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Friends #1
Loving Rowan
Rowan loves Andrew. Andrew loves Charlie. The friendship between the three of them is shattered when Rowan finds Andrew and Charlie together. Cutting them off is easy for the painfully shy and socially awkward Rowan. When Kyle becomes her new best friend, she assumes that’s all he wants. Kyle has other ideas about the direction of their relationship. But when tragedy strikes, Andrew’s not quite ready to let go of the girl who’s loved him most of her life. And he’s prepared to do anything to keep her. Content warning on copyright page.
219 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 16, 2014
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439 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
October 3, 2017
Overall I found this book to be very simple.
Simple characters, simple storyline, simple conflict....just simple.
No depth of character, we were told but not shown, and it was boring.
Simple characters, simple storyline, simple conflict....just simple.
No depth of character, we were told but not shown, and it was boring.
December 23, 2014
It was a good story. One of my biggest pet peeves is British authors writing with American characters, and then using British terminology. Do your research! We call them diapers, not nappies. We don't say "mum" we say "mom". I don't think I've ever heard an American say "cheeky" unless they're doing an Austin Powers impression. It's just simple research that can make a book better (and slightly less distracting). Like I said I liked the book, but if you want to use British slang, have everyone be British!
August 9, 2015
Review by Lisa Kane
This was as close to a DNF as I've come in a long while. The characters were immature, and over the top. I can understand shy, but Rowen was a doormat to her roommates and was so hung up on a guy who put the word douche in douchebag.
Unfortunately, I have no desire to continue with the rest of the series.
This was as close to a DNF as I've come in a long while. The characters were immature, and over the top. I can understand shy, but Rowen was a doormat to her roommates and was so hung up on a guy who put the word douche in douchebag.
Unfortunately, I have no desire to continue with the rest of the series.
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May 11, 2016
This book had potential, but it did not live up to it for me.
I did enjoy the fact that Rowan was definitely not your typical female protagonist. She's a bit of an antisocial geek, and I loved it. I also didn't really mind the romance. I thought it was cute.
However, there was a very serious twist the book took that was COMPLETELY out of left field and in no way fit with the rest of the book. There were several small obstacles, but then one massive one that occurred after one of the characters apparently had a complete mental breakdown and became an entirely different person. I'm sorry, but somebody you've known your entire life doesn't just take a turn like that.
Do not recommend.
I did enjoy the fact that Rowan was definitely not your typical female protagonist. She's a bit of an antisocial geek, and I loved it. I also didn't really mind the romance. I thought it was cute.
However, there was a very serious twist the book took that was COMPLETELY out of left field and in no way fit with the rest of the book. There were several small obstacles, but then one massive one that occurred after one of the characters apparently had a complete mental breakdown and became an entirely different person. I'm sorry, but somebody you've known your entire life doesn't just take a turn like that.
Do not recommend.
February 9, 2017
I'm not sure why I finished this book. The whole thing was terrible. The characters weren't likeable and the plot was ridiculous. I only skimmed the last 70 pages to see what would happen.
March 24, 2017
Andrew and Charlie are Rowans besty; Andrew since birth. Did anyone tell them?
Dear Diary...
my friends have a life..cry cry cry....
Rowan is light hair, big hazel eyes, tall, tomboy shape (did I just describe a model?)
low self esteem and its Charlie's fault because she is shorter, blonder and curvey...
crying
more crying
this book is for 15-19 yr...not any older. if you relate to this book and in your 20's please put the book down, put the controller down and go talk to a boy!
the writer does a poor job writing a man's POV Kyle was a dreamy boyfriend or sound bite of compliments..
describe book in one word LAME
DNF
got so bored; even with the circumstances of Andrews return to Rowan life; didnt even care. Character development was so weak you just don't care.
I wouldnt be Rowan's friend. It would be exhausting keeping with the poor me lifestyle...
started skimming' then jumping chapters...boring
DNF
Dear Diary...
my friends have a life..cry cry cry....
Rowan is light hair, big hazel eyes, tall, tomboy shape (did I just describe a model?)
low self esteem and its Charlie's fault because she is shorter, blonder and curvey...
crying
more crying
this book is for 15-19 yr...not any older. if you relate to this book and in your 20's please put the book down, put the controller down and go talk to a boy!
the writer does a poor job writing a man's POV Kyle was a dreamy boyfriend or sound bite of compliments..
describe book in one word LAME
DNF
got so bored; even with the circumstances of Andrews return to Rowan life; didnt even care. Character development was so weak you just don't care.
I wouldnt be Rowan's friend. It would be exhausting keeping with the poor me lifestyle...
started skimming' then jumping chapters...boring
DNF
December 29, 2016
Free download & finished within 3 hrs, love triangle between 3 best friends ends in tragedy but life goes on right? Rowan moves forward but every turn she faces another obstacle in her way. Will she ever find true love? This book has a lot of British lingo
June 23, 2017
This is a story that adds salt on my wounds haha. I find stories about broken friendship more devastating than broken romantic relationship.
Andrew, Charlie and Rowan were bestfriends ever since the world began. Rowan was in loved with Andrew for a couple of years now and basically she only told Charlie. The moment that Rowan saw her two best-friends post make out (perhaps post-coitus) session (lels) was the moment the friendship died. They kept their relationship from her for years. That really sucks!
It's a betrayal of some sort. Probably Rowan was more hurt because they kept it from her (and they're her bestfriends my ass) for 3 frigging years! With Rowan's personality, I think if they were honest with her in the first place, she would have moved on earlier and supported Andrew and Charlie's relationship. They did nothing at all to reach out to her in her brokenness (bestfriends my ass!). And when the couple decided to marry, they brought Rowan back into their lives - not really as close as before. Charlie talked to her about bridal designs etc and yet Rowan didn't even have a part of the wedding (bestfriends my ass!). I don't get the point of Rowan in the wedding in the first place. What a bunch of asshole bestfriends!
Kyle was "the man" for me. Actually, he fell in loved with Rowan first (ooh! I like my men to fall first haha). And when he learned that Rowan got burned by bestfriends - love thing, he took his time slowly. He supported her until the day she opened for him. And when their relationship was starting to shoot up SOME FREAKING MANIAC got into the picture! Oh yes I am talking to you Andrew or should I call you Assdrew? (I heard that you're going to have your own story in book 2, well I'll just convince myself more to read yours pweh!)
The only thing that I didn't really like was... the sex scenes. I don't know why I felt that it's not really needed haha. I felt that closed-door romance was better with this one. Oh there were typo errors too :-)
"I'm in love with you, Rowan. I'm so crazy about you that it drives me insane to see you so upset about someone else. I think you feel the same way,only you don't know how to tell me, or how to feel what I do. You've been so hurt and encased your heart in this cocoon that's so hard to break through. I want it; I want it all to myself. I'm no good at sharing, and Andrew made his choice." -
Kyle
Andrew, Charlie and Rowan were bestfriends ever since the world began. Rowan was in loved with Andrew for a couple of years now and basically she only told Charlie. The moment that Rowan saw her two best-friends post make out (perhaps post-coitus) session (lels) was the moment the friendship died. They kept their relationship from her for years. That really sucks!
It's a betrayal of some sort. Probably Rowan was more hurt because they kept it from her (and they're her bestfriends my ass) for 3 frigging years! With Rowan's personality, I think if they were honest with her in the first place, she would have moved on earlier and supported Andrew and Charlie's relationship. They did nothing at all to reach out to her in her brokenness (bestfriends my ass!). And when the couple decided to marry, they brought Rowan back into their lives - not really as close as before. Charlie talked to her about bridal designs etc and yet Rowan didn't even have a part of the wedding (bestfriends my ass!). I don't get the point of Rowan in the wedding in the first place. What a bunch of asshole bestfriends!
Kyle was "the man" for me. Actually, he fell in loved with Rowan first (ooh! I like my men to fall first haha). And when he learned that Rowan got burned by bestfriends - love thing, he took his time slowly. He supported her until the day she opened for him. And when their relationship was starting to shoot up SOME FREAKING MANIAC got into the picture! Oh yes I am talking to you Andrew or should I call you Assdrew? (I heard that you're going to have your own story in book 2, well I'll just convince myself more to read yours pweh!)
