This Beauty and the Beast retelling was done so well. Bellamy and Oliver were perfect enemies turned lovers - there was tension, heavy family dynamics, and great chemistry. I loved them and especially all the side characters. This had humor and heart and heat.

steamy and just what I needed to read. a fun modern twist on the classic Beauty and the Beast (with some nods to the Disney animated version of having a cute kid hanging around etc) where both leads are in need of each other, even if they don't see it. absolutely adorable and worth reading.

Thank you Alcove, Netgalley and the author for sending me review copies. This is Bennett’s debut, and I love that she chose one of my favorite Disney movies and gave it a contemporary, feminist spin. Bellamy is an independent, powerful woman who doesn’t need anyone to help her renovate and restore historical homes. When she encounters Oliver “The Beast” Killington when hired to restore his family’s estate, she is challenged by the idea that everything she previously knew about this rich yet mysterious family is not what it seems. Learning about Oliver’s emotional history and cracking beyond his gruff exterior was one of my favorite parts of this story. Although there’s a lot to love about the characters and the storyline, I struggled for some reason to connect with the writing and it took me a while to finish this book. The spice was spicin’, the nods to the Disney classic were fantastic, and Taylor Swift references galore – I think it was perhaps more of a “me” issue as I was reading this during a time of chaos and my focus was lacking. With that in mind, I look forward to reading more by Mae and seeing her creativity and personality shine through future writing!

amazing, showstopping I just love it! and I can't wait to have this book in my hand! this book was just so cute and Ioved it. both main charters were so amazing and the plot and everything god fairytale like and I just need all them to be happy it was really good modern re-telling

This book wasn't too bad, I did enjoy reading it. There wasn't a lot of Gaston mentioned, I could tell who was who for the most part. It feels like a light read. I was hoping we would see a bit more of Gaston, than what was in the book.

Barely Even Friends is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but without the trademark "beast" aspect. Oliver is our beast and desperately needs therapy and an SSRI. Bellamy is fantastic and the secondary cast and crew of this book bring it home.

A fun new Beauty and the Beast retelling! Though I did think some of the references felt a little forced and on-the-nose at the start of the book, this is a fun modern adaptation of the classic fairy tale. Bellamy is a bright sunshine character, while Oliver was a delightful surprise - not quite a grump, but certainly withdrawn, his character blooms throughout the story. The details we get of the side characters, such as Ambrose and Sebastian are fun as well. I was wishing for a bit more on the renovation story and Oliver’s inheritance, just to flesh out the story beyond the retelling bits as I think it would have helped bring the characters further to life apart from their inspiration. Overall cute!

This book was so silly and sweet and sexy! She’s just here to restore a house and somehow restores the grumpy recluse living in it as well? And also he’s so bad at restoration projects. I love a good beauty and the beast retelling and this book fits perfectly on my shelf.

This was absolutely adorable. I’ve never heard about this book or author before, but I was going to Disney and so the beauty and the beast retelling aspect really pulled me in. It was so much fun. The characters were adorable. I loved the romance. I definitely will be checking out more from this author in the future.

The romance was so good. Bellamy and Oliver have big opposite personalities, though in Oliver’s case, it was merely a big armor he wore after all the trauma he went through in the past. Once he started trusting and loving Bellamy, he got rid of the grumpiness and became the biggest softie for her. It was so perfect. The secondary characters made the book extra fun and lovely, I’d love to stay in this mansion forever!

This is Mae Bennett's debut and as with many debuts, this was a bit of a hit-and-miss situation. I loved the first 30% which included the set up to the characters but also a lot of Beauty and the Beast references which were incredibly creative. However, after that point it felt like the book was playing tug-of-war between being a retelling and a HGTV-esque reno story. I really wanted it to stay more in the the retelling lane but felt like that magic from the first 30% was sort of lost in the rest of the book. I did absolutely adore all the characters, especially the staff who work at the Estate. I think the chemistry between Bellamy and Oliver was good, but I think it could have been a little bit more developed and I found some of the secondary plot points got in the way of the romance. All in all, I enjoyed this and I would read more from Bennett in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC. Publication date was June 4, 2024.

Thanks so much to the author and publisher for my copy!

I love the classic movie, Beauty and the Beast, and am always intrigued by retellings of the story. So I was super excited to be able to support a debut author and enjoy a retelling.

I found the story to be a little choppy in places and I thought the progression of enemies to lovers should have been more noticeable. They were barely able to tolerate each other and then all of a sudden his hand is on her thigh in the car. It just seemed a little off. I did enjoy the AI aspect of the story and thought it was creative. I think by the time the characters got together a lot of the story relied on the spice to carry it and so I was hoping for a bit more meat in the story. I didn't love the 3rd act breakup but I'm glad the story ended the way it did.
I didn't hate the story but I wasn't over the moon about it either. However, I am interested in what else this author will write

Unfortunately, I could tell this was a debut author. This wasn’t necessarily a “bad” book, the premise was interesting and I did like the tie ins to beauty and the beast. I haven’t read many retellings but this one was fairly subtle, if not borderline cheesy. However, it didn’t do it for me. The writing was fine, nothing to get excited about and the characters were very flat. I found myself not super interested in where they were going or where they would end up - I was interested enough to skim through the last 30% of the book instead of DNFing and I’m glad I did because I don’t feel like I missed anything. The slow burn was way too slow and then when it finally hit its climax, it was disappointing. Which, after all that build up how could it not be? The male MC was too broody and whiny, which says a lot coming from a girl who loves grumpy sunshine but he was a different level where I couldn’t get to a point of feeling badly for him or wanting better. I kinda just wanted to lock him in the house and say fine have your pity party. And the female MC was just fine, again nothing wrong necessarily but, very flat. I liked how the author tried to be inclusive, both MC’s we’re on the bigger side and didn’t want to change that so I did like the body positivity represented and the thought process of loving yourself as you are but, the overall plot was forgettable. This was a miss for me.

*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*Please check trigger warnings before reading.

4⭐️/ 3🌶️

A tale as old as time, I’ve been a big fan of, “Beauty and The Beast”, especially when it comes to reimagining the beloved story or giving it a new twist. This story followed, Bellamy and Oliver in a “Beauty and The Beast” inspired storyline, with Bellamy working on Oliver’s mansion. Bellamy worked alongside her father in Price Restorations, working on fixing houses and giving them new life. For Oliver’s mega mansion or shall we say his grandfather’s mansion, it needed all the work to help bring it back to the grandeur it once was. Oliver was a grumpy man who didn’t want to deal with someone like, Bellamy coming into his home, but even a man such as himself couldn’t stay away from Bellamy. A sassy, hard working female lead, a grumpy secluded rich heir, a beautiful mansion, and more brought this story to a modern take.

Before reading this book, I was expecting similarities of, “Beauty and The Beast”, but I was actually surprised by the twist that Mae Bennett wrote instead. In this book, Bellamy worked in restorations and was widely knowledgeable in her field. I was expecting a total bookworm, but rest assured, Bellamy was a fan of romance novels just like us. Bellamy wasn’t a carbon copy of what you would imagine hearing a story being inspired by a widely beloved story/character, but instead showed interesting things about herself. Bellamy struggled with living up to the expectations of working alongside her father, more so with some clients judging her on her looks. Part of the story also tackled body shaming which unfortunately Bellamy experienced. Bellamy was a capable, motivated worker, and seeing her come up with all the ideas and plans to fix up Oliver’s home was impressive. Don’t judge a book by its cover.

Keeping it simple and sweet was what came to mind in this story. Bellamy and Oliver didn’t exactly get along at first, but slowly over the time of reconstructing the mansion, found themselves becoming friendly and enjoying spending time together. I thought the characters were likable, sweet, and friendly. I initially thought I was going to be completely obsessed since this had hints of, “Beauty and The Beast”, but unfortunately it didn’t hit the mark for me. I also anticipated maybe having some magical aspect, but with this book being set in the modern world, that obviously didn’t happen. I will say, that by having “Blaze”, the AI that was installed in the mansion was an interesting idea, and the moments it spoke were funny. The romance was sweet, but also had a bit of depth to it as Bellamy and Oliver fell in love with each other. I wasn’t a fan of the third act breakup, but that’s just a “me” thing. As a whole, I think this was a good book, and if you’re a fan of, “Beauty and The Beast”, or even interested in seeing some hints of it in a story, then you should give this book a try. For this being Mae’s first book, I think she did a good job, and I have a feeling with future books she’ll create more interesting stories just like this one.

4/5

Mae Bennett's debut novel, "Barely Even Friends," delivers a steamy and creative retelling of Beauty and the Beast with a modern twist reminiscent of Succession. This engaging romance features classic tropes such as forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and grumpy-sunshine dynamics, all wrapped in a tale of personal growth and unexpected love.

The story centers on Bellamy Price, a determined and skilled contractor who is given the opportunity of a lifetime: to lead the restoration of the sprawling and mysterious Killington Estate. For Bellamy, this project is not just a job but a chance to prove herself in a male-dominated industry. However, her ambitions are quickly met with resistance from the estate’s grumpy caretaker, Oliver Killington.

