Almost Just Friends by Jill ShalvisMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved "Almost Just Friends" by Jill Shalvis, which featured likeable, sympathetic characters and an emotionally engaging story. I particularly enjoyed the complexity of the relationship between siblings Piper, Gavin, and Winnie Manning because it seemed so realistic and relatable to me. It's hard enough to get along with one's siblings under normal circumstances, and circumstances for the Mannings were anything but normal as eldest sister Piper took on a parental role when they were very young. Over the course of this story, Piper, Gavin, and Winnie each had to learn different ways of seeing and communicating with each other as adults in order to escape the patterns that had caused conflict between them in the past. They each struggled in different ways, but fortunately ended up in a much better place by the end of the book.
The central romantic relationship between Piper and her neighbor's son, Camden Reid, was also a highlight of the book. They seemed to understand each other very well, perhaps because they were both so hard on themselves for the challenges they faced with their younger siblings. Even though she wasn't always perfect, I couldn't help but admire Piper for everything she managed to accomplish and the way she kept her family together after they lost their parents. It was very difficult for Piper to let Cam in because she was so afraid to lose someone else she loved, but Cam was very patient and understanding with her, eventually showing her that love was worth the risk. In return, Piper helped Cam work through the grief of losing his younger brother and finally find the home and family life he'd always wanted.
"Almost Just Friends" is the fourth book in the Wildstone series, but reads as a complete standalone. The books aren't directly connected, but each one features great characters and fantastic stories. I highly recommend each and every one of them and hope there are more installments to come.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley and Edelweiss. All opinions expressed are my own.
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