This was such a light-hearted read filled with humor and complicated feelings. I’ve never read a Camilla Isley book before, but I will check out her other works as I really like her writing style. I was a bit wary regarding the love triangle, but Isley navigated the characters of Lori, Jace and Aiden well. There was no cheating, and you can see that the three of them have a strong friendship.

Unrequited love is a big theme in the book plus throw in a splash of fake dating and love confessions and you have an engaging book.

I do have a couple of hiccups – I was thoroughly enjoying the book until we reached the last 15% where Jace ignored his friends and didn’t turn up to work to see his patients. I thought this was immature and silly. I know he was working through some stuff, but still. I also wasn’t a big fan of what happened at the end between Jace and Lori, I thought it was too much too soon.

When it comes to sexy times, I personally prefer open door spice, especially when you’re dealing with two characters who have a lot of chemistry and sexual tension between them, so I was a little disappointed that this was closed door spice.

But I still had a lot of fun reading this book and would recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

It’s Complicated is a super sweet, closed door romance. I am always a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope and this one did not disappoint. You will not want to miss the quirky and engaging FMC as she navigates the feelings she has had for her 2 best friends for years.

ARC REVIEW

Book: It’s Complicated
Author: Camilla Isley
Publication Date: Feb. 23, 2024

My Star Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
My Spice Rating: 1/5 🌶️
Favorite Character: Jace

'It’s Complicated' is a fun, super cute, entertaining, closed-door, fast-paced romantic comedy. Who doesn’t love a good love triangle, right?

Lori, Aiden, and Jace are three best friends who met in college and have been inseparable since. Lori has secretly been in love with Aiden since the day she met him but has never dared to tell him. Now Aiden is getting married, and Lori is grappling with wondering if things would have been different if she’d only told him how she felt. The only person who knows her secret is Jace. Even though Lori is aware of Aiden’s engagement, she feels blindsided when the official wedding invitation arrives. Lori goes to Jace to talk about the invitation, but to her surprise, Aiden shows up at Jace’s apartment. She panics and with the intent of making Aiden jealous, she crafts a plan to make Aiden think she and Jace are in a relationship…a fake relationship. Lori convinces Jace to play along, and while they are pretending to be together, she realizes Jace is not the cocky “bad boy” she always thought him to be.

My Thoughts:
The dynamic of Lori, Aiden, and Jace’s friendship was entertaining. I honestly could not put this book down. I am a huge fan of stories with multiple POVs. Camilla Isley wrote each chapter in a way that made it impossible for me to stop reading because I just HAD to know what was going to happen next. I felt like I was transported into the minds of the characters, especially Jace, as he dealt with feelings he’s kept to himself for fifteen years. The love triangle was nothing like I predicted it to be. It was not cringy and did not linger on throughout the book. The characters are relatable, and the situations and dialogue are realistic. The chemistry among the characters was fantastic. There are some laugh-out-loud moments and some twists that I did not see coming. The fake dating and friends-to-lovers tropes were done well. I also loved the Taylor Swift references.

This is the first of Camilla Isley’s books I’ve read, but it won’t be the last. The only reason this is a 4.5-star read instead of a 5-star read is because I wanted more at the end. I felt the ending was rushed. Although the epilogue gave some details, I wanted to know more about the relationship. This book is a quick read for anyone looking for a cute and heartwarming rom-com that has an appropriate, and maybe not so predictable, happy ending.

What you’ll find:
💡dual POV
💡fake dating
💡friends-to-lovers
💡closed-door romance
💡witty banter
💡characters in mid-30s
💡Taylor Swift references

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Camilla Isley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing this book, with my honest review below*

It’s Complicated by Camilla Isley is a must read! Having read previous books by Camilla Isley I know they’re guaranteed lighthearted romances with somewhat flawed characters. It’s Complicated delivers on this, and the premise was unique with romantic entanglements and twists that are reminiscent of the elements that make her books great, while standing in their own in this one.

We follow Lori, a doctor and animal lover (+Taylor Swift fan), as she secretly pines for Aiden, a close college friend and coworker at her medical practice, with their mutual close friend and coworker Jace hiding some feelings of his own. What makes things excruciatingly hard for Lori is that the trio also work with Kirsten, Aidan’s fiancée… and the couples wedding is closing in quickly! Solution? Lean into a misunderstanding that Lori is in a relationship with Jace.

Right away it was easy to see that Lori and Jace had a lot of sexual chemistry, despite being best friends. And after Lori and Jace enter into some hilarious fake relationship hijinks, their mutual respect and love develops into something more romantic. I loved that their friendship felt natural, with dialogue and actions that reflected their closeness, but their turn to the more romantic also seemed organic.

