Someone Like You was an entertaining friends-to-lovers romance. Gaby and Raff have been friends for years, and Gaby has always supported Raff. After Raff wins Britain's Best Baker, his new fame highlights his newly single status, and their matchmaker friend decides to try to match. He reluctantly agrees as long as he's not aware of being matched. This was presumed to be possible until Gaby starts to help set him up, and she slowly realizes she has feelings for him. When Gaby brings Rafe home for the holidays, just as friends, things start to change. It was a witty and enjoyable romance.

Really enjoyed this one! A fun, cute, cozy romance book. Really bingeable and an easy read. Romance at its best. Read it.

I’ve had mixed reactions to the books in this series. We have a matchmaking agency at the centre of the various plots, but the books do not start that way. We see more of the lives of the people we are going to meet.

I liked this better than some of the others because of the story itself. We have a pair of friends who are on the brink of change. One of them realises that she likes the other in a different capacity at the entirely wrong time and now has to work really hard to stay sane.

There are all the usual setups and the chaotic family gatherings definitely help make this story more interesting. Like the other books, here we have an American in the mix of Brits.

I may not recommend the entire series but this particular book was fun with its own emotional points.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience of this and others books in the series.

Love this series! I love the multiple points of view and that Poppy is the piece that stays the same in all of the books. They work as stand alone books but it is fun to see the other characters pop up! I love how you see the secondary characters grow throughout the series without feeling like you are getting away from the main story line

Someone Like You is a sweet friends-to-lovers story with a baking twist, following Gaby and Raffe as their close friendship starts to shift when Raffe enters a matchmaking programme. The second half of the book is much stronger than the first, with better pacing and more focus on the main couple. Gaby’s family brings warmth and fun, but the inclusion of Poppy’s first-person chapters feels unnecessary and distracts from the core romance. Raffe’s point of view is sadly limited, making his emotional journey feel rushed. While it has heart and charm, this reads more like women’s fiction with light romance than a full romantic arc. Still, it’s a cozy read with lovely family vibes and a satisfying finish.

This book was so cute. It’s fourth in a series I believe but it is a standalone and reading the others is not necessary. However if you have read the others it’s nice to see some of the character stories continue. This was a very sweet and heartfelt friends to lovers story.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Sandy Barker has done it again! I have LOVED every one of her books thus far, and this was no different.

The Ever After Agency books are like the literary equivalent of a warm hug- lighthearted and easy to read, (mostly) likeable characters (or those that you love to hate) and they’re always full of laugh-out-loud humour. The books in this series can be read standalone, but I would advise starting with book 1 as some of the same characters are woven throughout the series. So if you later decide to read the other books in the series, you may get spoilers from reading the latter books first.

I am someone who is addicted to travel and I’m also a self-confessed human bookworm. The armchair travel within Sandy Barker’s plots always brings these books to life and ignites my passions which keeps me reading, I can never put them down! Someone like You was set within London and Seattle during winter.

Book 4 in the rom-com series, Someone Like You once again follows Poppy (The female main character in the whole series), as well as Raff and Gaby as the other main characters in this book. It also follows up on some of the other regular characters whom we met earlier in the series, plus a few newbies. It is written in multiple POV.

Raff and Gaby are best friends and workmates. With his newly found fame, following his success and winning the ‘Britain’s Best Baker’ tv show competition, Raff chooses to leave his sensible job behind to become a baker full-time. Unlucky in love, Raff’s last relationship failed and his reaction to that was broadcast on tv. Feeling sad for him when the episode aired 3 months later, Gaby and Freya- Poppy’s fellow matchmaker (and BFF #3 in the friendship group), decide to enlist the help of Poppy and the Happily Ever After dating agency, to try to get Raff his own HEA. Only as is the case in most rom-com’s, this predictably leads to one of the friends realising too late that they madly in love with other.

I don’t want to give too many spoilers away, but this book was once again filled with laughter, friendship, family drama, beautifully described locations and the heart-warming ‘will they, won’t they’ vibe that Sandy always writes so well. All of this whilst still sensitively encapsulating the deeper, more serious emotions involved with all things surrounding matters of the heart.

I loved the story so much, I read this book in less than two days. Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Sandy Barker for the advanced reader copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review.

