Really enjoyed this rom-com. The flow of the story was great. The characters were lovable. I really liked that there was a clear beginning, middle, end. I thought the relationships, both friendships and love ones, were overall positive. I liked that there was no lag on the developing relationship. It's progression felt authentic. Even though the main characters both had flaws, they were able to recognize and work through them quickly. I appreciated that. It felt like every storyline had a clear purpose of why it was included in the story. I would definitely read another Sophie Sullivan novel. Also, Stephanie Willing and Timothy Andres Pabon were great narrators and really added to the story.

I read this book through the audiobook format, and this was a duel narrator situation with both male and female voice actors. Some audiobooks are better than others, but I have found that most male voice actors doing female character voices really make me cringe. In particular, this narrator was really nasally when speaking the female characters’ dialogue.

Overall, I liked the content of the book. I liked the setting and the story arc. What I didn’t like was how the main character, Hailey, has an obsession with her ex and how contradictory she gets when he is brought up. She will say that she doesn’t care about her ex, but will do and say things in spite of him. If she were truly over him, she wouldn’t be thinking about him as much as she does. Not to mention, the unpleasant traits of the ex is used a way to progress the story and explain Hailey’s motivations.

There were several pivotal moments in the book that really stopped me from enjoying it more. Hailey says that she’s fine with not finding love right now, but in the same sentence will turn around and say it would be nice though. This happens several times throughout the book. At least Wes is consistently insistent that he doesn’t want love. Whereas Hailey as a character is very wishy-washy, and I struggled to root for her because of it.

There’s also another moment in the book that made zero sense to me. It’s when Wes gifts Hailey a dress for an event they’re attending together, and they both keep pretending that she doesn’t know where the dress came from. I didn’t understand what the point of this was, and I felt like it detracted from the relationship development.

I didn’t realize at the time of reading this book that it’s a series. But I’d be curious to finish out the series to see how the other books fare in comparison. They’ll be going on my TBR list.

I’ve been reading a lot of dark and twisty lately, which will always be my go-to, but, when I had the chance to read and listen early to Sophie Sullivan’s @authorsophiesullivan A Guide to Being Just Friends, I knew it would be the perfect opportunity to make sure I still had feelings.

If you haven’t met the Jansen brothers yet in either Ten Rules for Faking It or How to Love Your Neighbor, this is the perfect time to grab all three books and laugh a little, cry a little, maybe even do some swooning and remind yourself that someone doesn’t always have to end up murdered to absolutely love a book.

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.

4/5 stars

Haley's only concern right now is getting her new salad shop, By The Cup, up and running. She's leaving behind a bad break up and a less than ideal family dynamic and moving on to bigger and better things in San Verde. Wes Jansen is focused on the business he runs with his brothers, making time for a few lackluster dates in between. When he has an accidentally rude run-in with Haley and returns to her store to apologize, they strike up a friendship and connect immediately. Neither is looking for love, despite their instant chemistry so they create the guidelines to remaining just friends. Sounds like a perfect plan, so they thought...

Overall, this was a super cute read! I didn't realize at first this was part of a Jansen brothers series, so I'm really excited to read the other two now! This book is a little bit insta-love, a little enemies to lovers, and a lot friends to lovers, and I liked the mix! There were times when it became a bit redundant and their conflicts started to feel repetitive and I didn't love the male narrator, but the female narrator, Stephanie Willing, really pulled it together for me! Haley and Wes were both really likeable characters and I enjoyed their love story! Can't wait to pick up Sophie Sullivan's other work!

I really enjoyed this funny, sweet, slow-burn, friends to lovers romance. Hailey Sharp has opened her new restaurant and is solely focused on making it successful. Wes Jansen is an uptight, nerdy businessman who is more comfortable talking shop than small talk. He and Hailey have a not so cute 'meet cute' but end up becoming friends. They feel comfortable with each other and share ideas, and dreams they never shared with anyone else. Hailey is determined to make it on her own, with their vast financial difference, when Wes tries to help her or give her expensive gifts, Hailey declines. When their feelings start to grow into more than friends, they are afraid to act on it because they don't want to risk losing the one person who knows them best. When Wes secretly crosses the line, and Hailey wants what Wes Wes isn't able to give, will they be able to trust each other again?
Wes was so sweet, giving, and protective. He was always there for those he cared about, making sure they had whatever they needed. Hailey was determined, kind, and loving, making them such a perfect pair. I really enjoyed Wes's family, they were fun, loyal, and supportive.
Narrators, Stephanie Willing and Timothy Andrés Pabon did a great job bringing these characters and story to life. They delivered all the wit, emotion, and steam and I was totally lost in their performance.

