What do you think?
Rate this book
If All Else Sails
Not yet published
Expected 5 Aug 25In this enemies-to-lovers romance, school nurse Josie agrees to help her brother's best friend, hockey player Wyatt, recover from his knee injury . . . oh, and sail down the intercoastal waterway. What could go wrong?
When elementary school nurse Josie arrives to meet her brother for their not-quite-annual summer trip, instead of finding Jacob, she discovers she has been duped. Jacob can't take off work for a trip and instead is calling in a huge favor from Josie: helping his best friend recover from surgery. Wyatt is the perpetual grump, a famous hockey player Josie has never particularly liked, and a terrible patient. His foot is in bad shape, but nowhere near as bad as his surly attitude.
Begrudgingly, Josie agrees to stay for a week that becomes two. But when she finds out that Wyatt's injury ruined his plans to sail down the east coast on the Intracoastal Waterway, Josie surprises them both by agreeing to be his second set of hands.
Smooth sailing is nowhere to be found, and Wyatt is one cranky captain. With one disaster after another slowing their progress, Josie questions if they'll even 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 and perhaps herself as well.
When elementary school nurse Josie arrives to meet her brother for their not-quite-annual summer trip, instead of finding Jacob, she discovers she has been duped. Jacob can't take off work for a trip and instead is calling in a huge favor from Josie: helping his best friend recover from surgery. Wyatt is the perpetual grump, a famous hockey player Josie has never particularly liked, and a terrible patient. His foot is in bad shape, but nowhere near as bad as his surly attitude.
Begrudgingly, Josie agrees to stay for a week that becomes two. But when she finds out that Wyatt's injury ruined his plans to sail down the east coast on the Intracoastal Waterway, Josie surprises them both by agreeing to be his second set of hands.
Smooth sailing is nowhere to be found, and Wyatt is one cranky captain. With one disaster after another slowing their progress, Josie questions if they'll even 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 and perhaps herself as well.
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication August 5, 2025
1,254 people want to read
About the author
Emma St. Clair
60books3,256followersEmma 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:
You can follow the day-to-day on instagram @kikimojo.
Want a free novella? Grab Upping the Ante here:
You can follow the day-to-day on instagram @kikimojo.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 281 reviews
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.
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
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
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!
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! 🌸😊
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 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!!!
April 12, 2025
Grumpy MMC and the one bed trope will forever be my weakness. This was such a cute romance filled with banter and funny moments, although a little too slow burn for me.
Josie thinks she's going on her annual trip with her brother, instead she finds herself taking care of a grumpy, injured hockey player, who also happens to be her brother's best friend.
She thinks he hates her, he can't keep himself from telling the wrong thing, but the more time they spend together, the more she sees of Wyatt and sparks begin to fly. When she agrees to help him go on a sailing trip he had planned before he got injured, the tension might just take them overboard.
The beginning was truly an amazing start to this story. I loved it.
P. S. Jib was an absolutely adorable addition.
*Thank you to Netgalley and to Thomas Nelson Fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*
Josie thinks she's going on her annual trip with her brother, instead she finds herself taking care of a grumpy, injured hockey player, who also happens to be her brother's best friend.
She thinks he hates her, he can't keep himself from telling the wrong thing, but the more time they spend together, the more she sees of Wyatt and sparks begin to fly. When she agrees to help him go on a sailing trip he had planned before he got injured, the tension might just take them overboard.
The beginning was truly an amazing start to this story. I loved it.
P. S. Jib was an absolutely adorable addition.
*Thank you to Netgalley and to Thomas Nelson Fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*
March 5, 2025
One of my favorite Emma St Clair books. Just what I was in the mood for.
A great summer romcom for those looking for something funny, heartwarming, and closed door.
4.5 stars.
A great summer romcom for those looking for something funny, heartwarming, and closed door.
4.5 stars.
February 15, 2025
What a fun book! I love Emma St. Clair’s writing style. All the delicious wit and banter and none of the spice. That’s not to say there’s no tension or swoon. Just the perfect combination.
My favorite quote was �
“But perhaps love is being the exact right size of drill bit to tighten the other person’s very specific loose screws.� Haha! But so many good lines!
I loved the sassiness Josie exhibited through all her misfortunate experiences, like being trapped in the back of a cop car in the sweltering heat with no A/C, pigs, etc. she was a great FMC.
Wyatt was the perfect grump, unintentionally throwing out insults when he meant the opposite. Yet he was so understanding, caring and patient with Josie.
If you’re looking for entertainment with sweet slow burn romance this is it.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. All thoughts are my own.
My favorite quote was �
“But perhaps love is being the exact right size of drill bit to tighten the other person’s very specific loose screws.� Haha! But so many good lines!
I loved the sassiness Josie exhibited through all her misfortunate experiences, like being trapped in the back of a cop car in the sweltering heat with no A/C, pigs, etc. she was a great FMC.
Wyatt was the perfect grump, unintentionally throwing out insults when he meant the opposite. Yet he was so understanding, caring and patient with Josie.
If you’re looking for entertainment with sweet slow burn romance this is it.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. All thoughts are my own.
April 2, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for allowing me to review this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
If you’re in the mood for an adorable beach read look no further than If All Else Sails. Josie expects to meet her brother Jacob for a summer trip only to find his best friend Wyatt instead. Wyatt is a total grump who needs someone to help him out after a foot injury and Jacob couldn’t get off work to do it. Only problem is Wyatt hates her. Or does he�.But she still agrees to help out. One week becomes two becomes a sailing trip of struggles. This book had me giggling constantly. It was just so sweet you can’t help but love it.
If you’re in the mood for an adorable beach read look no further than If All Else Sails. Josie expects to meet her brother Jacob for a summer trip only to find his best friend Wyatt instead. Wyatt is a total grump who needs someone to help him out after a foot injury and Jacob couldn’t get off work to do it. Only problem is Wyatt hates her. Or does he�.But she still agrees to help out. One week becomes two becomes a sailing trip of struggles. This book had me giggling constantly. It was just so sweet you can’t help but love it.
February 16, 2025
Thank you, Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing, for an E-Arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Emma St.Clair is an author that I read automatically. I was so excited for this new book from her and it was such a fun and sweet romance story. It has brother friend, forced proximity, enemies to lovers; he falls first tropes all in one great story. Wyatt got hurt and wasn't able to play hockey for a while, Josie is tricked into going and helping her brother's friend, who she doesn't like, while he is injured. While being forced to spend the summer together, they begin to bond over sailing. Wyatt was set to go on a sailing trip before he got hurt, and the only way he can go now is if Josie comes with him. Over the summer, they both begin to have a great friendship and relationship. It was a sweet romance.
#IfAllElseSails #Netgalley
#IfAllElseSails #Netgalley
Read
February 25, 2025This book is full of humor. From a case of mistaken identity, to "zombie" pigs that are so big one could supply enough bacon for a Bacon Lover's Festival, to poison oak and a dog named Jab Jabberwoky, If All Else Sails kept me laughing.
There are some touching themes as well. Just because someone doesn't smile much doesn't mean they're angry, and just because you grow up doesn't mean you need to lose every aspect that makes you unique (like nail polish. If you know, you know.) Family is also an important theme, as is the slow healing from grief.
Josie and Wyatt were enjoyable main characters. Wyatt was my favorite of the two, but I identified with Josie as well...like in the instance of book. Books are life, my friends. I really liked how Wyatt wasn't a player and how determined Josie was to help him, after she recovered from an incident that involved being locked in the back of a police car.
I have absolutely zero cares for anything to do with sailing and the ocean, but St. Clair made it all sound so nice that I actually wanted to visit and maybe sail a bit myself.
The continued emphasis on Wyatt's abs was not to my preference. I don't mind characters noticing each other's appearance, but mentioning that a fellow coworker licked a picture of Wyatt's abs did not thrill me.
Content Warning: mentions of an attempted sexual assault, a secondary character is a player, and the loss of a loved one.
If All Else Sails contains a boatload of humor (pun intended), a dog so cute you'll want to take her home (and that's coming from someone who's allergic to dogs), a fun premise, and heartfelt themes.
*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in conjunction with NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
There are some touching themes as well. Just because someone doesn't smile much doesn't mean they're angry, and just because you grow up doesn't mean you need to lose every aspect that makes you unique (like nail polish. If you know, you know.) Family is also an important theme, as is the slow healing from grief.
Josie and Wyatt were enjoyable main characters. Wyatt was my favorite of the two, but I identified with Josie as well...like in the instance of book. Books are life, my friends. I really liked how Wyatt wasn't a player and how determined Josie was to help him, after she recovered from an incident that involved being locked in the back of a police car.
I have absolutely zero cares for anything to do with sailing and the ocean, but St. Clair made it all sound so nice that I actually wanted to visit and maybe sail a bit myself.
The continued emphasis on Wyatt's abs was not to my preference. I don't mind characters noticing each other's appearance, but mentioning that a fellow coworker licked a picture of Wyatt's abs did not thrill me.
Content Warning: mentions of an attempted sexual assault, a secondary character is a player, and the loss of a loved one.
If All Else Sails contains a boatload of humor (pun intended), a dog so cute you'll want to take her home (and that's coming from someone who's allergic to dogs), a fun premise, and heartfelt themes.
*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in conjunction with NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
April 30, 2025
I don’t even have the words to express how much I love and adore this book! I was giddy to discover that Wyatt (a former Appie) was the lead in this story and his meet-cute with Josie was utterly hilarious. I had both an ALC and an ARC and the narrators were fantastic!!!!
Wyatt is recovering from a hockey injury and Josie, a school nurse, is sent by her brother to care for him–in a m*rder cottage. This book is the perfect summer escape and it’s full of adventure, sailing, a cool whip container, Jib–the best-dressed dog ever, misconceptions, healing, swoony romance, and connection.
Emma St Clair is a favorite author of mine, as she never fails to incorporate a few unbelievable animal instances with her perfect combination of closed door spice, banter, humor, and emotion. The recipes of her books are everything that satisfies and satiates my love for this genre.
This is definitely a book I plan to re-read and has all the feels for an ideal summertime indulgence.
Content: mild romance; off-page vague talk of a near attack
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for the review copy. I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given*
Wyatt is recovering from a hockey injury and Josie, a school nurse, is sent by her brother to care for him–in a m*rder cottage. This book is the perfect summer escape and it’s full of adventure, sailing, a cool whip container, Jib–the best-dressed dog ever, misconceptions, healing, swoony romance, and connection.
Emma St Clair is a favorite author of mine, as she never fails to incorporate a few unbelievable animal instances with her perfect combination of closed door spice, banter, humor, and emotion. The recipes of her books are everything that satisfies and satiates my love for this genre.
This is definitely a book I plan to re-read and has all the feels for an ideal summertime indulgence.
Content: mild romance; off-page vague talk of a near attack
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for the review copy. I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given*
April 24, 2025
4 stars ⋆✴︎˚｡�
This book was so cute! Honestly it’s such a good summery beach read, it has everyone’s favourite tropes while also tackling some heavier topics like s.a. and grief while still remaining lighthearted and upbeat.
I really appreciated that their romance felt genuine as it grew over their time together, I loved that it wasn’t rushed and that there was no weird third act miscommunication or breakup for no reason.
The narrators Andi Arndt & Patrick Zeller did a great job of bringing the story to life. I had to warm up to Patrick’s narrating style because he came on kind of strong but eventually it evened out.
This book was so cute! Honestly it’s such a good summery beach read, it has everyone’s favourite tropes while also tackling some heavier topics like s.a. and grief while still remaining lighthearted and upbeat.
I really appreciated that their romance felt genuine as it grew over their time together, I loved that it wasn’t rushed and that there was no weird third act miscommunication or breakup for no reason.
The narrators Andi Arndt & Patrick Zeller did a great job of bringing the story to life. I had to warm up to Patrick’s narrating style because he came on kind of strong but eventually it evened out.
May 2, 2025
What a cute and light-hearted story! Josie and Wyatt’s banter was hilarious, and I loved reading about how they came together. These two were definitely made for each other. Andi Arndt and Patrick Zeller do a wonderful job, narrating this story.
Tropes in this one:
Sailing
Enemies to lovers
Brother’s BF
Grumpy and sunshine
Hockey
Closed door romance
This book is a great “palate cleanser� style book, which is a book I read to clear away the fog of more heavy books. I enjoyed it and rate it 3.5 stars, rounded up!
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Audio for the ARC.
Tropes in this one:
Sailing
Enemies to lovers
Brother’s BF
Grumpy and sunshine
Hockey
Closed door romance
This book is a great “palate cleanser� style book, which is a book I read to clear away the fog of more heavy books. I enjoyed it and rate it 3.5 stars, rounded up!
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Audio for the ARC.
February 19, 2025
A really cute closed-door romance with a brother's best friend trope, not to mention the prettiest book cover. rtc
May 4, 2025
Loved it
Review to come
Review to come
April 22, 2025
I don't even really know what to say about this one. It wasn't the worst romance I have ever read but it didn't particularly stand out from the others either. The characters weren't anything to write home about but I found their trip and the blossoming of their friendship and relationship to be somewhat enjoyable. I was hoping to feel the tension between them, but I think that the book lacked showing us the chemistry between Josie and Wyatt. It's a fine reading but I probably won't think twice about this book.
February 18, 2025
If you like: brother’s best friend, slow-burn, clean romance,
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson fiction for the e-arc. I absolutely devoured this book in essentially one sitting.
What I loved
- Josie and Wyatt! Both were fully realised characters which made their thought processes, anxieties and hesitations easy to understand.
- the 70/30 Josie to Wyatt pov split. Wyatt’s pov = 🧑🍳�
- the sport romance element. I don’t really consider this a sports romance in the traditional sense. Wyatt’s career was obviously an integral element to the story but hockey itself really took a backseat to sailing ⛵️. If anything I wish there was a little more focus on the journey
Things to note:
- it is a slower romance than my go-tos, with a lot of internalised conflict mostly from Josie’s end. I thought it was handled really well in this book, but it does slow the pace down a bit in the last quarter
Overall I would recommend as a really lovely summer romance read ☀�
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson fiction for the e-arc. I absolutely devoured this book in essentially one sitting.
What I loved
- Josie and Wyatt! Both were fully realised characters which made their thought processes, anxieties and hesitations easy to understand.
- the 70/30 Josie to Wyatt pov split. Wyatt’s pov = 🧑🍳�
- the sport romance element. I don’t really consider this a sports romance in the traditional sense. Wyatt’s career was obviously an integral element to the story but hockey itself really took a backseat to sailing ⛵️. If anything I wish there was a little more focus on the journey
Things to note:
- it is a slower romance than my go-tos, with a lot of internalised conflict mostly from Josie’s end. I thought it was handled really well in this book, but it does slow the pace down a bit in the last quarter
Overall I would recommend as a really lovely summer romance read ☀�
March 11, 2025
4.5⭐️Obsessed with this cozy cottage/boat romance! I zoomed through it. I love when a book has dual first-person POVs. It adds such depth to the characters and their relationship. Josie being a school nurse was fun and relatable at times too! And there’s a dog! Sign me up.
Side note I love Josie and Wyatt’s names.
Huge thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the ARC!
Side note I love Josie and Wyatt’s names.
Huge thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the ARC!
March 1, 2025
I was really happy to get this ARC because I really loved the main story. This book seems to be an offshoot for.
I don’t know if it is a standalone in these characters aren’t gonna pop up anymore or if it’s a start of its own series .
Anyway, the MMC Wyatt, was a side character in the Appies series, and he disappeared about halfway throughout the season, saying that he got a contract with a NHL team.
So I love the idea that the author is gonna do a bunch of standalone’s for other side characters of the series or another series. You get so invested with their stories and sad when you never know what happens to them.
To the book itself -
The FMC Josie, is an elementary school, nurse and her brother, the son of their families’s solar system, is a professional sports agent. He was best friends with Wyatt, the MMC growing up.
Thanks to a little miscommunication trope/misunderstanding that never got fixed Josie has been under the impression for many a year that Wyatt hates her guts to the point of being disgusted. And when she shows up at his house thinking she’s about to have a fun summer adventure with her brother and instead she is arrested�. It’s all kind of downhill from there.
Which, brings us to poor foot in his mouth, Wyatt 😂😂😂😂
I think this man would benefit greatly from writing down his feelings and sticking to a plan when talking to people, but instead he seems to carry a proverbial shovel with him wherever he goes. On the rare occurrence he actually does open his mouth, he immediately starts digging.
So, he’s taken to just not talking.
For me, this book was kind of emotional to read because I grew up in Virginia, I’ve been to almost all of the places that were mentioned! Hell, I’ve been boating on the bay! It’s so funny because you rarely read books about the Hampton Roads area. It was great because I could literally picture every single part in my head.
I don’t know if it is a standalone in these characters aren’t gonna pop up anymore or if it’s a start of its own series .
Anyway, the MMC Wyatt, was a side character in the Appies series, and he disappeared about halfway throughout the season, saying that he got a contract with a NHL team.
So I love the idea that the author is gonna do a bunch of standalone’s for other side characters of the series or another series. You get so invested with their stories and sad when you never know what happens to them.
To the book itself -
The FMC Josie, is an elementary school, nurse and her brother, the son of their families’s solar system, is a professional sports agent. He was best friends with Wyatt, the MMC growing up.
Thanks to a little miscommunication trope/misunderstanding that never got fixed Josie has been under the impression for many a year that Wyatt hates her guts to the point of being disgusted. And when she shows up at his house thinking she’s about to have a fun summer adventure with her brother and instead she is arrested�. It’s all kind of downhill from there.
Which, brings us to poor foot in his mouth, Wyatt 😂😂😂😂
I think this man would benefit greatly from writing down his feelings and sticking to a plan when talking to people, but instead he seems to carry a proverbial shovel with him wherever he goes. On the rare occurrence he actually does open his mouth, he immediately starts digging.
So, he’s taken to just not talking.
For me, this book was kind of emotional to read because I grew up in Virginia, I’ve been to almost all of the places that were mentioned! Hell, I’ve been boating on the bay! It’s so funny because you rarely read books about the Hampton Roads area. It was great because I could literally picture every single part in my head.
April 24, 2025
Thank you to Emma St. Clair for this physical arc!
Oh my goodness, I finished this arc in 2 days because I couldn’t stop! It. Was. Amazing!! Seriously, I looovvee Emma St. Clair, but this is my new favorite. It was so freaking swoon-worthy! I loved Wyatt and Josie so much! Separately, and together. Wyatt, bless his heart, is dealing with a lot. His injury, on top of losing his beloved uncle he spent his summers with, had him isolating himself, living in filth, and literally clinically depressed. Josie, who never dates because of an encounter she had in her past with r4pe, is in denial about needing her own sort of therapy.
These two have a history of supposedly hating each other. Wyatt is her brother’s best friend that she’s known and despised since she was younger. But he’s NEVER despised her. Only had trouble communicating due to a huge misunderstanding when they were younger and in college.
Anyway, they come together when Josie’s brother sets both of them up for Josie to help Wyatt because he’s worried about both of them and knows they’ll be good for each other. And they are. Josie agrees to help Wyatt at first because her brother will pay her an outrageous paycheck for doing it. But soon, it becomes because she actually wants to. She can’t help being crazy attracted to him, and he can’t help being crazy attracted to her � even if neither of them WANT to be at first.
I’ll stop with the plot, because I don’t wanna spoil anything, but this book gave me ALL the feels! It was brilliantly written, the slow burn, the tension, and the HEALING with both of them was just beautiful. I loved every minute of it!
5 stars all around!
Oh my goodness, I finished this arc in 2 days because I couldn’t stop! It. Was. Amazing!! Seriously, I looovvee Emma St. Clair, but this is my new favorite. It was so freaking swoon-worthy! I loved Wyatt and Josie so much! Separately, and together. Wyatt, bless his heart, is dealing with a lot. His injury, on top of losing his beloved uncle he spent his summers with, had him isolating himself, living in filth, and literally clinically depressed. Josie, who never dates because of an encounter she had in her past with r4pe, is in denial about needing her own sort of therapy.
These two have a history of supposedly hating each other. Wyatt is her brother’s best friend that she’s known and despised since she was younger. But he’s NEVER despised her. Only had trouble communicating due to a huge misunderstanding when they were younger and in college.
Anyway, they come together when Josie’s brother sets both of them up for Josie to help Wyatt because he’s worried about both of them and knows they’ll be good for each other. And they are. Josie agrees to help Wyatt at first because her brother will pay her an outrageous paycheck for doing it. But soon, it becomes because she actually wants to. She can’t help being crazy attracted to him, and he can’t help being crazy attracted to her � even if neither of them WANT to be at first.
I’ll stop with the plot, because I don’t wanna spoil anything, but this book gave me ALL the feels! It was brilliantly written, the slow burn, the tension, and the HEALING with both of them was just beautiful. I loved every minute of it!
5 stars all around!
April 26, 2025
While not part of any series, If All Else Sails does feature Wyatt, a former Appies player and we see brief appearances from a few other teammates. While you can absolutely enjoy this book without having read that series, it's definitely a fun bonus for those of us who have.
When I pick up a book by Emma St. Clair, there are a few things that I have learned to expect:
-fantastic chemistry and banter
-laugh out loud moments that will keep me smiling
-loveable characters
-and animal shenanigans... of course!
This one did not disappoint on any of those fronts. This story drew me in right away with quite the memorable opening! I found myself laughing right from the start with this one... while the romance was a bit of a slower build, I found myself enjoying every minute with these two as they learn that their initial perceptions of one another might be a little off. The more we got to know them, the more I found myself rooting for them. With some of my favorite tropes (brother's best friend, forced proximity, etc) plus the unique sailing aspect, there was a lot to love with this one!
If All Else Sails is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language. While overall a lighthearted and fun romcom, there is a brief mention of sexual assault/attempted sexual assault, that I thought was handled in such a genuine way. The way the character downplayed her experience is something that I think so many women can related to all too well.
**ARC received via Netgalley for consideration. All opinions are my own.
When I pick up a book by Emma St. Clair, there are a few things that I have learned to expect:
-fantastic chemistry and banter
-laugh out loud moments that will keep me smiling
-loveable characters
-and animal shenanigans... of course!
This one did not disappoint on any of those fronts. This story drew me in right away with quite the memorable opening! I found myself laughing right from the start with this one... while the romance was a bit of a slower build, I found myself enjoying every minute with these two as they learn that their initial perceptions of one another might be a little off. The more we got to know them, the more I found myself rooting for them. With some of my favorite tropes (brother's best friend, forced proximity, etc) plus the unique sailing aspect, there was a lot to love with this one!
If All Else Sails is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language. While overall a lighthearted and fun romcom, there is a brief mention of sexual assault/attempted sexual assault, that I thought was handled in such a genuine way. The way the character downplayed her experience is something that I think so many women can related to all too well.
**ARC received via Netgalley for consideration. All opinions are my own.
May 2, 2025
If you’re in the mood for an easy read that look no further than If All Else Sails.
Josie expects to meet her brother Jacob for a summer trip something they always do, only to find his best friend Wyatt instead.
Wyatt is a total grump not definitely not someone Josie would want to spend time with if she had the option, Wyatt needs someone to help him out after a foot injury from hockey and Jacob (Josie's brother) couldn’t get off work to do it, did I mention Josie is an elementary nurse.
Only problem is Wyatt hates her, but Josie agrees to help out anyway.
One week becomes two, then it becomes sailing trip of challenges. The two end becoming closer with truths they have no option to admit.
It was sweet you can’t help but love it, it was a close door romance so no spice, which I know some people prefer.
Me on the other hand I do like a little something, I feel it makes the characters more relatable and helps fuse the chemistry of characters. This is only my opinion thought I know a bit of spice isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
This didn’t take away from the booked thought and was still enjoyable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for allowing me to review this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Josie expects to meet her brother Jacob for a summer trip something they always do, only to find his best friend Wyatt instead.
Wyatt is a total grump not definitely not someone Josie would want to spend time with if she had the option, Wyatt needs someone to help him out after a foot injury from hockey and Jacob (Josie's brother) couldn’t get off work to do it, did I mention Josie is an elementary nurse.
Only problem is Wyatt hates her, but Josie agrees to help out anyway.
One week becomes two, then it becomes sailing trip of challenges. The two end becoming closer with truths they have no option to admit.
It was sweet you can’t help but love it, it was a close door romance so no spice, which I know some people prefer.
Me on the other hand I do like a little something, I feel it makes the characters more relatable and helps fuse the chemistry of characters. This is only my opinion thought I know a bit of spice isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
This didn’t take away from the booked thought and was still enjoyable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for allowing me to review this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
March 12, 2025
3,75 � / 0🌶�
If All Else Sails is a cute and lighthearted romcom starring Josie and Wyatt, the hockey superstar (also the brother's best friend). Josie travels to an unknown location to meet her brother for their annual summer trip, only to discover a brooding, injured Wyatt at arrival. Josie then discovers that her brother tricked her into helping Wyatt recover from his injury.
I really enjoyed the writing and the storyline. The relationship really took time to grow and felt realistic. The tension was great towards the end but I just wished we had a bit more action. I felt like we got a lot of inner dialogues to explain their thoughts and feelings but they were very rarely acting on it. Overall enjoyed the story and the characters! I had a great time.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an ARC of this book 🫶🏽
If All Else Sails is a cute and lighthearted romcom starring Josie and Wyatt, the hockey superstar (also the brother's best friend). Josie travels to an unknown location to meet her brother for their annual summer trip, only to discover a brooding, injured Wyatt at arrival. Josie then discovers that her brother tricked her into helping Wyatt recover from his injury.
I really enjoyed the writing and the storyline. The relationship really took time to grow and felt realistic. The tension was great towards the end but I just wished we had a bit more action. I felt like we got a lot of inner dialogues to explain their thoughts and feelings but they were very rarely acting on it. Overall enjoyed the story and the characters! I had a great time.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an ARC of this book 🫶🏽
February 7, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
•𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰�
{𝑰𝒇 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝑬𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝑺𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒔}
“𝚃𝚑� 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚊𝚙𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗.�
⛵️ Release Date: August 5, 2025 ⛵️
.
.
.
In all honesty, this book was a bit of a disappointment. I was really hoping for more than just your everyday generic rom-com, but sadly, I didn’t feel like it was anything special. So while it was full of comedy and romance, it was lacking that extra spark that makes an ordinary book extraordinary.
I will say, the beginning was fabulous! I thought it was hilarious the way everything played out, but then the book started to feel a bit repetitive and draggy. Every chapter had something either funny, romantic, or touching pertaining to the chapter title, so as soon as you read the title, you knew what to expect. I’d rather go into a chapter blind and be pleasantly surprised by what takes place.
I struggled to feel any real chemistry between Wyatt and Josie. Yes, they were clearly into each other, but the ✨sparks� were lacking. I’m probably just too picky, but that’s what I get for reading an insane amount of romcoms 🙈
Honestly, this book should be a sitcom because then at least somebody would be laughing at the “funny� moments because I certainly wasn’t 😬 I wouldn’t say this book was bad by any means; it simply wasn’t for me. So you should definitely give it a read to decide for yourself what you think of it!
Top Moments:
⚓️ Murder cottage
⚓️ Being detained by cops
⚓️ Wyatt fever-flirting
⚓️ Mutant pigs
⚓️ Poison oak reaction
⚓️ Impromptu mother/daughter shopping spree
⚓️ The Cool Whip container
⚓️ Princess JibJabberwocky
⚓️ Jib’s outfits
⚓️ Boat shoes
⚓️ The storm
.
.
.
I received a complimentary arc from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction. All opinions are purely my own.
•𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰�
{𝑰𝒇 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝑬𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝑺𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒔}
“𝚃𝚑� 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚊𝚙𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗.�
⛵️ Release Date: August 5, 2025 ⛵️
.
.
.
In all honesty, this book was a bit of a disappointment. I was really hoping for more than just your everyday generic rom-com, but sadly, I didn’t feel like it was anything special. So while it was full of comedy and romance, it was lacking that extra spark that makes an ordinary book extraordinary.
I will say, the beginning was fabulous! I thought it was hilarious the way everything played out, but then the book started to feel a bit repetitive and draggy. Every chapter had something either funny, romantic, or touching pertaining to the chapter title, so as soon as you read the title, you knew what to expect. I’d rather go into a chapter blind and be pleasantly surprised by what takes place.
