This book is an absolutely adorable Romantic comedy. I enjoyed both the characters and I really loved the story. I highly recommend it.

Made in Manhattan by Lauren Layne. Thank you Gallery Books and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating 4.5 stars
Genre Romance

Lauren Layne is an auto-read author for me. She writes the best New York City romances. They are always swoonworthy, and delightful. I literally look forward to her book releases. Made in Manhattan lived up to my expectations! I really enoyed Cain and Violet. I felt like I was in NYC with them!

If you enjoy romance books, I highly recommend Lauren Layne! Her books never disappoint!

3.5 stars

My Fair Lady/Pygmalion is what 'Made in Manhattan' is: Lauren Layne is pretty upfront about that in the blurb of the story, which seems curiously shorter than a full-length novel and for that reason, feels like a shortened, more undeveloped version of the more richly-layered original.

The trajectory, given that this is well-worn territory, is a predictable one, though no less enjoyable, especially since this is a role-reversal of an upper-crust socialite and a seemingly uncouth, brash man whom she's tasked with giving a makeover. But Violet Townsend's mission to change someone somehow retains enough transformative power that she finds herself changed in the end while finding love on the way.

The spirit of Pygmalion burns bright in this one, and with this role reversal that Layne uses, thankfully helps tip the construction of masculinity and impropriety on its head. Yet that kind of feminist-lean is also muted; Violet still seems disappointingly ambition-less, determinedly running the errands of her mentor and adopted family member, who also happens to be the matriarch of a well-established corporation.

The build-up hence, consists of a few questions asked about the cosmetic and the intrinsic as Violet/Cain 'train' for the ultimate corporate takeover, overlaid with memorable one-line-zingers uttered by characters at very opportune moments--that do in fact, cut to the heart of character insecurities.

That said, stock characters (keeping in line with stereotypical rom-com characters) in fact, help prop the story, as 'Made in Manhattan' keeps its jaunty tune throughout with minimal angst. A rushed ending without much fanfare deflated my enthusiasm somewhat after the slow burn, as the narrative focus on Violet simply position Cain as a more shadowed version of a clichéd protagonist who made a sudden, huge leap from defiant, uncouth lout to jaw-clenching, lovesick man.

Still, it's a read that's so easy to go through--as Layne's books generally are--, offering some precious hours of escapist fantasies especially if I don't think too much more about it past its conclusion. But brevity is what I sometimes frown on, especially because it seems to compromise a plot hurtling towards a quick, duct-taped end. Even as Violet/Cain basked in their HEA, I couldn't help but wish that the last few chapters offered something more substantial than a few lost looks and fleeting emotional exchanges that hindered rather than helped their relationship.

*Some grammar/spelling errors in the book.