While I wasn’t wild about the circumstances that led to this “marriage of convenience” plot, I really liked the full circle element of this story of a couple who were high school sweethearts who found their way back to each other years later. I thought I’d land at 3.5 stars but I was rooting for Violet and Xavier so much by the end that it ended up being 4.

The cool thing about a second chance romance, where the first chance was in high school, is the character growth not just as individuals but as a couple. I loved the way they faced the inevitable third/fourth act conflict with grace and maturity.

DNF @ 44%

After LOVING The Neighbor Favor last year, I was so excited to continue on with Violet's story, but unfortunately this just wasn't working for me and I decided to DNF. While I love the Black representation in this series and the celebration of Black joy, this was too slow and just didn't grip my interest enough to keep going. Second chance romance is not my favorite trope, but. I thought that the fake marriage would offset that and be super fun. Sadly, it didn't make sense or work for me. The stakes just weren't high enough so it felt mean/stressful to lie to their families and pretend to be married. I also just wanted a bit more spark/momentum in the story. It was simply fine and I never felt myself reaching to pick it up, so it took me a full week to make it 44% in. While I set this down, I hope this works for others and will absolutely pick up Iris's story next.

Kristina Forest writes magic and I love it so much. I loved The Neighbor Favor and I already cannot wait for the next one!! I was SO HAPPY the entire time I read this book! It makes me so happy I love how she is able to write about all of the sweet things about the relationship while also writing how it feels to not get to where you thought you would, feeling stuck even when your life is good, never feeling like enough.

There is also something I love and hate about the guy getting hurt and then thinking he can never be worthy because his entire life changed in an instant, so he breaks up with his girl because he knows he’ll drag her down but doesn’t even stop to think about how much she loves him and would quite literally do anything for him. It HURTS when that’s the reason they initially break up but when they have all the realizations and come back together 😭😭

Violet and Xavier were WONDERFUL. I loved their story so much. Watching them find each other again, and then kind of throw themselves together to try and help their careers and then shift back into the familiar territory of being together but also being SO scared because they know if something goes wrong this time they won’t recover was done so well! They loved each other SO MUCH. Even after all this time and the hurt, they were meant to be.

I loved this book so so much! I preordered a paperback before I got the ARC and I cannot WAIT to have this on my selves!!

Thank you so much to Berkeley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I tried to read this one but it ended up being a do not finish for me. I couldn’t get into the storyline. Also I couldn’t get engaged with the main characters. Best of luck to the author on this book launch. I’m disappointed because I loved the first book in this series.

A romantic comedy that takes place in Vegas? Yes, please!

I have been living, laughing and loving alongside Xavier and Violet all morning and I have to say, I am really going to miss these two. I completely fell head over heels for Xavier. He was fun, sensitive and sexy!!!

The Partner Plot, is laugh out loud funny. Forest, took center stage when it came to delivering a blockbuster hit. I will be comparing every future RomCom, I read to this book!

Big thank you to Kristina Forest, Berkley and Netgalley, for allowing me the opportunity to read and review The Partner Plot, in exchange for an honest review.

Due out 2/27/2024, you do not want to miss this one!

Check out this teaser :

Two former high school sweethearts get a second chance in this marriage of convenience romance by Kristina Forest, author of The Neighbor Favor.

To Violet Greene, fashion is everything. As a successful celebrity stylist, she travels all over the world, living out her dreams. Professionally, she’s thriving, but her personal life is in shambles. After surviving a very public breakup with her ex-fiancé six months ago, Violet is now determined to focus on her career. But life hands her something—or rather, someone—that might derail everything…

Xavier Wright did not expect to run into his high school girlfriend Violet—the girl he once thought he’d marry—on a birthday trip to Vegas. As a high school teacher and basketball coach, he rarely leaves his New Jersey hometown, so what were the chances? But when the initial shock wears off, they decide to celebrate together. They feel young and reckless as they party the night away—and reckless they clearly were when the following morning, they wake up beside each other with rings on their fingers.

