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The Bardot Siblings #1

Yours, Unexpectedly

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With witty banter, relatable characters, and eye-opening spice, debut novelist Rachel Lewis takes us to the small college town of Sassafrass, Mass where love is about to be in the spotlight. "Yours, Unexpectedly" strikes all the right chords, blending the thrill of a first crush with the maturity of second chances.

Bex Bardot is in the final semester of her senior year at Hawthorne University. She’s so close to graduation, she can taste it. The only hitch in her plans? A missing fine arts credit in the form of Introduction to Acting, TA’d by none other than Anders Olsson — her brother’s best friend and roommate, and her not-so-secret teenage crush.

Anders Olsson has finally put some of the pieces of his life back together after a failed attempt at a Broadway career delivered him to rock bottom. He’s going to therapy, he’s found a way to use his ADHD to his advantage, and he’s embraced a life of sobriety. The only thing with the potential to derail his perfectly rebuilt life? A run-in with Bex Bardot — his best friend’s little sister and someone he’s intentionally avoided since coming back to Hawthorne.

Now that Bex and Anders are forced to spend more time together, buried feelings are returning to the surface. Can Anders convince Bex that he’s a changed man? Can Bex learn to accept the love she deserves? They’ll have to trust each other if they ever want their relationship to take center stage.

322 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 28, 2024

278 people are currently reading
15865 people want to read

About the author

Rachel Lewis

3 books253 followers
Rachel Lewis is a fresh voice in contemporary romance. With charmingly flawed characters and laugh-out-loud dialogue, Lewis' writing effortlessly blends witty banter, delightfully indulgent spice, and heartwarming found families that readers will want to call their own.

Beyond her own writing, Rachel co-hosts the popular "Welcome to the Smut Show" podcast, where she engages with authors and bookstagrammers about their love of romance novels.

Rachel is a mother of two crazy girls, wife of a crazy husband, and crazy for some 90’s country hits. She is a nostalgic TV watcher, lover of fan-fic, and is always willing to try a new color in her hair.

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5 stars
541 (28%)
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701 (37%)
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470 (25%)
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129 (6%)
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34 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 438 reviews
1 review1 follower
April 6, 2024
I am the husband of this wonderful debut author. I have read this book multiple times over the last year that Rachel has been writing. I have witnessed the passion, drive, and professionalism with which she has approached this new venture. I have witnessed the vulnerabilities, insecurities, and stressors that come with writing a debut novel. I have laughed, cried, and been filled with overwhelming joy because of this book. I have seen my wife blossom and come alive in new ways because of this book. I love this book. I think you’ll love it too.
Profile Image for Rachel Lewis.
Author 3 books253 followers
March 14, 2024
I wrote it and think it’s pretty good so…
Profile Image for rouss♡.
40 reviews42 followers
October 24, 2024
──♡ ˙ ̟ 📚 4.75⋆ ༘♡ ⋆。

This story was very funny and full of love, the jokes were very entertaining, the dynamic of the brothers is extremely spectacular, it's too sweet and cloying and I can only say “aw” half of the book.

Bex :˚ ༘♡ ⋆。 is the youngest sister of the four Bardot brothers, Bex is about to graduate, she only has one problem with one subject, the subject of which is Professor Anders Olsson, her brother's best friend and roommate, and her platonic love from adolescence, what could go wrong or what could go right?


With all this said, doesn't it make you want to read it? ──♡ ˙ ̟ 𓍢 ִ ໋🌷֒𖹭 ִֶָ 𖥔 ࣪

Anders Olsson :˚ ༘♡ ⋆。he is the kind of man who expresses exactly what he feels, So from the beginning Bex knows what's going on, she has finally managed to put some of the pieces of her life back together, she is going to therapy, she has found a way to use her ADHD to her advantage and she has adopted a sober life, and this is when her life starts to change, when she has to spend more time with her best friend's sister and Bex is the very person she has been avoiding for a long time, why is that?

Romance :˚ ༘♡ ⋆。Now that the two will have to spend more time together, their feelings will begin to rise to the surface, they both have to find a way to trust each other, Anders will have to convince Bex that he is a changed man, and Bex has to learn to accept the love she deserves when they can spend time together, it doesn't take long for Anders to realize that friendship is not all he wants with Bex they were perfect for each other, and seemed like best friends making their way into an inevitable relationship.

read it if you like these tropes : ⋆ ˚。⋆
⤿ friends with benefits to lovers
⤿ brothers best friend
⤿ forced proximity
⤿ “it’s always been her”
⤿ found family
Profile Image for Christy.
4,541 reviews35.9k followers
August 26, 2024
4.25 stars



I’m so surprised that Yours, Unexpectedly was a debut novel. I had so much fun with the banter, the family dynamic, and it was such a great brother’s best friend romance.

Bex is in her senior year of college and Anders a TA in one of her classes. He’s also her older brother, Gabe’s best friend and roommate. Bex has been crushing on Anders for the longest, but he’s also been crushing on her. I adored these two together. It was a blast, and so sweet how into each other they were.

I’m fairly certain this is a standalone but I would love some books for Bex’s brothers. I’ll definitely be checking out more from this author either way!
Profile Image for sky • thebookgreenery.
533 reviews248 followers
May 30, 2024
unfortunately, because the book swiftly established that both bex and anders were harboring long-lasting crushes on each other, all of the stakes were removed from the story for me. while there was a forbidden nature to their romance since he is her brother's best friend and the TA for the acting course she needs to graduate, there wasn't enough tension or mystery to the dynamic. however, there was great elements of found family with lots of appearances from their respective friends, two groups that begin to merge as the pair fall more in love. plus, anders was the sweetest book boyfriend. there wasn't a mean bone in that boy's body.

since I am a reader that tends to enjoy a romance with a bit more angst, this wasn't exactly my cup of tea, but there's no denying that the author is a talented writer. the characterization of our leads and the plot were constructed well, presenting a world that has room for more installments.

thanks to rachel lewis for sending a copy of her debut novel my way!
Profile Image for María.
857 reviews120 followers
June 7, 2024
Yo leer algo CUTE, yo ser feliz.
Profile Image for elise | bookingthroughlife.
390 reviews21 followers
June 6, 2024
4.25 stars!!

this book was so sweet & wholesome!! both characters have it BAD for each other but have kept it to themselves because he’s her brothers best friend 🤭 &&& it was so fun to watch them finally get together. lots of cute awkward moments & so many moments that make you go awwwww

every single character in this book is so fun (minus a certain father 👀) & honestly i need books for the rest of the bardot family !!!! also this book made me laugh several times

this is a great book to read when you need something light & easy in between heavier books or fantasy books !!

thank you Rachel Lewis for the arc! this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Linna • linnareads.
546 reviews249 followers
May 25, 2024
A lovely debut! A college romance with the brother’s best friend trope. Bex and Anders both have crushes on each other that pretty much everyone can see other than themselves. When Bex ends up in a class that Anders is a TA for, they finally spend more time together outside of being around her brother and decide to try a relationship. This was cute. I loved the mini flashbacks at the beginning of each chapter to get glimpses of how they’ve always had feelings for each other. Good banter, side characters, and story. If you’re wanting something quick and fun this is a great one to pick up.

🤍 brother’s best friend
👥 close proximity
🥰 found family

dual POV
4/5 stars ⭐️
2/5 spice level 🌶️
Profile Image for Olivia.
12 reviews
June 30, 2024
Personally can’t wait for the day authors realise they don’t have to make the age gap between love interest’s involve a minor.
Profile Image for The Love Librarian.
722 reviews1,363 followers
July 10, 2024
I can’t believe this was a debut! This author has a new fan in me because the way I was rooting for Anders and Bex was the result of an author who drew me in from the prologue.

Anders and Bex have known each other for years, with Anders’ being the best friend of Bex’s oldest brother. It is apparent to everyone but them that they have a mutual crush. They skate around each other, with Anders going through some rough times before making his way home as a TA for the Acting class Bex needs to complete a random requirement to graduate. Finally able to spend time together, it does not take Anders long to be clear that friendship is not all he wants with Bex, and I was here for how sexy his straightforwardness was!

These two were enamored with each other, and I’m glad the author strategically used mini flashbacks at the start of each chapter to solidify the fact that their love for each other always lingered in the background until they were ready to acknowledge it. Anders and Bex were perfect for each other, and it felt like best friends who eased their way into an inevitable relationship.

Romance aside, I loved the Bardot family, Bex’s friend group, and the author’s effortless writing style. It was a cozy read that was unexpectedly emotional in the best ways, and I can’t wait to read more from this author!

TROPES: best friend’s brother, aspiring actor hero, forced proximity, friends with benefits to lovers, mutual pining/it’s always been you, ADHD rep, found family

CONTENT WARNINGS (pulled from author’s note at beginning of the book): previous alcohol addiction (main character), toxic parents, sexism/misogyny, very brief on page attempt at assault
Profile Image for fromthestudyof.
324 reviews635 followers
May 27, 2024
Anders >>>

Okay this was cute! I went into this book without knowing too much about the premise & had so much fun getting to know these characters. It’s been a while since I read a debut novel!

Fast paced, fun, & a quick read!

Things to know:
New adult
College x Grad School
Dual POV
Brother’s BFF
Mutual pining
Flirty banter
He’s down bad

4.5 ⭐️
Profile Image for Sandy (Sandy.Reads).
899 reviews489 followers
June 28, 2024
4.25/5

I really enjoyed this book. While it was a bit spicier than I thought it was going to be, it totally worked. Brother best friend wasn’t a trope that I was sure I would like, but this one definitely hit the spot.
Profile Image for Bailey.
298 reviews5 followers
November 15, 2024
⭐️⭐️/5
This one just wasn’t for me. I don’t wanna leave too mean of a review because there wasn’t anything super wrong, just the characters were too cutesy and it gave me the ick several times.

🌶️/5
I feel like the author had a hard time deciding between having an open door or closed door romance? Some parts were closed and I was like wait whaaaaat. Then the open parts were totally different from the general feel of the book. All of a sudden, Anders is trying to be a dirty talking Dom daddy, but then he’s “booping her on the nose” and arranging pillows “for maximum cuddle opportunities” 🤮 gag, ick, yuck. Back to the spice. It felt out of touch with the rest of the book. I appreciate a dirty scene as much as any other reader, but this felt weird.



⚠️spoilers below, warning now so they’re not *unexpected* haha get it⚠️


✒️Favorite Quotes🖋️
“Dude, in the immortal words of Taylor Swift, you need to calm down.”

"I've done a lot of work on myself to get ready for you, Rebecca. I'm ready now.”


What I liked👍:
- their “long lost love” of pining after each other for 6 years but keeping it secret because they don’t think there’s a possibility of the other one feeling the same. 🥹 plus all of the fun flashbacks at the beginning of the chapters were so cute, like little memories to help encourage the story along for just how long they’ve been wanting each other
- the family dynamic was so sweet! But also, KING GABE for accepting that his sister and his best friend were together. That was done 😚👌 perfectly
- a quick read!! I feel like I got through it quickly


What I didn’t like👎:
- this was the most pointless third act breakup. I mean it happens at like 90% and it’s infuriating. You’re telling me that you love him, but you’re going to not even respond to a text for 3 whole weeks? And then he’s like, yeah that’s fine??? HUH? What in the name of crazy relationship is tHAT
- I’m telling you their constant cutesy stuff together was making me feel so cringe and icky. I should’ve highlighted some so I had examples to put here. If you get secondhand embarrassment, this isn’t the one for you.
- as much as I love that they spent years pining for each other, I would’ve liked more of a slow burn. It went 0 to 100 real quick
Profile Image for Olivia✨ (bookingitwitholivia).
155 reviews92 followers
December 9, 2024
A delightfully, hilarious book to read!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! Rachel’s own personality really shone through her writing.

The banter between the Bex & Anders was great. There was definitely so many awkwardly funny moments between them both.

I loved that both characters had their own struggles! It made them feel more “real”.

The side characters of this book were great & I’m really intrigued to find out more about them. You could really tell the different personalities of the Bardot family right away.

The flashbacks at the start of each chapter were a great addition.

If you love brothers best friend & friends with benefits then this book is 100% for you!
Profile Image for Wren.
515 reviews46 followers
December 26, 2024
4.5 stars!

This brother’s best friend read that is low on the angst but high on the swoon is a MUST read!

I love a book that has me absolutely giggling, swooning, and kicking my feet the entire time!

The way Anders knows what he wants from the get go and goes after it?? LOVE!! The way he is a such a healthy communicator?? OBSESSED! The way he is the biggest sunshine cinnamon roll?? 🤭🤭🤭 The way he is patient with Bex, and lets them move at her pace- while also making sure she knows he is all in with her?? I died dead.

And Bex! I want to be friends with her so bad. We love a bookish girl that isn’t ashamed of reading what she wants. She can’t function without her morning coffee- same girl same. I loved that she always supported Anders, even when he didn’t know it. She is the strongest girl with a heart of gold.

It is impossible to read this book and not kick your feet in the air and giggle the entire time!

And when you read this book, just know. When Rachel releases Jules book I will go feral. I am officially publicly calling dibs, even though I called dibs so long ago! He’s mine!!

Rachel, I’m so incredibly proud of you. You did it!! I’m so thankful you allowed me to alpha read for you, and I loved getting to see how much time, effort, and work you put into making this such a fun read!
Profile Image for Cassies.EndlessReads.
497 reviews25 followers
May 18, 2024
Bex and Anders have known each other for years, each harboring a secret crush on the other in this brothers best friend romance!

“Who the fuck are you?” I ask, knowing I should keep this question in my head, but seriously—it’s like a woman wrote this man. He’s stepped off the pages of my smuttiest romance novels. “Your teenage fantasy,” he quips and that actually makes me laugh out loud.
🌶️🌶️🌶️

In Rachel Lewis’ debut novel we meet Bex and Anders. They’ve known each other for many years due to Anders being best friends with Bex brother. He was just always way too cool she thought, and she is his best friends sister, he would never approve he thought.
I felt like their relationship came together pretty naturally, the friends with benefits was a little silly and we all knew that wasn’t going to last with how into each other they were. The found family; I loved that her mom was always saying that Anders is her favorite child, that she knew with her mothers intuition that something was brewing between these two.
While I hate a third act break up, their grand gestures to get back together was super sweet.

“Throughout my daily life, I’m fairly go-with-the-flow, but when it comes to Bex, especially Bex in my bed, I want nothing more than to take charge. To command her. To spoil her and take care of her.”
*E-ARC Review*
Profile Image for Sierra (boundtoread).
241 reviews497 followers
May 29, 2024
Ummmm I LOVED THIS BOOK

the pining between these two, the way he was so obsessed & was willing to wait forever for her, and the way they knew each other better than anyone else!?!? I LOVE THEM SO MUCH

the fact that this is a debut book too!! I’m already excited to read future books by Rachel!!!

Wow. Wow. Wow.

I cannot even form words to express how fun and flirty and romantic this book is! Ugh such a great read, just what I needed!!!

Tropes:
- brother’s best friend
- found family
- college (she’s a senior, he’s her TA)
- fwb to lovers
Profile Image for Paige (paigersturnspages).
281 reviews15 followers
June 13, 2024
✨️Arc review✨️

Yours,Unexpectedly by Rachel Lewis

Welcome to Acting Class

Where your crush is the teacher

🤣Rom-Com
✨️Witty Banter
🌶Brothers best friend
🥵FWB x Lovers
💕Grumpyish x Sunshine
🫶"I Can Be Patient"
✨️Found Family
🥞Dual POV
☕️ADHD Rep
🎭Forced proximity

I absolutely fell in love with Bex and Anders from the first chapter. You will get sucked into this world of nicknames, banter, and all the margaritas you can handle. IYKYK.

Bex Bardot needs one final class to graduate college, and of course, it's an acting class, except she has no idea she's been assigned to it until it's too late to back out.

Anders Olsson wants nothing more than to live a life without his overbearing and honestly snobby family. His best friends family ( Bex brother) decides to make him an honorary family member. The moment he meets Bex, it's over for him.

The friendship between them is so beautiful. They both want to be loved just as they are but don't see it until years later. The way Anders is so patient and kind, he's such a green flag. I love them! You'll laugh, you'll get frustrated, hot and bothered, fall head over heels for this couple. All you need is some Chinese takeout and a canned margarita with this book!

