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.

Have you ever read a book that you knew immediately would be your vibe?? I'm here to tell you that Frenemies with Benefits gave me those vibes at 4%. The banter and the chemistry between Tracy and Brian was undeniable. Early on, I had a strong feeling that they would be solid despite the chaos that surrounded them.

Frenemies with Benefits is the third release in the Peachtree Cove Series, but can be read as a standalone. As a new reader in this series, I appreciate the ease in which this small town romance brought me in. I immediately felt connected to the town and it's gossip, especially since a lot of it centered Tracey, Brian and both of their ex-spouses. Given the title you'd think that part of the drama was an issue between our two main characters but the title is misleading. These two are legit friends with hidden benefits.... and I say that because this is a fade to black romance!

If you like a small town romance where the hero falls first but plays his role until the heroine is ready... Check this one out!

Ｅｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ
4.5 ☆
Tracey Thompson is alway the center of rumor mill in Peachtree Cove. And she is finally tired of it. She’s worked hard to make her bed-and-breakfast a success—only to have her soon-to-be ex’s very public affair with her business partner. Brian is done with drama, since he is fresh out of a bad marriage. Ever since high school, he’s admired Tracey’s strength and sass, and a friends with benefits deal sounds perfect.

This is book three in the Peachtree Cove series, and omg, I really enjoyed this book and storyline! This story felt realistic and easy to relate to. It was a quick and easy read. I will definitely recommend this story.

Thank you, Netgellay, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Quick Summary: A Peachtree Cove wo-fi romance

My Review: Frenemies with Benefits by Synithia Williams is book #3 in the Peachtree Cove series. It is scheduled for release on 2/11/25.

About the Book: "You can’t keep a sizzling little secret in a town like Peachtree Cove…"

In My Own Words: Two divorced individuals with a past akin to that of enemies grow individually and together. Facing hurtle after hurtle, they inevitably connect in the way that matters most.

My Final Say: I genuinely like Peachtree Cove and the community of people there. The residents are real and imperfect. Relationships are complicated. Lives are messy and broken, but there are still avenues and opportunities for transformation, as well as reconciliation. Tracey and Brian's story fit right in. I found their relationship evolution to be believable.

As far as I am concerned, this installment is another Peachtree Cove hit.

Reasons I enjoyed this book:

Entertaining
Realistic
Easy-to-read
Wonderful characters

Rating: 3.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to a digital ARC of this title. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my thoughts and opinions. It was a pleasure to review.

Tracy runs a bed & breakfast in a small town and is just finalizing a nasty divorce, complete with a pregnant mistress who was her former employee. Brian owns the local plant nursery and has been divorced for a few years, but while his cheating ex is re-married, she's trying to reinsert herself into his life. To prove a point, Tracy decides to look for a hook up and reawaken her sexuality, but Brian offers a no-strings attached deal with himself instead. Even if he is definitely becoming attached.
I truly enjoyed this story, the back and forth , and how the story unfolded.

dnf at 22%
No one is enemies here. They’re just vague acquaintances. I really tried to get into this but my brain would not let me. I’m the minority here but I just did not have the spoons for this, sadly.

Not a fan of this. I just think that Williams is not the author for me. Her previous two books were just okay but this one was bad. I had a version of the audiobook which helped me get through but if it weren't for that this would not have been able to be completed.

This friends to lovers story had me blushing and smiling at the pages. In this story, we meet Brian and Tracey, who were childhood friends, and are now business associates, back in their home town. They both have awful exes, and are initially unenthused about the idea of putting their hearts back out into the dating world. Thankfully, they are able to work through the toxic experiences of their lives and consider pursuing a crush they've both unknowingly had on each other since childhood. I loved the connection between Brian and Tracey from the beginning to end of this novel. The evolution of their relationship was very beautiful to watch. Even though this was the first book I read in the series, I didn't feel like I was lost or missing anything. The characters were well thought out and alive on each page. The side characters were also entertaining and felt developed. I loved the way Brian cared for Tracey and had her back regardless of who he had to stand up too. I loved his patience, care, and reassurances to her. Even though they had been friends for a long time, Tracey was able to fully bloom within their new relationship while still having space to reassert her own identity. I loved that Tracey reclaimed herself, and didn't allow the naysayers to keep her trapped in a horrible situation. She chose herself and I loved that for her. I especially enjoyed that Brian and Tracey handled their conversations with so much maturity, and there was no ridiculous third act breakup. I was fortunate to enjoy an immersive reading experience by listening to the audio narration along with the e-book, and I must say that Adenrele Ojo did a fantastic job. The accent and voice interpretations were very well done and really suited the characters of the story being told. I will definitely read more of this authors work.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing and arc of this novel.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

Tracy has long been in the middle of town gossip, growing up with parents that caused a lot of scandal she thought she had put that behind her when she married a town darling and opened a local inn. But when her husband cheated and got her inn’s manager pregnant she once again became the subject of town gossip and she hates it. So since the town is talking anyway, she might as well have a little fun and do something for herself. Enter Brian. They went to school together and now they interact because she purchases from is nursery. Brian proposes that they make the gossip going around about them being a couple a reality. What they don’t expect is for feelings to get in the way.

This book was so much more than a “frenemies with benefits” romance. That really oversimplifies this story. There was family drama, OW and OM drama, and of course small town gossip drama. What is great about this book is how Tracy grew into a better version of herself while navigating her friends with benefits arrangement. Being with Brian gave Tracy space to explore and that bled into other things in her life. As she gained confidence in her love life she started making changes, and those changes helped her grow as a person and in business. Brian also had some transformations, he went through a lot with his divorce too but he always had a crush on Tracy and even though he didn’t want to be in another relationship, his arrangement with Tracy made him see that he also could do better than going back to his ex over and over. I love a good love story where the characters are better when they are together and this one is a great example of that. Great book, great story!

FRENEMIES WITH BENEFITS – Synithia Williams
Peachtree Cove, Book 3
Canary Street Press
ISBN: 978-1-335-43055-7
February 11, 2025
Contemporary Romance

Peachtree Cove, Georgia – Present Day

Bed & breakfast owner Tracey Thompson should be happy that business is picking up after the town recently won an award for Best Small Town, but everything is not perfect. Her current manager is severely slacking on the job, and Tracey is dealing with a divorce that may decimate her if she has to hand over half of her business to her cheating ex. One bright spot is having her friend Brian Nelson in her corner. He owns a local nursery and supplies her business with flowers and plants that she needs for the wedding events she takes on. Things aren’t helped by the fact that her breakup with her soon-to-be ex was public and embarrassing because he cheated with her then-employee—who now has a baby with him. Add in her parents’ breakup, it’s no wonder Tracey is nearly at wit’s end. But Brian is a good friend she can lean on.

Brian has his own ex issues, but he feels he is finally over Renee and is ready to move on. He likes Tracey and dreads seeing her get involved with another man. When her ex’s girlfriend’s friend starts harping about Tracey being a cold fish, among other things, and she decides she needs a man in her life, Brian panics. He steps forward and offers to be her fake boyfriend. The only problem is, he wants it to be real. Once they start seeing each other, will their friendship change to a romantic one? To top it off, he can’t get rid of his ex. Will his ex cause problems?

Readers will sympathize with Tracey and Brian in FRENEMIES WITH BENEFITS by Synithia Williams, the third tale in the Peachtree Cove series. Both have moved on from failed marriages, but they find it hard to get rid of the past. Tracey’s divorce has been pending for a year and her ex wants a lot of what is hers. Will the judge decide otherwise? To compound the issue, her ex thinks she wants him back. The answer is a big resounding no. Brian and Renee had kept coming back to each other during numerous separations, but he finally realized he wasn’t in love with her anymore after she went from his bed to marry her now husband the next day. In FRENEMIES WITH BENEFITS, Brian and Tracey can’t seem to shake their past. Will falling in love with each other change that?

The most important thing Tracey and Brian want is to maintain their friendship and business partnership. In FRENEMIES WITH BENEFITS, they carefully navigate that while exploring their feelings for each other. It has to be with no strings attached or it will cause a problem. They work so well together that they don’t want to change their friendship. Yet, the more they are around each other, the more they find themselves falling for each other. Will they finally get a chance to explore their sexual attraction? Will their exes get out of their lives once and for all?

Tracey and Brian’s chemistry is fiery hot, but they have a few people who want to put out the flames. Readers will be rooting for them to make it work in FRENEMIES WITH BENEFITS. If you love a couple fighting hard to move on from their past and find a future with the one person who can make them happy, then don’t miss this fun and intriguing tale.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

A small town friends with benefits romance between a recently divorced Black woman and the man who's had a crush for years. This was spicy, emotional and full of small town Southern Charm. Perfect for fans of authors like Talia Hibbert or Preslaysa Williams. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

This book had me hooked from the start with its emotional depth and sizzling chemistry. After a painful divorce where her husband betrayed her with her employer, Tracy is determined to reclaim her life on her own terms. Her plan? A no-strings-attached arrangement with Brian, a man who sees her as a friend, but whom she’s always considered an enemy. But as he treats her with real care and attention—something she’s never truly experienced before—she starts to catch feelings, even when she swore she wouldn’t.

Just as she’s ready to take the leap, Brian’s past comes crashing in when his ex-wife returns with drama in tow. The third-act breakup had me on edge, but I loved that he didn’t let his past dictate his future. Their reunion was heartfelt and satisfying, proving they were exactly what each other needed all along.

My only gripe is that the story is written in third person, which isn’t my favorite, but the depth of the emotions and the chemistry between the leads made up for it. If you love a well-executed frenemies-to-lovers story with passion, angst, and a hero who knows exactly what he wants, this is definitely worth the read!