My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This the first novel I’ve read by Christina Lauren (writing duo Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings), but I have had Dating You / Hating You on my TBR list for 2 YEARS. Who knew I would love these ladies’ books so much? Why have I waited all this time! It was a coincidence that I came to read this book in the first place. So glad it happened, though. (Long story involving a mis-tweet, a comp title, and a lucky library visit.)
Premise/Overall
In any case, I’m here, and I loved it! I loved it so much that I could see a Netflix Movie made from it! It’s steamy, funny, poignant at times, and appealed to my nerd side.
Because I can’t seem to explain the premise correctly, I’ll let them do it. [from Goodreads] “Millie Morris has always been one of the guys. 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. 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.”
Characters
All of the ensemble has their funny moments, and you will love all of them because they’re so relate-able. But this is Millie and Reid’s show. This is a dual 1st person POV Millie/Reid. Millie is great at wrangling the guys in, but horrible at handling herself. Reid is the all-American guy, and one of those impossible combos of All-American hunk who’s super nerdy. It’s like a Clark Kent/Superman kind of deal but at the same time. Alex and Ed are comic relief, but together they are like the Odd Couple—one goofy and emotional, the other a straight man. Chris is the only one that’s ever been married out of the group and is pretty secretive. I would say he’s probably the most grounded of the gang. You know them, you’ve seen them, you love them. That is all.
The story/The sex/The movie potential
I can’t overstate how much this would be PERFECT as a Netflix rom-com movie. (JUST DON’T TOUCH THE DIALOGUE! It’s ridiculously funny and spot on!) You can say the F-word there, you can do the sexy stuff there, and lately as most of us Netflixers know, they are doing a lot of good Rom-Com movies. I’ve already got a potential cast below.
This is a great story line with a female protagonist emotional arc that is so #WomensFiction but is also delivering the erotic romance heat that we love. This is not your grandma’s romance story: there’s is at least 3 scenes worth of open-door sex. Not crazy graphic, but still steamy. Plus, these are a bunch of dudes and Millie hanging out, talking about hookups and such, so potty mouths abound. If you’re not hung up on that, then this is an awesome story. I read it in 1 DAY. And I’m a slow reader. Just get it, already. Geez.
Actor WishList for “My Favorite Half- Night Stand” (1st actor listed is my 1st choice where there’s more than one.)
Millie — Lucy Hale or Leighton Meester
Reid —Miles Teller or Zac Efron. (Henry Cavil, only because I’m getting a Clark Kent/Superman vibe from Reid as I write this.)
Ed —Seth Rogen. (He’s been nicknamed a few times in this book, but he called himself a pasty Seth Rogen, and that stuck with me)
Chris — Kofi Siriboe or Jay Ellis
Alex —Manny Montana or Ismael Cruz Cordova (except Alex doesn’t have green eyes, and Ismael’s green eyes are smokin’ hot.)
Reid’s Mom — Debra Jo Rupp
Reid’s Dad —Ed O’Neill
If you’ve read this one, what do you think about the movie cast? Comment below.