When I was browsing for ARCs to request, the cover and title of Cole and Laila are Just Friends by Bethany Turner immediately caught my eye. I'm a sucker for a good friends-to-lovers story, so the premise truly intrigued me. I was thrilled to be approved for the ARC. Unfortunately, the book didn't live up to my expectations. The only aspect I appreciated was its emphasis on the importance of friendships in romantic relationships.

Right from the start, I struggled to connect with the book. The opening chapters failed to engage me, and I found myself bored. Many of the narratives felt unnecessarily prolonged, as if they were added just to lengthen the book. By the time I reached the 25% mark, I was already considering abandoning it, but I decided to push through since I didn't want to waste the opportunity of reading the ARC. Sadly, the events never managed to capture my interest, and I had to force myself to finish it just to write this review.

One of the most frustrating aspects was the alternating points of view. Laila's perspective was written in first person, while Cole's was in third person. This inconsistency made it difficult for me to relate to and connect with the characters. It felt disjointed and hindered my overall reading experience. Additionally, the book was filled with numerous pop culture references. While I usually enjoy these in moderation, their excessive use in this book felt like it would date the story quickly. There were also too many long anecdotes that seemed irrelevant to the main plot, making it feel like filler content.

Another point of contention for me was the believability of the storyline. It was hard to accept that it took almost forty years for Cole and Laila to confess their feelings for each other. This revelation came too late in the book, and the idea that they had been in love since childhood without any substantial evidence was unconvincing. I needed to see more development in their friendship to buy into their romance. Their present-day interactions lacked chemistry and tension, making it difficult to root for their relationship. The lack of communication between them was frustrating, especially for characters who were supposed to be incredibly close and share everything with each other.

Overall, I found it difficult to connect with Cole and Laila. Their interactions didn't engage me, and their dialogues felt forced. I didn't enjoy them as individual characters, which makes it hard to elaborate on all the reasons why. The narrative felt more suited to characters in their early 20s, rather than adults approaching 40. Their behavior and dialogue were often immature, particularly Laila, who came across as insufferable and naive.

It's challenging for me to recommend a book that I didn't enjoy. However, I can see it appealing to readers who are looking for a light read without high expectations and who appreciate unrealistic aspects in a story. Unfortunately, it wasn't for me.

Laila and Cole have been best friends for their entire lives, they share everything with each other, they have seen each other at their worst and best. On the night of the wedding of their closest friends Cole learns his grandfather has passed.

At the reading of his will Cole expects to be gifted with the restaurant his grandfather owned and he managed and worked at. Only that is not what happens and it leaves him reling. He decides he should just leave his small town, start fresh in NYC, and leave behind everything. Only Laila is part of what he is leaving behind and refuses to accept that her person is willing to leave everything they have.

She decides to go with him to NYC for a week and work on reminding him what he will leave behind. They may put their friendship on the line and finally act on the feelings they have both felt and never acknowledged.

I loved Laila so much in this one, Cole was a wet blanket for most of the time, but Laila made him better. I love the sentiment of not liking the phrase "Just Friends" because there is nothing 'Just' about a great friendship. Friendship is such an amazing connection and the love you feel with a friend is just as important as a romantic love with a partner. This book was very slow burn and it worked for the type of relationship the characters had.

The title says it all. Cole and Laila live in a small town and have been best friends for all their lives. It isn't until Cole's grandfather passes away, that everything has changed. Thinking the Cassidy's, a restaurant that has been in the family, would be his. Only it was left to an investment group. So with a good friend and her husband, he's leaving town to decide what to do with his life. Only Laila decides to go to New York with them. In the time they are there, feelings have changed from just friendship to more. What to do? He can't go back and she can't stay. Mom to the rescue. Fun read!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Honestly this book is not for me. While it was a contemporary romance. The protagonist is significantly older than me and in a different stage of life. I just could not relate as much to this story. The right audience is out there but I am not it

ARC Review
I wish this had been advertised as a series. I understand the couple in this one was different that the previous (Brynn & Sebastian), but I have not read that book and felt completely diconnected starting this one. Had I known it would be like an interconnected standalone, I probably wouldn't have gotten the ARC without reading the first book prior. I feel like that can be pretty confusing for a lot of readers if it's not blatantly advertised as the same world. So, unfortunately, I decided about 25% in that I would be DNFing for now. I don't believe in rating books I DNF because I don't think that's fair to the author if I can't judge the whole book, so I will not rate on Goodreads, but for the sake of Netgalley/the author/the publisher still getting my thoughts, I'm giving it a middle of the road 3 stars.

Cole and Laila are Just Friends is yet another highly engaging and creative story from Bethany Turner.

As the title suggests, Cole and Laila, late 30’s, are buddies. Actually, they’re lifelong best friends. To the reader, they’re completely married, except not a couple. And then circumstances force Cole to consider moving away from their remote mountain town. Laila is thrown into a spin and accompanies him on the trip of lifetime to New York.

While they’re there, something shifts their relationship but can the transition from BFFs to so much more be smooth? And this is where Turner shines. Because the short answer is ‘no’ but so deep is Cole and Laila’s relationship, that actually, yes, the move can be made simple. Until life steps in.

While long serving as ‘using pop culture royalty,’ Turner really ups her game in this story. Especially with the New York City references. I also like that the issues Cole and Laila face are not predictable ones you’d usually see in a friends to more trope. Plus the backstory involving Cole’s grandfather’s death and resultant fallout is intriguing and when you put it all together, the pages kept turning. I actually began reading this and midway through switched to audio which I thoroughly enjoyed. Both narrators did wonderful jobs. Written or spoken, I definitely recommend this for a fun summer read.

I received a copy of Cole and Laila are Just Friends from the publisher, via NetGalley. The views are all my own.

This was a truly lovely story. I really enjoyed the first in this series by Bethany and I think this one was even better than the first. The narrators were fabulous and did a great job of really making the story come alive. There is no spice and only kisses. I wouldn't say there were even any closed door scenes. This is a great example of when you really don't need spice for a great story. I think Cole and Laila are my best friends now too!

Big thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Thomas Nelson Fiction and Bethany Turner for this early release copy in exchange for my honest review.

BRYNN AND SEBASTIAN HATE EACH OTHER was one of my top 23 books of 2023, and I have been eagerly awaiting the sequel. I am happy to say that COLE AND LAILA ARE JUST FRIENDS is every bit as wonderful as the first book.

As those who have read any portion of my Fern & Dave WIP know, I love a long slow-burn, and this book delivers. These characters have known each other their entire lives, and have taken forty years to sort out their feelings.

I also love that these characters do communicate with each other. Their reluctance to admit to their feelings is out of genuine concern for their friendship and individual well being, not a result of any kind of major miscommunication. Everything about their relationship was believable, and it made me so invested in how things would turn out.

I loved the parts of the story set in New York. It felt very Nora Ephron, and I love Nora Ephron movies (as do the characters in this book). I also just love any romance set in New York City.

The pop culture references in this book are also so enjoyable. If you're an elder millennial right on the border with GenX (like I am, born in 1982), you will love the references these characters make to TV, music, and movies from our era. It was also just really fun to spend time with some romance characters who felt like my peers instead of my children. This book made me feel young.

I was lucky enough to be approved for both the ebook and the audiobook on Netgalley. The audiobook narrators, Talon David and Andrew Eiden, were excellent. They really became the characters for me, and I will seek out other books with their voices.

Thank you to @netgalley and @thomasnelson for the review copy! I have a feeling this book will make my 2024 favorites list.

I really loved this story! Cole and Laila were just too good to be true, but it still worked. The Colorado parts were my favorite, although plan me a date like the one in New York. The banter was a wonderful part of the story as was the pop culture references (Hello Milo!). I thoroughly enjoyed this story! Highly recommend!

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

Cole and Laila have been friends since before they could remember, but after Cole's grandfather's death, his world gets turned upside down. Cole believes that his grandfather sold his restaurant, Cassidy's, out from under Cole, who had been the sole chef and running the restaurant for years. This means that Laila, Cole's most faithful employee, may also be out of a job. Cole and Laila decide to go to New York City with their friends Brynn & Sebastian in order to celebrate Laila's birthday and figure out next steps as Cole is debating on taking a job in NYC. After being alone in Brynn & Sebastian's fancy NYC penthouse, Cole and Laila begin to realize that they may have feelings for each other besides being "just friends". Will Cole & Laila ever be able to admit these feelings to each other? Will Cole take the job in NYC or will he find a job back in Adelaide Springs? I absolutely loved the banter between the characters and all of the nods to NYC rom-coms. Highly recommend this book for lovers of rom-coms and contemporary romance.

Cole and Laila. Laila and Cole. Two completely different people who are complete and whole only when with each other. Their lifelong friendship is heart-warming, hilarious, absolutely endearing and so much fun. Cole is a protector, a creative master of edible perfections, devoted, loyal, and incredibly attractive. Laila is slightly flighty but powered by adorable optimism and love for people, even if her bandwidth only encompasses the tiny town of Adelaide Springs.
I loved their adventures in NYC and the pop culture references to the shows and movies filmed in the city. I was surprised that their story was not one of unrecognized love from one of the best friends but a struck-by-lightning moment of attraction for each other. Their banter was quite delightful and their romance was tender and guided by how well they knew each other. And, of course, there were Brynn and Sebastian who made the story extra special by being fantastic secondary characters.

As was the previous book in the series, this book is more contemporary romance than a romcom. It’s very enjoyable and will be a fun beach read. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Thomas Nelson and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

Cole and Laila have been best friends since before they could talk. Many have wondered why the two have never taken their friendship to the next level, but neither of them has thought about each other that way. Well maybe the thought crossed their minds once or twice. After the passing of Cole’s grandfather, their relationship is put through a test, as Cole decides he wants to see how different life would be in NYC, from their small town of Adelaide Springs, CO. Will this potential move break or solidify the pair’s relationship?

If you're looking to pick up a laugh-out-loud rom-com this summer, you’ll want to read Bethany Turner’s latest novel, Cole and Laila are Just Friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Cole and Laila have been friends since they were kids. Now in their late 30s, that continues to be the case, even with life's new curveballs. When a unique situation has them questioning their connection, they'll have to decide if they take a leap, or do what they can to maintain their friendship.

I requested this because I've enjoyed the books I've read by Bethany Turner. Her most recent book featured Cole and Laila (same universe) and I was excited for their story... but I was thrown off pretty early by a Harry Potter reference. There was only one in the whole book (that I noticed) but it wasn't necessary, and I feel like in 2024 we're holding JKR accountable for being a TERF so why recognize her work when it was avoidable?

Otherwise, I did enjoy the connection between Cole and Laila. I was a little done with them towards the end, but for the most part, they worked.

CW: mentions of death

4.5 stars
I so enjoyed this romantic, heartwarming, and laugh-out-loud funny story! Best friends Cole and Laila find themselves at a crossroads, where they face many life changes and more recently, changing feelings.

The joy of knowing everything about your best friend and loving them anyway. The willingness to do anything for the other, and the selflessness that is so important to relationships. "It was time to focus on being his best friend, and that meant putting all of my own selfish desires aside." "A few years ago Sebastian asked me why you and I never dated. He asked if it was because we loved each other too much."

I love the Colorado mountain town they call home, and I thoroughly enjoyed their trip to New York with their "Cadillac Escalade and Condo people" friends. (Highly recommend reading Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each other first.)

LOVED the entire day around NY that Cole plans for Laila's birthday and all the fun references to people, places, and movies that take place in NY. That was so much fun, and very much how I would enjoy visiting the city!

Oh and the absolute BEST fake-first-date EVER! This was my favorite part!

Highly recommend Cole and Laila Are Just Friends to lovers of charming & hilarious romcoms.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own. I now have my own preordered on my shelf of Bethany Turner books!

Unfortunately, this was a DNF. It was far too wordy and while it seemed like it was written in 2 person point of view, it wasn't seamless and read sort of choppy and all over the place. I think its likely a great story... just not for me.

