🦇 Book Review 🦇

"Sometimes we don't know who we are until we find the right person. The one that helps us see ourselves in a way we never did before."

After a bad breakup, Hailey Sharp throws all of her attention toward her new business, By the Cup. Her quaint salad bar is located on a strip alongside other booming businesses in San Verde, California, though it's not quite drawing a line of hungry customers yet. Next door is an already bustling coffee shop, Baked, where she bumps into Wes Jansen--an investor who assumes Hailey has arrived for a blind date, only for the two of them to initiate an awkward, tense meet-cute instead. Fate throws them back into one another's orbit yet again, and the two become fast friends. While Hailey is focused on growing her business, Wes works alongside his two younger brothers to help their community flourish, even extending his design skills and business acumen to aid By the Cup. Hailey, not wanting to depend on anyone for support, only accepts if she can help Wes in exchange, further driving their ever-growing friendship into something far more.

Sophie Sullivan excels at developing complex, driven, adorable characters that thrive off one another. Unfortunately for me, I wasn't aware that there were two books before this one (featuring Wes' younger brothers and their significant others). Even so, this book can stand beautifully on its own as it delves into Wes and Hailey's friendship. Wes learns how to creatively navigate Hailey's stubborn independence while Hailey encourages Wes to pursue his passions. The slow burn, friends-to-lovers tropes don't feel forced or cliche; you can see Wes and Hailey growing to rely on and trust one another in every passing scene. The secondary characters all have their own rich histories and motivations, and while those details are established in the series' previous books, you don't need to read them to feel the shared love, trust, and respect between the Jansen brothers or their significant others. Both Hailey and Wes rely on their friends and family members as much as they rely on each other, creating a "found family" dynamic that breathes off the page.

However, the transition from friends to more seems rushed. Wes is analytical, pragmatic, nerdy, and a little uptight. Hailey is funny, playful, hard-working, and optimistic. The "opposites attract" vibe that makes them a great match as friends doesn't translate well into their romantic relationship; in fact, it causes them to butt heads. Instead of hitting a moment when the tension between them bursts, the novel transitions into their romantic relationship as if they've always been there; no sweet first date, no payoff, no steam. While romantic comedies don't need steamy scenes, the silent, mutual pining they had as friends doesn't reflect in their newfound relationship. The slow burn as friends is dragged on for so long that their chemistry as a couple seems to flat line.

Overall, I enjoyed A Guide to Being Just Friends as a friends-to-lovers romance with a HEA. This book is a comforting, swoon-worthy, emotional romantic comedy that perfectly balances both sides of a budding relationship. If you're looking for a heartwarming read, this is the book for you!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to leave an honest review. This is the second book I have ever read by Sophie Sullivan and the second of the Jansen brothers themselves. This was a very cute rom-com/beach read. The story flows very well with no confusing timeline jumps.

The book follows Wes, the oldest brother who is a bit of a computer geek and is a bit OCD honestly. He likes his schedules and things to go according to plan. He isn't always the best at social interaction. Enter Hailey, a new shop owner who has been burned by her last relationship. She's just trying to make her new business work and is not looking for a relationship. When Wes and Hailey first meet, it's a bit of a misunderstanding between the two and they don't get off to a great start. When Wes goes to apologize, they decide to become friends and it becomes the most important relationship both have for a couple of months. But then feelings start to change for both and neither know how to handle it.

Definitely a fun read. I loved Wes and all his quirks plus the family bond between the brothers.

This is Book 3 in the Jansen Brothers series, you can read as a standalone, but the characters in the other books do appear often. I didn’t read the first two, but I do wish I did so I could understand the back story of the other brothers.

Overall, I thought that was an okay romance. There wasn’t much to it, and there wasn’t much making me want to finish it really. There was no depth to the main characters, so I didn’t see the connection. Also, the guide to being just friends was mention very briefly, and wasn’t really a part of the book at all.

I did not read the other books in this series. I might go back now and read them because I enjoyed this one so much, but it was not necessary to read the others to enjoy this one. The brothers are great friends, which made this story more fun to read.

I throughly enjoyed the pace of the relationship - it was slow - which was great because they did not know each other before the story started. I am not an insta-love fan, so this one suited me perfectly. They became friends and got to really know each other and like each other before the relationship got deeper.

As in most romances, there were a few twists and turns that come between the main characters before it all ends well. This one had a great journey before the end was how you expect it to be.

I went into this book not realizing that it was a part of a series, which left me with some questions. Nonetheless, it was a quick and easy read with a sweet romantic storyline.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Guide to Being Just Friends is an opposites attract, friends to lovers, dual POV romance that is reminiscent of When Harry Met Sally. Let me start by saying that I have not yet read the first two books in the Jansen Brothers series, but this book read fine as a stand alone. I will definitely be reading books 1 & 2!

Hailey has recently moved to San Verde and opened By the Cup, a to-go salad shop, and every bit of her energy is going into getting it off the ground. Wes has also recently moved to town, joining his two brothers and their partners (books 1 & 2). The typical coffee shop meet cute takes unique twist in this book, but I'm not going to give any further details because it takes the fun out of it! Both are new in town and neither Hailey or Wes are interested in a romantic relationship. But they have friends in common, and eventually, enjoy each other's company. Being just friends, even best friends, is possible, right?

Like most books, each character has issues to overcome. Hailey was emotionally neglected by her parents; made to feel like she owed them for any attention she needed. So, while she has a big heart and is willing to help anyone, she struggles with accepting help in return. This ends up being a point of conflict with Wes. Wes has been molded by his father his whole life, his dreams and talents dismissed in favor of following in his father's footsteps. He doesn't believe true love exists and marriage is doomed to fail. Just look at the divorce rate!

The relationship between Hailey and Wes is definitely a slow burn as they gradually open up, their friendship grows, and they try to ignore their attraction. I love how Hailey nurtures and encourages Wes's art. His illustrated Guide to Being Just Friends was such a cute surprise (I wish that had been included in the book!). This is a sweet book, both characters make mistakes along the way, but ultimately get the HEA.

I received an advance e-book copy and am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing the ARC.

I really wanted to like this book, but it felt pretty meh to me overall. The story was fine, and the backstory for why Hailey and Wes acted and reacted the way they did, but I felt like the way things shifted between them didn't really feel organic, and it wasn't helped by Hailey's stubbornness and Wes' complete lack of insight into himself.

This book is touted as a friends to lovers romance, but it doesn't capture that feel. Both Wes and Hailey are immediately attracted to each other, and even though they claim they are "just friends" it is very obvious they are not right from the beginning. I think it's admirable for them to get to know each other as friends before dating, but they never were "just friends." And you lose a lot of that inner turmoil that comes from a true friends to lovers romance.

I also didn't appreciate how stubborn Hailey was at times. I understand that she was trying to do things on her own, but she was so completely reticent to accept any kind of help from anyone to the point that it was kind of annoying. And Wes, for as smart as everyone proclaims him to be is incredibly idiotic at times.

Overall, it wasn't bad, but I wouldn't say its my favorite. Still thing Grace and Noah have the best story, but to each their own.

A Guide to Being Just Friends is Sophie Sullivan’s 3rd installment in her Jansen Brothers series. I read her 2nd book in the series last spring and really enjoyed it. This one was not as good in my opinion, but had the same lovable characters, with the representation of strong, stubborn women entrepreneurs.
Friends to lovers trope isn’t my favourite, but if you enjoy it, this book is for you. Also definitely classifies as a sloooooow burn. I absolutely loved the characters of Wes and Hailey, but got frustrated with both their stubbornness. It was extreme and repetitive. This book definitely could have been shorter. But I did love all the characters, both Hailey and Wes were well written (Wes is a dream book boyfriend!) And their family and friends were all great and entertaining as well. I just got bored and frustrated with the plot multiple times during the read.

Firstly I would like to thank NetGalley and Sophie Sullivan for an ARC copy of this book to review! I unfortunately have had to stop at about the 60% mark in this book because I just am having a hard time getting through it. While there are some funny and cute aspects to the book, it just a very slow slow burn and is just lagging on and on for me.

I haven’t found myself able to connect with these characters, to me there’s such a minimal connection between Wes and Hailey that I am having a hard time caring about how their story ends.

I read to 34% and could not get into this. I wanted so much more chemistry for Hailey and Wes; every interaction just felt so boring. I’m sad because I really wanted this to work for me!

I didn't realized this was the end of a trilogy so I read it without reading the first two. You can totally read it as a standalone but I think it would've been funner if I'd already known his brothers' stories. I can't wait to go back and read them now!

I like that Hailey started her own business but wish she'd just accept some help already. I love friends to lovers and this was a slow slow burn but I still enjoyed it! I enjoyed all the side characters! This was fun, swoony, and sweet read!

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the review copy!!

I had a hard time connecting with these characters. There were good parts, such as the flow of the book but I wanted to like the characters more.

First of all, I love the Jansen Brothers.

Hailey opens a salad shop and befriend, unbeknownst to her, some of the most successful and well connected brothers in San Verde. Wes Jansen had moved to known looking for a change and found a lot more than he bargained for. If you are a fan of the slow burn or friends to lovers story lines, this one is for you.

Hailey and Wes decide to embark on a friend's for life venture but neither one figures fallng in love will be the outcome. Wes' parents had a tumultuous relationship and as the oldest he protected his younger siblings from the worst of it. It has skewed his vision of love and marriage.

Hailey arrived in town after a bad relationship. She starts over with her unique vision of salads in a cup. A series of events threatens her livelihood but she can handle it and Wes wants to help
They both have to learn how to support each other . When Wes runs scared can they repair the relationship and trust their hearts to move forward?

A great ending to a successful series. Although I received a free ARC eBook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hailey Sharp is ready to take a fresh new spin on life. She has left her low-life ex, moved to a new city, and started her very own business. By the cup, her cute and unique salad shop is the main thing on her main. She wants to see it succeed, and prove to others she can do it herself with no helping hands.

Wes Jansen is tired of dating apps, he doesn’t understand the appeal of dates and love. He may not like the guy, but his father taught him to be a businessman first and that love isn’t worth the time and effort. Life is a game that has to be planned out methodically and work comes before passion.

When Hayden… I mean Hailey crosses paths with Wes in the local coffee shop, plans may need to be rewritten.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. Overall, it was an enjoyable read with a nice plot and storyline but the execution fell flat in my opinion. At first, I was ready to give this book a four-star rating or above, but as I mulled it over I realized there were lots of holes in the details. Certain moments did not flow very well and conversations seemed choppy. This book did not feel rushed or jam-packed, it felt unfinished and left me with so many questions.

**Potential Spoilers Incoming**

There are so many names to remember in this book, even if you have read the first two in the series, there are lots of new names that you have to remember the whole time. On that note, some characters never show up again or they're missing for a large chunk of the book and then randomly come back.

The community center either needed to be discussed more and added to or it should not have been talked about so much. We were expected to be invested in the relationship, in the brother's businesses, in By the Cup, and in everyone's personal lives but then all of those points never really felt completed other than the romance between Wes and Hailey.

The detail that made me realize how incomplete this book felt to me was after the speed dating. It would have been so cute if we saw Wes interact with Haley and try to lightly flirt with her “as friends”, and also him joking around with Fiona when he got to her table. Sophie Sullivan made a point to write that the women sit down and the men/partners go around but we only got to see a few matches that did not add a ton to the storyline. The dinner after speed dating could have been where they discussed how awkward things were and how they are all tired of dating. Also, I really wish we got to the conflicts earlier so we could have seen how Wes evolved and changed his mind over time.

I know there is more that I currently cannot think of, I remember quite a few times realizing all the little gaps along the way. Overall, certain aspects of this novel did not feel planned out well. Too many details in some places, and missing information in others.

When Hailey moved away from Los Angeles to San Verde and opened a small restaurant making salads she brought with her her past heartbreaks and traumas. While the location is perfect for success as well as the rest of the businesses on the strip she doesn’t have any money for marketing yet, so she’s counting on repeat business and locals finding her. When she makes friends with the owner of the dessert place next door, Hailey doesn’t want any distractions. Wes doesn’t want to fall in love. So friendship it is.

They learn to love and both work through their past heartbreaks. Wes and Hailey are skittish and unprepared for the impact of the other on their lives. While they both made some questionable decisions I did feel somewhat disappointed in Wes throughout the book. But it wasn't just him that I had issues with, Hailey needed a wake-up call too. Ultimately they make things right but it’s a bumpy road in the last third of the book.

Hailey Sharp is determined to leave her ex in the rear view mirror and get her salad shop, By the Cup, up and running. Wes Jansen doesn’t see the point of relationships after a string of first date flops, he’d rather find someone he likes but leave love out of the equation. When Wes and Hailey meet in a meet cute gone horribly wrong, that wasn’t intended for them at all, they go their separate ways. But after Wes later finds Hailey to apologize, they strike up a friendship.

SO CUTE! I started this book not realizing it was part of a series, I’ve actually read book two already, but it can be read as a standalone. I loved watching Hailey and Wes become such great friends first! This one is a slow burn but the book has so many fun characters and other storylines that I didn’t feel like I was standing around waiting for something to happen. It’s also a closed door romance but the tension and build up was so good! Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Sophie Sullivan for my gifted copy!

I love that even though this is the third book in the series you can jump right into it as a stand-alone. I loved Wes and Hailey and I always love a callback to the previous relationships from the first two books. You couldn't help but root for Wes and Hailey throughout the whole book.

I struggled get into this book. I unfortunately did not realize this was book 3 in a series as it was nowhere in the information provided on Netgalley. I would not have requested to read it had I known. While its a separate book in a series it is in my opinion still best read by those who have read the first two books and understand the secondary characters better. I am choosing to not post a review on Goodreads as I do not think it would be a fair rating.

This third instalment in the Jansen brothers series was a lovely way to wrap up. I liked the characters and loved the weaving in of the couples from the previous books, like an extended epilogue. I loved Hailey's story, following her heart in her business, as well as convincing Noah that it was ok to listen to his heart too.