Friends to Lovers is a delightful story that will completely consume you. It's funny, sweet, swoony, and emotional. Friends to lovers is my favorite genre and Sally Blakely, a new-to-me author really nailed it. Told from the female POV, the story flips from current to past and back again throughout. Blakely does a great job providing backstory for the characters which makes you feel like you are right in the thick of the story with them.

I adored Ren and Joni. Childhood best friends, they share a special bond and were inseparable for most of their lives until Joni moved across the country. They made a pact to be each other's plus one at weddings and many of the flashbacks center on their weekend wedding visits. Joni is an artist living in NYC while Ren works in the music industry in the Pacific Northwest. Joni is beautiful, hard-working, determined, and independent. Ren is gorgeous, charismatic, and has swoon for days. Together these two are unstoppable. But there is a darker side to their relationship that nobody knows and that caused them to stop talking for two years. When they have to share a room at their families' joint vacation home, they must face their past, head-on. The story is an emotional rollercoaster that takes you on a full journey. Despite the highs and lows, Ren and Joni find the happily ever after that they are both looking for.

Blakely does a wonderful job of making you feel every emotion that Ren and Joni feel. I found myself fully engrossed in every aspect of this story from start to finish. Blakely's writing is flawless and on point. I am looking forward to checking out more of her books! 5 stars

I fantastic love story that rivals an Emily Henry book! Easy, natural prose and deliciously messy characters. What more could you ask for? I’ll read anything this author writes from here!

LOVE LOVE LOVE. Read this one in one sitting - easy to read writing and the cutest story. A truly perfect summer read!

4.5⭐️ Joni and Ren have been best friends since childhood. When Joni moves cross country, the two make a pact to be each others plus one to every wedding they are invited to. But when lines become blurred and their friendship takes a hit, it will take a summer reunion for her sister’s wedding to finally force them to confront what went wrong.

The People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry is one of my absolute favorite books so when I started this one, it was practically love at first read. While I was a little nervous that it might be a little too close to the plot line of PWMOV, it shaped shifted into something more unique as the story continued.

Friends to lovers and second chance romance may just be my favorite trope combo period. The angst, the nostalgia, the inner turmoil and the intense chemistry all help to amp up the stakes. As soon as we meet Joni and Ren, and get a hint of what went wrong, it’s hard not to be all in. You could feel the tension between them jump off the page, as they mourned the loss of what had been between them while trying to celebrate. Add in the wonderful found family/family reunion vibes and this book is just what I hoped for - angsty, swoony, fun, and full of heart.

I cannot believe this is Sally Blakely’s debut. I am already so excited for book number two.

Read if you like:
▪️friends to lovers
▪️second chance romance
▪️forced proximity
▪️one bed
▪️summer vacations
▪️wedding hijinks
▪️People We Meet on Vacation

Pub: July 22, 2025

Thank you Canary Street Press and HTP Books for the advanced copy.

Oh my gosh this story!!!!! Adored every second of it! The writing style was amazing, I loved that there is different timelines throughout so you really get a feel for all the emotions, the characters A++ Ren is a dream, also obsessed with the fact it’s based off of where I live so I think I fell in love even more.

Thank you Sally Blakely, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press and NetGalley for the eARC!

I was immediately hooked into this book from the first page. Joni and Ren were two characters that I fell in love with as their story unraveled. I enjoyed the story unfolding and their character development individually and also learning what their friendship was and how it developed.

I knew at about 32% through the book that I needed to get through and learn their entire story in one sitting. So I did just that, bid my sleep farewell for the evening and soaked in every word. It did not disappoint at all. I don't find myself becoming attached to characters the way I did with Joni and Ren very often. Sally Blakely did an incredible job of making their story related, their character incredibly realistic, and also added in the right amount of dreamy longing that makes a great romantic story. I never felt the story was far-fetched.

When we meet Joni and Ren, they are smack dab in the middle of being estranged best friends. We are not privy to what exactly created this rift, but instantly feel the tension that the characters feel once back in each others orbits. As the story progesses, we learn about Joni and her own personal struggles with anxiety, her intense dedication to her job, and the struggle that this all brings her, whether she is actively aware of it or not. Ren seems to be living his life the way he wanted, working a job that he loves and was made for, and we get hints as to where he is once he and Joni reconnect. One thing becomes very clear, these two were inseparable since they were in diapers and something went sideways to make that change. The ride that we get taken on is one of understanding and heartbreak in the lows, but also immense joy in the highs.

With their entire families together at their joint summer house, these two need to put on quite a show to avoid turning heads and raising suspicions that they have not spoken in 2.5 years. This becomes a story of how time can feel like an eternity, and never enough in the different moments of our lives.

Overall, I think this one is going right to my list of favorites, and the characters at the top of the list of my favorite leads. My first 5-star read of 2025, and I cannot wait for more people to dive into it and follow Joni and Ren's story.

I received an ARC a few weeks ago from NetGalley for Friends to Lovers, and I’m so upset with myself for not beginning this sooner.

While I have read books like this before, the common trope in no way cheapened the story or the connection between the two main characters, Joni and Ren. They are childhood friends to lovers that join each other as plus ones for all the weddings they are invited to.

We follow them through past and future, leading up to why they haven’t talked to each other for two and a half years. Now, this is the only reason I knocked off one star, and that is because while it is not miscommunication, things could have been different if they had just talked. But, I can see why they didn’t.

Their connection and familiarity was palpable and I was thoroughly invested in their relationship.

Highly recommend!!

It's more women's fiction than romance, but I adore those. I wish more authors would write books like this. A movie with a similar premise is Plus One. So, for anyone looking to scratch that itch after reading this book.

Friends to Lovers by Sally Blakely is an emotional, bittersweet romance that leans into the messiness of long-term friendships and unspoken desires. The premise—a lifelong friendship turned complicated by proximity, distance, and unresolved feelings—is rich with potential, and Blakely captures both the comfort and heartache of being so deeply entwined with someone that you don’t know where you end and they begin. However, while the story has some beautiful moments, it doesn’t fully escape the pitfalls of its tropes, resulting in a charming yet somewhat uneven read.

Joni and Ren’s dynamic is at the heart of the novel. Blakely excels at depicting the ease and shorthand of a friendship built over decades—the shared memories, the inside jokes, and the small gestures that convey more than words ever could. Their tradition of being each other’s wedding season "plus-ones" is sweet and quirky, a ritual that underlines how central they are to each other’s lives. But beneath their easy camaraderie, there’s a tangle of feelings they’ve never dared to name, and watching that unravel is where the story truly shines.

Joni is a relatable and flawed protagonist. Her determination to "fix" things and pretend everything is fine, even when her heart is breaking, feels painfully real. She’s caught between nostalgia for what they once had and fear of what their relationship has become. Ren, on the other hand, is a bit harder to pin down. His motivations and feelings, though hinted at, aren’t explored as deeply as Joni’s, which makes him feel somewhat distant at times. This imbalance means that while Joni’s emotional journey is compelling, Ren’s side of the story feels underdeveloped, which weakens some of the romantic tension.

The setting—their families’ shared summer home by the beach—is idyllic and adds a wistful, summery atmosphere that contrasts beautifully with the emotional storms brewing beneath the surface. The scenes of bonfires, late-night confessions, and quiet mornings on the dock evoke a sense of warmth and nostalgia, making it easy to understand why Joni and Ren feel so tethered to this place—and each other.

The pacing, however, is where the novel stumbles. The first half builds slowly, focusing on the awkwardness of their reunion and Joni’s attempts to avoid addressing the elephant in the room. While this builds tension, it also drags at points, with some scenes feeling repetitive as the characters circle the same emotional ground. The payoff in the latter half, when the truth of their falling-out and their buried feelings finally surface, is satisfying but could have packed an even greater punch if Ren’s perspective had been given more weight.

Blakely’s prose is at its best when capturing small, intimate moments—the way Joni holds her breath when Ren walks into a room, or how a seemingly simple gesture carries the weight of a shared history. However, some of the dialogue, especially during pivotal emotional scenes, feels overly scripted, lacking the rawness that the situation calls for.

At 3.5 stars, Friends to Lovers is a heartfelt exploration of friendship, love, and the fear of losing the person who knows you best. Sally Blakely captures the complexities of platonic-to-romantic relationships with tenderness, but the novel’s uneven pacing and underdeveloped secondary perspective prevent it from fully realizing its emotional potential. Still, for readers who enjoy a slow-burn love story with a touch of melancholy and plenty of sun-soaked nostalgia, this is a worthy addition to the "friends-to-lovers" genre. It’s a reminder that sometimes the hardest part of love isn’t falling—it’s admitting you’ve already fallen.

Like People We Meet On Vacation with a little splash of Happy Place, but still its own beautiful, charming little story, Friends to Lovers is THE beach read I will be recommending this year!

This was a genuinely incredible debut novel, and I loved every second of reading it! As a friends-to-lovers connoisseur, I can state with confidence that Sally Blakely has mastered the art of my favorite trope. Ren and Joni have excellent on-page chemistry, and I loved getting a peek into how natural their progression from friendship to love is. So many lines had me absolutely SWOONING, and I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy to annotate!

If you are a lover of Emily Henry, lover of the friends-to-lovers trope, lover of good writing, or lover of love, you'll love Friends to Lovers. (Did I say "lover" enough?)

Thank you so, so much to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Sally Blakely for this delightful ARC!

When the book said it was perfect for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty, I knew I had to read it!

Friends to Lovers isn't really my preferred trope bc I usually prefer something along the lines of enemies to lovers. However, there was just something different here when the characters go from friends to lovers.

I really like the writing style of Sally Blakely. It was easy to read and honestly can I say immaculate as well? I think that Sally Blakely did a really good job in terms of content with the tropes and the storyline as well as pacing!

Thank you to Sally Blakely, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press and NetGalley for this arc! 💕

***I will post the review on Goodreads in the next few days and I will update this review when I do!

If you’re looking for a cute and light story I’d recommend! The title obviously foreshadows what the plot is about which is what drew me to this book in the first place. (It didn’t disappoint)

This book reminded me of People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry but I actually enjoyed Joni & Ren more. I enjoyed the flashbacks (I always love when authors do this) but found them a little difficult to follow with how it was put together.

Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for this arc. This is my honest review!

4⭐️ - Ren and Joni’s love story takes place over the course of seven years, traveling around the country as each others wedding “plus ones,” against present day at Joni’s sister’s wedding at the vacation home their families co-own, after a falling out 2.5 years before. This was definitely a slow burn, as they were childhood best friends and navigating a major shift in their relationship. There were times I wanted to shake Joni 😂 but thought this was a great debut from Sally Blakely will read her again!

Friends to Lovers is the kind of book that makes you fall in love with love and its characters. You want to be friends with these characters. You want to celebrate with them and you want to cry with them. It’s a book written in a flash back/ present time sequence. It flows nicely and it’s exciting and fun. Highly recommend.

**A Heartfelt, Fun Romance – *Friends to Lovers* by Sally Blakely**

*Friends to Lovers* by Sally Blakely is a charming, feel-good rom-com that had me hooked from the start. Joni and Ren, childhood best friends turned wedding season plus-ones, share a bond that’s been tested by both time and a big, life-changing moment. When Joni returns for her sister’s wedding, things are awkward—and a little more than that—between them. The slow-burn romance and undeniable chemistry between them is so sweet, and watching them navigate old wounds and hidden feelings was pure magic.

The dual-narrative format lets you dive into both Joni and Ren’s emotions, and their journey from pretending to be “just friends” to realizing what they truly want is beautifully done. I loved the mix of humor, tenderness, and heartache—it made me root for them the whole way through.

If you love *The Summer I Turned Pretty* or *People We Meet on Vacation*, this book is for you. It’s the perfect blend of romance, friendship, and second chances, leaving you with a smile and a serious book hangover! Highly recommend!

What an addictive, heartwarming romance this was! Friends to Lovers was absolutely adorable. While it will be the perfect summer beach read when it comes out in July, I’m so grateful to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the arc, so that I could enjoy it a little early!!

I thought this book was very well written. I loved the vivid descriptions of the various settings Joni and Ren traveled to, especially the Oregon beach house. It was also full of fun side characters who kept the story light and interesting. All the best romance tropes made an appearance - not just friends to lovers, but second chance romance, a bit of forced proximity, dual timeline, only one bed… all the good stuff. I just wish there had been an unmarried sibling or friend left over at the end so that we could look forward to returning to the beach house for the sequel!

I agree with the other reviews saying that Friends to Lovers is very reminiscent of People We Meet on Vacation (with essence of Every Summer After, The Summer I Turned Pretty, Happy Place, etc etc), but hey - I loved all those books and I loved this one too. Even though the formula felt a bit familiar, Sally Blakely still found a way to make this story feel fresh and unique. I couldn’t put it down!

I look forward to adding Friends to Lovers to my bookshelf and recommending it to all my friends this summer. Thanks again to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me to read the arc.

This story was so sweet! The friendship, family, and romance was so cute. One of the negatives was how choppy the story felt. I understand the past & present aspect but i got confused sometimes where we were. The ending was my favorite part!

I read this in winter but did I find myself transported to the beach??? YES. Loved this romance, and reading the reviews, saw someone say this was as if Emily Henry's People We Meet on Vacation had a baby with Happy Place, and I could NOT have described it better. It brings to mind Beach Read as well (yes, I'm a huge fan of Emily Henry) and also Christina Lauren's The Unhoneymooners in the sense that it's immersive and brings you to a completely different place entirely. Loved the main leads (all the emotions!!!) and happy to have this in our collection. I will now be on a lookout for all things Sally Blakely!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for allowing me the opportunity to read and review "Friends to Lovers" in exchange for my honest opinion. It is currently January and snowing, but this book transported me to the beach, elevating my mood immediately. I will admit that I am harsh romance reviewer, but I loved this book. Joni and Ren have been best friends and nearly inseparable since they were three years old. Joni ends up moving to NY, but continues to keep in touch with Ren with electronic communication and committing to be each other's plus ones to weddings. In your 20's there is always weddings lol. Joni eventually realizes she has more than friend feelings for Ren, but life and timing seem to be in the way. They end up having a falling out and don't speak for over 2 years. They reunite at her sister's wedding where they have to navigate this awkward reunion and their feelings for each other. I am excited to add this book to my bookshelf once it is released in July.

OBSESSED!

It has been so long since I have read a book that I loved as much as The Unhoneymooners - so now this will be my go to recommendation. I want to be Ren and Joni. Not only is there friendship is just the best, but their romance is just as swoon worthy. This truly combines all my favorite things in a romance book, and I think it will become a repeat read for me. I cant wait for it to be released so I can purchase a hardcopy to have on my shelf, because it is one I want to go back to forever.