Sex and Other Shiny Objects

By: Lauren Blakely

Narrated by: Andi Arndt, Jason Clarke, Julia Whelan, Joe Arden, Erin Mallon

Length: 6 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's Summary

Indulge in a brand new stand-alone romance performed by Andi Arndt and Jason Clarke, and special guest star Julia Whelan, with additional voices by Joe Arden and Erin Mallon!

The second the test-the-sexy-scenes offer landed in my lap, I said yes. After all, I've been damn curious about a few things I've read in romance novels. Do buttons truly go flying across the floor when you rip off a guy's shirt? Is staircase nookie hella hot, or does it leave you with a big old bruise mark on your back? And don’t even get me started on all that panty shredding, and whether it even works. Time to find out as I embark on Project Sexy Scenes Research, at the request of my hotshot book editor bestie. All I need is a willing scene partner. Enter Tristan, my best guy friend. The witty, tell-it-like-it-is, bearded hottie volunteers for the experiment. He's also the guy who gave me the most devastating, toe-curling kiss of my life 10 years ago. But nothing has happened since then. And nothing will come between my panties and our friendship now since we have a plan to keep it PG. But once the buttons start flying, all bets are off....

This special production also includes cameos from Maxine Mitchell, Teddy Hamilton, Lili Valente, and Kit Swann.

©2020 Lauren Blakely (P)2020 Lauren Blakely Books

✫✫ 5 Stars ✫✫

Sex and Other Shiny Objects is another fun loving, quirky, sweet & sexy friends to lovers story from Lauren Blakely. Even though this is a friends to lovers, it is also a single parent trope with a man raising his teenage brother and that is my weakness. A man who is trying to do his best to raise a sibling or child on his own is something that grabs my heart strings every time so I loved Tristan from the very beginning. I loved all of the relationships in this book. Tristan and Peyton have chemistry that they both try to ignore, they are comfortable with each other and their flirty banter and concern for each other is a complete winner in my book. Tristan and his brother have a great relationship too, I loved their sarcasm and how close they are, it was super sweet.

I did find the main story line was a little silly but in a fun Rom-Com kind of way and the sex scenes were pretty hot with a little dirty talk add too. It's not a surprise to say I enjoyed it and I always appreciate that in her books, the drama is low and the characters are mature which is something rare in contemporary romance.

The narration was outstanding. Lauren casts the best of the best for all of her audiobooks but even more, she adds fun little parts with cameo narrators which for me is perfection. Nothing better then hearing some of your favorite narrators included in small parts of an already amazingly cast audiobook.

9 people found this helpful

Oh, Tristan! Oh, Jason!

I’m in love with Peyton’s best guy friend. He’s the full package: successful business owner, bearded beauty, great big brother, selfless friend. When Peyton asks him to help her research sexy scenes popular in romance novels, he’s all in. They shared a hot, passionate kiss several years prior, but it wasn’t their time. This research project could be just the push they need.

The experiments were smoking hot. Tristan and Peyton are great friends, their chemistry is off the charts, and they laugh so much together. To me, that’s a very sexy thing between couples. Both of them have their baggage, but it’s not a secret to either of them. I love when friends discover what they’ve been looking for has always been right in front of them.

This story has the feels; a beautiful journey between two childhood friends. Lauren’s friends/best friends to lovers stories are some of my favorite. The supporting cast is wonderful. Jason Clarke and Andi Arndt make a great narrating team. There are a few special guests, but I won’t spoil it.

This Boyfriend Material series is addictive, and I can’t wait for the next book!

3 people found this helpful

Fred and Gingersnap

Sometimes my heart just needs a sweet, low angst romcom. Sex and Other Shiny Objects was a great blend of friends to lovers, second chance romance, and even a little fake-ish relationship/forced proximity. I'm a sucker for the pining and longing of what could have been and when circumstances change to allow our hero and heroine to FINALLY have their chance. We met Tristan and Peyton in book 1 of this series, Asking for A Friend, but this can definitely be enjoyed as a standalone.

I love a hero who is all in from the start, and Tristan was so incredibly swoony. He was considerate, kind hearted, and I loved the relationship he had with his brother. The cherry on top was the dirty side of him that came out to play when things started to heat up between him and Peyton. There is a little drama and back and forth as these two navigate these new waters, but I appreciated that they both resolve their conflicts and put themselves out there. There were some wonderful cameos from past characters and easter eggs sprinkled throughout and I always enjoy finding these in Lauren Blakely's books.

I don't think I will ever tire of Jason Clarke's voice. He pairs perfectly with Andi Arndt (and everyone else he's cast with). Every Lauren Blakely audiobook is a feast for the ears and it's always such a fun treat to hear other beloved narrators making small cameos. It makes the audiobook feel like a duet style narration and only adds to the listening experience. Teddy Hamilton, Joe Arden, Erin Mallon, and others all make appearances, but I was especially delighted to hear one of my favorite narrators, Julia Whelan, also contribute to this adorable friends to lovers, second chance romance. This is such a fun series of interconnected standalones, and I'm looking forward to Lola's story next!

2 people found this helpful

Loved this!!

I am such a fan...not only of Lauren Blakely's incredible writing, but each and ever one of her audiobooks have the most incredible casts!!

1 person found this helpful

Friends to test partners <br />

You can't go wrong with Lauren Blakely as the author, and narrators, Andi Arndt and Jason Clarke. The premise is one that we all might have wondered about - the buttons popping on a shirt, bathtub sex and other situations that are written in romance books. Peyton agrees to help her friend find out now all she needs is a partner. She asks Tristan, her longtime friend, if he would help and he readily agrees since he's loved Peyton since their kiss in college. Things always conspired against them getting together. Will this help them or hurt their friendship? There's a preview of the next book and I can't wait!

1 person found this helpful

Fun! Fun! Fun!

Did you ever wonder if all those steamy scenes would possibly work in the real world? Peyton is trying to make a go of her lingerie shop, and with a discount store moving in and stealing sales, she has to do something quick. She is approached to help with a book, and by writing in her blog helps to publicize the uniqueness of her specialty store. But what she has to write about requires hands on knowledge. In comes Tristan, her best friend. Peyton has to tryout different sex scenes of romance novels and see if they can be done and who better than her trusted best friend to help her out? I have to admit, I was smitten with Tristan. He is a warm, handsome, successful, sweet, romantic, you name it book boyfriend and I totally fell for him. I loved how this relationship played out. This friends to lovers story had me laughing and rooting for this couple to see the light. With great friends coming to their aid, and Gage making an appearance, the story was a blast to listen to.

As in all of Lauren Blakely's books, she finds the best people to play her characters. Jason Clarke has the best voice and he understands Tristan, You can just tell by his narration, the way you can hear the longing in his voice. It's amazing. And Andi Arndt too just gets Peyton and using her emotional voices, gives it all to us. With cameos by our favorite narrators coming back to do characters we know, it's all music to our ears.

1 person found this helpful

Lauren has done it again!💜

This is another great story by Lauren Blakely. As always, her personality shines through her words. Her characters are always fun, charismatic and sexy as ****!
The narration was incredible! The narrators always deliver quality and charm and really bring her characters to life.
And of course adding the cameos of other characters and guest appearances from different narrators is alway fun!!
I highly recommend this book!

Sisters Spotlight 💜

1 person found this helpful

'Auto-click' Lauren Blakely Does Not Disappoint!

If you've read or listened to enough romance novels, you've come across those steamy scenes that just CAN. NOT. be as easy and steamy in real life. Peyton- with the enlisted help of her Best Friend Tristan- agrees to test these scenes for an upcoming novel, and revive her shuttered blog to document the hilarious results.
The friends to lovers trope plays out as one would expect. Trust me though, KNOWING how it ends doesn't make the journey any less enjoyable.
Lauren Blakely is an expert at writing for audio, and her casting is always on point! In Peyton and Tristan's story, she does an excellent job of balancing the clunky, hilarious sexy time fails, with equally hot and steamy scenes that catch both of them by surprise.
Lauren Blakely has found a solid recipe to keep herreaders begging for more. She starts with a great story- real enough for us to imagine living it, crazy enough that we're glad we're just reading it. She adds a perfect blend of familiar characters from previous books and new characters who will soon star in their own stories. And NARRATORS... ahh, the voices that bring it all to life.
It works, because I'm ready for One Night Stand In!!

1 person found this helpful

Loved this Fun and Sexy Friends to Lovers Romance!

What a fun, engaging, and super steamy friends to lovers romance! Peyton and Tristan have been friends since college and have seen each other thru all their ups and downs. They came from totally different worlds but connected from the start. They had a very passionate moment back then, but it was over way too soon. They remained good friends, but never forgot the sparks that simmered below the surface. Now years later, Peyton is helping a friend and herself by blogging about the reality of those sexy scenes we all love to read about in romance novels. Peyton needs someone she can trust to rip each others clothes off and Tristan is more than willing to be that man. The different sexy scenes they work through can be awkward and tricky, but they work through them together, having fun, laughing, and fighting the passion they both are afraid to give in to. I loved the progression of the scenes, the clever blog posts, and especially their self discovery from the fears that hold them back. Peyton and Tristan are so perfect together, supporting each other and their chemistry and passion is off the charts, when they finally give in to their desires. Their friends and family add so much wisdom, support and hilarity, making this story even more fun and heartfelt. The special bond, and scenes between Tristan and his brother, Barrett, were especially touching. Andi Arndt, and Jason Clarke give amazing performances, along with special guest appearances by Julia Whelan, Joe Arden, and Erin Mallon. Arndt really embodies the upbeat, friendly and caring Peyton, while Clarke is simply magic as the serious, sweet, and supportive Tristan, making me totally swoon over him! Lauren continues to create hilarious, heartwarming, and hot and sexy romances that capture my heart!

1 person found this helpful

Loved it!

Live with no regrets and never let a man take away your shine! A great reminder from Lauren! I very much enjoyed Tristan and Peyton’s story, it was very entertaining with all the things that could go wrong when trying to reenact scenes from romance novels. I loved when they finally decided to stop playing games and go for it for real. “Put yourself out there. Do the hard things. Go for it.” The narration was fantastic, Jason is always a joy to listen to and he pairs well with the talented Andi. The rest of the cast was great to listen to as well.

1 person found this helpful

Another cracking read

Well Ms Blakely never ceases to amaze me with how quickly she manages to get her stories out, does this woman never sleep?

The great thing about this is that there is always room for another LB story, the really great news is that they ar ealways fab, jam packed with brilliant content, and always a fantastic audio experience.

Fantastic

Loved this book, loved the story, would definitely recommend, just to listen to Jason Clarke!