
Member Reviews

I absolutely loved this standalone, dual POV rom com from Helena Hunting. The story follows down on her luck wannabe actress Ruby Scott as she struggles to make ends meet trying to make it on her own without her dad's millions. Whilst at her best friend's engagement party she is 'accidentally' kissed by ex professional rugby player and hotel magnate Bancroft Mills who is high on a cocktail of cold meds and whiskey. After Ruby catches Bane's flu bug things start rapidly going South as she messes up an important audition and then finds out she's being evicted from her apartment. With the help of her best friend she lands a pet sitting gig with her fiancée's cousin who, as it turns out is her mystery 'Awesome Kisser'. Feeling responsible for Ruby's predicament he is only too happy to have Ruby as his live in pet sitter whilst he is out of the country. Things start getting a little complicated when they become more and more intimate during their evening face time sessions. I adored both Ruby and Bane, I loved their banter and the sexual chemistry between the pair is off the charts. A light, extremely fun read that had me hooked from the first page. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first time I have read this author and I am impressed. I had previously read a sample from her first series, the Pucked series and I positively hated it so I stayed away from it. I found the characters in that series annoying and way over the top and so I never read any of those books in the series.
This book was wonderful. So if you hated that series, know this book is 100% different. It does end with a happy for now ending but I was totally happy with the conclusion. It is a first in a series or a stand alone. I am not sure which.
The story starts at a bad engagement party for Ruby's BFF. She heads to the restroom where she is kissed and it is so good but the kisser is drunk and sick and mistakes her for his date and then coughs on her. As you can imagine Ruby gets sick. She is an actress with an audition, who can't talk and who ends up vomitting. Then she gets home to find she is being evicted.
Wost day ever? right! That is until the BFF suggests she pet sits for her fiancees cousin, Bane. And yes you guessed it, its the kisser who shows up. She does end up pet sitting and I loved their relationship. It is flirty and fun and they get to know each other over the phone and video chatting and I loved it.
This was a really wonderful story with two main leads I totally loved who were sweet, romantic, sexy, kind and who really fall for each other with a little jealousy on both sides. I highly recommend this story and Ifound it much more down to earth than the whole Pucked series.

I LOVED this book !!
“Shacking Up” by Helena Hunting. I was a little bit nervous when I requested a free copy for an honest review a week or so ago. But, boy oh boy, am I glad I put in the request; and, I was lucky enough to have my request granted. This was a “FUN” romance read. The leads have their fears, trials, and tribulations. Fears from past hurts, Trials & Tribulations enhanced by family and friends. But did I tell you that I read this book in just two days? I started yesterday and finished today, and I cannot wait to hear how much everyone else liked this story, too. I will be on the lookout for other books by this author. Oh, I probably should warn you, if you are a prude, you might not like this book as you just might find some of the language off-putting. Oh, well. It is still a fun romantic read, sweet and a little dirty.

I LOVED this book. I loved how they met, how they interacted, how Bane made sure he tried to let her be independent while helping her, I loved the animals, I loved (some of) the friends. It's just simply a funny, sexy, and heartwarming book that will keep you up all night reading!

Shacking Up by Helen Hunting is a rom-com with loads of flirty banter and very sexy and HOT love scenes. Up until ch 11 I felt the characters were in their own head too much. So much that I would lose track of the conversation between characters. Around ch. 11 is when Bane comes home from a business trip and the good stuff begins. I enjoyed the story overall and recommend that fans of Helena Hunting and rom-coms, and HOT love scenes to read this book. This was my first book from this author.

I have read a lot of Ms. Hunting's books and have yet to be disappointed and this book, like her others had me hooked from the start. I enjoyed the characters Bane and Ruby as they fumble through their feelings for each other through unusual circumstances. I enjoyed their banter and their personalities as well as the tension between them through their journey. I also liked watching Ruby grow and gain more confidence in herself. I felt that the plot moved along well and not to fast or too slow. I was hooked on this book from the start and would recommend it to others,
I voluntarily reviewed and ARC copy of this book via NetGalley.

I loved this one! Ruby was funny, her internal dialogue is hilarious. Bane is sensitive, a bit of a player but a good guy. Their romance is bumpy, and there were a few moments where I started to question Bane's intentions (Brittany!) but once the reader saw his POV, things were cleared up.
I would have liked an epilogue that went a little further into the future, but maybe this is the first in a new series and we will see this couple again. (ala Alex and Violet from the Pucked series)

Shacking Up is a romance novel that is step above what I'd usually find in a book with this type of cover art! The characters are well developed, the emotions are realistically expressed and it has the right balance of story and sizzle. Plus, a lot of humor! It was a nice escape novel to balance the more serious fiction I've been reading for the TLA Lariat Adult Fiction Reading List. I would recommend this to my customers who enjoy contemporary romantic fiction. Thanks!

I really love a strong independent female. This book delivers and there were plenty of laughable moments so that was a treat.

I love me a good romance story, but unfortunately I just couldn’t get into this one. The characters came off to me as being flat and the writing was choppy.

First of all, thank you. I was really happy to get this book, especially since I've read everything Helena hunting has ever written and I'm always looking forward to her next books.
I really enjoyed this book, I read it in one sitting.
The characters were very well written and extremely loveable (especially Francesca, I kinda want a ferret now). The beginning concept was pretty original and really fun. The entire book was filled with a lot of sexual tension, so much so that it gave me butterflies.
However, I got pretty annoyed because of how the main character, Ruby, treated other women. She kept calling one character "slut" or "skank" and nicknamed her stepmother "whoremother". I really could not stand that. Slutshaming is the worst.
Overall a good time though.

This was the most adorable story. Bancroft and Ruby's relationship starts off with a kiss meant for someone else but ends with a heartwarming happily ever after. Throughout the book both of them realize that they need to be in the right place at the right time to get the outcome they deserve and that perseverance always wins. From pet sitter to soulmate, a wonderful transition. I highly recommend this book.

Cute, funny, fast read about the hot but brainless Ruby and the hot but clueless Bancroft. These two were a match made in hot heaven. The silliness of the way they met to the cutesy set up of Ruby acting as Bane's live-in pet sitter to their incendiary hookup was so fun to read - the banter and build up was fun.
The ridiculous Big Misunderstanding, however, only told me that both Ruby and Bane needed to learn to use their words. And that Ruby needed to grow up. It was an unnecessary pit stop to the HEA. But the rest of it was light, fluffy fun.
3.5 stars

I've been wanting to read one of Helena Hunting's books for a while now. I was excited to find Shacking Up on NetGalley. It sounded like a lot of fun, and it totally was. I loved the witty, sexy banter and all of the hilarious moments between the characters.
Ruby and Bancroft's relationship started off in a really fun way. It was a slow burn relationship that started with a mistaken kiss and morphed into to pet-sitting. Pet-sitting turned to phone flirtation, and then to full on love. The transitions felt quick, but were spaced out over weeks and then months. The time gaps made what could have felt like insta-love feel real in progression.The first person dual point of views added so much to the reading experience.
When I first opened the book and started reading, I had an "oh no" minute. I wasn't sure I was going to like Ruby. She had a little bit of a snarky entitlement thing going on. The further I got into that first chapter, the more I realized she wasn't a rich princess. Ruby was a young woman struggling to prove her father wrong and make it on her own. I loved her tenacity and willingness to make the best out of her situation. I also loved her snarky, but caring personality. She was an incredibly fun character.
So was Bancroft. He had it going for him in every way possible. He had a hot body, a new lucrative career, and a great personality. Bancroft might not have been in the financial mess Ruby was, but he was still trying to find his place in life.
Both Ruby and Bancroft were trying to navigate the changes in their lives, while trying to figure out what their attraction to each other meant. I loved the evolution of their relationship and their characters. The heat between them was palpable. The build up to their crossing the sexual line made the moment it happened so much more intense and sensual. It was off the charts hot.
My only teeny tiny question about this book was Amalie. I felt like her story was left as a lose end. Like there should have been more to it. Ruby commented so much on her best friend's relationship, that I wanted to know more. I'm guessing that's another book, though!
Shacking Up is the perfect book for readers who like their dialog, characters and romance super sexy. I loved every minute of this book and can't wait to read the rest of Hunting's books.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for my review. Ruby, the daughter of a wealthy CEO, doesn't want to walk in her father's footsteps. She wants to be an actress and make it on her own. But when the auditions and roles dry up, her budgets tells her she may need to give up her dreams, and then her lips literally run into Bancroft "Bane" Mills. Although it is a case of mistaken identity, it does set in motion a chain of events for Ruby. Bane needs a house sitter and someone to watch his pets while he is out of the country for business. This gives their budding relationship a chance to simmer while they get to know each other via Skype. Will they be able to make a go of it when Bane comes back? There are lots of laughs and plenty of steam, so I recommend you toss this novel in your beach bag and enjoy!

