Just a Boyfriend by Sariah Wilson Pages: 283
Series: End of the Line #2
Genres: New Adult
Setting: Washington
Source: ARC, NetGalley
Also in this series: The Friend Zone
Also by this author: The Friend Zone
Goodreads
The rules of love and second chances are due for a major-league shake-up in a warm, witty, and unpredictable romance by the bestselling author of The Friend Zone.
Ian “Bash” Sebastian and Ember Carlson were high school sweethearts…until their single parents got married. With one thorny twist of fate, a secret young crush went from on fire to off-limits. What could a new stepbrother do but bail? Now, after almost four years, Bash has returned to Seattle, and he’s back in Ember’s orbit at End of the Line. EOL is the go-to college for second-chance scholarships. But what about love?
Sure, the old hurts are there. So is the attraction—and it’s more magnetic than ever. Still, they’re adults now, levelheaded and just fine with the friend thing. If only to make family dinners less awkward. But when they agree to start dating other people, moving on threatens to bring them closer together than ever.
Is it time to admit their past to their parents? Even trickier, their hope for the future? Because Ember and Bash deserve a love story of their own. With all their defenses down, can they make it a happy ever after?
Just a Boyfriend is part second chance romance, part step sibling love, and a dash of college athlete lust! I loved book 1 in the series, The Friend Zone, so I was super excited for Bash’s story.
Bash and Ember had a sweet high school romance that was spoiled by her mother falling in love with Bash’s father and running off to elope. Their shot at romance dies and Bash moves to PA to get away from the torture of having to live in the same house with the girl he loves. Fast forward a few years and now Bash is back and enrolling at Ember’s college. They can’t avoid each other any longer but they are determined to hide their feelings and just be friends.
Bash is a great guy. He is not the typical whorish jock and he cares a great deal about being the best football player he can be. Ember’s teenage heart was broken when Bash literally RAN from her and she tries to put up a brave face and pretend she is over it. These two have tremendous sexual tension. Everyone around them feels it, but they just won’t talk to each other and clear everything up. Both of them feel (and I get why) that the circumstances haven’t changed regarding why they can’t be together. I just wanted to force them both to open up though because it was making me crazy!
Just a Boyfriend was another delightful college romance from Sariah Wilson. I love the characters she creates! If you like the building of sexual tension, the slightly taboo vibe, and college kids being college kids, then Just a Boyfriend is marvelous!
- POV: dual 1st
- Tears: no
- Trope: second chance, step siblings
- Triggers: none
- Series/Standalone: stand alone
- Cliffhanger: View Spoiler »
- HEA: View Spoiler »
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All Played Out by Cora Carmack, The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan, Jockblocked by Jen Frederick…then you will probably like Just a Boyfriend!
Just a Boyfriend
You sold me! I’m so getting this one! I love that Bash isn’t just a jock and that there’s more to him.
Ooh, this one sounds good. Thanks for the review, Sam! I need to add this to my wishlist. I need to meet Bash and Ember. Maybe I’ll start with The Friend Zone first though.
In my opinion The Friend Zone is far superior than this one; but both are enjoyable
i love football and second chance romance
I read the synopsis a few days ago and even though I’m a sucker for a second chance romance, I didn’t add it to my TBR because I’m tired of stepbrother/sister romances, it’s been done too many times in my opinion. But now reading your review and knowing that they ended their romance exactly because they were suddenly step siblings I’ll definitely give it a try! Thank you, Sam!
[…] Just a Boyfriend by Sariah Wilson, A Favor for a Favor by Helena Hunting, Call Her Mine by Melissa Foster…then you will probably like You’re The One! […]