I have had this one on my netgalley shelf for far too long! It was an easy, cute read. I did the audio of it and felt like the narrators did a good job! I just didn’t get much out of the characters that would make me remember much of it. I know this is only Madison’s second book so I’m sure her writing has grown so much! If you’re looking for low stakes, lower spice, this one would be for you!

"You are an explosion of color in a dreary landscape. You are a striped sweater in a crowd of black dresses. You, Ellie Bates, are the statement piece the whole house is designed around."

I really enjoyed this book. It's a feel good forbidden romance. It's a great read for fall and Christmas. I love the tension and chemistry between Ellie and Cam or Daisy and Dave😉. I finished this in like 1 and a half days! It's fast paced, and will want you to continue reading. I was hooked from the start. I love how Ellie is unapologetically herself. She's cute, sweet, kind, fun, and an amazing manager, despite what her parents think. Her character is so lavable. Cam is amazing and such a sweetheart. The part where he brings her soup everyday because she was sick. SWOON! And the way he adds honey to her tea🫶. I love how he respects Ellie's boundaries, while she figures out what she wants. He's a perfect cinnamon roll boyfriend❤ While this is a closed door romance, the tension between them is hot!

I didn't actually know that this was a second book while reading it. So I immediately added the first book, Just Go With It, on my tbr! It's Lo and Weston's story, and I loved them from this book, so I'm really excited to read theirs!💗 Should've read their book first, but as I said, I didn't know😆

Thank you @netgalley and @authormadisonwright for the eARC!

*Just Between Us* by Madison Wright is an enjoyable contemporary romance that dives into themes of love, trust, and emotional vulnerability. The book is the second in the *Just Us* series, and while it can be read as a standalone, it definitely builds on the relationship dynamics introduced in the first book. Wright’s writing is engaging, and the chemistry between the protagonists is palpable.

The characters are relatable, and their emotional journeys feel authentic, though at times, the pacing slowed down, especially with some of the internal conflicts that could’ve been resolved faster. While the romance is sweet and full of heartfelt moments, it sometimes felt predictable and lacked the spark I was hoping for.

Overall, *Just Between Us* is a pleasant, easy read for fans of contemporary romance, but it didn’t quite leave a lasting impression. It’s a solid follow-up to the first book in the series, with good character development and emotional moments, but it could have used a bit more depth and excitement to fully captivate me.

I absolutely adored this sweet romance! Ellie and Camden were so cute and I loved how they met! I loved how Camden helped her come out of her shell and also helped her stand up to her parents. The side characters in this were hilarious and it was just so fun!

Ellie and Camden’s chemistry sizzles as they navigate high stakes and forbidden attraction. With heartfelt tension and compelling characters, this romance delivers a satisfying, trope-driven yet charming read.

I absolutely adored these characters. So relatable and lovable, but I got to know them more individually while they interacted with people in their separate lives and I would have liked to see more interaction and character development happen together/ in the relationship, it felt hard to believe that they were falling in love. Also for something that starts hot and heavy, it kinda fizzles and I’m not sure why cause I think we are supposed to believe the forbidden love is driven by lust and attraction to each other.

This had a heartfelt narrative and relatable characters and that made me like it. It was enjoyable enough and would read more from the author.

I had a couple of issues with this book. I could see the woman hate done by the mom in this, and it was in fact pissing me the fuck off.

A mom that intentionally is harder on her daughter than her sons is gross. I felt this book barely touched on that, it was close to the end of the book in which the mom realized how she was in fact treating her daughter differently. She goes to therapy at like 90% and it's all fixed.

This author has beautiful covers, I'll give her that but overall her books just aren't for me.

This is a light, quick and super adorable read. I fell in love with Cam + Ellie and was rooting for them every step of the way. On yeah, and her parents can kiss my ass. Very enjoyable read!

If you are looking for a feel-good book this holiday season, Just Between Us might be just what you are looking for.

Read if you like:
~clean romance
~forbidden romance
~golden retriever MMC
~family drama
~HEA

Just Between Us is book two in the Nashville is Calling series by Madison Wright but can be read as a standalone. I loved this book so much that I plan to read the rest of the series in 2024.

A curl up on the couch with a good snack and a cozy night of reading kind of book, you’ll be swooning, giggling and maybe even crying. This was really cute and sweet and very fun! Thank you

another series i didn't realize was a series prior to going into it. this cannot be a stand alone, i was very confused but i loved the title taylor swift reference :)

I thought this was a sweet and cute romance book. This is the second book in the Just Us series. I really liked Cam, I thought he was such a sweet male lead. Ellie sort of drove me crazy, especially when it involved her family. I was not a fan of the strained family dynamics in this book. I think I would’ve enjoyed it more without that factor in the book. I did love the small town, Tennessee setting, fall vibes and the dual POV. This wasn’t my favorite in the series, but I am going to continue to read it. I do recommend checking out others thoughts on this book, I know a lot of people really liked it!

Cam has just moved into Ellie's parent's apartment complex. The problem is Ellie runs this apartment complex, and her parents have imposed the rule of employees not fraternizing with tenants. So when Ellie and Cam meet at a bar the night before they officially realize who they are, they have a magical kiss without knowing the potential consequences. This is an entertaining will-they-won't-they romance based on some recurring characters from Just Go With It.

It's cute and fast, but I couldn't connect much with the novel and the protagonist.
Regarding the audiobook, I found the narrator to be somewhat apathetic.

Madison Wright is a new favorite author of mine and I love her stories. She creates worlds I’d love to live in. A new favorite!

Just Between Us is a charming novel about Ellie, the quirky daughter of two apartment chain magnates in Nashville, TN. Despite her parents' expectations, Ellie creates a loving community of residents in the apartment complex. However, when her parents realize she's getting too personal, they tell her to create professional distance. The novel explores the chemistry between Ellie and a California photographer, highlighting the challenges of fraternizing with someone who is not supposed to be fraternized with.

The story is filled with relatable characters, such as Ellie's romantic character and her inability to ask for help. The predictable plot makes it feel like heading into a relaxing weekend. The book's favorite character is Camden, a real-seeming man who tries to figure out his life path and shows vulnerability. This is a rare find in romance novels, where strength is a give-and-take relationship.

Thank you to Netgalley for this free copy for an honest review.

Thank you to @netgalley for my copy of this eARC

This was an adorable read! The chemistry between Cam and Ellie is so well written that the book flies by. My one complaint is the conflict with her parents seems a bit overdone. But I’d definitely recommend this one!

Did not finish in time to give review ahead of the publication date, but I do intend to finish reading in the future.

This book was absolutely adorable. I don't often find myself reading fade-to-black romances, but this story still had all of the chemistry and tension I could ask for in a romance novel. Super cute!