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What Are Friends For?
SLIDING DOORS meets THE FLATSHARE meets ONE DAY IN DECEMBER in this sweeping, romantic comedy for the digital age! Perfect for fans of Josie Silver and Beth O'Leary.
Everyone gives their friends advice when it comes to dating, but what happens when it all goes wrong?
Eve doesn't have time for dating, but having watched her best friend and flatmate have her heart broken one too many times, she reluctantly volunteers to play her Cupid.
Max is too much of a hopeless romantic to find the algorithms of online dating anything other than clinical, but he lives with his romantically-challenged best friend who desperately needs his advice.
And after all, what are friends for?
As Eve and Max become more involved in their best friends' relationship, they quickly realise there is a fine line between instruction and imitation, especially when they find they can't stop thinking about their best friend's date...
Everyone gives their friends advice when it comes to dating, but what happens when it all goes wrong?
Eve doesn't have time for dating, but having watched her best friend and flatmate have her heart broken one too many times, she reluctantly volunteers to play her Cupid.
Max is too much of a hopeless romantic to find the algorithms of online dating anything other than clinical, but he lives with his romantically-challenged best friend who desperately needs his advice.
And after all, what are friends for?
As Eve and Max become more involved in their best friends' relationship, they quickly realise there is a fine line between instruction and imitation, especially when they find they can't stop thinking about their best friend's date...
368 pages, Paperback
Published September 17, 2020
10 people are currently reading
317 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
October 16, 2020
For the most part of this novel, I found myself very frustrated towards the central characters of Eve and Max. I thought it was blindingly obvious that they were posting on behalf of their friend and I just wanted some honesty to come through.
This book may seem like a light-hearted read, but actually, the theme of loneliness and isolation is prevalent throughout. Taken on its own, this makes it quite a sad story and I felt rather swamped by the drowning emotions that so many of the characters feel. With increased mental health awareness in society today, this made it all the more poignant; it did not matter what age, gender or path of life, the cast of this book were all experiencing loneliness.
In an age where finding your perfect life-partner is usually going to take place via a dating-app, O’Hagan demonstrates that it can still lead to loneliness and isolation. Indeed, when considering this story, it is quite sad that both Max and Eve are comforted by pretending to be someone that they are not, just so they can get some company and a listening ear. It is clear from the beginning that the match between Tom and Becky is not compatible, especially as their friends have dominated so much of their interaction. However, the writer does not want us to focus too much on their budding relationship, rather the puppet-masters in the background.
Eve’s career felt as depressing as Max’s guilt. Eve feels trapped in her job and wants to promote herself further within the newspaper environment. But, something keeps holding her back – a bit like her own romantic life. On the other hand, Max’s visiting Peggy at the care home is intended to redeem the treatment of his own late grandmother. Peggy is a charming character but all it did was remind me of how dishonest Max is being to those around him.
I really wanted to see the writer spend more time on the key relationships. As the truth finally is revealed, I found the ending rather curt and abrupt. I wanted to know if Max and Eve are a successful couple after their hidden messages on the dating app. I wanted to see if Tom and Becky would have a second attempt at their relationship, especially now they had the opportunity to be themselves. Furthermore, I was hoping there would be more focus on the walking event that Max arranges and how Eve’s relationship with her estranged father develops. All in all, I just wanted more than this book provided.
Despite the characters irritating me, (Eve’s constant, mental Post-it notes were particularly annoying), this book does demonstrate the power of friendship and how far your companions will go to protect you. The novel does have a message of love and connections, it just seems to be bogged down by loneliness and insecurities.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book may seem like a light-hearted read, but actually, the theme of loneliness and isolation is prevalent throughout. Taken on its own, this makes it quite a sad story and I felt rather swamped by the drowning emotions that so many of the characters feel. With increased mental health awareness in society today, this made it all the more poignant; it did not matter what age, gender or path of life, the cast of this book were all experiencing loneliness.
In an age where finding your perfect life-partner is usually going to take place via a dating-app, O’Hagan demonstrates that it can still lead to loneliness and isolation. Indeed, when considering this story, it is quite sad that both Max and Eve are comforted by pretending to be someone that they are not, just so they can get some company and a listening ear. It is clear from the beginning that the match between Tom and Becky is not compatible, especially as their friends have dominated so much of their interaction. However, the writer does not want us to focus too much on their budding relationship, rather the puppet-masters in the background.
Eve’s career felt as depressing as Max’s guilt. Eve feels trapped in her job and wants to promote herself further within the newspaper environment. But, something keeps holding her back – a bit like her own romantic life. On the other hand, Max’s visiting Peggy at the care home is intended to redeem the treatment of his own late grandmother. Peggy is a charming character but all it did was remind me of how dishonest Max is being to those around him.
