Not Here to Stay Friends

CHAPTER ONE


Life is all about beginnings. Every day you get a new one . . . until one day, you don t.

--THE COVE, SEASON 2, EPISODE 6


Sloane

Pop music legend has it that when fellow Tennessean Miley Cyrus arrived at LAX many years ago, she had naught with her but a dream and a cardigan.

As I, Sloane McKinney, stand in the baggage claim area of the same airport waiting for my luggage to appear, I have only a backpack and a zit on my chin that I swear I could feel getting larger and angrier with each minute spent in recycled plane air. It s not exactly what I would consider a Party in the U.S.A., but that s the song my brain has chosen to play on repeat since the pilot announced we were preparing for landing.

If my life was a TV show, this would be the opening scene of the pilot episode. Fade-in: the camera pans over the masses of people rolling suitcases, talking on phones, hugging the person who came to pick them up. Cut to our plucky heroine standing in the middle of it all, watching with naive hope on her zitty face (note--clear up her skin in post?). Music playing softly in the background until now grows louder, slows down for dramatic effect. Camera zooms in on heroine to the sound of It s definitely not a Nashville party. . . .

Yeah, I should stop.

While I wait for my bags, I scan the room again for a recognizable head of blond hair and, finding none, pull my phone out of my pocket to see if he s texted an update. Nothing since he left his house.

That s fine. NBD. My hands are just shaking from fatigue, or low blood sugar after the only food provided on my two flights to get here was pretzels and peanuts. Definitely not because in a matter of minutes I ll be reunited with my best friend, Liam Daniels, for the first time in over two years. Nor the fact that we ll spend the whole summer together. Oh, and absolutely not because he lives in my dream city, which I desperately hope I ll love as

Kaitlyn Hill

Praise for Not Here to Stay Friends

One of Seventeen's Most Anticipated Young Adult Books of 2023
One of Girls' Life's 2023 Rom-Coms You Need to Add to Your TBR List

"If you never miss an episode of The Bachelor and love a friends-to-lovers tale, look no further for your next read." Girls' Life

"Not Here To Stay Friends gives huge friends-to-lovers feels with a big dose of girl power, and the twists and turns feel as wild as a reality TV finale. You will root for Liam and Sloane from start to happily ever after. Samantha Markum, author of This May End Badly

"Swoon-worthy... Not Here to Stay Friends reminds me of the breathless excitement that comes with being a teenager in love. Jesse Q. Sutanto, author of Dial A for Aunties and Well, That Was Unexpected

"A winner, no question." Booklist

"The attraction between [Sloane and Liam] simmers in just the right way... An absorbing, well-drawn read about a meaningful friendship and growing passion." Kirkus Reviews

"With snappy dialogue, bouncy narrative beats, distinctly rendered alternating perspectives, and emotional turmoil in place of dramatic stakes, Hill delivers a zealous romance in this relaxed read." Publishers Weekly

Praise for Love from Scratch

One of USA Today's Best April Rom-Coms 
One of Seventeen's 50 Best Teen Romance Books to Read When You're Crushing
One of Goodreads' 54 Buzzy YA Books for Spring

"A delectable rom-com full of enemies-to-lovers romance and baking adventures that will make your mouth water." PopSugar

"Sweet and satisfying." Jenna Evans Welch, New York Times bestselling author of Love & Gelato

"Funny, charming, flirty, and fun!" Kasie West, author of Sunkissed

A sweet and savory delight. Rachel Lynn Solomon, author of Today Tonight Tomorrow

"Reese and Benny's chemistry sizzles in and out of the kitchen." Auriane Desombre, author of I Think I Love You