The Vision Board: Enemies to Lovers Destination Romance

by Siobhan Murphy

Two best friends
Two one-way tickets
And a future that might just surprise them …

Bex and Amy are best friends and total opposites. Amy is romantic, Bex is cynical. Amy is organised, Bex is chaotic. Both their careers are in limbo and their love lives are a disaster. With the prospect of turning 34 just around the corner, they are not where they expected to be at this point in their lives.

One Friday night, fuelled by lots of tears and too much wine, Amy buys two one-way flights to the other side of the world. An impulsive move, which is completely out of character.

Armed with a photographic vision board they put their trust in The Universe and head off in search of adventure, cocktails on the beach and maybe even love.

Almost immediately, Amy meets a man who seems the perfect fit for her dream life. The only problem is, Bex is stuck playing double dates with his best friend - the most pompous man she has ever met, and one of the hottest.

As they travel from London to Bali then onto Australia, via white sand beaches, exotic rainforests and road trips through idyllic scenery, the images on their vision boards begin to turn into real life experiences. It looks as though they just might be able to manifest their dreams into reality.

But as the friends will discover people are not always what they seem, first impressions are not always accurate, and sometimes, The Universe has its own agenda.

An Enemies to Lovers romantic comedy with a LGBTQ+ protagonist, forced proximity, vacation romance and found family. The story features a loveable cast of characters, exotic locations and a sprinkling of Pride and Prejudice vibes for good measure.

380 pages, Paperback

Published August 28, 2025

Reviews

[Eclectic Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always wanted to take a fun and exciting trip with my friends, and The Vision Board is the next best thing. 

Bex and Amy are best friends who just say screw it and leave the cold UK winter for the sun-kissed beaches of Bali, Singapore, and Australia. They couldn't be more different, but that’s what makes this trip so interesting. Bex is a gregarious person who is strong, passionate, and unconventional. She’s got this free spirit that draws people to her like a moth to a flame. On the flip side is Amy, who balances Bex’s energy with her grounded consciousness and hesitant demeanor. Together, they’re the perfect blend of free and reserved, representing a friendship we should all strive for.

The story is told in Bex's voice, and she comes across as independent, creative, and funny; however, she's an overthinker and is plagued by the family from hell. It's hysterical and sad how her family doesn't understand her bisexual lifestyle. There’s a whole world inside her, and it’s both exciting and challenging. The trip represents more than just sunny beaches; it's a chance for her to explore what she truly wants, especially with the presence of JP, her new love interest. With the wild unpredictability of old feelings cropping up, Bex is doing her very best to keep her emotions in check. 

JP and his best mate Ben are going to a friend's wedding while celebrating a new deal. Their trip to Australia is a good excuse to combine work and leisure, but with JP’s unhinged ex-girlfriend lurking in the background, there’s certainly never a dull moment.

JP's family is wealthy, but what's interesting is that he doesn’t succumb to the typical materialistic lifestyle. Bex's first few meetings with him are tense because he comes across as arrogant and imperious, but he has his own problems. Along with the stalker ex, he has an autocratic father who thinks he knows best who his son should date. That's where Ben's charm and positivity come in handy, balancing JP's more serious side.

The chemistry between Bex and JP is slow and rewarding as they dodge misunderstandings, evildoers, and their own doubts. When they discover what they want and get out of their own way, they make a great team.

There are other characters that need honorable mention, such as JP's stepmom, Francesca, who is a wonderful mother figure to JP and an instant friend to Bex. Ryan is Bex's boss and is funny and supportive, living vicariously through her during her trip. And last, but not least, is the bride to be, Bree, who, in all her wisdom and awesomeness, reveals JP's ex's lies, while not having to pull out her bridezilla.

I recommend this refreshing story about being young and carefree as we navigate our own paths, explore new relationships, and choose what really matters in life.

Thank you to Ms. Murphy for the opportunity to read this book with no expectations of a positive review.

For more of my reviews, visit The Eclectic Review.

