3.0⭐️ me and this book did not click

this is my first jill shalvis book and i have another arc by her but i really didn’t connect with this one. i was kinda forcing myself through it and it got boring. i think part of it was the fact that the writing was in 3rd person and i found it hard to follow.

i dont really have anything to say about these characters. i felt like i didn’t really know that much about who they were and i didn’t connect with them individually or as a couple. it just felt super repetitive like “oh we aren’t talking cause of our childhood” then “oh we kissed but we can’t be together because god knows why” they literally kissed like 10 times and refused to acknowledge they wanted each other?

i might try the other arc i have but the 3rd was really a struggle for me in this book. thanks to netgalley for the arc🫶

Better Than Friends is a cute, cozy read that is a perfect read for the winter!
Jill Shalvis does a great job at creating characters that you just fall in love with, Noah and Olive are no exception. The author drops little pieces of the past that make it fun to piece together the story, as well as incorporates a bit of mystery into the story as well. This was a quick easy read that I enjoyed every second of, and I look forward to reading the next book in the Sunrise Cove series!!

Jill Shalvis is the queen of romantic banter and her latest is another good example of it. Any time I pick up one of her books, along with the banter I know I’ll also get likable characters, found family relationships filled with love and respect, and a few heart tugging moments. The plot tends to be somewhat secondary to the various relationships but there is always enough of a plot to keep the action moving forward.

Better Than Friends features Olive and Noah, who were best friends in HS, along with Noah’s twin sister, Katie. However, a difficult situation developed between Olive and Noah in their senior year leading to Olive moving away for college and never coming home. Finally, after 12 years, she returns when Katie has a family crisis, leading to a long postponed reckoning and reconciliation with Noah while they search together for Olive’s irresponsible, missing parents. I got a bit frustrated with Olive’s refusal to have an honest conversation with Noah, but otherwise was very satisfied with this sweet and sexy romance. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Better Than Friends is Jill Shalvis’ latest steamy romantic comedy and the seventh in her Sunrise Cove series. Each book in the series can be read as a stand-alone because the characters don’t overlap. Better Than Friends is an enemies-to-lovers, second-chance, small-town, forced-proximity love story that alternates between past and present. It contains profanity and sex scenes.

Olive Porter has lived an unconventional life. She was raised by off-the-grid parents and moved to Sunrise Cove to live with her grandmother. A brother and sister, Katie and Noah Turner, befriended her and tried to protect her from the bullies at school. After graduating from high school, Olive moved away and only kept in touch with Katie. Now more than 10 years later, Olive is living in the UK. When she learns that Katie’s husband has been injured and Katie needs help, she returns to Sunrise Cove to help out.

Olive is also concerned about her parents, who haven’t checked in recently with her. She reluctantly seeks out Noah Turner, who is now a police detective and is recovering from the same accident that put his partner, best friend, and brother-in-law, Joe, in a coma. Olive and Noah have to make peace with their shared past and old resentments in order to help Katie and her five-year-old son, Joey.

Better Than Friends is more emotional than some of the author’s other stories. Olive had a difficult childhood, and Noah felt abandoned when she left, not knowing her motivation. Both Olive and Noah demonstrated character development throughout the story. There were also several humorous scenes, and the cat, dog, and precious Joey really added to the story. Jill Shalvis knows how to combine the right amounts of heartfelt wrenching emotion and hilarious scenes to craft a wonderful romantic story for her readers.

I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyage for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Olive is back in town to help her best friend Katie, when her husband was in an accident and is in a coma. Olive has a complicated past with Katie's twin, Noah, including running him over and getting out of town. This was a cute easy read, with two friends finding their way back to where they belong. The end felt a bit rushed, but overall a cute read in this series.

After a pivotal night over a decade ago, Olive and Noah began avoiding each other, so much so that Olive moved her life overseas. After a tragic accident involving the husband of Olive’s best friend (and Noah’s sister), Olive and Noah find each other in Sunrise Cove once again.

Better Than Friends is a complex story that is more than just a romance. Shalvis gives main characters a detailed backstory as justification for their actions both past and present, demonstrating character development throughout. Better Than Friends had some heartfelt and emotionally riveting scenes describing abandonment, bullying, and fighting.

Although the seventh book in the Sunrise Cove series and the first by Jill Shalvis that I have read, I didn’t feel that I missed any major details and this novel was enjoyable as a standalone. I will say that Better Than Friends is a change of place to most romances I have read. This novel contains so many relatable and believable scenes. It was heartbreaking, anxiety inducing, heartwarming, and cute. I also love the addition of Holmes (basset hound) and Pepper (kitten)!


Featured tropes:
Slow burn
Second chance
Enemies to lovers
Small town
Forced proximity

This book was absolutely adorable! Jill Shalvis has done it with this cozy yet plot-driven story that blends humor, emotion, and romance.

Olive and Noah’s second-chance romance hit all the right notes. I loved the way their past and present collided, creating so much tension and chemistry between them. Their dynamic was equal parts emotional and hilarious, with moments that tugged at my heartstrings and others that made me laugh out loud.

The small-town vibes of Sunrise Cove added a warm, comforting backdrop, and the supporting cast of characters brought so much depth to the story. I felt completely invested in their journeys, and by the end, it felt like saying goodbye to old friends.

Thank you to NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This was great! Jill Shalvis has earned a spot on my list of favorite authors. She writes characters who feel like family and you just want to see things work out for them. This story was no different. Olive and Noah were obviously meant for one another if they could just figure out how to make things work. I was hooked by this story very quickly and couldn’t wait to see Olive and Noah finally get over their past.

Olive returns home to help her best friend, Katie after her husband, Joe, is injured on the job. Katie’s brother, Noah, is also there to help which makes things interesting since there is some history between the pair. Both Olive and Noah have some guilt that they need to deal with along with a few career decisions to make. It quickly becomes apparent that the feelings they had for one another as teens have only grown stronger and the chemistry between them is off the charts. I thought that these two were perfect for one another and enjoyed seeing them reconnect.

Andi Arndt does a fantastic job with this book. She does such a great job with both the male and female voices which really helps pull the listener into the story. I love how she is able to add just enough emotion to her reading to make it feel like you are right there with the characters. I had no problems listening to this book for hours at a time and believe that her narration added to my enjoyment of the story.

I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others. This is the seventh book in the Sunrise Cove series but works perfectly well as a stand-alone since the books in this series are only loosely connected. I can’t wait to read more of this entertaining series.

I received a review copy of this book from Avon Books and HarperAudio.

Jill Shalvis was the first romance author I ever read way back in high school and I still adore every single one of her books!

This one had all my favorite tropes:

🩵Enemies to Lovers
🩵Second Chance
🩵Found Family
🩵Small Town
🩵Forced Proximity

I loved the chemistry between Olive and Noah! They have been one of my favorite couples to read in the Sunrise Cove series so far 😍

I definitely recommend this five star read to all my fellow romance lovers out there!

Olive Porter is not sure about returning to Sunrise Cove after having left there ten years ago. Her family situation was difficult and she had moved to the Cove to live with her grandmother. Her best friend’s family helped give her the security she needed and now Kaite needs her. Katie’s husband, a detective, was wounded and lies in a coma at the hospital. Of course, Katie’s brother, Detective Noah Turner, is one of the first persons that she sees. She had a crush on him during their school years, but he was not for her…he told her so. He did protect her from school bullies as her formative years were a bit different due to her time spent, with her parents, in an off the grid situation. Noah was also injured in the accident and feels guilty that his best friend, brother-in-law and partner, Joe, remains injured. There is friction between them, as Noah was hurt when she left town after graduation. Will he finally learn why she left? The several flashbacks to their school years, added so much heartfelt emotion to the characters, especially Olive. I really enjoyed Katie’s character too, so unique! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

Better than Friends by Jill Shalvis, book seven in the Sunrise Cove series, is a heartwarming and humorous, best friend’s brother, second chance story, friends to lovers, and found family, filled with lots of laughter, sarcasm, attraction, supportive friends, family relationships, cute animals, an intelligent kid, and love; all in a beautiful location.

When Olive’s best friend, Katie’s, husband is in a coma after being injured in a tragic accident, she returns home to Sunrise Cove to help her out. Olive worries about seeing Katie’s twin brother, Noah. Back in high school Olive and Noah fake dated, only for their friendship to end on a sour note and Noah being injured. Together again, they are faced with not only helping Katie and her son, but also their shared past. When Olive’s parents are missing, Noah is the one helping her trace their movements. Noah is protective of Olive while also trying to protect his heart from getting hurt again. He needs to believe that the one person who would always protect his heart and soul is the one he needs to convince to please just give him another chance now.

Ms. Shalvis took me on another amazing visit to Sunrise Cove as Olive and Noah get a second chance at their friendship as a romance between them grows. This story has it all, friendships from high school, family, laugh aloud banter, animals and a little mystery; leaving the reader with hope and a smile on their faces.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#NetGalley #Avon #BetterThanFriends

Terrific second chance romance brought about by forced proximity. Olive and Noah knew each other in high school. His sister, Katie, is Olive's best friend. Olive moved in with her grandparents when she tired of her parents' free-spirited lifestyle. Katie and Noah lived next door, and their family became like a second family to Olive. A devastating accident sent Olive fleeing from Sunrise Cove, leaving a "Dear John" letter for Noah.

Years later, Olive returned to Sunrise Cove to help Katie when her husband, Joe, and Noah were injured on the job. Joe is in a coma, and Noah is on medical leave while he recovers. Noah has been staying with Katie and her son Joey to help. He is unaware of Olive's imminent arrival.

I enjoyed the development of Noah and Olive's relationship. It gets off to an awkward start as Olive still feels guilty about the accident that happened their senior year. We get glimpses of their past together as they work through those memories. The sparks of attraction are obvious to everyone around them, but they initially resist giving in to them. Olive's guilty feelings hold her back despite realizing her love for him never died. Noah never blamed her for the accident and was brokenhearted when she left so suddenly.

I loved their conversations, usually full of teasing and snarky comments. There were also serious moments where the past was brought into the light and dealt with. One of my favorite things about Noah was his support as she dealt with her worry about her parents. I also loved his pride in her strength and accomplishments. Noah does sometimes have trouble with foot-in-mouth disease when trying to express his thoughts and feelings and spends a fair amount of time doing damage control. I loved when he finally saw the light and opened up to Olive. The scene was sweet and emotional with an epilogue that was the icing on the cake.

One of the great things about a Jill Shalvis book is her talent for creating believable families. I loved Katie, with her snark and lack of a filter. Her love for her family and friends is undeniable, even though her comments can be cringe-worthy. Her commentary on Noah and Olive's relationship woes is hilarious. Her son, Joey, is an apple that didn't fall far from the tree, especially when it came to Olive and Noah. The dynamics of Olive's parents went a long way to explaining why Olive has the issues she has. Their inconsiderate actions irritated me, though there was a hint of redemption at the end.

Lighthearted moments were courtesy of Katie's ancient bassett hound, Holmes, and the stray kitten, Pepper, he'd adopted. These two were adorable and nearly stole every scene they were in.

A sweet, heartwarming story infused with humor, Better Than Friends tells the love story of Olive and Noah. They were neighbors and friends growing up, but after an accident that Olive felt responsible for changed Noah's future the summer they graduated from high school, she left town (and then the country) and has hardly been back. But when she does come back, they still feel drawn to each other. When Noah's sister and Olive's best friend needs the support of those close to her, Olive come to help out and she and Noah have to figure out their relationship for once and for all. I love that Shalvis's characters can laugh at themselves, and the "love scenes" are nicely balanced with real life and even a bit of action. A quick, enjoyable read!

Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis is a second chance romance, proving that the second chance is always better. Katie, Olive, and Katie’s brother, Noah, had been friends forever, more with Noah. Then, Olive had left, breaking his heart, and hers. Now she was back. Katie had married the fourth in the group, Joe, and he was unconscious in the hospital and Olive had come to help. She couldn’t stay with her grandmother because, unbeknownst to Olive, she had taken in boarders. She claimed she was saving up for a fabulous vacation with her friends. It turns out she had diabetes as well, unbeknownst to Olive as well. She had stayed away too long. Noah was Joe’s partner; they were park service investigators, and steeped in guilt over Joe’s situation. It was all so much, coming home to this, and to the secrets she was still keeping.

Katie was neuro-divergent, and so Noah, and Olive, had always looked out for her. Joe had fallen in-love with her and discovered she could take care of herself, as well as him and their kids. Joe was a good guy, he always had been. Olive had managed to put together a business and a life in England and she wasn’t sure she wanted to go back. Her grandmother spent her time drumming up local business for her; people who were in need of public relations help. It was a fun story with terrific characters. The plot was complex, unusual for a romance, and delved deeply into family. Joe survived but all of them were called upon to make changes. Shalvis kept the reader wondering. Good read.

I was invited to read Better Than Friends by Avon and Harper Voyager. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #AvonAndHarperVoyager #BetterThanFreinds

I am a sucker for second chance romance novels and I loved the setting in this one I did but I could not get into it and i think a lot has to do with the fact that I am a mood reader. I hope to give this book another try soon

Cheesy romance books are always a yes for me and this one was good. The tragic accident caused these two to have their lives drastically changed. Everything they felt back then is still there but the guilt and the regret eats them alive. I love the relationship and the characters. I love the journey they both go on to get to a better place in life so that when the time comes around that is hey want to find happiness, that they will be open to it. I enjoyed the plot, the characters and the cheesy romance of it.

A lovable love story, Better Than Friends had me hooked from the first “LOL” moment, which for me was in chapter 1! I thoroughly enjoyed following the present day journey of Noah and Olive, while getting glimpses of the past that made them who they are and brought them where they are today. The characters are witty and well developed!

This book is part of a series, but I haven’t read the other books and it was great as a stand alone! I look forward to reading more of this series.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis is a very enjoyable romance. The dynamics between the characters is realistic and have the reader eager to turn the page.

Thank you to Jill Shalvis, Avon Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

Another excellent book by Jill Shalvis! She writes characters with real emotions and issues. You find yourself rooting for them along the way. My favorite is the humor she writes throughout!

Jill Shalvis should write for the Hallmark tv channel movies!!!! Her books are the perfect cozy, love story where you're guaranteed a sappy, happy ending. The feel good Hallmark books!!