What do you think?
Rate this book
Nashville is Calling #3
Just Friends
Hazel Lane is ready to date again.
After finding her boyfriend cheating on her a year ago and thus severing her last ties to LA, she moved across the country to be closer to friends and family. While she pieced her life back together, dating was the furthest thing from her mind. But now she’s ready to jump back into the shark-infested dating world again. And to avoid bad dates with men who think Crocs are acceptable footwear or guys who like to talk about their exes a little too much, she has a plan. She’s going to ask her best friend, Alex, to set her up on blind dates, and she will return the favor.
Alex Bates is in love with his best friend.
When Hazel moved to Nashville last year, he was more than happy to wait on her while she worked through her breakup. He just thought that when she was ready to date again, she’d see who was right in front of her. And yes, she did see him—as the solution to finding her soulmate. Hazel may have a plan, but Alex does too. His goal isn’t to find his one true love during this experiment, it’s to convince Hazel that hers has always been there waiting.
With each date, Hazel’s plan gets fuzzier and fuzzier, along with her feelings for her best friend. He’s too important to risk losing, but what if he’s the one she’s been looking for all along?
Can they stay just friends, or will that little issue of love get in the way?
After finding her boyfriend cheating on her a year ago and thus severing her last ties to LA, she moved across the country to be closer to friends and family. While she pieced her life back together, dating was the furthest thing from her mind. But now she’s ready to jump back into the shark-infested dating world again. And to avoid bad dates with men who think Crocs are acceptable footwear or guys who like to talk about their exes a little too much, she has a plan. She’s going to ask her best friend, Alex, to set her up on blind dates, and she will return the favor.
Alex Bates is in love with his best friend.
When Hazel moved to Nashville last year, he was more than happy to wait on her while she worked through her breakup. He just thought that when she was ready to date again, she’d see who was right in front of her. And yes, she did see him—as the solution to finding her soulmate. Hazel may have a plan, but Alex does too. His goal isn’t to find his one true love during this experiment, it’s to convince Hazel that hers has always been there waiting.
With each date, Hazel’s plan gets fuzzier and fuzzier, along with her feelings for her best friend. He’s too important to risk losing, but what if he’s the one she’s been looking for all along?
Can they stay just friends, or will that little issue of love get in the way?
Paperback
Published July 14, 2023
124 people are currently reading
7701 people want to read
About the author
Madison Wright
6 books757 followersMadison Wright is a hopeless romantic living her own happily ever after in Nashville. After falling in love with reading at a young age, she always dreamed of becoming an author. She writes romances that feel cozy and always feature a happily-ever-after.
She's a big fan of sunshine, pastries, and any book with a love story. When she's not reading or writing, she can be found exploring her city with her husband and dog.
To keep up to date, follow on socials @authormadisonwright, join her newsletter, or go to her website www.authormadisonwright.com.
She's a big fan of sunshine, pastries, and any book with a love story. When she's not reading or writing, she can be found exploring her city with her husband and dog.
To keep up to date, follow on socials @authormadisonwright, join her newsletter, or go to her website www.authormadisonwright.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 316 reviews
June 21, 2023
Just Friends is that book you read to remind you that all romances don't have to be tall dark and broody. They must be tall and dark..😂😂👌 but perhaps the sweet ones really are where the magic lays sometimes 🖤🖤
Follow Me On Instagram 🦋 || More Bookish Posts Here 🖤
A Quick Preview: After ending yet another emotionally damaging relationship, successful artist Hazel has decided to move to Nashville, TN. The bachelorette party city has more than just close proximity to family though.. Hazel meets Alex and they quickly cement the sweetest of friendships. When Hazel decides she's ready to date again, Alex decides to prove he's her best bet a truly happy future.
This one was so cute it absolutely deserved a place on My Romance Novel Lovers' Masterlist!!
THOUGHTS:
- So much of Just Friends is so sweet and honestly exactly what I needed while laying in the bath with a glass of wine and my German Shepherd, Thunder, dropping his ball in the bath for me to throw every few minutes!!
- One of the things I love about this story too is that friends and family are supportive. If you've ever been in a relationship where people aren't supporting you, you know how tough that is!!
- The difference between people's views on relationships when they come from happy families vs. distant families is so interesting!! If you've ever found yourself dating someone who was raised VERY differently than you (I'm currently married to someone like that)- you'll really love how Alex and Hazel's relationship blossoms!
- It also brings me back to my stance that I don't think men and women can really ever be just friends if they're of the same s3xual orientation! I know a lot of people will argue that but I have NEVER in real life see it work out!! And that's ok - because I really feel like the best relationships are also the best friendships!! 🖤🖤
FAVORITE QUOTE:
"Men tend to think women find certain things desirable, when in actuality, what we want is something very different" - Truth.
NOTES:
- Friends to Lovers
- Sweet romance with a bit of spice 🌶️🌶️/5
- Finished this book in about 48 hours because it was just so sweet! Def a perfect summer binge read.
- CWs: Cheating is mentioned but not between the main characters
- Third book in the series and all of them have been SO stinking cute!!
**Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Follow Me On Instagram 🦋 || More Bookish Posts Here 🖤
A Quick Preview: After ending yet another emotionally damaging relationship, successful artist Hazel has decided to move to Nashville, TN. The bachelorette party city has more than just close proximity to family though.. Hazel meets Alex and they quickly cement the sweetest of friendships. When Hazel decides she's ready to date again, Alex decides to prove he's her best bet a truly happy future.
This one was so cute it absolutely deserved a place on My Romance Novel Lovers' Masterlist!!
THOUGHTS:
- So much of Just Friends is so sweet and honestly exactly what I needed while laying in the bath with a glass of wine and my German Shepherd, Thunder, dropping his ball in the bath for me to throw every few minutes!!
- One of the things I love about this story too is that friends and family are supportive. If you've ever been in a relationship where people aren't supporting you, you know how tough that is!!
- The difference between people's views on relationships when they come from happy families vs. distant families is so interesting!! If you've ever found yourself dating someone who was raised VERY differently than you (I'm currently married to someone like that)- you'll really love how Alex and Hazel's relationship blossoms!
- It also brings me back to my stance that I don't think men and women can really ever be just friends if they're of the same s3xual orientation! I know a lot of people will argue that but I have NEVER in real life see it work out!! And that's ok - because I really feel like the best relationships are also the best friendships!! 🖤🖤
FAVORITE QUOTE:
"Men tend to think women find certain things desirable, when in actuality, what we want is something very different" - Truth.
