4.5 stars rounded up - This was such a lovely, cozy enemies(ish), to friends, to lovers slow burn romance. Josie was a delightful FMC and I LOVED Wyatt, who fell first and was so sweet and patient as he helped Josie catch up. Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC.

Tropes: Classic grumpy-sunshine / it’s-always-been-you / he falls first / brother’s best friend.

Solid easy summer rom-com! Emma St. Clair is a newer author to me, but she’s up there with Courtney Walsh and Katie Bailey for me!

This one has a bit more inner monologue than I prefer, but still had all the vibes. 🥰

Thanks to Tyndale Books and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for a review!

3.5⭐️s. I had this book in both audio and print and enjoyed both formats. This was a slow burn enemies-to-lovers “road trip” on the water. I loved both of the characters!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher- I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a cute and enjoyable story. Josie has long been convinced that Wyatt, her brother’s friend and client, hates her. Due to a bad experience she has not shared with anyone, Josie has a general dislike of jocks. Wyatt is a professional hockey player. There was a series of misunderstandings when Josie and Wyatt first met, and later interactions didn’t improve matters.

So, Josie, an elementary school nurse, is less than pleased when her brother, Jacob, tricks her into taking care of Wyatt, who has let an injury and other stressors drag him down to the point where he is wallowing in depression and neglect— not going to doctor appointments or taking care of himself.

Of course, there is plenty of tension between Josie and Wyatt, especially as they are both somewhat stubborn, Wyatt has a grumpy personality (until you really get to know him), and Josie is sure that Wyatt does not like her, and even if he did, she is sure that their lives are too different. However, spending time together will eventually break down the barriers and uncover the misperceptions that have colored their interactions for years. But can Josie step out of her comfort zone enough to risk her heart?

The story has plenty of humorous moments, including a very fashionable dog. The author does a good job of describing the tension between Josie and Wyatt and the various reasons for that tension, as well as how their behavior towards each other during their unexpected time together builds a level of trust that allows them to open up to each other.

this was such a fun and light read. the beginning did feel a bit slow but by the time they were sailing, things progressed a bit faster. but yes it's a slow burn romance book and the ending felt a bit rushed. i loved the banter between josie and wyatt, especially towards the end of the book.

if you're looking for a cozy romance story with forced proximity on a sailing trip, i'd say you're going to enjoy it. if you want something with a deeper story and more character development, this might not be for you.

"I don't hate you," I tell her, but my tone is off. probably because my feelings are somewhere in the opposite realm from hate, and I don't want her to hear it in my voice.

He's quiet for a moment. "Because what I want - what I've always wanted with you - is everything."


Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the copy of the book. I received a complimentary copy, and all opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Sadly, this ARC doesn't release until August 2025 so it almost misses a chance to be on your Summer TBR. But, add it to the list. Elementary school nurse thinks she is going on a trip with her sports agent brother only to find out he planned something else...

It's funny, romantic, and easy to read.

Disclaimer: None

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book at no cost in exchange for an honest review.

AHH! So adorable!!

When school nurse Josie is tricked into take care of her brother's best friend Wyatt while he recovers from a hockey injury, her feelings toward him are turned upside down when she realizes everything she thought about him has been wrong.

All Wyatt wants is to be left alone....and recover from his injury so he can return to hockey...and take the sailing trip he planned in memory of his uncle. Though Josie won't leave him alone, he realizes he can't - and doesn't - want her to, neither does he want to do the other things without her. It may just take some time alone on a boat together for them to finally accept that they may just be perfect for each other after all.

What you'll love:
brother’s best friend
dual pov
he falls first
slow burn
hockey player (injured)
grumpy/sunshine
the re-meet cute
animal mishaps
Jib’s outfits
forced proximity
the entire sailing trip
THAT KISS!!!
Appies cameos

Squee!!!! I was so excited that we get Wyatt's (former Appies hockey player) cute story! He was definitely a favorite character from that series and deserved to get his HEA and oh my, Josie was definitely the woman for him! As things from their past revealed I was more and more excited to see them end up together!

This book has all the laugh out loud moments and wit and banter that I have come to expect and love in Emma's books. I laughed so hard at their second meet-cute that I had literal tears coming down my face! And I loved that all of those funny moments are weaved so perfectly with moments of depth and heart as well as swoony romance. All that tension and chemistry and oh mylanta, that kiss was more than worth the wait.

This book accomplished two things: made me want to go on a sailing trip and made me fall in love with Emma's books even more than I already have. If you have loved her indie books, then you will love this one too!! She is a forever favorite and I will never tire of reading her stories!

I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.

Really enjoyed the main characters, they were both easy to root for. The slow burn worked well, and I found the backstories engaging. That said, the ending felt rushed. A lot of things were wrapped up too quickly or glossed over, and a few tropes felt like they were just thrown in without much payoff.

Overall, a solid read with great buildup, but I wish the ending had more time to breathe.

I just finished If All Else Sails and honestly, it was such a fun and heartwarming read! Emma St. Clair really knows how to mix humor with real emotion. The story follows Katie, a videographer who’s trying to save her job by filming a documentary on a Coast Guard rescue swimmer named Hutch. The twist? Katie can’t swim, and Hutch definitely isn’t thrilled about the whole filming thing.

Their chemistry is totally on point, and I loved the slow-burn vibe between them—it kept me hooked the entire time. Plus, the side characters like Aunt Rue and the big lovable dog, George Bailey, really added some extra warmth and laughs.

What stood out to me the most was how the book tackles things like self-love and vulnerability without getting too heavy. It’s just the right mix of feel-good moments and real, relatable struggles.

If you want a light but meaningful romance with some adventure thrown in, this one’s definitely worth picking up!

This one was really fun- there is a little Appies cameo as Wyatt used to be an Appie so if you are looking for a little more in that series this is just for you!

Wyatt has had a thing for his best friend’s little sister since the first met, Josie has a thing against big athletes and unfortunately for Wyatt he is just that- he plays hockey in the NFL.

Fast forward to an injury that makes Wyatt have to cut his season short and a case of situational depression after the loss of a loved one and Josie’s big brother decides he needs to intervene and tricks Josie (who is a nurse) into going and helping Wyatt recover from his injury.

This one had all the feels, plenty of lol moments but it was also full of lots of heart to heart talks and dealing with grief and also some anxiety related to some trauma for Josie. So take care if those are triggering for you.

I would definitely recommend this one and I’m hoping Josie’s brother Jacob gets his own story after this!

Emma St. Clair's If All Else Sails is a delightful enemies-to-lovers romance that takes school nurse Josie and her brother's best friend, grumpy hockey player Wyatt Jacobs, on a summer adventure far from smooth sailing. What Josie expects to be her "Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza" turns into a reluctant cohabitation at a "run-down cottage" on Virginia's Northern Neck—with Wyatt, her sworn enemy.

Her sports agent brother has orchestrated this bizarre arrangement: Josie is to help Wyatt recover from an injury. Bandaging skinned knees is one thing, but physical therapy for a surly hockey player is a whole new challenge. Yet, the price her brother offers is enough to tempt her, even if it means sharing what she lovingly dubs the "quaint little murder cottage" with Wyatt.

Begrudgingly, Josie begins to see beyond Wyatt's grumpy exterior. When she learns he was meant to sail the Intracoastal Waterway to Savannah to scatter his uncle's ashes, Josie, to her own surprise, offers to be his first mate. Their journey is anything but smooth, filled with cramped quarters, canned food, and constant bickering, leaving Josie to wonder if they'll make it home without killing—or kissing—each other. As she peels back Wyatt's layers, Josie realizes she's misunderstood not only him and their shared history, but perhaps herself as well. This charming read promises a journey of self-discovery and unexpected romance on the high seas.

I absolutely LOVED If All Else Sails, the tension and banter was everything! You get it all - love, family, and laughs. Josie gets tricked into a sibling vacation that actually ends up being her brother wanting her to care for his friend Wyatt while he's recovering from an injury. Wyatt's the grumpy MMC we all love, the tough" I don't need help"act. Josie agrees only for her own incentives her brother offers. The growth they both go thru in the book is beautiful, they both end up being there for each other in the end. Grumpy meets Grumpier. As they both overcome their own darknesses, the warmth between them grows too. Theres so much depth and emotion to the story. The dual POV was exactly what I needed , i love me a good MMC POV! Wyatt is just "a secret softie wrapped in porcupine quills". Get ready for all the feels, this is the perfect summer read!

My favorite quote :
"Butterfly kisses were immortalized in song, but someone should really write a banger about bird-feather touches. Wyatt’s contact is hummingbird fast—there and gone. Whispers of warm skin disappearing before I can lean in for more. He leaves goose bumps and shortness of breath in his wake."

Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read this book! I LOVED as a summer escape. 4/5 stars for me. Both characters were so fun to read about, and immediately made me want to go sailing.

I thought I would enjoy this, or at least this would be a good read. But oh dear. This became a book about two people taking in love under the guise of slight Stockholm syndrome. Also, can authors just stop being so vague?
2.75

What a great story! I love Emma St. Clair's style of writing, she just pulls you when, and you don't want to put the book down. Josie and Wyatt have know each other for years but didn't get along all that well. They each thought the other didn't like them for some reason or other. Josie's brother comes up with an excuse to get them together and the excitement begins. This is a really sweet story.
Thank you Emma St. Clair and Net Galley for an ARC for an honest review.

This book was a perfect slice of heaven. I love St. Clair’s writing. I’ve read many of her books so there was no doubt I’d love this one too.

Wyatt and Josie are so well done. Wyatt is a lovable grump and Josie is exactly what he needs. Jacob (Josie’s brother) schemes for Josie to meet him for a sibling outing, but what actually happens is the the perfect plan to get her to Wyatt and I loved all the events that take place to get the two together.

As always with St. Clair’s books there is humor and heart. The well-written side characters come in with full force and leave lasting impressions - Wyatt’s mom and Wanda to name a couple. There are surprise visits from characters I was more than thrilled to see.

I loved how Wyatt and Josie worked together on the boat and the ending revelations from one character pulled at my heart strings. The sailing was a fun addition. Their banter was so enjoyable and their chemistry was perfectly done.

Thank you to the publisher for the NetGalley approval for the ebook and the audio. All views are my own.

This was cute!! I loved Josie and Wyatt and all the sailing stuff. I also liked that while he's a hockey player, this wasn't a hockey romance.

It felt to me like it slowed down a bit around 65% and I had to push myself a bit to pick it up and finish, but I enjoyed the ending. Overall, a cute summer read!

Thanks to Netgalley for my complimentary e-arc. All opinions here are my own.

Rating: 4.5/5

Emma’s books are always so much fun and I just adored Wyatt and Josie’s story. As a huge fan of Emma St. Clair and Jenny Proctor’s Appies Hockey series, I loved seeing where Wyatt ended up after leaving the team.

The sailing aspect was interesting and a great way for them to spend time together. I loved seeing their history unfold throughout and each of them discovering that they haven’t had all their facts straight.

I also really loved their family members and how everything comes together in the end.

Content: kissing

This book had me from the very first page! Josie is a heroine who is so relatable- an everywoman who gets up every day and does the best she can, while delicately navigating the traumas life throws at her- and in this case, it's her sneaky brother sending her to rescue his best friend (and most lucrative sports contract) injured hockey player Wyatt. Brooding and grouchy, Wyatt and Josie have some history...but this new chapter starts when he calls the cops on her! I absolutely loved this book, the story, the characters, and the snark. A sweet romance with a low spice level, I'd feel. confident recommending this book to any reader who wanted a sweet summer romance. A solid A++ for me!

Thanks to netgalley for the preview in return for an honest review!

This novel was perfect. Great pace, characters, setting, dilemma etc. I hadn’t read this author previously but will now look for her books! Nothing spicy, this was a very PG family friendly read. Josie, a school nurse with reservations about men (especially athletes), was a little too in her head for the last fourth of the book, but it wasn’t inconceivable why she was so anxious. Wyatt, her brother's best friend/client, was basically too good to be true but I’ll take it!

Read if you like: enemies to lovers, sailing!, forced proximity situations and easy to read romance.