This story was a comfort read — predictable but wholesome, and the perfect amount of added spice. I enjoyed the balance of adult reading and tame in this story, and the issues that rose were relatable. The main characters are facing real life traumas and struggles, all while experiencing the always unpredictable emotions that love and lust bring.

I especially appreciated the back and forth that Julianna went through, of knowing what she wanted but not being able to justify her desires to herself because of all that had happened in her life.

This book was a beautiful happily ever after and worth the read!

Si hay algo que odio en los Single parent es que los padres no tengan como prioridad a sus hijos una vez que aparece el interés amoroso, aquí se cumple por ambos lados, tanto por Juliana como por Ben. Lo que espero en este tropo es que sean amorosos y buenos padres al punto que lleguen a elegir a sus hijos por encima de su pareja.

Las reacciones de Juliana fueron muy confusas, es más, ni ella sabía lo que quería.

Lo que hizo Ben al final fue imperdonable, por un lado no eligió el bienestar de su hija y ni siquiera fue por Jul, no, fue porque se le ocurrió escoger a su ex, esa a quien no le podría importar menos su hija.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a sucker for office romance novels and “Let’s Call a Truce” did not disappoint. Now this isn’t just your regular office romance. We do deal with some heavier topics. Our main focus for this story is spouse loss, and overcoming those struggles to love again. Even with dealing with loss and grief the story still does a great job of being funny and the banter between the two main characters were delightful!

Even though I enjoyed the story. I still had some minor gripes. And those gripes all revolve around the miscommunication trope which I freaking loathe. Juliana was 100% guilty of it in the beginning. I felt for her and the situation, but her grudge against Ben felt drawn out. Yes he said some things out of line. But if they would’ve just talked it out things could’ve been resolved much sooner. Same goes for Ben if he would’ve just manned up sooner and talked with his daughter and ex-wife the dumb 3rd act breakup never would’ve happened.

With all that said I still really enjoyed this story! This is definitely an author that I would read from again! Highly recommend this story. Thank you again to NetGalley for providing an ARC for me to read and review!

I liked this book. Juliana a resilient widowed single mother finds herself back into the work field after a traumatic experience. She meets Ben, a man who thinks she’s incapable of doing the job, but Juliana is determined to make him eat is words. The question is did she succeed and does a romantic flame flicker between the two??…. If you want to know you should read the book when it comes out January 14 2025


Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc in exchange for my review

This was such a fun read! I really enjoyed Ben and Juliana's relationship. While they did struggle through some rough patches, I really enjoyed their relationship. I think it made it interesting that they were both single parents and that their kids were good friends. They had to be sensitive with how they approached topics, but I think it made it easier for their relationship to bloom naturally. I think the pacing was perfect for their relationship and I liked that Juliana didn't accept Ben back right away after he messed up.

They started off as grumpy office rivals and I think things played out great! The office smut was enjoyable to read. It was fun how the bickered in the office one minute, but were making out in his office the next.


As a native Floridian to Orlando, It was so fun to know all of the places that were referenced in the book, such as the out of place Chinese Pavillion at Lake Eola. I remember doing the mud walk as a child also!

Thank you Netgally, St. Martin's, Amy Buchanan for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review! A LOT happens in this book. What starts as a seemingly standard office enemies to lovers quickly morphs into a commentary not only on love and relationships l but parenthood, friendship, grief, and adult daughter hood. Ben and Juliana’s relationship is professionally turbulent, but as their relationship grows the love jumps off of the page. The meddlesomeness of her friends throughout felt immature to me and often unfair to Juliana as a grieving widow, but it could also just be how many situations Juliana finds herself in thay require meddling. Overall I really enjoyed this one, and look forward to reading more from Amy!I’m

This one was just okay for me. I love a work place romance and banter but sometime I wonder is it too far that I just don’t believe they would fall in love and that is how I felt with this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy!

This one didn't do it for me. The main character's depiction of a grieving single mother felt realistic but the tension and then love between Juliana and Ben didn't feel real to me. She was petty and held so many grudges and he made some bad choices toward the end of the book. I would consider reading other works from this author but this one felt a little too long and wordy when not needed. The ending felt super rushed as well with some random unnecessary added drama.

Juliana is trying. Trying to be the best mom, the best employee, the best friend. Literally.. her best friend's other best friend is Juliana's workplace nemesis. Ben is the root of all evil. But with a big promotion on the line, Juliana and Ben have to figure out how to coexist harmoniously.
The vibe is absolutely The Hating Game but with more than enough to set it a part and stand on its own. I love a mom main character with big responsibilities at work and home AND ready for a romance. Amy shows such care with balancing attention for both sides of Juliana giving her precious wins when she needs them most. And Ben? He's next to sexy in the dictionary, pretty sure. I'm not big on ultimatums, but the reasoning behind it and the reactions are completely believable. Amy has so much potential and is an author to watch! I am intrigued by her style and cannot wait to read more from her.
Thank you to St Martins Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

I really have no notes for this book! I loved it and thought it was super well done. I might even buy a physical copy when it comes out. Really fun!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me an arc for an honest review! This one unfortunately did not work for me. The romance was not believable, not big on single mom and dad tropes and it was heavy kid focused, the smut scenes were a little comical (but they all are in a way) and the ending was very anticlimactic. I can understand how some may like this, but to me it was a basic plot that you'll shortly forget.

This was an enjoyable read. There were definitely a few aha! moments I was excited I saw coming. Endearing characters and a sweet story.

(Actual: 3.75⭐, rounded up) I adore workplace romances and the Forced Proximity and Rivals-to-Lovers tropes, so this was exactly my cup of tea! LET'S CALL A TRUCE is a solid debut with evenly pace [romantic] tension; well-developed & relatable characters, flaws/unlikeable facets and all; and a fairly good handle on understanding & tackling some of the book's more serious aspects/plot points. I'm excited for Buchanan's future projects and wish her the best!

Absolutely beautiful story that really grew on me as I went on this journey with Juliana. There was a lot I loved here. First off, the Central Florida Rep. (Hello, from Tampa, Fl!!!) I enjoyed how Ben and Juliana's relationship developed and then the twist with Paris's mom (which I'm not spoiling). The only reason why it's a four star and not five, is because I feel like Ben and Juliana's "hate" stage needs a little work. At times they both seem excessively hostile and it becomes off-putting and you don't sense the chemistry between the two. The chemistry did come later though, and I really enjoyed how Buchanan explored perfectly the dynamics of blended, chosen family, loving after losing the love of your life, and how kids fit in the mix. By the way, I enjoyed how the kids were portrayed here, because normally, kid characters in books are a bit annoying and take up more page time than necessary (for me anyway. I have no kids, can't you tell?). The kids here were written well and seamlessly included in the story.
The overall message of choosing love even in the face of fear and adversity was beautifully done (and the spice was well-written) so this makes a beautiful debut, and I look forward to see what Buchanan does next! Hopefully the setting will also be in Florida.

Let’s call a truce
By Amy Buchanan

Thanks to St. Martin’s publishing, Netgalley, & Amy Buchanan for providing me with an ARC

This debut contemporary workplace romance was so good.
Enemies to lovers, forced proximity, single mom romance with banter and some steam was exactly what I needed.
If you loved The Hating Game, Or Spanish Love deception, you will love this!

I loved that the characters showed so much growth through the entire novel, with out spoiling, I will say the way Juliana struggles with moving on after her husbands death, and trying to find her happy while being a mom, work and having a life was beautifully written.

There were parts of this story that had me screaming at the characters, crying, and kicking my feet giggling.
I can’t wait to see what comes next from Amy.
Highly recommend this book when it comes out in February 2025!

Juliana and Ben are adversaries at work. But their outside lives start to tangle, leading to a relationship.

I struggled at the start of the book. It hits grief hard and definitely is a lot to digest. However the book did hook me in. At a certain point, I couldn't stop any more. I just wanted the kids to be okay.

I think keeping the whole book being only in Juliana's POV and having her work through real situations was a brilliant call. It definitely left me a little bit emotionally raw.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

I enjoyed the book overall, but have mixed feelings about it. Juliana is a single mom and widow to two girls, Clara and Sophie, going back into the workforce after her husband passed away. She meets Ben in the kitchen right as she is about to start her first day at work. She ends up having to leave work early on her first day because her daughter has an issue at school. Ben makes some snarky comments about it, which she overhears. Fast forward 2 years and they have been in a battle with each other. The premise is a little silly about their long feud, but it works for the story. There's obviously some attraction there.

What worked for me:
- Juliana's depiction of a mom. It felt true to me, having two kids myself. The struggle to make things work with work and children.
- Ben is an interest male lead, charming overall, and other than having to grow a backbone at the end, I really liked him as a lead.
- The banter and slooooow burn were great.

What didn't work for me:
- Juliana came off as a bit petty before she gave in to the attraction. It felt that the feud was a bit one-sided. Juliana really didn't like him, and he seemed to be more playful about it.
- The fact that he had a kid, and it wasn't known. After 2 years plus of knowing him, it was odd that it hadn't come up before. It also made it weird that he would make such snarky comments about the female lead if he also had to juggle a family/work.
- The third act break up was messy. It felt unrealistic in my opinion, that [ he will get back with his ex-wife. It just didn't make sense to me, because his kid didn't even have a great relationship with his ex-wife.

I loved this book! This was an office based romance. The authors brings humor and fun that helps offset the feud. I would highly recommend this book!

Mein Leseerlebnis

Die office romance, in der sich die beiden Hauptcharaktere zunächst nicht besonders gut leiden können, enthält einige frische Elemente und auch spannende Entwicklungen. Begeistern konnte mich die Liebesgeschichte aber trotzdem nicht.

Ich konnte zu keinem der beiden Hautpcharaktere eine gute Beziehung aufbauen. Das lag primär daran, dass ich ihr Verhalten bei der Arbeit etwas übertrieben und nicht gerade professionell fand. Sie wirkten in ihren Interaktionen gerade im ersten Drittel des Buches auf mich teils etwas unreif und jünger, als sie es waren.

Ihre Animositäten zogen sich über einen längeren Zeitraum, das hätte ich als Kollegin als sehr anstrengend und unangenehm empfunden.

Darauf aufbauend hielt sich mein Interesse an der Beziehung zwischen ihnen in Grenzen und nach der Hälfte der Liebesgeschichte bin ich zum Ende gesprungen, um noch zu erfahren, wie sich alles so entwickelt.

Auch wenn das Buch nicht mein Fall war, kann ich mir aufgrund des lockeren, angenehmen Schreibstils und der Energie in den Dialogen gut vorstellen, dass “Let’s call a truce” für andere Leser:innen eine schöne Sache sein könnte.

Keine Bewertung, da abgebrochen.

Für wen?

Wer Liebesromane mag, in denen es zwischen den beiden Hauptcharakteren zunächst etwas kracht und die teils in einem Büro spielen, für den könnte das romance Buch einen Versuch wert sein.

Thank you so much to St Martin's Press for an advance copy of this!

"I want you to pick me because you feel the same way I do every time I look at you."

Holy moly! This book left me with such a book hangover. I have not felt this way about a romance book in quite a bit. So I apologize if this review is all over the place or perhaps doesn't give you the kind of review you need.

To me what makes a great contemporary romance is you have to have great banter, great tension, just the right amount of spice and great side characters. And I felt this book had all this and more! I am such a fan of enemies to lovers in a workplace and this book gave me exactly that.

If I hadn't slowed myself down in reading this, I would've had it done rather quickly because I just could not stop myself from reading it. The pacing was great and the chapters were not overly long that felt like you were moving through the book. I could not believe that this was Amy's first book because it was so well done. We got the full scope of the main characters and the inclusion of the secondary characters were great.

Juliana is trying to restart her life after the sudden loss of her husband and having two young girls to care after forces her to go back into the work field. On her first day she meets handsome Ben and after hearing him talk negative about her (which we learn more about later in the book) she decided to make him her enemy. And for the next couple of years, they have these little battles back and forth but now an opportunity came for Juliana to work directly with Ben on a project.

There is a moment semi early on when the flirtatious tension begin that had me silently screaming as I was reading. "Dance with me?" "I don't think that's a good idea." "I think it's a great fucking idea." What is it about dancing intimately in a club that just gets all the feelings going?! I immediately ran to the author's IG DMs and told her how this scene was so incredibly SWOONY! And moments like this continue throughout the book. Juliana tried so hard to resist Ben and his charm. Ben is such the ultimate book boyfriend. He is smart, beautiful and really listens to Juliana and wants to be apart of her world. Juliana was scared to move forward with Ben because she still felt so connected with her husband and didn't want to lose that or have her children to think their dad would be replaced. There was the 3rd act situation that Ben could have been handled WAY differently to decrease the hurt and heartbreak but as any romance it all worked out in the end.

I love Ben and Juliana together. Their lives seem to blend so well together and we see that even before they are publicly a couple. And Juliana just seems so happy when she did finally let her guard down and let Ben in their lives. When you sneak in a man into your house while your children (and his child) are sleeping in their rooms, you know you are down bad! Ben never faltered in his feelings for Juliana. He made it very clear over and over and was confident that she would eventually fall for him. "But the next time I'm inside of you - and we both know there will be a next time - I won't be playing a character. You'll have come to terms with the fact that you want me, the real me, as badly as I want you." WHEWWWW

This book just really made me happy and I am sad that the world cannot read it until January. I am looking forward to rereading this in the future and being brought back to all the feels.

ALL THE STARS!

Please put this on your radar!!