I just adore Rachel Lynn Solomon and would read whatever she writes. Her books get better too. Ex Talk was really good, but Weather Girl was better and this is the best yet. This is also her most overtly sexy book, and there’s a linkage btn those statements. She has such affection for her characters and write with such sensitivity. It lovely to watch Finn and Chandler fall for each other, and this book was an absolute delight. I especially liked the frank discussion about bad sex and how to fix that, and how crucial communication could be. Finns reaction to his bad performance really made the book. The only thing that I didn’t love was that the third act breakup seemed a bit contrived and rushed.

Solomon knows how to write a romance and I will always read her books. But this one fell a little short for me. It felt like it took me forever to read it and I'm not sure if that was on me or the book. I did like the communication between the characters - that was refreshing and something you don't see a lot of in rom-coms. But the plot points didn't feel like they went together very well. Overall, the story didn't feel cohesive and trying to meld the stories of a ghostwriter and a struggling actor, a road trip-esque setting, and the intimacy lessons never came together in a believable way to me. None of them got the complete focus they deserved and maybe the story would have been better if one or two plot points were dropped.

Wow! This was such a great read. I'm continually impressed with Solomon's ability to write such a steamy romance, while still managing to incorporate really important and sensitive topics.

I've read the last three books by this author, and I will say that this was certainly the most...steamy? But that was pretty clear in the description. Even with sex as the main theme (or even topic really- you've got to read this one to understand!), there were such strong threads of the importance of mental health, stretching one's comfort zone, and the importance of friends and family. I love how Solomon is able to write a laugh out loud rom-com that also takes on such important issues at the same time, and she nailed this one!

Unlike many of the books in this genre, this storyline was entirely unique. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to seeing what this author does next! Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for my gifted review copy.

rachel lynn solonomn continues to deliver on rom-com perfection! full of swoony, steamy scenes and kinda the dorkiest characters in the world?? i absolutely loved them and the way they fell in love with each other!!

I am a fan of Rachel Lynn Solomon's writing, especially the way she writes her characters. They always feel like real people and it is impossible not to fall in love with them. Chandler and Finn, the protagonists in this book, were no exception. However, this book was just not for me. The plot did not hold my interest and I found myself counting the pages until the chapter was over so I could put it down. If you are looking to read something from Solomon, I would recommend Weather Girl over this one.

Huge fan of Rachel Lynn Solomon's books and how they incorporate Jewish culture, both with discussions of antisemitism as well as joy and celebration. I also really liked her take on a celeb romance for a celeb who's not an A-Lister - I loved seeing the convention culture and everything surrounding the fandom, including the little snippets of scripts and whatnot. Rachel is genuinely funny, especially compared to a lot of books marked romcom right now.

<b>“I think the only thing I’ve done consistently for eighteen years is manage to function with a consistently medium level of anxiety”</b>

I’m still chasing that high from The Ex-Talk, but I will say, this one really came around for me. While the beginning felt a bit…familiar in a way - a sweeping one night stand with a stranger who you somehow have an immediate spark with - this quickly takes a refreshing turn. That spark? Yep, still there and very legit, but that hot one night stand? Decidedly NOT hot.

<b>“DIED IN PURSUIT OF AN IMPOSSIBLE ORGASM, they’ll write on my tombstone. May her memory be a blessing.”</b>

I wasn’t ready for that & I found it hilarious and also kind of relatable. We’ve all had bad sex but no one talks about it. Even typical ‘let me teach you about hooking up’ plots often don’t include BAD sex as what kicks off the need for lessons, more like general anxiety about it or inexperience. By introducing a new way of using the ‘sex education’ trope, I found I couldn’t help but fall for this. It was funny, it was quirky, it was also awkward but empowering and let me tell you…we have all been done a disservice by not getting the sexuality education that Chandler got.

Everything from toy usage to dirty talk and general intimacy, not just penetration is discussed WITH AN OUTLINE which is just so amazing for so many reasons. It speaks to my Type A outline loving nerdy self, but I also love that it helps demystify or de-taboo (idk if that’s a real word) sex talk, especially between partners! The sex positivity here is amazing — I couldn’t get enough.

<i>“Yeah, no: the mantra of the chronically anxious. See also: no, yeah.”</i>

Not only that, but there’s so much great, deep, and honest conversation about mental health from OCD to generalized anxiety disorder, with tools and resources including therapy, that really added so much substance and depth to the characters and story. So much about the mental health discussed here can be relatable for many, and it certainly was for me. And what’s nice is that some of it is treated with humor, though gently and in a respectful manner — because us anxious bunch need to poke and prod at ourselves jokingly sometimes to get by.

Add to that interesting leads like Finn & Chandler, and this really comes together so well. The steam was excellent, striking a seemingly impossible balance of emotional connection, straight up sizzling chemistry & sexual acts, and funny dialogue that doesn’t kill the moment. This must be some kind of sorcery.

