This is a contemporary romance book that follows the female main character (FMC) in her journey to find herself after quitting her job in a big law firm. She quits her job and decides on the whim that she will stay in Miami for the summer to find herself and her passions again. In Miami, she finds friends and starts to fall in love with her neighbor. This book also goes into the love for romance books that the female main character and the male main character share. The tropes in this book: Slow burn, friends to lovers, beach reads. There is also Latinx rep and Black love in this book, which I appreciated.
I personally did not enjoy this book as much as I hoped. I think the slow burn was really drawn out, and the reasons for them not being together did not make sense in the context of the book. I think the FMC was not consistent. For example, one big plot point is a contract that is presented to her and the MMC, and she, as a lawyer, leaves it up to the MMC to see and sign on her behalf. Furthermore, the FMC kept saying that the MMC was this perfect man and that she was too broken to be with him. I think the MMC was written with little complexity.
I recommend this book to people who are looking for a quick summer read and really enjoy slow burn romances.

This book has a lot of elements that are right up my alley. Bookish main characters, a slow-burn, with strangers-to-friends-to-lovers, Latinx representation, an FMC who stands up for herself, and quirky side characters.

This combination of themes made me excited but, unfortunately, the execution didn't land where I thought it would/could have landed. I wanted more focused personal development and backstory on these characters, it just felt like there was a lot they both needed to work through. This next thing is 100% a me thing, but I have a hard time getting invested in stories that have a focus on social media elements. Here, we have the two main characters co-writing reviews of their book club reads. Obviously I’m all about book reviews, but when the focus becomes on posts going viral, I lose interest. Once they switched to the podcast format, I felt slightly more invested in everything else that was happening, but there was still something missing. I spent days reading just a tiny bit at a time and not feeling any pull to pick it back up, and that’s just not how I like to feel about reading.

Overall, this felt like a very middle-of-the-road book. I’d say pick it up if you want something very unserious, light, summer-themed (beach/Miami setting), but that won’t elicit feels.

Thanks to the publisher (Harlequin Trade Publishing) & NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Después de renunciar impulsivamente a su trabajo durante un retiro corporativo en Miami,con el corazón roto, humillada profesionalmente y atrapada en una espiral de comparaciones en redes sociales, Lily decide quedarse en la ciudad para tomarse un descanso del mundo. Su plan es sencillo: sol, cócteles y lecturas ligeras. Lo que no esperaba era encontrar tanto caos, drama y... romance.

Instalada en un edificio Art Déco lleno de personalidad, su vida da un giro inesperado al conocer a Ben, el enigmático y encantador bartender con más capas de las que aparenta. Entre encuentros torpes, besos impulsivos, discusiones literarias y malentendidos que dan lugar a momentos cómicos y emotivos, Lily y Ben comienzan a entrelazar sus vidas en un verano que ninguno de los dos anticipó.



---

Lo único que no me gustó fueron los capítulos del pódcast. No en sí ellos, pero algunos se sintieron como puro relleno.




Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest

This was a fun summer read with a steamy new-friends-to-lovers romance surrounded by a delightful cast of secondary characters.

Lily and Ben had an immediate chemistry when they meet after she quit her job and booked a summer at a complex in Miami to reset her life. For mutual reasons, they resist acting on their attraction and instead form a book club and friendship. There was always an underlying tension between them while the attraction simmered, just waiting for them to give into it. The book club grew to include their neighbors and became a little found family, which I really enjoyed.

There was a lot of self-discovery and internal work that both Ben and Lily needed to do. Since this was a single POV, there was definitely more depth to what Lily was grappling with and how she worked through it. That’s not to say that Ben’s own issues weren’t covered. They were eventually and in bits and pieces that felt right for the flow of the story.

I had the audiobook in my ears while following along in the ebook. I’ve listened to and enjoyed audiobooks narrated by Aure Nash before, but I didn’t really love the performance of this one. Possibly because there were so many different characters that needed their own tone/sound/accent and I felt sometimes those elements went in and out with the characters. It didn’t take me out of the story, but it was noticeable for me.

Thank you Canary Street Press and Harlequin Audio via NetGalley for the eARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

✨There was nothing to rush home to except her prized monstera plant.
Messy Summer
When Lily has a little mini crisis and quits her job in the middle of a work retreat, she ends up staying in Miami, moving into a building, and meeting Ben.
Romance Tropes
Lily and Ben bond over their mutual love of romance novels, calling out tropes while unknowingly living out one of their own—with sizzling tension poolside and beyond.


Miami Vibes
The story unfolds in The Icon, a glamorous Art Deco building full of vibrant, eccentric neighbors that make this summer getaway anything but quiet.


Enemies-to-Experts
Their romantic disasters make them the least likely love gurus, but once a podcast opportunity puts them center stage, they’re forced to turn theory into practice.


Good for people who: Like mixed media formats, a group of quirky characters, a little bit of spice
Rating: 4 alcoholic drinks
This book is one of those where you can just curl up by the pool and read. Which is ironically the plot, because our main characters literally sit by the pool and read and then do book reviews. At least this book didn’t frustrate me with its arguments and tropes. And also, a little sad that there were no murders in this building.

The plot summary suggests a FMC finding the strength to upend her hereto successful albeit personally unsatisfying legal career. The unintended consequence ? Residing in a building occupied by personalities navigating their own love lives? Well, that seemed to be ripe for potential and multiple romance stories.

Unfortunately, my interest waned as the book progressed. For me, it was the writing style. The banter between Ben and Lilly was fast paced and lively.

However, it seemed as if the writing process was akin to an assembly line. It was if the writer assembled these excellent dialogues then when the scene called for some dialogue, she returned to the dialogues, sifting thru potential options and plopped one into a scene. It was kinda like working on an old fashioned puzzle.; that is, trying to get the pieces to fit. The pacing just seemed off.

As to the other characters, due to their superficial characteristics, didn't get this reader invested in them.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#OnlyLoversintheBuilding #NetGalley

If I could give this book more than five stars I would!!
I loved everything about the book.
At a work conference in Miami, Lily whose an attorney watches as her boss gives all the credit for the project she completed , to a man! So she decides to abruptly quit! Lily rents - long term Airbnb in an apartment complex in Miami, she needs to decompress and decide what she’s going to do next. Needing a drink she meets the bartender named Benedicto Romero—he’s resident tortured poet, and she has an awkward moment with him, to her surprised he ends up being her neighbor. What happens next is everything!! They discover a shared passion for romance novels, Lily and Ben are soon spending hours reading together by the pool. They can’t make sense of the sizzling chemistry between them, and the suggestion of a professional podcast suddenly forces them to consider the long-term. So what if it means working even closer together! They both begin to wonder what's gonna happen at the end of the summer, this can’t be summer love right?

Only Lovers in the Building was a fun read and is perfect if you're looking for a summertime pool companion. I enjoyed the instant attraction and slow-burn tension between Lily and Ben, and I really enjoyed getting to know all of the side characters and friends in the building. This book was written with the romance reader in mind, as Lily and Ben form their own romance book club and write reviews on "BookTap" (aka Bookstagram?). There's a lot of "bookish" language and talk about different tropes.|

That being said, it felt as though the author was trying to do too much, and I kept feeling like maybe I was losing sight of the point. The book reviews turn into podcast episodes, which felt redundant and didn't really add much to the story (this could have been way shorter). Lily and Ben have their own issues with their parents, but when you throw in issues with career identity, other family problems, friendship dynamics, and side relationships, it just becomes too much. I think the author should have honed in on one or two major topics and plot lines and stuck with them.

The cover and title are exactly what you get—lovers in the building, not on the beach, not at the club. The story rarely takes place anywhere except the building and its pool/bar, so if you're looking for full-blown Miami vibes, you won't find much of them here. That being said, it was still a fun read with witty banter, and if you love men who are good with their words, Ben is your man.

This was really cute and unique in terms of romance novels. Would be a fantastic summer beach read. I really enjoyed all the characters and sub plots.

After quitting her job while on a work retreat in Miami, Lily finds herself in the rooftop bar of the apartment she is renting for the summer, trying to catch the attention of a sexy bartender.

What Lily doesn’t know yet, is that this “bartender” and a few special inhabitants of her temporary home will completely change her life.

This book was beautiful, sweet, and everything that I needed right now. A perfect summer read full of all of the relationship tropes mixed with a romance book club at the center. Such a lovely story about books bringing people together!

I really liked this book. It was so cute and fun. I loved the friendships, the vacation vibe, and I love a man who takes care of the girl from the start. There’s something so special about a man taking the time to do little things for the people he loves without even thinking about it. It’s a sign of a good heart. The characters in this were so cute together and the chemistry was great. This was a fun four star read, but the conclusion did feel rushed. The conflict was still going at 95% of the way and the ending was fast. Ultimately, I loved it.

A summer escape with love, friendship, and tons of self discovery

Book Stats:
📖: 347 pages
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: Canary Street Press
Format: eARC / Single POV FMC
Series: Standalone

Themes:
🌴: A live song to Miami
🌴 : Self discovery
🌴 : Summer romance

Representation:
🏝️: Cuban MMC
🏝️: Haitian FMC/bilingual French speaker
🏝️: Caribbean native/Queer bestie

Tropes:
💗: Corporate girl boss
💗: Professor MMC
💗: Neighbors to Lovers


🥵: Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️
Potential Triggers: **check authors page/socials for full list.

Short Synopsis:
After impulsively quitting her job, Lily decides to take a summer, long sabbatical and sunny Miami to reset and recharge. Little does she know she will meet the most amazing friends that turned into family and the most sultry next-door neighbor who turns into a soulmate. But what's gonna happen at the end of the summer? Will their love endure??

General Thoughts:
This book ended up hitting very middle of the road for me. The side characters really shined in this novel and I loved that we got to see as much of them as we did. In fact, I would be super excited to read books about the side characters in future installments. Unfortunately, for me, our main characters did not sizzle as much as I would've loved them too.

The premise of this book is absolutely summer romance and poolside read in a pergola. It hit those notes extremely well. This was definitely an ode to sunny Miami and it's wonderful summer months. I wish those sunny and sizzling vibes had translated into our main characters. Lily was a little bit easier for me overall. While she did maintain kind of a pessimistic attitude throughout the book, it felt realistic and organic due to the fact that that is how I would expect someone to react when they are impulsively jobless and not sure where they're going with their life within the next few months. I had a little bit more trouble with Ben because I feel like his character was extremely wishy-washy. One minute he was a smoldering bartender with tattoos and a life plan, and the next minute he was completely indecisive, emotionally unavailable and not sure where he was going with life. I couldn't keep up.

I did find the romance to be fairly intriguing, however. I enjoyed the way the romance unfolded more towards the second half of the book then in the beginning, but it all tied together really nicely. I was satisfied with that aspect of the book.

I really enjoyed the book club aspect of this novel. At the beginning, I wasn't too thrilled about it because it used a lot of social media aspects and I don't really love that in my books typically. But the way it was utilized in this book really did hit for me because it was more of Book tracking apps versus "real" social media. The way that the book club translated into the podcast was really fun and refreshing. I thought it was a unique premise and I enjoyed reading the transcripts of the podcast throughout the book.

In conclusion, this was a decent introduction to this author. While I don't think I'll run out to read her backlog immediately, I would be interested to see what is coming up soon and if I'm looking for a sunny Miami based read, I think I'd pick up one of her books again. I did stay pretty entertained throughout so that is definitely a plus column entry.


Disclaimer: I read this book via free eARC from NetGalley and canary street press All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This story is what a romance should be. There is enough tension, comic relief, great side characters, colorful descriptions, and the journey of both main characters healing their wounds and growing away from their fatal flaws.

In short, this is the story of Lily, a NYC lawyer who, on a whim, decides to resign from her job and rents a place at The Icon, an Art Deco building in Miami Beach. (The building is a main character for me, and thanks to the gorgeous cover, I could picture it clearly.)

There, she meets a few interesting neighbors, and her days are spent by the pool reading romances and drinking cocktails. Enter Benedicto Romero, one of her neighbors—a tortured poet who takes the bait of analyzing romances with Lily. I don’t want to say more, but you get the picture.

To me, any book that has something to do with reading or publishing romances is my catnip, and this one didn’t disappoint.

This book is for you if you like:
– Stories about healing
– Literary characters discussing romance
– Art Deco settings that feel alive
– Smart banter
– Neighbors to lovers
– Books about books and reading
– An Only Murders in the Building vibe (sans the murders part)

Thanks to HarperCollins and the author for the ARC via Netgalley

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.