★★★★★ “This is a fabulous read that’ll take you back in time, make you swoon, and serve you with a heavy dose of nostalgia.” —The Rogue ReviewsA brilliant-at-math-but-challenged-with-people heroine and a stubbornly frugal hero find love in spite of themselves in this vintage romance debut from award-winning author Karen Grey.Finance hotshot Kate Bishop doesn’t expect the cute bartender to quote … cute bartender to quote Shakespeare to her when she meets her colleagues for happy hour, nor for him to rescue the rest of her workday with a special cocktail.
Will Talbot’s head is turned by the adorably nerdy young woman who doesn’t seem to belong with the rest of the power-suit crowd, but his heart knows that he’s got to keep his eyes on the prize: his career as a professional actor.
Opposites attract in this romantic comedy, so this quirky pair finally gives in to chemistry stronger than a stiff Harvey Wallbanger. But when real life throws them a curve ball, will love win? Or will career?
Don’t miss this smart, feel-good series starter set in the late 1980’s—an era of big hair and bigger egos. Each Boston Classics standalone romantic comedy guarantees an evocative trip back in time and a Happy-Ever-After for the ages
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4 star review of What I’m Looking For (Boston Classics #1) by Karen Grey
Karen Gray is a new author to me and I am surprised I have not come across her before. This is Will Talbot and Kate Bishop’s story and was an enjoyable read. Kate works in a male orientated field so she doesn’t have it easy fitting in with others. Will is a bartender who becomes a knight in shining armor for Kate.
While Kate is awkward, Will is self confident, they could not be more different and yet they really work well together. The chemistry that arcs between them is intense and too hard to overlook. However their path to a happily ever after will be rocky, will they take a chance or will they be torn about once and for all?
I liked this book quite a lot. When I found out about this book, I just couldn’t resist the chance to read it. A romance set in the ’80s really appealed to me on a lot of different levels. I really grew up in the ’80s so I was pretty eager to catch a glimpse of some of the things I remember from that era. I ended up having a very nice time with the story and am really happy that I stumbled upon this story.
Kate and Will were both great characters and I really liked the way that they clicked with each other. Kate is incredibly smart and successful in her career. She works in finance and holds a position that is usually thought of as male territory so she has a rather hard time fitting in at work. Will is a Shakesperian actor who also moonlights as a bartender. They meet when she needs a bit of help at the bar and they are drawn to each other.
I really liked watching their relationship progress over the course of the story. Kate was not afraid to ask for what she wanted. There were a lot of obstacles to their relationship but it was nice to see them work to overcome them. Will wasn’t sure that they were a good fit but he couldn’t help but want to be near her as often as possible. They had fantastic chemistry together and I felt like they were just meant to be.
As I said, I grew up in the ’80s so there was a bit of nostalgia in this story for me. I do remember having entire conversations back and forth via answering machines through the ’80s and well into the ’90s. I also remember when car phones were gaining in popularity. Unfortunately, I also remember the increased prevalence of the sexist attitude that we see in this book from some of Kate’s co-workers.
I would recommend this book to fans of romance. I thought that Will and Kate were both fantastic characters and I had a great time with their story. I wouldn’t hesitate to read more of Karen Grey’s work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.
I recommend listening to the audio version of this book. Karen White is a new-to-me narrator but her performance is really impressive. I appreciated the extra sounds – like the cat and the answering machine – that really brought the story to life. Joe Arden is also fabulous, but I’ve listed to several of his performances before and would have been disappointed with anything less than amazing.
The story itself is entertaining, especially if you can remember the late 80s. Just imagine if you could carry a phone with you! (Hint from your future self: It’s not always better to be reachable at all times.) I liked seeing the characters develop, especially since I was a little unsure of Will and all his Shakespeare quotes at the beginning.
“’This is very midsummer madness,’” he says.
What I’m Looking For by Karen Grey is an engaging, romantic, vintage comedy set in Boston in the 1980’s. It includes a profusion of cultural ‘Easter Egg’ references for reminiscing enjoyment.
It’s the first full-length book authored by Karen Grey, a moniker for Karen White. She opted to use a moniker to avoid confusion with another author by the same name. Karen is one of my favorite audio book narrators. So much so that I have discovered numerous new favorite authors by picking up audio books that Karen has narrated. Picking up her debut stand-alone book was a no-brainer.
What I’m Looking For is the story of actor/bartender Will Talbot and investment analyst Kate Bishop. Their tale is told from Will’s and Kate’s alternating points-of-view allowing readers to be privy to each of their thoughts and motivations.
Our hero, Will, is a charismatic heartthrob – depicted as looking like JFK Jr. When Will was thusly described, it brought back memories of when “People” magazine famously dubbed JFK Jr the “Sexiest Man Alive.” Will is at ease on stage and is a drama geek who can quote Shakespeare like the renowned English poet himself.
Will first meets our heroine, Kate, when she orders a drink at his bar. Will has an aversion to financiers so Kate is someone he normally would avoid – but, there’s an unexplainable spark and he finds himself attracted to her even though they seem to have nothing in common. I enjoyed tagging along as they talked and shared doing fun things like indulging in ice cream kisses.
Kate is not looking for a relationship. She’s still reeling from a fairly recent breakup. She’s a finance nerd – very good at tallying figures and trends – but awkward and shy in front of clients. She is ambitious and focused on her career goals which include becoming the leader of the all-male rat pack at work. To do so, she must add excelling at public speaking and relating to her audience to her repertoire of talents. Open sexism was inescapable back then and successful businesswomen were a rarity. To prevail, she was going to have to be much better than the guys. Thankfully, Will steps in to help Kate with tips on how to calm her anxiety and focus on her audience.
The couple’s path to a relationship is not smooth. In the 80s, email, Internet, and cell phones do not exist. There’s no firing off a quick text. You can wait days for a phone call and there are these things called answering machines which require reading a manual to set up and use. Pagers are a thing too. Plus, Will and Kate are each stubborn as can be. There were times I did not see a path forward for them. I wanted to shake them. Yet, when they were together, it was easy to dream of what could be.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention two secondary characters. Alice is Kate’s best friend and a hoot. She encourages Kate to step out of her comfort zone. The second is “Hot Steve,” who starts out as a despicable jerk, but as the story progresses, he evolves into a good friend to Kate.
Following please find a few of my favorite lines from That’s What I’m Looking For:
He scoots closer. “I just want this bit, right… here.” His lips brush the side of my mouth, then he licks just below my bottom lip. “Mmm. That’s good chocolate.”
“Ice cream kisses.” My tongue may be cold, but the rest of me is heating up fast.
—
If I could manage a portfolio like he manages a kiss, I’d be a millionaire.
—
“I might need something else to make me feel completely well.”
“I’m not a doctor, but I’ve played one on stage. Maybe I can help.”
—
“I feel like I’m dating a vampire,” I confess to Alice over our post-run breakfast Saturday morning. “It’s been weeks since I saw Will in the daylight.”
“That’s so romantic,” Alice sighs.
Will’s and Kate’s story took a few chapters for me to get into – but, once I did, I couldn’t put the book down. It was fun to watch these seemingly opposites come full circle and learn to trust their hearts and each other. Kate puts it well; “You taught me that risking loss makes life much more precious.” I admit to laughing out loud way too many times to count and I snuggled into the amazing warm fuzzies at the end. What I’m Looking For is a smart, sexy and warm-hearted nostalgic romp and a wonderful escape read.
Now, I’m wondering which secondary character will get their story told in Karen’s next Boston Classics’ release. Whoever it is, I look forward to reading it!
