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chrisslibrary's review against another edition
4.0
This starts out slow but once the story picks up I couldn’t stop reading. great spin on childhood friends to lover.
calpal98's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I want to start this review off by saying thanks to the publisher for giving me a digital ARC of this book. It took me a second to get into it, but once I got into it I loved it. This sweet, short romcom was a perfect summer read with a great second-chance friends-to-lovers romance.
allieeilla's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jadekling's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.75
books_w_bex's review against another edition
4.0
Zippy Summary: childhood besties both go thru very publicly humiliating breakups, fake date in revolt only to find a heartwarming merging of their past and present (and future).
Rating: a surprising ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice?: half a
Rating: a surprising ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice?: half a
rsbrack's review against another edition
4.0
Old friends to lovers, fake dating tropes. Very good chemistry between the main characters. I wish we had a bit more time with the secondary characters. They were so funny. There was one aspect that didn’t get tied up that feels slightly unsatisfied. Enjoyable read overall.
I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher.
I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher.
lisaputney's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
OH. MY. GOD.
I loved absolutely everything about this book! The best parts of this book range from the fake dating to all the other platonic relationships that exist in this book. The characters is this book were so well written that I wanted to hop into the book and exist in their friend group. There were times where I was genuinely laughing out loud because it was so cute or couldn't keep the massive grin off my face because of the perfect, witty banter between June and Levi.
To top it off, there is also no third act break-up! June and Levi are always able to work out everything and move forward because of them being able to be honest adults and communicate. Do they make mistakes? Yes, of course! But, misunderstandings happen and they always had each other's best interests at heart. Whether this is Levi helping June out at Tea Tide (the tea shop June owns) or June helping Levi work on his novel, they are just everything that friends and lovers should be.
While this is technically a spicy book, there is not too much spice happening with only one open door scene.
This is a book I would recommend if you love cute romances, fake-dating, and just overall wholesome characters!
Look for this book coming out at the end of the summer! Release Date: August 13, 2024
**TW: Grief/loss of a sibling. This does happen before the book begins, but it is a major part of June's character arc**
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this digital Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.
I loved absolutely everything about this book! The best parts of this book range from the fake dating to all the other platonic relationships that exist in this book. The characters is this book were so well written that I wanted to hop into the book and exist in their friend group. There were times where I was genuinely laughing out loud because it was so cute or couldn't keep the massive grin off my face because of the perfect, witty banter between June and Levi.
To top it off, there is also no third act break-up! June and Levi are always able to work out everything and move forward because of them being able to be honest adults and communicate. Do they make mistakes? Yes, of course! But, misunderstandings happen and they always had each other's best interests at heart. Whether this is Levi helping June out at Tea Tide (the tea shop June owns) or June helping Levi work on his novel, they are just everything that friends and lovers should be.
While this is technically a spicy book, there is not too much spice happening with only one open door scene.
This is a book I would recommend if you love cute romances, fake-dating, and just overall wholesome characters!
Look for this book coming out at the end of the summer! Release Date: August 13, 2024
**TW: Grief/loss of a sibling. This does happen before the book begins, but it is a major part of June's character arc**
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this digital Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.
lbuck303's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
4.0
bex_readz's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"BE LIKE GOUDA. KNOW YOUR WORTH."
Plot- 4/5🔆
This was a fast, easy read. It felt pretty low stakes and like I could just read and enjoy the plot. The conflict between main characters was resolved quickly which I am a huge fan of. I hate miscommunication tropes that drag out. All of the characters were enjoyable. It felt like a grief healing journey for everyone.
Plot- 4/5🔆
This was a fast, easy read. It felt pretty low stakes and like I could just read and enjoy the plot. The conflict between main characters was resolved quickly which I am a huge fan of. I hate miscommunication tropes that drag out. All of the characters were enjoyable. It felt like a grief healing journey for everyone.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Gaslighting
abray701's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I have loved all of Emma Lord's novels thus far and I am so excited to see her venture into Adult Romance.
June and Levi are childhood friends who have barely spoken in the last ten years, but after they both go through embarrassing, public break-ups, that go viral across social media, Levi returns to their hometown where June is running a failing tea shop. A photo of them together spreads online leading the internet to believe they are a couple. They decide to seize the opportunity and keep up the ruse in hopes that the increase in business will be enough to save June's shop and that Levi will be able to make his ex jealous.
I really loved this novel. I have adored Lord's writing in her YA novels and I am pleased to say that I felt the same about this one. Something that I have always loved about her characters is the growth that they go through as they are learning who they are and coming into adulthood. I worried that I would miss that in a romance with older characters, but June and Levi are also at a real crossroads in their lives and I was happy to find that they too went through a lot of personal growth and discovery.
The fake dates were fun and quirky in the delightful way they only can be in rom-coms. I really felt the connection between them and was rooting for their love right alongside all of their online shippers. This novel did feel a bit heavier than Lord's other ones, due to the recent passing of a loved one, but I thought it was well balanced with her beautiful words on grief and love.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.
June and Levi are childhood friends who have barely spoken in the last ten years, but after they both go through embarrassing, public break-ups, that go viral across social media, Levi returns to their hometown where June is running a failing tea shop. A photo of them together spreads online leading the internet to believe they are a couple. They decide to seize the opportunity and keep up the ruse in hopes that the increase in business will be enough to save June's shop and that Levi will be able to make his ex jealous.
I really loved this novel. I have adored Lord's writing in her YA novels and I am pleased to say that I felt the same about this one. Something that I have always loved about her characters is the growth that they go through as they are learning who they are and coming into adulthood. I worried that I would miss that in a romance with older characters, but June and Levi are also at a real crossroads in their lives and I was happy to find that they too went through a lot of personal growth and discovery.
The fake dates were fun and quirky in the delightful way they only can be in rom-coms. I really felt the connection between them and was rooting for their love right alongside all of their online shippers. This novel did feel a bit heavier than Lord's other ones, due to the recent passing of a loved one, but I thought it was well balanced with her beautiful words on grief and love.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.