The story of Pru and Finn, friends to lovers.

Pru has always wanted a family, and as she is single sets out to have IVF and make her dream come true. As a firefighter, Finn has never wanted a family, worried too much about what would happen to them if something went wrong at work. After a drunken one night stand, Pru ends up pregnant by Finn. She got what she wanted, but will she get Finn as well?

Fun and entertaining read. Hoping that Pru's friends get their own books next!

3.5 Stars

Pru and Finn have been BFFs forever and one night completely changed that dynamic. Pru had plans to become a mother but didn't plan on Finn being the father.

I enjoyed this story. Friends to lovers is my hands down favorite trope and this one was cute but I just didn't love it. I can't even really pinpoint why I didn't love it. But I LIKED it, a lot. There's chemistry between Pru and Finn and I loved their friends so much. I would love to see more from some these characters!

4.5 Stars - I love the friends to lovers trope and this one feels really genuine. They’ve been friends forever and each has justifiable reasons to be reluctant about falling in love. Yet, they’ve done it already, with one another. One crazy night leads to a different level in their relationship and thankfully we the reader get to enjoy quite satisfying HEA as a result.

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

The Best Friend Problem is a stand alone, contemporary romance with best friends to lovers and a surprise baby thrown in. I wasn't into surprise baby trope so much but don't mind it as it was, well, the crux of the story in this book.

Finn and Pru are bestfriends since they were kids. Right up until they grew up and have their own life, they are still tight and continued to have each others back no matter what. I agree at some point that a guy and a girl can be just friends. I have shome male good friends too and I kind of like their no-bullshit attitude. However, I agree too that at some cases it could lead to romance as was the case in this story. I loved their kind of friendship; how they are very supportive each other and their fun, witty banter. Though both have reservations on getting into a relationship, these two still found theirselves ending up with one another. They both compliment each other and fill the void that was missing in their life.

The Best Friend Problem is a light, fun, heart warming, good ol' romance. I highly recommend it those who love a perfectly good romance with a lot of heart.

*I received this book from Entangled for my honest review. All thoughts are my own*

I really loved this book. I go more in depth in my review on my YouTube, A Court of Books and Love.

But general thoughts are that despite my slight dislike for the main character, I was able to get past all of that because the relationship was so perfect. You could feel the romance between them from the beginning and watching them grow into it was such a wonderful experience.

I'm glad that I got the opportunity to promote this book! I can't wait to read more from this author and see where the side characters from this story go.

The Best Friend Problem by new to me author Mariah Ankenman, is a cute best friends to lovers romance.

Prudence Carlson and Finn Jamison have been best friends for years. Pru always wanted to be a mother, while Finn never wanted to burden a wife or family with the dangers of his profession. Pru was ready to do an IVF, but one night unexpectedly turned to them having a baby together.

The story kind of fell flat a little bit in the middle, but I still did enjoy the majority of it. I don't think it was amazing, but it wasn't terrible either. Their relationship for the majority of the story was just their special close bond as each other's best friend, I didn't see any development toward their romantic relationship.

ARC was generously provided in exchange for an honest review.

Five unexpected stars! Where is my Finn?


Oh my gosh! What a wonderful, light-hearted, and beautiful friends-to-lovers is The Best Friend Problem. This book has everything a romance should have. Mariah Ankenman is a new author to me but after reading this book I'm addicted to her brilliant and flawless writing. I was hooked from the first chapter to the last one, totally and irrevocably in love with the storyline. This book could have a little cliché but the author made it as her own version, quite far from any cheesy or sappy romance. This is not a typical friends-to-lovers romance. It is something else. It is sharply love with a dose of happily ever after and some emotional tears.

The Best Friend Problem is an overload of fun, friendship, family and love. The plot is well developed and with some touches of romantic comedy that makes this an entertaining read that will make readers fall in love. The characters are complex and so wonderful. Pru and Finn complete each other. Their souls are joined by their friendship and the heart shattering connection they have.

Pru is a planner. She plans everything in her life since she lost her family when she was young. She and her two friends are owners of a successful wedding planning business. She only has them and Finn. She is fierce and sassy. Love wasn't something she planned for. She wanted something that includes a baby and a fertility clinic and she already has a plan in motion.

Finn is the perfect best friend. Attentive. Loyal. Handsome and sexy as hell. And being a fire-fighter gives him brownie points. Having such a dangerous job make him think hard about his dating life. Having a family is not in his cards because risking his life to save others could end in a tragedy for his wife and kids if he has them. He will never put someone to worry or possible loss. That's his justification for his only one date rule. Pru is the only woman constant in his life. His best friend and when she tells him about her insemination plan, she tried to be happy for her and support her but something inside him doesn't make click.

And here is when the adventure of these friends starts. The dynamics between them change frequently because crossing the forbidden line where friendship ends and a relationship begins is dangerously enticing as toying with their attraction will bring a chain of events that neither of them could ever imagine. A night of celebrating shots is everything fate needed to seal their future. Will their friendship survive?


I highly recommend this book for those readers who love a great friends-to-lovers romance with some shades of hilarious moments, light drama, laughter and tasteful love scenes.

I'm sorry I will not be leaving a positive review for this title. This book was extremely difficult to read because the characters were completely one dimensional. They had no life. I didn't get to feel anything that happened, I was just told it was happening. Im sure others will enjoy this story, but I did not.

Author Beth Ankenman delivers nicely with her new release, THE BEST FRIEND PROBLEM. Lighthearted, humorous, and sexy, with plenty of sweet and tender moments mixed in, this book was a delight to read, and a good take on the friends-to-lovers trope.

Pru and Finn know each other so well and are so comfortable with each other that it's an almost easy step over the 'friends only' line, and the affection and growing feelings that they develop for each other as events unfold make for the perfect segue to an HEA. The fact that both characters are likable, intelligent, and actual adults with real adult lives made this book even more enjoyable, and, if events are prettier than they might be in real life, well, this is a romance, after all.

A strong cast of supporting characters, a cute as a button fur baby, and an entertaining and heartwarming storyline made this book a pleasure to read, and one that is an easy recommendation to fans of sweet and steamy romances with an ending that will ensure a smile.

This was a fun sweet friends to lovers romance.

Pru and Finn have been best friends for a long time and rely one each other. Pru is part owner of a wedding planning company with her two roommates. They run a successful company but Pru feel something is missing. She wants to be a mom more than anyting.

Finn is a firefighter and doesn’t do relationships. The longest relationship he’s ever had is his one with Pru. All his buddies at the fire station wonder why they aren’t together. After one night neither of them expected to happen Pru got what she wanted. Will they be able to finally admit to themselves how they feel for each other?

This was a fun quick read that had me laughing at times. If you like friends to lovers I recommend this book.

The Best Friend Problem by new to me author Mariah Ankenman, is a cute best friends to lovers romance. The cover and book blurb called out to me, since I truly enjoy stories about accidental pregnancies, firefighters, and independent women. The two main characters, wedding planner Prudence Carlson, and firefighter Finn Jamison, have been best friends for years. Pru always wanted to be a mother, while Finn never wanted to burden a wife or family with the dangers of his profession. One night of passion between the two evolves in babies, love and forever.

I liked this story, however, I found the pace to be a little slow, and the plot to be a bit repetitive. Pru and Finn are a unique pair, and their sexy times are hot. Lil and Mo, Pru's roommates and business partners, are a trip, and I hope they each get their own story. Furthermore, the three of them together reminded me of "The Golden Girls" sitcom, when the women would sit around the table devouring a cheesecake, while discussing the problems of the day. Overall, a fair read.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

I can read friends to lovers romances all day and all night. But while a deep friendship forms the best foundation for a successful relationship, the transition from friends to lovers is not without its ups and downs and risks. The costliest of which is losing the friendship altogether if the relationship fails. The Best Friend Problem explores the rocky road two best friends who have, side by side, survived middle school, high school, and the journey into adulthood, along with all the life experiences that come with—first love, break ups, loss of loved ones, new experiences, heartbreaks, and disappointments—as they embark on uncharted territory. Can their friendship survive the journey to the next level of becoming lovers, even for just one night? And beyond that parents? Using a delightful blend of humor, angst, and steamy romance, Ankenman writes a nuanced exploration of the emotional rollercoaster Finn and Pru experience when they agree to have sex for just one night—after only sharing a life-long deep, close, platonic friendship—and that one night results in Pru’s pregnancy.

Although Prudence Carlson has experienced loss in her life, with the deaths of her parents and later on her great aunt, who raised her after her parents passed, she’s had her best friend Finn by her side ever since the tenth grade to help her through it all. She runs a successful wedding-planning business with her girlfriends and roommates, handling the accounting and financial matters. She’s nearly content with her life, except for one thing—she’s always wanted a baby—someone to love her unconditionally. Since her boyfriend broke up with her to pursue an out of state job offer, she lost her faith and trust in men and doubts she will find her soulmate anytime soon. That’s fine with her because she’s not waiting for him to show up. She’s having a baby with a donor sperm.

Because being a firefighter is such a dangerous job, Finn avoids serious relationships and has no plans for a family. As he doesn’t believe it would be fair if he were to be injured or killed with a family that he would be leaving behind. So, he rarely dates the same woman more than once. However, he is horrible at breaking up with them, so he always calls Pru to come and get him out of sticky situations. Finn has been repressing his attraction to Pru because he doesn’t want to ruin his friendship with the most important person in his life.

Pru and Finn balance each other out. Pru is nurturing, logical, fiercely independent, stubborn, planner, and a control freak who hates surprises. While Pru loves taking care of everyone else, she’s horrible at accepting it in return because she sees needing people as a weakness. Finn, on the other hand, is adventurous, spontaneous, dependable, generous, kind, and thoughtful, but he hates hurting people and avoids conflict because he fears destructive relationships. Finn gives freely of himself and his time to Pru and the people in his life but somehow believes that if he doesn’t get too involved with a woman and have a family, the dangers of his job won’t impact them.

Pru’s pregnancy is the catalyst to bring them closer and into a more intimate relationship as they prepare for the birth. They are unable to resist exploring the simmering attraction between them that neither had acknowledged in the past, except for that one night. Even though they promised things wouldn’t change or become weird, they do, as always. Their lives become an emotional minefield as they struggle to deal with their fears about the future, their relationship, and what they want from each other. However, they are still just Pru and Finn, who always have each other’s backs.

Although the pregnancy and, of course the shift in their relationship, is the focal point of the romance, more time in the novel could have been devoted to exploring Finn actually working as a fireman on call and not just at the firehouse waiting for calls, eating with the crew, or working out. Especially since the dangerous nature of his job was such a big issue and was arbitrarily used as a big reason for why Finn didn’t want a family and why Pru could only see him as a friend and not a potential romantic partner. Some readers may lose patience with Pru and Finn and their sheer blind determination to remain in denial to what everyone else in their lives has always known—that they are perfect for each other and that their feelings for each other are a lot deeper than either is willing to face or accept.

Pru and Finn have been best friends for what seems like forever, but when they cross the line and Pru becomes pregnant with the baby she has always wanted, will they be able to go from friends to much more forever? This is the first story I’ve read by this author, but it won’t be the last!

4 Stars

This is a sweet, sexy and funny book with an interesting premise. Pru and Finn have been best friends since childhood, never crossing that line to something more. When it does happen what follows is a series of events that is so far outside their comfort zones that they are scrambling, in their own ways, to cope. Pru can be a bit more hurtful and rude to Finn, in my opinion, at various points of the book and I did find myself having difficulty to really like her as much as I should for that reason. I understand where her personality was part of the reason for her reactions but Finn is written as such a caring and nurturing man it really made her hurtful comments and behavior stand out. Overall, this book definitely has its funny moments, Hot moments and “Awww” moments.

Cara - Alphas Do It Better Book Blog

This was my first Mariah Ankenman's book. This is a great friend to lovers romance. Prudence (Pru) and Finn's story is sweet, fun, and lighthearted. I love the ending. I enjoyed reading it.

