ⒷⓄⓄⓀ ⓇⒺⓋⒾⒺⓌ 📚🎧
🌟🌟🌟

I’ve had this book for a while and finally got around to it. This was my first book by the author. I really liked it till the 50 percent mark,Then the plot seemed drag for me. I kept reading because I had to see how this whole crazy scenario would play out. Again I was hooked from beginning to the midway point. The chemistry between Xavier and Violet is undeniable even years later. I was hoping for more from the storyline. At a certain point I felt like the story became more career focused than romance. The character development was pretty good. The narration done by @theaurenash and @benjamincharlesvoice was well done. They did a great job with Violet and Xavier POV, it made for easy and fun listening. I was cheering for them! I’m Team healthy black couple & marriage 👏🏾.

🆂🆄🅼🅼🅰🆁🆈
💓 high school sweethearts
💔bad breakup
➡️career driven,
🍻drunken Vegas wedding
💒 fake marriage to further careers

Thank you to the author and @prhaudio for an ARC & free ALC of this book.

🏷️#thepartnerplot #romance #fakemarriage #prhaudioinfluencer #prhaudio #romancebooks #blackauthors #drbooksreads #books #read

“He’d waited nine years to find her again. He could wait a little longer.”

Violet and Xavier. Former high school sweethearts that haven’t seen each other in 9 years coincidentally ended up being in Vegas at the same time, and drunkenly gets married.

I honestly had the hardest time getting into this book that I took a lot of breaks and it put me in a reading slump. I think the 3rd person POV + long chapters made me uninterested but I powered through even though it took me a month to read this.

💒READ IF YOU LIKE💒:
- dual POV
- celebrity stylist x basketball coach
- second chance romance
- fake engagement
- only one bed
- high school sweethearts
- forced proximity: roommates
- he takes care of her
- marriage of convenience
- “it’s always been you”

cw: mention of parents divorce, infidelity, sports injury

Thank you @berkleyromance for the advanced copy! The Partner Plot is now available!

I love when a messy premise ends up having a rational and well-paced story behind it.

Violet and Xavier are highschool sweethearts whose hearts have never veered in affection from each other in the ten years since their break up. Violet is a workaholic following her dreams in the fashion industry, Xavier struggles with feeling like he peaked in high school. The two run into each other one night in Vegas, and what happens (a fake marriage) ends up NOT staying in Vegas. As the two decide to enter a fake marriage, Kristina Forest gently has them navigate many feelings I think older readers in their late 20's would appreciate: grappling with major burn out, comparisons to others, feeling unworthy. Despite all this, Violet and Xavier's affection for each other encompass the PARTNER in The Partner Plot, and the two make a lovely team.

I liked this one a lot more than I did The Neighbor Favor, and am glad to have given Kristina Forest a second chance!

absolutely loved this book so much!!!the perfect second chance romance between two high school sweethearts. perfect for anyone who loves vegas weddings, small town and big city vibes, and my favorite…marriage of convenience. also i want to mention that these two had such a health communication style that i truly appreciated. it felt mature and real

One of those books where a little more communication would have made it 100 pages shorter, but I still liked it. Violet and Xavier had their own lives going when they reconnect, and figuring out if and how to merge them back together was a fun read.

Teenage sweethearts & a drunken Vegas wedding…seems to be a popular trope this spring! Years after a breakup with her high school sweetheart, Violet is making it big as a celebrity stylist. When she’s in Vegas for work, the last thing she expects is to run into her old flame, Xavier…or to wake up the next morning after a crazy night of drinking with rings on their fingers. Aside from the initial panic, being married may have its benefits for both…to save her reputation & help him get a job. How long until the feelings rekindle though — and who will get caught in the crossfire?
This was a fun romcom rooted around high school sweethearts and second chances. Thank you to Berkley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Partner Plot was a cool journey through friendship, romance, and the complexities of following your dreams. As a fan of Kristina's previous work, The Neighbor Favor (5 stars from me, one of my top reads of 2023) I was drawn to her signature writing style, which effortlessly weaves together heartwarming moments and captivating storytelling. Throughout the book, I found myself rooting for Violet and Xavier's budding romance, yearning for that magical happily ever after. While the story didn't quite go in the direction I had hoped, it still delivered a refreshing narrative of Black love without unnecessary trauma, reminding readers that we deserve fun, exciting love stories too. With its engaging plot and endearing characters, The Partner Plot is a must-read for anyone seeking a charming and uplifting tale of love and friendship. Will be recommending to friends.

