This book was a delight! I really thinks it is the best romance Mrs. Emma St. Clair has ever written. She has matured her narrative a lot! Favorited.

REALLY REALLY GOOD! the banter is unmatched, the book is so funny and overall i had such a good time reading this. it’s honestly the perfect beach read!

my only two points are that wyatt did kinda do a 180 on his whole persona/mood in the book, and the formatting of the ebook could use some work.

other than that, i’d definitely recommend this! perfect slow burn summer read that had me laugh out loud at times.

also, I LOVE JIB!

A sweet, chaste summer sailing romance for fans of brother’s best friend and hockey players. This author had some really fantastic stand out quips.

4.5⭐️s. Super fun with lots of banter and great wit. I enjoyed both characters of Josie and Wyatt and had moments to relate to both characters. They both had depth and tension but also lightness and playfulness as they transitioned from animosity to friendship and beyond.

The setting of the “murder house” and the sailboat was a lot of fun, and some of the sites off the ICW I was familiar with. Also, love the moments with Jib.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook and ebook. All opinions are mine.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

✨ “You didn’t need to knock”, I say. Josie shrugs, “You called the cops when I set foot on your property. Who knows what you’d do if I walked inside without knocking.” She says airily ✨

✨Am I so desperate for her attention that I’ll even take it in the negative form? Maybe✨

✨Quiet mornings and afternoons and evenings with Josie telling me about things I only care about becasue they matter to her ✨

✨My last name looks good on you Rookie. Maybe we can find a way to keep it there.” ✨

📖
Josie, an elementary school nurse, is tricked into spending the summer with her brother’s best friend, Wyatt—a grumpy (but let’s be honest, 🔥), famous hockey player recovering from knee surgery. What should’ve been a chill sibling vacation turns into weeks of awkward tension, hilarious banter, and slow-burn romance at a rundown Virginia cottage. Add a boat, a healing journey down the Intracoastal Waterway, and forced proximity? You already know chaos and chemistry are sailing right in. ⛵💞

💭 My Thoughts 💭
Let me just say one thing about Emma St. Clair... she NEVER misses. PERIOD. I was grinning, swooning, and absolutely head over heels with WYATT 😩🔥 Like... WHEN will it be my turn?! Just send a warning next time because this man’s LINES?! Ughhhh I was DONE. 💘

Emma really knows how to make you fall for her characters—and fall hard. Josie? Hilarious. Smart. Sassy. And the chemistry between her and Wyatt? Off. The. Charts. 🔥💥

And don’t even get me started on the NICKNAME. “Rookie”?? Chef’s kiss. Plus, Wyatt noticing all the little things? Obsessed. He has officially been added to my book boyfriend list at 10,000% ✅💯

ANDDDD, we got a little Van cameo?! Yes please 🙌 Seeing familiar faces again made this feel like the perfect cherry on top. 🍒

I meannnn this was going to be a 5-star rate for me regardless becasue we got to see VAN AGAIN and I absolutely love that man.

If you love romance that’s equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and hopelessly swoony—If All Else Sails should definitely be on your TBR 📚💕

🙏 God bless everyone 🙏

4.5 Stars.

If All Else Sails is an adorable and clean rom-com by established author Emma St. Clair. I'm embarrassed to admit it's the first book of hers I've read, but it won't be the last! This book was a fun summer read and excellent palette cleanser. If you like books by Cindy Steel or are looking for a no-spice and no-swearing version of a Katherine Center book, be sure to check out this book!

Quick Plot Summary: Josie is on summer break from her job as a school nurse. Her older brother has hired her to take care of his client, Wyatt, as Wyatt recovers from a sports-related surgery. Josie and Wyatt have a complicated history that usually involves awkward interactions. Through their new arrangement, they are forced to get to know each other and move past the things that have kept them apart. They embark on a sailing trip together down the Intracoastal Waterway, and are faced with the choice to take a chance on each other or simply accept their fate as just friends.

My Impressions: This book was very cute and contained lots of forced proximity and also the older brother's best friend trope. It even had an "only one bed" scene, but managed to keep it completely clean. It was the slowest of slow burns, and the tension was great. I took off half a star because this book is touted as "enemies to lovers" but it's really about two people who like each other but there is a miscommunication standing in their way. I really enjoyed this book! A fun escape, and a unique book setting.

Content Considerations: No swearing, kisses only, no spice. A view mentions of a past attempted assault but not described explicitly. My opinion is this book would be appropriate for high school age readers in addition to adults.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the complementary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. My review is my honest opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the ARC and ALC! You had me at nurse MFC and then throw in a misunderstood hockey player? So good. Josie is the younger sister who has always been on the outs with her brother's best friend - NHL player Wyatt. When Wyatt gets injured and holes up in his recently deceased uncle's home, Josie's brother tricks her into going to visit and then convinces her to stay and nurse Wyatt back to health. The banter, the longing, the sweetness...I gobbled this one right up.

2.5 stars
i really wanted to like this one based on the
description.
it was so choppy in my opinion so i barely felt the characters love connection.
the plot that was supposed to be happening felt lost throughout the book.
i did like the family connections throughout the book but that didn’t make up for the lack of plot.

If all else sails. This is such a great romantic romp. Grumpy and sunshine. Read for the hea This is a happy beach book for summer

Loved this! Josie’s brother, Jacob, asks her to help Wyatt, who is her brother’s best friend and also his agent. Wyatt, a hockey player, was injured and refuses to go to physical therapy or any doctor’s appointments. Josie reluctantly agrees to help Wyatt, and as the two spend more time together, they begin to slowly get along even though they have an unpleasant past. Wyatt’s mom visits and tells her that Wyatt and his uncle, who died a year ago, were going to sail the Intracoastal this summer. Josie finds she’s enjoying helping Wyatt recover, and when he asks her if she wants to go on the sailing trip with him she agrees to go if he continues with his physical therapy. Josie wonders could things work with Wyatt. Wyatt asks her if she wants to be only friends, and she says I don’t know. As they begin their sailing trip, they have fun. Josie wonders could we have gone from dislike to like or even love? What ends up happening?
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I read this book in ebook and really enjoyed the dual/duet narration . I can’t remember what it is. Wyatt has the Alpha attitude but he is caring and will do anything for Josie has he has been pining for her for years . He is best friends with her brother and who does her brother call when he stops showing up for appointments after being injured.
He is staying at his uncles cabin thst was left to him after his death. They were really close. This is not the first book I have read by this author and it certainly won’t be my last . It’s a great summer read. He had planned to sail down to Georgia but now he needs to medically cleared to do so. He convinces Josie to go with him so he can still go while injured .
There were many sweet and tender moments and some laugh out loud ones that had me on the brink of tears. Just kisses . A definite reread

This book was such a joy to read! From laugh-out-loud moments to heartfelt scenes, it struck a great balance between humor, romance, and adventure. The comedic timing was spot on — I caught myself smiling (and even laughing) more than once, which is always a good sign.

The characters were a definite highlight. I especially adored Wyatt — he completely stole the show for me. Witty, layered, and surprisingly sweet, he was the kind of main character you want more of. The chemistry between the characters made the dialogue come alive; every conversation felt natural, clever, and full of personality.

One of the things I appreciated most was how much growth the characters showed by the end. Their emotional journeys were just as compelling as the physical adventure they were on. And speaking of adventure — it gave the story such great energy, with a love story that unfolded beautifully along the way.

All in all, this was a delightful read that had me hooked from beginning to end. Funny, heartfelt, and full of charm — I already miss these characters!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for an ARC of this delightfully funny book. Emma St Clair is a delight to read. I love how she takes real issues like anxiety and shows the real effects of it while weaving a story that’s romantic and hard to put down. Jib stole my heart and was hands down my favorite character.

What happens when you’re set up by your brother to help your enemy recover from an injury in a run-down murder cottage? That is what Josie wants to know. Her life as a school nurse is safe and predictable, just the way she likes it. When her brother, Jacob, sends her a GPS destination for their summer sibling adventure, Josie finds herself face to face with her enemy Wyatt, hockey player and best friend to her brother. Wyatt is spiraling after an injury, and not going to any of his doctor’s appointments or physical therapy. He’s run off two nurses, and Josie’s brother is sure her tenacity is exactly what Wyatt needs to get him to pull his life back together.
This was a clean romance with lots of laughs and banter, as well as serious moments and growth for both main characters.

A delightful story that combines grumpy/sunshine, and forced proximity in a book that screams "beach read."
I really enjoyed this story. It was lighthearted and fun while also carrying a depth with the main characters.
They had real feeling issues to work through and I loved how the romance built gradually and authenticity.
My only complaint is that this was a pretty slooooow burn. I sometimes get annoyed by books that take so long. I like a bit of book to just be able to see them a a couple.
Still this is a good story for when you want a fun vacation read.
I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgally. All thoughts and opinions are honest and completely my own.

Great Summer Read!

🌷From the very start of the book you are in for laughs, love, and swoony moments. Wyatt has "foot in mouth disease" while Josie is a massive overthinker and usually thinks wrong about what Wyatt says.

🌷There are police, pigs, dogs, boats, odd containers, and much more (trust me, it will all make sense) 🤭

🌷If you want a book full of laughs, love, and adventure while overcoming grief and difficult family dynamics then this is the right book for you!

🌷Also I have never been on a boat trip (scared of deep water) but these two made me rethink that a bit.

🌷Spice: 0: Kisses only
🌷Language: 0

This book was so cute! Josie and Wyatt had such a sweet romance and I loved seeing it grow! I loved all of our side characters they added so much to the story, Jin was my favorite she took over in the best way at parts.

My first read from this author, but I really love the story. Well developed characters and a sweet romance !

Is this my favorite book of 2025? Yes, it is. Wow. This was my first but not my last Emma St. Clair book. Full of my favorite tropes, enemies to lover, brother's best friend, forced proximity, I could barely put it down. Wyatt just wants to heal in peace from his hockey injury and Josie thinks she's spending time with her brother, but they both are surprised when Josie's brother (who is also Wyatt's agent) hatches a plan to help them both. The way I laughed and smiled and wanted to kick my feet at the sweet and sexy banter between Wyatt and Josie. Swoon! An adventure on the high seas is just what they both need to see that maybe what they really need in life is right in front of them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson publishing for the advanced copy, my opinions are my own.

This cozy romance delivers a charming, easy-to-read journey filled with reluctant companionship, second chances, and slow-burn chemistry.. e story shines in its simplicity: it’s not packed with high drama, but instead delivers a sweet, character-driven narrative that feels grounded and genuine. The cozy atmosphere, gentle humor, and emotional growth make this a feel-good read perfect for fans of slow-burn romance with a touch of adventure.