This is a disclaimer that although this book is published by a Christian publisher, this book falls along the lines of clean fiction, so expectations should be set accordingly.
I shared the following when I reviewed Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other, and as this book follows that book, I'll adopt the same refrain again: This is more of a crossover title that fits the genre of what the author terms "pop culture-infused rom coms." That being said, while this book does not reference faith either explicitly or implicitly (faith on the whole absent is in this book), it does fit the bill for those looking for a fun and clean read. As such, I will be reviewing it strictly as a rom com.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of Cole and Laila are Just Friends by Bethany Turner for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Content to be aware of: There are a lot of pop culture references in this book, if not more than in the previous book. Readers unfamiliar with them may find it a little difficult to track along. Christian readers may also be sensitive to the types of pop culture references being made.
Book Synopsis
Cole and Laila have been inseparable since they could crawl. And they've never thought about each other that way. Except for when they have. Rarely. Once in a while, sure. But seriously . . . hardly ever.
Cole Kimball and Laila Olivet have been best friends their entire lives. Cole is the only person (apart from blood relatives) who's seen Laila in her oversized, pink, plastic, Sophia Loren glasses. Laila is always the first person to taste test any new dish Cole creates in his family's restaurant . . . even though she has the refined palate of a kindergartener. Most importantly, Cole and Laila are always talking. About everything.
When Cole discovers a betrayal from his recently deceased grandfather that shatters his world, staying in Adelaide Springs, Colorado, is suddenly unfathomable. But Laila loves her life in their small mountain town and can't imagine ever living anywhere else. She loves serving customers who tip her with a dozen fresh eggs. She loves living within walking distance of all her favorite people. And she's very much not okay with the idea of not being able to walk to her very favorite person.
Still, when Cole toys with moving across the country to New York City, she decides to support her best friend--even as she secretly hopes she can convince him to stay home. And not just for his killer chocolate chip pancakes. Because she loves him. As a friend. Just as a friend. Right?
They make a deal: Laila won't beg him to stay, and Cole won't try to convince her to come with him. They have one week in New York before their lives change forever, and all they have to do is enjoy their time together and pretend none of this is happening. But it's tough to ignore the very inconvenient feelings blooming out of nowhere. In both of them. And these potentially friendship-destroying feelings, once out in the open, have absolutely no take-backs.
If When Harry Met Sally had a quippy literary love child with Gilmore Girls' Luke and Lorelai, you'd get Cole and Laila. Just . . . don't tell them that.
Source: Amazon
Book Thoughts
I'm certainly glad that I read Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other previous to this book as it was wonderful to encounter Brynn and Sebastian again beyond a cameo appearance. The author writes such strong friendships that it was delightful to see how they interact with Cole and Laila as a married couple, with glimpses into their New York life. Meeting Cole and Laila in the first Adelaide Springs book helped set the context for their relationship, so it was nice that they received their own fleshed-out story. As a clean romcom, this book did not feel limited to tropes as it delved deeper into the circumstances around why Cole and Laila never dated each other, and why it took them a while to get to where they ended up.
I appreciated the frank openness in communication and the theme of unconditional love in this book. Cole and Laila felt realistic in that there are instances where they are not on their best behaviour and need to apologize to each other. Not coming across as perfect and having trouble working through challenging emotions and situations makes their relationship feel authentic, making it easier to root for them to come together. If you're looking for an opportunity to revisit Adelaide Springs and the quirky townspeople, this book is a fun trip down memory lane along with some adventures in the Big Apple.
A few minor things that would have made this a five-star read: the emphasis on appearances makes sense in this context, but it is spurred on by something that not all Christians may feel comfortable reading. While faith is absent, there are references to a makeshift rosary and planets aligning, both of which did not add anything substantive to the story, but might be good for Christian readers to be aware of in deciding on this book.
Book Summary
- Format of book: 📱
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Recommendation: 👍
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