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lurker_stalker's review
5.0
This book is exactly what I look for in a romance novel. I connected with both MCs, thought their chemistry was fantastic, angst driven primarily from the outside but plenty of insecurities and flaws from the protagonists, very little drama due to miscommunication, interesting secondary characters that add flavor but don't take over, and a cute kid.
I've had one previous experience with Aurora Rey but this was my first read of anything by Jaime Clevenger. It won't be my last. As a matter of fact, I immediately started [b:Love, Accidentally|58517393|Love, Accidentally|Jaime Clevenger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1625773848l/58517393._SX50_.jpg|91916531], the second combined effort by the authors focused on Finn and Amelia.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for giving me that opportunity to fall in love with two new women and an adorable kid.
I've had one previous experience with Aurora Rey but this was my first read of anything by Jaime Clevenger. It won't be my last. As a matter of fact, I immediately started [b:Love, Accidentally|58517393|Love, Accidentally|Jaime Clevenger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1625773848l/58517393._SX50_.jpg|91916531], the second combined effort by the authors focused on Finn and Amelia.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for giving me that opportunity to fall in love with two new women and an adorable kid.
rogue_lurker's review against another edition
5.0
Sometimes you run across a book that combines all your favourites and knocks it out of the park. A Convenient Arrangement is one of those books. Co-written by Aurora Rey and Jaime Clevenger, the novel showcases each of the authors strengths in character development, witty dialogue and kick-ass chemistry and the result is a sweet, funny romance that has all the feels.
Jess Archer is a digital journalist who’s been assigned to write a series on “cuffing” – where two people date for a pre-determined time, normally over fall/winter. It’s a bit like nesting over the long winter months and having someone to spend time with over the holidays. This is something that has always seemed to happen organically, but in this situation both parties are aware that it is a convenient arrangement that has a set end date. As a single mom and physics professor who is interested in having someone attend faculty functions, Cody Dawson is up for the challenge and the two women agree to give it a go. Obviously, this ends as a cuffing fail – but the fun is in the journey to that realization for the characters.
There’s a wonderful chemistry from the outset between Jess and Cody, they are truly good people and as odd as it is that they would agree to engage in what seems like a bit of Machiavellian agreement, you can’t hope but become completely invested in them and the situation. Two of the secondary characters, Jess’ roommate and Cody’s BFF, have their own book (Love, Accidentally) that runs parallel to this one, but aren’t as fully developed and they go from obsessing over each other to a relationship (sorry for the spoiler … but these are lesfic books, there’s always a HEA) mostly off the page. The other secondary characters are much more present in this book and add to the overall charm and humour, especially Cody’s son and family who just make you want smile every time they are on the page.
This is a really sweet romance that features two absolutely wonderful, smart and engaging main characters. I can’t recommend it enough.
DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED
Jess Archer is a digital journalist who’s been assigned to write a series on “cuffing” – where two people date for a pre-determined time, normally over fall/winter. It’s a bit like nesting over the long winter months and having someone to spend time with over the holidays. This is something that has always seemed to happen organically, but in this situation both parties are aware that it is a convenient arrangement that has a set end date. As a single mom and physics professor who is interested in having someone attend faculty functions, Cody Dawson is up for the challenge and the two women agree to give it a go. Obviously, this ends as a cuffing fail – but the fun is in the journey to that realization for the characters.
There’s a wonderful chemistry from the outset between Jess and Cody, they are truly good people and as odd as it is that they would agree to engage in what seems like a bit of Machiavellian agreement, you can’t hope but become completely invested in them and the situation. Two of the secondary characters, Jess’ roommate and Cody’s BFF, have their own book (Love, Accidentally) that runs parallel to this one, but aren’t as fully developed and they go from obsessing over each other to a relationship (sorry for the spoiler … but these are lesfic books, there’s always a HEA) mostly off the page. The other secondary characters are much more present in this book and add to the overall charm and humour, especially Cody’s son and family who just make you want smile every time they are on the page.
This is a really sweet romance that features two absolutely wonderful, smart and engaging main characters. I can’t recommend it enough.
DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED
lezreadalot's review against another edition
4.0
It felt like Cody knew what she wanted, and that was her.
3.5 stars. As a collaboration, this was super successful. I'm not sure how Clevenger and Rey handled the co-writing of this unique romance, but it wasn't obvious that there were two authors; it was so seamless. I've really liked the books that I've read from them separately, and though this has some bumps, I enjoyed it quite a lot!
Jess is a columnist for a sapphic publication, and her editor wants her to work on a piece about cuffing (couples getting together for the colder months, and agreeing to break it off come spring). She enters into a fauxmance/relationship of convenience with Cody, a single mom professor working towards tenure who needs a date for some work related functions. I loved the single parent aspect of this; there's something about butch women being super strong and maternal that just makes my heart glow. I loved Cody and her relationship with Ben (especially given the uniqueness of their situation), and Ben himself didn't suffer from too much of the 'kids don't act like that' syndrome that you always see in books. (He did a little, but not a lot.) Seeing Jess bond with him was adorable, just the kind of fluff I love to see in single parent romances.
The romance was wonderful; I could not stop smiling while reading this. From the adorable meet-cute to getting to know each other on dates, they just had that spark. I fell in love with both characters individually, and they were great together. Cody especially: such a dreamboat. There were lots of thwarted opportunities thanks to parenthood, but it was still just steamy enough. (I do wish there had been one less FTB scene.) I feel like these authors just mesh really well; the writing is super simple, but I was 100% swept up in the relationship. The conflict that stemmed partially from a lack of communication did disappoint me, especially because what I loved about the first 3/4 of the book is that they communicated so well. It's not that it was unbelievable; in the circumstances you can definitely see people reacting in certain ways. But I just wasn't impressed, and it did sour the book for me a teensy bit. It didn't last long, thankfully.
I know I'm definitely going to be reading the companion romance, because I really liked what little we saw of those characters. This was such a fun romance!
☆ Review copy provided via the publisher and NetGalley. Thank you!
jsjarvis71's review against another edition
5.0
A Convenient Arrangement is one of my favorite books of 2021. I had never heard of 'cuffing' before I came across this book, so I wasn't entirely sure what I was in for. Rey and Clevenger did such a good job of developing the characters and made me care about all of them, especially the child. In a lot of novels I read, child characters are very one-dimensional or are written as very unlikeable characters. Ben is a character that it is hard not to fall in love with and one you want the best for. There is instant chemistry between Jess and Cody that boils over into some very steamy lovemaking scenes. There is a bit of angst, but something that is taken care of in due time.
I can't speak highly enough for how much I enjoyed this book. It has sweetness, tenderness, hot sex, and the building of a family, all things that I cherish in a love story.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
I can't speak highly enough for how much I enjoyed this book. It has sweetness, tenderness, hot sex, and the building of a family, all things that I cherish in a love story.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
paigelindsey97's review
5.0
This book had me EMOTIONAL. In a rollercoaster of ups and downs, smut and fluff, love and heartbreak, I was glued to every last word
tricia_r's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
achoward's review
4.0
Jess, a columnist for Sapphisticate (great name!), an online mag for lesbians, writes about lifestyle stuff when her boss says she should write about cuffing. I may very well be in the minority that I know what this is and that it has nothing to do with BDSM or role-playing in the bedroom, but then again, my head is full of all sorts of things like this that make people not want to play Trivial Pursuit with me.
Cuffing just means hopping into a short term, winter relationship, with or without sex, to get through the season, with the two parties going their separate ways by spring. A way to pass those months and all the festivities that go with them with a temporary partner since a ton of things for the season are usually for couples.
Case in point (kinda) is Cody, super butch mom of one, and a professor seeking tenure. She's told by a couple of people that it probably would be a good idea to get an in with the female president of the university, who is married to a woman. Can't hurt, right? Cody reads the article Jess writes, and leaves her a voice mail (awkward and cute) about being her cuffing partner for the season.
It doesn't hurt that they meet at a fall fare where Jess is dressed up as a giant pineapple and is great with all the kids who come by to take a shot at knocking stuff down.
They agree to be each other's plus one, lay out some ground rules (no pressure for sex, but if it comes up later, they can talk about it), and we're in business. Cody has a date to go to school functions with someone, and Jess gets content for her column. It is, to coin a phrase, a convenient arrangement.
Of course, they're both hot, and there's some smoldering going on. They continue on, Cody making inroads with her ultimate boss because Jess and the president's wife get along like a house on fire. Jess adores Cody's son Ben, and he her. There are some Moments when it looks like they will hook up only to be interrupted by Ben, or something else. Readers who are not fans of kids or interruptus will be unlikely to be happy.
Cody and Ben wind up going with Jess to her family Thanksgiving, an everyone has a blast. Jess' family love both of them, and they are quite taken by the mob of people.
But then, oh no! People in their 30s who can't communicate! Cody gets a call from Anastasia, her ex-wife who has shown zero interest in Cody, and the other mom wants Ben to come out at stay for two weeks. Jess agrees to go - they look forward to being in a hotel room without a kid - but Jess gets a special request to interview a politician in DC and then an interview with an outfit in Philly, where she submitted a resume. Jess doesn't tell Cody about the Philly connection, which by this point is a no-no: I couldn't figure out what was to be gained by Jess not telling Cody, since by now they're in love with one another.
We all know that there is a HEA at the end, because that's the genre and not a spoiler.
No major complaints about any of it, and Ben really steals the show. Again, if you're not okay with a kid being one of the most important things in someone's life, this is no the book for you. There are no drawn out, steamy sexytimes here - most are fade to black. It's an easy read and everyone is normal.
Three and a half stars out of five, rounded up to four.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the reading copy.
Cuffing just means hopping into a short term, winter relationship, with or without sex, to get through the season, with the two parties going their separate ways by spring. A way to pass those months and all the festivities that go with them with a temporary partner since a ton of things for the season are usually for couples.
Case in point (kinda) is Cody, super butch mom of one, and a professor seeking tenure. She's told by a couple of people that it probably would be a good idea to get an in with the female president of the university, who is married to a woman. Can't hurt, right? Cody reads the article Jess writes, and leaves her a voice mail (awkward and cute) about being her cuffing partner for the season.
It doesn't hurt that they meet at a fall fare where Jess is dressed up as a giant pineapple and is great with all the kids who come by to take a shot at knocking stuff down.
They agree to be each other's plus one, lay out some ground rules (no pressure for sex, but if it comes up later, they can talk about it), and we're in business. Cody has a date to go to school functions with someone, and Jess gets content for her column. It is, to coin a phrase, a convenient arrangement.
Of course, they're both hot, and there's some smoldering going on. They continue on, Cody making inroads with her ultimate boss because Jess and the president's wife get along like a house on fire. Jess adores Cody's son Ben, and he her. There are some Moments when it looks like they will hook up only to be interrupted by Ben, or something else. Readers who are not fans of kids or interruptus will be unlikely to be happy.
Cody and Ben wind up going with Jess to her family Thanksgiving, an everyone has a blast. Jess' family love both of them, and they are quite taken by the mob of people.
But then, oh no! People in their 30s who can't communicate! Cody gets a call from Anastasia, her ex-wife who has shown zero interest in Cody, and the other mom wants Ben to come out at stay for two weeks. Jess agrees to go - they look forward to being in a hotel room without a kid - but Jess gets a special request to interview a politician in DC and then an interview with an outfit in Philly, where she submitted a resume. Jess doesn't tell Cody about the Philly connection, which by this point is a no-no: I couldn't figure out what was to be gained by Jess not telling Cody, since by now they're in love with one another.
We all know that there is a HEA at the end, because that's the genre and not a spoiler.
No major complaints about any of it, and Ben really steals the show. Again, if you're not okay with a kid being one of the most important things in someone's life, this is no the book for you. There are no drawn out, steamy sexytimes here - most are fade to black. It's an easy read and everyone is normal.
Three and a half stars out of five, rounded up to four.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the reading copy.
khylabevibin's review
4.0
‘A Convenient Arrangement’ by Jamie Clevenger and Aurora Rey follows the story of journalist, Jess Archer and hot butch professor, Cody Dawson, as they partake in ‘cuffing’. Cuffing, as described by Jess, is the hot new lesbian trend where you jump into a relationship by fall and break up by spring. I’m not sure why but the whole basis is not having the intention of a full long term relationship.
I liked this book, Cody and Jess had a strong chemistry and I loved their dialogues together. Jess was my favorite character here, just so hard to not like. Even scenes with Ben, Cody’s son, were delightful to read and I enjoyed them! I don’t have much thoughts on this book to be honest. Was a cute simple read, maybe potential for more entertainment in some smaller plot detailed, like Cody’s ex wife. The predictable nature of this book was a bit lame. From page one you know what’s gonna happen so that’s the reason for my one minus star.
I recommend for a casual read!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in return for a honest review.
destijlx's review
4.0
A pretty good book.
Without a doubt, I'm such a perfectionist and picky about my books so while there was nothing wrong with it, I just couldn't fully connect with it.
Without a doubt, I'm such a perfectionist and picky about my books so while there was nothing wrong with it, I just couldn't fully connect with it.