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Love in Fenton County #1
What Are Friends For?
FALLING IN LOVE ISN'T COMPLICATED...UNLESS IT'S WITH YOUR BEST FRIEND.
I've got a problem.
A big one.
It involves a blindfolded kissing game at a party. I was supposed to be kissing my crush, Jeremy, the totally hot baseball player I've been crushing on. And the kiss...it's amazing. Makes me forget all about my overbearing mother, my next-door neighbor's drama, and the probability of failing my senior year.
But that's not the big problem.
The big problem is that once my blindfold falls off, I realize that heart-stopping, toe-curling, world-changing kiss wasn't with my crush.
It was with Elijah Greybeck, my best friend since the third grade.
And even once I realize it's him, why...why do I want to keep kissing him?
Book one of the Love in Fenton County standalone series, What Are Friends For?, is a swoon-worthy friends-to-lovers story that will leave you crushing hard.
I've got a problem.
A big one.
It involves a blindfolded kissing game at a party. I was supposed to be kissing my crush, Jeremy, the totally hot baseball player I've been crushing on. And the kiss...it's amazing. Makes me forget all about my overbearing mother, my next-door neighbor's drama, and the probability of failing my senior year.
But that's not the big problem.
The big problem is that once my blindfold falls off, I realize that heart-stopping, toe-curling, world-changing kiss wasn't with my crush.
It was with Elijah Greybeck, my best friend since the third grade.
And even once I realize it's him, why...why do I want to keep kissing him?
Book one of the Love in Fenton County standalone series, What Are Friends For?, is a swoon-worthy friends-to-lovers story that will leave you crushing hard.
308 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2020
About the author
Sarah Sutton
9 books775 followersSarah Sutton is the author of YA Contemporary Romance books from a tiny town in Michigan. These standalone novels can be read in any order and are sure to leave you swooning. She’s always loved the idea of falling in love; capturing the fall through words and heart-melting kisses is one of her passions! Meet-cutes? She’ll take all of them! Accidental touches? She lives for them! First kisses? Yes, please!
To follow her on social media and learn more about her books, visit her website: sarah-sutton.com
Facebook: @SarahMaeSutton
Instagram: @SarahMaeSutton
YouTube: @SarahMaeSutton
TikTok: @AuthorSarahSutton
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 335 reviews
January 16, 2022
I found Sarah's authortube channel last week, and I love to read at least one book from the authortubers I like and follow.
So here we are.
As always, the review is more about me than the book, but hear me out. I love ranting. lol
This is her first book and it has the "worst" rating (3.93 is not bad at any means), but this was the one that captured my attention the most. The cover is adorable, and it's best friends to lovers, which is probably my favorite romance trope. The stakes cauldn't be higher than losing the person you've grew up with.
I'm not a romance reader. At least not a straight romance reader. I tried to read a few last year and I hated almost all of them. They are like "I'm a girl, you're a boy, we must behave accordigly and have to be together even if we don't have anything in common." And then comes the epilogue with the fucking kid.
I tried erotica, which is supposed to be about sex. I tried high school romance, which is about teenagers. But all of them had the fucking epilogue with a kid.
Just so you know, I would rather read something historical or about a love triangle, hell, even both of them combined than pregnancy and kids (and that's how you know I loathe it). Especially when it has nothing to do with the story, it's just there in the epilogue that's titled "X years later".
Like why.
Just why.
So I gave up.
But I wanted to try this one.
And guess what.
I can't say anymore I'm not a het. romance reader.
Because I found one that's literally perfect for me, and I could read a ton of this kind of romance. If anyone were looking for me, I'll be in a hunt for similar books to this.
It was sweet and emotional and I ate it up. I had to force myself to sleep at night, when all I wanted was to read it in one sitting.
I loved that the love interest dealt with his own shit, not just the mc. I loved how the parents were divorced, but still supported each other. I loved that no one was toxic.
You got it. I adored it.
So much so that I'll probably reread it sometimes.
What I want to add is, if someone really wanted to, they could say it contains cheating, which is a deal breaker for me, too, but in this case it slipped through. The first time they didn't know they were kissing each other, and the second time the boy and his gf were already fighting for a long time because she knew he loved the mc, and after they kissed (the mc and the love interest), he broke up with his gf.
I plan to read all of Sarah's books in the near future. Maybe along the way I'll find another author who writes similar stories to her/to this.
So here we are.
As always, the review is more about me than the book, but hear me out. I love ranting. lol
This is her first book and it has the "worst" rating (3.93 is not bad at any means), but this was the one that captured my attention the most. The cover is adorable, and it's best friends to lovers, which is probably my favorite romance trope. The stakes cauldn't be higher than losing the person you've grew up with.
I'm not a romance reader. At least not a straight romance reader. I tried to read a few last year and I hated almost all of them. They are like "I'm a girl, you're a boy, we must behave accordigly and have to be together even if we don't have anything in common." And then comes the epilogue with the fucking kid.
I tried erotica, which is supposed to be about sex. I tried high school romance, which is about teenagers. But all of them had the fucking epilogue with a kid.
Just so you know, I would rather read something historical or about a love triangle, hell, even both of them combined than pregnancy and kids (and that's how you know I loathe it). Especially when it has nothing to do with the story, it's just there in the epilogue that's titled "X years later".
Like why.
Just why.
So I gave up.
But I wanted to try this one.
And guess what.
I can't say anymore I'm not a het. romance reader.
Because I found one that's literally perfect for me, and I could read a ton of this kind of romance. If anyone were looking for me, I'll be in a hunt for similar books to this.
It was sweet and emotional and I ate it up. I had to force myself to sleep at night, when all I wanted was to read it in one sitting.
I loved that the love interest dealt with his own shit, not just the mc. I loved how the parents were divorced, but still supported each other. I loved that no one was toxic.
You got it. I adored it.
So much so that I'll probably reread it sometimes.
What I want to add is, if someone really wanted to, they could say it contains cheating, which is a deal breaker for me, too, but in this case it slipped through. The first time they didn't know they were kissing each other, and the second time the boy and his gf were already fighting for a long time because she knew he loved the mc, and after they kissed (the mc and the love interest), he broke up with his gf.
I plan to read all of Sarah's books in the near future. Maybe along the way I'll find another author who writes similar stories to her/to this.
October 9, 2021
“Will you still love me if Principal Martinez makes me repeat my senior year?”
Why is it so cute! I love cuteness! I live for it!
*Screams*
This book is a light read with a good pace. Nothing is rushing so you'll feel every emotion with Remi, the lead character and nothing dragged that you'll feel bored out of your mind.
Can we please talk about the cover ? Cuz it's adorable The cover is what pulled me.
Why is it so cute! I love cuteness! I live for it!
*Screams*
This book is a light read with a good pace. Nothing is rushing so you'll feel every emotion with Remi, the lead character and nothing dragged that you'll feel bored out of your mind.
Can we please talk about the cover ? Cuz it's adorable The cover is what pulled me.
May 26, 2020
This is a really cute story. I needed one to get me out of my somber mood and this one certainly did the job. I loved everything about this book the writing style , the main characters and the story itself. Remi and Elijah are a meant to be couple and their chemistry is off the charts. I really liked Remi, she's so funny and kind and most of all, she's depicted as a normal teenager with all the mood swings and inexperienced look at life that comes with that age. Elijah is swoon worthy, I loved his personality and sensitiveness. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it❤️.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
February 25, 2020
What a perfect example of an okay book. I think I might give it more stars than it deserves just because it was such a surprise that I actually enjoyed it. With that I mean that I always, always, always buy terrible kindle books that disappoint me just so the next book I read is actually decent in comparison. However I did really enjoy this one, there was some plot twists, characters weren´t all terrible, the plot was sweet/funny and there was some growth/character development. I give it 4 stars mostly because it surprised me tho.
May 20, 2020
Un libro tranqui, lindo y ligeramente adictivo. Me trasmitió la misma sensación que Anna and the French Kiss, ese angst super particular de "dos amigos se gustan pero no terminan de animarse a hacer nada porque tienen miedo de que no sea mutuo y uno está en una relación©".
Justo lo que necesitaba.
Justo lo que necesitaba.
January 18, 2020
Note: I received an ARC generously from the author in exchange for an honest review.
So to summarize y'all, it's basically a closet game gone wrong. But the good kind of wrong.
The cover - Is quirky and hints at the what story may be.
The summary - A close, easygoing friendship can all change with just one kiss. Seventeen-year-old Remi Beaufort learns this the hard way when she plays a blindfolded kissing game at a party.
She thinks she's kissing Jeremy, the totally hot basketball player she's been crushing on. And the kiss...it's amazing. Heart-stopping, world-changing, toe-curling. The kiss makes her forget about her overbearing mother, the next-door neighbor's drama, and the probability that she'll fail her senior year. The best kiss of her life makes all that fall away.
Until her blindfold falls off, and she realizes that instead of kissing her crush, she's kissing Elijah, her best friend since third grade.
Though she manages to convince Elijah that he was kissing his girlfriend, Remi can't get the thought of his lips on hers out of her head. As things between them grow more and more complicated--because it turns out her fantasizing about his mouth is more of a problem than it sounds--Remi has to make a choice: does she live the rest of her life loving her best friend in secret? Or does she tell the truth and risk ruining their friendship forever?
Cute no? I definitely thought it was.
The chemistry and easy going friendship plus the writing style -All pretty solid.
The not so good qualities though are - The characters constant whining once they realize they have chemistry (or at least one of them realizes it) aka teenage drama. The good guys being turned into villains aka her crush becoming suddenly "unsuitable" as he does not compare to her other "kissed" crush, blah, blah, blah. And the female character forgiving someone for screwing up her marks and possibly getting her kicked out of school.
Otherwise it was a decent novel. Nothing great, nothing bad.
Until the next read,
TMR
So to summarize y'all, it's basically a closet game gone wrong. But the good kind of wrong.
The cover - Is quirky and hints at the what story may be.
The summary - A close, easygoing friendship can all change with just one kiss. Seventeen-year-old Remi Beaufort learns this the hard way when she plays a blindfolded kissing game at a party.
She thinks she's kissing Jeremy, the totally hot basketball player she's been crushing on. And the kiss...it's amazing. Heart-stopping, world-changing, toe-curling. The kiss makes her forget about her overbearing mother, the next-door neighbor's drama, and the probability that she'll fail her senior year. The best kiss of her life makes all that fall away.
Until her blindfold falls off, and she realizes that instead of kissing her crush, she's kissing Elijah, her best friend since third grade.
Though she manages to convince Elijah that he was kissing his girlfriend, Remi can't get the thought of his lips on hers out of her head. As things between them grow more and more complicated--because it turns out her fantasizing about his mouth is more of a problem than it sounds--Remi has to make a choice: does she live the rest of her life loving her best friend in secret? Or does she tell the truth and risk ruining their friendship forever?
Cute no? I definitely thought it was.
The chemistry and easy going friendship plus the writing style -All pretty solid.
The not so good qualities though are - The characters constant whining once they realize they have chemistry (or at least one of them realizes it) aka teenage drama. The good guys being turned into villains aka her crush becoming suddenly "unsuitable" as he does not compare to her other "kissed" crush, blah, blah, blah. And the female character forgiving someone for screwing up her marks and possibly getting her kicked out of school.
Otherwise it was a decent novel. Nothing great, nothing bad.
Until the next read,
TMR
February 19, 2021
Absolutely adorable, What Are Friends For tells the story of what happens when you kiss your best friend... and realize you liked it. Remi didn’t mean to kiss Elijah, but now her heart is all jumbled up - what if he doesn’t feel the same way?
Remi was fun to follow and Elijah was a cute love interesting. There was depth in the family relationships and it was wonderful to see Remi grow as a person. Sarah Sutton has a great writing style and I can’t wait to read more from her!
Remi was fun to follow and Elijah was a cute love interesting. There was depth in the family relationships and it was wonderful to see Remi grow as a person. Sarah Sutton has a great writing style and I can’t wait to read more from her!
July 7, 2022
— ⭐️ ꧁༒ 𝟐 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 ༒꧂⭐️
༺ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫?༻
𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 (h) attends a party on a school night because her crush, Jeremy Rivera will be there and she wants to see him there. Upon arriving, the two flirt and her friend, Eloise orchestrates “Lip Locker” where the two go to a room, blindfolded, and kiss. However, when she goes into the room to kiss Jeremy and it escalates, she notices that something about the voice is off. When she takes off her blindfold, she is face-to-face with her best friend, 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐣𝐚𝐡 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐤 (H), but he still has his blindfold on and utters “Savannah?” the name of his girlfriend. Remi, quickly runs out of the rooms and tries to pretend like the kiss never happened but suddenly her feelings for Jeremy have evaporated and she’s seeing Elijah with a different lens. Their interactions become more awkward with lingering tension, and she tries to avoid her new feelings by going out with Jeremy. At the same time, Elijah does everything for Remi (while having a girlfriend) and maybe… he’s been in love with her this entire time.
