This was a good story. The second half of the book was so good, I couldn't put it down. Olive had a different upbringing than most and she was best friends with Katie, whose brother was Noah. Olive and Noah were very attracted to each other but would tell the other one. Olive accidentally hurt Noah and suddenly left town while he was still in the hospital. They did see each other since, but kept their distance (mostly). When Katie's husband get hurt and is in a coma, Olive finally came home to help Katie with her little boy and provide support. She and Noah were in each other's orbit constantly and it was fun to see how they reacted every time. They sure took the long way around to admit their feelings, but the end was very worth it.

I got this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

I usually enjoy Jill Shalvis romances, but I found this one rather tiresome. The FMC and MMC have a history going back to high school. She returns to their small town on Lake Tahoe to help out her best friend from high school, who is also the male character’s twin sister. Then they spend the rest of the book yearning and emoting about how they are attracted to each other but can’t get over their personal demons to get together again. Meanwhile, his mother and sister and her grandmother keep pressing them to get back together. Occasionally, they’ll start kissing each other passionately and then the friend’s little boy will come in and interrupt them.

It just got rather tedious.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

This contemporary romance digs in to the choices people make and their lasting consequences. Sometimes those choices land squarely on us, other times we’ve made them because others have backed us into a corner.

Better Than Friends is a great book for readers who like stories built on dialogue, even when the characters aren’t saying what they should. There’s plenty of tension and only one bed in a remote mountain yurt. While there is on-page intimacy, it’s not super spicy. Well rounded side characters, an old dog and adorable kitten, and just enough will-they-won’t-they kept me engaged to the end.

BETTER THAN FRIENDS (SUNRISE COVE, #7)
BY: JILL SHALVIS

About 3.5 Stars!

I've read one of this Author's novels before and loved the feel good story. I've bought many of her books based on that experience, and haven't had a chance to read them yet. I was happy when my request was approved to read an early ARC of this one called, "BETTER THAN FRIENDS." I think overall, this one seemed like it would work better for a younger aged audience. Although, I was engaged in that it kept my interest throughout reading this novel, this was a totally different themed novel than the prior one I read. The difference is that this one seemed aimed towards a younger target audience. It seemed like it would appeal more to a younger female reader in their twenties, or early thirties. This was still a heart warming tale with a lot of humor. I could discuss the more deep end of the pool family dynamics, and those regarding Noah and Olive's, as well. That explains some of the deeper undertones behind the lighter appearance which affect how they relate to each other now. I think if I did it could be spoiler material best left to the reader to encounter.

It's main theme was about a misunderstanding where the main characters, Noah and Olive had ended up getting hurt when they were teens, and they are suddenly thrown together as adults ten years later. They both seemed to get hurt emotionally, back ten years earlier and the way they each dealt with it in the present was the main theme.

Olive was fourteen years old when she hitchhiked to her Grandmother's home from quite a distance to escape her home. Her parents back then seemed to be more interested in their nomad lifestyle going to the Grateful Dead excursions, their attention totally towards self interests, and didn't seem invested in meeting Olive's needs, and inadvertently they didn't seem to realize that they acted like teens rather than parents of one. Olive ended up in a town named Sunrise Cove that is near Lake Tahoe. She also was taken under Noah's and his sister Katie's family's wing who lived next door. Olive and Katie were best friends and she felt and was treated like a member of their family.

Noah, Katie's brother and Olive were involved in an ATV accident after a party by which Olive was driving. What happened was unintentional, but the results being that it would derail Noah's scholarship to a University he had received for his talent playing Baseball. The plan would have eventual potential for Noah playing professional Baseball. Noah never blamed Olive, but that resulted in her disappearing from Noah's life as they both had feelings for each other that were deep. There was a reason for Olive's abrupt exit that the reader learns wasn't her idea.

Now ten years later, Olive is an up and coming successful owner of having started her own company in Public Relation's, and returns to Sunrise Cove as having become sophisticated from her good fortune from living in London. She is staying at Katie's home to help Katie who is experiencing a difficult time. Katie married Noah's best friend Joe, who is in a coma from an accident at work as a Park ranger with Noah. They work together in an investigative capacity in Yosemite, a couple hours away. Katie and her husband have a young son who is five years old and upset that his father is hospitalized. Katie has enlisted help from both Noah and Olive who since Noah was also injured and they're both staying at Katie's home. Noah and Olive have both developed hard exteriors towards each other since they both have been affected deep down by Olive's abrupt departure from Noah's life, but not as Katie's best friend.

When they see each other after ten years with both of them staying with Katie they are if not chilly, towards one another then awkward. Will Olive and Noah pick up where things left off prior to Olive's abrupt departure from Noah's life?

The title is a perfect fit for this novel. It was for the most part a light novel with a lot of humor, with also a nice family support, but the main focus was on Noah and Olive. I liked the deep bond of friendship that existed between Olive and Katie. This can be read as a standalone, since each book in the Sunrise Cove series is about totally different characters. I got that impression from reading the excerpt preview of the next one at the end of this one.

Publication Date: January 21, 2025

Thank you to Net Galley, Jill Shalvis, and Avon Voyager for generously providing me with my Arc in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#BetterThanFriends #JillShalvis #AvonVoyager #NetGalley
BETTER THAN FRIENDS (SUNRISE COVE, #7)
BY: JILL SHALVIS

About 3.5 Stars!

I've read one of this Author's novels before and loved the feel good story. I've bought many of her books based on that experience, and haven't had a chance to read them yet. I was happy when my request was approved to read an early ARC of this one called, "BETTER THAN FRIENDS." I think overall, this one seemed like it would work better for a younger aged audience. Although, I was engaged in that it kept my interest throughout reading this novel, this was a totally different themed novel than the prior one I read. The difference is that this one seemed aimed towards a younger target audience. It seemed like it would appeal more to a younger female reader in their twenties, or early thirties. This was still a heart warming tale with a lot of humor. I could discuss the more deep end of the pool family dynamics, and those regarding Noah and Olive's, as well. That explains some of the deeper undertones behind the lighter appearance which affect how they relate to each other now. I think if I did it could be spoiler material best left to the reader to encounter.

It's main theme was about a misunderstanding where the main characters, Noah and Olive had ended up getting hurt when they were teens, and they are suddenly thrown together as adults ten years later. They both seemed to get hurt emotionally, back ten years earlier and the way they each dealt with it in the present was the main theme.

Olive was fourteen years old when she hitchhiked to her Grandmother's home from quite a distance to escape her home. Her parents back then seemed to be more interested in their nomad lifestyle going to the Grateful Dead excursions, their attention totally towards self interests, and didn't seem invested in meeting Olive's needs, and inadvertently they didn't seem to realize that they acted like teens rather than parents of one. Olive ended up in a town named Sunrise Cove that is near Lake Tahoe. She also was taken under Noah's and his sister Katie's family's wing who lived next door. Olive and Katie were best friends and she felt and was treated like a member of their family.

Noah, Katie's brother and Olive were involved in an ATV accident after a party by which Olive was driving. What happened was unintentional, but the results being that it would derail Noah's scholarship to a University he had received for his talent playing Baseball. The plan would have eventual potential for Noah playing professional Baseball. Noah never blamed Olive, but that resulted in her disappearing from Noah's life as they both had feelings for each other that were deep. There was a reason for Olive's abrupt exit that the reader learns wasn't her idea.

Now ten years later, Olive is an up and coming successful owner of having started her own company in Public Relation's, and returns to Sunrise Cove as having become sophisticated from her good fortune from living in London. She is staying at Katie's home to help Katie who is experiencing a difficult time. Katie married Noah's best friend Joe, who is in a coma from an accident at work as a Park ranger with Noah. They work together in an investigative capacity in Yosemite, a couple hours away. Katie and her husband have a young son who is five years old and upset that his father is hospitalized. Katie has enlisted help from both Noah and Olive who since Noah was also injured and they're both staying at Katie's home. Noah and Olive have both developed hard exteriors towards each other since they both have been affected deep down by Olive's abrupt departure from Noah's life, but not as Katie's best friend.

When they see each other after ten years with both of them staying with Katie they are if not chilly, towards one another then awkward. Will Olive and Noah pick up where things left off prior to Olive's abrupt departure from Noah's life?

The title is a perfect fit for this novel. It was for the most part a light novel with a lot of humor, with also a nice family support, but the main focus was on Noah and Olive. I liked the deep bond of friendship that existed between Olive and Katie. This can be read as a standalone, since each book in the Sunrise Cove series is about totally different characters. I got that impression from reading the excerpt preview of the next one at the end of this one.

Publication Date: January 21, 2025

Thank you to Net Galley, Jill Shalvis, and Avon and Harper Voyager for generously providing me with my Arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.. All opinions are my own.

#BetterThanFriends #JillShalvis #AvonandHarperVoyager #NetGalley

4.5 stars. This is a charming story about coming home. It’s about the intricacies of relationships of family and friends, and second chances. It’s a very enjoyable read that may start out a bit slow but definitely picks up fairly quickly. I loved Olive and Noah’s relationship dynamic especially how the past has shaped their ability to move forward now that they are in the same place at the same time again. They clearly have chemistry and a thing for each other no matter how much they try to ignore it. Olive’s best friend since she was a teen, Katie, is Owen’s twin sister. When an accident finds her husband Joe in a coma, Olive, who has been living and working in London, comes back to Sunrise Cove to help her with her son Joey. Noah who works with Joe, and was also hurt just not that badly, also takes time off to be there for his sister, his nephew, and his best friend Joe.
I really love this story. It ebbs and flows but ultimately everything ends up how it should be, especially when some truths of the past come out, and it changes things for the better. Love Noah and Olive together so much! Love this series! Jill Shalvis is a talented writer.
I received an ARC from Netgalley for my honest review.

A cute second chance romance, with fake dating, dual timelines, and found family. Olive and Noah have known eachother since their teenage years, but an accident causes them to keep their distance for a decade. I had a hard time connecting with the characters, but liked the premise of the book. Although I loathe the miscommunication/charaters not sharing their feelings. There is a ONE BED trope (always a favorite of mine)!
Thank you to NetGalley,Avon/HarperCollins, and the author for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Review to be posted on Fable and Goodreads.

Olive and Noah have known each other since they were kids. They’ve grown up in a town where everyone knows everyone’s business - and that is exactly what causes a bit of a riff amongst their families. In this second chance romance, Oli and Noah must overcome some difficulties and get out of their own way in order to even have a chance at love. Thanks to NetGalley for this sweet read!

This author is really good at writing stories that you just don’t want to put down. They’re comforting and sweet with great relationships throughout.

Better Than Friends is a perfect example of that with strong relationships and friendships. Even with the second chance romance the simmering feelings are still there.

The story is about a very tight-knit family with a lifelong best friend and her twin brother, who is your ex. His best friend is married to your bestie. I love the deep-rooted family connection here and Shalvis adds a little bit of suspense and twists that you weren’t expecting.

This book is loaded with snark and humor but also takes on some very serious topics that bring out the emotion and heartfelt care in the characters.

I love the rebuilding of the second chance relationship throughout as the main characters reconnect. And when the honest conversations finally happen, we get a beautiful ending.

Each of the stories that this author writes leaves us with hope and a smile on our faces. While this is a pretty clean romance you still get all of the feels and joy.

Actually 3.75⭐️

Overall I really enjoyed Olive and Noah’s story, but there were a few things that bothered me which is why I didn’t rate higher.

Personally, as a medical professional, and someone who has multiple friends with significant allergies, I was annoyed by Olive’s cavalier attitude towards her own. Additionally, one of the surprises in epilogue is one that I do not enjoy in books, and I felt it was unneeded.

Otherwise I found the story cute and feel that it would make a good beach or vacation read for many and would recommend it.

A second chance romance for Olive and Noah. These two had some baggage…but these two end up fighting for one another. Through all the years they’ve always been meant to be. Sometimes you just have to try and tear down walls that are built tough. But once some secrets are exposed…the walls start to crumble and a love like no other is born. JS always brings the romance with minimal spice and it’s so refreshing. Really love this series.

Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of this book.

Better Than Friends is the 7th title in Jill Shalvis' Sunrise Cove series, but it's the first book in the series I've read, and it's also the first novel by this author I've read, so there was some character confusion at the start, but I finally understood all the inter-relationships, or lack thereof, in short order, and what started out as character confusion turned into a sweet, deeply felt, second chance at love romance novel, and an excellent read. 5 stars

In short, Olive's parents were a pair of oddly nomadic, live off the land and off the grid, 1960s hippies, who weren't very good at parenting, and so, in her mid-teens, Olive moved into her grandma's home, located right next door to her best friend, Katie. She also soon found herself falling hard for Katie's handsome brother, Noah, but blamed herself for the ATV accident that cost him partial use of his leg and ended the baseball career Noah's father wanted for his son. Blaming herself for the accident, Olive fled to New York and then to London, and, after working for a PR firm there, she eventually started her own successful PR firm, but when she learns that Katies' husband, Joe, is in a coma after yet another accident, she returns to Sunrise Cove to help Katie, who is stationed at her husband's hospital bedside, and Olive finds herself with mixed feelings about a lot of things--happy to spend time with a dear friend, falling in love with Katie's adorable son, Joey, and she soon realizes that the reason all her previous relationships, though few and far between, have failed is because she's always compared the men in her life against Noah, and none of them ever came close to matching up, but after 14 years apart, Noah still doesn't believe in or want a relationship--and time is getting short before Olive is due to return to London. The author leaves you guessing, and so will I, since I don't do spoilers.

I found Better than Friends to be an extraordinary read, with fully fleshed-out characters, deeply felt emotions, and just enough humor and suspense to keep me guessing how these complicated relationships will work out, and, if indeed, Olive and Noah will finally have their happy ever after ending. While I stated at the outset that this is the first Jill Shalvis novel I've read, it most certainly won't be the last. I hope you enjoy this novel as much as I did.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions stated herein are my own.

I fall more in love with the way Shalvis writes every time I finish one of her books. This is after the immediate remorse subsides that I read the book too quickly and now I am a hollow shell of a being until the next one. This book was no exception.

The characters are everything a reader wants them to be. The antagonists, the protagonists, the besties, the cinnamon roll MMC, the strong independent fierce MFC. They are all readers bliss.
The storyline was no different. It was carefully thought of and executed. Wonderfully written and just an overall lovely, quick, fun read. The title gives away what the storyline is going to be. It's a lovely, lovely read.

You can’t ever go wrong with a Jill Shalvis book! Olive and Noah were a perfect match of conflicting feelings and doubt. The ever present snark was masterful and the secondary characters add so much. The ending was perfect.

This book focuses on two teens who go through a tragedy and get separated. Years later, they reconnect, and the sparks fly!

Olive is basically the best. She's strong, independent, and has been through some serious stuff. You instantly root for her. She wants to love and be loved, but trust issues are a real thing, you know? You'll be PISSED when you find out why she's been holding back.

Noah is a classic 'man-child' sometimes, but he has a good heart. He needs to realize that the one person who always had his back is the one he needs to convince to give him a chance. And he needs to learn to keep his foot out of his mouth! Seriously.

Olive and Katie's friendship? Goals. They're so different, but they have each other's backs 100%. So much love and respect. It was beautiful. Olive and Noah's story is also amazing. Second chance romance with a ton of baggage and years of secrets. Super intense, but I loved the ride!

This whole book is about messy, real life, with amazing friendships and family. It's heartwarming and reminds you what truly matters. And that's what life is all about, right?

This was my first Sunrise Cove book, but I'm already a huge fan of Jill Shalvis. I was in a rough patch when I read this, and it seriously lifted my spirits. It brought back hope and warmth. I finished it in no time and felt so much calmer. Thank you, Jill! I need to go read all your books now 🤩.

Huge thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for sending me an ARC of this lovely book!

Sweet Sexy Second Chance
Ms. Shalvis's newest Sunrise Cove is a winner Olive and Noah get a second chance to fix what went wrong when they were young and eventually get it right. Her extended family aka best friend's family has a crisis that she flies home to aid on, getting and taking that precious second chance. It contains humor as well as heat. Don't miss out.
I requested and received a NetGalley arc gratis and offer my opinion in the same

I absolutely loved this story! From the first page to the last, I was beyond captivated.

I can’t wait to read more by Jill Shalvis.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

Jill Shalvis is always a go to escape author for me. Her stories always engage me from the first page to the last and this one was no different. A second chance at love is seldom given, but this book explores the possibilities of “the one that got away”. It also explore the thoughts of friendship, family, and finding oneself. A great read.

Another good book from Jill Shalvis. A great story about love, family, and friends. You never know when your first love will pop back up in your life!

Better than Friends by Jill Shalvis is the 7th book in the Sunrise cove series. In this story Olive leaves town in her teen years after an unfortunate accident that happened to her best friend Katie’s twin brother Noah Turner which was kind of her fault. Another tragic accident brings her back. Can she make amends with the love of her life Noah? Will she find her parents who are missing? Can she forgive herself and finally come home where she belongs with family? Jill Shalvis has become one of my go to read authors! Must read! Thank you NetGalley, the author and Avon & Harper Voyager for this Arc read.. this is my honest review.

Better Than Friends was the sweetest read! There’s something so charming about a second chance story and Olive and Noah have that in spades. I was so fond of all the characters and their strong personalities, and I especially loved the friendship and sisterhood between Katie and Olive.

One of my favorite things about this book was the depth of the love between friends. The dynamic between Joe, Noah’s best friend, and Noah was especially beautiful to me. I adore the way that this book spotlighted how important love between friends is in addition to the romantic love there.

This was a beautiful and tender story. It was soft and warm and emotional at all the right moments. It all wrapped up so nicely and I was so content reading the whole story. It was the perfect fireplace read for me!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.