Olive Porter left Sunrise Cove at 18, after she ran over Noah Turner with an ATV. 14 years later, she returns to her hometown to support and help her best friend Katie, who is also Noah's twin sister, while Katie's husband, Joe, is in a coma. Katie tells Olive and Noah that they'll be living under the same roof until Joe recovers. Will the truth finally come out about why Olive left town 14 years ago?

This book was fine, but it really lacked depth for me and couldn't connect with the characters. I was not a fan of the third person dual POV. I have not read any of the other books in the Sunset Cove series and didn't feel lost at all while reading this one. I liked the representation of Katie's neurodivergence and the significance of parental relationships.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for providing me with this ARC.

Im soo surprised by how much I enjoyed this! This story is about Olive and Noah, their past and the things that happened that drove them apart and back into each others lives again.
Not only are we getting to know both mcs so well but all of the side characters too. Katie, Joe, Joey, Olives grandma, their parents added so much depth to this story. Also cannot forget about holmes and pepper, they were adorable!! Getting a glimpse into their past was amazing as well. We get to know all of them on such a deep level which made me feel for them so much! I was on the edge of my seat waiting for good news with them, hurting when they hurt. They way all of these characters were connected and the love they feel for each other was so wholesome! I adored this so much. Definitely reread potential. Thanks so so much to netgalley and the publisher that i got to read this arc!

This is my least favorite of the series so far. I didn't feel any connection between the main characters. It got annoying that they got caught kissing by a child three times. They both seemed immature. It also wasn't very romantic and leaned too heavily towards women's fiction for my taste

Jill Shalvis heroes are my very favorite heroes! They are hard on the edges and soft in the middle. Noah is all that plus sexy and good looking. Her books just grab me and never let go! Noah and Olive were two of my favorite characters of all time (and I’ve read all her books!) This book was well written with humor and so much heart!
Olive comes home to help her childhood friend, Katie, because her husband is in a coma. Katie’s brother, Noah, who happens to have a history with Olive, works with the husband in a coma. I loved so many things about this book. The family connection and strong female friendship was amazing. The storyline had lots of wonderful conflict to keep me interested in reading. The characters were developed with strong character ARCs. Second chance for these two worthy characters. This is a great read. Huge thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this amazing book!

First of all I thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of this book. Jill Shalvis is one of my favorite storytellers. I have read all of her Sunrise Cove series, and this story fits right in with the others she has written. It's a wonderful mix of love lost and then found, friendships, family secrets and forgiveness, with a just enough heat to spice things up a little. If you enjoy a feel good ending then you will enjoy this book.

A cute, cozy love story. A fun easy read for winter. The main character, Olive’s parents go missing she asks her ex, Noah to help her friend them.

Reading Jill Shalvis is like coming home after a long day. Her stories provide comfort, humor and above all entertain the reader.
Better Than Friends is no exception. Olive and Noah are a delight. Add in some memorable family members, a second chance at love, and you have a hit.
The pace and drama were just right. I laughed, cried, and felt fully satisfied at the conclusion.

A tragic accident causes two teens in love to stay away from each other for many years. Another tragic accident forces them back into each other’s lives many years later. This is a very cute second chance romance with strong family and friend relationships too.💜

I think this is one of my favs by this author. I love second chance romances personally and I really enjoyed the story of why they parted and why they found their way back.

There’s also a one bed situation. Although this book is really more PG-13 type-ish because most of the sexual scenes are more hinted than described in detail. I honestly wish there was a little more spice to it personally.

Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Heartwarming… Jill Shalvis brings her signature humor and expertise in writing about second chances, healing, and coming home again to the story. This book will appeal to readers who enjoy family drama, friendships, and second chances.

Better Than Friends is #7 in the Sunrise Cove series. I was immediately drawn into Olive and Noah’s story. Olive returns home to help her childhood best friend Katie. When her parents go missing, she needs to rely on Noah to help her find them. Olive and Noah both have regrets regarding their shared past and don’t expect to run into each other. Can they let go of past hurts to help Noah’s sister Katie and locate Olive’s parents?

I loved Olive’s friendship with Katie. The characters were relatable and the sarcasm, heartbreak, and chemistry made for a really great read. I haven’t read a Jill Shalvis story I didn’t love.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon for providing me this Arc in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Jill for another fabulous story.

Better than Friends by Jill Shalvis is a delightful and heartwarming blend of romance, tension, and humor that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story brings together Olive and Noah, former lovers with a complicated past, who are forced into close quarters in the small town of Sunrise Cove. Shalvis does a fantastic job of creating chemistry between them, balancing their unresolved issues with undeniable attraction. Olive’s family drama and Noah’s stubbornness add depth to their characters, making their journey feel real and relatable.

The small-town setting adds charm, and the mix of family, friendship, and love makes for an engaging read. I particularly loved Noah’s well-meaning, meddling family, who add humor and warmth. If you enjoy second-chance romance with a dash of enemies-to-lovers tension, you’ll enjoy this one. The only reason it’s not five stars for me is that parts felt a bit predictable, but overall, it’s a wonderful escape. Shalvis fans won’t be disappointed!

