Plain Jayne is a sweet friends to lovers read! The '80s music references throughout were a fun touch and the writing was often extremely fun to read, bringing light and levity to the story. Though the romantic lead, Nick, can be extremely frustrating, the banter kept me invested and turning pages.

This was a cute, fluffy, read that was easy to get lost in. The characters were interesting, unique, and quirky, which was a refreshing change. I felt genuinely invested in their relationships and interactions, and I enjoyed receiving an insight into their pasts. This helped me to better understand their actions and motivations throughout the book, providing an additional dimension to their characters.

However, I didn't appreciate the constant insults directed toward dead loved one. I couldn't figure out the rationale for this, and it seemed both unsubstantiated and unnecessary. It seemed like this was greatly used as a crutch and a plot point to further the primary relationship. This came across as insensitive, naive, and juvenile, and I couldn't stand behind this type of behavior.

3.5 stars

This was a sweet read of childhood best friends navigating a journey into more than platonic love. Jayne and Nick have had a rocky decade in terms of their friendship but Jayne's decision to move home changed things.

I absolutely loved the deep, selfless love these two had for each other platonically; their connection was palpable. Yet, it was occasionally frustrating reading their reticence over their own feelings and lack of action. There was a girlfriend in they picture and some superb friends that I enjoyed reading about.

This storyline had depth and the background of Jayne's childhood and legacy were rich and interesting. This chemistry between these two was credible and very clean. I would hand preferred a little more detail and less beating around the bush.

Overall this was good, easy read with a slice of predictability.

A copy of this book was provided through netgalley in return for a honest review.

PLAIN JAYNE - Laura Drewry

FRIENDS TO LOVERS - 4 stars

#1 in the Friends First romance series

Plot - 4 stars - Jayne and Nick have been best friends since kindergarten, despite what everyone thinks--that they are more than friends. When Jayne finally comes back to her hometown after inheriting her grandmother's bookstore, she and Nick basically pick up where they left off. It's obvious to everyone else that they are in love, but neither recognizes it as love, having grown accustomed to and comfortable with sharing their friendship and camaraderie.

Writing - 4 stars - I am always drawn into Drewry's stories right from the first page. She writes in a warm and charming manner that captures me, creating well-built characters that I'd love to get to know personally. Although she's created a small town where everybody knows everyone else's business (which I don't think I'd like in real life), the characters come across as supportive rather than nosy. They know when to back off and when to help. Secondary characters are just as appealing as Nick and Jayne.

Characters - 4.5 stars - Jayne is, in many ways, just your ordinary small-town girl. She's intelligent and nice and friendly, with doubts about her figure, about her hair, etc. But as we get to know her better, we find that she's been starved for love through her life and doesn't really know how to accept love, either physically or emotionally. Nick, the hot sexy friend, has always had a special place in his heart for Jayne, not really ever exploring the fact that he feels more for her than he would for a sister. Their banter is entertaining, always giving each other a hard time.

Title - 4 stars - Plain Jayne is her nickname, and she has taken on the persona, despite the fact that Nick feels she's much more than that.

Cover - 3.5 stars - Warm, pretty, comfortable, kind of halfway between the friendship vibe, with signs of the love relationship starting to show.

Overview - 4 stars - I really liked this book a lot. I've read the 2nd in the series, without feeling that I was missing anything, but now that I've read this first in the series, I'm happy to fill in the blanks. The adjectives I keep coming back to are...sweet...warm...comfortable...loving...all based on the strong and solid friendship Nick and Jayne have built over the years.