A USA TODAY bestseller! One of O, The Oprah Magazine’s “22 Romance Novels That Are Set to Be the Best of 2020” and one of Goodreads’s “28 of the Hottest Romances of 2020” From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne, the “queen of witty dialogue” (Rachel Van Dyken, New York Times bestselling author), comes the final installment of the Central Park Pact series, a heartfelt and … final installment of the Central Park Pact series, a heartfelt and laugh-out-loud romantic comedy that’s perfect for fans of Sally Thorne and Christina Lauren.
Can guys and girls ever be just friends? According to Audrey Tate and Clarke West, absolutely. After all, they’ve been best friends since childhood without a single romantic entanglement. Clarke is the charming playboy Audrey can always count on, and he knows that the ever-loyal Audrey will never not play along with his strategy for dodging his matchmaking mother–announcing he’s already engaged…to Audrey.
But what starts out as a playful game between two best friends turns into something infinitely more complicated, as just-for-show kisses begin to stir up forbidden feelings. As the faux wedding date looms closer, Audrey and Clarke realize that they can never go back to the way things were, but deep down, do they really want to?
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As always, Lauren Layne delivers on the romance. Clark and Audrey were best friends and of course everyone around them could see how in love they were with each other way before they did. The ending gave me all of the butterflies. I’m not always about friends to lovers, but Clark coming to realizations at the end made my heart flutter. I only wished they both would have come to the conclusion way sooner. There was a lot of tension there, but it fizzled out until the ending. The ending made up for it though.
Lauren Layne’s books are as effervescent and delicious as a brunch mimosa. As soon as you read one, you’re going to want another — IMMEDIATELY!
This is the third book in the Central Park Pact trilogy and is best read in order, though not essential. Audrey has been branded a home wrecker by a Gossip Girl clone called SlanderBoy. The accusation hits hard given her guilt over her relationship with Brayden, the cheating husband whose accidental death brought the three friends together and was the impetus for the Pact they made to protect each other from bad men. Her best friend Clarke wants to end his mother’s meddling with his love life. So, when she tries to force a reunion with a former girlfriend, he fakes an engagement with Audrey to throw her off-track (the 3rd time he’s used this ploy). The ruse will help both of them, and they’ll be able to “break up” when the pressure is off. However, when the engagement gets extended and they have to convince everyone they’re in love, the friendship takes a decidedly romantic turn.
Although there’s no new ground covered in this friends-to-lovers story, there’s a reason Layne is an ace at contemporary romance. Her characters are gorgeous, wealthy, and genuinely nice people who readers want to rout for. This one lacks the steamy scenes of most of her other titles, but the kisses are titillating and sex is alluded to. Fans of this trilogy who are eagerly awaiting Audrey’s story won’t be disappointed.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Gallery Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
If anyone has ever read any of my reviews, yeah how could you not, just kidding, anywho back to the review I always, always enjoy when their is a group of friends thru thick and thin, and that started my enjoyment. Unfortunately, I started with this book, not realizing when I requested that this was the third book and last in the series, I so hate that and now I have to go back and start from the beginning because um how can I not? I also like friend to lovers books, why these two could not have figured it out sooner, I don’t know but then again we wouldn’t have a story.. So grab a books and enjoy!
Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author…(netgalley) voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions
This is a fantastic final book in the Central Park Pact series and I cannot recommend it enough! I absolutely adored this book, which isn’t surprising considering I loved the first two in the series. I felt like I was waiting for Audrey and Clarke’s story since we met them and Lauren Layne did not disappoint
This is a friends to lovers romance, which (to be 100% honest) is NOT my usual catnip. BUT Ms. Layne surrounds the couple with enough external conflict (and has made us wait for this story for SO LONG) that it worked for me!!
She saved the best for last!!
Lauren Layne has penned another amazing novel with Marriage on Madison Avenue, her third and final installment from the Central Park Pact series. This book focuses on Audrey Tate, a 29-year-old Instagram influencer. On the day of her boyfriend’s funeral, she learns that he was married and involved with another woman. An outcome of these circumstances, is the unique friendship that develops between Audrey and the two women who were in love with her boyfriend.
