Hailey, a girl on a mission to make her own way with a salad cup shop and Wes, a computer whiz who just moved to California to help his younger brothers with their new business, try to just be friends after past pains and rejections.

I was looking forward to Wes’ story. You hear so much about him through his brother’s books and it was nice to finally get him on the scene. Not much to say more than I liked it. This series has been really good and I enjoy the characters and how they work through their setbacks. The writing is engaging and the pacing of the story is perfect - with some added humor for a few laughs.

Thanks St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for giving the opportunity to access this ARC. I really enjoyed the book, maybe Ari’s story next?

This book was first I have read by Sophie Sullivan. It did not disappoint!! Had some of my favorite tropes: friends to lovers, slow burn romance. This book had my laughing and at times frustrated with the MCs. I am definitely going to read the rest of this series!!

Adorable meet cute. Charming story and delightful characters. The plot isn't totally original but the author's voice makes it more than worthwhile.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I did not realize it was the last one in a trilogy but I was quickly caught up with all the characters. I loved the story line, humor and the relationships.

This book was a slow simmer romance. I was interested in reading it because of the description which included the reference to When Harry Met Sally. However, I didn't see much that was actually comparable to that movie. It was billed as a romantic comedy, but I don't think that description fits. I found this book to be okay, but frustrating at times. It is a clean romance, so if you are expecting any kind of burn, you will not find that here.

Wes and Hailey are a cute couple, but both suffer from things that happened to them in their past. It makes them incredibly wary about any kind of relationship. This is one of the reasons it took so long for them to come together. Overall, this was a good read, but not exactly what I thought it was.

I really enjoyed this one! The Jansen brothers series was heartwarming and just amazing to read!
A Guide to Being Just Friends was so fun to read! Strangers to friends to lovers trope is unmatched!!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. A Guide to Being Just Friends is a fun read filled with a host of unforgettable characters who build each other up. I think this book's highlight was the friendship central to the story. I absolutely loved seeing the supportive relationship they had. Both the protagonists had their own baggage they needed to work on before they could move past their friend's stage and while I loved seeing the friendship, I kept wishing for more. While I was ecstatic to see them finally get there, I think it would have been great to see them work past their insecurities a bit more before the resolution of the story. There was also a lot of conflict towards the end, which would have been a good plot point if not for the sheer amount of conflicts and how quickly they were resolved. With that being said, the book was still a hoot and I am tempted to go back and read the rest of the brothers' stories!

This was a cute slow burn romance about Hailey and Wes who have the opposite of a meet cute. After properly meeting each other they decide to become friends - and only friends, neither wanting a relationship at the moment. Naturally, that plan doesn't work out to well for them in the end as they slowly fall in love with each other.

I didn't realize this was part of a series, though it can be read as a stand alone, and apparently I already own the 2nd one. I wish I had, and almost stopped and did, read the first two in the series since they are about the other two Jansen brothers Chris and Noah and their girlfriends Everly and Grace. I think knowing their backstories would have made the hints towards them more enjoyable.

Overall this was cute and a bit slow, a friends to lovers romance. I did not super love Wes but he had some nice, much needed, character growth in the end. I'll probably go back and read the first 2 books, I suspect I may like the other Jansen brothers a bit more!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review

The pacing was a little slow for me. I also didn’t realize this was a series. But overall I thought it was cute!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

A Guide to Being Just Friends was such a cozy read. This strangers to best friends to lovers is perfect for readers looking to sit and fall in love with love.

I adored seeing Hailey’s and Wes’ friendship develop and later on their relationship. I just think seeing two people, even on paper, falling in love is magical.

I also enjoyed the side characters so much. There were Wes’ brothers from the previous books and new characters from Haileys family and friends. They added so much joy to this book.

If you’re into grumpy/sunshine, where the grump is actually a teddy bear then this is for you!

I love the Jansen Brothers!
The banter is even better in this book with the addition of the third brother.

Hailey is a new store owner, specializing in salads. She meets Wes who mistakes her for a blind date he’s supposed to be meeting. The two become friends and are desperate to stay that way, even with the burning chemistry they both have.

Unfortunately, Wes may be my least favorite brother. He may be the oldest, but he seems like the least mature. He has a habit of wanting to fix everything, no matter what anyone else thinks, which is a huge pet peeve of mine. I did fall for Noah more through this book though.

However, Hailey is such a fun main character. I love the boss babe aspect and I love that she wants to do things on her own without anyone’s help. Does it get annoying at times? Sure.

My biggest critique is that the title of the book is A GUIDE to being friends. There is a guide mentioned a few places throughout the book, but I wish there would have been an actual guide outlined.

I thoroughly enjoyed this series! I’m so thankful for NetGalley and St. Martins’ Press for the eArc of this book, which introduced me to the series!

A good book but I definitely had some mixed emotions. If you enjoy slowburns with friends and billionaires than this book is for you. The story was written well and I really enjoyed it.

Still, I disliked how for how long this slow burn was there was barely any tension and connection between the characters. There’s nothing in this story that really made me feel like they should’ve been together romantically. I hated how close minded both of them were and especially how defensive Hailey was.

Overall, this book and the writing was great but I can’t stay it was an attention grabber nor did I love the characters that much.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and of course Sophie Sullivan for providing me with an eARC of this book. I am voluntarily leaving a review, all opinions are my own.

This was such a great slow burn love story that started out with them firmly as friends and I loved watching it grow and develop. I loved the character development on both sides and their sheer determination. I adore all the characters in this series, there's never a dull moment and you always root for even the side characters.

I adored watching the boys interact with the kids at the rec center and how determined they all were to do some good with their time and money. I loved watching Leo thrive at Hailey's store. So many little pieces fall into place and I loved every bit of it.

I will say, I have been craving salad since I started reading this and now I really want some brownies and a giant salad.

A realistic Rom-Com, As Hailey put her life together after a terrible breakup she has no intention of getting involved with anyone, but something weird happens when she gets a cup of coffee next door to her salad shop. She meets Wes, but at first Wes thinks she is there to be his date but she's not and they go their separate way think how strange that felt. And low and behold, they meet again but in better circumstances and its at that point they become only friends. But you and I both know they are going to get together, and they do.
I love that Hailey and Wes start off as friends because they are actually getting to know the whole person and not just a front that most people put out there when they are dating. I love that Hailey is an entrepreneur and that she slowly making good connections and growing her business. I like that Wes is really trying to help her in the only way he know how and he likes being with her. I also like that when he's wrong he admits it. I also liked it when he sided with Hailey over a incident where a client tried to belittle her. I love his brothers Noah and Chris because their a support and a comedy relief at the same time and they help construct how Wes was brought up. The same with Hailey's cousin Piper and her new friend Fiona, who lend support and speak the truth to Hailey's feelings and help her become what she is looking for. The only part I didn't like was that Hailey wanted Wes to accept her boundaries when it came to gifts but I don't know if Hailey was as understanding about why he thought those gifts were ok.

I definitely think there should be one more story for a few loose ends.

I want to thank St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for this rom-com that makes me go Ahh.

I received this as an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! This was my first Sophia Sullivan book, I had no idea there were other Jansen Brothers books, so I’ll definitely have to read those too!

Her writing style is so incredibly easy to read and you feel a real connection with the characters. I liked that it went back and forth between two different point of views. At one point I felt like there were A LOT of characters to remember but once I figured out who everyone was-I was good. I wanted to punch Wes from time to time but so did his brothers so I felt like I was in the right place. 😂

I found myself smiling at this book many times!! It was really cute and sweet - not much spice at all but more of a wholesome happy read.

Definitely would recommend!

3.5 stars rounded up

Hailey is trying her best to launch her salad shop, By the Cup, independently. After a much needed breakup from an awful boyfriend, she is insistent on relying only on herself.

Wes wants nothing more than to help he and his brothers succeed without the help
if their controlling father. He will do anything to protect his brothers

A meet-cute over a mistaken date & a friendship built on salads and brownies is a story after my own heart. Hailey and Wes throw their guards up as high as they’ll go. They tell themselves anything to keep their romantic feelings at bay because, no-no, seriously, they are JUST FRIENDS, okay?!

I loved this plot. I’m not usually one for a slow burn, but I felt that this was an honest telling of two people trying to hold onto to something good. Neither wanted to lose their special bond, they just were ignoring what could make it even better.

My only hang up was all the romantic monologuing to wrap up the loose ends. I felt like there needed to be a bit more of a conflict & much less “here is all of the soul searching I did in 3 days.” It was very heavy on unrealistic communication about feelings for two people who spent the whole book unable to address their feelings.

Overall, I would recommend this book! It’s a sweet story and I found the general theme to be heartwarming and realistic.

This was my first ever book from Sophie Sullivan and let me tell you, she did not disappoint. I really enjoyed Wes’ character development and I loved Hailey’s constant cheeriness and optimistic attitude. They were such an opposite, yet perfect, pair. And reading about their friendship turned relationship made me so so so happy.

The only reason why I didn’t rate this book five stars was because I believed that Wes could’ve done more groveling on his part.

Overall, this was a really amazing book and I will definitely be reading more from this author right after I satisfy my book-long craving for a salad (I’d seriously kill to have a salad from Hailey’s shop).

***Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the main characters, their back stories and chosen paths in life. I enjoyed all the secondary characters and what we got to know about their stories and goals. In this friends to lovers story I felt like it was a bit forced to stay friends with a few repetitive backwards steps before they became lovers. It didn't seem like a natural state to me which lead to it just being an okay story.

This was super cute! A Guide to Being Just Friend’s is about Hailey and Wes who are both starting new when it comes to dating and business. Wes doesn’t want to waste any more time dating and Haley wants to focus on her new business, By The Cup, which by the way is like something we need more of. Concepts were good, so was the writing, Though I will say I preferred the friendship Wes and Haley had opposed to when it progressed to more but overall I liked it, this book is slow-burn and a super fun light read!

Sophie Sullivan writes a charming romantic comedy about two people looking for nothing deeper than friendship. Told from two perspectives of Hailey, the new owner of a to-go salad shop, and Wes, the eldest brother of a notable enterprise, a story of found family, new beginnings, and the risks of falling in love unfold. Readers will enjoy following Hailey & Wes as they construct their guide to just being friends and whether or not they can stick to it.

While there were some unnatural pieces of dialogue and repetitive musings, and a steady low-stakes plot line, Sullivan brings to life an extravagant family with so much heart you can't help falling in love with them. Besides Hailey's warm and bright personality, in this small town with big personalities, "A Guide to Just Being Friends" is a friends to lovers romance readers will cheer on.