Book Review: Almost Just Friends by Jill Shalvis

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[/i]Piper Manning's about as tough as they come. She's had to be. She raised her siblings, and they've finally flown the coop. All she has to do is finish fixing up the lake house her grandparents left her and sell it, and then she's free.[i] [/i]When a massive storm hits, Piper runs into a tall, dark, and brooding stranger, Camden Hayes. There's a spark there, one that shocks her. Surprising her further, her sister and brother return, each of them keeping their own secrets. The smart move would be to ignore them all, but Cam unleashes emotions deep inside Piper that she can't deny, making her yearn for something she doesn't understand. And her siblings... well, they need her.[i] [/i]But when those secrets come out, they change everything Piper thinks she knows about her family, herself... and Cam. Can she find a way to outrun their demons? The answer is closer than she thinks - just as the new life she craves may have already begun.[i] ~~~~ This story had several tropes. Of course the main trope is Romance. There is more than one romance, though smaller storylines, including LGBTQ+. And of course there is family drama. Big family drama. Piper is not interested in having a relationship. She wants to start a new life elsewhere. When she gets involved with Camden she insists that it is a no strings attached relationship. He is in agreement. She is also frustrated by the siblings she raised. She just wants to be away from them. They want to show her that they're not all bad... that she did a good job, and they just want to return the favour. But their secrets are a major hurdle. I really enjoyed this story. I love Jill Shalvis' writing and creativity. I like the sub-plots/sub-tropes. They made for an interesting and intriguing read. The book was an easy read. I recommend it to those who like any of the genres/tropes here.