There’s nothing quite like getting an arc a few days before a book is published.

I read my first Julian Winters book last year, and since then I have read almost all of them (I think). I think I was accidentally reading them in reverse publication order, which was a really cool way to inadvertently see how much Julian has grown as a writer over the years. I knew that he wrote amazing young adult stories about queer BIPOC people, so I was really excited for his adult romance debut. I was even more excited when I realized that this was going to be a spicy, open door romance!

Des was dumped by the love of his life when he graduated college, and ever since he’s been afraid to take life too seriously - both with his love life and career. But when his dad announces he is stepping down as CEO of the family business, he decides to throw his name in the ring. And what better way to convince his family that he’s taking things seriously than by showing them that he’s in a committed relationship. And who is his fake boyfriend? Bray, the same man who broke his heart years ago.

I’m not always a fan of second chance romance. Sometimes I find it too hard to forgive them for the first break up. But in this book, I was rooting for them from day one. The more time they spent together, the more rules they broke. Fake dating is one of my favorites, and this one majorly delivered. I love these two idiots so much.

PS - I love a supportive and affirming southern family. The scenes from the family group text were some of my favorites.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

I sobbed for the last 20% of this book and then for quite a bit afterwards.

This has been a highly anticipated read of mine and it did not disappoint in the slightest. Truly was even better than I could've imagined.

Denz has sworn off relationships after this college relationship ended in heartbreak. Instead, he moved back home and started working at his family's company, trying to find himself there. When his dad announces he's retiring, he wants to throw his hat in the race to become the next CEO. He hears his family say that he can't take anything seriously, and it's obvious in how he hasn't committed to anyone in years. He takes that moment to make up a serious boyfriend to show he is serious and he can do this. When his best friend bails on him, he ends up running into his ex. He needs a favor and of course they can make it through one mutually beneficial dinner. But it's not just one dinner, and Braylon is committed to helping Denz out for this promotion, while also getting some help for his job and promotion.

Everything you could want out of a fake dating & second chance romance, I loved seeing Denz and Braylon in the present while getting glimpses of who they were when they were together, and what inevitably tore them apart.

While this book is a romance, it's also about finding yourself and being true to you and not just letting your life revolve around others' expectations of you. I loved how well-rounded the characters were and to see the growth they've experienced since college, but also just within the story.

The audiobook is fantastic and kept me so engaged! I listened in one sitting and could not put it down - the narrator truly did the character justice!

Highly recommend this book - just maybe make sure to have some tissues with you!

I really adored everything about this rom com. From the cover to the epilogue this book had me hooked. I enjoyed the story of Denz and Brae but also the story about the Carter family/ business. This was a cute second chance romance and I’m just glad that the main characters not only got a happy ending but they also grew in the process.

This was a good mm romance with some laugh-out-loud moments, heartfelt emotions, and a pinch of spice. I enjoyed the fake dating and one-bed tropes and the spice delivered. Denz and Bray’s journey from exes to fake boyfriends—and maybe something more—was sweet and had its share of swoon-worthy moments (that "9 and 1" line from Bray? 🫠).

Denz’s family was a major highlight of the story. The family group chat and the aunties brought humor and energy to the book. The side characters truly shone, sometimes even more than the main couple. Kami’s big moment near the end was a satisfying payoff!

However, the pacing dragged in the middle, and I found myself skimming chapters to get to the resolution. While Denz and Bray’s chemistry was charming, I felt the story would’ve been more engaging with a dual POV.

This was my first book by Julian Winters, and overall, it was a solid read. If you love fake dating, second chances, and fun family dynamics, this might be worth checking out!

**Spice rating:** 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

**Overall rating:** ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thanks to NetGalley, SMP, and Dreamscape Media for the advance copies of the ebook and audiobook. I ended up preferring the ebook for the quicker pacing!

Julian Winters was already an auto-buy author for me, but I THINK THEY LOVE YOU just solidifies it, with a hilarious, hot, and delightful adult debut. This book focuses in on Denz and his close-knit family and their family business, and the intense pressure that comes with the desire to please your parents—and losing sight of yourself in the process.
Celebrity (adjacent) is one of my favorite tropes combinations in the fake-dating category, second only to second-chance, and this book has BOTH. I consumed this audiobook faster than Denz and Braylon can consume a grilled cheese french toast.
André Santana was absolutely stellar, as always!!
Mandatory read (or listen!) for romcom lovers!

I Think They Love You follows Denz as he fake-dates his ex to convince his family he's serious about life—serious enough to take over as CEO of their party planning company. Second-chance romances can be hit or miss for me, but this one totally worked. Julian Winters nailed the chemistry and tension between Denz and Braylon.

