The story
Tam’s world is falling apart fast. She makes a 3am call to Josh, her best friend that she hasn’t seen in a while with their code-word “Goldfish”. He doesn’t hesitate to book her a flight home, and convinces her to re-group and find something that she is passionate about, just like she helped him with 5 years ago. Is the friendship and love that Tam and Josh share too strong to risk taking things further though?

My thoughts
Just wondering …. why are so many book boyfriends called Josh? This one is almost too perfect 😉 I appreciated how he never lost sight of Tam’s ambitions, even when this is heartbreaking for him. I loved how Tam is capable of super smart business strategy, but it made me sad to see her stuck in a dead end job. I am glad I had already read Love, Comment, Subscribe before reading Gouda Friends, but I am pretty sure this book would work just fine as a standalone. It’s a goodie! ❤️❤️

Note: This review contains NO spoilers

Here is another sweet and swoon-y romance in the Ponto Beach Reunion series by Cathy Yardley. In this second installment, the story focuses on another two members of the Nerd Herd, Tam and Josh. Yup, this friends to lovers story just screamed "ADORABLE!" Just like the first book, Love, Comment, Subscribe, Tam and Josh's story is filled with humor, friendly antics, and a little bit of stirring romance.

From the start to end, Gouda Friends is an enjoyable and fun read with moments of sensual moments. Their emotional growth throughout their story was an endearing story of love that develops between friends. Cathy Yardley wrote, just like the first book in the series, a captivating and poignant love story...AGAIN! I love that several members of the Nerd Herd are in the book which emphasizes the importance of their friendships with each other and their stories.

I just adore the friendship and love dynamics with this group of friends that Cathy has created... and continues to write. I look forward to the next Ponto Beach Reunion series story Cathy will tell. Although the books, so far, read as standalone, I recommend reading Love, Comment, Subscribe first to get introduced to the Nerd Herd.

Reviewer: Jasmine

I simply love that “the problem“ is a hot topic in Gouda friends. How they are pointing out that what you’re qualified for based on your work experience and all these other cliché things no longer exist in obtaining the life that you want. I like that people, especially younger people, are going for the job, life, and career that they want versus doing the stereotypical thing. It’s enlightening, fresh, and honestly needed in today's society.

You know I can put up with a lot of things but throwing out my good cheese ain’t one of them. Funny enough the same holds true for Tam. We can all figure out how to be an adult about breakups. Throwing out someone’s cheese? Well, that’s just criminal.

I really enjoyed this book and the collective of characters. This group of 20 something nerd herd friends are an absolute delight. The way they root for each other, support each other and are just there. I need the previous book in the series. I think there’s just one prior to this one which I will be purchasing ASAP. It’s like friends but in sunny California. I absolutely love it! I hope we get to see everybody’s happily ever after.

Now if you’ll excuse me I am off to find some cheese for my weekend!

~Tanja

Gouda Friends is a charming, at times hilarious, friends-to- lovers romantic comedy with a heavy emphasis on two things that I love: food and friendship. The chemistry between long-time friends Tam and Josh will have you turning pages quickly, hoping for a happily ever after. This is the second book in the Ponto Beach Reunion series featuring a lot of the same characters as the first book, Love, Comment, Subscribe. The characters are all part of a friend group called the Nerd Herd. I didn't read the first book in the series and I read this as a standalone, which was just as enjoyable.

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
most romances are an automatic three stars for me, simply for being my favourite genre. only when the author gives me something to truly love or feel about it does that rating change. unfortunately this book didn't do that. the premise was cute (I love a cheese joke) and it includes one of my favourite tropes, friends to lovers! what's not to love?
well, as it turns out quite a bit. which is sad, because I liked tam and josh, their friend group, their dynamic and their story. it just fell flat. a few things that annoyed or disappointed me, not enough to dislike the book, again, its cute, but there were things that just felt... odd. for example, the first time tam and josh kissed felt a bit rushed to me and I don't think it had that much purpose in that scene. it felt juvenile.
another thing that bothered me was the pierogi lady and the way she was written in relation to josh. it just felt a little icky to me...
lastly it felt like there was hardly any conflict for them to get together and the fact it took this long and the whole back and forth didn't work for me. situations change in five years! talk to each other as adults! you can have the hard conversations if you really want!! communicate!!!
other than that it was an easy romance fix that I enjoyed and would recommend if you like friends to lovers, when you feel a little lost in life or when you simply need a cheese pun

This best friends to lovers romance had all the makings for a fabulous romance from lots of cheese, a big circle of friends, an epic break up, forced proximity, and some very serious "what am I doing with my life vibes".

Honestly I thought I would just read the first few chapters this weekend and then set it aside but as it turned out I could not put it down. it was so easy to read and I was desperate for Tam and Josh to figure their stuff out and make a real go of things. The author created a fun community of friends and set up some nice nuggets for hopefully future stories. I loved Tam's growth in this book and how her arc took her from what she thought was a satisfying life to what was actually an awesome life. She did something that many of us are afraid to which is step out of her comfort zone of overachieving at something you don't love and risking a future on what actually gives her joy. She was a life lesson that I admire. The book was sexy, inspiring, and funny. I loved all the cheese puns and am excited to see what Cathy Yardley writes next.

I am so happy I have found Cathy Yardley! This Ponto Beach series about a group of nerds called the Nerd Herd is everything I love in a geeky rom-com. This book concentrates mostly on Josh and Tam who were mentioned in book one.

Tam and Josh have been bffs since childhood. They were everything to eachother and everyone around them always wondered if they ever crossed the line into something more. They've lost touch over the past few years but that changed with one call and her "goldfish " S.O.S.
Josh is the kind of dreamy nerd a girl fantasizes about. Tam is a people pleaser with a huge heart.

This best friends-to-lovers romance will have you smiling your biggest "cheesiest" grin while reading and anticipating their HEA.

As a lovers of all things cheesey, I 100% recommend this fun, light-hearted rom-com!

Gouda Friends is the second book in Cathy Yardley’s Ponto Beach Series. This friends to lovers romance with its cheese loving wittiness and ultimate friendship goals will definitely make a reader cheer for the main couple to finally be romantically together. Gouda Friends is funny, sweet, romantic and a satisfying FTL romance. Tam and Josh are the ultimate goals in friendship and romantic relationships.

This is a cheesy name for the book. That alone should advert the reader to the specific romance that this book is. The plot was somewhat predictable, but, sometimes, all you need is a feel-good romance. I recommend this book for people looking for steamy romances, cute cuddles, friends to lovers relationships.
The story is pleasant, and the main characters were likable. In the beginning, it bothered me the fact that they don’t think about the consequences. Then I got into the story and all those reasonable concerns are brushed off. I really enjoyed the side quicks of the Nerd Herd. Mostly they just bring support and positive vibes to the main characters.
This is an easy and quick reading by a very talented author. I find this story is a bit generic, but this author is capable of great storytelling. There is a lot of comedy and banter in this book and was beautifully described.

I’m really loving this app to Beach Reunion series! This group of friends is seriously everything and I can’t wait to see who is next! You do not need to read the first book but I suggest it because you will get more from the NerdHerd and these guys are hilarious!!

This book focuses on Tam and Josh! The have been best friends for years but have grown apart! When Tam faces some hard times a one worded phone call is all it takes for her to go back home and get her life straight!

What I love about these books is how relatable they are! They are regular people facing everyday life and seeing how they tackle it together is just beautiful! This friend group is a family and they have each other’s backs no matter what! Tam and Josh though need to decide if the love they have is more than just friends l!

This book reminded me of how important friendships truly are and how it’s never to late to go home!

When Tam had the absolute worst day ever, her best friend, Josh, was fully willing to come to the rescue. Although they had drifted apart, thanks in part to Tam’s completely awful boyfriend, Josh had always been her person. She helped him when he was at a career turning point, and now he feels like it’s his turn. So he flies Tam out to California, where she can catch her breath, figure out how to proceed, and reconnect with their high school group of friends, the Nerd Herd….and maybe she’ll finally see what’s been in front of her the whole time.

Tam and Josh’s connection is wonderful and I loved that he never held their distance (both literal and figurative) against her. The fact that Tam had been so career driven and never took the time to really figure out if she was happy because she was so focused on just doing a great job really resonated with me. And, no spoilers, but I love when things just don’t magically fall into place within a matter of days or weeks. This series is so fun! I loved the first book and this one solidified my need to find out more about the beloved Herd. Available 3/22/22. Thanks to Netgalley and Montlake for the eARC.

This book is very fun and a really good lighthearted read. It was a really quick and easy read, would definitely recommend. I love a good friends to lovers and Tam and Josh were a perfect pair. Although i did find some moments a little bit unbelievable i think it was handled well!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this book. It surprised me. I wasn't expecting to care about both characters as much as I did. The respect they had for each other was a great example of what most couples should aim for.
What Tam's ex did to her on social media, reminded me of just how toxic people online can be, and I'm so glad that Josh was in no way like that. I appreciated that their drama, was no drama.
Usually business talk goes over my head, but in this book, I feel like it was actually common sense stuff. Oh, and the descriptions of the food... I have a sudden craving for cheese, which I don't normally seek out.

Check this out for the food, the humour and the fun characters!

This is fun, fluffy read just as the cover and the blurb depict.

Before picking up the book, I thought it would be a somewhat emotional read (I don't know why but the book gives me the vibe) and how wrong I was. Yes, there are moments you want to hug and comfort the characters so much but they are fine as the other characters are a comforting lot.

The book seems long but it's a fun, easy breezy read for me. I read it this weekend. And it's just the perfect weekend read.

The characters are so relatable. They are social media savvy and you will find them quite relatable.

The representation of the characters is appreciable and the connection between them is just adorable.

While reading this book, you will come to know where your priorities lie and who you turn to when you are in a difficult situation. The story made me realise so many things I have been neglecting when it comes to family and my dear ones.

Just go for this book. Hello, cozy weekend 💌

Thank you, Montake, for the advance reading copy.

Loved reading this book. Especially when there is cheese involved. This Is a new author for me. I hope you enjoy it also

Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to have access to an eARC for this book in return for an honest review.

Apologies for taking so long with the feedback.

This was a great mesh between romance comedy and food, so basically all the things I love put into one book. This is a slow burn but tastes so good and I love it this is the first book I have read from cathy but I will read more.

This was really cute! I love the food talk throughout. I really liked the budding romance between our characters and how they navigate this. They are friends first which muddles their feelings for each other, but they figure it out.
Super cute food read.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

I will be honest. I started this because I love cheese.
5 stars out of 5 because I loved every single page!
Good characters, good chemistry and such a fun and emotional read. I strongly recommend this book if you are looking for a fast paced romance with lots and lots of cheese! Idk why you would be looking for cheese in a book, but there you go.

OMG! I have found a new obsession with foodie rom-coms… seriously this girl is my spirit animal! I absolutely adored Tam and her cheese obsessed self. Honestly .. I want the job she ends up with (will not tell you what to avoid spoilers)

After a rather rough start Tam escapes to her hometown and best friend Josh. Ok… let me tell you .. when he answered the phone and she said goldfish (once I figured out what that actually meant) I melted. How crazy sweet are they!

I loved this story so so much. The ups and downs Tam goes through while trying to pull her life back together are so relatable. We will all wish we had a “Josh” in our lives. This story will make you laugh so so much, and gasp a few times. Their is some steam and it is perfectly delicious!

I highly highly recommend! This was my first read by Cathy and can’t wait to read more!

Tam and Josh have been best friends since their teens and their friendship stayed true even when they dated other people. The book begins with Tam discovering her boyfriend is cheating on her and threw out some of her favorite cheese. She contacts Josh who gets her a plane ticket home and provides emotional support when she needs it.

At home, Tam sees that her ex-boyfriend had kept her away from her closest friends including Josh. Their relationship blooms into something more, but how far it goes will depend on Tam deciding what to do with her future.

This friends-to-lovers book underscores why it's often your best friend with whom you fall in love!