REVIEW: Best Frenemies by Max Monroe

Best Frenemies by Max Monroe: For elementary school maths teacher Katy Dayton spring break week was supposed to be her chance to have a relaxing beach getaway with her bestie where they could just relax, drink wine and have some fun in the sun. It was definitely not supposed to include sharing the beach rental with her arch nemesis, noisy, orderless music teacher Mack Houston.

However it would seem that the universe royally screwed her over with some technical glitch in the booking system where the rental got double booked leaving Katy no choice but to share the beach rental with Mack or forfeit her much needed holiday. But any hope of relaxation flies right out the window when Mack walks in on her in the shower, God give her strength not to strangle Mack… or more importantly not to try and jump his bones…

Best frenemies was enemies to lovers brilliance, this book had everything that I love about reading a Max Monroe book; loveable characters, loads of laugh out loud moments, low suspense but tons of chemistry and of course everyones favourite billionaire Thatcher Kelly doling out romantic advice like the love guru he believes himself to be. With the sparky banter and easy to follow narrative this book was hard to put down.

Katy and Mack were great main characters, though I will say that they were slightly different to what we are used to getting from our romance duo. For the most part I loved Mack, he was charming, cute and incredibly easy going, though I will say that I couldn’t help but feel that he was missing something to his character. I don’t know if it was just me but I felt that he was a bit too playful for a thirty year old man, but really this was just a minor thing. Though I will say that I liked that he helped mellow Katy’s uptight ways, he was the gentle push into fun that she needed. Also I just loved his passion for sharing music with kids and making sure that they all had this outlet to express themselves.

Now for our rule following math teacher Katy, well she was pretty serious for most of the first half of the book, but as the story progressed she let loose a bit. I think once we got to know a bit about her childhood it was easier to understand her and why she was so type A. Regardless of her love for order and planning I really enjoyed getting to see her throw caution to the wind and finally get to enjoy life and have a bit of fun.

The chemistry between Mack and Katy was just perfect, these two really worked that build up and I was so here for it! I loved that they played right into the whole opposites attract trope with the help of their forced proximity in the beach house. I just loved the build up of their relationship and getting to see them tip toe around their feelings for each other. More than this I loved the fact that Mack new that he would have to do the work to prove to Katy that they could make their holiday fling work when they got back to their normal lives.

Now lets take a moment to talk about the supporting characters, I just loved Katy’s dad Kai. He was so hippie chill and the total opposite to his straight order-loving daughter, best of all he clicked with Mack instantly. The little bromance that Mack and Kai formed was absolutely priceless and I so wanted more of them. I also really liked principal Dana, she was just hilarious. But I think it would be safe to say the best supporting character has to go to Thatcher Kelly, this big guy makes every book go from great to fantastic. As always its a total treat to get to read his over the top craziness and add in the fact that he had the support of Kline, Wes and Caplin with giving Mack all that romantic advice it was impossible not to want more.

All in all Best Frenemies was Max Monroe brilliance, as always the romance writing duo knock it out of the park with creating a witty, easy to read romcom that will have you giggling non stop. Definitely a must read from me.
 
Tropes:

• Enemies to lovers
• Forced proximity
• Opposites attract
• Work place romance

Book Info:

Publication: September 16, 2023 | Max Monroe LLC |

Going tit for tat with the man you hate is all fun and games until things get literal…and the jerk sees you naked.

My beach getaway was only supposed to include three things: relaxation, wine, and fun in the sun.

Mack Houston, on the other hand, should have never—ever—been involved.

In no uncertain terms, he’s the bane of my existence.
The thorn in my side.
The sexy Mr. Good-Time Guy who drives me up the wall and my work archnemesis for the past five years.

He’s the last person I want to get stuck anywhere with—it’s bad enough that I have to see him every day at work—and yet, because of a booking error (or curse of the universe, as I like to call it), I’m stuck in the same vacation rental with him for an entire week.

I’m going to end up in jail.
Or worse, I might just give in to the insane urge to find out if his lips are really as kissable as they look.

One way or the other, disaster feels imminent.