What I loved most was how their unresolved feelings from the past intertwined with their growing love for who they'd each become during the five years they spent apart. It felt authentic and earned.

Denz’s family was the star of the show. Every single member felt like a fully realized character, even those with just a little page time. The family dynamics were fantastic—messy, relatable, and full of love. They didn’t always like each other, but they had each other’s backs no matter what.

And Braylon? I loved that he had to earn his way back into not just Denz’s heart but his entire family’s good graces after breaking it the first time.

Also, if you’re into audiobooks, André Santana’s narration was spot-on and added so much to the story.

First of all I would like to congrulate the audiobook narrator for doing such a splendid job that the book didn't feel weighted down but some corny or cringy writing which I probably would have noticed more in print.

I Think They Love You is a second chance romance that strikes the delicated balance between understandable first breakup and understandable hoing back together. The fake dating element helps of course but I was really captivated by Denz' story and I really felt a lot of what's going.

Once again the narration really made the story come to life, it felt like the dialogues were written for audio rather than print
.
I appreciate that the author didn't try to pull a twist ending but rather let the characters' arc come to their natural conclusion. As a romance I have nothing to note, it was sweet, it was horny I wanted to see the characters date again.

OH JULIAN!!!!

I have really enjoyed his YA novels and I am so glad he's out in the adult romcom world now. This book was an absolute DELIGHT! I thought the plot was so fun, fake dating second chance might be my new favorite trope?!

I thought Denz was such a great MC, I really enjoyed his wit and personality. His family was so quirky and funny, and then BRAY WAS SO HOT THE WHOLE TIME OMG I LOVE HIM 4EVERRRRRRRRRRRR

As for the audiobook aspect, this was really well preformed! I had no trouble distinguishing characters or timelines, and I thought André Santana did a great job and his voices and narration were perfect for this story.

I also enjoyed the story. The combination of fake dating and a second chance romance was a fun twist on the two tropes. It was a perfectly enjoyable book. I gave it four instead of five stars just because it required a bit more suspension of disbelief that I would have liked (does the whole family of party planners really go to every party, seemingly as guests? Does a party planning business really keep a whole extended family in designer clothing? etc.) However, it was a very enjoyable read and a nice romance with a happy ending.

I love the second-chance romance and fake dating tropes. The characters are so well-developed and engaging, This book will not disappoint.

I found this book to be a fun, entertaining, and low angst read! The author did a great job of incorporating all the classic elements I associate with second chance romance and faking dating without seeming predictable or boring.

I think second chance romances can be difficult to get right, since the whatever caused the past break-up needs to simultaneously be severe enough to justify a break-up and also something small enough that it can realistically be forgiven and overcome. I thought the author hit the balance well!

Denz has a big family, and I enjoyed reading about his relationship with his siblings and extended family. Braylon (the love interest) is so loveable and cute.

The book is narrated by André Santana and he did a great job infusing the voices with personality and emotion. His narration added to the story without distracting me from the words. I recommend picking up this audiobook!

Highlights:
- set in Georgia
- fake dating
- second chance romance
- event planner x non-profit employee

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, St. Martins Press, and St. Martin's Griffith for this advanced copy! You can pick up I Think They Like You on January 28, 2025.

I absolutely adored this fake dating, second-chance queer romance! Julian Winters proves once again that he's the king of writing these hilarious, relatable romance stories full of love, laughter, and a bit of heartache.

Denzel "Denz" Carter has spent his whole life trying to live up to the expectations of his chaotic, successful family. He's constantly working to prove himself (even after a few mishaps) and show that he could take over as CEO of the family business from his dad one day. Part of showing his seriousness? Being in a serious relationship. Enter Braylon, his ex who left him for London 5 years ago (and who happened to be in the right place at the right time when Denz told his family about his new "relationship"). As the two work out a mutually beneficial deal to fake date, we see them fall in love all over again as adults, finding the same grooves they familiarized themselves with in college while exploring new ones.

Denz and Braylon's love story was the perfect mixture of sweet and sexy, and I also really appreciated the emphasis on family relationships as well. We see Denz's ties to his sisters, parents, aunties, and more grow and change throughout the story. This is a book just as much about familial love as romantic.

All in all, if you love fake dating and second-chance romance, this is your book!

I absolutely loved I Think They Love You by Julian Winters. I’ve been hearing a lot about this book and was so excited when I was given an ALC. This is my first from Julian Winters and he’s now gained a new fan. This is a rom com but also deals with family, second chances and some faux dating shenanigans. Denz needs to prove he can surpass expectations from not only his family but also himself. Denz and Braylons story immediately drew me in and was written so well; it’s thoughtful, complex and authentic. I have to say it’s rare to like all characters and in this book while yes our MCs are the focus, the supporting characters are also depicted so well I couldn’t help but look forward to scenes where Kami or the aunties would show up. The banter and wit are superb, I found myself chuckling several times throughout. I have to give credit to the narrator as well, Andre Santana, phenomenal job! I will definitely be adding this to my collection, This comes out on Tuesday 1/28, get this in your hands friends!!

