Ok, so it was definitely the bright colours screaming at me that drew me to this book. I love a big-hearted rom-com, especially at this time of year, so I was excited to see where this one would take me.

Dax has been a florist his entire life and would really love to buy his late father’s old shop but it’s incredibly expensive. But a new YouTube reality show for florists has a $50,000 prize attached to it and it might just help him achieve his dream. Hollyn realises she has made more than a few big mistakes when her boyfriend dumps her for her best friend. Going back to her hometown, she knows that she has several family relationships to repair. Staying with her brother River and his best friend Dax, she is about to find out that some old crushes never really fade and that the boy who lived next door to her childhood home has certainly grown up!

Whenever a character says they’ll never get married within the first couple of chapters of a rom-com, you know that their outlook is going to have changed by the end of the story. Here, we’re talking about Mercy, a childhood friend of Hollyn’s, who is convinced that long-term monogamy isn’t a real thing. While I know that it definitely isn’t for everyone, Mercy’s views become somewhat of a sabotage to the romance in this book, so perhaps this was a warning from the author that we shouldn’t let views that don’t align with our own cloud our vision.

One thing I definitely didn’t like is the fact that Hollyn is presented as a perfectly beautiful angel whose beauty epically transcends that of all other women. This is apparently how Dax sees her but it all just felt a tad unbelievable and unfortunately made Hollyn almost completely unrelatable.

I loved the very brief conversation that Dax had at the airport with a romance reader. She saw the tropes with the very little information that she had and I really appreciated the self-awareness that this gave the book. If this woman had popped again at the end somehow, I think it would have given it a bit of an extra sparkle.

The romance is pretty cute and I enjoyed seeing Dax and Hollyn realise that they are good together. River’s overprotective attitude towards it all grated on me and I really didn’t think that he needed to be as aggressive as he was. I understoofd where he was coming from but several times, I was yelling at him to chill out!

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not is a sweet, family-centric contemporary romance with some beautiful floral imagery. I wasn’t madly in love with the characters themselves but I did like Dax and Hollyn as a couple. I would have liked to have seen more of Hollyn and River’s mother because it seemed like she could have added a bit more comedy to it. However, I did enjoy it for the easy read that it was!

Hollyn has just been dumped and moves in with her brother River and his best friend Dax. But Dax has had a secret crush on Hollyn since he was 12 years old. Soon the two will work together and maybe a secret crush won’t be a secret anymore.

This was such a fun and romantic book to read. I loved the main characters which had me grinning from ear to ear that my face hurt, the banter had funny oneliners I couldn’t help but laugh at and there were so many favourite minor characters I couldn’t help but love them all.

I look forward to more from this author and more from these characters.

Fun read, with very likable characters and interesting storyline. The plot moved well, and I genuinely was interested in how it reached its predictable end.

Sorry but this isn't for me.

Had to dnf!

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When reality show meets childhood crush, you get a slow burn friends to lovers that is entertaining to the end. I loved the unusual reality show (no dating shows here!) perfectly matched Dax's passion and talent - and that he was never put down for being a florist. It was the perfect setting for pining (Dax) and love realisations (Hollyn).

Even though the majority of the book has a very condensed timeline, Dax and Hollyn felt not just believable but inevitable thanks to their long history - childhood neighbours and Hollyn being Dax's best friend's sister. The great friends around both of them was a highlight, though I still don't exactly understand what happened to Victoria.

I do wish there had been some acknowledgement that Hollyn hadn't been selfish in losing touch with friends and family, she'd been in an unhealthy and borderline abusive relationship. It might be mean, but I'd have enjoyed a bit more on-page comeuppance for her awful ex. Meanwhile, Dax's FWB Sydney was kinda cool and I'd like to see more of her.

Overall, this was a great read with a swoonworthy hero and a sweetheart heroine, peppered with pop culture references. Best enjoyed with a bit of tv in the background and maybe some popcorn, this book will have you wishing for someone to send you flowers.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources, all opinions are my own.

I adored this book. It started off and you were just thrown straight into it. The first few chapters I really wasn't sure where it was going but I soon picked it up.

I liked both main character but I did find Dax a little too nice 🤦😂 I know right?! What am I saying!! 🤣 I loved how they brought the best out in each other and now much they seemed to care for each other from the get go.

There was so many little plots going on that even though you maybe thought you knew how the romance part of it would go, I was always questioning the other things. I liked how it all panned out and it was all done in a very nicely timed manner. Not rushed at all.

