This was a fun, steamy ride that blends second-chance romance with fake dating antics.

Denzel "Denz" Carter, caught between a career in his family's event planning business and a not-so-ideal personal life, finds himself pretending to be in a relationship with none other than Braylon—the ex who left him heartbroken. The catch? Denz needs to impress his family to land a CEO position, and Braylon needs his connections for his own career boost. Cue the romance, confusion, and steamy kisses as they navigate a fake relationship that starts feeling way too real.

The romance itself is the star of the show—lots of fun, chemistry, and tropes like one-bed situations. But if you’re looking for deep emotional moments, you might not find them here. The story leans into the playful, spicy side of romance rather than diving deep into the emotional complexities of Denz and Braylon’s past. Denz’s quest for the CEO role did feel a bit far-fetched, though, considering how underqualified he seemed. As this is Julian Winters’ adult debut (after a string of YA hits), the characters still carry that youthful, slightly immature energy, which could be hit-or-miss depending on your preferences.

On the audiobook front, André Santana really brings this story to life. His narration is spot-on, adding extra layers of fun and emotion to the already entertaining plot.

If you're into fake dating, second-chances, and the whole rich-guy, lavish event vibe, this book’s definitely worth a read (or listen). Just don’t expect it to be super deep—it’s all about the playful, spicy romance.
3.5⭐️

I Think They Love You by Julian Winters is a phenomenal adult rom-com debut!
Such a fun second-chance romance story with amazing characters.
This book simply put was just a lot of fun!
The characters were so much fun, and their chemistry was adorable.
I thought the writing was quick, fun and engaging.
Overall, I very much enjoyed reading this new title.

4.5

Julian Winters has been on my radar as an author for a really long time, but young adult romances have been hit or miss for me lately. So when I saw that this was his adult debut, and that the audiobook was narrated by Andre Santana, who I’ve grown absolutely adore as a narrator, I knew I had to pick this up.

I don’t think this was a perfect book and there is some suspension of disbelief in regards to the premise because yes, it’s a family business but there’s a huge jump in the level of responsibility from being social media manager/event planner to CEO. After my experience struggling with that in The Truth According to Ember earlier this year, I was hesitant, but this was absolutely a case of right book right time for me.

I adore Denz with all of my heart, and this second chance of romance/fake dating your ex worked so well for me in a way that I could not have expected. It was cute. It was heartfelt. It had me giggling it had me tearing up. It was the perfect escape in a very stressful week. Yes I think there are legitimate critiques with the story, but I don’t want to them because I loved this book.

4.25⭐️ Second Chance Romance, Fake Dating, One Bed Tropes!

The banter, the characters, the spice! This book was such a feel good and healing read. Throughout this book, Denz has to navigate feeling like he will never be good enough for his family and during that journey, ends up finding himself. The progress he makes as a character not only in himself and his own confidence but also in his familial relationships was so heartwarming to read. Braylon is a huge part of Denz's journey of self discovery. Both of these characters had so much to learn both separately and together but I will say, I wish we had had a bit of Braylon's POV throughout.

Fave quotes:
"You were always so intensely yourself. You made me want to be the person I hid from others"
"But never doing anything, living with regrets-that's the shit that kills us"
And even though this one hurt my millennial soul (thanks for making me feel ancient Julian 🤪), I had to save it "The band covers an old Justin Timberlake song. 'Sexyback'"

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed I Think They Love You and was interested enough to continue reading, but I will admit it wasn't a book that I had a hard time putting down. I was invested enough in Denz and Braylon to want to know where their "fake" relationship took them and where they ended up on their career path.

𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐞. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐒𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥.

Another second chance romance??? I think I'm hooked. I think they are my thing now.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC and the ALC in exchange for this review.

Absolutely loved this book and the narration! It was so well done and I enjoyed it so much.

This book starts in the past with Braylon and Denz on the way to Denz's family dinner and everything is going well. But when the book picks up years in the present we know that they are not together and that Braylon essentially broke Denz's heart.

When Denz's father is retiring there is a competition of sorts to become the new CEO, and Denz feels like having a boyfriend will increase his chances. So when he bumps into Braylon who is freshly back from the UK, and his best friend stands him up as his fake boyfriend, he asks Braylon to stand in.

Fake Dating, Second Chance, One BED. Ugh, this book is good.

It's told from Denz's POV only which is probably the only thing that kept this from 5 stars for me. I would have loved a Braylon POV, especially since he was dealing with so much.

“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐈 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟,” 𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐳 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐬, 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐝, “𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞.”
“𝐈𝐭’𝐬 . . . 𝐧𝐨𝐭?”
“𝐍𝐨.” 𝐀 𝐰𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡. “𝐖𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭. 𝐈𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐭.”

This book is sweet and swoony and precious and steamy and spicy and such a great read. I especially loved the little nods to Atlanta and all the little famous rom-coms mentioned. So cute.

𝐇𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐧. 𝐒𝐨𝐟𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐲. 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐋𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬’𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐨𝐦-𝐜𝐨𝐦. 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐀𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚. 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲’𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧, 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭. 𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐳 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞.

This was my first book by Julian Winters, and I really enjoyed it! I liked Denz as a main character. He was fun and messy but also had his serious moments. I also liked Braylon as a love interest. He is trying to make the world a little bit of a better place but is super focused on things (it also helps that he's a Capricorn. I love my people lol). Actually, I ended up really liking the extended cast as well; especially since they all had their own thing going on and their own personalities. The set up for the fake dating is very contrived, but I didn't care that much since their second chance romance had some really good development. Some phrases were a little cringe and felt a little dated even though the book just released this year. I was also hoping for a little bit more self-discovery for Denz by the end of the book. A POV from Braylon would also have really boosted the story for me. I love a duel POV. Overall, a fun and emotional, yet sexy and sweet romance. 4.5 Stars!

Denzel Carter’s family owns 24 Carter Gold, a prestigious event planning company, in Atlanta, Georgia. His father, Kenneth, unexpectedly announces his retirement and a competition ensues to see who his successor as CEO will be. Denz impulsively lies to his family about having a serious relationship, because his family is convinced that he isn’t capable of true commitment. When his plans fall through, he impulsively forces his ex, Braylon, to be his serious boyfriend for the duration of the CEO competition and they quickly strike a deal that benefits them both. Braylon’s been out of Denz’s life for a few years and his sudden return turns everything upside down.

I’d never heard of this author before, but I THINK THEY LOVE YOU is Winters’ adult debut novel with his usual genre being contemporary YA queer romances. I loved his endeavor into the adult romance genre.

Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes but add a little second chance in there and it’s a complete winner. It was interesting to see how the author handled both of these tropes together – well done!

I THINK THEY LOVE YOU is told in the POV of Denzel. I really liked seeing the world through Denz’s eyes as he navigates what he believes he wants from his future and fights his way to get to it. I really enjoyed his character arc and seeing his vision change as the novel progressed.

All of the characters, including the side characters, have such rich and vibrant personalities. I loved getting to know each character through Denz’s eyes. The relationships shared between Denz and the other central characters were well written, flawed, and interesting. I loved how supportive his family and friends were even in the hardest of times. I also loved seeing their relationships grow and change as the novel progressed.

Denz and Braylon are so cute together. It was interesting to see them fall back in love with each other while they reunited, learning new things about each other that occurred in their years apart. There are a few spicy scenes – all well written.

I would have loved a dual POV for this one to get to know Braylon a little better, but overall this is an excellent read regardless!

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, St Martin’s Griffin, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.

I Think They Love You is my first Julian Winters book and it was positively delightful. I loved Denz, our main protagonist as he is trying to prove his worth in the family planning business. He is competing against his ultra competent sister for the role of CEO, desperate to make his father and the rest of his loud but loving family, proud. Although they love him dearly they clearly think he’s a bit of a mess which is why he creates a fake boyfriend—just for his ex to enter the picture.

This is a lovely second chance romance where the characters enter into a fake dating partnership, presumably to give each other something they want but then genuinely because they both seem to like each other. There’s a lot of bad history between the two, Bray has spent the last years in London, a choice he seemingly made over keeping Denz. I loved so much how the two of them complimented each other and clearly rounded out each others rough edges. Denz has a lot of work to do in believing in himself as well as discovering what he really wants and Bray is right along side him in the journey.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Julian has done it again! I loved his debut adult novel. Having been a fan of Julian since 'Running with Lions', I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. What happens when your ex boyfriend turns into your pretend boyfriend to impress the family? Love the classic "there was only one bed" troupe and all the messiness that comes with pretending to date your ex. Of course there is a HEA.

Julian needs to write more adult novels!

This week, Julian Winters makes his adult debut with I Think They Love You. A second chance romance, fake dating, career ambitions, complex family connections—this book offers a lot and is so richly drawn. This is my first time reading this author and I already look forward to more.

Why I Chose This Book:
I Think They Love You has been on my radar for several months, and I was so happy to get an ARC of it. That cover caught my interest initially, but I loved the idea of a man fake dating his ex in order to somehow make himself a better candidate for a big promotion at his family’s company.

