Friends Without Benefits by Penny Reid

Friends Without Benefits (Knitting in the City, #2)

by Penny Reid

There are three things you need to know about Elizabeth Finney: 1) She suffers from severe sarcastic syndrome, especially when she's unnerved, 2) No one unnerves her like Nico Manganiello, and 3) She knows how to knit.

Elizabeth Finney is almost always right about everything: the musical merits of boy bands are undervalued by society, “benefits” with human Ken dolls are better without friendship, and the sun has set on her once-in-a-lifetime chance for true love. But when Elizabeth’s plans for benefits without friendship are disarmed by the irritatingly charismatic and chauvinistic Nico Manganiello—her former nemesis—she finds herself struggling to maintain the electric fence around her heart while avoiding a Nico charisma-electrocution or, worse, falling in love.

Reviewed by bumblingbookworm on

4 of 5 stars

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This review was originally posted on The Bumbling Bookworm

Actual rating - 4.5 stars

Third book of  this series read for the week, and once again I couldn't put it down.  I loved that we focused on two new characters, both of whom we'd caught a glimpse of in Neanderthal Seeks Human and Neanderthal Marries Human.  I really related to Elizabeth, and her unwillingness to open up lest she get hurt once again.  I also loved Nico and his devotion to Elizabeth, from such a young age.  Their relationship, and the hijinks around it, were compelling reading!

I also loved that the author didn't excuse young Nico's behaviour and perpetuate that it's acceptable for young boys to be mean to young girls because they like them - he was held accountable for this and this was quite refreshing.  The pacing was still off, in instalove territory, but I didn't really care about that because these characters had a history so it didn't seem too weird.  A very enjoyable read and I can't wait to continue the series.
Check out the rest of my review here!

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  • 21 August, 2013: Reviewed