Imani & Zander had a one night stand a year ago & Imani ghosts him afterwards. They haven’t seen each other since, but there is a lot that was left unsaid & there is definitely still a spark between them. Which made the forced proximity even more enjoyable! This was such an adorable read that not only made me laugh, but also had me smiling from ear to ear. There are so many cute moments as well as cute dates. It was such a wholesome read with some sensitive subjects, which made it a little more emotional. I definitely teared up a few times. The romance, chemistry and the build up was on point. Aside from the romance, there is a lot of self discovery & self development with Imani. & I always love that because it gives the characters a lot more depth and its a lot easier to relate to them that way. This is book #2 from the “Mathew Brothers” series but can be read as a standalone. Kate & Drake (the main characters from book #1 “How Sweet It Is”) are mentioned quite often, so I would recommend reading that one first. This is the perfect read for spring & summer!

You can expect:
* Second Chance At Love
* Forced Proximity
* Third Person POV
* Open Door Romance
* Friend to Lovers
* Small Town Romance
* Self Discovery
* Hilarious Inappropriate Parrot
* Opposites Attract

QOTD: Have you ever made a big career change?
My A: Yes! In college I was a bartender/server. Then I went on to become a daycare Director for 5 years and now I work as a nanny for two kiddos! ❤️
.
Ah! I wish there were words that could explain how EXCITED I was to see this book on NetGalley! I read and LOVED How Sweet It Is last July and just did a re-read and annotation before reading this! How Sweet It Is falls at the top of my favorite romances list, so I went into this expecting A LOT.
.
Thank goodness Dylan Newton can deliver! If you were a fan of Fox in Hook, Line & Sinker, I think you'll love Zander. A MMC that is seriously underestimated and underappreciated. He is an absolute cinnamon roll of a guy and reading him prove that was fun! Imani's relationship reminded me of my own with my grandmother and I could really connect with her in that aspect.
.
I am DYING to read Ryker's story next!!
.
BLURB:
As a successful book publicist, Imani Lewis works night and day to promote her authors. It’s her dream job, but she’s become a total workaholic. So when her grandmother invites her to stay for the summer as she recovers from surgery, Imani happily agrees. But being back in the same small town as her one-night stand may not be quite the relaxing break she envisioned…

Zander Matthews wakes up every day determined to enjoy the present because he knows from his time in the Marines that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. But he’s never gotten over the beautiful woman who blew through town a year ago, then disappeared. And he doesn’t want to be hurt again. So they agree to a deal: he’ll help Imani fix up her grandmother’s house as long as they stay firmly in the friend zone.

Whether it’s repairing tiles in his ceramics studio, dodging nosy neighbors, or soothing the most obnoxious parrot ever, Zander never fails to make Imani laugh. And soon their friendly banter is turning ever flirtier. But since Imani’s stay is temporary and Zander can’t be tied to anything beyond the most tenuous plans, will she be able to handle it when things get all fired up?

All Fired Up
Dylan Newton
4-4.5 ⭐️

After a wild and steamy two-night stand, two complete opposites plan to stay firmly in the friend zone, but life has other plans!

My first read by Dylan Newton, and I totally adored it! All Fired Up was cute, quick, and so fun to read. The story was well written, perfectly paced, and full of feels. I was impressed with how the author addresses quite a few serious topics (mental health, PTSD, panic attacks, grief, body image) in a relatable way, and without bringing down the overall lighthearted feel of the story.

I adored the MC’s. Their hilarious banter, crazy chemistry, and watching their growth both as individuals and together. Zander was funny, caring, and knows what he wants! Hard not to insta swoon when he’s compared to Jason Mamoa. Helllooo! I loved Imani and how real she felt. A workaholic and dedicated friend/granddaughter who’s struggling and in need of a serious mental break. I must admit my real love was Gigi! Omg I loved that sassy, granny and her foul mouth parrot. They were both fantastic.

What I enjoyed;
🎈 Gigi & Lancelot
🎈 Small-town, opposites attract
🎈 Swoony Zander
🎈 Mental health rep

P.S. I loved the cute cover!!

I didn’t realize this was a follow up to How Sweet It Is when I requested the ARC. While I don’t feel like I was lost or missed anything, I will go back and read the previous book to read more about Katie and Drake. I can’t wait to read book 3, Ryker’s story.

If you’re in the mood for a light, touching, swoonworthy rom-com to put a smile on your face, All Fired Up is just that.

Pub Date 5/17/22 Add this one to your TBR!


Thank you NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Pub), and Dylan Newton for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I love how Dylan Newton characterizes relationships. We get to see it between siblings, lovers, and even friends, and she's so good at differentiating them. I was so pumped for this story, though I think I may have built it up a bit too much in my head. The tension between Imani and Zander is palpable and only exacerbated further by a foul-mouthed parrot. (Let's be real, Lancelot was my fave!) There was so much build-up from their previous one-night stand, but dare I say... I wanted some steam?

But overall it's a sweet romance with a touch of spice that serves up ALLLLL the summer vibes. My one question is - Who is Ryker going to end up with? I'm so excited for his story!

*Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This was the perfect light and easy read I needed! Imani is the overprepared Mom friend that doesn’t take big risks.. except for the time she had a one night stand with her best friend’s husband’s brother. Zander is a go with the flow, no schedule no problem kind of guy. They’re reunited about a year after their hook up. Imani is trying to figure out what she wants in life while taking care of her grandma and she knows what she wants is not Zander. Zander still has a desire and connection to her. Can this serious woman, with past trauma she is working through, let herself go enough to fall for Zander? And can Zander, Mr. Go with the Flow, get his act together enough win Imani over?

Swoon!!! This budding romance has it all, sweet, laid back guy determined to prove himself to the independent, always in control girl. Zander falls hard and fast for Imani, but Imani is determined to keep their relationships superficial. Zander and Imani both have difficulties from their pasts that have shaped them into who they are and being so different seems to convince Imani they aren't right for each other, but Zander isn't going to give up that easily. This book had great characters, swoon worthy moments, and a happy ending.

Zander and Imani spent one weekend together almost a year ago. Now she’ll be back in his hometown for the summer. She’s planning to keep things friendly while he’s planning ways to show her how a relationship between the two of them could be great.

This book was so cute, and I loved Zander and Imani so much. Their banter was fantastic and their sweet moments together were absolutely swoon-worthy.

This book was really well-written and well-paced. Both main characters had a lot of growth, both personally and within their relationship. Dylan Newton did a great job at balancing some heavier topics such as loss, grief, anxiety and therapy, along with the overall light feeling of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever Publishing, and Dylan Newton for an eARC of the book in exchange for an honest review!

This is a follow up to How Sweet It Is, and follows Imani and Zander. I will be honest and say I didn't have the exact same feelings once I finished this one as I did with the first, but I still enjoyed it. I don't know what was missing that would have made me LOVE it, but it just wasn't there. Still a sweet rom-com!

All Fired Up is the follow up to last year’s How Sweet it Is and features Imani, the best friend of Kate from Sweet, and Zander, the brother of Drake from Sweet. There was a hint there was something going on between Imani and Zander at the end of the previous book, so I was excited to read this one. The premise of All Fired Up is that Imani is back in town to take care of her grandmother and she can’t escape Zander who she hooked up with at Kate and Drake’s wedding. Overall, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the first one. I felt like the author often went over the top to get laugh and that didn’t work for me.

A cute 2nd in the series.

I will be honest here….I enjoyed the first, but didn’t love it.
this was similar - cute, but nothing I loved or totally will remain memorable.

4.5 stars

Imani Lewis makes sure she is prepared for everything. She works hard and has been promoted to her dream job. But things aren’t quite what she expected. She’s taking some time off to help her grandmother as she recovers from surgery and be there for the birth of her best friend’s baby. She’s also desperately hoping she doesn’t run into her one (two) night stand from a year ago, Zander Matthews. Zander is zen and go with the flow. Not Imani’s type at all. But he doesn’t give up easily. The more time Imani spends with him the more she sees the benefits of loosening up a bit. And she also realizes there is no denying the feelings she has for him.

First of all, what an amazingly adorable cover! Fits perfectly with this book.

This was a delightful read! Great main characters in Imani and Zander. They both experience personal growth, separately and together. There is good banter and relationship building and romance. But the author also touches on deeper topics like mental health, grief/loss, and trying to find that balance of living in the moment and planning for the future. The book has good pacing and is well written. There were some moments/scenes that felt a little awkward to me, but for the most part I really enjoyed this book.

If you’re looking for a sweet romcom to make you laugh and have a goofy smile on your face the whole time you’re reading, then pick this book up when it releases on May 17th.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this one. There’s really fabulous mental health rep. I think Imani is going to get a lot of attention in reviews because she’s a great portrayal of that constant anxiety people are faced with, especially now as jobs and funds are much tighter. However for me, Zander was the true light in this book. I think he’s unjustly attacked by Imani, and his family, in some aspects of his lifestyle. This idea he NEEDS a house is a very boomer/ gen X mentality, as most millennials and Gen Z-ers have no hope of affording a home. There is also no desire to take on a home, and all of the additional homeowner costs/ and work required. I wish the book had stuck a bit more to Imani learning to loosen up, from him, instead of them learning from each other.

Dylan Newton places us back in the world of Wellsville, this time following Imani, in her latest novel, “All Fired Up.” Tightly wound Imani and free-as-a-bird Zander hooked up at Kate and Drake’s wedding, it’s been months since they’ve spoken, but Imani is back in town to help her grandmother and the two keep getting thrown together. Can these two make it work? Or is life just too complicated?

I absolutely loved this book! Newton is quickly becoming one of my favorite romance authors. She has created this sweet world of rom-com relationships and I am here for it. The will they, won’t they theme in her books instantly has me hooked every time.

Miscommunication is a big theme in this book. Neither character ever really owns up to what they want or need in a relationship, so it causes all kinds of issues. Zander is giving and free, which leads to an impression of not being serious enough or grown up enough. Imani is straight laced and practical, but this leads her to abandon relationships that don’t seem practical. Yet, the opposites seem to work together fairly well, when they communicate.

In the end, this book was an easy 5 stars for me. It’s a great summer read, coming out on May 17th. Right on time for you to grab a copy before your summer vacation trip! Aaaaand there’s a third book in the series coming next year, that I simply can’t wait for!

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever Pub for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

After hooking up with Zander at her best friend's wedding , Imani hosts him. But they come back into each other's lives as Imani comes to help get grandmother through a knee surgery.

Oh how I love Zander and Imani!

They both have issues that they need to work out in their life but I love that they find the support in each other. Zander is understanding and so helpful especially as Imani is helping her grandmother.

The hot air balloon scene is so fun and then it gets a bit steamy. I was laughing the whole time because I knew someone might interrupt them!

I love getting to see more of Kate and Imani's friendship. They way they are so comfortable with each other since they've known each other most of their lives.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing the ARC.

All Fired Up is the follow up to How Sweet It Is, focusing instead on Kate's friend Imani and Drake's brother Zander. One of the things that I disliked about the first book was how very one-dimensional Kate and Drake felt. That's not the case with Imani and Zander. Both of them are struggling to find their way in life through different avenues, but are faced with some of the same problems.

I daresay that I actually enjoyed this book more than the first one, but Kate and Drake kind of overshadowed the story with their pregnancy storyline. I almost wish that they had been separated more than they were because I got an a lot about Kate and her pregnancy and very little about Imani.

Another thing, the author's depiction of mental health issues kind of rubbed me the wrong way. As someone who suffers from panic disorder, it was hard reading through some of the scenes because it felt like the author stuck them in there to make Imani more "interesting." I don't necessarily agree with her depiction, and it kind of overshadowed the rest of the book.

Overall, it's a serviceable rom-com. A bit lackluster, a bit rushed, but perfectly okay for those who want a quick read.

Dylan Newton is back with another sweet and dorky romance. How sweet it is was a great story, but this one made me giggle like I was a 12 year old girl.
If Dylan can write 900 other books and send them all I would greatly appreciate it.

What a great second book in this series. The Matthews brothers are the perfect family for the interconnected standalone type series! All Fired Up is the second, following How Sweet It Is, which I enjoyed and threw some interesting romance curveballs. Zander and Imani’s story was the sequel I was expecting and wasn’t disappointed. The representation of anxiety and panic was so well done and there were so many layers and depth to each character. I was rooting for Imani and Zander throughout the story and loved that Drake and Kate from book 1 were so present. Can't wait for the third book with Ryker!

It may only be a few months into the year, but I can guarantee All Fired Up will be one of my favorite books of this year. Dylan Newton is now an auto-buy author and I will read anything she writes!

This story has a different feel then How Sweet It Is, the first book in the series, but it is still such a fun read. From the very beginning Zander and Imani have so much chemistry and great banter. I loved how smart, driven, and caring she is and how he is kind, thoughtful, and supportive.

Imani's work sabbatical and time taking care of her grandmother give her and Zander real time together for the first time since they hooked up during the wedding of his brother and her best friend. There were so many moments that literally made me laugh out loud and others that made me smile and swoon. I appreciated, too, that there is real character growth as they work through life experiences and issues that still affect them.

This is a can't miss book with so much heart, humor, and romance. It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend also picking up How Sweet It Is to get Kate and Drake's story too.

This was another wonderful book by Dylan Newton! I loved getting to read about Imani and Zander's story, with appearances from Kate and Drake, who were the leads in the first book. And I can't wait for Ryker's story next! Overall, this is a series I would definitely recommend!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

Dylan Newton's writing style really is something special. She's one of those authors who is able to make you forget you're reading, because you feel like you're in the story. I think it's her descriptions that really seal the deal.

And this story was so cute! I admittedly haven't read the first one, but after reading this one, now I want to go back and give it a try!!

The sweetness and spice are a perfect balance, and the heartfelt moment really jump off the pages and into your soul. Definitely a must read for rom-com lovers.