Let me start this review by saying this is definitely not the romantic comedy as suggested in the synopsis. If you're looking for a 'meet-cute' Let's Not Be Friends is not that book!

However if you're looking for an easy read with a likable MC then this may be the book for you. Although if cheating is a big no-no maybe give this one a miss.

I did enjoy getting to know Sophie although at times I didn't understand her decisions. I willed her to find herself again and kick her lying, cheating husband to the kerb along with his mother and the stable groom - what horrid characters! At times the plot was fairly predictable but that didn't take away my enjoyment. I would have personally liked more of a rom-com element and would have liked more from her new relationship. Overall a nice read about finding yourself again.

Description 🔖

Sophie moved from the city to marry and live with her Prince Charming; or as close to that as she could get. James comes with a title; which Sophie inherits; and a farm, which Sophie would rather leave behind. Of course, Sophie is determined to make her happy ever after work, but that becomes difficult when she finds her husband in the stables, with the stable girl and they were tending to each other as opposed to the horses.

Sophie’s Mother in Law isn’t very supportive when she advises Sophie to just get on with it. After all, she should be grateful to have got the title and to be there on the farm. But what will Sophie choose to do? Is she in love enough to forgive James or will she relinquish her title and run back to the city?

General Thoughts 🤔

From the cover of this book alone, I was expecting a light hearted romantic comedy and thankfully, that is exactly what I got. I am very much into easy breezy books right now and Let’s Not Be Friends delivered on that. I will say that the story wasn’t completely believable and did have me pulling my “really?!” face a couple of times, but once I reminded myself it’s just that, a story, I got over it and just accepted it for what it was. Once I did that, I was able to enjoy and be entertained.

Characters 👫👭👬

So obviously, the story centres around Sophie and by the end of the book, I had really started to like her. I was a little bit worried at the start that she was going to be a timid pushover but I was so pleased when she proved that she had a back bone. I don’t think anyone could say that Sophie did not give opportunity for things to be different. If anything, she was a stronger person than me for sticking around when she did. On reflection, I admired her because she was able to walk away with her head held high.

Rosalind was well and truly the MIL from hell. I don’t think I could have even got to the point of marriage with a mother in law like her, never mind leaving everything I had known to go and live in such close proximity to her. Rosalind had very outdated and sexist views of how a marriage should work and I found it frightening to realise that people like her are still knocking about.

Writing Style ✍️

As I mentioned, there were parts of the story that I found unbelievable (I don’t know of any grown ups that enter into a full on relationship after one night). I would have liked for Sophie’s relationship with Elliot to have been developed a little more as it felt a tad bit rushed at the end. However, that aside, I really enjoyed this author’s tone and I loved that she was able to create lots of scenes that I could envisage vividly and had me laughing out loud. I want a rom com to whisk my brain away from reality to a certain extent and this book was able to do that.

Conclusion & Scoring 🎖

The cover drew my attention to this book as it made me think that what I would find inside would be entertaining, funny and a touch sappy. That’s what I wanted and it’s what I got. There are some delightfully funny scenes in this story and some lovely heart warming romantic ones. This is a fantastic book to lift spirits and it was nice to be reminded that not everything has to be serious all of the time.

‘Let’s Not Be Friends’ has been classified as a romantic read, but not in the usual way. This is more about the love Sophie finally finds for herself. I am sure many readers will relate to this classic regaining clarity after a breakup kind of read. I know I did!

Although some parts of the plot dragged a little, this is still an enjoyable read, and there are some very comical scenes (although, for my personal preference, I would have liked a few more!)

The empowering vibe is strong throughout, and I was rooting for Sophie from the early chapters.
An easy-to-follow writing style made it possible for me to read in one sitting. I recommend this if you are looking for a feel-good storyline, focusing on learning to love yourself for who you are and to go after what you deserve!

Available today – why not treat yourself – you know you’re worth it?!

This is a contemporary romance
Where Sophie is in need of a second chance.
Despite marrying nobility she is distraught to discover
Her husband - in action - with another lover.

Should she agree to forgive his this time -
As long as he never repeats this crime?
But what if he does the same again?
Can she still stay and face the pain?

Get ready for the mother-in-law with no tact
Who seems untroubled when she learns the facts.
With this landed gentry having a title but little else to show
Should she forgive him or should she just go?

With shocking revelations and attitudes, too,
Sophie needs to consider just what she should do.
The story has some twists and surprises in store,
Keeping you turning the pages once more.

