I liked this one. A really good debut novel!
It was a slow burn summer romance, def gave beachy read vibes. I found the dual timelines a bit confusing & maybe it was because of the formatting of the eARC or if this was how it was written. It would go from five years ago to present day with no notice, so that kinda took away from the flow of the story.
Joni & Ren's love story was a stereotypical "we realized we loved each other and it took a long while to figure it out" & I like stories like that.
There was some initial tension with the FMC that i kinda was confused on why it was so secretive, & it was kind of all spewed out toward the end- which in turn- made me think some of the earlier mundane scenes could've been cut out because to me it gave rushed toward the end.. But I really liked the epilogue
Overall. Liked this a lot! Perfect for fans of Annabel Monaghan, Joyce & BK Borison

LOVED!!! I like friends to lovers more than enemies to loves so this was the perfect book!! This was a quick and fun read.

Friends to Lovers sets up a lighthearted romance with childhood friends promising to be each other’s plus-ones to any weddings they’ll attend as adults. After Joni and Ren have a falling out, they begin to reconnect at her sister’s wedding where their past will finally unravel.

I loved the setup of this book, friends to lovers / second chance romance are my favorite tropes and there were certain elements I enjoyed in this novel - the summery setting, laid back atmosphere, and realistic emotional range.

However, it failed to really grab me. I wanted this to be *more* but it was just middle of the road. Especially with People We Meet on Vacation comparisons… it didn’t quite get there. I never really connected with the characters. It felt very one sided, I don’t think Joni and Ren had any meaningful conversations to support this great years-long love story, I was slightly underwhelmed. The lack of communication was so frustrating, not only between them, but also between them and their family members. Joni was locked up tighter than Fort Knox! I just wished I connected with her more and overall to the story. I’m sure others may enjoy more.

Thank you to HTP Hive and the publisher for the review copy.

The concept of this book facing the friends to lovers troupe head on caught my attention. However, the execution was lacking for me. The pacing of the book was too choppy. I didn’t feel like I got the background I needed to love these characters. Instead I got snapshot that I wish were developed more. I didn’t feel like the friendship dynamic between them but felt like the lovers part was lacking for me.

Thank you @netgalley and @harlequinbooks for this sweet, heartwarming ARC. I loved meeting Joni and Ren and watching their friendship grow. The dual timelines added so much to the story and created a sense of mystery that I had not anticipated. While this was a slow burn story, I fell in love with all the characters and loved the way that these two families were so intwined and supportive of each other. I did not understand all the choices made by the protagonist, but I still had to know what happened next.

#summerreads #arcreader #arcreview #arcreviewers #netgalley #netgalleyreviewer #friendstolovers

Friends to Lovers by Sally Blakely
4.5/5 stars ⭐️(rounded up)
3/5 spice 🔥

I’ve been putting off this review because I think I’ve still been trying to digest this book(and procrastinating lol.)
First of all, I should thank Net Galley for allowing me to read the digital ARC. I appreciate every opportunity to find new favorite stories and authors.
This story follows a young woman named Joni who is struggling with her dream job and missing her family and friends on the other side of the country. The worst part is, she’s hasn’t spoken to her childhood best friend, Ren, in two years. At this year’s annual family visit to the summer home, she’s forced to pretend everything is great around her family, act normal around Ren and be supportive for her sister who is getting married during the trip! As Joni revisits all the local haunts and remembers all of her history with Ren, she comes to realize she’s actually fallen in love with the boy she grew up with. Will they? Won’t they? Yadda yadda yadda, slow burn, you get the picture lol
Let me start by saying, everyone is right, Sally’s writing definitely gives Emily Henry vibes. And that’s quite the compliment! Fans of Happy Place and People We Meet on Vacation definitely need to add Friends to Lovers to their TBR.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t completely surprised and blown away by how much I enjoyed this book. I tend to read books by their covers, and stick to authors I know and shy away from those I don’t. I’ll admit it was a bit difficult for me to get into this story. I’ll blame it on the “not kindle/mobile” friendly ARC layout, my late night headaches and a little bit on the odd wording and slow pace in the beginning. I’m not sure if it was just the unedited bits in the beginning, but I had a hard time connecting with the characters and understanding the timeline at the start. Tho, as the writing and pacing improved the further I read, I found myself unable to put this one down. It took me a bit longer than expected to finish (because of the eye strain), but it was so worth it.

There are some mentions of the main character dealing with anxiety, some parts of this felt a little disconnected to me, but overall an okay representation. Definitely no in-depth mental health discussions like Abby Jimenez is know to dabble in. I honestly can’t remember if there’s much of anything else as far as trigger warnings on this one(I really need to take notes when I read…) There was at least one open door sex scene, limited details, nothing obscene or graphic. The focus was more on emotions than the physical acts.

TLDR: If you’re an Emily Henry fan, don’t give up if you are struggling with the first few chapters. It gets better as it goes and you’ll be glad you made it to the end.

Friends to Lovers by Sally Blakely follows two longtime friends who start to realize there might be something more between them. What I liked most was how natural their relationship felt. The slow build from friendship to romance was believable and sweet, without feeling rushed or forced. The characters were well-developed, especially the leads. I appreciated how the author showed their vulnerabilities and the challenges they faced, both personally and together. It made their connection feel authentic. The dialogue was witty and engaging, which kept me smiling throughout the book.

The pacing was just right, not too fast, not too slow. I found myself rooting for them from early on, and the emotional payoff was satisfying. There were moments of tension and humor that balanced each other nicely. If I had one small critique, it’s that some of the side characters could have had a bit more depth, but overall, they added charm and helped round out the story. In short, Friends to Lovers is a heartfelt, enjoyable read that captures the messy, beautiful transition from friendship to something more.

This is a sweet, slow burn, second chance romance told in single POV. Joni and Ren are childhood best friends whose bond runs deep, but life (and miscommunication) gets in the way.
Ren is an absolute swoon. The way he loves Joni is tender, patient, and heartachingly pure. I loved watching their history unfold and seeing how their connection stayed strong even after years apart.
That said, I’ve learned that dual timelines just aren’t for me. The back-and-forth between past and present continued until nearly the end, which made it harder for me to stay emotionally grounded in the story. And yes, the core conflict is fueled by miscommunication, which is my personal reading kryptonite. They spent two and a half years apart when a single honest conversation could’ve changed everything; and that drove me a little crazy.
But the story is well told, the emotion is there, and their eventual HEA was satisfying to witness. If you love childhood friends to lovers with all the yearning and a good payoff, this one delivers.
Thank you to Harlequin Audio for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a cute "he fell first" romance!

I absolutely fell in love reading Friends to Lovers- it was SUCH a cute story! The aspect of having Joni and Ren be each other's "plus ones" to all of their mutual weddings was adorable. I really enjoyed the dual timelines where we would go back and forth between the past and the present. My fav scene- easily the dinner scene at the end🤣 But boy oh boy, this book felt like a giant miscommunication trope (aka, one of my least favorite tropes). Made me want to bash both of them over the head with a toy hammer exclaiming, "HEY! You two love each other! Now KISS!"

All in all, this book was an excellent summer read and would be perfect for anyone who enjoys forced proximity and childhood friends becoming more!

3.75 rounded up to 4 stars. A perfectly enjoyable, sweet romance. The characters were the best part of this story. I really felt like Stevie felt real, and the rest were right behind.

The plot was, as the title suggests, a friends to lovers trope. It was a bit mysterious, but I did wonder if I knew what the mystery was. However, it’s definitely not very important to figure out as it was revealed in the proper time.

I thought the book was a nice read, but not WOW! However, a good romance that I’d read all over again.

Advanced reader copy provided by HTP and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

What a roller coaster of emotions I was on reading this book! I absolutely loved the flashbacks that were well placed throughout this book. The story of Joni and Ren was so emotional and heartwarming, best friends who loved each other but so afraid to admit it to one another. The supporting characters in this novel were very well written and complimented the story being told. I got the HEA I am constantly chasing! Another one to add to your TBR......you will not be disappointed.

(I received a complimentary ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Thank you Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Sally Blakely)

I love a good cozy, light, and heartwarming read, and this friends-to-lovers story hit the mark perfectly! What better way to start the summer than with a beach getaway and falling for your lifelong best friend? I’m truly shocked that this is her debut novel—the writing feels so fresh and engaging. I’m excited to see what future books she has in store for us.

This is the perfect friends to lovers trope. A slow burn romance with friendship, second chances and family. Joni and Ren have been best friends since childhood. She moves to Oregon and they agree to meet every summer to be plus one’s at friends weddings. They lose touch two years ago and are reunited for her sister’s wedding. I loved the emotional depth of this story, the angst, the chemistry and the found family. It is such a whirlwind adventure, perfect summer read.

The perfect summer read!!! This was like watching a 2000’s romcom and I’m obsessed!

Loved the flashbacks, I really enjoy second chance romances & Joni & Ren were so perfect!!

Loved the wedding plus one part of the book, it was so cute to see them together at different weddings. I also loved Joni’s relationship with her siblings!

The beach house vibes were also *chefs kiss *

Thank you so much for the arc!!

4.5 This was a really strong romance. I definitely agree with the reviews that say its a combination of people we meet on vacation and happy place. Would highly reccomend.

Friends to Lovers is a heartfelt, breezy read about two lifelong best friends. The author beautifully captures the nostalgia of childhood summers, the messy transition from friends to something more, and the bittersweet tug-of-war between holding on and letting go. With tender moments under sun-soaked skies and star-filled nights, this story is a poignant reminder that sometimes love hides in plain sight—and deciding whether to fight for it or free it can be the hardest choice of all.

This was everything I wanted in a beach read. I loved the relationship of Ren and Joni. I liked that there were flashbacks to explain the rift in their relationship. It was a fast and fun read and the perfect friend to lovers trope come to life.

This is a good friends to lovers, summer beach read. A bit of a slow burn, and the main characters had major communication issues. But if you're looking for a quick summer escape, this will fit the bill.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

New to this author but I'm getting "Emily Henry" vibes. We also already know the situation - friends turn to lovers - but we don't know the story or the outcome. The story switches from current time and cuts back over the past few years while we learn what happened in the past and how we move forward. This was a great little summer read for me. There were a lot of side characters that I kept forgetting who they were - but it didn't matter too much. Joni & Ren, along with Stevie were super cute characters.

3 stars

this really did feel a bit like an emily henry novel at the beginning but then it veered off and became its own thing. overall a really sweet summer story.

characters 3/5
i really liked the close-knit sweet vibe of their families together and the relationship between joni and stevie in particular. some of the characters felt kind of one dimensional though. and i’m very confused by that one argument scene in the last 3rd of the book because it felt so out of character for everyone??? joni was a bit annoying at times, especially with her (slight) possessiveness over ren when they’re just friends, but I don’t think it detracted from my enjoyment of the book.

plot & writing 3/5
the writing was very smooth, it was easy to get immersed into the story. i felt very invested in joni and ren’s relationship and the pacing was well done. it did feel like the story was going in circles a bit though, the same issues popping up again and again.