I’m such a sucker for the friends-to-lovers trope.

When I first read that this book was going to fit into the friends-to-lovers, forbidden romance-esque category, I jumped at the chance to read it. I’d read The Layover by Lacie Waldron previously, so I knew she wasn’t going to let me down. (She didn’t, by the way).

So to start it off, I really enjoyed the dynamic of her friend group. All very different personalities that somehow work together in a group setting. I find that these are the best to read because there’s never a dull moment. Queue Simone.

Liv and Lucas (Deiss) are best friends (surprise, they’re part of the friend group) who go on vacation together with their group of friends who’ve made a pact to never date each other. Unsurprisingly, this fails (because what is a romcom without a bit of drama) where our main characters are concerned BUT it definitely adds some much needed spice to Liv’s life. I won’t go into too much detail in regards to the plot line but just know that Liv takes a while to warm up to, and Deiss is a sweetheart.

If you’re after a feel good romance filled with incredible character development, some witty af banter, laughs, adventures and a tiny bit of drama, this one won’t disappoint you!

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin (Putnam) for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

disfruté el flashback ocasional; mostró la dinámica del nogrupo. El concepto del grupo universitario de amigos. fue muy entretenido, principalmente porque tenías tantas
relaciones Quería más Deiss y Liv; un epílogo sería ha sido agradable Además, creo que Mac y Phoebe deberían tener su Libro propio. Disfruté este libro, no estoy seguro si lo releí, pero la escritura fue buena.

From The Jump by Lacie Walton
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Liv is an overworked graphic designer, who tried to do everything right in her life. She eats healthy, workouts out religiously, always follows the rules and is a chronic people pleaser. Until one day she finally says “no”, quits her job and for one joins her friend on their annual trip. Her usual steady planned life is turned completely upside down. Just when she thinks it can’t get any worse she starts to fall for her incredibly sexy but completely emotionally unavailable long time friend Deiss. Things get steamy between them, but of course it gets complicated and their friend group starts to crumble. Will Liv ever get her life back on track?

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Let’s start with the positive: the cover is absolutely beautiful! Loved the 11 year old friend group, that would be amazing to have. It was great to see Liv finally get a back bone and take a chance on what would actually make her happy.

However this book was just okay to me. The romance was painstakingly slowwwwwwww!! Liv’s problems were resolved quickly and with minimal effort, so unrealistic! And Deiss had all the potential to be a swoon worthy book boyfriend, but he just wasn’t. The chemistry between them could have been taken up a few notches. Also why in the world we’re they even friends with Simone?! She seemed horrible!

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Q: If you’ve read The Layover, did you like it?

I’d like to give this author another shot, and I’ve heard great things about that one.

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Thank you for the ARC, @netgalley and @putnambooks!

From the Jump Pub Date: July 19,2022

I would like to thank NetGally for an ARC of From the Jump by Lacie Waldon. This was my first book I’ve read by Lacie and it didn’t disappoint. If you like a friends to lovers book this is for you. I related to Liv Bakersfield being a rule follower and all! This book was just what I needed to get me out of a reading slump!

From the Jump was a book about the relationships we experience in our lives: platonic, romantic, and familial, as well as our relationship with ourselves. It tells the story of Liv, who grew up poor and outcast, and worked her entire adult life to turn that around by living "by the book" literally. She constantly saw herself as less than those around her, but her desire to do better got in the way of living a fulfilling life. It follows Liv, as well as her group of college friends, to a path of self-discovery, And, oh yeah, there's some romance thrown in, too. :)

I thought Liv was well-written and I enjoyed her journey to accept herself, live authentically, and loosen up her expectations of herself. I also enjoyed the Deiss character and their relationship. I did not care for the other characters in the book, especially Mac (vapid) and Simone (selfish and spoiled), and I honestly could not imagine a world in which those characters would be friends in real life. However, their friendships, however forced, did remind me of those intense and fulfilling relationships I forged during my college years, and how meaningful it can be to have friends who stand by you through teen years and adulthood, as you all mature together. Overall it was a fun, quick, and interesting read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Penguin Group for the opportunity to review this ARC.

I had a really hard time getting into this book and because I had a hard time starting this one I think it effected how I portrayed the rest of the novel. I personally found the beginning hard to believe, I mean who meets all of their friends on the first day of college?? Once the story picked up I found it a little better, after all I love a friends to lovers trope and a vacation trope.

