A nice book looking at the life and hopes of a 30- something, and the different ways that she finds fulfillment on her life again. I didn't like the main character though

"Just Friends" by Holly McCulloch is a heartwarming and easy-to-read novel about two long-time friends, Bea and Peter. The story follows Bea as she's trying to figure out her career and love life. While the book is a pleasant read and a great palate-cleanser, it is also somewhat predictable, given how often Peter pops up in Bea's life.

However, the characters are well-developed, and the dynamic between Bea and Peter is endearing. The book's merit lies in Bea's personal growth as she discovers her passion and begins to see Peter in a new light. Overall, "Just Friends" is a charming novel that is perfect for a relaxing weekend read.

Easy to read charming funny story. It ended a little abruptly but overall a nice story.great characters that were developed well.

This book was just.... not for me. Which is a real shame as it wasn't that far off being really good.

I couldn't like the main character, or find anything about her to actively dislike either. She somewhat coasted through the plot relying on everyone else to direct her narrative and not herself. I found her outlook, actions, and thoughts quite juvenile, and her relationships with people around her quite unpleasant to read.

The story itself was somewhat pedestrian with a clear set of tropes and a obvious routing and while I am usually someone who can get on board with that, someone who doesn't mind the obviousness of it all, the pacing, and lack of direction and drive made the payoff negligible at best.

Not my cup of tea.

Tried reading this one and it just was not meant for me. This does not mean that it is not a good book, I just was not in the right place to be reading it and have decided to not try picking it up anytime in the near future.

Oh boy.

The main character Bea felt less developed than the secondary characters. On top of that, she was so judgemental and mean towards the love interest, to the point where it made me want to shout and warn Peter not to waste his time on her.

But the absolute worst sin of all: this story was so so boring. These were just the existential ramblings of a woman with an early midlife crisis. At times it felt like this was trying to be a newer Bridget Jones, but at least Bridget was funny. This was just sad.

2.5 stars out of 5

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

This was such an easy quick read. It gave me big Bridget Jones vibes and I loved that. Bea was a relatable character and was quite funny at times.

This book moved so quickly from scene to scene and skipped over some moments I feel would of been beneficial to not skip over.

For me there wasn’t enough moment between Peter and Bea to make me believe in a more than friends connection. Friends to lovers can be a difficult trope to roll with as a relationship has already been established between them. However in this case I don’t think I even believed them to be best friends, more like friends.

I do still recommend this to people who want a quick funny read and those who are new to the genre.

While it was predictable I did find it very easy to read and enjoyed the book. Nice feel good read which I read over 2 days

A light romantic comedy drama about a thirty something single woman unhappy in her life. An ideal summer read.

A sweet story about friends who become lovers. Some parts did drag, and the beginning was a little slow, but overall I enjoyed this light read.

Just friends would suggest that it's a friends to lovers story but I felt this book focused more on Beas life and how she's stuck in a bit of a rut more than focusing on her changing relationship with a friend. I didn't really feel much chemistry between our 2 main characters through the story and just as it felt like it was getting into it, it ended. It did make me laugh at times and overall it was an nice read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eArc to review.

A lovely and light friends to lovers story. A great read for summer days. Some parts dragged and I found the start a little slow, but overall enjoyable.

An easy going read. Just friends would suggest that it's a friends to lovers story but I felt this book focused more on Beas life and how she's stuck in a bit of a rut more than focusing on her changing relationship with a friend. Didn't feel much chemistry between our 2 mc through the story and just as it felt like it was getting going it ended. It did make me laugh at times and overall it was an OK read

Fresh, funny and light hearted! A perfect summer read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

Funny and leaves you with a warm feeling. Slow burn in the relationship that it feels authentic. Loved all the characters and yeh quirks. Left me so happy and teary with such a lovely story.

I enjoyed this book and found it an easy read, a typical beach/holiday type easy read. A modern romantic.

Unfortunately I had to purchase a new Kindle device and could no longer access this book. I will come back and review if I read this in the future.

While I am thankful for the opportunity to read and review this book, I unfortunately do not have much positive to say. This book was so bad that I don't even know where to begin digesting it. Prepare yourselves for a big rant.

The main character, Bea, is a thirty-something woman who is unhappy in all aspects of her life - work, relationships, looks... You name it, she's not happy with it. She is stuck. So she makes a resolution to start dating again because that's going to fix a person's self-worth and emotional/mental wellbeing.

Now for some thoughts...

The writing was bad. It felt like someone trying to write their very first fanfic at the age of 11 and sound all grown up, while in reality it sounded like a teenager going through puberty and feeling all the angst.

There was no plot. It was a sequence of events that basically in no way tie together. There are some ridiculous scenes that read like the author attempting to be hilarious and witty and only managed to make me cringe. A lot. If you've read it, think coconut milk and chillies.

The main character, oh my goodness where to even begin. She is petty, insecure and painfully self-degrading while simultaneously giving off a "I'm so much better than all of you" vibes while at the same time also being like the most "helpful and happy" person who fakes her smiles so no one sees her upset etc, while continuing to be the most sad, grumpy and annoyed person I've read about in any book I've picked up in my life. She experienced no growth, other than what I was told by the author because somehow things started looking up and things started going her way, but she remained as sad and unhappy and dissatisfied with herself as she is at the start of the book.

The love interest. He was okay? Maybe the one likeable character and a thread of joy(?) in this story. I don't know what to think of him truly, since he appears maybe in 15% of the book on the whole. 30% of the book in the beginning is Bea trying out many dates (all obviously dramatically terrible), and the other 70% she out of nowhere gets the idea that Peter (the love interest) is good looking and she suddenly fancies him. While spending the whole book until the last 2% claiming that she doesn't. And she sounds like a bully referring to him as Oddly Bodley, since he is meant to be her best friend, so I don't understand what that was about. I cannot see anything to indicate what makes him all that odd...

It was a fast-paced and very easy read, but overall, I was confused, irritated and went through numerous eye rolls and facepalms. It was...an experience.

Bea is at a place in her life that she isn’t happy. All her friends seem to be in relationships and she makes the decision to start dating again. In amongst it all there is Peter.

Bea and Peter have been friends since University and he has always been her fun loving, oddball friend that was strictly ‘friend zoned.’ Then all of a sudden he appears taller, more handsome. Will Bea risk their friendship by pursing him?

I found it to be a fun friends to lovers romance and quirky and witty characters. It was a light and quick read.

I want to thank The Publisher and Netgalley for generously providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’d heard so many good things about Just Friends, and it definitely didn’t disappoint — I’d say it’s definitely become one of my favourite books of 2020.

The book itself follows a year in the life of Bea. She’s desperate for a change, turning to her pals for some ideas — but since every one of them is coupled off, she thinks that’s what she needs, too.

So, she starts dating again. But everywhere she goes – amid the hilarious and scarring dates – there’s Peter, her closest friend from university. And while he’s always been in the friend zone, something’s been happening lately: he seems…different. Taller, more handsome, and he’s determined to make Bea smile. But is she ready to risk their friendship? And what if they were only ever meant to be just friends?

This was a charming and wonderfully written novel that, by the end, definitely had me teary-eyed (but in a really good way). It was impossible not to root for Bea and Peter — although I do wish there was a bit more interaction between them.

But the characters themselves were all very carefully thought out: they felt really…real, multi-layered and just all-around relatable.

It was a great bit of escapism during 2020 and I can’t wait to read what the author does next.