The only thing that I didn't really like was... the sex scenes. I don't know why I felt that it's not really needed haha. I felt that closed-door romance was better with this one. Oh there were typo errors too :-)
"I'm in love with you, Rowan. I'm so crazy about you that it drives me insane to see you so upset about someone else. I think you feel the same way,only you don't know how to tell me, or how to feel what I do. You've been so hurt and encased your heart in this cocoon that's so hard to break through. I want it; I want it all to myself. I'm no good at sharing, and Andrew made his choice." -
Kyle
November 5, 2018
VERY ENJOYABLE
I really enjoyed this book though it's not what I've come to expect from Wendy Smith. This is really more of a book for YA but I did still enjoy it. I have to be honest though at times I got alittle bored but only because as I said this is for a more younger adult. I'm 53 and now don't get me wrong some parts were Smokin Hot. Rowen is this sweet, very insecure, naive, self conscious young woman who's best friends are Andrew and Charlie. They all grow up together and Rowen comes to love Andrew and confides her feelings to her best girl friend Charlie. They all three share an apartment together then one she comes home to get the shock of her life Andrew and Charlie together and it has been going on for a long time and it crushes her. The people she trusted most in her life life and deceived her. Then the things Andrew says and the way he acts were so horrible I wanted to jump into the book and kick his ass myself. Needless to say Rowen takes off heartbroken. She unexpectedly runs into a really good-looking sweet guy but she's so shy and self conscious she just brushes it off. Kyle is this super sweet guy who had just had his heart broken by his girlfriend. When Rosen gets to her new job guess who is her bosses son. Lol. As Rosen and Kyle begin to grow a friendship it's so heartwarming to watch Rosen start to come out of her schell and Kyle is the sweetest most considerate and patient guy ever. As their relationship begins to grow into more was really touching but at times I got bored with the back and forth and things got mine of childish for two young adults. Charlie and Andrew, more Charlie than Andrew try to reconnect with Rowen but she afraid to trust again. At times so cried right along with Rowen and at times I laughed with her and Kyle. The chemistry between these two starts to really heat up, wooo. Then toward the end of the book something really unexpected happens and kind of shocked me. I loved the ending. I recommend this book but just remember it's YA.
I really enjoyed this book though it's not what I've come to expect from Wendy Smith. This is really more of a book for YA but I did still enjoy it. I have to be honest though at times I got alittle bored but only because as I said this is for a more younger adult. I'm 53 and now don't get me wrong some parts were Smokin Hot. Rowen is this sweet, very insecure, naive, self conscious young woman who's best friends are Andrew and Charlie. They all grow up together and Rowen comes to love Andrew and confides her feelings to her best girl friend Charlie. They all three share an apartment together then one she comes home to get the shock of her life Andrew and Charlie together and it has been going on for a long time and it crushes her. The people she trusted most in her life life and deceived her. Then the things Andrew says and the way he acts were so horrible I wanted to jump into the book and kick his ass myself. Needless to say Rowen takes off heartbroken. She unexpectedly runs into a really good-looking sweet guy but she's so shy and self conscious she just brushes it off. Kyle is this super sweet guy who had just had his heart broken by his girlfriend. When Rosen gets to her new job guess who is her bosses son. Lol. As Rosen and Kyle begin to grow a friendship it's so heartwarming to watch Rosen start to come out of her schell and Kyle is the sweetest most considerate and patient guy ever. As their relationship begins to grow into more was really touching but at times I got bored with the back and forth and things got mine of childish for two young adults. Charlie and Andrew, more Charlie than Andrew try to reconnect with Rowen but she afraid to trust again. At times so cried right along with Rowen and at times I laughed with her and Kyle. The chemistry between these two starts to really heat up, wooo. Then toward the end of the book something really unexpected happens and kind of shocked me. I loved the ending. I recommend this book but just remember it's YA.
December 30, 2018
Probably one of the worst books that I actually bothered to finish. Honestly, parts of it were somewhat decent and held promise ~ but it never really delivered. Kyle is really the only reason I hung on. About midway things started dragging and there were little “dramas” that weren’t really fleshed out. The last 1/4 was crazy town and I can’t under any circumstances understand how Andrew is even a remotely redeemable character to get his own book.
Won’t continue with this series or this author.
Note: Several reviews complained about the British colloquialisms. Um, the whole book was set in New Zealand. I’m not sure why you were expecting American English???
Won’t continue with this series or this author.
Note: Several reviews complained about the British colloquialisms. Um, the whole book was set in New Zealand. I’m not sure why you were expecting American English???
June 12, 2018
This was such a good read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was very well written. My favorite line in the book was, "Now I had something to look forward to. Something real. All of the characters in the story made this such a good read, not just the main characters, Rowan and Kyle. Rowan's parents, Kyle's Father, Little Mia, Andrew, Charlie, and all the others. It had a lot of twists and turns. It never felt rushed and seemed to end well. Very good.
August 30, 2019
Love Triangle
Life is so hard when you feel like your best friend betrayed you. Rowan learned that friends you cherish can betray you. Finding true love when you have no self-confidence is hard. Rowan was able to find happiness through many obstacles.
