Julian Winters’ first adult novel, “I Think They Love You,” is a real treat! As a fan of his YA books, I was excited to read this one, and it did not let me down. Winters knows how to write some seriously hot and spicy scenes, making this book a must-read for romance lovers.

What makes this book special is its fresh take on queer adult life. While I enjoy stories about teens figuring things out, it was great to read about queer adults who are settled and accepted by their families. This kind of representation is heartwarming and important.

The characters are well-developed, especially Denz’s family and the fun aunties. From the start, I was hooked on Denz’s story. He’s a hardworking guy trying to prove he’s CEO material, even if it means fake dating his ex. You can’t help but cheer for him and hope his plan works out.

“I Think They Love You” shows how talented Julian Winters is as a writer. I can’t wait to read more adult books from him. I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a fun, spicy, and heartwarming read.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the review copy!

I Think They Love You does not really feel like the right title for this book, which is about a young, queer black man from a very successful family in Atlanta who convinces his ex to fake resuming their relationship to appear more grounded and serious in his pursuit for the CEO position in the family company that his dad is retiring from. It's pretty clear that Denzel, Denz, is still in love with Blayton, so there really isn't anything fake about their relationship, more getting reacquainted than anything else. The book is more about them and their relationship and Denz's competition with his older sister Kami for the CEO job than it is about Denz's family accepting Blayton. And while 26 year olds are capable of being a CEO, it's pretty clear that Denz is not one of them, which makes it hard to understand why he's pursuing it when it's not a good fit. I like the exploration of romance between two Black men, because it's something that isn't written about very often, but I wish that Winters spent more time exploring Blayton's side of it, because he's clearly been through tough things in his life that made him decide to leave Denz originally. The reader gets to know these things, but it doesn't feel like they ever really get to know Blayton himself. Winters also does a good job of creating strong female characters even though two men are the protagonists of the story. Kami is a single mom pursuing a CEO position. Denz's mom is the grounding center of their family, and his younger sister Nic is all the sass without the anxiety and stress. I like how strong the concept of family is in the book too, I just wish I had felt more invested in the relationship between Denz and Blayton. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

So many YA authors are releasing adult books these days, and I’m a bit on the fence about it. Some I loved (check out Daniel Aleman’s I Might be in Trouble or Jeff Zentner’s Colton Gentry’s Third Act), and some I loved less.

Julian Winter’s I Think I Love You is in between those I loved and those I loved less. I liked a lot about it; it’s written really well, it’s funny, and I love second-change romances. But I just missed Braylon’s POV. I think I would have adored this story if it was a dual narrative.

So, a 3.5 star rating rounded down to three.

4.5/5 ⭐️ 3.5/5 🌶️

Omg I devoured this book! 😍🌶️😍

This was such a lighthearted, cutesy second chance/fake dating romcom. There were themes of queer community, personal growth, big family, love, and forgiveness. These heavier themes are well-balanced with humor and characters felt real in their flaws and quirks. Honestly, this was so easy to digest with a lovable cast, I could see it becoming a film-adaptation.

This has it all:
•Achillean romance
•BIPOC MMCs and supporting characters
•BIPOC Author
•Second chance romance
•Fake dating
•Big, intrusive family dynamics and Gossiping Aunties
•One bed
•Genuinely funny banter
•The Spice🌶️🥵

Anticipated Publication Date: January 28, 2025

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin for this eGalley in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

I’m giving this book a 5-star rating despite DNFing early on because my reason for DNFing is purely personal and not a reflection of the book itself. I was offered this title by the publisher and accepted without realizing it was a second-chance romance, which is not a trope I enjoy or would typically choose to read. I chose to DNF because, after realizing this was the case, I couldn’t bring myself to be excited about the remainder of the story. I might revisit it at some point if my opinions on that trope change and will still recommend it to others; it just wasn’t the right book for me at this point in time.

To preface this, I haven't actually read any of Winters' YA books, so this was my first introduction to this author, and it did not disappoint. Fake dating weighted with the significance of doing so with your ex? It's a premise that's ripe for drama, but also the achy return of long-buried feelings that can come back instantaneously when you lay eyes on the one who originally got away with your heart. Plus, I'm never not going to be biased in favor of an Atlanta-set romance.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this edition from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I typically read a book in 5 days but this one I read in 24 hours. I simply could not put it down. Maybe it’s because I love a Fake Dating Rom Com. Maybe it’s because I was in the mood for a contemporary romance. Maybe it’s because I fell in love with Denz and Braylon and their magnetic banter. Maybe it’s because I could live vicariously through the parties featured in the story. It was probably all of the above because I absolutely loved it!!!

This is a fake dating mixed with second chance romance between Denzel Carter and Braylon Adams, who dated in college and then split up, and who meet again 5 years later which is where the book takes place . There are also some serious issues about meeting the expectations of your ambitious, talented family where everyone is involved in the family business, and the pressure you feel from your Father vs. finding your independence. There’s a bit of Succession in it, too, with a competition between Denz & Kami, the siblings that will inherit 24 Carter Gold, their Father’s very successful, high-end wedding-now-event planning company. It’s a wonderful framework for a romance and the extended family members are sassy and delightful.

There are super cute details like Brayson being labelled “Formerly Known as Bray” in his phone and “ex-now-fake-boyfriend” is how Denz refers to him in his POV. Braylon texts Denz random dad jokes which made me chuckle. The comedic timing is very funny. And of course there’s kissing and also sex with a 2/5 steam level!

I’ve only read Prince of the Palisades which I liked, but this grabbed me and never let go. Winters is known for writing contemporary YA romance, but I really hope he writes more queer adult romances because he’s great at it!

I've been a fan of Julian Winters' YA books for years, so I was highly anticipating his adult romance debut, and I really enjoyed it! I was afraid the setting would feel very tense and stressful, since the story is set around Denz's family's company and him trying to become the next CEO, but his family was a lot nicer than I expected, even though they were intense. There were many funny moments and the writing was really fun as well, which really added to the romcom feel. I liked Denz as a main character, and I liked seeing him grown from someone who's frankly pretty self-absorbed into someone with a little more consideration for others. I liked the romance as well - I'm a sucker for a second chance romance, and they had a lot of lovely scenes together. I do wish Braylon had been a little more fleshed out though, because in the end, I don't feel like I know him super well. I think this book could have benefitted from being dual POV.

The way this book tore at my heart strings and made me ugly cry. Julian Winters, how could you! Also please write many more like this!

I loved following Denz and Braylon as they reconnected and absolutely failed at not falling back in love with each other. Denz and Braylon were in love once before, it ended tragically when Braylon moved out of the country. Now they both need help impressing their bosses, so they strike up a deal to fake date and help each other out. However, lines blur and even though its a fake relationship the feelings are real.

The way Winters crafts this story is impeccable. The character building we see not only in the main characters but all the side characters is so rich and adds such depth to the fake-dating trope. I would easily pick up anything he writes just to glimpse how his characters develop and change. I came for the trope and stayed for all the emotions.

I absolutely recommend you pick this up! The love story, the family drama, its all amazing! Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I can'tttttttt.... this book was PERFECT, 12/10, no notes, god tier second chance with all the tropes, all the feelings, all the heart. I'm sitting here in real tears after turning the last page and I don't know what to do with myself. A PERFECT READ.

2.5⭐️

Denz y Braylon fueron novios hace unos años, pero Braylon se fue del país y Denz no volvió a saber de él por años.

En la actualidad, Denz trabaja en la empresa de la familia, donde organiza eventos y tiene que demostrar que tiene las habilidades para dirigir el negocio.

Braylon parece un personaje de fondo en la historia; no tengo idea de por qué Denz se volvió a enamorar. No quiero decir que sea un personaje horrible, pero es bastante gris. Tal vez si tuviera POVs, podría entenderlo mejor y llegar a agradarme.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book by Julian Winters that I have read and I really liked it and will be checking out more. This is a second chance romance with a fake dating storyline mixed in. Denz and Braylon date throughout college and were very much in love. When Braylon took a job in London, it left Denz heartbroken and unable to handle falling in love again. Braylon shows back up in Denz’s life right at the moment he is desperate for a fake relationship. My only wish is that we got some of this story from Braylon’s viewpoint. I really liked Denz but felt Braylon a bit more of a mystery. Overall, I was invested in this story. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing for sending me an eARC of this book!

I love reading romance, but when it comes to the genre I have a high bar to clear, mainly because I have a lot of pet peeves. This book exceeded all of my expectations. The characters were fleshed out and felt real, the fake dating was done well - which, yes, I have seen situations where it was done SO horribly - and I had my heart broken and put back together with each page. It was witty and funny and heartfelt at the same time and the balance of that was done well. One star knocked off for a specific part, but it would be a spoiler so I'm keeping it to myself and overall, it didn't hurt my enjoyment of the book that much.

If you love Red, White and Royal Blue, you'll definitely love this one.

I think the natural progression of Denz and Braylon's relationship was well done. You felt the love and familiarity between the two of them right away

DNF because I can already see how this is going to disappoint me given the larger landscape of similar contemporary romances I've read recently. A second chance romance AND a single POV. Two big strikes and I'm not waiting around for a third. Second chances rarely work well for me because the narrative has to do so much heavy lifting in terms of justifying the second chance, and essent has to tell TWO love stories for the price of one in a perfect balance that is rarely pulled off satisfyingly. And I personally do not believe ANY romance should be less than a dual POV, ESPECIALLY given it's a second chance where it matters what each person's version of events are and individual agency is paramount to rebuilding something from the ashes of a prior relationship. From a writing voice perspective, I have no complaints over the author's style and voice, but the time jump itself was too disorienting a narrative choice for me to spend the rest of the book being frustrated over.

Denz is competing against his sister for the CEO position in his families company, but the only problem is that his aunties think he has some growing up to do. Hoping to convince them otherwise, he fibs to his family, pretending that he does, in fact, have a long term relationship. When his initial fake boyfriend pick doesn’t show for family dinner, Denz convinces his ex Braylon, the first love who broke his heart, to step into the role. Told from two timelines between their college relationship and their current fake dating relationship, Denz and Braylon have to decide if second chances are possible.

Rating: 5/5
Spice: 3/5

Tropes:
Dual timelines
First Love
Second Chance Romance
Fake Dating

Triggers:
Family Business Pressure
Break Up

My thoughts:
Julian Winters may have just become an auto buy author for me. This book is all about first love, second chances, growing up and finding yourself. A perfect read.

I devoured this book! I sometimes shy away from romance because it can be too cringey but this was a delight. I found the dialogue to be funny and the story was strong from start to finish. The pacing throughout the book was good—I read this in 3 sittings, not wanting to put the book down each night. I would absolutely LOVE if we got spin off stories for Kami and Suraj or Jamie and Jordan. I’d absolutely pick those up! 4.5/5 stars.

I really enjoyed this book. It was funny, real and a little frustrating at times. I found that Braylon coming back with a British accent to be a little too much and that irritated me about him, but he had many redeeming qualities that helped me overlook that one flaw. Denz was super relatable, filled with the duty to carry on his family legacy and be who his family thinks he should be. It stunted him in many ways and he wasn't doing something that his heart was in when he put his name in the running for CEO. He buckled under the pressure of his overbearing family for a long time.

I think the natural progression of Denz and Braylon's relationship was well done. It wasn't too fast but quick enough to give a "same as it ever was" vibe, which I loved. You felt the love and familiarity between the two of them right away, even after having to learn about each other all over again. Chemistry doesn't change.

The side characters were all very well written and fully realized, but woo boy were they A LOT, which is a testament to the writing. They frustrated me and made me feel small and I was just reading it. I could put myself in Denz's shoes and see how he was confused about what his legacy truly was.

Overall, a great fake-dating book with diverse characters that were real, flawed and likable.

Thank you to Julian Winters and St. Martin's Griffin for offering me an ARC of this book. This review is entirely my own.

A completely relatable rom-com for so many different reasons! Denzel Carter carries the story as the main character and I think that all readers will find something that they can connect with in his story - losing someone you thought you would marry, trying to find yourself in your career, people not believing in you, and more. The two main plot lines are tied together throughout the story with a battle for who will be the new CEO for 24 Carter Gold overlapping with Denz needing a (fake) boyfriend to demonstrate to his family that he too can be responsible and stable.

There aren't any shocking tropes or major surprises in this novel, but rom-coms fans will love the movie references that are thrown in and the "Will Thacker Night" theme night that Denz and his roommate have throughout the book. While it's always fun to watch a love story develop, I think it was also nice to see Denz try to come into his own and see himself in the way that others around him already did. I think many of us have a hard time with that.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital advanced copy!

I don't normally enjoy second-chance romances but this one was great! Fun plot with overall very low stakes. I will say, I couldn't stand the idea that Braylon had an accent after living in London for 3 years. If I knew someone who had an 'accent' after that short a time I would never stop laughing at them. But other than that it was a good book.