I’ve always been drawn to second-chance romances, even though I can never quite wrap my head around how two people can be so deeply attracted to each other after being apart for years. This one was no exception. The writing completely pulled me in—beautifully crafted, with descriptions that made every scene vivid and emotional. I could picture everything so clearly, from the setting to the smallest gestures between the characters.

The romance itself was what I focused on the most, and I loved it. The emotions felt raw and real, and I appreciated how the characters dealt with their shared past while navigating their feelings in the present. That being said, I did find some parts, like the parents’ drama, a bit illogical. But honestly, I let that slide because it wasn’t the heart of the story for me.

What I truly connected with were their feelings now, in the moment. Watching them rediscover each other and work through their baggage was so satisfying. It reminded me why I love this trope, even if I can’t always relate to the idea of reconnecting after so much time. Overall, it was a beautifully written story that left me completely invested in their love.

Jill Shalvis is an auto read for me, and 9 times out of 10 she is a 5 star read for me. This one is a solid 4 star. I have issues with second chance stories and the reasons were up front and center in this book. The main leads were 2 neighborhood sweethearts who lost touch with each other for 10 years. Their love story started when they were teenagers. But, I never really was made to believe that Noah cared that much for Olive. In fact he humiliated and belittled her in front of the whole senior class. And when Olive left town he just never spoke of her again. This is not what I would call love.

I had a real hard time with the 2 main lead characters. Olive came across as very weak and insecure. Noah just seemed like a total d++k. And really if they loved each other so much, why was there 10 years where neither really cared about the other. Again, the whole second chance thing of - how about just talking to each other. - No, well here we are 10 years later. AAARGH.

So, even though there were so many issues why did I give this a 4 stars. The writing is great as always. And, the secondary characters are fantastic. I still enjoyed the story, I just found the premise kind of unbelievable.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for this ARC.

Fun story by Jill Shalvis. The characters were unique. The storyline was a bit slow at times, but it was interesting enough to keep reading. Will recommend for a light read.

I was really excited to read this book because it sounded cute & had really good ratings, but I was honestly kind of disappointed. The beginning of the book was fine but my attention drained as the book went on.

Throughout the first half of the story, Olive’s parents are missing, and the author mentions it multiple times. Olive even ventured out in the middle of a deadly storm to try and find them. This led me to believe that something serious was wrong; however, they eventually turned up completely fine. I felt like including her parents added zero value to this story.

Also, Katie’s character felt really obnoxious & over the top, but it never talks about her struggling with anything mentally. If she was, I think that should have been made clear. If she wasn’t, I think it should be toned down a little.

In addition to that, the hot and cold between Olive & Noah got old really quick. They seemed to struggle a lot to keep their hands to themselves & clearly had feelings for each other, yet, they went back and forth so much. You’re 30, grow up!!

One thing I did enjoy in this book was that when it did get spicy, it wasn’t extremely descriptive of the physical activities between the two. Instead, it focused more on the vibes of the room and stuff like that. It was honestly so refreshing to not have to read cringy sex scenes.

I really enjoyed the dynamic of their history & blended family, but I just couldn’t get into it.


A big thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

While Jill Shalvis’s storytelling remains strong, this particular book didn’t quite resonate with me. The premise—risking everything to find perpetually absent parents—felt hard to connect with. Why not wait a bit before diving into danger? Still, the characters had their charm, and I can see others enjoying the adventure.

This is another great book in the Sunrise Cove series. We have second chance romance, forced proximity and brother's best friend in Better Than Friends. We have Olive who returns to Sunrise Cove to help her best friend out. Olive meets back up with Noah, her best friend's twin brother.

The story is engaging and you just love all the characters. Joey really stole the show with his cuteness. The setting of Lake Tahoe made me want to drive up there to enjoy the beautiful mountain top.

Thank you @avonbooks @netgalley for a copy of this.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

Better than Friends is a great cozy read. Jill Shalvis does not disappoint in her latest book. This story is full of love and humor which will keep the reader engaged throughout the entire story.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Better than Friends is a cute heartwarming story that follows two best friends and their extended family over a span of 14 years. Olive finds herself returning home for an extended visit after she fled at 18, due to her best friend needing her help. During her visit she is faced head on with what she has been running from for years, her attraction to her best friend’s brother, that never seemed to wake over the years. As Olive navigates her feelings towards Noah, Sunset Cove, and her own parents, she finally realizes where she’s meant to be. This book is a heartfelt story of long lost love, best friends, and what family truly means. While a tad bit predictable, Jill Shalvis never ceases to deliver on a solid romance!

Overall this book was a cute small town read. MCs have chemistry however it felt very MID it was just missing something, like the reveal of why she left was just not as a big deal as it should have been. I feel like it missed that mark on several plot points.

Overall tho a cute book and I would recommend to a friend for a cute small town friends to lovers, second chance book.

Thanks to Avon for an advanced copy of Better than Friends by Jill Shalvis. I love the Sunrise Cove series and while this is book 7, they can all be read as standalone books.

I love these books set in Lake Tahoe and this enemies to lovers/second chance romance was all about friendship and family. Olivia comes home to help her best friend and Noah is recuperating after an injury at work so when they are both helping, sparks fly and will they be able to mend what happened years ago?

I love Jill Shalvis's characters and stories. These are perfect small town romances and I love her characters and stories!

I really loved this book! I enjoyed the characters and the heartfelt romance/relationships. It involves small town, enemy to lover romance, and second chances. It’s the perfect winter book to cozy up to!

I have been a fan of Jill Shalvis for years and know she can deliver a good story. While I thought the blurb of this one sounded pretty good, I wasn't sure I was really going to enjoy it, but boy did I. Olive has been gone from her hometown for years, living in London. Noah also moved away, but not nearly so far. Both had crushes on the other in high school, but only Olive let hers be known. After an accident, Olive left town to rarely return. Everyone thinks she left because of the accident. While that is part of it, there is more to the story. Noah hasn't forgiven Olive for leaving, or the accident, but he didn't need to forgive her for the accident because while everyone else in the town blamed her, he never did. That is just the basis of this story and it is a really good one. I highly recommend. Thank you NetGalley and Jill Shalvis for this advanced copy!

Jill Shalvis is the Queen and I love the sunrise cove books. I am a sucker for enemies-to-lovers and forced-proximity tropes so I absolutely loved this one! I also like the comfort of sunrise cove.

These thoughts are my own. I appreciate the chance to review. #BetterThanFriends #NetGalley.

This story pulled me in with its cozy setting and the emotional weight of Olive and Noah’s reconnection. I love a good second-chance romance, and this one delivered on the longing and heartbreak that comes from being forced apart and finding your way back. Their chemistry felt natural, and the tension—especially with the one-bed trope—added just enough spark, though I did wish the romance had a bit more heat.

What stood out most for me was the warmth in the relationships, not just between Olive and Noah but also the bond with Noah’s sister, who brought humor and heart to the story. Shalvis has a way of making her characters feel real, balancing heavier themes of loss and healing with lighthearted moments that keep things from feeling too heavy. While it wasn’t my favorite from her, it was still a sweet, comforting read that left me satisfied in the end.

An accident caused Olive to leave Noah when they were teenagers and a misunderstanding kept them apart. But now Olive has returned and they have a second chance, if stubbornness, family relationships and a crushing secret doesn’t keep them apart again. With snappy dialog, exceptional relatable characters and laugh out humor, this is a wonderful story and a very enjoyable must read. Thank you Netgalley and Avon Harper Voyager for an early copy. This review is my honest opinion.

I really wanted to enjoy Better Than Friends, but unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. The story is told in third person, which isn’t my favorite point of view—it made it harder for me to connect with the characters and their emotions. While the premise sounded promising, I found myself struggling to stay engaged because of the narrative style. If you prefer third-person storytelling, this might be a better fit for you, but for me, it fell flat.

Olive Porter returns to Sunrise Cove to help her dear friend Katie with her son while Katie cares for her ailing husband. It's a favor she didn't think twice about fulfilling... that is until it brings her face to face with Noah Turner.

Better Than Friends is a second chance romance that is certain to tug on your heart strings and leave you with an unshakable smile. Reuniting with your ex is never an easy situation and when these two do they quickly find that they have unresolved feelings left over from long ago, as well as, some serious chemistry. As they set out on their journey to find Olive's parents they begin to realize that they are going to have to eventually face the music and deal with everything brewing between them, but they must also learn to forgive each other for the past too. And that's the hard part...

I absolutely adored this pairing that Ms. Shalvis chose to grace the pages of her newest installment in the Sunrise Cove series, their perfectly crafted love story hit me straight in the heart and had me feeling all the feels the whole way through. It was such a wonderful escape, so much so, that I wasn't ready for it to end when the last page found me... I just wanted to stay in their world and never leave. Highly recommend this one, it's words will not only entertain, but also leave an indent on your heart!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, via NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.

This was my first book by this author, and I will definitely be reading more of Jill’s books.
This book is part of the Sunrise Cove series, but can easily be read as a standalone.
The story is about Olive Porter, who is returning to Sunrise Cove from London to help and support her best friend after her husband was injured in an accident. Being in a forced proximity to her best friend’s brother, Noah Turner, stirs up many emotions that they are both trying to navigate.
I loved the setting and the characters, the friendship, and the found family.
I absolutely adored the dog and kitten characters and their bond, it was the highlight of the story for me.
Overall, the story was sweet and heartwarming.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

I have always loved everything Ms Shalvis writes, however, this was a very slooow moving story. So much so, I had to put it down several times to get my headspace into it.

Olive didn’t want to return to Sunrise Cove, but her best friend needed her. Being back home brought too many unwanted memories, of what could have been. Being in close proximity to Noah, the love of her life, but she wasn’t admitting that to anyone, was going to be difficult. Ever since Olive ran over him with an ATV and ruined his baseball career, when she was eighteen, she hasn’t let go of the guilt. Seeing Noah, Olive can see the boy has become a handsome, no scratch that, a devastatingly heartthrob of a man. How is she going to survive these next few weeks.

Ever since Olive returned to Sunrise Cove, he can’t stop wanting to be around her. Noah knows that she’s not good for his well-being, but can’t help himself. Making sure they both work together to help his sister, Katie, that’s all that matters.

This is a sweet story about things that could have been but we’re never discussed. Maybe this time they can see the possibilities and lay it all out.