This is a new to me author, and I really enjoyed this story. Yes, there were some truly cliche moments, but they were handled beautifully - making them seem almost new and different. The characters were interesting, and you definitely saw real growth. The dialogue and pacing was spot on as well.

Overall, this was a good book, and I strongly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a bit of an underdog story with a side of romance.

Thank you NetGalley, author Lisa Swift, and Hera Books for an E-book Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
Can best friends just have fun and keep their hearts?
This book answers that question and more in this amazing rom-com of nontraditional families, relationships, and self discovery. I really appreciated how the author was able to make this book more than just a friends-to-lovers book. She did a wonderful job incorporating heartfelt characters and a very compelling story line. Lexi and Theo were an amazing couple. I loved their friendship. The build up for them to turn into more was very realistic. Connor was a very sweet and complex character. He was the glue to this story. I liked how mature he was about who he was and his thoughts about his own identity. Daryl was my least favorite character. I am not sure what he wanted. Did he want to be a father or liked the idea of being a father? Overall, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to others who have ever wondered about taking that friendship into a romantic relationship.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

The line Never Judge a Book by its Cover applies to thus book.

I expected a fluffy type of romance. This was so much more than that.

There was a handful of characters that were so loveable. Lisa Swift has done such an amazing job.

I loved Lexi and Theo’s characters. The story was told from both characters views, that was such a good thing to do.

Although the book could be called a romance book but I felt it was more about the relationship between Connor and Lexi. Even though she wasn’t his mother, the bond they shared was so touching. But better than that was Connor’s relationship that developed with Theo. How they developed as a unit abc dealt with their own problems.

I had to stay up reading this.

Friends With Benefits by Lisa Swift is sweet romance, that I really enjoyed. Lexie Whittle married an older man, Daryl, with a son, Conner. Daryl went overseas to work, but he left his son with Lexie. Before he left, Daryl screwed over his former best friend and business partner, Theo. Lexie, Theo, and Conner, all get very close while Daryl is gone. What will happen when Daryl returns? Read this fun book and find out. I highly recommend this book, you won't be disappointed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Lexie and Theo are best friends who also own a cafe together and have been one thing in common: Daz. Daz is the former business partner of Theo and soon to ex husband of Lexie, who has been the step mum to his teenage son Connor. As the title suggests, Theo and Lexie make an agreement to become friends with benefits whilst both trying to help Connor navigate his way through adolescence. Their plan to just remain friends with benefits runs into quite a few hurdles, including the return of Daz who had been overseas for 18 months. A quick read with (mostly) likeable characters who you become invested in.

OMG, never have I ever wanted a book to end with a happy ever after. I will leave you to read it to see if that is what happens. I loved this book, its not my normal choice of genre but so glad I gave it a go. I loved the characters and the story. I was glued to this book not wanting to put it down.

I will warn you, you will need tissues!!

Thank you for giving me the chance to review this book, I will be recommending this to all my fellow book friends

Although this book was a slow starter for me, I'm really glad that I stuck with it. Lexie is a young stepmother to Connor. Connor's father, Daryl, who is separated from Lexie, left them and went to start a new job at a restaurant in Asia. He left Lexie financially unprepared to pay her half of the house expenses, and the only funds he sent went to Connor's expenses.

Theo, a longtime friend of Daryl's and godfather to Connor, steps in as the male role model and support for Lexie. He and Lexie are co-owners of a 1940's themed restaurant which is doing well. Theo and Lexie are best friends, and embark on a plan to be friends with benefits. Their relationship continues to grow, but then one day Daryl unexpectedly shows up, and life gets thrown into a tizzy.

There are themes in this book that were unexpected, but were very well handled. I don't do spoilers, so all I will say is that the book is much deeper than the title implies. Give it a try, I think you'll be as surprised as I was.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

Friends With Benefits, An absolutely uplifting, feel-good romcom, Lisa Swift

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Romance, Women's Fiction.

Two gripes to get off my chest before I start.
One, the usual. Women's Fiction – just why? Men read romance, men write romance, its 2021 not 1821!
Second thing, I hate when a book tells me how it will make me feel. This isn't as bad as the “ you will find this hilarious/ side splittingly funny” type title additions, but tbh titles should be just that. Nothing more, apart from a series number of trilogy installment so the reader knows more about where the book fits.

So, the book. I've enjoyed several of Lisa's stories, they've not yet been five star reads but a solid four, feeling very real. This book is just like that.
The characters and situations feel real, and the plots are ones I could see playing out in many family lives. I loved Lexie, Theo and Connor. And Tonya, the step mum in law kind of connection – she was wonderful, I want to be her.

As usual the romance takes times to progress, then hits some hiccups, but this book covers more than just the Lexi/Theo romance, and delves into Connor, his life and loves. That part was really well done, he's an incredibly mature young man, and my heart broke for him at times. Its tough being a teen, without having had your mum die when you were a kid, your dad skip off to work abroad, but thankfully Lexie has been “mum” to him for so long that he's happy to rely on her, and he can talk to “uncle” Theo for the male side of things.
He's angry with his dad, and I could understand that. Darryl really was a first class jerk. And then Lisa expands on the past and has me, despite myself , feeling sad for Darryl. I still didn't like him but I did understand him more.
Lexie is devoted to Connor, won't date because she doesn't want to bring strangers into his life. Plus she knows it will make Darryl even more difficult to deal with. I loved her, she treats and sees Connor as her child, and why not? She's been mum to him for a long time. Connor adores her too, though of course it doesn't stop the usual teen issues...
Theo was Darryl's best friend since they were kids, but he really made things difficult for him when he closed down the business they shared without warning, skipped off with the money he had and left Theo in the lurch. He doesn't take that out on Lexie and Connor though, stays their support and in their lives. Even more now he and Lexie share the cafe.

Its a fun read, delving into what makes people the way they are. First off Darryl seemed a jerk, Theo the consummate playboy, love 'em and leave 'em type, but when we learn more about them its easier to understand why they are that way. There's some sizzling sex, lots of humour but married with some darker emotions too. Overall its one I really enjoyed, but I'm not sure I'd reread.

Stars: Four. Fun read, with some real depth to it.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers

A friends-to-lovers story that had too much going on so it felt as the romance was an added surprise. It was fun at a times but at the same time undeveloped.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book received from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was expecting something entirely different. I was expecting more of a romance novel, but it was so much more. I really enjoyed the perspective of the son. I haven't seen a point of view like this one anywhere. I liked how we got to see what he thought about everything and how he has things going on in his life. I think that's the POV I liked the most, Connor, the teenager. The other ones, not so much, I felt nothing really expanded on the other characters. It was simple and I liked it but I didn't love it. I think because I was expecting a romance novel and it wasn't that. The ending was so rushed, the buildup was fine but the ending super rushed. I wish there were more expanding on the emotional and mental health of the characters, of all of them.

An absolutely fantastic rom-com. Great characters that skip off the page, well written dialogue and plenty of smiles - exactly what I needed at the moment.

A highly recommended read.

I did end up loving this book even though the beginning was a bit slow! I love the stepson/stepmother relationship in here. I haven't seen a healthy stepparent in a book that took over the role as parent like this book. I also love Theo and him growing in the book! I'd def recommend it.

I was not sure at first then the story just pulled me in. As a mother you felt for Lexie and Connor. . The story covered some interesting topics. . A jolly good read in the end

This was a fantastic surprise. It’s definitely not the story the cover or blurb lead me to believe.

It’s a witty, honest look at failed marriages, stepchildren and second chances. The characters are relatable, funny and definitely flawed. Special mention to the teenage son Connor - he might just be one of my fave characters ever.

I loved how the book reminds you family is whatever you make it and love can be even sweeter second time around.

Definitely recommend.

I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. I thought it was going to be a light rom-com, but it’s actually much more contemporary fiction based around grief, identity, and what it means to be someone’s family.

Lexie is separated from her husband, who has taken a long term job in another country. She stays in England and is raising her teenage step-son, with the help of his godfather, Theo. Even though they’ve known each other for years, Theo and Lexie decide to enter into a friends with benefits arrangement that develops into something stronger. Meanwhile, Lexie’s stepson is learning about his sexuality while trying to navigate a complex relationship with his father.

Thanks to @netgalley for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This story sat at about 3 stars for me the entire time. I thought it was good, but not the best. From the synopsis and the title I assumed it would have a bit more steam than it did. This book had some pretty good fade to black steam scenes, which could be good for someone who doesn’t like to read smut. However for me I just thought there would be more because of the nature of the friends with benefits troupe and felt left wanting more in that regard.

I bumped it up to 3.5 stars though because I absolutely loved that they added Connor’s (the teenage son's) story line. He has a beautiful coming of age story here and he goes through the process of discovering his sexual identity, friendships, and rough relationship with his dad.

I really liked the complex family relationships in this book, I thought the author dealt with these issues really well. I was more invested in Connor’s story line overall! All in all, a good, middle of the road romance story that was fun yet had some serious topics within it too.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me with a digital arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book a lot! I read it so quickly too. I kind of just assumed this was going to be about friends with benefits who turn into lovers, but there was a lot more to it than that. Lexie is playing step mom to Connor while his biological dad is out of the picture. Her best friend Theo, who also happens to be Connors god dad, non-related uncle and pseudo dad decide to start a friends with benefits relationship since everything is so good on every other front and they become a mismatched happy family. Drama ensues when on Connors birthday his dad reappears after almost a year, uninvited. Daryl has a temper and when he finds out his ex wife and ex best friend are sleeping together he pulls Connor out of their lives.

I liked that this was told in multiple peoples perspective. We hear a lot from Connors perspective and at first I was not into his storyline, but as the story went on I looked forward to his storylines; The trials and tribulations of being a 15 year old boy, questioning his sexuality, and navigating his relationships with his friends. This book had a lot more dimension than I anticipated and I loved it.

3.5/5 - Friends with Benefits by Lisa Swift has a good set-up. Lexie is step-mum to 14 year old Connor and owns a restaurant with her best friend, Theo. Lexie and Theo decide they are going to have a friends with benefits type of relationship. You know, with this being a romance, that things don't stay that way, and they develop feelings for each other. At first glance, that is what this book is about. Looking at it closer it is about much more. It is about grief, sexual identity, loss, friendship and so much more.

Lexie is quite unsure of her ability to be a good step-mum to Connor, especially with Connors dad disappearing from his role in parenting. I loved how open and accepting she was of Connor and she seemed to have typical worries that any parent would have. Connor is a pretty good kid that is learning to be himself and understand the world he lives in. He cares a great deal about his step-mum, his godfather, Theo and many other people in his life. He seemed to be quite introspective about his life as well.

This book seemed to have two important stories, Lexie's and Connors. I think that separate from each other, each of these stories would have made an interesting novel. Having both of these stories in the novel felt like I wanted a bit more from each story. I really liked both the main points of views in this book.

In the end, I went into this book expecting a romance, but it wasn't that. It was more of a contemporary drama, with some romance thrown in. This book tackles a lot of different issues, and really seems to tackle them head on, but at the heart it is about family and how your definition of family does not need to be defined by blood, but by the people who love and care about you.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and the publisher for an open and honest review. All opinions are 100% mine.

Sadly, after trying to get into this book a couple of times I’ve had to decide that it’s just not for me. I wasn’t a fan of the teenage boy POV so I think that’s where I struggled.

I loved this book. It’s a story of a stepmom and teenage son who are living their lives as best they can while the husband is out of the country for his job. I loved the characters and honestly in this book. A definite read!