Only Lovers in the Building by Nadine Gonzalez was such a fun read. The perfect book for kicking off summer reading.

Lily is an attorney on the brink of a midlife crisis. After seeing that her ex-boyfriend just got married, and on top of that, getting passed over for recognition on a deal she’s been pouring herself into...she snaps. Honestly, I don't blame her and I have been there. In the middle of a conference, she quits her job and decides to spend the summer unemployed in Miami.

At first, I was hesitant. I live in South Florida, and I'll be honest. Summers here are brutal. Not sexy. It's hellishly hot and very rainy. But I went along with it anyway because I was having a lot of fun.

When Lily moves into her new building, she meets a sexy bartender named Ben. Ben is Latino, and I loved seeing his culture represented on the page. As a Latina in South Florida, it made me instantly connect with the story even more.

Ben also translates poetry and is genuinely recognized for his work. He’s prestigious, successful, kind, smart, and passionate, but he’s also working through some commitment issues and emotional baggage from his very famous father.

There’s clear attraction between Lily and Ben, but both are so hesitant to act on it because they’re scared of losing their friendship. Instead, they start a book club and eventually a podcast where they share their thoughts on love and romance novels. It’s sweet, and their chemistry really blossoms in such a natural way, it makes their bond feel really authentic.

I loved their banter, and also really loved the side characters—the neighbors in the building were all so vibrant. It felt very true to Miami culture.

My only critique is that the writing style took a bit of getting used to. It felt a little inconsistent at times and very dialogue heavy. The conflict toward the end also wrapped up really quickly, in the last 10 pages or so...so it did feel a little rushed. I was kind of left wondering what the plan for Lily and Ben was and what their next step would be in terms of their previous baggage, but truthfully, this is a fun read and not one that you're meant to over-analyze.

Still, I had such a great time with this book. It’s charming, exciting, and a perfect summer read. I’m so excited to share this one with my audience.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for granting my request to read this e-ARC and provide my honest thoughts.

After Lily's legal career comes to a sudden end, she books a restorative summer rental at the The Icon,an Art Deco building in Miami Beach and then she meets Ben, the hot bartender at the bar.

Honestly, I got secondhand embarrassment when Lily kissed Ben in the elevator (a guy she just met—why, girl? 🤦🏽‍♀️). From that moment on, it felt like one cringe scene after another.

What did keep me going was the book reviewer rep they had going on—I really loved how they bonded over romance novels and shared their reviews. That part was cute and refreshing.

But oh, the side characters… chaotic and all over the place. I kept wondering: Can this get more cringey? And sadly, Lily and Ben had zero real chemistry for me—they probably should’ve just stayed friends.

Overall, this book had all the making of a great book but it just kind of fell flat. Side characters that were every where is just not my vibe as it makes the whole story chaotic. Thank you once again for the e-ARC.

Lily is a lawyer attending a corporate company dinner in Miami. She walks out of the event and emails the CEO her resignation. Rather than board her return flight to New York City, Lily decides to rent a condo in Miami for the summer to regroup. While waiting for the landlord to give her the condo key, Lily goes to the roof top bar where she meets Ben, the handsome Cuban bartender. Within a few days, Lily learns Ben is a MacArthur Fellow for his translation work and he is also a professor at the University of Miami who he tends bar for his cousin when she is not available for her shift. Ben is also Lily's neighbor. Within a week, Ben and Lily are best friends who enjoy reading romance novels and posting the reviews on social media. Next, they are invited to host a summer romance reading podcast. As Lily's three-month stay winds down, she has to make career decisions, as does Ben. Lily and Ben are supported by a cast of neighbors with whom they share drinks and dinners. Recommended for readers who are interested in the romance genre, its components, and its criticisms.

Thank you for the ARC. I enjoyed the opportunity to review this one.

This was not really what I was expecting. The writing style just might not be for me. I don’t think this was for me. I didn't fully get the Only Murders in the Building vibes. I didn't connect with the MCs.

Who hasn't stalked their ex on social media? For Lily, seeing her college boyfriend's wedding photos is the final push she needs to quit her corporate job in New York and relocate to Miami. She realizes that she happens to live in perhaps the coolest apartment building in the city, with a group of other young people looking for a found family in a city. She starts a book club with her hot neighbour Ben and quickly realizes that she may have finally found her people and her purpose.

I enjoyed that this book really leaned into the diversity you find, in particular, in Miami, the gateway to the Caribbean and South America. I really enjoyed that our heroine, Lily, and a prominent side character are from families from the French speaking Caribbean, which is very underrepresented in fiction.

I also appreciated that Gonzalez really walks a thin line with the character of Ben. He's a character who wants to keep his feelings, particularly his feelings about Lily, very close to the vest. It's hard to write a character who keeps his own counsel without making him a character who is emotionally illiterate. I think Gonzalez navigates it well and I loved that he was a literary translator who had no snobbishness about romance novels.

This is a great summer read, and I'd recommend for fans of Abby Jimenez and Tessa Bailey. Thanks to Canary Street Press for the early copy.

I loved this book so much! I really enjoyed how the love story progressed, the tension between the 2 main characters. The setting was also really great. I enjoyed the idea of them being in this one building and having a small community of friends all together.
I'll be putting together a more in-depth review and having that scheduled to post next week.
I will update with a link to the post, once it's up.

After abruptly quitting her law job, Lily decides to rent a long term Airbnb and stay in Miami to decompress and work on what she should do next. After meeting her neighbor, Ben, they form a close friendship, largely based on books and reading, and that soon has sparks flying.

I loved so much about this book! The writing was great, the characters diverse and relatable, the relationship a fun friends-to-lovers, and the friendships phenomenal. It’s the perfect beach read (even the setting— Summer in Miami). It did exactly what a rom-com should do: I swooned at the romance and laughed at the comedy. I also enjoyed the parts that had more gravity. It added depth to the story and allowed for character growth.

☀️📚 ARC Review 📚☀️
Tropes: Slow Burn 🕯 | Friends to Lovers 💞 | Close Proximity 🏖 | Books About Books 📖 | ✨

After a career crash so bad it should’ve come with airbags 💼💥, Liliane Lyon escapes to Miami Beach for sun, silence, and sippin’ cocktails 🍹😎. But instead of staying low-key, she gets swept into the quirky, art-deco-glam world of The Icon—and into the orbit of broody, bookish professor Benedicto Romero 🖋🌊.

He’s on sabbatical to sulk and sigh dramatically 😩📓. She’s trying to heal and NOT fall for anyone. But then… romance novels happen. Poolside reading turns into deep convos, dreamy looks, and chemistry hot enough to melt your SPF 🫠🔥

They read like experts in love. They’re total disasters 😂💔
Still, when they start giving out love advice and are pushed to do a podcast, suddenly it’s not just fiction anymore…

✨ The Vibes:
🌴 Beachy + bookish
🎙 Podcast cuteness
🏘 Found family & lovable weirdos
🎭 Only Murders-style eccentric energy
👀 Tension you can feel

📈 Would recommend if you love smart banter, slow burns that simmer, and characters who are chaotic but lovable. I also loved that the book mentions Miami, Florida. It felt so good to read a summer book based on the city I lived in.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Because sometimes the messiest summers make the best stories.

#BookTok #BeachReadVibes #BlackLoveBooks #BooksAboutBooks #FriendsToLovers #RomanceReadersUnite #SummerReads2025

Thank you NetGalley for an early release. This book follow Lily who suddenly quits her job in her law firm and decides to stay in Miami over the Summer. This book talks about job situation where women are over looked, book love and finding yourself at 30. I wanted to love this book however the 3rd person writing was hard for me to read. The book cover is absolutely beautiful and I loved that it was set in Miami as someone who grew up there. I enjoy the friend group and the vibes.

3.5 Stars

I enjoyed this book. The characters were adorable together, and the side characters were some of the best parts of the book. I did find it a little slow in the middle. The banter was cute, and I really enjoyed the romance review portion and then discussing romance tropes.

“When you’re lost, all paths lead to Miami.”

This is a perfect summer read, set in Miami where there is endless summer. Lily does what i dreamed of doing in my late twenties when I felt lost and undervalued at work, she walks away from it all, without a plan! She impulsively decides to take a break for the summer and spends her time lounging poolside while reading books, writing reviews, falling in love, and making friends.

I love that this is a romance book about romance books and book reviews. It gives insight on how our favorite tropes play out in the real world. Plus, you have a diverse cast of characters that bring a fun energy to the storyline.

The book gave me vibes of Melrose Place (less toxic) and New Girl (comedic banter) and Dawson’s Creek (mockumentary and satirical) and Reality Bites (coming of age friends to lovers).

What you get:
✔️Opposites attract
✔️Friends to lovers
✔️Close proximity
✔️No third act break up
✔️Multiculturally diverse characters
✔️MMC is endearing showering her my favorite love language, acts of service.

This is my first read from the author and it will not be my last.

I chose this book based solely on the cover and title; I didn’t even read the description before diving in. Excellent cover and title forsure.

While I appreciated the meta-ness of a romance book having characters who reviewed romance books and their troupes, this book was not my favorite. I had a hard time becoming invested in the story and it felt like it was just a “and here’s what happened next” kind of story.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was super fun and cute! The paced moved along quickly and all of the characters were interesting and had good motivations. At first I thought the reason Lily and Ben weren’t together was manufactured but I quickly saw it was real and they needed to do the work before they could make a relationship last. I would love for everyone on the book to get their own story.

