I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this ARC!

So, this was a wonderful surprise!!! When i first saw the cover on NetGalley, I was thinking that this book would be different in a bad way, but it wasn’t. I enjoyed the reading a lot, for its banter, a bit of slow burn (for at least 20 years) all the jokes and references. I confess that in some scenes I was a bit lost because I didn’t watch the movies that were mentioned, but it was not so bad.
Laila and Cole are really funny and have so much chemistry that I was dy!ng for them to be together. A lot of lessons were learned too. I really liked the way the author wrote about some subjects, especially Cole’s grandfather being someone who could not communicate his feelings so well. It felt very personal haha!
Anyways, I really recommend this book if you like/are searching for a history with friends to lovers and slow burn, a little bit of found family, as well as references to pop culture (especially Gilmore Girls!!) and New York! Also, I loved the exchange between first and third person, because it was news to me.

Some quotes I really loved:
“My grandma Hazel always told me that big, life-changing events come in threes.”

“I guess it’s just that I’m thirty-nine years old, and I suddenly don’t know what I’m supposed to do with my life. And I want to blame other people for that. Somewhere deep inside, I’m wishing I could blame other people for that. But I have no one to blame but myself.”

“But it’s hard to let yourself want anything when you’ve spent your entire life just counting your lucky stars for what you have.”

I really enjoyed reading Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other so I was already excited for this one and I ended up loving it just as much!

Friends to lovers will ALWAYS have my heart - this book was no exception.
The shift from first POV to third POV felt quite jarring as the story progressed. However the characters were lovely and there were lots of very sweet moments.

My goodness, what a treat of a read this was. As the title would imply, Cole and Laila have been friends forever, and that's it. Their lives are thrown into turmoil when Cole's grandpa dies and has sold the restaurant Cole assumed was going to be left to him. This makes Cole question everything, including his life in his small town. He decides he's ready to take on life in the big city, and Laila agrees to go with him. As you might infer, stuff happens, and that "just friends" might need to be evaluated. I just adored this story - I love characters like this that I just find myself rooting for so hard in so many ways. I also really love the way pop culture was woven into this one. The references were especially "in my lane" as an elder millennial, and that just added to this delightful tale. This is really just one that made smile -as cheesy as that sounds, but given it had romcom vibes, it also works. Thanks to NetGalley for the look at this June 2024 release!

COLE AND LAILA ARE JUST FRIENDS by BETHANY TURNER is a fun read, a romcom with lovable characters, witty dialogue and an interesting romance.
The story starts in the small town of Adelaide Springs p, Colorado where Cole runs his grandfather’s bar and restaurant, with his best friend Laila working as waitress. The two have known each other since they were in diapers. Now that they are nearing forty their comfortable life is threatened by the death of Cole’s grandfather and his selling of Cassidy’s to someone else, instead of leaving it to Cole in his will. This leads to a trip to New York with their newly married friends, Seb and Brynn, with Cole about to accept a job in the city……
I found the book to be a real breath of fresh air, even though I did not catch all the references to the rich and famous!
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Best friends for so long and when Cole gets life changing news that could threaten their friendship with Laila, their relationship is put to the test. Can they imagine Cole moving across the country to further his career since there isn't anything left for him in their hometown? Is that what they want? Not exactly. It takes some time in a new city, a threat of not seeing each other all the time, a sweet "first date" and some pep talks for them to realize their true feelings!

This book was such a cute, sweet no spice quick romance read! The relationship between Cole and Laila was so natural and how it it unfolded into something more than just friends was so enjoyable to read! I know it's a fictional story but if this was real I'd be rooting for them to build all of their new businesses, get married and live happily ever after! Would definitely recommend to those who love a sweet romance!

Thanks to NetGalley, Bethany Turner, and Thomas Nelson fiction for allowing me to review this ARC!

Small town, friends, fake dating, what could go wrong? Cole and Laila Are Just Friends is a book for everyone. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the theme.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction & Netgalley for the ARC.

