Never Have I Ever

By: Lauren Blakely

Narrated by: Amanda Ronconi, Jason Clarke

What happens when two frenemies can't stop pushing each other's buttons? Find out in this tender, laugh-out-loud-funny romance from number-one New York Times best-selling author Lauren Blakely, available in audio first!

Never Have I Ever been so infuriated by a man I wanted to kiss.

They say opposites attract, but I beg to differ. Combust is more like it. Because every single time I talk to Zach Nolan, I see red.

The too-good-looking, too-smart, too-effortlessly-charming single dad who works down the hall from me has turned getting under my skin into a sport. Call it the battle of wits between the wedding planner and the divorce attorney.

Trouble is, when we’re forced into closer quarters, planning an engagement party for our best friends, I start to see his other sides.

And I fear I’m falling for the enemy.

***

I’m not out to make friends. My goals are simple - fight till the end for my clients, and my family.

The last thing I need is a vibrant, outgoing, snarky, and surprisingly big-hearted wedding planner to spend my precious free time with...except, watching Piper bond with my daughter just might break down the cinder block walls I’ve built around my heart these last few years.

Second chances don’t come around for guys like me...or do they?

©2019 Lauren Blakely (P)2019 Audible Originals, LLC.

A Defiance of Second Best

Overall 5 stars
Performance 5 stars*
Story 4.5 stars

This was such a fantastic listen! Never Have I Ever was such a great blend of funny, sexy, and heartfelt moments. It has all the classic Lauren Blakely romcom laughs, but it also has some very tender and emotional scenes too. This story has a little bit of everything, from enemies to lovers, to single parent, to forced proximity.

I loved Zach and Piper! Their playful back and forth heightened the sexual tension between them so deliciously. Truthfully, I wouldn't have minded if they stayed in the enemies/frenemies zone longer! Events in their pasts have left them feeling vulnerable and guarded, but as they each open themselves up to possibility, those defenses drop and it really is beautiful. I appreciated so much that our characters were mature adults who (for the most part) spoke openly and honestly about what they wanted and desired. They don't play games and there isn't a whole lot of angst or unnecessary drama. Zach is always a father first, and I loved that the happiness of his children was always his top priority. His relationship with Henry and Lucy was so sweet, especially his bond with Lucy. Girl Power! The scene between Lucy, Zach, and Piper at the end warmed my heart so much and was beyond perfect. I'm not usually the biggest fan of the deceased spouse trope, but Blakely handled it so realistically and beautifully that I couldn't not root for Piper and Zach.

Jason Clarke and Amanda Ronconi were amazing! I was so impressed by their versatility and ability to convey so much emotion in their performances. This is my first time hearing Amanda Ronconi, but what a treat it was! This audiobook couldn't have been more perfectly cast! I think my only minor issue with the audio overall is that there seemed to be some static or fuzziness when both narrators spoke loudly or emphatically. Almost like they were too close to the microphone? I'm not sure what caused it, but it made their words not as clear. It didn't detract from the story, but was something that I noticed.

Never Have I Ever felt a little more serious than some of Lauren Blakely's lighter romcoms, but it's definitely worth the credit! You don't want to miss this heartwarming love story!

Never have I ever not loved a Lauren Love Story!

Never have I ever not loved a Lauren Blakley Love Story! Elizabeth @ Carolina Chic's Read

When Piper (a wedding planner) and Zach (a divorce attorney) first meet they are like fire but have mutual friends and come to know each other closely. Zach is happily married and Piper is career focused. Fast forward a few years and now they share a floor in the same office building and see each other a lot. Zach's life has changed so much and now he is a single daddy. When they are thrown together as Best Man and Maid of Honor wheat else is there to do.. but fall for each other.

I loved this sweet love story with the super sweet HEA.

wonderful

Loved this story. it was so emotional for me at times I could feel my eyes fill with tears! I love story's with kids no matter who they belong to. And the narration was fantastic! I would definitely recommend this listen!

Second Chance Romance

Loved it...slow build second chance romance without the any intense drama. Glad I finally got to listening to this one!

Worth the Listen!

I love this author, and when I saw Never Have I Ever on the Love Package books I knew I had to listen. This was a great read and I would recommend it to everyone. There is a complete story here, not just hot, hot, hot. The man is respectful of the woman and I liked that. It was fun, funny, and cute. I wish there were a lot more romance books like this one. The narrators were wonderful and added to the story. I happily give it Five Stars and recommend this to anyone who wants a great, sweet story about love. Plus, there is the heat, do not worry.

I love all her books

I have ready most of her books and I haven’t found one that I don’t like get on the Blakey train!!! You won’t want to get off!!!

Brilliant

This might be my favorite Lauren Blakely book. It had all the feels, but mostly made me laugh.

Of course it's good it's Lauren Blakely! !!

I so enjoyed this book. It was definitely sweet and relevant. Showed how our kids are sometimes more aware of what we need in our lives than we are. Amanda's narration was new to me but she did a great job. Jason was good as always! Keep writing Lauren your my go to girl😘

Loved it

Audio Review
This is one of those books that you need to listen to with no preconceived ideas it’s a story that will touch you on so many different levels, yes it has some humour but it also covers grief and moving on.
Jason Clarke and Amanda Ronconi did an amazing job bringing this book to life, they had all the right tones for all the emotions you will feel while listening to this enemies to lovers story.
Zack and Piper have been frenemies for many years and neither of them expected feelings to develop but sometimes love happens when we least expect it and with the last person we expect.
Zach’s priority will always be his two adorable children and bringing them up and having a busy lawyers practice really leaves no time for anything else but Piper works in the same office block so he seems to be forever bumping into the last person he wants a relationship with. Piper is ready to start a relationship and she knows what she wants and expects will Zack be able to give her all she wants..
This book has all the feels, it’s about overcoming grief, it’s about families and friends , it’s about sharing laughter but most importantly it’s about love and the narrators did a wonderful job with it all. This has to be on my list of top listens for 2019 please do yourself a favour and one click now.

Never Have I Ever But I Sure Wish I Could

This story "feels" like a whole new world from author Lauren Blakely. A little spoiler warning: First of all, Piper is a truly modern woman who's stayed close to her college friends in New York City. In fact, her friends helped her launch her wedding planning business.

In contrast, when we first meet Zach, he's in the same circle of friends, but a happily married divorce attorney. At one of her first weddings, he tells Piper that her client's marriage won't last a year. And so the tension that drives the story is born.

The story then picks up a decade or so later when things have radically changed. The two have offices down the hall from each other and still run in the same circle. However, Zach's wife died two year past and he has two children, Lucy and Henry Zach is navigating being a single parent as well as being a divorce lawyer.

What made this story so entertaining was the way in which the author let the older child, Lucy, be the glue that brings the two adults together. The author wrote Lucy as a smart and confident "tween" girl, who was trying to find her own strength, which was refreshing. Lucy is a testament to her parents' upbringing, not a brat or a whiny and needy.

Lucy often wanders into Piper's office, after school. When Piper offers to teach Lucy how to play mini-golf, they go to Zach's office to ask permission. Piper finds Zack on the phone with one of his clients, while Henry sits on his lap, coloring.

This scene really launches the story of the wedding planner and the divorce attorney. It was an action that I could picture and that felt real. It's mundane, but as the book progresses, this one scene kept the action real and fresh.

Kudos to Blakeley for writing Piper and Zach as such truly human characters. The pair are people the reader wants to meet, but also feel like ones you've known. They two MCs are likable and both are unafraid to say what they want; however, Zach is particularly vulnerable. He was deeply in love with his wife and loved the life he had.

I found the character of Zach to be unforgettable. He makes mistakes but is always trying to do the right thing, especially for his children. Narrator Jason Clarke deserves an Audie for his rendition of Zach. Clarke's voice was at once charming and alpha and then totally unsure of himself. There's a thin line between vulnerability and pathos. Honestly, Clarke's work made the story real.

Amanda Ronconi did an excellent job voicing Piper and Lucy. This was another powerhouse performance since Lucy was so essential to moving the story forward. It was no mean feat to differentiate a "knows-what-she-likes" adult and a pre-teen who is just beginning to find her way after suffering a terrible personal loss.

Kudos to the author.
Kudos to the narrators.
Kudos to the casting director.

Never have I ever
lived in New York City with a circle of my college friends.
But I sure wish I could.