4.5⭐️

Wow! Wow. WOW! Something about me, a childhood best friends to lovers that becomes a second chance romance, will do it for me every time. Written well it can be a masterpiece. Friends to lovers by Sally Blakely knocked it out of the park!

After Joni's new job moves her across country away from her very best friend, Ren and Joni make a pact: they will be each other's plus ones to every wedding they attend so that they are able to see each other every year as life takes them on two different paths. However about two years ago something happened and Ren and Joni stopped being friends, but due to the closeness of their families have kept up the pretenses.

Presently, Ren and Joni are back staying in the same beach house in preparation for another wedding however this time they have to fake a friendship. How hard can it be pretending to be the once friends they were as new and old feelings come back to the surface?

I just loved this book so much! It had a very similar style to People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry and I just loved how the book flowed together. I could feel the angst, tension and despair between these two people that were without a doubt made for each other. Everything in this book made sense and I loved the struggles that they faced and the side characters that brought this family to life!

Really loved this second chance romance and the slow burn behind this book.

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I loved this book! It reminded me a lot of the ex vows by Jessica Joyce. I honestly liked this one more. The friendship depicted was believable as was the tension. I would recommend to friends and definitely read another book by this author!

This book is so cute the typical best friend who love each other and then after a one night the feeling grown more know to each other. Slow burn friends to lovers romance book. It’s duel point of view, it is very well written there really no toxic energy in the book compared to an average romance books.

As soon as I read it was like a grown up Summer I Turned Pretty I immediately requested and so honored to have been given this ARC!

This was such a sweet story. I loved Sally Blakely’s writing style and just the whole book. I enjoyed the spice level as it wasn’t too much; but definitely intrigued and drew you in. I’m a sucker for friends to lovers so this was a no brainer!

Joni and Ren's bond is the kind of friendship that feels both effortless and profound, and I found myself completely invested in their journey. From the very first page, you’re drawn into their world with the kind of emotional depth that makes you feel like you’re not just reading a story, but living it alongside the characters.

The premise is both simple and brilliant: best friends who share a special tradition of being each other's plus-ones at weddings, despite the distance that grows between them. But when the lines of their friendship blur, things take a painful turn. Joni’s return home for her sister’s wedding introduces a tense, yet incredibly relatable, dynamic as she and Ren navigate the awkwardness and raw emotions of a friendship that's been torn apart.

What really stood out in this book was the delicate balance of friendship and romance. The slow burn of Joni and Ren’s evolving feelings for each other is handled with nuance and care, building with perfect tension without ever feeling rushed. I found myself rooting for them, hoping they would find their way back to each other, even as they struggled to confront the past that stood between them.

The writing is engaging, and the setting of the shared summer home for the wedding added a lovely backdrop of nostalgia and warmth, making every moment feel that much more poignant. The secondary characters are well-developed, adding layers of complexity to the story without overshadowing the central relationship.

The emotional stakes are high, and Blakely doesn’t shy away from exploring the messy, painful realities of love and friendship. The ending is both satisfying and cathartic, leaving me with a full heart and a renewed belief in second chances.

ARC provided by Netgalley

I’m not sure I could have loved this book anymore. Sally Blakey has just been added to my must read author list!

Her debut novel gives me Carley Fortune vibes. Her book— while clearly a love story— has so much more depth and storylines. Creating a whole world that feels real and that I quickly became so invested.

Blakely unfolds the history of a friendship and two whole families over years. By moving between the past and the present, we get a full picture of so many family members. Understanding where they come from, their personal struggles, and how that impacts their relationships.

At times it pained me to have to put this book down to do life 😂 I was so invested and curious what would come next. It felt much less predictable than many other books. Giving a really unique, original story.

While there were only a few sexual scenes they were brief and not graphic. If you’re looking for a clean romance, I think you can easily skim over the few scenes.

I so enjoyed this book! Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Friends to dating story told from a present and past POV. I enjoyed the story being told with different timelines; it kept the intrigue and attention in wanting to know how the characters got to their current situation. It was a light, refreshing, and entertaining read.

I loved this book. It reminds me of a similar book where a wedding is occurring in the days the story is set in and is happening around all the drama between the main characters. I liked all the interloping storylines between the FMC and all the other secondary characters, besides the MMC. I liked the flashbacks, seeing them grow and their love blossom. Joni and Ren's love story is one of my favorites in that they were best friends and then became lovers and I like those romances because relationships, especially lifelong ones, are so much sweeter if its base is in friendship. I won't reveal more because spoilers but I seriously cannot wait until this book is released next summer. Overall, beautiful story!

I want to thank the author Sally Blakely, NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC.

This was my first Sally Blakely novel, and I loved it!

This book was so funny, cute, and angsty that I couldn't put it down. Now, it was a single POV, which we all know is not my favorite, but I think it worked really well for this book. I think it probably helped the pacing, which was spot on with the dual timeline btw.

I also really enjoyed the characters...like all of them. There were moments, especially early on where I had no clue who was related to whom, but I soon figured it out! Anyway, I enjoyed all of them, even if I didn't really see any side characters I was dying to hear more about.

Thank you so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press, and NetGalley for the arc!

My heart!! This was such a sweet read. I was rooting for Ren and Joni throughout the entire book. Their connection felt real and you could tell how much they cared about each other. I adore them.

I really enjoyed the writing and highlighted so many quotes that just made my heart melt! If you enjoy Emily Henry’s books, would definitely recommend adding to your tbr.

Can’t wait for the release day to get a physical copy.


Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Canary Street Press for the arc!

It was evident from the very beginning of the strong bond and connection that existed between Ren and Joni. As she eloquently said when noticing him.across the room, "there you are". Yes, there was separation in which she thought she wss doing him a favor in fleeing so that he could pursue his dream job; however, that came at such a sacrifice that she truly became a shell of herself. She was only existing and buried herself in.work that would never give anything back in.the form of true happiness. That is why her losing said job was so difficult because that was her only form of self worth. I was glad that in the context of Stevie and Leo's wedding how all came to realize the importance of love and strong connections. History does mean something. This is a great love story that it does all work out even in time apart. The right person, the one who supports you and loves you unconditionally, is out there.

this book was comprised of all my favorite tropes - childhood friends to lovers, second chance romance, alternating timelines, forced proximity, YEARNING, tension, a man obsessed ... shall i continue?

If you liked Emily Henrys People We Meet on Vacation and Happy Place and were wondering what would happen if those two books had a baby then you can stop wondering and just read this book.

Ren and Jonis mothers are best friends from college and their families co-own a summer beach house together. They have grown up together and have been best friends for longer than either of them can remember. Ren has been in love wtih Joni most of his life, but it takes Joni a little longer to realize that she also loves Ren. Unfortunately their timing SUCKS and one fateful night implodes their entire friendship. They spend 2.5 years not speaking but are brought back together for a week at the beach house in preparation for Jonis sisters wedding.

I loved getting their origin story in well-timed flashbacks and then watching them struggle with their feelings in the present day. It is so obvious to the reader how much these two love each other but their communication skills after years apart are lacking. They can never seem to get the romantic side of their relationship off the ground and their timing never seems to be right, but their love for each other and their friendship is strong enough to work through all the kinks.

Of course this is a HEA but you will have to work hard for it to get there.

Friends to Lovers gave me strong Emily Henry vibes and I am here for it!

Ren and Joni’s chemistry was insane. They had me giggling and kicking my feet the whole time I was reading.

As someone who tries to limit my book buying, I can’t wait for this book to come out so I can get a physical copy for my shelf!!

I really enjoyed this story and the depth that we got for each of the characters! It gave me warm fuzzy vibes which were great for taking me out of a stressful week. Thank you so much for letting me read this advanced copy!

4.75 ⭐️
joni and ren have always been best friends since they were little kids and their families are very close. they has always been so much chemistry but, both have been too afraid to act on it until one night two years ago. that night ruined their friendship and joni moves as far away as she can. fast forward and joni sister stevie is getting married which means they will be forced to interact with each other. this was such a cute romance book that totally gave me emily henry vibes!!!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All of my opinions are my own.

If you love books by Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez, you will love this book. This book follows two childhood best-friends, Ren and Joni, from being friends, to having a falling out, and the tale as old as time question "Will they or won't they?"

I was kicking my feet and giggling the whole time reading this book. While I'm not usually a fan of books that time jump, this book does it really well that it didn't bother me. I liked that we got to see Ren and Joni really fall in love, and then how they managed the fall out from their friendship breakup. Their chemistry was insane, and there was so many times I wanted to shake both of them to open their eyes and kiss already! I also loved that their lives were both a little messy and complicated. So often I read books where the characters all have established careers and things have always perfectly worked out professionally and it's just their love life that needs work, but that's not the usual experience people have. Life is messy and work is hard, and fitting work into your personal life is even harder. I like how this book captured that.

The one thing I wish this book had was a POV from Ren. I would have loved to get more of an insight to his view on things because it's clear Joni is an unreliable narrator. I'm hoping the author will consider doing a bonus chapter in the future at least.

This is the perfect vacation read when you want to ignore your family and be sucked into the perfect love story.

Best friends since birth, Jodi and Ren were each other’s forever wedding dates. But two and a half years ago, they went from being each other’s person to not speaking. Now they’re back together for Jodi’s sister’s wedding. Can they rekindle their friendship or more?

This book very much gave a mix between Emily Henry and The Summer I Turned Pretty vibes with 30 year olds instead of teenagers. I enjoyed that Sally Blakey used flashbacks of previous weddings the main characters attended to tell the story of their friendship. I wish there was a more catchy title, but I bought into the relationships in the story and really enjoyed this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the eARC.

Joni and Ren have been inseparable best friends since they were three. After moving to NY, Joni keeps in contact with Ren via phone calls and plus one dates to weddings. Somewhere along the way, Joni realizes she has feelings for him, but life gets in the way and they end up having a sort of falling out and don’t talk to each other for 2.5 years.

While back in town for her sister’s wedding, they see each other again for the first time and have to navigate the awkward reunion, and start to explore their feelings for each other again.

This is a sweet second chance, friends to lovers romance that will have you rooting for the main characters.

It has a great summer and beach vibe that had me looking forward to winter being over even more than I already was.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Sally Blakely for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

**ARC REVIEW**
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing, NetGalley & Sally Blakely for this copy of Friends to Lovers!!!! 🤍 BUCKLE UP!!!!!!!!!
I don’t even know where to begin. THIS BOOK HAS ME IN A CHOKEHOLD BRO. I would say it’s a friends to lovers (obviously), but also a second-chance romance. This book gave me the same vibes as Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation AND Happy Place. And I say that to the highest regards!! I love a flashback timeline/story and the reader is trying to figure out what’s happened. I love love love Ren and Joni AND now they hold a special place in my heart. I’ll be screaming about this book from YEARS to come. Anyway, if you can’t tell…. I’m obsessed and clearly giving it a 5 star. Duh.

⭐️: 5.00 !!!
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