Han and Kenny are best friends. When Han loses his job that was set to sponsor his work visa, Kenny proposes so that Han does not have to worry about deportation.

The title and cover led me a little astray here. I saw the word "BROposal" and the bright colors and thought this would be light and fluffy. I started reading without even checking the description or author's note. But this story deals with some serious topics, like immigration, fear of deportation, and domestic violence, so I just want to throw that out there. It is still a very heartwarming and enjoyable story though, even if more serious than I was initially expecting.

I really enjoyed Han and Kenny's love story. They have such a a stable friendship that they each lean on. I loved watching them navigate their shifting feelings and trying to figure that out all while protecting their friendship. And, oh gosh, the pining. I'm a sucker for pining. 💜

And man oh man, Jackie is practically a cartoon villain. She really got under my skin. I wanted to leap into the book and shake some sense into her.

The audiobook has dual narration, which I really liked. I think both narrators did a fantastic job. This was an easy listen.

I would recommend this if you like
* marriage of convenience
* friends to lovers
* pining
* self discovery

Thank you to Hachette Audio for the gifted audio copy!

I was surprised at how fast I fell for roommates, Alejandro and Kenny and their fake romance!

Alejandro was a bit of a serial dater and never puts his roots down in any relationship, except for the one with his roommate Kenny Kenny is the exact opposite and has been dating the same girl forever, even though it’s been an unhealthy relationship for him - but when given the choice between his best friend and his abusive girlfriend, can you make the right choice and embarks on a fake relationship and engagement to get Alejandro his green card.

Soon both Kenny and Alejandro find that what’s between them is more than just friendship and their relationship that starts out as a sham becomes very real!

I love both of these characters, they were both very real and their scenarios from Alejandro’s immigration concerns, and Kenny’s abusive relationship brought these characters to life and created a much more serious story than I had expected.

I listen to the audiobook narrated by André Santana and Alejandro Antonio Ruiz, and was impressed by their voice work. Both narrators did an excellent job, invoking their characters and differentiating between the rest of the characters in their scenes. They added another layer to the storytelling through their narration that highlighted the characters emotions and feelings through their expression.

Overall, this was an excellent story and audiobook. I highly recommend.

This book made me realize I'm getting old since I spent the majority of it wondering when they were going to go tell an adult what was going on. I'd say it's a true new adult romance for an upper teen/new adult audience.

Narration: 5/5. Great casting, great narration. I will always recommend queer stories that use multiple narrators for multiple POVs.

Thanks to Hachette Audio and Netgalley for my copy to review.

4.5 Stars

BIPOC rep
Queer awakening
Fake wedding
Besties to lovers

SUPER topical book. Han is living in the US illegally (he was brought as a tiny human…it’s the only life he knows) and it literally affects his entire life. He finds himself in a position, by both circumstance and malice, where he needs to find a way to become legal.

It was such a great book I would suggest everyone read it. All of the characters felt fleshed out, the drama (as much as I wish it didn’t) felt real, I was looking for excuses to keep reading.

The narration was good.

I appreciate the focus of men being victims of abusive relationships, and how immigration status could prevent people from developing meaningful bonds for fear of losing them (again). I wish the pacing was a bit more even and the side characters were more developed

i really enjoyed sonora reyes’s debut YA novel, and i think i liked this even more. their voice translates to new adult well, and they tell a really great coming of age story. i also adore both friends to lovers AND idiots to lovers (aka characters that pine after each other not realizing the other’s doing it too) so this worked really well for me! i also loved seeing the chosen family elements here with several queer side characters too.

the audio experience was great!! both narrators were fun to listen to and engaging

This was such a sweet story—a childhood best friends-to-lovers romance with a marriage of convenience and characters you can’t help but root for!

The writing was another plus for me. The author didn’t waste time on overly detailed descriptions, which I personally find distracting, yet still painted a clear picture of the scenes.

The characters were flawed yet incredibly real. I could feel their pain and loss, and I understood their justifications—even when I could see how messed up their choices were. (It’s no easy feat to avoid at least one eye roll from yours truly, but this book did the impossible.)

I especially loved how protective Han and Kenny were of each other—Kenny more so than Han, but given everything happening in his life, I can understand that. Their romance was sweet, built on years of trust and friendship. I just wish we had more time to explore it.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from Sonora Reyes in the future.

P.S. The narrators did a fantastic job too! I’ll be looking out for more of their work as well.

