LOVE LOVE LOVE! This was the perfect summer, Greek holiday-based rom-com. Some of the plot was predictable, but plot twists are not what you read a rom-com for. This was swoony, funny and just a really uplifting read. I liked that there wasn't the classic lengthy third-act-break-up, and the miscommunication wasn't painful like a lot of other romance novels. This was my first book by Laura Jane Williams and it's definitely made me want to read more!

PS I would 100% read a book about Alex, he deserves the world xxxxx

(Or maybe Flo's parents' story?)

I hadn’t heard of this author, but who doesn’t like an ‘enemies to lovers’ novel? I am glad I took the chance. It was charming, witty, and with just enough twists to keep you guessing.

Florence Greenberg has grown up with 2 wonderful big brothers and amazing parents, and she realises how lucky she is having a close-knit family. They get together for Christmas, holidays and whenever they can, with her oldest brother’s wife too. However, since last Christmas Flo has been avoiding them all as she can’t bear to be in the same place as her brother’s best friend Jamie. Since Jamie’s parents passed away, he had been considered another member of the family and joined them whenever possible, however Jamie had led her on and then broke up with her in the worst way, and then disappeared. Flo hated him, and he didn’t seem to keen on her either – but on a small family holiday it’s quite hard to keep away.

This is definitely a novel to be read on a holiday, sitting by the pool. Not taxing, but a lovely story, and will keep you engrossed until the end.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6669842077
https://maddybooksblog.blogspot.com/2024/07/enemies-to-lovers-by-laura-jane.html

I really had such a good time diving into this book. Maybe it was a case of right book at the right time but the holiday vibes were spot on. Firstly, this book was based in Greece, which is where I’m going on holiday in less than two weeks. The author painted such a vivid picture which only made me more excited to visit such a beautiful place 🤍

I loved the family dynamics in this book. Everyone brought sometime unique to the table and there was such warmth in their interactions with one another 🫶🏻

For a book based around miscommunication, there was a lot of good conversations happening. The author does such a good job with the mental health representation in this book. Florence’s burnout recovery tactfully tackles the taboo nature of mental ‘burnouts’ and I really liked that this subject was discussed in the book 🥰
This was a really vulnerable romance but Jamie was the perfect match for Flo.

Overall, this is a perfect holiday read but one which also dives in to some deeper subjects. Whilst the main theme was of course the romance, there were some really important conversations had between the family in this story and they were handled so perfectly, which is why this book is rated so highly by me 💞

Whilst being somewhat predictable, Enemies to Lovers was no less a good read. Easy and addictive, a perfect beach read for the summer. Great family dynamics and likeable characters.
Many thanks for the ARC, 4 stars.

A relaxing family vacation in beautiful Greece filled with food and laughter, it came at just the right time for Flo. She was really looking forward to a relaxing trip only to find out she’ll be stuck with Jamie for two long weeks. Her brothers best friend that she almost hooked up with last Christmas only to be rejected in a letter. You read that right a freaking LETTER. She’s determined to not let him get the better of her but trying to be the bigger person in not an easy task.

I was really looking forward to reading this one so I was thrilled when I got this arc. Enemies to lovers is the best trope there is and a greek holiday on top of that is just chefs kiss. The setting is just beautiful but i have to admit that all the food made me really jealous (and hungry).

Flo broke down and had to pick herself off the ground. She’s so strong and such a thoughtfully written character, you cant help but root for her. Flo decides to open up about her fears regarding her mental breakdown and dealing with the aftermath to her family and they were so receptive and understanding. They all talk about it and go around the table opening up about themselves. Their dynamics are so entertaining a group of foodies that are really competitive and have a blast together. I laughed out loud on multiple occasions.

Then there’s the romance of it all, arguably the most important part of any romance book. It’s clear as day that Jamie is in love with Flo but he puts in a good fight avoiding their obvious connection. He’s part of the family, they’re all he has and is afraid of loosing them if things don’t end up working out. It’s slow burn, Flo has a vacation fling but eventually things start heating up. I love them together personally, it was definitely worth the wait.

Every piece of the story has a purpose and it all ties together beautifully. This is one of the must read summer romances of the year, can’t recommend in enough. 

TW: mental health struggles, sexual assault, death of a parent, house fire

Read this if you like
❤️‍🔥Enemies to lovers
🏝️Vacation vibes
🩵Family bonding
🥐Food
🔥Slow burn

Loved this book and devoured it in a day.

Great premise for a story and a good romantic family story with some real issues focusing on death, mental health and the family dynamics.

Laura Williams has written some amazing books and this is another. The characters are well thought out and I was interested in them and how they played out. Although the main love story felt inevitable I was delighted that they came together for a happy ending.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is giving all the holiday vibes this summer as a very light and fun read

its brothers best friend which we all know we love as well as some force proximity and slow burn 🔥

this all started when flo and jamie had a little fling at christmas last year which was ended shortly when jamie slipped a note under flo’s door that changed everything

but this is where it gets good because not only does jamie turn up on her 2 week family holiday but she’s forced to share a room with him and actually get on

i honestly found myself laughing out loud at time and this being written from a british stand point makes it so relatable the family banter is so good!

i loved the first 3/4 of this book but the final 1/4 was a bit slow.

there are a few serious topics in this book and i found that i really related to the character of flo with her mental health issues and navigating what to do with your life in your 20’s

i do wish i’d have got more of jamie’s character or his POV from the book to understand his character/ get why she liked him so much as we only saw what happened on holiday not the build up to their relationship which did make it hard to route for.

i would also say it’s more misunderstanding to lovers rather than enemies.

Overall it’s an easy, light read.

Rating 3🌟

This was definitely an easy beach read. I admire Williams has tried to deepen the characters with the back story of Flo’s break down and Jamie’s past loss but it remains at heart an “I hate you, no wait I love you” story. I did read it all and it was enjoyable enough but didn’t set my world on fire.

Thank you so much for gifting this book to me through netgalley. I have enjoyed reading the book and it was the perfect read for the summer.

I really enjoyed the setting of the book and felt like it really enhanced the storyline. I really adored the main characters but did struggle at times with then as I just wanted a little bit more from them, especially from the tension between them

Would definitely recommend on to others

Will further my review on my goodreads after rereading some elements to further my review

Such a lovely enemies to lovers read! This is one of my favourite tropes so I have high expectations and this did not disappoint!

I found this story to be slow going. Not for me but well written. I was disappointed but maybe I am to old as a target audience.

Imagine having to spend the summer with your enemy. Will you grow closer together or hate each other?
A fun summer read which is perfect to read by the pool.

Especially for these dreary days.

Flo is excited and happy to be getting away on holiday with her family. What could be better than spending time on a Greek Island after a hard year. Until she realises that her brother’s best friend has been invited too.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Her family loves Jamie and it doesn’t hurt that he’s very easy on the eye. But Flo doesn’t know how to act around him anymore so basically ends up acting petty and childish for the first part of the book. Jamie really grew on me as a character but it took me a while to warm up to Flo.

I love an enemies to lovers storyline and a forces proximity always makes it interesting so I really enjoyed this one. This one is definitely a fun quick story, ideal for taking on holiday!

Thank you Laura Jane Williams, Penguin Books and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. Enemies to Lovers comes out on August 15th and I’d definitely recommend it!

3.5 stars rounded up. This is what I'd describe as a light summer read - a holiday setting, family banter and underlying tension, and an outcome that is heavily signposted from the outset. To begin with I wasn't sure if I really cared about it: Jamie felt a bit 'meh' to me as a main character and his physical description did not appeal, but he does improve as the book goes on. (Also, I suspect I'm a bit burned out on the whole "brother's best friend" trope which doesn't help.) The book as a whole grew on me as it continued: I liked Florence's voice as the narrator, the little details of the family interactions, and the way the story developed. Worth checking out if you're after an escapist rom-com that still tackles some more serious issues with sensitivity.

I, personally, would give everything to be holidaying away on a Greek beach right now, and Enemies to Lovers only made that urge grow and grow. The scenery is depicted really beautifully in this book, and almost becomes its own character.

The Greenbergs are a truly wonderful family, and one I’d love to shape my own after someday (all bar one of them anyway) and the family scenes in Enemies to Lovers were definitely some of my favourites.

This story had a great potential. A dream getaway, fun and easy-going characters, ans sexual tension that you could cut with a knife. What’s not to love?

Unfortunately, the writing did not live up to the plot. There were several continuity errors, where it felt like actions or dialogue had been cut or replaced but anything relating to them later wasn’t updated to consider that. The dialogue itself felt more like prose or a work email, not words that everyday people would say out loud. I kept thinking about this reading as an audiobook and I think that it would feel awkward and stilted.

