I thoroughly enjoyed this story of a hard-working New York City social worker and a self-made and very wealthy man looking to fund worthwhile causes, who can't help falling in love despite perceived conflicts of interest. Milo and Tom have already made a connection before they realize they will be working together, but their attraction is off the charts and cannot be denied. This is the second book in this series, and the author tells brilliant stories of friends who become families, all with distinct and proud immigrant backgrounds. I am looking forward to the next installment!

I really enjoyed this story. It was exceptionally well-written and had a great storyline. I really connected with all of the characters and it flowed nicely.

This book might be one of the cutest romances I’ve read in a while. American Fairytale was exactly the kind of book I needed to read right now because it was not only an easy and quick read, but also put me in the most optimistic and happy mood. Happily-ever-afters have a lovely way of making you feel warm and fuzzy inside. I’m glad to say I could walk away from this book feeling much lighter than I did when I got into it.

American Fairytale follows Camilo Santiago Briggs, a social worker, and Thomas Hughes, a self-made millionaire and businessman. They meet under fairly casual circumstances, not expecting the other to leave such a strong impact on them. When their paths cross again, they must not only find a way to put aside their own flaws and baggage to make a relationship work, but also find ways to fit into the unfamiliar worlds they present to each other.

The concept of one half of a couple being ultra rich has been done so often that it’s pretty much considered a trope in the writing industry. Personally, I don’t have a problem with this trope at all. But there are certain important aspects of it that are rarely dealt with that make me uncomfortable – perhaps because they’re brushed aside or because they are difficult conversations to have. More often than not, the half of the couple that has less money is easily demonised (by readers and by characters in the story) for not accepting the well intentioned charity of the richer half. This is something I’ve always found alarming. Putting money in the middle of a relationship can completely change the nature of it, and people on the less privileged end are entitled to feel wary.

American Fairytale did not hesitate to hit those nails on the head. Without giving any spoilers, I was so impressed with how both Camilo and Thomas handled the conversations about their different monetary backgrounds, the privileges and power held in the relationship, and how to work around them in a healthy manner.

Another aspect of the storytelling that I thoroughly enjoyed were the side characters. Both Camilo and Thomas’ friends are incredibly amazing people, who are so supportive of those they love and this new relationship. At the same time, they do not hesitate to provide the honesty and constructive criticism they owe to their respective friends. I loved how they could give honest feedback to Camilo and Thomas in a way that they might not have been able to give to each other (especially in the start of the relationship and during that one argument).

The book did an excellent job of not only showing the honest transparency of their friendship, but also provided an alternate point-of-view to the problems Thomas and Camilo faced. It also helped the reader understand what both parties are going through, and neatly showed how everyone sees the situation so we can quickly find a solution. After all, there were no “bad guys” – it was difficult situations they had to learn to work around.

I also really appreciate the way the book handled mental health and conversations about abuse. These conversations are important to me and I am grateful that the author treated them with absolute respect. In general, the book has a lot of uplifting, important, and positive messages about society and culture, and it’s what made me love this book even more. There was so much rich history of New York that went into the story. There were also so many cultural elements that were included, given the incredibly diverse cast of characters. I can’t stress enough how much POC (and intersectional minorities amongst POC) deserve happily-ever-afters and cheesy fairytales – and this book gave us exactly that.

This was my first Adriana Herrera book, and suffice to say, I am very much looking forward to reading more. You don’t want to miss this adorable romance between two very different people who find the strength and love to make a seemingly-impossible relationship work so well. Check out American Fairytale, which releases on 20 May 2019.

Trigger Warning: This book discusses depression and domestic abuse (not described) from a non-POV perspective.

*~~*ARC kindly provided by the author to me in exchange for an honest review *~~*

- Full Review to come, closer to RD
- LOVED it so much
- felt so seen with the display of Milo

<a href="">Review</a> originally posted on my blog with added content <a href="https://mikkuchan.wordpress.com/">Mikku-chan / A world full of words</a>

Thanks to Carina Press for the advance copy of American Fairytale by Adriana Herrera, released on 20th May. I loved American Dreamer, the first book in this contemporary m/m romance series about latinx immigrants in New York, and American Fairytale is a great followup.

