such a lovely light read, with a friends to lovers done right, I really felt for Gaby as that feeling of unrequited love is so horrible. I was really rooting for both of them and hoping for their happy ever after!

Someone Like You
By: Sandy Barker
Review Score: 4 Stars

Boogie’s Bulletpoints
•Fiction: Rom Com
•Friends to Lovers
•Only One Bed
•Interconnected Stand Alone
•Found Family
•Multiple Locations: London and Seattle

————

Someone Like You was kindly provided as an ARC by NetGalley and Boldwood Books. Thank you for allowing me to enjoy this wonderful book!

I am such a fan of Sandy Barker’s writing. I love how she writes her characters, and they are always in amazing locations that make me want to jump on a plane and travel there myself.

In Someone Like You, we meet Raff, the winner of a baking show, who agrees to be setup on dates by his best friends, Gaby and Freya. They use the Ever After Agency to do this and, no spoilers, but things don’t go the way they all planned.

I love that this book is part of the Ever After Agency series, but if you happen to start on this one, that’s ok, because there is enough info to understand the story (with that being said, read the series, because all of them are so great).

My only complaint? I wish there was more! There is an Epilogue, I just wish there was a little more in it!

If you couldn’t tell, I really enjoy this book, and highly recommend you check it out!

I really wanted to like this book but the writing and the romance was a bit all over the place for me to enjoy.

Such a cute, heartwarming read. It's a great read between heavier books, as it's a really low key read.

It's a part of a series, but I read it as a standalone and it was fine. The friends-to-lovers trope was done well, lacking in the real depth, but it was okay for a light read. The second half of the book is much better than the first part is!

Thanks to NetGalley for the Arc in exchange for my honest reviews.

This story is filled with humor and heart, and is perfect for anyone who loves a sweet romance with a dash of Christmas vibes.

It follows the story of Raff, a marketing director who happens to also be a baker that just won a British Baker show, and Gabby, his American best friend for years. Raff is a guy who is easily attached, and after being dumped the day he wins the show and being very sad about it, their friends decide to jump in for some matchmaking on his behalf. As Gabby helps to find the perfect person for her best friend, she realizes she has feelings for him, and she is torn between opening her heart again and telling him or letting him enjoy his match and take his chance at love with this new person.

Gabby and Raff’s journey from best friends to something more is a beautiful reminder of how love can sometimes be right in front of you when you least expect it. I love how the book shows how it's more important to have someone by your side who stands by you, supports you and believes in you even when you don't even believe in yourself.

It’s also about personal growth and learning to trust again after the past hurts. Watching them grow and evolve together into new jobs/careers is what makes the story so rewarding. The emotional depth of their journey adds layers to the romance, making it not just about falling in love but about learning how to be vulnerable and open up.

Gabby and Raff are relatable, lovable characters, and their story is the kind of romance you can’t help but get invested in. If you’re looking for a book that’s full of heart, cute holiday vibes, and a love story that feels both genuine and Hallmark type of magical, this one is a must-read.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A brilliant friends to lovers romance. I loved the bake off references and seeing how Poppy is doing in her own love story.

Someone Like You - @sandybarkerauthor

This is part of a series but can be read as a standalone, I have read the first book but not the two following and didn’t feel like I was missing anything.

This is a major slow burn!! Which I love as it really builds the anticipation and it doesn’t feel rushed. I loved getting to know these characters and see how they interact with each other along side all of the Christmas and family drama.
It does feel like a hallmark Christmas movie in the best kind of way

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an warily copy of someone like you by sandy barker in return of my review!!

i read this one not realising it was part of a series, the ever after agency, but after reading this one i feel invested to know the other books, officially added to my wish list!!

poppy, being the matchmaker she is, attempts to matchmake their friend raff, which turns to be a challenge in itself before discovering a friend has untold feelings for him…making the matchmaking scheme a whole lot more crazy!!

- friends to lovers, romance and CHRISTMAS🎄 what’s more to love???!

"Someone Like You" is a best-friends-to-lovers, closed-door romance about Raff, a guy who wants to fall in love, and his best friend Gaby, who helps him search for "the one" with the assistance of matchmakers from the Ever After Agency. They arrange meet-cutes with potential matches, only for Gaby to realize her feelings for Raff are much more than platonic.

