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bookcheshirecat's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
"I'm so glad you took the risk." "That's the thing. With you, it doesn't feel like one. It just feels like home."
➽ Business or Pleasure is probably my favorite Adult Romance by Rachel Lynn Solomon! I listened to it on audiobook and it was so much fun! The story follows Chandler Cohen, a ghostwriter who's not entirely happy with her career and Finn Walsh, the actor in a cult werewolf show who never got his big break. Both of them end up having instant chemistry ... but a disastrous one-night stand. The problem is that Chandler was unknowingly approached to write his memoir, which led to a very awkward meeting. In the end, both of them decide to work together. Chandler needs this job and Finn knows she's the only one who can do his memoir justice!
➽ I really liked Chandler and her complicated feelings toward her career! She studied journalism and tried to get a stable job doing what she loves. In the end, she ends up becoming a ghostwriter after being let go and not finding many opportunities in journalism. The gigs pay the bills, but the clients are sometimes difficult and Chandler is devastated when her latest client doesn't even recognize her at the signing. The uncertainty around her future and job field felt very relatable to me, probably because I'm currently job hunting and it's tough. Chandler feels like she's miles behind her peers and not fulfilled with her work any longer. She dreamed of becoming a real author, but it seems so far-fetched in her current situation. I liked her close bond with her cousin and roommate Naomi! I also appreciated seeing an adult who had much older parents and worries about their health. The story also touches upon Chandler's generalized anxiety, it was nice to see a character who only made it to therapy in their adulthood, instead of in their teens.
➽ Finn and the romance swept me up as well! Finn used to be on a popular TV show (think Teen Wolf) a decade ago, but unlike some of his co-stars, he never made it big. He's done some projects over the years but mostly gets his money from conventions. I liked that he was a celebrity who wasn't super famous and loved interacting with his fans. He also wants to use his memoir to talk about mental health, as Finn deals with OCD and wants to raise awareness about that! Chandler and him immediately have a connection and I loved their banter! Sadly, the sex leaves a lot to be desired ... but Chandler offers to teach Finn how to become better in bed. I liked that he was eager to learn and genuinely shocked (and embarrassed) that his past partners weren't really satisfied. It's nice to see a guy take the time to learn how to please their partner in bed and be receptive to critism. Of course their dynamic isn't fully ethical, as they are also working on his memoir together, but that's part of the conflict!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content
Minor: Emotional abuse, Ableism, Abortion, and Sexism
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