The book starts with Dominican tech billionnaire Thomas and Cuban-American social worker Milo hooking up for some no-strings sex at a charity gala, only to find out that Thomas is the donor funding Milo's domestic violence shelter refurbishment and they'll have to work together.

Thomas and Milo's romance develops as their project meetings quickly become more like dates. I got nostalgically excited that their first date was at Red Rooster which was the first stop on my honeymoon, and that Thomas lived in a Harlem brownstone right by the one we stayed in, so that added a sweet personal touch to my enjoyment.

Conflict comes when Thomas tries to solve every problem by throwing money at it and making decisions for everyone, and Milo struggles to ask for help and with giving up his fierce independence. The couple tend to get stuck on this issue repeatedly, which was a little frustrating as a reader. But as a relationship therapist I appreciated this and found it pretty realistic - big issues don't just get solved after one talk and people do get stuck repeating their mistakes.

I also appreciated the setting - Milo and Thomas supporting domestic abuse survivors, and the portrayal of how domestic violence had impacted their own families. American Fairytale is a story that really highlights the importance of family, both birth and found, and Milo and his mother's relationship was particularly touching.

American Fairytale doesn't gloss over the challenges to a relationship that come from wealth and class differences, and challenges the traditional romance idea that everyone wants to be rescued by a handsome rich prince. My only reservation is that I wasn't convinced that the couple's issues had been resolved by the end of the book, and I couldn't understand how the big romantic gesture really changed things, so maybe it's more of a HFN than HEA.

3.25 stars. I enjoyed this sophomore efforts from promising author Adriana Herrera but not as much as her debut, American Dreamer. It was a little too sweet, with the two MCs pretty much ga-ga over each other from the get-go. The risks of Milo dating his non-profit organization's mega-donor are briefly raised but then dropped. All of Milo's friends and family love Tom, and vice versa. The only conflict is Tom's annoying habit of throwing money at problems, which finally causes a major blow-up before he redeems himself spectacularly. As with Dreamer, there's plenty of Latino representation and a chance to learn about interesting customs and delicious-sounding food, and unlike Dreamer there's no ridiculously cardboard villain. I would have preferred a little more grit to the story (we don't even see any of the challenges faced by the clients at the domestic violence shelter where Milo works) but if you are looking for a true fairytale, and a "one-percenter" millionaire you can admire, you will not be disappointed.

I liked this even more than American Dreamer. I liked Camilo and Thomas together overall just a tad bit more I think. They worked together so well. I also liked the setup and how the potential problems of the power dynamic were addressed and confronted. It also didn't feel preachy. I really only have one thing that bugged me and that was towards the end. Like always. There's always that one last grasp for drama and conflict and it always irks me. I totally understand why Camilo had an issue with what Thomas did, that it was behind is back. However, I hate that no one held a mirror up to Camilo and called him out on his pride and refusal to ask for or accept help, especially given his job. He of all people should understand that sometimes people need help. I get what he was afraid of and why it was a difficult situation for him, but everyone raked Thomas over the coals and ALL the characters got to voice an opinion on what he did (which wasn't bad, it was how he went about it that was the issue) and I was expecting Camilo's friends to at least be like, "Dude, take a step back, are you upset at him going behind your back or are you upset because this hurts your pride?" and it never happened. I don't like when things feel unbalanced. The story and romance are still great aside from that. I think they were really caring together and made sense for each other. I like that Thomas also spent time alone with Camilo's mother, he forged a separate bond with her. I also appreciate the bond developed between Camilo and Thomas' daughter. I can't wait for the next book. I'm so happy to have found this author.

Another great read from Adriana Herrera. I just love the tight group of NYC friends Herrera has created.. Milo is devoted to his job helping abuse victims get back on their feet. He's also devoted to his mother, who is coping with depression.

Thomas lives the life of luxury, but he's had his own battles. His way of treating his dating partners doesn't mesh well with Milo's independent nature. Milo is proud, too proud at times, and Thomas is used to getting his way.

I liked the contrast between the two characters. There's a hell of a lot of passion between the two, and not always the good kind. They are both strong-willed, stubborn even, and I liked how Herrera crafted their personalities and they way they reacted to each other.

Some of the drama was a little far-fetched for me, but I did enjoy the chemistry between Milo and Thomas and how they eventually work out their differences and misunderstanding. I also enjoyed the theme of family--biological and found. And all the culture! I'm drawn to stories that feature POCs and different cultures, and American Fairytale hit those marks for me.

I'm looking forward to the next installment of Dreamers series.

An excellent second story in this series. I really enjoy stories where the struggles that arise in a relationship come more from personalities rather than external struggles. This novel gave me that and it was well done and didn't disparage either person as they worked together and separately to make their relationship work. This story about being in love not being enough to make a relationship work is well written, with great character development and great use of the city to show the characters differences and similarities. Truly a wonderful story even if you can't necessarily identify with a over the top rich person.

Camilo Santiago Briggs is a social worker with a heart of gold … and a past that leaves him unwilling to trust anything he didn’t earn for himself. Thomas Hughes is a retired billionaire looking to fund worthwhile projects close to his heart.

When the two meet briefly at a gala, there’s undeniable chemistry. When they meet again in a conference room to discuss project logistics, Milo is shocked but sure he can keep things professional. Tom, on the other hand, is looking to be Milo’s Prince Charming.

Super interesting not-a-Cinderella story. Some of this is utterly spectacular and Herrera is a truly gifted writer. Much like in the first book of this series, Herrera has her characters carving out the sorts of spaces they needed but didn’t have as kids. From the queer BIPOC non-profit where Milo works to the project these two collaborate on, a shelter (and so much more) for those fleeing domestic violence, both men are invested in this project for reasons beyond the altruistic and, speaking as someone in the field of non-profit housing and homeless services, Herrera did a great job creating something that isn’t just pandering to the SJW types.

Milo is a gorgeous character and I adored him. He stole every scene he was in. He’s worked hard to get where he is, he believes in the work he’s doing, he’s unapologetically himself, and scrappy af. He struggles with trust but is open to love. He wants this thing with Tom to work, even if there are loads of reasons it isn’t a great idea to pursue, and he does a lot of compromising to make that happen.

The peripheral characters are well-drawn and tons of fun. It was nice to get glimpses of Nesto and Jude and the other folks from book one and we meet some new people that are just as compelling. Milo’s boss and work bestie, Tom’s best friends, and Tom’s kid are all cool people that I’d love to hang out with and I enjoyed the way they brought out different aspects of the main characters. There’s also Tom’s ex-husband, who is mainly there so his invasive pushing puts Tom into some kind of sympathetic light … I think he’s also meant to give Tom a chance to grow and change, though that gambit wasn’t super successful, imo.

Cuz then there’s Tom.

I really struggled with Tom and his need to center himself in everything. I loved that Milo and Tom’s friends had no problem calling him on it … and I hated that he never seemed to understand what the problem was. I especially didn’t appreciate that he couldn’t take Milo’s word for it when a problem was pointed out, but had to have it explained to him in small words by one of his besties. Even with her input, Tom kept not only repeating the same mistake but he escalated each time. Every time was about what he wanted and every time he ignored Milo’s wishes, either unintentionally by trying to be suave and order for him (seriously, though – ordering alcohol for someone else is BEYOND presumptuous, especially at a supposed work meeting you manipulated him into) or blatantly blowing past Milo’s stated boundaries (Can I? No. What if I? No. It’d be so simple if I? No. /smirk/ Did it anyway cuz I know what’s best for you babes … 🤮). He even has the gall to accuse Milo of being the one unwilling to compromise.

So Milo is understandably unhappy when the man he loves doesn’t seem to notice or care about his feelings, and hasn’t even considered the things Milo has done to make this relationship viable. Then Tom “fixes” it with a big romantic gesture that fell pretty flat for me, not only cuz I’m not super into romantic gestures where there’s an established pattern of bad behaviour but cuz I don’t understand why this was so special. Frankly, it seemed more in line with his pattern of not checking in with Milo. I couldn’t help wondering if there wasn’t some way that Tom could’ve found to do it WITH Milo, instead of as some janky surprise.

