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!!

Olive and Noah had been in a "fake" relationship many years ago. She had some very free spirited parents and she lived in her grandmother's house. But she spent a lot of time in Noah's house. She was best friends with his sister, Katie.

Noah is in a special investigative unit of the forestry service, along with Katie's husband, Joe. When Joe is seriously injured while on a mission with Noah, Olive comes home from London, where she has built a life and a career to help Katie deal with Joe's injury and to help care for their son, Joey.

Olive's parent's have gone off the grid and she's starting to get more than worried that she hasn't heard from them and they can't be reached. Meanwhile, she and Noah have rekindled their attraction to each other and unburied their hurts and issues from the past.

This is an interesting and complex relationship story, with issues going back generations. And current concerns to deal with. I was glad to be able to read this story as I enjoy Jill Shalvis' books.

Jill knows how to write romances!
I was laughing then crying!

The snarky humor is what drew me me in!

I did not like the miscommunication, though.
It's a bit of a turn off for me.

This is a perfect fit for readers who adore small-town romance, second-chance love stories, and enemies-to-lovers tales, as well as those who enjoy stories about family, friendships, and the complexities of true love.

Better Than Friends

I absolutely adore Jill Shalvis and all her characters. It’s a heartwarming tale of found family, being loved and seen as we are and the typical humor and heat you can expect from Shalvis.

Olive hasn’t been back much to Sunrise Cove, a small town off Lake Tahoe where she spent some formative years living with her grandma, making memories with her best friend Katie and crushing on Katie’s twin brother, Noah. Things between Noah and Olive crashed (literally) and then burned, but Katie has brought them back together to help with her son while her husband is in the hospital.. and maybe hoping for some match making in the mix. The pull between Olive and Noah is undeniable and it only takes time for the chemistry to burn again.

Such a delightful and heartwarming read.

Check this one out for:
🩵 Second chance, enemies to lovers
🩵 Best friend’s brother
🩵 Small town, found family vibes
🩵 An adorable dog and kitten pairing
🩵 Five year old humor and antics
🩵 A heartwarming and romantic read

Thank you to Avon for this ARC! My opinions are my own.

Heartfelt and emotionally riveting! Shalvis always delights with a return trip to Sunrise Cove and Better Than Friends continues the tradition! I was quickly hooked as we're thrust into the heart of the connection between former friends (and more!) when tragedy reunites Olive and Noah as his sister (and her BFF) need them both to rally around her in a time of need. The drama is high, the romance that arises is heartwarming and the angst is attention grabbing. I loved every minute of their story! Great characters, fun yet endearing and lots of warmth to wrap around your heart.

Olive was my favorite character and was really easy to like. She didn't have it easy in her youth, but her connection to Sunrise Cove turned her life into more than she could have hoped for all those years ago until an accident tore it all apart and sent her running across the world to settle into a new life. Now back temporarily, she's finding the temptation to settle into life back where she truly felt at home a little too seductive.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a reunion story after being apart with a rift in the connection and with lots of family interference/love wrapped within the storyline.

Take a stroll down memory lane with the most endearingly, clueless duo. Shalvis walks a fine line between humor and heart with Better than Friends. From ironically, funny to emotionally, haunting, Noah and Olive are hard to resist and impossible to forget.

𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐬
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★★

I just loved this heartwarming second chance story of Olive and Noah! I enjoyed the setting, all the talk about Lake Tahoe (one of my favorite places to visit), the outdoors and small town vibes.

This enemies to lovers story line with a bit of forced proximity, as well as strong family ties had me hooked from the beginning! I just love how Jill Shalvis writes such descriptive characters, feelings and settings. The details in the writing are truly felt throughout this entire story.

I enjoyed how close all the characters were and how they had been for many years. The past connections that gave Olive and Noah a strong sense of history could be felt through their current interactions. I enjoyed the romantic connection between the two and the way the raw/emotional effects from their past shaped the way they reconnected. The tragic accident that occurred in the past that tore them apart and the one in the present that brought them back together gave such an emotional bond to their second chance at love.

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
Second Chance
Forced Proximity
Enemies to Lovers
Small Town
Strong Family Ties

A beautifully written feel good, slow burn romance that warms your heart. It's a delightful and cozy winter adventure that includes some mystery, past history, secrets, found family, humor and love. The characters are funny and colorful as well as heartfelt. I so enjoy the author's sense of humor and how she wites the scenes. This was a very sweet and entertaining story. I loved the small town setting and wonderful characters. It was heartwarming with a little twist of mystery. It's the pefect kind of romance with just enough romance and drama to keep you hooked to the end. I love it! Jill Shalvis books never disappoint!

I enjoyed reading Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

Olive and Noah have a past that is not easy to forget. Now though, Olive needs help and there is only person she trusts to help her. Noah does not want anything to do with the woman he can't forget, but he could really use a reason to get away from well-meaning family and friends after an accident sidelined him. Together they embark on a journey to locate missing family, and find out that not everything from the past is meant to stay there.

A tragic accident years ago caused Olive Porter and Noah apart. Now another tragedy has brought them back together. Will this one give them the second chance to find their way back to each other. As always a good book from Jill Shalvis!