Review: Not Here to Stay Friends by Kaitlyn Hill

Not Here to Stay Friends by Kaitlyn Hill

Blurb from Goodreads:

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.

 I'm not really into The Bachelor but I thought this was going to be more like a YA version of OC meets The Charm Offensive (a book I loved).  Unfortunately, this book was quite boring with so much of a slow burn that it was barely a fizzle.  I also think the character development could have used a lot of work. Hope you have better luck!

Not Here to Stay Friends comes out next week on April 4, 2023 and you can purchase HERE.  

It's always ominous when someone won't just tell you the thing that they want to tell you over a text. I feel like I should be able to install an app on my phone to block those sorts of messages, the ones that will just make me anxious all day.