Review: Let's Call a Truce by Amy Buchanan

Let's Call a Truce by Amy Buchanan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ALC and ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.  I thought the narrator did a great job narrating both leads.  Typically you see books like this in dual POV format with two narrators, but Charlotte North does a good job voicing both characters

This follows Juliana, a single mom who is returning to work after the sudden death of her beloved husband.  She decided to stay home and raise their two daughters after having a successful career in human resources.  Fortunately her mentor hired after a hiatus, knowing that she could work her way back up the ranks.  Parenting with two working parents is hard enough, but Juliana and her daughters are still grieving, and Juliana struggles with the transition from stay at home mom to working mom.  The guilt of not being able to to juggle everything and be as on top of things as you want for both work and your kids is very real, and I thought the author did a good job capturing that.  She also captured the disdain you get from colleagues when you need to leave early or take time off for your family, even if you are stellar at your job and complete all of your tasks.  One of those colleagues Juliana faces off with is Ben.  They don't know each other well, but they immediately get off to a bad start on her first day, and despite an attraction between them they are determined to snark at each other.  When a project comes across their desks forcing them to work together, they call a truce.  Their truce expands when their daughters become best friends at school, and they are forced to let some of their frosty feelings thaw as they get to know each other better.

It took me quite a while to warm up to Juliana.  Her disdain for Ben was a bit over the top, to the point she was pushing away some of her best friends.   Fortunately, she eventually figures things out and lets her guard down a bit.  I appreciated that she had a good support network and her friends made for some great side characters.  Ben was a bit grumpy at first but he redeems himself with his patience and kindness as we get to know him.  

I personally did not enjoy the third act break up.  Ben was working so hard to get Juliana to trust him and let him into her life and heart, then that happens.  I won't spoil it, and I guess I can see why once their mutual bestie Asia explains it, but I feel like it could have been handled differently.  I also guess I should have expected something like that to happen based on how many times Juliana mentions not wanting to let someone in and be hurt again.  

Overall, this was a cute enemies to lovers romance.  I enjoyed that both main characters were single parents and how much both of them loved all of the kids.

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