The Designated Friend

by Drew Taylor

Braxton
I’ve always been the designated friend to Hadley Dawson, and I’d do myself good to remember that. Heck, I’m only on this road trip because she broke up with her boyfriend.

But can I confess something?

I’m in love with my best friend, and I have been for twenty years.

This romantic road trip to her friend’s destination wedding is the perfect opportunity to make her see me as more than her loyal Labrador and more like the type of lover she swoons over in those romantic suspense books she reads.


Hadley
I thought I’d found the one, then he cheated. So now I’m stuck going to a southern wedding ALONE, which is taboo in my culture.

Unless…

I ask my best friend, whom I’m very much attracted to but definitely do not deserve, to tag along with me. I mean, he’s never said no to being my stand-in date before.

The problem? I planned this road trip to Virginia for a couple, which means one-bedroom hotels, romantic cabins, and don’t even get me started on the activities.

Oh heavens, I’m toast.

The Designated Friend is a best friends to lovers road trip sweet romantic comedy filled with faith, humor, and plenty of sizzle without the spice.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Clean Romance, Friends To Lovers, Rom Com, Christian Fiction, Christian

317 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 20, 2022

About the author

Drew Taylor writes modern closed-door chick-lit romance stories from a Biblical worldview. She believes faith-based romance can be full of heart, humor, healing, and hope while showcasing the reality of our fallen human condition. Her redemptive and engaging stories point to the One who embodies true love–Jesus Christ.

Drew lives in the great state of Mississippi where she teaches high school English. When not teaching or writing, she enjoys reading, baking, researching conspiracy theories, and spending quality time with the people who mean the most to her.

Follow Drew:

Instagram: @authordrewtaylor
Facebook: Drew Taylor, Author
TikTok: @drewtaylorwrites
Pinterest: @authordrewtaylor
YouTube: @authordrewtaylor

Reviews

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5 stars

I adored Drew Taylor's The Politics of Christmas, so I was super excited to read her next book, and I really enjoyed it! I love a good road trip story (though I don't read nearly enough of them), and add to that a friends-to-lovers romance (aka my favorite trope), it's a recipe for a fantastically fun time for me.

I loved Braxton and Hadley, both as separate characters and together. Both were hilarious, relatable, and I wanted both to be happy through the whole story. I liked that the romantic love they had for one another wasn't unrequited, as is often found in a friends-to-lovers story.

There were so many moments that had me laughing out loud, which is a great sign for any rom-com. I just love Drew Taylor's writing style, it's so cozy but so funny. I'm definitely looking forward to more adventures with the side characters!

Now I will say, there were a couple scenes that were closer to the "steamy" side than I particularly like (though nothing was explicit). There are mentions of sexual assault, drug abuse, and the trauma that the characters have gone through. None of it went too far, but it's worth mentioning.

Overall, I had a wonderful time reading this. I think I still prefer TPOC, but I'm so excited to see what the author has in store next! 4.5 stars from me!

**I received a copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**

[Latisha Sexton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of reading this book as it was being written and let me tell you...it is AMAZING.

Drew's way with words and emotions will have you laughing one minute, crying the next, and wiping your melted self off the floor after the swoony kisses and sweet gestures.

This entire book gives you ALL the feels.

I adored Brax and his dedication to Hadley. And Hadley...oh, I just wanted to wrap her in a big ol' hug and let her know that it was okay. She has a past full of regrets and hurts and I love seeing her growth throughout the story. And Brax is the steadfast support she needs as she faces these things head-on.

The faith elements in this book were so well-done and I appreciated how they were handled. Braxton is a Christian. Hadley isn't. And it's handled in a different way than I've ever seen done and I loved it.

If you like:

👫Best Friends to 👩‍❤️‍👨 Lovers
😏Forced Proximity
🚘Road Trip
😉Flirty Banter
🙏🏻Faith elements
🤫Secrets
💋Swoony kisses

Then you will LOVE this book!

