Saving It is a fun, flirty novel that totally has taken away my heart!

From best friend to a lover? Call me in! That's always what I love to read. To make it even wonderful for me, I love and enjoy Monica Murphy's writing. She has written a story that I know and I am sure to not put the book down.

Eden's friendship with Josh has begun a long time before and they always flirt towards each other and their friends think they actually have a thing but they deny and deny it yet again. Not until, when Josh decided to ask Eden's help to find her a girl for him and that's the beginning of everything. The realization, the love that has been in both heart for the longest time and afraid to make a move to change their status from a friend to a lover.

The characters:

Eden: Well, she's quite stubborn in some other way especially when it comes to what her heart wants and she keeps on denying it. Knowing the love she has for Josh, she still helps him though she knows, she shouldn't help a boy she loves to find other women for him to fling with. Anyhow, Eden's character is likable.

Josh: Though his best friend, Abraham try to make him jealous (of trying to be together with Eden) still he acts like nothing bother him at all. As if like, he is okay with it even though, it hurts him a bit which I feel like want to shake him hard, tell him to listen to his heart! Nonetheless, I still like Josh's character because after long moment waiting for him, he finally makes a move.

My verdict

Monica Murphy's indeed has done an amazing job in writing an adorable story that I'm sure many people loving it. The drama, the love, the friendship is a wonderful combination of in one book.

3 Stars

This book was one of those books that was good but not great. It was missing something for me. I just couldn’t get into the book and found myself wanting to skim so I could get through certain areas.

I usually like a good YA book and this one seemed to fall short. I wasn’t sure what would happen with the synopsis but I was expecting some funny parts and some disastrous dates.

While I love to read stories of best friends to lovers this one was hard for me to get into. With that said please give this book a shot and see what you think about it!!

Once again Monica Murphy brings us into the world of YA/teen/high school drama capturing it and its endless cycle. Dating, cheating, Snapchat and lots of sex talk. Josh and Eden have been best friends forever. They are in their senior year of high school when Josh asks Eden to help him find someone to lose his virginity to.  Eden is stunned by this request but she agrees to help. As Eden starts the process of “choosing a candidate” and giving Josh a makeover her unexpected feelings start to stir….

I’m just friend material. That’s how he sees me. And that’s how I’ve seen him until…what? I’m not even sure what changed. It’s probably all the talk of him looking to have sex with someone else.

Josh is also having unexpected feelings and thoughts about Eden….

You say you want a girlfriend, but dude. You pretty much have one. Her name is Eden.

Is that for real? Like, for real for real? Does Eden think of me in that way? Could she want to go out with me? Make out with me?

Of course you have your angst and drama that go along with all of these feelings and hormones. Josh and Eden are filled with doubts about how the other one feels. But they realize that they really like each other.

She’s my best friend. How awkward would that be? Oh, hey, Eden, let’s do it once and then go back to being friends because I want to lose my virginity and I bet you do too because you’re still a virgin, right?

This was a sweet story with a nice ending. The characters are real and developed. The story flows from page to page. I felt like I was on a couch watching the drama unfold! I loved “The Bachelor” references. As Monica Murphy has stated, she has an endless supply of YA drama thanks to her daughter and her friends. I am sure there will be more to come!

I love me a good freinds-to-lovers story, and I'm a huge fan of Monica Murphy, so this was a must-read for me. Eden and Josh are best friends who acknowledge that they find one another attractive, but are terrified of ruining the friendship with a doomed romance. I get it. I've been there. I found this part of the story to be so relatable. With senior year well underway, Josh doesn't want to graduate a virgin, so he solicits the help of best friend, Eden, to help him find a girl willing to help him out in that department. The more time they spend together talking about sex, though, the more they begin to look at each other as more than just friends. The danger of destroying what they have is still there, but each of them starts to entertain more thoughts about what could be.

