You're My Reason

by K.C. Mills

He was her constant…
She was his reason…

A Friends to Lovers novella.

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers, Novella

62 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 10, 2021

About the author

KC Mills is an international bestselling author, speaker, and CEO. Ranked along with well respected authors, Mills has over 100 books which have hit number 1 bestsellers. She has proven herself as a leader in her industry with over 120 successful books written and published within a five year timeframe. She is committed to bringing exceptional literary works that offer a romantic twist, as well as subtlety veering away from the norm. She still however leaves you captivated by her stories, characters and always wanting more. Mills’ current focus is her cross over to the script writing arena where she will begin writing for some of Atlanta’s top production companies and the nation’s most notable television networks.

Reviews

[mina reads™️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute friends to lovers novella, I adored Vice! Ari was…okay. there were some misspellings throughout, very minor but it was noticeable to me

[Annette Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not opposed to novellas. Sometimes you just want a quick read but, I really wanted more of Ari and Vice. I absolutely adored them. Their transition from friends to lovers was executed beautifully. Everyone knew Ari and Vice were "secretly" in love with each other except for them. I use quotations because, their attraction to each other was the worst kept secret among their group. They were in whole relationship and didn’t even realize it. With a little nudging from their friends, Ari and Vice finally admitted their feelings to each other. You're My Reason was a cute and quick friends to lovers novella. Ari and Vice were sweet and sexy and I could not get enough of them.

[*Ebony I* · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reason to change

This was a cute read! I'm always a fan of the mmc falling first and that was definitely the case for Vice. He had been in love with his bff for a few years, but he was finally at a place where he felt he deserved her. She was his reason for turning his life around.
Ari had just went through a bad break up and reverted to her safe space which was in the arms of her bff Vice. She started to get different vibes from him. Also for the first time he was starting to be more attractive to her, I mean she knew he was fine but THIS felt like more. When Ari finally opens her eyes to who Vice has been to her its up for them. I loved the fireworks and the love felt when they finally crossed the line.

[Dahyana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ari Ɛ Vice

I love a friends to lovers story. Although this was super short, it was really sweet. The transition into lovers was really smooth and executed beautifully. The friendship between Ari and Vice was so real and so genuine. They were soo for each other, no matter what. I loved it. Vice bettering himself before he made the move was everything. I really enjoyed this novella and I think you guys would to 🙃🙃

[Melanin Book Lover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute Friends to Lovers read

This was a cute friends to lovers read. I love how easy it was for them to transition from best friends to lovers and that Vice made sure to get his life together before planning to be with Ari so he could be the man she deserved. I enjoyed their back and forth. I was looking for something nice and quick to read and this checked those boxes.

[WellReadRuby · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all love Friends to Lovers it’s really a comfort zone and this is exactly what this read gave me! Comfort! I enjoyed the journey of Ari and Vice once they got their heads out their own asses! Like come on y’all! Lol Enjoyed this book and would recommend!

[Syd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m sorry, but since I forgot to write my review for this novella, I don’t remember it at all.

[Toya Davis-Stokley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this quick read. Vice and Ari were in a whole relationship, while being best friends! Neither of them wanted to acknowledge that they had been having feelings of being more. Their friendship was so special to them, that they were both afraid to take it there. But, all it took was one night at a concert, to put it all out on the table. I loved that Vice was a man not be messed with. But, also vulnerable and sensitive about all things Ari, especially her feelings. Ari, was sassy and about her business, she did not play about Vice. This coupling was inevitable. Vice and Aria were sweet and sexy at the same time. Good job! 👍👍👍

[Kadisha (paperbackpassionista) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not a huge fan of friends to lovers but this novellas was cute and enjoyable.

This story starts off with Vice sitting outside of the county jail to pick up his longtime bestfriend Ari because she lost her mind and vandalized her ex -boyfriend’s car when she found out that he was married and just had a baby a month ago. After Vice and Ari make their way back to his place to crash for the night, they have a small fight about Ari deserving better and Vice wants to be the man for her but he feels like their friendship is too important to him to mess it up and he doesn’t think Ari wants a man like him. Ari finds Vice attractive and is very protective of him but doesn’t want to mess up their good thing.

