Amazing debut! Couldn’t put this book down! I laughed, cried, and had all the feels. Great read if you love: Enemies-to-lovers, Forced proximity, Workplace romance, Happily ever after, and Some spice (2.5 peppers).

A new take on the classic “enemies-to-lovers” trope, Buchanan was able to tell a unique story that I have not read before.

Juliana is a newly single mother, trying to put her life back together after the loss of her husband. Ben is her coworker and supposed “arch-nemesis”. Their story is one of misunderstanding, grief, found joy, and found family. It’s a culmination of both humor and deep, soul moments; tugging at your heart while also making you laugh.

Buchanan did a wonderful job of making you fall in love with the characters while also feeling the depth of Juliana’s grief without feeling too heavy. Though there are moments of frustration with both Juliana and Ben, it comes from a place of understanding what they’re going through.

There were some minor spelling and grammatical errors, but none that took me out of the moment. They were easy to ignore and skip over.

Overall, this is a wonderful, unique read that I enjoyed. It was a breath of fresh air when I was stuck in a book rut, feeling like I was reading the same story from different authors.

3.5⭐

For starters, each person grieves - and moves on - differently. I've never been married and can't imagine the pain of losing a partner like Juliana did in this story, suddenly being thrown into single motherhood and having to work again.
 
I reckon I, too, would be scared to open myself up to pain again, so I can understand Juliana's apprehension to being emotionally involved with someone new. That said, she was a tad selfish with her uncertainty, pulling him then pushing him back. 

I think this quote from the book best describes it: "There had been a war, but it was against myself. Against my heartbreak and fear, my determination to keep myself separate from love in a desperate attempt to stay safe." 

She was also a bit childish in the beginning, though  I wouldn't be ecstatic to forgive him after overhearing what he said either.
 
As for Ben, I could tell he liked her from the get-go and thoroughly regretted his asshole remark, though he was too stubborn to just apologize for it. Throughout the book, he pushed her when needed, but also respected when she set boundaries - with remarkable patience, to be quite honest. 

[paragraph omitted due to spoiler, included in goodreads review]

That said, I'm not a parent. I understand he was doing what he believed was best for his daughter, and though his request to Juliana was selfish, the reason behind his shit decision was wholeheartedly with Paris' best interest in mind. 

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I gave it 3.5 stars, round down to 3 because of the push and pull in the beginning and then, when they were finally going to tell the children, [omitted due to spoiler, included in goodreads review], but that's simply my personal dislike of this plot point. 

The writing style was great, the secondary characters were awesome, the plot in itself was really fun, I'd definitely recommend this book and will keep an eye on future books by Amy Buchanan.

This was an adorable workplace rom com with a touch of enemies to lovers sprinkled in there and a dash of second chance. This is not only a story about two people with crazy amount of attraction and tension...ALL OF THE TENSION, its a story of grief and survival.
Amy Buchanan does an excellent job of balancing serious/sad topics with the fun banter of a rom com.
I will say, I felt some of the dialogue and the conflict was a bit farfetched within the story, like it didn't make sense to the characters. But overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

okayyyy cutesy wannabe hating game, you got me. is this the best piece of literature ive ever read? certainly not but i had a grand ol time and sometimes a book will just hit when you need it to. i read this in one solid sitting and i enjoyed the writing + a steamy lil romance moment

"Let's Call a Truce" was a delightful read that balanced humor, tension, and heartfelt moments. Juliana & Ben were relatable and engaging, and the narrative was well-paced while leaving room for quieter, introspective moments that add depth to the story.

The author did a fantastic job of capturing the complexities of relationships—whether it's between friends, family, or romantic partners. The banter was sharp and witty, and often brought a smile to my face even in the more intense scenes.

While the resolution felt a bit rushed, and I would have liked to see more development in certain subplots, overall, this book was an enjoyable exploration of human connection and the often messy process of finding common ground. A great pick for anyone looking for a romance read that combines light-hearted fun with genuine emotional stakes.

Loved this book! It's so funny and modern day, which makes it easy to relate and connect with the text!

A lovely debut contemporary romance from Amy Buchanan!

Juliana has gone through tragedy and is trying to pick up the pieces and support herself and her kids by reentering the workforce. She meets Ben at her new job who is gorgeous but condescending and their 2 year workplace feud begins. But their tension is mixed with more than just anger and when they are forced to work more closely together, sparks start flying!

I enjoyed this emotionally charged enemies to lovers romance that was just so real as it encompasses loss, abandonment, anxiety, angst, hope, and of course love.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.

I had a love/can’t stop pulling my hair out in exasperation relationship with this book. The concept is heartbreaking, and there is a lot of pain to work through to get to the HEA.
I do think this could have benefited from dual POV to make Ben a more likeable character as he struggles with clear communication and timely, authentic apologies.
Juliana’s experience as an unexpected widow and the fallout from that loss is rendered in visceral detail. The description of guilt, fear, panic, and pain is all stark and lent such a powerful edge to the writing.
A question I’m often asking myself as I read through conflict is, “Is this really forgivable?” and for much of the conflict in this book my answer was solidly “no”. The author did surprise me with how things were resolved in a way that allowed me to find some space in that answer for the two MCs to find their way back into a relationship, and I applaud that.
This book would be good for people who enjoyed The Hating Game, like heroines who are in their mid-thirties, and want a bit of messy reality thrown into their contemporary love stories.

I’m grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this prior to publication.

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Griffin for allowing me to access this ebook!
Let's Call a Truce by Amy Buchanan is releasing next year on January 14 and everyone should add it to their TBR! It's a captivating and heartfelt exploration of love, loss, and the unexpected connections that can change everything. Juliana Ryan, a widowed mother of two, faces the daunting challenge of rebuilding her life and career while dealing with the infuriating yet undeniably attractive Ben Thomas, a colleague who initially sees her as a liability. What begins as a tense workplace rivalry slowly transforms into something deeper, as Juliana and Ben find themselves drawn to each other in ways they never anticipated.
I loved the writing style of this author, how the book deals with the complexities of grief, single motherhood, and the potential for new love, creating a story that is both emotionally resonant and utterly charming. Let's Call a Truce is a delightful read that reminds us that sometimes, the most unlikely of beginnings can lead to the happiest of endings!

I have read so many great debut novels this year so far, and “Let’s Call a Truce” is another one to add to the list! This novel was on my radar in the ever-growing TBR pile, and I’m so glad I got the chance to preview it.

Enemies to lovers? Check! Off the charts chemistry? Check! A yummy MMC? Check!

I really liked the premise of this one, especially following Juliana’s grief journey after the death of her husband. Trying to move forward with her two young daughters, balancing a job and parenting, which many of us can understand. Throwing in a potential new love interest down the road? Entertaining and fun.

I really enjoyed this one, and look forward to reading future work by Amy Buchanan.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martins Press for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

I’m not a big fan of the widow or single mom OR single dad tropes, but this was pretty cute. I love a lil enemies to lovers workplace romance. I do with it had been dual POV to get Ben’s perspective.

Let's Call a Truce is such a great debut! I love the single parent trope and when the kids are friends! I felt for the characters almost immediately in the beginning of the story and was rooting for them to finally figure their sh*t out! I
I gave this book 4 stars because of how easy to read and fast paced it was! This book was a great debut that I think readers will really fall in love with!
I will say the 3rd act was something that if I heard about it before reading the book I may have avoided it all together. OWD is not my cup of tea especially when you have such deep characters and elements in the story: single parents, grief, new love story. I think the only redeeming factor for the third act was knowing that he didn't stray from the FMC and was totally committed to her but felt he needed to make the choice he did for his daughter!
I would definitely recommend this book because I think it touches on a lot of important topics and is realistic! The HEA was hard fought for and the story was written so well that as I closed the book I felt the couple chose each other and would do time and time again!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Griffin for the ARC.

