3.5 stars. A fun British romcom full of sarcasm (in the banter), shenanigans, and a happy ending.

It was somewhat predictable given the copious use of tropes (friends to lovers, grumpy x sunshine, black cat x golden retriever, time together as a set deadline, bucket list, etc). And there were some weird story elements that felt sloppy to me (e.g., not introducing that Josie is visually impaired until 75% in, not addressing that Ava did the same thing as everyone else in getting busy and not making time for Finn). But all in all a good beach read.

Thank you to Georgia Stone, Harper Perennial, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

A gorgeous slow burn romance with a grumpy FMC and a charming delight of an MMC who sees the good in her that she can't see herself.

You. Will. Melt!

I was homesick for London before I read this and now that homesickness is a glorious ache, but I have no regrets. Georgia Stone is an author to watch for sure!

Do not let this deceptively cute title fool you - this one is going to make you fling yourself to the ground in tears (complimentary).

I adore a prickly FMC, and Ava was no exception. Unfortunately for me and my repressed emotions, the more insight we got to why she is so prickly, the more frequently I said “oh no” out loud in abject despair at being called out so wholly and unapologetically. Ava is me, I am Ava.

And Finn, my sweet, sweet, ray of absolute sunshine, light of my life. The way he immediately sees something joyous in Ava that she doesn’t even see herself and is determined to bring it to the surface - for her, not for himself.

Their personal histories and hurts make them uniquely suited for each other. Finn bends to make himself palatable for everyone he meets to bask in their warmth. Ava has fortress walls, no drawbridge, and a crocodile-filled moat to keep anyone from getting close enough to leave a mark when they leave. And the more time they spend together - determined to be friends for the duration of Finn’s London-based summer bucket list - the more they’re both able to peer past each other’s exteriors and find safety and comfort

Their friends watch gleefully from the sidelines as their favorite people become each other’s favorite people, and as their friendship (and more) allows both of them to flourish and face the things they’ve worked so hard to shelter themselves from. Finn tells Ava outright that if friends is all they ever are, it’s far from a consolation prize, and Ava pushes Finn to realize he should never have to beg for love from anyone in his life.

And though friendship itself is more than enough, of course they’re so much more.

Oh, she wasn't lying when she said this was a slooooooooow burn. But it was delicioussssss.

I had a damn good time watching these two run around London trying very hard not to Feel because he's Leaving and Anyway Feelings Are Bad.

Everything worked for me in this one. The humor, the slow burn, the tension. I thought the pacing was just right for these two to get to know each other and fall in love in the process. A man that falls first and hard? I'm seated every single time. A grump with a heart of gold but doesn't ever let anyone see it(but secretly they all know she's a softie)? She's me, tbh.

I adored their shenanigans and I adored their heartfelt moments. The banter and humor had me in stitches(as the Brits say?). A wonderful conclusion to a slow and steady story that felt earned and cared for by the end.

Thank you Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I find that lately…contemporary romances are often missing the mark for me. I want to say it’s because I’m not the audience it is meant for but I am. I am a romance reader. However, stories like this have been leaving a lot to be desired.

I received a free review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are completely my own. Thank you to Harper Perennial for the opportunity.

This was a fun story following Ava, a barista who is not much into socializing, and Finn, a cheerful talkative person who never stays in one country for very long. These two characters had such different personalities, but they complemented each other well and were both likable in their own ways. I really enjoyed the banter between the two, making me literally laugh out loud. The two spend the summer completing bucket list items around London, which was fun to experience with them. Despite the playfulness of the story, it also dived into some more serious issues that the characters had to work through. I feel like the biggest character development takes place toward the end of the book, but I was happy with the direction things went. While the book didn't necessarily offer anything profoundly different or surprising, the book kept my interest, and I was able to read it pretty quickly. It was a nice escape!

Thank you so much to Georgia Stone and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks | Harper Perennial for the eARC. I was drawn into to this one due to the British setting. Im a sucker for a UK/Ireland/Scotland setting in a book. This one was a little harder for me to get into due to the real slow burn in the beginning. It is trope heavy as well. If you love a real slow burn based heavily on tropes this is the book for you.

Thank you for the ARC, Harper Perennial and NetGalley!

I love a good British rom-com, and I was drawn to this solely for its setting. I'm not a big fan of books that rely on tropes too heavily, and unfortunately this one falls under that description. I struggled, and failed, to get into this, but if you love trope-heavy slow burn books set in London with good banter, this is for you!

DNF at 30%

This book dragged very badly through the first part, and needs some help with pacing. I felt like there wasn’t any plot driving things forward, just a whole concept centered on a little white lie. I did feel like it relied heavily on tropes rather than character progression or plot.

"The Friendship Fling" offers a refreshing take on the friends-to-lovers trope with a reverse grumpy/sunshine dynamic. Set against the charming backdrop of London, the story follows Ava and Finn as they navigate their evolving relationship. While the plot is somewhat predictable and lacks a dramatic climax, the characters' journey of personal growth adds depth. The book captures the essence of a British rom-com, with its humor and warmth shining through. Although it may not break new ground, it's an enjoyable read for fans of slow-burn romances and those who appreciate a well-crafted sense of place. Overall, it's a sweet and lighthearted story that leaves you with a smile.

