Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, I really appreciate it!

Okay, so this book’s trope is obviously in the title— so I already knew what I was in for! Although, as I disclosed when I hit 50% in my reading…I just…did not feel anything very strongly for either of them. I really wanted to like both of the characters a lot more and I couldn’t! I feel horrible, especially due to other reviews really loving them.

I do think the plot/storyline was fun and different. Oh man, I love a good unraveling of everything during a family member’s wedding. Kind of live for that sort of drama..I will not lie to anyone! I actually think that was my favorite part of the book. I do think the mom was a bit overwhelming and did not need to repeat something like that out loud TWICE, but I digress. All the drama of everyone spilling their secrets was fun! I love fun.

Lastly, I do love the use of playlist and music throughout this book, but wish it was a little more enhanced? I’m not too sure, like I loved reading about it in the beginning with the playlist and everything, but maybe a little more would have helped. Maybe, I’m just being slightly picky.

Oh and— “Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat” by Del Water Gap might be an excellent addition to them (for some reason it’s the song that popped into my head).

Thanks again for the opportunity to read this romance beforehand.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

If The People We Meet on Vacation and Happy Place had a baby, it’s would be this book. It has always boggled my mind when people don’t like the friends to lovers trope. I LOVE IT SO MUCH. Ren is so cool and charming and just casually sexy. Joni is like so many women and I related to her in so many ways, namely in her issues with anxiety, being in her own head, and wasting time on her one true love. This book made me laugh, made me cry, and made me see something of myself. Well done.

This book was just so wonderful - heartwarming, hopeful, romantic. I am usually not a fan of “friends to lovers” or “flashback to before” or “second chance” tropes and yet…. I am so happy. Friends to Lovers will be receiving a coveted spot on my “lovely love stories” Goodreads shelf. I would definitely recommend this to romance fans looking for a summer read.

5 stars. ARC provided by Canary Street Press via NetGalley.

Ok, I ended up giving this a second chance after initially giving up on this and I am glad that I did. I ended up loving it!

Such a cute read! This will def be a great summer read! I’m a sucker for friends-to-lovers—probably because I wish that was my life, haha. It gave People We Meet on Vacation vibes but with its own twist - which I absolutely loved! Ren’s love for Joni was so sweet—he was such a sweetheart. I’m not always a fan of past/present timelines, but Sally executed it beautifully. For this to be her debut novel, I think it was incredibly well-written and such a compelling story. I can’t wait to read more from her!

This is far from your typical friends to lovers store. It is really captivating and engaging. It is a really fun read. I could not put this book down once I started to read it and was sad when the book ended. It is definitely worth the reading and leads you to a happy ending but it is not just any old read.

Oh, the yearning and the angst found within the pages of this book! This is such a nostalgia-packed story, with Ren and Joni growing up together and having a rock-solid best friendship. With their families closely intertwined for decades, is it inevitable or impossible for Ren and Joni to ever become more than friends?

These two friends make a pact to be each other’s plus-ones for the inevitable plethora of weddings in their twenties, and it’s fun to see their relationship evolve over the years (and at times, maddening because I grew impatient wanting them to get their happily ever after). If you loved People We Meet on Vacation, this is one you’ll want to check out!

Thanks to Canary Street Press and NetGalley for the chance to read an advance reader copy!

What a lovely little love story. It's not your typical 'friends to lovers' story, but it's so worth the happy ending. I think we should all try to find a man like Ren and never let him go! A well-written book with dual timelines that keeps you engaged throughout. If you are a fan of Emily Henry, you should definitely read it.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy of this book.

"I think I'm always going to be waiting for just five minutes of you loving me like I love you"

This was absolutely amazing—definitely a 5-star read for me! If you’re a fan of The Summer I Turned Pretty, I think you’ll really enjoy this adult contemporary romance. It’s full of beachy vibes, dual timelines, and plenty of messy, emotional moments. The love in this book is so palpable, and Ren & Joni’s journey from friends to ex-friends to lovers? Chef’s kiss. I was completely hooked.

The slow burn was perfectly done, with the dual timelines really adding depth and tension to the story. It kept me engaged the whole time—I wasn’t just waiting for the NYE chapter; I was invested in every part of their journey. And when I finally got to that chapter? Let’s just say it didn’t go how I expected... but in the best way possible. So good!

We also can't forget to mention the amazing playlists Ren created for Joni in the book, especially the "For When Joni Doesn't Want to Put Away Her Laundry but Already Has More Laundry to Do"... I love this man.

A sweet second chance romance. The characters were endearing and relatable. I loved the growth of them from children to adulthood.

This book sucked me in! Like I stayed up until 2am on a work night because I just had to figure out what happened between the main characters. The pacing is so well done. Would recommend

Fake dating, friends to lovers, childhood friends, forced proximity...this book had everything I love wrapped up in it!