<b> Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for providing me with an advance copy of this audiobook! As a fan of Hallmark-esque romance novels, I couldn't wait to dive into <i> The Broposal </i> by Sonora Reyes, and it certainly didn't dissappoint. </b>
<u><b> 3 ★★★'s!! </b></u>
<i><b> The Broposal </i> follows the story of Alejandro and Kenny, two best friends and roommates who navigate their personal challenges while developing feelings for each other. The book is told from both their perspectives, but it primarily centers on Alejandro. </b> As he faces the precarious situation of obtaining his green card after losing his job due to his short temper, Alejandro's world becomes even more complicated. His best friend Kenny, fresh from a toxic relationship with a girlfriend who doesn't accept his bisexuality, is dealing with his own set of struggles.
<b> At its core, this book is a charming exploration of friendship, love, and identity, and it unfolds exactly how you might imagine-a delightful Hallmark-style romance that delivers exactly what it promises. </b>Despite its predictability, the story is heartwarming and easy to fall into, particularly if you love stories where the characters navigate their relationship alongside self-discovery.
<b> One of the standout features of the audiobook was its narration. The voice actors, Andre Santana and Alejandro Antonio Ruiz, brought the characters to life with their engaging performances. </b> Santana's voice captured Kenny's warmth and sarcasm, while Ruiz gave Alejandro's inner turmoil and passion a compelling depth. Their voices complemented each other perfectly, reflecting the bond and contrasting personalities of the two characters. While I enjoyed the overall performance, my one critique woud be that at certain points, the emotion felt somewhat flat-especially in moments that could've benefitted from more intensity. This is a common issue with audiobooks, but it did slightly impact the emotional impact in a few keys scenes.
<b> The frequent use of the word "Bro" also provided a bit of comic relief, though it was repeated so often that it became a bit jarring, especially in more serious moments (I know, it's literally the title of the book). Overall, this audiobook was an enjoyable read that's easy to recommend to fans of sweet, predictable romances with plenty of heart. The cultural elements and the vibrant performances of the voice actors elevate the book, and I'm happy to have had the chance to listen to it. </b>

This was so cute and a breath of fresh air! I loved how it merged pressing issues with comedy and romance. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a little levity but still wanting to discuss hot button issues.

Thank you so much for letting me listen to this audiobook. This was a emotional and romantic story to listen to.

Kenny and Alejandro were the sweetest characters! Their friendship and support for each other was lovely to read throughout the pages. The depiction of Jackie and ICE were so valuable to read in the story. Each added to Han and Kenny's character growths. I enjoy stories in which there is fake dating/fake marriage so when I saw this book synopsis I knew it was a must read! I listened to this book on audio and the two narrators for the points of view brought the story to life! Thank you to Forever Pub for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

This was a fun story with some issues that were also pretty serious. I think there could have been some more thought in getting from the begining to the end but mostly it was good.

I love a marriage of convenience and faking dating story and this was very much that. It was fun but had a lot of hard situations and topics. Kenny and Alejandro were such amazing characters with so much complexity.

Jackie was the worst and was written so well that I hated her so much and it was visceral.

I loved the narrators, they truly brought Kenny and Han to life.

Unfortunately, this book is very relevant currently and shows how scary ICE is and how much the fear impacts peoples lives.

*Thank you so much netgalley, Hachette Audio, and Forever for advanced copies in exchange for an honest review.

The Broposal is one of those rare romances that manages to be sweet, sexy, funny, and deeply moving—all while tackling incredibly timely, important themes. It’s the story of two lifelong best friends who fake a green card marriage… only to realize there’s nothing fake about the love growing between them. But underneath the swoons and slow-burn chemistry, this book also explores the very real fear and hardship of being undocumented in the U.S.—making it one of the most emotionally resonant romances I’ve read in a long time.

Han is a young undocumented immigrant who’s built his entire life in the U.S. but lives every day with anxiety, limitations, and fear. The book doesn’t shy away from showing the emotional toll of this: the abuse he endures at work, the inability to seek medical care, the constant need to hide. It's powerful, it's real, and it’s a stark reminder that the right to live a life of dignity should not be in question.

Against this backdrop, we have the most wholesome, perfect romance between Han and Kenny. Best friends since second grade, their bond is so warm and full of mutual care that it’s no wonder everyone around them assumes they’re already in love. Their friendship is beautiful on its own, and while I’d love to see more representations of strong, healthy, platonic male friendships in fiction, I couldn’t help but cheer when they started to realize what everyone else already knew: they’re soulmates. The chemistry? Off the charts. The emotional depth? Devastating in the best way. It also features the most heartbreaking sex scene you will ever read in your life.

