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alwaysbooking's review against another edition
5.0
5 blood is thicker than water stars!!
“Chin up, Princess, or the crown slips.”
This book was definitely not an normal HEA I would say it more leans toward women’s fiction with romance included. Piper starts out as a normal female protagonist character I enjoy, very sure of herself, can take care of anything that comes up doesn’t need any man. That is completely fine with me, however after reading the book for a couple chapters you realize that she has completely locked up all of her emotions while raising her younger siblings. I absolutely adored meeting her siblings and seeing their interactions. You could see how hard it was for her balancing being a sister and being in mom mode. Piper cares for everyone in this book not just her siblings, her neighbor, the people she works on as an EMT, she is a very compassionate person.
Cam coming to town was really when everything started to really open up, he seemed to be the real center for the whole family. Everyone seemed to be able to trust Cam and rely on him. Which for him was also an eye opener, even though he was already dependable because of his job. Now Cam was dependable for other reasons. Of course he was working through his own demons, but Piper seems to help him through that, he is trying to help her work through hers but family matters keep getting in the way.
I really loved everything about this book, the whole “broken” family coming together and learning how to be a family. The learning to lean on others, they all evolved not just the main characters, I loved all of the characters. I haven’t cried this hard about characters in a long while. Each chapter started with some really great one liners and I loved all of them. Jill Shalvis just continually knocks it out of the park for me and will always be an auto buy author.
Thank you to Jill Shalvis, NetGalley, and Harper Collins for my copy in lieu of my honest review..
Gavin’s heart tripped. “What?”
“I brought food.”
Gavin nearly collapsed in relief. “The way to my heart.”
“It’s the makings for taco’s”
Gavin felt the last little pieces of himself fall into place. “A love story in five words.”
find more reviews at Alwaysbooking.wordpress.com
“Chin up, Princess, or the crown slips.”
This book was definitely not an normal HEA I would say it more leans toward women’s fiction with romance included. Piper starts out as a normal female protagonist character I enjoy, very sure of herself, can take care of anything that comes up doesn’t need any man. That is completely fine with me, however after reading the book for a couple chapters you realize that she has completely locked up all of her emotions while raising her younger siblings. I absolutely adored meeting her siblings and seeing their interactions. You could see how hard it was for her balancing being a sister and being in mom mode. Piper cares for everyone in this book not just her siblings, her neighbor, the people she works on as an EMT, she is a very compassionate person.
Cam coming to town was really when everything started to really open up, he seemed to be the real center for the whole family. Everyone seemed to be able to trust Cam and rely on him. Which for him was also an eye opener, even though he was already dependable because of his job. Now Cam was dependable for other reasons. Of course he was working through his own demons, but Piper seems to help him through that, he is trying to help her work through hers but family matters keep getting in the way.
I really loved everything about this book, the whole “broken” family coming together and learning how to be a family. The learning to lean on others, they all evolved not just the main characters, I loved all of the characters. I haven’t cried this hard about characters in a long while. Each chapter started with some really great one liners and I loved all of them. Jill Shalvis just continually knocks it out of the park for me and will always be an auto buy author.
Thank you to Jill Shalvis, NetGalley, and Harper Collins for my copy in lieu of my honest review..
Gavin’s heart tripped. “What?”
“I brought food.”
Gavin nearly collapsed in relief. “The way to my heart.”
“It’s the makings for taco’s”
Gavin felt the last little pieces of himself fall into place. “A love story in five words.”
find more reviews at Alwaysbooking.wordpress.com
amym84's review
5.0
4.5
After the death of their parents, Piper Manning took over the care of her younger siblings. Barely out of childhood herself, Piper stepped up to make sure that her brother and sister never went without even though things were tight. But this meant that Piper went without a lot. Now, as she reluctantly celebrates her 30th birthday, Piper is finally beginning to look towards the future which includes selling the home she and her siblings inherited from their grandparents and going to school to become a physicians assistant. She's even got all the steps written down in her handy journal so she can remain on track. But when her brother and sister - Gavin and Winnie - show up back in Wildstone without warning, Piper knows it's because they're having personal problems of her own. Problems she knows she'll be called upon to fix. Not that she won't, but as time goes on, it's starting to wear on Piper. Throw new-to-town Camden Reid into the mix and Piper is going to need to add another page to her journal. She's not used to opening up to people and letting them in because she's always had to be strong for everyone else. But if Piper, Gavin, and Winnie want a chance at a future relationship, they'll need to start talking to one another.