Oliver, the heir to the Killington empire, has retreated to the mansion after a traumatic car accident that claimed his parents' lives and left him injured. His initial hostility towards Bellamy’s presence adds an intriguing layer of tension and chemistry to the story. Despite his efforts to thwart her progress, Bellamy’s resilience and dedication eventually win him over, leading to a tentative truce and a simmering attraction that neither can deny.

Bennett's writing shines in her portrayal of Bellamy and Oliver’s evolving relationship. The slow-burn romance is well-paced, allowing readers to savor the gradual shift from antagonism to affection. Bellamy’s character is particularly compelling; her strength, wit, and vulnerability make her a relatable and inspiring protagonist. Oliver’s journey from a brooding recluse to a man willing to confront his past and open his heart is equally well-crafted.

The inclusion of plus-size representation in Bellamy’s character is a refreshing and important aspect of the story, though at times it feels a bit forced into the narrative. Nevertheless, it adds depth to Bellamy’s character and highlights themes of self-acceptance and confidence.

The restoration of the Killington Estate serves as a fitting backdrop for the characters’ personal transformations. As Bellamy works to restore the mansion’s former glory, she and Oliver both learn to break down the walls they’ve built around themselves. The mansion itself becomes a symbol of renewal and hope, mirroring the characters’ journey towards healing and love.

Overall, "Barely Even Friends" is a delightful debut that combines classic romance tropes with modern sensibilities. Mae Bennett’s clever and steamy take on Beauty and the Beast will captivate readers and leave them rooting for Bellamy and Oliver until the very last page. If you enjoy slow-burn romance, witty banter, and stories of personal growth set against a richly detailed backdrop, this novel is definitely worth a read.

One of the best beauty and the beast retelling I have ever read. I loved every second of this book. The characters were funny, and sweet, and such a joy to read about. I could not love this book more! And....Who doesn't like forced proximity?!?!

Overall I'd definitely read this book again and I would recommend this book for fans of other romance books.I have received this ARC for an honest review, all thoughts/ opinions above are my own.

A fab read. Bellamy is a house restorer, and her latest project is the estate where Oliver lives. He is not a fan of the project for his own reasons. I loved both main characters and wanted everything to work out for them. Looking forward to more from this author.

Title: Barely Even Friends
Author: Mae Bennett
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5

Bellamy Price has just been offered the job of a lifetime: lead contractor on the restoration of the mysterious and sprawling Killington Estate. If she meets the owner’s ridiculous timeline, she’ll finally make a name for herself in this male-dominated industry. But when she rolls up her sleeves, slips on her suspenders, and shows up at the crumbling mansion, Bellamy finds the estate very much occupied.

After a traumatic car accident that left his parents dead and himself injured, Oliver Killington, heir to the Killington empire, took up residence as the grumpy caretaker of his grandfather’s mansion. None too pleased by the presence of the hammer-wielding woman who’s moved into his house, Oliver tries to block her at every turn.

But when Bellamy discovers Oliver’s facing his own ultimatum from his grandfather, the two form a cautious truce, which leads to flying sparks that are definitely not from faulty wiring. As Bellamy restores the gleam to the Killington Estate, she’ll have to decide if the walls she’s built around herself are worth knocking down to make space for someone else.

This ended up being a cute read! I like the grumpy/sunshine trope—if it’s done well and Grumpy doesn’t come across as a jerk—and this one was done well. Bonus points for the body positivity message. Bellamy was a lot of fun, and her voice was so relatable it made me laugh. Her developing friendship with Oliver, as well as the secondary characters, made this a fun read.

Barely Even Friends is Mae Bennett’s debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of Alcove Press in exchange for an honest review.)

DNF


This book was not for me, I did not get hooked on the characters and the drama. The most I managed to reach was 21%.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This is a fun modern-day “Beauty and the Beast” retelling. As always, I love a good slow-burn romance and this was no exception to this. Once the spice started heating up….it was SO good.

I think one of my favorite parts of this whole story is Bl8z3, the AI-generated voice recognition software that was installed in Oliver’s home.

There was a lot of humor, a lot of banter, and a lot of spice (definitely a slow-burn, however).

Favorite Quotes/Highlights:

“Despite not owning a single physical book, I was a sucker for a library - and this estate had the most glorious home for tomes I’d ever seen. And this was before I’d gotten my hands on it.”

“‘But that’s not what’s driving me to distraction. I’m angry that you wear these stupid suspenders. I’m angry that you’re in every room, invading this house. And I’m furious at how much I think about kissing you.’”