The story was cute and fun to read but I felt like it was missing something. That could be because I don’t read enough friends to lovers but I left wanting more.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooo good 😍

Vice and Ari were perfect for each other and Vice was baeee.

I love me some friends to lovers and this author did not disappoint.

It was a quick cute book and I highly enjoyed!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute

This was a short novella on Vice and Ari. A great friends to lovers story. They had a lot of history and the build up to them getting together was great. The supporting characters helped with the story and provided some punch lines. Great story

[RedEnigma94 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whew, chile! Vice!! That doggone Vice is something else! 🥰💖💖💕💕🔥🔥😂😂🤣🤣
I'm so glad he decided to do everything he needed to do be the man he wanted to be for his best friend, his world, his everything...

[tii b. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short & sweet! I loved Vicen and his growth. Starting to think I’m a sucker for friends to lovers! I knew it would be short but once I started reading I was like nooooo, it’s winding down. 😩 on to book two.

[Tya C.]

DNF at 41%. I cannot stand the men in this book. They are so disrespectful and treat women like objects. I’m so shocked a woman wrote this. I can’t read any more.

(I’ll share my highlights so y’all can see what I’m talking about)

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love wins!

Yassss love for the win! Ari and Vice were super cute together. I loved reading about their journey together. It was short and sweet with a dash of lust. Great read!

[Evie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute! I love a good friends to lovers story. This story of Ari and Vice was perfect. Just the right amount of everything.

[Imani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Wish she would’ve dropkicked the wife cause who did she think she was.

[Sheena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends to lovers crafted beautifully 🌹

[Shades N Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vice and Ari are best friends who secretly have feelings for each other but never wanted to cross that line. Vice decides to make his move after helping Ari though a bad decision. I loved me some Vice. He is definitely on my compassionate gangsta list. This man wanted better than the drug dealer life and I admired him for that. He also knows how to lay the pipe. Ya dig? It was admirable how her took care of Ari. These two were in a whole relationship and didn’t even know it. Ari had to grow on me a little. She isn’t a bad person, but I didn’t like how she handled my boy Vice. She had an outline for the type of man she wanted and Vice felt that he didn’t fit the mold. I get that a personal issue for Vice, but Ari made me side eye her a little . Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this short and sweet novella. We got to see their feelings change and their relationship transition from friends to lovers. The pacing was steady and the story really flowed. Imma say it again, I wish this was a full length level. Boy I would’ve love more time with Vice and his “whole lotta penis” hahaha. I really hope Erica and Cam gets their own story. I love their energy

[Rashawnda · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎶 Tell me again (Tell me again, my baby)
That we'll be lovers and friends (Oh, I gotta know baby,)🎶 ayeeeeeeee we love a good Friends to Lovers and You’re My Reason gaaavvveeeeee!!! I had all the feels reading this short and sweet story about best friends turned lovers Vice and Ari!

These two have been friends for the past 12 years and have been inseparable since Vice beat up the football captain for knocking over Ari. Whatever they needed from each other, it was a done deal no questions asked. After watching Ari get her heart broken yet again by another fk boy, Vice said it was time to come up off the sidelines and claim his woman.

Since they already knew each other inside and out, the connection was solid af between these two! After throwing caution to the wind, Ari and Vice let go all of their inhibitions and deep dived in that love thang! If you’re looking for someone short, sweet and with minimal angst, this is the story for you.

[Q. Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complete....

This is another newbie for me, but well worth the read. This was a novella, but it most definitely had a beginning, middle, and end. It was a lot packed in sixty plus pages. I did want more but that was because of the great character development. I just wanted to read more about the lives of Ari and Vice. They were true soulmates. You can tell just from the rehash of all the prior memories each shared during the dialogue. Ari was one of the variables that turned Vice's life around. When a person has that much influence on another it speaks volumes and shows the importance of that person in their life.

This is a great read that I highly suggest. It is a novella, but a well written one. I am hoping either Cam or Erica gets to share their story. It would be interesting if they become a couple. I will be reading more from this author.

