I enjoyed the friendships in the story more than I enjoyed the romance. Juliana loses her husband unexpectedly and has to return to the workforce, leaving her to balance single parenthood, grief, and feeling unsure of herself. She meets Ben at work, kicking off a two-year feud, entering into the enemies-to-lovers trope.

I struggled with both Juliana’s and Ben’s behavior at work. They acted like two seven-year-olds on the playground being mean to each other to cover up the “like,” which I guess was the point. I enjoyed Juliana’s circle of friends and how they helped out. Ben ends up more likable as the story goes on. Both main characters do some idiotic things that make me question their ability to adult.
The book had cute moments and some humor and ended with a HEA.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin, and Amy Buchanan for the eARC.

Enemies to lovers trope is one of my favorites!!! What a great debut! Lots of fun banter, a little steam and a lot of fun!!!

The plot: After Juliana’s husband dies unexpectedly, she heads back to work to support her two kids. When she hears her new colleague Ben saying her status as a single parent is going to impact her work performance, it sets off a feud between them. Two years later, the pair has to work on a project together, and Juliana realizes that Ben may understand her more than she first gave him credit for.

This was such a delightful read. It has a classic enemies-to-lovers, workplace rivals set-up but feels fresh thanks to the focus on Juliana’s grief after her husband passes and her complex emotions about falling in love again. I haven’t read many single parent romances, but this one was incredibly thoughtful; Juliana’s emotions were so clear to me, her daughters were adorable but realistic, and Ben is a very, very swoony MMC (emotionally and physically 🔥).

TL;DR is that this has what I always crave in a romance: a balance between sexy romcom fun and real, complex topics full of emotional depth.

Loved the banter between Juliana and Ben in this book! It was so much fun. I enjoyed the whole book. This was a great debut for this author and can't wait to see more from her!

Let’s Call a Truce by Amy Buchanan
Genre: contemporary romance
Format: eARC and ALC
Rating: no rating due to DNF

I wanted to like this, but the “enemies” component got to be too much for me. The FMC’s and MMC’s behavior was immature for any setting, but especially at work?! I just couldn’t see past it, sadly. Maybe workplace rivals to lovers just isn’t my cup of tea?

Read this one if you’re looking for:
- Enemies to lovers
- Workplace romance
- Single mother FMC

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers copy of Let's Call a Truce by Amy Buchanan!

The beginning of this book - the live action panic attack? I immediately felt seen, as I too, struggle with panic attacks. It was real, it was descriptive, and what a way to start a book! I figured from that point on I would be hooked and absolutely love the book - and I did, somewhat.

Juliana and Ben have such an adorable first time meeting... but then it just kind of falls apart, and slowly you can see the development of the two of them becoming more enemies than anything else in the workplace. Ben says some toxic things (that get explained later on, but initial thoughts on him were "eww, how could he?") and Juliana of course, takes it to heart and holds a grudge because at the end of the day - her return to the workplace was rather abrupt for her following the sudden loss of her spouse. Juliana is trying to navigate working again (returning to the workplace after motherhood is already a lot - but after grief? wow!), being a single mom to 2 precious little girls, and just really trying to find her place once more. The navigation of grief, the sudden moments of when it just hits - felt very real and were so well written. How she navigated grief with her children also felt really good and realistic.

Ben is a single father (though that is sprung on the reader, AND Juliana), and he's just trying to do the best that he can with his daughter as well. He doesn't get things right with Juliana and they've got such a feud - but goodness does this man actually wear his heart on his sleeve. The slow burn and tension are rather intense and it just builds and builds until it (finally) erupts and it's pretty damn cute.

The ending is where this book lost me, however. I hated how a woman's strength was shown - fierce independence, determination, etc... and then because of a man it's all gone. I really disliked the ending - I know in romance you expect a HEA but sometimes the woman herself needs to be the happy ever after. Big gestures could have been made (beyond just words), and things could have been done to make it more romance but still stay true to the characters. To be honest, the ending kind of broke my heart, so much strength and self-work and then it's all just abrupt and she didn't put herself first. I think I am going to feel the let down from this book for quite awhile - it was beautifully written, and I enjoyed the representation of grief and anxiety, and the tension, but it just needed more at the end.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Amy Buchanan, and St. Martin's Press for my e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a solid debut!

Workplace romance, rivals to lovers and two single parents looking for a second chance at love - seems like a lot of tropes but they all worked percectly together. I also enjoyed that the FMC was returning to the workforce after being a stay at home mom which I found unique in a romance. The elements of grief as a widow and parent to grieving children brought emotional parts, yet not overly heavy.

The steamy parts were a bit cringy for me but maybe because I listened to it. The audio otherwise was great!

Juliana's husband dies unexpectedly, leaving her to raise their two daughters; she returns to work in a Human Resources role and meets Ben, who crushes her dreams on the first day by insulting the fact that she's a working mom and implying that she's an inexperienced liability. The two never hash it out, but instead hate each other for a solid two years, sparring in the office. This despite the fact that they weirdly share a best friend, Asia, who is another colleague at their firm.

Eventually Ben and Juliana, of course, must work together on an inclusion initiative at their firm (hence the timely part - DEI haters, go away). If they want to succeed in their careers, they are going to have to suck it up and get along. Juliana has always found Ben attractive (what's more sexy than a man who insults you?), so she suddenly can't focus on her work.

What I liked: I always enjoy books set in a corporate setting; I work in one, so it's nice to see my own life in a book sometimes. Juliana has a wonderful support system in her boss, which is lovely to see. The parts about inclusion were great too. The story did a good job of exploring Juliana's grief, her struggles with single motherhood and trying to support her family after her husband's death, and her attempts to move on, both as a parent and romantically. And, the kids! I am a sucker for books with cute kids.

What I didn't like: Not much happens? The book focuses so much on Ben and Juliana hating each other to the detriment of forward progress in other areas. We get it. They both despised one another while secret sparks existed. Please move forward. And while this anger fermented, instead of driving up the chemistry, it didn't draw me to them as a couple. Their reasons to stay apart felt forced; she avoided him for TWO years due to one outburst, and Ben, oh Ben, he needed to toughen up in his own life and make some freaking decisions.

The second half of this book was definitely better than the first, so it ends on a high note. It's a cute and fun read albeit frustrating at times.

This book was so fun!!

I’ve never read a book with this kind of premise with a widowed wife and a single dad who work in the same office. So many tropes that work well together.

Juliana is a recently widowed mom who starts a new job in an office at the beginning of the story. She has been tough on herself as she tries to balance being a single mom and boss lady. She has an unpleasant first meeting with Ben, the man who resembles a higher up with his position in the office.

Two years later, they’re still at each others throat but then they are enlisted for a project together and sparks fly between them.

I really loved how comfortable Ben and Juliana were together and how at ease Juliana was with him too. Their sexual chemistry and also overall chemistry as individuals and together is off the charts.

A workplace romance with a working parents angle. The love story between Juliana and Ben was predictable in all the best ways. But some of the ways they were awful to each other in the will they won’t they part of the story put me off a bit.

4.5 stars rounded up - what a stunning debut by Amy Buchanan!

Let's call a Truce was sweet and sexy, with modern themes (perhaps even hitting a little too close to home in today's climate) and mature characters. I found this book to be so refreshing in its commitment to older main characters who have lived experience (and who have lived through tragedy and navigatedcrippling grief in Juliana's case).

Additionally, as someone who is part of a blended family, I also thought Buchanan wrote the children's storylines--and how their needs feature into Juliana and Ben's relationship--with such care and heart. They were always first in the FMC and MMCs minds, which felt incredibly authentic and because of this, as a reader, I couldn't help but cheer for the couple at the center of this story.

Here's what you can expect from Let's Call a Truce:
- Workplace romance
- "Enemies" to lovers
- Found family
- Navigating grief and loss
- Forced proximity
- A third-act breakup

Speaking of that third act breakup - it might be the most painful one I've ever read. So, in some ways, I didn't like that part AT ALL - but I also acknowledge that means that this book represents fantastic storytelling to get me so emotionally invested in this fictional relationship. Truth be told, I could not believe how Ben handled this third-act breakup - and after we'd spent most of the novel in awe of his maturity and quiet confidence. Ben - we ALL trusted you with her heart!

But, at the end of the day, the fact that I was so mad at Ben just goes to show how well-written this couples' storyline was. Bravo!

As ever, thank you to SMP Romance and NetGalley for an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

This is PERFECT if you're looking for an office romance that is definitely giving tension and enemies to lovers. Easy to get into and read in a weekend!

Thank you so much for my arc!

4/5

3.5 🌟
Spice: open door

This was a strong 4+ star for most of the book. Then the 3rd act breakup happened, and I lost it. Ben took entirely too long to pull his head out of his ass and set his ex straight. It was so clear she wasn't there for her daughter and was doing more harm than good. I just couldn't get past it.
The first 3/4 of the book I really enjoyed. The finding of love after loss and the workplace aspect were nice. I loved how Juliana didn't just lay down and take crap from Ben when they were 'enemies'. Love a strong single mom.
Ultimately, it could have been shorter and without the bull at the end, IMO.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was definitely a right book at the right time. I devoured this book. I loved the tension and chemistry between the two main characters - enemies to lovers is my favorite trope because the banter is just so good! I also enjoyed the close proximity trope. I thought Ben was a great book boyfriend and I loved the friends in the book as well. All around a great distraction in an otherwise chaotic time.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own. 4.5 rounded up

Ok, this book is a total vibe. Juliana Ryan, a widowed mom who’s trying to juggle everything (including a seriously tough return to the workforce), is EVERYTHING. Imagine walking into your first day back at work only to overhear your infuriatingly attractive coworker, Ben, saying your kids and lack of experience are a liability. Yikes, right? Cue the drama.
Their feud? It lasts TWO YEARS, and it’s basically the definition of "enemies to lovers." But when they’re forced to work together, things get spicy (and not just professionally). It’s got that slow burn tension, where what starts as irritation does turn into something else. It’s not just your typical romcom – there’s real depth to Juliana's struggle and Ben's complicated past.

Honestly, it’s a cute office romance with a dash of heat and a whole lot of heart. If you’re into a story that’s more than just banter and kisses, this one’s for you.

This book was so cute! I love a curvy, sassy, confident FMC. The chemistry between Julianna and Ben was amazing. And the banter was so fun. I loved that Julianna kept a log of their battles. But I mostly enjoyed the fact that these were two single parents trying to navigate work, parenting, and moving forward with a new relationship. Two adults trying to do what was best for their children but also best for themselves. For a debut book, I thought this was well written and very engaging.

Another debut that I really wanted to love more than I did. The book was solid, but I didn't feel the chemistry between the main characters, and I didn't understand why it took two years to work up to them starting to interact. I'll probably still read the author's next book to see if this is a one off, or a style issue.

Read If You Like:
- Second-chance romance
- Workplace rivalries turned love stories
- Steamy, slow-burn chemistry
- Strong female protagonists
- Heartfelt narratives with a touch of humor

Let's Call a Truce is a captivating contemporary romance that delves into themes of resilience, love, and personal growth. The story follows Juliana Ryan, a mother of two young girls who, after the unexpected death of her husband, is thrust back into the workforce. Navigating the challenges of single motherhood and re-entering a professional environment, Juliana faces judgment from her new colleague, Ben Thomas. Their initial animosity sets the stage for a slow-burn romance that is both steamy and heartfelt.

The writing is engaging, with well-developed characters and a plot that balances humor and angst. The chemistry between Juliana and Ben is palpable, making their journey from colleagues to lovers both believable and compelling. The novel offers a realistic portrayal of the complexities of love after loss and the courage required to embrace new beginnings.

Let's Call a Truce is a delightful read for fans of contemporary romance, offering a perfect blend of passion, humor, and emotional depth. This novel is a satisfying escape that explores the transformative power of love and second chances.

Thanks so much for my ARC in exchange for my review!

I started this book and while the premise seemed interesting, it took me a while to get back into it and by the end, I honestly don't remember much so I will leave it at it was an okay book but not sure if I'd read anything else from this author again :(