Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this title! I LOVED this book! This is the third installment of the Jansen Brothers series, but it can be read as a standalone (which I did). Wes and Hailey shine as MC's and watching their story unfold was a delight. Both have baggage to unpack as they work through their friendship and romantic relationship, and you can't help but root for them along the way. Their banter had me giggling, the romantic gestures had me swooning, and the HEA was completely satisfying.

Read if you enjoy...
- Friends to Lovers
- Closed-door/Fade-to-Black
- Slow Burn
- Witty banter
- Strong female lead

I have already added the other two books in this series to my TBR, and can't wait to read them! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romcoms. It ticked all the boxes and more for me!

I absolutely loved this book. I loved the characters, Hailey and Wes, together, They complimented each other well and I loved that while they quickly became friends it took them a while to realize how much they meant to one another, It was a great slow burn romance but not in a frustrating way, it was honestly nice seeing this natural progression of them coming together. I also really loved the relationship between Wes and his brothers and Hailey, her cousin, and her cousin's friends who quickly became her friends too (and besides, who doesn't love a book club that just gets together to drink wine?). Overall it was an adorable read that I was honestly a little sad to see end.

I love Hailey and Wes. Such a cute story. Wes had long ago hidden his heart. He thinks it is much safer that way. Hailey has had her heart stomped on so many times, but she is willing to put it out there again. Wes isn't willing to risk his heart. They decided to be friends because neither of them was looking for a romantic relationship. That worked for a while, but it seems Hailey is irresistible, and Wes wants more. So does Hailey, but it isn't the same things that Wes wants. He thinks he wants to have fun and just be with Hailey. He thinks that will be enough. Hailey wants a family to love. After dealing with his father, Wes doesn't think love is in the cards for him. Will he come to his senses? Will they ever make a life together?

A Guide to Being Just Friends by Sophie Sullivan is a slow burn, friends to lovers romance with very low heat. The chemistry they had as friends was bursting! They could have kept that tension for a few more chapter and I would have been absolutely ok with it! This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, light, cute and kept me reading. I enjoyed this book and would read others by this author.

Hailey is driven when it comes to her business. Opening her shop is ultimately the end game, and nothing will stand in her way. She ends up embarrassing herself in front of a complete stranger, and let’s just say that it leads to a newfound friendship that she was not expecting. Can she balance her new relationship and her dreams?

Wes has been there and done that when it comes to relationships. He is perfectly fine with the single life. When he tried to rectify a situation with Hailey, he finds himself enjoying his friendship with her. He may even admit that he is enjoying even more than a friendship. Can he let go of past trauma to enjoy what can be something good?

I enjoyed this meet cute romance. It starts off strong with Hailey and Wes both on the same page. Neither of them wants to be in a relationship. They slowly embark on this friendship that is cute and funny at times. The banter with Hailey and her staff was fun. Wes and his brothers are great. I think I liked the side characters a bit more than the main characters.

Over the past few years, I have tolerated the slow-burn romances more if executed perfectly. This just falls slightly short because the steam factor is not there. The level of intimacy that is to be expected in the background and the sexual tension between Wes and Hailey is off. Wes is so scared because of his pain from previous relationships. Every time I would think that we were getting closer, he retreated. Hailey is so driven that at times, I wanted her to take a look around her. She didn’t connect with Wes until the very end. At some point, the slow burn became painful.

If you have read the previous books in this series, you are in for a treat because the couples from the series are in this one. This is still a stand-alone novel but it was nice to see what the others have been up to.

Overall, if this is perfect for fans of the series to close it out.

~ Samantha

This book is the conclusion to the Jansen Brothers series, but can be read as a standalone. To fully enjoy the history of the characters, I recommend reading the other books in the series.

Hailey has just moved to San Verde from LA to open a salad shop. While taking a break at the coffee shop next to hers, she encounters a bit of a grump who incorrectly assumes she's the blind date that stood him up, based on her name. She encounters him again while delivering salads to a business meeting. Wes feels bad that he was rude earlier, so he goes to her shop to apologize. They commiserate over bad dates and decide to become friends.

What results is a sweet slow burn that is a joy to read. I had a lot of fun reading about these characters and would love to have a book about Fiona....

I received an advanced reader’s copy of A Guide to Being Just Friends by Sophie Sullivan.

Hailey and Wes start off as friends and we get to see the relationship grow to something more without it feeling rushed. Hailey was the stronger one emotionally and willing to take chances as far as their romantic relationship. Wes was reticent and had some work to do to face his fears. I thought how he was portrayed and the reasons for his fears was well developed. I was interested in reading on to see how he would come to his realizations and grow as a character.

The epilogue wrapped up the series in a satisfying way for the Jansen brothers.

While I love enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, there wasn’t as much chemistry as I would have liked between the two MC’s. They really did feel like “just friends” at most points. This can be a standalone but doesn’t necessarily make as much sense without the background in the first two books! The characters were frustrating at times but I also wasn’t a fan of When Harry Met Sally so maybe it was just not my vibe? I appreciated where both of them were coming from in their reluctance, but it was a bit too much sometimes. The supporting characters were fun though! All in all, cute story but not my favorite of the series.

Did this read blow me away? Not particularly. But did it help me to clear my mind enough that I actually want to read other books now, too? Yeah. And it’s hard to find a book that can do that for you, so definitely check this one out. This is the perfect book when you’re in a reading slump.

I was a touch disappointed in the beginning of the book, the pacing was off, I felt the tenses were odd, and the story just seemed stagnant. Once I made it through about 24% of the book, that’s when things really started to pick-up. If the book started at 24%, with the first scene added in, I really think this could have rated higher for me.

I enjoyed the plot, the pacing through the rest of the book, and the characters (yes, even the ex and the evil woman trying to take Hailey’s man). While I am not a fan of miscommunication/lack of communication, I do think that this was done with taste. There wasn’t a huge thrown down or fall out. They took the time to cool off (as one should when you’re upset) and they talked (WHAATTT?!?!).

Did I find Wes’ approach to life sad? Yeah. But I also think that so many of us can see ourselves in him. Maybe not for the same reasons but how many of us can honestly say we haven’t erected walls to protect ourselves from one thing or another?

Hailey Sharp is starting over. She had been living in Hollywood, dating an actor and working on movie sets, cooking and serving the actors and crew as they worked. But when she found out that her boyfriend of three years had been cheating on her, she decided it was time to move on. She kicked him out of the apartment that she owned, sold the apartment, and found herself a cute storefront in San Verde where she could open a small take-and-go salad shop. By the Cup offers a variety of salads that showcase California’s fresh vegetables and Hailey’s creativity with food.

She stops into the coffeeshop next door for a caffeine fix and a sweet treat, and that’s when a good-looking man appears right in front of her. He clearly thinks he knows her, but she has no idea who she is. But then, he’s also calling her Hayden. And while that is the name that the barista who hadn’t been paying attention wrote on her cup, she smiles and tries to explain that her name is really Hailey and she has no idea of what he’s talking about. She finally figures out that he had been expecting to meet up with a woman he’d met on a dating app, and she feels bad for his disappointment, but she is not interested in dating. Hailey just wants her shop to succeed.

A couple of days later, Hailey is delivering a lunch order to a local radio station, where she finds her recent customers producer Everly and on-air talent Stacy, who had recommended her shop. She also meets the owners of the station, brothers Chris, Noah, and Wes Jansen, and she stops short. Wes is the one who had accosted her in the coffee shop, and he clearly looks embarrassed about that. They all laugh about it, and Wes insists he is giving up dating for a while. He feels so bad about it that he comes by Hailey’s shop to apologize and offers to help with her website, one of the many things she’d been meaning to get to.

As they talk, Hailey and Wes find they have an easy chemistry, and as the weeks go by, and Wes and his brothers spend more time in Hailey’s shop, they find that they are becoming friends. There is one area where they struggle though.

Wes is a fixer and wants to face any problem head-on. His family has money, so he has had the resources to fix a lot of problems that have come up in his life. Everything except his parents’ marriage. His father can be abrasive, and there had been a lot of fighting before he had finally kicked his wife out of the house. As the oldest brother, Wes had done what he could to protect his younger brothers from the drama, but there was no one to protect him. Now he likes to fix the problems he can, but he still struggles with the voice of his father in his head.

Hailey hates to ask for help. She doesn’t even like to accept help when it’s offered. There were just too many times in the past when she accepted help from someone she thought was a friend to be let down. She had believed in her boyfriend, until he had turned out to be a jerk. Now, she is starting over on her own. And she wants to do this on her own. But running a successful restaurant is a lot of work to do all on your own.

As the friendship grows between Hailey and Wes, Hailey figures out that she can trade favors with Wes, so she can get help without having to give up control. They spend time with his brothers and their girlfriends, and Hailey also spends time with her cousin Piper and her book club friends. As she grows a new life, one step at a time, she finds herself opening up and finding ways to expand her salad offerings. And Wes finds a life in California separate from his brothers, where he can be himself and follow some of his own dreams.

But despite their dedication to growing their friendship, they both find themselves increasingly attracted to each other. The small touches, the thoughtfulness, the vulnerability they find in their friendship could lead to something more. But will they find the courage to open up to the possibility of a deeper relationship, or will they let the opportunity for true love slip through their fingers?

A Guide to Being Just Friends is a sweet rom com from Sophie Sullivan, whose charming writing style draws readers in and makes them feel right at home. This includes some of the characters of her previous Ten Rules for Faking It and How to Love Your Neighbor, but this can be read as a stand-alone also. It’s fun and funny, and there is a genuine warmth to this story of friendship and starting over.

I have loved all three of these novels about the Jansen brothers, but this one may be my favorite. Wes and Hailey both have some awkwardness, and their friendship seemed to fill in those gaps, making them a cohesive couple. They genuinely brought out the best in each other, and watching this friendship develop slowly and bring out the best in both of these characters was amazing. It’s the perfect ending for the stories of these brothers and those in their lives, and I loved every minute of it.

Egalleys for A Guide to Being Just Friends were provided by St. Martin’s Griffin through NetGalley, with many thanks.

I can’t believe we are done with the Jansen Brothers series. A Guide to Being Just Friends by Sophie Sullivan was as adorable just like the two previous books. There’s something about Sophie’s writing that hooks me from the beginning. I enjoyed the slow-burn romance and the friends to lovers trope. The story was well developed and I enjoyed it very much. Hailey and Wes were great characters. Both of them had flaws but I do have high hopes for them. This story was really sweet and I loved the romance. Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to receive an early copy. I can’t wait to have a physical copy for my collection.

From an awkward mistaken identity first meeting to an even worse second one, Hailey and Wes end up forming an unique friendship. It's cute and funny with just enough chemistry that you know them being just friends won't do. Both characters are just what the other needs in their lives and I was down for it. The other characters bring a great connection for these two and offer them to be more than one dimensional.
Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and give my honest opinion.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, light, cute and kept me reading. I enjoyed this book and would read others by this author.

This is the third book in this series. Wes is the oldest brother and has felt the need to protect his family and solve any problems since he was a kid trying to distract his siblings from their parent’s tumultuous divorce. Hailey grew up with parents who were more interested in their relationship than the child they didn’t really want. As a result, she has had to make her own way and finds it difficult to accept support of any kind.

Hailey had recently opened a salad based business and was next door at the bakery getting chocolate to calm her nerves when they have a not meet cute moment. Fortunately, they meet again under better circumstances and end up becoming friends. I love how their friendship grows and they both learn valuable life lessons.

I received a free copy of this book to review through NetGalley and thoroughly enjoyed it!

A Guide to Being Just Friends
by Sophie Sullivan

Pub date: January 17, 2023 (today!)

