High school sweethearts Violet and Xavier get a second chance with a drunken one-night stand in Vegas-- including a fake marriage! It's convenient for them both to keep up the sham, but can they rekindle their lost love? As teens, they made decisions about they thought would be best for the other and now have to decide if their adult lives still work together. While the prose is a bit clunky, Forest's characters do a good job of pushing each other to questioning their lives and what they want in a satisfactory way.

Look, second-chance fake-marriage just seemed like something I’d eat up. And I did. Sue me.

Violet and Xavier were the ambitious couple, one an aspiring basketball star and one an aspiring fashion designer. She made it, with a career supporting famous stars across the globe. He didn’t. His insecurity predicated their breakup. In this current world, Xavier is insecure about not being impressive enough for his superstar girlfriend; meanwhile, Violet is insecure about being too busy for someone she’s missed for years. It’s an incredibly well-built conflict.

But what I really appreciated is that… the angst is so un-manufactured. Violet and Xavier work so hard to communicate with each other… but they have some serious reasons to be worried about the future. When they mess up, it feels real, true to their characters rather than contrived. Love is not always going to be enough to stop every bit of insecurity–but they value each other enough to fix it.

(Also, I am such a Violet.)

I have one or two quibbles. One super strange section in the back half where Violet’s POV contains a flashback of the prior day should not have made it through edits. (I’ve noticed this in a couple of fantastic romances I’ve read in the last couple years and will only say—romance editors, this is your job!) And I think the Dahlia and Violet conflict gets wrapped up waaaay too quickly.

But overall? Just delicious. I loved this romance and these characters so much, and will be buying a copy for my own rereading purposes ASAP.

This novel is not only a second chance romance for this couple but a second chance at making choices not to rewrite the past but to write and move forward into the future individually.

This was cute! A second chance romance with witty banter and feel good laughs. Definitely something o would love to see on television. I love reading about Black people who learn to love themselves and then love others.

Rating: 4.25 stars

Violet Greene is a celebrity stylist and fashion is her life. After a messy public breakup, she’s focused on her career and trying to ignore that her personal life is in shambles. That is until she runs into her childhood sweetheart, Xavier Wright. On a birthday trip to Vegas, the last person Xavier expected to see was Violet. It’s obvious the love is still there, and after a wild night together, some would call it fate. Will they get a happily ever after?

Kristina Forest does it again! I love the happy feeling I get reading her books. I’m excited I got to read this next installment of the Greene sisters because it keeps getting better! Violet is the middle child and a force to be reckoned with. I admired her love for her career and aspirations to be one of the best in her field. I also loved Xavier’s character just as much and related to him a lot. Trying to bounce back after your first dream doesn’t work out is hard, but Xavier was resilient. I loved his relationship with his students, which made me miss teaching.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story! Special mention to Karina, because she is hilarious and a good friend. This book can be read as a standalone, but I'd recommend checking out The Neighbor Favor, which focuses on Lily and Nick’s love story, especially since they are mentioned in this one, too, as the sisters have such a close bond. I can’t wait to see what’s on the horizon for the next Greene sister. I’m sure Iris’s love story will be just as good!

Thank you to Net Galley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC!

This month was very special because I received my first ARC (Advance Reader Copy). I was so excited to receive an ARC for The Partner Plot, because I read The Neighbor Favor back in September and I absolutely loved it.

One thing @kristinaforest_ is going to do is write tf out of a prologue to hook you right in and leave you with an epilogue that makes you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. Just like The Neighbor Favor, I finished The Partner Plot in a couple of days! Can’t wait to add this one to my bookshelf when it releases February 2024 and I’m so grateful I got to read the ARC for The Partner Plot. I literally cannot wait for The Love Lyric!!!

I really enjoyed Violet's story! I was introduced to her in the first book of the series and new I wanted more.

This is a second-chance / fake marriage trope done RIGHT!

What I loved:

<3 The chemistry between Violet and Xavier
<3 The way they both supported each other through everything
<3 Communication was *chef's kiss*
<3 No third-act breakup!!!!!


