I loved the first book and was excited to see the second available. I loved it as well. Such a fun story. I love the crossover of characters. One I could listen to many times.

The perfect example of how great a friends-to-more romance can be!

Lana Mae and Carter met 10 years ago and he slipped into the role of her supporting best friend just as easily as he slipped into the role of one of the hottest Hollywood stars. There wasn't any of that internal agonizing of whether or not to take things to the next level or to leave things as they are, and I loved that--especially when they unexpectedly find themselves fake engaged, and if anyone knows me, fake relationships are one of my very favorite tropes. Lana Mae is slightly insecure in the love department, but fiercely loyal when it comes to her daughter, and that hit home.

Katie Bailey knows how to write a great cast of characters, from spunky Allegra (aka Legs) to a hilarious assistant (Anthony) to a fantastic romantic couple with all the sparks and chemistry of an extremely flammable material. One kiss equals a swoony explosion!

This is the perfect story for fans of:
👄secret crushes
👄single parent
👄Gilmore Girls references
👄Taylor Swift references
👄closed door SWOON!!
👄celebrity and regular girl
👄a famous Chris 😉
👄forced proximity with one bed
👄fake engagement
👄he falls first

From start to finish, I was hooked and invested. I loved the whole Donovan family, the connections, the banter, and the natural progression. Bailey hit spot on the insecurities and challenges that would result from a situation such as this and I'm a fan, with sparkly unicorn gear and all.

Content: mild+ romance (kissing, some innuendo); mild+ language; talk of teen pregnancy/partying/cheating

This book made me laugh kept me invested from start to finish. It was a classic, wholesome, fake- dating, rom-com love story.

I LOVED the references throughout the book about Gilmore girls and Team Jess!

You can feel the chemistry between the characters from the words on the page. The author did an incredible job at giving readers a swoon worthy, romantic story of best friend turned lovers.

This book is perfect readers who enjoy Lucy Score and Christina Lauren books!

I received this ARC via NetGalley and Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.

I was a big fan of the first book in the Donovan Family series “So That Happened” and was thrilled to see a second book. So That Happened was one of those books that I finished and immediately purchased for my wife. I Think He Knows will be the same thing! It’s already purchased. 

This is a story of friends to lovers which is a trope that I find myself getting tired of but in this book it was actually refreshing. This was not a typical friends to lovers. Lana Mae met Carter on one of the worst nights of her life and Carter was there for her as a friend. 

Through the years they stayed friends. Carter is now a famous actor but he needs to rebuild his image after an altercation at a bar. This leads to him and Lana being fake engaged. Over the years they both have had feelings for each other but never acted on them. They both didn’t act because they were being too selfless. They were afraid of holding the other back. Their actions and their chemistry was fantastically written. 

I loved it when the whole Donovan family (minus their dad) were around. Their family group chat is something every family should want. The characters in the family were already established in the first book and this entry elevated them and made them even better. Since I read the first book, I loved Liam and Annie so I wanted more of them in this book. However, their absence in the story made their presence even better when they were there. 

I don’t know who we can follow for book three but I just I am hoping for a book three.

I loved this book so much.

Carter is so swoony. Lana is so relatable.

If you’re a fan of Jess and Rory from Gilmore Girls, celebrity romances, friends to lovers and perfect books, than you need this one.

Quick Summary: A forever, for real love story

My Review: I Think He Knows by Katie Bailey is book two in the Donovan Family series.

About the Book: Ten years ago, two strangers met at a party. They noticed each other, they irritated each other, and they connected with each other. They became the best of friends. They stood by each other...through thick and thin. When life circumstances changed for each of them, things took a dramatic turn, and their relationship was altered for all time.

The Question of the Day: What happens when best friends secretly long for more?

My Final Say: Gold stars and happy hearts are floating in the air because of this book. This is a love story done well. I generously give this novel my hearty applause.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA to A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Audiobook: Yes
Series: Yes
Status: Clean
Level: 💓

Sincere appreciation and heartfelt thanks is extended to the author, to the publisher (Dreamscape Media), and to NetGalley, who provided access to an audio ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

This enchanting book prominently features a famous singer, someone whose fame may vary among readers. It masterfully weaves their presence into the narrative, enhancing the overall story. Alongside this, the themes of friendship blossoming into love and children finding the happiness they deserve unfold beautifully.

The transition from friendship to love in this story is tender and relatable, drawing readers into the lives of the characters. Witnessing the children's growth and newfound joy is a testament to resilience and hope.

The book's inclusion of a well-known singer, whose identity is readily apparent, adds an exciting dimension to the narrative. It's a delightful element that keeps the story engaging throughout.

Above all, this book celebrates the enduring significance of friendship and love. The genuine connections between the characters resonate deeply, leaving a lasting impression. For those who cherish tales of human connection and the joys of life, this book is an absolute gem.

4.5⭐️This rom com combines four of my all time favorite things: best friends, fake dating, a hot celebrity and a single parent. I was full on grinning the whole way through and couldn’t get enough of the swoony MMC. If you read So That Happened (which is not necessary to understand this standalone), it was nice to see the the Donovan clan back together and all of their shenanigans/ text chats. Also, Legs (the FMCs 9 year old daughter) brought some much life and joy into the story!

Read if you like:
-Best friends to lovers
-Fake dating
-Celebrity romance
-Single mom
-Gillmore girls references (especially Rory and Jesse)
-He falls first
-Kissing only/ fade to black
-Atlanta setting