Georgia Stone has written a fun and heartwarming debut that beautifully swirls the magic of the genre with the perfect amount of realism. While the story focuses on Ava and Finn, the romantic leads, it is full of artfully developed side characters that leave you loving the story as a whole, not just the romance that drives it forward.

It didn't hurt that it was set in London, which I still miss terribly. Reading this made me feel as close to the city as I can get without the use of a plane.

This was truly fun, feisty and ultra sexy.
I believe this is my first Georgia Stone book and I absolutely loved and adored it.

I look forward to her next one!

What a delightful read! A great romcom.

I had a lot of fun reading this one. I found it hilarious and heartfelt. The writing was easy to read and I escaped into the story with ease.

The grumpy x sunshine dynamic was well done too. The friendship between them feels natural. Ava and Finn had good chemistry and I liked that they could joke around with each other. They were able to connect on a deeper level too, especially on family issues. I thought the characters were loveable and easy to root for.

The romance is a sweet slow burn that will leave readers smiling. The progression of the romance from friendship was well done too. I really liked all the little moments between Ava and Finn.

The settings here were fantastic. I loved how they were described so I could feel like I was there.

Would recommend if you love romcoms.

Ava Monroe isn't a very social girl, in her opinion, life is safer, easier that way. No one to open up to, invest feelings and time into, or have to answer to. She can just do her own thing, in her own time, and enjoy her simpler life the way it is... it's her version of perfect. That is until a handsome tourist unexpectedly comes wandering into life.

The Friendship Fling is wonderfully penned slow burn romance riddled with feeling, humor, and captivating shenanigans that is destined to have you laughing about throughout. Ava is my kind of girl, I fully support her decision to keep her life simplistic and quiet. But I can also understand how living that way can hold you back at times and make you feel like your missing out on things in life. It has to be a perfect balance of both worlds, and our heroine finds that between the pages here, as well as, love. I thoroughly enjoyed watching these two take things slow, maintain what was happening between them was not serious, and fight their feelings every step of the way. It was the perfect rom-com!!

This book not only had me smiling throughout, but it touched my heart too! The story line was captivating and well penned and the characters unforgettable... one of the most impressive first reads I've had in a long time!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.

I loved this so so much! British romcom, strangers to friends to lovers, with alllll the feels. The tension between Finn and Ava was delicious! I was kicking my feet and giggling waiting for them to give in to each other already! I also love a black cat x golden retriever mix and these two were just perfect. I’ve never been to London, but this made me feel like I was there checking off things on my bucket list right along with Finn. This is such a great debut that comes out June 3 here in the US, so don’t sleep on it!!

This book made me realize just how much I love the grumpy x sunshine trope. Normally I want as much of the grumpy character as I can get but in this case I really needed more Finn in this story. He was so sweet and uplifting it made my day reading about him. Ava was cool but watching them interact when they are both so independent was nice. It was a sweet slow burn that I was so into and will most definitely be picking up when this book releases. 4 stars. -1 star for the lack of Finn chapters

gorgeous, fun, well-written ARC with awesome romance! would definitely recommend this book. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Such a cute read! Loved Ava and Finn, the story was fun and charming. Would definitely read this author again!

Finn is such a golden retriever/sunshine person. He is to everyone he meets! Ava is more than just the black cat energy she gives out. They are so different yet when they’re together their banter is incredible. Fun read!

What a cute little grumpy sunshine book! Such a good palette cleanser!! I’ll definitely be reading more Georgia Stone books in the future!

This was such a fun book full of charm and chemistry!
Reverse grumpy sunshine because usually it’s the male, but this time it was Ava and Finn was the sunshine ☀️
A friendship that sets off to fulfill a bucket list and becomes a friends to lovers romance. There was a lot of emotion and connection in this book and I truly enjoyed it.

4 ⭐️

Thanks so much to Harper Perennial for my ARC

Absolutely adored this! It captured that quintessential British charm without ever feeling forced – just genuinely relatable and real. The chemistry between Ava and Finn was electric right from the start, even with Ava's initial resistance. I especially loved seeing their relationship blossom from a solid friendship into something more, with that delicious tension building beautifully. Finn is an absolute sweetheart, and while Ava is prickly, her journey of letting go of her defenses and embracing love was captivating. With a fantastic supporting cast and an engaging plot, this debut is a winner!

This was such a fun book! Friendship Fling is about Ava and Finn deciding to be friends and tackle Finn's London bucket list before he leaves at the end of summer. It's a grumpy-sunshine, and Ava is the grump! (My favorite kind of grumpy-sunshine) It's a very fun story but it also deals with some serious topics, so it's not alwasy light and fluffy. I loved reading about their travels through London and it brought me back to when I went to London when I was 19. I highly recommend picking this up when it comes out!

This book sounded so cute, and I was excited to get started reading it. It started off like I expected, but I soon found myself bored with it.

This book would definitely be considered a slow burn. I just found it to be too slow. Honestly this book could have been 100 pages shorter and been just as good if not better. The pacing of the story was just too slow for my taste.

As far as the characters go they were ok. I didn't fall in love with any of them. None became my favorite. Again, they were just ok.

I'm sure many readers would enjoy this book. I'm not one of them unfortunately. I found this book a challenge to read and thought about giving up on it but since it was an ARC I (slowly) powered through.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Friendship Fling is an absolute rom com masterpiece that follows cynical Ava Monroe, peppy Finn O’Callaghan, and their tentative friendship that includes one summer and one London bucket list. Friends-to-lovers done in the best way, TFF handles so beautifully the feeling of opening your heart up to joy and hurt and every emotion in between. I laughed out loud and cried and kicked my feet until the very last page.

As the self appointed president of the Finlay O’Callaghan fan club, I feel qualified to say he is the book boyfriend blueprint (my formal apologies to Alex Nielsen). The care and consideration he gives Ava quite honestly is unmatched, and I love that he meets Ava exactly where she is. Finn is the picture of optimism, and seeing him learn to believe he is worth the love he poured into others was so important to me.

As for Ava, grumpy queen of my heart, seeing her from the story’s start to its end is so rewarding, and I have the softest spot in my heart for her. She’s so deeply funny and fiercely loyal. Seeing her bloom in this story is such a sweet reminder about giving yourself permission to live fully.

Ava and Finn are both such full characters, and the chemistry and banter between them is so special. It truly makes this book feel like a story you’re hearing about your very best friends. I love them, and when I say you need to read this book - I could not mean it more!!

It’s a real shame that Georgia Stone doesn’t have a backlist that I can binge. The banter, the character arcs, the pining, the yearning, the can you please just kiss already? I’m obsessed. Finn is my favorite man.

S/O to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the ARC!

The Friendship Fling is the perfect rom-com for 20-somethings still figuring it out! Both Ava and Finn are in turning points in their lives and make a deal to be friends until Finn leaves the country for a new job. Neither is looking for a romantic relationship but Ava needs her roommate to see her making new friends, and Finn has a bucket list requiring help from someone who knows London well.

I loved Ava and Finn’s dynamic in this book! Having Ava be the introverted, slightly grumpy character with Finn being a total golden retriever worked so well with their storylines. I also appreciated how they became good friends before romantic feelings became involved since it makes the tension and pining so much better! My favorite moments included when they first started having feelings but we’re trying to date other people. Ava’s jealousy killed me especially when it was so clear Finn was just going along with what she said she wanted.

I enjoyed all of their bucket list experiences together and their silly adventures through London. My favorite, of course, was the pottery class 🤭

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Perennial for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DIB1C_yMIL1/?igsh=MWEyc2VyaHpqMnR1Mw==

What an absolute honor to have the opportunity to read this incredible debut by Stone! The Friendship Fling, previously self-published as A Collision of Stars, takes readers on a journey with Ava and Finn as they work through an elaborate summer bucket list set in London.

One of my favorite aspects of this book is how it perfectly embodies the saying, “You don’t have to leave the house to travel the world when you read a good book.” I felt completely immersed in the bustling streets of London, soaking in the warmth of the summer sun, savoring the gentle breeze after a refreshing dip in a blissfully cool lido, and ending the day with a lazy stroll along the Thames—perhaps with a pint or two—while watching the sunset behind Big Ben. Stone’s writing beautifully captures the magic of London, making me long for summer in all its glory.

Experiencing Ava and Finn’s meet-cute, watching them get to know each other, and witnessing their love story unfold was truly heartwarming. Their relationship is a beautiful example of how the right person can bring out the best in you. I especially loved how Stone depicted their character growth—realistically portraying the struggles of everyday life, the unexpected obstacles we all face, and the importance of a supportive circle of friends and family who encourage us to embrace who we truly are.

I can’t help but gush about Finn—his energy, his warmth, and the way he remains so endearing despite his insecurities make him an especially lovable character. Ava and Finn are one of the most well-matched couples I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading about, and I’m deeply grateful to Stone for bringing them—and the rest of the wonderful supporting cast—to life.

Stone’s debut hits shelves on May 22 in the UK and June 3 in the US—trust me, you do not want to miss this gem of a debut!

this was such a fun read! i couldn't help but giggle over these two characters and their dialogue with each other. the writing had me fully invested in their relationship and felt impossible to take a break from reading! this one's definitely a romcom that shouldn't be missed, especially by emily henry fans!

Thank you Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest reviews ✨️

Finn and Ava have a summer agreement to be friends .. and friends only. Finn isn't staying for long as he's trying to achieve a dream job in San Francisco and Ava has plans to keep her life safely in control. As they tackle Finns "London bucket list", fate begins to lead the way.

Yall this is a cute one!!! I won't lie I had a really hard time getting into this, I'd say the first 25% felt a little dry but by halfway things picked up for me! I found myself laughing out loud and giggling as time went on.

I will say Finn sets a high standard for men out there 😍 he's so patient, observant and loving. I also have a soft spot for our Grumpy gal Ava and how it can be to believe in change sometimes

Overall I recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, sweet read. But please read the authors note and trigger warnings before you do