ARC Review: Designs on You by Jaci Burton

Designs on You
Series: None
Author: Jaci Burton
Published December 3rd 2024 by Berkley

Goodreads Synopsis
Sparks fly when an interior designer and a game designer cross paths, but they must learn if they can design a happily ever after in this heartfelt romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Jaci Burton.

Natalie Parker is in her mid-thirties, divorced, and firmly focused on her newly resurrected career and her two children. When her sister asks her to help design the backyard in the new home she shares with her boyfriend, Linc, Natalie’s more than happy to take on the project. What she isn’t prepared for is Linc’s younger brother, video game designer Eugene Kennedy. He’s smart, incredibly good-looking, and constantly flirts with Natalie. He’s also too young for her, which makes him totally off-limits.

Eugene is intrigued by Natalie’s beauty, smarts, and especially her sarcastic wit. When he teases her, she throws it right back at him. Besides that, they have an instant chemistry, but she keeps trying to get rid of him despite the sparks that fly between them. And Eugene never backs down from a challenge.

Natalie is running out of reasons to think being with Eugene is a bad thing. Her kids adore him, her sister loves him, and even her always negative mother does, too. The only person holding her back is...her. Maybe it’s time she take that leap and design herself a love for the ages. After all, if she can create the perfect home, she sure as hell can design a happily ever after.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Interior designer Natalie Parker is getting her life back on track following her divorce, and time out of work to help raise her children. When asked by her sister to help design her new home, Natalie jumps at the chance. Everything is going swimmingly, until her sister's brother-in-law, Eugene appears, and he's got his eyes set on Natalie. He's smart and handsome, but younger than her, so can she take the risk on him?

Well, I wanted to like this book, but it was such a drag. I'm not saying it's bad or anything, but I just wasn't hooked by the characters or the story, and I had to somewhat force myself to keep picking it up so that I could finish it. Natalie and Eugene were alright characters, and their chemistry and relationship was okay too, but the whole will they/won't they element of it kept getting on my nerves. There was no reason for them not to be together other than Natalie constantly getting in her head and putting a spanner in the works, and it soon got tiring for me. Anyway, I'm glad it's done.

Dates Read:
February 17-21, 2025

Rating
3 Stars