I really wanted to see the writer spend more time on the key relationships. As the truth finally is revealed, I found the ending rather curt and abrupt. I wanted to know if Max and Eve are a successful couple after their hidden messages on the dating app. I wanted to see if Tom and Becky would have a second attempt at their relationship, especially now they had the opportunity to be themselves. Furthermore, I was hoping there would be more focus on the walking event that Max arranges and how Eve’s relationship with her estranged father develops. All in all, I just wanted more than this book provided.
Despite the characters irritating me, (Eve’s constant, mental Post-it notes were particularly annoying), this book does demonstrate the power of friendship and how far your companions will go to protect you. The novel does have a message of love and connections, it just seems to be bogged down by loneliness and insecurities.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 17, 2020
A modern take on Cyrano. 3.5/5 stars
This review was originally posted on my book blog.
The premise of this book is great. It’s a modern-day take on Cyrano de Bergerac, and the use of text exchanges between the lovers is engaging and lively. The settings for the dates were well-described, and there was a pub that I – and probably most book-lovers – would love to visit. Aside from the romantic relationships, I particularly enjoyed the friendships, especially seeing a close friendship between two men (Max and Tom) depicted in first person.
However, I would warn those looking for a rom com, this is really more a story about friendship and dealing with loneliness, self-doubt and grief than a light love story.
I felt a bit let down by the ending. The entire book was a build up to Eve and Max getting together, but we are cheated of that big moment! In fact, the ending felt rushed and anti-climactic. And if the romance was a little unresolved, an important character suddenly appeared very late in the story and was another thing we didn’t get to see wrapped up.
Overall: a good premise and interesting characters let down a little by the anti-climactic ending.
This review was originally posted on my book blog.
The premise of this book is great. It’s a modern-day take on Cyrano de Bergerac, and the use of text exchanges between the lovers is engaging and lively. The settings for the dates were well-described, and there was a pub that I – and probably most book-lovers – would love to visit. Aside from the romantic relationships, I particularly enjoyed the friendships, especially seeing a close friendship between two men (Max and Tom) depicted in first person.
However, I would warn those looking for a rom com, this is really more a story about friendship and dealing with loneliness, self-doubt and grief than a light love story.
I felt a bit let down by the ending. The entire book was a build up to Eve and Max getting together, but we are cheated of that big moment! In fact, the ending felt rushed and anti-climactic. And if the romance was a little unresolved, an important character suddenly appeared very late in the story and was another thing we didn’t get to see wrapped up.
Overall: a good premise and interesting characters let down a little by the anti-climactic ending.
June 4, 2021
This story is set around two friends helping their respective friends with online dating. This book was just too unbelievable to me. The main characters came off as just plain stupid which made it quite frustrating. And I just don’t buy that friends would do that!
Not for me
Not for me
July 11, 2021
Although an easy read, it wasn’t one that you could really believe - it just wouldn’t happen this way
September 16, 2020
Welcome to 21st century dating- this is romance with a twist! When Eve and Max reluctantly agree to help improve their best friends' online dating profiles they have no idea just how invested they'll get. After weeks of helping their friends-giving advice, and messaging on their behalf- they both realise they've fallen in love with their best friends' date, little do they know they've really been speaking to one another all along.
This is an uplifting, funny, easy-read romance containing all the classic elements of a RomCom novel plus more! I loved the premise of this book, I thought it was unique and relevant to modern dating. The characters were well developed, each having a part of their personality that I could relate to. Whilst this is a lighthearted book it also touches on important topics, such as managing grief and loss, and I really appreciated that this book was as much about friendship and familial relationships as it was romance.
My main criticism is with the pacing of the plot. At times I thought the middle of the book lacked pace and I found myself skim reading over parts that felt repetitive. By contrast, the 'big reveal' at the end of the book all happened very quickly; I would have liked to have seen a slower build to the climax and more seeds of suspicion from Eve & Max planted throughout the book. For me, I don't think that the publishers comparison to 'The Flatshare' by Beth O'Leary was necessarily a helpful one. I found myself directly comparing the two books whilst reading 'What Are Friends For?' and unfortunately, I don't think it met the high expectations set by 'The Flatshare'.
Overall, this is a really strong debut novel by Lizzie O'Hagan that will be a great hit with romcom/chicklit fans, and I can definitely see this being made into a fab feel-good film one day!
This is an uplifting, funny, easy-read romance containing all the classic elements of a RomCom novel plus more! I loved the premise of this book, I thought it was unique and relevant to modern dating. The characters were well developed, each having a part of their personality that I could relate to. Whilst this is a lighthearted book it also touches on important topics, such as managing grief and loss, and I really appreciated that this book was as much about friendship and familial relationships as it was romance.
My main criticism is with the pacing of the plot. At times I thought the middle of the book lacked pace and I found myself skim reading over parts that felt repetitive. By contrast, the 'big reveal' at the end of the book all happened very quickly; I would have liked to have seen a slower build to the climax and more seeds of suspicion from Eve & Max planted throughout the book. For me, I don't think that the publishers comparison to 'The Flatshare' by Beth O'Leary was necessarily a helpful one. I found myself directly comparing the two books whilst reading 'What Are Friends For?' and unfortunately, I don't think it met the high expectations set by 'The Flatshare'.
