Name: Coralie | she/her's review of My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren
Item: My Favorite Half-Night Stand
Rating: 3
Author: Coralie | she/her

Christina Lauren

By the New York Times bestselling author who “hilariously depicts modern dating” (Us Weekly), My Favorite Half-Night Stand is a laugh-out-loud romp through online dating and its many, many fails. Millie Morris has always been one of the guys. A UC Santa Barbara professor, she’s a female-serial-killer expert who’s quick with a deflection joke and terrible at getting personal. 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, Mille 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. But online dating isn’t for the faint of heart. While the guys are inundated with quality matches and potential dates, 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. Perfect for fans of Roxanne and She’s the Man, Christina Lauren’s latest romantic comedy is full of mistaken identities, hijinks, and a classic love story with a modern twist. Funny and fresh, you’ll want to swipe right on My Favorite Half-Night Stand.

My Favorite Half-Night Stand

Coralie | she/her

Jennifer Gosnell

** spoiler alert **
           I normally love Christina Lauren’s books, but this was such a miss for me. It lacked chemistry and the whole cat-fishing thing was really cringe and bothersome. I just don’t understand how they could bounce back from this scenario. Way too awkward. Hard to finish.

Deborah Mabilde

I will admit that at first I doubted this book a bit - I don’t usually like “message app” narratives, find them a bit boring actually. But since this was a recommendation from Sally Thorne herself 💕 I decided to give it a go. And I sure didn’t regret it.
Millie and Reid are our main protagonists, but the authors really don’t make it look like theirs is the only plot that matters, nor do they ignore the personalities and lives of their other three best friends - Chris, Ed and Alex. They have a bit of a Friends’ dynamic, which brings a comedy aspect to the book. 
I highly identified with Millie, because of her adoration of crime stories, and difficulties to emotionally connect. Reid is also a very likable character, being a hot nerd. 
Basically, if you like non-conventional romantic comedies that DO end up in happy endings, I think this book is for you!

Kenzi Linton

4.5/5 stars. If I didn’t find myself uncomfortable reading some parts of the book, it would definitely be 5/5 stars as the entire story was well done.

There doesn’t seem to be a book by this duo that doesn’t do it for me. 

I read this so quickly and enjoyed every second of it. 

I love a good friend group, and I wouldn’t mind having more books about this group. 

Sarah Campbell

There doesn’t seem to be a book by this duo that doesn’t do it for me. 

I read this so quickly and enjoyed every second of it. 

I love a good friend group, and I wouldn’t mind having more books about this group. 



Samantha Huster

This one wasn't my favorite. These characters just felt kind of two dimensional to me. Still well-written as I've come to expect from this writing duo, but it lacks that emotional connection that I love so much about their cast in books.

Easily the sweetest Christina Lauren book I’ve read so far. I read it in one sitting in about 5 hours. Could not put it down. 

Alyssa deRaad

julie reads

Along with Alex, Chris, and Ed, Reid Campbell and Millie Morris have been friends for years.  An upcoming event makes them all decide that they need to find a "plus one," leading them to use an online dating service.  Millie decides to use an alias in her profile and finds herself matched with Reid.  Without him knowing, she ends up corresponding with him, opening herself up in a way that she never has before.  Millie's biggest fear and hope is that Reid will realize who he is talking to because the longer her charade goes on, the tougher it is to tell him.

My Favorite Half-Night Stand is a textbook example of the "friends-to-lovers" and "hiding secrets" tropes.  Millie's character is tough to like because of her lack of honesty, even with friends, as well as her fear of showing emotions to others.  The fact that her sister has to practically beg Millie for help makes her seem ungrateful and shallow.  Her groveling by the end does somewhat make up for these negative traits but not completely.  However, there are several positives aspects to this book, including quite a bit of humor, unique friends, and cute icons used during the online chats.  Overall, My Favorite Half-Night Stand has some negative elements, but in general, the story is an entertaining and enjoyable read.

Lynn Braden

Along with Alex, Chris, and Ed, Reid Campbell and Millie Morris have been friends for years.  An upcoming event makes them all decide that they need to find a "plus one," leading them to use an online dating service.  Millie decides to use an alias in her profile and finds herself matched with Reid.  Without him knowing, she ends up corresponding with him, opening herself up in a way that she never has before.  Millie's biggest fear and hope is that Reid will realize who he is talking to because the longer her charade goes on, the tougher it is to tell him.

