Manhattan is a stand-alone, small town, country romance in the Becker Brothers Series. Everyone knows not to fall in love with your best friend.But when your best friend is Michael Becker, it’s impossible not to.He’s everything our town knows a Becker brother to be: devastatingly handsome, charming as a thief, and the icing on the cake — a sentimental musician who’s never without his guitar.And … who’s never without his guitar.
And he was mine. At least, that’s what I’d convinced myself.
Our bond was born in elementary school, strengthened by circumstance and the promise to always be there for each other, no matter what. And the best thing about my life was being friends with Michael Becker.
Until it was the worst.
I watched him fall in love with someone else, and helped patch him back up when she left him behind. But when he drops the bomb that he’s moving to New York, I realize it’s my last chance to tell him how I feel. And I ask him to make one more promise.
One summer. One list of adventures to remind him that our small town has more to offer than memories of the girl who left him behind.
One last chance to tell him I’m in love with him.
And I’m just dumb enough to believe that maybe he could love me, too.
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This is by far my favorite Becker brother book. Don’t get me wrong, I love the other men in the family, but there was something so pleasing and capturing about the relationship dynamic between Kylie and Mikey. The angst factor is just perfect, as is Kylie!! That is what a friends-to-lover story is supposed to feel like!
Speaking of said angst factor… The Queen of Angst really gives it good (no surprise) because you vacillate between wanting to throttle Mikey for being an idiot and shake some sense into Kylie to realize she deserves more. But isn’t that the crux of it all? You have to weather the storm and make your way through the struggle in order to know that love is worth fighting for.
My two cents: Kylie may be naive, but she is much more knowledgable and mature that Mikey. I love her quirky demeanor. Mikey is a good man, but he just needs to get his head out of his a$$ to realize who he is and what exactly he wants and needs. I think we see him starting down the road to becoming the man he’s supposed to be.
The Becker family is amazing. Their bonds are dynamic and fun, never letting you down. I can’t wait to see what Steiner has in store for us with Jordan. Bottom line: You won’t regret reading this book and will definitely want to read the whole series!
Well Kandi Steiner knocked this one out of the park. Like wayyy out of the park. This is definitely one of the top reads of 2019. Such an amazing slow burn romance between Mikey and Kylie. Mikey, the sweet lovable guy who Kylie is in love with, but he, of course, is oblivious to her feelings. Kylie is such a selfless soul in this book and lays her heart on the line for Mikey to take it. I loved the slow burn between these two from best friends to more. This is the kind of fairytale that most of us search for in real life. If you haven’t read Kandi Steiner before, there is no better time to start!!
After reading the first two books in the story, I was excited to finally get to know the youngest Becker brother! And seeing Mikey together with Kylie sure was wonderful!! It was a sweet friends to lovers romance between these childhood best friends. Since Mikey had been with Bailey for so long, he never truly took the time to see what was in front of him his entire life, but he finally got the little nudge he needed to open his eyes to see Kylie for the woman she had become and not the girl she used to be. They just had such a natural connection from all those years of friendship and the love between them was beautiful to see. Enjoyed getting one more piece to the puzzle of the mystery surrounding the fire at the distillery, and I can’t wait to see the rest unfold when we get Jordan’s book.
I haven’t read the other Becker Brother books in this series, but as Manhattan is a standalone it is not necessary. This took me back to the pain and anguish of unrequited teenage love, most of us have been there! Kylie and Mikey have been best friends since they were eight years old and have been each other’s support system as they each lost a parent and they have been there for each other through good and bad. The only secret that Kylie has ever kept from him is that she has loved him for years and always saw a future together with him.
Mikey falls in love at age 16 and has his heart broken when he is 18. The girl he loves suddenly ups and leaves him to have a music career in Nashville. Over the past two years Mikey has brushed Kylie aside so she has watched his heartbreak from a distance. Now as they both graduate, Mikey announces that he is leaving their small town for the big city at the end of the summer. Kylie knows that she has to try to get him to stay, and make him see her as all grown up before everything is lost forever.
A very determined Kylie puts her plan into action to get Mikey to stay. Betty, the very sassy and hilarious resident at the nursing home where Kylie volunteers suggests that she should wear a bikini and flaunt her assets for a family trip to the lake. When Mikey sees Kylie in the bikini it turns his head but will it be enough for him to stay and fall in love with her?
This is a beautiful and sweet story about young love. We have to cheer on Kylie as she works so hard to help Mikey to move on, but at the same time be annoyed with Mikey as even though he has developing feelings for Kylie he is determined to wallow in misery and refuse to see what is right in front of him.
A really enjoyable small town friends to lovers romance, with wonderful characters that make you laugh and cry.
What have you done to me?
I have tears- and I DON’T cry at books.
I am NOT OKAY.
It was amazing. It was fabulous. It was… perfect.
Mikey and Kylie’s story was BEAUTIFUL, heartbreakingly beautiful.
I can’t even begin to explain the myriad of emotions that are playing through me right now. I want to simultaneously both hug and punch @Kandi for shredding me.
My chest hurts, my cheeks are wet and I’m a freaking hot mess.
Ugh, I’m “that” girl now. That girl that says “this book ruined me and I love it, so you need to read it”.
This book. I feel like I never truly have the words to describe Kandi’s wonderful writing and the characters she creates. No two characters are the same. They are flawed, lovable, and you root for them. Kandi knows how to have you laughing one moment and crying the next. Her books are emotional, but everything that someone needs to here. There is always at least one piece of wisdom you can take from each story she creates. The words she uses to describe everything- no one can compare. Truly one of the best authors. I really loved this story. Heartfelt. Beautiful. Sometimes messy. Full of life. Adventure. And everything in between. Cannot recommend this highly enough!
It’s no secret I love Kandi Steiner’s books and I was so excited to read the third book in her ‘Becker Brother’s’ series, Mahnattan. This is a fantastic friends to lovers romance that I adored. These books take place in a small town in Tennessee and I love the small town vibe they have.
Mikey Becker and Kylie Nelson have been best friends since they were eight years old. That same year, Mikey lost his father and Kylie lost her mother and they’ve had an unbreakable bond. As the years went by, they only got closer. Kylie has had a crush on her best friend for as long as she can remember, but things changed when he started dating a girl named Bailey. Mikey changed. Now, he and Bailey are over and he’s completely morose. Kylie is determined to get him out of this funk he’s in and show him all the great things their town has to offer. Thing’s he’s always loved before.
Kylie’s list to help Michael embrace the town again was great. I loved watching their adventures and seeing Michael come back to himself. Watching him see Kylie in a new light was one of the best things about this book.
As much as I loved Mikey Becker (Logan is still my #1… probably my favorite book boyfriend of 2019), Kylie really stole the show for me. She was relate-able in so many ways and I loved how she never gave up on the people she cared about and had such a huge heart. She was truly selfless and just an incredible human being. I also loved the relationship that both Mikey and Kylie had with their parent. It was so sweet.
Most of this book kept a huge smile on my face. I loved this couple and I love this family. Aside from wanting to clobber Mikey a time or two, I really did enjoy this story so much. I can’t wait to read the final story in this series because Jordan has always intrigued me and I’m looking forward to tying up that suspenseful story line that’s been carried over from book to book.
If you’re looking for a gorgeous friends to lovers/small town romance that’s sweet, steamy, fun, and has great familial elements, pick up Manhattan.
Oh my stars. I thought these brothers couldn’t get more amazing, but reading Mikey and Kylie’s story just blew me away. It was such a stunning friends to lovers story with epic slow burn and just the right amount of angst. I devoured this story as we go through the ups and downs of what Michael went through at the hands of his ex. His surprise announcement at graduation dinner to him finding himself again, all because of Kylie. These two have such a phenomenal connection that has such an underlying current even if Michael is totally oblivious!
I giggled, I swooned and I got ragey through this story but because it all served an incredible purpose to get where they needed to be, it all melded into a fantastic read that had me smiling ear to ear by the end. We do get some more tidbits about the backstory with the Becker boys father and it amps up the intrigue and I am DYING to know more. Bring on Jordan’s book. I am SO in love with each of these boys as they bring something different to the table with each story!
This is one of the best friends-to-lovers romances I have read in a long time. It is has so many feels! I lost track of how many times I cried happy tears. It is a book you will not want to put down. I admired Kylie so much. The way she helped Mikey get over his heartbreak when Bailey left him, to the way she went after what she wanted. You just have to love a strong willed girl. Mikey, on the other hand, I frequently wanted to reach into the book and smack some sense into him. That boy was so hung up on what he lost he was blind to what was right in front of him.
Manhattan is the third book in the Becker Brothers series. It is a great friends to lovers romance that is set in a small Tennessee town. Kylie and Mikey have been best friends for most of their lives. They had an unbreakable bond that only grew stronger with the years. It all changed when he starting dating Bailey. Now that Bailey is out of the picture Kylie is trying to cheer Mikey up and remind him why he loves their small town. It was fun to see Mikey rediscover his hometown and Kylie. It was like he never truly saw her as a girl before; just as Kylie his friend. I cannot say enough good things about this book. I loved the characters! They are well written and easy to relate to. I have fallen in love with the Becker Brothers and Mikey lived up to my expectations! This series is amazing! I cannot wait to see what is next.
It’s no secret I love Kandi Steiner’s books and I absolutely was dying to read the third book in her ‘Becker Brother’s’ series, Manhattan.
Manhattan is an adorable and angst filled friends to lovers romance that took me back to my youth and reminded me what it was like to fall in love at that young age.
One thing is for sure Mikey and Kylie’s story was the SWEETEST Story. Their love for one another was so strong and pure. OMG! You’ll love it, please do yourself a favour and pick up this series. You’ll love it FOREVER!!!
STEINER CAN DO NO WRONG!!
This has to be my favorite Kandi Steiner book, ever. I was partial to Weightless but ‘Manhattan’ takes the cake. Truthfully speaking, this was my first intro to the Becker bother’s. I’d purchased one and two but read three instead. Completely a*# backwards, I know. But as it turns out this book is a standalone and I was able follow easily without any hick-ups or confusion.
The Becker boys are a sought-after handsome band of brothers. Mikey (Michael) is the youngest. He has a best friend named Kylie who has a secret crush on him…of which he’s unaware. Or maybe he didn’t cared to see. Stuck in an unrequited relationship he thinks is reciprocal; Kylie isn’t hardly on his radar. At least not as a lover just a friend.
Kylie is wonderful character. She steals the show. She’s not only beautiful on the outside she’s a total stunner on the inside too. She’s kind, giving, the kind person that would take the shirt of their back to help those in need. She seems to have everything she wants…all except one handsome pal she’s had her eye for well over a decade. Will Kylie finally be brave and express what has been her heart for a long while? Will these two broken souls come together and finally have the happily ever after they both deserve? Find out yourself!
This story is entertaining, gripping; pulls you right in from the start. Words can’t express just how much I love Manhattan. And trust me you’ll love it too. It’s just that good!
Title: Manhattan by -Kandi Steiner
Standalone
Genre: Friends-to-lovers
My rating: 5/5 stars
*I received this wonderful ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Manhattan, the latest book in the Becker Brothers series, is a well written, sweet story about young love! Mikey is the youngest of the Becker brothers and his story is a fantastic addition to the series.
I enjoyed taking this new found relationship journey with Mikey and Kylie!
Any good relationship should start off as friends and that is exactly what they are, best friends actually! Taking that step from friendship to a relationship can be risky but the years they had as friends gave Mikey and Kylie a solid foundation to start. That didn’t mean it would be a smooth ride and they will both realize that anything worth having takes work, understanding and oftentimes forgiveness.
Kylie was in love with Mikey for years he just hadn’t seen her that way, until he did!
The scene that set Kylie in his sights is one of my favorite scenes! Kylie was heading down to the river and takes off her tank and shorts to reveal her red bikini and the reaction Mikey has when he realizes that she is not just his best friend but a beautiful woman.
It’s been a while since I’ve read a book by this author but I really enjoyed this story. I definitely could recognize myself sometimes in what Kylie was feeling in certain ways. A great enjoyable read!
Kylie and Michael (Mikey) have known each other for as long as they can remember and have been attached to the hip but they drifted apart when he was in a relationship. Now after a bad break-up, their friendship is on the mend and they’re closer than before. But Kylie has always hidden her true feelings for him and with Mikey moving to NY after the summer, she’ll do anything to make him see that the town they grew up in still has so many things to offer. And maybe through it all, she can finally confess how she truly feels for him. Slowly but surely Mikey comes to see that Kylie has grown into a beautiful woman and isn’t the girl she used to be. But will she be able to stop him from leaving and will he finally be able to see what’s really been in front of him for so long?…
The bond between best friends runs deeper than an ocean. Nothing has meant more to Kylie than standing by Michael through thick and thin. The biggest milestones in life have always revolved around the pair. Kylie has secretly waited for Michael to look at her with a new set of glasses. An adoration formed that has Kylie longing for the friendship to turn towards romance. Waiting was never a problem until Michael fell in love with someone else.
Broken hearted and torn apart, Michael knows the pain of losing that first love. The gal that held his heart has traveled to Nashville to find fame and success, leaving Michael behind. Determined to leave his hometown behind, Michael announces that he plans to leave for New York City in the fall. Mending his broken heart means reaching out to the one person that Michael knows will never let him down – Kylie.
When that one true love fails to view you as more than a friend…what’s a gal to do? Kylie has longed for the day when Michael would view her in a different light. Through the ups and downs in life, the constant has always been their friendship. Now Kylie is faced with the truth that Michael would rather be anywhere else but their hometown. Can Kylie find a way to show Michael what has been right in front of his eyes??
Manhattan is the latest release from Kandi Steiner that revolves around the Becker brothers and their adventures. In spite of this book revolving around the youngest brother – Michael – I found myself enamored with Kylie!! This spitfire captivated me with her courage, devotion, and selflessness. I found myself smiling more often than not when reading through this book!! From cover to cover, I enjoyed the storyline and impressive string of secondary characters. Uncovering the song of one’s heart is quite the feat when Kylie is involved. Manhattan is a great romance to add to your collection!!
The queen of angst is back with a brand new friends-to-lovers small town country romance packed with mystery, slow burn goodness! Kandi delivers again!
“He wore a soft, tentative smile, and his heart on his sleeve.” ~Kylie
Like my #bookbestie and #blogmate Loredana, Manhattan is by far my favorite story in the Becker Brothers series. This story spoke to me on so many levels and I shed a few tears over the chapters. If you’re reading the series, you know of Mikey’s despair. Heartbroken after a two-year all-consuming relationship is broken off, it feels like this eighteen-year-olds heartbreak will never heal. It brought out a bit of the mama bear in me and I couldn’t decide if the ex-girlfriend, Bailey, was doing him a favor or if I wanted a second chance romance for them.
My mind was quickly made up at the thought of the re-uniting of Mikey with his best friend Kylie, a young lady I absolutely adored. Now with the thought of unrequited, friends to something more story, I was absolutely giddy. Clearly, Mikey has some making up to do with Kylie, and her plan to thwart Mikey’s plan to leave town, to escape heartbreak, is quickly and so wonderfully executed by the brave and thoughtful girl. She loves this boy and won’t give up easily on changing his mind about his great escape.
What a joy this summerlong journey was. See these two reconnect, rebuild their friendship, and to see that transform into a something new was hopeful and heartwarming. It wouldn’t be a Kandi Steiner book without a dose of angst. Between Kylie’s longing for Mikey to see her in another way, and Mikey’s too trusting nature, we get said angst. Lessons learned, we get a spectacular “grand gesture”, romantic and sweet, supporting the all-important redemption.
Long after I finished this book I was reflecting on it, and my little heart began pounding. Soon after I found myself smiling. I loved getting to know more about Lorelie Becker. It’s clear the brothers are passionate and much of that trait comes from her, shown in her dogged devotion to the memories of their father, John. That said, I can’t wait for Jordan’s story and for what he’ll uncover about the past. Until then, I’ll hold onto the memory of this wonderful story.
Whiskey town meets Friends to Lovers.
I was anxiously awaiting this story, because Michael was one of the most interesting brothers to me from the start, and friends to lovers is absolutely my jam. Maybe I was too anxious and expecting too much.
This book started solid, great back and forth between Michael and Kylie, from Kylie having a HUGE crush on her best friend, and Michael, who is still heartbroken over his ex and has no clue about what Kylie feels. The whole “revival of friendship” bit was absolutely endearing, with tugging back and forth. The sweetness of their early friendship brought back to life just makes your lips turn up into a smile, no doubt.
As the story progresses, I struggled a little at times, where real dealing with the past and how it impacted them, plus finding boundaries in their changed relationship are somewhat lacking. This is somewhat realistic, given their younger age, but didn’t 100% fit with how they had been portrayed, to me.
The mystery that pulls a red string through the whole series in regards to the Whiskey factory’s past comes up at times, and there is some progress, but it will be the last brother’s book that will unearth the entire story. And I for one, cannot wait!
Solid friends to lovers story of just-out-of-high-school age!
Okay, so Kandi really hit all my favorite keywords with this one: Friends to lovers small town country romance…yes please!
4.5 “Pinky Promise” Stars!
The mere thought of getting to read a Kandi Steiner book sets my heart aflutter – I know I’m in for one emotional ride. And I’d say she definitely accomplished that with Manhattan.
Manhattan is the third book in the Becker Brothers series. I was excited to read about Mickey after getting glimpses of him in the previous book.
The story starts out with him still trying to recover from a breakup that was totally unexpected and has left him completely shattered.
After celebrating his high school graduation, he announces he’ll be leaving at the end of the summer to live New York.
Understandably, this leaves his best friend devastated. Kylie has loved Mickey for most of her life. They’ve bonded through tragedy, been there for each other through the awkwardness of growing up. Basically, through all the good and the bad, they’ve always been at each other’s side.
Kylie decides to use this last summer to remind Mickey of all the things this small town has to offer…and maybe even work up the courage to finally admit her feeling for her best friend.
“She wasn’t a little girl anymore, and I wasn’t a little boy, and through all the shit that had happened in my life, she was the one and only constant.”
Gah! These two were just so adorable!!! I loved the friendship they shared, and the bond that only comes from knowing someone for so long. I appreciated how Kylie didn’t give up, even when Mickey was being the most broody grumpy guy. I loved seeing how with every little adventure they went on Mickey was slowly becoming himself again. Kylie brought joy back into his life and brought him out of the darkness.
“She’d brought music back into my life. No… she was the music in my life.”
Kylie showed maturity way beyond her years. She’s thoughtful, selfless and didn’t shy away from calling Mickey out when needed. I enjoyed her passion and her personality so much as well as her bright and sunny spirit.
“Maybe that’s why I recognized it earlier that night—that feeling that something was off, that something was weird, that something had changed.
Because I wanted her to dance with me. With only me.”
My favorite part of this book was the seamless progression from friendship territory into something more. It hand me on the edge of my seat.
This book handles some elements in a very honest and realistic way. Going through grief, dealing with young heartbreak and wanting to find yourself. It really brought be back to those times in my own life.
I must admit at times I was yelling at my kindle and wanting so desperately for Mickey to open his eyes. That’s just how sincerely the author pulls at your heartstrings and brings out all the emotions with her words. And honestly I had to remind myself that they’re young and it’s so true to their character even though they frustrated me at times.
Mickey definitely showed up at the end with the most swoony-melt-your-heart make up scene.
“Is It was as if the whole world was tilting, like we were spinning out of orbit, like all the laws of gravity were being broken with that singular kiss.”
Manhattan was a delicious slow burn romance with all the feels! It had me tied up from start to finish. Kylie and Mickey were the sweetest couple I’ve read in a long while.
If you love the charm of a small town romance; this one has that in spades.