NOTES:
- Friends to Lovers
- Sweet romance with a bit of spice 🌶️🌶️/5
- Finished this book in about 48 hours because it was just so sweet! Def a perfect summer binge read.
- CWs: Cheating is mentioned but not between the main characters
- Third book in the series and all of them have been SO stinking cute!!
**Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
December 14, 2023
Many thanks to the author and the publisher, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, for providing me with this e-ARC.
Actual rating: 3.5/5 (rounded up to four because, after all, it was fun).
If you ask me what the superior romance trope is, I would say, without hesitation, that it is friends-to-lovers (even better if it's best-friends-to-lovers). However, I believe that this trope is rarely executed well (e.g., People We Meet on Vacation) because, after searching for many years for my cup of tea in both fiction and fanfiction, I have only found three. Sadly, this is not one of my all-time favorites, but it isn't without merit.
Let's start with the good: I love how the author created a tangible and healthy dynamic between our two characters. Good communication has become so rare in romance nowadays that I was actually impressed that Hazel and Alex communicated their vulnerabilities and feelings smoothly to each other. I am so sick of miscommunication done poorly as a third act conflict that I really appreciated their development from friendship to maybe-something-more to a romantic relationship. Additionally, I really like Hazel as a character and her growth. I always love a "vulnerable hero/heroine becoming more confident and caring for themselves" plotline, and I find that the author wrote it very well here. Again, I have to insist on how good the communication in this book is: Hazel, very hesitant about love after the heartbreaks, broke out of her shell to seek love in Alex by communicating with him and her loved ones. A lot of props from me for that aspect.
Unfortunately, this book didn't do so well in other aspects: Alex was flat AF, random character quirks that I didn't like, too much showing and not enough telling, cringy banter at times, and my biggest problem with this book (and with a lot of best-friends-to-lovers romance) is that the friendship wasn't developed enough. For example, I can say that my best friend knows me better than myself, but that's because we have known each other for 18 years. Obviously, I am not saying that the friendship needs to have spanned 18 years, but you can't expect me to believe that two adults are "best friends" and "know each other microscopically" when they have only known each other for two years, one of which was long-distance. I need to understand these people's deep connection and understanding of each other for me to root for them as best friends and as lovers. I need to see flashbacks, conversations, and development from a casual friendship to a profound one. Additionally, l-bombs were dropped way too quickly for my liking: the book starts when they meet, two pages later they were already best friends, three more pages and one of them is already crazy in love. I want to see the yearning, the desperation of loving someone you're afraid to lose and hurt, the hope but also the pain of having someone who sees through you, etc. That was what I expected getting into this book, but unfortunately, it didn't deliver.
I digress, so bottom line: Just Friends is a fun, feel-good romance if you're searching for a low-stress, agreeable, and overall quite delightful read. However, I wouldn't recommend it if you really want a profound friends-to-lovers arc, though.
Actual rating: 3.5/5 (rounded up to four because, after all, it was fun).
If you ask me what the superior romance trope is, I would say, without hesitation, that it is friends-to-lovers (even better if it's best-friends-to-lovers). However, I believe that this trope is rarely executed well (e.g., People We Meet on Vacation) because, after searching for many years for my cup of tea in both fiction and fanfiction, I have only found three. Sadly, this is not one of my all-time favorites, but it isn't without merit.
Let's start with the good: I love how the author created a tangible and healthy dynamic between our two characters. Good communication has become so rare in romance nowadays that I was actually impressed that Hazel and Alex communicated their vulnerabilities and feelings smoothly to each other. I am so sick of miscommunication done poorly as a third act conflict that I really appreciated their development from friendship to maybe-something-more to a romantic relationship. Additionally, I really like Hazel as a character and her growth. I always love a "vulnerable hero/heroine becoming more confident and caring for themselves" plotline, and I find that the author wrote it very well here. Again, I have to insist on how good the communication in this book is: Hazel, very hesitant about love after the heartbreaks, broke out of her shell to seek love in Alex by communicating with him and her loved ones. A lot of props from me for that aspect.
Unfortunately, this book didn't do so well in other aspects: Alex was flat AF, random character quirks that I didn't like, too much showing and not enough telling, cringy banter at times, and my biggest problem with this book (and with a lot of best-friends-to-lovers romance) is that the friendship wasn't developed enough. For example, I can say that my best friend knows me better than myself, but that's because we have known each other for 18 years. Obviously, I am not saying that the friendship needs to have spanned 18 years, but you can't expect me to believe that two adults are "best friends" and "know each other microscopically" when they have only known each other for two years, one of which was long-distance. I need to understand these people's deep connection and understanding of each other for me to root for them as best friends and as lovers. I need to see flashbacks, conversations, and development from a casual friendship to a profound one. Additionally, l-bombs were dropped way too quickly for my liking: the book starts when they meet, two pages later they were already best friends, three more pages and one of them is already crazy in love. I want to see the yearning, the desperation of loving someone you're afraid to lose and hurt, the hope but also the pain of having someone who sees through you, etc. That was what I expected getting into this book, but unfortunately, it didn't deliver.
I digress, so bottom line: Just Friends is a fun, feel-good romance if you're searching for a low-stress, agreeable, and overall quite delightful read. However, I wouldn't recommend it if you really want a profound friends-to-lovers arc, though.
August 14, 2023
This book has been an absolute joy to write. I hope you love Alex and Hazel as much as I do!
Read if you love:
• friends to lovers
• he falls first
• spring and summertime
• tender romances
• sloooow burn
• no third act break up
This is book three of the Nashville is Calling series, but it can be read as a standalone. If you want the full picture of all the friends in this series, I suggest starting with Just Go With It (available on Kindle Unlimited)!
Read if you love:
• friends to lovers
• he falls first
• spring and summertime
• tender romances
• sloooow burn
• no third act break up
This is book three of the Nashville is Calling series, but it can be read as a standalone. If you want the full picture of all the friends in this series, I suggest starting with Just Go With It (available on Kindle Unlimited)!
July 7, 2023
MY FAVORITE FRIENDS TO LOVERS BOOK, EVER.
Oh👏my👏goodness. This book is amazing. The love between Alex + Hazel was so pure. This was like if lovelight farms by Bk Borison and a long time coming my Meghan Quinn had a baby.
I can’t express how well written this story was painted. I just wanted to keep reading because Alex is so freaking adorable!!
