Such a quick and fun read about second chances and how important it is to open up to the people you love although it can be scary

Although this was very entertaining and fun to read - at times - I had much higher expectations for this. The character of Lily although lovely, also annoyed me. We get a sense of why she’s the way she is; and we get it, but also, I saw myself wanting to shake her, and slap some sense into her. She was giving up too easily for no reason at all. The character of Matt though? Amazing! It’s rare finding a guy as funny, cute, understanding and supportive as him. I felt for him and I felt with him!
Dialogue wise, lovely. Felt natural, and at times I thought I was right there talking to them all.
I wish I could give it more than 3 stars, but something was missing! Yes it was funny, romantic, eye catching but also, it really wasn’t and I felt bored.
Favorite scene tho - mud (that’s all I’m gonna say)

One of the things that I really loved about this book was that it was pure romance. A lot of romance books tend to get to spicy for my liking, but luckily that wasn't the case with this one.
I didn't connect with the characters at all, but the plot was really cute and the whole set up gave me summer vibes. The book was quite simple and easy to read. There were a few things I didn't understand about the story and the characters and there were a few things I didn't really like, but all in all it wasn't that bad.
My only real complaint is that the four girlfriends in this books are, personality wise, too much like the girls in Sex and the City.
If you are looking for an easy and cute book for spring or summer I can definitely recommend it.

Ok, so I liked this one! I wanted to LOVE it but I'd say it missed the mark a bit for me.

Greece? Former lovers reunite? Crazy bridezilla friend and quirky supporting characters? Sign me up! Right? RIGHT?!

Well ... this book had so much potential but I felt like it kept spinning me in circles. The characters were quite repetitive in their thoughts and tendencies and the character development didn't follow very fluid path for me. Strength of characters' personalities is a huge element for me.

This book was fun, fairly light-hearted and kind of mindless. It would be a great beach read! Just don't expect it to tug at your heart strings too much ...

I had read Jo’s previous book - The House Swap and loved it, so was very pleased to be granted an ARC of Just Friends which was certainly as good. I loved this book which was set in Greece to celebrate Lily and Matt’s mutual friends wedding. Lily and Matt had been a couple a few years before but had parted due to not being able to spend enough time together and be there for one another. Having now met in Greece they realise they still have feelings for one another and wonder if they could give it another try.
There are lots of funny moments in this book and it moves along at a good speed.
It’s a great feel good read and should not be missed.

Matt and Lily were very cute, together and separately.

But I seriously thought they would never get back together as they seem to be stuck at the same place they were when they broke up the first time.

The greek setting was very pleasant and over all it was a very cute read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange of an honest review.

I adored that this book was set on a Greek island as this really set the scene for the romance of the plot. It was also interesting to unpack the personal reasons and issues that led to the breakdown of Matt and Lily’s relationship eight years ago.

There were elements that I felt to be drawn out and quite repetitive and frustrating in terms of Matt and Lily’s thoughts and feelings about one another, which slowed the pace of the novel for me. I also found some of Lily’s friends to be quite irritating and self-centred - the girl deserves better!

Overall, an easy and mostly lighthearted read that could have been a little more fast-paced and less repetitive.

*Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

A heart melting meet-cute, mixed with a stirring of the past, it honestly made me believe in people being destined for each other. I appreciated how the tension was built up over the novel and the characters didn't have this immediate "it's always been you moment", seeing their feelings for each other and knowing how the other thinks in each interaction just made me swoon all the more when any later moment did happen.

Stolen glances, inner thoughts and pining is my jam! and this book certainly did not let me down, I loved the dual POV as it had me screaming at the two of them to just communicate but also loving the relatability of neither of them wanting to go there - who doesn't have at least one ex where its questionable if they ever got over it? I particularly loved Matt and Lily's raw admittance to their own flaws but their inability to let the other person know that. It made the idea of the meeting the right person at the wrong time seem possible, that love can carry over time and grow from afar.

It was also refreshing to see that time wasn't used as "wound healer" but instead time had simply made their love grow stronger over time, it had matured them to be able to provide each other with and to see better how to love one another. I appreciated that the novel explored the idea of a romance between a slightly more mature age bracket, as they quite often get left out of romance novels who tend to focus on young love or the very elderly who reminisce on what could have been or tell their own love story. It was refreshingly relatable to see a woman surrounded by friends who were getting married or having children and yet to be in a completely different stage in her life and to try and navigate this.

The highlight of the book would have to be the raw confessions between Lily and Matt, they might have been shy to start talking again but once they did they unpacked everything and there's something so intimate so romantic in openly admitting your not over a person, in being able to say you want to try again that you think you can work.

