I have great news! I just realized I have another author for whom I cannot write unbiased reviews and I love that for me. Sorry for anyone looking for an objective review about this book. I get so much joy reading anything Tia Williams writes that I can totally overlook almost anything that might not work for me in other books.

Ok, on to Audre and Bash! I'm not usually eager to read YA but when it works, it can transport me back to some very familiar and visceral feelings from my youth and this book delivered those feelings for me with gusto! And while I think this totally stands alone, I found I got more from this book being familiar with (and having recently re-read) Seven Days in June (which I love so much.)

These kids are so pure and just a delight to spend time with. And their connection together is both sweet in a way that is so wholesome and makes me so happy for them but also their chemistry is such that it does that magical thing where I don't feel icky thinking about young people and their hormones and instead remember what it was like to be in my hormones, which is probably the perfect balance in a YA romance for me. The Brooklyn setting, the cast of secondary characters and the pacing all worked so well for me too.

Just a couple of things that didn't work as well that I will flag. There is a bit of head hopping and I don't get the sense it's an editorial error but a style choice, because I believe I've read it in William's other books. Also - more of a content thing - there is some very uncomfortable parenting to witness and it is mostly challenged in the narrative but it takes a while and that's hard to read. Finally, this is really small, but it's one of my bookaboos: at one point, there is also the teeniest hint of PiV supremacy that irks me but it doesn't materialize so I'll allow it even though I don't like the implication.

But that's just me trying to be a bit objective when I have nothing but love for this book and I recommend it with my whole heart. The author's narrative voice keeps me hooked all the way through. There is a lot of humour and quirkiness balanced with plenty of depth and a clever and playful layer of social justice mindedness underneath it all.

Content notes: Quite the range of bad parenting from parentification to abandonment to actual abuse and exploitation. The worst stuff is off page and much of it is spoiler territory. Lots of mental health stuff (mostly of the anxiety/panic attack variety). There are other things that don't feature in large quantity but it feels like a lot of it is also spoiler-y so if you are sensitive I suggest you look for reviews that share more of that (or DM me and I can help.)

Tia Williams revisits the world of Seven Days in June, this time in YA fashion where we spend our time with Eva's daughter Audre.

Audre is seriously hard working and accomplished but she doesn't really have time to have fun and she's been secretly breaking down in panic attacks. As she prepares for the college admission process, her best friend challenges her to shake things up. Enter Bash, the golden retriever heartthrob of their school. Audre and Bash have such an adorable story, while also managing to tackle some very real issues. This was the perfect YA romcom.

If I had any complaints, I might say the pacing felt a bit off towards the end, but altogether this is an adorable read with a serious dose of heart.

Tia Williams how I love thee!!🫶

Seven Days in June is one of my favorite romances so I was thrilled to see Audre (Eva’s daughter) was getting her own book! And it was wonderful!!🥹

Audre is still “therapizing” all her friends while silently struggling with panic attacks herself. Her life is not going according to plan and she doesn’t know what to do about it! Her best friend makes her a summer dare list and who better help her complete it than the new hottie in town?! Enter, Bash😮‍💨

Audre & Bash have such great chemistry and I just adored watching them go from friends to more than🤭they can both open up with one another, they can relax and have fun without needed to uphold their public personas!! This YA romance was one I could get behind👏

BUT in true Tia Williams fashion it also tackled tougher topics like generational trauma and the weight of familial expectations!

I didn’t *love* how quickly it all wrapped up - I would’ve loved to see more of that work being put in! Plus Reshma’s random POV chapters threw off the ~flow~ but overall another win!

This was rom com perfection! Ugh I can’t even describe how this made me feel! I was smiling so big the whole time. It felt so nostalgic of high school. Tia nailed it with Bash and Audre! And the audio book made this read sooo good! I loved the duet narration it felt so real!

The cutest read, I wish my daughter would be more into books. Audre had so much going for herself at a young age, she shows young women that they can go for what they want and even if you are not a 100 percent you can get help and still be successful. love her and Bash relationship the two was too cute, I hope all teen read this, I defiantly will gift my daughter this book.

This book opens sort of weird, but when it settles into the story it was really enjoyable. I think the intro is a bit heavy handed in some ways… but when you get past the first couple of chapters it really starts to get interesting, and the characters grew on me. I really enjoyed the character arcs, the way they grew and became friends and then more. It demonstrates the confusion and emotional feel of being a high schooler. Definitely a lot of fun. I ended up loving the second half especially.


CW: mmc’s dad was abusive; language; heavy kissing; underage tattooing;

4 stars and my thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC!

My review is knocked down a point mainly because with how much I was not connecting with the characters for the first 15-20%. Up until Audre and Bash meet, I couldn't really get into them as the protagonists. Throughout the book, I did have a problem with the miscommunication, especially since Audre prides herself on being adult and mature for her age. But she's also a 16 year old girl with an undiagnosed severe anxiety disorder, so I'll give her that grace.

Audre is doing her best to get into Stanford, even if it means being her school's unlicensed therapist for students to share all their problems with. Everyone has a side-hustle, why not help our your classmates with yours? Bash is the new kid in town and already comes with a reputation. Who better than him to show Audre the ropes of letting go of expectations and learn to live a little? What could hurt?

I remember picking up Seven Days in June, but not finishing it, so I didn't remember that this is an unofficial sequel/side-quest story to this! I'll have to go back and reread it. I loved Audre so much and there were so many times I wish I could reach through the kindle and grab her by the shoulders and shake her. The fight she had with her best friend was so stupid, but again, 16 year old girls.

All in all, Williams writes a great YA romcom!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! As someone who loved Seven Days in June, I was so, SO excited to read this story. Unfortunately, I will be DNFing at this time. I don't love the characterization of Eva and Shane in this story. I understand a new baby can change a family's dynamic, but they felt like two totally different people from seven days in June. Some of Audre's language also felt...disingenuous for a high schooler? This story would probably be better suited for a reader coming in with a fresh perspective - it just wasn't for me.

Thanks again!

This book was so good. As a continuation from Seven Days in June, it was so fun to read and continue the story, but also to get a glimpse into Audres story. I related to Audre in an almost uncomfortable way. The golden child who is afraid to be anything but perfect and just wants to impress her family. The girl who was also somewhat uptight and inexperienced in having fun in life because she prioritized academic validation over anything else. That was literally me. Watching her fall in love with Bash, who is perfect for her was so sweet. I was also thoroughly anticipating Audre finding out about the truth behind her grandmother and I was not disappointed. Seeing Ava and Audre‘s relationship struggle through this story was hard to read, but they pulled through in the end. I love this book and will continue to read anything Tia Williams writes.

Audre & Bash Are Just Friends was so cute! I really liked Audre’s character development and her relationship with her mom, though her mom had me so mad at times. Bash was a very nuanced character as well. I liked his growth, too. I thought the pacing got a little slow throughout the middle, but the overall plot was really fun. It is very hard for me to believe that teenagers act as wild as they did in this book, but that’s just my own personal experience of not going to parties at all hahah. I was definitely kicking my feet a few times throughout!!!

Thank you so much to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was very teen-coded and I loved every bit of it!!!! Audre and Bash are two teens who have different sets of difficulties in their lives. Bash, as the new senior, was mysterious, and allowed people to just say any and everything about him because why not? He's the cool, calm, and collected kid. Audre, the teen therapist, is a perfectionist in every sense of the word. No boys. No Drinks. No staying out pass curfew. She's looking forward to the summer with her Dad, Dadifornia. This story blossoms into a game of challenges when Audre can't go to Dadifornia anymore, and she hires Bash as the "fun consultant." This book is filled with great humor, real-life teen issues, and overcoming hurdles. Tia Williams did not miss with this cute romcom and electrifying first love YA book!

Audre is the fun charismatic daughter from Seven Days in June. This is her own love story. She’s back with some friends.

Bash is the mysterious new kid. No one can figure him out, but everyone want to be friends with him. The girls all love him.

Audre needs to get into Stanford. She needs to have an interesting easy to get in. She decides to write a book about having fun. She has no idea where to start. This is here Bash comes in. She’s going to hire him to be her fun consultant. That’s all.

That’s what got me hooked on this book. Then came all the other side stories that didn’t really add much to the main story. And the whole big secret about her mom. And the woe is me feeling for Audre who was supposed to be the strong willed person.

