A warm, and beautiful depiction of my all time favorite trope. Friends to Lovers, reminded me so much of People we Meet on Vacation in all the best ways! Fans of Emily Henry and Carley Fortune will love Sally Blakely’s writing. Loved this one and would love to see more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy of "Friends to Lovers" in exchange for an honest review.

I really tried to like this book but I am putting it down at 60% read. I feel like this book is 98% unnecessary banter between characters and not much plot. When I asked myself "what has actually happened so far in this book?" I felt like I could sum it up in less than 3 sentences.

The storyline lacks interesting enough things to keep this reader's attention. I only kept reading to find out what the "big terrible thing" is that they did but I don't feel like I can keep dragging through the silly banter long enough to care. Some things about the story aren't believable (like, the main characters sharing a hotel room with a "friend" of the opposite sex when each of these characters are in a relationship of their own- and commenting on how the other person's significant other could be so "insecure" about the situation. I can't think of anyone in their right mind who wouldn't be a little insecure about their boyfriend choosing someone else as their plus one and sharing a hotel room with that girl at the end of the night - someone who they're comfortable enough with to zip in and out of clothing, without a second thought).

Timeline/layout for interchanging timelines is confusing. It bounces between "X years ago" and a day of the week (ex: Tuesday/Wednesday/etc) as the modern day timeline. It would be less confusing for each timeline to state the year in which things happened. I didn't know what was going on until I was 20% of the way into the book and by the time I figured it out, I was too frustrated to go back and reread it all to make sense of what happened.

There were also weird grammatical errors, which could just be my kindle because I don't see it on anyone else's reviews. But anytime there was a word with an "FL" in it (ex: flag, flashlight, flight, briefly), there would be an odd space/multiple spaces between the F and the L and it was distracting me from the story. (So it would look like: f lag, f lashlight, f light, brief ly).

Again, I really tried to like this book enough to get through it but I just don't.

This was a cute debut romance that I had fun reading. It wasn't anything super special or unique, but those who love the friends to lovers trope will like this book. I think Sally Blakely has promise and I would read another book from her in the future. I loved the playlist included at the end and referenced throughout the book and it drew me into the story more. The time jumps were a little choppy for my liking. Maybe it was how the chapters were organized but that pulled me out of the story a few times. Overall an enjoyable read, perfect for fans of Emily Henry or Carley Fortune.

My interest was immediately piqued when I read the description for the book and it surpassed my expectations. The summer I turned pretty was my favorite series growing up and this felt like a mix of that plus Emily Henry’s People We Meet On Vacation in the best way.

Stayed up until 3 am to finish this book, it was that good. I Started it this evening and then couldn’t book the book down. Read it through from beginning to end without stopping!

The writing was absolutely beautiful. Some lines felt like poetry. I love the depth Blakely gave everything from the relationship between the two main characters to the setting of thr book to the multifaceted side characters. 1000000 stars. I feel like this might be one of my favorite books of 2025!

Thank you to the author and to Harlequin Trade Publishing for access to an advanced reader copy! Friends to lovers is by far my favorite trope, so I was especially eager for Sally’s book with the same title.

Long time friends Joni and Ren decide to be each other’s plus ones for weddings to ensure they get to see each other in-person after Joni moves to New York. One of their wedding meetups takes an unexpected turn, leading to them not speaking for over two years until they are reunited at both of their families summer vacation (their moms are best friends!).

I’ve never read a friends to lovers romance that navigates the sheer joy and simultaneous terror that arises from realizing you are in love with your best friend like Sally so beautifully does. I felt the magnitude of admiration Joni and Ren have for one another which made the second chance element of this story all the more compelling.

There is such a tenderness and protectiveness between them that shows in the playlists he creates for her, the matching tattoos they share, and him offering to talk until she falls asleep after she admits to enjoying him sleep talking in the past :’)

This is a beautiful love story with relatable elements on giving so much weight to career and what that does to ourself, our health, and our loved ones. As a reader in my late twenties, I related to Joni and her love and prioritization of work and couldn’t help but question my own priorities after reading.

I highly recommend this book and I’ll leave you with a teaser - Joni and Ren’s romance is best described by Joni’s sister in the book: “You two are each other’s center in this way that doesn’t just happen.”

Friends to Lovers is a sweet low stakes novel that is true to its title. The book shined brightest in its depiction of anxiety and the aftermath of devoting you life to your job only for the job to let you down.

The romance didn’t work as well for me, if only because 95% of the plot could have been resolved with one real conversation. I think I would have liked this more if the flashbacks had shown their frowning love and let you fall in love with them instead of building to a “mystery” that was obvious after the first couple of chapters.

This book is perfect for a light comforting read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 Stars

Joni and Ren have been best friends since they were little kids. They spend every summer with their families at their shared beach house and would call each other pretty much every day. They were each other’s go-to wedding dates until they suddenly stopped talking for 2.5 years. When Joni’s sister’s wedding brings them back together, they’re forced to pretend nothing has changed because their families still think they are best friends who call each other every day, all while exploring their feelings for each other again.

This was a sweet, easy summer read. I liked the alternating timelines that gave insight into their history, and I love that Ren fell first.

I did enjoy this book, but I couldn’t rate it higher because it felt very similar to other friends-to-lovers romances. It lacked that extra spark or unique element to set it apart. That said, I appreciated that their falling out wasn’t due to any big betrayal, which was refreshing.

Read this if you’re a fan of childhood friends-to-lovers, second-chance romance, guy falls first, forced proximity, dual timelines.

Thank you to Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Sally Blakely for providing me with this ARC!

A breathtaking slow burn romance.

Not only have Joni and Ren been best friends since the age of three, but their families are also close and vacation together every year. After college, Joni moves across the US to for her dream job. Even though they talk often they realize how hard it is to see each other so they make a pact to be each other's plus ones for all their wedding invites. It works out wonderfully until lines are crossed and suddenly their friendship feels lost. At least until they are forced together for a wedding at their shared families vacation house.

I really loved the romance in this novel. When I say it is slow burn, it is really slow burn. As you read you can see how their friendship could be so much more, the mistakes that were made and then how there is still a chance for it to be even more. If you are a hopeless romantic, then this novel is for you. If you are looking for a spicier read, this isn't it. Don't let that turn you away though, it is a wonderful read that will make you feel a gambit of emotions.

Every once in a while, I read a book that really connects with me and steals my heart somewhere along the way. This book got me hooked line and sinker. By that I mean, I was making a Spotify playlist to really drown into my feelings in the throws on some of the more angsty parts, and searching the authors backlist only to find this is their DEBUT. I’ve talked my husband’s ear off over the last two days about this book and how much I love everything about it.

The author‘s ability to make me care for not only the fmc and mmc, but also every one of the side characters has to be studied. This book has found a place in my heart to stay and I know without a doubt that it will be one of my favorite books of 2025. I cannot wait to see what else Sally Blakely writes in the future.

Okay might be a little biased because my husband’s name is Ren and we were friends to lovers and he shares a lot of qualities with this Ren! But I loved this so much!!! One of the best parts of friends to lovers is the yearning and the build up and she captured it so perfectly. I loved the fam wedding setting and all the side characters felt fleshed out and so real. Ugh I love them! Cried so much at the end.

This book is an utterly charming rom-com. Rather than the typical "insta-love" trope, it beautifully portrays a lifetime of friendship blossoming into a sweet and heartfelt relationship. The side characters are wonderfully developed, making each one memorable and endearing. The story captivated me from start to finish—I couldn't put it down and ended up reading it in just one day. I have no doubt that Sally Blakely is on her way to becoming a household name in the literary world.

Thank you NetGalley for this e-read in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book.

I loved how the MCs reconnected and it seemed everyone knew what they didn't - they are meant for one another. I also think the story really highlights the concerns we feel when best friends become more. That struggle was very relatable and I connected to it.

It's definitely a feel good story and you are firmly on the MCs side the entire book.

Some things I would've loved to see: diving in to those family bonds more because it's why the MCs acted a certain way and I wish the MCs would've gotten over the hump sooner, I did feel a bit of a drag there because you knew they'd end up together.

Overall, I liked it a lot and really loved the HEA.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC!

Liked the writing, liked the characters. There was really no good reason for the conflict, but I mostly enjoyed it anyway.

Friends To Lovers is always one of my favorite tropes in a book. This novel did not disappoint. I loved the characters, especially the MMC. I found the whole book to be very well written with well developed characters. Once I started this, I was hooked. A few times I didn’t know what direction the author was going to take us on, yet the execution was perfectly timed and just what I wanted. All the stars- this book was a total delight with characters that will stay with you even after you’ve finished.

Many thanks to the publisher and also NetGalley for an advanced reading copy.

Thank you so much to Sally Blakely & NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book! I voluntarily read this book, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a very sweet and cute story! From the book title, we already know that it focuses on friend-to-lovers romance. The story follows two childhood best friends Joni and Ren, who are facing each other again after losing touch for over two years because of an incident, and they have to figure out if they can become friends again or something more.

Ren is such an attractive MML! He is very honest about his feelings. Personally I think the reason Joni stopped talking to Ren was a little cliché and not really a big issue if they communicated better. There was a lot of ignoring the feelings on Joni’s part and not talking it out. It was a lovely book overall!

A new author for me, Blakey wrote a beautiful story of true love that somewhat reminds me of my own story. That’s what is so great about the book. People will be able to connect with it.

this read like someone asked an ai generator to create a hybrid of people we meet on vacation and the summer i turned pretty. there were plot points, but no plot. there was romance, but no heart. the author relies heavily on a trope and struggles to create believable or memorable characters outside of it. there were a few funny moments, and the story had potential, but it fell flat. i didn't hate this book by any means, but it certainly didn't live up to my expectations either. i just couldn't bring myself to care what happened. 2.5 stars ⭐️

I really enjoyed this story – it was the perfect refresher and exactly what I needed. The friends-to-lovers trope always hits home for me, and this one was no exception. It had the right balance of warmth, chemistry, and emotional depth. The pacing was spot on, and I loved how the relationship developed gradually, making it feel authentic and heartwarming. This is my first time reading anything by this author, and I was really impressed by her writing style. She has a great ability to draw you in and make you care deeply about the characters. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of her work in the future!

This has me crying in the club (my bed) right now (it is 1am on a work night).

This was so TENDER??? I would let Ren hold my literal heart in the palms of his hands because I know he would take care of it. Even the way he looks at Joni makes me want to die (complimentary).

And Joni, poor sweet anxious hopeful desperate Joni. She is me, and I love her dearly. She wants nothing but to keep Ren safe and happy, at the expense of herself and her own heart.

These two are absolute shit at communicating but honestly how does one have a conversation when literally not a single one of your family members knows how to mind their business for one solitary moment. Have none of you ever heard of tactfully pretending you are needed in another room!!!!

Anyway I would die for them after I gave them each a loving but firm whack upside the head.

I really enjoyed this book! Once I hit the half way mark I could not put it down. The angst in this book had me wanting to throw my phone and I was very unsure if they would end up as friends or in a relationship at the end. The angst drives me up a wall while reading but it is what drives me to keep going. Some of Joni’s decisions made me crazy in this book, but I adored Ren and wanted to see them together at the end. I also loved the side characters in this story and would enjoy a novella about the night Stevie and Leo meet.