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If All Else Sails
In this grumpy-sunshine romance, school nurse Josie and her brother's best friend—hockey player Wyatt Jacobs—are tricked into spending a summer together that's anything but smooth sailing.
When Josie's brother sends her to a random address for their (sometimes) annual Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza, she finds neither siblings nor extravaganzas. Instead, ends up at a run-down cottage on the Northern Neck of Virginia occupied by a hockey player she knows and loathes.
A hockey player who isn't just one of her sports agent brother's clients. He's also his best friend. And Josie's sworn enemy.
Oh—and her brother wants Josie to help Wyatt recover from his injury.
Dragging grumpy hockey players to physical therapy is a far cry from bandaging skinned knees, but for the price her brother offers to pay, Josie is willing to try.
Even if it means sharing what she dubs the quaint little murder cottage with Wyatt.
Begrudgingly, Josie starts to see a little more of the man behind the grumpy exterior. And when she finds out he was supposed to sail the Intracoastal Waterway south to Savannah scattering his uncle's ashes, Josie surprises even herself by offering to be Wyatt's first mate.
Smooth sailing is nowhere to be found, and Josie begins to wonder if they'll be able to make it home without killing—or kissing?—each other.
And yet, the longer they share cramped quarters and canned food, the more of Wyatt's layers she peels back until Josie realizes she misunderstood him, their shared history, and perhaps herself as well.
When Josie's brother sends her to a random address for their (sometimes) annual Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza, she finds neither siblings nor extravaganzas. Instead, ends up at a run-down cottage on the Northern Neck of Virginia occupied by a hockey player she knows and loathes.
A hockey player who isn't just one of her sports agent brother's clients. He's also his best friend. And Josie's sworn enemy.
Oh—and her brother wants Josie to help Wyatt recover from his injury.
Dragging grumpy hockey players to physical therapy is a far cry from bandaging skinned knees, but for the price her brother offers to pay, Josie is willing to try.
Even if it means sharing what she dubs the quaint little murder cottage with Wyatt.
Begrudgingly, Josie starts to see a little more of the man behind the grumpy exterior. And when she finds out he was supposed to sail the Intracoastal Waterway south to Savannah scattering his uncle's ashes, Josie surprises even herself by offering to be Wyatt's first mate.
Smooth sailing is nowhere to be found, and Josie begins to wonder if they'll be able to make it home without killing—or kissing?—each other.
And yet, the longer they share cramped quarters and canned food, the more of Wyatt's layers she peels back until Josie realizes she misunderstood him, their shared history, and perhaps herself as well.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 5, 2025
654 people are currently reading
18777 people want to read
About the author
Emma St. Clair
60 books3,580 followersEmma St. Clair is a USA Today Bestselling Author who loves sassy heroines, witty banter, and love stories with heart and humor. She has an MFA in Fiction and lives in Katy, Texas (go, Tigers!) with her hubby, five children, and Great Dane. Her favorite place to write is tapping on her phone while on the elliptical machine. No Emmas have been hurt in the writing of these novels. (Yet.)
Want a free novella? Grab Upping the Ante here: https://emmastclair.com/ante
You can follow the day-to-day on instagram @kikimojo.
Want a free novella? Grab Upping the Ante here: https://emmastclair.com/ante
You can follow the day-to-day on instagram @kikimojo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,380 reviews
July 31, 2025
✎ᝰ. 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘙𝘌𝘝𝘐𝘌𝘞. 🩵🩷
"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯, 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘺"
"𝘔𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘙𝘖𝘖𝘒𝘐𝘌. 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦"
✎ᝰ. 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘺:
In this enemies-to-lovers romance, school nurse Josie is forced to spend the summer in a cottage with Wyatt—a hockey player, her brother’s best friend, and… her absolute worst enemy! What begins as a disastrous vacation turns into a journey filled with laughter, tension, and unexpected emotions. Between physical therapy sessions and sharing a roof, they both start to realize that behind all the hatred… love might just be hiding. 🩵🏒🩷
✎ᝰ. 𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴:
• 💔 Enemies to Lovers
• 👦🏻 Brother’s Best Friend
• 🏒👩🏻⚕️ Hockey player x School nurse
• 🏠 Forced Proximity
• 🛏️ Only One Bed
• 😠☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine
• 🌴 Summer Getaway
• 🔥 Slow Burn
• 👨👩👧👦 Found Family Vibes
• 🩷 Healing Through Love
• 🧸 Hidden Soft Side
✎ᝰ. 𝘊𝘞:
⚠️ Sports injury & physical therapy
⚠️ Grief / loss of a family member
⚠️ Forced proximity with unresolved tension
⚠️ Mentions of emotional vulnerability
✎ᝰ. 𝘔𝘺 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴:
This was such a sweet and heartwarming romance, especially the first 50%—I laughed out loud so many times! 😂🩵 The second half leaned more into emotional tension as Josie started struggling with feelings she thought she shouldn't have, and I found myself getting just as anxious as she was. I didn’t fully feel the "Enemies to Lovers" vibe since Wyatt was never truly hostile—he was just reserved, and Josie misread that. Their misunderstanding felt more like miscommunication than real hate. 🤷♀️💭
Still, their early interactions were adorable and full of chemistry 💫, though I did lose a bit of interest midway when things felt drawn out. They’re adults, and I kept wishing they’d just talk—but I get it, it's a slow burn. Thankfully, the final chapters brought the fun back again! 🥹📖
✎ᝰ. 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴:
Wyatt was the classic grumpy-but-soft hockey player 🏒—injured, tongue-tied, but so patient and steady in his love for Josie. I adored how he knew what he wanted from the start and gave her space. 🩷 Josie, on the other hand, was dealing with past trauma that made her guarded, especially around men and athletes. I was a bit frustrated with how she kept ignoring Wyatt’s clear signals 🙈, but I appreciated her journey.
And honestly? The best part might’ve been Josie shopping for Jib’s outfits—matchy matchy style had me giggling 😭🛍️🩵. Also, Jacob? A chaotic king 👑 who knew exactly what he was doing setting them up—iconic!
✎ᝰ. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨:
The ending wrapped things up just the way I wanted, bringing back some sweet flashbacks that tied everything together beautifully.🥹
✎ᝰ. 𝘖𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭:
A charming and cozy slow burn with plenty of heart, a soft cinnamon roll hero, and just enough emotional depth to keep you hooked. 🩷✨
──⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡𝑃𝑟𝑒-𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑.
Finally getting around to this one—big thanks to NetGalley for the copy! Super excited to see where the story goes 🩷🩵
"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯, 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘺"
"𝘔𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘙𝘖𝘖𝘒𝘐𝘌. 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦"
✎ᝰ. 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘺:
In this enemies-to-lovers romance, school nurse Josie is forced to spend the summer in a cottage with Wyatt—a hockey player, her brother’s best friend, and… her absolute worst enemy! What begins as a disastrous vacation turns into a journey filled with laughter, tension, and unexpected emotions. Between physical therapy sessions and sharing a roof, they both start to realize that behind all the hatred… love might just be hiding. 🩵🏒🩷
✎ᝰ. 𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴:
• 💔 Enemies to Lovers
• 👦🏻 Brother’s Best Friend
• 🏒👩🏻⚕️ Hockey player x School nurse
• 🏠 Forced Proximity
• 🛏️ Only One Bed
• 😠☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine
• 🌴 Summer Getaway
• 🔥 Slow Burn
• 👨👩👧👦 Found Family Vibes
• 🩷 Healing Through Love
• 🧸 Hidden Soft Side
✎ᝰ. 𝘊𝘞:
⚠️ Sports injury & physical therapy
⚠️ Grief / loss of a family member
⚠️ Forced proximity with unresolved tension
⚠️ Mentions of emotional vulnerability
✎ᝰ. 𝘔𝘺 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴:
This was such a sweet and heartwarming romance, especially the first 50%—I laughed out loud so many times! 😂🩵 The second half leaned more into emotional tension as Josie started struggling with feelings she thought she shouldn't have, and I found myself getting just as anxious as she was. I didn’t fully feel the "Enemies to Lovers" vibe since Wyatt was never truly hostile—he was just reserved, and Josie misread that. Their misunderstanding felt more like miscommunication than real hate. 🤷♀️💭
Still, their early interactions were adorable and full of chemistry 💫, though I did lose a bit of interest midway when things felt drawn out. They’re adults, and I kept wishing they’d just talk—but I get it, it's a slow burn. Thankfully, the final chapters brought the fun back again! 🥹📖
✎ᝰ. 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴:
Wyatt was the classic grumpy-but-soft hockey player 🏒—injured, tongue-tied, but so patient and steady in his love for Josie. I adored how he knew what he wanted from the start and gave her space. 🩷 Josie, on the other hand, was dealing with past trauma that made her guarded, especially around men and athletes. I was a bit frustrated with how she kept ignoring Wyatt’s clear signals 🙈, but I appreciated her journey.
And honestly? The best part might’ve been Josie shopping for Jib’s outfits—matchy matchy style had me giggling 😭🛍️🩵. Also, Jacob? A chaotic king 👑 who knew exactly what he was doing setting them up—iconic!
✎ᝰ. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨:
The ending wrapped things up just the way I wanted, bringing back some sweet flashbacks that tied everything together beautifully.🥹
✎ᝰ. 𝘖𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭:
A charming and cozy slow burn with plenty of heart, a soft cinnamon roll hero, and just enough emotional depth to keep you hooked. 🩷✨
──⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡𝑃𝑟𝑒-𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑.
Finally getting around to this one—big thanks to NetGalley for the copy! Super excited to see where the story goes 🩷🩵
June 27, 2025
Rating🌟🌟🌟💫
Tropes:
Forced proximity
Enemies to lovers
📚storyline: Josie is a school nurse. Off for the summer, she looks forward to her sibling vacation extravaganza. (Their term, not mine.😂) Simply put, a vacation with her brother. Once she arrives, her brother is nowhere to be found. The only one there is a grumpy and recently injured professional hockey player named Wyatt, her brothers’ best friend and client.
Josie’s brother proposes a deal with her. He’ll pay her to stay with Wyatt and use her nursing skills and persuasion to get Wyatt back on track of his rehab. Swell vacation, huh Josie?
Josie's Issues: Josie hates athletes, especially Wyatt. She’s always felt Wyatt has disliked her from the moment they met years ago. So does she accept his offer to stay and help? But of course!
🎧Audio review:
I was so excited to see two narrators!
Andy Arndt, one of my favorite narrators, was amazing as always, and the reason I picked up this audio. Her performance was stellar!
Patrick Zeller didn’t work as well for me. His voice would go from mumbling to loud with no warning, forcing me to constantly adjust the volume as his voice would drop and rise. (Hopefully this can/will be fixed by the release date).
Final thoughts:
Cute storyline that I enjoyed overall. Left me with a smile on my face.
This was my first experience with this author and I will definitely be back for more!
Expected Publication Date: August 5 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson
Tropes:
Forced proximity
Enemies to lovers
📚storyline: Josie is a school nurse. Off for the summer, she looks forward to her sibling vacation extravaganza. (Their term, not mine.😂) Simply put, a vacation with her brother. Once she arrives, her brother is nowhere to be found. The only one there is a grumpy and recently injured professional hockey player named Wyatt, her brothers’ best friend and client.
Josie’s brother proposes a deal with her. He’ll pay her to stay with Wyatt and use her nursing skills and persuasion to get Wyatt back on track of his rehab. Swell vacation, huh Josie?
Josie's Issues: Josie hates athletes, especially Wyatt. She’s always felt Wyatt has disliked her from the moment they met years ago. So does she accept his offer to stay and help? But of course!
🎧Audio review:
I was so excited to see two narrators!
Andy Arndt, one of my favorite narrators, was amazing as always, and the reason I picked up this audio. Her performance was stellar!
Patrick Zeller didn’t work as well for me. His voice would go from mumbling to loud with no warning, forcing me to constantly adjust the volume as his voice would drop and rise. (Hopefully this can/will be fixed by the release date).
Final thoughts:
Cute storyline that I enjoyed overall. Left me with a smile on my face.
This was my first experience with this author and I will definitely be back for more!
Expected Publication Date: August 5 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson
April 24, 2025
4.5⭐
I loved this so much ❤️❤️❤️. I smiled all the time and laughed so hard, AND it's clean!!! I honestly love ALL the characters. The story itself is so cute and heartwarming and the audiobook is amazing 😭😭
Josie is sunshine and her sense of humor is hilarious. Wyatt is a grump but he's a secret softie, he reminded me of a porcupine 🥺 Jacob is a fantastic brother and a wonderful friend
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I heard brother's best friend and came running 🫣 Gigantic thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the eARC & ALC 💕
Find my review on Instagram
I loved this so much ❤️❤️❤️. I smiled all the time and laughed so hard, AND it's clean!!! I honestly love ALL the characters. The story itself is so cute and heartwarming and the audiobook is amazing 😭😭
Josie is sunshine and her sense of humor is hilarious. Wyatt is a grump but he's a secret softie, he reminded me of a porcupine 🥺 Jacob is a fantastic brother and a wonderful friend
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I heard brother's best friend and came running 🫣 Gigantic thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the eARC & ALC 💕
Find my review on Instagram
March 10, 2025
3.3 ˖⁺‧✮
such a cozy romance between brother’s best friend who needs medical help and a sister who is accidentally a nurse 👀
i’m just going to say this and move on… it’s advertises as a enemies to lovers but it’s notttttttt! i’m just tired of
publishers or authors or pr mangers or whoever does this… he liked her the whole time and it was so OBVIOUS. they were never enemies. she was angry with him and he just tolerated it because he was so in love with her😭
«Moving as fast as I can in my current state, I fly outside, knocking the screen door right off its hinges. It lands in the yard. But I don’t care. My only focus is on flagging down the police cruisers carrying the last person on the planet I’d want arrested—or detained—because of me.»
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’m a patient man. I won’t push you,” Wyatt says then.
“At least, not too hard. Hopefully, just hard enough.”
“How do you know what’s just hard enough?” I ask, my fingers flexing on his lower back.
“You may not realize this,” he says, “but I’ve become an expert in reading you, Josie.”»
i enjoyed the tension and banter! especially closer to the end! definitely would classify as a slow burn.
i was not the fan of the brother putting them together plot. it’s just a lame excuse to put characters together.
«“How does it look?” I ask. “It’s way too big.”
“It’s perfect,” Wyatt says, bending forward to kiss me again before gently turning me around and brushing my hair away from my neck. “My last name looks good on you, Rookie. Maybe we can find a way to keep it there.”»
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the copy of the book. I received a complimentary copy, and all opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
such a cozy romance between brother’s best friend who needs medical help and a sister who is accidentally a nurse 👀
i’m just going to say this and move on… it’s advertises as a enemies to lovers but it’s notttttttt! i’m just tired of
publishers or authors or pr mangers or whoever does this… he liked her the whole time and it was so OBVIOUS. they were never enemies. she was angry with him and he just tolerated it because he was so in love with her😭
«Moving as fast as I can in my current state, I fly outside, knocking the screen door right off its hinges. It lands in the yard. But I don’t care. My only focus is on flagging down the police cruisers carrying the last person on the planet I’d want arrested—or detained—because of me.»
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’m a patient man. I won’t push you,” Wyatt says then.
“At least, not too hard. Hopefully, just hard enough.”
“How do you know what’s just hard enough?” I ask, my fingers flexing on his lower back.
“You may not realize this,” he says, “but I’ve become an expert in reading you, Josie.”»
i enjoyed the tension and banter! especially closer to the end! definitely would classify as a slow burn.
i was not the fan of the brother putting them together plot. it’s just a lame excuse to put characters together.
«“How does it look?” I ask. “It’s way too big.”
“It’s perfect,” Wyatt says, bending forward to kiss me again before gently turning me around and brushing my hair away from my neck. “My last name looks good on you, Rookie. Maybe we can find a way to keep it there.”»
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the copy of the book. I received a complimentary copy, and all opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 9, 2025
A five star rom-com!
I am very excited to see a traditionally published book from Emma St. Clair!
Check below for all the tropes in this one as there's A LOT of them, but I thought she did each one expertly! The comedy and humour and banter are strong in this one!
The set up is great. She is a nurse tricked into helping her brother's best friend whose been secretly in love with her since they met in high school. She stays with him to help nurse him back to health and make some money. They fall in love. But not before some major character growth happens for both of them, which I really liked! They each have to work through issues whether personal, mental, or familial and that all added depth to the story and balanced the cheesy humour laced throughout.
I really liked her writing in this and how she balanced the plot with the depth and the comedy.
The characters were straightforward. Nothing super unique about them, but that's not what this story needed. Their chemistry was thick and banter strong, and they were a great match!
The romance was truly adorable. Their connection was more than physical, which was seen in the dialogue and their inner thoughts. There's a kiss scene that made me swoon with how good the build up was.
This stands out to me as a really strong rom-com that I think a lot of people will like.
Tropes & Triggers: enemies to more, brother's best friend, hockey romance, forced proximity, she takes care of him, billionaire, sailing, grumpy/sunshine, painkiller high, mention of past attempted sexual assault, no language, only kissing.
I am very excited to see a traditionally published book from Emma St. Clair!
Check below for all the tropes in this one as there's A LOT of them, but I thought she did each one expertly! The comedy and humour and banter are strong in this one!
The set up is great. She is a nurse tricked into helping her brother's best friend whose been secretly in love with her since they met in high school. She stays with him to help nurse him back to health and make some money. They fall in love. But not before some major character growth happens for both of them, which I really liked! They each have to work through issues whether personal, mental, or familial and that all added depth to the story and balanced the cheesy humour laced throughout.
I really liked her writing in this and how she balanced the plot with the depth and the comedy.
The characters were straightforward. Nothing super unique about them, but that's not what this story needed. Their chemistry was thick and banter strong, and they were a great match!
The romance was truly adorable. Their connection was more than physical, which was seen in the dialogue and their inner thoughts. There's a kiss scene that made me swoon with how good the build up was.
This stands out to me as a really strong rom-com that I think a lot of people will like.
Tropes & Triggers: enemies to more, brother's best friend, hockey romance, forced proximity, she takes care of him, billionaire, sailing, grumpy/sunshine, painkiller high, mention of past attempted sexual assault, no language, only kissing.
August 5, 2025
When Josie’s brother tricks her into spending the summer caring for his injured best friend, hockey player Wyatt Jacobs, and Josie’s sworn enemy, she reluctantly agrees to help out, especially for the paycheck her brother agrees to. But as the two spend time together loving in Wyatt’s “quaint little murder cottage”, both will realize their previous characterizations of one another may have been incorrect.
If you are looking for a sweet, adventure-filled romance as we sail (pardon the pun) into the final month of summer, look no further. Emma St. Clair always writes feel-good, cozy romance, heavy on the swoon, light on the spice (as in none), and I know going on, I am going to enjoy the story.
If All Else Sails had all of this and more. Not only is there the most adorable romance between Wyatt and Josie at the core of the story, but there are these added layers of emotional depth and complexity within each character, as they struggle with past traumas they have not yet let go of. I loved how their sailing adventure is so wrought with tension, as they are unable to address their unresolved feelings towards one another. And yet the humor in the book really shines through, perfectly juxtaposing the more serious elements and creating that feel-good nature I have come to love about St. Claire’s books.
🎧 The audiobook, helmed by Andi Arndt and Patrick Zeller, is fantastic! Both brought their characters to life in a very dynamic way, that at times, gives the audiobook a movie-like quality. Very fun and a terrific way to go if you pick this book up.
Read if you like:
▪️summer romance
▪️brother’s best friend
▪️grumpy x sunshine
▪️forced proximity
▪️sailing adventure
▪️enemies to lovers
▪️hockey romance
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Thomas Nelson and Emma St. Clair for the advanced copies.
If you are looking for a sweet, adventure-filled romance as we sail (pardon the pun) into the final month of summer, look no further. Emma St. Clair always writes feel-good, cozy romance, heavy on the swoon, light on the spice (as in none), and I know going on, I am going to enjoy the story.
If All Else Sails had all of this and more. Not only is there the most adorable romance between Wyatt and Josie at the core of the story, but there are these added layers of emotional depth and complexity within each character, as they struggle with past traumas they have not yet let go of. I loved how their sailing adventure is so wrought with tension, as they are unable to address their unresolved feelings towards one another. And yet the humor in the book really shines through, perfectly juxtaposing the more serious elements and creating that feel-good nature I have come to love about St. Claire’s books.
🎧 The audiobook, helmed by Andi Arndt and Patrick Zeller, is fantastic! Both brought their characters to life in a very dynamic way, that at times, gives the audiobook a movie-like quality. Very fun and a terrific way to go if you pick this book up.
Read if you like:
▪️summer romance
▪️brother’s best friend
▪️grumpy x sunshine
▪️forced proximity
▪️sailing adventure
▪️enemies to lovers
▪️hockey romance
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Thomas Nelson and Emma St. Clair for the advanced copies.
August 21, 2025
Shanghaied
Josie is a school nurse living a good yet lonely life when her brother Jacob invites her for a week to the beach. That’s a rare thing, because Jacob is always busy managing professional athletes.
When Josie gets to what she calls the “murder cottage” because it’s so old, and seems abandoned, although there’s a car in front. Before she knows what’s happening a police car pulls up and arrests her. Her brother’s client and best friend, Wyatt is signing autographs for the police officers while she bakes in the police car.
It turns out that Wyatt has been injured and has fallen into a depression and doing nothing to help himself recover from his injury. Jacob lured Josie to the beach house to help Wyatt get well.
Josie and Wyatt had bad blood in the past. Can they get over their issues enough to help Wyatt get well and maybe take a cruise on his sail boat?
This is a fun, touching and slow moving clean romance. I enjoyed it enough to give it five stars.
Josie is a school nurse living a good yet lonely life when her brother Jacob invites her for a week to the beach. That’s a rare thing, because Jacob is always busy managing professional athletes.
When Josie gets to what she calls the “murder cottage” because it’s so old, and seems abandoned, although there’s a car in front. Before she knows what’s happening a police car pulls up and arrests her. Her brother’s client and best friend, Wyatt is signing autographs for the police officers while she bakes in the police car.
It turns out that Wyatt has been injured and has fallen into a depression and doing nothing to help himself recover from his injury. Jacob lured Josie to the beach house to help Wyatt get well.
Josie and Wyatt had bad blood in the past. Can they get over their issues enough to help Wyatt get well and maybe take a cruise on his sail boat?
This is a fun, touching and slow moving clean romance. I enjoyed it enough to give it five stars.
July 27, 2025
If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair
5 Stars
Blog Post: https://bookloveramanda.blogspot.com/...
Let's start this review out with....I LAUGHED SO MUCH IN THIS BOOK! I read this with my friends Oceana and Lindsay and we both really enjoyed it! So many laughs and just an overall great rom-com!
This is Emma's first traditionally published book with Thomas Nelson and I HIGHLY recommend! I have loved all of Emma's books I've read, she just has such a way with writing funny, clean rom-coms and this did not disappoint!
Tied to the Appies Hockey series, we have Wyatt, Josie's brother's best friend and Hockey Player, who spend the summer together. What happens when the "enemies" spend a summer together including sailing, forced proximity situations and a sweet dog accompanies them? FEELINGS!
Our characters spend time together, feelings come to the forefront....their walls come down as they get to know each other more deeply and we really get to know them. Emma always tells stories that are filled with depth and I love that because they are REAL people with REAL issues - more than just your average rom-com.
I loved seeing Josie open up to Wyatt about what she had been through and how much Wyatt grew from his grumpy self in the beginning to the end.
Another great read from Emma I highly recommend for a clean romance!
*content warning for mention of attempted sexual assault recounted. no spice, kisses only, no language
Thank you to Emma, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for complimentary copies of the ebook and audiobook to read and review. All thoughts are my own.
July 24, 2025
If All Else Sails is a delightful story that hits all the marks for a sweet, funny, and entertaining summer read. Josie is supposed to be meeting her brother for a sibling vacation but instead she finds herself at the home of his best friend and hockey pklyer client, Wyatt. The two have never gotten along.get along He's a grump and she is not comfortable around athletes. But, her brother hires her to take of Wyatt while he is recovering from an injury. She needs the money. A sailing trip down the intravenous waterway is the perfect way for the two to get acquainted and a stray pup, Jib, (a sailing term) adds a sweet note. Loved it! I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my thoughts.
August 20, 2025
✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯ This was such a delight to read! This is a no-spice contemporary romance that follows Josie tending to her brother’s best friend, Wyatt, after he suffers an injury. Initially, you think it’s enemies-to-lovers but the plot thickens! Josie misinterpreted Wyatt’s bad first impression and thinking he was hating her over the years, which prompted her to hate him mutually. But turns out, it was the complete opposite and Wyatt has secretly liked Josie from afar… 🤭❣️
✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯ Josie is super funny and quirky, and not in the cringey way. She’s witty and full of pep but also guides her heart very carefully to protect herself. She cares deeply about her parents and her brother, Jacob, especially after almost losing him to sepsis. But instead of avoiding everything related to her trauma of losing her sibling, Josie channelled all of her nervous energy and anxiety into going to school to be a nurse. She’s mistrustful of Wyatt because of misunderstandings from when they first met and decides she can’t stand him, but Josie’s true personality shines when she decides to stay not just for the benefits that Jacob has promised her but to actually be there and support Wyatt during a stressful period of his life. I found her struggles to open up her heart very relatable and how she was tired of running when someone gets close but not knowing how to let herself love openly 💝
✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯ Wyatt started off as being your stereotypical grump, but I actually really liked the way he was written. He’s not a jerk to Josie as much as it initially comes across as. I think it’s really heartwarming that he just comes off as unapproachable because he’s been infatuated with her since they met and worries about saying the wrong thing around her. I think the storyline with his Uncle Tom and coming to terms with his death was an important plot point to his character development, and learning to let go was hard but that he was able to be strong to do it. Wyatt is a very attentive and thoughtful person, which is shown in how much he cares about those he loves. He worries about what Jacob would think if he knew that his best friend liked his sister because he respects him that much and prioritizes their friendship, while also worrying about how his relationship with Josie unfolds in the way he’s been wanting to make a move for years but feels he can’t until now 🌊
✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯ Josie and Wyatt’s relationship was very heartwarming but also lighthearted with a slice of life vibe to it. I laughed out loud during many parts of this book and found my heart tugging at the secrets they shared with each other. I think my favourite part hands-down was all the adventures that Josie and Wyatt encountered together with the pigs, poison oak, a raging fever, and hospital trips. So funny and engaging that I didn’t want to put it down. Wyatt and Josie are a very healthy duo; I felt that Wyatt was very respectful with telling her to set the pace between them and offering alternatives in case she was uncomfortable with something. They were very attentive to each other and it seemed like they were written to bring out the best in the other 💗
✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯ Definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a summer rom-com filled with laugh-out-loud moments, swoon-worthy yearning, and a pair that falls in love both on land and on sea 🎒
What to expect:
- School nurse FMC x hockey player MMC 🩺🏒
- Brother’s best friend
- Grumpy x sunshine 🌧️☀️
- Forced proximity
- Sailing trip ⛵
- Summer vacation vibes
- Closed door romance 🚪
- Dual POV in present tense 👥
Thank you to Emma St. Clair, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and NetGalley for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for my honest review!
✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯ Josie is super funny and quirky, and not in the cringey way. She’s witty and full of pep but also guides her heart very carefully to protect herself. She cares deeply about her parents and her brother, Jacob, especially after almost losing him to sepsis. But instead of avoiding everything related to her trauma of losing her sibling, Josie channelled all of her nervous energy and anxiety into going to school to be a nurse. She’s mistrustful of Wyatt because of misunderstandings from when they first met and decides she can’t stand him, but Josie’s true personality shines when she decides to stay not just for the benefits that Jacob has promised her but to actually be there and support Wyatt during a stressful period of his life. I found her struggles to open up her heart very relatable and how she was tired of running when someone gets close but not knowing how to let herself love openly 💝
✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯ Wyatt started off as being your stereotypical grump, but I actually really liked the way he was written. He’s not a jerk to Josie as much as it initially comes across as. I think it’s really heartwarming that he just comes off as unapproachable because he’s been infatuated with her since they met and worries about saying the wrong thing around her. I think the storyline with his Uncle Tom and coming to terms with his death was an important plot point to his character development, and learning to let go was hard but that he was able to be strong to do it. Wyatt is a very attentive and thoughtful person, which is shown in how much he cares about those he loves. He worries about what Jacob would think if he knew that his best friend liked his sister because he respects him that much and prioritizes their friendship, while also worrying about how his relationship with Josie unfolds in the way he’s been wanting to make a move for years but feels he can’t until now 🌊
✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯ Josie and Wyatt’s relationship was very heartwarming but also lighthearted with a slice of life vibe to it. I laughed out loud during many parts of this book and found my heart tugging at the secrets they shared with each other. I think my favourite part hands-down was all the adventures that Josie and Wyatt encountered together with the pigs, poison oak, a raging fever, and hospital trips. So funny and engaging that I didn’t want to put it down. Wyatt and Josie are a very healthy duo; I felt that Wyatt was very respectful with telling her to set the pace between them and offering alternatives in case she was uncomfortable with something. They were very attentive to each other and it seemed like they were written to bring out the best in the other 💗
✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯ Definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a summer rom-com filled with laugh-out-loud moments, swoon-worthy yearning, and a pair that falls in love both on land and on sea 🎒
What to expect:
- School nurse FMC x hockey player MMC 🩺🏒
- Brother’s best friend
- Grumpy x sunshine 🌧️☀️
- Forced proximity
- Sailing trip ⛵
- Summer vacation vibes
- Closed door romance 🚪
- Dual POV in present tense 👥
Thank you to Emma St. Clair, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and NetGalley for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for my honest review!
May 22, 2025
4,25⭐ ( ARC review🍀)
Thiiiiiiiiis book ughh 🥺❤️🔥 choosing to listen to this book during my hectic exams week was the best idea haha
This book was such a lovely read. Josie and Wyatt were absolutely adorable, and I loved how their relationship slowly grew over time. The chemistry and tension between them were so well done it made me root for them right from the start.
All the side characters added so much heart to the story, especially Jacob. And Jib? Completely stole the show. Such an adorable addition!
This could have easily been a 5 ⭐ read if not for the pacing that felt a little slow, especially toward the end. I wish we had more time with Josie and Wyatt as a couple. Also, it’s marketed as enemies to lovers, but honestly... it’s not. Wyatt liked her from the very beginning, and it was super obvious! They were never really enemies—she was just mad at him while he quietly adored her the whole time (which was cute, but not quite enemies to lovers).
Still, I really enjoyed it. It’s sweet, light, and easy to read—definitely a book I’d recommend to anyone looking for a feel-good romance.🩷🌸
Thank you again to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for this audiobook 🩷🫶
Thiiiiiiiiis book ughh 🥺❤️🔥 choosing to listen to this book during my hectic exams week was the best idea haha
This book was such a lovely read. Josie and Wyatt were absolutely adorable, and I loved how their relationship slowly grew over time. The chemistry and tension between them were so well done it made me root for them right from the start.
All the side characters added so much heart to the story, especially Jacob. And Jib? Completely stole the show. Such an adorable addition!
This could have easily been a 5 ⭐ read if not for the pacing that felt a little slow, especially toward the end. I wish we had more time with Josie and Wyatt as a couple. Also, it’s marketed as enemies to lovers, but honestly... it’s not. Wyatt liked her from the very beginning, and it was super obvious! They were never really enemies—she was just mad at him while he quietly adored her the whole time (which was cute, but not quite enemies to lovers).
Still, I really enjoyed it. It’s sweet, light, and easy to read—definitely a book I’d recommend to anyone looking for a feel-good romance.🩷🌸
Thank you again to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for this audiobook 🩷🫶
August 15, 2025
I was so excited to read this story after having read the Appies series and loving all the characters so when I found out there would be a story about a former appies player i couldn't wait to read His story, However I was completely underwhelmed. The story had potential for more. Theres forced proximity, Brothers best friend, dual POV etc, no language, no spice barely any kissing.