Will is an actor and Kate is a financial analyst; they’re from different worlds and have different expectations but have an intense attraction that keeps them drawn to each other. Set in Boston theater and a sexist, finance worlds, What I’m Looking For is charming, funny, and has you rooting for these two. A very character-driven book that took me back to when I was just starting out in the workforce in the mid 1980’s (one of the best decades!). Take a trip back in time when people actually left messages on answering machines (before texting was a thing) and enjoy!
Wonderful Story & Narration A Heart-Warming Delight!
What I’m Looking
Boston Classics, Book 1
By: Karen Grey
Narrated by: Joe Arden, Karen White
I enjoyed this book immensely, Karen Grey is a gifted author, she created a uniquely told story with interesting storylines that grabbed my attention right from the start and held it captive straight to the end. The characters are well developed, they are realistic and easy to relate to in a nostalgic way, remembering what it was like for woman in the workforce back in the day when it was mostly a man world for executive positions. Kate Bishop is good at what she does, working with numbers in the investment firm and providing a thorough market analysis. She never felt like she was part of the team, but with hopes of advancing she decides to go out for a drink with her co-workers. Will Talbot, actor, fight director and bartender likes what he sees in Kate, he makes her the perfect drink and even woos her with his quotes from Shakespeare’s plays. He invites her to an outing which she winds up going to and enjoying. I loved the chemistry between these two, they are both hesitant about getting involved but you can not deny that type of chemistry for long. They are worlds apart when it comes to careers and goals in life, can they they survive the differences or will it tear them apart. I loved how everything plays out in this book, the story is plotted out nicely and there is never a dull moment with plenty of drama, humor, low angst, lots of emotional and heartfelt moments and a wonderful romance.
I listened to the audiobook edition, Joe Arden and Karen White are talented narrators and voice artists. They were perfectly casted to bring these characters and their story to life. They do an amazing job portraying them, humanizing them, giving each their own voice and personality. You could hear how much heart they put into their work as they capture the characters emotions and project them in to their performance. They are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for this awesome listen
This review is for the audiobook version.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
This story had me laughing quite a bit. Will Talbot’s roommates almost had me laughing out loud and I didn’t care where I was or who might be listening – want inspiration, think PBS cooking series The Food Flirts. There was a time or two when I would start talking to Kate Bishop. Sad thing is that I got the impression that she wasn’t listening to me. Will was a generous man – I’m not talking about money.
Both narrators kept me well entertained. They made it very easy to tune everything out and just enjoy them bringing the characters to life. The sad part is that the roommates seemed to steal every scene they appeared in. On Kate’s side, I enjoyed her running partner. The one thing that took me a little while to get used to is a sound effect that you will hear every so often. At the beginning I wasn’t sure if it was something wrong with my iPod – sometimes I’m just a little slow.
Slow or not didn’t stop me from listening or enjoy getting to know our main characters. Another issue I had is thinking of this as a historical read. But then when you think about the time period and things that are missing since they haven’t been invented yet just makes me feel old. That’s just another reason to have me laughing. I don’t feel that it’s that many years ago until I do the math – that just makes me feel older.
Will made me feel older too. Partly because of the quotes he uses and his profession. In high school I had the privilege to go to the American Shakespeare Festival Theatre and watch a play for an English class. And as I reminisce about that time, I remember how many years ago that was and then I realize that Will’s too young for me – but one can always dream.
Would I listen to this book again? Yes. Would I read this book? Yes. Would I read more by this author? Yes. Would I listen to more work done by our narrators? Yes to both. I want to see where all of them will take me next.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
What a debut!
Karen Grey sure brings a spotlight to sexism in the workplace but in a very catchy and funny way.
I loved Kate.
She may seem weak at first but you soon learn that is not the truth.
I want a Will in my life. He is so funny and sexy, and he learns to grow along with her.
Great start to the series and can’t wait to hear what else Karen brings us.
