My So-Called Sex Life

By: Lauren Blakely

Narrated by: Vanessa Edwin, Sebastian York

Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's Summary

An enemies-to-lovers stand-alone from number one NYT best seller Lauren Blakely performed by Sebastian York and Vanessa Edwin!

I’ve got a list of people I absolutely don’t ever want to be stuck with on a boat, or a plane, or a train, and it starts and ends with the broody, grumpy, too-sexy-for-my-own good Axel Huxley.

Also known as this romance novelist’s number one nemesis.

The man is legendary for his mighty pen and his even mightier scowl. I tried to work together with the cocky thriller writer once upon a time, but the two of us are like vodka and good decisions. We don’t play well together.

Only now, our publishers are sending us on a joint trip across Europe to mingle with our most devoted readers on an old-fashioned luxury train. And thanks to a booking snafu, we have to share a sleeper car.

You guessed it—there's only one bed.

I'm not sure I can survive the next seven days and nights with my dangerously sexy enemy and all our fiery tension.

Which explodes one night in a desperately needed hate bang.

But the bigger plot twist is this–the more time we spend together, visiting the most romantic cities in Europe by day and discovering each other at night, the more I’m forced to face our past.

To let go of the hurt.

To see the man he’s become.

And when I do, I wonder if it’s too late to write a new happy ending for us?

©2023 Lauren Blakely (P)2023 Lauren Blakely Books

Oh this was so fun!

Oh this was so fun! I read that author Lauren Blakely said it was a love letter to readers, and it was perfection! I adored that Hazel and Axel were both authors, and I am dying to read the fictional writing duo's Ten Park Avenue series as well as their solo books too. (Please????) The Book Besties were a delight as well, and there were so many nods to romance readers I smiled so much. As always, we got some cameos from from other books in the Lauren Blakely world- so fun! I purchased the audiobook and really enjoyed the performances by fan-favorites Sebastian York and Vanessa Edwin. Their narration always adds so much to the experience.

Loved this fun, witty, sexy love story!

I absolutely loved everything about this beautiful, and amazing romance! This fun, witty, sexy love story transported me into the most romantic places in Europe, and in turn, nestled Axel and Hazel into my heart as well! Axel and Hazel were close and wildly popular writing partners, until Axel mysteriously walked away without an explanation. Hazel has never forgiven him, but has moved on, finding her own success writing romance. Hazel's publisher has booked her and her arch nemesis, Axel, on a luxury train ride through the most romantic spots in Europe, with some of their devoted fans, to recount scenes from their books. As these once close friends, and partners turned enemies, are forced to room together, they begin to face the truth of their long buried feelings. When they can no longer deny their attraction, their nights are filled with fiery passion. But when they return home, can they find the courage to admit their feelings, or risk losing each other by walking away again. Axel and Hazel are great together, and I cheered for them throughout their thrilling, moving, and romantic journey. I loved visiting all the incredible cities, fountains, and other sites across Europe. I loved the skillful way Blakely not only exposed the mind of an author, with the brilliant way Axel and Hazel bantered clever storylines, and then devoured each other during book sex, but she also gave us wonderful reader fans we could relate to, as she made the many famous locations come to life.
A story this seductive, romantic, and moving needs exceptional narrators and Blakey chose beautifully! Sebastian York and Vanessa Edwin gave a flawless performance. Their ability to deliver Ms. Blakely's witty dialogue along with imparting the genuine emotion of all characters was exquisite.
This is a fun, witty, and sexy story that is so full of heart. This beautiful tale made me feel many wonderful emotions, but mostly, it made me happy!

Fantastic story and perfect performances.

This book gave me so much joy. From the very beginning, there was the witty banter between our sweet Hazel and broody Axel, and as we follow their story we are pulled into a love story that has been in the making for a long time and watch as these two find their two loves, writing and each other.

Hazel Valentine is a romance author who wants her characters to have all the feels and romance and best o's of their life. Axel Huxley is a romance thriller author and even though he gives his characters romance, that isn't the focus for him. When these two got together previously to co-write a series it was magical and the fans loved it but for some reason, Axel ended their partnership as well as friendship and fled to Europe leaving Hazel to have doubts about her skills. Now they are forced back together on a book tour across Europe on a train and the love gods have decided these two need to be forced a little closer together so these once friends, now frenemies are going to be sharing a bed.

This book is funny and the characters are wonderful. They have what we all have, doubts about their abilities, desires they don't want to voice, fears of what will happen later if they act on those desires, and hope for forever with their one true love. I loved Hazel as she is just fun. Axel is hot and just enough broody to make him desirable. The supporting characters are so much fun too. You will love the fans that get to travel with our couple and it makes fiction seem more real as we are all fans of our authors, and wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to travel on a train for a tour around Europe with said author and get to know them?

