4 stars ⭐️ This was a sweet, easy to read book and I really enjoyed it!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Olive has always done things the hard way and now she has to return to the home that was her sanctuary until it wasn’t because a dear friend needs her.
Noah has a reputation for being unapproachable but Olive has always known the path to his heart.
Shalvis’ writing is quirky and endearing as are her characters.
I liked Olive’s tenacity but not her propensity to run. Noah was a hunk but he couldn’t find his voice to elucidate his feelings. Katie was cute but sometimes obnoxious. I did love the roach campaign idea, very original.
As usual, Holmes and Pepper were the ultimate stars of the book and I enjoyed their antics more than the the human characters.

I want to give this book review all the heart eye emojis possible! I have loved the Sunrise Cove series since the beginning, but this one, this one quickly became my favorite.

Second chance romance just may be my favorite trope and Olive and Noah remind me of why I love second-chance so much.

Years after running away from Sunrise Cove, Noah and her best friend, Katie (who happens to be Noah's sister), Olive is returning. Katie needs help with her five-year old son after her husband is injured. Soon, Olive finds herself in very close proximity to Noah and their past, which she has immense guilt over, looms over them. As they all band together to help Katie and her husband, Olive and Noah find themselves reconnecting in a way that neither had thought possible. Can old wounds heal to make way for a fresh start?

Once I picked this book up, I could not put it down. This is the perfect book to cuddle up with on a cold winters day.

This was such a sweet read. I absolutely would have devoured this in one day if it hadn't been for my horrible cold. I can't wait to start the series from the beginning. I absolutely adore Joe and katie, Joey makes me crack up. Gram is the apple of my eye and Noah's and Olive are everything.

ARC Review — this was my first book by Jill Shalvis & I thought it was a good story!

Olive & Noah have a complicated past. A past that comes back to the surface after decades of being apart when Noah and best friend Joe are in an accident that brings Olive back to Sunrise Cove to help support Joes wife & her best friend, Katie.

The tension between Olive & Noah was there from the start. They clearly have messy feelings and emotions for one another but are both too stubborn to admit it.

Meanwhile, the rest of the family can clearly see the spark between them. I enjoyed reading about how Olive and Noah navigate their situation & watch it turn into a second chance romance.

I rated this one 3 stars because I really had a hard time with the chemistry between Olive & Noah.. I just didn’t feel it. It was very wishy washy in my opinion. The dual POV revealed that both characters had moments of not being interested in one another, and then being completely in love with the other. It seemed too inconsistent. Overall tho, I don’t feel like they had much chemistry.. which made this a slower read for me.

Thank you so much NetGalley for giving me this book in exchange for my honest review.

I love a good Rom-Com. It was funny, easy to read, and just a great romance book with all the feels. It is a Lovers to Enemies to Lovers and a slow burn.😍😍🤩
Spice Level 🌶🌶.

This was such an enticing read for me. The storyline hooked me in right away and the characters development was 10/10.

Cute read

I didn’t read the others in the series but this one can definitely be read as a stand alone book. Olive and Noah take dated back in high school and are reunited when they come back together to help his sister and her best friends when her husband is injured. The book is a quick read. I enjoyed it. You obviously know what’s going to happen. But overall, an easy read.

Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Publication Date: January 21, 2025

Better Than Friends is a wonderful, heartwarming read that highlights the significance of family, friendships, and healing.

A tragic accident keeps Olive and Noah apart for many years. Now, Olive is a successful owner of a public relations company and is living in London. She comes back to her hometown and stays with her friend Katie in order to help her during a difficult time. Katie married Noah's best friend Joe, who is in a coma from an accident at work as a park ranger with Noah. When life brings Olive and Noah back together, all of the past emotions and unresolved feelings arise.

Overall, this book excellently portrays the way in which Olive and Noah reconnect while navigating their past and rebuilding their relationship. I especially loved the emphasis on supportive relationships. The author does such an amazing job at balancing humor and charm with some deeper topics throughout. I definitely recommend adding Better Than Friends to your TBR!

Tropes:
- enemies-to-lovers
- second-chance romance
- small-town romance
- forced-proximity

This book was exactly what I needed. Shalvis delivers another charming small-town romance with characters that leap off the page. The banter between the leads was top-notch – witty, flirty, and full of delicious tension. 🔥 The story had a great balance of sweet moments and steamy scenes, making it a perfect escape. If you're a fan of contemporary romance with a touch of humor and a whole lot of heart, definitely add this to your TBR!

Pros:

Great chemistry between the main characters
Charming small-town setting
Funny and heartwarming
Cons:

A little predictable (but in a comforting way!)
Rating: 4/5 stars

4.5 Stars!

I was in a book slump and I truly needed to read a story with the perfect combination of plot, character development and sexy times. I found that perfection with Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis.

It's been forever and a day since Olive Porter spent a significant amount of time in her hometown of Sunrise Cove. Living in London, Olive has her own PR firm, which enables her to work from anywhere.

Olive as well as her best friend Katie, were considered misfits in high school. As a result, they bonded instantly and became fast friends. Now Katie needs Olive's help with the care of her young, hilariously funny son. She is needed because Katie's husband, as well as her twin brother Noah, were in a horrific work accident. Katie's husband is in a coma and Noah is home, helping out, rehabbing and feeling guilty.

Olive and Noah share an intriguing history. They fell in love way back when, but due to miscommunication, guilt and stubbornness, have never worked through their emotional issues. Their chemistry is off the charts and they can't seem to stop kissing. Overtime, they realize how important they are to each other and find their happiness.

I really enjoyed Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis. The witty dialogue, the fast-paced storyline, and the amazing primary characters, are perfectly combined to create this well-written read. This is the seventh book in the Sunrise Cove series and it can be enjoyed as a standalone.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

This has all the humor and well developed characters of a Jill Shalvis novel. It also has a lovable dog named Holmes. You know a writer has affection for dogs and humor when she can talk about an old pup that "had gas that could wipe out the entire ecosystem". That is just a sample of the real life humor you can find in this book.

I love Noah and Olive as characters but Katie is the one that had me laughing out loud the most followed by her son Joey. Sitting around the table with this family is like stepping into your parents' kitchen as an adult. It is genuine and hysterical all at the same time.

I love the way Jill Shalvis brings out emotion from the characters and endears you to each one. You can't help but love them and the way that these characters love each other. Even the dog and cat love each other.

I highly recommend this book and anything by Jill Shalvis. She is a very talented writer and I can't believe it took me this long to find her and all her wonderful stories. Pick up this book and share a piece of home with these characters.

Better Than Friends is a heartwarming second-chance romance that delves into deep family bonds, friendships, and healing after a tragic accident keeps two teens apart for many years. When life brings them back together, the simmering emotions and unresolved feelings resurface. The book beautifully portrays the reconnection of Olive and Noah, as they navigate their past and rebuild their relationship.

What makes this story stand out is the strong, supportive relationships, including Olive's friendship with Noah's sister and their shared history. The narrative is full of humor, snark, and cozy charm, set against the stunning Tahoe backdrop. While the romance remains mostly PG-13 with more hinted than detailed intimate moments, the chemistry and emotional depth are undeniable. This book is perfect for fans of second-chance love, family dynamics, and feel-good stories with heartfelt moments and humor.

Olive and Noah are perfect together. Their journey was one that a lotnof people take and can relate to. Can't wait for the next book.

I have heard alot about this other but this was my first - it says #7 in the series but definitely is also stand alone i got yhr story, it's a second chance love affair book that stems from a tragic accident tearing apart young love and the two being tiied together by friends and proximity the two are reunited by another accident and are given a second chance will it work will it last I couldn't help but root for the MC's - book is also fairly straight laced no spice and will definitely check out her other books thanks net galley for a copy!

Better Than Friends

One of my very favorite romance tropes is second chance, and Jill Shalvis always delivers. I certainly feel the angst and regret that the characters are struggling with. I also enjoyed the suspense she added in with Olive trying to find the whereabouts of her parents.

I will say that despite how much I like Ms. Shalvis's books, this probably isn't my favorite nor one that I will rave about like the ones from the Heartbreaker Bay series.

Overall good read.

Thank you for the advance copy to enjoy!

Another heartwarming story from Ms. Shalvis! Love this second chance at love. Olive and Noah are back to help Katie while her husband is in a coma. They “fake dated in high school”will they date for real as adults? Can they both put the past behind them?

"Better than Friends" by Jill Shalvis is the 7th book in her Sunrise Cove series. This book can be read as a standalone. This book is a sweet romance novel that has you falling in love with the characters and rooting for them.
Olive is back in town to help her friend that is going through a hard time. Noah is also back into town to help his sister, who is Olive's friend. Olive and Noah have history and they are the last person the other wants to see. They are thrown together to help Katie as she deals with her life. As they spend more time together the old feelings come back.
This is a great feel good story. Highly Recommend

Thanks NetGalley for the advanced copy of better Than Friends to read and give my honest review. I absolutely love second chance romances and Noah and Olive are no exception. They both try very hard to deny their love for each other But in the end Love Always Wins. This story will definitely give you hope. It’s a great story.

This was a good story. The second half of the book was so good, I couldn't put it down. Olive had a different upbringing than most and she was best friends with Katie, whose brother was Noah. Olive and Noah were very attracted to each other but would tell the other one. Olive accidentally hurt Noah and suddenly left town while he was still in the hospital. They did see each other since, but kept their distance (mostly). When Katie's husband get hurt and is in a coma, Olive finally came home to help Katie with her little boy and provide support. She and Noah were in each other's orbit constantly and it was fun to see how they reacted every time. They sure took the long way around to admit their feelings, but the end was very worth it.

I got this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review