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Last First Kiss
Sparks fly in this second chance m/m rom com when an unlucky-in-love event manager realizes the man-of-honor at the high profile wedding he's planning is the same man who broke his heart.
They say you never forget your first kiss. But Jordan Carter wishes he could forget the one he shared with Jamie Peters as teens. And the one they almost shared again last year before Jamie made it clear he wasn’t the “right” man for Jordan to be with while he’s figuring himself out.
Now, Jordan’s fully focused on his career at 24 Carter Gold, his family’s event planning company, and ready to move on - until his boss assigns him to plan a new client’s high-profile wedding. The bride’s man-of-honor? None other than Jamie.
As things ramp up the closer they get to the wedding, so does Jordan’s relationship with Jamie, with sarcastic asides turning into steamy hook-ups. But can Jordan afford to pursue Jamie if he’s still unsure who he is? Or is knowing who he loves enough? Venue shopping, cake-tastings, and dress fittings with the man he can’t forget just might change the man Jordan Carter is meant to become.
Last First Kiss by Julian Winters is a second chance romance about finding yourself–and the love of your life.
They say you never forget your first kiss. But Jordan Carter wishes he could forget the one he shared with Jamie Peters as teens. And the one they almost shared again last year before Jamie made it clear he wasn’t the “right” man for Jordan to be with while he’s figuring himself out.
Now, Jordan’s fully focused on his career at 24 Carter Gold, his family’s event planning company, and ready to move on - until his boss assigns him to plan a new client’s high-profile wedding. The bride’s man-of-honor? None other than Jamie.
As things ramp up the closer they get to the wedding, so does Jordan’s relationship with Jamie, with sarcastic asides turning into steamy hook-ups. But can Jordan afford to pursue Jamie if he’s still unsure who he is? Or is knowing who he loves enough? Venue shopping, cake-tastings, and dress fittings with the man he can’t forget just might change the man Jordan Carter is meant to become.
Last First Kiss by Julian Winters is a second chance romance about finding yourself–and the love of your life.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 27, 2026
51 people are currently reading
15579 people want to read
About the author
Julian Winters
22 books1,206 followersJulian Winters is the author of the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Gold Award-winning Running With Lions; the Junior Library Guild Selections How to Be Remy Cameron and The Summer of Everything; and the forthcoming Right Where I Left You. A self-proclaimed comic book geek, Julian currently lives outside of Atlanta, where he can be found reading or watching the only two sports he can follow—volleyball and soccer..
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 364 reviews
January 25, 2026
Last First Kiss is the type of book that reminds me why I love romance. This is easily a 6 star book.
Julian Winters is becoming a favorite author, he is brilliant at writing ya books but he shines even more at adult romances. I didn’t think it was possible but I love Last First Kiss even more than I Think They Love You. I love these characters so, so much. I loved Jamie a lot already, but I feel so much for Amy too, and even Javi.
Jordan, well, his story arc hit a little too close to home for me.
I’m asexual, and it is so damn hard to find good representation in books, but what Julian Winters did here was just perfect. The doubts, the second guessing, the desperation to find that spark that everyone talks so much about, the wish to just understand. It was so brilliantly done, I can only thank the author for doing such a good job. The message about how you can find yourself doesn’t matter how long it takes, everyone has their own time, is so important too.
Bottom line is I love the topic, I love the execution even more.
You bet I will be screaming from the rooftops when this book is released in January, but for now please add it to your tbr, you won’t regret it.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC, and above all to Julian Winters for another amazing book.
Julian Winters is becoming a favorite author, he is brilliant at writing ya books but he shines even more at adult romances. I didn’t think it was possible but I love Last First Kiss even more than I Think They Love You. I love these characters so, so much. I loved Jamie a lot already, but I feel so much for Amy too, and even Javi.
Jordan, well, his story arc hit a little too close to home for me.
I’m asexual, and it is so damn hard to find good representation in books, but what Julian Winters did here was just perfect. The doubts, the second guessing, the desperation to find that spark that everyone talks so much about, the wish to just understand. It was so brilliantly done, I can only thank the author for doing such a good job. The message about how you can find yourself doesn’t matter how long it takes, everyone has their own time, is so important too.
Bottom line is I love the topic, I love the execution even more.
You bet I will be screaming from the rooftops when this book is released in January, but for now please add it to your tbr, you won’t regret it.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC, and above all to Julian Winters for another amazing book.
August 10, 2025
Even though I hate third-part breakups, I just hit that five-star button without a second thought. Like Julian Winters says in his author notes, what a couple of goofballs these two are. From the first page on, I was hooked on their story. I adored their “comfort checks,” and those small flashbacks were top notch. This book has all the feels of fanfic (third person, present tense) and so many lovely scenes. I rooted for Jordan and Jamie constantly, and that scene when Jamie was sick … I just kept smiling.
What stood out to me most, though, was the demi rep. Not being able to label yourself, just knowing you like that one person—figuring yourself out as an adult—it’s done so beautifully. Wow. That last part made my eyes shine with tears.
This might be my favorite Julian Winters’ so far!
Thank you so much, St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley, for this beautiful ARC!
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What stood out to me most, though, was the demi rep. Not being able to label yourself, just knowing you like that one person—figuring yourself out as an adult—it’s done so beautifully. Wow. That last part made my eyes shine with tears.
This might be my favorite Julian Winters’ so far!
Thank you so much, St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley, for this beautiful ARC!
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January 21, 2026
OMFG THIS BOOK! Wow, I'm absolutely BLOWN away, Last First Kiss had EVERYTHING I love in a BEAUTIFUL friends to lovers (and a bit of idiots to lovers too) story that I read in a SINGLE DAY because I couldn't put it down. As an Atlanta resident, I always love that Julian Winters brings Atlanta into his books, but the Kirkwood, Decatur, and OMG Little Shop of Stories references all had me smiling. There's an EPIC soup scene that was LITERALLY perfect, with even more caretaking to follow, I was GIDDY. The wedding planning plot was fun, and I loved where it all ended up. Jamie is delightful, I love a border collie MMC. And WOW, that was one PERFECT demi awaking story, I love Jordan's journey SO MUCH. Yes, one of the MMCs has my name, and while I can't prove this book was FOR me, it feels like it is. Definitely a new favorite, HIGHLY recommend.
August 25, 2025
I loved 'I Think They Love You', the first book in the series and I was so excited that I got approved for this one. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A lot of the time when an author writes about a character on the asexual spectrum, it tends to lean into the virginal/you're the only one for me stereotype and generally comes off in bad faith. In Last First Kiss, even though Jordan was inexperienced, the focus was not on that. Rather, it was on him figuring out his identity and where he fit in. The way his experiences and self discovery was written made me feel seen.
The writing itself was pretty straightforward and immersive, simple but not bland especially for a romance book. I liked both the main characters, Jordan and Jamie and I genuinely did enjoy reading about them. I also appreciated that most of the side characters were also queer like yassss fuck the straights!
The one thing I do have an issue with though was with Cheryl, her misogyny and Jordan enabling it. There's a scene where Jordan acknowledges that his mother's behavior of blaming the women he goes on dates with for it not working out is wrong yet he still basks in her coddling. It not only irritated me at that point but also at the end of the book because it became clear that while Jordan was making amends and calling out his mother and other people for how they treat him, the author did not see this particular bit of misogynistic writing as something to be offset or addressed in the narrative, at least on page. It was quite disappointing if I'm being honest.
Overall I enjoyed the book. It managed to grab my attention and keep me interested even as I'm currently experiencing the worst my attention span has ever been. I look forward to reading more from the author!
A lot of the time when an author writes about a character on the asexual spectrum, it tends to lean into the virginal/you're the only one for me stereotype and generally comes off in bad faith. In Last First Kiss, even though Jordan was inexperienced, the focus was not on that. Rather, it was on him figuring out his identity and where he fit in. The way his experiences and self discovery was written made me feel seen.
The writing itself was pretty straightforward and immersive, simple but not bland especially for a romance book. I liked both the main characters, Jordan and Jamie and I genuinely did enjoy reading about them. I also appreciated that most of the side characters were also queer like yassss fuck the straights!
The one thing I do have an issue with though was with Cheryl, her misogyny and Jordan enabling it. There's a scene where Jordan acknowledges that his mother's behavior of blaming the women he goes on dates with for it not working out is wrong yet he still basks in her coddling. It not only irritated me at that point but also at the end of the book because it became clear that while Jordan was making amends and calling out his mother and other people for how they treat him, the author did not see this particular bit of misogynistic writing as something to be offset or addressed in the narrative, at least on page. It was quite disappointing if I'm being honest.
Overall I enjoyed the book. It managed to grab my attention and keep me interested even as I'm currently experiencing the worst my attention span has ever been. I look forward to reading more from the author!
July 26, 2025
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Last First Kiss picks up about a year and a half after the events of I Think They Love You, following Jordan, Dex’s cousin, as he tries to figure himself out and his place in the family business, all while falling head over heels for Jamie, Dex’s best friend.
First, I think it’s important to stress that this book is a sequel. While it can technically be read as a standalone, it will completely spoil everything in I Think They Love You. I’d actually bought that one and was keeping it for a rainy day, but by the time I realized Last First Kiss was a sequel, I was already 15% into it with no hope of forgetting what I’d learned. So thanks for that, I guess.
I ended up pausing this book to read I Think They Love You first, and I’m glad I did, because both protagonists are very present in that earlier installment. But I wouldn't call Last First Kiss redundant: it offers a refreshing dose of new drama for the protagonists to work through before they reach their happily ever after.
As much as I enjoyed the book overall, I felt it suffered from major pacing issues, which made the experience rather tedious at times. The characters are funny and touching. I found Julian’s experience relatable as an ace person myself-sometimes it’s not as simple as “just” liking some genders, both, or none. Sometimes it feels like more trouble than it’s worth to try and label yourself. I really appreciated the representation and how lovely the cast was.
That said, everything takes too long to happen, especially at the beginning, which really dragged for me. The conflict with the love interest (the main reason the MCs can’t get together right away) doesn’t appear until 65% into the book, and the third-act conflict between the MCs is pretty weak. The timeline of events also felt inconsistent: a “heavily pregnant” woman in book one ends up with “fourteen-month-old twins” in this installment (so roughly 16 months have passed), but a flashback chapter still refers to “last Valentine’s Day” as the one from I Think They Love You (impossible, there should have been another Valentine's Day between). These inconsistencies kept pulling me out of the narrative, as I found myself constantly trying to make sense of the timeline.
Overall, I’d rate this book closer to 4 stars than 3, but I’m knocking off a star because it’s unacceptable not to have marked this book as a sequel on Goodreads, NetGalley, in the blurb, or anywhere in the book itself. This completely spoiled the first book for me, and I’m honestly tired of publishers and authors tricking people into buying sequels without proper warning, regardless of whether they can be read as standalones.
Last First Kiss picks up about a year and a half after the events of I Think They Love You, following Jordan, Dex’s cousin, as he tries to figure himself out and his place in the family business, all while falling head over heels for Jamie, Dex’s best friend.
First, I think it’s important to stress that this book is a sequel. While it can technically be read as a standalone, it will completely spoil everything in I Think They Love You. I’d actually bought that one and was keeping it for a rainy day, but by the time I realized Last First Kiss was a sequel, I was already 15% into it with no hope of forgetting what I’d learned. So thanks for that, I guess.
I ended up pausing this book to read I Think They Love You first, and I’m glad I did, because both protagonists are very present in that earlier installment. But I wouldn't call Last First Kiss redundant: it offers a refreshing dose of new drama for the protagonists to work through before they reach their happily ever after.
As much as I enjoyed the book overall, I felt it suffered from major pacing issues, which made the experience rather tedious at times. The characters are funny and touching. I found Julian’s experience relatable as an ace person myself-sometimes it’s not as simple as “just” liking some genders, both, or none. Sometimes it feels like more trouble than it’s worth to try and label yourself. I really appreciated the representation and how lovely the cast was.
That said, everything takes too long to happen, especially at the beginning, which really dragged for me. The conflict with the love interest (the main reason the MCs can’t get together right away) doesn’t appear until 65% into the book, and the third-act conflict between the MCs is pretty weak. The timeline of events also felt inconsistent: a “heavily pregnant” woman in book one ends up with “fourteen-month-old twins” in this installment (so roughly 16 months have passed), but a flashback chapter still refers to “last Valentine’s Day” as the one from I Think They Love You (impossible, there should have been another Valentine's Day between). These inconsistencies kept pulling me out of the narrative, as I found myself constantly trying to make sense of the timeline.
