I found this book to be a fun, entertaining, and low angst read! The author did a great job of incorporating all the classic elements I associate with second chance romance and faking dating without seeming predictable or boring.

I think second chance romances can be difficult to get right, since the whatever caused the past break-up needs to simultaneously be severe enough to justify a break-up and also something small enough that it can realistically be forgiven and overcome. I thought the author hit the balance well!

Denz has a big family, and I enjoyed reading about his relationship with his siblings and extended family. Braylon (the love interest) is so loveable and cute.

The book is narrated by André Santana and he did a great job infusing the voices with personality and emotion. His narration added to the story without distracting me from the words. I recommend picking up this audiobook!

Highlights:
- set in Georgia
- fake dating
- second chance romance
- event planner x non-profit employee

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, St. Martins Press, and St. Martin's Griffith for this advanced copy! You can pick up I Think They Like You on January 28, 2025.

I absolutely adored this fake dating, second-chance queer romance! Julian Winters proves once again that he's the king of writing these hilarious, relatable romance stories full of love, laughter, and a bit of heartache.

Denzel "Denz" Carter has spent his whole life trying to live up to the expectations of his chaotic, successful family. He's constantly working to prove himself (even after a few mishaps) and show that he could take over as CEO of the family business from his dad one day. Part of showing his seriousness? Being in a serious relationship. Enter Braylon, his ex who left him for London 5 years ago (and who happened to be in the right place at the right time when Denz told his family about his new "relationship"). As the two work out a mutually beneficial deal to fake date, we see them fall in love all over again as adults, finding the same grooves they familiarized themselves with in college while exploring new ones.

Denz and Braylon's love story was the perfect mixture of sweet and sexy, and I also really appreciated the emphasis on family relationships as well. We see Denz's ties to his sisters, parents, aunties, and more grow and change throughout the story. This is a book just as much about familial love as romantic.

All in all, if you love fake dating and second-chance romance, this is your book!

I absolutely loved I Think They Love You by Julian Winters. I’ve been hearing a lot about this book and was so excited when I was given an ALC. This is my first from Julian Winters and he’s now gained a new fan. This is a rom com but also deals with family, second chances and some faux dating shenanigans. Denz needs to prove he can surpass expectations from not only his family but also himself. Denz and Braylons story immediately drew me in and was written so well; it’s thoughtful, complex and authentic. I have to say it’s rare to like all characters and in this book while yes our MCs are the focus, the supporting characters are also depicted so well I couldn’t help but look forward to scenes where Kami or the aunties would show up. The banter and wit are superb, I found myself chuckling several times throughout. I have to give credit to the narrator as well, Andre Santana, phenomenal job! I will definitely be adding this to my collection, This comes out on Tuesday 1/28, get this in your hands friends!!

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and of course Julian Winters for providing me with this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

4,5 stars

Second chance fake dating your ex? Yes please! This story really tackled the struggle between familial expectations and what one actually wants out of life. Denz thought what his family wanted from him and what the world expected of him was what he had to want himself. It wasn’t until Braylon re-enters his life and almost leaves without him again that he finally allows himself to decide his own path. Braylon made a tough decision 5 years ago based on his dad’s advice to leave Denz behind. But was London even what he wanted? Now his father is gone and he’s pursuing a career in non-profits back in Atlanta. As these two reconnect, they have to come to terms with the heartbreak they both experienced while falling back in love with someone who is fundamentally different than they were in college. A lovely story of growth and first love. I do wish we had gotten Braylon’s POV though be ause I wanted to see even more of his personality and growth.

The audiobook narrator was great and even had different voices for Bray and Braylon which was great and easier to differentiate between past and present (because written, it wasn’t always clear when we went back to the present time). I do wonder if the British accent was too strong for only living there for 4 years.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC and ALC!

I thought this was a unique second chance romance and I'd recommend to others. On the audio version it was a little difficult to keep track of the flashbacks when we were moving back to present day. There were a couple of spots where the story got a little flat for me but overall I enjoyed it and I'd recommend others read it as well. I absolutely loved the narrator. His voice is very pleasing and he did a great job with each character.

This was so good. I devoured this in less than a day because I could not stop listening. I don't always love second chance romance, but this was the exception. Denz and Braylon were both such loveable characters even with their faults. I loved seeing Denz' growth throughout the book. I also thought it was perfect amount of spice and humor.

My only negatives would be that it seems really weird that Braylon would have an English accent after only a few years in London. Also, I feel like Denz' family focused a lot on his flaws and there was not a lot of resolution on how his family treated him.

That being said I definitely want to read more by this author. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, this was my honest opinion.

A second-chance romance set in a world of glitz and glamour! I'm a sucker for a fake dating trope, and this one did not disappoint. All of the characters felt fully developed, down to the smallest side characters! I enjoyed getting to see Denz's and Braylon's relationship develop...now give me Jordan's story!

f I was just ranking the romance it would be closer to three stars but I really loved the cast of characters - even when they were a bit cartoonish the side characters never felt like appendages to the main relationship and had their own interactions with the characters. My issue with the romance was that Braylon wasn't as developed as I hoped for - he was still a good character but needed a bit more for me to fully get invested in him as a character, and hense in the relationship as a whole.

Book 4 of 2025 - ✅! Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin & Julian Winters for my ARC of I Think They Love You by Julian Winters, and NetGalley, Dreamscape Media & Julian Winters for my ALC of I Think They Love You, in exchange for honest review. (I listened to my ALC!)

When I saw the cover and description of Julian Winters’ book, I Think They Love You, I requested it immediately. Then, I started listening to the audiobook…and about 3% of the way in, I was predicting it would be a 5 star read for me. This ended up being true. This is my first Julian Winters book, and it’s his first adult rom-com.

In this second chance, fake dating romance, Denzel “Denz” Carter is born into Atlanta & Event Planning royalty, as the son of 24 Carter Gold’s CEO. Denz is in the running to be his father’s successor. Amongst the chaos of working for a high-profile event planning company, he reconnects with his ex, Braylon (fka Bray), who moved to London a few years earlier, but has since moved back to Atlanta.

In the midst of his campaign to take over as CEO, Denz asks his best friend and roommate, Jamie, to fake being his boyfriend. When Jamie doesn’t show up, Braylon steps up to the plate. While it starts as a fake relationship, it turns into the real deal.

I laughed, I swooned, I felt like I was in Atlanta. 5/5 ⭐️ overall. 2/5 🌶️ rating. Catch this book on shelves on Tuesday, 1/28/25! 🍑 🎉 💕

I really enjoyed this!! I loved the fake dating combined with the second chance trope and think both worked really well in this story! I feel like sometimes the second chance trope is complicated depending on the reason for their original breakup but this one made so much sense while not making me dislike either character! I was confused about Braylon’s accent, I might’ve missed where he was from originally but it seems odd that he would have such a think accent after only being in England a few years as an adult so that threw me off lol I loved the family and friend relationships but the family business drama annoyed me a bit at times especially because it was easy to tell that Denz wasn’t in the competition for the right reasons and I just wanted him to realize that faster lol but overall, this was a very solid, sweet, emotional, and spicy read!

Thank you Netgalley and dreamscape media for the free ALC. My opinions are being left voluntarily. What a fabulous adult debut romance book. I lived Julian's YA books sk happy to see the crossover to the adult stream. I love the characters the story some of my favorite tropes and the narration was done soo well!! I look forward to his next book.

4.5/5☆

Cute!

This was a really great time. I haven't read any of Julian Winter's YA stuff, but I'm glad he's branching out to adult romance. The plot was enticing and the stakes felt high without inducing anxiety, and the issues with the relationship made sense. I loved the inclusion of strong family dynamics with the Carter family. The family legacy conversation and the sacrifices one makes, and whats truly important was excellent. Good food.

I read half via ebook and the other half with the audiobook, and the narration was excellent.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and St. Martin's Press for an e-copy and audio-copy.

I've loved all the adult debuts of YA authors I've read recently and I'm happy that I Think They Love You is getting added to that list!

Denz is going through a quarterlife crisis. He feels a sense of obligation to his job and his family for his family only to not take him seriously in return. Being around his age, I thought this story was really relatable exploring the feelings of what if what you think you should want isn't what you actually want. While his work life is in a place of upheaval, his ex-Braylon's reappearance in his life puts his romantic life in upheaval too. Their dynamic felt like a messy situationship, which unfortunately I also found very relatable.

The story is told in 3rd person single POV, but I wish we got to see some of Braylon's POV because his actions are both the catalyst of their initial break-up and the third act break-up during the main storyline. I'm not sure if this book is going to be the start of a new series, but I hope so since there's definitely some hints and foundation laid where we could see a book with characters we meet in this story.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of I Think They Love You and Dreamscape Media for an ALC.

I really liked this book overall. It had everything I have come to know and love about Julian’s writing and I think it was a great transition into writing adult romcoms.

