This was my first book by Kristina Forest and it was a great time. This series follows 3 sisters as they find love. I’m looking forward to reading The Neighbor Favor (Lily’s story- out now) and The Love Lyric which comes out next year and sounds amazing from the preview at the end of this book. (widowed single mom + celebrity R&B singer).

The Partner Plot follows middle sibling and fashion stylist to the stars, Violet Greene, as she rekindles love with her high school sweetheart Xavier Wright.

Imagine running into your high school sweetheart/ biggest heartbreak in Vegas and waking up in bed together the next day, fake married! This is exactly what happens to Violet. Their plans to keep their fake wedding a secret fail when word spreads in their hometown and Violet is forced to stay with Xavier on her work break while her broken ankle heals.

Xavier quickly discovers that he could use their fake nuptials to help him seem more settled for a coaching job. Over the course of 4 weeks of living together and playing house, their buried feelings quickly returned to the surface. But will their second chance end in heartbreak or a new beginning?

I really enjoyed Xavier and Violet’s journey of healing from their past heartbreak and moving forward together. The prologues gives readers a peek into their all-consuming high school relationship and how enamored they were with each other. They bonded over their shared desire to leave small town NJ behind and pursue their dreams in professional basketball and fashion styling. Their original breakup reason made sense due to their youth and Xavier needing to come to terms with his altered future.

When Xavier and Violet meet again, they are still dealing with similar issues. Xavier is insecure in his current role as HS English Teacher and Basketball coach, he doesn’t feel that it is enough for Violet. Violet shows him repeatedly in their adult relationship how much she appreciates his kindness, consistency, and affection. The caretaking scene in this one is perfect; Xavier gets a 10/10. Violet learns in their relationship how to prioritize him as a partner and pursue a work life balance which she struggles with. She learns to trust him again and communicate.

Second chance doesn’t always work for me, but this one was FAB! I loved how the epilogue brought us back to a special moment from the prologue and their first date.

Read if you like:
•Second chance romances (high school sweethearts)
•Also: Forced proximity (roommates), fake married
•Caretaking- this scene was chef’s kiss
•Dual POV
•It’s Always Been You vibes
•NJ/NYC/LA setting
•Sisterhood

Thank you to @berkleyromance for the free copy; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you Berkley for this free book!

Did I love this book or did I love this book? (Hint: I loved this book)

The Partner Plot is about second-chance high school sweethearts, Violet and Xavier. The young lovebirds thought they would be together forever but life after high school came for them hard and they were forced to part ways. Now, 10 years later, the two are together again by shear coincidence in Vegas and WOOPS they accidentally got married! What is one to do when you're "stuck” with the person they always thought they wanted to spend forever with, but also the fact they have to get to know them all over again. This one is sweethearts to exes to married to friends to lovers then to something else but I can’t say ;-)

I don’t normally like the second chance trope but this one felt so natural and real. Both Violet and Xavier had so much to growth to do individually that ultimately made them stronger together. This story was a breath of fresh air with the inclusion of just how badass and strong Violet was and who she grew up to be.

What to expect:
Second Chance Romance
High School Sweethearts
Vegas Marriage
Marriage of Convenience
He Falls Hard
3rd-Person Duel POV

Overall, I loved this and would most definitely recommend.

Thank you Berkley Romance and NetGalley for this free ARC #BerkleyPartner

I have been waiting a full year to read Violet's story and it did not disappoint!

Second-chance romance is one of my favorite tropes. I enjoyed watching these two rebuild their original friendship and love. They are comfortable around each other and also very protective.

Xavier is sweet and caring but also in a transitional period in life. Violet is the wild child of the family. A bit impulsive but very confident and ambitious. While they each have a lot going on in their separate lives they are still very supportive and encouraging to one another.

I had a hard time putting this down and grinned the entire time while reading. It gave me all the lovey vibes that I was hoping for!

Even though this is on the longer side, I find that Forest has a skill for creating lovable characters and storylines that make you want to keep reading even into the late-night hours.

Also want to mention that I think this would be safe for those of you who like their romances on the lower end of the spice scale.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for the advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

“Her eyes were drawn to the tattoo of a violet inside of his right bicep. After everything, he still had his tattoo.”

Happy release day to THE PARTNER PLOT by Kristina Forest! This is a second chance romance goodness from two former high school sweethearts that are now entering a marriage-of-convenience after a night in Vegas! There’s so much pining and longing and heartfelt moments and gahhh! Such a cute romance between Violet and Xavier. And just the fact that he still had his violet flower tattoo all these years later! 🥹 And the best part? He keeps a photo of her in his wallet! 🥰

– second chance romance
– Vegas wedding
– marriage of convenience
– forced proximity

I fell head over heels in love with the neighbor favor. I couldn’t wait to see what Violet’s love story would feel like because she was so over the top just how I like. Xavier was bookbae all the way he could do no wrong in my book. I loved this read from beginning to end and it was so relatable it was like watching a movie in my mind.
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkeley for the ARC.

I really liked this one! I especially loved that it felt authentic, true love, with no emotional games or breakups or manipulation. Their relationship was honest and I loved the ending

“Violet had asked Xavier who he felt he needed to prove himself to, and he hadn’t answered because he’d been too embarrassed to admit that 𝒔𝒉𝒆 was who he needed to prove himself to.”

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

Sooo Xavier may be one of the best written male characters I have read in recent memory. He is humble, kind, loving, and respectful of Violet. And Violet herself has some past hurts and issues to work through and, though she stumbles, she picks herself up and is equally endearing as a character.

I just simply loved this book. It is so nice to read a story with a healthy relationship happening between two respectful people. More of this, please!

The audiobook took this story to the next level for me. With dual narrators (@theaurenash and @benjamincharlesvoice) I felt like I was in this relationship with Violet and Xavier. Add in a healthy dose of side drama and some familial interference and you have yourself a nearly perfect second chance romance.

“Marriage isn’t a game. It requires patience and grace. You hear me?” 👏🏻👏🏻

Thank you @PRHAudio for the complimentary audiobook #PRHAudioPartner and to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing, and the author for the ARC.

A chance meeting in Vegas leads to a second chance for former high school sweethearts, Violet and Xavier. A fake wedding results from the drunken night. When the celebrity stylist and high school teacher marry out of convenience, it turns into something that helps both of their careers. Will their lives be too different for this to become real or will they finally find happiness?

Everything about this book screamed my name from the moment I read the blurb. I wasn’t disappointed. I absolutely loved The Partner Plot!!!

Despite how their reunion starts, it’s a slow burn for Violet and Xavier. I enjoyed seeing these two reconnect as friends and then come to realize there are a lot of real feelings still there. A highlight is the flashbacks of them falling in love the first time around. The nostalgia of first love hits hard!

In addition to being realistic, interesting, and memorable individual characters, Violet and Xavier make a great couple as well. Both have their struggles but the two work together to help each other overcome their challenges. I loved the communication between these two as well as their eventual willingness to be totally vulnerable with each other. These two quickly became a favorite couple of mine.

The Partner Plot is a wonderful fake marriage, a second chance story. I loved every second of this book. Run, don’t walk, to grab this one!

I might have enjoyed this story more than the Neighbor Favor. This is a second-chance romance of high school sweethearts who rekindle because of a little white lie. Throughout the story, I was rooting for Violet and Xavier. I appreciated seeing their growth in adulthood but also in love. I love what Kristina Forest has done with series and I look forward to reading Iris' story.

Rating: 3.5

✔️ Fake Dating (Marriage)
✔️ Second Chance
✔️ High School Sweethearts
✔️ One Bed

-summary-
A chance run-in Vegas between high school sweethearts (Violet and Xavier) result in a hot night and a pretend Vegas wedding. It was supposed to be just one night, but to save face in an interview, Violet mentioned being married. While she didn't use his name, it was clear from the description who she was talking about; it actually will help Xavier too, as the job he wants prefers someone married. They decide to stay fake married until they both get what they want, though old feelings come back to complicate everything.

-my thoughts-
There's something kind of cozy about the author's storytelling, and it's even clearer here when both leads are back in the town where they fell in love.

The twist in the tropes were fun - loved the mashup of drunken Vegas wedding and fake dating.

And you know how much I love domestic scenes? This book had it in droves since they lived together, and it was fun to watch them go from platonic roommates to more.

This wasn't a particularly angsty second chance so the pining was fairly mild. I don't think it detracted from the story, but just something to keep in mind if you were expecting heart pain - this is more like a romcom.

