"All that time I was worried I’d mess things up with you the way I did with the others. But now I know I only messed up with them because they weren’t the right ones – I mean, because they weren’t you."

I read this book in ARC format, and the blurb really spoke to me. Best friends to lovers is my romantic tropey JAM, so I was super excited to tuck into this. A question of Us centers around two best friends who compete with a team in their local pubquiz league. Simon has been wanting to ask Clarrie out since forever, but Clarrie keeps turning him down because she thinks he's just joking. What if he's not, though? The two of them agree on a bet that if they manage to win the pubquiz cup, Clarrie will go out with him. What happens if you put your future in the hands of fate?

This book wasn't bad per sé, I enjoyed the majority of it, but the ending felt a lot anti-climactic. It was also excruciatingly slow at times, and a lot of the writing-style kept me from enjoying the characters to their maximum potential. I enjoyed Simon and Clarrie as a couple, but Clarrie's unwillingness to listen to Si and her, dare I say, selfishness while stringing him along kind of made this a less enjoyable experience. I really enjoyed the use of the childhood friends to lovers trope, but I also felt very frustrated with the female character which didn't help matters. Taking all of this into account, this turned into a final rating of 3 stars, but this certainly had potential and I would love to read the author's other books.

**Review copy provided by Netgalley

This was one of the proper British reads which reflected their humor and banter. It took me some time to traverse through it so it was an extremely slow read, but the core story of a group of friends was very sweet and warm.

Plot arc of friends turning into lovers caught my fancy. Simon and Clarrie were the best of friends, though he wanted something more and she kept refusing him till he makes a bet with her – if their team won the pub quiz, she would go out with him. And the story rolled on…

My first book by Mary Jayne Baker, the story was warm with the depth of their friendship. Told in the POV of Clarrie, I got to know Simon who was a great guy, absolutely apt for her. Their chemistry was well shown in their banter. Mary Jayne’s writing gave these characters a depth.

I love when a book explores and shows me different facets of friendships and family. This had a group of friends and their dynamics with each other. Their byplays were childish but came from a place of familiarity. Their conversations were a hoot when they got together, though not my kinda humor. Family is everything and the book exemplified that. Each character had a tale to tell.

This was one of my different reads and had its own sweet tale to tell… Slowly… Very slowly.

Thank you #netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is just what I needed, I loved it so much. I loved all the characters in this book, and how we got a glimpse at all their lives and not just the main characters. Their friendship in this book is so sweet, and made me want to be friends with them.

I also LOVED how Clarrie and Simon acted together. They are just so cute. It is a classic best friends turn to lovers scenario. But, it works so perfect in this book.

This book is a little predictable, but it also goes down different paths that you wouldn’t expect. It’s hilarious, light hearted, and has some real life experiences in it. I also loved how the author was English and that translated into the book. If you’re in the mood for a cute rom com, I highly suggest this book!

This book seemed like charming, sweet fun, but sadly I found it really hard to get through, mainly because the book was pretty much all dialogue. I didn't get to know the characters properly, even though I wanted to; the book pretty much focused on banter in the pub, and it was hard to get into. I ended up skim-reading quite a lot.

Also, I found Simon's initial pestering of Clarrie quite grating - I know he was meant to be joking, but it just seemed a bit awkward. The 'banter' also seemed to be a bit outdated and immature.

I really wanted to enjoy this - even though I'm not usually a romance reader (I tend to go for books where the romance is a secondary plot, so perhaps I'm not the target audience here?) I decided to give this a go due to the pub-quiz concept that seemed fun - but there was just too much dialogue and too slow a plot.

I so enjoyed this book! It is a sparkling, tender, funny, and original romance. A group of friends in a Yorkshire village have been close since they were young and now they come together once a week as a team competing at pub trivia. Sexy, good-looking Simon has been asking awkward Clarrie out for years and she’s been turning him down, thinking it was just a joke. She’d prefer to remain best friends and can’t believe that they could be a real couple.

Their dialogues ring true even though I’ve never been to Yorkshire. These aren’t polished, cultured individuals. But they seem real. They smoke and drink too much, but they ring true. All the people in their group seem real. They care about each other, but demonstrate that affection with jokes and dirty snark.

I read this whole book with a smile on my face. As someone who loves pub trivia, I enjoyed reading the group trying to figure out the answers. The one criticism I had was that the questions seemed too easy to me, but that’s a minor quibble for an original book that was a delight all the way through.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Aria Fiction for a copy of this books to review. Clarrie and Simon have been friends forever! Simon won’t stop asking her out. So a bet forms, if their team wins the quiz league she will go out with him. It was a cute premise! I had a really hard time keeping track of all the characters especially in the beginning. Also, it is very British! I had to keep looking up what different slang words mean so it made the dialogue hard to understand! Overall a cute story though!

Unfortunately I found the pacing slow and didnt enjoy the dialogue so DNF this one. I also found the 'banter' between the friends quite uncomfortable.

3.5 stars

This book was a super cute read and the author did a fabulous job developing each of the characters and making them "real". I love the evolution of Simon and Clarrie being best friends since babyhood, and the evolution of the entire group of friends (Gem, Sonny, and Dave), was also very well done.

The story had a great premise and brought to light subjects so many of us can relate to; how we can be our own worst critic, anxiety, over-thinking, being scared to take risks, etc. The banter is great and it is truly a funny book!

Where it fell short for me, was the extremely heavy British dialogue/slang. This made it difficult to get through and I found myself having to look up certain words to figure out what they meant in the context of what was being said. The only other part that fell short was how slow Clarrie was to finally start coming around. I understand why the author did that, but as a reader, I was almost ready to slap Clarrie upside the head towards the latter half of the book (which may have been the authors intent).

I think this book is well worth buying and reading as long as you keep in mind the very strong British dialogue.

Thank you netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Clarrie and Simon and their friendship to relationship. Swoon!!

Cute book. Easy read.

Loved the ease of the relationships in this book.

This book had the premise that completely sold me, a friend group/cast of characters that made me smile and an overall promising read, but it also had a main character who made this really hard to get through. Her inner conflict and the conflict in general felt easily fixable with a simple conversation. It wasn't a fun time.

This book just didn't do it for me. The dialogue was kind of hard to understand and I didn't feel the characters developing into ones that I liked.

This adorable book had me at pub quiz. I did not know anything going into this book and I am so glad. I felt an internal sense of elation when the book started with a pub quiz night. An activity I look forward to all too often mixed with romance makes this read freaking adorable. I enjoyed being able to relate to the scenery described as well as the mannerisms and quirks of the English folk. I felt like I was enjoying an evening at the local pub whilst reading this book.

The romance was slow burn romance to the max! Another tick mark in my book. Heck, it took these two forever to finally end up together but when they did it was so sweet and beautiful. The depth of their romance is backed up by a great retelling of their friendship via storytelling, jokes, memories and games. I enjoyed Simon's wit, humour, sharp tongue, genuine demeanour and a sense of acceptance of who he is.

I loved the protagonist, Clarrie, as she is a rough-around-the-edges type of gal, a tomboy who doesn't have a filter, down to earth and can definitely hold her own amongst a group of dudes. She is real in the sense that she is completely relatable. Just a late-twenties gal struggling with issues that most of us struggle with in our twenties. It was quite a refreshing take on the role of the protagonist.

I adored the story of friendship in this book. The kinship of the various friendships as well as the tight-knit community made my heart swell.

It was a glorious read with lots of literal laugh-out-loud moments and several awww moments. I am definitely buying a hardcopy.

Honestly, most of this book was probably a two-star rating, but I was fond of the ending so I bumped it up to three. I was really interested by the premise because it seemed like a fun, cute read (and it was) but it was also slow and boring at times. There was a lot of unnecessary dialogue that I ended up skipping over because it didn't contribute to the story. I liked Clarrie and Simon's relationship, but I got annoyed by the constant back and forth indecisiveness that Clarrie went through. This is also the most British book I've ever read, so a lot of the language threw me off kilter a bit. I did like Sonny and Gem and it was a cute book, overall, though it could use some editing in some of the slower areas.

This book was a lot of fun. It had great characters (and character development, it wasn't just about the main two protagonists which helped build up the story), and it was funny! The dry humor was excellent and had good dialogue that kept me smiling on the train like a crazy person while reading it. The relationship development made you actually want to root for the characters in the book, and the premise was different and relateable for those of us who are terrible and pub trivia. But I will say that it just went on a smidge too long. By 60% of the book I was kind of ready for it to be resolved and over. Overall, charming.

Oh my goodness!! What an absolutely wonderful and fantastic story. I have literally laughed my head off.

I have just one question for the author- where can I get a Simon? Right from the start of the book, the connection is genuine. The characters are extremely likeable both together and separate.

Mary-Jayne has a way of writing which makes you feel as though you are watching the story unfold. This is a book I haven’t wanted to put down- it truly is fantastic.

I have loved the friendships in this book, the fun and support amongst the group has made me smile on numerous occasions.

Simon and Clarrie are just fab, I can’t imagine any reader not rooting for them from the start. The book has its ups and downs but it wouldn’t be the same without any of them. I can honestly say this should be on everyone’s must read list.

I am a huge fan of Mary-Jayne’s books, I haven’t read any that I dislike. She is definitely a talented author and deserves recognition for the fantastic stories she produces.

Truthfully, I cannot give this book five stars because it just isn’t enough. Five stars doesn’t show how fantastic and wonderful this book is. I wish I could give more than five! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I highly recommend this book as well as Mary-Jayne’s other books. Each one will get you hooked but they are definitely worth the read.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Aria for an E-arc in exchange for an honest review.

A sweet, funny and unapologetically British friends to lovers romance.

Alright so this was a delightful friends to lovers romance, and it was sloooooow burn, so if you like that then it will be right up your street! It also features pub quizzes, which are one of my favourite things to do with a group of friends! So much fun!

This was about Simon and Clarrie, best friends since they were 4. Simon keeps asking Clarrie out but she thinks he's joking so keeps turning him down (even though she's really into him) He then makes a bet with her that if their pub quiz team wins the league, she has to finally let him take her out on a date!

Simon and Clarrie were the best! I loved Simon, what an amazing book boyfriend! Such a good friend to Clarrie and the rest of the gang, he wasn't afraid to cry and show his emotions. And he's fit! He and Clarrie had such a great connection, and great chemistry! Clarrie was the narrator and she's great! A bit rough around the edges, she suffers from anxiety but was a very likeable character. I do wish the anxiety had been explained a bit earlier, and the book had delved in a bit deeper into that though. My only negative about Clarrie was how long it took her to realise that Simon had feelings for her, and how long she took to decide, it was a bit frustrating.

Anyway, even though the book was about Simon and Clarrie, it was also about their group of friends Sonny, Gem and Dave. I loved the friendship dynamics in this! They loved and supported each other and it was so nice to see! These characters were so precious! They clawed their way into my heart throughout the book and I love them all. They could be quite immature at times, but they felt like real people in their late 20's, struggling with the types of issues that you do at that point in your life.

This book was so funny! The humour was really dry, and the banter was relentless! It was spot on to be honest! I grew up with a group of lads and girls in my friendship group, and we're still mates now. Our WhatsApp group could be straight out of this book. Lots of swearing, boob and penis jokes etc very immature but still funny lol. I snorted and laughed out loud a few times reading this! That's just what it's like here, we take the piss out of each other constantly if we love you! I loved the back and forth and snarky wit!

The book was also about family, and about the tightknit community which these characters live in. I also liked that. So many romances just focus on the main couple, whereas this book felt so raw, messy and real. All of the characters were important in this, and they had their own lives and storylines.


So yes I loved this slow burn friends to lovers romance! It was the perfect beach read for me. I had such a smile on my face after reading it, and was on such a high! If you do decide to read this and don't understand parts, then either look it up, or message me friends!😂

4.5 stars
This book was just what I needed! I absolutely loved the characters and the dynamics between them. They were always horsing around and I loved it.
Si is absolutely swoon-worthy and may have just become my favourite book boyfriend. *sigh*

I also liked that they dealt with important topics such as anxiety and cancer (though maybe a bit too lightly).

Recommend it for anyone looking for a hilarious romance!

This was a cute read. The main character was a bit to drama filled and immature at times. Ah, to be young. There were also a ton of misogynistic jokes. That didn't sit well with me. Overall, the premise was cute and the arc of the main couple was rewarding.

A Question of Us caught me by surprise. It's been a couple of months since an adult romance has fully captured my attention, and this book definitely did. I couldn't put this down, and when I finally finished it, I couldn't stop thinking about it. A Question of Us is an adorable read, with best friends who become lovers and an amazing cast of characters.

I usually don't love-love the best-friends-to-lovers trope because it's always one person long-term dating someone else before they realize they're in love with their best friend or something similar that I don't really vibe with. This book is a bit of a departure from that; Simon has so obviously been in love with Clarrie for so long, but since she's scared of change, of commitment, of screwing things up, she's refused to see it. They've been best friends since they were four, and there wasn't a come-to-terms moment, that Clarrie loved Si. It was much more gradual, and I really liked that.

Also, I totally felt how Clarrie wanted to use the quiz as a means to say yes, despite knowing she likes Si romantically. Sometimes it feels better having a big decision made for you even when you know what you want. Change is scary and I definitely relate to wanting no responsibility for your feelings.

The characters were so detailed; they truly felt like real people to me. Clarrie being a mess and just trying to get her life together is such a mood. I also loved that Si is hot and a playboy, yet he's not overly masculine. He studied history and became a teacher and isn't afraid to cry in front of Clarrie. I love him! Also, let's ignore the fact that The Bachelorette has corrupted me and I picture him as one of the contestants that I like . . .

I wholehearted loved the friend group. Please give me more adult romances where the friends get up to no-good-hijinks and know each other so well! They're all so supportive of each other, and there's just so much love.

You all know that I love books where the main character likes living in their small town, and this book was no exception. Reading the characters joking with their parents and being really open with them...it was nice, it was so soft.

I think the summary makes Si asking out Clarrie to be little "can't take no for an answer," but in reality, it's much healthier than that. They're friends, and Clarrie treats it as a running joke, rather than it being unwanted advances.

And this book was genuinely so funny! It's a very British humor, which my sense of humor is very much in line with, because it's dry and witty.

I said it before and I'll say it again, but I still can't stop thinking about this book. Please, Mary Jayne Baker, I need a sequel...I'll take a novella, I'll even take a long extended scene... A Question of Us is definitely one of my favorite romances this year! Pick it up today.

**This review will be up on my blog Magical Reads on September 5, 2019.**

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest.
I had mixed feelings about this novel. I felt that most of the characters acted like horny teenagers and I couldn't tell if they were really adults. Simon was annonyingly persist in pursuing Carrie who is his best friend but the reader doesn't show us the depth or growth of that friendship.
This group of friends meet to play trivia games and the novel centers around those interactions which are honestly uninteresting and immature. I just wasn't taken by this romance.