Being alone, to me, is different than being lonely. I’ve been alone for a long time, and there’s a lot of freedom in that. Freedom to do what I want when I want, freedom to be selfish, freedom to always choose me. But if I’m honest with myself, there’s also fear. Fear of change. Fear of letting someone close. And lately, I’ve been asking myself — am I choosing myself out of fear? Because I’m afraid of choosing someone else? Afraid of giving them the power to hurt me?

I had the pleasure of receiving the ARC of this book and I cannot wait to get a physical copy to go back and annotate. The he falls first trope always does it for me and Mal did not disappoint. I really enjoyed that this was not the typical take on a love triangle. Going through the journey of Mal and Jo growing as not only a couple but individuals will forever warm my heart.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC.

If you have followed me for a bit you know I absolutely loved Shirlene’s debut On Rotation! I’m happy to report her sophomore novel is just as good!!!

The synopsis of this one will set you up for the story… but omg what’s within this glimpse is just soooooo good! The way she writes Dialogue, Banter, and Characters feels fresh and incomparable in the genre. Also hello love triangle… I wasn’t prepared for it nor did I mind it. All the characters were authentic and had a purpose… I dare you not to adore them by the end. I will hands down read all that Shirlene puts out into the world.

Thank you Avon 📖
Releases 7/30

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I enjoyed this story a lot. I loved how bold Jo was and that she spoke her mind with Malcolm at all times. She didn’t keep secrets that came back to bite her in the behind. I loved Malcolm too. He knew his worth and spoke his mind in his own way as well. These two together was prefection. I was rooting for them from the start and I’m glad this wasn’t a love triangle. I came to like Ezra but I really enjoyed Jo’s roommate, Renata and Malcolm’s friends. I cannot wait to read more books by Shirlene Obuobi!

ARC Review

This was my first book by Shirlene Obuobi, but it must definitely won’t be my last! Her style of writing is very compelling, and this is the first time I’ve truly enjoyed a love triangle.

This book follows Jo, a medical doctor/influencer who has been in love with her best friend of ten years, Ezra. It also follows Malcolm, an author who is two years out of a ten year relationship. The chemistry and dialogue is amazing. I really felt connected to the characters, and not once did a character do something that had me questioning their motives for the sake of controversy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

I struggled with whether to give a 4 or a 5 because, as much as I love the story and the characters and settings, I didn’t love the writing style. Like, the sudden flashbacks or the all-of-a-sudden details kinda thrown at me. I don’t really know why it bugged.

But, let’s call it a 4.5 and talk about the good stuff. I LOVED the secondary characters in this story, especially Amal’s pals Kelechi and Kieran. And, oh, Dahlia. Jo is so lucky to have her. I even really dig some of the frequent commenters from Jo’s site. 🤪

I also really enjoyed the virgin/sex/healthcare aspect of the story, having been a long-time member of that club myself. Also, the emancipation storyline was super interesting to me, as I have had students in similar situations. Gawd, I had no idea how ridiculously lucky I was, having been raised by my parents.

Obviously, this book touched me. Huh. Interesting. 💜📚

This was a wild ride and I enjoyed every minute of this story line and characters. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this arc.

Let me start by saying that I really enjoyed this book. It kept the tension between what was real and fiction believable. The characters were so wonderful I want them to be real. I appreciated the insight and nuance into their lives. I wanted more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the DRC.

I've been holding off on reading this for a while because my expectations were so high but I'm glad it did not disappoint. I loved the writers comment on the GR page about how we all vy for the second leads in kdramas (very guilty). This story is for us!

Although, Ezra was barely any real competition for Mal. Maybe if he also had his own POV, which I would've loved to see but I felt like he wouldn't have had a chance even if Mal messed up. While there was mad love between Jo and Ezra, it didn't feel like he truly saw her and it made me want insight on how he did (although we do get that backstory later in the story). I dunno, at no point in the story was I truly worried that Jo would backtrack. She'd legit be blind to continue waiting for someone who is afraid to confess.

This story sucked me in from the first chapter and I loved the dynamic between Mal and Jo. They were both very honest and upfront with their intentions (ugh, so refreshing) and there weren't any stupid miscommunication arcs; moreso arcs of distance when the other needed space. The whole story felt very...mature and adult? In some romances with 25+ adults, they tend to make very age 13 decisions but all of these characters felt like real people I'd potentially know. Also, very much unlike some kdramas, Jo and Mal had friends who gave legit advice that showed they had all dealt with their own shit and weren't sitting in fantasy land.

I saw some comments that people didn't feel the chemistry between them and felt it more for Ezra and Jo, but I think that's a point in itself. While Ezra and Jo may have more sizzling chemistry, that relationship wouldn't have lasted. The MCs have chemistry rooted in hard truths and mutual understanding, which I think is often longer lasting.

Overall, solid 4 stars for me. I loved seeing a FMC who was an "older" virgin and alternate career paths.

I absolutely loved Jo and Malcolm story ! The way Jo started out being involve with someone else and finding real love and support from Malcolm was heart warming!! This story shows how everyone who is always there to help and give advice to someone else may also need the love, support, and advice themselves. I can not wait until this book is published so I can have it on my shelf and read it again. Thank you so much for the opportunity to preview this story!!!

4.5/5 I really enjoyed this read. I loved that it really gave like exactly what the title and embodies what it is for the woman to be between a friend and a lover. I enjoyed seeing different relationships with the two male lead characters and how she really did end up in love with who was right for her. The book really showed Jo and her messy love life, her hopes and dreams but also her growth. It felt extremely believable and relatable and this was my first read from Shirlene Obuobi! Bravo!! I would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for something fun with the caution of the triggers that are present in this book.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint. This book exceeded all my expectations.

This book follows Jojo who is a social media influencer but also a Medical doctor . Jojo is in love with her best friend of many years, Ezra who she believes doesn’t feel the same way about her. In this book Jojo try’s to navigate her life , her feelings for Ezra and she’s introduced to a special new person , Malcom

Jojo is such a confident , funny , hardworking woman .The way she handled situations with grace was so beautiful to read about . She’s the type of character you get excited to read about or the ones you think about regularly. Reading about Jojo back story was so sad , how she had care for herself at such young age without any support/ guidance from adults.

From the moment Malcom was introduced I fell in love with him .Malcom is a debut novelist, working with Ezra mom . He is such a sweet boy 😭. Malcom is this introverted man , that also has social anxiety 😭. I loved how the Malcom was vulnerable with his struggles .

Can’t speak too much on Ezra 😑. There were moments I felt resentful and angry with how clueless Ezra was but the more I read the book and his backstory , I empathize with him a little .

I loved the relationship development between Jojo and Malcom , it strengthened with each page .I loved how Malcom cared for Jojo . He was patient with her , never pressured her into making decisions, stood by her side even when she was going through some difficult times in her life . I love reading about black women being loved and appreciated.

I am usually not a fan of love triangle but in this book , I ate it up . I learned a lot from this book ( especially from jojo ) I cried , laughed, swoon .Despite this being a sweet romance book, there were heavy topics that were discussed . The ending of this book was beautiful and loved how everything turned out for everyone .

The moment I finished this book , I wanted to go back to the first page and read it all over again . I highly recommend this book . I will be preordering the physical copy

Thank you Netgalley , Avonbooks and HarperVoyagerUS for this Arc . This Arc is provided in exchange for my honest review.

I'm head over heels for Mal & Jo! Mal is just the sweetest book boyfriend and I was completely invested in Jo and Mal's love story. Shirlene has crafted characters that feel real and relatable, These characters are unforgettable and the book had me giggling and swooning—it's definitely going on my favorites shelf.

This one made me feel all the emotions! I went in with high expectations because Ali Hazelwood said it was her last 5 star read and it did not disappoint!

Jo is a strong, well-rounded, sassy, and deep FMC that you can’t help but love and want the absolute best for from the very beginning. She finds herself trying to figure out being in love with her long time best friend and the potential of someone new. Ultimately, finding her person that isn’t afraid to claim her as his was everything she deserved. I couldn’t be happier with how this book played out.

Mal is 🥹… I love him so much. He is awkward and self deprecating but so so loving and gives all that he has to Jo. Their maturity with each other was refreshing. While they tended to jump to conclusions in their heads, in person they gave each other the benefit of the doubt and were able to prove their hesitancies wrong. I loved watching them both flourish with each other.

Ezra.. man. So many conflicting feelings but I’ll leave it at… way to figure it out, took ya long enough.

Overall, loved this book! Shirlene is definitely going on my “must read” author list!

3.5/5 stars,

A cozy Black romance novel. I wasn't overly invested in the love triangle which lost some points for me. I did love both Ezra and Malcolm in their own ways they both were great!

Thank you Avon and Harper for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

I enjoyed this book thoroughly. The plot was very interesting. What I thought was going to be a light read touched on some difficult topics. The characters were very well developed. I absolutely adored Mal. He was the perfect opposite to Jo’s less that nurturing attitude. I still don’t think see deserved him, but I was happy for their roller coaster all the same. And the epilogue was so perfect. Tied up all questions through a very realistic text thread. Would recommend!

What an adorable novel that makes for an awesome travel read! I liked the characters, enjoyed their banter and interactions, and found the premise catchy enough to remain interested the entire time. Even though I felt like I knew how it would ultimately end, the ride was enjoyable and I can’t say I’ve seen a take as nuanced as Obuobi’s in this novel. Kudos on the depth she attained in the secondary characters as well - I never felt like they were afterthoughts.

Between Friends and Lovers is a *perfect* book. If I could buy a 6th star for this, I would.

Let’s start with Jo: She’s smart, badass, important, imperfect. I want to be her friend and go to Jeni’s with her. And Mal: He takes “love interest written by a woman” to new heights. Like, he’s so lovely but in an attainable / everyone-deserves-this type of way?! I’d also gladly grab Jeni’s with him.

And their chemistry: I melt. Add on a long-term-bff-slash-crush love triangle, authentic illustrations of depression + mental illness, and writing that is *chef’s kiss.*

Once again, totally blown away by the fact that Shirlene Obuobi can write such a perfect book while also being a whole cardiologist, illustrator, Washington Post contributor, speaker, illustrator, pet parent... She's just the coolest human, and her books reflect that!

I was amazwed at how far the influencer business game extends, according to this novel. A doctor and a dermatologist both are on Instagram as medical and business influencers, making videos, doing voice overs, and selling medical services/products and even fashion.

That the setting and basic plot focuses also on romance and love doesn't in my opinion, make it easier to stomach how far "influencing" online can go.

An interesting story that might somehow be more aggressive if it had focused less on romance and more on the new way all levels of people try to earn income through Influencing and collecting followers online.

First of all, I fell in love with the cover and knew this was going to be a love triangle story that I needed to read and it definitely didn’t disappoint.

Dr. Josephine Boateng was not only a doctor but an influencer who has been “adopted” into her best friend Ezra Adelman’s wealthy family. Due to issues with her mother, this Ghandian-American emancipated herself from her at age 16. When she met Ezra in college they because close friends but she fell in love with him along the way and stuck by her best friend’s side while he dated several women. Jo hid her feelings but always wanted something more.

In walks Malcom Waters into her life. Mal is a writer and photographer who is 2 years out a 10 year relationship. He meets Jo who gives him the confidence to step outside the box with his career and to speak up for himself. Her beauty and her assertiveness makes him fall for her. But with her feelings for her best friend Ezra and Jo not really knowing what love is, will Mal’s feelings be reciprocated? Will Ezra finally see what’s been right in front of him for years?

I absolutely loved this but I wanted more🤣

This is my first Shirlene Obuobi read and I was pleasantly surprised with this book. A friends to lovers + love triangle in the age of social media. It kept me engaged throughout the entire story.