Friends to Lovers was an okay read. There are many thing that worked, the friendship, Ren and his thoughtfulness and how their history is uncovered. What did not work for me, was the m8scommunication trope and the extended family. Like butt out Mom, you know which one I'm talking about. And Joni, girl a job / career is just that, probably not going to give you lifetime comfort. I also thought that she was a bit of a coward.

Overall, this was okay, not memorable.

#FriendstoLovers #NetGalley

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press and Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Family friends for life of course they would become lovers, throw in a complicated relationship and it makes for a perfect story.

Great for a summer beach read!

4.75 ⭐️

i had HIGH expectations for this one because i saw so many other arc reviews that were so positive about this book and it REALLY did not disappoint. this book had just about everything i love in a romance 😍

the two main characters are family friends that have known each other their whole lives. they’ve always been known to be each others best friend, but what would happen if they realized there was something more to how they felt about each other?

this was beautifully told through a past and present timeline, which is not always my favorite but this one was done sooo right— neither timeline felt like it was carrying the weight of the story. past experiences were told at the exact right moments and the present timeline was still interesting and not just a vessel to tell the past storyline (which is something i sometimes notice in other books) AND the story would not be complete without both timelines being told in the way that they were.

this relationship had YEARS of yearning and tension, and that wasn’t only the case in the past timeline. you could feel it throughout the entire book. like these two characters were just SO entirely meant to be together that anything else feels like an injustice.

there were also really fleshed out relationships with other characters in the book that didn’t feel like filler or an afterthought. the relationship between their families, friends, and with their own siblings and parents had compelling plot lines that added even more depth to the story.

overall, i would recommend this to ANYONE who likes to read romance!

(the only reason this wasn’t a 5⭐️ is because that spot is reserved for my all time favorite books. if i find myself thinking of this book often, it could be bumped up, but it’s rare that it happens in a standalone for me 🤷🏻‍♀️)

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this eARC.

This was a light, fun summer read following two friends who inevitably become lovers (i.e. the title). The past and present dual timeline was enjoyable. I enjoyed the friendship between the MCs. Overall, a good debut!

Title: Friends to Lovers
By: Sally Blakey
Pub. Day: July 22, 2025

Genre:
Fiction, Contemporary, Romance,

Content Warnings:
Mild Profanity, Mild Graphic Content (Ch. 22)

Memorable Quote:
“I’ve been wasting so much time worrying about what could go wrong that I never paused to consider everything that could go right.”

Summary/Review:
Joni and Ren have been inseparable since childhood, their friendship a constant through every life change that is until Joni moves across the country. Their long-standing pact to be each other’s plus-one becomes the thread that keeps them connected, a tradition both sweet and comforting. But after a falling out that few know about, they find themselves reunited and forced to pretend their bond is as strong as ever, even though it isn’t. With old feelings, unspoken tensions, and plenty of romantic sparks simmering under the surface, could this summer be the one that brings them back together? Or separate them for good?

I was smitten by this warm, cozy and engaging novel. The idea of two best friends making a pact to be each other’s plus-one is already sweet, but watching that playful arrangement start to blur into something deeper had me grinning, swooning, and holding my breath. It’s somehow both a quick, engaging read and a delicious slow burn, filled with fake dating fun, close proximity sparks, and that tender hope of second chances. The emotional depth Sally Blakely brings to these characters is incredible—I felt every shift, every glance, every moment of tension. I read it in one sitting. One tiny complaint, the title gives away the book. Regardless, the writing is so sharp and the ending so satisfying that I closed the book feeling happy and smitten.

*I knocked off a star for my personal preference for mild graphic content.

Thank you to Sally Blakely, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press and NetGalley for the opportunity of an Advanced Readers Copy. I am voluntarily leaving my personal review.

#FriendstoLovers
#SallyBlakely
#HarlequinTradePublishing
#Advancedreadercopies
#ReluctantReaderReads
#NetGalley
#ARC

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Perfect Summer Romance.

Friends to Lovers is a beautifully crafted romance that held my attention from start to finish. The story follows Joni and Ren, childhood best friends who have been each other’s wedding plus-ones for years—until a pivotal moment strains their friendship. I especially enjoyed the clever use of alternating timelines between past weddings and the present, which added real depth to their evolving relationship.

Sally Blakely captures the tender, complicated journey from friendship to love with characters who feel authentic and relatable. If you’re looking for a heartfelt slow-burn romance with emotional depth, this is a great summer read.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All reviews are my own.

Do you need a fun poolside read or beach read that is fun and romantic, but light-hearted enough that you don't have to use 100% brain power while relaxing and enjoying the sun? Well, this is it. A fun romcom worthy of a summer read. I enjoyed the character dynamics that the author creates. It was engaging and kept me reading. I definitely recommend you check this one out soon!

DNF, unfortunately, I'm not being drawn into the story like I wanted to be. Everything about this, screams that I would like it! After starting the book, I keep gravitating towards other books right now and will not be finishing. I will recommend to others who I think will like the book.

Friends to Lovers gave me exactly what I wanted from the trope—slow-burn tension, sweet moments, and that heart-flipping realization when friendship turns into something so much more. 💕 I loved seeing the characters’ history and connection make their romance feel so natural yet so exciting. It’s the kind of read that leaves you smiling and rooting for them the whole way through.

