When Lily Harper returns to her hometown she’s only got one one goal in finish writing her book. But when a forgotten bucket list resurfaces, so does Isabella Zeta—her estranged best friend and first love.
For Isabella, her past with Lily is better left buried. It’s been ten years since it all happened and she has no interest in revisiting old wounds—or the bucket list tied to them.
Will they be able to turn all that old hurt into a second chance at love—or are some love stories best left in the past?
What a fantastic debut from Tatiana Gómez! This book is a perfect example of a well-done second-chance sapphic romance, hitting all the right notes. It has everything you could want—well-meaning but meddling friends, a classic 'accidental' booking mix-up leading to a shared bed, and plenty of heart. There were a few grammar errors here and there, like missing quotation marks, but they didn’t take away from the story or the overall enjoyment. I was hooked from start to finish and can’t wait to see what Tatiana writes next!
The initial tension was just everything I wished for. I loved that every chapter is a situation where they are forced closer, the bucket list being a pretext. With the jealousy scenes, I ate the book like a snack. I just love when the one that is in the wrong has to grovel a bit. The queer gang is fun and play matchmaker without them knowing it. I am surprised everything happened on a very short time, like a few weeks but I am glad that Gonzales did not make us suffer too much. Both Lily and Isabella are really likeable. I just wished to see more the difference between the Lily and Isabella from ten years ago and now, how they evolved and what made them work now. Sure they finally talk after ten years but It's frustrating thinking a simple talk would have solved their problems. Other than that, it was a delightful second chance romance I look forward to read Clara and Alejandra's story
I really liked following Lily and Isabella's story. Their chemistry and love felt real, and it was easy to feel the emotions they didn’t say out loud.
The story was a bit predictable, but it never felt too obvious. It kept me interested, making me wonder when they would finally learn from their past mistakes and fix things.
All the characters in this book were very likable. Lily’s clumsiness made me laugh a lot, and Valeria completely won me over, especially after seeing how Brooke mistreated her. (Where do I sign up for a sequel with Valeria as the main character?) Alejandra and Clara were the ones who kept the group together, always supporting everyone and quietly helping behind the scenes. They made such a nice and caring group.
The only thing missing for me to fully embrace the "happily ever after" feeling was a few more chapters focused on Lily and Isabella navigating their relationship after putting the past behind them.
Overall, if you like second-chance romances in a small town with a group of supportive friends, you’ll enjoy this book. I’m excited to read more from this author in the future, there’s a lot of potential here.
Omg, what a debut novel. The very first pages blew me away and I couldn't put the book down.
Lily is an author, but somehow she's not getting anywhere with her current book. To save money, she moves back to her home town. She has been avoiding it because her ex-girlfriend, Isabella, still lives there. The two of them were so in love 10 years ago, but what is left behind for both of them is mainly pain and anger. However, their mutual group of friends believe that Lily and Isabella absolutely have to spend time together. So they meet up again after all this time...
What was that chemistry between Lily and Isabella??? Oh boy, there was so much sparkle. In general, this book was a rollercoaster of emotions. At many points my heart ached so much because they both suffered so much and it had me in tears. And then it made me laugh so much. They are both so likeable that I took them straight to my heart.
Another big plus was the group of friends. No matter what happened to Isabella and Lily, they were always supportive and there for them. It really warmed my heart and had great vibes. Aside from that, the games they played together were hilarious!!!
I loved everything about this book! The writing was so so beautiful. A comfy book with an excellent slow burn - even if it was really hard to endure at times. My only complaint is: why doesn't the book have a few more chapters? I would have loved to read more about them.
Look. I am a sucker for second chance romances and I am absolutely obsessed with Lily and Isabella. The fact that they haven’t been able to fall in love with anyone else? That their hearts are still (deep down) holding onto each other ten years later? Sign me up every time!
This is a delicious slow burn that had me screaming and trying to push them together. I loved the spice, even if Isabella was killing me being such a damn tease! 😫
I also love this friend group. They are so loving and supportive. I’m rooting for them all to find their own romances, especially Valeria. That poor girl deserves all the love and happiness in the world. She has a special place in my heart.
This is a debut novel and I am so excited to see what Tatiana writes next!
All that to avoid one single conversation about a misunderstanding is absolutely crazy work.
This was all the things I dislike in a romance novel, sadly. There is a miscommunication that is completely unaddressed for over 10 years, but then suddenly we're back to flirting for some reason. there is a friend group made up of three women who were so indistinguishable. I could not honestly tell you which one of them was dating Brooke, the controlling heel that you absolutely know is going to break one of their hearts in the middle of the book.
I went in with high expectations but unfortunately was let down in every way. This book was easy enough to finish and pleasant enough, but I couldn't say a single interesting thing about the characters, even the main ones, or the romance.
This is a really solid debut novel, I liked reading it and the ending really tied everything together nicely.
Although the main reason for this plot is the fact that the two main characters misinterpreted and miscommunicated something in their past which causes them to have a falling out, I didn’t really mind the presence of a miscommunication trope as their current day selves are not just jumping to conclusions and making things more difficult for themselves for no reason. Seeing the two resolving their issues was nice, and the ending was more than satisfying! Their little friend group is cute, I think the two main characters suit each other well and the setting is a bit corny but still enjoyable.
Theres small town vibe was nice, I really want to live in Lily’s cottage please, and I thought their little friend group was very wholesome- there’s definitely potential to write some more stories about these girls!
Thank you very much Tatiana Gómez for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review, I look forward to seeing your author journey unfold!
Last First Love by Tatiana Gomez is a contemporary romance with a friends to lovers theme.
The story in general was predictable, using the miscommunication angle, some scenes, I noticed were also overwritten - some could have been edited out. The introduction had a shaky foundation and felt pedestrian. It made me suspect the target audience is under 20’s.
However, as I went past the introduction and into the body of the story, the flow was smooth, getting to know the characters’ personalities and their backstories. The friendship between the women felt light and genuine.
In summary, Last First Love is an easy read with a predictable storyline which could be good if you’re after a chill story but with nuanced characters.
I received an eARC for Last first love by Tatiana Gomez. Release date is 2/22/25.
💛Second chance romance 💛Besties to lovers 💛Bucket list 💛Cabin trip/One bed 💛Cat named pickles
Perfect second chance romance 💛 Lily moves back home after 10 years, finds an old summer bucket list she made with her 4 best friends and decides to finish the list. Lily and Isabella were best friends/lovers but they ended on bad terms 10 years prior. They both decide to try and get along while they complete the list to make all of their friends happy. The story flowed nicely, I didn’t feel the need to skim not once, felt myself wanting to read more and more, next thing you know it was 3am and I had to be up at 7am 🥲 (totally Worth it). The amount of angst was just enough and thankfully there was not a lot of unnecessary miscommunication.
This book had me laughing out loud especially the group chats. Isabella is a grumpy ass and I can relate so much. I loved the relationship all of the girls had with each other. Very relatable. Side characters were perfect. Reminded me of me and my besties when we hangout and act like fools especially when alcohol is involved.
Lastly, let’s not forget about the hot chemistry between Lily and Isabella. 😅 🔥🌶️🌶️🌶️ definitely recommended this second chance romance 💛
I could easily read a whole book series just following Lily and Isabella life together. I loved the raw, honest portrayal of their love story and seeing them navigate how to come back together with all the baggage they have endured from their pervious attempt. These two had me stressed, the amount of times I wanted to hop into the books and make them talk to each other was wild, but realistically I didn’t mind it too much. But the moments we got of them had me down bad, like Lily for Isabella and vis versa. LILY WAS DOWN BAD FOR ISABELLA (had to mention that again) and you know what as she should. I gotta be totally honestly, I thought Clara and Alejandra were together and finding out they're not shocked me - oh well. So happy that was the outcome for Valeria but sad too cause we ain't got no update.
I loved this (debut) book so much and would prob be thinking about them for a while. This book has been upgraded to books I will 100% reread with no problem. There's something about second chance romance with ex best friend that just does it for me and this book proves it to me even more.
Really enjoyed Tatiana’s storytelling and can’t wait to see her future works.
Representation - Latina Characters - Lesbian MC - Sapphic rep
This is a super solid debut romance. I loved the alternating POV, which is my favorite with WLW romance. Lily, an author, and Isabella, an artist, haven’t spoken in 10 years after..something happened between them. Lily moves back home and the forced proximity begins.
It was a sweet romance, and Ike happy to say the 3rd act did not have a break up. There could have been a bit more tension between the two MCs and I’m not sure I fully buy into letting a miscommunication stew for over 10 years. It was a bit frustrating that there were so many friends that Isabella and Lily had in common and nobody told h them to get their heads out of the sand and just have a conversation.
The spice level was probably 3🌶️ and there was one little surprise spice scene that I didn’t see coming, nice job Tatiana! I will happily read more from her in the future.
When Lily Harper moves back home after 10 years and finds her summer bucket list she made with her 4 best friends; she is nervous about texting only one, Isabella. Isabella Zeta is - was - her best friend and secret first love and they didn’t end on the best of terms. Isabella and Lily are thrown back together by their best friends; Clara, Alejandra, and Valerie; to complete this bucket list after all these years.
This second chance romance is the perfect mix of everything I want in a queer romance. This book is laugh out loud funny with the perfect blend of sexy/steamy scenes with our two main characters. Last First Love by debut author Tatiana Gomez is one that I will recommend to everyone, especially if you are new to romance. This is also written in dual POV of Lily and Isabella and I love that each character has a very distinct voice. I cannot wait to read more and see where these best friend’s stories go!
Isabella and Lily have the right amount of angst, and the slow burn was REAL slow. All the characters felt real, and I loved feeling like I was in Lily and Isabella’s head. I especially loved the queer friend group and Latinx rep(this doesn’t add to the story but I liked knowing it) This book was a 5/5 for me and I’m looking forward to more from this author!
Dual POV following Lily & Isabella 10 yrs later after their falling out. A fun easy read where you also love all the supporting characters (minus Brooke she can go). Debut novel by Tatiana so excited to read more of hers.
This was a wholesome best friends to lovers story with a lott of angst which I loved it seemed more realistic. The pacing was done well and I fell in love with the characters especially Isabella😓. Brooke can choke though.
Thank you to the author and BookFunnel for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book and the author did an amazing job!Lily and Isabella relationship felt raw, real, and their chemistry was intoxicating in the best way. The book takes its time unraveling their past, allowing us to feel every heartbreak, friendship, growth, and the courage it takes to embrace love again.
The side characters add depth and more magic to the story, leaving me wanting to know more about each and every one of them. However, it’s Lily and Isabella who hold the heart of the story, their journey reminding us that sometimes, love isn’t about getting it right the first time ,it’s about finding your way back when the time is finally right.
Last First Love is a story that will stay with you long after the last page and have you wanting more! P.S Isabella is my favorite!
I am a sucker for a good sapphic romance! Lily moves back to her hometown after 10 years and a falling out with her first love, Isabella. There’s tension, and miscommunication between the pair, but it eventually becomes clear that they cannot stay away from each other.
The storyline was rather predictable, but I loved each and every character (besides Brooke) and would love to see a sequel that dives deeper into each individual character and what Isabella’s and Lily’s life looks like a couple years down the road. I loved the Latina, sapphic representation in this story and how close-knit the friend group was!
Thank you so much to the author for providing me with an ARC, for an honest review in return! Congrats on your first novel and can’t wait to pick up a physical copy on February 22nd!!💛💛
I had the pleasure of receiving Last First Love as an advance review copy, a second-chance, slow-burn romance. While the plot follows a somewhat familiar trajectory for seasoned romance readers, the captivating main characters and their vibrant friend group kept me thoroughly engaged. The central relationship between Lily and Isabella is marked by a compelling tension, fueled by their intriguing past and the slow, deliberate unfolding of their rekindled connection.
However, the narrative's greatest challenge lies in the characters' consistent communication breakdowns. While I understand that this miscommunication serves as a significant plot driver, its prolonged nature occasionally proved frustrating. The extended periods of silence and misunderstanding created a sense of unnecessary conflict that, at times, overshadowed the developing romance. This lack of clear and open communication felt somewhat unrealistic, particularly given the established intimacy between the characters. Despite this drawback, the overall experience was enjoyable, and the strength of the character dynamics ultimately compensated for this narrative weakness. I recommend Las First Love to readers who enjoy emotionally resonant stories with engaging characters, even if the predictable plotline might not offer many surprises.
Before I begin I want to thank the author, Tatiana Gómez, for giving me this ARC.
I liked it. I really did. This was a really good second-chance story. I liked the characters and the whole bucket list plot.
I do have to say that the writing style didn't stay consistent; it changed from one to another. In the first chapters, it kept putting things in parentheses, which was really annoying. Don't get me wrong, I liked the additional information, but this is such a lazy way to present it. Then, after a few chapters, the author decided to change it and write actual sentences.
