If anyone asks, I knew better than to flash my boobs for Mardi Gras beads.I still don’t know why I did it.Maybe it was the dare from my two best friends. Maybe it was the guys on the balcony saying they’d throw Fireball shots with the beads.Or maybe it was the quiet guy in the corner of that same balcony with piercing gray eyes, wavy dark hair, and a smile so tempting I wanted to climb up there … wanted to climb up there and lick it off his face.
Maybe it was because I never thought I’d see them again.
Not that it matters. Not today.
Because the hotel I manage was finally bought—and the guy who walks in and introduces himself as my new boss is Mr. Tall, Dark, and Silent.
There are many upsides to being single.
Your new boss knowing what your boobs look like?
Not one of them.
(THE UPSIDE TO BEING SINGLE is a standalone, romantic comedy from the author who brought you MISS FIX-IT and BEING BROOKE.)
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He had the most real kind of smile. Not forced, and you could see it in his eyes, whether it was a smirk or a wide grin like the one he was wearing right now.
It was dangerous.
Daring.
Like crack for my libido, if I was honest.
Fans, friends, fans and a tub of popcorn. Because THE UPSIDE TO BEING SINGLE is that chock-full of sexual tension and witty banter, moments that veritably sizzle and ones that had me laughing out loud. In short, it’s the perfect combination of sexy and sweet, funny and steamy, and a prime example of why Emma Hart is one of my go-to authors.
Mellie and her friends are a riot, and exactly the kind of ladies that I would want as my mid-twenties posse. They lift each other up, they egg each other on, and they take no prisoners when calling each other out, which makes for some of the more endearing moments of this book.
And Jake, oh, my goodness. This is a man who very obviously knows what he wants, and repercussions be darned. He’s single, available, and pretty well-adjusted. I have to say that he’s one of my favorite of Emma’s leading men yet, and I hope to see more of him.
Emma’s a pro at romantic comedies, and her books never fail to draw me in and leave me smiling. I enjoyed everything about THE UPSIDE TO BEING SINGLE, and I can’t wait to see more of the characters that we’ve met here in THE HOOK-UP EXPERIMENT. In the meantime, 4.5 stars for Mellie, Jake, and all of the gang. Fans of Emma, grab this book!
*3.5 – 4 Stars*
ARC kindly received in exchange for an honest review.
This is an unusual rating for me, because normally I am hooked on Emma’s books. I think my issue this time was that I have just been reading so damned much, and have been a bit preoccupied.
I did like this one though, and I do look forward to the next two in the series.
The way that Mellie and Jake first encounter each other is certainly unusual in a way, particularly for people who are going to be working together. I didn’t connect as well with their chemistry as I would’ve liked, but they were entertaining to read about. Particularly the banter they had with each other. And lets not forget the donuts, am I right?
Mellie’s friends are quite funny and I look forward to more of them in the next two books. Jake’s way of taking over at work was quite good as well. I found Mellie to be extremely stubborn and sometimes that bothered me, but it worked well to play into the banter between she and Jake, which is a huge part of how they interact.
I liked how committed Mellie was to her job and her staff. She’s the kind of manager that everyone wants. Approachable and caring.
This was a fun and fast read and I would recommend.
I absolutely LOVED this book! This book was a fantastic workout for my abs because I swear I laughed from the first page until I got to the very last sentence. The chemistry between Mellie and Jake starts off hot and zooms toward nuclear in 0.92 seconds, but with their roles at work, they know they shouldn’t cross that line.
Key words: they know they shouldn’t.
Doesn’t mean they heed their own advice though.
Despite all the calamities that seem to befall her, Mellie is a fabulous character that goes above and beyond her call of duties for her subordinates at work, and she does it out of the kindness of her heart. She’s not the type to look for accolades, she’s the type who likes for people to be happy.
I liked that Jake takes the time to try and get to know his employees and doesn’t want to change things up too much; he has valid suggestions for how certain areas can be improved. He also pays attention and manages to surprise Mellie time and time again, with the little things that would go unnoticed by mere mortals. He’s also a man who isn’t into the whole bring home a new female every other night; he wasn’t necessarily looking for someone when he got to New Orleans, but with Mellie he knows there’s a chance of something more.
This is such a slow build romance, but with everything that happens and all of Mellie’s mishaps, you don’t even realize it; although I kept hoping with each new chapter it would finally be time for these two to seal the deal. I breathed a sigh of relief (probably like other readers out there) when it finally happened for these two. Even with the delay of sexy times, the fact that there was so much comedy gold in this story I didn’t mind how long it took for the horizontal mambo to be performed. And now I shall eagerly await Peyton’s book. Is there a man out there who can handle all of the snark she’s got stored up?
This book had me cracking up the entire time. From the first time he sees Mellie, Jake realizes she’s a bit of a… well, hot mess. He always seems to catch her at the worst moments, but he still can’t resist his attraction to her. I loved the banter between these two. Whether it was cooking dinner or working, we were always guaranteed a good argument with a sexy makeout session that followed. A fantastic, fun read that I would definitely recommend!!!
I think this could be my new favorite by Hart. It felt completely different than any of her other books while still maintaining Hart’s trademark witty sarcasm. It is easy to fall in love with Mellie and Jake. I can’t wait to see what Hart comes up with next.
Mellie Rogers, sexy, single, and a bit of a klutz. She’s also a New Orleans native that’s never participated in the time honored tradition of flashing your boobs for some beads . . . until she’s dared by her besties. While she isn’t impulsive, she can’t resist a dare, right? Especially when one of the guys on the balcony is gorgeous. Plus she’ll never have to see him again . . . until he shows up at her job as the new owner of the hotel she manages.
Jacob Creed . . . Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome. He also happens to be Mellie’s new boss. The first time he saw her, she was flashing her boobs. The next time, she smacks her head while breaking a bottle of gin all over the floor. And, she doesn’t seem to get any more coordinated while in his presence. Actually, she’s kind of a hot mess, but he’s totally intrigued and willing to push the boundaries of a typical boss / employee relationship if it means spending as much time with Mellie as possible. He’s also willing to bribe his way into her heart with sugar donuts if that is what it takes!
Their attraction is off the charts, but are they really willing to risk having to work together if things don’t work out?
Emma Hart has become one of my favorite romantic comedy authors. The banter and dialogue in her books always leave me laughing along with her characters and wanting to hang out with them. I fell in love with Mellie and her besties immediately. Their sarcasm and wit while chatting with one another shows just how close they are. What I really loved was that Mellie started speaking to Jake pretty much the same way without her even realizing it. She has no intentions of falling into a friendship with him, but it happens so subtlety at first and is then pushed along by Jake that she doesn’t know what hit her.
Jake is a true gentleman who is quick with a witty comeback and finds Mellie’s clumsiness and love for donuts adorable where other men in the past have been turned off. HE knows she’s fabulous at her job, but wants her for much more than her management skills. He’s completely willing to go all in with her nand just needs to convince Mellie to take the chance with him. He’s charming and persistent and pretty much the perfect book boyfriend.
This book was really a fun and flirty read. There’s no real drama or suspense. It’s a light hearted rom-com which I totally appreciated that delivered plenty of laugh out loud moments. I’m excited to know it was the first in the series and that Mellie’s besties will also be getting books.
Grab a glass of wine or a frozen cocktail, a sugar donut and some Mardi Gras Beads and enjoy! 5 Stars.
I love Emma’s books with her sassy heroines and hot alpha males – her latest offering is no exception – funny, sexy and a little crazy to boot, you know it’s gonna be a hoot!!!
This is Mellie and Jake’s story, book 1 of 3, with the other 2 being based around Mellie’s best friends Peyton and Chloe. These 3 when they get together are just a scream!! Oh to be in that little group on a girls night out!! It’s because of her 2 friends she ends up flashing her boobs during Mardi Gra to someone she thought she would never see again, except he, being Jake, turns out to be her new boss and owner of the hotel where she works!!
Mellie works hard and cares for all the employees at the hotel, but being around Jake makes her a klutz of the dynamic proportion!! She is just so clumsy!! But the sexual tension between them is palpable. Jake is obviously drawn to her boobs, much to her embarrassment, and is full of sexual innuendos. But he is also ridiculously sweet and charming, fetching her coffee and doughnuts all the time. They both try hard not to cross the boundaries between employee and employer, but chemistry like theirs just can’t be ignored!!
Its funny, its crazy, the girls when they get together will have you in stitches!! But its about the banter and the to and fro between Mellie and Jake, the build up in their relationship and everything that goes with it. Told mainly from Mellie’s POV with the odd chapter told from Jakes, which I must say I definitely wanted more of!! The setting of New Orleans is perfect and I love the part where they go on a ghost tour. A great read as always from Emma.
The Upside to being Single by Emma Hart is a wonderful read from the very first page until the last word! As usual the author knows how to combine a great sense of humour with amazing wonderful main characters and witty adorable second characters.
