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Just Friends
Can chasing the wrong girl lead down the right path? Witty as ever, best-selling author Dyan Sheldon maps the agonizing distance between "like" and "love."
Josh has never really thought twice about girls before. He's usually too busy watching old movies with his friends Sal and Carver, petitioning for more vegetarian options in the school cafeteria, or flailing in yoga class with his best friend Ramona. But when new girl Jena Capistrano walks into school, Josh loses his heart faster than he's ever lost his balance on a double downward dog. Not that he has any real aspirations, of course: he knows Jena is completely out of his league. And then, against all odds -- they become friends. The closer they get, the more infatuated Josh becomes, and the more he wonders if just maybe Jena might like him back. There's only one way to find out. But it's not exactly easy to put your heart on the line.
Josh has never really thought twice about girls before. He's usually too busy watching old movies with his friends Sal and Carver, petitioning for more vegetarian options in the school cafeteria, or flailing in yoga class with his best friend Ramona. But when new girl Jena Capistrano walks into school, Josh loses his heart faster than he's ever lost his balance on a double downward dog. Not that he has any real aspirations, of course: he knows Jena is completely out of his league. And then, against all odds -- they become friends. The closer they get, the more infatuated Josh becomes, and the more he wonders if just maybe Jena might like him back. There's only one way to find out. But it's not exactly easy to put your heart on the line.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published August 20, 2015
26 people are currently reading
715 people want to read
About the author
Dyan Sheldon
93 books197 followersDyan Sheldon is the author of many novels for young adult readers, including the #1 New York Times bestseller CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE DRAMA QUEEN, which was made into a major motion picture. American by birth, she lives in North London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
February 10, 2018
I'm a sucker for unrequited love, so I couldn't resist requesting a copy from NetGalley. Sadly, it fell short of my expectations. The flow of the book is odd; it is like reading If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Series.
Jena is immensely unlikeable, and I couldn't understand while Josh continues to be her doormat. Furthermore, he treats his life long friends horribly. I adored Romana and the quirky friends that should have been Josh's focus. They are the only enjoyable moments in the book. The ending is abrupt and left me feeling completed cheated.
This isn't one I recommend to my YA friends.
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick for my review copy.
Jena is immensely unlikeable, and I couldn't understand while Josh continues to be her doormat. Furthermore, he treats his life long friends horribly. I adored Romana and the quirky friends that should have been Josh's focus. They are the only enjoyable moments in the book. The ending is abrupt and left me feeling completed cheated.
This isn't one I recommend to my YA friends.
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick for my review copy.
February 2, 2018
I received this book via NetGalley, thank you.
Oh dear Jesus what a let down! Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy the book, I had several issues with it that I will explain in the following lines.
Plot who? I honestly didn’t even see one, it was just an annoying cycle of “I like her bu we’re just friends”, “she’s asking for me”, “nope, never mind just friends”. It was so repetitive and it felt like going in circles, never reaching the point.
The descriptions, I though they were unnecessarily long, because they have almost nothing and I could easily skip entire pages without missing a single thing.
The characters they were forgettable and meh, but also so annoying, the girl was so mean and acted like a lost sheep that needs others to feel good with herself. The boy was no better, have some self respect dude.
And that ending, WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL? Not even I called that since page one, but then I was like no, there’s no possible way, there has been no development or interactions whatsoever, there is no way things will end up like this.
Boy I was wrong, I honestly haven’t read and ending so rushed like this one.
I can’t deal with this anymore, I’m so glad I didn’t spend my money on this.
Oh dear Jesus what a let down! Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy the book, I had several issues with it that I will explain in the following lines.
Plot who? I honestly didn’t even see one, it was just an annoying cycle of “I like her bu we’re just friends”, “she’s asking for me”, “nope, never mind just friends”. It was so repetitive and it felt like going in circles, never reaching the point.
The descriptions, I though they were unnecessarily long, because they have almost nothing and I could easily skip entire pages without missing a single thing.
The characters they were forgettable and meh, but also so annoying, the girl was so mean and acted like a lost sheep that needs others to feel good with herself. The boy was no better, have some self respect dude.
And that ending, WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL? Not even I called that since page one, but then I was like no, there’s no possible way, there has been no development or interactions whatsoever, there is no way things will end up like this.
Boy I was wrong, I honestly haven’t read and ending so rushed like this one.
I can’t deal with this anymore, I’m so glad I didn’t spend my money on this.
February 3, 2018
This is a book filled with unrequited love. You see, A liked B, but B liked C, however C liked D, and D had no interest in any of them. Yes, broken hearts all around.
What I liked:
• Josh was adorable. Jena had invaded his heart, but he was firmly friend-zoned. Math, music, chess, the kid was interesting, and I liked all these different attributes Sheldon gave him.
• Josh had a pretty great squad. Yes, they were quirky, but they were genuine, which is an adjective I would not attach to Jena and her friends.
• The writing was quite amusing and witty, and filled with many comedic moments.
• Josh's friends were patient and supportive, even when he wasn't being a very good friend. He should be grateful to have such a fine group of friends.
What I didn't like
• I did not like Jena. She wasn't a good friend and she was shallow. It was hard for me to understand what Josh saw in her, but I guess that was the point.
• I would have liked a little more from the ending. It was fine. I definitively knew which direction the story was going, but I would have liked to have seen a little more of it play out.
• The story seemed to meander a little in the beginning (though still amusing), but eventually got on track.
Overall: A fun and cute story of unrequited love, was light, breezy, and quite amusing.
What I liked:
• Josh was adorable. Jena had invaded his heart, but he was firmly friend-zoned. Math, music, chess, the kid was interesting, and I liked all these different attributes Sheldon gave him.
• Josh had a pretty great squad. Yes, they were quirky, but they were genuine, which is an adjective I would not attach to Jena and her friends.
• The writing was quite amusing and witty, and filled with many comedic moments.
• Josh's friends were patient and supportive, even when he wasn't being a very good friend. He should be grateful to have such a fine group of friends.
What I didn't like
• I did not like Jena. She wasn't a good friend and she was shallow. It was hard for me to understand what Josh saw in her, but I guess that was the point.
• I would have liked a little more from the ending. It was fine. I definitively knew which direction the story was going, but I would have liked to have seen a little more of it play out.
• The story seemed to meander a little in the beginning (though still amusing), but eventually got on track.
Overall: A fun and cute story of unrequited love, was light, breezy, and quite amusing.
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September 6, 2017Mini review:
DNF
I received this E-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I saw this book on Netgalley and decided to request it. I liked the synopsis. Unfortunately it wasn't for me.
I really didn't like the writing style. How the main character described everything (including people). It seriously turned me off.
As this was a personal thing I still recommend.
DNF
I received this E-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I saw this book on Netgalley and decided to request it. I liked the synopsis. Unfortunately it wasn't for me.
I really didn't like the writing style. How the main character described everything (including people). It seriously turned me off.
As this was a personal thing I still recommend.
March 2, 2018
This review is also available on my blog,
I mean, it's one thing to be good friends while keeping the possibility of becoming more someday in the back of your brain; but Josh very explicitly decides that he wants to be romantically tied to Jena, but repeatedly lets her believe otherwise when she brings that very topic up. That's when I think it crosses the line and becomes stupid and unfair.
The characters were fairly well-written, though rather one-dimensional at times (each person basically had one or two traits/interests that defined who they were in the story), and there were a few too many of them–I wound up getting some of the more minor friends confused.
The language is also not ideal; I can't remember specifically what words were used (since I don't have my copy of the book here with me at uni), but I do know that I noticed it was bad in parts. That's not a huge deal for older readers, and it's realistic because the characters are in high school, but that's something to keep in mind for younger readers.
All in all, I was kept entertained by Just Friends but I wasn't wowed by it–rather, I was very frustrated/embarrassed for the characters in parts. I don't really recommend it highly, but I won't actively warn you off it either if you still think it sounds interesting. If you do decide to read it, let us know in the comments what you think of it!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher through a LibraryThing giveaway.
I mean, it's one thing to be good friends while keeping the possibility of becoming more someday in the back of your brain; but Josh very explicitly decides that he wants to be romantically tied to Jena, but repeatedly lets her believe otherwise when she brings that very topic up. That's when I think it crosses the line and becomes stupid and unfair.
The characters were fairly well-written, though rather one-dimensional at times (each person basically had one or two traits/interests that defined who they were in the story), and there were a few too many of them–I wound up getting some of the more minor friends confused.
The language is also not ideal; I can't remember specifically what words were used (since I don't have my copy of the book here with me at uni), but I do know that I noticed it was bad in parts. That's not a huge deal for older readers, and it's realistic because the characters are in high school, but that's something to keep in mind for younger readers.
All in all, I was kept entertained by Just Friends but I wasn't wowed by it–rather, I was very frustrated/embarrassed for the characters in parts. I don't really recommend it highly, but I won't actively warn you off it either if you still think it sounds interesting. If you do decide to read it, let us know in the comments what you think of it!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher through a LibraryThing giveaway.
February 15, 2018
I’m all about the friends to more trope in fiction, and initially, this book seemed to fit right into that.
But I found a caveat of the trop I don’t especially care for. The “let’s become friends and hope for something more and ignore my other friends” plot line. Or at least that’s the case with Dyan Sheldon’s newest book.
I didn’t care for the way Jena used Josh or how he was completely oblivious to it—even when his friends pointed it out. And really, I didn’t care for Jena much at all despite the fact Sheldon attempted to garner sympathy for her in a couple ways. None worked for me.
Josh is likable with his self-deprecating sense of humor and sarcasm. He knows he’s not a great boyfriend catch and is aware of his deficiencies when held up to the mirror of his peers. Yet he makes no excuses for who he is.
And even though it takes too long to get there, I was pleased with the ending of this tory. Overall, there were more cons than pros for me.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
But I found a caveat of the trop I don’t especially care for. The “let’s become friends and hope for something more and ignore my other friends” plot line. Or at least that’s the case with Dyan Sheldon’s newest book.
I didn’t care for the way Jena used Josh or how he was completely oblivious to it—even when his friends pointed it out. And really, I didn’t care for Jena much at all despite the fact Sheldon attempted to garner sympathy for her in a couple ways. None worked for me.
