Note to Self –Do NOT bang your best guy friend in the limo on the way to the swanky Vegas hotel. I give myself very good advice. Too bad I suck at taking it. If only Colin and I hadn’t drunk so much whiskey, if only I’d kept that red bikini in my suitcase, if only his evil ex-girlfriend hadn’t come sniffing around making me feel territorial and protective. Not that my bad boy rock star best … that my bad boy rock star best friend is any help. Walking around looking ridiculously sexy, telling me I’m perfect in that panty-melting voice of his when we both swore we’d never do anything to put our friendship at risk. And Colin never breaks a promise.
But then, he has no idea I’ve secretly been in love with him for years.
I guess I should just enjoy the ride, but I can’t stop thinking about what happens when this vacation ends and I head home alone, nursing one hell of a bangover…
The Bangover is a red-hot, laugh out loud rom-com featuring two best friends on a collision course with Vegas-flavored disaster–and each other. It stands alone. No cheating or cliffhangers.
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I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie’s Book Reports.
Dear Self–Do not pass Go, do not bang your oldest friend in the limo on the way to the swanky Vegas hotel. Just get back on the plane, fly home, and forget you almost had co-ed naked best buddy time with the one man who is completely off limits. I give myself very good advice. too bad I suck at taking it. Not that Colin Donovan, my bad boy rock star best friend, is any help. Walking around looking ridiculously sexy, telling me I’m beautiful and fun and perfect the way I am and somehow making me believe it. If only we hand’t drunk so much whiskey that first night if only I’d kept that red bikini in my suitcase, if only is evil ex-girlfriend hadn’t come sniffing around making me feel all territorial and protective. And if only I hand’t been secretly in love with Colin for years before this Friends with Bennies Vacation got started. Who knows? Maybe the high will be worth the fall. Either way, there’s not way I’m leaving Vegas without one heck of a Bangover.
I am a huge fan of friends to lovers book and this one was way to much fun to read. I had the best time devouring it. This is all about two friends Kirby and Colin drinking way to much and for one night they end up taking a week long trip to Vegas to what? Hang curtains and spread sunshine and lollipop’s? Nope …to bang and bang they do!! It however is not all fun and games. There are some moves that will take your breath. However I loved this book. It was so much fun to read and I had the best time with it. You do not want to miss this book. Fall just as hard in love with Kirby and Colin as I did.
4.5 Stars
This book is a crazy roller coaster ride. When best friends decide to cross a line for a week in Vegas, some of the funniest, hottest and most catastrophic things they could ever imagine, come true. If you want a sexy, crazy Rom Com, that includes the coolest cat ever, you need to pick this book up today!
Cara – Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
Thanks for that Lili, I now have Toto’s song stuck on repeat in my head.
Anywho!!
The Bangover is a laugh-out-loud, sweet and sexy story featuring two longtime best friends, horror novelist Kirby Lawrence a.k.a Larry and rock star Colin Donovan. They’ve known each other since being freshman students in high school. Colin was the geeky kid that sassy, confident Kirby took under her wing.
Colin is the sexy, soulful and hot lead singer for his band, Lips On Fire. He’s always been there for Kirby and when she needs him, he’s the one she always turns to.
Kirby’s early childhood wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, so for all her beauty, confident attitude and sassy banter, she’s slightly broken inside. She’s had to fight to get where she is today, but she’d never have made it without Colin.
Boyfriends and girlfriends have come and gone for both, but now they’re both single and just a little jaded with life and love. Colin plans a sex free month of songwriting and Kirby is still bothered about the breakup of her last relationship, even though it was months ago.
After an accidental hot as he!! Kiss, Colin comes up with a plan to get them both over the hump. A week in Vegas, just the two of them.
Nothing goes quite to plan. There’s Colin’s ex and Kirby’s last boyfriend to deal with. Mummys. Curse. And…. coffins. Add in a touch of suspense, plenty of giggles, a ton of smexy times and one… How did he do that??? I’ll let you find out that moment for yourself.
Lili Valente is one of my go-to-authors. I absolutely adore her books especially her Hockey Romances (full disclosure I love hockey romances). So there was absolutely no doubt that I would jump at the opportunity to read an ARC of her new book The Bangover. What can I say other than now I am now a huge fan of Lili Valente’s second chance/rockstar books! This book is an absolute pleasure to read. It had me giggling from the very beginning and falling head over rockstar – vampire writing author goodness. Kirby (a.k.a Larry) and Colin are childhood friends that have been each other’s rock since they met. Their friendship should be everyone’s BFF goals and their undeniable attraction to one another is adorably obvious. Both in a rut (writers block for him, post breakup blues for her) when they drunkenly decide to scratch that itch together while on vacation in Vegas. The series of events that happens next takes us the readers on an often times funny and incredibly sexy journey towards their happily ever after. By far my favorite part of the book is the black as sin scene stealer, Murder the cat. Yes, my friends, the cats name is Murder and there is no doubt as to why he’s called that. A thoroughly enjoyable read. Add it to your TBR list now.
Different twist on the friends to lovers genre, for sure.
So this one has quirky characters, a great friendship, and hot, steamy times. It takes a bit of a unique turn before these two can admit their true feelings for each other.
It’s sweet and romantic, odd and quirky, dramatic, and laugh out loud funny.
I enjoyed it, but it definitely was not what I expected. Although it wasn’t my favorite Lili Valente story, it is enjoyable as any of her books are.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance reader copy.
So. Damn. Funny!!! This book, from the start, had me laughing and chuckling and just enjoying it so much I didnt putit down. There’s some mystery. There’s some “oh heelllll no” moments. And there’s some “WTF IS HAPPENING” moments. All of which I enjoyed immensely. If you want a story that will put you through the ringer emotionally while simultaneously giving you whiplash (in a good way lol) from the shenanigans that ensue, then this is the book for you. Kirby and Colin and amazing characters. The depth that Lili gives them is outstanding and they are hotter than 2 squirrels bumpin uglies in a wool sock in the summer!!! This was my first Lili Valente book but I promise it wont be my last!
I’m beginning to think that Colin and Kirby’s vacay to Vegas is a bad idea. Apparently “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” doesn’t apply to a rock star and best seller horror writer who are friends deciding to explore benefits. This started out sweet and humorous, took a turn past a comedy of errors and then ran headlong into all kinds of mystery, intrigue and suspense. It snuck in from left field and latched on to my throat, never turning me loose so that I read it in one sitting, in spite of being ill.
Kirby and Colin’s story is one part what happens when friends amend their treaty to include benefits and two parts what happens when exes don’t get the “It’s over” memo. I can’t begin to tell you all the crazy shenanigans that transpire, but if you’ve read Valente’s work in the past, you have some idea. Yes, there’s ample chuckling, snickering, guffawing and laughing out loud, with the banging good time we’ve come to expect, but then you’ll see a bunch of unanticipated, “Wait, what?!!” and “Oh no she didn’ts!” cropping up, as well. If you think you know what to expect, think again.
This one will keep your attention and keep you in stitches, whiplashing you from one emotion to another, giving you that same elated, satisfied feeling when the roller coaster car pulls back into the passenger loading area. You’ll be ready to jump out, run around to the front of the line and ride The Bangover again and again!
Kirby Lawrence and Colin Donovan have been best friends since high school. He’s now a famous rockstar and she’s a well known and successful author. Their friendship at twenty-nine takes a slight detour into uncharted waters for them.
These two characters are a lot of fun and fit together like peas in a pod. They have great chemistry but more importantly understand each other and how they think.
Funny expressions and sayings that accurately sum up the situation so well are littered throughout the story. For example… ‘What I know about parenting can fit inside a thimble and still have enough room left over to get a spider drunk.’ So apt and delivered in a humorous manner.
The mystery in the story will have you guessing who this person is and with every new bit of drama more puzzle pieces are created. The craziness that evolves from the maniac in the story is incredible. Having both lead characters tell parts of the story from their points of view really gives readers an insight into what is unfolding in each scene as well as a deeper understanding of each character.
An enjoyable friends to enemies love story.
WOW!!! This was a refreshingly unique, funny, sweet, sexy, steamy, heartbreaking (at times), and entertaining read that I enjoyed from start to finish! It is a friends-to-lovers trope. There is even action & whodunit packed in here.
