REVIEW: Birding with Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb

In Birding with Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb, Celeste is usually fairly astute when it comes to reading people–comes with the territory of being a middle school language arts teacher and mom to a teenager. But the mix up she has when she first meets John is big. And awkward. Celeste thought their mutual friend was asking her to be John’s fake girlfriend for a short while. But he actually needs a partner in the annual birding contest in Tucson. After the dust settles from their meet cute and the other contestants go about their business, John and Celeste agree they are stuck being a fake couple until the six-week contest ends. Hopefully with a trophy in their hands for their effort.

‘She and John were on the same wavelength about not wanting a relationship. Maybe they were also on the same wavelength about what they did want. They just needed a plan. She was great at plans.’

John and Celeste also agree that neither of them is looking for anything serious. She’s been divorced barely two years and is on the road to figuring out who the heck she is now in her early forties. And he hasn’t been interested in a relationship since his last one crashed and burned. But each time Celeste and John are together, sparks fly. Constantly. And as their fake dating turns into something more intimate–but just as friends–they each hope it will help their attraction simmer down. Not so much. If anything, it intensifies until emotions are getting mixed tangled up. And knowing that the time is closing in for them to go their own separate ways, John and Celeste know they have a tough decision to make. Soon.

‘Celeste wanted to be on her own, and he wouldn’t be responsible for delaying that, especially when he was on a similar road himself.’

A delightful debut that had me hooked with its premise–and completely delivered on it–BIRDING WITH BENEFITS is a rom-com that will leave readers with a warm and fuzzy content feeling.

“We could be birders with benefits till the contest ends. That way we can keep birding, but we also…release the charge a bit.”
“Birders with benefits?” He choked out a laugh… “We could do that.”
“Just till the end of the contest.”

I always enjoy reading a debut novel. It’s exciting to get to know a new author and to learn their writing voice. In the case of Sarah T. Dubb and her romantic comedy BIRDING WITH BENEFITS, I was charmed right away by the offbeat cast (which was filled with diversity!) and how the main characters were fake dating to benefit them both in their personal lives.

John and Celeste were definitely an opposites-attract couple. He was a cinnamon roll hero who was quiet and introverted but sexy as all get out. And Celeste was outgoing, wicked smart, funny, and absolutely adorable. Their friends with benefits–I mean, *birders* with benefits agreement was smoldering hot. Just like their attraction was. Both Celeste and John had been pretty badly burned in their previous relationships so neither were looking for anything long term. But they were such a good match that everyone could see it would go from casual to serious quickly. And that was oh so apparent anytime they were together, but particularly in their love scenes. Which made it that much more complicated once their feelings were too strong to ignore.

The inclusion of some of their family and friends really rounded out Celeste and John’s story. I just adored her best friend Maria and the terrific friendship they had. It was the birding aspect that I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy. I’m happy to say that it was pretty fascinating and something I’d love to check out myself sometime. It also made a great backdrop–all their time spent close together out in nature–for them to fall in love.

QOTD: Have you ever been bird watching or on a nature hike?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: June 4, 2024 | Gallery Books |

A divorcee embarks on her “year of yes” and crosses paths with a shy but sensitive birdwatcher who changes her life in this charming rom-com that is perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Ali Hazelwood.

Newly divorced, almost-empty-nester Celeste is finally seeking adventure and putting herself first, cliches be damned. So when a friend asks Celeste to “partner” with his buddy John for an event, Celeste throws herself into the role of his temporary girlfriend. But quiet cinnamon roll John isn’t looking for love, just birds—he needs a partner for Tucson’s biggest bird-watching contest if he’s ever going to launch his own guiding business. By the time they untangle their crossed signals, they’ve become teammates…and thanks to his meddling friends, a fake couple.

Celeste can’t tell a sparrow from a swallow, but John is a great teacher, and the hours they spend hiking in the Arizona wilderness feed Celeste’s hunger for new adventures while giving John a chance to practice his dream job. As the two spend more time together, they end up watching more than just the birds, and their chemistry becomes undeniable. Since they’re both committed to the single life, Celeste suggests a status upgrade: birders with benefits, just until the contest is done. But as the bird count goes up and their time together ticks down, John and Celeste will have to decide if their benefits can last a lifetime, or if this love affair is for the birds.