Review | My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren

By Birdie

half night stand

My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren
Gallery Books
St. Martin’s Press
December 4, 2018

About the Book: Millie Morris has always been one of the guys. A UC Santa Barbara professor, she’s a female-serial-killer expert who’s quick with a deflection joke and terrible at getting personal. And she, just like her four best guy friends and fellow professors, is perma-single.

So when a routine university function turns into a black tie gala, Millie and her circle make a pact that they’ll join an online dating service to find plus-ones for the event. There’s only one hitch: after making the pact, Millie and one of the guys, Reid Campbell, secretly spend the sexiest half-night of their lives together, but mutually decide the friendship would be better off strictly platonic.

But online dating isn’t for the faint of heart. While the guys are inundated with quality matches and potential dates, Millie’s first profile attempt garners nothing but dick pics and creepers. Enter “Catherine”—Millie’s fictional profile persona, in whose make-believe shoes she can be more vulnerable than she’s ever been in person. Soon “Catherine” and Reid strike up a digital pen-pal-ship…but Millie can’t resist temptation in real life, either. Soon, Millie will have to face her worst fear—intimacy—or risk losing her best friend, forever.

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When do you know you love an author?
Is it after one book?  Two? 
When do you stop second guessing  your enjoyment?

Years ago I read Sweet Filthy Boy, and then immediately read Dirty Rowdy Thing.  I really really liked them, until I found out they may have started out as Twilight fanfiction.  I’m not anti-fanfiction, I just choose not to read it.  I prefer reading the original author’s imaginative world.  Also, I didn’t like Twilight, so when I find out a series was originally Twilight fanfiction it alters my perception of the characters, and I can’t stop seeing the similarities.  I didn’t read Christina Lauren again for a long time.  It wasn’t malicious, I’d just lost interest. 

I didn’t pick up another one up until I read the synopsis for Autoboyography.  I bought it as soon as it came out, and devoured it.  It was SO good.  Then came Josh and Hazel, and again I was blown away.  Now, I think My Favorite Half Night Stand is my new favorite Christina Lauren book!

One of the things I really like about Christina Lauren’s contemporary romances is their ability to make me love the heroine more than the hero.  Usually I fall hard for the love interest, and everything revolves around him.  However, every single time I read an adult romance by these authors I find myself fully committed to the heroine. 

This is especially true of Millie from My Favorite Half Night Stand.

I loved Millie so much.  I don’t think I’m like Millie, but I can easily see how someone after trauma could stuff any emotional expression way down inside to hide themselves.  As someone with anxiety, I understand how much easier it is to show emotional vulnerability when it’s anonymous.  I could understand why Millie felt it was easier to open up as “Catherine”.  I felt heartbreak and pain for her when she was trying to explain her actions.  I felt anger that anyone would make her feel lonely.  I just loved her so much.  

It was because of Millie I loved Reid.  It’s not that he’s a bad guy.  He’s actually adorably sweet.  He adored Millie too, so how could I not adore him.

While the biggest strength of My Favorite Half Night Stand is Millie, all of Millie’s friends were well written also.  Millie’s was blessed with deep friendships too, and they were just as exciting to read about.  Each of them had their own side story, and I wished so hard this had been a trilogy.  I want to read about Chris and Ed’s romance.  They deserve full length books, and not just a few lines in this one.

Now that I know I’m a Christina Lauren fan, I’ve made it a goal to read the rest of their contemporary romances. 

Next up is Roomies!  I am EXCITED!

About Birdie

Don’t look for her in any bar, club, crazy raging party, or anywhere there may be a large gathering of strangers. She’s more likely to be found tucked into the corner of the couch watching one of her favorite shows, or preferably under a comforter with her current novel.

10 Responses

  1. Ashley (The Infinite Library)

    This sounds really good! Great review. 😊
    I love books with well done leads. I think it’s fantastic when you like the MC more than the love interest. It’s sad how rare it is though, at least for me.
    I actually have Josh and Hazel on my TBR and I really liked Autoboyography when I read it last it. Interesting about the fan fiction. I never knew that!

    Like

    1. Birdie

      Josh and Hazel was really good, and I think the more popular between the two. I did love Hazel, a lot, but there was just something really special about Millie for me. She’s a character that will stick with me forever, I think.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Lisa

    I think we’re in the same boat — I only read my first Christina Lauren book in December, but now I’ve read four, and I’m hooked for life! 🙂 Great review. I really liked this one too!

    Like

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