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readbynataliek's review
3.0
Errrr this started off good, but then went up and down the entire way to the end. There was cringey and ugh moments but also have the signature Jill Shalvis charm & ending (including her signature "I'm scared, hold me.").
The plot about Cam's accident felt so repetitive, and I didn't like how he used it as a way to school Piper when Piper discovered he lied to her. There wasn't enough grovel from him, and I felt Piper gave him an out too easily.
Piper was relatable and likeable but I think she deserved better. Everyone in her circle made her seem like the crazy one just because she's the mum of the group & like to journal her days... I didn't like that.
Ughh I hate hate hate when the small town girl who has always dreamt of leaving the town for greater education/ her dreams ends up not going because of the guy but the author masks it as if it's her own choice not for the guy. I can't. The male lead only needs to say he's willing to move for her and he's deemed the perfect man, when really actions spoke louder than words.
The plot about Cam's accident felt so repetitive, and I didn't like how he used it as a way to school Piper when Piper discovered he lied to her. There wasn't enough grovel from him, and I felt Piper gave him an out too easily.
Piper was relatable and likeable but I think she deserved better. Everyone in her circle made her seem like the crazy one just because she's the mum of the group & like to journal her days... I didn't like that.
Ughh I hate hate hate when the small town girl who has always dreamt of leaving the town for greater education/ her dreams ends up not going because of the guy but the author masks it as if it's her own choice not for the guy. I can't. The male lead only needs to say he's willing to move for her and he's deemed the perfect man, when really actions spoke louder than words.
lianareadsblog's review
4.0
If you’re looking for a great slow-burn contemporary romance with reliable characters and their family issues, this is the perfect book for you.
I enjoyed all the moments of laughter and banter, all the different points of view from different characters and their thoughts. A lovely story that at first sight looks like any other romance but it holds more because of the families bonds and friendship.
I enjoyed all the moments of laughter and banter, all the different points of view from different characters and their thoughts. A lovely story that at first sight looks like any other romance but it holds more because of the families bonds and friendship.
sarahthereader's review
5.0
I am missing my weekly (sometimes twice a week) visits to the public library! Thankful for ebooks from @stlouiscountylibrary — awesome collection and waits aren’t too bad! #almostjustfriends was such a happy romance. I laughed a lot and cried a little and I’ll admit I swooned a bit. #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #whatimreading #missmypubliclibrary
infjkiki's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
witandsin's review
5.0
Reviewed for Wit and Sin
After the death of her parents Piper Manning was charged with raising her siblings when she was still a child herself. Now her siblings are grown and Piper is an EMT. She has struggled and works herself nearly to the ground, but there’s finally a light at the end of the tunnel. If she can fix up the lake house and the cabins her grandparents left Piper and her siblings, she’ll finally be able to sell and go to school to become a physician’s assistant. Then her siblings return to Wildstone, each carrying secrets that will knock Piper off her stride. If she wasn’t already reeling, the arrival of Camden Reid would do so. After meeting on a dark and stormy night, the super sexy DEA agent and Coast Guard reservist becomes the first person Piper has been able to lean on in forever and that scares the heck out of her. Piper can’t afford to lose her heart, not when she’s finally going to leave Wildstone. But sometimes fate – and family – have other plans…
Love, loss, and finding your way home are at the heart of Almost Just Friends. Jill Shalvis is a master at blending the light and the dark, at finding humor in the everyday even as her characters struggle to heal and find their place in the town they call home.
Piper is the kind of heroine who is easy to root for. She has spent her whole life taking care of others and the weight of the responsibility she carries is nearly crushing her. I loved her strength, her resilience, and the fact that she wasn’t perfect, even though she sacrifices so much for others. She can be cranky, she can sometimes try to put her siblings on the path she thinks they should be on rather than listen to what they want, but given what she’s been through it’s absolutely understandable. She’s carried a heavy load her whole life and I loved watching others step up to help her, especially Cam. He’s hot, protective, caring, and is dealing with the grief of losing his brother when he meets Piper. Cam also knew responsibility from far too young an age, so he gets Piper. He doesn’t critique or try to change her eccentricities, but appreciates her for all that she is and steps up to the plate to help, which I loved.
While Piper and Cam are the heart of Almost Just Friends, Piper’s siblings are every bit as important to the story. Winnie, Piper’s youngest sibling, has always been kind of a wild child. But life has lately thrown her a curveball and she’s determined to grow up and become the person she’s meant to be. Her path isn’t what her sister would have chosen for her, but I enjoyed seeing Winnie step up and work to shape her own destiny. And Gavin, Piper’s troubled brother, probably had my favorite storyline of the whole book. Gavin is a recovering addict who has come home to make amends and forge a new life. A life that – if he has his way – will include the first and only man he’s ever loved. Gavin owns his mistakes, faces his demons head-on, and is determined to prove he has matured and is in control of his life. I loved watching Gavin come into his own and his story made me melt at times.
Almost Just Friends is the fourth book in the Wildstone series but it can easily be read as a standalone. Family is front and center in every book in the series and is as important as the romance. I loved watching the Manning siblings come together, was invested in Cam and his father healing from their losses and becoming a unit with Piper, Winnie, and Gavin. No relationship in this story is perfect, but that’s what makes this book a perfectly entertaining read. It’s a messy, heartwarming, engaging story of growing up, moving on, and love in all its forms and I couldn’t have been more entertained.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
After the death of her parents Piper Manning was charged with raising her siblings when she was still a child herself. Now her siblings are grown and Piper is an EMT. She has struggled and works herself nearly to the ground, but there’s finally a light at the end of the tunnel. If she can fix up the lake house and the cabins her grandparents left Piper and her siblings, she’ll finally be able to sell and go to school to become a physician’s assistant. Then her siblings return to Wildstone, each carrying secrets that will knock Piper off her stride. If she wasn’t already reeling, the arrival of Camden Reid would do so. After meeting on a dark and stormy night, the super sexy DEA agent and Coast Guard reservist becomes the first person Piper has been able to lean on in forever and that scares the heck out of her. Piper can’t afford to lose her heart, not when she’s finally going to leave Wildstone. But sometimes fate – and family – have other plans…
Love, loss, and finding your way home are at the heart of Almost Just Friends. Jill Shalvis is a master at blending the light and the dark, at finding humor in the everyday even as her characters struggle to heal and find their place in the town they call home.
Piper is the kind of heroine who is easy to root for. She has spent her whole life taking care of others and the weight of the responsibility she carries is nearly crushing her. I loved her strength, her resilience, and the fact that she wasn’t perfect, even though she sacrifices so much for others. She can be cranky, she can sometimes try to put her siblings on the path she thinks they should be on rather than listen to what they want, but given what she’s been through it’s absolutely understandable. She’s carried a heavy load her whole life and I loved watching others step up to help her, especially Cam. He’s hot, protective, caring, and is dealing with the grief of losing his brother when he meets Piper. Cam also knew responsibility from far too young an age, so he gets Piper. He doesn’t critique or try to change her eccentricities, but appreciates her for all that she is and steps up to the plate to help, which I loved.
While Piper and Cam are the heart of Almost Just Friends, Piper’s siblings are every bit as important to the story. Winnie, Piper’s youngest sibling, has always been kind of a wild child. But life has lately thrown her a curveball and she’s determined to grow up and become the person she’s meant to be. Her path isn’t what her sister would have chosen for her, but I enjoyed seeing Winnie step up and work to shape her own destiny. And Gavin, Piper’s troubled brother, probably had my favorite storyline of the whole book. Gavin is a recovering addict who has come home to make amends and forge a new life. A life that – if he has his way – will include the first and only man he’s ever loved. Gavin owns his mistakes, faces his demons head-on, and is determined to prove he has matured and is in control of his life. I loved watching Gavin come into his own and his story made me melt at times.
Almost Just Friends is the fourth book in the Wildstone series but it can easily be read as a standalone. Family is front and center in every book in the series and is as important as the romance. I loved watching the Manning siblings come together, was invested in Cam and his father healing from their losses and becoming a unit with Piper, Winnie, and Gavin. No relationship in this story is perfect, but that’s what makes this book a perfectly entertaining read. It’s a messy, heartwarming, engaging story of growing up, moving on, and love in all its forms and I couldn’t have been more entertained.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
onecraftchick's review against another edition
3.0
Basic easy romance...a little wordy at times but quick read
chaneyd423's review
5.0
Another 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ book from Jill Shalvis. Her stories never disappoint!!!
noelleslays's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
tinasbooknook's review
4.0
Piper has been looking after her siblings since she was thirteen years old (yeah, I didn’t quite get how that worked either). Now she can finally spread her wings and follow her dreams. Until both her brother and sister return to the house they all grew up in. And not just for a visit, but filled with secrets and seeking something they’re not willing to share.
And then there’s the neighbour’s sexy son. Cam is processing a tragic loss and only in town for a limited time, so the perfect choice for a no holds barred fling. Or is he?
Jill Shalvis has a wonderful voice. Her writing always draws me in and this was a one-sitting read. Piper is on a journey of self-discovery and has to work through quite a few behaviour patterns she established very young, but that no longer serve their purpose. I really liked that moment where Cam teaches her to actually listen to her siblings. Listening is such an undervalued skill and Cam shows her how it has the possibility to change everything.
The thing that bugged me the dog on the cover. There isn’t a single dog in the book, but there is a cat…
ALMOST JUST FRIENDS is a lovely story of family, friendship, and love. I really enjoyed the family dynamics and how all three siblings grow and learn from each other. And watching Piper and Cam fall for each other is utterly delightful. If you’re looking for a sexy romance with a great family angle, this is the story for you.
And then there’s the neighbour’s sexy son. Cam is processing a tragic loss and only in town for a limited time, so the perfect choice for a no holds barred fling. Or is he?
Jill Shalvis has a wonderful voice. Her writing always draws me in and this was a one-sitting read. Piper is on a journey of self-discovery and has to work through quite a few behaviour patterns she established very young, but that no longer serve their purpose. I really liked that moment where Cam teaches her to actually listen to her siblings. Listening is such an undervalued skill and Cam shows her how it has the possibility to change everything.
The thing that bugged me the dog on the cover. There isn’t a single dog in the book, but there is a cat…
ALMOST JUST FRIENDS is a lovely story of family, friendship, and love. I really enjoyed the family dynamics and how all three siblings grow and learn from each other. And watching Piper and Cam fall for each other is utterly delightful. If you’re looking for a sexy romance with a great family angle, this is the story for you.