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Modern Girl's Guide #3

Modern Girl's Guide to Friends With Benefits

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Megan and Peter have been friends since high school. Best friends. Others might speculate about their close relationship, but through the years, they've always kept it platonic. Until one snowy night in Vail that changed everything.


A Friends With Benefits arrangement could be the best of both worlds. With sizzling passion and a strong bond, what could go wrong?


This is the THIRD book in the Modern Girl's Guide series. While Friends with Benefits is a STANDALONE romance with a HEA, there are returning character from early books (expect spoilers). Want to start from the beginning? Check out MGG Vacation Flings:  amzn.to/1Reuz0V

323 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2015

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142 people want to read

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Gina Drayer

16 books95 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for Daniella.
256 reviews635 followers
January 23, 2016
*An ARC was given in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the writer and the publisher for the opportunity to read this.*

DNF@49%. I give up. I can't read this anymore. I tried, man, I really did, but I just can't stomach the heroine any longer.
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Megan was a spoiled, manipulative 30-year-old who threw hissy fits when things didn't go her way. Look, I'm 27 years old, but I never acted the way this bitch did in the story.

Let me enumerate all the shitfuckery she did:

1. At the start of the book, Megan was having a dreadful week. Her house had a huge termite problem, and her publisher was forcing her to write a story she didn't want. That's why she was looking forward to her big birthday celebration in some fancy hotel on a mountaintop with her friends.

When they arrived at said hotel, they found out that Megan had to share a room with her best friend, Peter. That wasn't a big deal because they'd shared rooms before. When Peter arrived, Megan was really bitchy, because of course, she was having a bad week so she felt like she had the right to be! WOW. And this was after Peter spent an exhausting few hours just to get to the venue.
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They had a spat, and you know what Megan did next?

She walked out. Well, not before she flashed her naked body to Peter .

Um. What the fuck? First and foremost, why the hell would you do something like showing your naked body to your platonic friend? (Because it was established early on that they were platonic.) Who does that?

Second, using your sexuality to end an argument? Yeah, that's real mature.
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2. During Megan's birthday party, she got drunk and started flirting with a random guy. She also dressed provocatively because, well, she wanted to (and in Megan's universe, that's enough reason to do shit). Said random guy started getting frisky on her, and she hated it. Things went downhill pretty quickly, ending with a fist-fight between Peter and the dude.

Okay. Getting yourself drunk, dressing and acting provocatively (she was purring at men and stuff), and relentlessly flirting with guys (when you know you can't handle them) are totally irresponsible actions. You should know your limits. Christ. You don't need to be 27 years old to know that.
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3. After the disastrous party, Peter escorted Megan to their room. Megan proceeded to seduce Peter into having sex with her. She succeeded.

And this is the point where I raged like hell. I don't know about you guys, but I felt like Megan forced herself on Peter. At the last moment (when Megan slipped him inside her), he was still resisting, and that for me, is rape, or at least close to it. Dubious consent. Coercion. Sorry, I don't want those.

So, yeah. Fuck this shit.
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P.S. It's a real pity because the writing was nice. Sigh.
Profile Image for Deniz.
1,204 reviews97 followers
February 6, 2016
I have a feeling that I might be in the minority, as quite often when it comes to romance books like this one. And with these kind, I mean your rather cliche, well everything.

I actually liked it too much to DNF but while it had some quite fun and cute moments-the entire thing felt way too tried. It like half the situations were beyond cliche and the other half felt like Drayer is trying way too hard to make this quirky.

I think the writing style is quite good. The plot- well, I am a fan of bestie to lover stories- and this one was a bit meh and way to0 melodramatic.

The characters were.. well ... the guys are all a bit dim r super duche-bags, quite frankly. Except for the two gay guys- they seemed to dole out life advice on a stick instead. The women are all a bit catty. And let me just put it out there I am not a fan of Megan I found her self-centered and totally immature, a totally drama queen and rather manipulative. Half the time I kept thinking, she is supposed to be 30, but behaves like 12... And all those situations? Spoilt and selfish is all I can see.
I did like Peter, except he wasn't the brightest bulb was he? And I honestly don't think men are that stupid. I think it's rather sexist of us women to assume men don't have a clue- like ever... oh wait: except when they are gay, then the ball game changes apparently.