I've read and enjoyed the previous books in this series and this one didn't disappoint. The characters, as always, are interesting and likeable. The outcome, of course, is completely predictable - but, then, this is a rom com - but the way it's achieved is highly entertaining.

My first read and the 4th book in the 'Ever After Agency' series. A enjoyable read about matchmaking, friendships, baking and love. It focuses on Gaby and her friend Raff... Raff is in love with the idea of falling in love but endless dating. Is not for him. So his friend Freya who has a matchmaker agency, makes it her mission to pair him up without him noticing, Will Raff meet the woman of his dreams, or realise that the key to his romantic happiness is already within his reach?

Someone Like You is a heartwarming and delightful romcom that explores the complex emotions of falling for your best friend. Gaby and Raff’s friendship is beautifully written, with their deep connection and witty banter making them an easy duo to root for. The tension between Gaby’s growing feelings and her loyalty to Raff is palpable, and the matchmaking scheme adds a fun and unique twist to the plot. The setting, moving between London and Seattle, provides a lovely backdrop for their journey. While the storyline may feel familiar to fans of the friends-to-lovers trope, the emotional depth and the slow-burn romance make it a captivating read. It’s a sweet and enjoyable story, perfect for fans of romantic comedies with heart.

This is the fourth installment of the Ever After Agency and was an absolute delight to read. Gaby and Raff are best friends whose bond is as comforting as a cup of hot cocoa on a winter’s day. But the line between friendship and something more begins to blur when feelings that go beyond platonic begin to develop.

Gaby is a relatable and likable character from the start. She is funny, loyal, and hopelessly in denial about her feelings for Raff. Their friendship dynamic is authentic, filled with the kind of inside jokes, easy banter, and tender moments that had me rooting for them from the start. But when Raff enlists the quirky Ever After Agency to find his perfect match, Gaby is put into the painful position of playing matchmaker for the man she’s secretly in love with.
This story delivers all the charm, angst, and swoon-worthy moments you’d expect from a romcom. It has the perfect blend of humor, heartfelt emotion, and festive cheer. The jealousy Gaby experiences is both poignant and relatable, captured with nuance that avoids clichés. The slow-burn romance is deliciously satisfying, with enough tension to keep me turning pages late into the night, eager to find out if Gaby will risk everything for a chance at love. A heartwarming and sweet read that I completely enjoyed!

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Boldwood Books and am voluntarily leaving my review.

2.5 ⭐

Not enough romance at alllll and too many POVs from previous books' characters 😔 I skipped a lot of paragraphs and pages because it was all about other people and barely about the main characters 🫥

(Posted on Goodreads)

Book Review: Someone Like You by Sandy Barker

Sandy Barker delivers another delightful instalment in her Ever After Agency series with Someone Like You, a laugh-out-loud romantic comedy full of heart, hilarious moments, and the sweet tension of unspoken feelings.

The premise is wonderfully relatable and perfect for fans of the will-they-won't-they trope. Gaby has been best friends with Raff for years, knowing him inside and out. But when Raff’s career as Britain’s Best Baker brings him newfound fame and an onslaught of disastrous relationships, he turns to the Ever After Agency to help him find true love. Gaby, ever the supportive friend, wholeheartedly agrees to help him find his perfect match, but she doesn’t expect the deep-seated jealousy and longing that starts to surface as Raff’s romantic life takes shape.

What unfolds is a beautifully crafted story of friendship, love, and self-discovery. Gaby’s internal struggle is palpable—she’s caught between wanting to help Raff find love and the overwhelming fear of ruining their friendship. The moments of jealousy and vulnerability she experiences are both funny and deeply touching, making readers root for her every step of the way. Meanwhile, Raff’s charming and somewhat clueless nature makes him the perfect swoon-worthy hero. As the two of them navigate their emotions, you can’t help but wonder if they’ll ever take that leap from friendship to something more.

Barker’s writing is filled with sharp wit and tender moments, and her characters are wonderfully endearing. The settings of London and Seattle add to the charm, providing the perfect backdrop for the unfolding romance. What’s more, the festive, feel-good atmosphere of the book makes it the ideal read for those who enjoy a lighthearted, romantic escape.

