We Never Kissed

by Lia Fairchild

For ten years sparks flew between Alex and Ava, but neither of them was willing to risk their friendship and cross that line. Especially since Alex was her brother’s best friend and like a son to her parents.

Now, just as her current boyfriend is about to propose, she realizes there is no other man for her than Alex.

Ava and Alex might want to surrender to their deepest desires, but they have to keep it a secret from everyone in their life, until they know they can make it work. That proves to be more challenging than they thought with Alex’s history with women and Ava keeping a secret from Alex that could hurt him and push him away for good.

Genres: Romance

247 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 5, 2024

About the author

Lia Fairchild writes romance and women's fiction. Fans of her books praise her endearing, real characters who come to life in stories that will touch your heart.

Fairchild is addicted to the warmth of Southern California and holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and a multiple-subject teaching credential. She is a wife and mother of two children.

Amazon amazon.com/author/liafairchild

Look for updates on her and her books at http://www.liafairchild.com or follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/liafairchild/ or Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/lia.fairchild...

Books by Lia Fairchild
Building Bridges (Bridges Brothers Book1)
Broken Bridges (Bridges Brothers Book2)
Compulsive
Liar
Circle in the Sand
In Search of Lucy
Emma vs. the Tech Guy
Vigil-Annie
High Maintenance
Home for Christmas
Special Delivery

Reviews

[Hope]

H is on a date with ow right on first chapter because been in hot pursuit of Lauren for weeks, and this date felt like a big win but since he saw h, his best friend's sister he has the hots for, at the airport earlier that day, he lost interest in ow. tries to explain it to her and spends the date talking about h. he also agrees to her when she says he only likes the chase “Right, I’m a player who likes the chase"

if he hadn't seen h that day, he'd be inside ow's pants we ordered coffee, and I briefly pondered trying to salvage sex tonight, but we both knew it was off the table

H/h have known each other since they were kids and been dancing around each other for years. both dated other people and as of recent, h has an ex whose proposal she declined and H was busy trying to get with the above said ow, both off page.

and after they start seeing each other, the same ow comes upto him to kiss him. her reasoning to h was I kissed him was because some creepy dude kept hitting on me, and it was really making me nervous . idk aren't there other ways to ward off creepy men that doesn't involve kissing op?

and if you are thinking H pushed her away because he's with h now, nope, that doesn't happen🥴
Instead Alex appeared nervous now, still talking to the blond woman, but I caught his eyes darting in our direction
it doesn't bother h since she starts making out with him immediately not letting him explain cause she understands the poor H (insert eye roll here)

and much later when they are talking about all the ow H has been with and their contacts saved on his phone, she finds the same ow's number and H says he doesn't want to delete it because he wants to be friends with her ?? like bro what now ? 👀

That’s the girl from the bar. She’s beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you.” He leaned in and brushed a kiss over my neck.
“Are you going to delete her?” Not that I expected him to, but when he was so freely offering…

“Honestly, I don’t want to.” His gaze held mine. “She’s a good person, and she’s cool to be around, and I’d like to have her as a friend.”

didn't really like either characters and no rating since i skimmed a lot.

[Melany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, so many great aspects of this one! I loved Ava and her entire family. Alex sounded like the perfect book boyfriend, even with his messy family past. I was obsessed with the family dynamic and how well they treated Alex. Sammy and Alex were hilarious to Ava's boyfriends. Gunnar was HILARIOUS just being himself and giving Alex crap. There was a bit of spice as well. All around an enjoyable read. I got a Lil teary eyed at one part, I laughed, I was smitten and also enjoyed the spicy moments. Such a great read 🥰

[Cha0tic.reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex has always felt something for his best friend's sister; he just doesn't know how to make it work while being such a big part of their family. Ava has also felt a spark between them, finally giving in and wanting to make things work. Will family history get in the way?

This book perfectly balances the story with the dual POV, switching at the perfect moment. Combined with the flow of the author's writing style, it is almost impossible to set it down. While this story is not long, it does a great job of immersing you in their lives. Watching Alex build through the story was quite captivating; having such a positive comeback from a darker past burrowed a special place in my heart. As a side character, Gunnar had my heart! I need a BFF just like him; I swear—such an overall cozy read with the perfect slow-burn tension and the most balanced amount of spice.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶️
My favorite tropes in this read: Brothers Best Friend & Slow Burn.

Thank you, Lia, for letting me be an ARC reader for this wonderful book! I don't think I put it down since I started reading it. If you want a fast-paced, quick romance read, this is the one to pick up next!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! I was able to read this in advance and it is so good. A real page turner.

[Carrie West]

“I talked about how we met on the basketball courts at sixteen and how Sammy could do a layup like nobody’s business, even though he was only slightly taller than Kevin Hart.”
-Alex

“So, what are you saying? We should wait another fifteen years to get to heavy petting?”
-Alex

“If I wasn’t straight as an arrow, I’d find him attractive.”
-Alex

“Going slow was your idea, hoe.”
-Ava

Someone posted a screenshot of this in a book group on Facebook. My needy self went straight to Amazon to download it. The screenshot made me believe this was going to be an angsty, flirty, dirty secret dating story. Nope Instead, the story is two people unsure how to date because he is her brother’s BFF. Do not let that trope fool you. Where other stories with this trope has the reader rooting for the couple. Here it seems these two flirt out of boredom then try to ghost each other. The word “try" is used because Alex is like a family to Ava's brother and parents. Even if they stop talking to each other, Ava's family keeps them linked together. Either bump each other or move on. All of these ehh events make this a DNF at 59%.

[whatmarissareads]

DNF at 36%

I think this story has potential, but the writing felt choppy and the dialogue came across as immature which made it hard for me to stay engaged.

I really don't like how he tells Ava how much "she’s a pain in his ass"

[Hilary Delorey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was fortunate enough to have this as an ARC and I ate this book up! Definitely helped this is one of my favorite tropes being brothers best friend.

Ava and Alex grew up together, he was her protector and confidant. Over the years tension grew in little moments and jealousy and eventually love took over. Naturally there's a forbidden aspect, the romance is top notch because he knows her like no one else does and then there is drama. Not giving it away the cause but there is a 3rd act 'breakup'. It does end in a HEA.

I loved this book, such an easy read, Alex had me swooning. Only wish was that there would have been a little more spice. The scenes could have been more detailed, they were usually over as quickly as they began. Left we wanting more, which isn't a bad thing, but I'm used to a little more spice I think. I wish googreads allowed half stars because I think I'd give this a 4.5, the want for more just keeping that .5 out of reach.

[Aleasha Payton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devoured!!!

I absolutely loved this book!! Falling for brothers best friend 😍 yes please!!! The slow burn and forbidden looks 💕💕

MMC has always loved our FMC and vise versa! But neither have ever acted on their feelings but boy was there moments….so close!!!! Gosh I burned through it!! It had me in a grip!

Only negative is the spicey scenes could have been longer or a little more detailed. But that not being there did not take away from the story.

[Rileyreads11_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lia had me hooked from the first chapter!

I binged this book as fast as I could cause I could not put it down!

Alex was Ava’s love and you can tell they were meant to be from the beginning… only one problem he’s her brothers bestfriend!


Watching Alex grow from being a player to loving Ava was so beautiful and you can tell they were meant for each other!

5/5✨

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book. The story moved smoothly along. The glimpses to the past were well written and didn't get confusing. The character growth was realistic. I loved the ending. I loved that he was able to heal and move forward with what was holding him back.

[Skyye Breeze · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this book! It grabbed my attention from page one and kept me glued all the way through to the very end! I love this authors writing style because you feel like you're absolutely there with the characters in their world because the descriptions feel so real and so vivid! It's a fun, quick, easy read but packed with emotions that have you laughing one minute and tears the next as you cheer the characters on! I love the story.. a friends to lovers story that's just so beautiful and bittersweet!!! I don't want to say too much and give it all away so buy a copy and fall in love with Alex and Ava!!!

Thank you to the author for this beautiful amazing book!!!!

[Tiffany Spitzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read all of Lia’s books and this is my new favorite!
A heartwarming joy of a book. It is such a great love story!

[Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazon

Ava has longed for her brother's friend Alex for years, but he's always kept his distance. Not only is Ava his best friend's sister, but her family took him in. There's no way they can be together, can they?

Despite some trauma on Alex's part, he and Ava managed to finally fall in love. Brother's best friend is always good for some delicious forbiddenness, but their story was far more than that. They had a deep connection, they share a family, and they have that intimacy that comes with a long, complicated history, one that makes this such a heartwarming love story.



ARC provided by Xpresso Book Tours for an honest review.

Review / Book Blitz: Live Through Books Blog.

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[Tiny Little Book nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review
4.5* Review / minimum spice

This book is beautifully written, and its story resonates with realism. It showcases two souls who have been in love since childhood, bound by the unique bond of friendship. The boy, her brother's best friend, has seamlessly integrated into her family, cherished like a son. They face the pivotal question: should they embrace their feelings and boldly pursue a relationship, or let fear hold them back?

Life takes them through love, college, and separate paths in different cities. When Ava realizes she has outgrown her long-term relationship and decides to return home, she is unaware that Alex has patiently awaited her return, believing in the magic of fate.

Can they push aside their fears and confess their true feelings? Through brilliant character depth and insightful flashbacks, the narrative reveals the timeless love they share and the lengths they are willing to go to support each other.

The story offers a welcome reprieve from the heavy smut found in other narratives, emphasizing the beauty of love while entwining moments of tenderness and uncertainty. It inspires hope as we wonder if their families will ultimately discover the happy endings they are destined to find together.

[Sunny Side · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this as an ARC.

I was really excited to dive into this story. When I got my copy, the author mentioned it was a slow burn, so I knew I was in for a treat—and it delivered.

The writing is beautiful, though a bit cheesy in spots, but overall, it’s a solid, enjoyable read. I also appreciated the soft smut; it moved the story along without making it feel like that was the only focus, which I loved.

There are two reasons this novel doesn’t get the full 5 stars from me. First, the trope didn’t blow me away. Don’t get me wrong—it’s well-written, as I said, but it doesn’t knock my socks off. Second, the story's big crisis didn’t quite live up to the build-up. I was expecting something wild enough to justify the MMC’s reaction, but honestly, it felt a bit underwhelming.

Overall, this book is a lovely, engaging read with just the right mix of romance and depth. While it didn’t hit every high note for me, it’s still a story I’d recommend to fans of slow-burn romance who appreciate a little sweetness with their spice.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given the opportunity to read We Never Kissed as an advanced copy and all views are my own.

Firstly, thank you Lia for spending the time to chat to me about your writing and life and second, thank you for choosing me to read this novel.

I was gripped with this book from the start and loved to watch how the story of Alex, (brothers best friend) and Ava came to life. I loved how the characters back stories were explored throughout certain chapters and how this related to their relationship at present. I couldn’t put this down! I loved Alex’s determination and drive to finally have the woman he loved and equally loved watching Ava turn her life around back home! I wasn’t expecting Ava to be in touch with Maggie and felt like she’d ruined all of her chances with Alex!

I absolutely loved the ending and I would love to see how their story would continue to unfold! Maybe a sequel about Gunnar, he’s amazing!

Thank you again Lia, this was such a lovely read!

[Savana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the perfect book for a romance reader who enjoys a more plot-focused read versus spice. Alex (MMC) has had a rough childhood. His mother is an addict with whom he has no contact, and when his father dies unexpectedly his best friend Sammy's family takes him in as one of their own; however, Sammy has a little sister named Ava. Ava and Alex have had sexual tension between them for years, but Alex knows he cannot lose the only family he has left. Things get messy when Ava suddenly breaks up with her boyfriend and moves back home.

This book has the perfect amount of romance while still having a strong plot. It is best friend's sister, forbidden love, and you can cut the tension between Alex and Ava with a knife. I definitely recommend this quick easy read!

[Felicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the family dynamics and how loving and understanding they all were but this book felt a bit incomplete. The romance was rushed. The important conversations were glossed over and not developed. I liked the brooding aspect of Alex but I don't think it came through enough and I felt like Ava was still a little immature. The flashback scenes were done well though. They didn't feel like they didn't belong and they helped build the story. It just fell a little flat overall.

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[lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful and heartfelt story. This author did it again with another fantastic book. Alex had a troubling childhood but was able to find a wonderful home life with his best friends family. Alex and Ava which is his best friends sister also grew up together. They both had feelings for the other but wouldn't act on it due to letting the family down. One thing Alex didn't want to do is to disappoint and lose the only family that he had, so he refused to act on his feelings. I loved reading their love story and how it played out. I loved the ending of this book. It was so good. I definitely recommend this book.

[Chelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC and was asked to leave my honest review. This is the perfect book for a quick little romance read. Alex (MMC) has had a rough childhood. His mother is an addict with whom he has no contact, and when his father dies unexpectedly his best friend Sammy's family takes him in as one of their own. You get to see how Alex and Ava navigate their hidden feelings and sexual tension through out the years. Alex doesn’t want to lose his best friend and family that he has made by per suing a relationship with Ava. But you get to see if he does chase after her and if it ruins his found family.

A good quick romance read. Definitely recommend.

[jennifer ciancia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a quick, fun read with an engaging storyline that kept me interested throughout. While I enjoyed MMC, he did come across as a bit whiny at times, which slightly detracted from his appeal. Another minor drawback was the frequent use of “bro”—it felt a bit overdone and occasionally cringey. Still, these elements didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment, and I appreciated the story and characters. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a light, entertaining read.

[Loretta Colman 📚🧚🏼 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, strong plot, engaging multi-layered characters, well written dual POV and also the occasional flashback that was well written in. I’m not usually a romance reader, I feel if I was this would have been rated higher because there is nothing wrong with the book. But for me to rate a romance book 3 stars is pretty high as I normally find them quite unengaging, but that wasn’t the case with this book ☺️

[Norma Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. The concept is a good one. But it jumped around way too much, some of it didn’t even make sense. Actually, most of it didn’t.

The ending was awful.

I had already DNF a book before this, so I had to had to force myself through this one.

Wouldn’t recommend this one.

[Airinbookreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got the opportunity to read this as an ARC and I’m so thrilled I was selected to do so! This was a cute brother’s best friend/childhood sweethearts relationship with some trauma in between. Easy to read and I enjoyed it!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute, short read! I’m not usually an insta love girly, but I loved Alex and Ava’s relationship! If you’re looking for a short and sweet (mostly) closed door read, then this one is for you!

[Heather Mylek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! I LOVED this story!! This book captivates you from page one! Ava and Alex love story is beautiful! This is a wonderful story of true love ! Once I started I could not put down! Highly recommend!!

[Loren · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

It was cute but felt really rushed.

Also there was alot surrounding this big deal Alex kept harping on about and then you don’t even hear what happened with it?

Not much really happened either. Just a generic romance.

[Katelyn Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another super short easy ready. Brother’s best friend falls for little sister. It’s about them finally accepting how they feel and being afraid of change. Again, this one doesn’t require any brain power to read.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was sooo good! Couldn’t stop reading it!

[Kelly McLaughlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

… it seemed rushed to me