Better Than Friends is certainly an intriguing second chance romance.
Main characters, Olive and Noah, were fun to get to know. Lots of drama between the two of them had me annoyed a few times.
Small town
Enemies to lovers
Second chance
Forced proximity
Slow build romance
Family drama
Overall, a entertaining read that did keep me engaged.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Olive returns to Sunrise Cove after being away for many years. She is dedicated to running her business in London and plans to return to London as soon as possible. Noah is recovering from an injury he sustained in a car accident. He believes that he will never settle down with anyone. They have a difficult past but now they have to work together to help Noah’s sister as she waits for her husband to recover from the same accident that injured Noah. What will it take for them to realize that the lies they tell themselves are keeping them from happiness?
The activity that starts this story is a car accident that causes Katie’s husband, Joe, to end up in a coma. Katie is Olive’s best friend and Noah’s twin sister. Katie needs help with her son, Joey, while her husband is in the hospital. I like that Olive worries that people in town can’t forget that she ran over town hero, Noah, right before she left for college. The author introduces that right at the beginning and then slowly rolls out more and more information until finally Olive reveals all of the details to Noah. I like that Olive has chosen to open her own PR company in London even though her natural tendency is to be a bit of a “wallflower”. Returning home after being gone for so many years helps her to realize that she wants things she never realized she wanted, for example, being close to her family. She is starting to think she might need to reevaluate her path. Her feelings for Noah never went away and now they are just getting stronger.
Noah grew up knowing his father wanted him to play baseball but after he and Olive were in the accident, he realized he’d never play again. This sets off a series of events in Noah’s life that leave him feeling disconnected from his family. What he knows for sure is that he has no interest in working for the family business. He is now with the Investigative Services Branch of the National Park Service. His job requires him to be out of town for long periods of time so he uses that as an excuse to keep his family at arm’s length. He has always wanted Olive and he never understood why she kept pushing him away. Her actions hurt him and made him cautious. There is a “bad” guy in this story. The author gives the bad guy a good reason for the actions they took. It’s actually kind of sad because of all damage done.
Sunrise Cove is a small town with all the standard nosy and judgmental people. This is a story about two people who have convinced themselves of lies and it’s going to take a lot of faith to realize that they can be happy together. This story is about family both the family you are born with and the family you make. Both of the characters are adults with demanding careers and family ties. I enjoyed this book and will definitely read more from this author in the future.

Better Than Friends is a Sunrise Cove novel by Jill Shalvis, one of a completely standalone grouping of stories connected by location rather than characters. Olive Porter has returned to Sunrise Cove to help her best friend Katie Turner-Brooks as her husband Joe is in the hospital following a terrible accident that left him in a coma. Olive is there to help with young Joey and to see her grandmother Adele, who virtually raised her and just happens to live next door to Katie.

What Olive did not plan was to once again be in the company of Noah Turner, who once was the apple of her eye until what happened senior year. But Noah, Joe’s partner in the National Park Service investigative unit, was also injured in the accident and is on medical leave and staying with his sister Katie.

As Olive’s time in Sunset Cove is coming to a close, she is very concerned that she has been unable to reach her off-the-grid bohemian parents. Even though they are in a world of their own they have always been good about regularly checking in. When Olive’s efforts to locate them are met with even more questions, Noah offers to help Olive, opening doors to healing and understanding.

This is another well plotted Sunset Cove story. With well drawn characters in a lovely setting, this second chance tale is a pleasure. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

I requested this book for the cover and the description. I’ve never read Jill Shalvis before so I did not realize this part of a series. I didn’t feel like I was missing anything by not having read any of the others.

The story was interesting, but more steamy parts and angst than I prefer.

I love second chance romance and this one was no exception. Jill Shalvis wrote an amazing story reuniting Olive and Noah in the Sunrise Cove series. Not only was their storyline amazing but I loved the secondary characters like Katie and her son, Joey. You will not want to miss this great story by Jill Shalvis!

This is the first book I have read by this author. It won’t be my last. I liked her writing and character development. Readers who like romance books with family, friendship, love, and suspense will enjoy this book.

This story is a second chance at romance for the two main characters, Olive and Noah. It does take a while for Olive and Noah to stop hiding from each other, share secrets from the past, and admit their love for one another.

I loved the found family aspect of this story. The author created several quirky characters who I loved. There is a dog and cat friendship that is the cutest. You will love Joey, the little boy who has no filter. I like the special friendship Olive had with Katie, Noah's twin sister.

“Secretly, she loved the fact that there was a side of him that was for her only, not shared with any of the outside world. It chased away her loneliness.”

This was a book, it was boring most of the time. This friendship was just not for me. Like overall the book was boring and I was done halfway.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a cute story!! It was my first time reading something by the author and I was pleasantly surprised with the mystery elements. This was a book where the side characters kept things interesting and made up some of my favorite scenes. The varying personalities of each character made the story feel unique and fresh - the National Parks tie-in was a cool addition too!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for an advanced copy of this book!

