This enchanting love story unfolds in a captivating dual timeline—one of my favorites!

The characters are genuine, relatable, and wonderfully diverse. The playful banter between Javi and Mari beautifully showcases their “friends to lovers” journey, making it an utterly satisfying read.

A huge thank-you to G. P. Putnam's Sons/Penguin Random House for emailing about this book and offering me a copy through Netgalley.

When Javi Dumped Mari is a heartfelt rom-com that absolutely hit me in the feels as well as had me laughing at the incredible banter between Javi and Mari. The book follows best friends Javier and Marisol, who, on the eve of their college graduation, make a pact to approve each other's dates forever forward. Basically friendzoning each other without realizing it. A decade later, Javi realizes he's in love with Mari, only to find out she's engaged to someone he hasn't vetted due to a falling out they had after a rather spicy encounter. Determined to stop the wedding, Javi has to convince Mari that he made a mistake and to understand that he "loves loves" her.

I thought the storyline was cute albeit predictable. The characters were relatable. I could have done without the racial descriptions of the ancillary characters (ie Black security guard).

I love a book that can make me laugh, and Sosa's upcoming release made me grin and chucke often. Javi and Mari were characters with fantastic chemistry - the great back-and-forth, the quips, and the playful banter made for an enjoyable read.

This story mixes the friends to lovers trope with the right-person-wrong time trope. It's also written in a past-present timeline with dual pov as you follow Mari and Javi from the night they met on campus through their college, post-college, and adult life. You witness the highs and lows of their relationship, as well as their individual vulnerabilities, fears, and aspirations, which made for both realistic and relatable characters.

I will admit that this story could've been appx 50 pages shorter, but overall I enjoyed my experience. This was a cute, lighthearted, and entertaining romance, and I really appreciated how much it made me smile.

I should have dnf'ed this book after the first chapter, when the set-up was that two best friends from college, obviously in love with each other, made a pact to always run their new significant others by each other, until one day, Mari doesn't and introduces Javi to her new fiance. These are tropes I hate: friends who can't actually have honest conversations with each other, breaking up a wedding, love triangle. But I kept reading because I really enjoyed The Worst Best Man and The Wedding Crasher (although now that I'm thinking about them, they were both about wedding mishaps...), and I liked Mia Sosa's writing. But I should have known, and I should have dnf'ed.

When Javi Dumped Mari follows Javi and Mari in two timelines: now, when Mari is engaged to Alex, the top dog at the law firm her dad owns where she also works, and she asks Javi to be the man of honor, and then, when Mari and Javi are in college together. The "then" chapters are interspersed, used to explain things happening in the "now." Part of what I hate about the breaking-up-a-wedding plot is that someone is obviously bad here. If it's the person breaking up the wedding, then you have a villain to contend with, and if it's the person getting married, then you have to read an entire book about how a supposedly good character is ending up with a bad character, which isn't a good look for the supposedly good character. In this case, we're supposed to be rooting for Javi, who is suspicious of Alex but is basically doing anything Mari wants for the sake of her wedding and because he's so in love with her. Which, of course, he's never actually really told her or said anything out loud. Which isn't a good look for him either!

About 80% through, I really really really really should have dnf'ed it. But I stuck with it because I was so close to the end. I'm not so mad that I read this, but this really was not the book for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing me with an eARC of When Javi Dumped Mari in exchange for my honest review.

What a charming, steamy second chance romance from Mia Sosa!

The chemistry was off the charts with Javi and Mari, and I really enjoyed getting to see their dynamic blossom as their friendship brought them closer and closer, until they just couldn't keep their hands off each other! I loved Javi's character, and I deeply respected his journey and commitment to working on himself and growing as man and character, even if I despise the motivation behind it (Luiz, when I get my hands on you...).

Mari... well, she had me rolling my eyes at times throughout the story, especially when it came to how she treated Javi and couldn't find it in herself to really stand up to her dad when he is very obviously being a dick. But, she had my (and Javi's) heart by the end, so I'll let it slide this time. I did really enjoy her friend group, and their dynamics with the two best friends that are soooo obviously in love with each other!

