I can't stop smiling!!! I had tears, butterflies, all of it! The way these two characters cared for each other.....It was BEAUTIFUL!!

Cole and Laila have been best friends for their entire lives, growing up in a small town in Colorado. After the loss of his grandfather and some unexpected changes, Cole is considering taking a job in NYC. Laila loves their small town - but she can't imagine it without her best friend.

This one actually really surprised me! I know that Bethany Turner can write a good love story, but I was not expecting to read this in a day and fall in love with Cole and Laila! I didn't finish "Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other" and this is a companion, so those characters show up in this story quite a bit. That did not bother me at all!

I loved that this is following main characters in their late 30's, early 40's! I loved all of the pop culture and romcom movie references! I loved the inner dialog and overanalyzing/overthinking. I loved how Cole and Laila communicated with each other!!!!

This book is a perfect example of how clean romance can be so full of swoony moments!

My small, tiny, only sort of kind of critiques: There is...pain prescription impairment??...that I'm just not a fan of in comedy. Also, is it unrealistic that these two lived almost 40 years of their lives in an extremely close friendship and didn't know they were in love? Sure. But I don't care! Their friendship was over the top, like I can't imagine any other potential partner for either one of them would have been ok with that. But that's the point, right? I didn't need it to be realistic to thoroughly enjoy it!

If you love clean, pop-culture filled, friends to more romance.......go read this book!!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of the audiobook to honestly read and review.

This was a very cute, easy to read story. It was a clean, slow burn romance. The way it was written, you root for Cole and Laila to realize their feelings for each other. Then you root for them to finally tell each other.

There were a few times the miscommunication got a little old and frustrating. They kept misunderstanding what the other person was trying to say or not saying. I wanted them to just be honest with each other.

The different points of view really helped the story move along.

The narrators made the different voices clear as to who was talking. They were enjoyable to listen to.

Really enjoyed this one. It was not too heavy, although emotional situations did happen. The perfect happy ending, even if somewhat expected. Definitely a closed door romance but the way the author wrote the romantic scenes had me in my feels for sure. Highly recommend for a feel good, not too spicy romance.

This book was legitimately cute, and there’s no way around that. However, as someone who has been in a long-term friendship to romance situation, I have a really hard time believing it would take 40 years for two people to figure out that they are not just friends. My inability to buy the plotline took away from the story a bit, but I did enjoy the romantic comedy movie and television additions to the tale.

The narrator of the audiobook was good, but nothing that I feel the need to write home about. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced digital audio copy of this book.

Another great romcom by Bethany Turner! Fun characters, a lot of pop culture references, plus an adventure kept this story moving! I must say that I have decided friends to more isn't my favorite trope, so that part was hard for me.
I am kicking myself for not listening to Brynn and Sebastian like I planned last month! I think it really would have helped lessen the confusion of so many characters at the beginning of Cole and Laila. Narrators did a great job!

Thank you to NetGalley for this audiobook. Opinions expressed are my own.

The title of this book pretty much tells you what you need to know.....and then if you are a female and have watched any Hallmark movie can totally predict everything that happens. But like all females these are those comfortable books that don't push any boundaries, you are in the safe lane because you know there is always the conflict/misunderstanding at 80%, the realization of how much they want each other again at 90%, the reunite at 95% and the HEE.
I had fun wtih Cole and Laila in NYC as they took their relationship not just outside of their hometown but also outside of their usual "rhythm" . Part of me wished they had both taken steps outside of their comfort zone and relocating to NYC, but I guess that would not fit the Hallmark narrative. So I think this is why my rating is just middle of the road. There was nothing new in this book, nothing unexpected so I will probably forget it in a few weeks, but I had a happy good time reading it.
I had previously read the first book in this series about Sabastien and Brynn and I was reminded of how much I disliked both of them and not that book. They were pretty terrible in this book. I also had a hard time remembering that Cole and Laila were closer to 40, when in reality they acted like they were in their 20s. Do people in their late 30s still squeal? I don't think so.
But if you need something to pass time and entertain you for a bit, this should do it. But it won't stick with you. Basically its like a sticker you get at the dollar store. It's good while it last, but won't be with you long.

Thank you Bethany Turner and Thomas Nelson Press and Net Galley for allowing me to reviewed this advanced copy edition of Cole and Laila Are Just Friends. I was not influenced or paid in exchange for this honest review.

