(2.5 stars, rounded up due to the audio narration)

This book should have worked better for me than it did. I enjoyed the characters of Han (Alejandro) and Kenny and thought their long-term friendship was excellent. But somehow this never really pulled me in fully.

Han has lived in the US (New Mexico) for most of his life, having been sent there to live with extended family after a near-disaster with his drug-addicted mother in Mexico. But he’s undocumented and so his life is pretty precarious - jobs are hard to get and keep, he doesn’t have a driver’s license, he worries every time he’s near a police officer, etc. He and Kenny are roommates and have been friends since they were very young. Kenny helps Han as best he can, driving him places, etc. Kenny has a girlfriend, Jackie, who I absolutely hated. She was abusive to Kenny and I hated that he felt he couldn’t stand up to her. When he broke up with her, I was so relieved. I guess i just didn’t buy that whole relationship. Jackie was so incredibly evil and Kenny was a real sweetie.

Kenny then figures the best thing he can do for Han is to get him his citizenship by marrying him. (Kenny is bisexual and Han believes he’s straight, but isn’t interested in women at all.)

The topic of possible deportation and all the struggles Han was experiencing were well done and are important topics for people to read about in this personal way.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient, and allowed me to continue with the story even when I could not sit down and read - or when I could not listen. The audiobook has two distinct narrators who both do a wonderful job: André Santana and Alejandro Antonio Ruiz.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book and for the opportunity to listen to a review copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

🎧🎧Audio Book Review🎧🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
I wish I knew what chapters were spicy but unfortunately I do not

‼️‼️TW/CW‼️‼️
- ICE mention
- Racial profiling
- Injury
- Queerphobia
- Physical and mental abuse of partner
- Addiction related death

💕💕Tropes💕💕
- Found family
- Gay awakening
- Friends to lovers
- Marriage of convenience

✨✨notes about audio book✨✨
- Dual narration; André Santana and Alejandro Antonio Ruiz
- Publisher is Hachette publishing
- 10 hour long audio book


🎧🎧Onto the Review🎧🎧

First of all thank you to Forever Friends and Hatchett publishing for sending me this audio book!
I really enjoyed this friends to lovers marriage of convenience story! Our MMC’s Han and Kenny have been best friends since elementary school. They met when they were 6 years old but Kenny immediately had a crush on Han and was too shy to approach him.
Han is an undocumented immigrant who came to America under unfortunate circumstances. Him and Kenny one night get the idea for them to get married for Han to get his green card. They already know each other super well since they grew up together, they were voted most likely to get married in highschool and several people were convinced they were in love anyways so what could go wrong? Right? It’s just for fun and after three years they could divorce. But what happens when both boys start finding themselves wanting this to be real and not fake??
This book has the best amount of pinning and drama! Also the spice? -chefs kiss- there are things I cannot describe because it is NSFW but the spicy scenes were beautifully written! I ate up every second of it! I also really loved that this was Dual narrated and that each narrator did a great job performing their parts! If you’re wanting to read a m/m childhood friends to lovers book I think you should give this one a shot!

🌵I wasn’t prepared for how giddy and happy this love story made me feel. It caught me completely off guard and I loved every moment from Han realizing his true feelings to Kenny always choosing Han even from the beginning when they were best friends. It’s an adorable love story and you can’t help but fall in love with the characters and their supportive friends and family.

💔This book has also ruined the name Jackie for me (sorry to any Jackies out there). The level of pettiness and toxicity, I was livid the entire book.

👏🏽Also can Leti be my cousin? They’re the cousin we all need. They didn’t mince words with any of the characters and had Han’s back. The family and friends in this book were such a beautiful kaleidoscope of Latinx culture and queer culture.

💕I really enjoyed how @sonora.reyes portrayed the fears and struggles of undocumented people. As an immigrant myself and one that grew up around a lot of people that weren’t as lucky to become residents/citizens, this story felt like I was back home and was so authentic to what that experience can be. At the end of the day, the story was about two best friends realizing they belong together but it also weaved beautifully the pain of being undocumented.

