I love a good best friends to lovers trope and this one hit the ball out of the park. I thought it was a meaningful story and it felt relatable in a way that I could imagine the book in my head and that helps me connect with a book. I can see this being popular at my library, so I will definitely recommend it for circulation!

Cole and Laila have been best friends just about forever. They tell each other all their secrets and know each other's most embarrassing moments. They ALWAYS have each other's backs and they are always there for each other. This is just the way it's been. Never more than the best of friends. Until they aren't. Until Laila has dreamt of Cole wanting more and Cole has dreamt of having more but they're best friends so they both just keep their mouths shut and continue on with life the way it always has been.

After the loss of his grandfather Cole decides to make some big life changes that include moving away. Laila is devastated. How can she support her best friend in a decision that will take him away from her? She decides she must because that's what best friends do.

I really enjoyed this best friends to lovers story. I know some people have complained that they must have known and how they are nearly 40 and never considered being in a relationship. I don't know, I felt their story was genuine. Plus with the added bits of information found while reading the story it really does make sense.

I highly recommend this if BFF to lovers is your jam.

Oh my goodness! I loved this adorable story! Cole and Laila have this amazing connection and as I began listening to this novel, I wondered how things would change for them. And I simply loved the way the author handled their relationship both as friends and then as something potentially more. I am not kidding when I say that the moments where they begin to move into a possible romantic relationship are so wonderfully swoony and sweet all at the same time, because these two mean so much to each other already.

The story is packed with such fun moments around New York City. The sites they visited from famous romcom movies makes me want to go on my own tour doing the same thing. And even though there are so many fun and silly moments that Cole and Laila share, there are many deep and heartfelt moments, too.

This book comes after Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other and I definitely think that this story is even better having read the other book first, however, it is easily enjoyed as a stand alone, too. I listened to the audio book version and the dual narrators did a fabulous job with the voices.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I love this story so much. The development between the 2 main character as to best friend to lovers. They realized they can't live without each other and everything they went through. I did enjoy the pop culture reference through out the story esp their little adventure in NYC it just felt relatable.

Cole and Laila are Just Friends by Bethany Turner is the sweetest friends-to-lovers rom-com ever!
Cole and Laila have been best friends their whole lives in a small Colorado town. After Cole's grandfather dies and sells the diner Cole loves out from under him; Cole is left trying to start over at thirty-nine. He has an opportunity to start a new job at a restaurant in the big city but there is one problem he'd have to leave Laila behind.
Laila is an adorkable waitress who has worked beside Cole in his diner. She likes her small-town life, cats, and her best friend Cole.
Right from the bat these two had couple vibes and were touchy-feely in a way that platonic friends are not in real life. No one in their lives believes it either. the story mentions a lot of rom-com favorites like You've Got Mail and When Harry Met Sally. Their trip to New York is adorable and nostalgic. This book would appeal to other millennials as they discussed all the shows and movies I grew up with.
I laughed so hard in parts it had me in tears.
This book had dual POVs and the narrators did a fantastic job relaying the character's emotions.
Thank you to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson, and Zondervan Fiction Audio for this audiobook. This review was written Voluntarily and all opinions expressed are my own.

This was my first Bethany Turner book. I really enjoyed the characters in this book, and I became invested in the story after learning about the characters. This book was a happy, feel-good story and was a great light-hearted read.

Loved this book so much I requested it on audio, and I loved the narrator too! This series will have you smiling all the way through (this is the second in the series). I can’t wait to read what comes next from Bethany Turner!

Cole and Laila are just friends is a s sweet story of best friends facing betrayals and the challenges of life together. They’re inseparable, but when Cole is offered an opportunity that will mean he has to move to New York what will Laila do? Her home is in Adelaide Sprongs, She decodes to spend a week with Cole in New York and they slowly realize what’s important and that sometimes the person you’ve been looking for has been there all along. Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

Cole and Laila are Just Friends is the third Bethany Turner book I've read/listened to. She writes well, and her characters are likeable. And obviously, there is a huge market out there for "sweet" and/or "clean" romances. My problem with this volume was just how incredulous the premise was. Two best friends have spent their ENTIRE lives in close proximity. They're both physically attractive heterosexuals. The set-up would make perfect sense to me if Cole and Laila were in their late teens or possibly early twenties. But they are thirty-nine and forty!!! Come on!! Due to a complicated plot twist involving characters from Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other (no need to have read this book to catch up in this one) and family contortions, Cole and Laila temporarily relocate from their postcard perfect hometown in the Colorado Rockies to Manhattan. Ms. Turner has fun with an abundance of popular culture references (making me want to tour NYC with her as my tour guide), but the idea that the different backdrop, along with one night having to share a bed (even though they've supposedly slept near each other multiple times in the past), suddenly makes them aware of each other's allure was just too ridiculous for me. Holy Cow, Batman! (Because of course, these two don't use strong language, either.) So my review is mixed. I like Ms. Turner's writing, I enjoy much of her setting, pacing, and banter, and her examination of complicated family relationships is beautifully embedded into the story. But I finished feeling like I'd spent a day eating only cotton candy, even though parts of the fair ground had serious exhibits. Rounding up reluctantly to four stars.

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.

This is a book about lifelong friends who in just about four decades never realized they loved each other.

Their friendship is well-developed and the side characters are entertaining. The banter is great and the restaurant plot is interesting and well done.

I think my biggest criticism, and the reason that this one didn’t hit for me, is that these characters are nearly 40… and they read as confused 20-something’s. I wish there was a bit more maturity somewhere in here, something that showed me that these characters were forty without telling me. Previous serious relationships, or previous marriages? Stronger careers? I just couldn’t get it out of my head that they were as old as they were.

I also got a bit frustrated by the fact that EVERYONE around them knew how they felt, and they didn’t. In forty years, they’d honestly never had that discussion? No one ever asked them? This is all part of the age disconnect for me. It’s one thing for twenty-something’s to have this revelation with friends. It’s awkward when it’s mature adults with friends who’ve known them forever and the topic of their feelings for each other have never been discussed.

The love revelation also comes out of nowhere. I’d have liked more tension, more small moments that built to those big ones.

Overall, I liked it, I just wish a few things were different that may have put it over the top for me.

The New York Fan Girl sight seeing that happens in this book is so fun. Plus the MCs are so sweet and love each other so much from beginning to end. I love when characters love each other well, so I loved this book for that dynamic; but I did struggle with the suspension of disbelief about the just friends for 40 years dynamic. The fact that the MCs were so surprised and thrown by the romantic feelings that are just coming up after almost 40 years of best friendship was hard for me to believe. If this were set during their 20s it would be much more believable. In my early 40s myself, I just can't see this being true of the lifelong relationship that Cole and Leila have. But also tip to everyone out there; listen to the audiobook, I will listen to Andrew Eiden read his grocery list!!

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.

This title itself tells you the trope of this book. Friends to lovers, more like best friends to lovers. and This has always been my favourite trope because the main characters know each other so well that they know the reasons behind the other person's words and actions.
The only thing that makes or breaks these books is communication, because mostly one of them has been in love with the other person forever but doesnt share it in the fear of losing their best friend in this particular trope, and then there's miscommunication which is not my favorite part honestly.
But the author handled that part so well, I loved, LOVED how well they would communicate with each other because they have been friends since childhood. The way Leila handled Cole's reactions and behaviour because she knew he was going through something and didn't react like a teenager made this book much more realistic, believable and a lot more sweet.
Their small town was quaint and charming, and the stark difference between that and New York was portrayed beautifully. I loved their time in NYC especially the day of Leila's birthday, it was nothing less than magical.
This book gave me that warm, fuzzy feeling which I'm looking for in every romcom , so I would highly recommend this book to everyone.
Rating:4.5

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.

Cole and Laila are Just Friends by Bethany Turner
Audiobook on Net Galley
Narrated by Talon David and Andrew Eiden
Overall: 4
Narrators: 4
Spice: 2
A fun love letter to NYC set rom coms.

Laila loves her small-town Colorado life and the several jobs she pieces together to thrive there. She especially loves that her best friend Cole has also stayed in the town and runs a popular bar restaurant. When Cole’s grandfather dies, the contents of his will throw Cole for a loop and causes him to question his life decisions. Is he ready for a change to big city life? Laila joins Cole for a trip to New York City to help him explore building a life there. Will the change in scenery help them to finally explore the nature of their decade’s old friendship?

The references to move rom coms are plentiful and add a lot of fun to this book. Several locations for movies set in New York City are included and I’ll be visiting several of the places they mentioned next time I’m in NYC. The banter is terrific and full of current references which I enjoyed. The side characters in their small town are delightful. I would recommend this book to romance fans as it had lots of tropes including friends to lovers, one bed, and small town and NYC life. I was initially thrilled to find main characters which were approaching 40, but had a hard time believing that they’d been friends their ENTIRE lives and they had NEVER considered being together? The book doesn’t reference other relationships that they’ve had. I’m all for later in life romances, but I’ve considered dating nearly everyone I’ve ever met. Maybe that’s just me.

I'm sorry to say I didn't enjoy this book and am kind of sorry I forced myself to finish it. It might not have bothered me so much if I weren't listening to it on audio, but the story moves way too slowly for me and I didn't care for the narrators (esp. the man). I did speed up the narration to 1.25 and it was a little better but still annoying. Perhaps the friends to lovers format just isn't for me, but it was not believable to me that people in their late 30s who were this touchy-feely with each other wouldn't have already hooked up by that point in life. I've had close male friends for decades, too, but would never snuggle with them. If this doesn't bother you and you like very chaste romances, maybe it will work better for you. Personally, I'd give this author another chance, but wouldn't force myself to finish if it didn't work for me again.

A few too many pop culture references and friends to lovers is not my favorite. Agree with the other readers that this dragged at times. Nonetheless, it was still a cute story!!

I was excited to read this and while I don’t regret doing so, I did find it a little meh. I assumed there would be lots of mutual pining ant these two didn’t even realize they were interested the other until very far into the story. Just kind of bland.