Seven Days in June is one of my all time favorite books, so as soon as Tia announced that she was doing a spin-off for Audre, I was immediately excited. She was such a pivotal and fully thought out character in Seven Days in June that I was excited to see her as an older character fully in control of her own story.

What ended up happening was a book that stressed me out so badly that it was almost hard to enjoy it. I guess that it can be a mark of a good book because I was feeling the emotions so deeply, but honestly I almost DNF'ed it multiple times because of my stress levels. This was mostly due to Eva's character - which was a complete 180 from her characterization in Seven Days in June. I kept rationalizing this characterization because Audre and Bash is told mostly from Audre, Eva's daughter's, point of view so Eva is going to be portrayed through Audre's eyes. Which since Audre is a 16-year-old girl , that perspective on her mother is not going to be the most favorable, but some of Eva's reactions and the way she was treating Audre was just completely out of line. It really kept me from fully enjoying the book.

I also wish that the writing style had more closely followed Seven Days in June. Seven Days in June was so literary and deep while Audre and Bash was missing that quality that I've come to associate with Tia Williams. If I hadn't known that these books were by the same author going in, I would have never guessed that fact.

Other than these couple of points, I enjoyed the book. I think I related to Audre pretty strongly because I was also the "perfect" child who had to live up to these sometimes unrealistic standards. I also have a much younger sibling and related to having to share attention after having it on me for so long and the changing expectations.

I loved the audiobook, but there are a couple other POVs that are included outside of Audre and Bash that I wish had their own narrators because it did get a little confusing when there wasn't any change in the narrator or vocal style.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ALC.

Attention Seven Days in June fans, this is a must read! Audrey gets her own story. I absolutely adored this story. I loved Audrey's wisdom and pluckiness Seven Days in June, and it's wonderful to see her a bit older, deal with own issues, and get a life update on Eva and Shane.

This book also works as a stand-alone YA story. I'd recommend it for older teenagers, but i't still a lovely coming of age story.

Thank-you to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the advanced listening copy. The audiobook is wonderful with dual narration and sounds effects, that immerse you in the story. I highly recommend this be on your summer reading list, it's a fun read.

What a wonderful YA story. I thought Tia Williams did an excellent job balancing heavier topics like race, gender, sexuality, and mental health with the humour and realness of a teenager's priorities. I was not expecting the mother-daughter relationship to be a main focus but I was here for it after loving Eva in Seven Days in June. I will recommend this to fans of Kennedy Ryan, Lynn Painter, and anyone looking for a quality YA book.

If you love young adult fiction/ romance this is the book for you. I love when authors write follow up books that include characters from other books they have written. If you have read Tia Williams Seven Days In June, you get to see characters Shane and Eva again in this story. This story focuses on Eva’s teenage daughter Audra Mercy Moore.
This story is about two teenagers Audra Mercy Moore and Bash Henry. Audra is smart teenager who has ambitions of getting accepted to Stanford University to study psychology. Audra makes money on the side offering counseling sessions to other teenagers in her high school bathroom. Audra wants to impress the admissions office at Stanford so she starts writing a book on the advice she would give teenagers. Audra is also dealing with her mother Eva and her newborn baby sister that she is forced to babysit for. Audra is also struggling with not feeling that she is as close to her mom as she was before the new baby.

Bash is the hot new kid in the high school that has moved from California to Brooklyn. Bash is rumored to be a ladies man and he likes to host parties at his mother’s apartment when she is out of town for business. Audra and Bash are drawn together and he wants to help Audra with her experience challenge. Audra wants Bash to help her have fun and help her loosen up.
I was drawn to the story of these two teenagers trying to navigate family issues, insecurities, friendship and being honest about who they are while at the same time figuring out who they are as people. I enjoyed how the author navigated some very difficult family issues that the teenagers in this book deals with. Audra learns about the history of her family and how this information sheds new light on what it means to be a Mercy woman. As I read this book I became more invested in this beautiful story of friendship. I also became rooted into hoping these young people find there way.
I really enjoy the characters Audra and Bash as well as the supporting characters.
Thank you Netgalley and Hatchette Audio for the opportunity to review this book. I highly recommend this book for lovers of YA romance.

This story was ok. Audre stressed me out in Seven Days in June and she was definitely the same in this one. She came off to me as a “know it all” and was a little disrespectful to me. But Eva being her parent was more of a friend and there we have the disrespect.

Overall I think if you loved Seven days you will love this one. It was not my favorite and I’m convinced the author is not my style! I recommend people to read it to form their own opinions.

I liked the relationship Audre had with her mother. You don't see many teen/parental relationships in YA. I liked how they communicated and how they worked together to resolve their difference.

I liked the friendship/relationship between Audre and Bash. They were polar opposites which made them good for each other. Their relationship was cute but I could have done without the miscommunication trope.

My only issue was that Williams underdeveloped storylines-Bash's relationships with his parents and the best friend. The best friend was good comic relief but she had serious issues of her own that were unresolved.

4.5✨Tia Williams has done it again. Seven Days in June is about mom, Eva but this YA book is about her daughter, Audre. The duo that I never thought would crack now don’t know each other. Enter classmate Bash. Audre hires him as her “funsultant” but the sparks are lighting at the start of the friendship. The story was engaging and I really enjoyed the female narrator! My only issues are: Williams really puts a lot of intersectionality into her books and, at times, it feels forced. You can’t deal with absolutely every issue (Blackness, classism, chronic illness, mental illness, LGBTQIA+, and more) in one book. It just doesn’t work. Second, 16 year old Audre is NOT a therapist. Even though she prides herself on helping her friends and wants to be a therapist, the constant referring to herself as a therapist got old really fast. Other than that, it was a joyful read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Hackett Audio for an advanced copy of this book!

Very cute love story between Audre and Bash. I wasn’t a fan of the narrators on this story. But the book was still chef kiss and will be getting the physical copy when released.

This was a very different book from Seven Days in June, Eva and Shane were completely different characters. Of course, this is from Audre’s point of view, so we’re going to see a different version, but seeing Eva as “the bad guy” was honestly something I could say I did not expect.
Keeping in perspective that this is a YA book, with young MCs, I liked this book. It felt both mature and immature at the same time which is an accurate representation of what it feels like at that age.
The whole time I felt awful about Audre’s home life. I truly have a hard time seeing Eva and Shane doing this to her. But maybe the stress really got to them. But there really wasn’t much closure with her dad, she just continues to feel abandoned by him for yet another baby to enter her life.
The relationship between Audre and Bash doesn’t have the chemistry and heat I am used to, probably because they’re teens, but I still wish I had felt more of a connection beyond friendship between the two of them. I’m not really sure when the tides turned with this couple and I think that’s something that was missing.
Overall, I liked this book, it was interesting to see a sequel that was technically a different genre from the original. Of course, I’ll read any of Tia’s new stuff.

✨Book Review: Audre and Bash Are Just Friends✨
Author: Tia Williams

As soon as I saw this book available to request, I knew I wanted to read it. I love Tia Williams and her books and am a big fan of YA and friends to lovers. And if you’ve read Seven Days in June…this is Audre’s story! This book hit in all the right places and I can’t recommend it enough. This book is definitely more on the “older” YA scale

I absolutely loved the friendship that bloomed between Audre and Bash. This is definitely a perfect “opposites attract” situation. She’s the junior class president and debate team captain. And she’s desperately in need of a good time. He’s a mysterious new senior and everybody’s crush. And the king of having a good time. It truly felt like the sparks leapt off the page between the two. Their relationship evolved in the best way. It felt really natural.

I also love that this book tackled other topics as well like family dynamics, college life, divorce, and representation of so many things. This book is absolutely perfect for fans of:

💕Older YA romance
💕Friends to lovers
💕Dual POV
💕Mental Health Rep
💕Banter/Flirting
💕Texting

I also had the ability to receive an ALC of this book and it was perfection. The dual narration was amazing and the narrators did a wonderful job with Audre and Bash’s story.

This book is out now! If you are a YA fan, you definitely need to check it out!

A very special thank you to NetGalley, the author, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and Hachette Audio for an e-ARC and an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

I enjoyed this book a lot. It shows the complex emotions and struggles of being a teenager. Audre had her whole life planned, and then family changed it all and her life fell apart.

The way the story was told was so good and I loved the ending and resolution. It felt messy like how teenagers are and each character had their own separate challenges.

I highly recommend for anyone looking for a good coming of age story.

The relationship between Audre and her mother reminded me of Lorelai & Rory and Ginny & Georgia. It’s closer to the messiness of Ginny & Georgia but you actually want to root for the daughter!

I loved the audio of this! It follows multiple characters and each character has such a distinct voice. The 2 narrators did such an amazing job.

Thank you so much hachette audio for an advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Swipe for Synopsis (from StoryGraph)

#AudreBashAreJustFriends #netgalley

This was really cute and I can see its potential, I especially think it will be loved by the YA audience who understand the lingo and can related more so to the content.

I still enjoyed this story, and I normally love YA, but this one felt a little bit too young for me. I really loved both main characters, however I felt like Bash was acting way too mature for his age.

I loved meeting a younger Audre in Seven Days in June, so getting to know her even better in her own story was such a treat. While it’s not essential to read that one first, I highly recommend it; it definitely adds more depth and context to Audre’s character and her family dynamics.

This YA romance is sweet, funny, and full of that signature Tia Williams charm. The chemistry between Audre and Bash is electric, and I loved how the story balanced laugh-out-loud moments with real emotional growth. The dual POV format worked beautifully in audio; both narrators were excellent and really brought the characters to life in distinct, memorable ways.

If you're looking for a sharp, swoony summer read with heart and humor, Audre & Bash Are Just Friends delivers. This is one of those audiobooks that feels like you’re hanging out with your coolest, most complicated friends, and I was genuinely sad when it ended.

This was a very enjoyable story, with extremely easy to love characters and significant character development. For it to be a YA romance, it touched on some heavy subjects that people of all ages endure, which I thought was amazing. The way Tia Williams touched on childhood trauma, yet allowed these characters to develop & heal was simply beautifully written. Their journey of self discovery was heart warming and I really connected with the characters. I would love to see a book 2, years later in their early adulthood.

Overall a solid read, the writing style was magnetic. The dual narration in the audiobook really brought life to the characters, the narrators did a phenomenal job. Thank you Hachette Audio and NetGalley for this advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.

oh what a BEAUTIFUL sequel to one of my absolute favorite books ever, Seven Days in June! this story shows how nuanced and imperfect relationships are between parents and kids, friends, and couples, especially with differences in perspective.

I absolutely adore Tia Williams writing! the characters in this story feel authentic to each persons place in life, especially between our main characters, Audrey and Bash. Audre is such a perfectly imperfect perfectionist! already calling herself a therapist with clients, as that’s her passion and dream. Bash describing himself as such a beatnik, coasting along with no roots. we get to see these young, talented, deeply emotional & intelligent people grow within and out of their matured impressions of themselves. it’s so fun, bittersweet, and deeply lovely to read. the progression of their relationship is so sweet, tender, and hopeful. 🥹

I loved seeing Eva & Shane’s happily ever after playing out in such an authentic & human way, how their family has grown, physically and emotionally. I really felt for Audre and her feelings of being cast-out in the face of her parents “new” kids, and I loved the way she and Eva reconnect through the story.

the different points of view in the story were also so fun! I wasn’t expecting them, but I really enjoyed them as they (once again) add such nuanced, authentic perspective to the story. 🩵

the narration & production was perfect! the duet narration AND SOUND EFFECTS were so captivating!!! y’all definitely want this audiobook!

a beautiful, tender, authentic, lovely story!

I received an Advanced Reader Copy and am voluntarily reviewing it. This story was deeper than I thought it was going to be. Audre Mercy-Moore is a self-proclaimed therapist that charges kids in her high school for her services. Audre is heading to the 12th grade. She is ready to get out of her apartment with her mom, stepfather and her little sister. Audre is currently has no room and is looking forward to spending the summer with her dad. Unfortunately, dad had other plans. Audre is stuck on the couch for the summer. She needed that Malibu sun to help her right her college entrance essay, a self-help guide for teens. Oh did I forget to mention both Audre's mom and stepdad are authors. Big shoes to fill. Audre has tried to be perfect all her life. Perfection is finally wearing her down. Panic attacks are hitting her hard and she does not feel like she can talk to anyone about how out of control she is feeling until she meets Bash.

Bash Henry is the new IT boy. He has an air of mystery surrounding him. No one really knows who he is or anything about him, but they all want to know. Bash is living with his mother in Brooklyn after his father kicked him out. He is on a mission to do what he wants to do with his life. He has tried living up to everyone else's expectations. Now, he is ready to try to find his way in life.

Audre decides that Bash is the perfect person to help her gain some life experiences this summer. He can be her fun consultant. Audre's best friend gave her some goals and she is determined to accomplish these goals. With these accomplishments, she should be able to write a great book and get into the college of her dreams. Both Audre and Bash are on a journey of discovery. Their lives take unexpected turns and a lot of truths are revealed. This book is great for adults dealing with teenaged kids on the verge of becoming adults. I loved the narrators. Though this is a young adult book, I think people of all ages will appreciate the meaning.

I received the audiobook for Audre & Bash Are Just Friends, and wow! From the story to the narrators, I loved every bit of this book. Having previously read Seven Days in June and being a fan of Audre’s character, it was nice to get her story. She’s still the same smart, witty girl, but now she’s navigating a new home life and learning to let go a little.

Bash is the new misunderstood kid you can’t help but love. As he and Audre adjust to their new norms, a beautiful friendship forms—just what they both needed.