Their impulsive nuptials might be a blessing in disguise, though, when they realize that both of their careers could benefit from the marriage. So they play the part of a blissfully wedded couple. Yet when their passion comes hurling back, they realize their feelings are just as real as they were back when they were teens. But are their lives too different to stick it through or will they finally get a happy ending?

3.5 stars.

I really like the author's writing style. It was easy to follow along and the way she included Violet and Xavier's past into the story was done very well. There was some pretty good character development in this book. We can see how Violet and Xavier's relationship was slowly healing, even if they didn't verbally acknowledge it, and it was nice to read about how their journey was sort of coming full circle as they navigate how to be together despite their different career paths. However, I feel like there was more emphasis on their jobs and it took away from the romance aspect. I was definitely rooting for them as a couple and I love the way they actually communicated, but I would have loved to see more of them after they were officially together.

The Partner Plot is a second chance romance with a marriage of convenience bringing our couple back together. Violet and Xavier were the it couple in high school. Both with big dreams and aspirations though time and distance pulled them apart. When the two unexpectedly run into each other in Las Vegas, they easily reconnect. The two have chemistry and history. What is a trip to Vegas without getting accidentally married? The morning after finds them in bed together with wedding rings and a marriage certificate. Now that they have decided that staying married could help both of their careers, they have to face that they still have feelings for each other.

I enjoyed The Partner Plot. I found Violet and Xavier easy to like as individuals and as a couple. While this is a romance, it felt like that took a back seat throughout. I wanted a bit more couple chemistry and sweet moments. The story focuses heavily on both of their careers. The author used a dual POV to provide insight into what they are thinking and we also get to see how each of them has changed since high school. The best part is the lack of a forced third-act miscommunication. Couples that can set boundaries and communicate should be the standard.

Thank you Berkley Publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book better than Neighbor Favor; however, I don't think it should be considered a romance. It actually feels like theme of this book is: growth; identity as an adult outside of work; family and health. Romance was definitely there and I enjoyed the angst. I loved Vi & Xavier as a couple. I do wish that they made Xavier work to earn her trust back more and not so easy. 3.5 stars

This book is for all the second chance/fake married girlies. Things I liked about this book. I liked that it wasn’t a celeb romance, but was still on the fringe of celeb culture. I liked that the characters didn’t end up changing themselves completely for the other person. I liked that (for the most part) they talked things out like adults instead of just bottling everything up and then exploding all over each other.

So those are the positives. On the other hand, I didn’t love either of the romantic leads unfortunately. They felt deliberately obtuse as to what their issues were. Violet, you literally broke your ankle because you were basically sleepwalking to lunch—you’re obviously overworking yourself. And Xavier…I don’t want to be spoilery, but come on, my guy.

Overall, I thought this book was just okay. It’s not marked as part of a series on Goodreads, but becomes clear during the book that there was a first book about Lily and her current boyfriend. And it seems that a third is getting set up with Iris and looks to be maybe a celeb romance? So I might have to read it just for that.

Note: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

High school sweethearts Violet and Xavier had their entire lives mapped out but fate forced them apart once they reached college. Now adults, Violet is a talented celebrity stylist and Xavier is an English teacher and basketball coach in their hometown. The two run into each other in Las Vegas, and despite not seeing each other for almost a decade, the spark they had ignites instantly. When they wake up the next morning, there’s a hazy recollection of the previous night and two shiny new rings on their fingers. Lucky for them, the wedding was not legitimate but both Violet and Xavier have reasons for wanting to keep up the blissfully married charade. Will their fake marriage lead to a successful second chance at love, or will their separate paths cause them to drift apart once again?

