It was the cover, which drew my eye on Netgalley. Apparently, I have a preference, because it turned out, that I had already requested and read the second part of this trilogy as well. In my defense: it had been more than a year since I’ve read How To Love your Neighbor.

And it did turn out handy, because it gives you a little bit more insight into the family dynamics of the Jansen Brothers.Wes is the quirky guy. The total nerd who tries to understand the world, and especially women, but fails epically from time to time. Hailey and Wes meet in total rom-com style and strike up a friendship.

The first part of the book was funny and cute, but after some time the story started to drag on. Hailey was totally on a single track to creating success with her By The Cup salad shop. And her refusal for help from anyone, was getting a bit annoying. of course, her reasons were understan­dable, but jeez, please The moment I start looking for other books on Netgalley is never a good sign. So, it took some effort to finish the book. The story does pick up in the end, but for me the middle part was just a little bit too long and boring.

If you are fan of friends-o-lovers and a (really) slow burn, I would still recommend it though. And if you are at it, read the first two parts as well, to really enjoy it. Three out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

I love this friends to lovers story — it’s definitely the true definition of a slow burn. I loved getting to know Hailey and Wes — their friendship was effortless and fun. If you’re looking for a light + fun romantic comedy, definitely give this book a read! 💕

Thank you to St. Martins for my gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. 🤍

I had read one other book by Sophie Sullivan before this and enjoyed it, but this one definitely hit the feels out of the park! Such a fun read, and the friends trope is one of my favorites, and I thought it was executed excellently!

I kept picturing Hailey throwing salad everywhere every time she was mad. Also, I really NEED these salad dressing recipes in my life...just saying.

Firstly, I enjoyed Sullivan's work in the past and was very excited to pick this up! Unfortunately, It wasn't for me- I got 25% in and decided to DNF instead of forcing myself through it. By no means was this bad, but I just felt a disconnect with the characters and it wasn't making me swoon or share any feelings towards the story and characters. I also wasn't a fan of the FMC and it didn't seem like that would improve. I really hate not finishing books before reviewing them, but this one didn't click with me.



Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am such a sucker for meet cute romances. I decided I wanted to read this and while I had no idea this was book three of a trilogy, I didn't feel lost and I am going to go buy the first two books of the series so I can read the entire thing. It's cute, sweet, and I adored the story. The characters are well developed and the story line progresses at a comfortable level.

I usually do not like a 'friends to lovers' trope but this was a sweet story and I enjoyed the dynamic between the two main characters. I have not read the previous two books in the series. It is not required in order to enjoy this story but it did make me want to do back and catch up on the love stories of the other brothers.

I thought this book was good, but I don’t think it is a new favorite. I like the salad-bar owner concept, but just thought the argument at the end was too significant to work through so easily. I felt there was more conversation needed before they were on the same page. I wasn’t certain that they would last as a couple. But this book made me interested to read other books by this author.

I received a reviewer copy of A Guide to Being Just Friends by Sophie Sullivan from the publisher St. Martin's Press, from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Hailey Sharp has just moved to a new town after leaving a toxic ex in the rearview and ready to get her salad shop off the ground. Wes Jansen has never understood relationships especially in the face of his parents' bitter and toxic divorce. When these two run into each other in a not-so meet cute with a bunch of misunderstandings. When they clear the air, they develop a remarkable close friendship, but is that it?

What I Loved: I really thought overall this was a sweet friends to lover book. Honestly, it really reads more like insta-love. I found the chemistry between these two and the ways that they were able to connect so quickly and in such a really moving way. I really liked Hailey's life adjusting to this new town, finding her place in the community, and making new friends. This book really also has some aspect of a new girl in a small town, which is a really sweet trope when done well. I also liked getting to know Wes's family and it made me want to read the other two books.

What I didn’t like so much: Okay, so one thing like I said is I feel like it's a better insta-love trope because they become insta-friends to like a level that is intense, but I didn't actually dislike that part, but wanted to say I feel it's mistroped. Here's some things I didn't like, the stuff with Wes and the phrase love was so irritating like it was over the top for me. He like seemed to be appalled by the idea of the word, but not recognize that he experiences this emotion, this inability to connect these ideas are kind of crazy. And the third act break-up, ugh.

Who Should Read It: People who love a book with insta-love. People who love a book about a woman rediscovering herself and finding love.

Summary: A man and woman become fast friends after a not-so meet cute, could this be more?

This was an easy to read and average contemporary romance. While there was nothing that made it stand out against the other contemporary romances out there, it was still an enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

🥗Review - ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5🥗

Hailey Sharp is ready for a new start. After a break up, Hailey moves and decides to open a salad shop, By the Cup. Her only goal is to make it a success, especially since she’s put practically all of her money into it.

Wes Jansen is a successful business owner and very technologically savvy. Working on multiple business ventures, Wes doesn’t have time for relationships or at least nothing serious. He also doesn’t see the point in relationships after his parents divorce and multiple failed first dates.

While grabbing coffee at the local coffee place by her salad shop, Wes mistakes Hailey for a woman he was supposed to be meeting from a dating app. While Hailey explains she’s not the girl he’s looking for, Wes thinks he’s just being blown off and they go their separate ways.

Wes decides to reach out and apologize to Hailey after the confusion. Wes also ends up offering her some advice for her new business which leads to more conversations which leads to an unexpected friendship.

Wes doesn’t want a relationship and Hailey doesn’t want any distractions from her new business so a friendship is all they can have, right?

Overall, I really enjoyed Wes and Hailey’s story. This was definitely a slow burn, a little slower then I prefer, but there was definitely undeniable chemistry between them.

I liked Hailey and how determined she was to make her business a success on her own, but I did get frustrated by her complete lack to accept any kind of help. I do think Wes was overdoing it at times, but he was just genuinely trying to help and Hailey just completely shot him down.

The banter between the brothers was also another part I really enjoyed. The teasing and constant picking on was so funny, but you could tell how much they loved and cared for each other.

I thought this story was so cute and gave me all the warm fuzzies. If you’re a fan of any of the tropes listed below, I would recommend this one for you!

💕Tropes: friends to lovers, slow burn, workplace(ish) romance

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review 3.5⭐️
I was really looking forward to this because I love a cute friends-to-lovers trope. However, I was just left with wanting more. Wes and Hailey have a fun and awkward meet cute, which turns into them deciding to become friends. We then get about 75% of the book of them being just friend. I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for SOMETHING to happen between them. Then, they FINALLY kiss and they say it was a mistake and go back to being friends. With the relationship taking so long to develop, I felt the third act break up was completely unnecessary. This is the third book in the Jansen Brothers series but it can be read on it's own. I'm intrigued to read the others in the series but I'm not in a big rush based on this book. Overall, it was a little better than okay and I recommend if you like a really slow burn, closed door romance.

A Guide to Being Just Friends by Sophie Sullivan is an adorably sweet story about Hailey and Wes who, after a meet cute gone side-ways, decide to embrace each other as friends.

With a cast of colorful secondary characters, Wes and Hailey find their paths keep crossing. Both of them shying away from relationships for their own reasons, they agree to stick to a platonic relationship. A solid plan right? Wrong! 😂

This book is perfect for readers who:
🧍🧍🧍: have already read the other two Jensen brothers stories. But if not, this works as a stand-alone too!
🥗: likes salads
🔨: likes stories about entrepreneurs and growing businesses
🤩: likes a delightful cast of characters
🎤: cute banter and dialogue
🥰: happily ever after!

I really enjoyed this friends to lovers rom-com. It’s a slow burn for sure. I enjoyed the storyline a lot. Hailey moves to a new city and opens a salad shop… who doesn’t love a good salad, right. She makes friends with locals visiting her shop & ends up with a best friend & lots of other friendships along the way. Then… typical rom-com stuff. Short & fun chapters. I never got bored. I did get a little annoyed at the character’s arguments, but I almost expect that when reading romance.
•
Also, who knew this was part of a series? I didn’t 😂 but it was a very much stand-alone book. I think it would have made it better knowing the backstories of the other brothers, but not necessarily needed. This is book 3 though. I’ll defiantly put the previous 2 on my tbr.

What a cute book! This whole series is wonderfully adorable and this series is no exception. This closed-door friends to lovers romance was a treat to read and I loved meeting the last single Jansen brother. There was some stuff he said to Hailey at the end that took me back a little and made me rate it a bit lower but overall a great end to this series!

The blurb for this book piqued my interest - who doesn't love a disastrous meet cute between two people who either don't have time for love or don't believe in love?

This story had a slow start for me, and I almost stopped reading it at one point. There was a lot of character development, which every good story needs, but I didn't realize this was the third installment in a series when I first started reading. While I didn't need to read the other two books to enjoy the romance part of the story, there were parts of the story that left me (and seemingly Hailey) feeling out of the loop. There were parts of the story that also felt unresolved.

Aside from those missing or unresolved moments, I loved the relationship that evolved between Hailey and Wes. The hesitation for crossing the lines of friendship and the palpable tension between them were perfect. I loved that the Guide was more to help themselves and each other not cross a line they found themselves toeing as they grew to know each other better.

A Guide to Being Just Friends is perfect for anyone who loves:
💛Friends to Lovers
💐Slow burn romances
🚪Closed door romances

Thank you, Sophie Sullivan, St. Martin's Griffin, and NetGalley, for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't realize that this is the 3rd installment in a series, with that said, it does read like a standalone. The other 2 books aren't absolutely necessary to understand what is happening in this book. This was a nice slow burn, friends to lovers romance.

✨Book Review✨

A Guide To Being Just Friends
By Sophie Sullivan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Swipe for synopsis ➡️

People let me tell y’all about this book 👏🏼 Though it may be book 3 in a series, it can be read as a stand alone which is why I’m telling y’all to run and get this book!

✨charming
✨witty
✨instant chemistry
✨FRIENDS TO LOVERS

Hailey is a empowered new business owner in town our to prove herself and make her way even if she has to do it on her own.

Wes is a broody business man who sees falling in love as a hoax especially after witnessing his parents messy divorce. “Better to like than to love”.

Hailey breaks down Wes’ walls and helps him realize that not all love stories end in a broken heart when you find your person!

This was my first Sophie Sullivan read and I just loved her writing style, her character development, and she can write a gooooood rom-com!

Instant 5⭐️ for me!

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the gifted copy!

Cute and fun! Not my favorite and it’s not something I’ll remember for a long time but I enjoyed it. The characters were fun but I wish there had been more time spent delving into their pasts and how it molded them. We got glimpses of it but not enough for it to feel realistic

Thank you to NetGalley, Sophie Sullivan and St Martin’s Press for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m so sad this series is over. I cannot get enough of these romance series’ with family members all falling in love. It’s so fun and then you have a longer time with each character that you loved previously. This novel was so quick and easy to read and I love Wes just as much as I did his brothers. Definitely recommend.