
Ratings link to their original sources; spice is sourced from romance.io, Hotlist readers, or clearly marked estimates.
Save this to your reading shelf and teach Hotlist what your kind of hot looks like.
Before reading
After reading
Trying to decide?
Save this book to a Hotlist to weigh ratings, spice, tropes, and reader reactions next to your other contenders.
Your Hotlist lens
Build your lens once, then Hotlist can judge whether books like this are your kind of hot.
Build your Hotlist lens📰 NYT Bestseller
📖 33k+ readers on Goodreads
⭐ Amazon readers rate this even higher than Goodreads
📊 Readers are divided — ratings range from 3.5 GR to 4.4 AMZ
When Blair returns to her sleepy coastal hometown to care for her ailing great-aunt, the last person she expects to run into is Declan—her childhood best friend and the boy whose impulsive kiss four years ago shattered everything between them. Now he's managing the coffee shop where she desperately needs a job, and their forced proximity brings all those old feelings rushing back to the surface. As Blair and Declan navigate stolen glances and loaded conversations, they're forced to confront the secrets and heartbreak that drove them apart, wondering if maybe second chances are possible after all. This is a tender, swoon-worthy exploration of first love's magic and the messy, beautiful work of finding your way back home—to a place, and to a person.
Reading soundtrack
Nostalgic indie-pop with bittersweet acoustics and soft vocals—think summer sunsets and unresolved tension. Blend dreamy alternative, folk-tinged melodies, and slow-burn romance vibes. Perfect for stolen glances, seaside mornings, and the ache of rekindled feelings.
Alternate vibes
FMC “We're friends” MMC “Absolutely not, nice try tho” - Reddit
Wish I had bookish friends lol : r/RomanceBooks - Reddit
Just Friends by Haley Pham- Book Review - Shelf Reflection
Just Friends by Haley Pham book description : r/saracarrolli - Reddit
Get this book