Denz starts fake dating his ex-boyfriend, Braylon, in order to show his family that he's capable of commitment. Braylon agrees in order to get a promotion by meeting the mayor through Denz's connections. Of course this leads to forced proximity in order to "prove" their relationship. Plus, there's the one bed trope in this.

I started bawling during that grilled cheese flashback. They both have their issues but have never truly got over one another 😭.

Then Denz had to fuck everything up. I hate seeing someone continuously make the same mistakes. He's under a lot of pressure from his family and the public but that doesn't give him the right to ignore the people who genuinely care for him.

Nonetheless it still made me sob. I think a dual pov or multi-pov would have given me better insight into the characters reasoning.

I was on the fence on how I was going to rate this but I'm bumping this from a 3 to a 3.5/5.

Sadly, this was just meh for me.

I'm not a huge second chance romance fan, I keep trying though, because sometimes the 2nd chance is deserving. I will say, them getting a second chance works, they broke up three years ago after college when Braylon moves to London and Denz doesn't follow.

I don't feel this book should be labeled as romance. The story is way more about Denz trying for CEO (more on that later), and figuring out his life, and way less about their fake relationship. About said fake relationship - it makes ZERO sense. <i>Oh, having a boyfriend will show my family that I can make commitments and would be a good choice for CEO<i>. Yet, their fake dating agreement only calls for Braylon attending things with his family three times, and then sending texts during the day. It's also not like his dad, the current CEO, made that stipulation.

Now on to the CEO thing itself. It is honestly laughable that Denz thinks he (1) has a chance and (2) would even be good at it. He's been out of college for three years, where he got a communications degree, and as far as we know he took no business classes. He only decides to throw his hat in the ring when his family tells him his sister would be a better choice. Then he continues to make large mistakes that his family has to save him from. All mistakes that could have been easily avoidable with a small amount of attention to detail. It annoyed me so much that he only did this to prove that he could, and not because he wanted it.

This book was also done a disservice by being only from Denz's POV. There are times he says things and Braylon gives him a look and I was dying to know what he was thinking. Braylon is this one-sided character, practically a cardboard cutout. I feel I know more about Denz's cousin and best friend's possible relationship/whatever it is, than I do about how Braylon actually feels. We don't even really know why he agreed to the fake relationship. Needing help to get a meet with the Mayor was lacking at best.

All in all - this book just needed more. We spent a lot of time rehashing things, focusing on Denz's relationship with his family and his work - which would be fine if this wasn't a romance book. I truly didn't care about them getting back together in the end and figuring it out, because nothing was shown to me to show why they should. Denz's character growth is just dropped on us like a light switch flipping, it wasn't gradual. Same with them figuring it out, just no, no, no, then BAM we're doing it.

Finally - the fact that these two GROWN adults can't talk about the sex they're having or want to have is absolutely criminal! It's like when teens are told that if they aren't mature enough to talk about sex they aren't mature enough to be having it. They little stumble over what they want to do, get embarrassed and shy. It didn't come off as cute and endearing, it came off as concerning.

I had the absolute best time reading this book, and I couldn’t stop smiling the whole time. Unless I was crying. There was plenty of that too.

Julian Winters’ “I Think They Love You” is a story filled to the brim with heart, charm, and humor. Not to mention, it’s also filled with incredible characters. Focusing on the Carter family, there are a lot of characters with big personalities, each one distinct. I loved every single character, and it was enjoyable to read about each one of them. I would 100% read more books set in this world and centered on these people. AKA: I miss them already.

At the forefront are Denz and Braylon. They have a long and complicated history, which we’re able to see in short flashbacks, but we spend most of our time with them in the present. When I say that these characters—especially these two—felt so incredibly realistic, I mean it in every sense of the word. Denz and Braylon are flawed and they make mistakes, but they also stole my heart in so many ways. I genuinely could not stop thinking about these characters, even when the book wasn’t physically in front of me.

And as an event planner myself, there was WAY too much I could relate to…

But if there’s one thing about me, I will always love banter. Whether it’s between friends, family members, romantic interests…I will always love it, especially when it’s well done and feels natural. The banter and the humor in “I Think They Love You” was so fantastic and organic, I audibly laughed numerous times.

I’ve also never read anything by Julian Winters, but I quickly fell in love with his writing style. (Are you sensing a pattern?)

There’s genuinely so many things I could say about this book, from the beautiful themes around family dynamics, race, sexual identity to the underlying idea that you are allowed to change and you are allowed to love the person you’re becoming. There were countless deep and meaningful conversations between these very fictional people that stole my very real heart.

I will also say that if you know anything about me and my reading tastes, smut is typically not something I jive with. However, despite a handful of those moments in these books, my enjoyment of the story as a whole was never deterred by it. Even more so, this was only my second read of 2025, and it very well may end up being one of my yearly favorites.

And if it says anything about the amount of fun I had reading this, I did make over 100 notes in my ebook. I’m fine.

“I Think They Love You” by Julian Winters releases on January 28th, so run don’t walk to your nearest bookstore or library!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

🦇 I Think They Love You Book Review 🦇

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

❓ #QOTD What's a comfort food you associate with a loved one?

🦇 When Denzel “Denz” Carter’s workaholic father and CEO of 24 Carter Gold unexpectedly announces his retirement, the competition is on for who will become his successor. To convince his family members that he’s capable of commitment, Denz impulsively lies about being in a serious relationship with his ex Braylon, the man who broke his heart. Braylon’s sudden reappearance in Denz’s life turns everything upside down. Apparently, Braylon needs Denz’s connections to the mayor to win his own promotion. So, they strike a deal. It’s all business until the funny texts & the confusing kisses leave Denz struggling to separate this temporary arrangement from the affairs of his heart. Can they fake date their way to success, or will real feelings get in the way of Denz's goal?

💜 The moment I saw that this was Julian Winters' adult romance debut, I SNATCHED this up--it did not disappoint! Denz is a protagonist you can't help but fall in love & empathize with, while Braylon is an absolute heart-throb of a love interest (I mean, the newly developed accent alone). Let's break it down:

✨ Characters: This entire chaos is beautifully diverse, chaotic, & well-developed. Each member of Denz's family has a distinct voice, but it's Denz and Braylon who steal the show. I do wish we'd seen a little more from our supporting cast (the 30 seconds of Suraj was NOT enough, because hi), but Winters did open himself up to a potential sequel (that focuses on Denz's best friend and cousin). I loved Denz's fear of failure/fear of success, the theme of familial expectations/pressures, and how you can learn from your past choices.

✨ Plot & Pacing: The pacing is steady, & any potential lags are broken up by flashbacks to Denz & Braylon's college years. There's one weird jump for me, when the fake-dating relationship becomes physical (as it always does), which is sudden & unexpected (though it does benefit the rest of the story's flow & pacing).

✨ World-Building: My biggest disappointment in this story is the lack of descriptive language during the 24 Carter Gold events. We don't see, feel, or experience as many of those moments as I'd like. The story is set in Atlanta and even mentions the area where I live, but it could have been set in any city and you wouldn't notice a difference. Denz is so rooted in his "home," both as a place & in terms of his family, but it's hard to feel that connection.

✨ Romance: I mean. Come on. This story is all heart-warming, swoon-worthy, delicious romance. If that's not enough for you, let's talk about the consent & communication between Denz & Braylon. I MEAN! Not to mention (my favorite) all the witty banter between them. The banter isn't even antagonistic enemies-to-lovers bark-&-bite wit; it's fun & flirtatious, demonstrating that the connection between Denz & Braylon still exists.

✨ Mystery/Suspense: I do wish the reason for their initial breakup wasn't revealed so quickly, to add an element of suspense & tension.

✨ Tone/Prose: Every character's voice is distinct, allowing you to differentiate between a large cast of family members. Julian Winters has a fresh & fun voice that will draw you in & keep you turning page after page. Again, I only wish the prose featured more descriptions to fully immerse readers in the story.

🦇 Recommended for fans of Fall for Him, Rachel Lacey's queer romances, or Boyfriend Material.

✨ The Vibes ✨
🫖 M/M / Queer Romance
📱Fake Dating
💗 Second Chance
❤ Adult Rom-Com Debut
💗 Only One Bed
📱 Work / Life Balance
🫖 Family is Everything

🦇 Major thanks to the author @wintersjulian & publisher @stmartinspress for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #IThinkTheyLoveYou

💬 Quotes
❝ Why is heartbreak that one scar that never heals cleanly? ❞
❝ Maybe this is all Denz wanted from today: a smoky kitchen, a stupid Marvel movie playing in the background, Bray wearing his sweatshirt, kissing the words “I love you” into soft lips until they’re swollen. ❞
❝ “Do you know what it’s like to be so scared you’re going to fail that you constantly fuck up anyways?” ❞
❝ You can spend a lifetime with someone, and they never fail to surprise you with another side of themselves. ❞
❝ Sometimes, pretending the worst things in your life never happened is how you survive. But sometimes, you have to shatter in order to figure out how to piece yourself back together. So you can heal. ❞
❝ “I’m better than good enough." ❞

4.5 stars.

I Think They Love You by Jonathan Winters is a delightful fake dating gay romance.

Five years later, Denzel “Denz” Carter still bears the scars on his heart from his breakup with his college boyfriend Braydon Adams. He is now working at the family business and is unexpectedly vying with his sister Cami for the CEO position at his family-owned business. Needing to be taken seriously, Denz concocts a fake-dating scheme with the man who broke his heart.

As far as Denz knows, Braydon is still working out of the country when he runs into him at local coffee hangout. Their reunion is very awkward and Denz has no plan to get in touch with his former love. But when his roommate and best friend Jamie flakes out on their fake dating plan, another unexpected encounter with Braydon ends very differently.

Denz is uneasy around Braydon who seems much more comfort as they spend the time together. Denz is surprised to discover his attraction to Braydon still burns hot but he is naturally hesitant to become too involved again. Both men have a lot at stake but will Denz put his heart on the line again?

I Think They Love You is a fun yet sexy gay romance. Denz is a wonderful man but is he putting family expectations ahead of his own happiness? Braydon is a great character with an altruistic soul but will he handle situations with Denz better this time around? The fake dating plan is the perfect opportunity for a second chance at love, but are Denz and Braydon ready to risk their hearts again? The storyline is engaging and the secondary characters bring this wonderful novel to life. Jonathan Winters ushers his first adult gay romance to a wonderfully uplifting and heartwarming conclusion.

Some books just pull you right in, hard and fast.

Veteran YA writer Julian Winters’s adult debut, I THINK THEY LOVE YOU, is exactly that sort of read. Right from the get-go, Winters delivers punchy prose and a cast of characters so vibrant you know they’re off living full lives even when they aren’t in Denz’s orbit. Add in some genuinely funny jokes, a few wacky hijinks, and an intimate (and ever-applicable) knowledge of the romcom canon and you’ve got something that’s mighty hard to put down. Especially since Winters also seeds his comedy with deeper issues like loving yet complicated familial bonds and the challenges Black professionals face.

If you’ve got any interest in contemporary romance, you want to grab this when it drops on January 28th.

I Think They Love You by Julian Winters is a captivating tale that explores the possibility of finding love again with an ex through a fake dating scenario. This deeply romantic story delves into the complex history shared by its characters, weaving in rich flashbacks that add depth to the narrative. Winters has crafted a sweet and surprisingly emotional romance that will keep readers hooked from beginning to end.

I received an advanced copy for review. This is my own opinion.

I think the best part about this book is how REAL this FAKE relationship feels. And not the second chance feels, but the screwing up and awkwardness. Denz feels so much like a real person, with his goals and selfishness and family and ambition, and it brings so much to this absolutely wonderful romance.

When Denz gets to opportunity to prove himself to his family to work toward taking over the family business, he scrambles for a fake boyfriend to prove he’s ready. Enter Braylon, his college boyfriend and source of his biggest heartbreak. Their “relationship” wasn’t supposed to be real, but when Denz’s realizes he has feelings for a new version of Braylon, he has to juggle his old, unattached self with the new “improved” Denz all while dealing with nosy family and a whole lot of work stress.

This book was an absolute delight and I look forward to more adult romance from the author!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

This was my first read by Julian Winters but it won’t be my last. ‘I Think They Love You’ was a great combination of sweet and spicy second chance romance and I very much enjoyed it.

Denz is a character who presents himself as someone who has life figured out and is living it carefree and fun-loving. He doesn’t take anything too serious, doesn’t let anyone get attached, and keeps things as surface level as he can. Yet so much of that is because he’s already had his heart broken once and has no interest in a repeat experience. When Braylon, the ex who broke his heart, reappears in his life at the same time he’s aiming to take over as CEO at his family’s company, it all comes to a head in a fake dating scheme where Denz can’t hide from figuring out what he really wants out of life for himself.