Best fake dating story. I loved the character continuation from Brynn and Sebastian’s story. I was grinning while reading. Truly enjoyed the story.

"Cole and Laila Are Just Friends" by Bethany Turner is a delightful journey through the intricacies of friendship, love, and the unexpected twists of life. Turner masterfully constructs a heartwarming narrative centered around the enduring friendship between Cole Kimball and Laila Olivet.

The story unfolds in the picturesque setting of Adelaide Springs, Colorado, where Cole and Laila share a bond that goes beyond the ordinary. Turner skillfully introduces the characters, imbuing them with depth and authenticity that resonates with readers. The small mountain town becomes the canvas on which their lifelong friendship is painted, complete with shared secrets, quirky traditions, and a familiarity that transcends the ordinary.

The narrative takes a compelling turn when Cole, reeling from a revelation about his late grandfather, contemplates leaving the town that holds so many cherished memories. Laila, deeply rooted in her love for their mountainous abode, faces the prospect of a life without her best friend nearby. The stage is set for a journey to New York City, a pivotal moment that could alter the course of their lives.

As Cole and Laila embark on their week-long adventure in the bustling city, readers are treated to a delightful blend of humor, heartfelt moments, and the subtle undercurrents of evolving emotions. Turner's witty dialogue adds charm to the unfolding narrative, keeping the reader engaged and invested in the characters' lives.
What sets this novel apart is Turner's nuanced exploration of the "friends-to-lovers" trope. The chemistry between Cole and Laila is palpable, and the author delicately navigates the complexities of transitioning from friendship to something more. The one-week countdown becomes a metaphor for the impending changes, creating a sense of urgency that propels the story forward.

"Cole and Laila Are Just Friends" is not just a romance; it's a celebration of the enduring power of friendship and the unpredictable nature of love. The novel resonates with readers on a personal level, prompting reflection on their relationships and the transformative journey of personal growth.

Bethany Turner has crafted a feel-good novel that combines the charm of a small-town setting with the excitement of newfound emotions—highly recommended for those who appreciate a romantic story that goes beyond the clichés, offering a nuanced exploration of the complexities of human connections and the beauty of embracing change. "Cole and Laila Are Just Friends" is a testament to the magic that happens when friendship and love collide, leaving readers with a warm heart and a renewed appreciation for the unpredictable beauty of life's journey.

‘Cole and Laila are Just Friends’ is a sequel of sorts to ‘Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other’ where we return to the small town of Adelaide Springs. Reading Brynn and Sebastian is not essential to understanding the overall plot of this book, but I highly recommend it to fully understand the characters and their experiences. For me, it actually made reading this book a lot more of an emotional experience. The story follows best friends Cole and Laila as they experience New York together after a lifetime in a very small town.

This was an incredibly character driven story and the tension between these characters was there from the beginning, it was subtle and well written. Their interactions were packed with emotion and really propelled the story along and really the main thing I can say about it, is that is was wholesome.

I enjoyed the writing, the perspective felt fresh and Laila and Cole both had distinct voice as they alternated between their points of view. I felt immersed in the story and the way they haphazardly bumbled through New York, being drawn to places that featured in their favourite films and TV series felt authentic (I sat there thinking, ‘yeah, I would do that if I was ever in New York’).

I wish it was a tiny bit longer and that there was more closure, however, I am hoping to return to Adelaide Springs again soon and get the same delightful cameo’s for Laila and Cole, that this story gave me with Brynn and Sebastian.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Thomas Nelson for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review, these thoughts are all my own.

5 stars! What a cute and sweet book!

The first thing to say is that I really, really enjoyed this book. The book is a sequel, but works well as a standalone.

The main characters Cole and Laila have been best friends since childhood. However, life changes seem to be taking Cole away from their hometown Adelaide Springs. Cole and Laila decide to spend a week together in New York, Cole's future hometown, and during that week they realize that they not only have a deep friendship, but also feel romantic love for each other. Laila loves her hometown, but Cole wants to leave, which complicates their thoughts about the future.

I liked the main characters. They felt real people. The friendship between them was wonderful, strong and so very warm. It was nice when the main characters were a bit older, closer to forty. I liked that the book had a lot of references to, for example, Friends and the movie Home Alone II!

This was a real feel-good book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes sweet, romantic books.

What to expect:
Friends to lovers
Dual POV
HEA
Small town
Sweet, clean romance, just kissing
Third act: crisis, no break up

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the ARC of this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I enjoyed this book for the most part but felt like it got a really slow start. I don't think I was all that invested until 60 percent of the way through. I typically enjoy a best friends romance but it didn't feel super believable that they never realized they loved each other until they were almost 40. That being, said I guess it's possible. The portion of the book that is about the "blind date" was super sweet and I enjoyed all of the fun nuggets about 90s rom coms. I think I'd read other books by this author in the future and Cole and Laila's story was cute overall.

I received this book as an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Cole and Laila are best friends. They've been best friends for A LONG TIME. Cole loses his grandfather and after feeling betrayed by his will, he feels that he needs a change and an opportunity for him to move to NYC comes up and he wants to jump at it. Laila is hurt by this, but understands. She ends up going with him to check out the city hoping to change his mind. They go to NYC with their recently married friends who need to leave unexpectedly on a quick work trip, leaving Cole and Laila to themselves. Cole starts to see Laila as more than just a friend and it rattles him. Since they are such close friends, they do talk about it. There is a little misunderstading between them, but they do turn Laila's birthday into a blind date for them to test the waters. The date is wonderful and Laila asks Cole to kiss her. They both realize that there is more to their friendship than they thought. Their friends come home and interrupt their moment and things get to be a bit awkward, so they leave the conversation for later. Cole needs to leave NYC to take care of some things and Laila stays because she raises that Cole wants to stay in NYC permanently and doesn't want to keep saying goodbye. Laila confesses to Brynn and Sebastián that she's in love with Cole and everything that happened while they were gone. Cole meets up with his mother and friends in Colorado and they make him realize that he's in love with Laila and it is reciprocated. Laila comes home and meets up with Cole and he tells her he's going to stay and that he's in love with her. She says it back. I wouldn't have minded an epilogue to see how they end up after all that, especially since it was such a long road to get there. I'm a little surprised it took them so long to figure this out since they were pushing 40, but c'est la vie. It was a sweet friends to lovers story and I'm a sucker for those.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction & Netgalley for the ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I really adore a friend’s to lovers story and this was really cute. I appreciated the closeness and banter that happened between Cole & Laila. They really, genuinely seemed to be each other’s person. Many of the scenarios were realistic to how a friend’s to lovers situation would go in real life like the confusion, miscommunication, jealousy & the spiralling haha. I appreciated the author for adding those in and not painting it like it is all sunshines and rainbows.
I could tell the author was definitely influenced by Gilmore girls dialogue and the fast paced, & often rambling nature of Lorelei. I have watched all of Gilmore Girls probably 4x so I understood the side bar ramblings and all of the pop culture/movie references but, I can see this type of dialogue not being for everyone if they aren’t use to an Amy Sherman-Palladino type dialogue.
I am also a reader who likes at least a tiny bit of spice in my romcoms but this book still gave me sweet romance and butterflies without the spice. There is only kissing and no bedroom scenes . 0/5 spice as a heads up for readers who prefer spice.
Overall, this is a great friends to lovers story I did enjoy! I give a 3.5 stars.

May sound cliche, but this definitely packs the feels from all directions. Small town, close friends, everyone knows everyone else's business, for better or worse. By the end you will want to live there with them.

I had a difficult following the author's writing style. Story was ok. The characters were ok. not use if i would read another book by this author in the future.