Birding with Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb
Genre : Contemporary Romance
Publisher : Gallery Books
A divorcee embarks on her “year of yes” and crosses paths
with a shy but sensitive birdwatcher who changes her life in
this charming rom-com that is perfect for fans of Christina
Lauren and Ali Hazelwood.
Newly divorced, almost-empty-nester Celeste is finally seeking
adventure and putting herself first, cliches be damned. So
when a friend asks Celeste to “partner” with his buddy John
for an event, Celeste throws herself into the role of his
temporary girlfriend. But quiet cinnamon roll John isn’t
looking for love, just birds—he needs a partner for Tucson’s
biggest bird-watching contest if he’s ever going to launch his
own guiding business. By the time they untangle their crossed
signals, they’ve become teammates…and thanks to his meddling
friends, a fake couple.
Celeste can’t tell a sparrow from a swallow, but John is a
great teacher, and the hours they spend hiking in the Arizona
wilderness feed Celeste’s hunger for new adventures while
giving John a chance to practice his dream job. As the two
spend more time together, they end up watching more than just
the birds, and their chemistry becomes undeniable. Since
they’re both committed to the single life, Celeste suggests a
status upgrade: birders with benefits, just until the contest
is done. But as the bird count goes up and their time together
ticks down, John and Celeste will have to decide if their
benefits can last a lifetime, or if this love affair is for
the birds.
I've enjoyed reading this author's holiday novellas under her penname
so I was super excited for this one and it did not disappoint!😍 I
might not be an avid birder but I do love watching cute birds though I
can't name any of them 🐦😂 and I loved how this one was such a unique
romance with the birdwatching aspect! And both of the MCs were in
their 40s which was another refreshing aspect!
After her divorce, Celeste has been trying new things and
rediscovering herself so when her friend asks her to be his buddy's
partner at an event - she agrees thinking that she needs to play the
role of a girlfriend. When she shows up and meets John, she finds out
that it's actually a birdwatching contest and he needs a birding
partner haha 😂 But she had already started playing her role - since
John's ex was present, so Celeste and John end up becoming teammates
too and decide to keep the charade going for the remainder of the
contest. And John helps her by teaching her all of the things about
birding - a practice run for a birding guide business that he wishes
to run in the future. At the same time they're fake dating each other
too, but what will happen when they find themselves wanting more?😆
I absolutely loved all of the characters in this one! Celeste was
outgoing, optimistic and so funny - with a competitive streak! John is
her opposite as he's quite subdued and not too talkative - but not in
a grumpy way. He's an adorable cinnamon roll who is so thoughtful and
attentive!🥰 I couldn't get enough of both of them and the romance -
which was perfect with the fake dating setup! I enjoyed watching these
two go from strangers to friends with benefits and more - while being
so respectful and communicative! Celeste's friend - Maria and John's
friend - Chris were such fantastic characters too and there were many
humorous moments.
If you're looking for a funny and sweet romance with some amazing
birdwatching moments I'd definitely recommend this one!🐦😆
You can also find this review on my bookstagram here
*I was provided with an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
I've always loved writing, but for many years I wrote non-fiction, both for work and for fun. Like many people, the pandemic found me looking for new ways to find joy in my life. Enter romance novels! Reading romance gave me a break from anxiety spirals while making me laugh, cry, swoon, and just forget about the world for a while. After devouring every romance in sight (with a particular weakness for historical romance), I decided to try my hand at writing. Several months later, I thought my manuscript was complete. That's when the real learning started!
I am proud to work as a public librarian, where I get to do everything from helping patrons apply for jobs to telling anyone who will listen about the Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief musical (it is SO good). I discovered romance novels while in library graduate school, and my journey as a writer is directly linked to my journey as a librarian.
When I'm not writing, reading, watching birds in my yard, or helping folks find their next great romantasy, I'm living life in southern Arizona with my family (a great spouse, three kids, and lots of critters). I am also heavily engaged in activism around issues of reproductive justice and abortion access.
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