‘Between Friends And Lovers’ by Shirlene Obuobi is an absolutely gorgeous, heart-wrenching romance novel following Dr Jojo Boateng, whose instagram followers come to her for advice due to her confident delivery of medical insights, her self-love-positive platform and her polished photos. Despite how together her feed looks, Jo is falling apart - she’s in love with her best friend Ezra; a TV heartthrob who dates a different woman each month and is currently seeing her high school bully. When a chance encounter with writer Mal leads to a confusing attraction, it’s time for Jo to decide what she really wants and learn how to get it.

I LOVED this book! Jo was such a relatable and loveable character who quickly began to feel like a close personal friend, and Mal and Ezra were so different from each other but both were well developed throughout the story, through insightfully narrated chapters and reminiscent flashbacks. I adored how modern and fresh the story felt, with social media a key driver of the narrative.

I felt so many emotions reading this book - I swooned, I cried, I laughed, and I felt righteous anger at times. I admired how the characters acknowledged their flaws and communicated in a realistic way, and especially enjoyed the inclusion of Ampersand the cat for some cuteness.

This book unequivocally gets five stars from me - I’d love to read more about these characters and needed a MUCH longer epilogue really as I was so sad the novel was over. Very much recommend to fans of strong female characters, angsty rom-coms and literary vibes!

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Quercus via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

3.25 stars

I really enjoyed this!

This novel read a bit more like a “classic” romance novel, while her first ‘On Rotation’, her debut, read a bit more general fiction. I also love how it subverted the love triangle trope a bit. It was refreshing.

The book also tackles some great themes, like racism and depression. It’s very thoughtful and nuanced. And I really liked how Jo and Mal’s relationship developed.

It was a tad bit long, though. I didn’t really feel like there was a lot happening, besides the will-they-won’t-they, that warranted this many pages. The writing (Jo’s POV being first person, and Mal’s POV being third person) irked me a bit as wel once I realised the POVs were different.

Between Friends & Lovers is really quite delightful.

Yes, it's a romance with a love triangle, but it's not forced or cliched, and there aren't (refreshingly) too many misunderstandings.

Anyway, back to the beginning: Josephine Boateng is a doctor and influencer, currently not practising medicine due to burnout. She's been enmeshed in Ezra's life since she was a student, always in love with him, it never reciprocated. She's ready to try something new when Mal comes along. Mal's a debut novelist, and a little anxious about dealing with the publishing world. He's honest and transparent - and just what Jo needs. But she's honest too, and so she has to tell him about Ezra and his position in her life. Jo and Mal could be great together - but they have to work out what they both want, first.

It's interesting because it's such a light read in many ways, but it also hits deeper issues - burnout, depression, how to be strong in the face of bias, racism and more. Jo isn't a perfect main character - she can be blunt to the point of harshness, but you can see how she's grown to be that way. Arguably Mal is a bit too close to perfection - he's thoughtful, gives her space and understanding and appreciates how she sees him. Together they bring out the best in each other. They just have to get past Ezra. And, where Ezra could've been an evil triangle mastermind, he's just another flawed man too, and you can see why the friendship exists (though let's be fair, he is blind to a lot of the challenges Jo experiences). I'd definitely read more by Obuobi.

Honestly, this was a little more drama than I usually enjoy, but I was very into it all.

Without revealing too much, the love triangle aspect is very mild, and I loved the contrast of Jo's new, developing relationship with Mal, and the strong foundation of friendship with Ezra.

It was very emotional, particularly the mental health aspects and how multiple characters dealt with their own struggles.

I was a little confused over the choice to use first person POV for Jo's chapters, but third person POV for the others - I like either or, I'm not fussed too much - but maybe not both? I get that it is mainly her story, but if multiple perspectives are included, I like them to be fairly consistent.

Apart from that, I loved it. The romance was fantastic, tender and intimate, with a little humour.

I found it really hard to get into this book and ended up abandoning about half way through. I'm not saying it is a bad book. It just wasn't for me.

~thank you to Quercus and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review~

obuobi’s understanding of love theory shines through her characters beautifully in this novel, making her writing of their relationship simply gorgeous. this novel contains more than one love story for our protagonist’s; with eachothers’ love and affection they begin to blossom into better versions of themselves.

i’m obsessed with obuobi’s love letter to ‘strong’ women through jo’s character (and the beautiful dedication). i know so many women - including myself- identify with jo’s struggle to be soft and open after having to fight so fiercely to stay afloat for so long. this novel tenderly explores heavy topics such as race, class and gender whilst providing us a sweet romance. usually i’m more infuriated by a love triangle in a romance novel but obuobi made me empathise with jo’s struggle to respect herself more, rather than want to scream at the page.

the characters in this novel were so beautifully nuanced and it’s very evident that obuobi was very conscious to not fall into the trap of trope-heavy caricatures found in romance. characters such as ezra and prudence could have very easily been demonised in favour of mal and jo, but instead we are encouraged to think about what it is that has made them the way they are; they are painfully human.

malcom has immediately been added to my list of top book boyfriends 🤭🤭. i love how patient he is with jo and his emotional intelligence is not presented to the reader as a complete fantasy; he learned it from previous experience rather than being born an emotions wizard.

fave quotes:

‘For the “strong” girls. for the girls who seem to have it all together even when falling apart. For the Megan Thee Stallions of the world, who everyone knows how to consume, but no one knows how to protect. You deserve to be cherished too.’

‘Strong isn’t a personality trait. It’s a sign that you’re neglected and not protected. It’s just as much evidence of your trauma as it is of your triumph’

‘The temperature had cooled to a crisp sixth degrees, but my body buzzed with warmth. Not from the wine we’d drunk earlier, or even from embarrassment, but from the balmy sensation that came with being properly perceived’

I love this book! A sumer cute romance books, with a love triangle (and I'm so glad she made the right choice!) The characters were written beautifully, with depth and you can't help but root for them. Although darker themes are explored in the book (depression, suicide, parental neglect) the book still had a light feel which is a difficult balance to manage. Absolutely loved it, could not put it down.

"Between Friends and Lovers" had so much heart. When I picked this up I was expecting a super traditional, potentially cringey love triangle romance but was pleasantly surprised.

Bless you, Shirlene and your mighty pen. Josephine Boateng was a beautifully written character, and I wish I had her confidence in being true to herself.

I didn't like Ezra from the start, I don't know why Josephine loved the guy. She gave him too much grace for how he treated her as his friend. I loved Malcolm, he was such a sweet character and consistently proved himself in everything he did.

I have so much love for Josephine and I aspire to be as ambitious and unapologetic as her. She had so much love to give despite her past and her self-awareness was admirable.

I think the themes explored in the book were great and done well. The book touched on depression, anxiety, sexual health, the downsides of social media virality, and abusive parental relationships. Despite this, it still felt like a fluffy contemporary romance.

I really liked the references to social media, including the post descriptions and comments, but for those who don't like those sorts of references, be aware that it is in there.

I lovedddd the approach to love as an intentional decision rather than a feeling. I think it fits this storyline so well and it's something that resonates with me.

Overall, it was a beautifully written book and an enjoyable read. I need it on my shelf and I will absolutely be rereading it one day.

*** 3.5 stars ***

I read this book fresh after reading On Rotation and it was interesting to see how distinct the voices were in BF&L.

Character-wise, I liked Josephine. She found her medical niche and is making a success of it. Ezra is that dashing best friend who she is oh so in love with and I appreciated that the conversation of Josephine's feeling were one of the first things you read of the scenes between them. It establishes that initial rejection early so the budding romance of Josephine of Malcolm could blossom. Malcolm is a wonderful guy. A perfect man, one would argue. And therein may lie the problem. Of course I am all for black women being loved without restraint, but I need to *believe* the character is able to exist in the real world. With Malcolm...I just couldn't. Times where I would have expected him to be jealous, he was chilled and perhaps he was *too* understanding.

The plot progressed well and it was very easy to speed through the pages. Personal preference - I think Josephine should have ended up with the other guy because it seemed to make the most sense to me, but either way, Josephine got the ending she deserves!

Between Friends and Lovers by Shirlene Oboubi

I had heard great things about her debut book On Rotation, so when I saw this offered to be read on Net Galley I jumped at the chance, and I'm glad I did. The writing took a chapter or two to get into because the style is unique. It was like wading into a cool pool and all of a sudden realizing you are warm. Jo has been friends with, and in love with Ezra forever. The night she tries to tell him and he minimizes her feelings, she mets Mal, an author, and decides to try to date him. Mal is a bit intimidated by Ezra once he realizes what neither Jo or Ezra do, that he is in love with Jo.

First, these characters jump.off the page. They are deeply nuanced and authentic. I loved Jo, Dr. Jojo, her protectiveness of herself and others, her blunt way of talking, her compassion. And Mal, such a deep man. As a therapist, it was great to see men's mental health taken so seriously, especially black men, because there are so many barriers to treatment and so much stigma. Anxiety, trauma, depression, suicide, and addiction are all treated honestly, openly, and accurately.

This book also so elegantly illuminated the intersections of race and privledge with how the characters were seen and treated in the world, by others, and by themselves.

At first, I thought " How could Jo like Ezra? He is so valid and obtuse about so many things, but most notably the differences because of race and provledge between he and Jo." I was like " this choice is easy, Mal is an amazing man, and a great book bkyfeiend." But Oboubi slowly revealed why they choice may not be so easy, and that Ezra may be more than he seemed.

This book was so deft in creating it's world and narrative. There were no clichés, no third act contrivences. The way love was shown, and how Jo grew to allow herself to love herself and others so totally, was brilliant. I loved this book. It is a must read for anyone! 5 stars. Thanks to Net Galley and Quercus books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks firstly to the publishers for approving me to read this arc.

This was such a sweet and loving story. Although sometimes as at times I loved Jo and mal and how they slowly developed their relationship. Their banter was also really goood. I also enjoyed reading about Jo and Ezra (although sometimes Ezra was a bit annoying) he does sort of redeem himself from stuff he does.

Between Friends and Lovers by Shirlene Obuobi
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 11 July 2024

Dr. Jojo is known for her no-nonsense advice on men, self-love, dating, and sex, which has garnered her a significant following on Instagram. However, behind the camera, she's grappling with unrequited feelings for her best friend, Ezra. Determined to move on, Jojo finds herself drawn to Malcolm, a sweet and shy writer. As they start dating, Jojo's tough exterior begins to soften, but her feelings for Ezra resurface when she discovers they may not be as one-sided as she thought. Now faced with a difficult decision, Jojo must choose between pursuing romance with her best friend or exploring new love with Malcolm for her happily ever after.

Tropes:
STEMinist romance

Found family

Love triangles

Despite initial reservations about the love triangle plot, I found the book enjoyable. Ezra was both charming and frustrating, while Mal was a genuine sweetheart, although his feelings developed quickly. Jo was a brilliant and funny character, with a mix of confidence and insecurity. The book delved into deeper issues like racism and depression, as well as systemic problems in the medical field, particularly through Jo's perspective.

The changing format within the book, including Jo's email correspondence and Instagram posts, added depth and realism. The inclusion of captions and image descriptions, as well as the comments section, felt authentic to a public figure's online presence. The author didn't shy away from portraying the dark side of social media and publicity, with Jo facing death threats and offensive comments, highlighting the detrimental effect on her well-being. I admire the author's courage in addressing these issues.

Overall, I have nothing but praise for this book and the author.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Quercus Books, and the author, Shirlene Obuobi, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ooohhh this book made me gooey. At first, I was worried it would be a typical love triangle, which is never interesting to me. But it turned into so much more. While I wish we had relied a little less on the miscommunication for Ezra, I loved Mal's character and I loved Jo and her roommate, Dahlia. I loved that we had complex and human characters who were flawed but ultimately people that you just wanted to root for. I'll definitely be looking out for future novels.

This was such an amazing coming-of-age story intertwined with romance and the reality of modern social media and relationship pressures. The writing was beautiful with amazing story telling. I loved the divide between the first-person POV of Jo’s character and the third-person POV for Mal - it let you go into the two character’s heads but still leaving some distinction between the two.

Malcolm Waters? The way his character was written and presented to us (the readers) was an absolute perfection. His character presented a true representation of one's lack of self-belief and the anxiety that comes with coming forth to do something that we're not comfortable with.

Dr. Jo was an excellent character also… I think she truly represented the apprehensiveness of young women in the modern day when trusting someone or when it comes to love, or even careers. She truly represented a beautiful person with a hard history and the ability to self-reflect on her actions and doings.

The plot of the book was an amazing story that when it finished left me wanting more.

Really like this book really gave my a break from study i like the story the romance the characters the confident the main female have and just over all i really enjoyed this book and i want to thank to net gallery and avonbooks for the early access so ya overall i really like this book was really fun read for my 😊

Thank you to Netgalley and Quercus books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

After reading Obuobi's debut novel, On Rotation, I was super excited to read this one, and it didn't let me down! The book follows Jo, a medical resident turned influencer, Mal, a shy debut author, and Ezra, an actor and Jo's best friend for a decade, as well as her long-term unrequited crush. I was a bit hesitant at first because of the love triangle premise, but I enjoyed it despite that. Ezra was charming and lovable, but at other times arrogant and frustrating. Mal was an absolute sweetheart, and he was so genuine and outgoing in his love, however, it did feel a little bit insta-lovey in how fast his feelings developed. Jo was brilliant and funny and outwardly confident, but was also insecure and struggled to trust people. I really liked that the book, particularly through Jo, explored some deeper issues such as racism and depression and discussed some systemic issues within the medical field. My only criticism would be that I would have loved to have more scenes with Ezra. I thought his chemistry with Jo was amazing, and I wish their friendship could have been explored a bit further on the page.

Would definitely recommend if you're a fan of:

💕 STEMinist romance
💕 Found family
💕 Love triangles
💕 Author characters

BFAL is a dual perspective romance novel, that follows Josephine (Jo) a physician come influencer and Malcolm (Mal) a bestselling novelist as they have a chance meeting and become involved in each other's lives, with readers feeling an automatic connection to bother MC’s - I know I did!
This book follows a love triangle trope, but not the typical one I was expecting, and it was really refreshing, this wasn’t an all-round romantic notion book, as there are some heavy themes such as racism, suicide, depression and emotional abuse. I absolutely ship Jo and Mal, and watching their relationship develop throughout the book was wholesome, but also so realistic, they were figuring each other out together, and the focus on transparency with one another was great, their romantic scenes were full of angst and sweetness but don’t get fooled they were hot and spicy too!
This book has fantastic character development, I felt an instant connection to all three MC’s; Jo, Mal and Ezra, each character's personality shone through the page, and they all felt so realistic. Jo is such an independent, strong and resourceful woman who is aware of her own flaws and trauma, and is always unapologetically herself, I really like that she has a therapist, and that the author included this in the book, it felt very uplifting that the author highlighted just how characters mental health was important, and they were being looked after/supporting each other where necessary, the characters did not just “get better” for the ease of a plot or character arc. Mal is the cinnamon roll character of the story, he comes across as completely selfless and supportive, but also constantly being aware of consent and giving Jo the space she needs, whilst also ensuring that he communicates effectively with her. Then we have Ezra, towards the end of the novel I was really worried he was going to be the villain of the story especially as his privilege was showing in some of his actions, but his redemption arc was completely unexpected and heartbreaking, I completely sobbed at his and Jo’s exchange!
I love the changing format within the book too, with Jo’s email correspondence, and various Instagram posts, which shared captions as well as image descriptions, and the many comment sections on posts felt so realistic towards a public figure with Jo receiving various supportive/offensive comments from strangers who felt the need to comment. I really like that the author did not shy away from the dark side of social media and publicity, with the fact that Jo was receiving various death threats and offensive comments/emails, and the detrimental effect this had on her wellbeing, I really feel like it's not highlighted enough!
There is just so much praise I can sing for this book and the author, I absolutely love Shirlene’s work and she is an auto read author for me, every book I will be queueing to read. This was just another perfect novel, so if you haven't already; I recommend reading On Rotation and Between Friends and Lovers, you will not be disappointed!

Between Friends and Lovers, was a beautifully written romance. I really enjoyed Shirlene Obuobi's writing style, her characters and their development throughout the book really had me wanting them to find their happily ever afters. They were diverse, and interesting and all had their own complex stories.
The book dives straight in, and I think within the first few pages we met the main three characters, Dr Josephine Boateng, a doctor and influencer who is a little lost in her life, Malcolm Waters a very successful author, and Ezra Adelman - Jo's best friend and the man she's been in love with for many years!

The book dives straight into an array of characters within the first few pages which definitely encouraged me to pay attention so I could keep up with the introductions. The multiple perspectives per chapter are narrated by Josephine Boateng, a Doctor and influencer and Malcolm Waters, a very successful author, and Ezra Adelman, Jo's best friend, and the man she's been in love with for many years!
Cue the love triangle!
I love the honesty in this book, Mal is an absolute gentleman, he gives Jo the space she needs to work through her many ups and downs, he falls hard, and first, but he never expects her to be in the same place as him.
I won't give away too much more, but there are a few trigger warnings, check the website for further details, all of these heavier subjects were dealt with such grace.
A beautiful honest read, I can not wait to add more of Shirlene Obuobi's work to my to be read list!

A BIG thank you to Netgalley and Quercus Books for the ARC.

As someone that read Shirlene Obuobi's debut and loved it, I'm disappointed.

I couldn't really love the characters and be fully invested in their lives and relationships.

I liked Jo, although as a human being as well, I frowned at some of her actions.

Overall, this wasn't for me but I recommend it, nonetheless.