A Goodreads Best Romance “Fans of The Devil Wears Prada will flip over Love on Lexington Avenue.” –Karen Hawkins, New York Times bestselling author From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne comes the second delightfully charming installment in the Central Park Pact series, following a young widow whose newfound cynicism about love is challenged by a sexy, rough-around-the-edges … cynicism about love is challenged by a sexy, rough-around-the-edges contractor.
There are no good men left in New York City. At least that’s Claire Hayes’s conviction after finding out her late husband was not the man she thought he was. Determined to rid her home of anything that reminds her of her cheating husband, Claire sets out to redesign her boring, beige Upper East Side brownstone and make it something all her own. But what starts out as a simple renovation becomes a lot more complicated when she meets her bad-tempered contractor Scott Turner.
Scott bluntly makes it known to Claire that he only took on her house for a change of pace from the corporate offices and swanky hotels he’s been building lately, and he doesn’t hesitate to add that he has no patience for a pampered, damaged princess with a penchant for pink. But when long workdays turn into even longer nights, their mutual wariness morphs into something more complicated–a grudging respect, and maybe even attraction…
Filled with laugh-out-loud scenes that blend perfectly with the touching friendships Layne brings to life on the page, this “hugely entertaining” (USA TODAY) novel is perfect for fans of Lauren Weisberger.
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A cute read with lots of pink wine!
Gruff contractor Scott and buttoned up Claire are adorably mismatched and inevitably meant to be.
4.5 STARS!
Love on Lexington Avenue is the second installment in the Central Park Pact series by Lauren Layne. This charming second chance romance follows a young widower and a brooding contractor.
Claire Hayes has just turned 35 and she has come to the realization that she’s vanilla and… boring. She needs some strawberry lemonade in her life. Determined to rid her home of any reminders of her past, Claire sets out to redesign her home and make it her own. Enter Scott Turner, the gruff, brooding, and rather rude contractor assigned to take on Claire’s project. However, sooner rather than later Claire realizes she’s in way over her head with this particular project and man.
Scott Turner needs a change of pace from the corporate world and he’s more than ready to take on the challenge of Claire’s house. He makes it perfectly clear that he will not put up with a damaged pampered princess on his job site. Cue in the sexual tension and chemistry. The more time Claire and Scott spend together the more their attraction for one another grows. They are two very different individuals, scorned previously by love, yet they find love where it’s least expected. Yes! The sweet, sweet angst.
Thank you, Lauren for another wonderful story. I’m so freaking ready for Audrey and Clarke’s novel! It may just be my favorite
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Gallery Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*
LOVE ON LEXINGTON is another 5 star++++ book from one of my favorite 1-click authors, Lauren Layne.
A year ago, socialite Claire discovered her husband had been cheating on her with 2 other women on the day of his funeral. These three women formed a tight bond, determined to never let themselves be taken in by or used by men again.
Claire want to change her vanilla life, so she decides to rehab her upper east side house and Contractor Scott comes into her life on a friend’s recommendation. The house starts to look better and Clair and Scott form an unusual friendship where he gives her advice on how to change her life even more.
I hate spoilers and there are a few in this book that I really want the reader to discover by themselves ( cuz they’re fab!) so I’ll leave the narrative there. Suffice it to say, this book is filled with usual and thought provoking Layne witty banter and relationship angst. To be able to take three women who were burned by the same man – a wife, a mistress, a girlfriend – and have them actually become friends and bond is an amazing feat. Think about it: could you be friends with your dead husband’s ladies? Layne makes their relationship so believable and so enviable!
She just keeps getting better with each book.
Wish I could give it more than 5 stars. Thanks to NEtgalley for a sneak peak. Get this book when it releases, kids. Get all of Lauren Layne’s books! You’ll never be disappointed.
Lauren Layne has another 5-star read on her hands. Love on Lexington Avenue was even better than the first book in the Central Park Pact series. I laughed, cried, and squealed at the chemistry between a bitter widow and a rough around the edges contractor!
Claire Hayes had given up on love. She was burned by the man she thought she would spend the rest of her life with. She made a pact with 2 of her husband’s mistresses. They would never let each other fall in love with a man who was a lie and a cheat.
