Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC of this book!
I’m a big fan of the friends to lovers trope. This one came with a side of forced proximity/marriage of convenience, which made the premise really interesting. However, I didn’t like the FMC, Evie, from the get-go. I could understand her medical problems and sympathized about her family situation growing up, but didn’t think her trauma validated her treatment of Theo. He, on the other hand, was a delight so I’m sad to say that I didn’t care for the male narrator for this audiobook.
I appreciate the chance to read and review this book and wish I could give it a higher rating but I’m going with a 2.75. It’s not one I would recommend.
emotional
inspiring
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:
No
This was an unexpectedly sweet romance, which I really enjoyed. I've never read anything else by this author but I'm looking forward to digging into her backlist for more comfort reads.
This story tells the story of two lifelong friends who get married for logistical reasons and fall in love/realize they've always been in love etc. They met through dance as kids. The FMC had to stop dancing due to a chronic disease and has discovered her love of foley sound recording, which was a side plot I thought was very fun. Kanter tells their backstory through flashbacks, which are sweet, though they do include some misunderstandings which I know can be controversial.
Overall this story was sweet and quirky I really rooted for the characters. I listened to it on audio and enjoyed the way the narration switched between male and female narrators depending whose chapter it was.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an advance review copy for an unbiased review.
This story tells the story of two lifelong friends who get married for logistical reasons and fall in love/realize they've always been in love etc. They met through dance as kids. The FMC had to stop dancing due to a chronic disease and has discovered her love of foley sound recording, which was a side plot I thought was very fun. Kanter tells their backstory through flashbacks, which are sweet, though they do include some misunderstandings which I know can be controversial.
Overall this story was sweet and quirky I really rooted for the characters. I listened to it on audio and enjoyed the way the narration switched between male and female narrators depending whose chapter it was.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an advance review copy for an unbiased review.
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-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
So much more emotional than I was EXPECTING! I adore Theo and empathize with Evie. THE
This book though a friends to lovers, marriage of convenience romance, it’s also about the freeing ability of changing your mind and being comfortable with it as long as it's what you truly want.
So many feelings from laughter, to annoyance, to sadness, to “are you deada*@“
The rollercoaster of a book is like a lazy river water ride that starts shooting you forward and off the edge at a breakneck speed.
Also shout out to the neurodivergence, Chronic illness, and QUEER REP 😍😍
P.S The US healthcare system has always been and currently is still atrocious
This book though a friends to lovers, marriage of convenience romance, it’s also about the freeing ability of changing your mind and being comfortable with it as long as it's what you truly want.
So many feelings from laughter, to annoyance, to sadness, to “are you deada*@“
The rollercoaster of a book is like a lazy river water ride that starts shooting you forward and off the edge at a breakneck speed.
Also shout out to the neurodivergence, Chronic illness, and QUEER REP 😍😍
P.S The US healthcare system has always been and currently is still atrocious
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Lifelong best friends say 'I do' to a marriage of convenience, trading vows for a financial safety net and benefits."
One of the best tropes in my opinion! I love a marriage of convenience!
Evie and Theo have known each other for what seems like forever. Not only that but they use to be dance partners and are already VERY close and comfortable with each other. Now all grown up, this book hops from the present to flashes of their past and how they seemingly kept missing opportunities and signals to be together. A complicated relationship to say the least, it is easy to see how the lines blur so quickly between this husband & wife.
Narrated by Gail Shalan & GM Hakim, I was not the biggest fan of the audio. This is all relative but I didn't feel that Theo's voice was "manly" enough for what I was envisioning and would sometimes fail to distinguish when it was supposed to be him speaking or thinking. Evie's also wasn't my favorite but I didn't have the same issues for her male counterpart.
All that being said, I always appreciate the convenience of an audiobook for a lighthearted, quick and easy read!
Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook ARC, all opinions are my own.
One of the best tropes in my opinion! I love a marriage of convenience!
Evie and Theo have known each other for what seems like forever. Not only that but they use to be dance partners and are already VERY close and comfortable with each other. Now all grown up, this book hops from the present to flashes of their past and how they seemingly kept missing opportunities and signals to be together. A complicated relationship to say the least, it is easy to see how the lines blur so quickly between this husband & wife.
Narrated by Gail Shalan & GM Hakim, I was not the biggest fan of the audio. This is all relative but I didn't feel that Theo's voice was "manly" enough for what I was envisioning and would sometimes fail to distinguish when it was supposed to be him speaking or thinking. Evie's also wasn't my favorite but I didn't have the same issues for her male counterpart.
All that being said, I always appreciate the convenience of an audiobook for a lighthearted, quick and easy read!
Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook ARC, all opinions are my own.
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Publishers and Macmillan audio for granting me access to an early copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, I give this book a solid ⭐⭐⭐. I love a great friends-to-lovers and marriage of convenience story, however I didn't love this book as much as I was hoping. With this novel being Marisa Kanter's first adult novel, I found the character development a little flat. The FMC (Evie) seemed overly juvenile and self-centered. Her internal struggle and thought process reminded me of an emotionally unstable teenager and many of the relationship struggles she experienced were a direct result of her selfish words and choices. I found it very difficult to connect with and root for her. The MMC (Theo) was very sweet and his love for Evie felt sincere, however, the author could have developed his character a little more. I found myself wanting him to write Evie off and move on to someone more deserving of his love.
I appreciate how the author addressed the issue of chronic pain/illness and the various struggles that come along with that reality. Having loved ones who suffer from chronic pain, I liked that she touched on how someone can truly be sick/ill even if they may not LOOK sick. Also, having been born and raised in Anaheim, it was fun to hear how much of the story took place in and around my old stomping grounds.
Overall, the story was good, but I found myself wanting a little more depth and emotional maturity.
Overall, I give this book a solid ⭐⭐⭐. I love a great friends-to-lovers and marriage of convenience story, however I didn't love this book as much as I was hoping. With this novel being Marisa Kanter's first adult novel, I found the character development a little flat. The FMC (Evie) seemed overly juvenile and self-centered. Her internal struggle and thought process reminded me of an emotionally unstable teenager and many of the relationship struggles she experienced were a direct result of her selfish words and choices. I found it very difficult to connect with and root for her. The MMC (Theo) was very sweet and his love for Evie felt sincere, however, the author could have developed his character a little more. I found myself wanting him to write Evie off and move on to someone more deserving of his love.
I appreciate how the author addressed the issue of chronic pain/illness and the various struggles that come along with that reality. Having loved ones who suffer from chronic pain, I liked that she touched on how someone can truly be sick/ill even if they may not LOOK sick. Also, having been born and raised in Anaheim, it was fun to hear how much of the story took place in and around my old stomping grounds.
Overall, the story was good, but I found myself wanting a little more depth and emotional maturity.
Wow thank you, Marisa Kanter, for writing such a beautiful piece! The title immediately grabbed my attention, and the synopsis completely hooked me. Evie and Theo will forever hold a piece of my heart. They’re both incredibly likable and feel so real.
I especially appreciated the honest and thoughtful representation of mental health. It didn’t feel performative or forced. While reading, I felt like the best friend they would both come to when they needed to vent, which speaks volumes about how immersive the writing is.
This review is spoiler-free, but if you’re looking for a true friends-to-lovers story that will tug at your heartstrings in all the right ways, this is it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I especially appreciated the honest and thoughtful representation of mental health. It didn’t feel performative or forced. While reading, I felt like the best friend they would both come to when they needed to vent, which speaks volumes about how immersive the writing is.
This review is spoiler-free, but if you’re looking for a true friends-to-lovers story that will tug at your heartstrings in all the right ways, this is it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
sad
slow-paced
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 is the story of Theo and Evie, who have known each other since childhood and end up getting married for practical reasons. The premise of this book, and the character’s lives had a lot of potential interest, but their relationship didn’t work for me. The more I read about Evie, the less I liked her.
When this book starts, the focus is on Evie and Theo’s backgrounds and current struggles. There was no mention of attraction or anything other than a platonic relationship between them. As the book progresses, all of a sudden the characters describe chemistry and longing between each other. While I enjoyed their connection, I had a hard time transitioning into thinking of them as a couple in love. The steamy scenes seemed excessive to me. Overall, this book didn’t work for me as a romance.
I found the main characters’ stories compelling in some ways. Both had been through difficult situations with their families, which brought a lot of sadness to this book. Theo and Evie both had interesting careers and I enjoyed reading about their day-to-day work experiences. These characters had great potential, but I found their personalities lacking in many ways. I was really annoyed with Evie in multiple situations when she didn’t treat Theo well. The author describes Theo’s love and concern for Evie’s health and well-being, but Evie’s character was much more self-centered and focused on herself.
I appreciated the author’s representation of health issues in this book. This is not common in romance books, and I think it is important to acknowledge the pain and challenges of chronic health issues that many people face, particularly with the financial burden of health insurance with high premiums and low coverage.
This book had an interesting premise, and the character’s careers and health issues made them stand out from other characters in romance novels. Their story had a lot of potential, but their lack of chemistry and unbalanced relationship was not appealing to me.
Thank you to Marisa Kanter, Celadon Books and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
There’s nothing wrong with this story, but it wasn’t unique enough to be memorable. It’s a typical “friends to lovers” plot, with the FMC’s chronic illness bringing the only originality to the trope. I cranked up the speed about half way through because it felt like there was way too much time left on the audiobook for the amount of story that should have been left. I didn’t hate it but I think your time would be better spent on a different romance.