Thanks to her job and her family name, Audrey’s New York City lifestyle is quite luxurious. However, she takes nothing for granted and as a result, works extremely hard to keep her followers happy, while retaining and gaining new sponsors. Her best friend from childhood, successful businessman Clarke West, has always been her rock. So when he gets hounded by his uppity mother to get back together with his ex-girlfriend, he announces that he is engaged to Audrey. Although this is not the first time Clarke has used Audrey to deflect, it is the first time they both agree to continue with the farce. Their fake engagement allows Audrey to prove that she is not a homewrecker to both her followers and the gossip columnists. Overtime, their platonic friendship evolves into much more.
This story has a lot of sexual tension, without a lot of sex. Not only is Marriage on Madison Avenue filled with raw emotions from both main characters, it is the perfect combination of intricate plot, well-defined personalities and love. I immediately connected with both Audrey and Clarke and there was never a moment that I did not want them to be together. The secondary characters are unique in their own right and add a ton of background story to the present happenings.
This book may be enjoyed as a standalone. However, this series is so good, I recommend that you read all three novels!
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
I love this series. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the other women of the Central Park Pact and their beaus in the previous two books. But I know I can’t be the only one who was desperately waiting for this conclusion with Audrey and Clarke. All I can say is “Yay!” I absolutely adore this charming friends to lovers romance. Well written, swoony, and cute, I was so happy to have finally read this story. Lauren Layne made it very easy to root for all these characters.
The friendship between Aubrey and Clarke is everything!! They had great chemistry and wonderful banter. I just love how they could rely on each other leading to a fantastic slow developing love.
I’m a little bummed to see this series come to an end. The bond between the three women is better than ever in this final book. Still my favorite thing in this series. I can’t get enough of the uplifting, girl power between them. I love, love, love this series so much!!
So sad this series is coming to an end! After the first two books, I was so excited for the final book – Audrey’s story, and her take on what happened and the experience that brought these three ladies together. Similar to the previous two books, I loved the level of friendship and romance that Lauren provided in these books and how the storyline wasn’t fully devoted to the romance between Audrey and Clarke. Personally, after getting background information on both Audrey and Clarke in the previous books, I was so happy that they ended up together and was definitely rooting for them to come together. What set this book apart from typical friends-to-lovers storylines was the unique way they ended up together, and how it wasn’t because they realized after years of friendship that they had feelings for each other, but rather as a beard for each other and through that the feelings started to show their true form. I really enjoy Lauren’s style of writing and the pace of her storylines; the combination of the two provides a great total reading experience. Overall, I loved this storyline just as much as the others in this series and am so sad that it’s over!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
4.5 Stars!
Audrey Tate is a 29 yr. old New York socialite often referred to as the Madison Avenue princess. She’s a lifestyle blogger and social media influencer with over a million people following her every move. She loves her job, but hasn’t had much success in romance. What she did have was great friends. This includes her best friend since childhood. She couldn’t remember a time when Clarke West hadn’t been her person. He was her fiercest defender, and most loyal companion. He was the one person who knew her best, and she could always count on him for anything. That’s why, when he needs her to pretend to be his fiancée she agrees to a fake engagement.
Clarke West is a wealthy, charming gorgeous playboy who was raised on the Upper East Side. He has quite the reputation with the ladies, but that never stops his matchmaking mother from trying to control his love life. In a classic moment of rebellion, he announced to her that he’s engaged to Audrey. He always went out of his way to do the opposite of his mother’s wishes, and hoped she would now leave him alone.
Audrey has been Clarke’s other half since the age of seven. They shared a lifelong friendship, and she was the most stable relationship in his life. They cared about each other’s happiness, and she was his home. They’d always kept things strictly platonic, but during their fake engagement the lines of friendship become blurred as they start to enjoy the just for show kisses. Forbidden feelings ignite, and pretending begins to feel real.
As Audrey is planning the perfect dream princess wedding things get complicated between her and Clarke. She no longer believes in fairy-tales, but she can’t deny she’s feeling butterflies for the one man she never thought she would. Every day their feelings get a little clearer, and everything gets a little messier between them. As they start to want more will they decide to play for keeps, and will Audrey realize happily ever afters and Prince Charming’s do actually exist?
