Thank you to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and the author the chance to read this ARC.

I had no idea what to expect with this book, but the synopsis sounded intriguing. This wasn't like anything I had read before! David is a successful author at a young age, and then his second novel is a flop. The first half of the story introduces you to David's loneliness and feelings of despair. After a random grindr hookup, he discovers his date is now dead in his bed. Calling on his agent, Stacey, to help him figure out what to do, things take an odd turn. The vents of this tragic hookup and following day with Stacey seem to unlock his writers block, and suddenly, his third novel comes pouring out. The story told here felt surprisingly emotional and deep given what I thought I was getting based on the synopsis, but I enjoyed every page. The second half of the book delves more into David's personal growth and life lessons gained from the experience. I would definitely recommend this book!

I loved this book from the beginning! It felt like each part had a whole new vibe or trope to it and it was almost like 3 books in one!

A young gay writer is struggling with his love life, family life and career. He decides to blow off steam by dabbling in Grindr for a night to take his mind off things. And boy does it! A handsome wealthy man messages him and invites him to the Plaza. They have a night gallivanting about New York City but everything takes a turn for the worst in the morning.

I loved the description of the night of torrid romance. I loved the friendship between two unlikely characters.
I loved how 50% into the book I was like how can I only be half way through? Isn't this storyline pretty much wrapped up? But nope! We get thrown into what felt like a sequel and it never lost it's depth, pace or intrigue.

I loved Aleman's writing style and will definitely be looking to read more of his books in the future.

This is the kind of book that has you googling to find out if the author woke up next to the dead body of a one-night stand. Because when main character David is an author who wakes up next to a dead body and then writes a novel about Daniel who is an author who wakes up next to a dead body...and then you loop back around and remember the author's name is also Daniel...well it begs the question! For the record—I can't confirm or deny if this was inspired by a true story, but it feels vivid and fleshed out as you read about what David is going through.

Whether it's inspired by reality or not, this novel is playful, exciting, and kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters are well developed, the dialogue is interesting, and the look into David's complicated family life and struggle to get by even as a successful author felt very real. While it took me a few chapters to get invested, once things Started To Go Down, I was absolutely sucked in and finished the rest of the book in just two days.

One of my very favorite things about this book is the relationship between author David and his literary agent/best friend Stacey. What an unlikely pair they are—Stacey being aged out of an industry she helped build and David a young up-and-coming whose second novel flopped. Their dialogue never fell into the common traps that some writers of intergenerational friendships find themselves in; the two are able to communicate and relate to one another despite and in spite of their differences.

Sinilarly, the relationship between David and his ex, Jeremy, was really refreshing and lovely. I so enjoyed how Jeremy remained steadfastly supportive of his ex, no matter what, because he cared about him. It's not a dynamic you get to see too often in fiction, and I loved it!

This isn't even getting into the twists and turns of the thriller that is what happened to the dead body that David wakes up next to, and how he turns it into his next book! The story had me in disbelief at times (no one is noticing that they're dragging a dead body through the city??), but don't worry, those moments will be addressed!!.

I really enjoyed this read and look forward to reading more of Aleman's books in the future!

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for access to an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

After reading the dedication page, I had a pretty good feeling about this book and man was my gut right. Following along with David and his Stacey was like living in a late night Oxygen true crime documentary. Daniel does a great job of capturing all the dread that comes with doing something you know you shouldn’t and subsequently fearing that the consequences are constantly lurking in the shadows. I enjoyed this read and I’m interested in reading more of the authors work.

Dark comedy about a young writer in New York. This is silly and hilarious and sad and wonderful. I absolutely loved it.

At the heart of this is self-love, self-acceptance, and self-knowledge. Our MC is has been on a rollercoaster of success and failure, professionally and in love. He's unmoored in life and maybe it takes this outrageous series of events for him to sort himself out. I was with our protagonist the entire time, the hope and despair both sensible and unfounded. I found him to be extremely understandable and easy to identify with, and I love an MC who does not always achieve likability.

This should absolutely be made into a movie. Someone get that together, please and thank you.

I have loved everything that Daniel Aleman has written and this first adult novel is no different. Those first few chapters, whew. No spoilers, I promise. But Alemen has captured the true loneliness one can feel even in a world surrounded by people and a fast-moving society. While living in NYC, David finds himself trying to figure out his love life and career as a writer. Finding someone dead in your bed after your first meeting just might ruin your day, but it just gets worse. And yet, David someone uses his limited resources to figure out the next steps. As the story unfolds, which I read in like two sittings, you just cringe and feel your heart wring out of anxiety. You don’t really like all of the secondary characters but the internal monologue David has opens up a world of complexity as if you only need to hear and feel through him. I highly recommend this book and thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I was a big fan of Aleman's previous titles, so I wanted to read this as soon as I saw it on Netgalley! What a successful transition to a new audience and title. This book was suspenseful, addictive, and just a little bit cheeky. I'm so excited for its publication so I can share it with my patrons!

This was not so much a thriller as I had hoped but still a decent read. David seems to figure himself out over the course of this book which I liked. There were some funny moments too which I enjoyed as well as all the book talk. Something different than my normal reading.

This book was fun, funny, dark, and touching. On so many ways, it hit so close to home and I loved it.

I came for the stunning cover and fun premise, stayed for the deep characterization and amazing writing.

After reading this all I can say is WOW!

"I Might Be In Trouble" offers an insider's look into the publishing industry and what it takes to make it as an author. It shows the ups and downs of pursuing a creative career, and the realities of being a gay guy in present day New York. It's also a story about love, friendship, and family, and about finding a dead body in your bed.

I couldn't put it down. David is one of the most sympathetic characters I've ever read, and from the very first pages I felt like I knew him (or like I am him). His voice is relatable and witty, and the whole read felt like a breath of fresh air. Fast-paced and smart, twisty and fun.

Add this one to your TBR! You won't regret it.

David Alvarez they could never make me hate you
thank you netgalley and the publisher for this beautiful arc.
stunning from beginning to end
want to give 5 stars because it resonated with me and probably will if i ever reread it but so far it’s 4.5 rounded down
anyway david’s crisis and writer’s block I GET YOU so bad

“I Might Be in Trouble” is fun, adventurous, and full of life and humor.

Aleman is a genius when it comes to writing characters that jump off the page— I could see, hear, and feel them like they were standing right in front of me. His equal and opposite uses of humor and reflection make this novel dynamic, and his story will appeal to a wide variety of readers.

If you’re looking for a book with complex and imperfect characters that asks questions about the meaning of success and “measuring up”, Aleman has you covered. His characters dive deep into the hard questions, stopping to make you laugh out loud along the way. I didn’t want it to end!

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for this e-ARC, and congratulations to Aleman on a raw, funny, and beautiful novel!

I went in expecting this book to be a thriller but it was really more of a tale of self-discovery and coming of age in adulthood. The main thing that grabbed me was how strong the narrative voice was-I could get and practically hear David’s voice in my head and immediately felt like I knew him. This book covered a whole range of emotions and experiences, while simultaneously being humorous, cutting, and heartfelt.

I Might Be in Trouble by Daniel Aleman

I devoured this novel in one (albeit long) sitting. If I thought part one was suspenseful, I had yet to learn what I was in for in the book's second half.

David Alvarez is a formerly successful author trying to prove that he is not a one-hit wonder. His professional situation mirrors his personal life. He once felt a part of a family and a relationship; however, both have morphed over time, leaving him feeling alone and lost.

His situation changes when he wakes up one morning to a dead one-night stand. His panicked actions make way for an adventure—perhaps one that is worth writing about.

While the plot may initially sound like a modern-day Weekend at Bernie’s, it's far more complex and engaging. You'll find yourself rooting for the sympathetic lead in this suspenseful adventure, which forces him out of his comfort zone and helps him discover who he can truly count on.

This book was an absolute delight to read. It kept me guessing, and I found it both fun and meaningful.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the Net Galley ARC.
#IMightBeinTrouble #NetGalley
General Fiction (Adult) | Humor & Satire | LGBTQIAP+
Pub Date Dec 03 2024

My top book of 2024 so far.

This was the fun, fresh, fast-paced read I was craving. It was everything: funny, relatable, energetic, shocking, romantic, and sometimes even wistful and sad. It's a lot to pack into one novel, but Daniel Aleman does it so expertly you'll be flying through the pages.

David Alvarez is down on his luck. After his first book became a massive success, he thought he had made it. His dreams had come true, he had a wonderful boyfriend, and was on the road to a perfect life. But then his second book flops, and that leaves him in a limbo. With no money, no ideas for future books, no more praise from his readers, and not even his ex-boyfriend. So now he's trying to come up with an idea for his next novel, which will be the one to save him and allow him to recapture the life that slipped away.

That's when he meets a handsome man on a dating app, and they have a magical night together that makes David certain everything's about to fall into place again. Except that when he wakes up the next morning, his date is dead, and there's a possibility David accidentally killed him.

So begins the crazy journey of this book and I couldn't put it down. One moment I was gasping in shock, the next I was swallowing a knot in my throat, the next I was laughing out loud. David feels so real as a character that I couldn't help but sympathize with him at every step of the way, but his agent Stacey takes the trophy as one of the best characters I've read in a long time.

