Thank you so much to the author for my gifted arc!! I LOVE Lucy Watson's writing! She writes banter, characters, and backstories so well and there is so much depth and layers to her characters. I loved her slow builds, how these two adored each other, and how much they cared for another. BIG fan of this one!

I fell head over heels in love with Ben from
Shortcake ( book 1 by this author).

But then along came Peanut and now I’m claiming Nick the tattooed Viking whose devilish grin could melt the panties off a nun. In real life he’d be too much for me but in book form I couldn’t get enough. I loved this book with my whole heart. 5⭐️

The witty humor I fell in love with in the first book was in abundance and had me laughing out loud more than one. But then, I had puffy eyes the next day from the tears that flowed during the tougher moments. A beautiful balance of angst and humor. But heed the trigger warnings from the author to protect your heart.

I want more of this friend group. The scenes with Ben and Nick in them had me laughing so hard. I want more of Nick and his menagerie of rescued animals.

If you enjoy steamy romances, please go read this slow burn, friends to lovers, angsty romance. But don’t forget to read Shortcake too.

“Peanut” is the much anticipated sequel to “Shortcake” and this time around, with the primary focus on childhood best friends, Nick and Riley. Did Lucy Watson deliver the humor and banter? Absolutely. She has a way with words and can definitely bring out the giggles, and of course her writing style is right up my alley. Did the sequel live up to my expectations? Sadly no. I liked the novel, but I just didn't love it.

I felt as though the ‘romance’ was focused too much on Riley’s POV and her journey with rare glimpses of Nick in between. I would agree with other readers in regards to the plot deteriorating towards the end. Also their lack of chemistry didn’t do it for me. I don’t know, it was missing that something something Nick and Em had in “Shortcake”.

Lastly, I must confess… In my heart of hearts, I was really rooting for Mara and Nick to get together. Sure their interaction was very very brief in the prequel but please tell me I wasn’t the only one feeling the oozing tension (more so potential) bleeding through the pages between them?

Nonetheless, call me a simp—I will always read whatever the author spits out. Now I will have to sit impatiently until Mara’s book comes out. Who will she end up with— Jesse or Winston? The possibilities are endless.

Oh Nick you Sexy Viking Man! I adored this book so much And I swear Lucy Watson lives in my head because her characters and their inner dialogue is always so relatable. I laughed a lot, I swooned and I even shed some tears. This book is slow burn with so much angst when that final moment hits I think I felt as much sexual relief as the characters 🤣. I will forever read anything this woman writes so to say I’m excited about Maras story is an understatement

There aren’t many books out there that can make me laugh out loud, and also shed tears for the characters. This book really gave me all the feels.

Every time I read one of Lucy Watson’s books I feel like I just watched a movie in my head. Cause her descriptions and portrayals filled with so many fun references are so vivid that it makes you feel like you’re there. In the book.

I adored the theme of friendship, both old (when the MC are teenagers) and new (as adults) along with the character arc of Ry. She comes a long way in the book.

Didn’t take me long to fall in love with the new heroine, Riley. Her inner monologues are hilarious most of the time and very real and honest.

“I glance up at the scattered-diamond and black-velvet sky, sending out a call for help. If there was ever a time for an alien abduction, it’s now.
They send my call straight to voicemail as we step into the den.
Green bastards.”

Nick - the hero - is the most lovable, goofy and kind male character I’ve ever read. I was already in love with him from the first book, but his story made me love him even more.

If you loved Shortcake, you will absolutely love Peanut (ps: Em and Ben from Shortcake make a couple of appearances and those scenes are just perfect).

Not only did this second book by the author not disappoint, but I feel like it got on a higher level of awesomeness.

It has all my favorites tropes: close proximity, second chances and friends to lovers.

It’s on my “read again” list indefinitely. No other author has made me want to read the book again just as I finished.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟




🌻 You know that feeling when u are having a busy week with a good book by your side. A book that keeps you thinking and looking forward to pick it back again.

• Slow - burn
• childhood friends to lovers
• Standalone
• second chance

🌻Peanut is Nick and Riley Story!! Ben's best friend ( Ben from shortcake) .. That's all you have to know! ( if you want more check the blurb ) I mostly don't read it because i like to go blind .

🌻this book gives me all the feels! I enjoyed and loved every single part of it! Beautifuly well written! I miss that kind of books! Full of sense and kindness! I like how it started, how thier story picks up! I loved all the characters even Dottie 😂 !
I go blink as always knowing nothing about the Plot , fingers crossed and I end up freaking loving it! 💘


🌻I can't thank enough our sweet writer Lucy for sending me this ARC! She was so kind and sweet!
i loved shortcake so much! One of my all time FAV books! I have read it back in 2019 , It was so good to meet Ben and Emmy again! Since then I have been dying to read more by her and TADA finally we have got " PEANUT"


• If you love a very good, angsty, second chance, slow burn romance I would highly recommend you pre-order Peanut!


Few days and it be LIVE!
25TH March ! Let the count down begins

Y’all, if you haven’t read Shortcake, run to order a copy now. Then order Peanut. This series is truly one of the most fun romances I have ever read. The humor is incredibly relatable and real. Riley, the heroine of this book, wears comfy clothes and is quite the hot mess…and I love her. Nick, well he’s a Viking beauty that rivals Chris Hemsworth. So there’s that. 🥵 The slow burn and build up between Riley and Nick kept me laughing and uplifted my completely unmotivated reading life. 👏 Watson discusses some hard topics as well, so there’s more to this book than meets the eye. She handles tough topics with grace and humor, which only makes me want more and more books with these characters. And there’s adorable pets, tattooed men, angst, and cute nicknames. ORDER IT!

This book should also come with a trigger warning about all of the feelings that will surely resurface from your once broken teenaged soul. I didn’t have a brother’s best friend but I did have a best friend’s brother. Whoooo! I FELT this story. And I mean that in a good way. I absolutely loved Shortcake and I loved Peanut too. I’m sure I will read them both again. Lucy Watson has a way of writing that brings out my big feelings and allows me to feel them in a safe space. She’s able to convey Riley & Nick’s vulnerability in a way that few authors can. Thank you for another great story!

Some reviewers get hung up on structure, continuity, not hearing enough about Derek (he’s not the story, people, he’s an accessory!) I care about being entertained and moved, being able to identify with the characters in a way that makes them feel real. Lucy Watson has once again reminded me that I’m not dead inside. This story has all the things that I look for and more. She’s able to weave healing from feeling like you’re not good enough, broken parental relationships, flawed humans who love hard despite their pasts, such an accurate description of the way we love our pets, loyalty, the love you experience with the family you choose into one beautiful story. I also enjoy the small details that make supporting characters memorable- like the way that Luna hates James Blunt- (lookin’ at you, Phil Collins). Read this book, then make all of your romcom loving friends read it too.

Peanut is a friends to lovers troped Romance. While it is not my favorite if done well I am all in… guess what friend this is done exceedingly WELL!
Nick and Riley are everything in this story! Seeing glimpses of Nick in Shortcake I knew he was going to be the squishy cinnamon roll hero I needed him to be!
Riley returns home after a series of unfortunate events. She is not really euthanasic about her return and is hoping to stay under the radar. Being home, Riley soon discovers that her neighbor is her childhood crush Nick McGregor.
Nick was so unexpected. Seriously! A cardigan-wearing ferret, his rescue cat and dog, and his feisty parrot really show what kind of guy Nick really is.

Watching Riley piece her life back together with Nick by her side is everything you want for a friends to lovers romance. It was the unexpected with them, but also things are not always as they appear to be. Their history is complicated more so than you might think. Watching Riley learn to trust and love again was everything my heart needed for her.


There is something enchanting about Lucy Watson’s writing. The characters she writes are so wonderful and complex. The joy I get from reading her stories leaves me craving more! I loved Shortcake and Em and Ben are couple goals, but I think Nick and Riley now own my heart! I can not wait for the next story in this series! If you have not read Shortcake do it now and be ready to grab your copy of Peanut as soon as it releases.

Lucy Watson writes stories with characters that you LOVE. It has been a while since I read her first book, Shortcake, but I knew that when I sunk into Peanut it would be an all in situation. I binged it in an afternoon.

This story of Riley and Nick is filled with fun, pets, deep emotions, peeks at Ben and Emmy, friends you want to hang out with and all of the BEST tension. This story of two childhood besties finding their way through hurt and growth to come together is so addicting that you won't be able to put it down. I can't wait to read more from Lucy and to see what comes next for this group of friends.

I am obsessed with series including overlapping friend groups and characters and these books give me all of that connection and community that I love.

Thank you Lucy for gifting me a Netgalley ARC, forever in your debt!!!

My obsession with Lucy Watson's debut novel, Shortcake, began in 2019 when I found myself, at 2AM, on page 100 of the newest romance releases in the kindle store, and I thought to myself, I love a good enemies to lovers with a forced proximity plot, let's take a chance on this one. Oh man, oh man, oh man, bless my past self for taking that chance because Shortcake and Lucy Watson's writing style became an instant favorite. So much so that I have been frequently stalking Lucy's website for any bit of information on her next book.

Some fans of authors say they will read a certain author's grocery list with enthusiasm. That's me. I'm that fan. I will read Lucy's grocery list with enthusiasm. I'm wholly convinced Lucy could write an adventure about traveling to the dump to dispose of waste and it would be an experience because Lucy is that good.

Lucy is truly the queen of showing not telling when it comes to writing, and her books are truly a T-R-E-A-T. Reading a Lucy Watson novel is like the special occasion dinner at the Japanese Steakhouse that happens only once or twice a year, so you wine and dine on that fine piece of steak that's fired and seasoned before your eyes because you know this opportunity is rare. As your sitting there, savoring that piece of steak, you keep asking yourself: how can I go back to eating questionable hamburger meat from McDo's when I've tasted this greatness? This is how I feel during and after a Lucy Watson book. There is the before a LW book and there is the after a LW book. Truly, I'm cursed to go into a rut after a Lucy Watson book because everything reads like unseasoned chicken or questionable McDo hamburger meat. So, thanks Lucy for upping my already unrealistically high standards for my bookish entertainment!

OKAY. Now onto Peanut. I'm not an obsessive fan of the friends to lovers trope in the same way that I am with my enemies to lovers trope, but, Nick and Riley DELIVERED in Peanut. If you're like me, then you absolutely 110% adored Nick in Shortcake and I can confidently confirm that Nick is the same precious cinnamon roll that we all loved in Shortcake. He gives me such dad energy in the way he loves his cardigan-wearing ferret, his rescue cat and dog, and his sassy asshole parrot. It's not just Nick that Riley has to accept in the relationship, it's Nick and his animal gang, or none of them at all. Package deal.

However, overall, I prefer Ben and Emmy's story in Shortcake to that of Nick and Riley in Peanut, because, I didn't obsess over the build-up of Nick and Riley's relationship in the same way that I did with Ben and Emmy. Partly, I believe this is because I found the tension in the transition between friends to lovers to be lacking. If you're like me, then you were DYING between the 60-85% mark in Shortcake with escalating tension of whether this will or won't be the moment Ben and Emmy FINALLY get together. Oh, Ben and Emmy, I LOVED their cameos. I miss them. I want to re-read their story again. Maybe after this review. Although I really need to move on. Yes, I recognize I have a problem. No, I am not willing to change.

okay. okay. okay. back on track.

I love how Nick felt so different from Ben. I've read books by the same author where the author seems to copy pasta her men from one book to the other and do a little flip and switch of the name and profession, but it's still the same guy popping around from book to book. He reads the same. Here, Nick and Ben are complete opposites but I adore them both. Ben is the reserved, grumpy marine whereas Nick is the playful caring i'll do anything for you best friend.

I'm so interested in seeing Winston and Jesse's personalities continue to develop, hopefully in their own books. Mara, Emmy's best friend, is next, and I'm on pins and needles waiting to find out who is gonna be her man. Is it my reserved lumberjack Jesse? My prince Winston? or even Derek??? The people need answers Lucy!!!

If you adored Shortcake, then you are 100%, well hopefully, going to adore Nick and Riley's friends to lovers story, a perfect addition to the Shortcake universe.

I have been awaiting Nick's story for quite some time. And I maybe-loved it! (Insert book inuendo here)

Riley is down on her luck and heads back to her childhood home. She is hoping to stay under the radar. She has a solid chance until she realizes that her neighbor is her maybe once love Nick.

Watching Riley piece her life back together with the help up Nick is just perfection. It is the perfect case of things not always being as they appear. They have quite a history together. Not all of it is pleasant. Seeing Riley learn to love things in a new way was such a great experience.

Riley was the perfect addition to add to Nicolas MacGregor's story. The cameos from Shortcake along with Nick and his tats just added icing to the whole wonderful masterpiece.

Lucy Watson you are just the sweetest human and your work is the best! Thank you for the advanced copy of your sophomore book. It was perfection.

When I heard this author had a new story coming out I was ECSTATIC because I LOVED her first book, Shortcake (which I was so happy about their appearance in this book!)

I absolutely LOVED this! I mean it was the
sweetest and funniest childhood best friends with a SLOWBURN full of angst and butterflies! Nick is a tattooed, Viking/Hemsworth-isc cinnamon roll😍 and not to mention a pet dad. There is an adorable ferret, dog, cat and parrot. 😂 This was just so adorable!! It starts off right away with a bang and keeps you hooked the whole time! It made me SO happy and I had the biggest grin on my face!

Highly recommend it and while you wait for it come out, you should read Shortcake so you can fangirl over this camo appearance !

What I loved:
•childhood friends trope
•brothers best friend trope
• tattoo artist
•NICK! Tattooed, Viking/Hemsworth-isc Cinnamon roll
•all the freaking adorable pets
•the witty humor
• Caveman Nick
•the slowburn/angst, build up
•all the little touches /nicknames, babe and Peanut never seemed so cute!

I need Lucy to write a billion more books and can Winston please be next!!!! Love her writing!! It's funny and captivating!

I just finished binge reading Peanut and this book...this book took my whole heart and ripped it apart and then put it back together again. Seriously I was sobbing into my pillow while staying up way too late reading this amazing book. I knew after reading and loving Shortcake that I needed the next book in the series ASAP and Lucy did not disappoint!

Peanut follows the story of Riley and Nick. These two group up together and shared their deepest darkest secrets with one another...until they didn't anymore. Riley up and left to LA to pursue a dancing career and Nick stayed back to become a prolific tattoo artist. Riley is back after being gone for over a decade. Broke and needing a place to stay she ends up crashing at her grandfather's house only to find out that her neighbor is - yep you guessed it - Nick. Will these two pick up their easy friendship? Even though Riley has always longed for more than that from Nick and he's always shot her down.

I honestly cannot put into words how much I loved this book. I binge read it and every time I would look down to see what percentage I was at I wished there was more to this book. More Nick and Riley. More of the crew together again. More angst and swooniness and lovely lovely words written by the talented Lucy Watson.

At times, Peanut was not an easy read. But the writing was always beautiful and really tugged at my heartstrings. The love that Riley and Nick had for one another was so damn sweet and I was rooting for these two to get together right from the beginning. Their journey was filled with so much emotion.

Not only did I love Riley and Nick's journey, but every single secondary character had an important part of the story. Nick's co-workers and friends at the tattoo parlor were so much fun! When they were on the page I was guaranteed to be laughing. It was also a treat to see Nick's friends from Shortcake including a few scenes featuring Ben & Emelia who I loved!

If you love a swoony, angsty, second chance, slow burn romance I would highly recommend Peanut!