I also didn't like the fact that the characters didn't really seem to see their own flaws and how they were pretty ignorant of them. I think a character should at least have a certain awareness of their own flaws. Yes, I understand that they don't see it perfectly.
I know all of this sound pretty harsh but I'm just trying to be honest.
Overall I really did like the story I just think it needed some more time.
When Lily returns to her hometown and finds a summer bucket list from senior year in her childhood home, her friends could not be more excited. They start making plans to tick everything off, but one friend in particular needs some convincing. Isabella, who also happens to be Lily's ex.
Last First Love, by debut author @tatianagomezauthor, is a second-chance sapphic romance. It is awkward, sweet, spicy and, in some parts, eye rolling - for example, when a friend books the wrong cabin for a weekend trip and Lily and Isabella are forced to share a single bed.
I was kindly gifted an ARC of Last First Love in exchange for a review.
I absolutely loved reading this book. Isabella and Lily have been pushed together by their friend group to figure out what happened 10 years ago to break them apart. I enjoyed the banter back and forth between the friend group. Isabella has so much hiding behind the walls she has put up over the years. While Lily she wears her hear and feelings on her sleeve. The book has great flow through the entire book. It has the messy drama, funny and spicy moments that will have you wanting to read the entire book in a day.
I’m actually very jealous of Lily. Isabella captivated me in a very easy way. I don’t usually feel that captivated by characters that I relate to, but I felt for her in all the ways. Got pulled forward to the cover art on book 2 and needed to get this one under my belt before the next release, I’m so glad I did.
This was my first read of a FF book and man, it was very good! The writing was good, the story line was there, and the characters were great! If you are a fan of the second chance trope or friends to lovers trope, this book is for you! The relationship between Lily and Isabell was so good, the growth of them both was great. I loved the relationship all the girls had with one another and the relationship Lily had with her mom was so good! I highly recommend!
Let me just say - I loved the premise of this story! A group of friends since high school get together to complete a bucket list they made 10 years ago! Already you know this will have some fun little escapades happening... love those.
The main storyline is Isabella and Lily. Best friends in high school that secretly hooked up, only to have it end abruptly, shattering their love and friendship. This bucket list is a chance for them to try and make things right - for the group's sake, at least. Not easy when it's been way too long, and so many things were left unsaid. However, it was a beautiful thing to see play out. A lot of OMG and Aww moments, but it kept you on the edge all the way to the end. What a ride...and a great read!!
I do not have really any expectations for this book as it is contemporary romance, so I am unsure as to what to expect. This cover is gorgeous though, and the book was FREE? SO YES bury me in books.
I am currently 40% in and I can’t put it down. Ok yes I have raging ADHD so I physically can, but every part of me is wondering what happens next. What does Isabella do? What does Lilly do? WHAT HAPPENS NEXT I NEED TO KNOW PLEASE TELL ME.
Alright so listen, I love when a book opens and you just know that there’s a lot to unpack there, like let’s get into itttttt! Last First Love by Tatiana Gómez was exactly that and then some. Tatiana, girl you wrote a great book - so, let’s get into it!
From the start, I needed to know what had happened between Lily and Isabella. The small flashback moments where we got details from both Lily and Isabella made it so tense, but reader’s intuition also told you that their stories were not going to line up! It kept you flipping the page, that’s for sure.
The Summer Bucket List was a great plot driver, I enjoyed how it kept the story moving and created opportunities for Isabella and Lily to interact. Not to mention, it got the entire group together - who were all fantastic characters in their own way and I too need details about them because it was giving *undisclosed drama* vibes and I can’t wait for the next book!
Can you imagine having such a tight knit group of friends your entire life? Truly so jealous! You don’t see that as often anymore and it was cute to read about these women and how much of a support system they are for one another as they became adults.
The journey that Lily and Isabella go through within these pages is quite the rollercoaster. It’s heartbreaking, nerve wracking and honest. Nothing hurts more than unrequited love, but life had better plans for them if they were willing to take a chance. I appreciated the raw truthful conversations they had with one another. Honest queens are what we love to see!
Some parts were predictable and then others (*cough* chapter 16) were total surprises and I think I loved that combination! For the record, Chapter 16 all I kept saying was “WOAH WOAH WOAH!” 😂😵💫 It was fantastically written! The hot spring scene was definitely HOT and bless Isabella for cutting it off when she did because the rest of the night?… SHEESH. You all just have to read that for yourselves and I hope you survive, ha!
