Overview: After finalizing her divorce, Celeste wants to focus on herself and decides to say yes to new opportunities, including becoming the fake girlfriend/ partner of a local birder named John for a local contest, despite having no birding experience. As John teaches Celeste how to identify birds, they become closer and explore the idea of being “birders with benefits.”

Thoughts: Such a fun and light-hearted book!! I love the cover and it’s rare to see a book title that perfectly describes what the book is about. I was actually surprised that this was a debut book as the writing flowed well. I wasn’t sure what to expect with a book about birding, and it ended up being a classic feel-good “rom-com” (and I mean that in a good way)!

Take home message: This is an adorable debut romantic comedy featuring a bubbly forty-something female main character who enters into a fake relationship with a quiet birder (whose doppelgänger would be a lumberjack librarian). As a heads up, there are several open-door scenes, a couple of which were surprisingly creative 😂 Overall “Birding with Benefits” is a fun, low-angst, springtime read that would be perfect for those who prefer romances with older main characters and are fans of the “opposites attract” trope.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Celeste is divorced and is on a journey of discovery to find out who she is after losing herself in her marriage. She shows up at a park to meet with a guy who's squaring up with his ex. She believes she's supposed to be acting as his new partner, only to find out it's actually his partner in a birding contest. But that's after she's already told his ex that they're dating.

Celeste agrees to compete in a "Bird Binge" with John, bird watching for 42 days to find as many species as possible while also being his fake girlfriend. Might as well bring him along to a few events as her fake boyfriend as well, right?

This book kicks immediately into high gear hilarity. The female MC's personality is so refreshingly all over the place in the beginning. John is a quiet introvert who enjoys woodworking, hiking and bird watching. He comes off as so gentle and caring. They cannot be more opposite but learn to work together well. Both MC's aren't interested in dating due to baggage from their previous relationships but of course, the seem to end up developing an undeniable chemistry that they just cannot run away from.

While I loved both of the characters I have to say that by the end of the book, Celeste was just pissing me off. The argument she has with Morgan (her daughter)... it seems like her daughter has a better grasp on Celeste's life than she does.

John is damn neared flying around this book in angel wings. He is a golden retriever if I've ever seen one. Even when he does act like a dick, I'm cheering him on for some reason. I forever picture him in plaid. I do not know why and please do not ask me to explain.

John's bestie Chris and Celeste's bestie Maria are excellent side characters. They bring an extra comedy element into the story and draw out the main characters a little bit more since their communication can be quite shit sometimes due to their baggage. The Arizona setting is lovely and perfect for the story.

The ending actually turned out way cuter than I imagined it could have turned out. Great light hearted romcom!

How is this a debut author? Like, how?! This is a beautiful story, fresh and energetic and mature and emotional and fun. The phrase “self-discovery” doesn’t even begin to describe the MCs. There’s just so much to love here, and I can’t wait for more from the author.

The book follows newly divorced Celeste as she accidentally ends up in a fake dating situation and a birding contest with her friend of a friend John. This book is absolutely delightful, it was so amazing to see a romance between such wonderfully developed middle aged adults who you can’t help but fall in love with. and all of the side characters are equally amazing. John and Celeste both come into the story with some heavy baggage and the way in which it’s approached both within their relationship and in the book as a whole is incredible! I was a bit nervous going into this book as it was about such an obscure subject that i knew nothing about (birding), but birding is made so accessible within the book and as you read about John’s love for it and watch Celeste fall in love with it you become a little in love with it too. The author is a birder herself and her love for it is so evident within this book. Ultimately this is an awesome debut novel and i can’t wait for it to be out in the world!

This was a fun, sweet book about birding, finding yourself, and finding the people who fit for you.

I really enjoyed the progression of the relationship between Celeste and John. Seeing them start as a blind pair, to starting a fake dating ruse, to becoming friends, to becoming friends with benefits, to figuring out more. I just like how they fit with each other and didn’t push the other to be something they weren’t.

I liked Celeste’s journey of rediscovery. I liked seeing how she dove into different activities and strive to find herself. I am glad she had people around her who were able to help her figure out some balance.

I am not sure what else to say. This was just enjoyable and entertaining. It’d be a perfect summer read.

Thx Gallery books for the complementary arc for review

A sweet rom-com featuring birding and older main characters Celeste and John. High energy, newly divorced Celeste is seeking to find herself again after the slow soul-crush of an icky marriage, and ends up "saying yes" to fake dating quiet birder John. Celeste's journey of unfolding herself resonates for anyone who made themselves smaller for a relationship, and John is just a sweet muffin. For fans of Nora Goes Off Script.

A divorcée embarks on her “year of yes” and crosses paths with a shy and sensitive birdwatcher who changes her life.

Newly divorced, almost-empty-nester Celeste is finally seeking adventure and putting herself first, clichés be damned. So when a friend asks her to “partner” with his buddy John for an event, Celeste throws herself into the role of his temporary girlfriend. But quiet cinnamon roll John isn’t looking for love, just birds—he needs a partner for Tucson’s biggest bird-watching contest if he’s ever going to launch his own guiding business. By the time they untangle their crossed signals, they’ve become teammates…and thanks to his meddling friends, a fake couple.

Celeste can’t tell a sparrow from a swallow, but John is a great teacher, and the hours they spend hiking in the Arizona wilderness feed Celeste’s hunger for new adventures while giving John a chance to practice his dream job. As the two spend more time together, they end up watching more than just the birds, and their chemistry becomes undeniable.

Sarah is an author to watch! Birding with Benefits is delightfully quirky and wonderfully written. Plus the spice is 5 stars! Loved loved loved.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery books for this ARC!!

This debut romance from Sarah T Dubbs is GREAT.

It’s realistic without being a downer. It’s cheesy without being too much. Getting in the heads of these characters was SO EASY!

I laughed and was tense and really loved the way the end conflict came together.

Also, it was amazingly filled with birds. Sometimes the internal overshadows the external but this was perfect to balanced!!

(4.5 but as my queen Leigh Bardugo says—always round up on gooodreads)

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I would recommed if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f contemporary romance
-fake dating
-horny birding
-single parent
-this is just a hookup
-MCs in their 40's
-lumbersexual
-opposites attract

I was lucky enough to read this one early and so glad to dive in again. This is such an easy story to get sucked into. Celeste is living her life post divorce trying everything and ends up in a birding competition with John who is entirley stoic and competent. These two had such incredible chemistry from the beginning and I love that we get to see them become friends too as we watch them fall in love.

This book is horny birding perfection. The secondary characters, the figuring it out no matter how old you are and just trusting in love again. I will read anything Sarah writes and can't wait to get my hands on her next book

can you ADORABLE! I really enjoyed this book. It has some laugh out moments and cute banter. I fell hard for the MMC, what a sexxxyyy man! I knew nothing about birds or birding but my husband is a sucker for that kind of stuff so I kept him interested in this book. I would 100% recommend this book!

The cover is what caught my attention first, then the synopsis because I thought it sounded sweet and clever. Since finishing the story, I can confirm that this story is both sweet and clever. All the good tropes—opposites attract and fake dating…say no more!

Birding with Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb 🕊️👀
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️🌶️
thank you to @netgalley for this ARC, I’m posting my honest review!

Newly divorced Celeste is finally seeking adventure and is on a self help journey of putting herself first. She fell in love with her ex husband so young and put him and her family first. Now she will soon be an empty nester and is searching for who she wants to be. So when a friend asks her to do “partner” with his buddy John for an event, Celeste throws herself into the role of his fake girlfriend. John doesn’t need a girlfriend right now, he needs a partner for one of the biggest bird watching competitions. Celeste is new to being a birder but John is a great teacher and they start to spend a lot of time together. The fake dating blurs boundaries with reality and there is undeniable chemistry. How does their birding with benefits end?

My thoughts: I thought this was so cute! The way Celeste wanted to out herself first outside of a relationship was so relatable. Becoming whatever someone else needs is a bad habit of mine in a relationship so seeing her feelings and how she overcame it was truly inspiring. Who knew bird watching could be sexy? It’s one of the last things I expected to read with romance but it was so good! John was exactly what Celeste needed, he was a good listener and communicated clearly. Their undeniable chemistry and John’s way of always reassuring Celeste won me over. I definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys fake dating, single mom, cinnamon roll mmc, and bird watching.

If you had told me that I'd love a book about bird watching... I'd call you crazy! Celeste is in her "year of yes" when she happens to meet John, an avid birdwatcher ready to take a competition by storm. What she doesn't expect is how quickly John will become a big part of her life, despite their opposing personalities. Throughout their time together, they find comfort in each other and start to enjoy spending time together, and it starts to span outside of just birds. John & Celeste's love-story is enchanting, for some reason. It's full of hope and second chances.

This book is full of witty banter, consuming love, heartwarming moments and happens to be set in a charming place. This story unfolded so beautifully, and it was so easy to root for John and Celeste, both as individuals but as a couple too. You can feel John start to open up throughout the book, and Celeste opens up as well. This story, seemingly about self rediscovery, and finding love in unexpected places is a beautiful debut novel and I can't wait to read more.

Overall, this book is an easy read and I will highly recommend it!

This book was delightful. If the miscommunication trope bothers you, these two characters know how to communicate to each other and it was so refreshing to read. Requested this ARC on a whim and was so pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it! Would recommend to anyone. Thank you NetGalley for this eARC!!

I had been curious about this book ever since I heard the title. I'm not a birder, but it was so unique, it grabbed my attention. Then I saw the cover (seriously gorgeous—that lip bite is everything), and I had to get my hands on it! Let me tell you, the story did not disappoint.

Celeste and John fall into a fake dating and birding partnership, but when the attraction between them builds, they upgrade their relationship to birders with benefits. And it was amazingly hot. ::fans self::

Sarah is a fabulous writer. Within a page, I was engrossed, then up reading far past my bedtime.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah T Dubb, and Gallery Books for the early access in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me captivated from start to finish. I read it in less than a day! You fall in love with the characters almost immediately. Especially the MMC John, described as a hunky "lumberjack librarian." While the romance is definitely steamy, it blends in perfectly and doesn't overpower the plot in any way.

Follow Celeste and John as they navigate the unexpected fake-dating situation they find themselves in all while on their own journeys of self-discovery.

I found this book to be a fun, fast-paced, and heartwarming read.

I never really considered bird watching, but after reading this book, I couldn't help but pay more attention to the birds around my backyard.

I look forward to more from Sarah T Dubb

This book was definitely a mirror for me as a teacher turning forty soon, and that is why I chose to read it. What got me hooked on this book was the MMC, John, he was a golden retriever of a man who built a truly wonderful rapport with Celeste, a divorced teacher. He is shy and hesitant to go out on his own and start a guided bird watching business. Celeste is asked by Johns best friend Chris to step in for him and be Johns birding partner. She misunderstands and thinks he needs a fake girlfriend to provide a buffer between John and his ex. So begins an entire fake relationship and an education in birding.

I loved watching these two grow and the secondary characters were wonderful. The story is well written and I loved the original plot line. I was hooked from the start and there were some amazing life lessons that I really enjoy when I am reading. If it weren’t for the final conflict which is not one of my favourite tropes, this book would be perfect in my eyes. The chemistry and rapport between the two MC’s was wonderful to read. This book made me stop and listen to the birds in my own life and I am very grateful for that!

Thank you NetGalley, Sarah T. Dubb, and Gallery Books for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

What an enchanting <I>debut</I> rom-com with a captivating blend of charm, quirkiness, heartwarming moments, and delightful humor, all wrapped up in a steamy package with the most adorable cover imaginable!! As I indulged in this book, seated upon the sandy shores, embraced by the sun's warmth and serenaded by the symphony of chirping birds, it dawned on me that it was the epitome of perfect timing paired with the perfect book. "Birding with Benefits" showcases two individuals navigating the complexities of life in their 40s, as they embark on a fake dating escapade. Set against the backdrop of a competitive birding competition, the narrative delves into themes of second chances at love and overcoming age barriers. With its authentic portrayal of relatable struggles, the story unfolds with a blend of tension, witty banter, sizzling chemistry and just the right amount of spice! I absolutely adored this book so much and can't wait to explore more from this author. It's amazing how birding can be both fun and romantic!! 🧡🧡🧡🧡

As a divorcee embraces her "year of yes," she unexpectedly meets John, a shy and sensitive birdwatcher who becomes a transformative figure in her life. Celeste, newly divorced and on the brink of becoming an empty nester, decides to break free from conventions and embrace new experiences. When she agrees to pretend to be John's temporary girlfriend for a social event, little does she know that it will lead to a deeper connection. John, focused on launching his own bird-watching business, needs a partner for Tucson's major bird-watching event. Despite their initial misunderstandings of well-meaning friends, Celeste and John find themselves drawn to each other as they explore the Arizona wilderness. As the two spend more time together, they end up watching more than just birds, but also the joy of finding love in unexpected places!

Overall, I was totally enchanted from start to finish! If you are looking for a unique love story with a happy ending then this is the book for you. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

This was good! I wish the book had been maybe 10 pages longer to give either more closure to Morgan's storyline, or to the romance. However, I will be recommending this for fans of fake dating tropes. I was glad that Peter, the ex, was not in the book (besides a quick facetime call) as some sort of jealousy ploy. I think that would have made the book have too much going on.

John and Celeste stumble into being competitive birding partners. Also, a fake couple. And, hey, they kind actually like each other, so throw some friends with benefits in there too.

Filled with classic tropes but never feeling overdone, Birding with Benefits demonstrates that you deserve to be celebrated for who you are. Themes of discovery abound—both of the characters themselves and the world around them.

Barely a third of the way into the book, I was enjoying it so much I didn’t want it to end. Celeste and John were so sincere in their appreciation of each other, I could’ve kept reading them forever.