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.

I have absolutely loved every moment spent in Peachtree Cove, and I’m genuinely sad to see this series come to an end. This small town has felt like a second home, filled with unforgettable characters and heartwarming stories. I can’t help but hope the author decides to revisit Peachtree Cove in the future—there are just too many possibilities for more amazing stories. (Hint, hint!)

Now, let’s talk about this book. Tracy and Brian’s love-hate relationship was everything! It added such a fun and fiery dynamic to the story, keeping me completely engrossed from start to finish. Their banter, their chemistry, and the way their relationship evolved—it all had me hooked. I have to say, Tracy might be my all-time favorite character in this series. There’s just something about her I connected with right from the beginning. She’s fierce, relatable, and her journey felt so real.

This book was the perfect blend of romance, drama, and heartfelt moments. The way everything unfolded kept me on the edge of my seat, and it was so rewarding to finally get answers to the threads woven throughout the series. If you’ve been following the story, you’ll know what I mean when I say, “Oh my gosh!” This book tied it all together in such an awesome way.

What I loved most about Tracy and Brian’s story is how it reminded me that love often shows up when you least expect it. Just when you think you’ve given up on ever finding the right person, life surprises you—and sometimes, that person has been right there all along.

This was such an amazing conclusion to the Peachtree Cove series. I truly didn’t want it to end, but I can’t wait to see what the author writes next. And if there’s any chance we can get a story about the parents from the first book, I’ll be first in line to read it. Just saying!

I enjoyed this book so much! The characters had me wanting to see what happened next! I have definitely enjoyed reading this series. This book is amazing!

4.75 ⭐

I was hooked from page one. I wouldn’t say this is a true enemies to lovers but more friends (kind of) to lovers. It’s a small-town romance that follows Tracey and Brian. They both are going through a similar journey of learning to love and trust again. I loved that the MCs are mature and have open lines of communication. It is a slow burn….and once it heats up it's perfect. I would highly recommend it!!

✅ Workplace romance
☑️ Small town
✅ Slow burn

This is a new to me, author. I really enjoy Tracy and Brian‘s story. This is a small town romance. I love how the fact that the author made it realistic they basically was enemies not really enemies but that later turn into lovers, Tracy and Brian‘s parents pissed me off so bad the unrealistic love story that they want more so Tracy‘s father because he kept going back to his ex-wife he wanted his daughter to do the same with her no good tracking as ex-husband. He told Tracy down every chance he fucking got the point to wish he had to learn what she liked and didn’t like in her sex life. It came a point in the story where I just thought Tracy was going back to her ex-husband and Brian is about to fall for that ex-wife for His again when I said, I was so happy that Tracy did not go back to her ex-husband of the heat and told her down numerous tabs told her she would never be good for nothing and then have the nerve to think he’s gonna get a piece of her her in that she built from the ground that he did not think Was going to be successful and then had the nerve to cheat on her with her manager and had a baby I just I just knew she was about to go back to him and I’m glad she did it.


Tracy and Brian deserves all the success for the business that is coming to them. This is the third book in the Peachtree Cove series. I ran out of order, but I will go back and read the other two books before this one.

📖 +🎧 : Frenemies with Benefits, Peachtree Cove #3

✍🏾 Author: Synithia Williams- Read The Secret to a Southern Wedding-4⭐ and Waiting for Friday Night- 5 ⭐


📅Publication date: 2-11-25 | Read 1-20-25

📃: 304 pgs. e-ARC

🗣️Narrator: Adenrele Ojo voices all characters with a great southern accent for Tracey, Brian, and other characters. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrator worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrator paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.

🏃🏾‍♀️‍➡️Run Time: 9:38

Genre:
*AA Interests
*Contemporary Romance

Tropes:
*small town
*family drama
*divorce/exes
*friends with benefits
*cover lover
*high school crush

👆🏾POV: 3rd person, dual

⚠️TW: h and H cheated on, toxic parents-h, alcoholism-h's father

🌎 Setting: Peachtree Cove, GA

Summary: Tracey is going through a divorce after eleven years when Brian told her about her husband's cheating. They went to high school and secretly liked each other but never acted on it. Neither Tracey or Brian wants a serious relationship, so they come to an arrangement of "friends with benefits."

👩🏾 Heroine: Tracey Thompson-35, owner of The Fresh Place Inn

👨🏾 Hero: Brian Nelson-36, runs a plant nursery

🎭 Other Characters:

* Halle + Quinton-Tracey's BFF + Brian's BFF
* Imani + Cyril -Tracey's BFF + Brian's BFF
*Bernard-Tracey's ex-husband
*Loretta-Tracey's mother
*Jessica-Tracey's new assistant
*Monique- Tracey's ex-assistant, Tracey's husband's pregnant mistress
*Renee-Brian's ex-wife
*Gretchen-Brian's mother
*DeWayne-Brian's older brother, an investment banker
*Makayla-1st millionaire in Peachtree Cove, teaching an entrepreneur class Tracey and Brian enroll in.

🤔 My Thoughts: I saw the cover and requested this ARC immediately. Tracey reminded me of Bernadine from the movie Waiting to Exhale from the drama with her husband to her makeover. I loved how Tracey's friends supported her and gave her "tips" for sexy times with Brian. Both loved their jobs looking to expand their businesses. Tracey's parents were co-dependent and couldn't stay away from each other.


Rating: 4/5⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice level 4/5 🔥🔥🔥🔥

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing| Canary Street Press, Harlequin Audio, and Synithia Williams for this ARC and ALC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

I really wanted to like this book but honestly I just felt kind of meh about it. It got really repetitive, like a scene would happen, and then later the character would repeat it verbatim to another character in a few pages. I would have also appreciated more well rounded female characters (besides Tracey of course), it just felt strange that Monique and Renee felt like such flat mean girls. Also, the writing style/ dialogue felt a little clunky at some points. That being said, it was a quick read for me and it was really reminicent of Gilmore Girls with an inn and a quirky small town.

I so enjoyed the return to Peachtree Cove catching up with the best friends. The growth shown by Tracey after the change in her life as well as dealing with her unstable parents. I wish I knew what the future held for Brian and Tracey, Great story with drama. friendship, forgiveness, and patience,

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of Frenemies with Benefits.

This was a fun time, I'm really in my small town era and I'm loving it, I didn't necessarily see Tracey and Brian as enemies like the title suggested but the benefits part? Yesssss.

This wasn't too heavy on the drama although there were several characters that had me rolling my eyes and wondering where they got the audacity.

Frenemies with Benefits held my attention the whole time, funny, smart, entertaining with the perfect amount spice.