MEET AUDRE. Junior class president. Debate team captain. Unofficial student therapist. Desperately in need of a good time.

MEET BASH. Mysterious new senior. Everybody’s crush. Tall, floppy, great taste in jewelry. King of having a good time.

It’s the last day of school at Cheshire Prep, Brooklyn’s elite academy—and Audre Mercy-Moore’s life is a mess. Her dad cancelled her annual summer visit to his Malibu beach house. Now? She’s stuck in a claustrophobic apartment with her mom, stepdad, and one-year-old sister (aka the Goblin Baby).

Under these conditions, she’ll never finish writing her self-help book—ie, the key to winning over Stanford’s admissions board.

Cut to Bash Henry! Audre hires him to be her “fun consultant.” His job? To help her complete the Experience Challenge—her list of five wild dares designed to give her juicy book material. She’ll get inspo; he’ll get paid. Everybody wins.

He isn’t boyfriend material. And she’s not looking for one. Can they stay professional despite their obvious connection?

Fun fact: Audre Mercy-Moore first appeared in the New York Times bestseller Seven Days in June and now stars in her own story!

My Take:
I am experiencing this book via audio to ascertain how the story is expressed in this format and if this is the best way to experience the story. This is one of the first times that I heard two narrators duetting together-almost like in conversation. Jordan Cobb does a great job portraying Audre's teenage angst, Eva's mom energy, Lisette being Lisette and other voices. Torian Brackett does a great job portraying earnest California cool and other characters requiring masculine energy. I did not listen to this book with the teenagers in my home, but I did listen to my mother who reported that the narrators had soothing voices and brought the story to life well. If one elects to read this story, one would not err with this format.

Oh my heart is so happy!!! I absolutely LOVE Tia Williams and you don’t know how excited I was to see Audre who was introduced in Seven Days in June as Eva’s daughter, get her own book! I specifically remember getting bits of Audre and thinking how I would love a full story about her! Well lucky us!

Audre had always done everything by the book and needs to shake things up… enter Bash, the mysterious new guy who already has the rumor mill circulating with gossip. With Audre staying in Brooklyn for the summer instead of visiting her Dad in Malibu like she usually does… she hires the new boy in town to help her check off a list of Experience’s to help her get inspo for her self help book she’s writing.

Ok a fav trope of mine is a Checklist/Challenge and I loved following Audre experiencing new things right alongside of Bash. This book was fun, and a treat for Williams fans as well as an introduction to a new age group that will want to snag her other books when they get older. GENIUS! Down the line I would love to see a book about these two at an older age! The book explores real emotions and I dare you not to fall in love with these characters *chefs kiss* It is YA but the heart of Seven Days in June crosses over and fans will enjoy it.

Thank you Little, Brown Books for Young Readers/ Hachette Audio

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Oh, how I wanted to love this book. I want to start by saying I have really enjoyed Tia William’s novels in the past. There were parts of this novel where I was completely invested, but overall it missed the mark. Truthfully, if not for the absolute charm of the narrators, Jordan Cobb and Torian Brackett, I likely would have DNF’d this several times in the first half.

What worked:

Smart writing, a diverse cast, great chemistry between the leads and strong mental health rep.

What didn’t:

These are teens clearly written by an adult trying to portray teens. I didn’t buy them as fully formed individuals. Adults that were more caricatures than actual characters. The fact you have Audre, an inspiring therapist, who uses her knowledge to be extremely judgmental and “diagnose” people in a way that is never challenged and REALLY desperately should be.

There is definitely an audience for this book and I enjoyed it more often than not, but I wouldn’t say it’s the strongest showing of an extremely talented author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hacette Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the advanced audiobook.

Audre Mercy-Moore is the therapist to all her peers (she's got a nice side hustle going on with one-on-one sessions) and plans to study psychology at Stanford after she graduates high school. But, when her summer in California with her dad falls through (including a psychology internship), she's left bumming around Brooklyn with her mom, stepdad, and new baby sister. Hoping to write a self-help book for teens as part of her Stanford application, Audre realizes that she needs to get more life experience: this is where Bash Henry steps in. Audre hires him to be her guide to fun, but as they spend more time together, Audre realizes that perhaps there's more to Bash than just having fun.

I'll admit that at the beginning of this audiobook, I almost quit. Bash's character felt so crunchy, surfer dude that I wasn't sure whether his personality would get on my nerves. Luckily, the quirks of his personality smoothed out enough for me to get sucked into the story. This is a sweet story that deals with the idea of family and pushing outside of one's comfort zone. The romance felt appropriate for a young adult novel and I enjoyed this book as much as I've enjoyed Tia Willams' other books.

Audre & Bash Are Just Friends is out May 6, 2025.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the ARC and ALC of "Audre & Bash Are Just Friends." This was a great listen and read. The story was very cute and truly depicted what young adult relationships look like. It also highlighted how everyone tends to make up rumors about you because you are a mystery to them. This feel-good story navigated the complexities of friendship, identity, and the intricacies of first love.

Both main characters deal with very real issues, including family dynamics and emotional wounds, while longing for stability and love. Tia Williams’ writing was beautifully done and perfectly suited for young adults who will be reading this book. It struck a perfect balance between sweet and serious. The narrators and producers did an amazing job with this audiobook. I especially loved the text message scenes, as they felt like we were actually part of the text thread with the digs and sound effects as the narrators read. I highly recommend listening to this on audio! After enjoying this book, I will definitely read "Seven Days in June," which has been on my TBR for a while.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: May 6, 2025

Fantastically narrated audiobook from Tia Williams. For those who read Seven Days In June, this YA novel follows Eva’s tightly wound perfectionist daughter Audre on a summer of discovery before senior year. Williams does such a great job capturing the teenage experience of an NYC/Brooklyn summer, I felt fully immersed in it. My only critique is that some of the teen slang used may age this down the road.

Thank you to Netgalley and UK publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I had no idea this was going to be about Eva from Seven Days in June's daughter, and that was such a pleasant surprise. Fans of that book will love getting more from Eva and Shane.

I found this cute. I appreciated it for what it was. It had some funny moments and I loved some of the side characters. The cleo storyline would have been very interesting to see in its own book.

It does read quite YA so worth bearing in mind if that's not your thing. It didn't quite have the devastating emotional impact that other Tia Williams have had on me, but I would recommend.

If you loved Seven Days in June and would like to be back in that world, but from a different perspective this may be for you!

Audre is a 16 year old junior who is a first born perfectionist. Eva and Audre have had a bit of a codependent relationship in a lot of ways, so it was really interesting to see their relationship through Audre’s eyes. In alot of ways I was annoyed with Eva, but I do understand that she has had a lot of trauma that has played into her roll as an overprotective parent.

Bash is the new kid who wears pink crocks and seems to have it all. Really rich white mom(who btw is absolutely horrendous and made me want to pull my hair out) and seemingly great father who raised him after his mom left. Of course there is more to the story and I really felt for Bash.

The whiplash that happened between Audre and Eva felt really unnecessary and Reshama was a great side character, but her chapters felt out of place. I understand they are most likely setting up for another book, but that didn’t flow well to me.

The ending was a bit rushed and I wished we would have had more from Bash and Audre together, BUT I really did have a great time reading about these two!

The dual narration was GREAT!

Thank you NetGalley and Hatchett Audio for the ALC!

I enjoyed this book. The chemistry between Audre & Bash was great! It was a slow-burn. It's not my favorite book by Williams, but it was entertaining. I would classify it as YA.

I read an ebook copy of this before listening to the audio and I thoroughly enjoyed this. I felt the voices were great for the characters and made the story feel more authentic.

Bash was such an easy character to love and his easygoing nature was such a perfect contrast to Audre's meticulous and structured way of being. I also loved the dynamic of the friendships/relationships with Clio and Reshma. I also loved how the book was so accurate to teen issues and emotions and gave the nostalgia of being young and enamored with someone for the first time.

Despite the book being YA, the story was extremely layered and there were so many gems throughout the book that I feel this read will be relevant and relatable for people of all ages.

This book made me love Shane more than I already did and I loved seeing a glimpse into the balance that Eva and Shane provide eachother with.

Tia Williams is one of my autobuy authors and as expected, this book did not disappoint!

I can’t believe Audre got her own book! I was first introduced to her in Seven Days in June, where she already had her own counseling business, even back then. It’s such a joy to see her fully step into the spotlight.

This is a heartfelt, feel-good story about two teens learning how to navigate the complexities of friendship, identity, and first love. Both Audre and Bash are dealing with real, weighty issues that many teenagers face—family struggles, emotional wounds, and the deep longing for stability and love.

Bash has never experienced what it means to be genuinely loved, while Audre has had to grow up far too quickly. Through their connection, they begin to heal, learning what it means to be cared for and, maybe more importantly, how to care for themselves. Bash helps Audre embrace her youth and enjoy being a teenager for the first time.

The writing is beautiful and perfectly age-appropriate. This book strikes the perfect balance between sweet and serious—it’s a coming-of-age story with heart, hope and so much love.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This story, "Audre and Bash are just friends" by Tia Williams, is easily a 5-star read for me. I have seen that this is a spin-off from her book, "Seven Days in June," and Audre is the daughter of the main character in that story, Eva!

OMG! This story was so cute and touched on some semi-heavy topics, like panic attacks, which Audre experienced from thinking she needed to be this perfect daughter and couldn't make mistakes. Both characters' self-discovery and self-growth were great to see, because in the beginning, I wasn't feeling Audre and her self-entitlement and thinking that having a sibling was the end of the world, but once I understood where she was coming from, it all made sense. The dual POV was good because I wanted to know about Bash and all the hardships he had to endure. I devoured this story in one day.

The audiobook is a duet narration and is a major plus in my eyes. The narrators, Jordan Cobb and Torian Brackett, did a phenomenal job telling this story and bringing it to life. They were so easy to understand and listen to. I listened at 2x speed.

•panic attack
•self-discovery
•dual POV
•young adult romance

Thank you, NetGalley, and Hachette Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Oh my goodness I loved this so much. I don't always enjoy YA romances, understandable as they are not written for me, but I trust Tia Williams with my life. That trust was certainly rewarded here. Audrey and Bash are both lovely young humans. Audrey is very focused on school and specific version of her future. Bash has had a much more difficult road growing up but has dreams of becoming a tattoo artist. The development of their friendship is so sweet. Their personalities balance well and they bring out the best in each other. I loved the group of other friends that they had around them, great found family vibes. Tia handled the romance aspect perfectly. Loads of chemistry with a bit of heat that felt realistic for a first real relationship in the beginning stages. I would recommend checking trigger warnings before reading because this does address some serious real live issues that a lot of young people deal with. Highly recommend the audiobook. Jordan Cobb and Torian Brackett did a great job with the narration.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm sooooo happy I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook. I loved it! The narrators were amazing 👏🏾 I did not know this book was about Eva's daughter from "Seven Days in June" AT ALL ! And I was so happy when I did find out. Especially when i heard that Eva and Shane had a baby 🥰 The personalities of each of the characters were captured very well. Audre and Bash's story was too cute even with it being for young readers i was entertained the whole time. Laughing out loud at one point 🤣 and about to cry at another 😭.

Tia Williams is a great author of romance books. This was a good book that is geared towards teens, though I am older than that I really enjoyed it. I hope she writes another book with some of these characters.
,

Oh my goodness! Bash & Audre Are Just Friends is a pleasant surprise that I did not know I needed. This is book so cute and I enjoyed all of it. From the spotlight on mental health and to the pressures of being on the cusp of adulthood to the complicated family dynamics. This book had so much relevance. Being a mom of three littles but also remembering my teenage years, this book had me doing a lot of reflecting. I enjoyed the growth of the characters and the budding romance between Audre and Bash is pure delight.

For the audiobook itself…WOW! This is one of my favorite audiobooks. I loved Jordan and Torian’s performances and how it felt like I was watching a tv show more than just listening to an audiobook. This is one of the best multi-perspective audiobooks I’ve had.

**Thank you so much Hachette Audio, Little Brown Young Readers and NetGalley for the ALC**

You can't help but adore Audre and Bash and the spark between them. Audre and Bash Are Just Friends was such a delightful read and you'll definitely find yourself laughing and kicking your feet as you dive into their adventure. The writing is filled with so much love and care, making it the perfect romance story. This is hands down the YA romance of the year!

Stuck home after her father cancelled on their summer plans, Audre is struggling to write her self-help book, key to her Stanford's admission. After coming up with a list of things she wants to experience in order to get inspiration for her work, she hires Bash as a "fun consultant" to help her get through the list.

As someone who absolutely loved Seven Days in June, it's such a joy to be back in this world. It's so fun to be back with Eva and Shane, and seeing them from a different point of view, and Audre was such a fun part of that story, so it's incredibly exciting to see her get her own story.

It's no surprise to me that this was absolutely fantastic. I really loved Audre and Bash both on their own and together; it was so fun to follow along as they went through Audre's list, and the blossoming of their relationship was just so sweet. I was so invested in both their personal journeys, and it was so easy to root for them. I think it truly captures the nature of being a teenager, with all its ups and downs, the good and the bad.

There were some small things I didn't really vibe with, such as I felt like Reshma’s chapters were a little out of place and I struggled to see the point of them, and I also felt like the ending was a little rushed and... underwhelming? I would've loved to see a little more of how that played out. But overall, it still was an incredibly great read.

I listened to this on audio, and I had a really great time. I think both narrators did an incredible job bringing these characters to life.

5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

When I first heard Tia Williams was going to write an entire book about Audre (Eva Mercy’s daughter from Tia’s previous novel Seven Days in June) I almost tipped over with excitement. I was an Audre stan from day one. Now I’m here having just finished the audio and happy to say that this did not disappoint one bit!

Before going into book specifics, I was lucky enough to listen to this audio early and I have to say it was one of my favorite audiobooks this year. The narrations were extremely well done, easy on the ears and easy to follow. With two narrators (one male, one female) (Jordan Cobb, Torian Brackett) each character had a distinct voice and a full personality that had me feeling all the feels and laughing all the laughs. I would definitely recommend this audio for audiobook fans.

Now for the story! THIS book was YA romance done perfectly. It was fun, quirky and humorous while also being emotional, explorative, representative and deeply insightful. I was so immersed in the minds and hearts of Audre and Bash and to be honest, I could go right back and spend a little more time there. (Please Tia, pull a Bolu Babalola and write a book about Audre and Bash in the future!)

What I liked:
- Representation! There was so much representation of different communities, race, family dynamics, mental health, etc. in this book. I can’t get into all of it without giving spoilers but I found it to be super modern and super encompassing of what being a teenager in NYC is like.
- The writing. I’ll say it 1,000 times, Tia William’s has a pen that leaves me in awe. Her words will always suck me in, make me pull out my highlighter, teach me something, make me laugh all while it feels like reading poetry in a beautiful garden.
- The plot! This was a really creative way to set up a romance with some in and outs and twists that made it a bigger story than just the romance.
- POV switching. This is done so intentionally that the pace and flow make the book a breeze to get through.
- The characters. Wow wow wow, I love these characters and all their complexities. Audre? We knew she would be brilliant and funny but her character arc and the realizations she comes were so great. And Bash! He’s absolutely a new favorite character of mine. I found his back story to be extremely compelling, his personality so endearing, unique and fresh. Eva and Shane were perfectly complex (and even though they got me in my angry bag a little bit they were realistic and loveable as always). And all of the side characters offered depth and fun dynamics.
- I absolutely loved how much of Seven Days in June carried over into this novel. I won’t give spoilers but it was fun and satisfying to watch some crossover elements play out.
- All of the relationship dynamics. The romances, the friendships, the family, the peers. All of it.

What I could critique if I had to:
- Though satisfying, I think the ending did wrap up a bit quickly. I would have liked to see a little more resolve between some of the characters and maybe even some follow up on some smaller plot points (for example Audre’s dad).

Okay, now I’m branching into essay territory so I will wrap it up. This was such a great read and I highly highly recommend for those in the market for a really well-done YA romance.


(will post reviews on instagram and tiktok in a few days and update links)

Quick Summary: A contemporary YA with Gen Z appeal

My Review: Audre & Bash Are Just Friends by Tia Williams is a second gen standalone novel. The audiobook is scheduled for release on 5/6/25.

About the Book: "Two teens can’t forget they’re just friends...

He isn’t boyfriend material. And she’s not looking for one. Can they stay professional despite their obvious connection?"

In My Own Words: Navigating through life can be challenging for anyone, but it is most definitely challenging for teenagers Audre Mercy-Moore and Bash Henry. When the two enter into an arrangement of sorts, they soon find themselves in new territory, charting unexpected courses.

About the Characters:

Audre - > Driven to succeed, focused, anxious, stressed, hurting, learning

What a difficult spot she was in. Not only was she getting pummeled emotionally and mentally, but she was also under pressure familially, socially and academically. I felt for her. I could easily appreciate her situation. My heart went out to her.

Bash - > Easy but complex, textured, kind, hurting, searching, learning

He was the type of character that I wanted to give a big hug to. The situation he found himself in was hard. I wanted so much for him. I could really see him.

The Parents - > Both parental leads for the main characters were interesting. In the beginning, there was a degree of selfishness in them that I did not like. Instead of being nurturing and available, they were focused on their wants. As the story progressed, however, I could not help but to see how the dysfunctionality played out. Eventually, what needed to happen for growth in Audre and Bash's lives came about.

The Supporting Characters - > The cast that were a part of the story were present and notable in such a way as to help drive the story forward. I think that what I recognized early on, regarding them, was the fact that they were typical and familiar. The things that they experienced and/or dealt with - to party or not to party, substance use, sexuality, identity, etc. - were realistic. I like that the author did not shy away from these things.

About the Conflict: There were several issues in this story. From the first act to the last, movement and transition was happening. Tension existed, and it worked. (I will stop there, so as to avoid spoilers.)

About the Audiobook: This novel was narrated by Jordan Cobb and Torian Brackett. Their efforts proved to be very entertaining. They brought the characters to life. I genuinely liked how the emotion and feelings of Audre and Bash were communicated.

My Final Say: This is the type of story that draws me back to YAs again and again. It had heart and depth. The characters had layers to them. It was not a cookie cutter story, rather it was messy and complicated. There was a brokenness quality that was embedded. At the same time, this story had a beauty to it. It breathed life, love, and acceptance into two amazing young people.

Other: This would be fantastic as a teen book club read.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: T/YA
Status/Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorites Shelf: Yes

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Hachette Audio | Little, Brown Young Readers), and to NetGalley. Thank you so much for granting access to an ALC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. It was a pleasure to review this novel. I look forward to reading more from this author.