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Cedar Street #1
One Summer Weekend
Best friends. A fake relationship. And only one bed.
New York Times bestselling author Shannon Stacey delivers the feel-good beach read you’ve been waiting for.
Noah Stafford loves his life—his happy, single life. So what if he made up a fake girlfriend to stop his boss’s matchmaking? He kept things close to the truth—Carly really does have long, sexy legs and a killer sense of humor. She just happens to be his best friend. His wicked awesome and completely platonic best friend.
But now his boss is having a destination wedding, and Noah is expected to attend…with Carly, his girlfriend.
Carly Randall has no interest in living out a rom-com plot. But Noah is her best friend, so she agrees to help. Still, once they arrive on Cape Cod, she can’t explain the sudden butterflies she feels when he looks at her that way. Or why she doesn’t mind when Noah’s hands stray a little south of her back.
What happens on the Cape stays on the Cape.
Except not really, not at all, and once their sexy faux-cation is over, Noah and Carly return to a reality where everything’s changed. Going for it would mean risking their friendship…but forgetting how good they were together just isn’t an option.
This book is approximately 27,000 words
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise : all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
New York Times bestselling author Shannon Stacey delivers the feel-good beach read you’ve been waiting for.
Noah Stafford loves his life—his happy, single life. So what if he made up a fake girlfriend to stop his boss’s matchmaking? He kept things close to the truth—Carly really does have long, sexy legs and a killer sense of humor. She just happens to be his best friend. His wicked awesome and completely platonic best friend.
But now his boss is having a destination wedding, and Noah is expected to attend…with Carly, his girlfriend.
Carly Randall has no interest in living out a rom-com plot. But Noah is her best friend, so she agrees to help. Still, once they arrive on Cape Cod, she can’t explain the sudden butterflies she feels when he looks at her that way. Or why she doesn’t mind when Noah’s hands stray a little south of her back.
What happens on the Cape stays on the Cape.
Except not really, not at all, and once their sexy faux-cation is over, Noah and Carly return to a reality where everything’s changed. Going for it would mean risking their friendship…but forgetting how good they were together just isn’t an option.
This book is approximately 27,000 words
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise : all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
128 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 5, 2019
141 people are currently reading
568 people want to read
About the author
Shannon Stacey
145 books2,639 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shannon Stacey lives with her husband and two sons in New England, where her favorite activities are writing romance and really random tweets when she’s not riding her ATV. She loves mud, books, football & watching way too much TV.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
October 22, 2019
This was cute-- just what I like for a low angst, friends to lovers trope. And a fake relationship to boot... definitely a lot of cat nip for me here
August 5, 2019
Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog: https://romancingthereaders.blogspot....
I'm one of those readers that if you are an author I read all the time you are automatically added to my list of books I want to read. More often than not I don't even know what the story is about till I start it.
That's what happened here. I had Shannon Stacey on my list and when I saw a new book coming out I had to get it. Right before I read it I decided to check out what it was about. What I read told me that it wasn't anything new. It's a theme that's been around the romance world for a long time.
But since I really like Stacey's books I read it anyway and was glad that I had.
I really liked both Noah and Carly. They are funny caring people that you wouldn't mind knowing. Even though the theme isn't really new, the story is well done and kept me reading. The story is only a novella so the author had a lot to do in a short amount of pages. I think she did a wonderful job of that.
Because the characters already knew each other the romance part isn't rushed feeling. Of course, they fell for each other. Most likely the feels they had for a long time as "friends" were more but neither every really wanted to see that. It's easier to live behind the veil of "friendship" that lose the person who matters to you the most.
Watching these two figure out how they feel about one another is a treat that you won't want to miss. I love how the author drags you into the story and all you want to do is root for them. I'm really looking forward to the book in the Cedar Street series.
Follow me on:
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https://twitter.com/Romancingreader
ARC received for an honest review
I'm one of those readers that if you are an author I read all the time you are automatically added to my list of books I want to read. More often than not I don't even know what the story is about till I start it.
That's what happened here. I had Shannon Stacey on my list and when I saw a new book coming out I had to get it. Right before I read it I decided to check out what it was about. What I read told me that it wasn't anything new. It's a theme that's been around the romance world for a long time.
But since I really like Stacey's books I read it anyway and was glad that I had.
I really liked both Noah and Carly. They are funny caring people that you wouldn't mind knowing. Even though the theme isn't really new, the story is well done and kept me reading. The story is only a novella so the author had a lot to do in a short amount of pages. I think she did a wonderful job of that.
Because the characters already knew each other the romance part isn't rushed feeling. Of course, they fell for each other. Most likely the feels they had for a long time as "friends" were more but neither every really wanted to see that. It's easier to live behind the veil of "friendship" that lose the person who matters to you the most.
Watching these two figure out how they feel about one another is a treat that you won't want to miss. I love how the author drags you into the story and all you want to do is root for them. I'm really looking forward to the book in the Cedar Street series.