I'm not one for a long, slow burn from friends to lovers, but I'll say for me, it definitely worked with Cole and Laila.

I adored their friendship and the way they are essentially each other's go-to person for anything and everything. I don't constantly read clean romance, so I felt a bit disappointed that there weren't more than a few kisses, but I was still overjoyed for their happy ending.

My main issues with the story were the constant pop culture references, simply because I don't care for them, especially recent modern ones like Taylor Swift and Gilmore Girls. They threw me out for some reason, and I think the way they worked into this story felt slightly cheesy. I didn't mind their ages too much. I do find it a tad weird how they're almost forty but have no inklings of ever considering evolving their friendship into more. 

In the end, I think Bethany is a fantastic writer and will definitely be going back to read Brynn and Sebastian's romance and any other potential romances that await.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳, 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺.

My first experience of a Bethany Turner masterpiece!

I had not heard of Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other until Chapter 1 one of CALAJF, however I worked out everything I needed to know after some quick research. It can definitely be read as a standalone, but I will be reading BASHEO now because of how much I loved this book!

Laila and Cole are two of the most emotionally intelligent characters I have read and it came across in every interaction they had, which was a real delight for me. I often struggle to stay engaged with miscommunication tropes as I just want the characters to TALK, however Bethany has written a truly superb and believable relationship. My usual impatience and frustration was pure empathy the whole way through! Once I started, I couldn't put it down because of how invested I became.

I can't wait to read the rest of Bethany Turner's books, and anything else* she ever writes!

*Which I will politely beg to be for A & W, thank you Bethany!

This book was an absolute joy from start to finish!

It’s as if the author picked through Amy Sherman Palladino’s brain and wrote a book that encompassed all of the joy and quirkiness of the first few seasons of Gilmore Girls. All the quick wit, the pop culture references, the quirky small town, and bffs who speak their own shorthand. I haven’t laughed out loud this much while reading/listening to a book in a long time. I was thoroughly entertained and so completely engrossed that I didn’t want to leave this world and these characters when it was all said and done. This book will be getting a spot on my favorites shelf.

Favorite Quotes:

"I don't like the expression 'just friends'," I whispered. "I don't like the implication that there's a hierarchy of relationships. And if there is a hierarchy, how dare anyone minimize friendship? Isn't friendship everything?"

There wasn't a singular moment when something had shifted and somewhere deep in his subconscious his soul had whispered, "She matters more than the rest." It had just always been. He'd always known.

"I think, in a way, I'm sort of hoping you realize it doesn't matter where we are, as long as we're together."

*Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is the epitome of friends to lovers. Cole and Laila have been friends for as long as they can remember and yet they have never thought of having a romantic relationship. Until now that is... Cole wants to move to New York after receiving some devastating news after the death of his grandfather. Laila wants to stay in Adelaide Springs because it's home to her. Neither Cole nor Laila can fathom being apart from the other but they both won't convince the other to move. Laila joins Cole on a trip to New York before he moves there permanently. This New York trip stirs up all kinds of odd feelings. Y'all this book has so many references to romcoms that are just so fun. I loved the aspect of this book being set in New York. It is so dreamy and romantic. I also liked that Cole and Laila are in their late 30s and this book was more focused on them as a whole rather than them discovering who they are like many stories centered around characters in their early 20s. There were definitely times when I wished I could shake the characters and ask them why they were being so stubborn. This book made me laugh and cry. It is full of emotions. I loved that it is dual POV. This makes it so much better because you get to see exactly when both character's minds change from friends to lovers. Also, I liked the callbacks to the previous book in this series. However, both books can be read as standalone.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson. I was not required to leave a review and these thoughts are my own.

Bethany Turner knows how to entertain her audience. In Cole and Laila are Just Friends, I was enthralled with the quick prose and lovable characters. The story of long-time friends too scared to explore the potential for anything deeper, yet finding themselves at a crossroads was absolutely irresistible. Turner's quick wit and quirks certainly delivered a story that left me sighing with happiness.
I do recommend reading Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other prior to reading this book. Both stories are a delight!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.