Evie Sterling has done it again with Just Friends, the second book in The Investigating Love Series! This romance-mystery packs in all the elements that make her books so irresistible—laugh-out-loud humor, sharp banter, and tension that crackles on every page.

Just Friends follows an unlikely duo navigating a complicated web of blackmail, mystery, and suspense, and Sterling keeps readers invested from start to finish. The romantic chemistry is electric, and every twist and turn in the plot only makes it more satisfying. Sterling’s characters are witty and complex, and their interactions bring a perfect balance of humor and drama, keeping the story lively and utterly entertaining.

With no dull moments and a story that’s full of surprises, Just Friends is an engrossing read that fans of romance and mystery won’t want to miss. Sterling’s storytelling shines, delivering yet another gem for readers looking for a fast-paced, feel-good escape that’s as captivating as it is clever.

Just Friends by Evie Sterling is utterly charming, from start to finish! It has just the right amount of humor, romance, and genuine emotion, capturing the magic and chaos of a love story between two people who start out as, well, just friends. This is book two Investigating love series.

The main characters are lovable and relatable, with a chemistry that leaps off the page. Sterling's writing is witty and sharp, making it easy to get lost in the banter and shared moments that build a connection deeper than friendship. Evie Sterling has a knack for capturing those small, intimate details that make a relationship feel real and genuine. The two main characters Cassie and Lincoln started out as just partners and have graduated to just friends.

This book will make you laugh out loud and will hit you right in the feels without you even knowing it is happening. This is a book is the perfect rom com with the friends to lovers trope. I definitely recommend this book.

3.5⭐

This is the second book in this cozy mystery series, along with the ever present question of will they or won't they. We went one step forward to go two steps back. It will be interesting if Cassie's and Link's mysteries are connected.

Putting this out there I don't trust Tommy.

This book was an absolute delight—a steamy, captivating romance that kept me hooked, just like the first in the series. Lincoln, the main character, is so easy to fall for, and watching him and Cassie navigate the challenging 'just friends' zone is incredibly entertaining. Their chemistry makes staying platonic feel almost impossible, which only adds to the tension and charm of their story.

I definitely recommend reading this one along with the first book for the full experience! Huge thanks to the author for the ARC opportunity—I truly enjoyed every page. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Just friends is the second in a series. It probably wouls have been helpful to read the first before this. However this story felt all over the place & randomly thrown together. Parts of it made no sense and seemed to come out of thin air. I liked cassie & lincolns storyline but felt it needed more depth.

Just Friends is the 2nd book in the Investigating Love series. These books can be read as stand alones, but I totally recommend reading book one first- that’s where you will first learn to adore Lincoln and Cassie!

This book was so sweet and packed full of mystery and suspense! I loved the tension and banter between Lincoln and Cassie. Their struggle to remain “just friends” and ignore their chemistry and unspoken attraction was perfection.

If you love a slow burn romance with a mystery focus and tons of twists and turns, you will love Just Friends!

You can expect:
💜 mystery/suspense
💜 friends to lovers
💜 sweet romance
💜 small town
💜 slow burn
💜 age gap

Thank you @eviesterling.sweetromance for the honor of reading this book! 🥰

What a cute small-town romance.
This story follows Cassandra, a former TV detective that returns home, and Lincoln, her childhood crush. They start working together at her late father's detective agency. They agree to just be partners, but that isn't as easy as they hoped it would be

The chemistry between the MC's is impecable and the sense of community you feel throughout the book feels so welcoming.
If you love small-town romances, friends to lovers, and a bit of suspence/mystery... You won't regret reading this one.

*Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for entrusting me
with writing an honest review for this ARC*

✨️💚✨️Book Review✨️💚✨️

Book: Just Friends
Author: Evie Sterling
Rating: 4.5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5

Another great book by Evie!

I loved the continuation of Link & Cassie's story and as much I really hoped for them to finally get together, I am super excited that we are going to get another book that will get us there.

There was a great mystery in this one again, with lots of suspense and had the don't trust anyone vibes.