[Corinne Rodrigues · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Vision Board is a feel-good travel romance about friendship, new beginnings, and learning to trust life when things aren’t going to plan.

Amy and Bex are best friends, but really opposites. When organised and predictable Amy, hearing news of her ex-partner getting married, leaves her teaching job in a huff, Bex suggests that they take a long vacation together. Bex, is an an aspiring actress but loves working in a bar. She’s very spontaneous to the point of being quite unpredictable. Exploring her sexuality and feeling pressure from her family to ‘settle down’ Bex feels the need of something different too.

They decide to head to Bali and Australia but not before attempting to create a vision board for their individual lives, hoping the Universe will bring them closer to their dreams for the future.

While Amy has promised Bex that she will push herself beyond her comfort zone, Bex has promised not to be quick to judge people!

Amy, whose vision board is very specific, meets Ben, apparently the man of her dreams. Meanwhile, Bex is stuck with Ben’s best friend, JP who she finds irritating.

Together with Ben and JP and sometimes separately they have a lot of interesting adventures in Bali and Sydney. I really enjoyed reading about these trips and it made me want to visit the places the author described so well.

I enjoyed Bex’s funny take on life and people and her sparring with JP, while Amy and Ben made a much sweeter, softer couple.

While being a perfectly sweet romance with a happy ending, I love how the author included a meaningful representation of neurodiverse and LGBTQ+ characters and touched on topics of search for identity and dealing with grief.

Overall, The Vision Board was a great read and I will be waiting to read more from this author.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Vision Board by Siobhan Murphy

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Two best friends
Two one-way tickets
And a future that might just surprise them …

Bex and Amy are best friends and total opposites. Amy is romantic, Bex is cynical. Amy is organised, Bex is chaotic. Both their careers are in limbo and their love lives are a disaster. With the prospect of turning 34 just around the corner, they are not where they expected to be at this point in their lives.

One Friday night, fuelled by lots of tears and too much wine, Amy buys two one-way flights to the other side of the world. An impulsive move, which is completely out of character.

Armed with a photographic vision board they put their trust in The Universe and head off in search of adventure, cocktails on the beach and maybe even love.

Almost immediately, Amy meets a man who seems the perfect fit for her dream life. The only problem is, Bex is stuck playing double dates with his best friend - the most pompous man she has ever met, and one of the hottest.

As they travel from London to Bali then onto Australia, via white sand beaches, exotic rainforests and road trips through idyllic scenery, the images on their vision boards begin to turn into real life experiences. It looks as though they just might be able to manifest their dreams into reality.

But as the friends will discover people are not always what they seem, first impressions are not always accurate, and sometimes, The Universe has its own agenda.

My Opinion

The Vision Board was an entertaining novel that was difficult to put down. With some lovely characters and a great setting, Siobhan Murphy has written a delightful book. This was my first book by Siobhan Murphy but I am sure that it will not be my last.

Rating 4/5

[Duckfacekim09 (Kim Howell) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was a really easy read; it had such a strong start! (Especially when they were going on holiday and I was sunning myself in Mexico.) It's also inspired me to make my own vision board 😍

I read this straight after a book about a hiking trail (something I'm not very interested in), so when I got to a certain section of this book, it felt very samey and I lost interest, but that isn't the book's fault, just rubbish timing! But this was only very brief and then the queer elements sucked me straight back into the story again. And after reading this, I REALLY want to visit Singapore, Bali and Australia.

My least favourite thing about this book, in all honesty, was the romance. I just didn't really care for them as a fully committed couple and enjoyed the journey to getting there way more. There's another book in the series coming with the same characters so I'm interested to see if I'll enjoy that one too as they all seem partnered off now...

I binged this one in a day though as it was a really digestible romcom. If you like 'enemies to lovers', LGTBQIA+ rep, slow burn and forced proximity then you need to pick this up. Take this with you on your next beach holiday!

[Lisa S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great chilled read - good for holiday, or curled up on sofa
Bex is at a crossroads, she's not where she thought she should be at this stage or her life, not sure if the direction she's been going is still where she needs to go. Her mother's determined to see her coupled up and pregnant by any means possible (including turkey baster option) and something's got to give.

Then her BFF Amy's relationship falls apart and she gives notice on her job as a teacher to go travelling - is this the opportunity Bex has been looking for or is she just along for the ride while Amy figures out what she wants going forward?

Throw in a random airport encounter and the board is set with the players for a fun travel/finding yourself adventure come romcom

This is an engaging and fun read, perfect for a break

[Jo Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Vision Board is the first book in the Chill series by Siobhan Murphy. This enemies to lovers travel romance is so entertaining and humorous. From their meet cute which was hilarious, fate kept pushing Bex and JP together in a way that they both found hard to resist, despite their best efforts.

I loved the echoes of Pride and Prejudice through the book, not only in the way JP confessed his attraction to Bex, but also the way in which he was unable to recognise that Amy was genuinely interested in Ben, and he succeeded in affecting their relationship in the same way that Darcy did with Jane and Mr Bingley.

I really appreciated the way in which neurodiversity and sexuality were addressed in the novel. It felt authentic and very much like everyday life. I recognised myself in the ADHD chaos brought by Bex, and I recognised family and friends in the overall diversity within the pages of the book.

The locations were so fascinating, it was true armchair travel for me sitting in gloomy northern England reading about the luxurious and exotic locations in Bali, and then the move over to Australia too.

The Vision Board was a travel-based rom-com of a novel, with stunning locations, romantic moments and packed with humour!

[Lorna Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Vision Board – Siobhan Muphy – January 10th 2026
Thank you to Siobhan Muphy and Rachels Random Resources for my physical copy to read and review,
Amy is a teacher who has had enough. After a romance ends and the job becomes too much – she quits. Bex is an aspiring actress who works in a bar. They share a flat and have been friends forever.
When Amy quits her job, they make a vision board of their dreams and embark on a holiday to Bali and then Syndey to make their dreams come true. Soon Amy finds love but Bex is stuck with his arrogant and annoying best friend.
The story is narrated by Bex. She is a lovable and complex character and also neurodiverse. She was so quirky and relatable. Amy is organised and doesn’t like to push her comfort zone too much. They complement each other well.
This is the perfect little holiday read set in idyllic locations. More than just a romance it does address Neurodiversity and LGTBQ+ and is firmly grounded in the complex and diverse world we live in world we live in.
Of course, there is a happy ending and no real surprises but I still loved it and would read more books by Siobhan Murphy.

[Bookshortie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best friends Amy and Bex have created a vision board and decide to go travelling in search of adventure. But what else will they find along the way?

This was an easy, fun read which I read very quickly. As soon as I started to read I felt like I was travelling with Bex and Amy. The storyline was about friendship, adventure and romance.

I loved the friendship between Amy and Bex. They are best friends but are more like sisters. They are also different. Amy is very organised and has her life planned out. Bex is the complete opposite and goes with the flow and is very spontaneous. It was really interesting to see how the two put together their vision board of their future and how Amy was the one who booked their travel tickets which was very out of character for her.

Essentially this is a story about Amy and Bex leaving behind their lives, stepping outside of their comfort zones and pursuing adventure and the unknown. Neither of them are looking for love after their previous relationships ended badly but love does find them on their trip when they meet Ben and JP. Amy and Ben quickly connect but Bex and JP’s story is a little different. Their first meeting was very memorable for the wrong reasons because Bex perceives JP as quite arrogant. But once their adventure begins Amy and Bex bump into Ben and JP and they become travelling companions. As Bex and JP start to spend time together they warm to each other. One of my favourite scenes is when they end up hiking together. However, things become complicated when JP’s ex-girlfriend arrives on the scene at a time when Bex and JP have become close.

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“An enemies-to-lovers destination romance with a sprinkling of Pride and Prejudice vibes” sums up this fun romcom beautifully. I loved armchair-travelling through Bali and Australia with Bex and Amy, sharing in sun-soaked cocktails, vibrant nightlife and the realities of travel and hospitality that made the journey feel wonderfully real. I could totally visualise the crystal-clear waters and blue skies, a fabulous contrast to the damp, cold winter days we’re currently experiencing.

I instantly endeared to Bex and loved the camaraderie she shared with her best friend, Amy. When JP arrives on the scene, the love–hate dynamic felt totally realistic and a great fun to read. It was a joy to follow their slow burn potential romance, especially with the contrast between JP’s privileged, financially secure background and Bex and Amy’s far more down-to-earth, relatable lives.

The whole journey introduces the reader to a cast of memorable characters, from Travis and Craigo - stereotypical Australian surf-boy personalities - to Camilla, the posh (and very vengeful) ex-girlfriend determined to ruin JP’s budding relationship with Bex. Having a bisexual female main character added a refreshing layer of representation and depth to the romantic element.

From fun and romance to intricate family dynamics, grief and navigating relationship break-ups, this story had it all, it was just soooo good. A feel-good, escapist read that’s perfect if you’re craving warmth, romance and a little drama and I will certainly be recommending this book and author to all readers of this genre!

#TheVisionBoard - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Emma Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

🩷 Blurb-
Bex and Amy are best friends and total opposites. Amy is romantic, Bex is cynical. Amy is organised, Bex is chaotic. Both their careers are in limbo and their love lives are a disaster. With the prospect of turning 34 just around the corner, they are not where they expected to be at this point in their lives.
One Friday night, fuelled by lots of tears and too much wine, Amy buys two one-way flights to the other side of the world. An impulsive move, which is completely out of character.
Armed with a photographic vision board they put their trust in The Universe and head off in search of adventure, cocktails on the beach and maybe even love.
Almost immediately, Amy meets a man who seems the perfect fit for her dream life. The only problem is, Bex is stuck playing double dates with his best friend - the most pompous man she has ever met, and one of the hottest.
As they travel from London to Bali then onto Australia, via white sand beaches, exotic rainforests and road trips through idyllic scenery, the images on their vision boards begin to turn into real life experiences. It looks as though they just might be able to manifest their dreams into reality.
But as the friends will discover people are not always what they seem, first impressions are not always accurate, and sometimes, The Universe has its own agenda.
🩵 Review -
This is the first book that I have read by the author and I will definitely be reading more by them. The story was fun and easy to follow and perfect for when you want something light and easy to read. I loved the author's writing style and I found myself laughing at times. Plus there was a great cast of characters. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources, the author, Siobhan Murphy and the publisher for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Vision Board by Siobhan Murphy

Bex and Amy are best friends and also roommates. They could not be more different as Amy is structured and organised whereas Bex is messy, a bit chaotic and doesn’t plan anything.

When Amy finds out her ex-boyfriend is getting married she has a bit of a meltdown. She quits her job as a teacher, has a drunken night at home and before you know it she has booked two open plane tickets to Australia for herself and Bex. Before they head out on their travels they develop a vision board outlining what they want out of this trip and out of life in general.

This trip is a chance to find themselves, who they are and what they want out of life. On their first night there Amy falls for Ben and Bex is left with his pompous, stuck up friend JP. Things don’t go as they planned in their vision board but sometimes you just got to ride the wave and see where it takes you.

When my friend gave me an arc of her book to read I was delighted and even more so after finishing it. It was such an easy romantic, at times very funny, feel good holiday read. It had a pride and prejudice vibe and with the enemy to lovers troupe, the short chapters and loveable characters I devoured it.

The girls trip around Australia made me want to jump on a plane straight away and Siobhan described all the places they visited so vividly and beautifully

[Sarah the reading addict · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to this brilliant author for allowing me an ARC of this light-hearted, funny, enemies to lovers story.

I really enjoyed this enemies to lovers, romantic comedy.

I loved the friendship between Amy and Bex, airport bingo was one of my favourite parts, made me laugh so much.

I loved the vision board element of this book and what they both want from their lives. Like a 5 year plan but on a vision board.

There were some laugh out loud moments throughout this book. I absolutely loved the storyline.