I enjoyed this even more as audio than reading. Dual narration and both are great, but Patrick Zeller, as Wyatt made this audiobook. Some audiobook narrators will emote when their characters are speaking, but not necessarily in the narration, that was not the case here. Even when Wyatt was thinking about being ticklish you could hear the panic and the giggles and it just made the story so much more immersive.

A sweet but real romcom in which both of the main characters had hangups and preconceptions that they had to get over. Emma St. Clair books are comfort reads for me. People have issues or misunderstandings, but things always end happily.

And Appie‘s fans will be pleased with cameos that I will not spoil.

This one is perfect if you’re in the mood for something light, funny, and full of silly side characters. We've got a grumpy/sunshine vibe, a brother’s best friend romance, forced proximity, and a whole lot of slow-burn tension packed into one unforgettable summer on the Virginia coast. There’s even a sailing trip that gave me major Captain Ron energy (iykyk!).

It’s a closed-door romance, and what it lacks in steam it makes up for with plenty of sarcastic banter and undeniable chemistry. Wyatt is the kind of gruff hero (btw - he’s a pro hockey player, so there’s that..) who falls first and hard. Josie is his perfect match, full of wit and stubbornness. Toss in a dog, some unexpected detours, and all the summer vibes, and you’ve got a rom-com that feels tailor-made for deck reading or listening.

Big thanks to NetGalley, Audible Audio, and Thomas Nelson for the advance copy and audiobook!

#IfAllElseSails #EmmaStClair #NetGalleyReads #ThomasNelsonFiction #AudibleRomance #GrumpySunshine #BrothersBestFriend #ClosedDoorRomance #CaptainRonVibes #SummerRomCom #BoatBooks #RomComReads #LateSummerReads #BookstagramRecs #RomanceReadersOfInstagram

Officially, I mark the audiobook version of this title as a 3-star since the Wyatt character voice is too angry. I lasted until the end of chapter 4 and was enjoying Josie's narrator. Wyatt is too gruff. I mean, he's not Nathan from "Romancing the Grump" but even Nathan is more subdued anger-management-wise in my internal narrator voice. The book's plot and pacing is a 5-star thus far, especially since this is related to/a spin off for the author's previous series about the Appies hockey team.

Thank you Net Galley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.75/5)
If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair
🧡 Grumpy x Sunshine
🤍Handling Grief
🏠 Forced Proximity
🏒 Hockey Past
🐶 Dog in Matching Outfits
🔪 Murder House??
🎧 Audiobook Impressions
😤 Abrupt Ending

This book had so much going for it, and I really wanted to fall head-over-heels... but a few things held me back from a full 5 stars.

Let’s start with the good stuff:

💥 Tropes Galore — If you love the grumpy/sunshine dynamic, Wyatt and Josie are delivering it in spades. Wyatt is classic broody ex-athlete energy, with just enough emotional softness hiding underneath to keep you swooning. Josie is chaotic, chatty, and sunshiney in a way that lights up the page — or should I say, the murder house. 😂
Yep — their forced proximity takes place in a little coastal cottage affectionately dubbed “the murder house” by Josie, and honestly?? That cracked me up every time it came up. Who stays there willingly? Josie. That’s who. 💀 Also, there’s a pup in matching outfits with its owner. I wasn’t prepared. It was different. It was weirdly adorable. Very Elle Woods and Bruiser Woods of them. One of the most compelling parts of the story is Wyatt’s quiet, ongoing battle with his grief. Emma St. Clair portrays his struggle with a raw honesty—he’s not drowning in sorrow, but you feel the weight he carries in every choice, every guarded moment. It adds depth to his character and makes his slow opening up feel that much more earned.

🎧 Audiobook thoughts:
✔️ Female narrator = spot on. Andi Arndt captured Josie’s humor, heart, and emotional chaos so perfectly.
✖️ Male narrator... not so much. Patrick Zeller’s voice was way too deep for both Wyatt and James. It just didn’t fit the tone or age of the characters. I kept wishing for Zachary Webber, Nelson Hobbs, or Teddy Hamilton — someone with that more textured emotional range.

