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Lisa Becker
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Clutch: A Friends to Lovers Romantic Comedy Kindle Edition

by Lisa Becker (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 195 ratings
See all formats and editions

She’s looking for the perfect match. He shrugs off commitment. Will these best friends figure out they’ve got love in the bag?

Recently named a “40 under 40” by a prominent fashion magazine, Southern charmer and Harvard-educated Caroline Johnson spends her days building a successful handbag business and nights lamenting her nonexistent love life. Her intelligence and professional acumen are often disregarded because of her good looks, thick accent, and overly accommodating style. When Caroline’s Aunt Mimi points out that the “under 40” part won’t last forever, Caroline recognizes it’s time to start designing her personal life.

Mike (aka Michael Frederick Barnsworth III) was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and can trace his lineage to the founders of America’s first bank. Much to his family’s dismay, he refuses a corner office at the Barnsworth Brokerage Firm, instead using his Harvard education to open a bar. Irreverent and flirtatious, Mike seems content to engage in one-night stands while listening to Caroline’s dating woes.

Much like the right accessory, Caroline knows her partner needs to be perfectly matched, so she endures a series of disastrous relationships she compares to styles of handbags: the “Hobo” or starving artist; the “Diaper Bag” or single dad; the “Briefcase” or intense businessman, etc. while searching for the “Clutch.” And Mike starts to wonder if having a different woman hanging off his arm every weekend is really a fulfilling lifestyle.

Will Caroline heed her Aunt Mimi’s advice to “find something you love and hold onto it” and will Mike recognize he’s worthy of being clutched?

Low on angst and high on humor, Clutch will have readers rooting for Caroline to find someone to hold onto. If you love friends-to-lovers romances, laugh-inducing dating disasters, sizzling chemistry, and happily ever afters, scroll up now to buy or read for free with Kindle Unlimited.

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  1. Print length
    268 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    October 15, 2015
  5. File size
    3330 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
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  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The perfect blend ofsassy, smart and stylish!" Amazon Bestsellers Liz Fenton & LisaSteinke

"If you liked WhenHarry Met Sally, you'll love this book." Storeybook Reviews

"5 STARS Clutch is one ofthe most amusing and clever stories I have read in ages. I adored everythingabout this book - the plot, characters, humor, and witty banter. The writingstyle was crisp, engaging, highly enjoyable, consistently entertaining, and lushlydescriptive. I think I have a girl crush." Books and Bindings

"Clutch is the perfectbook to sit back, relax and simply have a good time. I wasn't ready for thebook to end. I wanted more! It makes you laugh, it makes you smile and you mayeven shed a few tears. Either way, you'll have a good time with this book and abrand new chick lit heroine in Caroline. This is my first Lisa Becker book andit definitely won't be my last." Socrates Book Review

"It was total fun reading about her dating blunders :)" Know Your Books

"This book was arefreshing new twist on a romance novel. The scenarios and differentscenes were hilarious...the one-liners and comebacks that the characters use inthe book will have you doubled over in laughter." Can't Quit Books

"This was a fun read... This was chick-lit, women's fiction, and a bit ofromance on the side." Book Junkie Reads

"This book was plain fun!I found myself giggling the whole way through. Their banter made for anentertaining audiobook and their chemistry had me rooting for their HEA." RedHatter Book Blog

"Clutch is an amusingjourney through, friendship, life, dating and handbags." Bookworms Corner

From the Inside Flap

Pleasecheck out my other romantic comedies:
·The Subway Girl- amazon.com/gp/product/B085G5WZTB
·Starfish: A Rock StarRomance - amazon.com/gp/product/B07NY9TTFG
·Dear Future Self(Starfish Book #2) - amazon.com/gp/product/B0813ZDRY1
·Clutch- amazon.com/gp/product/0692489894
·Links- amazon.com/gp/product/1725516926
·Click: An Online LoveStory - amazon.com/gp/product/B004UI6IJ0
·Double Click- amazon.com/gp/product/B00C1RIZHU
·Right Click- amazon.com/gp/product/B00KE6H90O
·The Click Trilogy(bundle) - amazon.com/gp/product/B01A6B5MHS
And to get up to date information on future releases, followme here on Amazon.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B015P09CBW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (October 15, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 15, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3330 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 268 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 195 ratings

About the author

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Lisa Becker

Lisa Becker

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Lisa Becker is an award-winning romance writer who spends her time like she spends her money - on books and margaritas. As Lisa’s grandmother used to say, “For every chair, there’s a tush.” Lisa is now happily married to a wonderful man she met online and lives in Manhattan Beach, California with him and their two daughters. So, if it happened for her, there’s hope for anyone! You can share your love stories with her at www.lisawbecker.com.

Stalk Lisa Becker on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisawbecker

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClickAnOnlineLoveStory/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1486731.Lisa_Becker

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisawbecker

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
195 global ratings
A fun, flirty story that will make you smile & warm your heart
5 Stars
A fun, flirty story that will make you smile & warm your heart
|Thank you @authorlisabecker #partner|Caroline Johnson fell in love with handbags at a young age. After being educated at Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and then Harvard Business School, Caroline launches her own line of purses and handbags. She enters into the complex, complicated world of dating in Southern California and likens her experiences with men to different handbag designs -- the “Hobo” starving artist, the “Diaper Bag” single dad, the “Briefcase” intense businessman, etc. Throughout the journey and after numerous unsuccessful relationships, Caroline wonders if she'll ever meet the kind of man to hold onto, worthy of being her "Clutch."This book was such a delight! The story is very entertaining and the concept of comparing men to handbag styles is incredibly creative! I related to Caroline in so many ways but especially through her love of fashion and looking put together, her sweet relationships with her family, and her bumbling adventures through a variety of men, none of them being quite what she's looking for (although that was many years ago for me!). You'll laugh your way through poor Caroline's romantic misfortunes and hope that each new guy is finally the right one. Audio book narrator, Suzanne Barbetta, did a phenomenal job with author Lisa Becker's words. I didn't keep track of how many characters Suzanne played though the story but it's at least 15 -- and she performs each one so flawlessly! Listening to this book was such an enjoyable escape into the world of Caroline!Clutch is a fun, flirty story that will make you smile, warm your heart, and may even inspire you pick up a new handbag for yourself (it's the perfect excuse)! 
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Top reviews from the United States

Megan Sargent
5.0 out of 5 stars So So So Good!
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2020
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You guys, I cannot say enough nice things about @authorlisabecker! We met right here on Bookstagram and have become great friends! When I had an awful family tragedy in May, she checked on me almost every day. And when I met my new love, she couldn’t wait to hear all about it! We have probably chatted for about a year, so when she mentioned doing a Zoom Chat with some book peeps to discuss her wonderful book Clutch, I jumped at the chance to finally meet her!

.

Clutch is one of her older releases that is hilarious! It compares men to handbags! I laughed so many times just thinking… yep I dated that guy. I mean from the Hobo to the Diaper Bag to the Clutch, this was a great romance of finding not only love, but the right love. If you like a good romantic comedy check this one out!

.

She also wrote Starfish which is a Rock Star Romance with the follow-up Dear Future Self- both are so good! And her latest book The Subway Girl comes out this month! Don’t worry I will post about it!
3 people found this helpful
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Veritas Vincit
4.0 out of 5 stars A Hilarious and Spot-On Portrayal of Modern Romance
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2015
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I don't think I ever actively seek a chick-lit novel, yet I manage to stumble into them from time to time. This was no exception, but I truly enjoyed the entertaining anecdotes and romantic disasters of the leading lady. It was hard to take some of the stories seriously, and the setting of the friendly local bar was a bit of a cliche, but the dialogue was sharp and believable, and the descriptions were rich and almost tangible at times. Becker knows how to paint a scene, and also make us care about the characters, even the peripheral foils of the bar, any of whom could become Caroline's newest target.

The descriptions of men were hilarious at times, and putting the entire book in the word play of "clutch" wasn't as annoying as I thought it would be. Men classify women all the time, and while there are inherent problems with that, Becker fights back by putting men in their stereotypical place. I think the eventual realization that happiness was only on the other side of the bar was a bit predictable, but the journey to get us to that logical ending was entertaining and worth the trip.
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mint tea
5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet and romantic!
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2015
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This book is your classic girl and boy are amazing friends and don’t understand that they are in love with each other type of story. The ones that make you wonder if people are really that dense, but you don’t mind reading them all the same. Caroline and Mike met the first day of Harvard Business School and they were soon inseparable. Caroline promised herself she didn’t like him in a romantic way, but he was always the one she turned to whenever something happened in her life. After many failed relationships, she starts to understand why. This story is sweet and has a great purse theme, since Caroline is a purse designer, so the whole tale is very fun and girly. It has a pretty steady pace and a lot of moments that make you wonder about if Caroline is really smart or not. If you are a fan or romance novels and love stories, this one will make you smile.
One person found this helpful
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John J. Staughton
4.0 out of 5 stars A Bit Predictable, but Amusing and Clever
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2015
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I think that the setting and initial idea behind this book was great, and I certainly enjoyed the amusing anecdotal tales of her love life, while the contrast of the local bar was nostalgic and classically chosen. However, I think the burgeoning romance with her bar buddy is rather predictable, and I don't think it was subtly developed. That's okay, because we end up rooting for him once we realize where the book is going. Becker certainly knows how to make me laugh (even out loud, on a few occasions, I must admit), and for any author to do that, it requires a sharp wit and great timing.