🫶🏽Thank you @sonora.reyes for writing such an authentic and heartfelt story during a time where we need to humanize each other.

🎧I read this book along with the ALC and the narrators @andreonthemic and @alejandroruizvo were amazing! Definitely recommend listening to the audiobook!

Thank you to Dana and Alli from the @readforeverpub team for sending me my first physical ARC and the final copy! This will always have a special place in my heart!

🦮Blurb: Alejandro (Han) loves living with his best friend, Kenny and they’ve been inseparable since elementary school. After a breakup from his girlfriend, Jackie, Kenny comes up with the idea of helping his bestie, Han, become a citizen by marrying him. What starts off as a friend helping another results in them realizing that they have always been more than just friends.

This was such a timely read (*gestures broadly*). I love friends-to-lovers and fake dating, and this book offered an emotional take on those tropes that I really appreciated. The stakes of the fake dating felt much higher than in a typical romance, adding real weight to the story. I think it’s so important to read romance novels that highlight the real-life struggles of people whose lived experiences are different than my own, and this one did so beautifully. The friendship between the main characters was incredibly strong, and I loved the representation—undocumented immigrant experiences, bisexual and gay identities, domestic abuse, and drag culture were all thoughtfully included. Because the story was so heavy at times, I do wish we had gotten more moments of happiness with them. That said, I loved that Han and Kenny had such a strong support system in their families and friends and I am so happy for them (yes I know they aren’t real lol). Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the ARC.

✨ Fake Engagement
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Friends 2 Lovers
✨ Latinx X Autism Rep


It’s about time roommates Alejandro and Kenny get married. Or at least, that’s what all their close friends and family think when they announce their engagement. The kicker? The two are faking their whole relationship so Alejandro can get a green card. But if Han was going to marry anyone, it would be his ride or die since second grade.

✨Review:
I loved how Sonora Reyes mixes in disability representation, race, queerness, among other things! All handled really well and will have you rooting for Han and Kenny! Highly recommend! This MM story will have you turning the pages and not wanting to put the book down.

This was a nice, easy listen that I blazed through in a single day! I loved following the relationship between Han and Kenny throughout this story. They both learned so much about each other and themselves. They learned to support each other through difficult situations, they each grew so much individually, and they persevered through some extremely challenging situations.

This book was so fun to listen to but also highlighted the struggles of so many marginalized communities within the story. We explore the struggles of undocumented immigrants, the challenges of navigating an abusive relationship, compulsive heterosexuality, and so much more. It was informative, yet hopeful, and I appreciated how thoroughly these relevant cultural topics were addressed.

I enjoyed both narrators of this story so much! Their personalities fit Kenny and Han perfectly and helped to add an extra layer to the story. I look forward to listening again!

Thank you so much to Forever for providing me with an ALC of this book!

So cute!!! Anyone who knows me knows I love The Proposal. This is basically a younger, gayer version of that. Han and Kenny are so adorable, and I loved the found family they created. Their stories and growth are so tender and fun to watch play out. Also, Sonoro Reyes created such a great villain. I was FUMING every time she came on the page. I truly didn't want this one to end, and I want to give each of the boys a big hug.

4.5⭐

It's a beautiful journey that explores the highs and lows of a friends-to-lovers relationship with authenticity and depth. It also had such great representation! Highly recommended for anyone seeking a heartfelt and inspiring romance.

This novel was absolutely fantastic! The narrators killed it. I loved the way they brought life to Han and Kenny. I adored their friendship and their romance. They were perfect for each other and their feelings for one another were so pure.

Thank you Forever / Hachette Audio for this ALC!

I went into this thinking it was your typical rom-com but was met with so much more. The book was sweet, funny but also touched on serious topics like immigration and DV.

I think the narrators did an amazing job at portraying each character and their emotions. I definitely felt all the emotions while listening. We watch the two MCs go through different struggles but somehow always leads back to each other. The way the understand each others needs like no other. 🥹🥹🥹

This was such a good slow burn too. And the tropes - I ate it up 👏🏻

I absolutely loved this book! It follows two best friends who make a pact to fake date to avoid pressure from family and friends about their love lives. Of course, things get messy (in the best way) as they start to develop real feelings for each other. The book does a great job of exploring friendship, identity, and what it means to be true to yourself.

