I was so invested in this book as a devoted lover of binge romance reading. I also read the previous works of Marisa Kanter and enjoyed them, which made me extra enthusiastic about this book. But... yes, a big but coming up...

I made the mistake of requesting this one without reading the plot first—rookie move, I know—only to realize it shares a strikingly similar premise with Would You Rather by Allison Ashley, a book I absolutely adored and rated five stars. In both stories, we have lifelong friends entering a marriage of convenience: one needs health insurance, the other needs to keep a roof over their head. When plots echo each other this closely, it’s hard not to compare, and unfortunately, Friends with Benefits didn’t shine as brightly in that comparison.

The biggest hurdle for me was the protagonist, Evie Bloom. I wanted to like her. Her job as a Foley artist (seriously cool!) had the potential to bring something really fresh and quirky to the story, but her personality came off as too chaotic and self-centered for me to emotionally connect. Her inner monologue often felt more exhausting than endearing, and some of her choices made it hard to root for her. It’s not that she had flaws—I like flawed characters—but she didn’t seem to grow in a way that made those flaws feel purposeful or redemptive.

On the flip side, Theo was an absolute sweetheart. As an elementary school teacher facing eviction, he felt grounded, kind, and genuine. His soft-spoken, supportive nature was exactly what Evie needed—but sometimes it felt like he got lost in the whirlwind of her drama. I would have loved to see more of his perspective, more fire from him, and a better balance between their emotional journeys.

I do want to acknowledge one of the book’s strengths: the honest and much-needed representation of chronic illness and the broken healthcare system. Evie’s health struggles gave the story a real-world urgency, and I appreciated how the author didn’t shy away from showing the messy, stressful realities of living with a chronic condition. That layer added substance to the otherwise rom-com-style plot.

The friends-to-lovers dynamic had sweet moments, and some flashbacks were lovely, but overall, the pacing dragged for me, and the chemistry just didn’t feel strong enough to carry the story. I found myself wanting more connection and less over-explaining of every detail (seriously, I didn’t need to know every character’s drink order!).

In the end, this was a solid three-star read. It had potential, and there were moments that hit the right notes, but as a whole, it didn’t sweep me off my feet. Still, I know many romance readers will find charm and warmth in these pages—and I’ll absolutely keep an eye out for what Marisa Kanter writes next.

A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for sharing this romance's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

As I read this book all I could think was,”Too much!” There were too many subplots, too many misunderstandings, too many dramatic pauses. Also, Evie might just be the most toxic person in the history of the romantic universe. Toxic to the point that I was actively rooting against her for at least half of this book. 2 1/2 stars.

I loved the concept of this book. As someone who reads a lot of romance, Friends with Benefits had a new, fresh vibe about it. The story itself rang true in many ways, providing an injection of reality in amongst the many emotional moments.

3 stars and my thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the eARC.

If there was ever a book that I had the highest of hopes for, it was this one. Fake marriage of convenience, best friends to lovers, hot girls with tummy troubles; it had all the ingredients for a book I would be obsessed with. But God Evie was insufferable. They both, honestly, deserved better than each other. We're supposed to believe that they both were in love with each other this whole time but made it all that way to close to 30 before even internally thinking about it? Ok. Their friendship was so believable, that it seemed impossible for them to actually be in love. And it sends a weird message that no matter how long a man and woman are friends, eventually they will be in love for real.

This is my first book by Kantor and it might be my last. We'll see.

Best friends who marry for the convenience for temporary financial and health benefits and promise it’ll change nothing! Yes, we know where this is going but it there were so many unique aspects to this story that it was fresh and romantic. The author tackles both chronic physical illness and mental anxiety in a realistic manner and interweaves it throughout the story with humor, friendship, support and love. The friendship aspects were some of the most tender and heartwarming moments in the book, and demonstrated the genuine love that Evie and Theo had for each other.
Charming side characters including family and friends round out the story, and of course my favorite being Theo’s fourth grade class! They added the right amount of humor! And I found the information in regards to Evie’s career as a Foley artist very interesting! There was just the right amount of time spent on the topic to teach me something new without overtaking the story.
The one thing that cost a star for me was the miscommunication lasted a tad bit too long – which it wasn’t even true miscommunication but if you follow me, you know how I feel – just say it! But some of you love that trope so I know this will be a hit with you!

All it takes is for one thing to go wrong before everything begins to crumble after it. Eva, betrayed by her boss and forced out of her home in one fell swoop, is left struggling both for a place to live and to advance her career. Her best friend, Theo, is suddenly left without an apartment, and needs to find a way to keep his quickly before his landlord sells it off to another tenant. Two friends are faced with a seemingly easy decision. Get married and reap the financial AND medical benefits, or remain friends and brave the terrifying landscape of medical insurance and apartment hunting in Los Angeles.

I will preface this by saying I am mostly a fantasy reader. There's something about another realm and the dive into its historical lore and characters that feeds my need for escapism but this? This book? Singlehandedly sent me on a five-book romance binge that I still haven't wrung myself free from.

The plot was wonderfully understandable and moved fluidly between both characters. I truly enjoyed how in each significant moment, you were able to see the innermost thoughts and desires of both main characters. You really got a chance to know Eva and Theo, not just through their interactions with each-other but with the other characters in the book. The snippets that we got into their pasts made their actions and motivations so much more believable - at each plot point, I found myself wondering, "How are they possibly going to justify this one?" only to be answered in the next chapter.

The yearning, especially on Theo's part, fulfilled something in me that I didn't know I was searching for until this book. For him to be so desperately in love with her and to have every significant moment foiled, by either divine intervention or his own stupidity, was amazing painful. For her to be so clearly in love with him but deny it turn after turn... I fear I may never read another book this amazing again.

I'm a sucker for Friends to Lovers! This one was done just okay for me.. there was a bit too much of the miscommunication trope where I was like get it together guys! I also really didn't love either of our main characters are individuals and wasn't really rooting for them as a couple.

3.75⭐️
Friends with Benefits was the perfect read to get me out of my reading slump. It had a great balance of romance and realistic story lines to keep it interesting. I loved all the side characters and the humor of Theo’s students. Most of all, I loved how authentic the love between Theo and Evelyn felt.

One thing that kept this from having higher rating was the pacing and structure felt a little inconsistent. Sometimes there were time jumps and sometimes chapters would span one day. The flash backs were cute but sometimes didn’t flow super well.

Overall, by the end my heart was bursting with anticipation for the couple and I was speeding towards those final chapters to know what happened. I’m so happy I got to read this one!

Thanks NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital advanced copy of this book!

This was a heartwarming, dual POV with flashbacks friends to lovers story. Evie and and Theo have the sweetest friendship bonded by dance and a history of supporting each other through hard times. I really appreciated the supporting characters (particularly Evie's sister Gen). This would be a great beach read! Thank you NetGalley and Celadon books for the ARC.

So cute!! This book genuinely made me cry at some points, and I always say that is the measure of a great book, especially a great romance.

This gave very similar vibes to People We Meet on Vacation (which I also thoroughly enjoyed). It was the perfect balance between fun banter and emotional trauma, which is always a difficult balance to maintain. The characters were heartfelt and so cute. I would definitely recommend!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Friends with Benefits delivers a charming and emotional ride with cute, lovable characters—even if the plot stretches believability. The novel thoughtfully explores how childhood trauma can quietly shape our fears, especially when it comes to love and vulnerability. Evie’s journey is made all the more compelling by the honest and nuanced representation of living with a chronic illness, adding depth to her choices and challenges. This is especially important as it offers an honest, realistic depiction in a manner few novels achieve. Her dynamic with Theo is both sweet and frustrating, capturing the complexities of friendship, love, and everything in between. This story balances heart and humor while reminding us that sometimes, the best kind of love is the one that grows where you least expect it.