There are elements of real heart in this book, primarily centred around Flo’s breakdown and how she navigates her way through life now, sometimes being held back by the people who love her most. There are very real scenes, in which the characters discuss their fears in life. Again, these scenes hold so much potential but are largely let down by their surrounding dialogue. If Williams were to describe the dialogue instead, I think it would feel much more real but, I couldn’t hear a lot of the characters’ voices well at all, particularly Flo. It made it hard to bond for the characters when they felt so robotic in their words.

An example of unrealistic dialogue or character reactions is definitely when Flo told Jamie about Laurie. He accepted it immediately. We were not given any kind of emotion from him in his response. For me, this lack of reaction can mean one of two things: it was just blown over too quickly or the character of Laurie is so completely awful that Jamie I was completely unsurprised by his actions. Though I’m not a Laurie fan, I have to assume the latter is not what Williams wanted when writing this scene and I, therefore, believe this is just a moment that held a lot of potential but was, instead, grazed past and forgotten.

I thought the way that Flo and Adonis’ relationship was written was really well-done. From their introduction to their goodbyes, it was handled respectfully and the juxtaposition posed between their dates and their last meeting created that false security that so many of us ‘fall for’ in the real world. Very well done.

As much as it’s nice to know our protagonist had a friend, I didn’t see the point in Hope towards the end. It almost felt like she was made up. She didn’t show up, so she felt, more than anything, like a plot point to use instead of a diary or more inner monologue. Clearly, she’s very significant to Flo’s life but she wasn’t given enough page-time for us to fully witness that, which I think is a shame.

A deeply promising book but that requires work to bring it to its full potential. I hope it can get the editing that it needs, because it really could be a summer hit.

Uff I’m not sure how to feel about this ngl.
I had fun, but flo wasnt my favourite character and i didnt like the adonis break down ..
still a solid beach read!

Maybe I've read a few too many books where the female MC falls for her brother's best friend lately. This one didn't work for me, not only but also because the "Swear you'll never touch my sister!"-trope is old and boring by now.

Flo and Jamie have known each other for ages. Jamie is Flo's brother's best friend and basically the adopted fourth child of her parents. He's with the family at Christmas and joins them for the family summer holidays. Last Christmas the electricity between the two finally sparked, but Jamie rejected Flo by slipping a note under her door. Now Flo hates Jamie and forced proximity on a Greek island is torture.

I hated being in Flo's head. Yes, she has had a tough couple of years but especially because of those tough years she of all people should know that people might have reasons for their actions. Instead of confronting Jamie, she's mean and makes assumptions about what motivates his actions. I might have bought all of it had the main characters been in their early twenties, but they are in their thirties for crying out loud.

1.5 Stars

I found this book to be a real mixed bag. I enjoyed the family holiday setting and the family drama aspects of the story but I wasn't convinced by Flo and Jamie's relationship. I wouldn't say it was an enemies To Lovers trope more misunderstanding to friends. I found it quite slow in parts and I had to really motivate myself to read it.

1.5⭐

"Enemies to Lovers" by Laura Jane Williams had potential but ultimately fell short in several areas. While I did enjoy Jamie's character—who brought a breath of fresh air with his genuine and relatable demeanour—unfortunately, he was one of the few redeeming aspects of the book.

Flo, on the other hand, was a major disappointment. Her character came off as overly self-absorbed and borderline childish, making it difficult to root for her or invest in her journey. Her immaturity detracted from the story and made her interactions feel shallow and frustrating.

The family holiday setting was one element I genuinely enjoyed. It provided a cosy backdrop that had the potential to enhance the romance and drama. However, the plot twist, which I figured out quite early on, felt daft and contrived, undermining any tension or surprise the story might have had.

Additionally, the overall tone of the book felt very YA, despite being clearly targeted towards an adult audience. This mismatch in tone and target audience left the story feeling confused and underwhelming.

I generally enjoy this author's books, so I'll definitely look out for her next novel. This one just wasn't it unfortunately
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as Lucky Escape as I really didn't take to the main female character Flo who seemed highly strung, overthinking and self centred but lacking self confidence, recovering from a breakdown. Not sure about the 'Enemy' aspect, more a case of 'hell hath no fury as a woman scorned' as it is Flo who seems determined to 'hate' Jamie and acting more like an immature teenager. Another book with too much inability to communicate plus lots of miscommunication. I did however enjoy the sections involving the rest of Flo's family, they seemed a quirky fun bunch. especially the parents. A light enough easy read to take on holiday whilst also tackling some more serious issues surrounding mental health.