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    Almost Just Friends: A Novel
    Almost Just Friends: A Novel
    Almost Just Friends: A Novel
    Audiobook8 hours

    Almost Just Friends: A Novel

    Written by Jill Shalvis

    Narrated by Erin Mallon

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis returns to Wildstone with the touching story of finding your place in the world—and the people who make it home.

    Piper Manning’s about as tough as they come, she’s had to be. She raised her siblings and they’ve thankfully flown the coop. All she has to do is finish fixing up the lake house her grandparents left her, sell it, and then she’s free.

    When a massive storm hits, she runs into a tall, dark and brooding stranger, Camden Reid. There’s a spark there, one that shocks her. Surprising her further, her sister and brother return, each of them holding their own secrets. The smart move would be for Piper to ignore them all but Cam unleashes emotions deep inside of her that she can’t deny, making her yearn for something she doesn’t understand. And her siblings…well, they need each other.

    Only when the secrets come out, it changes everything Piper thinks she knows about her family, herself…and Cam. Can she find a way to outrun the demons? The answer is closer than she thinks—just as the new life she craves may have already begun.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateJan 21, 2020
    ISBN9780062897831
    Almost Just Friends: A Novel
    Author

    Jill Shalvis

    New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning novels wherever books are sold and visit her website, jillshalvis.com, for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

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    Reviews for Almost Just Friends

    4/5

    103 ratings10 reviews

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    • 3/5
      The plot had an interesting idea but I’m not sure I liked the book. Three siblings, the oldest sister does her best to rise her little brother and sister at a young age when they became orphans, she’s tried her best even if she’s traumatized or worse for her parents death, and that he becomes an addict and her little sister getting pregnant and dropping out of school and they didn’t tell her, and when they finally did make her feel guilty for not being sufficiently caring and listening, when on the other hand she forgave them. I don’t know. I didn’t like that. Nobody is perfect but they barely apologized and she ends up feeling awful. It’s a nice story but too long and everyone is so abusive of the main character’s trust that I couldn’t wait for the book to finish, because they never repent as they keep hiding things from her all the time because she was supposedly a control freak, which honestly never seemed like that to me. I also didn’t like the little sister character, she’s cunning and abusive hiding the “I’m pregnant and free spirit” thing. The romance story of the main character is really cute but too long for things to get clear with her siblings for my liking, though I’ve got to say that the book has a nice ending when it finally came. In my opinion, not the best work of the author though.
    • 5/5
      Score another winning release for author Jill Shalvis!

      Honestly, I've adored pretty much everything I've read from this author so far and ALMOST JUST FRIENDS was definitely one of my top picks. The lead characters were each amazing in their own way, and the atmosphere itself was charged with the sparkage between Piper and Cam. The supporting characters each have their own semi-feature roles to play as well (another bonus for this author's writing...she doesn't introduce many people JUST to have them on the sidelines!). I love the relationships she built, what with the sibling love-you-but-sometimes-want-to-strangle-you-but-will-always-support-you bits, the deeply felt loss for the brother/friend no longer with them shown from all sides and possible relationship angles, the oh-so-strong self resilience of each sibling from both families, and of course the romantic entanglements that get (at times) very much entangled. *giggle*

      All in all, a great addition to the Wildstone series and a title that I definitely recommend for my fellow Contemporary Romance fans!


      **copy provided for review; opinions are my own
    • 4/5
      Piper has raised her siblings since she was thirteen years old. Now thirty, she finally has a chance to do what she wants for a change, go to school to become a PA. That's when her sister Winnie returns pregnant and her brother returns a recovering addict. Oh, and there's the new dude next store who sets Piper's hormones racing.Jill Shalvis writes good romance but there's more to this story in a family learning to trust each other. It's a short but good read and I'm happy I came across it.
    • 4/5
      4.5 stars.

      Almost Just Friends by Jill Shalvis is a tender novel of healing, family and ultimately, love. Although this newest release is the fourth novel in the Wildstone series, it can easily be read as a standalone.

      Following the deaths of their parents and grandparents, Piper Manning raised her siblings Gavin and Winnie.  Now that twenty-seven year old Gavin is settled into his life in Arizona and twenty year old Winnie is going to college, Piper is ready to begin the next phase of her life.   But when both Gavin and Winnie unexpectedly return home, will Piper be able to move forward with her plans to sell the family house and pursue her academic dream?

      Piper is a no nonsense, list making woman who is kind and compassionate. She is also emotionally reserved and keeps everyone at arms’ length.  Forced to grow up way too fast, Piper did not hesitate to step in and care for her siblings and she remains more of a mother figure than sister. While happy to see Winnie and Gavin, she is worried their choices are going to ruin their futures. And Piper also cannot help but be concerned about how their decision will affect her plans.

      Piper unexpectedly finds support with her next door neighbor son’s Camden “Cam” Hayes. Cam is a DEA Agent who is also a member of the Coast Guard Reserves. He is temporarily in town to reconnect with his father following the death of Cam’s younger brother a few months earlier. Cam is surprisingly easy to talk to and he proves to be an insightful sounding board for many of Piper’s frustrations.

      Underlying their newfound friendship is a simmering attraction and since a relationship between them has a built-in expiration date, Piper does not hesitate to give in to her desire for Cam.  Unbeknownst to Piper, Cam is making plans of his own that will leave her feeling betrayed when she is blindsided by a stunning secret.  Will Piper let down her defenses and follow her heart? Can she forgive her loved ones for not trusting her with important information?

      With relatable emotional baggage and realistic issues to overcome, Almost Just Friends is a truly captivating romance with a cast of flawed yet endearing characters. Piper is sassy heroine who is the perfect match for emotionally wounded Cam. Cam and Piper might become exasperated with their family members but they are also fiercely loving and deeply devoted to them. Jill Shalvis  brings this delightful  novel to a heartfelt, uplifting conclusion. Old and new fans of the Wildstone series are sure to love newest addition to this marvelous series.
    • 4/5
      This is a fun, sweet, charming read. I had such an enjoyable time reading this book. Everyone was great as were their personalities. So personable that I could not get enough of them. I wanted to hang out with them all longer. Therefore, you could say that I was a bit sad when I finished this book. Don't let the fact that Piper writes in her journal and carries it with her make it seem like she is boring. She is not. She might be more mature but she does have some sassy to her as well. My first laugh came when Piper met Camden. He was complaining about the rain and Piper tells Camden "Chin up Princess, or the crown slips."However, Piper and Camden are not the only people in this book. There are Piper's sister and brother, Winnie, Gavin, and Camden's father, Emmitt. All of them were just as fun to get to know. Honestly, there is no favorite as everyone was my favorite. Forget "almost" and "just" as I am happy to call everyone my friend.
    • 5/5
      Usually I don't read romance novels since they really aren't my thing. However, there was something about the synopsis of Almost Just Friends by Jill Shalvis that caught my attention. Perhaps it was the fact that there were family secrets involved! Luckily, I really really enjoyed Almost Just Friends.Piper is a young woman who has always been in control, so much so that she even has a bullet journal to help her through life. She's raised her siblings since she was 13, and when they return home, Piper eventually learns what secrets her brother and sister are keeping from her. During this, she is falling head over heels for her next door neighbor's son, Cam, who is home from the military. These feelings for Cam might just be her undoing!I will say that I loved the plot for Almost Just Friends. Everything about it felt very realistic and like something that happens almost every day in small town America. I enjoyed the love story between Cam and Piper and how it took its time developing instead of just being instalove. I also enjoyed the narrative between Piper and her siblings. I could picture every single scene in my mind quite clearly thanks to Jill Shalvis' fantastic story telling! Almost Just Friends answered all my questions by the end of the book, and there were no cliffhangers which I was thankful for. I enjoyed every single character in Almost Just Friends. They all brought their own personality to the table, and they were each very interesting to read about. All of the characters in this novel felt like they could be someone I could relate to as well as making fantastic friends. Piper starts off being too self reliant. It was nice to see her start letting others help her. She was forced to grow up at a young age after the death of her parents, so I could understand why she was scared of losing control and putting faith in other people. I loved how patient Cam was with Piper. He was so loving and helpful. It was also nice to see him blending in so well with Piper's siblings and wanting to help out. Cam was such a charming man with such a larger than life personality. Gavin, Piper's brother, had been fighting his own demons. I kept wondering if he'd go back to his own ways or not. I loved his relationship with CJ and how he wasn't going to let CJ walk away from him so easily. Gavin always was great at relieving tense and awkward situations which one thing I really loved about him! Winnie, Piper's sister, was the youngest out of Piper, Gavin, and herself. Winnie decided it was time for her to start being more adult like instead of child like. Her news was the biggest, in my opinion, and while I could understand why she wanted to keep it from Piper, I wish she would have told Piper from the get go. However, Winnie had me smiling whenever I read about her. I admired her tenacity to want to be Miss Fix It. Emmit, Cam's dad, was ever the comedian! I loved how happy go lucky he was and his sunny disposition on life was. It was as if nothing ever bothered him, and I admired that about him. Every single character in Almost Just Friends made it such a fantastic read!Trigger warnings for Almost Just Friends include profanity, some sexual situations (although nothing too graphic), death, and mentions of prescription drug abuse.All in all, Almost Just Friends is such a heartwarming read with a fantastic set of characters and a solid plot. This was my first book I read by Jill Shalvis, but it certainly won't be my last! I would definitely recommend Almost Just Friends by Jill Shalvis to those aged 17+ who are after an uplifting novel that deals with family with a sweet romance thrown in.--(A special thank you to William Morrow with a paperback of Almost Just Friends by Jill Shalvis in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)
    • 4/5
      Piper has raised her siblings and is really wanting to go back to school and get her degree. But, as with all families, things change like the wind. Her brother and sister both show up with baggage they are not ready to share. Then to add to her distress…there is Cam. Cam is a love interest…absolutely NOT what she was looking for.Cam and Piper are so good for each other. He really knows how to help her come out of her shell…in more ways than one….I loved Cam. He is a super nice guy, plus he is super HOT! As a matter of fact, I loved all the characters in this read. They all had their part to play and The complemented each other so well.Let me say this about Jill Shalvis…she is a such a steady author! Her stories are always good, funny and will ALWAYS put a smile on your face. This book hit me at the right time. I needed something lite, but serious. This was perfect.If you do not follow Jill on social media, you are missing out. She is a hoot! This is an author I have not met yet, but I would love to have a glass of wine and chat.Let me add a little side note…this cover does not fit this story AT ALL. Piper is scared to go out on the water…and she takes care of a cat, not a dog.
    • 4/5
      Almost Just Friends by Jill Shalvis is a 2020 William Morrow publication.A wonderful feel good story full of inspiration, hope and laughter!Piper is an oak. She had to grow up fast and put her own hopes and dreams aside to raise her two siblings. Not only did she put her life on hold until everyone else was taken care of, she also tucked away her feelings and never gave herself time to grieve her parent's deaths.However, now that her siblings are living their own lives, Piper is finally able to work on realizing her own dreams. All she needs to do is to renovate the Lake House she inherited, and then sell it….Meanwhile, Piper reluctantly agrees to a birthday celebration, where she meets Camden Reid. When a storm moves in, the couple gets to know each other a whole lot better. As it turns out, Piper and Cam know some of the same people, and both have a lot of pent of grief to work though.Cam’s feelings are still raw, while Piper’s are deeply buried. Recognizing in one another the pain they are both living with, Piper and Cam forge a cathartic, yet tentative friendship- a friendship that sometimes leads to kissing.Meanwhile, all of Piper’s plans for her own future could come crashing down when both of her siblings return home, harboring a few stunning secrets. Will Piper ever get the chance to achieve her own dreams? Can she manage to let go, accept help, and share her feelings? Could Cam and her siblings hold the key that will unlock the door to the new life she’s been dreaming of?Shalvis has this stuff down to a science. This is another stellar contemporary tale about family, life and love.The characters in the story are flawed, but each of them grabs the opportunity to give and take, let go, accept, and grow as individuals, while making room for a little romance, too, of course. I loved the way the story flowed, and how the momentum took the reader on a realistic journey that leads to a sweet, very inspirational finish.Things may not always go as we planned them, but sometimes there’s a silver lining. Sometimes people need help seeing it, or maybe we need a little help finding it ourselves. But, at the end of the day, these characters really came through, leaving my heart feeling full and happy.4 stars
    • 4/5
      I just loved this book! Jill Shalvis is an author that I tend to turn to when I am looking for a fun, romantic read. Her books are reliably good and this book was no exception. Once I started reading this book, I found it hard to put down. This is the fourth book in the Wildstone series but each of the books in the series read as stand-alone novels so don't hesitate to jump into the series anywhere! I had a great time with this story and am thrilled that I decided to give it a try.Piper takes care of people. She took care of her younger brother and sister after their parents and grandparents died. She works as an emergency medical technician where she works to rescue those in need of help. She has also made a habit of checking in on her neighbor who has been diagnosed with diabetes and trying to get him to eat better. The only person Piper doesn't take great care of is herself but she is finally ready to go after her dreams and get the degree that she has always wanted just as soon as she sells her grandparents' property.Cam is used to taking care of people too. He works as a DEA agent and also is in the Coast Guard Reserves. He has a take-charge attitude and seems to be able to handle just about any situation. He feels responsible for making sure that everyone is safe. He is home to visit his dad, who happens to be the neighbor that Piper checks up on daily.I felt like Piper and Cam were a great pair! From the moment that they met at the very beginning of the book, I felt a strong connection between them which only got stronger the more that I read. Cam never seemed to be phased by some of the crazy that was happening in Piper's life. They really seemed to understand each other and I loved their chemistry. These two just seemed to fit together perfectly.The other characters in this book were equally amazing. Piper's siblings, Gavin and Willow, had some pretty major things going on in their lives. This book gave us not just one romance, but two! Gavin and CJ were such a great pair and I loved that their romance was such an important part of this story. Willow's life is at a crossroads with some major changes ahead. It was fun to watch her work to make changes and deal with some of the things that she has been through. Cam's dad was a fun character that also added to the story.I would highly recommend this book to others. I think that this is this book is my favorite book in the Wildstone series yet. I fell in love with these characters and couldn't wait to see things work out for them. I cannot wait to read more of this amazing author's work.I received a review copy of this book from William Morrow Paperbacks.
    • 5/5
      Almost Just Friends by Jill ShalvisWildstone #4Complex story of two families that have loved, lost and dealt with more than most are able to and still have still managed come out strong, focused and fulfilled by the end of the book. What I liked: * Cam – I really like this man who has a calm strong and giving demeanor as well as a quirky hot spark. He is just what Piper, her family and his father need. He is a leader and also someone who sees what is needed and then provides it seamlessly.* Piper – This woman was smart, strong and giving to the point that she almost seemed to have lost herself sometimes creating lists to hold things together...LOTS of lists. She did have a dream but wondered, when her siblings returned, if she would need to give that dream up. Her fears made her so human and yet did not detract from her strength* Piper’s siblings – they had been through an awful lot, acted out in many ways and yet found themselves and became truly wonderful adults* CJ – just what his partner needed* Emmit – Cam’s father was a man that was still a boy at heart and what an interesting person all in all* Rowan – never seen in person but very alive in this story – his impact was felt by all the main characters.* Everything really...even the harder bitsWhat I did not like: * The hardships Camden, Rowan, Piper, Gavin and Winnie had to deal with while growing up.* Having to say goodbye to this group of people at the end of the story.Jill Shalvis is an author I love to read. Her stories are real and her characters people I can not only relate to but would love to have in my real life. I can’t wait for her books to be published and devour them as soon as they come my way. Thank you to Edelweiss and Harper Collins Publishers for the ARC – This is my honest review.5 Stars