Overall, this is a really strong debut novel by Lizzie O'Hagan that will be a great hit with romcom/chicklit fans, and I can definitely see this being made into a fab feel-good film one day!
April 29, 2022
1.8/5
-no tension at all. hard to get into.
-makes no sense? like bro the communication that could've easily made this non-existent idk
-no tension at all. hard to get into.
-makes no sense? like bro the communication that could've easily made this non-existent idk
November 23, 2020
So, the set-up is a little complicated to explain but simple to follow when you're reading. Eve's flatmate Becky is unlucky in love so Eve ends up "helping" her profile on a dating website, to the point of choosing the date and helping out with the conversation. Max finds himself in a similar situation with his friend Tom. So Max and Eve pretending to be Becky and Tom strike up an online conversation whilst in the real world Becky and Tom go on the dates. What could possibly go wrong?
The story is told in alternating viewpoints between Eve and Max and is also written in the present tense - a style I usually hate but you do reach a point where there is such a sense of inevitable impending disaster that the use of present tense works.
For the first hundred pages I really liked this story, it had snappy dialogue, funny lines...
"I think it makes us sound like a double act. Maxy and Pads, putting the fun in fund-raising..."
"Dude, it makes us sound like a sanitary product,"
...quirky friends and an interesting premise. It was written in a comedy of errors style and I wanted to know how everything was going to end. Inevitably Eve and Max would be found out...but when and how bad would it be?
There were also some quite clever and subtle moments in the writing which I thought worked well. The fact that both Eve and Max are reading Far From the Madding Crowd at the beginning of the story. Eve saying that Becky is like a Disney princess before they got Tangled and Brave.
Unfortunately at about 100 pages in, the tone shifted and became more serious (I feel like this wasn't the book I signed up for) suddenly Eve is hiding letters from her absent, alcoholic father and Max is caught up in unresolved feelings of guilt and regret about his grandmother. Then Eve starts making Notes to Self on every other page - on page 208 she does it twice. And as it goes on, I find I care less and less about the characters and the long awaited revelation of Max and Eve's duplicity.
I actually end up feeling quite sorry for Becky and Tom who seem to be there mainly to illustrate how shallow they are compared to Eve and Max. The other thing that annoyed me was that if Max and Eve are so clever why at page 112 when it's clearly starting to get completely out of hand, that they are unable to see it. I thought it required a level of disbelief on the part of the reader that isn't realistic.
Also, be aware this book spoils the plot of David Nicholl's One Day, which I hadn't yet read.
Overall - there were some funny moments and some clever dialogue and I'm sure it will appeal to a lot of people but for me the end didn't live up to the promise of the beginning. This is one of those books where by the time I got to the end, I hated it.
(I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for a review).
The story is told in alternating viewpoints between Eve and Max and is also written in the present tense - a style I usually hate but you do reach a point where there is such a sense of inevitable impending disaster that the use of present tense works.
For the first hundred pages I really liked this story, it had snappy dialogue, funny lines...
"I think it makes us sound like a double act. Maxy and Pads, putting the fun in fund-raising..."
"Dude, it makes us sound like a sanitary product,"
...quirky friends and an interesting premise. It was written in a comedy of errors style and I wanted to know how everything was going to end. Inevitably Eve and Max would be found out...but when and how bad would it be?
There were also some quite clever and subtle moments in the writing which I thought worked well. The fact that both Eve and Max are reading Far From the Madding Crowd at the beginning of the story. Eve saying that Becky is like a Disney princess before they got Tangled and Brave.
Unfortunately at about 100 pages in, the tone shifted and became more serious (I feel like this wasn't the book I signed up for) suddenly Eve is hiding letters from her absent, alcoholic father and Max is caught up in unresolved feelings of guilt and regret about his grandmother. Then Eve starts making Notes to Self on every other page - on page 208 she does it twice. And as it goes on, I find I care less and less about the characters and the long awaited revelation of Max and Eve's duplicity.
I actually end up feeling quite sorry for Becky and Tom who seem to be there mainly to illustrate how shallow they are compared to Eve and Max. The other thing that annoyed me was that if Max and Eve are so clever why at page 112 when it's clearly starting to get completely out of hand, that they are unable to see it. I thought it required a level of disbelief on the part of the reader that isn't realistic.
Also, be aware this book spoils the plot of David Nicholl's One Day, which I hadn't yet read.
Overall - there were some funny moments and some clever dialogue and I'm sure it will appeal to a lot of people but for me the end didn't live up to the promise of the beginning. This is one of those books where by the time I got to the end, I hated it.
(I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for a review).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2020
Friends trying to help friends find better matches on a dating app by pretending to be them - what could possibly go wrong?
