This book was fun, easy, but predictable. If you want a slow burn, 'its always been you,' friends to lovers story- this is for you!

Before reading this, I thought vacation would play a major role, but it was only a few chapters.

My only other complaint is how 'perfect' the characters all were. They were all described as super attractive, there was an ex-child star, an influencer, etc.

I really liked this book. It was a book that I thought was going to be completely predictable, but the author did a great job of adding unexpected elements. I loved the characters and kept wanting to pick this book up to read more.

This would be an amazing vacation read. It's quick with a fun story and all wraps up nicely at the end.

Side note: I couldn't help but picture Jason Dohring's character Logan Echolls from Veronica Mars for the character Diess in this story. I'm a huge VM fan, so it made this book even better.

Saying I loved this book is an understatement. This was a breath of fresh air. I love everything about it. The characters, the build up, the finale. UGH. Big appreciation for any rom com type book that doesn't drag out the break-up scene for too long and lets us readers rejoice in the love and feelings. THIS WAS SO GOOD.

Liv Bakersfield is used to living her life in “shoulds.” Be fit. Be financially responsible. Be your best self. An overworked graphic designer, she’s stretched so thin that she’s about to miss yet another vacation with her beloved group of college friends. But when Liv finally decides to start saying no, it feels good…good enough to leap straight into quitting her job and hopping on a plane to join them in South Africa.

Amid the exotic landscape and unforgettable sights, Liv expects sun and safari animals and an easy time with her best friends. But such close proximity makes everything more complicated, especially with the emotionally unavailable Lucas Deiss. Their friendship is the only thing in her life that's still solid, and she vows to do anything she can to keep the group together. But once they get back to LA, Liv discovers that her leap of faith has become a freefall, sending her crashing into Deiss's arms. With the trust of the people she loves most on the line, Liv must decide between doing what she should … and risking everything for what she shouldn’t want.


Friends-to-lovers is not one of my favorite tropes, unfortunately. Neither is reformed playboy, which is why this isn't a five star. Nothing wrong with the writing itself but something about those tropes just don't rev my motor haha,
But the book itself was good, and I enjoyed the characters themselves.
I think the friend group and how they treated Liv was really sad. I didn't like her being excluded purposefully because I have been that person in the friend group. I think ultimately though as you get older you realize that a lot of people might come into your life and be very important, one day you realize you haven't talked to them much and that's really sad. I really enjoyed Liv's journey because found myself relating to her so much. I constantly up pressure on myself to be the very best I can, be and feel overwhelming shame when I don't live up to my own expectations. She reminds me that it's ok to step back and take a deep breath.
The romance itself was written very well. I don't like slow-burn unless it is written well. My favorite slow burns are all by Mariana Zapata. I like when the romance is clearly a core element of the story, but the characters as individuals are just as important. I like books where I want to know about a character's past, and I want to reflect with them about their lives. This book does that.

I DNF’ed this book unfortunately. I barely made it 17% and I just couldn’t handle the main character. A yes girl, sure sounds good. A late 20 year old who does life according to self help books called Husband Huntress and how to impress? Don’t buy it for a second. And fine if she refers to them once but she refers to them constantly.. no 20-something lives her life this way. I couldn’t read anymore and I was so disappointed since I absolutely loved The Layover.

This was totally addictive, sweet and swoony. I could not put it down. Like, wanted to (and maybe did?!) ignore all my responsibilities.

Read this if you love:
▪️Wanderlust
▪️Found family
▪️Swoony book boyfriends
▪️A big cast of great supporting characters
▪️Character growth and discovery

This was a perfect book for summer! I loved The Layover by this author so I was excited to be approved for this one!

We have a tight friendship group in this one. I figured out pretty early on that Liv and Deuss had amazing chemistry and was rooting for them. They were natural together and Liv fell quickly and Deuss feel along time ago.

I was a little annoyed at the group of friends. They said they always met on the 3rd Thursday of the month, but when Liv starts to stay with Phoebe and Deuss we find out they have just been hanging out without her. And when she finds out they don't really try to excuse it. But they also all go on a crazy expensive vacation and leave Liv out since she can't afford it. I just feel like there should have been way more apologies from the friends. This doesn't seem like the "found family" book I was promised.

I thought it was interesting based on the title and cover that they weren't on vacation for very long and that a lot of it takes place when they get back.

I think it was a good friends to lovers. I think they had reasons for growing closer and the chemistry was clear. I would've preferred Deuss not being so much of a playboy, but I'm not the biggest fan of reformed playboy trope. But he was besotted and sweet with Liv so I was content with their ending!

Overall, I liked her first book The Layover better, but I'll still keep an eye out for her books to come!

I loved lacies first book, the layover and couldn’t wait to jump into this one! It did not disappoint. Such a fun summer read for those with wanderlust. Lacies writing is top notch, as was the romance.

