🎉 I Think They Love You by Julian Winters is here, and I am obsessed! 😍 This is his first adult rom-com, after writing some amazing YA, and let me tell you… he did not disappoint.

So, we’ve got Denzel “Denz” Carter, a guy who’s always had his life planned out—until his dad announces his retirement and the competition for CEO of the family company kicks off. To seal the deal and look all responsible to his family, Denz does what any sensible person would do—he lies and says he’s in a serious relationship. 💍💔

Now, Denz needs a fake boyfriend STAT, and who does he turn to? None other than Braylon, the ex who broke his heart. Talk about awkward! 😬 But, hey, Braylon needs Denz’s connections for his own career, so they strike a deal: pretend to be together to get what they want. The problem? Fake dating your ex has complications… and suddenly, things feel real. 😏

Okay, I am living for this fake-dating-to-second-chance romance! It has everything—the tension, the chemistry, the heart. ❤️ What makes this story stand out is how it dives into the messy but beautiful complications of love and healing. It’s not just about a second chance at romance; it’s about becoming the person you want to be and learning to love who you’re growing into. 🌱✨

The dynamic between Denz and Braylon is everything. Their banter? On point. The slow-burn tension? Chef’s kiss. The relationship feels so real, so relatable—honestly, I was rooting for them the entire time. And the family dynamics? HILARIOUS. This is one of those books that will have you laughing and then picking your heart up off the floor in the next chapter. 🫶

If you’re a fan of fake-dating tropes, second chances, big queer families, and a swoon-worthy romance that will make you smile like an idiot—this book is for you. Julian Winters absolutely nailed his adult debut. It’s funny, heartwarming, and just the right amount of messy in the best way possible.

10/10 recommend if you’re looking for a love story that feels real, funny, and leaves you feeling all the feelings. 🏳️‍🌈💖

Thank you to NetGalley, Julian Winters, and St. Martin's Press for the eARC of this book.

I Think They Love You was my first Julian Winters book that I have read and I loved it! The two main characters, Denzel and Braylon, were written very well and they had such depth to them. The details used throughout the whole book really brought the story to life and kept the reader involved until the last page.

When both Denzel and Braylon bump into each other after not seeing one another for five years, they soon find themselves fake dating so they can help each other advance in their careers - Denzel for the CEO position and Braylon for a promotion. Can a business deal turn into a second chance at love?

The writing was done well and will keep the reader involved. You will be routing for Denzel and Braylon throughout. I can't wait to read another Julian Winters book! This was a great read! Highly recommend.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

I quite enjoyed I Think They Love You. The writing blended humor, heart, and well-executed tropes like second-chance and fake dating. The premise sets the stage for a romance balanced with themes of familial expectations and personal growth, making it a really enjoyable read. There was a LOT of chemistry. I liked the single POV of Denzel, and it recognized where he was blind in certain aspects of thinking (about his own abilities and desires to rise in his organization, with questionable motives) with some real character growth. The novel’s humor, clever banter, and representation of a lively, meddlesome family round out its appeal. With realistic romance scenes and a strong emphasis on communication, this book is both fun and heartfelt.

OMG y'all, I LOVED this book! I've been a fan of Julian Winters for a while - he's an Atlanta local and I run into him all the time at book events here. I was THRILLED when I saw that he was writing an adult romance and jumped at the chance to read I Think They Love You. AND I got to team up with my Atlanta book bestie Jocelyn for a buddy read - so freaking fun! While this book has some romcom vibes, I ended up getting super emotional over the end. If you love second chance, fake dating, or crazy family shenanigans, you NEED to read this one!

While I LOVED chaotic Denz from the beginning, it took me a while to come around to Braylon. Denz is still reeling over their breakup at the beginning of the story - he refuses to seriously date and is basically married to his job with his family's event planning company. When they randomly run into each other (twice!) five years later, you can FEEL the tension. However, a mutually beneficial agreement leads them to decide to fake date for a few months, and it's basically all over after that. EVERYONE can tell they are falling for each other again, and after they hook up for the first time, I was sold. Their fake dating rapidly evolves into some pretty swoony (and spicy) situations that had me rooting for them to FINALLY figure things out HARD.

In addition to Denz and Braylon's romance, I loved that Denz's close-knit extended family who ALL work for the family business play SUCH an important part of the story. I got very invested in their dynamics too, and I'm SUPER excited to hear that there might be a future book with some side characters I really loved. I'm so thrilled to have had the chance to read this awesome adult debut, and I HIGHLY recommend checking it out!

Denz Carter, desperate to prove himself and secure the CEO position after his father's retirement from the family company, lies about being in a relationship and is forced to recruit his ex-boyfriend, Braylon. However, as they spend more time together, their feelings resurface, blurring the lines between fake and real. Denz must navigate the complexities of maintaining the relationship image while also proving himself to his family as a serious businessman.

Admittedly my expectations for this were HIGH because I absolutely adore Julian Winters' books. This one is his first book that isn't YA, and while I didn't love it as much as his other stuff, it was definitely still worth the read. I absolutely loved Denz, the MC, and I was very invested in his second chance/fake dating journey. I also loved reading about two openly gay Black men experiencing joy, and their identities not being used as vehicles to highlight trauma. My problem with this book lies among the other characters, particularly Denz's family. I just found each one of them so unlikeable. While they were not necessarily "mean" I never truly felt like they were rooting for Denz. I don't know why he and his sister were pitted against each other, and why people were so critical of him. In Julian Winters' other books, some of the aspects I found most endearing were how the main characters navigated the relationships with the secondary characters, but that was missing for me in this one.

OMG I cannot go on about how much I enjoyed this book.

It was pure rom-com perfection.

Very relatable main characters and even if it was clear that they’d end up together, the journey was 100% worth it.

Braylon’s cheesy dad jokes would always put a smile on my face. Their “fake” relationship was so endearing! Seriously, I found myself smiling a lot or laughing out loud.

What I didn’t expect was to cry during the finale…this story just felt real.

If this was made into a movie, I would watch and rewatch it!

This was my first time reading anything by Julian Winters but I am definitely to see his other works.

Denz wants to become his father's successor after the announcement of his retirement as CEO of 24 Carter Gold. To prove he's not the unreliable person his family believes him to be, Denz impulsively lies about being in a serious relationship. This puts him in a bind, needing to find a fake boyfriend quickly. Fate intervenes when Braylon, the man who broke his heart, shows up at the right place and time. The two strike a deal to help each other out, but old feelings resurface, and Denz struggles to keep it strictly business.

This book is a wonderful second chance romance. I loved seeing the couple communicate openly and share plenty of sweet and fun moments together. Their journey was heartwarming, and their chemistry felt genuine, making their interactions enjoyable to read. The family drama was the central focus, adding depth and tension to the plot. It was tough to see how unsupportive the family members were, which was frustrating, but this conflict also made the couple's bond stronger and more meaningful as they navigated these challenges together.

I also appreciated the author's writing style. Their voice is engaging and pulled me into the story from the start. The pacing and dialogue felt natural. Overall, it's a great read for fans of romance with a strong family dynamic at its core.

This was a really cute book. I loved Denz and Braylon so much and how honest their relationship was. Their chemistry was off the charts and it was nice to also have backstory sprinkled throughout the book.

The Carter family is a whole lot of crazy and so much fun. I enjoyed seeing their dynamic and how the family business works. The story did a great job of putting that plot together with the love plot and meshed so well. I really hope this become a series and we get spinoffs for other characters like Kami and Jordan.

A joyful queer rom com that distracted me from everything that is going on in the world in the best way. I devoured this funny, heartfelt and romantic novel in just a couple of sittings. I couldn't put it down! I was a fan of the author's YA books - but this one blew me away. I hope that this is just the first of many adult queer romances from Julian Winters.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Denzel Carter has never been taken seriously by his family, at least not until he concocts a plan to make them as he vies for the CEO position at his family's event planning company. Enter Braylon, the one who got away and broke Denzel's heart in the process.
At one point in the book, Denzel perfectly describes why I love rom-coms even if they are predictable. He says, "I know I'm gonna feel good at the end. That I'll have something to hope for... there are moments in life where it's all worth it."
That is exactly how "I Think They Love You" by Julian Winters made me feel. Along with the characters attending UGA (Go Dawgs!), Winters draws you in with lovable leads and a cast of outstanding supporters.
Again as Denzel puts it, even if you can predict how the story is going to end, "... the journey is never the same."

This book is exactly what it claims to be and I love that. It's funny, big-hearted and funny and I think it was so sweet. I also appreciated the spicy scenes and think they were done well! I like that there is a bit of goofy and shy vibes as I think it adds realness to the story. I really liked both MC's and adore them together.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fake dating, second chance romance set in Atlanta, this was a fun read. Some things seemed like a stretch, like a social media manager being up for CEO of a large business. There weren’t many unexpected twists, but it was a delightful and sometimes steamy read, nonetheless!

Beautiful story. Characters were written well and plot was entertaining! This was my first book by this author and I’m definitely excited to read more! 4 stars recommendation!

I loved this one! Fake dating, second chance, finding yourself - there was such a great story. The characters were fun, there's lots of interesting side people, and the book flew by! A perfect cozy romance read.

A standard Julian Winters rom com, with a lot of heart and chemistry. This one is heartfelt and the second chance romance works. I really love the exploration of queer communities and family dynamics.

Winters' second chance romance is tender and heartfelt, intertwined in family dynamics and what it means to fall back into love.

Thanks to Netgalley & St. Martin's Press for the
E-ARC! Really enjoyed this! Very cute characters & great representation. Great adult debut!

Excellent debut romcom! I loved the group chats. It made the book more relatable!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Spectacular second chance romcom! I absolutely adored all the family group chats and felt like the story flowed so well with the professions of each character. There’s also a really seamless timeline jump from time to time.

Thank you St Martins Press and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I have yet to be disappointed by a Julian Winters book and his debut adult novel was no different!!! Denz has sworn off relationships since he had his heartbroken by his college boyfriend Bray. Who broke up with him when he took a job in London. When Denz’s father announces he is planning on retiring he leaves it open for the staff to nominate themselves if they wish to be the new CEO. Denz wants his family’s legacy to stay in the family, so when they express doubt that he is qualified he nominates himself. He also indicates he has a boyfriend. This sets the family gossip network into a frenzy trying to figure it out. Denz’s world is further thrown into chaos when his ex, Bray, now going by Braylon, shows up in the coffee shop Denz frequents. What’s he doing back in Atlanta? When Denz’s original plan for a boyfriend falls through Braylon is there to the rescue. The two have a mutual need, Braylon needs Denz’s connections to help with a promotion, and Denz needs a boyfriend to prove to his family that he can commit to things and would be a good replacement for his father. Things won’t be so easy though as he is still angry at Braylon for what happened between them as is his family. Can the two let get of the past enough to make their fake dating successful? Will Denz meet his own expectations or fail like his family believes he will? And what happens what fake dating becomes more complicated? I love Denz and Braylon and their relationship will make your heart melt! Adding to the melting are the scenes from the past when the two dated in college! They’re so cute!!! Funny, delightful, charming, and absolutely swoon worthy! You won’t be able to put this one down, and for don’t worry there’s plenty of spice!! Julian Winters should be on everyone’s must read author lists and you do not want to miss this one!

This was such a cute story! I really enjoyed reading it. Good story, great characters. Julian Winters really pulls you in. You will be rooting for Denz and Braylon. The other characters also have good story lines. There's enough information to keep you interested, but not enough to pull away from the main characters. You end up rooting for all of them. I would definitely recommend this book. And would read another book by