<i>“I just wonder if sometimes you hold yourself back from things you know you want.”</i>

Chandler’s overall feeling of being ‘stuck’, of feeling like you don’t know how to ‘adult’, of judging yourself against others feeling like you’re not as far as you should be — it all hit home, it all reflected thoughts I’ve had again and again about myself, given my similar age to Chandler, so I felt really invested in her HEA. Add to that the great Jewish rep, for both leads but also for Chandler especially as she discusses her experience with an outwardly coded Jewish last name, and truly, she’s the kind of person you want to befriend and cheer for.

As a potential TW, I want to add that there is mention of an abortion, not shown on the page, but referenced as a past event, and I greatly appreciated including that detail and how it’s treated without stigma or shame.

I’m not sure the media and werewolf show vignettes were all that successful or needed, but I didn’t mind them. And though there were some pockets with pacing issues, overall this was a joy to read and felt really new. The ‘third act breakup’ or drama so to speak it also done a bit differently that felt more mature and honest, than trying to fit the typical formula, so additional points for that.

While this isn’t my favorite Solomon book, it’s certainly a close runner up!

Solomon turns up the heat in this book about a ghostwriter who discovers she’ll be writing a memoir for the celebrity responsible for her worst one-night stand ever. As they notice their continued intense chemistry, the two agree on bedroom lessons on nights after the business of memoir writing is done. Tender, sex positive, and full of fan conventions, this is a howling good read. For fans of “The Roommate” and “Spoiler Alert.”

This was a really cute and a type of a romance that radiates so much warmth and fuzzy feelings. It was a soft and comfortable. I absolutely loved it. Also, I loved the Jewish rep in it too.

I absolutely adored Business or Pleasure from Rachel Lynn Solomon!

Chandler Cohen has made a career for herself ghostwriting celebrity memoirs. When the latest memoir is released and the wellness influencer author didn't even recognize her, Chandler drowns her sorrows at the bookstore bar where she strikes up a conversation with the handsome guy next to her. In something truly out of character for her, Chandler goes home with the stranger and it is .... anti-climatic in all the important ways. The next day she meets a potential new client who turns out to be Finnegan Walsh, the beloved star of a teen werewolf series from the early aughts and also her one-night stand. Finn needs a ghostwriter willing to join him on his tour of comic cons while they draft the book, and Chandler needs to force herself out of a rut. Early on, Chandler lets slip that their rendezvous was less than ideal for her which, of course, leads to an offer of sex lessons.

Chandler and Finn just absolutely stole my heart right from the start. The sparks began flying during their meet cute and I had butterflies all the way to the final page. Finn is such an endearing nerd and the way he is head over heels for Chandler was just adorable. Chandler was so relatable - having put herself in a box of security and responsibility while her dreams of writing fiction take a back seat. The sex lessons chapters are *so hot* with Finn such an eager student, but I loved all the moments in between as Finn and Chandler build a friendship and get to know each other. The third act conflict is fairly predictable but resolved quickly so these two get their well-earned HEA!

As with her other books, Solomon writes about mental health and Judaism really beautifully. Finn has OCD and Chandler has general anxiety disorder. We see both of these struggles on the page and the characters loving each other through them in a really tender and authentic way. Finn and Chandler are also Jewish and there's a really lovely chapter where they attend services together than had me grinning from ear to ear.

Content warnings: On page anxiety attack; on page instance of a coworker making fun of Finn for his OCD

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is a really great romance, full of humor and heart. I loved how the central conflict toward the end was more about the characters deciding where they wanted to be in their lives and not about a silly miscommunication that can be cleared up in a five minute conversation. All of Rachel Lynn Solomon's books are fantastic and this is no exception.

If there’s one genre I love and am drawn to, it’s rom-coms. Business or Pleasure is literally the perfect rom-com and I feel like this could be a movie.

Upon reading the synopsis, I was a bit unsure of this one, just because I generally don’t love one-night stand trope. However, Rachel really pulled this one off!

What I loved: 

- Rachel makes both Finn and Chandler feel like real people. This is a bit of a slow-burn for me, but it’s so worth it. The chemistry here is INSANELY good.
- The plot was so unique. First, Chandler is a ghostwriter. This allows Rachel to delve into the world of publishing. There is mental health representation (OCD), family and career problems and the uncertainty of planning for the future. This book just feels so real and Rachel does this so well.
- The. STEAM. This book is steamy. Steamy in a good way though. That is to say, there’s an equal balance of plot and steam, in my opinion. The steam complimented the story and didn’t overtake it.
- I loved all of the character growth in Business or Pleasure. There’s growth in Chandler, Finn and both of them as a couple. It was amazing to watch the intimacy build between them and watch them build a healthy relationship.

