Unbearable read. This book was weird and the plot was confusing to follow. Also the salad cup shop? The miscommunications in this book couldn’t hold up the plot.

<i>A Guide to Being Just Friends</i> was honestly kind of terrible. I spent the first half bored out of my mind and the second with my eyes rolling backward into my head. There is something to be said for decent marketing, though, since I’m pretty sure the only reason I picked this book up was because it was compared to <i>When Harry Met Sally</i>. Let me put that mischaracterization to rest, however, and let all of you know that this book is nothing like that gem of a movie and if you go into reading it with that expectation, you’re going to be <i>extremely</i> disappointed.

Without thinking too hard about that comparison, Sullivan’s’ story suffers largely from the poor pacing of her writing. Her characters are irritating frequently and conflict arises largely out of lack of communication. I don’t know why this trope is such a painful fallback for so many writers, but after years and years of readers complaining about how frustrating this sort of conflict building is I can’t believe writers are still doing it. And that’s without me even getting into how uncomfortably cheesy the happy moments were. I honestly kind of regret wasting my time reading this book.

Loved this book! Can not wait to read more by this author. Such a fun read and fell in love with the characters

This book had well developed relationships and character development even if they both bugged me at times. I appreciated how they were really focusing on building their friendship. I am not a fan of third act breakups, and this one made me so mad. However, I thought this was cute. Thanks for the ARC.

This was a cute read but not my favorite book of the year. I thought the salad restaurant was a cute concept but the romance was slow-moving for me. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this book in exchange for my honest review.

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This was a lot of fun!! I think this was my favorite one in the series. I think Wes is my favorite brother! I loved seeing all the brothers together and their girlfriends. I loved Hailey and thought she really balanced them all out. I love that its really a series so we have so many of the same characters.

I thought this was a super cute book from Sophie Sullivan! She really breaks the barrier of two people who try to be just friends but the slow burn!!!! I need to read her other books but really enjoyed the writing!

Sophie Sullivan writes a swoon-worthy slow burn romance in A Guide to Being Just Friends. I loved the setting of a salad shop instead of a restaurant or bake shop, which seems to be pretty common in this genre. I also loved that the book hit on the real life hardships of entrepreneurship. I loved the will-they-won't-they between the two main characters, and I really enjoyed how well developed they were. Overall, a great book that was MUCH more than *just* a romance!

I’d never read a book by Sophie Sullivan before and I’m glad I got the chance to read this. I adored the characters and their humor. I wished the side characters had more depth or that we got a spinoff book of them.

3.5 stars rounded to 4! A Guide to Being Just Friends is sweet and charming. Wes and Hailey’s banter was very enjoyable and their dynamic and chemistry made for an entertaining read. This was a friends to lovers troupe which I always throughly enjoy. Highly recommend this one for someone looking for a light, fun romance!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, and Net Galley, for a copy in return for my honest review.

This was such an adorable friends to lovers romance book! This is the third book in the Jansen Brothers series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but is best enjoyed as part of the series!

This book had the best meet cute! This book is told in 3rd person dual POV and it’s a super slow burn, closed door romance. I loved the characters in this book, and I loved catching up with the characters from the others books in the series. Also, the talk of salads in this book had me craving them!! If you’re looking for a super cute and easy read, I recommend checking this series out!

While this rom-com started off cute I found myself disinterested by the 65% mark. It was just missing that little bit extra that gives a romance it's spark.

Slow burns aren't my favorite to begin with but this felt beyond drawn out. I'm all for slow burns as long as the narrative is still contributing to the plot but parts of this just felt unnecessary and like it could've used additional editing. Thankfully the characters and developing relationship were sweet and thus kept me interesting or else I probably would've not finished it.

This was a cute book and story but something about the characters bugged me. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it but it kept me from loving this book. It was a slow burn, friends to lovers story with some angst and swoon-worthy moments.

Big fan of this series of books. The meet cute (or lack there of) was pretty interesting, with a case of mistaken identity complicating things. The two characters are pretty opposite but in a way that makes sense. But there really isn't much to write home about from this one. I don't think this is a book that will stick with me or that I'll want to pick up again in the future. Just a run of the mill romcom, but honestly I love those anyway.

This book was a sweet yet emotional read about two people who have to love and learn how to get over their heartbreak. Both Wes and Hailey are skittish due to their past and trying to reach their goals. This book has its ups and down and I found myself getting frustrated with both characters throughout this book. While I enjoyed the first half I saw myself struggling and taking longer to read the second half.

I liked the characters, the setting, and the plot of the novel. It was a heartwarming and uplifting read that made me feel good.

Anyone that likes romance will enjoy this.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Sophie Sullivan for this book in exchange for my honest review.

I didn't know this was the third book in an interconnected standalone series when I received this book. I'm not entirely sure any prior knowledge from those previous books would have helped me enjoy this book, but there were some moments where I thought if had a little more backstory, I would I care more about the brothers and their careers. The other two brothers were extremely prevalent, and while I don't think that hindered anything in this book, the constant "I love my partner, you'll just know love when you see like me bro" drove me crazy. It's fine to throw it in to nod to the previous book, but it happened so often. Why?

I don't even know how to put my thoughts down for this one - it was simply boring. The characters were boring, the constant jibjab about Wes & his brothers careers was boring, being a salad shop owner COULD BE FUN and quirky and cute, but the talk of needing business cards 800 times...was boring. It was quite repetitive, I feel like too long of a book for what it was, and by the time we got to the "lovers" part, I didn't even care. I thought Wes and Hailey had a nice little friendship.

This is a closed-door strangers-to-friends-to-lovers romance between two people who say they fight hard against distractions and love, but are constantly going on dates with other people and pining for each other.

This is most likely a me thing, but one quote that really stood out was when Wes thinks, "She smells like Christmas cookies and Hailey". SHE IS HAILEY. Where is the formulaic romance medley of smells -- "She smells like Christmas cookies and patchouli" I see the sentiment in it, I do... he loves her natural scent...but it's a romance book. We don't know how Hailey smells. It seemed extremely out of place to just say that Hailey smells like Hailey. I think the romance readers understand what I'm trying to say!

The "3rd act break-up" happened way too late. Wes had his character development way too late.

Also...where was the guide? Did I just miss it entirely?

This story has a good flow from beginning to end. An interesting first few "meets", and how Hailey and Wes navigate from initial rebuke to friendship, to...the epilogue.
There are references to childhood family dynamics that can affect us for life, and hints, not preaching though, of ways to navigate previous hurts and the walls they may build. Again, HINTS, not lectures. Two thumbs up on that.
There is humor entertained throughout. Two thumbs up for that.
Finally, there is romance and ensuing intimacy without lurid details. Tho high drives for THAT! overall an enjoyable read.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me through NetGalley. This book was just absolutely wonderful. It was just so easy to get lost in and I just couldn’t put it down. I just lost myself within this amazing story. I most definitely will read more by this author.