This is my first read from Jill Shalvis and it didn’t disappoint! The perfect cozy winter read - with characters you can’t help but fall in love with.

Tropes: 
Slow burn
Second chance
Enemies to lovers
Small town
Forced proximity

Can’t wait to read more from this author! Thank you so much netgalley for this arc.

This read took my feelings on a ride it has elements of humor, tragedy, sparks of romance, and so much more. Noah and Olive have a history that ended not so great leaving them both broken in some way and now that they are back in Sunrise Cove helping Noah’s sister the tension runs high between them even when they both try so hard to ignore it. Noah is very back and forth with Olive because of their past and at times this could be frustrating, but I understood some of where he was coming from since Olive took off and left after things without ever looking back. They both have heartaches that still are controlling them even after all these years, but when Olive needs help Noah is there to try and see if he can do something for her. This story was interesting and we do get to see some of what happened in the past although I wanted to see more, but the banter, romance, and suspense made for an enjoyable read.

n Better Than Friends, Shalvis returns her readers to the small town of Sunrise Cove. This time around, she delves into the themes of second chances, forced proximity, and the transition from friends to enemies to lovers. As expected from Shalvis's work, the novel also explores the themes of family and friendships.

I enjoyed all the books in the Sunrise Cove series and looked forward to reading Better Than Friends. It certainly did not disappoint. Each book in the series is a standalone, with no connections between the characters, allowing readers to jump in at any point in the series.

Better Than Friends introduces Olive Porter and Noah Turner. They first met at the age of fourteen when Olive moved to Sunrise Cove to live with her grandmother. She became best friends with his twin sister Katie, and by extension, he became her protector. Circumstances led to her departure after graduation without saying goodbye. After many years away from Sunrise Cove, Olive returns home to assist her best friend Katie, whose husband is in a coma. She had no reservations about returning to help her friend, even if it meant facing the only man she ever loved.

Better Than Friends proved to be a difficult book to put down. It is captivating and heartwarming. Shalvis provides glimpses into the past, giving readers insight into the reasons Olive left Sunrise Cove without saying goodbye. It is clear that Olive never forgave herself for the incident she believes altered the trajectory of Noah's life. Noah himself harbored guilt related to a recent event as well as incidents from his past.

Anyone who encountered Olive and Noah could clearly see the intense attraction between them. Now that they were back in each other's presence, they realized that their feelings for each other had never died and were stronger than ever. However, guilt and fears would lead them to struggle against their emotions. I appreciated how their love for each other endured distance and time. These two were undoubtedly meant for each other.

The secondary characters contributed their unique flavor to the story. The emphasis on friendship and family introduced an additional dimension to the story, resulting in engaging, heartwarming, and entertaining moments.

I had a wonderful time reading Better than Friends. I would not only recommend it to long-time fans of the author but also to readers seeking a heartwarming story with a small-town flavor

Olive and Noah's story is a beautiful exploration of love, friendship, and family. It begins with Olive befriending Katie, Noah's twin sister. As Katie's fierce protector growing up, Noah wasn’t prepared for how deeply Olive would care for his sister—or the complicated emotions she stirred in him.

After graduation and an unfortunate accident, life takes them on separate paths. Olive moves to New York City and later to London, while Noah escapes to Yosemite, distancing himself from his family and memories of Olive. Yet, whenever they return home, an undeniable pull draws them back to each other, like magnets struggling against a powerful force.

Their love story is reignited after another accident and some meddling by family members. Old feelings resurface, truths are revealed, and their journey unfolds for everyone to see.

You'll fall in love with this loyal and tightly knit family, who never give up on one another despite the distance or unspoken words. Shalvis captures how people express love—not always through words, but through actions. Whether it’s meddling, a bump on the hip, or a simple fist bump after a job well done, the small gestures shine brightly.

A heartwarming tale of second chances, Better than Friends is a reminder that love, in all its forms, is worth fighting for.

Olive moved to Sunrise Cove years ago to live with her grandmother, escaping her parent’s nomad lifestyle. The Turner family lived next door and became a second family, and Katie became her best friend while Noah, Katie’s brother became Olive’s secret crush. After an accident where Olive felt responsible for injuring Noah, she couldn’t wait to escape Sunrise Cove and ended up living in the UK.
When Katie’s husband ends up in a coma, Olive returns to help her friend and ends up living in Katie’s home. Noah also moves into Katie’s home to help out. I was totally hooked following Olive and Noah struggle with their feelings for each other, learning about their experiences in high school and what led to Olive leaving town. A beautiful second chance love story.

