When I read the blurb, I was super excited to dive into the book. I was hoping for that kind of pining only friends-to-lovers stories deliver, but unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me. I DNF’d at 78%—I really tried to push through, but I just couldn’t. I didn’t connect with the characters, found them a bit immature at times, and the communication issues between them were just too much for me.

Thank you so much, Montlake, for the opportunity to read this ARC, but sadly, it wasn’t my cup of tea.

If you’re into second-chance romances where the characters feel like real people, full of flaws, hopes, and heart, you’ll love this one. It’s about finding love again, but also about self-discovery, forgiveness, and whether the past can be the foundation for a future. And trust me, you’ll be rooting for a Hollywood ending long before they get there.

This is the blueprint for ‘it’s always been you’, second chance romance that had me crying, giggling and blushing throughout the whole thing! This is my first non hockey romance by Teagan and wow am i hooked. Parker & Noel were everything, torn apart after Noel leaves for hollywood where he ends up living his dreams and Parker stays behind to create her own future that combines her biggest lives. They never knew that 10 years would pass, without word from one another, before they were thrust back together in their hometown with the whole town waiting on bated breath. The banter, chemistry and look into the love that grew from young adolescence really has you falling in love with these characters from the first chapter.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4

This book is an enjoyable read and has the usual ease of a Teagan Hunter book. Fun, likable characters, cute interactions and a couple you can root for. I really enjoyed the dynamics between the characters, particularly the friendship between Parker and Axel.

I do wish that the transition from estranged best friends/lovers to being back together was more drawn out, because it felt like it didn’t take much for them to throw themselves back into their relationship and being all in. More discussions between Parker and Noel about the past and the years that passed when they were apart could have added some nice extra depth and context to the characters.

That being said, it was still a nice, easy read and I enjoyed how the third act conflict was handled.

I'm a sucker for a small town story, and I fell in love with this town, and all of the people in it. The FMC, Parker, is a bit of a free spirit. She's very easy to love. The MMC, Noel, is a movie star, and also a Gran's boy. I enjoyed myself!

I had a lot of fun reading Best Friends for Never! Noel and Parker were funny, sweet, adorable, and had so much chemistry. The dynamic of the loss of the friendship combined with the feelings of reuniting made for an entertaining plot and romance. They could both be idiots who avoided talking to each other/conflict, but it made so much sense in their situation. Plus, their friendship and love were so deep and consuming I couldn't help but want them together.

I loved how to town reacted to Noel and Parker being back together and how it played a part in their romance. The town came to life and, since I live in Washington, I wish I could visit it in real life. As for the side characters, I especially loved Parker's mom, Noel's gran, and Axel. They were all so fun and unique. They made the story even livelier.

This book was truly a good time and left me in a great mood. I can't wait to read whatever Teagan Hunter wants to write next.

I really liked the writing of this book. It felt super easy to fall into the small town world and really be immersed in Parker’s world. I loved her and Noel’s friendship, but I feel like she forgave him too fast for it speaking for 10 years. I understand they were kids but it felt a little unrealistic. The rest of the story was nice and I would love to read this author again. Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for an early copy of this book.

Best Friends for Never by Teagan Hunter is my first book by this prolific author, but it definitely won't be the last - I'm actually going through her back list now to decide on what to read.

In this book Parker and Noel were best friends with feelings for each other, but Noel leaves town becomes a famous actor and never looks back or thinks about Parker - or so she thinks. She's now a restoration carpenter who has restored their hometown theater named after Parker and they have to work together on the project.

The supporting characters are a hoot! Lulu, Astrid, and Axel deserve their own books.

I really appreciated the way they resolved their relationship/friendship issues and look forward to more from Ms. Hunter.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

“From the day we met, I knew you were mine and I was yours.”

Best Friends For Never was sweet, emotional and an absolute delight. I was invested in Parker and Noel’s relationship from the first page to the last and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. This second chance romance was a fun, fast read that I absolutely loved.

“He’s always lifted me up whenever I was down and done everything he could so I would see my worth as he does.”

Parker and Noel were best friends in high school, and this turned to love, but both were too scared to reveal their feelings until the night Noel was leaving town. Ten years later, they are no longer in contact, and Noel returns to town. The feelings are still there but can these two work through their own fears and the same issues that tore them apart in the first place.

“She’s all my happy memories in one place. She’s the greatest thing to ever happen to me. And yes, even despite the years, she’s still the person who knows me the absolute best.”

The snarky, flirty banter between Parker and Noel was so much fun and full of sparks. It was obvious that these two were head over heels for each other, but they had to learn how to communicate before unspoken feelings and fears drove them apart once again. Add in a delightful supporting cast and an engaging storyline and Best Friends For Never was a lighthearted, emotional and swoony read. It was another gem from this fabulous author.

I am very familiar with this author’s writing style and have read ALL OF HER BOOKS! I know she said somewhere out there that this is something different but I felt the full TEAGAN affect so it was amazing to read for me.

These two are former best friends. There was a lot of miscommunication between them back then but they were both so young and everything was on the higher level. That said one left and the other stayed. Now that the MFC is renovating the local theater, the town wants to name it after no other than the Hollywood star himself the MMC. When he comes back for the opening, things heat up. And not in the sexual tension kind, yes that too but mostly just her hating him and him hating her. Like I said miscommunication at it’s finest. But really these two are meant to be through and through, time might have passed but the feelings have not. Fun part is that the MFC is partners with the former school bully (there is a story there too) and also former BFF of the MMC. It’s really all intertwined and cute! I loved all the characters. I loved the connection the MMC + MFC share even after such a long time. You get banter, fun, laughter, romance, no emotional damage, no other W/M play and really THE SPICE IS TURNED UP in this. Surprisingly but holy moly these two. Once the line is crossed, they cross is double and some! That’s all I am saying.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Romance: ♡♡
Steamy: 🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: NA
Standalone/Series: Standalone
Recommended (Liked it very much) ☑

When two young people who love each other so much, but both have future dreams that take them in different directions, finally meet up again after ten years a part. Throw in some great friends , family and a quaint little town and you have a book that's hard to put down, until you're done!

Parker Pruitt’s dream is to restore her small town’s long-shuttered theater—one to be named in honor of Noel Carter, the boy who followed his dream from Emerald Grove, Washington, to Hollywood…and broke Parker’s heart. Now he’s back to attend the kickoff ceremony, and for Parker, that means smiling through a swell of mixed emotions at seeing her former best friend for the first time in a decade.

Noel may be one of the hottest actors in the world, but he’s still touched by the tribute. And a little nervous about seeing Parker again. But when his weekend jaunt extends into a six-week stay, long-repressed memories and feelings come rushing back. As the simmering attraction between them builds, Noel is determined not to ruin this second chance even if his return to LA is hanging over them.

They’re making the best of the time they have left, but is there any chance of a Hollywood ending?

Loved it. Will recommend to others.

This was a decent enough read. I usually prefer more spice, more sass, and more banter, but it wasn't entirely flavourless. Will I remember it in a few weeks? Probably not.

It was a bit sparse on the plot, a bit repetitive on the theme, the characters were a bit one dimensional/hallmark movie.

But I've definitely read worse.

This one was just okay for me, I have read many books by this author that I liked significantly more. Noel and Parker were best friends growing up and then haven't seen each other or spoken in 10 years until now. I wanted their backstory to be a little earlier in the book, I felt like I spent a lot of time trying to piece together what had happened. I also wish there had been a little bit more angst, it felt like Noel came back and they basically immediately started sleeping together without much discussion of their past, what they have been up to for the last decade or how their relationship will work going forward. I just felt like I needed more. I absolutely loved the friendship dynamic between Axel and Parker and wish we got more of that as well as more of Axel and Noel together. Overall I think this one might be hit or miss for people. At the end of the day, I really enjoy this author and am looking forward to the next one.

Cute small town, second chance, childhood best friends to lovers story. Second chance and childhood best friends to lovers are some of my favorite tropes, but this one fell a little flat for me. I wished there were more flashbacks of when they were younger to really feel the connection. I didn’t like that they were apart for 10 years because it could have been totally avoided if one of them just reached out. I also didn’t like the reason of their falling out from 10 years ago. I’m glad they got their happy ending though.

Best Friends For Never is abeautiful frineds to lovers second chance stand alone that gives all the feels.
Parker and Noel's story is beautifully written and beautifully thought out and I greatly enjoyed reading this story.

2.25/5 ⭐

Maybe it was more a me problem here, but I did not enjoy myself that much.
The author's writing is fine, maybe I'll give her another try with something else she wrote.

But this book didn't do it for me. I'm usually a sucker for second chance & friends-to-lovers, but here I found it unsatisfying.

Spoilers ahead!

I didn't like the fact that neither of them made a move, anything, for 10 whole years but still thought of each other during their whole separation. They each had 'meaningless' relationships, nothing serious as they said and still thought of each other, but the FMC couldn't try to reach him, and he couldn't try coming back, at least for his grandmother? I just can't stand this kind of second chance anymore where both MCs could have done something to end the whole 'no talking for 10 years' but they are either too dumb or too coward to take the leap. Either ways, the explanation of what happened 10 years ago felt weak and a little ridiculous: what was the rush after spending so much time as only friends, to wait for her to be ready? Why did she promise if she felt it wasn't right? I got that she's scared but, her so wise and know-it-all mother couldn't put some sense back in her head or something? And I also felt like he could have tried harder too.

While they reconnected, they jumped right into the sex with benefits thing (without even talking about it by the way). It was just mentioned she had won the date with him, there was a lot of 'are you dating?' from nosy people, but it wasn't an official relationship. At least that's how I felt. It was more like friends to friends with benefits than lovers. Every time spent together was spent having sex and avoiding the big subjects as 'what are we?' 'what are we going to do after these 6 weeks?', nope, nothing important was discussed for this relationship to work.

I hated how, to make their relationship work, it was the MMC's grandmother and the FMC's mother and also, her new best-friend, that had to say the right thing for them to open their eyes about their feelings, what they wanted, what they should/could do... It was truly frustrating. MMC thinking of maybe, staying in the small town? 'Yes, but she didn't ask me to stay'. Them confessing they'll miss each other, again, and having a goodbye sex? Nope, thank you, Grandma, for mentioning that long distance relationship is also a thing. It's like, they kept saying they loved each other but didn't want to be together.

At the end, it ended up working fine, but if nosy side characters weren't there, would they even be together? Pretty sure, they wouldn't.

Thanks to NetGalley, Montlake and Teagan Hunter for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

🎥✨ Best Friends For Never by Teagan Hunter ✨🎭

If you love:
💔 Second chances that tug at your heartstrings
🌟 Hollywood drama meets small town charm
🔥 A slow burn friends to lovers romance

Then Best Friends For Never is calling your name! Noel Carter is a Hollywood heartthrob returning to his roots, while Parker Pruitt is the small-town girl with big dreams—and an even bigger heartbreak. Their reunion? Equal parts awkward, emotional, and downright sweet and satisfying.

The chemistry between Noel and Parker is magnetic, and the journey from rekindling old memories to rediscovering buried feelings will have you hooked. It’s funny, heartfelt, and a perfect blend of small town coziness and red carpet allure.

The question remains: can love survive the glitter of Hollywood and the simplicity of Emerald Grove? ✨

📖 This book is a perfect cozy weekend read! It's my first Teagan Hunter read but won't be my last!

Thank you to NetGalley, Teagan Hunter, and Montlake for the eARC of this book.

Okay, I loved this book. Devoured it in 2 days. I needed a feel good romance with some spice and Teagan Hunter delivered!

This was the perfect example of a small town second-chance romance done well: the setting and world of Emerald Grove felt cosy and lived-in, populated with three-dimensional characters who made up the cast of friends, family, former schoolmates and more. Noel Carter is the town's prodigal son, having left to make his career in Hollywood and never set foot in town in nearly a decade, the implosion of his relationship with former best friend, Parker, keeping him away. Back in town to launch the renovation of the town's theatre, which is going to bear his name, Noel is thrust back into the thick of it - both life in the small town he left behind, and forced proximity to Parker, who is in charge of the renovation work, and who was equally devastated by Noel's abandonment.

There's a certain inevitability to any romance trope, but the key is in the journey the author is able to take us on, and this was one that I really appreciated. Both Noel and Parker have plenty of baggage to get over in order to get their happily-ever-after, and it's impossible not to have sympathy for both of them. I also loved the study of friendship in all its forms - the platonic relationship between Parker and her now-bestie and business partner, Axel, who himself had history with Noel. It might have been easy to make this into a love triangle, and I LOVE that this wasn't that, but something much more complex and profound.

I also really enjoyed the offhand references to some of the author's other books (name checks for the two hockey teams, and for a couple of actors we've previously met), but this is still very much a standalone; the Easter eggs are just that - a nice bonus for those who happen to spot them.

In summary, if you're looking for a small town friends-to-almost-lovers-to-estranged-to-lovers second chance romance with great characterisation, banter and a satisfying payoff, which also has interesting things to say about friendship, you've come to the right place. Oh, and the spice was spicing, too!