Falling for the enemy has never been so deliciously complicated in this standalone romance where a sexy single dad meets his unexpected match! Get ready for all the feels!Never have I ever been so infuriated by a man I wanted to kiss.They say opposites attract, but I beg to differ. Combust is more like it. Because every single time I talk to Zach Nolan, I see red.The too-good-looking, too-smart, … red.
The too-good-looking, too-smart, too-effortlessly charming single dad who works down the hall from me has turned getting under my skin into a sport. Call it the battle of wits between the wedding planner and the divorce attorney.
Trouble is, when we’re forced into closer quarters planning an engagement party for our best friends, I start to see his other sides.
And I fear I’m falling for the enemy.
***
I’m not out to make friends. My goals are simple — fight till the end for my clients, and my family.
The last thing I need is a vibrant, outgoing, snarky, and surprisingly big-hearted wedding planner to spend my precious free time with…except, watching Piper bond with my daughter just might break down the cinder block walls I’ve built around my heart these last few years.
Second chances don’t come around for guys like me…or do they?
NEVER HAVE I EVER is a sexy, frenemies-to-lovers romance in the Always Satisfied series of standalones! The series includes SATISFACTION GUARANTEED, INSTANT GRATIFICATION, NEVER HAVE I EVER, OVERNIGHT SERVICE and the novella SPECIAL DELIVERY, and they can be read in any order.
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Ms. Blakely’s brilliance strikes again! Never Have I Ever is a delightfully fun and sexy enemies-to-lovers rom-com that checks all of the boxes. It’ll make you laugh and it’ll make you swoon as you fall head over heels for Zach and Piper. This is a complete standalone story but a few of Blakely’s prior characters pop up which is always a treat! But no prior reading experience is necessary so dive on in and enjoy this story!
Zach….oh how I loved him! I had a completely different opinion of him at the start and end of the story. He wasn’t what I initially thought he was and that’s something I loved! He’s sexy, smart and witty and his relationship with his kids is enough to make your heart melt. I swooned hard during those scenes! And his kids? Oh my word, Lucy and Henry were beyond adorable! I just loved them!!!! Then there’s Piper….she is the perfect heroine! Fun, energetic, snarky and successful, she’s the perfect adversary for Zach. These two ooze chemistry! Their romance is scorching hot and sexy! I just loved them together!
Blakely delivers the perfect rom-com full of entertainment and heat. I love a good enemies-to-lovers romance and this one fit the bill in every way. You’ll laugh and you’ll swoon and you’ll fall head over heels in love. This one’s a must-read! 5 stars
Since frenemies to lovers kind of romances are my weakness, it was such a pleasure to see it done exceptionally well in the way only Lauren Blakely can deliver. Never Have I Ever has that signature element of witty banter that has become the author’s trademark. But at the same time it’s the deep feelings that emerge when neither Zach nor Piper are looking that made my heart beat madly and completely as they fall head over heels in love.
The shark attorney and the fierce wedding planner could never have thought they would be friends let alone lovers. Their snarky exchanges softened a bit through the years due to Zach’s life as a single parent and Piper’s affection for his incredible kids. But at the core was still the roll your eyes kind of thought process as they just knew the other could push each other’s buttons like no one else.
But throw in a surprise engagement announcement from two of their closest friends and all bets are now off. I loved that they could now see each other in a different light and started down a road neither was truly ready for. Blakely once more threw caution to the wind, and put both Zach and Piper together as often as possible, letting their hearts and minds duke it out with this reader hoping they could finally see just what has been in front of them all along.
There is a sweet tenderness that is beyond sighworthy at how Zach handles his being a widower, knowing his kids are at the center of his very being. I admired his resilience and the way he knew that it was time to move on and simply won’t allow his ego to stop him from pursing Piper in the way that she deserves.
It’s a bumpy ride for both of them but with the fabulous backdrop of NYC, London and my favorite island in all the Caribbean, Anguilla, it’s one worth taking. Again and again. It’s that good!
This is consummate Lauren Blakely and one of those books you will want to read in one sitting. I did and I swooned, laughed and cried happily. A timeless nemesis to oh so much more kind of romance like no other, Never Have I Ever is deserving of a huge 5+ stars!
I’m a big fan of Lauren Blakey, and her ebooks and audiobooks are a must for me. Her stories are always solid, with a little bit of drama but not a lot of drama, and never over-the-top unrealistic drama and angst, so they are the perfect entertainment for me.
Jason Clarke and Amanda Ronconi are great narrators. Some of the best that I’ve listened to. Jason Clarke, in particular, is one of my favorite male narrators out there. Some male narrators make the female characters sound very whiney and high-pitched, and Jason never does. And Amanda is very good at male voices as well. Their acting range is great.
Zach and Piper’s love story is really organic and heartwarming. They aren’t really frenemies so much as Zach is just cynical when it comes to love and marriage, and Piper’s whole career is marriage orientated. But Zach was married, had a family, is a great single father now, and Piper is as drawn to him and his family as he is drawn to her. They can’t avoid each other, and they don’t want to, either. And for as cynical as Zach is, he’s not THAT cynical – he talks a good game, but he has a big heart and it’s obvious that he does still believe in love even if he doesn’t think he believes it.
As always, a fun, entertaining story from Lauren Blakely.
A fun romantic read set in NYC. Piper is a wedding planner, recruited to plan her best friends wedding to Zach’s best buddy. Piper is happy with her life, but deep down she would love to find her HEA someday. Zach is a single-dad to two great kids, Lucy and Henry. The chemistry between Zach and Piper is combustible from the beginning. Zach is working his way through the minefield of possibly dating again after losing a spouse. Will Zach allow himself to find love again? Lucy and Henry just ran away with my heart. She is so cute, sweet, thoughtful, and part matchmaker. She has developed such a sweet relationship with Piper. Piper has been in the same circle of friends with Zach since college. She has always found that their banter has been one zinger after another till they let their guard down. Never Have I Ever by Lauren Blakely has another super swoon-worthy hero and a strong, passionate, and beautiful heroine. Will Lucy be able to bring Zach and Piper together? Never have I ever enjoyed such hotness from one swoon-worthy, dirty talking, second chance at love Blakely boy and his super talented wedding planner. Totally give this read a double thumbs up!! PS…bring some tissues!!
Never have I ever…loved reading Lauren’s books. And this is where I would take a sip cause I enjoy them all! This story was a sweet and amusing read. Piper and Zach were great characters. I loved going through this journey with them. They had great banter that had me laughing constantly. But underneath that sorta-hate were real feelings. When all bets were off, Zach and Piper were amazing together. That wonderful banter continued but now it was also filled with sweetness and sexiness. They were so good together. I enjoyed seeing their relationship progress as the story continued. I also loved the friendship aspect in this book. It was endearing. Overall this was an lovely entertaining read. I was engrossed from beginning to end and I couldn’t get enough. I can never tire of Lauren’s books. They’re filled with great characters, fantastic storyline, and a lovely romance.
A definite favorite read by Lauren Blakely. A frenimes to lovers storyline with a seriously sexy single dad. The chemistry and banter between Zach and Piper is sizzling hot and swoony. I absolutely loved the supporting characters, almost as much as the main characters and Lucy absolutely stole the show. This read will put you through all the feels. I highly recommend this book.
I adored this book!!!!! Not only did I have the pleasure of reading it but my ears also had the pleasure of listening to it. This is an incredibly charming, funny and sweet story and I can say that the narration only adds copious amounts of goodness to the story. Amanda and Jason rocked it so hard as Piper & Zach!! This opposites attract frenemies to lovers story is simply everything! In my opinion Ms. Blakely can do no wrong in this RomCom genre!!!
These two characters are absolutely fantastic and so darn lovable! Zach is a divorce attorney and Piper is a wedding planner, is there anything more opposite than that? Zach is also a widower and single dad. OMG I love his children so much!! And it’s so swoonworthy and sexy how much he loves them!! I love every little thing from beginning to end about this book from the humor to the heat and all the other emotions it made me feel in between. Absolute Rom Com Perfection!!
4.5’s
You could call this book a second chance romance because each of them had experienced loved before but it’s really more a frenemy to lovers tale. These two have the same friends from college and have known each other for over ten years. As they hang in the same circles, they have the opportunity to share an office space in Manhattan. It is their thing to pay each other out so the banter starts out funny but over time turns more flirty and later on, dirty!
I loved Zach! From the onset he knew what he wanted, even when attending college. He had a dream life, until tragedy strikes. He has to keep a level head as he now has two kids to raise single handedly. And he does so brilliantly. He’s an awesome dad and a great provider. Piper has seen first hand how great a dad he is, and enjoys spending time with his kids more so than him! This all changes when they are maid of honor and best man at their friends wedding. Piper sees a different side to Zach, and I think he does with her too. He sees her sweet and salty manner and is smitten.
I always enjoy reading a Lauren Blakely novel. She takes you on a ride that is animated and passionate. They are jam packed full of humor and of course embrace a delectable love story. You can’t go wrong with any of her books and I highly recommend this one.
Never have I ever read a book that had so much fun with this game!
This was a delightful romance between two people who have been friends since college: a wedding planner who believes she’s plain and ordinary, and a widowed divorce attorney who is always placing bets on which marriages will last. Their offices are next door and they have the same circle of friends so their paths cross often, giving them enough practice at teasing and ribbing each other that they’re seasoned experts at pushing each other’s buttons, but neither has ever considered a relationship with the other.
Until finally the stars align and they find themselves in the perfect setting for an epic game of Never Have I Ever, where secrets are revealed and passion is ignited. There’s a little bit of angst involved, not just because of their opposing jobs and past history, but also because of his two young motherless children. This part of the story allowed for a slow-growing relationship that was full of emotional highs and lows, and culminated in one of the best proposal scenes I’ve ever read.
It’s a sweet story (with plenty of steamy parts) of a love that has finally found its time, and I enjoyed it very much. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
What a wonderful little book!
Well i say little but it really wasn’t but this author writes so well the books never seem long enough, your constantly wanting more.
Lauren Blakely really knows how to get your attention and keep it.
Piper and Zach’s whole dynamic got me. She’s a wedding planner and he’s a divorce lawyer! Opposite sides of the scale! But they do say opposites attract!
I loved how Zach was with his kids, being a single father has its moments but he was so good to his kids which makes him a huge sweet spot for me.
Piper she was a good egg, she helped everyone she could, she was loving and loyal and so down to earth i really haven’t got a bad word to say about her.
This book was really good and so worth the read! I loved seeing previous characters too!
Every time I download a new book by Lauren Blakely I grin like a Cheshire cat because I know it is going to be sweet and delicious. Never Have I Ever is her new standalone featuring Zach Nolan, a prominent widowed divorce attorney, and Piper Radcliff, a bubbly optimistic wedding planner.
Zach and Piper have the love/hate, push/pull relationship that is so fun to read. You feel their tension and desire, and their witty one-liners and zingers remain even when these two opposites start to realize that maybe they share more in common than the same group of college friends. He appears as the broody, sarcastic, workaholic, but is actually a devoted father and stand up guy who hasn’t been in a relationship since his wife passed. He melted my heart and I’d be the first in line to date this protective alpha hottie…if only he were real.
These two share office space in the same building and are standing up as best man and maid of honor for their best friends’ wedding, so they see each other pretty regularly. I love how this story takes you to London and other exotic locations, and how their love unfolded naturally. It was very real for me, and I liked how they made mistakes, talked, and worked through their feelings like adults. Real life isn’t always perfect and navigating a relationship takes work. Especially when dealing with grief and taking others into consideration like his two adorable children, Lucy and Henry.
There were many tender and heartfelt moments in this book as well as lots of laughter. I loved when Zach started to let down his guard and open up, and when she began to trust what they had was real.
They often played the “Never Have I Ever” game, thus the title of this book, and their flirty banter was nothing but foreplay! They took their time getting to know one another and when they finally connected romantically, it was steam city! Get the ice chips ready before you start to read this juicy tale because our man Zach has some moves!
As a wedding planner, she saw hundreds of couples get their HEA and she often wondered if she’d ever have her turn. She was classy, smart, strong, giving, fun, easy going, family oriented, and generous, and Zach couldn’t help but fall in love again.
Many supporting characters who found their soul mates in previous books such as Satisfaction Guaranteed and Instant Gratification appear repeatedly which I loved because I feel as if I am part of their inner circle! That’s how Lauren writes…she draws you into every story so you feel as if you are right there with them and I can’t wait to read what comes next!
The wedding planner and the divorce lawyer. It shouldn’t be a match made in heaven, but fate decided otherwise. Zach and Piper have known each other since their college days, and thought they hated each other. Zach certainly didn’t do much to endear himself to Piper when they met unexpectedly at one of the weddings she had planned. That was ten years ago.
Today, they have offices across the hall from one another, but their feelings haven’t changed. They’re drawn together when both are picked as best man and maid of honor when their respective best friends are getting married.
Zach is a single dad now. He’s juggling life and work. He has no time to date and Piper would be the last woman he’d ask out, or so he used to think.
Now, he’s seeing her in a new light, as is she.
This was a sweet and very sexy, very swoony enemies to lovers romance. I loved these two characters and was happy to catch up with old ones too. Lauren has written a fabulous story yet again.
Their attraction and chemistry was kindle-meltingly hot. The banter fast and furious. Sassy and snarky. But it was the addition of Zach’s kids that made this such a hit in my opinion. Loved it.
