Sigh... not to spoil anything y'all... but they struggle to stay "Just Friends". ;).
For fans of the friends-to-lovers trope, prepare to love every moment of pining in this book. I was a fan of the other Jansen brothers books, and I would venture to say this might be my favorite of the trio. Wes and Hailey's friendship is simply adorable, and the antics between the brothers continue to bring a level of banter-y comedy that makes this story compulsively readable. Sophie Sullivan manages to write a delightful romance full of all of the squeal-worthy moments that make this trope one of my favorites. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the advance copy for review. Opinions are my own.

Cute, quick read. But the characters felt more like character types than fully realized people. As a reader who really connects with the characters, it was hard for me to fully lose myself in the book as a result. That’s not to say the book wasn’t fun, because it was. But it was just a little too predictable, following the romance formula a little closely for my taste.

I’m not a huge fan of the third act conflict in general and this book had TWO. The couple fought, and a chapter later they make up, and in that same chapter, they fought again. It was a little too much for me.

After reading Ten Rules for Faking It (the first book in this standalone series) and not being super impressed by it, I was pleasantly surprised by A Guide to Being Just Friends!

Friends-to-lovers is one of my favorite tropes, and I loved the fact that we got to watch Wes and Hailey’s friendship develop before it turned into something romantic. I also enjoyed seeing the character growth from both of the MCs. Neither of them were perfect, but they felt very real, and it was fun to watch them fall in love.

Honestly, the main thing that kept me from going up to four stars was the fact that I did think a lot of the dialogue was pretty cheesy and cliche. I really enjoyed the plot, but the dialogue sometimes came across as too cookie cutter and distracted me from what I was reading.

A Guide to Being Just Friends by Sophie Sullivan
Jansen Brothers #3. Contemporary romance. Can be read as a stand-alone but the couples from the previous two books have a lot of interaction in this story.
Hailey moved away from Los Angeles to San Verde and opened a small restaurant making salads. It’s the perfect solution for the small strip of businesses and her knowledge of the industry. But she doesn’t have any money for marketing yet, so she’s counting on repeat business and locals finding her. She makes friends with the owner of dessert place next door and other business owners. Wes and Hailey meet and ultimately decide to be friends. The relationship might go deeper but neither is ready.

Sweet and yet emotional as they learn to love and both work through their past heartbreak. Friendships also grow from his brothers and their girlfriends (the previous two books), yet both Wes and Hailey are skittish and unprepared for the impact of the other on their lives.
Wes disappointed me more than once with his decisions. 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.

I did find the sister’s bookclub amusing. No books. Just wine and gossip.

Wes:
“Their gazes locked and a strange zap—like he’d stuck his finger in a socket—whipped up his arms, over his back.”

“She laughed and it surprised Wes to his very core that he thought the sound was pretty. Art was pretty. Not laughter.”

Hailey:
“Life without cookies is just dumb.”

🎧 I alternated between an ebook copy and an audiobook and did the last 10 chapters simultaneously. To me the ebook felt sweeter and kind of adorable. More friends to lovers feel. The audiobook gave the text a bit more of a hard edge to the storyline. Maybe I heard more of Wes’s hesitation and stand-back attitude in the performance though he’s clearly smitten right away.
The narration is a dual POV with performances by Stephanie Willing and Timothy Andres Pabon. Both did a fantastic job with telling the story from their characters perspective. I think Stephanie did a better job with voice variances.
I listened to this audiobook at 1.5 which is about my standard at the moment. And slower and it would sound like a stilted conversation.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the audiobook from Macmillan Audio.

A huge Thank You to The author, The publisher and NetGalley for providing the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Happy pub day to this beauty of a book!
Ahhh! I was screaming and kicking my legs up the entire time. You wouldn't know how happy I was reading this.

This book was really cute! I loved the use of tropes throughout, and was very amused the whole way through. Though I do wish the romantic elements were a bit more turned up, this was a cute and breezy read!

I hate writing negative reviews about new releases, but "A Guide to Being Just Friends" by Sophie Sullivan didn't do it for me. 2⭐

🍅 Hailey is new to town and has recently opened up her salad shop, By the Cup. She is trying to build her business and make friends when she meets Wes Jansen. She and Wes become good friends, but neither one of them is looking for love. They come from really different backgrounds, Wee doesn't believe in love, and Hailey wants to prove she can run her business without his help. But the more they try to fight their feelings for each other, the messier things get.

💻 I liked that I could read this book without having read the first two in the series, and I didn't feel like I was missing anything. I enjoyed reading about Hailey getting her small business of the ground, because it seemed very authentic and it's not something I know a lot about. I also liked reading about Wes' brothers and Hailey's friends.

🌊 However, the pacing was really off for me and getting through the book felt like a slog. I almost DNF'd 😫 There was an overwhelming number of characters who didn't feel very different from each other, and I still don't know who Tilly or Esther are. but my biggest gripe is that there was a lot of telling us that Hailey and Wes were feeling each other, rather than showing us. This is a huge pet peeve for me and overall, this book just didn't capture my attention.

