REVIEW – Someone Like You (Oxford #3) by Lauren Layne

Someone Like You (Oxford #3)
by Lauren Layne
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Lauren Layne’s bestselling Oxford Series continues with the poignant, heartwarming story of New York’s most eligible bachelor, Lincoln Mathis, a man who’s living a lie—until his dream woman takes away the pain.

Lincoln Mathis doesn’t hide his reputation as Manhattan’s ultimate playboy. In fact, he cultivates it. But behind every flirtatious smile, each provocative quip, there’s a secret that Lincoln’s hiding from even his closest friends—a tragedy from his past that holds his heart quietly captive. Lincoln knows what he wants: someone like Daisy Sinclair, the sassy, off-limits bridesmaid he can’t take his eyes off at his best friend’s wedding. He also knows that she’s everything he can never have.

After a devastating divorce, Daisy doesn’t need anyone to warn her off the charming best man at her sister’s wedding. One look at the breathtakingly hot Lincoln Mathis and she knows that he’s exactly the type of man she should avoid. But when Daisy stumbles upon Lincoln’s secret, she realizes there’s more to the charming playboy than meets the eye. And suddenly Daisy and Lincoln find their lives helplessly entwined in a journey that will either heal their damaged souls . . . or destroy them forever.

Review:

I have been patiently waiting for Lincoln’s book since I fell head over heels in love with him in The Trouble With Love (Emma & Cassidy).  I couldn’t wait to see how his story played out, and while I had a few guesses, I never once grasped how emotionally challenging Lincoln’s story would be.  Someone Like You is definitely LL’s most emotionally intense book!  It’s weighted perfectly though, since moments of lightness can be found in Daisy’s disposition, their friends popping into their lives, and the scenes where Daisy and Lincoln bonded.  But the heavier, darker moments, I wasn’t mentally prepared for.  Please know that I usually adore stories like this, but I read this while I watched someone I love slowly pass away.  So while I thought I was stepping into smiling, laughter and banter, what I got was something entirely different.  And while that’s not necessarily bad, it was too hard for me.  So please take my rating with a grain of salt since Someone Like You was too emotionally gutting for me to handle during this time in my life.  

Not once did he reach for the toilet paper. Not once did he spill a tear.
He was too broken for that.

As I said, I fell for Lincoln back in the Stiletto Series.  He was known for being a player and entirely addicting.  He was seen as some type of legend, since the woman still loved him even after they hooked up with him, and he would move onto someone else.  I was more than intrigued!  And while he had let a hint of his true self show a time or two, I never had a good grasp of who Lincoln truly was.  Until now.  And Lincoln broke my heart.  His past and present were beyond depressing.  The secret in his life, if you want to call it that, oh my gosh it hurt so much to see what he was going through.  Lincoln was gutted and tortured.  He was broken.  And I desperately wanted him to get a happily ever after!

“Why not Daisy?” Lincoln asked, before he could stop himself.
“Because she’s just as damaged as you are,” Cassidy said quietly.

We met Daisy back in the Stiletto Series too, since she is Emma’s twin.  Remember Emma and Cassidy – he stood her up at the altar and then years later he was her temporary boss and he made her write an article on her exes.  Well Daisy had quite a few scenes in Emma’s book.  Ironically though, I never had a good grasp on her either, just like Lincoln.  While she came across as this sweet southern belle who had some sass, it always felt as though there was something lurking below her surface.  That she was hiding something.  And oh yeah, she was!  While her pain is entirely different from Lincoln’s, it’s still horrific life changing pain, just like his.

Lincoln opened the closet door and pulled out her pink dress.
“I hung it up!” she said in surprise.
He lifted a teasing eyebrow.
“Or you hung it up,” she amended, fresh embarrassment running anew.
“If it makes you feel better, I turned my back while you stripteased your way out it.”
Daisy let out a horrified laugh. “I did not.”
“I can’t say for sure, what with my back turned and all, but there was quite a bit of humming of what seemed to be Britney Spears.”
Daisy groaned into the coffee. “If this mug were bigger, I’d try to drown myself.”

So watching them together, they were two peas in a pod.  Their friendship felt natural and the progression it took seemed realistic.  I loved that they became each others confidants.  I loved that they created such a strong bond in such a short amount of time, and I loved the heat that you felt between them.  It was so refreshing seeing a solid friendship that was based on trust.  

“Lincoln, you know that I love you like a brother, but if you make a move on my sister, I will end you.” – Emma to Lincoln

Oh my goodness, I was so giddy catching up on everyone’s lives from the previous Stiletto and Oxford books!  The surprises?!  *soooo good!!!*  And I absolutely adored Lincoln’s dog, Kiwi.  She was so cute in the scenes where she graced us with her presence.  So if you’re a Stiletto and Oxford fan, I do believe that you’ll truly love Lincoln’s story!  Just make sure to pick it up when you’re not going through something too dark and depressing, or else you could struggle and sob hysterically at times like me.  

*ARC kindly provided by Random House Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers) & iBooks (click on titles) ***Each book can be read as a standalone, but best enjoyed in order.***
Irresistibly Yours #1 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	I Wish You Were Mine #2 Reviews: Jen	Someone Like You #3 Reviews: Jen Chelsea
I Knew You Were Trouble #4 Reviews: Jen	I Think I Love You #5 Reviews: Jen

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