publisher via Netgalley for the Blog Tour *
This book was so great and enjoyable but it is also bittersweet. This book marks the end of a series, but really two series. Both the Oxford Series and the Stiletto Series are wrapped up with this final book. I loved reading this book because I got to reconnect with all the past couples as far back as Julie and Mitchell (Book 1 Stiletto Series)
I Think I Love you is the final book in the Oxford Series by Lauren Layne. It can be read as a complete standalone, but this is a series that I would suggest reading in order to get the full experience of these friendships. Plus you do see ALL the past couples from both series so you might want to meet them first, but you don’t have to. This story is told in Dual POV in the third person. I loved the storyline and all the characters.
This is a sweet, sexy and entertaining friends to lovers/office romance. There was just enough angst to keep you turning the pages and I loved the added little bit of the forbidden being and office romance. But what I loved the most about this story was Brit and Hunter’s friendship. I laughed, swooned, yelled, and even shed a tear for them. But I wouldn’t expect anything less from a Lauren Layne book.
We follow Brit and Hunter’s friendship in this installment to the series. Both Brit and Hunter work at Oxford and have been best friends for over 6 years. So when Brit feels like her love life has stalled and she keeps getting put into the “friend zone”, who better to turn to for advice then her male best friend Hunter. To say he isn’t on board right away is putting it mildly. But with some coaching and advice from the other Oxford males, he decides to help. Can Brit and Hunter keep things platonic?? What happens when they cross that line?? What happens when Hunter has to make a tough decision?? Can these two find their HEA?? Read this fun friends to lovers romance story to find out.
I LOVED seeing all and reconnection with all the past characters in this book. I thought Lauren wrapped up these two series perfectly. Although I will miss this cast of characters quite a bit, good thing I can always reread these books….and I will!!!!
I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Lauren Layne’s books or who have already read the other books in this series. You don’t want to miss this ending!! But if you haven’t read any books by Lauren or any of the books in this series….What are you waiting for. Start reading these wonderful books!!!
4 “You Mean Everything To Me” Stars!
Brit Robbins is a beautiful woman living in Manhattan. She has a great apartment, fabulous friends, and an amazing job at Oxford Magazine. The only thing missing is her Mr. Right. After yet another break up, she’s beginning to wonder what’s wrong with her. The men of New York didn’t seem to take her seriously as girlfriend material. She was attractive, loyal, friendly, and made people feel comfortable. She dated, but things never made it to the next level. She’s often treated like one of the guys. It was like she was locked in the perpetual friend zone.
She decides she needs a new strategy and a plan. She wants romance, love, passion, and her happily ever after. She also wants to feel uncontrollable all-consuming lust. She comes to the conclusion she needs a teacher. An expert, someone to be her love coach. To teach her how to seduce a man, and be sexy. She picks her best friend and boss Hunter Cross, who she trusts more than anyone. He’s extremely hot, charismatic, and has the experience she could benefit from. He’s dated a lot and was a bit of a playboy.
Hunter has been best friends with Brit for the past six years. He cares deeply for her, but his feelings for her have always been platonic. They were close, and talked work, relationships, and everything in between. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for her, but then she stuns him with her request to give her a lesson in the art of seduction. He reluctantly agrees, and helps her to just feel, and not overthink things so much. She’s tired of being the pal, and wants to be seen by men as a desirable woman. She just needs some pointers on how to get guys to fall for her.
It’s awkward at first, and their uncomplicated relationship suddenly is overflowing with sexual tension. Things feel different as they become really aware of one another for the first time. There is flirting, intense attraction, jealousy, and soon everything has changed between them. Their plan derails when their pretending becomes something real. They both find themselves wanting more and best friends turns into best friends with benefits. Brit has finally found that spark she’s been looking for, and Hunter realizes he’s taught her maybe a little too well, as he figures out he’s the man she’s thoroughly seducing.
I really enjoyed this friends to lovers office romance that takes place in the Stiletto/Oxford world. This was a fun, flirty, sexy story about two best friends who find love in the last place they expected. I adored Hunter and the special relationship he had with Brit. I love this series and this author’s writing.
Knowing that this is the final book of Lauren Layne’s Oxford series, I went into it feeling nostalgic, excited, and a bit sad. I have loved these characters. I have enjoyed every minute of time I spent with them. And I will miss them terribly.
I think it’s fitting that Lauren Layne concludes with Hunter and Brit’s story. We’ve seen flashes of them throughout the series, and we knew–as did their friends and co-workers–that there was more to this whole “we’re just best friends” thing, even if they had no clue. Fortunately, the clue hits them big time and in the most delightful, fulfilling way.
