Audiobook Review: Dirty Headlines by L.J. Shen

Dirty Headlines by L.J. Shen
Published by Audible Studios on September 4, 2018
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Jacob Morgan, Grace Grant
Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins
Genres: Romance, Romantic Comedy


Amazon Audible

From bestselling author L.J. Shen, comes a new standalone, enemies-to-lovers romance.

Célian Laurent. Manhattan royalty. Notorious playboy. Heir to a media empire. ...And my new boss.

I could have impressed him, if not for last month's unforgettable one-night stand. I left it with more than orgasms and a pleasant memory--namely, his wallet. Now he's staring me down like I'm the dirt under his Italian loafers, and I'm supposed to take it. But the thing about being Judith "Jude" Humphry is I have nothing to lose. Brooklyn girl. Infamously quirky. Heir to a stack of medical bills and a tattered couch. When he looks at me from across the room, I see the glint in his eyes, and that makes us rivals. He knows it. So do I. Every day in the newsroom is a battle. Every night in his bed, war. But it's my heart at stake, and I fear I'll be raising the white flag.

Dirty Headlines showcases a softer side to L.J. Shen’s writing, and I liked it. A lot. I swear she’s one of the OG creators of truly despicable alphaholes. Shen’s enemies-to-lovers stories are typically dark, filled with a massive amount of tension and hatred between the lead characters, and yet deliciously addictive. Truthfully, she’s the only author who can make me fall for a character who is virtually unredeemable (Case in point: Vicious). Dirty Headlines manages to keep the alphahole, the feisty underdog heroine, the push and pull, but adds lots of fun.

Célian is kind of a calculating douche, but you get the feeling that there’s a reason behind his intimidation tactics and emotional distance. He’s filthy rich, but he doesn’t come across as obnoxiously entitled. It’s obvious early on that he really does have a heart.

Jude is a breath of fresh air with her Chucks of many colors, devotion to her dad, sharp mind, strong work ethic, and her apathy toward expensive things. She can go toe-to-toe with Célian, and it’s wonderful to cheer her on each time she stands up to him at work. When they’re in the bedroom, though, Jude relinquishes power and Célian practically burns the place to the ground with their hot chemistry.

Humor is not something I expect to find in an L.J. Shen book, but it’s abundant in this story. The wacko supporting characters, as well as the banter between Célian and just about everyone in the book, had me smiling hard. The story has more than a hint of unpredictability, which I loved.

The audio does justice to the book. Jacob Morgan’s deep baritone voice and blasé delivery are spot on for Célian. Grace Grant oozes vulnerability and optimism as Jude. Both narrators are entertaining and charming, turning in A+ performances.

Recommended for fans of:
Enemies-to-lovers stories
Chucks
Journalism
Crazy exes

Buy Dirty Headlines

Audible | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA

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