This book started the off great. Hailey and Wes move into a new town and are drawn together. They become great friends (maybe start to feel a bit more) but they don't want to wreck what they have by having a relationship. As they both have been hurt in the past they view a relationship as being very negative. By the end of the book it fell short for me as the negativity got to be too much and was uninterested in finishing the book.

Such a sweet book. It felt different from other rom-com books in that i felt a lot of thought went into feelings and expressions of love. It was fun and a great pleasure to read.

A Guide to Being Just Friends is a heartfelt rom-com about two unexpected people becoming friends and then relaxing they have feelings for one another.
The last book in the series but you don’t need to read any of the priors to follow the story.
I enjoyed that it read a light hearted and quick read.

As a huge fan of Sophie Sullivan, I was really looking forward to this book and hoping it measured up to her previous novel's. Overall I did like both Wes and Hailey but found so many moments to be "cringe.'
Hailey always assuming the opposite of what Wes is so obviously meaning and vice versa. It feels like Sophie was really reaching for filler content in some conversations. I also found it frustrating Hailey was constantly punishing Wes, for doing even the simplest things for her. I felt like he could never do any thing right, in her eyes.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was fine. But I'm tired of fine.

I will admit that I don't love Friends to Lovers. Especially, if they are new friends like in this case.

I never bought their romance, I barely bought their friendship.

Things were incredibly repetitive and there was no follow-through on several of the subplots.

I enjoyed the side characters, especially Leo!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited to read this book, but really struggled to connect with the characters from the very beginning. For some reason the book felt distant for me.

I'm at about 80% as I write this review, but I don't see the ending changing my opinion by much so I'm writing this now. I've been listening to the audiobook and reading the ebook back and forth as NetGalley and the publishers granted me both.

They're cute, just not super memorable for me. I like the MMC, the FMC not as much. It's a little *tooo* contemporary at points. Why are we talking about iPhones, TikTok, etc. The salad bar thing was a little funny too. And I do dislike the rich boy x poor girl where the girl is aggressively against any help or minor favors. It's hard to generalize my thought on it, but specifically here her business is just starting and she's barely getting by but refuses to let him pay for a single salad? "Money and business ruins friendships!" as he just wants to pay for his meal and she's the one refusing money because he's rich.

I didn't read the other books in the series but it didn't leave me confused, and honestly the mentions of previous couples are so minor I wouldn't say there's any spoilers at risk for reading the series out of order.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publishers, for the ebook and audiobook ARCs of this book.

I really enjoyed this one. It was so heartwarming. Wes was swoon worthy for sure and just so much made me smile. Definitely check it out!

No spoilers review!
This was was extremely fluffy, funny and lighthearted! Everything you need in a cute romance to make you swoon.
Would recommend to anyone in the mood for a great light read.

I had to read the first two books in this series in order to properly review it (A Guide to Being Just Friends is the third Jansen Brothers story). The series overall is excellent, and I enjoyed Hailey and Wes' love story so much!

First of all, Hailey might be on to something with her boutique salad venture! Sophie Sullivan does an excellent job of setting up her characters and has a knack for making them interesting but relatable. Wes Janzen was set up in his brothers books, but now we get an up close and personal look at the eldest Jansen bro. He and Hailey start off on the absolute wrong foot, but recover to friendship status seamlessly. From there we are taken on a bumpy friends to lovers journey - and I loved every moment!

Let’s start by discussing the main characters: Hailey and Wes(ley). I think the couple had some chemistry; it isn’t as extraordinary as I've seen in other books, but it was still enough for me to want them to get together. I think the way that the friends-to-lovers trope unfolds throughout that story was remarkably realistic by the way Hailey wouldn't want to express their feelings for fear that it would ruin everything. I think the characters were well-developed and loveable. I genuinely felt like I knew them by the end of the book, until the ending. I didn't like the way the story ended. I felt like it was really out of character for Wes. There were a couple of Taylor Swift references which definitely won some points from me. I think the pacing was well, and the events did an undoubtedly excellent job of keeping me hooked on the story and wondering what was going to happen next. This book is the third in the series (I will admit I haven’t read any of the other ones,) but I was very easily capable to follow the story due to the fact that they can be all read as stand-alone.

In conclusion, this was a solid four-star read. It was light (with enough emotional heaviness) and enjoyable. This one is for rom-com lovers!

This is a sweet fun rom-com that was a joy to read. It's a wonderful romance full of humor and wonderful characters.
I received a complimentary copy from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

NetGalley Review — my rating ⭐️/5
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Girl starts over in a new town. Boy accidentally calls girl wrong name after thinking she’s standing him up on a blind date. Girl opens restaurant and delivers food to boy’s work. Boy realizes he’s wrong and feels dumb. Girl and boy become friends. Girl and boy eventually fall in love. *fade to black*
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A Guide to Being Just Friends by Sophie Sullivan is the 3rd in the Jansen Brothers Series. You do not need to read the others to understand this one.
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If you like fade to black friends-to-lovers romances where there’s more description than dialogue, this one is for you. As you can see, I do not go for that. There wasn’t even sexy bits to balance out my boredom.
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Don’t recommend (obviously) but you do you. Pub date is just a week away — 1/17/23
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Thanks to St Martins Press for the ARC!
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#netgalley

An absolute must-read!

This book is the third and final installment in the Jansen Brothers series and the best truly was saved for last. Hailey Sharp and Wes Jansen are such lovable characters and they made this book so hard to put down. Friends to lovers is my all-time favorite trope, and this book is easily one of my favorites in it. Hailey and Wes have both recently moved to San Verde for a fresh start. After a not-so meet cute the two become fast friends. Neither of them is looking for a relationship, and so they create the "Guide to Being Just Friends." This guide is to ensure no lines are crossed in their friendship that could lead to anything more. While their businesses are growing, so are their feelings for each other. The only problem is the lines they very clearly laid are starting to blur.

I cannot recommend this book enough! Overall, this is one of the cutest rom-coms I've read in a long time and I think it deserves all the love.

*Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin, Sophie Sullivan, and NetGalley for the ARC, in exchange for my honest review.*

I absolutely loved the new book in this series. of the Jansen Brothers. Fun and romantic comedy that you will smile and laugh throughout.
I received a copy of this from publisher in exchange for fair and honest review.

Thank you Netgallery for the arc! Such a cute romance! I am a sucker for friends to lovers and Hailey and Wes did not disappoint! The beginning was a bit slow for me so it took me a while to get into the storyline but once they made a guide to being just friends, I was hooked! It was definitely a cute slow burn romance and I absolutely loved the side characters Piper, Fiona and of course the Jansen brothers! Would definitely recommend!

Ahhh my first romcom of the year and it was a legit HIT! I am so glad I was selected to review this one on Netgalley because it is so stinking cute!

This is obviously a friends to lovers situation, because how could it not be with a title like that! From the very first meeting between Hailey and Wes you will be cracking up, and by the third… you’ll be in literal tears (pretzel sticks, iykyk 🤣)

After that the banter between these two characters, their family and friends, and their very interesting jobs and lives will keep you entranced and excited to pick it up again and again!

The audio was wonderful and I loved having the voices of both Hailey and Wes in my head! This was a big part of my flight across the country as I listened to most of it on the plane and it made the flight go so much faster!

I wanted just a little more out of the ending but they may just be because I wasn’t ready for it to end. I’d highly recommend this to my romcom lovers out there, and it’s not spicy or open door so even my more conservative readers will enjoy this one (though there is some inuendo… and a little steam).

I love a friends to lovers romance and this one was so sweet.

What I loved: the side characters were great. They definitely added fun and personality to the story. When Harry Met Sally vibes throughout which was fun. I also really enjoyed the found family aspect.

It was a little long and drawn out at times. I liked that the story was well developed but I just feel like it could have been a little more concise. Hailey not accept help over and over for a little old. I didn’t feel the chemistry from the characters as much as I would have liked. But overall, it was a warm and fuzzy closed door romance that I think many will enjoy.

Sweet but slow romance with emphasis on blossoming friendship between two perfect-for-each-other but oblivious romantic leads who spend too much time denying their feelings. There is a nice story about building a business in a small town which is always fun to read but this story is just very slow moving and I needed more action. For readers who love slow building tales with happy endings. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Ok, I'm embarrassed to admit this but...it took me looking up this book on Goodreads (halfway through reading) to realize that it's technically part of a series (The Jansen Brothers). So far this is the third in the series and I have to say I absolutely loved How to Love Your Neighbor and A Guide to Being Just Friends didn't disappoint either. I love books like Sophie Sullivan's, Sarah Adams, and Jasmine Guillory where we get a glimpse of how previous book characters are doing.

Hailey Sharp is starting over with her small-owned salad company and she's determined to do it 100% on her own. Previous relationships and family dynamics have instilled in her this need for independence and self-security. When she gets coffee and finds herself in the middle of a meet cute gone wrong, she meets Wes Jansen (I think he's my favorite of the brothers, because of how thick his armor is to protect his heart). While these two vow to be just friends (ha!), both are shocked when butterflies increasingly happen when they see one another.

This is not a steamy read, which after my last few romances was a welcomed shift. I have seen reviews written by other bookstagrammers who needed more spice, but this book is truly about how we are all looking for our best friend partner. What I didn't like was some of the business elements that felt thoroughly unrealistic and the miscommunications between Wes and Hailey that made me want to shake them. What redeemed this was Wes' brothers' frustrations written in the pages so I felt justified with my frustrations. This book does quite a bit of digging into what it feels like being part of the haves and the have nots. What bummed me out was Wes actually has so much support and love surrounding him and he doesn't realize it due to his cynical upbringing, which he protected his siblings from. Hailey on the other hand was the independent woman most of us strive to be and her family circumstances felt so cruel for such a delightful and warm character.

Sophie Sullivan, I have had this book on my NetGalley shelf for awhile, but didn't want to read it until closer to publication, because I knew I would have to wait awhile for you next! I can't wait!!!!

Warning: You will want a salad after reading this book! I wish Hailey's shop was real, because her creative salads sound scrumptious!