GRR Reviews Anything But Love by Abigail Strom

Anything But Love is a contemporary romance about a second chance to go after who you wanted.

Socialite Jessica Bullock was a pleaser, always doing things to please her parents. She's about to marry... Until her man left her at the altar... for a guy. As her greatest moment of triumph burned to the ground, she found her childhood friend, Ben Taggart, whom she drove away in high school, was there to help her pick up the pieces. And since Ben had a month or two of free time, before moving to Chicago to take up his new teaching position, he has time to go with Jessica to Bermuda, as the 10-day honeymoon was already paid for. Ben just wanted to see Jessica happy again and agreed to keep things platonic, but an unplanned kiss left their resolve (and soon, their clothes) on the floor. They told themselves what happened in Bermuda stays in Bermuda, but can that really happen?

The setup was pretty good, and everything seems to make sense, at least within the context of the story. I find the idea of Jessica allowing Ben to accompany her on the vacation slightly incredulous, as they haven't been friends for a very long time, even if Ben happened to be available. But it's a fun tale nonetheless.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman who just had her wedding plans burned at the altar found her old friend willing to accompany her on her not-honeymoon

Tropes: friends to lovers, jilted, childhood sweetheart, forced proximity, fling to a thing

Overall Rating: 4/5