I wanted to love this book so bad. It falls directly into my category of what I love to read. Unfortunately, I couldn't bring myself to even finish this book. I tried so hard and got over half way and just couldn't push though anymore. I felt like I was sitting on an airplane that was moving to the runway, but never taking off. I really hope I can try again maybe after some time to reread this book.

I just don't think personally this book was the best fit for me. I would most likely recommend it regardless of my experience because I loved the Author's writing style. Her writing was very lovely to read and I enjoyed how she put her all into her book. Like I said I hope that in the future I can give this book a better review. If you're looking for a Grumpy/Sunshine book this one is one you should consider. Please don't let my review detour you from a book you may end up LOVING. I do believe that if I were to give this book another chance in the future I will for sure need to read the others in the series.

read Sophie Sullivan’s other books and enjoyed them, but this one was easily the best!

Wes was intriguing. There is someone dear in my life that has similar “quirks” and it was wonderful to read a story about a character like this that finds not just love, but a very best friend. I think that the “reason” for why he wasn’t interested in “love” was not a very good one, but it still worked. The banter between brothers was cheesy with a few glimpses of funny. Sophie is improving in this area and I look forward to her continuing to do a good job with conversations between characters.

As far as the plot, I think the constant talk about the shop and different salads was a bit redundant. We get it, she makes “different” salads. I loved the “friends to lovers” trope. It was well done. How they met was cute and really helped get the book started.

I can’t wait to see where she will go now that the Jansen brothers story is over!

Apparently, this is book 3 in a series. Neither NetGalley nor Goodreads had it listed this way so I didn't realize that when I requested it. As a result, some of the characters weren't fully developed. I think if I had read the first two, I would have appreciated their personalities a bit more.

Nevertheless, I did enjoy this book. It's basically a Hallmark movie come to life. It's a classic grumpy-sunshine trope and it's super cute.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC!

This book was pretty slow and boring in the beginning, but as I read more and more I found myself opening my mind up to who the characters were. There were funny moments, tense moments, happy moments, etc. but I found myself relating to Hailey. Overall, I probably wouldn’t buy a physical copy for my own because 1. I already read it and 2. It’s just not even in my top 15. But it was a quick read!

Thank you Sophie Sullivan and St. Martin Press for this opportunity! This book is set to release on Jan. 16 2023.

Hailey, fresh out of a relationship, has come to San Verde to reset. More importantly to open her own business. After wes mistakenly IDs her as his date, they get off on the wrong foot. Wes’ family loves her salads and he figures he is going to be around hailey more and must apologize. When he does, Hailey accepts and determines that they should be friends. Eventually Wes suggests a guide to just being friends. This is an adorable love story and although I haven’t read the other Jansen brothers stories I will be soon!

Quotes:
life without cookies is just dumb-Hailey
I’m enjoying exactly this place in life-Fiona

What I loved: Taylor swift references. Hands down makes a book 100x better when there is a reference to the great Taylor Allison Swift.

Thank you to St. Martin’s publishing group for my ARC! I loved reading Wes and Hailey’s story!

This was a really cute book. I enjoyed the story and liked the development of the friendship of the two main characters. I enjoyed the side characters and may decide to go back and read the books that involve them. It was a sweet story overall. It dragged a bit towards the 2nd half but otherwise I enjoyed the story.

Part of a series that incorporates characters from (I presume) earlier books. I liked the characters of Hailey and Wes and felt they had a good dynamic. I did appreciate that Wes was the hopeless romantic, though. It was an extremely slow burn, but it was fun once they realized that they had feelings for one another. It was a cute read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A Guide to Being Just Friends is a contemporary romance focused on a friend-to-lovers where the two main characters strike up a friendship while trying to avoid romantic entanglements. Hailey is working on growing her salad shop and Wes is working with his brothers to expand their many profitable business ventures. Hailey recently got out of a terrible relationship and Wes is failing at finding an acceptable date because his parents' marriage messed him up. So they both have their baggage and are determined to be just friends. And of course, it doesn't work.

I think readers who like low stress and close door romances will enjoy this. The plot is a straight line and easy to follow, and it's not subtle about its connection to When Harry Met Sally. I also liked how Hailey created new female friendships as the story went on. It's a good read for anyone looking for a nice, cute story.

I would have liked to see more complexity though. I felt like the Hailey's personal growth was limited, whereas Wes was expected to make more significant changes. I would have like to see Hailey be less transactional about her relationships (there is so much discussion about owing favors that it got had to track) and less intense about by the difference between her and Wes's financial status. I also would have liked to see Wes develop and grow more about his passion project. I liked his brothers, but the repetition about their love status became tedious. Most of all, I didn't feel the intensity of the connection the way that it was described, especially with how the story unfolded.

Looking for a fresh start after a bad break-up, Hailey moved to a new city and opened a to-go salad business. While visiting the bakery next door, she meets Wes who thinks she’s his date and is standing him up.

After a string of not-so-great dates (and stand-ups), Wes has decided to get out of the dating pool. Having relocated to California to work with his brothers, Wes is no stranger to love. His two younger brothers have fallen head over heels for their respective girlfriends, but Wes doesn’t think it’s for him.

When Hailey and Wes run into each other again they immediately hit it off and realize that they can be friends without dating. Easy right?

I have so much love for the Jansen brothers. Sophie Sullivan has hit it out of the park with her third book in this series! If you’re a sucker for the friends-to-lovers trope then this one’s for you. I loved how driven Hailey was to grow her business and be successful, but wish she had the ability to let others help her with a little more ease. Overall, this was a fantastic read that I am sure I will be coming back to again!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“It isn’t because you weren’t enough, Hailey. It’s because I’m terrified you would become everything.”

A Guide to Being Just Friends is a cute slow-burn, friends-to-lovers contemporary romance book. I went into this one not knowing that it was a part of a series and, maybe, if I had read the first two books, this one would’ve been better for me. I found the characters to be a little lacking in depth, despite the first half of the book basically being character insight, and it made it harder for me to zone into the book.

Hailey and Wes’ relationship was simply cute, but I couldn’t always feel like what they had was a real connection. I loved when they went grocery shopping and the scenes involving the video games! Some of the things Wes did and said were almost top-tier, but it seemed like the best parts were almost all before they started dating… If there were more cute scenes like when he made up an acronym while texting her even though he said he hated them, WHILE they were dating, it would have made their relationship a little more believable.

Another thing to note is that the book is about the guide to staying friends, yet it was barely even mentioned in the book? I would have loved it if the guide slowly went from staying friends, as it was supposed to be, to somehow showing that they were the right person for each other, romantically.

In my opinion, this book would have been better set for a young adult audience. I enjoyed the themes present and the friendships made, but it was difficult trying to see what made this an adult book. The ideas of being independent and taking risks could be catered more toward younger romance readers. Although it isn’t necessary, the lack of spicy scenes, also, made me think this was a book for teens.

Overall, this was a cute, but basic read. I’m giving this one a 3.5/5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I didn't know this is a third book in a series. I still followed along but would love to have known the other brothers first!

This was a sweet book. But I felt like the characters were portrayed a little flat. Things like, "she was so beautiful, but also surprisingly down to earth." I hate that stuff.

But still a very sweet enemies to friends to lovers book!

I really wanted to like this book. I liked the idea of the heroine being an independent woman trying to make it on her own. I felt that it was really slow and I struggled with the stereotypical rich, misunderstood hero. As the book continued, I wanted to see more flaws and challenges in the characters. I kind of understood why the hero didn't want a relationship base din his dad's experience but it didn't really feel like "enough" to dictate the entire storyline of the book. At about halfway I was just looking for something to happen and it didn't seem like any challenge was going to surface

A Guide to Being Just Friends was a great wrap up for the series. I really enjoyed the amount of deep character develop both mains went through and the raw edges of the relationship. It made it seem more real. The dual POV is always great for the friends-to-lovers trope and was done well. It’s definitely a slow burn and the end seemed a bit hurried but over all very enjoyable. Can’t wait to see what she come up with next.

If you love quick and witty banter then this is the book for you. While this book definitely falls in the to cliche of two people who do not want or need love falling in love, it is done in a unique and humous way that had me sitting in corner of my house hiding from my children so I could finish this book in one setting.

A guide to being just friends felt like coming up for air. Hailey our main female lead just recently moved from LA out of a terrible relationship and into a smaller , calmer California town. She takes the plunge and opens up her own small business where she comes across this handsome man in a bakery. After a not so meet cute , she gets It into her head that she is on a dating hiatus.

Pan to our handsome man in the bakery - Wes. Smart, ambitious but tends to see things in black and white. Had a difficult upbringing with his father and is skeptical on love however doesn’t want to live his life alone.

This story does a great job navigating how to maintain a friendship with someone you full heartedly want more with. Having to figure out if compromising your own beliefs and ideals is worth It in the end.

Some aspects I loved about this was it’s dual POV. Which is one of my favorite ways to read rom com books. I think It adds so much more to the story knowing what both characters mindsets are.
It’s definitely a slow burn , really gives me 500 days of summer vibes. But really hits with legitimate topics. I think if you’re looking for something light hearted , funny , witty and overall charming this is gonna be the read for you.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins press for the ACR of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A guide to just being friends-book review
⭐️⭐️✨/3

This is the third book in the Jasen brothers series, and while it is a stand alone I did not read the first two. I think if I had read the first two and gotten to know the characters more I might have enjoyed the book more.

Overall I liked Haley, it was Wes I just could not connect with or get a read on. I think it was mainly because of Wes’s ridiculous take on love and relationships. I thought Haley was fun, but her inability to accept help just because someone has money a little frustrating.

Overall a cute book, I enjoyed this authors writing style, I just struggled to connect with the characters and the plot felt slow. I think if you’ve read the other two books to definitely finish the series off!

Thank you to NetGallery and St.Martins press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for an ARC of this book!

-3 stars-

An adorable and fast paced romance, this one was fun throughout. It was definitely pretty tropey and nothing new but enjoyable nonetheless. I didn’t feel like the characters had a ton of chemistry or depth, but this was cute.

i didn’t rly like Wes and it was kinda boring, also the title doesn't feel very representative of the book as they really only mention a guide like twice and it's not very important to the story

“When we stop looking out for each other, the world get’s scary”

Hailey, owner of By the Cup salad shop, is trying to make her name for herself with her fast casual business while also trying to erase her ex boyfriend from all her memories. In walks Wes, and while having an unexpected start to their friendship, they find themselves creating one that most people would love to have. While both of them are only interested in food shopping and watching movies together, their true feelings start to come out as each day passes. Is it possible for them to push feelings aside and stay just friends? Or will they give in to the feelings they have been having and see what can happen?

I loved this one - even if it was another SLOW BURN! I loved the friendship that Wes and Hailey had. There were times that I wished Hailey would stop being so stubborn and let Wes help her, but I understood why she wanted to do everything on her own. Sometimes, you don’t have to though. I love Wes’ family and how they treated Hailey like one of their own and I wish I could be friends with this crew. I’m sad to see this series end because I love this family!

When I think of romance, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and satisfies every romance junkies' heart. This is a perfect books to snuggle up with on any day.