Easy as Pie

Sweater Weather #5

by Carina Taylor

My best friend is back in town—and I refuse to let my pesky attraction to him ruin our friendship.

Tripp Sharpe and I have been best friends since middle school. And when he moved away to go to medical school and become a doctor? We’ve kept up by texting, phone calls, and every funny reel we come across.

I have one simple rule for myself: protect our friendship at all costs—even from myself.

But when Tripp moves back to town, I can't ignore the attraction I feel. If it were anyone else, I’d just avoid him. But it's hard to avoid a guy who thinks we're still the same ol' besties we've always been.

Or are we? It turns out some things have changed for him too.

Maybe I'm imagining the long stares, the lingering touches, or the flimsy excuses to spend time together, despite his ridiculous schedule.

And when Tripp asks me to show him how I like to kiss? It seems like I’m not the only one blasting through our friendship rules…

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers, Clean Romance, Fiction, Rom Com, Audiobook

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 28, 2023

Reviews

[Oceana Reads Co. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, chill romance. Not a stand out but nothing wrong with it either.
Best friends to lovers trope

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a cute friends to lovers romance. The heroine was a mechanic and the hero a doctor. Sweet, but nothing stand-out. I enjoyed it.

Audio book source: Hoopla
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: Christopher Rourke & Lorana Hoopes
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 6h 14m

[Elizabeth]

DNF at 35%.

It's not grabbing my attention enough. Plus, she's had a crush on him for a while but chooses to avoid him rather than telling him. The reason you might not say you're crushing on your friend is you're afraid of losing him. But she's losing him by avoiding him. Enh. I don't care enough to keep going.

[Alysha (For The Love of Christian Fiction) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carina Taylor is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine! She writes the most fun character interactions and the friendships that build first are always worth the romance wait.

Hazel was such a great character! I loved that she was comfortable in her own skin and personality! She was just as at ease in a pair of coveralls as she was in an evening gown. Watching her come to realize that she wanted more than being stuck in one place her whole and moving past that fear was *chef’s kiss*

Tripp was such a sweet character! To him just being a best friend to realizing he had feeellliinngss! Adorable! We love a man who takes care of her when she’s sick…

I do wish they had confessed their feelings to themselves & to each other a little earlier in the book. (But that’s my greedy romance loving heart talking) It did make sense for the length of the their friendship and the fears that Hazel was facing.

There were so. many. amazing. swoon worthy. moments in this book! And I think they will all live rent free in my head! But Chapter 33 will take one of the top spots…

Allssooo I liiiveee for friends & family calling best friends getting together! 😆

Really it was adorable and Y’ALL THE FORGET ME TWICE CAMEOS WERE EVERYTHING!

4.5/5 stars

[Susan Z (webreakforbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy As Pie is a sweet clean LOL romcom with 2 amazing MCs. Written in both POVs, Hazel and Tripp are such great characters. I'll even forgive Tripp for hating on kettle corn (what the what?)

Hazel is a boss babe, working as a mechanic, and I loved seeing such a strong capable woman. Tripp is an amazing successful doctor. They have been friends since middle school. In the last year of college Hazel started to be attracted to Tripp. In an effort to protect their friendship, she went into avoidance mode, only conversing via text and phone and avoiding in person encounters. That was super easy until Tripp returned to their small hometown.

Read this if you love
♥️Friends to Lovers
♥️Small towns
♥️Strong women
♥️Multi POV
♥️AMAZING characters

[Jake Fraser · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately not my favourite in the series.

The plot in general was not 5 stars for me (listening to them referring to each other as their best friend every five minutes… I didn’t love Hazel in this… Etc.)… but I could have given it three stars. However, there were so many sentence errors (extra words that didn’t get edited out) that made re-reading these lines more frustrating. And it got worse near the end.

I was curious if this was just a quick write and maybe not edited as well as her others? I’m not sure how fast this series came together…but I actually think I would try her again in hopes that I would enjoy another story and the editing wouldn’t frustrate me.

[Angie Miale · Rating 4 out of 5]

That soulmate I’ve been looking for? I couldn’t find her because I already had her. And I don’t wanna let this chance pass me up. I’m going to do everything I can to convince her that we stand a chance.

