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If All Else Sails

A Sweet Grumpy-Sunshine Rom-Com

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Pub Date Aug 05 2025 | Archive Date Sep 05 2025

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Description

In this grumpy-sunshine romance, school nurse Josie and her brother's best friend--hockey player Wyatt Jacobs--are tricked into spending a summer together that's anything but smooth sailing.

When Josie's brother sends her to a random address for their (sometimes) annual Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza, she finds neither siblings nor extravaganzas. Instead, ends up at a run-down cottage on the Northern Neck of Virginia occupied by a hockey player she knows and loathes.

A hockey player who isn't just one of her sports agent brother's clients. He's also his best friend. And Josie's sworn enemy.

Oh--and her brother wants Josie to help Wyatt recover from his injury.

Dragging grumpy hockey players to physical therapy is a far cry from bandaging skinned knees, but for the price her brother offers to pay, Josie is willing to try.

Even if it means sharing what she dubs the quaint little murder cottage with Wyatt.

Begrudgingly, Josie starts to see a little more of the man behind the grumpy exterior. And when she finds out he was supposed to sail the Intracoastal Waterway south to Savannah scattering his uncle's ashes, Josie surprises even herself by offering to be Wyatt's first mate.

Smooth sailing is nowhere to be found, and Josie begins to wonder if they'll be able to make it home without killing--or kissing?--each other.

And yet, the longer they share cramped quarters and canned food, the more of Wyatt's layers she peels back until Josie realizes she misunderstood him, their shared history, and perhaps herself as well.

If you're a fan of closed-door romance with sizzling chemistry, laugh-out-loud banter, and relatable characters, this romance with enemies-to-lovers vibes is your perfect escape. Dive into the irresistible story of Wyatt and Josie as they navigate the rocky waters of their past, uncover hidden depths, and discover that sometimes love is found in the most unexpected places. With the delightful grumpy-sunshine dynamic and the swoon-worthy he-falls-first trope, If All Else Sails by USA TODAY bestselling author Emma St. Clair will keep you turning the pages late into the night.

In this grumpy-sunshine romance, school nurse Josie and her brother's best friend--hockey player Wyatt Jacobs--are tricked into spending a summer together that's anything but smooth sailing.

When...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781400346943
PRICE $15.99 (USD)
PAGES 368

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Featured Reviews

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Emma is an auto-buy author of mine and when I got approved for this i was jumping to the moon.

It was everything you could want from a book. The story was well done.

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This book was everything I hoped it would be! I think I’ve found a new favorite author! The witty banter between main characters kept me laughing and I couldn’t put the book down. I found myself saying, “One more chapter,” at the end of every chapter until to my surprise I was at the end and it was almost 1 am. I had a great time reading and I look forward to reading more from Emma St Clair!

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IF ALL ELSE SAILS by EMMA ST CLAIR is a delightfully witty novel with really believable characters and some hard earned romance!
There has always been bad blood between Josie and her brother Jacob’s best friend and client, Wyatt Jacobs, the famous ice hockey star. When Jacob asks her to nurse the grumpy sportsman back to health after he has had an unfortunate accident and become a total recluse, she only accepts because she could use the money he promises to pay her……
There is false arrest for trespassing, a battle of wills in the “little murder cottage”, infection causing delirium and a sailing trip, which all lead to the two of them slowly getting to know one another…….
I loved the book and cannot recommend it highly enough as a fun and enjoyable read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

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I’m so ready for summer and warmer weather. If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair helped give me the same feeling.

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Cute and fun, IF ALL ELSE SAILS should appeal to readers looking for a clean romance. Wyatt and Josie have great chemistry, and the author excels at witty, flirtatious banter.

I did not feel like the chapter titles were necessary, and their foreshadowing seemed a bit forced/artificial. I hope this is not a new trend.

My other minor complaint is that the pacing is a bit slow. The book would have been better if it was shorter. Not every book needs to be the same length, and readers can tell where there's padding.

Overall, however, this is a thoroughly enjoyable read that manages to combine romance and humor into a delightful package.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

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I am in love! Josie and Wyatt are the cutest and sweetest and I just want to give them the biggest hugs. While this book is all about “foot-in-mouth disease” … (miscommunication) … it’s done in the funniest way possible so you don’t want to reach in and smack the people. I was laughing and cackling at several places. I had a smile on my face the whole time I was reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction | Thomas Nelson for this book. ~I was given this book and made no commitments to leave my opinions, favorable or otherwise~

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This was my first book by Emma St. Clair and she did not disappoint. I finished this book in under 24 hours, it was soo good.

I adored the banter between the characters and also the slow burn between them. I’m a sucker for a he falls first trope and boy, did this hit the spot!

I can’t wait to read more of Emma’s books, her writing is phenomenal.

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC. All opinions are purely my own.

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This book is an absolute delight! I haven't laughed so much while reading in such a long time. The author has a way with setting up a scene and dialogue that just makes me so happy. The characters are great and I enjoyed getting to know them better. Wyatt has so many layers and it is a typical grumpy-sunshine trope but it works! The romance is superb! It is sweet and clean and honest and fun. The setting is also perfect for a summer read with a cottage by the water to sailing on a boat. Josie is hilarious and I also really liked the secondary characters of her brother, his friends and Wyatt's mother.
If you are looking for a fun rom-com this is for you! I couldn't put it down and enjoyed every bit of it!

Five Stars.




"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

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I really enjoyed this book. While Josie and Wyatt’s reunion started with total chaos and just continue adding bricks to the “offense wall” that she has built around her heart towards Wyatt both characters end up needing each other right away, which forces them together. I love that Wyatt is grumpy to everyone except, internally, towards Josie and that Josie is just grumpy towards Wyatt until she starts to sympathize with him and see him as an actual human who is grieving so many things. Both characters seem to notice each other deficits and to cater to them in a way that is tender and helpful. I love the addition of Jib and her many outfits and I like that the “brother’s best friend” trope didn’t get blown out of proportion like it normally does. While none of the supporting characters were perfect they truly cared about Wyatt and Josie and did their best to support them and show up for them as much as possible.

“Enemies to lovers”
Brothers best friend
One bed
He falls first

Possible triggers:
Parent neglect
Molestation/ non- consent
Depression
Death of loved one

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I simply loved this story! It gets all the stars

This novel follows elementary school nurse Josie and pre hockey player Wyatt. When Wyatt becomes injured playing field golfing, his agent Jacob’s sends his sister Josie to take care of him. Little do we know Jacob has matchmaking in mind. From cop calls to stray dogs and learning to sail a boat, these two find a deep connection.

This book was so fun. Honestly there were things I’ve never seen in a book before. I mean, how many rom coma start with the male getting the female arrested and then she is stuck taking care of HIM! Brilliant.

The banter was to die for. I loved the spunky dialogue. It was so genuine and easy to follow and believe.

I loved all the characters, and I appreciate the Appies shoutout (if you haven’t checked out that series DO IT!). Josie, Wyatt, and Jib are the cutest little family. Can Jacob get a book next?

*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

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Josie is on her way to meet her brother for their Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza. When she reaches the address he gave her, he’s not there and it’s a somewhat rundown old house. When she finally reaches him on the phone, she finds he’s not coming and has a totally unrealistic ask of her.
Wyatt is a well-loved professional hockey player who is not recovering well from an injury. He’s not following the doctors’ orders so his agent, who is also his best friend, and Josie’s brother, ask his sister, Josie, who is a school nurse, to spend the summer with Wyatt to ensure he follows his care plan. Josie refuses to be persuaded to spend any time with Wyatt, claiming they hate each other and have since they met years earlier. Finally with the offer of the right price of four times her usual salary, she agrees.
She soon learns that convincing an irritable adult to follow the doctor’s orders is much more challenging than putting a band aid on a skinned knew. As time passes, they develop a tentative friendship, and Josie even offers go with Wyatt serving as first made on a sail through the Intercoastal Waterway to Savannah for the purpose of scattering the ashes of his beloved uncle.
There are many ups and downs in this delightful and funny story. I had to pause several times to laugh out loud. The characters are loveable and relatable and definitely keep this engrossing story entertaining until the last page is turned.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

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I love Emma St.Clair and I’ve enjoyed all of the hockey books more than I ever expected to. Grumpy heroes are my favorite, so I really like Wyatt’s story and thought Josie was a good heroine. Wyatt’s mother may’ve been my favorite secondary character.
The only thing I didn’t care for was not finding out what happened with Wyatt’s career in the end.

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Loved this story!! The characters were amazing, plot was so fun, and I definitely see myself picking If All Else Sails up again!

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I absolutely loved this lighthearted read! I laughed throughout the book -‘the details are delightful. Just go along with the ride (or sail?) for this lighthearted read.

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Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me an early copy of this book.

If All Else Sails is about Josie- a primary school nurse- who thinks she is going on a trip with her brother as they do it every year. The thing is when she arrives at the place he texted, she finds that not only her brother is not here, but his best friend Wyatt- a famous hockey player- is as it’s his place.

It was such a cute and sweet book navigating the themes of grief, friendship, love, and family. I found myself smiling/laughing many times while reading this book especially when Jibby was involved- I loved the outfits that were planned for her lol.

I also LOVE the brother’s best friend trope, so this book served regarding to that! I would not necessarily agree with the enemies-to-lovers trope, as you could feel they were not really enemies and just had a problem of miscommunication.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

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What a fun book! I love Emma St. Clair’s writing style. All the delicious wit and banter and none of the spice. That’s not to say there’s no tension or swoon. Just the perfect combination.

My favorite quote was —
“But perhaps love is being the exact right size of drill bit to tighten the other person’s very specific loose screws.” Haha! But so many good lines!

I loved the sassiness Josie exhibited through all her misfortunate experiences, like being trapped in the back of a cop car in the sweltering heat with no A/C, pigs, etc. she was a great FMC.

Wyatt was the perfect grump, unintentionally throwing out insults when he meant the opposite. Yet he was so understanding, caring and patient with Josie.

If you’re looking for entertainment with sweet slow burn romance this is it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. All thoughts are my own.

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If you are a follower of the Appies series by Emma St.Clair and Jenny Proctor, buy this book now. If you aren't a fan of this series - today is your lucky day as you not only get this great book but you can go back and read other books in the series. Reading those books aren't necessary for reading this story, but if you fall in love with it, this is highly important info!

Loved the story, it had funny parts, it had drama, it had romance. It's a great book to curl up with. The characters were well written and not 1 dimensional. Definitely a good rom com - Can't wait for the next one.

I receive complimentary books for various sources, including Netgalley, Authors, and other such sources. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received compensation.

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I loved this book!
It was such a sweet story and it had the perfect amount of slow burn.
Even with it being no spice you could feel the romantic tension between the two characters.
It was funny, charming and the storyline was fantastic, I was hooked.
The anxiety representation in this book was spot on, I felt a real connection to the FMC and her struggles with it.
The world was so immersive, I really felt pulled in by the whole book.
Would highly recommend ✨

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Set in Virginia then along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), school nurse Josie helps her sport agent brother's star athlete Wyatt recover from a foot injury before sailing together down to Savannah. This is a sports adjacent romance, since this is set during summer (not hockey season). This features Emma St Clair's charming writing and some of my favorite tropes!

Some things I loved:
⛵ Grumpy MMC
⛵ Forced Proximity
⛵ Brother's Best Friend
⛵ One Bed
⛵ He falls first
⛵ Slow burn
⛵ Miscommunication ("foot-in-mouth disease")
⛵ Cameos from other Appies (check out this series if you haven't yet!)
⛵ Adorable animal side character

5 / 5 stars

Closed door / kissing only and no profanity

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for this eARC!

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This book is about Josie and Wyatt who is her brother's best friend. He had serious injury and was really bad mentally and physically so Jacob who is his manager and Josie's brother sends Josie to help him recover.

If I needed to show my perfect slow-burn, brother's best friend, enemies to lovers book this is it. This book is so charming and funny I can't even explain my love for this book. This writer is describing their feelings and thoughts so good.

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The love story of Josie and Wyatt flowed easily with lighthearted banter and heart to heart conversations. It was easy to fall in love with Wyatt's grumpy demeanor and Josie's anxious personality. Fun read that will help you escape reality for a bit!

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Wyatt Jacobs is a cranky, injured hockey player who just lost one of the most important people in his world. When he sinks into depression and refuses to do the therapy he needs to recover his health and career, his agent/best friend send in the big guns…his sister Josie. A nurse who met him before he was famous, she’s a blast from his past who shows up to rock the boat.

I loved how the reader is initially set up to believe that most of the character growth in this story will be Wyatt’s experience. However, the longer the story goes on, the more you realize that Josie has a lot of growing to do, as she realizes how much she misunderstood from their first encounters, and how those misperceptions clouded her judgment and understanding of Wyatt’s interactions with her.

Tropes include:
- Enemies to Lovers (lots of misunderstandings!)
- Hockey Player
- Nurse and Patient
- Hilarious Dog (in a bikini!)
- He falls first
- Grumpy MMC
- Childhood history together
- Best friend’s sister

When Wyatt Jacobs showed up in the Appies series, I really, REALLY hoped that we would someday get to read his story, and it was everything I had hoped for! There are a few trigger warnings – death of a family member, dysfunctional/abusive parental interaction, and some described memories of a sexual assault attempt. All of these are in the past when the story opens, and they’re described in a way that helps to shape the understandings of the main characters.

This book was everything I wanted it to be, and it even included a couple of the other Appies players, so I’m delighted that I got a chance to read it!

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Emma St. Clair is one of my auto-read authors. She knows how to craft a story that sweeps you away with humor and hope, carries you along with heart and delivers you and the characters safely and happily to the end. Wyatt and Josie are exactly the adorable people you expect to meet in her books and of course it wouldn't be an Emma St. Clair novel without a wacky animal story. (Beware of the murder pigs, y'all!) For heavens sake, do yourself a favor and read it already!

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If you like: brother’s best friend, slow-burn, clean romance,

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson fiction for the e-arc. I absolutely devoured this book in essentially one sitting.

What I loved
- Josie and Wyatt! Both were fully realised characters which made their thought processes, anxieties and hesitations easy to understand.
- the 70/30 Josie to Wyatt pov split. Wyatt’s pov = 🧑‍🍳💋
- the sport romance element. I don’t really consider this a sports romance in the traditional sense. Wyatt’s career was obviously an integral element to the story but hockey itself really took a backseat to sailing ⛵️. If anything I wish there was a little more focus on the journey

Things to note:
- it is a slower romance than my go-tos, with a lot of internalised conflict mostly from Josie’s end. I thought it was handled really well in this book, but it does slow the pace down a bit in the last quarter

Overall I would recommend as a really lovely summer romance read ☀️

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I loved this book. So much so that I forced myself to sit it down to prolong how long it took me to read it because I didn’t want to be done with the story and characters.

I was smiling and chuckling from page 1. Emma St. Clair must be incredibly witty in person to have written the witty internal and external monologues and banter in this. I want to be her friend now.

I also happen to LOVE the grumpy male MC trope (maybe because I’m married to one myself 😂) and the chemistry between these two characters was felt immediately while still keeping it clean and closed door.

I also enjoyed each of the secondary characters in this book.

If you like:
💕clean
💕closed door
💕 rom-com
💕 forced proximity
💕 grump + sunshine
💕 animals
💕 athlete MC
💕 wit
Add this to your TBR pronto!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Perfect grumpy and sunshine! Josie is conned into taking care of Wyatt as he recovers from an injury and sails down the coast to honor his uncle’s last wishes. As a middle school teacher, the lack of spice in this still-very-sweet romance is perfect and this was such a fun read!

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This is a standalone, kisses only romcom by Emma St Clair. It features a character that was first introduced in a previous series of hers, but it is absolutely not necessary to have read that series to thoroughly enjoy this book.

Wyatt and Josie have chemistry out the wazoo. The banter between them is humorous. I appreciated the deeper touches of the story as well. There is healing achieved throughout the story for both characters. It was fun to take that journey with them.

One thing that I do want to mention, is that I did not read the blurb and am very glad that I didn't. It contains information that happens over halfway through the story. From the cover and title, some events could be guessed, but I personally hate being spoiled by blurbs. That's why I've stopped reading them, especially for authors I am familiar with their content or for books recommended to my by friends. That is another reason why my reviews are more vague than maybe other's are.

I did receive an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

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Loved it! From start to finish this grumpy sunshine, enemies to lovers story hooked me in the best way! The grumpy hero was perfection! Honestly, how did his gruff exterior ever mask his—melt me into a puddle— heart of gold? I absolutely loved his fever induced truth telling moments the most! The forced proximity worked wonderfully well in this story and I enjoyed all the little special things that Wyatt did for Josie incognito. I love a romance that builds without unnecessary conflict and this one delivers! This is going on my favorites list for the year! I adored it!

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Utterly delightful slow burn romance. Josie gets tricked into helping out her brothers friend slash client. There is no real enemy to lover trope. Instead, he has had feelings for years. Now is the chance to do something about it.

Very sweet story. The writing could use a bit more polish, but I would read this book again. I’ll also read sequels (hint hint). Definitely time well spent in reading this book.

5 stars.

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"I'm a very patient man." And also slow as molasses. Who likes someone for as long as Wyatt has liked (loved) Josie. I hate that he probably would have continued to love her from afar if he hadn't hurt his foot and then spent weeks wallowing, necessitating Jacob sending Josie to help him. That's why Wyatt is not so smart. Maybe he'd been hit in the head by a puck....hmmmm. I LOVE the whole hospital scene! From the moment Josie works to get Wyatt in his vehicle all the way through to them getting take-out on their way home from the hospital. Every word of that was a true delight! I can't wait to read through that scene again!!!

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Emma never disappoints in creating an engaging story that keeps pulling you back in. This book had all my favorite tropes! Hockey romance, brothers best friend, he falls first…ah just all so good! I also loved how this was just as much about Josie’s own personal journey as it was a romance and Wyatt was just the best mix of grump on the outside and softie on the inside

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This was such a fun romcom! I loved the main characters and the side-characters. The plot had a nice pace and a satisfying ending.

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If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair is such a cute, fun and beautiful romance. Swoony but low spice. Enemies to lovers, forced proximity, brother's friend, etc. I really enjoyed reading this
I got a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson Fiction via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are mine

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Emma St. Clair is an auto buy author for me, I love all of her books. Getting to read If All Else Sails early was amazing The main characters Josie and Wyatt were fantastic, the setting was lovely, and the way the story carried out was like a summer dream. Everyone should read this book, along with all of her other ones. It was so cute!

Thank you netgalley and Thomas Nelson for an arc of If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair

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This book was fantastic! With the perfect balance of edginess and swoon-worthy moments, it featured amazing character growth. This book had a hilarious beginning, and I really enjoyed how the plot developed. Her books just keep getting better and better, and the pacing was ideal. Overall, this book did not let me down. I thoroughly recommend it.

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Oh Emma, you’ve really done it this time! 😍😍
I loved this book!! It had such wonderful character development with just the right amount of sass and swoony moments. I loved the hilarious start to this book and how the story evolved! The only thing I don’t like is that it’s over, and now I have a book hangover!! ❤️

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If All Else Sails has some of my favorite romance tropes, and the story is really well-executed. The only-one-bed trope works even in this sweet romance, along with plenty of forced proximity and an enemies-to-lovers trajectory. I also adore books involving travel, in particular sailing since I've never been on a sailboat, so there's some great escapism to the book. It's probably my favorite Emma St. Clair novel so far!

Jessie is working at being content with her ordinary life as a school nurse, hoping to one day buy her own home, not interested in romance or dating. Wyatt is a hockey pro who's down recovering from an injury. They've known each other for years as he's her brother's close friend, but Jessie's always assumed he can't stand her. They're thrown together by said brother who wants Jessie to talk sense into Wyatt so he'll show up for physical therapy and get back to hockey.

Wyatt is somewhat of a grump, but never truly mean, so it's easy to imagine early on that his grumpy exterior hides a sweetness underneath. The two decide to go sailing to follow the same route Wyatt planned to take with his now-deceased uncle, the man who had been like a father to him.

I loved the story of Jessie learning how to sail as a complete newbie, Wyatt learning how to accept help to recover from his injury, and both of them figuring out whether they can trust each other and become something more than enemies and even more than friends. Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

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Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for this advanced copy!

Wow!!!! This book was SO cute. The banter and dialogue is top tier. I found myself highlighting so many quotes!

I loved so many different parts of this book but some of my favorites were the initial banter between the characters when deciding if she was staying to help him, the shopping spree with MMC’s mom (and immediately following!) and the rain scene on the boat. I’ve never read a book involving sailing and it made for such a fun and cute setting!

I loved this book and will absolutely be recommending to friends!

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If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair was such an enjoyable read! It follows school nurse Josie and she reunited with her brother best friend, grumpy and currently injured hockey play, Wyatt. I was super excited when I realised the MMC was Wyatt from the Appies Series, and for those who follow that series look forward to a few other camoes for our beloved hockey team. I really liked the characters of Josie and Wyatt and their banter and chemistry really kept me hooked! Overall, a great, fun story to lose yourself in. I can’t wait to see what Emma St. Clair comes out with next! Thank you to the author, Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the ARC! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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This was a fun read involving enemies to more, brother's friend falling first, forced proximity, sass, banter, and family dynamics. Josie dislikes jocks, and readers will find out why. Wyatt is a hockey player with an injury. I enjoyed the chemistry between Josie and Wyatt, the mother and daughter shopping spree, and getting to see some Appies hockey players making an appearance. Let's not forget a cute dog, a sailing trip, and an unforgettable encounter at the beginning involving Josie and the police. Enjoyable clean read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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I've read many of Emma St Clair's novels and she is one of those authors that I know will never disappoint. If All Else sails has it all, smart, witty banter, swoony moments, and believable characters. I especially liked that this book had a more unusual setting (sailing) while using the miscommunication trope (done well)!

This sweet romance is the perfect summer beach read that will make you laugh-out-loud and leave you smiling.


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Any book written by Emma St. Clair is an absolute must read for me. The way she weaves a story has me sucked in immediately. Her characters are developed and seem like actual people. One thing that I appreciate about grumpy sunshine tropes is that it helps dispel the thought that grumpy people are just mean and don’t care about anyone else. They are that way for a reason, whether it’s anxiety, pain, or something else. I loved watching these two learn to open up and slowly grow closer (emphasis on slowly…my patience was not as strong as Wyatt’s). I have loved all the Appies books so getting to see Wyatt find love even though he’s no longer part of that team was fun. And Jib was just another sprinkle on top. It wouldn’t be an Emma book without an animal.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

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This is a super cutie romance that was exactly what I needed. The slow burn was absolutely perfect, their banter was cute, overall just so cutie patootie!!

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What a fun book! From the very first chapter I was in love with this story and the mischief the MCs got up to. 😆😍 The romance was so well written, sweet, and cute! Josie and Wyatt had a rough start, but the more you reader the more you realize he’s just a big ole softie with foot-in-the-mouth disease (iykyk). The characters were great, plot engaging, and romance clean!

/Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own/

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Thank you netgalley for the arc of this book.
I loved this book so much. And there was even a few of the Appies that showed up so that's always a bonus. I loved the banter. The so called enemies to lovers troupe.
When Wyatt is injured and not taking care of himself so Jacob gets his sister to come take care of him under false pretenses. She has always disliked him and thought he hated her. So when she realized what Jacob wanted her to do she was definitely not on board.
Such a good book.

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Oh my goodness, this book is everything I hoped it would be! I love grumpy sunshine tropes, and this one is just perfect that way! Wyatt and Josie could have worked out their differences earlier, but I doubt the story would have been so good. They are the perfect complement to each other, and I loved being a part of their love story.

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Absolutely loved it!!

I loved these two so much. The chemistry, everything was just so amazing. 20/10, will be reading this again very soon.

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"Better started than perfect. Better tried than unknown"

What an absolute delight! "If All Else Sails" was a perfect mix of charming Rom-Com with a heartfelt story at its core.

Josie is tricked by her sports agent brother into keeping an eye on his friend and client, injured hockey star Wyatt. If their history is anything to go on, Wyatt is grump with no time for his friend's little sister. As they navigate his recovery and plans to sail the Intracoastal, they discover that the course of true love never did run smooth.

One thing I loved the most was how effortless the comedic aspects of the story were balanced with a beautiful romance. I was hooked by the hilarious opening chapters where Josie is wrongfully detained. Then as the story progressed, we saw how the relationship between Josie and Wyatt was so sweet. I appreciated the green flag way in which Wyatt was so respectful of Josie's heart, being patient with her hesitancy, even when not fully knowing the impact that her past had on her.

😂❤️ Romantic Comedy
🏒 MMC is an injured hockey player
👩🏼‍⚕️ FMC is a school nurse
⛵ Sailing trip and forced proximity
🫑🔥 Slow burn, closed-door romance
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this early read! I loved this book from start to finish. Josie and Wyatt were so much fun, the settings, his friends, her antics, all of it! Please don't sleep on this one - pub date 8/5/25!

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I was really happy to get this ARC because I really loved the main story. This book seems to be an offshoot for.
I don’t know if it is a standalone in these characters aren’t gonna pop up anymore or if it’s a start of its own series .
Anyway, the MMC Wyatt, was a side character in the Appies series, and he disappeared about halfway throughout the season, saying that he got a contract with a NHL team.
So I love the idea that the author is gonna do a bunch of standalone’s for other side characters of the series or another series. You get so invested with their stories and sad when you never know what happens to them.

To the book itself -
The FMC Josie, is an elementary school, nurse and her brother, the son of their families’s solar system, is a professional sports agent. He was best friends with Wyatt, the MMC growing up.

Thanks to a little miscommunication trope/misunderstanding that never got fixed Josie has been under the impression for many a year that Wyatt hates her guts to the point of being disgusted. And when she shows up at his house thinking she’s about to have a fun summer adventure with her brother and instead she is arrested…. It’s all kind of downhill from there.

Which, brings us to poor foot in his mouth, Wyatt 😂😂😂😂
I think this man would benefit greatly from writing down his feelings and sticking to a plan when talking to people, but instead he seems to carry a proverbial shovel with him wherever he goes. On the rare occurrence he actually does open his mouth, he immediately starts digging.
So, he’s taken to just not talking.

For me, this book was kind of emotional to read because I grew up in Virginia, I’ve been to almost all of the places that were mentioned! Hell, I’ve been boating on the bay! It’s so funny because you rarely read books about the Hampton Roads area. It was great because I could literally picture every single part in my head.

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This book was amazing! Emma st Clair is one of my favorite authors. I was so happy to read this book! The romance in this book was so fun and it kept me on my toes!

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Emma St. Clair has done it again, pulling me in from page one and keeping me hooked with the wit, the banter, the laughs, the chemistry, and all the swoon that Wyatt and Josie have to offer!

When Wyatt, an NHL hockey player (and former Appie!) gets injured and refuses to take care of himself, his agent/best friend, Jacob, sends his sister to take charge! However, Josie thinks she’s headed to her annual Super Sibling Extravaganza, not to babysit her nemesis. Things between these two start off on the wrong foot after Wyatt has her arrested and the fun begins and just doesn’t stop!

Wyatt and Josie are adorable!! He’s the classic grump and she’s the happy sunshine—though he doesn’t always bring out that side of her. I loved their chemistry and back and forth banter both when Wyatt was feverish and when he was perfectly healthy. It was fun to see their relationship change over time and I loved how their sailing trip really helped further their relationship. Of course, it was fun to see Van and Eli make a guest appearance, too!!

A few things to love:

💙 Wyatt & Josie
😤 Grumpy/Sunshine
🏒 Injured hockey player
👩🏻‍⚕️ School nurse
👫🏻 Forced proximity
🙅🏻‍♂️ Brother’s best friend
⛵️ A sailing trip
👟 Boat shoes
🦶🏻Foot-in-mouth disease
🐶 Jib
🛏️ One bed
🧔🏻‍♂️ A Van & Eli cameo

Loved this book so much! Don’t miss it!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Fantastic read; it was cozy and a slow burn but the banter and story made you not want to put the book down! I would highly recommend this book!

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I love the brother’s best friend trope and this did not disappoint. The banter between Josie and Wyatt was great with a lot of swoon worthy moments. Overall loved this book.

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This book was so beautiful and has everything I need in a romance! Enemies to lovers with her brothers best friend? Yes please! The romance was romancing, I was a giggling, feet kicking mess! And the banter? Perfect!

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At first, I wasn't sure what to think of the premise of this book but then I remembered it is an Emma St Clair book and she can literally write anything. If All Else Sails follows Josie, an elementary school nurse out for summer break, and Wyatt, an injured hockey player as they take a sailing trip down the east coast. This book really surprised me. I was immediately hooked from the beginning when Josie and Wyatt meet in a way that is surprising to both of them considering Josie's brother planned the whole thing without their knowledge. Josie is tasked with taking care of Wyatt and his recovery. Oh and did I mention that Josie believes Wyatt is her enemy? I actually loved Josie and it is rare that I like a female main character from the beginning of the book. As for Wyatt who doesn't love a grumpy injured hockey player?! However, the book is not a typical hockey romance. Also, there is an adorable dog involved too. Oh, and Wyatt happens to be Josie's brother's best friend. I literally read this book in a couple of hours. It will make a great summer read. It has just the right mix of humor and romance.
Content: kisses only
Thank you to NetGalley. These are my own opinions and I was not required to leave a review.

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This was such a cute, sweet, hilarious rom-com! The first half was so incredibly funny and I just loved it. The second half was more of the romance which I enjoyed but I also kind of wanted the MFC to speed things up a little instead of questioning every tiny thing. Overall, this was adorable though.

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I want to start by saying a big thank you to NetGalley and Emma St. Clair for making it possible for me to read this book. I have no idea what I was expecting from this book, but I did not expect it'd be as good as it is!
Clair did a phenomenal job. From the font choice, to the formatting, the plot, characters... the book was amazing. You can tell she put a lot of thought into every aspects of the book.
I am not a fan of romance, and I hardly ever read them, but this book is the second that's made me consider falling in love with the genre.
I laughed like crazy as I read it - I don't remember the last time a book made me laugh, and read 95 pages in one sitting before deciding to take it slow, because it was just that good.
I really enjoyed the love that budded between Josie and Wyatt, and how Clair kept "the bedroom door closed". That's one thing that made this rom-com different from others in its genre. A lot of authors today do not know how to write a true, real love story. They think lust and heat is what it means to fall, or be, in love, but Clair did a good job in setting an example that you can tell a love story that depicts one we experience in real life and does not always end up in the bedroom.
I have no bad thing to say about the book except that I did not want it to end. And would be here for a part two.

My rating? 10 out of 5. Everybody needs to get a copy and support this book!
I look forward to reading more titles by Clair.

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Sure! Here’s a glowing 5-star review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely loved this book! From the very first page, I was hooked by the witty banter, undeniable chemistry, and slow-burn tension between Josie and Wyatt. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic was perfection—full of sharp humor, reluctant teamwork, and just the right amount of forced proximity (hello, cramped quarters on a boat!).

Josie is such a relatable, strong-willed character, and I loved watching her challenge Wyatt at every turn. And Wyatt? The ultimate grumpy yet secretly soft hockey player. His journey from broody and stubborn to vulnerable and swoon-worthy was so well done. Their relationship developed in such a natural, heartfelt way, making every moment—whether bickering or bonding—so compelling.

If you love enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and grumpy/sunshine dynamics, this is your next must-read!

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One of my favorite Emma St Clair books yet! I found myself laughing multiples times.
The sailboat aspect was unique, and I enjoyed both characters. A great summer read!

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In this book, we follow Josie and Wyatt as they learn to navigate close proximity, first in Wyatt's cottage, and then in his boat, as they sail down the East Coast.

Both their characters were amazing to read about, their personalities and their backgrounds.

Although it's not really an enemies-to-lovers as advertised, it is instead a slow burn, forced proximity romance. Josie and Wyatt form such a connection and have so much intimacy between them - which I loved reading about!

It really is an easy, perfect, summer read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This book wasn’t completely what I expected based off the cover & description but in my opinion it was much better!!

Josie is a down to earth elementary school nurse who is tricked into spending her summer with her supposed nemesis by her match making brother who also happens to be his best friend.

Wyatt is a grumpy hockey star who is recovering from an injury & the loss of his beloved uncle who taught him many things one of them being how to sail. Josie ends up helping him recover & accompanying him on his sailing trip/ farewell to his uncle.

Josie struggles to connect with others as she tends to keep them at arms length for fear of getting hurt, while Wyatt has only ever wanted her but has spent years saying all the wrong things & thus building her defenses against him.

There is definitely a grumpy/ sunshine vibe as well as my personal favorite enemies to lovers trope. I also loved this book as Emma St. Clair kept it completely closed door & to me this speaks volumes about the love story being able to stand on its own. Loved this! Thank you NetGalley & Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC :)

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First of all, thank you NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction for this ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Omg. How I LOVED this book. I knew i was gonna really enjoy it with all the -best friend's brother, enemies to lovers (kind of), forced proximity trope-. For me it was a slow burn soft romance book, i loved the characters and the whole misunderstood guy who Josie thought hated her and turns out it's completely the opposite (had me giggling)! I absolutely loved the scene on the boat in the middle of caos and rain 10/10💘

5 well deserved ⭐️

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I'm suuuuch a sucker for a grumpy x sunshine/enemies to lovers trope and this was no different! The witty banter, the sparks, the misunderstood male main character with a heart of gold, the CHEMISTRY between the two main characters... ugh, I loved it all! It was a fantastic option for a clean, wholesome, high quality romance. This would be the perfect little summery read! Highly recommend!

A big thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

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Josie, a school nurse, is tricked by her sports agent brother to "babysit" his client and best friend, Wyatt, a hockey player. Wyatt is injured and not doing well. Josie's only interaction with Wyatt in the past have been awkward and painful encounters. Although she is made at her brother, he offers her summer pay that blows her tutoring out of the water, and she decides to give it a try. Josie and Wyatt both end up in the ER, and have to figure out how to survive their summer together. In addition, Wyatt is grieving the loss of his uncle, whose cabin he is living in, and grieving the loss of a sailing trip they had planned to take together. Can Josie help Wyatt heal? Can she learn to sail so that Wyatt can take the trip he needs? I loved this one!

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Thank you so much NetGalley and St Martins Press for this gifted copy. Emma St Clair is a favorite author of mine and I loved this book so much! Grumpy/sunshine is a favorite trope along with brothers best friend? My heart was so happy

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i’m just a giggly mess over here! i will read anything that Emma St. Clair writes! I loved this one! The forced proximity, best friends brother, and enemies to lovers tropes were all done to perfection! Emma is a master of humor and writing! i couldn’t stop reading and i didn’t want it to end! this one deserves all the stars!
⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
clean!

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BOOK REVIEW: If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair

Do you ever open up a new book, read the first chapter, and immediately know you’re going to love it? That’s what happened when I read, “If All Else Sails” by Emma St. Clair!

Josie is gearing up for her traditional sibling vacation with her big brother, Jacob, when she gets detoured to a creepy murder house. Or at least she thinks that’s what it is before she finds herself detained in the back of a police car.

Somehow the next day, Josie finds herself caretaker to her least favorite person in the world, Wyatt Jacobs. She’s not sure what she ever did to make him hate her, but thankfully the feeling is mutual. She wouldn’t want to date a hockey star anyway…. She thinks. Maybe? It’s complicated. Since Wyatt is injured and can’t currently do much for himself, he has to rely on Josie for pretty much everything. Can they manage to get along for the rest of the summer?

I could say much more but I don’t want to give away any spoilers! 🤫

This book was adorable! I loved seeing the development of each character! Josie is someone with a lot of insecurities, who is able to put her trust in a man once again after being hurt so long ago. Wyatt is a grumpy hockey super star who has to learn to rely on the one person who holds the power to break him.

Fun tropes:
⛵️ Sunshine meets Grumpy
⛵️ Forced Proximity
⛵️ Enemies to Lovers
⛵️ One bed
⛵️ He’s her brother’s best friend

I loved that this book is closed door romance! There is a ton of romance involved but it’s all completely appropriate for your teenagers to read! There’s also no crass language or swearing used. ❤️

Excuse me while I go binge read everything by Emma St. Clair!

I rate this book as 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for my honest unbiased opinion.

#emmastclair #ifallelsesails #romance #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booksta #readersofinstagram #readersofig #readersofinsta #readersgonnaread #arc #arcreader

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Emma St. Clair does it again! Such a cute and cozy story that can definitely help lighten your mood and brighten your day. Highly recommend this one!!

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#ifallelsesails #netgalley
**A Delightfully Grumpy-Sunshine Romance with Heart and Humor**

This charming and heartwarming romance delivers everything you could want in an enemies-to-lovers story—humor, heart, and undeniable chemistry.

When Josie is tricked into babysitting her brother's injured (and infuriating) hockey player best friend, Wyatt, she expects nothing but frustration. What she doesn't expect is to slowly peel back the layers of his grumpy exterior and discover the man beneath. From awkward physical therapy sessions to an unexpected sailing adventure filled with tension and tenderness, their journey is both emotional and laugh-out-loud funny.

The dynamic between Josie and Wyatt is electric, filled with witty banter and slow-burning tension that keeps the pages turning. As they navigate tight quarters and shared struggles, the emotional depth of their connection unfolds beautifully, making their eventual romance feel authentic and well-earned.

The backdrop of the Virginia coast and their unconventional mission to scatter Wyatt’s uncle's ashes adds a unique and heartfelt layer to the story, blending humor and healing in a way that feels fresh and engaging.

With its lovable characters, slow-burn romance, and just the right amount of angst, this novel is perfect for fans of grumpy-sunshine pairings and forced proximity tropes. A must-read for anyone who loves a feel-good romance with plenty of heart!

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If All Else Sails was the cutest read!! I loved watching Wyatt transform from being grumpy to being so sweet- both to Josie and to everyone else! The forced proximity on the boat was sooooo good. Though who could blame Josie for ogling a shirtless hockey player sailing her down the ocean… I rest my case.

I couldn’t help but love the matchmaking scheme from Jacob, Josie’s brother and Wyatt’s friend. It cracked me up how nonchalant he was about the whole dynamic between Josie and Wyatt- especially when both Josie and Wyatt are worrying about what Jacob will think! I just loved that family dynamic & the warmth that grows there.

I have to say how much I love the sweet pup character of Jib!!! Not only is she the loveliest boat companion for Wyatt and Josie, but she also is the perfect fit to creating their found family. Wyatt using the words “our dog” melted both Josie and me!!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Loved this He Falls First story set in the Appie world. There were so many cute moments, including some fever confessions and a one bed troupe moment. But there was also some real depth of character in this book. Wyatt has some family issues and Josie has some trauma she’s never dealt with or overcome. Together they find healing and love.

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I just want to start off by giving my sincerest thanks and appreciation towards Emma St. Clair, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Netgalley for this ARC read of If All Else Sails.

I wish I could give this book way more than 5 Stars. I just finished it and I cannot even begin to articulate the feelings this book gave me. Josie and Wyatt were such amazing main characters and their personalities complimented each other so well. If you've read Emma St. Clair's Just Don't Fall, Wyatt and some other characters may sound awfully familiar *cough*Appies*cough*. Without giving too much away, If All Else Sails gives everything you would want in a RomCom book with a small slice of Hockey (for those who may not want to be completely engulfed in those types of Sports Romances). The story focuses on Wyatt, a hockey player, who is faced with a huge blockade in his career; and Josie, an elementary school nurse who happens to be the sister of Wyatt's best friend and unfortunate and unwilling tribute to help Wyatt overcome his issues. Misunderstood interactions when they were younger, plus a run in with the law causes the whole thing to start off rocky (to say the least) but maybe a trip down the Intracoastal Waterway will help them both.


On a side note: I fangirled when I read that the main character lived in Fredericksburg and was from Richmond. I myself was born and raised in Fredericksburg and have lived in the metro Richmond area for the past 10+ years. To be able to relate to a book on this level was new to me and I loved it. It's not often that I'm able to pick up a book and have such a strong familiarity to the setting. I also had no idea going into this book about that bit of information so it was an added bonus.

When If All Else Sails releases in August, I 100% recommend it to anyone who is familiar with the Appies and/or enjoys Emma St. Clair's books or just RomComs in general.

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If All Else Sails is a delightfully funny romcom between Wyatt, a grumpy hockey player, and Josie, the sunny sister of his sports agent. Wyatt has always harbored a crushed on Josie, but whenever he's crossed paths with her, he's ended up saying the wrong thing, causing Josie to think he hated her.

When an injury to Wyatt forces them together, both Wyatt and Josie discover that their entire relationship has been full of one misunderstanding after another. Their love story culminates with a fun sailing trip from Virginia to Georgia where Wyatt and Josie are finally able to clear the fog between them and get to their happily ever after.

I discovered Emma St. Clair's books about two or three years ago and have read most of her titles. The Appies series released last year, however, quickly captured my heart and I was excited to see Wyatt receive his own story. This book did not disappoint and is up there with my all-time favorite books Emma has written. It stands alone from the other Appies books, but is still connected with some fun cameos by Eli and Van.

Emma St. Clair has always been a gifted writer. Her books are packed with witty banter and sweet romance, but in If All Else Sails, I felt that she'd reached a new level to her writing. I can't recommend If All Else Sails highly enough.

If you enjoy the following tropes: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, grumpy sunshine, he falls first, only one bed, and small town romcoms, this book is for you.

Kissing only with no spice.

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Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

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This was so funny, like every book she writes its a gold mine of funny stories and hilarious animals and the grumpy hockey player who softens to josie. One meddling brother who we love also. If you read her appies books you get a couple players as a cameo.

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This was a good story. My personal preference would have been less words to describe a situation. But then as the book went on it helped to understand the characters later. I would have liked a better explanation of the Dad and what his status was. I am so glad I was able to read this book

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"If All Else Sails" by Emma St. Clair is a delightful romantic comedy that navigates the choppy waters of enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity tropes.

The story follows Josie, a spirited school nurse, and Wyatt, her brother's grumpy best friend and a professional hockey player sidelined by injury. When circumstances force them to share a "quaint little murder cottage," their mutual irritation sets sail toward unexpected chemistry.
A spontaneous sailing trip down the Intracoastal Waterway further tightens their close quarters, leading to humorous mishaps and heartfelt moments.

St. Clair masterfully crafts witty banter and slow-burning romance, making this novel a refreshing and enjoyable read for fans of clean, contemporary romance.

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This book was the perfect room com!!!! From the beginning which was laugh out loud hysterical, to the grumpy vs sunshine. The Dogs outfits, and their HEA. I loved every second of this book!! And the Appies showed up! Even better!!

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If you like the brother’s best friend, enemies-to-lovers and/or the “he fell first” tropes this is the book for you!! Wyatt and Josie’s dynamic is electric from the start!! Wyatt is such a green flag book boyfriend. The way he fumbles over words when he’s around Josie is absolutely adorable! Josie is so sassy and funny, I’d want to be her friend in real life! As someone who grew up sailing and loving hockey this was the best combination to read! I’ve honestly never read something that married my two passions together and I loved every second!!

This book had me actually laughing out loud multiple times. It is definitely a good beach/summer read if you are looking for something wholesome and fun! There is barely any spice but not every romance book needs spice to be great.

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LOVED LOVED LOVED this. Romantic, intriguing. First time reading this author and will be searching out more of her work. Twists and turns that kept me interested, was in a bit of a reading slump and this pulled me out of it.

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Emma St. Clair has provided a delightful story that is deep in scope yet entirely uplifting. It features themes of loyalty in the face of misunderstanding, the importance of self introspection and happiness in family relations that sustain us. There is humor and tenderness that I really loved. I highly, highly recommend this book and feel like there might be more that I might look forward to with some of the other characters.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

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I love this book so much! It was such an easy read and a book that I wanted to keep coming back to because of how interesting the plot was. I especially love Josie and Wyatt!This book got me out of my longest reading slump! I highly recommend it! Both characters had amazing growth in themselves but also in their relationship! I never wanted to put this book down and was constantly picking it up every time I saw my kindle.

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** Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishing for giving me an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!**

I really enjoyed this book! I was hooked from the beginning. While the writing was slightly repetitive, it didn't bother me. And the banter! The banter was amazing. I was laughing out loud for probably half the book.

The romance was super sweet, and the story was so fun to read about. I will say the characters seemed to have perfect recall of every time they've ever been around each other, which is far-fetched in my opinion, but it was still super cute. It's also really clean, which I appreciate! I would definitely recommend this for a fun, clean summer read.

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Emma St. Clair is quickly becoming a must-read for me. IF ALL ELSE SAILS is her latest tour de force and it’s yet another unputdownable romance.

I’m calling it now: St. Clair is this year’s author to watch!

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Excellent book! When I figured out the MMC was Wyatt, formerly of the Appies, I may have squealed a bit :) Right from the very beginning, I was all in! When Wyatt is injured and Josie steps up to help, I knew it was going to be a great story. I was not wrong. Wyatt definitely did not like giving up control and Josie was very reluctant to take hold of that control. The fever scene was great! The cameo of Van and Eli was the chef's kiss. The trip down the Intracoastal Waterway to scatter his uncle's ashes gave a good emotional touch to the story. Highly recommend!

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Emma knows how to do grumpy/sunshine/enemies to lovers. I always get nervous when I see a grumpy MMC because a lot of authors write them flat out rude, not grumpy. But not Miss Emma, she made Wyatt the perfect amount of grumpy. And Josie’s banter with him was PERFECTION. I loved the forced proximity on a sailboat (I’ve never read anything that takes place on a sailboat before!) and the dog was just the cherry on top of the story! This is the perfect summer read and literally everyone needs to pick it up!

content ratings:
- no explicit language
- closed door/kisses only

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Aah so good, thankyou for allowing me to read this ARC I love the ties to the appies series! I was desperately waiting for josie to rock her grouch sleep shirt but alas I just imagined it anyway 😍
I really loved the forced proximtry and the matchmaking efforts by Jacob. I love the sail boat giving the story a completely fresh feeling but feeling safe and cozy like my favourite hockey series. Definitely recommend, definitely cannot wait for audio so I can listen and fall in love all over again.

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Josie is set up by her manipulative brother to help his client/best friend, hockey player Wyatt, recover from an injury. Only he doesn't realize who showed up on his lawn and nearly has her arrested. The two have a tumultuous relationship, mixing like oil and vinegar from the first time they met. Only as they are forced to spend time together, Josie realizes her first (and second and third) impressions of Wyatt might not have been accurate. Josie agrees to help Wyatt with his planned sailing trip on the condition that he get the physical therapy he needs to recover from his injury. And on that trip, the truth comes out and Josie has to figure out what to do with it. It was a sweet, fun, romcom with a fun glance of life on the Intracostal Waterway from VA to GA.

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I loved this book!!!! If All Else Sails, is the perfect combination of cozy and humor. I fell in love with the main characters as they navigate their way through what was, while trying to make sense of all that they are feeling now. Because of the playful dialog and beautiful setting, I really think this would make a great movie, too!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the advanced copy. All reviews are my own.

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I knew Emma St. Clair and had enjoyed a few of her books before; to me, "All Else Sails" confirms her talent.

I loved the premise: Josie turns her at a strange little cottage for her brother's Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza, only to find that the only person there is hockey player Wyatt, her brother's best friend but someone Josie loathes. She hates athletes, and this one in particular. When he calls the police on her, he certainly doesn't arrange his case. But he's injured, and feeling a little depressed, and Josie feels forced to stay and look after him. Slowly, they develop a friendship, and Josie soon accepts to go sailing with Wyatt in memory of his late uncle.

This was a very sweet story, with two well-developed characters with some chemistry. I enjoyed their witty banter and the way they could show their real self to each other. I enjoyed the different settings where the story took place, I only wish more of the story happened on the sailboat.

*I received a free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion*

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Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

Holy moly, this book was just perfect. The main characters had their own history, as well as their own personal issues and it all came together so beautifully into this story. The dual perspective was great and enjoyable. The plot and storyline were set at a nice pace. There were even a few events I didn't see coming that made me want to cry! Can't recommend this book enough!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book, but all opinions expressed are completely my own.

I was lucky enough to get an early copy of If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair, and let me tell you—it made my little hockey romance heart so happy! If I have one guilty pleasure (okay, more than one, but I digress), it’s my love for hockey romances. I honestly don’t know how it started, but for some reason, they always hit the spot. Sure, they’re filled with familiar tropes and guaranteed HEAs, but honestly, what’s wrong with that? In my book (pun intended), absolutely nothing. And let’s be clear—there should never be any guilt in reading what you love!

This story follows Wyatt, a former Appie (IYKYK) player, and Josie, an elementary school nurse—and the sister of his best friend, Jacob. Josie heads to a small cottage expecting a sibling getaway, only to find Jacob missing and Wyatt—her supposed enemy—living there while recovering from an off-season injury. Grumpier than ever, Wyatt isn’t exactly thrilled about unexpected company. But after some convincing (and a little bribery), Josie stays to help him out. Forced into close quarters, she quickly realizes that everything she thought she knew about Wyatt might just be wrong.

I really enjoyed this book! While there’s no on-the-ice hockey action, that’s no drawback—the story flows so well that you don’t miss it. It’s the perfect mix of humor and romance, unrequited love, and hidden secrets. If you’re a fan of heartfelt, slow-burn love stories with just the right amount of tension and warmth, If All Else Sails is definitely worth the read!

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The cover, the author and the description pulled me in - and the story hooked me! Emma St. Clair has written a witty, sweet and cozy, slow burn romance with some of my favorite tropes - annoyed to lovers, brother's best friend, close proximity, and ONE BED! This book also delivers on two of my favorite side characters....a meddling family member/friend and pet that charms the reader. And then there was the little sneaky surprise that sealed the deal for me, this is Wyatt from the Appies! If you’ve read the Sweater Weather series and the Appie’s series that followed, we get Wyatt’s story (he was on the Appies and was drafted to the NHL) and have some cameos from other Appies players!

I don’t know how they do it, but some of my favorite closed door romance authors really nail the funny/memorable details and Emma St. Clair is one of those authors. Some of my favorite details:

-Super Sibling Extravaganza
-mutant pigs
-poison oak (at the most convenient time)
-Jib Jabberwocky the dog
-the boat shoes
-murder cottage
-cool whip container
-Wyatt’s mom
-foot in mouth disease

If All Else Sails is the perfect cute, clean summer read. It is a swoony slowburn and will leave you smiling. Grab it for a poolside or beachside read.

There are some deeper topics, but they are kept very surface level. So if you are looking for emotional depth, this book wouldn’t be for you.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for a chance to read the ARC.

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Perfect mix of swoon-worthy romance, laugh-out-loud humor, and just the right amount of heartfelt emotion. From the very first page, I was completely swept away (pun totally intended) by the charming characters, witty banter, and undeniable chemistry.

The romance? Pure chef’s kiss perfection—slow burn with all the tension and just the right amount of angst. The humor? Absolutely spot-on, with moments that had me laughing out loud. And the emotional depth? Sneaks up on you in the best way, making the love story even more satisfying.

If you love stories that feel like a warm hug with a side of hilarious chaos and all the swoons, If All Else Sails is a must-read. Trust me, you’ll be grinning from start to finish! ⛵💕😂

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Wyatt and Josie are one of my favorite book couples! They have great banter and I was seruisly laughing at times. -I loved how when they began traveling together everything just got better. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this I loved it.

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If All Else Sails is a charming, feel-good romance that blends humor, heart, and just the right amount of swoon. Emma St. Clair crafts lovable characters and witty banter that make the story impossible to put down. It’s a delightful escape full of warmth, second chances, and the kind of chemistry that leaves you smiling long after the final page.

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Enemies to lovers? Check. Forced proximity? Check. A grumpy hockey player and a no-nonsense nurse stuck in a rundown cottage with unresolved tension simmering beneath the surface? Triple check.

This witty and heartwarming romance follows Josie, a school nurse with a grudge, and Wyatt, her brother’s best friend and injured pro hockey player. Thanks to a sneaky setup by Josie’s brother, the two are thrown together for a summer at what Josie dubs the "quaint little murder cottage" in Virginia’s Northern Neck. What starts as a begrudging arrangement soon evolves into something deeper, funnier, and surprisingly tender.

The dynamic between Josie and Wyatt is classic slow-burn—full of snark, banter, and just the right amount of tension. As they sail down the Intracoastal Waterway (yes, there's a boat!), they’re forced to confront not just their misconceptions about each other, but also about themselves.

It was also a treat to see familiar faces from a previous book make an appearance—like catching up with old friends and getting a glimpse of their lives after their own happy ending.

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Thank you to Thomas Nelson for the ARC of If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair. All opinions are my own.

I’ll honestly read anything this author writes, but wow does this book stand out as one of my favorites from her. I read the book in two days because I just didn’t want to put it down.

If I had to describe this book with one word, it would be tender. I don’t use this word a lot, but the character interactions and romantic moments were so tender, and It really made me love this story.

This book follows Wyatt, a professional hockey player that is supposed to be recovering from an injury. Instead, he has become reclusive and is staying in a beach house left to him by his late uncle. His agent Jacob is worried about his mental and physical health, so he decides to send his own sister to go stay with Wyatt. Jacob’s sister Josie is an elementary school nurse, and she has no idea that she’s been sent to get Wyatt back on his feet. She thinks she’s going on a sibling summer vacation with her brother.

Because Wyatt and Josie aren’t expecting to see each other, their first interaction is hilarious. There’s also so many other funny moments between them (especially the pigs!). Besides the humor in this book, the author did a fantastic job creating emotional depth between these characters.

Each of these characters is dealing with different issues, so it was beautiful to see how each character grew to not only accept themselves but to not settle for the situations they found themselves in. I loved the vulnerability these characters shared with each other, and it was so nice to see them lean on each other through their difficult circumstances.

This story has a slow burn romance that is so sweet because the characters build a friendship before they’re finally ready to share their feelings with each other. I loved seeing Josie and Wyatt learn from each other, and their sailing trip was such a fun part of the plot.

Overall, I can’t recommend this book enough! If you want a heartfelt and tender romance between two hurting people, this is the book for you.

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If All Else Sails by Emma St Clair

I loved this book so much! The beginning hooked me immediately, the tropes were troping, and I had a great time while reading it! The beginning was so funny and then it turned tender and swoony.

Josie's brother tricks her into nursing his biggest professional hockey client back to health. Too bad it's Wyatt Jacobs and they do not get along. On top of that, he tries to have her arrested for trespassing on his property. Now she's stuck in a murder cottage with a hulking, grumpy athlete in the middle of nowhere. But there might be more to him than the grump she thinks she knows!

If you like the "taking care of him when he's sick" trope, you'll love this. It is also a super slow burn with good communication! Swipe for a quote from our man Wyatt Jacobs on the third slide. 🔥

If you loved the Appies hockey series by Emma St Clair and Jenny Proctor, pick this one up! But you definitely don't have to read those first. This is a standalone!

I felt impatient for the next plot point to happen a couple times in the book, so that's why I would give it 4.5 stars instead of the full five. But I have no other complaints for this sweet, mature romance with a road trip (but make it sailing) and an animal sidekick!

The vibes:
Grumpy x sunshine
Brother's best friend
Hockey player but injured
She's a nurse
Tiny dog in lots of cute outfits
No spice

The only bad news I have is that this isn't available until August! But put it on your TBR immediately!

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If All Else Sails is so cute! It’s a funny rom-com that will have you laughing out loud one moment and tearing up during a heartwarming portion the next moment. I couldn’t put it down because it was too cute and captivating. Emma St. Clair was quickly added to my must read list of authors with this one!

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This was such a breath of fresh air! Josie was so witty and funny and had such a great personality. Wyatt is so grouchy but you could tell that underneath that grump, he was soft and sweet!

I didn't want the book to end as the characters were so much fun. I loved how Wyatt honored his uncle Tom throughout the book.

Jib was the cutest and I could almost picture all of his outfits!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

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Thank you Emma St. Clair & NetGalley for this ARC. First of all, I absolutely loved this book. Every trope that I love was in this book. Also, I love Wyatt and Josie. Their chemistry and banter is so good. Also, Jib is so cute. I absolutely loved the direction this book took. If you're seeking a heartwarming romance set behind closed doors, complete with an adorable dog and a sports microtrope, this book is for you!

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To start out, I have to say I have loved every book I have read by Emma St. Clair. But this one is probably my favorite one of all! It was such a cute romcom and I loved every minute of it.
I definitely recommend you give this a read especially if you love an enemies to lovers romance between a handsome famous hockey player and a kind-hearted school nurse. If you like sailing, there is a lot of that mixed in too. Plus the witty banter and the swoony kisses, this book is sure to make you smile.
This is a closed door romance featuring just kisses and lots of fun flirting. My favorite kind of romance.

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Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction Publishing. This is such a cute little romance. I’m absolutely in love with Josie and Wyatt I’m sad this books is over! This book had me giggling and kicking my feet the whole time. Wyatt is the perfect grumpy but sweet MMC and Josie is quirky sunshine. I will never be able to look at a hockey stick without laughing and thinking of rouge pigs 😂 I can’t wait to read more of what Emma St. Clair writes!

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Loved this book!!! It was absolutely adorable, a very unique yet believable plot, and as always with Emma st. Clair, great writing!!! I would recommend this to anyone looking to escape and be happy for awhile!

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If you’re into enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and tons of banter, may I recommend If All Else Sails?

Josie thinks she’s showing up for a fun sibling weekend and instead lands at a rundown cottage with Wyatt, the grumpy hockey player (!!!) she can’t stand, who also happens to be her brother’s best friend (fave trope alert!) and client. Josie’s stuck helping Wyatt recover from an injury (screaming rn), and soon she finds herself navigating tight spaces, awkward moments, and a whole lot of canned food.

The chemistry between these two is *chef’s kiss,* from hilarious bickering to heartwarming moments as they slowly start to fall for each other. The boat trip to scatter ashes adds a unique twist and an emotional depth to this book that I was looking for.

It’s a fun, sweet read with just enough tension to keep you hooked. Definitely a perfect summer read if you're in the mood for a sweet, heartwarming romcom.

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Brothers best friend. Grumpy/sunshine. Hockey player albeit without any official hockey.

Things I loved about this book:
1. Wyatt! Oh my. He was such a dream boat! Coming from Josie’s perspective that he hates her to his perspective… loved him.
2. Josie was such a delightful character with how she faced hard things but was able to look past her preconceived notions about Wyatt and herself.
3. Josie’s brother Jacob and how he was a true friend to Wyatt.
4. The sailing adventure- the dog outfits and the people they met along the way.
5. Wyatt’s mom— she was delightful!

Favorite Quotes:
And I remember every word she’s ever spoken to me. Just like I remember every one I’ve said to her, all of which somehow came out of my mouth wrong.

“It’s the way he looks at you,” Eli says. “Like you’re all he sees.” “Or wants to see,” Van agrees.

“My last name looks good on you, Rookie. Maybe we can find a way to keep it there.”

“Because what I want—what I’ve always wanted with you—is everything.”

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (5/5 stars)

Enemies to lovers + one grumpy hockey player + one feisty school nurse = pure summer romcom gold. 🏒💘⛵

When Josie arrives at a rundown cottage instead of the promised sibling getaway, she’s greeted not by family, but by Wyatt—her brother’s injured hockey-star best friend and her sworn nemesis. Add in a forced summer together, unexpected sailing adventures, and a whole lot of unresolved tension, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a slow-burn that sizzles. 😤🔥❤️

This story has everything: sarcastic banter, emotional depth, "grumpy x sunshine" energy, and a sailboat road trip that’s both hilarious and heartfelt. Watching Josie and Wyatt go from barely tolerating each other to something way deeper was such a satisfying, swoon-filled ride. 🛶💬💞

The chemistry? Off the charts. The emotional growth? So real. The side of laughter, longing, and late-night confessions? Chef’s kiss. 👩‍⚕️🍲✨

If you love forced proximity, slow-burn tension, and romance with heart and heat, this one’s your next five-star favorite. It’s tender, funny, and utterly unputdownable. 📚💖⛵

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This was such a fun book!! I loved the chemistry between Wyatt and Josie. Also the grumpiness of Wyatt was so well done! The first scene in the book had me laughing so much and I was hooked through the rest of the story! The characters were both very relatable and unique and had emotional back stories that gave great depth!

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I LOVED this!!! It's not enemies to lovers, it's something much better in my opinion: Wyatt fell first and hard when they first met years ago and has been pining for Josie ever since, but she misunderstood everything and has kept her distance all these years till his injury and her brother force them together again. He is the epitome of a grumpy grump when they first meet again but the way he blossoms in her presence is just wonderful.

He's a hockey player but there's hardly any hockey in this book. I really enjoyed the sailing aspect though! Love the little dog they adopt and her outfits. I just loved everything about this book. My favorite from Emma St Clair by far!

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While not part of any series, If All Else Sails does feature Wyatt, a former Appies player and we see brief appearances from a few other teammates. While you can absolutely enjoy this book without having read that series, it's definitely a fun bonus for those of us who have.

When I pick up a book by Emma St. Clair, there are a few things that I have learned to expect:
-fantastic chemistry and banter
-laugh out loud moments that will keep me smiling
-loveable characters
-and animal shenanigans... of course!

This one did not disappoint on any of those fronts. This story drew me in right away with quite the memorable opening! I found myself laughing right from the start with this one... while the romance was a bit of a slower build, I found myself enjoying every minute with these two as they learn that their initial perceptions of one another might be a little off. The more we got to know them, the more I found myself rooting for them. With some of my favorite tropes (brother's best friend, forced proximity, etc) plus the unique sailing aspect, there was a lot to love with this one!

If All Else Sails is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language. While overall a lighthearted and fun romcom, there is a brief mention of sexual assault/attempted sexual assault, that I thought was handled in such a genuine way. The way the character downplayed her experience is something that I think so many women can related to all too well.

**ARC received via Netgalley for consideration. All opinions are my own.

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Brother’s best friend, school nurse x injured hockey player, close proximity, one bed.. all tropes that had me SAT🧎🏻‍♀️clean romance too!

oh my days and adding the dog to their slow burn romance story was just brilliant!!
I was cracking up at the outfits/costumes Josie was dressing her in as they kept getting more and more unhinged, the matching red bikini was the cherry on top🤣

I think fans of Sarah Adams’ love in Rome would eat this book up just like I did! It gave me the same cozy feels.

PS. This was NOT an enemies to lovers like advertised, more like grumpy x sunshine.
But it was grumpy sunshine done amazingly.

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I Really enjoyed this book, why ? Because it made me laugh out loud several times and that’s pretty rare.
Josie is excited to spend time with her brother for their annual get together so why is she getting out in handcuffs for trespassing on the property her brother had told her to go to ?
Wade is inside the house feeling sorry for himself and his injury and not playing hockey when he hears some noise , calls the cops , and soon the trespasser is in the cop car but wait is that his best friends sister ? Crap . And so the story begins ..
I loved the beginning , middle and end. It kept my attention and interest the entire time. Well done !


Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the copy of the book. I received a complimentary copy, and all opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Brothers best friend? Say less.
But also he fell first and harder. Obsessed. We love a secret golden retriever man hidden under a tough exterior.

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This was such a great enemies to lovers rom com! It had tons of snarky banter and forved proximity while being fun and flirty. Josie and Wyatt had me hooked from the moment she landed at the “murder cottage” and realized she was stuck with her least favorite hockey player. Their slow burn chemistry builds perfectly, and I adored watching Josie challenge Wyatt while he begrudgingly melted for her. I listened to the audiobook and highly recommend it. The narrator nailed both the humor and the emotional parts. I enjoyed this heartwarming summer adventure!

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Loved the witty banter among characters! Thus was the perfect book to get me even more ready for summer! The perfect summer read and full of hilarious moments and great banter among the main characters! Found a new author to put on my list for summer!

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If All Else Sails is the quintessential summer rom-com! At her brother's behest (and the promise of a much-needed summer paycheck), school nurse Josie finds herself nursing his best friend and client, hockey player Wyatt, back to health as he recovers from an injury. I loved that Josie and Wyatt had some history together but their shared summer brought a lot of clarity, a tempestuous sailing trip, and lots of top-notch humor and closed-door heat. I highly recommend this book, as well as anything this author writes because you can't go wrong with Emma St. Clair!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction for gifting me with an ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

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This book (and audiobook — I read and listened) was just absolutely amazing. It had me hooked from the very beginning, and I read it in a day because I didn’t wanna stop! I love the author, and this may be my new favorite from her!

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Talk about a funny meet-cute! Or maybe not so funny in Josie's eyes! Or Wyatt's for that matter! But for us readers, we can definitely see the humor in it. I was giggling and shaking my head. Especially at those police officers. Oh man! And a little bit, or rather a lot of head shaking at Jacob, for his brotherly scheming ways.

I was in the mood for a fun and lighthearted (mostly) rom-com and was on a long drive by myself. So I pulled up this one and had my phone read it to me while I drove. It helped the drive pass quickly and I found myself laughing many times, but I also felt the sadness that these two characters experienced in their past struggles. Unfortunately they've had some misunderstandings, but fortunately, they have plenty of time to clear that up.

Josie is a nurse and agrees to spend some time (after a big misunderstanding thanks to her brother Jacob) helping Wyatt, the big time hockey player, heal from an injury. Some chaos ensues and humor, but most of all healing, in more than just a physical way. I enjoyed the adventures these two end up having. But I especially loved seeing Wyatt's softer and more caring side. Josie starts to learn that perceptions she had of situations were wrong and that Wyatt isn't this grumpy athlete but really a caring and kind hearted friend.

Hop aboard and enjoy a sweet story of healing, adventure, friendship and finding love. Oh and some funny and endearing family members make some appearances as well! I loved them!

Content: Clean. Some kisses but nothing further. Mention of a guy trying to take advantage of a girl but nothing graphic and the girl talking about her healing.

I received a copy from the publisher, Thomas Nelson Fiction, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

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I don’t even have the words to express how much I love and adore this book! I was giddy to discover that Wyatt (a former Appie) was the lead in this story and his meet-cute with Josie was utterly hilarious.

Wyatt is recovering from a hockey injury and Josie, a school nurse, is sent by her brother to care for him–in a m*rder cottage. This book is the perfect summer escape and it’s full of adventure, sailing, a cool whip container, Jib–the best-dressed dog ever, misconceptions, healing, swoony romance, and connection.

Emma St Clair is a favorite author of mine, as she never fails to incorporate a few unbelievable animal instances with her perfect combination of closed door spice, banter, humor, and emotion. The recipes of her books are everything that satisfies and satiates my love for this genre.

This is definitely a book I plan to re-read and has all the feels for an ideal summertime indulgence.

Content: mild romance; off-page vague talk of a near attack

Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for the review copy. I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given*

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Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the eARC of this book.I love Emma St. Clair’s writing, and was very excited when we heard that Wyatt was getting his own book. I loved that this was a hockey book without being a hockey book, and the combination of brother’s best friend, grumpy man, and enemies to lovers made this one great read. This was a cozy read that will be wonderful from the transition of summer into fall.

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This book was awesome from the first page! I truly enjoyed the journey of this romance! The connection between the two main characters was a perfect slow burn. I also enjoyed learning about sailing and working things out together! Such a fun story! I absolutely adore this author!

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own!

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If All Else Sails is full of Emma St. Clair's signature wit and banter, I have yet to be dissapointed by one of her novels.

The hilarity of the opening scenes combined with the superior character development had me devouring this book within 24 hours.

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☀️ grumpy x sunshine
⛵ enemies to lovers
🐶 brothers best friend
💛 clean romance

Josie is on her way for the annual Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza, but when she arrives at the address she is shocked. Her brother is nowhere to be seen and now she is alone at the creepy cottage. When she calls her brother Jacob to ask what's going on, he tells her it was all a ploy to get her to care for his client and best friend, Wyatt.

Wyatt is a famous hockey player and is now recovering from an injury on his foot. Josie has always hated Wyatt from the first time her brother took him home years ago. After some negotiations and money, Josie is persuaded to care for Wyatt for a few weeks.

After these few weeks, Josie started to like caring for Wyatt and decided to go with him on a sailing trip he was planning. This trip wasn’t smooth sailing. Every step of the way something went wrong, but with every step, or rather misstep they learned more about each other and got to know each other better.
Will they still hate each other after this trip or has this trip changed their feelings?

OMG! I loved this book so much. It was funny, cute and sweet but sometimes it was also serious. This book has everything I want in a book.
It felt like I was flying through the book. There was always something happening and there was never a dull moment.
I’m absolutely in love with the characters. I liked them all so much. The banter and the chemistry between Josie and Wyatt was amazing.
This is my first book by Emma St. Clair but I will definitely be reading more of her book. I recommend this book to anyone.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Set sail with Josie and Wyatt on August 5th, 2025!

Josie’s brother, Jacob is in big trouble. He bailed on their summer trip, except he didn’t.

The summer trip was a cover to get Josie to Wyatt’s house. Wyatt, Jacob’s best friend and client, is a professional hockey player who is recovering from a foot injury and is struggling, both physically and mentally. Josie is a school nurse, and had time to kill & could use the money earned from a home care gig. Win-win, right?

Guess again. Neither Josie nor Wyatt had any idea about this plan. They started off on the wrong foot, considering they were both blindsided by Jacob. Wyatt’s goal this summer is to set sail as a tribute to his late uncle. Josie’s goal this summer is to not murder her problematic patient.

Can they fix this summer before time sails away?

I absolutely loved this book. It’s a cute enemies to lovers/forced proximity story. Loved both of the main characters. My favorite parts - sailing & a darling dog named Jib. This is a perfect read for someone who is looking for a low spice, highly adorable romance.

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Classic Emma St Clair humor! Loved the emotional aspects of this romance! Definitely a great summer rom-com to add to your tbr!

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Loved it! Fans of slow burn, laugh out loud moments, he is grumpy, enemies to lovers (at least she thinks so), kisses in the rain
TV Rating: PG (disturbing themes-sexual harassment (brief) in past)

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WOW! Another fantastic book by Emma St Clair, I absolutely loved this enemies to more story! So happy to see Wyatt (a former Appie) get his story, and Josie, a nurse at an elementary school. I laughed at the funny meet-cute that they had, so hilarious. Wyatt is grumpy and Josie is sweet and spunky. I loved the fun, witty banter between them, made for some good laughs. I loved the storyline and how it moved along, the slow burn built perfectly and kept me entertained all the way. Wonderful characters, even the side characters who added so much to the story. Fantastic story you don’t want to miss.

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If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair should be an automatic read for fans of fun, sweet, clean romances. It is a fast paced read with quick, witty banter between the main characters. It would be a great summer read. I give this book a 5 star read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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If All Else Sails: A Novel
Thomas Nelson (August 5, 2025)

A 5 🌟 read for me
🏒 Wyatt embodies the qualities I admire in a man: he is strong, self-controlled, protective, loving, and sensitive to his partner's needs. Plus, he’s also a hockey player, which adds to his charm!
👩‍⚕️ Josie is truly wonderful. She’s independent and capable of handling life on her own, yet she also embraces the support and comfort her partner offers. I appreciate her nurturing spirit as a caregiver; it adds depth to her character.

I absolutely loved the setting and was captivated by the chemistry between Josie and Wyatt. Their “meet cute” at the “Murder Cottage,” where she almost got arrested, was both original and entertaining. The story is filled with hilarious moments that kept me laughing. The witty banter was outstanding, and I’ve even adopted the phrase “fever flirting” into my everyday vocabulary! This book is truly fabulous, and I can't recommend it highly enough. This is a delightful, clean romance that you can enjoy alongside your teens and young adults. Both leads showed remarkable respect for each other, presenting a great example of the qualities young girls should seek in a partner.

I received a complimentary e-copy of this book and read it with pleasure. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review. Thank you, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley.
#NetGalley #ifallelsesails

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If Emma St Clair writes it, I will read it. I loved this story with deep characters, real emotions and wonderful banter. Plus, it's just great writing, with evocative descriptions and great pacing.

I loved how, despite the wrong impression Josie and Wyatt had of each other at the beginning of the book, we saw how they got to know each other and both grew and changed. Josie thought Wyatt hated her, and she wasn't his biggest fan, but then we got to his POV! I really enjoyed how in Wyatt's POV chapters early on, he never outright admits to himself/the reader how he feels about Josie, but we pick it up pretty quickly in his emotional reactions to her, the details about her that he observes, and his memories from the past. That is writing mastery!

These two got into some hilarious situations (the fever honesty, the poison ivy, the dog outfits), which made for a great balance with the deeper emotions that were expressed and explored. I loved their chemistry! I also thoroughly enjoyed the cameos from Eli and Van from the Appies series.

Tropes:
*forced proximity
*brother's best friend
*past miscommunication
*second chance
*grumpy x sunshine
*flashbacks
*injured hockey player MMC
*nurse FMC
*dual POV

Content warning: estranged relationship with father and brother, emotional manipulation and neglect of father (past), recounting of past attempted sexual assault, light innuendo
Intimacy rating: 2 (makeouts)

Thank you Emma St Clair, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the copy of the book. I received a complimentary copy, and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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I love this author. I have read a lot by this author and have loved every book I have come across. I was sucked into this book from the first page and wished I had more story to read.

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This was such a fun and refreshing read! I’m a sucker for a good grumpy sunshine pairing, and Emma St. Clair nailed it with this one. I really loved both main characters—not only their chemistry, but the way they showed up for each other. She takes care of him in such a heartfelt way, and he helps her work through her own struggles too. It felt like a true partnership, which made their relationship that much more satisfying to read.

The sailboat setting was such a cool twist! I haven’t read many romances that take place mostly on the water, so it felt unique and added a lot of charm. (As someone who loves sailing, I especially appreciated those details!)

And if you're a fan of the Apies Hockey series by Emma St. Clair and Jenny Proctor, you're in for a treat—there are some fun familiar faces that pop in, which made the book even better.

Romantic, feel-good, and just different enough to stand out—this one’s definitely going on my favorites list.

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I love this book so much. I listened/read it while I was camping and I finished the whole thing at the lake.

I also got the ebook and the audio copy and the narration was incredible. They perfectly fit the characters and I didn’t want to book to end.

A big thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for both copies of this book!

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Another awesome book from Emma St. Clair. It was so fun to be back in her Appies Hockey World and it was fun being out on the open water instead of the frozen rink. Wyatt was such a grump and I loved that Josie brought him out of his grumpiness. And the history they shared was fun also. I couldn’t with Jib!!!! I’m not a boater but after reading this I want to take a water trip. Ha! Having some the Appies back was fun too. You can never go wrong with they are around. lol.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for this ARC audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: August 5, 2025

I absolutely adored Josie and Wyatt in this enemies to lovers story. Josie is a school nurse who arrives at Wyatt’s run down cottage to meet her brother, who had other plans for Josie. Her brother didn’t arrive for their trip, instead asking Josie to help Wyatt heal after a hockey injury. They end up sailing together and of course fall in love.

I loved the female narrator but struggled to understand the male narrator. His voice at times sounded like he was mumbling and would get quieter.

Overall, very cute and fun story that I couldn’t stop listening to.

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May this kind of love find me. You mean, do I want a grumpy hockey player with foot injury who is actually my brother’s best friend and have me nurse him to health? That sounds scandalous but that will never happen in my life. My life is pretty dull at the moment. But do I want a patient man that will wait for you for how long it takes because he knows you are worth investing all your time in waiting for her? That sounds romantic but impossibly hard you know. Plus the cute banter and interaction, I want that too.

Josie and Wyatt would have the best How I met your mother story to tell their child and grandchild. They were so cute and disgustingly cute that it made you jealous especially if you’re single. And them finally getting together will make you want to throw them to another planet as a congratulation.

This is the kind of rom-com that is quite hard to find, fluffy rom-com with no spicy scenes. None at all. Which is kind of refreshing because it’s been a long time since I read something that purely focuses on romance and not lust. But I do get that sometimes people will get frustrated with the slow progress but I think there’s nothing wrong with it because their romance was so good (also comical) that will make you giggle and shit.

And the plot on the sailing was so detailed. Okay, maybe it’s a bit exaggerated, but for a romance story to put more thought on polishing the setting is something that’s not easy to find. I might not know anything about sailing but I read it and believe everything is true. From their preparation, the journey to any mishap encounter feels like it was based on real experience rather than purely fiction. Which I appreciate for every research to make the sailing plot looks believable and eventful.

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If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair is a fun rom-com, perfect for any day, especially when looking for an opportunity to check out of reality and just enjoy a sweet story with plenty of banter and barbs. Josie and Wyatt are combustible, just not for the reasons they think. I love how Josie’s brother decided on an intervention for one of his best hockey players and sent in the big guns…Josie herself. Josie and Wyatt have one incredible instance after another, which keep peeling back layers and exposing the script they’ve held about each other for years. I love how they each feel free to totally be themselves and find themselves exactly where they never would have believed. As misunderstandings and misrepresentations start to come to light, Wyatt is an all-out softie who, thankfully, happens to a very patient man. Once they hit the water, the smiles kept coming, even though they were laced with some more serious conversations. Loved the addition of Jib!! Pure cuteness. If you have followed Emma St. Clair’s writings, you’ll catch a cameo from some beloved Appie’s players!!

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

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Aww these two! Wyatt is Josie's brother's friend (and eventually client). When they first meet there is an attraction but also a BIG misunderstanding. This leads to years of animosity until Josie's brother tricks them into spending time together. Josie is a nurse and Wyatt is recovering from a surgery that he needs to heal from before he can get back to his professional hockey career. After Wyatt's beloved uncle passed away he is just not that motivated to get to PT and take care of himself.

I really enjoyed this story. These two were fun and funny and so in love.

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This was a hopeful and light-hearted romance with plenty of tension and beautifully written dialogue. If I had a physical copy of this book I would’ve been annotating it left, right and centre!

I really loved the protagonists, Wyatt and Josie. It felt really rewarding to see how both of them found healing and joy in their relationship. I saw some of myself in Josie, and reading about her happily ever after brought me hope for my own future. Wyatt is now easily one of my favourite literary love interests. I loved the open and honest communication, how as they drew closer both protagonists acted realistically as the adults they were. The book was the perfect length, so that the romance didn’t feel rushed or forced, and we could follow how their relationship evolved over time.

I was really surprised by how much I loved reading this as I hadn’t read any of Emma St. Clair’s books beforehand. After enjoying this one so much I’m definitely looking forward to checking out her other works! I can’t wait for this one to hit the shelves so I can recommend it to my reader friends (and possibly snag a physical copy for myself).

I would definitely recommend this to fans of:
- Clean romance
- Forced proximity
- Enemies to lovers

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book! The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

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This book was such a joy to read! From laugh-out-loud moments to heartfelt scenes, it struck a great balance between humor, romance, and adventure. The comedic timing was spot on — I caught myself smiling (and even laughing) more than once, which is always a good sign.

The characters were a definite highlight. I especially adored Wyatt — he completely stole the show for me. Witty, layered, and surprisingly sweet, he was the kind of main character you want more of. The chemistry between the characters made the dialogue come alive; every conversation felt natural, clever, and full of personality.

One of the things I appreciated most was how much growth the characters showed by the end. Their emotional journeys were just as compelling as the physical adventure they were on. And speaking of adventure — it gave the story such great energy, with a love story that unfolded beautifully along the way.

All in all, this was a delightful read that had me hooked from beginning to end. Funny, heartfelt, and full of charm — I already miss these characters!

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What happens when you’re set up by your brother to help your enemy recover from an injury in a run-down murder cottage? That is what Josie wants to know. Her life as a school nurse is safe and predictable, just the way she likes it. When her brother, Jacob, sends her a GPS destination for their summer sibling adventure, Josie finds herself face to face with her enemy Wyatt, hockey player and best friend to her brother. Wyatt is spiraling after an injury, and not going to any of his doctor’s appointments or physical therapy. He’s run off two nurses, and Josie’s brother is sure her tenacity is exactly what Wyatt needs to get him to pull his life back together.
This was a clean romance with lots of laughs and banter, as well as serious moments and growth for both main characters.

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This book was so good! I love that it was kind of connected to the Appies series but also stands on its own. The tension and growth between Wyatt and Josie was so well done and I was drawn in from the very beginning.

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Absolutely delightful! This book was so much fun! I was hooked from the first scene and laughing and completely invested the whole time.

Wyatt and Josie’s romance is slow burn deliciousness with all the forced proximity goodness I love. The romance was so sweet and I loved to see Josie peel back the layers that make up the grouchy Wyatt and get to know his softer attributes.

Everything you can expect from an Emma St. Clair book was delivered in spades—from laugh out loud scenes to animal encounters. I love the way she uses analogies and creative descriptions to really make the story come to life. The setting as well as the characters’ emotions and actions all felt real and relatable. The adorable chapter titles were a fun bonus addition.

I loved the different settings of the “quaint little murder cottage” and the sailboat. It’s not a hockey book, because he’s recovering from an injury, but there was some fun discussion about the sport and his former team, the Appies.

As an all-time Emma St. Clair fan girl, this book gave me everything I had hoped for and more. I highly recommend any romcom lover pick this one up!

🔥: Kisses

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Tricked into romance?
A wonderfully fun enemies to lovers romance that will have you laughing and sighing. Josie is promised a Super Sibling Extravaganza with her brother, only to find herself standing in front of a run down, abandoned looking cottage. Only after she has been arrested, does she find out she’s been tricked by her brother, a sports agent, into nursing Wyatt, one of his client’s back to health. The kicker is that she knows he can’t stand her and she feels the same. Only the promise of a large payment gets her to agree to stay and thus begins the battles. Convincing him to see the doctor, physical therapist, and do his exercises is a chore only achieved by promising to go on a sailing trip with him. Soon she begins to see and appreciate another side of Wyatt that the world doesn’t see and she begins to wonder if perhaps she’s been wrong. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy. This is my review and all thoughts are my own.

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This was a wonderful, lighthearted romance! Emma St. Clair delivers another winner, with a grumpy hero, sunny heroine, and banter galore. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and didn't want it to end!

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My first read from this author, but I really love the story. Well developed characters and a sweet romance !

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Loved this! Josie’s brother, Jacob, asks her to help Wyatt, who is her brother’s best friend and also his agent. Wyatt, a hockey player, was injured and refuses to go to physical therapy or any doctor’s appointments. Josie reluctantly agrees to help Wyatt, and as the two spend more time together, they begin to slowly get along even though they have an unpleasant past. Wyatt’s mom visits and tells her that Wyatt and his uncle, who died a year ago, were going to sail the Intracoastal this summer. Josie finds she’s enjoying helping Wyatt recover, and when he asks her if she wants to go on the sailing trip with him she agrees to go if he continues with his physical therapy. Josie wonders could things work with Wyatt. Wyatt asks her if she wants to be only friends, and she says I don’t know. As they begin their sailing trip, they have fun. Josie wonders could we have gone from dislike to like or even love? What ends up happening?
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

✨ “You didn’t need to knock”, I say. Josie shrugs, “You called the cops when I set foot on your property. Who knows what you’d do if I walked inside without knocking.” She says airily ✨

✨Am I so desperate for her attention that I’ll even take it in the negative form? Maybe✨

✨Quiet mornings and afternoons and evenings with Josie telling me about things I only care about becasue they matter to her ✨

✨My last name looks good on you Rookie. Maybe we can find a way to keep it there.” ✨

📖
Josie, an elementary school nurse, is tricked into spending the summer with her brother’s best friend, Wyatt—a grumpy (but let’s be honest, 🔥), famous hockey player recovering from knee surgery. What should’ve been a chill sibling vacation turns into weeks of awkward tension, hilarious banter, and slow-burn romance at a rundown Virginia cottage. Add a boat, a healing journey down the Intracoastal Waterway, and forced proximity? You already know chaos and chemistry are sailing right in. ⛵💞

💭 My Thoughts 💭
Let me just say one thing about Emma St. Clair... she NEVER misses. PERIOD. I was grinning, swooning, and absolutely head over heels with WYATT 😩🔥 Like... WHEN will it be my turn?! Just send a warning next time because this man’s LINES?! Ughhhh I was DONE. 💘

Emma really knows how to make you fall for her characters—and fall hard. Josie? Hilarious. Smart. Sassy. And the chemistry between her and Wyatt? Off. The. Charts. 🔥💥

And don’t even get me started on the NICKNAME. “Rookie”?? Chef’s kiss. Plus, Wyatt noticing all the little things? Obsessed. He has officially been added to my book boyfriend list at 10,000% ✅💯

ANDDDD, we got a little Van cameo?! Yes please 🙌 Seeing familiar faces again made this feel like the perfect cherry on top. 🍒

I meannnn this was going to be a 5-star rate for me regardless becasue we got to see VAN AGAIN and I absolutely love that man.

If you love romance that’s equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and hopelessly swoony—If All Else Sails should definitely be on your TBR 📚💕

🙏 God bless everyone 🙏

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This book was a delight! I really thinks it is the best romance Mrs. Emma St. Clair has ever written. She has matured her narrative a lot! Favorited.

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Thanks to netgalley for the preview in return for an honest review!

This novel was perfect. Great pace, characters, setting, dilemma etc. I hadn’t read this author previously but will now look for her books! Nothing spicy, this was a very PG family friendly read. Josie, a school nurse with reservations about men (especially athletes), was a little too in her head for the last fourth of the book, but it wasn’t inconceivable why she was so anxious. Wyatt, her brother's best friend/client, was basically too good to be true but I’ll take it!

Read if you like: enemies to lovers, sailing!, forced proximity situations and easy to read romance.

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This book had me from the very first page! Josie is a heroine who is so relatable- an everywoman who gets up every day and does the best she can, while delicately navigating the traumas life throws at her- and in this case, it's her sneaky brother sending her to rescue his best friend (and most lucrative sports contract) injured hockey player Wyatt. Brooding and grouchy, Wyatt and Josie have some history...but this new chapter starts when he calls the cops on her! I absolutely loved this book, the story, the characters, and the snark. A sweet romance with a low spice level, I'd feel. confident recommending this book to any reader who wanted a sweet summer romance. A solid A++ for me!

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This book was a perfect slice of heaven. I love St. Clair’s writing. I’ve read many of her books so there was no doubt I’d love this one too.

Wyatt and Josie are so well done. Wyatt is a lovable grump and Josie is exactly what he needs. Jacob (Josie’s brother) schemes for Josie to meet him for a sibling outing, but what actually happens is the the perfect plan to get her to Wyatt and I loved all the events that take place to get the two together.

As always with St. Clair’s books there is humor and heart. The well-written side characters come in with full force and leave lasting impressions - Wyatt’s mom and Wanda to name a couple. There are surprise visits from characters I was more than thrilled to see.

I loved how Wyatt and Josie worked together on the boat and the ending revelations from one character pulled at my heart strings. The sailing was a fun addition. Their banter was so enjoyable and their chemistry was perfectly done.

Thank you to the publisher for the NetGalley approval for the ebook and the audio. All views are my own.

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What a great story! I love Emma St. Clair's style of writing, she just pulls you when, and you don't want to put the book down. Josie and Wyatt have know each other for years but didn't get along all that well. They each thought the other didn't like them for some reason or other. Josie's brother comes up with an excuse to get them together and the excitement begins. This is a really sweet story.
Thank you Emma St. Clair and Net Galley for an ARC for an honest review.

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I absolutely LOVED If All Else Sails, the tension and banter was everything! You get it all - love, family, and laughs. Josie gets tricked into a sibling vacation that actually ends up being her brother wanting her to care for his friend Wyatt while he's recovering from an injury. Wyatt's the grumpy MMC we all love, the tough" I don't need help"act. Josie agrees only for her own incentives her brother offers. The growth they both go thru in the book is beautiful, they both end up being there for each other in the end. Grumpy meets Grumpier. As they both overcome their own darknesses, the warmth between them grows too. Theres so much depth and emotion to the story. The dual POV was exactly what I needed , i love me a good MMC POV! Wyatt is just "a secret softie wrapped in porcupine quills". Get ready for all the feels, this is the perfect summer read!

My favorite quote :
"Butterfly kisses were immortalized in song, but someone should really write a banger about bird-feather touches. Wyatt’s contact is hummingbird fast—there and gone. Whispers of warm skin disappearing before I can lean in for more. He leaves goose bumps and shortness of breath in his wake."

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Emma St. Clair's If All Else Sails is a delightful enemies-to-lovers romance that takes school nurse Josie and her brother's best friend, grumpy hockey player Wyatt Jacobs, on a summer adventure far from smooth sailing. What Josie expects to be her "Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza" turns into a reluctant cohabitation at a "run-down cottage" on Virginia's Northern Neck—with Wyatt, her sworn enemy.

Her sports agent brother has orchestrated this bizarre arrangement: Josie is to help Wyatt recover from an injury. Bandaging skinned knees is one thing, but physical therapy for a surly hockey player is a whole new challenge. Yet, the price her brother offers is enough to tempt her, even if it means sharing what she lovingly dubs the "quaint little murder cottage" with Wyatt.

Begrudgingly, Josie begins to see beyond Wyatt's grumpy exterior. When she learns he was meant to sail the Intracoastal Waterway to Savannah to scatter his uncle's ashes, Josie, to her own surprise, offers to be his first mate. Their journey is anything but smooth, filled with cramped quarters, canned food, and constant bickering, leaving Josie to wonder if they'll make it home without killing—or kissing—each other. As she peels back Wyatt's layers, Josie realizes she's misunderstood not only him and their shared history, but perhaps herself as well. This charming read promises a journey of self-discovery and unexpected romance on the high seas.

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AHH! So adorable!!

When school nurse Josie is tricked into take care of her brother's best friend Wyatt while he recovers from a hockey injury, her feelings toward him are turned upside down when she realizes everything she thought about him has been wrong.

All Wyatt wants is to be left alone....and recover from his injury so he can return to hockey...and take the sailing trip he planned in memory of his uncle. Though Josie won't leave him alone, he realizes he can't - and doesn't - want her to, neither does he want to do the other things without her. It may just take some time alone on a boat together for them to finally accept that they may just be perfect for each other after all.

What you'll love:
brother’s best friend
dual pov
he falls first
slow burn
hockey player (injured)
grumpy/sunshine
the re-meet cute
animal mishaps
Jib’s outfits
forced proximity
the entire sailing trip
THAT KISS!!!
Appies cameos

Squee!!!! I was so excited that we get Wyatt's (former Appies hockey player) cute story! He was definitely a favorite character from that series and deserved to get his HEA and oh my, Josie was definitely the woman for him! As things from their past revealed I was more and more excited to see them end up together!

This book has all the laugh out loud moments and wit and banter that I have come to expect and love in Emma's books. I laughed so hard at their second meet-cute that I had literal tears coming down my face! And I loved that all of those funny moments are weaved so perfectly with moments of depth and heart as well as swoony romance. All that tension and chemistry and oh mylanta, that kiss was more than worth the wait.

This book accomplished two things: made me want to go on a sailing trip and made me fall in love with Emma's books even more than I already have. If you have loved her indie books, then you will love this one too!! She is a forever favorite and I will never tire of reading her stories!

I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.

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Sadly, this ARC doesn't release until August 2025 so it almost misses a chance to be on your Summer TBR. But, add it to the list. Elementary school nurse thinks she is going on a trip with her sports agent brother only to find out he planned something else...

It's funny, romantic, and easy to read.

Disclaimer: None

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book at no cost in exchange for an honest review.

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Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction, NetGalley and Emma St. Clair for an eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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Emma St. Clair did it again! I absolutely loved this book. Since starting the Appies series I have wanted Wyatt's story and I'm so glad I finally have it. This enemies to lovers, forced proximity book proved to add all of the right tension. Wyatt self sabotaging his recovery made so much sense with the grief he was experiencing. Josie being a nurse and in need of money was just what was needed to get Wyatt back on track with his recovery. The only issue... they are NOT big fans of each other. Josie thinks Wyatt hates her... not to mention the fact that she hates hockey players, but she really needs the money so she takes care of Wyatt (despite his many protests). They grow closer and we get to know each character more as they get to know one another. Overall, this book was so good and it is definitely one of my favorites by Emma St. Clair. I have a soft spot for Wyatt and he's definitely one of my favorite MMC's. A man who can sail? YES PLEASE. However, I will never look at Cool Whip the same way again lol. iykyk.

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ARC/ ALC REVIEW

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Josie, an elementary school nurse, thinks she is headed for a sibling getaway. But when she discovers she will be caring for her brother’s best friend, Wyatt- a grumpy, professional hockey player who just so happens to be her mortal enemy- she gets the shock of a lifetime. Will she stick around until he fully recovers, or will the total seclusion be too much for her to handle?

Emma St Clair’s upcoming book, If All Else Sails, is set to release later this summer. This is perfect timing as it makes for the ideal travel companion. In fact, upon release it will be available in ALL formats. With endless options for consumption, reading just got a whole lot easier!

As with all of St. Clair’s writing, she hooked me right from the start. This book features popular tropes such as enemies-to-lovers, brother’s best friend, grumpy/ sunshine, forced proximity, and so much more. But don’t be fooled. While this book does have its light and fluffy moments, it also tackles heavy topics.

Being a die hard Emma St. Clair girly, I would have loved this book, no matter what. But I loved it ten times more when I found out it featuring Wyatt, a former Appie player. While it isn’t apart of the Appie Series, it is apart of the Appie Universe. You can even count on a few fan favorites to make a surprise appearance!

While I could talk about If All Else Sails for hours, I don’t want to spoil the plot. I hope I have encouraged you to give this book a read the second it comes out. Special thanks to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, Zonder Fiction Audio, and Emma St. Clair for allowing me to read/ listen to this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Josie thinks she's showing up at a run-down but waterfront cabin to spend some bonding time with her brother, but it turns out her brother has other ideas: for her to spend the summer babysitting his client, professional hockey player Wyatt, who instead of doing everything he can to recover from an injury seems to be throwing himself a pity party and not taking the steps he needs to to get back on the ice. When an unfortunate misunderstanding leads to a less-than-stellar reunion between Josie and Wyatt, the summer starts off on a sour note. But a small cabin and an even smaller sailboat bring these two closer together.

I'm a huge fan of Emma St. Clair's indie books, including her Appies hockey ones, so I was SO excited to see Wyatt finally make an appearance! St. Clair is a master of closed door romance, giving us everything we need without any door slams or disappointment. I loved Josie and Wyatt (separately and together) and I really enjoyed the sailboat setting in the latter half of the book. It gave me Swept Away or The Love Haters vibes without any of the trauma or disaster of being stranded at sea. I just love ocean vibes. Anything I can do to get more hockey players on my pages, I will!

Thanks to Thomas Nelson for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

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Wyatt is grumpy but he used to be an Appie so I gave him space to growl.
Josie is a school nurse whose brother bamboozled her into helping Wyatt out during her summer break. There’s a murder cottage, an old truck, the summer sun, the Intercostal Waterway and a sailboat rounding out the cast of characters. A story of healing with the right amount of humor and the perfect slow burn romance made this a sweet read.

You don’t need to know what an Appie is to read this book but grab that series next you’ll thank me later.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

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Loved this book … I know absolutely nothing about hockey but have SO enjoyed this Appie team! The travelogue on the Intracoastal Waterway was awesome! All the characters were all so endearing and Jib was beyond wonderful! I would love to see a follow up story for Jacob …. Definitely give this one a try - and go back and read the rest of the Appie books!

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If All Else Sails is author Emma St. Clair’s first book released by a major publisher. It’s a standalone book but is connected to the independently published Appies hockey romantic comedy series by Emma St. Clair and Jenny Proctor. All of the Appies books are free of profanity and sex scenes, with the romance limited to kissing.

Wyatt Jacobs was introduced in earlier Appies books as a member of the Appies minor-league hockey team, but he was promoted to an NHL team in Boston. Wyatt comes from a wealthy family who own a chain of successful restaurants in the Richmond, Virginia area. Wyatt became close friends with Jacob during college and often went to his home during school breaks. He was attracted to Jacob’s younger sister, Josie, but was told that she was off-limits.

Fast forward a few years and Wyatt is living at his late uncle’s remote cottage in coastal Virginia, recovering from a foot injury. He’s mourning his beloved Uncle Tom and trying to figure out how to renovate this dilapidated structure that he’s inherited. He’s mad at the world and refusing to go to physical therapy for his foot. Whan a young woman unexpectedly appears at his cottage, he calls the police to report a trespasser. He definitely wants to avoid nosy reporters. He’s shocked to learn that the lady is his agent and friend Jacob’s sister, Josie, who he’s had a crush on for years.

Josie is an elementary school nurse in Virginia who is struggling both financially and socially. Her parents sold her childhood home and are travelling the country in their RV. Her older brother, Jacob, is a successful sports agent with famous clients, and a string of affairs. Josie experienced two traumatic events in her youth and is emotionally stunted. She doesn’t date and specifically avoids athletic men. When Jacob invites her to their (sometimes) annual Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza, she is thrilled to be able to reconnect with him. A previous extravaganza was a tropical cruise complete with norovirus, so she’s happy that they will be meeting in coastal Virginia instead. When she arrives at the rundown cottage that looks like a place where a murder has occurred, she’s arrested and put in a police car without air conditioning. When she gets ahold of Jacob, he informs her that he can’t come but he needs her to take care of his buddy, Wyatt, for a few weeks. Josie agrees to stay with Wyatt for four weeks to oversee his recovery after Jacob offers to pay her an exorbitant amount of money, more than she could make from summer school.

Wyatt and Josie get off to a rough start because Wyatt doesn’t want anyone helping him. However Josie’s nursing skills and experience with childish behavior help her figure out how to motivate Wyatt to follow his doctor’s orders and attend physical therapy. When she learns about the history of the cottage and Wyatt’s plans to scatter his uncle’s ashes on a sailing trip to Savannah, Josie offers to accompany him if he will get onboard with the recovery process. She researches sailing, and slowly a friendship forms.

As they sail the Intracoastal Waterway south to Savannah, Georgia, they have many interesting adventures. Josie learns more about Wyatt and discovers that she misunderstood their past encounters. She realizes that he’s not the enemy that she thought he was, and she falls for him. Josie has to work through her past traumas in order for their relationship to deepen.

If All Else Sails is partial romance and partial character development with lots of humor. Both Wyatt and Josie are well-developed, likable people who readers will root for. The scenes are described so vividly that it’s like watching a movie. The reader can absolutely sense Jacob’s matchmaking while both Wyatt and Josie are oblivious. While there are references to a sensitive topic, it’s a realistic scenario for many young women and is explained with care and sensitivity. I really enjoyed this book so much that now I want to go on a sailing drip on the Intracoastal Waterway!

I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) e-book from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishers for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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Wyatt and Josie are enemies… at least Josie thinks so. Wyatt? He’s the silent brooding type who generally answers with a grunt or the word no. So, his opinion might be up for debate, except for the rather compelling argument of his reaction to Josie’s presence. I mean, his initial reaction is pretty big and not so welcoming, but let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. The guy is not at his best in that moment. However, Josie’s sunny personality and her genuine caring for others does lead Wyatt through some rough stuff. I love how they both learn and grow personally throughout the story. This story is sweet and has some funny moments. When Wyatt and Josie are just themselves, and we catch their banter and teasing, the story feels genuine and authentic, which I liked. I enjoyed reading it. It is technically Christian fiction, but Christian elements are minimal. I would probably have liked it more had we seen the characters relying on God more and had the author shared their inner spiritual thoughts and prayers more. But, overall, I did enjoy this book. It is a good, relaxing, and just-for-fun read. I recommend this book to anyone needing a summer or vacation literary getaway.

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“When Josie’s brother sends her to a random address for their (sometimes) annual Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza, she finds neither siblings nor extravaganzas. Instead, ends up at a run-down cottage on the Northern Neck of Virginia occupied by a hockey player she knows and loathes.

A hockey player who isn’t just one of her sports agent brother’s clients. He’s also his best friend. And Josie’s sworn enemy.

Oh—and her brother wants Josie to help Wyatt recover from his injury.

Dragging grumpy hockey players to physical therapy is a far cry from bandaging skinned knees, but for the price her brother offers to pay, Josie is willing to try.

Even if it means sharing what she dubs the quaint little murder cottage with Wyatt.

Begrudgingly, Josie starts to see a little more of the man behind the grumpy exterior. And when she finds out he was supposed to sail the Intracoastal Waterway south to Savannah scattering his uncle’s ashes, Josie surprises even herself by offering to be Wyatt’s first mate.

Smooth sailing is nowhere to be found, and Josie begins to wonder if they’ll be able to make it home without killing—or kissing?—each other.

And yet, the longer they share cramped quarters and canned food, the more of Wyatt’s layers she peels back until Josie realizes she misunderstood him, their shared history, and perhaps herself as well.”

**What I loved about this book:
I really enjoyed both of the main characters, Josie and Wyatt! Wyatt was totally smitten with Josie and Josie was a smart, caring FMC! And the banter between them just put this book over the top for me!!

Read if you like:
*enemies to lovers
*brother’s best friend
*forced proximity
*closed door romance

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Oh my gosh, the re-meet-“cute” made my jaw drop. The hilarity just kept coming.
Cracking up at one disaster after another.

My heart went out to Wyatt. He’s dealing with a couple different types of losses. He’s closed himself off to everyone. He comes off as a grump, but he’s got such a sincere heart.

I loved Josie. She’s spunky, she’s feisty, she’s caring. Her summer plans did not include being a nurse to her brother’s friend and sailing the east coast, but it turns out to be the best thing for both of them.

There’s so much to love in this book. There’s great banter, some grumpy/sunshine, hilarious situations that make you laugh out loud, deepening connections, and fabulous adventure. Oh and an adorably cute dog.

Highlights:
⛵️Fever Wyatt
⛵️The pigs
⛵️The helmet
⛵️Jib
⛵️Wyatt’s mom
⛵️Boat shoes
⛵️Appies lunch

This is such a sweet and funny romantic adventure! A perfect summer read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for the copy. All opinions are my own.

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Okay this was a SUPER sweet book! I loved the back and forth between the characters and it was easy to follow. There were no "filler characters" and "side stories" to take your mind off of the story. It's sweet, clean and a great summer read! I love Emma's books and this one will not disappoint!

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I really enjoyed this book. Wyatt is a bit of a grouch but he has a tender heart underneath it all. He started the book a bit rough but I warmed up to him quickly and was a big fan of his. Josie is full of anxiety and I loved how Wyatt tried to understand her struggles and was so patient with her. I also loved Princess Jib and her outfits. Overall a great book and a heartwarming romance.

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A One-Click author who never disappoints.
Anytime Emma St. Clair writes a book, I'm there waiting impatiently to get my hands on it. I know:
1) it will be hilarious;
2) it will be clean; and
3) it will leave me with a soft sigh, because it will have a feel good HEA ending.
Emma St. Clair, you knocked this one out of the park (or should I say that you slapped that hockey puck right into the net, with the buzzer sounding and the red light flashing!)
Love, love, loved it!

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Get your boat shoes, sunscreen, cool whip containers, and waterway maps ready for a sailing trip you need to take this summer! This trip is with Josie and Wyatt, two of the most unlikely pairs, at first glance, but with a little deeper look you will find not a grump but a softy and not a standoff girl but a woman who craves hugs and physical connection.

Will a little time together on a sailing boat crack open these two and show them what each other is missing and how wrong they have been about one another?

Wyatt is a pro hockey player, you may have heard of him from the Appies series if not don't worry, he also is a client of Josie's brother, Jacob. He is currently rehabbing in a "murder cabin" (that is a direct quote from Josie). But his rehab isn't going quite like expected. His mental health is also taking a toll and Jacob realized that Wyatt needs a little help, in the form of someone who won't backdown from his sarcasm and Josie is the perfect nurse! However, Josie isn't exactly lining up to take the job. Her and Wyatt aren't exactly best friends, like him and Jacob. But after a little sibling trickery Josie finds herself saying "yes" to helping Wyatt. What she doesn't expect to find herself saying "Yes" to is: late night fever induced love confessions, scary animal sounds from the barn, wild pigs that require bodily harm to fight off, midnight splinter removal, shirtless therapy sessions, and most of all a sailing trip that leads to questioning feelings. But all that can be billed back to Jacob, right?

Emma does a great job writing this slow burn between Wyatt and Josie and sharing both their histories that hold them back from one another. She pops in great laughter filled moments that will make you forget the fact that you aren't sure if they are ever going to end up together!

If you love the slow burn, the hidden grump, the secret pasts, adorable pups that will make you jealous of your attire, and swoon worthy kisses this is the perfect summer romance that will bring all the heat for you!

Thank you, Emma, Thomas Nelson Fiction, NetGalley for my eBook. It was not expected for me to leave any positive feedback. These opinions are 100% my own.

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Stubborn and a curmudgeon, Wyatt does not want to accept the help his agent thrust upon him in the form of his sister, Josie. Brother’s best friend romance at its finest! Perfect summer read. Slow burn romance that will have you invested to see when will the HEA arrive.

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Such a fun book with so many "very Richmond" twists and turns. This is a great summer read and is so good. I loved reading about all the characters and getting their backstory. So amazing and lots of good river sidebars about Rivah places. Totally recommend!

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"Maybe love is giving the other person the something they may not have on their own."

So delightful! I loved getting to know Josie and Wyatt. Josie's slightly obsessive, neurotic, anxious yet hopeful, bright, and sunny personality was the perfect complement for Wyatt's driven, focused, grumpy, monosyllabic yet thoughtful and kind persona. It was a mash-up of older brother's best friend and unrequited love and enemies-to-lovers trope, which was executed beautifully. Josie and Wyatt's banter was spectacular and they had some great laugh-out-loud moments. Someone should turn this book into a movie - it will be a huge hit.
I loved learning about sailing and traveling down the Intracoastal Waterway with them. Josie and Wyatt's romance was sweet and their friendship deep and genuine. I hope there is a book about Josie's older brother Jacob in the future!
If you love romcoms, you will absolutely adore this book. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Thomas Nelson via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

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Josie’s brother always comes up with a sibling trip and they can get wild, so when Josie shows up to a murder cabin and finds her brother’s friend/client grumpy Wyatt, she isn’t sure what to think. He talks her into staying to help Wyatt recover from an injury, and she agrees. Enemies to lovers/forced proximity lets go! I love both tropes, and they are done here together fabulously. Though, it is really only enemies on Josie’s side, as we know Wyatt has adored her from the start. We learn about Josie’s past, as well as why Wyatt owns the “murder cabin.” They embark on a journey together and I am here for it all. This one is a super slow burn, and I wish we would have gotten a little more of them as a couple. It is a clean romance, many I read include the spice…so it was nice for the pacing on it. I really enjoyed this one, it was such a fun ride!

Bottom Line: Read it!

**I received a copy of If All Else Sails from Netgalley and am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.**

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This is the rom com you need in your life if you like to smile, giggle, maybe sniffle, then smile some more! Every time I read one of this author's books, I feel like I look ridiculous as I smile constantly while reading. She writes characters that are real and flawed making them so incredibly relatable while weaving pure joy into words and creating a world that you wish you could just step into. I'm not even the demographic that she writes for as I am much older than the characters, yet I absolutely love reading her stories. This rom com is the brother's best friend, grumpy sunshine and close proximity tropes that you know and love, but done even better than most! I am the least sports-oriented person on the planet and couldn't even name one Hockey team that is real, but I totally would go to an Appies game if they were real (Go Appies!)! In fact, I might be inspired enough to actually go to a local minor league game here just to see if I like it. The beauty of her books is that they weave a compelling romance with real life issues to overcome and always end in a happily ever after. Added bonus is that most of her books introduce characters that will show up in the next book she writes. I am totally hoping that Jacob gets his own romance in a future book! I'm already looking to see what this author is writing next so I can get cued up and ready to read!

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The Cover ✨ The Title ✨ The Banter ✨ The Pining ✨

Romance gold.

Injured hockey player Wyatt retreats to a so-called murder cabin (charming!) for a summer of brooding solitude, but his grumpy getaway is promptly sabotaged by his meddling agent. Enter Josie: teacher, reluctant caregiver, and suddenly very motivated by the kind of money that could actually get her a house—because let’s be honest, on a teacher’s salary, that’s basically a unicorn.

Instead of her planned sibling summer, Josie’s stuck babysitting her brother’s best friend. But throw in a rescue pup, a sailboat, and a pair of boat shoes (essential, clearly), and what you’ve got is a quintessential summer romance read—with just the right mix of sass, sweetness, and slow-burn pining.

Five-star reads are about the feeling they give you, and this one nailed it. From the first chapter, it had me hooked. It’s funny, it’s heartwarming, and the setting? Unique and a perfect summer backdrop . Sure, the sailing part doesn’t kick off until later, but the build-up was totally worth it—and we’re already riverside, so the summer vibes are strong from the start.

Wyatt’s patience with Josie? Swoon. It was so fun watching their dynamic grow—tender, teasing, and just the right amount of awkward.

Though this is very much a standalone, longtime fans of the Appies series will get a delightful little jolt from the familiar faces that pop in. It felt like a knowing wink from the author, and as a longtime reader and fan, I loved that nod.

A must-read summer romance!

In this book, you'll find:
-Enemies to Lovers
-Forced Proximity
-Closed Door
-Cute Dog Outfits


Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for this e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!

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⛵️❤️ Book Review: If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair ❤️⛵️

Set sail on a beautifully emotional journey of love, loss, and finding hope in the most unexpected places. Emma St. Clair’s If All Else Sails is a heartfelt story about second chances and healing by the sea.

After a devastating loss, Nora retreats to a small coastal town to rebuild her life. When she meets the charming, grounded captain Ben, sparks fly—but healing old wounds isn’t easy. Together, they navigate past pain and new beginnings, proving that love can be the strongest anchor.

Tropes You’ll Love:
💔 Second chance romance
🌊 Small town/coastal setting
🛶 Emotional healing
💕 Slow burn romance
🏡 Found family and new beginnings

If you’re craving a tender, beautifully written romance with rich characters and a touch of seaside magic, this book is for you.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#IfAllElseSails #EmmaStClair #SecondChanceRomance #SmallTownRomance #CoastalReads #Bookstagram #SlowBurnRomance #HealingJourney #BookReview

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Take me away on a boat and let me just fall into this sweet sweet love story. I love this book so much! It was absolutely darling.

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Oh I loved this book! It’s a hockey romance that doesn’t completely center on being on the ice, which I found so refreshing!

There are lots of fun details to love:
- wielding a hockey stick against an animal
- scheming older brother
- the ER incident
- recovering from an injury
- WAG
- Appies shout out
- Sailing
- The storm 😍

I’ve come to love Emma St. Clair’s writing, and I’ve always depended on her books to be romantic, funny, and very low spice. I’m so happy to see that her writing trends continued in a traditionally published book. You can count on this one to be clean and wholesome! Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the advance copy of this book. A review was not required.

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This book was absolutely amazing!! Like i was hooked from beginning to end😍 Josie and Wyatt where so beautiful together🥹 i do love a guy who falls first and Wyatt fell hardddd🥰 honestly the chemistry was instant and so🔥🔥 they were the sweetest! And im not ashamed to admit i didnt want it to end!🫶🏻 the side characters were all amazing too and I loved how they all gave help and advise🩷This is my first book of Emma's but it certainly wont be my last! This book was a 5⭐️ for me! Thank you to Emma and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

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such a sweet story on how two people who have loved each other for so long come together and find love

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I loved Wyatt and Josie’s story so much! This one starts with Josie’s meddling brother sending her to help nurse Wyatt back to health after an injury keeps him from playing hockey. As soon as she shows up, the shenanigans begin. It turns out, some of Wyatt’s grumpiness comes from dealing with loss, and Josie steps in to help him recover and heal. When they set sail on a healing trip, the forced proximity was electric. I loved their journey and how they worked through their feelings. This was such a sweet story.

I also loved how this one was Appies-adjacent since Wyatt used to be part of the team. I was excited to see what happened to him after he moved on.

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I absolutely loved this book. It was the perfect blend of sweet, funny, and heartwarming. The sailing premise was such a fun and unique backdrop for a love story, and it gave the whole thing this breezy, summery feel I couldn’t get enough of. The chemistry between the characters was so good—I was smiling like an idiot through most of it and fully rooting for them the entire time. Just super cute from start to finish, and exactly the kind of feel-good romance I love to escape into.

Emma St. Clair nailed it with this one. Add it to your TBR immediately if you want something light, charming, and full of heart.

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If All Else Sails is what my Emma St. Clair dreams are made of. I truly love the way emma writes, and having read a lot of her backlist, this one might be my favorite. She's funny, witty, emotional, all while keeping the profanity low, and the spice nonexistant. We watch Wyatt and Josie fall in love and theres very little physical intimacy. I think that takes a great talent. A few things, I wanted Josie's whole family to be read the riot act, and bb girl Josie needs therapy and probably some medicine. She showcased that women will downplay their trauma because someone else has it worse, and that's not okay.

I also live in Richmond and it was fun seeing my city in a book in a positive light. It was fun for me.

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I have a new book boyfriend! Wyatt is not only a fit athlete, but a loyal, caring man who carries family burdens on his broad shoulders. I enjoyed reading this novel told in dual point of view between Wyatt and Josie which allowed me to learn more about each character and his/her perspective and past.

I never wanted to stop reading and always looked forward to getting back to this book. The witty banter kept me smiling and laughing throughout and the chemistry is swoon-worthy. The tropes of forced proximity, enemies to friends to more, brother's best friend, and miscommunication were all woven together so well they felt authentic and never forced. I also loved "my time" sailing and eating all the delicious fresh seafood.

I always love when fictional characters care for and love animals and both Wyatt and Josie fall head over heels in love at first sight for a stray dog found on the property. This is just one of the shared experiences that starts opening their hearts to a growing friendship that showed me how much they cared about the other person. Wyatt is fiercely protective of Josie and out of his feelings for her and want for her to feel safe with him, he patiently waits for Josie to take the lead in the relationship, especially after he learns more about her painful past.

This is so romantic and I appreciated the sizzling chemistry, yet closed bedroom door scenes. This novel is filled with humor and so much heart and I will be reading more of this author's work. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my early e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

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I've always enjoyed books written by Emma St Clair and this one was no different. The heroine's humor was endearing and likeable. The back and forth between the two was smooth, natural, easy and believable. I liked each character and each added to the story very nicely! That brother could be frustrating, lol, but he was great in the end. I loved how this author incorporated a bit of her other series, the Appies, into this. However, the other series does not need to be read to enjoy this title. Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable read with a good flow to the story and solid dialogue. I think this story was light and enjoyable but did also have deeper and hard real life situations. I like they both acted like adults. I only wasn't a fan of when someone gets tossed in the water at the marina when one person was annoyed at that person. That struck me as immature and not cool at all.
content info: clean, kissing, no language
I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher and netgalley. All opinions are completely my own.

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I couldn’t put this down!! This book had everything from brother’s best friend to he falls first to slow burn to forced proximity to one bed!!! Wyatt Jacobs has easily joined the rankings of favorite book boyfriends. Grumpy, but secretly sweet and thoughtful? Sign me up. Sure - he may be the king of the miscommunication trope with his foot in mouth disease, but he would move mountains for Josie. 😍

I loved their banter and both characters’ growth throughout the story. I especially loved Jib and all her fantastic outfits. She was a main character all on her own.

If you like closed door romance between a grumpy hockey player and a sunshine elementary school nurse, don’t miss this release!

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I have been obsessed with Emma St. Clair for a hot minute now and while I haven't yet read her entire backlist, this book right here is my favorite so far. I absolutely loved Josie and Wyatt and the entire premise of the book is awesome. Throw in the adorable animal escapades found in any work by Emma and it's no wonder that her first trad publish is a winner! I am so thankful for the stories Emma continues to share and I hope she never stops! You should absolutely pick this one up.

Josie...The sarcasm of this girl makes me smile so big. Her dialogue was on point and I loved every bit of it. Josie had some big things to work through and it was a joy to have a front row seat to that journey for her. She is such an authentic and down-to-earth FMC. I wish I could just call and chat with her so bad! It was beautiful seeing her get the HEA she deserved so very much.

Wyatt...Oh boy, I'm such a sucker for a grump. They are of course almost always misunderstood, with hearts of gold and all the gooeyness in the world on the inside. Wyatt was no exception. He absolutely has that tough and distanced exterior, but in reality, he was one hundred percent gone for Josie. And he has been from the start. The absolute pining of this guy for Josie was the swooniest. His incredible patience was such a testament to how true his feelings were. This guy is seriously top tier, ladies!

Things I loved:

❤️murder cottage
❤️Jacob (the charming and frustrating parts)
❤️Wyatt's fever state/honesty
❤️fighting off zombie pigs
❤️poison oak reaction
❤️splinters
❤️new furniture
❤️nightmare/kicking Wyatt (bless him)
❤️Susan (aka "High Society Steamroller")
❤️Dr. Dimples
❤️sailing lessons
❤️Josie's sailing research (100% something I would do!)
❤️Jib and all her outfits
❤️"Rookie"
❤️Wanda and Greg
❤️boat shoes
❤️morning coffee and route planning
❤️one room/bed
❤️watching HGTV/sharing truths
❤️visit from Jacob, Eli, and Van (gotta love an Appies appearance!)
❤️Toni ("You should just kiss the man.")
❤️Jacob's gift for Josie and Jib
❤️the storm
❤️epilogue (perfection!)
❤️author's note (I adore all that Emma drew from real-life experiences within her family - how special!)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🚪

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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If All Else Sails is a funny, sweet, brother's best friend romance. The perfect summer read!

Wyatt is a hockey player who has become a little bit of a recluse after getting injured. Josie, a school nurse on summer vacation, is supposed to go on a trip with her brother Jacob who just happens to be Wyatt's agent and his best friend, and Josie's least favorite person. But Jacob has other plans and soon Josie is stuck taking care of Wyatt, who is a grump about his recovery.

This book is full of hilarious moments that had me laughing out loud. I loved the way that some chapters were from Josie's perspective and others were from Wyatt's.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

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Josie's brother is Wyatt's agent. Josie and Wyatt have known each other for years, but have never really gotten along. Josie has an opinion of Wyatt based on their first meeting, and she doesn't really like athletes anyway. Wyatt is a grump, and Josie's convinced he doesn't like her. So when her brothers sends her to take care of Wyatt while he heals from an injury - neither of them are too pleased.

Over time, they realize they can get along, and actually enjoy each other. So when Wyatt invites her to go sailing with him, she says yes. And they find they really enjoy each others company. But how can this last? Wyatt will go back to hockey, and Josie will go back to being a nurse. Can they make something work? Maybe with a little help from Josie's brother and 2 of Wyatt's ex teammates, they'll realize their feelings and that they belong together.

I LOVED seeing Wyatt outside of the hockey world. I've read and loved all of the Appies books, and it was fun to have an Appies player outside of that world. I enjoyed the little cameo from Van and Eli, too. Wyatt and Josie were delightful (even when he's grumpy he's likable!) This was such a fun read!

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Oh my gosh, in true Kiki/Emma fashion this book is full of the wit, humor, banter and tension of all her books. I absolutely loved getting to see Wyatt in the future after he leaves the Appies. His backstory with his family and uncle was tender and delightful. We all know Wyatt’s been pining but clearly in the brothers best friend zone. He’s just a grumpy, sad, injured hockey player, who needs a push.

Josie just wants to hang with her brother, not nurse/babysit Wyatt. I loved Josie’s character growth and there is some deep stuff. She has an entire narrative in her head about all the years she’s spent knowing Wyatt and each day a little more slips and unravels as she really gets to know him. She is funny, sassy and buys matching outfits for her and Jib. I adore her!

The entire sailing trip was moment after moment of crazy, fun, and unpredictable events.

Highlights:
The Murder Cottage
His Fever Sickness
The Pigs
Jib (the dog)
Rookie
Cool Whip Container
Sailing
Doctor’s Office
Dog Outfits
Appies Dinner
How Wyatt Treats Her 🫠
The Tension…oh gosh…so much

And can we just mention the Savannah Bananas cameo. ;)

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This book should come with a warning - this book is addictive and when you start reading it you will not want to put it down! I loved this book, I was in the mood for something light and fun and his book definitely ticked those boxes!
Wyatt and Josie's story was a classic grump vs sunshine with lots of laugh out loud moments and some crazy  and unexpected things happened (those pigs!). There were lots of layers to both Wyatt and Josie and it was enticing reading and seeing the layers peel back until they were really connecting heart to heart. With the relationship being helped along by Josie's brother Jonah (think brothers best friend trope) this story was fun from the start to the end. I loved the addition of Jib the dog and all her fun outfits!
I totally recommend this book to anyone wanting a clean and fun summer read.  I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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An engaging and entertaining romance. Many humorous scenes. Good characters. Appreciated the lack of foul language and intimate scenes. Pleasant reading. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

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The banter and back and forth enemies vibes in this story is fire! It caused so many outloud laughs and good dopamine hits. I highly recommend this book right alongside Pepper Basham, Courtney Walsh, and Becca Kinzer. There are no swears or alcohol and level 2 descriptive kisses only. Present tense, first person, Dual POV. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#IfAllElseSails #NetGalley #ThomasNelsonFiction

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Oh my goodness, what a treat! The banter, the tension, the fever dream declarations, the hilarious predicaments—this book was just a grumpy/sunshine, forced-proximity delight. I laughed, I swooned, and I loved that a couple of Appies characters snuck in for a bit too. It’s a perfect summer read!

TW: Mild Depression, Past Loss of Parental Figure (Off Page)

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I received If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair for free in exchange for my honest opinion. I absolutely loved this book. I loved the enemies to lovers aspect and seeing the grumpy guy turn sweet for the girl. I also enjoyed the relationship of brother-sister and how it grew during the story.

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𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁:

Loved!!! If you have never read a sweet romance what are you waiting for. Emma’s books are so well written with such amazing character dynamics you don’t even miss the spice. They are about the connection, growth and finding happiness with a side of swooning. This one had so many funny and heartfelt moments that your cheeks will hurt from all the smiling & grinning. Highly recommend!

Mini Spoiler: A few Appies make a guest appearance! (I was so excited as I didn’t expect this.)

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:

Josie just arrived at the address her brother gave her but there is only a creepy murder cottage and no sign of him. Then the cops arrived and she’s thrown into the back of a hot police car and get heat stroke - not how she planned to start her sibling vacay. Her brother is definitely going to pay dearly for this one!

Wyatt didn’t expect to find his long time crush delivered to his doorstep and after having her accidentally arrested she’s going to hate him even more. Apparently his agent and best friend thought sending his little sister, who’s a nurse was the best way to get him to follow doctor’s orders this summer.

Josie doesn’t like Wyatt, she definitely doesn’t like athletes and her brother knows this. But somehow when he asks her to help Wyatt this summer and dangled a high dollar value in exchange for her help, she can’t say no. Now she’ll have to figure out how to tolerate the grump of a man as they are now roommates for the foreseeable future.

𝙁𝙖𝙫 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:

“I always wondered what kind of woman would snag your grinchy little heart.”

𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅:

* Older Brother’s Best Friend & Client
* Grumpy x Sunshine
* Injured Hockey Player
* School Nurse
* Forced Proximity: A Quaint Murder Cottage & Sailboat
* He’s Crushed on Her for Years
* Rescue Dog Jib
* Dual POV
* Closed Door Kisses Only

💕🐖⛵️🩼🩺🏒💕🐖⛵️🩼🩺🏒💕

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this was lovely to read. the perfect classic grumpy x sunshine book with no spice. perfect for any romance reader who just wants a break from all the spice. also NO TAB loved it

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Will a sailing trip on a boat be their chance at a happily ever after? 🤗🙈💙🤍

Wyatt and Josie have known each other for years. He’s her brother’s best friend, and Wyatt has been in love with Josie since the first moment he saw her. But Josie thinks he dislikes her — and years of misunderstandings have turned them into enemies.

Josie is now an elementary school nurse. Every summer, she joins her brother on a trip, but this year, Jacob has a different plan for her — one that includes Wyatt.

Wyatt, a famous hockey player, is recovering from a severe injury and isolating himself in a small town, refusing treatment and shutting everyone out. That’s where Josie comes in. Jacob sends her to help him — physically and emotionally — because Wyatt is clearly struggling.

This is Wyatt’s chance to show Josie what she truly means to him. And as they spend time together, Josie begins to see a different side of him — one she’s never known. Maybe, just maybe, this could be the start of something new.

Full of hope, emotions, and raw vulnerability, this novel is pure perfection.
I enjoyed it from the first page to the very last — it made me feel all the feels.

It also tackles some sensitive topics, so be sure to check the trigger warnings.
And yes, it’s a slow-burn romance… a very slow one. But it’s written so beautifully. We get to see Wyatt and Josie gradually open up to each other — learning, healing, leaning in, and slowly falling. Watching them share their stories, their traumas, and their hearts felt so authentic. One of my favorite moments was the sailing boat scene — it was intimate, cozy, and full of heart.

There were also many hilarious and lighthearted moments that I adored. And we can’t forget about Jib — the adorable little dog who steals the show and becomes such a sweet part of their journey.

Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for granting me an ARC of #IfAllElseSails in exchange for my honest review.

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I am a huge fan of Emma St. Clair and this book was a great addition to her stack of books.

While the miscommunication trope often gets a bad rap, it's done perfectly in this book. Wyatt sticks his foot in his mouth...often. He knows what he means to say, and has great intentions, but somehow the words always come out wrong and in the wrong way, at least when he's around Josie.

Josie has no time for athletes, especially the big and brawny ones, ones like Wyatt, her brother's friend and client. Not only is Wyatt an athlete, he doesn't seem to care to be in Josie's company and she doesn't know why.

While Wyatt and Josie have known each other for years, they get thrown together in a hilarious re-meetcute. I loved this story and all of the elements that had Josie and Wyatt peeling back the layers on each other. Their relationship didn't seemed forced or strained. Wyatt was patient as Josie began to realize that her perceptions of him were wrong and he was a much better man than she thought. I loved the growth as Josie began to see that her stereotypical thoughts of Wyatt were unjust. The addition of his relationship with his Uncle Tom was a great addition to the story and I loved the way their friendship grew throughout their trip.


***Spoiler alert

I was a bit apprehensive about the touchy subject of SA in this book. In the end I do think that it was handled well, without graphic detail and thankfully, the author did not have it being the worst that it could have been. While there was not a trigger warning at the beginning of the book, I do hope one is added before publishing.

This is still a book I would recommend, although I would be cautious with whom I recommended it to.

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If All Else Sails swept me away in the most unexpected, soul-soothing way. Emma St. Clair has this gift for writing characters who feel like real people flawed, funny, deeply human and in this story, she delivers a romance that’s not only tender but quietly profound. The setting is vivid, almost atmospheric, like you can feel the salt in the air and the ache in every unsaid word.
This book made me smile, sigh, and sit quietly when it was over, just holding the weight of what I’d read. It's not just about love it's about choosing love, even when the waters are rough.
Truly a comfort read with emotional depth. One I’ll carry with me.

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⛵️🏒My Thoughts🏒⛵️
🏒First of all I have to say the book is called If All Else Sails but sailing doesn’t actually take place till the second half of the book. There is a reason for that because both characters are a mess and have things they need to work through to make it to the sailing part. Josie with her fear of a man’s touch specifically a sports man’s touch and Wyatt with grief and dealing with an injury and not taking care of himself the way he should be. It takes work to get to that boat but the banter, the tension that builds, the slow burn romance that happens is so worth it!

⛵️I loved Feverish Wyatt! He was so funny and flirty and you could tell he used that as an excuse to let some truths come out. The wise words from Wanda to Josie had me tearing up and I highlighted that whole section!

🏒The end of chapter 20 was when I started highlighting entire conversations with Wyatt and Josie. When he has a package shipped to where they are at on their sailing trip was such a sweet moment and had me tearing up. I loved their bet of truths over guessing what house people would choose on HGTV. Then when Wyatt turned the lights off to make telling truths easier. He was the sweetest and the most patient with Josie and I loved that so much about him. Their banter and tension this book had it all!

⛵️Those are so many of my favorite parts but one highlight is when a couple Appies show up near the end with Jacob and then the twist during that it got me! I wasn’t expecting that. The entirety of chapter 28 was a vibe and maybe my favorite chapter just because I love the Appies so much and seeing that camo felt like home.

🏒Overall I absolutely loved this book and would highly recommend it and any Emma St Clair book! I can’t wait for this one to come out so I can run and actually buy it in store! It belongs on my shelf right next to my Appies books!

⛵️Thank you NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Emma St Clair for an e-arc to read and honestly review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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“This is…weird. And kind of delightful. Which makes it very dangerous.”

This read is absolutely delightful! I am already an Emma St. Clair fan, and this story is debatably my favorite of hers!

Wyatt is my favorite type of hero: grumpy with a side of unrequited love. He is thoughtful, sweet, and has foot-in-the-mouth disease. Saying what you mean to the woman that outclasses all the rest is a difficult thing to do.

Josie was a juxtaposition in past experience versus current reality. Her inner musings, especially at the beginning of the book, are some of the best I have ever read! Seriously. So funny.

The wit in this book is unparalleled! I had the hardest time choosing one quote for this review because there was SO MANY to choose from!

So what you need to do now is go read it you’ll thank me later.

Read this book if you like: Dual POV, Murder Cottages, Poison Oak, Stress Balls, High Society Steam-rollers, Dr. Dimples, Boat Shoes, Dog Outfits, Storms, Friends, Pigs, Baggywrinkle

Content: processing grief, romance- kisses only.

Thank you to netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the #gifted copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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I love Emma St. Clair and this book is just a new installment of why. Her Light hearted banter and love of a grump is through out the pages. I love Jib so much. The Appies are one of My favorite series and each book becomes my new favorite. I really need to Binge reread this series since I have purchased each book. I can't wait for the next book. Yes I am along for this ride and all the new stories she wants to tell.

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Many laughs, a cute pupper, and one of my favorite tropes: brother's best friend! This book is a fun summer trip on a sailboat mixed with St Clair's trademark banter. I enjoyed this read immensely. This book is absolutely a stand alone, however fans of the Appies series will enjoy knowing a few of the characters (including Wyatt, the MMC) from previous books. I adored the way Josie attacked learning to sail, because it was absolutely something I could see myself doing: read everything possible to try to be prepared. Enjoy this book wherever books are sold ASAP!

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If All Else Sails is a delightful enemies-to-lovers romance featuring a grumpy hockey player and a school nurse thrown together under hilarious and unexpected circumstances. When Josie arrives expecting her “Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza,” she instead finds herself at a rundown "murder cottage" with Wyatt Jacobs—her brother’s injured best friend and her sworn nemesis—who needs her help to recover

The initial meet-cute is both awkward and charming, instantly setting the stage for a summer filled with tension, witty banter, and emotional surprises. I could not put this book down—I read whenever I could, even when adult responsibilities were calling!

Josie’s sunny personality and Wyatt’s grumpy exterior play beautifully against each other, and I loved their slow-burn chemistry, especially during the forced proximity of shared spaces and a sailing trip.

. The blend of humor, heartfelt growth, and that memorable cottage and boat setting made it impossible to step away until the last page.

Overall, this charming, clean (closed-door) romance is a perfect summer escape—complete with delightful banter, a sweet emotional arc, and characters that will stay with you long after the story ends. Highly recommend!

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This book was an utter delight. The perfect summer beach read, and probably my favorite Emma St. Clair book yet. From the funny shenanigans and adorable dog to the grumpy hero and quirky heroine, I loved it all. If you need a lighthearted story with soul right now, this book is it!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

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IF ALL ELSE SAILS is definitely one of my favorite Emma St. Clair rom-com (and I've read over 15 of them so far!). I love the humor and heart that comes with Wyatt and Josie's relationship, and this book was definitely different from any other Emma St. Clair book I've read, in terms of the SLOW-BURN romance - and I LOVE a good slow-burn romance! Trust me, it's worth the wait as Wyatt and Josie start out as "enemies" that leads to a shy, budding friendship simmering with attraction, which eventually leads up to the MOST AMAAAAAZING kiss ever. And then there ARE plenty more kisses after that!! ;) Wyatt was the perfect grumpy to Josie's sunshine and I also loved the character development that they both went through. Jib was the perfect side character, and I also liked Jacob and I DEFINITELY loved the two cameos from the Appies Romance series! I also learned a lot about sailing, so that was a fun bonus - I love learning new things in any and all books! I definitely am getting my own non-ARC copy and will recommend this to other sweet rom-com lovers! Thank you, Emma St. Clair, NetGalley, and Thomas Nelson for the ARC of IF ALL ELSE SAILS! I am posting this on my Instagram and GoodReads as well, under @heidieafinitelyreads and https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/60646865.

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This book was adorable. It had such great grumpy/sunshine vibes! There were several funny moments that made me laugh out loud. I loved the dog and all of the outfits! Enjoyed the connections and references to Appies. I loved the slow burn and then happily ever after just had me smiling so big in the epilogue!

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Jump on board and sail away with this funny, touching, adorable rom-com! Loved this story! Definitely worth the read, This book was provided through NetGalley for me to read. These are my own personal thoughts.

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy of “If All Else Sails”.

I’ll be 100% honest. At first, I was thinking about not finishing this book. The FMC seemed extremely immature and annoying with the whole “I hate him and I know he hates me” bit, but I was pleasantly surprised by the end of the book.

Tropes:
- Brothers best friend
- Loathe to love
- Forced Proximity
- Only 1 bed
- Professional athlete

Once the story started going and we got to get to know our FMC and MMC more I fell more and more in love with the story. The ending of the last chapter was perfection and had me smiling like a fool.

On to read everything else Emma St. Clair has ever written!!

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“A quaint little murder cottage…”

What a great page turner this book is! Deliciously summery, packed with humour, love and “hate” and also touching on some very sensitive issues, which made me emotional and prompted self-reflection.
I have enjoyed reading this book from the very start as I have laughed out loud on page one and knew the book will provide the perfect escapism.
Perfect dose of sunshine, animal love, nautical themes, humour, family matters and splendid unraveling of the “hate” to love topic. Very well written and beautifully executed book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley!

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Wow. The perfected CLEAN slow burn, it's the unicorn that is really hard to find.

Mistaken enemies to "lovers" with lots of laughs and humor. I think I smiled while reading the whole book.

Thank you Net Galley and Thomas Nelson for the advanced copy of this book!

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This was my first Emma St. Clair book and I adored It!

Emma hooked me from the very first page with our FMC pulling up to a “quaint little murder cottage.”
If All Else Sails gives you an enemies to lovers, second chance, brothers best friend romance. We have our school nurse, Josie, taking care of the injured Wyatt. It’s full of tension and witty banter and the dual POV is the cherry on top! I thoroughly enjoyed Emma‘s writing style and will absolutely be recommending this to friends! My only criticism is that the title didn’t really come in to play until pretty far in to the book. I think it could have been named something a tad more fitting.
Thank you Thomas Nelson Publishing and Netgalley for the gifted copy!

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Oh my goodness! I. Loved. This. Book.

The witty banter. The hilariously awkward situations. The laugh-out-loud lines.

School nurse Josie lives a quiet life . . . and she likes it that way. Really she does. Then her brother tricks her into spending her summer nursing his grumpy best friend and star hockey player Wyatt Jacobs, who also happens to be tops on Josie’s most-hated list. Will pig stampedes, flying hockey sticks, and a sailing adventure change Josie’s mind about Wyatt? Or will her summer be sunk?

This is the first book by Emma St. Clair that I’ve read, but it definitely won’t be the last!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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If All Sails is everything I want in a feel-good romance: charming small-town vibes, sparkling banter, lovable characters, and a satisfying slow-burn that delivers in the best way. Emma St. Clair has once again created a world I never want to leave.

The chemistry between the leads was palpable, but what really stood out was the emotional depth beneath the surface. There’s real vulnerability and growth here, wrapped in humor and heart. I laughed, I swooned, and I might’ve teared up once or twice.

If you’re a fan of clean romance with witty dialogue, a strong sense of place, and characters you wish were your friends, this one’s a must-read. St. Clair’s books just keep getting better, and this might be my favorite yet.

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That was absolutely delightful, just like all of Emma's books. Wyatt and Josie were a lovely couple that played off each other well and I love a good opposites attract. Plus, a brother's best friend with long time pining- be still my beating heart. And I know absolutely nothing about sailing but having it as a backdrop for a romance novel was a brilliant idea. So good work, Ms St Clair.

If you like all the things I just mentioned, hockey, dogs, and cameos from the Appies, I think you might just love this book.

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If All Else Sails is a delightful story that hits all the marks for a sweet, funny, and entertaining summer read. Josie is supposed to be meeting her brother for a sibling vacation but instead she finds herself at the home of his best friend and hockey pklyer client, Wyatt. The two have never gotten along.get along He's a grump and she is not comfortable around athletes. But, her brother hires her to take of Wyatt while he is recovering from an injury. She needs the money. A sailing trip down the intravenous waterway is the perfect way for the two to get acquainted and a stray pup, Jib, (a sailing term) adds a sweet note. Loved it! I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my thoughts.

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Emma St Clair's books always make me smile! Her characters and plots are always so great.

This book starts with Josie. She thinks she's going on a sibling vacation with her brother. Only...she ends up at a murder house in the back of a police car in the heat. What a great meet cute! It definitely made me chuckle.

I loved Josie so much! She didn't really want to stay and help Wyatt. But she ends up doing it as a favor to her brother. Even learning to sail so that she can go with him on his uncle's boat.

Wyatt is one of the good guys. But he's really stubborn and going through a hard time. Eventually Josie breaks through his defenses and she's able to help him.

I loved that these two go on a sailing journey together. And the reason for their journey touched me. I loved that the characters in this book have gone through struggles, we all do, of course. Josie and Wyatt are able to move past their struggles together.

I loved this one so much!

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Josie accepted a last-minute plea from her brother to pack a suitcase and drive two hours for an epic Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza. When she arrives at the address, she wonders if Jacob has sent her to a murder cottage instead. Even worse, he won’t answer his phone, and she has no idea if he’s dead or alive (or soon-to-be-dead for sending her to this creepy address). Josie wants nothing more than to run and hide in her crowded apartment and lose herself in a stack of novels. What self-respecting school nurse could desire more for their short summer break?

When Josie’s brother finally picks up, the scream of police car sirens interrupts the conversation before Josie and Jacob can sort out the mess. Not a propitious beginning to the planned-for sibling extravaganza. But when she realizes she’s standing outside Wyatt Jacob’s house, it all makes sense. Wyatt hasn’t liked her from the moment they first met.

The problem with having your best friend as your agent is that you never know what to expect. Wyatt Jacobs certainly doesn’t expect Jacob to send his all-grown-up little sister to coax him out of his hockey injury post-surgery slump. Otherwise, he never would have called the cops to protect his privacy. And he certainly would never ask them to detain Josie; the woman he’s secretly had a crush on from the moment they first met. Wyatt doesn’t know if he should fire his agent or bless him for the crazy scheme.

Josie doesn’t know whether to follow through with her plans to throttle her brother or accept the obscene amount he’s offering to stay and help Wyatt through his physical therapy and recovery. Josie wants a down payment on a house, so she begrudgingly takes the deal.

As she gets to know Wyatt—Josie makes a bargain with him. She’ll sail along the Intracoastal Waterway with him in his sailboat if he goes to every physical therapy appointment without complaint. Easy-peasy. Until she realizes the living quarters on the sailboat make the murder cottage seem like a mansion. How will they ever survive such forced proximity?

Despite the odds, maybe Wyatt and Josie can figure out a way to help each other this summer. And maybe Wyatt the Grump can figure out how to speak to Josie without making a fool of himself. The payoff could be bigger than any contract or hockey victory he’s ever won.
Why I Loved This Book

Emma St. Clair, the queen of clean rom-com, has done it again. Sassy dialogue, unlikely encounters (including pigs, poisonous plants, and Emergency Rooms), and sizzling romance set firmly in the clean zone make this a novel that anyone from fifteen to 115 will enjoy.
If you love to laugh out loud, you’ll love the latest book by Emma St. Clair (and you’ll want to check out all of her other clean rom-coms!).

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I LOVED THIS BOOK. Not only is the romance built organically and not without struggle, I was also laughing out loud on a regular basis. It's a rom-com that's more on the romance side, but also tackles deep issues of grief and trauma, as well as the way our own inabilities to express ourselves can have both dark and hilarious results.

Josie and Wyatt have chemistry, but are both convinced that one hates the other. Josie doesn't know why Wyatt dislikes her, and Wyatt is fully aware that he can't stop making a butt of himself in front of Josie and thinks her dislike is completely justified. Wyatt just can't seem to stop making mistakes, and big ones, but they also give Josie the time to realize she likes Wyatt even when he's an idiot. Wyatt on the other hand helps Josie see that her muchness is an asset, not something to hide or bury, and the things she thinks are negatives about herself are what he notices and enjoys the most.

I devoured this in a single day, I could not stop reading. This is a closed door/low spice romance that's mostly about tension and the early days of a relationship that goes from enemies to friendship to more.

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Enemies to lovers, brothers best friend, style romance with a rich buildup and lots of great plot points! The setting, in Tappahannock, VA, is so close to where I live and it was delightful to see a setting that isn’t the normal locations for these types of books! Virginians, this book is for US! A stubborn hockey player needs medical help and hilarity and romance ensue. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to seeing any other books written by this author!

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I loved this story so much. I was actually surprised the sailing part didn’t happen until halfway through. I love how the grumpy guy was actually in love with her the whole time. And the development of the characters was wonderful to read. I was laughing so much in this book thanks to the audiobook…especially in the tickling scene. 😍

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Josie arrives at the address that her sports agent brother has given to her to find what she dubs "the murder cottage". This is where she is supposed to meet her brother for their annual sibling trip. When she sees the house and her brother is nowhere in sight, she has visions of a serial killer awaiting inside, so she decides to wander around outside. That was a big mistake as you will soon learn.

Pro hockey player Wyatt Jacobs is actually in the house hiding from the public while he recovers. When Josie learns that the house is inhabited by the man she loathes, she is not a happy camper. Her brother has set her up to use her nursing skills to take care of Wyatt as he rehabs his foot. Only the promise of lots of money makes her give in and stay to care for this man she considers an enemy and oaf.

I am a sucker for a well written romance, especially one with comedy and witty banter between the characters. Wyatt was definitely grumpy, and Josie was sunshiny, except Wyatt seem to bring out her dark side, so to speak. Since they are stuck together, they learn to co-exist. Somewhere along the way, Josie sees a side to Wyatt that she never knew existed. Wyatt was like an onion that you had to peel back layer by layer to find the sweet spot. I knew it was there under that gruff, man child exterior.

This was a romance, with some comedy, but it was also a story of healing and revealing vulnerabilities that have been hidden for a long time. I really got into the story when they started sailing down to Savannah. After all, if you are stuck on a boat with someone, there are not many places you can hide. It was witty, charming, sweet and a little sassy. The author did a phenomenal job of building the characters slowly so that you can more fully relate to their little idiosyncrasies. This slow burn romance captured my heart and left me with a smile on my face.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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I'm fairly convinced at this point that Emma St. Clair is incapable of writing a bad book. I loved If All Else Sails from the first page. The romance was swoony with all the feels, the story was solid, and the characters were perfection.

I can't wait for the next Emma St. Clair book!

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"If All Else Sails" by Emma St. Clair was the fun rom com I needed after reading some heavier books. The opening lines had me going because "murder cottage" and rom com don't usually go hand-in-hand, but keep reading folks because this grumpy/sunshine and brother's best friend trope book is just wonderful.

Wyatt, a famous but "grouchie" hockey player and sunny school nurse Josie are opposites in so many ways. Their banter is so fun, exasperating and witty at the same time. Add Josie's meddling brother, an arrest and a sailing trip along the Intercoastal Waterway that sounds so amazing along with two of my favorite tropes....you have the recipe for a wonderful rom com book! There are some side characters that add interest to the story and help these two along on their way to a HEA.

I highlighted so many quotes when reading this book because they are definitely ones to revisit. I love it when a book gives you food for thought and this one definitely had several quotes I wanted to keep track of. This one is definitely a 5 star read for me!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Oh, this book was so delightful! I think I may have a new favorite Emma St. Clair novel now. I loved the way these two had known each other for years, seeing each other every once in a while, as Josie’s brother and Wyatt were best friends. Yet Josie’s perception of Wyatt from a situation that happened at their first meeting set the stage for her disliking him and believing that he disliked her. What a misconception that was!

But as these two ended up spending all of their time together on Wyatt’s boat, Josie began to see Wyatt in a new light and I loved the way they developed a friendship that began to lead to something more.

There were some really sweet moments in this story when Wyatt was so perceptive and so supportive of Josie as she dealt with anxiety that held her back sometimes. He showed what a kind and caring person he truly was in the way he treated Josie.

This story just made my heart so happy! The romance that grew between Josie and Wyatt was so beautifully written and felt very natural in the way it progressed. There were also plenty of fun and silly moments that added to the romcom feel of the book.

I listened to the audio version and struggled a bit to understand the male narrator in some of the early chapters of the story when he spoke quietly. However, that was only for a very small portion of the book and not a problem for the majority of the audio. I actually ended up really enjoying the audio narration overall for this novel.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, however I also purchased my own print copy. All opinions are my own.

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Thank you, Partner, @bookedwiththeemilys @kikimojo @thomasnelson

𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: If All Else Sails
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Emma St. Clair
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: August 5, 2025
5⭐️

⛵️ 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 ⛵️
I love this sweet, slow burn summer romance story, that features previous Appies Hockey Player Wyatt, and his best friend’s sister Josie. Wyatt is nursing an injury at his uncles cabin and not taking care of himself and his best friend/agent Jacob is growing concerned. He convinces his reluctant sister/nurse Josie to assist in the care of Wyatt!

Josie is reluctant because she thinks Wyatt doesn’t like her. Josie discovers Wyatt planned on taking a sailing journey down the coast to honor his recently passed uncle this summer, and his injury has prevented him from doing so, and she offers to go with him.

I love that the misconceptions that Josie had about Wyatt in the past, slowly start to fade as she gets to know him personally. Wyatt isn’t what she thought, and her reluctance to be around him changes as she does some self-discovery.

This story has a lot of sweet, chemistry charged moments as Josie and Wyatt figure out their footing around each other. You can feel the tension and the pull between them. Emma writes tension-filled moments beautifully in a closed door setting, where it’s so very sweet and caring.

I loved the cameos from Eli and Van as well! I’m an Appies hockey fan and love when these guys show up for one another! I appreciated learning about Wyatt’s past with his family and uncle, which guided him to his love for hockey and sailing!

I liked seeing Josie’s self-confidence grow, and Wyatt’s thoughtfulness in making Josie comfortable around him. Wyatt gives Josie room to move at her own pace and I love his sweet patience!!

🎧 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
⛵️ Enemies to Lovers
🌊 Brother’s Best Friend
🏒 Hockey Player/Nurse
⚓️ Sailing Adventures
🐕 Closed Door Romance

💜Instagram post on July 30!

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Y’all enemies to lovers has never looked so good! @kiki, I looooved this audio!! Narrator Andi Arndt was perfect for Josie! I couldn’t stop listening - or laughing!

𝙄𝙛 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙀𝙡𝙨𝙚 𝙎𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙨 by Emma St. Clair is the perfect summer rom-com:
⛵️ Forced proximity
⛵️ Grumpy x sunshine
⛵️ Enemies to first mates to lovers
⛵️ Closed door swoon

Add this to your summer reading list! You’ll be hooked by chapter one!

The authors note gave me alll the feels too!

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Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction/Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for supplying me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I love a good enemies to lovers story. Pair that with some close proximity and you have the makings of the perfect chemistry that builds to a true love story. Emma St. Clair managed this flawlessly. This was my first book by this author but it certainly won't be my last.
Josie finds herself in a pickle. Her brother lied to her and told her they were going on a sibling vacation. But what he was really doing was inserting her into Wyatt's life to try get his best friend to heal and get back to hockey. Josie and Wyatt have spent their lives hating each other, or at least that's what Josie thinks. But as the two spend more and more time together, they both learn about the miscommunication that has happened during their course of knowing each other, and their chemistry blooms into something undeniable.
I will say, I was expecting spice with this story. I have not read St. Clair before so I'm not sure if clean romance is her norm but there was zero spice. And, while that's the level I'm used to reading when I read romance, not having it did not detract in any way from the story for me. If anything, it made the chemistry even more steamy. I loved the slow burn connection Josie and Wyatt experienced. I'm not a huge fan of the miscommunication trope, and there were so many times during this story the two could have fully disclosed everything and gotten on with their lives. But then there would not have been a story.
The plot takes a turn when the two go off on a sailing trip together. I loved this portion of the book more than any other part. Their experiences during the trip were really great and helped build their relationship. Clair did well with the sailing language, as well. I was impressed with the level that was used. Perhaps because I have a sailboat and understand the words. But it was great to watch Josie eagerly learn what she needed to in order to be helpful for their trip.
I did not realize Wyatt has appeared in St. Clair's other books and now I'm anxious to read the other stories of the Appies players! I've now added all her titles to my TBR and I cannot wait to read them!
St. Clair infused witty banter with a good amount of emotional turmoil and growth. The characters were well fleshed out and developed. The author made me fall in love with them almost immediately. If you're looking for a clean romance read with tons of chemistry, wit, and emotional growth, pick this one up and give it a try!

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A wonderful new book from Emma St Clair! I love Wyatt and Josie. Wyatt is another grump that just needs the perfect girl to pull it out of him. And I love that even though this is a brother’s best friend romance, there’s no fights with the brother. No third act breakup. Perfect. Just pure happiness while I read.

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Oh Emma you’ve done it again another great book that I can’t get nothing done until I’ve finished this book !! LOL
This was such an awesome book Wyatt and Josie’s chemistry kept leaping off the pages on my kindle . Josie as a school teacher nurse and Wyatt as a hockey player who is also her brothers’ best friend . I loved the Appies appearance in this book too !
When they sail together and find the dog named Jib oh so cute !
Thank you so much for the publishers and net galley for the ARC !

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Oh Josie and Wyatt, you two were such a delight. I really enjoyed this story. This author is one of my favorites and this story was no exception. This is a slow burn but I loved learning about the characters and the growth they experienced throughout.

If you’ve read any of the Appies books then you’ve met Wyatt before and he is finally getting his story. I am so happy that Josie was the other half to this story.

Josie was a complex character. We didn’t really know why she so vehemently opposed certain aspects of relationships or with certain people until close to the end but I loved the relationship that built before this point. I also really enjoyed her brother Jacob and I hope he gets his story too. Their sibling bond was pretty sweet and I loved how different they were but that they still loved each other.

Alright, Jib, she was a favorite in this book for sure. I loved her fun addition.

The sailing part of this story was really unique. I feel like this was new to me and I’ve not read a book with sailing in it before this.

Thank you to the author and to netgalley for allowing me to read this. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*Minor spoilers with content warning*
CW: closed door (kisses only), mention of attempted assault in past, neglectful father/brother in past, anxiety in character.

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Refreshing rom-com that was fun and cute and great chemistry without the annoying trope of misunderstanding/overreaction that is so common in rom-coms and/or romances. I loved all the little bits of character, loved the nod to the author’s Appies series. It was just overall a fun, quick read.
I did feel like the sailing bit came a little late in the story considering it was the title and cover, but that’s just my personal opinion and nitpicky on the pacing, nothing that overrides the enjoyment of the book!
**thank you to Netgalley and TNZ publishing for a review copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

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If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair
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Let's start this review out with....I LAUGHED SO MUCH IN THIS BOOK! I read this with my friends Oceana and Lindsay and we both really enjoyed it! So many laughs and just an overall great rom-com!

This is Emma's first traditionally published book with Thomas Nelson and I HIGHLY recommend! I have loved all of Emma's books I've read, she just has such a way with writing funny, clean rom-coms and this did not disappoint!

Tied to the Appies Hockey series, we have Wyatt, Josie's brother's best friend and Hockey Player, who spend the summer together. What happens when the "enemies" spend a summer together including sailing, forced proximity situations and a sweet dog accompanies them? FEELINGS!

Our characters spend time together, feelings come to the forefront....their walls come down as they get to know each other more deeply and we really get to know them. Emma always tells stories that are filled with depth and I love that because they are REAL people with REAL issues - more than just your average rom-com.

I loved seeing Josie open up to Wyatt about what she had been through and how much Wyatt grew from his grumpy self in the beginning to the end.

Another great read from Emma I highly recommend for a clean romance!
*content warning for mention of attempted sexual assault recounted. no spice, kisses only, no language

Thank you to Emma, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for complimentary copies of the ebook and audiobook to read and review. All thoughts are my own.

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This is such a fun book! I loved the chapter titles, the Appies link, the dog fashion, and the characters love story! Emma did a great job at writing the tension of characters trying not to like each other while making sure it didn’t cross over into making you think they actually hated each other. So much good stuff in this book!

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First I need to thank Emma St. Clair and everyone who made it possible for me to read this book before its release date. It was a gift. I read a lot of ARCs and honestly, there is another one I should be reading which is to be released at the same time as this one. I have had it longer, so I started with that one. I just couldn’t get into it, so I decided to read some of this one before going back to the other. That was literally about 2 am this morning. It is now 8:57 am and I just finished the book. I should have known better than to start it with the thought that I was only going to read a chapter and then go to bed. I WAS HOOKED IMMEDIATELY and I laughed and swooned through the whole thing. Emma St. Clair is so good at writing the banter and making me feel like I am really watching two people fall in love. I love all of her characters and I always think that she won’t be able to make me like the next ones as much as the last ones and yet every time, she makes me love them more. I am obsessed with Wyatt and I love that the Appies got pulled into this book. I should have been wearing my Appies t-shirt when I read it because they are one of my two favorite hockey teams. (The other is the D.C. Eagles.). I love that Emma can make me feel all the feels and there is never any sex in her books at all and sex isn’t even hinted at until the couples are married. Don’t get me wrong. I read smut and some of my other favorite authors can write things in that realm that I definitely enjoy reading, but to me a romance isn’t worth reading if I don’t feel the connection between the main characters and if there isn’t an actual plot. Emma is a master at it without the steamy scenes and I will continue to read whatever she write. I just hope I am lucky enough to read her next ARC. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Now I think I need a nap. :)

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I loved everything about this book, except that Josie’s brother’s scheme to make her and Wyatt do what he wanted was horrible. I was not a fan of his. Other than that, I loved the characters, the story, the setting, and the hilarity throughout. This was such a fun read.

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Well this was the cutest! Josie, an elementary school nurse, gets tricked into leaving her comfort zone and taking care of her brother’s friend- famous hockey player Wyatt Jacobs. He’s injured, a total grump and they have a history, a history that makes Josie certain the next month will be terrible…

Loved it! So sweet and fun. Wyatt is 😍 and while I wanted to shake Josie and yell “just kiss him already!” I loved her too.

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While I am absolutely terrified of sailing down the east coast, If All Else Sails is so charming and delightful it makes me (almost) amenable to such a trip…but only if I have an adorable dog-loving softie hiding beneath the exterior of a grumpy hockey brute whose favorite word is “no.”

Josie Rowland and Wyatt Jacobs are the dream of my favorite tropes…brother’s best friend, professional athlete, forced proximity, he falls first, and a matchmaking brother/best friend/sports agent. Oh, and there is a dog named Jib with wardrobe changes (including matching outfits) AND a cameo from some of Wyatt’s former teammates. It can be read as a standalone, but be prepared to dive into the Appies world!

Dual POV

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I’ve been a fan of Emma‘s indie books for years! This story is full of her Hallmark signatures, storytelling in a way that only Emma can! It’s the perfect combination of romance, comedy, and tension. I love the depth to her stories, but the fact that they still stay on the lighter side of things. She also does a great job incorporating side characters from previous books and new ones! If All Else Sails is a fantastic first traditionally published and the perfect summer read!

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OH HOW SOFT.

You know what we all need sometimes? A soft and sweet summer romance that just gives you the warm fuzzies. I adored this story. It was an easy read and I loved watching these two souls who were so oblivious to their love work it out sailing together. And did I mention that Wyatt is down bad? BECAUSE HE IS AND I LOVE IT. There were so many small moments that truly added to their love story. I love the quiet actions. Those always speak the loudest and make my heart burst.

I loved the few cameos from some of my favorite Appies and the growth that Wyatt showed throughout. I love watching grumpy characters soften and have some core realizations about their life. Josie was steadfast in taking care of Wyatt and I can’t tell y’all how many scenes I was giddy over. Your friendly reminder that closed door romances can bring the heat.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses
Violence: low
Content warnings: grief depiction, loss of a loved one (recounted)

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Emma St. Clair knows just how to hook a reader, and the first chapter of If All Else Sails had me cracking up and completely sucked in. From then on, it was a wild ride of physical comedy, hijinks, classic Emma laugh out loud humor, and slow burn romance.

Wyatt is an injured pro-hockey player who used to play for the Appies (if you haven’t read that series, what are you waiting for?!) Josie is a financially struggling nurse and Wyatt’s best friend/agent’s little sister. And they have a little bit of a history. When Josie shows up for a sibling vacation and finds Wyatt instead of her brother, she’s given a financially beneficial proposal from her brother, and ends up being nurse for injured Wyatt. Throw in animal hijinks, sickness, and a sailing trip with the swooniest first kiss, and this book has all the ingredients for the perfect summer romcom and new favorite Emma St. Clair book!

If All Else Sails releases on August 5th in all formats, so make sure to preorder your copy so you can read it as soon as it releases!

Intimacy: Kisses only
Language: None
Content Considerations: Family dynamics, mild innuendo

Thank you NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Emma St. Clair for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

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I cannot even begin to describe how happy I am that I pre-ordered this book the MINUTE Emma mentioned it in her weekly emails. So moving, touching and wonderful and immediately grabbed your attention in the first 2 chapters. I was 70% in after a 2 hour plane ride cause I couldn't put it down haha.

I love Emma's writing style and was so happy to see some Appies players make an appearance too. Do yourself a favor and grab a copy!

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“When I know what I want, I don’t settle for less I don’t waver. And I’m really, really good at waiting.”

* What a way to start 😂
* Of course she has the shirt 😏
* This pig situation is hysterical
* His mom 😂
* Awww
* Ugh, I feel you, Josie
* Yes! Communication like an adult 👏
* This man cannot keep from sticking his foot in his mouth haha
* It has to be shoes!
* UGH!

This book had me alternating between giggling and cackling the whole way through 😂 It was SO fun!

I loved Josie right from the start. I 100% relate to her panic and over thinking tendencies. But I loved watching her opinion of Wyatt shift and change and grow.

“Adventures are fun! I told myself while carefully rolling my shirts and lining them up in neat rows at the bottom of my rolling bag.”

And oh, Wyatt. What an adorable grumpy softie. Loved him! And loved how many things he just adored about Josie. How he wanted her to be 100% herself.

“It’s the way he looks at you…like you’re all he sees…or wants to see.”

And the whole going on a sailing trip together was so fun and unique! I loved that. Plus it ended in Savannah, and I love that place.

“I want more moments like this. In fact, I want nothing but these kinds of moments stretching out ahead of me for as long as possible.”

The only thing I’ll say is that there were a lot of things brought and lightly touched on with Josie about like trauma and anxiety and how she always runs away. But I felt like that wasn’t really explored enough or ever resolved in any way. Like, did she end up ever going to therapy?

But other than that, I loved it! So so fun!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this story! It has Emma’s signature wit and shenanigans and character depth and growth. I loved Wyatt and Josie together! I enjoyed how their incorrect perceptions and assumptions about their past were brought out and resolved. There’s a lot of great side characters as well; especially Wyatt’s mom.

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I just loved this! Wyatt and Josie are perfect! So opposite but yet so perfect for each other. What we think will be an enemies to lovers we find out that is maybe one sided. Wyatt is stubborn as can be but yet so perfect. Josie is sweet and caring but yet tender and scared. Wyatt breaks down all those walls slowly. It was a very slow burn story but so sweet along the way. I finished this in one day! I have read many stories from Emma St. Clair and this was just another perfect one!

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I enjoyed reading If All Else Sails, a fun romcom set in Virginia on Chesapeake Bay. Josie’s older brother plans a summer sibling vacation and neglects to tell Josie what’s really going on. Josie arrives at the address her brother provides for their vacation and she’s confused. Her anxiety ramps up when she discovers a rundown cottage in an isolated area with a dock and a nice sailing boat, but her brother is missing in action.

Wyatt is a famous NHL ice hockey star who’s recovering from an injury and staying at the cabin he recently inherited from his uncle. Josie’s brother is his sports agent and best friend from college. Wyatt is shocked to discover Josie on his property. Their meet cute is LOL hilarious and a ridiculous situation. It also reinforces why Wyatt and Josie have been enemies forever.

Josie is an elementary school nurse and she can’t financially afford to turn down her brother’s lucrative offer to stay with Wyatt at the cottage and nurse him back to health. A delightful enemies to friends to more-than-friends romance develops as Wyatt and Josie spend time together and start to question their assumptions and beliefs about each other.

Circumstances force Wyatt and Josie to deal with the emotional baggage from their dysfunctional families of origin and past traumas. I loved journeying with them in the story, and especially loved their sailing adventures. They can’t ignore the romantic sparks and the attraction that’s pulling them closer and making them consider the possibility of a future together.

I recommend If All Else Sails to contemporary romance readers who like clean and wholesome romcoms with tropes including enemies to love, sports star hero, brother’s best friend, grumpy sunshine relationship dynamics, forced proximity, and many LOL hilarious moments in the story.

Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

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Enemies to lovers? Check. Forced proximity? Check. Grumpy sunshine with off-the-charts chemistry? Double check! 😍

Emma St. Clair delivers yet another romcom win with If All Else Sails—a charming, tension-filled standalone that had me hooked from page one. Josie is a school nurse with a sassy streak, and Wyatt is her best friend’s brooding hockey-playing brother. After a hilarious misunderstanding, the two end up sharing a cabin… and then a sailboat. Cue the sparks and banter!

The slow-burn romance is sweet, full of tension, and totally swoon-worthy—but all closed door and clean (no language). I loved the little animal sidekick and the cozy sailing vibes.

Emma always brings the heart, humor, and heat (without going spicy), and this one just might be my new fave of hers! Can’t wait for her launch party when she comes to SLC!

🌊🩷🐾

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Emma St Claire has done it again, making me want to take up a new hobby because her book is THAT good.

Wyatt and Josie’s love story includes handcuffs, rope tying, and only one bed, while still being a clean romance. 😜

Emma has a gift of creating amazing enemies to lovers tension and banter, with forced proximity, that will have you screaming JUST KISS HER ALREADY!

This was one of my favorite July reads and it’s now available and you can find it on Kindle Unlimited!

Melli’s Book Breakdown
Slow Burn
Forced proximity
Grumpy/Sunshine
RomCom
Enemy to lovers
Brother’s Best Friend
Hockey Player MMC

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If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair delivers so many heartaching moments through the overall sunshine vibes. It's a cute enemies to lovers, forced proximity, grumpy-sunshine and best friend's sister trope rom com but the author hit me with some seriously epic feels intermittently. Josie and Wyatt made me laugh, made me swoon and filled my heart with warm cozy feels. Mostly. But when the heartbreak and emotional struggles come, its equally beautiful.

School Nurse Josie arrived at a dilapidated cottage by side of a beautiful lake for an adventurous vacation with her brother. Instead she finds her sports agent brother's best friend and now client Wyatt with an injured foot and surly attitude. Her brother begs and almost blackmails her with a great pay load to stay there to help Wyatt in his recovery because he is on an obvious path of self destruction, not to hockey rink. They supposedly hate each other, that is always the other side of love. Wyatt actually inherited the cottage from his recently decreased beloved uncle and he was supposed to go on sailing ( like each summer) to honor the memory. Will this journey change everything?

Josie has such a bright presence. She is witty and funny and compassionate and fiery. A bad experience in early life has made her detest jocks and her story with Wyatt is filled with awkwardness and misunderstanding. So this new version of Wyatt beyond his grumpy brooding one made her disbalanced. Wyatt knew she is off limits and he thought she hates him and so he never told her about his real feels. That he is obsessed with her. He hides it behind his snark and banter. Oh their battles of banter is the best. The slow burn is perfect. Josie gradually get to know the charming and vulnerable sides of Wyatt. The transition from enemies to reluctant roommate to friend to lovers was so beautifully portrayed by the author. The sailing trip was definitely a major turning point. They came so close but they had so many doubts till Wyatt decides to put his heart on the line. He had to show Josie that he really wants her and win her trust. Josie needed time to accept this charming honest version of Wyatt and open her heart.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

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Perfect end of summer book! I have never been let down by an Emma St Clair book, and this was no exception. In this book you will find grumpy/sunshine, hockey player, forced proximity, and brother’s best friend.
Emma’s writing always draws you in to where you feel like you know the characters. I love that this book gives you the witty banter and tension with Wyatt and Josie, but stay away from spicy scenes. This book had me giggling so much, and I was so happy for no 3rd act breakup! Thank you for another fun, clean romance!

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If All Else Sails is such a fun book! I was drawn right into the story and was engaged to the very end!

Wyatt is a NHL player who previously played for the Appies, and is currently injured. He is suffering mentally and physically now that he can’t play hockey. Josie is a school nurse and the sister of Jacob, Wyatt's agent and good friend. When Jacob asks Josie to take care of Wyatt and help him recover over the summer, she can’t say no because she desperately needs the money for a down payment on a house. She is not looking forward to the job because she once had a crush on Wyatt but now has a bad impression of him in her mind.

I love Emma’s books and was super excited to read her first traditionally published book. There was so much to love about this one and it had me smiling so much as I read! The book opened in such a hilarious way and the witty humor kept coming! I loved the connection and chemistry between Wyatt and Josie! I loved the glimpses we got of them in the past that helped us understand why they were currently on the wrong footing with each other. They were both such likable and relatable MCs. The sailing trip was filled with so many swoony moments and incredible heart to heart conversations. This story pulls on your heartstrings and melts your heart at the same time. It is the perfect summer read! I highly recommend picking it up!

Things to love:
•Hockey
•Brother’s Best Friend
•Duel POV
•He Falls First
•Grumpy/Sunshine
•She takes care of him
•Jib and all the outfits
•Oscar the Grouch shirt
•Rookie
•The sailing trip
•Appies Cameo

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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This book was so cute and fun, I loved it! I started listening and the next thing I knew, it was almost done.

I loved Josie. She was so sweet and funny. She was willing to help her brother’s friend, Wyatt, even though she believed that he hated her. She also isn’t his biggest fan and she doesn’t like athletes due to a traumatic experience in her past. I loved how funny she was. Her inner monologue and comments had me cracking up.

Wyatt showed so much growth in this book. He started out as a huge grump who wanted nothing to do with Josie to letting his walls down and being such a sweetheart to her. I love how he wanted to be around her and would do things for her to stick around. I also loved the fact that he wasn’t a playboy.

I loved Josie and Wyatt together. Their banter was so good and they were just so cute. The way Wyatt let Josie take their relationship at her pace was so sweet.

I really liked Wyatt’s mother. I did not expect her to be as sweet as she was to her. Josie’s brother, Jacob, was such a great brother and I love how he played a role in her and Wyatt starting a relationship.

I really enjoyed the narration! The female narrator did such a fantastic job! While I enjoyed the male narrator’s voice, I felt like there were times where his parts were a bit loud and caught me off guard. Either way, I loved the audiobook, especially because I felt like it brought an extra something to their banter.

Thank you to Emma St. Clair, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio, Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC for an honest review!

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If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair
Releasing August 5th
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I loved Josie and Wyatt’s story. It starts out with hilarity and lightheartedness I’ve come to expect from an ESC rom com. It melds into a sweet, slow burn that had my heart melting. Wyatt is a grouchy, injured hockey player who can never say the right thing around Josie. Josie is a sunny, elementary school nurse who thinks the worst about Wyatt due to his constant foot-in-mouth disease around her. Even though they were brought together unwillingly, as Josie sees Wyatt’s softer side, her perception of him shifts and they fall into an easy friendship. Wyatt has been gone for Joise from the beginning but she needs more time to reshape her original thoughts about him. Wyatt was so gentle and patient with Josie. She struggled with anxiety and overwhelm. He could read her so well and was able to help her settle. He made her feel safe.

I loved Jacob’s role throughout the book. I hope we get his story soon! And an appearance from some of my favorite Appies was a pleasant surprise. I would have liked the story to continue and reveal more of Wyatt and Josie’s time together as a couple. The ending felt a little abrupt and the epilogue skipped over some details I really wanted to know. I would love a bonus chapter or epilogue that fills in the gaps a little. You know it’s a great book when you’re only “complaint” is that you want more!

🩷Enemies To More
🩷Brother’s Best Friend
🩷Witty Banter
🩷Forced Proximity
🩷She Takes Care Of Him
🩷Grumpy/ Sunshine
🩷”murder cottage”
🩷”zombie pigs”
🩷Slow Burn
🩷He Falls First
🩷She Struggles With Anxiety
🩷He’s Dealing With Grief

⚠️CW: off page assault is discussed, dealing with grief over death of a relative, difficult family relationships

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

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5⭐️ An absolutely funny and adorable story. My favorite so far by Emma for sure and that was already a high bar. There are so many good lines and moments in here. You won’t want to miss it on Aug. 5th!!
5⭐️ Narration from Andi Arndt and Patrick Zeller. Andi gave Josie so much spunk, and I was here for it. While Patrick brought out the broody/moody and jealous vibes of Wyatt so well too. Loved every second of it.

Josie has been called to what basically looks like a haunted cottage. Oh and she’s arrested shortly after arrival. So much for a fun time with her brother. Come to find out Josie isn’t there for a trip to see her brother, Jacob. She’s there to help his best friend, Wyatt. He’s injured and not taking care of himself by any stretch of the imagination. Since Josie is a nurse and could use the money, Jacob pays her to make sure he goes to physical therapy and doesn’t die in the murder cottage.

Wyatt has a problem. He doesn’t want help and he really doesn’t know how to deal with Josie being with him. He’s liked her for years but she always seemed to hate him. Maybe this is his chance to finally win her over. But she seems to have an issue with jocks. They agree to go on a mission at sea to spread Wyatt’s uncles ashes. Will this be the straw that broke the camels back or will Wyatt win Josie over with his very subtle charm behind the grumpy exterior?

Thank you so much to @thomasnelson @netgalley and @kikimojo for the advanced reader and listener copy.

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Emma St. Clair can be relied on to deliver imperfect people who aren’t just grumpy for the sake of grumpiness—they have reasons for the way they are. It’s those reasons and past hurts that get in the way of their HEAs until they can be acknowledged and worked on.

That is the case in this book. Wyatt’s family dynamic has made him shun the spotlight, despite his fame. Josie has past trauma with athletes, which has led her to misjudge Wyatt from the very first time they met. Which is too bad, because for him, it was pretty close to love at first sight.

So when Josie’s over-the-top charming brother coerces her into looking after Wyatt’s recovery from an off-the-rink injury, she’s not exactly happy about it. But she recognize that Wyatt is in a vulnerable place, so she stays.

As they both work through their vulnerabilities, they end up confessing past traumas and hurts and finally (and it takes some time) work through just how much Josie has misjudged Wyatt over the years. She has to be willing to look at all their past interactions through a new lens.

Of course, there are obstacles. They don’t live in the same city. Josie has a lot of insecurity about fitting the mold of a famous athlete’s girlfriend…if Wyatt even thinks of her that way. Those insecurities are an obstacle, but Josie is self-aware enough that they avoid the third-act breakup.

Though this is billed as a standalone, it does have a connection to the Appies series, cowritten by St. Clair and Jenny Proctor (reviewed here). This is completely a good thing.

This is petty, but the most annoying thing to me about this book is the way Josie goes all in on dressing up the dog. I just…don’t get the appeal.

All told, this is another entertaining read from St. Clair, with all the banter, feelings, and character development that we’ve come to expect.

Also—St. Clair is working on a playlist for the book. Keep your eyes peeled!

Possible objectionable material:
Past death of a family member, including spreading their ashes. Family disfunction. Josie’s older brother is a “player”. Past sexual assault. Kissing. Unmarried people share a bed.

Who might like this book:
There’s not really any hockey in this book, though the male protagonist is a hockey player. If you like books with cameos from familiar characters, this has it. It’s classic closed-door romance.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

#BookReview #NetGalley #ClosedDoorRomance #Appies #EmmaStClair #IfAllElseSails #RomCom @emmastclairauthor

This book is also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2025/08/hockey-but-not.html

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Another amazing book by Emma St. Claire. I love how easy it is to get into the story and feel like you are living the story with Wyatt and Josie. This was a story full of humorous mishaps, matching outfits, and swoony abs. Of course, the icing on the top is the Appies connection. Loved so much that I'm sad this is a stand-alone book.

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I absolutely loved this book! If you read any of this authors previous hockey romance series about the Appies then you will recognize Wyatt the mmc. Josie the mfc is Wyatt’s agent/best friend’s sister and she does not like Wyatt the grump. These two are forced together for the summer. Josie learns Wyatt isn’t as grumpy as he seems and maybe her first impression wasn’t correct. There are so many laugh out loud scenes in this book that I adored. The banter between Josie and Wyatt is some of the best I have read. I wish this book never ended and it is one I will for sure read over and over again.

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This book was an absolute gem—a clean adult romance that hits all the right notes with heart, humor, and just the right amount of tension. From the first page, the story sails forward at a fast, refreshing pace, making it nearly impossible to put down.

Whether you're a die-hard hockey fan or just love a great “misunderstood enemies to lovers” or grumpy/sunshine trope story, this book delivers. The sports backdrop adds depth without overwhelming the romance, striking a perfect balance that makes the world feel real. But what truly sets this book apart is the character development. The female and male main characters grow in such a meaningful way, you can't help but root for them every step of the way. Emma St. Clair continues to shine in closed door romance, crafting a story that’s both swoon-worthy and emotionally grounded. If All Else Sails is a five-star winner that will leave you smiling long after the final page. Highly recommended!

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“Never leave the house without your underwear or your boundaries.”

This book had me cackling throughout the whole story. The chemistry between Wyatt and Josie was so good, that by the end of the book, I was ready to push them together. Josie is a school nurse, who is sent by her brother, a sports agent, to help care for Wyatt, a hockey player. He is the definition of a grump. But he harbors a secret: he has been in love with Josie for years, ever since they met, but a series of misunderstandings and a painful past led to Josie believing there was mutual hate between them.

There are so many parts of the book that I just loved so much. For one, Josie calls the house a quaint little murder cottage, which I thought set the whole tone for the book. Then, there is a scene with a pig stampede. I mean, who doesn’t love to read about a pig stampede?

THe last half of the book is about sailing, hence the name of the book. Wyatt, who is also mourning the death of his uncle, wants to do a sailing trip that his uncle used to take him on. He can’t go alone, so he asks Josie to come with him. This is where things really get good, and feelings change, and just so much goodness to read about. 5/5 stars.

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Absolutely loved! Another amazing book from Emma St. Clair!! The anxiety and depression reps were tastefully done, and I thought brought some good attention to the way people, and especially women, can downplay their trauma because "it wasn't as bad as other people go through " and "other people have it worse", or "its not anxiety, I just have anxious thoughts sometimes". Add in the hilarious dog, and the swoony moments, and its just beautiful! Can't wait to read more books by this author!

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I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters. Wyatt is a big softy wrapped in a grumpy/doesn't know how to express himself outer shell. Josie is a bright and vivacious outside but is insecure on the inside. Josie butted heads with Wyatt from the beginning. Mostly due to misunderstandings and some past experiences of both Wyatt and Josie.
I loved Jacob and Wyatt's other friends that help move Josie and Wyatt in the right direction.
There were several laugh out loud moments and witty dialogue between Wyatt and Josie as well. This is a sweet, enemies to more romance.

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This is my new favorite by this author!

The perfect clean summer romcom!

Tropes include brother’s best friend, enemies to lovers (then friends to lovers), and forced proximity.

He’s a famous hockey player and has what could be a career ending injury if he doesn’t take care of himself. He’s not in a good place and has refused both doctor visits and therapy. She’s a nurse that just happens to be the off limits little sister of his best friend. She arrives and things start looking up…even though she think he hates her.

They make a bargain that if he does therapy she will help him go on a sailing trip. There’s a cute dog, random pigs, and sunscreen…the word “our” also keeps popping up!

This one is just adorable.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this as an ARC! So fun!

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I’ve said it once and I’ll say it 1000 times. I just love Emma St Clair books! This book has all the wit and banter that we always get with Emma St Clair books. I loved the story and it made me so happy to read.

Josie and Wyatt were so fun and I loved how their relationship grew. Poor Wyatt struggled with his words coming out how he intends with Josie which leads to some communication malfunctions. I love how you get to see the characters emotions thru the writing and the struggles they go through. I also loved the sailing adventure. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with sailing in it.

Again this book was a huge win for me and I cannot wait for the next adventure Emma St Clair has in store for us. Thank you to Emma, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for complimentary copies of the ebook to read and review. All thoughts are my own.

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Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC for an honest review.

Gah! This book was just what I needed for a fun, summer, romantic read. As always Emma St. Clair gives just the right amount of sweetness, witty banter, and tension filled with deeper issues without being over the top. Josie's brother's best friend is Wyatt. And the two have always had a way of getting under the other's skin. Enemies from the start. But as any good romance goes, you know there is something else going on with their declaration of being enemies. There is such a fine line between hate and love...:)

I adored both sunshine Josie and grumpy Wyatt! Watching the two being forced into a close proximity situation was so much fun. The slow unraveling of feelings mixed with past misconceptions that are finally brought to life was well worth the wait to the end game. Add adventures on the water and a cute rescue dog! Oh, and also guest appearance from some of our past Appies players...what a nice surprise! For some reason, I didn't even put the connection together until they showed up. lol

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Emma St. Clair always writes such sweet and lovable books and this one was AMAZING! I had such a great time reading this book. I had so many laugh out loud moments. Thank goodness I was alone because people would have questioned my sanity. LOL..I fell in love with these characters right away and I knew I was going to LOVE this book.

Josie's brother sends her to an unknown address thinking she was going to be spending time with her brother for their annual Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza. When she pulls up to the house that she calls the "Murder House" she doesn't know what to think. But the last thing she thinks is that police officers will show up to arrest her for trespassing.

Wyatt finds a strange woman walking around his property taking pictures and thinks she's a fan or stalker so he calls the cops. Little does he know it's just his best friend and agents sister. He thought he's do a little surprise set up for both of them since Wyatt is injured and needs someone to make sure he takes care of himself so he can get back on the ice.

Well things will definitely be interesting with these two. He's grumpy and that just makes for some amazing banter. These two will have you laughing so much, swooning, smiling and they will take you sailing into the perfect ending! There will also be a dog that gets involved in this story and you will fall in love with the dog as well. I HIGHLY recommend this audiobook. This is the perfect book to take to the beach!

Thank you Emma St. Clair, Thomas Nelson | Thomas Nelson Fiction, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

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School nurse Josie is sent to help her brother’s best friend Wyatt, a hockey player she despises, recover from an injury. Amid simmering animosity, their forced proximity during a sailing trip leads to unexpected romance.

This grumpy/sunshine rom-com is a sweet, slow burn. Josie and Wyatt are both dealing with some childhood trauma that makes it hard for them to open up to people. The novel is fun and heartwarming with a family feel.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

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I LOVED this book! Wyatt and Josie were perfect, their chemistry, their banter, the emotional ties, and Jib! Good lord, I laughed my way through this entire story (hospital scene, OMG!). I love a good Hockey story where the grumpy hot guy falls for the best friends little sister who he's had the hots for since they were young. Just a great all around book that I'd read again. Well written and a quick read that was difficult to put down. This is a new author for me and I plan on reading more of her work.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

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This was SO SWEET and truly the best! forced proximity, longing glances, a YEARNING MANNN this had it all. I LOVED Jib and honestly everything about this book. Such a fun and easy read.

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From the very beginning chapter, I know I was in for a real treat! The way Wyatt and Josie meet (well again) was just so funny.

So many fun things in this book. Her playing nursemaid while Wyatt recovers from an injury, the way she gets to take care of him is sweet (even when it's with animosity at first). The neighbors pigs 🤣.The found dog, Jib and her outfits that Josie puts her in. The way that Josie is going to help Wyatt on his sailing trip and learns so much she freaks herself out. Jacob, Josie's brother, bringing some special friends to visit! The first kiss which was perfection and well worth the wait. The way Wyatt says "he's really good at waiting" and all that implies.

So happy to see a story for Wyatt away from the hockey career and how well his story stands on its own.

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If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair was a spectacular enemies-to-lovers romance.
Looking for a great summer read? Look no further than!
This is the one!
I enjoy reading Emma St. Clair’s books!
She knocked it out of the park with this sweet story.
A fun and heartwarming romantic comedy that is perfect for fans of the genre. The writing is witty and engaging, and the characters are lovable and memorable. If you're looking for a lighthearted and enjoyable read that will leave you feeling good, then this book is definitely worth checking out.

Thank You NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

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One of my new favorite summer reads! If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair is a closed door romance with plenty of great banter and a sweet slow burn. I was hooked from the beginning, laughing out loud, and kicking my feet throughout. Gotta love a tiny dog dressed up in matching outfits, a sailing trip, and an fmc who loves books! This story also lightly touches on anxiety, strained family dynamics and grief, all of which adds to the emotional depth of our fmc and mmc. Truly loved this story! I received a complimentary copy of this book however all opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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The Brief: Josie isn’t happy about the last minute change of plans to the Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza. The new plan involves nursing her brother’s grumpy hockey player bestie back to health. And living in the murder cottage.

The Debrief: Favorite book to date by @ and an absolute delight. From the very ugly meet again to the swoony last word… I. Was. Smitten. Wyatt is such a brooding man with so many lovable layers to discover. His low key charm and wit became exposed to the sunshine and I melted.

Josie has no idea what to do about a kind Wyatt when she remembers him as her enemy. Her cheery attitude was the perfect backdrop to laugh out loud banter filled And can we take a moment to soak up that chemistry? I was there for all of it.

I am looking forward to going back for a re-read, Just so many quotables. My notes:

-sliver removal can be a vibe
-boat shoes are life
-”our”
-pigs are a hilarious menace
-Jib and her fits
-the Appies forever
-I want to go sailing
-the high society steamroller
-I’ll never look at a cool whip container the same
-grumpy men are my favorite

The Rhyme: Wyatt has dropped his anchor and wants to float in a gray haze. When Josie shows up in his life again, can she coax him to sunnier days?

I obviously highly recommend this romantic comedy with deep vibes that will warm your heart. Complimentary copy.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the ARC of If All Else Sails
by Emma St. Clair.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A cute and clean romance read. Wyatt and Josie have known each other basically their entire adult lives. Wyatt becoming fast friends with Josie’s brother, Jacob, and later working with. Which of course is how he meets Josie. Of course there first meet is riddled with mishaps leading Josie to think he hates her. Fast forward many years when Jacob on the sly plans to set them up by convincing Josie to help rehab Wyatt back to health from an injury. Will she stay, will he scare her off, will there feelings become apparent. And more important, when they decide to take the sailing trip Wyatt planned but thought he couldn’t do because of his injury will Josie agree and open up to Wyatt. A classic perceived enemies to lovers and one bed trope. No spice, but a lot of endearing rom-com scenes. A good read.

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Emma St Clair delivers again. The grumpy- sunshine trope is one of my favorites and this one was pulled off in the delightful backdrop of sailing down the intercoastal way from VA to Savannah GA and with the charming companion of Jib the dog of many outfits and some pesky pigs.

Fever delirious Wyatt was one of my favorite scenes.

Perfect for those looking for a swoony rom com set in a coastal vibe. Great summer or beach read.

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This was such a fun book to read! I was immediately hooked by the first chapter, and I absolutely loved the plot and the characters.

I loved Josie and Wyatt together! Their dynamic was great, and I laughed a lot over their banter. I liked how they both helped each grow, and it was fun to see how the story progressed.

There were so many awesome things about this book! Animal shenanigans, a cute dog, funny chapter titles, sailing, and an appearance by some beloved Appies, were among my favorites! I had a great time reading this story!

Content:
Just kisses
TW: mention of past attempted assault

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Josie is all set to go on a fun trip with her brother, Jacob, but his directions lead her to a house that can only be described as a murder cottage. And, of course, Jacob is no where to be found. Instead (after a hilarious incident that I won't spoil) she discovers her brother's grumpy jock friend, Wyatt, is there. To make matters worse, Jacob asks Josie to stay and be Wyatt's caregiver as he recovers from surgery. Nope, not happening! At least not until Jacob offers her a lot of money.
This book is so fun! I loved catching a glimpse of a few of the characters from Emma's Appies series, but you do not to have read that to enjoy this book.
There were so many times I laughed out loud while reading this! Emma has such a way with words, and I loved the chapter headings, too! I highly recommend this to anyone who loves romantic comedies!

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This book was just what I needed to break me out of my romance slump!

Josie has known Wyatt for years and is convinced he absolutely hates her. The grumpy hockey player is her brother's best friend, and she reluctantly agrees to stay with him and help him recover from an injury, which leads to the duo going on a sailing trip together.

St. Clair injects the story with just the right elements of sincerity, humor, tension, and caring, leading to a closed door love story that I absolutely ate up. Hilarious chapter titles had me excited to see what would happen next, and I fell in love with the characters. Their romantic arc developed slowly and authentically, touching on things that had happened in the past and the fear of the future while trying to enjoy the present.

Read if you enjoy:
💗 Closed door romance
💗 Brother's best friend
💗 Caretaking
💗 Forced proximity / Only one bed
💗 Cute dogs in crazy outfits
💗 Fever induced honesty
💗 Sailing trips
💗 Hockey player / nurse

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Wow! If All Else Sails is a delightful, emotional, heartfelt journey full of Emma St. Clair’s signature laugh out loud humor & warmth. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Wyatt & Josie & seeing them grow as they navigate their pasts & rely on each other.

Josie’s a school nurse who’s looking forward to spending time with her brother for their annual Summer Sibling Extravaganza. When Jacob directs her to a derelict cottage, she’s instantly confused, especially when the cops are called on her for trespassing. She’s even more shocked when Wyatt Jacobs, her brother’s best friend & client appears telling the cops it’s a big mistake. She & Wyatt have a history, & the last thing she expects is her brother tricking her into staying & helping Wyatt recover from a hockey injury. But, the money he offers her is too good to pass up.

Wyatt Jacobs’ currently staying at his uncle’s run down cottage off the coast of Virginia to recover from an injury, & his grumpiness knows no bounds. Despite his manager’s insistence, Wyatt hasn’t been attending his physical therapy sessions & is suffering from a fever. When Josie arrives, the sparks fly. They’ve never gotten along, but Wyatt hopes to change that when Josie agrees to stay & help him.

This book had all the feels! Wyatt’s the very definition of grumpy. He’s always had a thing for Josie & I enjoyed seeing his softer side peek through. Loved the thoughtful things he does, & how he helps Josie heal from a past traumatic experience.

Josie’s the sunshine in this relationship, but she carries some definite fears. She & Wyatt don’t see eye to eye & his grumpiness makes her think he hates her. But, as she peels back this handsome pro hockey player’s layers, she sees depth, thoughtfulness, & hurt, as well as a tenderness underneath the gruff. As they sail from Virginia to Georgia, they not only find love but healing.

I loved all the humorous, sweet moments including: finding Jib, poison oak, zombie pigs, family healing, the shopping spree, “Rookie,” boat shoes, home show bets, & shared secrets. Also loved seeing certain Appies again too!

Highly recommend this touching romcom! I received an advanced copy from the author with no expectation of a positive review, but also purchased the ebook version. All opinions are completely my own & provided voluntarily.

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Thank you @thomasnelson and @kikimojo for my complimentary digital and audio copies. All opinions expressed are my own.

SUMMARY: When school nurse Josie travels to a mysterious address in Virginia, she expects a fun vacation with her brother. Instead, she finds herself face-to-face with her brother's best friend, grumpy hockey player Wyatt Jacobs. Demanding an explanation, Josie learns that her brother wants her to help Wyatt recover from an injury, a task she reluctantly agrees to for a substantial fee. The first few days are tense, as Wyatt is resistant to her help. However, during a sailing trip to scatter his uncle's ashes, Josie begins to uncover the complexities of Wyatt's character, challenging her initial perceptions.

MY THOUGHTS: This is my favorite Emma St. Clair book to date! Although I don’t typically read much romance, I can't resist a grumpy/sunshine dynamic from this author. This story, while still humorous, carries a slightly more serious tone that I thoroughly enjoyed. The chemistry between the main characters was captivating, and I appreciated the alternating viewpoints that offered deeper insight into their thoughts and emotions. The sailboat setting added a unique charm to the narrative, making it a truly delightful read.

I also had the pleasure of listening to the audio version, and the dual narrators were perfectly cast for their roles, bringing each character to life with distinct voices and emotions that enhanced the storytelling.

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I love Emma St Clair and was honored to read her newest (and first traditionally published) book as an ARC. Everything Emma writes is GOLD, and this is such a fun addition to her collection.

⛵This book is so much fun from the hilarious (not) (re)meet cute to the dog outfits, the pigs, the boat shoes, the sailing and the deep emotions that Wyatt and Josie experience as they fall in love.

⛵No one writes witty banter quite like Emma. The conversations between Wyatt and Josie are fantastic. They made me laugh out loud several times. I sighed when Wyatt took such good care of Josie. I chuckled when she teases Wyatt. I smiled when they started opening up to each other. I loved seeing them let down their walls and really get to know each other. As Josie discovers that their differences are not actually things they hate about each other, she begins to see the beautiful potential for a future with Wyatt. And that is such a beautiful love story!

⛵The sailing aspects of this story were so interested and fun! I knew basically nothing about sailing before reading this book. But now I want to learn how to sail myself! I learned so much about how the sail and all the moving parts that go into a successful trip. The details of their trip together down to Georgia were so fun. I loved how they worked together and how the boat became such a safe place for them -- even a home.

⛵I loved this (somewhat one sided) enemies to lovers story. These two are perfect for each other and I loved their journey to happily ever after!⛵

Favorite moments in this story:
*Cameo from Van and Eli -- love the Appies!
*Fever induced confessions
*All of Jib's outfits
*Boat shoes
*The shopping spree
*Splinters
*First Kiss!

You'll love this book if you love:
*Enemies to lovers vibes
*Great banter
*Brother's best friend
*Sports romance
*The APPIES

Congratulations on your first traditionally published book, Emma!!

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
GENRE
-romcom

CONTENT
-🤬: none
-❤️: kisses
-⚠️: estranged familial relationship, sexual assault (recounted)

I love Emma's books! This is her first traditionally published book, and you can rest assured that it has all of the charm of her indie books.

Wyatt (who previously played for the Appies) is recovering from an injury and mourning the loss of his uncle. Josie, his best friend and agent's little sister, is a nurse. She gets hoodwinked, essentially, and ends up staying to help care for Wyatt/ensures he takes care of himself.

There isn't a meet-cute here because the characters already know each other, but the opening scene when they meet in this story? HILARIOUS. Absolutely loved it right from the beginning.

Both characters had their own issues to work through, and it takes them a while to get to the point where they're fully open with each other. It is a sloooooow burn, but it's so good!

Stand-out Parts:
-Cops
-Shooing pigs
-Feverish Wyatt
-Splinters
-Boat shoes
-Van + Eli cameo
-Jacob overboard
-When the slow burn pays off!

Favorite Quotes:
-Typical Wyatt-speak. Possibly IBS induced. Or maybe it's not an irritable bowel thing but just an irritable personality one. Not IBS but IPS—irritable personality syndrome.

-"I'm not interested in games. When I know what I want, I don't settle for less. I don't waver. And I'm really, really good at waiting."

-"Better started than perfect. Better tried than unknown."

-"My last name looks good on you, Rookie. Maybe we can find a way to keep it there."

-"Because what I want—what I've always wanted with you—is everything."

-"I don't want to overwhelm you," Wyatt says, trailing a finger along my jaw. "And I think I very easily could."
"Maybe I want to be overwhelmed," I whisper.

-And maybe this is what love is. Not trying to be everything for someone or to complete them, like a person could somehow be incomplete without another person. But perhaps love is being the exact right size of drill bit to tighten the other person's very specific loose screws.
Okay, this analogy may not full work since I don't use tools and it sounds unnecessarily dirty. What I mean is that maybe love is giving the other person the something they may not have on their own.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

Josie is a school nurse who is excited to take a vacation with her bother for their Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza, but when she arrives at the address her brother sent, all she finds is a run-down cottage. What she does find is her arch nemesis, Wyatt who happens to be her brother’s client and best friend, hiding away recovering from a hockey injury. For a pretty penny, her brother convinces Josie to stay and help Wyatt get back on his feet-dragging him to physical therapy. Not an easy task! As they spend time together and she starts to see past his grumpy exterior, she offers to be his first mate sailing the Intercostal Waterway to scatter his uncle’s ashes. Will they make it home without killing or kissing each other?

I was laughing right from the first few pages of this book! Wyatt was perfectly grumpy! The tension and chemistry between these two was undeniable from the very beginning. Watching their relationship grow over time was a delight! I loved this take on the brother’s best friend trope and that Josie’s brother was the one playing matchmaker! Both characters had some past issues they had to work through, making it a slow burn as they fully trust and open up with each other. Loved Jib the dog and the pigs were down right hilarious! As always with an Emma St. Clair book, the witty humor, banter, and tension was top notch!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the copy of this book and audiobook. All thoughts are my own.

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If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair is another great read from Emma for me. I absolutely loved this whole book. This book had me hooked from the beginning. This book is told from a dual POV, following Josie and Wyatt. These characters were so fun. Josie is a school nurse who shows up to a random cottage for her (sometimes) annual Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza with her brother only instead of her brother she finds her brother's best friend/client, Wyatt whom Josie loathes and does not get along with. Her brother wants her to help Wyatt who is an injured hockey player while he recovers from his injury. This book did not disappoint. If you are familiar with Emma's other works you will be happy to see a flash of Appies! I can not wait to read more from Emma! She is an auto-read/buy author for me!

Tropes & Fun Parts
💙 Grump Sunshine
💙 Forced Proximity
💙 Enemies to Lovers
💙 Brothers Best Friend
💙 Hockey Player MMC
💙 School Nurse FMC
💙 Police 🚔 🤣
💙 Poison Oak (IYKYK)
💙 Dogs in Bikinis 👙 🐕
💙 Murder Cottage 🤣🤣
💙 Attack Pigs 🐖

Favorite Scenes/Quotes
Moving as fast as I can in my current state, I fly outside, knocking the screen door right off its hinges. It lands in the yard. But I don’t care. My only focus is on flagging down the police cruisers carrying the last person on the planet I’d want arrested— or detained— because of me.

“Will you require a bedtime story as part of my services?”“No.” The idea of Josie , curled up next to me, reading, almost makes my heart explode.

“This is called a hug,” I say. “People do this for many reasons, but often as a thank-you or a show of comfort or affection.”“Huh,” Wyatt says. “I had no idea.”“Well, you’re doing great. Totally a natural at this.”

“I’m a patient man. I won’t push you,” Wyatt says then. “At least, not too hard. Hopefully, just hard enough.”“How do you know what’s just hard enough?” I ask, my fingers flexing on his lower back. “You may not realize this,” he says, “but I’ve become an expert in reading you, Josie.”

“An overpaid babysitter,” Jacob says.“ Emphasis on overpaid.”“Hey— you have no idea what I’ve endured.” Josie’s eyes meet mine as she says, “I mean, the first day I got there, he asked if I’d give him a sponge bath.” Jacob drops his fork. Eli’s mouth hangs open, and Van looks like he’s about to fall out of his chair. I pinch the bridge of my nose.

“How does it look?” I ask. “It’s way too big.”“It’s perfect,” Wyatt says, bending forward to kiss me again before gently turning me around and brushing my hair away from my neck. “My last name looks good on you , Rookie. Maybe we can find a way to keep it there.”

I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

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"I'm not interested in games. When I know what I want, I don't settle for less. I don't waver. And I'm really, really good at waiting."

This book completely captured my attention and my heart from the very first scene!

Full of heart, humor, wit, character growth/depth, and a scene stealing dog named Jib, this is book I will be reading again!

If you have read any of this author's Appies books, you will love that Van and Eli (and even the famous group chat) make an appearance!


*Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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This book was amazing! Emma St. Clair ALWAYS does an amazing job with her dialogue between her characters and this book is no different. Her characters always have great connection with each other, even if they dislike each other as Wyatt and Josie start out in this book.

Josie, a school nurse, thinks she's headed out on a summer trip with her brother until he calls in a favor. He needs her to help his friend Wyatt, who has a foot injury and is willing to pay Josie a sizable amount to take care of Wyatt while he recovers. There is no love lost (not yet anyway) between Josie and Wyatt, and besides, Wyatt doesn't want Josie's help. But slowly Josie begins to see there's more to Wyatt than his grumpy exterior and Wyatt realizes Josie is more valuable than annoying.

Josie soon realizes that Wyatt was supposed to set sail down the Intercoastal but is unable to now because of his injury. She offers to be his first mate and they set off on a sail that will change the tides of their tenuous friendship forever.

This book will keep you smiling, chuckling, and sometimes even doubling over in laughter throughout, while at the same time pulling at your heartstrings. (Also, if you like little dogs dressed in cute outfits you will LOVE Jib, the adorable dog that sails along with Josie and Wyatt. ☺️)

Emma St Clair does it again and knocks it out of the park! This is a great summer read so go read it today!

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I received a copy of the book for an honest review.

As a longtime fan of Emma St. Clair, I was thrilled to see Wyatt from the Appies series (written with Jenny Proctor) take the spotlight. Josie is incredibly relatable—especially for anyone who battles anxiety and tends to overthink everything.

I loved seeing a softer, more vulnerable side to Wyatt. Turns out, he’s not just grumpy—he’s introverted, and maybe suffering from a chronic case of foot-in-mouth syndrome. 😅

This was such a fun and heartfelt read, and I can’t wait to get my hands on more of Emma’s books!

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I will pretty much love any book that includes an athlete rehabbing an injury and someone moves into help them. It's my catnip, I eat it up every time and this book is no different. Wyatt got injured after playing a non-contact sport while on break from hockey, and is now hiding away in his deceased uncle's cabin, and until Jacob sends his sister to stay with him under false pretenses, he is content with hiding away and never recovering.

Josie is so comfortable in her life, she is becoming afraid of taking new risks and chances, and is kind of in a rut. Her brother tricks her into staying with Wyatt for a decent amount of money ~ go Josie ~ and when she gets there she is pushed out of her comfort zone from the start. Wyatt and Josie have revolved around each other for years, and just now, are finally learning more about each other, and changing their perspectives.

Josie finally sees how much of a teddy bear Wyatt is underneath and is starting to fall for him one smile at a time, and their story is just so cute, I could not stop reading. I loved the family members, Wyatt and Jacob's friends, and overall every part of this story.

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Is this my favorite book of 2025? Yes, it is. Wow. This was my first but not my last Emma St. Clair book. Full of my favorite tropes, enemies to lover, brother's best friend, forced proximity, I could barely put it down. Wyatt just wants to heal in peace from his hockey injury and Josie thinks she's spending time with her brother, but they both are surprised when Josie's brother (who is also Wyatt's agent) hatches a plan to help them both. The way I laughed and smiled and wanted to kick my feet at the sweet and sexy banter between Wyatt and Josie. Swoon! An adventure on the high seas is just what they both need to see that maybe what they really need in life is right in front of them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson publishing for the advanced copy, my opinions are my own.

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A fun read. Wyatt is Josie's.brothers best friend, and she gets roped in to helping him recover from an injury. They have never got along, but will the time together make them realise how they really feel?

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I loved every moment of this book! If I could have given it 10 stars, I would have!

Here's a bit about it:

Josie thought she was meeting her brother for their annual sibling trip. Instead, she's been tricked into babysitting one of his clients, Wyatt, who she knows can't stand her. But the money is too good to pass up and unfortunately, she's worried about him. What starts as a few weeks of making sure Wyatt goes to all his appointments turns into a summer sailing trip she never knew she needed.

***

When I finished reading this book, I wanted to flip back to the beginning and start all over again... that's how good it is!

Things I loved:
-Chapter titles that made me giggle
-Great tension and banter
-A ugly-cute dog with more clothes than me

This is the perfect sweet romance summer read from Emma St. Clair!

*Thank you to Thomas Nelson, NetGalley, and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

---

username on Barnes and Noble is lifebwthepages

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This book just grabbed me and pulled me in from very the first chapter. It was a clean enemies-to-lovers rom-com that featured Wyatt, a grumpy pro hockey player who was recovering from an injury, and Josie, an LPN who was sent (under false pretenses) to help Wyatt by her brother who was Wyatt’s agent and best friend. There was lots of witty banter sprinkled into their story as they worked through some misunderstandings and personal issues. Toward the end of the story, Wyatt, Josie, and a hilarious stray dog they adopted took a sailing trip down the Intracoastal Waterway from Virginia to Savannah, GA in order to spread Wyatt’s uncle’s ashes. Sometimes hockey player stories can be a little formulaic but this story was anything but. It was romantic and clean with swoony kisses and lots of humor. I loved it and high recommend it! I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions expressed are strictly my own.

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“Because what I want—what I’ve always wanted with you—is everything.”

If All Else Sails is a delightful, emotional, heartfelt journey full of wit, banter, laugh out loud humor and heart.

Josie and Wyatt were fun and cute, each of these characters were dealing with different issues and it was beautiful to see the emotional depth of how each grew to accept themselves and how their relationship grew throughout the story.

I really enjoyed this grumpy/sunshine sweet romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing me an eARC of this novel to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

OMG, I absolutely loved this book! Josie and Wyatt had me hooked from the start, I adored their dynamic and the way their relationship developed throughout. The grumpy-sunshine tension, the forced proximity, the hilarious banter… it was everything. I wanted to scream (in the best way) because of how happy this story made me.

Thank You NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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I’m so sad that I’ve finished this book, I wanted it to go on & on. I loved it so much🩷 it was the perfect summer easy read, with plenty of added humour.

I instantly connected with the two main characters. Their chemistry was great, I thoroughly enjoyed their banter & conversations all the way through. This along with the detailed descriptions of the locations truly made me feel like I was with them on their sailing trip.

Although you knew what was going to happen in this story, I loved the way that it kept me hooked. It was a real slow burn & I would have liked them to have communicated a little sooner, so we could have had more of their love story, but at the same time I did also enjoy the build up as you learnt more about the characters - It has been written superbly.

I’d love to see this book made into a film, I think it would be the perfect rom-com. Can we have a book 2 please?! 🫶🏻

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction & of course Emma St. Clair for allowing me read/review this amazing book.

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A five star rom-com!

I am very excited to see a traditionally published book from Emma St. Clair!

Check below for all the tropes in this one as there's A LOT of them, but I thought she did each one expertly! The comedy and humour and banter are strong in this one!

The set up is great. She is a nurse tricked into helping her brother's best friend whose been secretly in love with her since they met in high school. She stays with him to help nurse him back to health and make some money. They fall in love. But not before some major character growth happens for both of them, which I really liked! They each have to work through issues whether personal, mental, or familial and that all added depth to the story and balanced the cheesy humour laced throughout.
I really liked her writing in this and how she balanced the plot with the depth and the comedy.

The characters were straightforward. Nothing super unique about them, but that's not what this story needed. Their chemistry was thick and banter strong, and they were a great match!

The romance was truly adorable. Their connection was more than physical, which was seen in the dialogue and their inner thoughts. There's a kiss scene that made me swoon with how good the build up was.

This stands out to me as a really strong rom-com that I think a lot of people will like.

Tropes & Triggers: enemies to more, brother's best friend, hockey romance, forced proximity, she takes care of him, billionaire, sailing, grumpy/sunshine, painkiller high, mention of past attempted sexual assault, no language, only kissing.

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When Josie's brother arranges for her to meet him for a Super Sibling Summer Extravaganza, she's excited. At least until she arrives and finds the address is a rundown murder cottage and the owner has her arrested - sorry, detained - for trespassing. And things are hardly improved when Wyatt, the owner and her brother's best friend, finally realises it's her and has her released, because then she discovers the depths of her brother's treachery. Wyatt is recovering from an injury and needs, but continually rejects, support. And somehow Jacob thinks Josie will be the magic answer. In the end, money makes her stay, but as they work together it gradually becomes something more as she realises that the man she thought hated her (it was mutual) maybe doesn't. And maybe that could be mutual too...

Having met Wyatt in previous hockey books, it was great to see the man behind the grump - and certified grump he is! Fortunately, Josie is a definite ray of sunshine, but one with her own problems that make her relatable, both to him and to the reader. Better, there's humour that kept me laughing (the pigs?), but also depth that made it matter - a touching and inspiring romance, not just a bit of amusing fluff. It was heart-warming watching Josie coax Wyatt out of his shell, but his care for her (well, once he stops trying to run her off) is equally delightful. And yes, there's plenty of humour, from the dog's extensive wardrobe (and Wyatt's response) to talking in a fever to the chapter titles. And the pigs. All in all, a great read, hilarious but also heart-warming. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Emma never fails to bring the laughter in her books and I was laughing nonstop! Josie’s got it all wrong with it comes to Wyatt. He doesn’t hate her at all and their relationship is full of misunderstandings.

Their banter was the best! Watching them get to know each other and work through past experiences was so good.

Emma, does a great job of tackling hard issues and not making the book feel heavy.

I absolutely loved this book and it’s the perfect romcom for summer! I’ll definitely be reading this again!

Thank you to Emma St. Clair, Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

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I love Emma St. Clair and the Appies (fictional hockey team)! While this isn't technically an Appies book, Wyatt used to be an Appie and a few familiar faces do pop up.

I love the slow burn and the pining. Especially when both characters think the other hates them! 

The premise and location are so fun. I love Wyatt and Josie’s banter. 

No third act break up! Closed door romance.

💙 Grumpy-sunshine
🩷 Brother's best friend
💙 Hate to love
🩷 Forced proximity

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Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

The grumpy x sunshine perfection!! The reluctant caretaking! The BANTER!!!!

Eeps, I loved this book. The sailing made for a really fun setting as the added tension and cabin fever was rather delicious - it was full of tension and then finally, the banter and tension turn into tender, sweet romance. Is this a love story for the ages? Naah. Is this a perfect summer sweet romance? Heck, yes! It is closed door - there's kisses only, so if that's something you aren't a fan of then be mindful.

Overall though.... such a good read.

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GAH!! I have read every single book by Emma St. Clair. Every book. She is an auto buy. I follow her on all platforms. I just want to set the stage on how much I love her. With that being said, I think this may be my favorite Emma St. Clair book. It was SO WELL DONE!! I got lost in it so easy and was so sad when it ended so fast. Loved every second! The characters were well written and developed. The story line was perfection. Read this ASAP!!

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This was the perfect end-of-summer read! I absolutely loved these characters. The misunderstandings and mishaps at the beginning were so entertaining—and totally understandable given why Josie would dislike Wyatt at first.

Wyatt was such a perfect male lead. Emma St. Clair wrote him as someone clearly broken in his own ways, yet still deeply caring and mindful of Josie. His patience with her was beautiful to read.

I’m always here for some forced proximity and a one-bed situation, and this one was so well written. Their romance draws you in completely while still keeping it clean and such a sweet romance!

Seeing the Appies cameo was such a treat! I’m a big Eli and Van fan, so having them thrown into the story—even for a short time—was just lovely.

I listened to the audiobook and loved the dual narration. Both narrators did a wonderful job capturing the heart and personality of these characters, making me feel even more invested in their story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair is a sweet and funny enemies-to-lovers romance. Josie, a school nurse, ends up taking care of her brother’s injured best friend, Wyatt, a grumpy hockey player, at a rundown summer cottage. They’re stuck in close quarters and later travel together on a sailboat, where their bickering slowly turns into real connection. I loved how Wyatt, despite his gruff exterior, is actually really sweet and caring. Their slow-burn romance, sibling meddling, and grumpy-sunshine dynamic made this such a charming summer read.

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If they hadn’t already met, this one would be a meet-cute for the ages. There is a difference between arrest and detain—isn’t there? Josie met Wyatt years ago and he’s hated her ever since. No wonder he’s the reason she is handcuffed in the back of a police car.

This brother’s best friend story is so adorable. So much forced-proximity fun-to-read. I love an enemies-to-lovers story that isn’t really enemies-to-lovers because HE’S BEEN IN LOVE WITH HER SINCE THEY FIRST MET!!! So now he has an opportunity to make her understand, and he’s laying on the hot-hockey-player, grumpy-kindness charm while he’s got her.

I don’t want to tell too much of the story because it’s too much fun to experience first-hand. I will say, if you have your heart set on a full-book sailing trip you'll need to adjust your expectations a bit. You won’t be disappointed with the story on dry land or the sailing trip that eventually happens. And if you are an Appies fan, you will be thrilled. Seriously. This book is extremely good. Read it!!! Thank you NetGalley and Emma St. Clair for the ARC.

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‘I never would have predicted it, but now, I see little signs of Wyatt’s kindness every day. And it’s leaving me with a very nagging sense that I’ve spent years misunderstanding him.
Such a secret softie.
‘Are you coming?’ he asks a little abruptly.
A secret softie wrapped in porcupine quills.’

Emma St. Clair has done it again—and this time, she’s sailing straight into my favorites list. If All Else Sails is an absolutely fantastic grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity romance packed with flirty and sarcastic banter, laugh-out-loud moments, and real emotional depth.

Josie and Wyatt are complete opposites who have no business being stuck in a rundown cottage together for the summer…and yet watching their dynamic evolve from (what seems like mutual) loathing to longing was absolute perfection. The banter? Chef’s kiss amazing. The heart? Bigger than Josie’s brother’s ego😉😂 I devoured this one in a single sitting and immediately wanted to start again…which I did!

This is THE late summer read you’ve been waiting for—sailing, soul-searching, second chances, and more fun than you can imagine. Add it to your TBR and cart ASAP!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Content/Trigger: themes of grief parental expectations, fears, loss of a loved one (off page) and self-discovery. Clean romance with kisses only.

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I go into every @kikimojo book knowing I’m going to love it. This one was no different.

The dynamic between Josie and Wyatt was so fun. Brother’s best friend will always be one of the best.. that paired with enemies to lovers👌🏼

It was great to see some of the Appies players mentioned in this book. Wyatt is a pro hockey player but due to an injury he is on medical leave. He wasn’t properly taking care of himself so his agent sent in the big guns. And by big guns.. he sent his sister, Josie.

This book is filled with emotionally charged moments both between Josie and Wyatt and surrounding Wyatt’s loss of his uncle.

This story is a slow burn. One where you’re begging them to tell the other their true feelings. The final reveal was so worth the wait though!

Read if you like:
⛵️Brother’s Best Friend
⛵️Enemies to Lovers
⛵️Forced Proximity
⛵️Hockey Player
⛵️She takes care of him
⛵️Closed Door

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I loved this book! The humor was totally my vibe.
I was smiling to words on paper for solid 70% of the read!
The pigs scene and the hospital? I almost fell off my bed from laughing.
The dog?! OMG THE DOG - the cutest part of the plot ever!
I was super invested and felt the tension between the main characters from the beginning. Somewhere around 60% to 70-80% it started to fall a bit flat, but the pace picked up by the end.
I was debating between 4 and 5 stars, but I’m feeling generous so I’m giving it the 5 star rating.

It’s a closed door romance with brother’s best friend trope. She’s a broke school nurse and he’s a rich hockey player recovering from (not hockey related) injury.
There is a sailing trip in the second half of the book.
It’s overall lighthearted, very funny and entertaining read, with a touch of some IN THE FEELS moments.
Very cute and funny.

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If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair is a charming and witty grumpy-sunshine romance filled with humor, heart, and slow-burn chemistry. Josie and Wyatt’s reluctant summer together turns into an unforgettable journey of healing, self-discovery, and unexpected love. I enjoyed this book and rated it five stars.

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Thank you NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the advanced copy this book.

I ATE this book up. This was the cutest book I've read recently. This book started off with such a unique and witty dynamic and I was obsessed from the start. The characters are multi-layered and so witty. I truly enjoyed this book, truly.


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

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Emma St. Clair is one of my favorite authors and I was so excited for her to have a traditionally published book and absolutely LOVED this summery fun story about former Appies star Wyatt Jacobs and nurse Josie. When Josie’s brother flakes out on Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza and sends her to visit his best friend Wyatt instead, Josie finds herself playing physical therapist for the injured hockey player. When Wyatt’s injury heals and he decided to set forth in his sailboat on the Intercoastal Waterway, he asks Josie to be his first mate. I often feel that indie authors who go trad publishing lose their voice, so I was SO happy to find that this book is still completely 100% an Emma St. Clair story!! It has laughter, it has banter, it has quirk, “she takes care of him,” and it has such a gentle beautiful slow burn! Wyatt and Josie may have known each other their whole lives, but in these close quarters they learn more about each other than they ever expected. St. Clair’s books always make me smile the entire time, and I liked how the sailboat and the “quaint murder cottage” both made for unique settings. I think Wyatt may be one of my new favorite MMCs. This book can be read as a standalone and would be a great place to start if you’ve never read St. Clair before. What are you waiting for?? Go grab When All Else Sails from KU or your favorite retailer including TARGET today!

*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. I was not required to give a review and all opinions expressed above are my own honest opinion.

#books #summerreads #cleanfiction #romcom #cleanromcom #romanticcomedy #boatbooks #ocean #cabin #amreading #newrelease #tbr

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I was given this arc by netgalley for my honest opinion...

I absolutely loved this book, Emma shot this right in the net! Jacob is a manager for many players, Wyatt was his first ever professional player signed. When Jacob brings Wyatt over to meet his family. Wyatt meets Josie, Jacob's sister. Instantly, their hate for each other could be felt. Fast-forward a few years, Jacob asked Josie to take a sibling trip... but that trip ends her up dealing with an injured Wyatt. Will Wyatt and Josie finally get along?

Love the drama, Jib (the dog), and the hockey stick used to move pigs.

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I loved Wyatt and Josie! He’s her brother’s best friend. She thinks there’s some mutual hatred going on, but it was really he falls first and is gruff and awkward around her. I loved seeing his gruff side fall away into something softer. It was especially funny when he was feverish!

There were a lot of funny moments, sweet moments, and a fun setting on a sailing trip. I also loved the appearances of some of Wyatt’s former teammates. The only thing I would have changed is the pacing of the book. It’s slow burn. I enjoyed the journey, but I still wanted a kiss sooner!

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I've recently dipped my toe into the clean, romcom genre and found this little gem to be quite an entertaining summer read. The sweet, humorous story captured me from the first pages when Josie, the darling main character, arrives at the mystery "quaint little murder cottage." Josie has the best sense of humor and the banter between Josie and Wyatt is the perfect blend of sarcasm and sweetness. The characters and the story all had some depth to them besides being all around fun. Add this one to the end of your summer reads, you won't be sorry.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson publishers for the opportunity to read for my honest review.

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This story brings together some of my favorite tropes - grumpy/sunshine(ish), enemies to lovers, brother’s best friend, and one bed - all wrapped up in a heartfelt, closed-door hockey romcom that struck just the right balance between humor, heart, and slow-burn tension.

He’s injured, grumpy, and stuck in the off-season with more attitude than plans. She’s a school nurse, a little lonely, and trying to get her footing again after life threw her off balance. When their paths collide, sparks fly in the worst (and eventually best) kind of way.

I loved how both characters were layered and complex. On the surface, they’re opposites who can’t seem to agree on anything but beneath that friction are two people quietly hurting and hiding behind their own walls. Watching those walls slowly come down felt honest, hopeful, and so satisfying. It’s a story that shows how our perceptions of people can shift, how healing can happen in the most unexpected ways, and how love often grows when you're not looking for it.

The humor was just the right kind of chaotic - with runaway pigs, a bikini-wearing dog, and an unfortunate police incident that kept me turning the pages (or in this case, listening) to see what could possibly happen next. And then there’s the sailboat - such a perfect setting for some of the most tender, vulnerable moments in the book.

With dual POV that lets you see both sides of their story, strong emotional beats, and an ending that absolutely delivered, this one is a standout. Equal parts sweet, funny, and heartfelt, I think its a perfect summer read.

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This story was soooo good! It brought the laughs and the romance. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. Josie and Wyatt have such an amazing chemistry once you get past Wyatt’s foot in the mouth disease. 😂 While he seems like a big ol’ grump, he is really a softie on the inside. Josie is a feisty one and is not afraid to give Wyatt the kick in the butt he needs. We also need to give a moment to appreciate Jib and her amazing outfits!
This is a dual pov, clean romance.

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