I stayed up until 4 a.m. devouring this ARC—I loved it that much! It's an angsty, funny, relatable, and sexy ride. What I thought would be a simple enemies-to-lovers story surprised me with unexpected twists and emotional depth. Juliana's struggle with grief was beautifully written and resonated with me. Ben, the male lead, is top-notch, constantly challenging and supporting Juliana. Despite their flaws, they’re perfect for each other. I can't wait to see what Amy Buchanan does next! Thanks to NetGalley, Amy Buchanan, and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

“Let’s call a Truce” by Amy Buchanan is a spicy, enemies-to-lovers read that you will not be able to put down. When Juliana, a widow and mom to two young girls, returns to the workforce after a long hiatus, sparks fly between her and new colleague, Ben, until she overhears a conversation that changes everything. After two years of battle between the two, Juliana and Ben are forced to set aside their differences to team on an important project. Soon enough, they find themselves succumbing to the passion that chemistry that has been bubbling beneath the surface this entire time. With a great cast of characters and much more depth than I was expecting, this book will reel you in and will leave you wanting more. A great read by Amy Buchanan that I would highly recommend!

This was a sweet and spicy read about a mom who re-enters the work force after the loss of her husband and finding a new love. The bantering was fun.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin. ~I was given this book and made no commitments to leave my opinions, favorable or otherwise~

Thank you to @amybuchanan for choosing me to be on your traveling ARC team!

I loved this book! It reminded me of Meet You in the Middle (one of my faves) but with older adults and more spice. I loved the banter and tension that was created through their working relationship. It’s clear their ire for each other had been festering in the two year time span, which made it all the more realistic when they started seeing each other in a new light. There’s no doubt their animosity fuels their chemistry and attraction.

Ben was a shameless flirt, which I loved. His innuendos had me grinning. And I loved that Juliana could go toe to toe with him. She is no wallflower. In spite of her reservations about balancing motherhood and work, she was thriving. And while many of us won’t be able to understand the loss of a spouse, I think a lot of Moms will relate to her feelings of inadequacy and stress. Feeling like you’re not doing any one thing really well, but sometimes just getting by. The desire to be a great Mom AND have a successful, fulfilling career. Unfortunately, Juliana had the added challenge of not having her partner to support her.

I thought Amy was thoughtful in her exploration of Juliana’s grief and feelings of fear and guilt at possibly starting a new relationship. Thankfully Ben is supportive and patient with her; he understands her in a way she wasn’t expecting. I’ll just say there is a lot more than meets the eye with Ben. I would be remiss not to mention Juliana’s other supports, her friends Asia, Dani and Gabriela. While their friendships aren’t without challenges, it’s clear how crucial they are to Juliana.

I am thrilled to have read this debut author’s first book, “Let’s Call a Truce”.

I will definitely be on the lookout for Amy Buchanan’s next stories because this one was so good. The author fleshed out two very well written characters in this enemies to lovers and second chance at love book. We learn of the grief of young widowhood through Juliana and what life is like raising her two children while maintaining a stressful job after many years away from the work sector. I felt all of her trials deeply and when we are given the back story of her nemesis, Ben, I was just as moved.

This story is so worth reading and I can’t recommend it enough. Thanks you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and Amy Buchanan for a thoroughly enjoyed advance reader copy.

Anxiety, mom guilt, and re-entering the world and workforce. The banter in this was really nice and punchy, but it got old really quickly for me.

I rarely finish a book in less than a week and I finished this gem in 24 hours. The relationship building through had me laughing and crying. You really want to root for the couple from the start and that feeling only intensifies with each new challenge thrown their way. I would absolutely recommend this book to people who love a good sarcastic, witty, coworkers/enemies to lovers, relatable, real world romance.