Special thanks to the author & @canarystreetpress @harpercollins for my gifted copy‼️

Book 3 in the Peachtree Cove series did not disappoint it was a cute and cozy small town romance. I haven’t read the first 2 books yet but if they’re coming like this one I can’t wait.

Tracey Thompson was the owner of the towns local Bed & Breakfast and while things might seem perfect on the outside. Mentally things are falling apart all around her. From dealing with terrible employees, a nasty divorce due to a cheating spouse, a loveless love life, and parents who just can’t get it together Tracey can’t catch a break. But on the upside she still has long time friend Brian who deep down she’s madly attracted to but is too afraid to act on anything. When he agrees to help her out with a wedding their close proximity causes sparks to fly and what should’ve been business only turned into back breaking pleasure with no-strings attached. But we all know how that goes!

This book was so messy I don’t know where to begin. It was funny how they were both dealing with failed marriages from two exes who strung them along at their expense. Tracey’s ex-husband was trifling for EVERYTHING he did and the nerve of her father for recommending she make things work with that man. Brian’s ex-wife was delusional and refused to let go. She annoyed me so bad and so did his mother.

Overall, the book was good but the pacing was a little slow for my liking. The author went heavy on the family and relationship drama which kept me engaged. The characters are likable and the interactions with Tracey’s friends are funny and wholesome. The story was an even balance of humor, romance, a little steamy, and drama‼️ It can be read as a standalone so if it’s been on your TBR here’s your green light to read it.

What a fab wrap up to this series. I love a small town and Synithia can write a small town! The interconnectedness of the small community, and all the interesting characters within it, made for such a wonderful series. This book is fun, sweet, and soap opera dramatic which I adore.

Final rating: 3.5 stars

Frenemies with Benefits by Synithia Williams is a very cute small-town Black romance. Synithia created a refreshing group of supportive friends and I found myself rooting for Tracey and her bed-and-breakfast! Although Brian and Tracey started on shaky footing, they both had understandable romantic reservations. It made their romance worth rooting for. It isn't a requirement to read the other books in the Peachtree Cove series, I still recommend it. Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Canary Street Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fun Black rom-com with an active plot that kept my attention active from start to finish. The plot drove the story while the characters had development individually and in the relationship.

I enjoyed this friend to enemy book. It kept me wanting more and more. It was definitely a lot of fun. If you love friends to enemies books than this is for you. Synithia Williams know how to definitely tell a story with slow burn.

In Synithia Williams’ Frenemies with Benefits, Peachtree Cove bed-and-breakfast/inn owner Tracey Thomspon stops trying to be perfect and doing what’s expected of her all the time and starts doing things to make herself happy after her soon to be ex’s public affair with her business partner results in an unexpected pregnancy drags her into the spotlight/rumor mill, yet again. Nursery owner Brian Nelson is more than happy to help her out, and they become friends-with-benefits that inevitably become more.

William’s vibrant, descriptive, and down-to-earth writing flows from one moment to the next. She develops her likable, relatable, complex, fallible, and fascinating characters through funny, sweet, sexy and snarky banter and intensely emotional and steamy interactions and love scenes. Her use of the character’s senses and natural-sounding colorful dialogue that fits her characters and her southern setting adds layers to her narrative, character development, and world-building that draws you in and makes this a page-turner.

Tracey’s intelligent, sassy, and speaks her mind. Her mother and father have fueled the town’s gossip and rumor mill all her life. They didn’t expect Tracey’s marriage to last and have expected the worst from her, too. She’s focused her energy, however, on making her dream of owning a B&B come true, and making it successful. Now, thanks to her ex, Tracey’s back at the center of a public scandal. She’s tired of it. If people are going to gossip about her anyway, Tracey’s ready to have some fun and give them something to gossip about.

Dependable, sweet, cool, and sexy, Brian’s divorced and living his best life, running his plant nursery, and avoiding serious relationships. He’s always found Tracey sexy, and interesting—even in high school, he had his eye on her. Unfortunately, like Tracey, he can’t seem to escape his ex-wife and her drama-filled life.

Williams develops their relationship from high school classmates, to frenemies, to business acquaintances, to friends, to lovers to more with a lovely balance of humor, heat, and emotion. I love their snarky banter and sweet, steamy, funny, sexy, and intimate interactions and love scenes. They are adorable and funny. Brian’s and Tracey’s conversations are so open and honest, except for their deeper feelings for one another. They lead to them becoming friends as they talk, share their life experiences and past, and get to know each other better. I especially love the way he takes care of her and looks out for her, though she’s unaware of it.

Although Tracey knows Brian doesn’t revel in her mistakes and messy life, it drives her crazy that, since high school, he’s always been the one that’s been there for the most embarrassing moments of her life. And he loves offering her unsolicited advice that she ignores. Especially since Tracey had a crush on him in high school and still finds Brian irresistibly attractive. That’s why she loves to push his buttons, making him lose his ever-present cool. But Brian’s had her back when she needs help with plants and florals for her events, and he’s never let Tracey down.

Frenemies with Benefits is a sweet, steamy, funny, sexy, emotional, and fast-paced romance perfect for friends-with-benefit, friends-to-lovers, secret crush, Black love/friendship, B&B, and small-town romance fans.


Canary Street Press provided an advanced review copy via Netgalley for review.

I didn’t realize this was the third book in a series when I started but I did not feel like I had to read the other books to know what was happening.

I really enjoyed this book. I was expecting a romance and while it was full of all of the romance and spice I felt like this book was more than that. I felt like this book was about a woman finding herself after a nasty divorce and moving on to loving herself and being treated exactly how she deserves..like a queen!

I do feel like the title was misleading because this was more of a friends to lovers than frenemies. I loved seeing their relationship grow and develop.

I will definitely be reading the other books in this series.

I was excited to read Tracey and Brian’s story after seeing them in the first two books. I enjoyed their story once Tracey stopped being so stubborn and closed off and Brian stopped being so self-righteous and judgmental. The story was fun and I loved the ending to the series. I didn’t appreciate the parents or the exes either but overall this was a good read.

Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing.

I really enjoyed this and I’m normally not a fan of enemy to lovers. I was rooting for her happiness since we found out about her trifling husband in previous books. I also loved that Andre fell first! Cute and straight to the point, love me some Peachtree Cove!

This was my first time reading a book by Synithia Williams and I enjoyed it!! It was a cute and cozy tale of a small town love between two high school classmates that grew despite every obstacle. Tracey and Brian didn’t really fit the “frenemies” title to me because their admiration and respect for each other seemed to be mutual and consistent. There were a couple of time hops in the story that felt oddly placed but overall an enjoyable read. Check it out!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Tracey’s honesty and directness about her desires were refreshing, and I appreciated how she didn’t hold back or sugarcoat her feelings. The dialogue felt natural, and the situations were incredibly relatable—it was as if I were right there, experiencing it all alongside the characters.

This is my first time reading a Synithia Williams book. I enjoyed it for the most part and read it quickly, I liked that Tracey was trying to find herself and ultimately reinvent herself after her divorce and Brian was there to help her with it.

The title doesn’t quite describe how Tracey and Brian viewed each other because they were never enemies. Their friendship blossomed into new territory when Tracey wanted to satisfy her sexual needs. I was a little disappointed because it felt like we only got a glimpse into their sexual relationship and never got more than just knowing that they were kissing. There is absolutely no spice which was a huge let down.

I didn’t care for the focus on her parents’ relationship and it became repetitive.

I still liked the book but don’t see myself reading the other books in the series. Thanks to NetGalley/publisher for the ARC.

I loveeeeeeeeee I loveeeeeeeee I always fall for the characters! Pick this up you won’t regret it 🥹
⭐️Friends To Lovers
⭐️Small Town Romance
⭐️Missed Connection
Brian and Tracy’s friendship was everything 🫶🏾

I love when a series leaves me with all the warm and fuzzies and that's exactly what I feel after my time in Peachtree Cove, Georgia.

Tracey is an almost divorcée and owner of a small bed and breakfast and sometimes event venue. Brian is a lifelong frenemie, also a divorcée and (my favorite part!) a plant daddy.

And they start a frenemies with benefits arrangements because she wants to have a hoe season after the divorce but she’s actually really bad at putting herself out there.

They live in a small town so the whisper network is ever present and we get to see Tracey living her life without concerning herself about the judgement of the town residents. This is especially important because she’s always lived in the shadow of other people’s expectations because of the very toxic, very visible nature of her parents’ relationship. They figure she might as well be hooking up with Brian .. so she does. And it’s so, so hot.

When they are not being hot together, they’re having to deal with very foolish exes or connecting with the best friends one could ever hope for. So it’s lots of dramatic ups and downs interlaced with moments of warmth and joy, healing and growth.

I found that Frenemies with Benefits moved at a nice pace throughout.
I was able to envision the tiny Georgia town of Peachtree Cove. This was the story of two "friends" that found their way thru from past hurts, lessons, and emotional trauma to a love they both deserved.
I look forward to reading the other books in the Peachtree series.

In a charming Southern town, a newly divorced Black woman embarks on a no-strings-attached arrangement with the man who’s quietly adored her for years. As passion ignites and emotions deepen, their connection becomes impossible to ignore.

I enjoyed this story! I was a fan of the first two books in the series so I was very excited to receive this ARC. Watching Tracey's story unfold from the first Peachtree Cove novel to now is a testament to her strength. And of course the story wouldn't be complete without the long time rival male character secretly being in love and loving all her flaws that Tracey felt embarrassed about. I hope there is more in store for Peachtree Cove. Thank you Netgalley and harlequin for this ARC!

I really enjoyed the set up of this book. I was really rooting for Tracey and Brian and loved the progression of their relationship. The small town setting of Peachtree Cove is one that I am enjoying. The drama in this book is WILD, and I definitely found myself engrossed in it. Also, I am very much here for Tracey and Brian handling issues and problems like adults. There wasn't a lot of miscommunication which made me happy. Tracey and Brian are people who have gone through so much in life, and you can't help but want the best for them.

Just finished "Frenemies with Benefits" by Synithia Williams, and it was a good story- cute! Tracy and Brian, both reeling from messy divorces, decide to become friends with benefits. Their chemistry is intense, and I loved how their relationship evolved naturally. The small-town setting of Peachtree Cove added charm (always does), though the nosy neighbors were a bit much. Both exes were infuriating, adding drama to the mix. Overall, it was a cozy and sweet romance.