♥️Thanks so much to the author for letting me take an early look at this beautiful story!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow! I love romcoms, always have. And this month I decided to read a bunch of them as I’m outline ideas for one of my own.
•
This one hit me right where I needed it too. Drew has such a way of grasping the natural humor in life without making it cliche or cringy. Hadley as. Braxton felt like best friends—like people I’d want to be friends with in real life! The dialogue and thought processes were also incredibly natural (that’s a big make or break for me with romcoms!)
•
I also love that Drew’s stories are an extension of her faith. They’re not “Christian romcoms” but they have characters that hold onto their faith and it’s woven in the threads of the story without being preachy.
•
Overall, a solid five star romance! Perfect for fans of Emma St. Claire and Cindy Steel, The Designated Friend is full of swoony moments that leave a smile on your face! I cannot wait for more romcoms from Drew Taylor and she’s definitely an auto buy author from me!

[Kate Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rock, paper, scissors has never been cuter. 🥺

I gobbled this book up as fast as I could and have no regrets. These two... They're so cute, so chemistry-filled, and so adoring of each other. 💗 My favorite scenes were the sick one (I'm a sucker for this trope) and the Nerf battle (iykyk). All the southern stuff was so charming and cute too. I highly enjoyed the realistic faith arc and the theme of human love being a close reflection of God's love.

I also highly appreciated the author's note at the beginning getting me in the right frame of mind to read this. That said, there were a couple instances of attraction that went beyond what I'm comfortable reading, but not enough to kill my enjoyment of this book. ;)

The last thing I'll say is I loved how naturally tough issues were handled in this book. They were never there just to be an aesthetic, but instead truly affected the characters' lives making them more real and relatable. I was seriously relating to Hadley at some points.

I'm not going to leave a CW but instead recommend this book to adults only and suggest you read the author's note for more insight into the story.

Looking forward to the rest of the series! 💗

[Camille Mosemann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish every Christian rom-com would be as faith filled as this one was! Braxton was exactly the kind of male lead I’d like to see more of in books!

Every time he prayed for Hadley, my heart warmed so much! I felt like maybe he shouldn’t have pursued her so hard while she still wasn’t a Christian, but at the same time he was able to show Hadley God’s love through his own so it balanced out. My heart went out to Hadley with her family and upbringing and I loved her faith journey.

While the romance was a little more than I usually read, the way it was handled and addressed, especially by Braxton, was so honorable and wholesome!

[Maven_Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Designated Friend by Drew Taylor is a sweet, faith‑tinged contemporary romance about Braxton and Hadley, lifelong best friends who embark on a road trip to a destination wedding after Hadley’s relationship falls apart, and in the close quarters of one‑room cabins, ski runs, and quirky roadside adventures they discover that the quiet devotion Braxton has felt for Hadley for twenty years might finally be more than just friendship. It is a slow‑burn, friends to lovers romantic comedy with plenty of heart, humor, and emotional depth.

I fell into this story with a huge smile because Drew Taylor’s way of writing Braxton and Hadley felt like sitting in the passenger seat of a road trip with your best pals, laughing at inside jokes and sharing whispered feelings under a sky full of possibility. Hadley’s resilience after heartbreak, and her gentle but complicated grappling with worth and trust, touched me in a very human way, while Braxton’s steady faith and unfailing care added a layer of warmth that made his long‑hidden love feel inevitable and heartfelt.

I especially loved the way the narrative balanced light, laugh‑out‑loud moments (think Nerf gun battles, country music singalongs, and heartfelt conversations in motel lobbies) with the quieter emotional beats when Hadley wrestles with her past and Braxton prays for both of them, blending spiritual honesty with genuine romantic tension.

The setting of their journey felt alive and a bit magical, from autumn festivities to snowy slopes, and I found myself cheering for their growth as individuals and as a couple. Though some moments touch on larger issues like past trauma and faith differences, they are handled with respect and care that deepened my appreciation for their bond.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This book made my heart feel full, with its authentic characters, warm friendships, and gentle exploration of love and faith. If you adore cozy friends to lovers stories with soul, laughter, and emotional resonance, this will be a joy to read.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drew Taylor did it again y'all!!

I adored Drew's debut, The Politics of Christmas, but I loved this one even more! Braxton and Hadley have been best friends for 20 years, but she's always kept him in the friend-zone. After the most rcenet of her many relationships ends terribly, she enlists Braxton to take the spot of her ex on a road trip to her friends wedding. Braxton has always been in love with Hadley, so he happily agrees, deciding this will be the moment he finally tells her how he feels and asks her to be with him.

This was such a good balance of laugh out loud moments, swoony yet clean scenes, and hard hitting, realistic issues. The way faith was presented was so well done, as one of the couple is a devout Christian and the other is agnostic at best. I loved how this was handled by both of the characters in a way that made them seem true to themselves and not changing for each other. Watching Hadley deal with her traumatic childhood and past events felt so real, to the point that I wanted to give her a hug many times. I've never truly understood calling someone a cinnamon roll hero until Braxton, who reflected unconditional love throughout the story.

I can't wait to read what's next from Drew and everything after!!

[Kimberly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Usually I love a good clean, sometimes cheesy romcom to pull me out of a reading slump. (No judging 👀) For an author who claims she’s trying to “bridge the gap” between Christian and secular I think she missed it. While I can appreciate her sentiment she crossed the line when she constantly talks about the characters lusting after each other and don’t get me started on the Christian character knowing he shouldn’t be unequally yoked and just “trusting that the Lord will work it out” 🥴 It’s disappointing because the story line could have made a cute story! Do not recommend! 👎👎

[Jes Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good rom-com, the cover is so cute, and friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes. And this book definitely lives up to all expectations!

Braxton and Hadley are obviously meant to be. Everyone can see that, even Braxton. But there are plenty of obstacles between them. Now they're both single at the same time, though, and she needs him to accompany her on a romantic road trip to a wedding after her boyfriend cheated on her.

Braxton is ready to show that he can be the last boyfriend she ever needs, but Hadley is sure she doesn't deserve his love even though he's always been there for her because there's parts of her life he doesn't know yet.

Oh, and Braxton is a Christian, but Hadley isn't. But I think that's a lot bigger deal to Hadley than to Braxton, who was determined to pursue his soulmate no matter the cost his soul knew would be required.

Despite these things threatening to tear them apart, the characters' shared bond, pasts, and chemistry kept them together. But will their love for each other be enough to overcome their personal traumas, temptations, and tribulations? It's well worth the read to find out!

Note to more sensitive readers: the heroine was assaulted in the worst possible way in her past and though nothing is elaborated on in detail, it is, of course, terrifying.

I received a copy of this book from the author. I was not required to post a favorable review and the opinions are my own.

Review first posted on my blog: https://agencyofbooksandspies.blogspo...

[Millie Shepherd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been hearing so many good things about The Designated Friend by Drew Taylor since its release, and I’ve just been waiting for an opportunity to get it. And let me tell you, I’m sure glad I did!

Braxton and Hadley were adorable! Their flirting was top notch, and I feel like I nearly grinned throughout the whole book.

The fact that there’s a line dancing scene and country music mentioned more than once made me so happy! Oh and the fact that they watched Sweet Home Alabama—yeah, I’m a lifelong fan of Drew Taylor now.

Hadley and Braxton were very relatable and real characters! I love the fact that they weren’t the typical cookie cutter characters, and to be honest, at times they reminded me of Jack and Bella in my debut novel, Before It's Too Late.

This book was sweet, funny, and for sure going to be a reread! I can’t wait to read Drew Taylor’s other books!

[Tricia Anson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun friends to lovers romance! Sweet and swoony with lots of laughs and good depth. I love Braxton and his family and the unique perspective of being a Pastor’s son. I love Hadley and her friends. I really appreciated Hadley’s struggle yet respect for faith, and that it felt realistic.

Things I Loved:
-Rock, Paper, Scissors
-Road trip!
-Trashcan incident
-Crazy sheep lady
-Boyfriend without Benefits song
-Overheard prayers ♥️
-Sweet Home Alabama references
-Hunks of Hallmark
-“You didn’t do it right.” 😍
-Nerf
-Such a sweet HEA

I loved this story and all the great supporting characters. I am really looking forward to more from this sweet small town in Mississippi!


Trigger warning for a parent struggling with addiction, past sexual assault (brief flash backs, nothing graphic but PTSD triggered), and some processing of losing loved ones.

[Hailey Brzoska · Rating 4 out of 5]

“After a few moments of scrolling through Netflix, we settle on Sweet Home Alabama and hit play. Braxton and I have been best friends for twenty years, so he is aware of my affinity for this movie. What he doesn’t know is why I love it so much…I always hoped it would be my story. With Braxton. Without the enemies part. Childhood best friends who knew from a young age that they would marry each other.”

Did somebody say Sweet Home Alabama? ‘Cause sign me up! SHA has and always will be one of my favorite movies. And I LOVED that not only was this movie mentioned and watched in this book, but we got our own SHA theme of young love with this story between Hadley and Braxton too.

Hadley was the perfect representation of southern charm and I loved her. She’s quirky, adorable and an independent young woman. And Braxton is the perfect complement to her. He’s strong, serious, also a little quirky, protective and determined to win over his best friend’s heart.

Their road trip to love was intimate, sweet, fun, romantic and super sweet. These two belong to be held forever in a snow globe, frozen in time in those perfect moments, but also protected from the cruel outside world.

Their relationship is delicate and fragile, just like each of their hearts after the pain and suffering they have endured in life. But both of them hold so much hope and love inside of them still that it was a really cute story to read and be immersed into.

It wasn’t only about loving your best friend and coming to terms with that future, with that risk to see if they love you back. But it was about their journey of healing from their pasts and learning to let go and let God take over.

I would highly recommend for those who like sweet and clean romances with faith elements twisted in 💛

Read if you like:
🚙Friends to lovers
🚙Road trips
🚙Forced proximity
🚙Overcoming trauma
🚙Christian faith
🚙Drug/alcohol awareness
🚙TikTok Kiss Challenge
🚙Nerf gun fights
🚙Rock, Paper, Scissors
🚙Country music

[Susannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75⭐️

I enjoyed this when I started it, and it slowly started going downhill.

Surprisingly, I didn’t love how the author showcased Christianity here. You have to fill it with Jesus or brush on it thoroughly. There was a weird mix in between that just didn’t come across well.

The fact that the man was already in His walk with Jesus and the woman wasn’t, but he was still pursuing her, didn’t sit right with me. That just bugged me because there was no talk of him struggling to choose Him or her.

The main characters got together around the 60% mark and fell apart afterward. The pacing from there on was incredibly fast and unbelievable. Then, there is an epilogue wrap-up where everything ends happily ever after. I usually love an HEA…

However, if you’re choosing to write a story that depicts a real Christian walk, then it needs to end realistically, too.

I was excited about this series, and I’m not sure if I’ll pick up any more from this author 😬

[Kaitlyn Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's so good even my husband is reading it twice. Drew is such a great author. The authenticity of her characters is what draws you in.

[B.M. Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real is the word that comes to mind if I had to summarize this book up with one word. Real characters with real problems, where everything is pointed back to God.

If you enjoy a book that deals with the nitty gritty and doesn't sugar coat the struggles we face as mankind dealing with a sin nature, this is your book! I have heard the author call this her passion project, and you can tell. There is so much heart in this book, and while it is a rom-com, it isn't the cheesy, too silly kind. This one has life lessons, faith elements, and references to God woven all throughout that make it a satisfying read. Of course, I still got some good laughs from it as well.

The whole rock, paper, scissors theme cracked me up, and it suited the characters so well. Hadley and Braxton were fun with adventurous and spontaneous streaks. I never knew what to expect from them. Haha!

I liked the steady, strong hero of Braxton. He was so good for Hadley, especially with his sure faith in God, as Hadley struggles with the belief there can be a real God with all she's been through.

The redemption arc was a gentle, slowly progressive one that flows through the whole story that adds to the beauty. Braxton's prayers for Hadley, his singing worship songs to her, his patience and gentle heart toward her just melted my own. It was exactly what Hadley needed, and I'm so glad she was able to have this romantic road trip with him and not Cheater Daniel ;) iykyk

Hadley, the poor woman, has been through so much with a rough upbringing and a traumatic senior year of high school experience that leaves her feeling ruined and not worthy of Braxton's love. 😭 Oh, but slowly her eyes are open to God's true love and her heart softens, and...ah, I don't want to spoil anything.

I really enjoyed this story. There are a few "romance" parts I started to wonder how far the author would take it, but she never went beyond the bounds of propriety that would make me uncomfortable. She kept the pages squeaky clean, even when mentioning Hadley's past experience.

I received an ARC and all opinions are my own.

[Courtney | Bookish Beach Babe · Rating 4 out of 5]

read if you love:
🧳best friends to more
🧳road trips
🧳he’s always loved her
🧳forced proximity
🧳overcoming trauma
🧳she cares for him when he’s sick
🧳redemption arc

“𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒊𝒔 𝑩𝒓𝒂𝒙𝒕𝒐𝒏’𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆. 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚? 𝑻𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕? 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆.”

road trip with your bestest friend and realizing you’re in love? sign me up! braxton and hadley were such a sweet combo. i loved their playful banter and their games.

while this story was fun, it also had its heavy hitting moments. braxton was dealing with the grief of losing his mother to cancer. and hadley, poor hadley. she has never known who her father is and she grew up with a drug addict/alcoholic mother. add in a traumatic experience in college and you can just feel how hadley has been put through the ringer. i appreciated how real she was and how she stayed true to herself. braxton was the perfect hero to balance her out and to help her see her true worth. he was just the sweetest cinnamon roll and didn’t freeze hadley in her past.

i loved the support of lucy and lorelei, hadley’s girl besties! the road trip was a character in itself, full of fun times like oktoberfest, honky dancing, skiing and snowboarding, and a hot tub. i also enjoyed the various characters that were introduced. i have a feeling we’ll be seeing more of them in future stories. i’m talking about you, prince finley!

thanks to the author for an advanced copy. my thoughts are my own.

[Micah (micahs.bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The designated friend. That’s all I’ve ever been to Hadley, and now I have to figure out how to change that label. Operation Make Hadley Dawson Weak in the Knees is in full swing.”

This was a fun romcom with everything you’d expect from the genre, but also dealing with some heavier topics and with a character that has a Christian viewpoint. I enjoyed the pop culture references and the current feel of the book. I always love when characters take a good road trip together, and this was a really fun setting for most of the book to take place.

Hadley and Braxton had such a fun friendship with their own special things like playing rock, paper, scissors to settle a decision. Their flirting and teasing was so cute. They knew each other so well and helped each other accordingly.

My daughter was watching Frozen 2 while I was finishing this book and the moment when Kristoff tells Anna, “My love is not fragile”, I felt like it could have been Braxton saying that exact thing to Hadley. He loved her even with all the things he knew about her past and her family. He had a great grand gesture and even though the story some really hard topics, there was a good message in the end and it resolved beautifully.

TW: Past sexual assault- nothing on the page or graphic, but it is mentioned a few times and PTSD is triggered. Parent struggling with drug/alcohol abuse.

Thank you to the author for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

[Morgan Giesbrecht · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

This best-friends-to-lovers road trip adventure is full of so many sweet, swoony, hilarious, and heart-string tugging moments!

In addition to loving all the adorable interactions between Hadley and Braxton, my heart broke for these characters. For Hadley with the pain and trauma of her past and the lies she believed about herself. For Braxton with his loss and thinking he’s a disappointment to his father. It brought a beautiful depth to the story.

I was curious about how the Christian/non-Christian dating aspect would play out, and while Hadley and Braxton did jumpstart their romantic relationship before Hadley became a Christian, I did appreciate how things were handled in the end. Particularly in how Braxton’s faith was written, his praying for Hadley, and knowing that he wasn’t her saviour—only Jesus could be that.