Camilla has a gift for writing characters that feel real and I loved experiencing Lori’s development as she comes into her own. I also enjoyed the supporting characters who aren’t all roses and butterflies, but add nuance to the story so that reader doesn’t have to have to rail against the main characters for avoidable misunderstandings, as happens in many rom coms, to drive forward the plot. Above all this book was incredibly funny, with banter and quirks engaging the reader along as much as the plot itself.

Recommended to all readers of well written modern romances, and those who crave some humor!

(I have also posted this to Goodreads and linked it as the automatic link is not working).

I enjoyed this! Fast and easy cute rom com! I read this is a few hours while on vacation and loved the "My Best Friend's Wedding" vibes. This book had me laughing out loud.

Three best friends
He Falls First
Dual POV
Funny
Fake Relationship
Best Friends to Lovers
Alllllll the T- Swift references!!

I would like to start this off with how i loved the banter and i loved the fake dating! I loved the story, the writing, everything! this book was so easy to read and i truly blew through it with my eyes closed! i cant wait for the book to publish so everyone else can see how great this book is!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC - this review is voluntary.
This sweet rom-com had me giggling the whole way through and I had such a fun time reading it! I absolutely love the premise of the book and it didn't disappoint. Lori has been best friends with Jace and Aiden since college. Well.. she's been in love with Aiden just as long. When she receives an invite to Aiden's wedding, she's beside herself and accidentally ends up fake dating his best man Jace. Who turns out has been harbouring his love for Lori since college. The more they have to put on a show of love to keep up their ruse, the more Lori finds herself wondering if she was ever in love with Aiden at all. Lori made me laugh out loud with her Bridget Jones antics and her house full of cats, chickens and books (what a dream🤭). Her and Jace had such good banter and chemistry - they were easy to love. I generally despise the miscommunication trope but Camila pulled it off well, it wasn't dragged out or put in there for the sake of it.
The end was a little rushed and far-fetched for me, but after cringing a few times, it felt just like the ending of an old rom-com... and let's be fair that's one thing we're all a sucker for🤭

It’s Complicated is the first book I’ve read from Camilla Isley, and having now finished it I’m keen to check out her backlist books!

It’s Complicated is a love triangle with a difference, in it we have 3 best friends Lori, Aiden and Jace. For the past 15 years Lori has been pining for Aiden, with only Jace knowing about it. Aiden, none the wiser is about to get married leaving Lori bereft. After receiving Aiden’s wedding invite Lori crashes over at Jace’s, but when Aiden comes to visit and assumes that something has happened between them Lori decides not to correct him in the hope of making him jealous and having Aiden finally realise he wants her. And so begins the fake dating with Jace. The wrinkle, however, is that Jace has been secretly in love with Lori this whole time! Things are about to get very complicated!

This was such a fun and fast paced read. Here’s what I really enjoyed:
🩷 the duel POVs - the short chapters alternating between Lori and Jace worked so well for this story
💍 really likeable characters that were written with solid depth
🩷 some excellent communication especially between Aiden and Jace. The trio really are great friends to each other and (bar the third act break - coz drama) communicate really well.
💍friends to lovers which I just love
🩷fake dating that becomes very much not fake
💍the pining and longing from Jace
🩷 this is a closed door romance but the chemistry was amazing and some of the kissing scenes were totally swoon worthy
💍 chickengate - I snort laughed at that - and I’m not ashamed to admit it

This was a really fun read and one I’d recommend. Also to the Swifties out there it was full of song references.

4.5/5 stars for this sweet and funny love story… baby I say YES! This was such a fun premise! I knew I’d fall in love with this read at the first Taylor Swift reference and it did not disappoint. Jace and Lori were loveable and relatable leads and their love story is so sweet. Their friendship seems so pure and it was clear they had a solid foundation before the fake relationship pushed them into more. Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood for the advance reader copy!

When I say I couldn't put this book down, I mean I devoured it in hours. It's Complicated was such a great, steamy read. Even without the spice, Camilla has written such great characters with incredible sexual tension that you don't need it. I loved every moment of Lori and Jace, their connection was great, and the story flowed so nicely.

I would 100% recommend this to my friends (I already have). Friends to lovers is not a trope I usually enjoy because it often lacks that steamy build up you get from enemies / strangers to lovers, but this book had it all.

Thank you to Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This novel had an interesting premise: girl meets two guys in college, falls secretly in love with one and the trio spend 15 years as best friends. It was a great set up for a romance. Characters were enjoyable and the plot was well paced.

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up. It’s Complicated by Camilla Isely is just plain fun. It’s a dual POV love story fifteen years in the making.

Aiden, Jace, and Lori have been best friends since college and now share a medical practice. Aiden is about to get married with Jace as his best man. No problem except Lori has secretly been in love with Aiden sinceh they first met while Jace is harboring the same feelings for Lori. When Lori asks Jace to pretend to be in a relationship with her to make Aiden jealous things get “complicated”.

