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Six Gems #4
Frenemy Fix-Up
Free-spirited yoga guru Shay Davis has only ninety days to get her workaholic former classmate Colin Anderson from work all day to namaste… All they need is a little common ground.
Accountant Colin Anderson is working himself into an early grave.
Shay Davis is finally living her dream of owning a yoga studio.
Sure, they went to high school together—but that’s where their similarities end. He’s Mr. Corporate, hustling late into the night so his firm can go public, while she flows through sun salutations and half-moon poses at her own pace.
So when a health scare pushes Colin to make a few life changes, he knows where to turn. If he’s going to get right with his career, he’ll need the right woman—and to get the right woman, he has to prioritize his health. Who better than Shay to help whip his butt into shape so he can win back his high school girlfriend?
The catch is, she only has ninety days to do it.
And they both really, really get on each other’s nerves.
Soon, though, their sessions are heating up the studio. But as Colin gets closer to achieving his goal, he and Shay both move further away from what they thought they wanted. Before they know it, they’ll have to step out of their comfort zones and rethink their own versions of “right”…before their time is up.
Accountant Colin Anderson is working himself into an early grave.
Shay Davis is finally living her dream of owning a yoga studio.
Sure, they went to high school together—but that’s where their similarities end. He’s Mr. Corporate, hustling late into the night so his firm can go public, while she flows through sun salutations and half-moon poses at her own pace.
So when a health scare pushes Colin to make a few life changes, he knows where to turn. If he’s going to get right with his career, he’ll need the right woman—and to get the right woman, he has to prioritize his health. Who better than Shay to help whip his butt into shape so he can win back his high school girlfriend?
The catch is, she only has ninety days to do it.
And they both really, really get on each other’s nerves.
Soon, though, their sessions are heating up the studio. But as Colin gets closer to achieving his goal, he and Shay both move further away from what they thought they wanted. Before they know it, they’ll have to step out of their comfort zones and rethink their own versions of “right”…before their time is up.
288 pages, Paperback
Published February 15, 2024
85 people are currently reading
4709 people want to read
About the author
Yahrah St. John
150 books360 followersYahrah St. John is the International author of forty two books. When she’s not at home crafting one of her sexy romances with compelling heroes and feisty heroines with a dash of family drama, St. John can be found in the kitchen cooking one of her gourmet meals discovered on the Food Network for her husband. Or this thrill-seeking junky can be found traveling the globe seeking out her next adventure.
A graduate of Hyde Park Career Academy, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Northwestern University. St. John is a member of Romance Writers of America, but is an avid reader of all genres. St. John lives in sunny Orlando, the City Beautiful.
For more information, please visit:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YahrahStJohn/.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/yahrahstjohn.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yahrahstjohn/.
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/yahra...
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/yahrahstjohn/.
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/yahrahstjohn/
A graduate of Hyde Park Career Academy, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Northwestern University. St. John is a member of Romance Writers of America, but is an avid reader of all genres. St. John lives in sunny Orlando, the City Beautiful.
For more information, please visit:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YahrahStJohn/.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/yahrahstjohn.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yahrahstjohn/.
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/yahra...
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/yahrahstjohn/.
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/yahrahstjohn/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
February 2, 2024
3.5/5 ⭐️
- I had so much fun reading this book!! I read this book in two days. I loved the length of it and I think more books should be less than 300 pages!! I love how realistic their love story felt and how you could really feel how awkward the transition is to go from friends with benefits to more when your feelings change. The author did such a great job helping the reader really feel how hard it can be to share your feelings with someone when you don’t know how they’re going to react.
- I feel like the spice took over some of the parts of the book where I thought they would really talk about how they felt. But that did make the book overall feel so real because it’s so easy to go through the motions vs actually communicating. I do wish there were more dialogue and banter
- I audibly gasped towards the end and had no idea how the book was going to end! Vulnerability is scary and I really felt all the feels that the characters were going through while reading! The really really loved the side plots of family drama, found family within your friendships, building your own business, health issues as you get older, and work drama. Really show how as humans we literally juggle a million and one things while still figuring out love & life!
- I had so much fun reading this book!! I read this book in two days. I loved the length of it and I think more books should be less than 300 pages!! I love how realistic their love story felt and how you could really feel how awkward the transition is to go from friends with benefits to more when your feelings change. The author did such a great job helping the reader really feel how hard it can be to share your feelings with someone when you don’t know how they’re going to react.
- I feel like the spice took over some of the parts of the book where I thought they would really talk about how they felt. But that did make the book overall feel so real because it’s so easy to go through the motions vs actually communicating. I do wish there were more dialogue and banter
- I audibly gasped towards the end and had no idea how the book was going to end! Vulnerability is scary and I really felt all the feels that the characters were going through while reading! The really really loved the side plots of family drama, found family within your friendships, building your own business, health issues as you get older, and work drama. Really show how as humans we literally juggle a million and one things while still figuring out love & life!
February 27, 2024
Good to be back in the Six Gems world 🤗
It was an okay read. I liked both MCs well enough but the story dragged out for quite a bit. They kept circling the same issues of “she’s not the type of woman I date” and “I don’t to become my mother” to paraphrase.
Other than that, it was a decent story. Will not return classify it as frenemies though…they just didn’t know each other.
Looking forward to reading about the next Six Gem’s story.
It was an okay read. I liked both MCs well enough but the story dragged out for quite a bit. They kept circling the same issues of “she’s not the type of woman I date” and “I don’t to become my mother” to paraphrase.
Other than that, it was a decent story. Will not return classify it as frenemies though…they just didn’t know each other.
Looking forward to reading about the next Six Gem’s story.
January 25, 2024
Yoga? Romance? Enemies to lovers?
I was initially so excited to read this, but ultimately struggled to get through this one. I did finish it in hopes that maybe the end would redeem some of the things I struggled with, but in the end, this one just wasn't for me.
I really struggled connecting with the main characters and found the male love interest, Colin, kind of insufferable and shallow. He seemed to have a blatant disregard for boundaries and I just could not find it in me to care about him much as a character. I also found the female main character, Shay, a little hard to connect with as there wasn't much to her personality outside of her divorce. I also really struggled with the portrayal of depression in this story. While I do appreciate the representation of depression in novels, I think authors need to be extremely careful in how they do it. I think in the case of this book, this portrayal of depression was more harmful than representative.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was initially so excited to read this, but ultimately struggled to get through this one. I did finish it in hopes that maybe the end would redeem some of the things I struggled with, but in the end, this one just wasn't for me.
I really struggled connecting with the main characters and found the male love interest, Colin, kind of insufferable and shallow. He seemed to have a blatant disregard for boundaries and I just could not find it in me to care about him much as a character. I also found the female main character, Shay, a little hard to connect with as there wasn't much to her personality outside of her divorce. I also really struggled with the portrayal of depression in this story. While I do appreciate the representation of depression in novels, I think authors need to be extremely careful in how they do it. I think in the case of this book, this portrayal of depression was more harmful than representative.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 19, 2024
I'm undecided about the rating but will come back to write a full review.
This novel covers a bit of topics that I found to be important and could have made a compelling love story but Colin was quite literally awful to read on page. He was self-absorbed and I think a bit of a user. Shay on the other hand was trying to make a way that somehow got lost in the quasi-relationship. Were they ever really enemies or was there just miscommunication? I also think that they didn't talk about their relationship he just kept showing up at places to have sex. It felt lopsided and ended abruptly.
CN: miscarriage, divorce, financial insecurity, feelings of loneliness, depression, grief (loss of a parent), heart attack on page,
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This novel covers a bit of topics that I found to be important and could have made a compelling love story but Colin was quite literally awful to read on page. He was self-absorbed and I think a bit of a user. Shay on the other hand was trying to make a way that somehow got lost in the quasi-relationship. Were they ever really enemies or was there just miscommunication? I also think that they didn't talk about their relationship he just kept showing up at places to have sex. It felt lopsided and ended abruptly.
CN: miscarriage, divorce, financial insecurity, feelings of loneliness, depression, grief (loss of a parent), heart attack on page,
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Read
February 3, 2024Romantic Comedy, Contemporary Romance, African American & Black Romance
Miniseries
Six Gems (Book #4)
Miniseries
Six Gems (Book #4)
February 12, 2026
The female narrator pronounces tryst as try-ist and Tucson as "Tuck-son", Angina as An-jean-uh. I think this would've been better as an eyeball read instead of an audiobook, which is a bit of a let down after waiting so long for its release.
It was nice seeing the ongoing stories of the characters from the previous books.
I was expecting an epilogue with some sort of update about her fertility since it was mentioned so often, but not to be.
Overall just okay
It was nice seeing the ongoing stories of the characters from the previous books.
I was expecting an epilogue with some sort of update about her fertility since it was mentioned so often, but not to be.
Overall just okay
January 13, 2026
Friends to Enemies Trope
I truly enjoyed this story after purchasing the book based on the cover! This is my first introduction to Ms. St. John’s work and I look forward to reading the series.
I truly enjoyed this story after purchasing the book based on the cover! This is my first introduction to Ms. St. John’s work and I look forward to reading the series.
February 20, 2026
3.75/5 stars
Thank you so much to Netgalley for the ALC!
Okay. This book had me locked in. I can't lie. It was a really unique and different. I thought the flow was really good up until the end and i can say I enjoyed Shay as a FMC. Also the surprise of her having locs? 10/10. The writing was really really good too. Also...the spice...? YALLLLLLLLLLL IKTR!!!! This was SPICYYYYYYYYYYY BOYYYYYYYY!!! This saved this fr and i have to admit they had some insane chemistry.
However. Collin? Our MMC? Yeah I hope he stubs his toe, steps on a sharp lego, trips down some steps, and bangs his head fr. He was THEE WORSTTTTTTTTT. He was such a wuss. He gave he thought he was allat and a bag of chips but the moment a woman says I love you he's running like a lil girl? Oh give me a BREAKKKKKKK. I hate that I couldn't bring myself to dislike the book fully though because it was so realistic. Like unfortunately this is just how men act. They'll do everything with you down to the bone but the moment the word love gets thrown around they are emotionally stumped and confused 😭. I'm not even speaking from personal experience but i know enough chile.
Then Shay. Shay. Shay. Shay. WHYYYYY would you not make this man grovel at the end? I'm kind of upset that we didnt even get an epilogue, because the entire book she was sad and upset that she was the last friend to not have a boo and child, and yet all she gets with Collin is a last minute "I love you too" and she called him her boyfriend before he even asked for her to be his girl. EEEEEYUCK!!! Shay stand UPPPPPPPP.
Its a no from me dawg. Like i need yall to know how irritated Collin made me. He officially is my most disliked MMC. Like. Topping Quasim from The Infernos. And yall know I hate that ficitional man to hell and back so this is telling you something. Grown man scared of some words/emotions oh brother.
LMAOOOOO yall. Like i actually enjoyed this book and it had me really locked in to the story which is why my rating is still on the higher end. I'm sure since its an interwoven series Shay and Collin will get brought back up and we will see how they turn out, but like it feels like i just got left on an unnecessary cliff hanger.
Overall. Really good book fr. Just Collin BOYYYYYYYYY that man deserved his enemy taking his job fr. Like i felt personally vindicated. Like him alone brought this book down for me.
Thank you so much to Netgalley for the ALC!
Okay. This book had me locked in. I can't lie. It was a really unique and different. I thought the flow was really good up until the end and i can say I enjoyed Shay as a FMC. Also the surprise of her having locs? 10/10. The writing was really really good too. Also...the spice...? YALLLLLLLLLLL IKTR!!!! This was SPICYYYYYYYYYYY BOYYYYYYYY!!! This saved this fr and i have to admit they had some insane chemistry.
However. Collin? Our MMC? Yeah I hope he stubs his toe, steps on a sharp lego, trips down some steps, and bangs his head fr. He was THEE WORSTTTTTTTTT. He was such a wuss. He gave he thought he was allat and a bag of chips but the moment a woman says I love you he's running like a lil girl? Oh give me a BREAKKKKKKK. I hate that I couldn't bring myself to dislike the book fully though because it was so realistic. Like unfortunately this is just how men act. They'll do everything with you down to the bone but the moment the word love gets thrown around they are emotionally stumped and confused 😭. I'm not even speaking from personal experience but i know enough chile.
Then Shay. Shay. Shay. Shay. WHYYYYY would you not make this man grovel at the end? I'm kind of upset that we didnt even get an epilogue, because the entire book she was sad and upset that she was the last friend to not have a boo and child, and yet all she gets with Collin is a last minute "I love you too" and she called him her boyfriend before he even asked for her to be his girl. EEEEEYUCK!!! Shay stand UPPPPPPPP.
Its a no from me dawg. Like i need yall to know how irritated Collin made me. He officially is my most disliked MMC. Like. Topping Quasim from The Infernos. And yall know I hate that ficitional man to hell and back so this is telling you something. Grown man scared of some words/emotions oh brother.
LMAOOOOO yall. Like i actually enjoyed this book and it had me really locked in to the story which is why my rating is still on the higher end. I'm sure since its an interwoven series Shay and Collin will get brought back up and we will see how they turn out, but like it feels like i just got left on an unnecessary cliff hanger.
Overall. Really good book fr. Just Collin BOYYYYYYYYY that man deserved his enemy taking his job fr. Like i felt personally vindicated. Like him alone brought this book down for me.
March 23, 2025
Too many grammatical errors which really bugged me when I was reading, also waaay too many spicy scenes 😅 I'm a horny bastard but these two are on a whole other level lmao. Also the author kept repeatedly using the same words to describe the characters (all related to food btw like caramel or toffee) and kept bringing up the same points but just worded slightly differently - what ever happened to show don't tell?
September 24, 2025
Dit was niet een boek voor mij. Voor mijn gevoel werd in elk hoofdstuk zo ongeveer hetzelfde besproken en die vele herhaling maakte het erg saai en frustrerend. Ook draaide het voor mijn gevoel bijna alleen maar om de spice en daar hou ik niet zo van.
June 12, 2025
This book was ✨ok✨ it was a fun read but I feel like the characters were to lustful but I guess it was an insta-list situation. Like sex got in the way of some real conversations they should have had. I also think Shay forgave Collin too easily/quickly. Also a little repetitive with the issues: we know Shay isn’t the right type of woman for Collin, we know she has trust issues from men constant leaning her, we know she doesn’t want to end up like her mother; we know Collin idolizes his dad, we know he sees himself with a certain type of woman. And I feel like neither of them actually tried to uphold any type of professional boundaries before giving in.
Also the book just ended. Coulda used an epilogue
Also the book just ended. Coulda used an epilogue
dnf
February 29, 2024Was excited to get into this book. I put it on hold at the library as soon as I saw they were ordering it. Unfortunately it just wasn't for me. I didn't care for the MMC at all. I made it through the first four chapters. If he wasn't sexualizing her he was reminding us that her type is not the kind a corporate guy like him can marry. Oh brother 🙄 DNF!
I pray and I hope after this, they reach their target audience ✌🏾
I pray and I hope after this, they reach their target audience ✌🏾
February 15, 2025
Frenemy Fix-Up by Yahrah. St. John (2024)
Six Gems #4
252-page Kindle Ebook story pages 5-242
Genre: Contemporary Romance, African-American Romance
Featuring: March, San Antonio, Texas; Fitness Instructor, Tricenarians, Enemies-to-Friends-to-Lovers Trope, High School Crush, Yoga Classes, Workaholic, Finance, Expansion, Insecurities, Affluent People, Rich vs Poor Trope, Tricenarians, Stress, Lifestyle Change, Fertility Issues, Baby Fever, Ready For Marriage Trope, Sex - Detailed, Friendship, Restaurateur, Realtor, Ballerina, Travel Blogger, Self-Actualization, Wedding Planning, Fling, Spoilers for Previous Books, Tucson, Arizona; Look for Lyric’s story, Going Toe to Toe, Excerpt from The Devil in Blue Jeans by Stacey Kennedy, Yahrah St. John Partial Bibliography, Publisher's Links
Rating as a movie: XXX
Songs for the soundtrack: "Part‐Time Lover" by H-Town, "Can't Get Enough" by Willie Max featuring Raphael Saadiq, "Cupid Shuffle" by Cupid, "Subtle Invitation" by "Mariah Carey" "I Can’t Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt
Books and Authors mentioned: Love Jones by Theodore Witcher, Two Can Play That Game by Mark Brown
Memorable Quotes: Much safer to ogle Mr. Corporate and wonder what he’s packing beneath those clothes. And since he can’t be bothered to say excuse me, I spin around on my heel and face forward. “Jerk,” I say out loud. “What did you just call me?” I spin around again. “You heard what I...” The remaining words evaporate as his heavy-lidded gaze makes contact with mine. An unfamiliar sensation slithers from my abdomen into places that have been dormant for too long. My cheeks warm. I know him. Colin Anderson. Aka my first crush. Aka the boy who completely ignored me in high school. What the hell is he doing here? Didn’t he move away? He steps backward to regard me. His eyes travel from my sneakers up my snug-fitting Lululemon cayenne-colored yoga pants to my keyhole sports bra before finally landing on my brown eyes. My face flushes. “Do you always come out of the house half-naked?” Anger flares inside me. He bumps into me, and now he wants to criticize what I’m wearing? “Are you always this rude?” When he begins to speak, I continue. “It was a rhetorical question. Earlier, I called you a jerk, and I stand behind the comment.” “Ouch!” He touches his chest. “If your goal was to wound me, you missed your mark.” “That’s too bad,” I respond. “Wonder what it would take to knock that giant-sized chip off your shoulder, Colin.” His brows furrow. “How do you know my name?” I roll my eyes and turn away just as the worker at the counter is ready to take my order. “I’ll have the Detox smoothie and an Acai Berry Boost.” “Coming right up.” Within seconds, I’m all paid up and moving to the side to wait for my order. I ignore Colin like he used to ignore me. He was rude back then and clearly hasn’t grown out of it. His eyes burn the back of my skull until his phone rings and he’s forced to answer it—just before coming to the counter. Rude. I keep my head low and play Wordle on my phone. I ignore the approaching footsteps until he’s standing directly in front of me. “How do you know me?” Colin demands—because he sure as hell doesn’t ask. I hazard a quick glance at him before returning to my phone. “I don’t owe you an explanation.” He won’t let it go. “Yes, you do. You just called me a jerk and insinuated I have a giant ego.” Colin frowns. “You don’t even know me.” I shrug. I know enough. “So that’s it?” He folds his muscled arms across his broad chest. “You’re really not going to tell me who you are?” Part of me wants him to stew, to wonder exactly who I am. But what purpose will that serve? His dark enigmatic eyes are trained on me. “I’m Shay. Shay Davis.” “Wait a second.” He points at me. “Didn’t we go to high school together?” “We did indeed.” “And you thought I was arrogant back then?” he asks, rubbing his chin. “Well, this interaction certainly hasn’t changed that opinion.” He cocks his head to one side, watching me. “Did something happen between us in high school?” “Of course you wouldn’t remember me. You were all about Claire Watson. She wasn’t a nice person, and you know what they say, birds of a feather...” Colin steps into my personal space, and I catch a faint whiff of his cologne. It’s earthy, and heady. “You didn’t know Claire like I did. She can be amazing.” I huff, and his eyes narrow. “Perhaps you should get to know someone before making snap judgments, Shay. If I recall, not everyone thought highly of your little clique either.” “Don’t talk about my girls,” I warn. I’m fiercely protective of the women I consider my sisters: Wynter, Egypt, Asia, Lyric and Teagan. We call ourselves the Six Gems. They’ve gotten me through the worst of times. From my parents’ divorce when were teenagers to my ill-fated early marriage and subsequent divorce from Kevin. “You started us down this path, Shay,” Colin responds.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️¾👩🏾🤝👩🏿👭🏿👩🏿🤝👩🏾🇨🇱💕🏋🏾♀️🧘🏾♀️
My thoughts: 📕 I'm guessing this book will feature a professional athlete, Possibly injured or former. I'm leaning toward basketball. We'll see, if he's a regular guy I'm gonna be greatly surprised, they have all been wealthy business owners so far, even the lawyer, so I'm ready for a change but I think they are all going to marry money.
🔖Page 131 of 252 Sixteen COLIN - Another businessman and the scenes have gotten even steamier. I'm not as into this couple but I'm enjoying the tidbits from the other books. Even though the wedding happens in a previous book we are still before the wedding and while the bachelorette party was in the previous book this one mentions it but goes into details about the bridal shower, so even though we are backtracking we aren't reliving the same moments.
🔖236 Thirty-Two COLIN - So close Shay and Colin are on my nerves, I'm going to bed. I think I only have a few chapters left.
We finally got an overlapping reveal that matches the one from the previous book. I can't believe I was only 3 chapters from the end, it felt like one while reading but it might as well have been 10 last night. This story wasn't my favorite, it was still good but I wasn't a fan of the trope or Colin, it was well-written just not my cup of tea. The friends-with-benefits while being treated like a side order doesn't work for me. This story aligns with Shay's behavior in Book 3, now I see the real reason she was giving Garrett such a hard time. I'm looking forward to Lyric’s story, it's the one that led me to this series, but I don't think it was set up well within this story, it was just like - Lyric’s quiet during this conversation, what is she covering up, Lyrics next.
Recommend to others: This is my least favorite so far but it was still good.
Six Gems
1. Her Best Friend's Brother (2022)
2. Her Secret Billionaire (2023)
3. Her One Night Consequence (2023)
4. Frenemy Fix-Up (2024)
5. Going Toe to Toe (2024)
6. Break Point (2025)
Six Gems #4
252-page Kindle Ebook story pages 5-242
Genre: Contemporary Romance, African-American Romance
Featuring: March, San Antonio, Texas; Fitness Instructor, Tricenarians, Enemies-to-Friends-to-Lovers Trope, High School Crush, Yoga Classes, Workaholic, Finance, Expansion, Insecurities, Affluent People, Rich vs Poor Trope, Tricenarians, Stress, Lifestyle Change, Fertility Issues, Baby Fever, Ready For Marriage Trope, Sex - Detailed, Friendship, Restaurateur, Realtor, Ballerina, Travel Blogger, Self-Actualization, Wedding Planning, Fling, Spoilers for Previous Books, Tucson, Arizona; Look for Lyric’s story, Going Toe to Toe, Excerpt from The Devil in Blue Jeans by Stacey Kennedy, Yahrah St. John Partial Bibliography, Publisher's Links
Rating as a movie: XXX
Songs for the soundtrack: "Part‐Time Lover" by H-Town, "Can't Get Enough" by Willie Max featuring Raphael Saadiq, "Cupid Shuffle" by Cupid, "Subtle Invitation" by "Mariah Carey" "I Can’t Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt
Books and Authors mentioned: Love Jones by Theodore Witcher, Two Can Play That Game by Mark Brown
Memorable Quotes: Much safer to ogle Mr. Corporate and wonder what he’s packing beneath those clothes. And since he can’t be bothered to say excuse me, I spin around on my heel and face forward. “Jerk,” I say out loud. “What did you just call me?” I spin around again. “You heard what I...” The remaining words evaporate as his heavy-lidded gaze makes contact with mine. An unfamiliar sensation slithers from my abdomen into places that have been dormant for too long. My cheeks warm. I know him. Colin Anderson. Aka my first crush. Aka the boy who completely ignored me in high school. What the hell is he doing here? Didn’t he move away? He steps backward to regard me. His eyes travel from my sneakers up my snug-fitting Lululemon cayenne-colored yoga pants to my keyhole sports bra before finally landing on my brown eyes. My face flushes. “Do you always come out of the house half-naked?” Anger flares inside me. He bumps into me, and now he wants to criticize what I’m wearing? “Are you always this rude?” When he begins to speak, I continue. “It was a rhetorical question. Earlier, I called you a jerk, and I stand behind the comment.” “Ouch!” He touches his chest. “If your goal was to wound me, you missed your mark.” “That’s too bad,” I respond. “Wonder what it would take to knock that giant-sized chip off your shoulder, Colin.” His brows furrow. “How do you know my name?” I roll my eyes and turn away just as the worker at the counter is ready to take my order. “I’ll have the Detox smoothie and an Acai Berry Boost.” “Coming right up.” Within seconds, I’m all paid up and moving to the side to wait for my order. I ignore Colin like he used to ignore me. He was rude back then and clearly hasn’t grown out of it. His eyes burn the back of my skull until his phone rings and he’s forced to answer it—just before coming to the counter. Rude. I keep my head low and play Wordle on my phone. I ignore the approaching footsteps until he’s standing directly in front of me. “How do you know me?” Colin demands—because he sure as hell doesn’t ask. I hazard a quick glance at him before returning to my phone. “I don’t owe you an explanation.” He won’t let it go. “Yes, you do. You just called me a jerk and insinuated I have a giant ego.” Colin frowns. “You don’t even know me.” I shrug. I know enough. “So that’s it?” He folds his muscled arms across his broad chest. “You’re really not going to tell me who you are?” Part of me wants him to stew, to wonder exactly who I am. But what purpose will that serve? His dark enigmatic eyes are trained on me. “I’m Shay. Shay Davis.” “Wait a second.” He points at me. “Didn’t we go to high school together?” “We did indeed.” “And you thought I was arrogant back then?” he asks, rubbing his chin. “Well, this interaction certainly hasn’t changed that opinion.” He cocks his head to one side, watching me. “Did something happen between us in high school?” “Of course you wouldn’t remember me. You were all about Claire Watson. She wasn’t a nice person, and you know what they say, birds of a feather...” Colin steps into my personal space, and I catch a faint whiff of his cologne. It’s earthy, and heady. “You didn’t know Claire like I did. She can be amazing.” I huff, and his eyes narrow. “Perhaps you should get to know someone before making snap judgments, Shay. If I recall, not everyone thought highly of your little clique either.” “Don’t talk about my girls,” I warn. I’m fiercely protective of the women I consider my sisters: Wynter, Egypt, Asia, Lyric and Teagan. We call ourselves the Six Gems. They’ve gotten me through the worst of times. From my parents’ divorce when were teenagers to my ill-fated early marriage and subsequent divorce from Kevin. “You started us down this path, Shay,” Colin responds.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️¾👩🏾🤝👩🏿👭🏿👩🏿🤝👩🏾🇨🇱💕🏋🏾♀️🧘🏾♀️
My thoughts: 📕 I'm guessing this book will feature a professional athlete, Possibly injured or former. I'm leaning toward basketball. We'll see, if he's a regular guy I'm gonna be greatly surprised, they have all been wealthy business owners so far, even the lawyer, so I'm ready for a change but I think they are all going to marry money.
🔖Page 131 of 252 Sixteen COLIN - Another businessman and the scenes have gotten even steamier. I'm not as into this couple but I'm enjoying the tidbits from the other books. Even though the wedding happens in a previous book we are still before the wedding and while the bachelorette party was in the previous book this one mentions it but goes into details about the bridal shower, so even though we are backtracking we aren't reliving the same moments.
🔖236 Thirty-Two COLIN - So close Shay and Colin are on my nerves, I'm going to bed. I think I only have a few chapters left.
We finally got an overlapping reveal that matches the one from the previous book. I can't believe I was only 3 chapters from the end, it felt like one while reading but it might as well have been 10 last night. This story wasn't my favorite, it was still good but I wasn't a fan of the trope or Colin, it was well-written just not my cup of tea. The friends-with-benefits while being treated like a side order doesn't work for me. This story aligns with Shay's behavior in Book 3, now I see the real reason she was giving Garrett such a hard time. I'm looking forward to Lyric’s story, it's the one that led me to this series, but I don't think it was set up well within this story, it was just like - Lyric’s quiet during this conversation, what is she covering up, Lyrics next.
Recommend to others: This is my least favorite so far but it was still good.
Six Gems
1. Her Best Friend's Brother (2022)
2. Her Secret Billionaire (2023)
3. Her One Night Consequence (2023)
4. Frenemy Fix-Up (2024)
5. Going Toe to Toe (2024)
6. Break Point (2025)
December 7, 2023
I am a big fan of opposites attract romance because it often leads to good comedy! I also really enjoy when characters who don't like each other have to work together so I thought this one was right up my alley. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me.
I did enjoy Shay's independence. I also liked seeing Colin realize what was important in his life. I think a lot of people will relate to his struggle with companies that don't allow for a work-life balance.
I enjoyed that Colin couldn't stay away from Shay even though he wanted to but I didn't fully understand their connection beyond physical attraction and enjoyable sex. I wanted to see Shay get rid of all her worries about falling in love and would have liked Colin to recognize his feelings sooner.
I also wasn't crazy about how this book handled the topic of depression. I felt a little bit like it was treated a bit like a moral failing. I think if Shay's mom had struggled with a physical illness it would have been viewed much differently. Now that might have just been Shay's perception but I would have liked that to have been made clear if that was the case. As someone who deals with depression, I wasn't a huge fan.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for providing me with an ARC of this title so I could write a review. All opinions are my own.
I did enjoy Shay's independence. I also liked seeing Colin realize what was important in his life. I think a lot of people will relate to his struggle with companies that don't allow for a work-life balance.
I enjoyed that Colin couldn't stay away from Shay even though he wanted to but I didn't fully understand their connection beyond physical attraction and enjoyable sex. I wanted to see Shay get rid of all her worries about falling in love and would have liked Colin to recognize his feelings sooner.
I also wasn't crazy about how this book handled the topic of depression. I felt a little bit like it was treated a bit like a moral failing. I think if Shay's mom had struggled with a physical illness it would have been viewed much differently. Now that might have just been Shay's perception but I would have liked that to have been made clear if that was the case. As someone who deals with depression, I wasn't a huge fan.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for providing me with an ARC of this title so I could write a review. All opinions are my own.
May 1, 2024
As a life long Harlequin fan I am always excited whenever I get an opportunity to read/review an ARC for a Harlequin release. This novel covers the relationship growth of Shay and Colin, two people with a history that need each other for a multiplicity of reasons. Shay is a yoga studio owner that needs the money to expand her business so that she can expand her class offerings, while Colin is an accountant that eats, sleeps and breathes his job. One day while at work his heart lets him know that he needs to make some changes before it permanently puts him on permanent leave. Due to his health issues Colin offers Shay a large sum of money to help him make some changes. The two have tension that leads to them ending up doing the nasty on a whole bunch of different surfaces. Unfortunately, neither one of them realizes their fun has turned into the gradual development of real feelings for each other.
All told I adored my time reading this novel and hope others take the time to read this book as well.
All told I adored my time reading this novel and hope others take the time to read this book as well.
February 10, 2026
Okay, I fear I must be honest in this review in a way I haven't had to be before. I really did not enjoy this audiobook at all. It took everything in me not to DNF, but I wanted to stick it through to be able to offer a true and accurate review.
Frenemy Fix-Up by Yahrah St. John is the fourth book in the Gems interconnected standalone series. Shay, a yoga studio owner, had a high school crush on Colin, a corporate accountant. Many years down the line, they bump into each other at a smoothie shop and Shay get introduced to adult Colin, a vapid, self-indulgent, truly insufferable character. He cares more about making sure that he is seen as a good and respectable guy worthy of moving up the ranks at his firm, than actually being any of those things. When the stress of Colin's work causes a health scare he looks to Shay to fix him, and offers her a truly baffling amount of money to provide him with yoga classes and a diet regimen.
The story idea itself, could have been interesting, but Shay was a door mat and Colin was one of the most god awful characters I have read. Also the writing itself was choppy. It was written as a timeline and not a story. The narrators did not help that at all. They read it without any emotion or voice acting at all. There were points where I truly thought the narrators might be an AI bot and not a real person.
Overall, this just wasn’t a good read for me, though others may have a different experience depending on their preferences.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Frenemy Fix-Up by Yahrah St. John is the fourth book in the Gems interconnected standalone series. Shay, a yoga studio owner, had a high school crush on Colin, a corporate accountant. Many years down the line, they bump into each other at a smoothie shop and Shay get introduced to adult Colin, a vapid, self-indulgent, truly insufferable character. He cares more about making sure that he is seen as a good and respectable guy worthy of moving up the ranks at his firm, than actually being any of those things. When the stress of Colin's work causes a health scare he looks to Shay to fix him, and offers her a truly baffling amount of money to provide him with yoga classes and a diet regimen.
The story idea itself, could have been interesting, but Shay was a door mat and Colin was one of the most god awful characters I have read. Also the writing itself was choppy. It was written as a timeline and not a story. The narrators did not help that at all. They read it without any emotion or voice acting at all. There were points where I truly thought the narrators might be an AI bot and not a real person.
Overall, this just wasn’t a good read for me, though others may have a different experience depending on their preferences.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
February 19, 2024
Got a copy of this book from Net Galley. I've been following this series and was excited for this installment.
Shay and Colin kinda knew each other in high school. She had a crush on him and he didn't really acknowledge her existence. They aren't exactly enemies but they butt heads on their first meeting after years.
Then he needs her help. He makes her an offer she can't refuse and she agrees to help him get healthy. The chemistry between them is right there from the start.
Once they cross that line, things between them are explosive. They end up being friends with benefits. But of course feelings begin to grow.
I really enjoyed this love story. For once, I wished the ending was dragged out a little longer. I wanted them to get to happily ever after but I felt like she let him off the hook too quickly.
This was an awesome addition to the Six Gems series and I can't wait for the next book.
Shay and Colin kinda knew each other in high school. She had a crush on him and he didn't really acknowledge her existence. They aren't exactly enemies but they butt heads on their first meeting after years.
Then he needs her help. He makes her an offer she can't refuse and she agrees to help him get healthy. The chemistry between them is right there from the start.
Once they cross that line, things between them are explosive. They end up being friends with benefits. But of course feelings begin to grow.
I really enjoyed this love story. For once, I wished the ending was dragged out a little longer. I wanted them to get to happily ever after but I felt like she let him off the hook too quickly.
This was an awesome addition to the Six Gems series and I can't wait for the next book.
August 24, 2024
Frenemy fix-up ~ Yahrah St. John
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⭐️⭐️⭐️
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📚 21/70 📚
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Well, I mean, I read it pretty quickly, but I can’t say it was the best read of the year. It was a nice length, at 280 pages. But the whole book felt very repetitive, with the characters bringing up the same narratives over and over again. We get it, she’s not the type of woman you usually go for, and you don’t want to turn into your mum.
The characters were average; I can’t say that I felt strongly about any of them. But I do appreciate the number of strong topics that the booked covered. Including miscarriage, depression, grief, and divorce. These are topics that need more representation.
Overall, an easy, opposites attract read.
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“When the time comes, you’ll know that kind of love because the intensity will sweep you off your feet and you’ll be powerless to resist.”
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“This isn’t my happily ever after, it’s just the beginning.”
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⭐️⭐️⭐️
•
📚 21/70 📚
•
Well, I mean, I read it pretty quickly, but I can’t say it was the best read of the year. It was a nice length, at 280 pages. But the whole book felt very repetitive, with the characters bringing up the same narratives over and over again. We get it, she’s not the type of woman you usually go for, and you don’t want to turn into your mum.
The characters were average; I can’t say that I felt strongly about any of them. But I do appreciate the number of strong topics that the booked covered. Including miscarriage, depression, grief, and divorce. These are topics that need more representation.
Overall, an easy, opposites attract read.
•
“When the time comes, you’ll know that kind of love because the intensity will sweep you off your feet and you’ll be powerless to resist.”
•
“This isn’t my happily ever after, it’s just the beginning.”
February 18, 2024
This was a fun and steamy opposites attract, let's bang it out, dual POV love story between yoga instructor Shay and accountant Collin who comes to Shay for help when he has an angina attack and gets put on a three month medical leave from work.
Force proximity, sizzling chemistry and unexpected feelings made this a quick and enjoyable read. I especially loved how important Shay's girlfriend 'Gem' group was to her. The six women are besties for life and support one another through love, loss, weddings and pregnancies.
This was my first book by Yahrah St. John and I'm excited to read more in the Six Gems series, starting with ex ballerina Lyric's book slated to release this August. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and finished copy in exchange for my honest review!
CW: parental abandonment, mental illness (depression) in a parent
Force proximity, sizzling chemistry and unexpected feelings made this a quick and enjoyable read. I especially loved how important Shay's girlfriend 'Gem' group was to her. The six women are besties for life and support one another through love, loss, weddings and pregnancies.
This was my first book by Yahrah St. John and I'm excited to read more in the Six Gems series, starting with ex ballerina Lyric's book slated to release this August. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and finished copy in exchange for my honest review!
CW: parental abandonment, mental illness (depression) in a parent
January 30, 2026
Spicier than expected and enjoyable.
Colin was a straight jerk. The repitition of what he thought his woman should be and that he lowered himself to even be with Shay annoyed me so bad. But did he truly settle at the end?
Shay was a bit annoying and the downplaying of herself was typical after a divorce/break up. She did stand up for herself towards the end but she also was a bit wishy washy with their "situationship agreement", which was bananas.
I like this was a true Frenemis vibe, they really didn't like each other since school lol.. Hold the grudge, yes!!! LOL. I didnt know this was part of a series but fun to learn because now I have to read the rest.
LaDonna Raeh and Cary Hite were great. Cary played the annoying part for Colin great to me and I guess that made dislike him more.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the early audio copy
Colin was a straight jerk. The repitition of what he thought his woman should be and that he lowered himself to even be with Shay annoyed me so bad. But did he truly settle at the end?
Shay was a bit annoying and the downplaying of herself was typical after a divorce/break up. She did stand up for herself towards the end but she also was a bit wishy washy with their "situationship agreement", which was bananas.
I like this was a true Frenemis vibe, they really didn't like each other since school lol.. Hold the grudge, yes!!! LOL. I didnt know this was part of a series but fun to learn because now I have to read the rest.
LaDonna Raeh and Cary Hite were great. Cary played the annoying part for Colin great to me and I guess that made dislike him more.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the early audio copy
March 2, 2024
The book, Sooley, features a well-crafted character who experiences a multitude of significant events.
Sooley's early years in South Sudan taught him the importance of perseverance, growth, and building a reputation. As the story progresses, themes of maturity, prioritization, and the temptation of fame emerge, challenging Sooley to blaze his trail while facing numerous setbacks. The novel's emotionally charged climax is sure to evoke a wide range of sentiments in the protagonist and readers alike, making it an enthralling read.
Sooley's early years in South Sudan taught him the importance of perseverance, growth, and building a reputation. As the story progresses, themes of maturity, prioritization, and the temptation of fame emerge, challenging Sooley to blaze his trail while facing numerous setbacks. The novel's emotionally charged climax is sure to evoke a wide range of sentiments in the protagonist and readers alike, making it an enthralling read.
July 18, 2024
Loved the passion and energy this book and its characters had. Tbh was not expecting the NSFW content but enjoyed it regardless. Felt like the characters were expressing their feelings repeatedly throughout the book but I did love the back n forth perspective from both MCs. Also love the idea that the whole friend group (Six Gems) get their own stories too!
July 18, 2024
3.5, read this on the train, it was fun!
January 25, 2026
See I was so excited to see a smut book about yoga! But omg it did not fit the vibe. They need therapy, not sex.
February 4, 2026
I hated Colin. He played in my girl's face the whole book. Some.of the smut was good tho. lol
June 29, 2024
3.499999 stars!
March 20, 2024
i dnf’d after chapter 26 chile. i wanted to like this book so bad😭 enemies to lovers, yoga ugh! for 1 i didn’t really like Colin that much or i guess their overall relationship dynamic? To me, Colin constantly sexualized Shay & talked about how they basically didn’t look good on paper. So him falling in love with her was ??? it was also spicy for no reason likeee i love me some good spice scenes but this didn’t do it for me idk. the wedding reception scene annoyed me LMAO. there wasn’t any depth in the relationships or the characters really so i didn’t find myself rooting for the couple & i ultimately didn’t care how the book finished
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
January 11, 2024I hadn't read any of the series before jumping into this book, and I didn't feel as though I missed anything. I love a good enemies to lovers and opposites attract trope so I was here for it. I feel like I wanted a little more from the characters and wanted to feel a deeper connection, that's all that I feel was missing for me.
November 7, 2023
This is the 4th book in a series, but can be read as a stand-alone. High school classmates that didn’t hang with the same crowd, Shay and Colin reconnect years later when Colin has a health scare and needs Shay’s help getting his health back on track. The two don’t always get along, but when they do… whoa it’s steamy haha
Love the supportive friend group and the yoga studio setting. This book was written well, and I was totally invested in the story, but I wasn’t a big fan of how Colin acted around Shay, kind of an “I’m better than you” vibe, which is why I didn’t give this book 4 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for Frenemy Fix-up to come out February 20, 2024.
Love the supportive friend group and the yoga studio setting. This book was written well, and I was totally invested in the story, but I wasn’t a big fan of how Colin acted around Shay, kind of an “I’m better than you” vibe, which is why I didn’t give this book 4 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for Frenemy Fix-up to come out February 20, 2024.
January 5, 2024
I DNF'd. Colin was insufferable and shallow, and the author was not successful in convincing me to care enough to stick around long enough to see if he'd be reformed by the end.
Thank you to Afterglow Books by Harlequin for providing me with an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Afterglow Books by Harlequin for providing me with an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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