Oh this story was such a fun listen. The narration by Talon David and Andrew Eiden gave the story such a full effect it was wonderful. Author Bethany Turner’s creation of a love story in the middle of a messy will created a happy ending I was so hoping for. This was fun and romantic and all the angst of will they or won’t they? As much of a great as this would be it was even better in my opinion as a listen! Well done!

This contains an audiobook review.

This is a book connected to a previous story by Bethany Turner, Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other. I don't see where the two are linked on most platforms. While this is a standalone story, those characters do show up in this book quite a bit. It can definitely be read without having read the other book, but you may enjoy this one more if you have read them together.

Cole and Laila, as the title implies, are friends. Best friends. The first part of the book focuses on events that take place in their hometown. The writing itself is good, but I found that part of the story to be rather slow moving. This is definitely a slow burn romance, but this part was almost torturous slow to me. The action seems to pick up for the last half of the book, and I ended up enjoying that part quite well.

I listened to the audiobook thanks to Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Fiction Audio and Netgalley. The book has both a male and female narrator. I thought they both did a very good job with the characters and reading of the story. I had no trouble following along even at a slightly increased listening speed and was never annoyed by their voices.

I just finished Cole and Laila are just Friends by Bethany Turner audiobook Narrated by Talon David; Andrew Eiden and here are my musings.


Cole and Laila have the kind of friendship that spans decades. They can be themselves around each other and need stability in their lives. Everything changes when Cole’s grandfather dies and leaves the family restaurant that Cole has built from the ground up, to some corporation that already owns it.

Cole cannot believe what has happened and cannot bring himself to now stay in the town he once loved. Laila on the other hand cannot bring herself to leave. When Cole is given the opportunity to interview for a top restaurant in New York, laila wants to support him and offers to go too.

They make one rule, Laila won't beg him to stay and Cole won’t try and convince her to move and they give themselves one week to enjoy the time they have left together before it all changes. Problem is that things are starting to change for both of them and trying to tell each other could break apart their once rock solid friendship.

I am going to admit that I have never read a christian romance. I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. I thought the narrators did a really great job of portraying their budding romance too.

It was really cute. The characters were really well developed and that includes all the side characters too. I loved the friendships and connections that all the people in the friend group had.

The plot was a lot of fun. I love that Cole got to break away from the monotony of the life he had stuffed himself into and the devastation of what his grandfather did gave him the shake up he needed to really step out of his comfort zone and with it, view Laila as something more than just his best friend. It put his whole life under a microscope and it was very well written.

I am not a massive fan of friends to lovers as a trope but I think this one actually worked because they never really had anyone else in their lives that could have been a lover for either of them so it was a pretty natural progression.

I actually thought the ending was the best part. Seeing what actually happened was a really great twist! I highly recommend this book!

4 stars

Thank you to @netgalley and @harpercollins for my gifted copy

Cole and Laila Are Just Friends, A Love Story, by Bethany Turner, is a standalone book but with close ties to her previous book Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other. Set in both small town Adelaide Springs, CO, and NYC, this is the story of what happens when elderly Bill Kimball passes away seemingly disinheriting his step grandson Cole, who has cared for the old man and run their bar/restaurant since Bill had gotten too old to do so. In this period of time, Cole has made multiple upgrades at his own expense, has expanded the kitchen and increased the dining room, and given the old business a new lease on life.When the will is read after Bill’s funeral, Cole learns that while he inherited the house and all within it, the business has been sold to a holding company and Cole is out.

Best friend since childhood Laila Olivet has worked at Cole’s side for years. In fact, the pair are as close as two humans can possibly be. Now that Cole seems to be on the outside looking in, he decides to sell the house, sell his investment into the restaurant, and take up a New York socialite chef’s offer to come to New York to work for her in her new restaurant when he met her as he catered friends Brynn and Sebastian’s wedding in Adelaide Springs.