✨friends to lovers
✨forced proximity
✨double dating
✨he falls first
Oh👏my👏goodness. This book is amazing. The love between Alex + Hazel was so pure. This was like if lovelight farms by Bk Borison and a long time coming my Meghan Quinn had a baby.
I can’t express how well written this story was painted. I just wanted to keep reading because Alex is so freaking adorable!!
✨friends to lovers
✨forced proximity
✨double dating
✨he falls first
August 21, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up//
thank you netgalley and the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
this book was so stinking adorable :,))) i went in with no expectations, and i was pleasantly impressed!!! now i'm a sucker for friends-to-lovers romance books so i might be a little biased 🤭
starting with the characters, both were very well written and likable. i love dual POVs when they're written properly, and the ones in this book were impressive. both characters are complex, and the way the author characterizes them and gives them shape as the story goes on was really interesting. the guy falls first in this book, and i was swooning the entire time. his POV, unlike usual male POVs, wasn't written from a lustful perspective. this man was SMITTEN with the fmc and he showed it alllll. there was so much showing rather than just telling. the way he describes how she looked to him was so vivid it was like i was looking at her through his eyes. i loved how he was so attentive and patient with her and how careful he was with her feelings and not wanting to ruin what they already have by confessing his feelings 🥹 the fmc is also absolutely adorable and i loved how family oriented she is. she was a bit too oblivious sometimes, but that was understandable because of what she went through.
i was skeptical of the writing in the beginning because it was amateurish. i wasn't hooked until the 30% mark maybe. the side characters and found family trope were good additions though. i also liked the slow burn of the romance!! it kept me on my toes, wanting to know more and to see how they end up together. the yearning, the angst, and the emotional rollercoaster these characters go through are all described so well, i felt them too :,)
overall, this was a really good friends-to-lovers book. i enjoyed it a lot and it actually might've played a part in curing my reading slump so it definitely gets brownie points for that!! i will be checking out the other books in this series bc the other couples in this book sounded so adorable as well <33
thank you netgalley and the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
this book was so stinking adorable :,))) i went in with no expectations, and i was pleasantly impressed!!! now i'm a sucker for friends-to-lovers romance books so i might be a little biased 🤭
starting with the characters, both were very well written and likable. i love dual POVs when they're written properly, and the ones in this book were impressive. both characters are complex, and the way the author characterizes them and gives them shape as the story goes on was really interesting. the guy falls first in this book, and i was swooning the entire time. his POV, unlike usual male POVs, wasn't written from a lustful perspective. this man was SMITTEN with the fmc and he showed it alllll. there was so much showing rather than just telling. the way he describes how she looked to him was so vivid it was like i was looking at her through his eyes. i loved how he was so attentive and patient with her and how careful he was with her feelings and not wanting to ruin what they already have by confessing his feelings 🥹 the fmc is also absolutely adorable and i loved how family oriented she is. she was a bit too oblivious sometimes, but that was understandable because of what she went through.
i was skeptical of the writing in the beginning because it was amateurish. i wasn't hooked until the 30% mark maybe. the side characters and found family trope were good additions though. i also liked the slow burn of the romance!! it kept me on my toes, wanting to know more and to see how they end up together. the yearning, the angst, and the emotional rollercoaster these characters go through are all described so well, i felt them too :,)
overall, this was a really good friends-to-lovers book. i enjoyed it a lot and it actually might've played a part in curing my reading slump so it definitely gets brownie points for that!! i will be checking out the other books in this series bc the other couples in this book sounded so adorable as well <33
July 10, 2023
Madison Wright never fails to write the sweetest romances. Her books feel like the equivalent of a warm hug 💞
This book has:
• Friends to lovers and a major slow-burn
• A cinnamon roll hero who has been pining for his best friend since he met her (who doesn’t love the boy falls first and harder trope???)
• Tons of references to P&P, which I was SO here for. The leads even watch Emma (2020) together!
• Forced proximity
• Meddling friends and supportive family dynamics
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
This book has:
• Friends to lovers and a major slow-burn
• A cinnamon roll hero who has been pining for his best friend since he met her (who doesn’t love the boy falls first and harder trope???)
• Tons of references to P&P, which I was SO here for. The leads even watch Emma (2020) together!
• Forced proximity
• Meddling friends and supportive family dynamics
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
July 13, 2023
ARC REVIEW
A classic and tender friends to lovers romance novel. Hazel gets her heart broken and she is trying to heal with the help of her best friend Alex, who low and behold is in love with her. Is Hazel completely unaware? Yes. Does Alex become a lovesick puppy trying to get her to see what a great love match he is for her? Also yes.
Even though this is a cut and dry classic friends to lovers tale I still really enjoyed it, the family and friendship dynamics where superb and the communication was also so natural and well paced out.
The length was perfect, I didn't lose interest or get bored and the humor was actually humourous (this is surprisingly rare)
My only downfall was the lack of depth within some of the main characters, it felt very surface level, especially Alex; who seemed cliched "Best Friend love interest" but.. a reminder, I am a complete fiend for emotional and character focused books so this is a criticism catered to my personal taste.
A classic and tender friends to lovers romance novel. Hazel gets her heart broken and she is trying to heal with the help of her best friend Alex, who low and behold is in love with her. Is Hazel completely unaware? Yes. Does Alex become a lovesick puppy trying to get her to see what a great love match he is for her? Also yes.
Even though this is a cut and dry classic friends to lovers tale I still really enjoyed it, the family and friendship dynamics where superb and the communication was also so natural and well paced out.
The length was perfect, I didn't lose interest or get bored and the humor was actually humourous (this is surprisingly rare)
My only downfall was the lack of depth within some of the main characters, it felt very surface level, especially Alex; who seemed cliched "Best Friend love interest" but.. a reminder, I am a complete fiend for emotional and character focused books so this is a criticism catered to my personal taste.
June 30, 2023
★★★ [𝟑 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬]
I want her just like this, creases indenting her cheeks, hair a mess, legs draped over my own. I can't imagine anything better than Hazel Lane waking up next to me for eternity.
[𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘝𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘌𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘊𝘰-𝘰𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬]
There’s something so wholesome and special about friends to lovers romance. It makes me happy, it brings out the hopeless romantic inside me. It’s so sweet to think of two best friends, two people who know each other so well, falling in love and getting to see one another in a different light.
This book is really cute, there were some moments that made me swoon and gave me butterflies. Alex is so sweet and kind, it was so easy to fall in love with him. I love that he gave Hazel space to figure things out. Hazel is a very sunshine girl, full of energy and optimism. She’s been hurt in the past, has been in a few failed relationships that left her scarred. I understand why she was so afraid to try something with Alex, the fear of ruining their beautiful friendship was huge.
But I have to say, Hazel loving Alex felt like a sudden thing. I understand that maybe it was always there and she just didn’t want to think about those feelings, but, as a reader, I felt like something was missing. Hazel went from seeing Alex as a friend to thinking of him as something more too quickly. And she spends so long going back and forth on how she’s feeling. She only admits it in the final chapters. And it’s only at the end that something finally happens between them. I love a good slow burn, but this one dragged on. For a short book, it felt terribly long at times.
The beginning of the book left me confused, I didn’t like the prologue. It could’ve been done differently. And it took me a while to feel any chemistry between the couple. Once I felt it, the book got more enjoyable for me and there was so much tension between Hazel and Alex.
There are a lot of characters and I had a hard time distinguishing them, it felt to me like they had little depth. Although this book can be read as a standalone, it is part of a series and I don’t know if I would have a different opinion, had I read the previous books.
I just wish there was a bigger focus on the characters. I finished the book wanting to know more about Hazel and Alex. I think my main issue with this book is that I wish it had more depth. There’s no plot, nothing really happens, so this book would’ve been better if the characters had a better development.
The writing is beautiful, it reminds of the Lovelight series books. The setting is gorgeous and loved the vibes. There are a lot of cheesy moments, too many for my liking, but It was a cute read, I just wanted a little more from it.
I want her just like this, creases indenting her cheeks, hair a mess, legs draped over my own. I can't imagine anything better than Hazel Lane waking up next to me for eternity.
[𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘝𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘌𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘊𝘰-𝘰𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬]
There’s something so wholesome and special about friends to lovers romance. It makes me happy, it brings out the hopeless romantic inside me. It’s so sweet to think of two best friends, two people who know each other so well, falling in love and getting to see one another in a different light.
This book is really cute, there were some moments that made me swoon and gave me butterflies. Alex is so sweet and kind, it was so easy to fall in love with him. I love that he gave Hazel space to figure things out. Hazel is a very sunshine girl, full of energy and optimism. She’s been hurt in the past, has been in a few failed relationships that left her scarred. I understand why she was so afraid to try something with Alex, the fear of ruining their beautiful friendship was huge.
But I have to say, Hazel loving Alex felt like a sudden thing. I understand that maybe it was always there and she just didn’t want to think about those feelings, but, as a reader, I felt like something was missing. Hazel went from seeing Alex as a friend to thinking of him as something more too quickly. And she spends so long going back and forth on how she’s feeling. She only admits it in the final chapters. And it’s only at the end that something finally happens between them. I love a good slow burn, but this one dragged on. For a short book, it felt terribly long at times.
The beginning of the book left me confused, I didn’t like the prologue. It could’ve been done differently. And it took me a while to feel any chemistry between the couple. Once I felt it, the book got more enjoyable for me and there was so much tension between Hazel and Alex.
There are a lot of characters and I had a hard time distinguishing them, it felt to me like they had little depth. Although this book can be read as a standalone, it is part of a series and I don’t know if I would have a different opinion, had I read the previous books.
I just wish there was a bigger focus on the characters. I finished the book wanting to know more about Hazel and Alex. I think my main issue with this book is that I wish it had more depth. There’s no plot, nothing really happens, so this book would’ve been better if the characters had a better development.
The writing is beautiful, it reminds of the Lovelight series books. The setting is gorgeous and loved the vibes. There are a lot of cheesy moments, too many for my liking, but It was a cute read, I just wanted a little more from it.
July 15, 2023
This is the absolute sweetest friends to lovers summer romance that will fill your heart with warmth and sunshine!
I couldn't get enough of Hazel and Alex. The way he's there for her after a bad break-up and always supports her, even when she decides she's ready to date again and proposes they set each other up on blind dates.
Full of a great cast of secondary characters from the other Nashville is Calling books, ice cream, butterflies, 90s romcoms and a lovely road trip to Hazel's small mountain town of Fontana Ridge (and I'm really hoping we get more books set there in the future!).
Perfect for fans of Sarah Adams, Hailey Gardner and Juliana Smith. If you love kissing only, slow burns with lingering touches and the beautiful writing, this is a must read! Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for sending me an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
I’m Favorite quote:
"...thinking about a life with Alex fills me with more joy than it does fear. It will be a life with ice cream and movies, lake days and sunshine, bad dancing and whatever drink I'm in the mood for. It will be butterfly wishes and stardust and the magic of simply being with my person, the one who makes my soul sparkle."
I couldn't get enough of Hazel and Alex. The way he's there for her after a bad break-up and always supports her, even when she decides she's ready to date again and proposes they set each other up on blind dates.
Full of a great cast of secondary characters from the other Nashville is Calling books, ice cream, butterflies, 90s romcoms and a lovely road trip to Hazel's small mountain town of Fontana Ridge (and I'm really hoping we get more books set there in the future!).
Perfect for fans of Sarah Adams, Hailey Gardner and Juliana Smith. If you love kissing only, slow burns with lingering touches and the beautiful writing, this is a must read! Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for sending me an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
I’m Favorite quote:
"...thinking about a life with Alex fills me with more joy than it does fear. It will be a life with ice cream and movies, lake days and sunshine, bad dancing and whatever drink I'm in the mood for. It will be butterfly wishes and stardust and the magic of simply being with my person, the one who makes my soul sparkle."
August 23, 2023
* ARC via Net Galley, all opinions are my own (although I’m pretty sure the book has already been published by now)
* I took a while to get through this book and I think it’s two things that can be attributed to that. Firstly, I’ve had a pretty busy month and so it was difficult to get through any books without having to take long breaks. Secondly, I wasn’t really motivated to read this book to begin with. The first half felt very slow and quite typical.
* BUT having said that, once I got into the rhythm of the book, I’ve realised I actually had a change in opinion and really liked the story.
* Not every book is about a grumpy, enemies to lovers with loads of angst and although that tends to be my preference, I surprisingly loved the golden retriever, friends-to-lovers trope that came about through Hazel and Alex. Especially because it was a slower burn that left some form of anticipation until the friend-zone was finally ended for Alex!
* I haven’t read any of the other books in the series so this was a complete standalone moment for me and the author did really well to keep the story easy to understand without grasping too much on her previous plot lines in the series.
* Now to Alex, the man who deserves the absolute world. He has an absolute dedication towards Hazel and making sure everything is comfortable for her (In other words, it’s giving “she’s everything, he’s just Ken” vibes). Usually I’m not a big fan of friends to lovers but Alex made me surprisingly love it! He was a great golden retriever type without being too much of a pushover and supports Hazel through her insecurities of starting a new relationship.
* I loved the concept of the book, that started with the blind dates until there’s finally a moment of realised feelings, which for this story is at the latter end of the book. However, because of this I was found myself wanting the pace to pick up and once I got to the latter half, I enjoyed the book a lot more.
* A sweet read and focuses on the friendship blooming to a relationship (also minimal spice, so may be perfect for younger readers)
* I took a while to get through this book and I think it’s two things that can be attributed to that. Firstly, I’ve had a pretty busy month and so it was difficult to get through any books without having to take long breaks. Secondly, I wasn’t really motivated to read this book to begin with. The first half felt very slow and quite typical.
* BUT having said that, once I got into the rhythm of the book, I’ve realised I actually had a change in opinion and really liked the story.
* Not every book is about a grumpy, enemies to lovers with loads of angst and although that tends to be my preference, I surprisingly loved the golden retriever, friends-to-lovers trope that came about through Hazel and Alex. Especially because it was a slower burn that left some form of anticipation until the friend-zone was finally ended for Alex!
* I haven’t read any of the other books in the series so this was a complete standalone moment for me and the author did really well to keep the story easy to understand without grasping too much on her previous plot lines in the series.
* Now to Alex, the man who deserves the absolute world. He has an absolute dedication towards Hazel and making sure everything is comfortable for her (In other words, it’s giving “she’s everything, he’s just Ken” vibes). Usually I’m not a big fan of friends to lovers but Alex made me surprisingly love it! He was a great golden retriever type without being too much of a pushover and supports Hazel through her insecurities of starting a new relationship.
* I loved the concept of the book, that started with the blind dates until there’s finally a moment of realised feelings, which for this story is at the latter end of the book. However, because of this I was found myself wanting the pace to pick up and once I got to the latter half, I enjoyed the book a lot more.
* A sweet read and focuses on the friendship blooming to a relationship (also minimal spice, so may be perfect for younger readers)
July 16, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Where do I even begin? One of the best friends-to-lovers books I have read. He knew her so well and he literally waited for her to be ready for a relationship after her ex boyfriend cheated on her. Adorable. The tension was great, the chemistry was amazing and overall it was just so cute.
Loved all the side characters as well, especially Lucy.
The only thing I would have wished for is that it would have been more fast paced. Some scenes were slow and made me lose focus. That is why I’m going to rate this 4 and not 5 stars.
I would definitely recommend this to all romance-lovers out there that wants a great friends to lovers book with cute scenes that you can’t get enough of.
Thanks once again to NetGalley and author Madison Wright for sending me this ARC.
Pub Date: 14 July 2023
🇸🇪Svenska:
Stort tack till NetGalley för att ni skickat en ARC i utbyte mot en ärlig recension.
Var ska man börja? En av de bästa friends-to-lovers böckerna jag läst. Han kände henne så bra och han väntade på att hon skulle vara redo för ett förhållande efter att hennes ex var otrogen. Så gulligt. Så bra tension, deras kemi var magisk och överlag var det bara så gulligt.
Älskade alla sidokaraktärer också, speciellt Lucy.
Det enda jag hade önskat är att det hade varit ett snabbare tempo. Vissa scener var långsamma och fick mig att tappa fokus. Därför kommer jag ge den 4 och inte 5 stjärnor.
Jag skulle definitivt rekommendera den här boken till alla romance-älskare där ute som vill ha en superbra friends to lovers bok med gulliga scener man inte kan få nog av.
Tack ännu en gång till NetGalley och författaren Madison Wright för att ni skickat ett ARC.
Publiceringsdatum: 14 juli 2023
Where do I even begin? One of the best friends-to-lovers books I have read. He knew her so well and he literally waited for her to be ready for a relationship after her ex boyfriend cheated on her. Adorable. The tension was great, the chemistry was amazing and overall it was just so cute.
Loved all the side characters as well, especially Lucy.
The only thing I would have wished for is that it would have been more fast paced. Some scenes were slow and made me lose focus. That is why I’m going to rate this 4 and not 5 stars.
I would definitely recommend this to all romance-lovers out there that wants a great friends to lovers book with cute scenes that you can’t get enough of.
Thanks once again to NetGalley and author Madison Wright for sending me this ARC.
Pub Date: 14 July 2023
🇸🇪Svenska:
Stort tack till NetGalley för att ni skickat en ARC i utbyte mot en ärlig recension.
Var ska man börja? En av de bästa friends-to-lovers böckerna jag läst. Han kände henne så bra och han väntade på att hon skulle vara redo för ett förhållande efter att hennes ex var otrogen. Så gulligt. Så bra tension, deras kemi var magisk och överlag var det bara så gulligt.
Älskade alla sidokaraktärer också, speciellt Lucy.
Det enda jag hade önskat är att det hade varit ett snabbare tempo. Vissa scener var långsamma och fick mig att tappa fokus. Därför kommer jag ge den 4 och inte 5 stjärnor.
Jag skulle definitivt rekommendera den här boken till alla romance-älskare där ute som vill ha en superbra friends to lovers bok med gulliga scener man inte kan få nog av.
Tack ännu en gång till NetGalley och författaren Madison Wright för att ni skickat ett ARC.
Publiceringsdatum: 14 juli 2023
July 19, 2023
Rating: 4 stars ⭐️
Tropes:
fake dating ✨
best friends to lovers 🩷
slow burn 🔥
he falls first 💕
small town 🌾
Madison Wright writes absolutely beautiful stories where you really fall in love with all the characters.
Her books are really cute and definitely perfect summer reads! ☀️
This story was about Hazel and Axel, they met at Ellie and Cam’s wedding and are both siblings of the newly weds.
Axel and Hazel quickly became the best of friends and after a year Hazel wants to date again. She asks his help to find love but didn't know that there was already a candidate lined up for her, waiting for her until she's ready..
Thank you to Netgalley, Madison Wright and Victory Editing Netgalley co-op for providing me with this copy. All opinions are my own.
Tropes:
fake dating ✨
best friends to lovers 🩷
slow burn 🔥
he falls first 💕
small town 🌾
Madison Wright writes absolutely beautiful stories where you really fall in love with all the characters.
Her books are really cute and definitely perfect summer reads! ☀️
This story was about Hazel and Axel, they met at Ellie and Cam’s wedding and are both siblings of the newly weds.
Axel and Hazel quickly became the best of friends and after a year Hazel wants to date again. She asks his help to find love but didn't know that there was already a candidate lined up for her, waiting for her until she's ready..
Thank you to Netgalley, Madison Wright and Victory Editing Netgalley co-op for providing me with this copy. All opinions are my own.
July 24, 2023
4 / 5 💌
The Nashville is Calling series is hands down one of my favourites on kindle unlimited and Just Friends was one of my most anticipated releases! And let me tell you, it did not disappoint! It's friends to lovers, it's always been you, let's set each other up on dates but really I want you! This book had me giggling and laughing, it was sweet and wholesome! Their wholesome nights with take out and movies are honestly what dreams are made of! It is too much to ask for when I say I just want a man like Alex in my life.
The butterflies and their meaning in this book is so sweet <3 I truly love this book and hope there's more in this series because Hazel and Alex stole my heart!
tropes
☁️ friends to lovers
☁️ it's always been you
The Nashville is Calling series is hands down one of my favourites on kindle unlimited and Just Friends was one of my most anticipated releases! And let me tell you, it did not disappoint! It's friends to lovers, it's always been you, let's set each other up on dates but really I want you! This book had me giggling and laughing, it was sweet and wholesome! Their wholesome nights with take out and movies are honestly what dreams are made of! It is too much to ask for when I say I just want a man like Alex in my life.
The butterflies and their meaning in this book is so sweet <3 I truly love this book and hope there's more in this series because Hazel and Alex stole my heart!
tropes
☁️ friends to lovers
☁️ it's always been you
November 10, 2023
4 ⭐️
Aaahhh, swoon!! 🥰
This book was so cute! Alex and Hazel are the absolute cutest and I loved reading their story. This is a closed-door romance as well, which honestly sometimes is all I need to make sure I don’t feel ashamed haha. Altogether, a perfect little romance book that will make you swoon and giggle all over 🫶🏼
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC ♥️
Aaahhh, swoon!! 🥰
This book was so cute! Alex and Hazel are the absolute cutest and I loved reading their story. This is a closed-door romance as well, which honestly sometimes is all I need to make sure I don’t feel ashamed haha. Altogether, a perfect little romance book that will make you swoon and giggle all over 🫶🏼
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC ♥️
July 25, 2023
This friends to lovers book was SO sweet. I loved being able to see Hazel and Alex's friendship from the beginning and seeing their relationship develop throughout the book as they both realize they have feelings for each other. I also ABSOLUTELY loved the side characters and the Wes & Lo appearances. The whole vibe of this book was just so cozy, but also deeper on a different level where we see Hazel work through her pain of past relationships and how she navigates really moving on from those and realizing who she is and that she is worthy of having someone love her.
May 28, 2023
Obsessed is an understatement. This sweet romantic comedy was packed full of laugh out load and tender moments I just can’t seem to get enough of! Just Friends is a must read for everyone. 💗
July 10, 2023
~arc provided by the publisher ~
I got into this book with a lot of expectations because friends to lovers is probably my favorite trop but I got a little disappointed.
Idk if it was the writting or the characters, with whom I didn't had a big connection, but, unfortunatly, I didn't love the book.
It doesn't have a big plot or anything. It's just two best friends that can't talk about what they are feeling and being in both of theirs minds made me annoyed sometimes.
Anyways, it's cute, it's small and the chapters are small too, so if you want a fast paced friends to lovers romance to read in one/two sittings try this one. It's the 3rd in a series but I read it as a standalone and never felt lost.
I got into this book with a lot of expectations because friends to lovers is probably my favorite trop but I got a little disappointed.
Idk if it was the writting or the characters, with whom I didn't had a big connection, but, unfortunatly, I didn't love the book.
It doesn't have a big plot or anything. It's just two best friends that can't talk about what they are feeling and being in both of theirs minds made me annoyed sometimes.
Anyways, it's cute, it's small and the chapters are small too, so if you want a fast paced friends to lovers romance to read in one/two sittings try this one. It's the 3rd in a series but I read it as a standalone and never felt lost.
July 5, 2023
I didn’t know Just Friends was the third in the series, however it is a standalone interconnected series so it doesn’t feel like I missed out. It only made me want to read the first two novels.
Just Friends follows Hazel as she learns her boyfriend has been cheating on her for a while so she moves back home and to her best friend, Alex. Alex has been in love with Hazel for a while. The opening chapter is indicative of how the story will play out.
Just Friends is a friends-to-lovers, slow burn, he falls first romance with no spice (heads up to my spice girlies). The angst and tension is upped tenfold when Hazel and Alex start going on double dates in an attempt to find partners. These moments were easily some of the best of the novel.
Hazel could be irritating and annoying at times. It’s so obvious to everyone but her that Alex is in love with her. I mean, he wears a scrunchie on his wrist in case she wants to tie her hair up. Since Hazel is so oblivious for most of the novel, it gets repetitive so the pacing becomes inconsistent.
Overall, Just Friends was a cute, slow burn, friends-to-lovers romance if you’re looking for angst and no spice.
*** I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Just Friends follows Hazel as she learns her boyfriend has been cheating on her for a while so she moves back home and to her best friend, Alex. Alex has been in love with Hazel for a while. The opening chapter is indicative of how the story will play out.
Just Friends is a friends-to-lovers, slow burn, he falls first romance with no spice (heads up to my spice girlies). The angst and tension is upped tenfold when Hazel and Alex start going on double dates in an attempt to find partners. These moments were easily some of the best of the novel.
Hazel could be irritating and annoying at times. It’s so obvious to everyone but her that Alex is in love with her. I mean, he wears a scrunchie on his wrist in case she wants to tie her hair up. Since Hazel is so oblivious for most of the novel, it gets repetitive so the pacing becomes inconsistent.
Overall, Just Friends was a cute, slow burn, friends-to-lovers romance if you’re looking for angst and no spice.
*** I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 18, 2024
Let me get to the annoyingly and glaringly obvious mistake: How can Alex talk to himself in a conversation between three people? I get that the brother’s name is Adam, and they both start with A. But that made me stew in annoyance at being ripped away from the story for five minutes. With that out of the way, I’ve always believed that a solid relationship is built on the foundations of friendship. So this story was sweet, and that’s it. There was a lot of tension, but a lot of Hazel and Alex’s relationship is just inevitable. The whole concept of the setups and blind dates doesn’t play as big a part as you would expect or offer hilarity. Everything between Hazel and Alex would have happened without the dates with others. I’m happy to be done with the series. It was sweet and fast to get through to get out of a slump, but that’s all.
October 15, 2024
hate to say it, but it didn’t really stand out to me 🙈
July 15, 2023
This was such a super cute best friends to lovers story! 🥰
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🚪(just kissing)
Hazel & Alex meet through their respective siblings (who are dating, then married), and instantly hit it off. Hazel, however, has a boyfriend. Their undeniable connection then leaves them with one relationship - best friends.
After Hazel’s boyfriend cheats on her, and she packs up and moves to Nashville (where her brother Cam, his wife Ellie, and her BEST FRIEND Alex live). After another year passes, Hazel decides she’s ready to date again, and asks Alex to team up with her and for them to set each other up on blind dates.
"You and me and ice cream."
I’m a sucker for a hidden crush, especially when it’s the hero pining over the heroine for years 🥰 He TOTALLY falls first here, and it’s so adorable. I love the texting banter between Hazel & Alex, his conversation with her best friend Lucy about “how to get the girl,” and how their relationship continues to grow to Hazel finally seeing Alex as more than a friend.
This was so close to being a 5-star read for me, but I felt it was just a bit too long. It kinda dragged on with them not getting together, and I really just wanted to smack some sense into Hazel 😂
What you’ll find in Just Friends:
⭐️ Best friends to lovers
⭐️ He falls first
⭐️ Texting
⭐️ Sunshine & sunshine
⭐️ Only one bed
⭐️ No third act breakup
⭐️ Slooooow burn
⭐️ Dual POV/first person
Thank you so very much to Victory Editing Netgalley Co-Op and author Madison Wright for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍 Email 🤍
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🚪(just kissing)
Hazel & Alex meet through their respective siblings (who are dating, then married), and instantly hit it off. Hazel, however, has a boyfriend. Their undeniable connection then leaves them with one relationship - best friends.
After Hazel’s boyfriend cheats on her, and she packs up and moves to Nashville (where her brother Cam, his wife Ellie, and her BEST FRIEND Alex live). After another year passes, Hazel decides she’s ready to date again, and asks Alex to team up with her and for them to set each other up on blind dates.
"You and me and ice cream."
I’m a sucker for a hidden crush, especially when it’s the hero pining over the heroine for years 🥰 He TOTALLY falls first here, and it’s so adorable. I love the texting banter between Hazel & Alex, his conversation with her best friend Lucy about “how to get the girl,” and how their relationship continues to grow to Hazel finally seeing Alex as more than a friend.
This was so close to being a 5-star read for me, but I felt it was just a bit too long. It kinda dragged on with them not getting together, and I really just wanted to smack some sense into Hazel 😂
What you’ll find in Just Friends:
⭐️ Best friends to lovers
⭐️ He falls first
⭐️ Texting
⭐️ Sunshine & sunshine
⭐️ Only one bed
⭐️ No third act breakup
⭐️ Slooooow burn
⭐️ Dual POV/first person
Thank you so very much to Victory Editing Netgalley Co-Op and author Madison Wright for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍 Email 🤍
March 3, 2024
““You are everything, Hazel. You are sunshine and butterflies and ice cream. You are kind and gentle and you make magic with a paintbrush. You are everything, and if he didn’t see that, he’s blind.”
A solid 5 stars goes to this sweet book that gave me all the feels! I went from loving the main characters together, to being irritated that they remained friends, aweing at the moments they shared together that they just thought was friendship but DUH this was more! So much more!
And then there was the whole slow burn aspect of them trying to figured things out and I wanted to scream at Hazel! Girl! Stop being scared and just go for it! You deserve to be happy!
This book was very well written. It gave me B.K. Borison vibes with how beautifully descriptive everything was throughout the book as well as bringing to light the little things in life that are so special. I think that was my favorite thing about this beautiful story.
I also really loved Alex’ character and how sweet and caring he is. We need more soft men written in books who take a care of their love interest’s hearts! I truly enjoyed him and Hazel together. This was a slow burn at its finest and I loved every word of it.
Read this book if you love:
💕friends to lovers
🦋 Over Coming Hurt
💕 Blind Dates
🦋 Slow Burns
💕 Ice Cream
🦋 Artist FMC
💕 Fun Friend Group
A solid 5 stars goes to this sweet book that gave me all the feels! I went from loving the main characters together, to being irritated that they remained friends, aweing at the moments they shared together that they just thought was friendship but DUH this was more! So much more!
And then there was the whole slow burn aspect of them trying to figured things out and I wanted to scream at Hazel! Girl! Stop being scared and just go for it! You deserve to be happy!
This book was very well written. It gave me B.K. Borison vibes with how beautifully descriptive everything was throughout the book as well as bringing to light the little things in life that are so special. I think that was my favorite thing about this beautiful story.
I also really loved Alex’ character and how sweet and caring he is. We need more soft men written in books who take a care of their love interest’s hearts! I truly enjoyed him and Hazel together. This was a slow burn at its finest and I loved every word of it.
Read this book if you love:
💕friends to lovers
🦋 Over Coming Hurt
💕 Blind Dates
🦋 Slow Burns
💕 Ice Cream
🦋 Artist FMC
💕 Fun Friend Group
July 14, 2023
4 / 5
Just Friends is the third installment of the Nashville Is Calling series, but can be read as a standalone. Hazel moves from LA to Nashville to be closer to her family after discovering that her boyfriend has been unfaithful to her. She has sworn off all men, with the exception of her best friend, Alex. A year later, she decides to jump back into the dating scene and enlists the help of Alex to set her up on double blind dates. Because that’s what best friends are for… right?
What to expect:
⤿ Best friends to lovers
⤿ Cinnamon roll MMC
⤿ Bubbly and creative FMC
⤿ He falls first
⤿ Blind dates
⤿ Spring and summer vibes
⤿ Closed door romance
I found myself really connecting with Hazel. I understood her insecurities and the way she thinks, in a way that really resonated within me. Alex is the perfect match for her. He’s described as a shy extrovert, but he’s also attentive, considerate, and incredibly sweet. He’s someone who truly sees Hazel for who she is, and I loved how patient he was with her as she not only figured herself out, but what she wanted for her life.