Plot
The story was cute and well plotted, but it was also pretty predictable, without any twists at all. There was also a fair amount of repetition that started to bog it down after a while. I understood their reasoning for not acting on their feelings, but it was explained over and over and over again. There was also a spot where Eden fights with Josh and it didn't come across as authentic. The logic, timing, and even the words spoken didn't seem to flow with the story. I think it was explained well in the end, but at the time, I kept thinking it was too forced.

Characters
Eden and Josh are beyond adorable and obviously perfect for each other. Everyone can see it except them. Their two other best friends, Molly and Abraham, are the only other main characters in the story. Everyone else is background noise, but that's okay, because it's about Eden and Josh. Both are believable as average, perfectly normal high school kids without a ton of baggage.

What I Enjoyed About SAVING IT
1. Friends of the Opposite Sex. This is so common with today's teens, I love seeing it being explored more in young adult fiction.

2. Eden. I love her confidence and self-assuredness.

3. Josh. He's a typical guy without being a player.

4. Oversharing. Some of the best moments were Eden's thoughts on Josh's oversharing of personal information. It added a great dynamic to their friendship.

5. The ending. I love how this wrapped up. It was perfect.

Bottom Line
A really sweet young adult contemporary romance from one of my favorite authors.

Rating 4.5

Monica Murphy is fantastic writing young adult romance, and she does it again with Saving It! Its a fun best friend romance that is funny and smart, I loved it.

Josh and Eden have been best friends forever. So when Josh goes to Eden asking for a big favor she, of course, wants to help. That is until Josh tells Eden that he needs her her help finding a girl and lose his virginity before they graduate. The problem is the more time they spend together in the search for the perfect girl he realizes his feelings are changing and maybe his perfect girl has been standing in front of him all this time.

Eden cant believes that Josh game to her with this crazy favor but being best friends she wants to do all she can for Josh. As her feelings start to change and their friends push them together she worries that if they take their relationship to the next level it could ruin their friendship. Can she take the risk?

What I love about Ms. Murphy's writing style is she writes her young characters intelligently but they are still young adults. The balance between their friends and family is done well with a great balance since both are so important to her characters. Told in dual POV's we get to see both sides of Josh and Eden's story which I love. The anxiety they go through along with the stress of school, graduating and all that entails was so well written and authentic and that is a testament to Ms. Murphy's writing. Not only are Josh and Eden great their friends and families are an integral part of the story and definitely help to push the story forward.

Saving It is a great winter time read that will take you back to high school - in a good way.

4.5 ★ – Flirty, Hilarious and Incredibly Swoony

Another cutesy and fun read from Entangled Teen Crush! Seriously, these books are so addictive and I always have the best sugar high from them. And Saving It by Monica Murphy… definitely sweet and incredibly swoony.

This is the first book I’ve read from Monica Murphy and I can honestly say that it won’t be my last. Saving It is adorably fun, flirty, and hilarious. Not to mention Eden and Josh’s friendship is absolutely endearing and 100% shippable! The plot is also interesting and had plenty of lovey dovey aww moments that made me all fuzzy and warm. And the ending… so stinkin’ cute and romantic and just so wonderfully done that you’ll want to replay the moment over and over. Definitely one of the cutest friends-lovers romance stories.

I completely and positively adore Eden and Josh. They’re both so charming, funny, and quirky. I loved how they genuinely cared about each other that they didn’t want to do anything that could hurt years of friendship. They’re also very likable and I enjoyed their POVs so much. Being able to see how they really feel about each other was incredibly heartwarming. And even though I wanted them to admit how they truly felt and kiss and just be together, it was super cute and fun to watch them struggle and fight the inevitable. I don’t want to give too many details, but just be prepared to swoon, laugh, aww, giggle and have a smile plastered on your face the entire time… I sure did!

I liked the supporting characters too and the friendship dynamic between them and Eden and Josh. Abraham didn’t sit well with me at first, but by the end, he definitely earned the best friend title award. Then there’s Molly, Eden’s other best friend. She’s the blunt and tell it to your face kind of friend… but at the end of the day, you know she’ll have your back. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and can’t wait to see a book about Molly and Abraham.

Saving It is a delightful, fun, and incredibly swoony read. With great friendships, sweet phone calls, adorable Snapchats, and a cute romance, you won’t be able to resist falling in love with this book. So don’t save it for last… grab a copy now and get ready to fall head over heels with Eden and Josh!

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really loved and enjoyed this one. Really a great and funny read. Was hooked right away.

I wanted to like this book so much, because it sounded really cute and I love a good YA romance. But goodness... this was written so poorly that I was continually taken out of the story and slapped in the face with the reality that I couldn't get lost in this story at all.

The characters were likeable enough. Eden and Josh were set up to be an excellent friends-to-lovers story. Josh wants Eden to help him find someone to lose his virginity to (??), and that's what kicks off the story. That was the first flaw I found - the premise as a whole. Sure, I read the synopsis, but I didn't think it would be so... blatant? Out there? I don't even know.

My first issue is with the whole virginity thing. The whole story was literally wrapped up in it, and Josh continually said that he wasn't a man while he still had it, that he couldn't leave high school with it. Like, DUDE. Chill. It's such an archaic concept to base a book on (in my opinion, at least) and it left a bad taste in my mouth.

The other big issue I had was with the exposition. Sweet Jesus, there was a lot of exposition. So many words were not needed to get the point across. I think this book could have been a novella half the length and would have been tighter, stronger, and a better story overall.

All in all, I was really disappointed in this one. I wanted to like it, and historically, I've liked most of the books that I've read that have come out of Entangled. But this one... eesh. It felt like a first draft that needed a heck of a lot of editing.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Sorry if I was too honest on this one.

. I love friends to lovers stories and this one was no different.

Eden and Josh are best friends and before leaving for college Josh wants to lose his V card so he enlists Eden's help to find the perfect girl for the job and being his best friend of course she cant say no even if she finds it a bit weird lol

But as the search continues Josh starts to see that the person he was looking for all along was right in front of him but how will he convince Eden that he isn't after just one thing as they initially set out to look for, well I guess you will have to read it to find out what happens do they finally get together? Does Eden even see Josh that way? This book sort of reminded me of the movie Can't hardly wait. loved it .

A super cute story about best friends discovering they might feel more for each other.

The story line is classic cute & fluffy. It has all the ups & downs required for a YA romance, the usual usual dramas but also the usual cutness.
The reason I liked this however: the character building. Especially Josh and his POV! He is super cute, funny and yummy BBF if you ask me. I enjoyed also getting to see his vulnerable side, his insecurities and also his internal battles. I really enjoyed the banter between Eden and Josh. Also their history and strong connection.
Eden is a strong female lead, who is really likable. I got her insecurities but also loved her quirkiness.
Also a factor I like about Eden, she is clear as what she wants but doesn't judge other about their actions. It's actually refreshing, because while most people don't slut shame openly, they somehow do. And on the flipside, if someone wants to "save it" it is considered rather old fashioned. Murphy takes a do what is right for stand and I love the way she did it. No judgement. Just stating different opinions.
The support cast is fun and does a good job at giving insight to Josh and Eden. I liked the way the friends supported each other, how they all want the best for each other. The love and care they have for each other, even beyond arguments and disagreements felt real and solid.

My only negative thing is the plot was too much the usual. I mean did we really need a big disagreement at 75%? The big swoony moment, though I did find the idea cute, made me cringe because it was done in public. Why? Couldn't he just do it in private? Same thing but just the two of them?
Also the issues that were built up during the whole book, felt a bit to conviniently solved. Again, I didn't mind the solution, but after all this stuff happens, everything just fell into place in a few pages. It made it feel rushed. Especially the issues between Josh and his dad.
I wish Murphy would have explored all the issues a bit more, given this a wee bit more depth..
The end super cute. I loved it. Honestly super cute & fluffy HEA, but I was swoony happy.

Cute & very enjoyable read.
3.5 Stars

reviewswithrah.wordpress.com/2017/11/06/arc-review-saving-it-by-monica-murphy/

When Josh comes to Eden for help in losing his V card her first response is “No way!” But Josh is persistent and Eden loves a project, so… Eden finds herself making a list of possible girls for Josh to hook up with. She’s giving him advice on initiating contact with the girls, she’s taking him shopping for clothes, and acting as a sounding board as Josh shares his progress. They’ve been best friends for years so why is she suddenly bothered by Josh’s attention to other girls?

Josh is tired of dodging locker room talk with the guys when the subject turns to sex and is determined not to start college a virgin. He just needs to find a girl and get his first time over with. He and Eden talk about everything so what better person to help him, right? But he can’t talk to these girls like he talks to Eden and the closer he gets to what he thought he wanted… the more he can’t get Eden out of his head.

Saving It was all kinds of sweet and funny, filled with real talk and aww moments. Both Josh and Eden were just so incredibly likable. I loved the alternating points of view and getting both their voices was perfect for this story. And I appreciated the spotlight on a strong girl/boy friendship and their hesitancy to do anything that could damage it. Both Josh and Eden struggled with their feelings for each other, certain that it was one-sided, even as it was obvious to their friends that they belonged together.

Speaking of their friends, they play a big role and, while Eden’s friend Molly was underutilized, it was Josh’s friend Abraham that almost stole the show. I thought he was a bit obnoxious at first (the loud, jokey and crass best friend) but Abraham totally grew on me and proved himself to be a great friend to both Josh and Eden. Way to go, Abraham!

While there were times when I felt the guy’s dialogue didn’t ring 100% true (do teenage guys actually notice a girl’s “tiny waist” or ask a girl how she thinks her first time will make her feel?) it didn’t stop me from enjoying Josh and Eden slowly stumbling toward each other. These two just gave me the warm fuzzies – their constant phone calls and Snapchats, their inside jokes and their bickering, and their utter devotion to one another.

Readers who enjoy a friends-to-more story will fall in love with Eden and Josh.

AH! I’m so happy. This book landed in my hands right when I needed a cute angsty read. If you are a fan of friends to lovers stories then you are in for a treat! I wouldn’t say it is my new favorite by Monica Murphy but it is definitely up there.

Eden and Josh are best friends. They know pretty much everything there is to know about each other. They trust each other. That’s why Josh asked Eden to help him lose his virginity. Stop your dirty minds from getting too excited though, it is not what you think. She’s only going to help him find the perfect candidate. After all, they don’t like each other that way. They are best friends. The thought never even crossed their minds… or did it?

My cheeks hurt from smiling like the Cheshire cat. But it is impossible not to smile while reading this book. Josh and Eden are so pure, cute and real. Their story is kind of different from the friends to lovers books I’ve read in the past. From the beginning you can tell they truly believe they only love each other as friends and as you keep reading they slowly discover that deep down they’ve always felt something stronger. It was a different twist to the classic story where only one person has the crush while the other is oblivious.

The characters in this story are teenagers so naturally things get pretty angsty. We all know how it is with teenagers, drama everywhere! Fortunately it is not the unnecessary drama that just makes you roll your eyes a hundred times, it actually makes the love story more exciting. It keeps you wondering what the characters are going to do next even though we all know how these kind of books end. The ending is predictable but so what? Who doesn’t like a good ol’ happy ending?

Saving It is told from Josh and Eden’s point of views so you always know what’s going through their minds. That’s why I got the surprise of my life when the ending came around and Josh (sneaky boy that one) did something that was totally unexpected. Unexpected good. Y’all are going to swoon so hard when you read it.

If you are in need of a cute teenage romance read then pick up this book right now. It’ll make your teenage self very happy,

Saving It by Monica Murphy is a standalone contemporary young adult novel about two best-friends who realize they may be more than just friends. A cute and fun friends-to-lovers story that will have you cheering for these two adorable characters.

Eden and Josh have been best friends forever. They are there for each other and tell each other everything. No secrets. So when right before Thanksgiving break, Josh asks his best-friend for help losing his V card before going to college, she's of course going to help, right? Umm…no.