❄️ 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨
I get that they’re best friends, but there was no reason for her to act like she had priority over his girlfriend. SHE was acting like she was the girlfriend and not the BEST FRIEND. It was very childish…yes this is YA but did she have to be so dramatic every time she didn’t get her way with Eli. If he didn’t choose -her- she would kind of throw a fit and proceed to say “I’m not mad” but she really was . He made me mad too because he had a girlfriend and was clearly in love with Remi. I LOVE best friends to lovers but not when they have a PARTNER for the entire book?? That’s just weird, if you’re in love with your best friend don’t have a girlfriend that you don’t even care about.
Anyway, they don’t get together until the 80-90% mark because he has a girlfriend the entire time (who looks exactly like the main character). The girlfriend Sav, has an issue with Remi because she’s always around and Elijah -always- picks his best friend over her. Realistically, wouldn’t you be upset too if your boyfriend prioritized his girl best friend and had no boundaries? Remi knew what she was doing too, I thought she was unlikable because she would get upset when Elijah would simply -be- with his girlfriend and was weirded out when Sav called shotgun in the car. She also kissed Elijah -knowing- he had a girlfriend (they were already broken up, but she didn’t know that) and that’s completely shitty. I’m not excusing Sav for being rude to Remi and changing her grade in the system to sabotage her BUT it makes sense that she would feel threatened? I mean, that’s -her- boyfriend and he is throwing longing glances at his best friend and they’re inseparable to the point where he didn’t even care for Sav. I feel for her, because she just wanted to be loved by -someone-, Elijah wasn’t the one for her and she realized that but it still sucks for her.
“𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙄 𝙛𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩. 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚.”
This part made me want to scream, 1. She never asked you to do that for her? 2. How is that her problem? Yes, I didn’t like her most of the time but Elijah called her a bad influence and randomly attacked her just because he didn’t want to talk about -his- feelings so he shifted the conversation instead. Other than that, he was a decent character.. I just don’t trust anyone who treats his girlfriend like she’s second best and then breaks up with her to be with his best friend. The trope was not done correctly + tell me why he confesses his feelings for Remi only when he was fighting with Sav.. BYE. He’s done, I’m done.. just no 🫡✨
𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥, this book was okay but the characters are very forgettable and not that likeable.
༺ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫?༻
𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 (h) attends a party on a school night because her crush, Jeremy Rivera will be there and she wants to see him there. Upon arriving, the two flirt and her friend, Eloise orchestrates “Lip Locker” where the two go to a room, blindfolded, and kiss. However, when she goes into the room to kiss Jeremy and it escalates, she notices that something about the voice is off. When she takes off her blindfold, she is face-to-face with her best friend, 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐣𝐚𝐡 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐤 (H), but he still has his blindfold on and utters “Savannah?” the name of his girlfriend. Remi, quickly runs out of the rooms and tries to pretend like the kiss never happened but suddenly her feelings for Jeremy have evaporated and she’s seeing Elijah with a different lens. Their interactions become more awkward with lingering tension, and she tries to avoid her new feelings by going out with Jeremy. At the same time, Elijah does everything for Remi (while having a girlfriend) and maybe… he’s been in love with her this entire time.
❄️ 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨
I get that they’re best friends, but there was no reason for her to act like she had priority over his girlfriend. SHE was acting like she was the girlfriend and not the BEST FRIEND. It was very childish…yes this is YA but did she have to be so dramatic every time she didn’t get her way with Eli. If he didn’t choose -her- she would kind of throw a fit and proceed to say “I’m not mad” but she really was . He made me mad too because he had a girlfriend and was clearly in love with Remi. I LOVE best friends to lovers but not when they have a PARTNER for the entire book?? That’s just weird, if you’re in love with your best friend don’t have a girlfriend that you don’t even care about.
Anyway, they don’t get together until the 80-90% mark because he has a girlfriend the entire time (who looks exactly like the main character). The girlfriend Sav, has an issue with Remi because she’s always around and Elijah -always- picks his best friend over her. Realistically, wouldn’t you be upset too if your boyfriend prioritized his girl best friend and had no boundaries? Remi knew what she was doing too, I thought she was unlikable because she would get upset when Elijah would simply -be- with his girlfriend and was weirded out when Sav called shotgun in the car. She also kissed Elijah -knowing- he had a girlfriend (they were already broken up, but she didn’t know that) and that’s completely shitty. I’m not excusing Sav for being rude to Remi and changing her grade in the system to sabotage her BUT it makes sense that she would feel threatened? I mean, that’s -her- boyfriend and he is throwing longing glances at his best friend and they’re inseparable to the point where he didn’t even care for Sav. I feel for her, because she just wanted to be loved by -someone-, Elijah wasn’t the one for her and she realized that but it still sucks for her.
“𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙄 𝙛𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩. 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚.”
This part made me want to scream, 1. She never asked you to do that for her? 2. How is that her problem? Yes, I didn’t like her most of the time but Elijah called her a bad influence and randomly attacked her just because he didn’t want to talk about -his- feelings so he shifted the conversation instead. Other than that, he was a decent character.. I just don’t trust anyone who treats his girlfriend like she’s second best and then breaks up with her to be with his best friend. The trope was not done correctly + tell me why he confesses his feelings for Remi only when he was fighting with Sav.. BYE. He’s done, I’m done.. just no 🫡✨
𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥, this book was okay but the characters are very forgettable and not that likeable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2021
Where to even start? This book was AMAZING and such a great read during a stressful time. If you’re looking for a light-hearted contemporary with a dash of romance and wit, you need to pick up WhatAre Friends For?
August 18, 2020
Absolutely. Adored.
From the absolutely incredibly well fleshed out characters to the intricate plot, I loved EVERY SECOND OF THIS BOOK!
I think this book also is the reason I miiiiight like Friends to Lovers more than Enemies to Lovers... which was my self-proclaimed favourite trope in romance books. There is something so cute about it, something so warm and intimate that it just wraps me in a warm blanket. Remi and Eli are so so so good. Ah!
The vibe of this book is more mature than most YA Romances I've read, but in such a good way. And it also still held that teenage love energy so it didn't feel too old either. They felt like true high schoolers, but in a way that me, a 23 year old who is fed up about reading about 16 year olds who annoy me to no end, absolutely fell in love with.
Highly highly recommend!!
From the absolutely incredibly well fleshed out characters to the intricate plot, I loved EVERY SECOND OF THIS BOOK!
I think this book also is the reason I miiiiight like Friends to Lovers more than Enemies to Lovers... which was my self-proclaimed favourite trope in romance books. There is something so cute about it, something so warm and intimate that it just wraps me in a warm blanket. Remi and Eli are so so so good. Ah!
The vibe of this book is more mature than most YA Romances I've read, but in such a good way. And it also still held that teenage love energy so it didn't feel too old either. They felt like true high schoolers, but in a way that me, a 23 year old who is fed up about reading about 16 year olds who annoy me to no end, absolutely fell in love with.
Highly highly recommend!!
June 17, 2020
** What are Friends For? **
One kiss can change everything. Remi Beaufort, goes to a party and participates in a game that leaves her blindfolded in a closet and sharing a mind-altering kiss with a boy. Who she finds out is her best friend after she bumps her head and her blindfold falls off.
Remi struggles throughout the whole book to tell her best friend Elijah that they shared a kiss, but she also doesn’t want to ruin their life long friendship and become between him and his girlfriend.
QUICK INSIGHT
Author: Sarah Sutton
Genre: YA Romance
Pages: 293
Cover art: 5/5 (by unknown)
Cover by: Unknown
Overall Reading Experience: 2/5
First 5 Chapters: I wanted to DNF, did a lot of telling and not showing.
Reasons to keep reading: Because of the LOVE, duh!
Get it Here: [link]
WRITING!
Even though the book was really hard to read even after 50 pages, the writing was there. I loved her imagery, sometimes I felt like I was in Remy’s mind. And for a self-published book, I could tell an editor was involved, more brownie points for the author!
HOT or NOT?
This book wasn’t for me. The more that I dove deeper into the book, the longer it took me to read. I, personally, struggled really hard to relate to Remi. To me she seemed wishy-washy and always ran from her problems.
I also felt that the dialogue felt forced and awkward. What I really wanted from this book was a more developed friendship between Remi and Elijah. The bond between them seemed to consist of a ton of sarcastic comments. I got the feeling they were acquaintances who shared a couple of classes rather than a life full of friendship and memories. And it felt even more forced that they were supposed to be in love with each other. I wanted more long, steamy glances, or maybe another mistaken kiss. I never got that tight feeling at the bottom of my stomach when reading well-written scenes.
Overall I expected more from the book than it could give me.
As always, I do recommend forming your own opinion, so there is a direct link to the book up above. And I always welcome feedback on my own critique as I’m not always right.
One kiss can change everything. Remi Beaufort, goes to a party and participates in a game that leaves her blindfolded in a closet and sharing a mind-altering kiss with a boy. Who she finds out is her best friend after she bumps her head and her blindfold falls off.
Remi struggles throughout the whole book to tell her best friend Elijah that they shared a kiss, but she also doesn’t want to ruin their life long friendship and become between him and his girlfriend.
QUICK INSIGHT
Author: Sarah Sutton
Genre: YA Romance
Pages: 293
Cover art: 5/5 (by unknown)
Cover by: Unknown
Overall Reading Experience: 2/5
First 5 Chapters: I wanted to DNF, did a lot of telling and not showing.
Reasons to keep reading: Because of the LOVE, duh!
Get it Here: [link]
WRITING!
Even though the book was really hard to read even after 50 pages, the writing was there. I loved her imagery, sometimes I felt like I was in Remy’s mind. And for a self-published book, I could tell an editor was involved, more brownie points for the author!
HOT or NOT?
This book wasn’t for me. The more that I dove deeper into the book, the longer it took me to read. I, personally, struggled really hard to relate to Remi. To me she seemed wishy-washy and always ran from her problems.
I also felt that the dialogue felt forced and awkward. What I really wanted from this book was a more developed friendship between Remi and Elijah. The bond between them seemed to consist of a ton of sarcastic comments. I got the feeling they were acquaintances who shared a couple of classes rather than a life full of friendship and memories. And it felt even more forced that they were supposed to be in love with each other. I wanted more long, steamy glances, or maybe another mistaken kiss. I never got that tight feeling at the bottom of my stomach when reading well-written scenes.
Overall I expected more from the book than it could give me.
As always, I do recommend forming your own opinion, so there is a direct link to the book up above. And I always welcome feedback on my own critique as I’m not always right.
August 7, 2022
4.5 stars
This book was recommended by my cousin and I have to say it was a delight to read!
This book had everything I look for in a contemporary romance! It was a light, easy ready. I binge read the book in just a couple of hours because I just couldn’t the put it down! The writing style flower so beautifully
I just wish it had been longer! I would’ve liked their relationship to develop a little slower/for Remi’s feelings to not have appeared so suddenly. Regardless the book was amazing and I will definitely have to check out the next book(s)!!
This book was recommended by my cousin and I have to say it was a delight to read!
This book had everything I look for in a contemporary romance! It was a light, easy ready. I binge read the book in just a couple of hours because I just couldn’t the put it down! The writing style flower so beautifully
I just wish it had been longer! I would’ve liked their relationship to develop a little slower/for Remi’s feelings to not have appeared so suddenly. Regardless the book was amazing and I will definitely have to check out the next book(s)!!
May 24, 2022
(3.5)
friends to lovers will always be superior!
friends to lovers will always be superior!
June 15, 2022
A sweet childhood best friends to lovers story, they each have their baggage but they see and understand each other in a way no one else can. I loved how several characters had full redemption arcs and I can't wait to get to know Eli's brother better if there is a book on him
-mild spice
-friendly banter
-shes-a-princess-and-so-much-more-than-you-deserve-so-dont-touch-my-best-friend
-dont-know-why-im-angry-about-another-guy-touching-you
-mild spice
-friendly banter
-shes-a-princess-and-so-much-more-than-you-deserve-so-dont-touch-my-best-friend
-dont-know-why-im-angry-about-another-guy-touching-you
May 20, 2020
I have no words. I’m struggling to write this review because it’s so hard to put how much I love this book into words.
First of all, I read this book in roughly 4 hours. Once I picked it up, I couldn’t stop. Here’s the funny thing: while I read a lot of YA and love romance, I never read YA romance. I often read YA fantasy that has romance in it, but I never just read YA romance. I often find it over-bearing, cringey, and, in some cases, inappropriate. At some point, I mostly gave up the genre as a whole and devoted myself to fantasy. Every once in a while, I’d pick up a contemporary romance or something like that, but not often. For reasons I still don’t understand, I wanted to read this book ASAP just from looking at the cover and description. I immediately bought it and here we are.
Regardless of why I read this book, I loved it. It wasn’t what I was expecting—it was so much better! Right off the bat, we’re introduced to Remi and Elijah. They’re childhood best friends who basically do everything together. Unfortunately, their lives are kind of a mess. Elijah’s family has been a mess thanks to his brother making some poor decisions. Remi mostly lives with her mom, but she spends some weekends with her dad and stepmom as well. Then something happens to further throw everything out of whack. Due to a misunderstanding at a party, Remi and Elijah kiss accidentally. Elijah thinks the girl he kissed is his girlfriend, Savannah, but Remi discovers the truth. Horrified, she plays along with convincing Elijah he really did kiss Savannah. The problem: Remi can’t get that kiss out of her mind, and Savannah knows she didn’t kiss Elijah at the party. The whole situation is a mess in their already messy lives and Remi is determined to get through the whole thing with her friendship with Elijah, as well as the rest of her life, intact.
A lot of YA romances, and romances in general, can be cringey and cliché. This book was not like that at all. Where other books are shallow, this book was so much deeper than that. Family and friendship dynamics play a huge role in this book. All the characters make mistakes and have to learn to deal with the consequences. And even though their lives are messy, they learn how to live and love despite their circumstances. As much as I was invested in Remi’s relationship with Elijah, I was just as invested in her relationships with her mom and her dad, stepmom, and little sister; I was also invested in Elijah’s family too. This book is relatable and realistic thanks to the family/friendship relationships. And as far as the romance goes, it was clean and cute and adorable. I loved every second of this book. The relationships, the romance, the message—it was wonderful. For any of my fellow YA readers, I’d highly recommend reading this book. Even after writing this whole review, I still feel as though I was not able to do this book justice. I honestly cannot wait to get my hands on Sarah’s new book that’s coming out soon.
First of all, I read this book in roughly 4 hours. Once I picked it up, I couldn’t stop. Here’s the funny thing: while I read a lot of YA and love romance, I never read YA romance. I often read YA fantasy that has romance in it, but I never just read YA romance. I often find it over-bearing, cringey, and, in some cases, inappropriate. At some point, I mostly gave up the genre as a whole and devoted myself to fantasy. Every once in a while, I’d pick up a contemporary romance or something like that, but not often. For reasons I still don’t understand, I wanted to read this book ASAP just from looking at the cover and description. I immediately bought it and here we are.
Regardless of why I read this book, I loved it. It wasn’t what I was expecting—it was so much better! Right off the bat, we’re introduced to Remi and Elijah. They’re childhood best friends who basically do everything together. Unfortunately, their lives are kind of a mess. Elijah’s family has been a mess thanks to his brother making some poor decisions. Remi mostly lives with her mom, but she spends some weekends with her dad and stepmom as well. Then something happens to further throw everything out of whack. Due to a misunderstanding at a party, Remi and Elijah kiss accidentally. Elijah thinks the girl he kissed is his girlfriend, Savannah, but Remi discovers the truth. Horrified, she plays along with convincing Elijah he really did kiss Savannah. The problem: Remi can’t get that kiss out of her mind, and Savannah knows she didn’t kiss Elijah at the party. The whole situation is a mess in their already messy lives and Remi is determined to get through the whole thing with her friendship with Elijah, as well as the rest of her life, intact.
A lot of YA romances, and romances in general, can be cringey and cliché. This book was not like that at all. Where other books are shallow, this book was so much deeper than that. Family and friendship dynamics play a huge role in this book. All the characters make mistakes and have to learn to deal with the consequences. And even though their lives are messy, they learn how to live and love despite their circumstances. As much as I was invested in Remi’s relationship with Elijah, I was just as invested in her relationships with her mom and her dad, stepmom, and little sister; I was also invested in Elijah’s family too. This book is relatable and realistic thanks to the family/friendship relationships. And as far as the romance goes, it was clean and cute and adorable. I loved every second of this book. The relationships, the romance, the message—it was wonderful. For any of my fellow YA readers, I’d highly recommend reading this book. Even after writing this whole review, I still feel as though I was not able to do this book justice. I honestly cannot wait to get my hands on Sarah’s new book that’s coming out soon.
June 16, 2020
I seriously debated between ratings because I really loved the ending, but felt the beginning was so subpar. In the end, I decided on 3.5 stars, and here's why.
It was a bit of a slow start. The characters were trying to be established (I'll get to this later) and the plot was being laid down, but we didn't really get into it all until about 7 chapters in. Despite this slow start, I was still a bit intrigued so I kept reading.
About halfway through the book, I realized why I was feeling so torn with the plot. The first half of the book felt like it should have been the second half. The usual tension and high emotions that I feel like I usually see in YA contemporaries towards the end was at the beginning. But it continued until the end so it was all a bit contentious.
Now, back to the characters. Because of the odd start to the book, I feel like Remi and Elijah's personalities shifted super hard within a few chapters. Remi was being super weird and negative and Elijah was being super lovey and then angry and then lovey.
Despite this, I really liked Elijah. He was sweet and thoughtful, even if he acted like a teenage boy sometimes. Remi, however, was not as likable. At the very beginning, we start to get a sense of her personality, but then it's just kinda ripped away. Since the tension starts so soon in the book, I feel like the Remi we were supposed to get to know doesn't really make an appearance. She just kinda all over the place with her emotions and thoughts and we don't get a good sense of who she is.
As well, I feel like the book didn't "accomplish" anything. Really, the point of most romance books is to get the two people together at the end, but usually, there is some other thing that is trying to be done. In this book, there were a few things that were trying to be accomplished (Remi is trying to pass her art class. Elijah is dealing with his family issues.), but I didn't feel a sense of resolve at the end. Maybe it was just me, but I didn't feel it and I really wish I would have.
Now, I feel like I've been writing a bunch of negatives so here are my positives. As far as best-friends-to-lovers goes, there were some really cute moments. As well, I really enjoyed the ending. In fact, I might have teared up a little. It was cute, hopeful, and tied up the relationship well. And it was interesting enough for me to read it in one sitting. I definitely wasn't suffering through it.
Also, this book was pretty clean. There was almost no cursing and there were no sex scenes. Some good makeout scenes were definitely there, but nothing crazy. This book would be great for younger teen audiences.
Overall, I liked this book, just didn't love it. It would be good for those who love best-friends-to-lovers tropes and who may or may not be failing a class.
It was a bit of a slow start. The characters were trying to be established (I'll get to this later) and the plot was being laid down, but we didn't really get into it all until about 7 chapters in. Despite this slow start, I was still a bit intrigued so I kept reading.
About halfway through the book, I realized why I was feeling so torn with the plot. The first half of the book felt like it should have been the second half. The usual tension and high emotions that I feel like I usually see in YA contemporaries towards the end was at the beginning. But it continued until the end so it was all a bit contentious.
Now, back to the characters. Because of the odd start to the book, I feel like Remi and Elijah's personalities shifted super hard within a few chapters. Remi was being super weird and negative and Elijah was being super lovey and then angry and then lovey.
Despite this, I really liked Elijah. He was sweet and thoughtful, even if he acted like a teenage boy sometimes. Remi, however, was not as likable. At the very beginning, we start to get a sense of her personality, but then it's just kinda ripped away. Since the tension starts so soon in the book, I feel like the Remi we were supposed to get to know doesn't really make an appearance. She just kinda all over the place with her emotions and thoughts and we don't get a good sense of who she is.
As well, I feel like the book didn't "accomplish" anything. Really, the point of most romance books is to get the two people together at the end, but usually, there is some other thing that is trying to be done. In this book, there were a few things that were trying to be accomplished (Remi is trying to pass her art class. Elijah is dealing with his family issues.), but I didn't feel a sense of resolve at the end. Maybe it was just me, but I didn't feel it and I really wish I would have.
Now, I feel like I've been writing a bunch of negatives so here are my positives. As far as best-friends-to-lovers goes, there were some really cute moments. As well, I really enjoyed the ending. In fact, I might have teared up a little. It was cute, hopeful, and tied up the relationship well. And it was interesting enough for me to read it in one sitting. I definitely wasn't suffering through it.
Also, this book was pretty clean. There was almost no cursing and there were no sex scenes. Some good makeout scenes were definitely there, but nothing crazy. This book would be great for younger teen audiences.
Overall, I liked this book, just didn't love it. It would be good for those who love best-friends-to-lovers tropes and who may or may not be failing a class.
April 15, 2020
There are certain books that fall into your life at the ideal time. Sarah Sutton's What Are Friends For? is one of those books for me. It's an impressive young adult romance that had me engrossed from the start.
This romance between best friends Remi and Elijah is intriguing and charming. The issues are realistic and emotional. The relationship, it's mishaps, it's obstacles, and it's ultimate progression are wonderfully done.
A first time author, I'm very impressed with the author's writing. She does a fantastic job capturing the voice of the characters, and excels in her storytelling process. Making things even better, the parents actually contribute to this story, and they do so in a wonderful way. Told in first person pov, the reader is easily drawn into Remi and her emotions. Everything develops nicely and I adore the way everything wraps up in the end.
Overall, the book is developed in a manner that fully pulls the reader in, and executed with the reader feeling everything the main character feels. Real situations, dimensional characters, and plenty of likeable secondary characters make this a story to love.
I always enjoy a great young adult romance, and this is definitely going on my re-read list. What Are Friends For? sucked me in with it's charm and I found myself having to read it in one sitting. I love it all and am excited to see what Sarah Sutton writes next.
This romance between best friends Remi and Elijah is intriguing and charming. The issues are realistic and emotional. The relationship, it's mishaps, it's obstacles, and it's ultimate progression are wonderfully done.
A first time author, I'm very impressed with the author's writing. She does a fantastic job capturing the voice of the characters, and excels in her storytelling process. Making things even better, the parents actually contribute to this story, and they do so in a wonderful way. Told in first person pov, the reader is easily drawn into Remi and her emotions. Everything develops nicely and I adore the way everything wraps up in the end.
Overall, the book is developed in a manner that fully pulls the reader in, and executed with the reader feeling everything the main character feels. Real situations, dimensional characters, and plenty of likeable secondary characters make this a story to love.
I always enjoy a great young adult romance, and this is definitely going on my re-read list. What Are Friends For? sucked me in with it's charm and I found myself having to read it in one sitting. I love it all and am excited to see what Sarah Sutton writes next.
April 22, 2020
Well. I recently found Sarah's youtube channel. On seeing she had a book published and after reading the description, I purchased it IMMEDIATELY.
Friends-to-lovers stories are my favourite and this book hit every trope I love!
I read it one sitting. One. It's a definite page turner full of drama and chemistry and angst. The character's were SO likeable, and I really enjoyed how EVERY character had an arc, such as Savannah. The ending really took me by surprise at well the author tied everything up. There were no loose ends.
The writing style flowed easily, with a strong first person narrative. The main character, Remi, was easy to relate to and care for. A few lines, such as "...even though I was as single as the last cookie in the cookie jar." Or ..." Cue the aww sound effect," made me want to curl up in a ball. But when I found myself rolling my eyes, I had to remember the MC is only 17 and in School, so in regards to those factors it did in fact make sense to include them. I was a lot more cringe in my own school years.
I would totally recommend this. A brilliant debut novel in my eyes.
Friends-to-lovers stories are my favourite and this book hit every trope I love!
I read it one sitting. One. It's a definite page turner full of drama and chemistry and angst. The character's were SO likeable, and I really enjoyed how EVERY character had an arc, such as Savannah. The ending really took me by surprise at well the author tied everything up. There were no loose ends.
The writing style flowed easily, with a strong first person narrative. The main character, Remi, was easy to relate to and care for. A few lines, such as "...even though I was as single as the last cookie in the cookie jar." Or ..." Cue the aww sound effect," made me want to curl up in a ball. But when I found myself rolling my eyes, I had to remember the MC is only 17 and in School, so in regards to those factors it did in fact make sense to include them. I was a lot more cringe in my own school years.
I would totally recommend this. A brilliant debut novel in my eyes.
April 26, 2020
Remi and Elijah are in high school and the best of friends who have never thought of each other in a romantic manner until that night. A kissing game in a dark closet goes sideways and instead of Remi kissing the boy she was crushing on she ends up kissing Elijah instead. It wouldn’t have been so unsettling if it wasn’t for the fact that he thought he was kissing his girlfriend or that it raised feelings in Remi that had her conflicted about their relationship.
Remi and Elijah both have some issues they are continuing to deal with when it comes to their family but this story is really about the uncertainty and obstacles that they face as they try to decide if becoming more than friends is what they are destined to be or if it will ruin the relationship that they both hold so dear?
The characters are compelling, the emotion of the story pulls you in and the secondary characters add another layer to this story. This is my first story by this author, and I would definitely read her future books.
Remi and Elijah both have some issues they are continuing to deal with when it comes to their family but this story is really about the uncertainty and obstacles that they face as they try to decide if becoming more than friends is what they are destined to be or if it will ruin the relationship that they both hold so dear?
The characters are compelling, the emotion of the story pulls you in and the secondary characters add another layer to this story. This is my first story by this author, and I would definitely read her future books.
November 6, 2020
Rtc
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟 (3/5 stars).
I really liked the narrator of the audiobook and I have to say that the audiobook was overall really well done.
For this being an indie published book I honestly have to say that its quality was a lot better than the majority of traditional published YA contemporary books of 2020.
This ended a bit too happy gooshy mushy that it was a bit unrealistic but it was cute anyways.
Also, Remi for almost failing her senior year of high school because of art is honestly relatable. I probably would have barely passed that course too if I had an art class in my last year of high school. Luckily I dropped it a year before because even though I really love art I SUCK AT IT.
It is of course fitting that their love story started in a closet and ended in a closet (as in they became an official couple).
Savannah was in the end the real MVP. She was way too nice about Remi being endgame with her ex-boyfriend. She was so nice and accepting of that AND EVEN APOLOGIZED. I just have no words about how much I loved that and appreciated that.
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟 (3/5 stars).
I really liked the narrator of the audiobook and I have to say that the audiobook was overall really well done.
For this being an indie published book I honestly have to say that its quality was a lot better than the majority of traditional published YA contemporary books of 2020.
This ended a bit too happy gooshy mushy that it was a bit unrealistic but it was cute anyways.
Also, Remi for almost failing her senior year of high school because of art is honestly relatable. I probably would have barely passed that course too if I had an art class in my last year of high school. Luckily I dropped it a year before because even though I really love art I SUCK AT IT.
It is of course fitting that their love story started in a closet and ended in a closet (as in they became an official couple).
Savannah was in the end the real MVP. She was way too nice about Remi being endgame with her ex-boyfriend. She was so nice and accepting of that AND EVEN APOLOGIZED. I just have no words about how much I loved that and appreciated that.
January 14, 2020
I was given an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review.
Remi and Elijah have been best friends for years. Remi couldn’t imagine falling in love with him, but one accidental kiss changes her entire perspective. In this romantic YA novel, follow Remi as she struggles to come to terms with new feelings and thoughts about her old friend.
Sarah Sutton brings these characters to life with stirring words and excellent prose. The emotions fly off the page and sink deep into your heart, and you will laugh and cry with Remi as her world is thrown upside down. Full of teen angst and drama, this is the journey of one girl who must learn about love, family, and happiness.
For anybody who loves teen romance, this is the book for you. Definitely pick up this book because you will not be disappointed! The characters are alive and as real as any teen can be, and you will fall in love with the procrastinator who is the lead.
Remi and Elijah have been best friends for years. Remi couldn’t imagine falling in love with him, but one accidental kiss changes her entire perspective. In this romantic YA novel, follow Remi as she struggles to come to terms with new feelings and thoughts about her old friend.
Sarah Sutton brings these characters to life with stirring words and excellent prose. The emotions fly off the page and sink deep into your heart, and you will laugh and cry with Remi as her world is thrown upside down. Full of teen angst and drama, this is the journey of one girl who must learn about love, family, and happiness.
For anybody who loves teen romance, this is the book for you. Definitely pick up this book because you will not be disappointed! The characters are alive and as real as any teen can be, and you will fall in love with the procrastinator who is the lead.
April 6, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun, easy read (finished it in a couple sittings) and the writing was well done. Remi’s voice is great and easy to spend hours with. The internal dialogue was phenomenal and I enjoyed the character interactions as well. There were quite a few descriptions that were so good, I read them a couple times (good writing does that to me). I also found the pacing just right. The only issues I had (and it’s so small) was understanding the timeline. She is nearing the end of her first semester of senior year yet it’s after Christmas and they also mentioned taking midterms (usually that’s mid-semester), plus Remi mentioned not applying to college yet. Maybe I’m overthinking it because I teach high school, but it was enough to pull me from the narrative at times. Still, that’s a very minor thing for a great book. Wonderful debut!
January 19, 2020
The moment I "ugly cried" I already knew its a 5/5
I often talk about this in books I review: If a book can make me cry and feel a certain way EVEN BEFORE the story has ended its already a 5 out of 5 star rating for me. It means I'm emotionally invested in the characters and stories and the story touched my soul where not a lot of "powerhouse" or "well known authors" could. This is the first book (I believe) that kept me crying throughout I swore I must have ended up dehydrated. I'd type a long ass review, but I'll leave that on my blog in a few days. Great job Sarah!
I often talk about this in books I review: If a book can make me cry and feel a certain way EVEN BEFORE the story has ended its already a 5 out of 5 star rating for me. It means I'm emotionally invested in the characters and stories and the story touched my soul where not a lot of "powerhouse" or "well known authors" could. This is the first book (I believe) that kept me crying throughout I swore I must have ended up dehydrated. I'd type a long ass review, but I'll leave that on my blog in a few days. Great job Sarah!
December 23, 2020
Since I am still going through rom com phase *sighs*,
I am not going to write a big review for this one. To sum this book up, it was sweet. I do not regret reading it but I probably will not read it again.
This book had old classic best friends falling in love but with no twist. I really am not against using classic(read same) plots but at least something should be changed. I got bored of this story very fat. Very fast.
The only good thing about the book was Eli's paper Mache project. It was sweet. But you don't read book for a paper Mache project do you
I am not going to write a big review for this one. To sum this book up, it was sweet. I do not regret reading it but I probably will not read it again.
This book had old classic best friends falling in love but with no twist. I really am not against using classic(read same) plots but at least something should be changed. I got bored of this story very fat. Very fast.
