BOOK REVIEW: Sleepover by @serenabellbooks

4.5 Stars

Sleepover is the 3rd book in this series by Serena Bell and in my opinion, the best one. I absolutely adored every sentence!

I won't spoil the storyline but it is a forced proximity trope with a side of grumpy and sunshine.
The book is based on single dad and widower Sawyer who is a man of few words and is that silent, mysterious type. He is also incredibly hot and has a heart of gold. The lead female is Elle, a divorced mum who is recovering from an asshole of an exhusband (who cheated on her for years). Elle is fun and sweet but definitely has a naughty side. I loved both these characters but especially how they are together. I also love the friendship between their sons which added a really sweet layer to the story.

The romance is to die for! Not only is there some serious steam and smut in this book (which is incredibly well written), they also have a wonderful non-physical connection and so you can't not love them as a couple.
The writing is great, I was so hooked that I read it in a day as I couldn't put it down! There is also some decent humour alongside some emotional scenes which adds some great depth to the book.

Overall, a wonderful read and I am now such a huge fan of Serena Bell and encourage all romance lovers to go pick up her books including this series (Under One Roof), the Wilder Adventures series and her Tierney bay series. All three are absolutely brilliant!

Please note that I was #gifted this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

lle and Sawyer had a one-night stand two months ago... didn't exchange anything except first names.... Guess who just moved into the house next door to Elle?
Yep, you guessed correctly - Sawyer.
And guess who is best of friends after minutes of meeting each other?
If you guessed Elle's son and Sawyer's son you would be correct again.

Elle is recently divorced from her husband who left her for his high school love. Sawyer's wife died.
Still attracted to each other, these two try to fight there attraction and become friends for there boys. Eventually, these two become more though.

A sweet love story about two single parents.
This is my first book by this author.

This is my first book by Serena Bell and when I requested for it on NetGalley I had no idea that it was a re-release. Nor did I have any idea of how moving the book would be and how much I would love it!

Sleepover is not your typical romantic comedy. Yes, the romance was there - and it was wonderful! - and yes, there were many fun and funny moments - like the texts sent between Elle and Sawyer - but what really got me were the parts of the story that felt real, raw and full of emotion. I cried a few times because the feelings brought up about losing one's spouse and continuing your life after, or about falling for someone who has lot the love of their life and feeling you can't compete, were written so well that you as a reader were right there with the characters.

Thank you so much NetGalley and the publisher for introducing me to a brilliant new author (for me) and letting me read the ebook in advance.

I love a romance that is about so much more than falling in love. I like a good rom-com that's frothy and sweet, but I LOOOOVE a romance that goes deeper. 𝗦𝗟𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 is filled with snort-laughs and—holy moly!—it has some hot steamy scenes. But it also has grief and pain and healing and facing your fear.

Elle and Sawyer are EVERYTHING. They have chemistry for days, serious steam, but also sweet moments. Both characters are complex and likable and grow during this story.

When the conflict occurs in 𝗦𝗟𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 I just felt gutted because the reader loves these two together so much! It pained my heart when they struggled with their own issues. Don't worry...there's a seriously feelsy HEA!

𝗦𝗟𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 also has great female friendships, great male friendships, and positive representation of clinical therapy after loss. So many good things! I loved this book and now I get to backtrack and read the first two books in this series!

What a fantastic read this one as I just could not put it down. I was at first intrigued how the plot would follow through with a one-night stand becoming something more. But this was a whole lot more.
When Elle meets Sawyer again, after their brief encounter, we are taken back to when they meet, and Elle is trying to rebuild her confidence after finding out her ex-husband never stopped loving his high-school girlfriend and was having an affair with her. As Elle and Sawyer’s young boys become friends, the relationship between the couple develops. Yet Sawyer struggles with the loss of his wife and how this plays with his attraction to Elle. Whilst Elle and Sawyer struggle with their past and how it has affected their perspective on life, together they do help each other grow. In many ways, their friendship helps to rebuild self-confidence and their outlook, so that without the other, life is not quite as it should be.
Serena Bell is now one author that I will be looking out for, and I am so pleased that I have a few more novels to read, whilst waiting for the next book in the series ‘Under One Roof’.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and Jelsba Media Group. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sleepover delivers a single dad next door, one night stand rediscovered and sunshine/grumpy all wrapped into one funny, steamy and heart-warming package. It can be read as a standalone and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

Elle and Sawyer are two sides of the same coin - both are single parents. Elle went through a painful divorce and received a invitation to her ex-husband's wedding only weeks after the divorce, and Sawyer lost his wife and became a single father through no choice of his own. Last time Elle and Sawyer seen each other they were in a compromising situation, had their fun then parted ways and that was that...until Sawyer moved next door and their children became fast friends.

