Never Say Never

The Ladies Who Brunch, Book 1

By: Harlow James

Narrated by: Teddy Hamilton, Samantha Brentmoor

“I need you to pretend to be my girlfriend.”

When those words left the lips of Damien Shaw, my childhood nemesis, I should have told him to kick rocks right then and there.

But sadly, his scheme to impress his boss left me with something to gain from it too—getting my meddling mother, who was obsessed with my love life, off my back just in time for my parents’ thirtieth wedding anniversary celebration in Hawaii.

You see, Damien and I grew up together, but we weren’t friends. No—we were rivals.

And when we both moved out to California to go to different colleges, we promised never to think of each other again.

It had been twelve years since we had been face to face, but when he kept popping up everywhere, I should have known that trouble would follow.

And sure enough, during a lunch with my parents he told them we were dating.

I was hellbent on exposing him, but then my mother’s reaction made it hard to say no. So, I ended up fake dating my enemy while trying desperately not to fall for him.

My gut told me to keep my distance. But my heart? That bastard was falling for the man with every sweet gesture he made and every orgasm he gave me.

But when the reason for our rivalry and our fake relationship comes to light, everyone and everything explodes, leaving one hell of a mess to clean up.

I never thought I’d fall for Damien Shaw. I never thought my enemy could force me to figure out my life. But you know what they say—never say never.

TW: Toxic parental relationships

©2022 Harlow James (P)2023 Harlow James

4.5 Stunning Story Stars!

Audiobook and Book Review

🩷 Rivals to lovers
💛 Fake dating
🩷 Swingers??
💛 Parental pressure
🩷 Dove chocolates

Story: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Narration: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you HCB!

It took me a bit to get into this book, but the further I read, the more I found myself enjoying the story and falling for the characters. I loved the realness of the topics that were discussed. Being a woman is hard. There are so many expectations that we have to deal with, and this story covered pretty much all of them. Expectation to be married? Check. Women shouldn’t focus on their careers? Check. Male chauvinism? Check. Maternal pressure? Check. Zero knowledge of periods? Ha. Check.

The way that Harlow James wrote and discussed each of these issues, and more, made this story so extremely relatable. I love that. I connected with that. At times it was downright hilarious, given the gravity of what we as women face each day. The feminine products conversation between Damien and Jeffrey had me literally laughing out loud. Men are so freaking clueless when it comes to women’s health. I love that this book adds levity to this issue.

At the beginning of the story I thought that Damien was SUCH a jerk! Ugh, typical male. As the story goes on he became such a wonderful character that I found myself smiling over. His humor and thoughtfulness, plus his want to learn about females made him so endearing. Not to mention his bedroom antics were *chef’s kiss!* Gah. Could he actually be any sweeter AND shmexier?!

I really liked Charlotte. It took her a very long time to stick up for herself in someways, but I can understand why. As women we’re programmed to be people pleasers and to hold in what we actually feel. I’m glad that Charlotte ‘was too much’ and stood up for herself and women in general. I get why she waffled over Damien. They were freaking rivals for twelve years! I would feel that way too. I adored the two of them together and how they grew close over their fake relationship.

Samantha Brentmoor is awe-inspiring and can do anything. And if she ever thinks she can’t, whether because of being female or being human, I’d like to dispel those thoughts. And here’s how. I’d be her ‘Conscience Ninja’ and karate chop those thoughts straight out of her brilliantly skilled mind. Is that weird? Yeah. Do I take it back? Nope (I popped the P on that, in case you were wondering). S.B. Narration= Effing Awesomeness.

Teddy Hamilton is (hold while I look up several synonyms for amazing…) *ahem* astonishing, breathtaking, marvelous, thrilling, stupefying, phenomenal, stupendous, remarkable, and amazeballs. (Yes, that last one was listed too 😆). He really is all of those things and more. I love how he brought out all of Damien’s sides: cocky, funny, shmexy, serious, domineering, and loving sides. When he narrates any sentence with F*** in it? 🫠🫠 T.H. Narration= Pure Gold.

🍫 "If you can't get someone off your mind, maybe they're supposed to be there. Remember: the mind can recognize what the heart is trying to deny."
🍫 “Sorry, Charlotte. The only time I c*me second is after the woman I’m with c*mes first.”
🍫 “Don’t settle for a spark. Light a fire instead.”
🍫 “You trusting me is such a f***ing turn-on.”
🍫 “F***, Charlotte. You feel incredible.”

I loved it.

What a great audiobook. Great writing and great narrating that’s the perfect combination. Thanks for the book

What you think you know, can always be proven wrong

Overall this was a good book and the narrators top notch. I was surprised to find myself actually getting a little sick of the open door sex scenes and I was wondering if that was ALL the book was going to be about. The author kept presenting the characters as having difficult childhood experiences with their parents yet nothing deeper was happening with that.

Then, as the title of my review says, what you think you know can always be proven wrong because...

Finally the book moved into some of the deeper issues, touching on Mysogeny, Domestic Violence and Body Shaming. One quote, toward the end will stick with me (I think I have it pretty close) "After trauma, there can be Love and Acceptance."

There was considerable humor, especially in the beginning and the Tampon scenario had me in stitches.

Teddy Hamilton/Andrew Eiden and Ms. Brentmoor were excellent as always.

5 stars

I listened to an audio ALC of this one and it was amazing. Performed in dual narration by Teddy Hamilton and Samantha Brentmoor. They were perfect as Damien and Charlotte. They both captured the characters voices so well. They killed it with this performance!

This book was compared to Sex in the City and How to Lose A Guy In 10 days, which I both love. I devoured the audiobook in 3 days. There's fake dating, flirty banter, spice and a wonderful group of friends, which are Charlotte's best friends. I loved Charlotte's best friends they were so relatable, funny and very supportive.

I loved Damien and Charlotte together. Even though their relationship started out fake it became more real and natural as if they were dating since the beginning. They had undeniable chemistry. Damien made me swoon so many times. The care and thoughtfulness he had towards Charlotte. Truly noteworthy. I've highlighted so many stuff that he did or said. I just adore them so much.

The story also deals with toxic parental relationships. I thought it was portrayed realistically and didn't overshadow the main conflict.

Love this series!

Never Say Never audio

5 star listen!!

Dual POV/ dual narrators
Enemies to lovers
Fake dating
Strong FMC


Narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Samantha Brentmoor, both of whom I love as narrators.

Never Say Never was funny, steamy, full of hilarious banter, great characters and just overall a really entertaining read.

Charlotte and Damien were childhood rivals who vowed to not even think of eachother once they left for college, but a chance run-in 12 years later might be exactly what needed to happen to solve the current problems they’re both dealing with.

I love that Charlotte was a strong, driven, independent woman, who surrounded herself with the same type of women (and I can’t wait for all of their stories!) and didn’t let men push her around. Damien had me hardcore swooning from the very beginning. Those steamy scenes had me MELTING. I listened to a good portion of this in my car and I found myself driving with a smile on my face, tears down my cheeks and feeling very squirmy in my seat multiple times.

I have come to love Harlow James’ writing and am eager to read the next books from this series and anything else she writes!

Never Say Never

This is the first book in The Ladies Who Brunch series by @harlowjamesauthor. I read this story a few years ago but hearing the storyline brought to audio, is 10 times better. The narrators told the story perfectly. Teddy Hamilton and Samantha Brentwoor showed up and showed out and brought the two main characters to life.

This book was so much fun all the way through. I laughed out loud so many times, and Damien was so dreamy. Plus, Harlow doesn't skimp on the steam here - this book was hot.

The group of four girlfriends gave me Sex and the City vibes, and the storyline gave me What Women Want vibes - successful professionals in the advertising and publishing industries! 😍

I loved the history the main characters shared and how they grew over the years. This book has some major empowerment themes for both main characters, especially Charlotte - Harlow touches on lots of the societal pressures women face. It's rare to read a romance book where the FMC has to deal with real-life female issues like menstruation - it's refreshing when you can relate to the character's struggles in this department! It makes you feel right there along with the character. What Damien and Jeffery go through when buying products for their work project. I felt like every man has felt awkward about buying products before.

I definitely recommend this book to those who love rom coms, enemies to lovers, and a good amount of open-door steam!

Loved it!!

Loved this audio! Samantha Brentmoor and Teddy Hamilton did an amazing job! The banter and chemistry between Charlotte and Damien was so good. I loved the topics that Harlow touched on in this story and the perspective of both the FMC and MMC having issues with one of their parents and their constant struggles in not being good enough for their parent. And the women who brunch, they are such a fun group of supportive women. I loved their brunch tradition. Everyone needs a group of friends like them.

I received an alc and this review is my own.

fantastic audio!!

They used to be enemies/rivals up against one another in so many ways but now, 12 years later.... They are the perfect solution to each other's problems.

This book was hilarious right from the start, I think it was chapter 2 I was already laughing out loud. Then we got going and I audibly said "aww" numerous times.

The woman power and body positivity in this was refreshing. It was "stop apologizing for everything". It was "I love the way my body looks".

The narration was performed beautifully. I loved every minute of it. Teddy + Samantha make a great team.

You can’t fake Everything 😉🌶️

You can’t fake Everything 😉🌶️
This is the second series by Harlow James I have read. I have just recently started LISTENING to audiobooks but this one was literally my favorite so far!! I was so upset when it was over because I just wanted it to keep going. I loved the character development and hilarious banter between Charlotte and Damon. The female narrator for Charlotte did an AMAZING job. I loved her voicing of her mother with her sweet southern twang, it was perfect! If you are looking for a fake dating, childhood nemesis turned lovers with some serious emotional damage and delicious spice… go give this book a listen, you will not regret it!

A great enemies-to-lovers fake relationship romanc

Never Say Never was a fabulous enemies-t0-lovers story about how the one you thought you would never click with turns out to be your perfect match.

Damien and Charlotte have a long history together, as their parents were best friends and they grew up as rivals in everything school and sports-related as kids. They haven't seen each other in over a decade, even though they both moved from South Carolina to California for college and stayed in Los Angeles. In present-day LA, Charlotte is desperate for a date for her parents' vow renewal to get her mom off her back while Damien needs a girlfriend to get a leg up on a promotion he's after. When they happen to cross paths after years of not seeing each other, it's a perfect scenario for them to enter a fake relationship. Well, of course, it doesn't happen that quickly or easily, and there's some great stuff as these two hash out what it is that they need from each other in this transactional relationship.

Damien and Charlotte were wonderful characters, and I so enjoyed seeing them fall in love. She was more resistant to a relationship than he was, and I wish she'd gotten over herself sooner because they really were sweet together. I especially loved how Charlotte has believed all these years that Damien had the perfect childhood, and that was not at all the case. These two characters were really well developed, and I adored Charlotte's girlfriends in "the ladies who brunch" and the tight bond they shared.

Teddy Hamilton is one of my favorite male narrators, and I loved everything he brought to the table in performing the role of Damien! Samantha Brentmoor is another great narrator, and I thought she did a fantastic job with Charlotte.

I received a complimentary copy and voluntarily left a review.