I'm likely an outlier, but this book just wasn't for me. I was intrigued by the idea of a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but it was a bit too "on-the-nose" for me. I think it would have been interesting to incorporate the original Disney storyline in a new way, while this felt very specifically the same. I couldn't really connect with either Bellamy or Oliver, and their romance didn't build with a lot of tension. It was very hot/cold but I didn't feel that build in any anticipation. If you like a Disney style retelling with a rom-com feel, you may enjoy this. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

I enjoyed reading Barely Even Friends by Mae Bennett. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

Such a fun retelling of Beauty and the Beast! I loved seeing another side to the classic, having it be about actual people. Seeing all of the sides of 'beast' was amazing, he's such a caring and wonderful person. I do wish we learned more about why he was so recluse and the accident. Bell was so sweet and I love her to-do lists! She made every part of the enemies to lovers banter even better! The subtle inside jokes they had are so nice and a fun outlook.

I now want to watch HGTV and a home restoration!

Beauty in the Beast was one of my favorite movies growing up and I was so excited for this retelling with a home renovation twist! Bellamy and her father are hired to restore Killington Estate. When Bell arrives she isn’t expecting Oliver, the very grumpy owner of the house to be there. Overtime, Bell and Oliver develop a friendship that turns into something more. This was a cute and steamy retelling. If you are a fan of Beauty and the Beast, you’ll enjoy this story! I really enjoyed all of the family secrets that were uncovered along the way and thought they added a fun twist.
A huge thank you to Mae Bennett and Alcove Press for the advance copy.

I was really excited to read Barely Even Friends. A modern romance retelling of one of my favorite stories of all time, Beauty and the Beast? Yes, please! I wanted to like this so much, but the further I got in the book, the less satisfied I felt.

Let’s start with the positives. I love all the nods to Beauty and the Beast, from the more obvious ones (Bellamy’s dad naming his Ford Mustang Phillippe, for example) to the more subtle. Despite some other reviewers saying it was too much of a rip-off of the Disney movie, I actually thought it only borrowed the necessary parts. Indeed, it could have done with even more references and allusions to the original source of inspiration.

The setting is wonderful, a dilapidated mansion that should have been renovated years, if not decades, ago. And I loved getting to see Bellamy and her crew doing a full renovation on the house, from needing to replace the roof to restoring old furniture and wallpaper. I’ve never done anything like that, but it certainly captured my interest while reading! The characters, too, are generally fun, if quirky. Easily the most surprising is the advanced AI system in the old mansion, going by the name of Bl8z3 (“blaze”). We could all use an omniscient, ever-listening home system, right?

I also appreciated some of the background and nuance in our main characters. Oliver has gone through some major traumas involving the death of his parents and his guilt over that. He also lost his career, suffered a major injury, and become a recluse, all in one fell swoop. Bellamy has had a nomadic lifestyle and is closed off to long-term love. She and Oliver both have a lot to overcome in developing a friendship, let alone a romantic relationship.

However, Barely Even Friends had some issues that became harder to ignore as the story progressed. The dialogue between characters often just didn’t make much sense to me. Frequently, a character’s response to what another character just said didn’t seem like a normal reply; I’d find myself rereading the previous bit of dialogue to make sure I didn’t misinterpret it. I’ve rarely had this problem with other books, so I’m not sure what was going on with the at times illogical dialogue here.

I also found the characters frustrating in their inability to talk things out like adults. The whole book is told from Bellamy’s perspective, and she’s constantly making random assumptions, failing to say what she actually means, and generally being inept at communication. Miscommunication is (unfortunately) a fairly common trope in romance, but it was too much for my liking here. Especially when we get to the third-act breakup. Just… spend two minutes talking about it instead of running away? Please?

Barely Even Friends has some real positives woven throughout, but it’s also offset by some awkward dialogue and characters who can’t communicate. If you can get past those particular issues, it’s an enjoyable read for people who like Beauty and the Beast, home remodels, and plus-size representation.

3.75stars-BARELY EVEN FRIENDS by Mae Bennett is a contemporary, adult, erotic, romance story line focusing on interior designer Bellamy Price, and reclusive Killington heir Oliver Killington.

Told from first person perspective (Bellamy) BARELY EVEN FRIENDS focuses on the growing but tempestuous relationship between our story line couple. Years earlier, Oliver Killington lost his parents and his future in the blink of an eye, and retreated to the privacy and darkness of the family owned Killington Estate. Having fallen into disrepair through years of neglect, Oliver’s grandfather Adrian Killington hired Price Renovations to rehab and renovate the mansion but the mansion was not completely empty, and Bellamy Price would discover the missing ‘heir’ living on the estate. Enter Oliver Killington, the man with whom Bellamy would fall in love. Struggling in the wake of his parent’s death, a death he has always blamed on himself, Oliver sought the seclusion of the only home he has ever known, a home that his grandfather was preparing for someone else. What ensues is the building relationship between Bellamy and Oliver, and the potential fall-out as their time together comes to a close.

The world building focuses on what was and what will never be. Oliver has struggled in the years since his parents death, cutting himself off from his family and friends but Oliver’s grandfather is tired of waiting for Oliver to take his place in the family line, and issues an ultimatum that forces Oliver to step up and step out.

The relationship between Oliver and Bellamy begins acrimoniously as Oliver wants nothing to do with renovating the Killington Mansion. Oliver wants to be left alone, even the limited number of staff is too much for our story line hero but Bellamy’s arrival for a six month stay is about to tip Oliver’s world over the edge. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate but I dislike the use of a certain four-letter word, although only used once, more for shock value than anything else.

We are introduced to Bellamy’s father Maurice Price, and her best friends Sebastian and Finn: chef Rue, IT genius Nick, Ambrose the butler, and house AI Bl8z3 aka Blaze: Oliver’s sisters and social media influencers Remy and Grace, and cousin Carter.

BARELY EVEN FRIENDS is a Beauty and the Beast-esque style story line; a grumpy-sunshine couple who find themselves pulled into the aura that is one another. The premise is familiar yet entertaining ; the characters are energetic-the back and forth banter is often humorous and fun; the romance is fated yet seductive.



THE READING CAFE: https://www.thereadingcafe.com/barely-even-friends-by-mae-bennett-a-review/


GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6540928738


BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/1418190561


B&N (Sandy_thereadingafe) https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/barely-even-friends-mae-bennett/1144032056?ean=9781639107803&bvnotificationId=e7a3b087-2205-11ef-acb2-121c11d4bb1b&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=hotmail.com#review/310956150

iBooks (Sandy Sch)

GOOGLE PLAY (Sandy Sch)

Barely Even Friends by Mae Bennett offers a delicious modern day retelling of “Beauty and the Beast” with a home improvement twist. A grumpy secluded owner, a cheerful staff and a designer eager to prove herself gave way to a delightful romantic tale complete with a library. Be still my heart.

Bellamy Price is taking the reins on a renovation job for Killington Estate and she needs to succeed to land her dream job. Wearing her suspenders and eager to begin, she was surprised to find the estate occupied. Let the fun begin!

I adore Beauty and the Beast, so I couldn’t help but grab Barely Even Friends. Bennett did a lovely job of creating an estate and characters who brought the tale to us with a modern twist. I loved the staff and the re-creation of the fire place scene on the first evening, complete with a dark, grumpy and very sexy beast.

Oliver Killington, heir to the Killington empire, has been in seclusion ever since a fatal car crash that took his parents and left him injured. His grandfather is in charge of the renovations, and we learn of some twists regarding the estate. I was hooked and enjoyed getting to know Oliver, Bell, and the secondary characters.

The romance was lovely with the staff pushing the two to engage in conversation and enjoy meals together. It had a slow burn feel that made it feel genuine in this force proximity romance.

I loved the renovations, library and developments. The conflict was ok, but was resolved quickly, leaving me smiling in the end. Barely Even Friends is the perfect beach romance to add to your bag this summe

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review .

