Just Friends

This book was EVERYTHING!! I absolutely adored Hazel and Alex! This was so cute and heartfelt. I loved the tropes (um boy falls first and harder? yes please) and the writing was amazing!
I haven't read the other books in this series but I absolutely need them now!!

This book is the epitome of a perfect romantic comedy.

Hazel is ready to put herself out there after the abrupt end of her last long-term relationship. Her best friend Alex is ready to help, but how much can you really help when you’re in love with your best friend?

Madison Wright does an amazing job of character-building in this novel. Each character has the support of their family, who anxiously await the moment Alex and Hazel admit their feelings for each other. I admire the fact that Alex does not immediately drop the love bomb on Hazel. He respects her enough to wait until she has found her footing again.

I love the character dynamic, not just between Hazel and Alex, but between their family and friends as well. The witty banter between the main characters and their loved ones reminds me of how I joke around with the people who know me best in my life.

This novel gave me the warm and fuzzies.

I want to extend a huge thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this beautiful novel.

Thank you NetGalley for gifiting me a copy of this book.

This book was everything. I don't understand how come I haven't heard of this author and series before. It was the big hug I didn't know I needed.

Hazel and Alex are the CUTEST. I was smiling throughout the entire book.

I found that, for once, the main characters didn't have reg flags? Or at least I didn't see them. Usually, there is this one thing that you just look past if you loved the book, but here it wasn't the case. They both have the sweetest souls.

There are several moments that stuck with me, but I'm only going to share one quote that I think will give you a glimpse of the spirit of this book.

"I'll go anywhere with you, Hazel Lane"

It may seem too cheesy or just simple but when you know the characters, it sure isn't.

I would 100% recommend this book and I'll definitely try at least another book of this author in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC copy of this book to read and review. All of these thoughts and comments are my own.

I really loved this. It was so cute and very fast pace. I couldn’t put it down. I love the characters. I loved the plot. I just really loved this book.

I think my favorite thing though is that this book didn’t have a big fight towards the end like most romance novels do. There was no “making up”. Don’t get me wrong those moments are cute too but this book was just a breath of fresh air. It was literally two friends figuring out if being more than friends would work for them.

This was a fun read and I think if you like quick little romance reads then this book would be perfect for you.

5 stars!

Just Friends by Madison Wright is the third book in the Just Us series but could be read as a stand alone. Hazel Lane and Alex Bates are best friends. Hazel has her heart broken and has sworn off men for the last year, except Alex of course, they spend almost all their free time together. Hazel decides it’s time to put herself back in the dating world but she’s scared she’ll pick the wrong guy again. She asks Alex to set her up with blind dates and in return she’ll do the same for him. They can even go on these blind dates together and then get ice cream after to discuss their potential new partners! Only problem, Alex doesn’t want to date anyone but Hazel.
This was such a fun and swoony friends to lovers romance! Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down, this is fast paced and joyful! Hazel and Alex’s friendship is the type everyone dreams about. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to going back and reading the others in this series. Just Friends is a closed door romance but still has plenty of chemistry and heat! I only wish we got more chapters of Hazel and Alex together as a couple however, the epilogue was perfect!

-dual POV
-he falls first
-friends to lovers
-witty banter
-only one bed
-no third act breakup
-slow burn
-closed door

Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was everything I needed and more. I am a friends to lovers STAN! It is my favorite troupe, and then add in the boy falls first….swoon!

This book was my first of Madison, and it is safe to say I will be reading the other two books to find out the love stories of the amazing side characters!

This is the feel good SLOW BURN book you have been looking for!!

- Slow Burn
- Friends to Lovers
- He falls for her first
- Forced Proximity

I am OBSESSED! Some parts made me laugh out loud in this book. I loved their chemistry. What a quick and sweet read.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this book!

Ahhh, this was just so cute! I loved everything about it! Just Friends is the third book in Madison Wright’s Nashville is Calling. Hazel and Alex were just perfect together and I loved reading about them. This was just a wonderful book!
Hazel’s character felt so relatable. She was just trying her best and she wanted someone to love her for who she was. She was also dealing with insecurites from the past and they weighed her down at times. I loved her relationship with Alex and how he understood her. It was cool to read about Hazel finding herself and the confidence to believe in herself. Hazel had to learn to take a step of faith even when it was hard.
Alex was such a sweetheart. I loved how deeply he cared for Hazel and how he truly wanted what would make her happy. He understood her and he was willing to stand by her. Alex had to figure out what it meant to love Hazel and how to be brave when it came to Hazel.
I loved Hazel and Alex’s relationship and how they completed each other. Friends to lovers can be such a sweet troupe and this one was just perfect. Their relationship made sense and they had to learn what it would look like if their relationship changed. I also adore the side characters. It was fun to see old characters and to see hints of characters that deserve their own books.
Just Friends is a lovely book and a must read! I would definitely recommend it! Just Friends is a closed door romantic comedy. There are a couple of innuendos and suggestive language.


I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

This was SO wholesome and genuine, and I am absolutely always a sucker for friends-to-lovers but when the friendship itself is so great? Give me 100.

I feel like Hazel is alarmingly oblivious, but also I would be a hypocrite if I said it was unbelievable because the almost intentional cluelessness is very on brand for me specifically. Also, Alex just genuinely wants to be a good friend to her so it makes sense that she sees that as its own separate brand of kindness.

Their signals to each other and the way they’re so in tune to what the other needs (while also really not getting each other at all) is so adorable and I loved the little glimpses into the solidity of their friend hi even when they were doubting each other and themselves.

When ANOTHER relationship ends badly, Hazel packs up her bags and moves from LA to Nashville to be closer to her brother, and her brothers wife’s older brother, Alex - who she developed an instant friendship with a year prior. After agreeing to set each other up on blind dates, it becomes increasingly obvious that Alex is in love with Hazel - obvious to everyone EXCEPT her. Eventually, Hazel starts to realize that their friendship is changing and that she has feelings for Alex too - but are they willing to risk the “what if it doesn’t work out?”

Madison Wright always draws me in with her stories - but I looooved watching Hazel and Alex’s story unfold. It was the “will they or won’t they” for me. Best friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and Madison writes them so well!

I’m hoping that there is secretly more coming about the characters from the Nashvilles Calling series because I am gonna miss them sm 🥹

Thank you to netgalley and the author for the e-arc of this book!

Just Friends by Madison Wright
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book 3 of 3 Just Us Series

arc read
pub date 7/14/2023

Romance/Rom-Com/Contemporary/Medium-Paced/Dual Pov

Rainy day called for laying in bed and finishing up an arc. I know I always put if a book is dual pov in my highlights, but it’s because I absolutely love reading dual pov storylines. Getting into both characters heads is just, chefs kiss for me 🤌🏻

Any whooooo. Let’s talk about this adorable “just friends” it’s literally in the title. With the adorable list of ways to win the girl that are rom com worthy; one bed trope, the vein thing guys do with their arms that we find so hot for some reason?, nature dates, + more.

This whole story line was so heart felt and I could not put it down. I needed to see where this friend ship would go and enjoyed the best friendship banter and over all romantic comedy the book offered while they too watched rom-coms 😆

My last fun fact I love about reading is when the setting takes place somewhere I have been, lived, or really know of. So reading about Nashville TN and The Great Smokey Mountains which has been a second home ever since I was little and somewhere I often visit a lot, made my heart strings happy.

There are also two other stand alones in this series from side characters where you get to see how their relationships came about 🥰

Just Go With It & Just Between Us

I am swooning. This book is such a warm and comfortable read, I just wanna go back and read it all over again. I‘m so thankful I got the opportunity to read an arc on NetGalley.

Alex is such a supporting, gentle and caring guy, who pays attention to the smallest of details in Hazel‘s life. He accepts her as she is and always puts her first. He made me feel lots of warm and fuzzy feelings while reading and gave me the biggest smile sometimes.
And Hazel is one lucky woman, even when she was oblivious to it for most part of the story. She needed time to figure out herself, her past and her wants and I‘m here for it. Don‘t rush a relationship you‘re not 100% sure about!
And both of them together are just perfect. I am not sure if I wanted them to be a couple sooner or the book to just never end.

But one thing I am sure about is: I need an Alex in my life to share sips of his drink with me and watch movies on mondays.

And after finishing this masterpiece I have a sudden urge for icecream ..

Instagram: Booknook_02
Review will be posted friday 23.06.23

"You are sunshine and butterflies and ice cream."

And that is exactly what this book was, too, in all the best ways! Just Friends is a book that makes you giggle, and smile and laugh - I loved the banter and the text messages! - and it also makes you cry and feel all the feels. Every single one of them.

Hazel and Alex are very real with their thoughts and fears and insecurities and they are also there for each other, always, which make them the best of friends. Their love for each other and the joy they share when they are together shines through the pages. I have read many friends-to-lovers books, a lot of them very good ones, but Just Friends manages to go the extra mile to be so much more than just another romcom. It left me crying and smiling with butterflies fluttering in my stomach and I am so happy there are books like this out there in the world.