There were moments when my heart hurt for Elle. Her ex-husband left her for his high school sweetheart that he never stopped loving, then she falls for Sawyer, her steaming hot next door neighbour who is too in-love with his dead wife to let anyone else in. All she want is to be someone's first choice, but soon discovers she's only ever been a second choice. It takes him a while, but Sawyer finally begins to understand his love is not an either/or situation, and his heart is big enough to expand and grow love for others.

Sleepover was a really great read. It wasn't just about Elle and Sawyer getting to know each other and becoming reacquainted, but also the pair figuring out their new lives with their kids, Madden and Jonah, and the moments they have all together. It was a wholesome and entertaining with just the right amount of spice.

I really enjoyed Sleepover, and honestly it took me by surprise. When single parents Elle and Sawyer have a memorable one night stand, they don’t really expect to see each other again, so it’s a surprise when they discover they are now neighbours.

I expected a funny, awkward rom-com, but there was something about reading about Elle and Sawyer falling for each other that felt deeper. Yes, this book was open door and there was a lot of sex talk, but it also dealt with issues relating to their previous partners, kids and careers.

“That’s the whole point of your pain. To remind you that life is way too fucking short. And if you ignore the reminder, it’s just fucking pain”

This was the third book in the Under One Roof series, but my first book by Serena Bell, and I felt it was completely fine as a stand-alone and now I’m intrigued to read the first two books in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Jelsba Media Group for the digital ARC!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

I just spent a weekend reading mediocre romances from my library holds pile, and this netgalley approval was the gift I didn’t know I needed.

I was hooked by this story from the beginning. I found Sawyer’s voice believable (sometimes I struggle with the male POV in romances, but this was good!), and Elle was understanding and smart.

I didn’t expect to have so many feelings in a book with a higher steam level! I had a solid cry at the end, and I thought the grief/cheating/divorce points were incredibly well done.

The only thing that didn’t sit well with me was the fast timing on the proposal at the end. I think it would have been sweeter to see them move in together and have a proposal much later on.

Serena Bell is becoming a must-read author for me - I’m pretty impressed!

In short: steam/story nicely balanced with emotionally mature leads. Loved it.

Listen: Serena Bell can do NO wrong in my mind. She could write about salt & pepper and I would still read it.

That being said, this is the third book in a series, and I haven't read the first two. I like that it can be read as a standalone, but also integrates well with the rest of the series.

As a single parent, I loved this book because it was super relatable!

I cant wait to see what Serena comes up with next!

What happens when your one night stand ends up being your new neighbor?

▪️Sawyer: After his wife’s death he only does meaningless one night stands (no repeats) no attachment.
▪️Elle: Fresh off of a divorce from her cheating ex, decides on a one night stand that her friends persuade her she needs. She never had one before, so what can it hurt?

Now their kids are best friends and their neighbors - YIKES! Can things get any more awkward? Add in a little fake dating and Serena Bell knocked it outta the park with this one!

What I loved:
▪️Elle: A strong smart fierce MC. She’s a single Mom trying to raise her son best she can while nursing a broken heart.
▪️Sawyer: He is crushed about the death of his wife. Nothing has made him smile in a long time, until Elle.
▪️Their kids: Jonah and Madden. ▪️The 80 year old neighbor lady, Mrs. Wheeling, who reads romances books and has a dirty mind gah, lol. I loved her!
▪️The heartbreaking parts where Elle knows he’s still in love with his dead wife. Kinda like her ex was still in love with his high school sweetheart and broke her heart. She won’t make that mistake again, but it seems like it’s happening anyway.
▪️All the funny things that made me laugh out loud and all the heartbreaking things that made me cry. I had all the feels with this one.
▪️ The ending, I was a teary eyed mess. My heart exploded! I never expected this book to be so emotionally and so heart wrenching and this so freakin’ FABULOUS. ❤️😂😩 PS - don’t forget to download the bonus scene. I serious cackled out loud!

I can’t recommend this book enough. It was perfect to me! Thank you to @netgally for this arc. I’m going to have a bad book hangover after this one!

This story was all I wanted and more. You get to see the characters evolve and make the story. I love how well they complemented each other. This story has it all and is my favorite in the series. Serena Bell has gained me as a fan. Definitely need to check this book out. X

I haven’t read this book when it was first published in 2018 because, I’ll be honest, I just recently discovered the author and her stories.

The sleep over is such a beautiful grumpy sunshine romance story.

Being a widower, Sawyer is such a typical man and does what we all expect from him. Spends his days working and his night with no strings attached. That until he gets strike by that Cupid's arrow and doesn’t even realise when he’s head over heels in love with Elle.

I loved the enemies to lover with all the witty replies and sizzling chemistry in between.

Looking forward to read more in the future by the author as I am loving her books so much and I will definitely recommend them to anyone.
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley

4.5 stars

Single dad, Sawyer Paulson, moves into a fixer-upper house next door to single mom Elle Dunning. Sawyer’s wife died, leaving him heartbroken and alone. Elle’s husband cheated on, dumped, and divorced her, causing a tremendous hit to her self-esteem. Minor problem, Elle is the woman Sawyer had a one-night stand with a few months back. Not so minor problem, he hasn’t been able to forget her, and that goes against his one-night-only rule. The instant they see each other, their attraction resurfaces. They both feel it and can not deny it. They are not in a place in their lives for a relationship. To make the situation worse, their sons, Jonah and Madden, soon find out they are neighbors and are ecstatic. Friendship is instant and they become inseparable. Such close proximity will be a tough challenge for Sawyer and Elle. Will they be able to resist the spark between them? Can they move on from the past and give themselves a chance at happiness?

This was my first Serena Bell novel, and it will not be my last. Wow! I loved how she handled the many delicate issues the characters faced. Both Elle and Sawyer have lived through serious pain and trauma. Their trepidation about beginning a new relationship is understandable. The author has successfully captured the change and growth of the main characters throughout their journey. Realistic actions and reactions from all the characters kept the story relatable. Sawyer and Elle’s parenting skills were on point. From Elle and Sawyer to Jonah, Madden, and the rest of the crew, the characters were flawless. The author wrote deep characters with likeable personalities. Her writing allowed me to get to know and understand each one. From the beginning to the end, the storyline flowed without a hitch. The conflict and emotion ran high. Excellent writing made this a delightful and easy read. This book tugged at all my emotions. It made me laugh out loud. It made me cry. I am a sucker for happy endings and the author did not disappoint. The author’s resolution of the conflict concluded this love story beautifully. It ended how I had hoped it would. For lovers of conflict, spicy scenes, and a story full of emotion, this book is for you. This was a 5-star read for me.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Jelsba Media Group for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*ARC kindly provided by Jelsba Media Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was absolutely delightful! It’s my first book by Serena Bell, but it definitely won’t be the last. I’m so glad I stumbled upon this book randomly while looking for new ARCs to read on the Romance section of NetGalley, and I wasn’t about to let go of the opportunity of reading a book with the single-dad trope.

I think that what immersed me into the story to the point of reading the book in one single day was the author’s writing. I was hesitant at first about how the author was going to resolve the story between the two main characters in a book of only 300 pages, but she did a fantastic job in developing their relationship. Taking into account that Elle and Sawyer first meet as each other’s one-night stand, then he ends up as her next-door new neighbor while their kids, Jonah and Madden, become instant best friends. All of this while the two of them are trying to overcome certain events in their lives, Elle her recent divorced after having had been cheated on, and Sawyer his wife’s death.

The aspect that I loved the most from this story is how both these characters were trying their hand at love for a second time in their lives while also dealing with the single-parent responsibilities that come with the status. The romance was important of course, but I liked how the author also prioritized the true feelings of the characters and let them be true with one another emotionally and not only physically. But the chemistry mind you was top tier as well.

If you liked the single-parent trope or the one-night stand trope that lately leads to a beautiful relationship, then Sleepover should be on your TBR as soon as possible!

"It's like getting stuck in a riptide, the ocean pushing me forward and sucking me down and back. There's grief and guilt and loss, and then there's the simple truth of Elle, sitting in front of me, so stunning in the dim light of dancing flame I can't take my eyes off her."

My my my. Oh how I absolutely loved Sawyer and Elle.

Two years after losing his wife, Sawyer moves into a new home with his son when he finds out that the person next door has a son the same age. As kids do, they become best friends in an INSTANT, but their friendship is not a problem in the slightest until Sawyer comes to realize that the neighbor's mom, Elle, was one his past hookups.

Reading Sawyer and Elle become more comfortable with one another was so SATISFYING. There was something about the comfort that they found in each other, paired with their honesty that made the story feel fairly fleshed out.

I CRIED particularly when it came to bits revolving around Sawyer and his feelings regarding his late wife.

I also found Elle's chapters interesting to read. Her confidence in relationships was shaken with good reason, but reading her navigate her feelings was satisfying to the very end.

I've never read any of Serena Bell's books, but after reading "Sleepover," I'll definitely be reading more.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Jelsba Media Group for a copy of the book.

4 1/2 stars

Sleepover may have a cute title and an even cuter cover, but don't be fooled. The main characters, Elle and Sawyer have been through some challenging life events that have left them beaten down and unworthy.

Elle is still recovering from the shock that her husband had been carrying on with his high school girlfriend behind her back which led to a prompt divorce. Elle is continuing to struggle with regaining her self esteem after this betrayal. It doesn't help any that she and her ex share custody of their son. So, she still has to see him and "the girlfriend" which is now his fiancee periodically.

Sawyer is a single father struggling to move on and make a home for his son. After losing his wife two years ago, he is still battling to regain his footing and find a way to not feel guilty for being the one who is still around. He also feels as if he can't do anything as well as his wife did. Making him believe his son is missing out.

Elle and Sawyer's interactions are full of undeniable chemistry. Their sons have become fast friends after Sawyer moves in next door. The problem is can they remain platonic neighbors, or will they give in to the attraction that seems impossible to fight. If they do, will it backfire and jeopardize the friendship their sons have?

I absolutely adored this book. It was such a heartwarming story of two people try to find themselves again after being hurt by very different losses.. I've become a Serena Bell fan after reading her Wilder Adventures series and jumped at the opportunity to read this book when I saw it. It definitely did not disappoint.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Heartwarming, breathtaking, and hilarious! I smile just thinking about this book. Plus the added spice sprinkled throughout is so well done that I want this made into a Hallmark movie as soon as possible!

It’s rare to come across a book where the characters actually have a real and complicated past. Elle Dunning just finished with her divorce while Sawyer Paulson is a widow. When their kids throw them together, it creates a complicated and also magical scenario that is refreshing to see played out in such authentic and emotional ways.

I found myself understanding where they’re coming from when they deal with the emotions that come from their past. And I loved how each one didn’t fault the other for the things they are feeling! They faced each other with such maturity and still allowed themselves the space to heal, grow, and enjoy life.

This was my first single dad book and I have to say that the way Serena Bell wrote these characters blew me away! I was cracking up laughing one minute and had tears in my eyes the next. Her writing style is absolutely wonderful and made me feel for these characters as if I actually knew them.

This is the third book in the set, however it works well as a standalone. I didn’t read the first two and fell madly in love with this one. You bet I will be adding the first two to my TBR immediately!

If you are looking for a steamy, one sitting bingable book that has humor and depth then boy have you found it here.

This book was so binge worthy that I was squeezing it in moments before my yoga class. That's high praise!

Get this one today! Thank you Jelsba Media group for the advanced copy!

A short, sexy, and entertaining read!

Sawyer, widowed father and carpenter, moves into a fixer-upper, unknowingly settling next door to his one night stand. Elle is a single mom whose ex-husband left her struggling to trust her feelings. Their sons become inseparable and so do they...

I found the dialogue a bit clunky at times and some things didn't get fully flushed out, but this is due to the short length of the book, which I enjoyed. I think if we dwelled in the story for longer it would become repetitive, whereas this still left me wanting more.

Very steamy, not much fluff, and enjoyable overall!

I received this as an advanced reader copy of the re release in return for my honest review of this book. Thank you to Serena Bell and Jelsba Media Group for allowing me to read this.
I went into this book expecting it simply be a friends with benefit arrangement between neighbours, providing plenty of spice. However, what I found was so much more and this book truly exceeded my expectations.
Sawyer moves into a dilapidated property two years after his wife’s death. With him is his 8 year old son Jonah, who very quickly becomes friends with the next door neighbours son Madden. Much to Sawyer’s surprise however, his neighbour turns out to be Elle, the woman who he had a one night with against an alley wall. While the boys grow firm friends, Sawyer and Elle find that neither can stay away from the other.
While this book has plenty of brilliant spicy scenes it is so much more than that! Sawyer’s feelings and progression surrounding Lucy’s death were poignant and Elle’s relationship struggles after her ex husband cheated on her with a childhood love added depth to the interactions between Sawyer and Elle.
I felt the chemistry between Elle and Sawyer was brilliant, even though there was misunderstandings and it was not smooth sailing throughout the book, the two maintained excellent interactions and the presence of mind to avoid hurting their children was heart-warming.
If you’re a romance fan put this on your tbr!