This one is a great read! YA is usually not my jam but I loved this one. Bash and Audre are such relatable characters and I loved their story arch. I was really excited to revisit the couple from Seven Days In June. I was disappointed by that storyline between the mom and Audre. But there was some resolution at the end and it was very realistic from a seventeen year old's point of view. I highly recommend this book for a fun, romantic read!

I really enjoyed Audre and Bash! I liked the expansion of the Seven Days in June story from Audre’s perspective. I did find Audre to be a typical teenager which sometimes came off as frustrating. However, I think that added to the believability of her character. I was actually frustrated with Eva and Shane as well for not picking up on how much they’d put on her.

Also- the narration was really good! I liked how the dialogue switched narrators!

Summary: Audre, the overachieving Junior class President, is stuck at home for the summer after her dad cancels their annual trip, throwing her plans to write a self-help book into chaos. Enter Bash, the mysterious new senior with a knock for fun and a talent for making everything more exciting, Audre hires him to help her complete her list of wild dares for inspiration. As their chemistry sizzles, the lines blur between friendship and something more, but can they keep it professional when everything else is turning up the heat?

Thoughts: 💔🔥 Spoiler alert: They are absolutely, positively not just friends—and my heart will never recover. 🔥💔

I went into this book expecting flirtation, witty banter, and maybe a little slow-burn tension. What I didn’t expect was to be emotionally wrecked in the most delicious way possible. Tia Williams knows how to write chemistry that jumps off the page—and in Audre & Bash, it’s not just sparks, it’s a five-alarm fire with emotional depth to match. Audre is a whole vibe—smart, sharp, guarded, and deeply human. Bash? Let’s just say if emotional complexity and swoon-worthy charm had a baby, it would be him. Their dynamic is all push-pull, laughter-through-pain, longing-through-glances. You’ll be screaming “JUST KISS ALREADY” halfway through—and then Tia goes and throws in layers of vulnerability, family wounds, ambition, and identity in a way that feels effortless.This is more than a friends-to-lovers romance. It’s about timing, healing, and what it means to finally choose what (and who) your heart has known all along. Also: the dialogue? Sharp as hell. The setting? So lush and vivid you can practically smell the summer air. And the emotional payoff?

Whew. Worth. Every. Tear.

Read this book if you believe in soulmates who take the scenic route. Or if you're just a sucker for love stories that feel like they were lived, not just written.

Oh how I really wanted to love this book! Audre & Bash are just friends has all of the elements to be an amazing YA book, but it just didn’t get there for me. My main issue was Audre, she was a bit insufferable. I didn’t like her attitude and how quick she was to judge everyone without listening, the exact same thing I didn’t enjoy about her mother, Eva. I liked Bash’s character a lot and enjoyed the diversity and representation, plus the audiobook was really well narrated. I just didn’t love the story as a whole and felt like it fell a bit flat. Good, but not great.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Beautiful Story About Healing, Growth, and Unexpected Connection

This book really touched me. Audre & Bash Are Just Friends is more than just a YA romance—it’s about the lies we tell ourselves (and others) to survive, and the ways those lies can quietly tear us down over time. It explores how hard it can be to truly open up, especially when you’ve spent so long trying to hold everything together for everyone else.

The relationships in this book—new and old, broken and rebuilt—were so layered and real. It reminded me how healing can come from the most unexpected places, and how scary but freeing it can be to finally face your truth.

Tia Williams did such a beautiful job showing the power of vulnerability, friendship, and letting go of perfection. I felt seen in so many ways. If you’re into emotional growth, strong character arcs, and a story that stays with you, this one’s for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced listener’s copy of this beautiful book! 💛

THIS BOOK WAS SO BEAUTIFUL, like stunning. Adored. Flowers and hearts all the time. I liked the slight messiness of teenagers. Stunning.

This was an incredibly cute YA! I really loved Audre and Bash as individuals and as a budding couple.

A young adult Rom-Com in the same world as SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE?!! Say less.

The story follows Audre Mercy-Moore who’s feeling invisible in her own family. When her original summer plan to escape to “Dad-ifornia” (aka spending the summer with her dad in California) falls through, Audre is stuck in a cramped NYC apartment with her stressed-to-the-max mom, stepdad, and baby sister. Hoping to boost her Stanford application and finally catch up on the life experience she feels she’s missed, Audre hires classmate Bash to be her personal “fun consultant” for the summer. Together, they tackle a series of dares designed to help her break out of her perfectionist shell and actually start living.

I was delightfully surprised to learn that the audiobook of AUDRE & BASH ARE JUST FRIENDS is a duet narration. The performances by Jordan Cobb and Torian Brackett are exceptional. Cobb effortlessly captures the many roles Audre juggles: aspiring therapist, student class president, dramatic daughter, and smitten friend, and Brackett nails Bash’s laid-back, easygoing vibe.

Audre and Bash’s chemistry is easy and fun, and watching them connect is delightful. Audre feels compelled to present herself as the perfect daughter, student, and overachiever in order to live up to her mother’s expectations and be less of a burden. Bash’s easygoing nature encourages her to break out of that rigid shell, and allow her to just be. With his support, Audre is able to explore what truly makes her happy and fulfilled, and not just do what looks good on a college application.

As much as I adored the audiobook experience, I have complicated feelings about the story arc between Audre and Eva. It broke my heart how much Eva and Shane leaned on Audre to help raise their baby, especially since she wasn’t even supposed to be home in NYC that summer. At times, Eva and sometimes Shane felt like the villains of Audre’s story. I totally get that Audre is a rebellious, dramatic teen figuring out her place in the world, and I appreciated that lens. As someone who loved SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE, I struggled with seeing Eva portrayed as kind of a crappy parent.

That said, AUDRE & BASH ARE JUST FRIENDS can be read as a standalone, you don’t have to read SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE first. If you’re planning to dive into Tia Williams’ adult romance and want to avoid any spoilers about Eva and Shane’s story, I recommend reading SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE before picking this one up.

Thank you Macmillan Audio & Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

AHHHHHHH, I loved Audre so much in 'Seven Days in June' and I'm so glad we got a whole book of one of my favorite side characters.

I thought Audre and Bash were cute as helll! Audre needed someone who could go toe to toe with her when it comes to wits and Bash did not shy up to the plate. I love their witty little banter and the immediate care they had for one another. Of course our girl Audre wasn't trying to fall for anyone this summer but her bestie dared her to live life to the fullest by doing a few dares but who would have thought she would be doing it with Bash? 🥰🥹🩵🩷

Ugh, i felt for our girl so much in this book when she was feeling down about her family history and not knowing much of it. I'm glad she was able to have a nice discussion with Eva in the end and clear up a few things like why she automatically thinks the worst when she doesn't hear from her. 🥺🫂

I love whatever Tia writes, she literally never disappoints, looking forward to her next one! 💓

Audre is back and more real than ever!

I loved what we saw of Audre in Seven Days in June and was so excited when Tia Williams announced we’d see her again in her own story.

The friendship between Audre and Bash is so charming and feels true to teenage relationship development. This is firmly YA but doesn’t shy away from actual teenage thoughts and feelings or infantilize them. It reminded me of the books I found formative at that age!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown for the ALC!

This was so much fun! I LOVED the characters. They made this so much fun. I do wish there was a bit more “serious” to the mental health parts tho. But overall, I really loved this.

Ok so the “more to the mental health aspect” that I wished for was in regard to Audre. She was the therapist. And she knew all the things and ways to help with her panic attacks, but she refused to see anyone about them. She should have said something. Anything. She thought it would make people think she didn’t know what she was talking about when all she had to do was spin it to say she was good enough to know she needed help. But she IS a teen, so I can understand why this didn’t happen. I think I just wanted it there for the rep. To entice more students to go and get help if they need it. (Although I can’t lie, I fully agreed with the “therapy” that Bash gave her because out of my 9, I have like 4 of them that I also got when I was upset lol)

The story was amazing. And the surprise in the way it connected to Seven Days in June was crazy. I didn’t actually read that, but I skimmed some parts and got the gist. So when I saw the names of one of their parents, I knew what was happening. This part was actually really cool. I don’t think I’ve ever read a YA/A crossover like this before. It definitely made me want to go back and actaully read June. Maybe one day when my mental is stronger. (When I first tried I had just lost my aunt from an OD and I couldn’t deal with d**** of any kind.) Otherwise, I loved the summer loving aspect of this. Watching them fall for each other during these sweltering nights was so adorable.

The pacing of the romance was a smidgen off, but I thought it was ok. Y’all know I HATE slow burns, so when she started acting like nothing was going on at all and tried denying everything, it was a bit annpying. I wanted more time with them together. Seeing them fight it made me so mad lol But I know it was only because I was getting so impatient. I hated that we didn’t see more of them together. Even if they were doing all the flirting.

This was actually really cute. I hope there’s another book like this in mind for Ricki…………. If not, how can we change your mind Tia? Pleaseeeeee I NEED that lol This was a lot of fun and I cane’t wait for everyone to read it!

In this YA romance, Audre is a type A high achiever who acts as a therapist to her classmates but also struggles with her own anxiety. In an effort to fuel material for a book she’s writing, Audre hires newcomer hottie Bash as a fun consultant for the summer. This book has a lot of diversity, LGBTQ, mental health and tattoo-positive rep. This book was fine but I struggled with the likability of Audre’s character and how the parents seemed harsh or selfish at times. I listened to the audiobook on NetGalley and appreciated the dual narration and fun texting sound effects.

If you're like me and also found yourself missing Eva and Shane from Seven Days in June, Audre Mercy-Moore’s story will give you ALL the feels. This was such an adorable summer romance between Audre and Bash that felt so realistic—especially the teenage angst and family struggles.
This was a dual narrated audiobook. Both narrators had accurate characterization, which made the listening experience fun and engaging!

Jordan Cobb and Torian Brackett did an amazing job bringing the characters to life. Really drew on those emotions that Tia wrote. My favorite was Reshma’s accent. I was surprised we got a few chapters with her pov. Her character and accent added so much fun and balance. I’m glad we got her. Overall a solid audiobook with the listen.

Tia Williams is becoming an instant buy for me. After devouring Seven Days in June, I was so excited to jump back into Eva’s family, but this time from the perspective of her daughter, Audre. I didn’t need to read Seven Days in June to understand what’s going on but it definitely helped things hit differently.
Audre is on a quest to write the best self-help book that will land her in her dream college, Stanford, but she’s having major writer’s block. Her bestie says that maybe she needs to live life a little more since she spends most of her time as a freelance therapist for all the kids in her class. Enter Bash: a very cool, aloof senior who just transferred in with the mysterious and scandalous reputation to match. Audre and Bash begin a challenge that will hopefully lead to Andrew gaining more “life experiences” but don’t worry about any feelings developing: Audre and Bash are JUST friends.
I say again, Tia Williams has no skips. This may be a novel for young adults but any one of any age can enjoy it. This book was beautiful and compelling and I 100% sobbed of joy at the end of the book. I can’t wait for her next novel and have already recommended the copies in my store to other people. PICK THIS BOOK UP, whether it’s in audio or physical form. You won’t regret it.

There's just something about the way Tia writes. As much of us were, I was intrigued by Audre immediately while reading Seven Days in June.

Audre & Bash Are Just Friends is everything I wanted, adventurous, pure, funny, real and smart! I absolutely devoured it!

AUDRE AND BASH ARE JUST FRIENDS continues the Tia Williams Is A Queen Multiverse. I just adore her. If she mailed me her grocery list, I'd probably give it 5 stars. It's so charming and cute and everything you want in a young adult novel while still giving you the framework and depth of a Tia Williams book.

Since this is marketed for 14+ there isn't the usual Tia spice... but the love story is still there and blooms just as you'd hope. Fan favorite Audre from Tia's hit novel SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE is our main character here; and she gets all the justice she deserves from being a side character in the original book.

I loved Bash’s backstory and how fully fleshed out it was for a YA novel… and that’s part one of why Tia Williams is the queen 👸🏽

Audre and Bash are Just Friends was a fun listen. I like YA but it is not my go to genre. I loved how Audre and Bash hung out and helped one another with parts of their lives that were a challenge for them. I feel like there were many opportunities for teens to see themselves in the story. This might help them navigate a situation or understand the way someone else is relating to them.

The dual narration was perfect for the story and the characters. The sounds and production additions were also a great touch.

Thank you Net Galley, Tia Williams and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to preview this title.
The novel and audio are now available.

I greatly enjoyed this free audiobook from NetGalley and Hachette Audio! The characters were well developed and relatable. The storyline was intriguing and easy to follow. This is a wonderful YA read and I will definitely be recommending it to others!

Thank you to Hachette audio and Netgalley for this ALC. This was so much fun. If you are a fan Seven Days in June you will like this book.

I am a huge fan of Seven Days in June and Tia Williams, so I was excited to find out Audre would be getting her own romance novel. I loved the fun banter between Audre and Bash.

The narrators did a great job with the audio book, although some times the kids sounded a little too adult.

An easy, fun read for the summer!