One thing about me is that I will read any book that says it is a "When Harry Met Sally" inspired story. It is my Roman Empire.

I have not read any other books by this author, but I will look for future books!

A cute, easygoing friends-to-lovers romance about two people trying (and failing) to keep things platonic. Light, flirty, and full of feel-good moments. Great if you’re in the mood for something sweet and breezy.

I was hoping for something charming and cozy with this one, but it just didn’t totally land for me. The premise had so much potential—two people actively trying not to fall in love? Great setup! But the pacing felt slow, and the chemistry between Hailey and Wes never really sparked the way I wanted it to. The emotional beats were there, just not deep enough to really stick. I did like the idea of a salad shop romance (points for originality), but overall, it felt more like a light salad than a satisfying meal. Not terrible, just didn’t leave a strong impression.

A Guide to Being Just friends can be read as a standalone novel and is an amazing contemporary romance! It’s a friends to lovers romance with a really cute premise of working together. It has a serious and nerdy MMC and a sunshine FMC, which is my favorite trope! Really cute, sweet (albeit little anxiety), and fun read!

🥗🥗🥗🥗/5

How is this my first book by this author? I will definitely be checking out more of hers in the future!

I want to start by saying I got this book on NetGalley so long ago and life got away from me. But I’ve been wanting to read it ever since and I finally got to it. I couldn’t be happier!

This book is silly but so much more emotionally complex than I first thought. The banter between Wes and Hailey was perfect. (Was it weird she has the same name as me? A bit! But that didn’t stop me from reading.) I giggled or full out belly laughed numerous times. And I’m having a blast reading rom-coms lately because I’m constantly smiling.

I liked that this book was slower on the romance, surprisingly. I loved the friendship they created before they admitted their attraction and took it further. And I full on teared up a few times with their honest admissions. Those moments were so emotionally charged and I saw them playing out as if I was watching a movie I was well invested in. SO GOOD!

I liked that Hailey went out of her comfort zone a lot during this journey. And I loved her concept of a salad restaurant. It was so unique and perfect for her. And now I’m inspired to be my most creative and authentic self.

And Wes was so talented but so reserved and holding so much weight on his shoulders, always putting others before himself. While I sometimes wanted to shake him out of his stupor, I also admired how real and raw his story was. It was not only realistic, but it was moving and inspiring in its own way.

I enjoyed the side characters in this book. And I loved the video game Wes made for Hailey. (And his depressed version of it too, honestly!) I liked the character growth. I liked the business aspect and felt like I oddly learned a lot. I LOVED the silly and funny moments and thoughts between the characters. But mostly I loved the way this book pulled at my heart in a way I haven’t felt in a while. It’s definitely worth the read!

I really enjoyed this one. It was hard to put down. It kept me wanting more. The characters are amazing! And I love the title and the story line. Such an amazing book!

This book was sweet and angsty and had me swooning. I adore the Jansen brothers but Wes has my whole heart. Will he be bold enough to turn the woman in front of him into his woman? The banter and the chemistry between them is unmatched.

This one was not my favorite and took quite some time to get through. I wish there would have been more character development to allow me to connect more to the characters.

i love a good sunshine female lead like hailey and a handsome nerd like wes. this was a cute romance friends to lovers romance and i love some good banter. it wasn’t an outstanding romance but i enjoyed it and would recommend to fans of sweet love and low spice!

*A Guide to Being Just Friends* by Sophie Sullivan is a charming, lighthearted rom-com about two people trying to navigate a friendship without crossing the line into romance. The chemistry between the leads is strong, and Sullivan’s witty writing adds a fun, playful tone to the story. The characters are likable, and the slow-burn dynamic keeps things engaging. However, the plot feels somewhat formulaic, with predictable twists that detract from its impact. Some emotional depth is missing, leaving the story feeling more surface-level. It’s an enjoyable read for fans of the genre but lacks the originality to make it truly memorable.

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

With rules set in place, you think it'd be easy to "just be friends" with the opposite sex, right?! When Hailey and Wes meet in the oddest of ways, they strike up an awkward-at-first friendship that soon becomes very important to both of them. They just have to remember all the reasons why they can only ever be friends and nothing more.

I was first introduced to Sophie Sullivan in 2020 with the first in this series, Ten Rules for Faking It and I've enjoyed getting lost in her words. The characters are easily relatable and you connect with them right from the start. This book is the third in the series (# 2: How to Love Your Neighbor) and I'm sad that it's over!

I didn’t realize this was book 3 and can’t wait to go back and read the first 2. I’m obsessed with this couple and so glad Wes got his happy ending

A Guide to Being Just Friends by Sophie Sullivan, it was a cute read at times but overall did not capture my attention.

While I enjoyed the first two books of this series, this one just really was forgettable for me. Was it particularly bad? No. Was it particularly good? Meh. I only read this a few weeks ago and I remember exactly zero of it. I ended up listening to it as an audiobook, and even then I found myself not very engaged. The little I do remember, these characters had a little chemistry and there story was fun enough.

This book had a strong start with a cute meet-cute, and I absolutely loved the setting—her little salad shop was so vivid, I’d stop by for lunch if I could! The brothers and their witty banter were also highlights. However, the story dragged a bit in the middle for me, and the frequent swearing and suggestive references felt out of place, making it hard to determine the tone. While there were no bedroom scenes, the overall lack of character depth was a big miss. It felt like a YA-level story with too many hints at backstories that never fully developed. The title reference also felt underwhelming, and as someone unaware it was the third in a series, I didn’t feel Wes’s character was fully fleshed out either. This one just didn’t hit the mark for me.

I picked this up not realizing it was part of a series, but it stands alone so you're not missing anything. I liked this one, but didn't love it. Great concept but found some parts were just too surface level or obvious, and other parts dragged on a bit. It took me longer than I expected to finish it, and I thought the break up towards the end was a bit forced.

Title: A Guide to Being Just Friends
Author: Sophie Sullivan
Genre: Romance / Contemporary Fiction

Review:

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the eARC of Sophie Sullivan’s "A Guide to Being Just Friends". It is a delightful dive into the complexities of modern relationships, wrapped in a warm, witty package. The novel centers on the dynamic between Hailey and Wes. two friends who's lives collide at a meet-cute.

Sullivan’s writing is charming and humorous, bringing her characters to life with relatable dilemmas and engaging dialogue. Hailey, a vibrant and driven woman, and Wes, have a chemistry that feels both genuine and electric. Their friendship is depicted with a depth that captures the essence of real, platonic bonds, and Sullivan skillfully navigates the gray areas where friendship and romance blur.

One of the standout elements of the novel is Sullivan’s ability to infuse humor and heart into the narrative. The witty exchanges between the friends-turned-lovers lightness that contrasts beautifully with the more introspective moments. The secondary characters also add depth, providing a well-rounded view of the protagonists' world.

However, at times, the plot can feel predictable. Despite this, Sullivan’s engaging writing style and the heartfelt journey of the characters make the story enjoyable and worthwhile.

Overall, A Guide to Being Just Friends is a refreshing take on friendship and romance. Sophie Sullivan has crafted a novel that’s both entertaining and thoughtful, offering readers a charming story about the complexities of relationships and the power of staying true to oneself.

This is a cute friends to lovers romance that is book 3 in a series. I didn't realize it and while it worked fine as a standalone I think I would've enjoyed already knowing the stories of the other characters. I will go back and read them now. I enjoyed the audiobook and the pacing in the story. The character growth was fun to see and I'm looking forward to meeting the other Jansen's.

didn't realize it was part of a series, and i didn't know if i had to read the others first, i don't think i lost much by the confusion but i'll never know. slow burn was slow enough.