Can you find love after you’ve been married? I’m always worried about how divorced individuals love stories will play out in a book but Synithia reminded us that love can always find us even when we are healing from losing love. This was so well written and very realistic in my eyes, great job on giving us hope that love is always still obtainable.

Ironically, Tracey and Brian had crushes on each other growing up. Now Tracey is in the middle of a scandalous divorce and Brian is trying to recover from his divorce. I really liked how Tracey’s self esteem and identity develop throughout the book. The author also does a great job of explaining her insecurities (the many, many problems in her parents’ marriage). The story also follows Brian’s issues with his ex-wife (which quickly turns into a messy situation). The way that he shows up for Tracey throughout the book is everything. This is the third book in a series. I've only read the first one, but it isn't necessary to enjoy this book.

So I had to play catch up and binge read the first 2 books in this series... First off, I absolutely love how each book had a little bit of everybody but also focused on individual couple. Now about Frenemies with Benefits... my Spidey senses was going off and I knew from the first "helping my cousin"!!!!!! I actually picked up on it in the first book but anywhoo. It must be the Southern man depicted for his character because Brian is a mans man honey and I'm here for it! Brian shows us true definition of a friend despite his true feelings for Tracey. What woman wouldn't swoon over that???? I'm glad Tracey and Brian treated their situation the way they did because we all know hurt people hurt people. And things could have gotten messy very fast... just as fast as the Peachtree Cove gossip line!!! LOL I thoroughly enjoyed this entire series but I do have some questions about what happened with Imani's mom and Cyril's dad.

Loved Every Second of This!

Frenemies with Benefits was EVERYTHING I needed—hilarious, messy in the best way, and full of chemistry that had me hooked from page one! Tracey and Brian had that perfect mix of tension and banter, and watching them navigate their feelings was both frustrating (in a fun way!) and so satisfying.

First Read of this Author and ready to read another book from this author. Everyone needs some romance in their life. The cover definitely pulled me to this book immediately!

Rating: 3.75
Tracy was way in over her head to think that she could just sleep with Bryan. Their first attempt was hilarious, but it also hit home because I often would get in my head, thinking about everything but the man in front of me. Definitely an over-thinker. It honestly seemed like they’d never accomplish their plan. It was literally one thing after another.

Bryan’s jealousy over Craig was cute. His jealousy period was cute, so it wasn’t a shocker that their first rule was to only sleep with each other. He was also sooooo understanding.

Both of their exes were trash. Tracy’s ex, Bernard, had a lot of audacity and nerve, and Bryan’s ex was just a typical gold digger who slept around. I felt bad for them both. Renee had a lot of nerve trying to get with Bryan when she had a WHOLE HUSBAND! Like girl!!!!!! And then their exes just pop up out the blue, at the same time??!? Messy!!!!! And don’t get me started into Tracy’s parents. I’m not sure which was worse, her mother or her father.

Living in a small town honestly had to sick when everyone knows your business. I mean, the way word spread about Tracy and Bryan sleeping together, before Tracy even agreed, was diabolical.

I love that Synithia didn’t do the whole miscommunication trope. I am thankful that Tracy stayed and heard Bryan out. I was about to be upset! And I understood why Tracy bowed out of the benefits. The mess with his ex was just…ugh…

I absolutely loved the narrator. Her range was dynamic. She is extremely talented to voice so many different characters and their personalities, especially the men.

Qualms: For the title to be Frenemies with Benefits, the “benefits” part was short stopped. I was expecting a little more spice, but it was like being about to reach orgasmic bliss, and then having cold water dumped on you.

A steamy and heartfelt friends-with-benefits romance set in a charming small town, featuring a recently divorced Black woman and the man who’s secretly admired her for years. Full of passion, emotion, and Southern charm, this story will captivate readers who love the works of authors like Talia Hibbert and Preslaysa Williams. A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Frenemies with Benefits was such a cute and engaging read! This story follows Tracy and Brian, two individuals who find themselves unexpectedly drawn together after their respective marriages to Barnard and Renee fall apart due to infidelity. While Tracy and Brian have always shared a friendship—both personally and professionally—a series of events pushes them closer, despite their initial resistance to what fate has in store.

I loved how Synithia Williams crafted the chemistry between Tracy and Brian, making their journey from friends to lovers feel natural and heartfelt. The supporting characters, including Tracy’s parents, added depth and warmth to the story. The blend of romance, second chances, and self-discovery made this book a delight to read.

I truly enjoyed this novel and appreciate NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read and review an ARC. I can’t wait to explore more books by Synithia Williams!

When I first started this audiobook, it didn't really grab my attention, so I ended up pausing it for a while. But, when I decided to give it another shot, I found myself getting a bit more engaged. As I got closer to the last 20% of the book, things really picked up for me, and I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I expected.

One thing I did enjoy from the start was the accents the audiobook narrator Adenrele Ojo used. She’s always been a great narrator. She really placed me in the southern area of Georgia and added an extra layer of authenticity to the story. It felt like I was right there with the characters in GA.

I loved Book 2 of the series, and while I haven't read Book 1 yet, I'm looking forward to diving into it soon. Overall, 𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝐵𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑡𝑠 turned out to be a pretty good read, especially towards the end. Definitely worth giving it a try if you're into romance with a bit of drama and fun! I would say that you may want to read the physical or e-book unless you want to immerse yourself and get that southern feel through the accent the narrator gives.

Peachtree cove was giving great small town vibes.

I loved the vibe of this novel, because being from a small town, I know people will talk. And I appreciated Tracey's thought process on all of her maneuvers, it felt intentional and I really liked it. Both their exes are so messy and never really got the explicit boundary that they were setting, so although that was annoyting, I appreciated that both Brian and Tracey were able to set those boundaries.

It was very cozy and a little slow burn, but I always love when a dude has been kinda pining for someone since highschool. It makes me internally happy for sure.

What a great read! I also read via audiobook and the narrator did a great job.

Thank you to Harlequin and Netgalley for an e-copy.

This review was written in exchange for a free digital copy of the novel.

This was such a cute read that came at such a timely moment for me. Life has been hard for a couple weeks now and this book was sweet fluffy break that I needed. The story of Tracey and Brian was a novel focused on moving on. Both of the main characters are dealing with drama from former spouses and family baggage. As the daughter of the town drunk Tracey jut wants to run her Bed and Breakfast, mind her own business and get her divorce finalized. Brian on the other hand has secretly had a crush on Tracey since they were in school together and has been rooting for her to be a success . Unfortunately Tracey hasn’t seen the Brian for the embarrassment because he seems to be present every time things are going wrong for her.
These two characters were so much more than just a cute couple. They were two friends that desired to see each other win and be successful.
If you need a break from the truth of life currently this book is definitely that.

The title says it all! Tracey Thompson and Brian Nelson take that title to the max. Both Tracey and Brian are entrepreneurs in the growing town of Peachtree Cove. Tracey owns The Fresh Place Inn, a bed and breakfast, and Brian owns a nursery in town. They have a business arrangement that has been very good for their respective businesses. When Tracey needs shrubbery or flowers for weddings or events at the Inn, Brian is the man to call on to add that “extra pizzazz”. Too bad they don’t really like each other. It’s strictly business between these two. Although they went to the same high school, they lived totally different lives. Her section-8 housing with an alcoholic father and cheating mother versus his big house on the good side of town with supportive parents. In high school Brian was popular, and Tracey was trouble. Furthermore, it seems that Brian was always around when Tracey was in trouble. Get the picture? No love there at all.

In spite of their different backgrounds, Brian and Tracey have one thing in common. Their past marriages to their respective partners, Renee and Bernard, were the pits. I will let you discover just what happened there. Believe me, it’s not pretty. What brings these “frenemies” together is the heart and soul of the story. Something happened when Tracey was “on a date” with a guy, and Brian, the “vibe killer” showed up. I am going to allow you to discover what happened after this pivotal point in the story. I will say that it marked the point in the story where frenemies changed to friends with benefits. You will get that when you read the story.

The minor characters, the parents, and friends, and all play critical roles in the development of Brian and Tracey. There’s support, criticism, and some “come to Jesus” moments that both our main characters have to deal with as their relationship morphs into a new reality. Two characters who stand out are Bernard, Tracey’s ex-husband and Renee, Brian’s ex-wife. They both are a real piece of work! I love how, in spite of it all, the HFN for Tracey and Brian is secure and love-filled.

I liked this story. The storyline has great depth to it with some serious subject matter. I recommend FRENEMIES WITH BENEFITS for your reading pleasure. I also recommend the Peachtree Cove series: THE SECRET TO A SOUTHERN WEDDING, Book1, and WAITING FOR FRIDAY NIGHT, Book 2.

Thank you to Synithia Williams and NetGalley for this ARC!

I recently discovered Synithia Williams' Peach Cove series, and was really excited to get my hands on a copy of this book. That said, I didn't get wrapped up in this title like I have previous stories. Maybe it was the narration? Maybe it was the advanced copy? But, I really struggled to get into the story. That said, it's always fun to follow FMCs through their journeys of self rediscovery. This is sure to be someone's next favorite book!

What a brilliant addition to the Peachtree Cove series!! Its wonderful to see Tracey find her way through the heartache and pain and anger, to see her grow and reach. And this gentleman caller is so dreamy - he may have been a bit of a ladies man but hes also solid and kind and giving and such a good friend. I loved this book!!!

This story was cute, and I hope this was just an issue with the arcs but the formatting was really messed up. It actually took me out of the story a lot, because I was trying to figure out who was talking due to the lack of paragraph breaks in dialogue. I really hope it was fixed before it got published because the story itself was really cute. A little too small town for me, but I know a lot of people like that.

Wow, this was my first book by this author and I would for sure read one. What a ride! I enjoy the romance and the pacing throughout.

3/5 ⭐
1/5 🌶️

Thank you to the author and #netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I overall like the plot, characters and pacing of this quick small town romance read. We got to explore each characters past and understand current them. I loved seeing Tracey rediscover herself and us get a glimpse of the business owner woes.
Some of the emotion fell a bit flat for me. Some of it was maybe over explained/forced so I didn't feel emotionally attached to certain chapters.

🪴Friends to lovers
🪴Childhood Trauma
🪴Divorce
🪴Dysfunctional Parents
🪴Small Business Owner Awareness
🪴Small Town Romance

Synithia Williams is one of my favorite romance authors and the latest installment in this series did not disappoint. It was actually a series of hers that I had not read yet and didn't realize that this was connected and not just a standalone. But it was fully enjoyable even though I had not read the previous books (I am definitely reading them next!). Tracey and Brian's relationship had a good amount of banter and angst while also melding so well. This is such a great small town romance!

Frenemies with Benefits by Synithia Williams is a delightful and engaging romance that blends humor, heart, and unexpected chemistry. The story follows the unlikely romance between two characters, initially enemies with a shared history of tension and rivalry. What makes this book so enjoyable is how the author slowly unravels their relationship, showing that beneath the animosity, there is a deep connection waiting to be explored.

Williams does a great job of creating relatable, multifaceted characters. The main characters are both strong and flawed, and their growth throughout the book makes for a satisfying journey. The romance feels authentic, and the chemistry between the two leads keeps you hooked from start to finish. The playful tension between the "frenemies" adds a layer of excitement to the story, and there are plenty of sweet, steamy moments to balance the humor.

The pacing is just right, with enough twists and turns to keep things interesting. The writing style is engaging and easy to read, making it a perfect escape for those looking for a fun, light-hearted romance with a bit of depth.

Overall, Frenemies with Benefits is a fun, charming read that fans of contemporary romance will certainly enjoy.

Tracey and Brian had a love/hate relationship. He was the person who told her that her husband was cheating. He had seen her at so many bad moments in her life. Yet, when she was looking at to have a fling after her divorce was final, he was there and ready to be that man for her. He was also divorced and not looking for anything serious. They were just supposed to be friends with benefits.
There were so many small town shenanigans going on. I enjoyed this visit to Peachtree Cove. Brain and Tracey were so good together and for each other. They were friends above all else and helped each other get through things that were going on in their lives.
I enjoyed this book just as much as I have enjoyed all the books in this series.