I am a huge fan of Emma St. Clair and this book was a great addition to her stack of books.

While the miscommunication trope often gets a bad rap, it's done perfectly in this book. Wyatt sticks his foot in his mouth...often. He knows what he means to say, and has great intentions, but somehow the words always come out wrong and in the wrong way, at least when he's around Josie.

Josie has no time for athletes, especially the big and brawny ones, ones like Wyatt, her brother's friend and client. Not only is Wyatt an athlete, he doesn't seem to care to be in Josie's company and she doesn't know why.

While Wyatt and Josie have known each other for years, they get thrown together in a hilarious re-meetcute. I loved this story and all of the elements that had Josie and Wyatt peeling back the layers on each other. Their relationship didn't seemed forced or strained. Wyatt was patient as Josie began to realize that her perceptions of him were wrong and he was a much better man than she thought. I loved the growth as Josie began to see that her stereotypical thoughts of Wyatt were unjust. The addition of his relationship with his Uncle Tom was a great addition to the story and I loved the way their friendship grew throughout their trip.


***Spoiler alert

I was a bit apprehensive about the touchy subject of SA in this book. In the end I do think that it was handled well, without graphic detail and thankfully, the author did not have it being the worst that it could have been. While there was not a trigger warning at the beginning of the book, I do hope one is added before publishing.

This is still a book I would recommend, although I would be cautious with whom I recommended it to.

3.5!

This was a 4 star read for me until the end. I really liked the book and the banter between the FMC/MMC and the plot and story! It would have been a 4 star read for me but the last 10% of the book was just so rushed! They went from nothing to everything in half a second and it gave me whiplash lol. I would've appreciated a longer book with the development of their relationship a little bit more and how they reached a point of comfort in their relationship a little more. It was slowwwww burn and then insta love basically.

Anyways, I enjoyed it, it was fine, i just wish there was a little more "umph" at the end.

First of all I loooove me a brothers best friend story!!

I think the murder cottage (iykyk) setting was super nice and I absolutely adored the forced proximity sailing trip!! The humor in this was honestly top tier and I loved how their relationship and bickering grew throughout the book.

Wyatt definitely fell first AND harder and I’m all here for it, the fact that she made him so nervous was absolutely adorable and it was so funny to see what stupid things he says next 😂 and her having to take care of him while he was feeling like shit was so wholesome and it was nice to see how Josie overcame her „hate“ for him and her aversion to buff men.

I had an absolutely amazing time, loved that he gave her time to figure out her feelings and totally understand Josie’s problems with thinking about their future. Only would’ve wished for a little more background info on both characters and their family dynamic.

"If All Else Sails" by Emma St. Clair is a charming and whimsical novel that captures the essence of adventure and self-discovery. The narrative follows a relatable protagonist who embarks on a journey that challenges her perceptions and pushes her out of her comfort zone. St. Clair’s writing is infused with humor and heart, making it easy to become invested in the character's growth.

One of the highlights of the book is the vibrant setting, which plays a crucial role in the story. The descriptions are so vivid that they transport the reader, allowing them to experience the sights, sounds, and emotions alongside the character. The supporting cast is also well-developed, providing depth and warmth to the storyline.

Themes of resilience, friendship, and the importance of following one's dreams are woven seamlessly throughout the narrative. St. Clair's ability to balance lighthearted moments with more profound reflections on life makes this book a delightful read.

Overall, "If All Else Sails" is a feel-good novel that encourages readers to embrace change and seek out their own adventures. It's perfect for anyone looking for an uplifting story filled with relatable characters and poignant lessons. I would definitely recommend it for fans of contemporary romance and literary fiction alike.

Will a sailing trip on a boat be their chance at a happily ever after? 🤗🙈💙🤍

Wyatt and Josie have known each other for years. He’s her brother’s best friend, and Wyatt has been in love with Josie since the first moment he saw her. But Josie thinks he dislikes her — and years of misunderstandings have turned them into enemies.

Josie is now an elementary school nurse. Every summer, she joins her brother on a trip, but this year, Jacob has a different plan for her — one that includes Wyatt.

Wyatt, a famous hockey player, is recovering from a severe injury and isolating himself in a small town, refusing treatment and shutting everyone out. That’s where Josie comes in. Jacob sends her to help him — physically and emotionally — because Wyatt is clearly struggling.

This is Wyatt’s chance to show Josie what she truly means to him. And as they spend time together, Josie begins to see a different side of him — one she’s never known. Maybe, just maybe, this could be the start of something new.

Full of hope, emotions, and raw vulnerability, this novel is pure perfection.
I enjoyed it from the first page to the very last — it made me feel all the feels.

It also tackles some sensitive topics, so be sure to check the trigger warnings.
And yes, it’s a slow-burn romance… a very slow one. But it’s written so beautifully. We get to see Wyatt and Josie gradually open up to each other — learning, healing, leaning in, and slowly falling. Watching them share their stories, their traumas, and their hearts felt so authentic. One of my favorite moments was the sailing boat scene — it was intimate, cozy, and full of heart.

There were also many hilarious and lighthearted moments that I adored. And we can’t forget about Jib — the adorable little dog who steals the show and becomes such a sweet part of their journey.

Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for granting me an ARC of #IfAllElseSails in exchange for my honest review.

3.75 ⭐️

This is a story about Josie and Wyatt. Josie a school nurse, who gets sent to encourage Wyatt, an injured hockey player, to take care of himself post-injury.

This was a cute story, but it was extremely slow burn. Also, it was not really enemies to lovers, more of a misinterpreted dislike of one another. However, their romance was cute and I liked their story! The tension was extremely real and I loved it! Jib was so precious, and I think it was a perfect addition. The sailing aspect of the story was so cool as well, as that isn’t something I have read a lot about, especially in a romance book.

This was a clean romance if anyone is wondering, but it doesn’t lack romance and pining. I’m also appreciative of the fact that there is no stupidly third act-conflict or breakup!

I wish we learned a little bit more about Wyatt’s life. I also wish that we got to see more of Josie’s relationship with her family.

This is my first book by Emma St. Clair, and I don’t think it will be my last! Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the complementary digital ARC of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The beginning of the book was a little bit slow but it really picked up once they were on the sailboat. It was funny how much he kept messing up his words every time he would talk to her. He was just in love with her for so long and didn't know what to say.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Quick and sweet read! Enemies to lovers is my favorite romance to read. The story was easy to follow along with and had nice characters, a bit of humor and charm throughout. I enjoyed it.

I have been a long time fan of Emma St. Clair so I was very excited to have been able to get my hands on this book early! I didn’t know what to expect going into this book other than that I was going to laugh out loud and fall in love with whoever it was about… Little did I know that I was going to revisit a character from her Appies series! It was a welcome surprise and I loved that little tidbit, as well as the cameos from previous book characters.

In this Summer romance story, you follow school nurse, Josie, and injured NHL Hockey Player (Previously on the Appies team), Wyatt. Josie is tricked under the false pretense that she will be enjoying a sibling trip with her brother Jacob (who also happens to be Wyatt’s agent and long time best friend) into being the grumpy Wyatt’s caretaker. As the days go on, Wyatt’s feelings grow and Josie becomes soft for her brother’s best friend, but both are too scared to make a move. Ignoring her qualms, Josie embarks on a sailing trip with Wyatt that he had been planning to take before his injury… And what could go wrong when you have two people who have feelings for each other stuck on a small sailboat trip for two weeks…?

This was a very sweet story, but one that took me a while to get through because of how slow paced it was. I didn’t feel the need to know what happened next because it was taking them so long to get together… LIKE SO LONG. I think the pace of this book is what docked a star for me, but other than that, it was a great Emma St. Clair read.

Overall, happy with the outcome⛵️🏠🏒🐷🐾🌊🩷

👥First person Duet
⛅️ Grumpy x Sunshine
🏠Forced Proximity
👯‍♂️Borthers Best Friend
🫂Found Family
💝Happy Ending

* I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an advanced copy of ”If All Else Sails!” 🩷

This book is the perfect slow-burn. I was hooked just a few pages in.

Josie is such a relatable character. She carries a quiet confidence, even with her tendency toward anxious spirals. That balance feels so refreshing, and overall, Josie radiates sunshine. Wyatt is a great example of a “grumpy” male main character. He’s never rude or mean, just misunderstood. Emma St. Clair has a knack for writing well-executed, layered grumpy characters.

The chemistry between Josie and Wyatt is spot on. The enemies-to-lovers tension is felt, though I might describe it more accurately as rivals-to-lovers. Still, it’s a well-done dynamic that adds so much to the romance.

One little aspect I appreciated was the chapter titles. It was engaging and fun to spot the title naturally worked into each chapter. I also appreciated that this is a hockey romance without a major focus on hockey. The references are fun, and I enjoyed learning a bit about sailing, too.

The depth of the romance and the emotional journey both characters go on is beautiful. Their personal histories inform the dynamics of their relationship, making it a truly well-written love story.

This is a perfect closed-door, summer romance. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book and fueling my summer TBR!

I’ve enjoyed many of Emma St. Clair’s novels, so I was excited to read an early copy of If All Else Sails. In this one, our FMC Josie is tasked with taking care of her brother’s best friend Wyatt over the summer after his hockey injury. Only problem? These two don’t like each other. But as summer progresses and the two set sail together they start to let their guard down and soon they start to wonder why they didn’t like each other in the first place.

I really enjoyed this one! Emma St. Clair does a wonderful job at bringing the characters emotions and struggles to the table. I also loved how their newfound relationship progressed, and everything just felt so right to me. If you’re looking for a summer romance that will leave you with a mega smile on your face, then you won’t want to miss Wyatt and Josie’s story. I had a great time reading it!
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙
❥ Summer Romance
❥ Enemies-to-lovers
❥ Brother’s Best Friend
❥ Forced Proximity

Rating 4.25 /5

Tropes -Brother's Best Friend, Found Family, One Bed, Grumpy Sunshine, slow burn.

This is the first book I’ve read by Emma St. Clair, and I can confidently say I’ll definitely be reading more of her work in the future. Her writing style is phenomenal! What I truly loved was the banter and the perfectly executed slow burn between the main characters.

Wyatt, the cute and grumpy hockey player, and Josie, the absolute sweetheart, made the best combo. They complemented each other so well! I also loved the setup—this is definitely a book everyone should pick up if they’re looking for a light summer read with a slow burn that felt natural and not dragged out.

It was such a refreshing read. I’m totally in love with Wyatt and Josie’s personalities—and of course, the adorable Jib 🥺

Thank you so much, Netgalley and Thomas Nelson publication, for the EARC 🫶 .

This was a cute "brother's best friend" (and also hate?) to lovers romance. I loved the concept of the female MC being able to help the stoic grump not only to physically recover from his injury, but also on his mental health recovery. I loved the setting (isolated cottage and then on a sailing trip). The dog was the cutest. A great summer read.

⭐️4.5 stars rounded up ⭐️

If All Else Sails was such a great summer read with all the summer vibes!! Josie and Wyatt were such great characters and I absolutely loved Josie’s sarcasm, Wyatt being a secret softie, and all of their banter together. I caught myself grinning from ear to ear frequently while reading this book and I loved every minute of it! IAES was also really funny and had me laughing out loud a few times. When it did get serious about a heavy topic, I felt like it was handled with care and grace.

Emma St. Clair outdid herself on this one and I highly recommend picking it up!

I was given an advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own.

Have always wanted to read this author and now can't wait to read more books by Emma St. Clair.

Sweet, clean romance filled with humor, tenderness , family drama and the best happily ever after.

Tropes: Brother's Best Friend, Found Family, One Bed, Grumpy Sunshine.

Wyatt is an injured hockey player. Josie is a nurse and the sister of Wyatt's best friend , Jacob, who also happens to be his agent. The three have know each other since high school except Josie and Wyatt never really hit it off. Now Josie and Wyatt are secretly pushed together by Jacob over over one summer that changes Josie and Wyatt's life. Slow burn , swoony romance.. You can see Josie and Wyatt coming together but how they do is the fun part. Great cast of supporting characters including Jib, an adorable dog

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

this was lovely to read. the perfect classic grumpy x sunshine book with no spice. perfect for any romance reader who just wants a break from all the spice. also NO TAB loved it

I absolutely loved this book—it’s light, fun, and super easy to get into. It’s the kind of story that becomes addictive thanks to the chemistry between the characters and a well-paced plot. And as if that wasn’t enough… there’s a hockey player involved! The perfect combo. I really enjoyed the writing style—fresh and engaging—and I especially appreciated that it’s a “closed-door” romance. Lately, it feels like so many stories focus only on the characters’ sexuality, and this one proves that you can build deep emotional connections without explicit scenes.

I truly hope Spanish-speaking readers get the chance to discover books like this one. We need more rom-coms of this quality available in Spanish!

Josie is a school nurse who gets tricked by her sports agent brother into caring for a hockey player with an injury. Hockey player Wyatt is mostly healed, but wants a partner to come with him on a sailing trip to spread his uncle's ashes. Josie to the rescue!

Emma St. Clair books are slow burn, kissing-only romances, with some humor to keep things moving. Readers will get some chuckles out of the outfits that Josie puts on a tiny dog and Josie's lack of knowledge with sailing and hockey. I enjoyed the touristy shopping moments. TW for a brief flashback to fighting off a sexual assaulter, death of an uncle (pre-novel), and a dismissive father. You do not need to know anything about sailing to enjoy this book! Josie and Wyatt and the Appies are cute enough to carry any story off into the sunset.

If All Else Sails follows Josie as her brother tricks her to take care of his best friend who is suffering from an injury which forced him to take a break from his ice hockey career.

They have known each other for years but have always had a strained relationship, can a few weeks out on the open water with just the two of them bring them closer together?

I have mixed thoughts on this book. Initially I expected to thoroughly enjoy it and the first half of the book definitely had me hooked. The banter between Josie and Wyatt was entertaining to read and the situations they were thrown into helped create the necessary tension.

However, by the time they set out on the sailing boat I felt like the chemistry dwindled. They get close really fast and not much happens outside their will-they-wont-they relationship. There’s hardly any contact with the outside world (friend or family) so the focus is completely on Josie and Wyatt. Unfortunately, I felt like they did not have enough chemistry together to carry the whole book. When some friends came into the picture towards the end it helped the pacing but it wasn’t enough to make me feel like the rest of the book was worth it.

Calling this an enemies-to-lovers story is also a bit far-fetched seeing as it was all based on a tiny misunderstanding and years of miscommunication. It was obvious that they were always into each other.

Overall, the book was just fine if you’re looking for a middle of the road romance but for me it lacked a bit of depth.


Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson fiction for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Enemies to lovers cozy romance. Will sparks fly when school nurse Josie i ends up having to be nurse to her brother's friend/client Wyatt, who she's convinced hates her? Both Josie & Wyatt are dealing with emotional baggage, trust issues, and varying degrees of family issues. on top of this, they are forced to spend time with someone who is on a completely different page. Lots to learn for both parties about God & trust, it was an enjoyable read.
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.