Librarian's Note: An alternate cover and title for this ASIN can be found here.
Welcome back to Honey Grove where Jonathan is home and most definitely not looking for love.
"This was a great slow-burn relationship and a best friends to more story." --Amazon Reviewer
Previously, Her Best Friend
Jonathan is back home in Honey Grove. He’s ready to forget the stresses of his job and the fact that everyone around him is finding love, except him.
Tiffany can’t seem to hold onto any relationship. Thankfully, Jonathan is the only constant guy in her life and someone she never has to worry about losing.
Now dateless for her cousin’s wedding, it only makes sense to go with someone safe—Jonathan.
A fake relationship between the two of them started out as a way to keep themselves protected…until the feelings between them begin to feel real.
If you love swoon-worthy heroes and broken heroines, you’ll fall in love with Friendship Blooms in Honey Grove. Fake relationship, and toe curling kisses are a guarantee.
Anne-Marie Meyer is a USA Today Bestselling author who lives south of the Twin Cities in MN. She spends her days with her knight in shining armor, four princes, and a baby princess.
When she's not running after her kids, she's dreaming up romantic stories. She loves to take her favorite moments in the books and movies she loves and tries to figure out a way to make them new and fresh.
I'm really enjoying this series and can't wait to read the next Braxton brother's story.
Jonathan and Tiffany have been best friends for forever. She has a harder background which causes her to protect her heart, and walk away from relationships. Yet the one she can never walk away from is her friendship with Jonathan.
He's on the off-season for work and heads home to Honey Grove. She's just broken up with her boyfriend and trying to face going to her cousin's wedding alone. Perfect solution...go together and fake a relationship. Nothing wrong with that, she'll save face and he gets to hang out with his best friend. Problem solved, right? Wrong!
You all know what's coming...emotions that they've buried have now surfaced. Raise your hand if you're a fan of fake boyfriend/girlfriend stories. *raising hand high* Yep, I am. I had a big giggly smile on my face while reading this one. There were some moments that were more emotional than others as Tiffany is trying to work through her insecurities and personal struggles. But man, Jonathan, he was fabulous being the best friend.
There were a few times when I would get frustrate with Tiffany and her back and forth emotions. But overall I did like the development of her character and her coming to realize her mistakes and wanting to move forward in life. I could completely understand why she was hesitant to let any feelings surface for her best friend. But sometimes I wanted to shake her and say, "Honey just take a chance!" Ok, yes I speak to the characters in books. I admit it. I yell at them, I giggle at them and sometimes I sigh for their happy moments! You're welcome to admit that you do the same thing and join the club. You who are already in the club, you know who you are, this is another book that I have to add to our list of talking to the characters. Lol!
Plenty of sweet and swoony moments in this read! If you're looking for some fun chemistry between characters, this one definitely fits that description.
This book had some scenes that overlapped with book 1 but they didn't feel overly done. I enjoyed the way that the author showed us some of those scenes as a reminder but mostly as a way to show them from Jonathan's POV. They're pretty short little scenes. I would recommend reading the books in order. You don't have to but I think you'd enjoy them a lot better that way as the same characters are found throughout both books. And, you definitely don't want to miss Mrs. Braxton's scenes in both books. She's the best!
Content: Clean. There are a couple moments of peril. The characters go to a couple different bars to drink. The scenes aren't crazy and don't show drunk characters, but I thought I'd mention that for readers who don't want to read about that. Beth and Jonathan share a bedroom at the beginning of the book, nothing happens, he's just watching out for her after an accident. They talk about it in the sense that they are brother and sister and have slept in the same bed before. They do share a hotel room at the wedding but nothing happens. It is written clean. There are a couple kisses but nothing further. I don't remember any innuendos but if there were, they were very mild.
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
This was a fun read! Tiffany and Jonathan had some great banter. And I really enjoyed reading their playful love story. Friends to lovers is one of my favs and this did not disappoint!
-‘It felt as if she’d just slapped him in the face. Why was she fighting this? All he wanted to do was to love her and have her love him back. Was that so wrong?’-
Loved this story! Another winner! She was so hesitant to have a relationship, convinced that every man she cared for would leave her, as was seemingly her history. She was sure she would break his heart and so she refused to give it to him. This was a great slow-burn relationship and a best friends to more story. Jonathan was a great character and a great guy. They were a really good match. Highly recommend this book.
This is a sweet romance about Tiffany and Jonathan. They have been best friends for years. Things start to change when he comes home during the football off-season. Can best friends become more or will they be better off staying friends? I have to say that I really didn’t like Tiffany, but Jonathan more than makes up for it, lol. Grab your copy and see what happens.