The only good thing about the book was Eli's paper Mache project. It was sweet. But you don't read book for a paper Mache project do you
January 29, 2020
This was such a lovely read. I fell in love with Remi and Elijah almost instantly and couldn’t help but want to know more about them and watch their relationship grow. When I read YA (which I absolutely love) I find that I always have some deep issues with the main characters (that’s my old age showing) but not this time. I absolutely loved every page of this book, I could have enjoyed at least another hundred pages.
October 3, 2022
Remi was at a party when she happens to be blindfolded and put into a closet. The guy she has been kissing turns out to be her best friend. She makes him think it’s his girlfriend but the secret eats at her. What’s worse for her is she starts thinking of Elijah as more than a best friend.
I wasn’t a big fan of this book. I didn’t really like the heroine. She seemed to be lackluster. The hero was okay. I felt like this book had more drama llama than really needed. It seemed as if every other relationship was forced but the two MCs. But it wasn’t the greatest either.
I just wasn’t a fan of this one. I felt like everything was meh. Also was a fan of the cheating element. Not the accidental kiss in the closet but something that happens later on in the book.
Rtc
I wasn’t a big fan of this book. I didn’t really like the heroine. She seemed to be lackluster. The hero was okay. I felt like this book had more drama llama than really needed. It seemed as if every other relationship was forced but the two MCs. But it wasn’t the greatest either.
I just wasn’t a fan of this one. I felt like everything was meh. Also was a fan of the cheating element. Not the accidental kiss in the closet but something that happens later on in the book.
Rtc
September 28, 2020
This book made my heart ache. There were some unrealistic elements, but some events and elements were very realistic.
December 30, 2019
I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Remi and Elijah have been best friends since grade school--absolutely inseparable. One kissing mishap at her crush's party, check! This kiss changes Remi's whole perception of her best friend, sending her down a path of secret pining. She wants him, but doesn't want to lose him if the truth about their kiss comes to light.
Right away, the very first chapter sucked me in immediately. I was already connecting with the characters and loving them from the beginning. This is such a fresh, upbeat YA Romance featuring one of my favorite tropes: best friends to lovers. You can thank Kim Possible for that. The characters are realistic and relatable. Sarah Sutton breathes so much life into her characters, it's almost as if you've grown up alongside them.
Unlike most YA novels, the parents ACTUALLY exist, and side characters are developed nicely. Sutton's writing style is wonderful, with her diction and dialogue. Not to mention, it's perfectly descriptive in that descriptions don't drag on, but it's just enough to paint the full picture. I immediately adored Remi and Elijah from their banter in the first chapter; I wanted them to kiss right there! I loved the balance of angst and romance and pining. It was as if this book were made for me!
Remi and Elijah have been best friends since grade school--absolutely inseparable. One kissing mishap at her crush's party, check! This kiss changes Remi's whole perception of her best friend, sending her down a path of secret pining. She wants him, but doesn't want to lose him if the truth about their kiss comes to light.
Right away, the very first chapter sucked me in immediately. I was already connecting with the characters and loving them from the beginning. This is such a fresh, upbeat YA Romance featuring one of my favorite tropes: best friends to lovers. You can thank Kim Possible for that. The characters are realistic and relatable. Sarah Sutton breathes so much life into her characters, it's almost as if you've grown up alongside them.
Unlike most YA novels, the parents ACTUALLY exist, and side characters are developed nicely. Sutton's writing style is wonderful, with her diction and dialogue. Not to mention, it's perfectly descriptive in that descriptions don't drag on, but it's just enough to paint the full picture. I immediately adored Remi and Elijah from their banter in the first chapter; I wanted them to kiss right there! I loved the balance of angst and romance and pining. It was as if this book were made for me!
February 2, 2020
So, this is the second book I’ve read that immediately screamed: “I COULD BE A TEEN ROMANCE MOVIE!!!” and I had a veryyyyy hard time tearing myself away from reading it. 🙈
Best-friends-to-lovers isn’t my ultimate favorite romance trope; but when it’s done right, I actually enjoy it a lot. Which is exactly what happened with Remi and Elijah’s story.
The feels were there. The details were there. The angst was definitelyyyyy there. And even though the main focus was Remi and Elijah’s relationship, I loved that their relationships with their families were also very present. I also loved seeing the difference in how they both handled their feelings and problems.
I could go on and ON about everything I loved, lol, but I think you get the idea. 😉💕
As far as content goes: I don’t remember there being any "actual" language (everyone does has different preferences and viewpoints on what counts as profanity though), so that was a definite plus for me! However, there was some suggestive content and mentions/hints of different topics that some readers might be uncomfortable with. Underage drinking was also part of the story.
If you want a cute (mostly clean) winter story about accidental kissing, mixed feelings, and sooooo much more…then you should absolutely give this one a read!! ❄💗
Best-friends-to-lovers isn’t my ultimate favorite romance trope; but when it’s done right, I actually enjoy it a lot. Which is exactly what happened with Remi and Elijah’s story.
The feels were there. The details were there. The angst was definitelyyyyy there. And even though the main focus was Remi and Elijah’s relationship, I loved that their relationships with their families were also very present. I also loved seeing the difference in how they both handled their feelings and problems.
I could go on and ON about everything I loved, lol, but I think you get the idea. 😉💕
As far as content goes: I don’t remember there being any "actual" language (everyone does has different preferences and viewpoints on what counts as profanity though), so that was a definite plus for me! However, there was some suggestive content and mentions/hints of different topics that some readers might be uncomfortable with. Underage drinking was also part of the story.
If you want a cute (mostly clean) winter story about accidental kissing, mixed feelings, and sooooo much more…then you should absolutely give this one a read!! ❄💗
March 21, 2023
This book was nothing like I expected, and I’m not mad about it. Sarah has become one of my favorite authors. This book wasn’t my favorite, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked Remi and Elijah so much omg. I rooted for them since the start, and I’m obsessed. All of Sarah’s couples are so adorable. 🥹🥹 The heavier topics add to the storyline and make it more enjoyable. It also gives the characters more depth and makes them more relatable. I loved the best friend trope so much. They make so much sense together!! Remi was fun to read about and was very relatable at times. I cringed every time she procrastinated, though. 🤣🤣 Elijah is super sweet too! He did have his flaws (they both did), but he redeemed himself. They match well, and I loved their ice cream tradition omg. The side characters were enjoyable too. I wish we saw more from Remi and Elijah’s parents. This book is pretty clean. I can’t remember any swearing. The word “freak” was used as a replacement. Some dirty jokes were made, and there were mentions of undergarment shopping. There were a couple of passionate kisses, but nothing passed that.
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