Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg

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For Macallan and Levi, it was friends at first sight. Everyone says guys and girls can’t be just friends, but these two are. They hang out after school, share tons of inside jokes, their families are super close, and Levi even starts dating one of Macallan’s friends. They are platonic and happy that way.

Eventually they realize they’re best friends — which wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t keep getting in each other’s way. Guys won’t ask Macallan out because they think she’s with Levi, and Levi spends too much time joking around with Macallan, and maybe not enough time with his date. They can’t help but wonder . . . are they more than friends or are they better off without making it even more complicated?

From romantic comedy superstar Elizabeth Eulberg comes a fresh, fun examination of a question for the ages: Can guys and girls ever really be just friends? Or are they always one fight away from not speaking again — and one kiss away from true love?

Review:

It’s the first day of 7^th grade and Macallan can’t wait to throw herself into endless hours of school work.  Anything to keep her mind of feeling lonely and missing her mom.  But before she can even start her first class she is called into the principal’s office.   She’s quickly relieved to find out she isn’t going to be forced into another round of visits with the school counselor.  She’s not so relieved when she learns she is expected to show the new kid around.  That’s when Macallan meets Levi.  And she couldn’t be more put out.  She shows him where his classes are, drops him off at his first period and quickly dismisses him when he hopefully says “see ya around?”  But her dismissal doesn’t last for long because as serious as she might be, Macallan is a nice girl.  When she sees Levi struggling to find somewhere to sit at lunch she invites him to sit with her and her friends. That’s when Macallan notices the Buggy and Floyd button on Levi’s backpack.  She’s a huge fan of the British show as is Levi.  And on that shared love of a television show an epic friendship is born.

From there on out, Levi and Macallan are almost inseparable.  Like Best Friends tend to be.  The problem is that everyone assumes they are more than just friends which makes dating difficult.  And in some instances, horribly awkward.  One of the most awkwardly hilarious scenes in this book is when Macallan and Levi go on a double date together.  I think I audibly groaned while reading it.  It was so uncomfortable.  Amusing but uncomfortable.  Eventually, Levi starts to question his feelings for Macallan.  But is Macallan on the same page?  And if not, what’s more important?   Risking their friendship for love or ignoring their growing attraction so as not to upset one of the most wonderful friendships either of them has ever had. 

I’m a self-proclaimed romance whore.  I can’t get enough of it.  I’m rather greedy that way.  There are a lot of different romances I enjoy but one of my favorite types of stories is what I like to call “The Best Friend Romance,” or “Friends-to-Lovers.”   Whether they are cute and funny or full of angst, it’s guaranteed that a Best Friend Romance is going to put a smile on my face.  After reading Better Off Friends, I was trying to determine when my love affair with this type of story began.  And as if someone was whispering in her ear, Julia Quinn posted the following graphic on her Facebook page:

That’s it!  Emma!  I have three favorite Jane Austen’s  (Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion and Emma) but Emma and Mr. Knightley’s story was the one that put butterflies in my stomach.  And it was because, just like Macallan and Levi, Emma and her Mr. Knightley were friends.   And just like Emma and Mr. Knightley, Levi and Macallan value each other’s friendship above all else.  That’s what makes their love extra special.  They KNOW each other already.  And there is something miraculously romantic about that. 

If you are a hopeless romantic like me and love to read about friendships becoming something more then you must read Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg. 

~Nat

Take A Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg

*** 1/2

From Goodreads:

Emme, Sophie, Ethan, and Carter are seniors at a performing arts school, getting ready for their Senior Showcase recital, where the pressure is on to appeal to colleges, dance academies, and professionals in show business. For Sophie, a singer, it's been great to be friends with Emme, who composes songs for her, and to date Carter, soap opera heartthrob who gets plenty of press coverage. Emme and Ethan have been in a band together through all four years of school, but wonder if they could be more than just friends and bandmates. Carter has been acting since he was a baby, and isn't sure how to admit that he'd rather paint than perform. The Senior Showcase is going to make or break each of the four, in a funny, touching, spectacular finale that only Elizabeth Eulberg could perform.

Take a Bow is a sweet story about people learning to stick up for themselves, all in different ways.  Emme is by far the central character, but each of the four main characters go through major life changes in the span of the story.  Despite it's relative short length, Eulberg makes you feel for these characters and gives a surprising amount of depth to Emme, Ethan and to a lesser extent Carter.  Sophie's character lacks depth, but that really is the point of Sophie's character.  

If you are looking for a story about the perils of love and friendship that will leave you feeling contented, then Take A Bow is a perfect fit.  

~Shel