This was sooooo slow, I can't stress that enough. I've DNFd books for less 😭 the characters fell short for me I didn't feel a connection.There was more dialogue than interaction between the characters. Not to mention they didn't kiss until 93% of the book 🤦🏽♀️ Emma is usually hit or miss for me and unfortunately this was miss.
This was sooooo slow, I can't stress that enough. I've DNFd books for less 😭 the characters fell short for me I didn't feel a connection.There was more dialogue than interaction between the characters. Not to mention they didn't kiss until 93% of the book 🤦🏽♀️ Emma is usually hit or miss for me and unfortunately this was miss.
July 11, 2025
I’ve enjoyed many of Emma St. Clair’s novels, so I was excited to read an early copy of If All Else Sails. In this one, our FMC Josie is tasked with taking care of her brother’s best friend Wyatt over the summer after his hockey injury. Only problem? These two don’t like each other. But as summer progresses and the two set sail together they start to let their guard down and soon they start to wonder why they didn’t like each other in the first place.
I really enjoyed this one! Emma St. Clair does a wonderful job at bringing the characters emotions and struggles to the table. I also loved how their newfound relationship progressed, and everything just felt so right to me. If you’re looking for a summer romance that will leave you with a mega smile on your face, then you won’t want to miss Wyatt and Josie’s story. I had a great time reading it!
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙
❥ Summer Romance
❥ Enemies-to-lovers
❥ Brother’s Best Friend
❥ Forced Proximity
I really enjoyed this one! Emma St. Clair does a wonderful job at bringing the characters emotions and struggles to the table. I also loved how their newfound relationship progressed, and everything just felt so right to me. If you’re looking for a summer romance that will leave you with a mega smile on your face, then you won’t want to miss Wyatt and Josie’s story. I had a great time reading it!
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙
❥ Summer Romance
❥ Enemies-to-lovers
❥ Brother’s Best Friend
❥ Forced Proximity
February 24, 2025
Overall I really enjoyed this, and it had some of my favorite tropes (forced proximity, brother’s best friend). I felt there was a bit too much telling and not showing when it came to how the characters felt, especially about each other. Like they were just explaining everything away in their inner monologues rather than with each other. I plan on checking out more books by this author to see if it was just this instance or if it’s a consistency in her writing.
It did get better toward the end and I was really able to enjoy the slow burn. It felt like their relationship really took time to grow and the characters were really really likable. MMC is also a professional hockey player!
It did get better toward the end and I was really able to enjoy the slow burn. It felt like their relationship really took time to grow and the characters were really really likable. MMC is also a professional hockey player!
September 4, 2025
Injured and depressed, hockey star Wyatt disappeared from the earth to a reclusive cabin to grieve alone. He wasn’t expecting his best friend and manager to send his sister Josie to take care of him. A sister he’s been pinning for since the first time they met.
If only Wyatt stopped saying the wrong things to her every single time he tried to interact, maybe this wasn’t a complete disaster. If only Josie wasn’t there for the money. But she didn’t care for him, and Wyatt didn’t want her there on those terms. But they don’t really have other options and will have to learn to survive the summer together.
Like Wyatt and Josie, this book and I started with the wrong foot. Firstly, I want to address the fact that this is not an enemies to lovers. The hero is obsessed with the heroine and wants her from the beginning. He's in love. He fell first and fell hard. He’s been waiting for her for over two years. How dare the publisher promote those feelings as hate?
I actually loved those tropes more than enemies to lovers. I’m just angry and frustrated because everything right now is marketed as an enemies to lovers. But this was the less enemies to lovers book I’ve read marketed as such.
But that’s not why this wasn’t a great start. I had so many problems with the book. The hero and the heroine were injured several times (they each had two injuries in the first 30%), it was so over the top I wanted to scream because I don’t do well with rom-coms. On top of that, we had a case of ‘I’m not like other girls’, the heroine was all the time being like: ‘all women throw themselves at Wyatt, but I need more. They only want the body, but I need connection.’ I always feel so insulted when such comments are added in a story. I always end up disliking the character and the author, for thinking that putting all the women down is the way to make their heroines shine.
If that wasn’t enough, the sailing part doesn’t happen until 60%. Since the cover and the blurb mention the sailing (and the title), I was expecting it to happen sooner and to be more prevalent in the story.
Lastly, I was listening to the audiobook and struggled to listen to Wyatt’s narrator, especially at the beginning. I don’t think he was a bad narrator, I liked his voice and his accent was easy for me to understand. But, at the beginning, he sounded so angry (because Wyatt was angry) all the time. I don’t mind the narrator almost shouting from time to time, but it was mostly him almost shouting, and then he would almost whisper. And it was awful because I didn’t know how to adjust the volume. It was way too loud when he was almost shouting, but then I wouldn’t catch what he was saying when he was almost whispering. I think it got better once Wyatt wasn’t angry, because it didn't bother me that much in the second half. But maybe it helped that it was mainly Josie’s POV and I loved the female narrator. I’m pretty sure that was the reason why I fangirled so much in the second half.
As I was saying, I didn’t love the beginning but I slowly became invested in the story. Suddenly, I was smiling along with the characters, giggling and enjoying every single second of the audiobook. It was such a sweet and heartwarming story! I loved them together 🥰🥰
That being said, the heroine was quite frustrating because she kept misunderstanding the hero and she didn’t let him explain and talk about his feelings. I don’t fancy grumpy heroes, but once Wyatt felt better, he tried to communicate with her and Josie refused every single time!
Overall, If All Else Sails is not an enemies to lovers. Wyatt (H) fails first and has liked the heroine for years. She thinks he hates her because Wyatt keeps messing up due to being nervous around her. Once we get over the first 40%, where we have too many injuries, the hero is too grumpy and everything feels silly, the book becomes quite charming. I especially enjoyed the slow burn and seeing Wyatt with his friends, as well as meeting Josie’s brother. Despite all my problems with it, I ended up caring for them and enjoying their story.
🎧Read as an audiobook
Rating: 2.5 stars rounded up because I have a positive memory of it but the beginning was frustrating
Audiobook: 3 stars (mostly due to the changes in volume of the male narrator, the female narrator deserved better, I loved listened to her)
I kindly received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
If only Wyatt stopped saying the wrong things to her every single time he tried to interact, maybe this wasn’t a complete disaster. If only Josie wasn’t there for the money. But she didn’t care for him, and Wyatt didn’t want her there on those terms. But they don’t really have other options and will have to learn to survive the summer together.
Like Wyatt and Josie, this book and I started with the wrong foot. Firstly, I want to address the fact that this is not an enemies to lovers. The hero is obsessed with the heroine and wants her from the beginning. He's in love. He fell first and fell hard. He’s been waiting for her for over two years. How dare the publisher promote those feelings as hate?
I actually loved those tropes more than enemies to lovers. I’m just angry and frustrated because everything right now is marketed as an enemies to lovers. But this was the less enemies to lovers book I’ve read marketed as such.
But that’s not why this wasn’t a great start. I had so many problems with the book. The hero and the heroine were injured several times (they each had two injuries in the first 30%), it was so over the top I wanted to scream because I don’t do well with rom-coms. On top of that, we had a case of ‘I’m not like other girls’, the heroine was all the time being like: ‘all women throw themselves at Wyatt, but I need more. They only want the body, but I need connection.’ I always feel so insulted when such comments are added in a story. I always end up disliking the character and the author, for thinking that putting all the women down is the way to make their heroines shine.
If that wasn’t enough, the sailing part doesn’t happen until 60%. Since the cover and the blurb mention the sailing (and the title), I was expecting it to happen sooner and to be more prevalent in the story.
Lastly, I was listening to the audiobook and struggled to listen to Wyatt’s narrator, especially at the beginning. I don’t think he was a bad narrator, I liked his voice and his accent was easy for me to understand. But, at the beginning, he sounded so angry (because Wyatt was angry) all the time. I don’t mind the narrator almost shouting from time to time, but it was mostly him almost shouting, and then he would almost whisper. And it was awful because I didn’t know how to adjust the volume. It was way too loud when he was almost shouting, but then I wouldn’t catch what he was saying when he was almost whispering. I think it got better once Wyatt wasn’t angry, because it didn't bother me that much in the second half. But maybe it helped that it was mainly Josie’s POV and I loved the female narrator. I’m pretty sure that was the reason why I fangirled so much in the second half.
