Just Friends Forever by Martha Keyes: Book Review

 *Book received for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

Stephanie “Stevie” Jacobs

Marriage to an A-list actor has its perks, but no one ever tells you about the drawbacks—paparazzi infesting your life like cockroaches after the divorce, for instance. So when my longtime friend Troy offers to let me escape to the empty side of his duplex while I get back on my feet again, the only possible answer is, “How soon can I come?”

I’ve never seen Troy as anything more than a friend, but when the gossip columns pin down my location, they’re determined to make more of things between us, despite my assurances he’s dating someone. They media are a tenacious bunch. Heck, they almost have me convinced, which is totally crazy. Right?

Troy Sheppard

My friendship with Stevie has survived a lot, including the day I caught the crazy bug and told her I wanted to be more than friends. Thankfully, that’s far behind us. Both of us. I’m here for Stevie—as a friend—now that she needs a soft place to land away from the gossip-hungry tabloids.

The last thing I want is to make her worry I’m falling for her again, so when my relationship ends, I’m hesitant to tell her or give more fodder to the media. But I may have seriously underestimated the power of the paparazzi—and possibly my feelings. Both seem bent on bringing the past into the present.

It’s no big deal, though. I’m determined to protect Stevie and throw them off the scent—and to have fun doing it.

Whitney Award-winning author Martha Keyes was born, raised, and educated in Utah—a home she loves dearly but also dearly loves to escape to travel the world. She received a BA in French Studies and a Master of Public Health, both from Brigham Young University.


Her route to becoming an author has been full of twists and turns, but she’s finally settled into something she loves. Researching, daydreaming, and snacking have become full-time jobs, and she couldn’t be happier about it. When she isn’t writing, she is honing her photography skills, looking for travel deals, and spending time with her family.

Just Friends Forever is the second book in the Sheppards in Love series. Having not yet read book one myself, I found that this reads just fine as a standalone with no issues... though it certainly has me excited to go back and read more!

Troy and Stevie are just the absolutely cutest. Right from the very beginning, I was drawn into these characters. Troy is honestly just the sweetest and certainly had me rooting for him to finally get the happily ever after that he deserved. Yes, the pining was fantastic, but I also just loved how he looked out for her and wanted the best for HER even if it wasn't what he wanted for himself. As much as I loved those sweet moments, the humorous moments were there making me laugh out loud too. I loved the paparazzi avoidance... and the brotherly dynamic between Troy and Austin was just absolutely perfect. (I'm really hoping to see more of that later in the series!) It all blended together wonderfully in a story that I absolutely couldn't put down and was sad to see end. If you're looking for a fantastic best friends to more romance, this is definitely one to check out. 

Just Friends Forever is a closed door romance, with no language and nothing beyond kissing.