Violet Archer has her dream job at one of London’s top advertising agencies, and the fact she gets to work with Ethan Fraser every day makes it even better. He’s the best friend a girl could have. And she’s never even noticed how hot he is. Nope. Definitely not.When a big night out deteriorates into a great big mess, Violet’s world starts to wobble like a drunk giraffe on stilts. She’s caught in … caught in a web of secrets, none of which are hers. And maybe she is starting to notice how hot Ethan is, after all. And sweet and kind and… oh dear.
Has Violet fallen for her best friend? Can their friendship survive yet another secret? And, the question Violet is most scared to ask, could Ethan have feelings for her too?
The Agency series is based in London and set in the exciting world of advertising. Following the intertwined lives of a group of kickass career women, the series is a heartwarming mix of angsty romance and laugh-out-loud humour. Each book is numbered chronologically in the series, but every title is a complete story in its own right.
FRIENDLY NOTE. All of Elizabeth’s books feature realistic characters who do things real people do (like have sex) and say things real people say (like drop f-bombs).
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I read the blurb and thought this sounds hilarious. Realistic people that are not afraid to curse is so my thing. Unless everyone in the world is an alcoholic/druggy/sex addict/sex offender/thief this is not realistic. Some of it could happen. But if all businesses ran like this corporations wouldn’t be a thing. The working world would not exist. Ethan is a few things I cannot say because they will deny my review. He uses women like tissues, and then he uses emotional scheming to make Violet give him his way. He is a creep. And even though she needs therapy and rehab for alcoholism she has a good heart and can do way better. Forcing her to leave their job with him because he needs her and into a position she doesn’t want so he can have her by his side while pretending not to be involved so he can have his big shiny moment is by far the most sexist thing I can think of. And she already was sexually harassed by Ridley. Author doesn’t she deserve better? If this was my friend and she was giving up everything for a guy that wants her to hide their relationship for his career I would say run sweetie. Run. Cut that shit from your life and move on because you deserve way freaking better. So yeah read this if you enjoy sexual harassment, more drug and alcohol than a bar gives out in a night (and that’s at home not just the bars/cafes they go to), and no good examples of decent people. Max wouldn’t be so bad if he didn’t do drugs every time he was upset. And despite my saying that I would have rather had Violet end up with him.
Violet and Ethan story is a series that has some sticky situations that has you anticipating what will happen next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This story has a well-put-together narrative, that keeps the reader´s attention. There are all kinds of good and bad games being played at the office, there are characters that we certainly stumble within any office in the world, there´s deceit, gossip, lies, and of course, romance! It´s an entertaining and light book that keeps our thoughts light and rested!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Just Friends (The Agency #1) was a good read by Elizabeth Grey. The Agency is set in the world of advertising and based in London. This followed the loves of a group of kickass career women with intertwined lives. Violet Archer has her dream job at a advertising agency. It is made even better by the fact that she gets to see Ethan Fraser every day. He’s her best friend and she hasn’t noticed how hot he is yet. Until one nights that turns into a giant big mess. I enjoyed reading this book and cant wait to read more by the author.
Beach read.
Great book!
Great beginning to a terrific series
Really enjoyed this book, would recommend.
Just Friends by Elizabeth Grey a five-star read you will fight for. This is book one in the Agency series, I had read Always You first and enjoyed that one, but this one I enjoyed so much more. This one packed more punch and has much more action, in more ways than one. I enjoyed the style of writing and found that Elizabeth Greys voice comes through well in the story telling, I enjoyed the flow and style. Violet is a complex character and when you get to get to understand her it just makes the story much deeper.
Great Story & Narration Great Office Romance & Dramedy!