Another winner by Ms Shalvis! Her characters are multi layered and likable, though some can drive you crazy. Take Noah, for example. His desire to live his life like he wants versus his obligations to his deceased father and the rest of his family. And then there’s Olive, who never feels like she belongs and is constantly reminded of her past actions. Both Noah and Olive deny their long history even with being thrown together due to some unforeseen circumstances. Will they get over their fears and learn to have the life that they want?

This was just okay for me. A good escape during a difficult time that make me grin and laugh but I wanted a little more depth from these characters. I‘ll keep reading Shalvis, just prefer a little less formula.

Better Than Friends is a sweet, heartwarming romance with relatable characters. This story is well-written, entertaining, and hits all the marks when it comes to tropes. Better Than Friends is exactly the kind of romance that fans of Jill Shavis will eat up and in the end, will leave you with a smile on your face.

If you're looking for an enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, second-chance romance, you won't want to miss Better Than Friends!

This is a sweet, slow simmer love story about Katie and Noah who have loved each other their whole lives but never had the nerve to admit it. The characters were fun, with lots of quirks that kept the storyline interesting. The plot was predictable but fun.. I did not give it 5 starts because at times it felt repetitive and a bit drawn out. But, while the middle did slow down. overall it was an enjoyable read.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis is a solid, 3-star second-chance romance set in the charming, drama-filled world of Sunrise Cove. It has all the classic Shalvis elements—small-town charm, a bit of forced proximity, and characters with a messy romantic history. But while it’s an enjoyable read, it didn’t completely wow me.

The story centers around Olive, whose parents have gone missing, and she’s desperate enough to turn to her ex, Noah. Noah’s been lying low after an injury forced him off the job, so Olive showing up with her family drama is exactly the distraction he needs—if only his heart wasn’t still bruised from their last go-round. The setup is strong, with the perfect mix of unresolved tension and that familiar enemies-to-lovers vibe, but the chemistry between Olive and Noah felt a little hit-or-miss at times.

One of the best parts of the book is the small-town backdrop and all the lovable, nosy side characters that Shalvis does so well. Noah’s family is particularly fun, constantly meddling in ways that give the story heart and humor. I also enjoyed seeing Olive and Noah tackle their lingering feelings while dealing with the investigation, though some of the back-and-forth drama felt a bit predictable.

Overall, Better Than Friends is a good pick if you’re looking for a breezy, feel-good romance with a second-chance twist and some classic small-town vibes. It’s not the most unforgettable in the genre, but if you’re a fan of Shalvis’s style, it’ll give you the warm-and-fuzzy escape you’re looking for!

*** I received an advance copy of Better Than Friends. This has not impacted my honest review in any way***

First let me say Better Than Friends is book 7 in the Sunrise Cove series but they can all be read as stand-alone. I’ve read them all and haven’t been disappointed yet.

I just love Jill Shalvis and the way she brings us to her small towns and makes us want to live there(same with Wildstone if you haven’t read that series). She writes the most wonderful small town romances.

I absolutely adored Olive and Noah! But seriously, all the characters in the book are great. I wish the book kept going on. And I didn’t want it to end.

A little bit of family drama(on both sides)
Enemies to lovers
Best Friends brother

Just an all around feel good romance. Can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out!

Fans of Jill Shalvis are sure to be happy with this latest addition to the Sunset Cove series. This book was painful at times (only in reference to what the characters were going through), but a lot of fun overall. Two sets of high school sweethearts (one out in the open and one whose feelings for each other were mostly kept a secret by both) stay friends for the most part, and come back together when an accident lands one of them in the hospital and they need all hands on deck.
I really enjoyed the friendship between Olive and Katie. Joey was a super well written. I don't usually enjoy supporting child characters in books, but I really liked this kid. and the tension between Noah and Olive was palpable. Grams was also great, and Amy was alright, but I didn't care for her as much as I enjoyed the other characters in this friends to lovers, friends to enemies, enemies to lovers story.
This is a very fun, at times light-hearted, and at times heavy read.

Thank you to Jill Shalvis, Avon, Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

By far, my favorite Jill Shalvis book. I absolutely ATE UP this book. Noah and Oli are my absolute favorite sunrise cover couple.

I cannot begin to say how much I loved this found family for Oli. Joey was absolutely adorable. Gram was my favorite little spitfire.

I feel like I have Katie, and I have mixed feelings on that. So much of my own issues felt seen in her character.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Harper for this ARC.

I really enjoyed reading Better Than Friends! I loved all the friendships and the small town of Sunrise Cove. The progression of Olive and Noah’s relationship was great and it didn’t seem forced or unrealistic. The friendship between Katie and Olive was the best. They were there for each other through all of life’s ups and downs and I loved it. I don’t think there was really anything I didn’t like about this book. I didn’t realize it was part of a stand alone series and now I want to go back and read all the other books in the Sunrise Cove series.

A huge thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All opinions expressed above are my own.

Jill Shalvis never disappoints. Her books grab you right away into the characters and their lives. Olive comes back to town to help her bff, Katie. Joe, her husband was in an accident along with her brother, Noah. Katie is clearly on the spectrum and has a hard time dealing with all the drama and emotions. It's a great story about friendship and families. Olive's family was unconventional. When her parents go missing, Noah offers to help her locate them. The story is funny, dramatic, and a bit more.