Who doesn't love a good friends to lovers, marriage of conveniences slow burn romance? This book definitely delivered, it was a great feel good story. Evie and Theo are perfect together. I love how this story flashes back to their past so you get the whole picture of their relationship. It is a slow burn but the spice is worth it. I read the physical copy and also listened to the audio for an immersive experience. The narrators were great! I definitely recommend this book. This was my first book by Marisa Kanter but I will definitely be checking out more of her books! Check out my spoiler free review on Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@creatingwithkat/video/7495814519898393899

This book was a heartwarming cozy read. It's a friends to lovers and marriage of convenience troupe. The writing is engaging and has well developed the characters, making them feel relatable and authentic.

I listened on audio and it is a dual narration which I enjoyed and feel like it enhances the listening experience. The narrators, Gail Shalan and GM Hakim, bring Evie and Theo to life, and capture the characters' personalities.

It was such a satisfying read for romance reads. A good mix of humor, emotion, and a touch of realism, making it a memorable and enjoyable experience.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC audiobook of #FriendsWithBenefits by Marisa Kanter.

I wanted to love this—truly. As someone who lives with chronic pain, I was excited for a romance that centered chronic illness with care and representation. Unfortunately, Friends With Benefits missed the mark.

Evie is living with Crohn’s disease and dealing with very real medical trauma and grief, which I absolutely understand and respect. But her behavior throughout the book—especially toward Theo—was hard to stomach. She treats him terribly for most of the story: emotionally distant, ungrateful, often outright cruel. And Theo? He just keeps bending over backward for her, no matter how much she pushes him away or takes him for granted.

The imbalance in their relationship made the “romance” feel more like martyrdom on Theo’s part than mutual love or growth. It’s not that Evie couldn’t have been a flawed, complicated character—but the book never really holds her accountable or gives her a believable arc of change. Instead, it felt like her illness became an excuse for her emotional immaturity and the harm she caused. I would argue that Jacob (Theo's basically estranged father) is more emotionally available than Evie...

I appreciated the attempt at chronic illness rep and the discussion of healthcare access, but ultimately, I finished the book feeling frustrated and let down. Illness may shape us, but it doesn’t give us license to treat others poorly—and in a romance, mutual care and respect should be non-negotiable.

This one just wasn’t it for me.

The story was a cute rom com with characters you want to win. The MMC seemed nerdy in the best way and a sensitive soul who cares deeply for those he loves. The FMC struggles with trusting those in her life and has to fight to not push them away after they hurt her. The trajectory of their happy ending is an enjoyable ride. At times the side plots felt a little unnecessary and/or very southern Cali Gen Z. The grand gesture of committing to their feelings for each other was really pretty and made up for any of the mid book slump.

This book was hard for me to get into. It was a
Good book though, just not my cup of tea. Definitely a cheesy romcom

it's a fun title that grabs a person's attention! It's a really sweet story of two best friends from childhood, who end up marrying for convenience, or maybe even survival. Navigating their feelings for each other, with the fear of ruining their friendship, and childhood traumas, this novel brings together a lot of real life difficulties that do come at play in friendships, and relationships. I appreciated that realness, in a feel-good novel format.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Friends with Benefits written by Marisa Kanter and narrated by Gail Shalan & GM Hakim was a relatable romance with fake marriage and lots of yearning. Friends with Benefits honestly demonstrates the struggles of chronic illness/pain, grief, loss of a parent due to both neglect and death. I did a dual listen/read and equally enjoyed both. The narrators were lovely.

Rating: 3 stars for story / 4 stars for performance
Format: Audiobook - Dual narration by Gail Shalan and GM Hakim
Tropes: Friends to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Marriage of Convenience, Lots of mental and physical health representation

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for this ALC - all opinions are my own.

The storytelling was nice with well placed flashbacks to Evie and Theo's past relationship. It was helpful to get some highlights to explain some of their more bizarre choices/behaviors in the present day. I liked Theo a lot more than Evie because I felt he really loved her and believed his romantic feelings much more that Evie's. They were great friends but I never really felt the hotter chemistry from them. It helped that I listened on audio as it kept me more engaged.

The narrators did a good job projecting their characters emotions. The voices really matched the characters well and the performance helped keep me interested during some of the slower scenes.

I rounded up for this one because omg the main characters’ miscommunication/incessant need to NOT talk to one another was SO annoying.

That being said, I did love how much the MMC yearned for the FMC. We love men who yearn.

What I don’t love, though, is the amount of religion that was woven throughout the book. Though I’m not religious, I wish we, the readers, would have been given a heads up of how much it would be discussed in the book. I’m agnostic, so I didn’t mind, but I have a feeling it could others won’t feel the same.

On the very un-religious side of things, this was unexpectedly spicy!! Definitely didn’t think we get so much 3-3.5/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

(Thank you, Celadon Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley, for the ARC and audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.)

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read an advance copy of Friends with Benefits by Marisa Kanter.

This was a warm, character-driven romance with emotional depth and a refreshingly grounded take on modern love and friendship. The main characters have a strong bond from the start, and their chemistry evolves naturally in a way that feels both romantic and deeply rooted in trust. Kanter’s writing balances humor and heartache while also highlighting the complexities of adulthood—everything from health care struggles to career shifts.

While some moments could’ve benefited from tighter pacing or deeper emotional exploration, the story overall was sincere, engaging, and easy to root for. A solid pick for readers who love friends-to-lovers stories with emotional stakes and relatable, well-rounded characters.

📖 Bookish Thoughts
I loved Evie and Theo together. They were just so cute together. And “friends with benefits”—literal health benefits? Hilarious and painfully accurate. 😭😭😭

This isn’t really a romcom. The story flips between present day and flashbacks of them growing up, and it deals with some raw, emotional topics—like chronic illness, grief, and the loss of a parent. It’s a romance with emotional depth, not something light or fluffy. Still beautiful, just not romcom vibes.

💛 Read if you love:
• Friends to lovers
• Marriage of convenience
• Best friend devotion
• Bi leading lady

💭 Final Thoughts
I really liked this one overall! Evie frustrated me toward the end—she was honestly so harsh to Theo. And I will never love the third act breakup. Despite all that, it really delivered emotionally. It was still a strong 4-star read!
⸻
📖 Final Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 Audio Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.75)
🎙️ Narration Style: Dual

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy for review. All thoughts are my own.

A delightfully chaotic ode to love, friendship, and the brutal logistics of the American healthcare system. Friends with Benefits takes the fake marriage trope and gives it a millennial-era glow-up—with chronic illness rep, housing instability, and the sweet ache of pining for your best friend. Evie and Theo’s dynamic is tender, witty, and painfully real, and I adored watching their awkwardly pragmatic plan spiral into a deeply emotional (and sometimes hilarious) unraveling of feelings. If you’ve ever considered marrying your BFF for the health insurance… this one’s for you.

Perfect for fans of Katherine Center, Emily Henry, and anyone who screams “JUST KISS ALREADY!” at fictional characters.

Evie and Theo have been friends since they were kids. Now, when Evie needs a roommate and health benefits, Theo stops in to help with a small proposal: marriage to him for a safety net.

This was such a good romance! Here's what I liked:

Theo and Evie: I adored these two. This was a true friends to lovers BUT they really have loved each other forever. Their relationship is so beautiful. You get to see past chapters of them as well. The way they compliment each other is perfect.

The side characters: I loved all of the side characters in this one. In particular, Theo's class was hilarious and I adored all of them!

The narration: Gail Shalan and GM Hakim do an amazing job with these characters!

