You Get What You Give

Carolina Classics, Book 1

By: Karen Grey

Narrated by: Jack Calihan, Maxine Mitchell

Fans of 1990s shows like Dawson's Creek and Friends will love this throwback rom-com from USA Today bestselling author Karen Grey.

From insta-lover to insta-enemy. All that, and a bag of chips.

In a sleepy Southern coastal town crowned the Hollywood of the East, worlds collide, and sparks fly when fate has two TV casting directors acting as accidental rivals.

It’s not just that the town isn’t quite big enough for the two of them. Violet Davenport brings deep roots, local allies, and old-fashioned Southern charm to the table. Nate Fowler’s got deep pockets, tech knowhow, and a family that’s been in the biz since the silent film days.

For their businesses—and their hearts—to survive, they'll have to overcome both a bitter hostility and a sweet insta-temptation.

In this enemies-to-lovers, new-in-town, one-night-stand unlikely love story, a girl boss and a Hollywood bad boy find that you only get as good as you give.

©2022 Karen Grey (P)2022 Home Cooked Books

Delightful 90s Throwback Romance

I received an ARC for this honest review.

This delightful, romantic, 90s throwback was an absolute pleasure to read. The story follows Violet, a casting agent from NC and Nate, a Los Angeles transplant new to town, and there's an instant attraction between them. The drama unfolds as Violet learns that Nate's Hollywood father is out for Violet's job and putting her casting company out of business.

This enemies to lovers tale has so many moments of 90s history that you can't help but laugh and smile your way through it. The novel is focused around casting and production for "Lawson's Reach," (feeling much like the real show "Dawson's Creek.") While I never actually watched that tv show, I didn't feel that impacted my enjoyment of the story. There were several laugh out loud moments, and even some light suspense. When Nate comments that Violet smells like Freesia, we all knew he was talking about that purple lotion from Bath and Body Works.

I enjoyed the audiobook as well. Although I am southern myself, I almost never like listening to narrators with a southern accent. Maxine Mitchell did an excellent job of keeping the accent subtle and natural sounding. Jack Calihan also did a wonderful job with his role, but I was slightly distracted at first. Nate is a 25 year old man, but Jack's voice is very deep and mature sounding. Once I settled into the story, it was fine.

The story ends with a great set up for book 2! Highly recommend. 4/5 Stars. 2.5/5 Spicy Peppers.

Another brilliant Karen Grey, and great narrators

Book 1 in the Carolina Classics series, is incredible! I have loved absolutely every book Karen has written, and this is definitely one of her best (I still adore the Boston Classics, but this is so good)!

It picks up about 7-8 years after the prequel novella (I’ll Stand By You, about the friendship of the five), and is about Violet living her dream of being a casting director in the Carolina town of Wallington. The current big project she’s casting for is Lawson’s Reach (a take on Dawson’s Creek), but suddenly, that cute guy she met at the bar last night moves into the office next door and happens to be a rival casting director for a competing company…

Now, cute guy Nate goes from being a one night stand with potential for more, to being the new work enemy, for a company looking to drive Vi completely out of business. His father and uncle’s rivalry is actually at fault, and hopefully something can be done to fix things before it’s too late for everything…

As always, Karen’s writing is at the top of her game, and this is an absolute must-read. I definitely recommend picking up the prequel novella first (I’ll Stand By You), so you get a bit of the group of friend’s background and what the boys are fighting about and why the five each went their own way so many years ago, but this is a complete stand-alone if you opt not to read it. You’ll be hooked and like me, chomping at the bit for the next book in the series! There’s also a novella in the Smartasses anthology that features 2 of the show writers, and runs concurrently with the timeline (What Happens in Carolina), as both stories are more fun if you have the background of each, together!

A top fave narrator brings another brilliant performance to Vi (Maxine Mitchell, a very long-time fave!), and a new-to-me male narrator who brought Nate to life in a fantastic fashion (Jack Calihan) - I’m definitely looking forward to hearing a lot more from him!

A brilliant story and even better when re-listened to with the audio!! This is a definite must-listen book for everyone. I received an advance copy from Karen Grey and Home Cooked Books, and this is my honest feedback - thank you so much Karen! It was even better the second time around!

I loved the 90’s

I really enjoyed this book. I could relate to so many things in this story… beepers, answering machines eating the tape, the simpler times before tech took over. It was like a warm blanket.

