I want to shout just how wonderful this romcom is. It’s nuanced and thoughtful, there’s tenderness and yearning, family and communication, growth and so much love. It takes a minute to get into it as it’s dual point of view and a dual timeline, this sorts itself out quickly and off we go…

It’s Adam and Rachel, you’ll know them if you’ve read Juliana’s earlier books, but no matter, it stands alone. Adam is in the military, he’s very quiet - introverted and taciturn. Maybe it’s his nature, maybe it’s his training but he’s an opportunist and so gone for Rachel. They’ve been friends for years, but kept it secret from his family and their friendship group. Rachel is just pure sunshine. She’s gorgeous, messy, warm hearted and incredibly busy between her job and looking after her dad, who has early-onset dementia.

This closed door romance is like a tonic. It’s fun to read as it swaps back through how they met and what lead them to get married in Vegas, then moves into the aftermath. If only Adam would open up. He doesn’t, until it’s almost too late. There’s a playlist that is perfect as both Rachel and her dad are music tragics and the songs thread through the novel and feel like a hug. This was an unexpected joy and so thoroughly recommended. The writing is lovely, characters are so relatable, I adored them both and could feel how good they were together.

Thank you NetGalley, and Juliana Smith for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

This was a very unique romcom. I think other romcom readers will enjoy it a lot. I highly recommend it. Five star read.

For the Record is the fourth book in the Wells Family series. While you'll recognize most of these characters if you've already been reading the series, I do think it could be enjoyed just fine as a standalone.

I have really enjoyed the previous books in this series, so I was super excited to read this one. I've got to admit though, when it first started, I wasn't quite sure how I was going to feel about this one. Adam and Rachel first met at a bar and had a one-night stand... while this was completely off page, this just isn't my usual cup of tea, so I wasn't quite sure about it. As the story goes on though, I found myself really falling in love with these characters. They go from a one-night stand to secret best friends to a drunken marriage in Vegas to a marriage of convenience and with the alternating past and present POVs, we get to see it all unfold... and I absolutely adored it. The author did a really great job of hinting at things in the present, and then revealing more slowly in the past, and I found myself really enjoying that. Did I suspect some of the revelations? Yes, I did... but it didn't make my enjoyment any less. The chemistry between these two was undeniable, but it was also a really sweet and tender story too, broaching on tougher topics like a parent with dementia. While I may have been uncertain at first, it certainly won me over in the end.

For the Record is a closed-door romance, with nothing but kisses on the pages. That said, there is implied intimacy off pages and some innuendo and language throughout and as such might not be for all readers.

**Complimentary copy received via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Friends for years, Adam and Rachel get drunk married in Vegas and decide to stay together for the mutual financial benefits.

Every chapter was a timeline change from then to now, creating a very choppy storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in return for my honest review.

Juliana Smith is an auto read author for me, so I was so happy when I received this early copy! From the moment I read the last chapter of Rock and a Hard Place, I knew this one would be so good. And Juliana didn’t fail me. I absolutely loved the flashbacks showing the evolution of Adam and Rachel’s relationship. I read this almost in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. I only have one negative. I respect Juliana’s commitment to a clean romance, but given this couples history I do wish there was at least a fade to black scene toward the end. I feel like it would have made sense for them. But despite that, I still loved this.

I Loved It. I Loved It. I Loved It.
5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Juliana Smith never disappoints!!
Everytime i read one of her books I'm like : this is my new favourite. And this one is no exception.(I nearly highlighted the whole book). Adam and Rachel have my whole heart💛💛.

Tropes:
🌼Grumpy x Sunshine
🌼Marriage of convenience
🌼Friends to Lovers
🌼Biker MMC
🌼Vegas wedding
🌼Found family
🌼Dual pov
🌼Clean romance

It's the 4th book in the series (#Wells Family), can be read as a standalone. But i personally suggest reading the whole series because it makes your experience that much better. Just do yourself a favour and read this series.

I'm obsessed with the coverr (it's the cutest), the playlistt and the Then And Now chapters, and how every chapter starts with 'Currently Playing:song name'💛!!!


Hshshshhsgdysususnevsysydhdvfsydushsvsgshshshsgsgsysyhshsgststsyuzhzbsvstsuhs

The butterflies Adam Wells gavee meee. I was full on giggling, screaming, kicking my feet in the air, and Squealing(literally) the whole book.

Adam might just be my new fav book boyfriend.I was so curious about him since book one. He's perfect. He's so relatable, protective, caring, loving, kind and sweet, honest, and 'Actions rather than words' kinda guy. Also how he calls her ✨Honey✨🫠🫠.

Rachel is the most selfless and beautiful character, that you just can't not love. She deserves the best (my Adam). Idk but she reminded me of Liz from Better Than The Movies, but the more-mature-less-awkward version😭(don't get me wrong i really loveee Liz).
And her relationship with her dad🥹🥹!!! I lovedd itt and then loved it even more after reading the acknowledgements.

The girls' interactions in this onee>>> Ahhhh i love themmm. Also Crew being the most clueless and innocent character 😭😭😭i can't waitt for his book!!

I'm so grateful for Juliana Smith and NetGalley for the ARC. It will be out on June 22nd!!

Juliana smith has done it again! This book has everything you could ever want in a romance book. Both characters were such a delight to read about. The Grumpy and Sunshine trope does it for me every time. Both characters struggle throughout the book and it was heartwarming to see such unlikely friends become each other’s safe space. Their communication throughout this book was refreshing as well. The perfect closed door romance, and perhaps my favorite of the year!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced e-copy of For the Record, in exchange for an honest review.

The story revolves around Adam and Rachel, two close friends who secretly wed in Las Vegas. Despite the initial shock, their friends and family surprisingly embrace the union. To Rachel's relief, it provides her father with better health insurance.

As Adam and Rachel navigate their newfound status, their deeply hidden feelings for each other begin to surface. The 'then' chapters provide a captivating glimpse into their past, showcasing the gradual development of their bond over the years.

The Wells family, featured prominently in previous books, plays a significant role once again. Their unwavering love, support, and honesty create a warm and inviting atmosphere. The reader can't help but feel like part of this close-knit clan.

The marriage of convenience and grumpy sunshine pairing tropes are executed with humor and charm. Adam's grumpiness perfectly complements Rachel's sunny disposition, creating a dynamic that is both entertaining and endearing.

Rachel's relationship with her father is particularly touching. The poignant moment they share while fulfilling one of his bucket list entries will likely bring a tear to the reader's eye.

While the book is part of a series, it can be enjoyed as a standalone. Fans of the Wells family will be delighted to revisit their beloved characters, while new readers will find an accessible and engaging story to dive into.

Overall, 'For the Record' is a heartwarming and entertaining read that will leave readers craving more from the Wells family. Its compelling characters, charming tropes, and poignant moments make it a must-read for fans of contemporary romance and family dramas.
This was a 4.5 star read for me!

The Wells Family Series just keeps getting better with every installment!

I thought "Rock and a Hard Place," Liam and Marigold’s story, was the most heartwarming of all the Wells siblings' love stories, given its second-chance romance, shared parenting, and two adorable kids. But Adam and Rachel’s story in "For the Record" has proved me wrong. Honestly, I didn’t expect these two to be paired in the series. I assumed it would be Rachel and Crew, but the pairing of sunny Rachel and grumpy Adam was a delightful surprise.

I’ve always been eager to read Adam’s story because I have a soft spot for grumpy characters with a sweet side reserved for their significant others. Adam has always been the quiet one in the family, but Rachel’s character really brought out his potential as a perfect book boyfriend.

Rachel, with her sunny exterior and internal struggles, is incredibly relatable. We’ve all had moments where we put on a brave face while dealing with personal challenges. Rachel is a strong character who deserves all the love she gets from those around her. I’m so glad she found a family and lifelong friends in Adam’s amazing family.

