Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I would recommed if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f contemporary romance
-fake dating
-horny birding
-single parent
-this is just a hookup
-MCs in their 40's
-lumbersexual
-opposites attract

I was lucky enough to read this one early and so glad to dive in again. This is such an easy story to get sucked into. Celeste is living her life post divorce trying everything and ends up in a birding competition with John who is entirley stoic and competent. These two had such incredible chemistry from the beginning and I love that we get to see them become friends too as we watch them fall in love.

This book is horny birding perfection. The secondary characters, the figuring it out no matter how old you are and just trusting in love again. I will read anything Sarah writes and can't wait to get my hands on her next book

can you ADORABLE! I really enjoyed this book. It has some laugh out moments and cute banter. I fell hard for the MMC, what a sexxxyyy man! I knew nothing about birds or birding but my husband is a sucker for that kind of stuff so I kept him interested in this book. I would 100% recommend this book!

The cover is what caught my attention first, then the synopsis because I thought it sounded sweet and clever. Since finishing the story, I can confirm that this story is both sweet and clever. All the good tropes—opposites attract and fake dating…say no more!

Birding with Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb 🕊️👀
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️🌶️
thank you to @netgalley for this ARC, I’m posting my honest review!

Newly divorced Celeste is finally seeking adventure and is on a self help journey of putting herself first. She fell in love with her ex husband so young and put him and her family first. Now she will soon be an empty nester and is searching for who she wants to be. So when a friend asks her to do “partner” with his buddy John for an event, Celeste throws herself into the role of his fake girlfriend. John doesn’t need a girlfriend right now, he needs a partner for one of the biggest bird watching competitions. Celeste is new to being a birder but John is a great teacher and they start to spend a lot of time together. The fake dating blurs boundaries with reality and there is undeniable chemistry. How does their birding with benefits end?

My thoughts: I thought this was so cute! The way Celeste wanted to out herself first outside of a relationship was so relatable. Becoming whatever someone else needs is a bad habit of mine in a relationship so seeing her feelings and how she overcame it was truly inspiring. Who knew bird watching could be sexy? It’s one of the last things I expected to read with romance but it was so good! John was exactly what Celeste needed, he was a good listener and communicated clearly. Their undeniable chemistry and John’s way of always reassuring Celeste won me over. I definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys fake dating, single mom, cinnamon roll mmc, and bird watching.

If you had told me that I'd love a book about bird watching... I'd call you crazy! Celeste is in her "year of yes" when she happens to meet John, an avid birdwatcher ready to take a competition by storm. What she doesn't expect is how quickly John will become a big part of her life, despite their opposing personalities. Throughout their time together, they find comfort in each other and start to enjoy spending time together, and it starts to span outside of just birds. John & Celeste's love-story is enchanting, for some reason. It's full of hope and second chances.

This book is full of witty banter, consuming love, heartwarming moments and happens to be set in a charming place. This story unfolded so beautifully, and it was so easy to root for John and Celeste, both as individuals but as a couple too. You can feel John start to open up throughout the book, and Celeste opens up as well. This story, seemingly about self rediscovery, and finding love in unexpected places is a beautiful debut novel and I can't wait to read more.

Overall, this book is an easy read and I will highly recommend it!

This book was delightful. If the miscommunication trope bothers you, these two characters know how to communicate to each other and it was so refreshing to read. Requested this ARC on a whim and was so pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it! Would recommend to anyone. Thank you NetGalley for this eARC!!

I had been curious about this book ever since I heard the title. I'm not a birder, but it was so unique, it grabbed my attention. Then I saw the cover (seriously gorgeous—that lip bite is everything), and I had to get my hands on it! Let me tell you, the story did not disappoint.

Celeste and John fall into a fake dating and birding partnership, but when the attraction between them builds, they upgrade their relationship to birders with benefits. And it was amazingly hot. ::fans self::

Sarah is a fabulous writer. Within a page, I was engrossed, then up reading far past my bedtime.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah T Dubb, and Gallery Books for the early access in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me captivated from start to finish. I read it in less than a day! You fall in love with the characters almost immediately. Especially the MMC John, described as a hunky "lumberjack librarian." While the romance is definitely steamy, it blends in perfectly and doesn't overpower the plot in any way.

Follow Celeste and John as they navigate the unexpected fake-dating situation they find themselves in all while on their own journeys of self-discovery.

I found this book to be a fun, fast-paced, and heartwarming read.

I never really considered bird watching, but after reading this book, I couldn't help but pay more attention to the birds around my backyard.

I look forward to more from Sarah T Dubb

This book was definitely a mirror for me as a teacher turning forty soon, and that is why I chose to read it. What got me hooked on this book was the MMC, John, he was a golden retriever of a man who built a truly wonderful rapport with Celeste, a divorced teacher. He is shy and hesitant to go out on his own and start a guided bird watching business. Celeste is asked by Johns best friend Chris to step in for him and be Johns birding partner. She misunderstands and thinks he needs a fake girlfriend to provide a buffer between John and his ex. So begins an entire fake relationship and an education in birding.

