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Member Reviews

I can officially say, I love to read Emma St. Clair books. They have character depth and are still light and have wonderful HEA’s. Sometimes I need joyful and fun romcom reads! I already have multiple of her other books on my TBR.

I appreciate that it was clean both in language and in content, so I don’t have to worry about screening which friends or family I would recommend it to.

I loved Josie, Wyatt, and the many outfits of Princess Jib.

I listened to the audiobook on this. I was so excited for the dual narration. It is summertime and I have kids at home, so I often pop in an earbud as I complete household chores. Andy Arndt did a wonderful job and I want to listen to more books that she narrates. Unfortunately, Patrick Zeller’s narration was a miss for me. This was the first book I’ve heard him narrate. He was inconsistent both in speed and volume. This was especially noticeable at increased audio playback speed. There were times he’d be quickly mumbling and I’d have volume at 100% with both earbuds in, and no background noise, I’d just barely hear what he was saying if I listened closely. I couldn’t listen to it in the car at all on the chapters he narrated because of it going from very soft mumbling to very loud and normal talking unpredictably. These challenges made it harder and less enjoyable to complete the audiobook. I felt I had to plan out my reading environment more carefully so I wouldn’t miss anything and it took longer to get through the book.

I want to express a huge thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the ALC!

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I really struggled with finishing this one. The cover is super cute and I love the title, but I do feel like the name was a little misleading since “sailing” didn’t really become a big part of this book until 50% in.

This was the slowest of slow burn romances, and the main characters had zero chemistry. They literally didn’t even kiss until the 90% mark. They were barely even nice to one another and yet we are led to believe they are in love? Nope, not buying it. We aren’t shown much of their previous experiences with each other, and the few that we are shown would not lead to a romance.

The female narrator was great, but the male narrator ruined this for me. I actually stopped listening to the audio and switched to the ebook because I couldn’t listen to him any longer.

Overall this was a painfully boring read, and I would not recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my free copy in exchange for my honest review.

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This was my first book my Emma St. Clair. I’ll admit, I loved some of the banter and the slow burn, the romance was cute but there wasn’t really much to capture my complete attention. There didn’t feel like there was a whole lot going on. It was an easy quick summer read. I Loved the narrators though. Andi Arndt is one of a kind and Patrick Zeller did great!
Thank you NetGalley!

Grumpy x sunshine
Brother's best friend
forced proximity
It’s always been you
No spice/closed door
Hockey player romance

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I really enjoyed this one. Josie and Wyatt had great enemies-to-lovers chemistry, and Wyatt ended up being such a softie under all that gruffness. The banter was so much fun, the dog was adorable, and the audio narration was really well done. Just a fun, feel-good summer romcom that hit the spot!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the audio ARC.

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This has been one of the most entertaining audiobooks I have listened to this year!! Definitely worth saving your audiobook credit or library hold request - HOWEVER you listen to an audiobook just get this one ready to go! RELEASES AUGUST 5th 🎉

If All Else Sails is narrated by Andi Arndt and Patrick Zeller. These two totally made me giggle, smile, and react out loud with their narration! I could listen to Andi's voice all day and Patrick's chapters straight up felt like a theater performance - honestly, the MOST FUN was had listening to this book!!

Typically I will crochet or some other type of multitask while listening to audiobooks, but this one truly entertained and CAPTURED my full attention. The story itself is PURE GOLD.

Josie (FMC voiced by Andi) struggles with anxiety and trauma ... but firmly believes she has both under control. I just loved every part of her POV - she didn't hem and haw indefinitely, but also didn't act irrationally either. Her softness, yet sharp wit with Wyatt, made for an FMC I wish I could meet in real life.

Wyatt and his "foot in mouth disease" along with his hockey star body gets a solid 10/10 from me. 🤣 I love grumps that aren't really grumps at all, just not willing to play social games to please people. His gentle, yet DIRECT approach with Josie made me squeal more times than I would like to admit. (OK, I basically squealed my way through the last several chapters and DEFINATELY the epilogue)

Should you read this book? ABSOLUTELY
Should you treat yourself and make it a full experience with the audiobook? OH MY GOSH YES! A MILLION TIMES YESSSSS!

Thank you so much Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for this ARC - I beyond loved it 🥰

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Obsessed! Loved the story but even more the way it was recorded. So good!!! They made the story come to life. I laughed right along with them….especially in the tickling scene. 😍

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I've just finished a perfect summer read! Thank you Uplit reads, Thomas Nelson, and netgalley for the book to read, listen & review! I love pretty much anything Andi Arndt narrates and she did a fabulous job as Josie! Patrick Zeller brought all the angst and grumpiness of Wyatt to life! The first thing I loved about this was that Josie is a nurse(giving props to all the nurses out there)! When her brother tricks her into checking in on his injured friend Wyatt at his "murder cottage," Josie's words not mine, her life changes almost immediately. She gets roped in to taking care of him for the summer cue the grumpy/sunshine and enemies/lovers trope. After agreeing to accompany Wyatt & learn how to sail the sparks start to fly cue the forced proximity! This one is just a plain cute feel good romance!

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This was another middle of the road rom-coms for me. Nothing great, nothing bad about it just OK. I will admit that the love confession in the rain during a storm was kick your feet up adorable. The characters have depth, their problems are relatable, but the internal monologue and second guessing wasn't for me.

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⛵️ brother's best friend
🩷 hockey player x school nurse
⛵️ forced proximity
🩷 it's always been you
⛵️ grumpy x sunshine

Josie thinks she's meeting her brother for their annual sibling vacation but ends up alone with his best friend, Wyatt. Wyatt is having a hard time recovering from a non- hockey injury. Josie's brother offers to pay Josie to help Wyatt. The forced proximity worked its magic as they get to know each other better. He goes from quiet & grumpy to opening up to Josie.

🚫🌶 kissing only

Narrated in Dual by Andi Arndt & Patrick Zeller.

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ARC REVIEW:

I felt like there was so little going on in this book that it amplified situations for no reason and then made these very normal situations seem like grand gestures/ monumental things when it was just really … nothing. Every plot point ended up being irrelevant because it was explained away or didn’t add anything to the story so it was brushed to the side. I will say the situation with “the jock” was serious and was taken seriously but everything else was just absolutely lacking. I gave it a push to 2 stars because shout out good old Fred - gotta love the hometown.

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{Thank you to @netgalley and Thomas Nelson for my gifted copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.}

I absolutely love Emma St. Clair and the Appies! When I heard there would be a traditionally published book featuring Wyatt, a former Appies player whom we only know from the infamous group-chat, I was thrilled.

This book started out a bit slow for me, but I ultimately really enjoyed it! Josie was such a fun FMC, and I loved that her occupation was as a school nurse, though we don’t see her working in that capacity. I’ve never read an FMC in that field! Wyatt was so sweet, and I loved getting to see him briefly with Vance and Eli–two faves from the Appies series.

If you love enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and MMCs who know what they want without wavering, I would definitely recommend this title to you!

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I don't want to be harsh and this is the kind of book that I would read when I want a break from literary analysis and would enjoy the froth without too critical an eye, but reviewing it requires reflection on the text and I keep coming back to these issues. That said I did enjoy the book each time I picked it up. It's not St. Clair's best work but it does it's job in breezing the reader through a sweet nautical adventure, secure in the knowledge that any rough winds will give out to smooth sailing as the couple finds their happily ever after.

This book has so many cute elements and sweet moments, the problem is that they don't all mesh together cohesively. It's a good beach read for lovers of Hallmark Channel but probably doesn't require a reread. Despite the book handling things like grief, complex family dynamics--including emotional abandonment, sexual assault, and medical trauma, the story remains low stakes with no doubt that the couple will get together and they'll probably forget all of it when it's plot convenient.

I found the characters to be enjoyable but the romance dragged, weighed down by unnecessary drama. The main female lead has multiple traumas brought up that profoundly affect her life, including romance, but they aren't given the serious work they'd take after she reveals them. Instead we are given a "he's famous, how could he ever want to be with me" trope in order to keep the book light, rather than actually work through her trauma over being sexually assaulted which led her to basically not date for ten years. I appreciate the author bringing up the topic and the difficulty of straddling the dramatic line given that this meant as a sun soaked romcom but I felt like the main female's arc is incomplete with including more of her working on it.

It's a cupcake of a book that someone needing a low-stakes, low-angst read may find hits the spot.

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Thank you Netgalley, Emma St. Clair and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the Advanced Audio copy of "If All Else Sails."

All Else Sails Josie, a school nurse looking forward to a summer vacation with her brother, gets a surprise when she arrives at their meeting point. Instead of a sibling getaway, she finds Wyatt, her brother's best friend and a grumpy professional hockey player recovering from an injury. Her brother proposes a deal: he'll pay Josie to stay with Wyatt, using her nursing skills to get him back on track with his rehab. This sets the stage for a summer filled with unexpected twists and turns. Josie isn't thrilled with the arrangement, mainly because she's never been a fan of athletes, especially Wyatt. She's always felt a sense of dislike from him, making the idea of spending the summer together less than appealing. Despite her reservations, the offer is tempting enough for her to accept, leading her to share a "quaint little murder cottage" with Wyatt. The dynamic between Josie and Wyatt is far from smooth. Their interactions are filled with witty banter and undeniable attraction, creating a "grumpy/sunshine" trope that many readers enjoy. As they navigate their forced proximity, hilarious mishaps occur, including Josie's unexpected arrest and memorable encounters with animals and poison ivy. However, beneath the humor and banter, there's a deeper layer to their story. Wyatt's injury has derailed his plans to sail the Intracoastal Waterway south to Savannah, scattering his uncle's ashes. Surprisingly, Josie offers to be his first mate, leading them on a sailing adventure filled with challenges and discoveries. As they embark on their journey, smooth sailing is nowhere to be found. Disaster after disaster slows their progress, testing their patience and forcing them to rely on each other. Sharing cramped quarters and canned food, they begin to peel back each other's layers, revealing hidden depths and vulnerabilities. Josie starts to see beyond Wyatt's grumpy exterior, recognizing the man beneath the surface. She realizes she may have misunderstood him and their shared history. Similarly, Wyatt's perception of Josie begins to shift as he witnesses her caring nature and unwavering support. The sailing adventure becomes a catalyst for their personal growth and healing. They confront their emotional baggage and past misunderstandings, forging a deeper connection along the way. The close quarters and shared experiences force them to communicate and understand each other on a more profound level. As they navigate the literal waters of their sailing trip, they also navigate the emotional waters of their relationship. The initial animosity gives way to attraction, and the slow-burn romance intensifies. The question becomes whether they can make it home without killing—or kissing—each other. Ultimately, Josie and Wyatt's journey is one of self-discovery and unexpected love. They learn to see beyond their initial impressions, embrace their vulnerabilities, and find common ground. "If All Else Sails" is a feel-good romance that combines humor, heart, and a unique sailing adventure, making it a memorable and satisfying read.

