FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS by Marisa Kanter was a 3.75 Star read for me.

I enjoyed the diversity in the characters, the way the story flowed with flashbacks that show the development of the relationship and the relationship between the teacher and his students. It was really cool to see a teacher who cares so much. Oh and to see BTS of sound making.

I also liked that not everyone was "perfect". This is a spoiler free review so I am just going to say that there was something about all of the characters that just didn't sit right with me. From MCs, to the grandparents, to other teachers, to the sister, they all were just so self involved while giving the impression that they were trying be helpful to the others.

I always admire anyone who can write their thoughts and create art in the form of books. This particular piece of art just wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

Thank you, NetGalley and Celadon Books for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

This book has a great premise. Evie has a chronic condition that impacts her life in many ways. The job she’s trying to get does not have health insurance, which is a deal breaker for Evie. Theo is an elementary school teacher and doesn’t get a great income. To stay living where he is, he needs to have a household income that exceeds what he’s able to do on his own. Theo has a plan for him and Evie to marry to help each other solve these problems.

This is a cute friends-to-lovers and marriage-of-convenience trope. The writing is decent. The characters have some depth and it’s interesting to read from the POV of someone living with a chronic condition. Evie was a bit obnoxious and Theo deserved better, much of the time. There was some character development with Evie, but it was almost too little, too late. I do still recommend this for a quick, cute read.

Evie Bloom is offered the opportunity of a lifetime when she’s accepted into the fellowship she’s always wanted. The only thing standing in her way is the health benefits she needs to keep her Crohn’s disease in remission. Her best friend, Theo Cohen, is facing a dilemma of his own when his roommates move out, leaving him in jeopardy of losing his apartment. When the two develop a plan to help them achieve both of their goals, they have no idea that it will open up the door to the romance they have tried not to explore.

There are a few things I really appreciated about this book. First and foremost, chronic illness and pain are not widely depicted in romance, although that has been changing more recently, and its inclusion felt like a breath of fresh air for those, like me, who suffer from chronic autoimmune illness. I am also a huge fan of the friends to lovers trope and it was fun to see these complete opposites (in every way) take their longstanding friendship, and finally, finally, turn it on its head.

All that said, at the end of the day, I think this book is ultimately not for me. Marisa Kanter is a YA author and this is her first adult romance. As a result, I feel like this book is sort of stuck in limbo between the two worlds. In one sense, the writing is more simplistic, the characters not quite as developed or complex - something I tend to find in YA because it’s appealing to a different audience. And yet, the sexual content felt *very* adult-like. This disconnect between those elements was quite jarring at times. And while I do not mind spicy books, this felt a bit much for me. I do love a good open-door romance but not with so much…verbiage. Because it felt unnecessarily spicy at times, it didn’t feel as though it flowed naturally as part of their relationship or the story, but rather was more gratuitous in nature.

Read if you like:
▪️women’s fiction
▪️friends to lovers
▪️marriage of convenience
▪️forced proximity
▪️bisexual FMC
▪️chronic pain and illness rep

Pub: May 6, 2025

📖🎧 Book Review 🎧📖 The age old question still exists: does friends with benefits ever truly work? While I may have entered into matrimony in the “traditional” route, I am totally empathetic of the many reasons people decide to tie the knot. Evie’s not a believer in marriage, no judgement, but she finds solid companionship in her bestie Theo (who of course carries a torch for her). Living in Los Angeles is expensive and so when they both could benefit from the perks of being wed, why not marry each other?!? The social worker in me cannot pass by the fact that it’s 2025 and we still live in a society plagued by unaffordable housing and healthcare and systems of oppression that make it nearly impossible to be successful unless you are a heterosexual couple with 2.5 children. But life has a way of throwing us the most unexpected surprises and Maria Kanter delivers one delightful read about platonic soulmates who just may find that a beautiful path to more. It was a real treat to delve into this book in both formats. Kanter’s characters are complex and layered and wonderfully developed on page and then brought to life realistically through GM Hakim and Gail Shalan’s bright narration.

Evie is an ex-dancer, aspiring Foley artist, does not believe in marriage and has had the same best friend Theo since high school. Theo is a teacher with aspirations to change the educational system. Evie is selected for a fellowship, but because of her crohns, needs to have health insurance (which the fellowship does not offer) and Theo's roomates move out leaving him in need of a roommate - the solution - Evie moves in with him and they get married. Even though Evie does not believe in marriage she does she the tangible benefits of marrying her best friend for the apartment and the health benefits. However, one they are in such close proximity the feelings they each have for each other become harder to pretend that they do not exist.

Some things about this book really spoke to me, Evie and I have the same favorite song and she has Crohn’s Disease; however the character was very frustrating to read about other than that. I'm not a huge fan of (ok I really don't enjoy) the miscommunication trope and this story was pretty dependent on an utter lack of communication between the two main characters. Theo’s class of kids added cute comic relief, but the main characters’ contemporaries were not as fun to read (and I love good ancillary characters). As someone whose Crohn’s symptoms were ignored for over a decade and told it was all in my head, and for the hours I have spent on the phone with insurance companies - I really appreciated feeling seen in this novel. Unfortunately it wasn't enough to connect me to the story and the characters otherwise. Also each narrator (the story is told through both Theo and Evie's POV) mispronounced a Hebrew word (different ones) which really bothered me (especially since I loved the Jewish culture in the book).

Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the ARC to review

Review: Friends with Benefits

This book wasn’t for me. The premise was okay, similar to books where two friends marry for health insurance and eventually become lovers (if you enjoy this premise, check out “Would You Rather” by Allison Ashley). However, I had a few issues with this particular book. First, Evie wasn’t very likable. I struggled to understand why Theo was friends with her, let alone in love with her. Was it driven by guilt? Perhaps. Second, the book was written in third person, which didn’t work for me. The writing was choppy, and when discussing emotions, it felt disconnected. A dual POV would have elevated this book. As it stands, it’s difficult to read. Honestly, I would have given up on this book if it weren’t an arc.

I appreciate Celadon Books for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

I love marriage of convenience so when I saw that trope I knew I had to request it! I love the representation in this book!

I absolutely loved this - the marriage of convenience trope is one I usually steer away from, but Kanter has made me a believer!

Loved the representation in this book. Getting married for the health insurance is a very real, very angst-filled decision, and Theo and Evelyn go through it. There are significant flashbacks throughout this story to depict the couple's history and how the lines have blurred frequently between them in their friendship. And there's a difficult parent, trigger warning. The author does a great job showing why they didn't get together before--but why they are such a good match.

I would say this leans more into women's fiction than romcom territory, but will be very relateable for anyone with chronic illness.

Special thanks to Celadon books and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a solid 3 star read for me!

The chronic illness rep I felt like was done very well. Obviously the entire premise of this story really points to massive issues within our healthcare system - I think it's really obvious where the author stands on that front and I had zero issue with it.
Evie was a flawed character and I did end up liking her, but it definitely took me some time to really get into her on her own. I think people tend to be harsher on female leads so honestly for me, I don't think there was anything wrong with how she was written, I just think she was written with a personality I don't relate to, but that doesn't mean that other's won't love her! I did really like Theo from the start. I thought he was sweet and supportive and an easy read for me.

Overall it was a cute story!

Thank you so much to Celadon books for the eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I had a hard time getting into this book as in the beginning, there were a handful of characters and then you have to track which one was talking in that specific chapter. On top of that, there are also flashbacks thrown in that made it even more confusing for me. I had an advanced copy so I'm not sure if the end result will have the chapters marked better or not.

I did push thru it and I think in the end, it was a cute and interesting book. Theo and Evelyn grew up together and are inseparable best friends. Well Evelyn finds herself needing health insurance and Theo needs a bigger salary in in order to stay in his current apartment. So of course the solution is for them to get married. If you can push thru the beginning, then this might just be the book for you if you like marriages of convenience.

I found the premise of this story delightful. Longtime best friends who catch feelings when they enter a marriage of convenience sounded like a perfectly sweet story, and the details - Evie's chronic illness and interesting career; Theo's devotion to teaching; their shared passion for dance and Survivor - were interesting enough to give the story depth.

But. Evie. I just *could not* with this character.

Partly it may have been the diction of her internal monologue, which felt immature for a woman in her late twenties. But mostly it was her constant sense of victimization. Between her health condition and her absent parents, Evie has certainly struggled. But she's turned the struggle into her whole identity, and every tiny thing that goes wrong - including, once, a barista misspelling her nickname on a coffee order - becomes an example of how life has not given her a fair shake. Which then becomes justification for her generally awful behavior, especially toward Theo.

Theo, for his part, is a great cinnamon roll male lead. He's not just soft for Evie; he's a genuinely nice guy who works hard for the people and things he cares about but is also just flawed enough to be believable. He was the reason I kept reading the book - although more than once I wanted to tell him to take Evie at her word when she said they shouldn't be together and find somebody else.

Still, I did not fling the book down in frustration. I read to the end, which was (of course) sweet and I would probably read another book by this author. 3.5 stars.

Evie is an aspiring foley artist and has the opportunity to train under a pillar in the industry, but the internship doesn't come with health insurance and that's a deal breaker for her. Evie's best friend Theo is in a bind when his roommates move out leaving him with an apartment he can't afford on his own. There is an easy solution to both their problems - get married!

I did enjoy this book, but found it a little hard to get into at first. It may have to do with the miscommunication trope - I'm learning that's not one for me. I truly feel like this novel could have concluded in 100 pages if the main characters just had ONE conversation.

I adored Evie and Theo's friendship and it was wonderful to see how their relationship evolved from childhood to now. It made more sense to their initial apprehension to getting fake married understanding how enmeshed their families were.

Friends with Benefits also discussed difficult topics like family drama, parental abandonment, and chronic illness with such care and compassion. As someone who has experienced some of these things personally, it was nice to see them represented authentically.

Friends with Benefits was a cute and quick read. I think that if you enjoy the miscommunication trope then this one's for you! Evie is cute and quirky. Theo is the sweetest golden retriever (almost to a fault). I thoroughly enjoyed my time with these characters and will honestly never watch a movie the same way!

Huge thank you to Marisa Kanter, Netgalley, and Celadon Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review! This one was fun!

Friends with Benefits by Marisa Kanter is an utterly charming and delightful YA romance that will have you smiling from start to finish! Avery, a high school senior, agrees to a "friends with benefits" arrangement with her best friend, Ethan, thinking it’s a simple, practical solution. But, as you’d expect, things get complicated, and in the best possible way, as their feelings for each other begin to deepen. Kanter’s writing is sharp, funny, and full of heart, with incredible chemistry between Avery and Ethan that makes their slow-burn romance feel so real and compelling. The way Avery navigates her own growth, while trying to keep things casual with Ethan, is both funny and touching. This book beautifully captures the excitement and chaos of falling for your best friend. If you’re a fan of swoon-worthy slow-burn romance, Friends with Benefits is an absolute must-read! It’s funny, emotional, and utterly relatable, a perfect pick for anyone who loves a story about love sneaking up on you when you least expect it.

Friends with benefits by Marisa Kanter is a very cute friends to lovers marriage of convenience story. While I enjoyed this book it wasn’t my favourite.

I enjoyed the representation of grief and chronic illness. I loved some moments between Theo and Evie and their progression from friends to lovers. However at times the story felt repetitive and boring almost to a point where I was thinking of dnfing it.

Overall, I think if you love the friends to lovers you’ll enjoy this book. Thank you go NetGalley for this e arc!

This is a cute, angsty friends to lovers romance. The story jumps from the present to several times in the past. I liked the overall premise, but the FMC drove me crazy. She just seemed super immature to me and all over the place, and expected MMC to jump for her.

Also, I am all for liberal, feminist, LGBTQIA+ stories - but I’d prefer it to be a natural part of the story. It felt like the author went out of their way to really hit you over the head with certain concepts all within the 1st chapter, where it seemed out of place in the context of the story. It would have felt more real to make mentions throughout the story instead.

Overall an alright story for me. Some spice but relatively light.

DNF’d at 8% :( This makes me so sad because I truly did have high expectations for this book, hence why I requested it from @netgalley!

The writing, while already being in my least favorite tense (third-person), was difficult to navigate? It felt very choppy and incohesive, and I often found myself questioning what exactly was being discussed in the present moment.

Evie is wildly immature for someone her age. When a character is the same age as me, I like to find them relatable, as if the dialogue is between me and a friend. If you would have told me she was 16 years old, I would 100% believe you.

There were many opportunities for the book to include elements imagery that would have highlighted Evie’s talents and struggles, but instead, the “fluff” details were redundant (i.e. Imogen living off a further exit x Hinge date ghosting).

Overall, I wanted way more out of this book and I found myself struggling to pick it up every time I grabbed my kindle.

🙌 What worked for me:
• The flashback chapters. I loved seeing actually seeing Theo and Evie's story playing out on page in this chapters.
• Theo and Evie's relationship. I could feel not only their chemistry but also how much history, comfort, trust, etc. they had with each other.
• The chronic illness rep. I have a chronic illness (different from Evie's) that is generally controlled but when it suddenly isn't controlled is debilitating, so I appreciated the authentic representation of how that can feel.
• Evie's career choice. Foley artists are really cool, and I loved that this book talked about them.
• The overall plot. Was it predictable? Yes, but in a good way.

🚫 What didn't work for me:
• Miscommunication. It's strong in this one. I was very frustrated.
• Therapy rep. I never thought I'd say the therapy rep in a book was too much or didn't work, but here I am. The MCs talk about their therapists all the time yet somehow don't listen to a thing their therapists say.

🤜 Would I recommend: Depends. It was a cute, quick read. I enjoyed it overall, but I wouldn't put it at the top of your list.

Read if you enjoy:
✔️ Best Friends to Lovers
✔️ Chronic Illness Rep
✔️ LGBTQ+ Rep
✔️ Cool jobs
✔️ Overcoming abandonment

Thank you Celadon and Macmillan audio for the review copy!

This one didn't work for me but it might be just right for other romance fans, take a look at other reviews as what doesn't work for me might not impact others!

Friends with Benefits was a miss for me, strong audio production and narration bolster my review of the audiobook, but the story did not land for me. I found the writing, right from the start, repetitive and the repetitive/writing style issue made the FMC seem very young and juvenile, hard to connect with, throughout the book. For me I need to be cheering on the main characters, waiting for the HEA or big coming of age moment and here I didn't find myself wanting to see the plot through. The romance fizzled for me, felt flat and forced and I say this as a huge fake dating fan, I am usually easily won over by that trope!

dnf 59%

this is unbearable. evie is the cruelest kind of person and what seems to be an attempt at making these characters woke was disguising completely unacceptable behavior that truly had me questioning how she loved this guy- her “best friend”, mind you!!!! (and how he put up with her). i truly do not care to finish this book