Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: Undone
AUTHOR: Christina Lee
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 260 pages
RELEASE DATE: January 30, 2023
BLURB:
Shae Shanahan has no idea how to sew a button or steam a shirt. How he ends up as the assistant to the famous wardrobe stylist Rowan Abernathy is beyond him. But his need for stable employment in an expensive city is as dire as Rowan’s need for an assistant to actually stick around. Or maybe an assistant he can order around and mold to his ridiculous standards. So much so that Shae has threatened to quit dozens of times—at least in his head. Is maiming your boss with a satin hanger a crime?
Rowan might be an expert when it comes to selecting the perfect looks for his celebrity clients, but his love life is as much a disaster as his desk. He needs Shae to organize his schedule but keeps him at arm’s length regarding anything personal. When the cracks begin to show and Shae sees the generous, vulnerable man beneath the arrogant, sarcastic exterior, it makes him beyond curious to know more.
When a fake kiss leads to even hotter encounters, they have trouble keeping their relationship strictly professional. Shae sees just how gentle the man can be and feels cared for when it’s only the two of them. But Rowan’s defenses are hard to break, and he makes his boundaries more than clear. When Shae finally has enough and needs to protect his own heart—and his sanity—will Rowan finally see what’s been right in front of him all along?
REVIEW:
Christina Lee’s latest standalone novel, Undone, is a lighthearted story that takes place in the world of a TV show’s wardrobe department. This opposites attract, boss/employee book stars Rowan, a wardrobe stylist, and Shae, a temp worker. Christina herself used to be a wardrobe stylist so you know you’ll get authenticity here. I found the ins and outs of the industry quite interesting.
The men couldn’t be more different. Elegant Rowan is famous for his work, as well as being an arrogant, self-important diva. But under that façade is a kind, thoughtful man whose heart is suffering from a recent breakup with his cheating boyfriend, Brett. Shae escaped his small town life where he was expected to be an apprentice in his father’s plumbing business. Nothing wrong with that, just not Shae’s cup of tea, so he moved to New York City where he’s struggling to make ends meet. Even though he can’t sew on a button and couldn’t recognize a piece of designer clothing if his life depended on it, he’s desperate for a job and Rowan is desperate for an assistant so he hires him. Shae’s bumbling of the job is entertaining to read.
Their work relationship takes a turn when Shae accompanies Rowan to a charity event where Brett is also a guest. They play fake boyfriends for the night and share a fake kiss to stick a knife in Brett’s back. But maybe the fake kiss is a little more genuine than either expected.
Christina is known for her slow burns – which I love – and it does take a while for the men to hook up. I am probably an outlier, though, in that I didn’t feel chemistry or sexual tension between Rowan and Shae. I was certainly rooting for them but I never felt truly invested in their relationship. I liked both characters individually, though, as well as the supporting cast, including Shae’s roommate, Casey, various co-workers on the set, and the wonderful Kendall Jacobs whose television show they work on.
Despite not feeling the chemistry, I enjoyed the snarky banter between the men and their love/hate dynamic. Watching Shae challenge Rowan and pull him out of his relationship funk is entertaining. Overall, this is a fun book that I’m happy to recommend given how many readers did feel the chemistry and slow burn I didn’t.
RATING: 
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