Barely Even Friends - Mae Bennett

I’ve never been particularly interested in modern story retellings of old favourites but I came across Mae Bennett’s, Barely Even Friends, and thought I would give it a go.

Based on the story of Beauty and the Beast, Barely Even Friends follows architect, Bellamy, as she makes her way to an estate that is in big need of a refurbishment. This is her first project without her father and she feels this is her moment to prove herself and hopes nothing will mess it up such as the estates grumpy resident, Oliver Killington. The two instantly butt heads but must grow to learn to live in each other’s company.

I thoroughly enjoyed the modernisation of the Beauty and the Beasts story and found it realistic and clever. Saying this, I unfortunately didn’t connect with the characters and found the writing had a slight immaturity to it.

Nethertheless, Mae Bennett’s story was very inclusive to all genders and sexualities which was refreshing to read and she touches on some very important topics making this an interesting read.

Finally, a Beauty and the Beast retelling done right for the modern reader!

Such a fun story by this new author. First off - this is Mae's first book. I looked it up to be sure. You can tell, there are some awkward shifts from scenes and I would look back a few pages to see who/where people were. With that said though, I think it's a fabulous slow burn retelling of Beauty and the Beast perfect for 2024.

Bellamy Price (our Bell) is looking to fix up the mysterious Killington Estate. Oliver (our Beast) is a recluse, closed off from the world for years due to an accident that killed his family. What follows is full of hijinks, interfering staff, a delicious one bed trope and a slow burn to burn your eyeballs out.

A great first book from a new author. Will definitely be checking out her future books!

In Mae Bennett's charming novel, "Barely Even Friends," we are introduced to Bellamy Price, a talented contractor determined to make a name for herself in a male-dominated industry. Her opportunity arrives when she is offered the lead role in restoring the enigmatic Killington Estate. However, upon arriving at the dilapidated mansion, Bellamy encounters Oliver Killington, the estate's grumpy caretaker and heir to the Killington empire. Oliver, still grappling with the trauma of a car accident that claimed his parents' lives, is less than thrilled to have Bellamy invading his solitary existence. As Bellamy delves into the renovation project, she and Oliver find themselves at odds, each determined to uphold their own principles. Yet, beneath the surface, a simmering attraction begins to ignite. As they work together to restore the estate to its former glory, Bellamy and Oliver must confront their inner demons and decide whether to let down the walls they've built around their hearts. Bennett's writing is witty and engaging, bringing Bellamy and Oliver's characters to life with depth and authenticity. The banter between the two protagonists is both humorous and heartwarming, creating a delightful enemies-to-lovers dynamic. The author also skillfully weaves in the theme of overcoming adversity, as both Bellamy and Oliver strive to overcome their personal challenges and find healing in the unlikeliest of places. Overall, "Barely Even Friends" is a delightful and heartwarming read that explores the complexities of love, loss, and the power of human connection. Bennett's charming storytelling and well-developed characters make this novel a must-read for fans of contemporary romance and heartwarming love stories.

A Beauty and the Beast retelling with a contemporary twist.

When this story began I was immediately reminded of the sweet (animated) romance I grew up loving (mostly for the library). The author truly made the story unique and modern with a lovable queer normative staff, saucy AI house companion, a misunderstood princeling with a traumatic past, and a strong-willed shelf assured reluctant-toward-love protagonist. Both a mansion and a man needing to be brought back from the shadows of neglect and loneliness.

As a quick and easy-to-read contemporary romance this story is flawless. The characters were believable in sympathy, triumphs, and their struggles. Bellamy’s charm and determination kept me reading as well as rooting for her success. Oliver’s character development was written so well, it a joy to follow his journey.

4.5 stars for this pleasurable tale as old as time. Thank you to NetGalley, author Mae Bennet, and the publisher Alcove Press for the opportunity to read this lovely ARC.

OMG the build up and the tension in this was great! I loved the plus size rep and the found family trope. It was also truly giving grumpy sunshine and I ate it up. Very swoony and romantic. I really enjoyed it

I DNF'd this one. Sadly the banter was weak and I thought the tension build-up was taking so long I lost interest.

With pipes exploding, an AI house robot and Taylor Swift references, you won't want to miss this debut!

When Bellamy arrives at Oliver’s estate as the lead contractor on the restoration, you best believe this grump was not happy. Oliver believes he is cursed due to a previous accident involving his parents, that he doesn't deserve happiness. Unknowingly, he lets Bellamy chip away at his heart along with his house and together overcome their personal problems.

I loved watching Oliver’s character development, as the story goes on you can really see the change from “beast”. This man really was a grouch. Bellamy was a strong, independent character who wanted to exceed in a male dominated career and this was perfectly executed. I liked that she was quirky and wore suspenders, not your typical FMC style.

Mae did a fantastic job to add a modern spin on this beauty & the beast retelling!

Key Points:
1st person
single pov
HEA

Tropes:
beauty & the beast retelling
Plus Size Rep
grumpy x sunshine
slow burn
found family
forced proximity

'barely even friends' is a medium-paced grumpy x sunshine rom com with the perfect amount of spice. the book keeps you engaged with it's tension and sharp and smart dialogue.

all the dynamics within the book were discovered to the fullest whether it was the main love story, side characters, complicated family relations or the quirky ai.

the name of the book was the first thing that caught my attention since it is the phrase "barely even friends" which is a part of the lyrics from the song "beauty and the beast," undoubtedly my favourite classic disney princess movie.

something i'd love to see further from the author? the love story of oliver's sister and the tim/jim.

some tropes included in the book:
✓ beauty and beast retelling
✓ plus size rep
✓ grumpy x sunshine
✓ swiftie references
✓ insecure mmc (we love to see it)
✓ idiots in love
✓ mutual pining
✓ witty banter

this book excels on all fronts, and i've only scratched the surface of its exceptional tropes. the quality of writing is astounding, especially considering it's a debut novel; the structure is impeccably crafted. it's high time everyone includes this gem in their 2024 to-be-read list.

thanks to mae bennet, netgalley and alcove press for the arc.

The cutest beauty and the beast retelling I didn’t know I needed. It’s got it all including one bed trope and enemies to lovers. MMC really is the sweetest, I love when a MMC makes me think “who hurt you?!” Oliver is honestly the greatest. And I love the fact that it is a plus size FMC and she is girl bossing her way to Oliver’s heart. Highly recommend, 5/5 stars!

This book was pretty....unremarkable. It was a fairly entertaining beauty and the beast retelling with some spice, featuring far too much talk of suspenders for my personal taste. It was weirdly drawn out, only for major developments to happen far too quickly to keep up with.
I think I wanted a bit more from this, just to really flesh it out so I could say I loved it.

This book is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast with a HGTV renovation show vibe. I had a good time reading it. This is the first book by this author and I look forward to more to come.


I voluntarily read an early copy.

This was a cute little rom com. Bellamy is a renovator who has been trusted by her dad to take on a big project since he’s been sick. She meets a zany cast of characters in the mansion, including Oliver, a reclusive heir to a company fortune.

Things I really liked:
The banter
The best friends were so funny
The mansion crew, those meddlers
The spice was spicin!
A fat FMC - more please!!
Now I want some suspenders for myself

Also a moment for this cover please? It’s so cute!

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

3 stars

This was such a cute and sweet story.
A bit of enemies to lovers mixed with grumpy-sunshine with a beauty and the Beast inspired story.
I liked Oliver more than Bell - especially by the end - but overall, their romance was beautiful.
The friend group was amazing, so it was the "mansion crew." they were my favorite part of the book.
Overall, it was a fun read .


Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely loved it! I wasn't even done with the book and I was texting all my reader friends that this this a must-read. Do yourself a favor and grab this book!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

this is such an amazing Beauty and the Beast retelling!!! I absolutely loved Bellamy & Oliver’s relationship, the classic grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers, forced proximity romance! Oliver is such a love able grouch. I really feel for him as we learn about his past and his family. I love the way Bellamy is a friend to him first, before they become more, because he needs a loving soul to be his friend. And I love all the eccentric side characters, especially the AI butler who’s hilarious. All in all, this is the perfect romcom for a disney lover who also loves home reno, kind souls, love and acceptance in spades, and so much fun and fire between the characters ❤️❤️‍🔥
thank you for the arc!!!!

First of all, Thank You, Netgalley for the ARC granted. And second... Everything that has to do with Beauty and the Beast vibes, use to caught my attention. So just by the titlle of this book, I could sense the aura haha AND i AM BEYOND GLAD TO CONFIRM THAT THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I tought it would be! It has a compelling narrative with some spicy scenes and an enjoyable story. The characters were well built and developed some of similarities with the famous tale from the Disney princess story. It was my first reading of the year and I loved a lot! Totally recommended. 5 stars <3

"Barely Even Friends" (are you belting out ala Celine Dion right now?) offers a modern take on the enemies-to-lovers classic tale, "Beauty and the Beast." So, how does a contemporary romance novel that doesn't have elements of fantasy retell a classic built on curses, magic, and talking objects?

Well, this book has an AI for a butler.

Bellamy Price wanted nothing more than to make her father proud. To prove to him that she can take on the reins of handling their restoration business, she sets off to the Killington estate-one, which could be her ticket to uphold her family legacy. With confidence and determination, Bellamy arrives at the estate, only to find the cantankerous but attractive caretaker, who will soon become the CEO, shunning her. Left with no choice, she must either endure Oliver Killington's rude behavior or forfeit the chance to prove herself capable of handling a usually male-dominated business. But would living with someone Bellamy despises affect her drive to restore the estate to its full glory? Or will sparks start flying when she finally gets to know the one person she considers a detriment to her ambition?

Since the book is an enemies-to-lovers, the slow burn scenes fit the bill perfectly. The high-level smut scenes? It's not for everyone, so if you're the type of reader who steers clear of steamy romances, you might need to choose a different book.

The author ensured that the plot exhibited parallelism to the source material. Instead of a castle in the French kingdom, we have a sprawling estate that is up for restoration. The daughter of a sought-after house restorator is our version of Belle, and for a prince, we have a recluse heir to a massive corporation. Another good thing is I find Bellamy's connection with the household staff reminiscent of Belle's relationship with Lumière and the gang, even without its magical core. The narrative exuded a sense of familiarity. With the addition of an eclectic mix of minor characters for diversity, the story felt more up to the times sans the nostalgic charm. There's still a curse, though - albeit nothing as enchanted as a spoiled prince transformed into a hideous beast. You have to read the book to find out.

The book covers timely themes and serves as a social commentary on how women are constantly frowned upon despite their skill, ambition, and hard work to succeed in a male-dominated world. Rightly so, Bellamy still reflects Belle's ambition and tenacity, while Oliver shares Beast's grumpy demeanor - one riddled with grief and guilt. At least there's that.

But the book lacks a clear villain; its conflict swirls around the protagonists' internal turmoils.

Overall, "Barely Even Friends" is a decent retelling of a Disney classic that doesn't fully uphold its backbone. The lack of a proper antagonist diminished the evil force meant to pose an actual threat. A retelling doesn't have to mirror everything from the source material, but it feels off-kilter without a key character like Gaston. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the story lacks a more exciting plot. It just didn't hit the right notes. I'm not saying the book is terrible; it has an appealing setup with likable protagonists. I might have been more forgiving with my thoughts if the storyline gave a more gripping point of conflict. It would have made all the difference had the book been marketed on its own and not as a retelling of a classic tale that people grew up with.

Thank you, #NetGalley and #AlcovePress, for the opportunity to read this book in advance in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

What a fun, yet deep, beauty and the beast retelling, with a side of girl boss power and construction. Somehow the author manages to keep their banter heated and sharp while also superimposing a thoughtful portrayal of grief and learning your own worth. The pacing was right on target, and heated scenes including face sitting were sprinkled well throughout. Highly recommend, and I will absolutely be reading anything Mae Bennett writes in the future!

Every single interaction between Bell and oliver was supercharged with spine-tingling feels and raw sexual tension. I was laughing out loud one moment, swooning the next, fanning myself, hyperventilating, tearing up, falling in love.

This was such a cute Beauty and the Beast retelling. I loved Bellamy & Oliver’s character, it had heart, chemistry, and was told beautifully reminiscent of the tale we all know best while adding in some fun new elements. I highly enjoyed it and look forward to more Mae Bennett books in the future.