Mellie is dared by her two friends to show her boobs on Mardi Gras. She does it but later she will regret it when the guy who gives her the beads is not less than the new owner where she works as a manager.
Jake and Mellie are great together. Their banter is hilarious and the physical attraction is hot! Mellie’s character is wonderful and her inner dialogues are funny, sarcastic and witty!!!
Jake is also amazing. He respects Mellie and the work she has done managing the hotel he just bought.
This is a great read and I highly recommend it!
Mellie and Jake’s story is hilarious and sexy as hell! Mellie’s friends dared her to flash her boobs at Mardi Gras to a bunch of strangers on a balcony. She never expected one of those strangers to be her new boss. Jake has taken over an hotel and hopes to make it successful. He never expected to find a clumsy, sassy, sarcastic woman as the manager. They are both perfect for each other. The chemistry Emma wrote between them was AMAZING!
Full of wit and fun, The Upside to Being Single is another hilarious Hot from Emma Hart. I could not put it down, I was completely sucked into this world, falling more in love with each page.
A sassy heroine and a swoony hero meet in NOLA. Next thing you know, our swoony hero, Jake, is Mellie’s new boss.
One thing I always love about Ms. Hart’s novels is the banter between the leads. Upside is no exception to that. It’s well written, paced quickly, and it’s so easy to fall in love with this set of characters. I’m already hoping to see Mellie’s besties find their HEA!
4.5
I absolutely loved the humor in The Upside to Being Single! I highlighted so many quotes that had me cracking up. My inner clutz bonded so hardcore with Mellie. She was very relatable to me and I was very entertained being in her head through out.
Jacob played so well off Mellie. Their chemistry reminded me of a certain PI and police officer…
Jacob was very likeable and swoony through out. They have a very natural connection and may butt heads on the surface, but are very similar when it comes down to it.
My only wish was that the book was longer and able to go further and deeper into their relationship. I feel like we just scratched the surface of their potential. The flow and pace was nice, I just wish some more at the end. If it weren’t for that it would have been 5 stars. I flew through the book and loved every second.
This was laugh out loud hysterical!
Mellie was running a hotel in New Orleans when she finds out she’s getting a new boss. Enter, her two wild/funny best friends who go out for a drink, just one because they have to work in the morning. Of course, it’s large and this is all happening during Mardi Gras. One of her friends dares her to flash her boobs for beads, convincing her that she’ll never see the guy again. Against her better judgement, she flashes them to for this guy, she refers to as tall dark and handsome. The next morning she arrives at work and tall, dark and handsome turns out to be her boss and he remembers her spectacular boobs from the night before. Can they get past this? She makes a list of rules for them to follow. Which just starts the fun reading that you know and love from Emma Hart’s writing.
The banter and tension between Jake (Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome) and Mellie is so fun to watch. You seriously want to either be her or one of her friends. At one point, Jake and Mellie are out to lunch and he wants to try alligator. When he refers to it as crocodile and she corrects him, he asks, “What’s the difference?” She replies, “The alligator will see you later. The crocodile will see you in a while.” Of course, he quickly realizes that food is the way to her heart, so there are plenty of sugary donuts. But don’t worry, he convinces her to teach him to cook and the scenes are quite hot (and it’s not just the pasta)!
Emma Hart did it again with this one! I can’t wait to read the other books that will hopefully bring us more of her best friends.
4 Stars!
What is the upside of being single? A book, duh! lol! Seriously, though this book is fun, sweet, sexy and a bit angsty!
At the beginning of each chapter, Hart gives a little quip that is one thing that is an upside to being single; like finding change in the couch and keeping it, not having to share the remote, etc. I loved that! So, this is the story of a very clumsy woman who flashes her boobs on a dare and the next day finds out the man who complimented her boobs is none other than her new boss. Said boss who is endeared by her clumsiness, ignores all her protesting and eventually gets the girl!
In Hart’s slightly sarcastic, fun style, she has written a great book about a “forbidden” romance (boss/employee). You’ll love Jake and Mellie and their story!
**4.5 Stars**
There is seriously something amazing about how this author writes romantic comedies, I know hands down I will always one-click her purchases, and this book was not different. This book was laugh out loud hilarious and had two amazing main characters who were crazy and made for each other. Plus, I mean any book that has their blurb contain the phrase “Your new boss knowing what your boobs look like?” from the author, you know it’s going to be a wild ride.
