Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press & Amy Buchanan for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I can't believe this is a debut. Are we sure about that?! It's so well done, cover to cover. Let's Call A Truce is an emotional romance that takes us through the journey from an incredible meet cute to angst, coincidence and second chances. The love match is so delightful AND deserved.

Every supporting character was fully developed and added so much to the story. I loved seeing a single mom FMC proving you can be successful in your career while having young children.

Content warning for those that have gone through the loss of a partner. It's really well done and such a touching journey- but I can imagine it might be tough to enjoy if the experience is first hand.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, to NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book.

Full disclosure: This will be a raving, gushing, glowing review because this may be one of my favorite books of the year (which is saying a lot because I have read over 200+).

I laughed (a lot), I cried (a lot), and I kicked my feet in glee (a lot). I did not realize that this was a debut novel. While reading it, I realized that it is truly remarkable that this great book was the first one published by this author.

This was a story of second chances after grief and loss, with some witty banter and angst mixed in. Juliana and Ben go through a lot of hardships and trauma in their lives, both past and present and these situations are what lead them to each other in the long run. There was not just a love story here. There is a story of two families converging, past relationships rearing their heads, a lot of trust issues, and a lot of hilarity.

Amy Buchanan does a great job of intermingling all of the feelings into one beautifully immaculately written book. I cannot wait to see what is next for this author!

Juliana and Ben’s office feud evolves into a steamy, slow-burn romance filled with witty banter, unexpected chemistry, and second chances at love. Can their truce survive the tensions of their pasts, or will they find a future together?

This was a fun one. Quite steamy yet very heartfelt and vulnerable. I loved having MCs in their mid thirties just trying to figure things out, making big mistakes, and having a second chance at finding love.

*spoilers*

I KNEW BEN HAD IT BAD FOR HER. We love a man who begs. He did not let up through the book and we love that for her. I also LOVED Juliana’s spunk. And when she kissed him after that first meeting I knew we were in for a damn treat. These two were *passionate* and the steam had me BLUSHING with that office encounter. Oh and who didn’t crack up at Juliana trying to avoid explaining orgasms to her daughter?? There were a lot of fun moments like this in the book, and so many sweet and tender moments… like when Ben asked about Jason. Be still my heart!

I really liked the strong friendships displayed in the book, where feelings were discussed and apologies were made. I also really loved how Asia refused to get in the middle. Loved the work friends. Loved the constant witty banter and silliness. The kids were sweet. Who else despised Stephanie!!

That ending was so sweet it hurt my heart in a good way. This one is out in January and I had a great time reading it.

*I received a digital copy of this book for review, all thoughts are my own.*

5⭐️3.5🌶️

Ben & Juliana have been at odds with each other since Juliana 1st impression of Ben was him bad mouthing her and her ability to jingle her work and being a single mother.

Juliana over the next years doesn’t let Ben forget her distaste for him and their workplace become a battleground with Juliana keeping track of their wins.

But like always there’s a fine line between love and hate and Ben and Juliana sexual tension blurs those lines. And Juliana gets to know the real Ben, the single father, the loving and caring man.

They both find themselves together thriving joining their families until the past comes to cast shadows, doubts and pain into their love story.

This is a beautiful story with a good, deep and meaningful plot and plenty of spice sparkle in and adorable supporting characters.

I loved this book so much! The chemistry between the main characters is perfect and I love a workplace romance. There was also the added bonus of this setting of the book taking place in my hometown, which never happens :)

I really enjoyed this book. I love when the characters in romance books are "older"... and what I mean by older is my age. Parents with children, who for many different reasons are looking for love. I thought this did a pretty good job of showing how parents prioritize their children, even when their own lives could use a little zest. I thought the chemistry between the characters was great. I loved the constant banter between the two of them. With "older" characters, they are forced to face their demons, often together. They have to deal with the difficult parts of their past that impact them today and forever. Children make it difficult to let the past go. I thought the author did a great job of balancing the difficult with the fun. I was rooting for the relationship from page one and enjoyed going on the ride with them.

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

There’s so much to like about this book! The time jump, the kids, the MCs, it was all so sweet. This story was laugh out loud funny and had me crying in the next chapter. If you’re a fan of enemies to lovers and stories of love after loss, this book is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for this ARC. I really enjoyed this book! The writing was quick and kept me entertained. If you don’t like a 3rd act breakup, this book definitely isn’t for you. I found the author reusing phrasing often instead of describing actions differently, which sometimes took me out of the moment. Regardless, I enjoyed the read and would certainly read another book by this author.

4/5 stars

Thank you St Martin's Griffin for the advanced reading copy!

4/5 stars

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy!

Initial thoughts: this book is sooooo cute!!

I really enjoyed this one all throughout. The enemies to lovers vibes was really fun and well-done; it didn't take too long or feel too rushed. The spice and romance were believable, sweet and enjoyable to read. While I did find the main romantic conflict pretty frustrating, I think the resolution was well-executed and redeemed the book for me.