Rounded down from 4.5/5 stars.
I have now read 2 of the 3 Jansen brothers books and so far this one is my favorite. I loved the slow build of the relationship between Hailey and Wes. They were flawed characters who ultimately learn to communicate and grow together, first as friends, then as a couple. This was a fantastic slow burn, and I loved the addition of the friends in Hailey and Wes' world, opening them up to leaning on others and not being alone in the world.

From reading the other reviews, it seems nobody else has felt this way (or at least hasn't noted it), but I felt that Wes could've had autism? If so, I think it would've been a wonderful addition for disability rep if explored more. The way he learns to explore his own feelings and acknowledge them was beautiful in relation to his brothers and his feelings for Hailey.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

DNF. Don’t think this one’s for me… Want to feel the chemistry, the tension — but I’m struggling to connect with the characters. However, I’m sure other romance readers will fall for this friends-to-lovers.

This a cute breezy rom-com to get through it. It is a slow burn strangers to friends to lovers; this is a fade-to-black book if you're not into too much spice. I did enjoy it, but it did take me a while to get into the story. I didn't feel as much tension between the couple as I had hoped for; their miscommunicating and arguments became annoying to me. When they finally got together, they were charming, and I wanted them together, but I did have trouble caring in some parts due to a lack of feeling that tension.

Thank you to Netgally and St. Martin’s Griffin for allowing me to read this book.

Sometimes being too focused on one single thing can cause you to miss one of the best things. Hailey is this person. Too focused on running a business, she's avoiding love... but like all good rom-com's, it finds her instead. And then it finds her again to apologize. And then... You know how it goes... They are just friends, right???

The sparks between Haylie and Wes are the heart of the story. It is a slow burn as Haylie and Wes go from terrible first meeting to sharing a genuine friendship. Sullivan takes her time developing their friendship and successfully turns it into a believable one as opposed to them immediately searching for more from their newfound relationship.

Haylie and Wes are nearly perfect for each other as they begin learn to trust each other and those around them. Similar to the first two books, the pace of this one also slows down around the middle. Unlike the first two books, I did not have as much patience for Wes and Haylie to get together--I wanted them together now. Individuals who enjoy slow burns and friends to lovers romances will enjoy this one. (3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars)

A Guide to Being Just Friends by Sophie Sullivan is Book 3 in the Jansen brothers series, and if you haven’t read Chris and Noah’s stories I highly recommend you do, and read this one of course too! Honestly though Wes may be my favorite Jansen brother, and his friends to lovers relationship with Hailey was just *chef’s kiss*. The foundation of their friendship, and truthfully you know from the beginning they both want to be more than friends but both have different reasons for not wanting to pursue something more, really just had me on the edge of my seat waiting for when they would finally figure it all out and put me out of my misery! When I say this is slow burn, it is slllllloooooooowwwwww burn, but in only the best way possible. Prepare yourself for lots of banter, lots of not dates (but Hailey and Wes are the only ones delusional enough to think they’re not really dates), and one amazing grand gesture.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided to me through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Sophie Sullivan and St. Martin’s Griffin for giving me the opportunity to read this book!

A GUIDE TO JUST BEING FRIENDS – Sophie Sullivan
Griffin
ISBN: 978-1250624208
January 17, 2023
Contemporary Romance

California – Present Day

Hailey Sharp left a career in Hollywood as a caterer to open her own salad shop called By the Cup. Business has been slow, so she’s pretty much open to anything to help increase business. After leaving her ex-boyfriend and wanting independence from her controlling parents, this is her dream. One day while visiting the next-door bakery, she runs into a strange man who appears nice, though he did insult her. A couple of days later, he shows up at her shop and apologizes. Turns out that his name is Wes Jansen and he’s a guy with plenty of ideas on how to succeed in business. Can he help Hailey?

Wes joined his two brothers in California after he finally got fed up with their controlling father. The three brothers are trying to build their own mega empire, though their father keeps threatening to sue them because he wants them back. Meanwhile, Wes hangs out at Hailey’s shop and offers her ideas, some of which she accepts. Since both aren’t looking for romance, they agree to be friends only. They’re supportive of each other and encourage the other to pursue dates with other men. However, it soon turns out that there is some jealousy when they do date. Wes and Hailey seem like they would be perfect for each other, but they are determined to only be friends.

Most of A GUIDE TO JUST BEING FRIENDS revolves around Hailey and Wes trying to ignore their growing feelings for each other. They do things with each other and offer advice, but they declare that they are friends only. One can understand Hailey not wanting to get involved after her recent bad romance, plus she is trying to get her business off the ground. Wes doesn’t think he is marriage material after watching his parents’ marriage implode. As they dance around their feelings, it puts up a barrier between them. When will Hailey and Wes realize that they are falling for each other?