This books is an easy cheesy read but the perfect kind where you don't easily put it down because you can't help but smile!

I only have minor issues with the narrative, such that I will say I did not quite understand the Aunts love of Donald Trump, it seemed slightly out of left field for a romance book to so pointedly address politics - even if it was just his looks, the support it implied is sure to leave some readers unsettled. Similarly there were a couple little interesting terminologies such as the aunt of a man in his 30s (I am presuming this places the aunt in approx her 70s) using words like lol in her speech aloud to others - not even via text.

In this book, two exes find themselves on an island for the same wedding and spending time together. Lily broke Matt's heart and never told him why. As they find themselves forced to do wedding tasks and save the wedding, they wonder if they are doomed to repeat their past mistakes or just remain friends.

I wanted to really like this book, but I just didn't really connect to it. There wasn't anything specifically wrong with it, but I think that sometimes even the best of books just aren't for everyone. I enjoyed the scenes with Lily and Matt. I wanted her to finally let him in and give them another chance. I was constantly frustrated by her, but she was the force keeping them apart, so I just dealt with it and kept on going. I wanted to find out how it ended.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

another one of jo lovett’s best!

I was obsessed with her christmas novel last fall, so I was absolutely stoked to read the next one in her lineup! and I was even more excited that it had the same pattern line up.

I’m a total fan of friends to lovers slow burn, and this gave me everything I wanted and more!! it was absolutely perfect with just the right amount of spice, and the GLACIER way the story moved totally was worth it for that ending 🥵🥵

we stan a good wedding not so crashing story 🤌🏼 especially with a “meet the ex” twist

thank you to netgalley and bookouture for the cute short read to keep me going!! this one’s out 3/14!

rating: 3.5 stars

Just Friends is another wonderful book by Jo Lovett. the vivid scenery and location of a remote greek island are a beautiful backdrop to such a beautiful story. the surrounding cast of characters are all unique and lovely to read about, you want to laugh at them sometimes and then hug them other times. the love story was well-done, although i felt like it went on for a bit longer than it could have. like the resolution between the two characters was being delayed longer than it should have been.

this trope of meeting an ex that you're not over yet and falling back in love is making a comeback, and i absolutely love the discussions it brings up. the chapters in the past paint a very clear picture of all the issues in their relationship, but also why the two characters are so compatible. this book felt a bit less 'rom-com' than the other book i've read by this author, since the look at why relationships fail felt very realistic. but i think i actually preferred that added depth.

this book would be great for fans of 'The Road Trip' by Beth O'Leary and 'People We Meet on Vacation' by Emily Henry.

This book overall was a sweet romance. Personally I found it a bit dragged out and slow at times. But the story was well written and I enjoyed the romance between the two of them reconnecting. The book does play into the miscommunication trope which I personally don’t like but if you do you will definitely enjoy it. Happy reading. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

3.5
This was such a lovely read, very much right person wrong time, second chances vibes, I enjoyed the romance, the pacing was good (a bit slow in some chapters but nothing major, just a fun quick read. I’m not a fan of the ‘not being able to communicate’ trope it just annoys me hence the rating, because they definitely were in love just awful at talking to eachother!! I always enjoy the dual povs cause then you get the full picture. I also enjoyed the friendships in this book especially between the bridesmaids, I am always a huge fan of friendships in romance books they seem like the most wholesome ones. LASTLY HOW COULD ANYONE NOT LOVE A GREEK SETTING, something about it just makes everything better!’ Overall if you love a good fluffy romance then you’ll love this! P.s. how gorgeous is the cover!
Also thanks to NetGallery & Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If you haven’t laid hands on the book yet, here’s your clue to stop reading. This review has spoilers.
The ‘they will-they won’t’ trope always gets to me. But this time, it was a hundred times the usual intensity. The book is actually brilliant and has made to few of my favorites.
Matt and Lily are such amazing characters. The dual POV actually gave me so many butterflies because this trope, the book, the plot, was brilliant. And seeing it from both POVs made me feel more connected to this book than anything else, really. I think Lily made a great decision when she broke up, not that it was the best decision, but that's what most of us would have done.
As for Matt, I feel pity for him more than anyone else. He was career-driven, yes, and he should’ve tried harder, yes, but after the breakup, he must’ve been in a really bad place to think he had to marry someone else so quickly and then to be cheated upon.
Till the very end, I kept wondering if they’d actually get together? Though a small part of me didn’t want them to, because Matt still worked the same career, and if he didn’t give enough time to Lily now, I’d have to kill him, not that I could. But to my satisfaction, they worked the issue out. It took another barrier, but they finally knew how to work things out, and I think that’s beautiful.
The spreadsheet part was a little crazy for me because it felt more like a business appointment than a relationship to me, but sometimes, that's how things work. And when you love someone enough, you’ll work through anything for them.