Overall, a good read and a perfect one if you are doing any diversify your bookshelf challenges. 4⭐️

Steam 🔥
Banter 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️
Swoon 💕💕💕

4.5 stars! I absolutely adore second chance romance & fake dating so I knew from the start that I was going to love this one. I especially love when high school loves reconnect & so this story had me in my feelings. I thought that this book was a great lesson that love doesn’t look the same for everyone & that relationships don’t just magically work. Violet & Xavier had very different lives as adults than what they imagined for themselves when they were kids, & that was something that did keep their paths from crossing sooner. This book was full of great moments & I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story draws you in right away & I want to be best friends with Violet & Xavier & Violet’s sisters. I highly recommend this one

🅑🅞🅞🅚 🅡🅔🅥🅘🅔🅦
🎰 The Partner Plot 🎰
Kristina Forest
#BerkleyPartner

This was such a good second chance romance! I loved the characters and that they were high school sweethearts who found their way back to each other…in Vegas of all places! This was a super fun read and a little bit spicy! 🌶️

Former high school sweethearts, Violet and Xavier, reunite unexpectedly in Vegas, waking up “married” after a wild night. Seeing potential benefits for their careers, they play the part of a happy couple, but old feelings resurface. As they navigate their differences, they wonder if this second chance at love will lead to a happy ending.

Read if you enjoy:
💕 Second Chance Romance
👩🏽‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏽 High School Sweethearts
💒 Fake Marriage
👗 Celebrity Stylist
👨🏽‍🏫 Teacher/Coach
💭 Chasing Dreams

Kristina Forest also wrote The Neighbor Favor which features Violet’s sister, but you do not need to read them in order. I will definitely be adding that one to my list!

Thank you to @berkleyromance @netgalley and @kristinaforest_ for the eARC of this book! You can pick it up soon on February 27th!

#BerkleyBookstagram #kristinaforest #thepartnerplot #BookReview #romancereaders #romancebooks #bookstagram #romancereads #romance #romancereadersofinstagram #romancenovels #romancereader #romancenovel #contemporaryromance #bookaddict #readersofinstagram #romancebookstagram #booklover #books #bookstagrammer #readromance #fakemarriage

Last year, Kristina regaled readers with Lily Greene's story with The Neighbor Favor. In this book, The Partner Plot, readers will be just as entertained with Violet's story. Violet has quite a successful career as a celebrity stylist. As a teenager, Violet fell hard for Xavier Wright, and the two thought they would be together forever. That is not how things worked out, however, and the two went their separate ways. A chance meeting in Vegas a decade later changes the course of Violet and Xavier's lives.

The catchphrase, What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas, are not words that Violet and Xavier can live by. In fact, one drunk night shapes the course of their lives forever. Meanwhile, both Violet and Xavier have career aspirations and that drunk night could actually end up having good results for the both of them.

So, what actually happened that fateful night? Well, the couple got married, but not really. However, it does not take either of them long to realize that they could play the fake marriage to their advantage. But to catch those feelings of old? Never to be happen. But, never say never.

It is always a treat to get the chance to read and review BIPOC romances, especially when the stories include engaging characters. One thing about this book by Kristina Forest, as well as her previous title, is the strong family bond the Greene family has, especially that between Violet and her two sisters. Lily and Iris. In fact, I look forward to The Love Lyric, which will be Iris's story.

Many thanks to Berkley Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this second chance fake marriage romance from Kristina Forest. It was different and refreshing compared to her first book. The romance was a slow burn that felt authentic and their struggles felt real. I can’t wait to see where book three takes us and the growth that the sisters will have together, separately, and with their mom.

In the second installment of the Greene sisters stories, we follow Violet and her first love, Xavier, who run into each other in Las Vegas ten years after their breakup. After a wild night, a fake wedding, and a little lie Violet tells in an interview, the two decide to temporarily fake being married for both of their benefit. It doesn't take long for the undeniable connection and the love between Violet and Xavier to come back into play.

I never thought I'd be into second-chance romances, but I really enjoyed this one! I loved the mix between second chance and fake dating. Violet and Xavier are both very strong characters and it is very easy to empathize with them - Violet with throwing herself into work to avoid the possibility of heartbreak and Xavier with feeling like he's wasted his potential and trying to find his way in life. I loved how we see both characters grow into themselves and with each other.

There were also quite a few funny moments that were fun to read and you could feel the chemistry between the two main characters. Overall, I had a very good time reading this and I can't wait for the next book to come out!

Thank you for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

Violet Greene is living her dream, working as a celebrity stylist and traveling the world, she has everything she's ever wanted; until her fiance leaves her a week before the wedding. After navigating herself through the breakup, Violet is determined to focus on work and work alone. However, on a trip to Vegas, Violet comes across the one that got away, her high school sweetheart, Xavier. When the two reconnect and spend the night together, only to wake up wearing wedding rings; Violet and Xavier both confess they could benefit from the marriage and decide to stay together just until their careers get on track.

I enjoyed this marriage-of-convenience romcom much more than I expected! I am not the biggest fan of second chances but this one was just done right, the former high school sweethearts were both on their own paths and still trying to find balance in their lives and reunited at just the right time. I loved how their history was so important to their story and each other and aided in them realizing they could live without one another but ultimately didn't want to. The two communicated so well and while there were issues that popped up, they worked everything out together and never lost sight of their relationship despite both of them being in very important moments in their careers.