A story of finding yourself again
Of working with others to overcome the pain.
It is a story of families, friends and a heartwarming romance
That I recommend that you also give a chance.

Sophie got burned big time in her marriage to James. She caught him cheating on her and her vicious mother in law revealed some truths to her as well. She leaves the cheating slug and lands on her feet.
I liked Sophie’s attitude. She doesn’t wallow in her losses but forges ahead in rebuilding her life.
I liked her confidence and how she set goals for herself and accomplished those. She also didn’t close herself off to a new relationship either.
It’s a solid read with Down to earth situations that are completely relatable..

Let's Not Be Friends is a wholesome women's fiction story about starting over. A little lighter on the romance part than I was expecting going into the book. After Sophie catches her husband having an affair she tries to give him a second chance but between him and his overbearing mother, Sophie isn't sure if her marriage is worth saving. I found Sophie to be a fantastic main character. I loved watching her grow into a strong woman. This book is perfect for those that want a fast and easy read. If you're a reader that likes a small dash of romance in your books this is a great pick. I do caution if you don't like to read about a spouse cheating then this should be skipped. Maybe pick up another book by Phoebe MacLeod... as I find she has a great writing style.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced digital copy in trade for the opportunity to read and honestly review.

This was wholesome. I love me some literary fiction. The cover is so cute, as well as the story! I want this one for my bookshelf.

This was an easy and suitably paced read. I really liked the main character Sophie and admired her ability to pick herself up and rebuild her life after her marriage comes crashing down around her.

This book doesn’t have a great deal of romance in it which I would have expected given its genre, however it did not disappoint and I enjoyed seeing Sophie’s newfound friendship with the illusive Elliot develop.

I will admit I was a little taken aback with how abruptly the story ended and would have liked to have read a little more about the two of them.

I give this a 4 star rating and would like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest and open review.

Let's not be friends by .Phoebe MacLeod 2nd December

Publisher: Boldwood Books
Publication Date :23rd November 2022
Genre : General Fiction, Romance

I have really enjoyed reading this story and following Sophie throughout her journey. I read this book on one sitting.

Starting off with a marriage to the find out her husband James can't provide form her in any way she need and to top it off is cheating with her in the barn.

Sophie get a divorce moves to London. She also regains a job back for her own independence and lives within a studio where she meets some new friend and a man called Elliot.
. The ending for me was a bit to abrupt i actually wanted to get to know these two as a couple.

#blogtour #NetGalley #bookstagram #bookreview #Letsnotbefriends #romance #generalfiction

Let's Not Be Friends by Phoebe MacLeod is not a romance like it says it is. This is more about a woman finding herself again while dealing with her cheating husband. I was really wanting a romance and was completely thrown as I was reading it. Overall it was a decent book but didn't meet my expectations as I went in thinking romance. However, this may be a great book for others. Just don't market it as a romance.

this book does get my usual romance three stars, so I want to emphatically preface this by saying: this book is NOT a romance book. It's completely marketed wrong. Nothing about this book says laugh-out-loud, feel-good romantic comedy to me. This is a strange book from start to finish (especially when you're promised romance!), because it starts with a wedding. Now, I will admit, I did not read the blurb after getting the arc, BUT I only really request romances (and historical (non-) fiction) so it was expected of the arc (and the Goodreads title also says romantic comedy, which it is not). Let's start with that the marriage at the beginning of the book exploded spectacularly, because the husband to our MC, Sophie (ugh), cheats on her with the horse groom. There's a whole bout of reasons that he later gives (and the blame is pretty much on her, according to him), which is a spoiler but it is a limpdick excuse if you ask me. Grow a pair of working balls James. James' mother, who lives on the same land as the then married couple does, is also a fucking nightmare (and then some) and just a classist snob all-around. Except, when she expects money from her daughter-in-law's family, then suddenly Sophie is fine, a-okay. After counselling (and some more cheating) the happy couple divorces and it isn't until 60 percent into the book we meet the actual love interest, Elliot. They are friends for a good long while too, so be prepared for Very Little Romance. On top of all of this, the end is also incredibly abrupt, so much so, I checked if the arc had somehow gotten its chapters jumbled. When I say that the last sentence gives no indication of being the end, I mean it.

