Reviews

The Bangover by Lili Valente

phoebesaylors's review against another edition

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4.0

cute funny story

This was a cute story. Made me laugh out loud. I really ate it up and enjoyed it. Great writing, great banter.

amcinnis's review against another edition

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4.0

Colin's a rockstar and Kirby's an author. They've been best friends for 15 years and now they're "kissing friends". After drinking a bit too much, they start making out. They decide to take an impromptu trip to Vegas because what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right? They run into Colin's Ex Regina. The trip goes disastrously but it's quite an adventure! This book was a great palette cleanser read between some heavier books.

wellreadromance's review against another edition

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4.0

Best Friends to Lovers!

What happens when a rock star has writer's block? He swears off sex.
But what happens when he kisses his best friend? They decide to go to Vegas for a Bangover before he locks himself in the studio.

I thought Kirby was hilarious and quirky - a well known writer with a penchant for vampire clowns and a cat named Murder.

Colin sounds like a great friend and turns out to be just what Kirby needs!

The Bangover had everything - steamy scenes, great friends, and a shocking separation via a coffin.

If you enjoy Friends to Lovers with Romantic Comedy mixed in, I totally recommend The Bangover - because what happens in Vegas stays there right?

kippins's review against another edition

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3.0

I’m torn

celaena007's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

bookishnerdyandcurious's review against another edition

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5.0

I accidentally stumbled upon the prequel ([b: Friends With BANG-i-fits|47902260|Friends With BANG-i-fits|Lili Valente|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566720145l/47902260._SX50_.jpg|73056086]) for this book as an audio extra on the [b: Hitched|23150730|Hitched (Hitched #1)|Alex Lux|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1431883792l/23150730._SY75_.jpg|42698414] audiobook and fell in love with the novella about these two friends who start to realize their relationship is changing, but ultimately do what's best for them at the time. I was so gutted when it ended, not just because I love me a good HEA (that novella was definitely a HFN), but because I wanted more. The end hinted at an event that would take place three years later... but I had no clue that meant there was a book coming out. If I had stopped to think about it, I might have looked it up, heh. When this book came up in my Kindle recommendations, I clicked to look at it because it's a Lili Valente book - and aside from that one book that was put in time out for 4 weeks (it eventually was fine), Lili has never let me down. She's that one-click author for me - I don't care if something is available in KU, I want to own it. (This is not available in KU, but it's a good example.) Reading the blurb, I realized that this was the follow-up to the novella I haven't been able to get out of my head and immediately preordered it!

Kirby and Colin have been friends since high school. Kirby has grown up to become a popular horror author with a fan following of a series that she's just ended and some of those fans are. Not. Happy. Colin is the lead singer of a rock band and he's suffering from some serious writers block. His band has got to put out their third album and he can't come up with anything. No inspiration at all. In a drunken night hanging out at Kirby's place he decides that he needs to be celibate to write... but that he should have one last bang-filled week before he buckles down. Kirby admits that she hasn't been with anyone since her last relationship ended months before and they drunkenly decide that they're going to Vegas to change their relationship to friends who bang. The problem? They both have been harboring feelings for each other for years - will the friends who bang situation work? Especially when Colin's ex shows up at the hotel, determined to hook him again? When Kirby goes missing, will Colin admit his feelings about her to everyone? Will Kirby admit hers toward Colin?

Yes, those are a lot of questions, but there are others that have to do with plot points that I'm not willing to ask...



Technically, while you don't have to read/listen to Friends with BANG-i-fits before reading The Bangover, it does help. There are a few throwbacks to it and it sets the story of Kirby and Colin. If you couldn't tell, I LOVED this book. Like total heart-eyes emoji love. Ratings-wise, this definitely clocks in at a hard R: the sex is amazingly hot (as you might expect from these friends who have been in love with each other for years) - but it's not the total plot.

After I preordered this book, I saw that the next book, Bang Theory was also available to preorder... and I did. The next book features Kirby's little sister and the drummer of Colin's band - and a couple of small hints were dropped in this one about their relationship. So excited!

laneylegz's review

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emotional funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Kirby (author) & Colin (rock star)  have been best friends for 15 years & decide to test out friends with bang a fits since they are both single.  A wild weekend in Vegas cements them together further with wild sex, adventure, & a life and death situation.  Breezy, fun fast read and the characters were engaging along with supporting cast of the little sister and band mates.  Great story with their years of friendship seguing into the next step of sex and exploring that side of each other. I will continue this series

djl456's review

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

mrsbsbooks's review

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5.0

**My thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

This book is SO damn funny and is a friends to lovers story with such a comedy of errors along with a little mystery thrown in.

Kirby otherwise known as Larry to her best friend Colin is a horror writer and agrees to go to Vegas with her friend in order to help him get over his writers block before he abstains from sex until he can write a new album for his band. However their drunken discussion leads to a reality that both of them cannot imagine.

After a drunken kiss with Kirby, Colin sees his friend in a new light. In Vegas a run into his ex-girlfriend has him chasing around Vegas with Kirby in tow, however when they finally seal their friends with benefits, bad things start to happen and poor Colin has to fight to find Kirby.

I really enjoyed this book and the connection that the pair have together was brilliant. I also really loved the addition of Kirby's cat Murder who certainly added something to the story. I am really hoping that we get other books for the rest of the members of the band along with Kirby's sister Bridget.

lisa_me's review

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5.0

Colin is a rock star and Kirby is a best-selling author in the horror genre. They've been best friends since high school, secretly attracted to each other. But they've never done anything about it...until now. They drunkenly decide to go to Vegas for a week of sex, then go back to being friends.

From here, the story is a little different than the blurb. Yes, there's an evil ex. But Kirby is also receiving threats from someone, and Colin and Kirby are being stalked. They don't get to have their week of fun. The book turns into a romantic suspense.
***
I loved this book. I loved Colin and Kirby, and I'm a sucker for rock stars who can afford anything and get recognized wherever they go. And Colin is one of the good guys--he's not into drugs and women. He's from a small town and in love with his best friend. Kirby is an angel with a twisted creativity.

There's a lot of humor, but there's also suspense.

I have a book hangover from this one.