This small town, friends to lovers romance had some big city fun adventures. Cole and Laila have been best friends nearly their whole lives, but it takes the possibility of huge life changes to make them reassess whether "just friends" is what they really want. I loved the 90s pop culture references to movies and tv shows like You've Got Mail, Field of Dreams and Friends - very relatable for me. This sweet romance comes out today and you should add it to your summer TBR!

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ALC.

Cole and Laila had been best friends forever. They know each other inside and outside and can read theor minds. But a sudden change in Cole's life is threatening them to fo outside their comfort zone, face their real feelings and maybe take a chance as a real couple. But are they going to break their friendship or will they realise they are meant to be. The audiobook with Talon David and Andrew Eiden is magical

Cute friends to lovers romance.

I listened to this as an audiobook and I really liked that Cole and Laila each had their own narrator, because the chapters are told from their alternating points of view. The narrators brought the story to life in a fun way.

This book follows Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other, which in retrospect would have been helpful to have read to get the setup for the characters. Alas, I did not read that one, but I was not terribly lost as they are only side characters in this book.

Cole and Laila are in their 40s and have been best friends all of their lives. They have never been more than friends, but when everything in their lives is set to change, they begin to reconsider their feelings.

I did enjoy the later in life development into a relationship, but I just wondered why? I struggled a lot with the naiveté of the characters, particularly of Laila who at times made it seem like she was a clueless teenager rather than a full grown adult. I just didn't have buy in for their ages based on the way they were acting. In their late 20s maybe, but after so many years you would think they would be more siblings than all of a sudden noticing a spark.

Regardless, this is a cute story and if you enjoy pop culture references and fun banter, this book is filled with it. If you just go with the romance and don't think too hard about it, you'll enjoy the journey.

Happy Publication Day!

This book picks up after the events from the novel Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other. While I don’t think it’s essential to have read the first book before beginning the second, I’m always a fan of doing so because I enjoy having all the info!

This was certainly a sweet, enjoyable, clean romance. I did take one star off however because I felt the characters were a bit juvenilized. I believe a romance can be clean while also representing men and women in their late 30’s and early 40’s more accurately. One example was a character saying that their friend taking 3 ibuprofen was the equivalent of their friend being like Courtney Love at the Chateau Marment.

Once I acknowledged and moved beyond that however, it was all in all a cute story that I’m sure many will love!

This was a great listen, the narrators were perfect. Cole and Laila have been best friends and now are exploring everything in life from, their feelings to life. I loved that they were both in their late 30’s. Trying to figure out life and what they want was kind of the perfect thing to do in NYC with all the pop culture references and inside jokes. Their fake blind date was so good!

I adore the friends to lovers trope - it is my favorite so I knew I wanted to read this book. I thought overall the story was cute and I enjoyed it. However, for these two people to be best friends for almost 40 years it seemed unrealistic that they never discussed anything romantically and when they finally did due to a sexy dream Cole had, it was "instalove". The whole appeal of friends to lovers is that they slowly realize that they are falling for each other and we did not get that - it was, "hey let's kiss" to "I cannot live without you." I wanted more longing, more passion, more "will they, won't they." Also, for these characters to be almost 40, they were a little immature and directionless in all aspects of life. There were also a LOT of pop culture references in this book which were cute but can get dated very quickly. Overall, I did enjoy this book and I am grateful for to Netgalley for the ARC.

Seriously, why have I not read more of Bethany Turner’s books?! I had a fabulous time with Cole and Laila and I’m sure that my bibliophile enjoyment was enhanced by the wonderful performances of narrators Talon David and Andrew Eiden. I highly recommend the audio edition of ‘Cole and Laila are Just Friends’. The narrators’ voices matched the characters perfectly and conveyed all the energy and angst to sweet perfection!

So — one of my favourite tropes is friends to more and this one was sooo good! I loved the relationship between these two besties. So tender and caring and loyal and they are so comfortable together. Thirty years is a long time to be ‘just’ friends though and I’ll admit to starting the read thinking these two must be pretty dense not to have figured things out earlier. But now, I honestly can’t imagine their love story unfolding in any other way. It’s perfect for them! And I loved every second.

A great blend of humour and drama — but the drama isn’t over the top. More deeply rooted and poignant, maybe? If that makes any sense. I love that Cole and Laila talk things out — not always right away, but they get there eventually. And the love and respect they have for each other is always at the forefront, even when they’re fighting. And honestly, they can’t sustain any kind of anger for long because….sigh, they are each thinking about how the other feels. Swoony sigh.

