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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
The mention of When Harry Met Sally caught my eye and had me compelled to read this title.
I was not disappointed.
Being friends and not seeking out romance is something I have seen IN life as well as in fiction. It is through a growth in a friendship that they soon discover they feel something more.
A Guide to Being Just Friends is a fun romp of a read. While it is the last of a short series, you do not need to have read the other books. Instead, I may seek those out in the future to learn more about how the other brothers met their significant others.
I was not disappointed.
Being friends and not seeking out romance is something I have seen IN life as well as in fiction. It is through a growth in a friendship that they soon discover they feel something more.
A Guide to Being Just Friends is a fun romp of a read. While it is the last of a short series, you do not need to have read the other books. Instead, I may seek those out in the future to learn more about how the other brothers met their significant others.
What I read: A Guide to Being Just Friends by Sophie Sullivan
Why I picked it up: I got this as an audio arc from NetGalley (free copy in exchange for an honest review).
How I read it: On audio at 1.5x speed while driving home from NY yesterday.
What it’s about: Hailey has decided to open a shop of her own selling salad cups (sounds like a super cute place) next door to a bakery, which is where she meets Wes for the first time. The barista writes the wrong name on her cup, which just happens to be the name of the woman he was meeting there for a first date. He thinks she took one look at him and bolted, and she thinks he’s kind of a jerk. The apology that follows begins their friendship. While they are busy “just being friends” – the truth is that they’re dating without the kissing and the title. The entire book is them lying to themselves (and everyone else) that they’re just friends when they’re falling in love.
What I liked: I liked most of Hailey’s character – the times when she’s accusing him of using his money to manipulate her because that’s what her ex did annoyed me. They were just so frequent.
What I disliked: He gets over his decades decision that “love is the worst idea ever” in like 24 hours, which felt quick – but also #romancenovel.
Genre: Closed door romance, friends to lovers, new to town.
Rating & Recommendation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and yes – it’s the 3rd in a series that I haven’t read the other two in. I might like those, and maybe I’ll go back – especially if they’re all closed door, which is hard to find.
Why I picked it up: I got this as an audio arc from NetGalley (free copy in exchange for an honest review).
How I read it: On audio at 1.5x speed while driving home from NY yesterday.
What it’s about: Hailey has decided to open a shop of her own selling salad cups (sounds like a super cute place) next door to a bakery, which is where she meets Wes for the first time. The barista writes the wrong name on her cup, which just happens to be the name of the woman he was meeting there for a first date. He thinks she took one look at him and bolted, and she thinks he’s kind of a jerk. The apology that follows begins their friendship. While they are busy “just being friends” – the truth is that they’re dating without the kissing and the title. The entire book is them lying to themselves (and everyone else) that they’re just friends when they’re falling in love.
What I liked: I liked most of Hailey’s character – the times when she’s accusing him of using his money to manipulate her because that’s what her ex did annoyed me. They were just so frequent.
What I disliked: He gets over his decades decision that “love is the worst idea ever” in like 24 hours, which felt quick – but also #romancenovel.
Genre: Closed door romance, friends to lovers, new to town.
Rating & Recommendation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and yes – it’s the 3rd in a series that I haven’t read the other two in. I might like those, and maybe I’ll go back – especially if they’re all closed door, which is hard to find.
I loved reading every page of this book. The characters were all just the best and this was such a cute story. Wes and his brothers showing they can do great things without their father and also Hailey putting herself together one salad at a time. The whole book just made me happy the whole time I read it.
3.5! Oooooooh the ending of this annoyed me but the first 75% was great
NetGalley ARC
DNF, this just looks so fake, too cliché.
DNF, this just looks so fake, too cliché.
3.5⭐️After a disastrous first encounter, Hailey and Wes find themselves meeting again. Neither of them want the distraction of a romantic relationship an decide to be “just friends” but nothing more. However, as months pass and they keep hanging out, real feelings blossom. Will they take that risk?
A Guide to Being Just Friends follows Wes and Hailey as the overcome their personal differences and insecurities to become friends, and then something more… while I usually enjoy reading about characters overcoming personal struggle, I personally found it frustrating that they kept making the same mistakes over and over again. They also were clearly in love and it took them just too long to realize it. Did not really enjoy.
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I started reading this series quite by accident last year — drawn to the cover, I pulled the second book, "How to Love Your Neighbor" off the library shelf and stayed up`until after four in the morning reading it. Then I quickly read the first book in the series that I'd missed. If I liked Grace and Noah, I loved Everly and Chris. And when I saw that this last book in the series would be Wes' story? Well, good things come to those who wait.
From his first scarce mention, Wes was my favorite Jensen brother. He was quiet. Smart. Nerdy, but good looking in an understated sort of way. A little bit uncomfortable in his own skin. He felt like someone I'd met before. So when I started "A Guide to Being Just Friends" I was hopeful it would be my favorite. And it was!
There are probably a few reasons for this. Sullivan is a wonderful world-builder and character creator. After falling in love along with Grace and Noah and Everly and Chris, I didn't have to say goodbye! These characters, as well as some of the other minor ones like Stacey, Morty and Tillie, all remain part of the story in book #3.
And Hailey and Wes are the perfect pair — even if they don't realize it yet. Wes is organized while Hailey scrambles to keep things straight. Wes keeps his emotions close to his chest while Hailey let's everyone around her know how much they're loved. Wes is incredibly business savvy while Hailey is just starting to wrap her mind around being a new business owner. But they're both loyal and protective of each other, as well as of themselves. What could go wrong?
This friends-to-lovers romance is full of laughter, plenty of swoon and lots of opposites-attract energy. You can read "A Guide to Being Just Friends" as a standalone novel, but you'll have more fun if you start from the beginning and get to know the whole Jensen clan.
This book is for anyone who loves:
❤️
From his first scarce mention, Wes was my favorite Jensen brother. He was quiet. Smart. Nerdy, but good looking in an understated sort of way. A little bit uncomfortable in his own skin. He felt like someone I'd met before. So when I started "A Guide to Being Just Friends" I was hopeful it would be my favorite. And it was!
There are probably a few reasons for this. Sullivan is a wonderful world-builder and character creator. After falling in love along with Grace and Noah and Everly and Chris, I didn't have to say goodbye! These characters, as well as some of the other minor ones like Stacey, Morty and Tillie, all remain part of the story in book #3.
And Hailey and Wes are the perfect pair — even if they don't realize it yet. Wes is organized while Hailey scrambles to keep things straight. Wes keeps his emotions close to his chest while Hailey let's everyone around her know how much they're loved. Wes is incredibly business savvy while Hailey is just starting to wrap her mind around being a new business owner. But they're both loyal and protective of each other, as well as of themselves. What could go wrong?
This friends-to-lovers romance is full of laughter, plenty of swoon and lots of opposites-attract energy. You can read "A Guide to Being Just Friends" as a standalone novel, but you'll have more fun if you start from the beginning and get to know the whole Jensen clan.
This book is for anyone who loves:
❤️