Violet and Nate’s romance was so sweet and sexy, even with the pot holes along the way.

Maxine is queen and finding a new to me male narrator makes for some fun texts between me and my friends.

Terrific Start to the Series

I loved Karen Grey's Boston Classics Series for the beautiful writing and the nostalgia they evoke. With the Carolina Classics series, we go back to the 1990s, when we meet Violet and Nate in the small coastal town of Wallington, North Carolina. Violet and Nate have instant chemistry, which leads to a one-night stand. However, they quickly become rivals when Violet discovers Nate's job competes with hers. I enjoyed Violet's fiery passion for her work as she went out of her way to help her clients. However, Nate had a lot to learn about catering to the clientele of this small town, esp. as it's referred to as the Hollywood of the East. As they work to compete against one another, they each learn a valuable lesson about themselves and their work.

Maxine Mitchell is a queen of audio. She delivered a beautiful and emotional performance. I'm relatively new to Jack Calihan's narration, but his narration was great as well.

Wonderful start to new series

You Get What You Give is the first book in the Carolina Classics series from Karen Grey. Much like with her Boston Classics series, she takes her readers back to the 90’s with her newest series.

Violet Davenport gave up her career as a teacher to take on the full-time job of casting director in her small town casting the new TV show Lawson’s Reach, until another casting director from Hollywood opens his office right next door. Nate Fowler is taking this job to in his dad’s company to finally show him he has what it takes in the entertainment industry. The fact that his father has basically sabotaged Violet Davenport in the process doesn’t seem to concern the man at all. After all, Violet is working with Nate’s Uncle and their family feud means she picked the wrong side. The fact that Violet and Nate hooked up his first night in town, before they knew only made it that much more fun when they saw each other again.

I liked the romance between Violet and Nate a good bit. Both came from mixed up families, and Nate’s parents were divorced, and Violet’s had basically abandoned her to her grandparents to raise. They had pretty amazing chemistry from the moment they met, and it only grew stronger with each passing day.

They seemed to have enough differences to compliment one another’s differences when it came to work. Violet was the empathetic one at work, and was brilliant at helping actors find new jobs. Nate was more of a behind the camera and scenes man, and was the one who helped keep things running so Violet could do her job. I did wish they had communicated a bit better both in their personal and working relationships at time. I had to remind myself that cell phones had limited coverage during the 90’s, with landlines, answering machines, and faxes being the primary ways to communicate. I literally laughed out loud when Vi ran out of change using a pay phone. So many moments of nostalgia with this book.

I liked the group of friends Violet had in her life pretty much her entire life. I liked that Dani seemed to be there for all their friends, but was a little bothered that it seemed to be on her terms most of the time. I feel like there is way more to the Whitney, Sully, and Ford love triangle, and it was distracting at time for Whitney to be the center of the story.

Narration: I enjoyed both Maxine Mitchell and Jack Calihan as narrators. While I felt Maxine did a bit better job with the Southern accents than Jack, I liked both their takes on the large cast of characters. Jack’s voice was pretty deep, so his female voices weren’t always on point, but he did adjust his dialogue well for the age group.

I felt like You Get What You Give was a good start to this new series. I think fans of Dawson’s Creek will get a kick out of all the Easter Eggs to one of my favorite shows from that time. I would have liked Vi and Nate’s story to be wrapped up a bit more than it was in the final chapter, but was comfortable with their HFN at this point of the series.

Story Rating: 4 Stars (B+)
Narrator Rating: 4 Stars (B)
Review copy provided by publisher

perfect for fans of 90s nostalgia!!

Karen Grey fans are going to love this series! Its a bit different than her previous series Boston Classics in that it feels more like an epic tale written over several books instead of a standalone book. Hang on to your kindle and try not to throw it when you get to the ending, I promise its worth it!!

Violet's hot one night stand turns out to be her rival in this enemies-to-lovers romance!
Nate is looking to find his purpose in life and a place where he fits in. Loved how they fought everywhere but the bedroom. Bossy Nate is HOT!!!


What you'll get in this book:
More of these 5 friends from the prequel novella, Signed, Sealed & Delivered. Focus is mainly on Violet and her love interest, Nate. Set up of the next book, Hold on to Me. A cliffhanger that will leave you wanting more right now (well done, Karen! You got me hooked!!)
You'll get a HFN for Violet & Nate.

What I loved about this book:
The relationship between these friends and the family they've created. I really wanted to be the 6th friend in this group!
You'll get all the 90s lovin references throughout that had me wanting to listen to my greatest hits Playlist. Loved the setting of coastal North Carolina.

I know I'm not the only one is impatiently waiting on the next book to find out what happens next.



Jack Calihan and Maxine Mitchell nailed their roles as Nate and Violet! As much as I enjoyed this eyeball read, I absolutely loved how the narrators brought this book alive for me.

Enjoyed to book. Hated the cliffhanger ending.

I was enjoying the book until it abruptly ended with 30+ minutes to go which was apparantly just an add for another of her books. I like series books. I don't like authors using cliffhangers to get me to read the next one, especially when this one is relatively short. This was my first book from this author. I'll probably not purchase any more based on this one.

Great romance set in the 1990s

I adored this enemies to lovers, workplace rivals romance set in the 1990s Carolina coast! When Nate Fowler moves to town to open up an East Coast branch of his family’s casting agency, he didn’t know that another casting agency was already in town - and never expected the agent running it to be Violet, with whom he shared a hot night with after he first arrived.

Though they fight it all along the way, Nate and Violet are drawn together and meant to be. Their ability to overcome obstacles to find love was so satisfying and sweet to read. The book also sets up nicely for future books in the series. (And for someone who was in high school when Dawson’s Creek originally aired, there’s so much nostalgia in reading this book! The chapter intros feature snippets from a similar show filming in the area. Casting for the show is one of the issues Nate and Violet have to face together.)

I listened to the audiobook and the narrators were superb. Thank you to Karen Grey for the advanced listening copy of You Get What You Give, receipt of which did not impact my review. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the series!

Loved Nate and Violet!

I don’t want to wait…..to gush about this book! You Get What You Give by Karen Grey was a nostalgic romantic throwback to my teenage years that did crazy good things to my heart. Set in the fictional small coastal N.C. town of Wallington in the late 1990s, we are introduced to Hollywood hottie, Nate, and fierce Carolina girl, Violet. Wallington is considered to be the Hollywood of the East and is the location filming the up-and-coming T.V. series, Lawson’s Reach. (sound familiar?)

Maxine Mitchell and Jack Calihan narrate the audiobook. Jack Calihan, a new to me narrator, was the perfect fit for our Hollywood native hero, Nate. Jack was fantastic showcasing Nate’s charismatic and dedicated persona in a raspy swoony tone! Maxine Mitchell was absolute perfection as brave, determined Violet. Not to mention her male voice for Nate, was oh so dreamy! Plus, I loved that Karen carried on her tradition of adding some special sound effects, that create just the right vibe for the mood and setting of the book!

Overall, I loved this book! If you are a fan of a retro romance with a Hollywood casting hunk who loves to surf, a fierce boss lady on a mission, a one night stand that turns into so much more, enemies to lovers vibes, small coastal towns, childhood friendships that are tested, trips to the beach, misunderstandings, Dawson’s Creek allusions, dangerous hurricanes, supportive grandparents, delicious steamy times, and a HEA that will a leave a happy smile on your face, then you will love Nate and Violet’s romance. However, that ending?! I can’t wait for more from Karen Grey!

This one is definitely a classic!

You Get What You Give is the first book in Karen Grey’s Carolina Classics series.  I love that the basis for the books in this series is founded on five childhood friends.
 
Violet Davenport has a lot on her plate.  Thanks to a new TV show about to start filming in her hometown, she has enough work to start her own full-time casting company.  She also teaches drama, looks after the grandparents who raised her and helps them with their busy bed & breakfast.  When she finds out the hot new guy in town that she had a one-night stand with is now her competition, things get even more complicated.
 
Nate Fowler wants to show his father that his inability to settle down does not mean he’s a screw up.  He’s merely searching for a reason to stay somewhere; a purpose that fulfills him.  He had no idea it would mean jeopardizing the business and livelihood of the woman he hasn’t been able to get out of his system.
 
Violet and Nate have lots of family baggage that colors their perceptions of relationships and whether they can count on people, but the attraction they felt that first night isn’t going away.  Can they learn to trust each other and compromise, maybe even work together?
 
I really enjoyed listening to Violet and Nate’s relationship unfold.  Karen wrote such a beautiful, steamy story for these characters and she’s so good with the nostalgia elements! 
 
Maxine Mitchell and Jack Calihan were brilliant in the roles of Violet and Nate!