Audre has the hardest choice to make - deal with the luck that has handed her, or allow the problem to take over the good that could become out of her summer. Audre feels, I think, that life has let her down. She's become second fiddle to both of her parents' new children and feels like they've pushed her to the side. When her best friend suggests she hang out with someone who can help her learn what the real deal is about being a kid in the summer, she turns to Bash. The boy that everyone has something to say about, but are the things they say true, or just fabrications?

When Audre comes to Bash asking him to be her fun consultant, he's taken aback. What could someone like him be able to teach someone like her? Yes, she's pretty, yes, she's got her head on her shoulder, but there's something about the things she wants to do that pull him in, wanting to help for the sake of spending more time with her.

This book took a turn toward the end that really shook me. I'd like to say that Tia Williams is a master of showing how generations of women can hide what they call a curse in order to break the cycle that has been passed down from generation to generation. Ms. William's characters are real, heartbreaking, and emotionally aware.

I'd also like to commend the narrators for doing an exceptional job. Jordan Cobb and Torian Brackett - bravo!

I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I loved this book! All of the characters came alive to me from the very beginning. I found them heartbreakingly endearing. The arc of character development for all the main characters was realistic and emotionally grounded. The theme of teenagers navigating through their messy and broken families felt deeply honest and again, heartbreaking. The audio narrators were brilliant. They voiced the characters beautifully. I felt like I was listening in on the real conversations of real people. I highly recommend this audio-book to listeners of all ages.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this audio ARC!

This could've been cute but a few things just didn't vibe with me. The dialogue didn't feel natural, often stilted, way too info-dumpy. The narrative as a whole lacked subtext, though that can be a personal writing style preference. In combination, however, it failed to draw me in. The amount of ableist language didn't help.
Now come some audiobook-specific unpleasantries:
1. There's a narrator for Audrey's POV and all female voice's in Bash's chapters and vice-versa. Every time one showed up in the other POV chapters, it completely took me out.
2. I found the sudden text chimes extremely jarring. They're a cool feature, just not for my ears.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my goodness!! THIS WAS SOOOO CUTE!!! Tia Williams can do no wrong!

Audre & Bash Are Just Friends is the perfect YA novel - it’s a little messy and occasionally chaotic with a side of drama and angst, but ultimately, this is a story where teens are given space to emote, vent about their parents and relationships, and just be teenagers… and I flipping LOVED it!!

Audre and Bash were just the cutest and I giggled every single time they tried to explain to everyone they were “just friends”… come on, cutie pies, you can’t deny that chemistry! And the mixed media components with their text messages and Audre’s book rules were so fun to read.

This story was oh so swoony and cute, but it also touched on divorce, parental neglect, protecting your mental health, and the immense pressure and suffocating nature of perfectionism. Audre has carried the weight of living “perfectly” and in line with an incredibly high set of standards and you could feel the enormity of her stress and that pressure each time she tried to get everything done, to be perfect and reliable for those around her, and stuffed down her own frustrations and loneliness. Audre was so capable of helping others prioritize themselves and their emotional and mental wellbeing, but she didn’t always do the same for herself… which, I think we’ve all been there. It was a messy road getting there but I was so proud of Audre for finally having the tough and uncomfortable conversations with Eva, and I loved Bash for being in Audre’s corner and such a good friend.

I love loved the audiobook dual narration!! These narrators did a phenomenal job with this story and bringing these adorable characters to life.

I had a blast reading this and I can’t wait for it to be in the world so everyone else can squeal and swoon over these cuties too! Oh, and can we get Reshma and Clio’s book asap?!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review ◡̈ 4.5 rounded up!

This was one of my most anticipated releases for the year and it did not disappoint. I do blame my lack of reading comprehension skills for not realizing this was about Eva’s daughter from Seven Days in June. BUT that was such a fun realization to make while listening so i’m not too mad.

First, the audiobook was done in dual narration and was done so so well. I loved both voice actors and loved the little details of the *ding* for text messages. It really helped to keep me engaged and helped me keep track of actual conversation vs text conversations.

I found this book to be so fun and such a great YA romcom. It was such a fun journey with Audre and Bash and such an organic build up of their relationship. Audre was so incredibly awkward in parts which makes her that much more relatable as a character. She’s really struggling to let loose and I loved Bash in helping her get there. While this was fun, it still dealt with some more serious topics and you can tell these topics were handled with care by Tia Williams. They weren’t just thrown in for a plot device to help move the story along. They really helped flesh out Audre and Bash and added so much more to their characters.

I really loved how the dynamic between her and Eva played out. While it may feel out of place in parts, I think it was a really great representation in how kids can feel when basically their entire family dynamic changes seemingly overnight. While we love Eva from Seven Days in June and the journey between her and Shane, Audre had to grapple with the fact it wasn’t just her and her mother anymore. I think it’s important to remember this books POV is in the mind of a 16 year old girl so for her, these feelings do feel like the end of the world. It may feel dramatic, but wasn’t everything at that age?

Bash was struggling with letting people in and letting people see the real him after what happened with his dad and why he ended up in Brooklyn. He had to deal with the feeling of never being enough and while his struggles and journey were more internalized, his growth as a character was done so well.

I do wish we could’ve seen more of Audre and Bash once they actually got together. The build up to their relationship was so fun and their chemistry was so great so it’s a little unfortunate that we didn’t get to see more of them actually together. Also, while I loved Rashema as a side character and her POVs, they did feel slightly out of a place.

Overall, Tia William has once again proven she can do no wrong. I will forever remain obsessed with her and her writing.

Thank you to Net Galley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review

I had the chance to listen to the audiobook version of this, and I absolutely flew through it! The narrators were phenomenal—seriously, they brought the story to life in such a beautiful way.

The relationship between Audre and Bash is just adorable—such a sweet friends-to-lovers story that feels like every high school girl’s dream. Their chemistry had me smiling and feeling giddy the entire time.

This was my first Tia Williams book, and now that I know there’s a connection to her earlier novel Seven Days in June through Audre’s mother, Eva, I’m running to read that next!

Even though this is a YA story, the writing is mature and heartfelt in a way that readers of any age can enjoy. I loved every second of it.

This follows the sassy daughter of author Eva in Seven Days in June; now in junior class whose summer plans have just been cancelled.
She makes a deal with Bash, the new senior who causes much scandalous gossip and hosts wild parties, to teach her to live a little.

What I liked, that others might not, is that although you know it is building into a romance, that almost seems like a side plot for most of the book.

I loved how naturally Williams packs representation in: different culture, practices, family dynamics, mental health, queerness...
Normally, Young Adult is so surface level in romance, however this one felt meaningful and had many teaching moments (even for me as a 21-year-old)!

What frustrated me was seeing the characters we grew to know in Seven Days seem like the villains in this. Eva and Shane are very busy with a new baby and their jobs, and start to neglect Audre.

However, this also shows life from another angle. It isn’t a happily ever after that means perfection. Life still requires work, love can still be fickle.

The ending and romance was wrapped up waaay too quickly. The last 20% just tries to do too much in what was otherwise a well-paced book.

I was also a bit unsure of Audre’a best friend’s chapter perspectives. My guess is that she will have her own book, but her excerpts in this book felt out of place.

Audiobook arc gifted by Hatchette audio.

Scorching Chemistry & Summer Rebellion: A Coming-of-Age Sparkfest

First of all, big thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the advanced listener copy of Audre and Bash Are Just Friends by Tia Williams!
This story was like catching your breath during a heatwave—invigorating, emotional, and real. It’s been a minute since I’ve dipped into a young adult romance, but this one? This was a gem. Tia Williams knows how to blend heat, heart, and humor effortlessly, and this tale of friendship, rebellion, and self-discovery was such a vibe.
Audre Mercy-Moore is the kind of character that feels like she’s already your best friend—organized, ambitious, tired of being the adult in every room, and just aching for a taste of real, unfiltered life. And Bash? Whew. Bash Henry is every chaotic teen crush fantasy wrapped up in charisma and mystery, with just enough vulnerability to make your heart squeeze.
Their connection? Instant electricity. It’s the way they leaned on each other without even realizing it, how their "just friends" label felt more like a lifeline than a boundary. Their chemistry scorched through every interaction, but it was their friendship that melted me—two lost teens finding joy and healing in each other, one challenge at a time.
But let’s talk about the real villains: the parents. Eva and Shane frustrated me to no end. Protective is one thing, but suffocating is another. Audre, at just sixteen, was carrying burdens that should never have been hers. She wasn't just a big sister—she was the third parent in the household. The way her needs and voice were constantly overshadowed by duty? Gut-wrenching. And don’t even get me started on her dad cancelling their Malibu summer like it was no big deal. “No room for you”—seriously?
Then we have Bash’s situation, which was a whole other storm of chaos. His home life added layers of complexity and pain to his character. Tia Williams didn't hold back on showing how parental failures can deeply impact teens’ mental health and decision-making.
What I loved most was the rebellion. The way Audre and Bash took back a piece of their youth, wrote their own rules, and created moments that were purely theirs. It wasn’t just about breaking free—it was about finally being free. Their story didn’t sugarcoat the hard parts, but it made space for joy, for softness, and for choice.
This story felt like “snow on the beach”—beautiful, rare, a little surreal. Audre and Bash weren’t just characters, they were a reflection of what it means to be a teen trying to make sense of a world that often doesn’t make room for you. Tia Williams nailed it.
Final thoughts: Sweet, snarky, and sizzling. For fans of Jenny Han, Nicola Yoon, or anyone who’s ever had a crush that felt like fireworks.
A sequel would be everything. I’d love to see how Audre and Bash navigate life beyond that summer—college apps, long-distance feelings, family drama 2.0… and hopefully more of Audre claiming her space and Bash healing in real time. Tia Williams could definitely give us another emotional rollercoaster, and I’d be first in line.

