Let’s Call a Truce Summary, Characters and Themes

Let’s Call a Truce by Amy Buchanan is a contemporary romance that balances emotional depth with humor and workplace tension.  At its core, the novel follows Juliana Ryan, a widowed mother reentering the corporate world while raising two daughters and healing from profound personal loss.

Her journey is complicated by Ben Thomas, a difficult but magnetic colleague whose professional rivalry with Juliana masks a simmering mutual attraction.  Set against the backdrop of corporate promotions, diversity initiatives, PTA playdates, and emotional self-discovery, the novel captures what it means to rebuild one’s life after grief while cautiously opening the heart to love again.

Summary

Juliana Ryan steps back into the workforce after seven years as a stay-at-home mother following her husband Jason’s tragic death.  Her return to a corporate environment is fraught with anxiety, as evidenced by a panic attack on her first day at KMG.

Her former boss, Christina, offers her a second chance and a flexible structure to ease her back in.  Balancing the demands of her job with raising daughters Clara and Sophie proves challenging, especially when Sophie acts out at school.

Nevertheless, Juliana resolves to persevere, haunted by guilt and determined to reclaim a sense of self.

Early in her tenure, Juliana meets Ben Thomas, a charming but arrogant hiring manager who dismisses her resume gap.  Their relationship begins with sparks—more friction than flirtation—but the tension between them is unmistakable.

Their witty verbal battles evolve over the next two years as Juliana earns two promotions and leads her own team.  At an outing organized by mutual friend Asia, Juliana and Ben share a moment of almost-intimacy while dancing, but Juliana pulls back.

She still carries the emotional weight of widowhood and worries about what a new relationship might mean for her and her daughters.

The tension between them simmers until a staff-wide meeting where Juliana champions a diversity initiative aimed at more inclusive hiring.  When challenged by a skeptical colleague, she answers confidently and with integrity.

Her performance earns praise from unexpected quarters—particularly Ben—and leads to Christina nominating her as successor for the Chief Recruitment Officer role.  Eduardo, their boss, agrees but adds a test: Juliana must co-lead an internship program with Ben, who has just been promoted to VP of Architecture.

The new project forces Juliana and Ben into close proximity.  Their witty sparring shifts into something more vulnerable as they co-develop the program, and an impulsive kiss in Ben’s office complicates things further.

Though Juliana is rattled by the emotional intensity, they agree to a temporary truce and later share a dinner that blurs the line between business and something more intimate.  However, trust is fragile, and Juliana feels blindsided when she discovers Ben has a daughter, Paris—something he hadn’t told her.

Her sense of betrayal deepens, shaking the foundation of their growing bond.

Their emotional proximity intensifies again when Juliana learns Sophie and Paris have arranged a playdate without permission.  She invites other families to a barbecue to maintain appearances, but the evening is charged with undercurrents.

Ben fits easily into the family setting, charming Juliana’s children and showing up for them in ways that move her.  Her fears about letting him in—and being judged by her community—contrast with her deepening affection.

Conversations with Asia and Dani help her process the emotional weight of her budding relationship, even as her protective instincts keep her guarded.

The next phase of their relationship unfolds during a work trip to Boston.  Their daughters convince them to allow a joint stay with Juliana’s parents, further intertwining their lives.

Ben’s thoughtful gift of running gear for cold Boston mornings signals how attuned he’s become to her habits.  During their shared runs, Ben reveals the story of his own heartbreak: his ex-wife abandoned him and Paris, leaving him to parent alone.

This revelation adds layers to Juliana’s understanding of him, shifting her perspective from suspicion to sympathy.

In Boston, their intimacy deepens both emotionally and physically.  Juliana begins to rediscover parts of herself long buried under grief and responsibility.

She confesses her desire to be with Ben and allows herself the vulnerability of being loved again.  Their night together is a culmination of months of emotional buildup, marked by mutual respect and a shared understanding of loss.

Yet Juliana’s fear doesn’t vanish—concerns about workplace perceptions, parenting dynamics, and personal risks all linger.

