The Designated Friend

Title: The Designated Friend

Series: Designated #1

Author: Drew Taylor

Source: Kindle Own

My Review:

The Designated Friend is the first book I have read by Drew Taylor, but it won't be my last. 

I loved that Braxton and Hadley have been friends since they were nine and seven! How sweet is that?! 

Read for:

🛻best friends to more

🛻grew up together

🛻secret pining

🛻road trip

🛻forced proximity

🛻paper rock scissors

🛻flirty banter

🛻HEA

While this is a romcom, both Hadley and Braxton have some heavier struggles. Hadley especially grapples with how she was raised, an incident that happened during her freshman year of college, and her self-worth. I can appreciate that all is not lollipops and rainbows because that is not real life. 

★★★/5

Synopsis (Goodreads):  

Braxton
I’ve always been the designated friend to Hadley Dawson, and I’d do myself good to remember that. Heck, I’m only on this road trip because she broke up with her boyfriend.

But can I confess something?

I’m in love with my best friend, and I have been for twenty years.

This romantic road trip to her friend’s destination wedding is the perfect opportunity to make her see me as more than her loyal Labrador and more like the type of lover she swoons over in those romantic suspense books she reads.

Hadley
I thought I’d found the one, then he cheated. So now I’m stuck going to a southern wedding ALONE, which is taboo in my culture.

Unless…

I ask my best friend, whom I’m very much attracted to but definitely do not deserve, to tag along with me. I mean, he’s never said no to being my stand-in date before.

The problem? I planned this road trip to Virginia for a couple, which means one-bedroom hotels, romantic cabins, and don’t even get me started on the activities.

Oh heavens, I’m toast.

The Designated Friend is a best friends to lovers road trip sweet romantic comedy filled with faith, humor, and plenty of sizzle without the spice.