“You may be faking the relationship, but you’re not faking the orgasms.”Downsized, broke, and dumped, 38-year-old Marley sneaks home to her childhood bedroom in the town she couldn’t wait to escape twenty years ago. Not much has changed in Culpepper. The cool kids are still cool. Now they just own car dealerships and live in McMansions next door. Oh, and the whole town is still talking about that … whole town is still talking about that Homecoming she ruined her senior year.
Desperate for a new start, Marley accepts a temporary teaching position. Can the girl banned from all future Culpepper High Homecomings keep the losing-est girls soccer team in school history from killing each other and prevent carpal tunnel in a bunch of phone-clutching gym class students?
Maybe with the help of Jake Weston, high school bad boy turned sexy good guy. When the school rumor mill sends Marley to the principal’s office to sign an ethics contract, the tattooed track coach, dog dad, and teacher of the year becomes her new fake boyfriend and alibi—for a price. The Deal: He’ll teach her how to coach if she teaches him how to be in a relationship.
Who knew a fake boyfriend could deliver such real orgasms? But it’s all temporary. The guy. The job. The team. There’s too much history. Rock bottom can’t turn into a foundation for happily ever after. Can it?
Warning: Story also includes a meet-puke, a bouffanted nemesis, a yard swan and donkey basketball, a teenage-orchestrated makeover, and a fake relationship that gets a little too real between the sheets.
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I could not put it down – lovely characters and situation.
Such a great book. I loved it.
Rock Bottom Girl was a pure delight to read. It was engaging, funny, a bit angsty and a lot romantic. It had a couple of the funniest one liners that I’ve ever read. There are characters you want to strangle, ones you want to hug and one you want to routinely kick her butt. Jake, our hunky hero, is the history teacher you wish you had, the good times guy you want as a friend and the loving man with a bit of a bad boy rebel vibe that you fantasize about. Marley, our heroine has let her high school experience define her for 20 years. She doesn’t see herself as others dob smart, a bit zany, caring and resourceful. It takes returning to her hometown to finally redefine herself, find her niche and fall in love.
I really loved both aspects of this story. The whole going back to your childhood town/high school. Also being the an old HS classmate. Each of these can bring up so many memories. Good and bad. Marley handles both of these with dignity? Well mostly. I won’t mention the sprinkler incident. Being able to deal with students who treat others badly and seeing old classmates and what they are doing now. Learning a new trade and trying to excel at it. Lusting after Jake….all great pieces of this story.
One of the best things is meeting up with Vicky. Her old BFF. They pick up with each other like the last sixteen years never happened. Actually loved the sister and the evil neighbor as well.
I did listen to this masterpiece on audio. Natalie Duke and Stephen Dexter did an amazing job. (I seriously could listen to Mr Dexter all the time )
Overall it’s a great story with lovable and laughable characters. This will be going on my re-listen list.
A heroine who is snarky, witty and really down on her luck and herself. The characters are so real and their journey to empowerment and self love was inspiring.
Aah, our hero Jake…….Hallmark couldn’t make a more amazing specimen.
This story is for those of us who want our HEAs to be witty, steamy, fulfilling, loaded with family (those by blood and by choice) and page turning!
Wow…..this book is More!
I have absolutely loved every book that Lucy Score has written but Rock Bottom Girl took me to a new level. This book is MORE. Still the funny, smartly written story Lucy Score is known for, but with more depth and more emotion.
I’m happy to say I’m in the 10% that enjoyed high school and did not have a “mean girl” experience, but when I read Marley’s memories of high school it brought me to tears. Marley’s Dad gave her some really good advice early on in the story, “You can either wallow in disappointment—which is a legitimate choice—or you can embrace this change as a reboot of sorts.” I really enjoyed the transformation in Marley’s attitude, self-worth, and physical appearance in this book. Marley is a great character who will be quite memorable.
Jake is the perfect match for Marley. Jake is a super positive, roll with the punches kind of guy. Jake is the kind of teacher every kid and every parent wants to encounter. He is definitely the positive influence and mentor Marley needs in her life. One of Jake’s earliest thoughts of Marley once they are reacquainted I really liked, “I liked this woman. She was sneaky funny, and there was something a little sad about her. Both were my personal kryptonite when it came to women.”
So many great supporting characters in this book. Vicki, the ultimate best friend; Amie Jo the nemesis; Zinnia the perfect sister; Libby and the rest of her soccer team; the other teachers; the parents and uncles, and more. I recognized the small town involvement in this story.
I would recommend Rock Bottom Girl to anyone who wants a good story that will make you laugh, make you cry, and take you back to your high school days.
I absolutely adored this book. Lucy Score is quickly becoming one of my favorite rom-com authors. Her books have everything I love… the humor, the hijinks, the emotional ups and downs… highly recommend! 🙂
Oh my gosh. I LOVED THIS BOOK! Adorable small town rom-com. Made me laugh and cry and laugh more. Also, as someone who had a miserable experience in high school but has recently returned to spending a lot of time in one (a much happier experience), I very much related to Marley!
Rock Bottom Girl is a funny story about Marley, who is a 38 year old, who goes back to her home town after her many failed attempts. Little does she know her old crush works at the same school where she recently gets a job. Along with her biggest enemy. Jake is….perfect! It’s a nice change from the books I’ve been reading. All the characters are mature and doesn’t have high school drama following them around. This is definitely a laugh out loud book.
People have been talking about this book for ages. I have been meaning to reading it for ages.
I finally picked it up over the weekend, and what a delight!
We all have those horrid high school nightmares. Some people grow up when they leave school, other are still b!tchy mean girls who never moved on with life. Yeah, you know the ones.
You never know how far you can go until you hit rock bottom and can only go onwards and upwards.
I loved that Marley hit her rock bottom, got up, wiped herself off and then kicked some bottom. It did annoy my how much she focused on the one thing in school that she should have left behind, but took to the end for that to happen.
I adore the female empowerment in this story. How she and the girls she coaches learn to persevere, to life each other up not drag each other down. And I love loved loved that Marley didn’t give two sh!ts about what people thought she should do, and did what everyone around her was afraid to.
In fact, she almost made me want to go for a jog – almost!
All through reading I thought of Jake Weston as being Jake Ryan to Marley’s Samantha Baker (I know, Sixteen Candles, showing my age!)
This book left me smiling. It has made me want to go and read all of her books now!
This book is absolutely freaking fantastic!
I don’t know that I ever would have said that my traumatic high school experience could be topped…now, I can honestly say. Marley takes the cake! From Homecoming to home wrecking (not actual home wrecking, more like displaced family moment…and mangled bacon wrapped scallops) Marley has definitely had quite the ride.
Rock Bottom Girl is almost a superhero homage to everyone who thought that they peaked in high school. It’s about those of us struggling with self confidence even in their 30s and it’s about learning to love ones self.
Lucy Score is the true hero in this story…although Morticia deserves a round of applause. Rock Bottom Girl is laugh out loud funny, vindictive (in a fist bumping, bonding way), and downright swoony.
Nothing says take me please like the tattooed bad boy turned hot teacher who runs shirtless and flirts shamelessly with his high school crush! Oh, did I mention he has a dog!
You won’t be able to stop crushing on Mr. Weston and neither will we.
4.5 stars. This was such an entertaining, refreshing book. It had a unique storyline. I enjoyed the characters being a little older than the typical standard. I listened to the audio version of this one while traveling. I’m pretty sure passing cars were concerned about me since I was laughing so hard.
Jake Weston is one of my favorite book boyfriends now. He was so many of the things I love. I didn’t have a huge amount in common with Marley because I personally loved high school. I related a little more with the current day version. Sometimes it takes a while to figure out what you want to be when you grow up. I loved all the family gatherings. I loved her best friend. It was great seeing Marley come into her own and learn how to adult. Her relationship with the team is fantastic.