Enemies to lovers, to friends to more, and it’s official, this is my favourite Lauren Blakely book to date. What happens when a divorce attorney and a wedding planner get together? A complete and utter feel good read, that’s what. I just adored Zach Nolan, every little thing about him. His hard side, his mushy side, his dad persona, his friend persona, his cockiness, his doubts and insecurities, just everything. Piper Radcliffe is a take charge, leave no stone unturned kinda girl, and she was perfect, she had a great sense of humour, and she loved, loved, loved her job as a wedding planner. She handled Zach and his truly adorable children to perfection. Both her and Zach have wonderful family and friends, characters that I just loved reading about, some too, familiar to me from other books. Sweet, sexy, and a wonderfully addictive read. I received an advanced copy of this book. This is my honest review.
I have read all of Lauren’s books, and I have to say there was just something about these two characters and their story, that touched me on a completely different level! I read this in a day, I could not put it down! 5 amazing stars for this one!
This story starts ten years ago, when Zach, a divorce attorney, and Piper, a wedding planner spar for the first time while at a wedding, Zach predicts the marriage will not last, and Piper instantly dislikes him for this.
Now ten years later, their offices are shared, his for his divorce clients and her’s for her wedding clients. They are somewhat forced to spend more time together when their best friends as them to plan their engagement party! As if Piper isn’t bad enough, Zach’s daughter, (whom you will fall in love with) loves spending time with Piper too!
Both characters being forced to spend more time together, makes each of them see the different sides they have to their lives. It makes them appreciate them.
Second chances aren’t for everyone, but for some, it can be the chance they needed all along!
Grab this one asap!!
I’ve been looking at Lauren Blakely’s books for a while now. But I just couldn’t seem to pull the trigger and read or listen to one. So when I got the chance to listen to Never Have I Ever, well, I jumped at the chance. Full disclosure, I did receive the audiobook for review, but all opinions are my own.
The story features Piper, a wedding planner, and Zach, a divorce lawyer. It sounds like the start of a bad joke, or a good enemies to lovers romance. Luckily we get the romance. I found both characters to be likeable and was cheering them on for their happily ever after. I loved the cast of secondary characters and the story was quite solid. Honestly, the only thing I think I was missing was that additional conflict that could potentially tear the couple apart. Not to say that the romance was smooth sailing, but it almost seemed too easy.
In most of my audio reviews, I tend to be pretty critical of the narrators. But for Never Have I Ever, I don’t have one complaint. I don’t believe that I’d ever listened to books narrated by Amanda Ronconi and Jason Clarke before, but this won’t be the last. Their pacing and pouring of emotions into their performances really drew me into the story.
I really liked how Ms Blakely brought the game Never Have I Ever into the plot, having multiple characters play over the course of the story. It was a fun hook, and I was happily caught. I believe that I’ll be hunting down more of Ms Blakely’s books as I’m now a fan and must read more.
Ooey, gooey and sugary sweet; Never Have I Ever is a frenemy to lover’s romance that is sure to give you a tooth ache. Lauren Blakely fills the pages of this book with lots of snarky comments and just as many steamy love scenes as a book can handle. A wonderful story with great characters that will keep you reading and leaving you swooning. I couldn’t put this book down and read it in one day. Blakely never disappoints and this like her many other books deserves 5-wedding bells/stars!
Piper Radcliff and Zach Nolan have known each other since college. There has been no love loss between the two and as Piper expands her wedding planning business somehow her circle includes the shark of a divorce attorney Zach. Piper and Zach share an office building and trade barbs back and forth every chance they get. Even though Piper hates Zach she can’t help falling in love with his beautiful kids that she sees all the time at the office. As a single dad Zach hasn’t had any interest in love since the death of his wife but somewhere along the way Piper has caught his attention. The two get pulled into an interesting game of Never Have I Ever as they work on planning their best friend’s wedding and the game continues as they figure out how to navigate their growing attraction and still get the bride and groom to the alter.
I really enjoyed listening to this book. I thought both the narrators did an excellent job. They played off of each other very nicely so the dialogue was seamlessly smooth.
The storyline was entertaining. Piper and Zach had great chemistry. Their banter was witty and fun. The kids were adorable.
I couldn’t help but to cheer for Zach and Piper to be successful with their relationship.
Although Zach was a “shark”, he was sweet, sexy, caring, and romantic. I also enjoyed the moments he had with his best friend.
Piper was generous, determined, sensitive, and kind. She also stood up for what she believed.
