Flo arrives for her family's vacation on a dreamy Greek island to see Jamie, her brother's best friend who she had an almost fling with last Christmas. Unfortunately, it ended in a brutal rejection.

A plumbing disaster lands Jamie in Flo's bedroom for the remainder of the trip, forcing Flo and Jamie to face their issues. If they hate each other, what happened last Christmas,,, and if they're meant to be, why did Jamie reject Flo so harshly and flee town?

Reading this book felt like I was creeping through the windows of an authentic family vacation. I loved how the Greenbergs deeply cared for each other, sometimes, too much. Flo was a relatable character who showed interwoven strength and weakness.

This was a fun, beach read with a healthy dose of real life. 4 stars!

This book was a quick romance-ish read. Perfect for vacation, since the setting is in beautiful Greece featuring a family vacation for the MFC. While I did really like this book and am giving it a 4 star rating (rounding up from 3.75), I will say that it was not what I expected as a romance. To me, this book was a lot more about Flo (FMC) overcoming things in her own personal life and getting back on track with communicating with her family after a breakdown she suffered. The romance aspect was lacking IMO, the actual romance plot was so drawn out, another story line where the miscommunication between the 2 main characters could have been solved so many times, it almost gets annoying. Again, because I did love the aspects of this book that were Flo developing as a character, and felt the author has a great writing talent, I am giving 4 stars. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick and easy read for vacation or travel. BUT... if your looking for a true romance, this book will not do it for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book, in exchange for honest feedback.

I was able to read this because NetGalley provided with an arc. I loved this romance. Great Read. I would read more by this author.

Typical romcom, but these types of books are always a comfortable read for me. I really enjoyed the storyline and I enjoyed the characters! Thank you netgalley and the publishers!!!

Jamie (Flo’s brother’s best friend) and Flo almost had a “thing” last Christmas. Jamie leaves abruptly causing a misunderstanding and hurt feelings. Looking for relaxation, Flo joins the whole family in Greece for a two week vacation… Jamie included. Two weeks of forced/close proximity puts all their issues on display. Hopefully this will be the chance for them to clear the air.

I really like this story. It had a great way to explore mental health and how it looks to all those affected. The family dynamic was great as well. You should definitely check it out, you will not be disappointed.

Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam for the chance to read and review this book.

While I enjoyed this one, it didn’t quite come across as “enemies” to lovers like the title suggests, more like underlying tension to lovers? I did really enjoy the family dynamic, it’s nice to see a close-knit family and the sibling banter as this really hits home for me and LOVED the Greece setting! I mean it doesn’t get much more picturesque than that! But unfortunately the romance didn’t jump off the page between Flo and Jamie (which is generally what we’re all reading romance for), but it was a nice, easy read that was still very much enjoyable,

Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable light vacation read. I wouldn’t call the trope enemies to lovers, as much as I would say there was a misunderstanding. Honestly, I think the book would have been better served as a friends to lovers dynamic versus the misunderstandings/meddling that it was. It also felt disingenuous that Jaimie and Flo wouldn’t have discussed the misunderstanding at Christmas once they became vulnerable with one another earlier on in the storyline. I also did not like how things ended with Adonis considering how likable he was and how open and comfortable she was with him and sharing her mental health storyline with him in the book. I feel like he could’ve just remained in the friend zone and it would’ve been totally fine. There was no need to demonize him or use him to create a dramatic turn. I absolutely LOVED the family dynamics, writing of the relationships between the siblings and the parents- all that was really well done. I do like that the author wrote about women’s mental health and the journey and the pressures that many women face, I do wish that it was incorporated more throughout the holiday, versus it kind of being brought to airs at the very end, though. 3.5 stars. I would definitely explore more writing by this author. Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this arc..

Enemies to Lovers was just not for me. I am a big fan of the trope but this one didnt have the same level of enemies feel like other books in the genre. The two characters did not have a lot of chemistry for me and I found myself hoping I would get to read more of the family dynamic than the love story. It was all just ok for me.

⭐️⭐️
Enemies to Lovers
By: Laura Jane Williams
Publisher: Penguin Group Putnam
Pub Date: 9/13/24
This one was not what I expected. The title led me to believe it was one of my favorite romance tropes but it was missing that true despising feeling for the other character.
I just felt like I needed more aggressive feelings between them.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and GP Putnam's Sons for access to an eARC in exchange for my honest review!!

what's it about? ⬇️

Lifelong academic Flo has been struggling to get back to feeling like herself--and liking that feeling--after a mental breakdown derailed her whole life some time ago, and her therapist and new best friend Hope have helped loads with that goal already. Now if only she could get her family to go back to seeing her as someone capable of taking care of herself, too, even though it seems like the universe is determined to throw all of it's best trials her way in their presence.

After a romantic near-miss with her brother's best friend over Christmas holiday and no closure to the situation, Flo has chosen to stay angry at Jamie from afar and to avoid running into him at all costs, even going so far as to miss a few important family events. But there's no way to weasel her way out of a family vacation to Greece with her parents, brothers, and new sister-in-law even if she wanted to. And besides, it's not like Jamie should even come up much in conversation, right?

Wrong. So wrong. Because apparently, Jamie's status as 'part of the family' extends to vacations out-of-country, too, and just as she's finishing her her first relaxing swim in Greece, there he is. The bane of her existence. Handsome and charismatic as ever. Oh, and shirtless. Of course. It seems like he's always shirtless, for some reason.

What follows is a vacation filled with family fun consistently unscored both by Jamie and Flo's insistence on avoiding one another and by Flo's struggles to feel more comfortable with who she is and to show her family how far she has progressed on her healing journey.

my thoughts? ⬇️

This book is a hard one for me, because there was a lot that I did like about it, but there was so much more that fell flat and ended up disappointing me... But I'll start off with the positives, because I adored Flo's family and the dynamics between them all. They were funny and read so realistically. The relationships between each child and their parents as well as one another were all different and fun to explore, and honestly, if the story had focused solely on Flo's journey of healing and her family slowly coming around to understand her position and how far she's come, I think I would have liked it so much more.

The thing that I think frustrated me the most about this story is all of the wasted potential with the constant mention of Flo's mental breakdown and her journey to get back to a healthy state of mind. Because yes, it was mentioned a lot and was something that Flo struggled with regularly, and there was a subplot in which her family had to learn to understand that, but it was all sequestered into this neat little box within the story sometimes and wasn't allowed to be the clearly messy thing it was and to impact different parts of the story that it might have in real life, which made it feel more like flavoring for the story than a real story about a woman's mental health journey.

And as for the elephant in the room, I feel like it was really difficult to the story because the romance fell so flat and was even outright annoying or childish at times. Because while Jamie and Flo were good characters on their own, their relationship made no sense and the miscommunication trope in this book was a little insulting, honestly. I love the miscommunication trope when it's done well, but in Enemies to Lovers, it was just so difficult to believe that these two people--Jamie with all his questions and searching stares and Flo with her explosive anger and desire for closure--would never even once just have a conversation about what happened between them to get their heads on straight. And while we're discussing tropes I'd rather not have found in this book, can we take a break from presenting a side character as a potential romance with literally no visible red flags and then suddenly turning him into a horrible human being to suit the plot? You're allowed to just not want to be with someone without them being a complete tool, and I feel like we've forgotten that in a lot of contemporary romances recently. But I also recognize that this may be more a me problem, and while this book wasn't for me, others may love it.

based on you other likes? ⬇️

I have a hard time recommending this one personally, but if you want something similar that I would recommend, here are some options:

💖 Anyone But You - 'enemies' to lovers plot with characters who act like idiots to get under each others' skin, behaving on vacation.
💖 Happy Place by Emily Henry - behaving on vacation with loved ones while hiding romantic tension and animosity.
💖 Wish You Weren't Here by Erin Baldwin - animosity that bleeds into tension and affection, sapphic, summer camp.


trigger warnings ⬇️

discussion of mental illness, discussion of mental breakdown, sexual content, sexual harassment, attempted sexual assault, mentioned death of a parent, mentions of death, grief.

Enemies to Lovers by Laura Jane Williams was an interesting read.

I found myself being disappointed that the main characters didn't feel like true enemies. You could see that there was some underlying tension but that normal angst/animosity that typically comes from this trope felt underwhelming.

It was a quick read and enjoyable, just maybe not for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Books for the ARC.

Enemies to Lovers by Laura Jane Williams is a brilliantly written, slow-burn romance that perfectly captures the magic of love evolving from rivalry. Williams has a gift for creating vibrant, relatable characters, and this book delivers an irresistible mix of tension, humor, and heartwarming moments that had me hooked from the first page.

The protagonists are compelling from the get-go, with their undeniable chemistry making the “enemies to lovers” trope shine in all the right ways. The witty banter and simmering tension between them build up masterfully, keeping the reader invested in their transformation from adversaries to something much deeper. Williams' writing is sharp, funny, and laced with emotional depth, making their eventual connection feel truly rewarding.

What I loved most about Enemies to Lovers was how it handled the characters' personal growth, showing that love is not only about chemistry but also about understanding and evolving as individuals. The side characters add plenty of charm and complexity to the story, making this more than just a romance—it’s a book about relationships, friendships, and finding balance in life.

If you’re a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope and enjoy well-developed characters with a dash of wit and warmth, this book is a must-read. Laura Jane Williams has crafted a story that’s equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and wonderfully romantic.

A heartfelt thank you to Laura Jane Williams, NetGalley, and The Penguin Group for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Kind of obsessed with the family dynamic, the “will they or won’t they”, and the setting of a Greek holiday 😍

The ending MADE this book in my opinion, it was exactly what I hoped for her ❤️

Unfortunately, I didn't love this and DNF'd at 30%. I couldn't connect with the main characters or feel the tension between them so I thought to pause this.

Yikes, this book was mismarketed. You would think a title like "Enemies to Lovers" would deliver something along the lines of "The Hating Game" or anything by Ali Hazelwood. They were not enemies, there wasn't even any tension. Also, the glittering and romantic backdrop of Greece feels out of place in the story. Gorgeous descriptions and fun excursions, yes, but still out of place. I appreciate the sensitivity and how realistic Flo's mental health struggles were, but it felt muddled by all of the unnecessary subplots thrown in. Why is Hope taking so much time on the page away from Flo and Jamie?? I was thoroughly confused by all of it and once again circle back to this not being enemies-to-lovers. What a disappointment...

This one was really cute and started off super strong! I don’t think it should have been as long as it was, some of the fluff could’ve been eliminated. But all in all it was still a fun, summery read!

I had a hard time reading this book as the writing style was not for me. I hope that I can pick this book up in the future.

3.75 Stars. I really liked this book. The first part was a bit slow going, but once you hit the part with the competitions, it started to really pick up. I loved the chemistry between Jamie and Flo and the slow burn between them was just perfect. Sometimes it's hard to do an enemies to lovers trope in romance book, but Laura Jane Williams did a great job of it. I didn't feel like it took too long, nor did I feel like it was insta-love. I loved all the characters and they all felt very complex and thought out, especially Florence, and it was interesting to see her struggles with mental illness. However, I do wish we got to look more into Jamie. All in all, I think this was a very cute book and would be a perfect quick summer read.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I found the book to be delightful! Enemies to Lovers is definitely my favorite trope, so I had high expectations for this book, and it did not disappoint. The writing was skillful, and the humor was genuinely enjoyable. I particularly liked the brothers best friend trope, which has now become one of my favorites. This story left me yearning for a getaway to the Greek isles more than ever!