There are so many memorable moments. Some of my favorites were heat stroke, signing a dating contract, poker, donkey basketball, makeover, and graduation. I saw a reviewer thought Jake was controlling, but I didn’t get that vibe at all. I also saw one that didn’t like that the author didn’t address gray hair. Not everyone has gray hair at 38, I didn’t. I agree with the people that could see this as a movie. I had the exact same thought as I was listening. Better yet, a whole season on a streaming site. If you love rom-coms then definitely give it a try.
What a fabulous example of a laugh out loud romcom.
Marley and Jake are downright hysterical together. When you add in the BFF and the high school nemesis there are bound to be various opportunities to bust your sides laughing. (perhaps not the best idea when you’re listening on your morning commute to work)
All I can say is ‘give me more’! Rock Bottom Girl is a wonderful choice to pop your author cherry with. I’ll definitely be looking for more by Lucy Score!
4*
Marley feels a failure a 38yr old returning home no job, single again.
Jake is happy Marley is back especially when he discovers they will be colleagues.
I loved that Marley wasn’t perfect and had a good heart and Jake was so swoon worthy.
I laughed so much and would definitely recommend
Absolutely loved this. A must read for anybody who was miserable in high school. Jake Weston is…whew. :fans self: Good guy in bad boy packaging. Exactly my type. Marley is highly relatable and I’d like to take her out for tacos. Great job Lucy Score
Brilliant RomCom & Narration A Joyful Delight!
Rock Bottom Girl: A Small Town Romantic Comedy
By: Lucy Score
Narrated by: Natalie Duke, Stephen Dexter
I loved everything about this book, from Lucy Score’s wonderful writing style to the characters and storylines she created to the superb narration. This captured my attention right from the start and held it straight to the end. Lucy Score created an interesting and original story that is realistic and easy to relate to. Her characters are complex, well developed and likable. Marley, a 38 year old woman who had no luck with her jobs or her relationship has to return home to regroup and start over again. I adored Marley and her quirky sometimes dry sense of humor. Taking a job back in her old HS brings back memories for her, some good others not so good. She gets to relive HS again but from the other side. She also finds out an old HS crush teaches at the school as well. Jake, I just loved him, he was so grounded and the two were perfect for each other. Lucy Score does a great job capturing HS life, the drama, the teenage angst, the bullying and the challenges some face while going thru HS. I loved he glimpses into Marley’s HS days, loved what she did for the girls she was coaching and how she faced and stood up to those who others would not dare to. I also adored Vicki, she was the perfect side kick and assistant coach to Marley. Another favorite was Libby, loved what Marley did for her to get her on her team and again later in the story. This book had so many great characters and great storylines, too many to mention. I loved how everything played out, there is ever a dull moment in this book, it is well plotted with so many laugh out lout moments, that keeps you smiling, there are plenty of heartfelt moments as well, I loved the ending and how everything fell in place. I highly recommend this enjoyable and entertaining story, it may be lengthy but it sure goes by quick. Lucky Score, thank you for this wonderful, heartfelt story and the laughs.
I listened to the Audible edition, Natalie Duke and Stephen Dexter are fabulous narrators and voice artists. They bring these characters to life, give each their own voice and personality. Stephen’s portrayal of Jake was spot on, as was Natalie’s Marley, they captured their essence to the tee and were amazing at projecting their emotions & attitude in their performance. They did an awesome job with the banter and landing the humor, as well as covering all the secondary characters. They are entertaining and talented storytellers and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for this wonderful listen
Loved! Just the right amount of humor and steamy sex!
Loved it so much I turned right around and am reading it again!
I loved this book and I can’t recommend it enough. This was my first book from this author and it definitely will not be my last. I loved this story.
I could not love this book more!!! Finished it last night with a tear or two in my eyes (damn those onions!) and then told my husband all about it this morning. He’s not a reader at all, especially romance, but by the time I got done gushing about it, he was looking it up on Amazon. lol Seriously fantastic book with wonderful, relatable characters, hysterical side characters, a believable progression of the plot and character development, and a surprise or two to keep you delighted. Just PERFECTION.