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Ruin the Friendship
Not yet published
Expected 1 May 26Everything in Maisie Cohen’s life is going to plan. She has a stable job, great friends, and a long-term relationship that has finally progressed to happily ever after … or so she thinks.
Her best friend Nate was never her fiance’s biggest fan, but it comes to a head when he crashes the bachelor party and shows Maisie who she’s really marrying. In the aftermath, her fiance forces her to choose who to keep in her life: him, or Nate. She immediately cancels the wedding—the easiest choice she’s ever made.
Maisie might be falling apart, but she figures someone should take advantage of the cruise booked for the honeymoon, and there’s no one more deserving of a vacation than her best friend. What she doesn’t expect is for Nate to insist she come with him, despite her fear of water.
But in close quarters, she can’t help but notice the distance between her and Nate that wasn’t there when they were kids. Even worse, now that she’s single for the first time in her adult life, she’s beginning to see her best friend in a whole new light.
Maisie knows she needs to keep herself in line and not rock the boat. She can’t bear the thought of ever losing Nate. But as they go on adventures together, navigate her fears, and fight over who gets the single bed, she’s never been more tempted to ruin the friendship.
Her best friend Nate was never her fiance’s biggest fan, but it comes to a head when he crashes the bachelor party and shows Maisie who she’s really marrying. In the aftermath, her fiance forces her to choose who to keep in her life: him, or Nate. She immediately cancels the wedding—the easiest choice she’s ever made.
Maisie might be falling apart, but she figures someone should take advantage of the cruise booked for the honeymoon, and there’s no one more deserving of a vacation than her best friend. What she doesn’t expect is for Nate to insist she come with him, despite her fear of water.
But in close quarters, she can’t help but notice the distance between her and Nate that wasn’t there when they were kids. Even worse, now that she’s single for the first time in her adult life, she’s beginning to see her best friend in a whole new light.
Maisie knows she needs to keep herself in line and not rock the boat. She can’t bear the thought of ever losing Nate. But as they go on adventures together, navigate her fears, and fight over who gets the single bed, she’s never been more tempted to ruin the friendship.
- GenresFriends To LoversRomance
340 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 1, 2026
30 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Elle Rivers, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
UGH this was a 5 / 5 ⭐️ read for me. No questions.
Brownie points because the FMC's nickname is Berry, too. I loved that I could have a bit of a self-insert moment while reading this!🍓🍓🍓
I will admit I don't usually read much friends to lovers romances. Sometimes I think they are a little cliche and overdone.. But Ruin the Friendship was anything but that. I devoured it. This book ate and left no crumbs.
Maisie and Nate have consumed my waking thoughts for the last two days. I loved their supportive friendship, their banter, and their love for each other even before they finally hit it off as lovers. They were so addictive, and felt so three dimensional and realistic!!
Maisie was a QUEEN. I loved her so much. Her character growth from the beginning of the book to the end was so heartwarming and oddly reminiscent/nostalgic to read through. I found myself feeling for her and really crying for her during her hard moments. Also, I loved her friendship with Scarlett! Imho all women need a strong friend like that in our lives.
Nate was the sweetest, most golden retriever coded man ever. Ugh. He was so patient, so kind, and so caring. It made me so happy whenever he was on the page.. Which was a good 80% of the book LOL. I just loved him, and I loved how he loved Maisie. And the flashback to strawberries? I wanted to cry.
I loved this book. I honestly couldn't get enough of it, and although I am so sad it's over, I am so happy I got to read about these two and fall in love with both of them.
♡ pre-read ♡
Jay told me about this ARC, so naturally because I love her, I have requested it and now I can't wait to read it HEHEHEHE
UGH this was a 5 / 5 ⭐️ read for me. No questions.
Brownie points because the FMC's nickname is Berry, too. I loved that I could have a bit of a self-insert moment while reading this!🍓🍓🍓
I will admit I don't usually read much friends to lovers romances. Sometimes I think they are a little cliche and overdone.. But Ruin the Friendship was anything but that. I devoured it. This book ate and left no crumbs.
Maisie and Nate have consumed my waking thoughts for the last two days. I loved their supportive friendship, their banter, and their love for each other even before they finally hit it off as lovers. They were so addictive, and felt so three dimensional and realistic!!
Maisie was a QUEEN. I loved her so much. Her character growth from the beginning of the book to the end was so heartwarming and oddly reminiscent/nostalgic to read through. I found myself feeling for her and really crying for her during her hard moments. Also, I loved her friendship with Scarlett! Imho all women need a strong friend like that in our lives.
Nate was the sweetest, most golden retriever coded man ever. Ugh. He was so patient, so kind, and so caring. It made me so happy whenever he was on the page.. Which was a good 80% of the book LOL. I just loved him, and I loved how he loved Maisie. And the flashback to strawberries? I wanted to cry.
I loved this book. I honestly couldn't get enough of it, and although I am so sad it's over, I am so happy I got to read about these two and fall in love with both of them.
♡ pre-read ♡
Jay told me about this ARC, so naturally because I love her, I have requested it and now I can't wait to read it HEHEHEHE
April 1, 2026
Firstly, thank you so much Elle Rivers and BookFunnel for my eARC of this book!
I would give this book a 3.5 star rating but since Goodreads doesn’t allow that I figured I would round up. It was a very enjoyable read!
I really liked the characters Nate and Maisie, however I felt like sometimes Nate let things slide way too quickly with Maisie, and the fact that Maisie thought about Rob (her shitty ex) during weird, awkward times for her to be thinking of someone else bothered me.
I also felt like sometimes we were told much more often than shown right at the beginning, which made the pacing feel strained right at the start. However, this is not a problem I noticed throughout the rest of the book. Once they were on the ship it was good times.
This is a wonderful story to bring on your summer vacation. It shows the nuisance of love in ways that a good amount of romance books aren’t able to. It has characters that are perfectly flawed, with fears and dreams, that are able to come together time and again.
(personal rating system; 5 stars-perfect, read 4 stars-loved it, 3 stars-liked it would recommend , 2 stars-mostly wouldn’t recommend, 1 star-hated this)
I would give this book a 3.5 star rating but since Goodreads doesn’t allow that I figured I would round up. It was a very enjoyable read!
I really liked the characters Nate and Maisie, however I felt like sometimes Nate let things slide way too quickly with Maisie, and the fact that Maisie thought about Rob (her shitty ex) during weird, awkward times for her to be thinking of someone else bothered me.
I also felt like sometimes we were told much more often than shown right at the beginning, which made the pacing feel strained right at the start. However, this is not a problem I noticed throughout the rest of the book. Once they were on the ship it was good times.
This is a wonderful story to bring on your summer vacation. It shows the nuisance of love in ways that a good amount of romance books aren’t able to. It has characters that are perfectly flawed, with fears and dreams, that are able to come together time and again.
(personal rating system; 5 stars-perfect, read 4 stars-loved it, 3 stars-liked it would recommend , 2 stars-mostly wouldn’t recommend, 1 star-hated this)
April 1, 2026
Rating this a 4.5/5. I’m so happy I got the chance to read this before it comes out! This book was such a compelling and enjoyable read from start to finish. The writing style was engaging without ever feeling overly complicated, and it pulled me in almost immediately, just like her books always do.
The characters felt incredibly real, each with their own motivations and flaws that made them easy to connect with. I loved the relationship between the two and how it developed over time. Friends to lovers normally isn’t my favorite trope, but it worked well as we got to see there relationship grow.
I absolutely adored Nate, I wanted to hug him 99% of the time (we’ll ignore the airport scene for a second). Maisie was so lovable too, and her constant overthinking made her feel very relatable. Her fear of water was such an interesting detail and added another layer to her character that made her feel even more human.
Overall, this book was amazing. The bonus content from Nate’s pov really did it for me, that man was so caring and supportive!!
The characters felt incredibly real, each with their own motivations and flaws that made them easy to connect with. I loved the relationship between the two and how it developed over time. Friends to lovers normally isn’t my favorite trope, but it worked well as we got to see there relationship grow.
I absolutely adored Nate, I wanted to hug him 99% of the time (we’ll ignore the airport scene for a second). Maisie was so lovable too, and her constant overthinking made her feel very relatable. Her fear of water was such an interesting detail and added another layer to her character that made her feel even more human.
Overall, this book was amazing. The bonus content from Nate’s pov really did it for me, that man was so caring and supportive!!
April 1, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and net galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair review,
The book was fine,
I don’t have anything that was bad but it wasn’t memorable and felt rushed, there was spelling and grammar errors in the arc I received but i am assuming this will be edited before the book is published.
The plot itself wasn’t bad, i really enjoyed the friendship and friends to lovers, HOWEVER, i wanted more, i want an explanation of her nick name and I want an explanation on her trauma surrounding water, this book was long enough to include this instead the author focused on other parts that seemed less important
The book was fine,
I don’t have anything that was bad but it wasn’t memorable and felt rushed, there was spelling and grammar errors in the arc I received but i am assuming this will be edited before the book is published.
The plot itself wasn’t bad, i really enjoyed the friendship and friends to lovers, HOWEVER, i wanted more, i want an explanation of her nick name and I want an explanation on her trauma surrounding water, this book was long enough to include this instead the author focused on other parts that seemed less important
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2026
•°. ❝ You don't need to ask me for a chance. You never did. I chose you. And I'd do it again. ❞ *࿐
✎ᝰ. ★★★★★ stars
✎ᝰ. 3/5 spice level
✎ᝰ. tropes:
𝜗𝜚 childhood friends to lovers
𝜗𝜚 idiots to lovers
𝜗𝜚 constant banter
𝜗𝜚 runaway bride
𝜗𝜚 honeymoon cruise
𝜗𝜚 forced proximity
𝜗𝜚 summer romance
˗ˏˋ ꒰ ✉︎ ꒱ ˎˊ˗
First of all, I would like to thank Victory Editing and NetGalley for providing me with the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. Ruin the Friendship comes out on May 1st, 2026!
This is one of the cutest cruise romances I have ever read. I swear, it was such an amazing and addictive read that I just could not put it down. It was that good.
When I saw “idiots to lovers” as a trope, I was a bit confused, but after reading, I can 100% attest to it. The character I related to most was Scarlett, because it truly felt like watching two of your friends being completely oblivious to each other’s feelings from a front row seat.
Our main characters, Maisie and Nate, steal the show from the start. Watching Maisie recover from her toxic relationship and find her true self again was incredibly touching and inspiring, and I found myself cheering for her accomplishments as if she were my closest friend. Nate was the greenest of green flags to ever exist, and I hope that someday everyone can find a guy like him to call their own. He truly is the ultimate book boyfriend and deserves everything good in this world.
This book feels like a cozy blanket on a chilly summer evening while sitting on the beach watching the sunset. It is a combination of warmth and fuzzy feelings brought to life in a beautiful novel that will give you butterflies from start to finish. You will find yourself wishing it were a thousand pages long so you would not have to say goodbye to the characters.
I highly recommend Ruin the Friendship for anyone looking for the perfect summer read. It has the perfect balance of romance, humor, charm, and depth, along with everything that makes a love story special. Trust me, just like I was, you will be hooked on Maisie and Nate’s love story from page one.
•°. ❝ There are many things I'll let go. There are many things I won't fight about. Nate is neither of those things. ❞ *࿐
✎ᝰ. trigger warnings (possible spoilers): emotional abuse, explicit sexual content, anxiety, panic attacks due to water phobia.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🛳️ Review of advanced copy received from Netgalley 🛳️
I have never read any of Elle River’s previous work, but I am FAN. This book is perfect if you want something lighthearted, funny, and a lil spicy (open door!!!), with wonderful side characters.
I love Maisie and Nate’s friendship and relationship. They care for each other, push each other's buttons (and annoy each other in general), but endlessly support each other (fears, wants, needs, life changes, etc.). I also love how they speak about each other and interact with outside parties (Maisie’s parents, friends, etc.) (Fyi, Rob does not count. He is dumb). I also appreciate the communication between them (even when it didn’t happen lol sometimes a gal just has to be silly). The build-up to them finally getting together was SO good. Their chemistry appeared throughout the book with purpose. It wasn’t in your face; it was subtle (strong when needed, hehe), and arguably perfect.
Maisie: I saw a lot of myself in Maisie, which is a nice change from a lot of stereotypical main characters. She is a people pleaser but eventually (very quickly) figures out what she wants and needs. She is headstrong and hilarious.
Nate: HOT (imagine that photo of Pam from The Office holding up the sign). I love that he is respectful, patient, and also honest. He truly wants the best for Maisie and supports whatever choice she makes (even if questionable). He is also very aware of when she’s reached her limits (Trixie pls stop), and is protective of her in the best way.
Shoutout to Scarlett, I LOVED her. Nate was Maisie’s safety net, but I feel like Scarlett really showed Maisie that she is allowed to want things, have fun, and put herself first. We all need a friend like her. Please write about Scarlett in the future. I have so many questions.
A few minor critiques: I am a sucker for a dual POV, and I feel like it would have made this book that much stronger. I am also just obsessed with Nate and want to know what is going on in his head. I also do wish there were more descriptive details; I did struggle a little to imagine the scene, but overall, it was a fantastic read.
Trigger warning: There is a failed marriage in this book, but no cheating!!
Tropes:
🛳️ Best friends to lovers
🛳️ Only one bed
🛳️ Slow burn
🛳️ Forced proximity
Thank you Netgalley & Elle Rivers for letting me read this early!
I have never read any of Elle River’s previous work, but I am FAN. This book is perfect if you want something lighthearted, funny, and a lil spicy (open door!!!), with wonderful side characters.
I love Maisie and Nate’s friendship and relationship. They care for each other, push each other's buttons (and annoy each other in general), but endlessly support each other (fears, wants, needs, life changes, etc.). I also love how they speak about each other and interact with outside parties (Maisie’s parents, friends, etc.) (Fyi, Rob does not count. He is dumb). I also appreciate the communication between them (even when it didn’t happen lol sometimes a gal just has to be silly). The build-up to them finally getting together was SO good. Their chemistry appeared throughout the book with purpose. It wasn’t in your face; it was subtle (strong when needed, hehe), and arguably perfect.
Maisie: I saw a lot of myself in Maisie, which is a nice change from a lot of stereotypical main characters. She is a people pleaser but eventually (very quickly) figures out what she wants and needs. She is headstrong and hilarious.
Nate: HOT (imagine that photo of Pam from The Office holding up the sign). I love that he is respectful, patient, and also honest. He truly wants the best for Maisie and supports whatever choice she makes (even if questionable). He is also very aware of when she’s reached her limits (Trixie pls stop), and is protective of her in the best way.
Shoutout to Scarlett, I LOVED her. Nate was Maisie’s safety net, but I feel like Scarlett really showed Maisie that she is allowed to want things, have fun, and put herself first. We all need a friend like her. Please write about Scarlett in the future. I have so many questions.
A few minor critiques: I am a sucker for a dual POV, and I feel like it would have made this book that much stronger. I am also just obsessed with Nate and want to know what is going on in his head. I also do wish there were more descriptive details; I did struggle a little to imagine the scene, but overall, it was a fantastic read.
Trigger warning: There is a failed marriage in this book, but no cheating!!
Tropes:
🛳️ Best friends to lovers
🛳️ Only one bed
🛳️ Slow burn
🛳️ Forced proximity
Thank you Netgalley & Elle Rivers for letting me read this early!
Review of advance copy received from Author
**4.5
Thank you so much to Elle Rivers for sending me an ARC of this book! I’ve been such a huge fan of her books for so long, so getting an ARC felt like a dream come true, and I absolutely devoured this story, so let’s get into it! For reference, I’m not sure if there’s usually an expectation when someone writes an ARC for what reviews should look like, so I’m going to do a spoiler free review for this one.
No one writes a quietly yearning, absolutely down bad man like Elle Rivers (like, Nate was more down bad than LEVI, people). I also think that friends to lovers when one person was in a long term relationship can sometimes feel hard to get into because you have to wonder if one person is more in love than the other (and I’m all about equality in my romance books), but there was never a doubt in my mind that Maisie was just as devoted to Nate as he was to her, even when she couldn’t see it yet. I also enjoyed how much these two genuinely enjoyed each other’s company.
I also will say something I really liked about this book was how defensive Maisie was of Nate specifically against herself. That man literally would have let her walk all over him in her sharpest heels, but Maisie never would’ve wanted that. (Spoiler free but) there was one time where there was a miscommunication where Nate thought Maisie was screwing him over but he still stuck around and she genuinely was like “Stop it, if I’m ever actually screwing you over like this you need to leave because this isn’t fair to you.” I loved that for her because it clearly showed that she cares about his happiness just as much as he cares about hers.
What a fun read, and I really hope we get some more from our side characters (Quinn and Scarlett, this means you), possibly in another book…? So excited for my first ARC!!
Thank you so much to Elle Rivers for sending me an ARC of this book! I’ve been such a huge fan of her books for so long, so getting an ARC felt like a dream come true, and I absolutely devoured this story, so let’s get into it! For reference, I’m not sure if there’s usually an expectation when someone writes an ARC for what reviews should look like, so I’m going to do a spoiler free review for this one.
No one writes a quietly yearning, absolutely down bad man like Elle Rivers (like, Nate was more down bad than LEVI, people). I also think that friends to lovers when one person was in a long term relationship can sometimes feel hard to get into because you have to wonder if one person is more in love than the other (and I’m all about equality in my romance books), but there was never a doubt in my mind that Maisie was just as devoted to Nate as he was to her, even when she couldn’t see it yet. I also enjoyed how much these two genuinely enjoyed each other’s company.