As a big fan of beauty and the beast, a film that has become everything to me over the years, this book title and cover grabbed me straight away.

This book is inspired by the fairytale and the inspiration is weaved throughout the story but it takes it own path as well and we see Belle become Bellamy, a fiercely independent and talented home renovator who has been hired by Mr Killington to renovate their estate. Well.. technically they hired her father but as he is recovering from illness, he hands the reigns over to his daughter.

But when she arrives at Killington Estate she realises she doesn’t only have her work cut out for her, she also has to deal with the grumpy heir to the estate, Oliver.

A grumpy /sunshine romance with beauty and the beast inspiration. I loved how the main character was plus size and love how she was passionate about her job and work.

I enjoyed this one a lot, I do wish I could have had more from the side characters, more to do with the renovation and the crew as it would have added more to the plot. This book was very spicy, and I felt it needed a little bit more of the above to even it out. Yet, the spice scenes are well written and the characters kept their personalities throughout those scenes. I did love the relationship between the two main characters. As a first book, I think the author has done a great job, and I had so much fun reading it.

✨🥀✨Beauty and the Beast Retelling with a Succession Twist?? Yes, Please!! ✨🥀✨

Mae Bennett has weaved a tale as old as time! Barely Even Friends is packed with nostalgia, swoony romance, bookish vibes and is full of heart. I am a a huge fan of retellings and the merging of a beloved tale and modern day felt so effortless and worked perfectly!

🥀 Beauty and the Beast Retelling
🍿 Movie Quotes
📚 Dream Library
🌦️ Grumpy/Sunshine
🌶️ Spice
❤️‍🩹 Hurt/Comfort
🔨 Home Restoration
💖 Romance

I absolutely loved this debut romance and cannot wait to see what Mae Bennet will come up with next!

Method Read: 📖

🗓️ Barely Even Friends is Out Now!

Thank you so much to Alcove Press for the gifted copy!

I’m really getting into debut authors’ acknowledgments. Mae Bennett connected her work to the beautiful annals of romance books in a way that made me tear up a bit. Feeling seen is a big aspect of romance novels… realizing our lives are worthy of mention and love. As a short, curvy woman, this book was a song to my soul. Reading a book where the female MC is first and foremost, THE MAIN character and not just the love interest had me tingling with happiness. And then, Bennett made her curvy and feisty? Heck yeah! I appreciated also, that Bellamy didn’t make her entire personality on her body weight. She had her own hobbies, full of book and movie references, dreams and fears—fears which are all too close to home for many of us women.

A couple of pages in I realized this was a beauty and the best retelling and I got so happy! This is my favorite princess story and got excited identifying the parallels in the characters. Blaze (Bl8z3) will be my favorite. Hands. Down.

Bell works at restoring antique houses and homes and she grabs a gig to restore the Killington mansion where she meets, Oliver whom was nicknamed “Beast” as a football player in his teens. Both have their traumas but… the beautiful metaphor (I can’t believe I’m crying while writing these words) is that while Bell was restoring his home and bringing it back to life, Oliver brought her back to life and restored every part of her. Home is not a place, but a person and these two captured that beautifully.

🌶️ Smut was top-tier (had me blushing AND kicking my feet)
💗 One bed trope
💗 Forced proximity
💗 Sunshine and grumpy
💗 The iconic romance-novel both-heal-through-love trope 🥹

✨”You dragged me, kicking and screaming, into the sunshine with you, but I’m not afraid anymore. You reminded me I could feel again.”✨

THANK YOU NetGalley and Alcove Press!

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing the ARC.

I am a sucker for fairy tale retellings and I was excited to get into this one, but as much as I love Beauty and the Beast, I had a hard time enjoying this book.

My biggest issue was following the dialogue. I had a hard time discerning who was actually speaking at times, or if they were even speaking and it wasn't just an inner monologue. It made it difficult to stay engaged in the story just because I was having to go back and reread passages just to make sure I knew what was happening.