The premise sounded like so much fun, but the execution fell a bit short. It was a slow burn that didn’t really burn at all. There weren’t any meaningful signs of romantic chemistry between the characters, and in my opinion, they would have been better off staying just friends.

This review is being posted as part of the Someone Like You blog tour hosted by Rachel’s Random Resources.

Someone Like You is the latest feel-good laugh-out-loud romance from author Sandy Barker. Fans of a good friends to lovers romance, this one is for you! Add in brilliant festive vibes and some of your favourite romance tropes (including matchmaking, forced proximity, found family and only one bed) and you have this perfect cute and cosy read, which feels like a Hallmark movie in book form.

This is the fourth instalment of the Ever After Agency series, all focused around the work of the matchmaking agency. This was my introduction to the series, and to Sandy Barker’s books in general, but I loved the premise of the agency. Seeing them orchestrate meet cutes in their efforts to find Raff a match was so fun. It’s made me so excited to read the rest of the books in the series!
Gaby and Raff were the textbook definition of the ‘everybody can see it but them’ trope and I couldn’t get enough of it. This is a real slow burn, perfect for fans of the trope who really have some serious patience as it’s probably the slowest slow burn I’ve ever read. But I promise the pay out is definitely worth it! There is no spice (although there are some references which sit it as more of a closed-door book than an only-kisses book) and this only helped it to feel even more sweet.

Gaby was a brilliant protagonist who felt really relatable. Her POV frames most of the narrative but we also get to see the perspective of some of the matchmaking team which was a nice addition. Raff was a total sweetheart and definitely in the rankings for book boyfriend of 2024. I fell in love with him the second he got an SOS call from one of his female best friends and turned up with food and drink for every eventuality.

The second half of the book was my favourite, with Raff spending Christmas with Gaby in Seattle. This half had lovely festive vibes and we got to see the playout of two of my favourite tropes: only one bed and forced proximity. I loved Gaby’s family and the plot point of the Christmas Eve wedding, it made the book feel even cosier.

This is a really easy read. I also partially listened to the audiobook which was also a really easy listen which was really nicely narrated. The entire narrative is really well paced which had me engrossed from cover to cover in what just felt like a big cosy hug.

Overall, Someone Like You is a brilliant cosy romance read perfect for the upcoming festive season.

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️ / 5 (Closed Door)

I have posted my review on my blog www.yourschloe.co.uk

*Thank you to NetGalley, Sandy Barker, Rachel’s Random Resources and Boldwood Books.

3.5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the E-ARC. In this book we see Poppy who is the matchmaker from Book 1 working with Gabs trying to match her bestie Raffa. Just like the other 3 books I enjoyed this one so much. I especially loved that it takes place in 2 different locations. I love how they are such easy reads everything just flows together and it always keeps you engaged from start to finish. Cant wait for more books from the Ever After Agency

The first three stories in the Ever After Agency series are delightful, cosy hugs-in-books, and Someone Like You is no exception! The ultimate of friends-to-lovers, the story is told from the POV of matchmaker Poppy, but follows Gaby as she tries to set her best friend Rafe up with the perfect woman… only to realise her feelings for him to beyond friendship.

Gaby had her heart broken years ago and finds friendships far easier to navigate than romances. She very much buys into the “once bitten, twice shy” trope. After her moment of truth, she hesitates about telling Raff – after all, he is her best friend. What if he doesn’t feel the same way? What if she ruins their friendship?

Raff has just won Britain’s Best Baker. He falls in love easily, but his relationships never last. He has a habit of calling his girlfriends pet names and the first indication that he might feel more for Gaby is that he calls her “Gabs”.

Everyone around Gaby and Raff can see how perfect they are for each other. This is where a lot of the comedy comes from, but it’s always gentle and never pokes fun at the couple. There are nudges in the right direction but it still takes a while for them to admit the truth.

To be warned that Someone Like You is a slooow burn. I absolutely love this trope, but if you’re wanting insta-love and mad passion then this isn’t the story for you. If you like a slow burn, you’ll be in your element.

It’s also perfect for lovers of Christmas romances. Set between London and Seattle, it’s full of seasonal cheer, with found families, cosy settings and feel-good vibes. For me, this was a perfect Christmassy read and I await Ms Barker’s next instalment!

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Someone Like You' by Sandy Barker.

This is the fourth book in Sandy's 'the Ever After Agency' series but each book an be read as a standalone.

Love, LOVE, LOVED this absolutely gorgeous page turner!! An absolute must read!!! Another brilliant addition to this fantastic series and this one comes with a festive feeling added!!

OMG!!! I absolutely LOVED this gorgeous page turner and I cannot WAIT for the next book in this series to come out along with getting stuck in to all of Sandy's previous books!! It is just as gorgeous as the previous books in this amazing series and the rest of the books to come are just guaranteed to be stunning!! If you have never read any of the books in this gorgeous series then get started now!! this is the perfect one to read with Christmas just around the corner! I am not normally a fan of reading books out of order, and although I have read all these books in this series, but there is definitely a silver lining! The good thing about reading books in a series out of order is that when you have finished this one then you can go back and read the previous books in this series while you are waiting for the next book!! You may also discover a new favourite author just like I did!! In this matchmaking "episode" we meet Gaby who has moved from Seattle to London and works at Global Reach Marketing with her best friends Freya and Raff. Raff has just wan the award for 'Britain's Best Baker' but despite now gaining fame for this his love life is not winning any awards. Freya works with Poppy at the agency and asks her to find a match for Raff which she agrees to on the condition he is not told and that he cannot go on other dates. The match making plan is put in motion but Gaby objects to many of the matches that are chosen. Poppy is very good at what she does and soon works out that the reason Gaby is objecting is because Gaby has more than friends feelings for Raff but is worried about losing his friendship so keeps it hidden. When Gaby realises that Raff is planning on spending Christmas on his own she invites him to Seattle to spend Christmas with her and her family. Will Gaby get what she really wants for Christmas? Will they be stuck in the friend zone for life? grab your copy of this festive feel good page turner to find out the answers to these and discover much more and I can guarantee you will not regret it and if you have never read any of Sandy's books before now you may even discover your new favourite author! With a storyline filled with festivities, love, gorgeous food, beautiful settings, friendship, family, romance and so much more what are you waiting for? Sandy has done it yet again in this gorgeous book and as well as meeting new characters I loved meeting some familiar faces again including Poppy who I always love catching up with, Freya, Greta, Tristan, Saffy the cat, Gretchen and Chaz to name a few. I absolutely adored the unique storyline which is hard to come by when it comes to romance books as there are so many out there but Sandy has created an absolutely gorgeous storyline which I cannot wait to continue in the next book in this series!!!! Sandy's stunning evocative writing skills really does bring the storyline, emotions and the characters to life. I absolutely adored being swept away into this fantastic feel good book and was so absorbed that on the rare moments I looked up it took me a while to realise I was in Wales at home and not in the book itself next to Gaby and Poppy!! The storyline is stunning and is ram packed with friendship, romance, fun, humour and emotions and is an absolutely stunning escapism romantic read!!! This is one of those books that are very easy to read and perfect for any reading situations whether you are laying on a beach or curled up in front of a fire. It is an absolutely ideal read for anyone who is looking for a gorgeous and relaxing read that will have you hooked from beginning to end. I absolutely LOVED the realism of this storyline which made it so easy to picture everything that was going on which had been helped by Sandy's fantastic evocative writing skills.

I cannot wait to get hooked into more of Sandy's books so I hope she is busy writing her next stunner in this series while I get stuck into her previous books!! This is definitely one of those books that will turn a frown upside down and make life seem a lot brighter. Grab your copy today and fall in love with The Ever After Agency series today!!!

Well done Sandy on yet another absolutely stunning and perfect addition to an absolutely stunning series!!!

Although this is the fourth book in the series I would have had absolutely no problems reading it without the previous three books. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.

