Best friends who haven't seen each other in over 5 years are about to work together. Luke hasn't spoken to Lacey in as long and she doesn't know why. Being forced to work together, old hurts arise as well as some romantic feelings. The two must work through some issues between their families before they can give love a chance.
Opinion
I'm a sucker for best friend romances so I loved this one. The problems the couple faced were interesting, though they did get a bit like a soap opera towards the end. There was a twist that I did not see coming that shocked me. Overall, it is a good read that I could visit again (and maybe look for more clues to the twist.)
Many thanks to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Going into this book with high expectations, but fell a little flat for me personally. I found myself more intrigued about the Drake-Mason company than caring if Luke and Lacey ended up together.

OMG!! This book had me from the very beginning. If you love the movie “Sweet Home Alabama “ then you are going to fall head over heals for this one. But be warned you will need a box of tissues as this story is a beautiful but sad story. It will have you soaring high then it will rip you to shreds.

I fell completely in love with Lucy and Lucas. They are perfect for one another and have a sad, yet beautiful story to tell and it all starts with two little kids building sandcastles on the beach.

The author did a wonderful job of writing a book that would draw readers in. It was amazing and fun to read. The characters are quirky and entertaining. They were silly and snarky. But on top of it all they were grown, mature, serious and caring.

Which brings me to Justin. He is an amazing guy and I truly hope to read a story about him. He is strong, supportive, loyal and hopelessly in love with Rachel. I truly hope they find a way to be together.

Overall this book was a heartfelt and inspiring love story. Two people meant to be together trying to beat the odds lined up against them. It is an amazing journey they take, but it is not the happiest of stories. So be prepared to cry your eyes out as the author pulls your heart out and stomps on it a bit.

I highly recommend this book.

I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Oh wow!! This one thoroughly surprised me. This was my first time reading this author, and I’m always a bit skeptical when reading a new to me author. I was especially iffy in the beginning because it felt like it was dragging on and a huge info dump, but the deeper we got into the story, the more I was hooked in. This is such a perfect read for summer! Our main characters, Lacey and Luke, are so easy to connect with and feel so real. Their spiciness, banter, and connection kept me intrigued. The only thing that I didn’t like about this book was the ending. It felt so unnecessarily rushed. But, overall the writing is easy to follow and the story was sweet and fun! I should also note that I really enjoyed the side characters as well. I can definitely see another book coming with them!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

The formatting of the e-copy on my kindle was so bad I couldn’t focus. Hanging lines, no indents, and lines cut in half were tiring to navigate and slowed reading to a crawl. Please take the time to format books properly for kindle.

Breaking the Friendzone by May Lynn was soooo good! A romcom, alternating POV between the FMC Lacey and her estranged childhood best friend, the MMC Luke, there is just enough information to see both sides of all situations without forcing you to pick sides. Luke Drake and Lacey Mason are both in their early twenties, finishing up college and figuring out how their separate inheritances and company shares in their joint family business, Mason-Drake Pharma, will play into their longterm career and life goals. After the two families were torn apart when business woes and the losses of both Lacey and Luke's mothers, Lacey and Luke have not been in contact since their early teen years, but are suddenly thrown together for a summer and are having a hard time remembering why they have been apart all these years... Summer might be the perfect time to let loose and reconnect, but if they are soon to be business partners... is there really room for something more?

I loved how light and simple this book was without it being too surface level. It was an easy read, but also had an interesting story so I definitely wasn't bored! I liked that the author slowly revealed parts of each person's past and brought it all together at the end in a slightly predictable but not super obvious conclusion. This was definitely a steamy romance book, and there were some pretty intense sex scenes, but it was generally pretty tasteful and was interspersed a few times throughout the story, not all at once or taking over the entire book. There was also lots of buildup, both in the sense of introducing the sexual chemistry and foreplay, and also in that the character traits and relationships were well formed and helped set the stage for the romance and intimacy in those scenes. As a result, it was a true romance without the overly predictable cheesy/fake tropes or the out of context sex scenes.

The main characters were likeable, young but mature, and confident and self-assured. They were normal people who make mistakes but who you also want to root for. This book makes you want to believe in true love and following your dreams and would be the perfect romcom to throw back to the good old days of Katherine Heigel and Rachel McAdams romcoms (circa 2005-2015). I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a steamy romance novel with an interesting storyline, just the right amount of predictability and easy reading blended with some slow reveal plotlines and relatable characters. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Rachel Wu from Wattpad for giving me the chance to read and review this awesome book!

#booktour

This one was childhood friends to strangers to lovers vibe.

Lacey and Luke have a complicated childhood history and upon meeting again as adults he doesn’t actually remember her…. It was a fast, cute read with low to medium spice. I did thoroughly enjoy the friend group in this one too.

3/5 stars.

This was so much fun to read!! I loved both the characters a lot but it dragged a little at times and i found myself losing interest for some reason. I would recommend it to anyone who likes quick romance reads.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Friends to lovers is by far one of my favorite tropes but friends to strangers to lovers is even better! I am usually a bit skeptical when reading a new author but I thought Lynn did an amazing job and had me hooked from the beginning. Lacey and Lukes banter and the chemistry between them was perfectly written. I thought this was a fun and easy read and I will definitely be reading more by Lynn!

Lacey Mason has loved Lucas Drake since they met at the age of six. She spent some of the happiest times with him in the Hamptons when her parents lived there. Yet after selling their beach house, they still kept in touch, until one fateful day when they were fifteen, when their friendship ended. Soon after, Lacey would lose her mother and never see Lucas again. Until they meet again at twenty-two, where they spend the night together. However, Lucas has not recognised Lacey, yet she has thought it as a hilarious game of karma. Lucas, on the other hand, thinks he just found his dream girl. Soon, their lives are set to spiral out of control when the secrets behind their parents’ lives are revealed.
An intense romance, with two great characters. Their past explains the pain of their relationship. I found the family background quite interesting and well explored. My only issue was that I would have like the last third of the book have been expanded upon. Overall, a great read with secondary characters who added depth to the story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Our history remains unresolved and now more complicated."

Books spanning over the years are fascinating. Lacey and Luke met when they were kids. They were close as close can be, and then something happened which caused their friendship to end badly. But, years later, Lacey comes back. Luke and Lacey are progressing toward their legacy of taking over the family business.

People are rarely who they appear to be. Unfortunately, parents tend to push their dreams onto their children. Sometimes they plan their life ahead of time and nudge their children under the guise of guiding them onto the right path. In reality, it's towards the life they had always planned, making them think their choices brought them there. The children, in turn, make life choices that aren't necessarily for them but their parents.

There's something about Wattpad stories that always seem to be able to pull me in. Were there some unbelievable/cringe moments? Sure. But were there enough to take me out of the story and make me pause? No. I was able to gloss over those moments and continue with the story. It was cliche at times. But it worked for me. Sometimes you want a cliche rom-com to get you out of your head. It was a much-needed break from reality. There were enough twists and turns to balance out the cliches. There were some twists I wasn't expecting. I loved so many quotes, but I obviously couldn't include them because there was no time and space, and it would spoil everything.

I was intrigued by Justin and Rachel and wanted to know more about them. I hope they have a book soon! I've never read anything from May Lynn before, but I'm glad I gave it a chance, and I can't wait to read more from her.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5)

Thank you, W by Wattpad books, NetGalley, and May Lynn, for an advanced copy of “Breaking the Friendzone”.

Enemies-to-lovers ( oh, all the tension and passion) and friends-to-lovers (genuine care and trust) are my favourite tropes. So when I saw the description of Breaking the Friendzone and realized it will have both, I simply had to read it.

We meet Lacey Mason when this sweet little girl is just about to make her first real friend Luke Drake at Hamptons where her parents bought a house and yes, we know he will be the One. The story fast forwards to Lacey being twenty two, out clubbing wth her friend Rachel, who is in a desperate need to forget her messy break-up. Things get spicy between Lacey and her 'one night stand'- Lucas who doesn't remember their past. Then they thrown in working together and all the drama begins!

I loved the dual POV in this book- it adds so much depth and insight how both sides see the situation and what they are feeling. Luke and Lacey's story is complex and based on lots of secrets and family issues, so having both perspectives made everything more engaging.

The attraction and chemistry between the protagonists is strong, but this isn't all the book is about- they are complex, flawed characters you can easily relate to and care about. The steamy things were hot, hot, hot! but there's also real connection and feeling.

May Lynn's writing style is fun and entertaining with all the banter and passion I look for in my romance books. Now I'm very intrigued about Lacey's best friend Rachel and can't wait to read her story!

Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad books for allowing me to read this book! This book was so cute! I liked that this book had a good balance between heavy topics and the lightness of romance. This book always had something new happening which I loved! I really hope I get to read another book about Rachel and Justin’s romance! I really liked the depth of the characters and the plot twists that just uncovered more about each character.

Don't let this wholesome cover fool you, this twenty something romance is fire. Lacey has been away from her childhood retreat in the Hamptons for years after her heart was broken. One wild and crazy night out, she finds herself back in the arms of the man she has loved since they met on the beach as young kids. Only thing, he doesn't remember her until after a tangle in the sheets.

Their second-chance romance is in jeopardy as their families want them kept apart as both are next inline to take over the pharmaceutical company their father's manage. These characters are messy as they unravel what's occurred since he slammed the door in her face seven years ago. An added twist to this romance is the mystery of what truly happened to Lacey's mother the night of the car accident that took her life.

This romance does get its Happily Ever After plus a shocking reveal to the mystery.

Thank you Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for the e-book copy of this novel.

This book really surprised me and I loved it! This book is a second chance childhood friends to strangers to lovers. I feel like we see this trope combo a lot but this story was so unique! I was rooting for them the whole time and their love was so heartwarming! There are plenty of twists and turns along the way that kept me hooked. No literally…I read this book in about 4 hours!!! I could not put it down!

Luke was an absolute sweetheart and I just loved how much he loved Lacey 🥺 Lacey was a bit frustrating at times but understandably so. Despite her hesitations, it’s clear to see that these 2 are soulmates. I was smiling and rooting for Nate and Lacey the whole time. Loved their friends too! They were great additions to the story.

Trying to keep it vague and not give away spoilers 😅 but my only complaint is that the ending seemed rushed and there was one major part of the plot that didn’t get resolved by the end. I would have liked closure. Overall though, this was a quick, fun read! Perfect for vacation or even a rainy day!

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC!

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
Breaking the Friendzone by May Lynn
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 276 / Genre: Romance

Luke and Lacey were childhood best friends until something happened and Luke suddenly ghosted Lacey and she never heard from him again…until now. She returns home for the summer where the two reunite in a blaze of passion. What happened seven years ago is slowly revealed in a burst of unexpected twists and turns.

This friends-to-lovers tell-all really has it all — forbidden love, steamy romance, complicated family histories, unexpected twists, and more. Definitely not the usual romcom. I highly recommend it!

Thank you @authormaylynn and @wbywattpadbooks for the advance copy of this book. I loved it!

I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

YES FRIENDS TO LOVERS LETS GOOOOO
childhood friends to lovers? sign me up!!!
I enjoyed their dynamic and the drama of their separation on bad terms. I love the journey the novel has brought me through the whole book but I wished the ending was more elaborate for me to feel a proper sense of closure rather than things being rushed in the end. But the epilogue is so cute so it makes up for it.

A decent read. The build up is really slow, almost to,the lost that a turtle could outpace it.
The best part I liked about the novel was the setting. The Hamptons, over the last 45 years , has turned into a Mecca of the rich.
I wasn’t completely sold on the romance between the two main characters, it seemed a bit contrived.

Okay wow. This was a good one! I was not expecting the turn of events at the end.

So starting off, there’s a flashback to when Lacey is six. The dialogue and inner monologue of that chapter were not realistically what you’d expect a six year old to say/think. Then in chapter one, it felt like I got thrown into a story without all the information. It’s just like buckle up stuff is happening. A little bit of whiplash. But after those initial frustrations, I got really hooked on this plot.

Lacey and Luke are set to take over the company their parents started, after they both graduate from different pharmacy schools. They were childhood friends who had a falling out and haven’t spoken in years. Lacey is back in the Hamptons with her dad for the summer, and happen to be staying at Luke’s dad’s house. Luke also stumbles into down after dumping his gold-digging fiancé. They run into each other in a bar, but he doesn’t remember her. What a shock it is to Luke when he realizes the next day that his one night stand is his first love and childhood friend Lacey!! But after that one night, she firmly puts him in the friendzone. Can they work through years of hurt and admit the feelings they’ve both hidden so long? And what about when their fathers try to keep them apart?

I wound up really becoming invested in Luke and Lacey’s relationship — their childhood friendship, their planned future partnership in their families’ business, and them navigating their relationship in the present. There is a lot to unpack here! But they both are so well written and I felt like they both handled their every day life really well for all the drama coming at them. Then the ending! Well I can’t give it away. But there are quite a few revelations… it was surprising. I also loved the supporting characters Justin and Rachel. They are both such good friends, like the kind of friends we all want. Drop everything, super supportive. Loved how they played into the whole story.

Good book! 4 out of 5 from me!

I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

Well, this was a ride I wasn't expecting.

It started as a cute romance book of two long-separated friends who had a bad last moment together, a pretty casual read, but in the end, it was a page-turner.
The reason it wasn't a 5-star read was that the story felt a bit rushed, especially at the end.

The main characters had great chemistry with each other and I loved their connection but I would like a bit more of their backstory, we did hear about their time as kids and their present time but nothing more about them that would give them more of a dimension.
There were some cliche parts but I didn't mind them at all. They were put together pretty well.

The epilogue was beautifully written, with such a heartwarming ending. I loved it!

And for the side characters... Do I see a hint for a second book :)?