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This book is a young-adult slow burn with no spicy elements, which is usually not my preference, but I thoroughly enjoyed this listening experience. The banter was charming, and the way Josie and Wyatt came together was wonderfully unconventional!

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio, and Emma St. Clair for providing an Advanced Listening Copy.

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Oh, this book was so delightful! I think I may have a new favorite Emma St. Clair novel now. I loved the way these two had known each other for years, seeing each other every once in a while, as Josie’s brother and Wyatt were best friends. Yet Josie’s perception of Wyatt from a situation that happened at their first meeting set the stage for her disliking him and believing that he disliked her. What a misconception that was!

But as these two ended up spending all of their time together on Wyatt’s boat, Josie began to see Wyatt in a new light and I loved the way they developed a friendship that began to lead to something more.

There were some really sweet moments in this story when Wyatt was so perceptive and so supportive of Josie as she dealt with anxiety that held her back sometimes. He showed what a kind and caring person he truly was in the way he treated Josie.

This story just made my heart so happy! The romance that grew between Josie and Wyatt was so beautifully written and felt very natural in the way it progressed. There were also plenty of fun and silly moments that added to the romcom feel of the book.

I listened to the audio version and struggled a bit to understand the male narrator in some of the early chapters of the story when he spoke quietly. However, that was only for a very small portion of the book and not a problem for the majority of the audio. I actually ended up really enjoying the audio narration overall for this novel.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, however I also purchased my own print copy. All opinions are my own.

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Loved the closed proximity trope or even enemies to friends, though they both had feelings for one another they weren’t sure how to express.

When Josie shows up to a house that looks straight out of creepy murder book, she knows her brother gave her the wrong address. They try have this “super siblings vacation” that ends in some sort of illness, injury or mishap. So, this doesn’t surprise her but he’s not answering her calls. So, what is this?

When she finds out it’s Wyatt’s house, a very famous hockey player, who also happens to be her brother’s first client as sports agent and best friend. Things start to become suspicious. Wyatt is on crutches with a boot on his foot in this creepy murder house.

Obviously, not going to be a vacation but as her brother puts it an intervention as Wyatt is not going PT, answering the phone, or doing well. Her brother talks her into “taking” care of him though she is elementary school nurse but a nurse non the less. And he’s paying her, a lot.

Josie is not happy, Wyatt is not happy but he knows he’s not doing well. Only time will tell and which one will slip and say they have crush too.

You can’t help but love the characters especially Wyatt! He’s just melts your heart. You want him to say everything he’s feeling because he’s more than the big & fierce facid.

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This book was fine, started strong but lost me a bit in the middle. Not all that memorable unfortunately, but fine enough for an easy romcom!

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This audiobook is EVERYTHING! I love Emma St. Clair and this one may be my new favorite. She’s a school nurse looking forward to a vacation with her brother. Only to find out the small cabin he sent her to is occupied by his best friend who just so happens to be an injured hockey player. Her brother bailed on the trip and arranged for her to take care of a grump. Sparks fly between the two as they work toward healing, and setting sail on a boat adventure. Throw in a stray dog that may or may not like to wear ridiculous outfits and you have yourself a romcom you will want to devour.

Andy Arndt and Patrick Zeller give a wonderful performance bringing the grump and sunshine duo to life. This audiobook was such a treat.

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Honestly, it wasn't really my thing, but it was still a good audiobook to pass the time. It was fluid and the story is quite interesting, but I couldn't pay 100% attention. However, thank you for this arc and I wish the author so much success.

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“There will always be gaps where you don’t agree, or don’t understand, or don’t align. Lots of gaps. A successful marriage is one that works even in those gaps.”

This is not my first book by Emma, but it may be my favorite. I listens to it so quick! It had so many tropes that I love! The writing was witty and fun, yet I also loved the more serious moments. I was charmed by the murder cottage, the pigs, the sailing, and Jib 🐾! The romance was just how I like it, slow burning, but delicious! The female narrator was awesome, but I struggled with the male narrator. Thanks Emma and Netgalley for this copy!

⛵️Contemporary Romance/ Romcom
⛵️Closed Door
⛵️No Swearing
⛵️CW: Death, Sexual Assualt (past/not on page), and Estranged Family

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