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swagginswanigan's review against another edition
3.0
This book was not what I expected it to be. It ended up being a lot more complex than I thought at first glance. The romance is sweet, but didn’t amaze me. This is a good story and I’m glad it exists it just wasn’t my favorite thing.
krisi616's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favorites from the series. Love how real it came across.
danielleliss's review against another edition
5.0
This is not usually one of my favorite tropes, but I really enjoyed this book. Another excellent installment to one of my favorite series. And, the goat...
scareads's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a good best friends to lovers where they already love each other at the beginning. Not once was I frustrated they still weren't together yet because Harper's character's disposition was so clear and well done without being over the top. It made sense. It made me feel for both of them.
It could be argued that this was a giant case of miscommunication (which I'm not a huge fan of generally) and to a certain degree it was. Yet, in this particular character situation, I really can't say that it bothered me at all, and the story wouldn't have worked without it.
It could be argued that this was a giant case of miscommunication (which I'm not a huge fan of generally) and to a certain degree it was. Yet, in this particular character situation, I really can't say that it bothered me at all, and the story wouldn't have worked without it.
chelseadenn34's review against another edition
5.0
BRIEF SYNOPSIS: Harper tells everyone who asks that her and Chase are just friends. She firmly believes that she could never give him what he wants and that there’s someone much better out there for him. But when Harper’s best friend Sam begins setting Chase up on dates, Harper decides to reevaluate what she’s capable of bringing to the table and if she can give Chase what she believes he deserves.
Oh man. I have enjoyed every Emma St. Clair book I’ve read (which includes the first 3 and a novella in this series and The Buy-In). But this one. This one might just be my favorite out of them all.
From the first page, my heart went out to Harper. Harper has some tendencies and characteristics that she believes hinder her from ever being able to have a romantic and intimate relationship with Chase. She is determined he deserves someone better. And it was so clearly obvious to me that Harper was great and wonderful and I just wanted her to see herself as that so badly. To see herself as Chase saw her. She eventually does, and I loved watching her go on that journey and find so many things out about herself and become more confident in who she was.
Chase. What a book boyfriend. Chase is head over heels for Harper and has studied her so much that he knew everything about her tendencies and how to help her. He had done so much for her in action over the six years of their friendship and I loved when Harper finally realized that.
I also loved getting to see more of Abby in this book. Abby is the main character in book 1, and I loved that she was Harper’s biggest confidant in this book. Her reaction when Harper reveals some major things about herself was wonderful and I loved seeing her being the absolute best friend for Harper. Also, loved getting to see the Graham family again (they are featured in The Buy In) and now I’ve got to go get The Bluff and catch up on that whole series!
This is on my list of top friends to lovers stories and I highly recommend you check out this whole series. (Also when you read this be sure you read the author’s note in the front AND back!)
5⭐️
Oh man. I have enjoyed every Emma St. Clair book I’ve read (which includes the first 3 and a novella in this series and The Buy-In). But this one. This one might just be my favorite out of them all.
From the first page, my heart went out to Harper. Harper has some tendencies and characteristics that she believes hinder her from ever being able to have a romantic and intimate relationship with Chase. She is determined he deserves someone better. And it was so clearly obvious to me that Harper was great and wonderful and I just wanted her to see herself as that so badly. To see herself as Chase saw her. She eventually does, and I loved watching her go on that journey and find so many things out about herself and become more confident in who she was.
Chase. What a book boyfriend. Chase is head over heels for Harper and has studied her so much that he knew everything about her tendencies and how to help her. He had done so much for her in action over the six years of their friendship and I loved when Harper finally realized that.
I also loved getting to see more of Abby in this book. Abby is the main character in book 1, and I loved that she was Harper’s biggest confidant in this book. Her reaction when Harper reveals some major things about herself was wonderful and I loved seeing her being the absolute best friend for Harper. Also, loved getting to see the Graham family again (they are featured in The Buy In) and now I’ve got to go get The Bluff and catch up on that whole series!
This is on my list of top friends to lovers stories and I highly recommend you check out this whole series. (Also when you read this be sure you read the author’s note in the front AND back!)
5⭐️
tawnyad2004's review against another edition
5.0
I was apprehensive of this book. When we’ve seen Harper in the other books I just didn’t really connect with her. She never stood out to me, but oh my oh my this author has quickly become one of my favorites. She just had such a way with the characters and words. I flat out, absolutely loved this book. I stayed up all night reading it because I just couldn’t put it down. I even cried, I knew there was going to be a HEA but it was so emotional, so raw I couldn’t help it.