You get:
• Sweet Romance
• Friends To Lovers
• Slow Burn
• Mystery/Suspense
• Small Town
• Age Gap
• One Room

Make sure you read book one first! Available on KU, ebook, and paperback.

I did the work and read the first book in this series - something that is pretty vital to understanding what's going on in this book. And while I found both to be pleasant and enjoyable, I don't see myself continuing the series.

The MMC seems pretty immature, given his age. The transitions between chapters were often jarring, the romance is too slow-burn for my taste, and the ending was abrupt.

Might be someone else's cup of tea, but it wasn't mine.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the advanced reader copy of this book, provided in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Just Friends continues the story of Lincoln and Cassie as she decided to stay and Lincoln promised to help her. Cassie can’t help but enjoy this new life as a private investigator. Lincoln is working hard to earn Cassie’s trust and help find out why no one would hire her back in Hollywood. As secrets come out, will they continues to work together and build their chemistry a little more.

3⭐️s This was a fun change for me. Thanks to @netgalley and Evie Sterling for the advanced copy of Just Friends. You can read both on Kindle Unlimited now. #netgalley #justfriends #kindleunlited #advancedreadercopy #arcreader #bookstagram

I love the premise of this book and the series as a whole. I always seek out books about private eyes because I think they're super fun. This one didn't quite hit the mark for me, though. Something about the writing felt clunky and off. I think this story has a lot of potential, and is probably a great fit for the right reader, it just wasn't my cup of tea!

ARC Review ✨️

♡Lincoln and Cassandra♡

I love how the story picked up where Just Partners left us! This story was super enjoyable, and I really enjoyed the whole mystery mixed with romance. Lincoln and Cassandra decided to be friends. Now, they have to fight their feelings off while working on their cases. Evie never fails at giving us great stories. I always enjoy her books and completely adore the characters she creates. This was such a cute, mysterious read. I can't recommend it enough!

Thanks so much to the author, Haylingbookstorm, and Netgalley for the ARC!

I’m currently at 51% through this book, and I’m finding it challenging to understand the narrator's thoughts and feelings. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to finish it, so I won't be leaving a review.

I appreciate the opportunity from NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. Thank you!

This is the second book in a series and it shows!

Would 100% recommend reading the first book before reading the second one.

I didn’t and as a result I missed parts of the plot. The book does start with a brief overview of the first book, which did help a little, but during the book the characters sometimes refer back to the first book. Without having read that you miss part of it.

Overall, I liked the book, but I didn’t love it. The whole premises is about Cassie and Link, who partner as PI’s. Apparently, in the first book some romance happened, but they decided not to give into it and only continue as business partners.

You could quite quick figure out what was going to happen. Link was keeping a lot of secrets from Cassie which caused tension and eventually blew up in his face.

The end of the book gave you the plot of the next book and it seems as if it is going to be about keeping secrets from each other again, though this time it will be Cassie even though they have just decided to start with being friends after all the secrets Link kept.

Just Friends follows Cassandra and Lincoln, two detectives navigating a new friendship after a complicated history. As they work together at the Pinecrest Detective Agency, their unresolved feelings simmer beneath the surface, especially when a mysterious threat exposes hidden secrets and tests their bond. With each late night and shared laugh, they wonder if “just friends” is truly all they’re meant to be—or if they’re on the edge of something more.

The book is a good mix of friends-to-lovers romance and mystery. Although I didn’t read the first book, I felt I might have connected better with Cassandra and Lincoln’s dynamic if I had. Their friendship is fun to watch develop, with witty banter and undeniable chemistry that makes you root for them. The suspense adds a nice twist, though the mystery’s resolution felt a bit unclear at times.

The slow-burn romance was well done, but I wanted a bit more focus on their romantic connection since the chemistry between them is strong. The cliffhanger at the end is surprising and makes you eager for the next installment. Overall, Just Friends combines lighthearted romance with an intriguing mystery, making it a great read for fans of the friends-to-lovers trope.

Just Friends is the second book in the Investigating Love Series. I never got a chance to read Just Partners, but I believe the book can still stand on its own, if you don't mind a few flashbacks from the first book.

This story follows Cassandra and Lincoln on their journey as they navigate the twists and turns of their business, crime, and most or all their feelings for each other. They seem to have so much that they need to discuss and hash out between them, but in the midst of all that is happening, there never seems to be enough time. As mystery upon mystery is unfolding around them, they start to realize they are struggling with not just their partnership but friendship... so even if they are feeling stronger feelings, it's not time yet to announce them. But will they even get a chance to be more than partners? More than friends?!

I really appreciated the mix of mystery and action throughout the story; it kept me engaged and guessing. The romance was sweet and had its moments, but I found myself wanting a bit more depth and development in that area. I enjoyed getting to know Cassie, Link, Quinn, and Thomas, I look forward to reading more about them!

Overall, it was an enjoyable read that balanced mystery and suspense with romance. I’d give it a solid 3.5, rounded up to a 4.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. This review reflects my own opinion.

If you’re a sucker for a friends-to-lovers story laced with suspense (my absolute favorite), Just Friends has you covered! Lincoln and Cassandra are back and have leveled up from “Just Partners” to “Just Friends” — but it’s pretty clear they’re on the edge of something much deeper. The chemistry between them builds steadily, especially as they dive into a mystery threatening their little town.

The suspense element keeps you on your toes, but it’s those quieter moments — late nights, shared coffee, and playful banter — that make you root for them to finally take that next step. Sterling’s writing brings out Lincoln’s protective side and Cassandra’s wit and warmth, which makes for some swoon-worthy scenes. If you haven’t read the first book, definitely start there, as it sets up this dynamic perfectly.

This one’s a solid 4 stars for the perfect blend of mystery, romance, and the thrill of watching a friendship grow into something more. Can't wait for more in the Investigating Love series!

Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing Co-Op for the opportunity to receive the ARC.

4 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Evie Sterling's "Just Friends" is a captivating mix of mystery, small-town charm, and friends-to-lovers romance. Cassie and Link are private investigators whose partnership is packed with chemistry and banter. Sterling's choice to tell the story in Cassie and Link's first-person perspective pulls readers into the action and emotions both characters are feeling, making it easy to root for the two of them. The mystery plot lines are fun and unpredictable, with one memorable, high-stakes scene about 70% in that had me hooked and clicking quickly to see what would happen.

What I loved:
- The first-person POVs, which adds depth and relatability to both Cassie and Link
- Engaging mysteries that kept me guessing. I really didn't see where we were going with any of the mysteries and I liked how they all blended together.
- Banter between Cassie, Link, Quinn, and Phineas, who all bring different personalities and humor to the story. I really enjoyed seeing a different side to Link and Phineas in this book.

What could be improved:
- The romance is a slow burn that could use more development. I feel like they shared a kiss in book 1 and I was expecting a bit more in book 2. They still just decided to end as friends, with the possibility of more, but I wanted to see just a bit more development between the two of them.
- The main mystery could have benefitted from clearer explanation to feel more fleshed out. The ending seemed a little outrageous, even though I did still enjoy it.

Final thoughts:
"Just Friends" ends with Cassie and Link promising friendship, but with enough lingering tension to hint at more. I'm looking forward to seeing who has reached out to both Cassie and Link and what fun mystery will be investigated next. This is a great pick for readers who love small-town mysteries with a side of slow-burn romance. Looking forward to seeing where Cassie and Link's story goes next.

This book has a bit of everything, from romance to mystery so will appeal to a lot of readers. I did find the writing style a little difficult to engage with at times but that won’t be the same for everyone. Would recommend for a quick read

This was such a quick, enjoyable weekend read. I loved the closed door kisses only romance with a bit of mystery for the cases they are trying to solve. The slow burn that Lincoln and Cassie have is just right! I just loved how are working through their own dilemmas and thinking about how that will effect the other.

Just Friends is book 2 in the Investigating Love series, which follows Cassie and Lincoln and how they navigate through their business partnership to friendship and fighting the attraction they have for each other.

Releasing Nov 4, 2024