"I’ve been watching you for eleven years. But you are missing the point. I was in awe that you tried so hard for yourself.”🌴

  One of my favorite romance tropes is friends to lovers, especially the ones where they love each other for one third or half of their lives. I binged read this book in one day. Five close friends who met in college and moved through life together. Liv is the main character. Unlike her four other friends she was not a rich kid. She worked hard to be where she is supposed to be without even realizing she is missing out. I could not blame her for wanting a better life especially after what she went through growing up. That is where I adore her friends Phoebe, Simone, Deiss and Mac. Despite the difference in their financial and social status they accepted her, loved her and money was never an issue. But things changed when Liv finally joined the group outing. Not only did she find herself entangled with Deiss, her work life and living situation changed. Despite her self-imposed standards she was finding happiness and actually enjoying life. But of course not everything goes perfect especially when friendship pacts are made and your chosen family is involved. 

  I love everything about this book. It wasn’t just about Liv or Liv and Deiss. I found myself wanting to read more about their friendship with Phoebe, Simone and Mac. Liv and Deiss were cute together. I loved the sweet “friends” moments together. Oh how I wished there were more intimate moments. Deiss was definitely a book boyfriend candidate. 

  Thank you @putnambooks and @netgalley for giving me a chance to read this book.

From the Jump is the perfect book to read on a beach vacation, curled up in a lounge chair with your kindle in one hand and a fruity little beverage in the other as you overlook the lapping waves of the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately, it's currently the middle of January, so the best I could do is pressed up against the fireplace in my coziest pajamas and nursing a can of Dr. Pepper. So, a little different vibes, but that's okay because this book was fun enough that I'll definitely be rereading come warmer weather!

From the Jump is the delightful story of Liv, a graphic designer totally burnt out on her day job and looking to take a crack at the world of freelance. After losing it in a meeting (who among us hasn't been there, really) Liv decides to quit her job and meet up with her friends on their annual friend getaway to Africa. Hijinks and heartbreak ensue!

I really loved Lacie's writing style in this book. It felt like I was the sixth member of this college-friend posse, right there with them as they camped across the African desert, and the slow burn romance had me eagerly turning page after page. Anyone familiar with Lacie's work knows she KNOWS how to write a leading man, and Lucas Deiss was no different. He'll easily be at the top of Booktok's literary crush list come July.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC. I loved the cover of this book. It just pops and drew my attention immediately. College friends going on exotic vacations and the main character Liv decides to join. Liv then has to decide if love or friendship comes first. But what happens when it’s all the same thing?

I want to start by saying I am a big fan of Lacie Waldon. I have previously read The Layover and fell in love with her stories. Much to my excitement, I was just as captivated with From the Jump.

The story had me hooked from the beginning and I could not put it down. Olivia, is a likeable character working hard to discover just what she wants from life. She has realized that the perfect life she has been trying to create for herself may not be quite so perfect after all. I found her friendships endearing and found myself laughing out loud at some of the banter within the book.

This was a great read and I look forward to reading more of what Lacie Waldon has to offer.

I received a reader's advance review copy of #FromTheJump from Net Galley. All views are my own.

Genre: romance
Pub date: 7/19/22
In one sentence: Liv has always tried to be perfect - but one day she snaps and ends up on a trip to South Africa with her college friends.

I loved The Layover, so I was really excited to read From the Jump. I related to Liv's desire for perfection, and I really enjoyed seeing her open up and take risks. Her friends were fun side characters too - I loved their banter and group dynamic. I wish more of the story had taken place in South Africa - a lot of it happened after the return from the trip, and the location didn't stand out. But I did enjoy the friends to lovers storyline, and I was glad to see Liv get a happily ever after.

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Posted to Goodreads 1/16/22, to be posted to Instagram closer to pub date.

OMG I LOVE this book! No kidding, Liv Bakersfield stole my heart. What did I love? Every single word of this story. I loved the characters, the premise....everything.The characters were so well developed that I felt Liv Bakersfield was my BFF. My heart broke many times over with this book, yet it was such a feel good book. This was a book that I spent all day looking forward to when I could get the chance to pick it up again. I highly suggest you read this when you get the chance.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for providing me with an eARC.

Olivia Bakersfield is a rule follower. She always does the "right thing" until the day she says no to her boss and finally figures out how to live her life being true to herself. Liv has a tight knit group of college friends who are always there for her. As she begin the path of living her life the way she wants to she also sees what's been in front of her all along.

short summary (no spoilers): this book is a friends to lovers trope. the main character, liv, is a graphic designer who does everything right. she is always saying “yes,” but once she says “no,” her life goes into a spiral and realizes that she hates her job! she decides to go on a vacation with her group of friends and realizes she’s falling for her longtime best friend.

this book was an easy and light read for me. all of the characters were likeable, and i enjoyed reading it. major themes were individual growth, romance, and friendships.

I also reviewed this on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CYxijQ8rEie/

This was truly a great book, there was so much I loved about it. First off, the characters were really well written. The story itself was also entertaining. I was really able to have a mental picture of everything going on while I was reading. I also found it to be realistic. The description of the lodge in South Africa and the walkway to the huts was dead on to lodges I've been to in Kenya. The secrets amongst even the closest of friends is relatable to probably just about anyone. And finally, the fear/anxiety of charting a new course rather than following the safe and expected path is something that will likely grasp many readers.
My only criticism of the book is that when passage of time is referenced, at times it doesn't seem plausible. At one point the author referenced two weeks (I assume that included the trip) and everything that had occurred, even the minor stuff such as talking to a neighbor about jogging, just didn't seem possible. That being said, for some reason time often stands out to me when reading and so maybe its just me.
Anyway, I look forward to reading more from the author. I think she has a lot of talent. Perfect weekend read or beach read!

I really like the friends to lovers troupe so I was excited for this one, but the romance between Liv and Deiss was lacking in chemistry and felt forced. I think it would have helped to have more chapters focused on their friendship in the past.

I also felt the whole friend group dynamic was unrealistic as they didn't seem to know much about each other or act like people who've been friends for eleven years.

Due to these issues, my dislike of the main character, and other unrealistic plot points, I'm giving this one 2 stars.

3.5*
Are you still friends with your College mates?

Liv was extremely fortunate. On her first day attending college, she found what turned out to be her lifelong friends. A group of five who couldn’t have been more different. Yet together they managed to overcome their many differences, remaining in close touch throughout the years.

Each year the friends take an exotic trip together. That is, all but Liv. She happens to be the cautious, responsible one. She can’t just pick up and fly across the world! Absurd! But this year is different. She plans on joining the group in Africa!

At this stage of their lives can friendships survive? If so, could that same friendship morph into something more? Or are they destined to crash and burn?

A sweet, friends-to-lovers rom-com. With just the right amount of chemistry to keep me engaged.

My first read by this author and plan to reach back to read her previous book, The Layover.

A rom-com weekend buddy read with Susanne.

Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam

Okay, I adored this story, not surprising since I loved The Layover. I came into this book completely unaware of the plot and jumped in.

This novel is so refreshing, and the message that I got from it is an important life lesson - don't get stuck, keep moving forward, and don't look back.

Following the advice of her coworker, Liv finally decides to say no, and on a whim quits her job and goes on vacation with her friends in South Africa. At first, I'll admit that I didn't relate to the main character at all, but then I realized, when's the last time I was able to say no? Like Liv, I'm definitely a yes woman, a chronic people-pleaser, and that's just my personality, but maybe it masks what I'm really afraid of - rejection.

The only thing that bothered me was the love interest's name - how on earth do you pronounce that? In my head, I was calling him Lucas because I didn't want to fumble his last name in my head.

Yes, I would 100% recommend this book, I loved it - it made me think and re-examine my life. This book will be released on July 5th, 2022, and I believe you can pre-order it now.

tbh I wasn't impressed with the romance here. it felt really forced.

all of the characters were pretty one dimensional and not super likable, especially the mc, liv. she felt like a stereotype, and there was no more depth than that.

the south african setting had me intrigued from the start, but it kind of fell flat. it was like yeah sure the story takes place there, but the setting was insignificant. it could've taken place anywhere and would've been the exact same story. sigh

overall I just wasn't super impressed with from the jump. it was objectively fine, but that's about it

I thought this book was really sweet! One of my favorite tropes is the friends to lovers, and I really enjoyed Liv and Deiss. I am also a big fan of lifelong friend groups in books, and the banter and honesty between the 5 friends from college in this group felt realistic and was enjoyable to read. The ending did feel a bit rushed, however, and I felt like I had skipped a chapter! Regardless, I look forward to reading Lacie Waldon’s future publications, Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.