This audiobook was so slow. I thought I was done and I was only at 50%. It started so cute and then just draggggggged.

I just finished this book today and sadly this book was a miss for me.

I actually was enjoying it a lot but I just felt like the book was drawn out for far too long and by the time I was finished with it I had zero interest in it. I know what happened at the end but I can’t even remember at this point as it was so dragged out.

I did enjoy the premise of the story though, brothers best friend and forced proximity are great and I did enjoy that aspect of it but the rest fell flat.

If you enjoy a slow burn that takes until the last part of the book, then you will love this.

I was also lucky to receive an early audio book of this one which was nice going between the two. I absolutely loved the female narrator and thought she did a great job of her part and everyone else’s. However I absolutely did not like the male narrator at all, so much so I just stopped paying attention to what he said which is bad.

“I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.”

This contains an audiobook review.

This is a standalone, kisses only romcom by Emma St Clair. It features a character that was first introduced in a previous series of hers, but it is absolutely not necessary to have read that series to thoroughly enjoy this book.

Wyatt and Josie have chemistry out the wazoo. The banter between them is humorous. I appreciated the deeper touches of the story as well. There is healing achieved throughout the story for both characters. It was fun to take that journey with them.

One thing that I do want to mention, is that I did not read the blurb and am very glad that I didn't. It contains information that happens over halfway through the story. From the cover and title, some events could be guessed, but I personally hate being spoiled by blurbs. That's why I've stopped reading them, especially for authors I am familiar with their content or for books recommended to my by friends. That is another reason why my reviews are more vague than maybe other's are.

I listened to this book and enjoyed the narrators. It is a dual point of view book and has a male and female narrator for each point of view. They do not read as a duet, where each narrator reads all of the dialogue for their respective gender. They each read the entire chapter of the corresponding character's point of view. I found both of them easy to listen to and neither had annoying voices for the opposite gender.

I did receive an advanced copy of this audiobook from Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio via Netgalley. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

•𝐀𝐋𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰•

{𝑰𝒇 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝑬𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝑺𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒔}

“𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚊𝚙𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗.”

⛵️ Release Date: August 5, 2025 ⛵️
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In all honesty, this book was a bit of a disappointment. I was really hoping for more than just your everyday generic rom-com, but sadly, I didn’t feel like it was anything special. So while it was full of comedy and romance, it was lacking that extra spark that makes an ordinary book extraordinary.

I will say, the beginning was fabulous! I thought it was hilarious the way everything played out, but then the book started to feel a bit repetitive and draggy. Every chapter had something either funny, romantic, or touching pertaining to the chapter title, so as soon as you read the title, you knew what to expect. I’d rather go into a chapter blind and be pleasantly surprised by what takes place.

I struggled to feel any real chemistry between Wyatt and Josie. Yes, they were clearly into each other, but the ✨sparks✨ were lacking. I’m probably just too picky, but that’s what I get for reading an insane amount of romcoms 🙈

I wouldn’t say this book was bad by any means; it simply wasn’t for me. So you should definitely give it a read to decide for yourself what you think of it!

The narrators did a great job with the audiobook and made it very easy to listen to!

Top Moments:
⚓️ Murder cottage
⚓️ Being detained by cops
⚓️ Wyatt fever-flirting
⚓️ Mutant pigs
⚓️ Poison oak reaction
⚓️ Impromptu mother/daughter shopping spree
⚓️ The Cool Whip container
⚓️ Princess JibJabberwocky
⚓️ Jib’s outfits
⚓️ Boat shoes
⚓️ The storm
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I received a complimentary alc from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio. All opinions are purely my own.

This book was so fun and such an adventure. The best enemies to lovers with so much banter. The opening chapter had me laughing with the meet-cute experience. Every summer Josie and her brother meet up on an adventure of a trip. This year he sent her on an adventure and instead of her brother she finds his best friend, Wyatt.

The audiobook was narrated by Andi Arndt and Patrick Zeller. These two voices were so perfect for Josie and Wyatt. The banter between these two was perfect! Such a great swoony worth, fun beach read.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing the opportunity to read this ARC!

If All Else Sails* presents an enemies-to-lovers romance featuring Josie, a school nurse, and her brother's best friend, Wyatt, a hockey player. Following an injury, Josie's brother persuades her to care for Wyatt during his recovery.
Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy *If All Else Sails* as much as I had hoped. I struggled to connect with both Wyatt and Josie, and I didn’t feel the chemistry between them. The story didn’t fully engage me, and I wasn’t particularly fond of the male narrator, which likely contributed to my experience.

I really genuinely enjoyed this book. I didn't know too much going into it but I'm thankful to have been given an ARC. I have to say it's really the best feeling ever when a book does NOT have a third act break up! To be honest, this book was pretty low drama throughout. I liked the relationships between Josie and her brother. I am a SUCKER for a man who has been down bad since the beginning and the FMC just has no clue at all. This book was cozy and good vibes all around. It was the nice short calm read I needed in between my other very stressful books. The only thing I didn't really love was the male narrator. He wasn't a bad narrator I just felt that his voice sounded much older than the character was supposed to be and it really interfered with how I pictured him. I would 100% read another book from this author, in fact I'm kind of hoping that she has something up her sleeve for Josie's brother.

I loved this plot so much and the characters were extremely likable. My only issue was the audiobook itself, I felt like I could barely hear the male narrator. I didn’t have the issue with Josie’s chapters at all,

If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair was a cute and entertaining listen that brought plenty of laughs and charm. The story doesn’t aim to be life-changing, but it absolutely succeeds as a feel-good romantic comedy. The humor landed well, and the banter kept things moving at a fun pace.

I really enjoyed the sailing backdrop—it added a unique element that made the story feel fresh and different from the typical rom-com setting. It was fun to be immersed in that world, even if I’m not a sailor myself.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this review. 3.5 stars.

"If All Else Sails" is a charming and engaging read! Emma St. Clair delivers a sweet and funny romance with delightful characters in Sydney and Graham. The banter is top-notch, and the small-town setting adds to the cozy feel. While perhaps not groundbreaking, it's a thoroughly enjoyable story that will leave you with a smile.

Kicking it off with a Punny title, I had a pretty good feeling about If All Else Sail by Emma St.Clair. Loved the female narrator—she really brought the character to life—but the male voice was a bit too low for my liking. This was such a cute story, and I absolutely adored the pup! I enjoyed both the character development and the sailing element, which added a unique twist. However, I was frustrated that her past physical trauma impacted the relationship without being properly addressed or resolved.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A sweet, spice-free, forced proximity enemies-to-lovers romance with heart.

Thanks to Net Galley and Emma St.Clair for the ARC.

I loved this book!
Emma St. Clair - I am now a big fan!
This book had so many things that made me love it - enemies to lovers, hockey romance (eeeek!), brothers best friend, dogs, sailing, touch her and die, and she is a nurse!
I connected so well to the FMC, Josie. She is every woman who is trying to get her life to a place they can finally relax. She also has baggage and some trauma from an experience when she was younger that made her swear off dating athletes.
Wyatt was so fun. He was so grumpy until Josie came around started changing his life.
The spicy times are closed door which I really enjoyed, there was much more plot than just spicy scenes.
The characters were very well-developed. They had such great banter and I laughed out loud several times.
The plot was well structured and the pace was perfect for the plot.
Also - the meet-cute in this book.... hilarious! I loved it.
This story has healing, adventure, learning to love again, and learning to trust.
Again - this is a clean romance which is a nice break from the usual spicy nature of a sports romance.
I also love that hockey wasn't the main content in the plot. This was more story than sport and spicy scenes.
If you want a sweet, humorous, sports romcom, this is an excellent book for you.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Emma St. Clair for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Add this to your summer TBR friends! This book would be an excellent beach read!
Happy Reading!

If All Else Sails follows Josie, a woman tricked by her sports agent brother into spending time with his injured client/best friend while he recovers. Of course he’s broody and refusing help from everyone. Why would Josie be any different? They hated each other in college…. Right? Well turns out not so much…

Ok so I actually listened to the audiobook version of this and it had dual narration. Both narrators have pleasant voices and decent pacing. I did struggle with volume consistency issues with the male narrator. He would get so quiet I could not hear or understand him so I would turn the volume up, only for him to literally start yelling in the next sentence. Most of the story is read by the female narrator so thankfully it didn’t bother me too much.

I loved a lot about this story. St Clair’s writing is sweet and her characters are relatable. Plus a pun for a title? Sign me up. I absolutely devoured this story within days. I could see the traumatic backstory coming from a mile away and then it was sort of…. Glazed over. Josie talks about it but still genuinely believes it’s no big deal and we never get to see her resolve or work through that on the page. I would have liked a bit more time to be dedicated to that.

Overall, would I recommend this book? Yes. It’s sweet and fun and a quick summer read.

Huge thank you to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for offering this audiobook for review via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I received an advance audio copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book checked all the boxes for me with respect to easy, enjoyable romance novels. I’ve read a number from Emma St. Clair and think this is one of her better ones and also appreciated her author’s note with personal connection to the story location and some aspects of the plot.

IMO, Emma did a nice job setting up the story (I chucked every time I heard “murder cottage”) but think it could have benefited with a bit more build. It felt like they were in the murder cottage for a hot second, then jumping on a one month boat excursion, and suddenly speeding toward professing their love (after a very oddly placed visit from some former teammates that talk about their quick romances to marriage and the benefits of being a WAG)…oh and then the two-year skip to epilogue.

One comment is just my ongoing frustration with the enemies to lovers trope - why is it that so often that lust and obsession is grossly misconstrued for absolute hatred? I just don’t get it. And in this book specifically, in just a month’s time, after yeaaars of thinking this way, it’s all the sudden overturned and then rushes straight to “forever, amen” love?! I have chalked it up to part of the romance genre rubric but that doesn’t lesson my annoyance.

