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.

Author: Marisa Kanter
Narrated by Gail Shalan and GM Hakim

Publishes May 6,2025

I absolutely loved the fact that the main character Evie has an autoimmune disease. Kanter did a really good job writing about a chronic disability and the daily struggle it is especially with tummy issues. I really related to Evie because it took her literally breaking for medical professionals to believer her pain and symptoms. Hearing “everything is normal” by a bunch if doctors is the worst feeling EVER. It really put a view on just how broken the medical system in America is.

I loved the connection that Evie and Theo have. He is literally so caring and compassionate to Evie especially with her health issues. I mean come on, he agreed to marry her just so Evie was able to get insurance, it shouldn’t have to come to that for people to get the help they need. I love how the more time they spent together the better the bond thy had and the love they were building.

This was a really good read for those who love the childhood to lovers trope, roommates to lovers, friends with benefits. Chronic illness representation, grief.


Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC audiobook. All opinions are my own.

This was a DNF for me at 20%. I didn't like the main character at all. The only thing that I enjoyed was getting to know what a "Foley" artist!

The reason for the fake marriage didn't make sense for two adults. The idea that Theo could put Evie on his insurance plan immediately and that it would pay for her care was just misinformation.

I hope this one finds it's audience.

Thank you for the opportunity. Since I did not finish the book I will not post on any purchasing sites

Predictable but totally adorable!
* I'm lost on some of these review saying the book was heavily political, I just finished this and don't remember any political topics.

Description
Evie Bloom pays attention to the details. Her very job depends on it—as an aspiring Foley artist, she’s responsible for every crisp footstep, smacking kiss, and distinct sound in film and television. So when she’s selected for a fellowship opportunity that would make all her career dreams come true, she’s quick to spot the catch: there are no health benefits, and for someone with a chronic illness, that’s a non-starter.
Theo Cohen is an elementary school teacher who can't afford to live on his own in LA, and is facing eviction after his roommates couple up and move out of their rent-controlled apartment. But there is one loophole in his lease: each tenant must meet an income threshold, unless the tenants are married.
For Theo, the answer is obvious. Marry Evie, his best friend since forever. It’s not as if they don’t spend all their free time together anyways. Not only will Theo be able to keep his apartment, but Evie can be added to his insurance plan so she can accept her dream fellowship. It’s such a logical, practical solution. Never mind that Evie doesn’t really want to be married—not to Theo, not to anyone—ever. Or the small, complicating fact that Theo has always been a little bit in love with Evie.
But it doesn’t have to be a big deal. Marriage. It will just give them space to breathe, and much-needed relief from the daily financial stress. It won’t change anything.
It’s . . . going to change everything.

Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book!

Friends with Benefits
by Marisa Kanter
Narrated by Gail Shalan; GM Hakim
Publisher Macmillan Audio
Pub Date May 06 2025

I will not be publishing the below review.

Unfortunately, this book really missed the mark for me. The romance felt forced and lacked any real spark—I honestly thought the characters had way more chemistry as friends. On top of that, the rationale for the marriage of convenience just didn’t feel compelling or believable enough to hold my interest. I kept waiting for something to pull me in, but it never happened.

Audiobook ARC from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio!

I really really really wanted to like this book. I loved the premise of the book and was excited to see how Kanter did it. Unfortunately, this book was just not for me. It read too much like a millennial from California and I just couldn’t connect with the main character. I think at a high level it’s a really fun story with good meanings behind it. There were times where information that was not needed for the plot was added for (for a lack of a better term) “wokeness” which I can appreciate sometimes but it felt like every chapter was the same. I think if a lot of that was removed I would have really loved this book! Fun tropes, funny characters, and an amazing narrator are what kept me listening!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to get an early listen!!

🌸💛💫 friends with benefits by marisa kanter || 3.5 ⭐'s
also, friends to lovers, but highlighted everything i dislike about the trope. too much miscommunication for my taste, but still cute & entertaining, just didn't love it.

3 Stars for me. I absolutely loved Theo as the MMC. As a teacher myself, I feel like his role as an educator was accurate. There is a hierarchy in schools among staff that is rarely talked about. The lack of funding and fighting for basic things like field trips is very realistic in the education system today. I also loved how he incorporated his love for Survivor into his classroom. As a Survivor fan myself, hearing the mention of a spy shack was too good!

Evelyn on the other hand was tough for me. While I understand where she was coming from on things, she was still very self centered.
Which made it tough to root for her and Theo to end up together. It felt like she never tried to understand things from Theo's point of view. For example, kissing after his moms funeral and just assuming the kiss stopped because he didn't have feeling for her, instead of asking Theo what he was thinking. She talked about how she would unpack things in therapy but didn't seem to do a lot of reflecting on things until the very end. The only connection I made to Evelyn was our mutual love for Love Island.

While I love a happy ending, this one wasn't as satisfying. I wanted more for Theo and was shocked when Evelyn changed her thoughts on marriage so quickly by the end. Overall, an enjoyable book with a unique premise.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced audiobook!

Friends with Benefits by Marisa Kanter was just okay for me. I really appreciated the writing style — it’s sharp, easy to follow, and the chronic illness rep was a thoughtful touch. The narration by Gail Shalan and GM Hakim was solid and made for a smooth listening experience. That said, the tropes and storyline just didn’t click with me personally. I didn’t quite connect with the characters or feel invested in their relationship. It wasn’t a bad listen, just not my vibe. But if the premise speaks to you, it’s worth giving a try!

Friends with Benefits by Marisa Kanter just didn’t click for me. I struggled with the writing style and had a hard time connecting with both the main characters. Their chemistry felt a bit flat, and I never fully got invested in their story.

The narrators were okay, but they didn’t really elevate the experience. Overall, this one just wasn’t for me, but I appreciate the opportunity to listen. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced listener copy.

It took me a bit to get into this one, but the book became more enjoyable after the marriage proposal.

I really liked the chemistry between the main characters, but I didn’t feel as connected to the rest of the cast. Evie was also kind of hard to like. I wasn’t a fan of her character. She seriously needed someone to give her a reality check and wake her up a bit.

As for the audiobook, the pacing was good, but some of the voice choices didn’t quite land for me.

One thing I really appreciated was the queer representation. It felt natural, positive, and added a lot to the story without feeling forced.

Overall there were some fun moments, and I’m glad I stuck with it.

So if you’re looking for an easy read between series with cute moments and a bit of spice, this is a good one to pick up.

Evie and Theo have been friends forever, sticking by each other’s side durning the good and bad times. When both of them are faced with housing problems the best solution they can come up with is to get married to meet the rent salary requirement. This marriage of convenience will help both of them, but it will also make them question their feelings about each other. Will they stay friends or cross that line into something more.

The premise of this book intrigued me and I liked the chronic illness rep. The story was easy to read and well written, but I didn’t connect with it like I hoped. I didn’t really care one way or the other about Evie or Theo and the felt absolute no chemistry between the two of them. The friends part was strong, but I didn’t feel the lovers aspect. this was still a good romance read, it just fell short for me. Just because I didn’t connect with it doesn’t mean you won’t, so don’t be afraid to give it a try if this seems like your type of book.