⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, and Zondervan Fiction Audio for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

First, I have to say they say this an enemies to lovers trope, but it’s not fully! Which I was there for in all the best ways. This was such a refreshing retelling of that typical trope in what I thought was a new and fresh way. I really enjoyed the banter, and enjoyed the rotating narrative between our two characters.

Josie is a broke, hardworking school nurse who has always thought that her brother’s best friend (and client) hated her. When her brother tricks her to taking care of him while he heals from an injury, she quickly discovers that maybe she has read him wrong the whole time. The character development between these two was an enjoyable ride!

However, I must say. My one critique was actually in one of the audio actors (I’m so sorry). Patrick Zeller didn’t work for this character for me, his intensity didn’t quite match the supposedly quiet roil that this character is described to have throughout the book. I think he is still a good narrator, it just felt disconnected from the character he was reading for.

Overall, I really enjoyed the writing style of Emma St. Clair as it was my first experience with her work. I enjoyed the authors note and the end and it added a personal touch, and yes! I did have a smile on my face while listening to this book, so job well done!

This book was adorable. It had such great grumpy/sunshine vibes! There were several funny moments that made me laugh out loud. I loved the dog and all of the outfits! Enjoyed the connections and references to the Appies. The narrator’s did a great job!

I really enjoyed this book! It was the perfect summer read, and the chemistry between the main characters was great without any awkward sex scenes. I didn’t love the male narrator and found his narration over the top, but I still enjoyed the book overall.

This book was so cute! I loved the characters and the journey they went on. It was even cuter learning that a lot of this story was inspired by the author and her family's life. The sail journey was lots of fun and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. Fun, easy read! 4.5 Stars

This was a fun, lighthearted read perfect for summer vacation. For me personally, I would have rather read the physical copy instead of listening to it because the male narrator was very inconsistent. I listen to my audiobooks in the car primarily and I kept having to turn the volume up and down. In the same scenes and even sentences I'd have to turn the volume up and then down and then up and down again because the male narrator would go from a whisper to almost shouting back to whispering again and it just made the listening process a little less enjoyable

This was such a sweet and wholesome good time. I loved the banter and tension between the two main characters. I also want to jump on a boat and go sailing immediately! The secret pining and then all of the barriers being broken down bit by bit for Josie to come to terms with how Wyatt really feels….SWOON! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance audio copy of this sweet book!

This is a sweet and clean rom com that had me both laughing and crying throughout. I loved both main characters, Josie and Wyatt. I even enjoyed learning a little bit about sailing as the book went along. The middle got a little long waiting for the inevitable to finally happen, but I really enjoyed the comical and sweet way it all came together. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

This was a sweet, simple love story with low drama and plenty of humor. The opening scene was a great comedic start and I liked how the author mixed the current events with some flashes back to the past. I always love a brother’s best friend story because I like that tension and even though they are older, there is plenty of that in this story.

Wyatt is a true grump and watching him open up to long held feelings was a fun read. Josie is pure sunshine from pushing Wyatt to heal to silliness with outfits for the dog to her bookish drive for learning. She was a great character and I appreciated her journey in this book. Watching these two fall in love was definitely an enjoyable read. It is a slow burn but worth the wait.

I also loved the imagery of the cottage, sailing and intracoastal waterway including the familiar stops in North Carolina!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted audiobook. The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Content Notes: Kisses

Thank you to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio, and Emma St. Clair for the ability to listen to an audio arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Overall I give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was my first Emma St. Clair book and such a fun rom-com perfect for summer time! The setting and premise behind Josie and Wyatt taking to the water to sail just gave off the perfect beachy-summer vibes. The forced proximity leading to the sailing trip was perfection 💗 I loved the relationship that Josie and Wyatt have with each other throughout the book, they definitely fit the grumpy x sunshine trope with lots of witty banter included between the two! While the story as a whole is very lighthearted with many comedic elements, I did appreciate that added depth that was given to both Josie and Wyatt’s characters and seeing them both grow and develop throughout the story. I think I would’ve liked a little more depth but that’s just my personal preference. For someone looking for a light hearted, closed door, rom-com perfect for summer time, this is the book to pick up! I’m definitely interested in reading more from this author!

this was my first emma st. clair and it won't be my last! it was a cute summer read. a boat trip with your grumpy brothers best friend who has been in love with you for years but you thought he hates you. sign me up! it was adorable! thank you to @netgalley for the advanced audio copy! 💛

If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Josie, an elementary school nurse, is ready to kick off her summer vacation with her brother Jacob lakeside. But when she arrives, Jacob is nowhere in sight—instead, she finds Wyatt, his best friend and Josie’s least favorite person. Wyatt, a professional hockey player sidelined by injury, needs some help recovering, and Jacob has volunteered Josie for the job. Reluctantly, she agrees. But the more time she spends with Wyatt, the more she realizes that beneath his grumpy, guarded exterior might be a misunderstood softie. A few weeks alone with your hot nemesis? What could go wrong?

This story was such a sweet and hilarious surprise! I’m a sucker for the enemies-to-lovers trope, and when you mix in brother’s best friend and forced proximity? Instant magic. (Also: there’s a dog in a bikini. Enough said.)

The audiobook was excellent—Andi Arndt brought Josie to life perfectly, and Patrick Zeller added so much heart and charm to Wyatt’s voice.

This was my first book by Emma St. Clair, and it definitely won’t be my last. I can't wait to dive into her backlist!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the ALC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced listener copy of “If All Else Sails”.

I’ll be 100% honest. At first, I was thinking about not finishing this book. The FMC seemed extremely immature and annoying with the whole “I hate him and I know he hates me” bit, but I was pleasantly surprised by the end of the book.

Tropes:
- Brothers best friend
- Loathe to love
- Forced Proximity
- Only 1 bed
- Professional athlete

Once the story started going and we got to get to know our FMC and MMC more I fell more and more in love with the story. The ending of the last chapter was perfection and had me smiling like a fool.

On to read everything else Emma St. Clair has ever written!!

Cute, closed door summer romcom.

Josie, an elementary school nurse, is talked into helping her brother’s best friend, Wyatt, recover from an injury.

While it’s being advertised as an enemies-to-lovers book, it’s far from it. Wyatt comes across grumpy and gruff, but clearly has always like Josie. Meanwhile, Josie had her feelings hurt and has never forgiven Wyatt, but a lot of her issues there after are actually tied to issues ties to her brother and past trauma.

Overall, the story is perfectly fine. If you like grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, and closed door romances, this could be a good option.

I do think the writing tended to detract from the overall plot. The initial set up for how Josie’s brother got her to go to Wyatt’s was forced and uncomfortable. Josie’s character fluctuates between disliking Wyatt then having her feelings hurt when he doesn’t show interest in her romantically. Similarly, I don’t understand how all her family seems so obsessed with Jacob when the list of things he does / who he is friends with outside Wyatt is…lackluster at best. Lastly, I found the second half losing my interest and dragging on.

The audio quality itself was good. The voice actors both had a lot of emotion in their voice, though stylistically it wasn’t my favorite (e.g., Josie’s character always felt icy which in the beginning made sense but didn’t seem appropriate when we are supposed to believe they were falling for each other).

Thank you to Emma St. Clair, Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review.

One of those books where you can very clearly point to the tropes it’s playing on.
The enemies to lovers wasn’t really enemies, just a case of “I always thought you hated me” when in reality they weren’t.
The forced proximity was predictable, and the grumpy/sunshine dynamite felt a bit too obvious. Like the author took a guide on how-to and just followed the steps. I don’t know if this is the usual with her writing since it’s my first book by her.
Overall, solid three stars read, easy to follow, fast read. Good for a vacation or a quick romance fix.

BUT, why was the MMC narrator yelling all the time? I get he’s supposed to be grumpy, but I think he sounded more like Beast from Beauty&theBeast.

3.5 stars. Funny and cute! I do love that Emma’s books are sweet and clean, but I think alluding to a few closed door moments or at least a couple kissing scenes pre-declaration of love (instead of a single kiss being the climax of the book) would make the “I love you”s more realistic.

To start out, I have to say I have loved every book I have read by Emma St. Clair. But this one is probably my favorite one of all! It was such a cute romcom and I loved every minute of it.
I definitely recommend you give this a listen especially if you love an enemies to lovers romance between a handsome famous hockey player and a kind-hearted school nurse. If you like sailing, there is a lot of that mixed in too. Plus the witty banter and the swoony kisses, this book is sure to make you smile.
This is a closed door romance featuring just kisses and lots of fun flirting.
The audiobook was well done and I love the dual narrators for both main characters perspectives. Definitely recommend this one!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the ALC and ARC

Narration 4 1/2⭐️ rounded up
Story 4 ⭐️

I was lucky enough to get both the ARC and ALC, and loved being able to go back and read this after listening to the audio. This was such a fun listen, the narration was hilarious. Andi Arndt was perfect as Josie, and Patrick Zeller definitely has the gruffness down for Wyatt. I’ve read many of Emma St. Clair’s books and have always loved them. They’re that perfect cozy read that gives you all the happy warm romcom movie feels. I loved getting a little glimpse of Eli and Van from the Appies series too, it just made me love it even more.

This was a cute spinoff of the very sweet and fun Appies series so I liked it and the tone and the other characters returning. It took a little too long to get to the romance, or even the flirting and then ended too soon

I love Emma St. Clair and this book is just a new installment of why. Her Light hearted banter and love of a grump is through out the pages. I love Jib so much. The Appies are one of My favorite series and each book becomes my new favorite. I really need to Binge reread this series since I have purchased each book. I can't wait for the next book. Yes I am along for this ride and all the new stories she wants to tell.

“What I want, what I’ve always wanted with you, is everything.”

If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair

Oh my cuteness! This was another delightful story from Emma St. Clair. I loved the twist on brother’s best friend. I also loved that we got Wyatt’s story!

Wyatt is a grumpy hockey player (former Appies player) and healing from the loss of a loved one, but also from some other things that happened in his past. I really enjoyed watching him grow as a person and reconciling with some important people in his life. His healing journey was beautiful and I was here for it.

Josie is a school nurse and comes to Wyatt’s “murder cottage”, unsuspecting and unaware that her brother is roping her into something. She is a bit feisty, but is kind, and sweet, and misjudged Wyatt.

I adored their story and definitely recommend it!

Audio Review: I loved both of these narrators. My only issue with the male narrator was at times it was hard to understand what he was saying when he talked in a really deep voice.

Favorite Parts:
Enemies to lovers
Grumpy/sunshine
Brother’s best friend
Meet cute
Poison oak part-Oh NO!
The pig problem-Haha!
Shopping
Lunch at yacht club
Tickling
Splinters-Poor Wyatt, but also swoon
Nightmare and oops!
Small gestures and gifts
Learning boat/sailing terminology
Physical therapy
Little dog and her outfits-Haha
Nickname
Sunscreen
Healing from loss
Grilled cheese and dancing
Time with teammates and her brother
The storm
Savannah, GA
Epilogue

Content Guide:
Language: none
Sexual Content: Closed-door: Female main character stares at man’s abs, attempted assault (past; mentioned without details), passionate kissing (mildly descriptive)
Violence/gore: none
Substance Use: Mild-brief mentions of drinking wine
Prejudices: none
Religious Content: none
Other: Loss of loved one (past), grief and healing, toxic family relationship, estranged family

Book Info:
Series: Standalone, but connected to Appies series
Genre: Contemporary Romcom
Romance Level: Closed-door
Release Date: August 5, 2025
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
POV: Dual

Thank you to the Author and publisher for the audio review copy from Netgalley. All thoughts are my own.