This was a cute book, adorable FMC and a sweet group of friends. Hailey and Wes meet purely by accident when he mistakes her for his Tinder date at a local coffee shop. They wind up running into each other a couple of days later through some friend connections and… you’d think the rest is history. But it isn’t, because they both want to be “just friends.” Hailey and Wes have the sweetest friendship and I loved watching that grow. When their feelings develop into something more, is it worth risking the friendship they’ve built?!

I thought this plot was so fun and was immediately invested in it, but honestly I just kind of got lost for a good chunk of the book. There were a lot of side characters to keep up with, and their activities. Not to mention a shady landlord, a community center, several new-ish relationships to keep up with… just a lot going on. I loved the tightness of their big friend group, but the details about what everyone was doing was super distracting for me. All of that to say, it was slow going through the middle of the book. But the story really picks up around 60%, so it was worth sticking it out.

This was the third book in the series, and while it could be read as a stand-alone, I think it would have been a lot easier to keep the other characters straight if I had read the previous books.

All around a cute read and one that I’m sure many people will enjoy!

I really wanted to love this book, but it just didn't speak to me. I did realize that this was the third book in a series (where each story is also a standalone) about a quarter of the way into it, so maybe my experience reading it would've been different if I had known that going in? However, I also have a big issue with grown adult characters who are emotionally stunted to an extreme that feels unrealistic, so I'm not 100% sure that context would've fixed everything.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! I will read anything that Sophie Sullivan writes and this one just may be a favorite of mine. I loved the characters in it. Hailey and Wes both had me hooked from the start of this one. I am so glad I got a chance to read it and I highly recommend it.

3.5 stars for this one from Sophie Sullivan. I received this one from St. Martin's Griffin via netgalley, so I'd like to thank the publisher for my review copy.

I liked this book just fine and it was a sweet romantic comedy. It was cute but very much a slow burn. The story was entertaining but this was my reasoning for a bit of a lower rating. It started off really strong. Loved the cute little salad shop vibes and I liked Hailey. But it dragged a little in the middle and the slow burn will they, won't they lasted a bit too long in my opinion. It was also very mild in terms of steam. I don't always need steam in my romance books but I felt like this one could have used a little heat. There were also a lot of secondary characters who didn't bring much to the story.

Unknown to me, this is actually the third book in a series. I don't think you need to read the first two at all - I was never confused or lacking context. I do feel that it works as a stand alone. But apparently the first two books are about two of the other brothers. Perhaps knowing their backgrounds could have added an extra layer of enjoyment. Overall, not bad at all if you're in the mood for something quick and sweet.

Hailey Sharp’s goal is to get her new salad shop By the Cup up and running. She put all her money into this shop and is stressing so much she heads over to the shop next to hers for some chocolate. That is when she meets Wes Jansen who mistook her for an online date he was to meet. They both were insecure as he had a domineering father and she had just broken up with a boyfriend that constantly put her down. With them both having trust issues, the story will show venerability, humor, love, compassion for others, and starting out as friends could turn into much more.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a complimentary copy.

Rounded up from a 3.5

If there's one thing I love about the Jansen Brother's series, its that they're fun and quick reads.

I was looking forward to reading about Wes's story after following along with the two previous books. I was intrigued by Wes mostly because he was the quiet older brother who wasn't talked about all too much.

This follows Hailey who just opened a salad shop after moving to California. She has a not so meet cute with Wes, who is waiting for a date at the dessert shop next door. Wes accuses Hailey of lying about her identity that she wasn't his date who was standing him up. Feeling bad about the mix up and after having one of her salads, Wes offers web and business advice to Hailey to make up for it.

I loved seeing these two form an actual friendship before jumping into any type of relationship. They were building a good foundation of wit and banter. I loved the slow build between them, though I did get a little frustrated that Hailey was a bit too quick to throw away any feelings and was solely focused on her self. That being said, they were really able to push through in the end.

This was a sweet book with just enough conflict. Also, don't read this book hungry, for once in my life I was constantly craving a salad.

Thank You NetGalley and St Martin's Publishing Group for the ARC