4.5/5

This was a really, really good friends to lovers romance. I loved how the books focus was majorly on Liv and Deiss's and there wasn't a ton of side plot. A few of my recent reads were lacking the romance so this book filled the gap I needed. I also appreciated getting to see Liv grow throughout the book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Liv is a stickler for the rules, but after realizing she hasn't really been living to the fullest, she spontaneously joins her friends in South Africa on their vacation. While Liv's life veers off the carefully manicured path she had created, it is exactly what she needs to spread her wings and let loose.

I found this book to be really cute. I like how we got to see Liv's walls slowly come down and Diess and Liv both expressed moments of vulnerability with one another. This really helped the growing tension and attraction between the two of them and it made the wait for their relationship worth it. I liked how mature the two of them were and the dynamics within the friend group were also a lot of fun to read about.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Netgalley & Penguin Group Putnam!

After years of saying yes to everything asked of her, Liv Bakersfield finally decides to do something for herself and quits her job. With trepidation and excitement she hops on a plane to meet up with her college friend group in South Africa. This trip has Liv not only jumping into her new, unplanned future but the arms of friend Deiss.

From the Jump is more than just a fluffy friend to lovers book. While there is romance the storyline follows Liv’s journey to come to terms with her past and love the life she has made for herself. It explores not just her romantic relationship but her relationships with her friends and her mother.

This is the first book that I have read from author Lacie Waldon and I really enjoyed her style of writing. I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Liv lives her life to what she feels others view as successful. She works out, works too much to be financial stable. does everything by the book, even has a nickname of "ice queen" as she doesn't let emotions play into her life. When one day she snaps after getting a less than ideal assignment at work, she does something she has never done before she books a last minute flight to fly to South Africa to join her friends on a trip. During this time Liv lets go of her make up, her expectations and just experiences the world with her best friends, one of which she becomes close to, Deiss. They bicker but then become closer and he steps in to rescue Liv from the chaos she experiences once she gets home. We follow the dynamics of the friend group, the relationship between Deiss and Liv and the relationship Liv has with herself. A cute little rom-com read.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC of From the Jump and the chance to share a review, voluntarily.

Olivia is living her life a human self-help book, taking everyone else’s advice rather than listening to her own instincts. She makes a spur of the moment decision to follow her oldest friends on a vacation for the first time in their long history. What unfolds is an examination of her wants, unrequited love and her true self.

This was a really fun read. I loved the relationships between the friends and how deeply they were connected. Lucas as a gem and such a grounding presence for Olivia.

The dialogue was great and believable. I thought Olivia’s past could have been explored more deeply and I wished that she’d shared more of herself with all of her friends and not just Lucas. I really enjoyed the creativity of the plot and how the story was told in new ways.

From the Jump follows Olivia (Liv) Bakersfield on her journey from the known to the unknown as she leaves her monotonous “treadmill” life to fly off to Africa with her college friend group. After reading Waldon’s fantastic debut, The Layover, I was excited to see another colorful-covered book coming up in publication. I absolutely loved this book and I would absolutely give it five stars.

Waldon’s voice is fresh and witty and I found myself commiserating with Liv and adoring her friend group right along with her. Waldon creates dynamic characters that jump off the page. Their friend group’s complex history is woven into the text in just the right way. I usually hate flashback scenes but I found myself eager to hear about how the five friends acted in college after they first met. With the addition of Liv and Deiss’ childhoods, I felt like I really knew the friends. I was sort of the silent member of the group watching everything unfold.

The plot of From the Jump kept me guessing. We open on Liv in college and then find ourselves in her office meeting Elena, her eclectic coworker. Then suddenly we’re in Africa and inside a car with Deiss, beginning to feel those first sparks of something that’s undeniably more than friendship between him and Liv. I love a good friends-to-lovers trope and this romance could not have been more perfect, even if Liv despises the word. Waldon created a lot of tension between the two that went on for a while. I loved it.

The dialogue is engaging and well done. I felt like I could insert myself into their conversations on every page and I thought Waldon did a great job creating distinct voices for each of the characters.

Avoiding spoilers, I’ll just say that I was really surprised by the plot twist after Liv’s return home from Africa. Wow. My stomach twisted as I read and I was actually anxious for her! It was shocking and really raised the stakes for Liv’s trajectory for the latter half of the book. Plus we then get those adorable scenes of domesticity between Liv and Deiss which warmed my heart.

The ending was dramatic and had my heart pounding in all the right ways. I kept feeling like yelling at Liv to just talk to Deiss but I knew she wouldn’t hear me. But in the end, it all culminated in a beautiful image of friends as family, a theme that came up throughout the text that I really appreciated. My final note: I love that Liv is a cat person. I’m a sucker for a book character that also loves cats.

I’m so glad I had the chance to read this book, it was such a fun read and perfect for this upcoming summer! A big thank you to Penguin Group Putnam for sending the digital ARC through Netgalley for an honest review!

Liv finally decides to go on the annual vacation with her close group of friends after years of not letting herself break away from her job or everyday life. While in South Africa she connects closely with Deiss, which leads the group to make a pact that none of them will get involved with each other for the sake of friendship.
Also while in South Africa, Liv's house is robbed and she loses everything. With no where to live, no money and no job, she moves in with Deiss.
Who would have thought that the best thing that could happen to you, is to lose everything?

Liv is so likeable and relatable. Not for one minute was I annoyed by her choices. She was real and any mistakes she did make could have easily been made by anyone.

I loved Liv and Diess together. The banter, the chemistry, the tension. I didn't read the description before I read the book, so I had no clue that they were going to be anything before I started reading. I am so happy I didn't know. The moment they interacted, I just knew it would happen. It had to happen.

I absolutely adore a story with a close friend group. This group is wonderful. I loved that they weren't the "perfect" friends, they all had their flaws and they all still loved each other so much. Even during a seemingly friendship ending fight, a single phone call will make them all drop what they are doing a rush to help. Also the shop crew, love them so much, even grumpy Mia.

I would like another book, that makes me like Simone, thank you.

Thank you to PENGUIN Group Putnam and Netgalley for this ARC. And thank you to Lacie Waldon for writing one of my favorites of this year.

5 stars!! This was the first novel I’ve read by this author and I absolutely adored it. The chemistry between the two main characters was so good and enjoyable to read. Liv and Lucas bring one of the best friends to lovers tropes I’ve read. A lovely take of friendship, family, and romance. I’m planning on reading more of Waldon in the future!

hrow this book in your beach bag this summer! It’s a super fun read— A group of friends meet in college and 11 years later, they’re still going strong. But troubles come up when couples start emerging from the group of friends breaking their dating codes.
Close proximity makes it hard for these friend-turned-lovers to resist each other.
I loved the flirting and the travel, seeing Liv go through her struggles of trying to stay perfect to finally letting loose (eating the food she wants, saying no, getting a tan, not wearing a lot of makeup…).
Another happy ending romance. No extreme drama or conflict, so if you’re looking for a generally happy summer read, this is the book for you.

With the introduction of a friend group to start the book, I wasn’t sure where we were headed, but the premise quickly kicked in and I was onboard! The life lesson of simply saying, “No!” is one I’m learning myself, so it was fantastic to see that play out with the main character. The addition of a vacation, but not as the setting of the whole book, was great. I do wish the “say No” philosophy continued further into the book, but the strong ending and twists were enough. I actually felt the chemistry between the main characters, making this a true romance.

This was a fun read. I always enjoy a friends to lovers plot and the group of college friends was fun though I really disliked Simone.

While I compulsively read this book (staying up way too late each night), I found Liv to be quite irritating for around the first 70% of the book. She redeems herself eventually, but I really just didn’t like her for the vast majority of the book, making it hard to give it above 3 stars, despite my inability to put it down to sleep. I really enjoyed the rest of the friend group, though. I’ve always wished I had a friend group like that, in it for the long haul.

The romance is a pretty slow-burn friends to lovers, but I did really like it. I was rooting for Deiss once I got to know him a bit. I didn’t like him much in the beginning either, but that was based on Liv’s perspective, which was a bit skewed.

The relationships well written and there were definitely some events in the plot that I didn’t see coming. Overall, this was an enjoyable book. Will I read it again? Definitely not. Am I glad I read it? Yes.

✍️ One Sentence Synopsis: Sometimes you’ve just gotta stop thinking about what you should do, and do what you want to do.

💭 Overall Thoughts:
Liv does everything by the book. She’s got a good job, a fit body, a beautiful apartment… but is she really happy?

This book is about taking a leap, putting aside what you feel you “should” do for a moment to find out what will really fulfill you and make you happy.

I loved the variety of characters that make up the friend group here and the chemistry that blossoms within it. I enjoy Lacie Waldon’s writing style and pacing and her character development makes for an enjoyable read!

Highlights:
💕Friends to lovers
🌱 Character growth
🧪 Adorable chemistry

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin/Putnam books for allowing me to read with request for review!

This was another addicting romance from Lacie Waldon! I read it all in one sitting and could not put it down. Liv has a plan for her life and is very career-driven. She has a close group of friends from college that decide to go on a trip to South Africa, which Liv initially turns down due to her job. However, she changes her mind and decides to take a leave from her job to meet them there. Once she arrives, there is a shift in her relationship with Deiss and she begins to see him differently. Despite making a pact with her best friend, Phoebe, that they will not hook up with any other members of their friend group, Liv starts to grow closer to Deiss after returning from South Africa. I loved the friendships in this book and the dynamic of their group. Despite their challenges, they were able to remain close throughout the book. I also absolutely loved the ending and did not see it coming at all! I am excited to read whatever Lacie Waldon writes next.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

From the Jump

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is my second Lacie Waldon book and I enjoyed this one even more than the first!

Liv has a close knit group of friends that she becomes even closer to throughout this book. I loved the group as well as her friendship with Deiss. Waldon does a great job building up the tension slowly.

For those of you that loved People We Meet On Vacation or a good friends to lovers trope, check this out!

Thanks to @netgalley for this ARC.