This book was so ADORABLE!! Seriously, I couldn't wait to continue the audiobook every time I had to stop because I was at my job or had something to do. And the narrarators did a superb job and had me looking forward to more and more. I'm not sure I've ever felt so strongly while listening to an audiobook but I was definitely angry with Jackie and annoyed with Kenny and felt pity for Han. I shed some tears and had some laughs and I really couldn't get enough. Again, this is such a cute story that me in all the feels.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hatchette Audio for this audioARC.

This book was not what I expected and it was even better than I thought it would be. I was expecting a lighthearted romcom but it had a lot of depth and emotion when talking about being undocumented and how it affects every part of your life. I loved Han and Kenny together and their families and friends. The story pulled you in and just made you have all the feels, I laughed, cried, awed, and even wanted to yell at a character that made me angry. The slow burn was perfect and I did love Kenny but I loved Han even more and just kept rooting for him. If you want a hit of all the feelings but then get your HEA that leaves you with butterflies then this is the perfect book.

This was my first book from Sonora Reyes and I did find several things about it I enjoyed. There was great representation for diversity around race, neurodivergence and the queer community. I felt like the story being told was very visceral and real as far as the things that the characters went through and were experiencing. I would say be prepared for this book to be very emotional. There are trigger warnings at the beginning which I appreciated, but there are a lot of struggles and challenges both characters go through that are really intense. I would not call this a romcom. I think I would have liked this more had the romance between the characters been developed more. I think because there was so much going on for 1 shorter book, it seemed like that was not as prominent with all the life things they were dealing with throughout the story.
I think the narrators did a great job. Thank you to Hachette audio for this ALC.

The Broposal dealt with a lot of topics that need more light shined on them. What it means to live undocumented in the United States, and the terror something as simple as traffic stop can warrant. Dealing with familial addiction. Abuse that is often overlooked or discounted, such as abuse perpetrated by a woman on a male. Living with neurodivergence. Because of the topics it touched on, I will say that the tone of the book didn't match the tone set with the cover. It was incredibly well written, but I spent the majority of the time waiting for another shoe to drop. Rinse and repeat.

The use of two narrators for this story was spot on! Distinct voices that really brought the story to life.

4.25 stars

**Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.**

<b>NOTE</b>

In late January 2025, the US president "ordered new powers to...allow ICE officers to raid churches, schools and hospitals" as well as "directed federal law enforcement officials to investigate and potentially prosecute local officials who interfere with deportation efforts" (The New York Times). This book is a celebration of friendship, family, and love which stands in stark contrast to the ICE/deportation dystopian h*llscape that the US has descended into. May this book bring readers some hope in these dark times.

<b>Basics</b>

Author: they/them (USA)
Genre: contemporary romance, LGBTQIA+
Setting: New Mexico, USA
Themes: belonging, family, love, feeling
Vibes: gooey cute, funny, heart-warming, tender

<b>Quotes</b>

"Jellyfish didn't even age, bro. Those Benjamin Button motherf*ckers can just de-age themselves back to childhood, to their polyp stage, whenever they're in severe stress."

"If fighting was proof of love, then she loved me more than anyone. But what proof was there for Han? Luna curled up around my feet. Han left her with me whenever I was anxious, which I almost always was. I looked around and noticed he'd already done my dirty dishes. He never guilted or judged me when my executive dysfunction caused him more work. He just did it to make things easier on me. Everywhere I looked, the evidence was there."

"I choose Han" 💞💗💞💝💘💕💓💖 (Also, get absolutely wrecked, Jackie 🖕)

"Use <i>me</i>. Marry me." 🥵❤️‍🔥🔥💍

"To this day, Kenny never let me walk on the side closest to traffic. I didn't understand then, but now it made sense. He was <i>still</i> protecting me."

"I always let Han go up the stairs first, since I was afraid it'd be too much on his ankle, and I wanted to be able to catch him if he fell."

<b>Characters </b>

+ "Kenny"/Kendrick Bautista: newly single (thank f*ck) guy who needs to relearn what he's like as a person, also has baby fever and a love for Drag (23yo, bisexual, Mexican-American)

+ "Han"/Alejandro Torres: Kenny's bestfriend/roomie who is undocumented and needs a way to stay in the US (23yo, autistic, gay, Mexican)

+ Jackie: Kenny's POS gf who doesn't let him wear makeup, be soft, express emotions, and says he is straight because he's currently with her (a woman) even when he says he's not straight 🤬 I hate her and it's on sight 😤

<b> Pros </b>

+ jellyfish in the dedication AND as metaphor throughout 🪼
+ neurospicy rep: autism
+ LGBTQIA+ rep: bisexual, gay, nonbinary (they/them)
+ romance tropes: friends to lovers, fake engagement/marriage, outgoing/reserved, gay awakening, slow-burn, he falls first & he falls harder, bdsm
+ Halloween/spooky drag ball
+ Thornelius, their adopted emotional support succulent son 🪴💚
+ proposing over and over just hits you right in the gooey feels 🌹🥞
+ kissing practice 💋
+ they are so considerate and gentle towards one another; it makes me want to cry ❤️‍🩹
+ Jackie, the nuclear waste POS ex-gf, is written so well that I loathe her with my entire being. She's in my top villain tier. Not the sexy villain tier. The "I hope they burn in hell" tier 🔥 Update: I need a place worse than hell to send her. 😡🤬
+ surprising spice (BDSM switch & sub with 🚦safe words)
+ begging (bedroom dialogue is 👌)

<b> Neutral </b>

/ This has some really sad parts 💔😭😭😭

<b> Cons </b>

- bro
- the ending felt a little rushed and would've benefited from a few more chapters since we waited so long for them to finally be together

<b> Comp Recs </b>

+ (for younger/high-school audience) Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

<b> TW </b>

toxic/controlling relationship, bi erasure, threat of ICE/deportation, drug addiction & overdose death (mentioned), broken ankle, physical partner violence (slapping & hitting), panic attacks, estranged-parent death, blackmail

Absolutely the best marriage of convenience I've ever read.

I love Han and Kenny so much. I thought their friendship was so heartwarming and that their love was inevitable. Their story felt so raw and so real.

I really admire the way Sonora Reyes writes these beautiful characters!!!

Thank you, NetGalley, Hachette Audio and Sonora Reyes for access to the ARC of this audiobook. The audiobook was a gem, the narrators brought Kenny and Han to life. This romance had so many great features; come and meet this diverse and uniquely representative cast of characters dealing with a variety of struggles and lived experiences (a number of queer lifestyles are represented and celebrated, some real and heavy struggles like the plight of the illegal immigrant, racial profiling and discrimination, abusive relationships, struggles with mental health and living with neurodiversity). These are topics that should not be taken lightly and need to be written about more, thank you Sonora Reyes, for bringing these realities to light and letting so many see themselves in your story or learn to empathize with those not like themselves. The romance was delightful, the friends to lovers trope in this story was very well done. I love to see 2 people love each other well and with all their hearts. It was fun to watch these loving, supportive friends as their friendship deepened into a romance to rival the best love stories of all time.

Surrounding the book I found it to be wildly engaging, and equally heartbreaking, but in a good way. I think that the author nailed the relationship between the main characters, I loved how real they felt, even within the often bleak looking future for both of them. I think that another thing they did incredibly well was the depiction of abuse in a relationship, and what that can look like. Overall I thought the book was a stunning piece of fiction.

The two readers for the audiobook I also loved. I have found that often when there are two male narrators it can get confusing, but the balance that both of these readers brought was great, both had a distinctive voice and it made the story come alive. The audiobook in general I think was a great way to experience this story for the first time

this felt like a YA novel??? even tho there was a medium amount of spice. everything just felt very melodramatic, and the cause of the third act breakup was so infuriating and we saw it coming from the beginning. i really wanted more from this.