Fans of authors like Emily Henry, Mhairi McFarlane, and Lindsey Kelk will find Someone Like You to be an absolute treat. With its smart banter, swoony hero, and a heroine who is both relatable and lovable, this book is the perfect mix of romance, friendship, and heartwarming moments.

Rating: 4.5/5
Someone Like You is a sweet, funny, and utterly charming read that will leave you with a big smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart. Sandy Barker has once again delivered a romcom that fans of the genre will devour.

I loved this story. I really was rooting for the main characters from the beginning and everything just fell in to place so beautifully with the story. It felt like exactly the kind of read I needed at the time and I have read all the others in the series and loved those too!

In this fun new romance novel and the latest in Sandy Barker’s rom-com series, readers follow Gaby and Raff following Raff’s new celebrity as the best baker in Britain when Gaby and their other friends decide that Raff needs the Ever After Agency to find true love (rather than another disastrous relationship). Gaby is at first totally supportive and works with the Agency to help, but her feelings for Raff are only growing -- and coincide when he falls for one of his matches -- so she must decide if she wants to risk her heart and their friendship for the chance at a happy ending. With a host of brilliant characters and beautiful locations in London and Seattle, readers will love the latest book in this fantastic series for the new stakes, multiple narrators, and rom-com tropes of the genre. The characters are the star of the novel, and the growing relationship between Gaby and Raff will keep readers hooked with a good old-fashioned unrequited friends-to-lovers plotline. The emotional heart of this novel is absolutely fantastic, and Barker is great at making readers emotionally connect with each of her novels and the romance storylines in each, and this book is no exception.

I have enjoyed this series a lot, especially having a few chapters with Poppy’s point of view (the matchmaker from book 1)! I’m always grateful for the decision I made to start with book 1 - this series is so much better reading from the beginning, because the whole thing will make a lot more sense whenever Poppy appears!

Gaby and Raff are BFFs. He’s just won a baking competition show, and she somehow agreed to help find him a girlfriend… even though she’s been in love with him forever. Also somehow, Poppy and the Ever After Agency winds up being secretly recruited, and working behind the scenes to get girls in Raff’s path (so he doesn’t know he’s being set up) - much to Gaby’s terror. What has she done?!

Best friends to lovers, secret/unrequited crushes, famous reality tv stars… a lot of fantastic tropes, Barker’s usual romcom brilliance, and we have ourselves another winner! Definitely a great series and book to pick up when you need a great comedic romantic break.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the early copy. This is my honest feedback.

When the most exciting and rewarding day of Raff's life turns into the day his girlfriend leaves him (and his reaction is broadcast on live television) his best friend and colleague Gaby is there to offer support. 3 months later when the show finally aired and Raff is still crushed by the break up their mutual friend offers an opportunity; her matchmaking agency will find him his perfect match.
In true rom-com fashion this leads to shenanigans.
I light and fun read about two friends and colleagues who must overcome obstacles to find their happiness.

As usual, another Ever After Agency hit from Sandy Barker! Right off the bat, I loved Raff and Gaby. Besties through thick and thin, plus a celebrity baking competition to boot! I also adored the many appearances of Poppy and Tristan, plus the other matchmakers including Freya.

I also didn't realize this took place at Christmas as I started reading this in December. What a fun twist with Raff coming home to Seattle for Christmas with Gaby and her family. So fun!! While Poppy and Tristan will always be my OG faves, each couple in the Ever After series has a piece of my heart (and my laughter!).

Words can't express how much I am loving this series from Sandy Barker. And this is yet another fabulous addition to it.

While still featuring Poppy as our main matchmaker, and being able to catch up with everyone else at the agency, this is the story of Raff's match.

Raff who has just won a TV Baking competition is best friends with matchmaker Freya, and Gaby, and is unlucky in love.

He sort of agrees to let himself be matched so long as he doesn't have to go on dates.

So Freya and Gaby between them with Poppy start putting potential women in his path.

Just one teeny tiny thing, one of the best friends appears to have caught feelings for Raff, but has to stay quiet.

I really loved Raff and Gaby, and seeing their dynamics.

And once the action moved to Seattle for Christmas, this book steps up another gear. There is romance, entertaining family dramas, festive fun and a whole lot more. It's just what you want in a Christmassy book and more.

A pure delight to read, I was loving every single word of this.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.