A Guide to Being Just Friends

I want to thank the author and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ecopy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. 

I read the second book in this series last year and enjoyed it. I didn't even realize this was part of that series when I accepted the invitation to read it. I do still need to go back and read the first book but luckily each book follows a different brother so you can read them as standalones. 

Hailey just opened a business called By the Cup and it's a salad shop. I liked the inclusion of this food shop. It was unique but totally something people in LA would go for. I do kind of wish there was a little more description when it came to her restaurant though. Hailey has had the best track record when it comes to relationships whether that be with her parents or romantically or with friends and because of that she is very much a I can do everything on my own I don't need anyone's help kind of girl. 

Then there is Wes who also has a complicated family history which has skewed his opinion on love so much so that he doesn't ever want to love someone. He's not against relationships but he doesn't want the emotions to be involved. Oh and did I mention he's rich. In my review for the previous book I mentioned about how the characters relationships with their parent was constantly mentioned and how it got annoying fast that did happen in this book as well but it was nowhere near the extent it was in the previous book so that's a plus. 

Hailey and Wes have an awkward meet cute and then they go on to be friends and then lovers. They spent probably over half of the book being friends even though it was painfully obvious they were both into each other. I loved that they talked to each other and were able to work through things. I will say the 3rd act breakup was less than desirable. I know pretty much all books have these and I am totally fine with them. The only issue that I had with this one is how fast it happened and was resolved. If you're going to have a 3rd act breakup I think you should drag it out a little bit. Not a whole lot but definitely don't have the characters have the breakup and then the makeup all in the same page or 2 or I don't know don't have the 3rd act break up at all that would definitely be a welcoming change. 

I am so glad I was able to read this one because even though I had some issues I still enjoyed it over all and I definitely need to go back and read the first book soon.