The strength of "Friends with Benefits" lies in its portrayal of the characters' emotional journey. Jake and Jess find themselves grappling with feelings that transcend the simplicity of their initial arrangement. Carter adeptly captures the shift from uncomplicated lust to a more intricate emotional connection, adding depth and authenticity to their evolving relationship.

The novel delves into the theme of risk, both in the financial world Jake navigates and in matters of the heart. When the 'no strings' rule becomes inadequate, the characters are faced with decisions that could alter the course of their relationship. Carter skillfully builds the tension, keeping readers engaged as Jake contemplates taking a gamble on love.

This book is a page-turner that seamlessly blends steamy romance with emotional depth. Laura Carter's storytelling prowess shines through, offering readers a compelling exploration of love, trust, and the unpredictable nature of human connections. For those who enjoy contemporary romance with a touch of complexity, "Friends with Benefits" is a captivating read that delivers both heat and heart.

Jake Harrington lives in London, with a New York accent and a high paying job make him a catch to the ladies.

He has an NSA arrangement with Jess his roommate), no commitments no promises no problems or so you would think.

When they travel to new york that is where things go wrong and there just sex relationship grows into something more.

Jake thought he was damaged by his past relationship with Emily, but when he gets another chance with her he realises that it does not compare to what he feels for Jess.

If Jake mans up and tells her how he feels there is still Jess that is even more scared then he is.

This is the third installment of the Brits in Manhattan series. I enjoyed the first two books and was excited to read this one, and I was not disappointed! Jake has a great life in London, a high paying job and a convenient arrangement with his roommate, Jess. After his last break-up, he doesn't need or want any relationships that involve commitment. But when Jess agrees to travel back to New York with him, things start to get a bit more complicated. Their relationship starts to develop into something more, but Jake is not sure he is ready for something real with Jess after the damaged that he faced after his last relationship. When he patches things up with his ex he realizes he does want something more with Jess, but she has her own reservations and now he will have to convince her that they belong together.
This was a fun and easy read and I really enjoyed the banter between the characters. Jake and Jess had an undeniable connection and I enjoyed following them on their journey. Glad to have had the opportunity to read this!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I usually love a friends-with-benefit trope but it definitely has to be done the right way. I was so excited by the premise, but not so much once I got the male mc's POV.

Jake was not it for me. His whole perspective actually gave me the ick.

I know a lot of people loved this, so you should still give it a try. It just wasn't for me!

The details of this book don’t really do much for it. It’s a well written, warm and cozy read which fans of these storylines will devour quickly. Wholly enjoyable read.

I didn't know who to root for once I started the book but then it evolved and I was rooting for Jake and Jess.

Jake and Jess are roommates with benefits/best friends/emotionally damaged individuals. Everyone around them can see they're crazy about each other but they're too scared to accept their feelings. I wasn't able to fully connect with the characters but I enjoyed their (very long) journey. I was annoyed about what happened the day of Drew's party towards the end of the book, but whatever.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest opinion and review.

The story of Jake and Jess. Roommates and more, but will they have a future together? Both of them have issues they need to sort out before the can move on together. A great read.

An enjoyable romance, that I devoured. It was cute, fun and was just the perfect romance. I was engrossed in our characters journey, and couldn't help but root for them!

I enjoyed it for what it was, def would recommend to friends who love these tropes!

I just unfortunately didn’t connect to the characters as much as I would have liked too! the roommates with benefits aspect was fun & I loved to read about them together!!

it felt very hallmark movie vibes, so it was definitely a fun & easy quick read!! I just wish I would have related to the characters more bc I think I would have easily given it a higher score! every other aspect of the book I really enjoyed & had fun reading!! will def read more from the author in the future!!

I loved the start of the book, about Jake starting his long friendship with Emily. I have a soft spot for childhood soulmates, especially since I too, had one I thought I would spend my life with, but it ended in a spectacular crash and burn, like these things often do.
Jake's POV takes some getting used to. He's entitled, a bit obnoxious and I didn't particularly find him a nice person. What I did like about him though was that he felt real. And the way he loves his British roommate. I liked seeing her through his eyes, although it took him way too long to realize how lucky he was.
The female protagonist's POV gets a lot less spotlight, but her chapters are a breath of fresh air. Quirky, damaged, with somehow just enough innocence and hope left to be able to take another chance at happiness, well done!

The supporting characters were sometimes too many and their subplots.at times confusing, but overall it was a.nice read.
Special thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Laura Carter for the ARC.

Title: Friends With Benefits
Author: Laura Carter

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Friends With Benefits" by Laura Carter is a contemporary romance that explores the complexities of a casual relationship between roommates that evolves into something deeper.

Jake Harrington, a high-flying New York investor, has relocated to London for work, leaving behind painful memories of a past betrayal. He enjoys the perks of his new life, including his just-sex arrangement with his gorgeous British roommate, Jess. Their relationship is defined by its lack of commitment, and both are content with the uncomplicated nature of their connection.

Jess, too, appreciates the lack of emotional entanglements in her arrangement with Jake. She has her reasons for avoiding the risks of emotional involvement. However, when Jake's past forces him to confront his demons during a trip to New York, the dynamics between them begin to shift.

Laura Carter skillfully portrays the development of Jake and Jess's relationship as it transitions from a purely physical connection to something more profound. The characters are relatable and well-developed, and readers will find themselves rooting for their happiness.

The story's setting, with its blend of New York and London, adds an exciting backdrop to the narrative. The dual perspective, with alternating viewpoints from both Jake and Jess, offers insight into their thoughts and feelings, making the story engaging and immersive.

"Friends With Benefits" is a delightful and heartfelt romance that delves into the intricacies of friendship, love, and vulnerability. Laura Carter's writing is engaging, and her characters are endearing. If you're a fan of contemporary romance with a perfect balance of steamy chemistry and emotional depth, this book is a must-read. It's a story that shows how unexpected love can blossom from the most unlikely of beginnings.

I received a advanced copy of Friends with Benefits from Netgalley. This was my favorite of the series by far! I loved that they revisited old characters too, that was a bonus.
Recommend adding to your list! !

📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @theboldbookclub for an early copy of Friends with Benefits by @lauracarterauthor. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5/5
Release date: October 16th, 2023

Blurb: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/190840068-friends-with-benefits?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=65yawzMfwH&rank=1

🛑Read on with caution; review may contain spoilers🛑

Friends with Benefits is an easy, romantic, and enjoyable read about Jess and Jake, who are best friends, roommates, and friends with benefits. They know each other so well, their pasts, even to the tiniest detail of which parts of food they like and dislike, their tells and facial expressions but underneath it all they already loved and were pining for each other but were just too afraid of being in a relationship as they have had their hearts broken before, and their friendship was just too good to risk a romantic relationship. Adding Jake’s ex-best friend Emily whom he was in love with for most of his life but cheated on him with his other friend Brandon, he had a lot of baggage that I felt he could have dealt with better during their visit to New York since he treated Jess like a second option to Emily during the first part of the book. I’m glad it all worked out with Jake and Emily, but I can’t say the same thing with Brandon as their reconciliation felt too anti-climactic and quick. 😅

Though the overall story was quite predictable, I loved journeying with Jess and Jake as they navigate through their feelings during their stay at Drew’s in New York. I loved how natural their chemistry felt, and the spicy scenes 😉. I also enjoyed seeing the other characters from the previous books in the series and how they bond like good old friends.

Did not finish. There were far too many commas incorrectly used. It just did not read well. It was not a great start to the book and I did not feel myself wanting to read further.

Yuck! I really need a shower after having to read a book that involved Jake, the smug American bastard we had the unpleasant experience to share headspace with. I thought it would get better as the pages progressed and maybe I was being too harsh, but my disgust for him never went away and it was difficult to care about his romance.

First few chapters I was undecided about this book, but then it grew on me to become a great read. Good characters, which made for an excellent read.

Thank you Netgalley for this opportunity!
I actually really liked the setup between Jake and Jess: two best friends finding 'meaningless sex' between them and then having to come to terms with the potential feelings there. Jake is 'damaged' from his childhood best friend who he is forced to see again and Jess never really had roots to make her feel grounded. The setup could really be good.
I read some other Laura Carter books, and I'm realizing her male characters are just absolutely not my cup of tea. Jake is really REALLY difficult to like from the first page...and it takes way too long for him to become likable. He's confusing and a bit all over the place, and comes off as honestly really cringy. I was honestly rooting for Jess to meet someone else, which is NOT how you want a romance to go. By the end he does grow on you, in a way, but not enough to leave me not all that happy.

I wanted to love this book (friends to lovers is my second favorite trope), but in the end, I realized I was struggling to finish it. I didn't connect with the main characters. :-\

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House, for this ARC.

In this deeply felt, gripping romance that sweeps us up in its angst-ridden embrace from the very first page, Ms. Carter reminds us that without vulnerability there is no love, without trust there is no lasting connection, and there is nothing that makes us more vulnerable than trusting another with one’s heart and soul. I adored this story.

New Yorker Jake Harrington enjoys his hedge fund job, British accent, and just-sex arrangement with his roommate Jess. However, he faces his past and must confront his past on a trip to New York. When friends become more complicated than lust, Jake must decide whether to take the ultimate gamble.

This was a good read and I liked it. The side characters, the bbq scenes were all fun and nice. This was one with hope, trust and faith. It was heartfelt. The banter and dynamics between Jake and Jess was great.

I didn't like Jake at the start, he wasn't sure what he wanted and attitude was a no for me though as the story progressed he grew a bit on me. This is a closed door romance. A bit more from Jess is what I wanted. The ending is what did it for me.

This story deals with commitment issues, grief. Overall, this was a good read.

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood books for this.