I freaking loved all the characters in this book. I think what makes this one extra special is that all the side characters are BIG characters. The found family vibes are on point here. Put that up against the backdrop of Lake Tahoe in the winter time, and it’s just such an endearing story. Jill’s writing is so fantastic and funny. I felt all the emotions - frustrated, sad, happy, worried etc., This is a ray of light to get us thru the “ber” months after the holidays.

I've been enjoying every book I've read in the Sunrise Cove series; this one is no exception. From the first page when we meet Olive while she is talking to Katie on the phone I knew I was going to love both of them. Then we go on to meet Olive's grandma and the rest of Katie's family minus her husband who is in a coma after a car accident that also injured Noah Katie's brother, and the person Olive has had feelings for... well forever.
Olive is in town to help Katie with her son and support her while her husband is in the hospital. I loved Katie's son Joey, he was adorable, and while I loved seeing Olive with him, whenever Noah was on the page with the little boy my heart just melted.

I loved the way Jill Shalvis writes the relationships between the characters. The friendship between Katie and Olive i so sweet and real, and her second-chance kind of enemy in we try not to be in the same room as each other, and please don't mention her name to me kind of way. However, we soon learn Noah and Olive just have too many feelings for each other and have no idea what to do with them, mostly from what transpired between them in the past. I also really enjoyed the snippets we got from the past, it really helped me see how far both Olive and Noah have come.
I loved their banter, and thought their chemistry was off the charts! This is the kind of feel-good story that I need in my life, and I can't wait to see whose book we're going to get next!

I'm really loving this series and look forward to not only reading the next book but also diving into Jill Shalvis's backlist.

This is part of a series which I have not read the previous ones but was able to pick it up and take off. That being said I think reading the whole series would provide the details to enhance this book as well. Olive and Noah have known each other since childhood. Olive Noah's sister Katie's best friend came to live with the family when her parents free life hippies allowed her to have a more normal life. The story unravels past hurts, true feelings and forgiveness. Now as adults will they be able to find each other and define the feelings they have had for each since they could remember. The story has funny points and others that make the reader appreciate the writing with an ahhh. Great writing and keeps the engagement of the reader. This story definitely has a lot to offer with the underlying themes and other things going on but I would definitely recommend. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity.

I enjoy reading Jill Shalvis. While this book is a part of series you can read it by itself. I enjoyed the second chance romance. I enjoyed the family. The nephew, Joey was adorable. Olive and Noah had to come to terms with the past to move forward.

This was another classic Jill book. I have read several of her books across multiple series and they have all been delightful. This was no different, exactly what I expected (in a good way). Relatable characters who have flaws but are still very likable. The ending was predictable, but exactly what I wanted. Overall this was a comfy read when you don’t want to think too hard. I would recommend it and I will continue to pick up Jill’s books in the future.

This is a delightful, slow-building romance. Olive and Noah have had several moments in the lifetime where an attraction to each other seemed to be there, but neither of them have kept in touch over the years. When a family emergency brings them both back to town, they can’t seem to resist the magnetic pull of love. This was a fun, and sometimes spicy, read!

This was a sweet, enemies to lovers, small town romance. I found the premise of the book engaging and the storytelling was captivating. I did think the banter and dialogue was cheesy at times, making me not enjoy parts of the story. Otherwise, this is an easy book to read with a cup of tea and a cozy blanket.

Love Jull Shalvis and this is a return to the Sunset Cove series. A charming book with some fun characters and adorable pets. A complex story of reunited friends to lovers story.

Better than Friends by Jill Shalvis was my first experience reading this author’s work and I will gladly be reading more of her books in the future. The blurb sounded interesting, but it doesn’t begin to encompass all that happens in this read. Olive and Noah and Katie and Joe are all well-developed characters, but it’s the secrets and mis-communications between these characters and the secondary characters in this book that makes for a very interesting second-chance, charming small town romance. I was very fond of Katie – I can’t imagine living with a photographic memory and I would guess that it would make life quite complicated at times. I really enjoyed her character, but I became invested in all the characters immediately. Ms. Shalvis’s storytelling is pleasurable and gratifying and flows easily. I have to mention little Joey (what a pistol!) and the two fur babies in this read were adorable! All in all, a fun, flirtatious contemporary romance with some thought-provoking moments that make it a bit more than just a romance. I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book through NetGalley.

This is the first book I've read in the Sunrise Cove series and also the first book I've read by Jill Shalvis. Given this, I was worried about being confused at the start of the book, but the author did a good job laying the foundation and it didn't feel like I was jumping into a started series. The author's writing is also easy and enjoyable to read.

Unfortunately, this was a miss for me. I had a hard time staying interested and didn't think there was enough plot or purpose. The main relationship was frustrating at times and the FMC and MMC just needed to sit down and have a candid discussion.

That being sad, there was nothing "bad" about this book. There were very sweet aspects and some really nice characters. If you like second chance, small town romances and characters finding their place, I think it's worth giving this one a try.

A sweet second chance romance story. I want to start this by saying I loved Katie. She is quirky, funny and blunt. I really enjoyed her even as just a side character. Olive's story was one filled with loneliness and self-isolation from those she cared about. Her parents though letting her choose the life she wanted growing up was supportive but actually left her feeling ignored. Then she met Noah and Katie. The siblings helped her see that she could create the family she needed and feel safe within their friendship. Until an accident with Noah, the boy she'd fallen for, forces her to move away.

Then Katie asks for her help with her son after her husband is injured and in a coma. Olive returns to help and so does Noah. They both have to come together to help Katie and her son. The tension is hot there. Eventually secrets start to be revealed that push everything to the forefront and Olive has to choose whether to stay or go back to the home she built. This book had me deep in my feelings. I wanted Olive and Noah to face the past and overcome everything keeping them apart so much. Loved it.

Not good at all. This series is past it's prime and Shalvis' humor is no longer funny. I thought the plot was trite and basically felt like all her other books rolled into one.

Love this love story/ mystery ! It was a great spin on a love story that can otherwise be tedious to read. The author did a great job on moving through the story and avoiding details that would normally bore people.


Tropes:
Second Chance
Comeback story
enemies to lovers
small-town
forced-proximity

I have been a fan of Jill Shalvis for years and have never come across a book of hers that I did not love. Better Than Friends though, has to be one of my top 5 all time favorites. Jill Shalvis has a wonderful way of making the words float on the page into a mesmerizing story that captivates the reader. I could not put this book down and finished it within a days time. I felt like I was right there with Olive, Noah and the rest of the characters in the story.

In this second-chance romance, Olive and Noah are once again thrown into each other lives. What had first started as young teenage love that was ripped apart by a tragic accident, is given a second chance when yet another tragic accident occurs but instead of ripping them apart, it only brings them closer together. Now, if they only both have the courage to embrace their feelings, they could live their dreams out together instead of being separated once again.

This is a definite must read! Do not pass this one up. Especially if you are a fan of Jill Shalvis. Absolutely loved this book.

Jill is an auto read author for me so I was so excited to get an ARC of this new release. I have followed this series since the beginning and have absolutely adored it!

I really fell in love with this one which focuses on two teens who endure a tragic accident that keeps them apart. Several years later one of them is back in town and the banter heats up! This novel was so good and hooked me from the beginning! It is beautifully written, and the characters are so relatable!

I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a Hallmark like romance series! I love the HEAs of this series!

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for the ARC opportunity!

Better than friends
Perfect little mountain romance that will hit you in the feels from the get go. 🏔️

Olive is returning home because her best friend’s husband was in a terrible accident and is now in a coma. They have a little boy (who makes the most hilarious remarks) and Olive ends up having to move in with them AND her friend’s brother, Turner.

The conversations were that sort of embarrassing/funny banter.

You could tell from the beginning that Olive and Turner had chemistry and I loved all the little flashbacks here and there of their time growing up. You got to see who they were and who they became. 💞

I wished it had been in 1st person. This is a preference, I know. But I believe I would have felt more like I was apart of the story rather than viewing it from the outside.

Great small town romance!

I absolutely love a good second chance romance and this book certainly delivered that. Series of tragic mishaps leads these then-teens astray from each other, only to eventually be brought back together. The exact book I needed right now- lively and warm with snarky characters and a good plot. Highly recommend!!

First off I would like to thank @author and @netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ebook!

I would have to say that this was an easy 4 ⭐️ review and I completely DEVOURED this book in practically one sitting. Well… more like in 14 hours, but still 😂

I loved the banter between Noah and Olive and the entire back story that they had. The quirky and entirely memorable family that also happened to belong to her best friend Katie but Noah of course had to go and be her twin, and the man who got away. Or she more so pushed.

In this adorable forced proximity and rekindle of an old flame, I love how this book turned out and I love how all the characters really had a moment to shine in this book as well.

If you get the same chance to read this book I wouldn’t just recommend but highly encourage 🖤😊

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

The very first thing that caught mine attention was the cover of the book Better Than Friends by Jill Shavis. It made me ready to open it and start reading. This is book 7 of the Sunrise Cove series. Each book can be read as a stand-alone.
The characters and story line were so good. The characters all fit together so well with the romance being just right. I am a fan of second chance romance books, and this was done so well.
Jill Shavis knows how to write a romance book that will leave her readers happy and content.
Thank you NetGalley, Jill Shavis and Avon and Harper Voyager for the copy of Better Than Friends. This is my personal review.

I was super disappointed by the writing in this book. It's elementary and disjointed. The dialogue isn't natural and the characters are cliched. In fact, many of the jokes were things I'd seen in memes and tweets. Not what I'd expect from an experienced author.

I recommend an editor hold this author to higher standards of originality and quality. This could be a cute story with the right writer.

I will talk about the book on @stressiereads in the coming weeks. I will neither criticize or recommend.

I did write a critical review on Goodreads.

Thank you for the review copy.