I love a good fake dating book and even though this was also second chance which I don’t usually love, I felt like it worked. There wasn’t some giant misunderstanding that loomed over why they didn’t work. It felt more like a right person, wrong time situation which I can get behind.

I loved Braylon and kinda wish we also got some chapters from his POV but that’s just a personal preference. Denz on the other hand was a pretty flawed MC which doesn’t bother me but can be a little tedious when that’s the only perspective you are getting. Also, I was getting a little burnt out on the whole event planning aspect but that’s also a me thing cause this was the third book in just a couple of weeks with an event planning MC.

Anyway, I would recommend this one and look forward to whatever Julian puts out next! Also the audio was fantastic! André Santana did an excellent job as usual.

Julian Winters’ I Think They Love You is a sparkling, heartfelt romance that masterfully balances humor, emotion, and authenticity. Following the story of Braylon and Denz, this novel delves into the ups and downs of love, heartache, and second chances, all wrapped in Winters’ signature wit and charm.

One of the most refreshing aspects of this book is its focus on a male/male romance, depicted with warmth, depth, and authenticity. Braylon and Denz’s journey is tender yet complex, capturing the bittersweet reality of navigating past hurts while daring to hope for a future together. The family’s unwavering acceptance adds another layer of joy and positivity, serving as a much-needed example of the support that all love stories deserve.

What truly makes this book shine is its humor. Winters has a knack for crafting witty dialogue and laugh-out-loud moments that perfectly complement the deeper emotional beats. This balance between levity and heartfelt storytelling makes the narrative not only enjoyable but also profoundly relatable.

The characters are richly drawn, with distinct voices and personalities that bring the story to life. Braylon and Denz’s chemistry is palpable, and their interactions are both endearing and electrifying. Their growth as individuals and as a couple is portrayed with care, making their story all the more rewarding.

I Think They Love You is more than just a romance—it’s a celebration of love in all its forms, from romantic to familial. Julian Winters delivers a story that’s equal parts funny, romantic, and uplifting, leaving readers with a smile on their faces and hope in their hearts. Highly recommended for fans of LGBTQ+ romances and anyone who loves stories filled with humor, heart, and happy endings.

Branching out, YA author Julian Winters has delivered an excellent MM second chance, dual POV, fake dating romance that sees two Black gay former college exes faking a relationship in order to improve each of their chances in the workplace. With flashbacks to their college life five years in the past, we get to see what went wrong, how they fell in love and whether they can make things work this second time around in the present. Spicy and heartfelt, this had lots of family drama and emotional depth. Good on audio too and perfect for fans of authors like Kosoko Jackson. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

I LOVED this book! It took everything I love about second chance and fake dating and multipled it by ten. I’ve liked some of the author’s past books but this one was leagues above

Rating: 5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly, this is going to be a book I think about for days after finishing it. I absolutely adored Denz, Braylon, and their chemistry together! Their banter had me laughing from start to finish, and the way they connected throughout the book tugged at my heartstrings. Plus all the incredible background characters had me chuckling as well, especially Jamie and Jordan. I also liked that the author brings up important topics, like how being a person of color affects how people view you and how you do your job. Also how being gay or queer in general can affect this as well. I also adored the narrator and thought they matched this book perfectly.

I Think They Love You was a fun second chance + fake dating romance. I really liked the book, it was funny and emotional. It didn’t quite go the way I expected but not in a bad way. Would recommend!

It’s a solid audiobook and I enjoyed the narrator!

Denz Carter is a part of a successful family enterprise, 24 Carter Magic, and his dad is getting ready to retire. But who will he choose as his successor? Denz is a moderately successful influencer on his own, @notthatdenzel, and the setting is high end Atlanta. Denz's ex-boyfriend Braylon is the one that got away, in college they fell in love but Bray chose to move to London and did not invite Denz to move with him. Now, years later, he has a chance meeting with Bray that led to a mutually beneficial situation of fake dating- Bray is using Denz to get a better relationship and connection to the mayor, and Denz will use Bray to look more settled in life and more likely to be named as his father's successor.

This is a good and typical romance, high spice level from an adult debut, with many typical tropes that are loved; second chance romance, fake dating, one bed. I was gifted the audiobook version in exchange for an honest review. For me this didn't work as well on audio, the pacing didn't lend itself well to it. When the book is published I will re-read the paperback. I didn't find the spark between the characters like I usually do and the plot itself sort of fell flat. I did love the set up and the premise, and the side characters really stole the show, some of the side characters had some really funny lines. And what beautiful cover art!

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape medial for an ALC in exchange for an honest review. Book to be published January 28, 2025.