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and of course Julian Winters for providing me with this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

4,5 stars

Second chance fake dating your ex? Yes please! This story really tackled the struggle between familial expectations and what one actually wants out of life. Denz thought what his family wanted from him and what the world expected of him was what he had to want himself. It wasn’t until Braylon re-enters his life and almost leaves without him again that he finally allows himself to decide his own path. Braylon made a tough decision 5 years ago based on his dad’s advice to leave Denz behind. But was London even what he wanted? Now his father is gone and he’s pursuing a career in non-profits back in Atlanta. As these two reconnect, they have to come to terms with the heartbreak they both experienced while falling back in love with someone who is fundamentally different than they were in college. A lovely story of growth and first love. I do wish we had gotten Braylon’s POV though be ause I wanted to see even more of his personality and growth.

The audiobook narrator was great and even had different voices for Bray and Braylon which was great and easier to differentiate between past and present (because written, it wasn’t always clear when we went back to the present time). I do wonder if the British accent was too strong for only living there for 4 years.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC and ALC!

I thought this was a unique second chance romance and I'd recommend to others. On the audio version it was a little difficult to keep track of the flashbacks when we were moving back to present day. There were a couple of spots where the story got a little flat for me but overall I enjoyed it and I'd recommend others read it as well. I absolutely loved the narrator. His voice is very pleasing and he did a great job with each character.

This was so good. I devoured this in less than a day because I could not stop listening. I don't always love second chance romance, but this was the exception. Denz and Braylon were both such loveable characters even with their faults. I loved seeing Denz' growth throughout the book. I also thought it was perfect amount of spice and humor.

My only negatives would be that it seems really weird that Braylon would have an English accent after only a few years in London. Also, I feel like Denz' family focused a lot on his flaws and there was not a lot of resolution on how his family treated him.

That being said I definitely want to read more by this author. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, this was my honest opinion.

A second-chance romance set in a world of glitz and glamour! I'm a sucker for a fake dating trope, and this one did not disappoint. All of the characters felt fully developed, down to the smallest side characters! I enjoyed getting to see Denz's and Braylon's relationship develop...now give me Jordan's story!

f I was just ranking the romance it would be closer to three stars but I really loved the cast of characters - even when they were a bit cartoonish the side characters never felt like appendages to the main relationship and had their own interactions with the characters. My issue with the romance was that Braylon wasn't as developed as I hoped for - he was still a good character but needed a bit more for me to fully get invested in him as a character, and hense in the relationship as a whole.

Book 4 of 2025 - ✅! Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin & Julian Winters for my ARC of I Think They Love You by Julian Winters, and NetGalley, Dreamscape Media & Julian Winters for my ALC of I Think They Love You, in exchange for honest review. (I listened to my ALC!)

When I saw the cover and description of Julian Winters’ book, I Think They Love You, I requested it immediately. Then, I started listening to the audiobook…and about 3% of the way in, I was predicting it would be a 5 star read for me. This ended up being true. This is my first Julian Winters book, and it’s his first adult rom-com.

In this second chance, fake dating romance, Denzel “Denz” Carter is born into Atlanta & Event Planning royalty, as the son of 24 Carter Gold’s CEO. Denz is in the running to be his father’s successor. Amongst the chaos of working for a high-profile event planning company, he reconnects with his ex, Braylon (fka Bray), who moved to London a few years earlier, but has since moved back to Atlanta.

In the midst of his campaign to take over as CEO, Denz asks his best friend and roommate, Jamie, to fake being his boyfriend. When Jamie doesn’t show up, Braylon steps up to the plate. While it starts as a fake relationship, it turns into the real deal.

I laughed, I swooned, I felt like I was in Atlanta. 5/5 ⭐️ overall. 2/5 🌶️ rating. Catch this book on shelves on Tuesday, 1/28/25! 🍑 🎉 💕

I really enjoyed this!! I loved the fake dating combined with the second chance trope and think both worked really well in this story! I feel like sometimes the second chance trope is complicated depending on the reason for their original breakup but this one made so much sense while not making me dislike either character! I was confused about Braylon’s accent, I might’ve missed where he was from originally but it seems odd that he would have such a think accent after only being in England a few years as an adult so that threw me off lol I loved the family and friend relationships but the family business drama annoyed me a bit at times especially because it was easy to tell that Denz wasn’t in the competition for the right reasons and I just wanted him to realize that faster lol but overall, this was a very solid, sweet, emotional, and spicy read!