This book has some of my favorite tropes:
Marriage of convenience
Second Chance Romance
High school sweethearts
The accidentally getting married in Vegas part of it reminded me of Ross and Rachel in Friends!
I loved the character development and seeing both our MMC and FMC grow!
I didn't really love the miscommunication part ( why they broke up ) and the pacing could be a little more faster ( at least for me! ) but overall this was an enjoyable read!

This was cute! I’m not convinced they’ll be able to make it work in the long run — bc Violet and Xavier’s jobs are so different — but I liked it. And it was a happy-enough ending. If you’re looking for a cutesy POC romance, this might fit the bill for you.

The Partner Plot is a fun second-chance romance between two high school sweethearts who end up trapped in a fake marriage (as you do) after a fun night in Vegas. I enjoyed this book immensely. I see a lot of potential in the author, Kristina Forest, and I will be on the lookout for Iris and Angel’s sequel, which should be in the works!! The beginning felt a little clunky, but I think the story would have benefitted from more flashbacks later on instead of the long setup at the beginning. It felt almost like a YA book for a while due to the extended flashback at the front. Still a solid book, but I would have preferred the story to be structured that way.

Regarding steam levels, there are multiple spicy scenes (relatively short) with descriptive but nothing extremely graphic, so I’d give it 3 out of 5 spicy peppers if you are experienced in reading spicy stuff but could see it being closer to 4 out of 5 for those not accustomed to spice. Overall, I highly recommend trying this book and will be waiting for Angel and Iris’s sequel. I mean, a brainiac Single Mom living in the suburbs and an upcoming R&B Star? The story writes itself!

After reading Forest's last romance The Neighbor Favor, I was excited to read Violet's story. This was a great second chance romance between high school sweethearts Violet and Xavier. Who doesn't love a Vegas wedding/marriage of convenience trope? I loved seeing how they navigated their relationship and got over the hurt from their college breakup. Another winner from Forest and I can't wait to read Iris's story next!

I'm typically not into friends to lovers, but this high school sweethearts to enemies-to-lovers back to lovers, really hit the spot for me!

I was obsessed with THE NEIGHBOR FAVOR and was excited to read the remaining sisters' love stories and Kristina knocked it out of the park!

After surviving a public breakup, Violet, a celebrity stylist, runs into Xavier, her high school sweetheart and former basketball star aka the one that broke her heart. A night of reckless fun finds them both in bed the next morning with wedding bands on their fingers. Once the initial shock wears off, they realize this situation could help both of their careers. So they decide to play the role of happy newlyweds.

There is so much to love in this story. To really give the reader the context into Violet and Xavier's relationship, Kristina gives the reader a prologue that gives flashbacks to their relationship in high school. This is essential to understanding what went wrong and the connection they shared in high school. Violet is determined not to fall in love with Xavier again, but of course, the more time they spend together, they can't help but have all of their feelings for each other rekindled.

Violet and Xavier's story is grounded and real. I think their relationship and its progression is very relatable and you can't help but root for them.

If you want a BIPOC contemporary romance with depth, you'll love this one!

Thanks to NetGalley & Berkley Romance for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

"Partner Plot" by Kristina Forest left me feeling conflicted with a rating of 2.5 stars. While I struggled with the second chance romance aspect of the story, I can't help but feel that my experience might have been influenced by my mood at the time of reading. I would definitely consider giving this book another chance in the future.

The novel follows two former high school sweethearts, Violet and Xavier, who unexpectedly reunite during a birthday trip to Vegas. After a wild night of celebration, they wake up to find themselves married. Despite the initial shock, they decide to make the most of their impulsive nuptials and agree to a marriage of convenience to benefit their respective careers.

While the premise held promise, I found myself grappling with the execution of the romance plot. Despite the chemistry between Violet and Xavier, I struggled to fully connect with their relationship dynamics. However, I appreciated the exploration of their individual career aspirations and how their marriage impacted their professional lives.

An upbeat and heartwarming romantic comedy! Especially enjoyed the rich character development and how good the two are as a couple. They actively make each other better.

Violet Greene is a successful celebrity stylist, living her dream in the fashion world. Xavier Wright, on the other hand, feels a bit stuck in his career as a teacher and coach. When the former high-school sweethearts power couple cross paths again years later, the chemistry crackles and the fuzzies warm, leading to a whirlwind romance filled with ups and downs.

I adored Violet and Xavier's dynamic – they're both career-driven, relatable and downright lovable. Their balance and mutual respect make their connection feel genuine and endearing, and you can’t help but root for them. And can we take a moment to appreciate the maturity and communication between them? Love. It.

What sets this book apart is its refreshing lack of the dreaded third-act breakup. Which we * are * here * for *. You might be wondering, what even is the point of a romance with no drama-filled escalation of conflict in the form of a heart-wrenching “we just don’t work” moment? Fair thought. But unwarranted. The author didn’t need to rely on that cliched formula (no shade, we love cliches and formulas!!). Forest paints a picture of a real, everyday, romance. Where love and romance are put to the test by the conflicts we’ve all had to face at one point or another: navigating friendships, hustling for the career you want, setting familial boundaries, literally just figuring out where to live, etc. The kind of stuff that can lead to death by a thousand cuts for couples who are unable to figure out how to be lovers and partners.

So, no, there’s no moment where they call it quits because some crazy shit happened. There isn’t a second shoe waiting to drop. It’s just two people navigating adulthood and choosing to be partners every day, especially in the face of life’s beauty and everyday bullshit.

Overall, this was a blend of second-chance romance, fake dating, and lifelong dreams. If you're in the mood for a feel-good love story with characters you'll fall head over heels for, grab a copy of The Partner Plot ASAP!

I really enjoyed The Partner Plot by Kristina Forest. I like that we get a glimpse into Violet and Xavier's past with them first meeting and dating in high school. I'm a big fan of showing rather than telling and I feel that the start of this book really succeeded with that. The chemistry between the MCs is there from the start and I love the tattoos that link them together, suggesting to the reader from the start that their story isn't over. After being absent from each other's lives for 9 years, Violet and Xavier run into each other in Vegas of all places. A night out with lots of drinking and dancing leads to drunken shenanigans and sets the two on a path of fake marriage and forced proximity in the town where they first met -- where Violet's whole family still lives and Xavier is now a beloved fixture as a high school teacher/assistant basketball coach. Both characters have found success in their adult lives but only one is on the path they were aiming for as kids and that becomes a big part of the story. It's not only a romance but a story about dreams and success, showing that the path to success takes many different forms and that dreams can grow and change. There are a bunch of fun side characters and I especially love how invested Xavier's students are in his life. This is a fantastic second chance romance that really delves into topics like burnout, feelings of unworthiness, difficult parental relationships, and balancing your career with romance and life outside of work.

Read if you like:
- high school sweethearts
- second chance romance
- fashion
- fake relationships
- forced proximity
- dual POV
- only one bed

I was very excited to hear that Kristina Forest will writing a book about Iris and Angel! She gives the reader a hint that they would be next towards the end of this book.

Thank you Berkley Romance for the advance digital copy via NetGalley that I have voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This book is out now.

ⒷⓄⓄⓀ ⓇⒺⓋⒾⒺⓌ 📚🎧
🌟🌟🌟

I’ve had this book for a while and finally got around to it. This was my first book by the author. I really liked it till the 50 percent mark,Then the plot seemed drag for me. I kept reading because I had to see how this whole crazy scenario would play out. Again I was hooked from beginning to the midway point. The chemistry between Xavier and Violet is undeniable even years later. I was hoping for more from the storyline. At a certain point I felt like the story became more career focused than romance. The character development was pretty good. The narration done by @theaurenash and @benjamincharlesvoice was well done. They did a great job with Violet and Xavier POV, it made for easy and fun listening. I was cheering for them! I’m Team healthy black couple & marriage 👏🏾.

🆂🆄🅼🅼🅰🆁🆈
💓 high school sweethearts
💔bad breakup
➡️career driven,
🍻drunken Vegas wedding
💒 fake marriage to further careers

Thank you to the author and @prhaudio for an ARC & free ALC of this book.

🏷️#thepartnerplot #romance #fakemarriage #prhaudioinfluencer #prhaudio #romancebooks #blackauthors #drbooksreads #books #read

“He’d waited nine years to find her again. He could wait a little longer.”

Violet and Xavier. Former high school sweethearts that haven’t seen each other in 9 years coincidentally ended up being in Vegas at the same time, and drunkenly gets married.

I honestly had the hardest time getting into this book that I took a lot of breaks and it put me in a reading slump. I think the 3rd person POV + long chapters made me uninterested but I powered through even though it took me a month to read this.

💒READ IF YOU LIKE💒:
- dual POV
- celebrity stylist x basketball coach
- second chance romance
- fake engagement
- only one bed
- high school sweethearts
- forced proximity: roommates
- he takes care of her
- marriage of convenience
- “it’s always been you”

cw: mention of parents divorce, infidelity, sports injury

Thank you @berkleyromance for the advanced copy! The Partner Plot is now available!

I love when a messy premise ends up having a rational and well-paced story behind it.

