Peachtree cove was giving great small town vibes.

I loved the vibe of this novel, because being from a small town, I know people will talk. And I appreciated Tracey's thought process on all of her maneuvers, it felt intentional and I really liked it. Both their exes are so messy and never really got the explicit boundary that they were setting, so although that was annoyting, I appreciated that both Brian and Tracey were able to set those boundaries.

It was very cozy and a little slow burn, but I always love when a dude has been kinda pining for someone since highschool. It makes me internally happy for sure.

What a great read! I also read via audiobook and the narrator did a great job.

Thank you to Harlequin and Netgalley for an e-copy.

This review was written in exchange for a free digital copy of the novel.

This was such a cute read that came at such a timely moment for me. Life has been hard for a couple weeks now and this book was sweet fluffy break that I needed. The story of Tracey and Brian was a novel focused on moving on. Both of the main characters are dealing with drama from former spouses and family baggage. As the daughter of the town drunk Tracey jut wants to run her Bed and Breakfast, mind her own business and get her divorce finalized. Brian on the other hand has secretly had a crush on Tracey since they were in school together and has been rooting for her to be a success . Unfortunately Tracey hasn’t seen the Brian for the embarrassment because he seems to be present every time things are going wrong for her.
These two characters were so much more than just a cute couple. They were two friends that desired to see each other win and be successful.
If you need a break from the truth of life currently this book is definitely that.

The title says it all! Tracey Thompson and Brian Nelson take that title to the max. Both Tracey and Brian are entrepreneurs in the growing town of Peachtree Cove. Tracey owns The Fresh Place Inn, a bed and breakfast, and Brian owns a nursery in town. They have a business arrangement that has been very good for their respective businesses. When Tracey needs shrubbery or flowers for weddings or events at the Inn, Brian is the man to call on to add that “extra pizzazz”. Too bad they don’t really like each other. It’s strictly business between these two. Although they went to the same high school, they lived totally different lives. Her section-8 housing with an alcoholic father and cheating mother versus his big house on the good side of town with supportive parents. In high school Brian was popular, and Tracey was trouble. Furthermore, it seems that Brian was always around when Tracey was in trouble. Get the picture? No love there at all.

In spite of their different backgrounds, Brian and Tracey have one thing in common. Their past marriages to their respective partners, Renee and Bernard, were the pits. I will let you discover just what happened there. Believe me, it’s not pretty. What brings these “frenemies” together is the heart and soul of the story. Something happened when Tracey was “on a date” with a guy, and Brian, the “vibe killer” showed up. I am going to allow you to discover what happened after this pivotal point in the story. I will say that it marked the point in the story where frenemies changed to friends with benefits. You will get that when you read the story.

The minor characters, the parents, and friends, and all play critical roles in the development of Brian and Tracey. There’s support, criticism, and some “come to Jesus” moments that both our main characters have to deal with as their relationship morphs into a new reality. Two characters who stand out are Bernard, Tracey’s ex-husband and Renee, Brian’s ex-wife. They both are a real piece of work! I love how, in spite of it all, the HFN for Tracey and Brian is secure and love-filled.

I liked this story. The storyline has great depth to it with some serious subject matter. I recommend FRENEMIES WITH BENEFITS for your reading pleasure. I also recommend the Peachtree Cove series: THE SECRET TO A SOUTHERN WEDDING, Book1, and WAITING FOR FRIDAY NIGHT, Book 2.

Thank you to Synithia Williams and NetGalley for this ARC!

I recently discovered Synithia Williams' Peach Cove series, and was really excited to get my hands on a copy of this book. That said, I didn't get wrapped up in this title like I have previous stories. Maybe it was the narration? Maybe it was the advanced copy? But, I really struggled to get into the story. That said, it's always fun to follow FMCs through their journeys of self rediscovery. This is sure to be someone's next favorite book!

What a brilliant addition to the Peachtree Cove series!! Its wonderful to see Tracey find her way through the heartache and pain and anger, to see her grow and reach. And this gentleman caller is so dreamy - he may have been a bit of a ladies man but hes also solid and kind and giving and such a good friend. I loved this book!!!

This story was cute, and I hope this was just an issue with the arcs but the formatting was really messed up. It actually took me out of the story a lot, because I was trying to figure out who was talking due to the lack of paragraph breaks in dialogue. I really hope it was fixed before it got published because the story itself was really cute. A little too small town for me, but I know a lot of people like that.