No longer having a job with the closing of the restaurant and no prospects for another, when Cole asks Laila to join him and their friends Brynn and Sebastian on their return to New York to investigate the job situation she decides to go. However, investigating a job isn’t the only set of discoveries made.

This is a very well written story with endearing characters and an interesting plot line. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

I loved this one enough that I listened to the audiobook AFTER reading the book originally. To add on to my general book review (which I will add below), I really thought the narration of this book elevated the story. Talon and Andrew did a fantastic job.

Book review:
This book had me hooked from the blurb and didn't lose me until well after I finished. I absolutely adore Cole and Laila. When Harry Met Sally and Gilmore Girls are two of my favorite pieces of media, and the comparison was spot on. Additionally, Cole being a chef does a lot for my deep love of food romance, even if it wasn't the main point of the plot. Lifelong friends to lovers isn't always my go to, as the transition can feel pretty awkward sometimes. Bethany did a great job with the build of chemistry and their relationship. I did also read Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other, so I loved seeing them pop in. And finally, Bethany's affinity for pop culture really speaks to me. I really liked this!

I enjoyed Cole and Laila Are Just Friends. I listened to the book and the narrators were fantastic. It was fun to travel with the characters from Colorado to New York as they explored their growing feelings for each other. (This book was a friends to more trope.) I felt as if I was on the trip with them enjoying the sights and sounds of New York. The author did a great job of describing the settings. This was a cute story. I did feel the ages of the characters were a bit off, but it didn’t keep me from enjoying the book. So, if you are looking for a romance with witty quips, pop culture references and sweet and clean romance, I think you'd like this book.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher, and this is my honest opinion.

I wanted to like this so much more than I did. Was just hard to believe it's taken them this long and so codependent on each other threw me off.

Cole and Laila's friendship is top tier. They're the best of friends. They know every little thing about each other... except that they've been in love with each other since the beginning of time. Cole faces a difficult task of having to choose between a new venture for himself or staying in town with Laila. As they take on New York City together, they realize that the feelings they have for each other will be put on the back burner if Cole decides to stay in New York.

This book is on my friends to lovers A list! I love Cole and Laila's banter and their relationship shines through every chapter's POV. The narration was perfect and helped the story move along quickly. I'd recommend this audiobook!

So I’ll be honest: I was not convinced this book would work for me. Friends to lovers is a popular trope and can work if done correctly, but from best friends of decades to lovers – that is a huge leap, and I was just not convinced this book could do it justice.

I was a bit surprised at how much I was actually rooting for Cole and Laila. Their chemistry was just off the charts, and it was so endearing to read how much they actually love each other as humans. Their love is a deep love, and you could actually feel that.

I also appreciated that especially Laila highlighted how weird their dynamic would become if either of them had a significant other. This is something that is often swept under the rug, as if relationship dynamics are always amicable and without jealousy – even if they had not developed romantic feelings for each other, that would have been a minefield to navigate.

Cole and Laila both acted “youngish”. I am a bit younger than their characters, so I couldn’t tell if this would be an accurate depiction of someone “their age”. I felt like they were both emotionally mature, but easy going at the same time, so it felt natural to me.

I listened to the audiobook and especially like the male narrator, the female narrator was nice too though. I would recommend listening to the audio production.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Christian Publishing for gifting me this ALC of the audiobook to review.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this book in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book had a slightly slow start for me. However, because of the slow beginning it really set the tone for the dynamic between Cole and Laila which helped with the character development that occurred throughout the book. By the end I really enjoyed Cole and Laila’s unique connection and loved the subtle wit that Bethany Turner interwove. It’s a fun NY exploration setting, with the small town sense of place as well which is nice to get both extremes in one read.

What a beautiful, sweet, and fun rom-com style love story! Cole and Laila have been friends for basically their entire lives…which is almost 40 years! Their relationship is laid out from the start as a one of a kind special bond that not everyone finds in their lives- even with a best friend. They find themselves dealing with some major life changes and figuring out how that will impact their relationship. In the midst of those events, something a switch seems to have been flipped and they need to learn if they can/should explore themselves in a different light.

Admittedly, I’m not usually a fan of friends to lovers, it’s just not my usual trope of choice, but this was a joy to listen to. It was a very slow burn and at times I just wanted to shake them both due to some basic miscommunication, but ultimately their relationship made me smile and I found myself grinning more often than not. This story is told in dual POV and the audiobook is fantastic! It is read by Talon David and Andrew Eiden. One drawback I had upon initially listening was that Laila’s chapters are told in first person, and Cole’s are in third person. I’m not sure I entirely understand whether there was a purpose to that choice or not, and I eventually got over it, but it was a little off putting in the beginning.

I adored all the millennial pop culture references sprinkled heavily throughout this story. I might be partial to that since the characters are close to my age, but so found it relatable and it kept me engaged! I liked that their friends are famous, but still remain close with them, and the banter was cute. Oh, and be prepared for the slow burn!

In case you’re wondering this is a clean romance, and its sweetness delivers.

Thank you NetGalley, author Bethany Turner, and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for providing me this ARC. It was a pleasure to listen and share my thoughts!

This was a cute, light best friends to lovers book. Cole and Laila have been best friends for as long as they can remember. They grew up in a very small town in Colorado together. When Cole’s grandfather dies and didn’t leave him the family restaurant, Cole decides to try out NYC for a couple weeks. Laila joins him on his trip and they realize that they may be more than just friends when they face the possibility of not living near one another anymore.

I think this would’ve been a cuter story had the characters not been 39. It seemed a little unrealistic that they’ve been best friends almost 40 years and neither seemed to have much dating background and yet they never thought, hey, I actually like this person more than friends. They also seemed incredibly immature for their age.

There were SO many pop culture references which was fun to start with but then it just got to be too much. It was cool how often they talked about Gilmore Girls and the characters had brunch with Milo Ventimiglia.

Overall, if you like best friends to lovers, this would be a fun quick read.

The male narrator was great in this book too!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook.

📚 Cole and Laila are Just Friends by Bethany Turner
🎧 Format: Audiobook
📕 Genre: Romance
📖 Read: June 2024
✨ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

”What if, just for one day, we pretend we don't have a lifetime of history and shared memories?”

‧₊˚✧ Tropes ✧˚₊‧
ꕥ Friends to Lovers
ꕥ Slow Burn
ꕥ Forced Proximity
ꕥ One Bed
ꕥ Fake Date (the most fun fake first date ever)
ꕥ Witty Banter
ꕥ Dual POV
ꕥ Closed Door

I am a huge fan of the friends to lovers trope so I was excited to listen to this one.

This was such a genuine, heartwarming story. It was so much fun to read. Cole and Laila were both enjoyable characters. Talon David and Andrew Eiden really brought the characters to life through their narration.

This book takes place mostly in New York. I had originally thought it took place in a small town but I ended up really enjoying their time in the city. I’m usually not a huge fan of books with a lot of pop culture references, but I didn’t mind this one. The date Cole planned for Laila’s birthday was everything!! It made me want to visit New York one day.

Overall, super cute, delightful story.

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Thomas Nelson and Bethany Turner for this audiobook. This is my voluntary, honest review.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, and Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing me with an advance listener copy of this heartwarming and delightful book!

"Cole and Laila are Just Friends" by Bethany Turner is an absolute gem. This charming novel captures the essence of a lifelong friendship teetering on the edge of something more. Their banter made me feel all the same emotions of my first watch through of Gilmore GIrls.

Turner's writing is both witty and heartfelt, drawing you into the cozy world of Adelaide Springs, Colorado, and the bustling excitement of New York City. As Cole grapples with a family betrayal and contemplates a move to New York, Laila's support and secret hopes for his stay reveal the depth of her feelings.

Their one-week adventure in New York is filled with laugh-out-loud moments, tender realizations, and the perfect blend of humor and romance. The story beautifully explores the complexities of evolving relationships and the unspoken emotions that can change everything.

"Cole and Laila are Just Friends" is an incredibly endearing read, perfect for anyone who believes in the magic of best friends discovering they're meant to be more. Bethany Turner has crafted a delightful, feel-good story that will leave you smiling long after the last page.

I would delightfully recommend this novel or audiobook to anyone that needs a light hearted romance or just simply needs a happy ending.

Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free e-audio version of this title in exchange for my review.

This was a cute, light hearted rom-com story.
Friends to lovers, clean, light and fun.

Cole and Laila have a life long friendship and seem to be perfectly happy with being just friends. I find that believable, It is a little less believable that they don't consider a relationship before age 30. It seems like at times when they were dating people and in relationships, jealousy would have popped up.

But, maybe not. This a younger generation than mine, so maybe it isn't as unusual.

Overall, I enjoyed the story. The setting was described enough, and the character description was well done. I enjoyed getting to know the characters.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 "really liked it"

Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes. Cole and Leila have a fun and easy relationship, bantering comfortably over everything and are very supportive of each other, maybe more supportive than they are to themselves. They’re sweet and funny and are pretty like able. I love the the plot of the two of them in New York and this book was well read, my preference was to Leila’s narrator though I didn’t dislike Cole’s.

What didn’t work for me: the age. These two are 39. I can empathize with Leila’s nod towards aging (a back injury, plucking the coarse stringy grays that start popping through) but the maturity level of this group felt much more like they were at least a decade younger. There’s no way they had gone this long being best friends without testing the relationship option. And the fact they’re comfortable testing out a job move and taking time off without worrying about health insurance or rent money as they work in a bar?


Also while I enjoyed the banter and I’ve seen every single one of the romantic comedies and sitcoms they reference - there was a bit too much of it. I get it, the Friends apartment complex is cool, but do we really need to see the street name multiple times and keep hunting for ugly naked guy’s apartment? I get it, that’s Leila’s thing and she and Cole have their quirky personalities. Just maybe a notch or two down please.

Overall, a cute and clean romance with feel-good vibes. This was an early copy given in exchange for my honest opinion- thank you, NetGalley.

Cole and Layla have been friends for most of their lives. When the restaurant Cole owns and Layla works at is sold, their upheaval takes them to New York. Layla tags along with the intent to return to Colorado. This pair of friends begins to ponder life without each other and take a chance on “what if” their relationship should be more than friendship.

This story is told in dual POV that works very well. The unique points of view and humor carries through and is enjoyable. Cole and Layla are in their late 30’s- which is great, but I feel like their personalities and maturity is actually 25ish years old max.

This seems slow at the beginning to me as the author introduces the relationships and characters. Cole and Layla are in a situationship and halfway in love from the beginning- the way their relationship functions and the support they provide each other is that of a couple that isn’t having sex. So it wasn’t a great leap for that relationship to change and it wasn’t very defining for the characters either.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review. A simple and fun love story of friends to lovers. The story may have been unique but the book as a whole is one that probably won’t make a lasting impression on me.

Cole and Laila are Just Friends by Bethany Turner is such a fun read! This book is for you if you enjoy the friends to more trope, great banter, humor, fun movie and TV references, and likable characters! I really enjoyed everything about this story.

I loved both Cole and Laila! Cole is the “always there for you,” “completely comfortable with” best friend. Laila is fun and spunky and I just loved everything about her. Their contrasting personalities made me love their relationship whether they were just friends or more. They were so compatible. Their first date was so fun and one of my favorite moments in the book! The humor was spot on. I also loved catching up with Brynn and Sebastian who were the main characters in Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other. If you haven’t read their story, while these are easily read as standalone’s, I recommend reading it first because you get to know the town and its residents.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrators were perfect for the characters! They added so much personality and fun to this story! I highly recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. This is a clean read. 4 stars.

Okay so this book annoyed me. How can you get to your late 30s early 40s and not realise you’re in love with your best friend? Like surely all your ‘best friends’ would have intervened and told you years earlier.

I kind of kept reading because I love New York.