Before Jamaica Lane

Review originally posted on Reading Books Like a Boss Before Jamaica Lane has been my favorite behind On Dublin Street so far. Samantha Young writes "falling in love" so well. Nate and Olivia's story was so sweet yet so very sexy at the same time. I cannot wait to read the next one now! I feel like I need to make a little PSA about these books. Each book can be read as a standalone, since it deals with a different couple but I would urge you to read them in order. The main characters, in this book especially, aren't even introduced until middle of Down London Road (book #2), so you may be a bit lost as to who some of these people are. Okay, end of PSA about this series. So we met Olivia in Down London Road. She's Jo's American half-sister. She and her father (who was born and bred in Scotland) have just moved back to Edinburgh to be closer to Jo and her little brother. Olivia was a very relatable character. She has insecurities like most women do and lacks self-confidence in many things, including her love life. In a new city, she is essentially starting over with her career. Armed with a degree in library science and her quick wit, Olivia gets a job at the local university's library. There she meets the man of her dreams, Benjamin, only she's too chicken to actually carry on a conversation with him. Enter Nate, Cam's best friend and resident ladies' man of the group. Nate is known to not stick around one lady too long. He's the jester of the crowd and the over-confident one. He and Olivia bonded really quickly over their mutual love for all things geeky. The book picks up quite some time after Down London Road ends. Nate and Olivia are best friends and have confided in each about things they haven't told other people. Olivia decides she wants to learn how to date and seduce a guy so she asks Nate to teach her how to do sexy right. *claps hands* This is a recipe for all kinds of blurred lines. And boy do things get blurry. I LOVED NATE AND OLIVIA! And I love this type of trope. It's in the same vein of On Dublin Street and I thought this book was done really well for the most part. Nate and Olivia were friends first and lovers later and I loved seeing the feelings develop between the both of them. My main complaint with this book was that I thought the back and forth between Nate and Olivia went on a bit long towards the end. It was so obvious to the reader that they were head over heels. There was no question, so I tired of their shenanigans. 3.5 stars *I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Samantha Young is one of my absolute favorite authors. I'm enjoying this series so much!! I just love this group of friends. I'm gonna be so sad once I'm done with all the books but I know I'll always come back!!

God I don't know why it took so long for me to read this book!!! I devoured this book in a matter of hours a-freakin-mazing, another home run in the series. Now I'm even more excited than I was before for the next book.

I loved this book & all the books in this series. It's a great read & I look forward to the next one.

Samantha Young does not disappoint her fans with this latest book Before Jamaica Lane!! Olivia and Nate story pulled me in the moment I started read it. It was both funny and sexy and I look forward to reading more. Great Job!!

Another amazing read from a fantastic series! I may even have loved Nate's and Olivia's story more than Joss and Braden's- although I love keeping in touch with all of the characters throughout each new book. I can't wait for Hannah's story this June!

This book was so beautiful! I absolutely love Olivia and Nate's relationship. How Nate helped Liv to overcome her insecurities, making her feel as beautiful as she was supposed to feel. A must read! One of my favorites :)

Such a beautiful love story one of true friendship and love great chemistry between the characters and just brilliant

My FAVORITE of the Dublin Street series!! The chemistry between Nate and Olivia is electrifying!! The innocence of Liv and Nate's sexual knowledge and "willingness" to help out a friend leaves you unable to put the book down! I'd love to have a friend like Nate!!

I read every day. Some books get to the point where I just skim over chapters to get through the boring stuff. Not this book. I did not want to miss a word. Liv and Nate's love is the type of love that everyone wants to have. I can relate to this book, I got to marry my own sexy best friend.