I did not finish Just Friends, and will not be writing a review. The writing was just not great for me, and I did not want to continue pushing through it. Thanks so much to the publisher for this opprtunity.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I love nothing better than a good teen/ya contemporary novel and hoped that this would feel my need. It was a decent read, but nothing extraordinary or special as I had hoped.

“If life were a teen movie, then this would’ve been just another Tuesday.” (chapter 1)

Just Friends was such a fun read. I got sucked in pretty easily and grasped onto every lie as it weaved into the story of Jenny and Chance. The cool thing about this scenario is that it takes two COMPLETELY different social circles, and brings them together through a string of made up stories about a friendship years old instead of hours. It was captivating and each story left me wondering what the next would be.

I’ve seen some commentary on how quickly Jenny and Chance become friends, especially seeing as how different they are. They’ve known about each other’s existence for years, but the first time they’re thrown together for an assignment they decide to be best friends. In high school (and even some in college, honestly), I definitely had moments where one conversation with someone would start with us being strangers and end with us deciding to be great friends. Let’s be real, most people crave a connection with people, why would you not take advantage of one? I didn’t find the whirlwind beginning of Jenny and Chance’s friendship to be unbelievable in the least, but fun and pretty accurate. Plus, the lies they told to make others believe in their fake past is definitely something I did in high school. Maybe that’s why I felt so connected.

One of my favorite themes that Pitcock explores in this story is the types of relationships that make us grow as a person. Through Jenny and Chance’s friendship, Jenny learns to live her life in the world outside her books, and Chance learns the value of being a friend and having someone who will be one to him. There are definitely some annoying, crappy characters that frequent high school aged life, but I was very pleased with the loyal friendships that stood out and stayed grounded. For example, Kelsey, Jenny’s “first” best friend, is such a good and supportive friend to her, even when Jenny chases a more exciting life. She provides pretty insightful feedback to both Jenny and Chance, not afraid to say it how it is, but she also was crazy loyal and kind. I got some serious Barb vibes? (Where are my Stranger Things fans at?) Loyalty was the artery to this whole book, which is probably why I enjoyed it so much. Sure people screwed up and trusted the wrong people, sure some of the characters have hard family lives or pasts, sure gossip and rumors are a bitch, but through it all, Jenny and Chance learned who to cling to in order to make it through the storms, and they learned how to be there for the other person during their own storm.

Pitcock’s writing was engaging and she was able to really capture the minds of high school students. The plot is so fun and easy to invest in, and the characters are full and consistently growing. I definitely feel like it was an easy and quick read, which is common with YA contemporary romances, but the substance was there and it was good.

Just Friends by Tiffany Pitcock looked pretty promising. I mean, I am not above a fun, contemporary YA romance book. In fact, those are kind of my favorite when I am in moments of stress and feeling overwhelmed. Just Friends contains the tropes that I am here for. However, it just didn’t click with me in the way that say, Anna And The French Kiss or My Life Next Door did.

Tiffany Pitcock’s Just Friends follows high school juniors Chance and Jenny. The two are paired up in a communications class for this exercise where they talk about what they did during the summer. The two spin a story of being best friends since childhood. The lie kind of spins out of control and everyone at school begins believing that they grew up best friends. This leads to the two developing a strong friendship between them which both long for to become more but do not exactly communicate that to each other.

Jenny is on her way to becoming valedictorian. She is obsessed with getting A’s. However, she’s also got a flair for the adventurous and tries to always take the road less traveled which drives her actions throughout the book. She lives with her mother, younger brother Jack, and younger sister Jessa. She has a friend named Kelsey. However, Jenny has this tendency to keep people at arm’s length and is quite reserved. Still, Chance might just be the key to unlocking her reserved nature.

Chance kind of has a reputation. I mean, he is known for making his rounds through the ladies in school. He’s never with the same girl twice. Despite sort of a freewheeling romantic life, he has a pretty heavy home life. His parents are always fighting and sometimes they put him in the middle. His other brother Levi just left for college and never came back. So, hanging out with Jenny gives him a sense of normalcy and makes him feel less lonely. Plus the two have this very easy banter around each other. I will say Just Friends does a good job with the chemistry.