You know the formula of a contemporary romance--awkward meeting, attraction slowly bringing hero and heroine together for sublime sex, a misunderstanding that clears up for happy ending, yay!
The thing is, sometimes you are in the mood for a book that delivers exactly what you expect--or at least I am. And when it is told in a hilarious narrative voice, with appealing central characters, then it stays on the reread shelf. Yup. You know where it's gonna end--the pleasure is in getting there.
I adored Ruby. She's a rebel against her rich dad who's on his third marriage with someone Ruby's age, and refuses to work for his pharm company, so dad cuts off her funding. She's living on ramen in a pit of an apartment, and is pinning her hopes on a last audition . . . but the night before it, she attends a dinner for her bestie, Amalia, who is soon to be married, runs into a guy bleared out by too much cold medicine and liquor who kisses her, thinking she's his date . . .
And, well, the audition goes spectacularly wrong. Bestie Amalia comes to the rescue, saying that a friend of her finance's needs a pet sitter. Of course it's our drunk, and the pets are a ferret and a tarantula.
And that's pretty much all you need to know. It's a funny, lusty story; the two get to know each other by video chatting while he's away, and when he gets back, the sparks really fly.
About the only complaint I had was that the secondary characters didn't get enough air time, especially Amalia, who doesn't deserve that snort-weasel she's engaged to. But I suspect that this is the first of a series, and Amalia might be next. I hope so--I will instantly get it!

I genuinely enjoyed this book. The main characters were well defined. Ruby was quirky enough to be fun and Bancroft is a big lovable hunk. The addition of Francesca is wonderful. She adds some lovely comedy and provides further insight into Ruby and Bancroft's personalities.
The only reason I feel the book is less than 5 stars is due to a lot of stereotyping. The secondary characters did not show much personality beyond what seemed like cardboard cutouts. Characterizing all wealthy people or Ivy League educated people as being shallow and entitled is too easy and a cop out. And it's just not true. But I understand the need for shorthand developed personalities in books.
Not everything in this book is resolved and tied up neatly with a bow. I don't know if this is typical for this author or she is planning more to come about this group. This is the first book of hers I've read. I liked it well enough to look for more from her.

As with most Helena Hunting books, I was in love with Shacking Up from the very beginning. I loved Ruby, Franny, and Tiny (I guess Bancroft wasn't too bad either). Definitely a quick, entertaining read - perfect for a blanket-in-the-park kind of a day.

This story is a totally fun contemporary romance from Helena Hunting. It's sexy, full of banter, and light with much comedic interludes. What you see is what you get from both main characters as they challenge and compliment each other from beginning to end. Told from alternating first person points of view coupled with Hunting's signature witty and sassy writing, Bancroft and Ruby energize the pages of Shacking Up.
Hunting's female lead has a mind and heart all her own. Not phased by trends or meeting familial expectations, Ruby lives in the moment as a starving Broadway actress. She's a lovable character with her zany quips and quirks. Loyal and honest to her best friend she literally runs into Bancroft at an engagement party. As her life situation becomes more dire Bancroft becomes somewhat of an unexpected white knight.
"His now lopsided grin is making my panties reevaluate their importance in my life."
Bancroft was a refreshing male lead. Rich but rugged I keep thinking is best to describe him. He's not pretentious and spent his twenties doing actually what he wanted rather than follow in immediate family footsteps. He shares that in common with Ruby which is part of the attraction even though the clash when it comes to rules and being meticulous. The clash is where the magic happens. A flourishing friendship leads to more between them both.
Shacking Up was truly a fast and fun ride. I enjoyed reading these two characters. I enjoyed Ruby's wit and Bancroft's reasoning to her sass. The two together had great chemistry and made the book easy to get lost in. Helena Hunting's writing allows to immerse yourself in their relationship easily. A romantically fun read to get lost in for a while. I think an contemporary romantic comedy readers will enjoy this story.