3.0⭐️ me and this book did not click

this is my first jill shalvis book and i have another arc by her but i really didn’t connect with this one. i was kinda forcing myself through it and it got boring. i think part of it was the fact that the writing was in 3rd person and i found it hard to follow.

i dont really have anything to say about these characters. i felt like i didn’t really know that much about who they were and i didn’t connect with them individually or as a couple. it just felt super repetitive like “oh we aren’t talking cause of our childhood” then “oh we kissed but we can’t be together because god knows why” they literally kissed like 10 times and refused to acknowledge they wanted each other?

i might try the other arc i have but the 3rd was really a struggle for me in this book. thanks to netgalley for the arc🫶

Better Than Friends is a cute, cozy read that is a perfect read for the winter!
Jill Shalvis does a great job at creating characters that you just fall in love with, Noah and Olive are no exception. The author drops little pieces of the past that make it fun to piece together the story, as well as incorporates a bit of mystery into the story as well. This was a quick easy read that I enjoyed every second of, and I look forward to reading the next book in the Sunrise Cove series!!

Jill Shalvis is the queen of romantic banter and her latest is another good example of it. Any time I pick up one of her books, along with the banter I know I’ll also get likable characters, found family relationships filled with love and respect, and a few heart tugging moments. The plot tends to be somewhat secondary to the various relationships but there is always enough of a plot to keep the action moving forward.

Better Than Friends features Olive and Noah, who were best friends in HS, along with Noah’s twin sister, Katie. However, a difficult situation developed between Olive and Noah in their senior year leading to Olive moving away for college and never coming home. Finally, after 12 years, she returns when Katie has a family crisis, leading to a long postponed reckoning and reconciliation with Noah while they search together for Olive’s irresponsible, missing parents. I got a bit frustrated with Olive’s refusal to have an honest conversation with Noah, but otherwise was very satisfied with this sweet and sexy romance. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Better Than Friends is Jill Shalvis’ latest steamy romantic comedy and the seventh in her Sunrise Cove series. Each book in the series can be read as a stand-alone because the characters don’t overlap. Better Than Friends is an enemies-to-lovers, second-chance, small-town, forced-proximity love story that alternates between past and present. It contains profanity and sex scenes.

Olive Porter has lived an unconventional life. She was raised by off-the-grid parents and moved to Sunrise Cove to live with her grandmother. A brother and sister, Katie and Noah Turner, befriended her and tried to protect her from the bullies at school. After graduating from high school, Olive moved away and only kept in touch with Katie. Now more than 10 years later, Olive is living in the UK. When she learns that Katie’s husband has been injured and Katie needs help, she returns to Sunrise Cove to help out.

Olive is also concerned about her parents, who haven’t checked in recently with her. She reluctantly seeks out Noah Turner, who is now a police detective and is recovering from the same accident that put his partner, best friend, and brother-in-law, Joe, in a coma. Olive and Noah have to make peace with their shared past and old resentments in order to help Katie and her five-year-old son, Joey.

Better Than Friends is more emotional than some of the author’s other stories. Olive had a difficult childhood, and Noah felt abandoned when she left, not knowing her motivation. Both Olive and Noah demonstrated character development throughout the story. There were also several humorous scenes, and the cat, dog, and precious Joey really added to the story. Jill Shalvis knows how to combine the right amounts of heartfelt wrenching emotion and hilarious scenes to craft a wonderful romantic story for her readers.

I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyage for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Olive is back in town to help her best friend Katie, when her husband was in an accident and is in a coma. Olive has a complicated past with Katie's twin, Noah, including running him over and getting out of town. This was a cute easy read, with two friends finding their way back to where they belong. The end felt a bit rushed, but overall a cute read in this series.

After a pivotal night over a decade ago, Olive and Noah began avoiding each other, so much so that Olive moved her life overseas. After a tragic accident involving the husband of Olive’s best friend (and Noah’s sister), Olive and Noah find each other in Sunrise Cove once again.

Better Than Friends is a complex story that is more than just a romance. Shalvis gives main characters a detailed backstory as justification for their actions both past and present, demonstrating character development throughout. Better Than Friends had some heartfelt and emotionally riveting scenes describing abandonment, bullying, and fighting.

Although the seventh book in the Sunrise Cove series and the first by Jill Shalvis that I have read, I didn’t feel that I missed any major details and this novel was enjoyable as a standalone. I will say that Better Than Friends is a change of place to most romances I have read. This novel contains so many relatable and believable scenes. It was heartbreaking, anxiety inducing, heartwarming, and cute. I also love the addition of Holmes (basset hound) and Pepper (kitten)!


Featured tropes:
Slow burn
Second chance
Enemies to lovers
Small town
Forced proximity

This book was absolutely adorable! Jill Shalvis has done it with this cozy yet plot-driven story that blends humor, emotion, and romance.

Olive and Noah’s second-chance romance hit all the right notes. I loved the way their past and present collided, creating so much tension and chemistry between them. Their dynamic was equal parts emotional and hilarious, with moments that tugged at my heartstrings and others that made me laugh out loud.

The small-town vibes of Sunrise Cove added a warm, comforting backdrop, and the supporting cast of characters brought so much depth to the story. I felt completely invested in their journeys, and by the end, it felt like saying goodbye to old friends.

Thank you to NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review!