Best friends since childhood, Ren and Joni make one misstep that fractures their relationship… will they be able to get it back? 👥

4.5 ⭐️ Let’s address the elephant in the room first - this book is going to get a lot of comparisons to People We Meet on Vacation, as the premise is somewhat similar. To take it a step further, I can see some comps to Happy Place as well, since there’s an element of pretending everything is fine for the sake of the characters’ families… which I’m sure will lead to the “stop trying to be like Emily Henry” comments. 🙄 Hot take - books can share set-ups and plot points and still be fully original, as I feel this book was. Yes, I got PWMOV vibes as I was reading, but it didn’t bother me in the slightest. I love EmHen as much as the next gal, but she doesn’t own the market on friends-to-lovers with some sort of incident and dual timelines just because she wrote a really popular book with those elements. 🤷🏻‍♀️

With that said 😂, I loved this book, and it was such a pleasant surprise! I don’t always have high expectations for debut contemporary romances, but I thought this knocked it out of the park with great writing and a solid sense of place. I liked the dual timelines, with half of the book being set at various weddings where our MCs were always each other’s plus-one. This timeline is where you lead up to “what happened,” and I appreciated that it wasn’t quite what you assumed it would be that broke the friendship. I did sometimes get confused as to which timeline we were in (this may be an ARC issue), and the reveal could have happened faster for me. And gosh, did I want to shake our FMC, Joni, at times. 😂 Even so, this had a great ending, and I really, really loved it! It would make such an amazing movie!

My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for a complimentary advance copy of this eBook, out 7/22/2025.

Two childhood friends who are each other's forever wedding dates each cross a line and ruin their friendship.

Ren and Joni have been friends since forever. Both of their families are very close and they grew up with each other and visited the combined family summer house each year. When Joni moves away to New York, her and Ren agree to be their forever wedding dates so they can stay close and have excuses to see each other to keep their friendship strong.

After one wedding, when things go too far, their friendship fractures and they cut all ties.

Two and a half years later, they both return to their families shared summer home for her sister's wedding and they have to fake their friendship since no one knows they had a falling out. Being around each other day and night for all the events leading up to the wedding starts to peel back layers of regrets and the tension starts to ease between them but can these friends get to a place where they can revert back to old times or will they fight for more?

Gah! This was such a great summertime read! The tension between them was strong and palpable. The contrast of how at ease they were with each other in the flashbacks really showcased how close of friends they were compared to the awkwardness of their present day. It was really well done. You knew something monumental had to have happened to drive these two away for them to not speak for a few years. Ren’s the ultimate book boyfriend and Joni was just neurotic enough to make you simultaneously adore her and be annoyed by her.

The tension, the push/pull, the old memories and flashbacks, the meddling family and friends, it was all there and I enjoyed the heck outta it. Read this book if you enjoyed Emily Henry’s Happy Place.

I will be posting reviews on my instagram page @mycuppacoffee_books on release day 7/22/25.

I'm a sucker for the friends-to-lovers trope, and I really enjoyed this one. This is what I wanted "Love and Other Words" and "Every Summer After" to be, along with a dash of "People We Meet on Vacation." It is a bit of a slow burn, which I like. I felt invested throughout and personally liked the pacing.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the ARC.

Giving this one a generous 4 stars! It took a little while to find its stride for me, but once it did, I really enjoyed the read. I loved the dual timeline, though I’ll admit, it was occasionally hard to follow. A simple design tweak (like repeating the year or using distinct fonts for past vs present) could’ve made the transitions feel smoother. This could have also just been an issue with the e-ARC.

This is definitely a book I'd recommend for People We Meet on Vacation lovers, though I actually liked this one more. The chemistry between Joni and Ren felt more palpable and the spice was gooood. It did kind of come out of nowhere, I think there could have been a bit more flirty touching/banter to set it up. Ren was dreamy in the best way and Joni was relatable, which I liked. Their dynamic kept me hooked, and the slow build made the payoff extra satisfying.

And I really appreciated how quickly things wrapped up at the end without dragging the resolution out too long.

My only real critique is the portrayal of Joni’s mom—she felt a little too over-the-top and lacking in empathy, especially during the rehearsal dinner scene. That moment took me out of the story a bit, and I think toning it down (IE: maybe not having her blame Joni for causing a scene when it was literally her that did it) would have helped.

Overall a heartfelt read and a well-done friends to lovers romance!

It took me a minute to get into the book, but once I was hooked, that was it! I love a good childhood friends-to-lovers trope, and this was right up my alley! The banter was great between the two MCs and the way the timeline alternated between the past and present kept me on my toes because just when I thought I would finally find out what happened between them it would take me to a different timeline!

Overall, it was a fun read and I was rooting for them by page 5!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC!

4.5 ⭐️

This was so good!

Friends to Lovers follows childhood best friends, Joni and Ren. After Joni moves to a different state, the two friends decide that they will always be each other’s plus ones at any wedding they are invited to so they can remain in touch. However, everything changes after one eventful wedding, breaking apart the once impenetrable friendship between Joni and Ren.

With Joni’s sister now getting married, the two have to pretend like they’re still friends, even as past heartbreaks and truths are revealed, and questions about love and friendship are brought to light.

I had a feeling I was going to enjoy this book, and I was so right. I literally was smiling the entire time I was reading about Ren and Joni. One of the main things I liked was how realistic the characters and friendship in this book felt. They were so adorable, and it was easy to fall in love with them individually, as well as together.

This book is told in flashbacks and present time, and there wasn’t a moment where I felt bored or thought I was being taken out of the story with the dual timeline. I actually really liked the flashbacks and the way they helped to build the relationship between Joni and Ren.
The slow burn of the developing and growing feelings between the two was done so well, and I thought the more technical aspects of this story aside from the plot, like writing, were also great.

This was just a wonderful romance book that was sweet and cute but also had its emotional and moving moments.

If you are a fan of authors like Emily Henry, the friends-to-lovers trope, and are looking for a fun summer read, I would definitely recommend reading this one!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

Friends to Lovers is a genuinely lovely read that hits all the right notes for a perfect summer romance! Joni and Ren have an undeniable bond, and their journey from childhood friends to something more is beautifully told through dual timelines. From the perfectly paced romantic tension, to seeing how their relationship evolved, shifted, and endured over the years, this book truly captured me. The weight of both characters' shared past and unspoken feelings simmers beneath the surface.

While I devoured this book, there were a couple of tiny moments where I wished for a bit more direct communication between Joni and Ren. Sometimes it felt like they were just on the cusp of a big conversation, only to pull back. However, this did make it more of a slow burn as well.

Overall, Friends to Lovers is a warm, emotionally satisfying, and wonderfully written debut. This book is perfect for fans of People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry, capturing the friends-to-lovers, romantic feelings, and dual timelines. 4/5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Friends to Lovers is a tender romance that beautifully captures the messiness of love and friendship. Joni and Ren’s bond feels authentic and heartfelt, and their reunion at a summer wedding is packed with emotion, nostalgia, and second-chance charm. A lovely, beachy read for anyone who believes the best love stories start with friendship.

The perfect emotional summer read! I loved seeing the different time lines & the way their relationship shifted from childhood friends to lovers! The tension of “will they, won’t they” was perfect. I love a forced proximity, second chance, friends to lovers plot.

I really enjoyed this book a lot. I loved the dual timelines and seeing how Joni and Ren’s relationship change over the years. Their chemistry and slow burn was really good. I loved their family and friend group too. There was a lot of emotions in this one and it really helped you understand what Joni was going through. This did give People We Meet on Vacation vibes and I happen to love that book! I think this book just has the classic issue of the two main characters not always communicating very well. There were even times when they would say out loud to each other that they needed to talk and still never did. I devoured this book though. I can’t wait to read more work from this author!
🎧
I listened to the audiobook. Patti Murin really helped the emotions of Joni come to life. I believe the narration is a big reason I devoured this book so fast. It was a good time!

I very much enjoyed this summer romance and it is a 4.5 star romance. Joni and Ren were a great leading pair and I liked a lot how the storyline was a little different to the standard falling in love, breakup and getting back together plot line. I think the storyline here was quite clever and I’m not going to share more to not spoil the reading fun for anyone. The characters are Joni, who is unorganised at times but in a cute way and Ren, the perfect counterpart for her. Joni isn’t the most open person when it comes to sharing her feelings and that contributes to the storyline. I liked her as a female lead. Ren, as the male lead character was very warm and caring toward Joni and basically everyone of the cast. He was a great addition to the leading character pair. All in all I think this is a perfect summer read for poolside or outdoor reading and in general just a good romance. Very recommendable!

This book completely swept me away. With its breezy, sun-soaked lake house setting and emotionally rich storyline, it’s the kind of summer read you want to savor, but I absolutely devoured it. If you’re a fan of Emily Henry’s Happy Place or Beach Read, prepare to fall in love all over again. The chemistry, the heartache, the slow-burn tension, it’s all here, and it’s executed flawlessly.

At its core, this is a friends-to-lovers romance with a second-chance twist, and it hits all the right emotional notes. The lifelong bond between Joni and Ren is beautifully layered, filled with longing, unspoken feelings, and the kind of history that makes every moment between them feel significant. Their relationship felt so authentic that I found myself holding my breath during the most heartbreaking scenes and smiling like an idiot during the sweet, tender ones. The romantic tension practically leapt off the page.

Told in a dual timeline, the structure added depth without ever becoming confusing, just another example of how skillfully this debut was written. Honestly, I had to keep reminding myself that this was a debut. The author’s voice is confident, emotionally intelligent, and completely engaging. I am blown away.

This book had everything I look for in a romance: heartfelt tropes, meaningful character growth, undeniable chemistry, and an idyllic setting that makes it a perfect beach or lake read. It’s fun, it’s full of feeling, and it’s one I’ll be recommending all summer long.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced digital copy. All opinions are my own—but trust me, I adored this book and can’t wait to see what this incredibly talented author writes next. Five stars, without hesitation.

4 stars! This was such a fun, warm, and emotionally satisfying read. I loved the dynamic between Ren and Joni—their chemistry, the banter, and the slow unraveling of their past had me hooked. The dual timeline was done so well, and I really appreciated how the flashbacks added depth to their story without ever feeling confusing.

It gave me major Love and Other Words meets Happy Place vibes with just a touch of The Hating Game flair—and honestly, I’m not mad about that combo at all. The side characters were great (even if a couple of the moms needed to chill 😅), and the wedding setting gave it that extra sparkle.

Big thank you to NetGalley for the ARC—can’t wait to see this one out in the world!

I absolutely loved this book. It had a wonderful beachy/lake house vibe (making it a perfect summer read!), but it also demonstrated the complexity of lifelong friendships and relationships and how they may morph as time passes. If you're a fan of Emily Henry, specifically Happy Place and Beach Read, you will love this book too. Five stars all around!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced digital copy of this title. All opinions are my own.

I adored this book! It had everything I was looking for in a friends-to-lovers romance. The fact that it was also second-chance elevated it even more! I know I have said this several times in the last year, but debut novel who?!?! Because this read like a seasoned author. The idea that they had been so close throughout their entire lives while secretly crushing on each other was pulling at my heartstrings. It pained me so much listening to the heartbreaking parts of the story. The only thing that took me out of the story was a couple of spots where the audio engineer didn't catch duplicate phrasing and there were a few times where it seemed like the narrator did pickups and they didn't cut down the dead time in-between. Overall, it did not take away from the story or how much I enjoyed the story. I just wanted to mention it since this was an ALC. I cannot wait to see what this author does next!

This will be one of my favorite summer reads for 2025. What a well rounded story filled with the best tropes, great characters, and gave me all the emotions.

The tension between Joni and Ren comes right off the page. Dual timeline done right. This whole book had me triple checking because I really thought I was reading an Emily Henry book and I am HERE FOR IT! How on earth is this a debut? Sure to be a bestseller and one everyone should have in hand at the beach. Please give me more books like these. I couldn't put this down.

Joni and Ren have been best friends since childhood. Then Joni moves away and they vow to be each others plus one for weddings to stay in touch. Along the way the friendship line blures and now they are back together for a summer wedding. They have become estranged and not sure what is going on in each others lives.

Joni has lost her job and is questioning the decisions she has made. Your heart really aches for her. I liked the dual time lines and watching Joni and Ren change. The meddling families trying to stay in their business was comical. They have so much history together and finally find their way back to each other.

It is a fun friends to lovers, summer romance read.

I loved this book! The setting was fun and had a great sense of place. The characters were complex and interesting. The MMC was swoon worthy and the FMC was relatable. The spicy scenes were sexy and gave all the feels. I was rooting for them wish it could have been even longer. My only frustration was that they didn’t realize they were in love sooner. Alas, that is friends to lovers in a nutshell. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

DNF - But May Revisit

I really really wanted to like this book. But immediately I wasn’t meshing with the writing style. I tried to keep going, hoping I would get used to it, but sadly I had to give up. I still love the plot and I think this definitely can be a great summer beach read. This is just the case where I just couldn’t do the particular style.

Thank you to NetGalley & HTP Books for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

I adored Sally Blakely’s Friends to Lovers! Following long-time best friends Joni and Ren as they navigate a pact to be each other’s plus-ones to weddings, the friends simultaneously navigate growing feelings and what it means for their relationship and lives. Loaded with heart and plenty of right-place-wrong-time, Friends to Lovers was an enjoyable and quick read.

ARC via NetGalley

Goodreads review