[Hopeless Romantic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hopeless Romantic

Immediately fell in love with these characters. Friends before lovers. Vice was Ari’s everything; friend, protectors, confidant, comforter and eventually lover. He watched her go from relationship to relationship but played his position until it was their time. He was always there for her no matter what picking up the broken pieces. Ari was Vice's reason to be a better man. He got a legitimate job/business and left his dope boy dreams in the rearview.

I love how the story developed flawlessly even though it is a novella. It made me FEEL! It tugged at my heartstrings.

[Jerrica (Mrsmar10Reads) Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ari & Vice

They were in a relationship for years and didn't know it, it was an open relationship. You see, Ari and Vice's friends could see they were meant to be together, but it wasn't clear to them. Vice came to the realization far before Ari did, but how do you tell your best friend, the person who you love unconditionally, the person who knows everything about you that you're in love with them without fear of losing them? That's where K.C Mills shines. She knows how to write a story, and even with something as short as this novella, you don't feel like you've missed a thing! 💋💋⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

[Crystal Luckey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends to lovers...

Ari and Vice have been bestfriends for years, but all of a sudden they see more in each other. When every they need each other, they are always there. Their friends see how they feel about each other, but they don't see it. When they do out together one night, their feelings are laid on the table and they realize they feel the same way. Friends to lovers always tug at ny heart, because they already love each other as friends, but when they fall in love with each other, its much better. Vice and Ari were perfect for each other and I loved them as a couple. I can't get enough of KC!!!

[Ebony Essence · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed Ari & Vice. These kind of friends to lovers i like & seem easy to fall in love with the characters. Vice realizing his feelings changed but never treating Ari mean or like she should know just shows his maturity. Also him wanting to have better and be better for himself and before stepping to her is chefs kiss. A lot of people say they want to marry their best friend but get scared when your best friend really might be the one. I would rather try with someone that i know we have each other no matter what vs heart break after another with people who aren’t willing to do the work. Outside of that though i love that Ari is in the business of helping businesses rebrand and is successful. The side characters were enjoyed as well.

[Vanessa Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!!!

This book was so fulfilling in so many ways. It represented friendship love loyalty as well as disappointments. When going through life and you have that one person that gracefully can be all those things yet you're not ready quite yet because you have a little more growing up to get there yourself yet they remain there until something clicks that been there along yet the timing wasn't but the Reason has always been there and in the end the Reason chooses you also. Definitely a 5 star.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is something about reading a black romance that just puts a smile on my face and it was also best friends to lovers and despite it being a novella you could really tell that they had a lot of history and it was really cute. Many parts of it felt very repetitive and the old pop culture reference made me cringe so hard, overall it was mediocre, I think the main that made me happy was reading about black main characters. I kind of wish their was some type of tension but it was mainly them just realising they had feelings for each other.

[melanatedbookjunkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

so cute!

I am a sucker for friends to lovers stories and “You’re My Reason” was such a cute short story! Ari and Vice had such an amazing chemistry. This story was short but you could really tell that these two had a deep history and strong love for each other. I was rooting for them immediately. The supporting characters were so funny and I enjoyed their dialogue as well! Great story! Great writing! Loved all the characters!

[Meghan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Friends to lovers novella. Vice & Ari are best friends and everyone around them knows they love each other and should be together except the 2 of them. For me this was a slow burn novella. I feel like with novella’s you should just jump right into it. I think it wasnt until about 78% in that they finally kissed. Personally, I prefer novella’s to give less background and jump more into it. Otherwise, I enjoyed the story of the two of them.

[Jessica Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Half and half...

While I enjoyed the friends-to-lovers aspect of it, and how protective Vice was of Ari, the Ari character kind of turned me off. She was rather dramatic, causing Vice to apologize for stuff unnecessarily (in my opinion) just to appease her, which is an annoying trend. As is women punching on men, as if that's okay...I get that she wasn't knocking him out, but she wasn't playing, either.

As pedantic as that sounds, it was a cool story, overall.