The Prenup

The Prenup

Lauren Layne — 2019
THE romantic comedy hit of the summer! Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella, Lindsey Kelk and Sophie Ranald. 'Best Rom Com of 2019!!' 'Sweet, sassy, sparkling!' 'My absolute favourite' 'A perfect easy-reading, cheer-you-up, read on the beach summer romance' LOVE WASN'T PART OF THE DEAL FOR THIS MARRIAGE... My name is Charlotte Spencer and, ten years ago, I married my brother's best friend. I haven't seen him since. Charlotte Spencer grew up on the blue-blooded Upper East Side of Manhattan but she never wanted the sit-still-look-pretty future her parents dictated for her. Enter Colin Walsh, her brother's quiet, brooding, man-bun-sporting best friend, and with him a chance to escape. He's far from Charlotte's dream guy but they need each other for one thing: marriage. One courthouse wedding later, Charlotte's inheritance is hers to start a business in San Francisco and Irish-born Colin has a Green Card. Ten years later, Colin drops a bombshell: the terms of their prenup state that before either can file for divorce, they have to live under the same roof for three months. Suddenly this match made in practicality is about to take on whole new meaning... More raves for The Prenup! 'Layne does it again with this sexy, sassy romantic comedy with all the feels!' Jennifer Probst, New York Times bestselling author 'Utterly charming. With non-stop wit, this feel-good romance pays homage to the old-school rom-coms we all loved so much' RS Grey, USA Today bestselling author 'Layne's best work yet' Rachel Van Dyken, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author 'One beautifully written bundle of fun wit and real emotion' Noelle Adams, New York Times bestselling author 'Lauren Layne's voice sparkles in The Prenup. With its sharp humor, easy banter and toe-curling sexual tension, it's the ultimate LL experience' Jessica Lemmon, bestselling author Want more fun, fresh, flirty and very sexy rom-com? Check out Lauren's Oxford series and don't miss her warm, witty and sexy Wedding Belles series and the I Do, I Don't series, as well as the romantic standalones in the Love Unexpectedly series.
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Reviews

Photo of Maria
Maria@nocturnes
4 stars
Apr 2, 2024

CUTE i think the ending could have been dragged out for a little longer, but i had way too much fun with this so also props to her brother for being the REAL matchmaking genius behind all this

Photo of celene
celene@recluseperformer
3 stars
Jan 23, 2023

3.5

Photo of Jules
Jules@warnymph
1 star
Jan 22, 2023

I wish I could put 0.5

Photo of Sven Test
Sven Test@sven-sg-test-1
4 stars
Aug 31, 2022

I adored Charlotte so freaking much! At the beginning, I wasn't sure I would like her, because she seemed superficial and is very materialistic. But she soon showed me just how wonderful she truly is. My heart kept breaking for her so much 😭 It's not always that a book has me feeling this much (Marriage for One and Breakdown), but I shouldn't have doubted Lauren Layne. I almost didn't pick it up. I'm glad my love LL pushed through! The arrangement was working just fine for everyone until my brother thought it would be hilarious to force us to live under the same roof and prove it in order to get divorced. Until Colin decided he wanted a divorce. The Prenup was filled with easy and light banter. I enjoyed a lot the interactions between Charlotte and Colin. She'd say anything and everything to get that man to at least smile. And Colin was almost always a vault. He'd barely say anything, much less of what he was feeling. It was interesting to see these two come to terms with the fact they were falling one another. One thing I absolutely loved about this novel was the falling in love part. It wasn't force at all. It just came natural from spending time together. It felt genuine! I don't know if this is entirely a romance novel since the romance was barely there but it is still so very enjoyable! Follow Me: Blog ❃ Instagram ❃ Twitter ❃ Bloglovin ❃ Facebook ❃ Goodreads ❃ Pinterest

