On the roof of a house outside Truelove, Maine, master carpenter Max Doyle looks down through a skylight and sees the most beautiful woman he’s ever laid eyes on. She’s naked, she’s gorgeous, and everything about her is perfect, down to the ball-busting tattoo of a rose that wraps around her hip. But it isn’t just any woman making his knees buckle. It’s his best friend, Rosie Madden. And as he … stands there, mesmerized and precariously close to toppling off the roof, he knows he’ll never, ever be able to look at her the same way again.
Rosie can’t help but notice that Max is suddenly acting very strange—lots of long stares, totally tongue-tied, and not at all like the slightly cocky hunk she’s proud to call her best friend. She can’t figure it out, until later that night when Max rescues her from the world’s worst date, challenges her to a game of pool, and shows her just exactly what she’s got him thinking about. Repeatedly.
But life is complicated. Rosie’s cat, Julia Caesar, wants to eat Max’s dog Cupcake for an afternoon snack. A dream job threatens to pull them apart. And another glance through the skylight changes everything, one more time. Yet try as they might, they can’t go back to being just friends, because falling in love with the one you’ve always adored?
It feels so good.
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If you’ve been following my reviews for awhile now then you’ll know that “friends to lovers” is one of my all-time favorite story tropes! Right from the first scene I was in love with Max and Rosie and I could hardly put this story down and ended up reading the majority of the book in the car…something that I don’t normally do because I have extreme motion sickness, but this is one of those stories worth the feeling of sickness.
I must admit that being the ultimate COVER WH*RE that I am that it was what initially captured my attention and why I immediately jumped at the opportunity to read and review this book even though I have never read a Nicola Rendell ever (totally hoping to redeem that real soon). This is one of those stories that will stick with you long after you finish it and will defiantly be one of the stories that I will be rereading again soon.
I absolutely adored Max and Rosie’s story from start to finish and loved how original the storyline was from the hot and sexy scenes to the character development to the “feud” between Julia Caesar and Cupcake. There was never a dull moment in this entire story and I cannot wait to see what the next book in this series has to hold!
LISTEN TO THIS BOOK. That’s right, LISTEN. Use your ears not your eyes. I don’t say that often, but in the case of So Good I am saying it.
Rock Engle and Felicity Munroe didn’t just read the story off the pages, the ACTED the story. The deep breaths, the sighs, the excitement, the nervousness. You could hear it all. It was more like listening to a movie while cleaning the house (you know, when you’re doing everything but watch the movie, so you only hear it? That.) than listening to someone read a book. And that made everything that much more fun.
The storyline is one you’ve read before. Best friends-to-lovers. One day, something changes, and then BAM they realize they need each other in all aspects of their lives and not just the best friend role. That happens for Max and Rosie. And it’s sweet and fun and I wish I had had a best friend like Max because he’s hot and swoony and all alpha.
I should talk about the pets. Because it’s not often two animals steal the show, but it almost happens here. Julia Caesar is Rosie’s cat. Cupcake is Max’s dog. It’s not love at first sight for those two, but it is 100% amusing. And as side characters? Totally awesome. I mean, the only other character is the guy who runs the bar. He seems to be the strong, silent type. Does he have a book?
Anyway, the bartender is not the point. The point is friends-to-lovers. That’s what you get here. It’s perfect.
But remember.
LISTEN TO IT.
4.5 Alpha Dog Stars!
I really adored this delightful, friends to lovers romance. It was funny, quirky, sweet and very sexy! Max and Rosie have been best friends since middle school. They knew each other so well, they finished each other’s sentences, and were each other’s emergency contacts. Max, the sexy carpenter, is all alpha, fierce protector, loyal, and so very sweet. Rosie is beautiful, smart, funny and loves to ballbust. When Max accidentally sees Rosie naked, it awakens something he has tried to ignore. He has only ever had eyes for Rosie and he was going to finally make her his. Rosie is helpless to deny the chemistry she and Max have. His sweep-me-off-my-feet kiss, has her desperate to never lose the one man who anchors her, being her rock and compass. But turning Max down is impossible. Max unleashes a wild side in Rosie that she knows is reserved only for him. They are so perfect together. Their banter is fun and flirty, they see perfection in each others quirks and their chemistry is explosive. They live in small town Maine with interesting residents, a sweet little puppy named cupcake, and a grumpy cat named Julia Caesar, who all add to the fun and emotion of this story. There were so many laugh out loud moments, along with some very touching, heartwarming and passionate moments as well. This is a great start to the new Alpha Dogs series and I am looking forward to more!