This reminded me of a mix of Happy Place and People We Meet on Vacation (but with a deal to be wedding plus-ones instead of vacations) - This was such a quick, cute summer read! I look forward to reading more of Sally Blakely's work!

I loved this book so so much. The nostalgia, the feelings between the characters that were palpable, the relationship between the two families. everything about this book was a 10/10. This book perfect for lovers of Carley Fortune, dual time lines and childhood friends to lovers!

Friends to Lovers was a sweet, addictive romance. Joni and Ren have been best friends since childhood and completely inseparable until Joni moves to the East Coast for a dream job. Now with an entire country between them, they decide to be each other's plus ones for all of their upcoming weddings. Until one year, something happens and they stop talking for 2 and 1/2 years. However, with her sister's upcoming wedding, she has to go home and face Ren for the first time since their fallout. They find themselves falling back into their friendship and more over the days leading up to the wedding. Can they get past the problems that separated them in the first place.

Joni and Ren's story was one of the few books that does friends to lovers right! The story flips between current day and the previous years of weddings leading up to their fallout. The dual timelines show their past connection and their relationship while also showing the current tension. Joni and Ren's yearning and pining is beautiful and so addictive. I found myself staying up late more than one night to read. I enjoyed the narrative style and didn't find it confusing even though I am not always a fan of alternating timelines. The characters grew up together as their moms were best friends. There is an element of this large family unit and Joni is afraid that any dysfunction between her and Ren could cause some division. Overall, I loved this story and couldn't put it down.

I received this book from Harlegquin Trade Publishing and Net Galley as an ARC, and I was THRILLED!! This book was a must read for me, so I was super excited! I really enjoyed this one! It was adorable, tragic, and everything I loved in a romance book.

Didn’t care for this one at all. It’s one of those “JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER” annoying tropes. The pacing also felt off where there was zero romantic tension until the last 10% of the book when all of the sudden it was will they, won’t they. Not for me.

Friends to Lovers by Sally Blakely is a slow-burning love story wrapped in nostalgia, longing, intense chemistry, forced proximity, best friends to lovers, and second chances, set against a dreamy summer backdrop on the Pacific Northwest coast. Told through a dual-timeline, and alternating between the past and present, the novel follows Joni and Ren, childhood best friends.

Joni and Ren have been best friends since they were three. When Joni moves across the country, the two make a pact to be each other’s plus one to every wedding they are invited to. When lines become blurred, their friendship takes a hit, and everything comes crashing down; allowing a silence to grow between them. A summer reunion for her sister’s wedding to finally force them to confront what went wrong.

Alternating between the past and present and beautifully written and descriptions, making me feeel like I was right there at the summer beach house with the characters. It's the perfect summer read. For a debut author, this is a wonderful story, especially for those who love second chances and friends-to-lovers romance.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#FriendsToLovers #HarlequinTrade #NetGalley

I was lucky enough to get this ARC from Netgalley. I really enjoyed this book and it hooked me more than books have in a long time. It was so real! Life is messy and full of ups and downs but there is always hope. I really loved this book and the messaging.

What an adorable summer read. I read on a few other reviews that this book was what would happen if “People We Meet on Vacation” and “Happy Place” had a baby, it would be this book. As these are my two favorite Emily Henry books, that was enough for me and I can definitely say it delivered.

If you love friends to lovers, and second chance romance, this is definitely a book for you. This book is sweet, heartfelt, but also filled with the tension we ultimately need to challenge our main characters and move our story along. I honestly can’t believe this is a debut by this author. I loved every single minute.

Are you a fan of a great slow burn? Angst? Holding your breath occasionally while you read? This is a great book for you to pick up.

A very special Thank You to NetGalley, Harlequin/Canary Street Press, and the author for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was so cute and so sweet! I lOVE the trope friends to lovers and omg this was done so good, i ate it up!

This story was so emotional for me! I felt so much for these characters, and my heart literally hurt for them.

Joni and Ren have been best friends forever. Until 2.5 years ago when everything fell apart and they stopped speaking. Now they're together for a week for her sister's wedding. Old feelings and heartbreaks spring to the surface and they have to decide if they are meant to be together...either as friends or more.

Told in dual timelines, we get to witness Joni and Ren for several years before the end of their friendship, and also in present time. Watching them fall in love without realizing it was so beautiful and also so devastating. The yearning and pining and missed opportunities were so heartbreaking. The love and care between these two friends was truly stunning to witness and all I wanted was for them to be together! And then in the present timeline there was still so much grief and hurt, and I honestly didn't know how their story would wrap up. I was very happy with it though, despite the frustrations that I had at various times, especially with the lack of communication.

This book is perfect for anyone who like friends-to-lovers, second chance, he falls first romances. I highly recommend it!

2.5 stars
Oof ok so I kind of hated Joni and Ren. They were both so 'me me me' focused that neither of them bothered to really sit down and talk to eachother. I wanted to love this book so badly. The premise was great and I think some people will abosolutely love it, I just wasn't one of those people. The pacing felt slow and the amount of time it took for them to actually TALK about it all was painful.