I simply adored Violet as a female MC. She is unabashedly driven in her career and it was a joy to see her continue to thrive even as she hesitantly entered back into a relationship with her former love. I thought her and Xavier’s growth from tumultuous teens to sensible adults was done well and the way they communicated showed their maturity. There was a strong focus on consent and boundaries within romantic relationships and I’m so glad these themes are becoming more prevalent in the genre. I do wish we’d gotten to see a bit more of Violet and Xavier’s rekindled relationship since a lot of the plot focused on them skirting around their present feelings for the other.

The Partner Plot by Kristina Forest delivers on the delicious nuances of the fake dating and second chance lovers tropes. This is the second book in the Greene sisters series but can absolutely be read as a standalone. It also sets up the next book in the series and I CAN’T WAIT to see what Forest has in store for eldest sister Iris!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Partner Plot by Kristina Forest is an enjoyable and lighthearted romantic comedy that is sure to captivate fans of fake relationship narratives.

This is a sweet, second chance love story with a fake marriage thrown in. Violet and Xavier were the high school "it" couple and they had big plans for their futures - he was headed to University of Kentucky to play basketball with hopes of going pro and she aimed to be a celebrity stylist. Ten years later, Violet has made her dreams come true through lots of hard work and she is the stylist for several celebrity clients including a famous musician; however, an injury sidelines Xavier and his path moves in a different direction and now he's an English teacher and assistant basketball coach at his high school. When the two cross paths in Las Vegas, things get crazy and they wake up the next morning married. They quickly realize it's a fake marriage, but they both soon realize that pretending to be married could be good for furthering their respective careers. But what happens when real feelings get involved and when everyone finds out the marriage was fake?

This is the second book by Forest in this stand-alone series featuring the Greene sisters. The love story between Violet and Xavier was sweet but I found the spark to be largely missing between them. I appreciated seeing a woman killing it in her career trying to figure out how to have success while also taking the time to have a healthy relationship but in the end we also didn't really see the sacrifices she makes in her job in order to make her relationship with Xavier work.

Overall 3.5/5 rounded up to 4
Spice 1/3

What would you do if you bump into your childhood love in Vegas? Get fake married of course!

When Violet’s High School sweet heart breaks her heart she throws herself into her career. The one time she tries to open her heart again she is played for a fool by her cheating fiance and client. While working in Vegas she happens to run into her high school sweetheart who she has honestly never stopped loving. Xavier knows he messed up when he broke up with violet. his life had just taken a drastic turn and he didn’t want to hold her back. When she finally sees her for the first time in vegas he wants to show her he still loves her. This leads to a fake marriage of convience for the both of them. They have to share a space for four weeks and they both soon realize they are still in love with each other but can their different lifestyles work out.

I loved this book and the main characters. I wanted to reach out and hug Xavier, he didn't realize how important he was right where he was. He didn't have to be rich or have a fancy job to make Violet happy. It was the little things that counted. This book showed that all though things don't go the way you planned, life can still be great!


Thank you NetGalley and Publishers for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I just knew that I was going to love this book even more than the first book in the series. Why? Because it just hits hard when it’s a second-chance romance story. We get all of the feels between the characters: pain, heartbreak, angst, longing, a new beginning, slow burn, and passion. All of it.
I genuinely love the main character, Violet. She is true to herself, no matter what. Some may not love her since they consider her too much, too loud, or too focused on her career. But to me, she is her true self, doing what she loves the most: fashion. And thank goodness, her former love, aka childhood sweetheart, always loved her as her true self.
I know that I may be biased, but I just love Xavier for Violet. He never tries to change her in any way. He has always loved her, no matter what. He tries his best not to break her or hurt her, even though he did when they broke up a few years ago. He learned about himself. He knows who he is, even though he had doubts about his career (but who doesn't?). And he knows that Violet has always been for him; no one can compare.

Violet and Xavier were high school sweethearts who haven't spoken since their college breakup. After Violet's fiancee cheats on her, she vows to never fall in love again. On a chance night in Vegas, the two reconnect and wake up the next morning with rings on and a picture of them in front of a Vegas chapel. Soon both realize that this "marriage" is something that could help both of their careers.

Gosh I had such a great time with this book! What Kristina Forest does here is take common tropes (marriage in Vegas, Second Chance) and really turns them on their heads and uses them in ways that feel unique. For example, the MC's were high school sweethearts who broke up in college - but their breakup really isn't about a miscommunication, instead it was that Xavier didn't feel like he was enough for Violet and that he was holding her back. Some people might call that a miscommunication but I really don't think it is and I also think it feels really authentic to the characters, particularly for characters that age.

I was rooting for Violet and Xavier the whole time and was really curious how they'd achieve their HEA with such different lives. I was really satisfied by the conclusion to their story and was SO glad there wasn't a 3rd act breakup and instead they really worked on communicating with each other and figuring out how to show up for each other.

Read this for:
- Marriage in Vegas (kinda)
- One Night Stand
- Second Chance
- Celebrity Stylist and High School Teacher/Basketball Coach
- Two people learning how to be together
- No 3rd Act Breakup!

Thank you to Berkley Romance and Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A second chance romances jumps right to a Vegas wedding in this tale of Violet, a stylist, and Xavier, a high school teacher. These two reconnect at a time when they're both feeling vulnerable and while the wedding was totally unplanned, it forces then to take another look at one another now that they're adults. Yes it's trope-y but you'll find yourself rooting for them. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fun read,

If there’s one thing Kristina Forest will do, it’s make you fall in love with her characters. In The Partner Plot, we’re following Violet Greene who is a celebrity stylist and despite her recent breakup, her career is booming. Everything comes to a halt though when she reunites with her former high-school sweetheart, Xavier.

The two left on bad terms yet start to pick up right where they left off. Since they’re in such different places in their lives, they decide to go their separate ways. However, things get messy when Violet tells a magazine that the two are married and then ends up having to stay with him since she gets injured.

From there, the two agree to continue to be “fake” husband and wife to help benefit each other’s careers. While it takes a while, Xavier and Violet slowly start to fall for each other but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Xavier and Violet are both struggling with being good enough and realizing their self-worth which can be hard to read at times.

Regardless in typical Kristina Forest fashion, she makes these two feel incredibly real and it’s almost like you’re watching two friends of yours fall in love. They have some unexpected hurdles yet the two handle everything together. It’s truly beautiful to watch them grow, change, and mature as both individuals and a couple.

I truly have nothing to complain about with The Partner Plot. The characters were amazing and she featured incredible moments of character development. The romance was incredible and so was the writing. The Partner Plot was simply dazzling from start to finish.

Another Greene sister, another great romance read from Kristina Forest! I'm not huge on second-chance romances, but there's something about Violet and Xavier's reconnection that had me rooting for them hard. I do love a marriage of convenience trope, however! Yes, The Partner Plot is a continuation of the Greene sisters' trilogy, but I consider a standalone. But why do yourself a disservice and not read The Neighbor Favor? Looking forward to Iris' story in 2025!

“She didn’t have to decide whether or not she’d give her heart to Xavier, when it had been in his possession all along.”

Violet and Xavier are ex high school sweethearts, reunited by coincidence in Vegas where they (mistakenly, drunkenly? lol) get married. These two may have been in different places in their lives when they meet again but it doesn’t take away from the magnetism they feel towards each other. As they follow through with this marriage of convenience, we get to see them figure out how to make their lives fit one another and through that, we see maturity and growth on both of their parts.

Of course I loved the writing and I cannot wait to read Iris’s story next.

thank you berkley so much for the arc!

omg omgggggg! when i was reading the neighbor favor i just knew that violet’s book would be my favorite because of how violet is! she’s a firecracker and such a strong character. and oh my daysss, xavier?? DREAM! he’s literally perfect. the flashbacks we got in the prologue really allowed me to feel connected to these characters! i was rooting for them from the jump and this book didn’t disappoint! kristina is phenomenal!