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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Friends with Benefits by Marisa Kanter
Narrated by Gail Shalen & GM Hakim
Standalone contemporary romance
3.25 Stars
affiliate links
I was offered an ALC of Friends with Benefits by Marisa Kanter from Macmillan and grabbed it because she has been an author on my TBR list and I saw the character names were Jewish. As a non-practicing Jew, I still like to read books with characters like me (see my list of romances with Jewish characters).
Evie and Theo have been best friends since they met in dance school as kids, and they’ve been pining for each other ever since. Now adults, Theo teaches grade school, and Evie works as a Foley artist—creating sound effects for film and television. I really enjoyed learning about her behind-the-scenes job.
Evie also lives with Crohn’s disease, which, beyond the expected GI issues, causes chronic pain and fatigue. As someone who deals with an autoimmune condition and IBS, I found her incredibly relatable. When her grandparents sell her house and she gets offered a dream fellowship, things should be looking up—except she has to turn it down because the fellowship doesn't offer health insurance which she needs for her very expensive condition.
Meanwhile, Theo’s roommates are moving out and buying a condo together, which leaves him without a place to live. Evie moving in makes sense, but they don’t qualify financially as roommates. As a married couple, though, Evie could go on Theo’s insurance and they’d also qualify for the apartment.
So begins a marriage of convenience between two lifelong best friends who are clearly in love. You’d think the path would be smooth after that, but no—the emotional angst keeps coming.
I saw a review mention this book was too political. Personally, I didn’t find that to be true. Yes, the healthcare system is criticized, the heroine is bisexual, and her sister is gay. If that reads as political to some, I’d argue it’s more about human rights—access to healthcare and being who you are.
I liked the story. I just didn’t LOVE the characters. Theo was almost too mild-mannered, and Evie wasn’t that easy to root for. I didn’t dislike either of them, but I tend to need a strong emotional connection to the heroine to fully connect with the book, and I didn’t get that here.
Likes:
•Chronic illness rep—Crohn’s and chronic pain.
•Frank discussion on how bad the US healthcare system is.
•Learning about being a Foley artist.
•Banter.
•Theo’s classroom scenes.
•Their obsession with Survivor.
•Mental health rep handled well.
•Jewish characters—subtly included in a very real, lived-in way--you may not even notice if you aren't Jewish yourself.
•I loved her grandparents and sister.
Dislikes:
•3rd person present tense made it hard for me to connect emotionally.
•I just didn’t love Evie.
•A lot of depressing family dynamics weighed the story down.
•Characters felt younger and way more immature than their stated age.
The Narration:
Both Gail Shalen and GM Hakim were new to me. They gave solid performances, but nothing that made me feel the audio was a must-listen. That might be due to the third person present tense, which often creates a bit of distance.
The Down & Dirty:
I really wanted to love Friends with Benefits by Marisa Kanter. Unfortunately, I just liked it. It’s rare for me to finish a book without highlighting anything or taking notes, but that was the case here. Nothing stood out, and even though I finished recently, I had to read the blurb again to recall the plot. The romance didn’t feel passionate—it felt more inevitable, like they ended up together because they were supposed to. I enjoyed it enough while reading, but I was ready for it to wrap up. At over 11 hours (or 384 pages), this story would have worked better for me if it had been tightened to 7 or 8 hours.
Rating: 3.25 Stars, 2 Heat, 4 Narration
Purchase Friends with Benefits by Marisa Kanter
Kindle | Paperback w/sprayed edges | Audible
Narrated by Gail Shalen & GM Hakim
Standalone contemporary romance
3.25 Stars
affiliate links
I was offered an ALC of Friends with Benefits by Marisa Kanter from Macmillan and grabbed it because she has been an author on my TBR list and I saw the character names were Jewish. As a non-practicing Jew, I still like to read books with characters like me (see my list of romances with Jewish characters).
Evie and Theo have been best friends since they met in dance school as kids, and they’ve been pining for each other ever since. Now adults, Theo teaches grade school, and Evie works as a Foley artist—creating sound effects for film and television. I really enjoyed learning about her behind-the-scenes job.
Evie also lives with Crohn’s disease, which, beyond the expected GI issues, causes chronic pain and fatigue. As someone who deals with an autoimmune condition and IBS, I found her incredibly relatable. When her grandparents sell her house and she gets offered a dream fellowship, things should be looking up—except she has to turn it down because the fellowship doesn't offer health insurance which she needs for her very expensive condition.
Meanwhile, Theo’s roommates are moving out and buying a condo together, which leaves him without a place to live. Evie moving in makes sense, but they don’t qualify financially as roommates. As a married couple, though, Evie could go on Theo’s insurance and they’d also qualify for the apartment.
So begins a marriage of convenience between two lifelong best friends who are clearly in love. You’d think the path would be smooth after that, but no—the emotional angst keeps coming.
I saw a review mention this book was too political. Personally, I didn’t find that to be true. Yes, the healthcare system is criticized, the heroine is bisexual, and her sister is gay. If that reads as political to some, I’d argue it’s more about human rights—access to healthcare and being who you are.
I liked the story. I just didn’t LOVE the characters. Theo was almost too mild-mannered, and Evie wasn’t that easy to root for. I didn’t dislike either of them, but I tend to need a strong emotional connection to the heroine to fully connect with the book, and I didn’t get that here.
Likes:
•Chronic illness rep—Crohn’s and chronic pain.
•Frank discussion on how bad the US healthcare system is.
•Learning about being a Foley artist.
•Banter.
•Theo’s classroom scenes.
•Their obsession with Survivor.
•Mental health rep handled well.
•Jewish characters—subtly included in a very real, lived-in way--you may not even notice if you aren't Jewish yourself.
•I loved her grandparents and sister.
Dislikes:
•3rd person present tense made it hard for me to connect emotionally.
•I just didn’t love Evie.
•A lot of depressing family dynamics weighed the story down.
•Characters felt younger and way more immature than their stated age.
The Narration:
Both Gail Shalen and GM Hakim were new to me. They gave solid performances, but nothing that made me feel the audio was a must-listen. That might be due to the third person present tense, which often creates a bit of distance.
The Down & Dirty:
I really wanted to love Friends with Benefits by Marisa Kanter. Unfortunately, I just liked it. It’s rare for me to finish a book without highlighting anything or taking notes, but that was the case here. Nothing stood out, and even though I finished recently, I had to read the blurb again to recall the plot. The romance didn’t feel passionate—it felt more inevitable, like they ended up together because they were supposed to. I enjoyed it enough while reading, but I was ready for it to wrap up. At over 11 hours (or 384 pages), this story would have worked better for me if it had been tightened to 7 or 8 hours.
Rating: 3.25 Stars, 2 Heat, 4 Narration
Purchase Friends with Benefits by Marisa Kanter
Kindle | Paperback w/sprayed edges | Audible
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
3⭐️ Marriage of convenience meets friends to lovers. Evie has a dream opportunity when she is selected for a fellowship. But with her medical issues, she needs insurance. She knows the medical bills have piled up and her grandparents don’t complain. However, she’s ready to take on the burden. She just needs to figure out how to have insurance and pay the bills. Theo needs a new roommate but had to meet a certain wage. So, they get married. Theo had the loophole for his apartment and Evie will have insurance. But will this break their long-term friendship in a good way or a bad way.
Thank you @netgalley and Celadon Books for the advanced reader copy.
Thank you @netgalley and Celadon Books for the advanced reader copy.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Honestly, getting married for insurance benefits is the most realistic millenial shit I've ever read.
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I just finished “Friends with Benefits” by Marissa Kanter, and it was a super cute romance! It was a best friends to lovers romance that I enjoyed very much.
It’s a story about childhood best friends, Evie and Theo..they marry in name only so she can keep health insurance while she battles Chron’s disease and does a Foley fellowship. Secretly they both are madly in love though and the story details the ups and downs of their relationship.
I love a good romance, however I will say that there was more political commentary in this book than I normally would care for. I love to read as a means of escape from the craziness that is this world and I purposely no longer watch the news, as I don’t want to read about politics and folks tearing each other apart over it. So my preference is just a straight up love story with no politics.
It was otherwise a great story. A solid 3.5 stars from me!
Thanks to the publisher Celadon books and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of the book in exchange for a review.
It’s a story about childhood best friends, Evie and Theo..they marry in name only so she can keep health insurance while she battles Chron’s disease and does a Foley fellowship. Secretly they both are madly in love though and the story details the ups and downs of their relationship.
I love a good romance, however I will say that there was more political commentary in this book than I normally would care for. I love to read as a means of escape from the craziness that is this world and I purposely no longer watch the news, as I don’t want to read about politics and folks tearing each other apart over it. So my preference is just a straight up love story with no politics.
It was otherwise a great story. A solid 3.5 stars from me!
Thanks to the publisher Celadon books and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of the book in exchange for a review.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A beautifully written friends to lovers, marriage of convenience romance that transcends tropes and bring something deep and meaningful to life.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes