“You’re it for me Joni. And maybe there’s someday down the line where that isn’t true, but it hasn’t come yet. No matter how hard I’ve tried to will it. Truth of it is that I’d rather be alone than with someone else.”

This was so incredibly cute. I took a risk applying for this ALC since I’m usually not the biggest fan of the friends to lovers trope but this was done pretty well! Only problem I had with it was that for some reason I struggled keeping track of when I was reading present events and when I was reading flashbacks. This made it overall a little confusing but I know the author did mark it with things like “Friday” and “Saturday” so maybe it’s just me!!

This guy has been PINING for her since HIGHSCHOOL????? Are you kidding me??? He was such a massive green flag! I love him. Ren, the man you are!!!

This book follows Joni and Ren. They have been best friends since their childhood. Their families are basically one family. As they get older and hanging out becomes harder and more complicated, they make a deal. They will always be each others plus ones for any weddings that are coming up. (Spoiler alert: There are a LOT!) Every wedding means they’ll have a few days to spend time together. All up until one wedding where Joni is hit with a massive curveball and discovers she is in love with Ren! She no longer knows how to act around him and that causes them to drift apart. Are they able to fix their relationship when Joni’s sister is getting married and they are both invited?

Joni is such a lovable character. She deals with anxiety and is a massive people pleaser. She has so much going on but won’t tell anyone because she doesn’t want to ruin her sisters perfect wedding.
Ren comes from a family of over achievers and constantly feels like he is not living up to his parents expectations.
They are both complicated charachters with actual backstory but written in a way that made it so easy to connect to them. I absolutely adore this couple!

🌸 friends to lovers
🐓 forced proximity
🌸 fmc has anxiety
🐓 found family
🌸 childhood best friends

(If you read the book you’ll understand the chicken)

I absolutely recommend this!! The perfect combination of romance, humor and seriousness. The end made my standards go THROUGH THE ROOF! I cannot say this enough but I want a man like Ren preferably right now please!

This was a nice summer read.
I enjoyed this so much. The title is true to the plot.
Joni and Ren.. these characters! I just loved them so much.
The two MCs grew up with one another and had been the best of friends almost their entire lives. In the past, they almost connected and took their relationship to the next level, but things didn't quite go the way they should. Almost the right person, but wrong time conflict. Fast forward to the two being back around one another for a wedding at their childhood vacation home.
This book has dual storylines. One in the past, going through their relationship and how they ended up drifting apart, despite their feelings for one another, and then the present, where they are back together for a wedding.
We get the fun tropes - friends to lovers, second chance romance, and forced proximity.
The characters are well-developed and relatable. I was able to engage with them throughout the book.
The plot is well structured for the majority of the book. I did have a few times that the dual timelines ran a bit together, and I got lost between past and present, but the writing quickly recovered. I did take a bit of issue with the pace, there were a few areas where things slowed down a bit too much. The pace recovers, but that could use a little work.
Overall, I highly recommend this book for a fun, engaging, and lovable summer read. Add this one to your TBR. Their love story was so sweet!
Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
Happy Reading!

This is a sweet summery romance with the classic best-friends-to-something-more trope.

Joni and Ren have ben each others plus one forever, so when they head to one final wedding together, things naturally start to shift. There's charm in the setting and a few swoony moments that made me smile.

I found the premise of the story appealing, but I wasn't l fully invested in the relationship. The slow burn worked at times, but occasionally dragged and at times felt repetitive. I did like the way Sally Blakely wrote the internal struggles of risking friendship for love which was grounded and honest.

Overall, "Friends to Lovers" was a pleasant read with heartfelt moments. It's worth picking up if you enjoy low-stakes romances with a soft emotional core.

The trope is the title, and it’s exactly what you’d expect! It’s a sweet love story perfect for the summer. The writing is reminiscent of Emily Henry or Taylor Jenkins Reid. There is a lot going on, but it’s all woven together well.

Ren will leave you swooning. He’s a total golden retriever. Joni is less likeable and always messing things up with her failure to communicate. Miscommunication is my least favorite trope, and it (well lack of communication really) is the building block of the story. I was frustrated with the beginning. I dislike it when a book starts out alluding to some past event both main characters know about, but the reader won’t learn until near the end of the book. It adds unnecessary drama and confusion.

Overall, a solid read. It’s cute. It’s perfect for summer. The audiobook is narrated well.

Thank you Canary Street Press and Harlequin Audio for the advanced listener copy of this sweet book! All opinions are my own.

Favorite Quote: “I thought I knew how our story would go, two parallel lines stretching into forever. But in retrospect, our lives were never destined to take that shape”

Joni and Ren are childhood best friends who now live on separate coasts and decide to be each other’s plus-ones for all of the weddings they attend each year. But when a line is crossed and their friendship is destroyed, they have to pretend to be friends for one last wedding, Joni’s sister’s. Forced back together, the pair begins to see that maybe there has been more than friendship between them all along.

