This one was so cute!! I adored the premise, the idea of a friendship fling was so fun! It was great to watch these two go from strangers to friends to not being able to fight their feelings.

While I feel like the will they won’t they was a bit drawn out and repetitive, I enjoyed the little moments. I am excited to read whatever this author writes next! There were so many good quotes.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio for this Audio ARC Copy!

Black cat and golden retriever except make them best friends instead of lovers, and both secretly want to be lovers, but the other one won't admit it so neither one will say anything.

The FMC was so relatable to me, she was so grumpy, antisocial, and just could not be bothered with so much, and girl, I can completely relate. The MMC was full of sunshine and optimism and was determined to make sure that she had some semblance of happiness in her life, like it was his life's mission. I was rooting for this couple so much and I loved that it truly was a slooooow burn. I loved the couple's dynamic, and I loved how they got to know each other so well as friends, because that makes me believe that they really can last.

This was not all just fun and games, there were some heavy topics, and I appreciate the way that they were handled. There was not just heavy subject matter that was added to give reasons and then shoved under the preverbal rug. They were given the respect and love that they deserved, and that was so important for the character growth.

This book felt like a warm latte on a rainy morning. AKA: cozy, comforting, and just the right amount of slow-burn steam.

Set in a charming European town with bucket lists, coffee shops, and fresh starts, The Friendship Fling gives us the ultimate friends-of-convenience turned heart-melting romance. He’s the golden retriever boy, she’s the black-cat girl. She is hesitant to let people into her life, and he wants to make temporary friends. Together? Perfect combo!

He falls first—and hard. And when he says things like:
“It feels like my entire life revolves around you. Like you are the center of everything.”
“Every decision I make I think of you. Every happy moment is because of you.”

If you love:
- coffee shop meet-cutes
- slow burn romance
- friends to lovers
- golden retriever x black cat dynamics
- travel & self-discovery
Then this book is calling your name.

Expect 👉🏼 London, Black Cat/Golden Retriever, Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn, Bucket Lists, Not Looking For Love

Ava wasn’t expecting Finn. He waltzed into her life like a ray of sunshine when she just wanted to live in the clouds. But he never shied away from her snark or sarcasm. He just kept coming back and he somehow became her person. Exploring London, challenging one another and constantly fighting their attraction because their friendship was more important.

I love friends to lovers. The angst of worrying about whether something more is worth the risk, gets me every time.

I love how Finn saw Ava no matter what. He just knew she was worth knowing. And I love how hard Ava loved her people. Her circle was small but mighty and they love her as directly as she loves them.

And can we talk about how Edward Mitchell nailed the ambiguous accent that has parts English, American with Greek and Irish roots? Co-narrated by Kitty Kelly, this book was easily bingable.

Thank you Harper audio for the alc.

This was a cute summer read about friendships that turn into more and the fleeting-ness of summer love. Cute, fun, would be a great vacation read!

Hilarious, ridiculously fun, and incredible debut by Georgia Stone. This slow burn, friends to lovers, reverse grumpy x sunshine was such a pleasure, and I enjoyed the audio oh-so-much!

Shortly after Ava, an introverted barista, realizes that her best friend is leaving for a year, a man named Finn strolls into her coffee shop. He comes to her with an idea — a friendship summer fling, where he can complete his London bucket list and Ava can show Josie she is okay. They keep their rules as they explore all over, crossing items off his list, yet the “friendship” begins to feel a little too good…

This was truly so cute!! I loved everything from the side characters, to the dual POV chapters, to the depth of the plot. The best summer romance for this summer!

The chemistry and humor between the two main characters is amazing. One of my favorite scenes is when a creepy guy named Jonas tries to flirt with Ava and Finn asks him to share some of his special poetry. Finn is protective but also knows how to have fun and push buttons while doing so. The FMK conversation with Mario, Bowser, and Toad definitely made me laugh out loud. I enjoyed listening about all of the adventures they went on as they tried to complete Finn's bucket list.

I found the male narrators voice more quiet and a bit monotone at times. I enjoyed the female narrators voice, but it took a little while for me to get used to the thicker accent. I felt that at times, Finn's personality didn't shine through during the male narrator POV.

I always dislike when the people interested in each other deny their feelings and suggest they date other people. I like it when they finally quit resisting their connection and realize they were perfect for each other all along. Thank you to Netgalley, HarperAudio Adult, and Georgia Stone for an ARC of this audiobook. This review is my own honest opinion.

I really liked the premise of this book, with its summer epitomized vibe of a just-for-the-summer fling. However, the execution of it just did not work for me. The writing style was overly verbose (see what I did there?), like that person you get stuck talking to at a party who monopolizes the conversation by saying a lot without really saying anything at all, and I struggled to relate to either main character. So, overall, this was a flop for me, but other readers may have a better experience.

Thank you to HarperAudio for gifting me with an ALC to review! All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this one.

Finn is the embodiment of golden retriever energy. He meets sarcastic, blunt and perpetually grouchy Ava, decides they are friends and talks her into helping him complete his London bucket list while he is there for a few months. This is the classic grumpy/sunshine and friends to lovers trope. The problem arises when Finn needs to leave London for his new job in the U.S.

At first I was a little annoyed with Finn and how much of a people pleaser he was, but as we got to know him, we got all the heartbreaking depth to his character, and I couldn't help but love him. I loved watching the relationship between Finn and Ava develop as she slowly let down her guard as she realized that Finn was someone she could and wanted to trust.

There were a couple of open door scenes in this book, but it wasn't overly spicy. It felt more like a romcom with some spice sprinkled in. I would recommend it to those who enjoy friends to lovers tropes.

Engaging, escapist, and well-narrated. A recommended purchase for collections where contemporary romance is popular.

I just finished listening to a good audiobook. The Friendship Fling by Georgia Stone is available now. Check it out.

“The Friendship Fling” by Georgia Stone

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

what a beautiful, fun, engaging story! this was the ultimate grumpy/sunshine, friends to lovers story!!!!

Ava is the grumpiest grump, I absolutely love her! I especially love her inner thoughts as compared to how she interacts with people because 1) you can see how much she tries, especially with Finn and 2) it’s hilarious. and Finn is the sunshinest cinnamon roll!!! he’s sooo sweet and just wants to enjoy life. I love how he sees right through any surface ego and just decides Ava is his new bestie. he’s so deliberate and kind in their interactions leading to them becoming truly deep friends (before more), it was beautiful to read.

I love how both Ava and Finn bring out the best, most honest sides of the other, not letting each other hide behind their security walls they’ve put up, determined to see the other for who they truly are. and in doing so they develop the deepest form of friendship which makes the most beautiful, tender love 🥹

a truly hilarious, beautiful story! and I especially loved walking through London with them and seeing the beautiful parts of the city throughout the completing of the bucket list! it made the perfect setting for an amazing story! 🙌💛

thank you so much @harperperennial for the arc!!!

I really enjoyed this book. One of the characteristics of the male character is his accent and I thought the male narrator was similar - at times he sounded American, other times a little bit British etc. I enjoyed the dual POV. This reminded me a little bit of Promise Me Sunshine and The Passion Project - just set in London and grief was not a main theme. The banter was really witty and cute. It is friends to lovers so it definitely has that slow burn but with lots of chemistry. I really enjoyed it!

This may have been too much of a slow burn for my liking. I did enjoy the reverse grumpy / sunshine trope. I did like how both MC’s did not drop everything for the other person. Each had and kept their own lives. It was also nice that each had their own baggage that they carried into their relationship, it wasn’t one sided. I absolutely love the cover design of this though! This was a cute summer romcom, but not my favorite.

4.5 stars ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

So well done!

The banter, the chemistry, the plot and the characters’ personalities. Everything about this book was exactly as it needed to be. I truly have not been blown away by a romance book in a long time, but this book felt so organic and real. I mean outside of the romance our characters are dealing with a lot of real issues that were handled so well and discussed in the right ways. I truly am so in love with this book.
Kitty Kelly & Edward Mitchell were such amazing narrators. Truly brought the story and the characteristics to life.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #HarperAudio for an advance listening copy of #TheFriendshipFling. Two people who are not looking for love find each other. Four stars.

Cute summery slow burn romcom!! It had a good balance of emotional moments and moments where I found myself laughing out loud. Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an advanced audio copy of this book!

This audio book was a happy and loving story. I love the use of disabilities (anxiety and blindness) and the interactions between the characters. I love that the MMC doesn't give up on their "Friendship" and is her support throughout happiness and pain.

The Friendship Fling is a sweet, slow-burn romance that pairs a grumpy barista with a cinnamon-roll adventurer for the perfect summer in London. Though a bit predictable, the banter, chemistry, and reverse grumpy-sunshine dynamic totally won me over. Finn is lovable from the start, and Ava’s surly charm makes their emotional evolution all the more satisfying. Their friendship-to-lovers arc unfolds at just the right pace, and the London bucket list backdrops added cozy, vibrant charm to every chapter. A heartfelt debut about stepping out of your comfort zone and letting someone in.

Wow, this book was cute, guys. It was a straightforward friendship to more kind of book. The evolution of the various stages felt natural. I loved Finn, he's hurting deeply, but still manages to have a very sunshine / happy personality. Ava was just right for him, although her guilt syndrome seemed a little excessively manifested in her relationships.

Okay, I listened to the audiobook, and the narration was not good. I listen to a lot of narrators, and this one just could not earn a spot on my list. The accents were terrible!!

#netgalley #TheFriendshipFling