All in all, this was a really great romance!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

This book! Half of it I wanted to scream "JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER" and the other half I just wanted to give the characters a giant hug. Friends since their young childhoods, through being dance partners and coming close to dating but backing off to maintain their friendship, Theo and Evie suddenly marry so that she can have insurance and still take a new job. No one is surprised because they were always inevitable. However, told in their current time and their flashbacks the reader sees their brokenness and how their parallel grief, growth and refusal to let each other go has hurt each other and their relationship.

This one wasn’t my favorite. I did enjoy the narrators, but the story was lacking. I hate it when there are too many political aspects in a book. I feel like we get enough politics in life, I don’t want it in the books I read also. 2.5 ⭐️

Friends with Benefits is hands-down one of the best romcom audiobooks I’ve listened to. Marisa Kanter delivers a heartfelt, funny, and deeply relatable story that had me hooked from the very beginning. I cried multiple times—not just from the emotional moments, but from the raw honesty of the characters’ journeys. The narrator brings so much warmth and personality to the story, making it feel like you’re right there with the characters through all the awkward, tender, and swoon-worthy moments. If you’re looking for a romcom that balances humor with heart and features characters that feel like real people, this one’s a must-listen.

Evelyn Bloom is an aspiring Foley artist who just got her big break, the credit that will get her Union work and health benefits. Instead, she did all the work and her boss took the credit. She will have to withdraw her application, and with an autoimmune disease that requires lots of medical care she really needs that security. As a final blow, her grandparents (who raise her and her sister) are selling their bungalow, aka her home.
Theo Cohen, Evie’s best friend since they met in dance class in the third grade, can’t afford to stay in his apartment on his teacher salary now that his two roommates are moving out. Once she finds out, Evie immediately thinks that moving into Theo’s place will be the answer to their problems. But even their combined income doesn’t cover what’s required by the landlord, luckily Theo just found a loophole- all they have to do is get married!
This was my first book from Marisa and it didn’t not disappoint!She wrote a fun romance that also includes aspects of real life that often get overlooked in books. Healthcare and rent and autoimmune disease that are always looming, real obstacles that couples and platonic soulmates alike face. I love the relationship between these two, that it stood the test of time. I got an audiobook arc from Macmillan Audio that was narrated by Gail Shalan and GM Hakim who both had extraordinary performances. They both had great range in character voices and brought the emotions of each scene to life.

Evie Bloom is an aspiring Foley artist; however, she is plagued with chronic illness and needs health insurance.

Theo Cohen is Evie's best friend and an elementary school teacher who cannot afford to rent his current apartment without a roommate.

Theo discovers a loophole in his lease document. Married couples do not have to meet the same minimum income threshold as single tenants.

Evie needs insurance. Theo does not want to move. Bingo.

It takes a little persuading from Theo to get Evie on board. What could go wrong, right?

The book travels from the past to the present, providing much detail of their relationship through the years. Both characters have baggage and sometimes, I wanted to reach into my device and shake them. Don't be so stubborn! Wake up! But it is a cute story.

The narrators do a decent job; however, I do find Gail Shalan's narration of Evie a little annoying at time. She sounds older than Evie's character in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance audio copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Okay but this was so cute?? I won’t lie, the cover? Not my fav. I wouldn’t have picked it up if it weren’t for a friend recommending it to me.

There is chronic illness rep in our FMC. AND both of our main characters are bi? Didn’t expect that either!

It touches on our health care system and how fucked up it is.

Annnnnd marriage of convenience ?? That’s going to get me every time.

I really adored the flashbacks to their friendship because it really added to the emotional depth.

The end is giving every 90-2000’s ending in a rom com. So cute!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan for the ALC!

This book has the recipe to be a great book, but I felt that a times it was stretching to fit too many issues into one book. There were also so many subplots that it was at times hard to keep track of it all. I had the audiobook version and I liked the male narrator.

Tropes:
Friends to lovers
Forced proximity
Fake marriage
Chronic illness
Miscommunication/wrong timing
Second chances

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio arc.