Another highlight: the book thoughtfully includes the experience of emotional abuse from a female partner—something rarely depicted in romance, especially from a male perspective. Kenny’s past relationship is handled with nuance and care, and it adds even more complexity to his emotional journey.

I listened to the audiobook and can’t recommend it enough. Having two separate voice actors for Han and Kenny was such a gift—it’s still surprisingly rare in queer romance audiobooks, and it made a huge difference. Both narrators brought such life and individuality to their characters.

In short: The Broposal is more than just a romance. It’s a story about identity, safety, love, and the messy beauty of realizing you’ve had everything you needed all along. It's timely. It's tender. It's so worth reading.

Even with the many heavy topics this one contains (Sonora includes a great list and author’s note at the beginning), watching these two dummies dance around their obvious love for each other was so dang fun. I couldn’t put this one down.

What a ride!!! This story took so many twists and turns, explored so many depths and nuances in the characters and in their lives, but always brought us back to the romance at the heart of it all.

I listened to the audiobook, with different narrators for Han and Kenny. Both of them brought their respective characters to life so vividly, and I really felt like I knew the characters like real people in my life by the end. Both characters go on such a journey that having a dual POV was a real asset.

This book deals with some really heavy topics, and I thought they were all discussed in a really sensitive way. The challenges the main characters face are at times nearly impossible situations, but they were always dealt with in a nuanced and thoughtful way. Of course, this is a romance, and the romantic couple prevailed in the end! But it was often a rocky journey to get there. I thought the way marginalisation and identity were explored was particularly good, with the way Han and Kenny are each perceived in the world – from their ethnicity, to their gender, to their sexuality, to their skin colour – affecting how they both move in the world.

From the very start, the care Han and Kenny have for each other was evident. Their relationship felt inevitable, and every time it looked to be impossible I got more and more stressed out! But the way they navigated their feelings for each other, while messy, also felt very real and authentic. I was completely hooked and invested the whole time, and I was giddy with excitement when everything finally did work out for them!

I received a free copy for an honest review.

I wasn't able to fully listen to the audiobook because it was archived. But from what I did listen to I was very immersed in the story and I enjoyed the smooth production.

Alejandro (Han) and Kenny have been best friends since they were kids, and are currently roommates. Kenny is one of the only people who knows Han’s secret - he’s undocumented. After Kenny’s breakup with his abusive ex-girlfriend and immigration threats looming for Han, they come up with a plan - a real marriage but fake relationship in order to help Han get his green card.

The Broposal held so many emotions for me and it is a very timely read. It’s joyful and heartbreaking, and there were times I was so angry for Han and Kenny. Narrators André Santana & Alejandro Antonio Ruiz really shined in bringing them to life and I thought their work was so well-done. Sonora Reyes is a true talent and I look forward to reading more of their work in the future. I received an advanced listening copy, receipt of which did not impact my review.

I really wanted to love this one - it has so many components that I love: queer romance, representation of immigration issues, fake relationship, etc. etc., but Kenny's girlfriend Jackie is toxic and abusive and sucks all the air out of this story. I wish I didn't have to rate this as I don't want it's ratings to tank based on this, but gosh, Jackie is a vampire of joy.

Thanks to Forever for a gifted copy of this book.

The Broposal by Sonora Reyes
Contemporary M-M diverse romance. NA.
Alejandro (Han) and Kenny have been best friends since grade school. When Han loses his job and sponsorship for a visa, Kenny asks Han to marry him. They have been friends for so long, they can get past any complications or questions from immigration. But Kenny’s ex girlfriend isn’t wiling to let him go. And she’s not above blackmail or threats to Han’s safety. Their upcoming marriage is accepted by both families as expected which has them self reflecting on what’s real and how they move forward.

This was not a comedy that I expected from the cover. It’s highly emotional with multiple troupes, abuse, coming out, angst, tears, and a debilitating fear of being separated from everything known or being alone.
It’s also a romance with a roller coaster of issues. Any time there is a “No kissing rule”, you know there are lots of hidden and locked down feelings.

Ultimately happy, but heartbreaking on so many levels along the way. Really didn’t like the ex girlfriend. More, to be able to communicate, they have to know their own dreams, issues and deal with them. So much angst in complicated lives.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.