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Friends Like This #11
Always Like This
The final chapter of the Friends Like This series, featuring POVs from all six of the best friends as the move into the next chapter of their lives.
This is a direct continuation of the first ten books in the series. If you haven't read them yet, please go back to the beginning and jump on the roller coaster in Friends Like This.
This is a direct continuation of the first ten books in the series. If you haven't read them yet, please go back to the beginning and jump on the roller coaster in Friends Like This.
440 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 19, 2024
About the author
Bethany Monaco Smith
45 books215 followersBethany Monaco Smith is a writer-mom. When she’s not busy hanging with her boys, she’s writing cozy small town romances with lots of heart, a bit of steam, and all the feels. She loves happily-ever-afters and cries at every emotional moment, whether reading, writing, or watching. When she’s not mom-ing or writing, you can find her binge-reading on Kindle Unlimited, spending too much time on Instagram, and supporting fellow indie authors. Bethany survives on coffee, rewatching the same TV shows over and over, and her KU subscription. She lives in the Southern Tier of NY with her husband and two sons. You can find out more about Bethany and what she’s working on next on Instagram @bethanymonacosmith
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 19, 2024
Beautifully Messy and absolutely the perfect end! 🥰😭
Always Like This by Bethany Monaco Smith
This book. This series. This author. These freaking characters. Never has a series had a hold on me the way this one does! It's 11 books total, it's a long time! It's bittersweet. I am so sad to see this series come to a close, but the end is so incredibly beautiful! While this book is not without its ups and downs, the growth in these characters is absolutely breathtaking. Watching them go through life's challenges and process things, seeing them handle it now and knowing how they used too. Seeing all the changes. They're all grown up! It's real life. It's love and loss. It's learning to pick up the pieces and realize life goes on. It's navigating life as an adult. Entering parenthood. Learning to balance all the things. Work, family, friends, etc. It's learning your strength and knowing when to lean on others. It's the light in the darkness. There is not a situation any of these friends have gone through that you yourself haven't gone through or will, or someone you know has. It's relatable. It's gut-wrenching and healing. Buckle up because this final ride is emotional (did you really think it wouldn't be?!) But it is so worth the ride! Minus that one part that I'm still not okay with Bethany! But that's what makes this book so worth it. Its real. It's life and some things can't be prevented. It can help you through the hardest times. Maybe you've lost someone, or you're struggling with your mental health, you've had an injury or life has just gone in a different direction. Just to know you aren't alone. And while yes it's a book, it's real life stuff. You laugh, cry, scream! Utterly sob! Maybe throw your phone, jump for joy, swoon. Literally feel all the feels and then some! This series is 1000% a must read! And def must be read in order! I recommend having a box of tissues handy at all times, maybe a paperbag when you start to hyperventilate, lots of snacks, a cozy blanket and maybe a stuffed support animal if you don't have a real one! You will feel ALL the feels! What a close! Hats off to you! Beautifully done Bethany! 🩷 Now I'm going to go cry some more tears! Because this book and this series as a whole was truly everything and more!
I can not wait to see what's next from Bethany! Whatever it is I have no doubt it will be great!
Always Like This by Bethany Monaco Smith
This book. This series. This author. These freaking characters. Never has a series had a hold on me the way this one does! It's 11 books total, it's a long time! It's bittersweet. I am so sad to see this series come to a close, but the end is so incredibly beautiful! While this book is not without its ups and downs, the growth in these characters is absolutely breathtaking. Watching them go through life's challenges and process things, seeing them handle it now and knowing how they used too. Seeing all the changes. They're all grown up! It's real life. It's love and loss. It's learning to pick up the pieces and realize life goes on. It's navigating life as an adult. Entering parenthood. Learning to balance all the things. Work, family, friends, etc. It's learning your strength and knowing when to lean on others. It's the light in the darkness. There is not a situation any of these friends have gone through that you yourself haven't gone through or will, or someone you know has. It's relatable. It's gut-wrenching and healing. Buckle up because this final ride is emotional (did you really think it wouldn't be?!) But it is so worth the ride! Minus that one part that I'm still not okay with Bethany! But that's what makes this book so worth it. Its real. It's life and some things can't be prevented. It can help you through the hardest times. Maybe you've lost someone, or you're struggling with your mental health, you've had an injury or life has just gone in a different direction. Just to know you aren't alone. And while yes it's a book, it's real life stuff. You laugh, cry, scream! Utterly sob! Maybe throw your phone, jump for joy, swoon. Literally feel all the feels and then some! This series is 1000% a must read! And def must be read in order! I recommend having a box of tissues handy at all times, maybe a paperbag when you start to hyperventilate, lots of snacks, a cozy blanket and maybe a stuffed support animal if you don't have a real one! You will feel ALL the feels! What a close! Hats off to you! Beautifully done Bethany! 🩷 Now I'm going to go cry some more tears! Because this book and this series as a whole was truly everything and more!
