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kc210791's review against another edition
5.0
This story was definitely a unique one!
Jess, a journalist, is asked to write a column on cuffing, a purposeful short term relationship. In comes Cody, a college professor and most importantly a mom. Knowing it's a short term relationship, they agree to see what to make of cuffing.
With relationship ups and downs, reading their journey felt like I was watching it unfold. I would definitely recommend this story to those who like lesbian romances and great storylines!
Jess, a journalist, is asked to write a column on cuffing, a purposeful short term relationship. In comes Cody, a college professor and most importantly a mom. Knowing it's a short term relationship, they agree to see what to make of cuffing.
With relationship ups and downs, reading their journey felt like I was watching it unfold. I would definitely recommend this story to those who like lesbian romances and great storylines!
hhushaw's review
4.0
An honest review thanks to NetGalley. I adored this book, it hooked me from the start. The relationships between all characters, primary and secondary were constantly causing me to laugh or have emotions rush through me. This was a close 5 star read for me but the constant pulling back and hiding emotions caused me to get irritated at Cody a few times. I also wanted to know more about the story with Ben's birth mother. I hope that this is a series because I will be picking up the next one.
00leah00's review against another edition
3.0
“A Convenient Arrangement” is the first of a two-book collaboration between authors Aurora Rey and Jaime Clevenger. It’s also a collaboration between two different publishers, Bold Strokes Books and Bella Books, which I thought was really cool.
Jess Archer, a journalist for an online magazine, is tasked with writing a column on cuffing. She meets Professor Cody Dawson who needs a date for some school functions. The two hit it off and decide to give a short, no strings relationship a go, both knowing it has an expiration date in three months. This is not my typical kind of romance as I usually hate insta romances and that’s exactly what this is. Jess and Cody jump into their relationship very quickly but it didn’t bother me here.
I really liked this at the beginning. I liked both Jess and Cody but as the story progressed, I started liking Cody less and less and that took away some of my enjoyment. Jess and Cody were both very good about setting rules and guidelines (though they weren’t nearly as good at following them.) They talked a lot and seemed to do a good job with communicating with one another. However, it seemed as time went on, they stopped telling each other their issues, which of course lead to problems later on. Also, Cody was filled with doubts and started second-guessing everything to do with Jess. I still liked this enough to want to finish it but Cody’s continual doubts really got in the way of my enjoyment.
I know I started of negatively but there were some really great things about this too. I was really impressed with not being able to tell this was written by two people. Rey and Clevenger did an excellent job with the way they weaved their story together. Jess and Cody have outstanding chemistry right from the beginning and are very likable. I also liked the inclusion of Ben, Cody’s son from a previous marriage. I did think he was more polite and better mannered than most five-year-old’s but I still found him to be cute and really liked his relationship with Jess and her family. The black moment I could see coming from a mile away but luckily, it didn’t last long.
While I have overall mixed feelings on this one, I think most people will get more enjoyment from it than I did. I let my annoyance with the second-guessing get in the way so it’s more of me thing for why I didn’t love this. This is well written and has a lot of heart. I should add that Ben plays a big role here, so if kids aren’t your thing you might want to miss this one.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Jess Archer, a journalist for an online magazine, is tasked with writing a column on cuffing. She meets Professor Cody Dawson who needs a date for some school functions. The two hit it off and decide to give a short, no strings relationship a go, both knowing it has an expiration date in three months. This is not my typical kind of romance as I usually hate insta romances and that’s exactly what this is. Jess and Cody jump into their relationship very quickly but it didn’t bother me here.
I really liked this at the beginning. I liked both Jess and Cody but as the story progressed, I started liking Cody less and less and that took away some of my enjoyment. Jess and Cody were both very good about setting rules and guidelines (though they weren’t nearly as good at following them.) They talked a lot and seemed to do a good job with communicating with one another. However, it seemed as time went on, they stopped telling each other their issues, which of course lead to problems later on. Also, Cody was filled with doubts and started second-guessing everything to do with Jess. I still liked this enough to want to finish it but Cody’s continual doubts really got in the way of my enjoyment.
I know I started of negatively but there were some really great things about this too. I was really impressed with not being able to tell this was written by two people. Rey and Clevenger did an excellent job with the way they weaved their story together. Jess and Cody have outstanding chemistry right from the beginning and are very likable. I also liked the inclusion of Ben, Cody’s son from a previous marriage. I did think he was more polite and better mannered than most five-year-old’s but I still found him to be cute and really liked his relationship with Jess and her family. The black moment I could see coming from a mile away but luckily, it didn’t last long.