These fears surge back after a deeply upsetting interaction involving Ben’s ex-wife, Stephanie.  When Ben fails to stand up to Stephanie during a heated moment concerning Paris, Juliana is devastated.

She channels her pain into a long run, processing the emotional turmoil, and seeks solace in her mother’s comfort.  A confrontation with Stephanie at the airport only fuels the chaos.

Amidst this upheaval, Juliana receives a compelling job offer to teach at a university—an opportunity that offers professional growth and work-life balance but would mean leaving KMG and, potentially, Ben.

She confides in friends and her daughters while weighing the decision.  Their initial resistance is a painful reminder of how any shift could disrupt their delicate equilibrium.

At a gala in Boston, Juliana and Ben share another intimate moment but she walks away, still unsure of whether he can truly choose her and the future she envisions.

Eventually, Ben takes a definitive step.  He ends things with Stephanie and presents Juliana with a detailed plan for a family trip to Paris, symbolizing not just a romantic gesture but a clear commitment to blending their lives.

Touched by his clarity and seriousness, Juliana agrees to give their relationship a real chance.  They travel as a newly formed family, learning to navigate life together.

Twenty-two months later, Juliana and Ben are thriving in their blended family.  They’ve built a life that honors their pasts while creating something new and full of promise.

In a full-circle moment, Ben proposes in the Boston Public Garden, surrounded by family and friends.  Juliana says yes, finally embracing the love and future she once thought she’d lost forever.

The book closes with a sense of renewal—not just of romantic love, but of self, family, and hope.

Characters

Juliana Ryan

Juliana Ryan is the emotional and narrative anchor of Lets Call a Truce, a woman navigating the treacherous terrain of grief, motherhood, and professional reinvention.  Once a stay-at-home mother forced into the working world after the tragic death of her husband Jason, Juliana enters the corporate realm of KMG with a brittle strength and profound vulnerability.

Her initial panic attack in the office bathroom highlights the crushing pressure she faces as she struggles to reconcile her past with her new role as a working mother.  Yet beneath the surface of her anxiety lies immense resilience.

As she juggles her daughters, Clara and Sophie, a demanding job, and simmering personal grief, Juliana evolves into a confident professional, eventually rising to lead a major diversity initiative and being considered for the role of Chief Recruitment Officer.  Her relationship with Ben, marked by fierce verbal sparring and slow-burning attraction, reveals her emotional caution as well as her capacity for passion and deep connection.

Juliana is a character of contradictions—tender yet fierce, broken yet ambitious, fearful yet courageous.  Her growth culminates not in shedding her past but in learning to carry it with grace while allowing herself to imagine a future defined not by loss, but by renewal.

Ben Thomas

Ben Thomas is introduced as Juliana’s arrogant and enigmatic workplace rival, but over time he reveals himself to be a deeply layered character.  Initially skeptical of Juliana’s career gap and guarded in his own interactions, Ben engages in a two-year-long war of wits with her, marked by sarcasm, tension, and mutual fascination.

However, as their professional and personal lives entangle—especially through the Billings internship project—Ben’s complexity emerges.  Behind his condescending exterior lies a man who is a devoted father to his daughter Paris, nursing his own wounds from abandonment by his ex-wife Stephanie.

His unexpected acts of kindness—like remembering Juliana’s cold-weather running habits and quietly admiring her strength—signal his emotional availability and desire for connection.  Ben’s evolution from aloof VP to a vulnerable, earnest partner reflects his willingness to fight for love, even when it means confronting his own failures.

His eventual declaration of love and the trip to Paris serve as a testament to his transformation and emotional growth.  In Ben, the novel crafts a love interest who is flawed, introspective, and ultimately willing to change.

Asia

Asia is Juliana’s best friend and emotional confidante, offering humor, grounding wisdom, and steady loyalty.  As both a professional colleague at KMG and a personal support system, she bridges Juliana’s two worlds with grace.