Additionally, I felt like there wasn't really a good lead up into the romance aspect. Tied in with the above, there were times where it went from no romance to all the romance with nothing in between to segue the story neatly into these new developments. As a result, the romance felt stilted and clunky, and I found it hard to engage with.

This book will certainly delight most readers, especially those who enjoy the Disney movie. I, however, wish there was a bit more than what I got from this author.

Because no matter where we went from here, I'd broken the biggest rule of all.
I'd fallen in love.

Barely Even Friends is an adult contemporary romance inspired loosely off of Beauty and the Beast . This story follows Bellamy as she (or rather her father and his company) is offered the contract of the lifetime to renovate and restore the mysterious and sprawling she finally thinks she has a chance to prove herself, especially with her father placing the responsibility of this project solely on her. Yet upon arrival she soon discovers the manor has a very reluctant reclusive heir residing it in and a fast approaching deadline but the heir's grandfather to get the mansion back to its glory.

Meanwhile Oliver has spent the last years hiding away in this crumbling abode to avoid responsibility and his family's legacy. Yet his grandfather has placed a deadline on his mourning. Now stuck with his own end date he finds that maybe he and Bellamy can work together (rather than against) to help each other out. Except no one expected the sparks...especially with their time counting down...

This is a very cute romance! Bellamy is a determine and fun character. She is put through so many hoops to achieve her goals and always finds a way to move forward. She doesn't take no as an answer but underneath her charisma she is self conscious about finding her own sense of success based on her own merit and not her father's name.

Meanwhile Oliver is dealing with a lot of unresolved trauma - with good reason! He has spent so much time pushing people away he's not use to compromise and making things work. I adore how he went about making appends when he put his foot in his mouth and those moments were his old self shined through amidst the grief.

The spice in this book is about a 1.5 spicy pepper out of 5 spicy pepper. This is a slow burn romance so don't expect any spice until closer to the end. I felt the spice itself is on the lighter side as it doesn't get too explicit and I felt that matched the romcom vibes we get here.

"...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."

The story itself is cheesy and fun. You have this kind of underdog aspect going on with a seemingly unsurmountable tasks (ie the house has a LOT of issues). I loved the banter the camaraderie that comes with the characters banding together. I enjoyed the dynamics of different character relationships and how they showed the history rather than told it. One thing that did strike me off was the whole thing around Bellamy staying in the dilapidated mansion - I needed more context to understand why and how that works (I feel in a professional setting this wouldn't work?). Also Sebastian did Bellamy dirty in a way I have no idea how they can keep being friends...I can't and won't forgive. There is tension at the end with the climax but there is a HEA to help bring it all together.

Overall, this was a book I easily devoured in a day. It's sweet, quick, and has some fun nuances that freshened it up for me. I will definitely keep an eye out for more Mae Bennett!

Thank you Alcove Press for this arc!

This is Mae Bennett's debut. It is such a nice twist on Beauty and the Beast. It took me reading about Oliver(MMC) being described as roaring for it to hit me, lol.

This is a character driven book and I was here for it. Learning so much about Bellamy and Oliver was wonderful. You have some books that try to lean on side characters and this was a nice breath of fresh air. The time spent to delve into what makes them tick and make them very real is nice. This is not a dual POV but it doesn't matter at all.

There is fantastic spice in this. It was pretty hot!!

Kudos to Mae Bennett for an awesome debut.

Thanks to NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Mae Bennett for this e-ARC. This review is my own opinion.

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0 ☆

this was such a cute book. I love fairy tale retellings especially beauty and the beast ones so ofc I ate this up.

I loved the modernizing of the servants & the third act breakup was actuality agonizing.

loved it def will read again

POV: Dual
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

This is a fun Beauty and the Beast re-telling and I enjoyed the modern home renovation take. I think the author did a good job at telling her own unique story while using the fun correlations with the original.

As a Disney lover, the title and cover really reeled me in on this one, especially as most book lovers can relate to Belle. However, my favorite character was the “Beast” Oliver. He’s grumpy but sweet and I like that he had some insecurities. Both him and Bellamy had some things to work through and it was great how they helped each other.