Chase was such and incredible, selfless man. He loved Harper so deeply it was hard seeing his heartache.
“here’s the thing: my feelings have not changed. Harper is my everything. But if I’m not hers? I don’t know how to keep up this friendship that we’ve built. My side was always being stacked and built up with bricks and pieces aimed at winning her over, assuming that we’d be together. I understand now more than I ever did before that I was being unfair in a way. I wasn’t building just friendship with no strings. I built a friendship with hope. With the desire for the friendship to lead to something else.”
Through it all, even when he was hurt and angry at Harper he still looked out for her. He understood her in ways I don’t even think her family did.
Speaker of her family. I LOVED THEM!!!! I’m seriously hoping the brothers get their own series because the dynamic they had with Harper and Chase was so good to see. Even though they were these big, bad football players they didn’t really shy away from the emotional side. They didn’t sit down and open up completely but they were there for Chase when he needed it. Showed their love and support to him in a truly humbling, and fantastic scene.
Then we have Harper. Wishy washy female characters can really rub me the wrong way (men too). Though Harper was running hot and cold at times there was such depth to it it never bothered me. She had her own insecurities and demons to fight. The biggest one being herself and how she viewed herself. As less. And watching Chase show her just how much she meant to him and how perfect she was for him was heart melting. Oh my word this book!!!! I could go on and on about it but you seriously just need to read it for yourself.
Chase was such and incredible, selfless man. He loved Harper so deeply it was hard seeing his heartache.
“here’s the thing: my feelings have not changed. Harper is my everything. But if I’m not hers? I don’t know how to keep up this friendship that we’ve built. My side was always being stacked and built up with bricks and pieces aimed at winning her over, assuming that we’d be together. I understand now more than I ever did before that I was being unfair in a way. I wasn’t building just friendship with no strings. I built a friendship with hope. With the desire for the friendship to lead to something else.”
Through it all, even when he was hurt and angry at Harper he still looked out for her. He understood her in ways I don’t even think her family did.
Speaker of her family. I LOVED THEM!!!! I’m seriously hoping the brothers get their own series because the dynamic they had with Harper and Chase was so good to see. Even though they were these big, bad football players they didn’t really shy away from the emotional side. They didn’t sit down and open up completely but they were there for Chase when he needed it. Showed their love and support to him in a truly humbling, and fantastic scene.
Then we have Harper. Wishy washy female characters can really rub me the wrong way (men too). Though Harper was running hot and cold at times there was such depth to it it never bothered me. She had her own insecurities and demons to fight. The biggest one being herself and how she viewed herself. As less. And watching Chase show her just how much she meant to him and how perfect she was for him was heart melting. Oh my word this book!!!! I could go on and on about it but you seriously just need to read it for yourself.
escsmith's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
1.0
This was a typical trashy romance. While it does what it's supposed to - be predictable, the couple fall in love, not too deep - it's boring in it's execution. There was nothing grabbing my attention and I wasn't rooting for these characters. Their relationship moved so fast once they kissed that it felt ridiculous.
I didn't feel that the neurodivergent aspects were delt with particularly well. I think this could have been an opportunity for the characters to communicate and create boundaries and a life together, but here I felt like it painted a picture that the partner of someone neurodivergent bends to meet the others needs in a one-side way. I was disappointed by the way this was handled.
I didn't feel that the neurodivergent aspects were delt with particularly well. I think this could have been an opportunity for the characters to communicate and create boundaries and a life together, but here I felt like it painted a picture that the partner of someone neurodivergent bends to meet the others needs in a one-side way. I was disappointed by the way this was handled.
cassroberts89's review
funny
hopeful
slow-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
3.5
This made for a perfect sick-in-bed read. Rom-coms seem to be my go to when I want cozy. They’re what I call “palette cleansers.” This one has the added layer of neurodiversity that I found interesting. I’m not sure Harper’s Google “diagnosis” fully explains all of her choices, but it does resonate with my own experience. That said, I think we could have done with a little less tension or at least a more realistic setup. If this was her best friend/secret love for the past 6 years, a shove plus a simple “I’m overstimulated and overwhelmed, I need some time to sort through some things” would have done just as well as “sorry I’m not into you actually.”
I still enjoyed rooting for them, though. And I like her group of friends and how they continued to rally around each other. I’d gladly pick up others in this series (this was my first)
I still enjoyed rooting for them, though. And I like her group of friends and how they continued to rally around each other. I’d gladly pick up others in this series (this was my first)
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity