This was perfection. Literal perfection. I had an absolute blast reading about this idiots to lovers, SO FUCKING GOOD

This was good! I liked the majority of the story. Han and Kenny are best friends and I love their friendship as well as their relationship when it turns into something more. There were a lot of heavy topics in this book and sometimes it felt like a little too much going on. The worst part about this book is Kenny’s ex, Jackie. An abusive, lying, manipulative woman who brings the majority of the drama to the story. I think the book would have been stronger without such an over the top “villain”. I also don’t like when pregnancy is used as manipulation, which is part of Jackie’s storyline. I did enjoy the support Han and Kenny found in their friends and family. Han and Kenny are each other’s safe place where they can be their true selves and I think that comes through clearly in all phases of their relationship. Overall would recommend!

Review 6.5/10✨ I LOVED both of Sonora Reyes other two books and I wanted so badly to love this one too. Unfortunately it just wasn’t meshing with me.

I liked the idea for the story more than the execution of it. Roommates entering into a marriage of convincing then falling in love?! I was instantly sold! However I just couldn’t get into the story. Both MCs were very emotionally bottled up and struggled to communicate effectively and that was frustrating as it went on for most of the book. Because of that it was hard to feel the chemistry between them. There was a lot of care but I just wasn’t super invested in them as a romantic couple. I was more invested in them healing than kissing lol

As I saw another review say, there was a lot of trauma and a lot of drama. The book tried to tackle several heavy topics (like deportation, abusive relationships, and neglectful parents) but I don’t feel like the story gave them all the room to breathe that they needed. The drama came in the form of an abusive ex girlfriend, Jackie. She was a straight up villain. I did appreciate the story highlighting that woman can be abusers in a relationship as it’s not something that gets talked about often. However her level of evilness really overshadowed a lot of other things in the book. She was such an intense character. My hate for her was the strongest emotion for any character in the book and I didn’t love that.

I did like the autistic representation in Han so there was that! Overall it just wasn’t my favorite. I’m sure others will enjoy it more and I still look forward to what Sonora Reyes writes next!

Thanks to @netgalley and Forever for a copy of this book!

The Broposal by Sonora Reyes was a surprising 4.5-star read for me, and I’m rounding it up to 5 because it offers a depth that many romance novels lack. Best friends Han and Kenny enter a fake relationship/marriage of convenience to help Han avoid deportation and in the process realize that they have real feelings for each other. While a few subplots felt a bit over-the-top, I appreciated the way Reyes explored meaningful themes and allowed the characters to grow in authentic ways.

The book includes a trigger list, highlighting injury/breaking an ankle, which seemed relatively minor compared to an unlisted trigger: addiction. Familial death is mentioned, but it might have been more transparent to specify that it’s related to drug use.

I thought Reyes did an excellent job portraying the everyday fears and anxieties undocumented Americans face. Despite a few small issues, I was impressed by this novel’s emotional complexity and the care taken with its themes. It’s well worth a read for those seeking more than the usual surface-level romance.

I absolutely adored The Book Proposal! It's the perfect blend of humor, heart, and a whole lot of swoon-worthy moments. Gracie, our heroine, is a total mess in the best way possible. She's funny, relatable, and just the right amount of quirky. The romance between Gracie and Ben is slow-burn perfection. Their banter is hilarious and their chemistry is off the charts. I couldn't help but root for them every step of the way. Plus, the bookworm vibes are strong in this one. If you're a fan of writing, publishing, and all things bookish, you'll feel right at home. Overall, The Book Proposal is a must-read for anyone who needs a little dose of love, laughter, and literary inspiration.

this one is tough to rate. i liked the main couple & thought they had sooo much chemistry, they had me hooked despite friends to lovers not being my usual favorite trope. however, the villain(s) in this were almost… too much? somehow too over the top but also too close to reality at the same time. it was really upsetting, and i found that i was upset to the end, even as the HEA was happening, when i should have felt hopeful and warm. that’s not the intention of the book— it’s a romance, after all— but i just couldn’t stop thinking about… well, everything that had happened. so unfortunate because this is such a unique and necessary romance. 3.5 ⭐️

I was sooooo excited for this book. Unfortunately, it ventured into some plot points that just do not work for me.

I loved the two main characters. They were truly so sweet, especially with everything starting out by just genuinly wanting to take care of your friend. But damn, the amount of unnecessary drama in this book made it such a frustrating process to read, and it just got worse in the second half instead of better. I ended up skim reading the last quarter of the book because my care for thw characters was getting lost beneath the frustration of all the relationship drama.

4.75⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5

Wow… this was not what I expected to read at all. I thought I was in for a fun Bromance Rom Com. Thats not what I got. I got part sweet Achillean romance but mostly a poignant story that was delivered in an entertaining way.

So many things were touched upon that are hit button topics from domestic abuse, drug abuse, undocumented individuals, parental troubles and navigating sexuality.

I’ll be honest I need to get two other books read asap but I kept gravitating back to this one and finally went all in and binged the last half of the book in one sitting.

I want to thank Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC so I could enjoy this title and be able to give my opinion by way of a review.

This is a great choice for a Book Club read. It is complete with discussion questions at the end as well to help facilitate the experience. Even if not in a club, the questions make for a thought provoking individual experience as well.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

I'm somewhere between a 3.5 and a 3.75 star rating for this book.

Because on one hand it got me out of my post-election reading slump. Whooo!

But on the other hand, I was unbelievably frustrated through 65-70% of this book.

All of the frustration came from the characters. I understand that they're all in their early-twenties and Han's never been in a relationship while Kenny's been with in the same (abusive) relationship since high school, and I know miscommunication is a hallmark of the romance genre, but oh my god. I had to put the book down multiple times to rub my head or pinch the bridge of my nose or just to rant out loud because I was so annoyed. When Kenny and Han actually let themselves feel their feelings and act on them, they were sweet and adorable and they love each other so much, and I wanted to swoon. But when they refused to talk to each other or even talk to the people they're closest to who know their situation, I wanted to tear my hair out. Like, you two have an immigration lawyer! You can fight Jackie's threats!

And then you have Jackie and, oof. My hatred for Jackie is probably only rivaled by my hatred for Trump. She's that bad. She's that abusive and toxic and manipulative and controlling. I hate her so much.

My feelings for this book are complicated. Because I would recommend this book to other romance readers, but I'd probably put a big astrick next to that recommendation that these characters are unlikable at times.

i'm in love with this book! i think it plays to its strengths really well, and it fully takes advantage of its concept and the tropes that are built out of that. but those dynamics aren't just there, but instead elevate and properly showcase the relationship between Han and Kenny.

these two guys work really well together and use their shared conflict to grow as individuals and also as a pair. their chemistry is their from the first page, and you'll be asking yourself by the end of the second chapter why they haven't gotten together in all the time before the start of this book.

but i like how they bring out the vulnerability in each other. especially with Han, who struggles to communicate his feelings. when he's with Kenny, and even before his emotional breakthrough, he still has his own way of being himself in their apartment.

also, small spoiler, but i love that Han thought he was homophobic because he didn't like Kenny hooking up with a guy lmao. good addition to an already excellent dynamic.

Such a delightful book! It was a lot heavier than I expected, but I fell in love with the story and the characters.

There's a lot of emotional turmoil, ups and downs, neurodivergence, queer rep, immigrant stories - but it all was tied together in such an enjoyable romance. You can't help but root for the characters, not only to find their way together, but also to have the best possible outcome of their lives.

DNF @ 10%.

I had a very hard time getting into this book. I’m not sure if it’s the author’s writing style but the writing in the first chapter felt very choppy and had too much telling but not enough showing, and it quickly became a chore to read through.

There was a side character who was clearly meant to be dislikable, but sadly I also found myself to be quickly frustrated with the two main characters as well. This is the author’s adult romance debut, but the characters’ thinking and reasoning for most things felt very immature and more in line with YA characters and less so with adults.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.

I was really, really excited for this one—I absolutely adored Sonora Reyes’ YA novel The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, and I love adult romance with emotional heft and depth. Unfortunately, I could not get into this at all. The two main characters were frustratingly oblivious, and not in a fun way. Kenny’s inner monologue was so self-deprecating it wasn’t even fun to read. And generally, the writing felt really heavy handed in its introduction of themes. There was so much going on--from abusive relationships, to immigration issues, to mental health topics, and none of it was done particularly skillfully. The more the plot went on, the less it made sense. I do hope Sonora Reyes writes more adult romance, because I would love to read more romance with undocumented leads and neurodivergent rep.

amazing debut adult romance by one of my fav authors. such an engaging story with themes like immigration, abuse, racism, and queer love. was wary about it at first since i’m used to this author writing YA but it exceeded my expectations. there’s some real challenging content like emotional abuse and the characters grappling with a possible baby. i am definitely recommending this one

[2.5] I’ve never read anything by this author before, but I was immediately pulled in by the title, cover, and premise. They all sounded amazing, built on tropes that tickle my fancy (fake relationship, friends to lovers) and with notable representation.

However, I’ll be first to admit the writing style didn’t click with me. The flow felt choppy, in part due to the number of plot points being juggled, and the villains came across single-toned and cartoonish in their predictability. Especially Jackie, Kenny’s abusive ex - she played such a huge role in the story from start to finish and in ways that went beyond necessary to make good on the promise of the premise that I ran out of fuel to trudge through meticulously.

This just wasn’t for me, but I hope others have a better experience because there are particular parts of the story that are important to tell.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

The Broposal is a contemporary romance that is both fanciful but realistic. It's realistic by way of the trigger warnings included in the ARC I was given, but in the least spoilery way, I think not everyone is blessed with a straight path to figuring out their sexuality, such as in the case for Han and Kenny. It does get the romance novel treatment in that there is enough familial and social support for the two characters, but at the same time, these two guys are working class and live in New Mexico. The progress of their relationship is a bit messy, but that's just how some relationships are, and that's what makes The Broposal a very entertaining yet heartwarming read.

The Broposal by Senora Reyes is an engaging and heartfelt story that shines with its rich diversity and representation, offering readers an authentic portrayal of ADHD, Autism, LGBTQ+ identities, and the immigrant experience in America. Reyes beautifully highlights Mexican culture, making it a refreshing addition to contemporary fiction. The characters feel real and nuanced, and the exploration of themes such as identity, belonging, and cultural pride is both meaningful and important. However, while the book tackles these significant topics, the narrative occasionally gets bogged down by too many plot points and side stories, which can feel overwhelming at times. Despite this, The Broposal quickly became one of my favorite reads this year. I didn't want to put my kindle down for one second because I just wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen next and I ended finishing this book in less than a day.

I will fully admit, this was a tough book to read around the beginning of November, 2024. But it was also a very, very IMPORTANT read, and I'm incredibly honored that I was able to read an advanced copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and wanted to hug each and every one of the characters (with the exception of Jackie. We have no love for Jackie around here).

As an immigrant myself, I know how convoluted and complicated the USCIS system can be. I have gotten into multiple fights with so-called family friends about how difficult the entire immigration process is, and how much of a privilege it can be to be able to go through the system "the right way." The Broposal really hit home for me as a reminder of what the experience can be like for those who are undocumented... and it shone a light on so many elements I never even thought of.

Add in the LGBTQ+ elements, with the "whoa, I think I'm gay" realization.. the neurodiversity rep.. the liiiiitle bit of k*nk rep? I was hooked. The storyline between Kenny and Jackie was heartbreaking to read but also SO important to share. The marriage-of-convenience trope between Alejandro and Kenny was so cute to watch unfold.

My five-star ratings are saved for books I will throw at friends and tell them they need to read, and so this is definitely a five-star book for me!! Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Digital for the eARC!

Give me an autistic jellyfish enthusiast MC and I'll already be sold but pair that with a charming romance and endearing main characters and I'm pretty much in love.

Sonora Reyes writing style is perfect because it's just so easy to read, to enjoy and to understand. There's so many different plots going on, so many complex elements for every character and so many places this story takes you. I particularly loved how drag culture got a little spotlight in here too.

From the cover and description I didn't expect this to be as heavy as it was, especially centring domestic violence and this took me by surprise - especially as it wasn't given as much weight as it needed. A pregnancy thrown in, no consequences, both realities and things that would never happen all interweaved which took me out of the story.

But, this book Needed to be heavy, the plot centres them marrying so Han can get his green card and there's work issues, injuries, family issues and so much more that is all going on at once. Someone get Han a therapist, PLEASE.

Kenny and Han have THE ultimate bromance - saying bro at the altar would still be in character. I found their chemistry and yearning top notch. I just wish we were given a dash more romance, dates, important scenes in the build up instead of trauma with no output. Also would've loved more focus on Han's autism but that's just personal preference. I think if this book was given 50 more pages so many elements could have been enhanced and built on to fully perfect it.

I loved this one but because I also had a few issues, I've given my enjoyment more weight in the rating. 4.25 stars! Will continue to want everything Sonora Reyes writes!

After reading the synopsis, I wanted to love this but wasn’t ever able to connect with the writing style as there’s a whole lot going on in this one, but not all of it is resolved.

And don’t get me started on Jackie.

I wasn’t the right reader for this.



Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the DRC