All the things I loved about this book in no particular order

-how protective her best friend is

-all of the Easter eggs I discovered while reading

-the small town of Emerald Grove, if I were to ever live in a small town this is the type of place I’d want to be

-the fact that Parker wants to renovate the theater and bring it back to life. As a mom of a HS Drama student this part of the story gave me such joy. Theater kids put so much into their craft and knowing that it was a big part of their youth just made me happy

-and of course Noel and Gran ♥️

Thank you Teagan and Montlake for the opportunity to read and review this book

I love Teagan Hunter's books, I am a big fan of her sport romances and even more of her stand alones that always leave me wishing they became series.
.
Ex friends who become strangers and then enemies before becoming lovers is one of the best plots and if we add a beautiful small town full of fun characters and a hollywood star who reluctantly returns, you have the best way to stay wake up all night
.
Noel left his small town in Washington behind a long time ago to pursue his dream of becoming a HollyWood star and ten years later he is living his dream.
.
but when his town people decide to remodel the old theater, revive it and give it his name, he have no choice but to return. And knowing he’s going to face the girl he left behind, the one he could never get out of his head, his ex best friend, he hopes to do it in a weekend and be back in Hollywood before she blinks again.
.
Parker has a life that she loves with the inhabitants of her small town, an unconditional friend and a business partner that leads her to do what she likes most, renew and give new life to her town.
.
She knew that being in charge of the renovation she would have to face her former best friend, the boy who broke her heart ten years ago, but she never imagined that from the moment they saw each other for the first time, things would change so much. And every saved feeling was going to resurface, making it impossible to move forward without reviewing their past.
Of course nothing is easy, especially when there are so many feelings colliding and people ready to meddle.
.
The conversations between these two were so fun, the bickering was pure joy and each inhabitant of the town did their part to shake up this story and make the beautiful town come alive. This was so much fun to read, the chemistry and the beautiful moments where they open their hearts leave me wishing for more pages.
.
Thanks to Teagan Hunter and Montlake for giving me this beautiful book in exchange for my honest and voluntary opinion

Best friends for Never is an entertaining, small town, second chance romance with some interesting characters!
I really enjoyed this book. It’s emotional and with a walk down memory lane especially when Noel returns to town and sees Parker again. Needless to say the tension is off the charts. The townsfolk don’t particularly like that he’s home.
He’s this big actor, she’s the town sweetheart! She has made a name for herself & doesn’t want to leave! Can Noel make amends and solidify a place in her heart again or is it too late? The heartache, the drama, the family and friends who rally for her, made this a book I couldn’t put down! I especially loved Noels grandma, she was a hoot!

I think the backstory was needed at the beginning. I never really got into this story. The flow felt off but it did get better towards the end. I feel that Parker was supposed to be the one we felt sorry for, but I felt bad for Noel.
I loved Astrid. She was a voice of reason in a book full of miscommunication and avoided conversations

A famous actor, the film’s central figure, returns to his hometown to celebrate the opening of a newly renovated theater named after him. Suddenly, he encounters his childhood friend, the woman he’s been in love with since their school days. Ten years haven’t dimmed his memory of her, and he’s determined not to let this chance pass him by. Although, he has his work cut out for him. Ghosting friends and then trying to fix the relationships isn’t as easy as he had hoped.
I found this book to be truly enjoyable. The story has everything we want in a small town with a strong sense of community. Parker is a strong character who is easy to attach to, and enjoy. In fact, all the characters are adorable, and I loved Noel was so supportive of Parker, even though he’s a big star. I found Astrid, her grandmother, to be such a wonderful addition to this story. She’s fantastic. I found myself happy with the wonderful relationship that Parker and Axel shared. In him, she has finally found the trustworthy and supportive friend she’s always deserved, a friend who truly understands and cherishes her. Their interactions were almost as good as Noel and Parker’s.

This has it all - ✓ small town, ✓ second chance, ✓ childhood friends to lovers, ✓ celebrity, ✓ return to hometown, ✓ banter and attraction.

I recommend this read, and suggest you jump into the others in this author’s catalog of addictive and entertaining works. You’ll be glad you did.