The cover of this book is so good! The premise is cute and the characters are, generally, endearing. I think the writing is decent but there is some depth missing.

I found the pace of bonds built with the FMC to be a bit too unbelievable. I think friendships can be built quickly but everyone just loves each other immediately and that is a bit uncanny / stepford wives for me. I also agree that the ending was rushed. It’s not too unbelievable that a woman in her 30’s would still want validation from her parents on life decisions, though, so I don’t have issues with that aspect of the conclusion.

Overall, a cozy, popcorn read!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this Advanced Readers Copy!
Rating: 4 or 4.5 stars — still torn, but I really loved this one

I took my sweet time reading this because I didn’t want it to end. The writing was so easy and warm that I just wanted to live in it for a while. The story kicks off with Lily quitting her high-stress NYC job and heading to Miami for the summer to reset her life. She ends up in this fun, slightly quirky art-deco apartment building where she meets a handful of charming neighbors — including Ben, the guy across the hall.

I absolutely loved how Lily and Ben’s friendship developed. It wasn’t rushed or overly dramatic. Just quiet, sweet, everyday moments — coffee outside their doors, post-it notes, reading by the pool. It all felt super natural and meaningful. They’re both a little guarded from past heartbreaks, but their connection builds slowly and beautifully. The banter was fun, the tension was just right, and it didn't feel like a typical romance arc. I also loved their podcast together and thought that was a really fun way to discuss their own books in their book club while hinting at their own feelings over and over.

On top of that, Lily forms such sweet friendships with the people in her building. She’s growing, healing, and figuring herself out through these little moments of community and kindness. Everyone in the book is going through something, and I loved how real and human it all felt. Honestly, it made me want to escape somewhere for the summer and meet a whole new group of people too!

Now… the only reason I’m torn between 4 and 4.5 stars is the ending. After all this great build-up, things just wrap up way too fast. Lily’s been torn about what to do next, and then a sudden phone call from her mom flips the switch and suddenly she has the validation and permission (which she doesn't need at 30 years old) she needs. And then she and Ben basically resolve all their past trauma and have a revelation of their own feelings in like two pages. I love a happy ending, but this one felt a little too neat and rushed after all the slow, thoughtful development.

Still — this book totally warmed my heart. I was so invested in the characters and their growth. I’ll definitely be picking up whatever this author writes next.

I loved this book! The Miami setting made me feel like I was right back home as a Florida girl. The witty banter had me smiling, and the characters felt like a real group of friends. It was lighthearted, quick, and left me wishing the story kept going. A fun, feel-good read!

DNF at 25%

I could barely make it the 25% I’m so sorry. This was just… idk not for me. The FMC was so annoying to me and the MMC also.. didn’t do it for me lol

I was already rolling my eyes and annoyed 5% in so… I’m calling it quits.

Thanks to NetGalley for arc!

This book was so fun. flirty and gave the best Miami vibes. This book would be such a great summer beach or pool read. As a Florida native, I feel like Nadine Gonzalez did such a great way to bring Miami alive in this book.

The banter in here was chefs kiss. The quick quips between our main couple was so sexy and witty. I loved getting to know Lily and Ben; I was swooning over their bond over books. I also liked getting to know the side characters in the building. I loved the found family vibes with all her new friends especially after her losing her job,

I would recommend this for someone who wants a fun summer read.

This was my first book by Nadine Gonzalez and honestly I don't think its going to be my last!

This was an enjoyable contemporary romance. This book had a great cast of characters and I enjoyed following Lilly and Ben in this story. This was a quick and easy read perfect for summer reading.

Read this if you like:

📖 Likable characters
📖 Found family
📖 Miami setting

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted arc.

Thank you, Harlequin Publishing Group, for granting me access to this book for review through NetGalley! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I will start by noting that romance fiction is not my area of strength, as I tend to be very critical of the dialogue, characters, and plots of novels in contemporary romance. I was weary before starting Only Lovers in the Building, but was intrigued by the premise - witty, flirty, and fun in the sun (in MIAMI!). Ms. Nadine Gonzalez, you outdid yourself with this novel. One chapter in, and I renounced my hesitation to read contemporary romance. The host characters were diverse, both in background and experiences, and felt refreshingly real. The dialogue was snappy, and the banter was splendidly crafted. The tension and relationship development between our two main characters, Lily and Ben, is fiery and reflects the fun Miami setting.

The novel transported me to the romantic comedies of the early 2000s (aka the Golden Era), and I loved every minute of it.