It starts as a favor: Brit wants Hunter to help her become more appealing to men. What neither anticipates is that she will become more appealing to HIM, and vice-versa. My favorite moments in this book were the little ones as Hunter and Brit discovered that they might just love each other romantically: the way he notices how she looks in jeans, the way she reacts when he touches the small of her back. FABULOUS.
Not that anything will come easily to them. Lauren Layne sets up their inevitable conflict, going in a direction that is neither predictable nor hackneyed. This shows respect for her story and her characters. I enjoyed how she incorporated characters from other books in the series, whether as friends, bosses, or a Greek chorus of sorts. They help Hunter and Brit understand how they feel about each other and the problems they face, and they help them figure out what to do about it.
The epilogue is bittersweet, and you can sense that it is for Lauren Layne, too. These two series and their characters have brought us joy, broken our hearts, and delivered the quiver. They have been our friends, and for that, I am quite grateful.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing — Loveswept for a copy of this book.
I love Lauren Layne. The final installment of the Oxford series focuses on Brit and Hunter. These two BFF work together and have a connection unlike any they have with other people. After Brit’s latest date with a guy, she realizes (with the help of her friends) that guys treat her like a friend. She never feels special with them and it’s always insta-friend zone. So she asks Hunter to teach her how to date/seduce men. And if you have ever read a romance novel, you know what comes next. I love the two of them together. They call each other on their BS, talk to the wee hours of the morning and have great sex. They were friends first. Which is great. I just think that I need to take break from the friends to lovers trope for a while. It annoyed me because it seemed to reinforce that men and women can’t be friends in romance novels and dang it, I want that to happen more than it does without it developing in to something more or one of them being gay.
I gave the book a solid 3 out of 5 stars. It’s a good book. It’s not one I will rave about but I didn’t hate it, it was light and sexy and had good characters. Great vacation or Sunday afternoon read.
I Think I Love You is a hit for readers who love the friends to lovers trope, great banter (Lauren Layne is the queen of banter), and the perfect balance between light/fun and endearing/romantic.
I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.
Hunter Cross has been best friends with his senior production manager, Brit Robbins, at Oxford magazine for 6 years. But Brit has a problem. While all their friends at Oxford and the sister magazine, Stiletto (like Men’s and Women’s Health), seem to have paired up and found their someone special, she seems to be put into the friend category by all her dates. So she asks her best friend, Hunter, to be her dating coach, like Will Smith, in the movie Hitch. Hunter reluctantly agrees, but as he helps her, he finds that their relationship shifts and he doesn’t want anyone else dating her.
Although this is the 5 and last book in the series, it is the first that I have read, but worked for me as a stand alone. While there are quite a few secondary characters from the previous books, enough context is added when each is introduced, so that it is not an issue. The main characters are masterfully developed as their relationship shifts. Friends to lovers stories are especially close to my heart, as I married my best friend 39 years ago.
I Think I Love You is one of those sweet and sexy romance books. It’s a friends-to-lovers. It’s adorable. It’s fun. I want a Hunter for myself. And I want friends like those who work at Stiletto and Oxford.
This is the last book in the series, but the first one I’ve read. Backwards, I know. And not something I usually do, but it’s really a series of standalones and this can be read without the others. I was content knowing the secondary characters were all in other books, but not upset that I didn’t know their stories (I will one day because they were just too much fun to not read).
Hunter and Brit are best friends. The ultimate best friends. They talk to each other about everything and would do anything for the other.
Which is exactly what Brit is counting on when she asks her best friend to help guide her in the ways of dating.
What neither of them could have foreseen were the feelings and sparks that would fly when they pretended to break that friendship barrier.
I couldn’t put this down. Seriously. I wanted to read through the night, but sleep called my name. They were just so much fun and it was so entertaining to watch them fall for each other. You should definitely give this book a read. You’ll feel good when you’re finished.
“Trust me on this. The key to being irresistible? Quit trying so dam hard to be everyone’s best friend. Just be you.”
“Says my actual best friend.”
This author is new to me. I thought this was a really cute friends-to-lovers story. I didn’t realize that it was #5 in a series. There’s a lot of secondary characters throughout the book so sometimes it got me confused on who was who, but I still enjoyed the story. Hunter and Brit are great friends and they really are cute together. It does make me want to check out the 4 other books in the series since every couples back story sounded good.
I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve read several of Lauren’s books at this point – she is rapidly becoming a staple in my stack – so I was really excited to read this one. Combined with the fact that it’s a tension-between-best-friends scenario, I was all in. And I hate to say this but it was only okay.
