New beginnings are a recurring theme of this debut novel. Celeste Johannsen is finding herself after a recent divorce; her daughter Morgan is about to head off for college; her friend, Maria, has a newborn; and John Maguire has lost his job following the end of a long-term relationship.

In the process of trying new experiences, Celeste meets Chris, a friend of John’s. Chris was supposed to partner with John in a local birding competition but had to back out because of an unavoidable work conflict. Chris feels particularly bad about letting John down because a partner is required to compete; and this will be the first year John will not be partnering with his ex, Breena. Although Celeste knows nothing about birding, Chris thinks her intelligence and enthusiasm will make her a good substitute and enable John to enter the contest.

Due to a communication mix-up between Chris and Celeste, Celeste arrives at the bird competition kick-off, thinking that this is a one-off and that she’s there to convince Breena and other birding colleagues that she’s John’s girlfriend. Even after Celeste realizes her mistake, she's still willing to partner with John during the six-week competition to see which team can identify the most birds.

Of course, this requires her and John to continue to pose as a couple when in public, although they are both sure in the beginning is that all they want is to be birding partners. Celeste and John are each still recovering from difficult break-ups. In her marriage, Celeste’s husband was constantly telling her that she was too much. In John’s former relationship with Breena, he was continuously meant to feel like he wasn’t enough.

John is a lifelong, passionate birder who dreams of becoming a full-time birding guide. He uses his time with Celeste to test out some of his ideas about guiding. Celeste convinces John to show up and act as her boyfriend at a few events with her teaching colleagues to get them to stop trying to set her up. As a result, John and Celeste spend a lot of time with each other and their attraction to each other grows. They discover that that they are just right together.

John and Celeste are easy to like and to root for. They’re intelligent, kind and have a sense of humor. The book flows well and is primarily structured around the 42 days of the birding contest. Because a lot of the scenes center on birding expeditions, the pace is slower than a lot of other contemporary romances, but is suited to this story.

One thing that seemed inconsistent was how oblivious Celeste was to her daughter Morgan’s plans for her future; and given how sensitive she was to upsetting Morgan, it seemed unlikely that she would react the way she did in public.

Overall, Birding with Benefits had charming characters with interesting backgrounds, meeting them felt like time well spent. Look forward to seeing what this author does next!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #GalleryBooks for the ARC.

This was so cute. I love the little bits of nature facts mixed in with realistic life wisdom. I will say the male character names are a little boring, I kept forgetting who was who lol.

Thank you Netgalley, Gallery Books and Sarah T. Dubb for a chance to read and review an ARC of Birding with Benefits.

Birding with Benefits by Sara T. Dubb
Rating: 5/5 stars

I adored John and Celeste throughout this book.

Important note: you don't have to like or know anything about birds or birding to enjoy this book. I am personally terrified of birds and still LOVED this book.

I knew Sarah T. Dubb had hooked me into Birding with Benefits when Celeste described John the first time she sees him. "Librarian-in-the-wild"? I'm in. The dual POV created the sexual tension and chemistry between these two because you got, for basically the entire duration of the book, insight into how each of these characters was physically affected by the other.

But the emotional connection? Also 10 out of 10. I found myself highlighting the self doubt these characters experienced; the ways in which they tried to alter or in Celeste's case, tame, their true nature in order to not bother the other way. This was such a realistic and relatable aspect to this story. And the subsequent reactions from the other character in these instances, that they loved those things the other worried about, really created a love story I was cheering for from the very beginning.

I highly recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance. But I'd also recommend it to someone who might be new to reading romance and maybe has a keen interest in nature, or is in the 40-50 age range, because that's where these characters fall, and I found this aspect SO refreshing. As someone nearing 30, I find that I'm wanting to start discovering more romance books with characters that don't fall into that typical 20s age range. Those romances are still great, and if you love those, I still think you'll like this book, as well. It was just nice to see such a different take on a contemporary romance that still had the banter and flirting and spice that one is accustomed to with characters 15-20 years younger.

Additionally, Celeste's role as a mom really added to this story, especially since the author doesn't diminish the importance and centrality of that aspect of Celeste's life; but she also doesn't make it her entire identity. I appreciated that Celeste's hang-ups about a relationship were about herself, and not about her daughter (as is sometimes typical in books with a single parent. I think the unique ages in this book probably help with that).

Wonderful book, can't wait to read more from this author!

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Celeste, newly divorced and mother to a moody teenager, is embracing her journey to discovering her joie de vivre. On a mission to find herself, Celeste has taken on a variety of new hobbies including: sip and paint classes, hiking, yoga, and (a more recent development of) offering her services as a fake girlfriend. However, what she doesn't expect is John-- the stoic man not looking for a new romance partner, but a new birding partner for Tuscon, Arizona's largest bird watching competition. Not one to back down from a challenge, Celeste sets out to become the best birder she can, but she doesn't expect the undeniable chemistry between her and John...

