🌲 Book Review🌲

Title: Friends To Lovers
Author: @sally.blakely

Thank you so much for this ARC & ALC @netgalley and @harlequinbooks

The book:

Friends To Lovers follows Joni and REN whom are childhood best friends. When Joni moves to the East Coast and leaves Ren behind in Portald, Oregon they make a pact to stay in touch and be each others weddings plus one’s. This all changes when their friendship has a fallout. After years of silence they both reunite for Joni’s sister’s wedding. Even though things are awkward they pretend to be friends and ignore what happened between them. This is until they realize that old connection between them still exists and brings them to face unresolved feelings.

What I thought:

I loved that this story was told in dual timelines as it brings a better understanding of Joni’s and Ren’s friendship. I absolutely adored their characters! This was a sweet, flirty, and heartfelt slow burn love story. My soul was crushed when their friendship took a downfall due to miscommunication really, but, the ending was heart rewarding.

If you love a summer romance, second chances and friends to lovers trope this is the book for you!

As much as I loved this book…it felt a little too similar to People We Meet on Vacation. We have a MMC who chose to stay in his home town and a FMC who chose to move to NYC to pursue her job. They always travel together, hook up on a trip, things fall apart, and then a wedding forces them back together. All the while, the FMC is struggling with the job she swore was her dream but is now crushing her. And the MMC goes back to the ex when they have their falling out, moves in with her, and almost marries her but just can’t because of the FMC. I knew it would be a trope-heavy book based on the title, I just didn’t expect to read the same story in a different font. I like the characters and the premise a lot, I just wish it had been a little more unique. I read both the ebook and listened to the audiobook. The narration is okay, but not great. Overall, I had a good time reading this book and flew through it. I received an advanced copy of this book as part of the Hive influencer program. Thank you, Harlequin for the chance to read and review this story!

Friends to lovers perfection, right there in the title!
Im a friends to lovers fan every single time. Give me that slow-burn, tension, shared history any day. This story was everything: adorable, charming, and full of the kind of chemistry that simmers under the surface in the best way.

Joni and Ren were made for each other. Watching their friendship unfold again, this time with all the messy, tender, grown-up feelings, was so beautiful. They genuinely like being around each other, and it’s not just about the sparks (though trust me, they’re there). It’s about history, understanding, and that rare kind of connection that only comes from knowing someone since childhood.

This is such a heartwarming summer read that’ll leave you smiling.

Friends to Lovers is the story of Joni and Ren. Their mothers are best friends - have been forever. Joni and Ren grew up together. The two have always been best friends. When Joni moves to the East coast leaving Ren in Portland their friendship is at risk but they make a point to always be the others plus one at weddings ensuring they see each other once a year at least.

Here begins the slow transition from friendship to lovers. Told in alternating chapters between present day and weddings past the story of their friendship unravels. There is two and a half years when they don't even talk to each other. But now at Joni's sister's wedding it's time to talk things through and face tough subjects. Say the things that have been unsaid.

At times I found this story a little too dragged out but ultimately I did enjoy the novel. I enjoyed all the characters. There's a musical theme to the story as well and at the end I found a playlist that I will give a listen to. All in all I would say this is a great romance novel and recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading the friends to lovers trope. Friends to Lovers would make a great beach read as most of the story line takes place at a cabin in Portland on the water.

I loved this! Told in two timelines, present day and then flashbacks to various weddings over the course of 6 years, we get to see not only the deep connection and chemistry between Joni and Ren, but events that led to their friendship hiatus. After Joni moved across the country from Portland to NYC, they agree to be each other’s plus ones as a way to keep their friendship alive. The wedding flashbacks were a very effective tool in conveying what these two meant to each other. The happiness they felt when they would reunite was palpable and definitely seemed more than friendly. And while it is a slow-burn, the tension had me on the edge of my seat.

I loved that we didn’t know what caused the rift between them until the last 1/3 of the book as it kept me engaged. I mean sure, one could assume, but you can’t be certain and I was surprised by some of the developments.

I’ve seen a lot of comparisons to People We Meet on Vacation and while I can see it, there were enough differences here for me. One being the role the families play in this, it’s a large part of why these two characters a) know each other and b) feel conflicted about their feelings. It definitely complicates things for them, but also in the end, helps them to figure out how to move forward. There is a scene at the rehearsal dinner that reminded me of a Thanksgiving episode of Friends and had me laughing out loud.

As is pretty customary with friends to lovers books, there is miscommunication, so if that’s not your jam, I’d steer clear, but if you like a book with angst, tenderness and yearning, definitely check this out!

Ren and Joni have been best friends since they were kids, spending every summer at a shared family beach house. Over the years, their friendship starts to turn into something more, but neither wants to risk messing up what they already have.

As time goes on, they keep ending up as each other’s plus ones for weddings, and eventually, things cross the line one night. But after Joni overhears something, she walks away without really explaining why—so Ren can focus on his career. He doesn’t understand why she left or went totally silent.

A few years later, they’re back at the beach house for another wedding, and neither knows what to expect. At first, things are a little awkward, but that old connection is still there, and maybe this time they’ll figure things out.

This was such a fun and emotional read, perfect for summer. I loved the setting, the slow-burn romance, and the whole friends-to-lovers vibe.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC! I’m happy to share my thoughts.

There’s something so special about a love story built on years of friendship. I love the inside jokes, the shared memories, the quiet understanding that no one else gets. Friends to Lovers delivers all of that and more, with a heartwarming (and at times, heartbreaking) second chance romance between Joni and Ren.
Childhood best friends turned yearly wedding dates, their tradition is adorable that is until one blurred line changes everything. Now, years later, they’re forced to fake their friendship for a week at their families’ summer home, and oh, the tension. The slow burn here is super sweet and full of lingering glances, unresolved feelings, and that aching question:
What if we’d gotten it right the first time?

♡ Thank you for the free ARC, The Hive | Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press and NetGalley. Thank you for the free audiobook, Harlequin Audio and NetGalley.

If you are looking for a breezy beach read with a satisfying childhood friends-to-lovers arc, this is a great pick. It is sweet, nostalgic, and full of those moments that make you root for the long game. The story leans into familiar tropes in a comforting way, with plenty of emotional payoff. The book has been compared to a couple of popular EmHen reads, so if you gravitate toward that kind of romantic storytelling, you will likely enjoy this one, too.

☊ Listening to this story via audiobook was lovely. Narrator Patti Murin did a wonderful job.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for an early copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. I loved this book and read it in one day. I loved the storyline and all the characters. I thought the characters had great growth. I would definitely recommend this book.

This book had me kicking my feet. I loved the main characters, the setting, and the premise. I could not get enough! I read majority of the book while I was on vacation & it was perfect for that, or a summer read in general.
I love a good friends-to-lovers trope read, and this one was done the BEST! These two, Joni & Ren know each other like the back of their own hand. Reading the time jumps and seeing how much they tried to deny this attraction for so long is soul-crushing, but it's so rewarding when they decide to give it a go. From the beginning, you can see how perfect these two are for each other. I cannot imagine, and I don't want to, a world where there's no Joni & Ren together.
Quick synopsis: Ren & Joni have been friends since childhood, and it wasn't until they were older that they crossed the line into more than that. It caused them to go years without talking or seeing each other. But no one knew because the families are so close. Joni & Ren are brought together again at the family's summer house, where Joni's sister is getting married. Ren & Joni play it off like nothing happened between them to appease everyone else & not take light away from the wedding weekend. Throughout their stay, they're forced to share a room and participate in wedding activities that always have them close to each other ex: running to get the wine. Some of their tension is top-notch!
I don't want to say too much but please please please go read Blakely's debut novel, you won't regret it!!
I reached out to Sally Blakely on Instagram and she's so kind! I told her I loved this book, and I will be shouting from the rooftops for everyone to read it when it's released July 22, 2025!
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Thank you, NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an easy read that I breezed through. It had you rooting for the characters from the beginning. I liked the time jump element of the book, which kept the story moving. I also enjoyed how each time jump into the past took place at a wedding, making it easy to follow past vs. present.

Thank Netgalley for this ARC!!! I am usually a sucker for a great friends to lovers trope, unfortunately this one fell a little flat for me. I did enjoy the past and present timelines, that was very well done. I also really enjoyed Ren, I thought his character was great. Unfortunately, I think where it lost me was Joni’s character. She was possessive as well as naïve, and for them to be such close friend their lack of communication was hard to grasp. I did love the family dynamics, and the side characters were so well done! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves, friends to lovers, slow burn, and forced proximity.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC! 🩵
Friends to lovers is my favorite trope and so this was a great romance book for me! All in all, I really enjoyed this. It was beautifully written with so many great quotes! I also loved our main characters, especially the FMC Joni and the discussions of her anxiety. I would definitely read more from this author and am glad I got the chance to read this one!

You guys, I think friends to lovers might be my favorite trope. DON’T SAY ANYTHING, OK?! Nothing beats the build up of two people that are the most important people in each others loves and have YEARS worth of history. And then nothing beats watching that relationship morph into something new and scary and better?

Now did the end kinda piss me off? Yeah a bit. Like bruh just stop making excuses and BE TOGETHER ALREADY. Other than that though… *chefs kiss*

𝘼𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖 𝙛𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚?

Sally Blakely captured the essence and heart of this trope with her debut! It has the warmth of friendship with the tug and tension of becoming lovers and the fear of losing a cherished friendship.

Joni and Ren have been best friends forever; in fact, their families are close, sharing summers along the sparkling PNW coast. But after college, Joni takes a job in New York, and although they promise always to be each other's plus one at weddings, things begin to shift between them.

This romance was like a breath of fresh air. The characters were not only kind, genuine, and funny, but also incredibly relatable. I adored Joni and Ren; they were an easy couple to root for. Yes, there was some miscommunication, but I felt it didn’t distract from the story.

Told from Joni’s POV and in bouncing timelines, we get glimpses of their early friendship, an understanding that something went wrong, and then we feel their angst of knowing they both want something so much more, and not necessarily in that order. But it all comes together seamlessly, keeping you engaged and eager for more. Along the way, there’s tons of fun with family vacations, wedding planning, beach parties, and even a game of capture the flag.

I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!

Thank you @htpbooks and @harpercollins for the gifted ebook via #NetGalley.

This one took me a little while to get into, but once I did, I couldn't put it down! This was my first book by Sally Blakely, and I enjoyed her writing style. However, the book needs quite a bit of editing (mostly formatting) to be publishing ready.

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

If you liked Emily Henry's book People We Met On Vacation or Happy Place you will most definitely really enjoy this one. This story has all the elements of Ren and Joni's friendship told in two timelines, before where they were inseparable until Joni left for New York and then the only time they really saw each other was through being plus ones to all their friends and families weddings, and present day where they are at yet another wedding but you can tell they aren't really friends anymore. You slowly uncover their sweet friendship and you really feel that distance between them and hope that they find each other again. This is a really great friends to lovers trope, probably one of the best I've read in a while and if that's your thing you will love this one. Was really hard to put down because I just wanted to find out what happened plus the dual timeline thing always gets me reading more. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this one, I highly recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I really enjoyed this story and though friends to lovers is not my favorite trope, I did enjoy the summer vibes and the friendship that Ren and Joni had. However, I just feel like I can't look past the miscommunication, the not really there chemistry, and Joni's character. I feel like the issue that they had was a very fixable miscommunication issue and that it was kind of Joni's fault. I also just got annoyed with Joni at times and I felt like Ren was not a relatable or "human" character because he seemed so perfect. Anyways, I did really enjoy reading this and I enjoyed the summer vibes to it. So, if you like friends to lovers in a summer setting, you should read this!

Friends to Lovers had all the ingredients for a heartwarming, second-chance summer romance but for me, the execution fell a little short. Still, fans of slow, reflective stories with beachy backdrops and subtle emotional arcs might enjoy it more than I did!

I enjoy friends to lovers tropes but to me this leaned more miscommunication because their issues could’ve been resolved with a single honest conversation. Which is always frustrating but especially so with characters who are old enough to know better.

While this particular story didn’t land for me, there’s enough charm in the writing that I would definitely pick up another book by this author.!

First, I want to acknowledge that as a debut book for this author, it’s wonderful. I had a great time reading the story and loved the characters. For the most part, the story flowed well, even with the time jumping back and forth.

I tend to have two books going at the same time, an audiobook and either a physical book or an ebook. When I initially started this book, I was listening to The Ex Vows, and the concepts were just too similar so I put this one off until I finished the other. A lot of people loved The Ex Vows, but it didn’t work for me. I was a bit scared going into this story after the not-as-good-as-I-hoped experience with the other. Thankfully, this book did work for me. It was engaging and kept my interest. I was a bit perturbed with how long it took for the story to get to the fateful day when Joni and Ren stopped talking, yet I know the author had it all laid out in a certain way for storytelling reasons.

Joni and Ren have such a special relationship. Their friendship is golden, and it’s almost comical how clueless Joni is about the connection she has with Ren. I loved the flashbacks because they showed how perfect these two are together and how everyone around them can see it. Before things go off the rails, Joni and Ren are fun and witty when they are together.

This is a friends-to-lovers book (obviously), but also a second-chance romance. And while Ren falls first, I don’t believe that Joni didn’t love him all along. But because they were friends their whole lives, she didn’t realize the love she felt for Ren was a romantic love. Joni does a lot of growing in this story. Some of the growth is forced upon her when secrets start leaking. Because of her history of anxiety and panic attacks, Joni is so set on proving herself. To herself, to her mom, to strangers, to her coworkers. She doesn’t ever want to seem to weak or to need help, even though everyone needs help once in a while. Joni’s insecurities about her mental health are the heart of all that goes wrong in her life. Not the fact that she has mental health issues, but her internalized phobia of those problems.

The author did a fantastic job of portraying the turmoil and angst Joni felt throughout this book. Especially when her doubts were firing. I was also able to feel Joni’s contentment when she would let herself relax and just be.

I want to quickly mention that there are multiple places I saw this called a dual-narration (including in the verbiage for this blog tour), and it is not. This book is strictly from Joni’s POV. Everything is seen from her eyes, and we get her thoughts, but never Ren’s. I was waiting and waiting to get Ren’s initially, which kept me from fully investing until I realized it wouldn’t happen. Also, as much as I think this cover is adorable, it doesn’t (for me) capture the essence of the story.