Wow, this was my first book by this author and I would for sure read one. What a ride! I enjoy the romance and the pacing throughout.

3/5 ⭐
1/5 🌶️

Thank you to the author and #netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I overall like the plot, characters and pacing of this quick small town romance read. We got to explore each characters past and understand current them. I loved seeing Tracey rediscover herself and us get a glimpse of the business owner woes.
Some of the emotion fell a bit flat for me. Some of it was maybe over explained/forced so I didn't feel emotionally attached to certain chapters.

🪴Friends to lovers
🪴Childhood Trauma
🪴Divorce
🪴Dysfunctional Parents
🪴Small Business Owner Awareness
🪴Small Town Romance

Synithia Williams is one of my favorite romance authors and the latest installment in this series did not disappoint. It was actually a series of hers that I had not read yet and didn't realize that this was connected and not just a standalone. But it was fully enjoyable even though I had not read the previous books (I am definitely reading them next!). Tracey and Brian's relationship had a good amount of banter and angst while also melding so well. This is such a great small town romance!

Frenemies with Benefits by Synithia Williams is a delightful and engaging romance that blends humor, heart, and unexpected chemistry. The story follows the unlikely romance between two characters, initially enemies with a shared history of tension and rivalry. What makes this book so enjoyable is how the author slowly unravels their relationship, showing that beneath the animosity, there is a deep connection waiting to be explored.

Williams does a great job of creating relatable, multifaceted characters. The main characters are both strong and flawed, and their growth throughout the book makes for a satisfying journey. The romance feels authentic, and the chemistry between the two leads keeps you hooked from start to finish. The playful tension between the "frenemies" adds a layer of excitement to the story, and there are plenty of sweet, steamy moments to balance the humor.

The pacing is just right, with enough twists and turns to keep things interesting. The writing style is engaging and easy to read, making it a perfect escape for those looking for a fun, light-hearted romance with a bit of depth.

Overall, Frenemies with Benefits is a fun, charming read that fans of contemporary romance will certainly enjoy.

Tracey and Brian had a love/hate relationship. He was the person who told her that her husband was cheating. He had seen her at so many bad moments in her life. Yet, when she was looking at to have a fling after her divorce was final, he was there and ready to be that man for her. He was also divorced and not looking for anything serious. They were just supposed to be friends with benefits.
There were so many small town shenanigans going on. I enjoyed this visit to Peachtree Cove. Brain and Tracey were so good together and for each other. They were friends above all else and helped each other get through things that were going on in their lives.
I enjoyed this book just as much as I have enjoyed all the books in this series.

Have you ever read a book that you knew immediately would be your vibe?? I'm here to tell you that Frenemies with Benefits gave me those vibes at 4%. The banter and the chemistry between Tracy and Brian was undeniable. Early on, I had a strong feeling that they would be solid despite the chaos that surrounded them.

Frenemies with Benefits is the third release in the Peachtree Cove Series, but can be read as a standalone. As a new reader in this series, I appreciate the ease in which this small town romance brought me in. I immediately felt connected to the town and it's gossip, especially since a lot of it centered Tracey, Brian and both of their ex-spouses. Given the title you'd think that part of the drama was an issue between our two main characters but the title is misleading. These two are legit friends with hidden benefits.... and I say that because this is a fade to black romance!

If you like a small town romance where the hero falls first but plays his role until the heroine is ready... Check this one out!

Ｅｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ
4.5 ☆
Tracey Thompson is alway the center of rumor mill in Peachtree Cove. And she is finally tired of it. She’s worked hard to make her bed-and-breakfast a success—only to have her soon-to-be ex’s very public affair with her business partner. Brian is done with drama, since he is fresh out of a bad marriage. Ever since high school, he’s admired Tracey’s strength and sass, and a friends with benefits deal sounds perfect.

This is book three in the Peachtree Cove series, and omg, I really enjoyed this book and storyline! This story felt realistic and easy to relate to. It was a quick and easy read. I will definitely recommend this story.

Thank you, Netgellay, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Quick Summary: A Peachtree Cove wo-fi romance

My Review: Frenemies with Benefits by Synithia Williams is book #3 in the Peachtree Cove series. It is scheduled for release on 2/11/25.

About the Book: "You can’t keep a sizzling little secret in a town like Peachtree Cove…"

In My Own Words: Two divorced individuals with a past akin to that of enemies grow individually and together. Facing hurtle after hurtle, they inevitably connect in the way that matters most.

My Final Say: I genuinely like Peachtree Cove and the community of people there. The residents are real and imperfect. Relationships are complicated. Lives are messy and broken, but there are still avenues and opportunities for transformation, as well as reconciliation. Tracey and Brian's story fit right in. I found their relationship evolution to be believable.

As far as I am concerned, this installment is another Peachtree Cove hit.

Reasons I enjoyed this book:

Entertaining
Realistic
Easy-to-read
Wonderful characters

Rating: 3.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to a digital ARC of this title. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my thoughts and opinions. It was a pleasure to review.

Tracy runs a bed & breakfast in a small town and is just finalizing a nasty divorce, complete with a pregnant mistress who was her former employee. Brian owns the local plant nursery and has been divorced for a few years, but while his cheating ex is re-married, she's trying to reinsert herself into his life. To prove a point, Tracy decides to look for a hook up and reawaken her sexuality, but Brian offers a no-strings attached deal with himself instead. Even if he is definitely becoming attached.
I truly enjoyed this story, the back and forth , and how the story unfolded.

dnf at 22%
No one is enemies here. They’re just vague acquaintances. I really tried to get into this but my brain would not let me. I’m the minority here but I just did not have the spoons for this, sadly.

Not a fan of this. I just think that Williams is not the author for me. Her previous two books were just okay but this one was bad. I had a version of the audiobook which helped me get through but if it weren't for that this would not have been able to be completed.

This friends to lovers story had me blushing and smiling at the pages. In this story, we meet Brian and Tracey, who were childhood friends, and are now business associates, back in their home town. They both have awful exes, and are initially unenthused about the idea of putting their hearts back out into the dating world. Thankfully, they are able to work through the toxic experiences of their lives and consider pursuing a crush they've both unknowingly had on each other since childhood. I loved the connection between Brian and Tracey from the beginning to end of this novel. The evolution of their relationship was very beautiful to watch. Even though this was the first book I read in the series, I didn't feel like I was lost or missing anything. The characters were well thought out and alive on each page. The side characters were also entertaining and felt developed. I loved the way Brian cared for Tracey and had her back regardless of who he had to stand up too. I loved his patience, care, and reassurances to her. Even though they had been friends for a long time, Tracey was able to fully bloom within their new relationship while still having space to reassert her own identity. I loved that Tracey reclaimed herself, and didn't allow the naysayers to keep her trapped in a horrible situation. She chose herself and I loved that for her. I especially enjoyed that Brian and Tracey handled their conversations with so much maturity, and there was no ridiculous third act breakup. I was fortunate to enjoy an immersive reading experience by listening to the audio narration along with the e-book, and I must say that Adenrele Ojo did a fantastic job. The accent and voice interpretations were very well done and really suited the characters of the story being told. I will definitely read more of this authors work.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing and arc of this novel.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

Tracy has long been in the middle of town gossip, growing up with parents that caused a lot of scandal she thought she had put that behind her when she married a town darling and opened a local inn. But when her husband cheated and got her inn’s manager pregnant she once again became the subject of town gossip and she hates it. So since the town is talking anyway, she might as well have a little fun and do something for herself. Enter Brian. They went to school together and now they interact because she purchases from is nursery. Brian proposes that they make the gossip going around about them being a couple a reality. What they don’t expect is for feelings to get in the way.

This book was so much more than a “frenemies with benefits” romance. That really oversimplifies this story. There was family drama, OW and OM drama, and of course small town gossip drama. What is great about this book is how Tracy grew into a better version of herself while navigating her friends with benefits arrangement. Being with Brian gave Tracy space to explore and that bled into other things in her life. As she gained confidence in her love life she started making changes, and those changes helped her grow as a person and in business. Brian also had some transformations, he went through a lot with his divorce too but he always had a crush on Tracy and even though he didn’t want to be in another relationship, his arrangement with Tracy made him see that he also could do better than going back to his ex over and over. I love a good love story where the characters are better when they are together and this one is a great example of that. Great book, great story!