*all puns are intentional*
9/27/2020: Updated for Audiobook
This is my first book by Karen Grey and I’m hooked. A fabulous mix of endearing and realistic characters, humor, a little bit of guarded hearts, and if I’m being honest I did tear up at one point. Grey brings the reader completely into 1987 in a way that the time period almost becomes a secondary character while not overwhelming the cast or story in any way. I do admit to spending quite a bit of time Googling pics of JFK Jr. who is Will’s look-a-like. Or vice versa.
Will is an actor/bartender who is trying desperately not to sell out and ends up falling for Kate the finance analyst. On paper, or in a spreadsheet, these two don’t have much in common but we get to know them separately and together and this couple definitely adds up. What I especially love about this is that while there are several steamy scenes between Will & Kate, there is also a lot of talking, dating, and fun. I couldn’t help but be invested in their HEA. This is fairly low angst, yet compelling. A fine line that Grey artfully balances.
I found myself equally in love with the charming and fascinating secondary characters. While none stand out as the obvious choice for the next book in the series, I’m voting for the enigma that is “Hot Steve”.
A side note, check out the author’s blog for a post about how Grey and her book designer/illustrator came up with the fabulous cover for the book. I found it really fascinating as I’m enjoying this new trend of graphic-based covers.
While I enjoyed reading this – the narration was even more fun. Joe Arden & Karen White do a fantastic job with Will & Kate. The accents for the secondary characters were a nice touch. Then! There’s the few really emotional parts. White does great, but the fact is Will’s chapters have some much heavier scenes and Arden had me in tears.
While I received a free advanced copy of the ebook from the author, I purchased the audiobook.
A romcom set in the 80s? YES PLEASE! Happy release day, Karen Grey! What I’m Looking For
Disclaimer: I was provided an advance reader copy by the author in exchange for my unbiased review and opinions.
out of
I am sitting here writing this review and trying to do justice to the fantastic reading experience I’ve had with this book. Can we even call a book set in the 80’s historical? I rather not contemplate that 1980 was FORTY YEARS AGO.
Although this book is a romance, I am happy to share that readers that usually do not read romance will appreciate this book too. It has some many enjoyable elements, I feel like there’s something for everyone. And romance readers that enjoy books with more substance, this is an absolute treat. If you enjoy Penny Reid and Susannah Nix, you will enjoy this book.
Although I was alive in the ’80s, I was too young to have lived through all the references in this book, but I remember enough to confirm the accuracy. There are some parts that’ll piss you off, but no great book will leave you untouched.
Chemistry: The chemistry between Kate and Will is pretty steamy. These are two opposites that keep fighting to meet in the middle, no matter what comes their way. For those of us that like our romance with a heavy hand of smut, there’s not a lot of it in this book. Listen, now and then you have to pick up a book that challenges you a little bit more..this is one of those books. Smart romance for the win!
Romance and Heart: Will quotes Shakespeare like it’s going out of style…need I say more? It actually made me dig up my Shakespeare books that I haven’t touched in *coughs* way too long. Seeing the journey these two had to go through was pretty gratifying. Kate is a badass and as I keep saying, we need more smart female protagonists in romance…very few of us are wilting flowers,
Mmmmkay?
This is a fabulous read that’ll take you back in time, make you swoon, and serve you with a heavy dose of nostalgia. Smart escapism at its finest! Five bitchin’s stars for What I’m Looking For!
DNF @ 35%
I don’t usually give books I don’t finish more than 1 star but this one is a bit of a technical fail AND a bit not to my tastes. It takes a lot for me to not finish a book. But I couldn’t do it with this one.
The Boston setting was comforting. The Shakespeare quotes were a lovely touch. I enjoyed seeing if I could guess what they were from. The 80s nostalgia was an interesting twist, even if I wasn’t old enough in the 80s to remember all those details. It had all the hallmarks of a promising story.
My issues were with the dialogue between Will and Kate and with the romance. The dialogue often felt awkward and clumsy. Not all the time but enough to be annoying. And the romance seemed to appear out of nowhere. I understand insta-attraction and it can be well done but this wasn’t it.
This wasn’t for me, unfortunately.
3.5 stars really.
So, I’m going a little bit backwards with this series! I started with book 2, then read 2.5, then book 3, and now I’m back reading book 1. I’m actually having a little bit of a hard time with this review though. I jumped at the chance to listen to the audiobook, because I definitely enjoyed the other two in this series that I listened to, and I had time to fit it in with all my scheduled review books. And I do like the story, and the characters. But I did have some issues with both the characters, and even the narrators a little. And I hate saying anything bad about the narration, because I know one of the narrators is the author, and the other is a narrator I usually enjoy. Ugh! But I also want to be honest. So that’s what you’ll be getting with this review.
First, the story. It was definitely excited to go back and learn Will and Kate’s story, as they had parts in the other books that I’d already read later on in the series. So that was neat, and I enjoyed that. However, I had a lot of problems with both Will and Kate and how they dealt or reacted to certain things with each other. First, I totally understand why Will had his issues with what Kate did, and also with money. And really, the author gives us a really great in depth look into Will’s past with what his father really did, and how his mother actually reacted to all of it. But his stubbornness with Kate’s job and then his antiquated ideas about not letting the woman pay for anything, that got really, really old. It was to the point where if I’d been Kate, I wouldn’t have cared about how great his kisses or the physical part of the relationship was, I’d have been done with him.
Now, Kate was a weird issue for me. Um, you know the guy you are dating is an actor. You know he is playing a character in a play, and I believe a Shakespeare play, so a really old story, not something new that someone just wrote, and his acting makes you think he is like that? I mean, had Kate never watched tv or movies or plays or read a book, or anything? And then, towards the end of the story, she sees him get killed on stage, again, part of the play, and she cries and gets really upset? Huh? However, I have to say in the end, when they really finally got to talking and figuring things out after they’d been through their own self discovery moments, I did really like the way the author brought them back together at that point. That part did give me a lot of emotions.
Since I listened to the audiobook, I have to mention the issues with that. Now sometimes I really like the female narrator’s voice. At times it was perfect! And she actually does the male parts very well. But there was something about the voice at times that all I could picture in my head was an old lady who smoked a lot, not the young women characters in the story. That’s the only way I can describe it. The male narrator is one that I like usually, but I noticed this time that he’s not necessarily the greatest at the female parts. One thing that stood out is that he tended to say their lines as if they were questions, I don’t know how to say it. Going up in inflection at the end? You know how you’d read a question out loud? Go ahead, read my last two sentences as questions out loud and see what I mean.
Side characters also really made the book. I loved reading the introduction to “Hot Steve” in this story after really reading his HEA in Like It’s 1999, as well as Alice, Kate’s best friend also in that book. It was also nice getting a little bit of an introduction to Ben from Forget About Me. And finally we got a little bit of time with Jessica from You Spin Me. So really for me that was the best part of the book. I would say this first one isn’t my favorite in the series, but definitely it had a story that was worth reading and taking the time to get into this world.
What I’m Looking For
Boston Classics, Book 1
By: Karen Grey
Narrated by: Joe Arden, Karen White
A blast from the past! Growing up in the 80’s I remember so well how we all communicated! The answer machine was imperative so we didn’t miss that important phone call. Listening to Kate and Will’s story brings back all those fun times. These two represent so much of that time. Kate is a woman working in a man’s field. Determined to prove her worth, she takes on every opportunity. She also fends off those male advances that were prevalent. Will is an actor who moonlights as a bartender. Helping Kate out one night starts this unlikely romance. With the tables turned, and Kate being the super ambitious woman and Will being the starving actor, will they find a happy medium? Both having their careers come first, will they ever find time for them? Karen Grey captures the essence of the time, with a couple that has chemistry off the charts. The humor had me smiling, the nostalgia gave me the feel good happiness I love. It’s a fun listen!
Karen White and Joe Arden bring Kate and Will to life. Each finds the personality of their characters and makes them real to the time, yet timeless. I enjoyed this team.
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