She has both of those in spades, and while some of her modern allusions and pop culture references seem forced, the dialogue is mostly genuine, and she is a believable, unfortunate lover who simply can't catch a break. The dating disasters were over the top at points, but from someone who used to be in the dating game, I know that in the moment, it can certainly feel like an absolute nightmare playing out in front of your eyes. I think Becker captured the desperation of getting older and the fear of loneliness, but also uplifted us with the reminder that we don't need to change who we are or what we love to find someone we want to welcome into our lives. Overall, a rejuvenating and amusing read.
2 people found this helpful
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Kimberly
3.0 out of 5 stars Predictable, but still a great read!
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2018
*Thank you to NetGalley, The Publishers, and author who allowed me to read this book for a fair and honest review*

From the very beginning of the book I knew how it was going to end. Throughout the book I was really waiting for Becker to surprise me and was slightly let down when it ended how it did. Does that mean this is a bad book, or that I didn't like it? Absolutely not.

First off Caroline, our main character. I had a love hate relationship with her. There were some moments where I was like “yes, you go girl!” And there were other times where I just signed shook my head and asked “what is wrong with you?” while I understand the whole southern charm thing I felt sometimes it was a little stereotypical.

Secondly, maybe it's because I didn't have much of a dating life before I got married, but some of Caroline's choices (this is where my frustration with her stem) were questionable. When she lamented about not being able to find a guy, or that she was going to end up alone, I rolled my eyes. I did enjoy reading about her dating escapades and she really did cycle through the list of men you typically seem to get when you are dating

Lastly this book was more mature than I thought it was going to be. Sometimes when books are unexpectedly mature it can disrupt the tempo or the mood, it didn't for clutch. It actually helped me see Caroline as a more mature and progressive women and I liked that she was not looked down upon for it either. So kudos to Becker.

Overall if you are currently dating you may relate to Caroline and love this book. Also, it's a great read for any Romance reader.
2 people found this helpful
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RW
1.0 out of 5 stars Trash
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2020
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Only read a page and the bad language began and deteriorated from there. A scan revealed many more. Other reviews didn't reveal the gutter language.
6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Lucci Argentino
5.0 out of 5 stars Não esperava ser tão fofo!!!!
Reviewed in Brazil on February 11, 2019
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Que surpresa maravilhosa!! Este livro é daqueles que quando você se dá conta já terminou, deixando aquela vontade de ler mais 100 páginas só pra saber o que poderia ter acontecido com os personagens.
Caroline e Mike se tornam amigos desde o primeiro dia em Harvard. Os dois se tornam inseparáveis mesmo depois de seguirem suas respectivas carreiras. Caroline, designer de bolsas é a esperança em pessoa: quer muito encontrar alguém que a ame pra sempre e com isto pula de relacionamento em relacionamento. Mike, dono de um famoso bar em Los Angeles não quer nada com ninguém e tem no máximo 3 encontros com suas escolhidas. Sempre juntos e separados até Caroline perceber que o que ela tanto quer pode estar bem pertinho dela, tipo uma "Clutch" !
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J M Portman
5.0 out of 5 stars I am now on the look-out for more stories by Lisa Becker, five stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 12, 2016
Verified Purchase
'Clutch' by Lisa Becker is a short, (just over 140 pages,) read, but one that is ultimately worthwhile reading! The novel is a laugh-out-loud, romance in which we learn of the dating adventures and misadventures of Caroline Johnson who is a purse designer. She compares her many and unsuccessful relationships to various styles of handbags – the “Hobo” starving artist, the “Diaper Bag” single dad, the “Briefcase” intense businessman, etc. Caroline is a girl after my own heart as she drinks a lot of Chardonnay and puts her heart on the line time after time with her best friend bar owner Mike by her side. Their friendship is a great part of this book and definitely one of its many strengths and I highly enjoyed following the ‘will they/won't they?’ get-together idea. For sure, Caroline may well be slightly overly-accommodating at times but she does have more than her fair share of unworthy suitors to endure while she attempts to find the “Clutch” who will be the ‘one’ who is worth clinging onto. This is a humorous story with some great and interesting characters at its core and with a nice storyline. I certainly enjoyed joining Caroline in her quest for Mr. Right and am now on the look-out for more stories by Lisa Becker. Five stars for a great story which made me laugh out loud.
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Garden girl
5.0 out of 5 stars Joyous reading!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 17, 2019
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Funny, endearing, a fabulous mixture of witty observation and pure entertainment! Clutch has the wonderful conceit of comparing men to different styles of bag...so accurately and with great wit! Caroline is an absolute darling and successfully kisses a few frogs before finding her perfect 'Clutch' 😊.
Suzanne Barbetta is an outstanding narrator! She brings every character to life, speaks clearly and at a great pace for the listener. I will be searching for more of her work. Anyone who can tell me a story so well is a treasure!
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