Also, I have to mention how much I loved Lorelai and Lucy’s friendship with Hadley. Lorelai is a girl after my own heart, and I want her story! 😍

(And the inclusion of one of my favourite Agatha Christie novels was perfection!)

A sweet autumn-vibe romance!


*I received an ARC copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Chloe Hey · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE DESIGNATED FRIEND by @authordrewtaylor on ig!
(I love this book)
🛻
When Hadley suddenly is faced with going to a wedding with no date, she turns to her best friend, and he agrees to go with her. They both have to come to terms with the fact that they both like each other.
(Have I told you I love this book?)
🛻
Even having beta read this, picking up my ARC completely blew me away again and I laughed so many times, cried a bit, & smiled frequently reading this book. Each POV is genuine and loveable. And this shows the blessings of community and friends as well as providing a sweet, sometimes awkward, sometimes serious, yet also very fun relationship between Hadley and Braxton.
🛻
Tropes I loved:
-friends to lovers
-forced proximity

[Kassie Cox · Rating 2 out of 5]

Still on my hunt for good clean romcoms. While this one had the fun hallmarky feel it still wasn’t squeaky clean.
I found it weird that the main male character claimed to be a Christian yet some of the things he did/said did not align with someone who would be a Christian.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Review coming soon!

[Gila · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

One thing I love most is seeing an author grow in their craft.

[Lindsay Rankin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is my favorite kind of romcom! Filled with hilarious moments, banter, romantic tension, and amazing character development, I completely fell for Hadley and Braxton, and I was sad when I finished reading their story. I’m also excited though, because there are several side characters who I’m hoping will get a story!

This is a friends to more, road trip story, which was so fun! There are solid reasons for why they didn’t pursue a relationship sooner, and I loved their friendship and how well they knew each other. The road trip aspect was great as they traveled to different places and had various experiences. There is always something happening, and it was a lot of fun to follow along with the characters!

The character development is beautifully done in this book. Hadley has a complicated, hard past, and she had to work to overcome past trauma throughout the story. She is compassionately and beautifully written about, and I loved her and was cheering her on throughout the story. And Braxton is a wonderful hero! The way he supports Hadley and prays for her brought tears to my eyes several times. I appreciated how he also had to work to overcome some things; each character felt so alive to me, and I loved reading about them!

This isn’t a work of Christian fiction, but Braxton is a Christian and his faith is beautifully portrayed throughout the story. I loved that aspect of this book, and I thought it was perfect how it all played out.

5/5 stars!

Content:
Mild innuendo, brief mentions of past relationships

TW: brief mentions of a past assault, mentions of drug and alcohol abuse from side characters

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Alex’s Annotations · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

I have received an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honesty review. Thank you Drew Taylor for the eARC.

I am just going to start right out saying this - this book was well written and very cute. However, some aspects were just not for me. Does that make the book bad? Not at all! It just wasn’t my style. The book is very centered around Christianity. I do not consider myself to be religious, so that just wasn’t something I was into and it took away a little bit for me. But for anyone reading this book who IS a christian, I’m sure that would make it even better for you!

Be sure to read the trigger warnings. There are mention of rape, sexual assault, and substance abuse.

I thought this book was so cute. The relationship in general was super adorable and I thought both of the characters were like able. I loved the main girl. She just felt very real and like someone I could relate to.

However, I wasn’t the hugest fan of their relationship at certain times. It almost felt like the MMC was trying to fix the FMC sometimes because of her trauma and her not being the perfect “christian.” I know he loved her the whole time, but I got those vibes sometimes, but not too too often.

I also think the romance moved a little fast. They got together and said I love you pretty early on in the novel, so the end of it just felt a little slow for me.

Overall, I thought this book was super cute and adorable. It did have a couple things that maybe weren’t my favorite, but it didn’t take away much from the story at all! I would definitely recommend, especially if you’re Christian and/or love a good friends to lovers.

[Manee Contreras · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romance level: kissing🔥.

This book was good. I loved so many things from it.

First, I love their friendship and the banter. The chemistry was on point🔥. I love how protective Brax was.

The road trip was the best! My fav scenes were:
🎿 Skiing
🎢 Amusement park
🍿Movie night

I loved his relationship w/God. He prayed for his life, decisions & for her. It was precious how he respected her. She was not a Christian but respected his beliefs & God.

There was one small thing. As part of the plot, she felt undeserving of happiness due to her past mistakes. It all pointed out to a major character development where she would let go of her fears & selfishness. That she was gonna deal w/her trauma & all the misconceptions. But I felt I didn't quite get that. Hadley glossed her situations. When the major problem hit, in an instant everything appeared to work out. I felt I missed how it happened. I was waiting to see how she got closer to God & talk deeply about everything that went on. To solve in detail what happened w/Brax.

Don't get me wrong. I liked the scene involving the NERFs & the epilogue. The glimpse that it worked out. I just think the last scenes happened a little too fast. I was waiting for more of her process & not knowing how it got solved. But that's me.

Still, their relationship was cute. I can't wait to read what Drew has next.

⚠️TW: death of a parent; mention of previous SA; substance abuse.

🍁
* I was kindly gifted an ARC from the author. This doesn't influence in any form my review/opinion of the book*

[S.F. Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Designated Friend is a perfect fit for your own road trip as long as the other passengers don’t mind squeals, kicking your feet from cuteness, and tearing up from the sweetness of Braxton and Hadley. This is my second novel from Drew Taylor and it’s my favorite! I had such a fun time with this book and I laughed, nearly cried, and had to put the book down at times to breathe. Such a sweet romcom. I loved how Hadley had to overcome her past and learn to know that while she can be fulfilled by a man she'll never be truly happy or thankful without God. The growth between the two characters was really great and I'm learning that friends to lovers might be one of my favorite tropes. I laughed, cried, and squealed with joy at the flirting, banter, and ultimate declaration of love between Hadley and Braxton. I had such a fun time reading this one. It's definitely my favorite of Drew Taylor's novels. Five stars all the way!

[Jennie Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read with plenty of heart! If you like rom coms but want a little depth in the characters and their journey in faith, then this book is for you.

I really appreciated that the heroine, Hadley, was a true "rom com heroine" full of sass and gumption...but she also has a past she's ashamed of. Usually, redemption stories are reserved for more serious Christian fiction, and it was refreshing to see the topic handled in a book with a lighter touch.

There were lots of crazy antics such as rock, paper, scissors, Nerf guns, and roller coaster rides, that Braxton and Hadley got up to in this wild ride (literally!) of a book, as well as plenty of non-explicit but still fairly flirty innuendos (so if you're not a regular rom com reader, consider yourself warned!)

Also...there were so many fun characters making appearances in this one that I'm hoping will all get their own books!

[Paula Lopes]

DNF - hence no rating

Between the 🚩 and the ✝️ i just couldn’t…
It’s just not my thing and it started to be a struggle to relate and keep reading.
When the MMC starts wanting to “convert” her and then the “atheist” starts thinking “maybe i do need to find jesus” it was too much.
I was raised catholic, but the imposition of religion is not something i condone. It should have been a story of how his beliefs and hers, in terms of religion, didn’t keep them from loving each other (which didn’t for their whole lives until they start seeing each other in a different way. Or accepting that they do). I was sad because at first i liked both characters…

[Rosalynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Braxton and Hadley were hilariously perfect. They have been friends since elementary school and loved eachother quietly. The road trip she asks him to come along is filled with laughs, secret glances and enough heat to warm a room in winter. Drew perfectly writes about God where it's enough to get you to pay attention but not enough so that it's overwhelming and pushy. The ending was perfect and I'd love to have a Nerf fight like that.
Thank You Drew Taylor for the review copy of this book.

[Katie Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet romance!! Really cared for and connected with the characters. Hadley and Braxton were so much fun!