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Lauren Blakely’s Full Package is a sexy, fun friends-to-lovers romance that provided a reading break I had no idea I needed. Its characters are normal and their relationship evolves in a fairly uncomplicated manner without a lot of the chaos and angst that have been present in some of my most recent reads. But please don’t mistake normal for boring or unoriginal, because Full Package is delightfully entertaining and cleverly written. It’s just that there are no billionaires, womanizers, tortured childhoods, revenge plots, overblown drama or unrealistic characterizations, and the normalcy was unexpected and refreshing. While I enjoy many of the more exaggerated romance tropes and will no doubt read them again soon, Full Package provides a welcome change of pace with its charming characters and relatable storyline while not skimping on the sexual heat and sigh-worthy romance. It’s a truly satisfying read that proves that everyday stories and people are just as pleasurable and emotionally nourishing.
Chase Summers is an exceptionally intelligent emergency room doctor who has just returned to New York City after spending a year working with Doctors Without Borders in Africa. (I know I said normal, but this is romancelandia where normal heroes are still extremely attractive, charismatic, and successful.) Finding a place to live has proven quite a challenge as New York real estate lives up to its reputation of being the most expensive and difficult to navigate in the country. Chase is tired of his lengthy commute to work and living with his older brother, and agrees to temporarily live with his best friend’s little sister, Josie Hammer, who recently found herself without a roommate. He and Josie have known each other for years and have their own affable relationship outside of their connection through her brother, but she is still and will always be his best friend’s little sister.
Josie owns her own bakery, and she’s hardworking and committed to seeing it succeed. Chase moving in with her provides a needed relief from the financial strain of a two-bedroom apartment while also having the added benefit of a roommate who is an easygoing and trusted companion. She also has a built-in and eager volunteer to evaluate her new recipes and menu items; therefore, the living situation appears ideal and seemingly uncomplicated for both her and Chase.
New York City apartments are notoriously small, and the close quarters and significant time together make Chase realize – or at least acknowledge – that he’s very attracted to Josie. He’s actually felt far more than just friendly towards her for years but has never allowed himself to recognize his feelings. He’s always been able to keep her in the Little Sister/Friend Box but co-habitation tests his ability to control his emotions and desire. As they grow even closer through the power of a domestic life together, he finds his willpower increasingly tested, especially when he gets an inkling that Josie might feel the same. He’s extremely conflicted, because he would never want to disappoint Josie’s brother or damage their relationship, and he also does not want to risk losing Josie if they become lovers. Of course, love and attraction rarely bend to the “shoulds” of the human psyche and his new living situation evolves from a great but simple idea to a potential life-altering decision.
Full Package is told almost exclusively through Chase’s point of view, but Ms. Blakely cleverly gives us Josie’s voice intermittently throughout the book by including her test recipes as they make appearances in the story. Every few chapters, the reader is treated to a recipe that subtly communicates Josie’s thoughts and feelings through its title and within its cooking directions. This is delectably different and amusing, and I found myself eagerly awaiting the next installment in Josie’s baking endeavors. I assume they are also useable recipes, so there’s an opportunity to bring Full Package to life outside its pages.
Because of the single point of view, the reader gets to know Chase far better than Josie, and he is funny, charming, smart and just plain nice. He’s such a good guy that you cannot help but root for him to get his girl and feel a little jealous (of her!) when he does. He over-analyzes the situation with Josie and the concept of dating his best friend’s sister and his turmoil-riddled thoughts can get stuck on repeat, but it’s forgivable and sweet considering how much he truly values and respects his relationships. It’s also admirable that he can actually out-think his penis – at least for a little longer than most romance heroes.
Ms. Blakely is known to write spicy books, and Josie and Chase have undeniable sexual chemistry built through their witty banter and efforts to deny their mutual attraction. The resulting sexual tension is substantial and their eventual giving in to their desire is hot. Full Package might steer clear of fantasy and excess, but it is truly a Romance and truly romantic. Sometimes we need a book that feels a little more like real life but still allows us to believe that love can conquer all, and Full Package does just this. It is normal in the very best way possible.
Grade: B+
Book Type: Contemporary Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 07/01/17
Publication Date: 01/2017
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.
Every year I experience a wave of sadness when I realize I am too old to attend summer camp. I used to be a CFO, but I can never escape accounting because someone always needs a number cruncher. I am a Texan happily living in California.
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Seconded on the Sebastian York narrations! I pick these books up when they go on sale at amazon just so I can get the whisper sync audible deal.
Yay – another SY fan :) He does such a great job on these sorts of CRs.
Ok. I am totally going to try the audio-book of this one. You two have me convinced.
Sebastian York also does the narration of Tangled by Emma Chase, and several of the Beautiful Series by Christina Lauren (my favorite is Beautiful Player). To be honest, when I go to audible I often type in his name and purchase audiobooks that he’s narrated. If Big Rock is still on sale for 99c, you can buy the digital book at amazon and then the audiobook should be under $4.
I’ve enjoyed the other stories in the loosely linked series, so I’ll definitely be picking this up – but I listen rather than read because narrator Sebastian York is fabulous :)
I’ve been waiting for Chase and Josie’s story for so long!! (Okay, a few months, but same thing.) So glad you liked this. I have it preordered so I can start it as soon as it comes out. I discovered Lauren Blakely just last year and I became a huge fan immediately. The first person male POV is hard to do, but she has such a great sense of humor, IMO.
I agree. She has a fun sense of humor and does the single POV well. The recipes to have a bit of Josie in the story were clever and a nice peep into her mindset.