Another great story in the Sunrise Cove series. All set in the same town, but completely stand-alone with no connections that I’ve noticed.

This one is about Noah and Olive as they reconnect after years apart. Several storylines going on at once including a bit of a mystery about Olive’s parents. Best friend’s brother and found family tropes. Love Olive’s best friend, Katie, and the animals in the book as well.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for Better Than Friends to come out January 21, 2025.

3.5 stars rounded up.

I have read and enjoyed all of the Sunrise Cove series by Jill Shalvis and this one was another good addition. Though this is irrelevant because I *have* read them all, I like that each book is truly a standalone and can be read independently in any order without feeling like you’re missing something. It allows people to pick and choose which book feels like it would fit their personal tastes because they each offer something different, but all with the signature voice of Jill Shalvis.

I really liked Olive in this book. I admired that she had a challenging upbringing and difficult moments in her past that she found her own way of moving beyond. She wasn’t perfect, and she had her regrets about some of her choices, but it always felt like she was making decisions for the truest self she could allow herself to be in any given moment. I also loved her friendship with Katie, who was a wonderful character in her own right. They shared such a genuine connection and camaraderie between the two of them.

Noah on the other hand frustrated me more often than not. I’m not heartless so I did feel for him in the face of the accident that landed his best friend in a coma and the responsibility he felt for it. However, when it came to nearly every choice he made with regard to Olive, I often felt disappointed in him. I understood that he struggled with emotions, but to me he felt careless with her feelings. There were times when he showed his true affections that were endearing to me but were almost always immediately followed by actions or words that had me shaking my head at him again. All’s well that ends well, but there was a lot of hurt along the way that probably could have been avoided.

While not my favorite of the Sunrise Cove books, I did enjoy the overall story here. I have an ARC of the next installment waiting for me and look forward to diving into that one soon. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jill Shavis is a favorite author for me. She writes great romcoms with depth and low spice. This was a cute wrong time romance that made me want to sit the characters down and knock some sense in them. I was immersed in the story and couldn’t put it down.

In Sunrise Cove #7 : Better Than Friends: A Novel by Jill Shalvis we meet Olive and Noah. Olive broke Noah’s heart once and he won’t let it happen again. But she needs his help and he is currently recuperating back at home and can’t seen to avoid her. But old wounds run deep, but just maybe the reason things happened the way they did need to come out.

Great secondary characters, everyone needs a friend like Katie - I mean she did invent the Goodwill store best first date.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book, and this is my honest voluntary review.

Reading a Jill Shalvis book is like sitting down with a close girlfriend you haven’t seen in years and she catches you up on who is seeing whom. Shalvis never disappoints!

Better than Friends can easily be a stand alone, though it is the seventh book in a series. I haven’t read the other books in the series (yet) and I enjoyed this one a lot. The characters are believable and the plot has enough depth to keep you invested and reading.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC and reminding me that I always enjoy whatever Jill Shalvis writes.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Noah and Olive are hot, hot, hot and the rekindling of their relationship is heartwarming, hilarious and tear jerking. The twist and turns from their endearing extended family make this story even more rich. Enjoyable from beginning to end!

This was such a fun, wintery story. I hadn't read this author before personally. Her ability to carry a story was truly top-notch. From a writing standpoint, the story felt fleshed out and cohesive, and the FMC was very relatable. Loved this. Job well done.

4.25/5.0

Es la historia de dos personas que han sido lastimadas, que viven bajo la presión de cómo y quiénes deberían ser, y que, debido a ello, se han cerrado y no permiten que nadie se acerque.

Olive vivió muchas carencias durante su infancia y juventud debido a la irresponsabilidad de sus padres, lo que la convirtió en blanco de las burlas de sus compañeros. Estaba sola hasta que conoció a los hermanos Turner, Kate se convirtió en su mejor amiga y Noah la tomó bajo su cuidado por ser amiga de su hermana.

Olive y Noah comenzaron a desarrollar sentimientos el uno por el otro, hasta que ciertas circunstancias los separaron. Ella huyó sin explicarle por qué se iba.

Pasaron los años, y cada uno siguió su vida, encontrando éxito en su camino. Olive mantenía el contacto con Kate, y cuando el esposo de esta resulta herido y termina en coma, Olive decide regresar al país para ayudarla. Ese será el momento en que deberá enfrentarse a Noah y, tal vez, contarle la verdad sobre su partida.




Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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.