The Girlfriend Request
Series: The Girlfriend Request #1
Author: Jodie Andrefski
Published January 11th 2016 by Entangled: Crush

Goodreads Synopsis
Updating best friend to girlfriend is more than a change of status…

Emma has been best friends with Eli since she moved to his neighborhood ten years ago. Tired of being cast in the role of the girl next door, Emma creates a fake Facebook profile in the hopes of starting an online friendship with Eli, which would hopefully lead to more. Like...way more. From friend request to In a Relationship--it all seemed so completely logical when she'd planned it.

Eli can't figure out what Emma is up to. He’s pretty sure she's the one behind the Facebook profile, but then again, why would she do something so drastic instead of just admitting she wants to be more than friends? And who the heck is this new guy he saw her with? Eli starts to think that just maybe...he missed his chance with the girl next door.

Two best friends, one outlandish ruse. Their status is about to become way more than It’s Complicated…

This Entangled Teen Crush book contains one fake Facebook profile, two best friends who secretly crave each other, and a dreaded sex talk with parents…boy crush in the room included. Pushing a relationship beyond the friend zone has never been so crazy…
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

The Girlfriend Request was the type of book you want when you don't really want to think too hard. It's the kind of contemporary fiction that is a bit predictable, but also enjoyable to read. In this book, the main character, Emma, decides to create a fake Facebook profile, in order to get her best friend, and neighbour, Eli, to realise he wants to be more than friends. When Eli starts talking to 'Kelli', and seems to really like her, Emma starts to realise just how crazy her whole scheme was, and how far in over her head she was. To top it all off, just as Eli is starting to show his feelings for her, she messes up, and tries to arrange a double date for him and 'Kelli', and her and her new fake boyfriend, Jake.

Confusing? Yeah, I know. I struggled with this book a bit. Everything just seemed a bit too fake. I honestly do not know what was going through Emma's head when she decided catfishing her best friend and crush was a good idea. How did she think it was all turn out in the end? Would Eli just greet her with open arms, and forgive her lying to him? Nah, I didn't think so. To make matters worse, there was a love triangle :/ I'm not one who is immediately turned off a book because of a love triangle, but this one nearly made me DNF, and I'd already had to push past that feeling a little earlier. The other guy, Jake, is a college friend of Emma's friend's brother, and he just appears out of nowhere. After the first 'fake' date, Emma is falling for him, and nearly forgetting all about Eli. Jake, who knew exactly what was happening, then turns jealous when Emma wants to spend time with Eli, and is acting a bit like a controlling boyfriend. I just didn't like him.

To be straight, I didn't really like any of the characters. They were all just a bit bland. The book read quite samey for a lot of other YA contemporaries out there, and never gripped me. Like I said, I nearly DNFed the book a few times, but I didn't want my first book of the year to be such a failure. I am glad I pushed through it, but I wouldn't be in a hurry to read it again.

One positive I can say, is that the book ended well. I find a lot of contemporaries just end, and you're left wanting more. With this, I didn't feel that. For me, it was just enough. 

I don't know if I'd recommend this. It was enjoyable, at times, and I am glad I persevered, but other than that, I think there are other books out there that would be better. I wouldn't try and turn anyone away from it, though, it's up to you. But if you have a problem with flat characters, and an unnecessary love triangle, perhaps this isn't for you either.