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Very Holiday #2

A Very Friendly Valentine's Day

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EDDIE: Cancel your dinky little roomette on the train. I’m booking us two of the big bedroom suites.

BIRDIE: I’ll cancel it AFTER you’ve booked the other sleeper rooms. And reimburse you.

EDDIE: Don’t worry about it. Just cancel your tickets. I got this. Round trip. I’m on the Amtrak website right now.

BIRDIE: You don’t have to leave NYC when I do! You’ll hardly be able to spend any time with your Instagram girlfriend that you've never met!

EDDIE: It’s fine. She’ll be fine with it. Cancel your tickets.

BIRDIE: You aren’t going to stop texting me until I’ve canceled them, are you?

EDDIE: Damn right I’m not. Just do it. You can thank me later.


***


EDDIE:
Um. Did you cancel your tickets?

BIRDIE: Yes, Edward. I canceled them.

EDDIE: Okay, because it turns out they only had one Family Bedroom from LA to Chicago. But the good news is I booked it for us. It’s the biggest room they had. The bad news is I booked it for us. And it’s the only sleeper room they have left now.

EDDIE: In related news, there was also only one room left from Chicago to New York.

EDDIE: Hands up if you’re excited! *man raising hand emoji*

BIRDIE: I am so mad at you right now.


***


BIRDIE:
I’ve compiled a list of ground rules re shared train bedroom. Check your email, please read carefully, and refer to it again on the ninth of February. Thank you.

EDDIE: *nerd face emoji* Received. I have some notes.

294 pages, ebook

First published January 14, 2021

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About the author

Kayley Loring

34 books1,420 followers

Amazon Top 25 and USA Today bestselling author Kayley Loring spent many years as a screenwriter (under a different name) in Los Angeles before moving to the Pacific Northwest to live out her childhood dream of being a Disney heroine who talks and sings to woodland creatures. When not trying to keep animals alive, she’s writing steamy romantic comedy novels, obviously. She’s breathing cleaner air, writing dirtier words, and staring at her computer screen until her eyeballs dry out instead of prancing around Southern California in miniskirts and going to the hair salon. Still waiting for the woodland creatures to clean her house, though.
Read or listen to Kayley’s books when you want to laugh, warm your heart, and enjoy top-notch banter, strong heroines who need to be chased, lovable characters you’d want to know in real life, and swoon over perfectly imperfect book boyfriends.

To receive emails with exclusive content and info about new releases, please sign up for Kayley's newsletter here:

https://kayleyloring.com/newsletter/

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5 stars
1,731 (43%)
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3 stars
636 (16%)
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100 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 539 reviews
Profile Image for Leticia (jerseygirlsbookshelf).
425 reviews231 followers
February 14, 2022
"Baby, Yoda one for me. -- Eddie"
I...AM...DYING! This was the sweetest book! It's so perfectly filled with loving, heartwarming moments it'll leave you swooning... or at least it was like that for me.
If you're a fan of angsty romance with a lot of drama and stuff going on - this is likely not for you.
If you're a fan of heartfelt friends-to-lovers romance that is also VERY steamy and leaves you begging for more - this is more up your alley.

"Maybe it really is the journey that matters. Maybe it doesn’t matter how long it takes to get there, as long as we get there together."
I love Eddie. I was honestly laughing out loud through most of this book, whenever I was not wishing book boyfriends could actually freaking be real people. He is considerate, he is sweet, he has a dirty mouth... - in four words, he's the whole package! Birdie is the nerdy girl, an archivist, with a Sherlock fetish, and such a sweet character too. They've been friends, best friends, for 6 years, with a lot of flirting going on, but who have never dared cross that line...

Until a train ride from LA to NY leads them to question their own path in each other's lives.
And leads me to think just how many times I can go "awww" over the course of one book. Spoiler alert: A LOT.

I think it would have been easy to write in some drama, maybe related to the Instagram "girlfriend" Eddie has (already mentioned in A Very Bossy Christmas - if you haven't read it, you definitely should) or maybe related to a guy Birdie meets on the train. But no. There was none of that.
These were two people who shared feelings for each other, and the author just lets those feelings flow, building their relationship with each other and bringing us there with them.

Kayley Loring's writing is so amazing. I love their text messages throughout the book, the humor, the jokes, the voicemail messages, their banter, the cheesiness sometimes... all leading to what we know is their happily ever after.

"I’m glad I decided to sit next to you. I’m glad I decided to take the train with you. I hope to sit next to you for the rest of our lives."
These two people have been in love for so long without realizing it, and they make each other better in a way being with anyone else never could. And when everything falls into place... it's the perfect Valentine's Day book.
Profile Image for Carol [Goodreads Addict].
2,573 reviews25.1k followers
February 11, 2024
A Very Friendly Valentine’s Day is book two in the Very Holiday series by Kayley Loring. This is a fun, sweet and steamy, friends to lovers, Valentine’s Day romance.



Eddie Cannavale and Birdie Beckett are both twenty six years old and have been best friends for six years. They met in college and have been close every since. Now Eddie is a famous actor and Birdie is an Archivist for the Getty Center. Even though they both still live in Los Angeles, Eddie is away for months at a time during filming of his TV series but their friendship has held strong all through the years.



When Eddie and Birdie decide to travel together from LA to New York by train, close proximity and some very chilly temperatures finally gives these two the push they needed to see each other in a way they haven’t wanted to admit. But, their journey in getting there was so much fun. There is plenty of alcohol, a LOT of flirty, sexy texts and so much more.



Once Eddie decided that Birdie was it for him, there was no stopping him. He would make sure Birdie was on board with this change in their relationship no matter what it took! And, we’ll just say that Birdie didn’t need much convincing! The epilogue was adorable.

While I enjoyed this and smiled a LOT, for some reason I didn’t connect with them as much as I did with Declan and Maddie in the first book. The next book is Eddie and Declan’s cousin, Nolan’s book in A Very Vegas St. Patrick’s Day. Then, the last book is a continuation of Declan and Maddie’s story in A Very Grumpy Father’s Day.

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

Profile Image for Syndi.
3,135 reviews911 followers
April 22, 2021
There are some funny moment and there are some boring/ recycle plot/ banter. Miss Loring intended this story for NA looking for light short reading.

If I found this book during my lonely Valentine Day, I might can relate better. Sadly, I just found this book just now. I do like Eddie. He is funny. He is also loyal. He is a dream BFF I can ever expect and he is a good looking. The sex scenes are sizzling hot as usual, with light jokes.

I am way behind my reading target due to vaccination hunting. Catch up after this vaccination.

3 stars
Profile Image for Claire.
2,314 reviews724 followers
January 14, 2021
5 - "You're brilliant..." Stars!

2020 was the year I set myself the goal of reading more new authors, Kayley Loring was one of them, and I've been addicted to her ever since. A Very Friendly Valentine's follows on from A Very Bossy Christmas perfectly in that we get the delectable Eddie Cannavale's story. Friends-to-lovers as well so I was one happy reader.

He's the same person, but I know more of him now, so I missed more of him... I guess.

The thing that I love about Lorings' writing is that she can take you from laughing out loud to crying 'awww' tears in the space of a few sentences, and you remember her books and characters because they are all extremely unique, have their own personalities and foibles. I loved Eddie as a secondary character in the first book, but front and center he was an absolute delight, Birdie was the perfect nerd-girl and their train journey(literally) to realizing they were meant to be more than BFF's was entertaining from start to finish.

"You're the only one who'll be giving me a ride from now on..."

Loved the end, the epilogues and I hope to god the Irish contingent of the family get their stories told in Kayley's own spectacular way at some point this year. If you haven't already worked it out, then yes, I really, really do recommend this book!

ARC generously provided by the author, via WildFire Marketing Solutions in exchange for the above honest review.
Profile Image for Gitte TotallyBookedBlog.
2,024 reviews938 followers
January 14, 2021
description

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4.5 Swoony Stars

‘There’s the flash of awareness, the darkness and the nothingness, and then there’s just Birdie, calling me home.’


Well, weren’t we just eagerly anticipating this book! After falling head over heels in love with A Very Bossy Christmas (one of our Top reads of 2020). We were suitably teased with Declan’s brother, Hollywood actor Eddie’s friendship with Birdie Beckett, the Archivist for the Getty, in and couldn’t wait for this book! Once again, we’ve fallen in love with a Kayley Loring romance. A Very Friendly Valentine’s Day, was a sweet, sexy, and very funny friends to lover’s rom-com. A hot Hollywood actor and a beautiful, sweet nerdy girl. Talk about swoon, and we loved it!

‘I’m going to be the best boyfriend you’ve ever had, Bird. Whenever you’re ready. Because I am beyond ready for you.’

Kalyey Loring is now up there as one of our favourite rom-com authors! Her timing is spot on, her characters are so warm and funny, and each book leaves us fulfilled yet wanting more. We want more swoon, smiles, laughs and hot sexy moments! We can’t get enough! If you want pure fun and escapism, read these books! We promise you loads of giggles, swoon, heart, and heat!

‘Denial is the oxygen that keeps this planet of male-female friendship inhabitable. Denial is the gravity that keeps us from crashing into each other and then floating off into separate atmospheres indefinitely.’

Eddie Cannavale is hot, talented, in a bit of a rut career wise and relationship wise. Caught up in the whole Hollywood image machine with Insta worthy pics and girlfriends to match. The one constant (apart from his Irish/Italian family) in his life, the person who keeps his feet firmly planted on the ground is his best friend of 6 years, the sweet and nerdy Birdie and lately his feelings have been more than friendly.

‘I’m gonna woo the fuck out of that woman.’

There was so much to love about this story. The train trip provided the perfect vehicle (pardon the pun) for their relationship, the text messages between Eddie and Birdie were an absolute hoot, as was the banter between Eddie and his brother Declan and their Irish cousins. The comedic timing blended beautifully with the romance of the story and the passion provided many Kindle fanning moments.

‘Eddie Cannavale kisses like a cross between Romeo and a porn star.’

Oh god, the Irish cousins! These guys are a riot and continue to provide perfect comic relief and big cheesy smiles. Oh boy do we want THEIR stories! Especially ‘Boston’ Billy O’Sullivan – this guy cracks us up every time. The way Kayley Loring writes his character…we can hear every word he speaks and it’s hilarious! We’re dying for his book and hope this author expands on this character because he really is so memorable. God help the woman tasked with the job of taming that guy!

The epilogues were the cherry on the cake! A perfect way to tie up the story and give us a little taste of what’s to come? We certainly hope so. We know one thing. We’ll never tire of Kayley Loring’s wonderful storytelling and her cheeky comedic relief. Oh, and a jealous Eddie will have you in fits of laughter! Just what the book doctor ordered!

‘Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
Your butt is fantastic.
And your abs are nice too.‘ ‘Birdie’



Available to purchase below
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Profile Image for RateTheRomance.
902 reviews120 followers
January 16, 2021
I freaking obsessively LOVED the first book in this series, so A VERY FRIENDLY VALENTINES DAY had big shoes to fill. This was a great book!...just not quite as good as the first.

Eddie and Birdie have been best friends since college and suddenly sparks are flying. Will they change from friends to lovers?

Birdie is perfectly quirky, smart, and hilarious! I loved her nerdy side. And Eddie is so accepting and likable and hot. These two have hilarious friendly banter! I adore them.

This book had great family relationships and friendships and plenty of funny moments. It also has one of the sweetest romantic gestures of all time. You will happy-sigh from the depths of your soul.

The issue I had with this book was it was completely devoid of conflict. They ONLY obstacle in this book was "will they-won't they?". Once they cross that bridge they are just together. Smooth sailing. No internal adjustments to the new state of their relationship. No bumps in the road. It felt both unrealistic and slightly boring to read.

This book has sweetness, laughs, steam, and a great Happily Ever After! Definitely a great book to start off 2021!

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
Profile Image for Stacey.
1,446 reviews1,143 followers
December 29, 2021
Sweet, sexy and a wee bit nerdy...

I really, really love the Very Holiday series and I'm absolutely stoked that I stumbled across Kayley Loring on Amazon. This was another sweet, sexy, funny and romantic story with lovable characters and an interesting storyline. They're not long stories and I easily finish them in a day, but they definitely hit the spot.

I can't wait to get my hands on more of the Very Holiday series and in the meantime, I will definitely be checking out more from this very entertaining author.

Profile Image for The Romantic Rush Blog.
1,914 reviews883 followers
January 9, 2021
OH MY SWOONY GOODNESS! This book is sweeter than a big ole box of Valentine's Day chocolates, but one that leaves you feeling energized and renewed days later. A Very Friendly Valentine’s is the friendliest of love stories- it is easy, charming, and delightfully adorable. Feel good vibes all around. After 2020 was a raging dumpster fire- and 2021 didn’t start off much better- this feel-good, opposites attract, low angst friends to lovers rom-com was JUST the soothing magic my heart and soul needed. Eddie and Birdie had me feeling all warm and fuzzy.

Eddie and Birdie have been besties since college- and, on paper, are total opposites. Eddie is the charismatic star on the rise, famous for playing an oft-shirtless teen heartthrob and for his short lived instagram-catalyzed model girlfriends. Birdie is the nerdy, introverted art archivist and a Sherlock aficionado whose nerdy boyfriends always leave her less than satisfied. Declan’s (Eddie brother from a Very Bossy Christmas) bachelor party sets off an unusual series of events, spurring these two best friends to start to explore their unseen and/or repressed attraction. One they find out they are both planning on being in NYC for a Valentine’s Day trip, they decide to travel there together. And there is nothing better than a 3 day train trip in close quarters to magnify their awkwardness and sexual-tension. Let the fun begin!

All I can say is Declan who? (GASP!) Because Eddie is a TOTAL dreamboat. SWOOOOOOOOON, I am so in love. This man is so charming- incredibly witty, considerate and caring, and surprisingly self-aware. He’s delightfully non-fussy from a Hollywood star- but the way he loves Birdie, even before it is romantic love, just stole my whole heart. This is a man who loves so big, so loyally and tenderly- I can literally feel my ovaries swelling. Kayley gives him such a refreshing internal vulnerability and a blissfully external honesty- this is a man who doesn’t hold back his feelings. ALSO- MAN IS A DIRTY TALKER. SCORCHINGLY SO! And, Birdie is just a sweetie. I loved her unrepentant nerdy obsessions, her gentleness, and her tendency to overthink. She’s so likable- and watching her take a risk was so rewarding.

Watching these two disarm each other was such a treat. The chemistry is ADORABLE, even a little bit adorkable, too. Their shared history and running jokes, the sassy banter, the awkward encounters, and the YUMMY sexy times all make for such a rich connection. But what I loved the most were their open dialogues- watching these two expand their already strong emotional intimacy with their candid, and often funny, DTR moments. Despite being seeming opposites, these two click SO well. And along the way we see how their romance enriches- being together only seems to magnify what makes both of them so special.

This is probably the lowest angst book I’ve ever read- the conflict is practically non-existent, which just made it even sweeter and more enjoyable. It took these two so long to accept their feelings, so I love how Kayley doesn’t make us (or them) agonize after they do- we just get to absorb the sweet and tender magic of two soul mates pretty seamlessly falling together. The romantic overtures are especially swoon-worthy- I “awww’ed” more than once out loud.