If I loved it less I might be able to talk about it more.

Holy freaking cow. This book was everything I did not know I NEEDED IN MY LIFE!!! This is the sweetest rom-com ever.

The characters in this book are SO wholesome and seriously you can’t help but smile while reading. I mean a BIG cheesy smile.. because you can not help but LOVE the characters!

Hazel and Alex will forever have my heart. The way their story unfolds is truly perfect. The respect Alex has for her and their friendship makes YOU fall in love with him.

I love all of their friends and family, you truly feel like they are your friends because they are SO relatable and likable!

This book feels like a big warm hug! It is written so perfectly and I can not wait to go and read the other books in this series. I am SAD I did not know about this author before!

So adorable! This friends-to-lovers, “Emma”-inspired, romantic comedy follows Hazel and Alex as they aim to find love by setting each other up on blind dates. This delightful story is filled with butterflies, spring/summer vibes, and angst for JUST ADMIT YOU ARE IN LOVE.

Thank you Madison Write for this love story. Thank you Victory Editing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

4 stars

This was amazing. This is probably my favorite book from the Nashville series because the Tropes were handled 👏 amazingly 👏 and Alex and Hazel were fantastic.
Their friendship was so cute.
The banter was great.
The slow burn was amazing 👏
And... Yes! This is why I adore friends to lovers because you have two characters that know each other so perfectly and that are perfect for each other, but their mutual love won't let them explore how amazing they would be as something more ugh... I love it!!
This was so amazing, and I'd love to say more, but I don't wanna spoil it, so just read it. It's funny and sweet and sooo romantic. Definitely recommend this to everyone.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book by Madison Wright and I enjoyed reading about Alex and Hazel's story. It was like a warm hug.

Hazel has not had the best luck with relationships and when she finally feels ready to date again, she thinks having having Alex and her set each other up will be beneficial to them both. Except for one big problem, Alex is in love with his best friend.

This book has a lot of really sweet and funny moments. You get to see their friendship and a dose of them both longing for each other. If you are like me and were concerned about all the blind dates and asking yourself why don't they just communicate? I will let you know without spoiling anything that the there is so much more to this book than the blind dates aspect and I think the author really did an excellent job at plotting the story out. You get to see the banter, chemistry and how much these two characters care for each other.

The thing I didn't know going into this was that this is a clean and closed door romance book. I I don't usually read these types of books, but I didn't feel deprived. There were still innuendos and mature themes and a teeny bit of heat.

I would recommend especially if you like the following tropes:
-Guy falls first
-Friends to lovers
-Bed sharing
-One partner taking care of the other
-NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP!

My favorite quote :

"Maybe I’ll never be able to get back to the person I was in those photos
on my mirror, but I can be something new, a coalescence of all the bits of
goodness people have given me."

"Just Friends" by Madison Wright explores the intricacies of friendship, love, and the blurry lines in between. Hazel Lane, having recovered from a painful breakup, is ready to venture into the world of dating once again. To navigate the pitfalls of bad dates, she enlists the help of her best friend, Alex Bates, in a plan to set each other up. Little does she know that Alex has been harbouring deeper feelings for her. As their experiment progresses, their emotions become entangled, and the line between friendship and something more becomes increasingly blurred.

Madison Wright crafts a heartfelt story where the characters' internal struggles and the risk of losing a cherished friendship intersect. "Just Friends" delves into the age-old question of whether it's possible to maintain a platonic bond when love is at stake. With genuine emotions and a compelling narrative, this book explores the complexities of relationships and the choices we make in matters of the heart.

I loved book one in this series for it's relatable disability rep and the marriage of convenience and such. Book two I also enjoyed. But this? Book three? I LOVED IT!! Another book proving to me that friends to love is becoming my fave trope. The dual POV, the pining, and he falls first?! Amazing. Want to live in it.

5⭐
Thank you Madison and NetGalley for the ARC!

Just Friends is that book you read to remind you that all romances don't have to be tall dark and broody. They must be tall and dark..😂😂👌 but perhaps the sweet ones really are where the magic lays sometimes 🖤🖤

A Quick Preview: After ending yet another emotionally damaging relationship, successful artist Hazel has decided to move to Nashville, TN. The bachelorette party city has more than just close proximity to family though.. Hazel meets Alex and they quickly cement the sweetest of friendships. When Hazel decides she's ready to date again, Alex decides to prove he's her best bet a truly happy future.

THOUGHTS:
- So much of Just Friends is so sweet and honestly exactly what I needed while laying in the bath with a glass of wine and my German Shepherd, Thunder, dropping his ball in the bath for me to throw every few minutes!!