I devoured this romantic comedy about two high school sweethearts--who haven't seen or spoken to one another in almost ten years--who accidentally reconnect, then are forced to pretend to be engaged. It thoughtfully explores how dream jobs can be not as dreamy as we want them to be, the way we grow and change, family relationships, how to come back from disappointing ourselves, and so much more. A treat for any romance lover!

If a prologue set in high school is the entire basis for two people pushing thirty to be together I'm gonna have to pass on rooting for the couple.

It's not even that this is a bad book, I just don't understand how this relationship is supposed to work...

Violet is a stylist, her career is on the rise and when she thinks that her recent split with her fiance is gonna jeopardize being in a forbes 30 under 30 esque list she pulls out this fake marriage to her high school sweetheart to save her. Only this leads to everyone in her small town finding out that the couple everyone used to think would get together finally did so under everyone's noses. It's also sort of working in Xavier's favor when the head coach at the University he wants to start working at makes some boldly illegal comments about not hiring single people so with a fake marriage under his belt maybe he can leave his high school English teaching job behind.

Nothing quite works out the way you think it would. The story makes it clear pretty early on that the red flags present during the interview with the illegal questions was only the beginning of what would be a pretty shitty boss. Violet spends most of the book with a broken ankle so that her and Xavier are forced to spend time together in town that Violet left at the first opportunity. While the pair might have had chemistry in high school, and they might even have something in the present, their lives are not compatible and Xavier isn't in any kind of position to let it be known what he wants out of life. In almost every way it feels like he is dragging her down, something he seems to be worried about doing, but Violet insists at every turn isn't the case.

The small town feel was cozy, but ultimately this felt like a couple that peaked in high school and never offered any compelling reason for me to want to see them work out in the present.

High school sweethearts who run into each other again and "accidentally get married in Vegas." They broke up in college and haven't kept in touch since, her life is going the way she planned and his very much is not. I love second chance and I love "oops we got drunkenly married in Vegas" tropes so this was an enjoyable read, but nothing particularly memorable for me.

Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for my copy to review.

The Partner Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 stars

I loved Violet and Xavier. A beautiful second chance romance, which is not something I say bc second chance is not my favorite trope. But this novel convinced me otherwise. The intimate knowledge these high school sweethearts had with each other was beautiful. I loved seeing Violet’s growth from the first story to this one, and while her sisters weren’t as involved in this story, the instances where they were, was hilarious. Xavier felt a bit like an enigma- the basketball star whose life didn’t go according to plan. But his love for Violet shone the brightest and the community he built around him was something special.

I adored Kristina Forest's first book The Neighbor Favor, so I was very excited to revisit the series for book 2. High school sweethearts Violet and Xavier reunite in Vegas, and wake up with rings on their fingers. After discovering that their status as a married couple could help both their careers, they agree to pretend the marriage is real for a limited amount of time, before going their separate ways. I loved the chemistry between Violet and Xavier, and the ways they had to examine how their dreams and aspirations had changed since high school. This is a romance where the external factors at play have you wondering how the couple will ever be able to make things work, and yet you root for them the whole time nonetheless. I can't wait to see what's next in this lovely romance series!

This was utter perfection. One of my new favorite second chance romances! This book follows Violet and Xavier, who were high school sweethearts that unfortunately went their separate ways during college. Violet goes on to become a celebrity fashion designer and Xavier has to end his basketball career early due to an injury and instead becomes a coach. Violet just went through a dramatic breakup that the media can't stop talking about because her ex cheated on her with one of her clients, and Xavier is in a rut and trying to level up his career but is facing skepticism as a single, unattached guy.

The two haven't seen each other in years and by chance run into each other during a night out in Vegas where it starts to feel like no time has passed at all. Before they know it, they're waking up, potentially married and Violet is running out the door. The universe brings them back together one more time after this, and they decide the best thing for both of them would be to fake a marriage. They think this could help the media stop focusing on Violet's failed engagement and will help Xavier seem more appealing to his career as an attached man with roots.

Tension is high between the two as they now have to live together in order to make this relationship seem as real as possible and I absolutely loved every second of it. The feelings never went away for either of them and they just tried to bury them. I loved the communication between the characters and everything that came with them being together.

Thank you #netgalley for an early read of #thepartnerplot in exchange for my honest review! All opinions are my own

This was a super cute second chance / marriage of convenience romance! Straight out of HS, Violet and Xavier are madly in love. That is until reality hits them in the face. College and long distance drove a wedge between the two. Years later, they run into eachother by chance in Las Vegas. I loved how this book was a dual time. The miscommunication was cute and not annoying at all. Xavier is hot and Violet is such a firecracker. I'm big on banter and the banter cracked me up. I loved how the author focused on them as a couple as well as them individually. Fate brought Xavier and Violet back together. This was such a cute rom com and I found it extremely easy to read and follow.

I adored reading The Partner Plot!

Violet Greene is obsessed with fashion, it's her passion/day job. While she's living her dream, that's the only area of her life currently with meaning. So, when her dream magazine quickly brings up her last engagement, she lets it slip the last thing she'd ever want to say. Xavier Wright is the hometown high school teacher and basketball coach. While he doesn't not believe in love, he also knows the right one just may have slipped away. Violet is that woman and she may be just what the universe set to jazz up his life. Let the fun begin!

I loved The Partner Plot a little bit more than the first in the series, The Neighbor Favor. I felt like I connected a little bit more to Violet! I binge read this second change enemies (ish) to lovers! I enjoyed that Xavier was a high school teacher and couldn't help but laugh with his meddling coworkers. While the novel was a little predictable, I adored the dual point of view fast paced novel and the little in depth looks we got into the emotional side of Xavier. Fans of Vegas weddings, funny romcoms and books with depth to their characters will enjoy Forest's sophomore novel, The Partner Plot!

📚ARC Review📚

Hey Chaotic Lovelies!

I wanted to share my thoughts about an ARC I received recently!

Thank you @berkleyromance for my ARC copy! #berkleypartner

The Partner Plot by @kristinaforest_

⭐️ 5
🌶️ 2

I absolutely loved this second chance romance! It was sweet and had so many swoon-worthy moments!

This story starts back when Violet and Xavier are in high school and immediately the pull is there. The attraction isn’t hard to notice and for Vi, who only dated older boys, Xavier definitely had his work cut out for him. He had no problem shooting his shot and making her his.

Of course, it’s hard to see the breakup that leads them down different paths in life. Xavier definitely didn’t do it just because and it’s easy to see why he let Violet go.

Violet and Xavier are stuck in a problem of their own making while in Vegas one night and have a chance to further their own careers with the help of each other. But old feelings that were supposed to stay in the past, creep back up with old problems for why they broke up as well.

I can’t recommend this book enough! I loved it so much I bought it on audio just to re-read it again after it came out! I loved the banter of the characters and the family antics that were too funny!

Tags 🏷️

#partnerplot #secondchanceromance #bookreview #bookrecommendations #arcreader #berkleyig #latinabooksta #bookaddict #5starread

I had a fun time reading this one! I loved how Violet was able to follow her dreams and become a celebrity stylist. I always like to see successful women portrayed in books.
Violet and Xavier have had a turbulent relationship. They were high school sweethearts turned strangers. After an unexpected encounter in Las Vegas, the two drunkenly get fake married and hook up, leading to a surprising series of events.
Violet and Xavier work well together. They know each other like no one else and have a love that has survived nine years of separation.
I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and seeing them become the partners they were always meant to be.

HEA satisfying. Enjoyed the characters and the second chance at love trope.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I enjoyed this novel from Kristina Forest. It was a good story, the plotline and banter between characters kept me engaged. It wasn't a new premise, but I do think it was executed well. Definitely a low stakes enjoyable read.

In The Partner Plot, Violet and Xavier are high school sweethearts, torn apart by conflicting dreams.Violet dreams of a life as a celebrity stylist and Xavier wants to play professional basketball. Years later they are reunited by circumstance in Las Vegas, where they engage in a drunken, fake wedding filled evening. After they tie the ficitonal knot, they realize pretending to be married might be more beneficial for their careers and lives than they thought. Spending all this domestic time together however, reminds them how well they fit together and how their paths can converge once again.

I adored this second chance romance! It had all the right components; nostalgia, intimacy, and deep understanding of the other person. It also showed how wonderful seeing personal character growth in a book can be. I loved hearing about Violet and Xavier’s history. We got to know them in two phases of life and it was fun seeing them as teenagers and then adults. It made their love story feel all more real and intense, and I was rooting for these crazy kids!

The way that Kristina Forest writes is full of rich detail and witty dialogue that kept the book fast paced and held my attention. I was so taken by The Neighbor Favor, and the Partner Plot was no different.

Read if you like:
-Marriage of convienence
-Fake Dating
-Second Chance
-So much amazing fashion content!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC.