Humorous, grumpy-sunshine, friends-to-lovers romance. Ava is a grumpy barista who is basically just getting by and the overcharming overeager overly chatty Finn is a regular customer at the coffee shop. Ava’s looking for casual hook-ups as a way to pass the time before she goes home for some intense introverting, but her roommate/best friend is worried about her. In order to seem less lonely and pathetic, she tells her best friend that she even made a new platonic friend recently and lies that it’s Finn. After Finn catches her in the lie, he leverages it to his advantage to have Ava help him with his London bucket list. Finn seems to bounce around from continent to continent and does not seem to be good at setting down roots, but he sure is charming, in that nerdy adorkable sort of way. We get these total opposites spending time together, bantering like crazy, and slowly developing real feelings, which Ava is clearly afraid of. This book is so charming and delightful and I had so much fun reading it.

Happy pub week to The Friendship Fling by Georgia Stone. I’m so grateful to @harperperennial for an advanced copy of this one and to HarperAudio for an ALC. The Friendship Fling came out Tuesday, June 3, so if you’re looking for a quintessential friend to lovers romance, grab a copy of this one now!

London barista, Ava Monroe, is not a people person. And while she spends time on dating apps, she is clear she’s not looking for anything serious. Finn O’Callaghan grew up all over the world and is definitely a people person. He’s only in London for a summer on a consulting job, and has ruled out romance because he’s leaving. When he walks into Ava’s coffee shop, his energy is the exact opposite of hers. He’s charming, complementary, and can’t stop talking. The two eventually strike up a deal to cross things off his London bucket list before he leaves—but only platonically. And they are both committed to ignoring their feelings when those feelings start to change.

Both Ava and Finn have rich backstories that explain why neither wants to be in a relationship, and I loved the journey they took to heal. Their banter was delightful, and as a sarcastic person myself, it was wonderful to see a female main character who was a tad prickly and a love story where everything about her was embraced. Finn didn’t want her to change or be sweeter which was such a treat to read. There are some trigger warnings in this one that the author addresses at the beginning of the book. One is a cancer storyline that kept me on edge, but ultimately I think it was handled really beautifully.

This was a dual POV story, although Ava has the majority of the chapters. The audiobook has two narrators and I really liked the narrator who voiced Ava. She brought spunk and heart to the character. I didn’t love the narrator for Finn quite as much. He was more soft spoken than I was expecting from the character, but his chapters were also quieter (in volume) and slower (something I’m honestly surprised doesn’t happen more often). I’d still recommend the audiobook, especially since we’re in Ava’s POV for most of the book.
Do you have a favorite friends to lovers book or story?

I fear this one might become my entire personality if I’m not careful. Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @harperperennial for the gifted copy!

Why is it that the books we love most are the hardest to review?? 😅 Instead of overthinking it, I’m just gonna list the things I loved — in no particular order

- The setting. London isn’t just the backdrop for this story, it’s central to Finn and Ava’s love story as they galavant around town crossing items off Finn’s London bucket list.
- The characters and their growth. Ava and Finn are so different on the surface, but they’re both lonely and aching in ways they can barely admit to themselves. Their personal growth is meaningful without feeling forced.
- The romance. Their connect builds so gradually it feels like the most natural thing in the world. Turning strangers into soulmates across 350 pages without rushing it is pure art (and Georgia Stone is an artist).
- The third act conflict. Without spoiling anything, I’ll just say that it is SO well done. It’s emotionally grounded and completely in character for Ava and Finn.

I just loved it so much! Read for:

- Friends to lovers
- Grumpy x sunshine
- London setting
- A “friendship-only” summer fling

Audio: Ava’s POV is narrated by Kitty Kelly and I love that you can hear every scowl and every smile in her voice. Edward Mitchell nails Finn’s part British, part-American-ish accent perfectly. A++ casting!

This is a cute friends-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract romance set in London. I enjoyed the audiobook and Kitty Kelly’s narration. Edward Mitchell as Finn is not heard as often, but it is a nice addition to the story at times. Finn is a hilarious golden retriever type character who talks A LOT. Ava, who is not a people person, works in a customer service type job, is also a funny dynamic. Both of these characters are likable, and the story is cute. I would recommend the audiobook as it is a good listen.

In this book:
Friends to lovers
Opposites attract
London setting
Grumpy/sunshine
Fun Banter
Slow Burn

Thank you, NetGalley, Harper Perennial, Harper Audio, and Georgia Stone, for an ARC/ALC of this book.

I loved this book so much more than I expected and that's coming from someone who doesn't typically enjoy a slow burn because it commonly feels like a miscommunication trope (my least favorite). The Friendship Fling was not that. It was the perfect challenge of patience while developing a meaningful friendship. Georgia Stone is definitely one to watch. The audiobook narrators were great even though I typically don't enjoy British accents in my audiobooks (controversial opinion, I know). I will definitely recommend this one to all of my friends and will add any follow up books from Georgia Stone to my TBR.

Thanks to HarperAudioAdult and NetGalley for the audiobook!

The Friendship Fling was exactly what I hoped it would be—fun, sweet, and full of heart. Both main characters had real depth and were on their own journeys, which made their connection feel earned and even more satisfying. I loved watching them challenge each other and grow, both individually and together. The settings were adorable, the chemistry was strong, and the banter had just the right amount of bite.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars with a 14+ rating for mild language, suggestive content, and emotional themes.

Dual Narration - Kitty Kelly & Edward Mitchell

Slow burn
Friends to lovers
Reverse grumpy sunshine

This was a cute slow burn friends to lovers romance. I really enjoyed the development of the friendship between the characters. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for something easy to listen to that lighthearted.

We follow Ava and Finn. Finn is in London for a short time before he moves on and he happens a local coffee shop where Ava works and she tells her roommate shes made a new friend to get her off her back which is Finn. He doesn't know hes a new friend but goes with it and decides to take her up on being friends and she can help him explore London while hes there. This is a slow burn where friendship is the goal until its start to become more but Finn is leaving for a new job at the end of the story.

It was a cute read I do wish the slowburn wasn't as slow but in the end enjoyed the story and no crazy twist 3rd act trauma which is nice.

Thank you NetGalley for this audio arc in exchange for me honest thoughts.

Thank you to Netgalley & Hachette Audio for the ALC.

This was a super charming reverse grumpy/sunshine romance. Emotional depth was balanced with witty banter and their connection felt natural. This was a true slow burn friends to lovers.

Overall it was fun, heartwarming and clever modern love story.

The narrators really brought Ava & Finn to life.

Ava and Finn! I just loved them! Finn needs a local in London to show him all the tourist and fun spots to see. Ava needs a friend. An unlikely pact forms between these two opposites as they explore London in the summer. I loved their slow burn relationship that grew into a really close friendship. Finn is such a golden retriever character. Ava is more of black cat, grumpish barista. I really liked both characters and how perfect they complete one another.

The audiobook is narrated by Kitty Kelly and Edward Mitchell. These two were brought Finn and Ava’s characters to life!

This book was amazing. I laughed so freaking hard, I completely fell in love with the characters, and the audiobook version was fantastic. I need more in this world! One of my favorite romances of the year.

Meh. I didn’t really like this one. I couldn’t connect with either character and wanted more pov’s from Finn instead of the 4 (I think) chapters from him. I just wanted more from this book

Audiobook/Book Review ☕️🥐
Thank you so much partner Harper Audio @harperperennial @bibliolifestyle for the gifted copy + audiobook!

THE FRIENDSHIP FLING by Georgia Stone
Narrated by Kitty Kelly; Edward Mitchell

About the book 👇🏽

No one would ever call Ava Monroe a people person, which isn’t ideal for a barista in a busy London coffee shop. She’s sarcastic, blunt, and cynical, and her relationships are strictly no strings attached. With her best friend Josie soon leaving for a year, Ava knows she’ll be all alone unless she shakes up her routine. But she can’t risk bringing chance back into her carefully controlled life.

Then insufferably cheerful, country-hopping, undeniably gorgeous Finn O’Callaghan rolls into her coffee shop with a horrifying proposal —a strictly friends-only summer fling. Finn needs a local to help him complete his London bucket list, and Ava needs to reassure Josie she won’t be on her own. And it’s only for a few months.

To Ava’s surprise, their mismatched friendship of convenience becomes oddly tolerable, and as they work their way through Finn’s list and around the sun-drenched city, from rooftops and floating bars to nights at the museum, their adventures—and Finn’s company—start to feel . . . nice. Incredibly, terrifyingly, dangerously nice.

☕️My thoughts:

Absolutely incredible! I loved this story so much. The narrators had me hanging onto every word. This is far from the light romance I was expecting but very much the story I needed. It pulled at every heart string I have. Apparently this is a debut and I am in shock. The opposites attract really worked for me, their story, their romance, everything was just so dang good. I am going to need you to give this one a read this summer! The Friendship Fling is out TODAY 6/3/25!!

Happy reading 📖☕️🥐

Thank you HarperAdult for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately I only made it through the content warnings to find this book contains one of my bigger triggers (cancer.)

I will definitely give this one a go after a friend can give me more details 🩷

So in this story Ava Monroe is the grumpy one and Finn is Mr. Sunshine. Which was a change. I liked the bucket list and all the places these two went. This book has some more depth to it with some health issues and family drama which I appreciate because I do not like just romance books. I enjoyed the witty banter throughout the story and Ava growth into someone who sees she deserves love. There were some slower parts though and I had an issue with the narrator for Ava. Overall this was a cute romance book that was fun to read. 3.5 stars.

Opposites attract in this debut friends to lovers romance set in London during the summer between Ava, a grumpy barista and Finn, a golden retriever tourist. I found this honestly a bit slow and a bit long. Moments were good, there was emotional depth but I just felt kind of meh about the whole thing overall. Not for me sadly. Would recommend for fans of authors like Emily Stone and books like Summer Fridays by Suzanne Rindell. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.