When I saw this book compared to The Flatshare, which was my favourite book of last year, I had to give it a go. Sadly it did not quite tick the same boxes for me. Instead I had such mixed feelings.
On one hand it was cute, fun and romantic. It carried such a strong positive message about family, friendship, community and loneliness. But on the other hand it was deceitful and frustrating. I liked how much Max and Eve tried to help their friends (with the best of intentions) but not how they went about it. It felt like cat fishing which I really disliked. Additionally it seemed like the message was “only smart people who read books can genuinely find love, not those who enjoy going to the gym and shopping”. Maybe it’s just me be it came across as if the author was looking down on people who watch reality tv instead of foreign films or maybe that’s just how the characters were supposed to be portrayed. That attitude really made me dislike the main characters.
But the flip side was that I genuinely did like the romance between Eve and Max. I enjoyed their bookish banter and the fact that they liked so many of the same things.
Having said that I found all the lying hard to get passed and it did stop me enjoying the book as much as I could have done had it been written in a slightly different way.
The format and writing style itself was fun and made it an easy read. I enjoyed how it was told from different perspectives so we got an insight as to how each pair was feeling about the situation. I like the bookish theme throughout and thought it was well placed without detracting from the story. So there definitely were positives.
Overall this was a mixed bag for me. Some bits I loved and some not so much but likely that’s just personal taste.
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher (Headline) for providing a copy of the book for review. All opinions are my own and provided willingly.
When I saw this book compared to The Flatshare, which was my favourite book of last year, I had to give it a go. Sadly it did not quite tick the same boxes for me. Instead I had such mixed feelings.
On one hand it was cute, fun and romantic. It carried such a strong positive message about family, friendship, community and loneliness. But on the other hand it was deceitful and frustrating. I liked how much Max and Eve tried to help their friends (with the best of intentions) but not how they went about it. It felt like cat fishing which I really disliked. Additionally it seemed like the message was “only smart people who read books can genuinely find love, not those who enjoy going to the gym and shopping”. Maybe it’s just me be it came across as if the author was looking down on people who watch reality tv instead of foreign films or maybe that’s just how the characters were supposed to be portrayed. That attitude really made me dislike the main characters.
But the flip side was that I genuinely did like the romance between Eve and Max. I enjoyed their bookish banter and the fact that they liked so many of the same things.
Having said that I found all the lying hard to get passed and it did stop me enjoying the book as much as I could have done had it been written in a slightly different way.
The format and writing style itself was fun and made it an easy read. I enjoyed how it was told from different perspectives so we got an insight as to how each pair was feeling about the situation. I like the bookish theme throughout and thought it was well placed without detracting from the story. So there definitely were positives.
Overall this was a mixed bag for me. Some bits I loved and some not so much but likely that’s just personal taste.
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher (Headline) for providing a copy of the book for review. All opinions are my own and provided willingly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2020
Such a fun read!
Heartwarming, funny and perfect for romantics.
I loved how O'Hagan used online dating to create a story that shows the pros and cons of being dishonest in the digital age.
Max is the shy boy next door with his love for romance and fiction of all genres, he uses his love for these books to encourage him throughout his life. However, Max also fears being himself in reality, wondering whether anyone could actually like him for him.
Eve is just like Max, she seems to have it all together but in reality she doesn't, shes just paddling along, the only thing missing in Eve's life is the courage to deal with her problems instead of running away from them. I loved how she wasn't the typical heroine, but in fact she was pretty normal and her relationship with her father and the background of her families past was raw and so honest that it brought Eve's character to life.
Max texting as his friend Tom brings all sorts of problems and Eve texting as her friend Becky also brings problems. As Max and Eve text one another, not really knowing its them and not the person they are trying to be.
I loved this book, it had so many references to all things bookish. Even if you've never read the classics you can still follow this book along. I got You Got Mail vibes from this, but obviously in a modern day way.
Fans of Sophie Kinsella, Beth O'Leary and Josie Silver will love this! So give it a try!!
Thanks to Netgalley and Headline for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Heartwarming, funny and perfect for romantics.
I loved how O'Hagan used online dating to create a story that shows the pros and cons of being dishonest in the digital age.
Max is the shy boy next door with his love for romance and fiction of all genres, he uses his love for these books to encourage him throughout his life. However, Max also fears being himself in reality, wondering whether anyone could actually like him for him.
Eve is just like Max, she seems to have it all together but in reality she doesn't, shes just paddling along, the only thing missing in Eve's life is the courage to deal with her problems instead of running away from them. I loved how she wasn't the typical heroine, but in fact she was pretty normal and her relationship with her father and the background of her families past was raw and so honest that it brought Eve's character to life.
Max texting as his friend Tom brings all sorts of problems and Eve texting as her friend Becky also brings problems. As Max and Eve text one another, not really knowing its them and not the person they are trying to be.
I loved this book, it had so many references to all things bookish. Even if you've never read the classics you can still follow this book along. I got You Got Mail vibes from this, but obviously in a modern day way.
Fans of Sophie Kinsella, Beth O'Leary and Josie Silver will love this! So give it a try!!
Thanks to Netgalley and Headline for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2020
I have such mixed feelings about this book. On one hand the main characters, Max and Eve, kind of annoyed me, but on the other hand I really did enjoy reading this book.
I really loved the way this book was written. Especially the chapters where Eve and Becky would be doing or saying something and then it would change to Max and Tom’s point of view and they would be saying/doing something similar. The writing of this book was also so easy to read and it made the book so much more enjoyable.
Throughout ‘What Are Friends For?’, I did want Eve and Max to realise that they were speaking to each other and not Tom/Becky. This book had me shouting at Eve and Max to notice that they were falling for each other as this was definitely a slow burn romance. However, one of my main problems with this book was Eve and Max’s character. It was nice to see them helping their best friends, but it felt like Max/Eve were telling Tom/Becky that the only way they were going to find love is if they changed their whole personality and became more like them. It honestly felt like Max and Eve believed that they were better than Tom and Becky because they read classic novels and watched French films and didn’t use dating apps or watch Love Island.
I really did enjoy reading ‘What Are Friends For?’ and thought it was an amazing debut novel. I will definitely pick up any future novels by this author as I did love her writing.
Thank you to Headline for providing me with a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really loved the way this book was written. Especially the chapters where Eve and Becky would be doing or saying something and then it would change to Max and Tom’s point of view and they would be saying/doing something similar. The writing of this book was also so easy to read and it made the book so much more enjoyable.
Throughout ‘What Are Friends For?’, I did want Eve and Max to realise that they were speaking to each other and not Tom/Becky. This book had me shouting at Eve and Max to notice that they were falling for each other as this was definitely a slow burn romance. However, one of my main problems with this book was Eve and Max’s character. It was nice to see them helping their best friends, but it felt like Max/Eve were telling Tom/Becky that the only way they were going to find love is if they changed their whole personality and became more like them. It honestly felt like Max and Eve believed that they were better than Tom and Becky because they read classic novels and watched French films and didn’t use dating apps or watch Love Island.
I really did enjoy reading ‘What Are Friends For?’ and thought it was an amazing debut novel. I will definitely pick up any future novels by this author as I did love her writing.
Thank you to Headline for providing me with a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2020
This book was so adorable and everything I needed in my time of need. It was fun, it was light-hearted and just generally cute. Told in both Eve and Max’s perspectives we get to watch as they both help their best friends in their attempt to find true love. I ended up devouring this book in one night as I found it impossible to put down.
I found myself loving Eve and Max and how developed these two characters were. They both dealing with their own issues and struggles but were quick to step in and help their best friends, who I also really loved! Becky was such a fun character and I can completely relate to her not ever wanting to work out!
While this story is predictable it didn’t stop me from fully enjoying this story and immersing myself into their world and the messages the two shared whilst pretending to be their best friends. My only issue is that I felt like for Tom and Becky to find their soulmate they had to change their personality and interests.
Overall, this was a super cute and quick read that just makes you believe in love and second chances. So if you’re looking for a beautiful and romantic, will they/wont they story this year this is the one for you!
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I found myself loving Eve and Max and how developed these two characters were. They both dealing with their own issues and struggles but were quick to step in and help their best friends, who I also really loved! Becky was such a fun character and I can completely relate to her not ever wanting to work out!
While this story is predictable it didn’t stop me from fully enjoying this story and immersing myself into their world and the messages the two shared whilst pretending to be their best friends. My only issue is that I felt like for Tom and Becky to find their soulmate they had to change their personality and interests.
Overall, this was a super cute and quick read that just makes you believe in love and second chances. So if you’re looking for a beautiful and romantic, will they/wont they story this year this is the one for you!
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
August 27, 2020
This was the first book I've been given to review by #takeabreakmagazine & due to the publishers sending them out late I've literally had 24 hours in which to read it & email my review in. So late night bath it was! 🛀
The blurb for the book said if you were a fan of 'Flatshare' you'd love this one, I personally struggled with that book & maybe that's why I found it hard going to get into this one at first. A few chapters in & I couldn't put it down till I'd finished. The story follows two unlucky in love friends on their quest to find their best friends love through a dating app. Laugh out loud funny in places & in others I found myself getting frustrated with the characters for not realising what was going on under their noses.
I found myself warming to Max the most, especially the bond he had forged with Penny in the care home. Eve was also a very relatable character, what with her passion for everything books & the non existent relationship with her father.
I enjoyed the book & yes would definitely recommend it to others who are looking for a little escapism & don't want something to heavy. I gave this book a 5/5 rating on Goodreads & look forward to reading other novels by this author.
The blurb for the book said if you were a fan of 'Flatshare' you'd love this one, I personally struggled with that book & maybe that's why I found it hard going to get into this one at first. A few chapters in & I couldn't put it down till I'd finished. The story follows two unlucky in love friends on their quest to find their best friends love through a dating app. Laugh out loud funny in places & in others I found myself getting frustrated with the characters for not realising what was going on under their noses.
I found myself warming to Max the most, especially the bond he had forged with Penny in the care home. Eve was also a very relatable character, what with her passion for everything books & the non existent relationship with her father.
I enjoyed the book & yes would definitely recommend it to others who are looking for a little escapism & don't want something to heavy. I gave this book a 5/5 rating on Goodreads & look forward to reading other novels by this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2020
I really enjoyed this book, I like how it separates the chapters between different characters. The story is different to books I've read before and I found myself constantly reading another paragraph even when I didn't have time to read. The story is very addictive, a little obvious but it still makes you want to read to find out if what you think is going to happen, does. The author has created a story in which two characters who don't think their in love actually are, in a way that I haven't seen written that way before, its a very will they won't they storyline. The author has given the characters plenty of background to keep the reader engaged too, not to much that it is centred around that but enough that you understand their point of view on different topics.
I really like Eve, one of the main characters, I could really relate to her. Wants to date, but doesn't really know how or if she has the time. Has past dad issues but doesn't let her world revolve around it and supports her best friend no matter what the outcome, even if its not in her own interests.
A great story and a quick read, mainly because you cant put it down once you've started it!
I really like Eve, one of the main characters, I could really relate to her. Wants to date, but doesn't really know how or if she has the time. Has past dad issues but doesn't let her world revolve around it and supports her best friend no matter what the outcome, even if its not in her own interests.
A great story and a quick read, mainly because you cant put it down once you've started it!
July 7, 2020
I received an ARC of this from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Becky is a serial dater, but she never finds anybody that she wants to stick around. Eve, (her best friend and housemate) is her complete opposite. Tall where Becky is short, fair where Becky is dark, career-minded where Becky's head is clouded with a revolving door of romantic interests - Eve has absolutely no interest in dating, and Becky constantly dates. But none of them are working.
So (as most of us have for our best mates) Eve gives Becky's profile a much-needed makeover, and she matches with Tom. He's into Eve's version of Becky, which is essentially Becky's appearance with Eve's personality. Little do the ladies know, the men are doing the same thing. Tom's hurting over his last break-up, and his housemate and best friend Max encourages him to get back on Tinder - with a profile makeover to boot.
The story is a sweet one, and I liked the range of side characters. I'd have liked to see more of the dynamic between the girl group of Eve and Becky's, but then again I can appreciate and firmly believe it's a love story dedicated to their friendship and the men are almost secondary.
I enjoyed this book and I would definitely read more by this author.
Becky is a serial dater, but she never finds anybody that she wants to stick around. Eve, (her best friend and housemate) is her complete opposite. Tall where Becky is short, fair where Becky is dark, career-minded where Becky's head is clouded with a revolving door of romantic interests - Eve has absolutely no interest in dating, and Becky constantly dates. But none of them are working.
So (as most of us have for our best mates) Eve gives Becky's profile a much-needed makeover, and she matches with Tom. He's into Eve's version of Becky, which is essentially Becky's appearance with Eve's personality. Little do the ladies know, the men are doing the same thing. Tom's hurting over his last break-up, and his housemate and best friend Max encourages him to get back on Tinder - with a profile makeover to boot.
The story is a sweet one, and I liked the range of side characters. I'd have liked to see more of the dynamic between the girl group of Eve and Becky's, but then again I can appreciate and firmly believe it's a love story dedicated to their friendship and the men are almost secondary.
I enjoyed this book and I would definitely read more by this author.
October 6, 2020
A little like Cyrano de Bergerac on Tinder. Having watched her beautiful but not book-smart best friend get her hopes dashed from too many first dates, Eve takes matters into her own hands. She makes changes to Becky’s profile and starts a correspondence with worldly bookworm, Tom. Little does she know that Tom’s pal, Max, is doing the exact same thing for his friend.
This is a really nice book. The characters are well-rounded and although the story is a rom-com and therefore, a little fluffy round the edges, it’s a good story. That Max works as a fundraiser for a dementia charity was a particularly moving addition to the script.
One thing rather grated for me: the characters who are introduced as well-read and intellectual, love and quote from books that are probably on every high school reading list in the country. And I refuse to believe that there are people in their late-twenties, with careers and well-read friends, who don’t recognise a reference to 1984 or Animal Farm, or even Grimm’s Fairy Stories.
That said, an entertaining read with surprising depths.
This is a really nice book. The characters are well-rounded and although the story is a rom-com and therefore, a little fluffy round the edges, it’s a good story. That Max works as a fundraiser for a dementia charity was a particularly moving addition to the script.
One thing rather grated for me: the characters who are introduced as well-read and intellectual, love and quote from books that are probably on every high school reading list in the country. And I refuse to believe that there are people in their late-twenties, with careers and well-read friends, who don’t recognise a reference to 1984 or Animal Farm, or even Grimm’s Fairy Stories.
That said, an entertaining read with surprising depths.
January 11, 2021
Finish in one sitting
Eve - kerja jadi jurnalis, passion-nya mau nulis cerita Human Interest tapi jobdesc-nya cuma untuk ngecover artikel Thursday Supplement
Becky - sahabat Eve
Max - awalnya kerja di bank, tapi karena too busy with work life, sampe ga kesampean jenguk neneknya sampe neneknya meninggal dan bikin max nyesel dan akhirnya resign untuk kerja jadi fundraiser dengan fokus ke Panti Jompo , disana ketemu sosok Peggy yang kayak pengganti neneknya
Tom - sahabat Max
Eve and Max are both Cyrano d' Bergerac for their own bestfriend (Tom and BEcky) , story started when Eve MAx helped to set Tom Becky tinder profile, only to describe the profile as "THEM" (what they likes; fave books, movies, interest, etc)
Until the 4 of them meet-up and there's a mixed-up, chaotic situation that tangled Max and Eve together
Eve - kerja jadi jurnalis, passion-nya mau nulis cerita Human Interest tapi jobdesc-nya cuma untuk ngecover artikel Thursday Supplement
Becky - sahabat Eve
Max - awalnya kerja di bank, tapi karena too busy with work life, sampe ga kesampean jenguk neneknya sampe neneknya meninggal dan bikin max nyesel dan akhirnya resign untuk kerja jadi fundraiser dengan fokus ke Panti Jompo , disana ketemu sosok Peggy yang kayak pengganti neneknya
Tom - sahabat Max
Eve and Max are both Cyrano d' Bergerac for their own bestfriend (Tom and BEcky) , story started when Eve MAx helped to set Tom Becky tinder profile, only to describe the profile as "THEM" (what they likes; fave books, movies, interest, etc)
Until the 4 of them meet-up and there's a mixed-up, chaotic situation that tangled Max and Eve together
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2020
'What Are Friends For?' is a classic 'will they/won't they' rom-com read, perfect to snuggle up with on the couch or in the bath with a glass of wine. It follows Becky and Tom, who are unlucky-in-love serial daters, and their best friends, Eve and Max, who are determined to find their friends 'the one' by messaging on their behalf... only to discover that they actually get on rather well themselves.
Whilst classically predictable, this novel has that lovely feel good quality that a well written romance should have, Light-hearted and enjoyable, would recommend for fans of nice, easy chick-lit.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review
Whilst classically predictable, this novel has that lovely feel good quality that a well written romance should have, Light-hearted and enjoyable, would recommend for fans of nice, easy chick-lit.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review
September 14, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley and Headline Publishing for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Eve and Becky are best friends. Becky is a serial online dater but is desperate to find love. She enlists Eves help to overhaul her online profile to make her sound more appealing to a different kind of guy.
Max and Tom are best friends. Tom is struggling with heartbreak and has racked up numerous one night stands, but is now ready to move on. Like Becky, he enlists the help of his best friend to improve his chances at online dating.
Tom and Becky are soon matched and begin messaging... or do they?
A good mixture of friendship, family, romance, heartbreak and even grief. I found it a really enjoyable read, albeit a bit predictable.
Eve and Becky are best friends. Becky is a serial online dater but is desperate to find love. She enlists Eves help to overhaul her online profile to make her sound more appealing to a different kind of guy.
Max and Tom are best friends. Tom is struggling with heartbreak and has racked up numerous one night stands, but is now ready to move on. Like Becky, he enlists the help of his best friend to improve his chances at online dating.
Tom and Becky are soon matched and begin messaging... or do they?
A good mixture of friendship, family, romance, heartbreak and even grief. I found it a really enjoyable read, albeit a bit predictable.
November 11, 2020
*I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
What I'd hoped to get out of this book was a cute, lighthearted Read with fun characters.
Unfortunately that's not what I ended up getting from this book.
Personally, I didn't like Max and Eve much at all, which made it a little hard to connect with the book.
This book is marketed as comedic, so I was expecting a rom com style read, and yet I didn't find it funny and honestly the romance wasn't great either.
The plot seemed to drag and the wound up being rushed in the last few pages.
There were a few moments that were enjoyable to read, and I really did like the idea of the overall premise, which is why this is getting a two star review. I just feel it could have been executed a little better.
What I'd hoped to get out of this book was a cute, lighthearted Read with fun characters.
Unfortunately that's not what I ended up getting from this book.
Personally, I didn't like Max and Eve much at all, which made it a little hard to connect with the book.
This book is marketed as comedic, so I was expecting a rom com style read, and yet I didn't find it funny and honestly the romance wasn't great either.
The plot seemed to drag and the wound up being rushed in the last few pages.
There were a few moments that were enjoyable to read, and I really did like the idea of the overall premise, which is why this is getting a two star review. I just feel it could have been executed a little better.
February 2, 2021
let me start by saying that there's nothing wrong with this book or that there's anything bad about it. for the most part, it was fine - except, i didn't enjoy it. i expected it to be exciting but it was... not. it was also so incredibly hard for me to get into this book, to stay focused while reading because i found it to be boring. i was not intrigued by the main characters, found them to be slightly whiny and honestly, i expected them to be smarter and realised that they're actually not texting the person they thought they're texting. i also expected them to be honest maybe in the middle of the book but it didn't and overall, i built up a lot of expectations for this book but none of them was met. i did like max and tom's friendship though.
May 14, 2022
This was an easy read enjoyable read based around 2 sets of friends and the trials and tribulations of Internet dating. Max sets up a profile for Tom and Eve sets one up for Becky but neither profile are a reflection of their true selves and are infact more like profiles that should be set up for Max and Eve. The 2 carry on the fake profiles by messaging Tom and Becky pretending to be them. Sounds complicated right?! The story had some good witty banter throughout but it was also laced with some heavy storyline too. I just wish the deception hadn't gone on as long as it did and that we got more of a conclusion about what happened with Tom and Becky as they were pretty perfect for each other after all. I really enjoyed the epilogue it made me smile. Overall an enjoyable story
August 17, 2020
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Actual rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars.
Going to keep this review fairly short.
Things I enjoyed:
- The humour
- The friendships
- The found-family trope
- The overall idea of the story
Things I didn’t particularly enjoy:
- All the characters
- Max (gets a special shout out for calling Becky ‘ditzy’ and saying she doesn’t have ‘substance’ in person)
- How long the facade actually lasted
- How the characters reacted to the big reveal
- The ending
Might be a case that it just wasn’t my cup of tea!
Actual rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars.
Going to keep this review fairly short.
Things I enjoyed:
- The humour
- The friendships
- The found-family trope
- The overall idea of the story
Things I didn’t particularly enjoy:
- All the characters
- Max (gets a special shout out for calling Becky ‘ditzy’ and saying she doesn’t have ‘substance’ in person)
- How long the facade actually lasted
- How the characters reacted to the big reveal
- The ending
Might be a case that it just wasn’t my cup of tea!
September 21, 2020
Prepare for disappointment. It ends on such a rushed crapshoot.
300+ pages and it hit climax/resolution in the last what 25 pages? Are you kidding? It plateaus for sooooo long. Instead of being a romcom for 4 friends figuring out how to be themselves and what they want, it descends into problematic sloppy catfishing, dramatic confrontations and then ends.
It's incredibly unsatisfying and just blech. If it was always aiming to end in garbage why make it 300 page garbage? Just bumbling around? No forethought?
If this was the crap ass plot intended, it didn't need to be more than 120 pages tops.
300+ pages and it hit climax/resolution in the last what 25 pages? Are you kidding? It plateaus for sooooo long. Instead of being a romcom for 4 friends figuring out how to be themselves and what they want, it descends into problematic sloppy catfishing, dramatic confrontations and then ends.
It's incredibly unsatisfying and just blech. If it was always aiming to end in garbage why make it 300 page garbage? Just bumbling around? No forethought?
If this was the crap ass plot intended, it didn't need to be more than 120 pages tops.
October 28, 2020
After a few ‘emotionally difficult’ reads over the past few weeks, this was exactly what I needed! I read it over a rainy weekend and it kept me entertained without taxing my brain too much. I enjoyed the online dating dramas, the friendships and the bookish banter between the protagonists. I’d definitely read more books from this author and would recommend this for some lighthearted, amusing and lovely reading time.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.
July 10, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.
Eve and Max are too busy for romance but they try and play Cupid to help their friends Becky and Tom in their quest for romance.
I enjoyed this nice easy read and would happily read any other books by Lizzie O'Hagan.
Eve and Max are too busy for romance but they try and play Cupid to help their friends Becky and Tom in their quest for romance.
I enjoyed this nice easy read and would happily read any other books by Lizzie O'Hagan.
February 8, 2021
A great love story, two young people finding each other in a way that nowadays would feel exclusive and impossible to achieve, but also easier to do so thanks to technology.
A few nice quotations and inspiring words.
Liked it.
A few nice quotations and inspiring words.
Liked it.
January 20, 2022
Cute story, just missed some sparkle between MCs. Plus I felt the two best friends Tom and Becky were portrayed as a little ditzy because they aren’t as well read etc. that got on my nerves during the story.
June 22, 2020
This was a beautiful and romantic story that literally took my breath away. The characters were realistic and well depicted. Highly recommended!
June 28, 2020
Nice characters but felt it wasn’t for me as I’m not part of the swipe left/right generation. Little confusing as to who was texting who. Not a bad read.
July 6, 2020
What Are Friends For? is a fun and utterly compelling and original read by Lizzie O'Hagan, the perfect will they/won't romance to lose yourself in.
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