While I enjoyed this book, it was not close to the top of my list of favorite summer reads for 2024. Solid 3.5 stars rounded to 4. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy.

I wanted to love this book, based on the title & description: But unfortunately, this book fell short for me. It didn’t feel like Flo and Jamie were really enemies, they just had some tension between them. I feel like the characters were all over the place and that Hope was a little unnecessary.

I enjoyed reading Enemies to Lovers by Laura Jane Williams. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

Flo and her family are heading to Greece for a family vacation and she is looking so forward to the time with family. Unfortunately,a wrench was thrown into her happy plans when she finds out her brother’s best friend Jamie will be with them. Jamie and her had a very brief encounter and she wasn’t having anything to do with him at all. I love the banter between these two and it was fun to see them get together and work out their differences.

I received this ARC from Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I loved this book and read it in one day! It is the typical enemies to lovers romance book. I would definitely recommend this book.

Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up

Review: Overall, this was a cute, quick read. I read it in one sitting. I wasn't anything special as far as romance books I go. I did text a friend when I was at 9% and correctly guessed the "twist" at the end. I think this is a great, low angst, need a palate cleanser read.

Synopsis: Flo Greenberg: highly strung. Over-achiever. And desperate for a relaxing Greek holiday with her family.

Jamie Kramer: her brother's best friend. Pain in the arse. And somehow on Flo’s relaxing Greek holiday too…

With two surprise weeks of sharing meals, boat trips and sun-loungers, Flo must endure the company of this irksomely chiselled Lothario. But after what happened last year, she’s determined not to let him get the better of her.

In fact, spending time with the enemy will be the perfect cure for Flo's all-consuming anger towards Jamie, right?

(Spoiler alert: wrong…!)

Enemies to Lovers was the first Laura Jane Williams book I’ve read (despite having all of her books in my library) and now current me can thank past me for preemptively purchasing them, because I’ll definitely be reading the rest of her works. On the surface it was a lighthearted enemies to lovers, Greek island rom-com. But there are deeper layers to it that added some much needed nuisance - Florence “Flo” Greenberg is an overachiever just getting over a breakdown that had her hitting bottom. She’s finally feeling good about herself and where she’s at in life, and looking forward to a two-week vacation on a Greek island with her family. Enter unexpected guest Jamie Kramer, her brother’s best friend. The one that she once had almost something over the holidays, and then gave her a brush-off and the cold shoulder. Now instead of a relaxing holiday with family, she’s in a constant state of anxiety and rivalry with Jamie. But he seems angry with her too, which she can’t make sense of. As their petty squabbling turns into a reluctant truce and maybe even friendship, they begin to open up to one another. But Flo still can’t make sense of why he cut her off just as it seemed they were on the precipice of something. As she struggles with her mental health, she also has to make sense of where she stands not only with Jamie, but also her family. With more than romance, the story also focused on mental health, grief, depression, and building a life you can be proud of.

Enemies to Lovers is my fourth novel by Laura Jane Williams. This story follows Florence (Flo) Greenberg, who is going on a Greek holiday with her family. Her brother’s best friend, Jamie Kramer, who rejected Flo via a note under her door at Christmas, is along for the trip. The title and synopsis of the novel seem a little misleading as this was not as “enemies” focused as I expected. There was some tension between them, but it wasn’t actual enemies. I’ve thought this with many other novels, but a new official trope needs to be created as there are tons of novels claiming to be full enemies to lovers when they are not actually enemies.

Flo was an interesting character as I enjoyed her sometimes and disliked her other times. She was not likable as she believes her assumptions are facts and while this part does get better, it does take a little effort to get through. She goes through some nice character growth throughout the story as she goes through some self-discovery to carve out her own identity. There is a nice mental health aspect to her journey and to the rest of the story that I wish was explored in greater detail. The two characters acted a little younger than they were, I believe, intended, so I think the author should have changed their ages to fit their personalities. I believe everything in this story had potential and just needed a few details updated and some additional depth to the characters. Overall, this was not my favorite from the author, but I would still read more from her in the future.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

I went into this blind because all I needed to know was that it had the "enemies to lovers" trope to be interested. What I wasn't expecting was a completely heartfelt & emotional story this deep. All the good rom-com feels with swoon worthy moments & a beautiful vacation setting! Loved loved loved it!

If this book doesn't get made into a movie I will be SO disappointed!!!

The story has all the elements to make a great rom-com. Enemies to lovers, obviously, is the obvious one. It also has the big, loving family. I loved them all so much. They added the exact right amount of drama, humor, and familial clarity.

Flo and Jamie, I can totally picture them. They'd be great in a movie, and in a follow-up book!!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Enemies to Lovers
Author: Laura Jane Williams
Romcom

Thank you so much Netgalley and Putnam books for this ARC! Released today 8/13! I really enjoyed this one.. Flo is on a trip to Greece with her family where they invited her brother’s best friend that she hates. One of the reasons she hates him so much is that he basically scorned her after a fling by ending things via a letter. I know I have mentioned this before, but I love books where they are on trips because it gives me a little personal escape from my day to day life. Flo is kind of a mess and she’s just trying to figure herself out on this trip, and when the curve ball called Jamie is thrown her way, it really throws a wrench in things. Watching them navigate this family trip while loathing each other (but also being drawn to each other) was fun to read. It was an easy summer read.

3.5 ⭐

***Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Enemies to Lovers
Brothers Best Friend
Forced Proximity
Mental Health representation

Was this book perfect, no, was it enjoyable, yes.

I will say I figured out what happened pretty early on.

Calling this an enemies to lovers book, is a far fetch, as it was more I'm angry/disappointed and mis-communication.

The family dynamic was good.

Alex certainly did not act like a doctor.

Laurie needs to grow up.

Flo and Hope's friendship was nice.

For someone pining for eight years, I'm not sure I felt it.

I'd read another book by this order if the subject was intriguing.

Enemies to Loves by Laura Jane Williams—OUT NOW!

This summer holiday book has family, forced proximity, a mental health rep, and Greek vacation vibes 😍
While I wouldn’t say this is actual an enemies to lovers, the two main characters do have some tension and hurt feelings to work through. The thing that I think was supposed to make them enemies was more of an awkward obstacle in both of their lives considering how entwined their social circles are.
There was lots of family banter, which I really enjoyed. The setting was also dreamy and it made me wish I was on a Greek vacation.
Overall this was a light and easy read.

Thank you @netgalley @putnambooks and @penguinrandomhouse for the advanced copy to review!

Flo and her family are having a relaxing vacation in Greece. This vacation is exactly what Flo needs after the tough couple of years she’s had. Until Jamie her brother’s best friend shows up. The guy who rejected her last Christmas. Spending time with Jamie will be the perfect way to find all his flaws and get over him. Right?

Enemies to Lovers was a fun and silly beach read. It was lighthearted while also discussing mental health. However, the story kinda fell short for me. I did enjoy the family dynamic and the vacation scenery. Many people did enjoy this book and it did have cute moments, but overall I wasn’t invested in Flo and Jamie’s relationship.

I do wish we could’ve seen more of Flo and Jamie’s connection from last Christmas cause there wasn’t anything big that happened where I could understand their closeness during last Christmas and why the rejection hurt so much. I figured they had a relationship over Christmas break and then Jamie left her, but they hadn’t even kissed. They were mad and hurt by each other, but it sounded like a childish crush not that they were in love.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I received an advanced copy for review. This is my honest opinion.

Enemies to Lovers is a perfect summer beach read!

Enemies is a bit of a misnomer to us as readers, but to over thinking Flo, it makes sense. Her brother’s best friend Jamie always held her at arms length, but after a *moment* last Christmas, he pretended nothing happened and ditched her with a note. When Jamie shows up to the family vacation in Greece, Flo is blindsided. (He was invited, the family email chain just goes to her spam folder!) At first she vows to ignore him, then she decides to get to know him better, until they both realize they want more.

I think my favorite aspect of Enemies to Lovers was the large family. Florence and her brothers are funny and endearing, and the way they all interact as a group was a delight. There is a smidge of family tension at the end (quickly resolved), but their family is heartwarming and the relationship doesn’t hinge on drama, like so many do. I also appreciated how Florence treated her mental health and recovery from a breakdown.

Florence and Jamie’s “enemies to lovers” track was cute and fun! Adonis was a jerk and I hope he steps on legos.

I read this one really quickly, and it’s a perfect beach vacation read.

Thanks to Netgalley, GP Putnam’s Sons, and Laura Jane Williams for the ARC!

This book was super cute & a perfect summer romance! Lots of times when a story is touted as enemies to lovers, they’re really not enemies at all. In fact, usually one is secretly obsessed with the other. Well, this wasn’t the case here. These two hated each other so much, I was questioning how they’d ever become lovers!

But all is well…they do, in fact, have an HEA…a really awesome one at that. This book touches on lots of mental health issues…grief, loss, anxiety, depression. There is family drama, camaraderie, love, friendship, and a beautiful setting. It has all the elements of a great summer read! Highly recommend!

This is a fun, light-hearted, well-written summer read. I personally didn’t connect with the author’s style or the characters, but I’m sure others will enjoy it.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publishers for this free advanced reader in exchange for a free and fair review. “Enemies to Lovers” was just what I needed. I felt like I was on a beach vacation in Greece with the Greenberg family. The tension was palpable. I also really strongly identified with the protagonist, a sister among brothers. Super cute, light, and a great summer read!

I had so much fun with this rollercoaster ride of emotions!

I adore a good enemies to lovers, and this was the perfect mix of that AND brother’s best friend. The tension and the angst are just right.

On family vacation, our protagonist finds herself stuck in close proximity to her brother’s best friend, a guy she put herself out there with, but was shut down. She is mortified to spend any time with the infuriating man. He is so aloof, not seeming to be affected by her presence at all. Not like she is by his…

She loathes the man, but maybe exposure therapy will make her realize she doesn’t really have feelings for him after all. Or maybe she will discover he isn’t as bad as she thinks… OOF! It was just SO good!!

Enemies to Lovers by Laura Jane Williams

Thank you @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse for this early copy.

Flo is on vacation with her family trying to get back to life! She had a breakdown and now everyone treats her as if she will have another. Her quirky family will have you laughing and crying. Flo did not however get the family email that said her brothers bestie Jamie was coming. Flo had a crush on him and felt like before "The Incident " he was hitting on her. She then found a note under her door saying sorry to have led you on. So now she wants nothing to do with his hotness. Now trapped in a house with her family and Jamie in Greece, she has to figure out a way not to kill him. Will she be able to be nice to him?

This comes out tomorrow!

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