This was cute! A solid 3.5 stars for me. I wasn’t on the edge of my seat or anything, but it had plenty of charm and a few laugh-out-loud moments (the MMC throwing a side character overboard? Comedy gold). I listened to the audiobook and absolutely loved the male narrator—he brought so much personality to the story. The tropes were doing their job: brother’s best friend, forced proximity, enemies to friends to lovers, he falls first, and yes... one bed. The chemistry was sweet, the tension was mild, and while the plot didn’t totally grip me, it was still a fun, feel-good romcom with a maritime twist. Definitely a cozy, easy listen when you want something light and tropey.

Read: June 1st - June 6th
Format: E-book
Rating: No rating, DNF @ 56

I feel bad DNF-ing this one because there's nothing horrible about it. It's FINE, but, like... It's been fine for the last 45% or so. I'm a bit tired of just listening to FINE, you know?

I think most of my issue is that nothing really happens. 56% of the way through, and they're just recently talking about a boat. And as much as the "he's only awkward around her so she thinks he hates her" thing can be fun, it just doesn't feel pulled off the best here. May be because it's just feeling repetitive at this point. The FMC is at least changing some.

I can see this being a very enjoyable read for others. Maybe less picky romance readers. For whatever reason, I'm SOOOO picky about the style and voice, and this just isn't scratching that itch.

This was a great summer rom-com!! I loved the characters and their stories. Josie and Wyatt made such a cute couple. This book had it all - a summer cottage, sailing along the intercoastal Atlantic, and even hockey. Such a fun book!!!

Thank you Net Galley, Emma St. Clair and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the eARC of this book!

I had so much fun with this book, I jumped in without reading the blurb because it's Emma St. Clair, and I knew whatever she had planned to surprise the reader was going to be a hit. And I wasn't disappointed.

From the moment Josie arrives at the destination her brother texted her until the very end, it was one surprise after another that had me on the edge of my seat and smiling the whole time.

I don't know if it was the fact that Wyatt was a hockey player—my absolute weakness—that had any influence in my opinion because they barely talk or do something hockey related. I think it was the fact that I felt like Emma was being completely free when she wrote this book, the feeling of her rare small towns the odds and quirky characters that make you think twice and even the most irreverent things made so much sense.

I really enjoyed the journey of these two characters as they got to know each other better and made sense of all the misunderstandings that led them to be enemies for years. A beautiful and fun romcom with a little bit of sport romance.
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And listening to the characters after reading the book was a great success, the work of Andy Arndt and Patrick Zeller, the intention they put into the characters, I could really see the scene in my mind.
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Thanks to Emma St. Clair and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction audio team for give me a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for my honest and voluntary opinion.

If All Else Sails by Emma St Claire

A BIG thank you to #NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio, and the author for sending me this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

About the book: Josie, a school nurse, reluctantly agrees to help her brothers best friend Wyatt, recover from a hockey injury during the summer. Oh and also sail down the international waterway, I mean what could go wrong? Let me tell you…
First of all, Wyatt has no clue that Josie is coming, and Josie doesn’t know that Wyatt doesn’t know she’s coming. Josie is tricked there by her brother into thinking they are taking an annual summer siblings trip.
When she arrives, Wyatt thinks she’s a reporter sneaking around the house and calls the police to have her arrested! Wyatt has always been a grump, and they have never particularly liked each other. He’s also a terrible patient but he’s in pretty bad shape, so Josie reluctantly agrees to stay for a week or 2. When she finds out that Wyatt’s injury has ruined his chance to sail down the east coast of the international waterway, she agrees to be his second hands and help him. But it’s definitely not smooth sailing due to Wyatt’s cranky attitude, and one disaster after another slowing their progress. The longer they are together and in such cramped corners, the more Josie begins to peak back layers of Wyatt to learn more and more about him. Perhaps she judges him wrong, and she has misunderstood him all these years. Will they end up killing or kissing each other before this trip is over?

What I thought: This books started off absolutely hilariously. I was actually cackling. So definitely a great start. Then it slowed up some, and at times I was honestly slightly bored. It does pick up and I ended up really enjoying it. I’m always a sucker for a good enemies to lovers trope. And for anyone wondering, this book has zero spice. Just a good clean story. All in all I’d rate this book 4/5 stars and I would and will definitely recommend it to others.

The narrators Andi Arndt and Patrick Zeller do greats jobs bringing the characters of Josie and Wyatt to life!

This book will release Aug 4, 2024

If All Else Sails 📕

This started strong and I was intrigued. However by 66% in it had lost my attention and I was no longer enjoying listening to it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for access to the audiobook.

2 star ⭐️

Andi Arndt was the perfect voice for Josie and I highly recommend listening. This was a delightful romcom and kept me giggling and kicking my feet from start to finish. It'll make for the perfect summer read this year.

Love, love, loved this book!!! I have read other Appies books and enjoyed the call backs. You definitely don’t need to read the others to understand what is going on. This is a perfect grumpy x sunshine romance book. It does touch on unwanted sexual advances in a very tactful way. I will add Wyatt to my list of book boyfriends! And the dog! I was dying over the outfits.

After successively reading a couple of books with heavier themes, this listen was exactly what I needed. The audio narrators were both phenomenal. I honestly think they made this book even better by the way their voices brought to life the characters.

Funny and lighthearted, this is a dual POV with a sunshiny female lead (Josie) who is tricked into taking care of her brother's best friend (Wyatt), a grumpy injured hockey player. Little does she know said hockey player has been secretly interested in her for years but respectfully keeping his distance. I loved Wyatt's patience and gentleness with Josie, the mutual support and cheering on of one another, and the setting of a sailboat trip down the intercoastal highway. How cool!

This book is published by Thomas Nelson, a leading publisher of Christian books. I have read a few recent releases from TN and I have been surprised by the increasing amount of suggestive dialogue & innuendo to sexual content that they contain. There is nothing explicit & it may be perceived 'clean' by society's standards, but I think it's misleading for Christians who are called to a set-apart holiness. I have also been disappointed by the absence of any clear faith content or gospel themes in these recent releases.

😇: Christian publisher (ThomasNelson); no faith activity nor any clear religious themes
🤐: no language
😍: sweet kisses, a high amount of visual ogling, suggestive dialogue, and innuendo

If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair - is a first by this author for me. This is a "cute" "Rom-Com" feel of a read that would be a fun movie too - wink-wink

Years worth of misunderstandings find Josie at Wyatt's doorstop and in a police car. When more misunderstandings occur Josie finds herself taking care of Wyatt - her brother's best friend and client. Wyatt, who has loved Josie since his first look many moons ago, has always had a hard time talking around her and everything comes out wrong. Wyatt is a "big-time" hockey player who is injured is in need of help and who better, Josie - a school nurse with her summer free.

They are thrown together - out in the sea and learn the truths of the past and the present. Such a fun read that left me with smiles all the way through!

A slow-burn romance that leans more cozy than passionate. While it’s marketed as an “enemies to lovers” story, I’d argue that’s a bit misleading… there’s tension, yes, but the characters never truly feel like adversaries.

The plot takes its time to get moving, almost too much time. The sailing element, which I expected to be central, doesn’t really show up until halfway through the book. That said, once it does, the setting and dynamics shift in a satisfying way, especially with the classic forced proximity trope coming into play.

One of the unexpected highlights was Jib, the dog, who honestly stole every scene she was in.

If you’re looking for spice, this might not be your pick. But it has some sharp banter and it is a sweet, easy-to-read story. At times the pacing felt a little drawn out, but the overall tone was charming and low-stakes, perfect for a relaxing weekend read.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for this advanced audiobook

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Audio, NetGalley and Emma St. Clair for an ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

5 out of 5 stars

Emma St. Clair did it again! I absolutely loved this book. Since starting the Appies series I have wanted Wyatt's story and I'm so glad I finally have it. This enemies to lovers, forced proximity book proved to add all of the right tension. Wyatt self sabotaging his recovery made so much sense with the grief he was experiencing. Josie being a nurse and in need of money was just what was needed to get Wyatt back on track with his recovery. The only issue... they are NOT big fans of each other. Josie thinks Wyatt hates her... not to mention the fact that she hates hockey players, but she really needs the money so she takes care of Wyatt (despite his many protests). They grow closer and we get to know each character more as they get to know one another. Overall, this book was so good and it is definitely one of my favorites by Emma St. Clair. I have a soft spot for Wyatt and he's definitely one of my favorite MMC's. A man who can sail? YES PLEASE. However, I will never look at Cool Whip the same way again lol. iykyk.

Narration: I LOVED the narration between these two. I thought the chemistry between the characters was so palpable and the opening up to one another sounded so honest and real. I would definitely read something narrated by them again.

Love this story. I love the development of Wyatt and Josie's friendship than a relationship. Clean, sweet romcom. I enjoyed the banter. I also enjoyed the little links to the Appies.

This was super cute. I loved the grumpy sunshine vibes and the matchmaker surprise, even if it was a bit cheeky.

Both POV were delightful, the dog was the perfect twist and I found myself giggling quite often. Loved the pace, and the unexpected twist around his family and past.

There is plenty to love in this book, but one thing that stood out in this book is its depth. Both characters experience real growth and healing, making their eventual connection all the more satisfying when it happens. The sailing adventure adds a unique twist, and the inclusion of a lovable animal sidekick only ups the charm and the wardrobe.

If you’re looking for a clean, uplifting romance with humor, heart, and memorable characters, then If All Else Sails is a must-read for you. It is perfect for fans of contemporary rom-coms and anyone looking for a nice end-of-summer read.

thank you to emma st. clair, thomas nelson fiction, and netgalley for an arc of this book. all opinions are my own. ♡

₊˚⊹⋆ first thoughts: a enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, taking care of the guy you hate book????? PLEASE.
₊˚⊹⋆ final thoughts: ok this was super cute. at first his grumpiness low key annoyed me, but in the end i was swooning for jacob and josie. always big niche of mine, i love that they have names starting with the same letter... maybe im easy to please. i genuinely loved the banter between the two of them and how you could really feel their relationship take the deeper plunge each time it did. it was so much more than "taking care of the guy you hate" like i first expected it to be and it was LOVELY.

DNFed at 15%, the male character’s voice drove me crazy. I had to stop listening to the audiobook because of it. Really tried to push through and couldn’t get over it.

3.5⭐️s. I had this book in both audio and print and enjoyed both formats. The narrators were both great! This was a slow burn enemies-to-lovers “road trip” on the water. I loved both of the characters!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher- I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for the early access to this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

All Else Sails is a gem of a clean romance and a refreshing take on the sports romance genre. From the very first chapter, I was hooked—school nurse Josie thinks she’s heading off on a sibling vacation, only to be greeted instead by her brother’s best friend, Wyatt, an injured professional hockey player who’s spiraling during the off-season. He’s grumpy, living in a rundown cabin left to him by his late uncle, and in desperate need of someone to help him get back on his feet. Josie reluctantly agrees to stay for the summer to help him recover, with her brother offering to pay her for the favor.

This setup had all the right ingredients for a story I love—forced proximity, sailing adventures, a broody male lead with a golden-retriever heart, and my personal favorite trope: grumpy/sunshine with a “he falls first” twist. Wyatt has been quietly pining for Josie for years, while she’s convinced he can’t stand her and wants nothing to do with athletes. Their chemistry was undeniable, and their banter added just the right amount of charm to carry the story.

While I enjoyed the book overall, I’d recommend reading this one in print or on an e-reader rather than listening to the audio. The male narrator didn’t work for me and ended up pulling me out of the story more than drawing me in. I also found myself wishing the book had just one narrator—it might have made the experience feel more cohesive.

My main critique (and the reason for the 4-star rating instead of 5) is the imbalance in the dual POV. Josie had three to four times as many chapters as Wyatt, which made his inner world feel underdeveloped in comparison. I either wanted more balance or a full commitment to a single POV. As it stood, it left some gaps in understanding his perspective.

That said, All Else Sails is the perfect read for Hallmark movie lovers and fans of sweet romance with more heart than heat. It’s a charming summer story that feels like a warm breeze and a good escape.

This book completely stole my heart! From start to finish, it was such a cozy, feel-good romance that left me smiling.

Josie and Wyatt were beyond adorable. I loved watching their relationship unfold slowly and naturally—their chemistry and that simmering tension between them had me hooked from the beginning. It was one of those romances where you're just cheering for them the whole way through.

If I had one tiny wish, it’d be to have just a bit more time with Josie and Wyatt as a couple—I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to them yet. And while the book is marketed as enemies to lovers, that’s a bit of a stretch. Wyatt’s feelings for Josie were obvious from the start. Still super cute—just a different vibe than advertised.

All in all, this was a light, heartwarming read perfect for anyone who loves a charming romance with lovable characters and plenty of heart. Highly recommend!