Small town, best friends to lovers sweet romance. He’s an emergency room doctor, she’s an auto mechanic. Hazel and Tripp are a great addition to this series.

She’s a recovering people pleaser. He has a critical father. No spice but so much chemistry!!

[Amy | Foxy Blogs · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

EASY AS PIE
● Hazel & Tripp
● mechanic / ER doctor
● childhood best friends to lovers
● he is back in town
● they organized a silent auction for dates

Audiobook source: Hoopla
Narrator: Christopher Rourke & Lorana Hoopes
Length: 6h 14m

[Cait | GoodeyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

FLIPPIN’ CUTE.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM

That’s the vibe of this whole book. It put a smile on my face and I adored Tripp and Hazel. There’s all of that easy banter that comes with having a best friend plus the slow realization that those best friend vibes have turned into something deeper.

The flirting was top notch and I loooved all of the micro tropes. Taking care of someone when they’re sick is always a romantic highlight. And the jealousy? I’m not sorry that those scenes turn me into a PUDDLE. THE TENSION. I loved the doctor and mechanic careers and how those played into the story. I loved the side characters and the absolute it’s always been you moments.

It’s a short, read in a day kind of book. It’s light and loving and easily one I would recommend for the fall.

Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of loss of a parent due to cancer, neglectful parents

[Suzan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy As Pie was absolutely adorable! I knew from the hilarious first chapter I was going to love it, and it did not disappoint. From beginning to end, it was just so good!

Hazel and Tripp are so darn cute together! I loved both of their personalities, their chemistry, and their banter. Honestly, I loved everything about this gem of a story!

l really loved:
💙 Friends to lovers
🧡 Reunited friends
💙 So many lol moments
🧡 Mechanic FC
💙 Doctor MC
🧡 Haunted corn maze
💙 Floyd, Henry, and Jean
🧡 Not today, Satan!
💙 The first kiss
🧡 The auction
💙 Soulmates
🧡 It’s always been you
💙 Fall vibes

Easy As Pie is part of the fabulous Sweater Weather Series but can be read as a standalone.

This is my first book by Carina Taylor, and I will definitely be reading her backlist of books.

⚠️ Triggers: Loss of a parent due to cancer, neglectful parents.

[THE PETITE LIBR☆RY · Rating 2 out of 5]

Look, I knew I wouldn’t like this almost immediately, but because I love to suffer, I went through with it anyway.

✿ CHILDHOOD FRIENDS TO LOVERS
✿ OPPOSITES ATTRACT
✿ MISCOMMUNICATION
✿ CLOSED DOOR/CLEAN
✿ SMALL TOWN
✿ HEA

Portions of this made no sense to me. Hazel and Tripp kept referring to each other as “best friends” ad nauseam, but they’ve hardly spoken in years. They’ve not even laid eyes on each other in years, per Tripp. Best friends, where? They barely even speak once they reconnect, as Hazel goes out of her way to actively avoid Tripp due to her own misplaced insecurities.

Hazel is known as this huge trouble maker, engaging in illegal activities in high school + college (street races, vandalism, graffiti), and stumbling through life in general as a big ol’ slacker. Because she’s “not like other girls,” she works at her dad’s mechanic + towing business and only hangs out with the older men she works with, of course. She’s all, “oh, I’m such a wild card and perpetual bad influence.” Girl, you can’t even speak up for yourself, and your life consists of long days at work and coffee shop visits. She was a walking contradiction and her character was peculiar to me because what we were told did not match what we were shown.

Idk if this was just bad writing or if it was just not my favorite flavor. It reminded me of a Hallmark movie, and as I’m not a Hallmark girlie, I couldn’t get with it.

[Elysia · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Thank you @carinataylorauthor for my gifted copy of Easy As Pie. 

Favorite Quote: 

"Because one thing's for sure - I'll never be able to look at my best friend the same again."

My Bookish Thoughts: 

Tripp and Hazel are adorable!! I absolutely loved their banter and enjoyed watching them discover their true feelings for each other. The cherry on top was how many times this book had me laughing out loud! 

Read If You Love: 

5️⃣The Sweater Weather Series 
🍁Fall Vibes
🏘️Small Town Romance
👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻Best friends to Lovers
😂RomComs that make you laugh
🤓Closed Door Romance

[Morgan Giesbrecht · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was I choking back laughter the very first chapter? Yes. Yes, I was.

Honestly, if you’re looking for a good laugh, this is definitely a book that will tickle your funny bone. The hiking scene just about killed me. 😂😂

I loved the small town ER doctor & a female mechanic dynamic. And Hazel’s retired mechanic friends of her dad’s she meets for coffee are purely adorable.


Content: mild language & innuendo

[Courtney | Bookish Beach Babe · Rating 4 out of 5]

♡ 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙨 ♡
•tampon debacle
•dodgeball
•childhood friends
•he takes care of her
•hot doctor
•best friends to lovers
•nicknames
•kissing lessons
•”she’s mine.”
•stuck in closets
•archie and meyer!

“𝘐’𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘸𝘩𝘰’𝘴 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥.”

tripp and hazel — these two cuties were just that — CUTE! loved their banter and their easy friendship even though hazel was all avoid, avoid, avoid. i love friendships that can just pick up where they left off with years in between seeing each other and that was these two. the chemistry was adorable and their history was the sweetest. it was fun getting to check in with one of my favorite couples — archie and meyer! i also loved seeing other characters from the sweater weather series. if you love friends to lovers, i highly recommend this easy as pie, adorable read!

romance: kisses

thank you to the author for the gifted book. my thoughts are my own.

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

How did I fall completely head-over-heels for this book? I'll tell you how--one swoony, zinger of a line at a time.

Tripp, who was a side character in Forget Me Twice, which I just happened to have read, gets his own story and I couldn't be more thrilled! Archie and Meyer (the MCs from FMT) showed up in this story and I just knew it was going to be amazing (I was right). I love it when books cross over like that (and no, you don't have to read that one first).

Tripp and Hazel have been best friends for years--childhood friends--and a sweet, chemistry-filled friends-to-love is just what the doctor ordered for them...haha...get it? Tripp is a doctor.

It was refreshing to see these characters play such unconventional and wonderful roles. Hazel is a town mechanic and Tripp left this small town to become a doctor and is back for a time, but he's such a great, sympathetic, and totally hot man now. I laughed way too hard at their first meeting in years, and the laughs just kept coming. In fact, Hazel is easy to relate to:

"I do one of those ugly snort-laughs that live rent-free in your bank of embarrassing memories for the rest of your life."

But in all seriousness, this book lives on and on rent-free in my mind because I'm obsessed with it. I love Harvest Hollow so much. Other things to love:
🍁The hiking scene
🍁The dating auction/benefit event
🍁The solid friendship with vibrant hints of attraction
🍁The breakfast friends
🍁Things said while sick
🍁K-I-S-S-I-N-G
🍁The connection/soulmates
🍁Easy as pie

"I've wondered what it would be like to kiss you."

I love Carina Taylor's writing style and this book will be stamped on my heart for a long time to come.

Content/TW: neglectful parents, off page loss of parent (cancer); mild language; mild romance (kissing, some innuendo, swoon)

*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*

[Ashlee (bookswithnopictures) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can people even be friends these days without communicating mostly in reels and gifs? Hazel and Tripp were childhood best friends who have lately communicated solely through images and videos back and forth between Oregon and North Carolina. Tripp is back though and Hazel struggles to push those unwanted and unrequited feelings for him back down where they belong. Tripp has never seen Hazel as anything other than a friend so why does she suddenly seem like everything he's ever wanted?
There was so much to love about this book. Hazel and Tripp are fun - and funny! - with plenty of banter and history. I will never lack appreciation for a MMC taking care of the FMC while she's ill. Hazel's job as a mechanic combined with her love of floral shoes and coffee really made me adore her. I could easily picture this read fitting right in to a Stars Hollow side plot.
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

Why it wasn't a five star:
I think some plot was left unexplored (for example: Tripp's relationship with his parents) but otherwise it was a really fun and easy first read from Carina and I will happily pick up another book from her.

[noithinknot · Rating 1 out of 5]

Note to Self.

Very poor chemistry. Conversations did nots make sense at all. There seemed to be missing dialogues or backstory to lead up or explain what was happening. I have no idea why Hazel was ever upset, and the whole reason why they couldn’t be together did not make sense.

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just couldn’t get into this one.

