Review on Goodreads. 03/07/2023

3.75 stars.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

"Flex your hand, no open it up and flex"
"Like that?"
"Perfect, you want to do that when you touch Hazel."
"What? Why?"
"Have you seen 2005 Pride and Prejudice?"

Mark July 14th in your calendars!
First off let me start off by saying this book was the definition of RomCom, it was so freaking funny it had me laughing out loud from the prologue! If you like 2005 Pride and Prejudice and Outlander, you're gonna love some of the references in this book!

Hazel has been heartbroken since she caught her ex, Sebastian, cheating on her with his next door neighbor. But she's finally ready to take the plunge and get back into dating. But with her confidence severely lacking, who better to keep an eye on her in the form of a double date than her bestie Alex? Unfortunately for him, he just so happens to be in love with her...

If you love romantic comedy, Friends to Lovers and pining, so much pining, this book may just be for you! What I found really special about this book is the fact that we got to see Hazel and Alex meet and experience their friendship growing before the romance even came into it! And although there was no spice, I found it didn't lack in romantic tension.

It may be important to note this is the third book in a set of standalone romcoms although I personally read this one first. It is clear you do not have to read them in order but I do think if I had read book one and two first then I may have had an overall better time with the friend group moments and the banter. Not to say that it took away from my enjoyment of the book at all because it didn't. In some ways, It just made me even keener to start books one and two so I can experience all the other characters romances! But I'll leave you guys to decide what order you'd rather read them in.

This book was just so cosy and fluffy, it's definitely a perfect summer read! If you want to feel good and laugh out loud and smile until your cheeks hurt then I'd definitely recommend picking up this book.

what a lovely story! Friends-to-lovers stories are one of my fav tropes, & Alex & Hazel are two of my fav characters.

these two have the loveliest, friendship— always having fun, being intentional, sharing love & kindness with each other. Hazel is a sweetheart, who has struggled with people leaving her, in one way or another. even if they don’t always mean it cruelly, it’s still hurts her. I related to this more than I wanted to, but I loved reading how the people in her life who love her always have & always will, regardless of where they are geographically.

and Alex is the most patient, loving, loyal, best friend & partner that we all deserve! he is such a good friend to Hazel, knowing exactly when & where he can push to show his true feelings, & when he needs to give space for Hazel to sort out her own feelings. he truly shows how important it is to keep showing up for the people we love, knowing that they aren’t perfect & we aren’t perfect, but all that matters is that you keep showing up & keep loving wholly.

Hazel & Alex are two amazing people who completely deserve one another, and I’m so sad they only exist in a book because I really wanna be best friends with them. I also love seeing Wes & Lo and Cam & Ellie from the previous books, I also wanna be besties with them ok thanks :)

3.5 Stars Just Friends by Madison Wright was such a sweet friends-to-lovers romance. It reminded me a bit of Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren, especially since both FMCs are named Hazel and the MCs in both stories are friends who set each other up on double blind dates. I love when romances like these are dual POV because I adore reading the MMC's POV as he pines for the FMC. And Alex sure did pine for Hazel. If you are looking for a sweet and easy read, this one's for you!

In the novel Just Friends by Madison Wright, real estate agent Alexander Bates adn artist Hazel Lane go from being friends to lovers.

I've been in a friends to lovers phase lately, and I can't say I'm complaining because I have been eating this trope up. I take back everything I said before about this trope because the SLOW BURN, the mutual pinning, and the secret glances are all amazing.

It is clear from the start that Alex loves his best friend Hazel to the point where he would do anything for her. But as the novel goes on, we also find out that Hazel gradually begins to see her best friend in a different light, and things only get better from there. They had such a sweet and endearing romance.

Though, near the end, the book did begin to seem dragged on by Hazel's repeated references to her insecurities, which I initially understood but eventually just got detracted from the enjoyment of the entire novel.

All in all, despite the lack of smut, this was such a romantic and fun read with just the right amount of innuendos.

*Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley and to the author, Madison Wright, for providing me with this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.*

This is my third book by Madison and her books are always easy to fly through and swoon worthy when in the mood for a closed door romance! This one was no different. It was super cute and friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes. If you’ve read her other books, you see cameos of characters in previous books too which is so fun!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘝𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘌𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘊𝘰-𝘰𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬]

There’s something so wholesome and special about friends to lovers romance. It makes me happy, it brings out the hopeless romantic inside me. It’s so sweet to think of two best friends, two people who know each other so well, falling in love and getting to see one another in a different light.

This book is really cute, there were some moments that made me swoon and gave me butterflies. Alex is so sweet and kind, it was so easy to fall in love with him. I love that he gave Hazel space to figure things out. Hazel is a very sunshine girl, full of energy and optimism. She’s been hurt in the past, has been in a few failed relationships that left her scarred. I understand why she was so afraid to try something with Alex, the fear of ruining their beautiful friendship was huge.

But I have to say, Hazel loving Alex felt like a sudden thing. I understand that maybe it was always there and she just didn’t want to think about those feelings, but, as a reader, I felt like something was missing. Hazel went from seeing Alex as a friend to thinking of him as something more too quickly. And she spends so long going back and forth on how she’s feeling. She only admits it in the final chapters. And it’s only at the end that something finally happens between them. I love a good slow burn, but this one dragged on. For a short book, it felt terribly long at times.
The beginning of the book left me confused, I didn’t like the prologue. It could’ve been done differently. And it took me a while to feel any chemistry between the couple. Once I felt it, the book got more enjoyable for me and there was so much tension between Hazel and Alex.

There are a lot of characters and I had a hard time distinguishing them, it felt to me like they had little depth. Although this book can be read as a standalone, it is part of a series and I don’t know if I would have a different opinion, had I read the previous books.

I just wish there was a bigger focus on the characters. I finished the book wanting to know more about Hazel and Alex. I think my main issue with this book is that I wish it had more depth. There’s no plot, nothing really happens, so this book would’ve been better if the characters had a better development.

The writing is beautiful, it reminds of the Lovelight series books. The setting is gorgeous and loved the vibes. There are a lot of cheesy moments, too many for my liking, but It was a cute read, I just wanted a little more from it.

"In this captivating book, our protagonist bravely takes charge of her romantic destiny. After a heart-wrenching betrayal and a move across the country, she rebuilds her life surrounded by loved ones. Dating is the last thing on her mind, until now. Determined to navigate the treacherous waters of the dating world, she devises a clever plan. With her best friend, Alex, as her trusted ally, they embark on a journey of blind dates and reciprocal matchmaking. Brace yourself for a delightful tale of love, laughter, and unexpected twists as our heroine takes control of her romantic fate."

literally love everything that madison writes!! this book was phenomenal and i just love this series with all my heart

This sweet book was the cutest rom com! This story follows Hazel and her best friend Alex (who is in love with her)!! I could not put this book down and I will be reading everything this author comes out with. Read this book, you won’t regret it!

Just Friends by Madison Wright is a delightful and heartwarming tale that explores the complexities of friendship, love, and the blurred lines in between. With its relatable characters and engaging storyline, this novel captivates readers from the very first page, leaving them rooting for Hazel and Alex.

Madison Wright skillfully weaves together humor, wit, and genuine emotion throughout the narrative. The author brings Hazel and Alex to life, making them relatable and endearing to readers. Hazel's relatable vulnerability and Alex's unwavering devotion create a compelling tension that had me eagerly turning the page to see what was next.

Ultimately, Just Friends is a captivating romance novel that goes beyond the conventional boundaries of friendship. Madison Wright skillfully crafts a story that explores the complexity of emotions and the importance of seizing opportunities when love is at stake. This book will leave readers feeling uplifted, hopeful, and appreciative of the power of true friendship.

This story is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance. It is a touching and engaging tale that will leave readers with a warm heart and a renewed belief in the magic of love.