I have been looking forward to reading this one since I LOVED The Layover! I had high hopes for what Lacie Waldon would write next - and this did not disappoint! It was a cute read - I loved the scenes from their vacation too. Friends to lovers is a classic trope and this was executed well!

Coming-of-age / slow-burn romance, with the extra bonus of a trip to South Africa. Good pool read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This is my second read by Lacie Waldon and while I really liked The Layover, I liked From the Jump even more! Liv does what so many of us wish we could do and decides to step out of her comfort zone and start living life exactly the way she wants to. I love reading about her taking chances rather than continuing to do all the things she should be doing. This was a quick perfect beach or vacay read with a slow-burn love story and an endearing friend group that made me want to go on vacation right now!

• Friends to lovers
• Forced Proximity / Roommates
• Strong Friend Group / Found Family
• Slow Burn

I enjoyed Lacie Waldon’s first book The Layover, but have to say her sophomore release From The Jump impressed me even more. First off, I want to say that though this read has moments of levity and romance, it is not what I would traditionally refer to as a romcom. Rather I would call this more of a romantic drama, with moments of levity and lightheartedness woven in.

The premise of this one really intrigued me – I loved the idea of someone who has tried to do it all ‘right’ and ‘by the book’ having to re-evaluate and shake up her life. I enjoyed that the story started with the whole friends vacation angle and loved that the romance piece was a friends to lovers slow burn that also involved the Forced Proximity / Roommates tropes.

While I obviously was here for the romance and enjoyed that slow burn immensely – I really loved the slow unraveling of Deiss. I also really loved that the story chose to focus on a long term friend group and how it has grown and changed over time, I loved how they really were still integral to each others lives and a ‘found family’.

This was fun summer / vacation read and was easy to get through, I definitely look forward to more from this author (and wouldn’t mind another book that focuses on Mac and Pheobe). I think fans of authors like Beth O’Leary, Angie Hockman, and Sarah Hogle would enjoy.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Friends to lovers is my second favorite trope, although sometimes it feels a little too saccharine to be palatable. Thankfully, that’s not the case here.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: July 19, 2022

I was reeled into this one by a fun cover and the prospect of a friends to lovers vacation romance. Unfortunately, our FMC seems whiny and naive from the start with an inner dialogue I found difficult to read. I don’t really buy into this group of friends either—for being so close, their interactions come across distant. This writing style and plot may work as a good summer romcom for some but not for me.

☀️ Vacation vibes
🔥 Steamy slow burn
❤️ Friends to lovers
This book was a great mixture of romance and a coming of age story. Liv has been in an amazing friend group for 11 years, when she finally decides on a crazy whim to join them on one of their group trips, her life changes forever.

An awesome story of growth, love for friends and a friendship that grows to a bigger love. 5 stars! Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this friends to lovers, slow burn romance! Found family is one of my top tier tropes and this book has one of the best found families. Each character is so well-developed, I felt like I was a part of their friend group. I really enjoyed watching the dynamic change between Deiss and Liv, there was so much tension and pining and he was so clearly gone for her from the very beginning and it was perfect. This is a witty, sharp, fun summer read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam's for the arc.
I loved this author's debut, The Layover, and was excited to read this one. I thought the beginning was a little slow, the ending definitely fell a little short for me, and after their 11-year-long friendship, it was hard to believe (no spoilers) when one of them betrayed another's secret. Otherwise, it would have been 5 stars. Some very funny one-liners, and one of my favorite descriptions of all time: "a one-bedroom apartment with a stove full of books." Brilliant! Looking forward to her next book.

This was a great book!

Olivia has spent her entire adult life striving for perfection. She does everything by the book. Until she doesn't. She finally decides to say "no" and joins her college friends on their South African vacation. While there, her friendship with Lucas Deiss starts to blur lines into something more. However, also while in South Africa, she makes a pact with her friend Phoebe to keep things strictly friendly with Deiss for the benefit of the friend group. When they return home, Liv's entire life is flipped upside down and things with Deiss get even more complicated.

The friends to lovers romance between Liv and Deiss feels very natural and organic. On top of that, From the Jump explores themes of finding yourself, friendship, and how your childhood can shape who you grow into. I enjoyed being on Liv's journey of self discovery. The secondary characters of Phoebe, Mac, and Elena were also interesting and entertaining. Simone never grew on me.

One thing that was a bit frustrating to read is when you so clearly see the mistake/conflict coming. I just wanted to reach through the book at one point and yell at Liv so we could avoid the unnecessary drama.

I really liked this one and look forward to what Lacie Waldon will come up with next!

This was not for me, at all. Liv was whiny and clueless. How could she still be friends with Elena after what happened? Why wasn’t she more worried about her cat than her friends? None of this book made sense to me. I’m not sure how or why these people remained friends for so long. Maybe because they all deserved each other.

I just can’t get into this book. I gotta DNF it for now. I’ll listen to the audiobook after it’s released because I really liked The Layover. I think I would like this too but I just keep reading the same few pages over and over. It’s me, not the book.