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"Not Here to Stay Friends" by Kaitlyn Hill [Review]



I got an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and am participating in the TBR and Beyond Tours. Thanks to both.


Book Info:

Not Here to Stay Friends by Kaitlyn Hill

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Publishing Date: April 4, 2023


Synopsis:

This friends-to-lovers spin on The Bachelor follows two childhood besties reuniting to spend the summer in L.A. after five years apart—but when they both get involved with a teen reality dating show, their lives take an unexpected turn for the unreal.

Sloane McKinney feels like a background character in her own life. But this summer will be different, because she’s spending it with her childhood best friend, Liam Daniels, in her dream city, Los Angeles. Sure, she’s surprised to find that Liam just happens to have had a Hot Guy glow-up since she last saw him, but so what? A little attraction won’t ruin her plans for their fun—and completely platonic—reunion.

What might, however, is that Liam has been roped into working for his producer dad’s new teen reality dating show, Aspen Woods’s Future Leading Lady. Liam figures Sloane can still hang out with him on set while he fetches coffee for the film crew, or whatever it is that production assistants do. Except it turns out the show is one contestant short . . . and Sloane is the perfect last-minute addition.

Once cameras are rolling, the whirlwind of dating teen heartthrob Aspen Woods feels way more real than Sloane expected, and Liam doesn’t exactly enjoy watching it all unfold. But it’s behind the scenes where the drama really picks up. . . .

Because wanting to kiss your best friend? That’s a plot twist neither Sloane nor Liam ever saw coming.

My Summary:

I was a fan of “Love from Scratch”, the author’s prior work, so I thought I’d give this one a read. I have to say, I’m not a fan of “The Bachelor” type shows, but this one was appealing. I loved learning about the other girls that Sloane would be vying for Aspen’s affection. I wish there had gotten to be more girls we learned about. And I loved Liam’s quarky dialogue, like “I will not—ah, okay, that felt involuntary” and “All right, so I whacked him with the boom mic”. It had me laughing out loud at parts like that.

I have to say the part of the book I disliked was Aspen and the conclusion of what he did, but I felt like that was supposed to happen. It’s not that I don’t like how he was written or anything like that. I didn’t like the character. He was kind of a jerk, and I wish I could tell you why, but I’m not doing any spoilers. I also didn’t like Ty, one of the workers on set. You read this and you’ll see why.

All in all, this is an exceptional friends-to-lovers story that will have you reading it until late at night when you’re eyes can’t focus anymore. Teens who are fans of the trope, like me, you’ll enjoy this. Oh, also for fans of “Love from Scratch”. You’ll enjoy this as well.


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About the Author:

Kaitlyn Hill is a writer, reader, and sweet tea enthusiast who believes that all the world is not, in fact, a stage, but a romance novel waiting to happen. She is the author of Love from Scratch and Not Here to Stay Friends.


Kaitlyn has a BA in Sociology/Anthropology and German Studies, which means that she can tell you way too much about the Communist Manifesto in Karl Marx’s mother tongue. Before landing on writing, she worked in roles from city government intern in a small German town to Haunted Mansion Maid at Walt Disney World, and most recently, at her hometown public library.

Aside from books, Kaitlyn’s favorite things are giraffes, ABBA, and excessively long naps. She lives with her real life romance hero in Lexington, Kentucky.



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