This is an excellent debut novel and I look forward to reading more from Amy Buchanan. This is a workplace / enemy to lovers romance. Juliana is a single mom and widow to two girls, Clara and Sophie. She re-enters the workplace as a job recruiter for an engineering firm. She instantly connects with Ben, who works in the architecture department. However, the spell is short-lived after she overhears him complain about her and her children to a mutual colleague. Fast-forward two years later and Juliana is still holding the grudge. Their workplace drama is well-known, but they have to put their differences aside when they are asked to work on a huge project together.

Their lives become intertwined. In addition to work, they have friends in common, and their families also get to know each other. Juliana is still grieving as she tries to sort out her feelings with Ben. Ben on the other hand is patent and sweet. He really puts himself out there and supports Juliana in everyway he knows how. I wish that she was nicer to him and I'm glad when she is forced to accept her own parenting advice. He is an incredible book boyfriend!

They are tested as a couple and Amy Buchanan does a great job of allowing the reader to make the same hard choices that Juliana and Ben have to make. The balance of being a parent and putting your kids first but also balancing what you need for yourself is something many parent struggle with every day.

I enjoyed this book a lot. Thank you for NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a fun romcom, it was a light, easy read with some great feels and thoughts. The novel had humor and heart with a female main character that was easy to root for. Juliana is also a widow and mom trying to do her best. I really enjoyed it but at times, I wanted to tell her to just go with it stop making things so hard. Like a great romcom the banter was witty, the spice was spicy and the whole thing was delightful. The narrator is one of great at bringing things to life in the story and providing the snark. The relationships between the friends were great and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thanks Netgalley for the audio ARC to preview.

I absolutely loved this book! One of the standout features was the dynamic between Juliana and Ben. Unlike many workplace romances where there’s a boss-and-underling relationship, this story avoided that power imbalance entirely, which I really appreciated. Juliana and Ben’s enemies-to-lovers journey had me hooked from the start. The progression from mutual irritation to undeniable chemistry was so well done, and Juliana’s inner thoughts and emotions had me laughing out loud.

Juliana is such a fully realized character—not just a widowed single mom returning to the workforce, but also an absolute rock star at her job. The sensitive portrayal of her husband’s death added depth to her story and was handled with care and nuance.

Ben was a pleasant surprise. He turned out to be a supportive, patient, and deeply layered character. One moment that stood out was when he admitted he was acting a certain way because it’s what Juliana needed at the time, but made it clear it wasn’t who he truly was or how he’d always be. In context, it was such a meaningful and authentic moment.

The audiobook narration was fantastic and brought the story to life. The narrator’s ability to differentiate voices, especially deepening her tone for Ben and the other men, was subtle and added just the right touch without feeling over-the-top.

Overall, this book had everything I look for—great characters, witty banter, steamy tension, and a heartfelt story about finding love again after loss. I’ll definitely be recommending this to anyone who loves a romance with all the feels!

ALC Review: Let's Call a Truce by Amy Buchanan
Pub Date: January 14, 2025
Narrator: Charlotte North

Juliana is grieving the loss of her husband, trying to raise their two girls on her own, and navigating starting working again after being a say at home mom. She's doing the best she can but of course on her first day back at work, she has to cancel meetings due to an issue with one of her kids. While her job is understanding, one of her colleagues is...not. After she overhears him complaining about her and saying that her kids aren't his problem, she declares him enemy number 1. Flash forward two years later and Juliana and Ben still antagonize each other at every turn. When they're forced to work on a new initiative together, they realize that some of those sparks might be more attraction than hatred...

There were definitely parts of this that I liked! I love the three girls together (because Ben is a single dad too) - I thought the kids were written really well and they are often not my favorite thing in romance books. The spice here was also realllll good! Once it started, it went hard and fast, and I was here for it. I also think the grief representation was done really well - I loved that Ben didn't shy away from discussing Juliana's husband and actually invited him into conversation multiple times.

I did struggle with parts of this book. While I initially understood the Juliana's hesitation to really give in to the attraction, eventually I just got annoyed by how long it was taking her to give in. And then of course the second she did, Ben's ex-wife shows up?? I absolutely HATED that entire third act conflict and how long it went on. Again while I kinda understand Ben's motivation there, the back and forth was just too much for me.

I did enjoy the narration by Charlotte North. I'm actually not sure I've listened to her before but I would listen again, even if she's not a new favorite right away.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

After the death of her husband, Juliana Ryan has returned to the workplace with shaky confidence. So it is devastating when she hears her hot coworker, Ben, complaining about her kids and inexperience being a burden to the company. When they are forced to work on a career changing project, Juliana has no choice but to call a truce.

This spicy enemies to lovers, second chance workplace romance ramps of the tension pretty quickly. I enjoyed the fact that the characters appeared to be very realistic single parents and coworkers. While I typically like witty banter, some of the dialogue seemed to move into the snarky for me and felt that repetitive at times. For a debut, I rated this a 3.5. this was a fun read and will be someone to watch.

*Thank you to SMP Romance, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the ARC/ALC in exchange for my honest review*

I really wanted to like this book, but it just didn't hit for me. I didn't like Juliana when she was at work, but the whole point of this book is that it's a workplace romance soooo.... I don't know. The petty pranks were funny though!

I was far more interested in her relationship with her kids and her grief over losing her husband. Any scenes that the kids were in really softened Juliana and Ben to me. The side characters were great overall, and Quinn might even get her own book? I dunno, I just got those vibes. But the big twist at the end was infuriating and I didn't understand why Ben would even entertain it. Like... why are we doing this?? This is just a case of avoidance ruining a perfectly good time.

I feel like the chemistry here was great. i do think the conflict worked pretty well for their dislike.


The audio was fantastic. I feel like the narrators really brought the story to life.

first i want to say the narrator did an amazing job. i was abl to receive the ALC for this and seriously she did such a great job and the production of the audiobook was seriously top tier.

ok now that is out of the way....lets talk about the book itself. i think if you are a fan of lucy score or elena armas then you should reach for this one.

for me PERSONALLY, i feel like the fmc julianna was one of the worsts i have ever read about lol i could not STAND HER! she had one of the worst personalities and honestly i think something about her was triggering for me. she just came across as a mean girl and very dismissive of others. she was also soooo pick me. i did like the MMC ben but at a certain point i wasnt vibing with him anymore..it felt like at the end of the day this couple may stay together but it was gonna be HELL for ben.

i would read more from this author bc the flow of the story was good, there was some unneccessary things and parts like the new joob opportunity but other than that it flowed well. i just couldnt stand the fmc.

thank you so much to netgalley and macmillan audio for the alc!

Who doesn't love an office romance? Especially when it begins as an office rivalry, where both parties are attracted to one another, but some random miscommunication lands them in rival territory for two years. What I appreciate is that there isn't any instant love; these characters knew each other for two years before they decided to call a truce and get along. They have a mutual best friend who also works in the office, yet the two are not very familiar with each other.

The romance is sweet, but I dislike the continuous lack of communication and the random obstacles that are thrown at the height of happiness to complicate the relationship. Life already has enough hardships without the addition of unnecessary trauma. Additionally, if I were the female main character, I would have been sick of tulips by the end of this novel, but to each their own.

Overall, the story is charming and contains some spicy moments, but it follows the typical narrative of this genre like a roadmap. There isn't anything particularly new or surprising that makes it stand out. Despite this, I still enjoyed the story.

Charlotte North is a terrific narrator. 🤩
Story is so super cute. 🤩
Really enjoyed this one!
Got to love a hot co-worker, especially when he really puts on the moves.
So many cute things about this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advance audio copy in exchange for my honest review.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mini Review: I did technically finish it, but there was a lot of skimming in the middle, so I can't really say I "completed" it.

Was I enjoying it initially? Yes and no. I do generally love these tropes and I loved the concept of a widow trying to get back into her career after leaving it to raise children, only to be met with a roadblock in the form of an aggravatingly sexy coworker. I also loved the surprise we get in the middle, though I won't spoil that. Definitely some potential in these concepts, which is why it was so disappointing that I didn't love the story. Every time I would start to get into it, something would pull me right back out again. And then the third act conflict left me with a sour feeling.

Why did I skim? Well, the vibes were off from the beginning, but I loved the premise, so I was hoping things would improve. I began skimming once it was clear that probably wasn't going to happen. The two-year time jump near the beginning throws the pacing off in a big way. I loved the setup, but it wasn't executed all that well. Things improved somewhat in the middle, then the third act conflict kicked in, and it extinguished all those warm and fuzzy feelings. So my thoughts were all over the place with this one.

Who would I recommend this to? Fans of Elena Armas or The Hating Game would be the natural fit, if you're just looking to satisfy that office rivals craving.

Audio note: The audio is fine, nothing special but easy enough to listen to. Charlotte North narrates the whole thing, and she's not a personal favorite of mine, but she is a competent narrator. I find her voice to be a bit snooty sometimes, which works for the enemies to lovers vibes in this, in a way. The runtime (around 10 hours) makes for a full day listen, but the vibes worked well for the format. There's minimal spice - it's certainly not the focus, but it's there. All in all, it's an easygoing listen and not a bad way to experience the story.

A smart, witty, snarky banter filled, enemies to forever, hate to love, second chance romance for two somewhat broken single parents. Juliana is doing all she can to keep things afloat while mourning the loss of her much loved husband. When she goes back to work she meets Ben. He is dealing with some serious fallout in his own life and seems to take out every bit of frustration he is feeling on her. When she hears him talking smack about her behind her back the gloves come off and their hostility is palpable. Be prepared as Ben comes of as a jerk of epic proportions and I had a “seriously, do I really want to finish listening to a story about this blech person?” Keep going. Definitely worth it and so glad I did. It’s a wonderfully narrated listen as they make their way from off the charts hate/attraction bumpy road to a perfect happily next chapters of their lives.

