Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

If All Else Sails is a great slow burn rom com without any spice. Josie is an extremely relatable main character, down to earth with a little baggage from the past. Wyatt is the grumpy, injured hockey player whose agent is Josie’s brother. Their relationship develops over time, concluding with a sailing trip down the Intercoastal.

While I thought there was room for more spice, I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. I thought the book ended a little abruptly, and I would have loved to see more of their sailing journey. Overall, this was a great summer read that made me want to head out on a boat myself.

fun read!!! loved this one some of my favorite tropes, brothers best friend will always get me! perfect read for summer coming up & closed door romance done beautifully

“You couldn’t be more wrong when it comes to how I feel about you,” Wyatt says, then leans closer, pressing his wet forehead to mine. “How I’ve always felt about you.”

This book was so good and Josie & Wyatt were adorable! I loved how their relationship slowly progressed and it was a delight to see Wyatt go from being a grump to a total goner for Josie. Every side character was wholesome, especially Jacob. I was so glad that he wasn't the typical cliche brother who forbade his bestfriend from dating his sister. He was so fun and chill and so were Wyatt's friends! The beginning and end were truly good but in the middle, the pacing had become somewhat slow and because of it, the book felt long. Still, I enjoyed reading this book and the tension and chemistry between Wyatt & Josie was fabulous and made me root for them right since the beginning! Overall, I'll definitely recommend this book. It was a sweet, easy and light hearted!

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review

To begin with, this book is marketed as an enemies-to-lovers romance — but let’s be honest, it’s not. There were always feelings simmering between the characters; it was more about ego and miscommunication than actual rivalry. When I pick up an enemies-to-lovers story, I expect real tension and conflict before the romance, not just stubborn characters with a past.

I really liked the plot idea, but the book felt overly long. Most of the story is carried by the characters’ inner monologues, which isn’t really my thing. Because of that, I didn’t connect with it as much as I hoped.

Honestly, I was a bit disappointed. I expected something with a bit more punch, but it ended up feeling like a typical romantic comedy — just without that extra spark that makes it memorable.

First of all, love the title of the book (I love puns, I am supremely biased)
The premise of the book was fun so I requested it on NetGalley and it made for a breezy read.
Josie, a school nurse is fooled by her brother into cohabitating with his friend, an injured hockey player Wyatt, under the guise of a a siblings trip.

After a comedy of errors in the first half (the banter and the incidents I enjoyed reading through, they were fun and I think the author’s strength is in individual scenes being so hilarious)
But overall the story was in the bag from the get-go.

It wasn’t an enemies to lovers trope since Wyatt was always in love with her!!!


The unravelling was fun to read but the plot had some minute loopholes (the timings were all over the place in the first few chapters. It was daytime when Josie arrives but suddenly it was dinnertime - something Wyatt pointed out when Josie said she was going to nap, but then her nap lasted longer and it was 5 AM?) If this wasn’t a loophole it was still unnecessarily confusing. Esp in the initial chapters when most readers consider all details crucial and pay attention to, in case it becomes important later. There were a few other instances where overexplanation wasn’t needed.

The inner monologue-led progress of the plot isn’t usually my wavelength, so this one did not quite land for me. Overall an enjoyable premise and fun characters. (Loved it when Jacob, Josie’s brother finally made an appearance in person) all in all, I would watch a movie based on this story, but won’t re-read the book.

The Appies definitely hold a special place in my heart and it was so lovely to get Wyatt’s story! There were so many things to love in this story. I loved the adventures they have together, I loved some of the Appies teammate returns, the slow burn romance was beautiful, Wyatt’s character was awesome as well as Josie’s. I loved Wyatt’s patience too!
The only thing I would’ve loved to have seen is more from Wyatt’s POV. And also a scene where he finds Josie’s Grouchie tshirt!

Top moments & info
⚓️ grumpy / sunshine
⚓️ sailing adventure
⚓️ human stress ball lol
⚓️ Wyatt’s devoted attention
⚓️ crocodile tooth
⚓️ dog outfits
⚓️ Appies return
⚓️ “maybe I want to be overwhelmed”

I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves clean romance, brother's best friend, light enemies to lovers, just one bed, forced proximity, and grumpy/sunshine. It is a feel-good summer romance with both depth and humor.

This book hooked me right away with the dramatic way these main characters were introduced, the hints of a rocky history between the two MC's, and the mystery of their individual traumas. Josie is a likable, sunny school nurse on summer break looking forward to a trip with her brother. Unfortunately for her, her brother has other plans for her: to help his best friend recover from an injury and possible depression. Jacob is a grumpy hockey player dealing with grief and questioning his future in the sport. It is obvious to us, but not to Josie, that he has liked Josie since they met years before. However, due to misunderstandings and poor communication, Josie only sees his grumpy side.

Several amusing, swoony, and sweet forced proximity scenarios bring these two characters closer together. And thanks to the dual POV we see them falling for each other more and more as the weeks go on and Jacob recovers. The last half that takes place on the sailboat was especially fun as they are forced ever closer and Josie blossoms in her new adventure. They both work through their past hurts on their own and with the support of the other. And there isn't any spice but plenty of romance.

My only complaint is that it could have been a little shorter to get to the sailing trip faster. However, there were so many fun scenes that I don't know what I would have skipped over.

This was such a breath of fresh air! Josie was so witty and funny and had such a great personality. Wyatt is so grouchy but you could tell that underneath that grump, he was soft and sweet!

I didn't want the book to end as the characters were so much fun. I loved how Wyatt honored his uncle Tom throughout the book.

Jib was the cutest and I could almost picture all of his outfits!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

If All Else Sails is so cute! It’s a funny rom-com that will have you laughing out loud one moment and tearing up during a heartwarming portion the next moment. I couldn’t put it down because it was too cute and captivating. Emma St. Clair was quickly added to my must read list of authors with this one!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for that E-Arc.

Emma St. Clair is a new-to-me author and I’m really enjoying her novels and writing style. This book revolves around Wyatt and Josie. Wyatt is a grumpy hockey player who also happens to be Josie’s brother’s best friend. He gets injured before a big summer sailing trip and ends up stuck with Josie at their summer house. Josie, expecting to find her brother at the house is met by Wyatt, who now has no choice but to seek her help in order to go on the trip. Their struggles to get along and stubbornness had me giggling as one week together turned into many. I half expected one of them to throw the other into the ocean! Haha I love a forced proximity theme and seeing two opposites fall in love. This is a perfect spring to summer time read!

If All Else Sails by Emma St Clair

I loved this book so much! The beginning hooked me immediately, the tropes were troping, and I had a great time while reading it! The beginning was so funny and then it turned tender and swoony.

Josie's brother tricks her into nursing his biggest professional hockey client back to health. Too bad it's Wyatt Jacobs and they do not get along. On top of that, he tries to have her arrested for trespassing on his property. Now she's stuck in a murder cottage with a hulking, grumpy athlete in the middle of nowhere. But there might be more to him than the grump she thinks she knows!

If you like the "taking care of him when he's sick" trope, you'll love this. It is also a super slow burn with good communication! Swipe for a quote from our man Wyatt Jacobs on the third slide. 🔥

If you loved the Appies hockey series by Emma St Clair and Jenny Proctor, pick this one up! But you definitely don't have to read those first. This is a standalone!

I felt impatient for the next plot point to happen a couple times in the book, so that's why I would give it 4.5 stars instead of the full five. But I have no other complaints for this sweet, mature romance with a road trip (but make it sailing) and an animal sidekick!

The vibes:
Grumpy x sunshine
Brother's best friend
Hockey player but injured
She's a nurse
Tiny dog in lots of cute outfits
No spice

The only bad news I have is that this isn't available until August! But put it on your TBR immediately!

I really enjoyed this book! I thought the pacing was good and I was interested from the beginning and there was no break up or dragging out this big communication. Wyatt was so patient and just quietly showed Josie how he felt. It also had some good humor. An easy fun read!

I hade read so many Emma St. Clair books and don’t plan to stop any time soon. This book was amazing and had me hooked from the very first word.

This was such a cute book!! I really enjoyed the characters. Wyatt is a grumpy hockey player who is dealing with an injury and is refusing to go to appointments or do his physical therapy. Sometimes I don't enjoy a grumpy character in a book because they aren't written well and they are just mean, but Wyatt is very likable. I love that he realizes he just struggles to talk to Josie and it always comes out worse. So, although Josie thought he hated her, the reader has an understanding of where Wyatt stands. I really like Josie, too! She was a fun character. She's an elementary school nurse and as she's trying to help Wyatt they joke about him being similar to the kids she helps. I really enjoyed this story and read it so quickly! There was so fun, cute banter between the main characters and some kind of ridiculous moments that brought humor to it as well. Definitely worth the read!!