Marriage on Madison Avenue (Central Park Pact, #3) by Lauren Layne is a forbidden, friends to lovers romance. It’s the final installment in this wonderful series, and the book I’ve been so looking forward to. Clarke was super swoony, and this book had it all. Real long lasting friendships, humor, heat, romance, and love. I really enjoyed this story and this series!
SHE SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST!
Lauren Layne did it again! She saved the best for last! From the unique illustrated covers of series to the storyline of Audrey and Clarke, Lauren Layne ended the Central Park Pact series with just the right sentiment in Marriage on Madison Avenue.
Marriage on Madison Avenue is Audrey Tate and Clark West’s story. Friends their entire lives, they are center each other, save each other, and sometimes frustrate each other but they are never romantically interested in each other, or are they? The book finds these two in a fake engagement because Audrey, social media influencer, is being trolled by Scandal Boy on the Internet and Clark’s interfering mother is throwing his ex-girlfriend at him in hopes of a reconciliation. Audrey and Clark can handle this by being engaged.
The engagement kept progressing as if it were real. They are selecting calligraphy styles for invitations, tasting cakes, trying on dresses, putting deposits on locations in real time. And feelings were changing, or weren’t they?
The other storyline of the book is the deep friendship that has developed by three women, Naomi Powell, Claire Hayes, and Audrey. All women betrayed by one man, Brayden Hayes. The scoundrel was married to Claire and was having affairs with Naomi and Audrey at the same time when he died. The three women met the day of his funeral when they ditched the memorial and wound up at the same bench in Central Park. All three books of the series show how the women who bonded and grew as steadfast friends.
I admit it! I am an unabashed Lauren Layne fan for life!
This is the cutest series. I have been hooked since the first book. As I read each book those characters became my favorite, I can safely say Audrey and Clarke are now my favorites! I have been looking forward to these two and I was not disappointed. I loved being back in this world and more importantly seeing Naomi, Oliver, Claire and Scott throughout this book. I am so sad to see this series come to an end. This series introduced me to Lauren Layne and her writing and it has made me a huge fan of hers. I will definitely be reading more of Ms. Layne’s work. This book and series is an ABSOLUTE must read!!!
*cue infinite crying emojis* I so wasn’t ready to let go of these girls. My heart has grasped onto them. While I’m sad the series is over, I’ll forever be happy that I got to read the incredible journey these three beautiful ladies went on. I see many rereads in my future.
Just like with the previous two novels, this feels like you’re losing yourself in a movie. I read this in one sitting because the story swept me away.
Audrey has been my favourite since the very beginning so I very excited for this book. Especially since it combines two of my favourite tropes: friends-to-lovers and “fake dating”. While yes it’s “fake dating” to the extreme because it’s “fake fiancés”, it worked incredibly well for Audrey and Clarke. In the previous two books, they completely stole every scene they were in. Having a whole book for them is something precious.
While each love story was wonderful, the real highlight is the friendship that formed between Naomi, Claire and Audrey. Their love for each other is the real story… and it’s beautiful.
This book is such an amazing ending to a fantastic series!! I was really looking forward to reading about Clarke & Audrey’s friends to lovers romance and the way Lauren Layne approached this trope definitely didn’t disappoint! I certainly wasn’t expecting the whole “fake engagement/ fake wedding” approach, but it honestly worked so well for Clarke & Audrey that I totally bought into it. I loved the friendship between the 2 and as they began to realize that they loved each other… sooooo much fun!! I thoroughly enjoyed the development of the friendship between Naomi, Claire, and Audrey throughout the series, and being able to ‘watch’ each of the ladies fall in love was so much fun (and the men in the books are certainly HOT, HOT, HOT)!! If you’re looking for a fun and enjoyable shorter series to read, I’d highly recommend reading the Central Park Pact series… you won’t regret it!!
The last book in the Central Park Pact series brings the sweetest romance yet.
I’ve always been a fan of enemies to lovers, big fan. But, this book reminds of how much power a friends to lovers tale can have. First off, while this book could be read as a stand-alone its better if you have read the previous books on the series.
