This is a friends-to-lovers romance that hits all the right notes. Following Joni and Ren, two best friends who haven’t spoken in two and a half years after their friendship abruptly ended. Now, they're reunited for a week for a wedding, and all the old feelings and hurts come rushing back to the surface.

The dual timelines of story really worked for me and helped me follow Joni and Ren's friendship evolve into something more over several years, while also chronicling their present-day reunion. Watching them fall in love without even realizing it is a truly beautiful and heartbreaking experience. The pining, missed opportunities, and intense connection between them are stunning to witness.

This book perfectly captures the feeling of falling in love with your best friend. The tenderness and deep emotional connection between Joni and Ren are palpable, reminding you of how it feels when love simply clicks into place.

You’ll enjoy this book if you like:
- Friends to lovers
- Second chance romance
- He falls first

Audio Review: This was a book that I alternated between audio and reading. It was a seamless transition with this story, which really elevated my reading experience. Patti Murin is a top-notch narrator and really helped bring the story to life. I’d highly recommend this book as an audio!

Thank you to HTP Books and Harlequin Audio for the #gifted e-ARC and ALC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I think this book was aptly named. The title is the trope and the trope is executed to a T. It’s exactly what you would think of. They were friends since children, for the longest time— one was secretly pining for the other all this time (it’s him) and the other was totally oblivious until it just clicked in her mind. Then they tried things, worried about ruining something, fell apart, were absolutely miserable and came together again.
While formulaic, the writing made for a good listen and I still really enjoyed the story. Sometimes you just need a solid, dependable romance to wind down from the day and this was perfect for that!

Thank you Harlequin for the read!

🗓️ July 21
🎧 Patti Murin
Tropes: Childhood Best Friends to strangers to lovers, second chance, dual timelines, forced proximity

Joni & Ren were best friends, soulmates, and always each other’s plus one. From diapers to college and beyond. These two were inseparable. Until they weren’t. Everything changed but they have to pretend it hasn’t one last time for one last wedding.

I LOVE FRIENDS TO LOVERS. Everyone that doesn’t can just move along. I LOVE IT! The pining, the angst, the will they/wont they, the desperate way they hold on to their friendship with everything they have because they want to keep their person in whatever capacity they can. I love it. Joni and Ren were such a delicious slowburn. I loved their present while getting small glimpses into the past to figure out what went wrong. The way they knew each other and communicated even with all that time apart was so special. They were decadent and I loved every moment.

Patti always does such a good job with her narration!

Thank you harlequin audio for the #gifted alc!

3.5

I don’t read a ton of romance so I wasn’t really the target demo for this one. But I did enjoy the jumping timelines even though it was hard at times to remember all the players in the story. It’s an easy breezy read.

Really enjoyed the narrator. Pleasant voice, good reading speed and ideal for 1.5x.

✨ Childhood BFFs + wedding pacts + slow-burn second chances = a summery, feel-good listen perfect for beach days. ☀️📖 While I didn’t love the reason for their split, the vibe reminded me of People We Meet on Vacation with a little more sweetness than spice. Patti Murin? Always a win. 🎧

Title: Friends to Lovers
Author: Sally Blakely
Format: Audiobook (ALC)
Narrators: Patti Murin
Narration Style: Solo narration
Tropes: Friends to lovers, second chance romance, slow burn, past/present timelines, wedding pact, guy falls first


Rating ⭐️: 3.75
Spice Level 🌶: Low

Quote:
“We’ve been each other’s person for so long, I didn’t realize what it would feel like if we weren’t.”


Author Review ✍️
This is Sally Blakely’s debut, and while I enjoyed her writing style and the wedding-pact setup, I think the romance could have had more on-page build-up. The past/present timelines were easy to follow, and the wedding anchors in the plot kept it grounded. The conflict felt a bit manufactured for who these characters were, and I personally wanted more “lovers” in my friends-to-lovers. That said, the summery vibe and heartfelt friendship moments made it an easy, breezy listen—and I’m curious to see where her writing goes next.


Narration Review 🎧
Patti Murin is one of the very few solo narrators on my automatic-listen list. I normally prefer duet, but Patti manages to voice every character distinctly without pulling me out of the story. Her tone fit Joni perfectly—warm, engaging, and believable. The fact she’s narrating is always a selling point for me, and once again she delivered.


Book Review 📚
Friends to Lovers gave me strong People We Meet on Vacation déjà vu (which I enjoyed), especially with its mix of flashbacks and present-day reconnections. Joni and Ren’s decades-long friendship was believable and sweet, and the “wedding pact” was a fun plot device to bring them together over the years.

Where it missed the mark for me was the conflict and pacing of the romance. Their fallout felt like something easily fixable, and I wanted more yearning, more “should we cross this line?” moments before they became a couple. For a romance, there was more focus on friendship than actual romantic development, which left me wanting. Still, if you’re looking for a low-spice, easy summer listen with great narration, this fits the bill.

Overall Thoughts 💭
Not my favorite friends-to-lovers ever, but an enjoyable debut with a nostalgic, beachy feel. The narration elevated the whole experience, and I’d recommend it to fans of Emily Henry-style pacing who are okay with a romance that’s heavier on friendship than heat.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Harlequin Audio for the advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review.

Oof ok so I kind of hated Joni and Ren. They were both so 'me me me' focused that neither of them bothered to really sit down and talk to eachother. I also found it a little difficult to keep track of what was in the past and what was in the present. Regardless of that, I wanted to love this book so badly. The premise was great and I think some people will abosolutely love this book, I just wasn't one of those people.

With that being said I do think the narrators still did a fantastic job.

At the beginning, I thought awnn this is gonna be a cute read but honestly, I got really bored and the characters just felt like they were missing something + the side characters were kind of annoying.

This was absolutely precious and I loved being a part of the journey our main characters took in healing and deciding what their futures look like! And of course we love the humorous side characters.

Wow wow wow! This was a debut?! Say less, I will definitely read more of Sally’s work if she decides to write more.

I landed on 4.25 stars for this one!

I think my favorite thing about this book was how real the characters and the book felt. The writing was descriptive enough that you felt like you were there and it was easy to imagine the events as they were unfolding. By the end of the book, I felt like I knew Joni as a friend which made for a great reading experience. The romance gave me butterflies more times than once and I was holding my breath waiting to see how it would all play out! I thought all of the different weddings (and the present day wedding) added a unique twist to the story that was really fun.

There was a lot of tension and raw emotion, and this was a slow burn done really well. The pacing complimented the friends to lovers trope perfectly. Friends to lovers needs to be handled delicately and this was something Sally did incredibly well.

Patti Murin is quickly becoming one of my favorite audiobook narrators. I love the life she breathes into characters and how you can feel every emotion as you’re listening. Listening to this audiobook was fun and made the story even better in my opinion.

This was a perfect book to end summer with. The beach house/big family vibes immaculate. I recommend it for fans of People We Meet on Vacation and The Summer I Turned Pretty, this was the friends to lovers (ha) book of the summer!

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Audio, and The Hive for this advanced listener’s copy in exchange for my honest review!

I love a second chance romance as much as the next person but I think they were better friends.

Joni and Ren have alway been best friends since they were kids but when Joni moves away for her job, everything changes but one thing remains the same. a they will always be each others plus ones when they get invited to weddings.

I thought that part was pretty cute.

Joni and Ren are back together for Joni’s sisters wedding and are their sparks between them or just old friendships rekindling?

thanks netgalley and publisher for a chance to listen to this audiobook for free in return for my honest opinion.

This is an unexpectedly sweet, slow, and emotionally intelligent—like if your favorite playlist grew a conscience and became a novel.

Joni and Ren have been best friends for what feels like forever. Their friendship is less a relationship and more an ecosystem: comfortably worn in, rooted in shared history, and brimming with a tension they pretend not to notice. But when that delicate balance shifts toward something romantic, they’re forced to confront what they really want—and what they’re terrified to lose. Joni and Ren represent the kind of bond I feel many people fantasize about but rarely experience: a friendship so profound it teeters on the edge of love without collapsing. That precipice—the fear of losing what’s safe in pursuit of something vulnerable—is what gives this story its heart.


Blakely leans into the slow burn with admirable restraint. The tension is palpable, and there’s no endless cycle of missed signals or angst for angst’s sake. Joni and Ren actually talk—not always gracefully, but with real emotion. These aren’t characters afraid to feel; they’re afraid of what their feelings might cost.

What elevates this from tropey comfort to something more resonant is its refusal to use drama as a crutch. There are no manufactured betrayals, no contrived third-act breakups. Just two people navigating the quiet, terrifying possibility of becoming more than friends—and doing it with honesty, warmth, and a lot of heart.

At its core, this is a story about the fragility and strength of emotional intimacy. It asks not just “Should we be together?” but “Can we risk becoming something new without breaking what we already are?”

If you love character-driven romances with subtle tension, authentic communication, and emotional maturity, you’ll find this one deeply satisfying. And if you’ve ever looked at your best friend and wondered what if, well… prepare for this one to hit you right in the feelings.

The narration was stellar and had me hooked! Patti Murin did a fantastic job. She inhabits Joni and brings both characters to life.

4.5 stars

I got this book as an ARC and really enjoyed it! It’s a heartfelt, slow-burn kind of read that digs into how messy and meaningful long-term friendships can be—especially when lines get blurred.

The story moves at a steady pace, with just enough hints about the past to keep things interesting. Joni and Ren’s connection feels real and complicated in the best way. There’s tension, emotion, and plenty of those “ugh, just talk to each other!” moments.

If you like character-driven stories with a beachy vibe, a bit of romance, and lots of heart, this one’s worth picking up.
It was definitely a relatable book, which I always love. Nothing seemed far fetched.

Great summer listen. Thank you NetGalley for the chance to listen to this.

I enjoyed this! It was beautifully written. The emotions were articulated so wonderfully and realistically. Her predicaments were completely relatable. So many times we focus on the wrong things when we should be focusing on what and who we love.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ALC of this book!
I loved the narration! Patti is one of my fave narrators.

I think for an easy breezy summer read, this fits the bill. The story has some holes in it, and I wish we got more actual relationship in it, but I appreciate that this is a debut novel and leaves room for growth.

Pros: I thought the concept of wedding to follow the two MCs through the past was super helpful. It grounded the timelines and made those jumps back and forth feel more purposeful. Even though this book is low spice, it felt like what was there was done well and the tension was palpable.

Cons: I have a hard time accepting that the conflict started the way it did and then both MCs just let it ride. It felt out of character for who we knew them to be. I also think there is an argument to be made about how little romance and relationship is actually in this romance. There is a lot of friendship, but a lot less lovers.

I’ll be curious to see what Sally puts out in the future. I definitely enjoyed this enough to read more of her work!

Friends to Lovers is a debut romance novel by Sally Blakely reminiscent of Emily Henry's People We Meet On Vacation with a little bit of K.L. Walther's Summer of Broken Rules mixed in. If you're a fan of these authors/stories, you'll for sure want to pick this one up.

Joni and Ren have been best friends almost all their lives. When Joni moves across the country for a new job, she's afraid their friendship will take a hit, so they make a pact to be each other's plus one for any weddings they're invited to. As time passes, the two become more distant but keep their promise. They've never crossed a line with each other until one night they do. And things are better than either could have imagined...until Joni suddenly takes off early without giving Ren an explanation.

Told from alternating present and past timelines, we get to see Ren and Joni now and at the weddings they've attended throughout the years. I found myself laughing at times and grinning like a cheeseball atthe banter between the two.

I enjoyed the main characters. I'm a big fan of the guy falling first and falling hard and I love a good second chance love story. I don't love when characters dont communicate clearly. I found the side characters to be just fine. They were necessary to get our main characters to the weddings, but none of them really stand out to me.

If you love the friends to lovers, second chance, or forced proximity tropes, you'll probably like this one. I sure did! And I'll be looking for more from Sally Blakely in the future.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest thoughts.

First things first: I love Patti Murin’s narrations. I love the way she tells a story. Her voice makes these contemporary romance FMCs feel so relatable and real, and I actively search for books she’s narrated. I thought this was a great audiobook. Quick and easy listen, perfect summer romance.

I enjoyed the story of Friends to Lovers. The first half of the book was so good. I enjoyed the parallel timelines and what cuties these friends were in the earlier timeline and how cautious they were in the present. I loved the lake house setting with all their friends and family present for the wedding. I thought the backdrop of the present timeline was great. And I could fully believe the past long distance friendship making the feelings grow stronger. The story started to lose me around the big reveal of the “break up”, and I didn’t feel like these characters would have chosen to separate for this reason and NEVER speak. I think their friendship likely would have weathered this storm. BUT I still had a fun time, and I think this is a good read if you like friends to lovers (obviously), second chance romances. I will be reading more Sally Blakely in the future!

When I saw this book was friends-to-lovers, second chance, and slow burn—sign me up! I really enjoyed the first half of this book. I liked the friendship between Ren and Joni. It was a lot of fun experiencing their relationship through the past narratives. The fun they had together, the songs that were specific to them, jokes, and the way they were there for each other. I was really excited to see how their romance would unfold.

I enjoy the friends-to-lovers trope so I was looking forward to a heartwarming romance. However, that never happened. There was no buildup, no emotional tension and no depth to their relationship. Even with the flashbacks, I just didn't get relationship vibes. I needed the yearning, the tension, and moments of maybe we should be more than friends, but I didn't get any of that. Their romance just happened and I was expected to believe it. I feel like the quick shift from friends to lovers wasn't believable. I didn't feel the romantic connection as much as the friendship connection. Speaking of connections, I felt like I didn't care for Ren or Joni. I just didn't connect with them enough to feel anything for them. Once I don't connect with a character everything goes downhill from there for me.

The side characters were also a problem for me. They were so intrusive and annoying which for me made them forgettable. I think I was especially annoyed with Joni's mom. I get that she's a therapist, but the pressure she'd place on Joni forced her not to want to talk to her about anything, which was very valid. I just feel that these characters took away from Reb and Joni's relationship and didn't help it in any way. I think they were more focused on themselves, which is fine. However, I think the author missed the balance between the other characters, as friends, also being there for Joni and Ren.

Patty Murin did a great job narrating this. From the start, she was able to keep me engaged with the story. I feel her voice matched what I felt Joni would sound like. I really enjoyed listening to this.

Overall, I did enjoy the summer vibes and their friendship, but unfortunately this missed the mark and fell flat for me. This is a debut by this author and her writing style wasn't bad. I look forward to seeing what else this author writes to give her another try.

Thank you Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4 ⭐️

Thank you to The Hive, HTP Audio, and NetGalley for an Advanced Listener Copy of Friends to Lovers! I really enjoyed this sweet romance! Out now!

I really enjoyed reading this as anaudiobook. Right from the jump, Patty Murin does a fantastic job as narrator. Her narration really sucks you into the story.

The plot of this book, as one would expect is two friends who become lovers. What one wouldn’t expect is the delicately crafted slow burn that unfolds between Joni and Ren. Childhood best friends, who realize in adulthood that their bond is something more? Love it. Ate it up.

The characters were layered and realistic, but always genuine, even in the wake of wedding drama, as Joni and Ren (and their families) come together for Joni’s sister’s wedding. As a reader, you can expect romantic tension and a fair bit of yearning along the way.

I would highly recommend this to fans of Emily Henry, especially her book, “People You Meet on Vacation”.

This is my absolute favorite trope so combine that with the sweet sprayed edges and imagine how excited I was to revive this book!! It was sweet, fun, and the perfect summer read for anyone who likes a Carley Fortune kind of book 🥹

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Joni and Ren have been inseparable since childhood, until Joni moves across the country for work. To keep in touch, they make a plan to always be each other’s plus ones for wedding season each year regardless of what else is happening. It works until a line is crossed and they stop speaking. When Joni’s sister’s wedding forces her and Ren back together for a week, she’s determined to get through without anyone realizing that she and Ren are no longer friends. But with the forced proximity of their families’ shared summer home, will they be able to stay apart while also maintaining the friendship facade? Or will the sunny beach days and cozy nights on the sun porch together force them to give in, once and for all?

I really enjoyed this book! It was a solid 4 star read for me - it was a relaxing summer romance of will they/won’t they, all the while knowing they WILL eventually… sometimes I get annoyed by books that go back and forth between past and present, but that aspect felt pretty seamless for me even in audiobook format. Joni and Ren have that comfortable, known each other our whole lives kind of love where there isn’t crazy tension or uncertainty because they are ultimately very comfortable with each other regardless of their relationship status. I also loved the role that family played in the story - their two families having a beach house together and how clear it was that family is a huge part of both of their lives.

Also, Joni is such an overthinker and so uncertain of her next steps in life which I relate to SO much sometimes. She doesn’t have it together all the way but she still does her best to show up for those she loves.

Ren is down bad for her, spoiling her with personalized playlists and just thoughtful in a soft yet protective way that clearly helped soothe her overthinking self. As someone with a similar mindset, having that soft supportive love/care is such a beautiful thing!

Things I didn’t love: Joni’s overbearing therapist mother, who I think is a) a bad example of what having a therapist as a mother may look like and b) a bad example of how therapists communicate in general, as she is constantly trying to micromanage Joni and poking and prodding and not respecting Joni’s boundaries. Every time her mother was mentioned I just cringed a little. I did appreciate the bit of redemption for her toward the end though.

Read if you love: friends to lovers turned second chance romance 👀, summer romance vibes, slow burn, forced proximity

🎧 The narrator for this audiobook did a great job telling the story in a smooth, easy to follow manner despite the flashback chapters of the book which can sometimes complicate audiobook listening. Her voice matched what I expected the character Joni to sound like and absolutely improved my experience with this book, since I was going back and forth between audio and ebook reading.

Thank you to Canary Street Press and Harlequin Audio for the ALC and eARC!