readbymisty's review against another edition
4.0
This is my voluntary review for receiving an ARC from The Smuthood tour team.
“She was my sunshine and I was caught in her orbit.”
This book awakened my love for the friends to lovers trope. Beck and Everly have been friends since she arrived in Starlight Cove. After a mishap with a surprise guest and some traumatic events, it lands Everly needing to stay with none other than her grumpy-as-ever best friend, Beck. Forced proximity, one bed, and so many other cute tropes are included in this book.
Don’t let the cuteness fool you, though. The spice is off the charts hot. The dirty talk from Beck? Oh my LORD. I could have read scene after scene just letting Beck say more filthy things.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was dual-POV and covered a lot of important real-life topics other than just romance. I was a big fan of the characters all being in their 30’s compared to the common early to mid 20’s. It felt more relatable to where I am in life so that was nice!
My only complaint was the pacing was quite fast. I enjoy instant-love. I enjoy it more than most, I would even say. This book was too fast even for my taste. I would have enjoyed having the relationship develop a bit slower and really building that tension between the two of them.
So, if you’re looking for a sweet romance with some top-tier smut, this is the book for you! I am already anxiously awaiting Starlight Cove book 3
“She was my sunshine and I was caught in her orbit.”
This book awakened my love for the friends to lovers trope. Beck and Everly have been friends since she arrived in Starlight Cove. After a mishap with a surprise guest and some traumatic events, it lands Everly needing to stay with none other than her grumpy-as-ever best friend, Beck. Forced proximity, one bed, and so many other cute tropes are included in this book.
Don’t let the cuteness fool you, though. The spice is off the charts hot. The dirty talk from Beck? Oh my LORD. I could have read scene after scene just letting Beck say more filthy things.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was dual-POV and covered a lot of important real-life topics other than just romance. I was a big fan of the characters all being in their 30’s compared to the common early to mid 20’s. It felt more relatable to where I am in life so that was nice!
My only complaint was the pacing was quite fast. I enjoy instant-love. I enjoy it more than most, I would even say. This book was too fast even for my taste. I would have enjoyed having the relationship develop a bit slower and really building that tension between the two of them.
So, if you’re looking for a sweet romance with some top-tier smut, this is the book for you! I am already anxiously awaiting Starlight Cove book 3
cnapierkowski's review against another edition
5.0
I'm so glad I gave this series another try - it just shows that even if it's a great book, you still need to be in the right headspace to make it work.
Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, especially when he falls first and is obsessed. Beck shows his love for Everly by caring for her, which is totally my love language. I swooned every time he made sure she had something to eat and gave her the kind of orgasms she needed to turn off her brain. I know this is going to turn into one of my comfort rereads.
Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, especially when he falls first and is obsessed. Beck shows his love for Everly by caring for her, which is totally my love language. I swooned every time he made sure she had something to eat and gave her the kind of orgasms she needed to turn off her brain. I know this is going to turn into one of my comfort rereads.
maakbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
I read for the vibes and the vibes were good. Not the best romance I've read, but it was enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
makaylia's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
romancebookaffair's review against another edition
5.0
I could hear the waves crashing, smell the freshly brewed coffee and the blueberry scones warm from the oven. It was good to be back in Starlight Cove.
What starts with a takeaway coffee and a lot of persistence from Everly becomes a beautiful happily ever after, and the journey along the way is hotter than the stove at the diner!
Beck is the best kind of grumpy hero. Single syllable conversation and scowls for everyone else but when it comes to Everly he would move heaven and earth and still be ready to do more. And the mouth on that man, it’s oh so dirty and hot as hell. Everly is a wonderful mix of strong and vulnerable, happy and caring, persistent and completely oblivious. I enjoyed watching her decide to live a life for herself, not for others.
Loved this low angst, steamy friends to lovers story from Brighton Walsh.
What starts with a takeaway coffee and a lot of persistence from Everly becomes a beautiful happily ever after, and the journey along the way is hotter than the stove at the diner!
Beck is the best kind of grumpy hero. Single syllable conversation and scowls for everyone else but when it comes to Everly he would move heaven and earth and still be ready to do more. And the mouth on that man, it’s oh so dirty and hot as hell. Everly is a wonderful mix of strong and vulnerable, happy and caring, persistent and completely oblivious. I enjoyed watching her decide to live a life for herself, not for others.
Loved this low angst, steamy friends to lovers story from Brighton Walsh.
earthtonadia's review
5.0
“Don’t try to pretend you don’t love every filthy word coming out of my mouth. I know exactly the kinds of books you read and exactly the dirty talk that gets you off. […] But it’s going to be my words tonight, sunshine.”
“I’d never wanted anyone as much as I wanted her, never ached for someone like I did for her. She was my sunshine, and I was caught in her orbit. There was never any possibility this would end any other way.”
“I never wanted to spend a day without her sparkle. And I was going to spend the rest of my life making sure I didn’t have to.”
Where do I sign up to fly to Starlight Cove and get a McKenzie man? Please. Brady and Beck have raised the bar for fictional book boyfriends.
This is going to be a Beck appreciation review. Sorry, I don’t make the rules. This man was everything — thoughtful, supportive, kind (in his own grumpy way), and so caring. He’s definitely a top book boyfriend. I mean, what kind of guy goes celibate the moment he realizes he’s in love with her?? He doesn’t make a move until 2 years later. He patiently gives her everything she needs as her closest friend and confidant in the most respectful way, even dealing with his sibling’s teasing, just to make her feel at home in his small town. And he reads romance books with her? I was sold very, very early on.
I needed a light, low angst read and this delivered. The third act was so beautiful and heartwarming — these two belong together, and it was so obvious to everyone but Everly. The grumpy/sunshine dynamic was perfection, and adding friends to lovers to the mix was *chef’s kiss.*
“I’d never wanted anyone as much as I wanted her, never ached for someone like I did for her. She was my sunshine, and I was caught in her orbit. There was never any possibility this would end any other way.”
“I never wanted to spend a day without her sparkle. And I was going to spend the rest of my life making sure I didn’t have to.”
Where do I sign up to fly to Starlight Cove and get a McKenzie man? Please. Brady and Beck have raised the bar for fictional book boyfriends.
This is going to be a Beck appreciation review. Sorry, I don’t make the rules. This man was everything — thoughtful, supportive, kind (in his own grumpy way), and so caring. He’s definitely a top book boyfriend. I mean, what kind of guy goes celibate the moment he realizes he’s in love with her?? He doesn’t make a move until 2 years later. He patiently gives her everything she needs as her closest friend and confidant in the most respectful way, even dealing with his sibling’s teasing, just to make her feel at home in his small town. And he reads romance books with her? I was sold very, very early on.
I needed a light, low angst read and this delivered. The third act was so beautiful and heartwarming — these two belong together, and it was so obvious to everyone but Everly. The grumpy/sunshine dynamic was perfection, and adding friends to lovers to the mix was *chef’s kiss.*