Read this book if you like:
💍Vegas Weddings💍
💍Second Chance Romances💍
💍Healthy Communication💍
💍High School Sweethearts💍
💍Dual POV💍
💍Small Town/Big City Vibes💍
💍A Dash of Family Meddling💍
💍Marriage of Convenience💍
💍Fashion Details💍
💍Interconnected Series💍

Read if you like:
🥈 Second Chance Romances
💗 First Love
🍻 Drunken Reunions
💋 Fake Dating
💍 Marriage of Convenience

I feel like this book had the making to be everything I love in a romance from a second chance romance to fake dating with a mix of marriage of convenience, but for me, the romance aspect fell a bit flat and I felt like most of the story didn’t build up the romance the way I was hoping for.

I also feel like though it was discussed it didn’t really work for the “but they have such different lives- how will it ever work”

I also wish we got more depth of feeling and longing because it was there, but I just didn’t feeeeellll it in my bones like I wanted for soulmates that came back together after years apart.

All in all, I think my expectations were too high for this one but did enjoy it. Thanks so much Berkley for my ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

The Partner Plot is a fun, fast read with loads of charm. It’s easily one of the best second-chance-at-love stories I’ve ever read.

High school sweethearts Xavier Wright and Violet Greene live big. They are the coolest, sexiest kids at their school, and their breakups and makeups are legendary. Their relationship is combustible - the chemistry between them burns hot and heavy non-stop, sometimes flaring up into their infamous fights but never burning out. They dream just as big as they love. Xavier plans to be the next great basketball star, Violet plans to take over the fashion world.

That they aren’t great at the long-distance thing doesn’t surprise either of them once they are at separate colleges, but everything else about the experience does. Violet, never a good student, finds her niche and becomes one of the brightest stars on campus, while Xavier, the kid everyone just knew would shine, finds himself bench-sitting his freshmen year and injured and out of the game by Christmas, his sophomore year. Determined not to be what holds his girl back, he breaks up with Violet and allows her to move on and move up.

And move up, she does. Fast forward ten years: Violet is a celebrity stylist on the shortlist for a coveted position on the thirty under thirty list of Look magazine, an industry standard. She is with Karamel Kitty in Vegas, attending an opening at a swanky new club and ensuring her client is at her most fabulous as she is seen and photographed by all the right people when she runs into Xavier again. Time falls away and from the very first moment they dance, she finds herself enthralled once more.

This scene isn’t Xavier’s life. He wouldn’t be at the club at all, but he’d won a room at the luxury resort in Vegas and treated himself and his cousin to a wild weekend getaway. As a high school teacher, he’s become Mr. Sedate and Responsible. But seeing Violet has brought to the surface the charming, reckless side of himself he has kept suppressed for over a decade. The two drink and dance the evening away - and wake up married.

Fortunately, a double check of their marriage certificate shows theirs was a fake wedding, and the rings on their fingers are cheap plastic. They agree to go their separate ways and put it all behind them. But when Violet is doing her interview for the coveted cover spot with Look magazine, her lying, cheating ex comes up, and she finds herself claiming she’s happily married in order to put the discussion back on track. She hopes no one she knows outside the fashion world will read the thing, but of course, life never works that way,

Xavier is stunned to find himself congratulated for marrying Violet when he returns to work. He gives vague answers and vacant smiles to everyone’s excitement, anxious to talk to Violet and see what she is thinking when he gets the phone call. The one he’s been waiting for that will offer him a chance to move to college coaching. The university hadn’t thought a bachelor, especially of the kind that Xavier had been while he was on their campus in his heyday, was the kind of guy they wanted on staff. But the new, responsible Xavier looked good on paper, and the addition of a wedding ring shows them he’s finally settled down. Violet, too, finds being married is helping her professionally, and they both decide to give it a few months, put on a good show of being together, and cash in on the possibilities it represents before going their separate ways. It’s the perfect plot, exactly the kind of bold move they used to utilize back in high school until they realize they hadn’t considered how much the spark between them has rekindled. When it comes time to let go, will they really be able to part yet again?

There is so much I loved about this novel. One of the best things is how the author uses her unrealistic plot point (being married is good for a career in the 21st century) realistically. It is made clear that the university coach demeaning Xavier as a singleton is being a jerk and providing him with fodder for a lawsuit. It is also made clear why Xavier is willing to put up with it; he doesn’t feel he has a lot of options to be promoted, and he sees this as his best chance. With Violet, we also see some practical applications to her wanting to be married. It’s almost impossible to use this trope effectively in a contemporary novel, but the author really does hit it out of the ballpark here.

