The lumberjane tagline for this book caught my attention. I love a good lumberjane story, or anything really with women-identified protags that are well-written with gender-noncomforming personalities. Opposites attract with these small town doctor + social media influencer characters. While I have a rather severe distaste of material that is written in the first-person perspective, I managed to "lumber" my way through this title. I would have loved it so much more if it had perhaps been written from a close third person perspective. As an Aromantic professional reader who thrives on fictional romance, I desire none for myself and the use of "I" pronouns in the romance genre makes reading some stories difficult for me. Some books I am too "taken out of" to finish, but this one I got through and for the most part, enjoyed. I did like the imagery and prose the author used to describe the autumn time feeling in the book's setting.

This was a fun, dual POV, Fall Sapphic romance between Jenny, a bisexual influencer from California and Blake, her former high school classmate and all around amazing small town lesbian doctor.

After nearly getting cancelled, Jenny is trying to recover her reputation embracing all things wholesome and New England in the Fall when her best friend Amanda asks her to help Blake plan her bachelorette.

Sparks fly as the two are continually forced to work together and eventually they strike up a no strings attached, 'let's bang out our feelings' arrangement.

I thought both women were relatable, loved the tight-knit, small town community, the dyslexia rep (Jenny), all the Jane Austen vibes AND the adorable pets! Recommended for fans of authors like Ashley H Blake or Alexandria Bellefleur.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for a complimentary early copy. I voluntarily read this book and all opinions are my own. I'm excited to read George's story next!

Steam level: a couple open door scenes, mild details

This was a very happy romcom and a quick read! I liked the two main characters Jenny and Blake a lot, and the dual POV was written well, both had their individual voices and it was easy to understand each of their motivations. There is lots of chemistry between the characters, and even though they start out not liking each other, and there are some bumps on the road for their story, there overall was no unnecessary drama or too much miscommunication (as can often be found in romcom books).

The only thing I felt fell a bit flat was the explanation why Jenny had problems with her job. Explanation contains spoilers so you can find it in my Storygraph review marked as spoiler

I'd recommend this book to everyone who is looking for a sapphic romance with autumn vibes and without too much drama and with very likable characters.

Goodness, this was the cutest autumn romance. As warm and cozy as enjoying a cup of hot cider while snuggled in one’s favorite sweater. Though I’m bored by the big city gal moved back to her small home town trope in cishet romances, make it sapphic and I am all in. Especially when the love interest (and my newest book girlfriend), Blake, is a sexy, soft butch doctor who gets a Mr. Darcy moment that is everything. Someone needs to snap up the movie rights ASAP because I need to see that scene committed to film like I need air. Jenny was adorable and lovable as well, and surprisingly not shallow for an influencer.

Such a lovely book. Highly recommended.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.

Note for the publisher: the post review to Goodreads option on NetGalley wasn't working because of some sort of ISBN hiccup, so I posted to Goodreads the regular way and included the link.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was adorable to read. There are a few spicy scenes, but they are not very graphic. The book's characters have different working lives but flow together well by the novel's end. I saw the ending from the beginning, but I did not expect it to play out as it did. I was still in suspense, finding out what would happen and what decisions would be made. It is adorable, and I loved how the character's personalities were described and shown. I found myself unable to put the book down, and wanting to finish it as quickly as possible, I was drawn in from the beginning.

A heartwarming romance, this read is perfect for lesbians and sapphics in autumn. Well written, enemies to lovers, hometown romance this warmed my heart from start to finish. An unlikely match it follows an influencer (bi) and a doctor (lesbian) brought together by a mutual friends wedding that will change their connection to each other forerver as they spend more and more time together. The dates are cute and even at times funny, i genuinely enjoyed this and absolutely stormed through it at a speed that truly surprised me. I will 100% be picking this up after release to revel in its pages once again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This is a super cute fall themed romcom about a “semi-cancelled” social media influencer and a doctor who meet up again unexpectedly and both have crushes on each other. They both think the other doesn’t like them, and major miscommunications happen.

I thought all the fall themed influences were nice and refreshing for these hot summer days. Both girls were ridiculous at times but I enjoyed them slowly understanding that they were into each other. This is a sweet quick sapphic read and I recommend!!

Thank you NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book. Unfortunately I DNF the book. I was about 40% in and it did not grab my attention and I couldn’t get into it.

This is the romance novel version of a all vibes moodboard - exactly what you expect, makes you long for chillier weather and a mug of something hot, but ultimately pretty bland. There's so much going on in Blake and Jenny's relationship that it feels like nothing of actual substance is going on at the same time. In trying to navigate all the layers of how their relationship doesn't work (until it does), no aspect really gets time, in addition to so many different events (a career fair, a bachelorette party, a wedding, a fall festival photoshoot, a halloween party, a hike, Thanksgiving, and then the finale) that it all just feels a little frenzied. Except the fall vibes keep it from having any sort of tension, so it just feels shallow instead. And that's fine; it's sweet and nice, but doesn't have any real sticking power for me.

I was so endeared by this book and wished it went slightly deeper into who Jenny was. The anxieties she had about posting and being an influencer were well articulated, but it almost swayed juvenile in the way Blake approached it. I really, really enjoyed this book and read it in a day - I will say that it felt more like a YA book by midway through after a start that was really layered.

3.5/5 stars
This was a really cute, fun and cozy sapphic fall romance but personally I would have liked a slightly spicier story. The story was boring at times and there were a few plot holes nothing major but
I don't get how Blake didn't know about Jenny's social media "scandal" even though she used to stalk her on social media is a bit strange?? Their thanksgiving dinners were days before the fundraiser but somehow the fundraiser was planned around thanksgiving with the same theme.
All the characters were likeable and I love Blake's sister, Olivia idk why but she just stood out to me.

