Book three in a series, but can be read as a standalone, because I haven't read the first two and had no issues reading this.

Hailey and Wes are both jaded about love. The former because of a relationship that tried to change the person she was, the latter because the way his father treated his mother and subsequent wives. When the two officially meet after a funny meet cute, they strike up a friendship and only a friendship despite the mutual attraction...that each holds as a secret like it's the end of the world.

This was my first rom com read and I thought it was a cute slow burn. The two main characters had me wanting to shake the heck out of them because they could be so neurotic over the silliest things. Honestly it was a communication issue as always. One was talking and making a point but the other was listening not understanding.

This piqued my interest in the first two and how the other brothers did when it came to love and a HEA.

Sophie Sullivan is one of my favorite closed door romance writers. The story is strong and engaging enough that it doesn’t feel like something is missing without the smut. I think this one was my favorite actually. Definitely will recommend and will share on instagram closer to the pub date!

My only minor thing was that at first I didn’t like the male narrators voice. But as the book went on I got used to it and his affect really fits Wes as a character. so if you feel the same at first, give it time!

Full transparency: I ABANDONED THIS BOOK!

I am not one to usually give up on a book. Even my least favorite ones, I try to finish. However, after reading halfway through this book, I though enough is enough.

I have not ever really read a romantic comedy book, but I thought I'd explore the genre. It seems to be fairly popular within my friend group recently. I had high hopes for a cheeky, flirtatious, slow-burn romantic comedy. What I ended up reading (or listening to) was a friendship that was so slow and honestly pretty boring. About 50 percent into the book what I knew was:
1, Hailey recently moved to the area and has opened up a salad shop.
2. Wes is a smart and mysterious business man who enjoys helping others.
3. Hailey and Wes decide to be friends. (My hope was that some flirtation and tension would happen, but...nothing.)
4, Hailey and Wes continue to do favors for each other as friends.
5. Hailey doesn't want any help from Wes, while Wes wants to do whatever he can to help her.

While I felt guilty about abandoning the book, it was just so agonizingly slow. I felt as if there were no substance in the book. If you like SLOW burn, than this could be a book you might enjoy.

Narrators: I liked the female narrator okay, but I could not stand the male narrator. His voice did not keep my attention. While I would try and focus one his parts of the story, I'd find my mind drifting and have to rewind the chapter and focus again. Along with the slow plot line, the narrator made it more of a struggle to even want to finish the book.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and respond to this book!

If you love a good rom-com this is a cute friend to lovers’ story! The conflicts seemed real and the characters are so adorable.
Highly recommend this one!!
Thanks, Netgallery for my ARC!

I didn't know this was part of a series and I didn't read the first one, but I never once felt lost, so this stands alone on its own very well!

This was really sweet, cute, charming and did I say sweet?! I loved the characters, the story, the premise, the setting, the supporting characters, all of it.

When you are craving a sweet, feel good story, pick this up! You will be left with a warm hug and smile on your face.

The narrators were great - I did feel that the male narrator seemed a bit quiet? But overall, I enjoyed their story telling.

I have read this book but the audiobook was like a whole new experience for me. Still loved this book and breezed right through it. Was very happy to return to this world for a second time. Loved every minute and would continue to recommend it!

I really wanted to love this book but unfortunately it fell flat for me. I really enjoyed the premise of the friends to lovers... the "let's be friends so we don't want to date because dating is hard." However, I found it really hard to relate to how much Haley could not get over accepting help, her previous relationship was alluded to quite a bit but never fully fleshed out, and when the big bad third break act up they ALMOST handled it like adults only for a new dramatic event to happen so they could get to a grand gesture.

I did enjoy the narration of each character and the relationships that Wes and Haley had with all of the other people in their lives and I do think people will enjoy their story even if it didn't ultimately work for me.

I adored this book. It was a really great listen and a wonderful addition to the series. Neither Wes nor Hailey are looking for forever love, but for very different reasons. After a not so cute meet cute and a heartfelt apology, they become friends and strike a deal to keep it platonic and support each other. Be each others plus 1, watch movies, hang out and all the things that friends do, but no romantic entanglement. What can go wrong? It’s a long and winding road to their eventual HEA, with lots of family, friends and some drama make for a really story that has me awaiting whatever comes next from this author as Ive read all of her work thus far. Enjoy the listen as the narration was as good as the story.

Hayle is determined to get her salad shop off the ground, to not let anything or anyone distract her. Wes is looking for someone he likes, but won't love. So when they meet, they can only be just friends, nothing more...
This is book 3 in the Jansen Brothers series, but the first one I read, and it can very well be read as a standalone, I never got the impression I was missing anything. I liked this strangers to friends to lovers romance. It was a slow burn and the chemistry was good, although it was closed door (which I'm fine with). The character growth through the story was really good. However, I thought that the final confrontation (although I know it's part of the "recipe" to a good romance) felt forced and was unnecessary. I loved the dual POV (Hayle/Wes) and how it was characterized in the narration (I read both the ebook and the audio book). The narration was great in the audio book.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is book three in the series, but was easily able to stand on its own. Hailey just got out of a bad relationship, moved away for a fresh start and opened a salad shop. Wes is the oldest of three brothers with a jaded view of love and marriage due to his fathers actions. To stay safe they agree to be just friends, but we all know where that will lead… This was a sweet romance that follows the typical plot line of will they/won’t they. A cute love story and a quick read. It was pretty predictable, but still fun. Thank you NetGalley for the free audio copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was so entertaining. I found myself identifying with the realistic characters. The author takes you on a roller coaster of emotions while rooting for both characters. In the end is the HEA we all long for.

When I picked this up, I had no idea it was part of a series and that I had read and enjoyed the previous books. This one is a super cute story with a friends-to-lovers trope. I loved getting to know both Hailey and Wes; their friendship was so effortless and fun. I also enjoyed the business aspect, with both of them running their own companies (although he shared the responsibilities with his brothers), but found both the reasons for their disagreements to be a little silly. Recommended for a beach read or a rainy afternoon, the writing will draw you in and keep you focused.

Hailey Sharp is a new business owner trying to start her life on her terms and making herself happy. Wes Janson is the oldest Jansen brother with a huge relationship chip on his shoulder. He saw the way his parents failed and he is not at all interested.

The first time Hailey and Wes meet it's not the best when Wes mistakes her for his dating app date who didn't show up. Wes realized he made a mess and so worked on apologizing and becoming friends with Hailey. Of course they become fast friends, both eventually trying to ignore the "more than friendship" feelings that are growing until one too many drinks later Hailey kisses Wes who immediately shuts it down because he is afraid of losing his friend. We are then taken on a journey I didn't see coming, of coming together and falling apart again...TWICE! Wes can be a real idiot. It's a HEA so we know he sorts his stupid self out.

I loved Hailey and Wes even though they both took turns frustrating me. The way they went from strangers, to friends, to more was perfect. The way they worked through their doubts was frustrating in exactly the right book recipe way. This was an easy 5 stars and I highly recommend reading it ASAP.

#AGuidetoBeingJustFriends #JansenBrothersBookThree #SophieSullivan
#CleanRomance #AdultRomance #ContemporaryRomance #ChickLit
#NetGalley #MacMillanAudio #StephanieWilling #TimothyAndrésPabon

Thank you to the publishers and author for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I LOVED this novel! A Guide to Being Just Friends has the perfect, yet embarrassingly sweet meet cute with a great friends to lovers theme. The recipes and restaurants were very detailed and made my mouth water half of the time and I do not even usually eat salads! In regard to the main characters of Hailey and Wes, very relatable and I loved seeing their friendship / relationship blossom. This is a cute and quick read for romance fans! I look forward to reading more from Sophie Sullivan after devouring this title.

This was a sweet, slow burn, easy read. It was nice to see women with entrepreneurial ambitions and exploring friendships as well as romance. It was a bit cheesy, but still a good read. The female narrator did an excellent job.

I read the hard copy but also loved the audiobook. I will start with that I did not know this was part of a series and I wish I had read the others first. I will definitely go back and read the others. The friendship that was show is so important and often overlooked in today's time when dating so I loved seeing that blossom into something more. Wes' feelings of families using love as a playing piece is often correct as well. Overall, I loved the story and seeing how Wes' brothers and their girlfriends loved and accepted Hailey too. That is such a special bond.

Hailey has just got her business, By the Cup, started and is focused on that. She recently had a bad breakup and is looking for a fresh start. Wes is tired of using apps to date and when he mistakingly thinks Hailey is a girl, Hayden, that he is supposed to meet who ended up standing him up, he realized he doesn't like dating. He wants to find someone to be friends with but, he does not want to fall in love. He has seen that it has been used as a pawn in his family. We tracks Hailey down to apologize for accusing her of being the girl who was standing him up, he realizes that he really likes her as a friends. They both know they don't want distractions or to fall in love, but they enjoy each others times.

This was a sweet, light and endearing read. When Harry Met Sally is one of my all time favorite movies, so I really enjoyed this reimaging. It's a dual POV with a slow burn. I loved watching Wes and Hailey's friendship build into something more. I apprecriated that the evolution to "more" felt authentic and wasn't rushed. The supporting cast of characters were charming and added another layer to the story. Light steam/closed door romance.

The audiobook narration was well done and made it very easy to listen to.

What a lovely conclusion to the Jansen brothers series !!! Wes took a little bit to grow on me, but overall he turned out to be great. Hailey was so mature and I loved how she ultimately stood up for herself when she realized her and Wes may not have been meant to be after all. As always, the brothers cameos were making me laugh ! I loved Noah’s sense of humor lol so this was amazing

A Guide to Being Just Friends (audiobook ARC) — 4 ⭐️

𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: January 17th, 2023

𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: When the dynamic ambitious duo Haley and Wes meet for the first time, it was anything but an adorable meet-cute, but with similar goals in mind, they were able to form a friendship. Neither is looking for a relationship, but who knows what happens when they start spending time together…

𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: I enjoyed reading this next book in the Jansen Brothers series! The author’s writing style and short chapters keep me engaged, and I liked the character’s personalities. The narrators of the story really brought the story’s conversations to life. I appreciated Hailey’s ambitious personality, and seeing more of the Jansen family was so satisfying. At the same time, I’m so sad the Jansen’s brothers’ journeys have ended, but I’m holding onto hope that maybe the series will be continued... I guess we shall see. Regardless, I can’t wait for the author’s future stories!

Speaking of the author, I had no idea that she also writes under the name, Jody Holford! Did you?

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 —
👀 Multiple POVs
🥰 Feel-Good Story
👩‍🏫 Ambitious MC
🔐 Closed Door Romance
💗 Friends to Lovers
🍽 Foodie Inspired

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐟 —
🥗 You eat salads everyday
💼 You want to own a business
🎮 You’re a gamer
💍 You don’t need fancy gifts to be happy
🧘‍♀️ You enjoy doing yoga

𝐓𝐖: strained family relationships, divorce

Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio, for providing me an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Quick Summary: A love unexpected romance

My Review: A Guide to Being Just Friends by Sophie Sullivan was a charmer. This sweet love story brought together a good guy Type A personality with a fool-me-once beauty who had been burned and was on high alert against a romantic entanglement.

Hailey and Wes were two scarred people who bore witness to relationships gone wrong. One person was a giver who questioned her ability to read people correctly, and the other person was an anti-romantic when it came to love. With that in mind, from their meet-cute forward, the two once upon a time strangers became the best of friends. Soon, however, things changed and feelings became unavoidable.

My Final Say: This audiobook was such an enjoyable listening experience. The main characters and their colorful tribe were endearing. Readers will enjoy getting to know Hailey, Wes, and all of their crew.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status: Clean
Level: 🍡
Series: Yes

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher, and to NetGalley, who provided access to this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own.

* A Goodreads review has been posted.