Release date: June 24, 2025
Publisher: Putnam
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Synopsis:
The USA Today bestselling author of The Worst Best Man is back with a fun and flirty rom-com about a pact between friends that goes awry when one of them unexpectedly announces they’re getting married.
On the eve of their college graduation, best friends Javier Báez and Marisol Campos swore never to date someone the other doesn’t approve of. Now, ten years later, Javi has a problem. Mari, the woman he’s secretly pined for since sophomore year, is planning to marry—and Javi didn’t even get the chance to vet the Pedro Pascal knockoff.
Mari, a successful entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles, is no longer seeking Javi’s dating advice or waiting for him to declare his love for her. Instead, she’s made a different pact—with herself. And to succeed, she’ll need to build a future with someone else.
With his life and theater career finally on track, Javi’s ready to confess his feelings. Except Mari’s changed the script and moved on without him. Which means he has eight weeks to convince her this marriage is a flop. And if Javi has to ruffle some feathers to help Mari avert a disaster, well, he’s up for the challenge. After all, isn’t that what best friends are for?
Review:
This was a heartfelt, witty, and layered friends-to-lovers romance that nails the tricky balance between swoony slow burn and emotional depth. Told in a dual timeline, the story alternates between Mari’s present day wedding planning (to another man) and flashbacks to her college years when she first met Javi. This structure really works here, it lets readers witness the long standing bond between them while also slowly unpacking what went wrong and why they still can’t seem to let go.
Mari and Javi are both incredibly likable characters, with personalities that leap off the page. Their dynamic is effortless and real, with banter and vulnerability in equal measure, I def just wanted them to figure it out and be together already!
The supporting characters are also a highlight. From quirky friends to well meaning family members, the cast adds both levity and depth without ever overshadowing the main couple.
While it’s not a fast paced romance, the slow burn absolutely pays off. The chemistry simmers, the emotional tension builds beautifully, and the payoff is satisfying and earned. If you’re a fan of friends to lovers stories with history, heartache, and second chances, this one will hit the spot.
Overall rating: 4/5
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
Novelgossip 