If you love Emily Henry, especially People We Meet on Vacation, you don’t want to miss Sally Blakely’s debut! 💕

Joni and Ren have been best friends since childhood, in a relationship so close they have matching tattoos. As life takes them on separate paths, they promise at least to be each other’s plus-ones for weddings. We join them at Joni’s sister’s wedding, with flashbacks to several other years. Through this format, we see drama and sadness including unspoken feelings, other relationships, and timing that just doesn’t line up. Fortunately it’s clear to just about everyone that they are barreling down a path to happily ever after 💗💗💗

Patti Murin is a perfect narrator for characters like Joni with messy over-thinker inner monologues, sounding believable along the spectrum from anxious to swooning.

If happy place and people we meet on vacation had a baby it would be this! I truly LOVED this book!! I couldn’t even explain to you why it was so captivating besides the chemistry and love between the two leads being so well done. I think friends to lovers can be hard to get right as a trope but this had great pacing and believability! The audio book was so good and the narrator was really fun to listen to.

Friends to Lovers was fine. I'll recommend it, but I won't exhaust myself enthusing over it. In all honesty, I kept thinking, "Didn't Emily Henry publish a fantastic version of this story in her 2021's People We Meet on Vacation"??? Joni and Ren were best friends throughout their entire lives, and it takes until more than half-way into the story for the revelation of what went wrong to come out. Sadly, the big collapse is one that could probably have been fixed relatively quickly (not almost three years later, as in the book) with an honest conversation. Ren comes across as more sympathetic and devoted than Joni, whose level of navel gazing and self-doubt grew a bit tiresome. So while I don't regret the hours spent listening, I'm not going to add this to my keeper shelf. Patti Murin's narration was good, as always, but there were strange pauses in odd places throughout the audiobook. I will not be sharing this review on social media.

I adored this story! It was heartfelt and introspective in all the best ways!

Joni and Ren are great characters that are so relatable. I loved the flashbacks to show their friendship and the love they carried for each other. I was on the edge of my seat trying to understand why they weren’t friends anymore at the beginning of this. And while I predicted a piece of that storyline, I was pleasantly surprised by the twist to it.

The tension between Joni and Ren was PALPABLE. This is a perfect summer read, or a winter one when you need a pick me up to remember warmer days.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an ok read. It is just as the title states a friend's to lovers story and the friendship between Joni and Ren is very sweet. I like that the story did switch from past to present, though sometimes it seemed a little confusing. The third act conflict was a little frustrating, but overall, it ended on a positive note. It is not the romance book to sweep you off your feet, but it was a decent read, and definitely give it a try if you're interested.

Perfect for fans of Carley Fortune or Emily Henry. This gave me the same sort of feelings I had reading People We Meet on Vacation or Every Summer After. I could not put it down and became so emotionally invested in the characters.

Joni and Ren are back for their families joint vacation together on the Oregon coast. But things are different this time, they haven’t talked in two years and no one knows, or knows why.

The duel timeline fills in the blanks about this backstory that kept them apart while the current timeline reveals the tension that is constantly pulling them together despite their past.

It’s a satisfying slow burn where you can’t help but want the two of them to end up together.

I was blown away by this book and immediately went to check if Sally Blakely had other books I could read, and discovered it was a debut novel! She will definitely be on my radar in the future as this just jumped up onto the list of one of my favorite summer reads!

Thankfully I was able to receive a copy of the audiobook as well, which just fed my obsession since I could listen where I left off when I suddenly had to drive kids somewhere and COULD NOT just wait to read when I got home. The narration was wonderful and added to that dreamy summer vacation feeling, really encapsulating the mood and the characters and bringing them to life.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Harlequin Audio for providing me with copies of this book. All options are my own.

Friends to Lovers by Sally Blakely is exactly what the title promises and so much more. I absolutely loved this book! It’s funny, heartfelt, and refreshingly real in all the best ways.

Ren and Joni were a joy to read. Their chemistry felt natural and electric from the very start, and I was totally rooting for them. The structure, flashing back to different weddings—was such a fun and clever way to show their evolving relationship and personal growth, especially Joni’s. I really appreciated how layered her character became as the story unfolded.

The family dynamics added depth and emotion without ever feeling heavy-handed, and Blakely nailed that balance of humor and heart that keeps you hooked.

This was a total win for me-a solid friends-to-lovers romance that felt modern, grounded, and full of charm. Definitely one for your next book haul!

A romance where the trope is right there in the title!

Childhood best friends Joni & Ren are worried about staying in touch when Joni is leaving for college on the other side of the country. So, they decide to always be each other’s plus one to future weddings, no matter where or when they take place. And it’s all going fine until a line is crossed and they worry their friendship is over. Fast forward to them having to be together at their families’ summer beach house for her sister’s wedding. Will they be able to patch their friendship & maybe become something more?

This was a debut and I liked it enough that I will check out her next book, but I didn't love it. It has the same vibes as People We Meet on Vacation. Which makes sense since thats my least favorite Emily Henry book. The narration was fantastic as always by one of my fav narrators, Patti Murin.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for providing the ARC for my honest review!

Thank you Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the ALC!

I absolutely loved this book! Sally Lively nailed the emotional depth and slow-burn tension that makes a friends-to-lovers story so satisfying. The dual timeline (past and present) was so well done—it felt like slowly peeling back layers to reveal all the history between the characters, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

The writing gave me major Emily Henry vibes in the best way possible. If you're a fan of that mix of heartfelt moments, humor, and introspective storytelling, you’ll definitely want to pick this one up.

And Patti Murin? Incredible as always. She brings so much life and emotion to every character she voices, and this performance is no exception. She’s one of my all-time favorite narrators, and her narration added so much to the overall experience. If you're an audiobook person, this is one you’ll want in your library.

Read this if you like:
Childhood best friends turned lovers
Dual timelines that slowly reveal emotional backstory
Books by Emily Henry (especially People We Meet on Vacation)

Synopsis:
Joni and Ren have been best friends forever—until one night crossed a line they can’t take back. After a year apart, they reunite at their families’ shared beach house for Joni’s sister’s wedding, pretending everything is fine. But as old memories resurface and sparks reignite, Joni has to decide if their friendship-turned-heartbreak could still become something more.

I really enjoyed this audiobook—both the story and the narrators were a win.

The story follows childhood best friends Joni and Ren, who’ve made a long-standing pact to be each other’s plus-ones for big life events. But they’ve never actually dated. Naturally, there’s unresolved tension, old memories, and a falling-out that’s left them estranged for years. And listen—if there’s one thing about me, it’s that I will always show up for a friends-to-lovers story. Also special shoutout to Ren, because I adored him.

Joni’s also dealing with some major life changes—career upheaval, personal doubts, all the messiness that comes with feeling like you’re falling short. It’s relatable, and the shame aspect hits, but I’m never a big fan of characters withholding info just to serve a later plot twist.

Still, I had a great time with this. The pacing was smooth, the story was easy to follow, and it was impossible not to root for Joni and Ren. This was my first Sally Blakely book, and I’d definitely pick up another. If you’re into childhood friends-to-lovers and you like your romance with heart and a little bit of mess, give this one a shot.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I honestly thought this was going to make me cry, and I’m still unsure of whether or not it’s a good thing that it didn’t? This book reminded me a lot of Happy Place, but make it childhood best friends to lovers. I appreciated the flashbacks since it helped to give a lot of context. However, their whole conflict was kind of dumb. I get that she would want to try and protect him, but the fact that they would both completely cut all contact for 2.5 years is insane. I did have a good time reading this and overall I had fun, but there were definitely some parts where I was getting annoyed and wanted to stop.

All that being said, I did start and finish this in a day… so that is pretty self explanatory.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio, and Harlequin Trade Press for the eARC and audioARC.

I had so much fun listening to this friends-to-lovers romance! Joni and Ren have been best friends all their lives. They agree to always be each other's plus one for every event. When their lives take them to opposite coasts, they promise to never forget each other. But life has a way of becoming complicated, causing misunderstandings. Joni and Ren had one of those three years ago and lost touch, breaking both their hearts. They never told their families what happened, so now they find themselves in close proximity to help make a family wedding run smoothly. As they remember how much they cared and loved each other, as more than friends, will the secrets they hide keep them apart for good? Are they finally strong enough to fight for the happiness and love they know they share? I really cared for both Joni and Ren, they were so good for each other. They fit so seamlessly into each other's lives, and brought an understanding, support, comfort, fun, and unconditional love that they both needed desperately. My heart broke over their predicament, and it made me cheer even harder for their HEA. I loved the relationship and banter between all their family and friends that added so much fun and warmth to this story as well.
Patti Murin did a great job bringing these characters and story to life. She delivered all the wit, emotion, and steam, and I was totally lost in her performance. I really enjoyed listening to this fun, engaging, emotional, and steamy romance that made my heart completely happy!

Thank you so much to Sally Blakely and Harlequin Audio for the chance to listen to this ARC of Friends to Lovers. This was my first by the author and I will be looking into more!

This story follows longtime friends Ren and Joanie and their journey of will they become "Friends to Lovers". Joni moves and they promise to stay close and be their plus ones. Of course though lines get blurred and their friendship takes a hit. They are brought back together for a wedding and that's where the magic begins to happen!

A lot of other reviews have compared this to People We Meet On Vacation. I have not read that book, but I can definitely pick up on the Emily Henry vibes!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶

❤️⛱️ Contemporary Romance, Friends-to-Lovers, Forced Proximity, One Bed, Weddings, Slow Burn

Joni and Ren are childhood friends, who later have to fake their friendship. They committed to being each other's plus ones at weddings and along the way lines get blurred.

This is a good summer read. It's tender and heartfelt. There's tension and the pull of will they or won't they. Ren is such a great friend and so patient and no matter what, he doesn't want to lose his friendship with Joni. I really felt for him. Of course, Joni doesn't realize how she feels til way later and is worried that it's not the right time especially after losing her job. The side characters are good, but I feel like I needed more depth.

Thanks to Netgalley, Harlequin, and the author for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Releases July 22, 2025.

Joni & Wren have been best friends since they were three years old. Now they’re strangers, reunited awkwardly at a wedding. After all, they made a pact to be each others plus ones for the many upcoming weddings that they are invited to.

The writer tells the story of Joni & Ren in a dual timeline fashion, writing between present, and meaningful past moments that lead up to the here and now. It’s clearly that the forever +1 wedding dates are undeniably in love with each other, but they’re both too timid to admit it. With their friendship on the line, they struggle to make the first move.

Friends to Lovers, is both the trope & the title. It took me a minute to get into the story with the dual time lines, but once I was hooked, I could not put it down. The time invested in building the characters backstory really built up the plot, the tensions & the arc of the story. Joni and Wren are both lovable & sweet characters that just need to land on the right timeline.

The narration by Patti Murin was clear & concise, but I found the narrator’s voice sounded a lot older than what I picture the FMC to be. Still, she gave a pleasant delivery of the story.

When I saw this title I thought how brave it must be to give your book the title of a beloved trope as if the book will be the ultimate “friends to lovers” romance. Joni and Ren have been friends nearly their entire lives as their moms are best friends. They vacation together every year and as adults, have become each others’ reliable plus one. This book gives a perfect mix of The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy and Love and Other Words (minus some of the tragedy). It’s a perfect blend of toeing the line between friends and lovers and the fear that comes with crossing the line. The duel narratives helps with that, even though it’s a single POV. The book has time jumps between past and present and they are so well balanced as it all tips to the point of finding out what happened 2.5 years ago that made Ren and Joni stop talking altogether. They are forced back together for a family wedding, pretending for everyone that they never stoped being friends. As they slowly navigate pretending they are still friends, while also slowly rebuilding their friendship, their dynamic really comes alive. There is such a tension in the present that doesn’t exist in their flashbacks which makes for a really nice juxtaposition. I adore how Joni is still a bit of a mess in her thirties and trying to navigate what comes next in life. I admire her tenacity and love how this book leans heavy into the dynamic of a daughter and mother after Joni’s anxiety diagnosis years ago. As someone with anxiety, it was nice seeing that represented in a way which felt authentic. This entire book felt like it could be happening around you and the author did such a masterful job. 100% a perfect friends to lovers and worth of its title. 5⭐️, 2🌶

definitely a summer read, it’s set at the beach and has “beachy days that turn into starry nights.” i wanted to love this but i truly struggled with this one. i didn’t feel connected with the characters, and i fear this may be because im not a huge friends to lovers girly. i went back and forth between my e-arc and alc — thank you to the publishers!

two best friends joni and ren have always been inseparable. that is until joni moves across the country for her job; but they come up with a creative way to stay in touch. no matter what is going on in their lives, they will always be each other’s plus-one’s every year for wedding season. this has worked for them, until a line has been crossed and their friendship was no more. joni’s sister is getting married and is determined to make the week perfect, even if she has to fake her friendship with ren (while avoiding spilling the truth of why they aren’t friends anymore to her family). is she going to let ren go or is their love story worth fighting for? read and find out ;)

audio: pacing was perfect for me. the single narrator for both of the main characters was great and kept me engaged with the story because of it.

tropes: friends to lovers, second chance, forced proximity, dual timeline

As the title suggests, this book follows Joni and Ren who have been besties since forever. and their families are super intertwined. With adulting threatening their friendship, they devise a plan to always be each other's plus ones to events as a means to make sure that they see each other. Their friendship gets complicated when feelings get mixed into the equation and they've decided to keep this a secret from their families. Back at their families' beach house to celebrate her sister's wedding, Joni is determined to keep the focus on the bride and away from her now non-existent friendship with Ren. It was so clear from the very beginning that there was mutual attraction and feelings that neither of them wanted to act on to preserve their friendship. It was fun summer read and perfect for reading on the beach! I did a combination of digital and audio and the narrator was fantastic. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the gifted eARC and ALC.

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4.25 star (This review is copied from my Goodreads review, and it contains spoilers)

-- I would like to thank NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Sally Blakely for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. --

I fairly enjoyed reading this book. It reminded me a bit of the movie, <i>Love, Rosie</i>. I liked how the book showcased Ren and Jodi's friendship throughout the years. It showed me how deep their bond ran, which made it easier for me to see how perfect they are with each other. I do think some flashback scenes were getting <i>a bit</i> repetitive, or what I like to call them "filler chapters" where, if you skip them, you won't miss out on much.

Some things I didn't like were <spoiler>how Jodi thought that Ren should have prioritized her over his own girlfriend and asked him to choose between talking to Amanda on his phone and her ?? And she didn't find the idea of "Ren sleeping in the same bed as her" wrong when he had another girl ?? Also, I wasn't a huge fan of the miscommunication trope in this book because I think it was stupid that Jodi cut him off completely for more than two years over a lie to protect him. She should have just told him the truth instead of just saying she didn't love him, all because she wanted him to take a job offer... Like, all she had to say was that she couldn't bring it upon herself to ruin his life just so he could be with her, then walk away... or at least, after she left, she should have tried to connect with him through a letter or phone call and tell him the truth. To cut him off for 2 and a half years because she was scared he wouldn't take a job offer was a stretch, idk. </spoiler>

✅Friends to lovers
✅2nd chance
✅Plus ones
✅Chicken stickers

Always each other’s plus-ones, but never each other’s real dates, two childhood best friends have one last summer wedding to fall in love in this dual-narrative debut.

I have read and listened to several arc books and I have to say this one is one of my favorites! I’m so grateful to NetGalley and Sally Blakey for this opportunity! If you’re looking for a friends to lovers or second chance trope, this one is for you!