I can not wait to see what's next from Bethany! Whatever it is I have no doubt it will be great!
July 19, 2024
I’m so sad this series is over. It’s so fun to get to know a group of friends so well! But therefore it’s that much harder to say goodbye! I laughed and cried and loved so hard! I’m gonna miss this group of friends and reading all about them!
July 7, 2024
Frankly, I don’t know how Bethany does it in every single one of her books. This is the most perfect way to wrap up these stories of the 6 best friends. It’s not without its rollercoaster ride and an emotional one at that but it is such a heart warming story as well. I loved the snippets of the future that we continued to see and how these couples grow and love their families is so well done that Bethany is an auto buy author for me no matter what. I am sad to see this friend group go but my hope is that one day we may see them again !
July 17, 2024
Such a beautiful conclusion to the Friends Like This series. Right from book one you knew this series was going to be one that would have you crying like a baby, your stomach in knots, your heartbreaking and at the same time laughing, smiling and feeling all warm and fuzzy. The emotional rollercoaster ride you will be taking is well worth it.
Always Like This sees all six friends, Rae, Aaron, Joel, Miles, Sarah and Kenzie with their significant others and the children they brought into their world. As I read through this book, some tears escaped my eyes and I was not surprised because, in Ms. Smith's style, she has a way of pulling on your heartstrings with the way that she has you relating to the characters in her books. Each of the couples had different life circumstances which saw all of them being there for one another.
From book one you get a feeling that no matter what life was going to throw at any of them, they would be ok. Having this group of close-knit friends, or nonbiological family, has me feeling that everyone would love to have this in their lives. I am sad to see this series come to an end. I can only hope that she will have a new series with the next generation.
Always Like This sees all six friends, Rae, Aaron, Joel, Miles, Sarah and Kenzie with their significant others and the children they brought into their world. As I read through this book, some tears escaped my eyes and I was not surprised because, in Ms. Smith's style, she has a way of pulling on your heartstrings with the way that she has you relating to the characters in her books. Each of the couples had different life circumstances which saw all of them being there for one another.
From book one you get a feeling that no matter what life was going to throw at any of them, they would be ok. Having this group of close-knit friends, or nonbiological family, has me feeling that everyone would love to have this in their lives. I am sad to see this series come to an end. I can only hope that she will have a new series with the next generation.
July 20, 2024
It felt bittersweet reading this book. I loved it because I got to see this amazing group of people I feel I know, and sad because this is it. The final book. Not often does an author let us see our characters lives after their story is over so the fact that Bethany does this, and she does it so well, fills my heart with joy. I cried, I laughed, I fell in love with everyone all over again. Rae and Joel just tip the scales as my favourites. They look after everyone and have perfect mum and dad energy, probably because they’re the OG’s.
To anyone who loves found family, real life situations dealt with realistically, mental health rep and fantastic characters you should pick this series up. It’s fantastic. I’m so glad I found Bethany Monaco Smith. Her stories give me all the emotions and stern looks from my husband reminding me it’s only fiction. The audacity!!!!
Thank you to Bethany and her team for the arc and this is my honest review.
To anyone who loves found family, real life situations dealt with realistically, mental health rep and fantastic characters you should pick this series up. It’s fantastic. I’m so glad I found Bethany Monaco Smith. Her stories give me all the emotions and stern looks from my husband reminding me it’s only fiction. The audacity!!!!
Thank you to Bethany and her team for the arc and this is my honest review.
July 21, 2024
The perfect conclusion
Bittersweet Moment!!! This is the last book of the Friends Like This Series and I am really emotional. I love everything and everyone. It’s the final book but Bethany doesn’t want us to have a normal book, no, this is a roller coaster of emotions like the whole series is. My heart has experienced all stages of emotions. Crying is a fact reading this series and this book too. Extremely happiness for all the characters too. I don’t want to choose but my favorite couple is Aaron and Rae, I love them all, but Aaron and Rae relationship is special and perfectly imperfect. I love how this book show us another side, maturity and how each character has evolved over the years. I don’t want to spoil anything but be sure you have tissues nearby in chapter 13… I was sobbing… and it’s true. The final chapter was absolutely brilliant, I was smiling and reading. Definitely my favorite friends to lovers series ever. My new mantra: “One heartbeat at a time.”
Bittersweet Moment!!! This is the last book of the Friends Like This Series and I am really emotional. I love everything and everyone. It’s the final book but Bethany doesn’t want us to have a normal book, no, this is a roller coaster of emotions like the whole series is. My heart has experienced all stages of emotions. Crying is a fact reading this series and this book too. Extremely happiness for all the characters too. I don’t want to choose but my favorite couple is Aaron and Rae, I love them all, but Aaron and Rae relationship is special and perfectly imperfect. I love how this book show us another side, maturity and how each character has evolved over the years. I don’t want to spoil anything but be sure you have tissues nearby in chapter 13… I was sobbing… and it’s true. The final chapter was absolutely brilliant, I was smiling and reading. Definitely my favorite friends to lovers series ever. My new mantra: “One heartbeat at a time.”
July 28, 2024
It’s taken me a while to come back and review this book, and it isn’t for lack of reading it or that it’s a bad story in any way - it’s that something in it was so close and personal to me that I let my emotions take precedence and have needed to sit with that part of the story for some time. Heed the trigger warnings folks!
The culmination of wrapping up one incredible story that delved over the base of 6 core friends was something to be remembered. Couples, new friendships, new faces? How can you possibly wrap an entire series and feel like there isn’t more?? I guess by knowing the stories throughout will live on, and maybe the author might give some little glimpses in the future? Or maybe not, but a girl can dream!
I truly don’t know how to put the story into words…except to say hold on tight to the friendships you have, and hold on tight to those you love. Open yourself up to a world of possibilities, and let the journey take you where it might. And never forget…Spiral Up.
The culmination of wrapping up one incredible story that delved over the base of 6 core friends was something to be remembered. Couples, new friendships, new faces? How can you possibly wrap an entire series and feel like there isn’t more?? I guess by knowing the stories throughout will live on, and maybe the author might give some little glimpses in the future? Or maybe not, but a girl can dream!
I truly don’t know how to put the story into words…except to say hold on tight to the friendships you have, and hold on tight to those you love. Open yourself up to a world of possibilities, and let the journey take you where it might. And never forget…Spiral Up.
July 19, 2024
Every time I read a book in this series who wonder how can we have another one, but in true Bethany fashion she brings us another fantastic book. This book is packed with that raw emotion and takes us on a rollercoaster that only Bethany can do so perfectly well as I have said before pulls us into the pages that makes us feel as we are in the very essence a part of this friend group that we right there with them feeling everything that they feel. We see the growth in this pack of friends and how they have developed in their friendships and their families and the love that surrounds them. This book as her others is raw and passionate emotion and was such a wonderful way to finish a series.
If you have not yet had a chance to read this series then I would highly recommend you dive in at Book 1, and you honestly wont be disappointed.
If you have not yet had a chance to read this series then I would highly recommend you dive in at Book 1, and you honestly wont be disappointed.
July 21, 2024
Oh. My. Word. I have loved this series and this conclusion made everything inside me go squish. This book is not meant as a standalone and will not make sense if you have not read the other books. This story reads as a very extended epilogue and it is incredibly obvious the author has a special place in her heart for this series.
The friend group (which I would love to be part of!) have known each other for 20 years now. The original 6 friends have invited others into their group. They are now all married. Some have children. They are still so supportive of each other. The book left me both breathless and speechless. I may have teared up multiple times as well.
I am sad to see this series end, but am excited to see what this author writes next. She is a master at emotional stories.
The friend group (which I would love to be part of!) have known each other for 20 years now. The original 6 friends have invited others into their group. They are now all married. Some have children. They are still so supportive of each other. The book left me both breathless and speechless. I may have teared up multiple times as well.
I am sad to see this series end, but am excited to see what this author writes next. She is a master at emotional stories.
July 24, 2024
Wow.
This is a perfect way to finish a series! A beautiful send off for a beautifully imperfect yet perfect group of friends!
The ups and downs, ebbs and flows this entire series has had made me feel like I was there with them for it all. They are like my friends also.
Each book got better and better and this last one is no exception. Highs and lows, heartbreak and joy - all of it told so well and you can tell so much love was put into every word written.
As sad as I am that this series is done, I’m very excited to see what new works Bethany will have for us readers.
Thank you Bethany, thank you for letting us share this great group of friends with us all!
This is a perfect way to finish a series! A beautiful send off for a beautifully imperfect yet perfect group of friends!
The ups and downs, ebbs and flows this entire series has had made me feel like I was there with them for it all. They are like my friends also.
Each book got better and better and this last one is no exception. Highs and lows, heartbreak and joy - all of it told so well and you can tell so much love was put into every word written.
As sad as I am that this series is done, I’m very excited to see what new works Bethany will have for us readers.
Thank you Bethany, thank you for letting us share this great group of friends with us all!
July 19, 2024
I can’t believe this series is actually over. My heart is so happy and broken at the same time. I didn’t want it to end! Bethany closed this series off with a bang. There was so much happiness and of course some rough times but so much love between this friend group and their families! Not to mention a look into the second generation 😍 Aaron, Rae, Sarah, Joel, Miles and Mackie will always hold a special place in my heart 🥰 Bethany, thank you for taking a chance on me and letting me love these characters as much as you do!
July 19, 2024
not ready for goodbye
I am so not ready to say goodbye! I have loved these characters since the very beginning and watching them grow more and more and adding all the extra babies into the mix was fantastic. This one hit harder than most in the emotional department but man was it also so healing. Getting to see them be adults and parents and partners was the best part of a final book with all the characters.
I am so not ready to say goodbye! I have loved these characters since the very beginning and watching them grow more and more and adding all the extra babies into the mix was fantastic. This one hit harder than most in the emotional department but man was it also so healing. Getting to see them be adults and parents and partners was the best part of a final book with all the characters.
July 19, 2024
The finale of the 11 book series. Just like all of the rest, we have all of the emotions. We see all points of view. Throughout the entire series, you get pulled into the story because it is all so real life and relatable. I don't think there was a single book without the entire spectrum of emotions. It feels bittersweet that this is over. This is definitely a series that I wish I could read again for the first time!
July 19, 2024
And it’s over, I’m not ok! I’ve said this time and time again but I loved Aaron and Rae’s story and it was so good to see them throughout this series with each of the other couples books!
This book is a mix of everyone where we get snippets of their lives especially with kids. It’s not a fluffy extended epilogue and there are some real heartbreaks in there just to finish you off! I’m not ready to let go of this friendship group but I’m also excited to see what this author does next!
This book is a mix of everyone where we get snippets of their lives especially with kids. It’s not a fluffy extended epilogue and there are some real heartbreaks in there just to finish you off! I’m not ready to let go of this friendship group but I’m also excited to see what this author does next!
July 18, 2024
I’m so sad to see this series end :( it’s been great to see these six characters plus side characters go from little kids to graduating high school going to college and becoming parents. It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions with this series and I can’t wait to see what the next generation of kids series is like!!
July 14, 2024
This book was a rollercoaster. I loved getting all of the friends’ point of views! I can’t believe that I read “the end” on this story. I didn’t want it to end!! It had all of the feels! Thank you so much for this arc! I cannot wait to see what you write next!
