I’m a total mood reader, and after finishing Toni Morrison’s Beloved (whew, what a masterpiece!), I was craving something light, fun, and carefree to balance things out. Enter Let’s Call a Truce by Amy Buchanan—a perfect choice!

Juliana and Ben are coworkers who absolutely cannot stand each other but, let’s be real, also cannot stay away from each other. 😉 After two years of bickering and side-eyeing, they finally agree to call a truce to tackle a work project. But once the truce kicks in, Juliana realizes keeping Ben at arm’s length isn’t so easy—especially when she starts seeing him in a way better (and way hotter) light.

Buchanan nailed this one! She didn’t drag out the enemies-to-lovers tension unnecessarily, gave us a delightful He Fell First (swoon!), and included banter, real-life issues, and actual adult communication. Can we just agree to retire the miscommunication trope already? Juliana’s inner conflict between her late husband and Ben was so touching—I even teared up a couple of times. And Ben? OMG, where do I find one? The spice was chef’s kiss. Well done, Buchanan!

This book was such a refreshing palette cleanser, and as a Tampa girl, I loved the Orlando setting—Florida love! If this is Buchanan’s debut, she’s absolutely one to watch. Strong 3 stars! It’s the kind of light, breezy read you can devour in a day, and it’s perfect for when you need a little joy in your TBR stack. 💕
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

✨ARC REVIEW✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

👠enemies to lovers
👠workplace romance
👠single parent
👠he falls first
👠second chance

I enjoyed a lot about this book until we hit the third act breakup. The sexual tension between Juliana and Ben was so evident long before they acknowledged it. Their supportive friends, especially Asia, really helped things come together. But the miscommunication and the absolute monstrosity that is the third act breakup took me out. You spent over half the book building up Ben and showing how he falls first and was so in to do that… nope it ruined it.

This story has a lot of promise but fell short. There Were times where the writing was repetitive and some of the spicy scenes seemed rushed with the build up. Over all it was okay but not something that will be super memorable.

I'm not going to lie, I read this over a month and a half ago, so the details aren't there, but I do remember the basic plot, what I liked and what I didn't. This is a debut novel for Amy Buchanan, and I can't wait to see what she writes next.

What didn’t work for me

The third act: It's been refreshing lately that I've been reading stories where the characters don't break up for a stupid reason at the end—they've been staying together and working through their issues (and often the issue isn't about their relationship at all), but I'm sorry to say that this isn't the case here. The reason they break up is absolutely ridiculous and I found it very frustrating to get past.

What I liked

The tropes: This is enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, office romance as well as mature people who've had lives and histories before they meet—and all of these are my faves. It reminds me a lot of The Hating Game, which is one of my favourites.

Spice level: This was an open-door story with some very sexy parts without being raunchy or over the top. Just perfect.

3.5 STARS

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

4.25/5 stars
2/5 spice

Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Workplace romance
Tension and banter
Forced proximity
Single parents
Older MCs (late 30s)
Single POV

Although there were some frustrating moments I really appreciated the way the author handled the heavy topic of love after loss. I was frustrated with Ben a few times but because it's Single POV I don't get to full understanding why he did what he did. I really wished I could have had more insight on his internal dialogue. But I enjoyed Juliana's growth and healing journey.

I liked that the romance built up over a span of years because it gave Juliana more time to grieve and adjust before thinking of moving on our gaming in love again. I also loved that the characters were older. It's refreshing to see older characters learning to love again and get their HEA.

Overall, I liked the book and enjoyed the ups and downs despite some frustrating moments. I would recommend this to fans of enemies to lovers and workplace romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.

Thank you St. Martins Press & Netgalley for the review copy.

3.5 rounded up. Things I liked:
Loved the friendships, both among the adults and the kids.
Excellent grief representation. It’s not linear and it’s wildly complicated.
Spice was spicin’
The grand gesture and epilogue were classic romance swoon. It almost redeems how frustrating the characters were — not only as people but in how they frequently treated each other.

Honest review time - This book was frustrating to read. The characters bothered me, and reading single POV meant we were stuck with a very unreliable narrator and a grudge that impacted their relationship for years without her being willing to hear him out. For someone who had gone through the unthinkable - losing her husband - you’d think she’d be able to offer some grace (call a truce??) or be open to hearing out folks instead of just icing out with childish pranks and office “wars.” With that said, if Amy’s able to elicit these feelings out of me in a debut, I can’t wait to see where her writing goes from here. If you like super flawed messy characters, with Hating Games vibes, this is for you.

An excellent debut full of so much heat and emotional depth! Starting over as a single mother has to be one of the hardest things in the world, and to do it with a coworker who is a judgmental hot jerk? The chemistry absolutely sizzles and Juliana deserved her second happily ever after!

Calling all enemies to lovers/second chance fans, this sparkling debut is for you!

When a recent widow must renter the workforce she finds the tension between her and her work rival turns into a different kind of tension as they are forced to work together on a project. This workplace setting and banter reminded me of The Hating Game at times

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥🔥🔥

Quick Breakdown

Grumpy x Sunshine
Workplace Rivals
Single Mom
Widowed Heroine
He Falls First
Single POV
Open Door - Moderate

Juliana first meets Ben on her first day back in the workforce after her husband unexpectedly passed away months prior. Then she accidentally hears him venting about her inexperience & scheduling conflicts with her kids. For the next two years the pair butt heads, constantly needling each other. But now she’s up for a well deserved and much needed promotion & a large joint project with Ben is her ticket to showing the higher ups that she’s ready for the responsibility. Can they come to a truce?

Overall, this was a really solid debut. The rivals to lovers aspect was done very well. All the playground vibes I love. The banter and sparing as föreplay worked for me. While this is written in a single POV, you can easily tell that it’s Ben who falls first & I was 100% here for it. Given her recent tragedy & continual work to keep her head above water it makes sense that she was hesitant to starting over again romantically. It was almost like he was romancing / dating her on the sly. The kids in this one were written incredibly realistic and helped our MCs with their growth throughout the story. I just loved their blended family so much.

Then, the conflict hit. I understood it. I understood the logic, but then it felt like too much of a downer with all the grief already suffered in the beginning. I was forced to face my emotions too much & for too long. If you are prepared going in & can appreciate some sad, you’re going to love this one.

I am really excited for what comes next from Amy! Thank you to @smpromance for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The way I DEVOURED this book. Not only am I a sucker for enemies to lovers but the office tension and forced proximity were ✨delicious✨. Throw in a single parent trying to prove herself while balancing a career and loving her children with all she has. Juliana had my heart from the very beginning, from her loss/grief to her finding herself again in work. I was rooting for her to find happiness again because if anyone deserved it, she did! Then you have the snarky coworker who due to a not-so-nice comment he made that she wasn't supposed to hear is now on the top of her sh*t list. Their banter and flirting had me blushing and kicking my feet because obviously they had a connection that was meant to happen. Despite their truce at work feelings become known and decisions must be made for their future. After discovering more about Ben's home life that brings them closer than ever, his past comes to haunt their current happiness. I was holding on my kindle with a white knuckle grip to see how these two came out of it together. Make sure to add to your TBR to find out for yourself!

I LOVED this book!! Amy Buchanan does such a great job weaving an intriguing story that readers will fall in love with like I did!! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romance books!!

The premise is okay, but the execution is a bit underwhelming.

I'll be honest, I'm not always a fan of enemies-to-lovers in contemporary romance, since authors too often default to quick resolution OR make the enemies aspect so outrageous that you think the two characters should end up in jail, not together. There are aspects of Let's Call a Truce that lean a little too heavily into the outrageous category, as the main FMC is an HR professional, so I'm shocked she gets away with two years of passive-aggressive battles with the head of another department at her company.

I also had some issues with pacing and character development. We jump into the story 9 months after Juliana has lost her husband, and that grief is an important part of the story. However, we immediately get a two-year time jump, and we don't learn a lot about what happened in those two years. As a result, we are fully launched into the enemies aspect of the story AND we don't see the work that Juliana puts into getting past the loss of her husband. On top of that, both main characters exhibit incredibly frustrating behavior, which ends up leading to, essentially, major conflicts in both halves of the book. There is just too much going on, which doesn't give space for the story to unfold.

It was, however, a very quick read that wasn't uninteresting. Despite my frustrations with the characters, I didn't feel like DNFing at any point, and there are some good moments that show Buchanan can craft a great story.

Amy Buchanan’s Let’s Call a Truce is a heartwarming and addictive debut, skillfully blending humor, tension, and emotional depth. This second-chance romance delivers a perfect mix of workplace drama, personal growth, and undeniable chemistry that keeps you rooting for Juliana and Ben until the very end.

Juliana Ryan is a relatable and resilient protagonist whose journey from grieving widow and struggling single mom to confident career woman is both inspiring and deeply moving. Her fiery dynamic with Ben Thomas, her annoyingly attractive nemesis-turned-love-interest, crackles with witty banter and undeniable sexual tension. Their love story unfolds naturally, moving from antagonism to truce to something much more heartfelt and genuine.

Buchanan excels in crafting characters that feel real and flawed. Juliana’s struggles with balancing her career, motherhood, and grief are portrayed with authenticity, and Ben’s transformation from dismissive colleague to supportive partner is believable and satisfying. Their chemistry leaps off the page, with plenty of swoon-worthy moments that will have romance fans grinning from ear to ear.

The humor and lighthearted moments keep the story from feeling too heavy, even as it touches on themes like loss, insecurity, and the courage to open yourself to love again. The supporting characters, particularly Juliana’s kids, add depth and charm to the narrative, making the stakes feel even more personal.

The only reason this isn’t a full 5-star read is that Ben’s past conflict, while adding drama, feels a bit rushed in its resolution. The buildup is strong, but the payoff could have been more impactful. That said, it doesn’t detract too much from the overall enjoyment of the book.

Let’s Call a Truce is a delightful, sexy, and heartfelt romance that proves Amy Buchanan is a talent to watch. If you love second-chance stories with strong heroines, charming heroes, and plenty of emotional payoff, this is a must-read.

An enemies to lovers romance, the story of Juliana and Ben. They are workplace enemies but will they become more when they actually too know each other? I felt she forgave him a bit too easily though.

Let’s Call a Truce was a great debut romance! It includes one of my favourite trope combos of enemies to lovers and workplace romance. This one follows Juliana, a single parent who is looking to rejuvenate her career after the loss of her husband. I enjoyed Juliana as the main character, her strength and determination, and following her along on her journey full of second chances, including a second chance at love. This one is filled with banter, lots of tension and some steam as well. I loved the side characters in this one, including the kids, Asia and Quinn that I thought added a great dynamic to the book. I didn’t enjoy the last third of the book as much as the rest as I felt it was filled with drama that took me out of the story for a bit and I didn’t necessarily love how it went.

Overall, I enjoyed this one and rated it 3.5 to 4 stars! If you are looking for a steamy workplace romance with the enemies to lovers, forced proximity and second chance at love tropes, check out Let’s Call a Truce, out January 14!

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress of the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! I was shocked by how good this book was. I’m not usually a fan of single parent but something about this one was such a hit to me. It might have been that both parents were single and for very different reasons. I did not like the third act breakup reason, it just felt out of character for Ben after he was so forthcoming and assertive earlier in the book. It didn’t make sense for him to just let it all go and pretend he didn’t care. I liked Juliana and her growth. Her friend group is literal goals! I did like how the families blended together. I also enjoyed the tension between the characters at the beginning and the romance. There was some actual laugh out loud lines in this book for me!

This was my first Amy Buchanan book, and that being said, this is not my last. I enjoyed this book quite a lot. There are a bunch of fun tropes in here that I personally really enjoy. The book was very well written, fun to read, and kept me engaged. Also... Perfect amount of spice.

I want to personally thank NetGalley, as well as the author, publisher, and anyone else involved in providing copies, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I laughed, I cried, I swooned and I fell in love with Amy Buchanan’s debut. While dealing beautifully with heavier topics like grief and unpacking what it means to date in the modern world, Amy still managed to make a fun and sweet and giggle-inducing workplace romance. Ben and Juliana had perfect tension and banter and a delicious workplace rivals to lovers dynamic. I’m so excited for more from Amy - her voice is one to watch!

Recent widow Juliana Ryan, has to re-enter the work force in order to provide for her children. Ben Thomas is her irritating co-worker who she overhears complaining about her inexperience. Two years later and the feud between them continues, but when an important assignment forces them to work together, they are forced to call a truce.

A super cute enemies to lovers rom-com with some serious moment thrown in for good measure, Let’s Call a Truce is one you’ll fly right through. With a slight reminiscence of The Hating Game, the tension between Juliana and Ben is fierce! While of course the enemies have to at some point become lovers, I enjoyed how these two had moments when their truce was back off. The humorous nature of their feud was the perfect segue into more once Juliana gets to know the real Ben.

🎧 The audio is a great way to go. Charlotte North was a terrific narrator who amped up the fun in this one. Highly recommend.

Read if you like:
▪️single parent
▪️enemies to lovers
▪️workplace
▪️forced proximity
▪️open door romance
▪️The Hating Game

Thank you SMP Romance and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies.

This was a sweet workplace romance about second chances at love after Juliana, our MC, is tragically widowed and left to support two young girls alone. She goes back into the workforce and still is suffering panic attacks and grieving when she meets Ben, her new coworker. There's a fun meet-cute and instant attraction, but Juliana is no place to move on after her loss. Things take a turn when she overhears him saying she lacks experience in her role, and her being a single parent will be a problem for her fulfilling her obligations at the company, confirming the fears she already has. For the following two years, they are arch-nemesis, playing pranks and exchanging quips until they need to work together and they call a truce, that leads to much more. This workplace romance trope was fun, and I enjoyed learning about her actual job as an HR manager. They share a fiercely loyal friend too which I loved and I enjoyed hearing about their workplace battles, like their diversity policy or setting up new intern programs. Overall, the romance grows, and it gets spicy. I love their dynamic and their relationship. I didn't love the on-again off-again once they officially got together, particularly when it came to Ben's plot twist. Or their first official hookup. I don't think it as a good start to what it become. I was happy there was emphasis on the grief, and her reluctance to move on. Ben's support for her past was really great and I thought the dynamic of their blended family was perfection. That I completely understood. It was the final 25% I struggled a bit with, I didn't expect that from Ben after getting to know him even the parts I did understand, like supporting his daughter. Overall, enjoyable contemporary romance and I was happy with the ending. There's more serious content and heartfelt emotion than humor, the friendships and their banter/pranking definitely carried the comedy aspect of this one. But I liked that balance regarding their situations.