At least not without convincing. Soon Eden finds herself helping her best-friend Josh search for the perfect person to lose his virginity to, but as they begin talking more about sex and what they are looking for in another person, both begin to realize the one they want is the person right in front of them.

Saving It by Monica Murphy is an enjoyable story about love, friendship, and finding what you really want in relationship whether it be a casual hookup or something more meaningful. The build-up of the story was good and how we got see Josh and Eden's relationship grow and change. I liked how strong Eden and Josh's friendship was and how everyone, even their parents and friends, saw the potential of them being together as a couple. There are rocky moments and angst, but that just makes the story. It can't be all roses.

Lastly, I liked the supporting characters of Abraham and Molly, who are great friends to both Josh and Eden. They help balance out the story for me and I would have loved to see a little bit more about them. Maybe in a separate book or short story?

Overall, Saving It by Monica Murphy was an enjoyable read that I recommend with cute characters in a realistic situation. Its easy to connect with them and root for them.

(I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book I received for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)

Monica Murphy knows how to write a Young Adult Romance that will get you hooked from the very beginning. YA is not a genre that appeals to me in general but Monica Murphy’s writing is so compelling that she is in my one-click list!

Saving it was totally sweet and Eden and Josh totally stole my heart.

“Weren’t we supposed to make it happen by senior year if we were still virgins? So what’s the problem? Is there something wrong with me? Maybe I don’t measure up. Maybe I’ve never measured up .”

Josh wants to lose his V card and there is no better person to help him then his BFF Eden. However, sometimes when you are looking for someone that tick all your boxes, you forget to look at what is right in front of you! We have all been there… at least I DID!! Josh soon realises that Eden is the one for him but do not know what to do, as he doesn’t want to ruin their friendship… You see where this is going? Ok, as a High School teacher myself, I deal with this kind of drama and “existentialist” questions on a daily basis and Monica Murphy nailed it. I could identify so many teens that I teach who could be Eden or Josh.

“I’m just friend material. That’s how he sees me. And that’s how I’ve seen him until…what? I’m not even sure what changed.”

You might think that this is like those cheesy romantic teen books and movies where the girl creates drama and has been secretly in love with her BFF and blah, blah, blah!!

Nope, it’s nothing like that. This book is more than that. It is a very romantic and captivating story - really sweet and moving.

Once again, Monica Murphy did not disappoint.

“Turning our friendship into something more will just lead to our downfall.”
PS : I LOVE ABRAHAM!
*Arc kindly provided for an honest review
4.5Stars

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆
4 Stars overall.
5 Stars for actual young adult readers
3 stars for adult readers.

As a sucker for a page-turning young adult book, I won't lie by saying I didn't sit down and devour Saving It from page one until the end. However, I need to state I read it quickly for two reasons. One, I wanted to know where the novel was going to go, even knowing the ending destination. Two, I knew I better read feverishly so the plot itself didn't sway my overall enjoyment – meaning, if I paused, the novel would have given me pause. I will explain in the bulk of my review.

Best friends all through high school, Eden and Josh have had quite a few relationships, never once contemplating getting together. Josh is a virgin, never successfully sealing the deal in his past relationships, so he asks the one person who knows him better than anyone to help him pick the right girl. As you can guess, the plot pretty much goes on the path you'd expect, so I won't dive too deeply into the plot, as a way to avoid spoilers.

From the teen perspective, young adults will devour this book due to the content. From the adult perspective, adults will become frustrated, especially from a feminist standpoint. As a feminist, wincing at the list of girls, I read it from a perspective other than my own. At the same time, I wanted an adult voice in the book to offer advice these children so badly needed.

Authentic, Eden and Josh and the rest of the cast of characters do, in fact, act like actual teenagers. So I kept an open mind, remembering how I operated eons ago. Hormones fluctuating, irrational as the sector in the brain dealing with sound decision-making won't mature until the age of 25, peer pressure, and emotionally unsure why they feel as they do. So I applaud the author for writing characters who act/react/behave/sound as actual teenagers, instead of the adult voice of the writer.