I loved this one! Juliana takes on a new job in HR after being home with her girls for years and after the unexpected death of her beloved husband. The way she constantly learns to balance life with work, kids and self-care is something we moms are always working on. When she has to work with Ben on a project and she overhears him saying something bad about her having to be flexible to be with her kids, she immediately sees him as an enemy. I love the fact that both Juliana and Ben work at the same place and are each older, single parents from different circumstances. Each of them had their own worries and fears when it comes to their own families to overcome. The bickering between the two was brilliant. I love the steamy parts, and it felt appropriate and not too much. The way Buchanan explored grief and a new love at the same time was wonderfully done. I highly recommend this one!

Let’s Call a Truce by Amy Buchanan delivers all the hallmarks of a great second-chance romance, with plenty of tension, witty banter, and undeniable chemistry. Ben Thomas and Juliana Ryan’s journey is filled with bumps in the road as they navigate a complicated mix of personal history and professional rivalry.
From the beginning, Ben and Juliana are antagonistic to a fault, often resorting to immature squabbles that leave you wondering how they’ll ever find common ground. Their verbal sparring matches are sharp and frequent, but beneath the bickering lies an undeniable physical chemistry that’s impossible to ignore. It’s no surprise their friends see the connection before they do, adding to the slow-burn nature of their romance.
What ultimately shifts the dynamic between Ben and Juliana is worth the wait. As with any classic romance, the journey to their happily-ever-after is full of twists, misunderstandings, and heartfelt realizations. Amy Buchanan does a great job capturing the push-and-pull of their relationship, making the payoff satisfying for fans of the genre. If you enjoy enemies-to-lovers with a second-chance twist, this one is a fun, engaging read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 4
🌶️🌶️🌶️/ 3

Wow! This was a heartfelt read. Yes there was laughter and love but I really appreciated the story behind the two single parents overcoming their anxieties and past. What starts off as enemies in the office to a truce eventually turns into love. The journey these MCs take had me flying through this story. It was worth every minute.

Thank you Macmillan audio for the gifted copy.

Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and MacMillan Audio for the gifted audiobook! ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.

Read this if you like: Coworkers, second chances, enemies to lovers, single parent, steamy 🔥

This is such a great debut. The narrator is perfect. I loved the different voices she did. The romance, spice, and angst in this are 🔥 It's complex and deep, but still lighthearted. I highly recommend it!

This was cute. It wasn’t overly unique but the author did a good job getting me into the characters and wanting to find out what happens. I would read more books by her. I loved the audio narrator, she did an excellent job

4/5 stars

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy!

Initial thoughts: this book is sooooo cute!!

I really enjoyed this one all throughout. The enemies to lovers vibes was really fun and well-done; it didn't take too long or feel too rushed. The spice and romance were believable, sweet and enjoyable to read. While I did find the main romantic conflict pretty frustrating, I think the resolution was well-executed and redeemed the book for me.

It can be really hard to include heavier topics, like grief, into romance novels, but Amy Buchanan nailed this. I think she touched on the grief enough so that we, as the readers, kept it in mind while processing the rest of the story, but not too much that it was overwhelming or frustrating. Both of our main characters were so likeable, and I genuinely appreciated them as both individuals and a couple. Plus, like all my favorite romance novels, the supporting characters -- especially the daughters !! -- added a lot of dimension and joy to this story, all of which kept me hooked from start to finish.

First, I will say that I enjoyed the narrator on this book. She’s easy to listen to. I also enjoyed the story and the characters very much. I do not believe I have read/listened to this author before. I am glad I finally had the opportunity to and I will definitely be looking for more of her books.

This was such a knock out of the park for me!
I honestly feel like there nothing I didn’t love this this book. The pacing was very well done - It felt like we were moving, but not flying so fast you can’t enjoy it. The writing was so bingable and enjoyable. You have top tier banter where you’re laughing out loud, but also extremely deep and sentimental moments where you’re on the verge of tears.

It gave everything it needed to give for enemies to lovers in the workplace. Enemies is a tough word to fit, so I would say this is more rivals. You have three kids that just add to the story for me - imo kiddos in books can either add or take away from a story and in this case they were sweet, funny and real and I loved that.

Single mom / single dad is such a refreshing take as well because you constantly see single dad/nanny and i just love seeing new takes on it!

There is a third act conflict, but I didn’t hate it. I feel like it was semi predictable but it ended up adding to the story in my opinion. It allowed our FMC to grow in ways I don’t feel like she would have without it.

LASTLY - the author did a phenomenal job at writing grief in a very beautiful way. She got the bad of it, but also the good in it and having a partner like our MC to hold your hand through the other side of grief was beautiful. It’s a tough topic to touch and she did so great with it!

All in all, i loved this. I will absolutely be reading whatever this author puts out next! For a debut novel, this was very well done and I can only see her getting better from here!