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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
It was a little boring, and I felt it wasn't going anywhere special.
A Guide to Being Just Friends is, nominally, a friends-to-lovers romance. But the main characters' immediate mutual attraction, followed by their shared, out-loud declaration that they will only be friends, suggests that their romantic relationship actually began on their first meeting. Regardless, I enjoyed watching the relationship grow, and I really liked the female lead, Hailey, and her commitment to developing her friendships and her small business.
When Hailey and Wes started to actually get together - about 60% of the way into the book - the story took an unusual turn. Plenty of romances would have ended here, and I thought it was a nice departure to follow this couple as they navigated the transition from friendship to relationship. However, I began to find both of the main characters more frustrating, as all the emotional intimacy and awareness of each other's foibles that they'd developed during their friendship seemed to evaporate and they struggled with basic elements of trust and commitment. This was, I think, intentional on the part of the author, but I think it needed more development in order to feel realistic.
That said, this was a sweet story and rounded out a romantic trio - but I could imagine the series continuing with some of the unpaired characters in this well-developed world. 3.5 stars.
[I received a complimentary ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. Opinions are my own.]
When Hailey and Wes started to actually get together - about 60% of the way into the book - the story took an unusual turn. Plenty of romances would have ended here, and I thought it was a nice departure to follow this couple as they navigated the transition from friendship to relationship. However, I began to find both of the main characters more frustrating, as all the emotional intimacy and awareness of each other's foibles that they'd developed during their friendship seemed to evaporate and they struggled with basic elements of trust and commitment. This was, I think, intentional on the part of the author, but I think it needed more development in order to feel realistic.
That said, this was a sweet story and rounded out a romantic trio - but I could imagine the series continuing with some of the unpaired characters in this well-developed world. 3.5 stars.
[I received a complimentary ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. Opinions are my own.]
Wes and Hailey have an awkward meet cute that results in an unlikely friendship, as neither is in a position to date. Wes is focused on his company with his brothers, and Hailey is focused on her new salad shop. However, despite all efforts, it’s much harder than expected being “just friends”. Can you maintain a friendship when feelings get involved?
This was a cute and easy read.. At times, Hailey was insufferable, wanting so badly to make a name for herself and be independent that she would not accept help from Wes or anybody else. The friendship build up lasted the majority of the book and so much happened in the last 25%, but it really had my heart rate going up and down.
This was a cute and easy read.. At times, Hailey was insufferable, wanting so badly to make a name for herself and be independent that she would not accept help from Wes or anybody else. The friendship build up lasted the majority of the book and so much happened in the last 25%, but it really had my heart rate going up and down.
Hailey is a strong, independent small businesswoman who has just opened up her own small salad shop. After a funny case of mistaken identity, she meets and befriends Wes, a wealthy businessman and investor. They become fast friends with no desire whatsoever to date… until they can’t seem to think of anything else! Both are fearful of ruining their friendship and mixing business interests, but soon it’s clear that it may be too late for that.
This was such a cute, easy read! I didn’t realize that it was part of a series, although I was fine to read it as a standalone. I’d give this three and half stars because I really enjoyed it until the last quarter of the book. There just was too much forced conflict for my liking, and not enough sweetness from the romance. If you enjoy friends to lovers, brothers in a series, and independent female MCs, you should definitely give this a read!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was such a cute, easy read! I didn’t realize that it was part of a series, although I was fine to read it as a standalone. I’d give this three and half stars because I really enjoyed it until the last quarter of the book. There just was too much forced conflict for my liking, and not enough sweetness from the romance. If you enjoy friends to lovers, brothers in a series, and independent female MCs, you should definitely give this a read!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
I listened to this book and couldn’t stand the narrators. I probably would have liked it a lot more if it wasn’t for the robotic voices
I love that even though this is the third book in the series you can jump right into it as a stand-alone. I loved Wes and Hailey and I always love a callback to the previous relationships from the first two books. You couldn't help but root for Wes and Hailey throughout the whole book.
