A review by chelseadenn34
Just Friends by Madison Wright

funny hopeful lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Oh my gosh this was just the absolute cutest friends to lovers book and such a sweet ending to Madison Wright’s Nashville is Calling series. I adored so much about this book and it had me grinning and laughing so much. 

I loved the prologue and getting to see how Alex and Hazel became friends. Alex is the brother of Ellie, the FMC in Book 2; and Hazel is the sister of Cam, the MMC in Book 2. So I loved that we got to go back a bit and see their friendship form 2 years prior to where the story takes place. 

Alex was fantastic and I just adored him. He stole my heart and is on my list of favorite book boyfriends. His thoughts and feelings for Hazel will just have you swooning. And I loved Hazel. She’s the girl I would want in my friend group. This is a definite slow burn, but was so worth it and completely valid. I felt like Hazel’s reasons for being afraid to risk the friendship were valid for her, even though everyone else knew that what she believed about herself was far from the truth. 

So one of my biggest issues with friends to lovers books is that the reason they don’t want to get into a relationship is because they don’t want to lose the friendship.  The reality of it is that the only way they get to stay best friends is if they get married; otherwise their new spouse will be their best friend. I feel like this never gets addressed in friends to lovers books (Kortney Keisel’s Complete is the only one I’ve seen address it). But this one did! Hazel’s friend Lucy brought it up twice to Hazel that she would in fact lose Alex in some capacity one day and that is real and true and I wish more friends to lovers books acknowledged this. 

I absolutely adored this book. The last chapter and epilogue had me swooning and gave me some strong Jim and Pam vibes. I have loved going back through Madison’s backlist and I am so excited for book 2 in her Mountains Are Calling series!

This is a closed door romance with minimal language and mild innuendo.