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.

🖤🖤🖤🖤
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.

FRIENDS TO LOVERS – Sally Blakely
Canary Street Press
ISBN: 978-1-335-01424-5
July 22, 2025
Contemporary Romance

Oregon Coast – Present Day

Joni and Ren have been best friends since they were children. Their families share a vacation home on the Oregon Coast, and as they are besties, they share a screened-in porch at night. It’s all platonic. Joni and Ren even attended weddings of various friends and relatives as each other’s plus one. But a couple of years ago, things changed when a sexual attraction crept up between them. Joni rejected it. No way should she have these feelings for her best friend. Since then, it’s been frosty between them as their former friendship is no longer there. However, Joni and Ren are about to be forced back together for her sister’s wedding to be held near the family vacation home on the coast. They will even have to share the screened-in porch at night. Will they survive the closeness, or will they end up forever fracturing their friendship in front of their family?

Their family and friends do not realize that they are not as close as they used to be, so things are sometimes awkward for Joni and Ren in FRIENDS TO LOVERS. In the past, they were able to share anything, but it all changed two years ago with a shared kiss. Joni doesn’t want to break the rules of friends only. She, instead, ended their relationship, and they now rarely speak. Joni has not told him that she was recently fired from the job she loved in New York City. In fact, she hasn’t told her family yet because she is confused as to what the future will hold for her. She has been living in New York City for years, but should she return to her hometown of Portland? This would bring her back into Ren’s orbit.

FRIENDS TO LOVERS is told only from Joni’s point of view, so we don’t see Ren’s feelings or thoughts. Both inadvertently arrive early at the vacation home. No one else has arrived yet. They share awkwardness but agree to remain civil because they don’t want to ruin her sister’s wedding. However, they are again forced to spend the nights on the porch because no one suspects there is anything wrong between them. They are also forced together, namely, to go and get the wine shipment for the wedding. At times in this tale, they are indeed forced to talk, plus we get flashbacks to prior times they got together to be each other’s plus one at weddings. This gives insight into the feelings that had grown between them. After all, when your best friend gets romantically involved with another person, there is bound to be a reaction from you.

How do Joni and Ren navigate the week spent together in FRIENDS TO LOVERS? Will it lead to a change of heart and going after the attraction between them? It’s an intriguing journey and one that readers won’t want to miss. Find out what happens by grabbing a copy of FRIENDS TO LOVERS.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

Childhood friends to lovers ✅
Dual timelines ✅
Second chance romance ✅

All my favorite tropes wrapped up in one little package? Yes, please! I was immediately excited for Friends to Lovers, and while it delivered in some key areas, the execution felt a bit lackluster.

The premise is solid, and there’s no denying the emotional potential in this story. But the entire plot hinges on the dreaded miscommunication trope, and unfortunately, it’s used to the point of exhaustion. Our FMC, Joni, is the queen of not saying what she means...or anything at all really. She's neurotic, judgmental, and constantly pushing away the people who genuinely care about her. I found it difficult to root for her when her go-to reaction was to lie or shut down. It made her feel more immature than complex.

On the flip side, Ren was an absolute delight. Total cinnamon roll with golden retriever energy and not in an over-the-top way. I just wish we’d gotten more of him. So much of the narrative lives inside Joni’s anxious inner monologue that Ren often feels like a sketch rather than a fully realized character. He had so much potential, and I would have loved to see more depth and development.

That said, Sally Blakely’s writing shows real promise. There are moments in Friends to Lovers that shine, especially the intimate scenes. They’re subtle, heartfelt, and genuinely well-crafted. When Joni and Ren finally connect emotionally, it’s magnetic. Blakely clearly has a knack for writing vulnerability and tenderness when she lets her characters breathe.

Who will love this? If you're a fan of Annabel Monaghan, Carley Fortune, or Emily Henry, you might find something to enjoy here. And if you've ever wished The Summer I Turned Pretty had a more adult, introspective take this could hit that sweet spot.

Final rating: 3.5 ✨

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Canary Street Press for an ARC of Sally Blakely’s Friends to Lovers.

About the book:
Joni and Ren have been inseparable since they were kids. Soon after college, Joni follows her dream job and moves across the country to New York. They make a pact to be each other’s plus-ones to all weddings in the future no matter what else is happening in their lives. Then they cross a line and their friendship is damaged.

Now, 2.5 years later with no contact, they are forced together at her sister’s wedding week trip at their families’ summer house and they must face their relationship once and for all.

This book is told in 2 different timelines so the reader can follow along in present and see what happened to them in the past that led up to this point. You can tell that Ren is in love with Joni throughout the whole book. Even when he is dating another woman, he is just waiting for Joni to figure out her feelings.

This book says the main trope in the title, although other tropes included are: he falls first, second chances, first love, childhood friends, forced proximity.

The chemistry and relationship/friendship of Ren and Joni was incredible. I loved reading their interactions and felt so much of what both went through. I was so frustrated with Joni’s refusal to communicate with Ren. This book was everything I hoped it would be. I absolutely loved it. Giving it 4 stars only because I did have a hard time wanting to pick it up at times.

First, I want to say that i got this ARC from NetGalley and the copy I got wasn't the final product. My biggest complaint about this was the editing/formatting. It wasn't a finished product, but the story was good. Also, I don't think I posted any spoilers, but as always with ARC reviews, please proceed with caution. TL:DR - It's a sweet story, read it. I enjoyed it. I think it can be and will be enjoyed by others.

This one goes back and forth in time - something that I wish was clearer with the headers - but I assume when this book goes live it will have those things corrected. That being said, let's get into the story.

We have RAJ, AKA Ren and Joni. They have been besties since they were 3. Their mothers have been besties since college. Their families vacation with each other to their beach home every summer for a week where the two friends have been thrust upon each other. I mean, I make it sound like it was a chore, but they definitely were fine with it. The story starts off with Ren being invited to a wedding and saying he conveniently forgot about it and it would be best if Joni joined him... so being the bestie she is - she's in. After a successful wedding date experience, they make a pact that they will be each other's dates for any upcoming weddings either is invited to.

What could possibly go wrong?

Then the split happens. Joni follows her dream to New York and Ren stays in Portland to pursue his dreams. They still have summers and weddings. But the divide is there. Relationships happen, their relationship strains. They are separated for years and their lives go on. Ren goes to a wedding with his girlfriend. Joni starts to realize she may be jealous. Again, strain. This story goes on. The current timeline is in the summer at her sister's wedding, following two years of no contact with Ren. No one but her sister knows this.

What could go wrong?

Anyway, things have changed for Joni to put her in a different place. She's come to realizations. But has Ren grown? Has anything changed that much? Will they or won't they? I don't know, YOU read it. Would I recommend this? Yep. I struggled with 4 stars, because of the formatting, but honestly, the story was good. I enjoyed it. I think it was a story worth telling/reading. These guys were sweet. There isn't instalove. It's a slowburn for sure. We as the reader know they're perfect for each other, but honestly, we never know where Ren really stands until the end. This is told solely from Joni's perspective and I would have loved to hear from Ren's POV at times, but that added to the drama. This has mild spice - BUT there is spice. I wouldn't call this fluffy, but I would call it a romance. Joni can be prickly, Ren can be prickly, but when they get their stuff together, it feels right.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ .65
Spice: 🫑🫑🫑- I'm not giving it any chili peppers, but it was warm.

Thanks again to NetGalley and Sally Blakely for providing me the ARC for this. I enjoyed this read.

Happy Place x People We Meet On Vacation vibes. Very Emily Henry esq.

I thought this book was so cute! Normally I don’t like it when there are comparisons to other books because it gives (in my opinion) too much of a high expectation. But this was not like that. It was so cute!

Plot: Joni and Ren are lifelong besties who are reunited after a fall out two years prior. Their family and friends have no idea that they haven’t seen or spoken to each other in over two years. We see them forced to attend events and activities together and while try navigating this awkward tension between them. We get flashbacks from prior weddings, all leading up to their fallout.

My Thoughts: I thought this book was so cute and sweet! I loved the flashbacks which was very PWMOV, and navigating the now, Happy Place. I definitely saw where those comparisons were coming from. The side characters were all fun. I loved how the two families stayed friends over and years as each family grew and they still got together every year for a week. I don’t think I connected very strongly to either Joni or Ren, but that’s okay. I think this book is going to be a cute summer read for anyone who loves a good friends to lovers trope.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, The Hive and Canary Street Press for allowing me to read/review an advanced e-copy of this book.

Tropes
-Friends to Lovers
-Forced Proximity
-Second Chance
-Flashbacks
-Single POV
-Clean Romance

Rating: 4/5

Really enjoyed this one, more than I anticipated. I appreciated how quickly the story took off and how easy this made becoming invested in Joni and Ren’s story.

There is a deep and intense love between these two characters For the company, the friendship, just the presence of one another in their life. Then you add the physical attraction between them. By the end of chapter 8 I was thinking “these people miss each other! Please let them get together right now.”

The supporting characters only add to this book. Familial, platonic, romantic, this book is just full of all kinds of love. It just made me happy to read. Additionally, the challenges Ren and Joni face in their personal lives really resonated with me as someone their age. Whether jobs or managing family relationships or long distance friendships, I just felt the author really captured the experience of your late twenties and early thirties with this book.

I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 because I felt the end dragged a bit much. It just felt unnecessary for the storyline for them to not resolve things at the beach house. It came off as a half hearted attempt at a third act breakup or as though the author just really wanted to use a “he came after her” ending.

Overall a great read that I would recommend. Look forward to reading more from this author.

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

Friends to Lovers is as the title promises, but also a close proximity, and a second chance romance. Author Sally Blakely balances all of these well with plenty of awkward in the presence of family in the present at the families shared beach house as they prepare for fmc younger sister's wedding, and plenty of yearning in flashbacks to past weddings where our couple was each other's reliable plus-one. The family dynamics wonderful, the flashback weddings fun and entertaining, the characters growth and conversations stilted and sometimes a bit confusing to follow. The ending did tie up the many plot threads very nicely!!