What I Liked:
- Denz is such a fun character. He’s dramatic and impulsive, but also sensitive and sweet.
- Braylon! What a wonderful ex/fake boyfriend! He’s the epitome of thoughtful and charming, but in a genuinely endearing way.
- Big cast of characters, from extended family to roommates to colleagues. It makes the book feel like a complete world.
- Hilarious! Dad jokes!
- Emotional!
- Occasional flashbacks to their original relationship in college
- What do you really want in your career, and why?
- Set-up for another book?? I see another romance waiting to be read…

What Didn’t Work for Me:
- I only wish the characters had been a bit older and farther removed from their breakup. This story would have felt more believable if Denz and Braylon were actually in their late 20s or even early 30s. (And if Denz acted as such, of course.)
- Lol why does Braylon have an English accent after living in London for only two years?

Final Thoughts
I Think They Love You is such a sweet romance! I’m not the biggest fan of fake dating or second chances, but somehow, both tropes work well here. This is Julian Winters’s first adult novel, and I did find that much of this felt a little close to YA or NA, both in writing style and the characters’ ages and interactions. Regardless, I enjoyed this whole book, and if I’m right in assuming there will be a sequel involving two certain characters here, I’ll absolutely read it, too!

This book was both cute and hot. The two MC Denz and Bray are relatable and sweet. The couple gets a second chance at love after reconnecting and agreeing to fake date. They soon realize they have unresolved feelings for each other. The spicy scenes are hot and the chemistry between them is chef's kiss.

LOVE! I loved this book!

Fake boyfriends, second chances, one bed, family dynasty and dynamics, all in a very rom com story that one of the main characters loves.

Denz and Braylon were college boyfriends until a job took Braylon to London. While Denz stayed in Atlanta to work for his family's company. A few years later they run into each other not once, but twice. And that second time sees Braylon acting as a fake boyfriend to Denz's parents to show them that Denz is a mature adult. (which, for the record, you don't need to be in a relationship to be a mature adult)

Always in the shadow of his father and sister, with two incredibly nosy aunties not far away, Denz wants everyone to believe that he can do this job. Moreover, he can replace his father as CEO. Which he is vying for against his sister.

Let me tell you, there was not one character that I didn't love. From Denz and Bray to Jaime and Nic. All of these people are so important in Denz's life for all different reasons. Some to let him know that family always has his back, to friends who are there to rot on the couch with you but also give you the truth, and coworkers who see things without looking through a family lens.

It was funny and sweet and romantic. I even loved his username @notthatdenzel.

Braylon broke my heart a bit, Denz made me cry, they all made me laugh. I actually would absolutely love to see this story on the big screen.

4/5 stars

Thank you St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced reading copy!

Cute fake-dating second-chance rom-com alert!!! Two of my favorite tropes wrapped into a sweet and spicy queer romance. I laughed out loud a few moments, and swooned at others. I love a book with big families and lots of silly supporting characters, and this one checked those boxes for sure. While it was semi-hard to keep track of all of those characters at the start, you come to realize who you need to know and who is just there for a funny one-liner, and that helps keep things moving! I loved reading about Denz's relationship with his family, and, especially, the ways that changed as he came into his own.

Both Denz and Braylon were frustrating at times, but lovable most often. Their romance was sweet, though did seem to take a few unexpected jumps to me at times. Things felt rushed at times and the ways the romance progressed felt a bit disjointed. This didn't stop me from believing in it or enjoying the book, just a minor complaint.

Throughout this book, I wasn't sure what I wanted to happen... of course, a "happily ever after," but what did I want that to look like for Denz? I think Julian Winters did a great job of wrapping this up in an unexpected but satisfying way -- every character got what I wanted them to and I had a few pleasant surprises along the way. Overall a super sweet rom-com!

If you’re in the mood for a delightful rom-com that’s equal parts funny and tender, then I Think They Love You is for you! This wonderful story follows Denz and Braylon as they navigate the complexities of rekindling their romance as they fake date. Flashbacks to their college days add a nostalgic twist, making you root for this couple even harder! You’ll feel every laugh, sigh, and moment of sexual tension as they navigate their complicated feelings.

As a Georgia girl, I absolutely loved all the references to Atlanta and Athens!

Why You’ll Love This Book:
— Fake Dating Shenanigans: Because who doesn’t love a little “pretend” romance especially between exes?
— Second Chances: Denz and Braylon’s journey reminds us that love can (and should) bloom again if we’re brave enough to embrace the messiness and try again.
— One Bed Trope: Need I say more?!?!
— Family Dynamics: Denz’s boisterous, meddling family is a riot and adds a rich backdrop to the love story.
— French Toast Grilled Cheese: How did I not know about this flavor bomb of deliciousness until this book???

I Think They Love You is a refreshing dive into the complexities of love, family, personal growth, and finding your home. With its entertaining plot and lovable characters, it’s a must read for anyone who believes in second chances. I can’t wait to see what Julian Winters brings us next!

