From the Bookshelf of Audiobook Junkies…

My Favorite Half-Night Stand

Christina Lauren

Start date: February 10, 2019

Finish date: February 11, 2019

Discussion: 2019 Goals and Challenge

Discussion leader: Jonetta

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What Members Thought

Sep 02, 2018 Linda (un)Conventional Bookworms rated it it was amazing

Shelves: edelweiss, fave-author, romance, adult, contemporary, arc, review-books, read-in-2018, 2018-releases

Christina Lauren did it again! My Favorite Half-Night Stand is an incredibly tender, geeky, story. A circle of friends, and a need for something more.
FTC

9 likes · Like · see review

Apr 12, 2019 Anne - Books of My Heart rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019, audio, library, backlist

OK Robin already reviewed this on Books of My Heart.

I agree with her review and I LOVED this. I laughed and cried. Millie, in spite of her issues, is lucky to have a really great group of guy friends. She has a job she loves and a caring family. I get her issues totally. The ending was also wonderful. ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Jan 04, 2019 Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, romance, audiobooks, standalone, rom-com, 2019-audiobook-challenge

My Favorite Half-Night Stand is another wonderful story from the writing team of Christina Lauren. The characters are silly and fun, yet have realistic problems that ground them and make them more relatable. Millie and Reed have been best friends for a couple of years. Their group of four guys and one girl is tight and has always worked smoothly. But suddenly, Millie realizes she’s desperately attracted to Reed, so after a few drinks, Millie makes a move and the pair spend a passionate half-nigh My Favorite Half-Night Stand is another wonderful story from the writing team of Christina Lauren. The characters are silly and fun, yet have realistic problems that ground them and make them more relatable. Millie and Reed have been best friends for a couple of years. Their group of four guys and one girl is tight and has always worked smoothly. But suddenly, Millie realizes she’s desperately attracted to Reed, so after a few drinks, Millie makes a move and the pair spend a passionate half-night together. Determined not to make things weird, they both go along with the group’s plan to find dates using an online dating site. But when an undercover Millie (Cat) gets matched with Reed, and he doesn’t figure it out, things get out of hand.

While I found it slightly difficult to believe that Reed didn’t figure out Millie was Cat right away, especially since they are such close friends and he is having serious relationship thoughts about Millie, the story works. The conflict grows because the more Millie divulges to Reed as Cat, the more distant and aloof Millie becomes, causing Reed a lot of hurt. He really wants Millie, just needs more from her and she would pull away, and then would turn around and open up as Cat. The misunderstanding continues to grow, and just about the time I was ready to say “enough,” the authors brought the situation to a head. Reed’s reactions and hurt are palpable, and I felt empathy for both partners.

The supporting characters add a lot of value to the story. Watching their group dynamics and how each member plays his role in the larger picture makes My Favorite Half-Night Stand more than just a fun romance. They struggle watching what happens between Millie and Reed, showing ripple effect that Millie’s little plan has on those around her. I would love a follow up story to see how the rest of the gang finds their loves.

Narration: the story is shared via first person, present tense, shifting POVs of Reed and Millie. Having two different narrators for this type of story telling works, as it is clear whose POV I am listening to at all times. Each POV from Reed is Mr. Lee and each POV from Millie is Ms. Thibodeaux. Both have pleasing cadences and tempo. Both use voices that are dynamic and well-suited for the mood and plotline. There isn’t a huge difference in Ms. Thibodeaux’s female voices, but there also aren’t very many female characters. Honestly, she doesn’t use much difference between any of her character voices – males are slightly deeper, but not entirely. Again, it’s more the intonation of words and speech patterns that make her males “male.” And this all applies to Mr. Lee’s in reverse. Yet it all works. I didn’t get confused unless I came back to the book after an absence and it was the middle of dialogue.

Overall, My Favorite Half-Night Stand is a well narrated, enjoyable listen. I recommend this standalone rom-com fun!

My Ratings:
Story: B+
Narration (both): A-

Review copy provided by Simon & Schuster Audio ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jan 06, 2019 Melindeeloo rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: friends-to-lovers

I am a big fan of friends to lovers when it's done well and this one was. I liked the friend group as the supporting cast and the framework with friend group texts and dating site private emails between the leads. I got a small kick from the fact that this was set in my town and the group were Profs at my alma mater UCSB - even though not too many real places were used. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 04, 2022 Haze rated it it was ok

Shelves: audiobook, 2022-books-read

This one sounded good because I love the "friends to lovers" trope, but I ended up quite disappointed in it, tbh.

One of the reasons I love "friends to lovers" is because they're supposed to have made a strong connection beforehand, know each other well and so on. I didn't get that from the two MCs here. I was told they have the connection but I didn't feel it at all.

Not to mention all the other problems with it! Lack of communication, catfishing, pick me, to mention just a few. I think I'd give ...more

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Dec 08, 2018 Nelle Nazario rated it liked it

Shelves: z-read-in-2018

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 04, 2020 Suellen rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-as-audiobook, rb-digital

The female lead has issues with deep emotional connections. She has a group of close male friends who are not well suited for the dating scene. Thaey all join a dating app. She is matched with her best friend after creating an alternate profile.
I thought I had read this book before. There were no triggers. This was my 1st read.

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Feb 23, 2025 Amzette rated it liked it

Shelves: audio-books, children-lit, contemporary, romance, adult

3.5⭐️

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May 03, 2022 Merrie Fox rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I did the audiobook and I didnt like the female reader. Just couldnt like her but to the writers credit I still finished the book! Love her books!
Great little stories that made me giggle.

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Sep 15, 2019 Chris rated it it was amazing

Shelves: hot-stuff, contemporary-romance, romancy, read-in-2019

I could not stop reading this. I really fell in love with the whole group of them, but especially with Reid and Millie. Their friendship was my favorite part.

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