I’m excited for what’s to come next for this debut author!

A sweet story with interesting characters!

Bellamy (Bell) Price is given her first solo job redoing a home. Only hiccup is the recluse nephew of the owner lives there and he's not exactly jumping for joy at the "invasion".

The characters & story were enjoyable. I liked that there was a lot of character growth. There were some fun "scenes" that helped the story along well.

I could not have LOVED a book more! Mae Bennett’s book is perfect for every single lover of BEAUTY & THE BEAST! This retelling is a more modern today retelling and I had the absolute best time seeing all aspects of the movie come to life in Bennett’s book.

Things I loved about this book:

💜 Laugh Out Loud Banter - the one liners in this book are off the charts & the back and forth comments between Olivier & Bellamy are hilarious
🌹 Grumpy x Sunshine - Oliver & Bellamy
💜 He Falls First - Oliver is the most adorable when he is overcome with so many new emotions for Bellamy
🌹 Plus Sized Positivity - Love how Bellamy loves herself & embraces her size
💜 Rocked By Emotion & Love - Both Bellamy & Oliver face doubts about themselves and what they deserve, about love & about relationships
🌹 Spicy - oh, Bellamy is a lucky girl
💜 Swoon-worthy - Oliver is just wow! The things he does & says definitely make you swoon (of course, he has a very “beastly” stage first)
🌹 Creating & Finding a Home - not going to say more
💜 The Meddlers - there are a few, but Sebastian is my fav
🌹 Just a Favorite - The Library

I cannot recommend this book enough! It is a great debut novel!!!

Bellamy has just been offered the job of a lifetime: lead contractor on the restoration of the mysterious and sprawling Killington Estate. After a traumatic car accident that left his parents dead and himself injured, Oliver, 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.

What a great beauty and the beast retelling! I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this romance so much.

Bell & Oliver's banter was my favorite. They butted heads at the beginning and slowly let their guards down to open up to each other. I loved how they cared for each other so much. Oliver's tragic past made him seem like a grump, but once you get to know him, it'll all make sense.

Just like the original Beauty and the Beast, this too had great side characters, especially the AI one. Hah it was hilarious.

Overall, it was a great debut & I can't wait for more by Mae.

Thank you Netgalley & Publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first romance book I’ve read where I don’t really understand how or why the couple is together. When they first kissed, it was so out of nowhere that I flipped back a few pages to see if I missed something. I didn’t. This was a common theme while I was reading the book. It didn’t flow very well from one scene to the next. It would have been better if we saw more of the main characters bonding with their late night conversations instead of just hearing that they happened. There’s a lot of explicit intimate scenes for such a small book, which I don’t mind usually. The scenes in this book were abrupt, like with the first kiss. It felt like the plot was getting lost after the spicy scenes started. Overall, I didn’t like this book.

Blimey, "Barely Even Friends" has been a right good find! This steamy, drama-packed debut novel hooks you from the opening pages.

The author has nailed recreating that classic Beauty and the Beast vibe, but given it a fresh, modern twist. The lead characters Bellamy and Oliver are so engaging, with real depth and complexity that makes you feel like you know 'em.

The tension is off the charts when ambitious contractor Bellamy gets thrown into the world of the mega-rich Killingtons, taking on a reno job at their ancient family mansion. Oliver, the brooding but fit heir, isn't having any of her being there at first, setting up a classic opposites clash dynamic that soon leads to sparks flying another way.

But it goes way beyond just a will-they-won't-they romance. As the juicy plot thickens, some right twisted family secrets and jaw-dropping twists worthy of Succession get uncovered. The vivid writing proper transports you into the crumbling old mansion.

What really makes this a belter of a book are the blazing intimate scenes woven amongst that elegant prose. The author turns up the heat without being crude or vulgar about it. It's a total page-turner from start to finish. Fans of passionate romance tales packed with loads of dramatic plot definitely need to devour this literary gem. An absolute treat!

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.