I really enjoyed this book. It was the first book I have read by Amy Buchanan. I can see myself reading more books by her. This book was heartfelt, romantic, and steamy. I loved the ending especially with the proposal. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

Let's Call a Truce is a delightful debut that I can't wait to relisten to as it gave me adult "hating game" vibes.

Juliana is back in the workforce after losing her husband and becoming a single mom. She's working back with her friend and trying to put her best foot forward- until she hears the handsome man she put lipstick on this morning talk about how unqualified she is. Fast forward two years and Juliana is waging war with Ben- one checklist win at a time. Learning that Ben has a daughter that is best friends with Juliana's shouldn't put a damper on the workplace feud, until tensions snap and desk items fly. Soon, truces are made but will they be enough to withstand everything that both have worked their whole lives for?

I enjoyed reading Amy Buchanan's debut and now others looking for a fast paced, enemies to lovers workplace romance will as well. While grief is a topic along with single parenthood (both things I thankfully cannot relate with), I didn't feel the themes or emotions were being forced down my throat as a motto but rather written in a way for others to feel things they should feel. It's been great reading books with older characters and I found both main character's children's quirks and one-liners to be ones that I highlighted the most.

4.5 ★

Where do I even begin! I fell in love with these characters and was so invested in their story. This was such a fun read and it made me feel so many different emotions; I laughed, got teary eyed, and even upset at some points. I adored all of Juliana's friends and truly felt like I was one of them while reading this. I even loved the kids, they added so much personality! If you want an emotional, work rivals to lovers I recommend this so much!!

3.5 stars -
I have to say I have some mixed feelings about this book. I love so many things about the MMC, Ben. For me, he leads with his smirks, soft side, and all-in attitude.

Juliana, the FMC, is quite the opposite and has held grudges for a long time. Her snarky attitude in many places in this story really bugs me.

An office-based romance, I love the way the author starts to blend the two main characters together off of work. The additional characters really make the story come together and the BFF’s are great. Honorable, true, and supportive. The author gives us humor and fun to offset the feud and the slowww (much too slow) burn to the realization that there might be something there.

Overall, Let’s Call a Truce is an enjoyable read but I really would have loved it if the FMC had treated him better. A two-year feud is a bit much at some points in the story. I really wanted more of them together instead of all the infighting.

With that being said, I would not hesitate to read Buchanan again as she delivers the spicy romance and the HEA with a side of snark and delight.

3.5 rounded up to 4/5

Even though I was very nervous about a “love after loss” story, I actually really enjoyed this book. Juliana and Ben had great chemistry, the side characters were amazing, and the plot had me hooked the whole time.

Juliana is a single mom, coming back into the workplace after her husband passed away 9 months earlier. But not even one day into her new job, she overhears her (very good looking) coworker, Ben, complaining about her. Commence two years of hatred, banter, and longing looks.

Obviously we find out there’s more to Ben’s story as we get to know him, and I found myself just wanting to scream at Juliana to just let it go and get over his one time mess up and just get together already!! When they do finally get together, I love the way their families just mesh. They fit together and love and care for each other so easily.

And then…the dreaded third act breakup. Which is usually fine with me. However, this time it just didn’t fit the characters that we’d gotten to know throughout the rest of the book. No spoilers, so I won’t go into huge detail, but I am just not a fan of the way the conflict progressed in the end. Thankfully we have a romantic grand gesture from Ben, but it did put a sour taste in my mouth for an overall really good book.

I would DEFINITELY read more by this author, as I think the story telling and romance here was great!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc!

Let's Call a Truce by Amy Buchanan is the kind of contemporary romance that hooks you with its perfect blend of humor, tension, and emotional depth. Juliana and Ben’s enemies-to-lovers dynamic is electric, sparking with witty banter and undeniable chemistry that practically sizzles off the page. Amy Buchanan does a fantastic job of balancing the lighthearted moments with the weightier themes of grief and second chances, making this more than just a steamy office romance. Juliana’s journey from struggling widow to a confident woman ready to embrace love again is both relatable and inspiring. And Ben? Well, he’s the kind of flawed but irresistible hero you can’t help but root for, even when he’s being a total pain. If you’re a fan of slow-burn romances with characters who feel like real, messy humans, Let's Call a Truce is a must-read. Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions—and maybe a few tears—because this one hits all the right notes.

As a huge enemies-to-lovers AND office romance fan, this book was right up my alley. And it did not disappoint!