Honestly, I can’t get excited about a billionaire character that can’t be bothered to give af about the consent of the supposed love of his life. There are enough of those assholes in the world – I want something more in my fantasy. YMMV.

The minute I saw this book was available I grabbed it. Book one, American Dreamer, was so outstanding I knew I’d be in for a treat with more. Could the author top her debut book? Oh yes. Milo’s story is highly entertaining and fulfilled my fantasy of having everyone find Mr. Right to make them happy.

Am I sappy? Yes, I am. But the story made me feel so very good, I simply want to share the experience with others.

Four young men grew up together in New York City. All sons of Caribbean immigrants, the men are of an age to strike out on their own. In American Dreamer, Nesto pursued his dream by taking his food catering business to Ithaca, where he met the man of his dreams. Now, in book two, we spend time with Camilo Santiago Briggs, or Milo to friends and family, a social worker and project manager in a nonprofit that serves victims of domestic abuse.

When he’s assigned as liaison to Thomas Hughes, a wealthy donor who is contributing to renovating the home for women and to funding future projects, he’s thrilled to be chosen. Until he meets the man and realizes he’s the guy he recently hooked up with at a friend’s wedding, and he wants to crawl into a corner and hide out. But Thomas isn’t going to let that happen. He’s smitten with Milo and plans to pursue him until he’s good and ready to walk away.

Milo is attractive, friendly, driven, and fiercely independent. He’s family-oriented, a hard worker, and takes his responsibilities to his mother, his friends, and his job seriously. Born in the Dominican Republic, Thomas is strong, wealthy, goal-driven, and totally head over heels for Milo. He values Milo’s individuality and refuses to give up before finding a way to make their lives mesh.

Just like with American Dreamer, there’s so much to like about this story—the writing, the pace, the interesting Dominican Republic cultural information, the relationship-building, the secondary characters, and the core message of drawing strength from family and friends.

I’m definitely looking forward to more from this author in future. I can’t wait to read stories devoted to Milo’s best friends, Patrice and Juanpa. I very highly recommend this book to all lovers of MM romance, and especially to those who enjoy stories so rich in cultural heritage that readers are inspired to learn more.

Camilo Santiago Briggs doesn't believe in fairy tales. He believes in working hard and making things happen for yourself, a lesson he's learned from his mother and from his career as a New York City social worker.

So when Milo finds out the mystery man he shared the hottest hookup of his life with is in fact billionaire Thomas Hughes, and is in fact going to be funding the project Milo's in charge of at his non-profit job, he is completely skeptical. Knights in shining armor don't exist, and hot men in expensive tuxes who seem to good to be true are exactly that.

But Tom is going to show Milo just how real fairy tales can actually be.

Hot, hot, hot, and so incredibly swoony! I ate up every word of this delicious big city contemporary. I especially love a romance that sees the two main characters hooking up in the first chapters, then fighting their feelings for each other and trying to resist doing it again! Good luck!

Herrera is a talent to watch and her Dreamers series is A+ romance at its finest!

Content warning for discussion of domestic violence, but nothing is on page.

I received a free ARC in exchange for a fair review. Thank you!

Adrianna Herrera is definitely an author to keep an eye on! American Fairytale is another sweet romance that also tackles complex issues; Thomas grapples with his white passing while feeling and being very Dominican, as well as learning money doesn’t solve everything, and Camilo takes care of his mother with depression while also trying to remain independent.

I love Herrera’s writing style and am definitely looking forward to more from her. The characters are complex and the book has great themes of chosen family as well as close blood-family ties.

Camilo and Thomas meet at a gala dinner and the attraction between them is off the charts - leading to the impulsive decision to have sex in the bathroom! When they part ways they believe there’s no way they’ll ever cross paths again, especially because Camilo is a social worker while Thomas had gotten $1,000 plates for himself and two friends at the gala. After the weekend though, with both thinking about their encounter and wishing for a repeat, Camilo is informed by his boss that they have a new donor who wants to help with renovations of a residency program in Harlem - and the meeting ends up being with Thomas again!

Camilo is fiercely independent and has seen what can happen when relying on someone, especially financially. One of his biggest things with Thomas is he doesn’t want his agency compromised and he has no wish to rely on Thomas or his money. This causes them some strain because sometimes Thomas doesn’t think through consequences before using his wealth to make things go his way or what he believes is easier for those he cares about.

I adore the friendships and family dynamics in this book and series. You can so easily see how much impact family has on both Thomas and Camilo, and how much their mothers have influenced them. I also adore the friendship between Camilo and his best friends; Nesto, Juan Paulo, Patrice, and Ayako. They are a great support network and they love each other so much. We also get to see that chosen family with Thomas, Sanjay, Heni, and Priyah, who built the company that made Thomas as rich as he is.

This book also has several themes of survival. Thomas had an aunt come to the states from DR to be with a guy who was abusive, and because she wasn’t English-speaking she wasn’t able to access resources for domestic violence. Camilo’s mother had been in an abusive relationship after the death of his father, and that was definitely one of the pushes that got him into social work. We see so much strength in these characters and I loved the way that history helped them work towards making help more accessible for others.

This book was definitely an excellent read. The class disparity comes up several times and is definitely a point of contention, but the romance between Camilo and Thomas had a great pace and I loved the scenes with Dinorah, Camilo’s mother, and Libertad, Thomas’ daughter. Definitely a hard recommend and one of my favorite aspects of this book is how diverse all the characters are and the ways their individual experiences color their interactions.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, for this free review copy.

After reading and loving American Dreamer last month, I quickly requested American Fairytale, and had high hopes for it.

American Fairytale is a love story about Thomas and Camilo. Camilo is a New York City social worker. Thomas is a billionaire, who becomes a donor, for the shelter project, that is overseen by Camilo. They both met at a previous gala, and were surprised when they had a meeting for the shelter project, together.

As they get to know each other, their feelings grow, quickly. They have a lot to figure out about one another still, but they are determined to make it work.

One thing I love about Adriana Herrera's writing, is that it is so easy to get through. I could have easily finished this book in one sitting, had life not got into the way. I am so excited to read her next book, and continue this series. Herrera's writing is a breath of fresh air. She does such a great job of describing each character!

All in all, I will be patiently waiting for the third book to come out. American Fairytale is available on May 20th!

I love Adrianna Herrera's debut, American Dreamer, which shows Herrera's strong love towards her Caribbean root using the delicious foods. Unfortunately, as a follow-up to that one, American Fairytale fails to entertain me.

Duly noted, maybe I should stop reading romance that involves millionaires because it doesn't seem to end well for me. It usually involves issue of money -- especially if the love interest doesn't share the same social class. The millionaire will be baffled because it's only money, "I GOT ZILLIONS!" while the love interest will feel that the romance is tainted with money, and that he/she loses all control of their relationship. It's no longer an interesting topic for me to read. I prefer to read romance between two working class people, everyday's guys/girls, because it resonates with me better.

Anyway, this trope is what builds American Fairytale. Camilo Santiago Briggs is a New York City social worker who works with survivors of domestic abuse. Thomas Hughes is a billionaire who becomes a donor for shelter project, overseeing by Milo. Yes, there's attraction between them, but there's also that question about "imbalance power". MAYBE, it can be something interesting to read, unfortunately, the things that Herrera brings into the story are all seem passé to me -- like, I've read these scenes many times in the yesteryear.

I am not very much amused with how Tom doesn't seem to understand that by simply "ordering tickets, ordering menu, and buying a whole building" in regards to Milo, is taking Milo's control from under his feet. Trust me, I will be quite angry with Tom in real life if he does the same with me.

However, I'm also not prone to Milo's drama llama. So, yes, I'm already not a fan of the trope, and I'm not inspired by these two men. Which is quite a shame, because Milo's occupation really intrigues me. I wish that I can read more interactions between Milo and the survivors.

On the positive note, I still love how Herrera includes strong diversity in her stories -- be it characters or explanation of cultures. I still look forward to further story coming from her. Currently, book #3 has yet title or release date. But rest assured, I'll be reading that one as well :)

POV ~> Dual first-person

The cover shows a single male wearing a long-sleeve t-shirt with a fiery sunset sky in the background. Nothing truly noteworthy. The white font is almost lost against the shirt. The only reason it caught my attention was that I was browsing upcoming releases by Carina Press and read the synopsis.

This story is more angsty nuance than fairytale romance, in my opinion. Throughout the book, the bilingual dialogue is repeated in English (which is beneficial to those that do not know enough Spanish but feels somewhat redundant after a while).
Camilo and Tom met at a charity gala, where Camilo dragged Tom into a Powder Room for a quickie.
Then, Camilo’s agency is selected to receive a HUGE donation… courtesy of Tom, though Tom does not know that Camilo is the point of contact for the agency he’s donating to.
They can’t keep away from one another regardless of how they try or what they tell themselves. It doesn’t help that their friends are encouraging this relationship. Both men have some hangups and issues. A preschooler from a previous marriage and parents are included in the cast of secondary characters. Libe cracked me up and I think she was my favorite… sadly, I think I enjoyed her rant post-Lemur best.
I really wanted to love this story but it just felt heavy and seemed to drag on forever. The writing was clean and the plot moved well, but the content and interactions were just too much angsty drama for me to truly enjoy.
Predictability was low. The conclusion was satisfying, living up to the Carina Press Romance Promise of an HEA/HFN ending.
.
Rating: [R] ~ Score: 3.95 ~ Stars: 4
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⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from @Netgalley and the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review - nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". ***** ⭐ ⭐

I loved this so much! The dynamic between Milo and Tom is so great-the instant connection followed by “oops, we have to work together now.” How they prove to each other that they are perfect for each other was a wonderful journey to read.

Thank you Carina and NetGalley for the ARC!

Enjoyed this one less than book 1. Longer review to come here and on GR (will post before release date and will cross post to AMZ).

Camilo is a social worker that attends a very expensive charity event by his boss where he catches the eye of an older handsome stranger. Needless to say sparks fly between the two, . A wealthy donor gives his organization a very hefty donation to build a center for women and their families fleeing domestic abuse. Naturally the wealthy donor named Tom is the man Camilo could not resist from the party.
I loved how the novel was steeped in culture and tradition and getting to know more of the couples background was fascinating to me.
My issues were how someone with Camilo's high work ethics, who feared getting further involved with Tom once he was the social worker assigned to this project seemed off since he had no issues having an extremely intimate moment with him in a VERY public setting.
Camilo could not accept help when needed even when he was making himself physically sick but that was not a major problem for me as everyone has their quirks in life.. Camilo was very hard on Tom but then again he was hard on himself and habits are difficult to change. I am happy I did not stop reading mid way. and glad I continued. The story line did capture me and I enjoyed this authors style of writing. I know I will read more works from her.

** Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book. **

DNF at 50%

Unfortunately, this book and I didn't get along as well as I hoped we would, but let me start by saying that I think it's purely a matter of personal preference. I have seen a lot of people thoroughly enjoying <b> American Fairytale</b>, so I recommend you take a look at other reviews or give the book a shot to decide for yourself.

For instance, I really loved the diversity in the book, and I found Camilo's mom (and her background story) so interesting. I loved that there were a lot of characters of colour, LGBT+ characters, and a lot of immigrant stories as I felt it reflects reality pretty well with all its diversity. I also found it so interesting learning about the characters' respective Cuban and Dominican cultures and hearing their parents' stories, especially as I am a first generation immigrant myself.

I think my main issue with the book is that I was more interested in some of the side characters than I was in the main ones. I liked Camilo from the get-go, but I didn't connect with Tom or his and Camilo's romance, and the pacing of the story didn't capture me. One other thing I didn't like was being constantly told by multiple characters how great Tom is, when I would much rather be shown that to make the judgement for myself. The sex scenes also didn't read well for me at all, and I'll admit that it put me off the book very early on.

Regardless of that, there were some good elements to the book overall so I would suggest you give it a read and see if it suits you better than it did me.