I also will say something I really liked about this book was how defensive Maisie was of Nate specifically against herself. That man literally would have let her walk all over him in her sharpest heels, but Maisie never would’ve wanted that. (Spoiler free but) there was one time where there was a miscommunication where Nate thought Maisie was screwing him over but he still stuck around and she genuinely was like “Stop it, if I’m ever actually screwing you over like this you need to leave because this isn’t fair to you.” I loved that for her because it clearly showed that she cares about his happiness just as much as he cares about hers.
What a fun read, and I really hope we get some more from our side characters (Quinn and Scarlett, this means you), possibly in another book…? So excited for my first ARC!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Utter joy: that’s all I’m feeling right now. Ruin the Friendship is everything I need: soulmates, idiots to lovers, inside jokes. What’s not to love?
Maisie and Nate are meant to be. From the first page of this book, it’s clear that their friendship is so much more. It’s immediately obvious that nobody understands them like they do, and that Rob, Maisie’s fiancé, is an irredeemable roach.
There is such comfort in every one of Maisie and Nate’s conversations. Even when they’re miscommunicating, even when they’re fighting, they treat each other with so much love and respect. There is never any doubt in the reader’s mind that they won’t figure their issues out. The only frustrating part is how much time they wasted while Rob had his fun and how ignorant Maisie is for her own heart for a while. Luckily, she catches on pretty quickly, even when she doesn’t want to admit it, and we can spend all of our time basking in the inevitable.
Scarlett was also a joy. I have so many questions about her as a character and would love to hear more about her in a future Elle Rivers novel if at all possible please please please.
If you love reading about obvious soulmates, if you love funny one-liners and the safety of being with your best friend, even in the most fearful of circumstances, if you love chemistry and friendship and found family, Ruin the Friendship could be the book for you. Elle Rivers has triumphed here.
Thank you to Elle Rivers and Victory Editing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Maisie and Nate are meant to be. From the first page of this book, it’s clear that their friendship is so much more. It’s immediately obvious that nobody understands them like they do, and that Rob, Maisie’s fiancé, is an irredeemable roach.
There is such comfort in every one of Maisie and Nate’s conversations. Even when they’re miscommunicating, even when they’re fighting, they treat each other with so much love and respect. There is never any doubt in the reader’s mind that they won’t figure their issues out. The only frustrating part is how much time they wasted while Rob had his fun and how ignorant Maisie is for her own heart for a while. Luckily, she catches on pretty quickly, even when she doesn’t want to admit it, and we can spend all of our time basking in the inevitable.
Scarlett was also a joy. I have so many questions about her as a character and would love to hear more about her in a future Elle Rivers novel if at all possible please please please.
If you love reading about obvious soulmates, if you love funny one-liners and the safety of being with your best friend, even in the most fearful of circumstances, if you love chemistry and friendship and found family, Ruin the Friendship could be the book for you. Elle Rivers has triumphed here.
Thank you to Elle Rivers and Victory Editing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
thank you to victory editing and netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!!
this was such a sweet and comforting read. it has that warm, summery feeling that just pulls you in and makes it really easy to keep turning the pages. i ended up finishing it so quickly because i was completely invested in maisie and nate and their story 🌅
their relationship was definitely the highlight for me. the way they slip between friendship and something more felt so natural, and their banter made everything feel light and fun even when there were more emotional moments. they really do feel like two people who have always been each other’s person, even if they take a while to fully realise it
i also really appreciated maisie’s growth throughout the book. watching her come out of a toxic relationship and slowly find herself again added a lot of depth to the story, and it made her journey feel meaningful rather than just focusing on the romance. nate was such a steady, supportive presence and very easy to root for 💗
the setting added a lot to the overall vibe as well. the cruise and summer atmosphere made everything feel a little more dreamy and escapist, which worked perfectly for this kind of story ☀️🌻
this is one of those romances that feels soft, easy, and quietly special. it leaves you with that warm, lingering feeling long after you’ve finished, and it is such a lovely choice if you are in the mood for something comforting, heartfelt, and full of gentle romance ✨
thank you to victory editing and netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!!
this was such a sweet and comforting read. it has that warm, summery feeling that just pulls you in and makes it really easy to keep turning the pages. i ended up finishing it so quickly because i was completely invested in maisie and nate and their story 🌅
their relationship was definitely the highlight for me. the way they slip between friendship and something more felt so natural, and their banter made everything feel light and fun even when there were more emotional moments. they really do feel like two people who have always been each other’s person, even if they take a while to fully realise it
i also really appreciated maisie’s growth throughout the book. watching her come out of a toxic relationship and slowly find herself again added a lot of depth to the story, and it made her journey feel meaningful rather than just focusing on the romance. nate was such a steady, supportive presence and very easy to root for 💗
the setting added a lot to the overall vibe as well. the cruise and summer atmosphere made everything feel a little more dreamy and escapist, which worked perfectly for this kind of story ☀️🌻
this is one of those romances that feels soft, easy, and quietly special. it leaves you with that warm, lingering feeling long after you’ve finished, and it is such a lovely choice if you are in the mood for something comforting, heartfelt, and full of gentle romance ✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
I got a chance to read this early and HOLY CRAP!!! I think this is her best book yet. I thought I would casually start it and get a few chapters in and go to bed. Dear reader, I did not go to bed. I did, in fact, stay up until the early hours of the morning consuming this book like my life depended on it.
The banter between Maisie and Nate was SO fun. I always get a little sad when childhood friends to lovers books don't have them actually acting like they grew up together. It's always a little too chill, too nice, etc. But these two? I *believed* it, and it was everything. But the way that they really see and understand each other is so incredible.
I loved how they kept their dynamic even after they got together, and I really enjoyed seeing Maisie have some of her character development driven by someone other than Nate (shout out to Scarlett, I adore her so much).
I often have a hard time really *seeing* scenes, and I tend to skim through setting descriptions for that reason. But in this one, everything felt so vibrant and real to me, and it was like I was right there with them. There were SO many beautiful moments that I will beg for art of.
If you're looking for a summer romance that will make you laugh your ass off and make you wish you could scrub your brain just to get a chance to read it for the first time again, 10/10 recommend. I am completely obsessed with this one!!
The banter between Maisie and Nate was SO fun. I always get a little sad when childhood friends to lovers books don't have them actually acting like they grew up together. It's always a little too chill, too nice, etc. But these two? I *believed* it, and it was everything. But the way that they really see and understand each other is so incredible.
I loved how they kept their dynamic even after they got together, and I really enjoyed seeing Maisie have some of her character development driven by someone other than Nate (shout out to Scarlett, I adore her so much).
I often have a hard time really *seeing* scenes, and I tend to skim through setting descriptions for that reason. But in this one, everything felt so vibrant and real to me, and it was like I was right there with them. There were SO many beautiful moments that I will beg for art of.
If you're looking for a summer romance that will make you laugh your ass off and make you wish you could scrub your brain just to get a chance to read it for the first time again, 10/10 recommend. I am completely obsessed with this one!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Elle and Literary Rising for the ARC!
I saw the author mention that this book was "idiots to lovers", and that was enough to intrigue me. I very quickly learned it was actually "one-idiot-and-her-best-friend-that-definitely-has-a-thing-for-her to lovers".
Now, don't get me wrong, I don't think that every friendship turns into one of the people falling for the other. But these two... I like that Maisie and Nate's conversations feel real. They have inside jokes, they have previous embarrassing moments that they bring up, they have fun! They show they care, they are (somewhat) good at communicating, even though Maisie does seem a little clueless at times, but, as previously mentioned, "idiots to lovers".
And, unrelated to the romance part, I LOVE the way the author went about Maisie's water phobia. No one-and-done, I'm-healed-now BS, but one step at a time (literally?).
Also, can I get Scarlett's number? Because there are problems in my life that I think she could help solve.
It's been a while since I've read a book with single-POV, I honestly would've loved to see Nate's thoughts right next to Maisie's in some of these scenes. (ETA: I've also read Nate's version after finishing the book so I got my wish.)
This is my first Elle Rivers book, and I'm not usually a romance reader, but this was so lighthearted and fun, it's a great read!
I saw the author mention that this book was "idiots to lovers", and that was enough to intrigue me. I very quickly learned it was actually "one-idiot-and-her-best-friend-that-definitely-has-a-thing-for-her to lovers".
Now, don't get me wrong, I don't think that every friendship turns into one of the people falling for the other. But these two... I like that Maisie and Nate's conversations feel real. They have inside jokes, they have previous embarrassing moments that they bring up, they have fun! They show they care, they are (somewhat) good at communicating, even though Maisie does seem a little clueless at times, but, as previously mentioned, "idiots to lovers".
And, unrelated to the romance part, I LOVE the way the author went about Maisie's water phobia. No one-and-done, I'm-healed-now BS, but one step at a time (literally?).
Also, can I get Scarlett's number? Because there are problems in my life that I think she could help solve.
It's been a while since I've read a book with single-POV, I honestly would've loved to see Nate's thoughts right next to Maisie's in some of these scenes. (ETA: I've also read Nate's version after finishing the book so I got my wish.)
This is my first Elle Rivers book, and I'm not usually a romance reader, but this was so lighthearted and fun, it's a great read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ruin the Friendship is an absolutely adorable idiots-to-lovers romance between two childhood best friends. It's sweet and mildly spicy, full of delicious banter, with a cute couple you can't help but love. 💖🍓
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was sucked into the story immediately and fell for these characters. Well not Rob of course, he's the worst.
Maisie and Nate are so obviously meant for each other, and watching their love story unfold was heartwarming and hilarious. There were so many times I laughed and a few times I teared up because some of this is just so realistic. Fear paralysis is a thing a lot of us deal with and going after what we want is scary.
The main character growth here was great. The plot moved quickly but let us smell the roses and learn to not drown along the way. I liked the secondary characters, especially Scarlett - I'd love to read her book. Maisie's dad is top tier. I loved him so much.
👫 Best friends since childhood
🫠 Idiots to lovers & constant banter
🍓 He's always loved her
🏝️ Runaway bride & honeymoon cruise
👀 One bed in a peeking suite
Thank you to Elle and Literary Rising for the ARC!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was sucked into the story immediately and fell for these characters. Well not Rob of course, he's the worst.
Maisie and Nate are so obviously meant for each other, and watching their love story unfold was heartwarming and hilarious. There were so many times I laughed and a few times I teared up because some of this is just so realistic. Fear paralysis is a thing a lot of us deal with and going after what we want is scary.
"Instead of worrying about what could go wrong, I should have seen what would go right."
The main character growth here was great. The plot moved quickly but let us smell the roses and learn to not drown along the way. I liked the secondary characters, especially Scarlett - I'd love to read her book. Maisie's dad is top tier. I loved him so much.
👫 Best friends since childhood
🫠 Idiots to lovers & constant banter
🍓 He's always loved her
🏝️ Runaway bride & honeymoon cruise
👀 One bed in a peeking suite
Thank you to Elle and Literary Rising for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Maisie tenía todo planeado o al menos eso creía. Una boda, una vida estable y alguien con quien compartirla, aunque en el fondo ya sabía que algo no estaba bien. Cuando todo se rompe justo antes de dar el siguiente paso, no le queda más que recoger los pedazos y fingir que no le duele tanto como en realidad sí.
Lo único que no cambia es Nate, su mejor amigo, el que aparece sin que lo llamen y se queda incluso cuando todo es incómodo. Lo que iba a ser un viaje que ya no tiene sentido termina convirtiéndose en una oportunidad para escapar de todo, aunque eso signifique enfrentar cosas que Maisie ha estado evitando por mucho tiempo.
Lejos de casa, sin distracciones y con demasiado tiempo para pensar, empiezan a salir verdades que ninguno de los dos estaba listo para decir. Miradas que duran más de lo normal, silencios que pesan diferente y una cercanía que deja de sentirse segura.
Maisie sabe que Nate es lo único que no quiere perder, pero también empieza a darse cuenta de que tal vez nunca fue solo amistad. Y aceptar eso puede cambiarlo todo, para bien o para peor.
Gracias NetGalley y al publicista por el ARC.
Lo único que no cambia es Nate, su mejor amigo, el que aparece sin que lo llamen y se queda incluso cuando todo es incómodo. Lo que iba a ser un viaje que ya no tiene sentido termina convirtiéndose en una oportunidad para escapar de todo, aunque eso signifique enfrentar cosas que Maisie ha estado evitando por mucho tiempo.
Lejos de casa, sin distracciones y con demasiado tiempo para pensar, empiezan a salir verdades que ninguno de los dos estaba listo para decir. Miradas que duran más de lo normal, silencios que pesan diferente y una cercanía que deja de sentirse segura.
Maisie sabe que Nate es lo único que no quiere perder, pero también empieza a darse cuenta de que tal vez nunca fue solo amistad. Y aceptar eso puede cambiarlo todo, para bien o para peor.
Gracias NetGalley y al publicista por el ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was such an easy read because I instantly connected with the characters and felt like I was part of their story. It is about Maisie and Nate. They’ve been best friends for 20 years but nothing more. And don’t ask them if there is more, because they are tired of answering that question! Maisie is fresh off of broken engagement and goes on her non-honeymoon cruise with her best friend instead of her ex-groom. That’s when the magic happens. What I loved about the book is how loving Nate is. It’s sad that Maisie never really knew what true love looked like when it was staring her in the face for her whole life. I loved their friendship. I loved how Maisie learned to conquer her fears and used that life lesson as a way to find her happy ending. What I didn’t love is how she wasted a decade of her life with a jerk. Why didn’t she see him for who he was earlier? Why did she shrink herself for him and in doing so she diminished Nate also? So much wasted time. I also would’ve loved to have a dual POV so we could know what Nate was thinking (although it was pretty obvious to everyone but Maisie). This was a fun book to read with banter, spice and a great cast of side characters.
April 2, 2026
Thank you so much Elle Rivers and BookFunnel for my eARC of this book!
In this story we follow Maisie and Nate who are childhood best friends. Maisie is about to get married but is having doubts about her fiancé. Luckily Nate steps up and tries to ease her worries but what he finds changes her whole life.
In the midst of her emotional turmoil, Nate and Maisie’s parents want her to take advantage of her honeymoon that was paid for. But being deathly terrified of water, Nate is the one who she ends up going with.
On the trip Maisie realizes there is more to her best friend that she never notices before. Will moving forward with Nate ruin what they have? Will it be worth the risk?
Ruin the Friendship is an absolutely adorable idiots-to-lovers romance between two childhood best friends. It's sweet and a little spicy, with delicious banter, and a cute couple you can't help but love.💕
This book definitely captivated me and was hard to put down! I love that the author gave us bonus content on Nate’s perspective and fell in love with him a little more!!🤭 This was my first book by Elle Rivers and I’m excited to read her other books!
In this story we follow Maisie and Nate who are childhood best friends. Maisie is about to get married but is having doubts about her fiancé. Luckily Nate steps up and tries to ease her worries but what he finds changes her whole life.
In the midst of her emotional turmoil, Nate and Maisie’s parents want her to take advantage of her honeymoon that was paid for. But being deathly terrified of water, Nate is the one who she ends up going with.
On the trip Maisie realizes there is more to her best friend that she never notices before. Will moving forward with Nate ruin what they have? Will it be worth the risk?
Ruin the Friendship is an absolutely adorable idiots-to-lovers romance between two childhood best friends. It's sweet and a little spicy, with delicious banter, and a cute couple you can't help but love.💕
This book definitely captivated me and was hard to put down! I love that the author gave us bonus content on Nate’s perspective and fell in love with him a little more!!🤭 This was my first book by Elle Rivers and I’m excited to read her other books!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Ruin the Friendship was such a fun and heartwarming book. Maisie has just called off her wedding when her best friend Nate shows her a video of her fiancé talking bad about her. Instead of letting the honeymoon cruise go to waste (one her parents paid a lot for) she offers it to Nate but he will only go with her. That is how they end up on a cruise with the honeymoon package… one bed and little to no privacy.
I loved how Maisie slowly realizes how her ex-fiancé Rob really treated her and with time apart, she could see how she should be treated. Her and Nate’s relationship slowly recovered from the years where he held himself back and you could see the love they had for each other. The banter was hilarious and wonderful and the slo burn was worth the wait. Maisie was easy to cheat for and Nate was an amazing human being.
I loved her friend Scarlet that she met on the boat, her bff Quinn and her parents as well. The book was a warm hug and I loved the power Maisie got back!
Thank you to Victory Editing and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
I loved how Maisie slowly realizes how her ex-fiancé Rob really treated her and with time apart, she could see how she should be treated. Her and Nate’s relationship slowly recovered from the years where he held himself back and you could see the love they had for each other. The banter was hilarious and wonderful and the slo burn was worth the wait. Maisie was easy to cheat for and Nate was an amazing human being.
I loved her friend Scarlet that she met on the boat, her bff Quinn and her parents as well. The book was a warm hug and I loved the power Maisie got back!
Thank you to Victory Editing and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy
Ruin the friendship? Honestly…worth it.
Thank you to Elle and Literary Rising for the ARC!
She was supposed to be getting married, but everything falls apart when her best friend reveals her fiancé’s true colors. The wedding is off, but the honeymoon is already booked, so she gives it to her best friend.
Except he wants her to come with him.
They’ve been best friends forever, so what’s the harm? What could possibly happen?👀
This was such a cute, fun read! I’m always a sucker for a good friends to lovers trope, and this one absolutely delivered.
Maisie and Nate perfectly embody that dynamic. The banter, the brutal honesty, their shared humor, and how they constantly show up for each other made their relationship feel so natural and easy to read.
Overall, this was a light, feel good, easy read that I’d definitely recommend.
Tropes:
Childhood friends to lovers
Runaway bride
Honeymoon cruise
Forced proximity
Thank you to Elle and Literary Rising for the ARC!
She was supposed to be getting married, but everything falls apart when her best friend reveals her fiancé’s true colors. The wedding is off, but the honeymoon is already booked, so she gives it to her best friend.
Except he wants her to come with him.
They’ve been best friends forever, so what’s the harm? What could possibly happen?👀
This was such a cute, fun read! I’m always a sucker for a good friends to lovers trope, and this one absolutely delivered.
Maisie and Nate perfectly embody that dynamic. The banter, the brutal honesty, their shared humor, and how they constantly show up for each other made their relationship feel so natural and easy to read.
Overall, this was a light, feel good, easy read that I’d definitely recommend.
Tropes:
Childhood friends to lovers
Runaway bride
Honeymoon cruise
Forced proximity
Review of advance copy
Thank you to Elle and Literary Rising for the Arc!
I’ve been a fan of Elle ever since I read Contractual Obligations, and this book just solidified that even more. I devoured it in a single day and completely fell in love with Nate and Maisie.
Maisie is headstrong, witty, and absolutely hilarious. She was such a fun and refreshing character. And Nate… wow. He’s basically the dream. He genuinely wants what’s best for Maisie and supports her in the most thoughtful ways.
And Scarlett? I don’t think I’ve ever loved a supporting character more. She was incredible, and I seriously wish she were my friend.
Once again, Elle delivered, and I’m so grateful to be one of her ARC readers. I’m already looking forward to whatever she writes next. This is easily one of my favorite reads of the year so far!
I’ve been a fan of Elle ever since I read Contractual Obligations, and this book just solidified that even more. I devoured it in a single day and completely fell in love with Nate and Maisie.
Maisie is headstrong, witty, and absolutely hilarious. She was such a fun and refreshing character. And Nate… wow. He’s basically the dream. He genuinely wants what’s best for Maisie and supports her in the most thoughtful ways.
And Scarlett? I don’t think I’ve ever loved a supporting character more. She was incredible, and I seriously wish she were my friend.
Once again, Elle delivered, and I’m so grateful to be one of her ARC readers. I’m already looking forward to whatever she writes next. This is easily one of my favorite reads of the year so far!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Maisie está a nada de casarse y se supone que debería estar feliz, pero todo se siente raro y forzado desde hace tiempo. Su prometido no aparece cuando debería y la presión de la boda la está volviendo loca. Justo cuando cree que solo tiene que sobrevivir un par de días más, todo se viene abajo de la peor forma posible y la boda simplemente deja de existir
En medio de ese desastre está Nate, su mejor amigo, el que siempre ha estado ahí. Para no perder el dinero del viaje, terminan yéndose juntos a lo que iba a ser su luna de miel y lo que empieza como una escapada incómoda se vuelve algo mucho más confuso. Hay tensión, momentos raros, celos que no deberían existir y una cercanía que ya no se siente como amistad
Gracias netgalley por el ARC.
En medio de ese desastre está Nate, su mejor amigo, el que siempre ha estado ahí. Para no perder el dinero del viaje, terminan yéndose juntos a lo que iba a ser su luna de miel y lo que empieza como una escapada incómoda se vuelve algo mucho más confuso. Hay tensión, momentos raros, celos que no deberían existir y una cercanía que ya no se siente como amistad
Gracias netgalley por el ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a beautiful, beautiful book! If you love Friends (idiots) to lovers, a runaway bride and a man who's been hopelessly in love with his best friend since they were 10, this book is for you!
I absolutely adored Nate, I think he may become my #1 book boyfriend because are you kidding me? He's everything!
Seeing the tension between him and Maisie was so so sweet, their banter was just everything too. I desperately want more of these two, I don't care how or what it is, I just can't be done with them after 1 book 😭😭
Thoroughly recommend reading this, it is beautifully written and such a wonderful read!
I absolutely adored Nate, I think he may become my #1 book boyfriend because are you kidding me? He's everything!
Seeing the tension between him and Maisie was so so sweet, their banter was just everything too. I desperately want more of these two, I don't care how or what it is, I just can't be done with them after 1 book 😭😭
Thoroughly recommend reading this, it is beautifully written and such a wonderful read!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was my first Elle Rivers book and I really liked it. It was a cozy, sweet story and I was smiling almost the whole book. Maisie and Nate prove that sometimes the best and deepest romances start from the spark of friendship. They were meant to be together from the start and the inside jokes, funny moments and just their honesty had me saying “awwww” out loud. This was a quick read and I could really see the scenes in my head as I think Elle does a great job describing the setting, emotions and overall feel of the characters in that moment.
Great read would recommend as a summer beach book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing Publishing for the eARC of this book.
Great read would recommend as a summer beach book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing Publishing for the eARC of this book.
Review of advance copy
*Thank you to Elle and Literary Rising for the ARC*
All opinions are my own.
Okay, first things first, I am a lover of the best friends to lovers trope, but I struggled to keep up with this book. The writing and pacing felt flat for me, and at some points, I was skimming through the dialogue because I was partially bored. It just didn't capture my interest the way I hoped it would for me. And also, the characters felt too childish for me, and their whole dynamic didn't stand out.
However, I’m very grateful for the chance to read it, and I appreciate all the work that went into the story.
All opinions are my own.
Okay, first things first, I am a lover of the best friends to lovers trope, but I struggled to keep up with this book. The writing and pacing felt flat for me, and at some points, I was skimming through the dialogue because I was partially bored. It just didn't capture my interest the way I hoped it would for me. And also, the characters felt too childish for me, and their whole dynamic didn't stand out.
However, I’m very grateful for the chance to read it, and I appreciate all the work that went into the story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Huge thanks to Elle Rivers and BookFunnel for letting me read this eARC!