😡 Now let’s talk about Josie’s trauma — or more accurately, her refusal to acknowledge it.
There’s a specific moment where Wyatt tries to gently explain that what she went through is a form of trauma, and she just brushes it off like it’s no big deal. I get that people deal with trauma differently, but I was fuming. Josie! You literally say being around athletes and big guys is a trigger — and then pretend it’s fine?? It’s not fine! Go to therapy, girl! 😭

🚨 That ending though...One minute we’re sharing a dog (who’s now pregnant 😳), Wyatt’s like “let’s get married next month,” and then boom — epilogue. Just like that. No proposal. No moment of clarity. No breathing room. Just cut to black. I honestly felt cheated out of a whole third act. Like, what happened between “let’s get married” and “we already did and now there are puppies”?

📝 Final Thoughts: This book was funny, heartfelt, and filled with tropey goodness. Wyatt was the perfect blend of grump and gentle giant. Josie was a tornado of emotions and chaos. And the dog? Iconic.

But...
❌ The male audiobook narrator didn’t vibe for me
❌ Josie’s trauma was too lightly handled
❌ The ending felt rushed and unfinished
So, I’m landing at 3.75 stars. I wanted more — especially from the ending — but I still had a great time along the way.

If you love small towns, sunshiney chaos queens, grumpy ex-hockey players, and dogs in clothes, you’ll probably love this one — just don’t expect a slow burn post-confession payoff. You blink, and it’s over.

Fable review: Check out this review on Fable
https://fable.co/review/859a42a2-7d94-4af8-b4f5-2ac0438c8077/share

This book was very cute! I’m a huge fan of Emma St. Clair and have read most of her books, so I was super excited to get this one.

My only real issue with the book was that I felt like the first 40% or so dragged on. I kept waiting to get into the “meat” of the book, and when I saw how far along I was, I felt like it just could’ve taken less time? The pacing of the plot itself was great, but I wasn’t in love with the story until I got further along.

Things to expect:
-Close proximity
-Brothers best friend
-Sports (kind of) romance
-Enemies (?) to lovers
-Slow burn

Overall, Josie and Wyatt’s story was very cute and I would definitely recommend it, especially if you’re in the market for a good closed door romance! There were several great laugh out loud moments, especially talking about the murder cottage. The banter between Josie and Wyatt is perfection (Emma St. Clair always does this well) and it was fun to see them turn from “enemies” into lovers!

Also, I listened to the audio of this and the male narrator’s voice drove me crazy because any time he went into his deep register, I had to turn the volume up to understand him, so I spent the whole book constantly adjusting my audio which was very frustrating.

Emma St. Clair consistently delivers wholesome, closed door romances with charming characters and cute storylines. IF ALL ELSE SAILS is the latest addition to her catalogue and it was the perfect binge listen for a summer day.

From the adorable meet cute involving police and handcuffs to riding out a violent storm on a sailboat, the book is an evenly paced slow burn enemies-to-lovers, brother’s best friend, forced proximity romcom. Josie is a school nurse who gets tricked into caring for Wyatt, a dour injured hockey player staying in a dilapidated coastal cabin.

Josie is guarded. Wyatt is grumpy. Somehow, slowly, they break through the obstacles and shields they’ve put in place to protect from being hurt. A few things stood out to me: Wyatt and Josie actually communicate. They talk through their issues and concerns with honesty and frankness. Nothing is rushed. Their relationship is allowed to develop at a pace comfortable for Josie. (Some may find the burn too slow, but it felt organic to me.) Most importantly, St. Clair does not rely on the dreaded third act break up to create tension. (What a breath of fresh air!!!)

The dial POV narration is performed by Andi Arndt and Patrick Zeller and both bring vulnerability and flirtatiousness to their roles. The banter is light when appropriate and brings more depth during more serious segments.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio, and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the advance copies. All opinions are my own.

If All Else Sails swept me away from the very first page! It’s the perfect summer, heartfelt, and full of charm. I loved all characters, especially the brother, who is the best wingman. And the dog? Absolutely adorable, especially when the Emma dressed it up it made me smile every time! This book is full of heart, adventure, and moments that will leave you laughing . A definite must read for your summer TBR!

Thank you NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, and Zondervan fiction for the audio copy. This in no way changes or effects my opinion

What is it with this male narrator and all the whispering? The volume contrast is so wide that I can’t hear the whispers without turning up the volume so far that the louder parts hurt my ears. I love Andi Arndt’s narration and Emma St. Clair’s writing, but I’m not listening to this audiobook or any others with this male narrator. I’ll read the ebook instead.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC audiobook for an honest review.

Gah! This audiobook was just what I needed on a road trip...The narrators were perfect and as always Emma St. Clair gives just the right amount of sweetness, witty banter, and tension filled with deeper issues without being over the top. Josie's brother's best friend is Wyatt. And the two have always had a way of getting under the other's skin. Enemies from the start. But as any good romance goes, you know there is something else going on with their declaration of being enemies. There is such a fine line between hate and love...:)

I adored both sunshine Josie and grumpy Wyatt! Watching the two being forced into a close proximity situation was so much fun. The slow unraveling of feelings mixed with past misconceptions that are finally brought to life was well worth the wait to the end game. Add adventures on the water and a cute rescue dog! Oh, and also guest appearance from some of our past Appies players...what a nice surprise! For some reason, I didn't even put the connection together until they showed up. lol

5 stars

3.5⭐️ 0🌶️ 4🎧 This story was just as sweet as it was frustrating. This is a zero spice and complete lack of communication story. The main characters got off on a bad foot that rolled down and crashed into one humongous misunderstanding. This book had me screaming COMMUNICATE over and over. If you like the miscommunication troupe, DIVE IN asap, if not, move it to the end of your TBR, but still give it a read.

Wyatt is a self-sabotaging goon, and Josie needs to grow a pair. Quit being d*cks to each other out of self-preservation. Everyone, except these two, knows they want each other. Thankfully there was no 3rd act breakup, I think my brain would have combusted, lol. The banter between these two had me lol'ing. The doggo in this story was, *chefs kiss*!

This story was narrated by Andi Arndt and Patrick Zeller. Andi is one of my favorites and is always a joy to listen to. Patrick tends to sound a little whiny at times, but since his character was seriously pinning the whole book, it fit well.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this advance listen, it was an enjoyable listen!

Emma St. Clair always writes such sweet and lovable books and this one was AMAZING! I had such a great time listening to this audiobook. I had so many laugh out loud moments. Thank goodness I was alone because people would have questioned my sanity. LOL..I fell in love with these characters right away and I knew I was going to LOVE this book.

Josie's brother sends her to an unknown address thinking she was going to be spending time with her brother for their annual Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza. When she pulls up to the house that she calls the "Murder House" she doesn't know what to think. But the last thing she thinks is that police officers will show up to arrest her for trespassing.

Wyatt finds a strange woman walking around his property taking pictures and thinks she's a fan or stalker so he calls the cops. Little does he know it's just his best friend and agents sister. He thought he's do a little surprise set up for both of them since Wyatt is injured and needs someone to make sure he takes care of himself so he can get back on the ice.

Well things will definitely be interesting with these two. He's grumpy and that just makes for some amazing banter. These two will have you laughing so much, swooning, smiling and they will take you sailing into the perfect ending! There will also be a dog that gets involved in this story and you will fall in love with the dog as well. I HIGHLY recommend this audiobook. This is the perfect book to take to the beach!

Thank you Emma St. Clair, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio | Thomas Nelson Fiction, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this ALC for my honest opinion.

If All Else Sails was such a cute, wholesome romance! This enemies-to-lovers story follows Josie, a school nurse who unexpectedly finds herself stuck for the summer at a rundown cottage with her sworn enemy—her brother’s best friend and grumpy, injured hockey player, Wyatt Jacobs. Tasked with helping him recover, Josie begrudgingly agrees, but things take a turn when she ends up joining him on a boat trip to scatter his late uncle’s ashes. Forced into close quarters, the two discover there’s more beneath the surface than old grudges.

Tropes include: enemies to lovers, brother’s best friend, and hockey romance—and yes, there’s even a lovable dog! I adored watching the slow-burn relationship between Josie and Wyatt unfold. The deeper themes of grief and anxiety added a meaningful layer to an already heartwarming story. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a feel-good read with emotional depth.

I adored this book! Wyatt and Josie were so fun. I loved the witty banter and thought the “murder cottage” was a fun touch. So many moments made me laugh, and others made me cry. Such a great emotional ride.

This was a fun romance if you are looking for:
- Brother's best friend
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Forced proximity
- Slow burn

Josie is tricked by her brother to take care of Wyatt, her brother's BFF and a hockey player. As she take him to PT and help him to his path to recovery, she agrees to go sailing with him.

There's so much mishaps that happens and lots of funny moments. The banter and tension between the two is just perfection.

I love how Wyatt showed his love language and broke down Josie's perception of him. I totally swoon when he got her a gift that was showed he is so attentive.

The story is told in dual POV and Andi Arndt and Patrick Zeller did a great job bringing the tension and the story to life.

Thank you @thomasnelson for a copy of the audiobook.

What happens when you set off on vacation but end up at a “murder shack” being arrested? That is the hilarious and drama-filled kickoff to If All Else Sails, an enemies-to-lovers romance by Emma St. Clair.

Josie, a school nurse, is tricked – and then bribed – by her brother into caring for Wyatt, his injured best friend and professional hockey player client. The catch? Josie and Wyatt aren’t exactly friends…. Humor ensues throughout the whole book as they’re forced to navigate close quarters during Wyatt’s recovery.

Told from alternating point of views, the story lets readers experience both Josie’s and Wyatt’s perspectives. I had the chance enjoy the audio book version, which was a bonus since it was narrated by both Andi Arndt and Patrick Zeller. Their dual narration added depth and personality, bringing the characters to life.

I gave this book 4 stars and highly recommend it to anyone in the mood for a fast-paced, funny, and heartwarming romance. And don’t skip the chapter titles – they’re some of the funniest parts!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Fiction Audio for the advance audio copy!

If you love a grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers, brothers best friend, he falls first book, you should read this one! Josie is a school nurse off for the summer and when her brother sends her a random address and tells her to meet him there, she is surprised to find her brother's best friend Wyatt there instead. Wyatt is a professional hockey player in need of some help after an injury, and no one has been able to break through his touch exterior. Josie's brother tells her he will pay her to stay with Wyatt and get him to start going to his PT appointments. Josie believes that Wyatt has hated her since they met, but Wyatt just has a problem of putting his foot in his mouth any time he is around Josie. It was fun to see their banter and their relationship grow throughout the book. Wyatt had to deal with a recent loss of a family member, and it was touching to see him open up to Josie and Josie embrace the sailing life in order to help him be able to make the sailing trip happen that he always did with his Uncle.
Audio Review: I really enjoyed that this was dual narration. The female narrator was fantastic. I enjoyed her voice and performance. The male narrator was honestly a little more difficult to understand sometimes. Sometimes it would seem like he was mumbling and then all the sudden he was yelling. He just sounded really angry throughout most of the book, so that did take away from the book a little more for me.

Enemies to lovers? Check. Forced proximity? Check. Grumpy sunshine with off-the-charts chemistry? Double check! 😍

Emma St. Clair delivers yet another romcom win with If All Else Sails—a charming, tension-filled standalone that had me hooked from page one. Josie is a school nurse with a sassy streak, and Wyatt is her best friend’s brooding hockey-playing brother. After a hilarious misunderstanding, the two end up sharing a cabin… and then a sailboat. Cue the sparks and banter!

The slow-burn romance is sweet, full of tension, and totally swoon-worthy—but all closed door and clean (no language). I loved the little animal sidekick, the cozy sailing vibes, and the narrators, Andi Arndt and Patrick Zeller, were perfection. They brought the sunshine-and-grump dynamic to life so well.

Emma always brings the heart, humor, and heat (without going spicy), and this one just might be my new fave of hers! Can’t wait for her launch party when she comes to SLC!

🌊🩷🐾

🎧 Audiobook +📗 E-book: If All Else Sails-a standalone

✍🏾 Author: Emma St. Clair-new to me author

📃Page Count: 368

📅Publication date: 8/5/25 | Read: 7/31/25

🏃🏾‍➡️Run Time: 10:35

🌎 Setting: VA

👆🏾POV: 1st person dual

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Adult Fic

Tropes: boat sailing trip, forced proximity, sports, enemies to lovers, brother's best friend, grumpy H, slow burn, small town, same room/1-bed

⚠️TW: parental neglect, depression, S/A, death of loved one, nightmares


🗣️Narrator: Andi Arndt and Patrick Zeller voice all the characters with standouts from Josie, Susan, and Wyatt. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrators worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrators paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.


Summary: Josie headed to where she thought was her brother's cottage to start their annual summer sibling extravaganza. Jacob, a sports agent and friend to Wyatt, a pro hockey player, is worried about him after a foot injury. He plays matchmaker with his friend and sister who hate each other. Jacob hires Josie, an elementary school nurse, to keep him on track with his physical therapy and medical appointments. Jacob wants to go on a sailing trip from VA to GA to honor his deceased uncle and Josie agrees to be his captain as long as he rehabs.


👩🏾 Heroine: Josie-26

👨🏾 Hero: Wyatt

🎭 Side Characters:

*Jacob-Josie's older brother
*Toni-Josie's BFF
*Uncle Tom- Wyatt's maternal uncle, recently deceased
*Susan + Peter-Wyatt's mother and brother
*Pets: Jib-their rescue dog

🤔 My Thoughts: This was a good slow burn/ enemies-to-lovers relationship between Josie and Wyatt. I loved Jacob's undercover (not really) matchmaking skills. He knew Wyatt always had a crush on Josie, but he just needed a little push. The trauma of Josie's and Jacob's pasts was handled carefully as they confessed to each other first. The sailing seemed to be a metaphor for escaping yet they still had to deal with themselves. It had a HEA and epilogue 2 years later.


*Spice: 1/5 🌶️ kissing only, clean
*Emotion: 5/5 🥲
*Couple: 4/5 🧑‍🤝‍🧑
*Rating: 4/5 ⭐

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction | Thomas Nelson, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio, and Emma St. Clair for this ARC & ALC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

I always look forward to a new book by Emma St. Clair and this book definitely lived up to my expectations! I had the absolute pleasure of receiving both an e-ARC and audio ARC. For the audio, it had two narrators to support the dual POV. Both voices were wonderful to listen to. I appreciate how Emma is able to bring out romance and closeness without the spice. In "If All Else Sails," she brings us grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity and enemies-to-lovers--but each are done in a subtle and tasteful way that aren't overdone. The connection between the MMC and FMC is fun to watch unfold. Looking forward to her next read! *I received a complimentary audio and e-ARC from the author/publishing company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

I'll be honest I went into this book/audiobook based solely on the cover and author. It's an adorable cover right?! But it turned out to be so much more fun than I could've asked for.

She's excited to spend the summer with her brother on their 'Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza" but when she shows up at the address he texts her...a rundown cottage....hes not there. You know who is...her brothers best friend Wyatt- her enemy.

Hes a famous Hockey player and her brother is also his agent, Hes injured and refusing treatment so her brother has decided his nurse sister is the perfect person to take care of him.... wow this vacation has taken a turn. I love the literal forced proximity aspect.

I loved the plot and the characters were so fun... especially Wyatt - he was the epitome of grumpy in grumpy sunshine. The two slowly open to eachother as the bicker about doctors appointments and bandages.

Its enemies to lovers (though its really... Ive been inlove with you forever), brothers best friend, banter, forced proximity and it's a clean romance. Oh and there's a fun dog!