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This book surprised me so much! I thought it was just going to be a cute summer sailing romance, but it was so much more!!! Emma St. Clair just became an autobuy author for me, and I will be reading her entire backlist ASAP!

This is a dual POV, brother’s best friend, forced proximity, grumpy x sunshine, hockey romance where the MMC is recovering from an injury, struggling with the loss of a family member and his best friend sends his sister to care for him. To say the slow burn was burning would be an understatement. The yearning and burning is soooooo good!

Thank you Net Galley for my free ALC in exchange for an honest review. The audiobook is DUET and perfectly casted and produced.

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4.25 ⭐️ This was a cute story about a grumpy x sunshine couple. I love that we got to know Wyatt more after all his time at the Appies!

Thank you so much to the author, Netgalley, and the publisher for providing this ARC.

The Audio was pretty good!

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Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio and NetGalley for giving me access to a copy of If All Else Sails.
What a fun book! I requested an arc on a whim because the premise sounded cute. I’m so glad I did!
Josie and Wyatt were such a cute couple and had a perfect, tension-filled dynamic. I loved their grumpy x sunshine personalities. I’m not a big sports person, so I appreciated that while Wyatt was a hockey player, I didn’t have to read on page hockey games.
I will look out for more books from Emma!

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Josie is an elementary school nurse, enjoying her summer off. She thinks that she is traveling to meet her brother, Jake, for a sibling bonding experience. When she arrives, her brother is nowhere to be found. Instead, who does she find? None other than WYATT. Her brother's best friend and a hockey super star in his own right. Wyatt and Josie have known each other through Jake for forever, but they haven't seen each other in years. Jake has cooked up a plan to pay Josie to go in as the "big guns" to help Wyatt recover from his leg injury, drive him to appointments and more. Josie is apprehensive because she is convinced Wyatt hates her and has for years. She finally agrees because her brother agrees to pay her 4x her nurse salary to work with Wyatt! Will she be able to survive the summer with the Grump in a quaint little murder cottage?

Read if you like:
-Forced proximity
-Brother's best friend
-Slow burn (kind of)
-Grumpy/Sunshine
-Closed door romance

My thoughts:
Oof this book was right up my alley! A cute little summer romance? Sign me up. Having both POVs on audio is the dream!!! I love when romance books have both perspectives. Andi Arndt and Patrick Zeller's voices were easy and engaging to listen to. Wyatt and Josie's banter and their internal monologues were fantastic!

I enjoyed the slow burn feel to this book. Wyatt really has to earn Josie's trust. Their connection feels like it takes a while to develop. I think the pacing of their relationship is sweet and realistic. I also liked that some of my favorite tropes were presented in this book! Grumpy/Sunshine and forced proximity had me giggling and cheering for our girl, Josie!

Overall, this is an adorable summer read. I would recommend it! Thanks NetGalley & Thomas Nelson Fiction for the early listen!

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⛵ Bookish Thoughts
I was excited for this one, but the audiobook narration didn’t work for me and the pacing felt especially slow throughout.

While it wasn’t the right fit for me personally, I think readers who enjoy slow-burn might connect more with it.

💙 What to Expect
• Enemies to lovers
• Brother’s best friend
• Grumpy hockey player
• Forced proximity
• Intracoastal waterway sailing

🎧 Audio Score: 2.5 stars
🎙️ Narration Style: Dual
📅 Pub Date: August 5, 2025
Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.

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This enemies-to-lovers gem starring school nurse Josie and hockey hotshot Wyatt Jacobs is everything you could ever want from a feel-good read.

From the moment Josie and Wyatt are thrown together by a hilarious mix-up involving Josie's brother and a summer "extravaganza," you just know sparks are going to fly. And boy, do they ever! Our grumpy hero and sunshine-y heroine find themselves sharing a charmingly run-down cottage and, even better, embarking on a sailing trip. Forced proximity? Check! And let me tell you, watching them navigate not just the waves but also their undeniable chemistry is pure delight.

But this book isn't just about the laughs and the sizzle (though there's plenty of both!). As Josie and Wyatt spend more time together, they start to peel back each other's layers, revealing a journey of healing and self-discovery that's genuinely touching. You'll find yourself rooting for them every step of the way as they learn about themselves and each other.
St. Clair absolutely nails the witty banter, sweet moments, and genuine heart that makes a romance unforgettable.

Plus, if you're a fan of classic tropes, you'll be thrilled to find a delightful "brother's best friend" and "grumpy-sunshine" dynamic at play. So, grab your coziest blanket, settle in, and prepare to fall in love with If All Else Sails. You won't regret it!