My biggest issue with this however? The sex and the supposed chemistry between Megan and Peter.
There was none. No chemistry. Drayer kept mentioning there was, but I couldn't see it at all.
The smut? It felt generic. Like now we doing this kind of scene- let's start and a go to b then c.
as example:
"Why Peter, I'm getting the distinct impression that you want something,"she teased as he crawled up her body. She giggled and tried to wiggle out from under him, but he caught both her hands.


Peter wasn't sure what she had in mind, but she was an alluring siren. He'd follow her anywhere.

Really? I found Megan's smut talk and behaviour obnoxious. At best.
But mostly the smut felt plotted and overdone.

So not a series for me..
Buuut I still lurve the cover and bestie-to-lover beats insta anyday!






Profile Image for Steffi.
3,275 reviews182 followers
January 17, 2016
Thank you to netgalley and Victoriy Editing for providing this reading copy.

When I started this book I had a few problems with all the names and differents character and who belongs to who, but after I few chapters I settled into the story.

I really enjoyed the setting and especially that group of friends. You could feel the well-knit bond they have and how they always stand in for each other. I really liked that.

The couple in the center of this book are Megan and Peter. They are best friends and decide to take their friendship to the next step by being friends with benefits. I have to say that I coulnd't really connect with both characters. Megan was too harsh and boyish for me taste, while Peter appeared to be kind of weak, far away from the described womanizer-image. My troubles with the characters made it difficult for me to feel the chemistry between them. I did enjoy the sexy times though.

Even for me the ending was a bit too cheesy and everything felt a bit rushed.

This is my first book by Gina Drayer but it won't be my last as I really enjoyed her writing style. I am looking forward to read her other books about this group of friends.
Profile Image for Char (1RadReader59).
3,202 reviews20 followers
October 7, 2018
Very interesting concept to an old story which many have tried but few have mastered. No, judgment just observation. Especially, after a friendship this long in the making. Emotions are hard under the best of conditions but to add history and underbelly battle wounds, Yikes!

Megan is the younger sister to Simon. A good friend and business partner to both Simon and Matt. Along the way, Megan and Peter became BFF’s. Mainly, I would say because although she, Simon, and Matt came from money and standing in the community, Peter has never had to prove himself to her with his two best guy friends he has always felt a need to since he did have the financials to show for it.

You see when Meg’s mom died she looked for ways to one feel things and two, get attention from her father. The senator being himself was always in the public eye. It was Simon’s job to keep Meg out of the press. In turn as, his friends for Peter and Matt’s job too to do the same.

Over the last couple of years, the dynamics of the group has begun to change. The guys are coupling with her best friends. And the boys are now expanding their business out of Chicago with an office in New York. So, Simon, Kim, and Peter (Peter is temporary,) have all moved there. Peter’s been there for four months. Matt and Beth are expecting their first child and Meg’s life is crazy and out of control or at least it feels that way.

You see the fixer-upper home she bought is a money pit. The contractor and his partner are the only good thing in the whole scheme that helps. Her erotic book series of which she is on the last one to finish her contractual obligation to the series has hit a major writer’s block. It’s due in three weeks, Yikes! Not to mention she is turning thirty, YAY!

Not! She’s late getting to her own Vail ski birthday weekend they have every year. Her brother messed up so they are short a cabin and she will have to room with Peter. Not a problem there are two rooms. When she gets there, she sees a Jacuzzi and strips and grabs a bottle of wine and she’s in.

Naked in the Jacuzzi should not be a problem since she was told by Julia, Simon’s girlfriend, that Peter’s plane was snowed-in in New York he wouldn’t be there until tomorrow morning. So, feeling sorry for herself from being tired, the house, writer’s block, no Peter, no cabin, and turning thirty, Yay her.

