3.5 read.

The over all story is really good. Very much gives Emily Henry.

However, some of the timelines gets choppy. All of a sudden you will be in a flash back in Joni's head and you're wondering where you are in the story.

Loved Ren and you could see in everything he did that he loved Joni. But Joni was a bit annoying in her soft possessiveness without understanding what she really felt.

I really enjoyed this second-chance romance. between two best friends who had a falling out years ago after finally exploring the feelings between them. The story is told partially in the present, as they prepare for the FMC's sister's wedding, and partially in flashbacks that focus on joint family vacations and weddings the two MCs have attended together as each other's plus-ones. I thought the structure really helped to build tension, and I loved the whole cast of characters—having both of their families so involved was great, and all their personalities were so fun. I did get a little confused about who was who a few times but nothing too major. I liked the narration, too—there were some weird editing glitches, but I assume that's something that'll be fixed before the book is out, so it didn't affect my rating at all.

Perfect and quick summer read, gives off this should be a Netflix movie vibes.

Joni, is back at her family's vacation house after 2 years away. She came a day early to try and get herself some time. She just lost her job and she's trying to hide it until after the wedding. Wren, newly single after ending a serious relationship, is Joni's childhood friend... but so much more. However, they had a falling out years ago and now they have to pretend they are still best friends for their family. Now that they are forced to share a room again, they are slowly starting to talk again and working on their complex emotions.

Childhood Friends
Slow Burn
Friends to Lovers

I received an advance review copy audio version. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio, for the opportunity to listen to this book. Patti Murin did an amazing job narrating this audiobook.

This book made me cry, and I loved it so much!

Joni and Wren...someone should have smacked them both upside their heads sooner. I'm glad they finally figured it out!

Thank you to netgalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC!

This is a friends to lovers trope that hits the spot! It is very Emily Henry like and I am here for that! It is the perfect summer beach read.

The narrator (Patti Murin) was perfect for this story.

Not groundbreaking but a goodie! Joni and Ren's story reminded me of a blend of People You Meet on Vacation meets the movie Plus One. I liked all the characters and the plot and the dual timeline was well done. I don't think the subplot of Joni's anxiety really added anything to her character or the plot and it felt a bit... like it lacked commitment. I also liked the side characters and how they wove into the story, I thought that was well done. There wasn't any cringe and the chemistry and romance as well as the family dynamics all felt very natural and plausible. Overall, I would say it's a bit cookie cutter but a really pleasant listen! I liked the narrator - I thought it suited the Joni character and her voicing of other characters was well done - each distinct without being too weird or cringe or extending.

I liked this one. A really good debut novel! The narrator was great with putting out the emotions on this one!
It was a slow burn summer romance, def gave beachy read vibes. I found the dual timelines a bit confusing & maybe it was because of the formatting of the eARC or if this was how it was written. It would go from five years ago to present day with no notice, so that kinda took away from the flow of the story.
Joni & Ren's love story was a stereotypical "we realized we loved each other and it took a long while to figure it out" & I like stories like that.
There was some initial tension with the FMC that i kinda was confused on why it was so secretive, & it was kind of all spewed out toward the end- which in turn- made me think some of the earlier mundane scenes could've been cut out because to me it gave rushed toward the end.. But I really liked the epilogue
Overall. Liked this a lot! Perfect for fans of Annabel Monaghan, Joyce & BK Borison

Friends to Lovers sets up a lighthearted romance with childhood friends promising to be each other’s plus-ones to any weddings they’ll attend as adults. After Joni and Ren have a falling out, they begin to reconnect at her sister’s wedding where their past will finally unravel.

I loved the setup of this book, friends to lovers / second chance romance are my favorite tropes and there were certain elements I enjoyed in this novel - the summery setting, laid back atmosphere, and realistic emotional range.

However, it failed to really grab me. I wanted this to be *more* but it was just middle of the road. Especially with People We Meet on Vacation comparisons… it didn’t quite get there. I never really connected with the characters. It felt very one sided, I don’t think Joni and Ren had any meaningful conversations to support this great years-long love story, I was slightly underwhelmed. The lack of communication was so frustrating, not only between them, but also between them and their family members. Joni was locked up tighter than Fort Knox! I just wished I connected with her more and overall to the story. I’m sure others may enjoy more.

Audiobook narration by Patti Murin was very good, she has a great voice for romances and adds fun personality to each character. Some of the pre-wedding shenanigans were very fun to follow. However, the production was a little clunky where I noticed long pauses between chapters and words. I thought my phone glitched but it happened numerous times as well as phrases repeating (this is an early copy, so it may be fixed in the final).

Thank you to HTP Hive and the publisher for the review copy.

This book needs to be made into a Netflix series like yesterday! It was absolutely DARLING! The characters were so relatable and so sweet together. And the storyline just kept me on edge the whole book! I loved the ending.

I really enjoyed this sweet friends-to-lovers romance—two best friends who were clearly meant for each other from the start. It gave me The Summer I Turned Pretty vibes, but more grown-up and, thankfully, without the love triangle drama. I related a lot to Joni’s anxiety and how it held her back from taking risks—it felt very real and personal.

There were definitely moments where I got a bit frustrated, thinking, Come on, you're best friends—just talk to each other! But honestly, that just made the payoff even sweeter. By the end, the book gave me butterflies in all the best ways.

The audiobook performance was fantastic. The narrator really brought the story to life and made it easy to get lost in the world. The only downside was the long pauses between chapters—hopefully those will be tightened up in the final version.

This book is so cute and if you are a fan of The Summer I Turned Pretty, trust me- this book is for you. I love me some Friends to Lovers books and this one really satisfied my craving for them since it has been quite a while since I read one. It took me a bit to get into between the time jumps, but after the first few chapters I was HOOKED. I couldn't pause it because Patti Murin's narration was phenomenal, she brought so much heart into this story that I was just completely captivated.

The story follows Joni and Ren who have been lifelong best friends. When Joni accepts a job across the country, their friendship is put to the test, and maybe, just maybe, it could become something more. But after a major falling out, they stop speaking, until a wedding brings them back together at their families beach house. Then from here cue the flood of memories, unresolved tension, and even everyones personal favorite: forced proximity. Expect all the feels in this book and enjoy the slow but sweet transition of Joni and Ren from just being friends to becoming lovers.

Also... can Ren make me a playlist too?

Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin Audio for giving me the opportunity to listen to this ARC!

This book was fantastic!

If you’re a fan of Emily Henry—especially People We Meet on Vacation or Happy Place—I have no doubt you’ll love this one, too. Joni and Ren are wonderful characters, and I loved spending time in their world. The supporting cast is just as charming, and the setting feels like a character in its own right.

As someone born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, my heart nearly exploded reading about not just my beloved Portland, but also the Oregon Coast. If you’re an Oregonian, you already know how special the coast is—it’s woven into the soul of everyone lucky enough to grow up near all that beauty.

I absolutely adored this story, and am so excited to see what this author does next 🌊

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this sweet, heartwarming ARC. I loved meeting Joni and Ren and watching their friendship grow. The dual timelines added so much to the story and created a sense of mystery that I had not anticipated. While this was a slow burn story, I fell in love with all the characters and loved the way that these two families were so intwined and supportive of each other. I did not understand all the choices made by the protagonist, but I still had to know what happened next.

Friends to Lovers was a sweet, heartwarming romance – exactly what the title promises. Joni and Ren’s chemistry is both palpable and believable, making their journey from friends to something more feel natural and satisfying. Patti Murin, one of my favorite narrators, does a fantastic job bringing these characters to life, adding warmth and personality to every scene. This was a cozy, feel-good listen that left me smiling.

Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio and Sally Blakely for granting me access to the ALC.

Really loved the concept of this book. Childhood friends to lovers. The beginning really has me hooked, you could just feel the love between the mcs.

Just somewhere in the middle it lost me. I was no longer interested and I feel like their reasoning behind not speaking to each other anymore was not a good one. Seemed very young adult.

The narrator was okay. I do think the monotone had something to do with me tuning out.

Wanted to love this. Just was a miss for me unfortunately

I got this just before a long weekend vacation and it was perfection! Loved the two main characters, loved their families more. This hit all of the marks of a summer beach read, will they, won't they, why not with a large family event and some fun chaos sprinkled in. Added bonus for the Pacific Northwest setting. Solid narration. Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for an advanced listening copy of Feiends to Lovers by Sally Blakely in exchange for my honest opinion. This book will be released on July 22.
If you enjoyed Emily Henry’s The People We Meet On Vacation then you will enjoy this book. The audio is one female narrator told in first person from the FMC point of view. I listened at 2.0 speed. I liked the narrator; but I prefer 2 narrators when it’s first person.
Joni and Ren are childhood friends who friend zoned each other, but slowly realize that they want more. They agree to be wedding dates when needed, and the attraction grows. They each date other people, and it takes one wedding where blurred lines threaten their friendship. It takes another wedding (Joni’s sister) two and a half years later for Joni and Ren to see each other again. They quickly have to decide if they want to cross that line and stay friends (and forget parts of the past) or tackle life together.
An easy listen and a great book!

Friends to Lovers by Sally Blakely is a heartfelt, sun-soaked story that perfectly captures the messiness of love, timing, and growing up. The main character feels incredibly real—her fear of the unknown and the emotional risks of stepping out of a comfortable friendship hit close to home. Blakely does a beautiful job creating complex, fully-formed characters who make mistakes, reflect, and grow in honest, relatable ways.

Set against a warm, summery backdrop that feels both sweet and nostalgic, the story pulls you in with its atmosphere as much as its emotional depth. The writing is vivid and expressive, filled with small moments that linger. It’s a story that balances lightness and depth, joy and regret. I especially appreciated the self-reflection that came after difficult choices—Blakely doesn’t shy away from showing the consequences of hesitation or fear, but she also offers a sense of hope and growth.

This is a perfect read for anyone who loves slow-burn romance, nuanced characters, and stories that feel as familiar as they are emotionally honest

🎧 ARC Review: Friends to Lovers by Sally Blakely (Harlequin Audio)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4/5)
This is a sweet, slow burn, second chance romance told in single POV. Joni and Ren are childhood best friends whose bond runs deep, but life (and miscommunication) gets in the way.
Ren is an absolute swoon. The way he loves Joni is tender, patient, and heartachingly pure. I loved watching their history unfold and seeing how their connection stayed strong even after years apart.
That said, I’ve learned that dual timelines just aren’t for me. The back-and-forth between past and present continued until nearly the end, which made it harder for me to stay emotionally grounded in the story. And yes, the core conflict is fueled by miscommunication, which is my personal reading kryptonite. They spent two and a half years apart when a single honest conversation could’ve changed everything; and that drove me a little crazy.
But the story is well told, the emotion is there, and their eventual HEA was satisfying to witness. If you love childhood friends to lovers with all the yearning and a good payoff, this one delivers.
Thank you to Harlequin Audio for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this audiobook! Friends to Lovers title really sums it up.
It’s the perfect summer read or listen about second chance, family drama and secrets. The flashbacks allow us to better understand the circumstances around the story.
The Narrator Patti Murin did a wonderful job. The pace is good and kept listening part of the night.
I would recommend this title to those who enjoy a good summer novel.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for allowing me to review this audiobook.