3.5 rounded up

I love a good friends-to-lovers, but it's one of those tropes I find needs to be extremely niche to my needs for me to love it entirely. THE FRIENDSHIP FLING was a great read on paper, but I felt let down by the execution; maybe because reverse grumpy/sunshine isn't the trope for me. But I love a British rom-com, and nevertheless had fun reading this one! Stone writes London so charming and fresh, and the sense of place that oozes across the page was one of my favourite things about the book.

I have never read anything by this author, but I will be looking out for other books they write in the future. I really enjoyed the story as well as the pacing of the story.

"If he's the sun, I must be the moon"

Whether you call this black cat / golden retriever or reverse grumpy / sunshine, it was an enjoyable read. I really enjoyed Ava and Finn’s relationship throughout this book. They are both people who run from their problems. By travel or sassiness. As they get closer, the confide in each other and start to deal with life. I do feel like the story was a bit flat, no crescendo. It was a nice story, I just wish there was a bit more... something. It was a little predictable. The ending was cute.

Thank you to Netgalley for an early copy to review.

5 stars 🌟 Wow wow wow I loved this book!! This rom-com made me laugh, cry, and smile the entire time.

What to expect:
- slow burn
- grumpy x sunshine
- friends to lovers

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In The Friendship Fling, Georgia Stone crafts a delightful opposites-attract story told through the dual perspectives of Ava and Finn. Ava, a guarded and somewhat prickly barista, has no interest in expanding her small circle of loved ones. Finn, on the other hand, is a vibrant, social optimist determined to befriend her. When Ava reluctantly agrees to a "friendship arrangement" with Finn for the summer—per the insistence of her best friend—they embark on a mission to complete his London bucket list. Along the way, Finn’s relentless charm begins to chip away at Ava’s walls, and she soon finds his presence more tolerable than she ever expected.

One of the highlights of this novel is the witty and dynamic banter between Finn and Ava. His unwavering good nature in the face of her sharp, often sarcastic remarks creates an engaging push-and-pull dynamic that keeps the story moving. Finn is effortlessly charming, and his persistence in forming a genuine connection with Ava is both heartwarming and humorous. The first three-quarters of the book fly by with ease, offering a light and entertaining read. Yet, Stone also weaves in moments of depth and realism, touching on the complexities of human relationships and self-discovery.

Overall, The Friendship Fling is a fun, heartfelt read that balances humor with authenticity. It’s a story about letting people in, even when it feels impossible, and embracing connections that can change us in the most unexpected ways.

My sincerest thanks to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, Georgia Stone, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is an opposites attract with slow burn. Ava is an anti social introvert and Finn is a social golden retriever. As a tentative friendship begins to form, Finn convinces Ava to help him with his London bucket list. I like how the author took care in having Finn gain Ava’s trust. Through this slow burn, you soon realize that they both have although different struggles, they are struggles just the same. It was great to read both MC’s walls coming down. Where I struggled with this book was with pacing. It felt like just when momentum was building, it would slow down to the point of lagging. The premise of the bucket list was great but I felt author didn’t capitalize on this aspect of the story enough. I’m normally a fast reader but this one took me longer as I struggled with finishing it.

I love a friends-to-lovers arc- this is no secret. And The Friendship Fling absolutely smashed it. I was obsessed with Ava and Finn from the moment we were introduced to her and the reverse grumpy-sunshine dynamic between her and Finn. This book was so perfectly British in the best way!

This book made it more than easy to keep turning the pages and stay invested in these characters. Finn falls way first and I was so here for it. It was adorable to watch him be so patient with Ava and to take the time to grow their friendship. He was so determined to be there for her and I loved it so much.

This book was a joy to read. It’s a story of friendship and love and the peace that comes from finding a home both within yourself and with a partner. It’s an ode to being independent but also finding comfort in being with someone, which is so beautiful.

Thank you to HarperCollins and Harper Perennial for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Friendship Fling was a cute read! I love Finn; I wish I had a friend as golden-retriever-esque as him. His struggles with neglect and wanting to take care of everyone resonated with me greatly. I also related a lot to Ava's more pessimistic/realistic outlook on life, and I loved the balance they brought each other.

Giving this book three stars because I had a hard time maintaining interest in it due to the pacing, but I still think it's a good fit for a lot of other readers, and I hope to read more of Georgia Stone in the future :)

ok after a slow start I ended up loving this book! huge friends to lovers girl and this was well done. loved the london setting. loved the MMC sunshine and FMC grumpy vibes. loved how patient he was. the tension and slow burn was great!

Love love love London! Also the cover for this book is stunning! I think it’s a new cover or for the U.S. edition? I’m not sure how the editions work but it’s gorgeous. I had fun experiencing London through this book and I’ve been craving a cozy romance book for a while so I was super excited to receive this ARC. Unfortunately I couldn’t connect with Ava but I think that’s because I’m not a Hinge user and have a hard time relating to that. I did love Josie and the representation she brought to the story. Having her was unique and I liked that she didn’t fall into the “quirky bff and roommate” cliche trope so many other books have because I’ve been getting burned out from those characters. Also loved Finn, in love with Finn, want Finn LOL I liked him from the second he appeared in the book!