My Favorite Half-Night Stand is a textbook example of the "friends-to-lovers" and "hiding secrets" tropes.  Millie's character is tough to like because of her lack of honesty, even with friends, as well as her fear of showing emotions to others.  The fact that her sister has to practically beg Millie for help makes her seem ungrateful and shallow.  Her groveling by the end does somewhat make up for these negative traits but not completely.  However, there are several positives aspects to this book, including quite a bit of humor, unique friends, and cute icons used during the online chats.  Overall, My Favorite Half-Night Stand has some negative elements, but in general, the story is an entertaining and enjoyable read.

Faith Kitowski

so freaking cute. ugh. i literally loved their friend group. it was so wholesome. normally i’m not a huge fan of friends to lovers but this was good!

Sarah Pino

Monique Nagel

Christina Lauren never disappoints. I really enjoyed this book.

In a reading slump? Read a Christina Lauren book.
In the mood for something witty? Read a Christina Lauren book.
In the mood for some spice? Read a Christina Lauren book.
In the mood to read a romcom in one sitting? You guessed it, read a Christina Lauren book.

menna

maybe 2.5.
I had a lot of issues with the main characters and i was pissed at them most of the story. I'm usually a sucker for the friends-to-lovers trope but I didn't enjoy this one at all. It felt like a bad version of Josh and Hazel's guide to not dating.
I wanted to see more information on the side characters and a little more personal look at their lives and I wanted more of Millie's job because come on female serial killers? That is interesting, too bad it wasn't mentioned except maybe twice

dija

Most of the romances I've read this year has been a 4~5 stars read for me.....Should i be afraid of what awaits for me next year or??

This one was good! It's a best friend to lovers (with grownass adults I LOVE IT) they're just so cute and Millie's obsession with serial killers makes me feel less weird
And THEY ACTUALLY HAVE FRIENDS A CIRCLE AND THEYRE A PART OF THE ACTUAL BOOK i would've never hoped to have such a thing in a romance!!

celene

4.7 i was really hesitant starting this bc of the catfishing thing anyway,,,

considering that they’re smart people, they’re kinda dumb in the love life department hahaha jk (or am i ;) xD) 
i was like freaking dreading the catfishing part and bc i was kinda expecting that it would be freaking messy drama i mean ???!!! wheew thank goodness it wasn’t

 but i gotta admit they’re great together they suit each other well #uwu but there are some parts im like ‘wow,,,guys,, well that was a dumb move guys,,, just be honest with each other just say what u wanna say and what u truly feel ???! and just be together and have beautiful babies i guess and maybe adopt me!!??!’ lol k bye

millie is just,,,, (let me cry a little bit mygoodness),,, she made me cry bc how i related to her i was like ‘wow this makes sense’ ‘wow hard same sis :(((‘ her vulnerable moments were just really relatable makes u wanna hug the shiz out of her

and the tender moments of the MCs :(( im always a sucker for small intimate and tender moments that brings the MCs closer emotionally and romantically and makes me teary-eyed bc it’s so precious u know im like ‘yup u got me’

Jasmine

First Christina Lauren book I've never been super eager to check out their books mostly because the storylines always from the description seem pretty generic and in general never grabbed my attention. I don't know if this was better than what I imagined or about the same because it was easy to get into and had likable characters. I loved the friend group and some of the relationship build up but in the end, it was sadly pretty underwhelming. There were some good relatable parts about being closed off and not letting people in, which I quite liked seeing in a main character, even if it leads to her catfishing her best friend. If the storyline interested me enough I would probably pick up one of their books again because I did have some fun reading this but this just felt like something was missing.

Lyric Hooey

2.5 ⭐️ This was okay! It felt a little rushed in parts, including character development, and a lot of it could have just been solved with some simple communication.

Katie Tuggle

I related to Millie a lot and I felt like I just really connected with the book. It was so good and I would definitely read it all over again.