Also the amount of times the two main characters referred to the other as their “best friend” gave me vanderpump rules flashbacks to Sheana Shay constantly calling the guys she was dating her “best friend” every 5 seconds.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reader’s Notes:

– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone

– this is told from Hazel & Tripp’s points of view

– Carina Taylor’s readers first met Tripp in Forget Me Twice, but you don’t have to read it to enjoy this story

– there are about 2 curse/not nice words

– there is some innuendo/suggestive remarks

– Hazel’s mother passed away from ovarian cancer (past event)

– Tripp’s father doesn’t have a good relationship with him due to Tripp not doing what his father believed he should with his life (neglectful; condescending)

– there is a scene that describes an injury’s blood & look for a sentence or two

– Hazel ends up seen by a few people without her pants on after an incident that required she remove them (with a big/long/baggy sweater on though)

Review:

Can I just fangirl all over this book!?!? Not only does the character art on the cover completely encapsulate Hazel to a T, but she’s even more entertaining that I expected! I loved her so so much with how relatable she is and how much she is averse to hiking. I loved that scene immensely, especially with parts of it being told from both of their points of view! I loved getting Tripp’s ‘there goes Hazel again’ thoughts along with Hazel’s ‘he will die a horrible death for trying to get me to do this’ mentality. And having them be best friends since they were kids was especially entertaining as it added in their shared history and inside knowledge to their developing romance. I also enjoyed the fact that Hazel was made to go against the flow of expectations through just about everything. From being a mechanic to managing to cause chaos to a certain infuriating small town inhabitant. I loved so many of the scenes in this book, and the final kiss & getting into a relationship together moments were absolute perfection!

Summary:

Hazel wants to always have her friendship with Tripp, and when she starts to feel feelings that have no place in a friendship, she is determined to give herself enough space to keep those feelings down. But staying away from Tripp is nearly impossible since he is expecting nothing to be different in their friendship and he can tell things about Hazel that most others can’t see. With her feelings continuing to grow, it’s only a matter of time before Tripp catches on. But when Tripp appears to be interested back, Hazel doesn’t know how to process the change to their friendship status…

Tripp always knew Hazel was special and like home to him. He never felt fully settled in any place, no matter how much he liked it because it didn’t have his best friend there with him. What Tripp didn’t realize was that his feelings for Hazel went deeper than just a friendship. That is, until he witnesses other guys that aren’t worthy of Hazel flirting with her and asking her on dates right in front of him. Tripp is determined to show Hazel what she means to him, how much he wants the best for her, and why he is the person for her…

[LESLIE J (mrsj_readsbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to Carina Taylor for my complimentary copy of Easy as Pie. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved this book. This is my first foray into the Sweater Weather Series and it won’t be my last. It is the 5th book in the series, but may be read as a stand alone.
I knew I was in for a good time from the dedication “For the ones who see a hill and have zero urge to hike it”

From the opening scene in the drug store through the grand gesture at the end, this book is pure romance heaven. Hazel is so relatable with her thoughts on women’s pants and low ponytails. So many laugh out loud moments.

So much swoon in this book:
The ferris wheel
The hike
The flu
The hand incident
Don’t get me started on Chapter 33 💋❤️💋

Tripp and Hazel are couple goals for my next life.
Best friends forever, not sure how the other feels about moving to the next level, but brave enough, eventually , to take the next step.

Do yourself a favor and add this one to you Fall reading list.

Perfect if you enjoy:
Sweet Romance
Closed Door with sizzle
Kisses
Best friend
Small Town

[adeela_books ❁ཻུ۪۪ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4 stars ⭐️

✨️ 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔/𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
• high school best friends to lovers
• it's always been you
• secret pining
• small town w fall vibes 🍂
• Sweater Weather series 🍁
• Doctor mmc x Mechanic fmc
• takes care of her when she's sick

“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐇𝐚𝐳𝐞𝐥.
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞.”

💌⁀➷

When I first met Tripp in FORGET ME TWICE (Carina's first book I'd read and loved) I already liked him a lot and wanted to see his own story or at least a HEA and I'm glad we got to see it in EAP. Hazel & Tripp were so cute and made the ultimate friends to lovers trope.

The fact that Meyer and Archie had some cameos in here tied it together sweetly.
There were some moments from Hazel where I related to her. I also liked that she was this badass mechanic chic, but Tripp owned the book and made a great book bf ❤️

Overall, the cute fall small town vibes were fun, and it made an alright read. Just maybe it could have been a bit shorter, imo Other than that, it was cool.

