Friends with Benefits, by Laura Carter, is the story of Jake and Jess, who are roommates and friends with benefits. Jake is still hung up on an old best friend, Emily, who he will have to see when he visits his family in the Hamptons. He doesn’t know if he can face Emily alone. Jess is happy to go along to be a buffer for Jake, and get away from rainy England for a sunny vacation. Jake is forced to face the past that he’s run away from. While on vacation, Jake and Jess are beginning to have feelings more than simple lust or friendship. Will they be able to gamble on their friendship to find something better?

This is an easy and light read. This book could be read in an afternoon at the beach, beside a pool, on an airplane, or during a rainy day. It’s a story that’s been told before, and it’s nothing revolutionary. However, it is an entertaining and lighthearted read when you just want something to make you feel good.

There is one problem with this book. It’s the main character, Jake. He is a raging misogynist. The women he comes across are either “tramps” who desperately want to sleep with him, or they’re his best friend. There is absolutely no in between. He’s very protective of his best friend, Emily. Until he gets feelings for her and it doesn’t go his way. Then he picks up and moves to an entirely different country. Where he makes an other woman best friend that he starts sleeping with. Women only exist for this man to sleep with because he’s good looking and wealthy. I cannot believe that a woman wrote this. Or I can because this male character is extremely one sided.

On the other hand, the woman main character, Jess, is extremely well written. She is a developed character with complicated emotions. She has past family trauma that she has to work through in the book. She has character development throughout the story. The prose that is used to write her is at times very beautiful. Her history is interesting, and the way that she sees the world is interesting. This book would have been much better if we only got Jess’s point of view. Her character is the only thing that kept me reading and interested in this story.

Overall, I think this is a great read if you are looking for something that you don’t have to think too much about. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to read a book that will just make them warm and fuzzy. It’s a cute romance that has a happy ending.

I did receive an advanced copy of this book from the author and publisher in exchange for an honest review.