All in all, a pleasurable story and will always pick up an Emma St. Clair book! 3.75 stars.

Thank you so much Netgalley and Publisher for providing ALC in exchange of an honest review of If all else sails.
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A rare occasion for me cause i actually enjoyed a rom-com?? if you know me already you must've known that i don't enjoy rom-com much but do read for change of palate.

Synopsis:
When elementary school nurse Josie arrives to meet her brother for their not-quite-annual summer trip, instead of finding Jacob, she discovers she has been duped. Jacob can't take off work for a trip and instead is calling in a huge favor from Josie: helping his best friend recover from surgery. Wyatt is the perpetual grump, a famous hockey player Josie has never particularly liked, and a terrible patient. His foot is in bad shape, but nowhere near as bad as his surly attitude.

Begrudgingly, Josie agrees to stay for a week that becomes two. But when she finds out that Wyatt's injury ruined his plans to sail down the east coast on the Intracoastal Waterway, Josie surprises them both by agreeing to be his second set of hands.
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While most of the female characters irritates me, she doesn't. She really was such a cheerful and golden retriever type of person and i think alot of credit goes to narrator which makes her character more enjoyable.
Wyatt, a grumpy hockey player, was actually such a wholesome and caring person and the fact he liked her since the moment he saw her had my heart fluttering. I absolutely loved how patient and caring he was with Josie and all his small gestures towards her were the cutest.
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This book is literally the perfect combination of slow burn, tension and grumpyXsunshine. It also include close proximity, only one bed, raising a dog together, brother's best friend and the best thing was SPICE FREE!!! i absolutely adore this 💖
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This was REALLY cute! I enjoyed it a lot. It’s definitely for you if you like books with no spice! I enjoyed the banter but am not a huge fan of miscommunication tropes but this was a cute story for that. I enjoyed the sailing, the pup, the grump, and the character development. I would have loved in the epilogue to hear how blending their lives together went since it was such a big part of the plot but enjoyed that we got the glimpses we did. Overall, a good read and very enjoyable.

One note for the audiobook: I feel like the male voice actor was hard to hear or understand at times. Multiple times I had to rewind or slow down to make out what he was saying. The female voice actor was phenomenal.

This was a cute forced proximity read! Josie is sent to an address to meet her brother for their "annual" trip and she ends up at his best friends house. Wyatt is hurt and is avoiding his physical therapy that will help him return to his hockey career so Josie's brother who happens to be Wyatt's agent sends her to make sure he recovers. He is beyond grumpy, but his one weak spot is Josie even though she things he hates her. There was some miscommunication between the two main characters, but overall, a great read. I loved the female narrator but was not the biggest fan of the male narrator.

Thank you Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Fiction Audio & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I listen to 90% of my books on audio- The female narrator did a great job, however the male narrator was honestly one of the worst I have ever heard. It was unbearable and part of the reason for the DNF. He first of all didn't sound the correct age for the character, and he was so angry sounding? (which after reading some of the other reviews it seems like the character was supposed to be a little bit of a grump?). But the narrator would go back and forth between yelling and whispering and when I would listen in my car, I would turn up the volume to hear him when he whispered and then he would almost blow out my speakers because 5 seconds later he would start yelling.. it was truly awful. lol

The story itself just wasn't doing it for me either. It started off strong- I liked the beginning and then it just got really slow and it seemed like the progression of the story was just really choppy and didn't make sense? Wasn't really an enemies to lovers IMO either. Idk, I just couldn't listen for another 6+ hours when I wasn't connecting with the story, the characters and then dealing with the whispering yelling angry narrator man.

I really liked this story and thought the plot was cute. I love a good forced proximity.
I thought a few parts were funny and I loved the female lead- she was spunky.
I listened to this one on audio and thought it was pretty good. I love that there was both a male and female narrator BUT I wasn’t a fan of the man’s narration. He was so quiet and SLOW- I sped it up to 2x speed and it was better but he spoke so quietly I had to turn it up when he spoke (hence the 4 stars)

| A sweet story, but not one that stayed with me!

If All Else Sails was a cute and enjoyable read while I was in it. Emma St. Clair has a lovely, easy writing style, and I appreciated the gentle pacing and heartfelt moments throughout the story. The romance was slow-burn and clean, and there were definitely scenes that made me smile.

That said, I struggled to fully connect with the characters or feel deeply invested in their journey. While I liked them, I didn’t quite feel them—and once I finished the book, I realized it probably won’t stick with me in the long run.

This is still a well-written, feel-good romance that I think many readers will enjoy. It just didn’t leave a lasting impression for me personally.

One highlight for me was the audiobook—Andi Arndt and Patrick Zeller delivered a really enjoyable narration that added warmth and emotion to the characters, even when I didn’t fully connect with them on the page.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Fiction Audio for the ALC of this audiobook!