Do yourself a favor and download this!!! It's one of my favorite romcoms of the year, oh and I read this in one night!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶

Thank you, Rachel, for letting me read this wonderful and super funny arc!!!
Sorry this review is so late. Life has been crazy.

Available Now!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ilaria 🌸.
746 reviews43 followers
August 30, 2024
DNF 😒 brother best friend off limits trope not works for me add alcohol addiction badly put on page
Profile Image for Korg.
217 reviews49 followers
May 27, 2024
I have received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I knew when I saw this on book advertised on Instagram that I had to read it! I loved the premise, the tropes, and that Anders is here representing all of the red-haired men. I don't think we have enough representation in books.

This story is about a girl secretly loving her brother's best friend who has secretly loved her for the entire time. He is a theater major and she is graduating to work in social work.

⭐️ 3.5, but the higher end of the 3.5

Spice Rating: 3

Things that I loved:
1. Anders. He is completely OBSESSED with Bex and has been for a long time.
2. The miscommunication trope, I thought was done perfectly because it was done in a different way and due to them dancing around each other after avoiding each other for years.
3. The spice was good. Though I would have loved a lot more of it, as there are scenes mentioned with spice. The very first scene with some smut was perfect and I loved it but I didn't feel like the rest met this standard.
4. Bex is a Booktok girlie and Anders loves that she is.
5. Anders Found Family with Bex's family and he cherishes that
6. The brothers

Things I did not like:
1. The rest of the spice did not meet the standard set by the first scene. A lot of the spice was just mentioned or scenes were quick with no detailing.
2. While this book started strong with an important flashback and continued, I found that I was losing interest quite a bit toward the end of the book. I felt like this was quite a few parts where nothing really seemed to be happening. These parts were important to the story but were not filled with things that were happening. There were parts that you could tell there was a story being started for the next book with a new set of characters, which I did enjoy.
3. The epilogue. I didn't see the point in this
4. Anders dealing with his dad could have been more and hit more impact fully if it was not such a quick scene
5. Anders journey with alcoholism. I felt like this was an unneccesary touch to the story as he really didn't have a journey. I kept forgetting that it was part of his character until it was mentioned again.

Overall, this is pure fluff. It is a cute story but I wouldn't recommend it if you want something that you can really get into and think about it for days afterward. Yes, it's fine, but it could be better.

Profile Image for Karina Serrano.
225 reviews26 followers
May 29, 2024
Omg this book!!👌🏻👌🏻🤍

Honestly I cancelled plans just to finish this book, I got soo invested in it that I just had to finish it, once it was finished I started wishing I could reread it for the first time again😩😩

Let me just say the main characters as well as the supporting characters 🤌🏻🤌🏻🫠
You outdid yourself with them, you did an amazing job with this book only being your debut novel💕

I loved this rom com it had everything!
It had spice, banter, humor, awe moments, some found family, you name it!!

I loved both ANDERS & BEXS POVS💕

I loved BEXS she was soo funny and girl she has a mouth that makes you laugh she’s also really smart.

Anders used to be the biggest party boy but then I guess he always had a thing for BEXS but never pursued it because of his best friend, but he’s just the sweetest and he knows exactly what he wants and I absolutely LOVED THAT!!

Def recommend Yours, Unexpectedly because it was just🤌🏻🤌🏻👌🏻🥹🥹🫠🫠🤍
Profile Image for Cece Jasmine.
82 reviews
May 29, 2024
4.5 out of 5 stars
I must admit, I have been a bit of a reading slump lately & this book brought me right out of it! It was a magnificent read, so easy going, nice & flowy & kept me glued to the pages (of my kindle LMAO) right up until the very end!

I loved how well our main characters were written, the ADHD representation through Anders, our beautiful romance book loving sassy Bex. The way these two fit together is like a match made in heaven & our side characters help bring the best out of them too! I love all the friendships they have & the relationship they have with Bex's family. We don't talk about Anders family but y'all have to read the book to know why haha!

This book hit some hard topics while still being thoughtful & respectful & was written in such a beautiful way that I didn't realize I was on such an emotional roller coaster until I stopped reading & had to take a second to compose myself. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone in their romance reading journey! Beautiful stuff!