Now for the bonus, I listened to this book so not only is the story beyond five stars for me I also got the pleasure of Sebastian York and Vanessa Edwin bringing it to life for me. Talk about perfect casting for Hazel and Axel. Vanessa was the perfect choice for Hazel as her voice and timing were spot on. Sebastian was in my opinion the only choice for Axel. He became Axel and gave him everything LB had written him to be. As I listened I was not just listening to a book, I was along on the ride with Hazel and Axel as part of their tour and I was pulled into the story with them. It was so good. I loved it and highly recommend it.

Liked the concept and story

Have to say I’ve listened to a lot of LB’s books and loved them…but this one didn’t do it for me. First problem I had was with ms Edwin’s narration and the rhythm of the narration. I kept struggling to follow along. I didn’t connect with the characters until at least half way through the book and the so called sex life wasn’t very scintillating. Give me the RSVP or PRIVATE REHEARSAL over again, please. Both in this collection and I’ve read both twice. Hoping for better with the upcoming the Tryst.

A different kind of story

This was a really interesting read with all the train travel and cities visited, I loved learning new things. And the story setting on a train with author's and authors fans was also a cleaver way to tell a story, LB does it again! York was the perfect romance author with his thick glasses! I wish he read more of the chapters. Although the photo on book cover does not remind me of the Hero at all who I imagine a little older and would never wear chains around the neck. The story had enough steam but the decision to tell the other they were in love drug out a little too long and I felt unnecessary.

Axel & Hazel are your new favorite couple!

Axel & Hazel are Nemesis… there is no other way to put it. You are going to get a look at what happens when two people never hated each other at all. Sparks Fly and you are going to Drool over their love affair!

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My So-Called Love Life

My So-Called Sex Life - An Enemies to Lovers Standalone Romance -Lauren Blakely

A fun intriguing reverse storytelling looking into the lives of romance/adventure writers. Hazel and Axel are two authors who hang within the same group of friends and at one time we’re successful co-writers of a romance/adventure series. At some point Axel walks away (around the fifth book) without explanation. Since then they have had a contemptuous relationship as Hazel feels resentful and rejected. Little does she know Axel has done this to protect his heart because he can no longer deny his deep feelings for Hazel and this is the only defense mechanism he has to hide them.
Moving ahead they both continue to have individual success in their careers and are thrown together on a “publicity book tour” through Europe on a special old fashioned train. Of course there is only one room by mistake, which they must share.
The delightful unfolding of their inner feelings and the way they strength each other from their past traumas is heartfelt, funny and very very h@@ted.
The authors are spot on and I could listen to Sebastian York read just about anything at this point.
An awesome extremely enjoyable funny Seggy story while touring some of the most beautiful places in Europe.

5 STARS! A fun, fiery enemies-to-lovers romance!

Lauren Blakely delivered a seriously fun and fiery enemies-to-lovers story with a forced proximity spin in My So Called Sex Life. I listened to the audio version, featuring two of my favorites, Sebastian York and Vanessa Edwin. It’s been a while since we’ve heard SebYo narrate a Blakely romance, and boy, was it worth the wait. He epitomized the role of Axel Huxley, expertly bringing the sometimes surly, sometimes swoony hero to life. Vanessa Edwin’s portrayal of Hazel Valentine was on point and a wonderful counterpart to York’s Huxley.

Axel Huxley was the cocky, grumpy and broody romantic thriller author with an unrequited long-time crush on the heroine, his former writing partner, that he’s been suppressing behind a wall of snark. Romance author, Hazel Valentine, is witty, charming and independent. She believes whole-heartedly in the love stories she writes even though her own romantic life does not remotely resemble the best-selling fiction she pens. Their publisher has paired them up for a week-long luxury train tour of Europe for some VIP readers. A scheduling faux pas forces Axel and Hazel to share a sleeper car, and as the train makes its way through Europe these enemies move on from the disagreements of their past to the promising possibilities of their future.

A full-circle kind of romance, My So Called Sex Life was light-hearted, romantic and rich with heart-tugging emotion that didn’t tip the scales into angsty. Sizzling attraction, snappy banter, delightful side characters and a couple determined to work through their differences and the mistakes of their past made this an unputdownable story that kept the AirPods in my ears. Lauren Blakely’s My So Called Sex Life gets five smooches from me!
~Danielle Palumbo, Red Cheeks Reads

10 STARS!!!

I wish I could give this more than just 5 stars! I loved everything about this books. Enemies to lovers, Second chance, forced proximity! All of it. and so so many relatable characters.

