Release Blitz + Review: "Friends with Benefactors" by Willow Aster and Laura Pavlov

I'm delighted to take part in the release blitz celebrating "Friends with Benefactors" by authors Willow Aster and Laura Pavlov, the fifth and final book of the G.D. Taylors series. It works well as a standalone, though characters from the previous books play supporting roles in this one.

 

"Friends with Benefactors" featured the youngest Taylor sibling, Penelope, and Beckham Ellingsworth, who'd been her best friend since kindergarten. After an impulsive kiss that changed everything between them, Beckham ran off to Italy for their last semester of college, leaving behind a hurt and confused Pen. Eight months later, he followed her to her new home in New York City, determined to do whatever it took to fix their friendship. He managed to convince her to forgive him for ghosting her, but the feelings awakened by their kiss were still very much alive. It wasn't long before they found themselves in a secret friends with benefits arrangement. Beck's experiences with his parents had convinced him that he was incapable of a real relationship, but he thought he might want to try for Penelope. Could he convince her to give him a chance?

Penelope and Beckham were both incredibly likeable, relatable characters, and I adored them together. I loved that Pen made Beck work for her forgiveness even though she'd missed him too, as well as their hilarious banter and steamy chemistry. I also empathized with Beck's fears regarding relationships and appreciated that he worked so hard to overcome them, even going to therapy to work through the issues with his parents. He was such a sweet, caring guy, and I hated the way his parents made him feel! He deserved so much better, and luckily he found it with the Taylors.

 

My favorite part of the previous books in the series has been the dynamic between the Taylor brothers, and that was made even better with the addition of their sister in this book. Gus will always be my favorite of the siblings, but Penelope gets an honorable mention for having survived and thrived growing up with "the brothers." No matter how much they teased each other, their love for each other remained obvious, and I loved them because of it. 

It's bittersweet saying goodbye to this series because I've loved it so much, but "Friends with Benefactors" was a fantastic way to bring it to a close. I can't recommend this book and the entire series highly enough! It has definitely earned a place on my list of favorite rom-com series of all time. I look forward to whatever Willow Aster and Laura Pavlov come up with next.

 

*Review copy provided by the authors. All opinions expressed are my own. 

 

About "Friends with Benefactors"

A hot, wealthy playboy. His sexy, down-to-earth best friend. What could possibly go wrong if they kiss?

Penelope
Having grown up the baby sister to four brothers and with a dude for a best friend, I know how to read men like the back of my hand.
But when I have a sexy make-out session with Beckham, my best friend, all my intuition about men goes out the window.
We never thought we would cross that line, but OMG those lips, his scent, his taste—it’s all I can think about … seriously, he could bend me like Beckham, and I would so let him.
So when he offers a solution to my sexual drought with S-E-X, I have to consider it.
Right?

Beckham
Penelope has always been every guy’s fantasy—sexy, witty, and smart as hell. Let me also mention she’s my best friend, and because of that, I vowed to never, EVER go there with her ... meaning I will keep my hands and lips and other body parts to myself at all times when it comes to Penelope Layne Taylor.
But lines become blurred when we kiss and it's the best thing I've ever experienced.
The.
Best.
Thing.
And now all I want is Penelope to be more than my best friend.
She’s unsure we can do this, be friends with benefits … but I am here to prove her wrong.
Game on, Penelope Taylor.