Lili Valente invented a wonderful cast of characters who all complimented the story. I adored Kirby! She was weird, funny, quirky, sweet, caring, daring, and compassionate. Colin was was sweet, sexy, and totally swoon-worthy. I loved their dynamic, friendship and otherwise. They truly were perfect together. Murder, the cat was absolutely hilarious and endearing. I laughed out loud a number of times and turned the pages as fast as I could.
At the end, the author asks if we wouldn’t mind picking out our favorite part of the story and mention it in our review. It’s too hard to pick out just one thing. I thoroughly enjoyed this book…loved it in fact! I would feel it an injustice to single out only one scene. I highly recommend reading it. It is one of my favorite reads of 2019! I am seriously going to have a book hangover!
****ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review.****
Laugh out loud funny story, you will enjoy this one! 4 stars!
When old school friends finally decide to cross the line, for just the week, in Las Vegas, you can guarantee some wild, weird fun stuff will be going on with these two! You will fall in love with Colin, and Kirby will keep you laughing! The shenanigans that happen where these two are concerned, you will not believe! Grab this one as soon as it’s available!
What do you get when two best friends decide to move their friendship to the next level and be “friends with benefits”? Lots of laughs, hot sexy times, some surprise feelings, and a mystery to solve.
When Kirby and Colin have a little too much to drink one night they wind up taking a week long trip to Vegas to “bang”. These two have been best friends since high school and seen and heard it all except they have never crossed this line. Can their friendship survive this and where will it take them? This is such a fun book filled with all the feels including scary moments these two have to face. I love the troupe of friends to lovers and this is a great story of just that. It’s so much fun when these two that really love each other discover those hidden feelings.
I received an early copy to read and review and give my honest opinion. I loved this book and highly recommend it.
This story went from sweet, cute to sexy, steamy to dramatic and suspenseful. You get a whole range of emotions while reading this book. I loved how cute Kirby and Colin were with each other. They were the perfect best friends that leads to something more. And just like friends who have been there for each other, they are scared to cross the line into something more. You could feel the kinship and love that these two friends had for each other. Toss in a cat, named appropriately, Murder, and a crazy ex and you’ve got the perfect mystery. This was a fast-paced read that I enjoyed greatly. I love all the aspects of the book brought into one strong story-line. A fun-loving read!
I was given a free copy in exchange for my honest review.
I swear, I have read some great books lately, but this one is a standout. This laugh out loud romantic comedy is SO classic friends to lovers, and I enjoyed every heart warming twist and turn, from Kirby’s awkward weirdness to Colin’s dirty talk. I swear I even felt for the ‘villains’ of this twisted tale. Not enough to say they didn’t deserve what was coming to them, I just mean this author captured and conveyed the realness and humanity in all they characters, even the not main ones. Once I started this one I legit could not put it down to the point that I’ve given myself heaps more work this afternoon because I spent the morning pouring over every single word of Kirby and Colin’s struggle to find their HEA. Kirby is SUCH a great heroine! Seriously, if you read this and don’t absolutely love her I don’t think we can be friends lol. Such a feisty nature! And Colin! I’m glad he finally got the jolt he needed to see Kirby as more than a friend! About time! And Murder, well, I don’t want to give anything away, normally I’m not a fan of Murder of any kind, but in this book, well it wouldn’t have been nearly as much fun without Murder! I needed this book and boy did this author deliver on every front!
I totally adore Lili Valente’s latest laugh out loud, sweet sexy story about Colin and Kirby (aka Larry), two best friends that finally take the leap to add benefits. And in Vegas to boot! Colin is a rock star and Kirby is an author and they’ve both been secretly crushing on each other for years. Will what happens in Vegas really stay in Vegas for these two besties? Lili is one of my go-to RomCom gurus who never ever disappoints; I always know I am going to be thoroughly entertained and satisfied between all the funny, crazy and swoony moments encased in such a fun story. There is so much more happening in this book than I could have imagined between Kirby’s angry cat Murder, a creepy coffin, crazy exes (yes plural), sweet moments, sexy times and very humorous banter and antics.
Snatch this one up, you will absolutely love it!!