USA Today Bestseller
New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis returns to Wildstone with the touching story of finding your place in the world—and the people who make it home.Piper Manning’s about as tough as they come, she’s had to be. She raised her siblings and they’ve thankfully flown the coop. All she has to do is finish fixing up the lake house her grandparents left her, sell it, and … coop. All she has to do is finish fixing up the lake house her grandparents left her, sell it, and then she’s free.
When a massive storm hits, she runs into a tall, dark and brooding stranger, Camden Reid. There’s a spark there, one that shocks her. Surprising her further, her sister and brother return, each of them holding their own secrets. The smart move would be for Piper to ignore them all but Cam unleashes emotions deep inside of her that she can’t deny, making her yearn for something she doesn’t understand. And her siblings…well, they need each other.
Only when the secrets come out, it changes everything Piper thinks she knows about her family, herself…and Cam. Can she find a way to outrun the demons? The answer is closer than she thinks—just as the new life she craves may have already begun.
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This isn’t just a story about a woman and a man falling in love with one another, but this is also a story about loss, grief, betrayal, and a complicated family relationship. So much to be explored in this story, and all the important topics such as the unexpected pregnancy and drug addiction has become the most discussed topics in the story. These are important, and the heroine was the one who got affected by these problems.
Piper and her busy-and-a-little-bit-unorganized life has been living a very tough life. The things that happened to her was too much for her to handle, and she was so young when she lost her parents and had to take care of her younger siblings; Gavin and Winnie—who had problems of their own. And one night, she met Cam who is the new guy in town, and also her neighbor whom she thought could be her temporary distraction. Sparks fly, then new problems arise and she had to make a tough decision.
All the characters appeared in the story had their own time to shine, but of course Piper and Cam gets the most spotlight since this is their story after all. These character had a very rough journey, and it was emotional to me the moment I found out what actually happened to each of them. Piper and her problem, Cam and his problem, Gavin and his problem, and Winnie and her problem. It was a bit stressful reading their parts—mainly Cam, Gavin, and Winnie—because of how much secrets they kept from Piper, and everyone knew that keeping secrets and telling lies will tear apart any relationship—be it family or not.
I couldn’t connect with most of the characters, and not many of them are very likable to me. The only character I can connect to is Piper, and she’s like the only likable character in this book. I do like Cam too, but not as much as Piper. As for Gavin and Winnie, I just can’t bring myself to like their characters at all. I was happy that they did what they could to help Piper with good reasons, after all they’re family, but I still can’t forgive them for their huge betrayal. I get why they had to be so secretive, but that was still low of them for being so dishonest with their own sister.
Piper is a very relatable character. It feels nice to have a character that I can relate to, and that’s why I can feel a strong connection between me who is a reader, and Piper who is a fictional character that happens to be the heroine/protagonist of this story. Through Piper’s story and journey I learned a lot about so many things, but mostly about life, how to handle my personal problems, and how to stop from worrying too much. This is why Piper is my favorite, and I’m sure a lot of readers will find her character so likable, and I hope many readers will appreciate her more.
Cam is a DEA agent, who also has other multiple jobs that are related to him being an agent. As the new guy in town, he came off as this mysterious person. The first time he appeared in the story, I was wondering what hidden things did he hide about himself. Oh how surprised I was when I found out he actually knew more about Piper’s family than Piper herself. No wonder he was so hell-bent on helping her siblings. I find his character so likable at first, but the moment he kept those secrets from Piper, that was the moment that made me disliked his character a little bit. But overall, he is a nice man with a big heart, and I still like him, just not as much as I did when his character first appeared.
The romance in this book was between Cam and Piper, which I think is very obvious after the second chapter. This pairing was nice actually, and both of them shared the same stubborn attitude, and strong personality which is why it was fitting for them to have a romantic relationship. There was some tension in their relationship, and there was a time when they disagreed with each other about certain things which is very normal for a couple. But what made their bond stronger was how much they can relate to each other’s feelings and situations. They’re not only connected physically, but also emotionally which is very rare to find in most fictional couple. The loss, the grief, and the guilt they felt was too much, but at least they had each other to help them heal.
Cam and Piper is a team, I was happy that they took a slow step and doesn’t just rush anything between them. Cam was ready but afraid if he push too much, he would lose her. As for Piper, she’s an over-thinker, she was afraid to feel so much more because she doesn’t want to include Cam in her already-complicated life, which I really understand. But it frustrates me every time she said it was temporary—the thing between her and Cam. There are so many uncertainties, but I loved how they slowly work it out and how they were brave enough to take this chance to fall in love with each other. Their romance was so heartwarming, but it was also emotional too at some point. It was nice to see them happy in each other’s company, and knowing how safe they felt whenever they were together, it makes me happier.
