Omg omg omg omg I looove this book!!! I’m surprised how much I liked it, taking into consideration how slow it was (I dislike reading slow-paced books) but I genuinely loved it! I loved the small-town setting of the whole story and the summer-y vibe of it. I think it’s a perfect summer vacation read!

The best part of this book were the characters: Brody, Kate but also the side characters who were interesting enough to make me want to get to know all of them better. ‘How to kiss your best friend’ is a character driven book and because of it the first half of the book was, as I mentioned before, quite slow but at the same time it made it much easier to connect with the main characters on quite a deep level for such a short and easy read.

I have to admit, I wasn’t sure if I liked the idea of this friends-to-lovers- keep it secret keep it safe-let’s not tell the other person how I feel- romance as I felt it wasn’t fair to both of the characters. However, I developed a somewhat understanding of why Brody and Kate behaved the way they did and at some point started enjoying this cute, although incredibly slow love story.

To conclude, I think ‘How to kiss your best friend’ is a really good small-town, friends-to lovers romance and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

Thank you so much NetGalley for this arc♥️

How to Kiss Your Best Friend by Jenny Proctor

✍️ Brody, a teacher and kayak instructor, & Kate, a travel writer, have been friends close to 20 years. Brody has been in love with Kate since day 1 (and he’s been counting) but his love hasn’t been reciprocated in the way he has always hoped. While Kate has left Silver Creek to travel, work and live her life, Brody has stayed behind in the small town waiting to see if she’ll ever have a change of heart. But when Kate’s Grandma Nora passes away, Kate is saddled with the task of clearing out her home. While Kate always planned on seeing her long time friend while she was back in Silver Creek, she never expected him to be living just a few doors down. It has been a long time coming, but it seems Kate’s feelings for Brody are starting to change while she’s passing through town. Will she stay in Silver Creek with her long time best friend and love of her live or will she take off again leaving Brody behind for good? 🏡

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Read this if you enjoy:
-small town romance
-friends to lovers
-second chance romance
-strong family ties
-kayaking
-Hallmark movies

This was my first novel by Jenny Proctor and I do intend on reading others, including How to Kiss Your Grumpy Boss in October 2022!

This ARC was unedited and contained a few typos, including short, choppy sentences. There were also several ellipses, perhaps due to the unedited version of the novel, but they were distracting.

Thank you to @netgalley and @victoryediting for this ARC!

If you're looking for a light and fresh read for this summer, stop looking because this is the book you've been looking for.

The story of Kate and Brody was the most tender and real to read. I empathized a lot with them (especially with Kate because of her family problems). The Hawthorne's struck me as an ideal family 🥺💗 the kind you'd like to be a part of or the kind you'd like to create if you don't have one.

It has several of my favorite thropes:

✨ Friends to lovers
✨ Small town
✨ Dual point of view (Kate and Brody) which I appreciated a lot because I tend to find it lacking in romantic comedies.
✨ Hallmark movies vibes.
✨ Endearing family.

Also, I learned a lot about kayaking 😂 and no wonder because you can tell Jenny has informed herself before writing and Brody is a good teacher 🤭. Those scenes gave a lot of dynamism to the story.

However, in some aspects the reading fell a little bit short for me. I would have liked to find more flashbacks as I think that would have given the characters more depth. Kate's internal dialogue sometimes seemed excessive and that made me enjoy more the chapters narrated by Brody.

Overall, it was such a fun and charming read and I would highly recommend it.

How to Kiss Your Best Friend follows Brody and Kate. They grew up as best friends and both had crushes on each other but never pursued anything but friendship. Years later, Kate is back in town, clearing out her recently deceased grandmother's house. They start hanging out, denying their feelings for one another. This is a small town, friends to lovers romance.
I didn't feel the close relationship between Brody and Kate. Everything happened so quickly, they confessed to liking each other, they kissed, she ran away, then they confessed they loved each other. The story didn't hold my interest and felt too unbelievable for me.

The friends to lovers trope isn't usually the one for me, but this book may have changed my mind.

Kate was a little frustrating at times, I just wanted to shake her and talk some sense into her. Brody is a sweetheart and the perfect man and I'm glad that Kate saw some sense in the end.

The book was super easy to read and the dialogue seemed pretty natural. This book is a closed-door romance, but I didn't mind that at all for this book as it was more about the emotional relationship of the two.

Brody is a high school chemistry teacher and Kate's childhood best friend. He still lives in the town they grew up in. He's also hopelessly in love with Kate. Kate is a bit of a flight risk, she doesn't put down roots and she runs away from difficult feelings. So how could it work out?

I look forward to reading the next books in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Four Petal Press for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the book with an exchange for honest review!

Do you love best friend to lovers trope? Then you need to read this book!

We will follow Brody and Kate, two best friend since school days. But, there's a secret in this friendship, the fact that Brody fall in love with Kate and now it's been 19 years. Kate suddenly disappeared from Brody's life for 4 years and he can only she her form the article she wrote. Kate leave their hometown to travel and she never stays long enough to realize Brody's feeling for her. Brody tried to forget her but that one message from her ruin his effort. Brody must face Kate again in this summer and pray that he can make things easier for both of them especially with this feeling he has and with Kate never stay for him.

Kind of fresh for me because we know for sure that this friendship is not platonic and we know that Brody already head over heels for Kate. I usually read about this trope with the confusion from both party but in here we already know about one feeling. This make this book harder because we must follow Brody conflicting heart since beginning. I truly sympathize with the conditions Brody has to face. But here Kate also shows signs that she is starting to realize that Brody is not just a friend. We have to be very patient because the story progress slowly, we will face so many conflicted in their life especially Kate because for sure we know what Brody want. But Kate is really a hard character, could be annoying with how he treat Brody but just in the end we will know why she behave like that.

Their friendship is so great, have a good bickering between friends and of course we know for sure that's not how best friend should behave. And what I love the most is Brody family. They so supportive toward Brody. I love how all of them know what Brody feels toward Kate and how they always support for Brody happiness, especially when Kate come back all of them become so protective, worry that Brody will only hurt himself. I also love how open Brody with his parent and siblings. One of the best family I ever read! And also it kind of funny when all people around them know that Brody love Kate so much except Kate herself of course!

Full of dynamic and I love Brody so much! Really recommend this book for people who love slow burn romance with best friend to lovers trope!

If you like friends to lovers books, you have to read this! It is absolutely one of the best I've ever read. I'm not even sure saying that it is a romance is true. It is flat out an utterly amazing love story. It's clean and sweet, but there is so much to feel with this book and the writing style is perfection. I really don't know what else to say. It is a MUST READ! I am so ready for the next book!

QOTD: What's your favorite thing to do when hanging out with friends?
My A: Kayaking or hiking! 😍
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As you all should know by now, I'm a HUGE friends to lovers fan. I am such a softy for two best friends realizing they can have their cake and eat it too. 😜 How To Kiss Your Best Friend was the perfect pick me up book to satisfy all my F2L needs! While things are kept clean and behind closed doors, there's no lack of chemistry between these two. I was also surprised to see a time jump thrown in there, something that usually irks me, but really worked here! This is the start to a new series and I definitely think it'll be worth the read!
.
BLURB:
He’s a hot high school chemistry teacher living in a small town. She’s a globetrotting journalist running from her past. They used to be best friends. Then one kiss changes everything.

Kate Fletcher is my kryptonite.
She’s also my best friend. Former best friend?
I’m not sure what you call it when we grew up attached at the hip and then she left Silver Creek (and me) to travel the world.

The important thing is: Kate is back. (Temporarily.)
And I’m still in love with her. (Permanently.)

But something is different now. The attraction doesn’t seem one-sided. I don’t think I’m imagining the heat in Kate’s eyes or the chemistry crackling between us.
But will that be enough to keep Kate here, when, for as long as I can remember, all she’s wanted to do is leave?

I’m determined to give her a reason to stay. Family. Connection. Roots. And me. I’ll have to start with sparks and fire, but if I take this step, there’s no turning back to simple friendship. And if she doesn’t feel the same way, I might lose her again—this time for good.

Since he was eleven years old, Brody has had feelings for his childhood best friend, Kate. Unfortunately, she has never returned his feelings. After she moved away as a freelance travel writer, they lost touch. Brody never stopped thinking about or loving her, but just as he was about to give up, he received a text message informing him that she was on her way home. So, what could possibly go wrong?

This was a charming Best Friend to Lover book that will tug at your heart strings. I really enjoyed it.

Although friends to lovers isn't my usual go-to book trope (I much prefer enemies to lovers), this was a cute book.
Brody being in love with Kate since he was 11 was cute. There was a lot of good tension between them, especially in the towel scene. The beginning had more banter and teasing than the second half, and I wish there was more. Also, I was waiting for the smut, which, surprise, they only kiss, though there were a lot of swoon-worthy moments, so I can't complain that much.
Kate pissed me off a little. I didn't like her behaviour and I felt bad for Brody. He's been in love with her for 19 years, waiting for her. When she realises she loves him too, it didn't feel all that genuine to me. It felt like she loved his physique more... But, by the end, I couldn't really be mad at her.
Brody was super sweet and loveable. I much preferred his POVs. His love for Kate was so sweet and I wish I had someone who loved me like that. His family was amazing. I loved how his brothers (and sister) were worried about him and wanted him to be happy. Them fixing the fence was a great scene.
The ending felt a little bit rushed to me, but it was still cute.
Overall, a wholesome story but nothing memorable. A very wholesome male lead and a female lead that just wasn't for me.

My favourite quotes:
~ Kate is my favourite bad habit.The impossible wish. The dream i can’t shake

~ Here lies Kate Fletcher. Melted by tenderness. And amazing biceps

Arc provided by @netgallery
How to kiss your best friend by @jennyprocyor is a swoon worthy small town romance which follows Kate a world traveler and her childhood best friend Brody who is a chemistry high school teacher and how their chemistry and relationship changes over a time of period.
Kate has a habit of running away from her problems and feelings but her character development throughout the book is wonderful also her coming to terms with her feelings for her best friend played a major role in the book but i love that she is ambitious and caring.🥰💗
Brody was what you’ll call a perfect small town guy with his manners and chivalrous behaviour and he knows how to treat a lady,
all i did was swoon over him while reading also he’s this math genius which is so hot😭🤭 also the towel scene🤝🥵 and i love how passionate he is for whitewater kayaking💗
Over all it’s a nice and fluffy read and i love all the characters like everyone played an important role and i loved that
the second instalment of this series is coming soon and i can’t wait💗
also the same review will be up on my instagram and goodreads

"How to kiss your best friend" is a very sweet and clean-cut story about the how childhood friendships sometimes turn out to be something more.

It really is a great story. A story I managed to finish in two sittings... And that is saying a lot!

The only thing that annoys me a little, is just how clean it all is... I wouldn't have minded if the story was a bit more... well... juicy!

Super cute small town friends to lovers romance! I loved Brody and Kate (and all other characters) and really enjoyed this story and can’t wait for the next book in the Hawthorne brothers series to come out.

This is told my both Brody and Kate’s POV. They have been best friends since they were teens and Brody has been holding onto feelings of more than friends for nany years. Kate left Silver Creek years ago to pursue a career in travel journalism, while Brody lives in his hometown helping out on his family’s farm, and working as a teacher and kayaking instructor.

Kate comes home to clean out her grandmother’s house after her passing a few years earlier. Brody is out hiking for a week with his brother and Kate surprises him by showing up at the trail. What kind of an amazing surprise is that if she didn’t have feelings for him?? The thing is she has feelings for him but doesnt know/think he has feelings for her and vice versa. Brody and Kate spend most of the story this way. How will they reveal their feelings for each other and will they end up together? Brody knows that Kate can’t settle down in one place, and Kate doesn’t think she can give Brody what he needs.

Very enjoyable small town romance that I didn’t want to put down. This had me laughing a lot and plain out rooting for these two to admit their feelings to each other and get together already.

This was such a cute and fast read I enjoyed it so much I made sure to finish it in one sitting. Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
This is my first book by this author. Her book was super cute and sweet. Loved the banter between the friends. I enjoyed it. Quick summer read.

He’s a hot high school chemistry teacher living in a small town. She’s a globetrotting journalist running from her past. They used to be best friends. Then one kiss changes everything.

Read if you like:
☕︎ Friends to lovers
☕︎ Small town setting
☕︎ Romance with depth
☕︎ Kissing only

4.5★ rounded up.

Summary: After being in love with his best friend Kate Fletcher since the day he met her, Brody Hawthorne has finally decided once and for all to move on. That is until Kate makes a reappearance stirring up old feelings. Kate on the other hand, returns to town expecting to reunite with her old friend Brody. What she finds is a strong and sexy chemistry teacher she cannot seem to take her eyes off. But is her attraction to her best friend enough to make her stop running and finally want to settle down?

Thoughts: Friends to lovers is by far my favorite trope so needless to say, I was bound to like this one. Not only did I like it, I loved it!! I enjoyed it so much, I did not want it to end. Jenny Proctor has definitely made a fan out of me.

When I read a romance novel, I can always tell whether I am connected to the characters by the way my throat feels during the conflict portion of the book. You know that lump in your throat that comes with emotional duress? If the characters were well developed and the story realistic, I feel that unmistakable tightness in my throat. If it’s not there, that means I do not feel emotionally invested in the characters or their story. Is this incredibly weird? Perhaps. Does it help me to assess a book’s writing? Definitely. Sure enough, as the conflict presented itself in “How to Kiss Your Best Friend,” so did my aforementioned lump.

All of the characters in this book felt incredibly real and I became emotionally invested rather quickly. I loved the relationship of all the Hawthorne siblings and the sense of closeness the entire family shares. And Brody, oh my goodness, I am pretty sure their isn’t a more saintly character out there.

I will be low key stalking the NetGalley website, along with Jenny Proctor’s Instagram page, for a sneak peek of book two of this series featuring Brody’s brother Perry coming in October 2022.

Thank you to NetGalley and Four Petal Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this new release.

Was this a fun, sweet romance? Absolutely! Were Kate and Brody so cute that I read most of their story in a single day? You bet! It's the perfect book for fans of the friends to lovers trope. I look forward to the rest of Jenny Proctor's books in the Hawthorne Brothers series.

Clean/closed door friends to lovers is absolutely my jam, and I adored these characters SO MUCH! Small town romance is the perfect way to escape in the summer as well. Jenny Proctor perfectly shows that you don't have to be crude or overly sexy to make people love your characters. So so glad I picked this one up and I cannot WAIT to read the rest of the series!

"“There are never any guarantees, Kate. Not in life, certainly not in love." How to Kiss Your Best Friend by Jenny Proctor

📚REVIEW📚

Brody is a teacher in a small town called Silver Creek, he is also a kayaking instructor. Most importantly Brody has been inlove with his best friend Kate for 19 years. When she waltzes back into town to help her mother sell her grandmother's house, something has changed in Kate, she is conflicted in settling down or traveling again. Is Brody enough to make Kate stay in this small town?

I laughed, cringed and literally shook my head, this friend's to lovers trope was sweet, endearing and entertaining at best. It had the wholesome family, out of the city feel. This was such a light and fun read, cannot wait for the next Hawthorne Brothers book. Can we also just mention why do people hoard so much stuff, like what is a boob pillow!

Rating
4/5

Huge thanks to the author @jennyproctorbooks, @victoryeditingngc and @netgalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.