3.5 stars

This book is really steamy and for some reason I wasn't expecting that. The cover quote from Christina Lauren calls it "blazingly sexy" (which I didn't see until now). I wasn't particularly interested in that at the moment and skimmed most of those parts.

There's a fair bit of time spent birding, which one would expect in a book called "Birding With Benefits" (also the "with benefits" should have alerted me to sex). I love that a more niche hobby got it's own book.

I really liked both Celeste and John.

This cover is fantastic!

I would definitely read more books by this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Simon & Schuster Canada through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Simon & Schuster Canada.

4.5
A fun, quirky Rom-com and middle aged John & Celeste. I enjoyed this read, the birding aspect of it and all. Hit home in a few ways for me and I love a book that can do that for me. Very well done! The honesty between these two, was so mature and real.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster, and Netgalley for the chance to read and rate this ARC. I’m so glad I went after this one!

As both an avid romance reader and bird enthusiast this book felt MADE FOR MEEEE! This story follows Celeste and John, two strangers thrown into fake dating for the convenience of getting people off their backs in real life about being single. Celeste is divorced, a mom to a 12th grader, and happy with never dating again! John is a recently single, unemployed quirky birder in need of a new birding partner for an upcoming local competition. A mutual friend sets the two up, and we have our book! This story made my heart sing. It had all the elements of a romcom I enjoy, PLUS ACCURATE BIRD INFORMATION?! Incredible. I almost just wish we got even more nuggets about Celeste and her daughter’s relationship as that aspect really had my heart too.
* Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada via Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!