Aside from the romance, Piper also shared a very complicated bond with her siblings. As I already said in the earlier paragraphs about the whole secret thing, it was proof enough how they’re not really close together. It was sad seeing their broken bond, and seeing how they had a hard time trying to live together in one place. There are so many ups and downs in their relationship, and they had an argument almost every time which can get very tiring. The betrayal nearly tear them apart, but I loved how they tried to mend things together and slowly repairing their broken bond.
Overall it was incredible. What a well-written and moving story it is, and the way it ended was perfect. I was satisfied and happy with the ending, and I did expect that ending actually, just wasn’t sure how the author will do it. This story is beautiful and unique in a lot of ways, but also the emotional journey that the characters had to go through made it all the more better to me. Any women’s fiction story never fail to amaze me, they always made me either happy or emotional, there is no in-between. I hope a lot of people will read this book, and I hope they enjoy it as much as I did.
I loved this book! I felt like I was Piper in some ways and the characters were very relatable and had great character growth. The reason I am giving this story four stars is from all of the changing POVs. It’s just a thing I have about books; it gets annoying sometimes. There were two love stories in this book that shocked me since I was only expecting one. And for anyone who cares, there is LBGT+ representation in this book. Other than that, this is a book to pick up. You will not be able to put it down! And Cam is definitely swoon-worthy material!
Almost Just Friends is fourth in the Wildstone Series but can also be read as a stand alone. This is beautifully written story of the different dynamics within family units and the struggles they face. Piper, although a child herself, basically raised her brother and sister and dealt with all the drama and strife they could raise. Just when Piper is ready to start following her own dreams, her brother and sister return home with secrets and issues that causes Piper to once again put her life on hold. Cam is on temporary leave from the DEA and Coast Guard Reserves after the death of his younger brother who died in an automobile accident in which Cam was driving. Taking care of his dad and dealing with survivor’s guilt, Cam is thrown off balance when he meets Piper. Neither is looking for a long term relationship but plans change, when secrets and lies are revealed their connection is tested. This is a great story with a range of emotions, realistic issues, and engaging characters to entertain until the end.
I loved this story. Piper & Cam’s tale is full of charm, wit, adventure, humor and confronting fears and misunderstandings as well. It’s classic Shalvis. And I loved the acknowledgement that there was room for two on that Titanic door. I also loved the “love story in five words”. I loved the whole frickin book and I loved Piper and Cam and the whole cast of characters.
Had this book for a few days and delayed reading because I knew I would not stop once I started. Yep, that was the way it went. Jill Shalvis does not disappoint, this is a wonderful story of siblings trying to find there way as adults yet still be close. I loved the way the different stories just melded together and made me feel joy, sadness then joy again.
Almost Just Friends by Jill Shalvis is a great read. Piper and her sister and brother draw you into their family and make you root for them. Piper and Camden have a beautiful romance that kept me turning the pages.
I loved this sweet, and emotional story about family, regrets, hope, and love. Piper had to grow up fast after the sudden loss of her parents. She has put her feelings, desires and her life on hold to raise her younger brother and sister. Now they are grown, and no matter their choices, Piper has a hard time seeing them as adults and letting go of the kids she raised. She is finally able to entertain her dreams again when she meets Cam at a party. He has come home to help his Dad and mourn the loss of his brother. Cam and Piper relate to each other’s pain and form a bond neither were expecting. Shalvis has created a beautiful story that is so moving, funny and heartfelt slow burn romance. I really enjoyed Piper and Cam’s story and can’t wait for more in the Wildstone series.
This is a pretty good story, but I think it was a lot longer than it needed to be. Piper is emotionally stunted by loss and overwhelming responsibility, her siblings came home with secrets but are finally growing up, and her neighbor’s son makes her heat up like no one else has. Cam is a great guy and trying to be a better son while he becomes close with the three people next door. I like that it shows other relationships along the way. Emmitt is just awesome.
“Almost Just Friends” by Jill Shalvis
Loved this story. I had to wait my turn to download this audiobook from my state library…. But it was worth the wait. I enjoyed the story so much that I just spend hours on end inside this presentation. And, only came up for air when I absolutely had to pause the story. A Worthy Read. Happy Reading ! !
Almost Just Friends by Jill Shalvis is the 4th book of the Wildstone series. Piper Manning hates storms, and this storm sends her running into the tall, dark, and brooding Camden Hayes, who is Emmett’s son, her next-door neighbor. The spark between them shocks her. Then Piper’s life becomes more chaotic by the unannounced arrivals of her younger siblings, Gavin and Winnie, each with a secret. Jill Shalvis has a knack to create funny, warm, and unforgettable characters, so realistic and so believable you would think she is writing about real people. The banter between Piper and Camden is hilarious and flirtatious. Her family dynamic is riddled with misunderstandings and secrets. The Manning siblings will tug your heart with their flaws, insecurity, and strength. ALMOST JUST FRIENDS is an airy, feel-good romance filled with heartfelt love between the two families.
Shalvis combines heart, humor, and dysfunction into the perfect mix of unbreakable family ties. Plus, a secret or two.
4.5 stars
I listened to the audio version of this book and the narration by Erin Mallon was superb and enhanced the story greatly. I love her gravely male voices.
Truly, anything by Jill Shalvis is fantastic. She is able to take stories to a level that just wows me. Her characters are fantastic, the problems are real and the solutions hard fought. The romance is always heart warming but hysterical at the same time. Throw in animals and I’m sucked in hook, line and sinker.
Loved. A gazillion stars!
My Thoughts:
Almost Just friends was a wonderful story about friendship, family, love, and life. Piper Manning lost her parents at the tender age of thirteen, and came with her younger siblings, Gavin and Winnie, to live with her grandparents in Wildstone. She took on the burdens and responsibilities of raising them and was more like a mother than a sibling. Piper is looking forward to selling the house and cottages on Rainbow Lake; that her family inherited from her grandparents, so that she can move away to Colorado, and go to college to become a P.A. Piper longs for adventure and a life of her own, now that both of her siblings flew the nest many years ago.
However all of Piper’s plans are interrupted when Gavin and Winnie show up, and plan on staying as a family at their grandparents house. Both have heavy burdens to bare, and secrets that they are keeping from their older sister. To top it off, Piper meets the sexy, handsome, and caring, Cam who happens to be on leave from the Coast Guard, and is visiting his father, and Piper’s neighbor, Emmitt, after the loss of Cam’s younger brother. Things have now gotten complicated for Piper, and she just might discover there is plenty of adventure to be had in her small little hometown of Wildstone…
I loved Piper. She reminded me of myself. She carried her bullet journal/planner everywhere, and was obsessed with making lists for everything. She cracked me up with her bucket list, and secret secret bucket list! She loved her siblings more than anything, but she could come off a little bossy and judgemental, as far as they were concerned.
Cam rarely smiled when Piper first met him, but she made him happy. He saw what a treasure Piper was, and he made her feel wanted, appreciated, and seen. Cam was such a sexy manly man. He looked out for Piper, and was an excellent listener. He helped her to have fun, and relax. These two connected, because they had both had challenges in their lives, where they could relate to one another. Plus the chemistry between them was sizzling!
I loved the secondary cast of characters as well. Emmitt, Cam’s father, was hilarious! I loved learning about Gavin, and he had his own romance as well. Winnie was going through a lot, but I loved her strength, resilience, and courage to pick herself up, and become the mature adult that she wanted to be.
My favorite aspects of this story were the humor that was infused all the way throughout the story, as well as being able to relate to it when it came to loss, mourning, and learning how to live again. The two romances were fun, but my absolute favorite moments were when everyone was together, whether they were bickering or having a good time! If you are looking for a story that will have you laughing aloud, make you happy, and is real and relatable to life, and experiencing loss, and love; as well as needing to learn resilience, you should pick up Almost Just Friends by Jill Shalvis!
Another wonderful story by Jill Shalvis. I really enjoy her books. This was no exception. Good story and great characters who are a little messed up. However, when they get together, it makes perfect sense and is meant to be.
“Ah, Piper. It’s okay to be broken. Broken can be fixed.” I have loved every moment of reading the Wildstone series and Almost Just Friends is not an exception. It is quite possible that this is my favorite of the series thus far – something about Piper, Gavin, Winnie, Cam, Emmitt, and even Rowan just gripped my heart and would not let go. I loved the exploration of all the relationships, the way that trauma affected them all, and the way that they relied on each other to cope. There have been very few times (I can think of 3 now) when I’ve read a line in a book and wanted it indelibly inked on to my skin – the last sentence in the opening quote is one of those lines. This is a book that will stay with me forever and I can not wait for the next installment in the series this summer. Jill Shalvis was one of my go to authors when I discovered contemporary romance many (many) years ago and I’m ecstatic to restore her position on my “must read/autobuy” list now. 5 out of 5 wine glasses.
Almost Just Friends is almost too real. Heart and home, trust and sacrifice, hurt and healing wrapped in a tale of family and love.
Piper thinks she got herself on the right track. She has a game plan, lots of lists and more than enough will to accomplish the goals she sets. Piper is as fierce and tenacious as they come. Growing up fast, caring for her siblings and trying to make the best of what they had, has given Piper a hard edge, but the woman has a heart like no other. She is not a stranger to sacrifice, and she would sacrifice over and over again for those she loves.
In blows a storm that lights a spark with a stranger, carrying her siblings home and a bucket full of secrets to make Piper’s head spin. Just wanting a new life became something altogether different than what she want. But needed more than she knew. With a handsome Cam knocking on her romance door, her siblings and their respective secrets eating at her, Piper’s new life hands already began.
Almost Just Friends is all about family, those born to you and those you choose to bring in. Hot messes and all. Life is not always easy but those around you make it a lot better. Ms. Shalvis twisted wit and humor with emotion and life’s choices that make people people discover who they are and whom they want to be. Piper and Cam captivate reader with the depth at which they will go and of just who they are. A story you truly don’t want to miss.
Piper is one of the strongest people that I know or have read about. After her parents died she took over raising her two younger siblings. Her siblings are coming home after having life changing experiences. Her goal is to leave and go to college to become a Physician’s Assistant and not stay an EMT for the rest of her life. She takes care of everyone before herself.
When a massive storm hits she wades through the mud to go next door to check on him where she comes face to face with a tall, dark, and brooding stranger Cam. Piper has a hard time letting anyone get close, but for some reason she can’t help letting Cam in past her walls.
When the secrets start coming out from her siblings everything changes, their lives, what she thinks she knows about her family, and Cam. She realizes that her siblings need her to help them, keep them grounded, but most of all she needs Cam.
Cam is going through a hard time after his brother died. Rowan was younger and raised by their father while Cam stayed with their mother to help take care of her. They had just started becoming brothers again when he was taken away from them. Turns out …. they get to keep a piece of him but everyone knows except for Piper.
Piper and Cam are cut from the same cloth. She helps to save people’s lives being an EMT and running into danger. Cam is DEA and Coast Guard special forces also used to running into danger and saving people’s lives. From the beginning you can see these two are meant to be together you just don’t know what will come up and try to keep them apart. Cam is the guy that every strong woman dreams about. Piper is a strong woman that needs someone to take care of her for a change. I loved this novel and know what its like to be a strong independent women that needs a strong man to take care of you for a change. I’m glad that Jill Shalvis was able to introduce this type of character because you don’t see many characters like her these days. A definite recommended read!
Received ARC in exchange for honest and voluntary review from NetGalley.
I live everything Jill Shalvis writes
Where do I start? Well I won a paperback or print copy of Almost Just Friends from Goodreads. I love it. It is an emotional tale of love, heart break and loss. Piper is so amazing. She is so like me in so many ways. Cam is so adorably right for Piper. Gavin is just coming into himself, finally. And Winnie is so strong and smart. Emmitt is just like a dad I would love to be in my life. CJ is just what Gavin always needed and had but didn’t realize he did. The story line is perfect. The characters are so great. The emotional rollercoaster it takes you on is worth the ride. Highly recommend this book. Just have tissues ready.
Title: Almost Just Friends ( Wildstone #4)
Author: Jill Shalvis
Genre: Contemporary
My Rating: 5 ++
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This book is a gem. Did I expect anything less from Jill Shalvis? No. If you’re hoping for a feel-good well written trope, this books right up your alley.
On to the story…
Piper Manning’s the back-up matriarch of the family. She’s been the backbone since her grandparents willed her their lake house. Her plans are set after raising her two siblings: fix the lake house, sell and enjoy her life. Until, a handsome stranger waltzes into town. Camden Reid topples her world; swooping through like a whirlwind.
Feelings she’d never felt ignites her core whenever he’s around. Causing her to rethink everything she’d planned. Will Camden and Pipers new found attraction morph into something more? Or will they both agree to go separate ways; unconvinced they have something special they should pursue? Find out with your copy of this wonderful book. You won’t be disappointed.
*I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*