Review
Hailey Sharp has a one-track mind. Get By the Cup salad shop off the ground. Do literally everything possible to make it a success. Repeat. Wes Jansen never did understand the fuss about relationships. When Hailey and Wes find each other in a disastrous meet cute that wasn’t even intended for them, they embarrassingly go their separate ways. But when Wes finds Hailey to apologize for his behavior, they strike a friendship. Because that’s all this can be. Hailey doesn’t want any distractions. Wes doesn’t want to fall in love. What could possibly go wrong?
It’s been a good long while since I read a fade-to-black romance novel where the characters don’t even kiss until about 70% into the book but I found Wes and Hailey’s story delightfully sweet - like Hailey’s addiction to chocolate! Both Wes and Hailey have hang ups from their past and work both together and separately to understand and overcome them. Both are well developed, believable characters with understandable issues holding them back. Watching them learn and grow was a delight that will lead be to Sophie Sullivan’s backlist when I need another sweet treat.
Hailey Sharp has a one-track mind. Get By the Cup salad shop off the ground. Do literally everything possible to make it a success. Repeat. Wes Jansen never did understand the fuss about relationships. When Hailey and Wes find each other in a disastrous meet cute that wasn’t even intended for them, they embarrassingly go their separate ways. But when Wes finds Hailey to apologize for his behavior, they strike a friendship. Because that’s all this can be. Hailey doesn’t want any distractions. Wes doesn’t want to fall in love. What could possibly go wrong?
It’s been a good long while since I read a fade-to-black romance novel where the characters don’t even kiss until about 70% into the book but I found Wes and Hailey’s story delightfully sweet - like Hailey’s addiction to chocolate! Both Wes and Hailey have hang ups from their past and work both together and separately to understand and overcome them. Both are well developed, believable characters with understandable issues holding them back. Watching them learn and grow was a delight that will lead be to Sophie Sullivan’s backlist when I need another sweet treat.
This is for rom-com lovers that YEARN for the slow burn and love the friends-to-lovers trope. It had all the warm and cozy feelings of your favorite romance movies.
Sophie Sullivan does such a great job at making her characters multidimensional, full-fledged people that you can see yourself in. Some moments felt like I was actually enjoying the holidays and friend gatherings with them.
I love novels like this that go beyond the general plot and touch on important topics. This especially goes for the way the author showed how the characters’ past traumas completely distorted their thinking and impeded their present lives. Everyone can relate to this in some form and it was just great to see the characters learning that they can change their habits and negative thinking.
A major aspect of this novel was community and found family. There was so much love written within the pages that made me want to jump into this cozy world.
This is the 3rd book in the Jansen Brothers series by Sophie Sullivan. I haven’t read the previous ones so you can definitely read this as a stand-alone. Past characters are heavily mentioned through the story so readers of the previous books get updated on their favorite characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sophie Sullivan does such a great job at making her characters multidimensional, full-fledged people that you can see yourself in. Some moments felt like I was actually enjoying the holidays and friend gatherings with them.
I love novels like this that go beyond the general plot and touch on important topics. This especially goes for the way the author showed how the characters’ past traumas completely distorted their thinking and impeded their present lives. Everyone can relate to this in some form and it was just great to see the characters learning that they can change their habits and negative thinking.
A major aspect of this novel was community and found family. There was so much love written within the pages that made me want to jump into this cozy world.
This is the 3rd book in the Jansen Brothers series by Sophie Sullivan. I haven’t read the previous ones so you can definitely read this as a stand-alone. Past characters are heavily mentioned through the story so readers of the previous books get updated on their favorite characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
okay, picture: a combination of YOU s2 and 3, but without all of the murder and make it romantic and sweet instead of terrifying.
sophie sullivan’s final installment in her jansen brothers series is, above all, sweet, like one of hailey sharp (our cute, feisty, talkative FMC)’s special dessert salads-in-a-cup. focusing on hailey and wes’ story, a guide to being just friends sets itself apart from its predecessors in all the right ways while still offering sentimental glances into noah and chris’ lives for those of you who salivate for more when a story is over (like me).
this book is, at its core, a strangers-to-kind of enemies-to-friends-to-desperately trying to stay friends-to lovers tale that hits nearly all of my boxes for a cute, fun, enjoyable romcom.
i am a SUCKER for a good friends to lovers. something about the are you feeling it too? type of angst is delicious to me, and seeing wes and hailey’s friendship progress into deeper waters was a treat. the casual intimacy of grocery shopping together? being in each others’ spaces? brb while i reevaluate all of my platonic friendships for romantic undertones. (just kidding……………)
the only complaints i have for this one are, while i love a heaping dose of unrealism in my romcoms, wes’ self-awareness was through the roof in only the way a man-written-by-a-woman can be. his inner monologue didn’t feel authentic to the standard male-love-interest voice we get in these types of books, and it left him feeling a little two-dimensional. while the writing is a bit clunky, and wes is a bit too unrealistically observant, it’s still a fun story that explores all the delicious, painful ways a friendship develops between two people who are perfect for one another.
be forewarned, my spicy friends, this book is STRONG fade to black. PG at the most. but sweet enough to keep your belly full through the whole thing. mostly.
sophie sullivan’s final installment in her jansen brothers series is, above all, sweet, like one of hailey sharp (our cute, feisty, talkative FMC)’s special dessert salads-in-a-cup. focusing on hailey and wes’ story, a guide to being just friends sets itself apart from its predecessors in all the right ways while still offering sentimental glances into noah and chris’ lives for those of you who salivate for more when a story is over (like me).
this book is, at its core, a strangers-to-kind of enemies-to-friends-to-desperately trying to stay friends-to lovers tale that hits nearly all of my boxes for a cute, fun, enjoyable romcom.
i am a SUCKER for a good friends to lovers. something about the are you feeling it too? type of angst is delicious to me, and seeing wes and hailey’s friendship progress into deeper waters was a treat. the casual intimacy of grocery shopping together? being in each others’ spaces? brb while i reevaluate all of my platonic friendships for romantic undertones. (just kidding……………)
the only complaints i have for this one are, while i love a heaping dose of unrealism in my romcoms, wes’ self-awareness was through the roof in only the way a man-written-by-a-woman can be. his inner monologue didn’t feel authentic to the standard male-love-interest voice we get in these types of books, and it left him feeling a little two-dimensional. while the writing is a bit clunky, and wes is a bit too unrealistically observant, it’s still a fun story that explores all the delicious, painful ways a friendship develops between two people who are perfect for one another.
be forewarned, my spicy friends, this book is STRONG fade to black. PG at the most. but sweet enough to keep your belly full through the whole thing. mostly.
Sophie Sullivan's "A Guide to Being Just Friends" is a contemporary romance about Jansen brother #3, Wes, and his newly found bestie, Hailey. After becoming friends after what could have been an amazing meet-cute, Hailey and Wes list their guide to being the greatest friends without the complications of romance and falling in love. During their friendship, Wes continues his business endeavours with his two wealthy brothers, including working at a recreation center that builds up young people in the community. His world slowly intertwines with that of Hailey as she works hard to grow her start up salad business. Thanks to Wes' know-how and connections, Hailey's small business not only skyrockets, but her social circle deeply widens.
I enjoyed the beautiful process of what makes a sweet friendship grow between two people. As Hailey and Wes overcome personal challenges, insecurities, and career changes, they are there for each other. Watching them slowly become intimate was lovely.
If there was one thing I’d change, however, it’s a little more editing. I feel like a chunk or two could have been cut. I also would have changed the expected conflict. I didn’t understand Hailey’s reaction and perhaps I knew where Wes was coming from. No spoilers but it would be an interesting convo if you’ve read it.
I recommend this book if you like a slow burn fade-to-black contemporary romance with themes like friends to lovers and found family.
Thanks to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for an advanced copy.
I enjoyed the beautiful process of what makes a sweet friendship grow between two people. As Hailey and Wes overcome personal challenges, insecurities, and career changes, they are there for each other. Watching them slowly become intimate was lovely.
If there was one thing I’d change, however, it’s a little more editing. I feel like a chunk or two could have been cut. I also would have changed the expected conflict. I didn’t understand Hailey’s reaction and perhaps I knew where Wes was coming from. No spoilers but it would be an interesting convo if you’ve read it.
I recommend this book if you like a slow burn fade-to-black contemporary romance with themes like friends to lovers and found family.
Thanks to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for an advanced copy.