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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.
littlebarnbooknook's review
4.0
Where do I start? This book had me smiling in the first few pages. This is my second time reading a Kate O’Keeffe book and I really enjoyed it! I read the first book (Faking it with the Grump) and really enjoyed how I could familiarize myself with the characters!
I absolutely loved the Hunter’s Creek Ladies Committee, aka a bunch of women with nothing better to do. I can definitely picture this!
I absolutely loved Gabe and this story was so dang cute! The character development of Ryn was fantastic too!
Hopefully the next book will be Marlowe’s story next- definitely going to be interesting and I cannot wait to read the next one!
Thank you so much for providing me with this ARC- I absolutely enjoyed my time reading it!
I absolutely loved the Hunter’s Creek Ladies Committee, aka a bunch of women with nothing better to do. I can definitely picture this!
I absolutely loved Gabe and this story was so dang cute! The character development of Ryn was fantastic too!
Hopefully the next book will be Marlowe’s story next- definitely going to be interesting and I cannot wait to read the next one!
Thank you so much for providing me with this ARC- I absolutely enjoyed my time reading it!
eudorawa's review
4.0
Friends to more, small town, sweet and funny.
If you are a fan of friends to more you'll love this book, the newest stand alone installment in Kate O'Keefe's series about Hunter's Creek at the Second Chance Cafe. Complete with gossipy ladies in the ladies club and this book touches on hard decisions to put others first. I found this book an enjoyable read start to finish and loved the friendship between Gabe and Ryn. Watching as both main characters work to prove themselves as adults in the eyes of their small town elders was enjoyable and heart warming.
Part of the summer of romcoms by a group of sweet closed door RomCom authors, this is a perfect summer read!
If you are a fan of friends to more you'll love this book, the newest stand alone installment in Kate O'Keefe's series about Hunter's Creek at the Second Chance Cafe. Complete with gossipy ladies in the ladies club and this book touches on hard decisions to put others first. I found this book an enjoyable read start to finish and loved the friendship between Gabe and Ryn. Watching as both main characters work to prove themselves as adults in the eyes of their small town elders was enjoyable and heart warming.
Part of the summer of romcoms by a group of sweet closed door RomCom authors, this is a perfect summer read!
shelvedthoughts's review
5.0
Reader’s Notes:
– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
– this is told from Ryn & Gabe’s points of view
– Gabe’s mother passed away due to a car accident (past event) & his father had another family (with Gabe & his mother being the affair) and hasn’t wanted anything to do with Gabe previously
Review:
I loved this best friends to more story! Gabe and Ryn were great together and I loved their chemistry! I also loved how Ryn’s aunt liked to meddle and the two of them just went along with it despite the feelings their attempts would dredge up. I loved getting to know Gabe more in this book than we did in the previous one and that he was more than just a bartender. I loved getting to see the tables turned on Ryn as little things made her question (& gave her hope about) what she thought she always knew about her friendship with Gabe. Some of my favorite moments/scenes in this book included: Gabe glass blowing, Ryn’s aunt and her friends trying to matchmake them, looking at the stars, karaoke, and the small town dynamic mixing with Hollywood.
Summary:
Ryn and Gabe are best friends who are constantly being matchmade by their small town’s busybodies. Both of them are adamant that they are just friends, but neither of them realize how much the other wishes that the opposite were true…
Ryn wishes that her best friend loved her as more than a friend, she’s thought that since they kissed back in high school. But Ryn doesn’t believe that kiss meant anything to Gabe, who had just come out of a relationship at the time. Ryn doesn’t want to be a rebound that could hurt their friendship when the feelings aren’t reciprocated. She wants a love that is thrilling and all consuming. So when a Hollywood movie company comes into her small town and a hot guy gives her attention, Ryn is all in for the fun it promises…
Gabe fell for his best friend but can’t tell her. After they kissed in high school, Ryn acted like it didn’t happen and Gabe took that to mean that she didn’t like him the same way. But his feelings never went away. Every time he has to watch Ryn go out with the same type of guy that he knows will hurt her hurts him. Sure it gives him the opportunity to step in as the comforting shoulder when she needs it, but Gabe knows that Ryn is worth so much more than those guys give her. He could be that guy if only she’d give him the chance…
– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
– this is told from Ryn & Gabe’s points of view
– Gabe’s mother passed away due to a car accident (past event) & his father had another family (with Gabe & his mother being the affair) and hasn’t wanted anything to do with Gabe previously
Review:
I loved this best friends to more story! Gabe and Ryn were great together and I loved their chemistry! I also loved how Ryn’s aunt liked to meddle and the two of them just went along with it despite the feelings their attempts would dredge up. I loved getting to know Gabe more in this book than we did in the previous one and that he was more than just a bartender. I loved getting to see the tables turned on Ryn as little things made her question (& gave her hope about) what she thought she always knew about her friendship with Gabe. Some of my favorite moments/scenes in this book included: Gabe glass blowing, Ryn’s aunt and her friends trying to matchmake them, looking at the stars, karaoke, and the small town dynamic mixing with Hollywood.
Summary:
Ryn and Gabe are best friends who are constantly being matchmade by their small town’s busybodies. Both of them are adamant that they are just friends, but neither of them realize how much the other wishes that the opposite were true…
Ryn wishes that her best friend loved her as more than a friend, she’s thought that since they kissed back in high school. But Ryn doesn’t believe that kiss meant anything to Gabe, who had just come out of a relationship at the time. Ryn doesn’t want to be a rebound that could hurt their friendship when the feelings aren’t reciprocated. She wants a love that is thrilling and all consuming. So when a Hollywood movie company comes into her small town and a hot guy gives her attention, Ryn is all in for the fun it promises…
Gabe fell for his best friend but can’t tell her. After they kissed in high school, Ryn acted like it didn’t happen and Gabe took that to mean that she didn’t like him the same way. But his feelings never went away. Every time he has to watch Ryn go out with the same type of guy that he knows will hurt her hurts him. Sure it gives him the opportunity to step in as the comforting shoulder when she needs it, but Gabe knows that Ryn is worth so much more than those guys give her. He could be that guy if only she’d give him the chance…
michellereads2024's review
4.0
What a cute, sweet story! Gabe and Ryn have been best friends for as long as they can remember. They have been through all of life's ups and downs together but Gabe has fallen hard for his best friend while Ryn is still chasing the bad boys. What happens next is their story of how they find each other and become more. I loved the meddling townspeople in this story and all the small town feels. The Hollywood and movie filming added just enough to this story to make the readers wonder what Ryn would do next. I highly recommend picking this one up!
Thank you to Kate O'Keeffe for providing me an eArc in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Kate O'Keeffe for providing me an eArc in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
randikaye's review
5.0
Faking It With My Best Friend is the second book in the Second Chance Cafe series. While I think you could enjoy this story as a standalone, there are definitely some spoilers for the first book if read out of order. I LOVED the first book in this series, and couldn't wait to read Ryn and Gabe's story. Thankfully, it did not disappoint.
The thing I love most in a best friends-to-lovers story is that there is so much history there that makes the romance all that much sweeter... and that was certainly the case here too. I loved the friendship between these two and how everyone in the town, except for Ryn herself, knew that they were meant to end up together. This leads to some fun matchmaking moments from meddling townsfolk... and if there is one thing that makes small-town romances some of the best, it's those meddling townsfolk! This was definitely a bit of a slow burn, but so worth the wait when they finally get together.
This is a closed-door romance- lots of chemistry, but nothing beyond kisses and no bad language.
This was an absolutely fantastic read. If you're looking for your next small-town romance read, this book (and series) is definitely one to check out!
**I received an ARC for consideration. All opinions are my own.
The thing I love most in a best friends-to-lovers story is that there is so much history there that makes the romance all that much sweeter... and that was certainly the case here too. I loved the friendship between these two and how everyone in the town, except for Ryn herself, knew that they were meant to end up together. This leads to some fun matchmaking moments from meddling townsfolk... and if there is one thing that makes small-town romances some of the best, it's those meddling townsfolk! This was definitely a bit of a slow burn, but so worth the wait when they finally get together.
This is a closed-door romance- lots of chemistry, but nothing beyond kisses and no bad language.
This was an absolutely fantastic read. If you're looking for your next small-town romance read, this book (and series) is definitely one to check out!
**I received an ARC for consideration. All opinions are my own.
huntingforagoodread's review
4.0
I continue my questionable habit of reading a book in the middle of a series with Faking It With My Best Friend.
First off, I adored Ryn’s character. She felt like a little sister or cousin, someone that you would want to protect and keep safe.
Gabe’s character, whoa, if this was a steamy romance he would have been A+. Even though it was not steamy, I give him an A! The character descriptions for him. Yum.
The conflict with his biological father, and the other people in their lives was well done but I would have smacked Joe in the face. Then Natalie, if I was Ryn.
I loved the epilogue because I feel like it really showed Gabe’s true character and strength, with Ryn by his side. Overall, amazing read!
I was given a free copy of this book for my honest review.
First off, I adored Ryn’s character. She felt like a little sister or cousin, someone that you would want to protect and keep safe.
Gabe’s character, whoa, if this was a steamy romance he would have been A+. Even though it was not steamy, I give him an A! The character descriptions for him. Yum.
The conflict with his biological father, and the other people in their lives was well done but I would have smacked Joe in the face. Then Natalie, if I was Ryn.
I loved the epilogue because I feel like it really showed Gabe’s true character and strength, with Ryn by his side. Overall, amazing read!
I was given a free copy of this book for my honest review.