Another super sweet college rowing romance from Lulu Moore. This brother’s best friend, fake dating romance is as good of a time as any of LM’s books. She is an excellent storyteller and her stories are always so unique.

Charlie is on the rowing team, and wants to move on from his ex so he and Violet one of his friends little sister decide to fake date. Of course the more time they spend together the more they realize it isn’t fake anymore. They keep that they are really dating from everyone. Very cute together. Lulu’s books never disappoint.

I devoured this book, it was a quick fun read. I adored Violet was so much fun to follow and I adored her so much. We have all been where Charlie is, wanting to do anything to avoid an ex and I honestly enjoyed this book so much.

Another great one by Lulu. A definite auto read author. Love this world at Oxford. The rowing scene is a fun change from most sport romances.

I always love Lulu Moore's books, and this one was no exception! The fake dating/brother’s best friend trope was done so well, and I loved the college setting. Their chemistry was undeniable! Charlie was the sweetest, and Violet was confident and fun. I wasn’t a huge fan of the drama with the ex—the forbidden romance aspect because of the brother was much more engaging to me. Overall, this was a really cute romance!

3.5
Brothers best friend/roommate/teammate
College
Fake dating
Golden retriever
LIGHT spice (like 1 page) closed door the rest
Super cozy sweet romance

Oar with friends was a 6 star read for me and this one was cute but just fell a little flat compared to book 1. The pacing often felt off and I honestly got a bit bored.

I’ve just finished You Float My Boat by Lulu Moore, and while I enjoyed parts of it, I have to say I’m feeling a bit mixed overall. The story follows Charlie Masterson, a cheeky Oxford student, and Violet Brooks, his best friend's sister and an aspiring actress. The book plays with the fake dating, friends-to-lovers, and sibling’s best friend tropes—things I usually enjoy, so I was looking forward to reading it.

The chemistry between Charlie and Violet was definitely one of the highlights. Their banter and playful dynamic worked really well, and I enjoyed their back-and-forth. It made their relationship feel natural, with plenty of that "will-they-won’t-they" tension. I also liked the university setting—it added a fun vibe to the story, and the secondary characters were nice, too.

However, I did find the pacing a bit uneven. At times, the plot felt like it was dragging, and I found myself frustrated with the repetitive nature of some of the conflicts. The miscommunication trope started to feel a bit tired, and I found myself wishing the characters would just talk things through rather than having the same misunderstandings over and over.

Overall, I’d give this book 3 stars. It was fun and light-hearted, but it didn’t quite have the emotional depth I was hoping for. It’s a solid read for fans of the genre, but it just didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️

Lulu never fails me.

Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes and reading about Charlie and Violet just made me kick my feet and swoon while I remember every little thing I love about it!

✨Rowing romance
✨ She falls first / he falls harder
✨ Fake dating
✨ Brother’s Best Friend

Violet has always has a thing for her brothers best friend Charlie, so when he asks her to fake date him to avoid his toxic ex, she can’t help but say yes. But Chalrie soon wants to be more than just fake.

I listened to this one and the narrators made this story absolutely come to life. It was already good but they made it even better. I love Charlie and Violet is a literal ray of sunshine!

I loved watching them fall for each other and squealed when it was finally real!

4.5⭐️
2🌶
Before reading this, I was so excited to get my hands on this, ARC or physical copy. I loved Oar than Friends and just knew that I would love this as much. Violet and Charlie really warmed my heart. Charlie was so sweet and adorable, no wonder Violet fell in love with him because the more I read the more I fell in love with him too. Violet is my type of girl and if I had to pick one attribute I loved the most it would have to be her absolute hatred of early mornings. I felt that to my core. Joking aside, she was strong and didn't back down and allow herself to be pushed around. She is just such a relatable FMC. Like I said before, Charlie was sweet and caring with a little bit of jealousy sprinkled in. I loved Charlie's love of baking and how he showed Violet he cared with his baking. Charlie and Violet start out as a fake relationship to get his ex to back off but, they realise how much they like each other, Violet has had a secret crush on Charlie for years. There is a third-act break up but it is resolved perfectly. Another thing I really loved was this story happened at the same time as Oar than Friends and it was really cool to see Kate and Oz's story cross over and see their story from a different point of view.

Thank you for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This standalone series is one of the sweetest! I loved the progression of their relationship, and how they really decided to make a real go of it. The ex provided just the perfect amount of conflict to push the plot along and impetus to push them together.

The couple had great banter and friendship before it became more and I was enamored with watching them fall in love!

Great narrators as well! Definitely an audiobook worth listening to and book worth reading!

I absolutely adored OAR THAN FRIENDS so it was a given that I would want to read this one too. YOU FLOAT MY BOAT was absolute perfection and it had me wishing that it would never end. I was a huge fan of Lulu Moore's hockey books, but I think I've found my new favourite sport!

This was my first book by Lulu Moore, and it definitely won’t be my last! Unfortunately, I read You Float My Boat right after another book (OS), and I was deep in a book slump, so I can’t help but wonder if it was a case of it’s me, not the book. While I enjoyed the story, I didn’t completely fall in love with it.

The plot had so much potential—Charlie, a dedicated rower at Oxford, just wants to graduate and win the boat race. But when Evie, a past heartbreak, walks back into his life, he comes up with a plan to protect himself. Enter Violet, his best friend’s sister, who’s focused on landing a role in the summer production of Twelfth Night. When Charlie proposes a fake relationship, Violet sees it as the perfect opportunity to play the part she’s always wanted. But as they fake date, things get complicated.

The mix of tropes—friends to lovers, fake dating, brother’s best friend, and opposites attract—definitely made for a fun read. I especially loved the tension and chemistry between Charlie and Violet. However, one of my least favorite tropes, miscommunication, made an appearance, and it really frustrated me. I also found a few aspects of the story unconvincing, which kept me from fully loving it.

That said, I really enjoyed the setting, the banter, and the side characters—there are so many I’d love to read more about! I hope Lulu Moore gives them their own stories because I’d definitely pick them up.

Overall, You Float My Boat was a cute and enjoyable romance, even if it didn’t completely sweep me off my feet. I’m excited to read more from this author in the future!

Arc received by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5⭐, 2🌶️

I hate to say it, but I was just bored with this book. I felt like nothing happened. Fake dating, but we caught feelings…..and….nothing else. A lot of will we, won’t we. . I really enjoyed book one with all the rowing knowledge and this book just fell flat in comparison.

Where the story lagged, the positive point? I LOVED the narrators for Violet and Charlie! Im not sure if Ive ever heard Sam Stafford or Rebecca Lee but their voices were so great for two British college students. They fit perfectly and I just enjoyed listening to them. Will seek out future audio works from them in the future!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest and unpaid review!

I have been so excited to read this book since the first one came out and it was everything I hoped for and more.

I just loved Charlie and Violet so much. Their instant connection and attraction was palpable from the beginning and I loved their fake dating story line. Violet has been secretly in love with Charlie for years but it was just so cute when Charlie finally realised he loved Violet just as much. The whole story was just a joy to read except for Charlie’s ex Evie, she was so annoying!

I can’t wait to see what happens in the rest of the series! Thank you so much to Lulu and NetGalley for allowing me to read this arc.

3.5⭐️

I just love Lulu Moore! I’ve read everything she’s written and I can’t get enough!

The first book in the series was so good and I was so excited to read this one. I mean yes please to fake dating when they actually have feelings for each other!!! And Lulu did it well. I knew I was going to love Charlie because I loved him in the first one but Violet was such a pleasant surprise! They complemented each other nicely!

This was an enjoyable read, so lighthearted and fun. The banter was amazing, something at which Lulu never misses, and the side characters really added to the story.

The only thing I didn’t vibe with was the third act breakup. It was a little too immature for my liking and I couldn’t get over it.

Even so, I thought this was a fun addition to the series! Thank you Lulu, NetGalley, and Penguin Random House for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this light-hearted, fake dating romance. The relationship between the main characters was so sweet and felt very natural as it developed throughout the book. The side characters were also well developed, and I found myself constantly wondering who might be sneaking around with who and possibly become the subject of future books in the series!

If you like a fake dating college/uni based romance novel with a hint of spice, I'd definitely recommend picking this up! You can definitely read it independently of the first book in the series, as there is very little overlap in the stories, and I actually preferred this second book so if you were unsure about Oar Than Friends I'd suggest giving this one a try!

He’d known Violet Brooks for years, her brother Hugo was his best friend so when he needed a fake girlfriend to scare away his persistent ex and protect his battle-scarred heart, Violet came to mind. For wannabe actress Violet this was the role she had dreamt about for years ever since she’d fallen in love with Charlie even though he’d never even looked at her that way but perhaps this could be a chance to turn fiction into fact.

I feel like I’ve been waiting forever for You Float My Boat and Lulu Moore did not disappoint with this, the second book in the Oxbridge series. From a totally swoon worthy hero in Charlie Masterson aka Chazzles to Violet, to the setting of the classic rivalry that is the annual boat race and not forgetting the fabulous secondary characters in his housemates, the lovelorn Oz and the bottomless pit that was Hugo, I loved everything about this book. I mean not only does Charlie cook he bakes as well with personalised cupcakes his language of love. Violet was quirky and loyal and their romance of the cute and slowburn variety with a sprinkling of angst as the more time they spent together the more the line between pretending and reality blurred. Violet may have fallen for him first but star athlete that he was, Charlie soon caught up but his wicked witch ex was lurking in the background scheming to get him back leading to a third act break up but don’t panic, no cheating was involved. A couple of highlights of this book for me was Violet’s relationships with her brother, only siblings argue like that and her bestie Stella, they were obviously each others ‘ride or die’ no matter what. And since this book ran concurrently with the first book I loved seeing the heart broken Oz from another angle. Now I’m hoping the next book will reveal who Brooks was mysteriously texting or perhaps more of Stella and Leo…….whoever it features I can’t wait to return to the dreaming spires of Oxford and read more from these fantastic characters.

Basic info:
- Contemporary sports romance
- Double POV, 1st person, single timeline
- Part of a series of standalone books

Tropes & Hooks:
- Set at Oxford University
- Rower MMC/drama club participant FMC
- MMC cooks and bakes.
- Brother's best friend/Childhood crush
- Fake dating
- Secret relationship
- It has always been you
- Crazy (MMC's) ex.

My thoughts:
- Violet and Charlie decide to fake date to help him get rid of his crazy ex and Violet's brother is actually aware of it, so the overall dynamic and premise are interesting.
- Violet and Charlie are pretty much into each other from the very beginning they just are very hush-hush about their feelings. And because they think the other one is not really interested they don't act on their feelings. This dynamic can appeal to some, and not so much to others.
- Charlie definitely gets the book boyfriend badge. Every little and not-so-little thing he has done for Violets had me swooning. I could have done without the stupid thing he did in the end, you'll be able to spot what I'm talking about if (or when) you read the book. I don't think even his age is an excuse enough. Whenever Violet enters the room, Charlie's attention is exclusively on her. He becomes such a blubbery mess when she is near and I love it.
- This will probably go unnoticed by many of the readers, but not by my software engineer ass. I understand that Charlie is clever and everything, but it's not just that easy to go and break into your school's servers.
- Violet choosing her classes based on them being mostly after 10 a.m. didn't sit well with me, but it's a minor detail only mentioned once.
- There was an energy-related physics joke, that Violet supposedly didn't understand. I'm sorry but I don't think you need a physics degree to understand it.
- I couldn't say much happened plot-wise in this book. It was mostly based on the interactions between Charlie and Violet.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks to everyone involved in ARC's distribution.

You Float My Boat is book two in Lulu Moore's 'Oxbridge' series. A series that follows college-age leads through their chosen paths to and throughout their lives at university.

Both current books in the series are standalones and are inter-connected with one another. This means you can pick up this read with mild references to events that happened in book one, Oar Than Friends, or you can go to book one and start from the beginning. The choice, of course, is yours. Personally, I would always recommend going in release order within a book series.

As soon as I am able to go back and read the first book myself, I plan to do so. I picked up this book unintentionally knowing at first, that it was in fact book two. An error on my part.

Keen to pick up another Lulu read to check off my list of releases to catch up on, I was enticed to read this book based on the previous one I had read from her last year, which was also the read that finally and officially introduced me to her work. Namely, Once Upon a Christmas Tree. I was thoroughly impressed by the prequel read to when I came across this book, immediately hit 'request' for an advanced ebook copy. Zero hesitation.

Going by the cover alone--and the series title--, it was clear before glancing at the blurb that this was a sports romance of some kind. The oars gave the game away.

My reading preferences don't lean much in the way of any kind of sports romance, though one or two do sneak in occasionally. This book is one of them. In fact, I am sure that it is my first rowing-themed sports romance read. Happy to be ticking off a formerly unread branch of the sports romance sub-genre.

Aptly sailing us into new waters and second book in the series is our leading man, Charlie Masterson..

Grading with a first from Oxford University was all Charlie wanted out of his life at preset. Smooth waters soon turn choppy when his well thought out plans and thus, his life, get turned upside down when none other than old flame that won't stay snubbed out, Evie Waters one day walks into his Philosophy class. Once upon a time not too long ago, she was the soul owner of Charlie's heart. Where she led, he followed. Not anymore. He has no immediate plans to ever let his heart be taken by another, so he has to think and act fast to eradicate any of Evie's hopes of reigniting their once burning flame.

Cue, Violet Brooks. Said plan.

Having her life together just the way she wants it to be, for the most part, Violet now hopes to secure the lead role in the University production of Shakespeare's play, Twelfth Night. Simple? Not exactly. Her focus on landing the lead role is skewed when her brother's best friend--Charlie--asks her to be his fake girlfriend to throw off his former love from pursuing him. He also happens to be the same brother's best friend who she has been in love with since the very first time she saw him. Not so simple, indeed.

The plan to use Violet as his fake girlfriend to throw-off Evie HAS to work, because Charlie is using all of his focus into making sure it does. Focus that should be not only on his education, but in the success in being part of his rowing team. For Violet, she is not only going after the role of a lifetime for the play, but also is acting in real time, the part of a lifetime as a fake girlfriend to her long-time heart's trues desire.

Naturally as the two of them spend more time together to make their act more believable to anyone around them, Charlie and Violet soon find it hard to tell where their act together ends and where their feelings for one another begin here, in the real world. Their world. Especially when, at last, Charlie starts to look up on Violet the way she has always gazed at him from near and far both.

For a first foray into this series, the impression it left was exceptional. Lulu's signature writing style translated from my previous read from her while at the same time, having a unique voice all of its own that makes it stand independently. It is not a book that has copy/pasted any exact same elements, but has tweaked and twisted them to where they needed to be used to tell Charlie and Violet's story.

Despite not having gone to university/college myself, I cannot accurately describe or feed back on how the fictional lifestyle of the students compares to that of those within the real world, but I can feedback on the accuracy of how it felt to be a young, twenty-something navigating both themselves and the world around them. Lulu captures and delineated the confusing, fluctuating, impulsively irrational, hormone-controlled nature of young adults fresh out of their late teens who have crossed over into their early twenties. Charlie and Violet are far from the assured adults they consider themselves to be, often acting as if they are older than their years--which we all have done at some stage when we were their ages. Whether intentional or not, this aspect of our main characters is what made them all the more relatable, understandable and realistic.

Praise also has to be given to the crafting and curating of the side characters and their roles played in moving up, slowing down and adding the ideal amount of comedic relief, angst and support in a scene where needed. These characters can often win over the hearts of readers more so than the main characters and where that wasn't the case here, they did leave outstanding lasting impressions thanks to the flow of their dynamics both with Charlie, Violet and the two of them as a couple in scenes throughout the book. They worked in every scenario and more than earned their right to be as beloved, and to be loved, as their main character counterparts.

By the time that I had finished the last page, I felt like getting up on my own stage as Violet did hers, and proclaim to the readers of the United Kingdom just how much I was besotted by this clean-paced, realistically-wholesome read with the quintessential amount of emotional representation and depth, slow burn chemistry and young love born into fruition over time and with age.

I sincerely hope that we see more of the team in future releases adding to this series, because I would like to row alongside them to another victory for Lulu Moore with another page-turning story.

This was cute, funny and very easy to read.
Loved the characters, the general plot and how straight to the point it was from the very beginning.

Some things that I do want to point out though:
The pacing was a bit weird for about the first half of the book, so the transition from fake-daring to real-dating wasn't as smooth as it probably could have been. For it to be more believable, at least for me, there were just a couple more one-on-one scenes missing between Violet and Charlie.

I couldn't really stand Brooks, Violet’s brother & one of Charlie’s best friends. I haven't read the first book in the series, so I am not sure how his character was introduced, but in this one, he's more often than not put in the role not being the brightest star in the sky. Plus, whatever he was on about, it wasn't very brotherly towards Violet?! I didn’t have it in me to even attempt to think his remarks were funny or that he was in any way charming.

Some storylines were left in the open and I don’t understand why? Example: Kate & Oz. I assumed their story was done in book one, but apparently it’s being dragged out onto book three, for reasons I am not entirely sure.
Though I really came to like Oz!

As much as I am not a fan of the break-up, I can look past it. What I can’t look past is the reason because was that. Charlie’s alleged 150 IQ was absolutely nowhere to be found…
Given that Edie was the sole reason to fake-date in the first place, there could have been done more with her character. More scenes with all three of them. More scenes with Charlie, her and the study group. The potential was there.

Anyway, “You Float My Boat” is a cute and fun book and I will be looking forward to book three and attempt to read book one until then.