I normally don’t like the second-chance trope that much, but the synopsis of Just Friends by Jo Lovett sounded promising and the execution was brilliant.

One thing really stood out for me and that’s the authors’ style and choice of words. I love the way she tells a story within the story and how she describes them so colourful and unique. She is able to switch between heavy content and laugh-out-loud moments without effort and creates a captivating atmosphere. The sarcasm and witty and intelligent humour was on point and made me crack a smile so many times I lost track (I mean, horseback riding…a truly hilarious scene).

I adored how the relationships were presented and how they ultimately affected each other. The author uses relationships and their crises for the MCs to reflect on their own and analyse their role in them so that they end up being empowered by their new found knowledge. It’s a story about personal growth and reflection and it had me constantly on the edge of my seat, because I was expecting a big fallout to happen, that affected their relationship majorly (You have to read it yourself to know if that really happens ;) ).
The group dynamic was a huge part of the story and in the end you can’t help to wish for friends like them. Such a nice, supportive (and a little crazy) group of friends, who care for each other and help each other in a blink of an eye without asking questions.

But I have to bring one tiny disturbing factor up. Given that the chapters are dual P.O.V you get an intimate insight of the main characters. While this is a fantastic fact, their thoughts got very repetitive in the middle part. I sometimes had to chew my way through a chapter because it was the same over and over again, which was a little exhausting.

So if you are looking for a nice second-chance romance fused with some holiday vibes, go check Just Friends out, you will not be disappointed.

I raced through this book, too fast infact as I was disappointed when it ended.
It’s a relatable, fun and a real rollercoaster of a read.

A light, easy read set on a Greek island. Lily and Matt meet up on the island 8 years after they broke up. They try to find a way to be around each other again as they find themselves at a friend's wedding. Despite lots of miscommunication they find their way to a happily-ever-after. Not my favourite book by this author but a good read overall.

Having previously read and enjoyed The Mistletoe Pact by Jo Lovett I was looking forward to reading her latest book, Just Friends. I enjoyed the story, though I’d say overall the book was a little longer than it perhaps needed to be. I’d give it 3.5 stars.

Just Friends focuses on Lily who is out on a small Greek island getting ready for the wedding of one of her best friends. Lily is on a pre wedding holiday, with the bride Tess and fellow bridesmaids Aaliyah and Meg. They’re all having a great time together, that is until Lily sees Matt, the ex she’s never been able to forget, who is also there for the wedding. When the wedding comes under threat Lily and Matt find themselves having to work together to save the wedding and in the process sparks begin to fly.

Just Friends was an enjoyable read. I’m a fan of the second chance romances trope and I liked the will they won’t they tension of Lily and Matt’s time in Greece. There was also definitely good sizzling chemistry between them. What was slightly frustrating was Lily constantly falling back the reasons for their not working the first time, when they seemed to have had a breakthrough and moved on. That said Matt’s final attempt to resolve their issues was so thoughtful and showed how much he cared for Lily and wanted to make it work.

One of my favourite elements of this book, beyond the romance, was Lily’s friendship with Aaliyah. Lily had some difficulties in her past relating to her health and her perception of herself which caused issues for her in her personal life. Aaliyah was such a great friend to her, both helping her open up but also respecting when she wasn’t ready to talk. I also appreciated Aaliyah’s attempts at improving her own home life and finding the balance she longed for.

This was an enjoyable read for sure. There were parts that felt a little repetitive but it was never a chore to read. Overall a sweet, slow burn second chance romances.

I LOVED this book! I haven't read anything but crime fiction in a little over a year but I recently re- fell in love with rom-coms... and now I just can't get enough!! Just Friends was super cute and gave me all. the. feels. <3 I love a good second change romance trope and I absolutely loved the Greece wedding setting! I really enjoyed both of our main characters, Lily and Matt, and I was just dying to see if they would end up together ... again. If you're looking for a bit of a slower burn, character-driven rom-com, I would definitely recommend picking this one up!

Ex’s Lily and Matt broke up 8 years ago and are reunited at their best friends wedding in Greece.

I was initially really interested in this book because two things I love are second chance romance and vacation romance.

Unfortunately, I found the constant lack of communication between the main characters really frustrating and the second half of the story was just too drawn out.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC!