Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing/Canary Street Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
If I didn't know better, I would have never thought this could possibly be a debut for this author. But it is. And what a fabulous job she did with it. I loved every single minute of this book. It made me laugh, cry, and want to smack the characters at times but all in a good way!
Ren and Joni have been best friends forever. Always each other's plus ones for weddings and experiencing so much together. Until a falling out puts an over two year rift in their friendship. But their families have no idea there's anything wrong. When Joni's sister is getting married, and they are all together once again, it's all Joni can do to keep her walls up around Ren, to keep her distance and not allow him back in. But her walls are really not as strong as she thinks they are, and her heart has never really given up hope that they can heal from what they have suffered through.
This book is a roller coaster ride of emotions. I loved the flashbacks that gave us the build up of the friendship between Ren and Joni. It created such a rich picture of their relationship and how it had formed, progressed, and then finally broken apart.
Joni always tried to be perfect and happy with her job and her move away from her family. Even though she never truly felt she fit after moving from Oregon to NYC. But she doesn't want her family to think she's anything more than holding herself together given her history of panic attacks that tore her apart. She lives her whole life to ensure others don't worry about her. But she never worries about herself and what she actually needs and wants. She closes herself off from her family and friends because she thinks it will save them from anything complicated in her life but it only. causes them to worry more. And, even though Ren has always been the constant in her life, she she shuts him out when she thinks it's best for him, as well. I will say there were so many times I wanted to yell at Joni in this book. To tell her to look at what was right in front of her. To tell her to open her mouth and let others know how she feels. That showing those emotions and having moments of doubt or moments where she might fall apart are normal. That a balance between job and life is so very important but nothing is more important than your mental health. I know she had to learn it throughout the story but I did want to shake her and tell her to snap out of it.
We see Ren through Joni's eyes. I just loved him so much. He is tender and real. You see his love for Joni. You see how much he cares about her. I normally like my romances to be dual POV, but this book was not about Ren. It was about Joni and who she is around all those around her. Especially Ren, who has always seen her and knows her better than anyone else.
I loved all the secondary characters in this book. It was fun to watch how they were important in Joni's life and how they supported her, even when she thought she wasn't worthy of it. Each character helped us see Joni's frustrations that can come with family/found family. But also helped to see the comfort they can bring. There was never an interaction on the page that didn't showcase a move forward for Joni.
The beach house setting in this book is probably one of my favorite settings for romance. And the fact that the two families who own it together continue to vacation their yearly makes my heart so happy. I love tradition and the role it plays in how our lives and personalities are formed. Blakely did a great job with framing the atmosphere and making me really feel like I was at the beach watching this story unfold.
If you're looking for a second chance romance with some forced proximity that's filled with humor and nostalgia, pick this one up. I'm really looking forward to whatever Blakely writes next!

This is a very solid friends to lovers romance story. Our main character is struggling with her family, career, identity and reconciling with her best friend, all set against the backdrop of the west coast and her younger sister’s wedding. This story had good emotional depth which is typically lacking in romance IMO.

Would recommend for fans of Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, and The Summer I Turned Pretty (west coast edition).

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Friends to Lovers by Sally Blakely

⭐️Second Chance Romance
⭐️Childhood Friends
⭐️ Dual Timeline

Joni and Ren have been best friends their whole lives, always plus ones for wedding invites. Until a line is crossed and their relationship is completely changed.

I loved the now and then timeline, explaining how everything came to be and creating a full rich picture of how Joni and Ren deepened their amazing life-long friendship.

Family relationships, work and balancing it all to just be happy are big themes and I loved it! And it includes my favorite trope: second chance romance!!♥️

This fun and heartwarming summer read comes out on July 22, preorder now! Thank you to Sally Blakely, Harlequin and Net Galley for this ARC! ☀️

If you love Emily Henry, especially People We Meet on Vacation, you don’t want to miss Sally Blakely’s debut! 💕

Joni and Ren have been best friends since childhood, in a relationship so close they have matching tattoos. As life takes them on separate paths, they promise at least to be each other’s plus-ones for weddings. We join them at Joni’s sister’s wedding, with flashbacks to several other years. Through this format, we see drama and sadness including unspoken feelings, other relationships, and timing that just doesn’t line up. Fortunately it’s clear to just about everyone that they are barreling down a path to happily ever after.
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FRIENDS TO LOVERS, Sally Blakely’s debut novel, is a friends-to-lovers (obviously), second-chance, forced-proximity romance that is perfect for a summer vacation read.

