A Guide To Being Just Friends by Sophie Sullivan: Book Review

A Guide to Being Just Friends is a fun, yet emotional romantic comedy I thoroughly enjoyed! Let me tell you all about it!

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From The Publisher:

Hailey Sharp has a one-track mind. Get By the Cup salad shop off the ground. Do literally everything possible to make it a success. Repeat. With a head full of entrepreneurial ideas and a bad ex in her rearview, her one and only focus is living life the way she wants to. No distractions.

Wes Jansen never did understand the fuss about relationships. With a string of lackluster first dates and the pain from his parents’ angry divorce following him around, he’d much rather find someone who he likes, but won’t love. Companionship, not passion, is the name of the game.

When Hailey and Wes find each other in a disastrous meet cute that wasn’t even intended for them, they embarrassingly go their separate ways. But when Wes finds Hailey to apologize for his behavior, they strike a friendship. Because that’s all this can be. Hailey doesn’t want any distractions. Wes doesn’t want to fall in love.

What could possibly go wrong?

My Thoughts:

This is the third book in the author’s Jansen Brother series but I read this book as a standalone. I do not feel I missed anything by reading this book first. This is my first book by this Canadian author but it certainly won’t be my last.

I love a story of a strong, independent female protagonist and Hailey Sharp is just that. She’s recently moved to live closer to her cousin after leaving behind an emotionally abusive relationship. She’s fulfilling her dream of opening up her own business – a salad shop she calls “By the Cup”. She’s sold her home to open the business and is desperate to see it succeed.

Wes Jansen runs a business with his two brothers each with their specialty. His brothers are both in loving relationships and would like to see their brother find someone of his own. In a bakery shop to meet someone from his dating app his brothers suggested, he mistakes Hailey for his date. This meet-cute moment shows a side of Wes that Hailey would rather forget.

When the two meet again in Hailey’s shop, things go much better and soon they are good friends. Neither wants to be in a romantic relationship and mutually they agree to “being just friends”. But sometimes the heart speaks louder than our brains. Could the two become something more?

I enjoyed this book. It is funny, engaging and flowed well. The backstories of each of the main characters were well-written and believable. I loved that both Hailey and Wes gave back to their community whenever possible. I also appreciated the wide circle of friends and family supporting this couple.

I recommend this book to those who enjoy romance.

What I Liked:

• The strong, independent female protagonist
• The wide circle of family and friends supporting Hailey and Wes
• The willingness by Hailey and Wes to give back to their community as much as possible.

Acknowledgments:

I received a DRC from St. Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley in exchange for the honest review provided here.

Similar Books I’ve Reviewed:

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer

In a New York Minute by Kate Spencer

On a Night Like This by Lindsey Kelk