When she hears Peter’s voice. Now she is cussing up a storm. Then she hears a woman’s voice. Accuses him of being a man-whore for bringing a slope bunny to the cabin at one a.m. How and who does that? He tells her to get out so they could talk. She says no three times telling him just go to bed. He won’t stop. After three times him saying it she gets out covers her hair with her towel and goes to bed. Leaving him with a woody.

This book was cute and had a lot of funny moments. I just couldn’t get over how many times it took them each arguing themselves out of their own views. It was irritating. Meg is one stubborn chick who didn’t want to get out of her own way. I give this: 4 stars. Provided by netgalley.com.

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Profile Image for Alysha DeShaé.
1,264 reviews38 followers
August 24, 2017
See my full review here: http://alyshadeshae.com/2015/12/04/modern-girls-guide-to-friends-with-benefits-by-gina-drayer/

Warning: Some spoilers may be included in my review.

I love Meg. She’s a badass and doesn’t care what people think. Peter is pretty awesome and when shit hits the fan, his first thought is of Megan and I can totally get behind that. Oh, and Meg is a writer. Did I forget that? Within the book, she’s a writer and she writes erotic stories. Best selling erotic stories. She’s also a college professor, but her real income is from her writing. She’s amazing. And that shit that hits the fan? It only boosts her career as a writer. She’s so cool!

This book deserves all 5.0 out of 5.0 stars and maybe even a few bonus stars. I actually let my kindle get drenched in the rain because the morning it came out I started reading it and the drive to work was too long. WIthdrawals. As soon as I parked, I was powering up the kindle and reading while trying to get out of the truck with my stuff. It took me almost fifteen minutes (in pouring rain) to get inside because I could not stop reading. By the way, that epilogue. I’m dead.

So when is Kim’s book coming out?! She’s next for the Modern Girl’s Guide book series and I absolutely cannot wait! Kim’s book will be educational, I’m sure!
Profile Image for A little birdie told me....
627 reviews31 followers
December 23, 2015
I'm not sure why I followed through with this one. I liked the other Modern Girl's Guide book I read last week, but really not enough to read another. But I saw higher reviews for this one than for the first one and hoped the story got better.

It really didn't. In fact, the same things I didn't like in the first book were plaguing this one. Lack of communication, a stupid male lead, a catty woman... all present. The names and the situations may have been different, but the thought processes and actions were blazingly familiar.

Now, if I had read this one first, I might have liked it better. And maybe if I had given more space between the books, it would have been a higher rating. The writing is good. The characters are not unlikable. However, as it stands, I probably won't read any more in this series.
Profile Image for litljen.
1,234 reviews42 followers
February 3, 2016
I loved this book! Okay, I loved all 3 of the books so far in this series but I think that this one was definitely my favorite. I'm a sucker for all things friends to lovers and the author did not disappoint with this story. Megan and Peter's flirtation in MGG's One Night Stands had me really looking forward to this book. They have been best friends for years and they both finally realize that there may just be something more there. Megan suggests a friends with benefits arrangement since neither are the relationship type. These two have insane chemistry and it is obvious that they really do belong together. The progression of their relationship has its ups and downs but in the end, of course there is a happy ending. This was a fun read and I'm looking forward to more from this author!
Profile Image for Michelle Lima.
74 reviews
January 18, 2016
Really nice romance!

This is the second book I read from the modern girls guide series, since the last book I was waiting for Megan and Peter's story. I really enjoyed, Megan is crazy but the nice kind of crazy, like that best friend that you would never imagine settling down but deep down is just waiting for the right guy to come along.
It turns out she has been in love with him for the past 15 years and just now they are giving a chance to the whole friends with benefits thing. I liked when things started to change, both feeling the same but in doubt about each other's feelings. Great read and I loved the end! Can't wait to read more by Gina Drayer.
Profile Image for Denise MacDonald.
535 reviews20 followers
January 21, 2016
This book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

This was a fun, cute, quick read about two best friends who take their friendship to the next level. It explores all the issues that come with major changes in a relationship. The main female character is a very strong character and is very likeable. The little tips at the beginning of each chapter are a nice touch and are cute, but they don't really match up with the content of the chapters. I didn't think the title of the book was well suited for the story as it wasn't really a friends with benefits type of situation. Overall, it was a fun read.
Profile Image for Heather andrews.
9,520 reviews162 followers
January 18, 2016
Meg is a strong, independent and opinionated woman, "I'm not just talking sex," she insisted. "I don't want to compete for your attention either. If we're coming out a couple, or whatever, you need to make it clear that you're taken." I enjoyed this book.
Profile Image for Cheryl Metzke.
5 reviews
December 13, 2015
This was an enjoyable read. The characters were like able and the story kept me interested. Looking forward to the next installment.
Profile Image for Amy.
180 reviews1 follower
September 18, 2019
Loved this book!! This was the first book I read in the series, and even though it is book #3, it was easily a standalone. I am going to go back and read the others as well, because I throughly enjoyed this book.

Peter and Meg have been close friends for a long time. They know each other inside and out. They decide to try out being friends with benefits. Their chemistry is fantastic even from the very beginning, you can sense the sexual tension between the two of them. Loved it!!
Profile Image for Bookworm52732.
552 reviews2 followers
May 24, 2019
Unlikeable female MC. Maybe the author was off her game for this one as it's not as good as the previous books in the series. I hope 4 & 5 are better since I already have them
Profile Image for MoreBooksPlease!.
222 reviews49 followers
October 11, 2016
2.5 stars - DNF 50%

Modern Girl's Guide to Friends with Benefits follows Megan and Peter, lifelong friends, as they navigate the ins and outs of casual sex between friends, while both trying to hide their true feelings for each other for the sake of their friendship.

Let me start by saying that I absolutely love, love, love friends-to-lovers stories and read a lot of them, so by now I feel that I have a pretty good grasp of what makes this trope work. To really connect with the characters, I need to FEEL the chemistry between them, FEEL how strongly they are bonded as friends, and FEEL their secret longing for each other. As hard as I tried, I just couldn't do that with this book. There was a lot of telling about what good friends they were and how much they wanted each other, but there was not a lot of feeling. Both characters, as well as their group of friends, came across as very flat and one-dimensional.

Also, something that drives me absolutely crazy with books is a lack of consistency with details, and this book was full of them. For example, on one page we are told Meg lives in a brick brownstone and then just a few pages later, Peter describes it as a Victorian with a wrap-a-round porch. There was also a scene where all the characters decide to go to a speakeasy themed club for Megans birthday.....FYI to the author: Speakeasies were around in the 1920's. When Peter sees them all dressed up in their costumes, he refers to them dressed in 60's attire. Mistakes like that drive me nuts!! The characters' personalities seemed all over the place as well, and just never felt well developed.

There were definitely some laugh-out-loud moments in this story, and I did enjoy the way each chapter started with an advice column type of blurb, but overall, I just didn't connect with the characters and quickly lost interest in the book.

***ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***

Profile Image for Jen.
498 reviews1 follower
January 18, 2016
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I appreciate it!

Charming. Groundbreaking? No. But this book was a light, fun read.

“Best friends” since high school (I put this in brackets because in no way do these two really seem like best friends), Megan and Peter have kept it platonic for the most part. Thrown together in a cabin while on a ski trip in Vail, they take things to the next level – or, really, Megan decides to take things to the next level and climbs all over Peter’s protestations like a creep. (Seriously, if a guy did this, it would not be cool).

Despite the slightly weird beginning, soon they’re off to a sizzling start, banging all over the place and having phone sex. As in all romances, feeeeeelings threaten to ruin everything. As does Meg’s overbearing and irritating family and Peter’s cluelessness about women.

The good? Meg and Peter do have some pretty nice sex scenes, and for the most part, they do seem to care about each other. Meg’s dog Benny is irrepressibly cute and I just wanted to read about him wiggling all over the place like a furry bunny! Meg’s response to a certain amount of slut shaming that goes on later in the book is badass and made me like her much more than I did in the beginning.

The not-so-good? Meg has a whiff of brat about her, especially in her interactions with her friends in the opening pages. There is also quite a bit of cliche in this book, and the ‘modern girl’ stuff is beyond annoying… I skipped all of them after the first one.

All in all though, this is a fun book and it really doesn’t claim to be anything else. Recommended for anyone who likes their New Adult romance with a dose of humour and a strong female character.
Profile Image for Lisa F.
572 reviews12 followers
Read
January 18, 2016
unfortunately for me I didn't connect with this book, I couldn't get on board with the characters and really like, I felt like a yoyo at times back and forth between the two so much I was getting confused on who wanted what, this might be because I didn't connect that sorry to say I wasn't invested in the book.
one didn't find it funny like I thought it would have been maybe my expectations were a too high.
although the book wasn't for me I'm sure others will enjoy it
Profile Image for Dayreader Reviews.
791 reviews63 followers
April 4, 2016
Officially anti-marriage, won't settle down!

I can't say enough about this series, this book. I have laughed out loud and so many things in this series. Meh and Peter crack me up. Their easy nature with each other, they know everything about each other. I love how their friendship blossomed. Great story, happy ending for all. You won't regret reading this book or the entire series for that matter!!
Profile Image for Born To Read.
806 reviews18 followers
August 13, 2016
I received a free copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Megan and Peter have been friends for fifteen years.
Their friendship is not a typical one. They get jealous and they are really touchy with each other.
After a weekend away with some friends, who suggest Megan having an affair with Peter, they finally hook up.
And they decide to be friends with benefits.
But things get complicated because getting it casual is not that easy.
Light reading with a nice story.
Author 3 books91 followers
December 14, 2016
This was a light, fun read.
You'll fall in love with the characters for sure!
Profile Image for Fatmata Sankoh.
1,322 reviews4 followers
December 29, 2015
A much more better read than the previous. Really enjoyed reading Peter and Megan's story. Their relationship/understanding was interesting and keeps you wanting more. Was hooked from ths start. It was also fab reading about Simon and Julia and how their relationship is developing. A book I'll for sure recommend.
Profile Image for Charlotte Clark.
Author 10 books39 followers
January 19, 2016
A funny and flirty friends to lovers story -- I found it a little hard to follow at first without having read the earlier volumes, but I liked that it had a romance novelist heroine and it was well written and cute.
NOTE: I RECEIVED AN ARC OF THIS BOOK FROM NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
Profile Image for Danielle .
2,565 reviews76 followers
February 1, 2016
The book to me a whole to finish. I kept giving up, but then tried again. I am not sure what didn't work for me. Maybe I didn't like it cause I felt there was other books I miss in this series. I want crazy about Megan. I did like Peter a lot... there was just so much drama and Megan was a little OTT for me....
Profile Image for Maggie2u2000.
1,075 reviews3 followers
February 9, 2016
Really loved this one

Peter and Megan's story was an easy read. I enjoyed the back and forth banter. Megan was a headstrong, bold independent woman trying to negotiate a FWB relationship. Not falling in love should have been easy, or so she thought. Reading their story was a delight.
Profile Image for Jeannette.
246 reviews2 followers
February 6, 2017
I loved Peter

This is a great read, with a sassy heroine and a dreamy Hero once I started reading I could not put it down.

I hope Matt's brother Jason gets a story too.

One click now, grab your favorite drink and enjoy.
Profile Image for Nicole Mcclain.
795 reviews9 followers
June 20, 2016
Very cute read!

I have enjoyed these stories and this one was just as good. We met Megan and Peter in the last book. I liked them a lot and wanted them to have their own book. Great read, the story sucked you in and made you very happy in the end. Keep these stories rolling in.
Profile Image for Kasey.
120 reviews12 followers
March 16, 2016
Good book

This series is a great quick read. Nothing too emotional that you can't recover from. This series is light and sweet. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a read in their spare moments.
Profile Image for Melissa Ann.
305 reviews19 followers
March 19, 2016
She broke every rule! I very much enjoyed the Modern Girls Guide to Friends With Benefits. My only wish was that it focused more on the development of their relationship and less of everything going on around them.
Profile Image for Megan =^..^=.
636 reviews7 followers
January 27, 2016
Brilliantly funny and extremely well written! For anyone who loves a witty lover story, this is a definite must read!!
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