I received a gifted copy of this book.

This was a sweet yet spicy fun read. I don’t usually love the second chance romance trope but combined with fake dating it was a winner! I loved the setting and tension between the characters, the puns were spot on and the characters were perfectly « normal ». I liked the side characters and all the little tricks they got up to as well. It’s fun to be kept guessing to an extent but the author let us in on a few things and as a reader I always love that.

I’d read more from this author for sure.

I Think They Love You was the CUTEST read!!! I was immediately so in love with Denz and Braylon and their second-chance romance. I LOVE a good fake dating trope and this book absolutely nailed it. Their history and their present relationship combined for the perfect story.

I was so taken with Denz‘s personal journey of seeking his familial acceptance in the workplace. His family dynamic plays such a crucial role in this story, and I really loved seeing the growth he and his family experienced. As much as this was a beautiful love story, it was also a journey of Denz’s self love and learning of his own acceptance.

This romance brought me all the feels. I loved their love and I could read a thousand spin-offs about the journeys the other characters go through. Julian Winters did a brilliant job from start to finish of hooking me, and I cannot recommend this read more.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I Think They Love You by Julian Winters
Rating: 5 stars
Pub date: 1/28

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Griffin for my free book!

Denzel “Denz” Carter is a total workaholic trying to prove to his family that he’s ready to take over as CEO of their company. To seal the deal, he needs to fake a relationship—fast. Enter Braylon, the ex-boyfriend who broke his heart but also needs a favor of his own.
I loved this book! This adult debut is packed with everything you could want: fake dating, second chances, and a family so chaotic you’ll feel like you’re at the reunion yourself.

Denz is such a loveable disaster from the get-go, and you can’t help but cheer him on as he tries to juggle his big career dreams and messy personal life. Braylon took a little longer to win me over, but once you see his softer side and the reasons behind their history, you’ll be rooting for him, too. Their fake dating started off as strictly business but quickly turned into some steamy, swoony moments that had me fully hooked. The chemistry between these two is off the charts.

What makes this book even better is Denz’s wild, close-knit family. They’re always in the mix, creating drama, dishing out advice, and adding heart to the story. Honestly, I loved them almost as much as the romance.

If you’re into fake dating, second-chance romance, or just need a good laugh and a happy cry, this one’s for you. Highly recommend picking it up!

By the end of this book, I really liked how everything wrapped up. However, in the beginning and middle, this was a bit of an uneven read for me. The premise of the "fake dating" was more contrived than usual - Denz needs to have a boyfriend in order for his father to take him seriously so that he'll choose him to lead the family event-planning business. So, his two choices are his best friend or his first love Braylon who has returned to the US from London.
What I loved:
* the big cast of characters, mostly Denz's extended family
* the lavish party descriptions

What could have been better for me:
- showing more depth in the characters sooner than the last quarter of the book.
- the social media aspects that were so cringey to me.

All in all, a good book that I am sure many romance readers will enjoy.
3.5* / 5*

Although illustrated covers aren’t my thing, this one gave me pause. Also, the title opened my curiosity, so when I started reading I Think They Love You; the unexpected joy I had from chapter one onwards meant this well-written story got my full attention.

The protagonists share history and present as circumstances would have it, begin to fake-date. This could lead to a second chance; however, Denzel aka Denz hasn’t forgotten what happened years back and is not only trying to be cavalier about opening himself up to love again but also super busy proving his worth to his father–the possibility of taking his place as CEO in the family-run company.

There are a couple of things that I truly liked. Denz is far from perfect; but relatably frustrating, lovable and hot. And despite having a memory like a sieve, he manages to come out smiling roses. The competitiveness between his sister for the position never felt exaggerated, her generosity bowling me over. Who, on earth, lends a hand when there is so much at stake? Has she got the comeuppance on him? Read and you’ll find out.

The Carter family dynamics are exceptionally well put together. They are, in brackets, protective of their own even though there were a few long faces when Denz presented his once-upon-a-time boyfriend, they accept Braylon with open arms. Food for thought. These two’s attraction is so well described that how could some family members ever realise it wasn’t just a farce?

I had a few issues connecting to Braylon. I felt his distance; most probably because his voice was missing. That said, his British connotations were something that the author could have refined a tad because I for one, (Brit through and through) don’t speak like this; but hey-ho, it’s all about the story which is original if not entirely queer!

Great banter, laugh-out-loud scenes and steaminess bound, but the third act threw me. This easy-to-read love story with all its sprinkling of drama is a must-one-click. Bravo to the author who brought home the importance of family balance, forgiveness and a storyline twist which was perfectly construed.