Review: Bad Boy Best Friend by Hope Ford

Title:	Bad Boy Best Friend
Author:	Hope Ford
Series:	n/a
Pages:	324
Genre(s):	Contemporary
Trope(s):	Friends-to-Lovers
Point of View:
Location:	US
HEA:	✔️
Release Date:	25th August, 2020

Sweet and Light

This is my first book by Hope Ford and in a general sense, I would compare her writing and story style to Lucy Darling or Alexa Riley. The authors who tend towards the more insta-love type of story.

And while it definitely reminded me of that kind of story – this tale actually isn’t one of insta-love, as our hero and heroine, Austin and Laney, are best friends and have been since they were kids and have never crossed the line into anything ‘more’. Yet I suppose their transition from friends to lovers happens quickly enough that you could class it as insta-love if you fancied!

Laney has just returned to her home town for the first time in a year. While she and Austin have called and texted, they haven’t actually seen each other in a while. And suddenly Austin finds himself having thoughts about his bestie that are definitely not friend-like. For her part, Austin has always been the man that Laney measures all other men against. And each is found wanting. But she knows that she and Austin are so deeply in the friend zone that she has locked her feelings away. Until Austin changes the rules.

I enjoyed this story. It’s very well written and you are quickly engaged with the characters and their interactions. I liked both our main characters and rooted for them to take that step to change their relationship.

“…very well written and you are quickly engaged with the characters and their interactions”

I really wavered between giving this book 3 stars of 4. As I said, I liked the writing style, I enjoy a good insta-love story, and this was a sweet and light example of such.

I just felt that we could have delved so much deeper into the emotions of our characters and the angst that they must have been feeling over the changing of their life-long relationship. I suppose I wanted to see them both suffer a bit more – to feel the worry, the joy and the chemistry of a new relationship, even if they’ve known each other forever.

I think if I’d had that, I would have understood, especially Austin, a bit more. Why did he go all macho on his supposed friend for talking to Laney? How did he feel over that bit of foolishness? It just seemed to happen and we’re to accept that this is normal behaviour. I don’t mind jealously – in fact I quite like it – but make me understand what you’re feeling. That you’re just confused rather than just a douche.

And while I’ve constantly likened this book to others, I did feel this was perhaps less sexy than similar books in that category. Oh there was sex, sure, but it didn’t give me that filthy feeling that I love when I read it. I’m not deducting stars based on heat level, but I felt it was worth noting.

I might have been a little grumpy with this review but I did enjoy this book and this story. It’s fairly short, probably taking little over an hour to read, and you could easily read this in one sitting. The writing is good, the characters are fun and I enjoyed them on their way to their happily ever after. I will definitely pick up other books by Hope Ford in the future.

Bestselling Author Hope Ford loves writing steamy, sweet stories of curvy women finding love.  With over ninety books, she feels that she has found her calling.

If you love your romance books with insta love, hot love scenes, and a sweet story, then please give one of her books a chance. You will be happy you did.