POC + LGBTQIA+ (MM) romance? YES!!!!!!!!!!! Lovers to enemies back to fake lovers? YES. Gimmie all the tropes.

This was a really cute rom com centered on the second chance and fake dating tropes. It wasn't the most exciting one I've read, but it was exactly what it's supposed to be - simple and sweet. The characters were likable, the romance was solid, and the story as a whole flowed smoothly. There are a couple spicy scenes, but it's easy to skim past those if you're like me and those aren't your thing.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Denz’s father makes a shocking announcement. He is retiring as CEO from the family-run, event planning company he founded, 24 Carter Gold. He then announces he’s open to hiring an outsider to run the company. When his family protests, he agrees to consider anyone who nominates themself. Denz’s older sister throws her hat in the ring, and after Denz’s here’s the aunties talking about how unserious he is, he puts himself forward, and to prove he can be serious, he claims he has a secret serious boyfriend. He does not. He hasn’t had a serious boyfriend since his college boyfriend Braydon, broke his heart. So when Braydon comes back into his life and needs an introduction to the mayor of Atlanta, it’s an excellent opportunity for a fake dating scenario. And, of course, OF COURSE, they will just help each other, move on, not reignite their love, and definitely not fall into to bed together.

I Think They Love You is very sweet and funny. Denz is struggling with being himself and being the person he thinks his family wants him to be. Family expectations, and the need to never step wrong in public weigh on Denz. He’s the son of a successful, high profile Black family. Winters explores the stress this puts on Denz and his sisters without making their parents bad people. His parents clearly love their children and they accept Denz’s sexuality. It’s a nuanced critique that places the family dynamics within a social context. Braydon’s father, who has died before the book begins, also gets a nuanced, if more enigmatic, portrayal.

Denz’s anxiety, and the ways he screwed up when torn between being himself and being a Carter, felt so familiar to me. Big thank you to LB for assuring me that I should keep going when my anxiety and Denz’s anxiety were a little too intense tune for comfort. This was indeed a lovely and rewarding book.

I received this as an advance reader copy from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

I Think They Love You by Julian Winters is such a cute romance. I loved the fake dating storyline. The second chance romance. The rom-com references. The Marvel movie references. Specifically Captain America and the Winter Solider 😍 Denz’s family. Braylon’s fancy grilled cheese. The laugh out loud moments. The tender moments. The grand gesture. The HEA. Such a sweet book. ❤️ Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book

Denz’s family runs a prominent event planning business. When his father, the CEO, announces his retirement, Denz throws his hat in the ring to be his successor. Problem: no one really takes Denz seriously. Solution: fake date your ex boyfriend to show that you’re serious and can commit.

I really loved the familial relationships in here, especially between Denz and his sisters. They can argue, but at the end of the day they support each other. I loved the nosey aunts and family text exchange.

Denz and Braylon were so cute and balanced each other well. I enjoyed seeing the flashbacks of their early relationship to see how they’ve changed over the years.

This is Julian’s first adult romance and I like spice, so I was worried there wouldn’t be any. But, there was enough there without it being overbearing.

Overall a cute romance, but with enough depth and character development where it wasn’t overly fluffy.

I read "I Think They Love You" by Julian Winters on NetGalley. I really liked this book. it is the story of Denz, who is trying to become the CEO of his families very profitable business. He decides he needs a boyfriend to show stability to his family and his plans fall through, until he sees Braylon, an old boyfriend from college, who agrees to play his boyfriend. Things don't go quite as planned. This is a great love story!

I wanted to like this book more. I felt no real chemistry from the characters and I didn’t really like Denz all that much. I would try other books by this author, but this one just didn’t connect with me.

I've loved all the adult debuts of YA authors I've read recently and I'm happy that I Think They Love You is getting added to that list!

Denz is going through a quarterlife crisis. He feels a sense of obligation to his job and his family for his family only to not take him seriously in return. Being around his age, I thought this story was really relatable exploring the feelings of what if what you think you should want isn't what you actually want. While his work life is in a place of upheaval, his ex-Braylon's reappearance in his life puts his romantic life in upheaval too. Their dynamic felt like a messy situationship, which unfortunately I also found very relatable.

The story is told in 3rd person single POV, but I wish we got to see some of Braylon's POV because his actions are both the catalyst of their initial break-up and the third act break-up during the main storyline. I'm not sure if this book is going to be the start of a new series, but I hope so since there's definitely some hints and foundation laid where we could see a book with characters we meet in this story.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of I Think They Love You and Dreamscape Media for an ALC.

4.5 Stars

I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: Julian Winters never disappoints. Even though this is his first adult romance, it is so aggressively his brand, and all the incredible things you know and love about his YA writing absolutely shine through in this story, albeit in new ways.

If there’s one thing Julian’s always gonna do, he will always write a tender, warm-hearted, thoughtful story about what it means to not only discover yourself but to be okay with continuously discovering new things about yourself. And that’s exactly what you get from this story.

I really respect the ways this story challenges the social norm of using romantic relationships or lack thereof as a viable barometer for “success.” The fact that Denz has to stage a fake relationship to show his family that he’s a serious person is inherently ridiculous. And while he does mistakenly buy into that for most of the story, by the end I think he has a much clearer picture of himself and is beginning to learn that what he has to offer on his own is enough and always has been enough.

That’s a message I deeply value and that I think so many people need to hear. Oftentimes, it’s not that we need romance or these external milestones to quote-unquote “improve” our lives or prove that our lives have value. It’s that we need more chances to stand in our power and to be trusted. I think that’s really what Denz is struggling with in the story. He’s sort of trapped in this self-fulfilling prophecy where he’s not taken seriously because people in his life don’t see him as having that capacity, and as such never give him the chance to prove that conception wrong, which is what keeps him from growing in the first place.

So I really appreciate that part of that story. I deeply respect how it shows that it’s not our job titles, our achievements, or how much money we make that defines our success, but rather how we love and support the people in our lives—including ourselves.

I do kind of feel like the fake dating situationship between Denz and Braylon is a little bit lower stakes than I typically enjoy in my fake dating romances, which is not inherently a bad thing. It’s just something I noticed.

Overall, I really enjoyed this. I thought it was able to effectively nail those thematic concepts and bring everything together in the end in a way that was emotionally cathartic and satisfying. If you love adult romance, I think you’re gonna love what Julian’s bringing to that space!

I Think They Love You is an unputdownable and highly enjoyable adult debut from Julian Winters. Denz has lived his whole life needing to impress his powerful and influential family. To be a Carter means to always have it handled. In their event planning business, a single moment can make or break everything. When Denz’s father announces his retirement, the race is on to see who will be the new CEO. To Denz’s horror, shenanigans occur and he ends up in a fake relationship with the ex who shattered his heart into pieces. As Denz struggles to prove himself to his family, can Braylon and Denz reconcile their past before it’s too late?

I Think They Love You is charming and romantic. I loved Denz and completely understood his desire to both prove himself to and take care of his family. Denz is deeply motivated by preserving what his father sacrificed for. Braylon and Denz have a second chance romance that I really enjoyed, because it made sense to me that they needed time apart to grow before they could reunite. The ensemble cast of friends and family were delightful. Julian Winters’ writing makes you feel like you’re right there in the joyful chaos with these characters. I Think They Love You is a warm and entertaining romance. Readers who love fake dating, queer love stories, strong ensemble casts, and lovable characters will love this book.

Thank you to Julian Winters, St. Martin’s Griffin, and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

3.5 Stars

This was a good, low risk romcom to start 2025.
I enjoyed the book overall and the found the family dynamics to be very fun. This is a second chance romance but the romance for me took a back seat to Denz and his career.

I didn't love Denzel’s character. Just not likable enough to route for him. It was very clear where the story was going and Denz was never going to win the CEO title at his families company against Camila.

Braylon was in London for what 3 years? There is no way he would have an accent.

Overall I loved the family and the events/ event planning. The romance was sweet but the lack of communication in second chance romance almost always irritates me.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“How would having sex in front of your colleagues—your family—make our fake relationship more legitimate?”

4.25 stars

Denz is hoping for a promotion to CEO at his family's company, and to avoid looking like he can’t commit to things, he starts fake dating his ex who broke his heart.

"Shit, when did starting a simple conversation with someone who’s seen you naked become the toughest part of my day?"

* Cue all the resulting drama of a fake-dating rom-com *

"He’s always avoided dating apps. Being gay and Black isn’t the easiest thing to navigate in online spaces. Why voluntarily sign up for people to showcase their racism or fetishism while hiding behind a fake profile pic? No, thanks."

This was cute and emotional! I liked how their relationship progressed, since it was a second-chance trope too, their banter, and the side characters were likable.

“Nephew,” she says mid-guffaw, “you’ve had some slipups before, but this truly drags the bar straight to hell.”
“I know.” He squares his shoulders. “I need your help.”
“You need Jesus.”

I didn’t like his extended family, I dunno if that’s like standard family behaviour, I don’t have a family like that, but I found them so rude and intrusive. I thought it would be this nice family-featuring book but instead their parts just annoyed me lmao I liked his mom and sister tho, but on the fence about his dad. He was shitty for most of the book.

ALSO, no one lives in a foreign country and picks up an accent after a few years. Come on.

Other than that, super enjoyable and I would recommend it!

“I need an expert.”
“Wow. Is that a compliment?”
“Is it working? Would it help if I said please?”
“Only if you get on your knees too.” He didn’t mean for it to sound so . . . suggestive. “What I meant to say is—”
“You’re into groveling?” Braylon flexes an eyebrow.
“Are you kink-shaming me?”

Thank you St. Martin’s Press/Griffin, NetGalley, and the author for this ARC!

"It’s been rooted in each of them since they were little: Work hard. Never settle for average. Be the best version of yourself whether you think anyone’s paying attention or not, because when you’re a Black professional, they’re always watching."

<i>⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Stars Rounded Up To Four</i>

I liked this! It wasn’t anything mind-blowing or out of this world, but overall, I enjoyed it. Plus, it featured some tropes I do absolutely love: second chance romance, fake dating, and one bed—what’s not to like?

This was my first introduction to this author as an author since I haven’t read any of their YA books, & while I don’t typically read a lot of YA, there were moments where the writing definitely felt like a YA book (not necessarily a bad thing, just noticeably different than my usual reads). That said, the growth aspect of this story was even more well done than I’ve seen in books by many established adult authors, which was a pleasant surprise.

I do wish Braylon had been a bit more fleshed out as a character, but overall, I had a good time with this one!

I love a good fake dating trope and this one is fake dating an ex! Denz and Braylon were college sweethearts that weren’t meant to be…except years later, they decide to fake date to help each other’s careers. During this time, they learn more about why they broke up and how it made them into the people they currently are. I really enjoyed seeing their story unfold and the complexities of why they fell apart years ago. I really liked Braylon’s character, but found Denz to be too immature and a little too annoying at times. Kenz and Nina were honestly my favorite of all the characters because they both knew themselves. The ending was a tad too rushed and didn’t feel like the right fit for the characters, but was okay. I did enjoy this set in the world of elite party planning and loved all the representation! 4⭐️, 2🌶

Branching out, YA author Julian Winters has delivered an excellent MM second chance, dual POV, fake dating romance that sees two Black gay former college exes faking a relationship in order to improve each of their chances in the workplace. With flashbacks to their college life five years in the past, we get to see what went wrong, how they fell in love and whether they can make things work this second time around in the present. Spicy and heartfelt, this had lots of family drama and emotional depth. Good on audio too and perfect for fans of authors like Kosoko Jackson. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

I Think They Love You was a fun second chance + fake dating romance. I really liked the book, it was funny and emotional. It didn’t quite go the way I expected but not in a bad way. Would recommend!

Denzel Carter’s father abruptly retires, setting off a competition to become his successor. To convince his family members that he’s capable of commitment, Denz impulsively lies about being in a serious relationship. In need of a fake boyfriend, Denz contacts his ex Braylon, who needs Denz's connections to the mayor to win his own promotion. Their fake relationship starts off all business, but faking a relationship means Denz's feelings might return.

Denz is seen as a player, so he's invested in this competition against his sister to win their father's approval. It's explicitly stated that excellence is the bare minimum, setting everyone up to be stressed and anxious to be seen as good enough. While Denz sets up a fake boyfriend plan with his best friend, he bumps into his ex and sets up the arrangement for their mutual benefit. Of course, this brings up the old feelings they had for each other. Toss in other fun tropes like forced proximity, only one bed, and working together for a deadline, and we have elements worthy of the romcoms that Denz and his best friend love so much.

This novel is very much a romcom, with some moments of deeper emotional beats. Denz doesn't ever feel good enough about himself and tries so hard to be what others expect. It's a very difficult line for anyone to keep up with. Braylon has similar fears, so both must overcome them for their happily ever after.

Well this was a really cute and charming romcom! 🥹

Denzel is trying to prove to his family that he can take things seriously, so he needs to find a fake boyfriend stat. And who should he just so happen to run into, right in the nick of time?! His ex-boyfriend Bray, who needs Denz’s connections to the mayor for his own job…so they make a deal.

First of all, Denz’s family, “The Carters”, are an absolute hoot. Parents, sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles. It’s a big family, and there was a lot of good banter going on.

We only get Denz’s POV throughout the book, so there’s always a bit of mystery as to where Bray is coming from, but I didn’t mind because Denz has got a lot going on in his head, and a lot of insecurity to work through.

Being ex’s, there’s instant chemistry between Denz and Bray, and the flirting and tension that builds and builds between them is just so good, and their moments together are just so precious.

As for the story, I thought all the party planning and the “competition” for the CEO position was a lot of fun. (Although, I personally thought it was a pretty harsh way to go about it, Denz’s Dad! 😫😂)

Overall, I really enjoyed this fun and swoony romcom! 🥰

Thank you to #netgalley and @stmartinspress for providing me an early copy of this ebook. All opinions are my own.

What this book is giving:
✅ Romcom
✅ Single POV
✅ Second Chance
✅ Fake Dating
✅ Family Business
✅ Party Planning
✅ MM

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ / 5
🌶️🌶️¾ / 5

I really wanted to love this book because the world is in need of more MM queer fake dating romances. However there were a number of things that took me out of the story too much to be truly enjoyable. I wish, if we were going to get one POV that it could have been in first person. The 3rd person pov doesn’t allow for “showing, not telling”. Denz’s monologue and musings were just sometimes intolerable. It also was so emotionally slow. At 70% Denz is still adamant it’s fake even to his best friend.

I’m sure this will be a book that many people enjoy, and I hope it does exceptionally well, just wasn’t for me this time.

I was hooked from the first chapter. Witty writing, fun characters and an interesting plot! This book was unique and a great read about fake dating, family dynamics and second chances!