This is my new favorite of Sarah’s and that says a lot because all of her books are five stars for me!

I think the fact that Nina is stuck in a rut after losing her boyfriend and her job will really resonate with readers. She is a very realistic character. Starting over and healing from trauma isn’t always pretty and Nina definitely showed that side of things. Quintin was such a little golden retriever and was so patient with Nina. They were just perfect.

I also really enjoyed the plot- I was pretty much hooked from the beginning and I loved the epistolary style tie in of the interviews with the man who buried the treasure they were hunting for.

This was overall fine, but the characters really should've learned from their childhood mistakes and stopped lying to each other. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for honest review.

Unfortunately, this was my least favorite of Adler's books. The lack of communication and honesty between the MCs frustrated me. I did love the FMC's journey to loving herself.

“For the last f***ing time, Quentin, my grandmother is not trying to seduce you!” - this scene got me 🤣

Fun and funny second chance / childhood friends romance. Loved the treasure hunting and twists that I saw coming and didn't see coming. Great banter/chemistry between the MCs and some good spicy scenes.

PS - the Jon Bon Jovi rest stop is my fav 🤣

Friends to lovers is ALWAYS a great time!! The plot was easy to read and follow a long with. Some parts were slow but overall it was so good!! I’ve been wanting to go back and read her other books and this is what’s going to make me finally do it!!

Thanks to Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

I absolutely loved the premise of this book! I felt instantly drawn to the idea of two estranged best friends reconnecting over a treasure hunt from their childhood—it’s such a fun and heartwarming setup. I enjoyed the way Nina’s life took an unexpected turn and brought her back to the town she thought she left behind, and I could relate to her desire to get back on track after things fell apart. I loved the chemistry between Nina and Quentin. I felt like their dynamic was filled with tension, nostalgia, and charm, and it was so satisfying to see them rediscover what made their friendship special. I thought the author did a great job showing how both characters had grown older and wiser, but still carried the weight of their unresolved past. I found myself rooting for them both to find closure and happiness.

Overall, I thought this book was a charming and heartfelt read. I loved the mix of romance, nostalgia, and adventure, and I appreciated the way the author balanced humor and emotion. It’s a story that made me smile and reflect on the power of forgiveness and second chances.

Welcome home to your parent's house, Nina Hunnicutt! That's where catching your long-term boyfriend with someone else just as they're supposed to be moving in together will get you. Rock bottom.

But wait! Her once-best-friend is in the same boat at the same time. Burned by his ex-fiancé and home from abroad to sell the house next door, Quintin Bell might just be there to secure Nina's own version of personal hell. Once upon a time, Nina and Quintin were as close as two friends can be, bonded over talking through their open windows, which face one another. In their last summer after high school graduation, they undertook the task of finding real-life treasure from an eccentric rich dude in town. They never found it, instead, it ended up breaking whatever connection they might have had at the time just before he left town. The wounds have calcified since then, but are not forgotten, and when Quintin brings up hunting for the treasure again now, as adults, she wants no part of it. That is, until she finds out there's money in it no matter what, and that, just now, as an unemployed dweller in her parent's metaphorical basement, is not something she can say no to.

This is a fun little summer adventure story. It's not often one has real treasure to hunt for, and Nina and Q have to work together to make progress. This of course is perfect fodder for all sorts of rom-com shenanigans.

There were a lot of cute moments between Nina and Quintin. It was very clear that they had a long-standing friendship as kids that felt very authentic. Personally, I didn't get as invested as I like in the romance of it. Maybe the treasure hunt took away from it for me, but it is still a fun summer read I would recommend if you're someone who enjoys rom-coms.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I'm always a fan of second chance love stories. I loved all of Nina and Quentin's habits and quirks coming out again. They were adorable. They also had great banter. But the storyline was slow-moving and flat. I just couldn't bring myself to really care about what was going. I also got tired of Nina's overthinking and poor-me attitude really quick. That being said, I would give Sarah Adler's previous books a chance, I've heard so good things.

Sara my go to rom-com queen has delivered again with Finders Keepers. This was such a sweet and funny second chance romance story where we find Nina and Quentin two childhood neighbors about to go on a treasure hunt they started 15 years ago. I'm a sucker for the childhood friends to lovers trope and Sarah gave me that and more with Finders Keepers. I'm not going to spoil this story just giving you the tropes because they will hit every check mark. So if you love second chance love story with small town atmosphere and funny banter self-discovery and with a fantastic treasure hunt this is for you.

Happy reading everyone!!

Thank you to Sarah and Berkeley for the arc opportunity.

I loved the friendship explored in this novel and how two friends work together. I found the characters to be well developed and I think the author crafted a perfect story to let them shine! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Let me be cliche for a minute: If Sarah Adler has no stans, I’m dead. I literally will read everything she writes!

Finders Keepers is her third book and I’m pretty sure she puts some secret sauce in it because it’s equal parts truthful, tender, and sweet with a drop of pining and hilarious banter. I really enjoy second chance (friends to strangers to friends to lovers) as a trope and Nina and Quentin really were an A+ addition to the list of those stories!

One thing that especially stood out to me, was Nina’s anxiety representation. The feeling of not being enough and always working towards being happy but never letting yourself be happy - the perfectionist in me really resonated with this representation! Her inner-monologue had me nodding my head in agreement. All the truths of reality are delicately woven into this romance in a way that still always you to have escapism from the real world. Complex characters that just feel real. The character development & growth was chef’s kiss.

This story is also one where the side characters really stand out - Nina’s parents, the librarian Mrs. Macdonald, and Hanako.

Nina and Quentin’s story is woven in with snippets of seltzer magnate Julius James Fountain’s life story, and the hunt for his hidden treasure. These vignettes break the story up between chapters nicely and remind me of Adler’s first book Mrs. Nash’s Ashes. Definitely don’t miss the author’s note at the back of the book because it really gives you an additional perspective in historical context! Nina and Quentin’s treasure hunt helps these two 32-year-olds chase not only answers to the mystery, but find their next chapter in life as they’re both in flux with their careers and back in their childhood homes. The tension that grows between them while they treasure hunt is palpable.

It was really fun to read about a quasi-local area to me (Catoctin, Maryland)! I could really visualize their duplex and the window conversation scenes. AND THAT ONE WINDOW SCENE IYKYK!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Definitely add to your June 2025 reading list!

Finders Keepers is exactly the kind of story I love—a fun, flirty romance that touches on a lot of themes that tend sneak up on you with their resonance. On the surface, this is a story about two friends reconnecting to search for treasure, like they did in their teens. Beneath the surface, however, it’s a story about forgiveness and learning to let yourself have what you want, outside of other’s expectations. I also really loved the way the transcript of Julius Fountain framed the story!

There is a depth to the storytelling in Sarah Adler’s work that I always look forward to and respect, and Finder’s Keepers is no different. I really enjoyed this read and anticipate it’s going to be one of 2025’s top reads for me!

An entertaining estranged childhood best friend to lovers rom-com mixed with treasure hunting and small town charm. Sarah Adler does not miss!

This one was cute. I really enjoyed the treasure hunting plot. I really enjoyed Nina and Quentin together. This one just felt a little drawn out. I also found the interview sections between chapters to be a little odd.

Liked it!!! But not as much as happy medium that I rated four stars. I was exited bc I’ve hiked at Catoctin a few times before so reading this story as its primary setting was so cool - but some parts were a little dry for me. Enjoyed the friends to lovers & the overall fun & easy plot. Thanks Berkley for my arc!

Finders Keepers is a delightful second-chance childhood friends to lovers story that will have readers kicking their feet with delight! When Nina Hunnicut hits rock bottom, living back at home with her parents after the sudden loss of her job and a breakup, she is stunned to see her childhood best friend moved back in right next door. Turns out Quentin Bell's life hasn't quite turned out how he expected either. When Quentin proposes to restart their old childhood search for a local legend's buried treasure, Nina reluctantly agrees. What starts as a search for buried treasure ultimately ends up uncovering their old flames and the scars left behind.

Sarah Alder does it again with this adorable second-chance childhood friends to lovers romance. With laugh-out-loud banter, slow burn tension, and plenty of twists and turns to keep the pages flipping, this book is a great quick and easy read! I was between 3 and 4 stars for this one, but one of the last minute plot twists just didn't land for me which brought it to three .5 stars.

Overall a great quick and fun read!

2.75⭐️
I love Sarah Adlers other book, there is always lots of humor and appreciate the unique/quirky storylines. I was excited for the treasure hunting premise of this book and my favorite friends to lovers trope.

But while it was very clear that the MFC Nina has Anxiety, her inner monologue was making my anxiety flare up. She questioned every single thing going on. Talking through all the scenarios in her head was just too much for me.

The romance itself was too childish. While it made sense as youths, they didn’t learn from any of their mistakes as adults. They continued to lie and hide things from each other. Even the steamy parts felt a little juvenile.

The treasure part was interesting, but I did want a little more from it. Take out some of Nina’s long winded thoughts and put in more hunting.

There are definitely some funny and heartwarming parts, it just wasn’t a love for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Mrs. Nash’s Ashes is one of my all-time favorite romance books, so I was SO EXCITED for this one. Adventure x treasure hunt x second-chance childhood best friends???!!! ABSOLUTELY!

I so related to Nina’s struggles with feeling lost and behind in her career (a little too real). The way that Sarah Adler portrayed Nina’s anxiety spirals in this book was INCREDIBLE. It bothered me so much at first until I realized that it bothered me because I do the same🥲

I really enjoyed the portrayal of Nina and Quentin’s friendship and the very relatable ways they both could’ve saved each other a lot of heartache had they not been angsty teenagers. There was a tiny bit too much non-communication, but I usually have that complaint about romance books so it really didn’t bother me too much. I also loved the interview transcripts that were sprinkled throughout! That was a really nice touch to bring the past and present together even more.

This book was an absolute delight! This second-chance romance comes with an adventurous twist, a treasure hunt that keeps the story engaging from start to finish. Sarah Adler perfectly captures the charm of a small-town setting, creating a world that feels warm and lived-in.

The banter between the two main characters is sharp, fun, and full of chemistry, making their dynamic both entertaining and heartfelt. Their second-chance romance is handled with just the right amount of tension and sweetness, keeping me rooting for them the entire time. The mix of romance, humor, and mystery made this a standout read.

I can’t wait to read more from Sarah Adler. If you love witty dialogue, lovable characters, and a touch of adventure in your romances, this one’s for you.

Huge thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an advanced eGalley of Finders Keepers in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Pub Date: 17 June 2025
Rating: 3.25 stars ★

“‘Because for me the treasure is you, Nina. And it always has been.’”

I was really excited to read Finders Keepers after falling in love with Adler’s Happy Medium. Finders has the same quirk, wit, and genuine connection between the love interests as Happy Medium, and returning to such fun writing after reading a heavier novel was exactly what I needed.

Right off the bat, the sparks between Quentin and Nina are strong, and something a lot of modern romances struggle with is making a believable couple. These two are sweet together, and the scenes where Quentin is “the Moon” talking to her in that cheesy french accent was adorable! Their love story over the course of this book just hit the spot, perfect Hallmark movie-esque cheese.

Unfortunately, I think the treasure quest plot got buried (no pun intended) under the romance and character development. This secondary storyline was what drew me in, but because we got virtually no information to solve it ourselves or be just as invested as the characters, I found myself not caring about it. And another HUGE unfortunately, while the final treasure reveal made sense and was cute, it also felt like this book was kind of a waste beyond the love story.

If you’re looking for a low-stakes childhood best friends romance story with good spice, smalltown vibes, and banger lines such as “The problem with living inside the stories we tell ourselves is that sometimes it obscures what’s real and in front of us all along,” then Finders Keepers should absolutely be on your TBR!