Life is so hard when you feel like your best friend betrayed you. Rowan learned that friends you cherish can betray you. Finding true love when you have no self-confidence is hard. Rowan was able to find happiness through many obstacles.
September 7, 2017
Omg!!!!
This book is so wonderfully amazing!!! Laughter, tears, and everything in between, I recommend this book to anyone and everyone!!!! So damn good!!!!!
This book is so wonderfully amazing!!! Laughter, tears, and everything in between, I recommend this book to anyone and everyone!!!! So damn good!!!!!
September 1, 2019
This book was free on Amazon.
It didn't work for me.
Bit childish then OTT drama.
HEA.
No intimate scenes with anyone other than the Hero and heroine.
Loyal Hero.
It didn't work for me.
Bit childish then OTT drama.
HEA.
No intimate scenes with anyone other than the Hero and heroine.
Loyal Hero.
April 23, 2021
Twisted love
I love this story of Rowan And Kyle. The other knows how to keep you engaged And break your heart at thing time What a great story
I love this story of Rowan And Kyle. The other knows how to keep you engaged And break your heart at thing time What a great story
April 11, 2024
Since this book is free I thought I might as well try it. I would recommend you do the same. You need to stick with it through the first chapter or so as the book goes straight to the part where Rowan discovers Charlie and Andrew are an item. I found this very first part a little disjointed and wasn't sure I would care for the character of Rowan as she seemed very childish.
The story grows and develops so well once it moves on to the part where Rowan and Kyle become friends. The story is written from both the main characters POV's. I prefer this as we get to see how both of them feel and I find it easier to understand/care for the hero when I get to 'hear' his voice. There are lots of twists and turns to the story and neither Rowan nor Kyle are typical hero and heroine type characters. In fact they are both very normal and real characters and this is one of the things I like about the book. Do rich, super sexy alpha males who adore and worship their woman and always make sure she 'gets there first' actually exist in real life?
I also really like that the story continues on past the 'and they got together' point, and it isn't just a quickly tacked on epilogue. Neither is it an unrealistic HEA, there are still further obstacles to surmount. The entire story is easy to read (in terms of editing and style of writing), with well thought through characters, believable plot lines and realistic dialogue and reactions to situations.
I only a few gripes about the book. A minor one is that sometimes from one sentence to the next a few hours etc. have passed and this makes you 'stumble' in your reading. A bigger gripe was that Kyle shows a complete lack of trust in Rowan and this doesn't ever seem to be recognised or truly resolved. This said, it was maybe a very real life reaction to a man you are in love with. My final issue was that Kyle had been treated badly by a previous girlfriend but it was barely mentioned and only very briefly touched on.
I will say that I have read the follow up story of Andrew and that book is even better than this one.
The story grows and develops so well once it moves on to the part where Rowan and Kyle become friends. The story is written from both the main characters POV's. I prefer this as we get to see how both of them feel and I find it easier to understand/care for the hero when I get to 'hear' his voice. There are lots of twists and turns to the story and neither Rowan nor Kyle are typical hero and heroine type characters. In fact they are both very normal and real characters and this is one of the things I like about the book. Do rich, super sexy alpha males who adore and worship their woman and always make sure she 'gets there first' actually exist in real life?
I also really like that the story continues on past the 'and they got together' point, and it isn't just a quickly tacked on epilogue. Neither is it an unrealistic HEA, there are still further obstacles to surmount. The entire story is easy to read (in terms of editing and style of writing), with well thought through characters, believable plot lines and realistic dialogue and reactions to situations.
I only a few gripes about the book. A minor one is that sometimes from one sentence to the next a few hours etc. have passed and this makes you 'stumble' in your reading. A bigger gripe was that Kyle shows a complete lack of trust in Rowan and this doesn't ever seem to be recognised or truly resolved. This said, it was maybe a very real life reaction to a man you are in love with. My final issue was that Kyle had been treated badly by a previous girlfriend but it was barely mentioned and only very briefly touched on.
I will say that I have read the follow up story of Andrew and that book is even better than this one.
March 24, 2016
I really enjoy books like this. I especially connected with Rowan because of a lot of her mannerisms, as well as the fact that she is a tech geek as well. The first part of the book really zipped by. I can't tell you how much I disliked Charlie and Andrew though. What they did was wrong. I did come to somewhat like Charlie, but forgiveness is hard to come by with me and I'd been in a similar situation that they put Rowan in. After a while though, I was having difficulty telling where it was going to end. There were parts when I really thought it was all over, then turned the page on my laptop and was like, "Oh. There's more." I feel like it was stretched a little too much for my taste. It really could have been two books with the last bit being its own thing with more detail to it. I actually kind of glossed over a bit at the end because it really did get slightly boring. I still gave it four stars though because I really did like the story in the beginning and can't blame an author for not wanting it to end. Will definitely be reading some of the others in the series.
August 28, 2016
Best friends since early childhood. They were inseparable. As adults, two of the friends become more. With her heart ripped out, she moves out. She finds a handsome man who is leaving. After 6 months, they meet up again. She is extremely shy and can't believe this guy wants to hang out with her. He has never forgotten talking to her on the bus. When he finally meets her, he can't get enough.
A heartbreaking story of friendship won and lost, real true love and happiness. Rowan and Kyle are trying to make a relationship but an ex old friend is jealous. After his wife's death, he starts to lose it. He thinks Rowan should be with him. He tries everything he can including kidnapping her after assaulting Kyle to get her to leave with him.
He made a huge mistake by keeping her away from her baby. She can never forgive that. After being saved, Rowan is more focused on her family and putting everything else in the past.
A real tear jerker. Great ready. Thank you Ariadne for this gripping story of friendship, love and loss.
A heartbreaking story of friendship won and lost, real true love and happiness. Rowan and Kyle are trying to make a relationship but an ex old friend is jealous. After his wife's death, he starts to lose it. He thinks Rowan should be with him. He tries everything he can including kidnapping her after assaulting Kyle to get her to leave with him.
He made a huge mistake by keeping her away from her baby. She can never forgive that. After being saved, Rowan is more focused on her family and putting everything else in the past.
A real tear jerker. Great ready. Thank you Ariadne for this gripping story of friendship, love and loss.
May 21, 2016
I nearly didn't read this after reading some of the reviews (something I rarely do before reading a book). It had been sitting on my kindle for a while and I was looking to cull some of the books that had been there a while. I'm glad I took a chance on this one as it was a fine read and one I that I got stuck straight into and couldn't put it down. I loved the unpredictability of the story and the emotions of the characters. This a book that you need to take a chance on.
October 17, 2014
Ok
honestly this book was ok. the beginning was pretty good up until Rowan and Kyle became friends. there were too many time shifts in the beginning. also she probably would've been more upset after looking the baby.
I thought the entire kidnapping part was really good though and Miami is a cute name
honestly this book was ok. the beginning was pretty good up until Rowan and Kyle became friends. there were too many time shifts in the beginning. also she probably would've been more upset after looking the baby.
I thought the entire kidnapping part was really good though and Miami is a cute name
June 9, 2015
The story was good but I felt that after Rowan and Kyle got together the story started to drag. The whole thing with the kidnapping could of been left out. This book felt like it should not have been 45 chapters long... It's good enough to read on a vacation or a very long drive but there not much wow to it.
March 1, 2016
Omg!!!!!!!
Amazballs! Perfection! Emotional! Wrote to perfection and nothing less! Speechless right now! Can't stop with the exclamation marks right now like seriously omg! So totally worth my time ya know?? Lol. But seriously it was an amazing book and I am glad that I took the time to read such an amazing book it left me speechless and ready for the next book
Amazballs! Perfection! Emotional! Wrote to perfection and nothing less! Speechless right now! Can't stop with the exclamation marks right now like seriously omg! So totally worth my time ya know?? Lol. But seriously it was an amazing book and I am glad that I took the time to read such an amazing book it left me speechless and ready for the next book
October 3, 2014
I don't know, this book have a lot of emotions, I can relate with Rowan feelings, but no with the timming of the events, everything happen soooo fast, the characters fall in & out of love to soon. Overall, the story is good for read on a boring weekend!
November 14, 2015
I really enjoyed this book, this book was amazing and I used every spare minute I had today to read this book. I loved Kyle and I really want someone like that in my life, every girl deserves someone like him.
November 20, 2016
Felt the relationship between Rowan and Kyle was fast, and there was no sense of time until the end of the book. It did keep me wanting to read but the ending with the Andrew thing was kind of awkward. I enjoyed the book,that I finished it in two days.
October 9, 2014
This was not for me. Decent storyline but the writing style did not suite me.
March 5, 2015
Wincing the whole time I was reading this.
It was so painful
It was so painful
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews