This was a cute, cozy read. I very much enjoyed it. However, the writing seemed...young? I'm not sure if that's the correct term I want to use, but, if not young, then something similar. The premise was super-promising, but it ended up not being what the book was about at all. The "friends to lovers project" was over almost as soon as the book began. I'd still recommend to anyone looking for a nice, cozy, read.

This was a fun summer read, I loved that it took place in Venice.

I thought this book would be more of a friends to lovers book than what it ended up being.
Ultimately, while this was a fun read , I probably won't remember the characters and details from the book long term.

thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc.

The Friends-to-Lovers Project is so fun and cute and made me want to go to Italy! I really had fun listening to this audiobook and really felt transported to a vacation in Venice. The characters had good chemistry and supported each other in their growth and healing from things in their pasts.

Beginning with the content of the book:

I think that there are people who would enjoy this book but I don't think that I'm one of them unfortunately.

I enjoyed the beginning - Daisy is trying to move on with her life and plans a trip with her best friend Jeremy. Obviously, from the title I assumed there would be some friends to lovers trope instances occurring (which I enjoy). The concept of actively turning a friend into a lover is fairly unique and interesting, but as the story went on I felt like the pacing was severely lacking and I just kept losing interest. I didn't find myself being attached to any of the characters and found it hard to connect with them and therefore the story.

It's got a good premise and I do think there is a solid group of people out there that would enjoy it but honestly I think it turning into an almost love triangle situation sort of threw me and it wasn't a plot line I was very invested in or interested in.

Now, for the audio portion:

I felt that it was well produced, the quality of the sound and the cadence of the narrators voices were great. However, I felt like their actual voices were just alright and I'm unsure whether I really felt like they fit the characters they were portraying.

This book!! I absolutely adored it and having the audiobook just made it a million times better! I love the narration and it was wonderful

I would like to thank Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for this ALC.

Daisy and Jeremy are best friends who go to Venice with their respective partners but on the first night they both get dumped. What follows tries to answer can friends become lovers? And what about Lorenzo who works at the hotel that Daisy and Jeremy are staying in, hoping to get a promotion he tries to help the two fall in love but as he gets to know Daisy he starts to have feelings for her, and maybe so is Daisy.

I really enjoyed this book, it's a great beach read, for any who likes a little twist in their romcoms.

I give The Friends-To-Lovers Project by Paula Ottoni 3.75 out of 5.

This book made me want to run away to Italy and find a goregous Italian boyfriend. The chemistry and spice between the main characters was amazing and the narrators were fantastic. Overall a quick and satisfying listen.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio, and Paula Ottoni for the ALC of The Friends to Lovers Project.

This was a cute and sweet summer romance set against the charming backdrop of Venice. After Daisy and Jeremy’s significant others leave them—for each other—they decide to try falling in love themselves. Lorenzo steps in to help with their “experiment,” but ends up falling for Daisy… who falls pretty fast herself!

While there was nothing overly exciting to me in the story beyond the setting, I still enjoyed the journey and loved seeing Daisy and Lorenzo get there happily ever after. The narration was well done and made for an easy, enjoyable listen. A feel-good romance perfect for a summer day.

A breezy, sun-soaked escape to Venice with a twist on the friends-to-lovers trope!

I went into The Friends-to-Lovers Project expecting a cozy, predictable romance—and instead, got something much more layered and charming. Daisy, a chef navigating heartbreak and grief, takes a trip to Venice hoping to find clarity. Instead, she stumbles into something unexpected: real sparks with a charismatic hotel concierge, Lorenzo, who's quietly battling his own past.

Their chemistry? Slow-burn perfection. Their banter? Delicious. I especially loved Lorenzo—he's more than just a charming Italian; he’s tender, vulnerable, and oh-so-easy to fall for. Add in a sweet “found family” dynamic with the hotel owner and you’ve got the kind of story that wraps around you like a warm breeze.

The dual narration brought extra heart to the story, though I did wish Lorenzo’s accent stayed consistent. Still, Carly Robins and Will Damron truly brought the characters to life.

This book surprised me—in all the best ways. If you’re craving a feel-good romcom with real emotional beats, a Venetian backdrop, and a romance that simmers until it sizzles, don’t skip this one.

This Friends to lovers novel was written so well. The chemistry between these two was high and I loved every second of it

I hope you pick it up!

Thank you to the author and NETGALLEY for this alc

I loved this book! The first chapter had my eyebrows slightly raised like “how is she going to give them romantic chemistry after this set up?” but the second chapter made it all make sense! I think the one thing that threw me a little is how the male narrator did not have an Italian accent (he was still amazing though).

This book was all of my travel fantasies packed into one book, and I loved every second!

Another a great summer read! Who doesn’t love the idea of spending some mental hours in Italy? This one gives me so much French Kiss with Meg Ryan vibes. I love the moments of them galivanting around Venice. It is the perfect light and fluffy read that makes you giddy to have sundrenched skin and sleepy, dreamy eyes.

The story itself, of course, starts with heartbreak and a bit of desperation. As we have our FMC, grieving her father’s death and dealing with a breakup, just wants to settle down, so her life can fit into the perfect plans she has made for herself. She believes it is her best friend of 20 years (insert fairly boring, yet kind of sweet, best dude friend). Oh, and by the way, he is nursing his own broken heart. As a nice guy, he goes along with the plan, albeit half-heartedly. When the hotel’s concierge offers to help them fall in love, the FMC realizes she is really in love with the hot Italian guy. Their chemistry is out of this world! The MMC has just as complex backstory (he is a violinist who was in a serious accident), and you cannot help but root for the two of them.

I love the found family in the hotel owner. He is the sweetest, warmest Italian man that all of us want their father-in-law to be. Even more adorable in how he “adopts” the MMC.

I love the narrators in this one. They are both very emotive and dreamy in their tones. I do wish though that the male narrator stayed in "Italian accent" the whole time, given the MMC is from Italy. But otherwise, amazing job!

A short and sweet summer romance.

I learned a lesson, don't judge a book by its title. I thought this was going to be a completely different trope and I am so glad it isn't because the couple that would have fit that expectation had no romantic chemistry! but the couple that this book is about were so drawn to each other! Had my feet kicking!
I would have like a bit more emotional payout, but for a 8 hour audiobook it served its purpose in the grand scheme of RomComs.

fo me, this book was just hard to believe. from getting dumped to trying to fall in love with her best friend to falling in love with a stranger all within a matter of like three days is kinda insane.

This was a solid contemporary romance, but nothing particularly stood out for me. The pacing and tone were light and enjoyable, but it felt like a very standard rom-com setup.

Also, the title felt a little misleading, while it hints at a drawn out friends-to-lovers arc, that “pact” was over within the first few chapters, which left me expecting a different kind of emotional buildup.

That said, the narrators did an amazing job, and I really appreciated how well they brought the characters to life. If you’re looking for an easy listen, low drama romance, this one might be a good fit.

This was a cute romance. Daisy heads to Venice and meets Lorenzo. What a place to fall in love.

4 stars

Many thanks to Net Galley and Harlequin Audio for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to like the concept of this book but I feel that overall it just fell flat. I wanted to see more interactions between Daisy and Jeremy - it was hard to believe they were even friends much less attempting to be lovers.

I did love the chemistry between Dasiy and Lorenzo but the insta love trope where they drop thier dreams and move across the world isn't for me.

The audiobook narration was great!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ALC.

This was a cute story set in Venice. I loved the premise of it, and that some times friends aren’t actually meant to be lovers. 😆.

I loved the way Daisy challenged Lorenzo and encouraged him to confront his past.

It’s an enjoyable read.

(4.5 stars)
This book was like a cozy romcom movie combined with a blanket and your favorite snacks. All the right vibes!
The book had me smiling from chapter one. The characters felt like real and fun and totally lovable. I appreciated that it wasn’t just the usual friends to lovers trope. Like “oops, we fell in love. You were right here all along” storyline. No, the author gave the trope a fresh spin, and honestly? I was here for it. It felt more…idk…real.
The character’s chemistry was on point. Their banter was Chef’s kiss. And the emotional moments were there throughout the entirety. It’s this kind of story that makes you root for the characters like they’re your own friends.
If you’re into romcoms that are sweet, but heartfelt without drama overload, full of characters that you want to be friends with, then give this one a try.

I had no issues with the audio itself. Narrator was great!

Thank you for allowing me to review this audiobook.

3.75⭐️ a fun read.

Daisy and Jeremy go on a vacation with their partners, but both partners aren’t coming. Everyone thinks there’s more to Daisy’s and Jeremy’s friendship. They decide to enter into a “can we be more than friends” project. After all, they are in the most romantic place in the world. Venice, Italy. Lorenzo comes in as their personal coach. But he has some baggage of his own. Still running away from his past as a professional violinist, Lorenzo has become quite the Casanova. But he likes his current job and the potential it provides. Will Daisy and Jeremy’s heart truly be in this friends to lovers project. As Lorenzo gets to know Daisy, the more he can’t hide his feelings.

4.5 ⭐️ narration by Carly Robins and Will Damron. They were such a great duo. Carly portrayed the pull Daisy had between Jeremy and Lorenzo. Will too have a great performance of Lorenzo waiting to respect his position and not cross the professional line with Daisy while also struggling with his past.

Thank you for the advance listener copy @netgalley, Harlequin Audio, and the author.