Business or Pleasure follows Chandler, a ghostwriter who is starting to feel more like a ghost than a writer as her projects turn more and more into an excuse not to write her own story. When she meets a man at a bar that promises to turn her bad night around, she’s all too happy to follow him to his hotel—only for the sexual tension to collapse into one of the most awkward hookups ever. Chandler wants to forget the whole night but the universe is not on her side—her next ghostwriting project is a memoir for Finn Walsh, a C-list actor…who turns out to be her one-night stand. Chandler’s determination to keep their relationship strictly professional is turned upside down when Finn asks her for lessons in how to seduce a woman. As the two grow closer in and out of the bedroom, they have to decide where their priorities truly lie: in business or in pleasure.
Business or Pleasure has such a fun premise. We start off with an amazing meet-cute only to then have that be followed up with some of the worst sex that could ever happen during a one-night stand.
I was really here for that premise because it reminded me of some of my favourite Wattpad stories (listen, we’ve all had that phase) but with a fun twist since it was actually the guy who needed to learn how to be good at sex—and there’s no shame in that! I loved how the focus here was on clear communication and learning what the other likes, listening to what they need to feel both wanted and satisfied in the boudoir. It was such a great representation of what a healthy relationship can look like which made me super happy. It’s hard to be vulnerable especially when it comes to intimate topics, but Solomon represented this in such a lovely manner that I hope readers will take something away from it and realise just how important open and honest communication is.
While there is of course a dreaded third-act conflict, we also get to see both Chandler and Finn grow on their own but also as a couple throughout the story, which made up for it.
Finn is also the actor of a cult classic werewolf show (we’re all thinking the same thing here) and it was so fun to follow his trajectory as an actor and to see how beloved he is by fans while he’s struggling with the knowledge that he is now making his money by appearing at fan conventions. He’s such a shy, nerdy (but very up for learning!) guy who really cared about Chandler from the start, which I absolutely loved. Give me more men in fiction (and real life) that remember small details about you and talk about them as if they’re common knowledge. What a love language, eh?
Lastly, I love how Solomon always incorporates mental health into her books. In this one, we have characters with OCD and anxiety and they’re represented so authentically, which I really appreciate.
Following two deeply nerdy characters with hearts of gold, Business or Pleasure is a laugh-out-loud, heartwarming romcom filled with a great representation of what makes communicating in a relationship so important.
Business or Pleasure is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of July 4th.
Will you be picking up Business or Pleasure? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Chandler Cohen has never felt more like the ghost in “ghostwriter” until she attends a signing for a book she wrote—and the author doesn’t even recognize her. The evening turns more promising when she meets a charming man at the bar and immediately connects with him. But when all their sexual tension culminates in a spectacularly awkward hookup, she decides this is one night better off forgotten.
Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done. Her next project is ghostwriting a memoir for Finn Walsh, a C-list actor best known for playing a lovable nerd on a cult classic werewolf show who now makes a living appearing at fan conventions across the country. But Chandler knows him better from their one-night stand of hilarious mishaps.
Chandler’s determined to keep their partnership as professional as possible, but when she admits to Finn their night together wasn’t as mind-blowing as he thought it was, he’s distraught. He intrigues her enough that they strike a deal: when they’re not working on his book, Chandler will school Finn in the art of satisfaction. As they grow closer both in and out of the bedroom, they must figure out which is more important, business or pleasure—or if there’s a way for them to have both.