In a nutshell, there isn't a whole lot going on with the plot that isn't in the blurb. The angst is a 'will-they, won't-they' tension, with added miscommunication, and a bunch of just waiting around until Eden and Josh decide to give it a try. It's not truly an evolution for the character development, but just the indecisive nature of teenagers (and their older counterparts).

If you're an adult like me, who adores the young adult genre, I'd suggest a sample. I enjoyed it, writing this review immediately, knowing if I took a few minutes, I'd spiral down the critique path and I refuse to go there. Do you know what I mean? In the now, it's awesome. Given five minutes of contemplation, the responsible adult in me wants to go round-up a roomful of teenagers and engage in a real chat.

FYI: I'm not a prudish adult against 'losing it/saving it' – it's the emotional impact of having an agenda and not caring 'who' you lose it to. On the flip side, feeling bad for the person chosen to fulfill an agenda. Virginity isn't a physical thing – it's a social construct with emotional impact.

If you're reading this review as a parent, I would highly recommend this to teenagers who need a dose of escapism/romance – not learning experience, but a naughty yet innocent read that accurately portrays exactly what teens are experiencing on a daily basis when it comes to acting on their sexual urges.

Young Adult age-range: 14+ due to swearing and sexual content.

Thank you to Entangled Teen for giving me an eARC through Netgalley in exchange for my review. And this will not affect my thoughts or opinion about the book in any way.



The story is about when Josh told his best friend Eden to help him lose his virginity. I really enjoyed everything about this book.

In our country, which is Philippines, we really value our "virginity" that we will just give it the night after getting married with our husband. That when people knows that your non a virgin anymore without having a husband they will despite you and you will be the talk of the town. But having this kind of culture in us and reading the book it still allows me to enjoy and not be offended. And that is one thing to love about it.

The friendship in the story is absolutely adorable. It talks about how friendship works. That no matter what happens you will do anything to help your friends and family. 

The book contains also how technology helps us in communicating people and enjoy how beautiful it is. 

All in all it is a fast paced story that each character's characteristics is being develop well. I also enjoyed as when I'm reading it, I got to know more of them as it is in a the POV of the both main characters.

I highly recommend it for those who seeks for cute and fresh new set of stories.

My rating is 5 out of 5 stars

https://bookishcaramel.wordpress.com/2017/11/14/saving-it-book-review/

Super cute book by Monica Murphy. I love her writing style, and her characters so much. This book is safe I would say for 14+. This a favorite genre for me, and I always like the sweet love stories that have so much hope and innocence. The writing is wonderful, and the story is full of humor, wonder, and real life teen issues. Monica Murphy is a master at her craft.

Saving It is the first book I've read of Monica's in a while. I've enjoyed everything else I've read of hers which has been primarily NA. I also love a good YA so I wanted to check this out as I'm also a sucker for friends to lovers.

Firstly, a heat map. What ages is this YA good for? I'd say 16+ and classify this as mature YA. I mean... sex is basically the entire point of the book so it's mentioned but not in a lot of detail.

What I loved: The relationship between Eden and Josh is pretty great. They have good banter and you can definitely feel the emerging feelings and tension between them. Together, they work really well in the story. I also liked the side characters, Abraham and Molly. In fact, Abraham kind stole a lot of the scenes he is in.

What didn't work as well for me: The storyline was extremely repetitive. It's kind of all the same every chapter/page. Sex, sex, and more sex. That's literally the only thing Josh ever thought of. Now that may be an accurate portrayal of how teenage boys think but it doesn't work as well when written. Gets a little old. It would have been nice to see a little more depth to the characters. Even Eden's arguing/hate for her brother just felt repetitive and added nothing to the story. I actually disliked that about her. So I guess while their scenes together usually came off as cute, their scenes alone made both of them look kind of like immature jerks.

I will still read Monica Murphy, I'm just not sure I'd go back to her for YA.