Josh is likable with his self-deprecating sense of humor and sarcasm. He knows he’s not a great boyfriend catch and is aware of his deficiencies when held up to the mirror of his peers. Yet he makes no excuses for who he is.
And even though it takes too long to get there, I was pleased with the ending of this tory. Overall, there were more cons than pros for me.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
August 31, 2020
Oh boy. Where do I start? This book was just so...meaningless? The entire book is basically a cycle of popular girl coming to the nerdy boy for help, but no one really knows they are friends, he has a crush on her, but they aren't in the same league and she only sees him as a friend.
It was so repetitive and the plot was basically nonexistent. There was absolutely no character development, and the ending was wrapped up so quickly that it didn't even make any sense.
I also just didn't care for the writing style in any way. It was really poorly done and overall just not for me in the slightest.
I also had issues with some of the demeaning comments that were made, and there were lines that didn't sit well with me.
Luckily it was a short read and I think I finished it in under 4 hours. Otherwise I would have DNF'd.
It was so repetitive and the plot was basically nonexistent. There was absolutely no character development, and the ending was wrapped up so quickly that it didn't even make any sense.
I also just didn't care for the writing style in any way. It was really poorly done and overall just not for me in the slightest.
I also had issues with some of the demeaning comments that were made, and there were lines that didn't sit well with me.
Luckily it was a short read and I think I finished it in under 4 hours. Otherwise I would have DNF'd.
April 17, 2020
Just Friends is a page-turner. The further into the story, the more compelling it is to reach a satisfying finish. But. The ending was not satisfying. I mean, I appreciate how the author was not following the typical YA contemporary arc, but... I just wanted a cute ending! Is that too much for a shoujo-lover to ask for?
Despite a somewhat disappointing ending (in my opinion), I like how the book is written in the eyes of an observer of Josh's life, it's a different perspective compared to what I'm used to.
I think fans of Melissa Keil's books would enjoy Just Friends, it reminded me of Melissa Keil's The Secret Science of Magic . Overall, I'd recommend.
Despite a somewhat disappointing ending (in my opinion), I like how the book is written in the eyes of an observer of Josh's life, it's a different perspective compared to what I'm used to.
I think fans of Melissa Keil's books would enjoy Just Friends, it reminded me of Melissa Keil's The Secret Science of Magic . Overall, I'd recommend.
February 9, 2018
This book is short and sweet, but it’s also filled with clichés. I’m not even talking about the obvious “are we more than friends?” cliché, which I actually kind of like. I just think that many characters seemed very stereotypical, which made it hard for me to relate to them. The narration is a bit weird, too, because it’s not quite omniscient but it also gives insight on a few of the characters’ thoughts. I would have preferred a more typical type of narration. Overall, this isn’t a bad novel, but it wasn’t my favourite.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 15, 2018
"Just Friends" is a really good book it keeps u wanting to read more. the best part about it is that it has a spin on a love story. The main character Josh won't end up with who u think he will end up with, and in this story there is like a love chain. One person wants to be more than friends and that person likes someone else and their crush likes someone else and so on. The book also used a lot of imagery so I pictured the whole book into a movie and it was also very descriptive. over all this book was great to read.
March 15, 2019
I started reading the book Just friends by Dylan Sheldon. I couldn’t find an interesting book and decided to browse through my school’s library when I came across this book. What caught my attention was the cover. When I look for a book I usually find one by looking at the cover. This book looked very intriguing and I decided to give it a read. It’s pretty slow in the beginning, but as you get sucked into it, the book gets very interesting. The characters get more into depth about how they feel about each other and it’s nice to read how strong people’s feelings are. There are three main characters in Just Friends. They are Josh, Ramona, and Jenna. Josh is the nerdy boy that never gets noticed because he doesn’t hangout with the popular kids. Then, Josh starts to develop a massive crush on Jenna Capistrano.
Jenna is new at school and hangs out with the popular kids. Then she notices Josh. Ramona, Josh’s best friend, is really quirky. I really like this book because it reminds me of relationships that you never expect to happen but actually do. You can tell the book is supposed to be romantic but in a really funny way. For example, Josh is about to say something romantic but ends up doing something really dumb. The characters are hilarious and Ramona reminds me a lot of myself and I can relate to her in lots of ways. We relate so much because we both keep to ourselves and love to be creative. I would recommend to read this book. It’s an easy read and I enjoyed it a lot.
Jenna is new at school and hangs out with the popular kids. Then she notices Josh. Ramona, Josh’s best friend, is really quirky. I really like this book because it reminds me of relationships that you never expect to happen but actually do. You can tell the book is supposed to be romantic but in a really funny way. For example, Josh is about to say something romantic but ends up doing something really dumb. The characters are hilarious and Ramona reminds me a lot of myself and I can relate to her in lots of ways. We relate so much because we both keep to ourselves and love to be creative. I would recommend to read this book. It’s an easy read and I enjoyed it a lot.
December 12, 2018
JUST FRIENDS by Dyan Sheldon is the typical, adorable story of a shy, awkward high school boy meeting the "new" girl at school and immediately falling head over heels for her. While Jena may not be feeling exactly the same right away, they quickly build a friendship --- a friendship that Josh is happy to settle for, because he's so smitten with her that any amount of attention from Jena (no matter how big or small) is worth soaking up. The only downside? That leads to some negative things: because he's fallen so hard for Jena, Josh finds himself neglecting his family, his school responsibilities and even his few friends (including his previous best friend, Ramona) who had been there for him before Jena had even enrolled in their school. So in addition to navigating his budding feelings for Jena, Josh has to handle that rocky terrain as well. Which inevitably leads to lots of drama!
Soon enough, though, Josh finds himself unable to hold in his building feelings for Jena any longer, and he makes a promise to himself to reveal his true feelings to Jena on Valentine's Day. Which gets a little rocky because Jena only seems to come to him when there's drama involving her on-again, off-again boyfriend. (Talk about the friendzone!) Things get a little messy there, that's for sure. But that means you'll keep turning the pages, and before long, you start to grow sympathetic towards poor Josh, who just wants to make his feelings known to a girl that he immediately thinks is so amazing and incredible.
What I enjoyed most about this book was how it tackled something that was not a meet-cute --- it tackles the question of what happens when you find yourself falling for someone even when you know your relationship isn't going to work. I think that's an important story to read, especially as a teenager, because there are definitely instances in your life where you will find yourself having emotions (and even crushes) on people that, for one reason or another, won't logistically work out, or the person won't treat you well and you deserve better. So it was refreshing to read a story that didn't only focus on an insta-love between two characters where everything was perfect sunshine and rainbows. (But don't get me wrong --- I absolutely love those types of stories as well! Sometimes it's just refreshing to read something else.)
There were only a few things I wasn't super crazy about with this book, one being the fact that even though it's classified as a YA novel, it seems to be written for a little bit younger of an audience. The storytelling was very simple and matter-of-fact, each sentence being terse and descriptive. (Think along the lines of, "He did this. And then he did this. And then she said this.") So while it was certainly an easy read to get through, it felt like this book may have better been classified as a middle grade. Other than that, the only thing I wasn't super keen on was Jena's character --- I wasn't a big fan of how she treated Josh, and I'm a super big fan of adorable romance stories, so having a story where the two main characters have a friendship/relationship that is anything less than perfect is always a bit of a bummer, however refreshing it may feel. But the actual story itself was cute and funny and kept me laughing!
Overall, I'm glad I received the chance to read JUST FRIENDS. It was a cute, funny story about two kids colliding in high school and learning the struggles of being both friends and something "more" with one another. If you're looking for a super quick and adorable read, JUST FRIENDS is certainly the book for you. You can even recommend it to a younger, middle grade audience if you know someone who would like this book --- it's the type of storytelling that can span both age groups!
Reviewed by Jessica Cozzi
Soon enough, though, Josh finds himself unable to hold in his building feelings for Jena any longer, and he makes a promise to himself to reveal his true feelings to Jena on Valentine's Day. Which gets a little rocky because Jena only seems to come to him when there's drama involving her on-again, off-again boyfriend. (Talk about the friendzone!) Things get a little messy there, that's for sure. But that means you'll keep turning the pages, and before long, you start to grow sympathetic towards poor Josh, who just wants to make his feelings known to a girl that he immediately thinks is so amazing and incredible.
What I enjoyed most about this book was how it tackled something that was not a meet-cute --- it tackles the question of what happens when you find yourself falling for someone even when you know your relationship isn't going to work. I think that's an important story to read, especially as a teenager, because there are definitely instances in your life where you will find yourself having emotions (and even crushes) on people that, for one reason or another, won't logistically work out, or the person won't treat you well and you deserve better. So it was refreshing to read a story that didn't only focus on an insta-love between two characters where everything was perfect sunshine and rainbows. (But don't get me wrong --- I absolutely love those types of stories as well! Sometimes it's just refreshing to read something else.)
There were only a few things I wasn't super crazy about with this book, one being the fact that even though it's classified as a YA novel, it seems to be written for a little bit younger of an audience. The storytelling was very simple and matter-of-fact, each sentence being terse and descriptive. (Think along the lines of, "He did this. And then he did this. And then she said this.") So while it was certainly an easy read to get through, it felt like this book may have better been classified as a middle grade. Other than that, the only thing I wasn't super keen on was Jena's character --- I wasn't a big fan of how she treated Josh, and I'm a super big fan of adorable romance stories, so having a story where the two main characters have a friendship/relationship that is anything less than perfect is always a bit of a bummer, however refreshing it may feel. But the actual story itself was cute and funny and kept me laughing!
Overall, I'm glad I received the chance to read JUST FRIENDS. It was a cute, funny story about two kids colliding in high school and learning the struggles of being both friends and something "more" with one another. If you're looking for a super quick and adorable read, JUST FRIENDS is certainly the book for you. You can even recommend it to a younger, middle grade audience if you know someone who would like this book --- it's the type of storytelling that can span both age groups!
Reviewed by Jessica Cozzi
January 16, 2018
I love a good, cute contemporary, which is why Just Friends by Dyan Sheldon caught my attention. Sheldon is the author of Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, which turned into the widely-popular Lindsay Lohan movie, and since I really enjoyed that book I couldn't wait to give this one a try. Just Friends follows Josh Shine, an underdog known for things like attempting to blow up the science lab, as he falls for new girl Jena Capistrano.
Unfortunately, Jena immediately joins the popular crowd, those that don't give Josh and his friends a second glance. But when Josh ends up in a tree in Jena's front yard, a friendship blossoms that gives Josh hope for something more. Every time he builds up the courage to tell Jena how he feels, something happens to dissuade him, and eventually he thinks he missed his shot when Jena falls head over heels for another guy.
While this was a cute read, I definitely had a few issues with it, but these may be things that I'm only identifying because I'm an adult and this book is geared more towards a younger audience. First, I don't think it teaches the right lessons to those embarking on a first romance. Josh consistently blows off his friends at the drop of a hat when Jena comes calling, which while may be understandable with young infatuation is not the way to develop a healthy relationship. She was using him as a backup, or a stand in, and playing with his emotions in the process. In addition, Jena keeps going back to a boyfriend who is controlling and has anger issues. Even if she didn't fall for Josh, I think it would have been better to see an empowered female character who realized she was being mistreated and left the situation rather than one who just kept running back time after time.
If you're into contemporary reads, looking for something short and fun, and don't overanalyze things as much as I do, then this would be a great read for you!
Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
A big thanks to Candlewick Press for sending me a copy for review! While this was originally released a few years ago, it is being re-released in hardback on February 13th!
Unfortunately, Jena immediately joins the popular crowd, those that don't give Josh and his friends a second glance. But when Josh ends up in a tree in Jena's front yard, a friendship blossoms that gives Josh hope for something more. Every time he builds up the courage to tell Jena how he feels, something happens to dissuade him, and eventually he thinks he missed his shot when Jena falls head over heels for another guy.
While this was a cute read, I definitely had a few issues with it, but these may be things that I'm only identifying because I'm an adult and this book is geared more towards a younger audience. First, I don't think it teaches the right lessons to those embarking on a first romance. Josh consistently blows off his friends at the drop of a hat when Jena comes calling, which while may be understandable with young infatuation is not the way to develop a healthy relationship. She was using him as a backup, or a stand in, and playing with his emotions in the process. In addition, Jena keeps going back to a boyfriend who is controlling and has anger issues. Even if she didn't fall for Josh, I think it would have been better to see an empowered female character who realized she was being mistreated and left the situation rather than one who just kept running back time after time.
If you're into contemporary reads, looking for something short and fun, and don't overanalyze things as much as I do, then this would be a great read for you!
Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
A big thanks to Candlewick Press for sending me a copy for review! While this was originally released a few years ago, it is being re-released in hardback on February 13th!
November 17, 2017
Josh Shine loves blues music, watching old movies with the guys, and taking his weekly yoga class with his good friend Ramona. He’s not like most of the guys in his high school. He prefers chess to contact sports, he’s a vegetarian, and he is rather short for his age.
None of the girls in his high school have ever really interested Josh. He would much rather spend his time raising awareness for multiple notable causes. That is until the day he sees Jenna Capistrano in his class. Josh quickly falls for the new girl, but he knows that they could never be an item, because she is out of his league. Surprisingly, they become friends and the closer they become the more Josh wants to be a couple.
Will Josh be brave enough to put his heart on the line and tell Jenna how he feels?
Not many teenage love stories have a male main character. In fact, this is the first one that I believe I have ever read.
Josh is a very unique, interesting character. He is very involved in educating his peers even when they don’t want to hear it. He’s also into older forms of entertainment like old movies and music. His best friends are a lot like him. Sal is passionate about films, especially older ones with deep meaning, while Carter is into environmental sciences.
Then there is Ramona. She’s a stand-out kind of girl who doesn’t care what most people think of her. She’s eccentric and loves fashion.
Despite the character’s obvious level of intelligence, I found myself frustrated by these characters. Especially by Josh and Jenna.
The plot line is one of those ones where you can guess where everyone will end up in the end. Mainly it is just the journey between that is different and unpredictable.
I’m unsure how I feel about this novel. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys unique coming-of-age love stories.
I received my copy of this novel from LibraryThing.com and the publishers, for the sole purpose of providing an honest review. I have requested permission to use an image of the cover artwork above.
stephanietiner.weebly.com
None of the girls in his high school have ever really interested Josh. He would much rather spend his time raising awareness for multiple notable causes. That is until the day he sees Jenna Capistrano in his class. Josh quickly falls for the new girl, but he knows that they could never be an item, because she is out of his league. Surprisingly, they become friends and the closer they become the more Josh wants to be a couple.
Will Josh be brave enough to put his heart on the line and tell Jenna how he feels?
Not many teenage love stories have a male main character. In fact, this is the first one that I believe I have ever read.
Josh is a very unique, interesting character. He is very involved in educating his peers even when they don’t want to hear it. He’s also into older forms of entertainment like old movies and music. His best friends are a lot like him. Sal is passionate about films, especially older ones with deep meaning, while Carter is into environmental sciences.
Then there is Ramona. She’s a stand-out kind of girl who doesn’t care what most people think of her. She’s eccentric and loves fashion.
Despite the character’s obvious level of intelligence, I found myself frustrated by these characters. Especially by Josh and Jenna.
The plot line is one of those ones where you can guess where everyone will end up in the end. Mainly it is just the journey between that is different and unpredictable.
I’m unsure how I feel about this novel. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys unique coming-of-age love stories.
I received my copy of this novel from LibraryThing.com and the publishers, for the sole purpose of providing an honest review. I have requested permission to use an image of the cover artwork above.
stephanietiner.weebly.com
July 24, 2018
1.5 Stars - Light and Easy to Read, but Disappointingly Lackluster
I love cutesy rom-coms and Just Friends by Dyan Sheldon seemed like something I would enjoy. Unfortunately, it was a disappointingly lackluster read. The concept seemed really intriguing, but it just didn’t work for me.
I took such a long time to read this cause I didn’t expect to get approved for so many books on Netgalley. Well, I hate to say this but maybe I should have just left it unread. I wasn’t really a fan of the writing style. It was easy to read, but just felt like it kept going and going and never getting anywhere. While some parts were kind of amusing and witty, the plot just wasn’t that interesting to me. The characters were also annoyingly stereotypical and unlikable. Josh and his friends were somewhat okay sometimes, but Jena and her clique – totally did not like them. I couldn’t figure out what Josh saw in Jena, but she was a big NOPE for me. The ending for me was just mehhh. I didn’t hate it, but it was rushed and just not that believable. I guess it could happen, but it needed more build-up and to play out.
This book was sadly not for me. I actually speed read through about 75% of the book and I rarely do that. There were so just many things I didn’t like and maybe that distracted me. At least I didn’t DNF and still gave it a chance.
I really hate writing bad reviews, but just because I didn’t like this book, doesn’t mean it was horrible. There were a few fun moments and I liked some of the friendships. Ramona was pretty awesome and the one part about this book I did enjoy.
I can’t say I recommend this book, but if you feel like reading a light, easy, and somewhat fun unrequited love story, then give it a go.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I love cutesy rom-coms and Just Friends by Dyan Sheldon seemed like something I would enjoy. Unfortunately, it was a disappointingly lackluster read. The concept seemed really intriguing, but it just didn’t work for me.
I took such a long time to read this cause I didn’t expect to get approved for so many books on Netgalley. Well, I hate to say this but maybe I should have just left it unread. I wasn’t really a fan of the writing style. It was easy to read, but just felt like it kept going and going and never getting anywhere. While some parts were kind of amusing and witty, the plot just wasn’t that interesting to me. The characters were also annoyingly stereotypical and unlikable. Josh and his friends were somewhat okay sometimes, but Jena and her clique – totally did not like them. I couldn’t figure out what Josh saw in Jena, but she was a big NOPE for me. The ending for me was just mehhh. I didn’t hate it, but it was rushed and just not that believable. I guess it could happen, but it needed more build-up and to play out.
This book was sadly not for me. I actually speed read through about 75% of the book and I rarely do that. There were so just many things I didn’t like and maybe that distracted me. At least I didn’t DNF and still gave it a chance.
I really hate writing bad reviews, but just because I didn’t like this book, doesn’t mean it was horrible. There were a few fun moments and I liked some of the friendships. Ramona was pretty awesome and the one part about this book I did enjoy.
I can’t say I recommend this book, but if you feel like reading a light, easy, and somewhat fun unrequited love story, then give it a go.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 22, 2018
JUST FRIENDS by Dyan Sheldon is a sweet YA romantic comedy featuring Josh Shine, a music-loving, ponytailed, chess-playing, short high school student who falls for new girl Jena Capistrano the first time he sees her. By happy coincidence, Jena lives across the street from Josh's long-time friend, Ramona, so Josh actually gets to meet and talk to Jena even though she has been embraced by the popular crowd--a group that wants nothing to do with Josh and his equally geeky friends.
JUST FRIENDS chronicles the time from Josh's first glimpse of Jena on the first day of school through the spring of that school year. In typical crush fashion, Josh bends over backwards to be the friend that Jena needs while trying to figure out how to tell her that he more than likes her... he LIKES her. Josh's focus on Jena causes a strain on his other friendships, and his core group is more patient than he may deserve.
Many of the characters in the book are the same as others you'll find in a host of storylines focused on high school. There's the jock, the mean-but-popular girl, the flaky parents, the concerned mom, and the close group of nerds. None of these stereotypes are fleshed out enough to feel real, but Josh is wonderfully quirky and witty at his best, and he more than makes up for the hollowness of his friends. I would have in particular liked to spend more time with Ramona--I was always sad when she left the page. Equally disappointing is the fact that the amazingly good times that Ramona and Josh have shared are referenced a lot, but they are only references.
Though the outcome of JUST FRIENDS is predictable, it is a light, fun read, and Josh's kindness and humor will appeal to fans of teen romance. My thanks to LibraryThing and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
JUST FRIENDS chronicles the time from Josh's first glimpse of Jena on the first day of school through the spring of that school year. In typical crush fashion, Josh bends over backwards to be the friend that Jena needs while trying to figure out how to tell her that he more than likes her... he LIKES her. Josh's focus on Jena causes a strain on his other friendships, and his core group is more patient than he may deserve.
Many of the characters in the book are the same as others you'll find in a host of storylines focused on high school. There's the jock, the mean-but-popular girl, the flaky parents, the concerned mom, and the close group of nerds. None of these stereotypes are fleshed out enough to feel real, but Josh is wonderfully quirky and witty at his best, and he more than makes up for the hollowness of his friends. I would have in particular liked to spend more time with Ramona--I was always sad when she left the page. Equally disappointing is the fact that the amazingly good times that Ramona and Josh have shared are referenced a lot, but they are only references.
Though the outcome of JUST FRIENDS is predictable, it is a light, fun read, and Josh's kindness and humor will appeal to fans of teen romance. My thanks to LibraryThing and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
October 3, 2017
Whether because of self-doubt, or too much awareness of how others at his school view him, Josh is painfully aware he's about as far from the popular crowd as possible. That realization, however, doesn't make much difference when new girl Jena Capistrano moves to town. He's more than smitten and when they start talking and she begins relying on him for friendship and emotional support, it's a dream come true.
However, when you're a teen guy with self-esteem issues and find yourself on the razor's edge of ambivalence, the line between dream and nightmare can become very thin. The longer they hang out, the more conflicted Josh becomes...Does he tell her how he feels and risk losing her friendship? Asking his friends just makes things worse for they're as clueless as he, but add in their own mental jumble when giving him advice. Somewhere in this confused mess, he loses sight of his oldest friend, Ramona until it's almost too late to wake up and smell the coffee. Following his ambivalent journey could be really annoying, but it's done so well and he comes across as so sympathetic that everything works and the ending satisfies.
However, when you're a teen guy with self-esteem issues and find yourself on the razor's edge of ambivalence, the line between dream and nightmare can become very thin. The longer they hang out, the more conflicted Josh becomes...Does he tell her how he feels and risk losing her friendship? Asking his friends just makes things worse for they're as clueless as he, but add in their own mental jumble when giving him advice. Somewhere in this confused mess, he loses sight of his oldest friend, Ramona until it's almost too late to wake up and smell the coffee. Following his ambivalent journey could be really annoying, but it's done so well and he comes across as so sympathetic that everything works and the ending satisfies.
November 6, 2017
I received this book as an ARC even though it's been out for a year or so. (?) I had a hard time getting into this book. In the first chapter Josh sees the object of his affection, Jenevieve, and finds out right away that she is friends with Tilda, the queen bee of mean girls. Josh is short, in to music, not athletic, in other words, not worthy of notice from Tilda or any of Tilda's friends. He pines after Jenevieve until he actually gets to meet her by getting stuck in a tree in her front yard with a dog he is watching. They become friends and then the book just goes nowhere. Week after week, Josh is Jenevieve's friend and ignores his friends. Week after week, Josh asks his friends if he should ask her out. Week after week, Josh ponders the possible outcomes of asking her out. Jenevieve treats Josh as a friend only and when she does get a boyfriend, treats Josh terribly all the way to the second to the last chapter. The book just went on and on. The final resolution in the last 5 pages was not satisfying. Don't waste your time.
March 28, 2018
overall this book was decent but not that challenging of a read but still good. This book was about a boy named Josh shrine and his group of friends and a new girl named Jena. Josh and his friend mo have been friends for since they could remember. Josh meets Jena because the dog he was watching crawled up into their tree. After a while they become close buddies but josh wants to be more. He starts paying more attention to her than his friends and even blows them off several times. Josh wants to mean something more to her but maybe his crowd and her crowd aren't meant to mix. This book was smaller than I normally read but it was still a good book. This is a book for people who may or may not relate to the overall theme and if they love a sappy romance novel. I would definitely read this book over again if or when I get the chance to.
November 21, 2017
With a somewhat confused narrative, I followed the classic story of the boy who thinks he likes the girl, but clearly she is not the right person for him.
I liked some points of the story but what irritated me was that the writer also don’t created a connection between the reader and the right girl for the protagonist and the ending sincerely left much to be desired. She could have developed more, as the release is planned for next year maybe the writer accepts the suggestion to rewrite some scenes and create a more developed plot.
when I read the synopsis and saw the cover I really create a very big expectation because it's the book style that I like so much, but I got really frustrated
I liked some points of the story but what irritated me was that the writer also don’t created a connection between the reader and the right girl for the protagonist and the ending sincerely left much to be desired. She could have developed more, as the release is planned for next year maybe the writer accepts the suggestion to rewrite some scenes and create a more developed plot.
when I read the synopsis and saw the cover I really create a very big expectation because it's the book style that I like so much, but I got really frustrated
November 21, 2017
With a somewhat confused narrative, I followed the classic story of the boy who thinks he likes the girl, but clearly she is not the right person for him.
I liked some points of the story but what irritated me was that the writer also don’t created a connection between the reader and the right girl for the protagonist and the ending sincerely left much to be desired. She could have developed more, as the release is planned for next year maybe the writer accepts the suggestion to rewrite some scenes and create a more developed plot.
when I read the synopsis and saw the cover I really create a very big expectation because it's the book style that I like so much, but I got really frustrated
I liked some points of the story but what irritated me was that the writer also don’t created a connection between the reader and the right girl for the protagonist and the ending sincerely left much to be desired. She could have developed more, as the release is planned for next year maybe the writer accepts the suggestion to rewrite some scenes and create a more developed plot.
when I read the synopsis and saw the cover I really create a very big expectation because it's the book style that I like so much, but I got really frustrated
June 19, 2017
3.5.
Not sure if it was because I'm finally getting over my reading slump, or if I was thoroughly enjoying the book, but I brought it with me to read in the car whenever we stopped at traffic lights.
This story pretty much covers the crush cycle, although I disapprove Josh blowing off his friends so many times just to do the smallest things with/for Jena. The ending reminded me a bit of Our Chemical Hearts - that things don't always work out, and sometimes that's fine. Life goes on, and the person you were really looking for has been beside you through it all.
I'm not usually one for a happy ending quickly shoved in at the end, but this one worked for me.
Not sure if it was because I'm finally getting over my reading slump, or if I was thoroughly enjoying the book, but I brought it with me to read in the car whenever we stopped at traffic lights.
This story pretty much covers the crush cycle, although I disapprove Josh blowing off his friends so many times just to do the smallest things with/for Jena. The ending reminded me a bit of Our Chemical Hearts - that things don't always work out, and sometimes that's fine. Life goes on, and the person you were really looking for has been beside you through it all.
I'm not usually one for a happy ending quickly shoved in at the end, but this one worked for me.
April 12, 2018
Socially awkward Josh comes to terms with the high school clique rules when he falls for Jena who is miles apart in the social hierarchy. Author Dyan Sheldon has created an empathetic main character in Josh; when he struggles, the reader roots for him to succeed. Josh and his friends seem like real teens, struggling with real issues. I think teens that like realistic fiction novels will enjoy this story. Although set in America, it was published for the British market in 2015. I would recommend this book for public library teen collections.
This book was provided for professional review by SWON Libraries.
This book was provided for professional review by SWON Libraries.
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December 10, 2018Graded By: Brian
Cover Story: Whatever
Drinking Buddy: No
Testosterone Level: None
Talky Talk: No Plot
Bonus Factor: Friend Zone
Bromance Status: Awkward Date
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Whatever
Drinking Buddy: No
Testosterone Level: None
Talky Talk: No Plot
Bonus Factor: Friend Zone
Bromance Status: Awkward Date
Read the full book report here.
November 29, 2017
Just friends focuses on what happens when you have so much self doubt and feel invisible. Josh doesn't really believe in himself and knows he isn't good enough for new girl Jena. When they become friends and she relys on him his situation becomes more screwed up. A should he/shouldn't he starts. Add in an old friendship that takes a backseat and it's a lot to read.
For me the inner monologue was just a tad annoying. I felt the ending was suitable but the way it comes around just doesn't feel complete.
For me the inner monologue was just a tad annoying. I felt the ending was suitable but the way it comes around just doesn't feel complete.
January 23, 2018
I was captivated by this book when I read the synopsis, but the unfortunate reality is that I wasn't able to finish it. I found Josh to be quirky and awkward - I like awkward - but the present tense third person narration made the story flow slow and choppy. I never was able to get a feel for Ramona or Jena. The inability to connect with neither the characters nor the plot sadly led to the decision to declare DNF.
Because the premise is interesting to me, I may try to pick up the book when I have finished my TBR, but for now, I need to part ways with Josh.
Because the premise is interesting to me, I may try to pick up the book when I have finished my TBR, but for now, I need to part ways with Josh.
March 14, 2018
Josh is definitely not one of the popular crowd. He has a crush on Jena who definitely is. However, when he meets her outside of school, they develop an unlikely friendship. While Josh *likes* Jena, it is unrequited and they remain just friends and Josh is oblivious to how poorly Jena treats him and how he, in turn treats his other friends.
I hated the pandering tone of the author in talking to the reader. I hated how Jena refused to be friends with Josh at school. Ok, maybe this should have been a 1 star...
I hated the pandering tone of the author in talking to the reader. I hated how Jena refused to be friends with Josh at school. Ok, maybe this should have been a 1 star...
April 19, 2018
A cute romantic comedy about crushes, unrequited love and friendship. Josh is a bit quirky and so are his friends. When a new girl starts at his high school he is instantly smitten. Will she even notice him? They become friends, but he'd like it to be more. This story was a quick read and had a lot of relatable moments. Themes of popularity, friendship, losing a parent and being true to yourself are all in the book. I like that it keeps things PG and therefore could be read and enjoyed by students in middle school through high school.
May 21, 2018
The book just friends by Dyan Sheldon Is about how a boy and girl that go to the same high school become friends and then the boy wants to start dating and the girl just wants to be friends. The book gets three out of five stars. The book had good likable characts which is important in a book. The book was almost too sweet because there was not enough romance and drama. The book had a dull and boring start and got more interesting towards the end. The book overall was worth reading and I would recommend the book to my friends.
July 26, 2017
Cute middle grade read. What happens when the hottest girl in town wants to hang out with a normal boy? Yeah, she just wants to be friends. And no on matter how much you act as a good friend, that's all she'll ever see, right? As the story progresses with laugh-aloud characters and scenes, it's hard to not feel sorry for our normal boy - yet not root for the popular girl as a potential girlfriend.
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