What I'm Looking For
What I'm Looking For
Award-winning debut novel
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐900+ 5-star reviews
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Book Description
Book Description
The course of true love never did run smooth.
Like, for real, dude.
When a socially awkward finance-hotshot—aka me—grudgingly walks into Boston's famous Cheers bar to do happy hour with the insufferably misogynistic guys from work, I don't expect the cute bartender to salvage the rest of my never-ending workday with a cleverly disguised mocktail.
I especially don't expect him to talk Shakespeare to me.
Fate keeps bringing us together, just like the star-crossed couples in the plays Will loves to quote. But while the chemistry between us may be stronger than a stiff Cape Codder, it's clear that on paper, the math doesn't add up.
I can't help wondering if we're capable of an ending happier than Romeo and Juliet's. He's living in a dream world while my feet are planted firmly on the ground, and I can't risk my heart again on a guy who'll bail when the going gets rough.
Even if he does rescue me from a murderous juggling clown.
Fans of Lucy Score and Meghan Quinn will love this smart, feel-good, sweet-and-sexy romcom set in the late 1980’s—an era of big hair and bigger egos.
Look inside
Look inside
My gaze roves up a corded forearm to a bulging bicep to wide shoulders to a square jaw stubbled with a Don Johnson-like five o’clock shadow and clear blue eyes lit with challenge.
I nod to the money still on the bar. “Is the drink more than five bucks?”
Full lips press together. The glass keeper shakes his head slowly. “No. I’m just not convinced that this is what you really want.”
Oh, for goodness sake. I force a smile as well as a friendly tone. “Isn’t the customer always right?”
Left hand still on the wineglass, he leans on his right elbow and rests his chin on his palm. “That’s what they say. But when you ordered, it seemed like you really wanted something else.”
“Oh, I get it. You just want to hear me ask for a sex on the beach or a sloe comfortable screw. Or is this some kind of up-sell strategy?”
He straightens, hands up, palms facing me. “If that white zin spritzer”—his words drip with distaste—“is what you’re looking for, take it. If not, I’ll make you something else, no additional charge.”
I grip the edge of the bar. How did this get so complicated? “Okay, you’re right. I just saw what”—I lean in, lower my voice and tip my head in the direction of the sparkly-bloused woman to my left, whose bangs arch over her forehead in a fashion that must’ve taken an inordinate amount of time, effort and hairspray to achieve —“she was having and copied her.”
I raise a hand to stop him from whisking the spritzer away and tip my head toward the Rhodes Wahler boys. “I’m just here to do a little face time, act like one of the guys. But then I have to go back to the office and work.”
I make myself smile to soften my bitchy tone. “It doesn’t really matter if I like the drink or not because I’m only going to hold it and then use it to water that plant over there every once in a while.” Swal‐ lowing the rest of my rant, I slide the five back over the bar and raise the wine glass. “So, thank you for your concern and keep the change.”
“Hold on.” His firm command pins my feet to the floor and freezes the glass on the way to my mouth. “That wine spritzer is not what you need.”
Just like my S.O.B. ex-boyfriend and really every man I seem to encounter, he obviously thinks he knows better. “It doesn’t matter. Like I told you, I’m just going to pretend to drink it.”
“Whether you drink it or the plant does, the spritzer is not going to work. Give it back.”
“Okaaay. Don’t have a cow.” I set the glass on the bar and cross my arms. “Sheesh.”
He points at me. “Wait here. Do not leave.”
“I said okay.” It’s like I’m on a schoolyard, fighting with a little boy I have a crush on. Not that I have a crush on this guy. There is something about him that has me wondering if I should take my sex drive out for a spin for a change, but I don’t have time for crushes.
Anyway, what’s wrong with ordering a wine spritzer? Isn’t that what women drink these days? Curiosity has me craning my neck to watch what he’s creating. I swear I’m not trying to check him out, but he’s bent over getting something out of a cooler, so I admire the view. Faded Levi’s hug blue-chip glutes like they’re made for each other.
This guy isn’t a sharp-suited swaggering Hot Steve. Instead, he moves with an easy confidence. When he straightens to pour a series of liquids into a glass, his wrist flipping bottles theatrically, I note an even distribution of muscle. Not rangy like a runner, not bulky like a body builder. He’s kind of a JFK Jr. with blue eyes. He’s actually even better looking than JFK Jr., if you can believe it.
He spins to grab a lemon and a knife, shoulders bobbing in time with U2. Bono still hasn’t found what he’s looking for. Just like me. Even so, I’m not sure this bartender is my type. He seems to enjoy standing out in a crowd with his paisley vest over a white button- down and a striped tie loosened at his neck.
Drink in hand, he turns my way, and my heart races around the perimeter of my ribcage. The last time I had this kind of reaction to a guy had to have been during Reagan’s first term. I dive into my handbag and pretend to search for something, hoping to hide the look of lust on my face.
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This is first book in the Boston Classics series is a fun, and heartfelt romance. Will and Kate are complete opposites and do not make sense together. Will is a charismatic, struggling actor, while Kate is a practical, financial analyst who is more comfortable with numbers than with people. Their jobs are demanding, with opposite hours, so they don't have alot of time together. They also have heartbreaking pasts that make them protect their hearts, but they still can't stay away from each other. When they get too close, and they start to focus on why they shouldn't work, will they fight for the only one who really own their heart? This was such a quirky, fun, moving, and steamy romance. I loved the nostalgia of the 80's and especially the importance of the telephone answer machine. I also loved the Shakespeare quotes that Will would recite, confusing Kate but also making us both swoon. I loved Kate's growth from mousy to going after what she wanted and believed in. Will was so sweet, charming, and romantic. I loved how they enjoyed each others differences, and worked to understand them. I really enjoyed this fun, touching, sweet and steamy romance!
OMG, this book spoke to my soul!
📼When a Shakespeare actor meets a financial analyst in the eighties and answering machine messages caption chapters, it’s a recipe for romcom genius!
📼Will is a theater nerd of the highest order. An actor so dedicated to his craft, he drops lines of Shakespeare into everyday conversation.
📼Kate is the sweet & awkward heroine working in the male-dominated field of finance.
📼A chance meeting becomes a fast friendship and a whirlwind romance.
📼What I’m Looking For is a unique, witty, nostalgia-filled romcom that made me laugh all day!
🎭This theater nerd loved Will’s outrageously awkward, charming and flawlessly appropriate drops of Shakespeare into normal conversation.
Performances by Joe Arden & Karen White were wonderful! Their chemistry is so organic and easy-going. Joe gives a fun, flirty, and delightfully nerdy performance to bring Will to life. I love when talented narrator/authors narrate their own work! There is a levity and tone of pride that shines through in the audio. Karen is a prime example!
I originally read an ARC of this book. When the audio came out, I immediately purchased it. I've listened to it several times.
This is my first book by Karen Grey and I’m hooked. A fabulous mix of endearing and realistic characters, humor, a little bit of guarded hearts, and if I’m being honest I did tear up at one point. Grey brings the reader completely into 1987 in a way that the time period almost becomes a secondary character while not overwhelming the cast or story in any way. I do admit to spending quite a bit of time Googling pics of JFK Jr. who is Will’s look-a-like. Or vice versa.
Will is an actor/bartender who is trying desperately not to sell out and ends up falling for Kate the finance analyst. On paper, or in a spreadsheet, these two don’t have much in common but we get to know them separately and together and this couple definitely adds up. What I especially love about this is that while there are several steamy scenes between Will & Kate, there is also a lot of talking, dating, and fun. I couldn’t help but be invested in their HEA. This is fairly low angst, yet compelling. A fine line that Grey artfully balances.
I found myself equally in love with the charming and fascinating secondary characters. While none stand out as the obvious choice for the next book in the series, I’m voting for the enigma that is “Hot Steve”.
Narration:
While I enjoyed reading this – the narration was even more fun. Joe Arden & Karen White do a fantastic job with Will & Kate. The accents for the secondary characters were a nice touch. Then! There’s the few really emotional parts. White does great, but the fact is Will’s chapters have some much heavier scenes and Arden had me in tears.