Much like Jenny keeps people at arms length throughout the book, I felt as a reader as though I was kept at arm’s length distance from enjoying Just Friends. I would say that I just felt there was something lacking. We see over and over again that Chance and Jenny have these stereotypes and sure both eventually learn. Still, I didn’t feel like they were very deep characters. It just didn’t feel as polished or as vivid as other contemporary YA romance books I have read. However, I did read this mostly fast. It just never kept me engaged or gave me that feeling that I HAD to drop everything else and read it.

This book is about two students who are paired together for an assignment. They seem to be total opposites, but they decide to pull off a charade of being best friends. As expected it becomes more and they are left needing to decide how to move forward.

The back stories on each character were interesting and I really enjoyed how they actually became friends while pretending that they were.

Eh, nothing new here. I was hoping for something a little more original (as the blurb promised) but instead got a fluffy story that felt stale.

Adorable! While this wasn't anything groundbreaking or unpredictable, it was a sweet little YA contemporary. Definitely would recommend to my tweens/teens.

I enthusiastically recommend this YA Romance to everyone. This captured the mind set of teenagers in high school in just the right way. The story is very entertaining and such a great idea. Just the thought of these two fooling the whole school by pretending to have know each other forever is a fantastic start. As the story goes on they do delve into a few deeper and realistic ideals, but not in a bad way to scare anyone off from wanting their young teens to read this. Warning though, there is underage drinking so if you don't want someone to read about that then this might need to be skipped for now. Jenny and Chance stole my heart. Loved this story.

Just Friends was one of my most anticipated books for this year. Although I was terrified at the first 5% and thought it wouldn’t meet my expectations but surprisingly in the end it did. I ended up falling in love with this book and Chance and Jenny’s story.

When a class assignment brings Chance and Jenny together, they are both surprised how they are able to create a fake story about both of them in minutes to ace that class. And with the fake story starts their fake friendship which doesn’t take much time to turn into something more. But Chance doesn’t do relationships and Jenny is altogether new to these growing feelings. When fake starts to turn real, what will they do?

The story starts off with Chance and Jenny paired off in a class assignment where they quickly take a different turn and surprisingly their fake story comes out flawlessly. The plot although slightly clichéd was definitely enjoyable. Though I have to admit I did not quite enjoy the first 5-10% of the story because I didn’t like how their friendship started with a fake past when in reality that was the first day they actually talked to each other. But soon enough I found myself falling in love with their story. Their fake friendship slowly turns into a real and strong one which I adored so much. It was clear how much they cared for each other. But the thing that felt off was how everybody believed their fake story so easily, I mean those two characters interact all of a sudden and they tell everybody they have been bffs for life and nobody even bats an eyelash, it was damn unrealistic.

Anyway, both Chance and Jenny were genuine characters but not devoid of flaws. I seriously loooved Chance so freaking much. He went through a lot at home, his parents were constantly fighting and his big brother left him in their mercy. But he didn’t show that part of his life to anyone except Jenny. I loved how much he trusted her to show her that vulnerable part of his life and I loved how Jenny welcomed him to hers. I loved how their story started off as best friends before that feeling turned into something much more. I loved their chemistry together and I sooo wish they would have confessed their actually feelings instead of going round and round about it. Some parts were seriously hilarious and I enjoyed it so much!

But there were a few things I didn’t like about Jenny, she was a great character but sometimes her decision were simply too bad. Somewhere deep down in her heart she knew having a relationship with Drake wasn’t something she wanted but she still went for it when she heard Chance didn’t do relationships. I especially hated the moment when she realised she was in love Chance but instead of talking it out with him, she decided to do the deed the very next moment with Drake (who I didn’t like for a single moment) to get over it. I mean seriously?!! And another thing was how she completely forgot about her actual best friend, Kelsey who had been there for her for years. Kelsey knew how much reserved Jenny was and although she didn’t mind much, I hated the fact that she stopped hanging out with her since Drake and Chance stepped into her life. I seriously loved Kelsey, she was such a great friend and defended Jenny when the whole thing blew up, I seriously need a book about her!

Overall, Just Friends was a great read. The plot was executed neatly and although there were ups and downs in the story, I fell in love with it. I loved Chance and Jenny together so much. But the ending felt rushed, another chapter or an epilogue would definitely had been a great addition. Nonetheless, the writing was smooth and easy to read and the pace was even throughout the whole book. I am definitely looking forward to reading more by this author.

Recommend it?

Yes.

Oh man, this one gave me all the feels! I loved it from the first page to the very last. It felt like a John Hughes film! I loved all the characters and the story. It was perfect.

This book was cute - it was light, fun, romantic and just what the doctor ordered. I've been reading a lot of heavy and dark books recently, and mainly fantasy novels, so I was feeling a strong desire to read some light romantic YA, and this did the trick. There was nothing particularly groundbreaking or new with this novel, it did follow the usual plot points, but that didn't matter too much for me, because I enjoyed the journey of Jenny and Chase - they were both flawed and both had their things - and I think if you're after a cute little book with plenty of swoon worthy moments then this is a nice, easy read!

This plot was predictable and thin, characters not likeable. I could not finish this book.

I wasn't super fond of this one. The characters and plot were good, but there was something missing to make this a memorable read.

A very cute and fun back to school read. A pick for anyone who ever fallen in love with a friend or even found a friend in someone they least expected. Charming!

Just Friends was a mixed bag for me. At times it was sweet and funny and charming. At other times I couldn't look past the plot holes or the dialogue that felt as if it were straight out of the 1950's. I'm a sucker for a good YA contemporary but this one was too inconsistent to really work for me.

Jenny and Chance's meet-cute while being paired up for a class assignment was cute but also not believable. In a school where it seemed that everyone had grown up together and known each other for years, how was it that everyone bought Chance and Jenny's made-up story about being best friends? Despite never being seen together, not knowing each other's friends... everyone just believes their made-up-on-the-spot tale of years of shared history.

I'm a stickler for dialogue. It has to be believable. It has to flow and ring true. And that was an issue here. Case in point: Chance described his car as "a lovely black 1999 Dodge Charger." What teenage boy describes his car as lovely?? Has any teenage boy used the word lovely since... oh, 1955? There were many times that Jenny and Chance would use a word or phrase that felt so clunky and out of place that I was instantly pulled out of the story.

There was a distinct lack of parental involvement, too. In Chance's case it was explained away with a generally crappy home life. But Jenny's mother was a hard working, hands-on mom at the beginning of the book. She seemed to be involved in her kid's lives and the family seemed to be a strong unit. However, as soon and Jenny and Chance became instant best friends and spent all their time together, Mom suddenly disappeared. There were several instances of Jenny staying out all night (as in not returning home until the next morning) but there was never any mention of calling home or her mother even being aware she didn't come home all night. It was way too convenient and felt too unrealistic.

But there were highlights, too. Chance and Jenny's friendship, while seemingly developed overnight, felt genuine and they truly became a strong support system for one another. Chance felt able to share a measure of the truth about his home life with Jenny that he hadn't shared with anyone else. In turn, Jenny confessed some of her own secrets and fears and trusted Chance with them. The pretend-history that they made up at random times was always sweet and funny and I enjoyed the "memories" they shared. Chance in particular seemed to change over the course of the story as he dealt with his fractured family.

I had high hopes for this debut novel but unfortunately it had too many issues to be a truly satisfying read.

Just Friends, Tiffany Pitcock’s debut novel through Swoon Reads, takes a new spin on the classic friends-to-lovers and good girl meets bad boy tropes.

Jenny, the school nerd, and Chance, the school’s resident playboy, have nothing in common until they are paired for an in-class assignment. They quickly pull together an elaborate past where they grew up next-door to each other and have been best friends ever since. They play off each other so well that everybody believes their lie, which spurs them on to continue their little game. However, as their friendship really does form, it’s hard for them to convince themselves that they are just friends.

Just Friends is written in alternating third-person POV. Most YA contemporary romances are written in first-person POV, so I was thrown off a bit at first while I tried to adjust to the narrative. However, once I got caught up in the story, all hesitations about the writing left.

Even though Jenny and Chance are so different from each other, they compliment each other well and bring out the best sides in each other. At first I hesitated about the fake past they made up (I mean, who doesn’t question a best friend appearing out of nowhere when you’re in the middle of high school and have never interacted with that said best friend before?), but I loved how they actually became best friends from it. Despite all odds, they became each other’s confidants and were there for each other. Their romance formed from the close friendship they had, and it was hard not to root for them to end up together.

Overall, Just Friends is a cute, summer read! If you’re a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope, you will enjoy Chance and Jenny’s story.

Is this a "spot-on depiction of first love" as the blurb claims?  Nope.  Not even close (at least, not based on my experience!) - this IS fiction after all.  However, that's not to say that this is a bad story.  Far from it.

For a debut novel, this is pretty accomplished.  The twist in the bad boy/good girl tale is how it starts - with the quick thinking lie.  And if you accept that premise, then the rest of the story arc just slots right in.

Of course, there is the usual formula to follow, but this doesn't feel like it was "written by numbers" There was sufficient depth to all the characters to breathe life into the story and ground it in a semblance of reality.

Overall, enjoyable. 

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

As a debut novel, it was pretty good. The subjects broached here are real and hard to deal with and I think Pitcock really treated them with respect and care.

The book starts off a little oddly. Immediately, we have a sense of who the characters are and we get a odd game of pretend. It's weird. I can't really see a "good girl" and a "bad boy" doing that together and doing it well. That being said, you immediately see some of the chemistry the characters have with each other. Broaching the subject of "bad boy" and "good girl", I can't say they needed the labels. Chance was kind of a player, but there was nothing really "bad" about him. This definitely wasn't a Katie McGarry sitch where the he's part of a gang or the wrong side of town, he was just hot and girls liked him. Back to their chemistry though, the characters played off each other well, and I felt like their relationship was really natural.

The story itself was good. Labels aside, the characters were pretty down to earth and seeing into their worlds really brought the story to life. My heart actually hurt for some of them, 'cause honestly life sucks, but they dealt with it well enough. To be honest though, a lot of the story and problems the characters had could have easily been solved with this magical thing called communication. It was all just assumptions, overheard conversations, and jealousy, though I guess that's kind of what high school is anyway. I don't know guys, was high school really like this for you guys??

One thing that always drives me bananas is when the protag ditches her best friend for a guy. I get that it was a little different here, but her best friend plays a very peripheral role in this book, and she even states that she never sees Jenny anymore.

After typing all that out, you wouldn't know what's good about that novel, but honestly, there was something in the writing that kept me reading. The chemistry between the characters is great and the banter is funny, and as a whole, this book made me feel for the characters and their experiences. Is it a little cliche, sure. Is it super deep, not really. But I think it's a good book to keep you company because you can't help but smile while reading it.

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing: 3.5/5
World Building: 5/5
Pacing: 5/5
Overall: 4/5
GoodReads Rating: 3.76

4 “Fake Best Friends” Stars

ARC provided by the author

Thank you!!!

Adorable. Abso-freaking-lutely adorable.

I think I first heard of Just Friends last year, and ever since I saw the cover and read the premise, I’ve been dying to get my hands on this book. I’m more than happy to announce it was worth the wait.

Other than enemies to lovers, best friends to lovers is my favorite romance trope ever. Be it in YA, NA or Adult, I’m always intrigued when a book promises that kind of romance. This one was ever more special because it had a twist to it.

Jenny and Chance aren’t the childhood best friends everyone believes them to be. After they’re paired up for a school assignment, they end up making up a story on the spot about how they’ve known each other since they were kids and have been best friends since then. The whole thing requires a little suspension of disbelief because everyone else around them buys the story without question, but it’s handled in such an adorable and cute way that I didn’t mind buying into the story as well.

The thing between Jenny and Chance’s friendship is that it won me over from moment one, even though I knew it was fake. Or maybe because of that. I adored how they made up super fun and brilliant stories about their shared fake past. I ended up going with it because I wanted it to be true so badly. I wanted them to have that past because they needed it. Both Jenny and Chance were going through difficult times in their lives, and that friendship (fake or not) was exactly what they needed to get through tough times. Also, have I already said how adorable the whole thing was?

I was pretty much smiling the entire time I read this. My heart was full and I was swooning hard. That’s exactly what I want when reading YA Contemporary Romance.

Now, I have to say I liked Jenny, but she and I had a few problems here and there. I wasn’t a fan of some of her choices (especially one involving Drake—I mean, none of her choices involving Drake actually pleased me, but there was one in particular that almost made me stop reading).

Now, Chance was a different experience altogether. I LOVED him. Absolutely loved him. His vibe, his heartbreak, the way he cared about Jenny, the way he stepped back when he feared losing her, the way he was still there whenever she needed him. Everything. I simply can’t recall anything about Chance I didn’t like.

Chase and Jenny together were adorable, adorable, adorable, and left me wanting more. That final scene with them making up stories about the future was just too much for my poor heart.

Just Friends gave me more than I expected it to in terms of feelings, and the way it added a spin to one of my favorite tropes only made the whole thing a thousand times better. It was so, so worth the wait.