My So-Called Sex Life is about two Romance writers, Hazel and Axel. while Hazel is a tried and true romcom romance writer, Axel prefers more Roman thriller. They use to write together and wrote a popular book together, but out of the blue Axel drops their friendship and moves on to other writing ventures. A year or so later, they are thrown together during a train trip around Europe with fans or romance and them. Because of a mix up they end up having to share a sleeper room on the train, ever worse then a single hotel room because those sleeper rooms are SMALL, and there is no other option then the (maybe) full size bed for the two of them to sleep on. As they send more time together, secrets start to come out, like why Axel left. you'll have to read to find out more.

The rapid fire witty banter between these two was so much fun to listen to. If anyone knows how to write a good back and forth between two frenemies its LB. There were also some side characters that I absolutely loved!! Melissa, Jackie and Alecia remind me so much of myself and the friends I have made in the book community. It was so nice to see (hear) that in a book, the readers getting a little recognition. And the way Steven interacted with Axel was just so darn cute. I just loved it all.

The book was narrated by the unicorn himself Sebastian York, and Hazel was perfectly played by Vanessa Edwin. I would highly recommend this book to anyone! One of my favorites LB.

Everything I love in a Blakely book!

This is everything I love about Lauren Blakely. Incredible chemistry, witty banter and a story that is engaging and worms it's way into my heart. Meet Hazel Valentine, romance author and her arch rival Axel Huxley, romantic thriller author. Once co-writers, things went astray and now these two are forced together again. How will it all work out? I was completely captivated by this couple! They both have funny inner monologues and their banter is priceless. Incredible chemistry finds them in a constant state of foreplay and I couldn't wait for one of them to finally breakdown! Plus we have the amazing women in the Book Besties Club, which made me smile every time they came in. This is a fun listen and is a great feel good romance.

Sebastian York and Vanessa Edwin make this even better. These two become Axel and Hazel, and the narrator combination makes this like a movie! The amazing comedic timing, the push pull feeling and chemistry between them makes the performance fun and entertaining. Love it!

Loved this so much!

This was such a Fab story! Loved all of the references to Romance Tropes. Plus all of the wonderful travel references and the catching up with characters from Lauren's other books.
Just such a happy, joyful listen all the way through.
I always love Vanessa Edwin's narration, and Sebastian York could narrate anything, and make it a must listen ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hazel and Axel are #romantic goals!

If you want a classic, whip-smart enemies to lovers romance with two writers forced to share a cabin on a luxury train ride across Europe which leads to some very hot scenes and an love story of their own, then this is the one for you. Hazel Valentine is a wonderful character, a smart talented romance writer who doesn't put up with any rubbish and Vanessa Edwin beautifully captures her quirky, funny and endearing personality with a hint of steel. Axel Huxely, the thriller writer, Hazel's one time writing partner and now Arch Nemesis, is a curious mix of pedantic and driven, brilliant and also adorably vulnerable and sensitive at times.

I loved everything about their story and the fact that they reconnect while doing a VIP readers tour in a beautiful grand tour across some of the beautiful cities across Europe makes my heart soar. The love the author has for the romance reader community and the Book Besties is amazing, the sweeping panoramic sightseeing is heavenly and the delicious chemistry and tension building between Hazel and Axel and the revelation of what lead to the breakdown of their writing partnership is just the best.

This is my favourite Lauren Blakely book in quite some time!! Long live romance authors and their devoted readers and fans. This is a story for you, Romancelandia.

What an amazing story!

I was so excited for this book when I first saw teasers, and I’m so happy that I got to listen to the audiobook! I loved it so much! The trip through Europe, the close quarters on the train, the play on tropes in romance novels, it all worked so well for a swoony and amazing love story. It had the best balance of banter and love, of going from nemeses to lovers. I love reading stories set in places I’ve been, reliving the memories made in those places, and this book definitely took me back! A great low-angst romance for if you want to escape into some amazing cities! I just wish I could read all the books Axel and Hazel were writing!

True Romance

Sometimes you just need a simple romance book - no angst, no drama, just an entertaining love story. My So-Called Sex Life is just that, and it sees Axel and Hazel, two authors who used to write together, but for reasons that become apparent throughout the story, abruptly stop writing together, and go their separate ways, until that is, they are forced together on a train ride across Europe during a book tour. Awkward, especially the fact that they have to pretend that they don’t actually hate each other. Maybe they don’t. A friends to enemies to lovers sexy romance narrated by Sebastian York and Vanessa Edwin, who are perfect together, ensuring that the listener gets all the feels throughout, happy, sad, mad, annoyed and of course the best of all, love struck. As and avid reader and follower of all my favourite authors on social media I could really relate to both Axel and Hazel, and I most definitely could relate to the book lovers and tour attendees. The whole story resonated with me in the best possible way. Highly entertaining, which is exactly what I want from a story. I loved it.
I was gifted a copy of this audiobook. This is my honest review.