Lily Lyon is having a moment after suddenly quitting her successful law career during a corporate retreat and trekking to Miami on a whim. A whimsical cast of neighbors slowly adopts her at The Icon, an Art Deco building where she has booked a summer stay, especially Benedicto "Ben" Romero. After starting a romance book club, the two continue to grow closer, but Lily is supposed to leave before Labor Day. Will she?

I appreciated the diverse group of neighbors and the representation that romance books can be enjoyed by all, regardless of their background. Lily and Ben were adorable leads, and their chemistry was palpable from the first chapters. I actively rooted for their HEA while enjoying all the book chatter.

Advanced copy provided by Harlequin Audio. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️💫 (2.5 stars)

Only Lovers in the Building had a fun, high-concept premise that felt like a vacation in book form—romance readers turned accidental love gurus, a quirky building full of neighbors, and a slow-burn connection set in a vibrant Miami Beach backdrop. I expected something more ensemble-driven, with a stronger focus on the building’s book club and the messy romantic lives of its residents.

But the story took a different turn—and not in a way that worked for me.

Instead of diving into the dynamics of the building or creating a true ensemble rom-com vibe, the plot leaned heavily into Lily’s career shift. The pacing around her rise from anonymous reviewer to podcast host to book deal felt wildly unrealistic and left the story feeling rushed and off-balance. The podcast element, while promising, lacked spark—the on-air scripts felt stiff and missed the fun energy of the characters’ off-air chemistry.

And while I appreciated the meta-discussions around romance tropes and archetypes, the romance itself didn’t quite land. The chemistry simmered but never boiled, and Ben’s POV—something I really would’ve loved to see more of—arrives too late and too briefly to carry any weight. A deeper dive into his head throughout could’ve added nuance and depth to their connection.

There were some charming moments, and I liked the idea of two people who know romance on the page but can’t navigate it in real life. But ultimately, this one didn’t deliver on the vibe or emotional payoff I was hoping for.

🎧 Audiobook note: Narrated by Aure Nash, who brought a calm and pleasant tone, but it couldn’t fully energize a plot that stayed too surface-level for my tastes

Only Lovers in the Building had a fun-ish premise and a vibrant setting in Miami that added charm to the story. The chemistry between the main characters was an emotional rollercoaster and there wasn’t a ton of emotional depth which makes it hard to fall in love with the characters. However… It’s a light, quick and enjoyable read and I would recommend!

I really enjoyed the audiobook. The narrator was really animated and I really enjoyed her ability to portray so much emotion from one like to the next. She’s such an awesome narrator and kept me engaged!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to be an ARC reader in exchange for an honest review!

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ 4.25/5

Beach reads, supportive book club friends, and a possible summer love all in one building? I WISH I could dive into this story!

— BRIEF SYNOPSIS —
This book starts off strong with the main character, Lily Lyon taking a sudden leap of faith and a much needed summer break at a rental in Miami Beach 😎 Initially, her only plan is to recharge with sunshine and plenty of reading. But she soon meets others in the building who set her on a path towards self-discovery and taking chances.

— MAIN CHARACTERS —
When Lily and her neighbor, Ben Romero bond over their love of reading and reviewing romance books, they start a mini book club that quickly grows to include their fascinating neighbors. I love that we get to read Lily and Ben’s full book reviews and that their deep analyses of those romance novels make you take a closer look at that genre. It also makes you think about the book itself, so it’s very meta.

— ELEMENTS I LOVED —
Although the banter in this story is satisfying and entertaining, I really appreciate that Lily also forms strong connections with others. The character development and world building are so well done that I frequently wished I could join their book club and hang out with these lovable characters!

— ELEMENTS I DIDN’T LOVE —
There are some unnecessary elements that are most likely meant to create more conflict, but I feel like the main issue of what will happen at the end of the summer is enough to carry the story forward. The plot is kind of chaotic, yet still enjoyable and somewhat predictable.

— REASONS TO READ THIS —
This book is perfect for vacation, the beach, a book club, a buddy read, or whenever you want to escape into a beautiful setting. It’s a fun, accurate representation of the book world, including bookish social media creators.

This would make a great movie! The only similar vibes to the TV show with a similar name (Only Murders in the Building) are that everyone seems to know each other and their antics are very entertaining. But instead of solving mysteries, these main characters solve relationship issues and talk about books. That’s my kind of friend group! 🫶🏽

📖 Thank you to The Hive, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for ARCs of this novel!
🎧 The audiobook is great on its own, but I’m glad I was able to read multiple formats.. The narrator, Aure Nash is fantastic and made it really easy to keep track of different characters and elements.