Claire meets her new contractor, Scott, and things start to get interesting. He is arrogant, sexy, and has a dinosaur of a dog named Bob. The dynamic of their friendship is perfection. Scott was also burned by his previous fiancee and doesn’t want a relationship…EVER. One night stands are normal for him. He is a commitment-phobe and never stays in one place for too long. Claire seeks Scott’s assistance in becoming her wingman. She wants to find a man that she actually likes for a one night stand. She wants to get her groove back and picks up some good flirting/confidence skills from Scott.
Of course, their relationship begins to feel strained as feelings become involved. Claire has been told not to fall for Scott, but he makes her feel happy. And she hasn’t felt this way in a very long time.
Does he feel the same way? Is he capable of loving someone again?
So many questions that can only be answered by reading this delectable book.
Love on Lexington Avenue is a must read! I am so lucky to have read an early copy. I was so excited to read it after book 1 and so glad I did!
I give Love on Lexington Avenue 5 stars. It was an addicting contemporary romance with an awesome heroine in Claire Hayes. It reminds me that we are all capable of love even when we have been burned by a relationship. This book is for every person who has been through a rough breakup and has come out on top!Love on Lexington Avenue Lauren Layne
Very enjoyable. Poor Claire had so much to grieve for and I think she did a great job. I loved how she wanted to be Strawberry Lemonade. Despite everything she had been through, she put herself out there with Scott. He had some pretty legit reasons to be so closed off to a relationship, even if he would not acknowledge them. Claire was so strong and was not afraid to call him on it. Scott was a bit frustrating, but he redeemed himself in the end
I had so many butterflies in my belly while reading this book. I loved Claire and Scott and I loved how they both had to get over such heartaches. It is hard to put yourself out there, and it took a lot longer for Scott, but sometimes fate has other plans for you. Opening yourself up to the possibility of pain is never fun, but you really need to take the chance if you want to find true happiness.
3.5
I’ve must say I’ve truly enjoyed Claire and Scott’s story. Claire Hayes has been a widow for over a year now, and she finds herself in a moment where change is necessary so, she undertakes the renovation of her brownstone house, a house that she used to share with her late husband, the same husband that cheated on her numerous times. In the previous book (if you’d not read it, i’d recommend it, although not necessary to understand this story, but it’ll help you understand better the other characters and Claire herself) we’d get to see Claire as a good friend, poised and composed, however lonely. After her husband’s death, all she sees is herself as plain Claire, not the person she is underneath. Here’s where Scott and his four legged friend entered: Claire is set on renovating her house and Scott is the man to do it. As the days pass by, the late nights and the new project starts to take form, Scott finds himself drawn to Claire in ways he didn’t expect will ever happen to him again. Can they exorcise their demons and find their way to each other? Maybe they find that their happiness has been under their noses all this time.
Fun and romantic. Now I need to read the other books in the series…
This I give a solid 4 and I’m super stoked for Audrey’s HEA now!
I don’t know if it was because I was already familiar with the world and characters or because I just liked/related to Claire better than I did Naomi – but I enjoyed Love on Lexington Avenue more than Passion on Park Avenue almost immediately. From the way that Claire wanted to find herself again and the way that it affected her choices, to the stage in life that she’s in – it was just really easy for me to get into her headspace and I consumed this story like it was air. I’m a fan of gruff heroes and not only do we get that with Scott, we also discover (with Claire) that he is far more (and better) than meets the eye. Seeing them both deal and overcome betrayal and learn to move on is a completely cathartic experience. I just wish we got a little more heat. I also know that that’s going to bug me when I get to Audrey’s book, especially since we’ve been prepping for this coupling since book one. I’m still so ready for it 🙂 4 outo f 5 wine glasses.
The second installment in the Central Park Pact is a sweet, slow burn romance. Claire, a recent widow, hires a hot brooding contractor, Scott, to renovate her house. Claire wants to move on from her vanilla life; Scott is also looking for a change. Both have been hurt in their past relationships so they are very cautious about getting involved despite the obvious chemistry between them. You can’t help but root for them to address their baggage and realize how good they would be together. Lauren Layne gives them the perfect ending.
Claire and Scott are relatable character with witty banter and a great supporting cast (Naomi, Oliver, Audrey, and Clarke). I thoroughly enjoyed Love on Lexington.
I loved Claire and Scott’s story. This was cute and emotional with some steamy moments thrown into the mix. This group of friends have completely won me over. While I loved Naomi and Oliver, I have to say I think Claire and Scott have taken over as my favorite. I can not wait to see what comes next. Absolutely a must read.
CHICK LIT | WOMEN’S FICTION
Love on Lexington Avenue is everything I hoped it would be. Lauren Layne writes amazing female leads (something I have noticed in each of her books) which is one of the biggest reasons I always end up purchasing them. The women she writes are real, honest, flawed, strong, and relatable. In this series you can really see this. If you aren’t aware, this is a series of interconnected standalones that follows three woman who have a LOT more in common than they imagined. Each book features a different female lead, but they are connected by one man who cheated them all. You see, he married Claire (this is her book), was a boyfriend of Naomi’s (Passion on Park Avenue, book 1), and had a mistress named Audrey (Marriage on Madison Avenue, book 3, releasing January 28th). Sounds like a clusterfuck right? One would imagine these women would hate each other but that’s not the case. These three women came together in their time of need and became the best of friends. Each book tells their own story.
Claire is at the forefront of this book, but Audrey and Naomi are there too as secondary characters. I suggest reading the books in order so spoilers from Naomi’s book doesn’t ruin this one for you but it’s NOT totally necessary. Anyway, Claire is still reeling from the pain that her late husband caused with his womanizing. So, in order to “find herself” she decides to renovate her home into something more HER. In doing this she hires a man named Scott who is going to change her world, but one must wonder, is it for the better? Can two broken hearts and one free spirit really make it work? Or will the pressure be too much to bear. That’s what you’ll find out when reading Love on Lexington Avenue.
As I mentioned, Lauren Layne is a wiz when it comes to writing female characters and that is no different in this book. Claire is such a STRONG woman even though she doesn’t realize this for a long time. I certainly can’t blame her character as she’s been through a lot, but I can certainly relate. I think this is how many women will feel when reading.
That being said, I really loved this one and zipped through it in a day. I already have Marriage on Madison Avenue waiting on my iPad and am excited to dive into Audrey’s story. I have a feeling I’m going to love that one as well as Audrey seems like a fun character with a lot of flair!
Claire Hayes appeared to be the “perfect” Upper Eastside NYC wife. Her poise and polish looked good on the arm on her upwardly mobile “financier” husband Brayden. Yet Claire when is left widowed, she sees past the façade her husband created for them and realizes she lost herself to his vision of “them.” Her world imploded through no fault of her own when Brayden’s lies were exposed. As her husband’s betrayal leaves her in a weird suspended state of anger and grief, it also leaves her with the worn, outdated townhouse the Hayes inherited from Brayden’s grandmother. What can be more symbolic of purging her dead cheating husband than purging the townhouse of its bad wiring and wallpaper!
Enter Scott Turner, contractor extraordinaire with the people skills of a bulldozer. He has no tolerance for poor design, relationships and the color pink. With every intention of turning down Claire’s renovation project, Scott finds himself fascinated with the aged townhouse and with Claire. What follows from the first “meet-tense” is a lot of wit, emotion and paint colors as these two navigate each other. We the reader know all about Claire’s baggage, but we soon learn that Scott has just as much emotional junk as Claire has stuff in her spare bedroom. As walls in the townhouse come down, so do the walls Claire and Scott have built around each other.
From the first chapter in Book 1 of this series, no one deserved a HEA more than Claire! Ms. Layne crafted a well-written book with all the feels – the depressing, static existence Claire seems to be drifting in gives way through the chapters to watching Claire get her mojo back! As she finds her passion for life build, Scott discovers that maybe his nomad way of life is not the answer for him either. Along with his wing-dog Bob (trust me, you will love Bob) Scott renovates not just the townhouse but his and Claire’s life as well. With an absolutely perfect ending, I have big expectations for Book 3 in the Pact!
‘Love on Lexington Avenue’ is the second installment of Lauren Layne’s “Central Park Pact” series. The series features an unlikely friendship between three women: Naomi, Claire, and Audrey who meet in Central Park just outside of their respective lover, husband, and boyfriend’s funeral. They make a pact that they’ll help each other avoid the pitfalls of getting involved with another cheater. Naomi’s book is ‘Passion on Park Avenue,’ and Audrey’s is ‘Marriage on Madison Avenue’ (which is slated to come out in January 2020). This is Claire’s book.
Claire Hayes has just turned 35, and is struggling with how “vanilla” her life has become. Set almost a year after losing her (cheating) husband, she sees the vibrancy of her friend, Naomi, and the fearless optimism of her friend, Audrey, and feels a little stuck. She decides that a renovation of her home is just what she needs. Enter Scott Turner, a hugely talented, albeit gruff, contractor who agrees to take on the project. At first, Claire and Scott seem like oil and water, but, as the novel unfolds, we discover how deliciously opposites attract.
As a fan of Lauren Layne, I’m happy to report that this novel ticks all of the boxes. The chemistry between Claire and Scott is a delightful, sizzling slow burn, and the “not-quite-enemies to friends to lovers” trope is employed uniquely and entertainingly. It’s a great second novel to the series, and I have already preordered the third!
This book was just as great as book one. I love this series so far and look forward to the next book. I definitely recommend this book, this author, and this series.
A wonderful fun to read love story!
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Ruthie –
This is the second book in the series, and I would highly recommend that you read them in order – partly because it will give you a richer experience, but also because Naomi’s story is well worth reading!
Here we have Claire, Brayden’s widow, getting her chance to put the past to rest and start a new life. She has spent the last year planning her house renovations – done to her taste and style – but there is still a room in her house full of all of cheating Brayden’s possessions. Along with her new but dearest friends, Naomi and Audrey, we get to watch the subdued Claire blossom again.
Suggested by his good friend Oliver, the man who is going to do those renovations is going to restore more than just her building. Scott is enjoying a very successful life, travelling around the world designing interiors for huge corporations. However, he misses his dog, his friends, and knowing where is waking up in the morning – so, he has taken on a job that is not going to make him any money but gives him a break. Even after meeting Claire, he has no clue that his whole life is about to turn upside down!
Once again, Lauren Layne has given us some wonderful insight into the lives of those who live in New York and how thinking changes along with the street that you inhabit. It is refreshing, fun, and the women provide a fabulous place to escape to from the everyday.
Jordan –
I am a huge Lauren Layne fan and I have read several of her series, which I’ve enjoyed immensely! I always find myself completely drawn into her books and so easily invested in all her characters. Honestly, I am absolutely loving Layne’s The Central Park Pact series! I loved Naomi’s story in Passion on Park Avenue and I was so excited to get to read book two, Love on Lexington Avenue, which I also adored. The stories are set up so that they don’t necessarily have to be read as a series, but I think part of the charm of The Central Park Pact series is reading them all in order and I would recommend reading the first book, Passion on Park Avenue, before diving into the next.
I am always so pleasantly surprised with how easily Layne seems to grab my attention and hold it page after page. Also, I have to admit of the three women in this series, I was kind of the least excited about Claire’s story, but then I read Love on Lexington Avenue and I found myself totally rooting for Claire’s happily ever after! Plus, Layne’s main characters are always so easily relatable and exactly the kind of ladies I would love to spend the afternoon sipping mimosas with on the UES. Now, by the end of Claire Hayes’ story I was completely smitten with Scott, the love interest, but more importantly his dog, Bob. I loved everything about Scott and his dog, Bob!
I am more than ready to finally know Audrey’s story. Seriously, I am so beyond ready for Audrey’s book, Marriage on Madison Avenue, and I am certain it will surpass all my expectations! The Central Park Pact has definitely risen towards the top of my favorite series by Layne.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Claire’s turn to find herself, lose the baggage, and discover love. I bet you didn’t think she had it in her after the devastating blow she had last year. (Let’s be honest we all thought she would be last to find love again…for the first time!) I honestly had bets Audrey would go second because…duh, she already knows Prince Clarke even if she fights it. I’m getting ahead of myself.
Claire gets brownie points for finding love and finding herself at the same time. Poor woman was a meh white…or a boring beige. No longer though! Claire is rocking the perfect strawberry lemonade version of herself.
I love the crazy yet succinct way that Layne describes Claire’s “post cheating scumbag’s death crisis.” I love it almost as much as I love these women. They are a force and a sitcom waiting to happen.
Lexington Avenue’s prestige and a flannel wrapped contractor are just what the hopeless romantic ordered with a side of ridiculous of course, I mean who doesn’t love Home Depot runs!
Love on Lexington Avenue is the Happily Ever After- Claire Edition.
I just love this whole series.
Lauren Layne is the Queen of fantastic characters. They are interesting and compelling and people you so wish were real. Scott Turner, the gruff contractor and Claire Hayes, the newly cynical window fall right in line as they find their way to each other. Their story hits all the marks for me. It is deeply emotional, incredibly snarky and so romantic. And then there is Bob the dog. I loved every minute reading this story and had a serious book hang over.