Overall, a cute friend to lovers' story. I struggled with the first part of the book, and didn't really feel invested in their story, but it began to pick up around 30% into it. After that point the reading went fairly quickly. I enjoyed the history between Joni and Ren and their shared memories, but I did struggle with the writing style (the reason behind only 3 stars). I think most who enjoy this type of romance will enjoy it.

Thank you to Salley Blakely, Canary Street Press, and Netgalley for the eARC of this book!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

Friends to lovers lives up to its title! It’s a cute, slow burn book with a happy ending! It would be a great book for a beach read, and as someone who lived in the PNW, I love the location.

I will say the slow burn did read too slowly at times, I had a hard time getting through it at points because it was development not progression. The author did well with character development, explaining family dynamics, and making it relatable and lovable.

Overall, a cute book!

I devoured this book in one day, I couldn’t put it down! This book follows Ren and Joni, two best friends who have been inseparable since childhood……..until they cross a line and go two and a half years without speaking. When a family wedding brings everyone back together at the beach house they spent every summer at, the sparks fly and so do the secrets!

You follow the journey between past and present, taking you on an absolute roller coaster ride of emotions. I felt like I was living in the moment with the characters throughout each time in their lives. This was everything I needed in a friend’s to lovers romance, and I absolutely adored the characters. Ren and his love for Joni is perfection!

✔︎ yearning
✘ this would have been so much creepier without mutual yearning. which is how it usually goes.
✘ communication? never heard of her.

many thanks to harlequin trade publishing, canary street press, and netgalley for the advance reader copy.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I really wanted to read this book but ultimately the copy provided was oriented horribly and it was so hard to read.

Things I liked:
I like the idea of two people becoming friends before they become lovers because I believe that that’s the best relationship, to be friends with the person you’re in love with. Joni and Ren, were a cute couple and seemed to really care about each other and want what’s best for the other.

Things I didn’t like:
The story was a Slow Burn but I kind of felt it was a little too slow, then again, I don’t think I’m a fan of Slow Burn. It was also a little too much push and pull, and what I mean :by that somebody would be one person pushing the other person away, usually Joni pushing Ren away.

I also don’t like when an author turns a romance into a mystery, and the reader has to figure out what happened between the couple even though deep down they’re pretty sure they know what happened. Joni was constantly pusing Ren away, thinking worst case scenarios.

Things that drove me bonkers:
Joni’s mom and sister. Her mom was all over her all the time acting like she was five. “Joni talk to me, tell me what’s wrong!’ Stevie was the worst sister. I have three sisters

This book had a slow start for me, but around the 40% mark it sucked me in, and I absolutely devoured the rest of it! I also liked how a few of the side characters really stood out and made the story even more rich. Strong finish to the story. Really liked this one!

This book is truly a combination of people we meet on vacation, happy place and summer of broken rules!! It was so good and really tugged at my heartstrings . Joni and Ren have been best friends since they were 3 but they've never crossed that line until they eventually did and everything comes crashing down. The book alternates between the past and present and it was done so smoothly that I couldn't put the book down. The entire book is so beautifully written and descriptive that I felt like I was right there at the summer beach house with the characters. It's the perfect summer read. Such a great read!!

Thank you so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

I enjoyed Friends to Lovers so much! It had serious Happy Place (Emily Henry) and In A Holidaze (Christina Lauren) vibes and I just love imagining the chaotic yet wonderful family beach house dynamics. Once again, I really liked the way it was structured to have the past and present timelines steadily move towards each other. It was such an enticing way to keep me guessing. The way Sally Blake describes finding a forever love tugged at my heart and I definitely cried more than once by the end. A very cute read!

The way the author weaves family dynamics into a long time coming relationship was great. Seeing how the family history keeps these characters trying to push away from each other to preserve those dynamics only to fine they were being rooted for all along!

Such an adorable romance read! This would make for a perfect beach read since it’s easy to read and super fun!

Thank you to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

SYNOPSIS: Best friends Joni and Ren have been inseparable since childhood. Their families even share a summer house… So when Joni moves to NYC from Portland, they make a pact to be each other’s plus ones every year for wedding season, no matter what else is happening in their lives.

REVIEW: This book was everything I had hoped it would be!! I purposefully drew out the process of reading it because I truly did not want it to end! Think People We Meet on Vacation remixed with Happy Place … so EmHen fans will adore this (literal) best friends to lovers, second chance romance, forced proximity, it’s always been you, rom-com.

The dual timeline gives the reader a glimpse into the ebb and flow of Joni and Ren’s friendship and the little moments together that really just tug at your heartstrings. I enjoyed all parts of this book, but I have to say my favorite parts were Joni and Ren coming back together during Stevie and Leo’s wedding weekend… the stolen moments that are relatable and make you both laugh and cry.

I can’t wait to see what Sally Blakely has in store next! What an incredible and well-written debut!! 5/5!!!!!!

Instagram (POSTED 4/26/25):
4/5 ⭐️
2/5 🌶️

Friends to Lovers by Sally Blakely explores the (un)friendship of Ren and Joni as they navigate hiding their secret while preparing for Stevie’s wedding. Anything and everything can happen in a week.
.
This book started off slow but picked up in the middle and took off at the end. I would compare the writing style to Emily Henry, a little dense and takes some getting used to. Overall, this book was a cute read filled with that palpable tension. If you are looking for a summer read with a he fell first trope, this is for you!
.
Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Sally Blakley for the eARC.
.
#arcread #bookreview #netgalley #friendstolovers #salleyblakely


GOODREADS/FABLE/STORYGRAPH (POSTED 4/26/25):

4.0/5 ⭐️
2.0/5 🌶️

This book explores the (un)friendship of Ren and Joni as they navigate hiding their secret while preparing for Stevie’s wedding. Anything and everything can happen in a week.

It was a slow start where you had to sit down and really focus on it. The writing was on the dense side but after you got used to it, it was smooth sailing (think along the lines of Emily Henry’s writing style). Once you got used to it and read further, the pace started picking up. Sally Blakely flashes back between the past and present to paint a picture of why Joni and Ren are in the current place within their relationship/friendship.

If you’re looking for a summer read where he fell first and you can tell, this is it!

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Sally Blakley for the eARC. All opinions are my honest review/take on the book.

Sally Blakey’s Friends to Lovers is a warm, emotionally resonant romance that captures the quiet, powerful evolution of a relationship built on trust, laughter, and years of shared history. With a soft, slow-burn pace and beautifully drawn characters, Blakey takes a familiar trope and makes it feel deeply personal and refreshingly sincere.

The chemistry between the leads is undeniable, but what truly stands out is the emotional intimacy—those small, everyday moments that gradually reveal something deeper beneath the surface. Blakey writes with a keen understanding of how love often grows in the spaces between words, in glances that linger, and in the comfort of simply being known.

The dialogue is authentic, the pacing tender but never dull, and the payoff is every bit as satisfying as you’d hope. Friends to Lovers is a heartfelt reminder that sometimes the love we’ve been searching for has been beside us all along.

Friends and Lovers is a nostalgic, slow-burn romance that captures the ache of lost friendship and the hope of second chances. Joni and Ren’s journey from childhood besties to something more is both tender and romantic, set against the backdrop of dreamy summer weddings. A charming debut with heart, humor, and just the right amount of angst. Perfect for fans of friends-to-lovers stories.

A great summer romance featuring two of my favorite tropes friends to lovers and second chance! I absolutely was hooked on this book and finished reading it in one sitting. The dual timeline was great and I was captivated to find out what had caused these former best friends not to speak one another for two and half years!

As Joni and Ren are forced to see each other again at Joni's sister's wedding surrounded by both of their families, they put on a fake display that they are still friends. This book reminded of Happy Place by Emily Henry and The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce. The chaos of Joni's sister's wedding and meddling family members added to the tension in the book. Both Joni and Ren were great characters! The book was a light read but still had lots of substance.

Thank you Sally Blakely, Canary Street Press and Netgalley for this digital arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
friends to lovers by sally blakely (ARC)

thank you @netgalley for the ARC! this book is the perfect beach read! it was like a cross between the summer of broken rules and happy place (two of my fav romances ever). the characters were so cute and i loved their story. i finished this in just over 24 hours and i could not put it down! the playlist at the end is also SOOOO GOOD! pleaseeeee add this to your summer tbr! ☀️🩵

This was such a cute book! Sometimes I forget how much I really enjoy contemporary romance and this book really hit the nail on the head for me - it had tension, it had banter, it had the build up - it really just had it all for me.

The jumping timeline had me going back a couple of times to see which timeline we were currently in, but otherwise I really enjoyed this!

Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin/Canary Street Press for the eARC - I can't wait to have a physical copy to add to my shelves.

I enjoyed Friends to Lovers. I think in the beginning that it was obvious that something romantic happened between them years ago, but didn’t know exactly what happened. Was it just a kiss or something more. It did drag on in some parts, but overall I liked this book.