Overall the book was average, if you are into grumpy/sunshine, fall sapphic small town romance maybe u should give it a try

If you’re like me and can’t wait for fall, then Not Just Gal Pals is the perfect cozy fall-vibe book for you.

Jenny is an influencer that gets canceled who returns to her hometown for a wedding and to hide out while the bad press dies down. As soon as she returns she runs into Blake, someone she’s known since high school, who has always hated her. Of course Blake has had a huge lesbian crush on Jenny since she was 14 and doesn’t know how to act normal around her. The two find themselves working together on their mutual friend's wedding and become closer and agree to a temporary friends-with-benefits situation until Jenny returns to California.

I really enjoyed this book. Jenny and Blake are idiots who are constantly embarrassing themselves in front of each other, but who also have very sweet moments together and great chemistry. If you’re looking for the perfect fall read, with a sweet romance, and great side characters, then I highly recommend Not Just Gal Pals.

I received an ARC from Victory Editing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved so many things about this book, including:
- It takes place in the fall!
- Sapphic romance
- Small town romance
- Blake has had a crush on Jenny since they were in high school!
- Grumpy/sunshine
-Jenny is a social media influencer and Blake is a doctor
- There was a Jane Austen themed bachelorette party!
- Steamy scenes!
- Hand holding!
- Dual POV
- Pumpkin patch, scarecrows, and hayrides

I loved Blake and Jenny so much. Their story was so sweet, but it also had some spice to it. I really enjoyed the dual POV of the story. I loved the side characters too, especially George, who runs the bookstore/coffee shop. It made me long for days of wearing boots and sweaters and going to the pumpkin patch.

Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing for an ARC of this book. I recommend it!

I read “sapphic romcom” and couldn’t pass up on this book. In general in general I think this statement is a bit misleading. I didn’t find this book to be really funny, it does deliver on some of the romance. It feels a bit like a cookie cutter romance in which the author tries to add some fun(ny) moments. To me, it all falls rather flat. I think it’s because I really don’t like one of the MCs (Jenny). She’s too superficial, or at least seems to superficial for my liking. It’s one of the pitfalls of having a social media influencer as a main character and having her pair up with a doctor.

This sorta enemies-to-lovers story just doesn’t hit the mark for me. I’m missing communication and the actual feeling like Blake and Jenny are meant to be. I did like the setting somewhat, but I was missing the real spark and thought it was a bit boring.
One major thing that annoyed me was a continuity thing, Blake and Jenny had Thanksgiving dinner, with both families (it was a short passage), only later to focus on a fundraiser around Thanksgiving with a Thanksgiving theme…. I guess editors and beta readers haven’t paid as close attention as I did….

This was super sweet! Personally I would have liked a slightly spicier story, but I know for some people that’s going to be a benefit. This definitely has me looking forward to lower temperatures and fall days!

A quick thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review!

A sapphic romcom? Sign me up!

Let me start by saying that this was an incredibly cute story, and it definitely hit the mark for romantic comedy. First we have Jenny, a social media influencer whose return home due to scandal also coincides with her best friends wedding. Then we have Blake, a doctor who has returned to her hometown to open her own practice. Though they were two of the only openly out girls in their high school, they've both perpetuated this idea that the other hated them.

For me, this is not an enemies to lovers romance, and that is totally okay. It still features forced proximity, a little bit of a grumpy x sunshine, and a sweet, cozy vibe. It was quick and light-hearted, which is something I crave as we near the fall/winter season. I think where this fell short for me was the spicy parts. They felt forced and a bit underdeveloped, and the story could have gone on with/without them.

All in all, this was really cute and I enjoyed the overall love story between Jenny and Blake.

This was a really cute, fun contemporary romance. I loved all the community and Blake and Jenny finding their way together was such a delight. The sex scenes were also great with so much good, clear consent. I also really liked how things resolved and the time-limit conflict was worked through. This was a great lighthearted read for a cozy weekend.

This was a really cute and cosy sapphic fall romance. The setting was gorgeous, the characters engaging and the story was really entertaining.

4 stars

Can’t say that I loved it, but I definitely liked it. Sweet story, lovable characters. Very nice weekend read. I liked that the two mains were mature adults, meaning no artificial drama. The resolution felt a little flat. Sweet and believable, but quite uneventful. Everything just fell into place easily. Although it’s well-written and entertaining, I think it lacks emotional build-up. I wasn’t on edge, turning pages and wondering what’s next. There’s no emotional roller coaster.

If you’re looking for a sweet romance, I recommend the book. You won’t be disappointed.

I had such a good time reading this book! I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t put it down. I loved the characters, all the tropes and the small town vibes.

I loved seeing Blake go from a tongue-tied mess around Jenny to her partner and biggest supporter. Same goes for Jenny- they truly were each other’s biggest supporters, always ready to help or, when that wasn’t possible, comfort the other. Even when they were pretending what they were doing was casual, they couldn’t hide their feelings or their connection. The attraction and subsequent tension between them was amazing and I was rooting for them from the very first pages. I’m obsessed with them!😍

I haven’t read a small town romance in a while and this made me fall in love with that trope all over again. The supportive community, the close-knit friendship groups, the shenanigans, the inability to hide and always bumping into each other at the most inconvenient times- I love it!

Overall an amazing book! It truly gave everything it needed to give and I can’t wait to see what Elizabeth Luly does next.

If you’re looking for a small-town romance with great writing and characters and that will have you hooked from the beginning, definitely check this one out!

★ 4.5/5 Stars ★

Thank you so much to Elizabeth Luly and Netgalley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.