3.5⭐️

I love a second chance small town romance, and this was very cute.

Noel left his small town 10 years ago, with big dreams of making it in Hollywood, leaving behind his best friend who he was in love with. Whilst he's made it big and working as a successful actor, he's avoided all mention of home and his first love - until he's forced home for a ceremony thanks to an anonymous donation to renovate the theatre where he spent his childhood. But of course, coming home means having to see Parker, who's done her best to move on from losing her best friend and made a successful life for herself with her renovation company. What happens when they're forced to spend time together in order to save the theatre that they both love so much?

Thank you Teagan and Montlake for this ARC!

The movie star and the small-town girl he left behind.

I greedily devoured Best Friends for Never. This story was well-written and entertaining. It hit all of the marks as far as tropes go, but "The One Who Got Away" was definitely my favorite. The chemistry and connection between Noel and Parker still burned bright despite their time apart. And I for one couldn't wait to dive further into their story.

Best Friends for Never was everything I was hoping for and if you're a fan of friends to lovers and second-chance romances, you won't want to miss Best Friends for Never.

This novel is a heartwarming love story about second chances and the power of true love. Set in a small town in Washington, it follows Noah Carter and Parker Pruitt, childhood best friends who drift apart when Noah moves to LA to pursue his acting dreams after high school.

Ten years later, Noah returns as a successful actor for the naming of a new theatre in his honour. Their reunion is strained and filled with heartache and broken promises as they navigate the uncertainty of their past and future. As they spend time together, they realize they never stopped loving each other. The chemistry between Noah and Parker is undeniable. Their love story is endearing with their quirky inside jokes and deep connection.

I found myself cheering for these two characters as they navigated their feelings and embraced the possibility of a future together. The novel also features some steamy scenes that add to the intensity of their romance. I wish the author had provided clearer physical descriptions of the characters at the beginning of the novel. By the time hair color and other details were mentioned later in the story, they didn't match what I had imagined, which was a bit confusing.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this story. It made me feel warm and giddy, and it will make you believe in the magic of love and second chances. I recommend reading this novel for those who enjoy a heartfelt romance. I’d also love to see a series featuring some of the other side characters!

Parker and Noel were inseparable -- best friends and in love with each other until they graduated high school and he went to LA to try and becoming an actor and she stayed in their hometown. Ten years later, she's rehabbing the town theater and Noel, now a Hollywood A-Lister, comes back for the ceremony since it's being named after him. At first she wants nothing to do with him but quickly realizes how much she missed him and for him, she's the hole in his life that he's never been able to fill. But she has a life and a business in their hometown and he has movies to film including one that could take his career to the next level.

I thought this was such a cute story about two people who are obviously meant to be together but have to figure out if and how they can make it work with conflicting jobs and demands. It's also very much about going home again for Noel, to a place he was eager to leave and hasn't been back to, but realizes that it just might mean more to him than he thought. I really enjoyed Parker and Noel's story!

Thanks to Montlake via Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

oh miss hunter, how i missed you in second chance territory!

i had a blast with parker and noel. childhood best friends to lovers with second chance will always be my most favorite trope combo and teagan did it so well with them. all that banter and intimacy that even a decade apart couldn't erase, adding longing and angst because of the pain they caused each other — so good!

i liked how it didn't feel like the whole angry/grudge part lasted very long, because they were glad to have each other back in their lives again. it made it sweeter than a lot of second chance romances, and i appreciate that.

another thing i loved, the small town aspect! i love romances set in small towns because of noisy neighbors, people meddling that's always entertaining to see the main characters dealing with, but also that loving support you know they have with everyone from the community, and on 'best friends for never' we have that 1000%. it makes me wish we had more books set in the town, so i could visit again.

and as a sucker for opposite sex friendships, i have to mention axel and parker's relationship! i loved how axel was such an important character throughout the story, and seeing him being there for parker for everything was very touching and cute. more of that in romances, please and thank you!

lastly, all the 'text me baby one more time' parallels were INSANE. i'm kinda hoping teagan will release some kind of bonus content with denver and shep interacting with parker and noel because that would be too good (i'm not above begging)

This was a beautiful and emotional book. These two characters were lovely and I was so happy to have seen how they accomplished their HEAs. This author never disappoints.

I always love Teagan Hunters writing and this book was no different. I loved the characters and the plot so much!

Small town. Friends to lovers. 2 tropes that I don't always gravitate towards, but Teagan does it so well. I laughed, cried, and swooned! Parker and Noel were so sweet.

This is my first Teagan Hunter book (and I don't think it will be my last). This was a cute friends to lovers/second chance romance where he is a famous movie star and she is the girl who got away. Noel comes home for a town event and runs back into Parker. They seem to rekindle the sparks from 10 years ago as they renavigate their feelings for each other. I loved the connection between the two characters. I loved the communication between the two (even if there were moments of miscommunication). I felt this really helped pull the heart strings from those heartfelt moments. There were so many moments where I was smiling and wanting to cry. This was definitely a great read and I cannot wait to see what other books Teagan has written!

Noel left his small town for Hollywood and never looked back. But when the town is going to restore the old theater and name it after him, he agrees to come back for the groundbreaking despite being nervous to see his best friend Parker again. He was so in love with her back then that he'd begged her to come to Hollywood with him, but then she'd ghosted him. Despite that heartbreak, he's still in love with her. Is this trip home a chance at a future with her?

Read if you like:
-Childhood Friends to Lovers
-Second Chance Romance
-It's Always Been You
-Small Town

This book was so much fun! I'd only ever read Teagan's hockey romance before, and I'm glad that I took this chance on her standalone because it is just as good. Plus, there was a little hockey romance easter egg if you can find it. Childhood friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and it was done so well here. I loved small town aspect of the book and the history. There was a good balance between nostalgia and hope for the future.

Best friends reunite after 10 years

I am usually not a fan of "celebrity" romance stories but you can never go wrong with a book from Teagan Hunter.

Noel and Parker were inseparable as kids until Noel took off for Hollywood and hasn't returned in 10 years. It isn't until the town decides to name the local theater after Noel, that he finally returns. While Parker had been mentally preparing herself for his return, she still wasn't quite prepared when they first run into each other.

This book follows Noel's struggle to now fit into Parker's life, since she found a new best friend while he was away. You also get glimpses of their childhood friendship and how they try to decide if it's worth them to get together or will they part again when Noel has to go back to Hollywood.

I couldn't put this book down and didn't want the book to end.

Love love love.

Teagan is one of my favorite authors and this book did not let me down. Great story, great setting.
Filled with giggles and love, I recommend if you're looking for a jolt of Happy to your heart

*Best Friends for Never* by Teagan Hunter is a delightful romantic comedy that delivers the perfect blend of humor, heart, and swoon-worthy moments. The story centers on a pair of lifelong friends who find themselves navigating the blurry line between friendship and romance. With witty banter, relatable characters, and a sprinkle of angst, Hunter crafts a tale that feels fresh yet comfortingly familiar.

The chemistry between the protagonists is undeniable, and their journey from friends to something more is packed with laugh-out-loud moments and heartwarming scenes. Fans of friends-to-lovers romances will especially enjoy the emotional depth and charm this book offers.

Overall, *Best Friends for Never* is an entertaining and feel-good read that reminds us why we love romance novels: the promise of love and laughter in unexpected places. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a lighthearted escape!

Second chance romance about a successful actor and a girl who loves her home town as is thriving, I was a little concerned that she was so attached to her home town she literally never left it and hopeful that maybe she could ‘have it all’ including a short car journey. Noel is much nicer as the lead male character than you’d expect.
Based on the description and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

Parker and Noel had once been best friends, however this story starts out where they hadn't spoken or seen each other in over 10 years. The reasons for their estrangement felt like it didn't really align with the closeness they shared in the past.

Don’t get me wrong, best friends to lovers is one of my absolute favourite tropes and this definitely fit that trope but I was more drawn to the second half of the story than the first.

Neither of the main characters really stood out to me, I didn’t mind their chemistry. I could see it but also there wasn’t anything about their relationship that stood out. However, I appreciated how they both learned to compromise by the end, and I thought the conclusion was pretty perfect for them.

Thank you NetGalley & Montlake for this arc!! *3 stars*