Onto the characters, the only person you really get to know is Sophie, the MC, which is fine, but everyone else feels a bit flat. Her father is world's most ethical billionaire (which was a constant, everlasting eye-roll for me because I call absolute fucking bullshit) but also, despite her saying he does not lavish her in money and gifts, spends an absurd amount of money on her. For her wedding alone, the estimate (ESTIMATE) I could make is 270,000 pound. And it was not stated (as far as I remember) whether he paid for the wedding so that's solely the mentioned gotten gifts. I wish I got that for my future wedding, I'd be looking for a house to buy! Then come in the costs for the most expensive divorce lawyers (which one of them states costs MORE than the 270,000 pounds in wedding gifts so there's that) and some 'loans' to help her back on her feet. If I asked my dad for that kind of money, he'd laugh until he passed away from lack of oxygen.
Elliot, the love interest, is the most bland 'perfect' man you'll ever meet. He's good-looking (despite the fact that she calls his face unremarkable), shy, kind, and as it turns out really extremely fucking rich (but still humble ya know? He still lives in a flat, so money does not change this man).
Sophie's ex-husband James starts out a bit of a bumbling fool with insecurity issues and mommy issues to boot, but ends the story being a sexual harasser/assaulter/intimidater because no 'other' man can be just fine, they have to be completely and utterly evil. How are you going to root for the love interest otherwise?! Cheating isn't enough ladies, he must be an actual criminal!
Any other people aren't fleshed out all that much, so there isn't much to say about it. Also, yes, there is the obligatory gay couple (women this time! how progressive!) and yes they are nothing but soundboards for the MC. Nothing new in this lane.

Lastly, the romance. Lacklustre. The exact opposite of that Lady Gaga meme. Not note-worthy or even that believable to start with. I wish the author had skipped the whole divorce and actually fleshed out the romance she tries to sell here. It did not work at all (for me). They fucked once and then decided the next day to be boyfriend and girlfriend. He meets her parents THAT SAME DAY and she meets his mother a few weeks later, which is insane, but okay. They were also just so boring. There was no tension, no romantic gestures and no cutesy stuff to swoon over. So, no, I would not recommend the book much at all. Save yourselves the trouble.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. I'm being completely honest with my review.

I loved the writing style of Let's Not Be Friends,. It's light and rather comical, even through heavier moments there is a sentence that makes me smile. I found that this book had a realistic view of relationships. It's easy to say leave him right away, but must people I know that were in that situation did try to make the marriage work with therapy etc would love to read another book by Phoebe Macload.

Loved this one! Not a huge amount of romance in it - early in the book, Sophie finds her husband cheating on her. However, what follows is a really uplifting story of a woman rediscovering her independence. I adored it so much, especially the message it sends about healthy relationships - both with yourself and the people around you.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I thought this was an enjoyable read, some parts made made me laugh, not sure if that's a good thing ?
I would have loved to have kicked her cheating husband in the you know where and given his nasty mother what for as well and I'm not a violent person !
Glad she left him and made a new life for herself

A great read following a woman dealing with a cheating husband and rediscovering life for herself. The writing was so easy to read and had me hooked throughout. I liked how it was more of a discovering herself type of novel rather than a romance but it is a bit strange that its being advertised as a romance. That's not what I would label it as.

4/5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this copy to review.

Not really for me. I'm not a big fan of cheaters. So wasn't the biggest fan of the characters in the book. I also thought the storyline was a bit slow and at time I felt my mind wandering while reading. Hopefully it was just me and others will love it. But sorry.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a very light read but I wasn't the biggest fan. Don't like cheaters.

This is a light, easy beach kind of read with an eyecatching cover. To start I thoughtr in places the story was a bit slow and overall the story could have had more to it. This book did have elements of humour which was enjoyable, earlier in the year I read someone else's honeymoon which i prefered over this one.. Thanks to netgalley and boldwood books for sending me a copy of this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was a simple, fun, easy and quick read. The perfect type of book for your holiday, beach, pool kind of read. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

I guess the positive aspect of this book for me was ... somehow I found the book to be surprising, unexpected. But at the same time it was also, not exactly a positive feeling because I did not expect myself to feel disappointment after reading 3/4 of the book.
My usual response to infidelity in books I read to be along the line of 'meh', but something about this rubs me the wrong way. Is it because the husband of the MC turned out to be a complete d-bag with no self awareness? Or is it because the MC somehow decided to forgive such a crappy husband that had definitely turned out to be something that was not as advertised?
I guess it's never a good sign when you have chants of "DTMF!" in the back of your head when you read something that you'd thought would be light and entertaining.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for honest feedback.