I wish we could see more of the other guys' romances, especially between Chris and Reid's sister!(view spoiler)[ I understand why Reid was angry at Mellie for what she did but idk he was angry for too long like come on broo its been a month and she's emotionally stunted!!  (hide spoiler)]

Jennifer Eggleston 

Nerds in Love 3.5 stars

An enjoyable read. The characters, Millie and Reid, were cute and you rooted for a HEA. 

I recognized myself in the heroine, Millie, and it kind of hit home some personal truths. 

This is friends to lovers story .... or maybe friends that were in love from the go but didn’t realize and this is their story. 

Should I decide to do online dating again can Christina Lauren help me write a bio ... just sayin.

sophia n

realistically 3 stars but this gets a whole extra star because i laughed out loud multiple times while reading fhdkhdjdfk

Gisela Ayala 

This book was pretty good! I don’t really have much to complain about, except that it was pretty predictable. It was a cute, feel good story and a quick read.

Jess Aden

Demi

I ADORED EVERY SINGLE SECOND OF THIS!!!

I could honestly go on and on and write such a long over complicated review of how much I loved this book but I’ll keep it short and sweet just like this book.

The storyline is real, cute, funny, lovable and it does such an amazing job at representing the realistic struggles and nerves of online dating. All of the characters are well written, complex, yet easy to comprehend, and funny. The friendships were so real and wholesome it truly makes you feel so many warm things. The relationship is so undeniably lovable and you want them to be together from the very first chapter.

Overall, if you love rom com new adult romance stories you will love this. Another absolutely spectacular piece of work from Christiana Lauren that makes me need to immediately go read more of her work!

Mon aventure sans lendemain...favorite ! " Cette comédie romantique pleine de confusions d'identité et de frasques, raconte avec modernité, une histoire d'amour classique, drôle et fraîche, qui offre une perspective originale et sexy sur les rencontres digitales. " – Publishers Weekly Millie Morris, professeur, comme ses quatre meilleurs amis et collègues à l'université de Santa Barbara, est une célibataire endurcie. Après une aventure d'un soir avec Reid, l'un des membres du groupe, Millie crée un profil en utilisant son deuxième prénom " Catherine ", une photo qui ne dévoile pas son visage, et le retrouve sur l'application en ligne. Les deux amis se lancent alors dans une relation sexuelle et romantique inattendue dans le royaume digital qui menace de détruire leur amitié dans la vie réelle. La narration alternée, en prose pour la majeure partie du roman, se conjugue avec textos, chats de groupe et messages échangés via l'application, qui s'invitent dans l'univers de Millie, Reid et ses amis, laissant entrevoir l'évolution originale et sexy de la romance et vous donnera envie de swiper !

My favorite half night stand

Léa

C’était TROP BIEN ! 
J’ai eu un coup de coeur pour l’écriture, c’était drôle ! Je me suis tellement attachée aux personnages ! 
Je crois que j’ai définitivement trouvé le genre de romance qui me plait : la romance adulte ! Avec du spicy oui mais aussi et surtout avec des personnages plus matures, des réactions plus concrètes, des relations plus réalistes et des problèmes auxquels l’identification est possible ! 
J’ai dévoré ce livre en une seule journée et j’ai hâte de lire d’autres livres de la même autrice ! 
Et, Ed = mon personnage favori de ce bouquin ♥️

3/5
Trigger warnings: catfishing ; loss of a loved one in the past ; talk of cancer ; diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease

Sadly, this book was quite a "meh" for me. I liked the idea. Really. A quirky female character, with an obsession for female serial killers and an inability to get emotional around people. Even her best friends. Oh, and did I mentioned that all of her friends are men? Like, four incredibly kind and funny guys. Clearly, Millie had everything to make me love her. That may be the reason why I'm that disappointed. Because I loved her, at first, but got totally disappointed by her character after that. I simply couldn't understand WHY she started this masquerade. I understand she has issues (I found myself in some of them) but this part I just couldn't understand. So yeah, that kind of tainted my appreciation of the story.
On the other hand, I absolutely loved the four guys! Reid was a sweetie, and I definitely want to discover Ted, Alex and Chris' stories. I hope they'll all have their own book in the future!

Coralie | she/her &
My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren

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Coralie | she/her &My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren

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Coralie | she/her &
My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren