Better Off Friends

by Elizabeth Eulberg

Macallan and Levi are best friends from the first day they meet in seventh grade, but over the years their close friendship keeps interfering with their dating life because everyone else regards them as a couple.

Macallan and Levi are best friends from the first day they meet in seventh grade, but over the years, their close friendship keeps interfering with their dating life because everyone else regards them as a couple.

• ISBN10: 0545551455
• ISBN13: 9780545551458
• Publish Date: 25 February 2014
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Point
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 276
• Language: English

Reviews

[nitzan_schwarz]

2014 cleaning my shelves challenge

Originally posted on my blog, April 23rd 2014. If you like this review please consider popping by :)

Better off Friends was my first Elizabeth Eulberg book... but it most certainly won't be the last. This book was just so adorable I can't even. 

The story is told in dual pov - Levi's and Macallan. Let me just say - I loved both of them. They were just so cool and quirky and great, even when they were acting like douches! If I'm honest with you, Levi might be my newest crush, the guy is so adorkable I can't even. I can't even a lot when it comes to this book.

Side note: Levi, in general, seems to be a very good name for the book-boyfriends population (Fangirl, y'all!). 

Macallan and Levi are such good friends. They have their own humor and when they talk no one else can penetrate their bubble. It's like they speak their own language. And I simply adored this relationship and its dynamics - it was just so much fun watching them interact... and watching everyone around them going "what the hell are you two talking about?..."

And, yes, sure, its a bit frustrating that it takes them so long to realize there might be more than just friends between them - I mean, everyone sees it... but the two of them, that is. You will definitely scream at your book GET TOGETHER ALREADY, but heck - that's part of the fun! 

The book itself spans years. Sometimes, I wished to see a bit more of a certain time or zone, but as a whole this worked very well, and allowed for more than just Levi and Mac's relationship - it allowed us to see their lives, and how they change, throughout those years - friends made and friends lost, loves and breaks up, injuries, growing up. 

At the beginning of every chapter, we get a small snippet of a conversation between Levi and Macallan, which relates to the chapter. I choose to believe this entire book is actually them, telling their story to their children before bed. NOTHING YOU SAY WILL CONVINCE ME OTHERWISE.

Ahem. Well. Err. Yeah, so, loved this book. The hardcover is one of the prettiest things I've ever seen, and I hope everyone will give it a chance and enjoy it! 

Originally posted on my blog, April 23rd 2014. If you like this review please consider popping by :)

[Rowena]

4.5 out of 5

Too freaking cute.

[lizarodz]

5+ Stars!

Find my original review here: Reading with ABC.

How good was this book? It was so good that I read it in one sitting. You might think that that’s nothing extraordinary, but when you have three kids, this is quite a feat! I couldn’t put it down, Better off Friends was AMAZING!

The layout of the book is different. Each chapter starts with a conversation between Macallan and Levi, then the story is told in the first POV from each of our main characters. We know who is talking because each of their “voices” have a different font associated with them.

Macallan is recovering from her mom’s death and starting a new school year when she meets Levi, who just moved from California. They find that they are both fans of a British TV show called Buggy and Floyd, and that’s all it takes to make these fast friends. They grow up together, so to speak, and each family adopts each other as well. Macallan is so strong. She stands up to bullies to defend those that she loves and all the injustice in the world. She is really smart, loyal, and has a strong belief of what’s right and wrong. Oh, and she’s a great cook, which can’t hurt any relationship, right?

Levi is funny, handsome, and eager to be accepted and to be popular. In Macallan he finds a loyal friend that he just ‘gets’. The banter between these two is SO good and comical. It’s like they think like one person and finish each other sentences. Their moments and dialogue together are like little treasures. Everyone thinks they are a couple because the chemistry between the two is incredible. When their feelings from each other start changing, their relationship and friendship is put to the test. It must be excruciating to have to see someone you love with someone else. It takes a lot of hurt and heart ache to bring these to together and figure out if they are really better off friends.

It is nice to see that both Macallan and Levi’s family were very involved in their lives. This is not a tale of drugs, underage drinking, abandonment or abuse. To me, it is more realistic because these teenagers have supervision, and people in their lives that care. Macallan’s dad and uncle and Levi’s mom are really family to them all. Other characters are well defined and had an individual voice.

The writing is funny, descriptive, and easy to read. Ms. Eulgerg really has a gift for storytelling. The plot is simple, but unpredictable. I just love Macallan and Levi, I felt invested in them as characters and I couldn’t wait to see if they ended of together (thus the reason I couldn’t stop reading!)

Finally, to quote the words of the master: Blimey, that was brilliant!

Here are some quotes for you:

“I’d never seen Macallan so mad. I knew she had very little tolerance for crap, but I’d had no idea how much it would set her off. You’re right,” I told her “And I’m proud of you. I also know to never make you angry. That was something else.”
A smile started to warm her face. “Sorry. I can’t help myself.”
No, I’m serious. That was awesome. I never saw you as the confronting type. Lesson learned.”

“Silence fell between us. This was a common occurrence whenever we’re alone. When you’re comfortable with someone, you don’t need to always fill the void with noise. I like it when we would just be.”

“… Listen, nothing will change with us. I promise you rith here, right now, that I’ll be there for you through good times, bad times, friend issues, boy issues, teacher issues, whatever issues. And you’ll always have a date to any social event that requires a male companion. I hear I clean up nicely.”

About the cover: The cover has Levi and Macallan in their favorite hangout, Riverside Park, sitting on the swings. Lovely.