Asia is the rare friend who sees through Juliana’s guarded exterior and pushes her—gently but firmly—toward self-reflection and emotional risk.  Her deep bond with both Juliana and Ben allows her to act as a moral compass in the narrative.

She encourages Juliana to remain open while also reminding her of Ben’s emotional complexity, hinting at his own pain and the stakes of hurting him.  Through Asia, the novel explores the importance of chosen family and the sustaining power of female friendship.

Sophie and Clara Ryan

Sophie and Clara, Juliana’s daughters, represent the emotional heartbeat of the story and serve as mirrors reflecting their mother’s inner transformation.  Sophie, younger and more impulsive, drives many of the plot’s intimate developments—especially by arranging a playdate with Paris that forces Juliana and Ben into closer proximity.

Clara, more reserved and focused, bonds with Ben through sports, offering glimpses of her openness to new male figures in their lives.  Together, the girls embody the delicate balance of Juliana’s responsibilities as a mother, and their evolving comfort with Ben underscores the viability of their blended family.

Their emotional needs, reactions to change, and gradual acceptance of Ben are pivotal in Juliana’s decisions about love and career.

Paris Thomas

Paris is Ben’s daughter with Stephanie, and a vital part of the story’s exploration of second chances and emotional integration.  She forms an early bond with Sophie and Clara, her presence facilitating the intersection of the two families.

Paris is also a subtle yet powerful reminder of Ben’s past wounds—especially the abandonment by Stephanie—and the vulnerability he carries.  Her inclusion in key scenes such as the cookout and the Boston trip highlights her importance not just as a child but as a symbol of Ben’s commitment to building a real family life.

Christina

Christina, Juliana’s former boss and professional mentor, is a stabilizing presence in the novel.  She rehires Juliana during her lowest point and becomes a staunch advocate for her advancement, eventually nominating her for the CRO position.

Christina embodies the nurturing, feminist leadership that uplifts rather than scrutinizes, recognizing Juliana’s talent beyond her career gap.  Her retirement and passing of the baton to Juliana symbolize both trust and transformation—the professional validation Juliana has long yearned for.

Eduardo

Eduardo, Christina’s superior and a high-ranking executive at KMG, represents the traditional professional hierarchy that initially doubts Juliana’s readiness.  However, over time, he is persuaded by her performance and leadership, especially during the diversity initiative.

His challenge to Juliana—to lead the Billings internship project—serves as a pivotal test of her skills and becomes a catalyst for her deepened bond with Ben.  Eduardo, while skeptical at first, ultimately plays a critical role in legitimizing Juliana’s rise within the company.

Stephanie

Stephanie, Ben’s ex-wife and Paris’s mother, is a disruptive force in the narrative.  Her unexpected airport appearance and emotional manipulation expose the raw nerve of Ben’s past and his lingering guilt.

For Juliana, Stephanie’s presence is a test of trust and perception, revealing the gaps in communication and vulnerability between her and Ben.  While Stephanie herself is not deeply explored, her role is significant in complicating the narrative and raising the emotional stakes for all involved.

Themes

Grief and the Ongoing Search for Stability

Juliana’s grief over the loss of her husband Jason is a constant presence that subtly shapes every aspect of her identity, from her professional demeanor to her parenting and romantic hesitancy.  Her emotional pain doesn’t manifest in dramatic displays but rather in the quiet exhaustion of holding herself together while functioning as a single mother and corporate leader.

The story doesn’t treat grief as a single, cathartic event to be overcome but instead portrays it as a continuous negotiation between memory, longing, and the need to move forward.  Juliana’s frequent moments of guilt—when she forgets a school event, when she fears her children feel abandoned, when she allows herself moments of pleasure—are expressions of her internalized belief that joy must be rationed after tragedy.

This tension culminates in her emotional transformation in Boston, where she allows herself to feel connected, not just sexually but spiritually, to someone new.  That turning point is not a neat resolution of grief but a powerful admission that life, with all its messiness and uncertainty, is still worth embracing.

Her final acceptance of Ben is not about replacing Jason but about acknowledging that her heart still holds capacity for love, resilience, and healing, even while carrying her past.  The emotional gravity of her grief isn’t erased by romance—it’s honored, contextualized, and carried with her into her new beginning.

Motherhood and Identity

Juliana’s role as a mother is inseparable from how she defines her worth and navigates the world.  Her decision to reenter the workforce is filled with guilt, not because she doubts her capabilities, but because society and her own expectations demand self-sacrifice.

Her daughters, Sophie and Clara, are not sidelined characters but central emotional anchors that influence her professional decisions, her relationship boundaries, and her perception of self.  Scenes of missed soccer parties, chaotic school pickups, and bedtime routines with makeshift movie nights capture both the exhaustion and fierce devotion that define her motherhood.

Her anxiety about being judged—by other mothers, by colleagues, by herself—is a recurring narrative that mirrors broader societal pressures placed on working women.  Even at moments of triumph, like her promotion, she is preoccupied with the question of how to balance ambition and parental responsibility.

Her mothering instinct extends beyond her biological children as she bonds with Paris, Ben’s daughter, deepening her understanding of what it means to nurture and protect.  In making space for this blended family, Juliana confronts not just logistical challenges but deeper fears of inadequacy, demonstrating that motherhood is not just about providing care but constantly renegotiating identity under pressure.

Ultimately, she doesn’t shed her maternal role to embrace love or ambition; she learns how to carry all parts of herself—mother, partner, professional—without apology.

Romantic Vulnerability and Emotional Reawakening

The evolution of Juliana and Ben’s relationship is a study in guarded intimacy—where attraction is initially masked by power dynamics and verbal sparring, only to gradually unfold into something deeply sincere.  Their relationship is defined not by a simple enemies-to-lovers arc but by layers of mistrust, mutual respect, and an ongoing challenge to each other’s emotional defenses.

What makes their connection feel authentic is not just chemistry but their capacity to meet one another in moments of weakness.  Ben’s respect for Juliana’s professional instincts and his eventual emotional honesty about his own wounds elevate their romance from flirtation to something transformative.

Their eventual intimacy is not marked by grand declarations but by small, attentive acts—his gift of running gear, his presence with the children, his confession about Paris’s mother—all of which signal a deeper emotional availability.  Juliana’s hesitation is not rooted in clichéd commitment issues but in a very real fear of replacing love with performance, of risking her rebuilt life on someone who might not fully see or value it.

Their reconciliation isn’t built on apology alone but on the hard-earned recognition that real love demands vulnerability, patience, and shared strength.  The final proposal isn’t the climax of their romance—it’s a symbol of mutual growth and a future grounded in resilience, not fantasy.

Professional Empowerment and Feminine Leadership

Juliana’s journey from a nervous returnee to the workforce to a contender for Chief Recruitment Officer positions her as a figure of quiet, determined empowerment.  Her arc defies the idea that success must come at the cost of authenticity.

Whether she’s managing a diversity initiative, fielding hostile questions at a company-wide presentation, or co-developing an internship program with Ben, she leads with integrity and vision.  Her competence isn’t validated by approval but by results—her promotions, the respect of her peers, and the trust of her mentor Christina.

Importantly, her leadership doesn’t reject empathy; she creates space for inclusion, listens to her team, and refuses to mask her maternal priorities to seem more professional.  The narrative celebrates not just her wins but the values behind them.

She doesn’t sideline others to climb—she collaborates, uplifts, and represents a model of leadership rooted in balance.  Her greatest conflict arises not from workplace drama but from the internal struggle of whether she must compromise motherhood for professional fulfillment.

That tension is resolved not through sacrifice but through negotiation and structural support, like Christina’s assurance of flexibility.  Her story redefines success as not merely ascent but adaptation—proof that women can lead powerfully without abandoning the parts of their lives often viewed as liabilities.

In doing so, she makes room for herself and for others to rise with less fear and more self-trust.