As I began listening to this one I was hooked right from the start. It’s perfect for summer and for those, like me ,who love second chance. Ren and Joni’s love story is a very slow burn but I enjoyed all of the angst and build up to their eventual HEA. Ren had my heart the whole time. You could tell right from the start that he was in love with Joni and while it took her a little longer to get out of her own way, she did eventually figure things out. 

I would also say that this one is a perfect cross between People We Meet on Vacation and Happy Place. So if those are your vibes then this is a great one to add to your beach bag this summer!

Read if you like:
✩ Childhood Friends
✩ Dual Timelines
✩ Second Chance (kinda)
✩ Friends to Lovers
✩ Forced Proximity
✩ One Bed
✩ Wedding Setting

Audio Notes: The audio was perfectly narrated! Kudos to Patti Murin for such a fabulous job!

Friends to Lovers by Sally Blakely brings readers into a sun-soaked world of weddings, beach houses, and lifelong bonds. The premise of childhood friends exploring deeper feelings had great potential, and I appreciated the emotional weight behind that kind of shift in a relationship.

Joni and Ren’s dynamic is central to the story, and while their connection didn’t always resonate with me, Joni’s attachment to Ren sometimes felt more intense than endearing—I could see how their long history added layers to their interactions. I did find myself wishing for more space for their romance to grow without quite so much focus on extended family dynamics, which occasionally overshadowed the main storyline.

The dual timeline approach, moving between past and present, was an interesting idea, though I found it a bit hard to follow at times due to the way it was marked. A clearer structure might have helped me stay more immersed in their journey.

Despite some pacing issues and moments where the momentum slowed, I remained curious about what had caused their falling out. The ingredients for a heartfelt and nostalgic friends-to-lovers romance were certainly there, even if it didn’t fully come together for me in the end.

Thank you to Sally Blakely, NetGalley, and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Canary Street Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What can I say? I’m a sucker for friends to lovers. There’s an element of second change romance with strong miscommunication themes. Those aren’t always my favorite but I do believe it was believable here. Fun, quick summer read!

Friends to Lovers is a fun and heartfelt romance. Told from single POV and dual timelines, the layered reveals will keep you hooked until the end, waiting to find out how the main character and her love interest will wind up together.

I really enjoyed this story. It had surprises, depth, and so much character growth. I loved the family dynamics and friendships as well.

ALSO…this author wrote about Oregon, which is where I was born and raised. The love interest works for a company called Sublimity, which is the same name as the town in Oregon I grew up in. This was such a fun piece that I was able to connect to as the reader.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story at 1.5x speed (my normal audiobook listening speed is 1.75x). I slowed it down because there were parts in which the narrator sped up, then slowed, so I paced it where I wouldn’t miss anything. The narrator did a wonderful job, and really embraced the character, as well as delivering different voices for the various characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this advanced listeners copy.

Releases July 22, 2025
I got the chance to listen to the ARC audiobook.

I absolutely loved the narrator for this book. She did such an amazing job. Her voice fit the character so well.
Joni and Ren have been best friends since childhood. But a job opportunity for Joni makes her move across the country. The way they stay in touch is becoming each others plus one. Very creative and with wedding season coming they’ll be seeing lots of each other.

What I liked was the friendship they kept even after all these years and distance. The back and forth was exhausting though. Like come on Joni make up your mind. There were a lot of laugh out loud parts that I really enjoyed and overall great read.

Thank you to @netgalley and @harlequintradepublishing for the ARC and my very first ALC of Friends to Lovers!

Last week was a lot—my first week back at work, Canada Day, and planning S’s first birthday party (seriously, how is she one already?!). So I was extra grateful to have the audiobook. I had a headphone in while juggling life and this book became my little escape.

And what a book. Cozy in the best way, with depth and feeling that caught me off guard—in a good way. Annabel Monaghan wasn’t wrong in the blurb. I totally had a book hangover after this one.

Here’s the synopsis:

Joni and Ren have been best friends since childhood, maintaining their bond through a yearly tradition of being each other’s plus-ones for wedding season—even after Joni moves across the country. But when their friendship is shattered by a crossed line, everything changes. Now, reunited at their families’ summer home for Joni’s sister’s wedding, Joni is determined to make the week perfect—even if it means pretending to be friends with Ren while avoiding the painful truth behind their fallout. As old memories resurface and lingering feelings grow harder to ignore, Joni must decide whether to let Ren go or fight for the love that might still be between them.

Friends to lovers isn’t usually my go-to trope (enemies to lovers has my whole heart), but this one is officially my second favourite. We’ve got:
✔️ Childhood best friends
✔️ Summer nostalgia
✔️ Dual timelines
✔️ Second chances
✔️ A slow-burn romance with actual emotional payoff

If you’re in the mood for something heartfelt, nostalgic, and romantic, this one’s for you.

OH MY GOSH!! I loved this book SO MUCH! It was full of the most adorable friendships, family relationships and couplings. The main characters were obviously the focus and where the best was, but every side character was awesome in their own way! This book had a dual timeline with current and other past experiences that brought them to where they were today and that really built the story to the right level. I wouldn’t be sad to have more reads in this world!

I listened to this book in 2 days. Once I started I had to keep going!
I loved the family friendships and how they have grown over time, I loved Joni and Ren! You could feel how much they both hated what had happened (What happened?!? You'll have read to find out!!) and how much they missed the other.
This is a super fun summer read that will have you wanting a big beautiful house that you can share with all of your best friends!!

I really, really enjoyed this book!!! Friends to Lovers is a fast-paced, childhood friends to lovers romance set in an Oregon beach town! The setting of this book was gorgeous and I loved how the dual timeline showed Joni and Ren’s friendship throughout the years. I also LOVE weddings in books, and this book had lots of weddings!

Blakely did a wonderful job incorporating the character’s careers into the story. I loved hearing about Ren’s love for music throughout the whole book, and how important music was in Joni and Ren’s friendship/relationship! (p.s. there’s a playlist at the end of the book!!) Joni and Ren had such a sweet love story and I am obsessed with them! This was a sweet, fast-paced romance and a great summer read!

Thank you NetGalley, Sally Blakely, and Harlequin Audio for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This is an ARC review. I want to thank Sally Blakely and Harlequin Audio for allowing me the chance to listen to this book ahead of release day! I typically gravitate towards enemies to lovers so I thought I’d change it up and read about friends to lovers!

Joni and Ren’s friendship is definitely one for the ages but also epic as their families are also just as close. Which I can see how it would complicate these two for if/when they decided to take things a step further. The thought of the best way to stay close outside of talking/texting on the phone as often as possible to attend weddings together was genius! To truly believe that these two were so oblivious of their feelings for each other was horribly painful! Thy were so afraid they would ruin the friendship if they actually fell into the feelings, either way the same result occurred.

The audio narrators were amazing! I truly enjoyed this audiobook version. They got the inflections and the longing for each other in their voices. The book overall was mid to low spice but it gives the same tension as a high spice book. This was the perfect summer read and a great romance book for all. There was a minor moment I thought this book was about to not end in my happily ever after but I am so thankful they worked it out and actually TALKED through their feelings.

I loved it. I need to jump right in and say that. This was a truly all-consuming, thoroughly enjoyable read. Did I stay up way too late reading this book in less than 24 hours? Without a second thought. Did I sob uncontrollably multiple times (I’m looking at you, Cactus Tree scene)? Without a doubt. Did I feel connected with and represented by the FMC? An emphatic “YES.” Did I revel in every second of Joni and Ren’s journey? Oh boy, revel I did. I ate up every flashback, every tension-filled interaction, every glimpse at their repressed feelings— just, every second of their story.

This was such a perfect summer read. Highly emotional and reflective— filled with lovable characters, beautiful real and found family, and complicated feelings. The PNW setting was charmingly depicted and totally picturesque. I felt like I was there, with all the loved ones— in a place filled with love and nostalgia.

I don’t love comparing books with other books, but I have to say I get why this book is recommended for fans of Emily Henry. It kind of has People We Meet on Vacation meets Happy Place vibes, with its countdown-style dual timeline (which always stresses me out, but I utterly enjoy???). With that said, this book is totally its own— unique and captivating.

Patti Murin was a spectacular narrator. She really brought the characters to life and easily shaped the tone and message of the story with her emotive performance. I honestly picked up this book because I saw her name attached to the production, and I’m incredibly glad that I did— because I found a book that I fell in love with, and an author that I will follow dutifully.

This was an enjoyable listen for the summer. Since the story is told in single/1st person POV, there is only one narrator.

Joni and Ren have been friends since they can remember. Their families have always been close and have always vacationed together in the same summer home. When Joni decides to move across the country to pursue her dream job, she makes a deal with Ren to always be each other’s “plus one” whenever they’re invited to a wedding. This way they can be sure to see each other a couple times a year at least.

This story is told in two timelines. In the present day, Joni and Ren haven’t seen each other or communicated in years, yep almost no one in their families know they are now estranged. When Joni’s sister decides to get married near the summer home, Joni and Ren are forced to share a room and work together on wedding preparations. This story is interspersed with flashbacks to the various weddings Joni and Ren attended together, eventually leading up to the conflict that spurred the breakup of their friendship.

Personally, the execution of this structure didn’t quite work for me. I think I would have benefited from knowing the cause of the estrangement much earlier on in the book. There was so much build up to that reveal, and I ended up a little confused and disappointed. The characters’ response didn’t quite seem proportionate to what happened.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for giving me access to an advanced listening copy.

thank you to netgalley and harlequin audio for this ALC! 🫶🏻

this made me sob so obviously it’s 5 stars for me. if I’m that invested… 👌🏻

So, let’s set the story: Joni and Ren’s parents are besties and they share a house on a lake and our MCs grow up together. They’re besties. They do everything together. Through high school and college. Then Joni finds a wedding invite last minute and doesn’t have a plus one, but of course! Ren can be her plus one! Thus starts their tradition of always being each other’s wedding dates, even when they sometimes have their own partner they could take instead.

So obviously huge sign that they’re in love and don’t know it yet or are fighting it and the whole time you’re just waiting for them to figure their shit out. when all of a sudden… they do? sort of? spoilery things happen and suddenly they don’t talk anymore. for 2.5 years. now, it’s Joni’s sister’s wedding. Everyone’s staying at the lake house. All the family still believe Joni and Ren are best friends. Whatever might happen here with this forced proximity? 😈

That’s probably a terrible and oversimplified set up for the premise, but the title does clearly state: friends to lovers. On that note, I will say I feel like that’s like the one main thing I didn’t like: the title. idk what it should be instead and maybe i’m in the minority here but it didn’t feel like a fun little cheeky nod to the trope because it’s not subtle? I digress 🙈

I loved the story. I loved the characters. I loved Stevie, the sister/bride. 🥹 I loved that our MCs had non-standard/run of the mill occupations. I loved how funny the writing was! I laughed! I cried!! I wanted to yell at our beautiful MCs to kiss already, damnit!!

I agree with the description of the love child of Happy Place and People We Meet On Vacation. has those definite vibes in a lot of ways, but stands on its own.

On the audio/production:
narrator was great! I wish it was dual but she was lovely. there were some weird pauses in the middle of sentences that maybe was my device, but seemed frequent so I’m not sure if it was production mishap or not. 🤷🏼‍♀️ the pauses weren’t long enough for me to be completely taken out of the story, but definitely awkward.

Thank you Netgalley and Harelquin audio for the audio Arc!

I did enjoy the beginning of this book I was hooked and just patiently waiting for the secret reveal from the past. The questions on everyone's minds while reading what stopped Joni and Wrens Friendship!?

I enjoyed the extensive slow burn and jumping from past to present it created angst in the book and wanting more and more with each chapter.


I did think the book got slow at the 55% mark. It dragged on and needed more romance. The chapters repeated itself which became a little much and dragged on so 3 stars for me!

Big thanks to Harlequin Audio for the advance audiobook!

I’m such a sucker for a friends-to-lovers and second chance romance combo, and this one totally delivered. Friends to Lovers is a cozy, emotional slow-burn with just the right amount of angst and chemistry to keep me invested from start to finish.

Joni and Ren were incredibly easy to root for. Their friendship had that real, lived-in feeling, full of history, quiet longing, and so many “will-they-won’t-they” moments. Joni is guarded but soft at her core, and Ren is the patient, emotionally available kind of guy who’s basically a dream. Their dynamic felt authentic and heartfelt, with a satisfying payoff that made the slow build worth it.

The audiobook narration added an extra layer of depth and really pulled me into their story. Some parts dragged a bit pacing-wise, but overall, this was such a sweet, emotionally grounded romance, perfect for a summer read that gives you all the warm fuzzies.

Highly recommend if you love character-driven love stories, emotional tension, and watching two people slowly realize they’ve been each other’s person all along.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this ARC!!!

Friends to Lovers by Sally Blakely completely took me by surprise—in the best way possible. I went into it expecting a sweet friends-to-lovers story, but what I got was so much more: layered family dynamics, emotional flashbacks, and a genuinely touching second-chance romance.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the use of flashbacks to build the history between Joni and Ren. It made their connection feel authentic and gave the story real emotional weight. I’m a sucker for a second-chance romance, and this one delivered.

That said, I did get a bit stressed by the secrecy and miscommunication at times. Joni’s family—especially at the rehearsal dinner—had me frustrated, and her relationship with her mom was definitely a rollercoaster. And don’t get me started on Ren’s mom constantly bringing up his ex as if she was the gold standard—especially when everyone else could clearly see where his heart really belonged.

The third-act breakup had me yelling “Don’t be silly, just be together!!” at my book. But even with those moments of frustration, I was so invested in the characters and loved the writing. Sally Blakely does a great job developing the story and characters in a way that feels grounded and emotional.

All in all, Friends to Lovers was a lovely surprise. It balanced romance, tension, and family drama in a way that kept me turning the pages. I’ll definitely be picking up more from this author in the future!