Friends to lovers is always one of my favorite tropes. This was a sweet, tender lover story with lots of respect between the couple. I would have loved better communication, a bit more angst and connection but it was still very enjoyable. Along side the romance was a great storyline of achieving your dreams and believing in yourself. The characters were well rounded and interesting. A decent read all around.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts are mine alone.

3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars.

I liked this; I didn't love it. It felt like 300 pages of people not saying what they really feel until they finally say what they should have said 300 pages ago. Evie wasn't terribly likable for me; Theo was a character I could identify with. The best part of the book was Theo's interaction with his fourth graders -- they were funny (providing about the only humor in the book).

This felt like a typical twenty-something "romance" - a lot of complaints and misunderstandings but probably realistic in today's age.

This will have a market. As I said, I liked it and I think other folks will, too.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

This was not the book for me I have read books by Marisa before and liked them. The writing style on this one felt disjointed and awkward at times. The story was hard to get into and the FMC was annoying.

I just finished “Friends with Benefits” by Marissa Kanter, and it was a super cute romance! It was a best friends to lovers romance that I enjoyed very much.

It’s a story about childhood best friends, Evie and Theo..they marry in name only so she can keep health insurance while she battles Chron’s disease and does a Foley fellowship. Secretly they both are madly in love though and the story details the ups and downs of their relationship.

I love a good romance, however I will say that there was more political commentary in this book than I normally would care for. I love to read as a means of escape from the craziness that is this world and I purposely no longer watch the news, as I don’t want to read about politics and folks tearing each other apart over it. So my preference is just a straight up love story with no politics.

It was otherwise a great story. A solid 3.5 stars from me!

Thanks to the publisher Celadon books and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of the book in exchange for a review.

Friends with benefits is a sweet romance for fans of the friends to lovers and marriage of convenience tropes. I appreciated that the author made the characters more realistic and relatable by not shying away from their illnesses - Crohn's Disease and anxiety - and they way this affected their lives. A solid holiday read! 3.5 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC.

FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS is Nora Ephron's situational comedic reality meets Rainbow Rowell's raw emotional intensity. Evelyn and Theo's journey through grief and trauma, and the nightmares of the American health care system felt like a therapeutic shout. It refused to mask how much of life is affected by chronic illness. How grief is a weight carried long after the traumatic event. And still. Joy is found in connection, passions are pursed, and love can soothe.

I appreciate Kanter flavoring Evelyn and Theo's friends to lovers romance with drama. Their falling in love wasn't soft or inevitable. Evelyn battles abandonment trauma and pushes love away before it can leave her. Theo has put the needs of others ahead of his own for so long that he struggles to advocate for himself. Together they've been in a "right person, wrong time" loop since they were teens. But through the mess of life, whether they're pushing or pulling too hard to maintain a platonic relationship, they are absolutely each other's Ride Or Die.

You're picking up FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS for the marriage of convenience between lifelong friends, and you'll get affirmation that you deserve joy and fulfillment during a health crisis. During any stage of grief. That healing looks like treating yourself to a day at Disneyland. That you can fall and you are worthy of support and patience to get back up.

Thank you Netgalley and Celadon Books for an advance digital copy to read and review.

This one had all the ingredients I should like - marriage of convenience, friends to lovers, and bonding over survivor but it just didn't work for me. I was very frustrated by the writing and endless mentions of specific details and rambling descriptions. I don't care about the full name of random roommates, everyone's drink order, and if I had to hear about his freshly Lysol wiped desk one more time I was going to scream. I didn't feel any chemistry with the leads at all and we were just told they had this built up love story but even the flashbacks didn't really convince me. They both were kind of annoying and needed more therapy not a relationship. The part I did like was the chronic illness rep and the troubles with the healthcare system. There was also queer rep Evie is bi/pan and her sister is a lesbian.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this is a DNF for me. I read to 20% and though there are some threads that are interesting, the writing style and the inclusion of seemingly endless modern topics slathered everywhere, it just wasn't something I was interested in continuing. Best of luck.

The writing style felt off-putting. The pacing was slow, and the story just jumped into a mediocre scene. I could not get into the plot.