Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the e-ARC and early finished copy. All opinions are honest and my own.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars (rounded up)

TW: infidelity (not between the main couple), near-miss car accident, broken ankle/recovery, sports injury, professional burnout, overbearing mother

Rep: Black love (aka both romantic leads are Black), healthy sister dynamics, fashion industry, high school educator/coach

I wanted to start off by clarifying that THE PARTNER PLOT is the second book in a “trilogy” of interconnected standalones. THE NEIGHBOR FAVOR is the first book. I did not read these in order, as THE PARTNER PLOT, was the first one I read. While there were references to the other sisters and relationships, your reading experience is not hindered at all. I do plan to go back and read THE NEIGHBOR FAVOR, because I had a fun time with this one. The third book is coming in 2025, but read them how you want.

Okay, so basically this is a second chance romance, which can sometimes be hit or miss for me. However this one worked because, a) they were high school sweethearts (how precious) and; b) they broke up as teenagers and the reasoning why simply shows lack of maturity and was a practical circumstance. This is important because it enables the reader to root for their reunion, instead of some second chance romances that mark you want to scream at the main characters to run for the hills.

So enter in Violet, our fashionable, jet setting stylist, who is based in New York but travels wherever her clients and the industry calls her to. She has an unhealthy work life balance, as she strives to continue climbing the ladder of success and achieve her childhood dreams. Then we have Xavier, our star high school basketball player, to returned high school English teacher and Associate basketball coach. He dumped her when they were in college, but when they have a chance encounter in Vegas, their spark is undeniable.

Despite what the cover presents, a very small, yet pivotal part of this story takes place in Sin City. Wires get crossed, nuptials may or may not be exchanged and Violet and Xavier find each other wrapped up in each others worlds after nine years apart. So, can I say having a FMC the same age as me felt cozy. Hearing about what was trending when she was in high school and realizing our timelines were the same felt like I was following the story of a potential friend. This rarely happens to me when I’m reading, so if you’re in the same boat as me, it’ll feel (maybe?) nostalgic and relatable.

What I really appreciated about our two lovebirds was how self-aware and reflective they are. Truly an emotionally mature couple, while flawed, as all humans are, they really do strive to be better as individuals and as a couple. It was also refreshing to see the male lead having insecurities and not be the one with the star studded career. They both are on different paths and find fulfillment in their communities and professions, but they have to navigate what that looks like for them. There is this theme that love prevails, which may not work for some readers, but felt authentic to the characters Forrest created.

I know some people aren’t a fan of dual-POV romance stories, but I genuinely enjoyed Xavier’s voice. I think this is aided by the characters being career focused. So while this is a romance, we are following to characters at pivotal moments in their careers. Violet is struggling to keep her career from being the sole focus of her life and Xavier is battling with accepting what he has and feeling like he needs to do “more” or have a certain title to show the world he’s made it. Seeing them as individuals and not just as a couple gave them their own identity. This provided a storyline that felt relative to struggles today of working couples, even if the average couple might not have the disparities or struggles.

At moments the pacing felt a little lagging, as we do rehash some of the same themes over and over, since you know characters hardly ever community enough in romances. However, I enjoyed their respective industries, seeing the small town setting, the positive impact a good teacher can make, and the dynamics of the fashion industry from a stylist’s purview.

This was an enjoyable and overall healthy romance read. If you enjoy contemporary romances, would definitely recommend giving this one a try.

The Partner Plot is perfect for those who want a second chance romance book which really sinks into the why. Why didn't they work out? Forest is committed to the character growth. It's about that fierce quick consuming powerful love we have as teens. But it's also about the knowledge that relationships take work and commitment. It means showing up for someone on their hard days. It's also the knowledge that people change and this new person, while we see the echoes of the old, is someone else.

Thank you Berkley for the eARC of this book! This book was adorable from start to finish. The plot was very unique and I am a sucker for second chance and fake dating, so this book was right up my alley. I absolutely love Kristina's writing, and will continue to read every book she releases!!

This one was just okay for me, which made me sad! I love a second chance romance, but something about this one just didn't hit for me.

This book was definitely cute and I was absolutely invested in the characters and their happiness, but the pacing of this romance felt weird. I didn't like that the couple didn't get together until she was already done staying with him. It felt like the timing of everything was awkward.

I also wanted more from the Vegas component! I think it would have made the stakes much higher and made the book more exciting if they had actually gotten married versus the fake wedding they actually had. It kind of felt like a cop out!

I will read the other books in this series because I liked her writing style and I'm willing to give her another chance, but this one just didn't give me everything I wanted!

I! LOVED! THIS! I liked Violet in The Neighbor Favor so I was excited to read her story and it did not disappoint!

I love a good second chance romance and I really enjoyed this one. I like that Violet and Xavier communicated and shared their feelings and their chemistry- whew! The prologue set up their relationship perfectly and got me as invested as if I'd read an entire book about their time as high school sweethearts.

I loved reading about Violet's career as a stylist- it's something I've never read in a romance before and it was a lot of fun. Kristina Forest does secondary characters so well- even if they only appear every once in awhile, they're unique and well fleshed out. And if you know me, you know I love a fake dating/marriage storyline and this one really hit.

I really really enjoyed this book! Thank you so much to Netgalley and Berkley romance for the arc!

The Partner Plot was such a cute romance for the month of February. I felt like I could really connect with the characters in their small town life because I grew up in the Philly suburbs (not in New Jersey, but still close to where the characters are from!)

I am a sucker for a good second chance romance as well as a childhood lovers and fake dating, so this one hit the spot for me! The banter was os funny and I truly fell in love with these characters and their relationship!

Everyone needs to check this out when it releases on Feb 27!

I’ve come to the conclusion that the world needs more “oops we accidentally got married” books!! This one’s a Black romance featuring a celebrity stylist and a high school English teacher/basketball coach. I loooooved that pairing, especially since it was a second chance and I loved seeing them reconnect as adults.

They’d obviously both changed a lot since they were in high school, so they not only fell back in love, but became friends again! The heroine gets injured and has to stay in her small town for a while, which is yet ANOTHER set-up I love. Add in the sick scene we got and it was romcom perfection.

As for the audiobook, both narrators did a great job. I liked their performance a lot better than book one! Their voices went well together, and they performed each other’s characters well too. It was a very quick listen, as I got through it in a day.

Keep reading but there’s a spoiler I have to talk about—it’s not major but be warned

✨

Okay! So yes, I still stand by my “we need more ‘oops we accidentally got married’ trope” position, but this book isn’t even quite that. Basically they had the typical Vegas night that they couldn’t remember at first, but it turns out that they only got fake married. I waited for the “just kidding you’re actually married” bit to happen, but it never did. This turned the book into a fake relationship situation, since being “married” had its advantages for a few reasons for them.

Since they did end up faking the marriage anyways I wasn’t angry, but I was definitely a bit sad because I do love that trope! But it was still a very fun and sexy second-chance romance. I was very pleasantly surprised by the third act as well. Since I Ioved both The Neighbor Favor and now The Partner Plot, Kristina Forest has easily solidified her spot on my auto-read list! I’m already very excited about the pairing for the next book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶️.75*/5

*Definitely the low end of spice, but there was still one open-door scene.



Thanks so much to PRH audio for an ALC and Berkley Romance for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC! I felt sort of neutral on The Neighbor Favor but I thought the premise for this book sounded more my taste and I love interconnected friend group romances and second chance romances!

This book didn’t feel entirely like a romance to me, the relationship wasn’t as developed as I would have liked and while I did enjoy the book, it wasn’t my favorite. I think if you love second chance romance and very much enjoyed The Neighbor Favor you’ll enjoy this!

The Partner Plot is definitely going to make my 2024 favorite list. All the things that you could worry about were addressed most lovingly and thoughtfully. Kudos to Forest for writing a small town where the characters still see value in staying, and where pursuing your dreams does not automatically come at the risk of your relationship. Oh the cherry on top is a MMC who learns to communicate what he's thinking, his needs, and fears. Xavier IS book-boyfriend material (and he wears glasses). A 9/10year separation meant they had to relearn each other but the love they had for each other was central to making the relationship work. I love how Xavier listened to his mother about what it takes to be in a successful happy relationship. And I can point out that she was a single mom who absolutely was living her truth. I wanted more of her on page but she shined whenever she popped in. Overall, just a sweet long-angst read and I'm so happy I had the opportunity to read it before release day.

The Partner Plot is a fun, fast read with loads of charm. It’s easily one of the best second-chance-at-love stories I’ve ever read.

High school sweethearts Xavier Wright and Violet Greene live big. They are the coolest, sexiest kids at their school, and their breakups and makeups are legendary. Their relationship is combustible - the chemistry between them burns hot and heavy non-stop, sometimes flaring up into their infamous fights but never burning out. They dream just as big as they love. Xavier plans to be the next great basketball star, Violet plans to take over the fashion world.

That they aren’t great at the long-distance thing doesn’t surprise either of them once they are at separate colleges, but everything else about the experience does. Violet, never a good student, finds her niche and becomes one of the brightest stars on campus, while Xavier, the kid everyone just knew would shine, finds himself bench-sitting his freshmen year and injured and out of the game by Christmas, his sophomore year. Determined not to be what holds his girl back, he breaks up with Violet and allows her to move on and move up.

And move up, she does. Fast forward ten years: Violet is a celebrity stylist on the shortlist for a coveted position on the thirty under thirty list of Look magazine, an industry standard. She is with Karamel Kitty in Vegas, attending an opening at a swanky new club and ensuring her client is at her most fabulous as she is seen and photographed by all the right people when she runs into Xavier again. Time falls away and from the very first moment they dance, she finds herself enthralled once more.

This scene isn’t Xavier’s life. He wouldn’t be at the club at all, but he’d won a room at the luxury resort in Vegas and treated himself and his cousin to a wild weekend getaway. As a high school teacher, he’s become Mr. Sedate and Responsible. But seeing Violet has brought to the surface the charming, reckless side of himself he has kept suppressed for over a decade. The two drink and dance the evening away - and wake up married.

Fortunately, a double check of their marriage certificate shows theirs was a fake wedding, and the rings on their fingers are cheap plastic. They agree to go their separate ways and put it all behind them. But when Violet is doing her interview for the coveted cover spot with Look magazine, her lying, cheating ex comes up, and she finds herself claiming she’s happily married in order to put the discussion back on track. She hopes no one she knows outside the fashion world will read the thing, but of course, life never works that way,

Xavier is stunned to find himself congratulated for marrying Violet when he returns to work. He gives vague answers and vacant smiles to everyone’s excitement, anxious to talk to Violet and see what she is thinking when he gets the phone call. The one he’s been waiting for that will offer him a chance to move to college coaching. The university hadn’t thought a bachelor, especially of the kind that Xavier had been while he was on their campus in his heyday, was the kind of guy they wanted on staff. But the new, responsible Xavier looked good on paper, and the addition of a wedding ring shows them he’s finally settled down. Violet, too, finds being married is helping her professionally, and they both decide to give it a few months, put on a good show of being together, and cash in on the possibilities it represents before going their separate ways. It’s the perfect plot, exactly the kind of bold move they used to utilize back in high school until they realize they hadn’t considered how much the spark between them has rekindled. When it comes time to let go, will they really be able to part yet again?

There is so much I loved about this novel. One of the best things is how the author uses her unrealistic plot point (being married is good for a career in the 21st century) realistically. It is made clear that the university coach demeaning Xavier as a singleton is being a jerk and providing him with fodder for a lawsuit. It is also made clear why Xavier is willing to put up with it; he doesn’t feel he has a lot of options to be promoted, and he sees this as his best chance. With Violet, we also see some practical applications to her wanting to be married. It’s almost impossible to use this trope effectively in a contemporary novel, but the author really does hit it out of the ballpark here.

Another positive is the maturity shown by both Violet and Xavier. I like stories about grownups who aren’t hot messes but actually know how to hold jobs, get themselves fed, and basically function as human beings. Xavier and Violet are both invested in their careers and put in the time necessary to build them. Violet’s job has especially demanding hours, and I appreciated how she is reflective enough to question how she would find time for someone like Xavier, who is based in a small town for most of the year. Major kudos to the author for showing both the good things about small towns and small-town living without in any way disparaging big cities and the high-powered careers of some of the people who live in them. Violet doesn’t see the people in her hometown as more caring, kind etc. (and not all of them are depicted in that light) than her successful friends and clients, which makes a refreshing change for most romances (and Hallmark Christmas movies). She also doesn’t tank or discredit everything she has built because of love.

Another wonderful aspect is how the author shows growth in both characters from their teenage selves while still maintaining the core of who they are. Violet is still impetuous, fashion-oriented, and a touch volatile, but she has also tempered all those characteristics with some self-reflection and maturity. She understands more clearly what she wants and what she will and won’t sacrifice to get it. Xavier is learning to be happy with the person he has become, which is so different than the person he hoped to be. He recognizes the mistakes he’s made along his path to adulthood and has worked to improve himself. I loved that as a teenager, he is all bluster and bravado and that the hallmark of his adulthood is meaningful, genuine communication.

The Partner Plot is a fabulous tale about how two people living vastly different lives can make long-distance love work. I would recommend it to fans of contemporary romance.

3.5⭐️ I find I always enjoy Kristina Forest’s writing, so as soon as I saw she had a new book releasing, I knew it would be a must read. Also, it has a pink cover!

What I enjoyed so much about this book is how the author takes formulaic romance plots and turns them on their head. Typically in romance, it is the mmc who is the uber successful one. In THE PARTNER PLOT, it is the fmc who lives out her dreams, while our mmc must learn to live a life different from what he had envisioned for himself. And yet, he is never less than thrilled for her.

Which brings me to the second very unique plot twist - the fake “marriage of convenience”. I admit I may have cringed going in, as this is not my favorite trope, but quickly changed my opinion when I saw the fun new way Forest presented it. This is almost a spoof on the typical marriage of convenience trope and I loved every minute of it.

What did not work as well for me is the second chance aspect of the story. This is literally one of my most beloved tropes and as a result, I can be quite picky when it comes to how it is used. In this case, I do not feel second chance really fits the story. We are briefly shown the start of their relationship, but other than that, there was no angst and pining that goes along with a potential rekindling of a relationship.

In many ways this felt more like a new relationship than one that was being rebuilt, and I felt the absence of the emotional turmoil second chance stories usually bring (minus her stance that they could not be in a relationship which did frustrate me after awhile). In other words, if we completely remove the prologue, it would not be nearly as evident that these two had ever been in a serious relationship. Therefore, the second chance trope in this story fell flat, even while the marriage of convenience shined through (it really was the MVP of the story).

All that said, this is fresh take on some formulaic tropes that feature really strong and dynamic characters you cannot help but root for. I would recommend it, but would just reiterate that this is more contemporary fiction/personal growth with romance included, versus an angsty second chance romance.

🎧 I listened to this book on audio in addition to reading along with the physical text and thought the narrators, Aure Nash and Benjamin Charles were the perfect Violet and Xavier. They brought these characters to life and really enhanced my connection to both characters.

Read if you like:
•marriage of convenience
•fake engagement
•second chance romance
•forced proximity
•strong, successful FMC

Thank you Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.

This was a cute little romance for February. I mean, just look at that pink cover. Thank you to @berkleyromance and @netgalley for the early look at this. It’s out on the 27th!

🎰 Read this one if you REALLY love:
- second chance
- (fake) marriage of convenience
- work-life balance goals

🎰 This book was cute. It was ok for me. I didn’t LOVE it, but I didn’t hate it either. More than anything — I just struggled to get really excited by it. The characters were lovely, and I liked the plot well enough— but I just didn’t look forward to picking it up. If you’ve been curious about it at all, or if the tropes I listed above are your faves, you should definitely give it a try yourself and see what you think. Is this on your TBR?

violet and xaxier were highschool sweethearts, who unfortunately went their separate ways shortly after graduating to focus on their careers, and reunite years later coincidentally in vegas. after a night of fun and getting "fake married", they return back to their lives, trying to forget each other. that is until violet interviews with a reporter and says she is married to none other than xavier himself.

oh man, the communication in this? the maturity of both our fmc and mmc? a breath of fresh air! this was a great and most importantly, a realistic take on a second chance romance. violet's job is so cool and i loved all the details that forest puts into making it realistic. i could relate to xavier, feeling stuck in his career, not good enough, and wanting to do more. i enjoyed them together, but also individually. their growth and respect for one another was so evident in all of their words and actions, it was hard not to root for them.

thank you berkley romance for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars rounded up

I love getting lost in a Kristina Forest book; this reads like a rom-com and I really enjoyed it. Violet and Xavier were high school sweethearts, and their relationship was tumultuous. They break up during their sophomore year of college and don’t see each other again until a fateful day in Vegas. They end up fake-married after a drunken night and decide to stay "married" because it'll help both of their careers.

I’m a sucker for the second-chance romance and marriage of convenience tropes, and this book presents them very well. I enjoyed Violet and Xavier individually as they both had practical issues to work through and their growth never felt forced. They had been apart for 10 years, and it was very realistic to see them learn each other again, and see how they both had reservations about jumping right in. I also really liked that Xavier and Violet spoke honestly about their feelings instead of tiptoeing around them.

The downside for me was the chemistry between them. I just didn't feel a strong spark between Violet and Xavier; their relationship issues kept them from being really close, which is important in a second-chance romance. I needed to feel like them reviving their teenage relationship was worth all this turmoil, and I'm not sure that it worked here.

Overall this is a solid romance and I really enjoyed the main characters' growth.

Second chance romance perfection!

Love seeing these high school sweethearts meeting again in life and drunkenly end up married in vegas. This makes for the perfect rom com.
I needed her story after meeting her in book 1 and this book does not dissapoint!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "The Partner Plot" by Kristina Forest in exchange for an honest review.

Celebrity stylist Violet Green is running on fumes. Her career is flourishing despite a very public, very messy breakup with her cheating fiancé. Between consultations, fashion shows, and awards galas, she has no down time and no relationship. So when she runs into her former high-school sweetheart Xavier Wright in Vegas, what's the harm in indulging in a little casual fun?

They wake up with a fake wedding bands, have a laugh, and part ways again. Only to be pushed back together soon after when she accidentally blurts to a reporter that she has married her old flame. To further complicate matters, a serious injury forces her to take a few weeks off from her non-stop career.

Meanwhile, former college basketball athlete Xavier is aiming for bigger things in his own career. He's been content with his job coaching high school basketball, but he's pushing for a job at the college level. His prospective boss wants a candidate with stability so Xavier is willing to go along with the fake-relationship Violet has inadvertently concocted. She moves into his place to rest and recover from her injury, all the while playing happy newly weds.

And of course, they find their old chemistry has never really gone away.

Second chance romances are hard to pull off in a meaningful way. The couple in question has broken up before, so the author has to find a way to make that split acceptable. Somebody screwed up. How does one make that forgivable?

Kristina Forest more than ably does exactly that in "The Partner Plot." She successfully demonstrates the personal growth that her characters made both before and during their reunion so that by the end of the story, they make perfect sense together. It was wonderful.

The characters are excellent. They come across as passionate, flawed, loving, and real people sorting through their lives. There are a few poisonous characters on the sidelines but for the most part, their damage is minor.

This book is perfect for readers looking for legit, identifiable emotional development between two adults who loved one another in the past.

I was looking forward to this one as I loved The Neighbor Favor. TPP starts off cute— kinda YA-ish for a lil bit to lay the foundation of Violet and Xavier’s relationship that began in high school (side note, my mama would’ve killed me if I was around here carrying on the way Violet was 😂). As the story goes on, we encounter these two again but as adults who are both single, Violet living her best life in the fashion industry as she always dreamed of and Xavier’s career not looking quite as he dreamt as a professional basketball player but now a high school basketball coach and a teacher at their former high school.

I loved the fact that Xavier was an educator and his passion and commitment towards his students made me so happy (believe it or not, it’s so rare these days).

I thought this love story between Vi + X was very authentic especially with the things you do when you’re in love— texting with a huge smile on your face, and the effort Vi put towards trying to cook a meal for X. 💕🥹

I do recommend this one and I recommend audio for it too— it was my fave format to read this one. I struggled with the ebook alone during certain chapters as I would start skimming the details about things that were happening with their careers. Although, I was way more into Xavier’s career than I was Violet’s (I always love reading about educators). 😂

**Lily + Nick’s cameo 🥹💜 I missed them! Might have to reread TNF!

I’m looking forward to reading Iris’ story next! ☺️

⚠️: if you enjoy closed door romance, this isn’t fade to black and I can’t say that it’s excessively descriptive but it’s there on the page especially in ch 19.

Read if you love:
👰🏽‍♀️ fake marriages/marriage of convenience
👰🏽‍♀️ second chance romance
👰🏽‍♀️ Black love— cause it’s giving ✨🖤
👰🏽‍♀️ swoonin 😉

Kristina Forest is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I absolutely loved The Neighbor Favor and because I love books about books I was afraid I wouldn't love this one as much but I was so wrong. The second chance romance between Violet and Xavier was so sweet!! Even the conflict was soft and sweet because both characters always had the other's best interest at heart. Just a really lovely romance. Looking forward to Iris's story next year and enjoyed the Easter eggs about her relationship with Angel.

Between the cover and the blurb, I was excited to pick up my first book by Kristina Forest!

Xavier and Violet are high school sweethearts whose relationship ended in a breakup not long after they started college. Years have passed and Xavier is the basketball coach at their old high school and Violet is living her dreams as a celebrity fashion stylist. They cross paths in Vegas where they spend a drunk night together, ending in “I do” at the altar. Their alleged marriage has benefits for both of them, and they decide to use it to their advantage.

Xavier and Violet clearly missed each other and you could tell no other partner could measure up for them. They’d needed the time to mature because even now, they both had insecurities they needed to confront before pursuing their lost love.

It did take me awhile to get into the story and finish it because I wasn’t as invested as I thought it would be. The plot was a bit of a stretch. While the author’s writing was great, but sometimes 3rd person POV makes it harder for me to connect unless the story is beyond phenomenal that I don’t even notice.

I am definitely ready for Iris and Angel’s story!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I’ve really enjoyed everything Kristina Forest has written to date, including her prior adult romance, so I was excited for The Partner Plot. I did wonder how some of the aspects mentioned in the blurb would come to fruition, like the marriage of convenience, but I had hope I would at least reasonably enjoy it. Unfortunately, I was severely underwhelmed.
The one thing I think Forest got right was the characterization, with both leads being strong presences throughout. I also enjoyed getting insight into Violet and Xavier’s respective careers, hers as a celebrity stylist and his as a high school teacher and basketball coach.
And while not marketed as a series, I liked the sisterly dynamics at play, with Lily, the female lead of the prior book being in a supporting role, and their other sister, Iris, being set up for the next book.
But for all that it claims to be a second chance romance, there is no chemistry, no lingering sparks between the two. And while it was billed as a “marriage of convenience,” the cop-out that it was ultimately “fake” was the first death knell in there being absolutely no stakes keeping these two together. I felt I knew more about their careers and why those were important than reasons they should be together! And the reasons for keeping up the charade also made zero sense! All of this added up to me not caring whether they got together or not.
While this book did not work for me, it does seem I’m in the minority here, and others really enjoyed it. If you enjoy low-stakes, tropey romance with Black leads, I’d recommend checking it out to see if it works out better for you.