I thoroughly enjoyed this author's style; very much feel like you get to know everything about the characters and even the unlikeable ones, you can empathise with! Part of a series, you don't have to read the others but they're nicely intertwined so it's well worth reading the others. Given four stars as Raff seemed oblivious at times as to what was in front of him which made the book longer than it needed to be, but still enjoyable & a great comfort read. Thanks to Net Galley for the advanced copy

3.5 stars rounding up

I really do enjoy this series and was happy to pick up the next installment to read. This could also work as a standalone if you haven't read the rest in the series.
The second half of the book was better when the setting was changed as it picked up pace. I enjoyed the friends to lovers troupe, but wished that we had a few chapters from the pov of Raff.

Overall this was an enjoyable read 😊

Someone like You is the fourth book in the Ever After Agency series and it was so amazing. Almost has good as the first one Match Me If You Can (I'm a s*cker for Poppy and Tristan love story so sorry, not sorry).

Once again we get to meet Poppy but this time we also get to meet her co-worker Freya a little bit more since she is the best friend to both the MCs in this book and is the one that enlist Raff to the agency but only under one condition, NO DATES.

The no dates part made the book even better and I was curious how Poppy and her co-workers would handle this case because that must be hard when you are working at an dating agency.

The MCs are easy to fall for and the story as well as their background stories were well written (didn't expect nothing less from this author). And can we just take a minute to talk about the title of this book or better yet of all her other books? I'm so in love with them because they are really catchy, easy to remember and some makes me wanna sing 🫣.

If you wanna read a cozy, funny, romantic book that takes place in both London and Seattle during winter then this one is for you especially if you have read the others in this amazing series.

Now I can't wait to see what happens next because I'm ready for book 5 right this instant (too bad it is released first on April 1 but I forgive you due to the title of the book and the excerpt I've read 😉).

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It's was a really wonderful book!

What a delightful book! It is heartwarming and I love the swoony vibes from Raff! The book is full of great characters, laugher & complex feelings that just become more complex. Both Gaby and Raff could not be more opposite of each other. They have a very strong friendship both at work and outside. It is this friendship that complicates everything as Gaby realizes she might feel more for Raff than she thought.

The Ever After Agency series is such a charming series. Even though the book is part of a series, it remains a standalone and by far my favorite in the series! I adore the characters and what happens in this book. It is a fun, entertaining and great addition to the series.

Absolutely brilliant book!
I am a big fan of this author and love the writing style!
I cant wait to read more!

Really lovely & sweet rom com. Best friends to lovers, one bed, Christmas wedding (not theirs!) and contrasting families.

Such an adorable story, I'm so glad I got the chance to read it early.

It was lovely to get an update on Poppy and Tristan from Match Me If You Can, too!

I love rom-coms and I really liked this one. It was funny, cozy and the characters were so real. It kind of reminded me of Sarah Adams Rom-Coms.

🌟 Rating: 3.5/5

This is a light, breezy friends-to-lovers story that had its sweet moments but didn’t completely land for me. The premise is fun—Gaby and Raff, inseparable best friends, navigate Raff’s love life with the help of a matchmaking service, only for Gaby to realize she might not be as ready to see him with someone else as she thought. It’s a classic setup for romantic tension, with plenty of potential for laughs and heartfelt moments.

Gaby and Raff’s friendship is the heart of the story, and it’s easy to see why they’re so close. Their banter feels natural, and there’s a warmth between them that makes you want to root for their happily ever after. Raff, especially, is charming, with his mix of baking fame and relationship mishaps. And while Gaby’s jealousy felt a little predictable, it’s also relatable—it’s tough watching someone you love fall for someone else.

Where the story fell short for me was the pacing. It took a long time for Gaby and Raff’s relationship to develop, and when it finally did, the payoff felt rushed. Some of the secondary characters, like the women Raff dates, were fun but underdeveloped, which made their storylines feel more like distractions than meaningful additions.

That said, the book still has plenty of charm, especially for fans of sweet, slow-building romances with a dash of reality TV-style drama. The baking competition and matchmaking agency add a playful twist that keeps things interesting.

If you’re looking for a cozy read with a friends-to-lovers trope and some lighthearted humor, Someone Like You is worth a try. It’s not groundbreaking, but it has enough warmth and charm to make for an enjoyable escape.

I enjoy this series so much and cannot wait for the next installment. Someone Like You took us a little more outside of the agency and into America for a fun treat.

Someone Like You by Sandy Barker is a delightful journey that beautifully captures the essence of love, family and friendship. Set across stunning London and Seattle, the story follows Gaby and Raff as they navigate the complexities of romance and personal growth.

Gaby and Raff are best friends but with the disastrous relationships of Raff, he is enlisted in the Ever After Agency to help him find love. Gaby initially supports Raff, but is struck with jealousy when he falls for one of his dates. She must keep her emotions under control to find Raff's feelings.
This matchmaking turns out worse for her.

Both Gaby and Raff are relatable protagonists whose quest for self-fulfillment resonates deeply. Raff's charm and depth with Gaby's helping attitude adds an intriguing layer to their developing relationship. Barker excels in crafting multi-dimensional characters that readers can root for.

Sandy Barker's writing is engaging and vivid, creating a nice matchmaking experience while delving into the emotional landscapes of her characters. Her ability to balance humor and heartache keeps the story both light and impactful. I liked Poppy's POV but wanted more towards the end and also of Raff.

The book explores themes of self-discovery, the importance of taking risks, and the transformative power of love. Also, to all the readers who love a protagonist who is baker, this is for you. It was funny, delightful, witty and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Someone Like You is a must-read for fans of romantic comedies. Barker has penned a story that is as heartwarming as it is inspiring, making it perfect for anyone looking to escape into a world of romance and exploration with a tinge of family drama.

such a lovely light read, with a friends to lovers done right, I really felt for Gaby as that feeling of unrequited love is so horrible. I was really rooting for both of them and hoping for their happy ever after!

Someone Like You
By: Sandy Barker
Review Score: 4 Stars

Boogie’s Bulletpoints
•Fiction: Rom Com
•Friends to Lovers
•Only One Bed
•Interconnected Stand Alone
•Found Family
•Multiple Locations: London and Seattle

————

Someone Like You was kindly provided as an ARC by NetGalley and Boldwood Books. Thank you for allowing me to enjoy this wonderful book!

I am such a fan of Sandy Barker’s writing. I love how she writes her characters, and they are always in amazing locations that make me want to jump on a plane and travel there myself.

In Someone Like You, we meet Raff, the winner of a baking show, who agrees to be setup on dates by his best friends, Gaby and Freya. They use the Ever After Agency to do this and, no spoilers, but things don’t go the way they all planned.

I love that this book is part of the Ever After Agency series, but if you happen to start on this one, that’s ok, because there is enough info to understand the story (with that being said, read the series, because all of them are so great).

My only complaint? I wish there was more! There is an Epilogue, I just wish there was a little more in it!

If you couldn’t tell, I really enjoy this book, and highly recommend you check it out!

I really wanted to like this book but the writing and the romance was a bit all over the place for me to enjoy.

Such a cute, heartwarming read. It's a great read between heavier books, as it's a really low key read.

It's a part of a series, but I read it as a standalone and it was fine. The friends-to-lovers trope was done well, lacking in the real depth, but it was okay for a light read. The second half of the book is much better than the first part is!

Thanks to NetGalley for the Arc in exchange for my honest reviews.

This story is filled with humor and heart, and is perfect for anyone who loves a sweet romance with a dash of Christmas vibes.

It follows the story of Raff, a marketing director who happens to also be a baker that just won a British Baker show, and Gabby, his American best friend for years. Raff is a guy who is easily attached, and after being dumped the day he wins the show and being very sad about it, their friends decide to jump in for some matchmaking on his behalf. As Gabby helps to find the perfect person for her best friend, she realizes she has feelings for him, and she is torn between opening her heart again and telling him or letting him enjoy his match and take his chance at love with this new person.

Gabby and Raff’s journey from best friends to something more is a beautiful reminder of how love can sometimes be right in front of you when you least expect it. I love how the book shows how it's more important to have someone by your side who stands by you, supports you and believes in you even when you don't even believe in yourself.

It’s also about personal growth and learning to trust again after the past hurts. Watching them grow and evolve together into new jobs/careers is what makes the story so rewarding. The emotional depth of their journey adds layers to the romance, making it not just about falling in love but about learning how to be vulnerable and open up.

Gabby and Raff are relatable, lovable characters, and their story is the kind of romance you can’t help but get invested in. If you’re looking for a book that’s full of heart, cute holiday vibes, and a love story that feels both genuine and Hallmark type of magical, this one is a must-read.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A brilliant friends to lovers romance. I loved the bake off references and seeing how Poppy is doing in her own love story.

Someone Like You - @sandybarkerauthor

This is part of a series but can be read as a standalone, I have read the first book but not the two following and didn’t feel like I was missing anything.

This is a major slow burn!! Which I love as it really builds the anticipation and it doesn’t feel rushed. I loved getting to know these characters and see how they interact with each other along side all of the Christmas and family drama.
It does feel like a hallmark Christmas movie in the best kind of way

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an warily copy of someone like you by sandy barker in return of my review!!

i read this one not realising it was part of a series, the ever after agency, but after reading this one i feel invested to know the other books, officially added to my wish list!!

poppy, being the matchmaker she is, attempts to matchmake their friend raff, which turns to be a challenge in itself before discovering a friend has untold feelings for him…making the matchmaking scheme a whole lot more crazy!!

- friends to lovers, romance and CHRISTMAS🎄 what’s more to love???!

"Someone Like You" is a best-friends-to-lovers, closed-door romance about Raff, a guy who wants to fall in love, and his best friend Gaby, who helps him search for "the one" with the assistance of matchmakers from the Ever After Agency. They arrange meet-cutes with potential matches, only for Gaby to realize her feelings for Raff are much more than platonic.

The premise sounded like so much fun, but the execution fell a bit short. It was a slow burn that didn’t really burn at all. There weren’t any meaningful signs of romantic chemistry between the characters, and in my opinion, they would have been better off staying just friends.