July 19, 2024
This was such a perfect ending to this series. Did I sob through a good chunk of the book? Yes, yes I did. These characters feel like family and this feels bittersweet, knowing this is the last in the series.
July 19, 2024
I didn't want this book to end! I can't believe the Friends Like This series is over. I will miss Rae, Sara, Aaron, Joel, Mackie, Miles and the rest of their friends horribly. I can't say anything else other than I wish I had friends like this.
July 20, 2024
The perfect ending to a beautiful series. I am so so glad all six besties got their happy endings. It's been messy and beautiful throughout all the books. I have been lucky to come across these characters and love them so much. Thank you Bethany for Friends Like This series!
June 12, 2026
perfect sappy conclusion
I didn’t even know this was coming out until I saw it on Goodreads. I’m so happy we got a final book. It’s a must read after you have read the other 10.
Found family
Lots of love
Multiple POVs
I didn’t even know this was coming out until I saw it on Goodreads. I’m so happy we got a final book. It’s a must read after you have read the other 10.
Found family
Lots of love
Multiple POVs
July 19, 2024
This was the perfect way to finish this series. All 6 characters have amazing but emotional lives. It was nice to see them from kids to HEAs. The chemistry was great and it was well written.
July 19, 2024
The perfect conclusion to these stories of these 6 best friends finding love. I went through all the emotions that a Bethany Monaco Smith puts you through. Highly recommend this whole series!
July 23, 2024
What an amazing end to a fantastic series! Had me crying before I got out of Chapter one. Sad to see them go but I can see this being a series I can revisit.
January 16, 2025
would love to have a series from the next generation pov
February 12, 2025
So many tears OMG I really hope we get more books on the kids! Perfect ending
October 27, 2025
loved this book series
This was a great book series and loved the ending. This would make a great movie or show. I would recommend this for anyone to read.
This was a great book series and loved the ending. This would make a great movie or show. I would recommend this for anyone to read.
July 20, 2024
I'm not crying, you're crying!!! I ADORED this book!
I'm not crying, you're crying!!! Bethany outdid herself on this final book in the "Friends Like This" series. I am freaking tearing up just typing this! As the group of friends mature into thier twenties with babies, heartache and more. Every character is near and dear to my heart and it was the perfect goodbye. She wrote it perfectly and I loved the glimpse into their future and next generation of the group. Curl up, get your favorite beverage, grap your tissues and get ready to love, laugh and cry!
I give it ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️!!!
I'm not crying, you're crying!!! Bethany outdid herself on this final book in the "Friends Like This" series. I am freaking tearing up just typing this! As the group of friends mature into thier twenties with babies, heartache and more. Every character is near and dear to my heart and it was the perfect goodbye. She wrote it perfectly and I loved the glimpse into their future and next generation of the group. Curl up, get your favorite beverage, grap your tissues and get ready to love, laugh and cry!
I give it ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️!!!
July 21, 2024
Bethany really knows how to end a series with a bang! When I say I have never felt so many emotions reading a book I mean it! This one was definitely one of best books I’ve read! I loved getting to read about all the couples in this one and seeing them grow so much in this book and while it was so sad that it had to end it was the most amazing way to end their story. I loved this series so much and the final book didn’t disappoint one bit. The way all of the characters grew in this last book had my heart so full, while it wasn’t always happy and there were some parts that had me crying with them each sad part ended up making the characters stronger even if it took them a while to get through it and find their strength! I really hope that in the future there is more for these characters even if they are the main parts of the story!
January 1, 2025
I can’t believe we’ve reached “the end”. These characters in the Friends Like This series have found a place in my heart. I see myself in several and love the way Bethany Monaco Smith has taken them from teens to adults and handled all the “stuff” in between. They are flawed characters who learn how to deal with the flaws. Not always by fixing them, but learning mechanisms to cope.
I really loved the glimpse at the next generation and hope this is a series coming to us in the future.
I really loved the glimpse at the next generation and hope this is a series coming to us in the future.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews