Just Between Friends

by Laura Barber

Perfect for fans of Sally Rooney's Normal People and David Nicholls' One Day. Just Between Friends is a seductive read about friendship and love and the inherent messiness that comes with being human.

Ivy King has dropped out of uni, so her best friend since childhood, the infinitely cool Sam, convinces her to put adulthood on pause and join him on an adventure in Thailand. But when they start to think of each other as more than friends, things start to get complicated and each must decide how far they are willing to go to keep the other. Is their friendship strong enough to survive the future?

Stretching over twenty years, this book follows Ivy and Sam and illustrates how love and familiarity follow you through life, for better or worse.

Unknown Binding

Published January 1, 2024

About the author

Laura Barber works in marketing but spends most of her free time chasing her toddler and trying to squeeze writing into any time left over. She is a proud feminist and is passionate about highlighting bi-erasure, everyday racism and encouraging self-love.

Just Between Friends is her debut novel. Both Just Between Friends and her second publication, Goddess are available to buy on Amazon in Kindle, Paperback & Hardback. Audiobooks coming soon.

Reviews

[April Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many feelings were felt while reading this book. I related to so much of the story and the characters. The messiness that is life, the way in which our minds work, how our emotions hold us hostage and how connections with other people are formed and bonded, no matter what. A must read.

This book left me feeling a deep sadness and aching. I now need to go read something to help heal my soul.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for something raw, real and emotional - then this is the book for you! The perfect portrayal of the messiness of adult life and human emotion - not everyone is lucky enough to get a happily ever after. The more I read the more I was consumed by these characters and their stories. The pacing was spot on, I loved how its was like following them through life. But I do need to go and find something fluffy to read now so that I can heal! Great read!

[Caroline Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some books that take you over as you read them. The characters and their environments take you over and when the book has been read it feels like a good friend has gone away. This is exactly how I felt about Just Between Friends. I liked the story even more for the challenging topics it covered and the raw emotion it uncovered. Life isn’t neat and tidy and neither is Ivy’s story - or Sam’s come to that. In fact none of the protagonists have neat lives but that makes the story all the more believable, relatable and absorbing. I’d definitely recommend and this would make an amazing film or TV series.

[darcy :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is absolutely fantastic, a book that you don’t want to put down. every page you want to know what happens next. its raw and emotional and beautifully written. the ending was not as I expected because I wanted it to go on. but I think that was on theme for the book, life is messy and chaotic and unpredictable and never ends in a neat perfect bow. I couldn’t recommend this book enough! :)

[Katie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good read, enjoyed the characters and there development throughout the book. Don't want to say too much and spoil it. Definate must read!

[Ollie Ley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow — this book really got under my skin. Just Between Friends is emotionally rich in a way that doesn’t feel forced. It’s gentle and raw at the same time. There were moments that hit so close to home I had to stop reading and take a breath. I loved how real and human it all felt.

I’ve read it twice now, and it’s one I’ll definitely return to again — like a comfort bubble full of uncomfortable, necessary feelings.