Oh my heart 😭❤️ This book was utter perfection!
Our man Alex is the biggest simp I’ve ever seen. He’s so in love with Hazel and she’s just so oblivious- not vor long though, or is she? 😏
The cuteness, the sweetness, the absolute perfection of this story deserves all the stars there are. The writing is beautiful and if you love a loyal golden retriever book boyfriend you simply HAVE to read this book!!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Best friends to lovers, dual POV, guy falls first? Sign me up! This book is everything I want in a contemporary romance and more. After finding her boyfriend cheating on her a year ago, Hazel moved across the country to be closer to friends and family. She's now ready to start dating again, and asks her best friend, Alex, to set her up on blind dates, and she will return the favor. One small problem: Alex is in love with his best friend.

This is the first book I've read by Madison Wright, and I love her writing style. Everything flowed perfectly and our main characters had two distinct voices. Hazel and Alex were interesting main characters and each had their own issues to work through; Hazel struggling to open her heart again and Alex with his social anxiety (although this was only touched on briefly) and unrequited love for Hazel.

I didn't realize that this is book three in a series until I looked it up on Goodreads. You don't need to have read the others to read this one, but the relationship issues between the other couples won't really be explained.

This is a closed door romance, so if you're used to a lot of spice you won't find it here, but I found that it made no difference to me as the romantic tension was through the roof. I'll definitely be reading the other two books in this series. An easy 5 stars!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Is it really a friends to lovers trope if only one person wants to be friends? That was certainly the situation in this slow burn, mostly closed door romance. Unfortunately, this book wasn’t a good fit for me. I found the female lead to be annoying and was irritated by her “woe is me” “everyone leaves me” attitude. Seems like she should have been in therapy years before to deal with some of her issues. One was major, but the other issues seemed like such a stretch. And for the record, it is not cute or romantic that your BFF loves you so much that he always wears a scrunchie (not a hair tie) on his wrist in case you want to tie up your hair. The male lead was more likable, but really didn’t have a life or personality outside of her. Overall, the entire book just went in circles, repeating the same thing over and over. The highlight of the book was the old dude in the locker room. He was my favorite.

If you like really slooooooow burns without many plot twists or angst, like you know what’s going to happen and it’s light and fluffy as you watch it unfold, then this could be for you. Nothing wrong with that, it just wasn’t for me.

Just Friends is the PERCENTAGE romance book. I loved everything about it- the characters, the plot, the fact that the guy fell first, and so much more!

The writing worked for me and so did the pace of the story. This is sure to be a hit once it hits shelves. The cover is also adorable!!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I definitely recommend this book to others.

This was an adorable friends-to-lovers romance! Alex and Hazel's love was truly a pleasure to read about. This was my first Madison Wright book and she definitely knocked it out of the park. I really resonated with Hazel's fear of loss and watching Alex love her patiently throughout her journey was so special. The entire series friend group was amazing so I am definitely going back to read their books! I loved the summery vibes and the lake house chapters were my favorite.

This a very cute, short read that's perfect for beach or lake trips this summer! I usually prefer more "spicy" romances so the clean aspect of the novel was a little jarring for me and I would have loved to have seen more chapters of Alex and Hazel being together because they are the definition of soulmates. This book is perfect for fans of Mazey Eddings and Lynn Painter!

This book was absolutely stunning! It's rare for a romance book to give my a book hangover but I def feel like this book will give me one! The tension and chemistry! The butterflies (in my stomach AND all the butterfly references and the reasons for them in the book!!!!🥹)! There were so many wonderful aspects/tropes in this book! Just Friends is a slow burn, friends to lovers, dual POV, he falls first, WITH NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP!🥳 I mean what more could someone want out of a rom-com!

I'm not always the biggest fan of friends to lovers romances but this one was GREAT because we got to see when they met in the prologue, we got to see them become friends (chapter 1), and then we were thrown forward to the point in time when Alex had already fallen for Hazel! I thought that was a super interesting plot movement because I usually think of friends to lovers as the FMC and MMC already being friends, but here we got to see it all!