Nicola, you cracked me up the whole time.. this sexy comedy romance is so sweet.. sexy…childhood lover? Ahhh bring it on Max
Never know that , there is a persistance guy around oh boy … they way the author describe the character…i am smiling the whole time… the little knick knack story made the story shine.. i cant see pistaschio ice cream the same way after this… its delicious! You know what i wont say…
I adore small town romance..between the characters.. Julia and Cupcake
You have to read the book .. so hillarious!
Oh my, I so love the friends to lovers genre !
Nicola has once again pulled me into fabulous characters world. Max and Rosie have had a friendship that has stood the test of time. How did they not cross this friend line before this …..hell if I know. They are amazing together. Max is our super sexy, smart , sweet contractor that has always watched out for his gal Rosie. It all changes one day while Max is working on her roof and catches a glimpse of his beautiful friend through the sky light. It has triggered something in him that has been smoldering and now he knows that he must act on it. He realizes though that he might need to take baby steps while crossing this line. No need to scare his Rosie off before he puts his plan into place!
Rosie knows that Max loves her and she is so grateful to have a friend like him. Sure he is easy on the eyes, fun and always there to lend a hand . Is it worth the risk to take it to a new level. She thinks that it will only ruin what they have and once they cross the line they will not go back . She realizes that while working on her home Max starts to act strange and she just can’t put her finger on it.
He seems to be seeing her through different eyes and own that glare he has is making her hot!!!
Their easy conversations, witty banter and playfulness with each other was beautiful. Watching the relationship grow right before my eyes was a thing of beauty ! I loved the journey with Max and Rosie .
~~Michele McMullen ~~
I absolutely adore friends to lovers stories and So Good is definitely that! Max and Rosie are the best of friends, until Max sees Rosie getting undressed and begins to see her in a new light and realizes she has been the one for him all along, but now he has to know if she feels the same way.
This is such a feel good story and you’ll absolutely fall in live with Max and Rosie. Though, it did take me a little longer to warm up to Rosie. The chemistry between the two is amazing.
I can’t get over Max, he is seriously one the best alpha male characters I have ever read. He is so likable, he isn’t overly alpha like some can be, and how adorable is that he adopts a tiny little chihuahua named Cupcake?!?!
This book is absolutely adorable, hilarious and a perfect read for anyone who loves alpha males, friends to lover romances and crazy antics between a tiny dog named Cupcake and a cat name Julia Caesar.
So Good is sweet, sexy, so much fun, and like a perfect s’more: irresistible!
“She was so important to me, such an integral part of my world, that I’d never let myself think of her as more than what she was . . . Now, though, I had a better idea than ever about why I was so picky: not a single woman held a candle to her. I’d been f***ing blind to it, but now the mist had burned right off.”
Sometimes all it takes is a glimpse to realize what’s been in front of you all along. Max and Rosie are absolutely adorable together. Add in an adorable Chihuahua named Cupcake, a 20+lb senior cat named Julia Caesar that’s addicted to SPAM, and a Mother Goose house with Pandora’s box full of repairs and you have an absolute winner of a best-friends romantic comedy.
“It hit me as it had once and again that I’d been gawking over him for decades, without letting myself feel a thing. But now I was feeling it.”
So Good is magic! I couldn’t stop smiling, laughing, and swooning – and Nicola Rendell delivers plenty of swoon-worthy moments that will having you packing your bags for Maine.
Cupcake and Julia are fantastic four-pawed characters that have loads of personality and provide lots of laughs. Rosie’s interactions with Julia are some of the funniest moments, and the scenes with Cupcake – ADORABLE! I still can’t get over how cute Max and Cupcake are together.
I loved everything about So Good and hope we get more of Max+Rosie and Cupcake and Julia in the future. Plus who doesn’t want a book featuring Fletcher and Captain!? I hope we can look forward to their book soon.
2017
4.5*
So fun. So sweet. So swoony. So adorable. So good!!!
“My heart felt like it was melting, like it was drizzling right down through me like raspberry sauce on a chocolate cake.”
That pretty much sums ups my thoughts on this book.
It’s so freaking cute I can hardly stand it! Max will have you swooning all over the place- not just because of the way he is with Rosie, but most especially because of the way he is with Cupcake, my God! Can you say major swoonfest?!? Like cuteness overload to the 10th degree. Who knew a man and a teeny tiny dog could do such things to my heart!
So Good is just so perfectly delightful! It’s an utterly charming friends-to-lovers romance that will have you smiling and laughing throughout. Max and Rosie, and Cupcake and Julia Ceasar- so flipping endearing. I want to move up to Maine to live with them all. I seriously just want to snuggle and cuddle with this book.
So Good is a super swoony, sweet friends to lovers tale. An accidental view shows Max a different side of Rosie and his eyes are opened to what has been right in front of him all along.
“I had to get out of there. I needed a cold shower, or a call from my tax guy, or an unexpectedly urgent trip to the DMV—anything to stop myself seeing her stark naked every g-d time I looked at her.”
I was drawn into the story by the incredible humor and then captivated by the characters including Julia Caesar, the cat and Cupcake, the cutest dog. Max is a bit of a pushy alpha, but protective and thoughtful to a fault. Rosie is kind and independent, an awesome heroine who deserves her HEA.
“You know, I never really had crushes.” He straightened out his dessert spoon and lifted his eyes to meet mine. “Because I think it was always you.”
Nicola Rendell has again given us a sweet, funny and Hot, Hot, Hot story to savor and swoon over. 5 Stars!!
So Good by Nicola Rendell is soooooo much more than good…it’s UNBELIEVABLY good!!! This is Nicola’s 4th book but, HOLY MOLY, you would think it was her 100th…
Rosie Madden and Max Doyle have been friends for YEARS! Not just friends…BEST friends! The kind of friends that have no secrets, that know every little thing about you, that love and support you through ALL of life’s ups and downs, that have your back in every situation no matter what! And then, something happens to change the whole dynamic…seeing your BEST friend in a moment that most friends of the opposite sex rarely ever see (naked and unaware) And once Max sees Rosie in all her glory, he can’t think of her as JUST a friend…
The off-the-charts sexual chemistry between these two had me swooning, HARD, while at the same time the love between them had my heart sighing with satisfaction. And the banter…the truly funny banter and back-and-forth between them had me laughing out loud! This friends-to-lovers romance is EPIC, totally engrossing and I never wanted it to end!!
I LOVED everything about this book…the TOTALLY hot Alpha that Max turned out to be, the intense love that JUMPS off the pages, the incredibly sweet, tender moments right alongside the buildup to the INSANELY hot, panty-melting sex scenes! This is, BY FAR, my fave book from Nicola Rendell who just keeps getting better and better with every single book she writes!! I can’t wait for the next book from her…she is a DEFINITE auto-one-click author and THIS book is a definite MUST READ!!!
Nicola Rendell has become one of my new favorite authors of 2017. Pretty much every book I’ve read of hers, I’ve LOVED.
So Good is SOOOOO GOOD, I absolutely adored this book and its characters. Max and Rosie were such an incredible couple and I really enjoyed this friends to lovers romance.
Sometimes, a friends to lovers story can get bogged down in a lot of hemming and hawing by the MCs and frankly all we really want is to see the couple together. While there is some of that, it’s completely natural and not too OTT.
I really love the way Rendell writes her male MCs, especially, Max. He is definitely an alpha and he adores Rosie so very much, once they let loose on their feelings for each other, we really get to see Max go full alpha and I LOVED IT. (And HOLY CRAP, the sexytimes were CRAZY HOT.)
Okay, so I’ve babbled on and on about how much I love Nicola Rendell but I simply cannot help myself. Rendell has a spot on my auto read and auto buy lists and I cannot wait to read more from her!
http://bit.ly/SoGood_Rendell