The characters were all an eclectic mix and each one of them were realistic and strong. I was completely invested in them all. It also makes them more realistic, believable and made me feel even more for them than I normally would. I absolutely loved meeting Poppy again who I first met in 'Match Me If You Can' and have met several times in the other books in this fantastic series. She is a friendly, strong, likeable woman and I loved catching up with her and finding out what she has been up to since I last seen her. I also loved our other main protagonist Gaby and I was rooting for her throughout. There were just so many amazing characters that I loved getting to know that I could write about them all day but I don't want to bore you so I'll start to wrap it up here. As always Sandy does an amazing job of weaving multiple protagonist perspectives together perfectly ensuring the reader gets to see the bigger picture of what is going on inside and outside of the 'Happily Ever After' Agency. Sandy's fantastic evocative writing skills ensures each of the characters come to life in front of your eyes as you turn the pages. Each of the characters are memorable and unique in their own ways and they are a group that I wont be forgetting any time soon! I cannot wait to meet them all again and I'm hoping they will all be in the next book in this series!!!

Pick up this book and get lost in this absolutely gorgeous page turner! This has got to be one the most stunning book I have read this year 💜!!!

Congratulations Sandy on yet another absolutely stunning read that I just could not put down!!!

Overall an unputdownable, gorgeous, STUNNING page turning book filled with festivities, romance, fun, laughter, friendship and so much more!! A perfectly relaxing and stunning unique read!!!!

#SomeoneLikeYou #TheEverAfterAgency #SandyBarker #BoldwoodBooks #BoldwoodBloggers #BookAndTonic #RachelsRandomResources #rararesources

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Thanks netgalley for an advanced copy of this book for my review. So this book is one in a series and I think it's a perfectly good standalone. This is one of those will they,won't they? stories, it's fun,cute enjoyable read.

I liked the plot, but the execution could’ve been better. There was too much tell rather than show, which made reading a bit tiresome. The characters didn’t read as authentic.

Barker displays sensitivity when dealing with a best friend in love with her best friend who isn’t aware of it.
I liked how supportive and close Gaby’s family is.
Raff was a whiz in the kitchen but quite the slow learner when it came to women, including the one right next to,him.
I liked the friends to lovers trope although Gaby had to endure the endless pairings of Raff with other women.
This a warmhearted read with a very good ending.

Someone Like You by Sandy Barker

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

What do you do when you realise you've fallen for your best friend, but he sees you as the sister he never had? And to make things worse, you're stuck in the middle of a matchmaking scheme to find him someone else!

Best friends Gaby and Raff are inseparable and know each other inside out. But with Raff's string of disastrous relationships and his newfound fame as Britain’s Best Baker, it's time to enlist the Ever After Agency to help him find true love.

At first, Gaby is all in – Raff is a catch, after all. But as she secretly helps to find his perfect match, she’s hit with unexpected pangs of jealousy. And before she can act on her feelings, Raff falls for one of his dates.

Can Gaby keep her emotions in check, or will she risk ruining their friendship to find out if Raff feels the same way?

My Opinion

Someone Like You is the fourth book in the Ever After Agency series, and whilst I have read the books in order, I feel that this would work as a standalone. I sat and read this book in one sitting, and I was slightly sad when I reached the end as I wasn’t ready for it to finish. With some very likeable characters, Sandy Barker has once again written a great book.

Rating 4/5

Raff has just had another breakup, but the plan is to help Raff find love without him knowing about it but maybe the person he was meant to fall in love with has been there all along.

This is a great novel within the series. I love that we were back with previous characters and got to see a dual point of view with our main characters.

This novel followed themes of friendship, romance and family and I loved the scene with Gaby's family which just made me want to jump into the page and be a part of the scene,

This book was incredibly fun. I have read the first book in this series too and the interconnecting story to include the other characters made my day. Perfect for reading something light in the lead up to Christmas!

Thank you @netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review

Gaby and Raff work at a marketing agency; they are best friends with Freya, who now works at the Ever After Agency, an exclusive matchmaking service. Raff is recovering from his latest heartbreak, which happened when he won Best British Baker. As he contemplates a dream career move, Freya decides she needs to find him a match and enlists the help of Poppy, who regular readers of the series will know. It is a glamorous, lighthearted friends-to-lovers romance with many misunderstandings and humorous moments. I enjoyed catching up with Poppy's life and meeting Gaby's lovely family in Seattle. The romance is gentle and often conflicted as Gaby tries to understand her true feelings and what she is prepared to risk for happiness. I love the characters and their relationship dynamics. I also enjoyed the locations and the romance.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.