I adored Hazel and Alex’s story, and it’s so much fun seeing them navigate their changing relationship from best friends to more. They didn’t do anything without the other by their side. When one of them needed lifting up, the other was the first one there. They were inseparable. Everyone around them could see how perfect they were for each other. I enjoyed the moments where Hazel and Alex talked about details about the other person, showing how much they knew about each other.
If you’re into light-hearted romances that leave you with all the happy feels, I recommend picking this up! Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Just Friends is the third installment of the Nashville Is Calling series, but can be read as a standalone. Hazel moves from LA to Nashville to be closer to her family after discovering that her boyfriend has been unfaithful to her. She has sworn off all men, with the exception of her best friend, Alex. A year later, she decides to jump back into the dating scene and enlists the help of Alex to set her up on double blind dates. Because that’s what best friends are for… right?
What to expect:
⤿ Best friends to lovers
⤿ Cinnamon roll MMC
⤿ Bubbly and creative FMC
⤿ He falls first
⤿ Blind dates
⤿ Spring and summer vibes
⤿ Closed door romance
I found myself really connecting with Hazel. I understood her insecurities and the way she thinks, in a way that really resonated within me. Alex is the perfect match for her. He’s described as a shy extrovert, but he’s also attentive, considerate, and incredibly sweet. He’s someone who truly sees Hazel for who she is, and I loved how patient he was with her as she not only figured herself out, but what she wanted for her life.
I adored Hazel and Alex’s story, and it’s so much fun seeing them navigate their changing relationship from best friends to more. They didn’t do anything without the other by their side. When one of them needed lifting up, the other was the first one there. They were inseparable. Everyone around them could see how perfect they were for each other. I enjoyed the moments where Hazel and Alex talked about details about the other person, showing how much they knew about each other.
If you’re into light-hearted romances that leave you with all the happy feels, I recommend picking this up! Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2023
Just Friends (ARC review)
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
This was such a cute read. Alex and Hazel had this incredibly sweet and slowburn love that made the book so much worth it. Hazel recovering from a heartbreak and not being ready to date was such a valid reason for her not to be able to see the love Alex had for her. Alex was down on his knees when it came to her. That man was whipped. He was so sweet and caring, truly Hazel's person. You could feel how strong his feelings for her were. Hazel took her time to realize it but I loved how it was pictured in the book, I adored the slow realization and her change. What I also loved was how their friendship was so strong and truly amazing. Their moments together were so sweet and intimate. The love confession was so cute. The double dates were a nice idea but I'm so glad to see how they affected both of them in a way that made them even closer. The ending was so perfect for them.
Book by: Madison Wright
Tropes:
• Best friends to lovers
• Slowburn
• Cinnamon roll MMC
• He falls first
• Secret pining
My rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Spice level: 0,5/5 🔥
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
This was such a cute read. Alex and Hazel had this incredibly sweet and slowburn love that made the book so much worth it. Hazel recovering from a heartbreak and not being ready to date was such a valid reason for her not to be able to see the love Alex had for her. Alex was down on his knees when it came to her. That man was whipped. He was so sweet and caring, truly Hazel's person. You could feel how strong his feelings for her were. Hazel took her time to realize it but I loved how it was pictured in the book, I adored the slow realization and her change. What I also loved was how their friendship was so strong and truly amazing. Their moments together were so sweet and intimate. The love confession was so cute. The double dates were a nice idea but I'm so glad to see how they affected both of them in a way that made them even closer. The ending was so perfect for them.
Book by: Madison Wright
Tropes:
• Best friends to lovers
• Slowburn
• Cinnamon roll MMC
• He falls first
• Secret pining
My rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Spice level: 0,5/5 🔥
July 7, 2023
Hazel: You and me and ice cream Best Friend
Alexander: Always, Lane
Alex & Hazel. They’re friends. And he walks around like a lovesick puppy. And she doesn’t know! Classic and sweet!
"You said I'm everything," she says again, enunciating the word. "But to me, it's you who's everything…"
✨ THINGS & STUFF ✨
-dual pov
-friends to lovers
-butterfly wishes
-brothers best friend
-text messages
-burgers & ice cream
-Jane Austen heroines
-2000s romcom movies
-setting each other up on group blind dates
-oh no, you’re wounded! (Hurt/comfort)
-#IsThisAKissingBook: slow burn. closed door. “I want to kiss you again,” I say, deciding on honesty.”
Thank you Madison for an advanced copy!
Song: May I Have This Dance by Francis and The Lights
July 8, 2023
This book was everything I wanted it to be and more! I was best friends with my boyfriend for seven years before we started dating. Just Friends reminded me so much of those seven years. Hazel gets cheated on and is struggling to cope. She meets Alex and they become the best of friends. She decided that the time is right to start dating again and they decide to set each other up for blind dates. Alex is very reluctant to do this because he is in love with her. As they go through these dates, Hazel begins to realize that she doesn't want him dating anyone else. This book is very relatable and I know a lot of my patrons at work will really enjoy reading it. I can't wait to read the other two books in this series.
August 14, 2023
This characters in this book were so cute!! It’s been a while since I read the previous two books in this series but now reading this it makes me remember why I loved those books so much!! This is a friends to lovers and it’s seriously so cute! Definitely recommend!
January 19, 2024
I just want someone to love me the way Alex loves Hazel 🤧 these two were just too cute!! It had me kicking my feet so many times, I love me a good friends to lovers troupe.
September 29, 2023
4.25⭐️
a book that makes me love love <33
a book that makes me love love <33
November 8, 2024
This was a sweet best friends to lovers romance with a male lead that would be the perfect partner (if he were real 🫣). The way the author set up their friendship was lovely and watching them fall in love was a joy.
I also enjoyed the parts of the story where they were long distance friends. Reading the texts and phone calls was very nostalgic for me since my husband and I dated long distance for many years.
There was a little too much "I don't want to change our friendship" for my liking but overall it was a fun time.
I almost never say this, but I would recommend to read it with your eyes because the narrators weren't my favorite.
Notes:
Closed door
Dual POV
Kindle Unlimited
Part of a series
I also enjoyed the parts of the story where they were long distance friends. Reading the texts and phone calls was very nostalgic for me since my husband and I dated long distance for many years.
There was a little too much "I don't want to change our friendship" for my liking but overall it was a fun time.
I almost never say this, but I would recommend to read it with your eyes because the narrators weren't my favorite.
Notes:
Closed door
Dual POV
Kindle Unlimited
Part of a series
Displaying 1 - 30 of 316 reviews