Review copy was received from Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I Want It That Way by Karen Grey Series: Carolina Classics #3
Published by Self-Published on May 25, 2023
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 296
Format: eARC
Source: Author
Goodreads
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Fake relationship? As if.
I don’t need a man to complete me, but to get my tubes tied before I turn thirty, I do need a husband.
When the former child TV star turned producing director for the angsty hit drama series currently shooting in my hometown comes to me desperate for a favor, the exchange of my services for his seems like a great idea.
I help him relearn how to drive a car, and he acts as my fiancé for a few doctor’s visits.
What could go wrong?
I was happy to continue the Carolina Classics series with I Want It That Way. This is Dani’s story. I like her so much. She is so strong, independent, hard-working and a good friend / family member.
Now we get the inside scoop about what she wants, what is difficult for her, what she loves in her life. The author has certainly included some relevant topics, even today. It was not right how Dani was treated. Plus people’s feelings are timeless.
Luke was such a great fit for her. I loved how they both started as a transactional sort of relationship, then they started doing things beyond what was agreed and really became friends, helping each other. The chapters alternate their points of view which really helps since you know how they are thinking even if they don’t tell each other every time.
I enjoyed how we got a bit of the others in the friend group: Violet and Nate, Helen and Sully, Ford, Whitney. Violet is pregnant and she and Nate get married. Helen and Sully are happy. Ford is back from California. Whitney is still in her odd marriage and her friends only get more worried about her.
Luke and Dani are so good together. I felt all the feels for them. They dealt with their problems but they communicated well with each other. That was excellent since neither had much real experience in a serious relationship, and communication is so difficult. I highly recommend them – what a great read.
About Karen Grey
KAREN GREY is the pen name for award-winning narrator Karen White. A stage, screen and radio drama actor in Boston, New York and Los Angeles in the late 20th century, she started recording books in 1999. Now back in her home state of North Carolina, she shares a home with her family and (probably) too many pets, where she continues to narrate audiobooks as well as make up stories.
Karen White is a classically trained actress who has been recording audio books since 1999 and has well over 150 books to her credit and is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA. Honored to be included inAudiofile’s Best Voices 2010 and 2011, she’s also an Audie Finalist and Best Audiobook of the Year winner for 2009, 2010 and 2011 (The Hemingses of Monticello by Annette Gordon Reed, Too Good to be True by Erin Arvedlund, and Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O’Connor) and she has earned multiple Audiofile Earphones Awards, recently for and You Had Me at Woof by Julie Klam and Inside of a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz. Publishers Weekly says of Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick, “Karen White delivers a stunning reading, her character interpretations are confident and well-rounded, and she forges a strong bond with the audience.” Speaking of Audiobooks says of her, “Karen is one of my auto-buy narrators – if I think a book may interest me, her narration will sway me to give it a try.”
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 23-COYER
I’m glad it was good. It’s the first time I’m hearing about this one.
It’s just being released this week. They are all retro though.
An interesting premise for the book and it sounds as if it’s a good book as you liked it a lot.
https://bookdilettante.blogspot.com/2023/05/aapi-heritage-month-two-memoirs.html
yes I really like this series. It’s retro set in the 1980-90s. I’ve enjoyed these main books more than the novellas so far.
What a fun sounding series!
It really is fun and set in a location quite near to where I live.
Yea! Glad you enjoyed. I’m waiting for the audiobook.
yes it’s always a decision of which way to read it. This is one of my favorites in the series.
I like these standalone series with friends. Sounds like I need to try this author.
I have been really enjoying her books. They are a bit different set in the 80s-90s.
So glad you enjoyed this one! It wasn’t my favorite by this author, but it was pretty good. Great review!
oops that was the wrong comment before.
Thanks Lisa. This was one of my favorites because of their unique personalities and the social issues which came up, but not in a pushy way, just mentioned as to how things worked.