Book: Friends, Benefits, and Problems by Keeran Lee
Reviewed by Maggie Hayes
Rating: 3/5
ARC REVIEW
Friends, Benefits, and Problems by Keeran Lee
⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
Reece and Nick have a sweet, steamy friends-to-lovers romance built on years of friendship and unspoken feelings. After meeting in middle school, both develop crushes on each other early on, but it isn't until after college graduation that they finally act on their attraction. What starts as a friends-with-benefits arrangement quickly becomes complicated by feelings that neither of them can fully ignore.
My heart really went out to Reece. From the beginning, he's honest with himself about how deeply he cares for Nick, even if he isn't always willing to admit it out loud. He's the kind of person who would do anything for the people he loves, whether that's Nick or their best friend Declan. He has such a golden retriever personality, always focused on supporting and uplifting those around him. I also loved that he's a model, which is a profession you don't often see represented in romance heroes.
Nick broke my heart in a completely different way. It's obvious that he loves Reece, but grief and loss have convinced him that he's not good enough for the people he cares about. After losing his parents, he's developed a deep fear of abandonment and genuinely believes he's protecting Reece by keeping him at arm's length. Even when his choices frustrated me, I understood where they were coming from.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was how accepted their relationship is by everyone around them. There is no homophobia, no dramatic coming-out conflict, and no pushback from friends or family. Their relationship is simply embraced, and honestly, it was refreshing to spend time in a world where love is treated so matter-of-factly.
Overall, this was a heartfelt friends-to-lovers romance with lovable characters, plenty of chemistry, and a strong emotional foundation built on years of friendship.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC!