⭐ Rating: 4/5 stars
🗓 Publish date: Jan 28, 2025
🏷️ Tags: achillean romance, gay MC, Black author & MC, second chance romance, fake dating, single first-person POV

Julian Winters always delivers on a story full of diverse characters, silly shenanigans, and heartfelt moments. I don't think this is his most memorable work, but it was still very solid.

The second chance romance was a bit frustrating sometimes since I do think proper communication earlier on could have solved things. But I understand that insecurities can often get in the way and the tension was enjoyable, I will admit.

I liked that there was more going on outside of just the romance, which really drove the plot. And there were lots of great side characters who kept things enjoyable, as well.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an early review copy. All thoughts shared here are my own.

Spice level:🌶️🌶️.5/4

When Denz's father and CEO of the family company, 24 Carter Gold announces his retirement, Denz and his sister Kami put themselves forward for CEO. Other family members have some doubts about Denz's seriousness though, due to a lack of around relationship.

When plans fall through and his college ex, Braylon, that left for London comes back into his life through happenstance, Denz hopes they can pull off fake dating to prove he has what it takes. Can they keep it simple, no strings attached?

Wow, this was my first book from Julian, but now I need to go explore his backlist! This is his adult rom com debut and was so genuinely delightful. It was hard to put down, I inhaled it. There's fake dating, second chance romance, loads of family drama, an adopted British accent, and several dad jokes that made me snort. If you could use some queer rom com joy in your life, give this one a read.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press-St. Martin's Griffin for an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book is due to be published 1/28/25.

A fantastic second-chance romance that absolutely knocks it out of the park. I love that it doesn't shy away from the issues they both had the first time around and how maybe it could have worked if they'd talked, but know they're older and more sure and seeing each other again gives them to push they need. I was grinning at every cute text interaction, how absolutely smitten they both still were. I didn't mind that it was a single PoV romance; I felt like it was balanced and we got a really good sense of both sides, how they were both feeling in the past and now. I was cheering for them the entire way through, and what I wouldn't give to attend a Carter party!

This one just wasn’t for me. Denz was a mess the entire time. He struggled with work and his relationship with Braylon for a majority of the book and he didn’t have to. The miscommunication trope just isn’t for me and it was rough reading through about 70% before figuring out what the main argument was about that forced Bray and Denz apart in the beginning. And the reason for the split was really annoying. Also, what’s up with Bray’s accent?

I will say that when things were working between the two, it was really working. The spice was great and they were really cute together. I wanted them to work out, but it was really a struggle to get there. The cast was really cute. The whole Carter family was adorable and I loved how involved they were.

This one just wasn’t for me, but it might be great for someone else.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an Arc in exchange for an honest review.

I think this is perfect for fans of Red White & Royal Blue!
It had similar themes with a queer community, accepting oneself and sexuality, and the relationship dynamic was also similar to that of Alex and Henry’s.
I also loved how the writer was able to give every “side” character such memorable personalities - I didn’t feel like a single character was forgettable at all.
The spicy scenes were *definitely* spicy, but with such a realistic air to them.
I really loved being able to read this one!

I wanted to love this book as the premise seemed right up my alley - second chance love. Unfortunately, I feel like it missed the mark. The characters were boring for the most part; they seemed like caricatures, rather than characters - if that makes sense.

The spicy scenes were good; in fact, I think those passages were some of the best written, and contained the most development for Denz & Braylon.

The story itself is fine, although I never really bought Denz' internal struggle. It's a fine read, just not as good as I'd hoped.

I Think They Love You by Julian Winters is the kind of book that feels like a warm hug, funny, heartfelt, and filled with characters you cannot help but love. Winters has such a knack for writing people who feel real, with all their flaws, fears, and moments of unexpected vulnerability. Denz, the main character, starts off a little self-absorbed, but his growth over the course of the story is so natural and satisfying to watch. His fake dating situation with Braylon, his ex, is full of hilarious and painfully awkward moments, but also so much genuine chemistry that you cannot help but root for them.

What makes this book shine is not just the romance but the entire community Winters builds. The big chaotic family, the strong friendships, and the queer joy woven into every chapter all make for a story that feels like home. The banter is sharp, the emotions are real, and even the side characters are fully fleshed out and memorable. It is not just about romance but about figuring yourself out, learning from your mistakes, and realizing the people who love you are always in your corner. This book is a celebration of love in every form.

If you have read and enjoyed Red, White and Royal Blue and/or Alexis Hall's Boyfriend Material, I think you've enjoy this!

I Think They Love You is a very cute, fun adult romance novel about two black men who have a past together, entering into a contract dating scenario that best fits their situations. As someone who loves Alexis Hall, it was actually a bit difficult for me to get into this because the concept and storyline is very similar. However this book features who POC characters, and does have its own charm, so after about 30% through the book I was able to see it as it's own thing and appreciate it more. It's fun and has a lot of focus on family dynamics as well as personal growth and adulthood/coming-of-age and responsibilities. The romance is endearing and doesn't have as much of a push and pull that most contract relationship books do. I think the second chance romance (which is a trope I generally very much do not like) was done really well, and it wasn't annoying or irritating to me at all! There were some funny-ish moments and the family dynamics I'm sure will be incredibly relatable to people who come from big families who often interact. It's sweet and I enjoyed it. Again, I would have liked it more had I not been a fan of RW&RB and BM, but I would still very much recommend it! (it is personally a 3 star for me but probably deserves 4 stars.)

While I'm not the biggest fan of Winters work, I liked the premise of this book and am glad I gave it a chance. I really enjoyed reading this relationship, particulraly as I navgated my own spinning of the block in the midst of reading.

I have been WAITING for Julian Winters' adult romance debut and gosh!!!!!!! What a way to storm onto the scene of a new genre. This was so much fun!!! I love the fake boyfriend trope so so much, and this was such an incredible take. Looking forward to more from Julian!!! Would literally read his grocery lists, thank you.

Oh my gosh this book was so good!!! I fell hard for Denz. His struggle to find his place in the world was very relatable and I was rooting so hard for him to find it. I loved all the conversations about how being a gay Black man added extra pressure to Denz and made the bar for success that much higher. It was a joy watching Denz and Braylon fall into old patterns as they were fake dating and I was very invested to see how these new versions of themselves would work it out. The main obstacle to their relationship was painfully realistic and I felt for both of them as they struggled to find a path forward that made sense for both of them. It was ultimately so satisfying to see them both find a way to make their relationship work while still honoring who they were individually. That is peak romance to me. Their banter was fabulous and the chemistry was off the charts. Not only were the two main characters compelling enough to steal my heart, I also fell for the side characters. I'm particularly invested in Jamie and I hope he gets his own book soon. If you love fake dating romcoms definitely pick this one up!!

DNF--Usually I love Julian Winters' books, but this one jumped back and forth too much in the beginning, both in place and time, without connecting up. What with the crappy news getting crappier, the LA fires, and the rest of it, I needed a more linear read.. So I won't be reviewing this one online.

I've had my eye on this book for a minute, so thank you so much to Saint Martin's Press for sending me an ARC!

For the fans of second chance romances, fake dating, believing in yourself and working through career struggles, this is for you. Fun fact: I am actually NOT a second chance romance fan BUUUUUT I've had my eye on this book for a while because the concept sounded so, so great to me. While I don't dip my toes into this trope often, books like this have me swooning over a second chance romance storyline.

When Denz has the chance to prove himself to his father to be promoted to CEO of their family business, he grabs the opportunity to prove that he is a serious person. The only problem is he lied about having a boyfriend, then proceeds to convince his ex that broke his heart to pretend to date him. Thus commences a story filled with the complications that come with your first love, figuring out what you want in life and how to not be terrified of it all.

While this was my introduction to the writing of Julian Winters, I was here for every part of it. I loved the storytelling component of this entire book and while yes, it is a romance book, it is also a story about family and figuring out how to just be a human. Winters walks his readers through the experience of being a queer Black man in all its complexities and balances out the heavier plot points with humor and tenderness. I really loved how different Denz and Braylon were and how we get a lot of insight into why each of them are the way they are. I loved Denz's family and every bit of complexity his relationship with them added to this story - within that, this book could be triggering for some depending on your own relationship with your family, so be mindful.

All in all, this book contains multitudes, and I absolutely loved it. I cannot recommend it enough, and I'm so excited to read more from Julian Winters.

'I Think They Love You' by Julian Winters is a second chance romance set in the world of event planning. Denz has fallen into a workaholic lifestyle working for his family's event planning business. He runs into his ex-boyfriend and enlists him to be his fake boyfriend so Denz can prove to his family that he's responsible enough to take over the family business.

It's a fun, open door romance, with flashbacks to the college relationship of the main characters. It encourages the reader to explore familial expectations, as well as assess their own goals. I enjoyed the large cast of characters, family, and found family.

Thank you to Julian Winters and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review of 'I Think They Love You.'

Julian Winters is such a fun writer, and I know I can always count on him to create a unique, reflective love story with a creative diverse cast. His first foray until adult books is no exception.

In "I Think They Love You," Denz has worked hard to prove himself to his family with the hopes of someday taking over the successful 24 Carter Gold after his father retires. But when his meddling aunts imply that maybe he isn't mature enough for the role because of his lack of relationship, he manages to stumble his way into a mutually beneficial fake dating situation with his ex who broke up with him brutally a few years back. Denz can look like a responsible adult to his family, and his ex, Braylon, can prove himself to his boss through 24 Carter Gold's connections.

Over the course of the story, we get to watch as Denz evolves out of his self-absorbed ways into a genuinely caring, responsible young adult as he falls back in love with Braylon and discovers the truth of what he wants for himself and his life. It does take a while to get a grasp on Braylon, since we're stuck entirely in Denz's PoV and trying to figure out what happened to cause their falling out, but he makes for a great love interest. The cast of secondary characters are all also lovely - especially his sister and assorted relatives/coworkers!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

I Think They Love You follows Denz Carter, son of a workaholic CEO, as he impulsively lies about a rekindled relationship with his ex in an attempt to convince his family that he is capable of taking up his father's mantle.

As far as romance novels go, this one was just the right amount of cute and heartfelt! Denz was a bit of a frustrating lead character, but that made it all the more fulfilling to watch him grow and change over the course of the novel. The rom com vibes were immaculate, never too focused on the Serious parts of the plot to feel like a drag, but never flippant or silly, either. I'm always a fan of fake dating, and always a fan of second chance romance, so this scratched both those itches for me. Outside of Denz, I think the supporting characters -- especially Braylon -- could have used a bit more fleshing out, and I would've been willing to trade at least one of the spicy scenes for some more solid character work. I also would've liked a pace that felt a bit more fluid -- there were some clunky moments -- but overall my gripes with this read are generally minimal, and I had a really fun time. I'll definitely be diving into some more Julian Winters in the near future!

What can go wrong with fake dating, second chance romance, family drama and we can't forget to mention there's only one bed for Denz and Braylon.
I initially feared the story might feel tense and stressful, given that it revolves around Denz's quest to become the next CEO of his family’s company. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how much warmer and more supportive his family was than I expected—despite their intensity. The story balanced its high-stakes setting with plenty of humor, and the writing had a fun, romcom vibe that made the book a joy to read.

Denz was a compelling main character, and I really enjoyed watching his growth—from someone who’s initially pretty self-absorbed to someone who becomes more considerate and thoughtful toward others. The romance was another highlight; I’m a sucker for second-chance love stories, and the chemistry between Denz and his love interest had some truly sweet, heartfelt moments.

That said, I do wish Braylon had been more fleshed out. By the end, I still didn’t feel like I knew him as well as I would’ve liked. I think the story would’ve benefited from a dual POV to give more insight into his character and perspective.

This review is my opinion and my opinion only.
Julian Winters is a new to me author, and I’m glad I gave this story a chance. The story is engaging and I had a hard time putting the story away. The quality of writing is amazing. Julian Winters knows how to pull you into the story.
This story is a second chance/fake boyfriend. Denz and Braylon were together in college, but had to break up, Years later, they accidentally ran into each other at a coffee shop. Denz told his family that his playboy ways was over and he had a serious relationship. Braylon agreed to be his fake boyfriend. What happened next? You need to read the book!
I really enjoyed the story!

I couldn’t put this down! For his adult debut, Julian Winters gives us a second chance romance with so much chemistry and the perfect amount of angst - I was rooting so hard for Denz + Braylon!! I loved what Denz had to learn and define for himself and seeing these two fake date themselves into realizing that maybe their feelings never disappeared did things to my January heart. I also loved getting a queer black story by a black author!

Denz’s family created a premier event company in Atlanta and he has always felt uncomfortable being in the direct spotlight. He used the four years of college to get out of the limelight and to his surprise fell in love and then got his heart broken. It is five years later and he is working hard at keeping his distance from a real personal life. His father’s retirement announcement shakes things up and helps him figure out the important things in life.