However, what really touched me was not just the love story between Adam and Rachel, but Rachel’s relationship with her father, who has early-onset dementia. Watching the man who raised you, who was always steady and dependable, slowly slip away emotionally is unimaginable.

The things Rachel did for her dad were heartwarming and emotional, bringing tears to my eyes. I have a soft spot for father-daughter stories. The chapters detailing Rachel's efforts for her dad, seeing him feel proud and happy again, and how Adam made Rachel feel loved and seen were so real and heartfelt. I believe that was the best part of this book.

Juliana Smith did an amazing job with Adam and Rachel’s story, while also giving readers a glimpse into the lives of the other Wells family members, making it feel like catching up with distant relatives.

I’m now eagerly awaiting the next story in the series, featuring the baby of the family, Crew!

Thank you to Juliana Smith and NetGalley for providing early access to "For the Record" in exchange for an honest review. "For the Record" publishes on June 22nd, so be on the lookout for it. In the meantime, you might want to dive into the first three books of the series!

Well this was my first Juliana Smith book and I loved it. I am a fan. She wrote this couple so sweet, comical, and deep. The amount of depth in this story was shocking to me. I felt so connected to the characters, and I deeply felt for them at every corner. I could NOT get over how the sexual tension was screaming the entire book, and yet this was still a closed door romance. The pure talent Juliana has is off the charts. I annotated and highlighted the HECK out of this book because Adam was THE man of our dreams here. He couldnt have been anymore perfect.

I loved the entire story and I cant recommend this one enough!

Rachel and Adam have secretly known each other before they were brought together by the people in their lives. When one meet-cute somehow ends with Rachel and Adam married after a night in Vegas, they decide that they’ll ride the wave of this marriage of convenience thing rather than throw in the towel right away. The obvious attraction to each other aside, they both apparently can receive mutual benefits from the arrangement.

With Rachel being the main person financially caring for her father with memory impairments, she’s been struggling with keeping the balance. Adam’s a tatted hunk of a military man and that’s just an added bonus. But little did Rachel know, Adam can turn up the HEATTTTTTTTTT 🥵 I was dyin literally never in my life have I ever swooned over “honey”. It actually icks me so hard in the gut sometimes but Adam can do no wrong.

Anyways Rachel is LOVIN that hubby charm that Adam is bringing to the table, not to mention the fact that he cares for Myrtle as his own 🥲 and this marriage of convenience turns out to be more than either of them could have imagined. Rachel goes through the motions of the new and spontaneous marriage at the same time as she’s adjusting to being a military wife. Adam can be called out whenever they need him and there’s nothing they can do about it.

Please because the love that both Adam and Rachel have for Myrtle is odd, inspiring, I feel even a little left out?? As if my own parents didn’t show me as much love as those two showed to a sourdough starter. Anyways….

Oh yeah also tysm I will be getting myself some cheesecake because it sounded real good and then seeing that I deserved it was 🤌🤌 the icing on the cake so I’m on my way to the store now.

Thank you so much to Juliana Smith and NetGalley for this ARC 🫶 forever a Wells girly

Will a Juliana Smith book ever not hit like this?!?! For the Record is the perfect combination of a dual timeline + dual POV BUT it isn't a second chance romance! You get to see ALL of the chemistry between Rachel and Adam develop over 5 years and it's SO cute!!!! This book could've easily just picked up when Rachel and Adam accidentally get married BUT it didn't, we got to see their friendship and relationship bloom! 🥹 And all of the vibes are AMAZING! The record store, Sip n' Spin, where Rachel works, a sourdough starter sidekick named Myrtle, grumpy x sunshine, best friend's brother-in-law, age gap (8 years), and a military MMC all make such a CUTE story!
This friends to lovers romance is GREAT and people who liked The Rule Book by Sarah Adams will definitely enjoy this book! The accidental drunk marriage + staying married for mutual benefits + dual timeline, etc. It was such a fun read and I can't wait for the last book in the Wells Family series!💖
Thank you for a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review!💞

✨Thoughts✨
This story is absolutely amazing! There's nothing more adorable than two friends turning into lovers. Rachel and Adam, the main characters, endured a slow-building connection that developed into something else. It was clear as water that they were meant for each other.

🩵The novel cleverly alternates between the past, when they first crossed paths, and the unforgettable night they impulsively tied the knot in Vegas. Personally, I found this dual timeline approach to be very engaging. This is my second book by Juliana Smith, and I can confidently say that I am a fan of her writing style. I cannot wait to read the next book!

🩵Overall, if you have a soft spot for heartwarming romances that begin with peculiar friendships, then this book is a must-read for you!

✨Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

🔘𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬-𝐭𝐨-𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬
🔘𝐕𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞
🔘𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧
🔘𝐃𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞

4.5⭐️
Closed door

I loved absolutely everything about this book! Accidental marriage is one of my favorite tropes, and Juliana hit it out of the park!

The story revolves around Rachel and Adam, who found themselves married after a night in Vegas. Rachel, who was caring for her father with dementia and was over her head in medical bills, decided that it might be in their best interest to stay married in order to use Adam’s medical insurance and benefits. Little did they know, this decision that they made as friends would be life altering for both Rachel and Adam in more ways than they could imagine.

I thought that the use of flashbacks from where Rachel and Adam started perfectly aided the story as well as the dual POV. There were so many moments that brought me to tears, especially the moments between Rachel and her dad.

Thank you to Juliana Smith and Netgalley for this ARC!

*I will be posting my review to Instagram under Bookrecsfromjess on the release day, June 22nd, 2024.

NetGalley ARC-

this was cute and chill and short but nothing to write home about in my opinion. definitely a good palette cleanser and i’m really grateful for the arc. The writing got chaotic and hard to follow, especially towards the end. The big dramatic twist felt forced, and there wasn't enough dialogue, making the story less engaging.

Such a cute romance!! If you do not like spice, this is a book for you! It was so cute, best friends to lovers, Vegas wedding, military benefits.

absolutely loved and ate this up!!! juliana knows how to write a cute story that draws you in and has you blushing. adam and rachel were so fun to read about and i’m so grateful i got the opportunity to read this early!!

All I can say is wow. This was beautiful. I love a best friends to lovers and this book had exactly what I love to see in that trope. I loved that Rachel and Adam both had characteristics that made up for where the other didn't thrive. Where Rachel was the life of the party and free spirited, Adam was quiet and meticulous. Where Rachel was worried and nervous, Adam was calm and ready to take care of things head on. They were very accepting of each other just the way they were. It made their friendship so much sweeter. When they were still getting used to being around each other you could still easily see the pull these two had to each other. Like there was no other way they'd be in each other's lives than as soulmates. Rachel and Adam together were literally perfectly made.

After reading Rock and a Hard Place by Juliana I knew that this entire family would be special to me. She has a way of drawing you into their stories as well as side characters and makes you feel at home with them. I read this thing in one night because there was absolutely no way I was putting it down without finding out what happened on the next page.
Thank you to Juliana for giving us a chance to ARC this!

Best friends brother in law, flashbacks, marriage of convenience, possible third act breakup, mutual pining, he gets a tattoo for her

I am absolutely obsessed with Juliana Smith. If she writes it, I’m gonna read it. This entire series is fantastic, the love stories are all so unique and make you feel all the emotions right along side the characters.

The story of Rachel’s dad hits close to home for me as I help take care of my grandmother with dementia. It not easy seeing someone you love slip away and loose themselves to a mental disease. She doesn’t know where she is, the repetitive questions that sounds like she’s reading a script in her mind, and her loosing the ability to do things herself. Being able to read a character going through something similar almost made me cry multiple times because I knew exactly what was going on and was able to relate and understand Rachel so much more.

Also. Motorcycles. HOT

Thank you NetGalley and the author for an early read of this book. All thoughts are my own, I do not accept money for reviews.

I was really looking forward to this, ready to love it. Unfortunately it wasn’t quite what I’d hoped for. I LOVED the MC, but not so much the FMC… I know, it isn’t reasonable but there ya go. It was just shy of “loved it”.