4.5⭐ rounded up

Featuring ~ dual 1st person POV, florist, childhood friends, roommates, forced proximity, brother's best friend, best friend's sister, off limits, reality competition, friends to lovers, he falls first, slow burn, no steamage

Dax & Hollyn
Hollyn (cute name!) just got dumped in the worst way and moves in with her brother, River, and his roommate, Dax. It's only a two bedroom, so River stays with his girlfriend for the time being. Unbeknownst to her, Dax has been in love with her for like 15 years. The problem is that there's a bro code in effect and Hollyn has been off limits all these years. Was not feeling how River was going on and on and on and on about that.

Dax is book boyfriend material with his adorableness and sweetness and he's a florist, so he must be super romantic, right? right! And to want to follow in his father's footsteps, gah!

I liked watching Hollyn grow as a woman over the weeks and even though I knew what she was going to do with the money before she even had the check in her hands I loved it.
I enjoyed the timestamps at the beginning of each chapter or page break, even if it only said moments ago or later that day.

I am totally looking forward to more book by Aimee that follow River and Mercy, Hollyn's bff.

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not by Aimee Brown as a super cute romcom. I love a good brother's best friend trope but this was a first for me to read of a younger brother's friend. We also have the guy falling for the girl first and forced proximity. This is not your typical spicy read so if that is not your thing then this is a good read for you. I also enjoyed the dual perspective with Hollyn and Dax. Seeing things from both sides is always fun to see play out. Overall a good read!

Thank you so much Aimee Brown, Rachel’s random resources and Boldwood books for gifting me a digital copy of ‘He loves me, He loves me not’ in exchange for an honest review. Oh my goodness this book, I absolutely loved it. Brother’s best friend is one of my favourite tropes and this book hits everything I hoped it would. It gone straight to the top of my too buy list because I need this in paperback. Also we have more books coming from this amazing friendship group, I loved Dax and Hollyn but I can’t wait to see who can tame River and who can melt Mercy. Aimee Brown is now one of my favourite authors.

He Loves Me He Loves Me Not was the perfect book I was looking for. Dealing with the holiday rush and fuss, I needed a book to help me escape from life. This book did the trick!

Set in Portland, Oregon, it the tale of friends to lovers, bro-code, childhood friends, heartache, and starting I’ve all rolled into one nice piece of work with a bow on top! This book is well written, told from different POV (Dax and Hollyn), which is my favorite type of story telling.

I think what I liked most about the book is the optimism. While we all deal with heartache, it was a nice change of pace to read about a hopeless romantic man, who’s been in love with someone since he laid eyes on her. The story is upbeat, with a cast of characters I grew to love (and am very excited that sequels are being written about some). And to top it off, the author included a corresponding playlist…very nice touch.

If you’re looking for a lighthearted, quick read…something to take your mind off the world, this is it!

I really liked this one! The romance was so sweet. I loved all the banter and just the fun relationships between all the characters. The friends were perfectly sarcastic and snarky, the siblings exactly how I act with my siblings at times. I enjoyed how the mom had been a former pop star, and all that her world had brought about in Hollyn’s life. It made for so many interesting aspects and details that aren’t always what you see in a story like this.

The reality tv show aspect of the story was fun as well. I liked how they did the show, how the votes were done, and that our team we were rooting for ended up the way they did. It was all so realistic in my opinion. I liked the way the bro code played out between Dax and Hollyn’s brother when they finally decided to give in. And when Hollyn realized how long Dax had really been into her, wow, that moment was just perfect.

This is my first book by this author, but I will definitely read more in the future when/if I get a chance!

I enjoy the best friend's sibling trope. It's not often we see a girl falling for her younger brother's best friend so when I saw this book on Netgalley, I immediately got myself a copy. The romance was cute but sadly, the book was just too predictable with not enough drama to make it exciting. I was hoping Hollyn would talk over her relationship with her father to find out what went wrong by the end too.

Cute, easy read romance I was capitivadted by, one of my favourites of the year if I'm honest. This was a page turner that I read in a day. The characters felt so real, relatable and their personalities jumped of the page and were authentically written.

This book was so cute!! The characters were so adorable. The romantic gestures were fun. The competition was enticing. The issues were honestly the only downside. In my opinion they were not realistic and the solutions were even less realistic, hence the 4 star voting. Overall, I really enjoyed getting lost in this love story. I found the rom com part of this to just be a great escape.

Dax wants to purchase his dad's old florist shop, but in order to have the money to fund it he will need to win the reality show Battle of the Blossoms. When his Hollyn Matthews, his childhood crush, ends up living in his apartment will he be able to keep his head and heart in the game? Hollyn avoided coming home for many years, but when she ends up heartbroken, that is exactly where she ends up. Will she be able to repair her past relationships and find what she wants in life?

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

This book was a 3.5 🌟

This book was a really sweet romcom filled with some of the best tropes! We have he fell first, forced proximity, one bed trope and brothers best friend. It’s also a great read for those who don’t enjoy spicy reads as it has a fade to black.