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this wonderful book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review ✨
Profile Image for booksarebetterjess.
200 reviews5 followers
May 29, 2024
Y O U R S , U N E X P E C T E D L Y

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

this book was a joy to read. rachel has created something so sweet and yummy here - a perfect summer read.

bex has had a big old crush on anders since she met him 6 years ago, but as her eldest brother's best friend, that crush went unnoticed. but as bex blossomed into a young woman and anders did the work needed on himself, they start to realise that those unrequited feelings aren't so unrequited. what starts off as a safe, distanced friends with benefits soon moves to a forever kind of love.

i had the best time reading this book!!! thank you @rachel_mlewis for the arc!!! this beautiful book is out now!!!
Profile Image for Julieta Ernesto.
349 reviews
January 13, 2025
malísimo.

Todo muy forzado, el chabón es un aliade, la tipa es una tarada y ni voy a hablar del hermano que es un pelotudo, déjalo así.
Profile Image for Maddy.
134 reviews5 followers
Read
January 2, 2025
I really loved this! It was a quick and funny read. I loved Bex and Anders! The story was a bit choppy at time and some cringe moments, but overall really enjoyed the characters and the story. I was obsessed with how much he loved her curly hair, I’m a bit biased tho…

I can’t wait for the other books (hopefully)!
Profile Image for Morgan.
32 reviews
May 28, 2024
“I want you to ruin my lipstick, Anders.”
4.5/5⭐️
As a college theatre major with ADHD who’s obsessed with the brother’s best friend trope, I was so incredibly excited to read this! It includes some of my favorite rom-com tropes and ties them all up in a super sweet, quick read.
✔️ Brother’s Best Friend
✔️ Theatre Kid, Golden Retriever MMC
✔️ TA and his student
✔️ ”I can be patient”

Premise: Yours, Unexpectedly is a super sweet, fast-paced, brother’s best friend and FWB to lovers rom-com. Bex and Anders have known each other (and been not-super-secretly crushing on each other) for the last six years, ever since Bex’s oldest brother Gabe brought his best friend home for their weekly family dinner. Now, Bex is about to graduate college, but first, she has to get through her fine arts credit. The problem? The only class available was an Intro to Acting class that’s taught by the TA - Anders, who’s back getting his MFA in acting. Forced back into each other’s orbit, buried feelings start resurfacing, and Anders is willing to do anything to convince Bex to give him a chance.

Tropes: Brother’s Best Friend, FWB to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Found Family, ADHD Rep, Small Town, Theatre Kids, College Romance, Mutual Pining
CW: previous alcohol addiction, assault attempt (on page)

Some very minor spoilers below

Characters:
Rebecca “Bex” Bardot is the youngest of four with three older brothers. She’s in her final semester of college, and she loves black coffee and romance novels. I can’t say I personally found her all that relatable; I often found myself rolling my eyes or wanting to shake her because she was being ridiculously stubborn for no real reason, but some of that may have been a me thing more than the character.
Anders Olsson is Bex’s oldest brother Gabe’s best friend and roommate since college. After he graduated, he went home to New York for a couple of years. A failed Broadway career, a struggle with alcohol addiction, and an ADHD diagnosis later, Gabe dragged him back to town where he’s now in therapy, sober, and working on his MFA in acting. Anders is definitely the one I found more relatable, but he’s also so swoon-worthy. This man is so down bad for Bex, and he’s gonna let her know at every step of the way. He makes it crystal clear that he wants her, is willing to do anything for her, and will wait as long as it takes for him to have her.

The Romance: I am the biggest sucker for a brother’s best friend romance, and this book did it so well. Gabe doesn’t seem to notice that Anders has feelings for his little sister, but he knows his friend used to be a bit of a player and makes it clear that Bex is absolutely off-limits. When it becomes clear to them that they’re at least attracted to each other, the two decide to start a friends-with-benefits situation in an attempt to keep feelings out of it (but come on, who thought that would work when you knew you liked each other?). We got the moments of them sneaking around behind her brother’s back and of course nearly getting caught. I do wish there had been more drama with him being her TA and how discouraged that is, but it ended up really just being a catalyst for the forced proximity and not any sort of problem for them. But the sheer amount of pining from Anders mostly made up for that. I love a man who knows what he wants, knows how to clearly communicate it, and is willing to patiently wait for it.