I received an advance reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary and honest review.
Another great one from Anne-Marie Meyer! I liked this one even more than the first one in the Braxton Brothers Series. If you like sweet romances (think Hallmark Movies) and also love friends to lovers then you’ll love this one!
I realize that we would have many fewer books to read, but sometimes you just want to shake these characters up and teach them about honest communication! In Her Best Friend Tiffany and Jonathan have been best friends forever. When Tiffany invites Jonathan to be her plus one at a cousin's wedding, they discover they might want more. Lots of angst and some crazy relatives as the reader waits for these two to get their act together. I enjoyed their journey.
I'm enjoying this new series about the Braxton boys. Jonathan and Tiffany are the best of friends, but suddenly they start feeling more. They are really sweet together and so close as best friends it's not surprising it could grow to more. This was a sweet story about love and trust. I felt it wrapped up a little too quickly, but I still enjoyed it.
I would say this is more 2.5 stars. Some spoilers ahead.
I especially liked the hero, but I failed to connect with the heroine and I think maybe it was because she was written so uneven.
The main thing keeping Jonathan and Tiffany apart is her fear of committment. I didn't really get why the hero fell in love with her. She doesn't have the best track record when it comes to men, and she's afraid that if she gets involved with Jonathan, her best friend (more on that later), she'll end up losing him as well. But her fear of committment never stopped her from having other relationships, so it felt that particular point was solely written to keep them apart. As such, the story felt drawn out; I felt if this were a 30.000-word novella, it would've been a lot better.
There is also the issue of Trent; Trent was apparently involved with Beatrice, Tiffany's cousin, when Tiffany got involved with him as well. This is a dick move if ever there was one, but it's never really resolved. In one scene, Trent tells Tiffany that she'll never find anyone and in the next scene he wants to hook up with her himself... It just felt like characters acted however the author needed them to act to further the plot, even if it was out of character. I don't have so much issue with the heroine stealing her cousin's man--she was young and we all screw up at times--but I would've liked to have seen it addressed by maybe Tiffany talking things through with her cousin and apologizing. I'm not saying a character has to be likable, but it does help if they're relatable and I feel that if the author would've spent more time developing Tiffany's motivations, the story would've been a lot better.
The story plays on the friends-to-lovers and fake-relationship trope, but I never really felt that Tifffany and Jonathan were best friends before the story starts. Tiffany didn't know about Jonathan perhaps getting traded (also something that was brought up, but never resolved, even though Jonathan seemed to have a hard time with it) and Jonathan never even knew about Tiffany being estranged from her cousin because of her men-stealing ways. If they share so little, what makes them best friends?
I've read and enjoyed this author's work before and she's normally a great writer, but this one didn't really work for me. It's really Jonathan, a swoon-worthy hero, that elevated this books to 2.5 rather than 2 stars for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I absolutely adore Anne Marie Meyer’s books! They’re like diving into a heartwarming Hallmark movie, and I can’t get enough of them. In this delightful story, we meet Jonathan and Tiffany, best friends since childhood. Tiffany has faced some tough times in her past, which makes her hesitant to open her heart and she tends to walk away when things get rough. The only friendship she ever let slip away was with Jonathan.
Currently, Jonathan is in the off-season from his NFL career, back home helping his mom, while Tiffany returns after breaking up with her boyfriend, eager for a fresh start. Here’s where the fun begins! Tiffany persuades Jonathan to be her date at her cousin's wedding, not wanting to go solo. They decide to put on a façade of a “fake relationship” for appearances, but as always, things don’t go as smoothly as planned!
There are some incredibly emotional moments that tug at your heartstrings, especially as Tiffany navigates her inner struggles and insecurities. I did find myself getting a tad frustrated with Tiffany at times—she wavered back and forth with her feelings and whined a bit. However, I wonder if it was more about the narrator's delivery, as I listened to the audiobook box set featuring three books.
While Jonathan didn’t undergo much character development, he was a fantastic friend to Tiffany, standing steadfastly by her side. The connection between them was so strong! I loved the way the story intertwined with the previous book, seamlessly matching the timelines and revisiting beloved characters like Beth and the delightful Mrs. Braxton. You simply can’t miss out on their story—read them in order for the full experience!
There’s a refreshing amount of sweet moments and sizzling chemistry throughout the tale.
And speaking of content—this book is clean, making it perfect for teenagers or adults! There are a few scenes where characters visit bars, but everything is tasteful; the characters aren’t depicted as drunk or trashy. At one point, Beth and Jonathan do share a room, but nothing untoward happens. It’s all about caring; he’s there after an accident, and they share a sibling-like bond, even sleeping in the same bed. The romance remains wholesome, with some kissing, but that’s as steamy as it gets.
I listened to it on Audible, and here’s my verdict: Narrator: 3/5 Story: 4/5
Dive into this enchanting read—you won’t regret it!
This was a very sweet swoon-worthy stay about best friends who there could be more. I loved Jonathan and his protective nature. He was kind and willingly to sacrifice what he really wanted to make sure Tiffany was happy. The perfect man, in my opinion. He was willing to take things at whatever pace that Tiffany wanted if it meant she might see that there could be more than friendship for them. Super sweet and clean, no sex or foul language!
Jonathan was a NFL player who had returned home to lick his wounds a little bit. There was a possibility that he would be traded from the Steelers and he wasn't happy about that. Tiffany was Jonathan's best friend. She worked for his dad's construction company and had never had a serious relationship because she was convinced that she sabotaged anyone who might love her. Her parents had both left her and made her feel that she wasn't capable of being loved.
When Tiffany received an invitation to her cousin's wedding she had just broken up with her boyfriend who had quickly moved on to the next girl and she couldn't bear to go to the wedding without a date. Jonathan offered to be her fake boyfriend for the wedding in order for her to save face. The problem was that the feelings that began to stir between Tiffany and Jonathan were anything but fake. Neither wanted to risk their long-time friendship for a temporary relationship. Was it possible that there could be more than friendship between them? Was it worth the risk to find out?
I was given an arc copy of this book an I willingly offer my honest review.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
This was a wonderful friends to lovers romance. One exception though, they weren't lovers as there was no sexy scenes. This was a sweet and clean romance. What a wonderful tale how these two childhood friends come to realize that they feel something more for the other one. They attend her cousin's wedding together. Just a week prior, her boyfriend Sean makes her choose between him and Jonathon. How can she dump her best friend for her boyfriend? She doesn't so in order not to go alone, she and Jonathon pretend to be in a relationship.
This was such a darling story. I read this in a slightly long setting only because I had to re-read certain portions as they were just so good. Yeah at times, if the book is a great one, I am a SLOW reader. I just want to get lost in the story, to become an emotional part of it.
Connecting with the characters was so easy here as the story was told in a dual POV format. The author also didn't add any additional words to clutter up the story either. It was a joy to read.
This sweet, clean friends to lovers romance (again no sexy scenes), is one that I highly recommend to anyone.
Anne-Marie Meyer, I believe you went a different route in this book and it really didn't work for me. I've listened to all The Braxton Brothers Series; except the Braxton's Christmas and enjoyed them all, but I got discombobulated on the direction you were going from one chapter to another and that's not usually the way your writing have been in the past.
I believe the writing should have had the two main characters confess their true feelings a little sooner and been able to enjoy some alone time while they were at the hotel together, before they had gotten back home to share it with his family.
Liz Krane did an EXCELLENT JOB! She always give her very best and you can time through her work as a narrator. Liz gets 5-⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me for her AMAZING performance.
This was a great fake relationship story. Jonathan comes back to his hometown and meets up with his best friend, Tiffany. The two take off together to catch up on everything they have missed. Only this time something is different. Both start noticing the other person as more than a friend. Of course, they can't do anything about their attraction because they don't want to lose their friendship. That friendship is put further to the test when Tiffany needs a boyfriend for a wedding. The confusion abounds and the sparks fly. Both Jonathan and Tiffany need to let go of their quirks to find out what is going on between them. The story kept moving and the romance is great. I recommend to those that love sweet, clean, fake relationship romances.
A sweet friends to a romance novel, suitable for young adults. It's difficult changing lanes from being the best of childhood friends to discovering that there is more to their relationship than just being in the friend zone, but even more so when it is under the magnifying glass of a family wedding. Tiffany and Jonathan's were closer than most friends, to the extent that when put to the test, she chose Jonathan. What Tiffany didn't expect was having the dynamic of their relationship altered. The story is sweet, romantic, with all the angst of young love. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Well-written and clean. Characters have good reasons for reluctance to enter into a romantic relationship.
Might be my mood, but there was a little too much angst and not enough time spent with the newly betrothed couple. But it’s an enjoyable book, and angst and the ensuing resolution is why we all read romance, right?
All in all a good book!
Narration: 4 stars
The narrator does a good job with voices, cadence and expression! She’s a pleasure to listen to!
Wow, Jonathan and Tiffany are the closest male female friends I think I have ever heard of. Seeing each other in partial dress and growing up and sleeping in the same bed. Now, don’t get the wrong idea. These two are nothing but friends. They could never think of each other in any other way, right. Until one day all of that changes. But neither understand the changes that are happening with their friendship and neither really want things to change between each other. This is a sweet and clean love story.
I didn't fully connect with this book, which is a pity as I did enjoy it well enough. I wonder partly if it's because I had to return it mid-read before picking it up at a later date. But I also didn't enjoy the fmc, Tiffany. Despite Johnathan being her best friend, she still couldn't communicate with him. And yes, the girl has issues, but ma'am, we all do and if you can't rant to your bestie, what is the point?!
While I didn't like this one as much as the first book in the series, I enjoyed the family and the writing enough that I'll continue with the series.
He's a simp and she's a traumatized fool, but it was still fun reading their story. I wish the ending was a bit smoother. The plot was a slow burn and then sudden finish. There wasn't any time to enjoy them together. Also, Mrs. Braxton drives me nuts. Hasn't this family heard of boundaries??
Plea to the author: please find some new phrases! If I hear of someone pinching their lips and making their way one more time, I'm gonna scream!
Phrase count: - made his/her/their way: 52 - pinched or parted his/her lips: 17 - gaze flicked/whipped/met/held: 99
Oh my gosh, this was such a great book!! I couldn’t put it down!! Jonathan and Tiffany were so good together!! They grew up together and were friends for all their lives before they figured out they had feeelings for each other. But they didn’t want to ruin their friendship. They were able to overcome their fears and find the greatest love they will ever know!! I love Anne Marie’s books and I can’t wait until the next book comes out!!
Anne-Marie Meyer is one of my favorite authors and she didnt disappoint with this one. This is a story about Jonathon Braxton, it is a stand alone but there are other brothers you can read about. They are a fun family as you can tell when they come together for are mentioned by their mother. This book is the story of Jonathom and Tiffany. They've known each other almost their entire lives and are best friends. What happens now to change things and will it?
This story started if really strong with a crisis that helped pull the friends together and make them feel like there might be something more, but then I felt like it slowed down a little and their main conflict became lack of communication more so than great if running a great friendship. I'm glad Tiffany was able to work it hey issue and see what a great guy Jonathon was.
Jonathan and Tiffany are best friends. He's home during his off season as a pro football player. Tiffany just broke up with her boyfriend. She doesn't know what she's going to do about going to her cousins wedding. She invites him to go with her to the wedding to save face. Both have relationship issues. Their lack of communication is not believable. Possible but not probable. This is better than the first book. I have hopes that the next will be better. This is G rated.
Jonathan proved to be an outstanding partner, dispelling her initial hesitation to love, which stemmed from concerns that past experiences would recur. Their slow-burn relationship was a perfect match, restoring her faith in love. I am delighted with this series, which skillfully intertwines each story, creating a cohesive narrative, and I value the dramatic elements that reach a satisfying resolution by the book's conclusion, leaving me with a sense of inspiration.
This story takes place concurrently with Book 1, Her Boss. There's a shared scene that leaves you a bit lost, but once that's through everything falls into place easily.
These two are fighting themselves over crazy feelings for their very best friend. Every other relationship has ended . . . badly. They can't take the risk of losing the only solid relationship each has ever had. Can they?
I like this series about the Braxton brothers. This one focuses on Jonathan and Tiffany who have been best friends forever and now discover their feelings for each other go beyond being friends. It was a fun story to read and I really liked the fake relationship turning into something more. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
Well Anne-marie does it again with a loving story. I enjoyed reading about Jonathan & Tiffany's love story. Love how they came to recognize each other's feelings and how they couldn't deny their love anymore. I sat in my chair thinking - finally! Lol! Love is often hard to deny when it's right under your nose
This isn't your typical best friends to so much more book. They are both fighting their attraction to each other because their friendship is the strongest one they have - afraid to mess it up. I did get a little frustrated with Tiffany but... Jonathan was the best. Looking forward to the next Braxton brother's book.
Sometimes you have to almost loose something to realize you can't live without it. This book had me bouncing all over the place with all of the emotions you feel. Jonathan and Tiffany never realized what a good thing they had until one day something clicked and rhey did. I absolutely love this series and can't wait until the next book.
I loved reading Jonathan and Tiffany’s story. Tiffany was able to overcome her fear of never being enough and her dread that anyone she loved would leave her. Jonathan decided to say it any way no matter what happened. Are best friends ever really enough? The proposal was just about perfect.
Didn't care for the weak female character, what a simpering idiot. He's been your best friend forever..... So it's a given he likes you as a person and obviously cares enough to have stayed in your life. I understand about her childhood hang ups. But, find a backbone and figure it out already. Too much self deprecating on both sides.