We got to see the MCs mature from adolescence to adulthood and address tough situations with class. From the first page, you know that these two were always meant to be and Kristina did an amazing job with keeping that momentum up throughout the entire book!

I absolutely HATE second chance romance so I wasn't expecting to love this book as much as I did. have never wanted a couple to get back together so bad. I loved both Violet and Xavier as individuals and together. The backstory of how Violet and Xavier met and fell in love was so cute and enjoyable to read. I appreciate the reason the couple broke up was "light" and not because of some big betrayal. It was a breath of fresh air to read a third act where there was no break up and the conflict was something they as a couple faced together rather than the conflict being "Violet vs Xavier". I appreciated that the smut scenes were short and sweet as a smut girly thats saying something. Overall a fun and wholesome read!

Following The Neighbor's Favor, we follow Violet Greene who is a celebrity stylist who travels the world living her life dreams. But, after a public breakup she just wants to focus on her career. She runs into her high school boyfriend Xavier Wright and they party and then what happens in Vegas happens of course. They wake up and they have wedding rings on their fingers. 
At first they are nervous but then come to realize that they both could benefit from the marriage in regard to their careers. So they decide to play a wedded couple for everyone and they start to realize that the feelings they had are still there. 

tropes:
second chance romance (dual timelines and dual pov's)
fake marriage
high school sweethearts 

:I LOVED this book so much and I will probably never stop talking about it. I savored this book because I just did not want it to end. As you can see from these photos I brought it with me everywhere I could. I usually never pick up second chance romances because I hate the trope. I feel that it is never done well because we don't get enough of the history between the main characters. But this was the complete opposite. The dual time line worked so well. It felt so effortless. 

:Violet and Xavier are the best pair ever. I loved how the book was balanced in that not only did it focus on Violet's struggles but Xavier's as well. I also loved Xavier being from Philly (it made me love him more lol). Through the book as well it did not feel forced at all. And my favorite thing of all was that there was NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP!!!! I was so happy about this because it was not necessary and it really showed how Violet and Xavier work through everything together. from the references of James Baldwin to The Real Housewives of Potomac I was living!

: I highly recommend everyone to read and support this release because it truly will not disappoint. I will be sure to beg the publisher for the next book in this series.
 
Thank you so much to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

did i cringe all over again at the whole family with flower names? whose parents are florists? ...yes.

this one has some tropes i genuinely love (high school sweethearts + second chance romance! marriage of convenience!) but it just didn't click fully for me, and felt like a tired plot that was missing a new or creative spark. i was bored for the first half, but the characters did grow on me a bit, but it just felt really light and fluffy without any sort of sparkle or real heart or depth to it that i really love in my romance reads.

sadly, not a favorite!

I didn't know this book was connected to a previous book by the author, but I don't feel like I missed out on anything as they seem to only share some characters. I wasn't that drawn into this romance. I like the second chance trope, but I've read so many books lately that tend to dwell overly much on the past and don't move forward in the present. There's no exception here. I think the prologue set this pair up on the wrong foot. They were teens and they had a very typical teen romance, nothing earth-shattering and certainly nothing memorable happened between them within that short introduction. So, when Violet and Xavier meet again in the present, I was a lot underwhelmed. The writing was always over-explaining their relationship and interactions as well and I just didn't feel any of their chemistry coming through. It was like even they didn't know why they wanted to be together.

Violet is a successful celebrity stylist. Professionally, her life is amazing. Personally, her life is struggling. With having a very public breakup with her ex-fiancé, Violet is determined to just focus on work. Xavier, Violet’s high school boyfriend, did not expect to run into Violet in Vegas during his birthday. He’s a high school teacher and basketball coach now in their hometown. One wild, fun night in Vegas causes them to wake up the next morning with wedding rings on. When they realize both of their careers could benefit from it they decide to go along with it. But the more they pretend to be husband and wife, the more the lines began to blur and everything starts to feel real.

