Official rating: 2 / 5 ⭐

A summer friends to lovers romance. I have to be honest, this was a fun set up. Wren & Joni are childhood friends. They make a pact to be each other's plus ones at weddings. Their families are close & own a beach house together. It kinda sounds like tsitp, but I would say it kinda gives more people we meet on vacation. But if you've been following me for a while, you know I hated pwmov. After an incident about 2-3 years ago, Joni & Wren lose contact. It's a dual timeline story, but I wish the flashbacks were more clear. A lot of the time I was confused about the timeline. Also, the more & more we got into the story I really never saw how or why they liked each other. Not that they are opposites, but we never talk about what Joni loves about Wren or why she finds him attractive. It felt like a one dimensional romance. This of course killed the story. And the incident? I won't spoil it. But personally, I think those details were held onto for too long. By the last few chapters I didn't care anymore & it wasn't a big deal. I'm thankful for the audio, but I don't think I'd request another Sally Blakley book again.

A heartwarming and emotional journey, Friends to Lovers by Sally Blakely explores the messy and beautiful transition from friendship to romance. The novel centers on Joni and Ren, two childhood best friends who, after a line is crossed, find themselves faking their once-effortless bond for a family wedding. The premise is a classic romance setup, but Blakely’s writing gives it a fresh and deeply felt sincerity.
The book’s strength lies in its emotional depth. The tension and unresolved feelings between Joni and Ren are palpable, and the reader feels every bit of their shared history and present-day heartache. The back-and-forth between their forced pleasantries and the genuine affection they still hold for each other is both compelling and believable. The summer wedding setting provides a perfect backdrop, with nostalgic summer days and starlit nights creating an intimate atmosphere for them to confront their past.
While the ending might be predictable, the journey there is so well-written that it doesn't matter. The supporting characters are charming, and the small-town setting adds to the book's cozy appeal. Friends to Lovers is a satisfying and poignant romance that will resonate with anyone who has ever wondered if a friendship could be something more.

This is a special story! One of the best reads of the year, for sure.

The story is told entirely through Joni’s first-person POV. After losing her job in NYC, she returns home to her family’s beach house on the Washington coast for her sister’s wedding. There, she finds herself not only back in her childhood vacation home but also forced to share a room with her ex-best friend Ren, whom she hasn't spoken to in over 2 years.

From the prologue, I found the pacing and timeline a little tricky. The book alternates between the present-day and flashbacks to their friendship, gradually revealing what tore them apart 2.5 years ago. While this structure builds suspense, I sometimes struggled to track the timeline clearly. It took me awhile to get into it before the dual timelines stopped confusing me-- there are a LOT of weddings. But once I figured it out it was fine and the pacing worked well.

At about 30% in, the characters really won me over. I was rooting so hard for Joni and Ren. I often wished we could hear Ren’s perspective, but I enjoyed trying to piece together his feelings through Joni’s eyes. Still, Joni isn't the most reliable narrator, so I wish I could have experienced her from an outsiders perspective too. Blakely does a fantastic job building suspense and emotional tension around their falling-out, to the point where I found myself genuinely anxious as we drew closer to the reveal.

What frustrated me most (in a good way) was Joni’s inability to communicate. Her fear and anxiety keep her from voicing what she truly feels, and while it made me want to shake her, I also related deeply to it. This element gave her character a realism I appreciated, even if it sometimes made me ache for her. I ended up having a love/hate relationship with Joni because of how much her (often fear based) decisions impact the lives of those around her greatly. I just wish they would have all communicated!!! But seriously, I loved it. I love when a book frustrates me this way.

The supporting cast also shines, adding warmth and dimension to the story. By the end, this book had me reflecting on how much our choices—and our silences—can ripple out to shape the lives of the people around us. The dynamic side characters truly brought this story to life, and I felt like I was there for Leo and Stevie's wedding with everyone else. Blakely brings us into this world and it's hard not to feel like a part of the family by the end.

This made me ugly cry, so it earned it's five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Harper Collins for this ALC; this is my honest and freely given review.

2,5 ⭐️

To be honest, I don’t think this book was for me, even though friends-to-lovers is one of my all-time favorite tropes. I also love second-chance romance, so I went into this one pretty excited, but it just didn’t deliver the way I hoped.

The beginning had promise—the friendship between Joni and Ren was where the story felt strongest. Their banter, their history, the ease between them—that part I enjoyed. But once things shifted into romance, I just couldn’t connect. It felt more like the story had to make them lovers because of the premise, not because their relationship naturally built up to it. The chemistry that worked so well in their friendship didn’t translate into a believable romance, and that left me disappointed.

What really pulled me out of the story, though, were the families. I can usually handle a little family drama in rom-coms, but this was next level. Joni’s mom was so overbearing it honestly made me angry at times—like, she’s a grown woman pushing 30, and her mom is still micromanaging her every move? Her dad wasn’t much better, constantly deflecting back to “talk to your mom.” Ren’s family wasn’t much easier either, constantly pressing about marriage and kids. Instead of adding humor or warmth, it just made the whole story feel frustrating. And don’t even get me started on Stevie—she had one job. (If you know, you know.)

I also listened to the audiobook, and while Patti Murin did a great job with the narration itself, the structure made it confusing. The beginning of every flashback chapter opened with names of other characters we hadn’t even met yet, and as an audio listener that was disorienting. It made it hard to follow the timeline and pulled me out of the story more than once.


Bottom line: this book had potential, but the romance felt forced, and the family drama completely overshadowed the love story. I wanted an emotional, authentic friends-to-lovers journey, but instead it felt like a checklist of tropes without the depth to back them up.


Thank you to NetGalley and Sally Blakely for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Friends to Lovers is exactly the kind of summer romance that makes you want to grab a beach chair, sip something cold, and just sink into the pages.

Joni and Ren’s story is a perfect blend of second chances, childhood nostalgia, and that deliciously slow-burn friends-to-lovers tension. The flashbacks to their inseparable bond growing up add such warmth, while their reunion years later brings all the awkwardness, yearning, and emotional payoff I crave in this trope.

What stood out to me most was how authentic their dynamic felt—the mix of playful banter, unresolved feelings, and the bittersweet ache of lost time. Sally Blakely captures that “what if” energy so well, and I found myself rooting for them the whole way through.

If you enjoyed Happy Place or People We Meet on Vacation, you’ll adore this book. It has the same summery charm, heartfelt friendships, and swoony romance, but with its own unique heart.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Canary Street Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

💌 Review | Friends-to-Lovers Slow Burn
This one was a true slow burn — the kind where the “friends to lovers” part takes a very long time to get going. There was a lot of beating around the bush, and honestly, I usually prefer a little more intensity or quicker payoff in my romance arcs.

That said, I still found myself relating to Joni at different points in the story — her thoughts and feelings hit close to home more than once. The emotional undercurrent kept me turning pages even when I wanted to shake the characters a little!

If you love reunion romances, summer settings, and that classic tension-filled “fake it ‘til you make it” setup, this one might be your perfect beach read.

There’s something irresistible about a best-friends-to-lovers story, and Sally Blakely captures it beautifully in Friends to Lovers. What begins as a sweet tradition, two childhood best friends promising to be each other’s plus ones during wedding season, becomes a heartbreaking and tender exploration of love, timing, and the fragile lines between friendship and something more.

Joni and Ren’s connection is undeniable from the very beginning. Blakely paints their bond with such warmth that you can feel the years of shared history in every interaction. But beneath the laughter and rituals lies a deeper current, one that threatens to unravel everything when unspoken feelings come to light. The story isn’t just about romance; it’s about what happens when love and friendship collide, and whether the strongest bonds can survive the fallout.

The summer house setting was perfection, sun-soaked days, bittersweet nostalgia, and wedding-week chaos made the perfect backdrop for emotions to rise and old wounds to resurface. It felt like the kind of place where secrets can’t stay hidden, and where choices linger heavier than the humid night air.

And then there’s Patti Murin’s narration, she breathes so much life into these characters, capturing Joni’s vulnerability and Ren’s quiet intensity with ease. It’s one of those performances that makes you forget you’re listening to a book, you’re simply living in it.

Friends to Lovers is heartfelt, bittersweet, and brimming with longing. It’s about the risks we take for love, the pain of almost losing it, and the joy of realizing that sometimes the best love stories are the ones that were right in front of us all along.

Storyline felt so similar to a Netflix movie I watched a few years ago! However I liked the movie better. Main characters didn’t stand out to me and chemistry in second half of book fell flat. If you’ve never read romance you may love but if your an avid romance reader this may fall short for you

Super cute story but felt very similar to PWMOV. I love friends fo lovers and definitely think this is a fun book to take to the beach and a short read but dragged a bit. The romance didn’t feel super fleshed out? Or the chemistry was lacking

I did get Emily Henry vibes while reading this book. It was fun and light with excellent banter. The families were a bit much at times, but their hearts were in the right place. I was not a fan of the circumstances around the third act breakup, but otherwise a great read. Narrator was perfect, as usual.

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I had seen SO many raving reviews for this one, but it didn't blow me away. We obviously know Joni and Ren are ultimately going to end up together, but I didn't care for the "will they, won't they" aspect. I also feel like this book would have GREATLY benefited by having Ren's POV.

This was a cute story I was rooting for Wren and Joany the entire time. I like the way everything unfolded.
In regards to the audio recording there were a few chapters that didn’t flow that had a 20 seconds of dead air before the chapter would start. There were also a few where you can tell when the audio was spliced together because it would repeat lines. Aside from that I think the narrator did well.
The story it self wqs cute and evrything I expect from a romance.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the advance audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, Just Friends wasn’t my favorite. I personally don’t enjoy the miscommunication trope, which plays a big role in this story, and the relationship felt a bit forced at times. The pacing was slower than I usually enjoy, which made it hard for me to stay fully engaged.

The narration was clear and pleasant, making the listening experience smooth, but the story itself didn’t fully connect with me.

While this one didn’t work for me, fans of slow-burn romance who don’t mind some miscommunication may still enjoy it.

I really liked Ren and the narrators, but I could not connect with this story. The former with the back and forth in time always throws me off.

This book is everything I love about slow-burn romance: witty banter, emotional depth, and two people who feel meant for each other finally figuring it out. Blakely captures the vulnerability and tension of falling for someone who’s always been right there — a best friend. I laughed, I swooned, and yes… I may have teared up.

🌶️

This one took me a while to finish. I just reallly had a hard time connecting with Joni, even as a fellow anxiety sufferer. Maybe this was more difficult for me because I don’t like the miscommunication trope, and I kind of put it in this one because of how Joni handled (or didn’t, more aptly) things and ran. I adored watching Ren try to show her how much he loved her for so long, but my gosh I wanted to make these two kiss like my dolls when I was little long before it happened. Honestly, Ren was definitely the best main character in this story. His line declaring his love on the doorstep melted me so much I rewound the audio and listened to it multiple times. Still a good read, definitely worth it for Ren alone 😅

❤️ Tropes ❤️
💋 friends to lovers (duh)
💋 second chance romance
💋 miscommunication/lack of communication
💋 mental health rep
💋 forced proximity

Joni has given so much of her life to her job in New York City. A job that just fired her. So she is going to nurse her wounds at the vacation home a little earlier than planned before her little sister’s wedding to be able to put on a mask that everything is fine. She isn’t going to ruin her sister’s wedding. Only.. she’s not the only one that came early. Her lifelong best friend Ren is there, which makes sense since their families share the vacation house. But they have talked in a couple years since “the incident”. She already has one mask up, another isn’t going to make a difference.

Thank you to NetGalley for the copy, all thoughts are my own.

I was very excited for this book, but I had trouble truly relating to the characters. It felt more like a repetition of common tropes than an entirely new work. It was still a cute read, just not something I see myself revisiting.


Disclaimer: I was able to access this book for free through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW:

The audiobook was really good—the actress did an amazing job. One of the things I always look for in an audiobook is a clean voice, and by this I mean that the narrator doesn’t make any strange sounds at the end of words. Sometimes I’ve noticed narrators add little sounds that can feel out of place or even a bit uncomfortable, which can pull me out of the story. In this case, the actress was excellent—her pronunciation and diction were very clear. 5 stars for the narrator.

BOOK REVIEW:

The first half of the book completely hooked me—I really enjoyed the dynamic between Ren and Joni. Their interactions were fun and kept me turning the pages. However, after the halfway point, the story started to feel a bit monotonous and flat. Honestly, I wasn’t fully invested in the romantic relationship; if they had remained just friends, it wouldn’t have changed my enjoyment of the story.

When I started reading, I noticed some similarities with People We Meet on Vacation, especially the setup of two best friends who stop talking after an incident, alternating between "present time" and "past time." In the past timeline, the story focuses on their dynamic attending weddings together as each other’s +1, as they had agreed to always do. I usually love stories with dual timelines, but in this case, I didn’t care much about the past timeline. I also felt that the past events didn’t build the romance in a way that made it fully believable by the end.

That said, don’t get me wrong—I still enjoyed the book. It was cute, the characters were well-written, and I really liked them. I just expected a little more from the story overall.

Final rating: 3.5 stars

Had high hopes for this one especially bc it was compared to people we meet on vacation… but that may have been the problem. I loooooved pwmov so probably had way too high expectations & ultimately I think they probably should have just stayed friends from the beginning lolz. Also thinking that if the title had the trope it needed to excel & it just didn’t for me. Thank you Harper Audio for my free listen!

Living up to its title, Friends to Lovers is a classic take on the childhood friends to lovers trope. This book felt summery and nostalgic! The chemistry between Joni and Ren was obvious from the beginning, creating the best kind of tension. I enjoyed the past and present timelines, helping show how deep their love for each other has always been. I also loved the coastal wedding setting and sibling side characters!

Like other books with the same trope, my biggest issue was the miscommunication. It did feel realistic given the circumstance, but I would’ve appreciated it more if the characters had finally talked to each other out of their own choosing, rather than being forced into it.

Friends to Lovers is a super sweet romance full of heart - I am excited to see what Sally Blakely writes next!