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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!

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Thank you so much to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio and NetGalley for this ALC of If All Else Sails.

This book was so cute! I loved it! I loved that the author took from her actual life to write this. The characters felt very real. I related to Josie's constant overthinking and second guessing. Wyatt was pure perfection... the boat shoes gift *heart eyes*. I also loved the setting of this book and fact that there was no third act breakup. I cannot wait to read more by Emma St. Clair.

I listened to the audiobook for this and thought the female narrator (who reads most of the book) was fantastic. The male narrator was a little difficult to listen to because he was either mumbling or talking very loud. I could not ever find the right volume to listen at for him.

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✨ Grumpy sunshine, forced proximity, and a boatload of heart.

Josie expected a relaxing sibling getaway. What she got instead? A rundown cottage (aka The Murder Cottage), a grumpy hockey player named Wyatt (her brother’s best friend, of course), and a summer that sails straight into chaos—and maybe something more.

Emma St. Clair delivers a charming, closed-door romance packed with witty banter (I’m always here for good banter!) and emotional depth. Josie, a school nurse with a sharp tongue and a soft heart, is roped into helping Wyatt recover from an injury. Cue the tension, the slow-burn chemistry, and a sailing trip that turns into a journey of healing, laughter, and unexpected love.

🎧 Bonus: The audiobook features dual narration, adding extra charm to an already delightful story.

If you’re craving a feel-good romance with heart, humor, and a splash of sea breeze, If All Else Sails is your next summer escape. No spice, just swoon. 💕


Thank you NetGalley, Emma St. Clair, and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the ALC!

#BookReview #RomComReads #EnemiesToLovers #CleanRomance #EmmaStClair #IfAllElseSails #Fable #SummerReads #ARCReview

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Thank you to Zondervan Audio for the ALC and to #talkingtomybookstravelingarc hosted by @bookswithnopictures and @just_talking_to_my_shelf for the traveling ARC.

What to expect:
-Grumpy x sunshine
-Brother's best friend
-Forced proximity
-secret pining
-closed door, kissing only
-cute outfits for a tiny dog

If All Else Sails is a sweet summer romcom with lots of humor and, of course, a sailing adventure. Josie & Wyatt's story is a perfect cozy read that will make you laugh and have you swooning over Wyatt. You may also feel like venturing out onto open water to feel the breeze in your hair...or go shopping for tiny dog dresses. I love Emma's writing and this was definitely a fun one to annotate.

After getting glimpses of Wyatt in the Appies group chat, it was great to see the connection to the Appies hockey romance series.

The book is dual POV and the audiobook has dual audio narration. The female narrator, Andy Arndt, did a great job. However, the mail narrator fluctuated his volume from extremely low to loud suddenly, making it difficult to pick a volume setting for his chapters.

Overall, this was a fun beach (or sailboat) read!

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This was a super cute summery romance! I loved the forced proximity of the situation Josie and Wyatt find themselves in, especially with the added factor of Josie having to help Wyatt recover from his injury. It was a cute, heartwarming and funny closed door romance, with plenty of pining and tension! 

I will say that this is being marketed as an enemies-to-lovers romance, which it definitely isn't. Honestly I expect that at this point, because almost any contemporary that says it is enemies-to-lovers is just saying that bc it's a popular trope, even though it's not accurate... But yeah just don't go in expecting that.  

I really enjoyed the audiobook version, although there were a few times where the volume control from the male voice actor was a bit off, and went from yelling to quiet rather than being a more consistent volume.

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Thank you so much to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest opinion!

3 stars – 0 chili peppers (like literally no spice)

-Hockey player MMC + School Nurse FMC
-Brothers Best Friend
-Enemies to Lovers LTE
-Miscommunication Trope
-Zero Spice or Language (closed door – only kissing and hand holding)
-Forced Proximity
-She nurses him back to health
-Extremely wholesome
-He falls first
-Dual narration

We start with Josie excited to meet her brother for their (sorta) annual super sibling extravaganza vacation. Only when she arrives at the (questionable) location he gave her, he is nowhere to be found. Instead, she finds her brother’s best friend, Wyatt, hiding out in a dilapidated old house. After a less than warm welcome, Josie agrees to be Wyatts nursemaid/handler for the summer.

Wyatt is an injured hockey player who is hiding out from the press to recover and deal with some personal issues before next season. When Josie shows up he panics and says the wrong thing like he always does around her. Can he convince Josie to give him the chance he has always wanted?

The audiobook was really good! Patrick was great at portraying a grumpy injured hockey player and Andi was great as the exasperated nurse trying to coral her patient. I listened on 1.5x speed and thought it was perfect.

If you’re looking for a wholesome (with no spice or bad language) romance with very low stakes this is definitely the one for you.

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A brother tricks his sister who is a school nurse into caring for his hockey star best friend after his unexpected injury during her summer break. Unbeknownst to either of them, the brother's plan was to set the two of them up all along. As Josie cares for Wyatt, they grow closer and uncover misconceptions they had about each other. Josie joins Wyatt on his summer sailing trip and they fall for each other. Themes of sexual abuse and anxiety are discussed and the difficulties that can arise as a result. Cute book with real life problems.

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I enjoyed the book, it was a cute closed door, summer romance. The book was well written and I enjoyed Josie and Wyatt’s banter. Wyatt has been in love with Josie for years but constant says the wrong things around her. It was adorable watching him try to get things right. He is so sweet and patient with Josie. While I liked Josie, I was annoyed by certain things. She let her brother emotionally manipulate her and she had some trauma from an event that happened while she was in high school that she never got help for. This led to her being emotionally and physically distant for a lot of the book. But she eventually opened herself up to Wyatt and their romance was sweet. My big issue with the book was the male narrator. I liked the female narrator but really didn’t like the male narrator. He was over dramatic and would randomly raise his voice and would over enunciate at random times.

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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.

I listened to the audiobook, but I think I would prefer reading this one physically more. The narrators, particularly Patrick Zeller, who voiced Wyatt, did not work well for me. I also had to adjust the volume between the two, because he was more difficult to hear. The production quality didn't sound different, so I'm not sure what it was.

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.

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2.75 stars
If All Else Sails had some genuinely funny one-liners and charming moments, but overall it didn’t quite land for me. While it was marketed as a romance, it felt more like women’s fiction with a very minimal romantic subplot. There was a bit of romantic tension, but not nearly enough to carry the story—and the main couple hadn’t even kissed by 92%, which made the payoff feel underwhelming.

The humor was definitely a highlight, and I found myself laughing out loud a few times. But the male narrator made it hard to stay engaged—his voice was grating enough that I considered DNFing more than once. I pushed through to the end, but ultimately, it just didn’t leave much of an impression. Cute in parts, but not particularly fulfilling.

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I am a passionate listener of audiobooks. Unfortunately, the male narrator made this particular audiobook quite challenging to enjoy. It felt as though he mumbled at times, making it difficult to comprehend. Additionally, his voice volume fluctuated significantly, forcing me to constantly adjust the volume up and down. I attempted to listen through AirPods, in the car, and via a speaker at home, but it was simply unbearable. This is truly disappointing, as the story holds a lot of potential. I plan to pick up the ebook on release day and read it for myself.

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The double-take I did when I realized this book takes place partly in Kilmarnock, Virginia—where my grandparents live—was truly comical. I was so excited because that town is a little slice of my heart (and I’m also a hockey fan, so this was a combination of my favorite things!).

This book was so much fun listening to. I’m always a sucker for dual narrative romance novels where one character is convinced the other hates them but you see the other POV and know it’s the exact opposite. It was funny and quirky and I would really love to see a visual of what she looked like with poison oak because the images I have in my brain are not pretty!

I loved both narrators as well! They did an excellent job of displaying the emotion in their lines. The only comment I have is that at some points I think the male narrator’s microphone wasn’t a consistent sound quality so it was harder to hear him, but it didn’t take away from my listening experience at all.

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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

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If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair needs to be made into a a hallmark movie because I cannot get enough.

Rating; ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice; /5

In this story we are introduced to Josie. A school nurse who is use to putting bandaids on knees and bloody nosies. But when she goes to meet her brother Jacob. She is suddenly faced with his Best Friend and Best Client Wyatt. An injured hockey player in need of assistance to heal.

Josie is faced with spending the summer with her brothers best friend who has proven a dislike towards her. Or alone back home. And Wyatt facing a summer with a girl who has always felt an instant connection with.

Here comes the adventure of a lifetime. Full of fluffy doggo in cute sailors outfits, sailing moments to last them a lifetime, and sneaky side smiles when the other isn’t looking

Let along I received this book as an ALC. the narrators were amazing! I loved the tones of both of their voices and the complete control to drop or raise an octave to portray their opposite MC, in this Duel POV chapters.
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Troupes include
- brothers best friends
- Forced proximity
- He falls first
- Grumpy Sunshine
- And so much more!
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Thank you so much to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the opportunity to listen and review.

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