Audre & Bash Are Just Friends - by Tia Williams (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Scorching-hot summer. Scorching-hot chemistry. Two teens can't forget they're just friends in this sweet, funny, electrifying romance from New York Times bestselling author Tia Williams--perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Nicola Yoon.

Meet Audre. Junior class president. Debate team captain. Unofficial student therapist. Desperately in need of a good time.

Meet Bash. Mysterious new senior. Everybody's crush. Tall, floppy, great taste in jewelry. King of having a good time.

It's the last day of school at Cheshire Prep, Brooklyn's elite academy--and Audre Mercy-Moore's life is a mess. Her dad cancelled her annual summer visit to his Malibu beach house. Now? She's stuck in a claustrophobic apartment with her mom, stepdad, and one-year-old sister (aka the Goblin Baby).

Under these conditions, she'll never finish writing her self-help book--i.e., the key to winning over Stanford's admissions board.

Cut to Bash Henry! Audre hires him to be her "fun consultant." His job? To help her complete the Experience Challenge--her list of five wild dares designed to give her juicy book material. She'll get inspo; he'll get paid. Everybody wins.

He isn't boyfriend material. And she's not looking for one. Can they stay professional despite their obvious connection?

Fun fact: Audre Mercy-Moore first appeared in the New York Times bestseller Seven Days in June and now stars in her own story!

Review Quotes

An INSTANT National Bestseller!
An Indie Next Pick

"A giddy, warm read that's as sweet and all-consuming as your first love - I was so happy to hang out with my favourite book niece Audre again! Smart, ambitious (precocious) girls deserve that soft gooey love too, and I thank Tia Williams for reminding us of that time and time again, in her funny, romantic, swoony hands."--Bolu Babalola, author of Love in Colour

"A companion to Williams' adult novel Seven Days in June, which focused on Audre's mom's love story, this time Audre takes the center stage [as] a charmingly relatable protagonist. The addition of Bash makes for palpable romantic tension but also adds enough character twists to prove...that nothing is what it seems."--BCCB

"A heart-melting story of self-acceptance and self-actualization."
--Kirkus Reviews

"As the summer months heat up so does the spark between Audre & Bash, full of summer fun romp and first love. Tia fans will be cheering our anti-romantic heroine on as she finds her happily ever after in this super charming young adult romance!" --Ebony LaDelle, author of This Could Be Forever

"Audre and Bash are first love at its finest. I adored their love story! It's full of butterflies, yearning, joy, angst, discovery, confusion, and sheer perfection."--Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author of Flirting Lessons

"Blossoming love, blazing chemistry, a buzzy Brooklyn summer adventure paired with Tia Williams' signature wit and dreamy prose make her debut YA romance your next favorite thing! Tia has done it again!"--Kennedy Ryan, New York Times bestselling author of Can't Get Enough

"Five stars for Audre and Bash Are Just Friends....I loved this funny yet sweet story."--Meg Cabot, bestselling author of The Princess Diaries series

"Laugh-out-loud humor sparkles throughout...A good choice for teens looking for a summer rom-com that has a bit of depth."--School Library Journal

"The dialogue is quick (think Gilmore Girls), the characters and setting give Gossip Girl vibes, and Audre and Bash have a delightfully epic romance."--Booklist

"You can't help but adore Audre and Bash and the spark between them. Audre and Bash Are Just Friends was such a delightful read and you'll definitely find yourself laughing and kicking your feet as you dive into their adventure. The writing is filled with so much love and care, making it the perfect romance story. This is hands down the YA romance of the year!"--Anika Hussain, author of This is How You Fall in Love

About the Author

Tia Williams is the bestselling author of The Accidental Diva, It Chicks, and The Perfect Find--now a Netflix film starring Gabrielle Union. Her novel, Seven Days in June, was an instant New York Times bestseller and a Reese's Book Club pick. Her NAACP Image Award-nominated bestseller, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde, was named one of the year's best romances by New York Times and Amazon. Her YA romcom, Audre & Bash are Just Friends, was an instant New York Times bestseller and GMA Book Club Pick. Her latest novel, The Missed Connection, releases on June 16, 2026. Tia lives with her family in Brooklyn.