3 out of 5 stars

It has brother friend, forced proximity, enemies to lovers; he falls first tropes all in one great story. Wyatt the hockey player got hurt and wasn't able to play hockey for a while, Josie is tricked into going and helping Wyatt (her brother's friend), who she doesn't like, while he is injured. It starts with an arrest which made me excited for the rest however it fell a bit flat after that. While being forced to spend the summer together, they begin to tolerate the other. Wyatt was set to go on a sailing trip before he got hurt, and the only way he can go now is if Josie comes with him, which she choses to do because she is a push over. They adopt a stray and go on an adventure. It's cute but very predictable
Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing, for an E-Arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Three words to describe this book
sailing
cottage
strays

This was a sweet story about Wyatt, an injured hockey player, and Josie - the sister of Wyatt’s agent who was tricked into coming to help Wyatt get out if his funk after his injury.

The banter and chemistry between Wyatt and Josie was great. I loved when Jib came into the book, the little rescue dog that Josie dressed up for the duration of the book.

The first half of the book took place in the “murder cottage” as Josie dubbed it, and the second half was on the sailboat, taking an intercostal journey.

This was a sweet, feel good rom com and another win for Emma St. Clair!

Thank you Net Galley, Emma St. Clair and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the eARC of this book!

A cozy romance all about close proximity.
It had a strong start, funny and full of banter. About 40% through it slowed down.

He falls first and everyone but her knows it.
I love the dog and Wyatt’s mom while her character didn’t add much, if anything, to the plot she was a fun one.

Thanks NetGalley for the arc

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

3.5 stars.

A clean romance between a guy who has been in love with the girl since they met and the girl who thinks he hates her! A well written story that was easy to get into and stick with. I liked both leads, and the depth that their characters have.
I personally would have liked at least one fade-to-black scene of them getting together, but it was just kissing. Though I am glad this sort of well written contemporary romance exists for those who don't like steam/spice. I just didn't think the couple had enough chemistry and passion without it, sorry. They were fine, and I wanted them to get together, but there didn't really feel like there were stakes (even though the main obstacle after the miscommunication is their living far apart).
There was some unresolved stuff, mostly to do with family, that I wish was dealt with more. And the ending really seemed to happen too quickly, especially considering how slow and considered most of the plot was leading up to it.
Overall, it was fairly well written, easy to read, and didn't require any emotional investment (I mean that in a good way). It was a bit of a palette cleanser, and good for my currently anxious brain. I would definitely check out any other books by this author in future.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for the ARC of If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair. All opinions are my own.

I’ll honestly read anything this author writes, but wow does this book stand out as one of my favorites from her. I read the book in two days because I just didn’t want to put it down.

If I had to describe this book with one word, it would be tender. I don’t use this word a lot, but the character interactions and romantic moments were so tender, and It really made me love this story.

This book follows Wyatt, a professional hockey player that is supposed to be recovering from an injury. Instead, he has become reclusive and is staying in a beach house left to him by his late uncle. His agent Jacob is worried about his mental and physical health, so he decides to send his own sister to go stay with Wyatt. Jacob’s sister Josie is an elementary school nurse, and she has no idea that she’s been sent to get Wyatt back on his feet. She thinks she’s going on a sibling summer vacation with her brother.

Because Wyatt and Josie aren’t expecting to see each other, their first interaction is hilarious. There’s also so many other funny moments between them (especially the pigs!). Besides the humor in this book, the author did a fantastic job creating emotional depth between these characters.

Each of these characters is dealing with different issues, so it was beautiful to see how each character grew to not only accept themselves but to not settle for the situations they found themselves in. I loved the vulnerability these characters shared with each other, and it was so nice to see them lean on each other through their difficult circumstances.

This story has a slow burn romance that is so sweet because the characters build a friendship before they’re finally ready to share their feelings with each other. I loved seeing Josie and Wyatt learn from each other, and their sailing trip was such a fun part of the plot.

Overall, I can’t recommend this book enough! If you want a heartfelt and tender romance between two hurting people, this is the book for you.

Enemies to lovers? Check. Forced proximity? Check. A grumpy hockey player and a no-nonsense nurse stuck in a rundown cottage with unresolved tension simmering beneath the surface? Triple check.

This witty and heartwarming romance follows Josie, a school nurse with a grudge, and Wyatt, her brother’s best friend and injured pro hockey player. Thanks to a sneaky setup by Josie’s brother, the two are thrown together for a summer at what Josie dubs the "quaint little murder cottage" in Virginia’s Northern Neck. What starts as a begrudging arrangement soon evolves into something deeper, funnier, and surprisingly tender.

The dynamic between Josie and Wyatt is classic slow-burn—full of snark, banter, and just the right amount of tension. As they sail down the Intracoastal Waterway (yes, there's a boat!), they’re forced to confront not just their misconceptions about each other, but also about themselves.

It was also a treat to see familiar faces from a previous book make an appearance—like catching up with old friends and getting a glimpse of their lives after their own happy ending.