There were parts I liked and thought really worked. And I loved seeing the progression of the supporting cast. But overall, I wasn’t as into it as I’ve been with her other works. There were almost too many characters and it took away from Hunter and Brit’s storyline. There were times when Brit felt rather annoying.
If you enjoy Lauren’s work and have been following the Oxford and Stiletto series, I’d definitely recommend reading this one. If this is your first introduction to her writing, I’d start elsewhere.
LOVED, loved, loved! This is a fabulous friends to lovers story with the added bonus of seeing all my Oxford/Stiletto favorites. Humor filled, fun, and sexy is what comes to mind to describe this book. When his best friend Brit Robbins asks Hunter Cross to help with her dating woes what else can he do but say sure why not. One fake date and Hunter knows nothing but trouble can come from this arrangement. Now how to get out of it without ruining the friendship. Is that what he wants? What does Brit really want?
Don’t miss this one. I highly recommend it.
I freaking love this series and really sorry to see it end but as with all good things we knew it had to come to a conclusion at some point. This was a good one to wrap it up and all the secondary characters from previous books have come back for cameos throughout the book. Brit Robbins is finding it hard to find a man or at least a man who will stick. She turns to her best friend and boss, Hunter Cross, for help as her “love coach” to teach her how to date and the art of seduction. The only problem with that is the teaching takes a turn and who is seducing who and is it for real and are the feelings for real? It was so fun to watch these two circle each other and figure out how to make it work. Definitely a fun and satisfying read and this can be read as a standalone.
Brit Robbins is nearing a certain age when most women have already met “the one” and have begun to settle down, but her one just hasn’t wandered in to her life yet, there have been plenty of Mr. Wrong’s though. Her most recent break-up has her thinking it is her that might be the problem, so she decides to shake up her approach to dating, and she has the perfect man in mind to teach her the ways of seduction. Hunter Cross always seems to have good luck with the ladies and she is thinking he can teach her a thing or two…. she wants to learn how to seduce the right man, and she finds him, just not the way she expected, or who she expected!
Once again I am left in awe of Ms. Layne and her talents, she has created a mesmerizing story here, with some unforgettable characters that I fell for as soon as I opened the book! They drew me right in, dazzled me with their wonderful story and kept me up into the wee hours of the morning flying through the pages until I had devoured every last one! As much as I have loved the previous installments in the series, I have to say she saved the best one for last, there was so much to love about this one, it struck a cord with me, and left an impression that is certain to stick around for a while. This is a series I think everyone should add to the top of their reading lists, each one is crafted to make you swoon, make you smile, and make you fall in love… and I guarantee you’ll find that and much more!!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title
I enjoyed this 5th book in the Oxford series by Lauren Layne. It was funny, entertaining, and well written.
Brit is feeling a bit low about herself, as she can’t seem to find a long-term boyfriend.
Hunter is her boss, and has been her best friend years, and agrees (kind of) to help her figure out how to hold on to a guy for multiple dates…
That can’t go wrong, can it???
There were times I was so frustrated by the characters and their actions that I growled out loud and my hubby laughed at me. Their lack of communication drove me crazy!!!
This was a wonderful read, and I would recommend it!
Okay, so I’ve read quite a few of Lauren Layne’s books, and have really enjoyed all of them, especially this series, so I was very excited to get the opportunity to read the final book in the Oxford Series. For me, this book started out really slow, in fact, I almost chose not to finish it, but given I loved the other books, I decided to forge forward to see if it was going to pick up. Thankfully, after about the fourth chapter it became a very enjoyable, humorous, hot and sexy story. I’m okay with the friends to lovers books, loved Hunter and Brit as really good friends, didn’t really like the “coaching” aspect of the relationship, but when things finally turned it was soooo well worth sticking with the story. I adore the other characters in this series, everyone just seems to melt together into this very close knit group of great friends, really a very funny and down to earth group. Closing epilogue was great, although I would love a follow up book to close up certain relationships, I’m just that kind of romantic person who wants details of great characters in a complete closure, but I get it if the author is done. Loved the series, and really enjoyed this book once it got past the first few chapters.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book
Brit and Hunter work together and are best friends. Hunter is Brit’s boss and she asks him to give her lessons on flirting. She feels like all the guys she dates sees her as just friend material and she wants more. Their lessons turn into more and they have sex. They think they can handle it until Hunter gets some news and decides to return to him hometown. Without telling her until he’s about to leave, Hunter knows he’s messed up by not telling her sooner. Can he convince the woman he’s fallen for to give them a chance?
Best friends to lovers story. Romance. Sex. Funny. And sad. Loved it. Sorry to see the series end.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for Netgalley *