A GUIDE TO JUST BEING FRIENDS plods along at times, but when Wes and Hailey are at odds with each other, it provides the best clues to their growing feelings. Even as his brothers tell him that he and Hailey have something more than friendship going on, he insists that they are wrong. Meanwhile, Hailey’s salad business starts to take off—a lot due to Wes’s suggestions—and she is finding herself busy. But when she finally realizes that she has feelings for Wes, she begins to back away from their friendship. Can they right the ship that is threatening to sink their friendship?

A light, enjoyable tale about friends to lovers, A GUIDE TO JUST BEING FRIENDS, is the perfect read if you like a romance that builds over time.

Patti Fischer
Romance Revews Today

This book is a sweet, entertaining slow-burn romance with lovable and appealing characters. Hailey and Wes have so much chemistry that I admit, I wanted them to get it together and get together! But it was worth it to see their friendship develop, and to watch Hailey come into her own both in her business and in building her “found family.” I loved getting to revisit the characters from Sophie’s other books, and Wes’s relationship with his brothers and their partners was so perfectly funny but also sweet and loving. It was really heartwarming to see Hailey become part of the group. Overall, this is a great read, perfect for fans of classic friends-to-lovers romcoms.

3.5 stars!

I really enjoyed this one; I read the first book in this series and the second is on my TBR. While this can definitely be a standalone novel, I think the reader would benefit from having read the other books.

Likes:
I really enjoyed that Hailey was a strong, independent gal! She was building herself up after a terrible breakup with a verbally abusive, narcissistic actor and moved to San Verde for a fresh start. I loved that she owned her own business and was committed to her own success. I loved how Hailey and Wes drew each other out of their respective comfort zones and complemented each other so well. This book also had some fantastic side characters, and I honestly wouldn't mind seeing them again (Maybe Fiona will get her own book?)

Dislikes:
I found that the descriptions of the characters physical attributes weren't very fleshed out. Maybe I missed it, but I didn't realize Hailey was a redhead into 3/4 through the book. I always find that describing the characters in detail helps me to visualize the story in my head better. I also wish we had gotten more time with Wes and Hailey as a couple; there was a LOT of build-up and I wished we had gotten to see them interact more once they finally revealed their feelings. Also, never much of a fan of a third act breakup, and in this case, it seemed to resolve itself a bit too quickly. I think if you are going to include one, there needs to be a bit more struggle in the process, but that's just me!

TW: Verbal abuse, parental neglect, cheating

A Guide to Being Just Friends was my first read of the series, and can be read as a stand alone. I had a hard time connecting with Hailey and Wes because there was alot of confusion in their relationship. A cute read but a bit too much of a slow burn romance for me.
Thank you to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley.

This was a sweet, slow burn, closed door romance. This is book #3 in the Jansen Brother series. The only issue with the read was the fact that there were so many names / people in the book that I really feel I missed a lot by not having read the other books in the series. Normally it's not a huge issue but this one seemed to really have the characters playing quite a large role in the story line so I wouldn't suggest reading this as a stand-alone, from my personal opinion. However, this is a sweet story of an independent woman, Hailey, set to prove to herself that she can make her dream come true. She is a small business owner starting over after a rough relationship and lacking parental figures. Wes is a strong and successful businessman who is fiercely independent and outspoken on his opinions. Through a hilarious mix-up encounter these two enter into a relationship that is "Just Friends". But is that the zone that either of them want to be in? If you love a slow burn, close door romance, prefer chocolate over chips, believe brown sugar is the secret ingredient to life, family isn't necessarily blood relations, and showing love doesn't depend on how much money you have in your bank account this is the perfect read for you.

Thank you, Sophie, NetGalley, and St Martin's Press for my free ebook. It was not expected for me to leave any positive feedback. These opinions are 100% my own.

So good! Grumpy/sunshine, friends to lovers, banter, closed door. This was a book that I couldn’t put down. I love everything about Wes and Hailey’s relationship from the very beginning to the very end.

3.5 stars

A Guide to Being Just Friends is the third book in the Jansen Brothers series. This story follows Wes and Hailey who are both in San Verde for a fresh start. Wes and Hailey have an awkward first meeting which leads to a close friendship and agree that they will be “just friends”.

While this is the third book in a series, you can read it as a standalone. I haven’t read any of other Jansen Brother stories, although I do wish that I did in order to get some background information on some of the other characters that make an appearance. However, it’s not really essential to follow the storyline in this book.

As you can guess, this story has the friends to lovers trope. It was a slow burn and took a while for the characters to actually admit their feelings and get together. I felt that their friendship and dancing around feelings was drawn out little too long and I would have loved to see more of their actual dating relationship.

I liked most of the characters - I loved all of the side characters, and I feel that I would have loved them even more if I had read the other books in the series. As for Wes and Hailey, I did like them, but they just really annoyed me at times.

The writing was okay. There were some parts that felt all over the place, and it jumped from conversations to a really vivid description at times which seemed kind of choppy to me and broke up the dialogue awkwardly.

Overall, I did think it was a cute read, and I do think I will go back and read the first two books in the series.

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