Once I started reading Almost Just Friends everything just clicked. I equally wanted to rush through it, but I also never wanted it to end. It's the type of book that left me with a book hangover. I've found it difficult to pick up and settle myself in another story world. I really just needed like another 50+ pages of this book to read. I guess you could say I loved it.
And I did. I think it's my favorite of the Wildstone series thus far.
The book mainly revolves around Piper. Although we do get Cam's point of view along with her brother Gavin's as well, the main components of the story deals with Piper.
I loved how Jill Shalvis wove everything together. The issues that each sibling is still dealing with in regards to the loss of their parents at such a young age. The fact that Piper had to give up her life in order to raise her siblings. It's all basically coming to a boiling point. I liked seeing this crossroads of sorts. Where they could continue on with their relationships the way they have been with Piper in the role of parent instead of equal sibling putting aside her hopes and dreams to ensure Gavin and Winnie are ok. Gavin and Winnie can continue to rely so much on their sister to fix the problems that they don't learn to figure it out for themselves. Or they can change it all. I loved watching the dynamic between Piper and Gavin and Winnie. Its speaks to a lot of familial relationships. You invariably love your family, but sometimes you can't support the decisions they make.
With Gavin's point of view we find out that he's returned to Wildstone still carrying some demons, but wanting to make amends to those he's hurt in the past, not only Piper, but his ex-boyfriend CJ. While we didn't see Gavin at his worst moments, you can still feel the maturity he's acquired, you can feel the progress he's made in his life. Jill Shalvis does a great job of making the hurts that Gavin caused deftly felt, but also the idea that forgiveness is obtainable.
Adding Cam into the mix, I just loved the way that he was there for Piper. He became her rock, the person she leaned on. It's probably the first time in her life that she's had that. His patience and understanding of Piper's needs and dreams and wants was great to read. He never pressured her to define what they were instead letting her go at her own pace. I loved the way their relationship progressed.
Cam himself is in Wildstone for his own reasons, one of which is to reconnect with his estranged father. While their quasi-reunion isn't given a whole lot of attention, I liked the fact that Cam's father acknowledges mistakes he made in the past in regards to Cam and reiterates time and time again how he's going to fix it. It's another part of the family dynamic that we get to see from a different perspective.
For reasons unknown, Winnie - the youngest Manning sibling - does not get her own point of view. Maybe it's because a lot of what Gavin and Piper have to reconcile with has to do with the loss of their parents in which case Winnie was too young to remember them. Or maybe it's because the direction her story takes is a more familiar one that I know I've read different iterations of in various books. I won't pretend to know, but I also don't think it hurts the story except for the fact that I felt she gets a little overshadowed. What Winnie is dealing with is kind of major but because she's never the focus, so I never felt like we were getting a good progression of her story. That's probably the only thing I'm a bit iffy on with the story.
So far, the Wildstone series has had a heavy family relationship dynamic running through it, but I feel like Almost Just Friends really nails it as far as balancing the family and romantic relationships.
I cannot wait for my next visit to Wildstone!
*ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.
After the death of their parents, Piper Manning took over the care of her younger siblings. Barely out of childhood herself, Piper stepped up to make sure that her brother and sister never went without even though things were tight. But this meant that Piper went without a lot. Now, as she reluctantly celebrates her 30th birthday, Piper is finally beginning to look towards the future which includes selling the home she and her siblings inherited from their grandparents and going to school to become a physicians assistant. She's even got all the steps written down in her handy journal so she can remain on track. But when her brother and sister - Gavin and Winnie - show up back in Wildstone without warning, Piper knows it's because they're having personal problems of her own. Problems she knows she'll be called upon to fix. Not that she won't, but as time goes on, it's starting to wear on Piper. Throw new-to-town Camden Reid into the mix and Piper is going to need to add another page to her journal. She's not used to opening up to people and letting them in because she's always had to be strong for everyone else. But if Piper, Gavin, and Winnie want a chance at a future relationship, they'll need to start talking to one another.
Once I started reading Almost Just Friends everything just clicked. I equally wanted to rush through it, but I also never wanted it to end. It's the type of book that left me with a book hangover. I've found it difficult to pick up and settle myself in another story world. I really just needed like another 50+ pages of this book to read. I guess you could say I loved it.
And I did. I think it's my favorite of the Wildstone series thus far.
The book mainly revolves around Piper. Although we do get Cam's point of view along with her brother Gavin's as well, the main components of the story deals with Piper.
I loved how Jill Shalvis wove everything together. The issues that each sibling is still dealing with in regards to the loss of their parents at such a young age. The fact that Piper had to give up her life in order to raise her siblings. It's all basically coming to a boiling point. I liked seeing this crossroads of sorts. Where they could continue on with their relationships the way they have been with Piper in the role of parent instead of equal sibling putting aside her hopes and dreams to ensure Gavin and Winnie are ok. Gavin and Winnie can continue to rely so much on their sister to fix the problems that they don't learn to figure it out for themselves. Or they can change it all. I loved watching the dynamic between Piper and Gavin and Winnie. Its speaks to a lot of familial relationships. You invariably love your family, but sometimes you can't support the decisions they make.
With Gavin's point of view we find out that he's returned to Wildstone still carrying some demons, but wanting to make amends to those he's hurt in the past, not only Piper, but his ex-boyfriend CJ. While we didn't see Gavin at his worst moments, you can still feel the maturity he's acquired, you can feel the progress he's made in his life. Jill Shalvis does a great job of making the hurts that Gavin caused deftly felt, but also the idea that forgiveness is obtainable.
Adding Cam into the mix, I just loved the way that he was there for Piper. He became her rock, the person she leaned on. It's probably the first time in her life that she's had that. His patience and understanding of Piper's needs and dreams and wants was great to read. He never pressured her to define what they were instead letting her go at her own pace. I loved the way their relationship progressed.
Cam himself is in Wildstone for his own reasons, one of which is to reconnect with his estranged father. While their quasi-reunion isn't given a whole lot of attention, I liked the fact that Cam's father acknowledges mistakes he made in the past in regards to Cam and reiterates time and time again how he's going to fix it. It's another part of the family dynamic that we get to see from a different perspective.
For reasons unknown, Winnie - the youngest Manning sibling - does not get her own point of view. Maybe it's because a lot of what Gavin and Piper have to reconcile with has to do with the loss of their parents in which case Winnie was too young to remember them. Or maybe it's because the direction her story takes is a more familiar one that I know I've read different iterations of in various books. I won't pretend to know, but I also don't think it hurts the story except for the fact that I felt she gets a little overshadowed. What Winnie is dealing with is kind of major but because she's never the focus, so I never felt like we were getting a good progression of her story. That's probably the only thing I'm a bit iffy on with the story.
So far, the Wildstone series has had a heavy family relationship dynamic running through it, but I feel like Almost Just Friends really nails it as far as balancing the family and romantic relationships.
I cannot wait for my next visit to Wildstone!
*ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.
beastreader's review
4.0
This is a fun, sweet, charming read. I had such an enjoyable time reading this book. Everyone was great as were their personalities. So personable that I could not get enough of them. I wanted to hang out with them all longer. Therefore, you could say that I was a bit sad when I finished this book.
Don't let the fact that Piper writes in her journal and carries it with her make it seem like she is boring. She is not. She might be more mature but she does have some sassy to her as well. My first laugh came when Piper met Camden. He was complaining about the rain and Piper tells Camden "Chin up Princess, or the crown slips."
However, Piper and Camden are not the only people in this book. There are Piper's sister and brother, Winnie, Gavin, and Camden's father, Emmitt. All of them were just as fun to get to know. Honestly, there is no favorite as everyone was my favorite. Forget "almost" and "just" as I am happy to call everyone my friend.
Don't let the fact that Piper writes in her journal and carries it with her make it seem like she is boring. She is not. She might be more mature but she does have some sassy to her as well. My first laugh came when Piper met Camden. He was complaining about the rain and Piper tells Camden "Chin up Princess, or the crown slips."
However, Piper and Camden are not the only people in this book. There are Piper's sister and brother, Winnie, Gavin, and Camden's father, Emmitt. All of them were just as fun to get to know. Honestly, there is no favorite as everyone was my favorite. Forget "almost" and "just" as I am happy to call everyone my friend.
niniwags's review
5.0
I wish I could give this more than 5 stars!
