This second chance friends-to-lovers romance just might be my favorite book of the summer! Utterly relatable and emotionally charged but mixed with laugh-out-loud humor and steamy romance, Finders Keepers is a treasure of a book!

Overall, I thought this book was a really sweet childhood friends to lovers tale. I liked the history and the tension between the couple and I enjoyed their scavenger hunt. I thought this was missing some of the magic from Sarah's earlier books, but it was an enjoyable read.

Thank you @netgalley and @berkleyromance for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

𝐇𝐨𝐨𝐤
Two estranged best friends find that their long-abandoned treasure hunt might be the key to a fresh start—for both their futures and their feelings.

𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
3.5 Stars, Rounding Up

After enjoying Mrs. Nash’s Ashes I was excited to read this new release from Sarah Adler. What an interesting premise, two childhood friends who are reunited after 17 years of estrangement return to the “scene of the crime” — a treasure hunt that clearly didn’t end well and is now the path to reconciliation.

I have to admit, the first half of this book just wasn’t doing it for me. I was struggling with the jumps to the eccentric seltzer magnate who left behind a treasure, the interviews from the 1930s which strung along clues. The transition between that and present day was a bit disconnected to me.

The FMC, Nina, felt immature and I was frustrated that these grown characters had let 17 years pass from so many assumptions and miscommunication when they were young and dumb 15 year olds (ugh, miscommunication— my least favorite trope).

But! The second half really started to piece things together and I did enjoy it more. Overall, spice wasn’t a huge component of this book, but there were two steamy scenes that were a lot of fun! The treasure hunt did evolve into something more interesting for me with some thoughtful lessons and reflection at the end.

Other things I enjoyed: The humor and banter throughout (the window chats with The Moon). Nina’s mom and dad, Mrs. MacDonald, and Hanako and Kell were all great side characters.

The idea of a childhood treasure hunt turning into a second-chance romance? I was in. Nina and Quentin had such a great setup: estranged best friends, unresolved feelings, and small-town nostalgia. But the execution didn’t quite land for me. The humor felt a little forced at times, and the lack of communication between them got frustrating fast. It was still a cute read with a charming premise, just not as magical as I hoped.

Expected Release Date: Available Now!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the early access. All thoughts in this review are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
💰 trigger warnings
💰 single POV
💰 1st person POV
💰 single timeline
💰 childhood friends to lovers
💰 second chance love
💰 banter!!!
💰 slowwwwwww burn
💰 spice 🌶️🌶️
💰 nostalgia
💰 HEA

I was literally OBSESSED with this book immediately!!! The banter, the actual story-telling!!! The nostalgia 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷 I really love this childhood friends turn lovers 🩷🩷 It just might be my new favourite trope!! I was hooked immediately and I could NOT STOP READING!!
I loved the juicy back-stories of the 2 main characters, and how they came to be together. It made me immediately love both of the characters, and really want them both to get their happy ending.
I love Sarah Adler’s writing style!!! It reminds me of exactly my sense-of-humour and it is so enjoyable and unique! I will read absolutely anything she writes ❤️❤️❤️
I really enjoyed the little illustrations at the top of every chapter 🩷🩷 It made it so much more pleasing on my eyes than just the boring black-and-white text over and over again.
I love a slow burn romance!!! I loved the characters right from the beginning and it was almost TORTURE that they took so long to get together!!!
Such a delightful and DIFFERENT read 🩷🩷 I was entertained and hooked the whole thing through!!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review 💕💕

📍This was sweet, fun and entertaining. A great summer romance read, and it’s out now! Thank you to @berkleyromance for my #gifted sneak peak.

📍 What to expect with this one:
- second chance romance
- fun banter
- adults living back home
- a treasure hunt
- self-discovery journey
- open door 🌶️

📍I really enjoy Adler’s writing. It’s fun, makes me giggle, and it’s entertaining. I’ll continue to check out what she comes up with next!

This quirky romance centers around Nina and Quentin, childhood best friends that haven’t spoken in years. They both find themselves back in their hometown , both recovering from devastating breakups. The begin to rekindle their friendship and decide to look for the treasure that eluded them as teens. As they search for the treasure they find themselves remembering why they loved spending time together in the first place. The relive old memories but make new ones along the way, there were also a lot of things left unsaid . Can they finally talk about what drove them apart these past years?

This was a sweet story. I am always a sucker for the friends to lovers trope. I loved the banter, the slow build and the tension!!

3.5 ⭐️

3.5⭐️

This one was kind of a mixed bag for me. I really like Adler’s writing and the humour made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion! Childhood friends to lovers is a trope I never get tired of, and the slow burn as Nina and Quentin reconnected was both sweet and a little spicy! (Especially those window chats iykyk😉) The treasure mystery they were solving was a fun and unique addition to the story, and was incorporated well to add intrigue but not overtake the romance.

I think I could have enjoyed it more with less miscommunication, I thought the heroine was a little too blind to what was right in front of her at times. Over all though I had a fun time with this one. I’ll be sure to pick up the next Sarah Adler book!

**Thank you to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy, all opinions are my own.**

Sarah Adler writes shenanigans like nobody else! The premise of this book, where a kooky billionaire leaves behind a treasure hunt, is perfect for what I look for in a story. And Nina and Quentin’s friendship-turned-fallout-turned-maybe-something-more hit all the right emotional notes. Their chemistry crackles, but it’s the quiet, vulnerable moments that really got me. I was all in on their history and totally invested in their future. And as always, Sarah Adler’s writing is warm, funny and emotionally sharp. She continues to be an instant-buy, instant-read author for me, and I can't wait for her next book.

I love how Sarah Adler takes one crazy premise after another and turns it into a fun, romantic story. This one involves a treasure hunt....a literal one. Legend has it that the owner of an old money estate hid treasure somewhere on it before passing away. His will states that the person who finds it first will win a prize. Nina and Quentin tried to find it as childhood best friends. Their quest fell apart when Quentin moved away and then ghosted Nina, breaking her heart. Now an adult, she has moved home with her parents only to find Quentin next door again.

I enjoyed this childhood friends to lovers romance. The hunt does feel cheesy at times, but also was a different backdrop than is found in so many other romances, which I appreciated. There was real hurt between these two and so it was nice to see them slowly grow back together as they work again to find the prize. I laughed out loud several times while reading this. Adler's humor is witty and fun. There is some definite steam in this one, but a lot of it is fun escapades and nonsense. I enjoyed her previous book, Happy Medium, and look forward to others by this author. 3.5 stars rounded up.

I really loved Sarah Adler’s other books so I definitely had to pick this one up. I didn’t love this one quite as much, but I don’t mean that as a negative, it was still a pretty good book.

The treasure hunting backdrop is a plot that doesn’t always work for me but it was alright here. I love friends to lovers, especially when it’s reconnecting childhood friends. So the romance really worked for me. They were cute and the relationship building was great.

Definitely would recommend the book!

This book was a fun adventure. It felt like a very tame version of Outer Banks. I wasn’t completely sold on the chemistry between current Nina and Quentin but they grew on me. I really liked Nina’s mom and Hanako. The treasure and Fountain’s history was a little hard for me to keep track of but I still enjoyed how it played out, though if I were Nina I think I’d stay mad at Quentin longer for lying

Nina returns to her childhood home for the summer and ends up reconnecting with her next-door neighbor (and secret teenage crush) Quentin to search for a treasure left my an eccentric businessman. I really enjoyed the first half of this book, setting up the backstory between Nina and Quentin and their teenage search for the treasure, but I didn't care for the second half as much, where the treasure hunt plot took a backseat to the romance plot. I think contemporary romance readers will enjoy this one, but as a mystery reader, I wanted more to the treasure hunt plot.

"Finders Keepers" is the story of Nina, who returns home after losing her job and reunites with Quentin, the boy-next-door from her childhood. This was a fun, quick rom-com, great for days your traveling or looking for a beach read. However, if you are looking for a thrilling treasure hunt like the cover suggests, this book is not what you are looking for. Also, I get really frustrated with adults not communicating or big miscommunications, and ultimately this book wasn't for me.

I really enjoyed Sarah Adler's "Mrs. Nash's Ashes" so ultimately, do not skip this author!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book.

"Finders Keepers" by Sarah Adler offers a charming second-chance, friends-to-lovers romance wrapped around a nostalgic childhood treasure hunt. It's a genuinely sweet and heartwarming read that delivers on its promise of rekindled connections and a touch of adventure.

The core premise of Nina and Quentin reuniting to finish a treasure hunt from their past is incredibly appealing. It provides a unique and fun backdrop for their reconnection, and the way the clues unfold adds a nice layer of intrigue to their evolving relationship. Their history as estranged best friends gives their eventual romance a strong foundation, and the witty banter between them is a definite highlight. I particularly enjoyed the sense of nostalgia and the way the treasure hunt mirrored their journey of rediscovery.

However, while the book has many strengths, there were a few elements that kept it from being a full 4-star read for me. At times, the pacing felt a little slow, and some of the internal monologues or minor plot points occasionally detracted from the main romantic arc. While the treasure hunt was engaging, I sometimes wished for a bit more external conflict or a stronger sense of urgency to push the narrative forward. The resolution, while satisfying, felt a touch too neat in places.

Overall, "Finders Keepers" is a delightful and heartwarming romance with a unique premise. It's perfect for readers who enjoy a gentle, character-driven story with a strong emphasis on emotional connection and a touch of whimsy. It's a solid, enjoyable read that leaves you with a warm feeling, even if it doesn't quite unearth every single buried gem.

Just the absolute sweetest read! Sarah Adler writes such swoon worthy romcom and I love every second of it! Nina and Quentin had adorable banter and chemistry and the full back story and treasure hunt just made it extra fun. I will forever love the pet name “cookiepuss” and I swear I had a smile the whole time I read!

Nina and Quentin childhood friends who embark on finding a treasure in their town only for their project to come to an abrupt halt. They return to their town as adults who have both lost their jobs and relationships and decide to resume their treasure hunt.

I cannot describe how much I enjoyed Finders Keepers. It was everything my teenage self would have craved for - a perfect crush and a treasure hunt to go with it. It was funny, romantic and so entertaining!

Sarah Adler's writing is just perfect and her story telling just kept me tied to my kindle the whole time.

I cannot wait to read more from her and explore all of her backlist.

Big-hearted, engaging, and fun!

Finders Keepers is a charming, playful tale that transports you to Catoctin, MD and into the lives of the responsible, handsome Quentin and the spirited, unemployed Nina as they discover that even though they were once the best friends and yet haven’t been in contact for years, there’s still a little something underneath all the innocent flirting and casual embraces that they’ve never cared to admit.

The prose is tender and smooth. The characters are multilayered, amusing and endearing. And the plot is a lighthearted, intriguing tale full of life, loss, love, friendship, tricky moments, awkward situations, miscommunication, delicious chemistry, romance, tension, self-reflection, and the ins and outs of treasure hunting.

Overall, Finders Keepers is an uplifting, humorous, entertaining tale by Adler that is a good choice for anyone who loves a will-they-or-won’t-they romance that’s not only incredibly sweet but also heartwarming.

I just think this wasn’t for me… I normally love a cheesy romcom, but this was just a bit too much for me. The comedic elements didn’t land well, and I had a very difficult time getting into it. Loved the overall premise, but this was a miss for me.

This book was such a delight!

I absolutely adored Sarah Adler’s previous novel, Mrs. Nash’s Ashes, and couldn’t wait to get my hands on Finders Keepers! Adler’s signature romantic charm was woven into this story beautifully as well as her humor! I am going to start using “goblined” instead of “ghosting” and “well hello there, howdy, and good morning to you,” as a greeting because of this hilarious story!

I loved the premise of this one! Two estranged best friends hunting for treasure?! Sign. Me. Up! The setting of this story is in Maryland and I really loved being back there and getting to meet Nina and Quetin! I went to college in Maryland and always really loved the people and the town and this story really reminded me of that time in my life. I loved that Nina and Quentin grew up next door to one another and you get to follow along on them coming back together and hanging out!

Nina’s character really spoke to me.

“Figure out what you want in life before the can't come to get you.”

She is struggling with always feeling like she is behind and trying to figure out who she is and who she wants to be. I love the way Quetin’s character is with her and the way he nurtures Nina to just be herself. I think we all need people like that. People that are rooting for us and loving us for exactly who we are. You are going to really love their dynamic and there are some spicy parts too!


I would also recommend you read About The Book! It was so interesting learning more about Adler’s experience and intentions with writing this one!

I was lucky enough to also be able to read this one with my ears thanks to Penguin Random House Audio. I think this is my first Mara Wilson narration and I really, really enjoyed her ability to bring the story to life and really pull you into Nina and Quetin’s dynamic. She really enhanced the story for me and made me look forward to being back in Catoctin every chance I got!


Add this one to your summer TBR!