🕊 @𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐚_𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐧
𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬𝐭𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐭𝐨𝐤 🕊

[Audiophile Archives · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calling Hallmark, have I got a book for you to adapt! This was adorably clean, with two equally yoked MCs that you instantly love. This is book #5 in the 'Sweater Weather' in a new-to-me series and I sit here in my favorite fall weather sweater with a grin. It may be March, but it's always sweater weather for Harvest Hollow fans!

He's a disappointment for his dad, choosing to be an ER doc rather than a surgeon (cardio is dad's preference) like pop. She's a mechanic like her dad and aspires to be a better mechanic. They've been best friends since grade school and since graduating HS, she been avoiding seeing/hanging out with him because Hazel realized she has an attraction for Tripp as they were headed off to separate colleges. He's back in town after 2 years and he's finally seeing the adult Hazel as beautiful and always has made life more interesting and fun.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friendship is Feeling Like Love !! . . .

Tripp Sharpe had left Harvest Hollow to become a doctor, leaving his best friend behind (but definitely not forgotten). Now he is back to work as their new ER doctor. Hazel Preston values their lifelong friendship, so when he returns and she recognizes the strong feelings she still has for him, she has to stay away or she will break her rules of friendship and lose him. The more she avoids him, the harder it becomes because he values their friendship too. But his behavior is different and it feels like he is actually interested in more than a friendship! Is he ready to take their friendship into something more? Is she willing to give it a try? Or are they afraid to lose each other if they begin to fall in love?

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

I loved Hazel and Tripp from the beginning and returning to Harvest Hallow. I really enjoy exploring fictional worlds brought to life by authors in their writing. This series has books written by a mix of authors and it adds some variety to the stories. Normally I prefer a series written by just one author but I don't mind this on occasion.

Friends to something more works for me, I enjoyed the theme. I'm just surprised they didn't realize that they were perfect for each other before now. Although they haven't seen much of each other for a few years, I love how they just pick up where the left off when they see each other again.

I wonder what's next in the series....?

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this sweet friends to lovers small town romance set in the Harvest Hollow/Sweater Weather series universe. I'd been waiting for this one to come out on audio and it didn't disappoint. Mechanic, Hazel and ER doctor, Tripp are finally reunited and it's like they'd never been separated. The two work together to help pull off a Fall Festival date auction event and have to figure out if they want to risk their friendship for a chance at something more. The dual narration by
Christopher Rourke & Lorana Hoopes was excellent and this kissing only romance delivered all the cozy autumn vibes I was looking for!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so fun! It's the first book that I have read by this author and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more. There was, at first, unrequited love. Then, eventually there was mutual pining, as these two best friends were scared to test the waters and see if the other was interested. Until that closet scene...Whew! Cue the swoony moments.

There were lots of great things to enjoy in this story and it definitely had many comedic moments. I'm excited to go back and read the book with Tripp's other best friend, Archie, in it, too.

I own the print book, however, I ended up listening to the audio book through my library. The narrators did a good job with the story and I really enjoyed listening to it. Easy as Pie was another fun story in the Sweater Weather series!

(One note about the audio book that I listened to from my library - chapter 26 ended after a few sentences and skipped to chapter 27. It wasn't a huge problem for me since I own a print copy. I just read the remainder of the missing chapter and then started the audio book back up again. This may simply be a problem with the copy that my library has and not an overall issue.)

(4.5 stars)

[Ashley Jeffcoat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It had me laughing out loud from the very beginning (hello hilariously embarrassing story involving tampons)! Love the banter between Hazel and Tripp! It’s Stars Hollow meets Hallmark vibes and I am here for it!

[Ellie Osterholt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was expecting more pie in this story (as the title mentions), but honestly I’m not too upset about it. This was the first “friends to lovers” trope I’ve read and I’m so happy that it was because it was just that good. Super sweet, somewhat realistic, and a whole lot of angst. We love to see it 🥰

[Rose | Adventurous Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was well worth the read.

4 Stars

Content: kissing

[Autumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

i liked it! it was cute! but it didn’t really pull me in like most books do. i didn’t like the whole randomly attracted stuff