Violet and Xavier are highschool sweethearts whose hearts have never veered in affection from each other in the ten years since their break up. Violet is a workaholic following her dreams in the fashion industry, Xavier struggles with feeling like he peaked in high school. The two run into each other one night in Vegas, and what happens (a fake marriage) ends up NOT staying in Vegas. As the two decide to enter a fake marriage, Kristina Forest gently has them navigate many feelings I think older readers in their late 20's would appreciate: grappling with major burn out, comparisons to others, feeling unworthy. Despite all this, Violet and Xavier's affection for each other encompass the PARTNER in The Partner Plot, and the two make a lovely team.

I liked this one a lot more than I did The Neighbor Favor, and am glad to have given Kristina Forest a second chance!

absolutely loved this book so much!!!the perfect second chance romance between two high school sweethearts. perfect for anyone who loves vegas weddings, small town and big city vibes, and my favorite…marriage of convenience. also i want to mention that these two had such a health communication style that i truly appreciated. it felt mature and real

One of those books where a little more communication would have made it 100 pages shorter, but I still liked it. Violet and Xavier had their own lives going when they reconnect, and figuring out if and how to merge them back together was a fun read.

Teenage sweethearts & a drunken Vegas wedding…seems to be a popular trope this spring! Years after a breakup with her high school sweetheart, Violet is making it big as a celebrity stylist. When she’s in Vegas for work, the last thing she expects is to run into her old flame, Xavier…or to wake up the next morning after a crazy night of drinking with rings on their fingers. Aside from the initial panic, being married may have its benefits for both…to save her reputation & help him get a job. How long until the feelings rekindle though — and who will get caught in the crossfire?
This was a fun romcom rooted around high school sweethearts and second chances. Thank you to Berkley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Partner Plot was a cool journey through friendship, romance, and the complexities of following your dreams. As a fan of Kristina's previous work, The Neighbor Favor (5 stars from me, one of my top reads of 2023) I was drawn to her signature writing style, which effortlessly weaves together heartwarming moments and captivating storytelling. Throughout the book, I found myself rooting for Violet and Xavier's budding romance, yearning for that magical happily ever after. While the story didn't quite go in the direction I had hoped, it still delivered a refreshing narrative of Black love without unnecessary trauma, reminding readers that we deserve fun, exciting love stories too. With its engaging plot and endearing characters, The Partner Plot is a must-read for anyone seeking a charming and uplifting tale of love and friendship. Will be recommending to friends.

I devoured this romantic comedy about two high school sweethearts--who haven't seen or spoken to one another in almost ten years--who accidentally reconnect, then are forced to pretend to be engaged. It thoughtfully explores how dream jobs can be not as dreamy as we want them to be, the way we grow and change, family relationships, how to come back from disappointing ourselves, and so much more. A treat for any romance lover!

If a prologue set in high school is the entire basis for two people pushing thirty to be together I'm gonna have to pass on rooting for the couple.

It's not even that this is a bad book, I just don't understand how this relationship is supposed to work...

Violet is a stylist, her career is on the rise and when she thinks that her recent split with her fiance is gonna jeopardize being in a forbes 30 under 30 esque list she pulls out this fake marriage to her high school sweetheart to save her. Only this leads to everyone in her small town finding out that the couple everyone used to think would get together finally did so under everyone's noses. It's also sort of working in Xavier's favor when the head coach at the University he wants to start working at makes some boldly illegal comments about not hiring single people so with a fake marriage under his belt maybe he can leave his high school English teaching job behind.

Nothing quite works out the way you think it would. The story makes it clear pretty early on that the red flags present during the interview with the illegal questions was only the beginning of what would be a pretty shitty boss. Violet spends most of the book with a broken ankle so that her and Xavier are forced to spend time together in town that Violet left at the first opportunity. While the pair might have had chemistry in high school, and they might even have something in the present, their lives are not compatible and Xavier isn't in any kind of position to let it be known what he wants out of life. In almost every way it feels like he is dragging her down, something he seems to be worried about doing, but Violet insists at every turn isn't the case.

The small town feel was cozy, but ultimately this felt like a couple that peaked in high school and never offered any compelling reason for me to want to see them work out in the present.

High school sweethearts who run into each other again and "accidentally get married in Vegas." They broke up in college and haven't kept in touch since, her life is going the way she planned and his very much is not. I love second chance and I love "oops we got drunkenly married in Vegas" tropes so this was an enjoyable read, but nothing particularly memorable for me.

Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for my copy to review.

The Partner Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 stars

I loved Violet and Xavier. A beautiful second chance romance, which is not something I say bc second chance is not my favorite trope. But this novel convinced me otherwise. The intimate knowledge these high school sweethearts had with each other was beautiful. I loved seeing Violet’s growth from the first story to this one, and while her sisters weren’t as involved in this story, the instances where they were, was hilarious. Xavier felt a bit like an enigma- the basketball star whose life didn’t go according to plan. But his love for Violet shone the brightest and the community he built around him was something special.