Photo of val
val@goaskval
4 stars
Aug 24, 2022

** spoiler alert ** ME. SUPER. ENCANTÓ. ESTE. LIBRO. A ver, pensĂ© que estaba en una clase de bloqueo y en mi cabeza pensĂ© que este serĂ­a libro me sacarĂ­a de ahĂ­, pero... subestimĂ© por completo la historia y el impacto que tendrĂ­a en mĂ­. Primero, me declaro fan de las historias chick lit y ahora necesito leer MÁS. Fan de los personajes que van acomodando su vida y al final todo termina super chĂ©vere, y el lugar donde debieron estar desde un principio, y si le suman un poco de romance, pues aĂșn mejor. Charlotte me cayĂł super bien. O sea, podrĂ­a ser todo un "desastre" en algunos momentos, pero me pareciĂł increĂ­ble como ella tuvo esa visiĂłn a los veintiuno de casarse con el mejor amigo de su hermano y tener acceso a su dinero para comenzar con su propio negocio, y no confiarse del dinero o status que tenĂ­an sus padres, sino que ella quiso hacer todo a su manera y crear su propio plan a futuro (Ă­dola, porque yo a mis veintiuno no tengo muy claro que estoy haciendo jeje). Colin por otra parte... no lo sĂ©, capaz necesitĂ© un pov de Ă©l para empatizar con su historia o forma de ser, y me fastidiĂł que no le haya dicho desde el principio a Charlotte que estaba con otra persona, y que por eso querĂ­a el divorcio. Amigo, entiendo que uno no pueda esperar nada de los hombres, pero... un mĂ­nimo de decencia te pido. ÂżCosas que amĂ©? Las escenas de los padres de Charlotte y ella, donde intentaban reconstruir su relaciĂłn, y como ambos le pidieron "disculpas" por no entenderla y quererla encasillar en una vida que no era para ella; pero mi favorita fue la mamĂĄ, porque volĂł hasta California despuĂ©s porque se negaba perder a su hija de nuevo, y le dio el sabio consejo de que uno no tenĂ­a que escapar de sus problemas. QUÉ MUJER. El hermano siendo el culpable del acuerdo prenupcial donde decĂ­an que debĂ­an de vivir juntos porque estaba jugando a ser el casamentero. Super fan, ojalĂĄ hubiera salido mĂĄs en el libro. Charlotte diciĂ©ndole a Colin que si lo deportaban, ella si se hubiese ido con Ă©l a DublĂ­n. Charlotte diciendo que el amor verdadero se trataba de querer ver feliz a la otra persona, y dejando de lado su propia felicidad. Mi niña, creciĂł un montĂłn (a nivel emocional). El discurso que le soltĂł Charlotte al tipo que los estaba investigando me encantĂł. ASÍ SE HACE HERMOSA, ACÁ TE APOYO. y quĂ© risa que ese man luego en su entrevista con Colin lo estuviera mirando feo, o sea literal nadie entendĂ­a las pĂ©simas decisiones que estaba tomando. ÂżColin refiriĂ©ndose a Charlotte como SU mujer? Nah, adiĂłs feminismo. ÂżRazones por las cuales no le di cinco estrellas? El asunto de Rebecca y que la pusieran como una "zorra" por asĂ­ decirlo, con todo el asunto de andar metiĂ©ndose en la cabeza de Charlotte para sacarla del medio, me molestĂł. AdemĂĄs que era incĂłmodo porque era un "triĂĄngulo amoroso" y no podĂ­a emocionarme con las interacciones de Colin y Charlotte porque habĂ­a otra persona en la ecuaciĂłn. El final. O sea, me hubiera gustado leer un par de escenas mĂĄs, un poco de cÓMO SERÍA la dinĂĄmica de verdad entre Colin y Charlotte enamorados. Y si, me gustaron los cinco "epĂ­logos" (a eso se le puede llamar epĂ­logo?), aunque siento que la autora los hizo por hacerlos, y no porque quisiera narrar y describir toda la vaina. Super lindo que hayan tenido su gran boda al final, y que hayan tenido DOS niños. (si eran dos niños nO?). ConfesarĂ© que me quedĂ© esperando el smut, que quizĂĄs no era del todo necesario, pERO la tensiĂłn sexual de esos dos me pareciĂł desperdiciada, ademĂĄs Colin en plan romĂĄntico/hot me dejĂł pensando jeje. MenciĂłn a Kurt o Lewis, quĂ© gente mĂĄs simpĂĄtica.

Photo of shar
shar@judeccardan
4 stars
Aug 21, 2022

charlottecolin supremacy##


LLORE EN EL FINAL TE AMO LAUREN LAYNE
TE AMO CHARLOTTE TE AMO COLIN
AME LOS CINCO EPILOGOS- ARTE

ME FALTO EL POV DE COLIN - TODO ES DOLOR


đŸč What was she expecting?”

“I don’t know. We got into it a little after she saw your photos online. Even more so after she saw some picture on Facebook of the two of us at your mom’s party. I just wish 
 I wish 
 I wish you didn’t look like that,” he says, dropping his hands and giving me an exasperated look.

My lips twitch. “Like what?”

“Shut up,” he says irritably. He flops back on the couch, looking so boyish and out of sorts that I feel myself softening.


đŸč He hesitates, as I knew he would. His starchy moral code won’t let his conscience off Scot-free on that one.

“What’s Upstate?” he asks warily.

“Wide open roads.”

“For what purpose?”

“Oh, I think you already know,” I say, standing up as my number is finally called. But just in case he doesn’t already know, I turn back and give him a wide smile. “I’m going to be the best driving teacher you’ve ever had.”

Colin’s groan follows me all the way to the counter of the DMV.


đŸč “Oooh. I love this song.” I reach out and turn up the music and proceed to show him just how well I know my Madonna lyrics.

“God save me,” he says. “It sings.”

Yes, and passably well, thank you very much. “Open Your Heart” is my all-time favorite Madonna song, so I know every word.

I hold my right fist out in a microphone shape and extend it to Colin, who, shockingly, does not play along, so I bring my “microphone” back to myself and belt out the chorus.

He thumps his head back against the headrest.

“I should have gone with ‘Danny Boy’ after all,” Colin says, raising his voice to be heard over the music.

But I’m pretty sure there’s a slight smile playing around his lips. He can deny it all he wants, but he’s having a good time.

Also, I make a mental note to learn all the words to “Danny Boy.”


đŸč He finally responds, and true to form, it’s with as few words as possible. “You do.”

“I do what?”

He glances over. “Drive me crazy.”

“Good to know,” I say with a laugh, reaching across the car and tugging the steering wheel slightly to bring us back to the right side of the road. “What about the rest of the stuff?”

He exhales and taps his fingers against the steering wheel. “No complaints about my job. I like my wardrobe. And my apartment. Nobody enjoys coffee as much as you do. Yes, I’m angry with your brother too. Does that cover it?”

“What about Rebecca?” I ask, hating how much I want to know the answer to that question.

He hesitates. “What about her?”

“Are you crazy in love?”

“Maybe that’s how you and I are different,” he says slowly. “I don’t believe there should be anything crazy about love.”

“What should love be?” I ask.

“Calm. Comforting. Serene.”

I wrinkle my nose. “Sounds boring.”

But I feel a little pang. Because it sounds kind of nice, too.

And very much out of reach.


đŸč Don’t pretend that you want to stay married to me. Not when it’s just the two of us. And don’t pretend you ever wanted to get married in the first place. It was a business transaction, pure and simple. For both of us.”

He’s right, but in this moment, nothing between us feels businesslike. He’s still got my wrist in a viselike grip. His expression is murderous, and I expect mine is too. We’re both breathing hard, with just a few inches separating us in the back of the cab, and I don’t think it’s my imagination that the tension between us is just slightly tinged with sexual awareness.

Ten years ago, I married a quiet Irish boy who did absolutely nothing to get my blood pumping.

Now, however, I can’t deny that grown-up Colin isn’t just objectively good-looking—he’s fiercely attractive. To me.

His gaze drops to my lips, and I wonder if he feels the pull too. I wonder if he wants to kiss me as badly as I want him to. He releases my wrist abruptly, turning his head away, and making a noise that sounds an awful lot like disgust.


đŸč I move to the other side just as he does the same, so we’re doing that awkward “you go, no, you go” dance.

I let out a laugh, but it’s more of an exhale because I suddenly realize how close we’re standing. I freeze, my eyes lifting to his.

There’s no hint of a smile on his face now, and his eyes seem to burn both bleak and hot as they lock onto mine.

His head dips lower, and I feel his breath on my cheek. “Charlotte.”

“Colin,” I whisper back.

He swallows and eases even closer, his gaze leaving mine to drop to my lips.

His eyes close, but other than that he doesn’t move, his expression as tortured as I feel. “Damn it, Charlotte,” he says on a breath, his voice rough.

My eyes drift closed as I feel his minty breath against my mouth, and even though I know it’s so, so wrong, I will him to kiss me. I send a silent prayer to the heavens to do everything else right in my life to make up for this one wrong moment that I want more than I’ve ever wanted anything.

It feels as though we’re locked in time, not touching, but not moving away from each other either, a million things passing between us that we don’t dare say.

“I can’t,” he whispers, still close enough that I can feel the rejection.

Then he steps back and the air goes colder, my heart growing a little colder with it.

“Goodnight,” he says, his voice rough as he stands a safe, respectable distance away from me.

“Night.” My eyes water as I say it, and I move quickly past him before he can see the tears.

I go to the bedroom. I lie down on the bed.

đŸč His gaze takes its time, seeming to study my every feature before he frowns. “I’m missing something.”

You’re missing a lot of somethings.

“I told you. A little tired, a little headache, a little stress. I just need a bubble bath and a good night’s sleep.”

“All right,” he murmurs. “All right.” And then he steps forward, his hands slipping around my waist and pulling me a little roughly against him.

A hug, I realize, after the jolt of awareness passes. Just kidding, it doesn’t pass. But other things mingle with awareness as he pulls me into an embrace that’s not quite sexual, but not quite platonic either. Want. Longing. Love.

Colin’s arms wrap all the way around my waist, and my arms lift of their own accord to fold behind his head. He lowers his head slowly until his face is tucked into my neck, his breath warm against my skin.

I don’t know what this is. It’s less than a kiss, but it’s also more than a hug, and for a moment something like anger splinters through me that he could be putting a ring on her finger one day, and holding me like this the next.

And though I know I should step back, the selfish part of me who knows my time with him is coming to a rapid end closes my eyes and pulls him closer.

I don’t know how long we stay locked together. Minutes. Hours. Days.

He pulls back slightly and I force my arms to release him, to let him go. But instead of backing away from me, Colin pauses with his mouth just inches from mine, his gaze reflecting my own longing back to me as his gaze drops to my lips.

“Charlotte.” It’s a whisper, a plea.

I can feel his breath on my lips, feel frustrated tension in his body. Our gazes collide and the unspoken yearning in his eyes echoes everything I’m feeling so intensely that I ache from the inside out


đŸč I stop before exiting the kitchen, realizing there’s something that I need to say. I know it’s selfish, but I say it anyway. “Colin.”

“Yes.” His voice is gravelly.

I don’t turn around as I talk—I’m not that brave. “I’d have gone with you. To Ireland. If things tomorrow went badly.”

I’d go anywhere with you.

He says nothing, and I flash him a quick smile over my shoulder to try and lighten the mood. “You know. Hypothetically.”

He doesn’t smile back, but I feel his thoughtful gaze on my back as I turn and head to the bedroom.



đŸč I gasp, but before I can comprehend this, Colin tosses the folder on the dresser and steps closer, his voice a low rasp. “Do you know, when you first moved in, I thought those little pajamas you wore would kill me?”

“You want to talk about my pajamas? Now?”

“Yes, actually I do,” he says softly. “I’ve seen women’s underwear with more material than your pajamas, and I thought nothing could be more torturous.”

Slowly he reaches out and roughly grabs a fistful of my T-shirt, pulling me closer. “I was wrong,” he says on a growl. “Seeing my clothes on you, seeing my wife prance around in my clothes, wanting—needing—to know what was under them. Hating that my clothes could touch her skin in a way I couldn’t 
 that was the real torture.”

The hand not gripping the shirt finds my waist, sliding around to my back.

Under the shirt.

His palm spreads low against my lower back, and we both exhale at the skin-to-skin contact. I close my eyes, terrified this is the world’s most wonderful dream and that my heart will break into a million pieces if I find out it’s not real.

đŸč Colin’s mouth lowers to mine, pausing for a fraction of a second, as though savoring the moment. The first brush of his lips is heaven. The second is ecstasy. The third feels a lot like forever.

And it seems to last forever, and yet not long enough.

“Clear enough for you?” he asks huskily when he pulls back.

“I think I’m starting to understand,” I say on a smile, going to my toes and leaning in for another kiss. He leans back, staying just out of reach, and I open my eyes, ready to protest his withholding of kisses.

My protest dies at the look on his face, one I’ve never seen before, both tender and sure, as though he’s looking at everything he’s ever wanted. Me.

He lifts a hand and brushes back the hair near my face. “I’m in love with you, Charlotte.”

Tears fill my eyes. “You are?”

He nods.


đŸč He holds up a familiar navy box. “You forgot this.”

“I told you, it was too extravagant for the circumstances. I couldn’t—what are you doing?”

He’s holding my left hand, the ring poised at the tip of my fourth finger as his gaze searches mine. “Do you love me, Charlotte?”

His accent’s thicker than usual, his expression both adoring and a little unsure.

I nod emphatically, desperate to reassure him. “I thought you knew. I fell in love with you weeks ago. It was highly inconvenient.”

He gives me a cocky, crooked smile, full of relief and joy. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” I whisper, brushing my lips over his.

“Marry me?” he whispers back. “Properly, this time? You sort of have to, I have half your money.”

I laugh against his lips and nod as he slides the ring onto my finger. “Yes.”



đŸč MIS PUPIS TUVIERON DOS BEBITENS AMO AQUI


We name our first son Danny. He’s nearly two now, and I have yet to not cry when I hear Colin quietly singing “Danny Boy” over the baby monitor.

We name our second son Spencer, as a nod to my maiden name.

Because this time around, we’re Mr. and Mrs. Colin Walsh for real.

💗🧾

Photo of InĂȘs Filipa
InĂȘs Filipa@inesfilipa6
4 stars
Aug 18, 2022

more like 4,5 stars. forced proximity, fake marriage, marriage of convenience... it’s all there!

Photo of Ella Patterson
Ella Patterson@ellapatterson
2 stars
Jul 1, 2022

Kinda meh. There was a lack of depth to the love interest and the relationship, I didn't feel much chemistry between the main characters and it felt aggressively chick lit with the unsatisfying slow burn.

Photo of Nedu
Nedu@nedu
4 stars
Apr 8, 2022

okay this book should have been longer and had more of the last chapter

Photo of Joana Rodrigues
Joana Rodrigues@asomima
5 stars
Sep 3, 2021

THANK YOU LAUREN LAYNE FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR ME. YOU ARE MY BFF

Photo of Genesis (@whisperingchapters)
Genesis (@whisperingchapters)@whisperingchapters
4 stars
Aug 3, 2021

I adored Charlotte so freaking much! At the beginning, I wasn't sure I would like her, because she seemed superficial and is very materialistic. But she soon showed me just how wonderful she truly is. My heart kept breaking for her so much 😭 It's not always that a book has me feeling this much ( Marriage for One and Breakdown), but I shouldn't have doubted Lauren Layne. I almost didn't pick it up. I'm glad my love LL pushed through! The arrangement was working just fine for everyone until my brother thought it would be hilarious to force us to live under the same roof and prove it in order to get divorced. Until Colin decided he wanted a divorce. The Prenup was filled with easy and light banter. I enjoyed a lot the interactions between Charlotte and Colin. She'd say anything and everything to get that man to at least smile. And Colin was almost always a vault. He'd barely say anything, much less of what he was feeling. It was interesting to see these two come to terms with the fact they were falling one another. One thing I absolutely loved about this novel was the falling in love part. It wasn't force at all. It just came natural from spending time together. It felt genuine! I don't know if this is entirely a romance novel since the romance was barely there but it is still so very enjoyable! Follow Me: Blog ❃ Instagram ❃ Twitter ❃ Bloglovin ❃ Facebook ❃ Goodreads ❃ Pinterest

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