I love it when there is a book that I have either read or listened to where I finish the last page and it leaves me with both a good feeling and a smile on my face. That was this book.
A sweet, romantic, sexy read with a few humorous moments. I would recommend this book of you are looking for something to lift your spirits, or even if you aren’t.
So this story surprised me. I went in thinking Lauren Blakely enemies-to-lovers rom-com. We met Sloane’s spunky friend, Piper, in Satisfaction Guaranteed . She is also friends with Jason from Instant Gratification. She is a wedding planner extraordinaire who is a wiz at problem-solving, managing, peacemaking, and getting all the details right. She is also single and planning on staying that way.
Zach Nolan has been part of her larger friend group since college, but she has never really liked him. He is the negativity to her positive light. He has no problem with a reputation as a cocky, judgmental negotiator, or even ahole. And his job as a shark divorce attorney now suits him well. They say he has a black heart or no heart, and if he does still have one it is closed for business. But when he is with his kids, it is obvious he does.
Due to work locations, Piper and Zach are now seeing each other more often. Their antagonistic banter is their usual way of communication. But as they start spending more time together during friend social obligations, there might be some sparks and a bit of lust starting to fly. They have always used words as weapons, but now there is a bit more flirty and dirty undertone adding a bit of foreplay.
They both have reasons to resist the attraction. And neither one wants to catch feelings. They both have reasons for not dating. The kids make it more complicated They share a nosy friend group and close office space. They try to keep their armor up, but what if it slips?
This is a slow-burn, snarky, sexy, swoony, frenemies and second-chance romance with all the feels. It is more of a heartfelt romance with family ties than a rom-com, but there is still fun, flirty, sarcastic, and witty banter. It also takes you away on some travel adventures.
Zach, Oh my! He totally won my heart. I loved seeing him open up to possibilities. There is so much more to him than it initially seemed. And Piper gives it right back to him and keeps him on his toes. Their chemistry is amazing, and their connection is obvious despite the baggage and challenges.
I enjoyed getting their dual points of view. They are so good at internalizing and self-talk that it was important to see their confusion and vulnerability. I loved seeing their changing dynamics and rapport as they started to unveil more of themselves. There are some quiet scenes that I just felt like I was there listening to private conversations and feeling all the raw emotions. I grew totally attached to these two and the adorable children. I enjoyed their friend group and the fact they stuck together over the years and tried to be there for the important stuff. This book totally made me smile, but also made me cry. It was a perfect read to grab your heart and make you feel. So it was a wonderful surprise.
Arc provided in exchange for an honest review
Audiobook Review:
Never Have I Ever was a cute, fun, and sweet romance. I loved that this was a frenemies to lovers story because it had the established history of people who’ve known one another for a long time, plus the sparks and sassiness of competing personalities. On top of a low angst, well-written story, the Never Have I Ever audiobook has two fantastic narrators who injected the perfect blend of emotion into each scene, bringing the characters to life and ensuring an enjoyable listen.
Never Have I Ever is what I consider an easy romance. The connection between main characters is evident early on and the reader knows it’s just a matter of time until they find their happily ever after. Though there was sufficient conflict to drive the plot, this wasn’t one that will send readers on an emotional roller coaster. Instead, it’s a fun story with vibrant characters and quick-witted banter that often left me smiling. It’s always nice to read about single fathers who are dedicated to their children and I enjoyed how Zach’s kids were worked into the plot, especially how their relationship with Piper developed steadily over the course of the book. If you are looking for a fun story that will leave you smiling and sometimes swooning, Never Have I Ever offers up a well-balanced romance with great narrators.
Audio Review
This is one of those books that you need to listen to with no preconceived ideas it’s a story that will touch you on so many different levels, yes it has some humour but it also covers grief and moving on.
Jason Clarke and Amanda Ronconi did an amazing job bringing this book to life, they had all the right tones for all the emotions you will feel while listening to this enemies to lovers story.
Zack and Piper have been frenemies for many years and neither of them expected feelings to develop but sometimes love happens when we least expect it and with the last person we expect.
Zach’s priority will always be his two adorable children and bringing them up and having a busy lawyers practice really leaves no time for anything else but Piper works in the same office block so he seems to be forever bumping into the last person he wants a relationship with. Piper is ready to start a relationship and she knows what she wants and expects will Zack be able to give her all she wants..
This book has all the feels, it’s about overcoming grief, it’s about families and friends , it’s about sharing laughter but most importantly it’s about love and the narrators did a wonderful job with it all. This has to be on my list of top listens for 2019 please do yourself a favour and one click now.