Following her husband’s unexpected death, single mom Juliana Ryan returns to the workforce after years of staying home with their two kids in this workplace, enemies-to-lovers romance from Amy Buchanan. Although Juliana and coworker Ben Thomas have an adorable meet-cute, their feelings for each other quickly sour.

Fast forward two years, and Juliana and Ben are forced to spend time working together on a project. On top of that, their personal lives outside of work begin to intersect more and more. As it turns out, they have more in common than Juliana originally thought.

What I liked:
- The lip-print meet-cute
- The verbal sparring
- Main characters in their 30s
- Mental health rep (grief and anxiety)
- The supportive friendships
- The smoking hot chemistry between Juliana and Ben
- The exploration of love after loss
- Seeing Juliana’s confidence grow

The main things I didn’t love:
- I understand why this is written in single POV, but I wish we had gotten glimpses into Ben’s perspective.
- Due to emotions running high, Juliana makes a snap judgment about Ben based on one encounter and clings to that opinion despite evidence to the contrary for years. I didn’t love how she is so myopic when it comes to him.
- The tone of the book shifts about halfway through, so in some ways, it felt like I was reading two separate books.
- Some side characters come across as one-dimensional and are more plot devices than characters in their own right.

The audiobook is narrated by Charlotte North. North captures the strength, determination, and frustration of Juliana. North also captures the children’s voices well, but I didn’t love her voice for Ben.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio. All review opinions are my own.

4.5⭐️
I went into this book not knowing what to expect, but it turned out to be really good—I loved it. Initially, Juliana annoyed me a bit, but as the story progressed, I grew to understand her character and appreciated her more. Ben, on the other hand, was perfect in my eyes; he could do no wrong. Their kids added such a sweet touch to the story, and they were absolutely adorable. I always enjoy kids in books, as long as they’re well-behaved and add to the charm of the story, which these definitely did.

Lots of heart, humor, and spice sprinkled throughout. Possibly the best paced romance I've ever read. I enjoyed the story and would gladly read many many more in this universe or about these main characters. The chemistry was fun. The main character got a bit obnoxious at times, but was over all an enjoyable character.

This contemporary workplace romance was a pleasant surprise for me! Unlike many rom-coms, this one presented realistic everyday moments (and, of course, still plenty of steamy scenes). The emotional complexity of the characters went a lot deeper than many books in this genre; I especially appreciated how the author expressed the characters processing and navigating grief, while trying to tackle everyday life moments such as raising kids, making it to work on time, etc. While I really liked the characters and the plot line of the story, I found the spicy scenes a bit cringey to read, which made the overall story a bit less enjoyable.

Let’s Call a Truce follows Juliana Ryan—a recently widowed working mother of two kids, who finds herself forced to work with an infuriating colleague. The two develop a continuing workplace feud but decide to call a truce when they’re forced to work on a project together in the hopes of both receiving promotions. When the truce turns into something more, neither Juliana nor Ben know how to navigate their blossoming relationship with their workplace one.

Thank you to Amy Buchanan, Macmillan Audio, & NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

Y'all, I needed an indulgent five-star read, and Let's Call a Truce by Amy Buchanan delivered! I absolutely loved this early 2025 release, so go don't wait to add it to your goodreads TBR to keep it on your radar!

When Juliana returns to work after her husband unexpectedly passes away, she gets off on the wrong foot with one of the department heads at the office. She works in HR and of course has to work with him whenever his department has hiring needs, and they develop a (mostly innocent) frienemy schtick whenever they have to interact. Turns out they have a friend in common and end up at the same wedding one night, and kind of hit it off in a what-are-you-doing-here kind of way ;-) Then, at work, she and Ben are assigned to the same project and have to work together more closely than ever before. In order to be successful, they have to call a truce.

This book is such a winner. This is a complex story with real, deep conflicts that inform the decisions each character makes. I kind of love it when characters are falling hard, but don't completely lose their heads. In this case, they both have young children and are very thoughtful about how their actions are going to affect them. The chemistry is there - it is so there - but falling in love, especially when kids are involved, is messy, and this novel really honors that.

That being said, when these two do finally indulge in their primal urges, they really go for it. There is some spice here folks, and some of it is at the office. *wipes brow nervously*

I am so grateful to St. Martin's Griffin and netgalley for the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of this book. The narrator, Charlotte North, did a great job with this one.

If you're looking for a great romance to really sink into during the bleak winter weather this year, this one is a great choice!

A debut, second chance romance set in Florida? Sign me up! I loved this book, it was unputdownable from the get-go. Perfect as a palate cleanser for me in between murder books and dragon tales. The workplace romance enemies-to-lovers was fun (and outside of my usual norm), with two mostly level-headed and likeable protagonists. “Mostly” being the reason for the one star off, because the third act breakup trope had me a bit frustrated, it’s one trope I just don’t care for — but it picked its stride back up pretty quickly after. I was rooting hard for Ben and Juliana the whole way!

If you like workplace romance with a little open-door spice (3-ish 🌶️/5) that isn’t over-the-top, enemies-to-lovers, single parents (TW: death of a spouse), second chance romance, this one is for you.

Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for the audio arc of this book!

Super cute if not predictable read. This was an easy listen and the narration was smooth and well paced. The storyline was a bit predictable, but sometimes that’s a perfect respite when I’ve been in a reading slump. Definitely a cute quick read

𝗟𝗘𝗧'𝗦 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗔 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗖𝗘 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝗺𝘆 𝗕𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗻 delivers a steamy, angst-filled journey of second chances, healing, and a whole lot of office tension! Juliana Ryan, recently widowed and now balancing her career and two kids, is determined to prove herself at work—especially to her colleague, Ben, who has had his doubts. Their rivalry is fierce, but when they’re paired on a major project, sparks fly in ways neither can deny. What starts as heated arguments and pointed glares soon turns into late-night heart-to-hearts and, eventually, irresistible chemistry. Juliana’s journey from heartbreak to rediscovering love had me rooting for her, and I was captivated by her strength and determination. While Ben’s past brought a few challenges, the story didn’t shy away from real-life complexities. Full of laughter, messy emotions, and powerful growth, 𝗟𝗘𝗧'𝗦 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗔 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗖𝗘 is perfect for lovers of tension-filled romance!

This story pulled at my heart strings!! Juliana is a widowed single mother who is getting back into working after being a stay-at-home mom. Her new colleague, Ben, is caught talking about her and having to reschedule a meeting due to her kids. Juliana is determined to prove him wrong and the feud lasts for two years. They are forced to work on a project together and have to call a truce and start to realize that the other is not that bad.

This was such a heartwarming story between two people who deserve love and to be happy. At times, the feud felt silly, but it did create good tension between the two main characters. Their daughters were adorable and I knew exactly where this story was headed once two of their daughters became best friends. Ben's ex wife coming back into the picture was a good distraction and it made Juliana realize her worth and that she wasn't going to be second choice.

Let's Call A Truce is a sweet, steamy and delightful workplace, enemies to lovers, double single parent romance. Already there Amy had me in her grasp. I liked that it was a great mix of fun and emotional moments. The author did a good job with the harder themes. I loved the pacing, there was never a dull moment. It was truly a fun read and a great debut.

I enjoyed the characters even though sometimes I wanted to shake some sense into Juliana. Both had their flaws and went through some traumatic events which made them grow together. The kiddos were absolutely adorable. The book started off strong with great banter, amazing sexual tension, a great storyline and some fantastic characters. However, I had a little issue with the third part where it did become a little too dramatic for me. I felt it was a little unnecessary and for me I would have preferred a deeper dive into their relationship together as a real couple. I wanted more Juliana & Ben in love and not fighting.

A great debut that had me absolutely hooked. Very fun and super fast read that is hard to put down. I truly can't wait to see what Buchanan comes up with next.

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @macmillanaudio, @smpromance & @amybuchanan for my gifted ARC & ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed my first book by Amy Buchanan. I was put off by Ben at first but his actions later made sense. It was steamier than expected and while I was annoyed by the third act break up, it was resolved quickly. Excellent audiobook narration as well.

Another new to me author that I ended up really enjoying! I listened to this on audio and I definitely recommend. I can be picky about my romcoms, I like fun and flirty but not tooooo fluffy. This story made me laugh, feel a little spicy, and it got me in my feelings with a good amount of emotional complexity. The single parent angle for both parties was also something that I haven't seen in as many books I've been reading so I appreciated that.

All in all, a solid read!

Let's Call a Truce is a workplace romance that has several of readers' favorite tropes in one: enemies to lovers, second chance romance, forced proximity. I really fell in love with both of the lead characters in this book and was cheering them on. I felt the author did a wonderful job of making these characters spring to life on the pages (well, audio for me!). I also loved the narrators' voices; they really added to the story. For me, this book had too much spice and language; I'm sure others would love it, but that was what made this a lower star-rating for me. Otherwise, I highly recommend it. *I received a complimentary audio copy from the author/publishing company in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

💝 Love After Loss
🥀 Widow FMC
❤️‍🩹 Divorced Single Dad
💻 WorkPlace Romance
👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨 Enemies to Lovers

This is my first Amy Buchanan but it cannot be my last, I enjoyed it so much!

