A review by ashlightgrayson
Ten Trends to Seduce Your Bestfriend by Penny Reid

emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was such a nice enemies to friends>friends to lovers story. Byron was my favorite character in the book. He is very clearly coded as someone on the autism spectrum. The book never explicitly states this, but he has a lot of the things that would indicate that he may be on the spectrum. Byron has a lot of sensory issues as well as trouble communicating effectively without coming off as a jerk. His bluntness can often be mistaken for an attempt to purposefully be a jerk to others. He also gives a lot of criticism that often is not communicated in a way that feels constructive. Underneath this prickly and cold exterior, he is very kind. He tries to help others as best he can. Whenever his friends, especially Winnifred, need something from him, he is willing to give them what they need. I found it especially endearing that he would pull back whenever he perceived that he was violating Winnifred's boundaries.
This is such a contrast to Jeff, and I'm so glad that Winnifred is able to contrast Byron and Jeff and their respect for her boundaries.
 

I appreciate that Winnifred and Byron are given the space to explore their relationships with other people. Winnie's perception of Byron is different from other people, so even from the beginning, there is definitely more to him than her initial perception. Byron is a great friend and it was cute to see him and Winnie getting along, even before they get together. I must say, though, drunk Byron is the most entertaining Byron. Winnie's compassion and ability to be understanding with him definitely helps propel their relationship forward. By the end of the book it's clear why they make sense as a couple. My only complaint is that it feels as if the book was cut short in the end. I wanted to spend more time with Byron and Winnie as a couple, so that's the only thing that brought the rating down for me. Highly recommend this if you're looking for a great enemies-to-lovers romance, especially if you like the male lead pining over the female lead.
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