Blurred Lines

by Lauren Layne

• ISBN10: 1101886439
• ISBN13: 9781101886434
• Publish Date: 25 August 2015
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Random House Publishing Group
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 221
• Language: English

Reviews

[starbell]

I've never really read a friends to lovers book before until this one. I thought the overall premise seemed a bit lame. But oh my god I loved this book so much. It's about Parker who has a boyfriend and her best friend Ben. They live together after college and are always trying to convince people that a boy and a girl can just be friends.

I loved the writing style in this book. I loved loved loved the characters, especially their banter with each other. They had such a great connection and friendship with each other and their pasts were described really well throughout the story. I laughed so much at this book and it was just such a fun book to read. Though it did have its moments as well where I got a bit teary eyed.

This is a great lighthearted fun book and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who likes that sort of thing. There isn't a whole lot of drama but just enough to make it interesting.

[Sam@WLABB]

Rating 4.5 stars

This book is about long time friends, Parker and Ben, who agree, after many years, to become friends with benefits. I expected to like this book, but I did not expect to love it.

I simply adored Parker and Ben. The chemistry, the banter, the tenderness -- I loved it all. I plowed through this book, because it was so sweet, funny, heartfelt, and Layne really did make us work for the ending. I sighed in frustration many times, but it was all worth that ending.

[Rowena]

Full review to come but some quick thoughts...this was a cute contemporary read with two main characters that made me smile, laugh and happy sigh but they also frustrated me as well. Still, this book was good. I'm glad that I read it.

3.5 out of 5

[whisperingchapters]

This review was originally published on Latte Nights Reviews.

I have read Lauren Layne's previous works and I have liked them but this book?! I loved it! I LOVE the best-friends-to-lovers trope. I always have high expectations for this trope and this book did not disappoint. Parker and Ben have been the best of friends since their freshman year in college. After six years, they are still best friends, living together and they don't have feelings towards one another. Parker is somewhat happy in her relationship with her boyfriend and Ben is happily flirting and hooking up. But then Parker's boyfriend dumps her because he needs a break and Parker starts to consider having no strings attached sex with whoever. But she realizes she wants to have fun with sex and the only way to do that is to hook up with someone she knows, someone she trusts, someone who will not make it awkward once they have done the deed. All of the arrows point to Ben.

What if the right guy to scratch my sexual itch is the one who makes me laugh? The one I can talk to.
What if the right guy . . .
Has been right in front of me?*

The friendship between Parker and Ben, even after six years, is so intact and loyal. They have such witty banter that will have you smiling and laughing, too. But they also have their serious talks. They seek each other for advice, for a shoulder to cry on, just what every best friend would do. Ben has stayed by Parker's side in one of the most earth-shattering experiences of her life and Parker has given Ben a friend and a family. This pair has gone through so much together. A pair like this will obviously soon start having feelings towards one another and sparks will fly like you have never seen before.

Ben and my no strings attached relationship? Yeah. Turns out that there are suddenly strings after all. And I'm completely tangled in them.*

The chemistry between them is out of this world. The sex scenes were steamy as hell. I was at work reading and had to look over my shoulder, just in case. I loved the sex scenes because they were really fun. I mean, they were hot of course but because Ben and Parker have been friends for years, the sex was very comfortable between them and funny, at times. Parker would crack me up with some of her excuses. It really was something that I think everyone would want to have with their partner—to have fun, have intimacy and be comfortable all at the same time.

I have to admit I was surprised by the characters in this story. You know how the male is almost always very sure of himself and what he wants. Well, Ben is kind of the opposite. Even though he's smart, he doesn't see his achievements—he actually tries to downplay them because he thinks he didn't do a good job or tries to justify his achievements. His family wanted him to become a lawyer but he chose his own path. Since then, his family hasn't been supportive and he has been on his own until Parker arrived. Ben really struggles with his self-esteem and it was nice to read about his character and completely see his vulnerable side, even though he is a total man-whore.

Parker's family is very tight and they have received Ben with open arms since he was introduced. I loved reading about Ben's relationship with Parker's mom and dad. It wasn't much but what the author wrote was enough to make my heart melt and feel happy that Ben could at least have a family in Parker's parents. The other character I really loved but at the same time would have my hate moments was Lori, who's Parker best friend and coworker. I have to admit that she was a good friend to Parker but she really had a major crush on Ben and that put me off for a while and I felt bad for her but at the same time, I hated that she had her sights on him. In the end, I ended up liking her again so all is good.

I highly recommend this book to everyone who is looking for a refreshing and funny New Adult story. This is one that could probably leave you wanting more like it happened with me.

*Quotes taken from advanced copy which may not end up in final copy.*

[Lynn]

Lauren Layne is one of my go-to authors and the friends to lovers trope is a favourite of mine making Blurred Lines a gem of a book.

Parker Blanton & Ben Olsen have been best friends for six years. The pair have spend a lot of time convincing people that it is possible for a man and woman to have a purely platonic friendship. They are roommates! Their arrangement works for them because Parker is in a long term relationship with Lance, so Ben knows she's off limits although very aware of her attractiveness. Ben isn't allowed to be shirtless -that is one of Parker's house rules! This unusual living arrangement works for them until circumstances alter the way they see each other. At this point, Parker is a heroine you want to applaud for her boldness and smack for believing her proposal would be so easy. As for Ben, he soon realises there are serious consequences to his actions.

The interaction between the protagonists is palpable. After spending so much time together they act like a couple who are very comfortable with each other. The easy banter is fun which highlights the subtle clues as to their true hidden feelings for each other. So when the relationship turns physical it is deep rooted feelings of inadequacy and misunderstandings that threaten to ruin the relationship they both have cherished for so long. Only they can't go back to the way things were now the line has been crossed.

What happened next was unexpected but in a good way. The author manages to bring all the loose strings together in such a convincing way. On the surface Parker and Ben have always looked perfect together, but like many couples they still have secret thoughts and opinions that they don't share with one another until the cracks begin to appear within the relationship.

Parker and Ben's story is both fun and heart-warming with just a touch of angst! The author's writing style always manages to keep me engaged the whole time and Blurred Lines is no exception.

4.5 Stars

***arc generously received courtesy of Loveswept (Random House) via NetGalley)