Let's Call a Truce follows Juliana as she juggles her career along with being a full time mother after her husband passes away. When she starts working again, she has a bad interaction with new colleague Ben and that sends them into a 2 year long workplace enemies relationship.

I absolutely loved the banter between Juliana and Ben throughout the entire book. I fully expected this to be a really fun enemies-to-lovers romance, but I wasn't expecting it to touch on so many emotional topics that come along with rebuilding a life after loss in the extent this book did. It was really beautifully written and there were times that I found myself re-reading parts because they were so touching. I was not expecting to find a 5 star read when going into this book, and it was such a good surprise!

Thank you to NetGalley and the St Martin’s Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review! I had an amazing time reading this.

I’m all about an enemies-to-lovers office romance, and Let’s Call a Truce by Amy Buchanan hits the mark. It’s packed with tension and a lot of real-life messiness, especially as Juliana tries to rebuild her life after her husband’s death.

Juliana’s journey through grief and single parenting is raw and real. I felt for her as she navigates her new life, especially dealing with the fallout from her condescending new colleague, Ben Thomas. Their initial clash is intense, and honestly, there were times I hated Ben and wanted to punch him. But, Juliana’s determination to protect her peace and fight for what she deserves is inspiring, even if it meant facing off with Ben and showing she can be a powerful woman in the office.

As they’re forced to work together on a big project, the truce they call turns into something much deeper. Their office arguments evolve into some seriously steamy moments, and watching them navigate their complicated feelings is both frustrating and satisfying.

I’m glad to see them work through their issues and come out stronger, even though Ben’s past throws a wrench in their happiness. Juliana’s journey to love again is messy and heartfelt and I appreciate her a ton by the end.

This is a great debut novel! Even though I despise third act break ups, I thought this was done fairly well. It also has some of my most favorite tropes so that helped a lot.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Juliana Ryan is trying to find her footing in life after her husband tragically dies. Her first step? Jump back into her career. Balancing mom duties and falling in love weren’t on her anticipated bucket list. As Juliana continues to work through her grief, she opens herself up to new possibilities, friendships, and yes - love.

Ben Thomas is the co-worker sent by the devil. He’s charming and lovely to everyone but Juliana. As they get to know each other, sparks fly.

I really enjoyed this book! I was in a reading slump and this pulled me out of it. The banter is great, the chemistry is explosive, and the family aspect was comforting. This book highlights love in your mid-30s, which was refreshing.

Things to look for:
✅ Enemies to lovers
✅ Love after loss
✅ Found family
✅ Love in 30s
✅ Office romance

*Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

Let’s Call A Truce is the book I’ve been waiting for ever since I finished the Hating Game.
Julianna is a new widow, and a single mom of two re-entering the workforce, Ben is the sexy coworker she has banter with until she overhears him casting doubt on her abilities at work because she’s a mother.

Julianna vows to prove him wrong and the two have a constant push and pull dynamic, with a layer of mutual attraction simmering underneath that only amplifies in the two years they work together. Reading, I couldn’t wait for the two to get together and finally give in to the tension that’s been brewing.

Both Ben and Julianna are well-developed and dealing with their own pasts, and their respective responsibilities. This book sensitively deals with heavy topics such as widowhood, divorce, single parenthood and these elements of the story only serve to enrich the characters and amp up the stakes for the plot. Truly a slam dunk rom-com!

Let’s Call A Truce is a sexy rollercoaster of emotions and I loved every up and down. I can’t wait for my preorder to arrive and have this book on my shelves and am eagerly anticipating Amy Buchanan’s next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the St Martin’s Press for the arc!

This book, y'all. I am absolutely smitten with Ben, and when I think of strong heroines, Julianna is exactly what I'm talking about. Buchanan balances grief, workplace dynamics, parenthood, humor, and sexiness without leaving the reader wanting. I love love love seeing a book set in Flooo-ri-duhhhh (Taylor's version). Orlando deserves more love and I can tell the author did her research or lives there.

Ben, the man that you are. Whoo boy.

Thank you for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I love a food enemies to lovers trope. I loved Juliana’s sass and how she was unwilling to let anyone make her feel like less. I also love when a mmc loves when the fmc is a little mean to them. Although their war was more prank and playful you could tell it was to hide their true feelings. I felt like I spent most of the time wanting to shake Juliana for not going for the hot coworker I could understand her hesitation. At first I wasn’t totally on board with the conflict between Ben and Juliana but in the end they both has to fight to be true to themselves. I’m looking forward to more books from this author.

Enemies to Lovers in this wild ride. Juliana and Ben have an ongoing war for 2 years before they finally find a way to make it work between the 2 of them.
This was a sweet, fun story, but I feel like it could have been a little shorter. Felt like there was some fluff just to make it longer. We understood there was drama between the 2 characters, but didn't need to see it in almost every chapter.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a DRC of this title.

I was so excited by the prospect of a forbidden office romance in Let’s Call a Truce, but the end result felt a little disjointed to me— Juliana ran hot-and-cold for most of the book, and Ben made out-of-character decisions in the beginning and end of the story that felt like contrivances to move the plot along. Though it may not have 100% worked for me, I could see this being a big hit for other readers, and I would definitely still recommend it to my patrons looking for a contemporary office romance. 3.5 stars/5.

I really loved this book! I find that some books that start off with rivals/enemies are just *too* mean spirited for me, and Buchanan nails the dynamic, in my opinion. I also really appreciated the portrayal of parenthood and conversations about what is best for you, your kids, and your family as a whole. Plus it was sweet and swoony and lovely!

I want to thank NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book to read!

So I DNFd at 50%.. we started off with strong banter between the 2 main characters which I loved. But than suddenly right away literally, they started falling for each other and banter got less and less between the first couple of chapters.. I DIDNT really like that tbh.. it got really boring really fast.. plus I really wanted to know more of the back story on Jason and how he passed.. we find out how but I would of liked to know more about him.. in other words, just not for me!

3.8/5 stars

Julianna is a recently widowed mom of 2, rejoining the workforce after being a stay-at-home mom for 7 years. After crashing into (literally) her co-worker Ben, she spends the next two years tallying up her wins as they battle it out in a storm of snarky remarks. When they are forced together to work on a project, their feud changes into something more. Not the typical enemies to lovers, more miscommunication than anything. The storyline was great and hit on topics surrounding grief, being a single parent, and navigating that while undergoing a major life change. I also loved getting insight into what they were working on, especially the diversity initiatives. They hit on what we see happening in workplaces today.

The book was a bit long in my opinion, especially with the plot, but overall a good story with complex characters.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was surprised by how much I loved this book.

Let's Call a Truce follows the life of Juliana Ryan, a mother of two spirited girls who is newly widowed. She transitions from a life of being in love with her husband and staying at home with her girls to navigating life alone and re-entering the workforce. The challenge is compounded by a judgmental coworker.

As a fan of romance books, what stood out to me in this one was its maturity. It addresses real-world problems that many can relate to, including grief, parenting struggles, healing, and communication.

The MMC, Ben, is an absolute dreamboat. I won’t delve into too many details to avoid spoilers, but he’s so endearing that I forgave him for things I thought I couldn’t.

This book is packed with goodness. The side characters are fully fleshed out and integral to the story, making you fall in love with them just as much as with the main characters. Amy Buchanan brought to life not only a compelling romance but also a supportive network of friends and family that tugged at my heartstrings. While I wouldn’t want to be in Juliana’s situation, I would love to have the kind of friends, family, and support system she does. The attention to detail makes each character memorable and impactful.

Let's Call a Truce evokes a range of emotions—happiness, anxiety, laughter, and even tears. It feels like the perfect romance, with lovable characters, witty banter, relatable real-life problems, and a strong emphasis on communication and positive relationships. The representation and diversity are seamlessly integrated into the story.

I’m officially a fan of Amy Buchanan after this book! Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read it.

Juliana has gone through an extreme loss, her husband dies suddenly leaving her with their two young daughters. She returns to work and overhears a new colleague complaining about her commitment to being at work vs being a single mother. From that moment on, they are enemies. But when they're forced to work together on a project, they realize that there's a very thin line between love and hate.
This book is good for fans of enemies to lovers and love after loss.
I mostly enjoyed myself while reading it, although I did find the enemies part lasted slightly too long for my taste, and Juliana's journey, whilst realistic in terms of getting over the loss of a spouse, sometimes felt like it dragged for me. I also found that the outside players in their relationship added extra distraction that felt unnecessary.
However, this book did break the reading slump I've been in for the past two months so I did enjoy the writing style and characters. The kids were well written and I loved the chemistry between Juliana and Ben.