This was a new author to me and I love a friends to lovers story. I really enjoyed this story. It's always interesting to see how deep the relationship is between friends. Pru has it all right now, two of the best girlfriends and a wonderful wedding business. Not to mention her other best friend Finn. She is ready for a baby and tangles her bestie Finn to help pick out a donor. After a night of celebration the morning brings to light the line that these two best friends have crossed.

Finn is a firefighter and is living his life of bachelorhood. Until Pru goes to her doctor and finds out her surprise is already on it's way without having to use a donor.  Pru and Finn have a long history of friendship and have managed to be there for each other without crossing any lines. We all know that it's just fun when the characters blur the lines. Finn was so sweet and thoughtful. Pru is very independent so she was all ready to deal with the pregnancy by herself. I love the banter between these two it flowed so well and you could really see the love they had for each other. The story was well written and I loved the banter with the two girl best friends. Overall great read and would definitely read any other books from this author.

A very sweet romance about two best friends Prudence and Finn finding themselves in a big mess when she becomes pregnant after their very unplanned one-night stand.
Pru and Finn has been best friends since seventh grade and she sees his family as her second family after the death of her parents and her great aunt.
Finn is a firefighter and lives for rescuing people and animals and he is just this amazing guy who will do anything for the people he cares about and loves.
Pru is a very independent, frustratingly annoying, stubborn woman who runs a wedding planing business with her two former college roommates, now turned best friends, roommates and business partners, Lilly and Moira.
Pru has always wanted to become a mother so she decides to use a donor because relationships is not for her. After she tells Finn this they end up in bed together and she becomes pregnant. So now what? Can they still be friends after they slept together or do they want more? How much does she want Finn to be involved with the babies since this was her plan to begin with? Yes there is a lot of questions that needs to be answered through the nine months of pregnancy for these two friends if they want a HEA can they get there in the end?
I loved Finn and fell pretty hard for him but I really don’t get why he loves Pru. I found her really annoying and entitled and way to stubborn for her own good. I understand that she is scared of opening up to the possibility of love but she has known Finn almost all her life and knows who he is inside out so I don’t totally understand anyway?
I loved Moira to and she was so funny and sassy! She provided the fun factor to the story together with Finn and his firefighter friends at the fire station.
I can recommend this book if you are in the mood for a sweet friends to lovers romance with funny banter and steamy scenes but also a lot of thoughts about pros and cons from both main characters perspectives.
I received this book from Entangled Publishing and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Pru and Finn have been best friends for decades.
Only friends.
One night while celebrating her decision to have a baby, they drink a little much and then one things leads to another.

This book was okay. I would rate it 3.5 stars. But to be fair, I might need to try this book again in the future... I don't think I was fully invested in it from the beginning.

the best friend problem is sweet and funny and so feel-good that you won't be able to stop yourself from grinning.

friendship is at the heart of this story. not only are pru and finn the very best of friends, pru also has some amazing female friends in lilly and moira. when she decides she wants to be a mom, everyone is one hundred percent supportive.

and when a night of throwing caution to the wind ends up becoming a game-changer for both pru and finn, they have to navigate the consequences like grown-ups. and it's not easy. because the parameters of their relationship has been irrevocably changed. but it's the humor and heart that makes this story shine.

**the best friend problem will publish on august 12, 2019. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (lovestruck) in exchange for my honest review.

Pru is at a point in her life that she wants a baby and with no luck when it comes to men she is prepared to be a single mother and have it happen the clinical way. She is a planner and has thought of every contingency that could occur but the one thing she hadn’t planned for was a few drinks too many and spending the night with her sexy best friend Finn.

Finn and Pru have been best friends for years and they know everything about each other or thought they did. Finn doesn’t believe his career as a fireman works with a relationship, but that idea may be put to the test when his best friend ends up pregnant and he is father.

It was fun to watch the friendship between Pru and Finn turn into a relationship without either of them knowing. His family and her best friends know that Pru and Finn are in love and with their help Pru and Finn realize it as well.