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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**4-4.5 stars**
It’s always such a pleasure for me to read a Jill Shalvis Book. It’s so easy to connect with her characters, to feel for them, to root for their HEA. Almost Just Friends is no exception.
The families in this story have gone through so much in their lives. They’ve survived big losses and heartache. They each have their own walls up in some way but throughout the story, you can see that they all want to break down those walls, allow the love and support of their family to help heal the wounds and to accept that they are deserving of that love and support.
Piper, the sister who raised her younger brother and sister since her teenage years has never put herself first and has felt so much responsibly in her role as “mother”. But her siblings are grown up now and it’s time for them to take responsibility for their own lives. There is a lot of growth in these characters over the course of the story and it was wonderful to read. It was also great to read the blossoming relationship between Piper and Cam.
Jill Shalvis continues to be one of my favorite Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction authors and Almost Just Friends is another winner to add to the list.
Another Jill Shalvis heart warming love story where both have to walk thru the fire to get there and pray the other is still there to catch them. Loved it!!!
4.5 stars
This is another stand-alone Wildstone book. This series tends to focus not only on romantic relationships, but complex family relationships.
Piper Manning has basically raised her younger siblings since she was a teen and they lost their parents. She thought she helped them get started on their own lives, but they have made mistakes and lost their way. She has always been the one in control and the caretaker who plans everything…even in her job as an EMT. She is finally ready to get the family property fixed up and sell it so she can finally follow her own dreams of going to school.
But then she meets tall, dark, and intense Camden. He is her neighbor’s son that has returned home to help him. He is a DEA agent and Coast Guard reservist that is not planning on sticking around. And then her wayward siblings, Winnie and Gavin return. All of them have secrets, guilt, and issues holding them back. And they all seem to be keeping them from Piper.
But being back in Wildstone is cathartic for them in ways. And eventually, the secrets will start gradually being revealed. As they open their hearts and risk sharing their emotions, it could lead to more hurt or more healing. Piper and Cam seem to be able to read each other better than most. They are used to being the strong one, the caretaker, the responsible one. They are used to control and keeping their feelings buried. But they will find themselves scared and needing to learn to trust, take a risk, and be vulnerable in ways they have never dared to be.
I loved Cam. He was this tough, protective alpha with this soft core that felt deeply and was battling his own demons. Piper was strong and had to be, but she also had dreams that had been on hold for the sake of others. But she was also good at self-sabotage due to fear. I will admit she could be stubborn and frustrating. I loved her charismatic brother, Gavin who was trying to get his life together and her plucky sister, Winnie who was trying to prepare for where her life was headed. His adorably cranky father, Emmitt was also quite a character.
This is a messy and emotional story about loss, reconnection, family, and finding purpose and hope. They all have their flaws, but at the core of their chaotic dynamics are love and a need to help the others be fulfilled. It is not an easy road for them and they have a lot to learn about themselves and each other. It deals with current topics and relatable family misunderstandings and drama. But it is also a love story between two people who never saw the other one coming.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
This one has the three Fs of family: fighting, fun, and forever!
Piper has been mom, dad, sister, and at times warden for her younger siblings and while she wouldn’t change that for the world she knows she needs more. Cam didn’t grow up with his younger brother but that isn’t going to stop him from fulfilling his brother’s final wish. What neither Piper nor Cam expected was for her siblings to show up and complicate things while also forcing them all to see what they really want and need.
Piper and Cam sizzle from their first meeting and Gavin and CJ absolutely melted my heart (the pictures in the epilogue were my fave!). Winnie and Emmitt were also perfectly flawed and round out the Manning et al family.
The Wildstone series is quickly becoming one of my all time faves! I love that each book is completely standalone but there are subtle little ties between them that make you smile. However, what I love most about the series is that it’s a series about families in their realists forms and moments. I can’t wait for the Summer Deal!
I received a complimentary review copy of this book but all opinions are my own.
What a great read to start off the New Year!! I am a huge fan of Jill Shalvis and this book has all the things I have come to expect from her. Great story, wonderful and relatable characters, heartwarming moments, relatable situations, a plethora of emotions and so much more. I loved every single minute of this book and found Cam and Piper to be such a great couple to cheer for! I truly liked both of these characters so much and really felt what they were feeling. Winnie, Gavin, Emmitt and CJ add so much to the story too which I so appreciate and love to get from a supporting cast.
Almost Just Friends by Jill Shalvis
Wildstone #4
Complex story of two families that have loved, lost and dealt with more than most are able to and still have still managed come out strong, focused and fulfilled by the end of the book.
What I liked:
* Cam – I really like this man who has a calm strong and giving demeanor as well as a quirky hot spark. He is just what Piper, her family and his father need. He is a leader and also someone who sees what is needed and then provides it seamlessly.
* Piper – This woman was smart, strong and giving to the point that she almost seemed to have lost herself sometimes creating lists to hold things together…LOTS of lists. She did have a dream but wondered, when her siblings returned, if she would need to give that dream up. Her fears made her so human and yet did not detract from her strength
* Piper’s siblings – they had been through an awful lot, acted out in many ways and yet found themselves and became truly wonderful adults
* CJ – just what his partner needed
* Emmit – Cam’s father was a man that was still a boy at heart and what an interesting person all in all
* Rowan – never seen in person but very alive in this story – his impact was felt by all the main characters.
* Everything really…even the harder bits
What I did not like:
* The hardships Camden, Rowan, Piper, Gavin and Winnie had to deal with while growing up.
* Having to say goodbye to this group of people at the end of the story.
Jill Shalvis is an author I love to read. Her stories are real and her characters people I can not only relate to but would love to have in my real life. I can’t wait for her books to be published and devour them as soon as they come my way.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Harper Collins Publishers for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
There are only so many ways I can describe how much I love this author and her books. This newest book in the Wildstone series is brimming with relatable characters, a wonderful storyline and the humor and heart that is common in Ms. Shalvis’ books.
I read an advanced copy of this book
I don’t know how she does it but I always want to move to the town and become friends with the characters by the end of the first chapter of every Jill Shalvis book-this one was no exception. When we meet Piper she’s enduring being the center of attention at her birthday party–she’s quirky and lost. Cam, Hot New Guy, becomes her distraction and he’s steady but riddled with guilt. Soon Piper’s siblings, Winnie and Gavin, come roaring back into her life. Winnie brings a secret baby and Gavin a secret addiction. It’s such a wonderful, crazy ride with this group I hated to see it end!
My favorite Jill Shalvis book is always the last one I read. This one is my new favorite. Piper is a fantastic leading character. I loved her from the first page. She meets Hot Guy on her birthday. It’s just the beginning of all the changes coming in her life. Cam, aka Hot Guy, is a swoon-worthy hero. He is the perfect match for Piper. The secondary characters and storylines are fantastic too. The story has characters with real flaws and presents them with humor and heart! I always dread the end of the story because I love the characters so much. The characters in this one find ways to help each other heal and grow. It left me with warm and happy vibes. I received an advance copy and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Piper has spent most of her life taking care of her siblings. They lost their parents at a very young age and they all have issues that follow them. Piper can not hold onto a relationship because of her fears. Her brother Gavin is fighting his guilt and mistakes in life. Winnie is keeping a secret to who her baby’s father is and her sense of failure. Piper checks in on the neighbor Emmitt frequently for his diabetes and realizes his son Cam is the same guy who hit on her in a bar. Even with tough times and mistakes in life they all work together to make it work. That’s the beauty of family. Fear, Guilt, Mistakes and Failure are all part of life. Not one is perfect but if everyone works together it will all work out. I was provided this book by the publisher for my honest review.
I love my family, but I don’t like them sometimes…
I’ve just come back from a 10-day cruise with my family. Not just my little family, my whole bloody family. There were 15 of us in total, setting sail to celebrate my parents 50th wedding anniversary. Congratulations, Mum and Dad on surviving and conquering 50 years of wedded bliss. Love you both so much and I’m proud to be your daughter.
BUT 10 DAYS STUCK ON A BOAT…BLOODY HELL, THAT WAS HARD WORK!
I love them… but, geez, I don’t like them sometimes. Family dynamics are a wonderful thing. One day we’re all happy, happy, joy, joy (that could have been the wine talking). The next day, there are tears, tantrums and screaming matches (too many wine days, not enough water days). I guess it’s been a wee while since I’ve spent days with my sisters and parents. We love, trust and care for each other which gives us the freedom to be honest, straight-forward and even a little blunt. Honestly, a lot of it was a blast and I loved spending time with my family but I’ve never been so bloody happy to be home from a holiday.
It cracked me up that again, Jill Shalvis has written something so relevant to me and my life. Almost Just Friends is all about family dynamics. I recognised the bossy elder sister who lectures instead of listens. I know that little sister who is determined to be strong and independent… with a little help from family. I may also be somewhat like the middle “peacekeeper” who has been known to go off the rails but never meant to be a burden.
Now, all these traits do not define us (the characters and my siblings) as we can and are so much more. The bossiness comes from love and a need to see their family happy and content. The need to show her independence is from an acceptance that she can do anything because of the love and support at their back. That peacekeeper has seen some tough times so now we want everyone we love to avoid the tough times and lead their best lives.
Almost Just Friends is not just about the family dynamics, though. This story is about a woman who has put aside her wants and needs to raise her siblings. The journal she keeps was her way to stay on track and plan for the future. Piper notes what she hopes to achieve and ticks her successes and rewrites what still needs to happen. Things are finally getting to a stage where she thinks things are going smooth…ish and now Piper can start her own adventure.
Of course, when it comes to family, nothing is ever smooth and of course, the love of your life… I mean, the man of the moment, gets to witness every messy detail.
Camden’s younger brother Rowan died, and the last words Cam said to him were in anger. Now, Cam is trying to fix the mistakes of his past and find his own piece of happiness. Days after his arrival home to visit with his dad, a storm blows in changing everything. One woman is the calm in the middle of the storm. Piper challenges him to be better and makes it easy to laugh again. She’s not looking for a relationship but with the sparks they set off in each other, Cam’s sure she’s his permanent light.
I am convinced that Jill Shalvis writes for me alone. It’s like she knows what I want to read when I want to read it. Almost Just Friends had the perfect mix of humour, emotion and conflict, with a healthy dose of sexy times added for my pleasure. There were times that I found the simultaneous family fireworks (real-life and book life) helped me get through the dramas. It’s nice to know that I’m not the only one who loves their family while also wanting to murder them.
If you’re a fan of Jill Shalvis, this is one of her best and if you haven’t tried her yet… DO IT! If you’ve followed the Wildstone series, this is a great addition to the series, if you haven’t started it yet… DO IT! I highly recommend giving Almost Just Friends a try.
Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
Jill Shalvis gave us a romance but this book is so much more. This book was a great read. I really liked that it had all the elements of a wonderful romance but wasn’t over the top. This book had complex relationships all around, siblings, parents, love, babies. The relationship between Piper, Gavin, and Winnie is frustrating but you can see the love under it all. Then there is Camden and Everett’s relationship which is not one I saw coming at all. I can’t imagine what they went through for all those years. Piper and Cam and Gavin and CJ just need to figure out some timing and what’s right for them individually and together. All these characters have been through so much loss in their lives. So glad they all got their happily ever after.
Piper Manning was had to raise her brother and sister now she is ready to follow her dream. Suddenly both her brother and sister return home. I love how they learned to listen and become stronger as a family.
Cam needed a home and he found that with Piper!! Love this series.
I can always depend on Jill Shalvis for exceptional story-telling, and she proves herself once again with Almost Just Friends.
The Mannings have a lot of issues, but they also love each other dearly. I enjoyed how Jill Shalvis brings family dysfunction into this book (and others); she gives the characters personal struggles and hardships that make them so realistic. There always seems to be someone (or part of someone) I can relate to.
Almost Just Friends is not just about romance; it’s about family, friendship, misunderstanding, personal demons, heartbreak, healing. There’s a bit of everything.
I found Piper and Cam to be such an excellent fit for each other, and I also enjoyed Gavin’s side story as well.
Jill Shalvis can keep writing, and I’ll keep reading.
***I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy generously provided by the author.***
This is the 4th book of Jill Shalvis’s Wildstone series. Piper Manning is an EMT in Wildstone and she is fixing up her home to sell and finally move to Colorado and go to college. Piper’s parents were killed in the jungle when and her two younger siblings Willow and Gavin were small. They moved in with grandparents but Piper always felt responsible for them that her dreams and wants were on hold. During a bad storm she was heading to check on her neighbor Emmett and she ran into his son Camden.
Camden started falling for Piper but he was also there to help out Willow with her secret. Gavin came back home also with a big secret. They were both scared to let Piper down with their secrets but eventually the secrets come out and Piper was a little put off that Camden knew before her but she quickly got over it. Camden had to overcome his tragic past also that involved his brother Rowan.
I am not going to go into anymore details because you need to go get the book and enjoy it. Jill Shalvis addressed so many issues in this book that it was hard to put down but it was also very encouraging to know you can make it through tough problems! I would have gave this a higher rating if possible.
I did receive this as a ARC for my ho est review! Grab the book!
I’m a big fan of Jill Shalvis and this book is exactly why! So much emotion! Each of the characters is “broken” in his/her own way, and each is working to fix that and become the person they want to be. “It’s okay to be broken. Broken can be fixed.” Family, friends, lovers, hurts, hope, love. This is truly a compelling story of healing, trust, moving on, and loving. A great book full of wonderful characters and I highly recommend it!
In “Almost Just Friends (Wildstone, #4)” by Jill Shalvis we are thrown into the lives of the Mannings. Piper had to grow up fast after a tragic accident killed her parents so she could raise her 2 siblings. Now that everyone is grown its time for her to put herself first, something she has never done. But the concept sounds easier than the execution when secrets come out and the new “Hot Guy” in town seems to stir feelings in Piper she was sure she buried deep.
Could the life she dreamed about be falling through her fingers? Or is it forming right in front of her?
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion.
What can I say? Jill Shalvis never disappoints me. I like her writing, her depth of characters, and unforeseen situations that they get into. Cam was almost too good to be true. He seemed to be everything that you would want in a partner; steady, reliable, and sexy. Except that he thought he had things to atone for. Piper was so closed off emotionally. She had every reason to be but Cam and the rest of her family had to work really hard to get Piper to start letting go. As usual, this one’s another winner!
Once again this very talented author excelled in her storytelling .
The story of Piper Manning and her siblings, is heartbreaking . At thirteen she became the adult when their parents died. Always worrying about Gavin and Winnie, helping them and taking care of them.
But Piper, a woman who is always there when you need her, doesn’t allow people in to her heart.
Cam/Camden Reid is in town visiting his father shortly after the death of his brother.
A man that understands Piper and is her anchor, much to Piper’s surprise.
This story is filled with heartbreaking moments . But also it presents us with hope, new beginnings , and the wonders of finding someone that accepts the other individual for whom they are.
This wonderful, unforgettable story is engaging from the first page. The characters are perfect in their imperfections. The secondary characters like Gavin, CJ, Winnie, and Emmitt are just as complex and likable. But of all of them, Cam will be the one you will fall in love with.
In the end, the author has given us another remarkable story in this series.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “Almost Just Friends” by Jill Shalvis, William Morrow, January 2020
Jill Shalvis, author of “Almost Just Friends” has written a heartwarming, enjoyable and entertaining novel. The Genres for this book are Fiction, Women’s Fiction and Romance. The timeline for this story is set in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated and dysfunctional.
Piper Manning has raised her two siblings and is surprised to find they are back home again. Her hopes were to sell the property her grandparents left her, and with the money, she planned to go back to school to be a Physicians Assistant. Both of her siblings don’t regard her as a sister as much as they do a parent. They also have some deep dark secrets and surprises, that Piper has no idea about. Will this stop Piper from exploring her dreams?
Piper works as an EMT and constantly checks on her neighbor, who has health issues. During a terrible storm, Piper meets his son Camden Reid. They have some sparks, but Piper has problems being close to people. Camden’s father, although older has an interesting dating life, and is familiar with Tinder, and offers suggestions on getting a woman. I enjoyed the humor from some of those conversations. The author discusses the importance of family, friends, communication, love, and hope.
Of course there are animals. I would recommend this delightful book for readers who enjoy a heartwarming story.