I loved watching these two grow and the secondary characters were wonderful. The story is well written and I loved the original plot line. I was hooked from the start and there were some amazing life lessons that I really enjoy when I am reading. If it weren’t for the final conflict which is not one of my favourite tropes, this book would be perfect in my eyes. The chemistry and rapport between the two MC’s was wonderful to read. This book made me stop and listen to the birds in my own life and I am very grateful for that!

Thank you NetGalley, Sarah T. Dubb, and Gallery Books for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

What an enchanting <I>debut</I> rom-com with a captivating blend of charm, quirkiness, heartwarming moments, and delightful humor, all wrapped up in a steamy package with the most adorable cover imaginable!! As I indulged in this book, seated upon the sandy shores, embraced by the sun's warmth and serenaded by the symphony of chirping birds, it dawned on me that it was the epitome of perfect timing paired with the perfect book. "Birding with Benefits" showcases two individuals navigating the complexities of life in their 40s, as they embark on a fake dating escapade. Set against the backdrop of a competitive birding competition, the narrative delves into themes of second chances at love and overcoming age barriers. With its authentic portrayal of relatable struggles, the story unfolds with a blend of tension, witty banter, sizzling chemistry and just the right amount of spice! I absolutely adored this book so much and can't wait to explore more from this author. It's amazing how birding can be both fun and romantic!! 🧡🧡🧡🧡

As a divorcee embraces her "year of yes," she unexpectedly meets John, a shy and sensitive birdwatcher who becomes a transformative figure in her life. Celeste, newly divorced and on the brink of becoming an empty nester, decides to break free from conventions and embrace new experiences. When she agrees to pretend to be John's temporary girlfriend for a social event, little does she know that it will lead to a deeper connection. John, focused on launching his own bird-watching business, needs a partner for Tucson's major bird-watching event. Despite their initial misunderstandings of well-meaning friends, Celeste and John find themselves drawn to each other as they explore the Arizona wilderness. As the two spend more time together, they end up watching more than just birds, but also the joy of finding love in unexpected places!

Overall, I was totally enchanted from start to finish! If you are looking for a unique love story with a happy ending then this is the book for you. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

This was good! I wish the book had been maybe 10 pages longer to give either more closure to Morgan's storyline, or to the romance. However, I will be recommending this for fans of fake dating tropes. I was glad that Peter, the ex, was not in the book (besides a quick facetime call) as some sort of jealousy ploy. I think that would have made the book have too much going on.

John and Celeste stumble into being competitive birding partners. Also, a fake couple. And, hey, they kind actually like each other, so throw some friends with benefits in there too.

Filled with classic tropes but never feeling overdone, Birding with Benefits demonstrates that you deserve to be celebrated for who you are. Themes of discovery abound—both of the characters themselves and the world around them.

Barely a third of the way into the book, I was enjoying it so much I didn’t want it to end. Celeste and John were so sincere in their appreciation of each other, I could’ve kept reading them forever.

New beginnings are a recurring theme of this debut novel. Celeste Johannsen is finding herself after a recent divorce; her daughter Morgan is about to head off for college; her friend, Maria, has a newborn; and John Maguire has lost his job following the end of a long-term relationship.

In the process of trying new experiences, Celeste meets Chris, a friend of John’s. Chris was supposed to partner with John in a local birding competition but had to back out because of an unavoidable work conflict. Chris feels particularly bad about letting John down because a partner is required to compete; and this will be the first year John will not be partnering with his ex, Breena. Although Celeste knows nothing about birding, Chris thinks her intelligence and enthusiasm will make her a good substitute and enable John to enter the contest.

Due to a communication mix-up between Chris and Celeste, Celeste arrives at the bird competition kick-off, thinking that this is a one-off and that she’s there to convince Breena and other birding colleagues that she’s John’s girlfriend. Even after Celeste realizes her mistake, she's still willing to partner with John during the six-week competition to see which team can identify the most birds.

Of course, this requires her and John to continue to pose as a couple when in public, although they are both sure in the beginning is that all they want is to be birding partners. Celeste and John are each still recovering from difficult break-ups. In her marriage, Celeste’s husband was constantly telling her that she was too much. In John’s former relationship with Breena, he was continuously meant to feel like he wasn’t enough.

John is a lifelong, passionate birder who dreams of becoming a full-time birding guide. He uses his time with Celeste to test out some of his ideas about guiding. Celeste convinces John to show up and act as her boyfriend at a few events with her teaching colleagues to get them to stop trying to set her up. As a result, John and Celeste spend a lot of time with each other and their attraction to each other grows. They discover that that they are just right together.

John and Celeste are easy to like and to root for. They’re intelligent, kind and have a sense of humor. The book flows well and is primarily structured around the 42 days of the birding contest. Because a lot of the scenes center on birding expeditions, the pace is slower than a lot of other contemporary romances, but is suited to this story.

One thing that seemed inconsistent was how oblivious Celeste was to her daughter Morgan’s plans for her future; and given how sensitive she was to upsetting Morgan, it seemed unlikely that she would react the way she did in public.

Overall, Birding with Benefits had charming characters with interesting backgrounds, meeting them felt like time well spent. Look forward to seeing what this author does next!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #GalleryBooks for the ARC.

This was so cute. I love the little bits of nature facts mixed in with realistic life wisdom. I will say the male character names are a little boring, I kept forgetting who was who lol.

Thank you Netgalley, Gallery Books and Sarah T. Dubb for a chance to read and review an ARC of Birding with Benefits.

Birding with Benefits by Sara T. Dubb
Rating: 5/5 stars

I adored John and Celeste throughout this book.

Important note: you don't have to like or know anything about birds or birding to enjoy this book. I am personally terrified of birds and still LOVED this book.

I knew Sarah T. Dubb had hooked me into Birding with Benefits when Celeste described John the first time she sees him. "Librarian-in-the-wild"? I'm in. The dual POV created the sexual tension and chemistry between these two because you got, for basically the entire duration of the book, insight into how each of these characters was physically affected by the other.

But the emotional connection? Also 10 out of 10. I found myself highlighting the self doubt these characters experienced; the ways in which they tried to alter or in Celeste's case, tame, their true nature in order to not bother the other way. This was such a realistic and relatable aspect to this story. And the subsequent reactions from the other character in these instances, that they loved those things the other worried about, really created a love story I was cheering for from the very beginning.

I highly recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance. But I'd also recommend it to someone who might be new to reading romance and maybe has a keen interest in nature, or is in the 40-50 age range, because that's where these characters fall, and I found this aspect SO refreshing. As someone nearing 30, I find that I'm wanting to start discovering more romance books with characters that don't fall into that typical 20s age range. Those romances are still great, and if you love those, I still think you'll like this book, as well. It was just nice to see such a different take on a contemporary romance that still had the banter and flirting and spice that one is accustomed to with characters 15-20 years younger.

Additionally, Celeste's role as a mom really added to this story, especially since the author doesn't diminish the importance and centrality of that aspect of Celeste's life; but she also doesn't make it her entire identity. I appreciated that Celeste's hang-ups about a relationship were about herself, and not about her daughter (as is sometimes typical in books with a single parent. I think the unique ages in this book probably help with that).

Wonderful book, can't wait to read more from this author!

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Celeste, newly divorced and mother to a moody teenager, is embracing her journey to discovering her joie de vivre. On a mission to find herself, Celeste has taken on a variety of new hobbies including: sip and paint classes, hiking, yoga, and (a more recent development of) offering her services as a fake girlfriend. However, what she doesn't expect is John-- the stoic man not looking for a new romance partner, but a new birding partner for Tuscon, Arizona's largest bird watching competition. Not one to back down from a challenge, Celeste sets out to become the best birder she can, but she doesn't expect the undeniable chemistry between her and John...

This book ticked so many of my romance story boxes: unique premise, believable characters, great writing, and fun to read. The main characters, Celeste and John, are in their forties, which is a breath of fresh air for a genre overwhelmed with twenty-somethings. Their story was tooth-achingly sweet, but had some very real challenges to overcome that gave the story a wonderful depth.

I had such a great time reading this book and learning about birding along the way ◡̈

This was not what I expected! I had no expectations going into this, but hoped it was a light-hearted and fun, and that's exactly what it was. This was super binge-able, and a perfect "palate cleanser" between books. I even learned a thing or two about birds! I am interested to see what the author does next.

This is a delightfully sweet rom-com featuring Celeste, a post-divorce mother in the "say yes" phase of her life and John, a quiet birder who tends to be too shy to go after what he wants.

What starts out as a funny misunderstanding turns into a fun and rather educational birding competition (Sarah Dubb's real life love of birding really shines here) and then turns into a legitimately spicy friends with benefits turned more romance.

This is a later in life romance for both Celeste and John (who are in their 40s) and they have their fears and baggage to overcome, but there isn't a ton of angst and all of it feels believable, not made up for the sake of drama, which felt refreshing and genuine. I also loved the casual queer representation in the side characters, which included queer, nonbinary and bisexual mentions.

This book definitely keeps things light and fluffy on the emotional development of the characters so don't go in looking for a deep pull, but it's a great fun read that will make definitely make you look at your back yard birds with a bit more magic.

Thanks to Gallery Books for the eARC!

Thank you Netgallery for this arc! This book was not like other books that I have read which surprised me a little. I loved the concept, but it was hard for me to get into and I had to push myself to read it. I do see this becoming a popular book though!

As an avid birder and a reader, I really enjoyed "Birding with Benefits." Great character development and strong plot development along with a good level of spice. Sarah T. Dubb gives very apt descriptions of the joys of birding, showing that she really understands that. I appreciated that the main female character was unconventional and also how the characters were middle-aged and still exploring different options in life. I thought it might be a bit silly given the title, but there was a good combination of fun and seriousness. Highly recommended. Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the eARC.