Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this book!

As a general rule for my own personal reading, I tend to read romance as a palette cleanser for the more grim reads. I tend to get bored, easily. With that being said, I am happy to say I loved this and I wouldn’t change a thing. Where this book absolutely succeeds for me, is how real it is. Because yes, even some romances(or most) seem far fetched at best.

The perfect Pride Month book release! This story is a friends-to-lovers sapphic romance and it was adorable and heartwarming. I did find the lesbian awakening of the MC in the beginning to be a little bit irritating but as Cash's journey progressed, I enjoyed it more. The small-town vibes and excellent cast of characters were wonderful. Recommended to anyone looking for a good queer romance!

Hot, sexy, funny, with a side of sticking it to the corporate man. I loved this book. It was a lovely exploration of later in life coming out and sexuality in a small town. I loved Cash and Inez and the large supporting cast.
Highly recommend

It is a book that I wouldn't pick on my own, so I was excited to read it. My opinion on the story isn't the greatest, it wasn't bad but I wasn't as entertained as I would have liked to have been. I don't think this story was for me, but it could great for someone else. I thought the story was kind of slow, and a little boring. It didn't sell me the fantasy of falling in love and romance. I also thought the bar storyline took up way too much space.

Thank you Dell books and PRH audio for the free copies of this new queer romance, a sweet, steamy story with strong character growth, a celebration of the strengths of single mothers and queer identities and small towns, and a great friends to lovers story. I appreciated the space that Tehlor Kay Meija gave Cash to grow in a few ways throughout this story, to allow her to realize her sexuality and sexual identity, to explore her feelings for her best friend, but to also give her the space to think about her future with her work, with her daughter; the depth of details about the town and the secondary character development gave the story a richness that was rewarding.

Cash Delgado is a single mom working at a small town bar and dealing with an identity crisis regarding her sexuality when her ex comes to town, bringing with him a threat to her workplace in the form of a new bar opening in town. Cash spirals a bit, freaking out about the possibility of her favorite place closing, about how her sexuality may affect her young daughter, and about those strange sex dreams she is suddenly having about her BFF Inez.

This was my second read from Tehlor Kay Mejia, and I loved returning to the small town of Ridley Falls. This one can definitely act a a standalone, though characters from the prior book do appear in this one. The love story here felt authentic, with a friends to lovers storyline that is complicated by Cash’s realization that her sexuality may be different from what she thought it was. Her confusion and final realization were treated with care and openness, and I found several of her conversations with already out characters to be well written and eye opening.

The bar storyline was fun, with the characters working together to try to raise enough money to upgrade their hometown hangout. The town came together in heartwarming ways, and it made for an entertaining read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for the ARC! All opinions are my own,

3.75 stars

Okay. I came to the wonderful world of Tehlor Kay Mejia through YA, but I have to say that I'm really digging these romances for grown folks even more. First Sammy and now Cash? I'm here for this.

Cash lives a fascinating life as a bartender and single mom of six-year-old Parker, an absolutely winning personality, and she has a best friend, Inez, who is becoming more than just a friend...at least in Cash's steamy (and for her, somewhat confusing) dreams. These dreams are really messing with Cash's sense of self, and they cause her to wonder about the unplumbed depths of her identity. This element of the text is my favorite, but I suspect readers with less access to folks who have come out later in life might find Cash's questioning surprising (though, I suppose these folks need to get access to this phenomenon somewhere). Mejia pulls off this representation nicely, and it is both amusing and charming to watch Cash discover new aspects of herself.

The secondary characters add texture in good (and, at times, challenging) ways throughout the text, as do the small-town atmosphere and the dive bar backdrop. I'd have loved even a bit more engagement with some of these characters, but they still add a lot to this charming friends to lovers tale.

Of course, I'm already looking forward to Mejia's next book (especially added efforts in this particular realm).

This book is such a heartwarming queer romance. "Cash Delgado Is Living the Dream" by Tehlor Kay Mejia invites readers into the charming small town of Ridley Falls, where Cash, a dedicated bartender, juggles motherhood and a blossoming new romance. Set against the backdrop of a karaoke bar, this heartwarming queer romance explores second chances, found family, and the complexities of love.

Cash Delgado, a single mother, is content with her life in Ridley Falls. She pours drinks at the local bar, raises her adorable daughter, and navigates the challenges of parenting. But when Inez, an intriguing stranger, walks into the bar, Cash's world tilts on its axis. Sparks fly, and Cash finds herself torn between her responsibilities and the possibility of a new love.

I adored the authentic characters. Cash is relatable and endearing. Her struggles as a mother and her vulnerability make her a compelling protagonist. Inez, too, has depth and complexity, and their chemistry is palpable.

The novel beautifully portrays the bonds formed within the tight-knit community of Ridley Falls. From quirky regulars at the bar to Cash's supportive friends, the sense of belonging is heartwarming. The karaoke scenes add a delightful touch. Whether you love or hate singing scenes, they play a significant role in the characters' growth.

Mejia celebrates queer love with authenticity. The slow burn between Cash and Inez feels genuine, and their journey resonates with readers. Mejia's novel is a delightful addition to the world of queer romance. It's a tale of love, self-discovery, and the magic that happens when dreams come true.

While the chemistry between Cash and Inez is evident, their romantic connection takes time to develop. Some readers may wish for more early sparks, but patience pays off as their relationship deepens.

"Cash Delgado Is Living the Dream" is a sexy, funny, and sweet story about love, second chances, and the power of found family. Mejia's writing captures the essence of Ridley Falls, making readers fall in love with both the characters and the town. If you're looking for a heartwarming queer romance, this book is a must-read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dell, and Random House Publishing Group for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Let me start by saying I texted my group chat to recommend this book somewhere around chapter 6, I think. And my enjoyment only went up from there. It's a perfect book. Like, I thought Sammy Espinoza's Last Review was phenomenal (easy five star rating) but I loved this one even more. Honestly no need to even read the rest of this review; go buy this book or borrow it from your library right now.

Cash Delgado is straight, there's never been a doubt in her mind... until she starts having sexy dreams about her best friend. It's probably just stress, and the fact that Cash hasn't been with anyone in a while, right? Maybe the fact that Inez is lesbian has something to do with these fantasies? Because Cash is for sure straight. It's just that Inez is beautiful, and her favorite person (aside from Cash's daughter, Parker), and they spend so much time together. That's all it is... right?

I freakin ADORED this book. I loved Cash's internal struggle, and the non-romance plot--of Cash and Inez trying to save their smalltown bar from a large corporation hoping to build a competitive establishment--was also very captivating. This book is perfectly balanced, and I loved all the characters. I really hope we get more stories set in this town in the future; I'll be first in line to read them.

I didn’t realize this was best friends to lovers when I started it but ahhhh. I loved Cash’s whole sexuality crisis, it was so funny and relatable, I laughed out loud early on when she was like “I'm just a regular straight girl who had a regular sex dream about my lesbian best friend. No big deal at all.” And then the scene where she realizes that she’s a lesbian had me tearing up. The romance was so so good too. ❤️

I loved that even though they live in a small town, there’s still a queer community, and Cash’s journey to accept that she’s a part of it and that there’s people who support her (both in terms of her sexuality and in general) made me so emotional. Cash’s daughter Parker was also SUCH a good character. Ngl I don’t always like kids in books but she was so cute and has such a personality.

I read this in one sitting in a couple of hours and I had an amazing time. I might even bump it up to a 5 star the more I think about it, but for now I’ll leave it at a 4.5, rounding down. Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the digital ARC, all opinions are my own.

As a reader, one of my favorite types of stories is a coming of age story and through this book, I leaned that coming of age can happen at any time in our lives like the main character here! She was absolutely a blast to follow along in her self discovery! I loved the characterization in this book and the entire story was so cute and so fun! I loved the queer rep and would absolutely recommend this read to anyone!

Single mom Cash has spent the last six years living for her daughter Parker, while running local dive bar Joyce’s for its mostly absentee owners. Has considered herself tragically straight, but with how she never really dates anymore? And then has a series of increasingly racy dreams about her best friend? Well… this brings questions. Full on sexuality crisis, many times googled questions.

Inez, the best friend and coworker in question, on the other hand is an out and proud lesbian. One whose last relationship crumbled primarily from her girlfriend’s jealousy of the time she spends with Cash, both in and outside of their work

When Chase - Cash’s ex …something - strolls back into town and attempts a quickie for old times sake, before dropping a bomb it brings so many things to a head at once for her.

All the sudden she’s worried about losing her job, home, place in town all while trying to understand the questions these dreams have opened up. Knowing every decision affects her kid as much as herself, and she’s always tried to keep Parker’s life as ‘normal’ as possible. It’s a lot!

This is a little spoilerish so avert you’re eyes if you want -
If you have ever frantically googled questions that you probably already knew the answer to
Are a big fan of rooting for the underdog
And you thrive on bad things happening to bad people
Then you’re going to want to read this!

The side characters are great, and I super loved everyone from Inez’s farm/commune/rainbow-paradise.

And I don’t read very many books with kids as fairly main characters, but I loved Parker in this one. She’s clever and thoughtful, but still an impulsive kid. And with how important she is to the other characters, the story would not have been the same without her.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dell for the arc!

Cash Delgado Is Living the Dream is the delightful latest story from Tehlor Kay Mejia. I really enjoyed this cozy and queer romance. Cash is a single mom who runs a bar with her best friend Inez. One night, Cash has a steamy dream of her best friend and starts to question whether she is truly straight. When an ex comes back to town with a plan to put the bar out of business, Cash and Inez must work together to save their jobs and their friendship.

Cash Delgado Is Living the Dream is a queer late coming-out story, with incredible characters and realistic issues. Cash and her relationship with her daughter was so heartwarming. I loved the thoughtful details woven in: like how Inez takes care of her grandmother and lives on a cooperative farm with kind and caring members. Of course, there is excellent LGBTQ+ rep in both main and side characters. While Cash questions her identity and faces a real threat of being put out of business, Mejia simultaneously crafts a cozy and lovely story. It was fun to see the cameos from Sammy Espinoza’s Last Review. I can’t wait to see what Tehlor Kay Mejia writes next!

Thank you to Tehlor Kay Mejia, Dell, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

Cash Delgado Is Living the Dream by Tehlor Kay Mejia is a charming and heartwarming story that explores the themes of second chances and the importance of finding a family. With well-developed characters and a captivating storyline, this book will keep you engaged until the very last page.

I loved the self discovery journey in this book. Questioning your sexuality, your attraction after thinking you know who you are for so many years is not linear. It's not easy especially when we live in a world where being hetero is the norm. I liked the friend group and the sense of community in this group. Are the homophobes, yes.

I liked this a lot a enjoyed this.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you Random House & NetGalley for the ARC!

I absolutely LOVED this story! As someone wrestling with a queer identity, this was the perfect read at the perfect time. The way Cash had conversations with her daughter about sexual identity, orientation, and ignorance was astounding, and I took notes for when I have those conversations with my own daughter one day! I was deeply sad this story ended, but I'm looking forward to reading more work by this author in the future!

Thank you again for the ARC!

Great book. Loved the interaction between the couples and the concern for the people in the town. gave this feel real life or maybe Hallmark channel vibes. Anyway, cute book. Good job with this one. Enjoy!

Thanks to NetGalley and Dell for an e-arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is a sweet, gay awakening, friends to lovers sapphic romance. We follow Cash, a bar manager and single mom, who is trying to keep a chain bar from coming in and tanking her business. She is helped on her quest by her lesbian best friend, Inez and the two fall in love along the way.

Highlights:
The way that this book handled Cash coming to terms with her sexuality was really beautiful. I loved the way it talked about compulsory heterosexuality.
The strong emphasis on communities and small towns.
Cash’s daughter Parker!

i really tried to like this since i really enjoyed sammy espinoza but i simply could not. it was slow and boring and the parts i enjoyed were far and few between

Cash Delgado is a single mom living in Ridley Falls. Her life largely revolves around her daughter, Parker, her job at Joyce’s bar and her best friend Inez. That is, until her ex Chase comes to town and tells her his employer is looking to open a franchise bar in town that could ruin Joyce’s chances for staying open. Cash starts to plan to save the bar with Inez and some feelings start to surface that confuse Cash and make her question everything she has come to know about herself.

This was a cute book. Love scenes are open door. Spice level is about a 4/5. I enjoyed this story, Parker, Cash’s daughter, was a delightful piece of the story. The story has a nice flow, the characters were lovable and it was a great love story about discovering your true self.

I would like to extend my gratitude to Tehlor Kay Mejia, Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for allowing me to read this eARC prior to publication for review!