As I was saying, I didn’t love the beginning but I slowly became invested in the story. Suddenly, I was smiling along with the characters, giggling and enjoying every single second of the audiobook. It was such a sweet and heartwarming story! I loved them together 🥰🥰
That being said, the heroine was quite frustrating because she kept misunderstanding the hero and she didn’t let him explain and talk about his feelings. I don’t fancy grumpy heroes, but once Wyatt felt better, he tried to communicate with her and Josie refused every single time!
Overall, If All Else Sails is not an enemies to lovers. Wyatt (H) fails first and has liked the heroine for years. She thinks he hates her because Wyatt keeps messing up due to being nervous around her. Once we get over the first 40%, where we have too many injuries, the hero is too grumpy and everything feels silly, the book becomes quite charming. I especially enjoyed the slow burn and seeing Wyatt with his friends, as well as meeting Josie’s brother. Despite all my problems with it, I ended up caring for them and enjoying their story.
🎧Read as an audiobook
Rating: 2.5 stars rounded up because I have a positive memory of it but the beginning was frustrating
Audiobook: 3 stars (mostly due to the changes in volume of the male narrator, the female narrator deserved better, I loved listened to her)
I kindly received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 29, 2025
Talk about a funny meet-cute! Or maybe not so funny in Josie's eyes! Or Wyatt's for that matter! But for us readers, we can definitely see the humor in it. I was giggling and shaking my head. Especially at those police officers. Oh man! And a little bit, or rather a lot of head shaking at Jacob, for his brotherly scheming ways.
I was in the mood for a fun and lighthearted (mostly) rom-com and was on a long drive by myself. So I pulled up this one and had my phone read it to me while I drove. It helped the drive pass quickly and I found myself laughing many times, but I also felt the sadness that these two characters experienced in their past struggles. Unfortunately they've had some misunderstandings, but fortunately, they have plenty of time to clear that up.
Josie is a nurse and agrees to spend some time (after a big misunderstanding thanks to her brother Jacob) helping Wyatt, the big time hockey player, heal from an injury. Some chaos ensues and humor, but most of all healing, in more than just a physical way. I enjoyed the adventures these two end up having. But I especially loved seeing Wyatt's softer and more caring side. Josie starts to learn that perceptions she had of situations were wrong and that Wyatt isn't this grumpy athlete but really a caring and kind hearted friend.
Hop aboard and enjoy a sweet story of healing, adventure, friendship and finding love. Oh and some funny and endearing family members make some appearances as well! I loved them!
Content: Clean. Some kisses but nothing further. Mention of a guy trying to take advantage of a girl but nothing graphic and the girl talking about her healing.
I received a copy from the publisher, Thomas Nelson Fiction, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
I was in the mood for a fun and lighthearted (mostly) rom-com and was on a long drive by myself. So I pulled up this one and had my phone read it to me while I drove. It helped the drive pass quickly and I found myself laughing many times, but I also felt the sadness that these two characters experienced in their past struggles. Unfortunately they've had some misunderstandings, but fortunately, they have plenty of time to clear that up.
Josie is a nurse and agrees to spend some time (after a big misunderstanding thanks to her brother Jacob) helping Wyatt, the big time hockey player, heal from an injury. Some chaos ensues and humor, but most of all healing, in more than just a physical way. I enjoyed the adventures these two end up having. But I especially loved seeing Wyatt's softer and more caring side. Josie starts to learn that perceptions she had of situations were wrong and that Wyatt isn't this grumpy athlete but really a caring and kind hearted friend.
Hop aboard and enjoy a sweet story of healing, adventure, friendship and finding love. Oh and some funny and endearing family members make some appearances as well! I loved them!
Content: Clean. Some kisses but nothing further. Mention of a guy trying to take advantage of a girl but nothing graphic and the girl talking about her healing.
I received a copy from the publisher, Thomas Nelson Fiction, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
August 14, 2025
Absolutely delightful! This book was so much fun!! I was hooked from the first hilarious scene and laughing and completely invested the whole time.
Wyatt and Josie’s romance is slow burn deliciousness with all the forced proximity goodness I love. The romance was so sweet and I loved to see Josie peel back the layers that make up the grouchy Wyatt and get to know his softer attributes.
Everything you can expect from an Emma St. Clair book was delivered in spades—from laugh out loud scenes to animal encounters. I love the way she uses analogies and creative descriptions to really make the story come to life. The setting as well as the characters’ emotions and actions all felt real and relatable. The adorable chapter titles were a fun bonus addition.
I loved the different settings of the “quaint little murder cottage” and the sailboat. It’s not a hockey book, because he’s recovering from an injury, but there was some fun discussion about the sport and his former team, the Appies.
As an all-time Emma St. Clair fan girl, this book gave me everything I had hoped for and more. I highly recommend any romcom lover pick this one up!
🔥: Kisses
.
.
.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Wyatt and Josie’s romance is slow burn deliciousness with all the forced proximity goodness I love. The romance was so sweet and I loved to see Josie peel back the layers that make up the grouchy Wyatt and get to know his softer attributes.
Everything you can expect from an Emma St. Clair book was delivered in spades—from laugh out loud scenes to animal encounters. I love the way she uses analogies and creative descriptions to really make the story come to life. The setting as well as the characters’ emotions and actions all felt real and relatable. The adorable chapter titles were a fun bonus addition.
I loved the different settings of the “quaint little murder cottage” and the sailboat. It’s not a hockey book, because he’s recovering from an injury, but there was some fun discussion about the sport and his former team, the Appies.
As an all-time Emma St. Clair fan girl, this book gave me everything I had hoped for and more. I highly recommend any romcom lover pick this one up!
🔥: Kisses
.
.
.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 22, 2025
The first half was so good!! The tension and the banter were perfect. After the got on the boat, the momentum and tension disappeared… as well as my attention. I couldn’t get to the end fast enough. Good not great. But it is a closed door romance with no language if that’s what you’re looking for.
April 26, 2025
A very sweet story in the closed door romance genre, this is my favorite Emma St. Clair book to date. The book starts out with a very funny premise, Josie is detained by the police because Wyatt thinks she is a reporter. In reality, she is his best friend‘s sister. He is recovering from an lisfranc injury, as a hockey player. Then Josie’s brother hires her, a school nurse, to help be a companion for Wyatt as he mourns his uncle’s death.
Read this one if you like;
Enemies to lovers
Hockey romance
Brothers best friend
Dogs
Sailing
Miscommunication
The audiobook is also well done, I liked both narrators. At first I found the female narrator to be a bit boring, but soon I realized that this tone matches Josie as she is a pretty strait laced person. I loved the male narrator, his performance made me laugh and made Wyatt come alive.
I love a closed door romance and the sailing aspect didn’t come into play until the third act, but it had a nice flow and pacing. There were some cute situational comedic elements. I liked the internal dialogue as Josie and Wyatt are falling for each other.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Zondervan Audio for the ALC. book to be released August 4, 2025
Read this one if you like;
Enemies to lovers
Hockey romance
Brothers best friend
Dogs
Sailing
Miscommunication
The audiobook is also well done, I liked both narrators. At first I found the female narrator to be a bit boring, but soon I realized that this tone matches Josie as she is a pretty strait laced person. I loved the male narrator, his performance made me laugh and made Wyatt come alive.
I love a closed door romance and the sailing aspect didn’t come into play until the third act, but it had a nice flow and pacing. There were some cute situational comedic elements. I liked the internal dialogue as Josie and Wyatt are falling for each other.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Zondervan Audio for the ALC. book to be released August 4, 2025
April 30, 2025
If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair is the sweetest, most charming enemies-to-lovers romance I’ve read in ages! 💖✨ From the very first page, I was hooked by Josie’s lovable personality—she’s the kind of heroine who’s caring, funny, and just a little bit sassy, which makes her the perfect match for Wyatt’s grumpy but secretly adorable personality. 😍🌊
The story’s setting on a sailing adventure down the intercoastal waterway is absolutely enchanting—picture breezy days, salty air, and those hilarious mishaps that make you giggle out loud! 🌅😂 Emma captures the unpredictability of the sea and the chemistry between Josie and Wyatt so beautifully, it’s impossible not to root for them. ❤️⚓️
What really stole my heart was how their banter turns into genuine connection—proving that sometimes, getting lost at sea is exactly what you need to find yourself and someone special. 🧭💕 Josie’s kindness and Wyatt’s gruff exterior are the perfect combo, and I loved watching their walls come down one hilarious, heartfelt moment at a time. 🥰🌟
If you’re craving a lighthearted, swoon-worthy read with a dash of adventure and lots of adorable moments, this book is a must! 📚💫 Emma St. Clair has truly created a delightful escape where love, laughter, and a little bit of chaos set sail perfectly. 🚤💞 I couldn’t recommend it more—grab your favorite snack, cozy up, and get ready for a voyage you won’t forget! 🌸😊
The story’s setting on a sailing adventure down the intercoastal waterway is absolutely enchanting—picture breezy days, salty air, and those hilarious mishaps that make you giggle out loud! 🌅😂 Emma captures the unpredictability of the sea and the chemistry between Josie and Wyatt so beautifully, it’s impossible not to root for them. ❤️⚓️
What really stole my heart was how their banter turns into genuine connection—proving that sometimes, getting lost at sea is exactly what you need to find yourself and someone special. 🧭💕 Josie’s kindness and Wyatt’s gruff exterior are the perfect combo, and I loved watching their walls come down one hilarious, heartfelt moment at a time. 🥰🌟
If you’re craving a lighthearted, swoon-worthy read with a dash of adventure and lots of adorable moments, this book is a must! 📚💫 Emma St. Clair has truly created a delightful escape where love, laughter, and a little bit of chaos set sail perfectly. 🚤💞 I couldn’t recommend it more—grab your favorite snack, cozy up, and get ready for a voyage you won’t forget! 🌸😊
July 16, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
This is a story about Josie and Wyatt. Josie is a school nurse, who gets sent to encourage Wyatt, an injured hockey player, to take care of himself post-injury.
This was a cute story, but it was extremely slow burn. Also, it was not really enemies to lovers, more of a misinterpreted dislike of one another. However, their romance was cute and I liked their story! The tension was extremely real and I loved it! Jib was so precious, and I think it was a perfect addition. The sailing aspect of the story was so cool as well, as that isn’t something I have read a lot about, especially in a romance book.
This was a clean romance if anyone is wondering, but it doesn’t lack romance and pining. I’m also appreciative of the fact that there is no stupidly placed third act-conflict or breakup!
I wish we learned a little bit more about Wyatt’s life. I also wish that we got to see more of Josie’s relationship with her family.
This is my first book by Emma St. Clair, and I don’t think it will be my last! Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the complementary digital ARC of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a story about Josie and Wyatt. Josie is a school nurse, who gets sent to encourage Wyatt, an injured hockey player, to take care of himself post-injury.
This was a cute story, but it was extremely slow burn. Also, it was not really enemies to lovers, more of a misinterpreted dislike of one another. However, their romance was cute and I liked their story! The tension was extremely real and I loved it! Jib was so precious, and I think it was a perfect addition. The sailing aspect of the story was so cool as well, as that isn’t something I have read a lot about, especially in a romance book.
This was a clean romance if anyone is wondering, but it doesn’t lack romance and pining. I’m also appreciative of the fact that there is no stupidly placed third act-conflict or breakup!
I wish we learned a little bit more about Wyatt’s life. I also wish that we got to see more of Josie’s relationship with her family.
This is my first book by Emma St. Clair, and I don’t think it will be my last! Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the complementary digital ARC of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
September 2, 2025
Grumpy/sunshine contemporary romance with so much pining and a long-standing, simmering tension between the two MCs? YES, YES, YES! If All Else Sails started off SO GOOD, and I thought I had a winner on my hands. However, the ending just dragged on forever, and I'll share my thoughts on that later.
I was so, so pleasantly surprised by If All Else Sails in the beginning. It was the perfect read to kick off my beach vacation, and I was grinning from ear to ear. The energy, the lightheartedness... I was here for it. I love a disgruntled, gorgeous, injured man who needs mending, and the female MC was so spunky and vivacious. The aspect with their complicated relationships with their families felt very real and well done, and I liked how it was all woven together.
Here is where my issues lie: I was VERY nervous as the publisher for this book was a Christian imprint, and though there is no religious content (which I'm very happy about, personally), I feel like the author didn't know where to go with their relationship once they basically got together. There was time wasted and the two waffling about when we all know they are just... done fighting. There is a bit of sexual tension and then things just poof out. I know this is a totally clean romance, but I think they could have still had a closed door or fade to black scene. I don't know if the author is trying to imply that they don't consummate the relationship until after they are married or something, but the last 20% of the book didn't have the lightheartedness of the beginning of the book and it didn't seem to have anywhere to go with them as a couple.
I think the book was a great read for someone who wants a totally clean romance, but I think the author could have taken that funny energy to the end or just wrapped it up sooner.
*copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram
I was so, so pleasantly surprised by If All Else Sails in the beginning. It was the perfect read to kick off my beach vacation, and I was grinning from ear to ear. The energy, the lightheartedness... I was here for it. I love a disgruntled, gorgeous, injured man who needs mending, and the female MC was so spunky and vivacious. The aspect with their complicated relationships with their families felt very real and well done, and I liked how it was all woven together.
Here is where my issues lie: I was VERY nervous as the publisher for this book was a Christian imprint, and though there is no religious content (which I'm very happy about, personally), I feel like the author didn't know where to go with their relationship once they basically got together. There was time wasted and the two waffling about when we all know they are just... done fighting. There is a bit of sexual tension and then things just poof out. I know this is a totally clean romance, but I think they could have still had a closed door or fade to black scene. I don't know if the author is trying to imply that they don't consummate the relationship until after they are married or something, but the last 20% of the book didn't have the lightheartedness of the beginning of the book and it didn't seem to have anywhere to go with them as a couple.
I think the book was a great read for someone who wants a totally clean romance, but I think the author could have taken that funny energy to the end or just wrapped it up sooner.
*copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram
June 24, 2025
After successively reading a couple of books with heavier themes, this listen was exactly what I needed. The audio narrators were both phenomenal. I honestly think they made this book even better by the way their voices brought to life the characters.
Funny and lighthearted, I laughed out loud or chuckled to myself multiple times as I listened. This is a dual POV with a sunshiny female lead (Josie) who is tricked into taking care of her brother's best friend (Wyatt), a grumpy injured hockey player. Little does she know said hockey player has been secretly interested in her for years but respectfully keeping his distance. I loved Wyatt's patience and gentleness with Josie, the mutual support and cheering on of one another, and the setting of a sailboat trip down the intercoastal highway. How cool!
This book is published by Thomas Nelson, a leading publisher of Christian books. I have read a few recent releases from TN and I have been surprised by the increasing amount of suggestive dialogue & innuendo to sexual content that they contain. There is nothing explicit & it may be perceived 'clean' by society's standards, but I think it's misleading for Christians who are called to a set-apart holiness. I have also been disappointed by the absence of any clear faith content or gospel themes in these recent releases.
😇: Christian publisher (ThomasNelson); no faith activity nor any clear religious themes
🤐: no language
😍: sweet kisses, a high amount of visual ogling, suggestive dialogue, and innuendo
Funny and lighthearted, I laughed out loud or chuckled to myself multiple times as I listened. This is a dual POV with a sunshiny female lead (Josie) who is tricked into taking care of her brother's best friend (Wyatt), a grumpy injured hockey player. Little does she know said hockey player has been secretly interested in her for years but respectfully keeping his distance. I loved Wyatt's patience and gentleness with Josie, the mutual support and cheering on of one another, and the setting of a sailboat trip down the intercoastal highway. How cool!
This book is published by Thomas Nelson, a leading publisher of Christian books. I have read a few recent releases from TN and I have been surprised by the increasing amount of suggestive dialogue & innuendo to sexual content that they contain. There is nothing explicit & it may be perceived 'clean' by society's standards, but I think it's misleading for Christians who are called to a set-apart holiness. I have also been disappointed by the absence of any clear faith content or gospel themes in these recent releases.
