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Straight Girl’s Best Friend: A friends to lovers, hurt/comfort, bad boyfriend, glacial burn, toaster-oven/first-time, best friend’s novel with a twist ... Girls Series Season Too
When a bad boy brings you hell instead of heaven, call your gay best friend. In a Straight Girls Series twist, this harrowing story is told from the straight girl's perspective. Kary (her name is Karen, but anyone who goes by Karen anymore is a Karen) is eking out young adult life as a bank teller when one lucky transaction brings her Prince Charming. Things heat up fast with Liam, Mr. CrossFit, almost-six-figure car finance guy, and they move in together. Everything’s great, of course, except how much Kary’s best friend, Alex, and Liam hate each other. Liam is alcohol; Alex is fresh cuts.
As with all of us who have been in love with an oblivious best friend, Alex has been pining for Kary for years. A solid decade. She can’t stand Liam because he treats her a million times worse than Alex ever would. And at least ten times worse than anyone should. When Alex catches Liam with a firm grip on Kary’s wrist during an argument, Alex’s feelings about him turn from bad to beastly. Alex pleads with her to get out. Kary does–but with Alex, not Liam. Which turns out to be a decision that may cost her life.
After she’s hurt and abandoned the person who loved her most, will Alex come to her rescue?
From the This story goes deeper and closer to the nerve than my usual fare. I definitely felt like I was hitting above my weight class with every page I wrote. I was shaking so bad after writing the climax, I had to take a clonazepam to get to sleep that night!
The book is spun from a short story I wrote in 2001 or 2002. Doing the research was really tough. I know people who have been through this. My sister being one. I wanted to say something with this book, not just entertain.
If you or someone you know is experiencing verbal, emotional, physical or other abuse by a partner, please get help. Visit thehotline.org, call 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or Text "START" to 88788.
Tropes: Friends to lovers, hurt/comfort, bad boyfriend, glacial burn, toaster-oven/first-time
Abusive relationship, assault, nonconsensual sex, full-description straight sex, (sadly) no gay sex.
Excerpt “What is is, K? Are you in pain?” Alex asked.
“No, no,” Kary said. “I just…figured something out. And I’m kind of sad I didn’t understand it before.”
Alex waited. She wouldn’t interrupt Kary’s processing or invalidate Kary’s feelings. Alex hung on every word as if they were read from a holy book and Kary was the last person on earth.
“This is love,” Kary said, keeping her eyes fixed on Alex’s. “Isn’t it?”
Alex didn’t look away, didn’t flinch and didn’t hesitate. “It always has been, K.” Alex kissed the back of Kary’s casted hand where she’d drawn an elaborate comic-book-worthy “POW” with lightning and shock waves. Alex’s smile was a quirky, knowing little thing.
Kary felt the bittersweet blanket flutter into a tingly excitement. Yes, it had, she thought. Always.
As with all of us who have been in love with an oblivious best friend, Alex has been pining for Kary for years. A solid decade. She can’t stand Liam because he treats her a million times worse than Alex ever would. And at least ten times worse than anyone should. When Alex catches Liam with a firm grip on Kary’s wrist during an argument, Alex’s feelings about him turn from bad to beastly. Alex pleads with her to get out. Kary does–but with Alex, not Liam. Which turns out to be a decision that may cost her life.
After she’s hurt and abandoned the person who loved her most, will Alex come to her rescue?
From the This story goes deeper and closer to the nerve than my usual fare. I definitely felt like I was hitting above my weight class with every page I wrote. I was shaking so bad after writing the climax, I had to take a clonazepam to get to sleep that night!
The book is spun from a short story I wrote in 2001 or 2002. Doing the research was really tough. I know people who have been through this. My sister being one. I wanted to say something with this book, not just entertain.
If you or someone you know is experiencing verbal, emotional, physical or other abuse by a partner, please get help. Visit thehotline.org, call 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or Text "START" to 88788.
Tropes: Friends to lovers, hurt/comfort, bad boyfriend, glacial burn, toaster-oven/first-time
Abusive relationship, assault, nonconsensual sex, full-description straight sex, (sadly) no gay sex.
Excerpt “What is is, K? Are you in pain?” Alex asked.
“No, no,” Kary said. “I just…figured something out. And I’m kind of sad I didn’t understand it before.”
Alex waited. She wouldn’t interrupt Kary’s processing or invalidate Kary’s feelings. Alex hung on every word as if they were read from a holy book and Kary was the last person on earth.
“This is love,” Kary said, keeping her eyes fixed on Alex’s. “Isn’t it?”
Alex didn’t look away, didn’t flinch and didn’t hesitate. “It always has been, K.” Alex kissed the back of Kary’s casted hand where she’d drawn an elaborate comic-book-worthy “POW” with lightning and shock waves. Alex’s smile was a quirky, knowing little thing.
Kary felt the bittersweet blanket flutter into a tingly excitement. Yes, it had, she thought. Always.
- GenresLesbian
252 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 24, 2024
31 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
S.E. Chandler
17 books28 followersFirst published as a poet on the wall of her elementary school in 1988, #1 Bestselling author Susy Chandler has spent decades dashing poems in private. After major life changes brought her to North Carolina, she cut her cable and wrote her first novel to celebrate finishing her MBA. As part of her oxymoronic lifestyle, she is pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing at the Thomas Wolfe Center for Narrative at Lenoir-Rhyne University of Asheville.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 29, 2024
This book is quite intense and may not be suitable for all readers. Some of the content may be disturbing to some, but it is a captivating story that kept me engaged throughout.
The storyline was meticulously crafted and exceptionally well-written. Chandler has effectively demonstrated that with the appropriate support system, whether it be from biological or chosen family, one can overcome any obstacle.
This book was really great, and I highly recommend it. However, please be advised that there are some scenes of domestic violence, including but not limited to physical and emotional abuse, that may not be suitable for the faint-hearted.
Star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I'm not including a spice rating due to the nature of some of the content in the book. But there are detailed scenes of FM scenes.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The storyline was meticulously crafted and exceptionally well-written. Chandler has effectively demonstrated that with the appropriate support system, whether it be from biological or chosen family, one can overcome any obstacle.
This book was really great, and I highly recommend it. However, please be advised that there are some scenes of domestic violence, including but not limited to physical and emotional abuse, that may not be suitable for the faint-hearted.
Star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I'm not including a spice rating due to the nature of some of the content in the book. But there are detailed scenes of FM scenes.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 25, 2024
Good book
I love the characters and the storyline it was really sad but the ending was good Can't wait to read more of this author
I love the characters and the storyline it was really sad but the ending was good Can't wait to read more of this author
August 10, 2024
Kary works in a small branch of a bank, a boring job with one good friend and a hopeless supervisor. She recently moved in with her boyfriend Liam after only two months together. Alex has been Kary’s best friend since they were very young, having gone through a lot together, having shared some of their best and worst times together.
This was a very difficult story to read, but it is most certainly worth it. There is a romance between Kary and Alex, but that is towards the end of the book, and second to Kary’s story of her struggles with her abusive boyfriend. There are so many things here that could be triggers for some people, so please be aware of that.
This is something that needs to be read while keeping in mind it is a reality, it does happen, and apart from educating people, very little can be done to stop it. That’s a really sad state of affairs. Education needs to be for the perpetrators (long before they become such), and also the victims and friends and family on how to recognise the signs and how to help and support. The perpetrators are usually men, but also occasionally women.
Kary’s friends and family try to stage an intervention, but Kary is in denial, thinking that Liam cares for her, that he will change, that all will be well. How Liam thought that what he was doing is ok I don’t know. I found this frustrating especially with Kary’s lack of awareness, her thinking it was ok. I also found it so so sad. But the ending is so positive in comparison. Something always was there between the women, but Kary never wanted to acknowledge it. We see the culmination of years of longing, love and hoping on Alex’s part.
Overall, a stressful story, but with a positive outcome after a lot of negative scenes. Well written, in a sympathetic manner.
This was a very difficult story to read, but it is most certainly worth it. There is a romance between Kary and Alex, but that is towards the end of the book, and second to Kary’s story of her struggles with her abusive boyfriend. There are so many things here that could be triggers for some people, so please be aware of that.
This is something that needs to be read while keeping in mind it is a reality, it does happen, and apart from educating people, very little can be done to stop it. That’s a really sad state of affairs. Education needs to be for the perpetrators (long before they become such), and also the victims and friends and family on how to recognise the signs and how to help and support. The perpetrators are usually men, but also occasionally women.
Kary’s friends and family try to stage an intervention, but Kary is in denial, thinking that Liam cares for her, that he will change, that all will be well. How Liam thought that what he was doing is ok I don’t know. I found this frustrating especially with Kary’s lack of awareness, her thinking it was ok. I also found it so so sad. But the ending is so positive in comparison. Something always was there between the women, but Kary never wanted to acknowledge it. We see the culmination of years of longing, love and hoping on Alex’s part.
Overall, a stressful story, but with a positive outcome after a lot of negative scenes. Well written, in a sympathetic manner.
July 28, 2024
There is a reason that this book comes with a series trigger warnings, it is a huge surprise for me, as I usually much prefer the heartwarming, light and sweet Sapphic romance with minimal trauma and little conflict. This book is more about a young woman's journey from falling for a evil guy, becoming victim of domestic violence, finally escaping from the hell and finding her true love with the perfect best friend. I didn't enjoy reading the first 2/3 of the book, and I still don't like the main character Kaly, but I thank the author for her great effort of educating readers of the grave danger of being in a abusive relationship and her painful, vivid portrait of a naive young abuse victim and her deceptive abuser. I wish more people, especially young women will pick up this book and get a realistic dose of the ugly reality and be more aware of these abusive behaviors. I love Kaly's best friend Alex, she is ideal soul mate, the most decent human being, and Kaly's lucky star. The happy ending gives this book a bright color that sort of lessens the heaviness and the sadness of the whole theme.
October 22, 2024
This was not a light read. It wasn't particularly about the romance between Kary and Alex, more so the abuse that is subjected by Liam onto Kary.
We get to see the perspective of the victim of domestic violence, and it was tragic and horrifying to witness. I found everything very realistic with how Kary had changed with Liam's influence on her. As i read on, she became more agitated and sensitive. Once the intervention was rejected vehemently, i knew what was about to happen. The dread. It was agonizing to be in her pov because it makes it all the more real and painful.
The conclusion and healing journey was not shown as much as i would have liked, but overall, it was an impactful read.
We get to see the perspective of the victim of domestic violence, and it was tragic and horrifying to witness. I found everything very realistic with how Kary had changed with Liam's influence on her. As i read on, she became more agitated and sensitive. Once the intervention was rejected vehemently, i knew what was about to happen. The dread. It was agonizing to be in her pov because it makes it all the more real and painful.
The conclusion and healing journey was not shown as much as i would have liked, but overall, it was an impactful read.
July 30, 2024
This is an intense read full of triggers. Kary and her best friend Alex navigate a tough situation through their lives full of hurt and heartbreak, but the end is quite satisfying. This is not a easy story....it tackles tough topics and painful circumstances but it's well worth the time.
I recommend it highly.
I received an advance review copy of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I recommend it highly.
I received an advance review copy of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 8, 2025
Friends to lovers
This is a different kind of romance. Kaley is a straight woman and has a boyfriend Liam. She reconnected with her best friend Alex and the book begins. There are a trigger warnings in this book, such as the most violence, rape, and anger. I found the plot very interesting and I read the book in one setting I like the way the character is developed. I recommend this book for all the ones who like a good friends romance book.
This is a different kind of romance. Kaley is a straight woman and has a boyfriend Liam. She reconnected with her best friend Alex and the book begins. There are a trigger warnings in this book, such as the most violence, rape, and anger. I found the plot very interesting and I read the book in one setting I like the way the character is developed. I recommend this book for all the ones who like a good friends romance book.
August 3, 2024
This wasn't one of the typical Chandler books I've read in the past. Due to the subject matter, it was somewhat hard to read but really sheds light on how some victims of domestic violence choose to deal with the situation and, hopefully, ultimately survive. If you can handle the depiction of domestic abuse, this is well worth the read.
August 1, 2024
well written
Description is misleading. A well written book, difficult to read subject matter. Abuse victim, has steadfast friends and family, surviving in the end. A book worth your time, but not light reading.
Description is misleading. A well written book, difficult to read subject matter. Abuse victim, has steadfast friends and family, surviving in the end. A book worth your time, but not light reading.
November 17, 2024
details….
Small details didn’t match up several times throughout the story. I thought of them constantly while reading. This would’ve been better to me with dual pov. Definitely not a romance and you should read the trigger warnings before starting.
Small details didn’t match up several times throughout the story. I thought of them constantly while reading. This would’ve been better to me with dual pov. Definitely not a romance and you should read the trigger warnings before starting.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews