A new favorite!!!! I am a sucker for a black cat x golden retriever dynamic and this was no different! Ava starts out very stand-off-ish and not willing to open herself up but Finn is persistent and wiggles himself into her life and heart!

I loved the London setting and now want to go there. The idea of the bucket list was so fun and while it was a decent sized part of the plot, the actual locations were always as important and more just Ava and Finn spending time together and getting to know each other.

I thought Ava's growth especially was great and that she really opened herself up more to not only new experiences but also new people to let into her circle. Finn's change in perspective of his relationships with his parents and family had me rejoycing! Every time he would try to defend his dad, I just wanted to shake him and then give him the biggest hug.

I giggled, I cried, I was kicking my feet!!!! The perfect summer romance everyone should read!!

*check TW*

In this heartwarming romantic debut, cynical London barista Ava Monroe agrees to a “just friends” summer fling with cheerful Finn O’Callaghan, who needs a local guide for his London bucket list. As they explore the city together, their unlikely friendship deepens into something more. But with Ava's emotional walls and Finn’s looming departure, they must face the question: can a summer fling become something lasting?

I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me of Passion Project, but set in London. And I loved it, it added such a cozy vibe to the story.

One of the things that stood out most to me was the representation of a cancer survivor—Max, Ava’s brother. It wasn’t just a background detail either, it felt honest and meaningful, and it shaped their relationship in a really touching way. The bond between Ava and Max was honestly my favorite part of the book.

As for the romance... it’s definitely a slow slow burn. I was rooting for Finn and Ava, but I kept wanting more from them earlier on. And I kind of wished Ava would open up a bit more, but I get that her emotional walls made sense for her character. It just made their connection feel a little quieter than I hoped for.

Still, the emotional layers, sibling dynamic, and that charming London backdrop made this a really enjoyable read. A subtle, heartfelt slow burn with great character depth.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the ARC!

♡ Thank you for the free book, Harper Perennial.

Ava and Finn’s dynamic is an enjoyable twist on the grumpy-sunshine trope, with her biting sarcasm perfectly balanced by his golden retriever charm. Their slow-burn journey from reluctant companions to something deeper is filled with witty banter and emotional depth. Set against a vividly portrayed London, the story captures the nuances of modern connection and personal growth. Pick it up if you enjoy friends-to-lovers, reverse grumpy-sunshine, slow-burn romance, and a touch of found family warmth.

THE FRIENDSHIP FLING

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
•grump/sunshine
•friends to lovers
•London setting
•personal growth
•no third act breakup

Fun, run of the mill story that hits all the notes of a good contemporary romance! And I loved the London setting!

ava and finn are nearly strangers when they pinky promise to just stay friends. finn has one summer in london and they promised to complete his bucket list before his time is up. as the two of them fall deeper into friendship, they also start to develop decidedly unfriendly feelings towards each other but because of the friendship pact don’t act on them.

this book was a delicious slow burn and true friends to lovers. the pacing for them was perfect and I loved watching them slowly fall. I loved the traveling around london pieces and ava’s surly attitude while even having fun. finn is so patient and so kind and such a sunshine mmc and I loved him for that. this book was so sweet and tender!!

thank you harper perennial and harpercollins for the finished copy!

what to expect
⟢ friends to lovers
⟢ friendship pact only for the summer
⟢ traveling around london
⟢ slow burn

A funny romance that would be great summer holiday read. It was a bit of a slow burner, I found myself putting it down and picking it up. My main issue was that while it was told from dual perspectives there were only a few chapters told by Finn, it was mostly Ava's story to tell. Since I found Finn funny and more like able I would have liked more of his story told in his words.
I will definitely read more by Georgia Stone in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
I adored this book so much. I love a friends to lovers, a book set in London, and witty banter. This book has all of that and more. It was heartfelt, moving, funny, and well written. I loved Finn so much as a book boyfriend.

I love messy characters with complicated lives in romance novels and Ava and Finn fit that to a tee. I enjoyed how at first even though Ava thought Finn was handsome, she was kind of annoyed by his persistence at being her friend but very soon they start to have fun together. I rooted for them to work on themselves so there could be an HEA and there was a very satisfying one. Thank you to author Georgia Stone and Harper Perennial for the opportunity to read this book early!

Ava has a small circle which consists of her best friend (Josie) and twin (Max). Josie will be away for a year and is worried about Ava being lonely and therefore encouraging her to get out of the house more and make friends. Finn is staying in London for the summer and has a bucket list he wants to complete before he leaves. After meeting at a coffee shop, Ava and Finn enter a 𝘔𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 and come together to complete the London bucket list.

The characters are likable. Ava’s sarcasm is unmatched and Finn has the best personality - the banter between them is everything!! It’s been a while since I’ve read a good romcom, even the chapter titles were entertaining. The plot reminded me a bit of Passion Project which I also enjoyed.

- slow burn
- based in London
- friendship of convenience
- dual pov

Thank you @netgalley and @harpercollins for the Advance Reader’s Copy!

I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

The Friendship Fling is a cute romance novel with some laugh out loud scenes, but it didn’t really work for me. I couldn’t stand Ava’s character, and I didn’t really feel any chemistry between her and Finn. Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the eARC.

Such a perfect summer read!
I LOVED the tropes in this one:
-reverse grumpy x sunshine
- black cat x golden retriever.
- Friends to Lovers
I loved the London setting because London is one of my favorite cities I have gotten the chance to visit.
This story was so easy to read and I really did grow to love the characters.

Also, the cover is STUNNING.

Thanks to Harper and NetGalley for the ARC!

This is a Romance of Grumpy meets Sunshine, but in reverse ... SHE is Grumpy and HE is Sunshine. And it SO works!! The author does a great job building character depth. The banter between the two is what makes the story. Very enjoyable ... a quick read because I did not want to put it down.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read.

“The Friendship Fling” by Georgia Stone

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

what a beautiful, fun, engaging story! this was the ultimate grumpy/sunshine, friends to lovers story!!!!

Ava is the grumpiest grump, I absolutely love her! I especially love her inner thoughts as compared to how she interacts with people because 1) you can see how much she tries, especially with Finn and 2) it’s hilarious. and Finn is the sunshinest cinnamon roll!!! he’s sooo sweet and just wants to enjoy life. I love how he sees right through any surface ego and just decides Ava is his new bestie. he’s so deliberate and kind in their interactions leading to them becoming truly deep friends (before more), it was beautiful to read.

I love how both Ava and Finn bring out the best, most honest sides of the other, not letting each other hide behind their security walls they’ve put up, determined to see the other for who they truly are. and in doing so they develop the deepest form of friendship which makes the most beautiful, tender love 🥹

a truly hilarious, beautiful story! and I especially loved walking through London with them and seeing the beautiful parts of the city throughout the completing of the bucket list! it made the perfect setting for an amazing story! 🙌💛

thank you so much @harperperennial for the arc!!!

Friendship Fling was a lovely, lighthearted romance story. A genuine friend-to-lovers relationship, as Ava and Finn, have a hilariously short-term friendship one summer. Between Ava’s directness and sarcastic dialogue and Finn’s adorably “cinnamon roll” type personality, Friendship Fling makes a sweet story—perfect for the summer.

Picture this: a grumpy barista named Ava who seems to have perfected the art of just getting by. She’s a woman of few words, hiding behind the espresso machine and leaning into her introverted nature. Enter Finn—a regular at the coffee shop, overflowing with charisma and charm, the kind of guy who can’t help but chatter away. Despite Ava’s desire for nothing more than casual hook-ups to fill her time, her concerned best friend pushes her to put on a brave face and not seem so lonely.

To cover her tracks, Ava fabricates a new "platonic" friend—none other than Finn. But when Finn stumbles upon her little white lie, he’s not about to let that opportunity slip by. He ropes Ava into helping him with his quirky London bucket list, and what follows is a whirlwind of banter and unlikely adventures.

Though Finn may flit around the globe without a care in the world, he possesses an endearing nerdiness that slowly breaks through Ava’s defenses. As these two total opposites spend more time together, their witty exchanges give way to something deeper, something Ava is terrified to acknowledge: real feelings.

This delightful tale is brimming with charm, laughter, and heart—a reading experience that leaves you grinning from ear to ear!

This book completely delivered on the grumpy x sunshine vibes, and I ate it up. The London summer backdrop was chef’s kiss, the chemistry between the leads was so natural, and the slow burn? Absolute perfection. I was obsessed with their dynamic—her all sarcastic and guarded, him being the ultimate soft, golden retriever type who’s just totally smitten. The humor in this one had me literally laughing out loud, which almost never happens, and their back-and-forth was just nonstop fun. Honestly, it had everything I want in a romcom: hilarious banter, swoony moments, great side characters, and that emotional depth that sneaks up on you. Easily one of my fave romances I’ve read this year.

The Friendship Fling by Georgia Stone was a cute summer read.

“Before you, I didn’t know home could be a person.”


It has strangers to friends, to lovers. Found family. Summer adventures. I laughed out loud quite a bit while reading this one!


Thanks to NetGalley for the arc! Will recommend to everyone!

This was a fun friends-to-lovers fling! Julien is endearing and Ava is relateable--their banter was very cute. I was slightly lost in the British pop culture and colloquialisms, but otherwise was locked in! Loved Julien's bucket lists and Ava's development.

Special thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC.

These main characters (Ava & Finn) and the the side characters (Max & Julien) were everything! Loved them all so much.
Ava and Finn had such great chemistry. Their friendship was beautiful. The story was great and the banter was fun!
Hope there will be stories in the future featuring Max and Julien. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc!