Natalie Shay never imagined a day like this would come. She did what she was supposed to do: graduate college and marry her handsome, popular college sweetheart. With the ink still drying on their divorce papers, Natalie tries to move on from an ending she thought would be happy. When she feels a spark with her stubborn, charming best friend Aidan Costa, Natalie’s life becomes even more … more unrecognizable. Aidan has been her best friend for years, stood beside her when she got married, and has a notorious aversion to relationships. As confusion and denial overwhelm them, their spark grows.
Held back by a secret he has been keeping his whole life, Aidan decides to ignore his feelings for Natalie. Natalie’s discovery of his secret pushes them past the boundaries they’ve carefully constructed around their friendship.
For Natalie, this could be a second chance at her happily ever after. But when a person from Aidan’s past reappears, everything he has built with Natalie is threatened.
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Amazing best friends to lovers story! Prepare for the ride!
Meet best friends Natalie & Aidan, friends since he found out her secret in 9th grade. They have been by each other’s side through everything, including her marriage to someone else, he’s also there for her divorce. They have never crossed the line with each other, till one night after she’s had a bad date.No they didn’t sleep together! They are trying to keep their friendship in tact and not cross the line any further as they try to navigate their new found feelings. But not everything is as easy, and outside forces will try to come in between them, he has a secret he’s been hiding his entire life!
I enjoyed this story, 5 hearts for this one!
This is the second book I’ve read from this author and I loved the whole book. I was hooked from the very start to the very end. Natalie and Aiden were so much fun to read about. It’s a fantastic read.
Aidan and Natalie have been best friends since high school. Her family is broken, and he comes from a family that has literally had a romance written about them. She has always been desperate to find that perfect romance that had eluded her parents. He lived his life having only casual flings, unwilling to put his heart on the line. After her divorce, Aidan is there for her like he always is. The two start to question their platonic relationship after Natalie has too much to drink one night and asks Aidan why they never got together. Despite being scared to ruin their friendship, they can’t deny their feelings and they go for it. Will this work for them, or will this choice result in the loss of their friendship and the one person each of them can’t live without? Secrets are uncovered that could put their future together in jeopardy. I think a good lesson from this story is that sometimes, you are so busy looking everywhere else, that you fail to see what is standing right in front of you. This was a pretty good best friends to lovers story.
I liked this book though I didn’t find it very exciting. The story was solid. The characters were interesting. I just didn’t connect with it. There was a good message in this book as the title identifies so that is why I gave it three stars.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy. I am voluntarily leaving a review. Natalie and Aiden have been best friends since high school. Each of them carries baggage about relationships from childhood, but they have gone to opposite ends of the spectrum in regards to relationships. He is all about casual encounters and she is all about soulmates. Now Natalie is getting a divorce. Will they give love a chance, or will she continue to try and find a relationship that is Good on Paper? This is a light, fun beach read.
This is a new to me author and I’m so glad I found her! Good on Paper is just the book I needed to read right now, it filled my gooey center up with all the love. Aiden Costa and Natalie Maxwell are best friends from high school until young adulthood where the story takes place. I wish I had an Aiden. I laughed my head off at the prolog which sets up the beginning of their friendship. Being in the head of a normal teenaged boy with a crush on the popular girl is priceless!
This slow burn is on purpose and not on purpose, they have what incredibly bad timing working against them often. People come and go around them and create scars and obstacles. This story is lovely and full of unexpected turns and a few of big surprises. It’s cleverly crafted and flows so smoothly that I’m primed for more books by Millikin.
Good on Paper is the first novel I’ve read by Jennifer Millikin. I’m always a bit nervous when I read a new author, as I’m never certain I’ll connect with the author’s style or story. From the outset of her novel, I knew I’d connect with Millikin. Good on Paper is a friends-to-lovers tale. It follows the story of Aidan and Natalie, two people who meet in high school and become best friends. From the outset, Aidan is attracted to Natalie; however, he makes a decision early in life to forgo relationships. As such, he makes the decision to become everything to Natalie, only as a best friend. When they go to college, Natalie meets her future husband, thinking he is the “perfect” match for her. Unfortunately, this turns out to be the opposite. While nursing a broken heart over the ending of her marriage (not that she’s sad about ending it with her ex, it’s the end of a dream instead), Natalie and Aidan start to realize their friendship is something more. Unfortunately, the rules that Aidan has laid out complicate anything further. Can Aidan and Natalie become something more than friends?
I think the thing I loved the most about this story is the angst of Natalie and Aidan’s friendship. From the outside observer, it’s clear that Natalie and Aidan are “meant for each other.” Aidan is Natalie’s rock. He defends her, cares for her, and becomes her shoulder to cry on. Similarly, Natalie is Aidan’s peace. She brings him solace in a way that no other woman can. Unfortunately, for most of the story, these two cannot see their bond, their unending love for each other. It can be maddening for the reader; however, it ends up being the fruit of this book. While I became frustrated with these two, I never wanted to stop reading this book (which can happen with a story like this one). Instead, I wanted to get to the end to see if these two will find their HEA.
There are other interesting aspects of this book. I would love to share them, but then I’d be giving away Aidan’s secret. No one likes a book spoiler.
If you have never read Jennifer Millikin, this is a great place to start. I know it helped me find a new author, and I’m looking forward to reading other books by her. Good on Paper is a GREAT read.
It was a good friends to lovers read.
There were enough twists and turns to keep reading and keep guessing.
I liked the characters and the style.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Loved the book. As usual, a very realistic feel to Millikin’s stories. Not the typical romance, but I enjoyed watching Natalie and Aidan experience loss and love together. Even without steaminess, this book was very satisfying.
Natalie and Aidan were childhood friends who have beat the odds and are successful in their opposite gender friendship. As Natalie navigates her divorce and Aidan navigates through his casual relationships, we see them both slowly admit to their feelings. When they finally give in to the spark and risk their friendship, of course, life throws them a wrench. Will they survive?
***I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review***
It had some good it had some bad. Good on paper is a story about Natalie, a recent divorcee, and Aidan her best friend; passed in a slow kind of development they don’t recognize their feelings until you’ve read more than one-third of the book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received for an honest review from Booksprout
This book hooked me from the get go I just couldn’t put it down I fell in love with these characters and omg what a story just a perfect read fantastic
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Enthralling, emotionally gripping!
Good On Paper by Jennifer Millikin is an amazing read. Very well written, this book touched my heart. Natalie and Aiden are very special characters and the storyline of Aiden kept me on the edge of my seat!
Overall, Jennifer Millikin is a must read for me. Her books are always well written and compelling, highly emotional and insightful. I don’t know how anyone could be disappointed with any of her books.
I read an ARC of this book from Hidden Gems and voluntarily share my review.
Friends growing up, Natalie and Aiden get a second chance at romance. Natalie wants a fairy tale happily ever after but Aiden is trying to ignore his feelings for Natalie. Will they each take this second chance or will things from the past keep them from a romantic relationship. A story that keeps you thinking about it even after you’ve finished the book.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for leaving a review.
Natalie wants a full on fairy tale for her life, Aidan doesn’t do love. Together they are the perfect mismatched pair. Friends since childhood, they’ve seen each other through many ups and downs in life. Natalie just signed divorce papers with her college sweetheart, one of Aidan’s old roommates, and now she must move on with her sad little life. She enjoys writing and keeps sending manuscripts out into the world only to have her heart broken each time she gets rejected.
Aidan is fine with his random hookups and having his bff Natalie by his side. Nothing else needs to change in his life as far as he is concerned, until it does. One random moment with Natalie asking “why not us” has him wondering if everything he knows as normal is anything but.
Natalie and Aidan move slowly into a new territory, rocked by more outside influences than can be helpful. Put a family secret into play and it gets even more interesting. Final thorn comes in the form of an ex with a secret. Can they get past all these obstacles to find true happiness with their best friend?
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy, no expectations were expected and all opinions expressed are my own. This was a pretty good story for me though it did drag in some spots. I think more depth into the family secret would have been nice, it seemed to just go away without any kind of in depth reflection. Natalie and Aidan stayed pretty friends only for the majority of the book then it moved really quickly into past friends zone. I think maybe more angst would have been seen between them before they decide to take it to a new normal. 3 ¾ stars for this novel, I’ve read a few by this author so I look forward to reading more from her.
A well-written story that kept me turning pages there is so much going on. Aidan and Natalie have been friends since High School this is a friends to lovers story about the things they go through before they get a happy ending. I received a copy from Hidden Gems and I am voluntarily reviewing.
***Actual rating: 4.5/5 Love-Defining Stars***
”Sometimes I wonder…why not us, Aiden?”
Good on Paper was the first Jennifer Millikin’s book I’ve read and I absolutely LOVED the story. Natalie and Aiden had been best friends since high school but that was also the only thing they were. Throughout the following decade, they had never been more than friends. Natalie was a helpless romantic, always having faith in the concept of true love; little did she know that she’d miserably fail her first marriage with college sweetheart, Henry, leaving her heartbroken and depressed.