This book ticked so many of my romance story boxes: unique premise, believable characters, great writing, and fun to read. The main characters, Celeste and John, are in their forties, which is a breath of fresh air for a genre overwhelmed with twenty-somethings. Their story was tooth-achingly sweet, but had some very real challenges to overcome that gave the story a wonderful depth.

I had such a great time reading this book and learning about birding along the way ◡̈

This was not what I expected! I had no expectations going into this, but hoped it was a light-hearted and fun, and that's exactly what it was. This was super binge-able, and a perfect "palate cleanser" between books. I even learned a thing or two about birds! I am interested to see what the author does next.

This is a delightfully sweet rom-com featuring Celeste, a post-divorce mother in the "say yes" phase of her life and John, a quiet birder who tends to be too shy to go after what he wants.

What starts out as a funny misunderstanding turns into a fun and rather educational birding competition (Sarah Dubb's real life love of birding really shines here) and then turns into a legitimately spicy friends with benefits turned more romance.

This is a later in life romance for both Celeste and John (who are in their 40s) and they have their fears and baggage to overcome, but there isn't a ton of angst and all of it feels believable, not made up for the sake of drama, which felt refreshing and genuine. I also loved the casual queer representation in the side characters, which included queer, nonbinary and bisexual mentions.

This book definitely keeps things light and fluffy on the emotional development of the characters so don't go in looking for a deep pull, but it's a great fun read that will make definitely make you look at your back yard birds with a bit more magic.

Thanks to Gallery Books for the eARC!

Thank you Netgallery for this arc! This book was not like other books that I have read which surprised me a little. I loved the concept, but it was hard for me to get into and I had to push myself to read it. I do see this becoming a popular book though!

As an avid birder and a reader, I really enjoyed "Birding with Benefits." Great character development and strong plot development along with a good level of spice. Sarah T. Dubb gives very apt descriptions of the joys of birding, showing that she really understands that. I appreciated that the main female character was unconventional and also how the characters were middle-aged and still exploring different options in life. I thought it might be a bit silly given the title, but there was a good combination of fun and seriousness. Highly recommended. Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the eARC.

What a fabulous book - and gorgeous cover. I don't see myself as a 'birder' so I wasn't sure what to expect but it was fantastic. It kept me entertained, laughing, and the romance was spot on. I cannot wait to read more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. It was different than anything else I've read recently. I couldn't put it down! I will keep an eye out for this author's future work!

I was originally drawn to this book because of the cover art, it is a fabulous cover! Then I was drawn to the story line. I wouldn’t consider myself a birder, but I do feed birds in my backyard, know some species, and have Carolina Chickadees currently nesting in my birdhouse that I like to spy on. I enjoy a good romance, especially one fraught with sexual tension. I really enjoyed the main character, Celeste, and really found myself relating to her since she’s my age and has a similarly aged child. I really liked John, too, all along thinking it might be nice to have myself a John. I enjoyed the birding portion of the book, as well as the romance. I had a hard time putting it down so I could sleep and do things like cook dinner and keep my kids alive. I can’t wait to see what other books Sarah Dubb has in store for us!

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Single parent Celeste is in a “say yes” phase of her life, which leads to her agreeing to fake date a carpenter and birdwatcher. Although she didn’t realize that entailed entering the community’s birdwatching competition to foil the advances of John’s ex — a competition that goes on for weeks. A novice, Celeste is in good hands with the expert birder. When their forced proximity and mutual attraction results in the addition of friends with benefits clause to their arrangement….well, if you’re a romance reader, you can guess what happens next.

Dubb does not write like a debut author. The story is creative and perfectly plotted. The characters are deep, quirky, and interesting, with engaging hobbies. The romance elements are fantastic. Most of all, I loved the SCIENCE of this romance. STEM themed romances are my favorite, and I have become a backyard birder in the last ten year years, and the combination of facts, emotion, and relationship lit up all the parts of my brain.

I’m a fan of the clean, modern, cut paper collage style of covers these days (Bless Your Heart, The Royal We, American Royals series), and this one does not disappoint, depicting the main character catching sight of both a bird and the love interest in a pair of binoculars.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #BirdingWithBenefits via #NetGalley.

I had a really good time with this book. The birding premise pulled me in and John, the male lead, was so cute. I really liked the dynamic between John and Celeste, how they were open to each other but wanted to work on themselves as well. The romance had a good pace, steamy scenes, and a connection I was rooting for from the start.

I would recommend this book to romance readers that like a fake dating, friends with benefits, single adults, nerdy story with a balance of independence and personal discovery.

An ARC copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What really attracted me to this book was its title - I’ve never read or seen a romance with birding involved! A novel concept!
Celeste is a divorcée who has decided to prioritize herself and her teen daughter after her marriage is over. She decides to say yes to new and exciting opportunities. When an acquaintance asks her to fill in for him when he cannot participate in a birding competition she says yes! And this is how she meets John, a quiet avid birder whom she is attracted to immediately. Their chemistry is undeniable, but neither are looking for a relationship.
Then things happen…. And there are some very “spicy” scenes! Three and a half stars.
Thank you Netgalley and Gallery for the opportunity to read the ARC!

I received a copy of this for my honest review

I really enjoyed this story! Our FMC is a single mom in her 40s, who has now been divorced for 2 years. In those two years she has developed the mantra to find herself and be ok alone, because she lost herself to be with her ex. So one weekend she shows up because a new friend of hers said his friend needed a partner to make his ex jealous - and she's is saying yes to new adventures. But when she shows up, our MMC is confused. Well it turns out he needs a bird watching partner for a 6 week contest - not a fake date. But since she introduced herself as the girlfriend before they cleared that up they had two choices, go with it for the contest, or tell everyone its a lie. What harm can a little fake dating do? In fact it can keep people from both of their lives away from setting them up - win, win. Except as they spend more time for the birding contest, and get to know each other, they can't fight the attraction. So another new adventure - birding with benefits, just until the contest is over, she can't lose herself again.

Okay so I totally requested this book because of the cover and it surprised me! Do I want to become a bird watcher now? You betcha! This books was just so sweet and I enjoyed every second!

Thank you to Gallery Books for gifting me an eARC copy in exchange for an honest review!
All thoughts are my own.

Reading this was plain, flat out DELIGHTFUL. From an interesting, lowkey plot to genuine chemistry between mature characters, I loved this novel to its core!

Quick shoutout to the author for writing older characters. I've only read a few books where the main characters are 35+, but I've loved them all. Something about the way they hold themselves, a higher understanding of who they are and what they want, that I admire so much.

Celeste and John are two wonderfully depicted characters. They both have unique quirks, strengths and weaknesses, and they compliment one another perfectly. Their falling for each other felt so natural and sincere. At no point was I confused or put off by the progression of their relationship!

Celeste's apprehension to date also makes a ton of sense, given all she's been through; it didn't frustrate me, which is usually my reaction when there's an internal issue like this stopping the character from whatever it is they actually want. I will say, I imagine my understanding comes from her actually admitting to herself and John that she was scared——another admirable trait of Celeste's! Can't forget John either, because that man definitely laid his feelings for Celeste in a really respectful way too.

Can someone PLEASE give Sarah T. Dubb an award for writing sex?! Super hot while having no cringy dirty talk, no superficial comments about his dick size - 11/10 on the spicy scenes.

The side conflict with Morgan was expertly woven into the story, adding little hints here and there that there was something going on. The portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters like Morgan and Em is always so refreshing, I loved that they simply were who they were without it defining their entire personalities, and that there was no extra explanation or issues around their relationship. As for Morgan leaving for Cali instead of college, I can see both her and Celeste's side, and thought it was handled well.

As for Maria, her role offered some much-needed perspective and support in a way that only a true friend can.

To summarize: Heartwarming romance that captures the essence of personal growth and... birding. ;) highly recommend!

Rating: I enjoyed this book but it isn't one that I would reread.
🌶️: 3/5 - a handful of explicit intimate scenes

TLDR : Super cute opposites attract mature romance with birds!

I loved reading a romance novel about established adults. I loved the maturity of our main characters and their ability to grow. You're never done growing and you don't have to be 20 to have new experiences. All of the characters in this book are interesting and loveable. If you're worried about this being a debut novel, don't. You'd never know that this was written by a first time author. Really lovely writing. And the Celeste guidebook?! I cannot! How stupid romantic?! I loved the birding aspect of this book. I could have done with even more birding content but I imagine I am in the minority there. I hope there is just the right amount in there to get anyone reading this book to wonder what's in their own backyards and maybe start with discovery themselves.

This was a fabulously fun romance for this author’s debut! I loved that the main characters were older (40s) and in general had the maturity to match their age. Did they still have ish to figure out (and individuals and as a couple)? Of course! Were there still hiccups in their story? Absolutely– it wouldn't be a rom com without them; but the tension felt realistic and not a product of an easily solvable problem. And the birding! What a fun, unique way to get/keep these characters together. Truly, this book convinced me to be like every other Millennial out there and take up birding as a hobby. For me, the spice was just the right amount of spicy!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!
I have such mixed emotions when it comes to this book! I love birds (Go Wingspan!) and really liked the cover and idea of this book. There were many aspects that I liked, like the bird contest, and John was by far my favorite character.
Oddly the writing was YA but the content was adult. The lack of character development was disappointing. I wish the deep talks were had with each other instead of their friends. I had a hard time picturing the MC’s because they didn’t act their age. Especially Celeste! She acted immature and I didn’t find her to be a very likable character.
Overall I thought the plot was unique and wish there had been even more birding! I have to give it 3.75 stars