Book Review: Manhattan by Kandi Steiner

Manhattan (Becker Brothers #3)

by Kandi Steiner

Release Date: December 18, 2019

Source: Author

Goodreads

Everyone knows not to fall in love with your best friend.

But when your best friend is Michael Becker, it’s impossible not to.

He’s everything our town knows a Becker brother to be: devastatingly handsome, charming as a thief, and the icing on the cake — a sentimental musician who’s never without his guitar.

And he was mine. At least, that’s what I’d convinced myself.

Our bond was born in elementary school, strengthened by circumstance and the promise to always be there for each other, no matter what. And the best thing about my life was being friends with Michael Becker.

Until it was the worst.

I watched him fall in love with someone else, and helped patch him back up when she left him behind. But when he drops the bomb that he’s moving to New York, I realize it’s my last chance to tell him how I feel. And I ask him to make one more promise.

One summer. One list of adventures to remind him that our small town has more to offer than memories of the girl who left him behind.

One last chance to tell him I’m in love with him.

And I’m just dumb enough to believe that maybe he could love me, too.

I am trash for Kandi Steiner's writing. Every new book, I utterly devour the story and am always left wanting more. I have loved the first two books in the Becker Brothers series and couldn't wait to return to this small town! 

When we started this book, I was surprised that it was going to take place during the summer after Mikey and Kylie graduated from high school. The other two books are definitiely adult romances, so this was new for this series. Kylie has always loved Mikey (thought he never knew because they were just best friends) and it was so sad seeing how hurt she was that Mikey pretty much dropped her when he was dating Bailey for two years. I loved the plot of Kylie showing Mikey how amazing their their town was so that he wouldn't leave at the end of the summer. Their little adventures were adorable and I loved the fun little things, especially the mudding! 

While I do love a good friends to lovers romance, I felt like this one turned out a little too predictably pertaining to a certain character. I called a certain plot point about 20% in and was disappointed when I was right. Also, I really loved how Kylie was dedicated to honoring her mother's memory by taking a gap year, but I didn't really like how she changed her plans at the end because of Mikey. I wish she stayed true to her plans and really discovered herself the way she had planned to. I do think I'm being more picky because that's how I typically read new adult books. It's harder for me to connect with teenagers trying to find their place in the world, so I judge their decisions and actions more than normal. 

Overall, this was an adorable romance in the Becker brother world. I do think Mikey is my least favorite brother so far, so that might be why I didn't love this book as much of the others. But I am DYING for Jordan's books and can't wait to see how this series ends!