On the contrary, Aiden was all against love, romantic relationship, and such; he didn’t believe in love, nor did he ever want to develop something like that with anyone else. All he truly enjoyed was casual sex with girls from dating apps. I initially thought this simple fact about Aiden’s sexual preference would upset me or even disgust me; however, much to my astonishment, he kind of grew on me gradually with everything he’d said and done for Natalie.
Aside from Aiden and Natalie, my second favorite characters were definitely their wise friends, Savannah in particular. She was by far the smartest role I’d ever seen in a contemporary romance novel and she was this super duper observant friend whom I thought both Aiden and Natalie should consider themselves lucky for having.
Needless to say, Aiden and Natalie had been denying the chemistry between them this entire time they’d been “just friends.” Thanks to Savannah, her honestly enlightening opinion was so on point that Aiden and Natalie started to rethink about the essence of their relationship friendship.
What made this book special was the subtle change in Aiden and Natalie’s platonic friendship, which later turned into something more than swoon-worthy romance. I really loved that even though they weren’t officially “dating,” that was exactly what both of them had been doing pretty much on a daily basis. They dined out together, chatted with friends they had in common, and hung out like good ol’ times, as if they’d been doing these the whole time.
More meaningfully, Aiden even watched ugly-cry movies he absolutely hated just to keep Natalie company when she was feeling low. I mean, seriously, if this weren’t what a sweet, lovely, thoughtful boyfriend would do for his beloved girlfriend, then I don’t know what is. After that unforgettable night in the hotel at their friends’ weeding, things were finally heating up for them. I was speechlessly touched to learn that Aiden did treat Nat differently, once again proving the undying love he’d always had for her deep down.
Speaking of major plot twist, oh god, let me tell you, the one in this book almost gave me a heart attack. No joke, if you were with me when I read that part, you’d practically hear my heart shattering into pieces like broken glass. I could totally understand the distant feeling Nat experienced at that moment because of the author’s painfully vivid depiction of such a gut-wrenching revelation.
To my relief, there was a satisfying happy ending to Aiden and Nat’s story. I couldn’t appreciate more of that purely joyful outcome by the end of the book, leaving everything peaceful, powerful, and lingering.
Last but not least, I would undoubtedly HIGHLY RECOMMEND Good on Paper to everyone. Whether contemporary romance is your cup of tea or not, I’m sure you’ll adore Aiden and Nat’s story as much as I do! Jennifer Millikin is definitely one of my most admired authors from now on so I will certainly check out all of her previous works and future books! Anyway, please don’t hesitate to give Jennifer’s books a shot! You can thank me later. *wink*
***Huge thanks to InkSlinger and the author for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***
This is a really sweet best friends to lovers romance with terrific characters. The author gave us wonderfully developed characters, a little mystery and a few heart stopping moments. The story drew me in from the beginning without a lot of fanfare and kept me interested in these characters and their love story. A slow build but when our couple got there it was magnificent. Good feels! There was already so much love between Nat and Aidan that the progression to romantic love was beautiful. I didn’t even mind the drama towards the end or Aidan’s secret. But I wanted The Hot Doctor to get his own story without the witch. Great epilogue! I don’t think I’ve read this author before but I will again. Her writing is wonderful and her characters intriguing. I liked that she didn’t overly describe the characters physical attributes unless it was appropriate for the timing in the story. For a love story it’s not too salacious, just lots of real love! I voluntarily reviewed an ARC.
Even knowing that this would turn out to be a friends-to-lovers romance didn’t prepare me for the emotional rollercoaster of this story! It was just so well written and there’s never a moment of doubt that Aiden and Natalie are exactly what they say they are – livelong best friends. Until they themselves start to question what if and see each other differently.
There are a few moments of pure angsty emotional torture – and I mean that in the very best way possible. These characters feel real, and the life breathed into them and their situations and the wider cast is pretty fantastically spot on. I had some of the bigger things figured out pretty early and others took me totally by surprise.
Definitely add this one to your list!
Aiden and Natalie have been best friends for years with Aiden secretly in love with her and now she is divorced from her college sweetheart he thinks the timing is finally right to let her know how he feels but before he can so that he has a problem appear. Will the right time ever exist for him to pursue something with Natalie?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Amazing best friends to lovers story! Prepare for the ride!
Meet best friends Natalie & Aidan, friends since he found out her secret in 9th grade. They have been by each other’s side through everything, including her marriage to someone else, he’s also there for her divorce. They have never crossed the line with each other, till one night after she’s had a bad date.No they didn’t sleep together! They are trying to keep their friendship in tact and not cross the line any further as they try to navigate their new found feelings. But not everything is as easy, and outside forces will try to come in between them, he has a secret he’s been hiding his entire life!
I enjoyed this story, 5 hearts for this one!