Cute second chance, queer romance
I wish we had perspective of both MMCs - only the one left half the story out until the very end

I think I might be in the minority not having read any of Julian Winters YA prior to this, but I think I have to go pick through his backlist because this was a fun, light read. A few things dropped it down to a four for me- I felt like things weren't explained early enough to make sense for the plot/character development. The relationship with Braylon seemed to ramp up so quickly, without any real examination of why the relationship ended in the first place. It also bugged me that Braylon had a British accent (it also bugs me in real life when people move away for a handful of years and come back with accents, I can't help it lol).

That being said, it was funny and fresh and spicy and included a lovely storyline of family and acceptance. Denz's journey to becoming his own person was interesting and I felt like a good perspective on what it's like to me a part of a family business. Overall, would recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and SMP for the advanced copy!

DNF @ 33%. I really struggled to get invested with the characters early on. I don't think this book is *bad*, and I think down the line I might give it another go, but I don't think it was for me!

As my first official read of 2025, I think that I Think They Love You by Julian Winters was the perfect low-angst rom-com to ease me into the new year. This second chance romance hit the perfect balance of sweet and funny; featuring snarky dialogue, delightfully meddlesome side characters, and a comforting narrative tone reminiscent of any beloved T.V. sitcom.
Personally, what I liked most about this book was the style in which it was written. The prose felt almost conversational, and the epistolary inserts via text messages certainly added to that feeling. That demand for a more personal investment from the reader ensured the plot remained dynamic, despite the fact when you look at the key points subjectively, not a lot happens in this book.
Overall, while I did like the novel, I will admit that it’s one downfall is the convoluted reason why Braylon and Denzel have to fake a relationship in the first place, and the roundabout way in which they come to that conclusion. Part of the reason why this feels so jumbled, is due to the sheer number of characters involved. Denzel’s entire extended family, plus his roommate, his sister, the mayor, his father—it was a lot. While I did like the cast of side characters, there were just far too many of them and it became hard to remember who everyone was and how they were related to the scheme itself. Their presence, at times, felt complicated for complicated’s sake.
As a whole, I might still recommend I Think They Love You to someone looking for a good queer romantic comedy.

Daddy is retiring. He sets up his 2 children to compete for the CEO position. What parent does that? They are adults! However they do compete. Each is giving a project. Both succeed but only one can win. The loser now resigns and opens his own business. He reconnects with an old love. It is a good romance and a view into a family business. I liked it.

I love Julian Winters' YA novels so much and I had high hopes that his adult debut would be just as good. I was a little worried because not all YA authors can seamlessly move into the adult genre, but Julian can! I loved this book just as much as his YA books. It had all the things I loved about his writing style just more mature, the loveable characters, the amazing plot, and the tropes!! Speaking of tropes, this is a fake dating second chance romance. Both of those tropes can be hard to pull off especially together, but Julian did it to perfection. This is how you do second chance romances! There was no point where I felt that the two of them should not give things another try.
As an adult novel there was some spice added to the story that the YA books don't have and I thought that it was a nice amount of spice and it was written well. It wasn't pages upon pages but it wasn't closed door/fully fade to black either.
Also even though this is not at all said to be book 1 in a series of interconnected standalones. I'm really hoping there will be another because I need Jamie and Jordan's story. Obsessed with those two already!
Overall an amazing adult debut from an already amazing YA author. So if you have enjoyed any of Julian's books in the past, I highly recommend checking this one out.

Content warning: panic attack, spicy content

This was such a cute read !! I always love a good exes to lovers story and this was no exception. A little spice with some humorously sweet moments really made this such a great book !!

I will admit it started out a little rough for me because it read a lot like YA but as the book went on I started loving it. Denz and Braylon had such a sweet “fake” relationship that obviously had real feelings that developed into a very real relationship. They’re such a sweet couple I found myself unable to put the book down after about 60% lol

Definitely hope this one gets to have a romcom movie moment in the future !

It seems like I need to be in a specific mood these days in order to enjoy a rom-com. I'm happy to say that this book hit the spot. It has the perfect mix of humor, heart, and second-chance romance. It also dives into themes of identity, family expectations, and the complexities of love. While it embraces familiar rom-com tropes, it does so with such charm that even the most trope-weary readers will find themselves swept up in Denz and Braylon's story.

The book follows Denzel "Denz" Carter, an ambitious 20-something who finds himself in a professional and personal bind. With his father announcing his retirement as CEO of their family's extremely successful event planning company, 24 Carter Gold, Denz and his sister are competing to be named the next CEO. Where his sister effortlessly pulls events together and is meticulous in her approach, Denz can be a little forgetful. If he wants this job, he's going to have to step up his game and prove himself worthy and responsible rather than flighty and non-commital. In a moment of panic, Denz lies about being in a stable relationship, only to realize he now has to produce a boyfriend to play the part.

Initially, Denz enlists his best friend and roommate, Jamie, to play the role of his significant other. But when Jamie bails, Denz is left with no choice but to turn to Braylon, his ex-boyfriend - the man who shattered his heart by leaving for England after graduating from college - leaving Denz alone, heartbroken and confused. But now that Braylon has returned, Denz feels like Bray owes him this, plus it could help Braylon with his own career goals, so - win-win. What follows is a whirlwind of fake dates, staged family events, and mounting sexual tension that makes it impossible for either man to ignore the unresolved feelings simmering between them.

The fake-dating and second-chance romance tropes are undoubtedly predictable, but I didn't mind them. In fact, that's part of the appeal of this book. Both Denz and Braylon are flawed but deeply relatable. Denz's struggles to prove his worth to his family while grappling with his own insecurities feel incredibly real. Similarly, Braylon's reasons for leaving - and his attempts to make amends - are explored with sensitivity, making him more than just a brooding romantic lead.

The supporting cast adds another layer of richness to the story. Denz's family is delightfully chaotic, from his no-nonsense father to his overachieving sister and nosey aunties. Their interactions - equal parts loving and cutthroat - paint a vivid picture of what it's like to grow up in a family where success is both an expectation and a pressure cooker. Winters captures these dynamics with humor and heart, making the family dynamic just as compelling as the romance.

One of the most endearing aspects of the novel is its unapologetic celebration of queer love. The relationship between Denz and Braylon feels authentic, layered, and deeply personal (and when the spice hits, it's just right). Their banter is sharp, their chemistry palpable, and their emotional connection undeniable. This authenticity elevates the romance, making it feel more rewarding and impactful than the standard fare you get when a straight person writes a gay romance. While it's true that love is love, the experience is definitely different.

Ultimately, this book is a reminder of why we turn to rom-coms in the first place. It's not just about the swoon-worthy moments (though there are plenty of those); it's about the joy of seeing characters learn, grow, and discover that they're deserving of love - in all its messy, complicated glory. Whether you're in the mood for a feel-good romance or simply looking for a story that celebrates queer love and Black joy, this book is a must-read. And if you're anything like me, you'll turn the final page wishing for your own Bray - and maybe a family as entertaining as Denz's.

Julian Winters can literally do no wrong!!!! Every book I read of his becomes an instant favorite. I loved his characters in this one so much! Denz and Braylon were amazing! This book has a mix of second chance romance and fake dating. I’m not always a fan of second chance, but I was just rooting for the both of them the entire time. Everything in this book was so well done. There were some heavier moments, but also so many laugh out loud moments too. Each character just felt so real.

I was not ready for this book to end. I could stay with these characters forever because I loved them so much!

The memorable characters in this book captured my imagination! I loved the family dynamics and the distinct personalities of each member. The lavish parties were fun to imagine with all their lush detailing.

Denz and Braylon were couples goals! Their interactions were so flirty and fun. It was a slow burn leading up to some great spice. I appreciated Denz’s journey as he gained confidence and learned to be his own person and not just a shadow of his family’s expectations.

I really enjoyed this romance and recommend it for MM romance lovers.

Thank you to @Netgalley and @stmartinspress for the chance to review this ARC.

DNF at 46%. I think I’m fatigued of fake dating, because this book did not work for me. And the story tried to combine it with second chance, for some reason, and I just didn’t care about whether the characters got together.

I’ve heard about Julian Winters since his debut, but it took his first adult romance for me to finally crack the seal. I Think They Love You is a super sweet second-chance fake dating contemporary romance full of great friendship and family moments. It gave me lots of feeling reading this, and I love how things worked out not only for Denz and Braylon, but also for Kami and the rest of the Carters. I’m hopeful for a continuation following Jamie and Jordan; I saw that setup coming pretty early on and with the ending, I want more. There was some stuff about the idea that Denz couldn’t possibly be serious if he wasn’t in a serious relationship that I didn’t super like, but overall this was a delightful read that I had trouble putting down.

If you’re looking for an escapist new-adult romance, this book might be for you. I couldn’t get past the fact that Denz is barely capable of holding down a job, much less being CEO. DNF.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

I Think They Love You by Julian Winters is an adorable rom com about two young men who lose each other only to be forced back together to both accomplish their goals. Denz and Bray were college sweethearts until they went their separate ways at graduation. Fast forward a few years and Denz is competing against his sister to be named CEO of his family’s company. He knows being in a serious relationship would help him look more grown up in the eyes of his family…and then he runs into the long lost love of his life—Braylon. They agree to “fake date” to both help each other move forward in their respective career paths and then go their separate ways…only how does that work when you never really got over each other?

This story is adorable! I loved all the characters. This would make an adorable movie!

This is a second chance & fake dating romance. The book was okay, a bit predictable. It had some cute moments.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in return for a honest review

A fun second chance romance fake dating messy family tale that celebrates queer life. Denz and Braylon never expected to be back together, whether for real or for show, but now they area and the dialogue-and the spice- flies. It's fun and it's got some funny bits. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Second chance AND fake dating, PLUS it's Black AND queer?!?! This book was made for me. And I somehow loved it even more than I expected to. I honestly don't even have the words for how much I loved it. I will be reading Julian Winters' entire backlist immediately, I am OBSESSED.

What a beautiful, trope filled book.

While this had literally so many tropes, I didn't mind it at all. I love a second chance romance so much and I was fighting for them the entire time. I also do love a messy family because it just adds to the realness of the characters and what they are going through together. Also, top tier communication and #consent is sexy.

I Think They Love You was such a cute and quick read! I'm a total sucker for second chance romances, and absolutely adored Denz and Braylon's story!

I Think They Love You
Julian Winters

Wow, this book was not what I expected.

Fake dating, check.
Romcom, check.
Second chance romance, check.
Lovable MCs, check.
LGBQ, check.
Spicy spice, check and check.

This book has it all. I loved it, this is a short and sweet review, but there’s not much more I can say about it.


A big thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and NegGalley for this eARC in exchange for my review.