Dating You / Hating You

April 24, 2017
The first standalone contemporary from Lauren (the Wild Seasons series) is an entertaining but uneven workplace romance in which the well-realized relentless atmosphere of Hollywood talent agencies provides the backdrop for a relationship that’s in trouble almost as soon as it begins. Evie Abbey and Carter Aaron, both agents at different firms, hit it off after meeting at a friend’s costume party and are eager to act on their robust chemistry. When their agencies unexpectedly merge and Evie and Carter find themselves in direct competition, their fling takes a detour into mischief and antagonism—until they realize they have a common enemy. Their childish antics are sometimes amusing, but at other times their attempts at sabotage have exasperating consequences, and Carter’s occasional obliviousness to the sexism Evie has fought throughout her career is particularly off-putting. On the other hand, Evie and Carter function well together when they’re focused on the same objective, whether that’s a night of fulfilling sex or an agency retreat, and their lively group of friends sweetens the deal. Agent: Holly Root, Waxman Leavell Agency.

Starred review from April 1, 2017
In star-studded Hollywood, a blossoming romance between two talent agents grinds to a halt when their agencies merge and there's only enough room for one of them.Evie Abbey and Carter Aaron have the ultimate meet-cute when they both show up solo to a couples' Halloween party thrown by mutual friends. As the only single people in attendance, they bond over the awkwardness of their situation and the coincidence that they're both dressed as characters from Harry Potter. Since they both know how demanding an agent's schedule can be, they try to keep things platonic, until they experience one mind-blowing date. But there's no morning-after glow once they arrive at their offices Monday morning to learn that their agencies have merged and the two of them will be working together until their contracts are up and a decision can be made on who stays and who goes. Though Evie and Carter do their best to act as a team, Evie's frustration at the boys' club atmosphere that emerges turns their workplace competition into a full-blown battle of the sexes. Carter is the boy next door, with an infectious sense of humor, while Evie is a fearless, feminist powerhouse. Her struggles as a modern woman, having to work twice as hard as a man for the same job, endure being called "girl" and "kiddo," and exhaust herself over remaining assertive yet still approachable, elevate the book from a romantic comedy to a deeper tale about trying to have it all in a world that can be unforgiving to what's often seen as the fairer sex. The romance is deliciously tense, as readers will be begging for Carter and Evie to just kiss already. Filled with high jinks, pop-culture references, and grin-inducing flirtation, it's truly a romance for the 21st century. A smart, sexy romance for readers who thrive on girl power.

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May 1, 2017
Lauren (Sublime, 2014) channels the elements of beloved romantic comedies in the love/hate story of Evie and Carter. Being a woman at a male-dominated talent agency is not easy when you're determined to advance your career. To make her mark, Evie has poured herself into the job she loves, but has never found time to seek Mr. Right. Her meet cute happens on Halloween, when she runs into Carter at a party where they're both in costume as Harry Potter characters. The attraction is electric, and they can't believe their luck. Evie thinks her dry spell has ended until she finds out that Carter is also an agent. To make matters worse, their companies are merging, and they're now competing for the same job. Their instant attraction quickly turns into rivalry, and Evie's happily-ever-after seems further away than ever. Lauren's stand-alone is perfect for readers looking for a funny romance without a series commitment, and the dual perspectives of Evie and Carter will have readers ripping through the book to find out if these two can work things out.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)