Jake and Mellie… what can you say about these two besides that they were down right ridiculous and hilarious with each other. They met each other in an unconventional way, when Mellie thought she’d never see Jake again- flashing him her boobs at Mardi Gras. Enter the next morning when Jake enters the hotel Mellie works at, as the new owner. The wild ride of these two fighting off the chemistry that is clearly present has you laughing out loud. You can’t help but love Mellie and her awkward, clumsy self. Everything about Mellie is amazing. She’s strong, she’s sassy, and she’s an amazing heroine who you just want to be your new best friend. Jake, this man is everything Mellie didn’t know she needed or wanted. She was content being single and hanging out with her friends. But Jake came in and changed that whole thought, slowly but he did.
I couldn’t get enough of these two, knowing this is book one in a series of standalones that will feature Mellie’s two crazy best friends made me love it even more and I can’t wait to get my hands on those bad boys.
4.5 Hearts
The Upside to Being Single is a rom-com standalone by the talented, Emma Hart. I just know that when I open one of her books I will be either laughing my * off throughout or getting all kinds of hot and bothered. There is also the times when it’s a bit of both. This is one of those times. I laughed my * off and there was dirty on the side.
Flash your * for beads, it will be fun they say. It would have been if I didn’t have to work closely with the sexy silent man that was in the corner of that balcony every day for the foreseeable future. Really great, my new boss, the owner of the hotel knows exactly what my * look like. This isn’t awkward at all. It’s only not awkward that I can’t look at him without blushing or dropping something. I am *.
Yes. That is what Mellie is thinking. She doesn’t know how she is going to do this. Jake is too handsome. Too witty. Too everything. She hates the fact that he saw her * but she hates the fact even more that she wants to see all of him. He is her boss. They can’t go there. This hotel. This staff means too much to her. It’s a risk to be this close to him. She wants to put her foot down but she also wants to get down. With him. Naked. And if she had donuts after…that would be icing on the cake. She does love her donuts and she likes him but is it worth the risk?
Mellie and Jake are hilarious together. OMFG! She is klutzy which is adorable. He is funny which just makes him hotter. He is also a gentleman. These two have to get on the same page if they want this to work. Will she even be able to be in the same room with him without breaking something? Will he be able to have some self control when she is around? Will they even get down and dirty!?
Overall…if you need to laugh, read this book. If you are looking for a romance involving hearts and flowers, this will not be for you. If you can handle crazy women and their love of donuts and * pic talks, this is definitely for you. Mellie, Chloe, and Peyton’s friendship is what friendship goals are about. Lol.
Quotes:
There was no way I’d be able to ignore him. I mean, if he were in an art museum, he’d be the Mona Lisa of the place.
He’d also be the resident radiator because he was so * hot.
“I’m not a child, Mr. Creed. I don’t need you to spank me.”
Why did I say that out loud?
“You might not need me to, but you’d sure as hell want me to carry on once I started.”
“Now, spitfire,” Jake started, his eyes finally landing on me. “I know you’re Calamity Jane and capable of falling over thin air, but how the hell did you manage this?”
“In the middle of the French Quarter, I admitted something to myself. I was wildly attracted to Jacob Creed. I was wildly attracted to my boss.”
This book was laugh OUT LOUD hilarious! From start to finish I found myself almost in tears laughing at the antics of Mellie & her friends. These three are not only an awesome group of friends, but they are a little crazy. When they get together, I was always surprised at what happened — especially when they get Mellie into a bit of a situation involving … her new boss!
When Mellie finally meets her boss, Jacob, she wants to move past their, umm, awkward first meeting, but Jacob doesn’t seem to mind at all. In fact, Jacob seems quite enthusiastic about learning more in regards to Mellie. The best part about Jacob is that he is so real, in everything he does. “He had the most real kind of smile. Not forced, and you could see it in his eyes, whether it was a smirk or a wide grin like the one he was wearing right now.”
I’m not sure who I fell in love with first, Jacob or Mellie. To watch them fall for each other was a … rollercoaster ride, to say the least. And, man oh my, the tension! It seemed like these two waited forever to make a move, and it was totally worth it.
This story was hilarious: filled with warm donuts & awesome best friends, spectacular Mardi Gras antics, ghost stories, and love.
The Upside to Reading an Emma Hart Romantic Comedy…
Upside #1: Hart creates some of the best groups of girlfriends – those women who ‘get’ one another and aren’t afraid to call each other on their ‘shit’ as well as fight to the death if someone threatens one of their girls!
Mellie and her two best friends are a tight group who cause mischief together as well as help one another put their lives back on track once they go ‘off the rails’ a bit. And even though they might not always agree on a course of action when it comes to the opposite sex, they always have one another’s back regardless of how right/wrong they end up being.
Upside #2: The chemistry between the hero and heroine resonates off of every page of the story.
Who would have thought that flashing her boobs would be the start of something hot and messy with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Silent, and despite the fact that he turns out to be her boss, which means a line would be crossed if Mellie were to act on her feelings for Jake, it’s clear in every interaction, every smoldering look that it’s not a matter of if but when they’ll cross that line and prove just how hot they are for one another.
Upside #3: Hart always creates heroines who are feisty with their own set of quirks that make them relatable to readers.
Mellie Rogers may be ‘life-challenged’ but she kicks ass at it, and it’s clear by the care she takes at her job that she understands the importance of paving one’s own way. She’s stubborn and a spitfire which make for some interesting interactions between her and Jake and every time she winds him up or vice versa, the hot mess that is Mellie is front and center, creating humorous and sizzling moments between her and the man who lights her up in a number of ways.
As you can see, there’s really no downside to picking up any one of Emma Hart’s stories…no matter which one you choose, you’re in for laughs and sighs as well as a good amount of sexual tension and hilarious interactions.
The Upside to Being Single may start off with all of Mellie’s reasons for not dating or having a significant other, but by the time the story’s over, it’s clear that Jacob Creed turns her views upside down and proves the upside to falling for a man who takes you for who you are…eccentricities and all!
4 Poison Apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)
When Mellie’s best friends issue her a dare she is reluctant to do it, but with some arm twisting and a little encouragement she figures why not it’s Mardi Gras and no one is bound to remember her face or her assets anyhow, right? Wrong, the gorgeous gray eyed man she spots on a balcony and flaunts her stuff to comes waltzing into her world the next day and informs her that he just so happens to be her new boss. While the sparks seem to be present, the irritation that they instantly towards one another is also lurking with every interaction they have, and even with all that going on Jake seems to think they can find some common ground… Mellie on the other hand is very skeptical. Mellie knows her attraction to Jake is strong, but she isn’t about to act on it and she isn’t so sure it’s the best practice to canoodle with your employer. Jake thinks otherwise… and is determined to change her mind!
The Upside to Being Single is a hysterical and charming tale that is sure to have romantic comedy fans reveling, with it’s captivating story line and endearing characters you just can’t go wrong!! Right from the start this one had me smiling, Mellie and her friends were an absolute hoot, and their shenanigans had me giggling out loud more times than I could count. I thoroughly enjoyed devouring this one, the story line was quite inventive and the characters were downright amazing!! If you are looking for something a little on the steamy side, and brimming with humor then I highly suggest you give this one a try, it’s sure to leave you a happy camper!!
Requested an advanced copy from the publisher, and voluntarily read and reviewed.
Loved this book! The characters are so hilarious! This is one crazy, funny, laugh out loud sexy times story. The dialogue caught me right from the start, and the three best friends are collectively the hottest mess around. I hope they get books too. Jake and Mellie are such a great match, you can just feel the vibes coming off the page. This is a well written story, with humor, love, sexy times, and much much more(ghost tours anyone) This is told in Mellie’s POV with a couple spats of Jakes.
were a sassy, snarky and sexy duo that heated up my kindle before they figured out what they were doing.
Sometimes caving to peer pressure can be the catalyst to all things. Who knew that it would literally show up at your door a few days later.
I think Melli and Jake may be one of my favorite couples from Emma. They played so well off of one another that I found myself continually smiling while reading. I was so caught up in their antics that I finished in one sitting as I just couldn’t tear myself away.
Jake wasn’t only sexy and determined but he had a sense of humor and although their situation wasn’t ideal I loved that he threw caution to the wind to go after what he wanted. His ability to cause instances in which he could “rescue” Melli were entertaining as well.
I think I have a new appreciation for hot donuts seeing as how they were the way to warm Melli’s heart. Her snarky attitude and inner thoughts were alone enough to keep me engaged. The chemistry and banter between her and Jake sealed the deal. Which was what I was waiting for them to finally get to.
The secondary characters in this story were true friends. I sort of thought of Peyton, Chloe and Melanie as the three muskateers. Together through both thick and thin. I can’t wait to see what Emma gives us when she expands on their stories.
Don’t miss out on a truly fun and engaging read…..Go #1click today