In this book, we follow Josie and Wyatt as they learn to navigate close proximity, first in Wyatt's cottage, and then in his boat, as they sail down the East Coast.

Both their characters were amazing to read about, their personalities and their backgrounds.

Although it's not really an enemies-to-lovers as advertised, it is instead a slow burn, forced proximity romance. Josie and Wyatt form such a connection and have so much intimacy between them - which I loved reading about!

It really is an easy, perfect, summer read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you know me you know I cannot stand a miscommunication trope and that I’m wary of the booktokification of romances that lean heavily on trope salads; but I’m delighted to announce that I’ve found a contemporary romance that didn’t have me gagging and rolling my eyes. Emma St. Clair I was not familiar with your game.

Wyatt king of yearning. Josie my precious overthinking whimsical angel. Their chemistry was so good that when I realised I was 53% of the way into a book called “If All Else Sails” and we hadn’t even set foot on the boat yet I didn’t even mind. I was thoroughly just along for the ride.

My only critique is that I feel like there was more to say regarding Josie’s family dynamic and her brother Jacob being the centre of all of their universes (that whole family needs therapy like Yesterday); and the epilogue which is set 2 years in the future depicts Josie’s mom and Wyatt’s mom being besties when Josie’s mom is largely inaccessible to her throughout basically the entire story and we get an insight into how that affects her mentally felt a bit rug-sweepy compared to the resolution we got for Wyatt and his family woes. Honestly though, this was just a lighthearted romcom so maybe unpacking all that didn’t fit without drastically changing the vibe and that’s fine! I still found it really enjoyable for what it was.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

This book had good moments that I thought were cute but I found it to be too much inner monologue. I don’t know Eid it was just this book or the writing style but I just didn’t care for it.

DNF at 68% I enjoyed the start of this book but at around the 50% mark it started getting slow and I really didn’t see the chemistry between the two main characters, I thought they seemed better as friends.Though I did enjoy the sail boat plot.

I discovered Emma St. Clair through the Appies series, which has become one of my favorite book series. I loved that Wyatt, our MMC in this book, was a former Appies player. There were a lot of tropes in this book to love—forced proximity, brothers best friend, hockey. Josie is a school nurse on summer vacation and ends up helping Wyatt recover from an injury. Part of their journey took place on this sailing trip to honor Wyatt’s uncle who’d passed away & had been like a dad to him.

I loved both of these characters, but struggled to feel their connection at times. That said, this book also put a smile on my face and was a fun read. I especially loved when we got some character crossovers from the Appies series towards the end of the book.

This book reads like a Hallmark movie—a slow build with an HEA to finish it off.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is set to be released in August 2025.

such a cozy romance between brother’s best friend who needs medical help and a sister who accidentally studies nursing 👀

i really like the storyline but for some reasons this book felt so long. the places and background characters were changing so much that it was hard to follow all of them. following characters, neither of main characters had a development throughout the book, which is not bad for a romance, since it is rarely seen nowadays. i enjoyed the tension and banter! especially closer to the end! definitely would classify as a slow burn.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the copy of the book. I received a complimentary copy, and all pinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

When I read the premise of this book I thought it sounded funny and endearing. It was, it really was. I really liked Josie at the beginning and then she slightly started to annoy me a little in the middle, but redeemed herself at the end. I also liked Wyatt even though he was grumpy from the beginning. It was nice to learn more about him throughout the story and see how what you think might not be true. I liked the storyline and how the characters grew through a sailing adventure. This book is a little slower then I would have liked. I feel like a few chapters could have been skipped and it would have been fine. Overall a nice and pretty clean romance novel. I'd read more about them in another book.

This book was okay. It had enjoyable moments and if you are into the tropes of FORCED PROXIMITY, BROTHER’S BEST FRIEND & HOCKEY PLAYER, then you should enjoy the book. However, I am an action person and the book was too much telling than showing for me. The chemistry between the main characters was lacking. Very very slow burn.

I wish I had more of the MMC POV and more interaction with his father & brother. The entire book felt repetitive for me.

With that being said, it was a light read which can be perfect for a cozy evening. This is my first read from the author and even though the plot did not live up to my expectations, the writing style was superb and I look forward to checking out more of her work.

Thank you Thomas Nelson for the complimentary ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

One of my favorite Emma St Clair books yet! I found myself laughing multiples times.
The sailboat aspect was unique, and I enjoyed both characters. A great summer read!

Well this was absolutely adorable! I couldn’t put this book down and I fell in love with both Josie, Wyatt, and JIB!!

This book has some of my favourite tropes and they were executed perfectly, with just the right amount of uniqueness.

- brother’s best friend
- enemies to lovers (although I’d say more dislike to lovers)
- forced proximity
- grumpy/sunshine
- one bed 👀

It’s just so wholesome and honestly put a smile on my face 🥰 I loved having dual POV, the discussions around anxiety that were relevant (but didn’t feel too heavy), the banter, the tension, and I appreciated that it has no spice! I’m all for spice, but sometimes it’s refreshing to read something without and honestly this book didn’t need it.

I thought the pacing was great, although it did lag a little near the end, and overall I had a wonderful time reading this and the characters a so so lovable! My only issue is that it felt like a lot of telling and not showing while on the boat. The first half at the “murder cabin” had a lot of moments that showed us their interest and the second half on the boat felt like it we went back a step. Maybe this is because Josie was starting to panic in her head more, so we had a lot of inner monologues when I would have loved for more discussions to have happened between Wyatt and Josie.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and I can’t wait to read more from this author!

“If All Else Sails” is a heart-warming story that combines all the best parts of romance novels. Josie is a school nurse who gets tricked into taking care of her brother’s best friend. A best friend who just happens to be a famous hockey player and is also in love with her.