I struggled to feel any real chemistry between Wyatt and Josie. Yes, they were clearly into each other, but the ✨sparks� were lacking. I’m probably just too picky, but that’s what I get for reading an insane amount of romcoms 🙈
Honestly, this book should be a sitcom because then at least somebody would be laughing at the “funny� moments because I certainly wasn’t 😬 I wouldn’t say this book was bad by any means; it simply wasn’t for me. So you should definitely give it a read to decide for yourself what you think of it!
Top Moments:
⚓️ Murder cottage
⚓️ Being detained by cops
⚓️ Wyatt fever-flirting
⚓️ Mutant pigs
⚓️ Poison oak reaction
⚓️ Impromptu mother/daughter shopping spree
⚓️ The Cool Whip container
⚓️ Princess JibJabberwocky
⚓️ Jib’s outfits
⚓️ Boat shoes
⚓️ The storm
.
.
.
I received a complimentary arc from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction. All opinions are purely my own.
April 26, 2025
4.5⭐️
dear god, it’s me again..i want a Wyatt in my life✍�
Brother’s best friend, school nurse x injured hockey player, close proximity, one bed.. all tropes that had me SAT🧎🏻♀️clean romance too!
oh my days and adding the dog to their slow burn romance story was just brilliant!!
I was cracking up at the outfits/costumes Josie was dressing her in as they kept getting more and more unhinged, the matching red bikini was the cherry on top🤣
I think fans of Sarah Adams� love in Rome would eat this book up too! It gave me the same cozy feels.
PS. This was NOT an enemies to lovers like advertised, more like grumpy x sunshine. But it was grumpy sunshine done amazingly.
dear god, it’s me again..i want a Wyatt in my life✍�
Brother’s best friend, school nurse x injured hockey player, close proximity, one bed.. all tropes that had me SAT🧎🏻♀️clean romance too!
oh my days and adding the dog to their slow burn romance story was just brilliant!!
I was cracking up at the outfits/costumes Josie was dressing her in as they kept getting more and more unhinged, the matching red bikini was the cherry on top🤣
I think fans of Sarah Adams� love in Rome would eat this book up too! It gave me the same cozy feels.
PS. This was NOT an enemies to lovers like advertised, more like grumpy x sunshine. But it was grumpy sunshine done amazingly.
March 26, 2025
A great closed door romance with the perfect amount of slow burn and chemistry!
This was such a cute romcom! Josie is a extremely relatable character and I loved the banter between her and Wyatt. Right from the beginning you could tell Wyatt is a cinnamon roll hiding under his grumpy exterior. There were times I was laughing out loud and then swooning. I love how even though this is a romcom the author touched on deeper themes with ease and in a very relatable way. There was great character growth while their love story was growing simultaneously as well.
If your a fan of any of the the following tropes I would highly recommend�.Enemies to lovers, Hockey Player, Brothers Best Friend, Grumpy Sunshine, he fell first and harder & forced proximity. Or If your looking for a swoony, cozy uplifting romance you will love this book!
Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was such a cute romcom! Josie is a extremely relatable character and I loved the banter between her and Wyatt. Right from the beginning you could tell Wyatt is a cinnamon roll hiding under his grumpy exterior. There were times I was laughing out loud and then swooning. I love how even though this is a romcom the author touched on deeper themes with ease and in a very relatable way. There was great character growth while their love story was growing simultaneously as well.
If your a fan of any of the the following tropes I would highly recommend�.Enemies to lovers, Hockey Player, Brothers Best Friend, Grumpy Sunshine, he fell first and harder & forced proximity. Or If your looking for a swoony, cozy uplifting romance you will love this book!
Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
February 22, 2025
Thank you Net Galley for the copy!!
Oh Emma, you’ve really done it this time! 😍😍
I loved this book!! It had such wonderful character development with just the right amount of sass and swoony moments. I loved the hilarious start to this book and how the story evolved! The only thing I don’t like is that it’s over, and now I have a book hangover!! ❤️
Oh Emma, you’ve really done it this time! 😍😍
I loved this book!! It had such wonderful character development with just the right amount of sass and swoony moments. I loved the hilarious start to this book and how the story evolved! The only thing I don’t like is that it’s over, and now I have a book hangover!! ❤️
Displaying 1 - 30 of 281 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.