Review: More Than Friends (Friends #2) by Monica Murphy

Title: More Than Friends
Series: Friends #2

Author: Monica Murphy
Publisher: EM Publishing
Published: November 12, 2016
Pages: 320
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Ebook

He's not perfect, but he's all I want...

I’m your average girl at your average high school, trying to figure out my place in life. After catching my now ex-boyfriend messing around with my now ex-best friend, I’ve made some big changes. No more band, no more backstabbing friends and no more boring old life. Now I have new friends, a new job and new interests.

But there’s a certain someone who’s interested in me, and I don’t get it. Jordan Tuttle could have anyone he wants. He’s the most popular boy in school. Rich, gorgeous, smart and the star quarterback, he’s perfect. Yet he acts like he wants no one else but…me.

So despite my fears and doubt, I let him get close. Probably too close. I discover that he’s not so perfect after all, but it doesn’t matter. I’m falling for him, even though he runs so hot and cold. I know someday he’s going to break my heart.

And I’m going to let him. 

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MY REVIEW

Disclaimer: This review MAY contain SPOILERS.

This was just as addicting as the first book and the prequel! I couldn't put it down. I still have some of the same feelings about this book as the last book. It isn't easy for me to rate or review since this is a "guilty pleasure" kind of book. My rating reflects my enjoyment of the book in this instance when I normally rate based on the merits of the book in terms of plot, writing, characters, etc. 

So yes, I enjoyed this book a lot. More than the first book actually. I loved Amanda and Jordan's story. More so than Livvy/Ryan/Dustin/Em I think. Amanda and Jordan's story seemed to be more substantial. The one thing that I didn't like about this book was the blatant watering down of Livvy and Ryan's conclusion. The first book ends in a cliffhanger, and this book doesn't even start with the same characters. I felt cheated. I would have liked to finish their story with them instead of getting it from other POVs. 

The plot is much the same as the first book. All about teenage drama in regards to their romantic lives. While the drama points in this book were just as heavy as the first book, they didn't feel as exaggerated. There is a different kind of drama going on with Amanda and Jordan than there was with Livvy/Ryan/Dustin/Em. More star-crossed lovers and less backstabbing friends. I felt like more actually took place in this besides the romance, whereas the first book's plot was pretty much only about the teenage romance. 

I loved the characters in this. Mostly. I found that I liked Livvy less in this book. She felt more selfish and annoying in this book than the first one, but it may just be since this book is coming from different POVs. And I found that I liked Ryan more in this book. His feelings for Livvy seemed to cure his douchebaggery from the first book. It's almost like he was a different person. Amanda is definitely a much more complex character than Livvy was. The book actually delves into her family life, her problems outside of the romance, and how she spends her time when she isn't with Jordan. Jordan's character is easy to like. He is a troubled boy deep down. We only get to see a glimpse of his troubles and I think that it just hits the tip of the iceberg. 

I loved the romance between Amanda and Jordan. It felt more real and less superficial than Livvy and Ryan's romance in the first book. It had a different feel overall from the first book because it is more about star-crossed lovers that won't admit their feelings and keep skirting around them instead. And then there is a little drama and a little heartache. I am anxious to read the next book. This book is much like the first book in terms of heated scenes. I recommend for mature teens. I personally wouldn't want my high school aged child reading this.

Another cliffhanger. Now, this is just torture. 

Overall, this is an addictive series. I enjoyed this book very much and the series is extremely entertaining. If you are looking for a plot with some depth then you'll need to look elsewhere though. This story is mainly character driven. If you like angsty teenage romance with plenty of drama then you will enjoy this one.

THIS BOOK CONTRIBUTED TO THESE 2018 READING CHALLENGES

- Stellar Series Challenge
- Beat the Backlist Challenge
- Let's Read Indie Challenge
- Contemporary Romance Challenge

Check out my 2019 Challenge Page to see my progress!

This book was focused on a different couple than the first book and I loved their story much better. Do you read any book series that have different romantic couples featured in each book of the series? Which series like this are your favorites?