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Friend (with Benefits) Zone
I’m ridiculously attracted to my best friend.
Today is a bad day. The worst actually. After dealing with the constant manhandling that comes with being a cocktail waitress at a dive bar and surviving a date from hell, I see an eviction notice slapped on the door of my sketchy basement apartment. Great.
When my best friend Devon shows up at my door and uses his stubborn charm (emphasis on stubborn) to get me to move in with him, I give in. We’ve had about a million sleepovers since we met in the kindergarten Deaf program, but this time it’s different because I can’t stop thinking about his hard body covering mine, every single night.
I know Devon would do anything for me, but I’m afraid what I want to happen will ruin our friendship forever. And the more time we spend together in close quarters, the harder it’ll be to resist the spark of attraction I’ve always felt. But maybe it’s possible to have the best of both worlds: keep the one relationship I can’t live without and indulge in an attraction I can’t deny.
I guess the only thing we can do is try…
Today is a bad day. The worst actually. After dealing with the constant manhandling that comes with being a cocktail waitress at a dive bar and surviving a date from hell, I see an eviction notice slapped on the door of my sketchy basement apartment. Great.
When my best friend Devon shows up at my door and uses his stubborn charm (emphasis on stubborn) to get me to move in with him, I give in. We’ve had about a million sleepovers since we met in the kindergarten Deaf program, but this time it’s different because I can’t stop thinking about his hard body covering mine, every single night.
I know Devon would do anything for me, but I’m afraid what I want to happen will ruin our friendship forever. And the more time we spend together in close quarters, the harder it’ll be to resist the spark of attraction I’ve always felt. But maybe it’s possible to have the best of both worlds: keep the one relationship I can’t live without and indulge in an attraction I can’t deny.
I guess the only thing we can do is try…
379 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2017
17 people are currently reading
574 people want to read
About the author
Laura Brown
10 books348 followersAfter spending her childhood coming up with new episodes to her favorite sitcoms instead of sleeping, Laura Brown decided to try her hand at writing and never looked back. A hopeless romantic, she’s been drawn to love stories since a young age. She lives in Massachusetts with her family, and yes, that includes feline members! Laura’s been hard of hearing her entire life but didn’t start learning ASL until college, when her disability morphed from an inconvenience to a positive part of her identity. It’s important to her to create strong, competent characters with disabilities, as she didn’t have that growing up. At home the closed captioning is always on, lights flash with the doorbell, and hearing aids are sometimes optional.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
June 16, 2017
FRIEND (WITH BENEFITS) ZONE was a book that I was pretty excited about. What I thought was a love story about a deaf character and the bestfriend/boy she loves was actually a love story about two deaf besties and the feelings they've long since denied. So, #ownvoices author, diverse cast, and friends to lovers. Seemed like a slam dunk.
We used to talk things out; now we fed emotions with sex.
Along the way my excitement kind of waned; it was feeling like a solid three read at one point but the relentless drama from Jasmine, wanting to do things on her own, refusing help, using sex to avoid her problems, shutting people out, being contrary within her own head.. it felt endless and frustrated me to no end.
I held his eyes, begged him to leave it at that. I wanted a few days of ignoring being a burden to anyone but myself. He squeezed my hand -- message received. The delay should have been a relief; it wasn't.
Whereas Devon was much easier to love. He wasn't without his problems, he was relentless in his desire to help and yet also enabled his bestie/girlfriend into being the way she was. I could respect that he didn't want to change her, didn't want the fact that they were now dating to change how he treated her, but it still bothered me. Especially when he didn't push back against using intimacy to avoid the real intimacy of talking things out. But his heart was always in the right place.. even if he had his own problems he constantly refused to deal with, too.
"We need time to figure this out." <-- yeah, because almost 80% of the book is clearly not enough time.
I absolutely appreciated the concept of this story, I loved the diversity (some lgbtq+ themes, a mix of deaf and hearing parents, mental health, and more) and the realities of the daily struggles in trying to be employed in a world that is not always accommodating.. that, especially, was not something I'd read about before. However the angst was too much, I hated the communication difficulties (and ironically they had nothing to do with their lack of verbal speech or ability to hear) and, at least initially, I felt it was not always clear when someone was signing vs speaking. It took me a while to realize Devon was also a deaf character and she wasn't reading his lips when he spoke.
We were going around in circles when we both wanted the same thing.
Because of how much I loved the idea of this kind of romance, if not the story on a whole, Brown has definitely sparked in me a desire to read more of this topic.. or at least investigate more titles that share these particular themes.
FRIEND (WITH BENEFITS) ZONE may have been angstier than I expected, and the latter half of the story dragged on with repetitive interactions and frustrations, but the ending was sweet. That being said I hope we see a lot more romances with both, not just one, main characters having differences that don't make them different to each other. It's always wonderful reading a story about acceptance or being accepted by the world or another.. but we need more romances, more stories, where that acceptance isn't an issue at all. They just are. Different, sure, but where their differences aren't the issue. And for that I applaud the author. I just wish the parts around that central theme had been as moving.
2.5 "I knew her better than anyone else, yet I still didn't know how to be what she needed" stars
** I received an ARC from Edelweiss and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
We used to talk things out; now we fed emotions with sex.
Along the way my excitement kind of waned; it was feeling like a solid three read at one point but the relentless drama from Jasmine, wanting to do things on her own, refusing help, using sex to avoid her problems, shutting people out, being contrary within her own head.. it felt endless and frustrated me to no end.
I held his eyes, begged him to leave it at that. I wanted a few days of ignoring being a burden to anyone but myself. He squeezed my hand -- message received. The delay should have been a relief; it wasn't.
Whereas Devon was much easier to love. He wasn't without his problems, he was relentless in his desire to help and yet also enabled his bestie/girlfriend into being the way she was. I could respect that he didn't want to change her, didn't want the fact that they were now dating to change how he treated her, but it still bothered me. Especially when he didn't push back against using intimacy to avoid the real intimacy of talking things out. But his heart was always in the right place.. even if he had his own problems he constantly refused to deal with, too.
"We need time to figure this out." <-- yeah, because almost 80% of the book is clearly not enough time.
I absolutely appreciated the concept of this story, I loved the diversity (some lgbtq+ themes, a mix of deaf and hearing parents, mental health, and more) and the realities of the daily struggles in trying to be employed in a world that is not always accommodating.. that, especially, was not something I'd read about before. However the angst was too much, I hated the communication difficulties (and ironically they had nothing to do with their lack of verbal speech or ability to hear) and, at least initially, I felt it was not always clear when someone was signing vs speaking. It took me a while to realize Devon was also a deaf character and she wasn't reading his lips when he spoke.
We were going around in circles when we both wanted the same thing.
Because of how much I loved the idea of this kind of romance, if not the story on a whole, Brown has definitely sparked in me a desire to read more of this topic.. or at least investigate more titles that share these particular themes.
FRIEND (WITH BENEFITS) ZONE may have been angstier than I expected, and the latter half of the story dragged on with repetitive interactions and frustrations, but the ending was sweet. That being said I hope we see a lot more romances with both, not just one, main characters having differences that don't make them different to each other. It's always wonderful reading a story about acceptance or being accepted by the world or another.. but we need more romances, more stories, where that acceptance isn't an issue at all. They just are. Different, sure, but where their differences aren't the issue. And for that I applaud the author. I just wish the parts around that central theme had been as moving.
2.5 "I knew her better than anyone else, yet I still didn't know how to be what she needed" stars
** I received an ARC from Edelweiss and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
October 14, 2019
This is a character driven romance about two friends who become lovers. I loved Devon and Jasmine. They have been friends since childhood. Jasmine has not had it easy, and Devon has been a constant in her life. The transition from good friends to dating was very natural and the problems faced were realistic. The plot did drag at times, but I was never bored.
I love the way Laura Brown writes deaf characters. Her main characters may be deaf, but this by no means defines them. There is no bitterness or angst, it's a part of who they are. Signs of Attraction was the first book I read by Laura and it's one of my favorites.
Characters with disabilities or chronic illnesses are generally sidelined to secondary characters who are defined by their disability. People are more than a disability and it's so refreshing to read main characters written this way. I even hesitate to call it a disability. It doesn't slow down any characters, being Deaf is just a different way of experiencing life.
I recommend this book for people who like character driven romance. If you prefer a heavier plot, you might not enjoy this book as much as I did.
4 Stars!
I love the way Laura Brown writes deaf characters. Her main characters may be deaf, but this by no means defines them. There is no bitterness or angst, it's a part of who they are. Signs of Attraction was the first book I read by Laura and it's one of my favorites.
Characters with disabilities or chronic illnesses are generally sidelined to secondary characters who are defined by their disability. People are more than a disability and it's so refreshing to read main characters written this way. I even hesitate to call it a disability. It doesn't slow down any characters, being Deaf is just a different way of experiencing life.
I recommend this book for people who like character driven romance. If you prefer a heavier plot, you might not enjoy this book as much as I did.
4 Stars!
February 19, 2018
My enjoyment of this book was a little like slopestyle snowboarding (I have been watching entirely too much of the Olympics this week). It was pretty even on the rails, sliding along enjoyably with the friends-to-lovers scenario and the explanation of what a rough time Jasmine has had dealing with the death of her father when she was a girl and a nearly absent mother suffering from undiagnosed depression. Then it hit some dips and divets around 40% when the justifications for why Jas is cold and closed off from her life pretty much made me feel depressed, too. But then I got mad because it just wouldn't stop. I guess I was irritated because I wanted her to get a handle on her life and move on from her father's death, which was eight years previous. She wallowed. And so did her mother. And then I wasn't sympathetic anymore. Probably because the men in my family don't live too long (dead at 45, 47, 51 and 55). The women and children left behind fall apart, grieve, then pull themselves together, and life is never easy. But eventually they laugh and make plans and, yes, move on. Although Jas does eventually make it there (this is a HEA romance after all), I kind of wanted to shove her there a little faster.
Unfortunately, my dissatisfaction really caught some speed about 60% of the way down the hill when the angsty new adult flips and flops (still sticking with my snowboarding analogy) really stole the show. I was 20 once. And so were my friends. I just don't remember any of us having such a self-sabotaging malaise problem. Sigh and sigh.
What did strike a perfect balance in this book was the inclusion of details on what it is like to live as a deaf person in a mainly hearing society. Jobs, phone calls, college lectures, doorbells - all get treatment. Yet, this book wasn't really about the challenges of deafness. It was a fact of life, something that must be managed in a world that can be less than accommodating. I just wish the twenty-ish angst had been handled with some of the same prudence.
2.5 stars. Because. The Angst.
I read this book for the Own Voices entry in the Unapologetic Romance Readers 2018 book challenge.
Book source: Purchased.
Unfortunately, my dissatisfaction really caught some speed about 60% of the way down the hill when the angsty new adult flips and flops (still sticking with my snowboarding analogy) really stole the show. I was 20 once. And so were my friends. I just don't remember any of us having such a self-sabotaging malaise problem. Sigh and sigh.
What did strike a perfect balance in this book was the inclusion of details on what it is like to live as a deaf person in a mainly hearing society. Jobs, phone calls, college lectures, doorbells - all get treatment. Yet, this book wasn't really about the challenges of deafness. It was a fact of life, something that must be managed in a world that can be less than accommodating. I just wish the twenty-ish angst had been handled with some of the same prudence.
2.5 stars. Because. The Angst.
I read this book for the Own Voices entry in the Unapologetic Romance Readers 2018 book challenge.
Book source: Purchased.
June 11, 2017
Whenever a Laura Brown novel is within reach, a box of tissue need not be far away. She enlightens, inspires and seduces, while emphasizing the beauty of being unique. Jasper and Devon are the centerpieces of an exceptional love story. In a world where being different can be alienating and dangerous, two special people have found acceptance in each other. Written with love and full of hope and heartbreak, Friend Zone is a tale that needs to be told. One meant to uplift, not tear down.
January 5, 2018
I enjoyed Laura's first book, Signs of Attraction, but this one is even better. I love friends to lovers, and it's a hard one to get right because the writer has to set up a plausible reason why the relationship hasn't blossomed into romance before. In this case, it's handled beautifully. I adored how prickly Jas and caretaker Dev lurched and bumped their way to romance while also finding the other things they wanted in their lives.
June 26, 2017
I fell hard for Devon from the moment he was introduced and he just kept getting better as the story progressed. I loved the friendship between him and Jas from the start. The sense of innocent devotion mixed with emerging sexual awareness makes for an almost intoxicating chemistry between them.
This is very much a new adult romance. As Devon finishes college, Jas and Devon are choosing careers and futures for themselves and as Jas finds herself frustrated by seemingly impossible obstacles, Devon finds himself caught between family expectations and his own dreams. I really enjoyed the adulting aspect of this book but there were times where Devon and Jas’ opportunities felt a little too easy and their futures a little too tidy.
I found myself fascinated by Jas and Devon’s experiences as Deaf. The subtleties of their communication with each other and with others was interesting and Jas’ experiences with work were quite thought provoking. I love the way the author makes these two immediately recogniseable Millennials before we even notice that they are Deaf. I also enjoyed the moments where the experience of being Deaf adds to the intimacy between Jas and Devon.
I really enjoyed the characters in this story but I did struggle with the slightly rambling plot. Jas has a complicated life and past experiences have left her wary of relationships and commitment. The result is a whole lot of angst filled yo-yo emotions that I found tedious by the mid point of the book. There were times I struggled to believe in the ‘best friends for life’ relationship between Devon and Jas because their communication is so poor and Jas finds it impossible to trust. I had some empathy for Jas because of her family experiences but there were a number of times I wanted Devon to stand up for himself and stop letting her walk over him. This isn’t a balanced relationship at all - Devon is Jas’ emotional support but she doesn’t give a whole lot back.
Jas and Devon’s friends are thoroughly enjoyable in this story. Devon’s brother and his boyfriend are a sweet and calm anecdote to Jas and Devon’s angst. I love their relationship with their school friends and Devon’s experiences as a social worker are great.
This is very much a new adult romance. As Devon finishes college, Jas and Devon are choosing careers and futures for themselves and as Jas finds herself frustrated by seemingly impossible obstacles, Devon finds himself caught between family expectations and his own dreams. I really enjoyed the adulting aspect of this book but there were times where Devon and Jas’ opportunities felt a little too easy and their futures a little too tidy.
I found myself fascinated by Jas and Devon’s experiences as Deaf. The subtleties of their communication with each other and with others was interesting and Jas’ experiences with work were quite thought provoking. I love the way the author makes these two immediately recogniseable Millennials before we even notice that they are Deaf. I also enjoyed the moments where the experience of being Deaf adds to the intimacy between Jas and Devon.
I really enjoyed the characters in this story but I did struggle with the slightly rambling plot. Jas has a complicated life and past experiences have left her wary of relationships and commitment. The result is a whole lot of angst filled yo-yo emotions that I found tedious by the mid point of the book. There were times I struggled to believe in the ‘best friends for life’ relationship between Devon and Jas because their communication is so poor and Jas finds it impossible to trust. I had some empathy for Jas because of her family experiences but there were a number of times I wanted Devon to stand up for himself and stop letting her walk over him. This isn’t a balanced relationship at all - Devon is Jas’ emotional support but she doesn’t give a whole lot back.
Jas and Devon’s friends are thoroughly enjoyable in this story. Devon’s brother and his boyfriend are a sweet and calm anecdote to Jas and Devon’s angst. I love their relationship with their school friends and Devon’s experiences as a social worker are great.
July 14, 2017
Between a 3 and 4, but I bumped it up to a 4 bc I really like the story and characters. What was pulling it down, for me, was 1) alternating 1st person POV which I loathe unreservedly and 2) approximately 100 pages was Jas being completely obnoxious about pushing Dev away/refusing help which was about 50 pages too many, in my opinion. But I really loved Jas and Dev as characters together, plus all the secondary characters (Blake and Shawn, Nikki and Pete, the parents) and how real the world around them felt.
June 19, 2017
'Friend (With Benefits) Zone' started out very promising, with the blurb sounding a growing-up story of 2 deaf people trying to find their way in the world just as the notion of building a career looms large. But beyond that, I liked the idea of putting people with disabilities in the spotlight and showing that they actually do lead lives as 'normal' as those who don’t—and thought that this would provide a different edge to the best friends turned lovers type of read.
But with the sexual tension between Jasmine and Devon shattering so early on, the direction in which the story was going to go became rather unclear. And I found myself unpleasantly surprised when maturity (or the lack of it) came into play and formed the major part of the conflict—driven mostly by Jasmine. She started out as strongly independent, but that soon moved to bullheadedly, stupidly stubborn when she started insisting on being an island and going at it all on her own, pushing everyone else away because that was the way she wanted it to be. Not accepting help from Devon and her closest friends (then have them trying to reel her back in), using sex avoid the issue, vacillating between wanting Dev and wanting her own way were just signs of her irrational immaturity that frustrated me to no end, which actually went on ad nauseum to the point where I thought they should have given up on her because there was no getting her to see reason.
As much as Devon's desire to help her and support her in everything, he did come across as somewhat spineless towards the end, when he needed to leave Jasmine on her own for her to finally come to her senses. Instead, he couldn't quite let her go or do a complete break, even when he had his own share of dodging the intended career path that his family wanted for him throughout. In fact, I needed to see that Jasmine wanted their relationship Devon even if she had nothing to her name. But because Devon had arranged it such that she could have her bar and own it (with the startup costs included as a loan), it felt as though it was only with her future secured and in place that it was easy to get back with him.
This constant push-pull vibe that got stronger, as well as the anti-climatic ending did, unfortunately, grate on me. I couldn’t quite shrug away how much I disliked the characters by the end and this sadly, tanked the whole story for me.
*ARC by Edelweiss
(still grateful for the copy, mind)
But with the sexual tension between Jasmine and Devon shattering so early on, the direction in which the story was going to go became rather unclear. And I found myself unpleasantly surprised when maturity (or the lack of it) came into play and formed the major part of the conflict—driven mostly by Jasmine. She started out as strongly independent, but that soon moved to bullheadedly, stupidly stubborn when she started insisting on being an island and going at it all on her own, pushing everyone else away because that was the way she wanted it to be. Not accepting help from Devon and her closest friends (then have them trying to reel her back in), using sex avoid the issue, vacillating between wanting Dev and wanting her own way were just signs of her irrational immaturity that frustrated me to no end, which actually went on ad nauseum to the point where I thought they should have given up on her because there was no getting her to see reason.
As much as Devon's desire to help her and support her in everything, he did come across as somewhat spineless towards the end, when he needed to leave Jasmine on her own for her to finally come to her senses. Instead, he couldn't quite let her go or do a complete break, even when he had his own share of dodging the intended career path that his family wanted for him throughout. In fact, I needed to see that Jasmine wanted their relationship Devon even if she had nothing to her name. But because Devon had arranged it such that she could have her bar and own it (with the startup costs included as a loan), it felt as though it was only with her future secured and in place that it was easy to get back with him.
This constant push-pull vibe that got stronger, as well as the anti-climatic ending did, unfortunately, grate on me. I couldn’t quite shrug away how much I disliked the characters by the end and this sadly, tanked the whole story for me.
*ARC by Edelweiss
(still grateful for the copy, mind)
June 7, 2017
I won this book from Goodreads First-reads. This did not influence my review.
This is my first book by Laura Brown but will not be my last. This is the story of Devon and Jasmine. Both are hard-of-hearing but Devon does have hearing aids to help him out a bit. Jas does not and relies on ASL. Dev and Jas have been each others best friend since kindergarten. They have always been there for each other. For some reason neither has been able to form any kind of lasting relationship with someone else.
Then the day comes that they realize they each have feelings for the other. Not wanting to ruin the best friend relationship they have they do nothing, for awhile. I really can't say anymore without spoilers. This is a great love story that will hold your attention from start to finish. I read it in one day. Give it a try. You will not be disappointed.
This is my first book by Laura Brown but will not be my last. This is the story of Devon and Jasmine. Both are hard-of-hearing but Devon does have hearing aids to help him out a bit. Jas does not and relies on ASL. Dev and Jas have been each others best friend since kindergarten. They have always been there for each other. For some reason neither has been able to form any kind of lasting relationship with someone else.
Then the day comes that they realize they each have feelings for the other. Not wanting to ruin the best friend relationship they have they do nothing, for awhile. I really can't say anymore without spoilers. This is a great love story that will hold your attention from start to finish. I read it in one day. Give it a try. You will not be disappointed.
June 20, 2017
I don't know why but I kind of expected Friend (With Benefits) Zone to be a humorous book. I think it's the combination of two 'friend' phrases being mashed together. Well that and the blurb. It contained some keywords that had me thinking this should be a funny, sweet story. I was wrong.
I'm really on the fence with this one. On one hand, I loved the story. Lifelong friends becoming something more, working the whole friends things, the bumps along the way to get to their HEA. All the pining away, the angst sometimes makes for great reading. Sometimes. What can kill it for me is too much angst, too many bumps. And that there is where I have issues.
Not with Devon. He was great although at times it was just a bit too much of a helper. I can see this could be a bit annoying but when it's come from the heart, you have to just love them for it. Then there is the family and friends. I loved all the extra characters especially Blake, Nikki and Pete. Funny, familiar and willing to point out the obvious to those they love. Without them, the story wouldn't have been complete. That leaves one person and there is where my problem lays.
*Sigh* Jasmine. She was just too much. Too much pride, too much drama, too much angst. At first, it wasn't too bad. I get why she has issues. Her father died when she was young and her mom emotional checked out. We eventually find out why her mom is the way she is and while it wasn't great, it did make sense. She doesn't want to depend on someone else and get hurt again. I. Get. It. Nevertheless, there comes a time where you begin to think okay now she's gonna come around. No? Okay now. Umm..how about now? There will eventually be a now, right? And so begins the story dragging. Like a record with a skip, it just kept coming and coming.
Now to be clear, Friend (With Benefits) Zone did not suck. On the contrary, I did like it. The beginning was great, the ending even better, it's just some stuff in the middle that had my mind wandering. Yes, I would still recommend the book because I like what I have read by author Laura Brown. I would just add a clause to the recommendation.
I received this book from The JeepDiva prior to release with the express purpose of an honest review. The opinions, contents, and rating of this review are solely mine
Stars - 3.5, Flames - 3
I'm really on the fence with this one. On one hand, I loved the story. Lifelong friends becoming something more, working the whole friends things, the bumps along the way to get to their HEA. All the pining away, the angst sometimes makes for great reading. Sometimes. What can kill it for me is too much angst, too many bumps. And that there is where I have issues.
Not with Devon. He was great although at times it was just a bit too much of a helper. I can see this could be a bit annoying but when it's come from the heart, you have to just love them for it. Then there is the family and friends. I loved all the extra characters especially Blake, Nikki and Pete. Funny, familiar and willing to point out the obvious to those they love. Without them, the story wouldn't have been complete. That leaves one person and there is where my problem lays.
*Sigh* Jasmine. She was just too much. Too much pride, too much drama, too much angst. At first, it wasn't too bad. I get why she has issues. Her father died when she was young and her mom emotional checked out. We eventually find out why her mom is the way she is and while it wasn't great, it did make sense. She doesn't want to depend on someone else and get hurt again. I. Get. It. Nevertheless, there comes a time where you begin to think okay now she's gonna come around. No? Okay now. Umm..how about now? There will eventually be a now, right? And so begins the story dragging. Like a record with a skip, it just kept coming and coming.
Now to be clear, Friend (With Benefits) Zone did not suck. On the contrary, I did like it. The beginning was great, the ending even better, it's just some stuff in the middle that had my mind wandering. Yes, I would still recommend the book because I like what I have read by author Laura Brown. I would just add a clause to the recommendation.
I received this book from The JeepDiva prior to release with the express purpose of an honest review. The opinions, contents, and rating of this review are solely mine
Stars - 3.5, Flames - 3
dnf
April 27, 2018A well-written own voices romance about two deaf characters. I absolutely love the set up, but I'm not invested in the romance after six and a half chapters, and it's a bit more angsty and stereotypically new adult than I enjoy; I like my romances on the fluffy side of the spectrum. I'd absolutely recommend this one to romance readers who like their romances a bit edgier and love the friends-to-lovers trope.
December 18, 2017
A lifelong friendship to lovers is the cornerstone of this story – both Devon and Jasmine have known each other since childhood – and often bonded over their similarities and their own differences from one another. But, surprising to me was Devon’s willingness to put up with much of Jasmine’s repeated and near pathological need to be contrary and dramatic, over Every Little Thing. And, not surprisingly, while I did understand that her issues were not plucked out of thin air – it was time for her to seriously sit down with herself and see just how many times she decided on an action, fought with herself and contradicted her own decisions, and then went off half-cocked to a reaction that was often inappropriate, or wholly unrelated. She was exhausting in every meaning of the word – and most of her problems (or what she saw as her problems) were self-inflicted. To his credit, Devon seems to know that she needs that stability, help and security that their long-term friendship provides, and is willing, because in her good moments she is truly wonderful, to stick around.
And Devon was just wonderful – perhaps almost too nice for Jasmine. The communication issues between them, ironically not due to their deafness but a mix of youth, conflicted emotions and a general fear of making themselves vulnerable kept the angst high here, when it was almost blatantly apparent to everyone that there was a connection between them that was stronger than friendship, but based in that always understanding the difficulties facing a world not quite accommodating was a unique perspective and one that had me seeing the world around me in a different way.
Laura Brown kept me intrigued, even when I was so frustrated I could scream. Dropping bits of information, mixing in secondary characters and issues that everyone faces, along with some very specific challenges that both Jasmine and Devon had to face brought a rich tapestry of moments to the story and kept me curious as I hoped they could and find a way through the maze of circumstances, issues and Jasmine’s drama to get to a resolution. It was wonderful to see that the issues were more self-imposed and built than societal, and that coming to accept yourself, your choices and find an acceptance in another made this an intriguing and challenging read. I’m sure to look for more of this author’s titles in the future, as the concepts and characters created such memorable moments here.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
And Devon was just wonderful – perhaps almost too nice for Jasmine. The communication issues between them, ironically not due to their deafness but a mix of youth, conflicted emotions and a general fear of making themselves vulnerable kept the angst high here, when it was almost blatantly apparent to everyone that there was a connection between them that was stronger than friendship, but based in that always understanding the difficulties facing a world not quite accommodating was a unique perspective and one that had me seeing the world around me in a different way.
Laura Brown kept me intrigued, even when I was so frustrated I could scream. Dropping bits of information, mixing in secondary characters and issues that everyone faces, along with some very specific challenges that both Jasmine and Devon had to face brought a rich tapestry of moments to the story and kept me curious as I hoped they could and find a way through the maze of circumstances, issues and Jasmine’s drama to get to a resolution. It was wonderful to see that the issues were more self-imposed and built than societal, and that coming to accept yourself, your choices and find an acceptance in another made this an intriguing and challenging read. I’m sure to look for more of this author’s titles in the future, as the concepts and characters created such memorable moments here.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
June 26, 2017
Friend (With Benefits) Zone by Laura Brown
4 stars
M/F Romance
Triggers: Discrimination of deaf people, severe depression
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
This is a sweet story about friends who are more family. Jas is working as a waitress in a bar, but her true dream is to own and run her own bar - a bar where deaf people wouldn't be discriminated against. She is deaf and despite her deafness, she has lived on her own since her father passed away. Despite having a living mother, when her father died, her mother fell in to a deep depression and never recovered. Jas tries to keep some kind of a relationship with her, but her mom barely learned how to sign in order to communicate with her daughter and is just angry and bitter.
Jas wants to do things on her own - she refuses to have a handout. Even though things keep creeping up and landing on her - she keeps getting back up and hoping to continue on with her dream.
Devon is sweet, kind, and totally in love with Jas. He is also deaf and has been Jas' support since they were kids. Devon has a home life with one parent who is partially deaf and another who teaches deaf students. They are kind and definitely want their children to be happy. However, the father is somewhat of a tough sell - he wants his boys to follow in his footsteps.
This was a long, drawn out story and I felt that it was, at times, too long and drawn out. There were some chapters that could have been deleted without compromising the story at all, but overall, this was a sweet story and I did enjoy it.
4 stars
M/F Romance
Triggers: Discrimination of deaf people, severe depression
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
This is a sweet story about friends who are more family. Jas is working as a waitress in a bar, but her true dream is to own and run her own bar - a bar where deaf people wouldn't be discriminated against. She is deaf and despite her deafness, she has lived on her own since her father passed away. Despite having a living mother, when her father died, her mother fell in to a deep depression and never recovered. Jas tries to keep some kind of a relationship with her, but her mom barely learned how to sign in order to communicate with her daughter and is just angry and bitter.
Jas wants to do things on her own - she refuses to have a handout. Even though things keep creeping up and landing on her - she keeps getting back up and hoping to continue on with her dream.
Devon is sweet, kind, and totally in love with Jas. He is also deaf and has been Jas' support since they were kids. Devon has a home life with one parent who is partially deaf and another who teaches deaf students. They are kind and definitely want their children to be happy. However, the father is somewhat of a tough sell - he wants his boys to follow in his footsteps.
This was a long, drawn out story and I felt that it was, at times, too long and drawn out. There were some chapters that could have been deleted without compromising the story at all, but overall, this was a sweet story and I did enjoy it.
June 27, 2017
I love the "friends become lovers" trope, as it reminds me of my own love story with my husband of 12+ years. This twist on the trope didn't let me down for a second. Steamy romance combined with real life struggles snagged my heart and wouldn't let go. Jas can be infuriating and stubborn, but she is resilient and strong. Dev, who is absolutely swoon worthy, loves with all his heart and all he has, and I wish more men--in literature and real life--love the way he does. This couple had me crying, laughing, yelling at my kindle, and sighing. The road they walk is full of struggles, but their strength and commitment to each other had me rooting for them at every turn. I look forward to seeing what else this author has in store.
September 14, 2018
Oh man, I was so disappointed in this book.
It started out amazingly, I loved the characters and I always find it interesting reading about people with disabilities being in the spotlight. I'm not sure exactly where it went wrong (since I abandoned it for a while, because I wasn't enjoying it), but I think after they get together the plot, or rather, where the story was going became a little unclear to me.
Jasmine was a total 'I'm an independent woman I don't need anybody' the whole story, so there really wasn't much charcter growth from her part; that trait that defined her just blew up in the air when SPOILERS Devon offered her the bar she always wanted, free basically. So, she doesn't want a house or moral support from her boyfriend, but has no problem throwing that 'independece' out the windown when she's offered what she wants?? How does that work, exactly? She's a brat, that's how.
And poor Devon, he was a good person but had no backbone at all. I get it, he was in love and you do stupid shit when you're in love, but come on, grow some balls. Honestly, I didn't really see how their relationship worked out, other than they were BFFs and should be together because of... reasons.
Basically, Devon was constantly pushing Jas and she was constantly pulling away. And the ending was so anticlimatic.
It started out amazingly, I loved the characters and I always find it interesting reading about people with disabilities being in the spotlight. I'm not sure exactly where it went wrong (since I abandoned it for a while, because I wasn't enjoying it), but I think after they get together the plot, or rather, where the story was going became a little unclear to me.
Jasmine was a total 'I'm an independent woman I don't need anybody' the whole story, so there really wasn't much charcter growth from her part; that trait that defined her just blew up in the air when SPOILERS Devon offered her the bar she always wanted, free basically. So, she doesn't want a house or moral support from her boyfriend, but has no problem throwing that 'independece' out the windown when she's offered what she wants?? How does that work, exactly? She's a brat, that's how.
And poor Devon, he was a good person but had no backbone at all. I get it, he was in love and you do stupid shit when you're in love, but come on, grow some balls. Honestly, I didn't really see how their relationship worked out, other than they were BFFs and should be together because of... reasons.
Basically, Devon was constantly pushing Jas and she was constantly pulling away. And the ending was so anticlimatic.
March 27, 2021
I wrote a small review on my site :)
https://butterflysxx.wixsite.com/read...
https://butterflysxx.wixsite.com/read...
October 16, 2017
After discovering Eden Summer's Inarticulate last year, I've been drawn to romances with characters having a speech impediment or hearing loss. For example, the hero in Summer's Inarticulate is mute as a result of a debilitating speech disorder. Earlier this year, I read Live Out Loud by Marie Meyer, which features a deaf heroine. I'm drawn to the emotions surrounding the communication barrier between the main characters. The stages that each character goes through while falling in love with someone that communicates using a different language. It can range from shock to frustration to acceptance to finally love. And following that journey between them is just as rewarding for me as it is for them.
When I came across Laura Brown's Friend (With Benefits) Zone, I was initially drawn to the book for three reasons. The first being an own voices romance. This was my first time reading one and I was intrigued. Not going to lie, the second reason was the cover. Holy cow, how could I resist him? The last reason (which was actually the main reason why I wanted to read this book) was that both main characters, as well as a handful of background characters, are deaf. I knew that they would communicate using ASL. What I was curious about was how would that translate to the reader. Could I picture them signing? American Sign Language is an incredibly expressive language. Would that translate well in a romance? The answer to all of my questions was a resounding yes. I could picture how expressive Devon and Jasmine would be, especially when they they argue and are intimate. That alone made me want to devour this book.
I think the element of Friend (With Benefits) Zone that I loved the most was the awkwardness between Dev and Jas as they took their friendship a step further. With a lot of friends-to-lovers, readers miss out on that awkwardness. That first kiss... The first time having sex... It's going to be all kinds of awkward and I loved that Laura didn't skip over that stage in their relationship.
Friend (With Benefits) Zone was beautiful written. The characters were well developed. There were times when they broke my heart and times when they made it soar. Jas is a strong, yet very stubborn woman. After the death of her father, she lost everything. Because of that, she's afraid to love in fear that it'll be taken away. Jas doesn't know how to lean on someone and to let people help. Devon was born to help people. He doesn't know how to show Jas that just because he wants to help it doesn't make her weak. Instead, it makes her stronger. I fell in love with them from the first page. They kept me up reading until the wee hours. I couldn't put this book down. In fact, Laura made me ugly cry at 2 o'clock in the morning. I loved this book and I cannot wait to read more from Laura Brown.
I received an advance copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
When I came across Laura Brown's Friend (With Benefits) Zone, I was initially drawn to the book for three reasons. The first being an own voices romance. This was my first time reading one and I was intrigued. Not going to lie, the second reason was the cover. Holy cow, how could I resist him? The last reason (which was actually the main reason why I wanted to read this book) was that both main characters, as well as a handful of background characters, are deaf. I knew that they would communicate using ASL. What I was curious about was how would that translate to the reader. Could I picture them signing? American Sign Language is an incredibly expressive language. Would that translate well in a romance? The answer to all of my questions was a resounding yes. I could picture how expressive Devon and Jasmine would be, especially when they they argue and are intimate. That alone made me want to devour this book.
I think the element of Friend (With Benefits) Zone that I loved the most was the awkwardness between Dev and Jas as they took their friendship a step further. With a lot of friends-to-lovers, readers miss out on that awkwardness. That first kiss... The first time having sex... It's going to be all kinds of awkward and I loved that Laura didn't skip over that stage in their relationship.
Friend (With Benefits) Zone was beautiful written. The characters were well developed. There were times when they broke my heart and times when they made it soar. Jas is a strong, yet very stubborn woman. After the death of her father, she lost everything. Because of that, she's afraid to love in fear that it'll be taken away. Jas doesn't know how to lean on someone and to let people help. Devon was born to help people. He doesn't know how to show Jas that just because he wants to help it doesn't make her weak. Instead, it makes her stronger. I fell in love with them from the first page. They kept me up reading until the wee hours. I couldn't put this book down. In fact, Laura made me ugly cry at 2 o'clock in the morning. I loved this book and I cannot wait to read more from Laura Brown.
I received an advance copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
July 12, 2017
I received an advance copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I think this might be the first romance I've read where both of the leads were disabled-- he is hard of hearing, and she's deaf. The author worked this into the story seamlessly, but it caught my attention during more intimate scenes, where they'd pause or pull away to talk to each other.
The story is one of my favorite tropes- childhood best friends turned lovers. Jasmine works as a waitress (who's turned her deafness into a bonus for waitressing, using a white board to take orders that's attached to her hip), and Devon is dragging his feet while being encouraged to join his dad's firm, where another deaf/HoH lawyer is a bonus. His heart is in social work, however, and he's not sure how to come clean to his family.
When Jasmine is summarily evicted from her apartment, Devon pitches his place as a crash pad. His brother's moving out (and in with a boyfriend, the tiny subplot), so he's got room for Jasmine. But her youth has left her with scars and walls she can't seem to break down, even when the man of her dreams is in the room next to her.
This was a pretty decent new adult romance, but one that wouldn't have stood out for me if it wasn't for how well the author wrote (from personal experience, I'm guessing) deaf and hard of hearing characters living their lives without their hearing loss being the beginning, middle, and end of their characterization.
I think this might be the first romance I've read where both of the leads were disabled-- he is hard of hearing, and she's deaf. The author worked this into the story seamlessly, but it caught my attention during more intimate scenes, where they'd pause or pull away to talk to each other.
The story is one of my favorite tropes- childhood best friends turned lovers. Jasmine works as a waitress (who's turned her deafness into a bonus for waitressing, using a white board to take orders that's attached to her hip), and Devon is dragging his feet while being encouraged to join his dad's firm, where another deaf/HoH lawyer is a bonus. His heart is in social work, however, and he's not sure how to come clean to his family.
When Jasmine is summarily evicted from her apartment, Devon pitches his place as a crash pad. His brother's moving out (and in with a boyfriend, the tiny subplot), so he's got room for Jasmine. But her youth has left her with scars and walls she can't seem to break down, even when the man of her dreams is in the room next to her.
This was a pretty decent new adult romance, but one that wouldn't have stood out for me if it wasn't for how well the author wrote (from personal experience, I'm guessing) deaf and hard of hearing characters living their lives without their hearing loss being the beginning, middle, and end of their characterization.
February 14, 2021
Unlike the previous book I read from Laura Brown, Signs of Attraction, there's no hand-holding or slow introduction to a Deaf world here! We're immediately thrown into a setting where Jasmine and her best friend since kindergarten, Devon, can no longer deny that they're attracted to each other (and perhaps more!). What follows is a story where they try to navigate a future together despite all their individual baggage (Jasmine especially has been hurt so much, I don't blame her skittishness). Some might find Jasmine's reluctance and Devon's missteps rather annoying (it certainly annoyed me a bit!), but they are 21-22 years old, so I found their general dumbness and slowness to change rather realistic. Relationships can be hard.
I think I liked Signs of Attraction a bit better, if only because I identified a bit better with the characters, but I think Friend (with Benefits) Zone has a lot to offer. If nothing else, seeing a book touch on deaf employment issues--especially for Jasmine--was rather nice to see mentioned. I also liked seeing a certain character get help for their depression. We actually got a small but fun cameo from a character in Brown's previous book, though this is not a sequel.
The solution in the end felt a bit like a deus ex machina, but you know what, I don't care, it was great and sweet.
I think I liked Signs of Attraction a bit better, if only because I identified a bit better with the characters, but I think Friend (with Benefits) Zone has a lot to offer. If nothing else, seeing a book touch on deaf employment issues--especially for Jasmine--was rather nice to see mentioned. I also liked seeing a certain character get help for their depression. We actually got a small but fun cameo from a character in Brown's previous book, though this is not a sequel.
The solution in the end felt a bit like a deus ex machina, but you know what, I don't care, it was great and sweet.
December 11, 2017
Laura Brown writes some steamy romance. In this best friends to lovers story, we get to explore the fun transition of a solid friendship as it crosses a line where there's no going back. That her leads are both deaf adds another dimension and sheds light on life with no sound, but Laura makes their disability one characteristic among many, just one aspect of a rich story. Dev is a total sweetheart with a great family and a drive to help others. Jas comes from a more difficult family situation, and she craves independence and has a hard time accepting help. The love between these two friends is palpable and solid from the start, but from the very start, Jas finds herself in a position where she needs to lean on her best friend, and that becomes complicated as the friendship cedes to romance. Negotiating this new relationship while at the same time dealing with a number of set backs throws a curve their way. You can't help but root for them to find a solution to the puzzle.
September 29, 2017
If you're looking for a wonderful book that'll pull you in from the first page, snap this one up!
Jasmine's a young woman with big goals - but real life keeps kicking her in the head and it's one thing after another... like "accidentally" falling in love with her best friend! Devon's a sweetheart but he can't be the answer to all her problems, no matter how much he wants to be.
I couldn't put this book down after I started it - every page, every chapter kept me reading to the end. Real people, real problems and it was easy to imagine this as a movie. Grab this for your TBR and be prepared to spend the entire week going through it because you'll be hooked!
Jasmine's a young woman with big goals - but real life keeps kicking her in the head and it's one thing after another... like "accidentally" falling in love with her best friend! Devon's a sweetheart but he can't be the answer to all her problems, no matter how much he wants to be.
I couldn't put this book down after I started it - every page, every chapter kept me reading to the end. Real people, real problems and it was easy to imagine this as a movie. Grab this for your TBR and be prepared to spend the entire week going through it because you'll be hooked!
August 12, 2017
Devon's a sweetie. The romance between Nikki and Pete is adorable and I'd love to read more of their story. I also like the realistic issues with both Devon and jasmine's parents, and the character of Shawn who's an awesomely supportive brother and also dealing with wanting to move in with his boyfriend Blake but not yet having come out to his parents.
Jasmine's stubbornness, as other reviewers pointed out, got a bit frustrating after a while, but I like how her story turns out.
3.5 stars, I liked Signs of Attraction better, but this was still a fun read.
Jasmine's stubbornness, as other reviewers pointed out, got a bit frustrating after a while, but I like how her story turns out.
3.5 stars, I liked Signs of Attraction better, but this was still a fun read.
June 24, 2017
Friend (With Benefits) Zone was a fantastic read, complete with well-developed characters and edge-of-your-seat tension. Laura Brown does a great job pulling her readers in and keeping them hooked until the last page. I loved the build-up between Jas and Devon as they explored their feelings for each other and nagivated their career paths. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in contemporary romances with realistic storylines.
July 9, 2017
I’m ridiculously attracted to my best friend.
Today is a bad day. The worst actually. After dealing with the constant manhandling that comes with being a cocktail waitress at a dive bar and surviving a date from hell, I see an eviction notice slapped on the door of my sketchy basement apartment. Great.
When my best friend Devon shows up at my door and uses his stubborn charm (emphasis on stubborn) to get me to move in with him, I give in. We’ve had about a million sleepovers since we met in the kindergarten Deaf program, but this time it’s different because I can’t stop thinking about his hard body covering mine, every single night.
I know Devon would do anything for me, but I’m afraid what I want to happen will ruin our friendship forever. And the more time we spend together in close quarters, the harder it’ll be to resist the spark of attraction I’ve always felt. But maybe it’s possible to have the best of both worlds: keep the one relationship I can’t live without and indulge in an attraction I can’t deny.
I guess the only thing we can do is try…
Rating: 4.25/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: believable, realistic, awesome characters; SO STEAMY I CAN'T EVEN!; mature subjects handled with sensitivity and poise; I am much more open-eyed on hearing impairments/deaf culture after this read; just enough drama and angst to keep my penguin heart cold
Huge thanks to Laura Brown, Avon Impulse, Partners in Crime Book Tours, and Edelweiss for sending me a free egalley of this title in exchange for an honest review! This in no way altered my read of or opinions on this book.
So once again, I find myself on the other side of a book I never even took the time to read a blurb for--and feeling SO very glad that I went into this read blind. I was honestly surprised with what I discovered between these covers--and what a steamy, sexy cover it is. I mean, just LOOK at him, with his brooding face and black leather jacket and... GAAAAAH. Someone, quick, find me my partner in crime and bestest panda buddy Annelise--those abs are just BEGGING her to lick them!
Dev leaned forward and pressed a lingering kiss to my temple before gathering up his dinner.
"What was that for?" I asked.
"I figured you'd yell at me if I kissed your lips while you were eating."
I choked on a laugh and a noodle. "Smart man."
This romance was steamy and heart-wrenching in turn. I have always been a fan of "friends" to "lovers," and this story BEAUTIFULLY encapsulates that journey in a dramatic, angsty, fear-for-the-outcome way that kept me enthralled and entertained. The love between Jas and Dev was believable and endearing, and I loved learning about them from not only THEIR POV...but from the other's as well. The fact that these characters are also diverse and well-rounded only made me fall even more in love with them. Honestly, I'm going to be picking up more of Laura Brown in the very near future--I had such a great time rooting for (and shouting at) this couple. Their dynamics and antics are just... AGGGGGGH, I just want to hug them both!
This was a super fun, light-hearted (though still painful at times!), and diverse read--and I adored every minute of it! The characters are well-rounded, the romance is believable, and the angst only helped to cement me more fully into their journey. I definitely recommend this to lovers of contemporary romance, complex growth stories, and the flight from "friends" to "lovers." Sparks are flying, Penguins; take a seat and watch the show!
July 2, 2017
>>>>>My Synopsis (Review Follows): <<<<<
Jas and Dev have been best friends since they were young. In Jas' crazy messed up world, Dev's been her one constant, her rock. When she gets evicted from her apartment, he comes to her rescue. He offers her a place to stay and, as they've done since they were kids, she crashes in his bed. The thing is they aren't kids anymore, and this time something starts to stir between them. Dare they give in to it? Is the risk of what could be lost worth the price of what could be gained?
>>>>>My Review: <<<<<
This was a sweet romance that dealt with family issues, the changing dynamics of a friendship, and fear. Fear is a powerful thing. It can keep us from reaching our potential, keep us from doing what we're meant to do, or keep us from finding the love of our life. The latter is the dilemma that both Jas and Dev face, but of the two, if things don't work out, Jas is the one with more to lose. While Dev has family to fall back on, he's been Jas' rock when times got rough. Jas' fear is real and while she's not alone in it, she, as her friend Nikki points out, is the one with the baggage that needs to be dealt with for the relationship to have a chance.
Dev and Jas are both deaf, but Dev still has some hearing and uses hearing aides. He's about to graduate from college and is supposed to go work for his dad's accounting firm, something he doesn't wish to do. He'd rather go into social work. Jas, on the other hand, works as a waitress and is saving her money so she can open her own bar. It's what her father had done and she's inherited his passion for running such a place. Unfortunately, her father passed away years ago and the bar he'd once run has since been sold, but she's saved his recipes in the hope that some day she'll follow in his footsteps.
The song that was playing in my head as I read this one was 'Say You Won't Let Go' by
James Arthur:
'Then you smiled over your shoulder
For a minute, I was stone-cold sober
I pulled you closer to my chest
And you asked me to stay over
I said, I already told ya
I think that you should get some rest
I knew I loved you then
But you'd never know
'Cause I played it cool when I was scared of letting go
I know I needed you
But I never showed
But I wanna stay with you until we're grey and old
Just say you won't let go
Just say you won't let go'
I really enjoyed this romance and gave it 4 1/2 out of 5 roses. I loved the relationship between these two, and the way Dev knew how to handle Jas, and, ultimately, put her fears to rest. I could totally relate to Jas because when you lose one parent, for me it was through divorce, and the other is dealing with their own pain and grief sometimes the kids get the short end of the stick. I had other family to fall back on, but Jas had none. What she hasn't yet come to realize is that Dev already is her family. They just haven't made it official. I enjoyed every step of Jas' journey in making that discovery. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one get a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.
Jas and Dev have been best friends since they were young. In Jas' crazy messed up world, Dev's been her one constant, her rock. When she gets evicted from her apartment, he comes to her rescue. He offers her a place to stay and, as they've done since they were kids, she crashes in his bed. The thing is they aren't kids anymore, and this time something starts to stir between them. Dare they give in to it? Is the risk of what could be lost worth the price of what could be gained?
>>>>>My Review: <<<<<
This was a sweet romance that dealt with family issues, the changing dynamics of a friendship, and fear. Fear is a powerful thing. It can keep us from reaching our potential, keep us from doing what we're meant to do, or keep us from finding the love of our life. The latter is the dilemma that both Jas and Dev face, but of the two, if things don't work out, Jas is the one with more to lose. While Dev has family to fall back on, he's been Jas' rock when times got rough. Jas' fear is real and while she's not alone in it, she, as her friend Nikki points out, is the one with the baggage that needs to be dealt with for the relationship to have a chance.
Dev and Jas are both deaf, but Dev still has some hearing and uses hearing aides. He's about to graduate from college and is supposed to go work for his dad's accounting firm, something he doesn't wish to do. He'd rather go into social work. Jas, on the other hand, works as a waitress and is saving her money so she can open her own bar. It's what her father had done and she's inherited his passion for running such a place. Unfortunately, her father passed away years ago and the bar he'd once run has since been sold, but she's saved his recipes in the hope that some day she'll follow in his footsteps.
The song that was playing in my head as I read this one was 'Say You Won't Let Go' by
James Arthur:
'Then you smiled over your shoulder
For a minute, I was stone-cold sober
I pulled you closer to my chest
And you asked me to stay over
I said, I already told ya
I think that you should get some rest
I knew I loved you then
But you'd never know
'Cause I played it cool when I was scared of letting go
I know I needed you
But I never showed
But I wanna stay with you until we're grey and old
Just say you won't let go
Just say you won't let go'
I really enjoyed this romance and gave it 4 1/2 out of 5 roses. I loved the relationship between these two, and the way Dev knew how to handle Jas, and, ultimately, put her fears to rest. I could totally relate to Jas because when you lose one parent, for me it was through divorce, and the other is dealing with their own pain and grief sometimes the kids get the short end of the stick. I had other family to fall back on, but Jas had none. What she hasn't yet come to realize is that Dev already is her family. They just haven't made it official. I enjoyed every step of Jas' journey in making that discovery. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one get a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.
August 21, 2017
Find this review and more at Ramblings From This Chick
I really enjoyed Laura Brown's book Signs of Attraction, so when I saw that she had a new book coming out I was excited to read it. As much as I liked Signs of Attraction though, Friend (With Benefits) Zone was really hard for me to get through and I was very frustrated while reading this book. I wanted to give up several times, but ultimately I pushed through to see how things would turn out. Jasmine and Devon have been friends since they were children and both of them are deaf.
fter her father died Jasmine's family fell apart and while Devon and his family were there for her, she quickly learned that she could only rely on herself. So when she comes home after work to find an eviction notice, the last thing she wants to do is ask her best friend for help. Devon can't help the fact that he is a helper by nature, and of course there is no one he wants to help more than Jasmine. So when he offers his place for her to crash at while she figures out what to do next, he views it as a chance to finally have her close to explore the growing attraction between them while she views it as a temporary imposition that she plans to change as soon as possible. Can Devon show her that she is exactly where she should be with him, or will Jasmine's determination to do everything alone be what destroys not only a chance at a future together but their friendship as well?
I loved Devon. He was sweet and caring, a good person to the core. He was a great friend and was always considering others before himself. Jasmine on the other hand got off to a good start but quickly grew irritating and did nothing but get on my nerves. I really loved her strong sense of independence at first, but that quickly turned into being one of the most stubborn and unlikable heroines I have ever read about. She was bullheaded to a fault and I got tired of reading about her friends trying to help her when she did nothing but push them away. She refused to accept help and often used sex to deflect actually dealing with the problem. I hated that, and I wish that Dev wouldn't have allowed her to get away with that either. I still loved him, but he should have handled that differently.
Overall, this story was just a miss for me. While I liked Dev and this book had a ton of promise, it unfortunately just frustrated me to no end and I honestly grew so sick of Jasmine that I wished she would wind up alone in the end. She was impossible for me to like and it just got worse of the course of the book. I loved Signs of Attraction and that is definitely one I would recommend, I just wish I could say the same for Friend (With Benefits) Zone.
**ARC Provided by Publisher**
I really enjoyed Laura Brown's book Signs of Attraction, so when I saw that she had a new book coming out I was excited to read it. As much as I liked Signs of Attraction though, Friend (With Benefits) Zone was really hard for me to get through and I was very frustrated while reading this book. I wanted to give up several times, but ultimately I pushed through to see how things would turn out. Jasmine and Devon have been friends since they were children and both of them are deaf.
fter her father died Jasmine's family fell apart and while Devon and his family were there for her, she quickly learned that she could only rely on herself. So when she comes home after work to find an eviction notice, the last thing she wants to do is ask her best friend for help. Devon can't help the fact that he is a helper by nature, and of course there is no one he wants to help more than Jasmine. So when he offers his place for her to crash at while she figures out what to do next, he views it as a chance to finally have her close to explore the growing attraction between them while she views it as a temporary imposition that she plans to change as soon as possible. Can Devon show her that she is exactly where she should be with him, or will Jasmine's determination to do everything alone be what destroys not only a chance at a future together but their friendship as well?
I loved Devon. He was sweet and caring, a good person to the core. He was a great friend and was always considering others before himself. Jasmine on the other hand got off to a good start but quickly grew irritating and did nothing but get on my nerves. I really loved her strong sense of independence at first, but that quickly turned into being one of the most stubborn and unlikable heroines I have ever read about. She was bullheaded to a fault and I got tired of reading about her friends trying to help her when she did nothing but push them away. She refused to accept help and often used sex to deflect actually dealing with the problem. I hated that, and I wish that Dev wouldn't have allowed her to get away with that either. I still loved him, but he should have handled that differently.
Overall, this story was just a miss for me. While I liked Dev and this book had a ton of promise, it unfortunately just frustrated me to no end and I honestly grew so sick of Jasmine that I wished she would wind up alone in the end. She was impossible for me to like and it just got worse of the course of the book. I loved Signs of Attraction and that is definitely one I would recommend, I just wish I could say the same for Friend (With Benefits) Zone.
**ARC Provided by Publisher**
June 25, 2017
Friend (With Benefits) Zone is a short and dramatic friends to lovers story. I'm going to completely honest and say that I'm a little conflicted about the plot, which was for the most part, a bit of a mixed bag for me. Don't get me wrong I did like the story I just didn't love it...
Oh the Diversity! It really shouldn't be such a rare occurrence to read a story where the main characters are deaf but unfortunately it is. I find this particularly shocking because one of my school friends is deaf. When we were in junior school a team from the National Deaf Children's Organisation come in to teach us the basics of BSL fingerspelling to help us communicate with Glenn. Although we all enjoyed learning BSL (which I'm reliably told is different from ASL) I genuinely don't think as 10-year-olds we understood the significance of how hard it would be for a him not being able to communicate in the same was as the rest of us. BUT he never seemed in any way less able and is still just Glenn, not deaf Glenn. So what I really appreciated in the book was the positive representation of deaf people and the inclusion the characters demonstrated. Being deaf is just a part of their lives and although it is incorporated seamlessly into the plot, the real story is about the relationship between Jasmine and Devon.
I'm a sucker for a friends-to-lover story so this element was always going to be a bonus for me. I'm not totally convinced on how the actual romance progressed. Jas is full of self doubt and I wasn't sure what to make of her constant back-and-forth. I often found myself getting cross and hoping Dev would leave her to save herself for once rather than always being the hero.
Dev is everything you would want in a BBF - if only he could move past his saviour complex! He's patient, sweet and selfless. I just REALLY wanted him and Jas to move past the angst and be on the same page as lovers, like they were as friends. On the upside Dev knows how to bring out the swoon and totally woos Jas, even when she doesn't want to be wooed.
All in all it's a cute story with lots of laughs, kissing and drama surrounded by a much deeper meaning than your average friends-to-lovers coming of age story.
3 Stars in my Sky!
I received a copy from the publisher (via Edelweiss) in exchange for an honest review!
Oh the Diversity! It really shouldn't be such a rare occurrence to read a story where the main characters are deaf but unfortunately it is. I find this particularly shocking because one of my school friends is deaf. When we were in junior school a team from the National Deaf Children's Organisation come in to teach us the basics of BSL fingerspelling to help us communicate with Glenn. Although we all enjoyed learning BSL (which I'm reliably told is different from ASL) I genuinely don't think as 10-year-olds we understood the significance of how hard it would be for a him not being able to communicate in the same was as the rest of us. BUT he never seemed in any way less able and is still just Glenn, not deaf Glenn. So what I really appreciated in the book was the positive representation of deaf people and the inclusion the characters demonstrated. Being deaf is just a part of their lives and although it is incorporated seamlessly into the plot, the real story is about the relationship between Jasmine and Devon.
I'm a sucker for a friends-to-lover story so this element was always going to be a bonus for me. I'm not totally convinced on how the actual romance progressed. Jas is full of self doubt and I wasn't sure what to make of her constant back-and-forth. I often found myself getting cross and hoping Dev would leave her to save herself for once rather than always being the hero.
Dev is everything you would want in a BBF - if only he could move past his saviour complex! He's patient, sweet and selfless. I just REALLY wanted him and Jas to move past the angst and be on the same page as lovers, like they were as friends. On the upside Dev knows how to bring out the swoon and totally woos Jas, even when she doesn't want to be wooed.
All in all it's a cute story with lots of laughs, kissing and drama surrounded by a much deeper meaning than your average friends-to-lovers coming of age story.
3 Stars in my Sky!
I received a copy from the publisher (via Edelweiss) in exchange for an honest review!
July 1, 2017
Totally fell in love with Jas (Jasmine) and Devon in the very first chapter.
For some readers it's all about the setting, where it takes place, in the city, in the country, someplace you've never been before, someplace you've always wanted to go. For some people it's all about the suspense, or all about the romance. This book, for me, was all about the characters. Everything else took second stage to them.
But then... Jas really started to frustrate me so much! I still loved her, I was just frustrated with her. She was guarded, I get that. But she was guarded to the point of being a brick wall! Stopping Dev right in his tracks. Devon was a sweetheart and never gave up on her and I loved that about him. She just needed to trust him and her love for him.
It was very interesting that the two main characters and most of their friends were deaf. I don't think I have ever read a book like this. I, myself took two semesters of sign language because I worked in Special Ed. So it was kind of cool to actually be able to visualize the signing that was going on. I was testing myself - I have forgotten a lot :-( LOL
The story got a little long in the middle, But - had a fantastic ending! Ohh what he did for her at the end... it was OMG romantic! It was definitely worth the wait and worth the read. This was a nice summer read!
* (warning - it was a little HOT in places! and there was a bit of swearing).
I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this book from Partners in Crime Tours - Thank You!
For some readers it's all about the setting, where it takes place, in the city, in the country, someplace you've never been before, someplace you've always wanted to go. For some people it's all about the suspense, or all about the romance. This book, for me, was all about the characters. Everything else took second stage to them.
But then... Jas really started to frustrate me so much! I still loved her, I was just frustrated with her. She was guarded, I get that. But she was guarded to the point of being a brick wall! Stopping Dev right in his tracks. Devon was a sweetheart and never gave up on her and I loved that about him. She just needed to trust him and her love for him.
It was very interesting that the two main characters and most of their friends were deaf. I don't think I have ever read a book like this. I, myself took two semesters of sign language because I worked in Special Ed. So it was kind of cool to actually be able to visualize the signing that was going on. I was testing myself - I have forgotten a lot :-( LOL
The story got a little long in the middle, But - had a fantastic ending! Ohh what he did for her at the end... it was OMG romantic! It was definitely worth the wait and worth the read. This was a nice summer read!
* (warning - it was a little HOT in places! and there was a bit of swearing).
I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this book from Partners in Crime Tours - Thank You!
October 8, 2017
I loved parts of this book for sure. I loved the idea of a book about deaf characters and the depths the author went to in order to make this book stand out from the crowd of other books about best friends falling in love. However, I had one major problem...I didn't really like any of the important characters.
I hoped that once I got farther into the story that would change, but it never did. Jas was too wrapped up in herself and avoiding her issues to see her hand in front of her face and her best friend/boyfriend just enabled her to be that way. I didn't see a whole lot of growth from the characters, to be honest--and it was that hope which kept me reading throughout the book.
This wasn't terrible. It had a nice mixture of interesting situations and diverse characters, but overall I just didn't love it like I hoped I would. I still encourage others to check it out and come to their own decision.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher provided through Edelweiss. All opinions are my own.
I hoped that once I got farther into the story that would change, but it never did. Jas was too wrapped up in herself and avoiding her issues to see her hand in front of her face and her best friend/boyfriend just enabled her to be that way. I didn't see a whole lot of growth from the characters, to be honest--and it was that hope which kept me reading throughout the book.
This wasn't terrible. It had a nice mixture of interesting situations and diverse characters, but overall I just didn't love it like I hoped I would. I still encourage others to check it out and come to their own decision.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher provided through Edelweiss. All opinions are my own.
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June 27, 2017DNF @ 58%
A copy was provided by the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
From the premise alone, I sincerely thought this Romance would click instantly with me. It has one of my favorite tropes, friends turned lovers, plus, they’re roommates! This was supposed to be domestic fluff galore.
Unfortunately, the plot was all over the place and I felt like I knew nothing about these characters. The dialogue was stiff and boring a well. Their personalities were super bland and I couldn’t care less about their advancing relationship. There was so much unnecessary conflict and drama; I wanted to drop it sooner but I felt like maybe they deserved a chance. Turns out I was wrong. I guess I set my expectations way too high.
I did like that both MCs were deaf and spoke in ASL. It added something real to the story but it just wasn’t enough for me to keep going.
A copy was provided by the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
From the premise alone, I sincerely thought this Romance would click instantly with me. It has one of my favorite tropes, friends turned lovers, plus, they’re roommates! This was supposed to be domestic fluff galore.
Unfortunately, the plot was all over the place and I felt like I knew nothing about these characters. The dialogue was stiff and boring a well. Their personalities were super bland and I couldn’t care less about their advancing relationship. There was so much unnecessary conflict and drama; I wanted to drop it sooner but I felt like maybe they deserved a chance. Turns out I was wrong. I guess I set my expectations way too high.
I did like that both MCs were deaf and spoke in ASL. It added something real to the story but it just wasn’t enough for me to keep going.
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