I’m so glad that I’ve discovered Kayley- her stories are always charming, super sexy, have me laughing out loud, and are never too angsty. They just make me FEEL good and hopeful, fill me with those romance flutters. But I also love just how unique her story telling approach is- the even clever use of setting, the sharp humor and inside jokes, the inventive way she incorporates the communication modalities of our modern world to build chemistry, and the unique methods she uses to structure her narrative all give me such a unique reading experience. Texts, journal entries, and here some extra magical voicemails- not only does it create avenues for genius comedic fodder, but it also expands our understanding of our characters’ dynamic and, most importantly, their character voices. She’s an author that uses humor so well as a plot device- the laughs actually develop the story and these characters. But her stories also strike an emotional chord- they make me feel as much as they make me chuckle. And in A Very Friendly Valentine’s Day, Kayley gives us a blissful reminder just how light and fun falling in love can be. She inspires a tender and nostalgic affection for the magic of falling in love. I’ll be SWOONING for days!
Profile Image for Samantha.
309 reviews107 followers
January 18, 2021
This a cute and sweet but also very funny book.
The amusing banter between these two characters really made me chuckle many times all through the book.

Eddie and Birdie have been friends since they meet in college and have a close friendship that has developed over the six years they known each other.
They are very close to each other and there has always been secret feelings and a simmering secret attraction between them.

Eddie is an actor and is away for long periods of time and Birdie is a Archivist at the Getty Center so they do not see each other that often.
A long trip on a train and some mix ups and mishaps has them sharing a rather cramped and small suite, and the friendship and their attraction is put to the test.


Birdie is smart and eccentric and really funny ….and the nerdy part of her is very lovable.
Eddie is not just a handsome actor, he is funny and he is very caring and understanding with Birdie, but he is also smarter and has more depth than others give him credit for.

This book is well written and has very nice flow to the story, and the story has it all… it is hilarious and sweet and sexy.

A great friends to lovers book.
Profile Image for Elle G. Reads.
1,663 reviews883 followers
March 22, 2021
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Genre Romantic Comedy | Best Friends to Lovers

Kayley Loring sweeps readers up AGAIN in her latest romcom, A Very Friendly Valentine's Day. This book you guys. It’s so funny! I laughed through and through and couldn’t get enough of Birdie and Eddie. They are hilarious together and make the PERFECT fictional couple. I love how their story started off as them being friends which then progressed into more when they are essentially stuck on a train together and finally coming to terms with their feelings from the close proximity. Sigh, it made me swoon so hard!

If you enjoy friends to lover’s romances like I do then you won’t want to miss this one. It’s a quick and breezy read with enough steam to make you flush and enough laughs to make your belly hurt. Just be warned, once you start reading her books you won’t be able to stop. I’m still a new reader of hers but have already bought a handful of her older novels.

︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞

● The banter between Eddie and Birdie is HILARIOUS. You can just tell that they are really close best friends with the way they interact with each other. It doesn’t feel forced at all!

● I love how Eddie is an actor but that doesn’t take up the storyline. This is simply a best friend to lover’s romance (with a side of HOT actor who can make any girl swoon). I’m not a huge fan of Hollywood romances so this was simply perfect for me because it wasn’t like those types of books at all!

● Eddie’s family is HILARIOUS! If you’ve read A Very Bossy Christmas (which is interconnected with this one, but both can stand alone) you may recall a few characters who play a part in this one (mainly the niece and his mother). I honestly couldn’t stop laughing!


𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞

● There really wasn’t anything I didn’t like about this novel. Like I said, Kayley Loring is a fantastic writer and her romcoms are top notch! I just wished there was a little bit more when it came to what happened AFTER 😉

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5)
Profile Image for Dali.
1,924 reviews546 followers
February 10, 2023
A Very Friendly Valentine’s Day is book 2 of the “Very Holiday” series by author Kayley Loring. It is a standalone rom-com. Dual POV with a HEA.

Tropes:
✔️ forced proximity because… road trip on a train
✔️ friends to lovers
✔️ opposites attract

Eddie and Birdie have been friends for the past six years since they met in college. Even though they’ve done their own thing: he’s a TV start and she’s an archivist for the Getty museum, they’re mostly inseparable and know each other better than anyone. Yet, they’ve always remained platonic, until they both plan a trip to NY.

Initially, they were going on their own until Eddie decides to cancel his plane tickets and accompany Birdie on her train ride because she’s afraid of flying and he doesn’t want her to go alone. But while trying to make better arrangements for both, Eddie is only able to book one room.

Birdie and Eddie are adorable. She’s a hilarious oddball and he’s so sweet, caring and I loved how he loved her nerdy side. The two have THE best text exchanges and fun banter.

I enjoyed Eddie’s relationship with his brothers, cousins and family in general as well and loved how easy and fun to read. I laughed and smiled and before I knew it, I was reaching the end and wanting more.

This book was the perfect pre-Valentine’s day read!

By the numbers quick review:
★ Hero: 👤👤👤👤👤
★ Heroine: 👤👤👤👤👤
★ Plot: 📚📚📚📚
★ Romance: 💕💕💕💕
★ Sexiness: 🔥🔥🔥
★ LOL Moments: 📚📚📚📚📚

★ I own a copy of this book. The excerpts are from that copy. I am voluntarily reviewing this title.
See all my book edits on Instagram
Profile Image for Lori R..
1,334 reviews69 followers
February 16, 2022
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!
Eddie and Birdie!!!!!! Eeeep!
I am so in love with these two!! This story was so good, so fun, and so ducking sexy!

I dove right into this book after I finished book 1 (A Very Bossy Christmas.) It doesn’t need to be read first, but I wanted to. And if you have the time, I think you should, too.

This was a friends-to-lovers story done so adorably well! So wonderfully and smoothly written, I couldn’t get enough. Pure RomCom goodness & perfection!!

Birdie is so stinkin’ cute!! She’s quirky and nerdy and intelligent and beautiful and I couldn’t get enough of her. I want to be her bestie! And Eddie is so stinkin’ sexy!! He’s romantic and kind and funny and he wants the girl!

The train ride from LA to Chicago was all sorts of fun. And sexy and full of shenanigans and so much deliciousness. An adorkable heroine who is incredibly attracted to her best friend. A hero who will do anything to make her his.

Eddie cannot stop thinking about her perky…ahem…personality…yeah that’s it. I loved how determined he was to make her see. To make her realize they were made for each other and belonged together and should be a couple. His commitment and patience was endearing and it made me love him all the more. He’s been attracted to Birdie since the day they met. Now, years later, he’s finally figured it out…

Eddie + Birdie = together 4-ever

These two were absolutely adorable and perfect for each other and I just wanted to reach into the pages and give them a big squeeze.

And I must mention Eddie’s family! I fell for the Cannavale family in book 1 and I was so happy to get them in this book as well.

If it isn’t already obvious, I loved this book tons. It gave me ALL THE FEELS. It made me all smiley & swoony and giddy and I sighed with happiness and contentment so. many. times.

If you read and loved book 1, you’ll want to read this book. If you haven’t read the first book, no problem! This one will still be highly enjoyable.
Profile Image for Shelby.
1,135 reviews703 followers
January 16, 2021
Eddie and Birdie have been friends since they met in college. And now that Eddie’s a famous actor, the two of them have still remained close friends, despite his fame. For Valentine’s Day, Eddie is finally seeing his model girlfriend in NYC who he’s never actually met before. And he learns Birdie is also going to NYC for Valentine’s Day, but she’s taking a train ride, due to her fear of flying. So on a whim, Eddie decided to ditch the convenient plane ride and tag along with Birdie.

The two of them are forced to share a rather small room on their 3-day train ride. And even though Birdie has set some ground rules, somehow they seem to break them all. Neither of them could’ve expected that things would get ultra steamy between two best friends. So when they get into the train station, they’ll be forced to decide, are they friends or lovers?

A Very Friendly Valentine’s Day by Kayley Loring is a companion read to A Very Bossy Christmas, which blew up Bookstagram (I also happened to enjoy that one a lot). I think this should be read after reading A Very Bossy Christmas, otherwise you might feel a little lost with the random side characters. This had a lot of potential: fun humor, forced proximity, friends to more, centered around Valentine’s Day. Cmon, that’s a great recipe for success! But this fell flat for me. Yes I enjoyed the witty banter, but that’s about it. There was zero conflict; it was a very linear, straightforward story. And the ending left a lot to be desired on my end. I still enjoyed this cute read, but I expected more after reading such a witty holiday read last month from Kayley Loring. 3/5 stars.
Profile Image for Fierce Heroine.
323 reviews51 followers
January 19, 2021
I really wanted to love this book. I enjoyed so much A Very Bossy Christmas where I first learned about Eddie and I was so excited that he was getting his own book.

But unfortunately it just didn't work. I was tempted a few times to DNF because I kept waiting for it to pick up, it did not. Probably the most unfortunate thing for me was not feeling the chemistry. These characters were best friends for 6 year yet I felt like they didn't know each other that well, especially Birdie acting at moments very shy. Yet when things finally progressed from friends to lovers she became this sexy vixen which was totally out of character for me. And it all happened in a matter of like a week and felt insta lovey. Professing their love for each other at any possible moment felt exaggerated to me. Like at the 70% of the book I totally lost the interest for these characters, that was already low.

The ending felt rushed and the second epilogue which was from Piper's POV felt totally unnecessary since she was a character from a previous book and irrelevant to this story. This book just wasn't for me.
Profile Image for Jenny - TotallybookedBlog.
1,860 reviews2,067 followers
January 15, 2021
description

4.5 Swoony Stars

‘There’s the flash of awareness, the darkness and the nothingness, and then there’s just Birdie, calling me home.’


Well, weren’t we just eagerly anticipating this book! After falling head over heels in love with A Very Bossy Christmas (one of our Top reads of 2020), where we were suitably teased with Declan’s brother, Hollywood actor Eddie’s friendship with Birdie Beckett, the Archivist for the Getty, in and couldn’t wait for this book! Once again, we’ve fallen in love with a Kayley Loring romance. A Very Friendly Valentine’s Day, was a sweet, sexy, and very funny friends to lover’s rom-com. A hot Hollywood actor and a beautiful, sweet nerdy girl. Talk about swoon, and we loved it!