This book is such a cute, sweet read. Violet and Xavier together was absolutely beautiful. I loved how Xavier didn’t shy away from his love for Violet his second time around. And I loved how Violet slowly let him in and break her walls down. The way Xavier would do anything to keep Violet and how he always had her back made me fall in love with him. This book also touches on real life issues we all struggle with from time to time such as work life balance, learning to protect your peace and self worth. All things I personally struggle with so it was great to see the characters struggle with it and their development/growth throughout. This was a great book!!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc. This was my first read by Kristina Forest. I do have The Neighbor Favor that i can’t wait to read. Anyways, this was a really cute read. Definitely enough to put a smile on your face.

-Second chance romance.
-High school sweethearts.
-Fake marriage that leads them back to each other was so cute.
-I love how Violet is a stylist to the stars and Xavier is a high school teacher and coach. Even though they have two totally different careers it shows that love will win. Also a great example of “if you wanted to you would.”
-The small town love is fun and homey but dang people feel like they have to be on everyone’s business. People are allowed to keep things to themselves.
-Violet at the bowling alley got that girl right together.
-Loved the way they had each others back during dinner with the coach.
-Mrs. Green, parent or not, is way people move the way they do. Like ma’am you didn’t listen and did what you want. No respect.
-Lastly, this shows that communication is very important and also being honest. Lots of lost time can be cut out and broken hearts.

All around a beautiful story with love, family, and a little drama.

Second chance romance, dual times, need I say more? Violet is a successful celebrity stylist, Xavier is a high school teacher and basketball coach and they both were each other’s everythings when they were in High School. As adults, they are complete strangers, until they both run into each other in Vegas, one thing leads to another and oopsies - they wake up with rings on their fingers.

As they get to know each other again, and spend some time together, they realize their lives couldn’t be anymore different, but their love is the same.

I loved this book, which is no surprise because I loved The Neighbor Favor. Kristina knows how to write swoony romances and I already can’t wait for the next book!

I love this book. It was just the perfect cute fluffy romance. I thought Violet and Xavier’s dynamic was perfect. Everybody deserves a second chance at love and the way this was written told their story perfectly.

This was such a cute fake marriage / first love situation. It made my heart swell, the character growth was so phenomenal and realistic. They matured with age and it showed! I appreciated that we got both points of view and that they both found a way to have everything they wanted. This is such a feel good romance and will be perfect to read during February when it releases. (Hello Valentine's Day!)

Also, this is a part of a series, kind of like "Things We Never Got Over" or "The Soulmate Equation". I have not read the first book "The Neighbor Favor" so this book can be totally read as a standalone and a GOOD standalone at that. I will definitely be picking up "The Neighbor Favor" and I'm excited to read Lily's story.

In the same way i loved The Neighbor Favor, I loved The Partner Plot!

This book was absolutely amazing and I feel so lucky to be able to experience reading it early. I can't wait to have this beauty on my shelf and read about Iris!

Thank you Berkley Romance for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Kristina Forest writes the sweetest love stories. I fell in love with this author after reading her YA romance Now That I’ve Found You and once again she did not disappoint. I am a huge fan of the second chance trope. When I started this, I didn’t know it was part of a series. I read The Neighbor Favor and thought it was such a cute story so I am not surprised I loved this one as well. This was a perfect palate cleanser after reading some pretty heavy reads.

This book is about Violet who is fresh from an embarrassing engagement to which her fiancé at the time cheated on her with one of her clients. (Make sure you read The Neighbor Favor to get more context.) She was down for a second but all that changes when she reconnects with her high school sweetheart Xavier in Vegas on his birthday. Xavier is the definition of a cinnamon roll male character. He’s an English teacher and a basketball coach at their old high school and he’s wanting a way out of the small city anyway possible. This book gave me ALL the feel of a second chance romance. The background story of how they became an item to why they broke up and the aftermath of coming back together. I caught myself laughing at some parts, between Xavier’s students, his cousin Raheem, and Violet’s client and friend, Karmel Kitty. It was great to see Lily and her boo Nick, along with Iris. (I’m ready for her story!!) Overall, this was a great book and thank you so much to Kristina Forest and Berkley Romance for allowing me to get an ARC copy!

Absolutely love Kristina Forest’s writing! Her romance pen never fails! A second chance romance , I was holding my breath the entire time praying the characters didn’t mess it up. The high school romance was so beautiful and I loved how the characters grew. I absolutely loved it.