3.5⭐️ | 1🌶️

This was such a sweet romance!

I really enjoyed the story—it was fast-paced, engaging, and had a surprisingly compelling small-town setting. The subplot about the community coming together to build up their mall businesses was something I didn’t expect to love as much as I did.

Tracy and Ryan had great chemistry, and Ryan was an absolute gem. He was a fantastic communicator, the king of acts of service, and completely smitten with Tracy from the start. It was refreshing to see such a genuinely good guy as the love interest.

I also have to give credit where it’s due—this was the first third-act “breakup” I’ve read that made complete sense and felt entirely justified.

That said, I struggled with the narration style. Third-person POV isn’t my favorite, and I found it kept pulling me out of the story at times.

Overall, a charming romance with a lovable hero and a unique small-town backdrop!

Thank you to NetGalley, The Hive, and the author for the ARC.

3.75 Stars rounded up

This book was honestly a lot of fun. It was somewhat heavy and very realistic. Tracey has just finalized her divorce from the man who knocked up her business partner while they were married. She is ready to move on from all of the rumors in this small town, and what better way to do that then to get involved in a physical relationship with a man you've known for a long time that also happens to be a vendor that you work with frequently.

This was a story of growth and finding yourself while moving on after bad relationships. I wish this book would have had a little bit more angst. With a name like "Frenemies with benefits" I wanted a bit more tension and banter, but Tracey and Brian were more friends than frenemies.

I wish I would have read the other two books in this series before jumping into this book because I feel like I missed out on some of this couples' back story, but this book can be read as a standalone. If you're thinking of picking this up, I do suggest reading the other 2 books in the Peachtree cove series first. I do plan on going back and reading them. I loved all of the friend groups in this book so I am excited to go back and get some of their stories.

I was provided with both an audiobook and an e-book arc. The audiobook was really well done and I feel like the narrators did a wonderful job with these characters.

Tracey story had lots of drama and twist and turns. Finally divorcing her cheating hubby getting to rediscover herself is what she needs. As we get a bit of retrospective view of her life I have to wonder why it took her as long as it took her. But lucky Brian is there to show her what she deserves. But of course things aren't always easy and there are some hiccups along the way.

This book was so good. I have always loved seeing black love in literature. This book was so realistic in its disfunction, but it also showed that love can still grow and thrive in bad conditions. Brian was the perfect man for Tracey. He was patient, kind, and just understood her. It's rare to see black women in literature but its even rarer to see black men. I loved that while this story exemplified black love, It wasn't based on stereotypes or black trauma. I loved seeing Tracey realize that she deserves better and that she didn't take any crap from anyone. Overall I just loved this book and the black love in it.

Tropes 🌻

🌻Frenemies to Lovers
🌻Small Town Romance
🌻Missed Connection

What I Loved 🧡
🧡Brian and Tracy’s friendship was the most realistic friendship I think I’ve ever read in a Friends to Lovers
🧡Brian saved Tracy before they were together time and time again
🧡When the opportunity for a miscommunication trope appeared they shut it down and communicated like normal adults!!

I had a lovely time reading this and I actually haven’t read the other parts of this series but I didn’t feel like I was missing anything! That being said I for sure will be checking out the first two!!🌻🧡

Frenemies with Benefits was a fun, messy good time. It was light and funny and most importantly the pacing was really good.

Hotelier Tracey is at the center of a scandal after her husband’s affair with her business manager leads to a shocking pregnancy. With the divorce finalized—and the town gossiping no matter what she does—Tracey enters into a friends-with-benefits arrangement with charming nursery owner Brian. Will she discover love along the way?

This is a satisfying story of growth about a woman who leaves behind a manipulative husband and the unrealistic expectations of her dysfunctional family. Strong and smart, Tracey claims what she wants from her life. Brian cares about her needs and helping her become her best self. It’s a lovely novel.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

First, I’ll say this is a Slow Burn and I enjoyed reading their story!
Small town romance between Tracey and Brian, they’ve both been through some issues and now they’re learning to trust and love again. Tracey a divorced woman who owns a Bed and Breakfast, she’s trying to get back on the dating after she found out her husband was cheating.

I think when a man falls in love first the romance will be amazing! Just my thoughts :)

Fav Quote: “Your friend with all the benefits”

Thank you to NetGalley and the Harlequin Trade Publishing for eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synithia Williams, the characters were perfect, and it was a perfect read for the weather here in Dallas, TX.

Loved the slow burn aspect and the chemistry between the main characters. This was my first book by this author but I’m definitely excited to see what else they have to offer.

Frenemies With Benefits is a small town romance that was a thoroughly enjoyable book to read. Brian was just the man that Tracey needed in her life after going through the drama with her ex-husband, Bernard. All of characters as well as the storyline were well-developed. I loved how both Brian and Tracey weren't looking for a relationship but love unexpectedly found them. I also loved how Tracey finally found her voice and was able to find the strength within herself to finally have the life and love she deserved. The author did a wonderful job with the rest of the relationships in book as well especially between Tracey, Halle and Imani. They had each other's backs through thick and thin. I couldn't stand Tracey's ex-husband, Brian's ex-wife, Renee, or Monique. I wanted to throat punch all of them for causing issues with Brian and/or Tracey. This book was a great ending to the series that I highly recommend.

I’ll preface this by saying I didn’t read the first two books in the series, so I came in knowing nothing! All that to say, I’m not familiar with the writing style or storytelling for this author.

However, I thought this book was written well! I didn’t see the two characters are frenemies because their interactions were clearly flirty and obvious, but maybe in the previous books there was more of the frenemies trope. I liked the world building for this small town, painting a very realistic view of a place where everybody knows everybody and the gossip is quick to come back to you. I also enjoyed the drama and the messy-ness that unfolds about Tracy’s marriage because what!!!! On the other hand, I wasn’t very invested in this romance for some reason (maybe because of the slow burn). There were a lot of subplots with family that felt repetitive, but it was nice to see the backgrounds of each character. A lot of mixed feelings about it, but overall a solid small town romance story.

This is a first time read for me by this author and I was immediately impressed. The story scratched an itch I didn't even know I had until I realized that this is a series. It didn't read like I was missing too much either.

It was amazing heading back to Peachtree Cove! The series feels so comforting and welcoming. I love how intertwined the characters and their lives are. Tracey's story picks up during her divorce and I really appreciate her character arc in this book. It's powerful to watch her rebuild her life and her bestie but not, Brian, is such a wonderful MMC. He's available and supportive and their chemistry was hot!!

Overall: 3.5
Spice: 2

We are back in Peachtree Cove and this time we how Tracy is doing the drama in the previous book. This books the FMC decides to come into her own and start living for herself instead of living for everyone else. It's powerful to see her become the strong and sexy woman she has always been.

This was a great conclusion to the Peachtree Cover series. There was some foreshadowing that occurred in the previous two books and we get to see how that plays out in this book. Tracey is a woman who is going through a divorce from her cheating husband and we see her really giving herself a second chance. She's giving herself a second chance at life, at her business, and love. While initially afraid to embrace a relationship with someone from her past, we see how he helps her with giving her the confidence at all those second chances she deserves in life. This was such a beautifully written book about a woman hiding herself after a divorce while learning to love herself and her new life.

If you love a slow-burn romance with the perfect mix of drama and chemistry, Frenemies with Benefits by Synithia Williams is a must-read!

Tracey Thompson has spent her life as the town’s favorite topic of gossip—never in a good way. Now divorced after her husband’s scandalous affair with her bed-and-breakfast office manager (which resulted in a baby, no less), she’s determined to rebuild her life on her own terms.

Enter Brian Nelson—aka Mr. Fine—who has baggage of his own. His wife cheated on him, and though she’s now struggling in her new marriage, he has no interest in revisiting the past. Brian and Tracey cross paths often due to business, and while she insists he gets on her nerves, deep down, she’s always liked him. Brian, on the other hand, won’t admit his feelings—but let’s just say he doesn’t handle it well when Tracey starts dating other people.

Their solution? A no-strings-attached arrangement. Just benefits, no emotions. At least, that’s the plan. But while they both fight their undeniable chemistry, everyone around them can see what they refuse to acknowledge—they’d make the perfect couple. The real question is: will they take a chance on love, or will they keep playing this game forever?

This book was a fantastic read! If slow-burn romances aren’t your thing, you might struggle, but if you love a story filled with tension, passion, and just the right amount of drama, Frenemies with Benefits will keep you hooked. It definitely gets my stamp of approval!

📖💖 I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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This was a good book. I don't think that they were real frenemies though, they both had feelings for each other for a while. If you like a small town romance, this one is for you. Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Canary Street Press for allowing me to read this book!

A great love story about two friends who overcome some obstacles in order to get the love they both deserve. A beautiful story of family and community. Even paced and very heartwarming. Not too much drama but just enough to hold your attention. You’ll be rooting for the main character and the time capsule at the end was a touching surprise.

DNF. I tried listening to the audiobook first and I think the narrator threw me off with the accents for every character that I just couldn’t get into it. I even tried just reading the ebook but I couldn’t still hear the voices.

Brian and Tracy aren't real frenemies. What they are is a couple who are both re-starting after divorce who turned around and realize that their friend is actually right for them. This is set in a gossipy small town with some characters who are not very nice (or smart about love). Brian and Tracey however,. find their way to love. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Yes it's trope-y but it's also fun.