Book Review: It Seemed Like a Good Idea by Lauren Blakely
Release Date: September 2nd, 2025
Release Date: September 2nd, 2025
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Spice Level: 3 out of 5
Cover Grade: A
Audiobook Narrator Performance: N/A
Synopsis:
In IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA, Ripley lives in a quiet small town, she runs a lavender farm, and doesn't need a bodyguard. However, her identical twin sister has landed a major movie role that's being filmed in their hometown, requiring someone to protect Ripley during the shoot. Shocker when it’s none other than the man with whom she had a one-night stand with last month. He's a broody man with a sultry voice and intense gaze who vanished before the climax without a word. He arrives in her small town in time to fend off the paparazzi, whom she is not willing to admit are a problem. By the third time this handsome rogue comes to her rescue, staying angry becomes a challenge for Ripley; sexy, cutesy romance ensues.
Strengths: Overall, it's a charming love story with great pacing and sassy character banter, lots of steamy sex scenes.
Weaknesses: Flat character development with a couple of the characters, which left a portion of the ending a bit discombobulated. Some of the conflicts were not believable enough to be a big deal, or maybe I’m just jaded.
Verdict: Worth the read. This was a fun, light read. A sweet contemporary romance, with lots of good people making Ned-Flanders-sized mistakes. A rom-com vibe filled with cutesy romance, sassy banter, wholesome moments, and a lot of sex, huzzah! (7.5/10)
Thank you, Lauren Blakely, Cosmo Reads, and Sourcebooks. I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Pre-Order Your Copy
Aber Stoat Books (print)
Bookshop.org (print)
Similar Titles:
Make Me by Tessa Bailey (eBook | audiobook) 🎧
The Bodyguard by Katherine Center (eBook | audiobook) 🎧
Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams (eBook | audiobook) 🎧
So Not Meant to Be by Meghan Quinn (print | audiobook) 🎧
Other Books by Lauren Blakely:
The Real Deal (eBook | audiobook) 🎧
The Overtime Kiss (print | audiobook) 🎧
The Boyfriend Goal (print | audiobook) 🎧
Double Pucked (print | audiobook) 🎧
From the Publisher:
Publisher: Cosmo Reads | Sourcebooks
ISBN: 9781464228834, 1464228833
Series: Darling Springs (Book #1)
Paperback, 432 pages (Deluxe & Standard Edition)
Fiction / Romance / Contemporary
Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy
Fiction / Small Town & Rural
Description:
First in a brand-new, quirky small town romcom series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely.
I really don’t need a bodyguard—I run a small-town lavender farm, for bee’s sake! But I’m getting one anyway since my identical twin sister just booked the movie role of a lifetime and it's being shot in my hometown. And guess who my new broody, tattooed protector is? None other than the guy I had a one-night stand with last month.
Correction: he’s the guy with the wicked mouth and heated eyes who ran out on me before the bang without so much as goodbye. And of course he arrives in my tiny hometown where the film is shooting right in the nick of time to save me from the paparazzi at the market. The coffee shop. The dress shop too. I’m trying hard to stay mad after the third time the sexy jerk rescues me.
Maybe just one night would relieve all this tension? But one night turns into another, and then into sharing hearts and secrets that are best locked up. Especially since he’s leaving and I’m staying, and there’s no way we can be more than a summer romance that ends far too soon.
Author Bio:
A #1 New York Times and #1 Audible bestselling author, LAUREN BLAKELY is known for her contemporary romance style that’s cute but spicy. Lauren likes dogs, cake, and show tunes and is the vegetarian at your dinner party. She lives near Seattle, WA.
Please heart this post to help others find me!