This book follows ‘ Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other’ though I don’t see it marked as a series. There are some carry overs from the first book — but I think this book reads fine without having read the other. I didn’t and I never felt lost. The books share a core friend group in a small Colorado town and I immediately got that vibe without feeling like I was missing out because I hadn’t read Brynn and Sebastian’s story.

Loved the jaunt to New York City and the drastic change that kickstarted a transformation in Cole and Laila’s relationship. Tons of classic rom/com scenes kept me giggling. Also, a lot of pop culture references relating to television and movies, which is so not my thing, however, I may not have gotten the specifics but I got the context which was just as fun, so it worked for me. 🙂

Of Note: This is one of Thomas Nelson’s general market selections (wish they’d create a catchy name for this non-inspirational line!) so no faith thread but definitely a clean romance.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

Thank you to Netgallery for this ARC.

This was such a sweet and wholesome audiobook. This is a stand-alone romance however I think you would benefit from reading the other books in this series beforehand. I hadn't read anything before from this author so didn't know all the background history for these characters.

The story follows two lifelong friends from a small time town. Cole and Laila are nearly 40 and have been best friend and work together since they were small children.

Cole grandad passes and family secrets are revealed which causes Cole to question his life , and make him consider moving to New York. With all these big changes and revelations , Cole begins to view his friendship with Laila in a new light.

This was a very sweet slow-burn romance with a HEA.

🔸Two best friends in their late 30s start to discover that they like each other as more than just friends.

✨Thoughts✨
I love a good friends-to-lovers story. Unfortunately, this one was missing the romance factor. The characters had very little chemistry. I believe the first and third-person POVs were absolutely distracting and made it difficult to connect with the main characters.

🎧I picked the audiobook because of Andrew Aiden. He never disappoints with his performances. The dual narration was excellent. I have zero complaints about that.

🔸Overall, this story might not have been my cup of tea, but if you are looking for more of an NYC best friend’s adventure, then do give this story a try.

Thank you to HarperCollins Publishing for this ALC.

I have a bad habit of wanting to give Bethany Turner’s books 10 stars all the time, but this one absolutely earns it! Laila and Cole’s history, effortless flow, and off the charts chemistry makes this a friends-to-more you will ADORE! I’ve come to love little Adelaide Springs, and the pillars of the town’s hierarchy—and it’s always fun getting the skinny on all of the drama in the group of 5 friends (which will happen, I promise). But Cole and Laila have been in a comfortable place their whole lives, and just one day wake up to discover that the world has suddenly shifted on its axis. Their raw emotions, their tenderness, the gentleness they care for and support each other is so beautiful it nearly made me cry (even though the book itself is flat out hilarious). I’ve always heard the saying that Love is just friendship set on fire, and CoLai exemplifies that so spectacularly. Grab it. Grab the book now. Grab the audio book too because it’s wonderful. Now please excuse me while I slip back into Adelaide Spriings again just for funsies. I received an advanced copy of this book/audiobook from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

Wow! Cole and Laila being friends for forty years isn’t reason to be friend forever…or is it?!?

Follow Laila and Cole as they navigate their friendship and decide is taking a chance on their relationship is worth their 40 year friendship. Love all of the New York City romance hints throughout the entire book make me want to take that trip to New York to see everything from the book!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

I loved the characters of Cole and Laila when I read the first book in this series. I loved their best friend dynamic, and I enjoyed the fun of their small town life. In this book, Cole and Laila are still working together at his family's restaurant. After Cole's grandfather passes away, he starts to question if he is meant to stay in their town or move on to something else. Laila wants to stay, but she also wants to be wherever Cole is. They have been best friends for almost 40 years, and now, they are on the verge of being separated for the first time in their lives.

I struggled to get through this book because Laila's chapters were in 1st person POV and Cole's were in 3rd person. It was jarring to go back and forth. It was even more evident in the audiobook. Both narrators did a great job with the material. It was hard for me to stay interested in listening to the book though.

Thank you HarperCollins Christian Publishing | Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for this advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Cole and Laila have been just friends for decades. During a trip to New York they begin to explore their relationship during a rom com nostalgia filled “first date.” This is a sweet friends to lovers romance filled with fun banter and nostalgia.

Just finished "Cole and Laila Are Just Friends" and it was so cute!
Imagine best friends forever taking a trip to New York City together. Except there's a secret crush brewing! This book is perfect for you if you love friends-to-lovers with a slow burn. Plus, the audiobook narrators are amazing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Christian Publishing for the ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.