I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was such a refreshing read, especially watching Maisie drop her toxic ex. Seeing her leave that mess in the rearview mirror was so satisfying.
The friendship between her and Nate is top-tier. They've been ride-or-die for decades, and he's literally everything she needs. Honestly, I was low-key screaming at the book waiting for her to realize Nate was "the one," but the glow-up when she finally figures out what she wants? Chef's kiss.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was such a refreshing read, especially watching Maisie drop her toxic ex. Seeing her leave that mess in the rearview mirror was so satisfying.
The friendship between her and Nate is top-tier. They've been ride-or-die for decades, and he's literally everything she needs. Honestly, I was low-key screaming at the book waiting for her to realize Nate was "the one," but the glow-up when she finally figures out what she wants? Chef's kiss.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have never begged/cheered for two characters to kiss more.
Nate and Maisie’s love story happened so authentically which can be difficult to achieve when writing friends to lovers.
The book reminded me of early 2000 cheesy romcoms in the best way. Nate is such a supportive partner who has way more patience than I ever could. My favourite parts were also Maisie finding parts of herself she had lost and conquering her fears. I am also crossing my fingers that maybe someday in the future we will get a book for Scarlett…
Thankyou so much to Victory Editing and Netgalley for allowing me to read the ARC. I’ll definetly be wanting a physical book for my shelf on release day.
Nate and Maisie’s love story happened so authentically which can be difficult to achieve when writing friends to lovers.
The book reminded me of early 2000 cheesy romcoms in the best way. Nate is such a supportive partner who has way more patience than I ever could. My favourite parts were also Maisie finding parts of herself she had lost and conquering her fears. I am also crossing my fingers that maybe someday in the future we will get a book for Scarlett…
Thankyou so much to Victory Editing and Netgalley for allowing me to read the ARC. I’ll definetly be wanting a physical book for my shelf on release day.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to netgalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and Elle Rivers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved Maisie so much and Nate. Rob was such a drag for me and he made me so angry every time he showed up. I'm usually not to fond of the friends to lovers trope, but i really like how elle rivers did it. the build up was nice and it didn't feel rushed at all. this book had me giggling and kicking my feet. i loved the cruise aspect and how they went about that. i will continue to read more by elle rivers.
I loved Maisie so much and Nate. Rob was such a drag for me and he made me so angry every time he showed up. I'm usually not to fond of the friends to lovers trope, but i really like how elle rivers did it. the build up was nice and it didn't feel rushed at all. this book had me giggling and kicking my feet. i loved the cruise aspect and how they went about that. i will continue to read more by elle rivers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
* Advanced copy read from NetGalley & Author *
I absolutely adored this book! If you love best friends to lovers, with a hint of an awkward FMC, and a giant green flag MMC, you’ll love this read too.
The journey Maisie goes on through out the book is one that a lot of people can relate to. She conquers all her fears, and falls in love, yeees girl!
A special note to the side characters Quinn & Scarlett, so so great! This book sucks you in, and makes you not want to put it down from the warm hug it gives you 🩷
I absolutely adored this book! If you love best friends to lovers, with a hint of an awkward FMC, and a giant green flag MMC, you’ll love this read too.
The journey Maisie goes on through out the book is one that a lot of people can relate to. She conquers all her fears, and falls in love, yeees girl!
A special note to the side characters Quinn & Scarlett, so so great! This book sucks you in, and makes you not want to put it down from the warm hug it gives you 🩷
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was able to read this early through NetGallery! This was SUCH a fun time. I giggled, smirked, and stayed up later than anticipated because I simply couldn’t stop reading. Nate and Maisie have been friends for 20+ years, and Maisie has been dating Rob for 10 years. Her life with Rob falls apart, and Nate is there- like he’s always been. Nate and Maisie go on the honeymoon she was supposed to have with Rob, and it’s just perfect. I love the main characters, I love the side characters, and it truly just felt perfect. This is a really special book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you SO, SO much for sending me the ARC for this incredible book. It’s 2:30 AM. I haven’t slept, couldn’t sleep… still can’t sleep because I’m SO SAD that this book ended. (Nate’s version too, ofc.)
I rate this book a whole 5 berries 🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓 for ultimate sweetness and two capsicums (or bell peppers for you Americans) 🫑🫑 for the sweetest spice ever.
This book is better than a dress with pockets, and honestly, if book two isn’t planned, it should be, because not knowing what happens next? “is like having every one of my pubes plucked out one by one.”
I rate this book a whole 5 berries 🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓 for ultimate sweetness and two capsicums (or bell peppers for you Americans) 🫑🫑 for the sweetest spice ever.
This book is better than a dress with pockets, and honestly, if book two isn’t planned, it should be, because not knowing what happens next? “is like having every one of my pubes plucked out one by one.”
April 2, 2026
ARC Review: This book was so fun and so cute and exactly what I needed. Nate is the perfect book boyfriend and I will not be taking any critiques on that statement. The Author herself described Maisie and Nate as “idiots to lovers” and honestly it’s so true (in the best way of course). There were so many times I wanted to yell “just kiss already” but their love story was so pure and I wouldn’t change it. I loved how aside from their love story, it’s about Maisie overcoming multiple fears and also relearning how to accept Nate’s unconditional love. This story is the perfect spring/summer read!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Review of advanced copy received from Literary Rising!!
This was a cute story!! Nate was the ultimate golden retriever MMC and I adored the way he cared about Maisie.
Seeing as this was childhood friends to lovers, I wish we got some scenes of them growing up together.
The only thing I didn’t really love was the fact that she got out of a 10 year relationship and less than a week later she’s with the MMC. I wish the timeline was spread out a little more but otherwise this was a cute, solid read!!
This was a cute story!! Nate was the ultimate golden retriever MMC and I adored the way he cared about Maisie.
Seeing as this was childhood friends to lovers, I wish we got some scenes of them growing up together.
The only thing I didn’t really love was the fact that she got out of a 10 year relationship and less than a week later she’s with the MMC. I wish the timeline was spread out a little more but otherwise this was a cute, solid read!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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