can be read as a standalone, is a full length 120k word novel, and is book #2 in the Knitting in the City series.
There are three things you need to know about Elizabeth Finney: 1) She suffers from severe sarcastic syndrome, especially when she’s unnerved, 2) No one unnerves her like Nico Manganiello, and 3) She knows how to knit.
Elizabeth Finney is almost always right about everything: the … Finney is almost always right about everything: the musical merits of boy bands are undervalued by society, “benefits” with human Ken dolls are better without friendship, and the sun has set on her once-in-a-lifetime chance for true love. But when Elizabeth’s plans for benefits without friendship are disarmed by the irritatingly charismatic and chauvinistic Nico Manganiello- her former nemesis- she finds herself struggling to maintain the electric fence around her heart while avoiding electrocution or, worse, falling in love.
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I have become an avid Penny Reid fan after reading the first story in the “Knitting in the City” series. The characters in the series are vibrant, smart and complex. The plots are interesting and fun and you meet all the characters in each of the different stories. This one follows Elizabeth (a doctor) and someone from her high school years who …
Elizabeth Finney has no interest in falling in love, having already experienced that at 16. Yet the second person in her life that she started to love (and to whom she lost her virginity) is suddenly back in her life, causing all of the conflicting emotional and physical turmoil that his presence does to her. Despite wanting to avoid Nico …
This book is sweet and funny and Nico is probably my absolute favorite of Reid’s characters. I liked Elizabeth too, but not quite as much as Nico because she was so mean to him. That’s ridiculous because he could get past what she had done years ago, but I just couldn’t let it go. That said, I liked them both very much and really enjoyed their …
I didn’t hate this book, but I did not love it either. I liked the first book but this one seemed to drag on, talk about slow burn or maybe no burn at all. Elizabeth is a little childish and her wishy washy feelings got to me. Nico knew what he wanted but Elizabeth seemed to just string him along. I wanted to like this book as much as I liked the …
this book brings Dr. Elizabeth Finney face to face with the boy who’d tormented her throughout most of her life only to end up being her first sexual conquest. She and Nico’s backstories are interwoven but they both have a different interpretation of events. Can they come to see the truth before it’s too late or will they lose each other yet again …
Penny continues to write smart, funny romances. Elizabeth grew on me and I began to understand her as I read the book. I loved Nico. Can be read alone but I definitely recommend reading all the Knitting in the City series in order.
I am such a huge fan of Penny Reid, now that I’ve started her books. I’ll admit I did have a short time as I started this that I wasn’t sure if I’d get into it, but once I actually picked it up, it got to where if I was reading before bed I could barely put it down so that I could get some sleep since I had to get up in the morning for work. I …
I love Penny Reid’s writing style. I cry one minute, then burst out laughing at the crazy things the characters say. Nothing happens that is “expected” in the storyline, and I never know what’s going to happen. I love how smart and relatable the characters are. Elizabeth had had her worldview shaped from experiences she had as a child, and nothing …
Janie’s best friend and room mate Elizabeth, gets the shock of her life when the boy she let go 11 years ago shows up with a child at her hospital. She feels adrift, no idea how to feel, especially when he tells her he loves her, has always loved her. How should she feel when her teaesd her and hurt her her entire childhood? Forgetting the part …
Lovely easy to read story about a man with unrequited love and a woman afraid to take chances with her heart. Elizabeth’s fear and frustration are tangible. There are times with Dr Ken that you want to bash her head on a hard surface for being so blind and obstinate about the true love that Nico feels for her.
This series brings together all the …
Penny Reid is a wonderful author. If you have not read any of her books than you are really missing out. Actually, once you read one of her books you will want to read all of her books. The thing that makes Penny Reid’s books wonderful is the intellectual wittiness that goes into each story. MUST READ!
Elizabeth Finney has come a long way since her shy, skinny days in high school. She’s now a well respected doctor in Chicago and her looks are decidedly different. As soon as she see’s Nico Manganiello in her emergency room she slides right back into old bad habits. The two of them grew up together and had always antagonized each other. Nico was …
Witty, wacky, and wonderful. I can’t get enough of Penny Reid.
Great story and loved the back and forth between the two main characters. And I especially loved the growing friendship between the girls. Can’t wait for the rest of the stories.
5 ‘Freaking Nico!’ stars!
There are 3 things about this book that I absolutely loved. 1) Nico and Elizabeth. Their banter and chemistry are superb. 2) It made me all gooey inside when Nico professed his love. He loves Elizabeth so much! 3) I can’t stand how much I love all the side characters in the book. Sandra and Ashley are my two favs.
“He …
Penny Reid does it again!!! Friends Without Benefits is another 5 star, knock out book!
She tackles loosing your first time love to death, loosing your virginity as a teen, and some serious emotional problems that our heroine, Elizabeth, should have been in therapy for a LOOOOONG time ago. I love that Ms. Reid always addresses real life …
I enjoyed Elizabeth in NSH, but in FWB she came across very immature and annoying in her stubbornness. Having said that she did manage to barely win me over.
Now Nico was hard not to like! His irrepressible charm and twinkle kept me going where Elizabeth had me frustrated. Besides who couldn’t appreciate a sexy Italian declaring his unrequited …