Follow me on:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingThe...
https://twitter.com/Romancingreader
ARC received for an honest review
July 15, 2019
I knew I was in for a treat when I felt my favorite sort of uncontrollable, dopey, lovesick smile spread across my face early on in this story. Novellas are a sort of hit-or-miss thing for me, but Shannon Stacey lured me right in and kept my heart on board for the entire ride. So this one? Definitely a hit.
The chemistry between Noah and Carly was captured just right: first trading warm friendly banter that quickly sparks with heat in a way that was so satisfyingly flirty. They were adorable together, teasing and playful and a complete joy to read about. And, because this was a friends-to-lovers story, the fast pace of their relationship rang true for me. I didn't struggle to connect, because their connection was in their shared history and I felt that immediately. Something in the way this is written just smoothed out all the pointy edges I usually catch on, and I smiled my way through (almost) the whole darn thing.
One Summer Weekend is a fast, fun, fantastic read. I genuinely loved these characters and their story. The writing was engaging and the storytelling sucked me right in and this was just the sort of sweetly satisfying romance that I'd been craving. Definitely looking forward to more from this new series! ~ Shelly, 4 Stars
The chemistry between Noah and Carly was captured just right: first trading warm friendly banter that quickly sparks with heat in a way that was so satisfyingly flirty. They were adorable together, teasing and playful and a complete joy to read about. And, because this was a friends-to-lovers story, the fast pace of their relationship rang true for me. I didn't struggle to connect, because their connection was in their shared history and I felt that immediately. Something in the way this is written just smoothed out all the pointy edges I usually catch on, and I smiled my way through (almost) the whole darn thing.
One Summer Weekend is a fast, fun, fantastic read. I genuinely loved these characters and their story. The writing was engaging and the storytelling sucked me right in and this was just the sort of sweetly satisfying romance that I'd been craving. Definitely looking forward to more from this new series! ~ Shelly, 4 Stars
August 29, 2019
Carly and Noah have been best friends their entire lives; never has either looked at the other as anything else. So when Noah needs a date for his new boss’s wedding, he begs Carly to be his pretend girlfriend for the weekend. However, once they are alone in a room with one bed, thoughts and actions move well beyond friendship.
One Summer Weekend is a cute, easy read. There isn’t a drawn-out backstory, but enough information is supplied that allows the reader to connect with the characters. Since Carly and Noah are already best friends, we know they are compatible, and once the sexy thoughts start, they realize they are comfortable being more than friends. The story is solid for novella-length, and while there isn’t a complex plot, there is still plenty of emotion. It’s perfect for a quick summer read by the pool, at the beach, or relaxing on your front porch.
My Rating: B, Liked It
Review copy provided by Netgalley
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
One Summer Weekend is a cute, easy read. There isn’t a drawn-out backstory, but enough information is supplied that allows the reader to connect with the characters. Since Carly and Noah are already best friends, we know they are compatible, and once the sexy thoughts start, they realize they are comfortable being more than friends. The story is solid for novella-length, and while there isn’t a complex plot, there is still plenty of emotion. It’s perfect for a quick summer read by the pool, at the beach, or relaxing on your front porch.
My Rating: B, Liked It
Review copy provided by Netgalley
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
December 28, 2019
3.5/5
Noah and Carly have been best friends for their entire lives when she agrees to be his fake girlfriend and accompany him to a wedding as his plus-one.
I could see where this one was going the whole time I was reading, but I didn't care. Noah and Carly were already close friends before the story began, so their relationship took off fairly quickly. These two had a fun banter and really good chemistry, and it was super cute. I can't wait to read the next one in this series.
Noah and Carly have been best friends for their entire lives when she agrees to be his fake girlfriend and accompany him to a wedding as his plus-one.
I could see where this one was going the whole time I was reading, but I didn't care. Noah and Carly were already close friends before the story began, so their relationship took off fairly quickly. These two had a fun banter and really good chemistry, and it was super cute. I can't wait to read the next one in this series.
August 6, 2019
I have read several books by Shannon Stacey and this one did not disappoint. It was a quick read about Noah and Carly who have been best friends forever. Noah gets invited to his boss’s wedding and in the hopes that he doesn’t get fixed up while he is there, he invents a fake girlfriends. Here’s where his best friend Carly comes into the picture. A weekend can change everything. It can make or break a relationship or a friendship. Were they able to make this relationship work and get their HEA? You will have to read and find out. I can’t wait to read what is next in this series.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
December 2, 2022
Quick review for a very quick read, I just forgot to mark it. Oops.
"One Summer Weekend" by Shannon Stacey is a novella about Carly and Noah, two best friends who have been through thick and thin together through childhood into their adult years and have had many sticky situations to figure out. Noah in particular has a jam - this time - that he can't work himself out of. He's been telling stories to his boss and co-workers that Carly is his girlfriend, and they've been clamoring to meet her. Each time, Noah has been able to wiggle out of bringing her into the situation (she doesn't know), but this *particular* time, he's been invited to his bosses wedding. He doesn't want to get fired, so he asks Carly to not only be his +1 but also his fake girlfriend.
Carly, a bookseller by trade (a fact I love), agrees to travel to the wedding with him that summer weekend for the beach-based wedding and play the role of the fake girlfriend, with some terms. (LOL) And at first it's all playing a part for them both, but then they realize that they have very real chemistry and feelings for each other. They navigate the wedding with some piping hot, steamy scenes, but when the wedding's over, is it possible for their relationship to survive? Neither Noah nor Carly is sure of that, and it might take a pretty tough conversation to figure things out.
I really enjoyed this quick read for what it was. The fake dating trope was done well and the ease of conversation and banter between Noah and Carly felt real and solid for me. I could get a glimpse into their history and friendship prior to the wedding with pieces of details woven into the narrative, and it makes sense that they were compatible, just not so ready to acknowledge that their friendship was more than what it appeared to be. I liked the resolution of the central conflict and the epilogue showing the narrative circling back to the theme from which it was based on. I probably would have even read a full novel with these two characters, but somehow with this only being about 27,000 words, it felt like a full story. I liked the ride it took me on.
Overall score: 3.5/5 stars.
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Carina Press.
"One Summer Weekend" by Shannon Stacey is a novella about Carly and Noah, two best friends who have been through thick and thin together through childhood into their adult years and have had many sticky situations to figure out. Noah in particular has a jam - this time - that he can't work himself out of. He's been telling stories to his boss and co-workers that Carly is his girlfriend, and they've been clamoring to meet her. Each time, Noah has been able to wiggle out of bringing her into the situation (she doesn't know), but this *particular* time, he's been invited to his bosses wedding. He doesn't want to get fired, so he asks Carly to not only be his +1 but also his fake girlfriend.
Carly, a bookseller by trade (a fact I love), agrees to travel to the wedding with him that summer weekend for the beach-based wedding and play the role of the fake girlfriend, with some terms. (LOL) And at first it's all playing a part for them both, but then they realize that they have very real chemistry and feelings for each other. They navigate the wedding with some piping hot, steamy scenes, but when the wedding's over, is it possible for their relationship to survive? Neither Noah nor Carly is sure of that, and it might take a pretty tough conversation to figure things out.
I really enjoyed this quick read for what it was. The fake dating trope was done well and the ease of conversation and banter between Noah and Carly felt real and solid for me. I could get a glimpse into their history and friendship prior to the wedding with pieces of details woven into the narrative, and it makes sense that they were compatible, just not so ready to acknowledge that their friendship was more than what it appeared to be. I liked the resolution of the central conflict and the epilogue showing the narrative circling back to the theme from which it was based on. I probably would have even read a full novel with these two characters, but somehow with this only being about 27,000 words, it felt like a full story. I liked the ride it took me on.
Overall score: 3.5/5 stars.
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Carina Press.
October 27, 2021
One Summer Weekend
Cedar Street, Book 1
I Picked Up This Book Because: Catching up on some old ARCs.
Media Type: Digital
Source: Netgalley
Dates Read: 9/28/21 - 10/6/21
Stars: 4 Stars
Narrator(s):
The Characters:
Noah Stafford:
Carly Randall:
Zoe Randall,
The Story:
Noah and Carly have been lifelong best friends. Noah needs Carly to pretend to be his girlfriend while attending a wedding in order to keep his boss’ matchmaking ways at bay. She agrees and then what happens on the cape stays on the cape. I really enjoyed this story. Friends to lovers is one of my top tropes. This was fun and frisky and probably super quick for someone who can focus.
The Random Thoughts:
Challenges:
Year of Smut 2021 - A book with a number in the title
Cedar Street, Book 1
I Picked Up This Book Because: Catching up on some old ARCs.
Media Type: Digital
Source: Netgalley
Dates Read: 9/28/21 - 10/6/21
Stars: 4 Stars
Narrator(s):
The Characters:
Noah Stafford:
Carly Randall:
Zoe Randall,
The Story:
Noah and Carly have been lifelong best friends. Noah needs Carly to pretend to be his girlfriend while attending a wedding in order to keep his boss’ matchmaking ways at bay. She agrees and then what happens on the cape stays on the cape. I really enjoyed this story. Friends to lovers is one of my top tropes. This was fun and frisky and probably super quick for someone who can focus.
The Random Thoughts:
Challenges:
Year of Smut 2021 - A book with a number in the title
September 16, 2019
This novella was EXACTLY what I needed to read.
After forcing myself to trudge through a book that made me ragey, I needed one that was fun, lighthearted, and uncomplicated. The thing I’ve come to appreciate about Shannon Stacey is that she writes stories about normal people, who behave like adults. She even took tropes I generally dislike - the fake relationship and friends-to-lover - and mostly stayed away from the things that make me dislike them.
Carly and Noah have been best friends for as long as they can remember. Now that they’re adults (although I don’t believe we’re ever given a hint as to what age they are), it’s caused some issues for their romantic relationships. Well, mostly for Carly - who’s ready to settle down and start a family - since Noah keeps things casual and fun with his lady friends.
When Noah tells his boss that he has a girlfriend, he thinks he's dodged a matchmaking bullet, until he’s expected to bring the girlfriend to his boss’s wedding. After tense negotiations, Carly agrees to play the part. And when things evolve from best friends to a lot MORE than friends, they agree to play the part for the weekend.
Of course once they get home, neither really wants to go back to being just friends. The way things go down between them once they get home is endearing and sweet, and stayed completely away from how every other book in this trope goes. Thank goodness!!!
This story is fun, loaded with Ms. Stacey’s usual witty banter. It was plagued with repeated phrases and repetitious thoughts - the reader is constantly reminded the hero and heroine are best friends, and have been their whole lives, and that they don’t want to ruin their friendship (which is the thing that bugs me about this fake relationship/friends-to-lovers trope). However, this is probably one time when a story being a novella works in favor of the plot, since the author didn’t have to fill in pages and pages of trumped up drama and artificial angst. No, these characters were smart, and sweet, and there was no being stupid for the sake of “saving the friendship.”
Bravo Ms. Stacey! I always like the refreshing take she puts on her stories, and I’m looking forward to the next novella in this series.
*thank you to NetGalley and HARLEQUIN-Carina Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review
After forcing myself to trudge through a book that made me ragey, I needed one that was fun, lighthearted, and uncomplicated. The thing I’ve come to appreciate about Shannon Stacey is that she writes stories about normal people, who behave like adults. She even took tropes I generally dislike - the fake relationship and friends-to-lover - and mostly stayed away from the things that make me dislike them.
Carly and Noah have been best friends for as long as they can remember. Now that they’re adults (although I don’t believe we’re ever given a hint as to what age they are), it’s caused some issues for their romantic relationships. Well, mostly for Carly - who’s ready to settle down and start a family - since Noah keeps things casual and fun with his lady friends.
When Noah tells his boss that he has a girlfriend, he thinks he's dodged a matchmaking bullet, until he’s expected to bring the girlfriend to his boss’s wedding. After tense negotiations, Carly agrees to play the part. And when things evolve from best friends to a lot MORE than friends, they agree to play the part for the weekend.
Of course once they get home, neither really wants to go back to being just friends. The way things go down between them once they get home is endearing and sweet, and stayed completely away from how every other book in this trope goes. Thank goodness!!!
This story is fun, loaded with Ms. Stacey’s usual witty banter. It was plagued with repeated phrases and repetitious thoughts - the reader is constantly reminded the hero and heroine are best friends, and have been their whole lives, and that they don’t want to ruin their friendship (which is the thing that bugs me about this fake relationship/friends-to-lovers trope). However, this is probably one time when a story being a novella works in favor of the plot, since the author didn’t have to fill in pages and pages of trumped up drama and artificial angst. No, these characters were smart, and sweet, and there was no being stupid for the sake of “saving the friendship.”
Bravo Ms. Stacey! I always like the refreshing take she puts on her stories, and I’m looking forward to the next novella in this series.
*thank you to NetGalley and HARLEQUIN-Carina Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review
October 1, 2024
One Summer Weekend was a quick read with a delightful friends to lovers romance.
Noah Stafford and Carly Randall have been best friends longer than either of them can remember. So when Noah needs the fake girlfriend he’s made up to attend his boss’s wedding with him, Carly agrees to help him out. However when Noah and Carly arrive in Cape Cod, their fake relationship begins to feel all too real when an unexpected attraction heats things up between them. Agreeing to have a no-strings attached weekend that will be forgotten once they leave, the pair quickly jump into bed only to realize once they’re back home that they can’t forget as easily as they thought.
Noah and Carly have an easy friendship that has only gotten stronger as the years have passed. I enjoy the banter between them as well as how they’re able to open to each other about anything. While the pair has noticed that the other is attractive, it had never occurred to either of them that their relationship would turn into anything more. I liked watching each of them fight their attraction to one another knowing it would be futile. The physical scenes between the two are fantastically done and incredibly steamy. I thought the changing dynamic of their relationship was handled well after some initial hesitations and I loved the way the book ended. One thing I absolutely loved about the pairing was that they joked that the situation was straight out of a rom-com only to fall prey to the situation they had laughed at.
Overall I really enjoyed One Summer Weekend and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, One Christmas Eve, releasing later this year.
Noah Stafford and Carly Randall have been best friends longer than either of them can remember. So when Noah needs the fake girlfriend he’s made up to attend his boss’s wedding with him, Carly agrees to help him out. However when Noah and Carly arrive in Cape Cod, their fake relationship begins to feel all too real when an unexpected attraction heats things up between them. Agreeing to have a no-strings attached weekend that will be forgotten once they leave, the pair quickly jump into bed only to realize once they’re back home that they can’t forget as easily as they thought.
Noah and Carly have an easy friendship that has only gotten stronger as the years have passed. I enjoy the banter between them as well as how they’re able to open to each other about anything. While the pair has noticed that the other is attractive, it had never occurred to either of them that their relationship would turn into anything more. I liked watching each of them fight their attraction to one another knowing it would be futile. The physical scenes between the two are fantastically done and incredibly steamy. I thought the changing dynamic of their relationship was handled well after some initial hesitations and I loved the way the book ended. One thing I absolutely loved about the pairing was that they joked that the situation was straight out of a rom-com only to fall prey to the situation they had laughed at.
Overall I really enjoyed One Summer Weekend and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, One Christmas Eve, releasing later this year.
October 27, 2019
A fun story that has Noah Stafford pretending that his best friend Carly Randall is his girlfriend. The rouse started innocently enough because of a picture of her on his desk. Then without even thinking he added one with them together. Working in a small company and then one day the boss wanting to double date, but really set him up with his future sister in law the sister of his fiancé, Noah said he had a girl friend and pointed to the pictures of Carly. The boss thinking that, that was a relative or friend was now happy to find out that he was dating someone. Carly shows up at Noah’s house for their weekly quad ride but as they are loading up the quads, she knows something is going on with him.
She finally confronts him when they get to the top of the ridge and he explains how he told his boss that they were dating. She was okay not bad; he then says we have been invited to there wedding this weekend in the Hamptons. She thinks about it on the ride back to the truck and by the time to the house she has her own set of terms. After agreeing to her terms, they go to the wedding and from there the story really takes off at least for me. The two characters connect for me and I really enjoyed the story when they were at the wedding. I think this all works because they are friends and have been friends for such a long time, but they also like so many of the same things and doing them together which really helps this story. Overall a very good book. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
She finally confronts him when they get to the top of the ridge and he explains how he told his boss that they were dating. She was okay not bad; he then says we have been invited to there wedding this weekend in the Hamptons. She thinks about it on the ride back to the truck and by the time to the house she has her own set of terms. After agreeing to her terms, they go to the wedding and from there the story really takes off at least for me. The two characters connect for me and I really enjoyed the story when they were at the wedding. I think this all works because they are friends and have been friends for such a long time, but they also like so many of the same things and doing them together which really helps this story. Overall a very good book. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
October 9, 2024
ONE SUMMER WEEKEND was a cute read and I enjoyed both Noah and Carly. They've been friends since forever and that's evident from their easy interactions. I liked Carly and Noah's down to earth personalities and their joking and teasing really brought their friendship to life. They've never been attracted to each other before but there's something about the romantic location on Cape Cod, the pretending, and oh yeah, the single bed in their hotel room, that has them each thinking about the other in ways they never have before.
While I believed the chemistry between the characters, I also felt like they ended up in bed almost too easily. There wasn't really any hesitation or tension over sleeping together, but this could just be because they're so comfortable together. With only about 100 pages, things move quickly but not rushed and I read this in one sitting.
While I believed the chemistry between the characters, I also felt like they ended up in bed almost too easily. There wasn't really any hesitation or tension over sleeping together, but this could just be because they're so comfortable together. With only about 100 pages, things move quickly but not rushed and I read this in one sitting.
November 24, 2019
This was such a great friends to lover romance that I stayed up way too late so I could read it after I finished One Christmas Eve. Both Carley and Noah are such loveable characters that I couldn't help fall for them (I had to read their story after reading book 2). While going from life long best friends to lovers was a difficult transition, I loved their story. They started out faking their relationship but they quickly realized they had real feeling and there was no going back to be just friends. Apparently what happens on the Cape doesn't stay on the Cape.
March 29, 2020
*cue Jason Aldean music*
No but seriously I actually enjoyed this ridiculous take on popular tropes. One Summer Weekend was a quick, fun, way to pass a few hours with sweet, honest feelings mixed with sexy times. The friendship between Carly and Noah felt realistic and goal-worthy. Their eventual platonic-to-romantic storyline was short (as this is a novella) but felt genuine. When you are so compatible after having been friends since childhood, it’s easy to take the relationship further.
I enjoyed the East coast setting with a move from four-wheeler rides in the woods by a river to the beach inn wedding.
The Tropes:
• fake relationship
• friends to lovers
• only one bed 😛😮
No but seriously I actually enjoyed this ridiculous take on popular tropes. One Summer Weekend was a quick, fun, way to pass a few hours with sweet, honest feelings mixed with sexy times. The friendship between Carly and Noah felt realistic and goal-worthy. Their eventual platonic-to-romantic storyline was short (as this is a novella) but felt genuine. When you are so compatible after having been friends since childhood, it’s easy to take the relationship further.
I enjoyed the East coast setting with a move from four-wheeler rides in the woods by a river to the beach inn wedding.
The Tropes:
• fake relationship
• friends to lovers
• only one bed 😛😮
October 28, 2020
3.5 stars
This is a bit hard to rate. Up until the ~75% mark I was ready to give this 4 stars. This had two of my fave tropes, 'Friends to lovers' and 'Fake dating' so definitely right up my alley. The story is light and breezy,good characters,a fun read. However,at some point the story needed more room to breathe. We came into "Everything happens so fast" territory quickly and the story lost its flow. It's still an enjoyable read overall but I had to deduct 0.5 stars in the end because the last 20% of the book are too rushed!
This is a bit hard to rate. Up until the ~75% mark I was ready to give this 4 stars. This had two of my fave tropes, 'Friends to lovers' and 'Fake dating' so definitely right up my alley. The story is light and breezy,good characters,a fun read. However,at some point the story needed more room to breathe. We came into "Everything happens so fast" territory quickly and the story lost its flow. It's still an enjoyable read overall but I had to deduct 0.5 stars in the end because the last 20% of the book are too rushed!
September 14, 2025
cute fast read. likeable characters, great plot, no silly OTT drama.
April 13, 2021
Yasss!! This book was EVERYTHING I wanted! Friends to lovers, great pace, the snarky amazing humor Shannon Stacey always provides and some hotttttt moments! I have been waiting to read this for far too long and I am soooo sad I took this long.
Shannon Stacey never disappoints and I love how she writes her characters and these wonderful places. Humor, Love and friendship are always key in her books and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS ONE!
Shannon Stacey never disappoints and I love how she writes her characters and these wonderful places. Humor, Love and friendship are always key in her books and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS ONE!
August 29, 2019
One Summer Weekend is the first story in the new Cedar Street series from Shannon Stacey. I love a friends-to-lovers troupe like crazy so One Summer Weekend is like book crack to me.
Noah and Carly have been best friends pretty much since they each can remember. In the words of so many characters from Grey's Anatomy, they are each other's person. However, Noah now needs Carly to pose as his pretend girlfriend for his boss's destination wedding, as Noah has told him they have been dating for 6 months.
I loved both Noah and Carly and found them each to be smart and funny. I loved they had been best friends forever, but could totally tell they would both fall fast and hard once they moved beyond friendship. As this was a novella length story, the pacing was pretty fast for them to move from friends only to lovers, yet it worked for me. I could feel the love they felt for one another from the beginning, even when they each felt it was only friendship. They had great chemistry and it really burned hotter the more time they were at Cape Cod...their idea of what happens at the Cape stays at the Cape had me cracking up laughing and feeling all the happy sighs the more they were together.
One Summer Weekend was a fast, fun, and easy read. It is a novella length story, so everything moves pretty fast, and it works well. I loved the characters and seeing them move from friends to lovers. I can't wait to hopefully see more of these characters in future books in this series. Shannon Stacey has been an auto-buy author for me since I read her very first book and One Summer Weekend only made me want more stories from her.
Rating: 4 Stars (B+)
Review copy provided by publisher
Noah and Carly have been best friends pretty much since they each can remember. In the words of so many characters from Grey's Anatomy, they are each other's person. However, Noah now needs Carly to pose as his pretend girlfriend for his boss's destination wedding, as Noah has told him they have been dating for 6 months.
I loved both Noah and Carly and found them each to be smart and funny. I loved they had been best friends forever, but could totally tell they would both fall fast and hard once they moved beyond friendship. As this was a novella length story, the pacing was pretty fast for them to move from friends only to lovers, yet it worked for me. I could feel the love they felt for one another from the beginning, even when they each felt it was only friendship. They had great chemistry and it really burned hotter the more time they were at Cape Cod...their idea of what happens at the Cape stays at the Cape had me cracking up laughing and feeling all the happy sighs the more they were together.
One Summer Weekend was a fast, fun, and easy read. It is a novella length story, so everything moves pretty fast, and it works well. I loved the characters and seeing them move from friends to lovers. I can't wait to hopefully see more of these characters in future books in this series. Shannon Stacey has been an auto-buy author for me since I read her very first book and One Summer Weekend only made me want more stories from her.
Rating: 4 Stars (B+)
Review copy provided by publisher
August 5, 2019
One Summer Weekend (Cedar Street #1) by Shannon Stacey
3 stars
M/F Friends to lovers romance
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Noah and Carly have known each other since they were kids. They have similar interests and know that they will tell each other the brutal truths that nobody else will.
When Noah is at his job, he makes the mistake of telling his boss that Carly is his girlfriend. Noah has been afraid of commitment since he was younger and the thought of his boss setting him up with his soon to be sister in law makes Noah want to run away.
Carly is a book store owner who is fun and energetic. She loves Noah and has since she was young. However, the one time they kissed, she couldn't stop laughing. She loves having him as her best friend, but never considered him as anything other than a best buddy.
When Carly and Noah find themselves as their "date" for a wedding, their friendship takes a left turn in to attraction. They already have a foundation for a relationship, they just have to give themselves permission to change the parameters.
This book felt very YA for me. It had an innocent feeling surrounding it. And, while it had a sweet side, it was also somewhat boring. I'm unsure where the series will go, but I hope for more romance in the next installment.
3 stars
M/F Friends to lovers romance
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Noah and Carly have known each other since they were kids. They have similar interests and know that they will tell each other the brutal truths that nobody else will.
When Noah is at his job, he makes the mistake of telling his boss that Carly is his girlfriend. Noah has been afraid of commitment since he was younger and the thought of his boss setting him up with his soon to be sister in law makes Noah want to run away.
Carly is a book store owner who is fun and energetic. She loves Noah and has since she was young. However, the one time they kissed, she couldn't stop laughing. She loves having him as her best friend, but never considered him as anything other than a best buddy.
When Carly and Noah find themselves as their "date" for a wedding, their friendship takes a left turn in to attraction. They already have a foundation for a relationship, they just have to give themselves permission to change the parameters.
This book felt very YA for me. It had an innocent feeling surrounding it. And, while it had a sweet side, it was also somewhat boring. I'm unsure where the series will go, but I hope for more romance in the next installment.
August 9, 2019
This was a short, sweet, friends-to-lovers novella. Noah and Carly have been best friends all their lives. They share just about everything, from a love of the outdoors to movie nights. So when Noah's boss starts talking about setting Noah up with his soon-to-be sister-in-law, Noah claims he has a girlfriend - Carly. That's all well and good until Jim expects Noah to bring her to his wedding. Now Noah has to confess what he's done and ask Carly to help him out. Carly can't believe Noah has done such a boneheaded thing, but she can't refuse to help him. She has her conditions that she sets forth, and Noah is only too happy to meet them.
But once Noah and Carly arrive on the Cape, things don't go the way they expect them to. Noah is shocked when he notices how sexy Carly is. He'd never looked at her that way before, but suddenly he can't stop. When their faked show of affection gets out of hand, they face an unexpected change in their friendship. Carly worries that it will ruin it, but Noah believes that what happens on the Cape can stay on the Cape. When they get back home, they have to face the fact that things have changed and decide what to do about it. Noah's and Carly's reactions were not what I expected from each of them, and I loved seeing how each handled their change in circumstances. Noah's big moment at the end was sweet, and the epilogue was the perfect ending.
But once Noah and Carly arrive on the Cape, things don't go the way they expect them to. Noah is shocked when he notices how sexy Carly is. He'd never looked at her that way before, but suddenly he can't stop. When their faked show of affection gets out of hand, they face an unexpected change in their friendship. Carly worries that it will ruin it, but Noah believes that what happens on the Cape can stay on the Cape. When they get back home, they have to face the fact that things have changed and decide what to do about it. Noah's and Carly's reactions were not what I expected from each of them, and I loved seeing how each handled their change in circumstances. Noah's big moment at the end was sweet, and the epilogue was the perfect ending.
August 25, 2019
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
This is a classic friends to lovers book that I thoroughly enjoyed. Shannon Stacey's books has a way of pulling your in from the first page and you can't put it down until you see "The End."
Noah and Carly have been friends forever, best of friends. Through thick and thin, they've always had each other's back. When Noah's boss pressed him to go out with his future sister in law, Noah came up with the great idea of tell Jim that he was dating someone. And that someone is Carly. The problem? He didn't tell Carly. Now his boss is expecting Noah to bring Carly to his wedding.
The romantic weekend brought out all the feelings between them and one thing led to another. Now, Noah is not sure what to do. He knows that his relationship with Carly is forever changed. Carly is afraid that Noah is going to break her heart She knows that Noah doesn't want to get married or have kids which is Carly's dream.
This is a book that I couldn't put down, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
~~Wicked Reads Review Team~~
This is a classic friends to lovers book that I thoroughly enjoyed. Shannon Stacey's books has a way of pulling your in from the first page and you can't put it down until you see "The End."
Noah and Carly have been friends forever, best of friends. Through thick and thin, they've always had each other's back. When Noah's boss pressed him to go out with his future sister in law, Noah came up with the great idea of tell Jim that he was dating someone. And that someone is Carly. The problem? He didn't tell Carly. Now his boss is expecting Noah to bring Carly to his wedding.
The romantic weekend brought out all the feelings between them and one thing led to another. Now, Noah is not sure what to do. He knows that his relationship with Carly is forever changed. Carly is afraid that Noah is going to break her heart She knows that Noah doesn't want to get married or have kids which is Carly's dream.
This is a book that I couldn't put down, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
~~Wicked Reads Review Team~~
August 26, 2019
The fun and flirty story, going from witty dialog and humor to the smoldering hot and emotional romance in a heartbeat.
I love Shannon Stacey's way to tell stories, there is so much feels, family, friends, and heart in the tales mixed with drama and passion, life, and loving. And this new series starts off with so much promise of wonderful tales coming in our way.
I loved the connection, the deep friendship Noah and Carly have. They had been best friends forever, and they knew each other like no one else. The fake romantic relationship started off as fun and games, but soon the deep desires came to surface, and oh boy, lit up the scenes.
The story is an easy and fast read, yet it covers all the developing emotions well. And since Carly and Noah are best friends, there is a solid, believable foundation they are building their romantic relationship on.
Shannon Stacey books are always a must-read for me, and One Summer Weekend has all the feels and elements of an entertaining, ardent, adorable love story to me
~ Five Spoons
I love Shannon Stacey's way to tell stories, there is so much feels, family, friends, and heart in the tales mixed with drama and passion, life, and loving. And this new series starts off with so much promise of wonderful tales coming in our way.
I loved the connection, the deep friendship Noah and Carly have. They had been best friends forever, and they knew each other like no one else. The fake romantic relationship started off as fun and games, but soon the deep desires came to surface, and oh boy, lit up the scenes.
The story is an easy and fast read, yet it covers all the developing emotions well. And since Carly and Noah are best friends, there is a solid, believable foundation they are building their romantic relationship on.
Shannon Stacey books are always a must-read for me, and One Summer Weekend has all the feels and elements of an entertaining, ardent, adorable love story to me
~ Five Spoons
August 10, 2019
Shannon Stacey is one of the best contemporary romance authors out there, in my opinion. This was definitely a cute novella. I wish I had known it was a novella going in because that would’ve impacted my expectations.
This is a cute friends-to-lovers story with some faking dating. I know people love the fake dating trope, but it isn’t my favorite. I don’t hate it or anything, but I’m not a fan of lying in my romance. I do like the friendship as a foundation for a romance. Because of the shortness, there isn’t enough growth to the romantic element for me, but that isn’t a huge issue.
Carly and Noah were fun and likable characters. They both were believable people (which I like in my romance). I love that Carly owns a bookstore, because that is one of my life goals. I enjoyed reading their story.
Originally posted: https://www.daydreamingthroughbooks.c...
This is a cute friends-to-lovers story with some faking dating. I know people love the fake dating trope, but it isn’t my favorite. I don’t hate it or anything, but I’m not a fan of lying in my romance. I do like the friendship as a foundation for a romance. Because of the shortness, there isn’t enough growth to the romantic element for me, but that isn’t a huge issue.
Carly and Noah were fun and likable characters. They both were believable people (which I like in my romance). I love that Carly owns a bookstore, because that is one of my life goals. I enjoyed reading their story.
Originally posted: https://www.daydreamingthroughbooks.c...
August 5, 2019
There is a lot packed in this novella and start of this new series you do not want to miss it. Noah has been invited to his boss' wedding and somewhere along the way it was implied he was going to get set up with the bride's sister but instead he made it know he had a girlfriend, Carly. Yea, Carly is a girl and they are friends, best friends, and had been forever, but they were not romantic in any way. After some negotiating, she agrees to accompany him for the weekend and close quarters really do open their eyes toward each other. Will their close quarters and romance keep going once they return home? Such a fun and full book. It may have been short but it was full of gusto! I cannot wait to see where this series takes us because there is one thing we can rely on, this author does great series!
**Received this ARC for review from the publisher via NetGalley**
**Received this ARC for review from the publisher via NetGalley**
August 26, 2019
Noah and Carly have been friends since.... well forever. Noah needs a girlfriend to attend a destination wedding of his boss. He's been lying and saying he has a girlfriend and now needs to get Carly to play along and help him out. While playing at being together as a couple they find they are actually attracted to each other and give in for the weekend. What happens when the weekend is over? This a friends to lovers story. Short and sweet it's a perfect easy start to a new series. Noah and Carly love each other already but are so worried they'll mess up their friendship by seeking more. Shannon Stacey makes you fall in love with this couple.
December 9, 2019
This was sweet, but being a novella the same issue I have with practically all novellas applies in that it's too short to really get a grip on the characters. It's surface-level stuff and things happen extremely fast, but I was more forgiving of that than I'd usually be since they'd been best friends since childhood.
I liked both of them and how adult they were mostly being about the situation, so it was fun.
I liked both of them and how adult they were mostly being about the situation, so it was fun.
December 4, 2019
It was... fine. It took me forever to finish because I had a lot going on. I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it either. I wanted to like it more than I did. Maybe it’s because this is a novella but everything felt kind of rushed in the end. I also couldn't really connect with any of the main characters. Bless this author for including an epilogue, though. I really needed that.
February 5, 2020
A sweet short friends to lovers story
A sweet story about friends to lovers with SS's signature snarky funny dialogue and a good amount of heat. The ending had the right amount of sweet melty feels.
A sweet story about friends to lovers with SS's signature snarky funny dialogue and a good amount of heat. The ending had the right amount of sweet melty feels.
July 26, 2020
A great short story about best friends becoming more and the emotions it invoked. There was laughs, sexy times and tears all ending with a HEA.
May 2, 2020
This was a quick, sweet read. A lot of times with novellas, I feel like I don't get a whole story, but that wasn't the case with this one. Noah and Carly have been best friends forever, and Noah needs Carly to pretend to be his girlfriend for a wedding. If you've ever watched a Hallmark movie, you know where this one is headed =) I liked that Noah was able to realize quickly that Carly was truly the woman for him. The ending was super sweet, and I loved that Carly was able to have what she had envisioned since she was little. This was a first for me from this author, but I would definitely read the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.
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