Book Buzz
By: Jill Gunderson
Are you ready to start the new year by falling in love with Cole and Laila? Neighbors, you are seriously in for a treat with this book! Cole and Laila Are Just Friends by Bethany Turner is a love story that is equal parts heartwarming and hilarious! Bethany is effortlessly humorous by nature, and I found myself laughing out loud at so many parts! Also, doesn’t this cover scream cozy? It will surely make you want to book a trip to New York ASAP!
Let’s get to it, Cole and Laila really are just friends—best friends. They know everything about each other and are the first people they tell any big news to. After Cole was betrayed by a family member who recently passed, his world was shattered into a million pieces and he couldn’t stand the thought of staying in their small town in Colorado. So, he took an opportunity to go to New York in search of a new beginning. On the other hand, Laila is a small-town girl, loves her routine and the thought of the big city (or anything new) is daunting! Plus, she is really hoping Cole changes his mind.
So, Cole and Laila make a deal. Laila won’t beg Cole to stay, and Cole won’t try to convince Laila to go with him. They will allow the course to lead them…naturally. And, you guessed it, she makes the trek to support her best friend which means they have one week in New York—and this one week will make, or break, them.
I should back up, Cole is a chef at his family’s restaurant, and he thought he was getting said restaurant after his grandfather passed. But the bad new drops as the lawyer sat down with Cole, Laila, and their two other childhood friends, Brynn and Seb, who are also named in his grandfather's will. Cole’s heart nearly stops when he finds out that the restaurant will not only NOT be his, but it won’t even stay in the family—it’s already sold. Heart dropping! So understandably, he can’t stand the thought of being in his hometown and watching his beloved restaurant belong to someone else.
Now we get to the good part—New York! If you have ever been to York, you know just how magical it is! Remember Cole and Laila’s childhood friends Brynn and Seb? Brynn is a famous actress who just so happens to own a beautiful apartment in NY overlooking Central Park. She also just so happens to be filming on location so it’s sitting completely empty, which is why she promptly offers it to Cole and Laila.
Cue all the yummy tropes because New York is where they start to fall for each other, question all the things, but still want different lives…how will it ever work? In the meantime, they have the best time getting lost and doing things they would never do at home. Then with an almost heart stopping decision that may deem Cole and Laila incompatible, you’ll want to scream at your book and tell them to get it together already!
Are you ready to dive in to their love story? Grab your drink of choice, a cozy blanket and enjoy! Happy reading!
Jill Gunderson