#BookReview: BUSINESS OR PLEASURE by Rachel Lynn Solomon @rlynn_solomon @PenguinUKBooks

Publication: 6th July 2023 – Penguin UK

Chandler Cohen lies for a living.

When she accepts her next ghostwriting gig penning a memoir for cult actor Finnegan Walsh, it should be a dream job.

However, Chandler knows him best as something else: her worst-ever one-night stand . . .

She’s determined to keep things professional. But when she finally admits to Finn that their night together wasn’t as mind-blowing as he thought, he’s mortified, and determined to make amends.

So, they strike a deal. During the day, they’ll work on the book, and at night, she’ll school him in the art of satisfaction.

As they grow closer, the line between business and pleasure starts to blur.

Can Chandler and Finn have both, or will they have to choose?

AMAZON

WATERSTONES

I enjoyed all novels by Rachel Lynn Solomon (her adult novels): her writing is addictive, her stories are enjoyable and immersive, and her characters are well-developed and relatable.

Business or Pleasure is her latest novel and I think it’s my favourite so far. The protagonist is Chandler Cohen, a thirty-something woman living in Seattle. She went to university full of dreams of becoming a journalist, but that’s not what happened. All her friends seem to have pursued their career, while Chandler, after the closure of the newspaper she worked for, has only found work as a ghost-writer for a few influencers. The job is not satisfying, especially when the fitness celebrity, whose book she wrote, has no idea who she is, but it pays the bills. Also, it keeps her distracted from the secret manuscript on her computer that she hasn’t opened in months and from her unrequited crush on her friend from college.

One night, in a bar, she meets a man. He is handsome, witty, and they have fun exploring Seattle together. They go back to his hotel room where they have the worst sex of her life. Chandler is sure she will never see him again, but then, the next morning, her agent calls her to offer a ghost-writing job for an actor mostly known for a ten-year-old werewolf TV show she’s never seen and she is shocked to find out that he is none other the man from the night before, Finnegan Walsh. She wants to refuse the job not only for the awkwardness between her and Finn, but also because it would mean leaving Seattle for the first time, following him around for two months from Comic-Con to Comic-Con, while working on the book together. But the pay is good and they can keep things professional, right? Except, when she admits the truth about their night together, Finn asks her to help him improve in the bedroom and how can she refuse?

I love the characters of Chandler and Finn. Chandler feels trapped in her life, living with her accomplished cousin and stuck in a career writing for others because she is afraid to write on her own. Finn is a bit shy, nerdy, and I love that he can talk the Elf language from Lord of the Rings. After the TV show ended, he’s acted in a few Hallmark movies, but he wants more and he hopes that the book will help him. Together, they are adorable and have great chemistry and I loved how their relationship develops. 

Full of saucy scenes, honest conversations, and nerdy moments, Business or Pleasure is a witty, compelling, and amazing story with a cast of wonderful characters!

A huge thank you to Penguin Books and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the novel.

Rachel Lynn Solomon is the New York Times bestselling author of The Ex Talk, Weather Girl, and other romantic comedies for teens and adults. Originally from Seattle, she’s currently navigating expat life in Amsterdam, where she can often be found exploring the city, collecting stationery, and working up the courage to knit her first sweater. Connect with her on Instagram @rlynn_solomon or online at rachelsolomonbooks.com.