I didn't know what magic spell this book cast on me but I was addicted. And obsessed. And honestly didn't know what to do with myself now that I had finished savoring it. Much to my astonishment, this book was not what I had in mind AT ALL. The plot took me by surprise, especially with its depth and profound moral of the story, and the characters were just...perfectly flawed.

The male main character, Hunter Delucia, had so many layers to him than his dirty talk and playboy persona. For some reason, he was SO REAL that I felt like I knew him personally. All the things he did and said to Natalia, the female main character, were from the bottom of his heart and I seriously couldn't ship them enough.

Even though there were heartbreakingly heavy moments and incidents in this book, as Hunter said, "It's not an adventure without a little fear," I thought those were what made this book stand out and that was why Hunter and Natalia's story would stay with me for a very, very long time.

All in all, HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND Something Borrowed, Something You! This book was previously published as Sex, Not Love back in 2017 (what?!!!) but would be re-released with a new title and revamped cover in May 2025. As much as I wish I could read this back when it was first published, I was glad that I finally gave Vi Keeland's books a shot and now I just can't wait to binge read more.

***Massive thanks to the author and Hambright PR for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***

Natalia and Hunter's story begins at a wedding, where Hunter is instantly drawn to her and begins his pursuit. Having been hurt in her previous relationship, Natalia is hesitant to get involved. However, Hunter’s persistence eventually wears her down, and she agrees to a no strings attached arrangement. What starts as purely physical soon deepens into something more. Just as Natalia becomes ready to embrace a real relationship, Hunter’s hidden struggles threaten to stand in their way. Together, they must decide if their connection is strong enough to endure the challenges ahead.

The narration brings the characters to life perfectly, Andi Arndt captures Natalia’s blend of confidence and sweetness, while Sebastian York nails Hunter’s charming, flirty persona. It offers a heartfelt mix of emotional depth, playful banter, and sizzling chemistry, making it a must listen.

4.25 – 4.5 STARS

Previously published under the title, “Sex, Not Love,” Hunter and Natalia’s scorchingly hot, no-strings-attached relationship is now re-released as “Something Borrowed, Something You.” Regardless of the title, however, Vi Keeland takes readers on a turbulent, romantic journey that’s also one helluva fun, sexy ride with plenty of snarky banter thrown in along the way. Still, despite Hunter and Natalia’s emotional connection and off-the-chart chemistry, it’s Hunter’s well-guarded secret that serves to block this couple’s path toward reaching their very own HEA. Though fear not, readers, as Vi Keeland expertly guides their burgeoning love story every step of the way!

I had read this when it first released and I found reading it a second time hit differently. This is a slowburn but worked well to build the characters and their development. I really enjoyed the hero. He was so charming and easily likeable. The heroine is someone I could definitely be friends with. There was so much chemistry between the pair and the fact that they build a pretty solid foundation before getting physical made the story that much enjoyable.

Something Borrowed, Something You is a delightful read that will appeal to fans of rom-coms. It's light-hearted, funny, and provides plenty of feels. Vi Keeland's writing shines in this book, and if you're looking for a romance with plenty of humor and some emotional depth, this is definitely worth checking out. The chemistry between Nat and Hunter is undeniable. Their banter is witty, and the tension between them builds in a way that kept me hooked. I also loved the relationship between them and Izzy. While the book is full of great moments, the overall plot does follow a familiar romantic comedy pattern of will they/wont they but rom-com lovers are here for it.

rating: 4.25
spice: 2

i loveeee natalia and hunter! they've both been burned in the past and came out so much stronger together. i normally don't like slow burns, but this one was done SO well. i loved the chapters of hunter's past, it really gave insight on the type of person he is and what shaped him to be the man he is today.

their bonus daughter, izzy, was amazing. i loved her so much and would love to see her have a book of her own!

this book is NOT a dark romance, but does have some darker themes present. so please take care of your mental health if you're reading this one. make sure you read all the TWs.

- slow burn
- friends to lovers
- mental health rep
- dual timeline (only hunter's)
- parkinson's & huntington's disease mentions

I am madly in love with Vi Keeland's writing! Something Borrowed, Something You is a power house of emotions. Of all kinds. Sometimes they are slow and sweet and swoony. Sometimes they will wreck you. Sometimes they are sobering and deep. Sometimes they are just flirty and spicy. Natalia and Hunter's love story touched my heart with the honest and raw feels. This is why I read romance. It can make you forget about the struggles of life and also make you remember why the struggles are worth it

*best friend's husband's best friend
* single step mother
* he is a playboy but she isn't falling so easy for his charm
* friends to lovers
* trigger warning : death of a loved one, mental health issues, chronic illness
* A BEAUTIFUL HEA

I think this is the kind of the story where you don't read for the plot. You read for the effects it had on your heart. In simple terms, Natalia and Hunter met at their best friends' wedding. Hunter is using all his charm and sex appeal to convince her to have some fun but she has just been out of a divorce from a man who is in prison for embezzlement and she is taking care of her very moody teenager step daughter. Hunter is nothing but persistent. When his work brings him to the same city as Natalia, she decides that a friendship won't harm. Obviously they have incredible chemistry. Day by day, Hunter shows up as the best kind of friend she can imagine. They become so close but he made it clear that he doesn't want anything serious But why? The truth was devastating.

Natalia and Hunter makes a very complicated but meaningful couple. She has a big heart and she was badly hurt by her ex. She thought this marriage to be her everything but she was deceived and left in a mess. She loves Izzy so much but that girl is hurting too and she ends up being Izzy's target of venting out a lot of times. Hunter came in with his swagger and c0cky charm but he was hiding a lot of pain. I cannot imagine how he was holding so much tragedy inside him. It almost destroyed his relationship with Natalia because he chose to shut her out rather than sharing her burden. She is fierce enough not to be mistreated by another man. But he realised that his fear is stopping him from living is life and he is depriving Natalia of all the love he can give. Their banter was so much fun. I was smiling like a goofball the entire time Hunter was being so obnoxious and cheesy. I swooned when he incorporated himself in all parts of her life and specially, Izzy's life. It was heartwarming to say the least. Natalia is strong and sassy. She is more than capable to take care of herself and Izzy but it gets lonely. Hunter was the support and care and sweetness she didn't know she needed She also cracked the wall around his heart. When the spice kicked in after Natalia resisting Hunter and slowly giving in to his charisma..it was explosive! The Last few chapters broke me but I ended up smiling like crazy.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

⭐️4.5

Thank you Vi Keeland and hambright pr for the eARC and audio of Something Borrowed, Something You! This was my first Vi Keeland read and I really loved it! I appreciated her different writing style and the way she utilized POVs in this story! Hunter Delucia had my attention from the very first chapter and just like Nat, I couldn’t get enough of him! This story has a perfect meet cute, hilarious banter, lust at first sight, and not one but two perfect epilogues! I definitely can’t wait to check out more from this author!

5 ⭐ 3 🌶️

I rarely read blurbs, even for books I'm excited about. I usually go in blind and base my reads on the author, the title, the cover or friend recs... Needless to say, I simply grabbed this one because it was Vi Keeland, and I was expecting a fun rom-com, but what we get here is so, so much more. This story is absolutely beautiful. It's funny, and so cute, but it's also filled with tragedy and heartbreak, and thankfully healing too.

I adored Hunter, Nat and Izzy. Izzy brought out some of my favorite moments and had me in tears more than once when it came to those little moments with both Hunter and Nat. I'm such a sucker for stepkids, I think it goes right along found family tropes with blood meaning nothing when it comes to love.

I really loved the ending, especially Hunter's epilogue, but really all of it past the dreaded third act break up. His truth and Nat's reaction were everything and I loved loved loved watching these two find their happy ever after.

Thank you to Tor Publishing, Hambright PR, and NetGalley for the E-copy of this book ahead of it's re-release.

This book was formerly called Sex, Not Love and may I just say I love that title so much more and it is so fitting for this book.

This author's writing is so complex. If you think you are going to be getting a light RomCom, you are wrong. This story has depth. Each character has some messy dynamics that only add to the buildup of Hunter and Natalia's relationship. Combine that with sexual tension and banter for days and you won't be able to put this one down.

Hunter and Natalia meet at their best friend's wedding and have immediate chemistry. It's a very love-hate and push-pull relationship. Most of the push comes from Natalia, who is just getting out of a very messy divorce. Hunter claims he doesn't want anything serious but essentially chases Natalia down over the course of a year. He goes as far as showing up at her mom's house. If he wasn't so endearing, I might think this was a bit creepy.

I loved the dual timelines with Hunter's story and the slow reveal of his reasoning for keeping his relationships purely sex.

This book was heartfelt, addictive, and sexy. Definitely recommend.

I don’t know how Vi does it, but I pick up one of her books with the intention of taking my time, only to blink and be done because I couldn’t put it down. For those who have read The Summer Proposal and loved it, you are in for a treat. While Something Borrowed, Something You is completely different in many ways, it carries the same magnetic pull and emotional depth that made me fall in love with The Summer Proposal. This book is steamy, sweet, and had me laughing, but be prepared – it does touch on sensitive issues and delves into darker moments. Simply put, there were tears, and for some, potential triggers, but Vi did an exceptional job navigating these ups and downs, making this an absolute must-read.

Natalia Rossi has officially had it with love. Divorced at 28 and stepmother to a fifteen-year-old who would rather play in traffic than spend quality time with her, she’s eager to break her dry spell of 18 months and finally move forward with her life. When her best friend’s wedding comes around, Natalia sees the perfect opportunity for a one-night stand with a groomsman. But just as Natalia’s preparing herself for the night ahead, her world is turned upside down by the crude yet captivating voice of Hunter Delucia. Breathtakingly handsome and every woman’s fantasy come true, Hunter boldly offers to scratch Natalia’s itch. Unfortunately, Hunter’s dazzling smile and alluring swagger reminds her too much of her conniving ex-husband, and Natalia already vowed she was done falling for charming smiles and smooth talk. Alcohol, however, has other plans – and the next thing Natalia knows, she wakes up with Hunter beside her. After confirming nothing happened (and determined to put as much distance between them as possible), Natalia gives Hunter a fake phone number, convinced she’s rid of him for good.

Little does she know, Hunter is far from ready to let her go. A year later, a quick trip back to California brings Natalia face-to-face with him once again. After another close call and finding Hunter far too tempting to resist, Natalia gives him her mother’s phone number, thinking her mom’s obsession with grandbabies and marriage would scare off any sane man. Weeks later, when another traditional Sunday dinner with her family comes around, Natalia is left dumbfounded as she opens her mother’s front door to find Hunter waiting on the porch. Tired of running and resisting their electric chemistry, Natalia agrees to Hunter’s intriguing proposal: eight weeks, no strings, just sex. It seems like the perfect plan to get each other out of their systems once and for all. But as they navigate their arrangement, it soon becomes clear that their hearts have very different plans.

Hunter was a lot – but somehow, still not enough! You wanted to be offended by the crass things that came out of his mouth, yet like Natalia, you couldn’t help but be irresistibly drawn to him. Their banter made this book incredibly engaging and fun. Whether it was Natalia’s sharp one-liners or Hunter’s witty retorts, their interactions were pure gold. Add in a sassy fifteen-year-old and an Italian mother who can expertly wield a meat grinder, and you’re left laughing out loud, tearing up, and gasping in a rinse and repeat fashion. Another relationship that stood out was Natalia’s bond with her best friend, Anna. Their friendship was a breath of fresh air – completely free of unnecessary drama and as solid as a yin-yang match. In that same respect, Vi crafted a similar dynamic between Hunter and his best friend, Derek, showing how two seemingly opposite men could complement and support each other in life.

Be warned – this book is scorching hot right out of the gate. The chemistry between Natalia and Hunter is explosive from their very first encounter. Vi sets up a tantalizing cat-and-mouse game within the opening pages, and it’s every bit as thrilling as you’d imagine. While I’d categorize it as a slow burn, Natalia’s resistance to Hunter’s charm only made the moments when she slipped that much more intoxicating. From fleeting kisses to lingering moments, every interaction between them was blazing hot.

Vi masterfully used dual narration to tell their story, but what truly made it unique was the timeline she chose. Natalia narrated the present, while Hunter’s chapters revisited his past.

This book is a much needed reminder of the difference between survival and truly living. Playing it safe may keep you from getting hurt, but it also prevents you from experiencing the fullness of life. Take the risks, make the mistakes, and embrace the uncertainty – because that’s where life truly happens.

~ All spoilers have been removed

I absolutely loved every second of this book! Such a cute, heartwarming with a little bit of heartbreak too! I loved everything about it! The sass and sarcasm was on point and the spicy scenes were so hot 🥵🥵 I really enjoyed all the characters! I really loved the growth in Izzy and Nat’s relationship!

This book delivers the perfect mix of sizzling chemistry, emotional depth, and compelling character growth. Hunter and Natalia’s story starts at their best friends’ wedding, where flirtatious, carefree Hunter meets strong willed, no nonsense Natalia. From the beginning, their dynamic crackles with tension. Hunter is used to charming his way through life, but Natalia isn’t easily swayed.

Natalia’s journey as a divorced woman raising her 15-year-old stepdaughter adds layers of depth to her character. She’s independent, protective, and carrying the weight of a difficult past, especially with her ex-husband in jail. Meanwhile, Hunter, who is running from his own demons, has a future he refuses to face. Watching these two navigate their undeniable attraction while confronting their personal struggles makes for a moving and heartwarming read.

Vi Keeland does a fantastic job balancing steamy moments with raw, real emotions. Hunter and Natalia’s romance isn’t just about attraction, it’s about healing, trust, and finding love when you least expect it. If you love a story with complex characters, deep emotions, and a hero who has to prove he’s more than his reputation, this book is definitely worth the read!

A wedding one night stand turned into something more. Natalia meets Hunter and the sparks fly.

A fun quick read, and you have to give it to Hunter, he was dedicated to chasing Natalia but that also was what drew me out of the story a bit. A one night stand made him obsessed enough to chase after her? Especially when she left in the morning *and* gave a fake number due to past issues with love. Most would take a hint and not chase, but not Hunter. He sees her and runs to her...until he remembers his past and possible health issues and suddenly its all breaks. For someone who chased after someone across the country it felt a bit odd to suddenly be like "oh wait. no."

Thankfully they each work through things in the end for a HEA.

Honestly, I didn't really care one way or another about Natalia or Hunter overly much, but I did enjoy Hunter's past POV chapters along with anytime Natalia's family was on the page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the arc.

I had mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I enjoyed it, but on the other, some parts didn’t feel realistic. Hunter didn’t take the hint early on, which made his actions hard to believe (I won’t share much). He also knew how vulnerable Nat was, yet his choices—and her expectations—were frustrating. Still, I was intrigued enough to keep reading and uncover the answers behind the why.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor publishing group for providing an advanced reader’s copy 🤎

Started off fun and flirty and ended up with something deep and beautiful! I really the journey with Hunter and Nat and their hurts and how their love healed them. Really enjoyed the side characters as well! X

This was my first Vi Keeland book and I enjoy it. I was given the ebook and audio to listen along with. The plot was excellent, the spice was spicing and the suspense thrown in there was perfect! I can't believe this book came out in 2017 and 8 years later being renamed! I'm sure it's going to be amazing again under this new title.

Thank you also, hambright pr, Vi Keeland for both ebook and Audio.

4 Star Review Something Borrowed Something You by Vi Keeland

This is Hunter Delucia and Natalia Rossi’s second chance at love story.

From the moment their eyes met across the aisle, these
two had a connection. The sparks flew and the chemistry sizzled.

This is not my favourite book from Ms. Keeland as I had a hard time connecting to the main characters. There was something about them that I can’t put my finger on.

Both Hunter and Natalia had issues that they needed to face. They were complete opposites and yet they worked.

It was well written and ticked numerous boxes for me.

Something Borrowed, Something You by Vi Keeland is a slow-burn, swoony romance with all the makings of a book I should’ve loved. I’m a big fan of Vi’s books—they usually deliver on chemistry, banter, and a solid emotional pull. But this one just didn’t quite hit the way I hoped it would.

The story follows Hunter and Natalia, who meet at their best friends' wedding. The chemistry between them is instant, and they decide on a no-strings-attached fling. But of course, life isn’t that simple. Both have complicated pasts that bring baggage into their relationship—Natalia is fresh off a painful divorce and navigating a difficult relationship with her stepdaughter, while Hunter… well, Hunter doesn’t always make the best decisions.

I’ll be honest, Hunter was my biggest frustration in this story. His inability to act like an adult and have real, meaningful conversations was infuriating at times. Especially when Natalia was upfront about her fears and emotional walls. She had every reason to be cautious, and I felt like she deserved someone who was willing to match her vulnerability and honesty. Instead, Hunter played the typical “charming bad boy” a little too hard for my taste.

That said, the story wasn’t all bad. Vi’s writing is as engaging as ever, and there were definitely moments that made me smile and root for these two to figure it out. The chemistry is there, the slow burn is satisfying, and the banter has its moments. I just kept waiting for more. A little more depth, a little more emotional payoff—something to really push this story over the edge.

In the end, Something Borrowed, Something You was an enjoyable read, even if it didn’t become a new favorite. If you’re a fan of Vi Keeland, you’ll probably still have fun with it. Just go in knowing it’s not quite on the same level as some of her best.

Vi Keeland can literally do no wrong when it comes to writing romance. She will legitimately ALWAYS put out a solid read. This book was originally released as s*x, not love, and had a different cover and everything, but this revamp made it 100 x better.

Natalia meets Hunter at her best friend's wedding. They are INSTANTLY attracted to each other, but Natalia is going through A LOT. But then they keep meeting, over and over again. Makes sense when their friends are together. The slow burn was really slow on this one, but SO worth it in the end.

Please read this if you like:
*instalust
*slowburn
*past trauma
*strong chemistry

Thank you to Vi Keeland and Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.