Friends Like This Series by Bethany Monaco Smith

"I'm not sure it's a good idea to fall for your best friend."No one told me that junior year is when everything would get complicated. At the heart of the complexities? My best friend, Aaron freaking Cooper—more specifically, my relationship with him. Whether I should have a relationship with him that's more than friendship. Whether I already do... more"I'm not sure it's a good idea to fall for your best friend."No one told me that junior year is when everything would get complicated. At the heart of the complexities? My best friend, Aaron freaking Cooper—more specifically, my relationship with him. Whether I should have a relationship with him that's more than friendship. Whether I already do.Everyone else in our lives seems to think there's something between Aaron and me—that we're denying it and lying to ourselves—even my boyfriend and his girlfriend.No matter what we tell them or our friends, it doesn't change what they see.But as the lines start to blur between friendship and more, I find myself thinking that everyone else might be right.Then again, maybe it doesn't matter. Because I'm not sure it's a good idea to fall for your best friend. But I'm not sure it's a choice, either. Which leaves me wondering if Aaron and I have ever been just friends, or if we've always been something more. And if we are, is it finally time to risk everything and do something about it?I have no idea.And that's the problem. less

It’s been a week since I kissed Rae after the State Championship game. And we haven’t said a word about it.Tonight is the first big party of the summer, and I’m going to steal her away, kiss the hell out of her, make her mine.At least that’s the plan. Until everything comes crashing down.What happens at the party changes everything for both of us.Now I’m broken physically, and Rae is broken emotionally... moreIt’s been a week since I kissed Rae after the State Championship game. And we haven’t said a word about it.Tonight is the first big party of the summer, and I’m going to steal her away, kiss the hell out of her, make her mine.At least that’s the plan. Until everything comes crashing down.What happens at the party changes everything for both of us.Now I’m broken physically, and Rae is broken emotionally. She’s hiding behind fake smiles and the walls she’s so good at putting up—walls I’m determined to tear down. But she makes it clear that won’t be easy.After a summer from hell, the school year begins with everything up in the air. When we’re forced to face our feelings for each other, will we finally give in? Is she ready for this? Can we find our way to each other after everything that’s happened? Or will we fall apart before we even get started?Will Rae and Aaron finally cross the line and become the something more they've always had the possibility to be? Find out in the second book of their love story.Falling Like This is the second book in a mature YA/new adult drama series featuring teens in realistic and complicated situations. Recommended for readers aged 16+ less

I promised her forever.But I’m not sure I can keep that promise. At least, not the way I’m supposed to.I’ll always want forever with her, but not like this.I’m broken. Falling apart. And I’m taking it all out on her.I’m too much of a mess for this, and she deserves more than that. More than the way I’ve been. More than me.I don’t want to do this without her, but I don’t know how to do it with her. There’s so much I have to figure out about myself and my future, and I have to do that on my own... moreI promised her forever.But I’m not sure I can keep that promise. At least, not the way I’m supposed to.I’ll always want forever with her, but not like this.I’m broken. Falling apart. And I’m taking it all out on her.I’m too much of a mess for this, and she deserves more than that. More than the way I’ve been. More than me.I don’t want to do this without her, but I don’t know how to do it with her. There’s so much I have to figure out about myself and my future, and I have to do that on my own.I have to let her go.She might hate me, but it’s best for both of us.I just have to hope by the time I figure things out and am ready for us again, she’ll still want me—want us.I have to trust that she won’t give up on us, and we can still have the forever we were always meant to have.Will Rae and Aaron be able to fight through the hard things they face individually so they can build a beautiful relationship together? Follow all the love, heartache, drama, and angst in the third book of their love story.Broken Like This is the third book in a mature YA/new adult drama series. Be sure to start reading with book one, Friends Like This. The series features teens in realistic and complicated situations. Recommended for readers aged 16+ less

Finally.We had feelings for each other and denied it. We fell for each other and we messed it up.We’ve grown and changed, but through it all—even the hardest moments—we never gave up on each other. We never gave up on us.Now I know we never will.After everything, we have our chance to get it right.I have no doubt it will be hard. It’ll push our limits and test our love. We both have plenty more learning and growing to do... moreFinally.We had feelings for each other and denied it. We fell for each other and we messed it up.We’ve grown and changed, but through it all—even the hardest moments—we never gave up on each other. We never gave up on us.Now I know we never will.After everything, we have our chance to get it right.I have no doubt it will be hard. It’ll push our limits and test our love. We both have plenty more learning and growing to do.But this time, we’re in it together, and no matter what, we’re going to keep building our life together, stronger every day.This is just the beginning, and I love knowing that wherever the road leads us, his hand will be wrapped around mine for the entire journey.Because it’s always been us, and it always will be.Follow Rae and Aaron as they embark on the journey to their happily ever after filled with plenty more twists and turns, emotional & swoony moments, and so much love.This is the fourth book in a continuous series, please make sure you start with book one, Friends Like This. This series features teens/college students in realistic and complicated situations. Recommended for readers aged 16+ less

This might be a slippery slope.Joel Wilkinson is many things. Funny, charming, charismatic, the best snuggler in the world. The boy who I share a bed with every single night… even though we’re not dating.Did I mention we also kiss sometimes?Yeah, it’s definitely a slippery slope, but it’s one I want to slide down—just slowly.Because here’s the thing, I’m messy at best. And Joel… isn’t.One more thing about him? He’s the most loving, patient guy in existence... moreThis might be a slippery slope.Joel Wilkinson is many things. Funny, charming, charismatic, the best snuggler in the world. The boy who I share a bed with every single night… even though we’re not dating.Did I mention we also kiss sometimes?Yeah, it’s definitely a slippery slope, but it’s one I want to slide down—just slowly.Because here’s the thing, I’m messy at best. And Joel… isn’t.One more thing about him? He’s the most loving, patient guy in existence. He gives me everything I need, often before I realize I need it.But I know I’m not in a place to give him the same. Joel has been my friend since I was five. He’s been my safe place in hard moments, never giving up on me no matter what I do. I can’t lose that.No matter how strong I seem right now, knowing me, if I rush into this, I will mess it up.So I’m taking it slow, blurring lines I refuse to cross, and praying that I don’t push him too far and make him walk away before we ever truly get started.Together Like This is the fifth book in the Friends Like This series and the first book featuring Sarah and Joel's love story. Though it is a new love story, book five is a direct continuation of the first four books. If you haven’t read them yet, head back to the beginning and jump on the roller coaster in Friends Like This. less

She told me she was hard to love. I told her that wasn’t true. If only I could make her believe that. Sarah’s trauma never fully healed, and now it’s back to break her all over again. So, I take her hand, ready to fight side by side with her. Until her pain becomes too much for her to bear, and suddenly I’m fighting for her. Her attention. Her love. Her mental health. Her... moreShe told me she was hard to love. I told her that wasn’t true. If only I could make her believe that. Sarah’s trauma never fully healed, and now it’s back to break her all over again. So, I take her hand, ready to fight side by side with her. Until her pain becomes too much for her to bear, and suddenly I’m fighting for her. Her attention. Her love. Her mental health. Her. What happens when the person you love gets lost in a downward spiral? You stand strong and keep fighting for them, even when they don't know how to fight for themselves. At least, that's what I'm going to do. Because I've never loved someone the way I love Sarah. I've never been loved by anyone the way she loves me. And I am never giving up on her, just like I'm never giving up on us. We’re going to have our happy ending, even if we have to go through hell to get there. Heartbreak Like This is the sixth book in the Friends Like This series and the second book of Sarah and Joel’s story. This is a direct continuation of book five and all the previous books in the series. If you haven’t read them yet, head back to the beginning and jump on the roller coaster in Friends Like This. less

I’m a mess.I kept it together alone for years, pulling every thread tight to keep from unraveling. Now here I am, a mess of tangled strings on the floor, trying to sort myself out and put myself back together.Not just for me. For my baby and for the man I love. For the relationship I have with him.I’ve spent too long being the strong one. Being vulnerable doesn’t come easily to me... moreI’m a mess.I kept it together alone for years, pulling every thread tight to keep from unraveling. Now here I am, a mess of tangled strings on the floor, trying to sort myself out and put myself back together.Not just for me. For my baby and for the man I love. For the relationship I have with him.I’ve spent too long being the strong one. Being vulnerable doesn’t come easily to me. But as I stare into the deep green eyes of the man whose heart I’m breaking every time I don’t let him in, I know I have to let my walls down.I need to let him in and let my hurt out so I can heal and grow stronger. So I can be the best version of myself, mom to our daughter, and partner to Miles.No matter how broken I am, I’ll do whatever it takes to fix things, so I can finally have the future I’ve always dreamed of—the future I finally believe I deserve—with the love of my life and our daughter.Future Like This is the eighth book in the Friends Like This series and the second book featuring Miles and Amelia’s love story. This is a direct continuation of book seven and all the previous books in the series. If you haven’t read them yet, head back to the beginning and jump on the roller coaster in Friends Like This. less

From the time I was sixteen years old, Hyla Montgomery has been my dream, but our story has never been easy. Filled with heartache, fraught with drama, it’s been a fight from the start.We’ve fallen apart, come back together, held on to each other, and let go. It’s never been an easy path, it’s always been muddy and overgrown with thorns that have cut us and twists and turns that have tried to break us.Somehow we survived... moreFrom the time I was sixteen years old, Hyla Montgomery has been my dream, but our story has never been easy. Filled with heartache, fraught with drama, it’s been a fight from the start.We’ve fallen apart, come back together, held on to each other, and let go. It’s never been an easy path, it’s always been muddy and overgrown with thorns that have cut us and twists and turns that have tried to break us.Somehow we survived. But is survival enough to give us a forever together?When Hyla presents me with my dream—the future we dreamed together—the past crashes into the present and I have to decide if we’re ready to live the life we dreamed together or if it was all a pipe dream that was never meant to be.Forget what you thought you knew about Mackenzie and Hyla’s love story and find out what really happened—and what comes next in the first part of their epic love story. less