Just Friends
The Agency, Book 1
By: Elizabeth Grey
Narrated by: Kim Bretton
I thoroughly enjoy this book, it is well written with interesting characters and storylines that were captivating from start to end. Overall, it reminded me of an over the top comedy drama aka “dramedy” and it definitely gives you a whole new look at office politics and work place drama. Elizabeth Grey is a gifted author, she has a way with words, she came up with some of the funniest lines.The characters are likable and easy to relate to, I adored Violet, she was full of life and personality. She enjoys her job and working with Ethan Fraser, the two make a good team. They have a great relationship and Violet is seeing things with a different light, could they be more than friends. There is chemistry between them but taking their relationship to a different level may ruin the friendship they have. When Violet accidentally hears a conversation between her bosses she finds out information she shouldn’t have and was put in an awkward position. A lot goes on this book, it is plotted out nicely and there is never a dull moment with plenty of drama, both work and personal, some angst, some great humor, twists and turns, some heartfelt moments and a slow burn friends to lovers romance. Elizabeth Grey, thank you for this great book, the laughs and the eye rolls too.
I listened to the Audible edition, Kim Bretton is a terrific narrator and voice artist. She does a great job portraying the characters, bringing them to life, giving each their own voice and personality. You could hear how much heart she put into her work as she captures and projects the characters emotions, their passion, as well as the drama into her performance. She is an entertaining storyteller a natural at landing humor too. Thank you for another great listen, it is always a pleasure to listen to you work your art.
Violet Archer is great at her job at one of London’s top advertising agencies and working with her best friend, Ethan Fraser, every day makes it nearly perfect. He’s the best friend she’s ever had so it’s inconvenient when she starts to notice how attractive he is. When a big night for the agency has consequences that threaten to derail everything she’s worked for, Violet finds herself entangled in the sticky web of other people’s secrets. All the while she falls harder and harder for Ethan, but she’s terrified their friendship won’t survive either the secrets or her developing feelings, which she’s sure Ethan could never return.
This book was quite a step away from my usual reads, but I found it refreshing. It had me laughing and snickering like a maniac on the running trail and made the miles go by faster. Both Ethan and Violet were charming but oh so flawed in their own ways and they each made me want to scream at them for various reasons. They did show quite a bit more development than I would’ve expected from such a light-hearted book, which was lovely, but some of Ethan’s behavior was a bit out there and very nearly unforgivable for me. Fortunately, he did redeem himself quite a bit in the end, though perhaps not quite enough, which I’m sure is leaving the doors open for the next book in the series. I’m not really a fan of sagas (I prefer my characters to get their HEA for good in one book) but this ended well enough to be satisfying, though I still may pick up the next book. I loved the humor in this one and the narration was great and added to its charm.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
2.5 stars but I rounded up
I thought this would be a relatively interesting, easy read. I wanted something light and entertaining and this seemed like it would deliver that nicely.
Unfortunately, I was wrong.
This book was a bit of a mess. There was the expected will-they/won’t-they between Vi and Ethan. But then there was all this other drama from their workplace and their circle of friends that overly complicated the premise. I understand the author wanting something else to drive the story, something other than the possibility of romance between the main characters, but it could have been a little simpler.
Also, I felt like all the characters were developed to different levels. Ridley and Malcolm felt a bit like archetypes, like they needed more fleshing out. Max and Stella were wonderful and fascinating! Violet and Ethan were each annoying in their own unique ways. Violet was so incredibly insecure and compulsively overthought everything that it got old. That said, Ethan didn’t give her any reason to trust her. They were both dysfunctional and I kept reading just to be done with it.
I’ll pass on the rest of the series, even if there is a story about Max or Stella.
It’s always fun to read books from a British perspective. The world of advertising certainly is fast paced and full of drama! It was a a fun backdrop for the story and the characters who live there. I enjoyed the loyalty of friendship and the acceptance of flaws. Already downloaded next in series!
I made it through the first 18% …. past the wimpy dick… past the panty stealing … through the agency party from shudder…. and I finally gave up on this one. No redeeming qualities.
Predictable and tedious
Good read easy to follow ans very entertaining all around good book
Violet and Ethan work closely together as a creative team at a London advertising/marketing agency. They are talented and relatively normal people with an ethical center. However, practically all of their colleagues are sexual predators, black mailers, drug addicts, sleeping their way to a job or promotion, etc. with the exception of steely hyper-competitive Stella. What could possibly go wrong? The story of this corporate sh*t show and Violet and Ethan’s friends to lovers story unrolls with many twists and turns, and is competently written and often amusing. I recommend it.