Review: Best Friends for Never by Teagan Hunter
Perhaps this was a case of “it’s not you, it’s me,” but Best Friends for Never just didn’t resonate with me. Teagan Hunter’s writing itself is solid, with an easy-to-follow style, but her approach to storytelling and character development isn’t something I connect with. The book leans heavily into vibes and atmosphere rather than delivering genuine emotional depth or stakes, leaving me feeling disconnected from the characters and their journey.
I approached this with high hopes. Unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The primary issue was how passive the main characters were—spending an entire decade apart without making any meaningful effort to reconnect, yet somehow continually thinking of each other. The reasoning behind their initial separation felt weak and frustratingly avoidable. Her hesitation and fear might be understandable to a degree, but the lack of proactive communication or effort from either side for such a lengthy period diminished my emotional investment.
Once reunited, the characters jumped immediately into a friends-with-benefits scenario without openly addressing their feelings or the future of their relationship. This dynamic was more frustrating than intriguing, especially since important conversations about their status and expectations were consistently avoided. Instead, it fell on supporting characters—the MMC’s grandmother, the FMC’s mother, and her new best friend—to guide them toward acknowledging their feelings and addressing their issues. This reliance on external intervention made the main characters seem immature and overly dependent, detracting from their authenticity as a couple.
Ultimately, the resolution depended entirely on others nudging them toward the obvious solutions, raising doubts about whether they would have figured things out on their own. While the ending ties up nicely, it leaves a lingering question: without the push from meddling side characters, would this relationship ever have succeeded?
In short, this story might appeal more to readers who enjoy lighthearted romances built around atmosphere rather than deep emotional connections. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a fit for my preferences.
