Rating: 4/5

Loved this book a lot. Juliana and Ben are a perfect example of why we need more romance books with characters who are a little older, in their 30s or 40s. I'm so glad I was able to read an ARC of this book. More books from Amy Buchanan now, please!

One of my favorite things about this story was how open and vulnerable Ben was. When the shift in their relationship happens, it's Ben who puts himself out there most directly first, and he really remains open and vulnerable for the rest of the book, even when he's conflicted about how to manage his responsibility to his daughter and his feelings for Juliana. Ben is unapologetic in his want for Juliana and it really make this book excellent.

The way Juliana handles the complicated emotions that come with moving on as a widow is beautiful. I really love the internal dialogue the author provides for this aspect of the story. I think it's so refreshing how the issue of grief is handled in this book about a young widow. Juliana feels sadness and love for her late husband, but she's also still a young woman, albeit older than most female main characters in romance books, with desire, both physical and emotional, for a new guy in her life. Just a really beautiful book.

The love story in this is so different from most books and is done so well. The spice is great, as well.
A really wonderful book and I can't wait to read more from this author.

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review

A fun rom-com with "The Hating Game" vibes! Workplace romance, single mom- all the romantic tension we love!

Juliana is a single mom trying her best to juggle her dream career and life at home. But enter too sexy for his own good Ben, the co-worker who gets on her last nerve.
Banter, banter, banter with this one. Absolutely loved the dialogue! Talk about angst!

Brief thoughts- a little too spicy for my usual reads and I'm not a fan of the third act piece. Overall a fun romance!

3.5 stars. Thanks to St. Martin's for the widget. Overall I really enjoyed this story and the banter between the MMC and the FMC and the kids. There were some instances when the FMC was over the top her wishy washy was not for me in some of the chapters but I kept reading and it got more enjoyable as the book progressed and finished really good.

This book started off really strong for me which made the rest of it feel like that much more of a letdown. I felt so much for Juliana and her situation but by 42% I was so frustrated with her and ready to dnf. I was only just interested enough in Ben's explanation for things he said in the beginning to keep going. Which we did get, but it still didn't really add up to me.

The relationship between the two just never worked. I understood the rivalry to an extent, but Ben loving her that fiercely? Made no sense. Juliana is one of the most selfish FMCs I have ever read. Ben made his fair share of mistakes, but he never deserved to be treated the way he was after his explanation to Juliana. She strung him along and then made him grovel and plan a grand gesture? No thanks. I was so over it.

The only really lovable characters in this book were the children, who showed more emotional maturity than every adult in their lives. I loved them so much and wanted to see them be happy and if that meant a HEA between Juliana and Ben then so be it. Otherwise, I honestly wouldn't have wanted to see them end up together.

I wanted to love this. I wish more their relationship had developed on page so I could understand their connection. It didn't end up working for me.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

A briskly paced workplace romance full of lusty physical attraction and fan favourite tropes. While the hero falls madly in love at first sight, he blunders his way into saying something offensive the heroine overhears, and she holds a bitter grudge for two years about it, fending off his continued advances under the guise of hating him, despite her intense physical attraction and no further offences. The enemies-to-lovers marketing is a bit deceptive since the animosity is so one-sided, and the hero is so candid about his feelings, so this is more a story of a woman who pushes people away after her husband dies, afraid to get hurt again, balanced against a steamy workplace relationship and the complexities of dating as a single parent, all handled with a light touch, making this a breezy and joyful read.

I am blown away by this debut! I live for enemies-to-lovers, but most books fall short on the kind of hatred that really makes the trope great. This book reaches Hating Game levels of (hilarious antic-filled) animosity. It’s also really, really hot. (One desk scene in particular lives in my mind rent-free.) And incredibly emotional, exploring topics like grief and single parenthood with depth and nuance. Loved it and highly recommend!

It was a very intense book, with a lot of vulnerability from both characters. And when I say intense is INTENSE, both when they were enemies to when they were frienesmies to when they were lovers, but it is a romance story between two single parents that work together, so I can see how it is complicated just with the kids.

It was honestly an incredible enemies to lovers(and it was giving me The Spanish love deception vibes for a moment there), with a palpable sexual tension and character development. The MFM character was stressing me out and I wanted to slap her more than once, while I did get her perspective in doubting everything and being scare, at one point I wanted to scream, but even still there, I was too involved in the story to hate it 😂

📌enemies to lovers
📌work place romance
📌forced proximity
📌single parents
📌he fall first

🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

More books like this, please please please. I love the conflicts between these two and, more than anything, how they resolved them like rational adults *while still allowing for complications and tension.* Incredibly satisfying and I CANNOT wait for more from this author.

Let's Call a Truce by Amy Buchanan is a contemporary romance novel that explores the theme of second chances in both life and love. Filled with humor and a hint of angst, this touching and swoon-worthy debut is sure to captivate readers. Through realistic life situations, the author skillfully weaves a story that evokes both laughter and tears. A true treat for fans of the romance genre!

I’m currently in a romance kick and you can never go wrong with enemies to lovers. Add in a workplace romance and I’m sold.

What I liked: Every trope. Even the miscommunication trope was actually well done. The main characters had depth and were likeable, despite their faults. The storyline was great and the ending was satisfying. I was a little worried the HEA wasn’t gonna happen!

What I didn’t like: I would have liked to see a little more depth on the supporting characters.

Was really hoping to like this one more. I really liked the single mom/single dad trope and I thought the kids were adorable, however the writing felt shallow and at times cringey and like I had read the exact words before. I also thought the plot was at times illogical and overdramatic. This could be a me problem tho because I read too much romance and I do hope to read more of her work as she releases them because I did find some parts of the book enjoyable.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for an ARC of Let’s Call a Truce. I loved this idea of blended families, overcoming grief, and a work rival, but some plot points didn’t work as well for me. The hot and cold nature of their relationship and Juliana’s feelings, the somewhat crappy move from Ben later on, and Juliana’s inability to see his side for so long made for a frustrating second half. I adored the moments they were sneakily dating, though~totally adorable.

[Thanks to St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.]

On Juliana's first day at her new job, an emergency with one of her daughters forces her to leave early. The next day, she overhears Ben Thomas, her new co-worker, badmouthing her to another colleague. So much for their meet-cute the day before! 

Fast forward two years and Juliana is still holding a grudge (and incorrectly under the impression that the hate is mutual). But when they're thrown together at work for a project that could lead to a promotion for Juliana, they're forced to spend more time together. Despite their undeniable chemistry and their daughters being best friends, she's determined to keep things strictly professional... no matter how difficult that becomes.

Thoughts: 
Buchanan does a beautiful job portraying grief. Juliana's journey of loss, guilt, and moving on felt real and emotional. After the unexpected loss of her husband, while they're both still young, Juliana really struggles with the guilt of being attracted to Ben. Years later, when hosting a bridal shower for a friend, she looks back fondly at the memories from her own celebration and acknowledges that while still sad, they also feel comforting now.

Ben's ex-wife coming back just to stir up trouble felt unnecessary. I loved Ben's patience and support but his inability to say no to his ex really soured things for me. The situation could've been handled much better, seeing as these are older characters.

First let me say that star ratings are not adequate for explaining all the complexities that go into an author writing a story. That being said, I had all different thoughts on Let’s Call a Truce, and will attempt to explain why.

Amy Buchanan can write. She has a knack for storytelling and I felt like Ben and Juliana were real people with real lives. This story is as much about living with grief as it is a love story and how it is possible to find romantic love after having it once before. Friends and family also play a big role in this story. Juliana is a widowed mom to two young girls and it really does take a village to help her navigate life post spouse. She has a great support group of friends, one who is best friends with her workplace nemesis, Ben Thomas. As they say, keep your friends close but your enemies closer. The initial spark between Ben and Juliana is doused quickly when Ben makes the CRITICAL mistake of judging Juliana’s work ethic as less than satisfactory BECAUSE she has kids. Note to all men—don’t do this! And here’s where the story jumps forward two years.

This one incident is used as the fuel to Juliana’s hate fire for Ben. Okay, I’m a mom, I get it, but instead of getting to know Ben, she just lets it keep festering. There are so many opportunities for Juliana to actually talk to Ben about this, but time and time again she chooses the stubborn, “he’s a terrible person” mantra which after several chances came off as immature to me. And that’s okay. Characters can be immature as long as they grow, but Juliana’s unwillingness to see Ben in any light other than work nemesis for SO LONG, almost made me DNF. I groaned aloud when once again, Juliana found fault with Ben because I just wanted her to give him a chance.

But do you know what made me come back? Ben. He is the best MMC and honestly, probably too good for Juliana. He really really wants her and pursues her, loves her kids (the miscommunication is finally fixed and there is a good grovel), and thinks she’s amazing at her job. To me, Ben never really misstepped; he was even very forgivable in the third act break up. In a way, he was the opposite of Juliana; he knows what he wants and he goes for it and his “rivalry” was more his way of dealing with Juliana’s childishness in a placating way.

This book does have a pretty great ending, Juliana does grow and realize that she wasted a TON of time fighting with Ben, and I ultimately enjoyed the second half of the book. But if you’re inclined to dislike heroines who struggle with forgiveness, Let’s Call a Truce might put you a bit off. I will say that I would definitely read more from Buchanan. She knows what women want in a hero and can write a workplace romance sex scene, I just think rivals to lovers may have not been my favorite trope from her. I received an early copy. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟.5
Steam: 🪭🪭

A single parent workplace romcom, this romance had several tropes and elements I enjoyed. However, the FMC's attitude and behavior towards our hero is what hindered this romance for me. DNF @30%.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Juliana has been a SAHM for years but after her husband dies she is forced to go back to work. Her former company hires her back and on the first day she has a panic attack, has to leave work for a school emergency and she overhears the hot guy making a remark about her leaving to take care of her kids. So this is the set up for an enemies to lovers story but for me it was more a lust story than a love story. Definitely open door.

Juliana has had to deal with a lot following the death of her husband but a lot of the time she just sounded childish and immature. Her daughters, Clara and Sophie, seemed more together than Juliana. She held a grudge against Ben for two years because of the remark she overheard and then kept a log of all the arguments they had and who won. I had no idea what her job was so I didn't feel invested in her career and struggles with that. Then on a business trip to Boston she has a meeting with Quinn and they become BFF's. That seemed forced and didn't really add to the story.

Near the end Ben's ex shows back up and by that point I just didn't care about either of them.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a digital copy.

I really enjoyed this workplace enemies-to-lovers romance! Juliana is a widowed single mom trying to rebuild her life, and her fiery dynamic with Ben, her charming but infuriating coworker, is full of tension and witty banter. Their chemistry is undeniable, and I loved watching their relationship evolve from adversaries to something much deeper.
Juliana’s journey back into the workforce and her determination to provide for her daughters is inspiring. Ben is swoon-worthy, patient, and supportive, especially with her kids, which made their growing connection so heartfelt. The story also shines with strong supporting characters and Juliana’s emotional growth.
While I enjoyed the romance, the third-act breakup felt a bit forced, and Juliana’s indecisiveness sometimes got frustrating. Still, the book is a fun, heartfelt read with plenty of laughs, touching moments, and a satisfying ending. If you love enemies-to-lovers with depth and charm, this is a great pick!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this wonderful workplace romantic comedy! Please note this review does contain mild spoilers for the third act. I've tried to note this so you can skip if desired!

Let's cover the basics of what you can expect first!
~Rivals to lovers workplace romance with a bit of a forced proximity vibe
~He falls first
~A+ snarky banter, especially early on
~Single divorced dad of 1 and single widowed mom of 2
~3 chili peppers for spiciness
~Grief and learning to love again
~Spoilers for the third act: OW Drama with a bit of a love triangle vibe, and separation with a fulfilling grovel

Let's go through a brief synopsis: Former stay-at-home mom Juliana is re-entering the workforce nearly a year after her husband's untimely and unexpected passing. On her first day, she overhears a coworker, Ben, saying unflattering things about her. This kickstarts a feud that lasts the better part of 2 years, before Ben and Juliana are asked to co-lead a work initiative together. With this, Ben calls a truce so the two of them can function as a team, giving Juliana just the emotional clearing she needs to get to know Ben on a more personal level. Sparks begin to fly, and the two of them have to navigate the ups and downs of managing their children, their workplace, and figuring out if and how they can make a relationship work given their own individual histories and skeletons.

OK, on to the review! I really loved Ben and Juliana. They were both well developed, complex characters with understandable motivations through their mistakes. Their communication style bounced between snarky bordering on rude, to fun and flirty teasing, to deep, honest and vulnerable. The side cast of characters was also amazing, with involved and loving blood and found families. I love how Juliana built her tribe consisting of her parents and strong friendships to support her and her girls following Jason's death. I admit I fell head over heels in love with Ben early on, and found myself more than once internally screaming at Juliana to give the poor guy a chance! In general, I really enjoyed the writing style, dialogue, spicy content, character and plot development. I will definitely keep Amy Buchanan on my "authors to read" list!

I thought this story also had lovely moments surrounding the experience of grief, both fresh and how it can evolve with time, as well as the experiences of single fathers. There were a few moments of hardship depicted by both Juliana and Ben that made my heart hurt and want society to just do better! I don't read a lot of single parent romances, despite having children myself, but I adored all 3 girls in Let's Call a Truce, and strongly related to Juliana and Ben's desires to be as present, involved, and supportive as possible. As a working mom, Juliana's stress over being an active parent while keeping all of her work, personal, and social balls in the air was relatable, realistic, and validating. I appreciated seeing on page the efforts both Juliana and Ben made to connect with each other's kids and get to know them while also forging their romantic relationship.

Ok, so why four stars for me? I admit I struggled through the third act and raged at some of the choices Ben in particular made. I do feel the ultimate resolution was fulfilling and satisfying, but it definitely made my heart ache in an unexpected way before we could get there!

**The following paragraph contains mild third act spoilers for those who want to avoid this!** The quasi-love triangle introduced at about the 75% mark just stomped my heart and frustrated me. I had come to view Ben as someone with stronger communication and emotionally maturity than what he showed, and so this mistake really threw me for a loop. However, I will say the grovel and resolution were very satisfying, and although I still disagree with how Ben handled himself, his motivations were thoughtfully written, and his apology and grand gesture were sweet, sentimental, and revealed just how much he understands and supports Juliana. I also appreciated that Juliana held her own and didn't come running back as soon as he asked. She made her positions clear, and acted to protect herself while he figured his stuff out. She found a path to forgiveness that I thought made sense and fit what I wanted for her, what I thought she ultimately deserved.

I highly recommend Let's Call a Truce for those who want a well written, moderately spicy, fast paced story of two colleagues overcoming their first impressions, their insecurities and fears, their preconceived notions, the artificial barriers they created out of anxiety and self-preservation, and ultimately taking a chance on friendship and love.

Favorite Quote:
"I won't ask you not to be scared, but I will ask you to choose me anyway. Be scared with me."

OK, here's one more favorite because I couldn't choose!
"My head was above the water. I could breathe. But I had been so focused on not drowning, I forgot I could swim."

“I was going to die in a goddamn public bathroom.”

Quite the hook in Amy Buchanan’s debut book Let’s Call a Truce 🤣

My first romance of the year gave a strong start. Featuring the enemies to lovers, forced proximity and office romance tropes, the story between Juliana and Ben is both funny and heartwarming. I loved the supporting cast, especially Juliana’s close friends. At times I found myself frustrated with both main characters, but overall solidly enjoyed the novel.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

“You deserve to be taken care of sometimes. To get to enjoy what you love without having to take care of everyone.”

I love a workplace enemies to lovers romance, and this was great. The tension and banter was really well done, though I did find a few plot points a little frustrating.

Juliana is an excellent protagonist. As a recently widowed single mom, she heads back into the workforce where she immediately butts heads with Ben. Two years on, they’re still bickering but there’s clearly this underlying tension between them. When they’re forced to work on a project for upcoming promotions, Juliana is forced to put her reservations aside and get to know Ben. The tension they had since they met finally becomes too much for them both.

I really liked the relationship between Juliana and Ben, but also the relationships Juliana develops with other supporting characters to restart her life. She settles into these new friendships in a way that clearly brings her a new joy. Her daughters are so sweet and I loved how they were incorporated into the story. Juliana’s overall arc is so good as she learns to be happy after her husband’s death. It's empowering to see her return to work and be great at her job, earning promotions to provide for her daughters. She's an inspiring character who I think will resonate with a lot of people.

Ben is pretty swoony, and despite Juliana’s best efforts to hate him, he manages to grow on her. He is very patient with her as she struggles with moving, but also rightly feels frustrated when she keeps flip-flopping. He loves her daughters and he sees their future, which is really beautiful. His support is lovely to read, as he continues to prove how much he cares for Juliana and her daughters.

I struggled a bit with the third act breakup, which I didn’t particularly enjoy. It felt a little abrupt and out of place for the overall story. It didn't feel like a natural conflict and felt too forced.I also got pretty frustrated with Juliana. She can be slightly childish with Ben, and she struggles with her feelings for so much of the book that she constantly goes back and forth with her feelings. It’s easy to understand, but as a reader it got a bit annoying for me. Overall though, I did really enjoy this book and it’s a great workplace romance.