‘I’m going to be the best boyfriend you’ve ever had, Bird. Whenever you’re ready. Because I am beyond ready for you.’

Kalyey Loring is now up there as one of our favourite rom-com authors! Her timing is spot on, her characters are so warm and funny, and each book leaves us fulfilled yet wanting more. We want more swoon, smiles, laughs and hot sexy moments! We can’t get enough! If you want pure fun and escapism, read these books! We promise you loads of giggles, swoon, heart, and heat!

‘Denial is the oxygen that keeps this planet of male-female friendship inhabitable. Denial is the gravity that keeps us from crashing into each other and then floating off into separate atmospheres indefinitely.’

Eddie Cannavale is hot, talented, in a bit of a rut career wise and relationship wise. Caught up in the whole Hollywood image machine with Insta worthy pics and girlfriends to match. The one constant (apart from his Irish/Italian family) in his life, the person who keeps his feet firmly planted on the ground is his best friend of 6 years, the sweet and nerdy Birdie and lately his feelings have been more than friendly.

‘I’m gonna woo the fuck out of that woman.’

There was so much to love about this story. The train trip provided the perfect vehicle (pardon the pun) for their relationship, the text messages between Eddie and Birdie were an absolute hoot, as was the banter between Eddie and his brother Declan and their Irish cousins. The comedic timing blended beautifully with the romance of the story and the passion provided many Kindle fanning moments.

‘Eddie Cannavale kisses like a cross between Romeo and a porn star.’

Oh god, the Irish cousins! These guys are a riot and continue to provide perfect comic relief and big cheesy smiles. Oh boy do we want THEIR stories! Especially ‘Boston’ Billy O’Sullivan – this guy cracks us up every time. The way Kayley Loring writes his character…we can hear every word he speaks and it’s hilarious! We’re dying for his book and hope this author expands on this character because he really is so memorable. God help the woman tasked with the job of taming that guy!

The epilogues were the cherry on the cake! A perfect way to tie up the story and give us a little taste of what’s to come? We certainly hope so. We know one thing. We’ll never tire of Kayley Loring’s wonderful storytelling and her cheeky comedic relief. Oh, and a jealous Eddie will have you in fits of laughter! Just what the book doctor ordered!

‘Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
Your butt is fantastic.
And your abs are nice too.‘ ‘Birdie’



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Profile Image for gretareadsromance.
847 reviews55 followers
February 17, 2021
Eddie and Birdie were Valentine's perfection!

The text messages, the train ride, their chemisty? All so amazing! This story was quick and cute and so funny. Favorite Valentine read for sure!
Profile Image for Kate R.
1,005 reviews40 followers
January 10, 2021
**4.5 stars**
A Very Friendly Valentines Day is a follow up to A Very Bossy Christmas. It is still a standalone, but does have some recurring characters. We met Declan’s brother, Eddie, in the first book and this is now his story. Eddie is a famous actor on a young adult TV show; very outgoing. His best friend, Birdie, is the definition of a nerd; very introverted. They are complete opposites in every way but somehow, their friendship has worked for many years. They have always had an attraction towards each other but never actually done anything about it.

Eddie is going to NYC to meet his Instagram girlfriend for Valentine’s Day. Birdie is going to NYC for a TEDx talk. She does not fly and has booked her train tickets. Eddie decides to accompany her on the cross country trip. They are in close quarters and things turn romantic. (Disclaimer: there is no cheating). I thought I knew how this story was going to play out, but I was pleasantly surprised. Loring threw in so many interesting changes to this trope. I would say a good portion of this book is in text message/voicemail format. This was just such a sweet, unique friends to lovers and I would definitely recommend it.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Sarah Louise.
897 reviews498 followers
January 17, 2021
I absolutely loved A Very Bossy Christmas, so I naturally had to read this one as soon as it released. It was a lot of fun!

Eddie and Birdie have spent six years as platonic friends, despite everyone questioning why they haven’t progressed into more. I am a complete sucker for any forced proximity scenario, which was wonderfully fulfilled in this one by a shared room aboard a train to New York. Filled with bantering text messages and voicemails, it was such a fast-paced read that had me giggling!

This can definitely be read as a standalone, but I think it’d be appreciated more by reading A Very Bossy Christmas first. I loved seeing glimpses again of Piper and the rowdy Irish cousins, Billy and Nolan! But without reading book one, I think I would have missed the charm of these secondary characters.

