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jacjacs's review
4.0
this is such an adorable small town best friends to lovers story where legit everyone sees the main characters love for each other except the characters themselves and I ate it up!
helen_88's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
oreolover15's review
Gabe and Ryn are freaking adorable. I absolutely love them together.
Gabe does not understand why Ryn is always falling for the bad boy that will, without a doubt, eventually take her heart and smash it. He doesn't get why she doesn't realize she deserves so much better than anything they can offer.
Ryn has always had Gabe's back and always will.
In a small town, with meddling ladies, it's hard to get out from under the scrutinizing gaze where everyone thinks they should be together. At least once a day they field questions and statements about how they should be together.
But they're just friends. Friends forever. Just Gabe and Ryn. Ryn and Gabe. Both totally awesome, attractive, people who definitely do not have feelings for each other. .... Right?
This is a classic friends to lovers story with a bit of jealousy and longing and ... friendship!
Thanks so much to the author for the eARC!
Gabe does not understand why Ryn is always falling for the bad boy that will, without a doubt, eventually take her heart and smash it. He doesn't get why she doesn't realize she deserves so much better than anything they can offer.
Ryn has always had Gabe's back and always will.
In a small town, with meddling ladies, it's hard to get out from under the scrutinizing gaze where everyone thinks they should be together. At least once a day they field questions and statements about how they should be together.
But they're just friends. Friends forever. Just Gabe and Ryn. Ryn and Gabe. Both totally awesome, attractive, people who definitely do not have feelings for each other. .... Right?
This is a classic friends to lovers story with a bit of jealousy and longing and ... friendship!
Thanks so much to the author for the eARC!
kdjackson's review
4.0
Very enjoyable book! Small town, best friends to lovers, family issues, sweet rom-com. Could be read as a standalone but it’s better when read as the sequel to “Faking it with the Grump”. These books just make you smile and feel good
emily_loves_2_read's review
5.0
Faking it with my Best Friend
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Author: Kate O’Keeffe
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from Kate O’Keeffe and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: The two of us have been best friends forever. But it turns out, one of us is a phony. Gabe and I are the dynamic duo of Hunter’s Creek and have been ever since we were kids. My bestie is not only sweet and loyal, but he’s totally hot in that flannel-wearing lumberjack way of his. Not that I see him like that. Well, not since we kissed that one time back in high school. Thank goodness we have each other, because life in a small town can bore the socks right off you. At least that was true until Hollywood showed up, bringing along hottie Joe Turner. Joe has my head turning so swiftly, I might just earn a degree in neck gymnastics. But here’s the Gabe isn't exactly Joe's number one fan, and when your bestie doesn’t like your romantic interest, it sure puts a dent in things. As for the Hunter’s Creek Ladies Committee, a squad of women with such fine-tuned meddling ways to make a soap opera jealous, they're convinced Gabe's harboring a secret crush on me. Which is crazy. Everyone knows we're just friends. Aren’t we?
My Thoughts: This is book no. two in the Second Chance Cafe series. I have read the first one, as well as this one. However, this one can be read as a standalone and you would no problem following along. O’Keeffe is one of my favorite indie authors. Gabe and Ryn have been best friends forever, while keeping one another in the friend zone, even if they have both been secretly pining over the other for years. Hollywood shows up bringing a little competition coupled with Hunter’s Creek Ladies Committee, brings a sweet closed door romance that was a lot of fun to read. The book follows the tropes of best friend’s brother, small town romance, and friends to lovers.
The story is narrated in a dual narration by Ryn and Gabe, in their perspectives, which I loved. Ryn has so much personality, is outgoing, while struggling to figure out what her thing is. Gabe is charming, brooding, compassionate, and loyal. Gabe and Ryn were adorable together and I was rooting the whole time for them to just take the risk, no risk means no reward, however big risk (on love) could mean big reward. The author does an amazing job at creating Hunter’s Creek, it definitely feels like a town I would love to visit, very detailed. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, definitely a lot of chemistry, and intriguing. The author’s writing style was clean, crisp, complex, swoony, and engaging.
This story just makes you feel good, a heartwarming tale about two best friends who destined to be together. I love O’Keeffe’s storytelling ability. I highly recommend this one and the previous one. The third sister, Marlowe’s story will be out November of this year, and I cannot wait (“Faking it with the Guy Next Door”).
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Author: Kate O’Keeffe
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from Kate O’Keeffe and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: The two of us have been best friends forever. But it turns out, one of us is a phony. Gabe and I are the dynamic duo of Hunter’s Creek and have been ever since we were kids. My bestie is not only sweet and loyal, but he’s totally hot in that flannel-wearing lumberjack way of his. Not that I see him like that. Well, not since we kissed that one time back in high school. Thank goodness we have each other, because life in a small town can bore the socks right off you. At least that was true until Hollywood showed up, bringing along hottie Joe Turner. Joe has my head turning so swiftly, I might just earn a degree in neck gymnastics. But here’s the Gabe isn't exactly Joe's number one fan, and when your bestie doesn’t like your romantic interest, it sure puts a dent in things. As for the Hunter’s Creek Ladies Committee, a squad of women with such fine-tuned meddling ways to make a soap opera jealous, they're convinced Gabe's harboring a secret crush on me. Which is crazy. Everyone knows we're just friends. Aren’t we?