All in all, I really loved Business or Pleasure! If you’re looking for a rom-com to pickup this summer, look no further!

A massive thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Lynn Solomon, and Berkley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This one was really really cute, I liked the whole concept of it and loved that there was no unnecessary misunderstandings leading to chapters and chapters of fights. Had every romance novel trope ever but in a good way.

Really loved the set up of this book!!!! I thought it was SO cute. Interesting to be in the perspective of a ghost writer, not something I think about a lot so I appreciated that perspective. As for the romance, I thought the chemistry was fantastic and the sex scenes were really great; I loved the dynamic of her teaching him how to be better, really fun time!

What an incredible delight! Rachel Lynn Solomon has done it again.

RLS has long been an auto-buy author for me, and the reasons for that are all clear in this book: she writes strong and nuanced characters with a real tenderness and concern for their well-being, the mental health rep is always (to me) incredibly spot-on, there's both religious and cultural Jewish representation, and the humor is incredible. I loved every moment with Chandler and Finn.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for this eARC.

Loved this!

Rachel Lynn Solomon really excels at creating characters who feel real and who you want to root for. I wanted Chandler and Finn to succeed, both in their "lessons" and with the book. This was such a fun twist on a second chance romance, and I'm in for whatever RLS writes next!

There has never been a Rachel Lynn Solomon book that I do not love. I am more used to the YA selections by this author so the spice, while a little surprising was not unwelcome because it was so well done.

It’s incredibly refreshing to read a romance that doesn’t have a buff, muscular giant with a giant dong that automatically doses out multiple orgasms. Finally a (somewhat) normal guy. And he’s a ginger with freckles! Yes, thank you. I like romance with realism, so this had it all. The honest conversations. The lovely characters. It even had wonderful spicy scenes.

Chandler Cohen is a writer. A writer of other people’s stories though, not her own… even though that was once her dream. After her newest ghostwritten memoir for a mega water influencer hits shelves and the influencer doesn’t even know who Chandler is at the book signing, Chandler resorts to self-pity at the bookstore bar. While at the bar, she meets a charming and handsome lad and her night turns into a sexually traumatizing hook up. Chandler never expects to see him again, nor would she want to. Because YIKES that was bad!!! But not only does he show up in her life again shortly, but it turns out he is also a famous television star for a wildly popular supernatural werewolf show. Andddddd he’s also in the market for a ghostwriter… and maybe also a sex coach?! Can Chandler and Finn keep business and pleasure separate or will the quirky socks come flying off?

PHEWWW 🥵 When Rachel said this was her spiciest book yet.. she wasn’t lying!! It’s not tooooo X rated though. It’s ALSO equal parts sweet and funny and romantic. A perfect romcom!

As someone who lives in the PNW, I’m obsessed with the partial Seattle/PNW setting and references. In fact, I live near a “Sleater Kinney” road and didn’t even know it was a band until I read this book and looked them up! I also loved the odes to Agatha Christie and cozy mysteries.

Rachel is so talented not only did she write this romcom novel, but she also wrote an entire plot of a five season supernatural young adult tv show (I looked it up- it isn’t a real show BUT IT SHOULD BE!!), multiple scenes from fictional tv and movies, and the plot of a bookshop mystery novel too just for the story. I loved it!

The plot is so unique - involving a celebrity ghostwriter. I definitely won’t ever look at celebrity memoirs the same again knowing they may have hired someone to write it for them because I never even thought about that! 🙊

I laughed, I smiled, I swooned. Finn Walsh is definitely my new book boyfriend.

4.5/5 stars. Well done Rachel!! Can’t wait for the next one!

Thank you so much to Berkley, Rachel, and NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy and review an advance reader’s copy of this highly anticipated masterpiece in exchange for an honest review!

THIS BOOK. It was one of my most anticipated romance reads for 2023, but I was simply not prepared for how amazing it is. I devoured it in one sitting and have been waiting to write my review because I had to figure out how to make "AHHSDFLKSJDFLKJ" into something more coherent.

BUSINESS OR PLEASURE was incredible—instant fave status. There was SO much to love in this hilarious, steamy, and heartfelt book. Here’s a recap of the good stuff in a non-spoilery list format.

-The nerdiest of nerdy love interests (of the LotR variety—be still, my heart)
-Consent is front and center, where it should be
-The communication between Finn and Chandler: It’s not portrayed as *simple* but instead as a conscious effort between two people who are putting in the work.
-CHEMISTRY, goodgolly yes
-Sex-positive and kink-positive
-Terrible dirty talk skills that build into some seriously top-notch sexytalk /expertise/
-A hilariously *terrible* one-night stand attempt with a heavy helping of “oh no”
-Fantastic mental health rep (OCD and anxiety)
-Sex lessons, just… *chef's kiss*
-Character growth: in bed, as individuals, as a couple

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.