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.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the advanced reader copy and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

I had really enjoyed the Neighbor Favor so was keen to read this sequel. I haven't seen it marketed as such, but I want to highlight that this book features Violet Greene, one of Lily's sisters. You can certainly read this as a stand alone, but I was all in for following the sisterly relationship.

Violet and Xavier were high school sweethearts. But he broke her heart when he thought they were going in different discussions. They meet up during a crazy night in Vegas and end up beginning a fake marriage in more than one way.

While the set up feels a bit ridiculous, I actually really enjoyed the sweetness and depth of this book. Both of them were so real, and I loved seeing her interactions with family and his with their home town.

Aure Nash was a spectacular narrator. Benjamin Charles seemed to approach narration quite cautiously with a slow and measured pace and clear enunciation of each word. I found his spacing of pauses a bit strange and distracting. But overall, I loved the audio format.

This was definitely an enjoyable read for me, although it was nothing special. If you're looking for a breezy contemporary with some fun characters and a solid plot, this could definitely be a good fit for you!

4.25 stars. I really enjoyed this follow up to The Neighbor Favor, and actually liked it a bit more. I think this book is a good example of second change romance done well. We get bits of the past that clearly establish why these two characters originally got together and their chemistry. And in the present, the book shows how these two characters have changed over the years and does a good job of showing them reconnecting and seeing how they fit into each others lives in the present.

Violet is living her dreams as a celebrity stylist, but her personal life is a disaster after going through a very public breakup with her famous ex-fiance. On a trip to Vegas she runs into Xavier, her high school ex. He is still living in their hometown, working as a high school English teacher and basketball coach. One night of partying in Vegas leads to a drunken marriage, which they realize could actually help both of their careers. As they continue to act like a couple, the feelings they had for each other come rushing back. But can they make their very different lives work to be together?

This book was so much fun! From the Vegas wedding to the second-chance romance, this book brought me so much joy. I actually think I liked it even better than the first book in the series, the Neighbor Favor. I loved the glimpses of Violet and Xavier’s high school relationship and how it really allowed you to see how they each grew and how their relationship progressed. I’m so excited to read more from Kristina Forest!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.

This book was really cute I liked reading about Violet and Xavier and their relationship. I’m also a sucker for a childhood sweethearts reunited trope. Violet is a celebrity stylist and Xavier is a football coach and teacher. I loved reading about fashion and Violets work as a stylist and enjoyed reading about Xavier and Violets past. I also really enjoyed the fake marriage plot overall this book was a lot of fun to read. The only thing that bothered me was I wish there was a little more romance between Xavier and Violet.

What a cute book! My only gripe at times was that it felt like the heroine was less invested than the hero but overall super fun.

Vegas

Waking up fake married to the man that broke your heart is how Violet starts her last day in Vegas.

Violet is working hard to climb the fashion stylist ladder. Xavier has his focus on securing a new job. With a fake marriage of convenience,

This book was very sweet with a small hint of spice. Two people trying to figure out how to love each other while also staying true to themselves

Okay so this book was super super super freaking cute. I loved this duo and would definitely read more by Kristina Forest. Can't wait to see what she writes next!

This second-chance, marriage of convenience romance was a fun read. I appreciated the character development of both love interests, Violet and Xavier, and thought that some of the side characters elevated the story. What bothered me about this title was Violet’s professional life. It felt over-the-top, even for a stylist to the stars, and was hard for me to believe. I would definitely read another title from Forest, as she certainly knows how to write loveable characters, but this is not a title that I would go out of my way to recommend to others.