This book covers some of my favorite rom-com tropes: friends-to-lovers and fake dating. There’s plenty of witty banter and some laugh out loud moments. This was my first book by this author and I’ll definitely be checking out her backlist. I genuinely enjoyed this lighthearted, entertaining read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

I love every single one of Camilla Isley's books and IT'S COMPLICATED didn't disappoint!

Lori, Aiden and Jace have been best friends since college - and Lori has loved Aiden since the first day. Now Aiden is getting married, Lori asks Jace to help her through the next few months.

IT'S COMPLICATED was perfectly paced and showed the friendship between the three perfectly. Though there was a love triangle, it really isn't the main focus - and the ending was perfectly fluffy and heart-warming!

READ FOR:
👫Friends to lovers
❤️Fake dating
💘Closed door romance
⭐3 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC! Opinions are my own

#rochellereadsit

Thank you NetGalley for gifting me a copy of this book.

I had a blast reading this book. It was funny, heartbreaking, heartwarming and cute.
Lori is a lovely main character, that has so much love to do and also has great taste in music!!
And Jace.. I just wanted to hug him all the time. He is the best.

The only thing I didn’t really like was that the end was quite rushed. It just felt too fast.

3,5* A lovely romance story, if not that unique ( I was used to Isley's original incipit for her romance) it's surely nicely done.

Lori, Aiden and Jace, best friend since college. Lori secretly pining for Aiden since then, and... can you imagine? Jace secretly... You get the idea.
Aiden is about to marry and Lori is heartbroken over it and is asking Jace to help her through the whole process...

I won't round the rating to four star as, like I wrote before, the story is not so original, a my bestfriend wedding rewritten, if you will, still it left very nice feelings behind. It was enjoyable, a nice amount of love, heartbreak, pining, funny moments.
I liked all three characters and I wished we had a better chance to know Kimberly as Aiden says.

A perfect after Valentine romance.

Thanks Netgalley and Boldwood books for providing this book as an arc in exchange of an honest review.

The title for sure suits the book, as I realized while explaining my current read to my friends. I have very mixed feelings about this one, and I felt it was very surface level. A breezy rom com to pass time rather than something that sticks with you.

My previous read by the author- Baby, One More Time- also featured a doctor as an MC. In this one, all three MCs if I may put it that way, are doctors yet I didn't get much of the vibe from them. Lori was a super chill, laid back MC, who I definitely found very fun. Her obsession with collecting cats and hens was cute and heartwarming, but let's just say she didn't strike me as sorted or mature, much less able to handle sick patients. In many ways, she reminded me of Becky from the shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella. Both women with big hearts and many feelings did actually make me fall in love.

This would be a spoiler, but I didn't like the ending. It came as a surprise, and just unbelievable given the circumstances. Aiden and Jace both have some great conversations and I ADORE how considerate and supportive a friend Aiden is, irrespective of the circumstance. The loyal bestie everyone dreams of. What I didn't like was the repeated use of "man" and "bro" in the dude talk. Arghh it got annoying.

There's a ton of scenes in the novel which made me smile and I treasure them. Just goofy Lori or some emotional bits which I love! I still find Isley's writing style highly entertaining and enjoyable, so I'm gonna keep reading her books and I think you should try this one.

*Rating is rounded up

The perfect friends to lovers fake dating. I love both these tropes so I knew I was going to adore this book, but I had no Idea how hard I was about to fall for Jace ... He's just so POW ... why all great men are fictional, why?

It was great also to be in Lori's head... I loved her passion and generosity and all her quirks...

This was really a great book to escape to ... highly recommended.

Lori has been in love with her best friend Aiden since college. Jace has been in love with Lori since college.. complicated. When Lori recieves Aiden's wedding invite she's distraught, and goes to Jace's apartment to talk. But when Aiden shows up and Lori answers the door, she panics - making up that Jace and her are in a relationship.. albeit a fake relationship (but he doesn't need to know that!). I love a good love triangle that is for sure and the twist in this was just perfection. I enjoyed this story and it was a nice clean romance.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my review.

My first time reading a book from this author. I was looking forward to it even though I’m not a fan of love triangles. Luckily, this one was not so much a triangle but a bit messy.Lori was in love with her best friend Aidan, who was engaged to another lucky lady, and their mutual best friend Jace was in love with Lori. Will Jace ever tell his Lori of his secret love? Will Lori tell Aidan she loved him? She made a rash decision to fake date Jace to somehow make Aidan jealous was a strange decision to make. That part wasn’t needed. I liked all the characters and respected that Aidan was kind to his friends. The ending was a bit odd and rushed to be honest. Over all, this was a cute, clean, and respectful romance. Which for me was a bit boring and predictable. I believe others might enjoy this and if you are a fan of this author you will definitely enjoy it. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my review.

This book was just what I have been looking for! If you are looking for a closed door romance this is the book for you! The banter was amazing and the chemistry was definitely there