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.

I enjoyed reading Friends to Lovers by Sally Blakely. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

Friends to Lovers was the summer read I definitely needed - plenty of humor, family/friend dysfunctional moments, and an amazing friendship and chemistry between the two main characters. The story alternates between the present and multiple weddings that Joni and Ren have attended together over the course of about six years - including one two and a half years ago which severed their once unbreakable friendship. Joni has definitely gotten in her own way and instead of communicating and trying to figure her feelings out WITH Ren, she has chosen to run away and avoid them, thinking that she is doing what is best for him. Her insecurities and vulnerabilities are completely valid - but so are Ren's. And Ren was 100% worth fighting for! They were a couple that you just wanted to lock together in a room and force them to talk about all of their issues. The rehearsal dinner truth-telling fight between everyone was kind of fantastic in my opinion. All of the side characters were great - I especially loved Stevie and Sasha! I really enjoyed this debut novel - it was lighthearted and warm but heart-wrenching and definitely worth reading! Thank you to Harlequin, Canary Street Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel.

This was really cute! Just a little hard to read on the app due to formatting. (Not an issue with the actual book!!)

Friends to lovers is a trope I always love and this was no exception!

This book is a romance about two best friends, with a whole lot of history.
My favorite thing about this book was the setting and the interesting premise- our FMC Joni's sister is getting married at a beach house, and Joni's long time best friend (MMC) Ren whom she hasn't talked to in a while, (and is the one that got away)... is in attendance.
The romance overall felt a bit lackluster, confusing, and rushed. The pacing of the book felt off as well. The ending of the book while satisfying, felt unrealistic. Bonus points for the atmospheric summer setting though!

TY to netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing & Canary Street Press for the ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5 stars

Smart, funny, and just the right amount of messy—this friends‑to‑lovers story really delivers. The dialogue feels natural, the chemistry builds in a way that actually makes sense, and the payoff is worth the slow burn. My only minor complaint is that the ending felt a touch rushed, but overall it’s a genuinely satisfying read that hits all the right notes without overdoing the tropes.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I enjoyed this story. It is sweet and angsty and a great friends to lovers story. The MCs-Joni and Ren- have been friends forever until it turns to more. How they deal with their feelings and each other over a period of time is where we find our story. Once Joni moves to NYC for work, they decide to be each others plus ones to all of the weddings they are invited to.

The families of the MCs are very close so they spent time at a family house on the beach every year. So I loved the beach house aspect. I loved the wedding backdrop as well. We also meet Ren and Joni’s siblings and I like them as well.

Although I like where the story ended, it felt a bit predictable. I also think there may have been a few too many weddings to get to the main conflict. I personally ally wish the story moved a little faster.

All in all I enjoyed this story and would recommend as a light easy read..

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

*happy sighs* If you know me well, you'd know what a HUGE SUCKER I am for childhood-friends-turned-lovers romance. As cliché as this sounds, for a book titled exactly THAT-- Friends to Lovers --I'm beyond thrilled to tell you that this book portrays the precious friendship/relationship of two childhood besties, Joni and Ren, to a T. The ending brings me to tears and I cannot ask for a better written story featuring my ultimately favorite romance trope of all time.

Joni and Ren have been super best friends ever since they were little. Growing up, they always have each other to lean on, even when they are both romantically involved with someone else throughout high school and college. To ensure their friendship doesn't wither with time, they make a deal to always be the other's "plus one" on their friends' and family's weddings, which means that they're forced to face each other after the fallout two and a half years ago...

Although Joni and Ren have unsolved business after that fatal night filled with misunderstanding and lack of communication, I love how they slowly piece their broken hearts back on the last wedding they'd probably attend together. The crisis, indecision, and uncertainty they both encounter in the book are so relatable that I find myself constantly reflecting on my own journey in life while reading.

There's no denying that we all love characters who we can easily resonate with so to be honest, it shouldn't be a surprise WHEN this book goes viral once hitting the shelves. What's more, I love how natural and authentic Joni and Ren are when they're together. They simply GET each other. The banter, inside jokes, and even playlists, all of which radiate their very own vibes and uniqueness that I can't get enough of.

This book reminds me a lot of Emily Henry's People We Meet on Vacation and it's safe to say that I will not stop recommending this one to everyone I know! Please go add Friends to Lovers to your TBR, preorder a gorgeous copy (look at those sprayed edges!!), and fall in love with Joni & Ren!

***Massive thanks to the publisher and the author for generously providing me with an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***

Happy Release Day to this heartwarming book!!

Friends to Lovers is a nostalgic, heartwarming, emotional summer romance! The story is told in dual timeline where we follow Joni and Ren, two childhood best friends as they reunite after 2.5 years of not speaking. I loved that this was told in dual timelines because we got to see their undeniable connection develop from the beginning but be pulled apart due to outside forces. I adored Joni’s journey to finally letting those who loved her in and Ren’s unwavering devotion to her. They knew each other in every possible way and there was something so sweet about their romance. I loved all the other family members in this, especially Joni’s sisters, and the comedic moments that they brought to the story. If you are a fan of People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry and Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan then I highly recommend this stunning debut!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for e-ARC in exchange for my review💖

Joni and Ren are childhood family friends that seek to stay in each others' lives by aways being the others' plus one. The more the spend time apart, they more they realize they like each other more than as just friends.

If you read a blurb that this is a cross between Happy Place and People We Meet on Vacation - that’s exactly what this book is. I think the characters were fine and the story was different enough, but it included some of the tropes I didn’t like about those books and I found myself not wanting to pick this up - especially miscommunication (or just not talking at all). Yet, I think a lot of readers will enjoy this one.

I had such high hopes for this one—after the first few chapters, it was giving major The Summer of Broken Rules vibes. But unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to the potential.

Sometimes, it’s okay if friends don’t become lovers. In this case, the romance was weighed down by too much miscommunication and a level of immaturity that made it hard to stay invested. The characters often felt underdeveloped, and their emotional responses didn’t always feel grounded.

On top of that, the constant flashbacks made the timeline feel muddled. There weren’t enough clear transitions between past and present, and I found myself getting confused about where we were in the story.

Overall, the premise had promise, but the execution didn’t quite deliver for me.

Joni and Ren have been best friends since they were 3 years old. Having grown up together, their bond is so strong that their families have even banned them from certain games over suspected cheating. As adults, Joni is facing a big life change after getting fired and all we know initially is something happened and she and Ren had a following out of some type and haven’t spoken in several years.

I love Joni and Ren’s friendship. It’s so easy and natural and warm and cozy. Male/female friendships in books don’t usually feel that comfortable and it was nice. I was chomping at the bit to find out the thing that drove Ren and Joni apart, though I had some strong suspicions pretty early on.

This book explores family—both biological and chosen—alongside mistakes, celebrations, and the importance of friendship. It was a very easy read with good depth.

Thank you to Sally Blakely, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for an advance copy of this eBook.

Joni and Ren have been best friends since they were little kids and with their families being so close it’s not a surprise that they have always had so much chemistry. However, both have been too afraid to act on it until one night. That night ruined their friendship. This was such a cute romance book!!!

I went into this book never having heard of Sally Blakely before and I finished it knowing I am a fan. Her quirky characters, found and related family and second chances made this book such a fun read.

I feel like people who enjoy authors like Emily Henry would enjoy this book.

QUICK GLANCE-
My format: 🎧Audio (10 hours and 27 minutes) and📖ebook (352 pages)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ (open door Chapter 22)
Language: 🤐🤐 mild/moderate

MY THOUGHTS-
This one took a minute to settle into; those dual timelines had me flipping back and forth, trying to keep my footing. The present unfolds by day of the week, while the past is tracked in years, and with both centered around weddings... let’s just say I had to recalibrate more than once. But once I found my groove, I was hooked. The wedding festivities, the chaotic joy, the cast of fun side characters—all so vivid and charming. But the heartbeat of this story? Joni and Ren.

Once inseparable, now navigating a rhythm of hellos and goodbyes, their shared history pulses through every page. I was completely wrapped up in the mystery of their fallout and the electric tension anytime we dipped back into the past.

If you’re into the nostalgic ache of People We Meet on Vacation or the breezy heartache of Summer Romance, this one hits that sweet, bittersweet note. It’s about growing alongside someone you love... and realizing they were always more than just your plus-one 💘

READ IF YOU LIKE-
💍Weddings
🫶Friends to Lovers
🔁Second chances
🏠Forced Proximity
⏳Dual Timeline

Thank you @netgalley for the advanced copy! I received the e-book and audio version of this book. Patti Murin really helped bring Joni’s emotions to life. I believe the narration is a big reason I enjoyed this cute summer read!

This was a really sweet book. Weirdly, as I’ve gotten older I have found that I really enjoy the friends-to-lovers trope.

There is just something so sweet and heartwarming about having grown up with your person. It’s a slower story, but I found that I kind of needed it after reading a very scary fast paced book right before this!

I really liked the FMC and MMC here, Ren and Joni are childhood best friends who now have not spoken in 2.5 years. Reunited in the lead up to her sisters wedding, they don’t want to ruin their families’ relationship and so keep it hidden. We as the reader understand that something big happened in the past that led up to this separation, and it lingers in every interaction they have.

And genuinely, I loved them together. They were kind of soulmates, and everyone around them could see it except for them (well maybe excluding Ren).

I also enjoyed the cast of characters at the beach house! Stevie was definitely my favorite, and I loved her interactions with Joni. As a fellow big sister, I thought the author did an awesome job portraying realistic sisterhood.

While I really liked the setting and the characters I did struggle with the time jumps here. It was really clear when we were diving back, but every time I picked the book up again I had to flip back a few pages to remember where we were. It was just a little confusing to try and remember where we all were.

And I didn’t like the conflict reveal. I was cringing when it was revealed in that setting AND to realize that it was essentially a miscommunication?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC! Friends to Lovers is out now!!

Loved the past and present timelines and seeing Jodie & Ren being best friends. Them coming to terms with their feelings for each other later on in the book was really well done. Making them reflect on their feelings for each other before admitting that they felt more than just friendly feelings. Even though they were estranged in the present timeline I liked their dynamic.
I also loved their siblings and parents so so much. This was a great depiction of friendship and how they, of course, continue to live their lives without each other but are still suffering through that decision!
The beach house setting, the games they were playing, the wedding prep, their little plus one tradition and the side characters were perfect! This gave the best summer vibes. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this arc!

Joni and Ren have been besties since childhood so it only makes sense to be each other’s plus one as they grow up and begin facing wedding seasons. Several weddings under their belt, their feelings blur the line from friends to lovers.

Can Joni and Ren fake their friendship and get through one more wedding, Joni’s sisters? From best friends to countless weddings, will this wedding be the one that breaks or makes their love story?

This is a dual timeline, with slooow pacing but I hung in there because I did enjoy the cute interactions between Joni and Ren (especially towards the end when things got real).

At first I thought there was just a really bad error with any word with an F and L right next to each other. I finally realized this must be an intentional act that is set throughout the book (I read an electronic version so I would be curious to see if it does keep for the print version) to indicate F(riends) to L(overs). Examples: F loor, ref lection, f lame. **please tell none of I’m wrong my assumption about this**

Thank you to author, Sally Blakely, Publisher Canary Street Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I received an epub and am leaving my review voluntarily.