This was a great autumn-set small-town romance. Jenny, a social media influencer, is on the verge of being "cancelled" after some controversy surrounding one of her recent posts. Since she will be heading east to her hometown of Sapphire Springs for a wedding, she decides to extend the stay for a few months. Once home, she is tasked with helping one of the other bridesmaids, Blake, to organize the bachelorette party. Jenny, who thinks Blake has hated her since high school, groans at the thought but does so anyway. Blake, who has had a massive crush on Jenny since high school, also groans at the thought. Over the course of the weeks leading up to the wedding, the two get along and end up running into and helping each other out a few times (like Jenny helping Blake watch her twin niblings at the pumpkin patch). Eventually, the sexual attraction between the two breaks and they decide to keep things casual. But we all know how that goes ;)

This was so cute and fun, and the perfect fall read! It was like reading a Hallmark movie (there's even a line in the book where Jenny thinks "if this was a Hallmark movie, I'd lean forward and kiss her right now"). Definitely sign up for the author's newsletter after to receive a bonus chapter that you won't want to miss! I'm also stoked to hear that George, Blake's bestie, will be getting her own book next!

There is something about small town romances that makes me want to pick them up-and that cover helped too. In Not Just Gal Pals, you are following an influencer city girl, Jenny, who comes back to Sapphire Springs for a couple months after being almost canceled, where she collides with the girl who hated her when they were in college, Blake Mitchell.

Cute romance with lovable characters! The tension between the characters is really well written in my opinion, and I also love the ending a lot! Good read, i recommend.

Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the arc in exchange for an honest review

This cozy fall read is simple and sweet, and that's about it. It was an enjoyable read with a cute romance between Jenny and Blake, but I never really saw the chemistry between these characters. It was enjoyable nevertheless, but I would've liked to know a bit more about the main characters and have it a bit more fleshed out.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

This was such a cute story! The characters drew you in and kept me turning the pages. Small town romances are one of my favorites, so this was a perfect addition.

Ooooh, that was sweet. I had a fun time with those characters, they were cute, I want more coffee and maybe, just maybe rent a house in a small town for a week or even a month and enjoy small town life. And more coffee. Very Gilmore girls, very fall vibes, very gay, very predictable but hey we love that. 3.5 stars

Book #1 on my autumn TBR list was a true success. I am so ready for fall covers and PSLs. Luly had an uncanny ability to sweep me up in Blake and Jenny's fall romcom antics. No if the powers that be only made this into a movie.

Thank you to West Brunswick Press and NetGalley for providng an eARC for an honest review.

Sapphic, cosy, autumnal romance? You’re ticking all my boxes.

I could really see this is as a seasonal easy watch film on Netflix.

Blake was so cute in her awkward, blunt way and the chemistry between her and Jenny felt organic and real.
Really enjoyed their romance and the ‘conflict’ in the end was short and sweet.

Thank you to NetGalley.
4/5 ⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy for review!
This was a sweet and lovely love story. Both Jenny and Blake were well-rounded and endearing; their love story evolved so nicely as they learned about who the other actually was beyond the years of built-up resentment and assumptions. However, I felt very little investment in the story because I always felt that I was a couple of chapters ahead of where the characters were. I knew where the story was going and was impatiently waiting for Jenny and Blake to catch up! I was just not very motivated to pick this up even though when I was actually reading, I did not dislike it.

This was a sweet romcom. I liked the vibe, it felt very Hallmark-y and the characters were fun. I liked the not quite second chance romance aspect and watching the interactions at the start evolve over the book was really nice. The pace was a little off, I wasn’t sure what the timeline really was the whole time reading it, but that didn’t really bother me.

This was honestly the cutest, sapphic, fall romance! 🍁

This is the book you pick up on a gloomy day with a mug of hot chocolate and a cozy blanket. Snuggle down with this adorable grumpy X sunshine, small town, enemies to lovers.

I highly recommend

3.5 rounded up to 4.

I am a sucker for a good wlw love story and also an absolute pumpkin spice latte drinking, crispy leaf loving Autumn girl so this seemed like a dreamy combination.

And it was pretty good. It didn't really blow me away, but it was a cozy (if a bit predictable) love story with your standard grumpy/sunshine love story.

This book was great but the concept of social media influencers and cancel culture is something way to complex to be the backdrop to a fluffy hallmark style romance that anytime it comes up I get a big hello fellow kids vibe. And the title is the same way. It just feels like something that should stay online. That being said, I loved everything else about this book. I eat hallmark movie books up breakfast lunch and dinner and this was no exception. Thinking they both were hated by the other, the pride and prejudice of it all, cute dogs, what more could a simple lesbian want?

This book has everything! If you like suits and regency dresses, a loveable pooch, Jane Austin parties, and a cafe called Novel Gossip, then this book is for you. Not Just Gal Pals by Elizabeth Luly is a small town fall romance, and totally gives me Beth O’Leary meets Gilmore Girls vibes. I’ll wait while you go add this to your Goodreads, TBR, etc… You’re back? Ok, let’s continue.

Meet Blake. She has her own medical practice in her hometown, Sapphire Springs. She loves her community and is happy being on her own, as relationships haven’t worked out in her favour. She does have one weakness, however, and that’s her high school crush. Meet Jenny. She’s a social media influencer who gets cancelled due to a bad sponsorship deal. She decides to head back home until this blows over, and her best friend is getting married so it’s perfect timing. The only downside is she will be forced to work with Blake, the one girl who hated her in high school. Will these two women be able to overcome their miscommunications, and will it lead to something more?

I really think this book would make an amazing romantic comedy movie. Someone should really get the rights to turn this into a screenplay ASAP. Luly had me laughing out loud, and wrote a really intriguing romance. I was here for the change of pace! An alternating POV and you will find yourself yelling at the book, but in all the good ways. The characters were well developed, and I enjoyed the cast of side characters immensely. I highly recommend this cozy read but do warn you that you’re going to want a slice of pie while reading!

This book had my full undivided attention on every page! I felt so many emotions reading this, going along with Blake and Jenny's story. It truly is a 'feel good' book with a happy ending. I loved the setting and time of the year in the book. I don't think it could have been published at a better time!

Not Just Gal Pals is a dual POV (in the tinniest bit) second-chance sapphic romance. I was so blown away the the writing; it just flows so simply! It is slow burn and took a fair bit of time to get a spicy chapter. Seeing Jenny first come to Sapphire Springs at the beginning of autumn was so lovely... Being back in your hometown during one of the nicest times of the year. To be honest, made me miss my hometown a bit, reading how Sapphire Springs is cosy and so welcoming, I wish this was a real place I could visit!

When Jenny and Blake first met again after 10 years, I did not know what to expect! This opened a whole world for Blake and Jenny. It was so hard seeing Jenny have to back to LA, I think I was almost as heartbroken as Blake. I loved reading about the growth between the two main characters. At first, it was strictly just a relationship with an expiration date but after they both self-reflected, I think they both realised it was more. At the end of the book was an insight to 18 months later. I really love how the author included this! I will likely end up purchasing a copy of this as I would love to make this one of my permanent autumnal reads!

A small town, sapphic romance?? SAY LESS!

Social media influencer, Jenny, has an unfortunate online scandal that leads her to extend her stay in her hometown. Blake is the small town's only doctor, and has had a huge crush on Jenny since high school. Jenny and Blake now are forced to work together to help with their friend's bachelorette party and wedding... and this is a romance so I'm sure you can guess the rest.

I loved this! Definitely gave me 'Deliliah Green Doesn't Care" vibes, being sapphic, set in a small town, wedding planning, and characters having a crush since high school.

I really enjoyed that Blake was so awkward around Jenny due to her nerves. She was super sweet and relatable. Plus her 'middle age man' texting techniques were hilarious, and I agree with Jenny that the thumbs up emoji is in fact sarcastic unless coming from a dad or grandpa.

I was giggling and blushing throughout with: "I'd still optimistically cut my fingernails this afternoon, hoping the night might end at Blake's" plus the whole bald eagle thing, and the epilogue 😍

Also had some great discussions on social media. "People can lose their livelihood over genuine mistakes, while some rich, famous, white guy who has sexually harassed a number of women can avoid censor or bounce back quickly." 👀👀 side-eyeing the many real-life white, men online who still have platforms despite their behaviour to women or minors...

Early in the book we also see some great comments around school, Jenny reveals "A dyslexia diagnosis in my early twenties had explained a lot. Unfortunately, I didn't get the diagnosis in time to make school a less painful experience."

I assume the book title came from a scene where a stranger sees the women out with Blake's niece and nephew and assumes they are a family and we get the quote: "To be honest, it was refreshing. The number of times I'd been out with a woman I was dating, only for people to assume she was just my friend, my sister, or even once - much to my date's horror - my mom, was too many to count. It was nice for once for the assumption to go the other way. Blake and I weren't dating, or even friends, but this woman had thought we were a couple." Which was a nice scene to have in the book, but other than that I feel as if the title choice is maybe a little odd? I don't see why else it was chosen, as the characters don't even start out as friends? I kind of feel like there could've been many different title options to go with that would've maybe fit better.

Lastly, I really loved the discussion around not relying on your significant other to provide you with happiness. Something that helped the characters feel more mature and the ages they were meant to be (which is refreshing because often times 'adult' characters in romance books feel/act more like teenagers). The 'third act conflict' also wasn't a miscommunication or something silly that felt forced, it was a genuine adult problem that felt realistic.
"She wasn't making my mistake of planning her whole life around a love interest. She'd found something she was genuinely passionate about and was pursuing it with fervor."

Overall, I really enjoyed this one, and would recommend for all my sapphic romance lovers. Also, found out in the 'about the author' section at the end, that she lives in Melbourne! I had no idea, and I love supporting Aussie authors! Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc for review.

The description literally says it all, "A light-hearted sapphic fall rom com that’ll make you want to cozy up in front of a log fire with mug of steaming cider!" I loved this book and it made me so excited for fall, which starts tomorrow (since my review is so late, oops!) I will definitely recommend my library purchase this book for circulation!

If you are looking for a cozy fall sapphic read,,, this one is for you. This is a cute second chance romance. Both of the characters were likeable on their on.. I think that is essential when you are doing a dual POV. The author organically brought the characters together in the small town. The writing flowed well. There was some spice, but no too much. I’m invested enough in the town to want to know what happens to the background characters in other stories.

This is a cute small town sapphic romance. It has Hallmark movie vibes and is a great cosy autumnal read perfect for this time of year. I love the small town setting and there are so many lovable characters. I will definitely be checking out George’s story when it’s out. I enjoyed the dual POV and I loved both Jenny and Blake’s characters. The way they both embarrassed themselves whilst trying to secretly impress each other made me laugh. I did find some of the canceled influencer storyline a bit cringey but it’s not really the main focus. I also loved that the 3rd act conflict was wrapped up pretty quickly. I wasn’t completely sold on their chemistry but it was still a fun easy read. If you are looking for a low stakes feel good romance definitely check this out.