It can be really hard to include heavier topics, like grief, into romance novels, but Amy Buchanan nailed this. I think she touched on the grief enough so that we, as the readers, kept it in mind while processing the rest of the story, but not too much that it was overwhelming or frustrating. Both of our main characters were so likeable, and I genuinely appreciated them as both individuals and a couple. Plus, like all my favorite romance novels, the supporting characters -- especially the daughters !! -- added a lot of dimension and joy to this story, all of which kept me hooked from start to finish.

Amy Buchanan's debut novel, Let's Call a Truce, is a captivating story of second chances. What started as a office feud turns into a real second chance at love when two co-workers must call a truce and work on a project together. Buchanan strikes the right balance between angst and humor, grief and love. It's an entertaining read!

This book ended up being a DNF for me. I made it to 50% and then just couldn’t give it more of my time. The writing was stilted, which is especially unacceptable to me when the subject matter is grief and loss. But it’s also really an issue when the workplace enemies need to be arguing in a hot or hilarious way— this was neither. The banter was basic and mean without being funny. And of the half of the book I read, the pacing was all over the place. One minute they hated each other and the next he’s pursuing her, with no transition in between. And the amount of times she gave in to her desires and then said no wait, I’m grieving and we hate each other I can’t be with you, gave me whiplash. If she’s going to be this way, I need to see in her character why he would be secretly pining for her, and I could not see it. The novel also started with a scene of the 2 MCs meeting at work and then jumped to 2 years later— it should have started at that 2 year point and then given us the backstory as the plot progressed. A final note- the degree to which this woman has anxiety about being accepted and seen in the workplace but is fine having prolonged sexual encounters in her nemesis’ office is suspect. Overall I just didn’t feel I wanted to give more of my time to trying to push through and finish the book. With romance the end is a foregone conclusion, it’s the journey that you’re there for, and there was nothing fresh or compelling in this one for me.

This was such a knock out of the park for me!
I honestly feel like there nothing I didn’t love this this book. The pacing was very well done - It felt like we were moving, but not flying so fast you can’t enjoy it. The writing was so bingable and enjoyable. You have top tier banter where you’re laughing out loud, but also extremely deep and sentimental moments where you’re on the verge of tears.

It gave everything it needed to give for enemies to lovers in the workplace. Enemies is a tough word to fit, so I would say this is more rivals. You have three kids that just add to the story for me - imo kiddos in books can either add or take away from a story and in this case they were sweet, funny and real and I loved that.

Single mom / single dad is such a refreshing take as well because you constantly see single dad/nanny and i just love seeing new takes on it!

There is a third act conflict, but I didn’t hate it. I feel like it was semi predictable but it ended up adding to the story in my opinion. It allowed our FMC to grow in ways I don’t feel like she would have without it.

LASTLY - the author did a phenomenal job at writing grief in a very beautiful way. She got the bad of it, but also the good in it and having a partner like our MC to hold your hand through the other side of grief was beautiful. It’s a tough topic to touch and she did so great with it!

All in all, i loved this. I will absolutely be reading whatever this author puts out next! For a debut novel, this was very well done and I can only see her getting better from here!

Let's Call a Truce is a delicious, spicy, and luscious love story between Juliana Ryan, a single mother of two after being widowed while the children were very young, and Ben Thomas, her sexy and infuriating workplace nemesis with a sweet candy center. Buchanan's story shines not only in the love story (and believe me, it shines in the love story, I mean can we TALK about the desk scene!????!!!!) but also in the portrayals of single motherhood, balancing work and childcare, and growing through a big grief. I loved this book beginning to end, and any fans of Sally Thorne, Christina Lauren, and Tessa Bailey should take note!

Let’s Call A Truce
Amy Buchanan
Pub: 1/14/25
4☆

I am always here for enemies to lovers even more so when it’s workplace romance. Juliana and Ben’s story was not only lighthearted and entertaining, it was also a realistic and relatable look at grief and second chances both in life and love. I laughed, I swooned, and I enjoyed the journey these two took both individually and together. I probably could have done without the third act breakup, but all in all I enjoyed this one. A solid debut and I look forward to more from Buchanan.

What I enjoyed
✨Workplace Romance
✨Enemies To Lovers
✨Single Parent
✨Second Chance
✨Character Growth

I alternated between digital and audio copies (mostly listening) and enjoyed the mix. The narration of Charlotte North was so well done and fun to listen to so I kept gravitating back to the audio.

Thank you so much St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for my gifted copies.

"Let’s Call a Truce" by Amy Buchanan is a steamy, trope-packed contemporary romance with plenty of heart, humor, and a dash of angst. This enemies-to-lovers, single-parent, workplace romance delivers sparks, banter, and second chances in a way that pulls you in from page one.

Juliana is a relatable heroine—grieving, resilient, and fiercely dedicated to her kids—who has no patience for Ben, her frustratingly attractive coworker with a knack for making things complicated. Their slow-burn chemistry simmers as they’re forced to work together, turning tension-filled arguments into scorching desk-clearing moments. Buchanan does a fantastic job portraying Juliana’s struggles to balance career, motherhood, and the vulnerability of opening her heart again.

While the romance and banter shine, the last third of the story introduces unnecessary melodrama that undercut Ben’s earlier charm. A subplot teetering toward a love triangle and some miscommunication tropes left me craving a smoother resolution. Still, the moments of emotional healing and the adorably realistic portrayal of Juliana’s daughters kept me fully invested.

For fans of enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and second-chance love, this one is well worth the read. Thank you to Amy Buchanan, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC.

Five stars, no notes. I absolutely loved this book. Juliana’s husband dies unexpectedly and she finds herself back at work after several years as a stay-at-home mom. While she’s working for a former boss she loves who can give her the flexibility she needs, she has a coworker who she clashes with from day one, Ben. Doesn’t hurt that Ben is insanely attractive and she’s immediately drawn to him while also perpetually annoyed, annoyed enough to keep a log of every encounter they have and who wins each one, for over two years. When they’re forced to work together on a project, some of the walls come down and they realize just how much they actually have in common but right when things are getting to a perfect point, Ben’s life is thrown into an upheaval again and they have to figure out if and how they can move forward.

The chemistry between the two main characters is amazing, the banter is killer, but the underlying emotions and things they need to work through brings a lot of depth to the book. I truly can’t say enough good things about it and can’t wait to read more from this author.

Juliana Ryan goes back to work after 7 years of being a SAHM after her husband tragically died. She is trying to adjust to her new new job while also coping with the grief of losing her husband. Her insecurities are front and center and she encounters the handsome and charming Ben Thomas on her first day. When she gets a call from school that she needs to pick up her daughter earlier after an incident, she abruptly leaves and cancels her meetings for the day. The next day, she overhears Ben making some rude comments about how she isn't cut out for work and how her kids are not his issue. She decides right then and there that Ben is not worth her time and thus begins a feud between the two.

Two years later, both are up for separate promotions within their company and must work together on a project to prove they are the best candidates for the job. As they spend more time together, Juliana realizes that Ben is not the jerk she has built him up to be in her head. Can they work together or will their verbal jabs turn into passionate kisses?

With quick wit and sharp banter, this was a workplace enemies to lovers done to perfection.
Juliana was stubborn and impulsive but she did soften when she was able to put aside her prejudice and learn about Ben instead of always assuming the worst. Ben clearly regretted his words from 2 years ago and was insanely attracted to her but she pushed him away to not only protect her pride but her heart because then tension between them was not always hate but attraction as well.

I did feel that there were a little too many miscommunications, besides the initial one, that could have been avoided if Juliana just listened to Ben and had a civil conversation with him. He wanted and tried to get to know her and she was having none of it, then she got upset when she found out something personal about him but she clearly wasn’t interested in getting to know him at all so how could she be upset?

I really liked their mutual friend Asia. She did a good job of being good friends to both of them while also respecting their boundaries and supporting them. I also liked how she called Juliana out on her double standard. She was a good voice of reason and helped bridge the gap at times between the two main characters.

The third act was a bit of a let down. I would have expected her to be the one who made the immature decision and instead he totally mishandled the entire situation. It seemed out of character for him and made him seem weak when he had been nothing but a strong support for her throughout the entire second act.

The chemistry between these two was sizzling. All the back and forth led to a buildup of tension that gave me the anticipation tingles! Even though there was a lot of baggage to unpack, these two figured it out and in the end I found this book very satisfying.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this book’s digital advanced review copy with me in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book through a digital ARC from NetGalley
Author: Amy Buchanan
Troupe: Enemies to Lovers

This was a delightful blend of humor, angst, and heartfelt romance. Juliana Ryan’s journey as a widowed mom navigating grief, career struggles, and an infuriatingly attractive colleague, Ben Thomas, is both relatable and captivating. Their fiery enemies-to-lovers dynamic brings plenty of sharp banter and undeniable chemistry.

The balance between laugh-out-loud moments and emotional depth is well done, though some parts—particularly Ben’s backstory—felt slightly underexplored. Still, the story’s themes of healing, resilience, and finding love again shine through beautifully.

This is a fantastic debut from Amy Buchanan, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from her!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to receive the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC access!

I really enjoyed this office, hard-to-get romance. The tension & banter were top tier and at times I found myself literally giggling out loud. Ben is a single dad raising an adorable little girl on her own and trying his best to make a career for himself. Julianna is a single mom to two girls that tragically lost her husband and is trying to put her life back together including getting back in the working world. The worklationship starts rocky and continues on that path BUT the tension builds like a volcano about to blow. Once it finally does, it's a dream.

The only thing that kept this from being a five star read for me was the consistent hesitation from Julianna. It got to be too much at some parts BUT I do feel like it was justifiable at some parts as well.

Totally recommend this to anyone who wants a office setting, found family, banter-filled romance.

A second chance for love, rivals to lovers workplace romance, Juliana is struggling with the untimely death of her husband and being a single mom and she's disturbed when she hears Ben mock her for leaving work for her kid's school. This sets up two years of animosity on her part until a promotion hinges on the two of them working together. Turns out there's more to Ben than she knew and wow do things change. AND that includes a third act that might not sit well with you (I wasn't a fan either). That said Buchanan is a good storyteller and the pages will fly by. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc. No spoilers.