My Thoughts: This is book no. two in the Second Chance Cafe series. I have read the first one, as well as this one. However, this one can be read as a standalone and you would no problem following along. O’Keeffe is one of my favorite indie authors. Gabe and Ryn have been best friends forever, while keeping one another in the friend zone, even if they have both been secretly pining over the other for years. Hollywood shows up bringing a little competition coupled with Hunter’s Creek Ladies Committee, brings a sweet closed door romance that was a lot of fun to read. The book follows the tropes of best friend’s brother, small town romance, and friends to lovers.
The story is narrated in a dual narration by Ryn and Gabe, in their perspectives, which I loved. Ryn has so much personality, is outgoing, while struggling to figure out what her thing is. Gabe is charming, brooding, compassionate, and loyal. Gabe and Ryn were adorable together and I was rooting the whole time for them to just take the risk, no risk means no reward, however big risk (on love) could mean big reward. The author does an amazing job at creating Hunter’s Creek, it definitely feels like a town I would love to visit, very detailed. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, definitely a lot of chemistry, and intriguing. The author’s writing style was clean, crisp, complex, swoony, and engaging.
This story just makes you feel good, a heartwarming tale about two best friends who destined to be together. I love O’Keeffe’s storytelling ability. I highly recommend this one and the previous one. The third sister, Marlowe’s story will be out November of this year, and I cannot wait (“Faking it with the Guy Next Door”).
heyitsmagicallysarah's review
4.0
Everyone sees that Gabe and Ryn belong together, except Gabe and Ryn.
I loved returning to Hunter’s Creek for this friends to lovers story. I think what I appreciated most is the trust, understanding and true friendship between the MCs. Plus all the quirky fun with the side characters you find in a small-town romance.
If you’re looking for a quick, fun, small-town, closed door romcom, look no further!
Thank you to the author for this ARC!
I loved returning to Hunter’s Creek for this friends to lovers story. I think what I appreciated most is the trust, understanding and true friendship between the MCs. Plus all the quirky fun with the side characters you find in a small-town romance.
If you’re looking for a quick, fun, small-town, closed door romcom, look no further!
Thank you to the author for this ARC!
jhorras's review
4.0
Great book overall! I love Ryn and Gabe! All the characters really and the story was sweet with a few hilarious lines, etc. also which I love! The pace was a little slow at times in the middle but I think the side stories were necessary to make this a full novel. Overall, great read!
mssarahbni's review
4.0
This was a cute friends to lovers romantic comedy. I liked the small town setting of the story and the connection between Ryn and Gabe. I didn’t necessarily enjoy the OM and OW drama, I especially found the Natalie storyline tiresome, she was just so aggressive in her pursuit of Gabe, even though he clearly wasn’t interested. That being said I liked the ending and did enjoy reading the book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
bookishlychar's review
4.0
Faking it with my Best Friend is a sweet friends to more story. Ryn and Gave have been friends since childhood. The small town has been matchmaking Ryn and Gabe forever. They have both been pining for each other forever, both afraid of ruining the good friendship they have. When Ryn starts dating Joe, Gabe cannot find it in himself to support it, he knows Joe is no good, now only if Ryn will see who her perfect match is.
I loved the friendship between Ryn and Gabe. Not only is Ryn an important person in Ryn's life, but her whole family has become part of his. His fear of losing his "found family" is a normal one and made sense. I thought the history between Ryn and Gabe was written perfectly and made me love the story even more.
The whole town knew Ryn and Gabe were in love with each other (even without admitting it to themselves) and I thought it was cute how they pushed them together at times. I also thought the third act conflict didn't drag on and was dealt with in a good way (not breaking up, but rather asking for space).
I thought this was a cute friends to lovers, slow-burn romance and enjoyed it thoroughly. Thank you to the author for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.
I loved the friendship between Ryn and Gabe. Not only is Ryn an important person in Ryn's life, but her whole family has become part of his. His fear of losing his "found family" is a normal one and made sense. I thought the history between Ryn and Gabe was written perfectly and made me love the story even more.
The whole town knew Ryn and Gabe were in love with each other (even without admitting it to themselves) and I thought it was cute how they pushed them together at times. I also thought the third act conflict didn't drag on and was dealt with in a good way (not breaking up, but rather asking for space).
I thought this was a cute friends to lovers, slow-burn romance and enjoyed it thoroughly. Thank you to the author for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.