Just Friends

Just Friends Book Review August and Ethan have been best friends since the first day August moved into town. Ethan’s dad decided to invite August to Ethan’s seventh birthday party. A lifetime friendship started at that very moment. However, with an alcoholic father and a mother dying when he was a baby., Ethan never truly had a great home life. He was brought into August’s family like he was one of their own. The two best friends have gone through many hardships and have seen each other achieve greatness. Everyone sees them as a couple, but they just see themselves as best friends. However, one day a tragedy strikes and Ethan becomes August’s hero. August realizes that through thick and thin Ethan has been there for her and has never left her side. This epic love story tells about a young girl trying to figure out if she should face her fears and tell her best friend (Ethan) that she loves him or keep the feelings locked away forever. Would it ruin their lifetime friendship, or would this be a whole new life both of them are meant to encounter? Billy Taylor crafts a nailbiter and an emotional rollercoaster with his breathtaking novel Just Friends. Right as the reader enters the lives of August and Ethan, the book immediately draws the reader’s attention. Taylor uses descriptive words to allow the reader to feel as if they were a character in the book. Not only does he use tragedies to create sorrow and sympathy for the characters, he uses cliffhangers to keep the readers intrigued into every page of the reading.I read this book with a group of my closest friends for a book club in sophomore year. It was the perfect time to read this because the main character August was very close to my age. Many might say this book is only for teenage girls looking for that “fantasy relationship.” In my opinion, the true meaning of this book does not hold that reputation. When I was reading this book, all my guy friends were saying it was only written for girls or was a “chick flick,”, but it really isn’t. Just Friends is about taking risks and leaping to a new path. The author teaches the reader that fear will not get you to where you wanna be in your life. Fear will only hold you back from living your dream. There comes a time, when you have to take chances even if you are scared that chance might fail. In Just Friends, the main character Ethan was a magician. He was never afraid to go to the next level of risks when it came to magic. Ethan never let fear hold him back. The author portrayed August in the beginning as the opposite. She could not go a day without letting the fear of loving her best friend control her life. The more and more she waited the more time was running out. This book had a major impact on my life. It made me realize that fear cannot control you. It is like a trap. Once you let fear into your life, it is hard to get it to escape. In life, we need to take chances because the outcome is unknown. It would be great if the outcome always worked in our favor, but even if it didn’t, there is a lesson learned. Also, that same fear that we once had will no longer be there and we can move on from it. As August said in the story, “ Nothing else was said, because, nothing else needed to be said.” August took a chance and her outcome can only be found out if you read this heart-wrenching, humorous, and motivating novel by Billy Taylor.

In this suspenseful yet heartwarming novel, the author Billy Peters tells of two best friends, and how certain experiences and incidents will forever change their lives. August and Ethan are the two main characters. They met at Ethan’s seventh birthday party where August accidentally spilled blackcurrant juice all over Ethan’s white tie. The two are now nineteen, and their friendship is still stronger than ever, twelve years later. Since then, August and Ethan do everything together, and August’s family is like Ethan’s second because he has a rough home life. Their relationship consists of Ethan teasing August about her adorableness and the two always wanting the best for each other. The biggest struggle for August in the book was going after what she wanted, when she wanted it. This was not always the case, but there were countless times where she had the chance to act on what she wanted but waited for a better opportunity to do so. On the other hand, Ethan struggled by keeping things to himself to spare a burden on those who are close to him. Many times August found out secrets of Ethan’s on her own, or Ethan told her later on when it wasn't as relevant. Ethan sacrifices himself for those that he cares about, often with dangerous consequences. I can’t say how August resolves her struggle because it would spoil some parts of the book, but Ethan never really resolved his struggle, in my opinion. Even as their relationship grew, Ethan still lied to August even though it was to protect her. I enjoyed the fact that the book was written in diary entry form. To me, that aspect made me feel more part of the book and the book was easier to relate to. However, there were some minor grammatical errors in the book along with the setting not being made that obviousown, or Ethan told her later on when it wasn't as relevant. Ethan sacrifices himself for those that he cares about, often with dangerous consequences. I can’t say how August resolves her struggle because it would spoil some parts of the book, but Ethan never really resolved his struggle, in my opinion. Even as their relationship grew, Ethan still lied to August even though it was to protect her. I enjoyed the fact that the book was written in diary entry form. To me, that aspect made me feel more part of the book and the book was easier to relate to. However, there were some minor grammatical errors in the book along with the setting not being made that obvious et what you want. Life will not always be easy and you have to work hard to achieve your goals. In perspective of relationships, this book has taught me to say how you feel. You never will know if the other person feels the same way unless you tell them. If you never tell them, you will miss your opportunity and go the rest of your life wishing you went for it. Overall, I loved this book. As I said before, there were some unrealistic transitions in the book, among with an unrealistic relationship, but besides that I felt myself relating to the characters and the plot scheme throughout the story. I think that this book is great for teenage girls who enjoy reading love stories and I would highly recommend Just Friends.

I’m in love with this book. The character development from the young age works so well! I was hooked and couldn’t put the book down. The story is beautiful. I think it would even make a great film one day. The only fault I can think of is that there is not a second book as I got so attached to the characters it’s needed!

Bought for my daughter. Honestly....... she put it down after the first few paragraphs as she said the spelling was terrible and should have been proof read before being published

This book is so beautiful. Yes it may be set in a slightly unrealistic situation and yes the writing style seems slightly inexperienced but it affects the book in no way! The story is so gripping and it is the most romantic book I've ever read! I read it in under a day. I fell in love with the characters from the first page (and I think it's very important to like the characters). I would 100% recommend this!

This is honestly one of the worst books I've ever read.The plot follows a predictable arc yet is simultaneously incredibly bizarre. Every new scene was more ridiculous than the last. I couldn't believe what I was reading at some points, that's how far-fetched and silly it is.Based on the vocabulary and grammar, you would be forgiven for thinking a child wrote it.Do not waste your money.

Just friends is an amazing read , me personally not the biggest reader and I find it hard to finish books . However as soon as I picked this book up I wasn't able to put it down . This was my summer book and the romance between the two friends was special and fantastic to read. The author is clearly talented and I look forward to reading more of his work