There’s essentially zero conflict that arises between Eddie and Birdie, making this a very lighthearted, zero-angst romance. And I’m A-ok with that! I had a great time following these two falling in love and steaming up the train windows.
Profile Image for Brayzen Bookwyrm.
300 reviews47 followers
February 14, 2022
A Very Friendly Valentine’s Day by Kayley Loring is absolutely unputdownable. I don’t even care that I just made up a word for this review. It is 100% accurate. I honestly got mad at people when they interrupted me while I was reading. Actually, the only times I wanted to stop reading were when I was sending a book bestie screenshots of the chapter titles, favorite scenes, and hilarious text conversations between the characters. It’s always more fun to laugh with a friend, and I did a serious amount of laughing while reading this book. And I lied, I also stopped reading for frequent bathroom breaks so I didn’t pee myself laughing. Yes, this book is that funny. But it really was more than just funny. It was adorable, and cute, and steamy, and wonderfully free of angst. I am so grateful it was chosen as a book club read. It’s the absolutely perfect Valentine’s Day story. Actually, it’s a perfect love story for any time I need a pick-me-up.
Profile Image for Book Snob Sue.
1,333 reviews122 followers
January 13, 2021
Gotta love your drunk besties text...from a bachelor party....am I right? And then the “voicemail”. The chemistry between these two is unbelievable…and when they finally quit fighting it...wow, just….dayum. Remember Declan’s baby brother, the actor aka the Hollywood flirt….yup, this is his book...and his bestie. They take a train ride together to New York, and that’s when all the real fun and train shenanigans begin.

This book was laugh-out-loud hilarious. The train conductor’s announcements, and Nancy...I can’t even, so damn funny. His wild cousins, and of course his brother aka my Declan, and all his funny af snark. This was safe for me, he has a supposed Instagram “girlfriend” that he has never met, and she thinks their not exclusive...so..not a real girlfriend in my opinion...just sayin. Birdie is adorably awkward, he dubs her as nerdy Birdie, and he adores her too. He is sexy, sweet, and I love that he woos her for Valentines Day. Oh, and quite the dirty talker *wags eyebrows*. Epilogues, plural, and an adorable hea. If you want to claim a few hours of laughter and happiness for yourself, then get this book....you’re welcome.
Profile Image for Brittany waggingwithwords.
732 reviews33 followers
January 20, 2021
I loved A Very Bossy Christmas, so when I saw A Very Friendly Valentine’s Day was out and it was sexy Eddie’s book I had to binge it.⁣

If you are looking for a steamy, laugh out loud funny, romcom you should pick this up. It was just as good as the Christmas story. ⁣

Birdie and Eddie have been best friends for 6 years, neither of them want to cross the boundary and ruin their friendship, until they quickly realize that they haven’t found their match because they are a match. ⁣

Birdie is a book nerd (we all love when a book nerd gets a role) and Eddie is a sexy actor. These two have awesome chemistry, hilarious banter, and a little secret Eddie is a nerd too. *swoon*😍⁣

We also get a few clips from Maddie and Declan from the Christmas story and Maddie’s niece Piper- who is a hoot! I binged this in one sitting and loved every second of it.⁣

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
#books #romance #bookstagram #bookcommunity #averyfriendlyvalentinesday
Profile Image for Laura Barnard.
Author 21 books507 followers
February 7, 2021
Absolutely adored this book! Such an amazing follow on. I want so many books from this family. Hilarious, heartwarming and sexy as hell!
Profile Image for Thuy Taylor.
1,297 reviews17 followers
April 22, 2022
I love best friends to lovers stories and the author really did Birdie and Eddie's story perfectly. This suited them just right. Such a fun sweet story between two best friends that never really crossed the romantic lines. Birdie and Eddie are both heading to NYC, Birdie being afraid of flying she books a train, and Eddie cancels his ticket to keep his best friend company.

These two, their messages kept me giggling, they just have so much love, friendship and so much fun together. Eddie is heading to NYC to meet his "Instagram girlfriend". I mean, if you could really call her that, that whole thing is just ridiculous but its so Eddie to be in that situation. I loved this story, these two made me so giddy and just left me with a big smile on my face. I loved seeing Piper, Dec and just the rest of the cousins, they're so much fun! Definitely recommend this best friends to lovers story, they are just the best. Eddie is just sooooooo swooonnyyyy!
Profile Image for Stephanie.
1,070 reviews150 followers
Shelved as 'dnf'
January 14, 2021
DNF 35%

Ugh it pains me to DNF this but it pains me even more having to be in the heroine’s POV. I don’t mind nerdy characters but geez it was TOO MUCH!! I loved the first book and maybe I’ll try this again closer to Valentine’s Day but for now I just can’t.
Profile Image for AJ.
3,016 reviews1,007 followers
January 10, 2021
4 stars

This is a fun, flirty and super sexy friends-to-lovers romance. It’s a standalone, but follows on from A Very Bossy Christmas (the heroes of the two books are brothers), and Eddie and Birdie’s story is a delight to read.

Eddie Cannavale is an actor on a hit TV show, and though he’s a bit of a man-child, he’s a very down to earth guy, and is still best friends with a girl he met in college, Birdie. Though they live apart for a lot of the year, they are still a big part of each other’s lives, and when quiet, nerdy Birdie books herself a cross-country train trip to be in New York for Valentine’s day, Eddie switches up his own plans to accompany her. They end up sharing a very small cabin for their three-day journey, and their friendship is put to the test like never before.

This book is so much fun. There’s a fantastic undercurrent of lusty attraction between Eddie and Birdie before they even stop foot on the train, and it’s something they’ve joked about but never actually sat and considered, let alone acted on. But a pre-train drunken voicemail, followed up by a nip-slip/accidental boner incident has cranked the sexual tension up a few notches, and it’s so funny watching them try to deal with it. And then Eddie decides to throw down.

“Are you going to go out with Rupert?”
“I don’t know.”
“I don’t think you should.”
She stops rubbing my hands. “Why not?”
“I don’t want you to.”
“Why not?”
Okay, new plan.
“Because he can’t make you feel good the way I can.”
“He can’t make me angry and confused either.”
“You’re only angry and confused because you’re resisting it.”
“Resisting what?”
“Me.”

The sense of anticipation between these two is awesome. We know it’s coming, we can see they’ve both been fighting it, it’s just that Eddie has given up trying to hide it, and now he’s going all out to convince Birdie to take the chance with him.

I don’t know if I was falling for her slowly, day by day, or if it all started when I met her and then got suspended for years by sheer force of will or denial. But I just fell so hard and fast for Birdie Beckett in the past half hour. I am dizzy with love for her.

There is flirting and innuendo, steamy looks and a touch or two… the girl never stood a chance.

I stroke the length of him over his sweatpants. How are you not the cockiest man on earth, Eddie Cannavale? Oh my God! This is a magnificent male sexual organ. I’m so proud of him.

They don’t only cross the line, they steamroll right over it, and it’s hot, sexy, and still so much fun, a true representation of their closeness and everything that they are to each other.

“You want me to be the best version of me. But you're the one who brings out the best of me. It was never her or anyone else. It was always just a matter of time before I realized how I felt about you.”

I love this relationship. Eddie and Birdie are so close, and apart from their secret feelings for each other, they share everything. They have the same ridiculous sense of humour, their text messages are hilarious, and I love how open they are. And all of that remains very much a part of who they are, even as their relationship changes.

“I think I fell in love with you at first sight ... It just took me six years to realize it.

There is some minor drama – it’s a big shift for them after all, and there are fears that come along with that, but for the most part this is an angst-free, fun and heartfelt love story that had me laughing, swooning and fanning myself, and I finished it with a big grin on my face.

“I want to fall asleep with you, dream with you, and wake up with you in my arms. Whenever possible. And before we fall asleep, I want to do absolutely filthy things to you. Filthy, beautiful things. In a loving way. But really fucking filthy.”

Eddie’s family feature in the story. We get to see his brother, Declan (from the first book), and his rowdy cousins seem to have some romantic troubles of their own going on. I’m hoping we get to see more of them in future books.

So much fun, and just what I needed. 4 stars.


Profile Image for CLEO.
558 reviews34 followers
January 14, 2021
Absolutely Fantastic!!!!! ♥️

I couldn’t stop laughing reading this book and the messages between Eddie & Birdie are the best! Don’t forget we get a cameo of the best crazy Irish cousins again!!! This was so good!

Birdie and Eddie have been best friends since college. They’ve kept each other in the friend zone either one not daring to take the next step.

Eddie is delusional with his Instagram girlfriend and Birdie being birdie they venture on a Train journey to NYC and the magic begins.

This book is pure entertainment from the 1st page to the last! Venture into this journey with Birdie and Eddie and discover how friends become lovers!!! You won’t be disappointed!
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Profile Image for Korrie’s Korner.
1,203 reviews13.5k followers
January 26, 2021
5 freaky Valentine stars!

I legit have the biggest smile on my face because that’s what Kayley Loring does to you! I don’t know how she does it or how she writes these Cannavale men the way she does, but she definitely knows what the lassies want and gives it to them! I don’t know which brother I want more, and that’s a good problem to have. Again, this book checked all my boxes, but I’m beginning to feel like this is just the Kayley Loring way which is why she is on my faves list! She brings it all, and spares us nothing...and I do mean nothing 😈.

I love a best friends to lovers that stay best friends if you know what I mean. Sigh...it’s just so perfect!

“I don’t know if I was falling for her slowly, day by day, or if it all started when I met her and then got suspended for years by sheer force of will or denial. But I just fell so hard and fast for Birdie Beckett in the past half hour. I am dizzy with love for her.”

Try over the last six years buddy. Eddie & Birdie are cemented in my heart.♥️
Profile Image for Michele McMullen .
2,333 reviews76 followers
January 14, 2021
Oh hello my sweet sexy Valentine. Whenever I pick up a Kayley book I know that I am going to be in for a funny, sweet, sassy treat for my book lover heart.
Eddie Cannavale and Birdie Bennet met in college and have been ride or die friends since then. Yes he is sweet, considerate, easy on the eyes and oh did I mention a up an coming actor with charm for days. Birdie is our quirky, beautiful woman that has kept Eddie in that friend zone for six years but now a close quarters train ride is about to change their course. When Birdie and Eddie find themselves on a three day train ride that bunk on the car seems to be closing in on them. Their is no where to hide from this sizzle that has been brewing. This couple warms the cockles of your heart. They have a beautiful friendship with witty smart banter and an awkward sexual tension that seems to begin to become a joke between them until it NOT. I simply fell in love with this couple.
~~Michele McMullen ~~
Profile Image for Gina.
297 reviews26 followers
January 19, 2021
Another fun, hot and entertaining read from Kayley Loring.
Love the banter between Eddie and Birdie.
4.5 stars.
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