I didn't know this was a part of a series, but can def be read as a standalone BUT I cannot WAIT to read the other books that came before this! I think Madison Wright will be an auto-buy author for me from now on! I cannot wait for everyone to be able to get their hands on this book!🥹🥳

I feel like I would have enjoyed this book more had I read the other two first. I understand that these are technically interconnected stand-alones and can be read out of order (if you choose), but I experience such bad book FOMO that I felt like I was missing out on these other characters amazing love stories.

I loved the concept of this book! It has:
-friends to lovers
-he falls first
-everyone can see how in love you are with her… EXCEPT HER!
-double dates… where they are with OTHER PEOPLE
-tension. So. Much. Tension.

Although I enjoyed this book, I felt like the pacing threw me off in certain spots and it made it hard for me to pick this book up after putting it down.

overall, I enjoyed these characters and I will definitely be going back and reading the first two books in the series!!

Thank you to netgalley and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for an e-arc of this book!

"maybe you make me want to be someone good, hazel lane." I BLUSHED!

i loved this book. they were such a cute couple. made me giggle how every single movie that hazel and alex played were classic friends to lovers movies. as a romcom lover it made me so happy.

i think one of my favorite parts of this book was when hazel got concussed and alex ditched his date so fast to go and take care of hazel. he then continued to make sure he got all the info from the doctor and told hazel he was going to take care of her. LIKE HE READ EMMA TO HER! oh wow. i gasped. the way he didn't even think twice about reading the book to her fav movie. that right there is a man. a real man. i will always eat up mmc's taking care of the fmc when they are sick or hurt. i just love the vulnerable super soft overprotective side that comes out.

side not but i LOVED lucy. she is so me and every single other romance reader actually. it was very accurate LOL. i hope she gets her own book because i will absolutely eat that up.

anyways enough rambling... i really enjoy how easy to read and straight forward this series has been. i've been able to read them fairly quickly and have enjoyed them so much! there's no unnecessary bits or scenes and i appreciated it.


thank you netgalley for providing me with this arc <3

Alex and Hazel have been friends for two years and when Alex starts to have feelings for her, the dynamic of their relationship begins to change. Hazel went through heartbreak in the beginning of the book swearing off men, so when she is ready to date again she recommends blind dates, which is torture for Alex. Will she ever see his true feelings?

There was a quote in the book that stuck with me — it can be the right person but wrong time. That’s what it felt like most of the book. I docked it a star because they FINALLY have a conversation about 75% of the way through about their feelings. It felt a touch draggy but if you like slow burn this is for you.


Slow burn 🔥
Friends to lovers 💗
Small town romance
Closed door romance

Thanks to NetGalley for this Arc!

Did I read this in one sitting? Yes. Did I have the biggest, cheesiest smile on the entire time? Also, yes. If I had one word for this book, it would be sweet. So sweet and genuine and wholesome I teared up multiple times. Admittedly, I’m weak for friends to lovers, but Hazel and Alex were just *perfect* together.

Ideal for fans of People We Meet on Vacation or the Lovelight Farms series, Just Friends follows the stories of bffs Hazel and Alex as they make the slow transition from besties to more. Hazel’s been burned one too many times by past boyfriends, including her last one who cheated on her and broke her heart, and is hesitant to trust again. Good thing she has her trusty, conveniently attractive best friend Alex by her side, right? Also helpful that Alex would do anything for her. Oh— and he’s been in love with her for years.

When a series of bad blind dates brings the pair closer and closer they need to decide whether to take the jump and risk their friendship for the chance at that perfect, once in a lifetime kind of love.

I absolutely adored the chemistry between these two and thought their relationship progression was extremely natural, especially around Hazel’s insecurities. Alex was so steadfast and patient it truly was the most heartwarming thing. I loved the tender unfolding of their relationship and really appreciated the time the author took to build up the trust (and tension!) between them over the course of the novel. The only downside is it’s *very* closed door, which isn’t really my personal preference for a romance book. But overall Just Friends is a wonderfully sweet and tender romance between two people who truly love and care for each other, and I’m so glad I got the chance to read it prior to release!