There’s a dual perspective with Hollyn and Dax. Dax was a really sweet character and a great love interest but Hollyn fell a bit flat for me. I just wish we saw more from her. I would have loved to see her learning about flowers and I would have loved for her to be the one to solve the issue at the end with Tristan. Overall all though, it was a fun read!

A big thank you to Aimee Brown and Boldwood Books for the eARC.

This was so much fun and I liked a lot about it. The main characters were brilliant and distinctive. I thought the writing was really sharp and the pacing was great.

I liked the relationship between Hollyn and Dax and thought River was also a great character. There are some really funny moments but also some nice sweet moments too. I rooted for Hollyn and Dax from the start.

I flew through this book and couldn't get enough of it.

Hollyn Matthews has been dating her much older college professor for 8 years but on the night she's expecting an engagement ring, she gets dumped. Homeless and heartbroken, she moves back home to stay with her brother and his best friend Dax. These three grew up as neighbors and Dax was always sweet to her, but she never realized that he had a crush on her.
Dax has been running his flower business out of a van with hopes of buying his late father's shop. A flower competition called Battle of the Blossoms just may help him win his dreams with the prize money. But when his old feelings resurface stronger than ever, Hollyn is more than a distraction as he tries to keep his eyes on the prize. Will he win his dream shop or a love he never thought possible with the woman of his dreams?
Everyone should have a man like Dax....hot yet nerdy, sweet and supportive, and wild in the bedroom! Like clueless Hollyn kept saying, I can't believe he's still single! I liked this sweet clean romance.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Aimee Brown for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5⭐️

This was a cute brothers best friends romance story. I enjoyed parts of it and found it to be charming and funny, albeit it suffered from slow pacing that caused the story to drag at times. Dax was a star and I really enjoyed his character. At times I loved Hollyn, and at other times I somewhat struggled with her character. I loved the side characters almost more than the main characters and would be interested in their stories, as I was drawn to their personalities throughout the book! I do wish we had gotten a little more of the competition in the plot, because I feel like it had so much potential that wasn’t fleshed out. However, Hollyn’s character development throughout the story was truly heartwarming. A solid read for me, even if it isn’t a favorite.

Hollyn returns home after a breakup, having largely ignored her family for eight years. The only place available for her to stay is at the apartment her younger brother shares with his childhood best friend, Dax. Dad has loved Hollyn for as long as he can remember, but he can't get distracted by the return of Hollyn, even though she's living with him. Instead, he needs to win the money to buy the flower shop his father used to own. But will he be able to stay focused on his goal?

For the most part, this is a cute rom-com. There is plenty of easy banter between Hollyn and Dax, and Dax is adorable. Hollyn is so oblivious to many things going on around her and very naive at times, which can be a little annoying. Some of the events feel forced to satisfy the plot, without really making logical sense (her famous mother lives in a house with a pool, but no guest room and her brother practically abandons her even before she arrives in town). Dax is definitely the star of the story: he's such a sweetheart and feels the most well-rounded. Some of the supporting characters are less so, especially River and Mercy. The constant 'Moments later…‘ etc were completely unnecessary, particularly as there were no flashbacks or leaps in time. Still, I liked the relationship development and the ending is sweet.

Overall Rating: ❤️❤️❤️.5
Heat Rating: 🔥
Emotional Rating: 💓🙄😬🤔🥰😂🙈💓😬🥰

*Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to leave an honest review*

Told from two perspectives, we meet Dax, a florist entering into the Battle of the Blossoms contest to win $50,000 and the opportunity to buy his late father’s flower business. Then we meet Hollyn, Dax’s best friend’s sister, whose heart is crushed by her much older boyfriend, then promptly shipped back home to start fresh and to deal with the breakup.

As much as Dax wants to believe he got over past feelings for Hollyn, their forced proximity sparks those flames once again. And man did it keep my attention.

I couldn’t put this book down even if I wanted to.

I loved Dax and Hollyn. They were a great combination of good, long-time friends balancing delicately on the fine line of ‘should-we-or-shouldn’t-we’. Even though at times it seemed like Dax was too perfect with his thoughtful and patient nature and Hollyn seemed naive and oblivious to Dax’s adoration of her. I am concerned the characters may have a winking/eye problem, especially Dax, but maybe that’s just a part of his charm.

I’m not one to start or continue a series, but I am interested in Mercy and River’s stories (Hollyn’s best friend and brother). I’m hoping for an enemies-to-lovers storyline because it felt like the banter was already between them. Fingers crossed!

Also, I have to mention I loved the playlist Aimee Brown provided at the very end. I thought it gave a little more insight into the story and definitely added some new music to my ever-growing playlist!

Thank you, Aimee Brown, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley, for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.