The Bachelor-esque dating show has become a popular setting for rom-coms as of late and this one was cute but not my favorite.

Sloane & Liam have been best friends for years and are finally ready to spend the entire summer together after being long distance for several years. But their summer of fun quickly turns into a summer on a reality tv show when Liam’s father strong arms them both into participating— Liam as a PA and Sloane as a contestant. Seeing each other in person for the first time in years, both start to feel more than friendship for one another but neither wants to be the first to say so.

I loved watching Sloane and Liam’s relationship evolve so organically with tender moments of vulnerability and funny moments of jealousy on the set of the show. I think I just had a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that all of the girls were still in high school on a reality TV dating show.

Great ending, enjoyable book, but would have been much better if the characters were a little older in my opinion.

Swoon-worthy YA with friends-to-lovers trope, Bachelor for teens, and Hollywood backdrop!

This was such a fun and easy-to-read book! Liam and Sloan, the main characters, love interests, and best friends are the heart of this story. I do think I liked Liam a bit more than Sloan but both are great characters!

We follow them through their summer when Sloan comes over to L.A. to visit Liam and they are thrown into the world of "The Cove" - a TV show that everyone is obsessed with. But the twist? Sloan is now fighting for the lead's attention in his own Bachelor-style reality TV show. Liam? He's a PA on set (his dad is an EP).

We get to see so many sides of these characters through the insane and sometimes unbelievable lens of reality TV (which this book easily gets away with tbh, as reality tv is intense and unbelievable most of the time) and we get to see them grow apart and together.

I do wish we got more Liam/Sloan scenes as most of the book was focused on the TV show, not their special moments. However, that doesn't make this book any less fun.

Rating: 4.25

Thank you Netgalley and Delacorte Press for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Y'all know I'm a sucker for Bachelor/Dating show romances... and with the absolute PERFECT title and PERFECT cover, I couldn't resist this YA version! In this book, we meet Sloane as she travels to LA to visit her best friend Liam, who she hasn't seen in person two years since he moved away. And talk about a glow-up! Both of them are rattled by their sudden attraction together, but put it on the back burner when Sloane is asked to be the 25th contestant on a show Liam's dad is producing. A teenage dating show to find a match for a famous actor, Aspen, from Sloane's favorite show! She's not seriously interested in him, but says yes for the experience and to learn all kinds of behind-the-scenes secrets. But when Aspen seems to take a liking to her, Liam grows jealous and Sloane wonders what the right choice is.

This book requires lots and lots ...and lots... of suspension of disbelief. There are many moments to be skeptical of, you start to feel like you're living in the fictional world of the teen soap opera The Cove that Aspen is famous for. For some, that may be a hard pill to swallow. Because I am a reality television junkie and let YA books get away with more out-there elements, I still really enjoyed this book. It would be impossible to say it's not a blast to read, and Sloane, Liam, and the rest of the girls are wonderful characters. I had a fun time, and binged the book in one setting. I think those who (1) love The Bachelor, (2) love a peak behind the curtain of reality tv, and/or (3) want a friends-to-lovers romance or the chance to date their celebrity crush will love this book!

Thanks to Delacorte Press for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 8/10

This was such a sweet YA read, and it was definitely what I was looking for. It checked off all the boxes for me and it was so cool to get that "behind the scenes" vibe throughout on a Bachelor-type show. Overall, it was a quick read and left me feeling happy and full of joy!

This book had everything I could want in a childhood friends-to-lovers with a bachelor twist!

Not Here to Stay Friends follows Sloane and Liam, who have been friends for years and years and years. Sloane is spending the summer in her dream city, Los Angeles, while visiting her best friend. Sounds like the perfect recipe for a summer of fun, right? That is, until both of them get roped in to work on an up-and-coming reality rating show called Aspen Wood's Future Leading Lady - or AWFLL for short. As the two navigate the world of reality television and bad intentions, they also have to decide whether or not they are here to stay friends or maybe become something more.

I could not put this book down! the writing was genuinely so fun to read, I felt for both Sloane and Liam and was wholeheartedly rooting for them the whole time. I loved learning about their relationship with each other, but also the relationships that they form on the show. I really appreciate that they had solid friendships outside of the main relationship, I feel like it gave a good depth of character and helped to show the different sides of love, not just romantic.

Not Here to Stay Friends is a delightful little romance that gives a peek behind the curtain of reality tv that will make you giddy for more.

I received this arc from NetGalley and Random House Children's in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not a fan of YA, to let me rephrase that... I didn't think I was a fan of YA but I see myself slowly turning with books like this. I'm not a huge reality TV fan but loved them concept behind this book. I felt warm and giddy during the entirety of this book. Even though the main characters who idiots I had to remind myself they were young and prone to making young mistakes hahaha. Ultimately I loved this book and couldn't be happier I received it as an arc. I will defiantly be recommending it to any reader friend.

What does every girl dream of when going on a trip to Los Angeles? Being selected to go on a TV show of course! This is a delightful story following a girl who goes on a summer trip to visit her best guy friend in LA, only to be selected as an addition to join a reality dating show. And not just any reality dating show, but the one her friend is working on set for. Did I mention that they both start to catch feelings for each other? This definitely complicates things since she is supposed to be falling for the star of the dating show. I enjoyed this sweet love story and these characters! It took some time for the feelings of these characters to unfold, which I enjoyed witnessing through the Dual Point of View style. If you’re looking for a cute romance with humor and Hollywood flair, this book is for you!

For admirers of:
* The Bachelor / dating shows
* Dual POV
* Friends to Lovers

Kaitlyn Hill books feel like eating cotton candy on a summer boardwalk. I love the combination of classic romance tropes mixed with the very real, complex emotions the characters are dealing with throughout the book. And the reality show setting was an absolute win, I am obsessed! I've been recommending this book to everyone I meet.

A thank you to Penguin Random House, Delacorte Press, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!
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Now this felt like a teen reality show that would actually take place in the world, and is a super cute addition to the YA genre. Sloan is visiting her best friend in California for the Summer, but Liam has an internship working on his dad’s new reality show featuring the star of the teen soap opera that Sloan loves. When presented with the opportunity to be on the show herself, Sloan isn’t thrilled with the idea, but it does mean that she gets to hang out with Liam way more than she might otherwise. The teens aren’t competing for a chance at romance, but to be a guest star on the show while many of the girls are crushing on the celebrity who seems to only like Sloan.
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Often I hate the lack of communication that plagues friends-to-lovers stories, but this time it made sense that Sloan and Liam weren’t allowed to communicate outright on set. I loved how clearly Hill built the crew and behind the scenes elements of a reality show, giving the audience a glimpse behind the curtain of how the world of television functions. The world building is well-executed, and the twists are well-hidden. Overall, a cute read that I’m sure many will adore when it releases this Spring.

This was cute, but definitely a mid YA romance book hence the 3 stars. It was easy and quick to read, and The Bachelor/reality TV vibes were a fun setting and I always enjoy friends-to-lovers. There just wasn’t much else to it ya know? It’s your typical YA romance, it didn’t really blow me away. I didn’t really connect with either of the main characters and the side characters didn’t seem very important to the story. I would’ve loved to see some flashback moments from Liam and Sloane’s childhood friendship to connect more with them! It also just felt like they immediately had feelings for each other at the beginning of this book. It wasn’t bad, just not a favorite!!

Thank you Random House Children’s and Netgalley for this ARC!

This was a fun read and an interesting glimpse into life 'on set.' I did feel that the end of the book rushed a bit and I was left wanting more details about how it ended up.

Love Kaitlyn Hill! Love YA! Love friends to lovers romance! Gimme all of it!

Apparently, I'm really into books sets on TV shows and I don't hate it! I loved the concept of this story and thought it was a really fun, fresh YA. The writing is funny and easy to read, and that cover is stunning!

Read if you:

-like montages of girls trying on clothes for boy(friend)s who are like, "okay, um *heart eyes*" and trying to play it cool
-think grown up Simba was a weirdly attractive cartoon animal
-want The Bachelor vibes
-are into passing notes
-also agree think that "Colin Firth in metallic spandex could still get it"
-want swoonworthy moments: "you've always been the main character to me"
-like it when characters call noodles "noods"

Enjoyed this one a lot!

A big thank you to Kaitlyn (and Netgalley) for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

3.5 stars. Sloane McKinney and Liam Daniels are longtime best friends who have kept in touch and now Sloane is going to spend the summer with Liam in Los Angeles. Liam got roped into working for his producer dad on his reality dating show set that is similar to The Bachelor. Sloane becomes a last minute contestant and from there, the friendship between Liam and Sloane is tested. Because now that Sloane is a hot commodity that is actively being wooed by the leading male Aspen Woods, Liam is wondering if his feelings are purely friendship or more. As for Sloane, she's also confused because one of the most attractive male actors is seeking her attention, but she keeps looking to Liam for his reaction. It's a cute YA story and who doesn't love the drama of reality television? Especially when it's about teenagers and dating and trying to figure out what's real and who's acting. The friendship between Liam and Sloane is adorable and it's obvious they are both having second thoughts about being more. Then there's Aspen and where does he fit in? Could he actually sweep Sloane off her feet or does have his own agenda? I liked seeing Sloane become a main character in her own life story and figure out what she wanted for herself and then go after it. The female friendships with the other contestants was also a bonus in terms of portraying girls supporting one another instead of constant bickering and cattiness.

Where was this book when I was a teen?! This is such an adorable YA read and I didn’t want to put it down! The plot was perfectly timed and it had such an excellent flow. There wasn’t one time when I felt it moved too fast or too slow. Sloane and Liam are such perfect characters and I loved that everything felt like it was about 17-year olds and it wasn’t aged up or down. Everything felt very age appropriate and the characters weren’t too mature or immature. I loved the teen-show to reality-show twist and I loved that I didn’t expect the ending! Very enjoyable, quick read that is so lighthearted and leaves you smiling! 5⭐️, 0.5🌶

Book: Not Here to Stay Friends
Rating: 5/5
Author: Kaitlyn Hill
Genre: Romance
🗏 Pages: 352
Tropes: Childhood Friends to Lovers, Reuniting, Reality TV Show,
Warnings: Divorced
Readability: 4/5 italic font is used
First Line: Pop music legend has it that when fellow Tennessean Miley Cyrus arrived at LAX many years ago, she had naught with her but a dream and a cardigan. 

Things to expect:
Duel POV
Friends to Lovers meets the Bachelor
Cute Chapter Quotes
Personal Growth.


Sloane McKinney is spending the summer with her childhood best friend, Liam Daniels, in her dream city of Los Angeles. To her surprise, Liam has glowed up to HOT guy status since she last saw him. This can't ruin her plans for their completely platonic reunion, right? Liam gets roped into working on his dad's new teen reality dating show and figures Sloane can come along for the ride and help him. It turns out Sloane is the perfect last-minute addition. Cameras start to roll, and Liam doesn't exactly enjoy watching Slone with heartthrob Aspens, but it's behind the scenes that the drama begins to pick up. 

Lovers of the Bachelor, Riverdale, The OC, or any memorable 90/20s rom-com shows, do I have the book for you. Not here to stay friends by Kaitlyn Hill is one of my favorite childhood friend-to-lovers stories with a reality show setting. It reminds me so much of the shows I watched growing up. I loved knowing what each character was thinking with the double point of view and loved the growth of the relationship between Liam and Sloane. The added drama did get my heart racing, and I loved the uniqueness of the plot. It made me laugh and cry but in a good way. Friends to lovers meet the Bachelor but also in the vibe of Taylor Swift. This was a great read, and I can't wait for what comes next from Kaitlyn.

Out  April 4, 2023, Pre-order, Request, and Add on Goodreads. You won't want to miss this.

Thanks to Kathlyn Hill and Random House for the advance reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really, thoroughly loved this book and the characters. This was hilarious and charming and so so great. I would call this the PERFECT rom com.

I really loved the character development that we saw. I’m such a stickler for good characters who make choices that feel authentic, and this book did that so well.

Overall, this book was so incredibly cute, it really is the perfect YA romance/ romcom

So cute! It’s the teenage version of behind-the-scenes on a Bachelor-type reality show mixed with The OC (kinda), with heavy Cyrano vibes and a friends-to-lovers trope. Phew! Yes, it’s a lot but it totally works. I appreciate the dual POVs - I find that getting the other MCs thoughts makes any story more accessible.

(I really dated myself with the OC reference, didn’t I? Nope, not a teenager.)

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

The best books play movies in your head, and that’s exactly what this book did for me. Literally from the first page, specifically the Miley Cyrus reference, I knew I was going to LOVE this book! And I was not disappointed! Not Here To Stay Friends is so refreshing and is unlike anything I’ve read before with the reality dating show setting, and while I’ve always been an enemies to lovers girl, the relationship in this book has me needing to add more friends to lovers to my TBR because, wow, I loved every second! While the characters weren’t super dynamic, I didn’t mind. Not Here To Stay Friends is a quick, easy, lovable read that can be a great pallet cleanser and easily get you out of any slump.

WOW! It is such a great book. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. I really enjoyed reading it. I couldn't put it down!

3 Stars Not Here to Stay Friends by Kaitlyn Hill was a sweet YA romcom about a teen reality dating show similar to the Bachelor/Bachelorette. I loved the friends to lovers romance aspect of this, but of course it was pretty tame since it's YA and about teens. Some fun antics about the behind the scenes of a reality show and what goes into manufacturing the drama on set.