REVIEW: Designs on You by Jaci Burton

Designs on You by Jaci Burton finds Natalie Parker starting her life over after her divorce. She’s working an interior designer and raising her two children, while trying to keep the peace with her ex. What she doesn’t want is a relationship. Then she meets the younger brother of her sister’s boyfriend.

Eugene is a game designer who had been content to just going where the wind took him. But he decides he wants to settle down and purchases a home near his brother, Linc. When he meets Natalie, he’s immediately interested. The fact that she’s slightly older than him and has kids doesn’t bother him; he’s all in. Natalie, however, is convinced he’ll want to find someone younger and have kids of his own. But Eugene is in it for the long haul, and he’ll stop at nothing to prove it to her.

I like Natalie. She’s determined to stand on her own two feet after her divorce, having the career she wanted but her husband wouldn’t let her have. She’s a strong character and a good mother. I also like Eugene. He’s determined to make Natalie see they could have something great together, but he’s not pushy about it. He goes at a slow pace to keep her comfortable. I also enjoyed his instant bond with her children, and how he came to care about them as much as he cared about her.

Designs on You is a well-written book with likeable characters and a romance that readers will root for. If you’re looking for a sweet romance with little drama, then this would be a book for you.

Book Info:

Publication: December 3, 2024 | Berkley |

Natalie Parker is in her mid-thirties, divorced, and firmly focused on her newly resurrected career and her two children. When her sister asks her to help design the backyard in the new home she shares with her boyfriend, Linc, Natalie’s more than happy to take on the project. What she isn’t prepared for is Linc’s younger brother, video game designer Eugene Kennedy. He’s smart, incredibly good-looking, and constantly flirts with Natalie. He’s also too young for her, which makes him totally off-limits.

Eugene is intrigued by Natalie’s beauty, smarts, and especially her sarcastic wit. When he teases her, she throws it right back at him. Besides that, they have an instant chemistry, but she keeps trying to get rid of him despite the sparks that fly between them. And Eugene never backs down from a challenge.

Natalie is running out of reasons to think being with Eugene is a bad thing. Her kids adore him, her sister loves him, and even her always negative mother does, too. The only person holding her back is…her. Maybe it’s time she take that leap and design herself a love for the ages. After all, if she can create the perfect home, she sure as hell can design a happily ever after.