I Knew You Were Trouble

By Lauren Layne

I Knew You Were Trouble - Lauren Layne
  • Release Date: 2017-06-13
  • Genre: Contemporary Romance
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 413 Ratings

Description

USA TODAY BESTSELLER • New York City’s hottest bachelors are stirring up trouble in this fun, flirty Oxford Novel, as a love triangle forces a feisty beauty to choose between winning back Mr. Right or giving in to Mr. Wrong.

Taylor Carr has it all—a sleek job in advertising, a stunning Manhattan apartment, and the perfect man to share it with: Bradley Calloway. Even after Bradley dumps her for a co-worker on move-in day, Taylor isn’t worried. She’ll get her man eventually. In the meantime, she needs a new roommate. Enter Nick Ballantine, career bartender, freelance writer—and longtime pain in Taylor’s ass. Sexy in a permanent five-o’clock-shadow kind of way, Nick knows how to push Taylor’s buttons, as if he could see right through to the real her.

Nick’s always trying to fix people, and nobody could use a good fixing more than Taylor. Sure, she’s gorgeous, with mesmerizing silver eyes, but it’s her vulnerability that kills him. Now that they’re shacking up together, the chemistry is out of control. Soon they’re putting every part of their two-bedroom apartment to good use. Then Taylor’s ex comes crawling back to her, and Nick figures she’ll jump at the chance to go back to her old life—unless he fights for the best thing that ever happened to him.

Praise for I Knew You Were Trouble


“Lauren Layne is one of a handful of authors that can break your heart, while keeping you smiling the whole time.”—I Love Romance (five stars)

“It is a fun and flirty battle of the sexes that will leave you giddy over the sheer romance of falling in love.”—All About Romance

Lauren Layne’s New York Times bestselling Oxford Novel series can be read in any order:
IRRESISTIBLY YOURS
I WISH YOU WERE MINE
SOMEONE LIKE YOU
I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE
I THINK I LOVE YOU

Don’t miss any of Lauren Layne’s hot reads:

The Love Unexpectedly series: BLURRED LINES | GOOD GIRL | LOVE STORY | WALK OF SHAME | AN EX FOR CHRISTMAS

The Sex, Love & Stiletto series: AFTER THE KISS | LOVE THE ONE YOU’RE WITH | JUST ONE NIGHT | THE TROUBLE WITH LOVE

The Redemption series: ISN’T SHE LOVELY  | BROKEN | CRUSHED

The I Do, I Don’t series: READY TO RUN | RUNAWAY GROOM

Includes an excerpt from another Loveswept title.

Reviews

  • Love!

    5
    By Jcvj5
    I was confused at first thinking that maybe 3 and 4 should have put in opposite order but after looking at the chapter titles I realized I just wasn’t paying attention. 🤦‍♀️ LL, not surprised that I love this book since I’ve loved ALL THE ONES BEFORE. My new favorite author!
  • Loved

    5
    By kingdirtydan
    This was definitely my favorite book from the stiletto/Oxford series, I loved Taylor and Nick from the moment they introduced them. Lauren Layne definitely did not disappoint, I loved the story of this novel it was not what I expected but I sure loved it!
  • Great story!

    5
    By Cermak00
    Fun, sexy and emotional! I highly suggest this book!
  • Soooo good

    5
    By Love+Read
    LL you DO NOT disappoint. Just the right of chemistry with an amazing consumption. Loved it! Will (like all the Oxford series) read again! PS. Please don't end the series! I want to read Hunter and Brit's story!
  • Fun, witty dialogue coupled with fantastic writing makes this book a must read!

    4
    By Nightbird Novels
    The day Taylor Carr meets Nick Ballantine it is hate at first sight. Someone who is such a jerk just shouldn’t be that good looking. But when a moment of weakness leads to a slight softening of her strong anti-Nick feelings, she and her nemesis discover they might not hate each other so much after all. Nick isn’t a commit-to-the-9-to-5 type of guy. If people (ahem, Taylor) think he is juvenile for his less-than-stable career, then she can go on thinking what she wants. Luckily, while being in the right place at the right time, Nick uses an awkward moment to get as close to Taylor as he could possibly get… as new roommates. When Taylor and Nick start to spend real time together, and start to see past their mutual first impressions, will they finally realize they want to be with the other, or will their time ever be right? This was another lovely Lauren Layne book! What starts out as a slow burn, love/hate storyline, develops into tentative friends, roommates, and eventually… more? Taylor and Nick both realize they are attracted and interested in each other, but with their bad first impression coupled with their mutual relationships, they just never seem they will ever be in the right place. I absolutely love the Stiletto and Oxford series, and this book, while set in the Oxford series almost feels like the start of a new series on its own. We were introduced to Nick and Taylor previously, and I am so glad that we got their story! As usual I loved all the characters! We got very small glimpses into some of the original Oxford men, and I loved Taylor’s friendship with Daisy and Brit! Fun, witty dialogue coupled with fantastic writing makes this book a must read! I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.
  • Hackles

    4
    By 2kasmom
    This book is #4, in the incredible Oxford series. This book can be read as a standalone novel. For reader understanding and enjoyment, I recommend reading this series in order. From the time Taylor & Nick met, they were like oil and water. They occasional had to work together. They had mutual friends. It was all they could do not to kill one another, some days. Nick has been attracted to Taylor from the very moment they met. Taylor would claim the same, if forced to do so. Their timing never seemed to click. Until one day.... This series is just phenomenal! Gets better and better with each story. I loved these characters. I loved that they did not want to be attracted to - or even like one another. It felt very real. Easy to read with a great HEA. I give this book a 4/5 Kitty's Paws UP! ***This early copy was given in exchange for an honest review by Netgalley and its publishers.
  • Highly recommend

    5
    By TJuarez
    I absolutely love it!!! Amazing book it took me less than 24 hrs to read it. It was so good i couldn't stop reading. Great book nothing else to say.
  • Love it

    5
    By ryryzbeauty
    I absolutely love it! It was love hate relationship. I would definitely recommend I to anyone. I hope there will be a hunter book next. He deserves one.
  • It’s not easy to pick a favorite couple in this mix – but this was a Lauren Layne book – meant to te

    4
    By glhince
    From the start, I’ve always enjoyed the interplay between the characters of Oxford and Stiletto, and this novel brought plenty of moments from old favorites back for interactions. Fast paced dialogue, clever twists and a touch of static electricity from the attraction between Nick and Taylor will steam up your ereader, just before you find yourself laughing with another quip or smart-aleck comment. Taylor is a bit difficult to get to know – she’s a hedgehog with all its prickles out: hurt before and sure that it meant she’ unlovable, she’s not particularly open to a relationship, particularly when it will end badly: and she knows it will. Yeah, she was a bit melodramatic where she and the thought of relationships are concerned, and meeting Nick just set all of her red flags waving. The connection sparked between them like lightning, and she felt it – and was scared by it. And then discouraged as the timing just wasn’t right. But Nick – oh goodness – a bartender and freelance journalist with Oxford is just adorable – and patient, curious, friendly and not able to hide the fact that he wants more from Taylor than just friendship. And, when the time is right, he’s willing to take that chance. He likes her spunk, her loyalty and determination and the friendships that she’s made – she’s not incapable of a relationship, she’s just scared. And he realizes it – and sets out to plan his way into her life. Oh this was cute, and despite a few minor bumps in the road, mostly lighthearted and feel-good summer reading. As a reader, we get to see both perspectives on the budding relationship, and see that Nick is just what Taylor needs, even as she is doing her best to run him a merry chase. But, when she takes that chance – OH THE STEAM….. it was slow to fire up – but then you need ice, hoses and plenty of water! It’s not easy to pick a favorite couple in this mix – but this was a Lauren Layne book – meant to tease you almost as much as it pleases. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
  • When trouble walked in ...

    4
    By VIP's Assistant
    Why can't I work for a company like Oxford or Stiletto? Why can't I work where all the men are hot and all the women wicked smart and witty? That's the problem with Lauren Layne's Oxford series. You want to inhabit this world. In this purported final installment, we spend time with Nick and Taylor, a hate-at-first-sight couple. Or rather, they are a hate-that-I'm-attracted-to-you couple. Taylor earns herself a sweet job working in advertising for Oxford, where her boss is the goldenly handsome Bradley. She knows he's interested in her, but there is something about Nick. Yeah, he's full of smirks and confidence, but she is drawn to him. Yet she agrees to date Bradley. One of my favorite things about this book is the way Lauren Layne creates Taylor. She helps you realize why Taylor would agree to date Bradley and even to move in with him, showing you that Taylor believes - truly believes - that no one will ever love her. Bradley represents safety. Another thing Layne does well is show you why Nick is attracted to Taylor. He suffers through her near constant ball busting because he's seen her rare - extremely rare - vulnerability. Nick may be unable to commit to a profession (he's a bartender, a freelance writer for Oxford, and he writes books), but he's open to committing to a relationship. He's a guy who creates cocktails to fit personalities, and he's someone you can count on to step in when a coworker has to take a temporary leave of absence. He's solid, even if he can't stop himself from ribbing Taylor. Lauren Layne keeps you waiting for the sexy times, but when they erupt, they do so explosively. Your thighs will quiver with delight. The small moments, though, are what make this book so compelling. When Nick stops himself from touching Taylor or kissing her temple because he fears the message such an intimate act could send, you fall even harder for this story. The only lapse relates to Taylor. She sort of has a rather abrupt change of heart regarding a personal decision, and you don't see the process she goes through to get to this point. Taylor and Nick are so well-developed that this lapse feels unsettling. At the end of the book, Layne gives you hope that there might be another book in this series. Fingers crossed that she does.