The narration for this audiobook was one of my favorites because of the cast. When it is time for a male speaker during Audre's POV we get a male voice. It isn't a female voicing the male part. The same for Bash's POV. The narrators chosen did a great job bringing this story to life and their voices fit their characters.

This story is mostly told in dual POV, but we do get a few chapters from Audre's best friend's POV. This added to the overall story because we get her POV of Audre & Bash and how she views her relationship with Audre. We also get a more personal view into Audre's best friend.

The main characters in this story are 16 and 17 and the story deals with age appropriate topics for this age group. It may be suitable for mature 14-15 year olds. Our characters are dealing with finding their gender identity, relationships with parents and growing up.

Overall I enjoyed this audiobook and the story. While I am outside of the targeted age for this novel, I still felt it to be relatable to a wider audience.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

Ok Im going to be honest.
The audio voices are great and very well done. And that about this book I enjoyed a lot. The narrators did a great job at making the voices to differentiate between characters and make it easy to follow.
Audiobook rate for me would be 5 stars for the Narrators.

Now the story not so much. Sincerely the fact that this are 16 and 17 years old and the talk about recreational drugs is used as if is something totally normal and legal just turn me completely off. I do understand that teens do them even when is not legal, but normalizing it on a book for teens to read not for me . With that being said . There are things in the story that works and things that don't. And while the book has some great points I think it totally missed the mark.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

Tia Williams wrote it. Of course it's 5 stars!

I received an audio arc. I loved both narrators. 10/10. Very easy to follow, even at an increased speed.

Miscommunication isn't really my jam but I really loved the characters in this book so I will forgive them! Audre is trying to have a fun summer (her last before graduation) amidst some family drama. Bash is trying to move on from his past and plan his future. Together they have an interesting summer.....

Hello???? This book??? This book was SO SO good and I absolutely could not stop the audio once I started it. The narrators did a fantastic job with each character voice and I just loved it so much. I think this could be a new comfort book??? If I could rate this more than 5 stars I would, just because of how much I loved it. 🥹
We first meet Audre in Seven Days in June and instantly I loved her. Tia does a wonderful job of capturing her personality and her sassiness. Well in this book you get to see her a few years older and in full girl teen mode. I loved Audre’s character. I loved Bash’s character. I loved getting to see more of Eva and Shane. I loved the different emotions Audre and Bash both went thru throughout this book. I seriously have zero complaints!!!!
Thank you so so much for the arc! I loved every bit 🥹

Definitely read this book if you’ve read Seven Days in June!!!!

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!!

all of the stars — i even loved this more than seven days in june, which i ate up. admittedly, i didn’t realize that this was a companion ya novel to seven days in june until audre was describing her mom and i went, “hey! that sounds a lot like eva…” perhaps i need to read descriptions more often… (granted i saw a new tia williams and needed to read it)

i really enjoyed audre & bash are just friends — it was chaotic, teenage fun but still tackled serious issues and of course had the perfect amount of summer romance and teen angst.

and for the audio?! fantastic — i always love a dual narration and both narrators were fantastic. i also loved the little sound effects here and there.

overall, instant five stars!!

3.5⭐️ rounded up because I think it was the YA-ness that made this book fall just a bit flat for me in comparison to Seven Days in June, and I’m not the target audience for YA. That being said, this was still a fun, easy read, and I really enjoyed being back with these characters.

Although this can be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading Seven Days in June first because that’s where we first met Audre and her mum, Eva. Audre was so precocious and charming in SDIJ, and it was great seeing her when she’s a little older, getting her POV and understanding how her life has changed since the end of that book. I also thought her BFF, Reshma, was a great addition and Bash was an absolute sweetheart! One of my favourite things about Tia Williams’ books is the complexity she gives her characters, none of whom have easy lives, even if they are (from the outside) living a life of privilege. And while Bash is a very different person from Shane, he’s a 17 year old kid who’s dealing with his own, very real issues.

Although I did love the way Audre and Bash’ personalities complemented each other, I do think the chemistry was slightly lacking and I would’ve liked more time seeing them together (and more of their text chats, which were so cute and funny).

The audiobook is really well done - it’s dual narrated and they use the female narrator’s voice to speak the female lines in Bash’s POV and vice versa (why don’t more audiobooks do this when they’re already employing 2 narrators?!)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC and ALC of this book.

Easily my new favorite YA rom-com! This book was utterly hilarious—Tia Williams has a gift for weaving absurdly funny, hyperbolic gems into every page, whether she's setting the scene or dropping the perfect pop culture reference. From the start, I fell head-over-heels for Audre and Bash—their friendship-turned-romance is sweet, swoony, and full of heart. Williams is a genius at crafting layered characters and authentic relationships that feel real and relatable. Her writing is beautiful, sharp, and emotionally rich.

The audiobook narration by Jordan Cobb and Torian Brackett is chef’s kiss—they bring so much life and chemistry to the story. Every scene feels alive with their performances. If you're looking for something laugh-out-loud funny but full of emotional depth, this is it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio & Tia Williams for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Now listen- as a grown adult- I was ready to jump into the book right where we left off in Seven Days in June. Eva is a queen and has the best relationship with Audre-- let's goooo!

Ope! But no- switch it and reverse it. We are now in Audre's 17 year old POV, some time has passed and Eva just DOESN'T SEE WHAT SHE'S DOING. Ugh. MOMS! Am I right!? Helllllooo, it's YA.. that's EXACTLY where Tia Williams should and DID take this book. She knew better than I!

I loved seeing the realistic evolution of the mother & daughter relationship, as Eva married Shane and they brought a new baby goblin into the family. Audre's emotional maturity was tested every step of the way. Add in a love interest for her with his own interesting backstory? A backstory that led to a kinship with Shane? Chef's kiss.

If you loved Seven Days In June- even if you don't read YA- you really should pick this up.

Narration was done really well, definitely added to the experience.

A delightful story of young love between two kids who don't quite know their place in this world.

Audre feels like she's been replaced. Once the bestie of her single mom, she is now sidelined because mom found love and has a new baby. Audre hates her new living situation, she hates that she can't escape to her dad's place in Malibu for the summer, and she means to write a how-to book for teens and get accepted to Stanford.

Bash is the king of fun who doesn't quite fit in with the idea people have of him. But Audre will accept his help to learn how to have fun so she can add her experiences to her book.

Of course, once these two get together and start learning about each other, things become friendly, and then more than that.

This is a sweet romance from Tia Williams - Audre is a kickass girl, an overachiever who is determined to carve a path for herself, and Bash is such a darling, hiding deeper feelings beneath shallow waters.

Absolutely everything I could have asked for and more! I will read/listen to anything Tia Williams releases and this was such a good YA romance!

Being class president, debate team captain and the perfect daughter comes with a price. Audre doesn’t know how to let loose and have a good time. So for her first summer in Brooklyn she decides to hire Bash as her fun consultant. As friends only of course, neither of them are looking for a relationship.

This is a fun ya romcom with a very driven fmc. I see myself in Audre, always aspiring for greatness instead of just enjoying being young and dumb. I wish we got to hear more from her best friend and her crush but maybe we’ll get another book featuring them. Fingers crossed.

I listened to the audiobook which I highly recommend. The narrators did a great job, you can tell they put a lot of thought into it.

I’m so glad I got to read this one and I bet I would’ve been even better had I read Seven days in June first. I highly recommend it.

Read this if you like
🩵YA romcom
✨Opposites attract
🫶🏼Friends to lovers
📖Multiple pov