Joni and Ren, now in their late 20s, have been best friends since they were three. After college Joni left Oregon for a job in New York while Ren’s work kept him on the west coast. To keep their friendship intact the two agreed to be each others plus-one to weddings, which worked out great until something happened that broke their relationship. Now they’re forced to be together at Joni’s sister’s wedding in the vacation house their families share, and no one knows that they haven’t spoken to each other in two-and-a-half years.

The story is told in dual timeline, alternating between the week of the wedding and all the weddings they attended together. I’ve read several dual-timeline books recently, some more successful than others, but it worked for me here because we get a glimpse of how their relationship worked before it all blew up. It was very clear to me where we were in the timeline so I wasn’t flipping back and forth trying to figure out if we’re in the present or the past.

The cast of supporting characters is great and really embodies the comfort and frustrations we have with family and friends who are as close as family.

I enjoyed Blakely’s writing and I’m looking forward to her next book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for the eARC. Opinions are my own.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

They were best friends since the age of three and always served as each other's plus-one, but something happened two and a half years ago that fractured their friendship. Reunited for another wedding, this could be Joni and Ren's chance to mend what broke but it could also be their second chance at love.

I am trash for friends-to-lovers, but throw in another of my favorite tropes, second-chance romance, and the story was bound to be a huge hit for me. How could I resist a love story that started when they were preschoolers? As if!

Ren and Joni's parents had been best friends and even purchased a beach house together. They were always in each other's lives until Joni took a job on the east coast. She and Ren were determined to maintain their friendship and their plus-one tradition. I enjoyed watching their love story unfold at these weddings and thought it was a fun way to visit the past timeline and letting me see those vital moments of their history.

The present timeline was set at the family beach house during Joni's sister's wedding week. Joni and Ren were NOT each other's plus-one this time. In fact, they hadn't spoken in years. The present timeline was filled with lots of wedding fun, but it was also where Ren and Joni finally confront their breakup, where they slowly mend (in many ways for Joni), and where they recover an important part of their lives.

I adored the beach house setting and was rooting so hard for Joni and Ren. Knowing that they had both been walking around with holes in their hearts made mine ache. It was obvious that their feelings ran deep and that they were two halves of a whole. I will admit that when we finally got to THAT wedding, the one that broke these two, I sort of hated the conflict, but I was happy they were getting a chance to make things right.

Friends to Lovers was filled with warmth, humor, and nostalgia. This tale of best friends and broken hearts was emotional and had me fully invested in cheering Joni and Ren on as they followed their hearts and took a second chance on each other.

Funnily enough, the friends to lovers trope is not one I usually go for. But I love Sally Blakely and wanted to try this one out and I was pleasantly surprised! I thought it was a cute summer romance with fun characters, witty dialogue, and it was a fast-paced read. An easy 4/5 stars for me!

Friends to lovers is not usually a favorite for me, but I saw so many good reviews on it that I requested it on NetGalley.

The writing is good-only Joni’s first person POV. I would have loved Ren’s POV.

Joni and Ren are childhood best friends. They are now 29 and 30 and haven’t spoken for 2 1/2 years. They are thrown back together now for her sister’s wedding.

We get flashbacks of when they were still friends. Honestly, I don’t do well with flashbacks that are especially long. I just want the here and now. The only flashback scene that really interested me was the one where we learn what happened to cause them not to speak. It was underwhelming. Joni overreacted to what she hears and if she had just spoken to Ren about it then 2 1/2 years wouldn’t have been wasted.

Thank you to Canary Street Press and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The greatest gift of reviewing contemporary romance novels in advance of their release is standing at the very start of an author’s journey. Reading their debut - the very first words they offer to the world - is both an honor and a privilege. This is exactly what I experienced with the riptide of emotions in Sally Blakely’s first novel, Friends to Lovers. Forget passive waves - Sally crashes onto the scene like a tsunami. Within the initial chapters, you’re drawn in, desperate to know what happens next. You tear through each page, witnessing a remarkable friendship as it blossoms, shifts, transforms, and finally implodes - waiting with bated breath, hoping to see it resurrected before your very eyes.

