Marie Cole (1)

I've been thinking long and hard about what I want to say about "Just Friends", mainly because I have so many mixed feelings about it and I want to try not to giveaway any spoilers. It really bothers me when people do that in their reviews. Before I start with that though I want to mention that there is a prequel that you can get one of three ways. First if you sign up for Marie's newsletter at mariecolebooks.com she sends you the first chapter of "HS Old Friends" also known as "Ellyphant", there is also a link to get the ebook through Instafreebie. (With the email at the end of each chapter there is a button to ask for the next chapter until you have all twenty-four chapters in your inbox). Second, you can pick it up as an audible book for free with a trial, this is where you need to look for the name "Ellyphant," on Amazon. Third, Marie told me that if you purchase the box set of the "#JustFriends" series the prequel is included for free. I have also left a review of the prequel, which I got it through the newsletter. Now let's get back to the review.

Where to start, I guess I could start with a warning. If you are sensitive to taboo and explicit sex scenes or heavy language then I would say this book might not be for you. I've seen some reviews that label some of the scenes rape, and even though I can see where they are coming from and how it could be looked at that way I wouldn't go quiet that far. Also if cheating is a trigger for you, again you might not like this book. You will also not get an HEA from this book, though it is promised in future books of the series. The "cliffhanger" only exists in the since that there is no HEA for Kent and Elly. Aside from that the story of their time in college is finished and wrapped up by the end of the book.

If you read the prequel this book picks up the story three years later at the start of their junior year in college. Jen and Kent are still the high school sweetheart couple, where as Elly has worked hard to lose weight and change her look. Even though Elly and Kent are supposed to be best friends no matter what it appears they really haven't seen that much of each other. Considering Jen's rule that Kent is never to be alone with Elly and that she conveniently doesn't add her to the invite list for any parties they have, including Kent's birthday, that's not to surprising. Kent is still bending to Jen's every whim and not manning up to tell her point blank, "Elly is my best friend and I want her involved in my life." Elly is still holding out hope that Kent will notice her and see her for the woman she has become, yet still to afraid of just coming out and telling him how she truly feels. Granted at this point I'm not sure what else she would have to lose since he's barely part of her life. As such and since up until this year she has been a little heavy she hasn't had a lot of experience with boys sexual or otherwise. This is where she starts making a lot of mistakes ones that are really not that uncommon for a girl who hasn't dated until her 20's. Now that she is "skinny and hot" she is getting a lot of attention from boys who only have one thing in mind. At this time she is also coming out of her shell and going to open mic nights showing that she can sing and trying to make a name for herself. She and Kent are lucky that this year they have a class together which Kent chooses to keep Jen in the dark about. Throughout the story we find out that Kent does and has had feelings for Elly for many years now. But instead of acting on them he's played it safe staying with Jen, a girl that is frankly, in this reviewers humble opinion, not good enough for him. There isn't really any proof of this and it is truly just my opinion but I think Jen has been cheating on Kent. Then at the end of junior year Jen tells Kent she is pregnant. Kent's solution to this is to ask her to marry him and as Elly points out to him "repeating the cycle" that his parents did. Conveniently over the summer and before their senior year in college she loses this child. Now I understand she is young and everything but the way she so casually says she lost the baby over the summer and doesn't seem truly upset over it makes me think she was never pregnant. Granted this doesn't change the fact they are getting married. Even though it is also obvious their relationship has been rocky the past few years. If they had used a proper minister they would have had premarital counseling and no minister would have approved of their getting married.

Now my rating is based off of a few things. One, there are some editing errors, one of the biggest I've already pointed out to the author. There are still a few areas where a word is left out of the sentence. Two, the way these two (Kent and Elly) behave is just so frustrating. I just want to reach in and smack them both, telling them to wake up and look at what they are doing and how they really feel. I'm more at a 3.5 but that's not easy to put in. I might not agree with the choices these characters have made but the story keep me pulled in so that I finished it in just over a day. At this time I do plan on getting the next book to continue reading the story. Which due to a preview at the end of this book I know is ten years later.… (mere)

So "Ellyphant" for those that might not know is also known as "HS Old Friends," a book you can get free for signing up for Marie's newsletter or with an audible trial, Marie also told me that it comes with the purchase of the box set of the series. It's not necessary to read this before starting the "#JustFriends" series though it certainly doesn't hurt.

This book takes us back to high school and the start of senior year for Kent and Elly, and when Jen moves to town. Kent and Elly have been best friends since early childhood. Now that they are teenagers they are still the best of friends and know they can always rely on each other. So what's the problem? First off they both like each other but like most shy teenagers neither is willing to tell the other their true feelings for fear of rejection and losing the person that means the most to them. Second, Jen the new beautiful blond who just moved to town and has immediately set her sights on the "nerdy boy" Kent. She can see, even if Kent is to blind it, that Elly has more than just friendly feelings for Kent and that makes her jealous. Not that she should be Kent is completely blinded by the fact that the "new hot girl" has the hots for him.

Now I personally hate it when a review contains spoilers so I will try my best not to give any. Though if you have already started the "Just Friends" series anything that happens in this book isn't really that much of a spoiler.

If you are looking for an HEA your not going to find it in this prequel. Though I guess that would be obvious because otherwise where would the story be. Instead it is the story of two "outcasts" who just wanting to survive their last year of high school without to much humiliation, and that the person they love just might finally notice them.

I personally find Kent's inability to stand up for himself with Jen very frustrating. He allows her to run his life and his friendship all for fear of losing her. Though it is also not unlike some teenage boys, even some grown men for that fact, to do so. Though it is just as frustrating to see Elly doubt herself and cast her own feelings aside, but again as women, teen or adult, we can tend to do this.

Kent is your "average" nerdy boy, he likes video games, horror movies and then there is the "large" boob porn. Elly likes to sing but doesn't really share her talent with others. Jen is your "typical" popular spoiled rich girl that is use to getting her way and what she wants no matter the cost. If explicate and detailed sex scenes are a problem for you then you are forewarned that they exist. There are a few strong curse words also. Otherwise if you can look past those things pick up the box set, join Marie's newsletter mariecolebooks.com or grab the audio version and give this prequel to the "#JustFriends" series a try, of course you'll need to move on to the series itself afterwards which at the time of writing of this review the first book "Just Friends" is free on Amazon. I will be leaving a review of that book also.… (mere)

I received this book for free through LibraryThing’s Member Giveaways.

This was a super quick read that I enjoyed. It’s a pretty straight forward romance, nothing I haven’t already seen before. That being said, I still really liked this. Towards the end I was worried that I wouldn’t like the ending, but thankfully I did like it.

Overall, if you’re looking for a quick contemporary romance check out this book. I haven’t read the others in this series but if they are anything like this book, they should be just as good.… (mere)

A typical romance featuring a young woman with low self-esteem meeting up with her girlhood crush, the somewhat immature friend of her older brother.
James is 30, still living at home, and spending his weekends getting drunk and engaging in a series of one-night stands. Ainsley returns home for her 10-year high school reunion wanting to present a new exciting version of herself. They hook up. they break up, they get back together.
The supporting characters are way more interesting. I want the story of Kate's romance with Lee. Scott's relationship with his older co-worker, even Gina the hairdresser seemed to have more interesting character than the two cardboard cutouts at the center of this story.… (mere)