If you’re into YA stories that are sweet, relatable, and give you all the warm, fuzzy feels, this one’s for you. I absolutely recommend it—you won’t be disappointed!

Thank you, NetGalley and Hachette Audio, for the ALC.

Audre & Bash Are Just Friends by Tia Williams
Rating: 5⭐️
Pub Date: May 6, 2025

Wait, why is this one of the best books I've ever read in my life?

Audre & Bash are two extraordinarily dynamic characters with deeply layered stories, emotions, and growth arcs, and I thoroughly enjoyed the way they were written. All the charm, wit, and genuine connection that Tia Williams serves in her other books is present here on a much more appropriate, digestible scale for a young adult audience, but it is definitely upper YA due to the language and underage substance use. However, that's not at all uncommon for kids this age in the area they live in with the access and resources they have to partake in these things, so it didn't really bother me at all—I wanted to state that for any parents to kids outside of the upper YA age range curious about its appropriateness for kids between 12-15—I was reading much more adult novels than this at that age LOL.

A (sort of) continuation to Seven Days in June, Audre has grown from a tenacious, omniscient child to a tenacious, omniscient, anxiety-ridden teenager who feels like she is cracking under the pressure placed on her to excel and be great by her parents, and the pressure she's placed on herself to prosper and achieve great things. She is also really struggling with feeling like she's lost her mother as her best friend as Eva balances a new marriage to Shane, a new baby named Alice (The Goblin™️), and writing a memoir about their matrilineage. She seeks out the help of the cute boy in school who has a reputation for being a bad boy to help her relax and check off daring things to do on a list she made with her best friend Reshma. Bash is living with secrets of his own and has placed a lot of pressure on himself to be a certain way and accomplish certain things to avoid failing like his father expects him to.

Without spoiling anything, I really enjoyed the social commentary within this book on several topics and didn't find them to be heavy-handed. They were very responsibly written and balanced out with a healthy amount of humor. This is a true romcom with a sweet, engaging love story that heats up but doesn't boil over, flawed characters you root for, and a supporting cast of characters who feel alive and interesting in their own right. I need Reshma to get her own book, and I wouldn't be mad if Williams decides to write Audre & Bash their very own adult love story…hint hint, nudge nudge.

The narration was lively and fun! It is a dynamic duet narration and the narrators did a wonderful job sounding like teenagers, especially the male narrator. I wish I could read this for the first time again already!

Thank you to Hachette Audio, Little, Brown Young Readers, and NetGalley for providing me with an ALC!

5 ⭐️s
🚨 Pub Date: 05/06/25

Quick summary: Audre is trying to write a self-help book for teens because she thinks it will help get her into Stanford the following year. She realizes that she's struggling with the writing because she needs to have more fun in her life, so she hires a boy, Bash, to help her. They go through a series of "dares" throughout the summer and of course they fall in love (sorry for the spoiler).
I know a lot of people really liked this one, but it was tough to get through for me, even as an audiobook. First, the idea that she could write and publish a book in less than a year, as well as have it be popular enough that Stanford would take note, is completely unrealistic. Second, how can she be so type A and independent in the beginning of the book and then fall into a personality that is completely the opposite by mid-book? Third, there were so many cringy parts and very little was actually resolved in the end. Finally, the writing didn't feel smooth, the dialog was rough in several places, and the verbal abuse by the mom and how Audre just took it was very hard to listen to. I should also mention that I didn't read the first book, but I'm not sure that would have helped me to enjoy this one. The narrators for this audiobook were just okay. I didn't feel like they did a great job with some of the accents. Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in audio format.

Audre and Bash Are Just Friends is a refreshing YA novel that focuses on the importance of friendship, self-identity, trust, and giving grace along with holding space.
In this novel, we follow two teenagers, Audre and Bash, as they navigate through a summer that could possibly change their lives. Both Audre and Bash struggle with perfectionism and being their true, authentic selves, all because of the high expectations placed on them by their parents. Both teens are wounded and traumatized, and by some weird chance, they come together and help each other in more ways than one, all while slowly falling in love.
I loved this book. It's such a realistic and relatable YA novel. Bash is stereotyped because of his appearance and the fact that he is a mystery, and of course, people go off of rumors in cases like his. Audre is expected to be perfect, being a Mercy woman, and that weighs heavy on her. Things intensify when she learns that her mother has been keeping a huge secret from her. This summer is filled with lots of  questions, discoveries, new experiences, and revelations. 4.5 stars!
Thank you NetGalley, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Hachette Audio, and Tia Williams for this sweet, heart-felt read!