Joni and Ren have been friends since childhood and absolutely inseparable! When Joni moves away for a job they make a pack that they will be each others plus ones to all the weddings they get invited to, no matter what. That is until one wedding were their pack, and friendship, comes to an end. When Joni returns to town for her sister's wedding after 2.5 years of not being friends, Joni and Ren are forced to finally confront what went wrong all those years ago.

If you were a fan of People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry you will adore this book. When Joni and Ren are reunited you could feel the tension and chemistry through the page! One moment you are sad at the friendship they lost and clearly cherish, and the next you are laughing as they try and act normal to their family and rediscover their friendship. This story was full of angst, flirtation, found family, and great vibes. This is the perfect summer romance read!

5⭐️

So it appears everyone has had the same thought here: that this book reminds us of “People We Meet on Vacation”. Everyone is absolutely correct. The second-chance, friends-to-lovers, dual timeline flashbacks to specific events were all very reminiscent PWMOV. It also reminded me of “The Ex-Vows” given the wedding during the present timeline, and a little bit of Christina Lauren’s “In a Holidaze” regarding the family friendships and shared vacation home. Nothing in the plot is particularly profound so I was a little worried the book would feel redundant and regurgitated, but there were enough cute moments and humor to make it stand out for me.

Stand outs:
- I love a book that makes a trope the title.
- The Fratty Chicken had be smiling from ear to ear.

The only thing I kind of didn’t believe was her mom as a therapist, but that’s me being really picky.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin/Canary Street Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows Ren and Joni, best friends since birth, thanks to their incredibly close families—even sharing a vacation home. But Joni has been avoiding that house (and Ren) for a few years, and it’s clear her distance has something to do with their shifting friendship.
After college, Joni landed her dream job on the East Coast, leaving behind her family and Ren in Portland to chase her career. Despite the distance, they made a pact to be each other’s plus one at weddings, to keep in touch more often. The story weaves between flashbacks of their friendship at these weddings and present-day preparations for Joni’s sister’s wedding.
My only qualm with this story is that there is no way two heterosexual, attractive, normal people can be ‘besties’ for 30 years LOL. But it does get revealed later how/why this ridiculousness kind of works. But regardless, I loved Ren and Joni and was rooting for them, of course.
This book was fantastic, and hilarious in parts —beautifully written with well-developed characters that make you fall in love with Joni, Ren, and their families. I’m a sucker for a second-chance, friends-to-lovers romance, and this one absolutely delivered! Also love the PWN beach setting. Reminded me of all my girls’ trips to Cannon Beach, OR!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for this e-arc! I had a lot of fun with this second chances, friends to lovers story.
I love the PNW setting and the relationship between the families. There are periodic chapters that go back in time, and sometimes it was difficult to distinguish when times changed.
I think Emily Henry lovers would enjoy this one! It’s a quick read and perfect for a beach read or in-flight escape! 4 ⭐️s!

If you’re looking for the perfect quintessential summer beach read this is absolutely the blueprint.

All the best parts of the summer friends-to-lovers romance trope, yet somehow avoids being cringey or corny.

Loved the 2000s vibe of the music choices and need to download the playlist for summer beach drives.

Although the miscommunication towards the end made me roll my eyes a bit, it doesn’t take away from the sweet story & chemistry the characters have.

It definitely tugs the heartstrings of girls who fall in love with their best friends.

This was such a good surprise!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy for an honest review.

If you liked The People We Meet on Vacation or Every Summer After, then this read is for you!

Ren and Joni are lifelong best friends and in true fashion, they are inseparable, until a job takes Joni away. To keep the friendship alive, they decide to make a pact to be each other’s plus ones every year during wedding season.

Naturally, there are challenges and obstacles that make them wonder if the friendship they cherish will survive the distance, until something happens that might ruin it forever.

Filled with forced proximity at their families’ shared summer home, Ren and Joni must reconcile their mistakes and decide if their friendship is worth it or will they let each other go forever.

Ren is certified book boyfriend material and his relationship with Joni is everything I love in romance novels.

This will be an incredible beach read for the summer!

Thank you Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC. Joni and Ren besties since childhood, with a falling out in their adult years, seeing each other again at Joni’s wedding. Their families don’t know they haven’t talked in years either. I loved the back and forth between past weddings they’ve been to together and present day. This book made me emotional. It was such a lovely story about family and friendships and love.

I just finished the best romcom. Friends to Lovers by Sally Blakely was such a fun read. Watch for this one this summer.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced copy of Friends to Lovers. Overall, I had such a fun time with this book. I sat down and was able to finish it in pretty much one sitting. I think it could benefit from another run through by an editor, but there is plenty of time to do that before release day. I loved the characters and their relationship. It felt very similar to Love and Other Words and Every Summer After, which meant it was perfect for me because I loved those books. 4 stars!