Kudos to the narrators (André Santana and Alejandro Antonio Ruiz) for the superb narration. I think this is the first audiobook I've listened to that had explicit sex scenes. Careful who's around when you have it on! We get explicit description but not much in the way of vocalizations.

On the story and the romance at the heart of it ... well done and credible, despite the unbelievable I really enjoyed learning about the characters as the story went along. "Han" learning things about himself and is constantly, believably on edge, being undocumented, and the daily plots points deeply illustrate the hypervigilance and undercurrent of fear that peppers everyday life. Kenny is involved with a woman who is an abuser, and we've all known someone like her ... of course, she works at a women's shelter, plain as day. There's cute pets and a cuter sidekick character in a nonbinary cousin. The only part that annoyed me was a common trope in the romance genre: the characters get stuck in their heads instead of talking out the obvious. Sigh. I guess we can't have it all!

Thank you Net Galley for the advanced copy of this audiobook- timely debuting on January 21,2025. Broposal is the epitome of don’t judge a book by its cover. This is a heavy emotional and serious best friends to lovers adult romance. The triggers given by the author’s note on abusive relationships and immigration issues are significant in the story. Left you fighting for and supporting the MCs Kenny and Hans throughout the story. The character development of all the characters throughout the story (except Jackie) is very well done and the narration of the audiobook I feel really added to the depth of your compassion for each and everyone.

Alejandro "Han" purposefully avoids romantic entanglements, masking his deeper fears about his sexuality and the vulnerability of being undocumented. Meanwhile, his best friend and roommate, Kenny, is trapped in a controlling relationship with a girlfriend who forces him to choose between her and Han. When Kenny chooses Han and his ex leaves, the fallout deepens when Han loses his job, threatening his visa. Desperate to help his friend—and perhaps to provoke his ex—Kenny proposes a marriage of convenience to Han. But as they pretend to be in love, real feelings emerge, forcing both men to confront the truth about themselves and each other.

I would kill for Han and Kenny.
That being said, Jackie, count you're fucking days, bitch. 👊🏻🤬

This book was both beautiful and heartbreaking. Kenny and Han's story has always been one full of love. They were with each other through difficult times, and it was refreshing to see how their relationship had changed. The narrators did a fantastic job bringing this story to life and expressing Han's fear and uncertainty about his immigration status and not knowing what could happen at any moment. Jackie's character was manipulative, but I feel like her character added to the story and highlighted how abuse can look in different forms. Overall, it is a fantastic read that will have you in your feels.

Thanks to Forever and Hachette Audio for the ALC!

The Broposal was a surprising mix of sweet, funny, and emotionally intense. It's an adult romance debut about a modern marriage of convenience plan between best friends.

Kenny is bisexual and in an abusive relationship with his long-time girlfriend, but he doesn't want to admit she's abusive. His roommate and best friend since childhood is Han (Alejandro) a neurodivergent undocumented immigrant. Han hates the girlfriend, but tries to be supportive. He also thinks he's straight, but he's never had strong feelings for a woman either. And he's always afraid of being suddenly deported and losing the life he's built for himself. An ultimatum finally gets Kenny to break things off with his girlfriend, and then he decides to propose marriage to Han so he can get his green card. But what begins as convenience quickly becomes a lot more....

This book does an excellent job of balancing really difficult and heavy subject matter with the lightness and beauty of this burgeoning romance. I was really rooting for Kenny and Han, and this story feels really timely. I also think a later in life queer awakening is not uncommon among neurodivergent people and I appreciate seeing that represented. The audio narration is excellent and gives the vibes of the characters, and nails the varied emotions of the story. Definitely recommend. I received an audio copy for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley, Forever, and Sonora Reyes for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a queer romance with a quite hearty plot. While the author's note states in the beginning that she does not intend to be educational or informative- I did find it to be an eye opening reminder of the circle many are caught in during the immigration process.

I think this will be a great book for a queer book club to discuss- one which I would love to be a fly on the wall for. I'd love to hear how people relate (or don't relate) to Han's experience discovering his sexuality.

Please check the content warnings before reading- as I implied before- this book has substance and faces real issues head on.

Narration was very well done and I would definitely happily seek out these narrators again.

I do love a fake relationship trope: getting married so your best bro can get a green card *chefs kiss* ✨ I loved all of the elements of this story that follow a fake relationship - the kissing for practice, the PDA feeling a little too real, both thinking they're the only one having Feelings, the p i n i n g, the blurring of the lines between real and pretend.

Even though this is mostly a feelgood romcom, it also deals with heavy topics. I recommend this for white readers to get an inside look at the fear that comes with being undocumented.

There was a little too much back and forth and drama with their relationship for my tastes. I prefer when the drama is something they have to face together, not something that keeps them apart.

Bonus: I love that Han is "straight" and wondered if he's homophobic bc he was uncomfortable when Kenny was with other boys.

The narrators also did a great job and were perfect for these characters and the story.

Such an incredible story! The third act breakup killed me. But such a relevant story with this times. 10/10 and the Audi was amazing.

I thought this would be a cute, over the top, "idiots to lovers" trope book, and it was certainly all of those things, but it was also incredibly angsty and filled with emotions. I loved the representation of Han as a queer, autistic, and an undocumented immigrant, it's refreshing to see intersectional characters that feel fully fleshed out, and the representation here felt like it was done really well.

The only character who felt somewhat one dimensional is Jackie, the villain. Jackie is described as a cartoon character villain girlfriend, and that's honestly what she feels like. She doesn't have many redeeming qualities, even when viewed from Kenny's perspective, which made her feel a bit flat. I couldn't understand her relationship with Kenny at all, and all the drama she caused dominated the story. I do wish there was a bit more room for Kenny to really process his freedom from her.

I wasn't a fan of the third act break up and how it played out, but then I almost never am! All of the plot drama is fairly over the top, but the emotions are evocative, and the book kept me hooked until the end (I stayed up until 1am reading it in a single sitting.)

In addition to the eARC, I was also granted the ALC from Forever and Hachette Audio (thanks to both!) and found the audiobook narrators to be perfect for these characters. They're both very emotive and sounded very true to life, the tone and mannerisms of each character were just perfect. I highly recommend the audio version of this book.

I expected a super cute MM rom-com and while it was, it was so much more than that. The story touched on a lot of really relevant issues. I was not expecting trigger warnings before the book started.

I loved all of the queer characters and people of color in the story. The queer community was represented well which is always so lovely to see.

I really enjoyed seeing Han's character grow and come into himself throughout the book.

I received an Audio copy of this for review. The narrators were great. The accents were perfect and they were really easy to understand at an increased speed.

Another fantastic queer book by Sonora Reyes. They manage to capture so much about what it’s like to be queer and also POC. I really enjoyed my time with these two MMC’s and seeing their story come together, bro!

Great narration love an own voices narrator!

This is the cutest best friends to lovers story. Both characters go through so much growth. Both characters are so special and unique. My heart is all the way touched.

Really important conversations about immigrant experiences too.

This novel offers a unique take on the “fake dating” romance trope. It will appeal to any reader of romance novels, queer literature, and/or novels that take on important issues. The narrators are engaging and believable as the main characters.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this advanced copy! You can pick up The Broposal on January 21, 2025.

You might pick up this book and think "rom-com," but Sonora Reyes instead paints a heartbreaking picture of the struggles of domestic violence, homophobia, racism, and anti-immigration sentiments. However, she balances it with hopeful and beautiful messages about queer love and how the right partners can find their way together even through the most tumultuous circumstances.

I'll admit that it was difficult to pick up this book initially because Jackie and Kenny's relationship immediately set me on edge. I hated how she treated and talked to him, and being in his head was almost excruciating because I've seen what these relationships can do in real life. I've often been in Han's position, watching someone close to me put up with behavior I know they don't deserve. But personal experience aside, I respect how Reyes handled both Kenny and Han's growth throughout the book, especially as Kenny began taking care of and advocating for himself. Han also opened up and became so vulnerable with Kenny, expanding on the loving friendship they'd already established.

*Slight spoilers ahead*

Jackie coming back, saying she's pregnant, blackmailing Kenny, and just instigating their breakup made me so viscerally angry that I was tempted to throw my phone across the room. Her character was just the absolute worst, but it made Kenny standing up to her so satisfying at the very end. And seeing Han support him and stand up with him was even more of a gut punch (in the best way).

All in all, while some parts of this book were difficult to read, I still think a lot of readers will enjoy it and relate to these characters and their struggles. Kenny and Han are literal goals, and Leti was the best side character of all time.

3.5 rounded up

This was a raw, messy, friends to lovers, roommate planned marriage of convenience that was supposed to have bisexual Kenny doing his undocumented co-worker, Mexican born, Alejandro 'Han' a favor to help him get a green card and live more legally in America. There's lots of added drama from Kenny's ex who ends up pregnant and threatens to report on Han.

I didn't love her or the way she manipulates her partners and physically abuses them too. But Kenny and Han's friends to more relationship was sweet and relatable and I enjoyed it the most. Full of a diverse cast of characters dealing with immigration problems, grief and family drama, this was good on audio and an excellent adult debut from a writer I've loved in the past!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review! Steam level: some open door scenes

I just loved this LOVE STORY! These boys were just so cute and such amazing friends. They are the people in books that you can't help but to root for. I hated the ex girlfriend with a passion. I can't believe how manipulative and abusive she was. I wanted her to go to jail or at least get fired from her job!