Just Friends is a light hearted romance read, that leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy. It follows Lily and Matt, two exes who attend their friends wedding in Greece. After disaster strikes, they’re forced to spend time together with sparks soon flying. Can they rekindle their love, or is their relationship doomed to fail?

First off, I found the group of characters such a mixed bag. I neither loved or hated them (although Tess was an absolute nightmare). I didn’t feel attached or warmed up to them, which sadly didn’t really get me into the story.

I feel like this book would work so much better as a movie. Some of the scenes in the book, which where supposedly comedic, kind of fell flat when I was reading it. The words and the descriptions didn’t necessarily scream funny to me, but I feel like scenes like this would work so much better on a visual platform.

Would I read again: no. If it was made into a movie though I’d definitely watch!

Would I recommend: no, although it might appeal to some. It’s a holiday, beach sort of read.

3 ⭐️

Just Friends was a lighthearted second chance romance. A Hallmark moving in the making.

Lily and Matt split 8 years ago and now they are being brought back together by a wedding.

I enjoyed the story and loved that it was set in Greece. 🇬🇷 I liked the dual POV but after a while the communication issues became a little frustrating for me. I struggled with the pacing, finding it to be a bit slow at times The characters were enjoyable and relatable. Tess nailed that Bridzilla role. Yikes. 😳

Was this one my favorite, no. But over all it was good and I would recommend if you’re in the mood for a quick, not so steam, contemporary romance.

Pub Date: March 14, 2022.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is my second Jo Lovett book and it definitely didn’t disappoint. Another fabulous read.

Lily is in Greece for her best friends wedding and can’t believe she’s spotted her ex Matt. Not just any ex the one. Matt was also sure he wasn’t going to see Lily until the actual wedding. The pair soon find themselves with many wedding related calamities to deal with.

Written from both perspective the book really builds a great chemistry between the two. The constant will they won’t they keeps you on edge and wanting to read more. Slowly each character develops and unfolds.

A lovely summer romance with lots of laugh out loud moments and the odd tear. Be sure to have tea and tissues near.

Lily and her ex, Matt, reconnect at a wedding in Greece. And so begins a will they/won’t they get back together when they are so clearly still in love with each other! Overall I enjoyed reading this one. I did find the second half of the book a bit slow but still a fun read. Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the egalley in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: ⭐⭐
Steam Level: 🔥🔥(kissing and closed door sex scenes
Trigger Warning: cancer, heart attack, childhood illness, cheating

Matt and Lily haven't seen each other since they broke up 8 years ago. Now they're on a small island in Greece for their friends' wedding. As mishaps threaten the upcoming nuptials, Matt and Lily find themselves working together to ensure everything runs smoothly and all this time together brings out the feelings of love that never went away. Will their past struggles to communicate keep them from reuniting or will they finally be able to make things work this time?

This book sounded really interesting when I read the blurb for it, but unfortunately it didn't live up to my expectations. Matt and Lily were really sweet characters and very supportive of their friends. It was also clear from the beginning that they still cared about each other. My biggest issue was the plot of the book. There were so many things happening in the story and every conflict was resolved really fast and then suddenly there was a new problem to address. I never felt like I got to sit and enjoy the moment because suddenly something different was happening. There was also a flashback that seemed randomly thrown in for backstory purposes, and it just felt odd to me. Matt and Lily were broken records. At first it was sweet to hear Matt admiring Lily's beauty and having concerns about why they broke up, but then every POV from him included this exact same dialogue. Lily was also constantly saying that she couldn't confide in Matt and that they wouldn't be able to make things work. I found myself getting really bored with the story and kind of annoyed with the characters. I really wanted to like this second chance romance, but unfortunately it was a struggle for me to enjoy.

“She was thirty-three years old and way beyond being pathetic about seeing an ex, even the ex”
“There was something about unfinished business, though. Hurtful unfinished business.”
“Remember, this grief will pass in its own way”
Such a sweet, fluffy romance between two people so commonly in love and so unable to communicate!!!
I’m not such a huge fan of the miscommunication trope but the dynamics of Lucy and Matt’s relationship was so good, I haven’t really been thinking about that one trope too much …
Plus there were some very good forced proximity trope and friends to lovers trope that definitely won over everything else.
A great reading that keeps you engaged in the plot and in the possible twist and turns of their romance.
One moment you’re cheering for the intimacy they’re sharing once again, and the next you’re trying to understand whether it’ll last enough to enjoy it completely !!!
Some of those side characters were so good, especially the bridesmaids !!!
Meg was so fun and all of them were such a demonstration of what real friendship can achieve, not matter how hard or impossible the situation may seem !!!
If I haven’t already convinced you to read it … then go and figure that out for yourself !!!
“She looked ridiculous. She looked gorgeous”
“‘Come on, Wonder Woman’
‘Coming, Mud Man’”
“Whereas the most heartbreaking thing about splitting with you was, and remains … losing you”

Rating: 3.5 stars

A real right person wrong time trope.

Reunited after 8 years, this was a really sweet story set mostly in beautiful Greece with a lot of will they, won’t they between main characters Matt & Lily. The dual perspective kept things interesting, hearing both sides of the relationship throughout.

My only critique is that the narrative was quite repetitive and so the pacing felt quite slow, leaving me a little bored at times.

A good read though, if you’re in the mood for something summery and relaxed.

I wanted to like this story more than I did...

As a second chance romance, Matt and Lily knew years ago that they were meant for each other. But given that they were missing some of the most crucial skills to make a relationship last (communication being key!), I don't really know how they knew that unless it was based on the incredible sex they shared, which seems to feature too much in their reason to be together.

Lily relied on her friends exclusively, so she never really shared who she was or the experiences that shaped her with Matt.

Matt was traveling for work a lot and never pushed to get Lily to open up more.

In the end, Lily was so concerned Matt wouldn't like "the real her" that she pushed him away, and he didn't fight for her.

Fast forward eight years and one of Lily's friends (and Matt's cousin) are getting married. So, Lily and Matt can't avoid one another. Which leads to the dilemma of how much do you push to get someone you love to open up?

For the most part, the characters lacked depth and the narrative started to get very repetitious after a while. And I really didn't like two of Lily's three friends, who were so self-absorbed it was nauseating.

There were some entertaining things that happen along the way, though. So if you're really just looking for something simple and light to read, this might work for you.

I enjoyed reading this🤎 The plot really intrigued me & thankfully I was granted an Arc🥰 This is the first book I’ve read from this author and It was great! I love their chemistry, the second chance romance and I was entertained while reading this. Love it!

This one was just okay for me. Second-chance romance is one of my favourite tropes, but there needs to be a good reason that it didn't work out the first time. In this case, both Matt and Lily both felt like they were The One when they dated eight years ago, but she broke it off simply because she couldn't communicate, and Matt didn't fight for them. Like, if they had just had a proper conversation all those years ago, they wouldn't have needlessly split up.

And now, after they work through their issues and finally reunite, she wants to end it again because she *still* can't be open to the love of her life, and thinks that she'll never be able to basically because he's away a lot for work. Once again, one honest conversation could have solved the issue, as evidenced by a) how Matt resolved being away on work so much within 24 hours of finally being told it was an issue, and b) how Meg & Pythagoros made it work despite living in separate countries when they met.

⭐⭐⭐.5

I absolute adore this authors books so I was so excited to read this one and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Once I had started reading it I couldn’t put it down.

The story was based around the main characters of lily and Matt and the main question hanging over the story was will they or won’t they get back together and a case of right person but wrong timing and could they over come this and have a future together.

The story was set against the backdrop of Greece and the author really transports the reader there and makes you feel like you are part of the atmosphere and the wedding celebrations of lily best friend. The book has some
Very sad moments as well as lots of humour thrown in particularly the parts featuring bridezilla.

I personally felt I could relate to lily and some of her issues really resonated with me and were very relatable and I totally got why she tried to hide particular aspects of her life and the reasons why and was so nice for the author to highlight this particular condition during the story I don’t want to mention to much about it her for fear of spoilers

This was so much more than a romance story as it explored lots of hidden issues in lilys background and had me rooting for her. Matt was such a gentle calm
Character and was trying so hard to make things seem better for lily.

The title is very apt as the theme throughout the book is will lily and Matt become more
Than just friends?

“Just Friends” by Jo Lovett tells the story of Lily and Matt, who broke up eight years previously. As the chapters are told in from both Lily and Matt’s point of views, the reader quickly learns that they’re seeing each other again - for the first time since then - at a destination wedding. This book was a quick and easy read. I don’t watch Hallmark movies, but this one seems to cry out to be part of their line-up. For Lily and Matt, there’s a bit of drama going inside each of them (Lily wondering how he could’ve moved on so quickly, Matt wondering why they broke up so long ago) and around them (a bridezilla who seems to be thrown in for comic relief, a ferry strike, and some issues with friends). I found the fact that Lily was the more closed one interesting (so often, it’s the male), but at the same time I kept feeling like the miscommunication could’ve been cleared up really quickly and then they could move on with their lives. At times this book is a bit predictable, though at times it did wander into the land of “this incident is a bit of a stretch, but okay, let’s go with it.” I liked some of the supporting cast a lot as they seemed to have interesting side stories that didn’t take away from the main two characters. I'd rate this book a solid 3.5 stars.

Eight years ago, Lily broke up with her boyfriend and moved on with her life- or at least she thought. Flash forward to her best friend’s wedding when she’s confronted with her ex, she might not have moved on like she expected. Told from a dual perspective between Lily and Matt, we’re taken on a journey of friendship, love, and vulnerability in relationships.

This novel was beautifully written and done in a way that you are cheering for the main characters while also yelling at them for making the decisions they do. Lily deeply resonated with me and it was easy to get lost in the “it’s so simple, just tell him!” vibes. Set in far off, magical holiday place this novel was great for the frustrating slow burn with deep character dynamics for everyone introduced. The thoughtfulness and development for each character was well executed and written in a way that you felt you were a bystander witnessing everything going on.

I love Jo’s books and this was no exception.

Matt and Lily broke up 8 years ago and are about to be reunited on an idyllic Greek island at the wedding of Matt’s cousin/Lily’s best friend. They haven’t seen each since Lily suddenly ended their relationship, leaving Matt out in the cold followed embarking on a rebound marriage a year later, whilst Lily is single. So much unfinished business between them….what will happen when they set eyes on each other again?

The story is told from the point of view of both, with a wide cast of supporting characters featuring, as well as the locations of the Greek islands reminding the reader of beach holidays…..

I devoured this book. It was a real will-they-won’t-they and kept me guessing right until the end.would recommend for anyone looking for an enjoyable read about love.

Another corker of a read from Jo Lovett! Funny, romantic and all set on a Greek Island! I utterly adored this book - Lily and Matt are such likeable characters and I enjoyed the story being told through each of their points of view. Great supporting cast especially Tess, one of Lilly’s best friends that has turned into a nightmare of a bridezilla………. A ‘will they won’t they’ tale of the one that got away, heartbreak, misunderstandings and a pre wedding holiday. Laugh out loud funny, warm and utterly romantic.

A nice sweet read about rekindling love several years later.

Right person, wrong time perfectly describes Matt and Lily - exes who find themselves at a destination wedding in Greece 8 years after their split. This book was full of giggles for me when so much went wrong leading up to the wedding. I’ll keep it spoiler free but let’s just say unwanted bangs are involved. Everyone’s nightmare!!

The setting in Greece was so dreamy, I’ve always wanted to go and I could just picture everything!

I found myself deeply relating to both Lily and Matt in this story. Matt so terribly wanting closure and clarity and Lily afraid to be vulnerable. The dual POV really helped me see both of their sides and I just wanted to grab both of them and smash their faces together and scream NOW KISS.

If you prefer your romances steamy, this probably isn’t for you as it is clean (no smut) - plenty of love and romance though!

The story
Lily friend Tess is getting married to Tom, and she and her bridesmaids are in Greece for the wedding. But Tess’s cousin Matt is also there, as one of Tom’s best friends. They haven’t seen each other in 8 years, after Lily unexpectedly broke up with him. Matt got married a year later and is now divorced. Matt can’t understand why Lily broke up with him and Lily can’t understand why he married someone else so quickly. But with the bridezilla making demands of both of them, they finally get the chance to talk about the past.

My thoughts
This is the third book of Jo Lovett’s I have read and I think it’s my favourite. A second chance after a period of growing up and getting some life experience really ensures that maybe Lily and Matt are finally at the right point in their lives to appreciate each other. I struggle to enjoy miscommunication stories but it was handled in an okay way in this story. Although lots of procrastination! The setting in Greece is lovely and the wedding antics are a bit crazy!

Just Friends is a quick read about right place, wrong time exes reuniting at a wedding for their friends in Greece. While both secretly know they still love each other neither are willing to confront the real reason for their split 8 years ago. This story is filled with relatable characters, real life relationships issues, fun and romance. Definitely a fun romance read!

The first half of the book is great, the flashbacks very well done, the tension is very palpable 5+ but then all that potential goes so down the hill as if someone else wrote the second half of the book or the author runs out of the ideas.

We read it from both points of view (heroine and hero) so there is no mystery about their feelings towards each other but the whole staring, not being able to take your eyes off from each other, the repetitive references of how sexy they find each other, how speechless they are, etc just drag on for far too long. The details of the wedding party becomes too excruciating, the incidents are unrealistic (trying to provide some comic relief?), the aftermath not going anywhere. The book reaches a certain point that the inner thoughts, dialogues and events stopped adding anything to the story. I think I started skipping that I even missed the subplot of the uncle leaving the aunt. Was that to fill the quota for the pages? Back in London it just drags on more: they are getting together... now they are not!.

You would think that the growth in person's life from age 25 to age 33 would be huge, and we are told that the heroine and hero have changed, matured over last 8 years since their break up but their behaviour and dialogues then and now show them quite static with very little changes.

The title does not seem to relate to anything. They are obviously not friends and never were.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange of an honest review.

📚Review - ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

Just Friends is a lighthearted story about the right person at the wrong time. Matt and Lily haven’t been together for 8 years but when Matt’s cousin and Lily’s best friend, Tess, gets married on an island in Greece, they are forced to reunite. After a series of disasters leading up to the wedding and on the day of, Matt and Lily are left trying to work together to save the big day. Feelings arise and tough conversations are had but after 8 years, is it finally the right time for these two?

This story gave off some major Hallmark movie vibes. It was cute, but felt very predictable at times. I didn’t like how a lot of the issues were drawn out. It just felt unnecessary and didn’t add to the story.

Matt is a very lovely, kind, and considerate character. There was no denying his feelings for Lily and how much he cared for her. After 8 years, he’s still left trying to figure out why Lily left and broke his heart.

Lily is very sweet, selfless, and a people pleaser. She constantly put others needs and issues before herself, but it eventually catches up to her and her relationships. I did not Lily’s lack of communication with Matt and keeping secrets about her past.

In my opinion, the first half of the book was very slow and I was constantly annoyed by Tess and her attitude. I understand the concept behind a “bridezilla” character, but I felt it was over the top and was a struggle to get through.

I really enjoyed the last half of the book, minus some of Lily’s communication issues. The ending was very sweet (no spoilers) and I enjoyed that it came around full circle. The story started in Greece, briefly went to London, and then ended in Greece. 🇬🇷

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a quick read contemporary romance.

Just Friends is scheduled to be released on March 14, 2022.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.