While I have overall mixed feelings on this one, I think most people will get more enjoyment from it than I did. I let my annoyance with the second-guessing get in the way so it’s more of me thing for why I didn’t love this. This is well written and has a lot of heart. I should add that Ben plays a big role here, so if kids aren’t your thing you might want to miss this one.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
kimz08's review
4.0
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked how sweet the romance was in the end. The format of the book was a little bit confusing at first but I grew to really like it and felt that it added to us getting to know the characters for such a short book. I did kinda expect more for certain parts but overall a very nice cheesy romance :)
kjanie's review against another edition
4.0
4/5 stars
I am completely new to the term ‘cuffing’, but if my experience could turn out anything like Jess and Cody, then absolutely sign me up. This is my first time reading from both of these authors, but this book was fantastic. There were so many heartwarming scenes, the sparks of chemistry flew off the page, and the story was engaging from page one. As someone that reads the ‘relationship of convenience’ tropes so often (because I love it), I really enjoyed exploring the idea of ‘cuffing’. It felt like a refreshing and interesting spin on a classic trope, sparking some new life in a pretty old storyline.
More than anything, this book just made me smile uncontrollably. The romance felt very down to earth and genuine, as if I was going to bump into Cody and Jess at the local shops. While the chemistry could get fiery at times, at its heart, the romance is sweet and heartwarming.
I also really enjoyed how the book dealt with Cody as a single mother of Ben (who is an absolute delight), and how she navigated the difficulties of romance while being solely responsible for a child. It was challenging at times, but felt very real and honest, which is probably what added to the genuine feeling of the story., I enjoyed the navigating and blossoming of the small family dynamics just as much as I loved the one-on-one times between Jess and Cody. I love a romance book that brings us well-developed and interesting side characters that add life to story, and that is exactly what we got here. Altogether, it was engaging, sweet and a beautiful story.
I am completely new to the term ‘cuffing’, but if my experience could turn out anything like Jess and Cody, then absolutely sign me up. This is my first time reading from both of these authors, but this book was fantastic. There were so many heartwarming scenes, the sparks of chemistry flew off the page, and the story was engaging from page one. As someone that reads the ‘relationship of convenience’ tropes so often (because I love it), I really enjoyed exploring the idea of ‘cuffing’. It felt like a refreshing and interesting spin on a classic trope, sparking some new life in a pretty old storyline.
More than anything, this book just made me smile uncontrollably. The romance felt very down to earth and genuine, as if I was going to bump into Cody and Jess at the local shops. While the chemistry could get fiery at times, at its heart, the romance is sweet and heartwarming.
I also really enjoyed how the book dealt with Cody as a single mother of Ben (who is an absolute delight), and how she navigated the difficulties of romance while being solely responsible for a child. It was challenging at times, but felt very real and honest, which is probably what added to the genuine feeling of the story., I enjoyed the navigating and blossoming of the small family dynamics just as much as I loved the one-on-one times between Jess and Cody. I love a romance book that brings us well-developed and interesting side characters that add life to story, and that is exactly what we got here. Altogether, it was engaging, sweet and a beautiful story.
melodrama44's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
oddgirlsmedia's review against another edition
4.0
A Convenient Arrangement is a collaborative novel between not only two lesfic authors, but two queer publishing houses. Aurora Rey, from Bold Strokes Books, and Jaime Clevenger, from Bella Books.
As someone who has been with their partner for over ten years I won’t lie I had to fact check this one. “Cuffing” is a temporary relationship, two people agree to hook up for a set amount of time typically over the winter months to avoid going to all those holiday parties stag. Then “break up” at the end of the season. According to the internet it is more of a straight people thing. Which makes sense since this pairing goes from fake dating to U-Haul status immediately.
I found the premise of this book interesting because it almost walks the line with fake dating but the pair for all intents and purposes are in a real, if temporary, relationship. When Jess gets an assignment to investigate the concept of “cuffing,” for her lesbian lifesytle blog she and a new friend, Cody, decide to pair up.
I did love the maturity of the characters in this book, both have a clear understanding Of the agreement they are making to each other. And as their relationship evolves the women quickly learn to adapt to the other’s quirks and insecurities. The story is a little predictable but has a lot of heart, and will give you all the gooey feels.
#lesbianbooks #lesfic #butch #femme #romancebooks #lgbtq #lesbian #wlw #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #lgbtbooks #romcom #sapphicbooks
As someone who has been with their partner for over ten years I won’t lie I had to fact check this one. “Cuffing” is a temporary relationship, two people agree to hook up for a set amount of time typically over the winter months to avoid going to all those holiday parties stag. Then “break up” at the end of the season. According to the internet it is more of a straight people thing. Which makes sense since this pairing goes from fake dating to U-Haul status immediately.
I found the premise of this book interesting because it almost walks the line with fake dating but the pair for all intents and purposes are in a real, if temporary, relationship. When Jess gets an assignment to investigate the concept of “cuffing,” for her lesbian lifesytle blog she and a new friend, Cody, decide to pair up.
I did love the maturity of the characters in this book, both have a clear understanding Of the agreement they are making to each other. And as their relationship evolves the women quickly learn to adapt to the other’s quirks and insecurities. The story is a little predictable but has a lot of heart, and will give you all the gooey feels.
#lesbianbooks #lesfic #butch #femme #romancebooks #lgbtq #lesbian #wlw #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #lgbtbooks #romcom #sapphicbooks
oddgirlsmedia's review
4.0
A Convenient Arrangement is a collaborative novel between not only two lesfic authors, but two queer publishing houses. Aurora Rey, from Bold Strokes Books, and Jaime Clevenger, from Bella Books.
As someone who has been with their partner for over ten years I won’t lie I had to fact check this one. “Cuffing” is a temporary relationship, two people agree to hook up for a set amount of time typically over the winter months to avoid going to all those holiday parties stag. Then “break up” at the end of the season. According to the internet it is more of a straight people thing. Which makes sense since this pairing goes from fake dating to U-Haul status immediately.
I found the premise of this book interesting because it almost walks the line with fake dating but the pair for all intents and purposes are in a real, if temporary, relationship. When Jess gets an assignment to investigate the concept of “cuffing,” for her lesbian lifesytle blog she and a new friend, Cody, decide to pair up.
I did love the maturity of the characters in this book, both have a clear understanding Of the agreement they are making to each other. And as their relationship evolves the women quickly learn to adapt to the other’s quirks and insecurities. The story is a little predictable but has a lot of heart, and will give you all the gooey feels.
#lesbianbooks #lesfic #butch #femme #romancebooks #lgbtq #lesbian #wlw #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #lgbtbooks #romcom #sapphicbooks
As someone who has been with their partner for over ten years I won’t lie I had to fact check this one. “Cuffing” is a temporary relationship, two people agree to hook up for a set amount of time typically over the winter months to avoid going to all those holiday parties stag. Then “break up” at the end of the season. According to the internet it is more of a straight people thing. Which makes sense since this pairing goes from fake dating to U-Haul status immediately.
I found the premise of this book interesting because it almost walks the line with fake dating but the pair for all intents and purposes are in a real, if temporary, relationship. When Jess gets an assignment to investigate the concept of “cuffing,” for her lesbian lifesytle blog she and a new friend, Cody, decide to pair up.
I did love the maturity of the characters in this book, both have a clear understanding Of the agreement they are making to each other. And as their relationship evolves the women quickly learn to adapt to the other’s quirks and insecurities. The story is a little predictable but has a lot of heart, and will give you all the gooey feels.
#lesbianbooks #lesfic #butch #femme #romancebooks #lgbtq #lesbian #wlw #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #lgbtbooks #romcom #sapphicbooks
barbrokatrin's review
4.0
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first time reading either authots and I have to say that I liked the book very much.
Its a real feel good loving book. With nice build up and getting to know both the characters and them as a couple. Loved the side characters, specially cute little Ben and Jess' family.
Love the fact that the authors didn't dumb down Ben. I've read several books where one of the woman have a child and the writers have made the child seem younger than their age.
If all their books are as good as this one I've definitely found new authors to read.
This is my first time reading either authots and I have to say that I liked the book very much.
Its a real feel good loving book. With nice build up and getting to know both the characters and them as a couple. Loved the side characters, specially cute little Ben and Jess' family.
Love the fact that the authors didn't dumb down Ben. I've read several books where one of the woman have a child and the writers have made the child seem younger than their age.
If all their books are as good as this one I've definitely found new authors to read.
patricia71's review
4.0
It wasn’t bad but could have been better. The chemistry between them was smoking. And there was a lot of talking about steamy sex, but there wasn’t a lot on page. I missed that. I loved that Jess connected with Ben, but I missed one on one time with Cody.
I just missed some stuff to make it a great book. 3,5 stars.
I just missed some stuff to make it a great book. 3,5 stars.