I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

This was a fun read but it left me a little confused. Ben and Jessie are the third wheels in their friend group, frienemies at best and the summer after high school, Jessie expresses a want to grow in her confidence with guys to impress her brother's roommate who would be staying with them that summer. When Ben volunteers, Jessie takes him up on it after sussing out if he's serious and thus they embark on a benefits only turned fake dating adventure.

I love all of these tropes and am always a fan of a good YA but this story line didn't quite go as I hoped. Awkwardly, it was both verrrry spicy and not reallg graphic (Epic chemistry leading to a closed door scene is great. Vivid spicey scenes, also great if it works for the story but this, they spent 2/3 of the book if not more in the bedroom but the author would quickly pivot like wait they're 18l. The characters and friend group were dealing with subject matter and situations that felt like they were more suited for late 20s rather than just graduating high school and the ending, while we see tons of growth in one MC, it felt like the other MC was left out in the dust.

Overall this was cute, I just wished the author had picked one direction, either YA or NA and ran with it consistently to effectively tie the whole story together.

Thank you Netgalley and Entangled Publishing LLC for the ARC in exchange for my review!

Jess and Ben hate each other. They've hated each other from the moment they met. But because Ben's best friend is dating Jess' best friend they get thrown into the same social circle. So when Jess' brother is bringing his gorgeous best friend home for a few weeks she decides she needs to lose her virginity so she can pursue her college crush and not look like "the awkward little sister." And who better to ask that the guy she hates, right? Because apparently he's super popular, the star quarterback and really good looking.

And that's where the story goes incredibly wrong. The author's note at the beginning of the novel explains that when she was a teen she wanted to read about sex from a teen perspective. While she highlighted the importance of consent between Jess and Ben, and their many talks about safe sex, she failed to make the plot about anything other than sex. The reason Jess and Ben were enemies in the first place was ridiculous. The fact that Jess wanted to lose her virginity so she could attract an older guy was straight up gross. Instead of making the sex a part of the story, she made the entire story about sex, and any plot points were shoved in here and there to try to patch some semblance of a novel together.

One star for the safe sex/consent lessons and one star for the cover because it's super cute. Other than that this was a miss for me.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was expecting to read a cute YA book, but man, this was a mature YA book! Frenemies with Benefits by Lydia Sharp is an enemies-to-lovers romcom filled with secrets, some fake dating, and an amazing circle of friends. This story was super cute and I couldn’t put it down! It was witty and charming, while being fast paced and kept me entertained the entire time.

Meet Jess. She is graduating high school. She’s shy and a bit awkward. Oh, she’s also a virgin. It wasn’t planned, but things just worked out this way. With high school behind her, she has her sights set on her brothers best friend. The problem? He’s an experienced college guy coming home in four weeks, and she’s as inexperienced as they come.

Her enemy suggests she find someone to practice with. He suggests she find someone to teach her the basis of having sex, and it’s so outrageous she laughs him off. But the more she thinks about it, the more she realizes he may have a point. She agrees, with the stipulation that their arrangement ends in four weeks, just before her crush comes home. Will it be easier said than done?

I really enjoyed this book. I was laughing and it gave me happy vibes, especially when it came to the characters. The attitude towards sex is what I really loved the most. Sharp talks openly about it being okay to say no, how to be safe, and to be open to your partner about what you want.

Talk about sexual empowerment! Since this story follows characters who have graduated high school, it is very centred around sexual activity. Even though it’s glossed over, it’s still a main focal point. So I do recommend this read but to an older audience.

This book was a light-hearted and often funny read. However, the premise that drew the main characters together was a little too trope-y and somewhat problematic.

Super cute and fun easy read. I loved the characters and there was more spice then I expected. I could see this being a booktok romance rec.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the writing style and the characters. I loved the plot and how it kept you on your toes. I didn't love how young the characters were but that was kinda the point of the book. I did REALLY appreciate the author's note at the beginning of the book. I think that put things into context really well. I also love how she didn't hide from the realities of what can happen in these situations. I loved Ben's character and the power he gave Jess. I am interested to see what this author will bring us next.

I'm not sure it belongs in the YA category (we need to bring back NA!) but I did enjoy this book. Very cute rom com with a few laugh out loud moments and likable, well-developed characters.

Such an amazing cute story!! I thought the characters had great development. I also loved the romance it made me kick my legs in the air so cute!

Frenemies with Benefits is your typical no strings attached relationship essentially, except that Ben was in it for the action, and Jessie was in it for the practice. As a virgin Jessie has no experience with sex, only 'self gratification' if you will, and she wants to gain experience so that she can impress your older brother's best friend when he comes to stay with her family in 1 month. Ben quickly agrees to no strings attached sex, but refreshingly makes it clear that Jessie is in control, she has the ability to speed things up, slow things down, or stop them at any time, and many times clarifies consent which I loved! Naturally they both end up developing feelings, however Jessie is too scared to admit it, and admittedly still has a small hope for the brothers best friend by the end of the book, however I loved how the characters pushed each other to be better, to do what they truly wanted/enjoyed. And they both respected boundaries, were honest, and trustworthy. It was a VERY refreshing take on high school relationships, and all the aspects of life that comes at that age. There is slight mentions of teen pregnancy, and practicing safe sex, along with just super romantic, heart melting dialogue, and character development. I think this is going to become a book that I take no criticism on. I LOVED IT.

Thank you Net Galley for letting me read this book in exchange for my thoughts on it.

I want to thank NetGally, Entangled Publishing and author Lydia Sharp for the opportunity for the copy of Frenemies with Benefits for an honest review.

Let me just start by saying I absolutely could not put this book down. I needed to know what happened next. I spent almost three nights staying up past 2am reading when I 100% should have been sleeping...... But the chemistry and banter between Ben and Jess was just too hot to miss. I found myself actually laughing out loud, giggling, kicking my feet in bed and actually blushing at times as if it was myself in the book instead of Jess. I also loved the fact that there was a small love triangle thrown in there. Like Jess really didn't want to be with Ben, she wanted her older brother's best friend (like what little sister doesn't) Andrew. But deep down she really did have the biggest crush on Ben but didn't want to admit to it out of fear of rejection and fake hatred of each other.

The fact that the whole book started with a whole section about consent was also the main reason I love this book. I wish teens/young adults had access to more books such as this.

I loved this book! I was originally drawn to the cover and the storyline, but the characters were amazing and I loved them. The storyline was greatly paced, which caused me to devour it.

I loved this book more than I thought I would. The banter between Jessie and Ben was hilarious. The drama was entertaining. Jessie was so relatable with her boldness and anxiousness. Being in her head was perfect for this book. Ben was adorable and caring.

The part I loved the most about this book is that it’s sex positive and focused heavily on consent. Everything Ben did with Jessie, he first got her consent and kept checking in with her through the entire thing. Not once did he push Jessie into doing anything. She was always in control which was amazing to see. This book isn’t spicy but you still get a certain amount of detail so keep that in mind while reading it. That being said, I found it wasn’t awkward reading about two young adults engaging in sex unlike other YA contemporaries that can be. I think the author was meticulously in the way she worded everything and made it enjoyable. This book also handles other teen problems very well (I don’t want to say anything to spoil it).

If you’re looking for a funny, sex-positive, YA contemporary, then I highly recommend this one!

This book was honestly just adorable. I don't even know what exactly I was expecting of it but whatever those expectations were they were absolutely surpassed. The characters were likeable the banter was funny and the book was honest. I mean to a degree. It's still a cute fictional romance. I guess, for me, this book really hit home how much YA has progressed over the decades. I am of an age that people would refer to me as a baby gen-Xer, an 'elder millennial, a Xennial.... you get my point. Anyway, what I'm saying is i was raised on books where if any teenagers had sex it was only for the 'moral' point of catching an STD and dying. Hello, Sweet Valley High, Imma talking to you. This book was a really great example of the fact that teenagers, in real life have sex, and it's natural and if it's done safely, its fine! I definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for a lighthearted, comical YA romance. There was a bit towards the end that was a little reminiscent of the movie '10 things I Hate About You' maybe that was intentional maybe not either way it was a win for me.

It is a fast paced plotline with strangers to lovers. One interaction leading to another and these two keep on meeting and becoming close to eachother. The characters are well penned and they literally kept me hooked till the very end of the book.
It's a super quick and cute romance.

Lydia Sharp was a new-to-me author with this release, and while the writing was solid, as a parent of a 17-year-old, this may not have been the best thing for me to read. Attempting to put that fact aside, I dove in anyway.

The underlying story, a coming-of-age summer of growth for the heroine, is always one I enjoy. The writing and the character growth seen in Jessie did this part pure justice. I just didn’t care for how short-sighted she was in so many ways. I understand she’s young and struggling with what comes next, but why jump to losing her V-card as her answer to some of her problems? The plot would have been so much more genuine if the author had taken out the whole issue of her crush on the brother’s BFF. Instead of adding to the story, I felt it was a huge distraction and kept Jessie feeling like a much younger, extremely shallow character. That said, the banter was fun and, at times, laugh-out-loud. And the love/hate, push/pull between her and Ben was spot on.

If you love YA/NA enemies-to-lovers romance and aren’t a mom to a 17-year-old, you may like this story more than I did. To end this review more positively, I will say that I enjoyed the author’s writing and style enough to give her next release a clean-slate type of chance.

NICUnurse’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭑ (3.5)

This was such a cute read. It had so many different aspects that allowed you to fully immerse yourself within the book! While this book is branded as YA, there are some scenes that push the bracket of going into NA which I loved, purely because it made it just that little bit easier to read as an older reader. However, younger audiences go in warned! Can we talk about the two featured tropes? Enemies to lovers! AND Fake Dating?! Mhm, those are two incredible tropes right there.

I loved watching the development and the growth of their friendship. I mean, its in the title 'frenemies with benefits', but seeing both of the Main Characters grow and find themselves while also realising their connection that they share was beautiful and it was so well written.

If you're into enemies to loves, fake dating, and overall just a cutesy read, be sure to pick this one up. It was a great introduction to Lydia Sharp for me and I can assure you, I will be coming back for more.

I enjoyed this book. It had me grinning and even laughing out loud at times. The characters are a highlight, and the enemies-to-lovers trope, combined with secrets and fake dating, adds an exciting layer to the story. What stood out to me most was how the author tackled sex in the narrative. It emphasizes the importance of consent, communication, and safety, making it an educational read for young adults. While some parts felt predictable, the story took an engaging turn, becoming more genuine and sweet. Overall, this is a delightful and romantic read with an important message about healthy relationships and communication.

Gotta love a read that included enemies to lovers and fake dating. This book was a very lovely coming to age story that included a supportive friend group and some banter and fun fake dates.

I knew just from the first 20 or so pages that this book was going to be so much fun!! Frenemies with Benefits is a fun upper YA contemporary romance with some great spice!

4⭐️

Jess is graduating high school and is sad to be a shy, anxious virgin. Not at all how she planned or expected things to go. When her brother's (hot) best friend is coming into town for the summer, Jess makes a deal with Ben, her frenemy within her friend group, to teach her how to not be a virgin. Jess and Ben are the outliers of their friend group - they love to bicker and banter with each other but cannot stand to be around one another. The only thing is that it has to stay a secret. This is such great take on enemies to lovers within a contemporary setting.

I love the sex-positive themes within this book even if the plot was a little silly as someone in their 30's. But my inner teen really enjoyed every part of Jess's awkwardness and the growth within their relationship and interactions.

Jess and Ben are really the perfect Frenemies to lovers! The two characters really give "10 Things I Hate About You" vibes ✨

Read if you love:
Contemporary Romance
Forced Proximity
Frenemies/Enemies to Lovers
Fake Dating
Inexperienced/Experienced
He Falls First
Spice content for upper YA

Thank you Netgalley and Entangled: Teen for this eARC to review!