A review by briannareads1342
A Guide to Being Just Friends by Sophie Sullivan

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 A Guide to Being Just Friends by Sophie Sullivan follows two people as they try to recover from past hurts, pursue their own goals, and stay far away from the prospect of any kind of relationship.

The story uses dual perspective to help give the characters and setting more depth, leading to a more empathetic view into Wes and Hailey’s perspectives on everything from work to friendship and love.

The first quarter of the book is a bit of a slog, with a lot of the world building and context being set as we get allusions to what caused these kinds of hang ups Wes and Hailey show readers throughout the story.

You can’t help but feel for Hailey as she begins building back her life together in the face of a break up with a man that is essentially a trash can personified. One aspect of her inner life that we get to see that really throws me off is what we learn about her parents and their feelings towards her and her accomplishments.

It’s that insight that makes her relationship with her cousin and family that makes it that much more cherished. I enjoy seeing more of the integration of both Hailey and West into each other’s lives, melding into their respective social circles.

It helps build out the world a bit more and the fact that we get to see each of them interacting with more than just each other makes it feel a bit more grounded.

Wes, Chris, and Noah’s ideas are the antithesis of their father as a businessman. But it does feel a tiny bit white savior-y with the “save the community center” vibes about a third of the way through the book as well.

Wes’ commitment to keeping Hailey as just a friend because he’s determined to keep her in his life as long as possible and shooting down the possibility of more is sad. There’s something about his own hang-ups with romantic relationships because of his father that feels a little heavy-handed and doesn’t really help make his motivation to keep her as a friend that much more sensible.

The landlord mystery hanging over the first third of the book or so loses steam as it becomes clear that the landlord is the one person the reader would expect considering what we learn about all the characters, specifically Wes.

Despite the fun aspects throughout and the comical, somewhat well-rounded side characters filling out Wes and Hailey’s worlds, the constant parroting of the obstacle keeping them apart and the lack of chemistry in some of the more pivotal romantic moments, there is just something missing to make it a story that will stick with you for long.