4.5
Thank you, netgalley for the chance to read this early. Here’s my honest review….

I loved this! 😁

The prologue sucked me in and I could barely put my kindle down.

It was perfectly imperfect…. The messiness of relationships, romantic and friendships (really, Simone? Do you have to be such a jerk?) …. realizing the struggle to be perfect isn’t making anyone happy ….

I’ll definitely be reading more by this author!

Thank you Putnam and NetGalley for the E-ARC of From The Jump in exchange for an honest review.

If I lit a coconut candle and sipped a pineapple cocktail while reading this book it would all but transport me into a vacation from every day life, it has the grab that pulls you in.

Liv Bakersfield is a very type-A woman working in graphic design. She follows the advice from blogs, books and podcasts religiously to have order in her life in all aspects: work, personal, financial, etc.

Phoebe, Mac, (Lucas) Deiss and Simone are Liv’s best friends from college that she looks forward to seeing the third Thursday of every month (so much so she says these days are better than Christmas or Halloween). They are all together for their monthly meet up discussing their friend groups annual vacation (however, Liv has never been on one of these vacations).

Everything in Liv’s life is perfectly prim, planned and polished and she’s challenged to say “no” and go against the grain doing something she wants for once in her life, rather than just what is expected of her and Liv decides to take leave from her job and join her friends on their vacation to South Africa.

So many things happen from there but I don’t want to give too much away. There were all these little, tender moments where I felt myself smiling down at my Kindle while feeling warm fuzzies and there were moments when I could feel the tension Liv was holding onto from all the stress in her life.

There’s a situation involving betrayal of trust in the last third of the book that results in some conflict that could use some more in depth exploration of, particular in the characters discussing their feelings more in depth.

Overall, this was a good read. 4 stars!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🏊🏻‍♀️ From The Jump 🏊🏻‍♀️

“I realize there’s no point in looking toward the future. The present will do just fine.”

Liv follows a predetermined path for her life based on the books she has read that tell her what she should want and how she should behave. From a rigorous diet and exercise routine with a meticulous beauty regime to a set of rules about the kinds of men she should pursue, Liv has standards set for her about every aspect of her life. When a coworker turned friend suggests she doesn’t always have to follow the rules - that she can say no - the power of taking back her life floods through her. Liv dives right in to life - jumping on a plane to join her tight knit group of college friends on an African safari. As Liv is treading water trying to take control of her life, Deiss splashes in to add the color Liv didn’t realize she was missing.

I enjoyed following along as Liv took back her life and redefined it in ways that made her happy - not in ways she was told should make her happy. A beautiful message about finding what you want from life and not letting bosses, books or society tell you what you can have.

Check this one out if you are looking for:
🏊🏻‍♀️ Friends to lovers trope
🏊🏻‍♀️ Single POV romance
🏊🏻‍♀️ Friends that become found family
🏊🏻‍♀️ A splash of finding zest for life to realize, “I don’t want to play it safe. And I especially don’t want to give up on love just because it’s messy and I can’t predict how it will end up.”

I reallllly wanted to like this book but I was very underwhelmed.

I absolutely loved when they were on their trip to Africa and feel like once they were home the storyline and romance fell flat and forced. It was also a little strange to me how the friend group was supposed to have known each other for 11 years but knew almost nothing about each other. I often found myself skimming the pages waiting for something more significant to happen,

Overall, this book was just okay for me. I am excited to try The Layover and see if it better suites me.

Thank you Net Galley and Putnam books for an ARC in return for my honest review.

From the Jump by Lacie Waldon

Such an enjoyable novel with easy to root for characters! I can’t wait to “jump” into The Layover by Waldon now after devouring this!

Olivia has always made decisions in life through the filter of what she “should” do versus what she wants to do. When her friend group goes on their annual vacation trip together, she chooses to stay behind to work so she can save money and get ahead with her career, go to the gym so she cam eat her weight, and not overindulge in food. That all changes after a conversation with her best work friend, Elena, who convinces her to take some chances ranging from abandoning her diet and having a tasty dinner to getting drunk and booing tickets to join her friends on their annual trip. Emboldened by her new ability to say no and speak her mind, Olivia’s entire life, and outlook on it, is about to shift.

This was positively charming. I did think that the buildup was a little bit on the slower side but it was honestly worth it. Most romantic novels don’t have any buildup of mystery where you genuinely wonder how things will work out but the mystery in this one, not only for Liv and Deiss but also for Mac and Phoebe and the state of their friend group added a new dimension to the book. I could see so much of my younger self in Liv - trying so hard to do all the right things and almost refuse to do something for your own pleasure, even though life is passing you by.

This was a great read for those who enjoy comedy, adventure, personal growth/discovery, and a good friends to lovers trope.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ - 4/5

Notes:
- [ ] The book ended slightly abruptly. I would love to see an epilogue or one more chapter with a cliffhanger for a sequel.
- [ ] The pact between the group felt kind of awkwardly worked in. I was glad there was a joke about it being cult like because it was kind of odd to me.
- [ ] I would have preferred chapters (maybe with timeframes?) for them versus now over the breaks in the page to shift. It gives your mind a more obvious cue to jump.