Overall, I’d rate this book closer to 4 stars than 3, but I’m knocking off a star because it’s unacceptable not to have marked this book as a sequel on Goodreads, NetGalley, in the blurb, or anywhere in the book itself. This completely spoiled the first book for me, and I’m honestly tired of publishers and authors tricking people into buying sequels without proper warning, regardless of whether they can be read as standalones.
July 8, 2025
I squealed when I saw there was a sequel to one of my favorite romances, I think they love you. This is in the same universe and even in the same family and business, 24 Carter Magic. An event planning company has so many potential storylines and this story follows a quick planning of Atlanta’s high society wedding of the year. The brides best friend and man of honor, Jamie, was Jordan Carter’s first kiss and crush. Back in their elite private high school, they had pot brownies, played Mario Kart and shared a kiss. Now Jordan is working with him as he helps his friend Amy plan a quick and beautiful wedding.
Does this work as a standalone? Sure, but it ruins the plot of the first book, and it isn’t one to miss.
Read if you like;
Second chance romance
Demisexual/pansexual representation
Family business stories
Wedding planning stories
Flash mobs
I genuinely appreciate how Jordan is figuring out his sexuality, and the complexities that go along with that- not only in Jordan’s mind, but also Jamie’s. Not everyone is up for being someone’s “first” experience.
I read a quote recently that said “some people are bisexual in the sense that Michael Jordan once played professional baseball. And you are no less part of the LGBTQ community.” In this case, pansexual, but the sentiment is the same. And this was handled in such a great way, there wasn’t much homophobia/internalized biphobia. The characters were transparent and real. I loved the chemistry and the dialogue.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC. Book to be published 1/27/25.
Does this work as a standalone? Sure, but it ruins the plot of the first book, and it isn’t one to miss.
Read if you like;
Second chance romance
Demisexual/pansexual representation
Family business stories
Wedding planning stories
Flash mobs
I genuinely appreciate how Jordan is figuring out his sexuality, and the complexities that go along with that- not only in Jordan’s mind, but also Jamie’s. Not everyone is up for being someone’s “first” experience.
I read a quote recently that said “some people are bisexual in the sense that Michael Jordan once played professional baseball. And you are no less part of the LGBTQ community.” In this case, pansexual, but the sentiment is the same. And this was handled in such a great way, there wasn’t much homophobia/internalized biphobia. The characters were transparent and real. I loved the chemistry and the dialogue.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC. Book to be published 1/27/25.
July 15, 2025
Thank you @youhadmeathea for the advanced copy!
I love @wintersjulian . This is a Julian Winters fan account. @adibkhorram and I are the president and VP of the Julian Winters fan club. Julian’s second adult romance book is fantastic!
I LOVED following Jordan and Jamie and their sparks from I Think They Love You. It was so sweet to watch their love story unfold from flashbacks and present day. The wedding shenanigans added to the fun and yall…. That initial first kiss?? And then AGAIN AS ADULTS!!! And THE CAR!! And SHOWER YOU SAY?? 😏
Julian writes such gorgeous love stories but at the heart of them is loving yourself, being true to you, and finding you people. I cried for the last ten percent of this book cause it felt like Julian was talking to me directly. As someone who is often alone, and sometimes feels like they are growing in loneliness, it just really hit home.
The ending was perfect (grand gesture!!) and the epilogue?? Amen.
I love getting to read Julian’s words. We are so lucky to have him!!
I love @wintersjulian . This is a Julian Winters fan account. @adibkhorram and I are the president and VP of the Julian Winters fan club. Julian’s second adult romance book is fantastic!
I LOVED following Jordan and Jamie and their sparks from I Think They Love You. It was so sweet to watch their love story unfold from flashbacks and present day. The wedding shenanigans added to the fun and yall…. That initial first kiss?? And then AGAIN AS ADULTS!!! And THE CAR!! And SHOWER YOU SAY?? 😏
Julian writes such gorgeous love stories but at the heart of them is loving yourself, being true to you, and finding you people. I cried for the last ten percent of this book cause it felt like Julian was talking to me directly. As someone who is often alone, and sometimes feels like they are growing in loneliness, it just really hit home.
The ending was perfect (grand gesture!!) and the epilogue?? Amen.
I love getting to read Julian’s words. We are so lucky to have him!!
January 22, 2026
I really wanted to love Last First Kiss, but unfortunately it didn’t quite land for me.