I was simultaneously rooting for Denz to find his way while bracing for the struggles I knew he was going to face as he had to work through what he was telling himself he wanted and what would actually bring him the most happiness. The Carter family dynamic was an incredibly complex one that also played into how he navigated the situation, but what I appreciated most about that was that no matter what, I never doubted the depth of the love they all shared.

When it came to Denz’s reconnection with Braydon, I was often touched by the tender moments they would share that made it obvious that neither had ever really moved on from the other. They didn’t know who each other had become during their time apart but they did *know* each other at the heart of it all. It was always clear that their connection was still there and they had unfinished business together. They were awkward and adorable and fiery and endearing, and I wanted them to find their happily ever after together from the moment they reunited.

I do wish there had been some more conversations on the page about their past and their parting the first time, but I was never worried they wouldn’t make things last once they had everything figured out this time around.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

for the most part, this was tolerable. this was a second chance romance between denzel "denz" carter, who work for his family event planning company, and braylon, his college ex that has moved back from london and is now working in their hometown. while this was pitched as a romance, i would argue that the romance actually took a backseat in this book. because it was only from denz perspective, there was more to the story about his own journey in the competition against his sister, kami, to run for the next CEO of their company after his dad announces retiring, rather than the actual romance.

i loved reading about the carter family and their chaotic but loving and loyal dynamic with each other. their interactions were my favorite part of the book! they were hilarious, and the true definition of showing "tough love". i especially loved auntie eva - an fashion icon! i adored the sibling relationship between denz and kami because while they had their arguments and fights, they still always supported and loved each other.

when it came to the competition of who would become the next CEO, i have no idea why denz was delusional enough to think he even had a chance against kami. kami was a boss bitch who had her shit together and had to save denz from the mistakes he made multiple times. denz as a character was selfish, arrogant, disorganized, and forgot so many important things that i'm genuinely confused as to why he thought anyone would hand over him the reins of their company. he had his flaws and while there was a bit (A BIT) of character growth by the end of the book, it wasn't enough to make me like him lol.

also, braylon lived in london for only 3 years and he comes back with an accent and starts saying "innit" and "ello"????? huh??? lol and he was such a dull character. he fell so flat. he hardly contributed anything to the story besides the plot of fake dating and even the reason for that was so farfetch'd. their romance was boring and i felt nothing towards it. in the end i was really just reading on to read kami make it as CEO which of course, she does.

the writing was great but it definitely read more YA than adult. denz and braylon acted very young and naive for their ages, and also their actions and dialogue read very young as well.

Overall: 4.25/5
Spice level: 2.5/5
Tropes: second chance, fake dating

This was a fun read from new-to-me author Julian Winters. I read this as an arc back in November.

I enjoyed the chemistry between Denz and Braylon, and there was great character development.

The story felt a little slow in some moments, but overall the pacing was good.

I really liked the supporting characters too. Denz's family was fun yet intense.

One of my favorite aspects of the story was how the concept of legacy and how it can shift.

I would be interested in reading more from this author. I sense a book coming featuring Denz's best friend and his cousin.

This was a perfect book to kick off the new year! You’ve got fake dating, second chances, and dealing with the crushing weight of family expectations. Through the whole book, I really felt for Denz who keeps being made to feel like he’s not enough. And I loved watching Denz and Braylon fake date their way back into their old feelings. They’re having to deal with all the ways they’ve changed over the years, and all the baggage still there from their break up- but you can still see how much they care for each other.

A great story about family pressures, young love, and second chances.

Denz needs a fake boyfriend and fast. Faced with the prospect of a CEO position at the family company following his father’s retirement announcement, the family are concerned Denz isn’t serious. Of course he’s serious - he’s dating someone! Of course…he’s not.

Enter Braylon: Denz’s college boyfriend and first love who broke his heart years ago. He could use a favor from Denz so let the fake dating commence!

As it goes with exes the fake dating heats up quick and becomes messy quicker. I loved that the story really captured a family dynamic with lots of moving parts. There’s parents, aunties, siblings, and I really felt Denz’s pressure to please them all as he struggles to find his place in adulthood.

Julian Winters stuns with his adult debut. I've been a long time fan of his young adult novels so I knew I would love this one, but it was more than I could hope for. I loved Denz and Braylon and following them on their journey back to each other was so great.

I have to say that this is, by far, the cutest story I have read in years!!
It has all the feels, and it sucks you in from the first chapter. Denz and Braylon have been a couple of and on since college. When they met in college, they both thought this was it until Braylon moved to London, and left Denz. Since he was groomed to take over as the CEO of his family's event business., he spends most of his time doing his best to impress his father and the rest of the family with what a great business man he has become. Then he has to find an imaginary relationship to help with his chance at CEO, since his father is retiring. Guess who that ends up being?
Try not to laugh and cry while these two try too hard to navigate their new relationship, and realize what they have both always wanted from the beginning!

I thought i was going to get mixed feelings and there was certainly moments where i was like 'uh.... what?' but I am glad I pushed through, it did not disappoint. Believe me.

[Thank you to Julian Winters, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review]

This was an absolutely stunning read. I stayed up all night before a flight just to finish it, I could not put it down. I cried, laughed, and then cried some more. I will be buying this book once it is out and keeping an eye out for special editions.

Here is what I loved about this book:
The Characters - I would read a book about every single person in the Carter family, I hope there will be companion novels because each character practically pops off the page. I feel like I know each character personally and want to get to know them even more.

The Plot/Setting - I am not typically a huge fan of business/CEO/Billionaire romances, but the author really managed to keep them all relatable and likeable, while still staying true to their station.

The Couple - Another thing I am usually not a fan of: second chance romances. However, I fell in love with both characters so fully, and their separation allowed for a lot of understandable yearning, which I can not resist.

Everything was laid out so organically, while staying interesting by seamlessly transitioning to flashbacks.

What I didn't like about this book:
Nothing. Absolutely no notes. If you like beautifully written M/M second-chance romantic comedies with heart, do not miss this book. Even if you don't like those things, I still can not recommend it enough.

BIPOC 2SLGBTQIA+ Steamy Romance in which two men who dated in college get a second chance at love when they circumstances lead them to faking a relationship.

1/5 stars: This is Winters's stand-alone which is a BIPOC 2SLGBTQIA+ Steamy Romance that follows two businessmen who dated in college as they find themselves getting a second chance at love when their circumstances lead them to making a bargain to fake a relationship. Winters's writing and character work are nicely done; the characters are well-rounded, complex and yet remain likable. Winters does takes on some very serious subjects; so take care and check the CWs. Unfortunately, I'm just not in the mood for this romance at this time; leading me to DNF it at 18%.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

It’s been so great to see YA authors I love branching out into adult romance. With his adult debut, I think Julian Winters has written my favorite one yet.

I Think They Love You is an ADULT romance (there are spicy scenes), single POV book, about Denzel Carter, who is apart of a very well known family of event planners in Atlanta. In an effort to appear more serious and responsible at work, Denz decides the way to do this is to fake a boyfriend. And who does he ask? Oh his college sweetheart who broke his heart, Braylon. Drama and hilarity ensues!

I loved this book from the beginning. The writing flowed smoothly and was engaging. The humor was wonderful and well balanced, and the characters all felt real and well written. Even the side characters had so much personality, especially Jamie, that darling golden retriever (I really hope he gets a book with *spoiler*)!

I appreciated that all of the conflict in the book felt like it served a purpose, which is a criticism I have for a lot of other romance. Silly miscommunications that lead to a third act break up are so pointless! Things are not always sunshine and rainbows for Denz and he definitely gets in his own way a lot but it all felt like necessary steps in his growth and figuring out what he wanted in life and in his relationships with his family, friends, and Braylon.

My only issue, and I am guessing that this will be corrected in the final version, is that I couldn’t actually tell how many years had transpired between the prologue and the rest of the book. At times it appeared to be 4, 5, and 6 years. Not a huge deal but it did break my brain a little bit trying to figure it out!

Overall, this is a super fun romance and I highly recommend!

Oh wow! Oh wow! I LOVED this book! I have to say I was in a funny frame of mind when I first started reading and even put it down for a couple days. But I am so glad I went back to it! There’s lots of angst. There’s lots of humor! But most of all there’s lots of love! All of the characters whether main or secondary were endearing (in their own way) but Denz and Braylon stole the show! And the ending-absolutely perfect! I can’t recommend this book enough. You really have to read it!