If All Else Sails: A Sweet Grumpy-Sunshine Rom-Com

By Emma St. Clair

Book Overview

USA TODAY BESTSELLER

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.

If you're a fan of closed-door romance with sizzling chemistry, laugh-out-loud banter, and relatable characters, this romance with enemies-to-lovers vibes is your perfect escape. Dive into the irresistible story of Wyatt and Josie as they navigate the rocky waters of their past, uncover hidden depths, and discover that sometimes love is found in the most unexpected places. With the delightful grumpy-sunshine dynamic and the swoon-worthy he-falls-first trope, If All Else Sails by USA TODAY bestselling author Emma St. Clair will keep you turning the pages late into the night.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1400346940
• ISBN13: 9781400346943
• Release Date: August 2025
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

absolutely delightful romcom

"Maybe love is giving the other person the something they may not have on their own." So delightful! I loved getting to know Josie and Wyatt. Josie's slightly obsessive, neurotic, anxious yet hopeful, bright, and sunny personality was the perfect complement for Wyatt's driven, focused, grumpy, monosyllabic yet thoughtful and kind persona. It was a mash-up of older brother's best friend and unrequited love and enemies-to-lovers trope, which was executed beautifully. Josie and Wyatt's banter was spectacular and they had some great laugh-out-loud moments. Someone should turn this book into a movie - it will be a huge hit. I loved learning about sailing and traveling down the Intracoastal Waterway with them. Josie and Wyatt's romance was sweet and their friendship deep and genuine. I hope there is a book about Josie's older brother Jacob in the future! If you love romcoms, you will absolutely adore this book. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Thomas Nelson via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.