Enemies to Lovers by Laura Jane Williams
Narrator: Jennifer Macbeth
Rating: 3 stars
Pub date: 8/13

Thank you so much to Putnam Books for my physical copy and to PRH Audio for my complimentary audiobook.

This book is a fun summer escape to the Greek Isles, full of sun, sea, and family antics. Flo Greenberg, a high-strung over-achiever, just wants a peaceful vacation with her family. But her plans get a bit messy when Jamie Kramer, her brother’s annoyingly handsome best friend, crashes the trip. There was a spark between them years ago that quickly fizzled, leaving them in an awkward state of miscommunication. But over two weeks of shared meals, boat trips, and sunbathing, Flo starts to see Jamie in a new light.

There are a few things that I really liked about this book. The first is the setting. You can almost feel the sand and smell the saltwater. I also loved the family dynamic! There’s lots of hilarious sibling banter and heartwarming moments. Flo’s journey with her mental health is handled very well, adding some relatability to her character and the story. I thought the narrator, Jennifer Macbeth, did a great job bringing all of the characters, and the lovely setting, to life.

That’s about it, I’m afraid. The title of this book is Enemies to Lovers, but the “enemies” part is a stretch. At best, Flo and Jamie irritate each other. There isn’t a lot of tension between them, and certainly not enough to call them enemies. The language choice is also odd at times, using a lot of slang that didn’t feel right. I cringed at a few of the exchanges between the family members, and at one point, in a fit of annoyance, Flo calls Jamie a “farthead.” That almost made me DNF on the spot.

All in all, this is a light, quick read that would be great for the beach. It's funny at times and has a nice happy ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy.

I was excited to dive into this book as it's set on a family vacation in Greece - what's not to love? However the main character was hard to root for at first and the love relationship in this story didn't give me the butterflies I was expecting. I felt this book was just okay overall but appreciate the early access!

First of all, thank you to Penguin Random House & Laura Jane Williams for sending me an eARC of this book.
While it wasn’t my favorite, this book is a cute quick read. On holiday two people who felt sparks months ago are forced to spend their ‘holiday’ interacting with each other. Flo recieved a note from Jamie stating to forget about the sparks felt & she’s never wanted to forget someone more. Unfortunately for her, her brothers best friend is in fact Jamie & she just can escape.

For me, this book just fell a little flat. It was super forced and just didn’t flow very nicely. In my opinion, it also just repeated a lot of the same plot line events without excitement or comedy.

"Enemies to Lovers" is a delightful novel set in the picturesque backdrop of Greece. The story expertly tackles themes of mental health and the importance of communication, offering depth beneath its charming exterior. The protagonists' journey from adversaries to lovers is both heartwarming and engaging, enriched by a series of fantastic old school references that add a nostalgic flair. The setting in Greece adds a touch of romance and beauty to the narrative, enhancing the overall reading experience. The author's portrayal of the characters' struggles and growth is authentic and relatable, making the story resonate on a personal level. The sweet and tender moments sprinkled throughout the book make it a perfect read for those who enjoy a mix of romance and meaningful storytelling. Overall, "Enemies to Lovers" is a cute and memorable tale that captures the complexities of relationships and the healing power of love.

3.25!!!

First and foremost, can we please stop calling things enemies to lovers when they aren’t really enemies! In most cases, one of the leads is just misunderstanding the other and doesn’t have the emotional maturity to ask clarifying questions to be SURE!! *sigh*

Moving beyond that, here are the tropes I noticed:
• brother’s best friend
• family vacation
• forced proximity
• miscommunication
• anxiety/panic attack representation

WRITING REVIEW: Strictly looking at the writing without worrying about the plot, I felt it needed more work. There were a lot of redundant points that were already mentioned. There were times the writing came across as if the reader were a bit oblivious to inferences. In my opinion, some things don’t have to be explicitly spelled out; such as, if you’re telling me that you will do something once you get back to your phone, you don’t have to then say that you left your phone at xx location because you wouldn’t bring it in xx location.

PLOT REVIEW: I like the premise of the story. It has a lot of potential to be a greater story but execution faltered. I found the FMC to be annoying at times, sorry to say. Especially at the beginning of the book. She came across as obsessed with believing her assumptions were facts. It gets discussed why she is that way, if you’re able to push through. Once I got about 20% into the book, the reading experience got smoother as the plot picked up a bit. The MMC wasn’t developed enough for me. It might just be my experience, but there were moments that his actions felt out of character from how was established to be. It turned me off for the FMC lol 😂

I do think there will be people who absolutely love this story! It’s worth reading for the most part, just an average experience.

This book combines the allure of cowboy romance with the charm of YA fiction, creating a delightful and engaging read. One standout feature is its skillful use of dual perspectives, a rarity in many YA novels.

Colton, the male protagonist, breaks the mold as a hardworking teen deeply invested in his family's business. His dedication and love for what he does shine through, adding depth to his character.

The female lead faces relatable challenges for teens, such as the upheaval of moving during her senior year. The author adeptly captures the emotional turmoil and frustrations that accompany such a significant life change, including missed opportunities with friends, internships, and potential jobs.

The setting is perhaps the most captivating aspect of the book. Who would have thought an Oregon Trail adventure could be so enthralling? While not the most practical experience—traveling for hours in a caravan on wooden benches—the author's detailed descriptions bring the environment vividly to life.

If you appreciate immersive storytelling with rich, descriptive prose that transports you into the heart of the narrative, this book is a perfect choice. It strikes a perfect balance, providing enough detail to create a vivid world without overwhelming the reader.

Highlights of this book include:
- YA genre appeal
- Compelling enemies-to-lovers dynamic
- A richly immersive setting
- Dual perspectives that deepen character insights
- Heartfelt cowboy romance

Thank you to the publishers for emailing me a copy of this book! 😊 this was a fast, cute, enjoyable read. I liked Flo and the very real struggles she went through in this book. This was a little predictable, and I wasn’t totally invested in the romance. I still liked this overall and would recommend to romcom lovers.

Enemies to Lovers by Laura Jane Williams is a captivating blend of comedy, animosity, allure, and seduction. Williams skillfully weaves together a tale of romance featuring endearing characters that will keep readers entertained and engaged. This novel is highly recommended for those who enjoy contemporary romances filled with themes of second chances, meddling families, and hidden desires.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for allowing me to read an ARC of Enemies to Lovers by Laura Jane Williams, in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed reading this book. The characters were realistic, the family dynamics were amazing, and the setting was beautiful! Ms. Williams also did a lovely job with the mental health aspect.

The title "Enemies to Lovers" is not to be taken quite as literally as it seems some reviewers have.

I look forward to reading more from Laura Jane Williams.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I enjoyed this book and think you will to.

I love that I was sucked into this story from the beginning. This story takes you to Greece and you meet Flo and Jamie. They are both characters that make you like them for different reasons. I really liked the whole family and the dynamic. My only con in this book was the length.

Low key read that didn't burn my romcom love. The HEA felt earned and both characters served mental health rep.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

This book was just okay. I had a hard time connecting with the characters especially the main one. The reason for them being enemies just seemed silly. I did love the setting though.

I'm giving Enemies to Lovers 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4! This was a cutie story, however, the FMC was slightly annoying to me. I know she was going through a lot but still, not everything is so serious....

I could also see the ending a mile away and the overprotective big brother thing is kind of weird when you're banging on the door of 30 years old lol

It was still an easy and fun summer read that I enjoyed :)

You had me at Greece! I absolutely loved the setting of this book! It was fun it was lighthearted it was an easy read. I’m loving the brothers’ best friend trope and happy that this book had a happy ending.

thank you netgalley for the e-arc. why was this named enemies to lovers when no one in this book was an enemy?? everyone was friends! the positives for me were the banter and that this was not more than 350 pages.

Flo is learning how to live again and she joins her family on a vacation in Greece with plans for a relaxing trip. What she doesn't expect is her brother's best friend and her "enemy" Jamie. In this quick read, you'll experience all the emotions as Flo figures out what she wants from life and love. While I'm not sure how strong the "Enemies to Lovers" trope is in this book, I had difficulty putting it down.

Thank you, NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Laura Jane Williams for this ARC all opinions are my own.

I did have to DNF this book unfortunately. I am grateful that I got the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review by NetGallery. I definitely can see this being a summer favorite but it wasn’t just for me!

This book was a great beach vacation read. Flo is excited to start her family vacation in Greece, that is until her brother’s best friend Jamie shows up there too. Flo hates Jamie because at Christmas she thought there was something there, but then he dumped her with a note and took off. Worst of all Flo can’t let anyone know because she is embarrassed and wants to keep all of this from her family. She keeps trying to enjoy her family vacation, but with Jamie there it feels impossible. But as the vacation goes on, they are forced to spend time together and she comes to realize things just aren’t adding up, and the attraction she feels to Jamie just won’t go away. This book had fabulous scenery, food, and a family we all wish we could have. I enjoyed everything about this book, except the miscommunication trope, as it irritates me so much when a problem can be so easily solved by talking to the other person. But other than that, a fun and flirty fast paced beach read. I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.

This was such a fun read for me. I liked seeing how the characters’ relationship built over the duration of the book, and a good happily ever after is always something I hope for when reading a rom-com.