And of course, one of my favorite things about Mia's books is the Brazilian rep! I loved getting to practice my Portuguese while reading.

All in all, I really enjoyed this story, and I'm excited for more from Sosa!

A slow burn friends to lovers told through dual POVs and dual timelines, the story of Javi and Mari vaguely echoes the same beats as When Harry Met Sally, a movie I don't particularly like but I did enjoy this book.

Javi and Mari meet in college and though they seem polar opposites in a lot of ways, a friendship blossoms. Sure, there's and underlying layer of simmering sexual attraction but both value their friendship too much to ever let themselves ruin it by trying and failing for something more.

Years pass and after college, Javi is struggling to find gainful employment while Mari is living across the country and going to law school. He ends up ghosting her and they run into each other years later, when Mari is a successful lawyer working at her father's firm and Javi is a struggling bartender/actor who is still working on the musical he's been writing for years.

Renewing their friendship while also occasionally hooking up, Mari wants more but Javi doesn't think he's good enough for her. So they decide to stay friends until Mari shows up to dinner with a fiancé in tow.

I liked a lot about this book, even the flashbacks that show the evolution of their friendship and the highs and lows. I liked their extended friend group. Both Mari and Javi have some family issues, Marie with her parents, especially her father, and Javi with his two older brothers. They both spend the bulk of the book pretending that they are fine with the way their respective family members screwed them over which is frustrating but also somewhat realistic.

The end of the book is really good and sweet and lovely and I love that Mari has learned how to draw boundaries for herself with her father.

All in all, this was a super enjoyable read.

Content Notes: toxic parental relationship, problematic fiancé, MMC has issues with betrayal regarding his older brothers.

3.5⭐️, although was 3⭐️ until the ending. I’m not sure why this story didn’t connect with me, but I didn’t feel pulled in to keep reading and felt like I needed to force myself a bit to stay on track for the deadline. It did have some super charming moments, and while I loved Mari I struggled to like Javi. I think it would have benefited from significantly less flashbacks (I love a dual timeline, but this seemed to be excessive) and more present-time interaction between the characters. I think there are readers who will absolutely love the more coming-of-age aspects to the earlier timeline. I do think I would read this writer again, and maybe I will connect more with a differently framed narrative.

“Talking to Mari is the best part of my days. Every sentence reveals something about her personality. And the more she shares, the more I want to reciprocate.”

I love a good Mia Sosa book.

What I liked:

I adore a good friends to lovers book. Javi and Mari have such a wonderful friendship.

The chemistry and banter between the two of them was so good! I loved their conversations, and just reading them interact with each other.

What didn’t work for me:

I enjoyed the present timeline, more than the past. Some of the past chapters dragged a bit for me.

I wanted to love it but didnt! About 40% in, I got bored and uninterested. The title confused me because I guess the ghosting was dumping? Idk. But this wasn’t really for me, unfortunately.

This was a lovely read!!

This book has history and a past relationship. The story is well written and mainly with likable characters. A story that will bring a smile to your face.

I would recommend! Thank you for the ARC team ☺️

4.5/5 stars ⭐️
When Javi Dumped Mari is a phenomenal romance novel that masterfully delivers on the beloved friends-to-lovers trope. From the very beginning, the emotional tension between Mari and Javi is palpable, and the mutual yearning is written with such authenticity that it draws you in and keeps you invested throughout the story.

The narrative unfolds across two timelines, and the execution is seamless. Rather than feeling disjointed or confusing, the dual timelines are thoughtfully structured to enhance the storytelling. Each shift in time provides meaningful context and emotional depth, revealing crucial details and answering lingering questions at just the right moments.

Javi and Mari are an incredibly compelling pair. Their chemistry is undeniable, yet their journey to love is far from straightforward. Both characters have their own emotional hesitations, and the story does a wonderful job of exploring how timing and personal growth can impact a relationship. The push and pull between them feels realistic and deeply relatable, adding layers to their eventual connection.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is how it portrays the idea that love isn’t just about timing—it’s also about readiness. The pacing of their relationship arc feels natural and satisfying, showing that sometimes people need time apart to truly understand what they want and need.