The conflict is very focused between the two characters, their growing feelings and the risks they are willing to take to protect each other. Audrey Tate and Clarke West have been friends forever, BFFs in a completely platonic fashion. For multiple reasons, they fake a marriage proposal, something they have done before, but this time it’s going a lot further than planned. For once Clarke isn’t scared of the idea and Audrey is actually loving the possibilities.
Watching Audrey and Clarke really fall for one another was great. They have this slow burn of awareness that emerges. Though they have a lot of internal baggage to sort through. Audrey believing she doesn’t deserve love because she dated a married man. Clarke believes he’s not good enough for marriage ever since an ex left him for a job opportunity without an invite. Either way, both characters have great chemistry and connection. It’s kind of surprising it’s taken them this long to come together. Look at this first kiss:
He stepped closer and gave her a fleeting smile, lowering his voice even further. “They’re onto us, darling.”
“What do you mean?” But she already knew what he meant. Knew that their engagement being a sham had somehow hit the rumor mill. And judging by Clarke’s atypically serious expression, something beyond a little petty gossip was at play.
“Smile,” he instructed, stepping even closer and sliding his hand around her waist. She smiled automatically, even as she registered that his hand had slid low on her back, his face needlessly close to hers.
“Clarke—”
“Brace yourself,” he said out of the corner of his mouth.
“What—” His lips closed over hers. Audrey’s eyes went wide in surprise before they moment as she tried to register the strangeness of Clarke’s mouth against hers before they instinctively lifted to rest on his chest.
It was no big deal, she told her thundering heart. Just a perfunctory stamp of a kiss to get the doubters to back off. It’d be over before she knew it.
Clarke’s lips moved against hers, his head tilting to the side, deepening the kiss slightly as his hand slid up her back, pulling her more firmly against him.
Audrey felt something strange and unfamiliar flutter in her stomach. Before she could identify it, Clarke lifted his head. His gaze stayed locked on her lips for a long moment, giving her a second to gather her thoughts.
Damn.
One thing Layne does really well is dialogue and turning up the heat. Though this series is very closed door, it’s still super sexy.
As for villains… the past and outside forces for both their jobs are the true evils in this piece, but quite easily conquered. Like I mentioned, this is more a growth and discovery romance versus big obstacles to overcome. I enjoyed this wrap on the series, and feel like readers who enjoy Helen Hunting or Sally Thorne.
Originally posted on Smittenbybooks.com – more reviews available there.
The Central Park Pact series has come to a beautiful end. In some ways, Lauren Layne saved the best for last. Audrey and Clark have been best friends, and only friends, since childhood. After Clark’s mother meddles in his love life once again, Clark decides to settle the issue once and for all by becoming “pretend” engaged to Audrey. And Audrey has been dealing with a cruel internet bully, so she is more than happy to play along. But a game between best friends morphs to something more. As Audrey grapples with her newfound feelings for Clark, Audrey’s best friends, and starts of previous books in the series, Naomi and Claire, are always there to provide moral support.
I was so excited to finally read Audrey and Clark’s book! Through the previous two books, we have gotten to know Audrey and Clark, so I felt invested in their story from the very start. We also saw a more vulnerable side to Audrey, which was refreshing.
This is a perfect winter read: full of New York glam, whimsy, and charm. I love that we were also able to follow Naomi and Claire’s stories as well. Although this is a standalone novel, I would definitely recommend reading the other two books first, so you can fully fall in love with all three strong and independent women.
Marriage on Madison Avenue is the perfect ending to a delightful series. Lauren Layne brings her signature effervescence to this wonderfully romantic novel, and, as is typical in a Layne tale, it’s full of characters who are interesting, three-dimensional, and who you wish were real.
Audrey Tate and Clarke West have been best friends since childhood. They’ve always had each other’s backs, even when it comes to announcing an occasional fake engagement (or three) to stave off persistent ex-girlfriends, matchmaking mothers and/or gossipy social media accounts. This time, however, it seems like said fake engagement just might stick. And Audrey and Clarke just might discover what others around them have expected for a long time: that they’re meant to be together.
First off, if you haven’t read the first two installments of the Central Park Pact series, do that, and then check back. Better yet, binge read all three for the first time (or again) and immerse yourself in the strength of an unlikely trio of friends who each overcome their own insecurities in empowering and unexpected ways. To me, Audrey has always been the character who has intrigued me the most, especially regarding her relationship with Clarke. So this book was the icing on the already delicious and decadent cake that is the Central Park Pact series.
For those of you who love a good romance without all of the explicitness, this novel will be right up your alley. All of the sexy time happens off-book, but there is still an ever-present chemistry (and some great kissing scenes) that is satisfying to read. It simmers before it boils, and is the epitome of romantic.
Layne knocks it out of the (Central) park again with Marriage on Madison Avenue. Add it to your TBR immediately, and thank me later.
We finally get Audrey Tate and Clarke West’ story! Audrey and Clarke have been platonic best friends their entire lives and are willing to do just about anything for each other….including having a fake engagement to thwart off Clarke’s mother.
As Clarke and his mother keep playing this one-up-manship game, Audrey and Clarke start to see each other in a different light and real feelings start to get involved. Can two life long friends really find the person they were meant to be with in each other? The answer is a resounding yes!
I just adored this story! It was so fun watching two friends slowly realize that there is more to their friendship than either of them thought. This story had parts that were sweet, sexy and even funny all wrapped up together and I just adored Audrey and Clarke. Of course Naomi, Oliver, Claire and Scott all make appearances in this wonderful story! I love this group and am sad that this is the last book in the series.
*4.5 stars*
Marriage on Madison Avenue is the third and final book in the Central Park Pact series, and what a terrific series this was! It is a complete standalone, but I would definitely recommend the first two in the series, because you do see all those characters in this one. And longtime Lauren Layne fans will recognize a few surprise cameos from characters in previous series!
This one follows Audrey and Clarke, who have been best friends for a long time. I loved all their interactions in previous books so I was very excited for their own book together! Audrey is an Instagram influencer, and she is getting quite a few trolls about her love life. Meanwhile, Clarke is telling his matchmaking mother, that he is already engaged to Audrey. They agree to a fake engagement, that turns real very quickly. There were so many cute moments between these two in the wedding planning process. Both characters were interesting and easy to like. The friendships between the girls was simply amazing, and definitely my favorite part of the series. Layne’s writing is impeccable as always, and we get the perfect epilogue to end the series! I will miss these characters so much! I highly recommend the entire series.
* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Marriage on Madison Avenue is the third book in the Central Park Pack Series and it follows the story of Audrey and Clarke. Audrey and Clarke have been best friends for as long as they can remember. Friends is as far as it has ever gone between the two of them, and both of them know they can count on the other, no matter what. So, when Clarke comes up with a wild idea to throw his mom off his trail, he knows without a doubt, that Audrey will have his back….It started off as a simple white lie and quickly spiraled out of control. Lines will become blurred and friendships will be tested. Things will about to become more complicated than these two friends ever bargained for. As time goes on, the deeper Clarke and Audrey will fall. Nothing will ever be the same again…..
I don’t know about you guys, but I have been waiting for Audrey’s story to get here. As the third member of the Central Park Pack, I just knew her story was going to a good one and author Lauren Layne does not disappoint. She combined the friends to lovers troupe with the fake relationship one and totally knocked it out of the park. These troupe combinations are ones that I live for. They give me all the feels and keep me devouring each and every word.
Clarke and Audrey had some amazing chemistry. Their friendship, the kind that stands the test of time. You could tell they cared deeply for one another and they would do anything for one another. I loved watching their story develop and their feelings change. These two kept me glued to the pages and I couldn’t help but root for them to get their happily ever after.
Marriage on Madison Avenue was everything that I was looking for. It was a wonderful addition to this series and I loved seeing Audrey’s story come to light. I laughed. I swooned. I fell head over heels for Clarke and Audrey, and hope you will too.
Marriage on Madison Avenue wraps up this series in a nice little bow. It’s been fun to see these ladies overcome what brought them together. To see them build this amazing and life-altering friendship. To see them go through all the ups and downs life has to give and find their way out the other side stronger and happier than ever. The Central Park Pact Series has been a joy to experience and I am totally sad to see it go……