Thank you Berkley Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

Kian Andrews is surprised to get a text from his ex-boyfriend Hudson, considering they haven't spoken in months. Since the breakup that left Kian hurt and angry. Kian agrees to meet up with Hudson, hoping an apology is on the horizon, only to be presented with a plea to Kian to be Hudson's boyfriend again. But, not really. Hudson lays out a fake dating plot to take the pressure off from his nosy, uber-rich, and uber judgemental parents. Kian agrees, only to be swept up in a seemingly neverending fake relationship that might just have both of them second-guessing things.

I really enjoyed this book! Kian as a MC is so fun to read because he always says exactly what he's thinking regardless of consequence. That's not always the best course of action, of course. Sometimes it's hurtful and he has to apologize more than once for saying things off the cuff, but it's nice to see some spine. He's still in love with Hudson, obviously, but he's not so far deep he can't realize the issues between them. Hudson is a fantastic character as well just because of his vulnerability. He has issues with feeling like he's good enough for his business-minded family, and doing what he wants doesn't come easy to him. He's a sweet southern gentleman, and honestly, I don't blame Kian for falling hard! All of the side characters were so well done, too, from Kian's ride or die BFF to Hudson's hard ass with heart sister.

I do wish we could've seen more of the relationship's demise before the breakup. It's never actually clear why it happened, just that Hudson decided it was over one day. To that point, we don't really know what it is that needs to change with them in order for this time to be successful. This is only a mild complaint, as honestly the chemistry between the two made up for it.

A super cute romance!

I'm So (NOT) Over You is a LGBTQ second-chance romance. It has fake dating, humor and pop culture references. And boy, there was steam. Unfortunately, the romance was difficult to believe between Kian and Hudson. They broke-up for a reason which was left out of the story, therefore I could not get behind their rekindled love affair. Also, this novel felt more like a YA than adult.

Thank you Berkley Publishing for an advance reader copy.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: I’m So (Not) Over You

Author: Kosoko Jackson

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 4/5

Spice: 4/5

Diversity: m/m romance, Black Gay Love Interest, Black Gay Anxiety MC, Bi side character, Black and other POC side characters

Recommended For...: romance, LGBT+, Black MCs, Black authored, contemporary

Publication Date: February 22, 2022

Genre: Romance

Age Relevance: 18+ (language, racism, slavery mentioned, romance, homophobia, classism, HP reference, anxiety, underage alcohol consumption mentioned, slight violence, slight gore, sexual content)

Explanation of Above: There is cursing in the book. The book does well to show some of the racism that all of the Black characters still face, even the rich ones. There are also mentions of slavery and there’s some micro-aggressions shown too. There is also classism and homophobia shown in the book. The MC has anxiety and has some anxiety attacks. There is slight violence and gore in the book. There is a mention of a past incident of underage alcohol consumption. There is 1 very small HP reference in regards to houses. There is also romance and sexual content.

Publisher: Berkley Books

Pages: 368

Synopsis: It's been months since aspiring journalist Kian Andrews has heard from his ex-boyfriend, Hudson Rivers, but an urgent text has them meeting at a café. Maybe Hudson wants to profusely apologize for the breakup. Or confess his undying love. . . But no, Hudson has a favor to ask--he wants Kian to pretend to be his boyfriend while his parents are in town, and Kian reluctantly agrees.

The dinner doesn't go exactly as planned, and suddenly Kian is Hudson's plus one to Georgia's wedding of the season. Hudson comes from a wealthy family where reputation is everything, and he really can't afford another mistake. If Kian goes, he'll help Hudson preserve appearances and get the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in media. This could be the big career break Kian needs.

But their fake relationship is starting to feel like it might be more than a means to an end, and it's time for both men to fact-check their feelings.

Review: I absolutely adored this book! It was such a good read and I loved the romance in the book. I also loved how real the book was and how much I related to it. The book discussed student loans and class privilege in the book, which I really enjoyed because I don’t see that talked a lot about in other adult reads. The book did well with character development and world building. The book also did well with the smut and, even when the characters weren’t together, the author did well to do mentions and stuff to keep those reading strictly for the romance interested in the plot. The book also did a lot of pop culture references that Millennials will recognize.

However, the book is very fast paced in the beginning and it made it hard to get into the book and figure out what was going on. The book also had a small HP reference, but because of my review policy I had to knock it down a star. It is still upsetting to some in the queer community to see anything related to HP or JK Rowling mentioned in books, which makes it very hard on those in the community to see HP referenced in queer books.

Verdict: I absolutely loved this one! Highly recommend!

I saw this cover and I was like YESSSS an MM book!! I'm a huge fan of MM romances, and so, I was very excited for this book! Especially with that cover right?? Love it.

Now, I like a fake dating trope as much as the best person, so I was interested to see how this book would play on that trope. This book I feel just wasn't for me, even until the end I never got why the couple broke up in the first place, but that might just be me?? I did like Hudson and Kian though!

This book had a heavy reliance on the class system and how interconnected it is with race, and I comment the author for focusing on it throughout the book and how it affects people, what money can do, and things like that.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkely for the earc in return for an honest review.

Hudson... I really wanted to dislike you but you changed my heart. Kian, I just wanted to hold you and throw some wisdom into you.

When I started reading I didn't think they'd end up together, I didn't even think Hudson would change course. Fake dating with your ex is a perfect recipe for disaster with a lot of laughs and tears. I loved the way the author roped in difficult topics like homophobia, without making me cringe.

I had two minor issues with this book - we were not told why they broke up in the first place and then we didn't get to see Hudson's pov (which I think would have added more in-depth to his character).

All said this was a great read and a good representation of blacks in the LGBTQ community. A highly recommended read from me.

Kian and his ex, Hudson have been broken up for months. So when Hudson texts Kian out of the blue wanting to meet up, Kian is very confused. Hudson has a huge favor to ask, he wants Kian to pretend they are still together when his parents are in town. But over dinner, Hudson’s parents invite Kian to a family wedding, a wedding that could lead to a major career breakthrough for Kian thanks to all of the high profile guests. But as in all fake dating situations, feelings always make things more complicated…

The many pop culture references had me laughing out loud….there were just so many great ones! I also loved the side characters from the all time best bestie, Divya (who I would love to see get her own story) to the sassy Josephine. I had a hard time connecting with Hudson and Kian as a couple so the romance didn’t feel natural to me, but I really enjoyed Kian as a narrator and found his perspective to be sharp and funny.

This book had a lot to say about race, queerness, and class issues, as well as how the three intersect and to me that is the best part of this book. It is clear that Kosovo Jackson has a great perspective and a lot to say and I cannot wait to see what he writes next!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the advanced copy!

Happy to see more POC queer rom-coms being published. The main character was relatable, and there were some humorous parts. Lots of good social commentary and social justice issues woven in to the story.

I'm So (Not) Over You is a second chance romance by way of a bit of fake dating, which was an interesting way to go about getting that second chance. There's a lot of good representation here, which is a nice touch. That said, it's all about the story for me. If I like characters (I do!), enjoy their journey (I did!), and in this case, find a few laughs along the way (Again, I did!), then it's a winner. Needless to say, this one is. It does rely a bit heavily on miscommunication as a means of relationship angst, which is not my favorite, but it works for these characters. The story moves at a good pace, and these characters are so easy to like, and I may have laughed out loud a few times as they moved from exes to fake boyfriends to something more. This is my first time reading a book by Kosoko Jackson, but it won't be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed his writing style and wit.

I could not get into this book. It seemed to jump into a story and didn't provide any background. I didn't understand the history of the relationship and the fake dating seemed out of character.

I'm So (Not) Over You is first and foremost a book about queerness, Blackness, and class differences. Together these made for a compelling story. I appreciated how real and vulnerable this book was in its exploration of sexuality, privilege, and identity.

Hudson and Kian have history and that history brings them together to wind up in a fake dating scenario. I enjoy fake dating as much as the next person, but for me, the reason behind Hudson and Kian faking it didn't make sense. Hudson's family is all about image and prestige so having Kian, who is struggling to find a career, as a way to impress Hudson's parents was an odd choice. I was missing the romantic connection between Hudson and Kian. It felt like Kian was putting so much more into the relationship than Hudson, especially when it came to the ending. I expected more romance going in and unfortunately I felt like it was lacking a little bit.

I definitely recommend reading this one though for an honest look at queerness, Blackness, and privilege.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Immediately I was struck by I'm So (Not) Over You's wry narration. Kian is a character I knew I was going to love immediately. Using humor to defuse a serious situation as a coping mechanism? Sign me right up. Having friends that you love and that give good advice...which you end up ignoring because that twitch in your heart tells you to? I felt called out. Kian manages to balance not only the traits which resonated, but also some I wasn't even aware of.

But besides absolutely falling in love with Kian's character - I laughed so much while reading - I loved how I'm So (Not) Over You refuses to pull its punches. How Kian tries to hold back, but ends up pushing and making Hudson, and his family, aware of his privilege. I wish I had that bravery! Kian can be real sassy when he wants to be. At the same time, Kian's struggle with the potential second chance was fantastic to read. How second chance romances bring up pieces of a relationship we think we've forgotten. Up until we see habits we fall into, then the tsunami crashes over us.

One of my favorite parts of I’m So (Not) Over You was the dialogue — both external and Kian’s internal dialogue. Kosoko Jackson’s writing was so engaging and fun and I could truly hear Kian’s voice in my head. There were just so many funny references and jokes throughout and it made me really love Kian as a character.

Fake dating is 100% my favorite trope — but faking dating your ex? Ehhh I was intrigued but had pretty mild expectations. How could that possibly end well? Spoiler alert: it did. And I enjoyed reading the journey. I would have loved getting Hudson’s POV at points. It would have perhaps made the story feel more well rounded. There also wasn’t a ton of clear talk about why they broke up to begin with — which could have also helped round out the story.

Overall, this was a really fun, fake dating, second-chance romance. The writing was really great and by combining those two tropes, it get fresh!

Thank you to Berkeley Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The synopsis for I’m So (Not) Over You caught my eye and as I try to read 2-3 new to me authors a month, I decided to check this one out. Fake dating your ex-boyfriend sounded like an interesting set up and it would have been, but honestly from the start I felt like I’d missed part of the story. Never in the entire book did we find out what broke them up in the first place and from things that were said it was Hudson’s idea, not Kian’s idea because he shared many internal thoughts about that throughout this book. I was rooting for these two at the start but to be honest by the time they had their second spat, then the whole wedding fiasco, I was done, but like those Made for TV products, “but wait there’s more,” we ended up with them back together once again. Drama, miscommunication, and angst throughout this story bogged it down and made it difficult to finish.

My problem was I didn’t feel like this book was a romance at all; it felt like two people who honestly really didn’t belong together holding on because moving on was too hard. The sad thing is we never got to know either character very well, there was surface stuff but the author chose not to dig in and let us really see what these characters were thinking and feeling the majority of the time. Perhaps if the story hadn’t been weighted down by the many, many, many pop culture references and more time had been spent developing the characters I would have felt more connected to them and enjoyed this book more.

Seeing the difference in these two men’s social class and how that formed them was interesting, but even that was somewhat on the surface especially where Hudson was concerned; Kian was pretty vocal about how he felt about their extreme wealth. I just felt like this book was all over the place and there was no real plot just random happenings that were kind of smashed together into a book. I kept expecting more push back from Hudson’s father and more either wisdom or even chastising anger from Hudson’s grandmother, Johnannah Rivers, who made quite an appearance but then dropped out of site.

There were moments in this book that I truly enjoyed, but for the majority of it I was trying to figure out what was happening and where it was going and to be honest I was disappointed in the outcome because it felt unfinished, like we were missing some of the story.

DNF @20%

I keep picking this one up, reading a few pages, and putting it right back down. I don’t know what it is about the story, but I’m just not really sold on the main characters. While I normally love fake dating tropes, I’m not such a fan of the second chance romance and pining, so I think that’s why I’m really struggling to get into this story. I think this will work well for some people…just not me.

Having recently earned his degree in journalism and sociology, Kian Andrews is ready to conquer the world. Except for the lack of job prospects. And the massive amount of college loan debt. And the broken heart he’s still trying to ignore after his affluent, gorgeous ex-boyfriend, Hudson Rivers, dumped him without warning three months ago. At least Kian isn’t the type to fall in love with said ex again when he calls begging for a favor only Kian can do—right?

I was so excited to receive this ARC from NetGalley for review! Kosoko Jackson is a “new-to-me” author, which is always a draw, and I’m So (Not) Over You was a welcome introduction. Told exclusively from Kian’s perspective, it is a very busy narrative, delving into issues of wealth, privilege, and race, as well as all the complications, both general and unique, that romance can bring.

While I enjoyed I’m So (Not) Over You a great deal, I did have a little trouble with a few scenes, some of which may admittedly be my fault. The story is written in first person present tense POV, which I always find uncomfortable for some reason, but that’s my problem. Something that did keep bothering me, however, was the lack of transparency regarding Kian and Hudson’s initial breakup earlier on in the narrative. This is a “second chance” romance, so I very much wanted to understand what happened the first time better. As the story progresses, there are acknowledgements of things that ought to have been said on Hudson’s side, and things that ought not have been said on Kian’s, but there’s not a specific tipping point explained that started the whole thing. In the end, both characters make heart fluttery promises for the future, but the initial causes of their breakup aren’t completely clear.

Another point that I had mixed feelings about was the exchange during the most pivotal argument of the narrative between Kian and Hudson’s sister, Olivia. One of greatest strengths of I’m So (Not) Over You, I believe, is the backbone of the Rivers family matriarchal line. These women are the real forces behind the family’s continued dominance and affluence—Hudson’s Grandmother, in particular, is delightfully and undeniably terrifying—so I was never able to fully get Olivia’s verbal attack on Kian, especially given their conversation in the final chapter of the novel.

Those concerns aside, there are plenty of things in I’m So (Not) Over You to enjoy. If you like your Rom-Coms with pop culture references, you’re in luck, because there are so many that readers will need waders for this story. But, in this author’s hands, I thought they were a lot of fun. In some respects, Kian is sort of a goofball (as are the other characters he holds dear), which I loved because it’s not an overtly advertised aspect of his personality. It’s endearing. Regardless, my various watchlists will be screaming at me for quite some time, though I made the additions to them happily enough.

Also wonderful are the secondary characters. Kian’s best friend, Divya, is absolutely amazing, as is his brother, Jamal. Hudson’s Grandmother, as mentioned above, is one of my favorite parts of the whole story. Even Hudson’s sister earned a healthy wariness from me, in part because she’s such a thoroughly ruthless sibling. This author also writes wonderfully detestable villains, which made hating them a pleasantly uncomplicated affair.

Even though the issues with the ARC I received went beyond typos and actually interfered with the narrative to a point, there was a lot more about this story to like. Hudson in a romantic mood is top-notch swoony, just to start. Kian and Hudson’s love story is both painful and complicated—as all good love stories tend to be. Ultimately, I’m So (Not) Over You is as funny as it is sweet, and the desire to snarl at both protagonists until they got out of their own way was highly enjoyable. Regardless, Kosoko Jackson is an extraordinarily promising romance author, and one I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for in the future.

Included as a top pick in bimonthly February New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached)

A huge thank you to Berkley Romance for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

5🌟 3🌶

What I LOVED: The premise hooked me immediately and I loved how perfectly written it was! All the angst and mixed emotions came through in the right moments to the point that this had me laughing, swooning and already crying in the first chapters! Ultimately, this book was about growth in relationships and withing yourself and choosing the path that makes you the most happy no matter how hard that may be.

I fell in love with Kian and Hudson’s relationship immediately! Their second chance romance mixed in with fake dating made for a love story filled with unresolved feelings, bitternesss, familiarity and a level of comfort only those people who’ve been together long enough could have. I especially love when they have a serious conversation on the randomest things but the way they complement each’s ideas without judgement is so wholesome!

The intimacy between them was both swoon-worthy and incinerating! There was a part that had consensual kink play which I absolutely loved 😋

Them together was like magic but it was also interesting getting to know them individually. With Hudson being a part of a family who is wealthy beyond comprehension yet ends up feeling like the failure of the family. But I could see why Kian would be attracted to him. From his stunning looks, fashion and accent, he was as interesting physically and inside. I also adored Kian! I love how emotional, honest and real he was and how well he adapts no matter the situation. And everyone who meets him can’t help but enjoy his company.

What I LIKED: The side character were equally fun! First off with Divya, the BEST friend Kian could ever have! And by the end, Jamal and Olivia as well!

The sibling relationships in this were painfully relatable! Usually in contemporary, I always see such close and healthy sibling relationships and that’s something that was hard for me to relate to fully so seeing the lack of closeness and vicious bickering between siblings in this especially with Kian and Jamal and Hudson and Olivia, I think others who may have felt the same way could find comfort in knowing that they’re not alone.

Another thing I found myself relating to in this is Kian’s experiences meeting Hudson’s family and friends. As someone who is closely related to a family with generational wealth and being the exact opposite of them financial-wise, I know first hand how it feels like to be in their territory and not belong with those people and to constantly feel like an outsider. I don’t particularly envy the image and standards they have to uphold and the familial relationships they have to sacrifice but it would feel so fucking nice to not worry about money for once and just have the financial freedom. It wasn’t hard to love Hudson despite his status as well as he recognizes it and uses his privilege for good.

Also, the pop culture references were spot on! I understood them all and I especially appreciated the Taylor Swift related ones 🤣

What I DIDN’T ENJOY: There were scenes that involved homophobia and sexual harrassment so please take caution during those scenes!

THIS BOOK IS PERFECT IF YOU LOVE:
• queer adult romcoms
• second chance romance between ex-lovers
• fake dating
• wedding settings
• family drama

Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t it for me. It had promise but the elements didn’t add up.

I did not understand Hudson and Kian’s relationship. I wish we learned more about why they broke up. I didn’t understand the reasoning behind Kian’s choice to accept Hudson’s proposal.

Then Kian and Hudson were just not great. I couldn’t connect with them individually or as a couple. This had me feeling meh about the story. It definitely dragged for a while.

A little weird note - I did not understand why the fact that Kian was a journalist was referenced so much. It felt like it was pointed out to be a personality trait but the comments didn’t always feel necessary.

I liked the side characters - especially Divya and Olivia - and their scenes best.

Overall, just ok. (2.5)

[cw - this book has a lot of talk/scenes with drinking; alcohol abuse and recovery]

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I was a little hesitant going into this one because it combines two tropes I don’t typically like, fake-dating and second chance romance, but it was a fun read.

My main issue with this book was the editing. I’ve noticed a couple other reviewers saying this and I think that more editing was needed before sending out e-ARCs for this book. This is not the author’s fault and will probably change before publication! It just made a lot of the writing seem weird, especially the dialogue. I noticed that a lot of the dialogue seemed forced and didn’t fit what I imagine people would actually say in the situation.

I feel like this book definitely has a certain audience it’s targeted towards as well, since the two tropes included are not my favorite and made me enjoy it less. Fake-dating can be entertaining when done well, as it was in this book. However, it was the second chance romance that led to problems with me, because I feel like very little was explained about their past and it made it hard to understand the two characters. It’s hard to form an opinion on Kian and Hudson’s relationship considering we don’t know why they broke up in the first place.

Despite my issues with this book, it was very funny and I enjoyed the representation. It was nice getting to read a story about men from two different backgrounds and how that changed their relationship. I enjoyed hearing Kian and Hudson’s thoughts on wealth and how they both interpreted it. I also loved the supporting characters, especially Olivia and Divya!

I thought this book was entertaining and I imagine the final copies will be much better. If you enjoy the two tropes present I recommend this one! But, overall, it’s not the best romance I’ve ever read.

Love the lgbqt representation on mainstream romance books but this one fell a bit flat. I’d you are looking for a ln easy, quick read that doesn’t get deep, you might enjoy this. I just wanted more info, more back story.