Once upon a time, Joni and Ren were inseparable. Best friends since they could walk, there was never a moment they imagined being apart. But when Joni lands a new job across the country, everything changes. Inspired by an invitation to be Joni’s plus-one at a friend’s wedding, Ren devises a plan to keep them connected: no matter what, they’ll always be each other’s plus-one. It’s the perfect excuse to make time for one another - until the unimaginable happens, shattering their friendship. Fast forward two and a half years, and Joni is finally out of excuses. Her sister Stevie is getting married, and she has to return home. On top of the anxiety about seeing Ren again, she’s also coping with a recent job loss. It wouldn’t be so bad if her family knew the truth, but they have no idea the friendship is over - or that she’s just been fired. Two families. One house. Far too many secrets. Joni is determined to keep it together for her sister’s sake - until she learns she’ll also be sharing a room with Ren. As the family keeps forcing the “besties” to spend time together, Joni begins to wonder: what if? The damage has been done and too much time has passed, right?

With a dual timeline structure, we jump between the present-day reunion of Joni and Ren and the countdown to their friendship’s demise, as we move from one wedding to the next in the past. It’s an effective approach - one we’ve also seen in People We Meet on Vacation and Happy Place. What really makes this story so compelling is the way those overlapping timelines lean into character development. I find that the more relatable the protagonists, the easier it is for readers to lose themselves in the story. It’s easy to step into their shoes, sympathize, and maybe even empathize with what they’re experiencing. We’ve been them - or we know someone just like them. We understand the rollercoaster of feelings and the endless obstacles life throws our way. That’s exactly how I felt about Joni and Ren.

From the very first flashback, you know you’re entering a story of unrequited love. Their chemistry leaps off the page like fireworks. And yet, you also understand the blinders a long-term friendship can create. This isn’t a story of casual strangers, instant attraction, or enemies with hidden desires. This is about two friends who’ve known each other since they were three. As they move from childhood into adulthood, they face problems we all recognize - staying close to friends and family or moving away to chase your dreams; wanting everything to change while desperately wishing some things could stay the same. 

Joni feels like a compilation of so many trying to find their place in this world and perfectly contrasts Sally’s portrayal of Ren - that friend who stays in your hometown, works the same job with the same company, but steadily moves up the ranks, inching closer to their goals. While Joni is chaos, Ren is calm - her lifeline, her anchor, her support, and her protector. This dynamic paves the way for one of the most heartfelt love stories I’ve read in a while.

What I loved most about this book was the introspection and self-reflection Joni experiences. Here’s a woman known for high anxiety and panic attacks. She’s so determined to prove she has her life together that she’ll do anything and everything to hide the cracks from those who love her most. She reminded me of that line from Frozen: “Don’t let them in, don’t let them see… Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know.” That’s essentially Joni’s mantra. If she can make everyone believe she’s succeeding - that she made the right choices and is moving in the right direction - then she’ll be okay. Any doubts? Just work harder. Any worries? Put in more hours. Watching how she navigates life gave me so much perspective, not only on her relationship with Ren, but also with her sister, her family, and her own mental health.

Of course, every story needs its obstacles, and while I understand the need to build tension, I did find the number of times Joni and Ren are interrupted in the present-day timeline increasingly frustrating. I get that keeping them from truly connecting - or even having a much-needed conversation - is vital to the story, but if one more secondary character walked in or called out, I was going to scream. I suspect the author anticipated this, because just as I reached my breaking point, we finally got the moment we’d been waiting for - not only in the present, but also the elusive answer to that “what happened between them?!” question that’s haunted us for the first 60% of the story.

On that note, one of the biggest challenges with a second-chance slow burn is whether to include the traditional third-act breakup. Readers have waited hundreds of pages for the almost moments, missed opportunities, and high tension to finally pay off. That sweet moment - a kiss, a confession, anything - that shows their feelings are mutual, with the details left to work out in the remaining pages. At 68%, I was nervous. The dreaded third-act break usually hits around 75%. My hope was the established fallout would satisfy the formula, and the present-day connection would hold strong to the end. Apparently, Sally had a secret option B in her back pocket. While I was a little on edge with the direction she took, I was pleasantly surprised that it paid off and gave an even better ending and wrap-up than I could have imagined.

If you love the flashback approach of Heated Rivalry and This Time Next Year, you’ll absolutely adore Friends to Lovers. Sally Blakely has swan-dived into the contemporary romance scene, and I, for one, can’t wait to see which trope she brings to life next.

Spoilers have been removed.

This debut had a lot going for it: a summery backdrop, second-chance setup, and a structure that promised intrigue. I don’t typically enjoy the friends-to-lovers trope, but second-chance romance does appeal to me—and that’s what initially pulled me in.

The writing itself is engaging—light, clear, and easy to fall into—and that’s what carried my reading experience after the first third. The plot is predictable, which is fine for romance, but I struggled with the emotional logic behind the central conflict. The stakes felt low, and I couldn’t fully grasp why things fell apart between Ren and Joni. We’re told they’re childhood best friends, but we’re dropped into the aftermath of something that happened years ago without really getting the groundwork for their connection. The dual timeline structure (counting down through weddings, then the wedding week itself) adds a sense of slow reveal, but I didn’t feel like I got to know the characters any better because of it.

Ren’s feelings for Joni are so clearly signposted from the beginning that the big “reveal” lacks impact. And Joni’s intense focus on her career (stop-motion animation) is treated like a defining trait, but we’re told more than shown. I couldn’t connect with the weight placed on her career setbacks because I didn’t see what her work actually meant to her. Without that, her decisions and the way she “ruined” the friendship didn’t make emotional sense.

That said, the book absolutely delivers on summer atmosphere. The setting—sun, heat, family home, and the sense of a suspended week outside of real life—works beautifully. If you’re looking for beachy vibes and emotional reflection with a touch of unresolved longing, it might hit the spot. I just wanted more depth to make the love story resonate.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for the eARC.

This book just did not strike a cord with me. For some reason after the first chapter I was not connected with the characters and I didn’t really understand her struggle with the guy. I read a few more but it just wasn’t drawing me in.

Friends to Lovers was a delightful mashup of friends-to-lovers (literally) and second chance romance that was a really enjoyable summer read. I wish there’d been a little more emotional resonance for me in the resolution of the “what happened” that drove them apart, but I still enjoyed it and would absolutely recommend for EmHen fans.

"Friends to Lovers" by Sally Blakely is a truly charming debut that delivers on its promise of a deeply felt, second chance romance. If you're a fan of the friends to lovers trope, this book is definitely one to pick up, especially with its lovely dual timeline structure.

Joni and Ren's story is beautifully told, weaving between their formative summers together and their present day reunion at a family wedding. The nostalgia for their shared past, set against the backdrop of the Oregon coast, is absolutely palpable and creates a rich emotional landscape. You genuinely feel the history and the depth of their friendship, which makes the "crossed line" that estranged them even more impactful. Both characters are well developed, and it's easy to root for them as they navigate past hurts and the undeniable pull drawing them back together.

Blakely handles the slow burn of their rekindled romance with care, letting the emotional intimacy build authentically. It's a testament to the writing that the "will they, won't they" tension remains engaging throughout, even though the ending is clear from the title. The wedding atmosphere provides a fun and often poignant setting for their forced proximity.

My only reason for not giving a full five stars is that a few moments felt a little too perfectly orchestrated, or some of the emotional breakthroughs, while earned, could have benefited from just a touch more complexity or friction to make them even more resonant. However, this is a minor point in an otherwise delightful and heartwarming read.

"Friends to Lovers" is a wonderful journey into the complexities of long standing relationships and the courage it takes to risk everything for true love. It's a perfect summer read that will leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling.

Thank you to Canary Street Press and Harlequin Trade Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Ren and Joni have been best friends since childhood. Every summer, they spend time with their families at a shared beach house on the Oregon Coast, making memories they carry with them into adulthood. When Joni gets her dream job in New York City, she and Ren agree to always be each other's wedding dates so they keep in touch. But something changes at a New Year's Eve wedding, and Joni and Ren don't speak for over two years. When they are forced back together for a family wedding at the beach house, secrets are revealed, and both Joni and Ren must decide whether the future holds love or friendship for the two of them.

This was a beautiful love story featuring memorable and endearing characters. The book jumps around in time to slowly reveal Joni and Ren's history, so you are kept guessing what caused the break in their friendship. The mystery kept me turning pages, especially as I saw more and more of the special bond Joni and Ren share. I could feel the longing and heartache coming off the pages in the present-day scenes, and the genuine friendship with some romantic tension in the past scenes. I loved the side characters who rounded out the story and added a lot of humor to emotional scenes. The book also references music a lot (and comes with a playlist); music lovers will appreciate how the many band/song references are woven into the story. I read this book at the beach, and it was the perfect place for it. Add it to your beach bag, for sure!

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Perfect for fans of Carley Fortune or Emily Henry. This gave me the same sort of feelings I had reading People We Meet on Vacation or Every Summer After. I could not put it down and became so emotionally invested in the characters.

Joni and Ren are back for their families joint vacation together on the Oregon coast. But things are different this time, they haven’t talked in two years and no one knows, or knows why.

The duel timeline fills in the blanks about this backstory that kept them apart while the current timeline reveals the tension that is constantly pulling them together despite their past.

It’s a satisfying slow burn where you can’t help but want the two of them to end up together.

I was blown away by this book and immediately went to check if Sally Blakely had other books I could read, and discovered it was a debut novel! She will definitely be on my radar in the future as this just jumped up onto the list of one of my favorite summer reads!

Thankfully I was able to receive a copy of the audiobook as well, which just fed my obsession since I could listen where I left off when I suddenly had to drive kids somewhere and COULD NOT just wait to read when I got home. The narration was wonderful and added to that dreamy summer vacation feeling, really encapsulating the mood and the characters and bringing them to life.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Harlequin Audio for providing me with copies of this book. All options are my own.

This isn't your typical friends to lovers book. The book starts with Joni and Ren not speaking to each other for two and a half years after having been best friends for their entire lives. No explanation as to what happened to cause this rift until about 85% through the book. It drove me crazy. I felt like I was robbed of getting to witness them falling in love. When they finally get back together, it feels like I missed everything leading up to that moment, because I did. I sound like I am saying this isn't a good book, but I'm not saying that. The writing was beautiful and the supporting characters were well rounded. I just felt like for a romance novel, I didn't get a lot of romance. Finally, at the very end I felt like I finally got to the romance. It's a wonderful story with great characters and beautiful writing. I just wish it was in a different order without all the flashbacks so that I understood from the beginning what had happened to Ren and Joni that had caused them to become estranged. I would put this one in the women's fiction category over the romance category.

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4/5

AH I love a debut novel that is just freaking ✨magical✨ & gives me all the feels. I absolutely devoured this one! Sally Blakely stole my heart from the moment I saw the title. Friends to Lovers is by far my favorite trope. And to top that off, HE FALLS FIRST. Like are you kidding me, total SWOON. Blakely is definitely going to be a new auto-buy author for me. I am so excited to see what she puts out next!

Here’s what I loved…

⏳ I love a duel timeline!! It took me a few chapters to catch up to the layout of the book, but once I did…loved how the timing of the two timelines lined up!

💕 I seriously loved Ren so much. I pictured him as Jared Padalecki because this character reminded me of Sam (from Supernatural) had he led a normal life. 😅

🎶 AH I loved all the songs mentioned in this. I was swooning over Ren creating playlists for Joni!

💝 the wedding date pact

🫶🏻 the subtle Taylor Swift mentions

✨ THE CHEMISTRY

🙃 I was about to scream at all the family members interrupting the almost moments between Ren & Joni during the present timeline! It was so well written & kept me on the edge of my seat!

😭 the reasons why Joni enjoyed Ren’s sleep talking

💖 THE moment that Joni realizes she’s in love with Ren

🐓 Fratty Chicken

🖤 I LOVED Stevie!! She was very my vibes.

I honestly thought this was going to make me cry, and I’m still unsure of whether or not it’s a good thing that it didn’t? This book reminded me a lot of Happy Place, but make it childhood best friends to lovers. I appreciated the flashbacks since it helped to give a lot of context. However, their whole conflict was kind of dumb. I get that she would want to try and protect him, but the fact that they would both completely cut all contact for 2.5 years is insane. I did have a good time reading this and overall I had fun, but there were definitely some parts where I was getting annoyed and wanted to stop.

All that being said, I did start and finish this in a day… so that is pretty self explanatory.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio, and Harlequin Trade Press for the eARC and audioARC.

3.75 stars

I liked the overall story and the writing. The setting was really fun.

But I struggled with the reason for it all. “Something” happened that drove these two friends apart but we were 80% of the way through the book before we found out what. That combined with the fact that after not speaking for two and a half years they quickly fell into a relationship. Without talking about what drove them apart just felt weird. The story development and pacing were just a bit off for me. The title and cover of the book are also a little deceiving. They are not friends to lovers. They were friends to nothing to lovers.

But overall I did enjoy the story and will read more from this author.

Thank you to Canary Street Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest opinion.

As someone who married their best friend, I get it. Friends to Lovers is a very easy summer read, I completed it in one day. But the beginning was really hard to get into. The time jumps and amount of wedding references was confusing until a few chapters in. It’s also hard to tell what year it is, with a reference to a Ms. PacMan machine but also the song Mr. Brightside by the Killers. Did the same generation come of age during those two points in time? Personally I found Joni’s mom to be incredibly annoying. And the friendship between the two sets of parents wasn’t fully fleshed out to make me care. Overall, this book is very okay.