"I Might be in Trouble" blends some suspense elements with a deep, impactful story, and it is ultimately about a young man trying to survive even in the face of failure, heartbreak and loneliness. I can imagine so many people will relate to David on some level, as I did.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. I loved this and will be shouting about it when it publishes.

‘I guess...one of the things I’ve realized is that people are...well, like houses, almost. We need foundations. We need...a solid platform, on top of which we can build.’

David is a bestselling author at twenty-eight. But instead of writing another fabulous book, his career is down the drain, his relationship with his dad is more or less nonexistent, and his boyfriend Jeremy is now his ex. He’s a guy who had everything but now has nothing, and loneliness, anxiety, and maybe even self-pity are luring around the corner. But then David meets Robert and finally thinks things are going to work out fine. Until he finds Robert dead in his bed.

This story hit close to home and crawled under my skin. Slowly. I didn’t feel it at first, until halfway through the book, my whole body started to itch.

I was home alone for the first time in years and thought I’d love it, but I felt lonely instead and read:
‘I had the strangest realization: my word count had gone way down.’

I was writing and petrified to share with others what I had written and read:
‘There’s something about the thought of other people reading my words that terrifies me.’

I can have these intrusive thoughts that I’m not good enough and read:
‘I’d try to be less afraid. Less hard on myself. Happier.’

This story is about foundations. The foundations you need to function in life. Passions. Desires. Family. Friends. David’s only foundation is his writing. And losing it would mean he no longer has meaning in life. It’s about doubt and insecurities. About believing in yourself. About letting other people in and letting them be your foundation. About being okay and sometimes not. And that it’s okay to be not okay sometimes.

In my last review, I asked myself why so many YA authors want to write adult books. To be honest, I’m not always a fan. But Daniel’s first adult novel struck a cord. It’s so different from all the others and cannot be grasped in one genre. I Might Be in Trouble is literary, contemporary, dark at times, and at the same time humorous, even ridiculous in a few moments. But above all, it’s deeply human and personal.

Daniel, you touched my whole being with your story! Thank you so much for writing it. You definitely didn’t disappoint!

I would first like to thank net galley and Hachette book group for giving me the opportunity to read this book. When we first meet David he has just woken up to a dead body next to him in bed. The book follows how far he will go to jump start his flailing writing career by spinning this event.
I hope you have tissues handy because this book handles everything. Aleman was able to write about insecurity, anxiety, loneliness, sadness, want, and joy so brilliantly that I wish I could go back and read this all over again for the first time. Not only did I audibly laugh out loud with some of the scenes and the narration but I was crying in the next chapter at how beautiful the moments were playing out. You can not put one genre to this book because it has everything. David is not happy with his current life, his first book a success, his second flopped. His ex has a new boyfriend and he has no money in his account. Trying to take his mind off of things he goes on a date, the only problem is he wakes up to his date dead. After wondering what to do, he spirals. He realizes so many things at once that finally when his life calms down a bit he manages to write his feelings down, which is what he always did when he had a low point. Through the book we follow the highs and lows of David's life with his Ex, his father and his new wife and his agent. This book is a journey of self discover, self acceptance, love, and mystery thrown in. If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would I loved it that much.

This book was a really good read. I thought that the pacing was a little tough at times but I enjoyed the story. I liked the characters and there were some pretty good funny elements to the story. but overall, it was a great read and I would recommend it to others!

David Alverez has never been able to live up to his early success. His first novel was very popular and got him a deal for the second one. Unfortunately, it wasn't well received at all. The third novel has been rejected by his publisher, so now, in his late 20s, David is struggling to figure out what to do next. His long=term relationship has ended, all of his book money has been spent, and he's out of ideas. With nothing really to do and to put off the panic about not being able to pay next month's rent, David hooks up with random men he meets on dating apps. One night he meets a wonderful man named Robert. After a night of bar hopping, they end up back at David's small apartment. When David wakes up in the morning, he discovers Robert dead in bed beside him. Luckily, he has one friend left who might help him out of a sticky situation, his agent Stacey. After they think the situation has been handled and the police find nothing suspicious about the death, Stacey convinces David to use the unique situation as fodder for his next best-seller. As David gets started on that project, he's contacted to write another book -- working alongside Robert's husband, who is a famous news personality. The rest of the book deals with David's paranoia that Robert's husband knows what he did and is looking for revenge. Is he truly suspicious, or is David's fear causing him to see things that aren't there?

I liked the book for the most part, but I was expecting something major to happen at the end -- a final "gotcha" or twist, but there was just a sort of disappointing ending of nothing much. I suppose the book wasn't meant to be a thriller (as I'd hoped) but instead to chart David's journey from spoiled mess to somewhat responsible adult. I just wish there had been a better ending to end on. As it was, I was left somewhat deflated.