I laughed. I cried. Multiple times for both. This book has every emotion and then some.
The sense of family and belonging that everyone in both the Manning & Hayes family are looking for is so apparent all throughout the book. The way they find it with each other is absolutely beautiful.
I laughed. I cried. Multiple times for both. This book has every emotion and then some.
The sense of family and belonging that everyone in both the Manning & Hayes family are looking for is so apparent all throughout the book. The way they find it with each other is absolutely beautiful.
deanapotter's review
4.0
4.5 Stars
Almost Just Friends is almost too real. Heart and home, trust and sacrifice, hurt and healing wrapped in a tale family and love.
Piper thinks she got herself on the right track. She has a game plan, lots of lists and more than enough will to accomplish the goals she sets. Piper is as fierce and tenacious as they come. Growing up fast, caring for her siblings and trying to make the best of what they had, has given Piper a hard edge, but the woman has a heart like no other. She is not a stranger to sacrifice, and she would sacrifice over and over again for those she loves.
In blows a storm that lights a spark with a stranger, carrying her siblings home and a bucket full of secrets to make Piper’s head spin. Just wanting a new life became something altogether different than what she want. But needed more than she knew. With a handsome Cam knocking on her romance door, her siblings and their respective secrets eating at her, Piper’s new life hands already began.
Almost Just Friends is all about family, those born to you and those you choose to bring in. Hot messes and all. Life is not always easy but those around you make it a lot better. Ms. Shalvis twisted wit and humor with emotion and life’s choices that make people people discover who they are and whom they want to be. Piper and Cam captivate reader with the depth at which they will go and of just who they are. A story you truly don’t want to miss.
Almost Just Friends is almost too real. Heart and home, trust and sacrifice, hurt and healing wrapped in a tale family and love.
Piper thinks she got herself on the right track. She has a game plan, lots of lists and more than enough will to accomplish the goals she sets. Piper is as fierce and tenacious as they come. Growing up fast, caring for her siblings and trying to make the best of what they had, has given Piper a hard edge, but the woman has a heart like no other. She is not a stranger to sacrifice, and she would sacrifice over and over again for those she loves.
In blows a storm that lights a spark with a stranger, carrying her siblings home and a bucket full of secrets to make Piper’s head spin. Just wanting a new life became something altogether different than what she want. But needed more than she knew. With a handsome Cam knocking on her romance door, her siblings and their respective secrets eating at her, Piper’s new life hands already began.
Almost Just Friends is all about family, those born to you and those you choose to bring in. Hot messes and all. Life is not always easy but those around you make it a lot better. Ms. Shalvis twisted wit and humor with emotion and life’s choices that make people people discover who they are and whom they want to be. Piper and Cam captivate reader with the depth at which they will go and of just who they are. A story you truly don’t want to miss.
romancejunkie1025's review
4.0
So many emotional bombs and pitfalls but two lovely romantic HEAs and one young woman coming into her own. Loving this "series" where the people are crazy, the love is true and the families are endearingly not perfect.
chrissy3562's review
5.0
I absolutely adore this series. Piper and her siblings were great people, even if they weren't always honest with each other. Camden was a great mediator when everything came out and he was just the person to help Piper realize how to let go. Camden and Piper had chemistry from the beginning, even as she didn't like him at first. What I love about these books is they have such a strong family story line. This book was fantastic and I definitely recommend reading it.
ldooten's review
3.0
This was okay for me. The writing flowed well, but there is A LOT going on in this story, and it was too much for me. Piper and her siblings all have problems and all of them have to learn to deal. Cam and Piper did make a good couple, but there isn't much heat in this story. You're brought to the act itself, and then the story continues. I did understand why Piper was hurt towards the end. Everyone was keeping stuff from her, and it made her feel like she was the last to know anything. The ending was sweet, and I was glad to see them get their HEA. I honestly could have done without Gavin's chapters. I'm not a MM romance fan, and I skipped over those. All in all I would recommend this book if you like angsty romances.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.
talesbyamylynn's review against another edition
5.0
This book had everything one could want in a romance. Lots of characters, found family, drama and romance.