The Spice: The spice is 3.5/5🔥 There were several open-door, explicit scenes. As with any FWB to lovers romance, the smut started fairly early into the book, so there wasn’t as much tension and buildup as I normally like, but there was still more than some other FWB books I’ve read. I also loved the variety in the kinds of spicy scenes. All the spicy chapters are listed at the beginning of the book, so do with that what you will.

Overall: For the most part, I really enjoyed the storyline aspects of the book; the main reason for my rating being 4.5 instead of 5/5 is some of the writing itself. There were some dialogue things and internal character thoughts that were just a bit awkwardly written and made me cringe. As I mentioned above, I did wish there was a bit more tension, especially in regards to him being her TA, and it was a bit faster-paced than I’d normally like, but otherwise, I really enjoyed the book and loved the storyline.

Rating: 4.5/5⭐️
Steam: 3.5/5🔥

I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for CHELSEA.
354 reviews28 followers
May 29, 2024
Bex Bardot is in her final semester of college when she finds she needs to take a fine arts intro to acting class to graduate…but what she didn’t expect to find out is that the TA is none other than Anders Olsson. Her brothers best friend & just the guy she’s been crushing on for so many years. Anders is finally putting the pieces of his life back together after he hit a bumpy road with his acting career & finding out how to cope with his newfound ADHD. However, his plan to avoid Bex is quickly going up in smoke & what will happen when these two are forced to spend so much time together & buried feelings come to light?

You might enjoy if you like:
🥠brothers best friend
🥡fwb to lovers
🎭he’s her TA in acting class
🥠witty banter
🥡found family
🎭romcom
🥠years of (secret) mutual attraction
🥡found family
🎭dual pov // with flashbacks
🥠fun chapter titles!

✨quotes✨
“Let’s get one thing straight, Rebecca. I’m in charge here, not you.” “Are you? Prove it.”

“It’s breathtaking.” She’s talking about the view, but watching her is what’s taking my breath right now.

“Bathroom. Now. I’ll knock six times and you’ll open the door. Be waiting for me like a good girl. Nod twice if you understand.”

My Thoughts 💭
This book was a fun and refreshing college romcom! The chapter titles along with the beginning of chapter flashbacks really give you a look at just how long these two have been pining for one another. So when opportunity presents itself Anders decides he will take whatever he can get when it comes to having Bex…which leads to a very interesting agreement on her end🤭 I loved their witty banter towards each other. How everyone could see just how “not so secret” they’ve both been crushing on each other except for them. I also enjoyed the Bardot fam & Bex’s friends! This book has humor, romance, & fun side characters. Recommend if you want a quick/fun read! Can’t wait for more from the Bardot fam!
Profile Image for Ash.
433 reviews28 followers
May 21, 2024
This is a debut?! What?! I’m going to ramble a bit so get ready…

Anders, the MMC, might be my fav book boyfriend. He can do no wrong. If he hurt a fly, the fly deserved it! But he would never. Unless the fly hurt Bex then he def would hurt the fly!

🙌🏻 If you love romcoms about best friends little sister then read this as soon as you can. When I started this book I couldn’t stop reading. The next thing I knew I was over halfway through it and it was 1 am!

Listen, this is a good one. Not only are the two main characters *chefs kiss* but the supporting characters are also *chefs kiss*. I’m assuming/hoping there will be more books for the Bardot siblings. Gabe is great and I’ll love to read his book but JULES! Ugh I’m already half in love with him so I need a romance book about him right now! Ok? Thanks so much 😅🖤

Sobbing when Anders shows up to Bex’s family dinner and he’s the only ‘child’ that shows up. 😭😭 Seriously the supporting characters are perfection. Bex’s entire family are angels. Her best friend’s are the best best friends a girl could have. And I loved Louie and the professor too! They’re all amazing and I’d honestly read a book about any of them 🥰

I really loved the little flashbacks at the beginning of the chapters too. They were a super cute addition to their love story 💕

So if you can’t tell, I loved this book! I highly recommend you check it out on 05/28/24! I’m so glad the author was gracious enough to send me an arc 🥰 I’m a fan and can’t wait to read more of her work!
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