Emma St Clair's books always make me smile! Her characters and plots are always so great.

This book starts with Josie. She thinks she's going on a sibling vacation with her brother. Only...she ends up at a murder house in the back of a police car in the heat. What a great meet cute! It definitely made me chuckle.

I loved Josie so much! She didn't really want to stay and help Wyatt. But she ends up doing it as a favor to her brother. Even learning to sail so that she can go with him on his uncle's boat.

Wyatt is one of the good guys. But he's really stubborn and going through a hard time. Eventually Josie breaks through his defenses and she's able to help him.

I loved that these two go on a sailing journey together. And the reason for their journey touched me. I loved that the characters in this book have gone through struggles, we all do, of course. Josie and Wyatt are able to move past their struggles together.

I loved this one so much!

If All Else Sails is a delightful story that hits all the marks for a sweet, funny, and entertaining summer read. Josie is supposed to be meeting her brother for a sibling vacation but instead she finds herself at the home of his best friend and hockey pklyer client, Wyatt. The two have never gotten along.get along He's a grump and she is not comfortable around athletes. But, her brother hires her to take of Wyatt while he is recovering from an injury. She needs the money. A sailing trip down the intravenous waterway is the perfect way for the two to get acquainted and a stray pup, Jib, (a sailing term) adds a sweet note. Loved it! I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my thoughts.

I am always down for a cozy little romance story and this one had me grinning so often it's an easy book to recommend to others.

The relationship dynamics between Josie and Wyatt were so entertaining. I absolutely ate it up

That was absolutely delightful, just like all of Emma's books. Wyatt and Josie were a lovely couple that played off each other well and I love a good opposites attract. Plus, a brother's best friend with long time pining- be still my beating heart. And I know absolutely nothing about sailing but having it as a backdrop for a romance novel was a brilliant idea. So good work, Ms St Clair.

If you like all the things I just mentioned, hockey, dogs, and cameos from the Appies, I think you might just love this book.

If All Else Sails is in the Appies universe, a world Emma St. Clair fans will recognize from her other hockey romance series. There are a few nods to the team and a couple of fun/quick cameos sprinkled in. But this book wholly stands on its own. Newcomers won't feel lost, and seasoned readers will enjoy the subtle callbacks (though if you haven't read the rest of the series, you absolutely should—it's fantastic!).

I adore Emma St. Clair’s writing style: warm, witty, and filled with humor and sweet to swoony moments, but never crosses the line into cringey or cheesy. heartfelt depth, and swoony moments that never cross into cheesy or cringey. Both Josie and Wyatt are beautifully drawn characters with emotional complexity, and the slow-burn tension—complete with a gripping "will they or won’t they" vibe—was spot-on and kept me hooked.

Pick this up if you're into:
* ☀️ Summer Romance
* 💘 Grumpy x Sunshine
* 👬 Brother’s Best Friend
* 🏠 Forced Proximity
* 💥 Enemies (or are they?) to Lovers
* 🚪 Closed Door Romance

P.S. I hope the author continues to write in this universe. I need a story of Jacob finding love stat!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well, this was just a joy of a read. I needed a good rom-com in my life, and this was absolutely it. It had wonderful summer-y vibes but also just a great love story at the core. Josie's brother arranges for her to help his best friend, Wyatt, rehab. This starts as rehab at home, but then Josie finds out that Wyatt planned an important sailing trip. So, Josie agrees to go along, so he can make it happen. From there, things, well, sail away.? Anyway. I loved the way Wyatt and Josie's stories developed. I loved that they alternated chapters, so I could get both sides of the story. This was just a wonderful read all around. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the look at this August 2025 release.

I loved this book! If All Else Sails is a fast-paced, no-spice romance that absolutely delivers on the tension and enemies-to-lovers dynamic. Emma St. Clair does such a great job keeping you on your toes—I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. The banter was sharp, the emotional stakes were high, and the chemistry? Totally addictive, even without spice.

The audiobook was just as enjoyable. The narration brought the characters to life and kept the energy up from start to finish. It made an already great story even more immersive.

If you’re looking for a clean romance that still brings all the swoony tension and drama, this is it. Definitely one I’ll be recommending!

"Never leave the house without your underwear or your boundaries."

"Maybe that's what love is. Not trying to be everything for someone or to complete them, like a person could somehow be incomplete without another person. But perhaps love is being the exact right size of drill bit to tighten the other person's very specific loose screws.
Okay, this analogy may not fully work since I don't use tools and it sounds unnecessarily dirty. What I mean is that maybe love is giving the other person the something they may not have on their own."

Okay, I LOVED this one! I think it's one of my favorites by Emma so far. Maybe I was in the exact right mood to read it but everything hit just right. The humor. The feels. The tension and dynamics. The history and back stories. The growth and romance. Perfection!

Josie and Wyatt started their relationship on a misunderstanding that spiraled into one disaster after another, leaving her loathing him while he hides his feelings for his best friend's sister. After a tragedy and an injury that affects his hockey career, Wyatt isolates himself and Josie's brother tricks her into going to help him (cue another meet-ugly/misunderstanding of epic and hilarious proportions.) Josie is a giant ball of sunshine and spirit and Wyatt is a grump with a soft heart, and as their forced proximity brings out their banter and the feelings beneath, the more Josie sees the man Wyatt is.

I loved how well these characters suited and brought out the best in each other. That once they got past their misunderstandings they fully saw and supported each other. Both had past hurts and trauma to work through, and they gave each other both the space and support to do so. I love how Wyatt communicated his feelings while giving Josie room to set the pace (but gently nudging when necessary.) And there were some great cameos of beloved characters from another series!

With enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity, loads of banter, quirky and meddling big-hearted family and friends, past traumas and current healing, a sailing trip, a rescue dog begrudgingly submitting to a full wardrobe, slow burn and some pining, with a wonderfully tender romance, this is a perfect summer rom-com!

If All Sails is everything I want in a feel-good romance: charming small-town vibes, sparkling banter, lovable characters, and a satisfying slow-burn that delivers in the best way. Emma St. Clair has once again created a world I never want to leave.

The chemistry between the leads was palpable, but what really stood out was the emotional depth beneath the surface. There’s real vulnerability and growth here, wrapped in humor and heart. I laughed, I swooned, and I might’ve teared up once or twice.

If you’re a fan of clean romance with witty dialogue, a strong sense of place, and characters you wish were your friends, this one’s a must-read. St. Clair’s books just keep getting better, and this might be my favorite yet.

Ugh, this was so cute.

A great read to pick up when you want a summer romance!

We follow Josie and Wyatt as they unexpectedly spend the summer together. Josie thinks it’s a disaster waiting to happen, convinced they’re sworn enemies. But surprise Wyatt has secretly been pining for her all along.

Not only is this a sweet and funny love story, but it also handles anxiety in such a relatable and honest way. I loved seeing Josie push herself to grow, and Wyatt’s calm, patient presence was the perfect support. He helps without trying to “fix”. Bravo, Wyatt.

Bonus points for the Otis Redding references (I loved the line: “ Otis can’t be ruined by bad dancing or by talking”). Which is absolutely correct. He’s a fave of mine!

Also let’s note- no third-act breakup or unnecessary miscommunication. We love to see it. Thank you, Emma!

If you’re looking for a clean, heartfelt summer romance, definitely check this one out when it releases August 5th.

Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction for the eARC!

When Josie shows up expecting her annual Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza, she instead finds herself in the back of a police car—and roped into helping her brother’s best friend, Wyatt, recover from an injury. Josie, a school nurse on break, is less than thrilled. Not only does she have zero patience for stubborn athletes, but she’s also had a long-standing dislike for Wyatt since their awkward first meeting years ago.

Wyatt, a professional hockey player, has been quietly pining for Josie ever since that first encounter. With her brother as his agent and Josie now acting as his impromptu nurse, close quarters force them to face old grudges, buried feelings, and the kind of chemistry that can’t be ignored.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story from beginning to end. Josie and Wyatt are both well-drawn characters with depth, humor, and relatable flaws. Their emotional and personal growth felt natural, and the progression of their romance was sweet, satisfying, and full of heart.

I really enjoyed this story. I liked the characters, the sailing, the funny incidents. Although there weren't many side characters, those that did appear were well drawn and felt like real people.

The romance was very, very slow burn. There wasn't a lot toward relationship building in the first 30% of the book. Even once it starts building, it takes a long time for any real acknowledgment between the characters. But they were fun together.

It's also dual perspective, which didn't seem necessary. With 30 chapters and an epilogue, we only got 7 from Wyatt's perspective. These sudden jumps to his mind threw off the flow of the story more than anything.

Overall, a great story and fun to see Wyatt here after meeting him in the Appies.

I received a copy of this audiobook through Netgalley and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This was my first Emma St. Clair book and I adored It!

Emma hooked me from the very first page with our FMC pulling up to a “quaint little murder cottage.”
If All Else Sails gives you an enemies to lovers, second chance, brothers best friend romance. We have our school nurse, Josie, taking care of the injured Wyatt. It’s full of tension and witty banter and the dual POV is the cherry on top! I thoroughly enjoyed Emma‘s writing style and will absolutely be recommending this to friends! My only criticism is that the title didn’t really come in to play until pretty far in to the book. I think it could have been named something a tad more fitting.
Thank you Thomas Nelson Publishing and Netgalley for the gifted copy!

The moment I received the e-ARC for If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair, I knew it was going to be my next read. I wanted something cute and summery to dive into, and this totally fit the bill.

It's a no-spice, lots of tension, laugh out loud, happy vs. sunshine, let's tackle some serious issues rom-com... and a really enjoyable escapist read. Take me away....

I did think more of this would take place on the sailboat and that more hijinks on the seas (or more accurately the Intracoastal Waterway) would ensue... but a lot had to happen on-land to set the stage before sailing.

If it speaks to me in the moment or hits the right notes for a satisfying "awww!"-inducing finale, sometimes that's exactly what I need - a feel good, match my sense of humour, pure delight of a book. It's like a classic comfort meal, just in print - bringing all the feels.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This was a refreshing bad first impression romance and one that had me laughing along the way. Lots of witty banter and up’s and downs throughout this book.

Josie’s brother claims they are going on one of their brother and sister trips but when Josie gets to the destination, she never expected to be arrested and her brother not even in sight.

Wyatt just wanted to continue hiding out and recover from his hockey injury as a hermit in his murder cottage but in walks Josie back into his life and she will definitely change the direction of his future.

This was a really sweet story that allowed the romance to slowly build as the characters found their way to each other past years of misunderstanding. Josie has just found herself duped by her brother, Jacob, into caring for his top client (and friend) Wyatt who is not doing a great job of recovering from a disc golf injury - an injury that might affect his future hockey playing.. Within no time Josie finds herself agreeing to not only stay and help out Wyatt but to also accompany him on a sailing trip. Close proximity on a sailing boat starts to reveal how they really feel about each other. The highlight of this book is the stray dog they adopt - Jib - and her myriad of wonderful dog outfits. This book didn't completely feel well paced for me as I felt like some moments were rushed and I wasn't completely sold on Josie's anxiety issues, however it doesn't prevent it from making good use of romantic tropes and I'm sure some readers will absolutely love the shape of the story. It is a really solid PG romance which is good for those who prefer less spice to their books. I would absolutely give it three and half stars as it does have some great moments particularly on the boat and during the PT session, not to mention the pigs. Thank you to NetGalley and to Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read this arc in return for my honest opinion. All views are completely my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

Tropes:
🧍‍♂️Brother’s best friend
🧍‍♀️Best friend’s sister
😠Enemies-to-lovers
☀️Sunshine x grumpy
🫂Forced proximity
🛏️One bed
👥Dual POV

This is actually a cute story between Josie, an elementary school nurse, and Wyatt, a hockey player. Although they both got set up by Jacob who is Josie’s brother and Wyatt’s agent to help Wyatt get out of his mental block from his injury and all that, they had a fun time sailing together. I really enjoyed their sailing trip - how they resolve any misunderstandings between them and actually get to know each other and spend time together. I cracked up in some parts especially the ones where Jacob has a part in, he’s so funny and a very sneaky guy. He knows what he’s doing for sure. All in all, the book is a cozy and sweet read.

P.S. Thank you to NetGalley, Emma St. Clair and Thomas Nelson Fiction for giving me this ARC!

When Josie's brother sends her to a random address for their (sometimes) annual Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza, she finds neither siblings nor extravaganzas. Instead, ends up at a run-down cottage on the Northern Neck of Virginia occupied by Wyatt Jacobs, a hockey player who isn't just one of her sports agent brother's clients but also his best friend and Josie's sworn enemy. Oh--and her brother wants Josie to help Wyatt recover from his injury.

This had all the signature Emma St Clair shenanigans; from run-ins with wild pigs to trips to the ER for poison oak reactions, the fun wasn't lacking. Wyatt also softened towards Josie as she cared for him and tagged along on his sailing trip down South. I loved how patient he was with her as their feelings grew.

I like that the male narrator's tone somehow embodied Wyatt's curmudgeon ways but sometimes it was more of a mumble and hard to catch. The female narrator did a great job.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an ALC in exchange for an honest review. It's out August 5th!

Rating: 4⭐
Steam level: 1🌶️ Kissing only

Very cute! This is the first book I've read from this author and I'm excited to read more of her works in the future. I was specifically in the mood for a fun summer beach read and this checks off that for me!

Oh my goodness! I. Loved. This. Book.

The witty banter. The hilariously awkward situations. The laugh-out-loud lines.

School nurse Josie lives a quiet life . . . and she likes it that way. Really she does. Then her brother tricks her into spending her summer nursing his grumpy best friend and star hockey player Wyatt Jacobs, who also happens to be tops on Josie’s most-hated list. Will pig stampedes, flying hockey sticks, and a sailing adventure change Josie’s mind about Wyatt? Or will her summer be sunk?

This is the first book by Emma St. Clair that I’ve read, but it definitely won’t be the last!

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