Id like to start off by saying thank you to NetGalley, Canary Street Press and Sally Blakely for the opportunity to read this ARC and provide feedback of my own accord.

Publish Date: 7/22/25
Rating: 3.5 ⭐️
Spice: 0.5🌶️ (almost closed door)

Joni and Ren have been friends since childhood with their parents co-owning a summer house further intwining their families. When Joni gets the job opportunity of her life and moves across the country to NYC, her and Ren come up with a plan to stay close- being each others plus ones to every wedding, no matter what. This tradition is religiously kept until something happens and the once tight knit friends end up not speaking for over two years.

Now, her sister’s wedding has everyone coming home to their shared summer house for the week leading up to the big day. Joni and Ren are thrown into the same room and forced to act like nothing has changed over the years. With Joni keeping secrets about her life back in the city and the real reason why her and Ren haven’t talked, everything is bound to go right, right? However, the days spent pretending and the late night chats has Joni rethinking about her relationship with Ren. All the wedding vibes are bringing up old memories, both good and bad and I am here for it.

I really enjoyed this book and loved the dual timeline. It had me captivated trying to find out what was the tipping point in their friendship that caused the riff. Joni’s character is one I loved seeing grow on the page. She does suffer with anxiety, which I feel so many people do today and it’s great to see that representation in the story. Throughout this book I was giving it a 4 star rating, except I wish the ending was longer and not as rushed which is what caused me to give it a 3.5. Even though I wish it was longer, I do think the ending left it open to have 2-3 more books following different characters and I would definitely be open to reading their stories!

This book also has some of my favorite tropes in it:

- Friends to Lovers (duh lol)
- Weddings
- Second Chance
- Childhood Friends
- Forced Proximity
- a dash of One Bed

This book was a cute friends to lovers romance book. It reminded me of People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry. I thought the chemistry and relationship development was really well done. It's just not my favorite troupe in a romance book, which made it harder for me to get into it.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade publishing for this ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed this book so much! The main characters, Joni and Ren were lovable and relatable. I was invested in their relationship from the beginning of the book to the very end. I loved the friends to lovers trope and getting a second chance. I really enjoyed the humor, the tension and the emotional connection the two characters had. I couldn’t wait to find out the ending and I was so excited that the outcome was the one I was hoping for with these two characters. I would highly recommend this book, especially if your fans of Emily Henry books. This was definitely a 4.5 book for me.!

I loved the premise and the emotional depth in Friends to Lovers. The flashbacks were my favorite part—they gave so much heart to Ren and Joni’s story. That said, the pacing felt slow at times, and after all the build-up, I really wanted more time with them as a couple. Still, this was a strong debut, and I’ll definitely be reading whatever Sally Blakely writes next!

My review is below!

3.5 Stars- Childhood besties, two years of silence, one VERY loaded wedding week.

Joni and Ren were best friends for years. Then something happened that blew it all up, and they haven’t spoken in two. Cue the ultimate awkward reunion at a summer wedding where they’re forced to fake being friends again… and the second they’re in the same room, it’s painfully obvious they never stopped loving (or missing) each other.

I was hooked. Their chemistry, the tension, the way they still got each other even when they were pretending not to, so good. The flashbacks were easily my favorite parts and gave the story so much depth and heartbreak. I just wanted to reach into the pages and yell, “You idiots! Talk it out!”

The mystery of what happened between them kept me flipping pages, and when it finally dropped? Worth it. My only gripe is that after they fight so hard to find their way back to each other, I wanted more time with them together. Like yes, the reunion was sweet, but where were my bonus chapters of post-confession bliss?

Still, this one made me feel things. It’s heartfelt, romantic, and full of longing in the best way. Sally Blakely is officially on my radar ! Give me more of this kind of love story, please.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Truly cannot believe this is a debut novel. I was completely engrossed. The characters are all so likeable and real. Ren and Joni are the sweetest friends but also gave so much chemistry.

If you're an Emily Henry fan, definitely read this.

this was going so well... until it wasn’t.

the entire time i was reading this i was like ‘oh this feels really familiar but also like something’s missing?’ then i was looking at some of the reviews and SO MANY said this was like a pwmov knockoff and honestly yeah. that perfectly sums up what you need to know about this book. it felt like someone trying to he emily henry but, like, nobody is emily henry except em hen herself, you know?

i’d also like to remind everyone that friends to lovers isn’t my fav trope so i think if that’s a trope you enjoy then you should give this a shot anyway! like no, i don’t think you’ll be blown away or anything, but you’d prob enjoy this more than i did anyway.

thank you for netgalley & harlequin for the arc! all opinions are my own <3

A great summer read for anyone who is a fan of Emily Henry! Not since People We Meet on Vacation have I read a book where I've devoured the friends-to-lovers trope! This was so cute and a perfect book to sit down with on a sunny day!

I love how the story winds past and present times together. She does an excellent job of creating a picture in your mind. The descriptions beautiful.

The build up was incredible. I felt like I needed to keep reading to see what happened.

3.75 ⭐️ Perfect read for summer.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve seen a lot of comparisons of “Friends to Lovers” to Emily Henry’s books, and I think that’s a pretty accurate comparison. This is a feel good summer romance that has you rooting for two childhood best friends to find love beyond their close friendship! I loved both Joni & Ren and the forced proximity trope in this book was the perfect way to make them face reality!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC to read a review!

🌊💐 Best friends. Wedding season. A love story hiding in plain sight. 😭💘

Joni and Ren were always a package deal — childhood BFFs turned lifelong plus-ones 🤝💌. Every wedding season, no matter what, they showed up for each other. Tux, dress, inside jokes, and all. 👗🤵

Until one night changed everything. 💔💬
Now? They’re faking smiles, dodging feelings, and pretending nothing ever happened…all under one roof at a family summer home, with Joni’s sister’s wedding days away. 🏡🎉

But pretending is hard when:
🌞 The beach brings back memories
🌙 The nights are full of what-ifs
💭 And your heart never really moved on...

This book is:
💘 Best friends to lovers
💔 Second chances
🌊 Coastal summer vibes
🥺 Fake friendship (but real feelings)
📸 Deep nostalgia and emotional healing

Final thoughts?
I devoured this story like my heart depended on it. So tender, so real. Joni & Ren’s journey feels like watching two halves find their way home. 🥹📖


If you’ve ever looked at your best friend and wondered what if…? this book is for you. 💞

Friends to Lovers by Sally Blakely

Quick Take:
Ren and Joni make a pact to stay friends to be each other's plus ones to weddings so they can stay in touch as they grow in their lives and move away from one another. They are really all they have ever known as best friends even though at some points they are sure there might have been something more. There is slow-burn tension, emotional pull, and the ache of the will they/won't they that makes this the perfect summer read for fans of the friends-to-lovers trope.

What It’s About:
Two longtime friends navigate the line between platonic and romantic, until one-night changes everything. After 2.5 years of not speaking, they are forced together for Joni's sister's wedding where they have to pretend to have been friends for all the time that has passed. Forced to confront their years of shared history, unspoken feelings, and the night that complicated what could've been, it’s a “will-they-won’t-they” packed with longing, timing misses, and genuine heartache. I think it perfectly encapsulates the human experience.

What I Liked:
- The friends-to-lovers dynamic was perfectly drawn—slow and layered with real tension.
- The buildup was believable, with the kind of emotional weight that hits you in the chest.
- I felt the heartache, the “what ifs,” and the hesitations—making the payoff that much more rewarding.
- And yes, there’s miscommunication, but honestly? It felt human—maybe a little dramatic in execution, but isn’t that what makes stories like this worth reading?

What Didn’t Work for Me (if anything):
- While some of the fallout and drama felt a little heightened, it didn’t take away from the emotional truth at the core of the story.

Recommended For:
A perfect summer read for fans of Happy Place and The Summer I Turned Pretty. If you love emotional slow burns with messy, realistic characters, this one's for you.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC & Congratulations to Sally Blakely on a wonderful debut novel.

I really enjoyed this story. It's a cute story, with good characters. Would definitely recommend! I rate this 4 out of 5 stars! It would make a great summer read!

Unfortunately, I couldn't really get into this one. Part is likely due to my own life stress currently, but the other is that I found the writing and whole vibe kinda similar to Emily Henry and I'm not a fan of hers. This one just didn't work for me.

4.25 // Cute cute cute!!!

This book is about long time childhood friends and their kind of roundabout story of going from best friends to…lovers! They agreed to be each others permanent plus-ones to weddings, and then things got a little messy. 2.5 years later, they’re forced back together (and sleeping in the same room) for her sisters wedding & their families don’t know they haven’t spoken in almost 3 years.

I adored Ren, I love a man that is just utterly obsessed with his girl. I loved that there was no third act break up, I loved the ‘friends to lovers’ // second chance romance trope & there is lots of forced proximity!!!

I hear this is Sarah Blakely’s debut?! Fantastic & looking forward to what she writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley & Canary Street Press for the arc!

Great character development. The main characters backstory is important and realistic. I wanted to read more to continue with their story and interactions.

Friends to lovers is one of my favorite romance tropes and this book did not disappoint! I loved the friendship that Joni and Ren had throughout their entire lives, going through all the seasons and always being there for each other. I love that Joni and Ren both chased their own dreams but stayed connected, always each other's plus one. When they finally got together, it was everything! Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book!

Synopsis: Joni and Ren are best friends who have been inseparable since childhood and each other’s plus ones for wedding seasons. It is a tradition that has worked until a line had been crossed . Their families share a beach house where they have converged for her sister’s wedding. Joni, wanting to make things perfect for her sister, is willing to fake a friendship with Ren. This week makes her think about what life would be like without him and if she can stand it.
This fit the description of a perfect laid back beach read! I loved the chaos of the family in the background which pushed Ren and Joni to the front. I kept wanting to learn what pushed them apart and kept asking- why aren’t you together? This had so many pluses for me- the banter, the sister who wanted everything perfect, the therapist mother! I loved hearing about Portland and the summer house.
Read this if you like second chance romance, forced proximity and a feel good romance! It made me feel so good and had nostalgic vibes! It made me ready for wedding and summer season!
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I decided to give up on this one at the 37% mark. It reads way too similar to two other books I've read, and I'm trying to get better about DNFing books that feel familiar.

Unfortunately I have read too many of these “childhood best friends, attached at the hip, at least one of them unaware that they’re destined to be together, until a mysterious falling out caused their estrangement, but the details of the falling out will not be revealed until the last third or so, and the falling out will have been stupid and avoidable, and as soon as they breathe a word about it it’s easily fixable, also the structure of the book is alternating “past” and “present” plotlines until they converge” books to be blown away by this. But this was a great addition to the genre! I really liked the characters; I found them honest. You guys know I’m all about a romance with a strong sense of setting—points for that. The Emily Henry fans, the Carley Fortune fans—Sally Blakely deserves your attention!

Perhaps the highest compliment I can bestow on this book—I couldn’t get The Night We Met out of my head while reading it.

Btw… minorest of spoilers but… him paying $100 for her to have what everyone agrees is the most stupid ass sticker is maybe the most romantic thing I’ve ever read.

Evie Bloom and Theo Cohen have been best friends since early childhood. Evie receives the opportunity of a lifetime internship opportunity at the same time that Theo's roomates move out. Due to Evie needing insurance to cover her chroic health issues and Theo not wanting to move, they two decide to get married out of convenience. I loved getting the back story on these two. Marisa Kanter did a great job builidng these characters, and their love for one another.

This book explores chronic illness, abondonment issues, and loss of a parent.