Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC to review.

In Birding with Benefits, we meet Celeste who is recently divorced and a soon-to-be empty nester. Celeste is on a mission to start putting herself first by saying yes to new adventures to help her rediscover who she is as a single woman. On one of these new adventures, Celeste meets John, an outdoor enthusiast in need of a partner for Tucson’s biggest bird-watching competition. Like Celeste, John’s going through a transition but feeling unsure about his next steps. Soon, Celeste and John become a fake couple in an effort to get friends and coworkers to stop meddling in their love lives. As the bird-watching contest continues and Celeste and John spend more time together, their chemistry becomes hard to ignore. They agree to be friends with benefits, but only until the contest is over. But once they reach the end of their bird-watching days, can they both walk away?

When I learned that this romance was about a middle-aged divorcee with a child graduating high school, I thought about passing it over. I don’t have much in common with the protagonist, so I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy the book. Well, I was totally wrong and now I feel terrible for making such a snap judgement! This was an absolutely delightful read. The characters are loveable and I appreciated the focus on enjoying the simple things in life, like sitting in your backyard and listening to the birds. Also, this book is steamy and I am here for it! The chemistry between Celeste and John felt down-to-earth and authentic. As two people with very different personalities, I enjoyed watching them navigate different challenges together and learn from each other throughout the book. If you’re looking for a feel-good romance that brings the spice, this book is for you!