Member Reviews
A tragic accident causes two teens in love to stay away from each other for many years. Another tragic accident forces them back into each other’s lives many years later. This is a very cute second chance romance with strong family and friend relationships too.💜
I think this is one of my favs by this author. I love second chance romances personally and I really enjoyed the story of why they parted and why they found their way back.
There’s also a one bed situation. Although this book is really more PG-13 type-ish because most of the sexual scenes are more hinted than described in detail. I honestly wish there was a little more spice to it personally.
Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Heartwarming… Jill Shalvis brings her signature humor and expertise in writing about second chances, healing, and coming home again to the story. This book will appeal to readers who enjoy family drama, friendships, and second chances.
Better Than Friends is #7 in the Sunrise Cove series. I was immediately drawn into Olive and Noah’s story. Olive returns home to help her childhood best friend Katie. When her parents go missing, she needs to rely on Noah to help her find them. Olive and Noah both have regrets regarding their shared past and don’t expect to run into each other. Can they let go of past hurts to help Noah’s sister Katie and locate Olive’s parents?
I loved Olive’s friendship with Katie. The characters were relatable and the sarcasm, heartbreak, and chemistry made for a really great read. I haven’t read a Jill Shalvis story I didn’t love.
Thank you Netgalley and Avon for providing me this Arc in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Jill for another fabulous story.
Better than Friends by Jill Shalvis is a delightful and heartwarming blend of romance, tension, and humor that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story brings together Olive and Noah, former lovers with a complicated past, who are forced into close quarters in the small town of Sunrise Cove. Shalvis does a fantastic job of creating chemistry between them, balancing their unresolved issues with undeniable attraction. Olive’s family drama and Noah’s stubbornness add depth to their characters, making their journey feel real and relatable.
The small-town setting adds charm, and the mix of family, friendship, and love makes for an engaging read. I particularly loved Noah’s well-meaning, meddling family, who add humor and warmth. If you enjoy second-chance romance with a dash of enemies-to-lovers tension, you’ll enjoy this one. The only reason it’s not five stars for me is that parts felt a bit predictable, but overall, it’s a wonderful escape. Shalvis fans won’t be disappointed!
Another winner by Ms Shalvis! Her characters are multi layered and likable, though some can drive you crazy. Take Noah, for example. His desire to live his life like he wants versus his obligations to his deceased father and the rest of his family. And then there’s Olive, who never feels like she belongs and is constantly reminded of her past actions. Both Noah and Olive deny their long history even with being thrown together due to some unforeseen circumstances. Will they get over their fears and learn to have the life that they want?
This was just okay for me. A good escape during a difficult time that make me grin and laugh but I wanted a little more depth from these characters. I‘ll keep reading Shalvis, just prefer a little less formula.
Better Than Friends is a sweet, heartwarming romance with relatable characters. This story is well-written, entertaining, and hits all the marks when it comes to tropes. Better Than Friends is exactly the kind of romance that fans of Jill Shavis will eat up and in the end, will leave you with a smile on your face.
If you're looking for an enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, second-chance romance, you won't want to miss Better Than Friends!
This is a sweet, slow simmer love story about Katie and Noah who have loved each other their whole lives but never had the nerve to admit it. The characters were fun, with lots of quirks that kept the storyline interesting. The plot was predictable but fun.. I did not give it 5 starts because at times it felt repetitive and a bit drawn out. But, while the middle did slow down. overall it was an enjoyable read.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis is a solid, 3-star second-chance romance set in the charming, drama-filled world of Sunrise Cove. It has all the classic Shalvis elements—small-town charm, a bit of forced proximity, and characters with a messy romantic history. But while it’s an enjoyable read, it didn’t completely wow me.
The story centers around Olive, whose parents have gone missing, and she’s desperate enough to turn to her ex, Noah. Noah’s been lying low after an injury forced him off the job, so Olive showing up with her family drama is exactly the distraction he needs—if only his heart wasn’t still bruised from their last go-round. The setup is strong, with the perfect mix of unresolved tension and that familiar enemies-to-lovers vibe, but the chemistry between Olive and Noah felt a little hit-or-miss at times.
One of the best parts of the book is the small-town backdrop and all the lovable, nosy side characters that Shalvis does so well. Noah’s family is particularly fun, constantly meddling in ways that give the story heart and humor. I also enjoyed seeing Olive and Noah tackle their lingering feelings while dealing with the investigation, though some of the back-and-forth drama felt a bit predictable.
Overall, Better Than Friends is a good pick if you’re looking for a breezy, feel-good romance with a second-chance twist and some classic small-town vibes. It’s not the most unforgettable in the genre, but if you’re a fan of Shalvis’s style, it’ll give you the warm-and-fuzzy escape you’re looking for!
*** I received an advance copy of Better Than Friends. This has not impacted my honest review in any way***
First let me say Better Than Friends is book 7 in the Sunrise Cove series but they can all be read as stand-alone. I’ve read them all and haven’t been disappointed yet.
I just love Jill Shalvis and the way she brings us to her small towns and makes us want to live there(same with Wildstone if you haven’t read that series). She writes the most wonderful small town romances.
I absolutely adored Olive and Noah! But seriously, all the characters in the book are great. I wish the book kept going on. And I didn’t want it to end.
A little bit of family drama(on both sides)
Enemies to lovers
Best Friends brother
Just an all around feel good romance. Can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out!
Fans of Jill Shalvis are sure to be happy with this latest addition to the Sunset Cove series. This book was painful at times (only in reference to what the characters were going through), but a lot of fun overall. Two sets of high school sweethearts (one out in the open and one whose feelings for each other were mostly kept a secret by both) stay friends for the most part, and come back together when an accident lands one of them in the hospital and they need all hands on deck.
I really enjoyed the friendship between Olive and Katie. Joey was a super well written. I don't usually enjoy supporting child characters in books, but I really liked this kid. and the tension between Noah and Olive was palpable. Grams was also great, and Amy was alright, but I didn't care for her as much as I enjoyed the other characters in this friends to lovers, friends to enemies, enemies to lovers story.
This is a very fun, at times light-hearted, and at times heavy read.
Thank you to Jill Shalvis, Avon, Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
By far, my favorite Jill Shalvis book. I absolutely ATE UP this book. Noah and Oli are my absolute favorite sunrise cover couple.
I cannot begin to say how much I loved this found family for Oli. Joey was absolutely adorable. Gram was my favorite little spitfire.
I feel like I have Katie, and I have mixed feelings on that. So much of my own issues felt seen in her character.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon Harper for this ARC.
I really enjoyed reading Better Than Friends! I loved all the friendships and the small town of Sunrise Cove. The progression of Olive and Noah’s relationship was great and it didn’t seem forced or unrealistic. The friendship between Katie and Olive was the best. They were there for each other through all of life’s ups and downs and I loved it. I don’t think there was really anything I didn’t like about this book. I didn’t realize it was part of a stand alone series and now I want to go back and read all the other books in the Sunrise Cove series.
A huge thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All opinions expressed above are my own.
Jill Shalvis never disappoints. Her books grab you right away into the characters and their lives. Olive comes back to town to help her bff, Katie. Joe, her husband was in an accident along with her brother, Noah. Katie is clearly on the spectrum and has a hard time dealing with all the drama and emotions. It's a great story about friendship and families. Olive's family was unconventional. When her parents go missing, Noah offers to help her locate them. The story is funny, dramatic, and a bit more.
Better Than Friends is another amazing Jill Shalvis book. Her sense of humor always shines through making her stories even more enjoyable.
Olive returns to where she grew up to check on her grandma and to help out her longtime best friend with her son while her husband is in a coma . The only downfall is running into her friend’s brother and her long ago crush that she hasn’t seen for year after she accidentally ran him over her senior year.
Although Olive and Noah try to stay away from each other it doesn’t seem possible . Noah determined to keep things platonic soon realizes they have both grown up and he finds himself falling for Olive.
This story is full of family issues, past trauma and second chances. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy for my opinion.
An enjoyable story with all the right characters. Love, friendship, childhood memories of growing up and family history kept me engaged til the end. Loved this story and look forward to reading the next book in the series! Recommend.
Olive Porter is the owner of a PR firm in the UK, but she finds herself back in Sunrise Cove, California, to assist her childhood best friend. Returning home stirs up a whirlwind of memories, particularly those involving Noah Turner, her high school crush. When Olive is unable to reach her quirky parents, she turns to Noah for help in finding them. Can she move past their shared history to forge a new beginning with Noah, or have they both missed their opportunity for a future together?
Noah Turner serves as a special investigative agent for the National Park Service. When his brother-in-law suffers a serious injury, he returns home to support his sister. He never anticipated running into Olive again. The memories of their past and his lingering feelings for her resurface, but Noah worries he can't provide Olive with the stability and security she craves. Will he have to let her go once more, or will he seize the chance to be with her? Both Olive and Noah are burdened by their shared history and regrets, yet they prioritize helping Katie through her difficult time, even if it means being in each other's presence.
What I admire most about Noah is how he cared for Olive during their high school years. Although he was the "golden boy," he never acted arrogantly like many others. I also appreciate Olive's understanding and patience with Katie's neurodivergent traits. Many people might not show the same level of compassion, but Olive cherishes these qualities in her best friend, often playfully teasing her about her hugs and sense of humor.
I love the books that Jill Shalvis writes. There is never a dull moment in them. I really enjoyed this book. It was heartwarming and romantic. I really liked Joey. I thought he was cute and funny. I can't wait to read the next one in the series. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review
Easy reading.
Nice story of two people, Olive and Noah, revisiting a mutual attraction that never seemed to quite
disappear even though many years and a continent were between them. Olive returns home from abroad, after a long absence, for a visit when her best friend's husband is in an accident and lies in a coma in a hospital. She finds the love of her young life, who also happens to be her best friend's brother, is visiting also.
Interesting secondary characters help.push the story along in a nice easy rhythm with little
conflict and many smiles.
A real treat after a steady reading diet of black ops, foreign intrigue, International terrorists and
domestic thrillers.
Truly enjoyable read! I loved Second Chance Season by Emily March! This is the third book in this series but can easily stand on its own.
Second Chance Season follows the life and romantic journey of three characters- sisters Helen and Genevieve, who co-own a beautiful resort in the Colorado mountains; and Zoey, a bride-to-be who visits the resort with her fiance as they sought out a wedding venue. Through a series of events, the three characters discover unexpected family connections in a beautiful story of redemption, forgiveness and true love! The magical mountain setting in Colorado was a favorite “character” as well. I can’t wait to visit this series again in the future! Highly recommend!
Loved this one! The dialogue was great, the characters were lovely, and it was such a heartwarming and satisfying read, perfect for the winter months.