Last First Love by Tatiana Gómez is an epic read, definitely summer vibes so add this to your TBR as soon as possible!
i’ve never been completely sold on second chance romances. maybe i just haven’t read the book that will make me a die-hard fan. but you know what i do adore? best friends to lovers. there’s just something so pure and deeply heartfelt about it—the kind of love that builds over years, filled with inside jokes, unspoken understanding, and a connection that never really goes away. and last first love delivers exactly that.
lily and isabella’s story is the definition of complicated. they were best friends all through high school, became something more for a short time, had a major falling out, and then spent years apart. now, ten years later, lily is back in town, determined to finish writing her book. but when an old bucket list resurfaces, so does isabella—the one person tied to all of lily’s most important memories. and while isabella would rather leave the past where it is, fate (and their meddling friend group) clearly have other plans.
the heart of this book is their friendship. even when things are messy, even when the past hurt lingers between them, their connection is still there. it’s in the way they gravitate toward each other, in the way they talk (or don’t talk) about the past, in the tiny moments that show just how much they still know each other. and honestly? that made their eventual romance feel even more meaningful.
now, let’s talk about the falling out. this book leans heavily on the miscommunication trope, and while that can sometimes be frustrating, i actually think it was handled well here. sure, it’s a little predictable (but let’s be real—when you’ve read as much romance as we have, everything starts to feel predictable). what i appreciated, though, was that the author didn’t just brush over their emotions. we get to see both lily and isabella process their hurt, their regrets, and their fears. and when the truth finally comes out, it’s not an immediate “okay, we’re back together now!” moment. they actually talk through their pain and mistrust, allowing space for all those bottled-up feelings to be heard. it felt earned, and i loved that.
also, i have to mention the text messages. the group chats were fun (especially with all the playful chaos from their friends), but my absolute favorite thing was lily and isabella flirting over text while hanging out with everyone else. that secret, oh-we-shouldn’t-be-doing-this-but-we-are kind of tension? yeah, i ate that up.
the side characters were also a highlight, adding so much warmth and humor to the story. and i really hope valeria gets her own hea in a future book because after what she went through? she deserves it.
if i had one critique, it’s that some parts of the story felt a little repetitive or overly drawn out. there were moments that could’ve been tightened up without losing any of the emotional depth, and at times, the pacing dragged when it didn’t need to.
that said, i still think this is a strong debut novel. if you’re in the mood for a second chance romance with best friends to lovers at its heart—plus a little bit of angst, a lot of warmth, and some truly adorable text message flirting—last first love is definitely worth checking out.
There are so many things to love about Tatiana Gómez' debut novel, Last First Love. For one, almost the entire cast of characters is Latina. For two, the main characters are part of a long time friend group (it is so obvious that they love and care about each other). For three, the majority of the characters are women and sapphic love is at the forefront of the story. (I actually can't recall any men of any significance showing up for the entirety of the book... love that!)
Last First Love's main plotline is the longtime friend group (which is reunited now that Lily has come back home) completing the few tasks left over from their High School bucket list. The main conflict is that Lily and Tatiana have not spoken to each other in ten years. Not after their secret relationship fell apart. This relies heavily on miscommunication that happened in their younger years. I know miscommunication tropes can be a bit divisive in romance. I did not feel like the miscommunication continued to occur during Last First Love rather the main characters just... didn't communicate. Understandable considering there are a lot of hurt feelings.
What I appreciated was that when Lily and Isabella did start to communicate again, it was clear they had matured from their younger selves (even if they were stubborn at the beginning there). The complications of their budding relationship isn't glossed over. I think this was a smart move on the author's part.
I found Last First Love to be a strong debut novel from Tatiana Gómez, and I look forward to reading future works.
I would like to thank the author, Tatiana Gómez, for providing me with a free advanced review copy of Last First Love. This honest review is being left of my own volition, and all opinions are my own.
Additional book details below, if that's your thing. (Beware potential spoilers in the content warnings.)
Pace: Medium Character-driven (there is plot, but the characters are driving it) First person, dual POV Romance: Second Chance, writer x artist Spice: 3/5 Tropes: one bed, literally stumbling into each other, "good girl" Content warnings (provided by me, may not be all inclusive): controlling partner (not main characters), alcohol, death of a parent (previous, discussed)