Only Lovers in the Building starts off with a strong premise and loveable characters, beautiful setting, and genuinely fun found family. I enjoyed reading about our protagonist’s struggles in life and career, and was rooting for her to figure her stuff out from the get go. However, I don’t think this book should be classified as a romance novel. The romance felt stale and subsidiary to other plot points and there was no real conflict between the love interests. I didn’t find myself invested in their connection at all. This was a well-written and fun book but I would not classify this as genre romance.

The day after corporate attorney Lily quits her job, on impulse she kisses Ben, the cute bartender/literary translator, and the next day discovers they are temporary neighbors while Lily spends the summer in Miami. They quickly get past the awkwardness and become fast friends. In no time they are reading by the pool and doing book reviews on social media. Their following quickly grows, and they receive an opportunity that neither of them expected.
There were red flags that gave Lily reasons to shy away from Ben romantically but there was also a magnetic pull that drew them together.
This was a slow burn. On the surface there was a lot of sexy banter as their friendship continued to develop. There were physical hits and misses but by the time this couple got intimate you could tell the author took her time with this scene. They both fooled themselves that the ”thing” they had was temporary. Their lack of communication about the future made me want to yell at them both.
I liked the way the author brought Lily and Ben together over books. There is also a strong friend group of neighbors that have mini subplots. Their interactions were funny and entertaining. I was as interested in the friend group as I was with the main characters.
The book was mainly from Lily’s POA. I would have liked to hear Ben’s as well. The main characters were diverse (Haitian American female lead and Cuban American male lead) and I enjoyed hearing about their backgrounds. The single narrator did a great job with all the characters, which made the book even more enjoyable on audio. This was a great summer read. I received an ARC from Netgalley in return for a review.

4⭐️ Fun story of strangers to more. Enjoyed the bonding over books, book club, and podcast elements. If you enjoy a book about book lovers, forced proximity, multicultural characters, and slower burn, give this a read.

5⭐️ Narration from Aure Nash. Absolute fabulous job portraying such a wide range of characters. They were all so quirky and fun.

Lily needs a break from her career as lawyer after it ends suddenly. She decides to take a trip to Miami and wonderful community. A community that includes a handsome professor named Ben. They soon discover a mural love of romance. As they read and creat a bookish community, they are invited to a podcast. This will bring them even closer and the lines of a friendship will begin to blur. Lily will eventually have to face that attraction and the life she left behind.

Thank you to @netgalley, @harlequinbooks, and Nadine Gonzalez for the advanced listener and reader copy.

Only lovers in the building was truly written by a lover of romance books. From the in depth analysis provided through the characters of romance tropes to the complete imaginings of several entirely made up stories for the characters discuss in their book club, the love and importance of this genre is palpable. I loved the attention to detail and dedication to the concept.

However, that was where my personal enjoyment ended. I did not find myself invested in either of the main characters or their relationship. I particularly felt frustrated with the FMC and her general arc. As for the MMC I just didn't care ask that much. I cared more about the secondary characters but it still bothered me how much the FMC tried to push her thoughts and feelings onto her friends.

Overall well written and done with live but not for me. 3 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A quirky, fast paced story with fabulous character and an engaging plot. The wonderful narration only enhanced the overall reading experience.

Only lovers in the building

Thank you to @netgalley for this early release audiobook

I thought that this was a light romance. Lily is a lawyer from New York and went to Miami for the summer and there she met Ben.

Go along for the ride as these two discover what is important to them and what is not and how they feel for each other

This book was a creative and enjoyable read with a standout romance at its core. The chemistry between Lili and Ben was electric—playful, emotional, and incredibly engaging. I especially appreciated how their relationship developed through genuine closeness and interaction, without relying on the typical "forced proximity" trope that’s often used in romance. Their dynamic felt fresh and authentic, making their love story a real highlight.

That said, the large cast of characters made it difficult to follow at first. While each character was fun and distinct in their own right, it took me a while to keep everyone straight, which occasionally pulled me out of the story in the early chapters. Once I got a better grasp on who was who, though, I was able to fully enjoy the world the author created.

Overall, this was a charming and imaginative book that delivered a unique romance, some laugh-out-loud moments, and a colorful ensemble of characters. If you’re looking for a story that’s both heartfelt and a little chaotic in the best way, this one’s worth picking up.

A romance novel where you can fully believe both characters are smart, responsible adults. This is the perfect 30-something romance. They have their own goals and ambitions, their own things to work through, etc etc, and no artificial plot contrivances to create tension. I rooted for all the characters to find their happy endings. If you love romance but are tired of books that are stuffed to the gills with tropes just for marketing, this is the book for you.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free copy, all opinions are my own.

4⭐️ 2🌶️ 4🎧 Full transparency, I went into this book rolling my eyes because I am not a fan of 3rd person POV book. Boy-howdy am I happy I continued with this story, it was so stinking cute and I really enjoyed this book! The slow burn was burnin’ soo slow! The tension build was very well done for being written in 3rd person.

Lily and Ben are so clearly down bad for each other, but they are so stuck on “this won’t work passed the summer” that they keep each other at a romantic distance. The distance doesn’t help.... not even a little. The way they talk about books and troupes and how they relate to their situation had me lol’ing!

This story was narrated by Aure Nash, and I think she did a great job telling the story. I do wish there was a second narrator for the masculine characters, however, Aure had great inflection and voice changes for the different characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for an advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for the advance listener copy of Only Lovers in the Building by Nadine Gonzalez.

Liliane (Lily) needs a break. She decides to spend the summer renting an apartment in Miami Beach, after the legal career comes to an end. It’s at her summer rental that she meets Benedicto (Ben), also on sabbatical. Both have a shared love of romance novels and are great talking books together!

I loved the forced proximity and I loved the book talk. The other characters in the book help bring this story to life!! Overall, I enjoyed Lily’s story and I really enjoyed the book’s conclusion.

The narrator did a great job! The entire cast of characters is such a memorable and stand out part of the book and I believe the narrator did a great job bringing all of them to life.

Thank you very much to the publishers and Nadine Gonzalez for this arc!

This was the absolute cutest romcon. The premise was super unique and very fun. I was hooked from the beginning and only stopped listening when I absolutely had too. There is a little spice sprinkled in but an actually storyline that’s not spice centered which is appteciated.

Overall kept my interest and was super cute! Would recommend!

If you’re looking for a vibrant, summery romance with sizzling chemistry and a side of bookish fun, this is it! Set in colorful, beachy Miami Beach, this story follows neighbors Lily and Ben as they go from casual chats to book club besties to something so much more. Their banter? Flawless. Their chemistry? 🔥🔥 And yes, their two person book club where they write joint reviews might be one of the cutest romance subplots ever.

The slow burn is real, the vibes are immaculate, and the diverse, entertaining cast of side characters adds so much heart. There’s plenty of swoon, but also substance, this one delivers on every level! The audio version by Aure Nash was delightful and sooo engaging, she did an incredible job!

📚 Tropes:
💘 Slow Burn
👯 Friends to Lovers
🏠 Neighbors
🏖️ Close Proximity
📖 Books About Books

Lovely characters, a fun plot, and a great time!

I really enjoyed this unique love story that was diverse and relatable. The side characters really held their own and added to the story.

4.5 stars

If you enjoy Only Murders in the Building but would rather see relationships instead of crimes, then this is perfect. You get a great cast of characters beyond the MCs and seeing their relationships start/grow/end and the like while enjoying these neighbor MCs go from friends to lovers. The book club aspect was cute especially with the FMC being a book influencer and the MMC being a professor and translator of poetry. It brought an interesting touch to have someone who is a fan of the genre and a professor of it discuss stories together. The podcast part was fine because I know that matches the show inspiration but I didn't find it that important. But I did enjoy that it was just a portion of a larger show.

The audiobook had a great narrator and was produced well which I think was especially important given the podcast aspect of the plot.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this and ALC!

3.5/5 ⭐️
Career and relationship disappointments have left Lily with one choice: HERSELF. She decides to quit her job and spend the summer in Miami, where she meets a colorful cast of characters, reads a lot, and falls in love. What more can a person ask for? Ben, Lily's neighbor and bonafide heartthrob, could be the love of Lily's life...or will it wind up being a summer fling?

I had a super time listening to this book! Aure Nash, the narrator, does an EXCELLENT job with various accents, comedic timing, and hits the perfect vibe for the cozy/sensual moments. I felt like I was being whisked away to Miami, which was absolute perfection while doing household chores or going for a walk. This books wants to entertain, asking little from its readers, other than to kick back and enjoy. Don't get me wrong, there IS a plot. 🤣

I never felt like I particularly NEEDED to know what was going to happen, but I think the strength in this book isn't that it's super compelling, but rather, that it's an easy-breezy escape, meant for relaxing beach reading. That being said, I enjoyed coming back to it every time, rather than feel like it was an ARC that I needed to finish. My only gripe was that the adult language, liberally seasoning this book, made it impossible for me to listen without an ear bud in, even though the vast majority of the book's subject matter was PG. Oh well! 🤣

I'd like to thank Harlequin Audio and Netgalley for the ALC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The narrator was a good choice to voice the main character and tell this story. Her voiced matched the character.

The story has a good start, but I lost interest about halfway. The characters were interesting and at times the side characters were what kept me listening to the story. There was too much going on in the story as it was too instant love for my preference.

The author's writing is good, but this story missed the mark for me.

Thank you Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the ALC.