The only reason it took me more than a day to finish was because I couldn't stay up all night & be miserably tired at work. What an inspiring friends to lovers story! I love how JJ Hale shared Sam's neuro-divergence in such an authentic way, I really felt like her reactions & experiences reflected well without being a gimmick.

The relationship between Sam and Brooke was so wholesome and beautiful. Their value of communication and honesty is what I long for so much in a relationship & it's so nice to see a storyline that doesn't skip the tough conversations for a quickie.

Would 10/10 recommend to all my queer-loving readers out there! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair review.

J.J. Hale

Truly Wanted

New Release

Sam and Brooke met in college, and Sam was taken with Brooke. She thought she was beautiful and had a crush, but decided being friends with her was the safer bet so that she could be in her life.



Sam was a sweet woman who loved Finley (Brookes son) and took great care of him, she loved that kid and Finley love Sam back .



The family that Sam and Brooke created was just beautiful, the way that they understood one another and took care of each other and cared about others' feelings.





The supporting characters added to the story and made it interesting. Finley was just a sweet and lovable little boy.



Side note : I can’t believe this was a debut novel. The pace was amazing and I was hooked from page one. I went through this book in one sitting.  I could not stop reading it. I couldn’t put it down. I’m already in love with the characters in the story. The author did a miraculous job.





Both characters were in there head about loving each other so much and wanted to take care of each other . Sam was afraid of losing Brooke and Finley , she just pushed her away  The love that Brooke had for Sam would never change no matter how Sam try to hide.



Side note : The sad part about parents is that they are human like us.  Unfortunately everyone is not meant to be a parent.  In today’s society we have access to therapy and other tools to understand that if we are not mentally or emotionally capable of being a parent.  Years ago when are parents were raising children they didn’t have as much help or resources. They didn’t have those tools yet to make those decisions, to choose themselves. To deal with their trauma or addictions. It was a different time back then, people didn’t talk about their feelings and the struggles and the demons.


This book will touch your heart in so many ways. Family does not have to be who you are born to. I think it more special when you have a chosen family who loves you in spite of everything that’s true love .



I have to say this was an amazing debut book. It had well developed characters and it was very well written.



I would like to thank Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the arc! 5 stars.

Based on the description, I thought this might be a book that hit a lot of the tropes that I really enjoy, but it ended up being a completely different story than I anticipated. Sam and Brooke are our title characters and they've been best friends since college. Brooke is recently widowed with a 3 year old named Finley. Sam has had a tumultuous past to say the least and has a very difficult time trusting people. We begin the novel with Brooke getting back in to the dating arena and unexpectedly sharing a passionate moment with Sam, who has had a crush on Brooke since they became friends.

I've mentioned in my other reviews that I am not a fan of insta-love stories. While there were reservations on both Sam and Brooke's end, it still felt like they fell in to bed a little quickly. I also prefer more dialogue in my stories. I feel like this book tended to lean towards the descriptive paragraphs of feelings and background, but I like to learn this more through character interactions. However, with all that being said, Brooke and Sam had excellent chemistry and the depth behind these characters was exceptionally written. I enjoyed the author's descriptions of Sam's neurodivergence and it was great to see this part of her highlighted.

Overall, I think this would be a really good book for those who enjoy these themes. Though it didn't hit home for me, the writing and story telling is superb. Enjoy!

I was given an ARC for my honest feedback.

Sam is secretly in love with her best friend Brooke. Brooke is just getting back into the dating game after husbands death when her first date points out she may be secretly in love with her best friend Sam. As Brooke and Sam navigate various life events and family drama they realize that they can't stay just friends anymore.
I liked this and thought it was a well written debut from JJ Hale. Both characters navigate their way through difficult life events with each other's help and I liked their friends to lovers story. It did start with some drama and confusion on the part of both MCs but they had great chemistry together. I loved Finley, he was adorable and Jake's family was awesome, I would have liked to see a bit more of them. The plot definitely kept me invested through the end and I'd happily pick up any future books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

It took a little bit for me to get into this story. About three chapters in, it was feeling more like a fanfiction than a novel. The prose settled about 45% through the book and it found its footing. I appreciated that it didn't follow the classic romance book trope of a third act conflict where the characters break up with no hope for resolution. Brooke and Sam do diverge for a week, but you're left waiting for their stubbornness to subside and they reconnect.

I really like Sam developing a relationship with Lexi and that it wasn't an easy fix with their mother. I think we need more examples of Sam being avoidant to protect herself. We get a lot of interior monologuing where she knows she avoids things so as not to get hurt, and she says she wants to change that, but I want to be shown that more.

Also Brooke in chapter 1 deciding that maybe she could view Sam romantically is satisfying in how quick it is, but didn't feel considered. Surely Brooke has thought something like this before. Or if this is the first time, their reactions - Sam trying to get over Brooke and Brooke contemplating a relationship with Sam - is frustrating.

Brooke and Sam have been friends since college. Even when Brooke married Jacob and had a baby, Finley, she and Sam remained the best of friends. Then Brooke's husband was involved in an accident and passed away. Sam was Brooke's lifeline. Sam took care of Brooke and her three-month-old during this difficult time. During the course of the years Brooke has also helped Sam with her ADHD and neurodivergence. Nothing seems to be able to impact their friendship.

One night they are talking about their friendship and jokingly discuss the only thing mixing is sex. Brooke is fluid and this simple statement opens some thoughts in both of their minds. Sometime later they kiss and their chemistry is undeniable. Truly Wanted tells the story of what happens when the realization of something more becomes a potential reality.

I found the book thoughtful, I enjoyed the main and secondary characters, and I became educated on Sam's condition. 4 stars

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sam has hard times trusting ever since growing up in different foster homes but her friendship with Brooke is the best thing happen to her and vice verses. Brooke is raising her son Finley with Sam after her husband Jacob passed. Sam has feelings for Brooke but she doesn’t want to mess their friendship up but one night they both cross the line and now they both have decisions to make builds theses feelings they both have into something more or to keep their friendship in stack. I like how the author deals with ADHD and neurodivergent.




I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

I liked this one. It did feel like it leaned a little too much on the one character's ADHD a lot. I mean that in the way that it felt like it was constantly brought up, almost used as like filler in the story. It did seem strange to me that the main characters were best friends but they still suffered from the miscommunication that you commonly find in romance books. That didn't necessarily track for me. I thought it was a decent book though and I'll definitely be interested in reads from the author in the future.

This spoke to me on so many levels since it’s about a character with ADHD and neurodivergent. I felt immediately connected to them. The story had so many wonderful moments. I loved the character development and many of the secondary characters. I highly recommend this book!

Sam and Brooke have a long friendship. Actually, Sam loved the other woman since she met her, but Brooke had a boyfriend who became her husband and is now widowed.

The problems of communication between them is what causes trouble and Sam reconnecting with her past is a nice thing.

Overall, the book is a promising debut. There was a repetitive part where we had to read again how the MCs met and connected and I think it could have been edited, but I will keep my eyes open for this author's following books.

Three years after Brooke's husband's death she's ready to start dating again. Her best friend Sam has essentially been a co-parent of Brooke's young son, Finley since Jacob's death. Sam has had feelings for Brooke for years but never envisioned those feelings ever being returned. When Brooke begins to realize how Sam is always there for her through good times and bad, one thing leads to another, and the two women give in to their attraction.
This is J.J. Hale's debut and I see a lot of potential in her writing. I think what kept me from really fully investing in this story was the lack of communication between the leads. Best friends talk things through, especially when that friendship evolves into something much deeper. It took so long for the communication to come, I had already checked out. I appreciate the author trying to show that family is what you make it and the scenes with Finley are well written and heartfelt. While I wasn't fully invested in this one, I will absolutely look forward to more from this author in the future.

An ARC was provided by Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley for an honest review.

Truly Wanted by J.J. Hale

Thank you Netgallery and Bold Stroke books for an arc for an unbiased review.

This is what I would consider the wlw version of a chick-lit book, and I felt it doesn't hurt it at all. It is afterall pretty much what the synopsis surmises.
However, it was a book that was charming in its own way, for me personally it fell flat in a couple of areas.

The most notably was how Brooke and Sam couldn't communicate! For two best friends, they seemed more content simply having a fun aspect of communication, but when it came to communication about each other in any way other than superficial friendship, it felt completely lacking. I understood the fear of not wanting to rock the boat, to upset the friendship they had. Particularly under the circumstances of their upbringing. That was written well and underscored some of their vulnerability. This was definitely a plus point for the book.
Yet, for all this, physically they get together. But still emotionally it is a block wall of not talking about it. It was just frustrating to read for as long as it was.
Finley also seemed older and less realistic as a 3 year old to my experiences around many children of that age. Of course, they can be great communicators then, but it all seemed just too convenient for the story.

Perhaps I'm doing the book as a whole an injustice. It wasn't bad per se, but it didn't stand out for me. Probably for others it will be enjoyed more. It was a story that was cute enough, but didn't quite fall into the bracket of great or exceptional. It was solid. I certainly wouldn't discourage others from trying to read this, and if I know this is a favourite genre of someone's I'd consider gifting the book to them.

A solid 3/5 stars 🌟

Truly Wanted by J.J Hale

After a chaotic childhood in a long line of foster homes, Sam McKenna found her version of serenity in her friendship with Brooke Fields. When tragedy forces Brooke to become a single mother, Sam is there for her. Sam ignores the crush she’s had on Brooke since college. Their relationship is too precious to risk.

I very much wanted to enjoy this book as it had many qualities that sounded right up my street, even better it is a debut novel.
Whilst I did enjoy it in the most part , it also left me feeling a little meh . Lacking in a depth to the characters and the explanation of the character having Adhd was not really explored , not carried through the plot.
Having said that I would read another title by the author.

This is your classic cliche best friends in a love story and it made an okay read, especially for a debut.

Brooke lost her husband and is now back on the dating scene meanwhile best friend Sam watches on in utter despair after years of harbouring feelings for Brooke.

I can probably write paragraphs about what I didn't like about this book but I realized I can just summarize it with one thought. The author played way too safe.

This is your classic stumbling debut. Awkward writing and dialogue at the beginning, which thankfully irons out before the halfway mark, and the very noticeable fear of taking risks.

This book had so much potential for a deeper plot, deeper character development and just overall more specialisation with an already saturated cliche paradigm.

The book isn't the only thing with potential though, the author herself exhibits clear signs of writing skill, one definitely better than mine and it shows in the sex scenes within this book the most.

But yeah, overall my general advice and critique of this book have to do with the lack of risk.

I do actually recommend this if you're looking for something incredibly light and short. '

Thanks to NetGalley for the Arc in return for an honest review.

Due to her past experiences, Sam McKenna generally shies away from people and is a closed book to many. The only one who wanted and managed to get past her defences is Brooke Fields; her best friend and also one whom she had an eye on since college. When the pair crossed lines one night, their friendship and everything they thought they knew gets tossed up in the air.

This is a book that stirred up a fair bit of emotions and posed a lot of what ifs for me. With Sam, you can’t help but feel for her. Against all odds, she was a rock for Brooke yet it seemed like she was only looking through the window for some parts of Brooke’s life. At times, I wished that she would catch a break and start to have things falling in place for her. Brooke adores and understands Sam the way no one does. She was Sam’s pillar and together with her son Finley, Brooke sees a family that Sam can call her own. Although this book ends with a HEA and Sam got her girl; I can’t help but want more for Sam. This book has many elements at play and kudos to the author who was bold in making the book realistic (painfully so for me) and no doubt thought provoking.

I just reviewed Truly Wanted by J.J. Hale. Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy of the book.

Brooke's been a single mother to 3 year old, Finley since the sudden death of her husband, Jacob 3 years ago. She's now read to get back into the dating world.

Sam spent her childhood bouncing between foster homes. Sam's been ignoring the crush on best friend, Brooke since they first met in college, as their friendship was too important for her.

One drunken night however leads them to cross the line from friendship to something more. How will they go from there?

An unexpected encounter leads Sam to connect to some of her birth family and uncover her past.

This is a cute romance, but I found the story with Sam and her family far more intriguing, as I found the romance plot lacking in substance. I would have liked if Brooke's ADHD and it's impact on her life in the present would have played a bigger role, but I appreciate that it is written by someone with ADHD.

This is supposedly set in Ireland but due to the names, language and spelling it feels more American, so if you're looking for a book with an Irish feel, this isn't it.

Overall, this is a good debut novel and I'm interested to see what the author will do in future.

I think you should always give debut authors a chance and that’s why I decided to go for this one, despite my reservations on the story.
I think it would have been better if I had skipped this book, I didn’t connect with it at all.

Sam and Brooke have been friends for a long time. The last few years they’ve grown even closer. After Brooke’s husband past away Sam and Brooke have basically been raising Brooke’s son together and for all intents and purposes are together. Except for the physical part. When this physical part does actually happen, rather early on in the book, it seems like it is all these best friends can do. Talking about your fears? No way! They are best internalised and told to the readers, instead of experienced through dialogue between the characters. The lack of communication for fear of changing the friendship is frustrating. If you can read every eye movement you should be able to talk things out.
And this is just one issue I have, but it’s a major one I just can’t shake.
Oh and the kid? Finley is three seems to live on pancakes and sweets and acts like he’s at least 5-6.

I can see the author is trying to tell some beautiful stories about family, the one you are born into, the one you choose, the one that finds you. The lack of communication and just the “vibe” make me miss all this, I don’t feel it.

Also this book is set in Ireland but I just can’t believe that with American spelling of words, that’s just a me thing (probably), aside from the spelling some words a different in British English vs American English and I do appreciate the British versions being used.

Conclusion: not a book for me. I can see the potential of this author and I’ll likely pick up their second book. This first one just wasn’t for me.

There were some things I struggled with in this story. It was slow and repetitive and entirely frustrating in the first half. But the second half got me. Sam's struggle with her RSD and anxiety was so relatable and I loved how her self-realization turned out.

𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆.

I try not to pick romance novels with single or divorced mothers these days because I think children add a layer of complication to a new relationship that I don't typically like. But this book is different because the kid is essentially raised by both main characters, Brooke and Sam, and little Finley helps to bring out a different side of Sam.

Sam and Brooke are best friends who have been each other's pillars of support in good times and bad. This story begins three years after the passing of Brooke's husband, Jacob, and Brooke is ready to move on. She goes on dates with men and women until one weird conversation leads her to re-evaluate her feelings for the one person who has stood by her through her marriage, grief and motherhood. But unknown to Brooke, her feelings are actually requited. Sam and Brooke persistently refuse to speak of their feelings, even as their bodies give in to temptation, for fear that they would lose their friendship and this creates a lot of angst. Sam is extremely vulnerable - she had a terrible childhood, she has ADHD, and has a lot to lose if their friendship breaks, so I can understand why she acts this way. But I am far less empathetic towards Brooke who has so much reservations about them dating but still makes a move on Sam.

Sam and Brooke have a lot of romantic chemistry and sexual tension and it is all very passionate, but I also love how they lean to each other and understand each other. And more than a story about best friends falling in love, this story is also about family - not only the ones we are given, but also the ones we choose to have. I love how the author explores this theme with different family dynamics, including the kinship that Sam, Brooke and Finley share.

This story is a debut and there are parts I felt could definitely have been better written, but for what it's worth, I thought this heartfelt read deserves some recognition.

I think this book needs more devolpment. I felt no attachment to the main characters and ended up sprinting through this book.