Lighthearted quick read, good for reading on the beach.

The issue of parental loss and mental illness are mentioned in his story, and are addressed sympathetically.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

I wish I could’ve loved this, but it just didn’t live up to expectation. When the title is literally enemies to lovers, I expected enemies to lovers, and unfortunately Flo and Jamie aren’t really enemies. There was both sexual and romantic tension, and we eventually find out why there is so much tension, but that doesn’t make them enemies.

It is a really easy, fun read, which is a great achievement, and I honestly love fun quick& easy reads. I felt a connection with Flo, particularly her trying to move past her breakdown and make her family understand that she was recovering, not a broken doll.

I hate to rate it so low,, especially as I did genuinely enjoy it. If the aim of this book is to be a lighthearted, cute and easy read, it succeeded. I just had far higher standards for this book that unfortunately it didn’t meet.

I loved Laura Jane Williams new masterpiece - Enemies to Lovers.

Yes it’s a romance book but also so much more. We explore family dynamics (we’ve all been on that one family holiday) as well as her confused feelings towards her brother’s best friend. Laura also deals with mental health throughout this book very thoughtfully.

This was funny, heartwarming and emotional all in one. I loved it and can’t wait for more!

Enemies to lovers is the perfect summer read for romantic comedy lovers and even more so on a beach. I loved the mental health representation because it is easily relatable. Although Flo and James weren't exactly enemies in my opinion, I loved the tension between them which builds up throughout the book. I thoroughly enjoyed the emphasis on the importance of family as well as the humour throughout the book. Overall, I would definitely recommend Enemies to Lovers to fans of lighthearted summer romances.

Thank you net gallery, Laura Jane Williams and Random House UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I thought this was an easy read, perfect for relaxing on a beach somewhere.
I felt the tension and enjoyed it, I look forward to her next book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Who doesn’t love an enemies to lovers book written by an author that is clued up on creating intriguing characters that complement the story perfectly. A glorious sunshine read and even one that could be read in the dark depths of winter to warm the cockles and get the heart racing a little.

What a trope!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC! 🫶

I notice a lot of similarities between this book and Emily Henry’s Happy Place. Although all characters in Happy Place are Americans and this book’s characters are English (and a few Greek god-like-mortals), the main characters had something going on in the past, separated in a painful sort of way, and they’re spending a vacation with their loved ones.

But all is forgiven as we dive into the story with a cup of warm chocolate on a rainy day…

The author does well in “using” Greece as the setting. This book is so well-written, and though I played a little bit of detective in the middle, I was still feeling emotional when all things unfolded. I felt emotional not only for Flo, but also for Jamie and Laurie.

Flo is a character I deeply resonate with – I’m sure a lot of people do, too. She deals with mental health issues, which Jamie can relate to a lot. I can sense her desperation and grit to be stronger in life – to APPEAR stronger and fine. Which, we all know, that nothing is fine forever.

For a light reading, such heavy topics were incorporated well in the storyline. I love the family banter, Flo and Alex’s “secret code”, and just how the plot unravels, really. The book doesn’t miss the beauty and fun of vacation while keeping the romance (steaming) alive. There’s plenty of laugh throughout the book, which of course proceeded by good amount of tears 🥲

I like the “exposure therapy” idea, though.

I got a mixed feeling after reading this. I can’t say that this is my favorite, but I definitely like it. I don’t get that strong “enemy” vibe, but what Jamie and Flo did to each other was more hurtful than just being an enemy. What with their family meddling and being in close proximity during the summer, but no contact prior. The revelation in the end got me angry but relieved.

Overall, if you're into enemies to lovers (ha!) or brother’s best friend tropes, I’d recommend this book for a somewhat light reading. With a guaranteed happy ending and a few steam 🔥

Enemies to Lovers follows Florence and Jamie as they are on holiday with Flo’s family, and try to work their feelings out.

Yet another fab book from Laura Jane Williams! Honestly she never disappoints and I really enjoyed reading Enemies to Lovers! I liked the fact they really were ‘enemies’ at the start, and I really liked seeing their relationship grow, and all the things that happened inbetween that.

I did not expect the twist about what actually happened during Christmas and why they were ‘enemies’! I was really angry fir them because how dare something come inbetween their love! It did serve as a nice turning point though.

The epilogue was so cute and I really liked it! I loved how Flo was also finding what she enjoys doing, and taking a step in a different direction, especially after her breakdown.

I can’t wait for Laura Jane Williams next book, including her next middle grade!

I am giving Enemies to Lovers 4 stars.

I really wanted to fall in love with this story because I adored Lovestruck and I knew that her writing would be incredible.

And I DID love it but not with the fire and passion I wanted to.

This is the story of Flo and her family, brothers Alex and Laurie, sister in law Kate, her parents, as well as Jamie - Laurie’s best friend - and all-round handsome, heart-breaking hunk.

Flo and Jamie had a near miss last Christmas, where she thought he might be thawing towards her and that SOMETHING might happen. But then it all went sour, with Jamie leaving Flo a crappy note saying he couldn’t do ‘this’ and heading off into the night.

Flo’s mental health hadn’t been good, she’d had a breakdown and although she’s doing really well now, her family treat her gently, overly gently but she’s gone on a family holiday and now Jamie’s there too and it’s all a bit much.

Although there is some narrative around past events, the book focuses on Flo and Jamie and the family holiday.

Whilst the characters are lovely and they’re a family I would love to go on holiday with, the whole angsty situation between Flo and Jamie really frustrated me - why two adults wouldn’t just speak to each other and ask about the situation was really perplexing.

I loved the writing, the characters and the setting and Jamie and Flo are perfect for each other but I just couldn’t get past why there was such confusion and angst between them.

And I think calling this a rom-com undermines the sensitive way in which mental health is handled, and trivialises the relationship between Jamie and Flo, reducing it to ‘enemies to lovers’ (I hate this title) when really there’s a detailed examination of how Flo feels about Jamie’s behaviour towards her.

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Enemies to Lovers - from the title I thought I'd love this book as it's my favourite trope and I love a summer romance so thought this would be perfect. However, a few things in this book really didn't click for me, unfortunately.
For the most part, I struggled with our main character Florence. I felt like there was very little depth to her - pretty much every page mentioned Jamie, the 'enemy', and we didn't really get any other thoughts from her, it just felt like an obsession about him. But we somehow didn't get to know him and why she actually liked him?They also had no chemistry or tension, which should especially be expected in an enemies to lovers story!
Romance books are my favourite to read but I like the main characters to have a bit more to them than just their love interest but Flo had nothing apart from Jamie and a breakdown. Again, mental health could have been a great aspect to explore but I felt like it was done very shallowly as a throwaway comment - she'd had a breakdown a few years ago and that was all people knew her as and therefore became her personality.
I really wanted to enjoy this book but I really did struggle to get through it, unfortunately.

I'm sorry to say that I didn't enjoy this book. I really wanted too and I kept hoping it would pick up for me but sadly, it just didn't work for me.

I couldn't connect with the characters and I didn't feel any tension between the enemies to lovers trope.

I did however, appreciate the sensitivity around mental health and thought this was handled tactfully. I also enjoyed the setting in Greece, it sounded like a place I'd love to go and escape to.

I read this really quickly, Laura Jane Williams delivers again! I thought it made the ideal beach read. Flo and Jamie have an obvious attraction. Reading the book transported me to Greek restaurants and beaches.

If you are looking for a quick, entertaining and well crafted summer read then this is a good choice. The main character is well drawn and the contained nature of the story - 2 weeks on family holiday in Greece - works really well. It hits a number of rom com tropes but does it well.
(Copy received from Netgalley in return for an honest review)

A fabulous passionate romance in a lovely setting. I enjoyed the will they won’t they aspect and the sexual chemistry between Flo and Jamie was palpable. It showed a great empathy and portrayal of anxiety/depression and had spot on descriptions of how that feels and the impact on a person’s life.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end and can highly recommend it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read it.

I thought this was an easy read, perfect for relaxing on a beach somewhere.
I felt the tension and enjoyed it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.75 ⭐️

i flew through this book and found it super easy to follow! it is the perfect summer read and i loved that it was set on a family holiday.

i really liked the mental health representation and definitely saw myself in flo. i could see the plot twist coming but it was still good nonetheless!

i really liked all of the characters and their relationships with each other, i also really liked how flo eventually addressed her worries with her family.

This was quite good, even if a bit too long

Enemies to Lovers focuses on the enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Flo and her brother's best friend, Jamie. Flo has come out of what she calls a breakdown and she still feels like her family doesn't treat her as they used to, apart from Jamie over that one moment over Christmas. The animosity - or, even better, the tension - between Flo and Jamie is over that very moment, which seemed to indicate the start of something between the two, but didn't end up going anywhere.

This a very summery read and the main couple had a lot of chemistry, so that was quite good. I just wish the book had been a bit shorter; 400 pages seemed a bit much for this one.

Thank you very much to Penguin and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

*Enemies to Lovers* by Laura Jane Williams is a captivating and modern twist on the classic romance trope. L In this book, Laura delivers a witty and heartwarming story that perfectly balances humor and emotion.

The chemistry between the main characters is electric from the start. Their banter is sharp, often laugh-out-loud funny and it’s a joy to watch their relationship evolve from rivalry to something deeper. The author does an excellent job of building tension and keeping readers hooked as the characters navigate their complicated feelings.

One of the book's strengths is its exploration of themes like forgiveness, personal growth, and the complexity of relationships. The emotional depth adds richness to the story, making it more than just a typical romantic comedy. However, there are moments when the plot feels a bit predictable, and some secondary characters could have been fleshed out more.

Despite these minor drawbacks, *Enemies to Lovers* is a delightful read that delivers all the feels. Laura Jane Williams has once again proven that she’s a master of contemporary romance, offering a story that's both entertaining and emotionally resonant. If you love a good enemies-to-lovers tale with heart and humour, this book won't disappoint.

Enemies to Lovers by Laura Jane Williams is a lighthearted romance that offers an easy and enjoyable read, though it might not be one that leaves a lasting impression. The story follows Flo Greenberg, an over-achiever in desperate need of a relaxing Greek holiday, only to find herself sharing the experience with Jamie Kramer, her brother's best friend and the source of her irritation.

While the premise of being forced into close quarters with a so-called "enemy" promises tension and fiery exchanges, I found that the book didn't quite deliver on the enemies-to-lovers trope as much as I had hoped. Instead of feeling like true adversaries, Flo and Jamie seemed more like two people mildly annoyed with each other, which took away some of the excitement I typically expect from this genre.

One aspect that stood out positively was how the book handled mental health struggles. The story didn't shy away from addressing these issues, and I appreciated the way it was woven into the characters' experiences. I also particularly enjoyed the interactions with Flo's parents. Their presence in the story added depth, and their own struggles were well-portrayed, offering a refreshing perspective in the midst of the central romance.

However, I didn't feel a strong connection with the main characters, which made it difficult for me to become fully invested in their journey. The romantic tension felt a bit lukewarm, and I found myself more intrigued by the secondary characters than the central relationship.

Overall, if you're looking for a breezy read with a mix of romance and family dynamics, Enemies to Lovers might be worth picking up. Just don't expect it to fully deliver on the enemies-to-lovers trope in the way you might hope.

Thank you, NetGalley & the publisher, for sending me an early copy of Enemies to Lovers in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have a love hate relationship with LJW and i think that just happens because she is churning out titles at a crazy rate. This one in particular isn't my favourite of hers, the brothers best friend thing just didn't do much for me.