😇: Christian publisher (ThomasNelson); no faith activity nor any clear religious themes
🤐: no language
😍: sweet kisses, a high amount of visual ogling, suggestive dialogue, and innuendo
July 17, 2025
Ugh, I wanted to love this.
Gorgeous cover? Check. Enemies-to-lovers with a grumpy hockey player? Check. An amazing romcom author? Double check. But the opening completely threw me.
False arrest. No apology. Heatstroke in a police car. And somehow it’s all brushed off like no big deal?? It made it really hard to root for the romance when the setup felt so wrong.
The setting had promise, and it’s a closed-door romance (yay!), but I found myself skimming the second half. Just… not for me this time.
Gorgeous cover? Check. Enemies-to-lovers with a grumpy hockey player? Check. An amazing romcom author? Double check. But the opening completely threw me.
False arrest. No apology. Heatstroke in a police car. And somehow it’s all brushed off like no big deal?? It made it really hard to root for the romance when the setup felt so wrong.
The setting had promise, and it’s a closed-door romance (yay!), but I found myself skimming the second half. Just… not for me this time.
July 21, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction and author Emma St.Clair, for providing me with the eARC of “If all Else Sails”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: August 5th, 2025
3.5 stars!
You may enjoy if you like:
- Enemies to lovers
- Athlete romance
- Summer romance
- Forced proximity
- Slow burn
This story focuses on Josie and Wyatt.
Josie is a school nurse, whose brother has been tricked into taking care of an injured Hockey player.
The problem, that player turns out to be Wyatt- her brothers’ best friend and her long time enemy.
Josie hates Wyatt, and Wyatt hates her (or so she thinks).
Josie agrees to stay and take care of Wyatt, with the promise of a big payout.
She eventually gets roped into going on an important sailing trip that Wyatt had planned before his injury.
No problem. Just a few weeks stuck on a small boat with the man she can’t stand. Until she starts to realize she may actually want to be stuck with him.
I am somewhat conflicted on how to review this book.
There were some parts that I really liked! Just really cute and wholesome moments.
I will say I had a bit of trouble getting into it though, and I was over the 60% mark when I started to really feel any sort of emotion/attachment to the characters or their stories.
I will start with what I liked about it.
One of those things was how gentle, understanding, and slow that Wyatt was being with Josie- especially after she told her story about why she feels uncomfortable around athletes.
This was such a feel-good moment for me.
Josie making herself vulnerable for the first time, and him meeting her with such care and respect. Bravo.
I also loved Wyatt’s little surprise gifts to Josie.
Everyone loves a person that listens!
Him taking the time to pay attention to her interests, wants and needs, and then providing?
Good. Yes. Thank you.
He has a very “gentle giant” persona, despite being a little grumpy at times. I think that is such a fun trope.
Now, what I didn’t love.
Honestly, it is hard to pinpoint what exactly was keeping me from getting into the story.
It may have been the fact that this is very slow burn.
Like, they do not even kiss until the book is almost over. Perhaps I just needed a little more romance from a romance book.
I also found the characters to be a bit dry at the beginning of the story.
There weren’t a lot of interesting happenings, and I kind of felt like I was reading about someone’s normal day-to-day life.
I think some people might be into this, It just didn’t always hold my attention.
Overall, this is not an unenjoyable book. I found myself much more into it during the second half.
I think that it is a cute, wholesome summer read! There are just a few things that I think could have used some improvement.
Publication date: August 5th, 2025
3.5 stars!
You may enjoy if you like:
- Enemies to lovers
- Athlete romance
- Summer romance
- Forced proximity
- Slow burn
This story focuses on Josie and Wyatt.
Josie is a school nurse, whose brother has been tricked into taking care of an injured Hockey player.
The problem, that player turns out to be Wyatt- her brothers’ best friend and her long time enemy.
Josie hates Wyatt, and Wyatt hates her (or so she thinks).
Josie agrees to stay and take care of Wyatt, with the promise of a big payout.
She eventually gets roped into going on an important sailing trip that Wyatt had planned before his injury.
No problem. Just a few weeks stuck on a small boat with the man she can’t stand. Until she starts to realize she may actually want to be stuck with him.
I am somewhat conflicted on how to review this book.
There were some parts that I really liked! Just really cute and wholesome moments.
I will say I had a bit of trouble getting into it though, and I was over the 60% mark when I started to really feel any sort of emotion/attachment to the characters or their stories.
I will start with what I liked about it.
One of those things was how gentle, understanding, and slow that Wyatt was being with Josie- especially after she told her story about why she feels uncomfortable around athletes.
This was such a feel-good moment for me.
Josie making herself vulnerable for the first time, and him meeting her with such care and respect. Bravo.
I also loved Wyatt’s little surprise gifts to Josie.
Everyone loves a person that listens!
Him taking the time to pay attention to her interests, wants and needs, and then providing?
Good. Yes. Thank you.
He has a very “gentle giant” persona, despite being a little grumpy at times. I think that is such a fun trope.
Now, what I didn’t love.
Honestly, it is hard to pinpoint what exactly was keeping me from getting into the story.
It may have been the fact that this is very slow burn.
Like, they do not even kiss until the book is almost over. Perhaps I just needed a little more romance from a romance book.
I also found the characters to be a bit dry at the beginning of the story.
There weren’t a lot of interesting happenings, and I kind of felt like I was reading about someone’s normal day-to-day life.
I think some people might be into this, It just didn’t always hold my attention.
Overall, this is not an unenjoyable book. I found myself much more into it during the second half.
I think that it is a cute, wholesome summer read! There are just a few things that I think could have used some improvement.
August 15, 2025
4.5/5⭐️
This was such a fun one from Emma and my favorite book of hers I’ve read so far!
If you are looking for a perfect summer read that is closed door then consider this one! It’s a slow burn, but I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. It made me laugh, but still had some very serious moments and depth that added to the complexity of the characters. It’s dual POV, but I do wish we had seen a bit more from Wyatt’s POV. I appreciated a hockey player romance in the off season. It was refreshing and I loved the cameos from a few Appies players!
⛵️a cute dog
⛵️sailing
⛵️a grumpy MMC
⛵️fun banter
⛵️kissing only
Content:
🤬: none
🔥: kissing only
This was such a fun one from Emma and my favorite book of hers I’ve read so far!
If you are looking for a perfect summer read that is closed door then consider this one! It’s a slow burn, but I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. It made me laugh, but still had some very serious moments and depth that added to the complexity of the characters. It’s dual POV, but I do wish we had seen a bit more from Wyatt’s POV. I appreciated a hockey player romance in the off season. It was refreshing and I loved the cameos from a few Appies players!
⛵️a cute dog
⛵️sailing
⛵️a grumpy MMC
⛵️fun banter
⛵️kissing only
Content:
🤬: none
🔥: kissing only
August 10, 2025
you had me at Emma St Clair… The queen came and she delivered 😍 the Appies have my whole heart 🫶🫶
July 20, 2025
This was such a sweet and wholesome good time. I loved the banter and tension between the two main characters. I also want to jump on a boat and go sailing immediately! The secret pining and then all of the barriers being broken down bit by bit for Josie to come to terms with how Wyatt really feels….SWOON! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance audio copy of this sweet book!
August 4, 2025
A sweet HEA romance with a grumpy/sunshine trope. The audiobook was a fun listen. Recommended for a light 💡 romance.
June 30, 2025
If All Else Sails is a perfect summer read! This is my 4th book by Emma St. Clair, and dare I say it may be my favorite of hers. Josie and Wyatt were such fun characters to follow. I really enjoyed their banter and seeing them overcome some personal struggles together. It was also a fun surprise to have a connection with the Appies series.
If you enjoy "enemies" to lovers, brother's best friend, forced proximity, and "he falls first" tropes then this is definitely the book for you. This is also a clean romance with no spice or language. There is a short mention of sexual assault (groping), so be mindful if that is a trigger for you.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, and Emma St. Clair for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
If you enjoy "enemies" to lovers, brother's best friend, forced proximity, and "he falls first" tropes then this is definitely the book for you. This is also a clean romance with no spice or language. There is a short mention of sexual assault (groping), so be mindful if that is a trigger for you.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, and Emma St. Clair for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
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