Thank you NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the advanced copy this book.

I ATE this book up. This was the cutest book I've read recently. This book started off with such a unique and witty dynamic and I was obsessed from the start. The characters are multi-layered and so witty. I truly enjoyed this book, truly.


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

After meeting her brother's hot shot hockey player friend in college, Josie is convinced that he loathes her. Now several years later, Wyatt is sidelined by an injury playing disc golf (didn't know that existed) and Josie's brother, Jacob, has tricked her into helping him recover in his "murder cabin." As Wyatt opens up more about himself, and about a sailing trip he planned to take with his uncle, Josie commits to seeing it through with him. But can there be more? And who orders bikinis for dogs anyway?

If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair was the perfect light romance I needed in my life. An enemies to lovers (though more miscommunication/assumption) meets hockey player meets brothers best-friend; Wyatt and Josie are easy to adore and root for. Written with a lot of humorous moments, there is still substance with family drama and working themselves out.

The audiobook was narrated by Andi Arndt and Patrick Zeller. I thought the narration of the book was solid. No background noises and the tones/voice quality was consistent from start to finish. I thought both narrators voiced their characters authentically and it helped add to the emotional investment in the book. This is the type of audiobook you can easily start and finish in a day. I started at 1.7x and ended at 2.0x.

Thank you Thomas Nelson for the gifted ALC.

This was a sweet, clean, fun romcom. It was a quick read and entertaining the whole time. There are a lot of tropes touched on - enemies to lovers, sports romance, forced proximity, brother's best friend - Other than forced proximity, I didn't find any of them too prominent, which may be a good thing or a bad thing. I didn't mind.

The audio was good, however, the male voice was much lower and softer than the female, which made it difficult to keep the volume at the same level.

The chemistry was a bit light and the miscommunication and "he loves me, he loves me not" confusion was a little tough to swallow, but I still enjoyed the book.

I liked the premise of this storyline- Hockey star meets his agent's sister and years-long crush on her persists. An injury forces them together to finally realize their mutual feelings. But this story was a VERY slowwww burn with very PG spice. I think the romance started at about 90% of the way through. The chemistry between Wyatt and Josie became apparent about half-way through the book and through their past reminiscing, but I think it too way too long to finally get underway.

I am thankful to have received this audio ARC from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio. This book was narrated by Andi Arndt and Patrick Zeller. I really enjoyed the Andi's narration on this edition, but felt that Patrick's narration was a bit overly dramatic at times and didn't feel you needed both as Andi's read of both characters was fine on its own.

This story started strong and NO! I am not telling you want happens…it is cute though…read it!

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 (the murder cottage) on the Northern Neck of Virginia occupied by a hockey player she knows and loathes.

These characters are fantastic. And their interactions tickled me. Josie has disliked Wyatt since their first meeting in high school. So, she is very unhappy that her brother has sent her to a “murder cottage” to help.

And Wyatt…you talk about grumpy…oh boy. So, these two clash out of the gate. And I am here for it.

But, as you can guess, as the story moves along, these two begin to enjoy each other and even open up about their pasts.

This is an adorable enemies to lovers romance. Perfect for a break between heavy books, road trip or even a beach read.

This author has quite a few books. I have not read a single one. I do not know how I have missed her. I will definitely keep her in my radar.

The narrators, Andi Arndt and Patrick Zeller, did a great job. Patrick has a very deep voice and this just added to Wyatt’s grumpiness. 😜

Need a cute story…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

There are 3 star ratings that mean it’s not great and wouldn’t recommend because there are so many other 4 and 5 stars to read and then there are 3 star ratings that mean it’s a good story it just didn’t catch my fancy but could very well end up being a five star for the next reader so try it! And the latter is exactly what this one is.

I’ve enjoyed others by this author, but the whole book was just giving trying too hard vibes. It was like every moment was a smirk or a glance away or a whispered sweet nothing not meant to be heard or a gruff but gentle I’ve loved her from the moment I saw her sentiment but there was a misunderstanding with a capital M.

I wish we could have gotten to know the MMC and MFC and their backstory before all the banter and angst. As it were, we are over 100 pages in before we even move past 30 hours from her arriving on the doorstep! And then we blink and they’re sailing after like 1 pt class. Pacing felt so offf!

I appreciate this story was special to the author and I’ll definitely still read more books by her - this very well could have just been me!

**Note on narration - I the the MFC could have had just a little more energy to her voice she was pretty flat and monotonous and the MMC layed on the gruff pretty thick. It wasn’t bad necessarily but it’s one where I would have to turn the volume up and then he would be very angry or emotional for one line and it was really loud and then he would go back to that sexy timber man gruff voice. I definitely pictured him more as a woodsy lumberjack than a hockey jock. I actually received a physical copy after receiving audio access and finished the last 1/3 via print.

I loved this brother’s best friend romance. The banter between Wyatt and Josie was so much fun. I wouldn’t categorize this as enemies-to-lovers because our boy Wyatt was clearly smitten from the moment they met, while Josie mistakenly thought he didn’t like her and carried that with her. I loved Wyatt’s patience with Josie and their slow burn evolution from “enemies” (in Josie’s mind), to friends to lovers.

The forced proximity taking place mostly on a sail boat was summer reading perfection. I enjoyed these characters so much and the book made me laugh, smile and gave me the feel good romance feeling that I have come to love and expect from Emma. Including an adorable dog with an extensive wardrobe that never failed to put a smile on my face and neighborhood pigs. Plus, we got a Van and Eli Appies cameo (be still my Appie loving heart!).

I listened to the audiobook (thank you @ ) and absolutely loved the dual POV narration from Andi Arndt and Patrick Zeller. They brought the banter, chemistry and tension between Wyatt and Josie to life so well. Highly recommend to my fellow feel-good romcom lovers!

Title: If All Else Sails
By: Emma St. Clair
Pub. Day: Aug. 5, 2025

Genre:
Fiction, Contemporary, Clean Romance, Enemies to Lovers

Content Warnings:
None

Summary/Review:
I really enjoy Emma St. Clair’s novels and this enemies-to-lovers story kept me hooked from start to finish. The setup is clever, while Josie is supposed to join her brother on a sibling getaway, she quickly learns her brother set her up. So instead Josie ends up caring for her brother's best friend, and arch nemesis. Wyatt is a stubborn athlete recovering from an injury. His rough, impossible exterior couldn’t be more different from the gentle, kind person she soon discovers beneath it all. The tension between them is electric, but it’s the moments of vulnerability and unexpected warmth that truly stole my heart. This book perfectly balances humor, heart, and a slow-building closed door romance. I read this in one sitting and I highly recommend it!

This audiobook featured a narrator who delivered perfect intonation and clear diction, making it easy for me to quickly connect with and become fully immersed in the beautiful storyline.

Thank you to Sally Blakely, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press and NetGalley for the opportunity of an Advanced Readers Copy. I am voluntarily leaving my personal review.

#IfAllElseSails
#EmmaStClair
#HarlequinTradePublishing
#CanaryStreetPress
#Advancedreadercopies
#ReluctantReaderReads
#NetGalley
#ARC

go into every @kikimojo book knowing I’m going to love it. This one was no different.

The dynamic between Josie and Wyatt was so fun. Brother’s best friend will always be one of the best.. that paired with enemies to lovers👌🏼

It was great to see some of the Appies players mentioned in this book. Wyatt is a pro hockey player but due to an injury he is on medical leave. He wasn’t properly taking care of himself so his agent sent in the big guns. And by big guns.. he sent his sister, Josie.

This book is filled with emotionally charged moments both between Josie and Wyatt and surrounding Wyatt’s loss of his uncle.

This story is a slow burn. One where you’re begging them to tell the other their true feelings. The final reveal was so worth the wait though!

Read if you like:
⛵️Brother’s Best Friend
⛵️Enemies to Lovers
⛵️Forced Proximity
⛵️Hockey Player
⛵️She takes care of him
⛵️Closed Door

Loved this slow burn romance by Emma St. Clair. It’s one of those reads that you just keep thinking about and cannot wait to sit down and pick back up.

I loved the grumpy male main and the witty, full of sunshine female main. That’s always a great combination.

I laughed out loud so many times while listening to this. There are so many good relationships in this book- siblings, parents, friends, teammates. You’re just rooting for Wyatt and Josie to figure it out and get together.

I also love her novels because there is no language and no sex. The most you saw in this novel was back scratching and innocent kissing.

I got an advanced copy from NetGalley- thank you!

If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair is a truly delightful and entertaining read that will leave you smiling. This installment in the Appies series introduces us to hockey player Wyatt and his physical therapist, Josie. After a frisbee golf injury sidelines Wyatt, his agent enlists the help of Josie, a school nurse who also happens to be his agent's little sister. Wyatt and Josie are thrown together in an adorable forced proximity situation, but what follows is so much more. Their chemistry is fantastic, and watching Josie misunderstand Wyatt's every move while he secretly harbors a massive crush on her is incredibly fun. The story is full of funny moments, a sweet romance, and even a hilarious dog that steals the show. If you're in the mood for a lighthearted and swoon-worthy read, this book is an absolute must.

The audiobook version of If All Else Sails is an absolute treat, with a stellar performance by narrators Andi Arndt and Patrick Zeller. The dual point-of-view narration works beautifully, allowing listeners to fully immerse themselves in both Wyatt's and Josie's thoughts. Patrick Zeller, in particular, does an outstanding job of bringing Wyatt to life, perfectly capturing the character's emotional depth and inner softness. Meanwhile, Andi Arndt’s lovely voice perfectly portrays Josie's bubbly and kind-hearted personality. The flow of the story is great, and the narrators' performances make the romance and humor feel even more genuine. With its charming characters and superb narration, this audiobook is highly recommended for fans of hockey romance, brothers' best friend, and grumpy-sunshine tropes.

Josie is supposed to be meeting up with her brother for their annual(ish) sibling trip, but instead finds herself at what looks like a murder cottage and has the cops called on her. But when her brother convinced her to stay and help out his longtime friend and client, she reluctantly agrees. They both quickly soften up around each other and open up more than they ever have before. With side characters like Jib and a sailing adventure, this was a cute and heartwarming summer read!

If you’ve read The Appies series, you’ll love the cameos at the end - I loved seeing the guys hanging out and teasing each other again. This was the ultimate grumpy/sunshine, closed door romcom, that you’re sure to love!

I did struggle with the narration on this book. It’s dual narration, and the voice of Josie was perfect. For Wyatt’s voice I really struggled with the audio - the volume did not seem a consistent volume to me, his voice was very up and down to where I had to either decide if I wanted to be blasted by the loud parts or unable to hear the quiet parts - subsequently I likely missed a few details. Not unlike how many people speak in real life but not consistent enough for an audiobook narration. I’ve not had this problem with an audiobook before so I was surprised here.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me at 20%.

The main reason for my DNF is the male narrator. I feel terrible saying it, but his chapters are just bad. He goes from almost whispering to over-emphasising his words in a way that almost seems like shouting. As someone who listens through the car radio while driving or through headphones, this just really didn’t work for me and I wasn’t finding the listening experience enjoyable at all. I either couldn’t hear what he was saying or having to turn the volume down because he was way too loud. It’s a shame because I was enjoying the female narrator.

Story wise, I also wasn’t having a great time. Wyatt just seems like an arsehole, especially with his refusal to apologise (maybe this is something that changes later in the book?). And I’m not a fan of the sibling dynamic between Josie and her brother. I know it’s too early to judge some of these things, but I really don’t care enough to read more to see if anything changes.

I’d give this one a go if the premise sounds interesting to you, but definitely pick up the physical or digital version instead of the audio.

If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair is a sweet and heartwarming romance novel, perfect for your next summer read. Josie is a school nurse who turns up to a cabin expecting to have a holiday with her brother. However when Josie gets there, she finds not her brother, but her brother’s best friend, Wyatt. Wyatt and Josie have never been friendly towards each other, but Josie’s brother offers her a deal to stay with Wyatt to help him back on track with his rehabilitation. What’s the worst that could happen?

I really loved Josie as the main character. Wyatt took a little bit of time to warm up to me, but as soon as he became delirious and was able to say what he actually wanted to, he started to grow more on me. The storyline progressed nicely and I enjoyed the humour and banter between Josie and Wyatt.

At the 50% mark I became very enthralled with the book and didn’t want to stop listening because I had become so invested in the characters and wanted to find out what happened next. I ended up listening to the audiobook in 2 days!

Audio review:
I was sent the audio version of the book. I loved the narrating from Andy Arndt, she was an amazing narrator and did a good job at bringing Josie to life. I did not particularly like Patrick Zeller as a narrator for Wyatt. I found his voice didn’t quite match Wyatt as a character. I always preferred Josie’s chapters over Wyatt’s as a result.

This was such a cute and fun read! I would definitely recommend this book to others who love a light-hearted romance read!

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Tropes:
Forced proximity, enemies to lovers, brothers best friend

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for this arc. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What a fun read! I really enjoyed how the story developed and I am a sucker for a best friend’s brother trope. In this book we follow Wyatt, a professional hockey player recuperating from a hockey injury and struggling with accepting help to care for him during this time. Josie, a nurse and sister to Wyatt best friend is tricked into spending the summer caring and nursing for him during this time. The catch is they hate each other, or do they. This is brother’s best friend, grumpy/ sunshine, enemies to lovers and such a great read. I loved it from the very start and really enjoyed the way the story is told with alternating POVs between Josie and Wyatt. This book has it all. Great banter, the ocean, oh and did I mention the cutest puppy?! Such a great summer read , I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Nelson Audio for the advance listeners copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was the perfect end-of-summer read! I absolutely loved these characters. The misunderstandings and mishaps at the beginning were so entertaining—and totally understandable given why Josie would dislike Wyatt at first.

Wyatt was such a perfect male lead. Emma St. Clair wrote him as someone clearly broken in his own ways, yet still deeply caring and mindful of Josie. His patience with her was beautiful to read.

I’m always here for some forced proximity and a one-bed situation, and this one was so well written. Their romance draws you in completely while still keeping it clean and such a sweet romance!

Seeing the Appies cameo was such a treat! I’m a big Eli and Van fan, so having them thrown into the story—even for a short time—was just lovely.

I listened to the audiobook and loved the dual narration. Both narrators did a wonderful job capturing the heart and personality of these characters, making me feel even more invested in their story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I'd never heard of this author and went into this book blind, as I needed a sports romance book for a reading challenge, even though that genre isn't typically my cup of tea ☕.

I was pleasantly surprised by this non-traditional sports romance! Wyatt is a professional hockey player out of commission on an injury. So Wyatt's best friend/sports agent decides to send his sister, Josie, a school nurse who is out on summer break, to his cottage to help him recover. Although Josie has known Wyatt since she was a teen and detests him, she can't turn down the hefty summer paycheck 💰. Then Wyatt drops the bomb that he was planning to spend the rest of the summer sailing south along the Eastern seaboard on his boat, and Josie must come along for the ride. The result is a sweet and heartfelt summer romance.

Recommended for those who enjoy romances 🩷 with the following elements:

*Hockey players 🏒
*Grumpy x sunshine ☀️
*Boating/sailing ⛵
*Summer vacations 🌊
*Enemies to Lovers ❤️
*Brother’s best friend 🧑🏻
*Forced proximity 🛏️

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for an audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review!

GAH!! I have read every single book by Emma St. Clair. Every book. She is an auto buy. I follow her on all platforms. I just want to set the stage on how much I love her. With that being said, I think this may be my favorite Emma St. Clair book. It was SO WELL DONE!! I got lost in it so easy and was so sad when it ended so fast. Loved every second! The characters were well written and developed. The story line was perfection. Read this ASAP!! The audiobook was also perfect! That's how read and it was magnificent!

Enemies to lovers, slow burn, and sailing? Yes, please.
If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair swept me away with its perfect mix of heart, humor, and unique details—nursing, pro hockey, animal rescue, and sailing all seamlessly woven into the romance. It’s tender, witty, and proof that sometimes missed chances come down to simple miscommunication. The narrators, Andi Arndt and Patrick Zeller, bring every character (even the dog!) vividly to life. A heartfelt, unputdownable love story that will stay with you long after the final chapter.

First of all this book is advertised as enemies to lovers. They are not enemies. It’s very clear from the beginning there was a misunderstanding and they are more “friends by default” and more of a forced proximity trope.
With that said I enjoyed this book very much. I married into a large family and it made me laugh out loud at all the things that Josie says incorrectly on the boat, because there is a different name for everything! I also said many of those same phrases wrong and still call the lines “ropes” at times. The banter between the two is cute.
The book was so slow at times. It was great at the end when their relationship started making progress. I also was not a fan of him being a hockey player. I’m just so tired of hockey romance books, I know it wasn’t the main theme but it still just put me off a bit.
The male narrator was very intense at the beginning of the book. I was constantly adjusting the volume because he would get so loud and then go back to a normal volume. It got better as the book progressed but it was a little jarring initially.
Overall a cute cozy closed door read.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.