This book seriously surprised me in the best way possible! Birding with Benefits is an easy five star for me. The pacing was perfect, the imagery beautiful, and the characters very thought out and well rounded. I loved the internal conflict and struggle of the characters because while it did play a large part to the ending, it never felt overly in your face. The story being about a divorced, single mom who wants to find herself was amazing and refreshing actually! I feel like I haven’t read a book quite like this one.

WOW. That's the first thing I said when I finished this book. "Birding with Benefits" was definitely something that seemed intriguing because I didn't know how romance would mix in with bird watching, but the author was able to do it and do it brilliantly. I like how it's opposites attract with their different personalities, but they still compliment each other so perfectly. I also like how the author brought them together in the end, not really forcing a connection. Instead it's a more realistic ending with complex thought processes, rational thinking, and internal debates. Also, I was halfway through the book when I realized that it was in third person! I'm not the biggest fan of third person books, but this book has definitely began to change my mind about that. The tension between the two characters is fantastic and the author is able to build up the scenes incredulously without overdoing it or making it cringey. I also like the inclusion of the LGBTQ community without taking away from the main story and the overall development of the characters. Especially that, in a sense, everyone grew, from Celeste and John, to Morgan and even Breena which I thought was very nice to see how she grew as a person and has her own story as well. I read this book in 2 days, so it's a very quick read, with just a couple of spicy scenes, and heaps of adorable and cute moments. I like that although there were external factors that caused issues such as Breena, there was also internal problems in each of the characters that they had to overcome, including balancing self-identity with being someone in a relationship. This book surprised me a lot and I ended up so happy that I got to read and enjoy this book, even making me wonder if I should start birding, which is why I gave this book 5 stars!

Celeste can be a lot, and has been taught to be self-conscious of it. When a misunderstanding enters her in a birdwatching contest, her competitive nature kicks in and sparks fly. Great story and characters.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

This was a very cute read!

There were some very cute moments and I absolutely adored John.
I really liked the storyline and the fake dating as well!

I'm also so tempted to get into bird watching after reading this!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I requested this ARC (and thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting my request!) I had no expectations other than thinking it was an adorable cover and title. Happily, the plot is adorable too! From fake dating (my favorite trope) to bird watching (which quarantine made me interested in, along with everyone else) to a surprising level of spice, this book had me grinning from beginning to end. John and Celeste are likeable MCs with palpable chemistry, and their birding competition is a fun subplot. It was also so refreshing to have a romance featuring MCs in their 40s 😍

4 stars
Who know Ornithology could be so spicy! So much to like about this book...John is an avid bird watcher, trying to figure out his next steps after losing his job. Celeste is a middle school literature teacher, who's never watched a bird in her life. She's trying to reclaim herself after losing sight of who she was in an unhealthy marriage. Together, they fake date to take on the Bird Binge Ornithological Challenge. Much hilarity and spiciness ensues.

Thank you Gallery Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in return for an honest review.

I enjoy birding so this was an especially fun read. The setting of Arizona is vivd and the nature scenes are described well.

This book is funny right from the start but also sweet. Celeste is divorced and determined to stand on her own. John is kind and patient and they have a lot of fun togehter. Her struggle of thinking she needs to abstain from a relationship to be independent was relatable.

The writing is solid and the whole thing is just a great reading experience. Highly recommend.

Birding With Benefits is a romance between a divorcee attempting to find herself and a birder with a soft side. When Celeste signs up to be John’s fake birding partner AND girlfriend, they get to know each other in more ways than one.

I really enjoyed the birds and birding aspect of this book! I liked looking up each type of bird and it really made me want to go outside and be one with nature.

The premise was nice and if you like open door spicy scenes there are plenty. The MCs are in an older demographic (40s) but didn’t come across as old, and it’s nice to know life can start over at that point.

Unfortunately, the writing was a little too English textbook. I didn’t find it particularly compelling or hard to put down. After a while, certain descriptions started to get very repetitive.

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed Sarah T. Dubb’s debut novel! It’s rare to find books about women over 30, let alone 40, so this was a nice change of pace! The banter and birding was cute, the spice solid, and Celeste felt like a real human. I do wish John was a little more fleshed out (even his POV was lacking at times) and there wasn’t so much exposition at the beginning of many chapters, but as a Tucson local and outdoor enthusiast myself, I found myself smiling throughout the book. 3.5/5 ⭐️

This book had its moments—I really connected with Celeste and John, appreciating their differences and how they faced challenges together. Celeste's journey of self-discovery post-divorce really resonated with me; even though my experiences were different, I understood her search for self-understanding.

The steaminess of the book took me by surprise, especially after the first few chapters, but that isn’t a complaint. The tension in those ‘they shouldn’t but they want to’ moments was palpable and expertly written, keeping me hooked.

However, I wasn't a fan of the clichéd 'bitchy ex' storyline, and I found the conflict between Celeste and her daughter a bit forced. It felt too obvious early on, and I struggled to believe that Celeste would be oblivious to her daughter's feelings—but then again, I'm not a parent, so what do I know. Despite these issues, I still found the book enjoyable overall; it was a fun read.

My main issue with the book was its occasional youthful tone. At times, the writing and dialogue felt awkward and stiff, as if the author wasn't quite familiar with how people in those situations would truly speak or behave. I've noticed similar feedback from other reviews. While I'm no expert critic and can't pinpoint exactly what didn't quite click for me, there was something about the writing style that didn't fully resonate, even though I liked the story itself.

Overall, the book had its highs and lows, it was an enjoyable read despite its flaws.

Last note though – the fries scene? MY HEART.

While the premise sounded like something I'd love, this one was just OK for me. It started off strong but lost momentum and I didn't feel there was enough chemistry between the characters for me to get excited about it. Loved the cover though!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ // 🌶️🌶️ // "Birding with Benefits" is a fun read, but I’m giving it three out of five stars mainly because the female main character, at 42-years-old, comes off as immature for her age. Her impulsive decisions and lack of self-awareness feel more suited to someone in their twenties, which can be a bit distracting.

That said, the book has a lot of charm. The author's humor and the birdwatching adventures are entertaining and provide a unique backdrop. There are plenty of funny and heartwarming moments, and the romantic elements add a nice touch.

Overall, it's a decent read if you can get past the protagonist's surprisingly youthful behavior. If you're into light-hearted stories with a bit of romance and birdwatching, you'll still find it enjoyable.

Birding with Benefits definitely makes me see birding in a new, delightful way!

Celeste is ready to put herself first, while watching to make sure her daughter graduates high school without a hitch. When asked to tag along and be John's birding partner for a contest, she's all in..even if she knows NOTHING about the birding world. It's just birds in her backyard, she thinks. But she can't help but start having the heart eyes for her partner- John- and is tied into a "fake dating" situation with him. One that involves them spending large amounts of time together, exploring nature and each other. Who says birding can't be done with some benefit stress relief on the side when the birds are sleeping?

Birding with Benefits was a delightful read to kick off June! I am a huge fan of reading characters in their late 30s/early 40s and how they handle life's situations thrown at them. As a kid (and even sometimes now), my parents will take me out birding to the metroparks to discover the latest species and find what bird call is what on their app! I definitely could relate and wanted to look up some of the birds Sarah mentioned in her writing. Then again, I found myself BLUSHING during the last 50% of the book because Dubb DOES NOT shy away from the spice. Those loving nature or wanting a fun, whimsical read that'll have them in the feels while reading at the pool or during their day will want to pick up Birding with Benefits...and then maybe go bird watching themselves!

This book is very sweet and a well written debut from the author! It follows a middle aged couple who meet under less than ideal circumstances where they agree to compete in the annual birding contest together but end up falling in love along the way. Baggage from previous relationships, in the form of a rebelling teenage daughter and damaged self images, keep these two at an arms length despite their connection. When the contest ends they are forced to either acknowledge their connection or go their separate ways.
As an amateur bird watcher who was raised by a father who loved all things birds I appreciate the obvious care and passion that went into the birding aspects of this book. I look forward to future books from this author!

This was a fun romcom full of great characters, chemistry, banter, nature, birds, and steam. If you love fake dating then I’d recommend this one.

I'm all in on books with MCs in their 40s. Its such a seldom occurrence that I often wonder who the hell are the publishers trying to sell books to nowadays. This story gave me a new appreciation for birding and setting boundaries. Thoroughly entertained.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

First off, thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this eArc!

I have to say, I read a lot of romance books that center around topics that aren't familiar to me or that aren't within my interests, and usually it works completely fine for me. I got through 40% of this book and just found that the birding / environmentalist academia themes were so strong that it was almost totally inaccessible, and overall not as enjoyable to me as I wanted.

I will say: I do quite like the writing style, and I like that it was roping in niche topics in general, I think this would have been a blast for someone with more interest in this area. The characters were complex, the fake dating had some fun moments, and it had older MCs (which I really enjoy these days.) I liked the main characters and their personalities in general, and they had decent chemistry despite being wildly different (honestly their differences made things funnier and more charming.)

Ultimately, I wouldn't say that I don't recommend this book. I think its just one that people will enjoy more if they are better able to screen whether it is FOR them or not. It just didn't end up being for me.

Since her divorce, 42-year-old Celeste has enthusiastically been embracing new experiences. When an acquaintance asks her to partner John in a birding competition, she mistakenly thinks he means pretend she's his girlfriend which sets off what could be a mutually beneficial situation - Celeste's interfering colleagues will stop trying matchmaking while John's ex and former birding partner will see he's moved on.

Quiet, unassuming John and Celeste are opposites but complement each other, though at times Celeste came off as a bit too 'manic pixie dream girl'. I get being ‘too much’ was her trigger after her ex-husband made her take up less space, but she lacked self awareness that she would overtake her daughter and John’s lives.

Pace-wise I also found it a bit slow with it mostly instalust consisting of constant descriptions of them noticing how hot they thought each other were instead of allowing for a bit more of a slow burn. Once th sex scenes took over it started to basically paper over any real plot development. Also, I think the fake dating premise felt like shoehorning a trope for the sake of it. Celeste is in her 40s, just use your words to reinforce your boundaries with your meddling colleagues.

I did, however, come away with such an appreciation and knowledge for birding. To me this was the highlight of the book.

Thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

The true measure of this book is that I wanted to go sit in my backyard and watch birds for days afterwards :) But, the bird watching is a bonus to watching our MCs slowly fall for each other, while our FMC wrestles with what it means to fall in love and stay true to yourself. I wouldn't exactly say this is a grumpy-meets-sunshine so much as it is an introvert basks in sunshine, but I am here for it.

Celeste's out to re-discover her joy. After a marriage where she was constantly admonished for being too much, all the time, she had turned inward. Now divorced, her bathroom mirror is peppered with post-its reminding herself to take chances and enjoy opportunities. So she agreed to partner with someone she never met to take part in a birding contest, something she had never done before. Her partner, John, had won the event before with his ex, who would also be competing. An enjoyable debut rom com with a good bit of spice, but the best part of it for me was learning about birding and birds.