I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Blindsided by Amy Daws is a funny and sexy friends to lovers romance between a curvy seamstress and a giant Scottish football (soccer) player. This book takes place in the Harris Brothers world, but it can easily be read as a standalone.

Mac and Freya have been best buddies ever since Mac walked into Freya's shop for a fitting over a year ago. The two bonded over Netflix TV shows, among other things. Their friendship is honestly the heart of this book. In fact, it was quite refreshing to read about a couple who've only been best friends for a year. Most friends to lovers books usually have the couple being childhood best friends. I think this brought a fresh new spin to the best friends to lovers trope.

When Mac finds out that Freya gets nervous around men, he becomes her love coach in order to help her build her self-confidence and to guide her through a date with a guy she fancies. But when the date goes awry, Mac finds out that Freya is a virgin...and he suggests to take his role as her love coach one step further by teaching her a few things in the bedroom. Friends with benefits is a thing, right?

I usually don't like the whole friends with benefits trope, but I think it worked out quite well here because Freya and Mac have a strong friendship that was able to withstand the awkwardness and tension that usually result from this type of arrangement. In fact, their friends with benefits arrangement 1) made their friendship stronger and 2) brought to light romantic feelings that they wouldn't have otherwise confronted.

Most of this book is hilarious and lighthearted, but it also has its fair share of angst. I think the lightheartedness outweighs the angst, which was perfectly in sync with the fun dynamic between Mac and Freya. Their love story was sexy and humorous, with witty banter for daaays!! Most of their interactions made me laugh out and I really enjoyed being in their heads.

I think my only complaint about this book is that I sometimes didn't like the way Freya thought about other women. They weren't disparaging thoughts, but they kind of came across as micro aggressive. Luckily, Freya was awesome for the most part and I love the way she bonded with her female friends and the other women in this world. The whole "You lying cunt" scene was amazing and even increased my own self esteem in the process. 

P.S. From the way things ended...I'm thinking a supporting character may be getting his own story next.
 

This book would have been 4 stars as the characters are super fun and have nuance. But the twist that kept them apart in the final act felt totally arbitrary and tacked on, and was a bit painful as a reader. Otherwise fun breezy read

I totally enjoyed this book. I was blindsided (can I do that?) the humor, friendship, easy banter and amazing tension of the BEST kind. Throw in some hot, tattooed muscle man with a loyal heart of gold. A quirky, easy to love, old as hell virgin and you have yourself a love story for the ages. I couldn't put it down. And now I have to go back and read all of the other's characters back stories. Amy Daws easy going humor shines through the pages on this one and I am so glad that tattooed arm cover drew me in for the one click. I am a huge fan.

3.5 stars

Thank you to the author for the ARC and the opportunity to review this.

As someone from Scotland I always go into books with Scottish characters with a touch of trepidation. But Amy Daws gets most of the Scottish things right on point.

I really enjoyed this friends to lovers romance. It is a little slow to get going, but I enjoyed every page and I will definitely be checking out the other series from Ms. Daws to get more of the side characters in this.

Started out very promising and then Mac was a huge asshole and Freya let him bulldoze her and I hated the ending so much.