Between the forced proximity, grumpy sunshine and one-bed tropes, this books will have you kicking your feet and giggling the whole way through!

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC.

Sure! Here’s a glowing 5-star review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely loved this book! From the very first page, I was hooked by the witty banter, undeniable chemistry, and slow-burn tension between Josie and Wyatt. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic was perfection—full of sharp humor, reluctant teamwork, and just the right amount of forced proximity (hello, cramped quarters on a boat!).

Josie is such a relatable, strong-willed character, and I loved watching her challenge Wyatt at every turn. And Wyatt? The ultimate grumpy yet secretly soft hockey player. His journey from broody and stubborn to vulnerable and swoon-worthy was so well done. Their relationship developed in such a natural, heartfelt way, making every moment—whether bickering or bonding—so compelling.

If you love enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and grumpy/sunshine dynamics, this is your next must-read!

Dnf at 58%

I really wanted to love this. It had genuinely funny moments, but unfortunately it wasn't enough for me. I wasn't feeling the chemistry between Wyatt and Josie. There's a lot of inner monologue, and the story was disjointed. But I appreciate the opportunity!

Where do I start….. Josie is a school nurse and had a tripped planned with her brother only for her brother to send her to some unknown address. When Josie gets there she rings her brother and then hears sirens and see the flashing lights of a police car. Only to end up in the back of it.

Wyatt has his himself away after getting an injury and his manager Jacob has sent many people to help him as he didn’t attend his appointment. Wyatt scares them both away and because of that Jacob sent in his sister as Josie has always been his soft spot.

Josie doesn’t want to be there but then makes her brother pay for her time there and becomes Wyatt’s handler.

They both take a sailing trip together and soon realise maybe some lines have been crossed and find things out about each other they’ve they offer kept hidden from everyone else.

This book was a fun read and I’d love more of Josie, Wyatt and Jibs. The way they support each other and they do grow as characters. I felt connected like they were actually telling me their stories. I’d love to read more about their lives and what happens in the future.

I want to start by saying a big thank you to NetGalley and Emma St. Clair for making it possible for me to read this book. I have no idea what I was expecting from this book, but I did not expect it'd be as good as it is!
Clair did a phenomenal job. From the font choice, to the formatting, the plot, characters... the book was amazing. You can tell she put a lot of thought into every aspects of the book.
I am not a fan of romance, and I hardly ever read them, but this book is the second that's made me consider falling in love with the genre.
I laughed like crazy as I read it - I don't remember the last time a book made me laugh, and read 95 pages in one sitting before deciding to take it slow, because it was just that good.
I really enjoyed the love that budded between Josie and Wyatt, and how Clair kept "the bedroom door closed". That's one thing that made this rom-com different from others in its genre. A lot of authors today do not know how to write a true, real love story. They think lust and heat is what it means to fall, or be, in love, but Clair did a good job in setting an example that you can tell a love story that depicts one we experience in real life and does not always end up in the bedroom.
I have no bad thing to say about the book except that I did not want it to end. And would be here for a part two.

My rating? 10 out of 5. Everybody needs to get a copy and support this book!
I look forward to reading more titles by Clair.

This was such a cute, sweet, hilarious rom-com! The first half was so incredibly funny and I just loved it. The second half was more of the romance which I enjoyed but I also kind of wanted the MFC to speed things up a little instead of questioning every tiny thing. Overall, this was adorable though.

At first, I wasn't sure what to think of the premise of this book but then I remembered it is an Emma St Clair book and she can literally write anything. If All Else Sails follows Josie, an elementary school nurse out for summer break, and Wyatt, an injured hockey player as they take a sailing trip down the east coast. This book really surprised me. I was immediately hooked from the beginning when Josie and Wyatt meet in a way that is surprising to both of them considering Josie's brother planned the whole thing without their knowledge. Josie is tasked with taking care of Wyatt and his recovery. Oh and did I mention that Josie believes Wyatt is her enemy? I actually loved Josie and it is rare that I like a female main character from the beginning of the book. As for Wyatt who doesn't love a grumpy injured hockey player?! However, the book is not a typical hockey romance. Also, there is an adorable dog involved too. Oh, and Wyatt happens to be Josie's brother's best friend. I literally read this book in a couple of hours. It will make a great summer read. It has just the right mix of humor and romance.
Content: kisses only
Thank you to NetGalley. These are my own opinions and I was not required to leave a review.

This book was fun and cute. I had a good time reading it.
I was hooked since the beginning, and laughed out loud in several moments.
This was my first book from Emma St. Clair, and I'll definetly read something else from this author.

The book follows Josie and Wyatt; she is a nurse and he is a hockey player (who's injured). Josie's brother persuades her to take care of Wyatt for the summer in the hopes for him to get better (physical & emotionally). The banter between the two main characters is great and the forced proximity is great. I loved the development of the characters and the family/friends dynamics.

-Close door romance
-Brother's best friend
-slow burn
-forced proximity

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this eARC.
"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

This book had some of the best tropes!!
✨Brothers Best Friend
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨Forced proximity
I really enjoyed this book, & how they take a sailing trip! Definitely different from your typical romance book! Wyatt was a side character in the Appies series, so I love how we get to see his story continue! He is an injured Hockey player trying to find himself again, all while Josie (a school nurse) takes care of him. It’s hilarious and the tension is 🔥 I just felt there was more telling and less showing of the development of the relationship and I needed a little bit more!

Thank you @thomasnelson , @netgalley and @kikimojo for the ARC read! This book comes out August 5th! 😊

This was a beautifully written, sweet, funny, enemies to lovers romance. Thank you Netgalley for my ARC copy.
I love a good slow burn, and Wyatt had the broody, pining, terrible-with-words, grumpy, huge, hockey player trope perfected.