After a difficult break up Hailey Sharp moves across California to start over. She opens up her own ny the cup salad shop and hopes for success. While next door at the dessert shop she is approached by a man who believes that she is his date. After an awkward encounter she walk away feeling that he was extremely rude and is very happy to say that she glad she isn't try to date at the moment.

Wes Jansen a well off entrepreneur doesn't understand the fuss over being in a relationships. He is happy for his brothers but doesn't believe in love himself. After a few bad dates he decides he is done dating and decides to just focus on his business.

Hailey and Wes end up having mutual friends and just keep running into each other. They really hit it off... as friends and decide it would be funny to write a guide on being friends. The two of them end up being inseparable until one day they both realize that they are developing feelings for one another. Determined to not destroy their friendship they try to ignore the feeling and even attempt to see other people

Will they be able to stay friends?

This is book # 3 in the Jansen brothers series. This book can be read alone.

The third book in the Jansen Brothers series, and another winner from Sophie Sullivan! My favorite part was catching up with all of the family and friends from the previous books! I loved watching Hailey and Wes’s love blossom after they have both sworn off relationships.

What to expect::
•Great meet cute
•Friends to lovers
•Sloooooww burn
•Millionaire businessman hero
•New small business owner heroine
•Salads!!
•3rd person dual POV
🔥closed door

The third act conflict had me annoyed and I felt like the story was a bit repetitive at times, but overall a sweet and fun romance!

The audiobook performance from both narrators was great!

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 the audio version over the reading myself better. The male and female readers were great; they kept me in it longer, 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; their miscommunicating and arguments became annoying. 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 Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this book.

A Guide to Being Just Friends was your average romcom; it was a cute, quick read but I couldn't really bring myself to care about or connect to the characters. The plot itself was quintessential romcom with a funny meet-ugly and slow burn romance, but the characters were really lacking. I believe these characters are supposed to be in their 30s or nearly 30, but at some points they acted more like teenagers. Their repetitive bickering and fighting was especially juvenile and grew old rather quickly. I don't think I'd reread this book, but listening to this audiobook was a relatively enjoyable experience and I quite liked the two narrators.

Hailey Sharp is starting over and is putting all her energy into By the Cup salad shop. She plans to do anything necessary to make it a success.

Wes Jansen doesn’t feel that love and a relationship is for him especially since he feels it’s destined to end like his parents’ marriage—in a divorce.

Hailey and Wes meet in an air of confusion. Wes later apologizes and they become friends. They hang out, grocery shop together on Saturday nights, but continue to maintain that they are just friends.

What happens when everyone around them sees what they don’t?

I really enjoyed listening to this novel and also enjoyed narrators.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to an ARC of this novel. #NetGalley #AGuidetoBeingJustFriends

This book was a cute enough rom com. It was a quick and easy read, but nothing really stood out to me. The FMC opens up a salad shop and it made me crave salad every time I started to listen, lol lots of salad talk. If your looking for a book to pass the time and a HEA give it a try.

An easy breezy rom com review. I listened to this one via audiobook and I will say that I enjoyed the narrators but the story was just ok.

Thanks to #netgalley and #macmillanaudio for the audio copy in exchange for my review.

I really struggled through this one. It was cute with a slow burn romance. It just didn't hold my interest for very long. It look me awhile to get through this audiobook. I just didn't feel a connection with the characters, and I was just bored from the beginning. I'm thinking this author just isn't my style. I thought the narrators did a good job. Huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to listen and review this audiobook.

Fun, sexy, and cute. I was charmed by Hayley and Wes's story right from their meet-ugly. It was interesting to see their friendship and attraction grow. There's just something about people trying to explain away their feelings that makes me squeal. Looking forward to reading more of Sullivan in the future.

A quintessential cute cartoon cover book complete with friends-to-lovers, a little third act breakup and the perfect combination of sweetness and snark! Hailey and Wes are definitely polar opposites, but I found both to be equally endearing characters and their pasts were portrayed well to show why the issues they had were present. There was no annoying guessing game or dramatization of certain issues to create a breakup, it felt natural and plausible! The voice actors were awesome and I was definitely sucked into the story even more through their portrayals of these characters. Overall a sweet, simple read guaranteed to give you the warm and fuzzies!

It was perfection and had everything I love when reading a romance novel. I laughed so much throughout the book. There is so much fun banter that will leave you completely satisfied. Their relationship was fun and quirky and I love the tiny and thoughtful displays of affection. It was hard to put down. It really wants you to make you fall in love with your best friend in hopes of getting what they have. The audio was great! The narrator did a great job that I didn’t feel the need to follow along with the book

Book Title: A Guide to Just Being Friends
Author: Sophie Sullivan
Series: The Jansen Brothers #3
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pub Date: January 17, 2023
My Rating: 3 Stars

This is Book #3 in the Jansen Brothers series. Although I have not read the other two, readers indicate that the story is a slow burn and that it can be told as a stand-alone.

Hailey Sharp has just opened her Salad by the Cup restaurant and is busy making sure her dream is kept afloat. She had been in a relationship that didn’t work so her love now is her restaurant and not looking for romance.

Wes Jansen doesn’t do relationships. His parents had an angry marriage. So he is a happy bachelor.

Wes apologizes to Hailey after a misunderstanding that took place the first time they met. They are fine with bring friends as neither wants a relationship in fact, not interested in any relationships.
Hmmm so what happens when they both start to feel attraction? Read on . . . .

I am not a big romance fan but am okay with a light fun sweet romance.
This is listed in the genre of ‘Contemporary Romance’ aka modern romance. It started off with more nasty language that I believe necessary but that’s me! Plus at first I didn’t like Wes!
My feeling's did change as I stuck with this slow burn story.
It turned out much better than what I first expected.

Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Media for granted me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for January 17, 2023

I did not like this book. It was the first I read from this author and it was way too long, boring, and predictable. The market seems to be flooded with these recycled themes of a girl opening a business, and bumping into a guy, drama ensues when they don't want the same thing but then he realizes he can't live without her. Zzzzzzz.

I really enjoyed this book! I enjoyed that it was part of a series and the other characters made appearances. I like the character development of both Hailey and Wes. As well as that it was a slow burn kind of romance.

A Guide to Being Just Friends by Sophie Sullivan was a lovely read! In this dual-POV contemporary romance, our main characters are Hailey Sharp, the plucky, optimistic and hardworking owner of By the Cup, a to-go salad shop, and Wes Jansen, nerdy, reserved, (kinda) secret billionaire who, seconds into meeting her, accuses Hailey of not being herself. He's there for an online date, which Hailey slightly resembles, and he's convinced that she's his date but is trying to flee--which she isn't, making sweet baby angel Wes look like a total jackass. You know, a perfect meet cute.

They meet again and realize that they have things in common and good chemistry, so they decide that they should be friends, and take any pressure for more off the table...that way they can be friends with no expectations. They jokingly make a "Guide to Being Just Friends," which they regularly refer and add to along their road to becoming actual best friends--even when they can't see that they're each other's besties, we know it!

What follows is a cute love story peppered with pop-culture references and enough graphic depictions of food that you'll be salivating for a salad and chocolate cake--and enough drama to keep you engrossed while maintaining relatively low stakes. Wes' brothers and their girlfriends take to Hailey, because let's face it, she's sunshine personified and (most) everyone loves her. Hailey is fiercely proud and independent, which I love, but there were moments that I wanted to scream at her. Girl, let this man spoil you if he wants to!

The only real complaint that I have is that I wish a particular character (which I won't name because SPOILERS!) had gotten theirs--either a punch in the face, or realizing what an idiot they were, or, preferably, both.

I'll be honest: I requested this book via NetGalley because of the title and cover, and only after starting the book did I realize that it's actually part of a pseudo-series. I say pseudo because it doesn't seem like these books have to be read in a specific order, but so far the "Jansen Brothers" books have each apparently featured one of the Jansen brothers and their love story. This book definitely made me want to go back and read more of Sophie Sullivan's work, because I know it will have me high-pitched squealing just as much as this story did.

As far as the audio-portion goes, I have no complaints about either of the narrators--they did an excellent job representing the characters and showing their ranges of emotions.