Another positive is the maturity shown by both Violet and Xavier. I like stories about grownups who aren’t hot messes but actually know how to hold jobs, get themselves fed, and basically function as human beings. Xavier and Violet are both invested in their careers and put in the time necessary to build them. Violet’s job has especially demanding hours, and I appreciated how she is reflective enough to question how she would find time for someone like Xavier, who is based in a small town for most of the year. Major kudos to the author for showing both the good things about small towns and small-town living without in any way disparaging big cities and the high-powered careers of some of the people who live in them. Violet doesn’t see the people in her hometown as more caring, kind etc. (and not all of them are depicted in that light) than her successful friends and clients, which makes a refreshing change for most romances (and Hallmark Christmas movies). She also doesn’t tank or discredit everything she has built because of love.

Another wonderful aspect is how the author shows growth in both characters from their teenage selves while still maintaining the core of who they are. Violet is still impetuous, fashion-oriented, and a touch volatile, but she has also tempered all those characteristics with some self-reflection and maturity. She understands more clearly what she wants and what she will and won’t sacrifice to get it. Xavier is learning to be happy with the person he has become, which is so different than the person he hoped to be. He recognizes the mistakes he’s made along his path to adulthood and has worked to improve himself. I loved that as a teenager, he is all bluster and bravado and that the hallmark of his adulthood is meaningful, genuine communication.

The Partner Plot is a fabulous tale about how two people living vastly different lives can make long-distance love work. I would recommend it to fans of contemporary romance.

This was a cute “oops we got married in Vegas” story, with a twist. I loved Xavier’s students and Violet’s niece, and the ending warmed my heart. As an educator, I cringed at the inappropriate pictures Violet showed Xavier’s class, but this is fiction so pass given. My favorite scene was when he took care of her when she was sick 🥹

I’m hoping for an Alex & Iris book!!

THE PARTNER PLOT – Kristina Forest
Berkley
ISBN: 978-0593546451
February 27, 2024
Romantic Comedy

Willow Ridge, New Jersey – Present Day

Violet Greene and Xavier Wright were high school sweethearts but like many other couples who dated in high school, they split up while in college. Violet’s dream was always to be a fashion stylist to the stars while Xavier had dreams of playing professional basketball. Years later, they meet by accident in Las Vegas. Violet has achieved her goal as she is a much sought-after celebrity stylist. She is there with one of her stars to get ready for a show. But Xavier’s dreams of basketball crashed after he got injured. He now teaches at their old high school and is an assistant basketball coach. While Violet is a little uncomfortable being around Xavier, she soon warms up and they have a good time drinking and partying. The next morning, they wake up in bed together—and they are married.

Well, they aren’t really married as it’s a fake marriage license. But both had hoped what happens in Vegas stayed in Vegas. Except, Violet accidentally let it slip during a magazine interview that she married her high school sweetheart. Soon, everyone believes that Violet and Xavier are married. In the meantime, she fractured her ankle and is temporarily staying in Willow Ridge to recuperate at her sister’s house. But Xavier tracks her down to find out why she said what she did. It can be refuted easily but he has a request. Xavier is hoping to get a coaching job and the man interviewing him had indicated he wanted a coach who was married. Can they pretend to be married for a few weeks until he can secure the job?

It’s a crazy scheme to pretend to be married in THE PARTNER PLOT but it might work as there is still a lot of crazy sexual chemistry between Violet and Xavier. They had a lot of fun together in high school and appeared to be a lasting couple, but they went their separate ways after he broke it off. By then Xavier was feeling his basketball dreams slipping away and didn’t want to hold Violet back. Of course, she was angry over being dumped but she did achieve success. She even gained a fiancé at one point but after she found him cheating on her she dumped him. Now she is flying solo so acting as Xavier’s temporary wife won’t cause a problem. It’s just that everyone in Willow Ridge is happy for them. While they try to ignore the simmering attraction between them, it is hard to do when they’re living under the same roof—in Xavier’s tiny home. Readers will have to figure out how long before the one bed in his apartment becomes a shared one.

There are plenty of cute and funny scenes between Violet and Xavier in THE PARTNER PLOT. It’s clear that they still care for each other. Yet they can still bicker over the tiniest things. Readers will enjoy the characters—from Violet and Xavier to the minor characters such as their families and coworkers. It makes for a rollicking read that will keep one glued to the pages. If you’re looking for an enjoyable read that will tickle your funny bone, then look no further than THE PARTNER PLOT.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today