Juliana's husband has passed away and now this stay at home mom has to launch herself back into the working world. Juliana very luckily lands an amazing job that she is going to love. Of course, as things go, day one she has to cancel a bunch of meetings with her new co-workers to handle a problem with her daughter at school.

Ben is NOT happy that Juliana's first day and she's already cancelling meetings and throwing off HIS whole day. He's telling his best friend as much when Juliana shows up to his office for their reschedule and, unfortunately, overhears. This sets off a two year long hostile work environment between the two.

When Ben and Juliana are assigned to work together they need to figure it out. They have to get along and they HAVE to make this project a success. Juliana is up for a HUGE promotion after just two years back to work. A promotion she NEEDS in order to make the life of herself and her two young daughters much better.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this journey. These two are something else and I could not stop reading until I had all the background answers and these two worked out their problems. I definitely recommend this if you enjoy an enemies to lovers, workplace romance. Charlotte North is a fantastic narrator and did a wonderful job bringing these characters to life.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this story.

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook arc. Workplace enemies to lovers after the death of her husband she tries her best to do her best to provide for both her daughters and while struggling to make everything work and to be on time. After having a heated night with her workplace bully she discovers that his wife walked out on him and their daughter. They slowly fall for each other.


🔹enemies to lovers
🔹single mom
🔹workplace romance
🔹he falls first

The enemies-to-lovers trope has been explored many times in romance, but Let's Call a Truce keeps things fresh and engaging. I enjoyed the believable journey of Julianna as she copes with her husband's passing, navigates single parenthood, and manages the stress of her career.

Her love interest, Ben, challenges her in the best ways, adding an exciting spark to the story. Their dynamic is both compelling and realistic, making this novel a standout in the romance genre. Buchanan's writing draws you in, creating a heartfelt tale of love, loss, and new beginnings. This book is a must-read for anyone who appreciates a well-crafted romance with depth and authenticity.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this book.

I really loved this book! The descriptions were exquisite and the storyline was just so good. I felt like this author did a great job with including grief in a delicate, but real and raw way. The side characters had so much personality. I loved the tension between the two main characters. You could feel the connection and pull from the very beginning! Such an incredible debut!

Let’s Call a Truce caught me off guard in the best possible way. I went into it expecting the usual tropes of a contemporary romance, thinking I’d already figured out the story. But this book had twists and turns that kept surprising me, making it anything but predictable.

The plot unfolds in a way that’s both fresh and creative, diving deeper into the characters’ inner lives and conflicts than I anticipated. What I found particularly impressive was the way the author balanced lighthearted moments with more profound themes, giving it a depth that pulled me in. The writing style was engaging and smooth, making it easy to get immersed in the world and feel connected to the characters.

If you’re looking for a romance with unexpected turns and a smart, well-executed storyline, I’d absolutely recommend Let’s Call a Truce. It’s a genuinely enjoyable read that’s both heartfelt and cleverly constructed.


#netgalley

It's fine I guess. I found a lot of the mothering choices made by the mother to be weirdly questionable. Like, it just was not clicking for me in a lot of ways. I really enjoyed parts of it, but then other parts just left me hanging. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Huge thanks to Amy Buchanan and her team for letting me be a part of the traveling ARC for this book, as well as Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC in exchange for a review!

If there’s one thing I love, it’s a rivals to lovers romance that feels believable - they genuinely do not get along, but there is always an undercurrent of want. 🤌🏻

Amy Buchanan NAILED that energy with Julianna and Ben. From their office meet cute to their misunderstanding to their dynamic of “will they kill each other or will they bang on a desk?”, through the blossoming of their friendship and love, these characters felt real.

I loved seeing Julianna come into her own, as a recent widow returning to the workforce after years of being a stay at home mom and in her own skin. She fights for others to treat her with respect, and when shit hit the fan, she protected herself and her girls. Huge props to her.

Ben. Oh dear, sweet Ben. I really enjoyed his character, and seeing him morph from an unredeemable asshole into a loving partner, albeit one who makes the wrong choices (but for understandable reasons) was heartwarming.

One aspect of this book that has had me reread it twice already is that the third act miscommunication/breakup felt so adult and complex and REALISTIC. Both characters made mistakes, but they did so while trying to put their kids first. Nothing was explosive and overly dramatic, and I loved it so much more because of it!

I cannot wait for this book to release so you can all fall in love with Julianna and Ben. I highly recommend this read if you like:
📚 Rivals to lovers
📚 Workplace romance
📚 Single parents
📚 Family meddling
📚 He falls first