I found myself fully invested in their journey, and I was rooting for Javi from the very start. His emotional vulnerability and growth were especially moving. Overall, "When Javi Dumped Mari" is a heartfelt, well-crafted romance that blends emotional depth with romantic tension in all the right ways. A highly enjoyable and memorable read!

When Javi Dumped Mari is a twist on the classic When Harry Met Sally. Javi and Mari meet in college and become best friends. They make a pact that they will screen one another’s potential dates to catch any red flags that may have gone unnoticed. Through some ups and downs, now in their thirties, Mari is set to get married and Javi is not a fan of her groom. Javi finally feels like his life is getting on track and he could be the man that Mari deserves. Now, he just needs to find a way to show Mari that her fiancée is not right for her.

I enjoyed the characters of Javi and Mari. I loved the way they teased each other and interacted. I do feel like the jump from present day to flashback wasn’t the smoothest. But overall I enjoyed this book!

Mari and Javi were a cute couple! I liked how their relationship grew from friends to lovers. It took me a while to get into the story, but I enjoyed the second half of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and GP Putman’s Sons for the Advance Reader Copy.

Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.

I was so excited when I was offered the chance to read an advanced copy of Mia Sosa's new novel, as I loved Worst Best Man and The Wedding Crasher. However, this one is... it's not doing it for me. I don't see a lot of chemistry between the leads, and I'm not a fan of the split time frame, with "now" chapters - where Mari is engaged to someone who is not Javi! - sprinkled in among the 'then' chapters (which are counting down to the wedding).

Thank you to G. P. Putnam's Sons, Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for the free electronic advanced reader.

**Book Review: *When Javi Dumped Mari***
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆

*When Javi Dumped Mari* is a heartfelt and funny romantic comedy that starts where most love stories end, at the engagement of one of the MCs. Mari and Javi, two college friends who began their relationship with a blend of annoyance and attraction, decide early on to friendzone each other and instead become each other's romantic wingperson. What follows years later is a complex, emotional, and witty journey that kicks off just as Mari is preparing to walk down the aisle, with someone else.

The chemistry between Mari and Javi is undeniable. Their banter is one of the book’s strongest elements, and while they have an "enemies to lovers" vibe, their antagonism is brief and mostly confined to their college days. The real joy comes from watching them evolve, from slightly hostile strangers to ride-or-die best friends to adults who are charming and relatable.

Both characters are lovable, layered, and emotionally grounded. Unlike many romantic comedies, this story avoids the frustrating trope of making one of the leads unlikable or clueless. While maintaining some elements making you want to yell at both of them to just be together! Lol, You root for both Mari and Javi from the beginning, and while their families add a heavy dose of drama (some of whom you may want to strangle), the tension never overshadows the romance.

If you're a fan of romantic comedies with heart, humor, and a bit of emotional angst, *When Javi Dumped Mari* is absolutely worth the read. It delivers both laughs and feels in equal measure and will leave you with a smile (and maybe a tear!)

Another banger from Mia! This one is full of laugh out loud moments, ones that had me kicking my feet, and ones that had me considering tearing up. I love a friends to lovers moment and there's nothing like another man coming into the picture to give men the wake up calls they need. These two are electric and I felt their chemistry from the first page. I loved going on this journey with them.

Javi and Mari have always had chemistry, and that witty banter you only break out for the one you want to keep coming back. But the fates divide them only to bring them back together, time and again. Javi is finally in a place where he's ready to change their pattern, however, Mari shows up to their dinner with a surprise fiancé. Can Javi let Mari know he's the one for her before the big day? This is a feminist story, a friendship story, and a story about knowing what's in your heart.

It was fun to read the story of Javi and Mari’s relationship as it spans over 12 years. Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC of this book.

Sorry I just couldnt read the book. I was too blindsided by the title and thought it would be angsty and fun.. It was all that but a lot of things felt out of place for me. added to the fact that the formatting was a biggest ick for me and I didnt want to mess up my percentage.