In my opinion, this could have been a novella with just Audre’s story. If the book focused solely on Audre and Bash it would have been more fun. I found myself getting bored reading this book. I expected so much more. I loved Audre and Bash’s banter and vibe. The rest of the characters are not likable and take away from real story.

I’m probably alone with this opinion. Seven Days in June set my bar high for this “much requested” follow up. It didn’t deliver for me.

I loved this book every character Tia Williams is an Auto buy author me from now on. The magic she has with the creation of characters does alarming things to my blood pressure but I appreciate and love them so much. Without a doubt such a beautiful creation for first love. Reshma and Clio need a goofy novella hands down! Also are bash and Audre end game because I love them so I h it breaks my heart.

Seven Days In June is my favorite book from this author and now this book has became one as well 🤗. Audre was my favorite character in the first book but with the introduction to Bash he is now my fav for this book because even though he went through a lot he still see life as something that’s worth living. This book was one grand summer adventure with life lessons to go with it.

I loved this book! All of the characters came alive to me from the very beginning. I found them heartbreakingly endearing. The arc of character development for all the main characters was realistic and emotionally grounded. The theme of teenagers navigating through their messy and broken families felt deeply honest and again, heartbreaking.
I have not read Tia Williams' other books but now I am driven to do so. She is a gifted writer and I hope she writes more YA books in the future. This book is truly a gem. I will highly recommend it!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Tia Williams is an automatic buy for me. If she writes it omg I know the story and plot will be amazing. This was a great book.

I absolutely loved the characters. I immediately added this to my collection.

Highly recommend.

I got the wonderful opportunity to read this book before release! What a cute and cozy read! Audre is just as you will remember if you got read Seven Dxays in June but this time is a bit more mature and is struggling with boy problems of her own. This book left me craving more from the characters, more Audre and Eve scenes, more scenes with Shane and Bash. While a predictible read, it was a wonderful cozy read that left me wanting a second (third depending on if you count Seven Days in June) to be the first).

Thank you to Hachette Audio and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the ARC and ALC of "Audre & Bash Are Just Friends." This was a great listen and read. The story was very cute and truly depicted what young adult relationships look like. It also highlighted how everyone tends to make up rumors about you because you are a mystery to them. This feel-good story navigated the complexities of friendship, identity, and the intricacies of first love.

Both main characters deal with very real issues, including family dynamics and emotional wounds, while longing for stability and love. Tia Williams’ writing was beautifully done and perfectly suited for young adults who will be reading this book. It struck a perfect balance between sweet and serious. After enjoying this book, I will definitely read "Seven Days in June," which has been on my TBR for a while.

I can’t believe Audre got her own book! I was first introduced to her in Seven Days in June, where she already had her own counseling business, even back then. It’s such a joy to see her fully step into the spotlight.

This is a heartfelt, feel-good story about two teens learning how to navigate the complexities of friendship, identity, and first love. Both Audre and Bash are dealing with real, weighty issues that many teenagers face—family struggles, emotional wounds, and the deep longing for stability and love.

Bash has never experienced what it means to be genuinely loved, while Audre has had to grow up far too quickly. Through their connection, they begin to heal, learning what it means to be cared for and, maybe more importantly, how to care for themselves. Bash helps Audre embrace her youth and enjoy being a teenager for the first time.

The writing is beautiful and perfectly age-appropriate. This book strikes the perfect balance between sweet and serious—it’s a coming-of-age story with heart, hope and so much love.

Thank you NetGalley, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and Tia Williams for the opportunity to read this e-ARC!

Audre and Bash are about as opposite as you can get. Audre is class president and a therapist for her peers. Bash has a reputation.

When Audre unexpectedly finds herself at home for the summer, and dreading it, she enlists Bash's help to get her out of her comfort zone so she can have a strong application to Stanford.

I have not read Seven Days of Summer, but I this was an easy book to pick up with no background about the characters. The plot line held my interest, but certain elements of it grew tiring (hearing Audre continue to lament that Bash was "dating" one of his friends...and sometimes the pov switching between the chapters was confusing, especially because it wasn't alternating in a specific pattern).