If you're looking for a feather-ruffling good time, "Birding with Benefits" by Sarah T. Dubb is the perfect read to shake your tailfeathers to! I wasn't ready when the book spread its wings and soured me into a world of laughter, adventure, and romance. Just be prepared to squawk out loud and flap your wings in delight because once you start reading, you won't be able to put it down!

The characters are a real hoot, and that plot is a nest full of surprises. But what sets this book apart is its love for avian. Dubb's passion for birds shines through on every page, from the vivid descriptions of feathered friends to the quirky birding trivia sprinkled throughout the narrative. You'll leave this book with a newfound appreciation for our fine feathered friends and maybe even a desire to take up birdwatching yourself!

Grab your binoculars, pack a picnic, and prepare for a birdwatching adventure like no other with Sarah T. Dubb's delightful romp, "Birding with Benefits." Who knew birdwatching could be so much fun?

Say yes…in her quest to say yes to a new life post-divorce, Celeste immediately jumps in as a fake girlfriend to help John save face with his ex-girlfriend. What she didn’t realize is that she was supposed to be a birding partner…not a fake girlfriend. While Celeste is clueless when it comes to birding, she is all ready to fake it until she makes it! Birding with Benefits is such a fun, lighthearted book with such a unique and fun premise. Celeste's naïveté paired with a good attitude and a “say yes” motto makes for a compelling female lead in this witty novel. Such a fun read and a reminder that you are never to old to say yes to love…or finding a new hobby!

Review is on Goodreads and will be posted on Instagram ahead of publication!

4.25 stars, but rounding up!
Birding with Benefits was such a wonderful surprise! I never thought i would be sitting here going on about how I loved a book centered around ornithology, and no disrespect to people who bird, but it isn't my hobby or something I would get in to. But I totally loved this book and it really made this story unique!! So if you're reading this and are like "birds? birding? eh I'm not into that..." Think Again!! because the birding aspect of this book is just the right amount - enough to allow this book to be unique, authentic and real, but not so much you get lost in the minutiae of birding or get bored with it.

I really liked both main characters (Celeste and John), and the way this was set up as a later-in-life romance (I feel like there has been more of these coming out lately? Just me?) where both characters have things they need to work though in order to give and receive love, as a result of how they were treated in their prior LTR. This allowed both of them to experience growth. Also, while this book does employ the "fake dating" trope, if you're not usually 'into' that type of book (neither am i!) it really worked here in a natural sense - it evolved after a series of miscommunications and conveniences rather than jumping in to it head first.

Anyway, I found all the characters in this book to be ones I was rooting for - well not John's ex - but you're not supposed to be rooting for her, haha. I hope that the author keeps writing (it's hard to believe this is a debut) because I really enjoyed this reading experience!

Grateful to have received an ARC from Gallery Books via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did, which is so unfortunate because this was one of my highly anticipated reads for 2024!

Overall, I think this is a really fun, unique concept for a romance, and that cover is GORGEOUS! I was drawn into the idea of a quiet, shy MMC and some delicious tension. But it happened too fast for me (I want a sloooooow burn) and the underdeveloped characters kept pulling me out of the story. I didn't really think their romance was authentic and I wasn't even really invested in their HEA. And it honestly felt like there were a few too many sex scenes. I know, I know. But too many and we lose space for crucial character and plot development.

This was still a fun read, and I loved the birding elements, but overall, it didn't win me over. I hope it finds its audience!

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

This was a delightful story. John and Celeste are so sweet. I should have expected the open-door sexy time based on the title.

I want to become a birder now! Maybe my husband will want to help with the benefits part, lol.

Thank you, NetGalley and Gallery Books for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book brought a unique twist to the genre. As a master naturalist, I really appreciated the dedication to birding, proper techniques, and showing how shared interests (aside from physical attraction) created a solid foundation for the HEA. I also love the FMC being in her 40s and not a early 20s woman who finds her HEA. I thought the story was engaging and the author clearly has a passion for both writing and birding. I did feel that the ending was a little rushed, but the grand gesture felt right for the MMC.

Celeste has a year of yes to everything but love. She didn’t expect her one yes to learn about birding would put her on the edge of the one that she doesn’t want. We’ve all been in a relationship where we have lost ourselves along the way or given up part of ourselves. This is what Celeste has done when she was married. However since her divorce she is saying yes to the everything but love.

This was a cute fun read.

Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy

Celeste is a vibrant, enthusiastic and caring middle school language arts teacher who is trying to find herself after getting divorced two years ago. She finds herself agreeing to be a fake girlfriend for an acquaintance's best friend, John. John is an avid bird watcher and recently lost his job. He got out of a long relationship a year before and is hoping to start his own business being a guide for bird watching. John and Celeste continue to fake date and compete in a bird watching competition that John has entered. Celeste is still trying to find herself and doesn't trust herself to be in another relationship without giving up part of herself. Will she be able to stop seeing John after the birding competition is over like they agreed or will she trust herself to be in a relationship again?

I enjoyed this book. I really loved John's character and learning more about bird watching! Celeste is a complex character and hard to like at times, but I did admire her honesty and willingness to try new things throughout the book. This book was enjoyable and it was fun to see John and Celeste get to know each other socially and during their bird watching sessions. Maria and Chris, Celeste's and John's best friends were also a delight and added a lot of value to the story! Overall, I would recommend this book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a sweet story and I loved how it focused on older characters than your typical romance book. Celeste and John were so lovable, and the opposites truly did attract. I loved how Celeste brought John out of his shell and how John grounded Celeste. The descriptions in the book were amazing and really made you feel like you were there. The birding part of the book made it so unique and kind of made me want to go birding (I’ve never been birding in my LIFE). I really liked the messages of chasing what you want to do and how it was reflected in Celeste and John but also in Morgan. Celeste and Morgan’s relationship was such a strong mother-daughter one. My one complaint was that the end fell a little flat for me. I loved that everyone ended on a path towards something wonderful for them, but there was just something about the ending that was lackluster for me. I would recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wonderfully unique in the romance genre, Birding with Benefits is a funny and sweet story about bravery, self-discovery, and finding joy. Celeste and John are proof that it’s never too late to try something new or find love after heartbreak.

4/5 ⭐️ for the unique story and lots of chemistry in and out of the bedroom.

Thank you, NetGalley, Sarah T. Dubb, and Gallery Books, for the advanced e-copy!

Wow, wow, wow, wow. I absolutely loved this book. As someone who loves nature, casual bird-watching, and romance books this was the perfect read for me. This book made me enjoy the art of bird-watching so much more and made me want to spend all my time outside.

Celeste shows up to a local park thinking she'll be John's fake girlfriend, what a surprise when she realizes all he needed was a bird-watching partner. As the two embark on a month and a half bird-watching competition, birds aren't the only thing to fly as sparks between Celeste and John start flying. The romance was so perfect, the relationship between John and Celeste was so refreshing and realistic. It was so lovely to see the mother-daughter dynamic and how understanding Celeste was in regards to Morgan's life. i cannot recommend this romance more, and i will be purchasing a copy when it releases.

Lovely debut with likeable characters and moving themes. Very spicy open door bedroom scenes that I enjoyed a lot. The birding was also quite realistic and fun. I look forward to reading more by this author.

I adored this book! First of all, I appreciate a rom com where the leads are over 40--I feel like we need more of these, so absolutely loved that! Celeste and John were also just super fun characters, who were easy to root for. Secondly, I didn't think I cared about birds but was absolutely enthralled and kind of want to go birding now. That's the power of a good book!

If anyone needs me, please search the local birding classes because I am now obsessed and there is a 1,000% chance that I will be there. Birding or bust! Where did this book come from?! Gimme all of the Bird Binges! Birding With Benefits is unique, heartfelt, and entertaining. It’s a story about discovery on a variety of levels, and I loved every moment of it. Sarah T. Dubb - Thank you for writing this story.

Things I loved:

- JOHNNNNNNNNN - The librarian-lumberjack MMC (what a combo!) who knows how to work that wood and just wants to bird. He’s a big ole’ softy with great listening skills, a thoughtful soul, and is so attentive that I audibly swooned. I am fully in love with this fictional person and am petitioning for there to be more real humans like him.
- Celeste - The enthusiastic, quick-on-her-feet FMC who is a single mom, a middle school language arts teacher, and firmly believes in her bathroom bible. She’s brave but vulnerable, competitive, proud to be petty, and loves fries. I felt connected to her on so many levels.
- The best friends, Maria and Chris - What wonderful, funny, supportive people. They added such a great element to this story.
- Morgan, Celeste’s daughter - As a child of divorce as well as a mother myself, I appreciated the dynamic that was developed between Morgan and Celeste. It was relatable and added another layer to Celeste’s character that made her more real.
- Everything. The birding. The benefits. No notes. Pure enjoyment.

Can there be a part two? I’ll even accept a novella at this point. Fifty or so pages of them just birding and other stuff to make my heart even more happy. To whom do I kindly submit this request to? Also, Fairyloot, Illumicrate, Owlcrate, any sub … where you at with an SE of this? Pretty, pretty please?

** Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. **

It was so enjoyable to me to read a romance about two forty-somethings. I really enjoyed Celeste and John’s journey and highly recommend this fun romance.

Celeste is in her 40s, divorced, and on a journey of self discovery. In her quest to say “YES!” and live life more boldly, she finds herself agreeing to be the fake girlfriend to John, who in actuality, just needs a partner to enter a birding contest. Celeste doesn’t know anything about birds, but the being teammates and a fake couple is helpful for both of them. Setting out to win the contest, Celeste and John both become interested in more than just birding.
This book was SO CUTE and super sexy! The character growth arcs were incredible and I loved how naturally their chemistry began to build. I also appreciated Celeste navigating her relationship with her daughter and managing those ups and downs as well. This was an awesome breezy romance read and I would definitely recommend it, whether or not you know anything about birding!

I liked this setting a lot! Different than anything I’ve read with the birding plot but it was good different! But these 2 are fun, but I wish I would’ve learn more about Celeste’s past. You know about the ex husband but it would be nice to get a little more insight

It's been a bit since I've picked up a romance novel, but my inner child that claps and squeals at the mere mention of an animal just had to read this romance book - about birding!

Animal plotline aside, I was a little hesitant about reading from a MC that's ten years older than me (ageist of me, I know), but that quickly dissipated because on the plus side: adults do adult things like talk about their problems. The romance genre often frustrates me because of eyerolling communication mishaps, but this wasn't an issue in Birding with Benefits.

I enjoyed the romance between Celeste and John, and I also really liked their friends, Chris and Maria. I especially appreciated that they weren't afraid to give some tough love to their respective pals when they weren't thinking clearly. And of course, I loved the birding descriptions. I used to walk the trails with my dad while he picked out various birds just from their sounds, and this book made me want to get back to that. Overall, a great, steamy debut novel.

A light hearted romance with forty-something main characters (which are so under represented in romance!) and oh by the way, it’s also about birding!

This was a delightful read!

Birding with Benefits is a smart, refreshing, and heartfelt debut from Sarah T Dubb! I appreciated seeing romance protagonists who were above forty and at different stages of their lives than most other romances, and that lent itself to how mature John and Celeste were and how healthy their communication was. Both were so emotionally intelligent, compassionate, and drama-free which was a breath of fresh air. It also made me realize that... birding is such a hot thing for a man to do? John and his earnest passion for going looking for birds was unbelievably sexy. I'm so excited to see what other books Sarah has in the works!