- One of the things I love about this story too is that friends and family are supportive. If you've ever been in a relationship where people aren't supporting you, you know how tough that is!!

- The difference between people's views on relationships when they come from happy families vs. distant families is so interesting!! If you've ever found yourself dating someone who was raised VERY differently than you (I'm currently married to someone like that)- you'll really love how Alex and Hazel's relationship blossoms!

- It also brings me back to my stance that I don't think men and women can really ever be just friends if they're of the same s3xual orientation! I know a lot of people will argue that but I have NEVER in real life see it work out!! And that's ok - because I really feel like the best relationships are also the best friendships!! 🖤🖤

FAVORITE QUOTE:
"Men tend to think women find certain things desirable, when in actuality, what we want is something very different" - Truth.

NOTES:
- Friends to Lovers
- Sweet romance with a bit of spice 🌶️🌶️/5
- Finished this book in about 48 hours because it was just so sweet! Def a perfect summer binge read.
- CWs: Cheating is mentioned but not between the main characters
- Third book in the series and all of them have been SO stinking cute!!

**Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

Did I read this in one sitting? Yes. Did I have the biggest, cheesiest smile on the entire time? Also, yes. If I had one word for this book, it would be sweet. So sweet and genuine and wholesome I teared up multiple times. Admittedly, I’m weak for friends to lovers, but Hazel and Alex were just *perfect* together.

Ideal for fans of People We Meet on Vacation or the Lovelight Farms series, Just Friends follows the stories of bffs Hazel and Alex as they make the slow transition from besties to more. Hazel’s been burned one too many times by past boyfriends, including her last one who cheated on her and broke her heart, and is hesitant to trust again. Good thing she has her trusty, conveniently attractive best friend Alex by her side, right? Also helpful that Alex would do anything for her. Oh— and he’s been in love with her for years.

When a series of bad blind dates brings the pair closer and closer they need to decide whether to take the jump and risk their friendship for the chance at that perfect, once in a lifetime kind of love.

I absolutely adored the chemistry between these two and thought their relationship progression was extremely natural, especially around Hazel’s insecurities. Alex was so steadfast and patient it truly was the most heartwarming thing. I loved the tender unfolding of their relationship and really appreciated the time the author took to build up the trust (and tension!) between them over the course of the novel. The only downside is it’s *very* closed door, which isn’t really my personal preference for a romance book. But overall Just Friends is a wonderfully sweet and tender romance between two people who truly love and care for each other, and I’m so glad I got the chance to read it prior to release!

"maybe you make me want to be someone good, hazel lane." I BLUSHED!

i loved this book. they were such a cute couple. made me giggle how every single movie that hazel and alex played were classic friends to lovers movies. as a romcom lover it made me so happy.

i think one of my favorite parts of this book was when hazel got concussed and alex ditched his date so fast to go and take care of hazel. he then continued to make sure he got all the info from the doctor and told hazel he was going to take care of her. LIKE HE READ EMMA TO HER! oh wow. i gasped. the way he didn't even think twice about reading the book to her fav movie. that right there is a man. a real man. i will always eat up mmc's taking care of the fmc when they are sick or hurt. i just love the vulnerable super soft overprotective side that comes out.

side not but i LOVED lucy. she is so me and every single other romance reader actually. it was very accurate LOL. i hope she gets her own book because i will absolutely eat that up.

anyways enough rambling... i really enjoy how easy to read and straight forward this series has been. i've been able to read them fairly quickly and have enjoyed them so much! there's no unnecessary bits or scenes and i appreciated it.


thank you netgalley for providing me with this arc <3

This book was absolutely stunning! It's rare for a romance book to give my a book hangover but I def feel like this book will give me one! The tension and chemistry! The butterflies (in my stomach AND all the butterfly references and the reasons for them in the book!!!!🥹)! There were so many wonderful aspects/tropes in this book! Just Friends is a slow burn, friends to lovers, dual POV, he falls first, WITH NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP!🥳 I mean what more could someone want out of a rom-com!

I'm not always the biggest fan of friends to lovers romances but this one was GREAT because we got to see when they met in the prologue, we got to see them become friends (chapter 1), and then we were thrown forward to the point in time when Alex had already fallen for Hazel! I thought that was a super interesting plot movement because I usually think of friends to lovers as the FMC and MMC already being friends, but here we got to see it all!

I didn't know this was a part of a series, but can def be read as a standalone BUT I cannot WAIT to read the other books that came before this! I think Madison Wright will be an auto-buy author for me from now on! I cannot wait for everyone to be able to get their hands on this book!🥹🥳