I struggled to get into the story due to what felt like a lot of filler. At times, the writing reminded me of short stories I wrote in high school…. heavy on descriptors in a way that seemed to aim for depth, but instead pulled me out of the moment. This isn’t meant as a dig at Julian Winters as an author; the style just leaned more corny than authentic for my personal taste.
That said, I genuinely appreciated the core of the story; particularly Jordan’s journey as he begins to question and understand his sexuality. I think that storyline will resonate with many readers, especially those navigating similar feelings, and there’s real value in how that exploration was presented.
Surprisingly, Jamie ended up being my favourite character (next to my queen Amy who was too precious for words). Even though he also fell into the “corny” category at times, it somehow worked for him and made his character feel charming rather than off-putting.
It was also fun revisiting Kami, Denz, and Braylon from Winters’ “I Think They Love You”, and I enjoyed getting to know Javi a bit more as well. Luckily for me the story picked up noticeably in the final chapters, and I thought it ended on a satisfying note.
Was this my favourite queer read? No. But I did finish it with a smile on my face…and with the hope that this book might help someone feel a little less alone while questioning their sexuality, and remind them that it can be as big or as small of a deal as they want it to be 🌈 ♥️
2⭐️ for me, unfortunately.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the early copy.
I struggled to get into the story due to what felt like a lot of filler. At times, the writing reminded me of short stories I wrote in high school…. heavy on descriptors in a way that seemed to aim for depth, but instead pulled me out of the moment. This isn’t meant as a dig at Julian Winters as an author; the style just leaned more corny than authentic for my personal taste.
That said, I genuinely appreciated the core of the story; particularly Jordan’s journey as he begins to question and understand his sexuality. I think that storyline will resonate with many readers, especially those navigating similar feelings, and there’s real value in how that exploration was presented.
Surprisingly, Jamie ended up being my favourite character (next to my queen Amy who was too precious for words). Even though he also fell into the “corny” category at times, it somehow worked for him and made his character feel charming rather than off-putting.
It was also fun revisiting Kami, Denz, and Braylon from Winters’ “I Think They Love You”, and I enjoyed getting to know Javi a bit more as well. Luckily for me the story picked up noticeably in the final chapters, and I thought it ended on a satisfying note.
Was this my favourite queer read? No. But I did finish it with a smile on my face…and with the hope that this book might help someone feel a little less alone while questioning their sexuality, and remind them that it can be as big or as small of a deal as they want it to be 🌈 ♥️
2⭐️ for me, unfortunately.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the early copy.
July 21, 2025
4.5 stars
This is a follow-up story of sorts from I Think They Love You and revolves around the world of 24 Carter Gold. Here, we finally get to see the story of Jordan and Jamie, who we met in the earlier book and left me curious. As much as I enjoyed I Think They Love You, I think I liked Last First Kiss just a little more. Jordan and Jamie are such interesting and layered characters, and Julian Winters crafts a story that holds your interest and keeps you invested. The emotions are real, and the characters' struggles feel relatable. All in all, this was a super fun read full of emotion, a little humor, and just a touch of spice. I had a good time.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a follow-up story of sorts from I Think They Love You and revolves around the world of 24 Carter Gold. Here, we finally get to see the story of Jordan and Jamie, who we met in the earlier book and left me curious. As much as I enjoyed I Think They Love You, I think I liked Last First Kiss just a little more. Jordan and Jamie are such interesting and layered characters, and Julian Winters crafts a story that holds your interest and keeps you invested. The emotions are real, and the characters' struggles feel relatable. All in all, this was a super fun read full of emotion, a little humor, and just a touch of spice. I had a good time.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 25, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book. So this was a super cute second chance romance, and I definitely recommend picking it up. The pining between the two MMC‘s was just top-tier. As always, miscommunication happens and tensions arise. It’s rare when I wish there was a bit more tension but I wish there was more in the beginning, just because it would’ve made the payoff of the relationship so much more special. I did not realize that this was a second book in a series so it can definitely be read as a standalone but I immediately added the first book to my tbr because I enjoyed this one so much. In the end, I’d rate this book 4.5⭐️
October 14, 2025
4.75 stars (rounded up!).
“I Think They Love You” was one of my favorite romances early this year, so when I found out there was going to be a sequel, I was beyond excited. And let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint. Honestly, I almost hate to say it, but I think I loved this one even more than the first!
“Last First Kiss” gives us a friends-to-lovers story between Jordan and Jamie, but it’s also a deeply personal story of self-discovery for Jordan. He’s unsure of his sexual identity and has spent most of his life assuming he’s straight because that’s the default—something expected of you even when you’re surrounded by a supportive, queer community. The idea that you need to label yourself or “come out” if you’re anything but straight is such a complex, messy thing, especially when there are so many identities and so little mainstream representation or understanding of them all.
Jordan’s journey to understanding that he’s demi/on the ace spectrum, is handled with such care and nuance. I really appreciated how Julian Winters spotlighted this identity and took the time to show what that can look like in practice. As someone who’s also navigating my own identity and realizing I’m not straight, I felt so connected to Jordan’s experiences—the uncertainty, the reflection, and the quiet moments of realization. The language Winters used to capture those emotions was both intentional and gentle, which made it hit even harder.
And beyond all the important representation, this book was just so precious. Not gonna lie, my eyes were sweating a bit with how sweet some of the moments were. The flashback scenes of Jamie and Jordan’s friendship from high school through the present were full of heart, and watching their relationship grow into something more was pure joy. Their care for one another, the slow build, the payoff, it all just worked so beautifully.
I just really love them. That’s all.
“I Think They Love You” was one of my favorite romances early this year, so when I found out there was going to be a sequel, I was beyond excited. And let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint. Honestly, I almost hate to say it, but I think I loved this one even more than the first!
“Last First Kiss” gives us a friends-to-lovers story between Jordan and Jamie, but it’s also a deeply personal story of self-discovery for Jordan. He’s unsure of his sexual identity and has spent most of his life assuming he’s straight because that’s the default—something expected of you even when you’re surrounded by a supportive, queer community. The idea that you need to label yourself or “come out” if you’re anything but straight is such a complex, messy thing, especially when there are so many identities and so little mainstream representation or understanding of them all.
Jordan’s journey to understanding that he’s demi/on the ace spectrum, is handled with such care and nuance. I really appreciated how Julian Winters spotlighted this identity and took the time to show what that can look like in practice. As someone who’s also navigating my own identity and realizing I’m not straight, I felt so connected to Jordan’s experiences—the uncertainty, the reflection, and the quiet moments of realization. The language Winters used to capture those emotions was both intentional and gentle, which made it hit even harder.
And beyond all the important representation, this book was just so precious. Not gonna lie, my eyes were sweating a bit with how sweet some of the moments were. The flashback scenes of Jamie and Jordan’s friendship from high school through the present were full of heart, and watching their relationship grow into something more was pure joy. Their care for one another, the slow build, the payoff, it all just worked so beautifully.
I just really love them. That’s all.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Just like I Think They Love You, Last First Kiss has a fun writing style, very fitting for a romcom. Despite that, I ended up enjoying this less than I Think They Love You. I felt like it took a long time for the story to really get started, and even when it did, I missed some much-needed depth. I almost feel like Jordan and Jamie were fleshed out more in I Think They Love You - they seemed so surface-level here, and I felt like they kept going in circles. In the end, I don't feel like this lived up to its potential.
October 13, 2025
3⭐️⭐️⭐️
Last First Kiss is the follow up sequel to I Think They Love You. I enjoyed it, but I like the first book better. The characters are funny and relatable and you are rooting for them to make it. But, the pacing was a bit off for me. Overall, I do enjoy it though.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Last First Kiss is the follow up sequel to I Think They Love You. I enjoyed it, but I like the first book better. The characters are funny and relatable and you are rooting for them to make it. But, the pacing was a bit off for me. Overall, I do enjoy it though.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 30, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
how I love these two dorks!!
Nearly perfect (if we ignore the 3rd act break-up 🙃) and the demisexual rep was chef's kiss.
how I love these two dorks!!
Nearly perfect (if we ignore the 3rd act break-up 🙃) and the demisexual rep was chef's kiss.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2026
Clearly I'm the odd one out with this opinion since this has many wonderful reviews. I know this is a rom com and it did have several cute moments that made me grin, but I think I was just looking for more substance.
The synopsis also didn't make it clear at all that this was a second book in an interconnected series. I would never have picked it up if I'd known. It could be read as a stand alone, but I'm sure I would have felt more emotional connection to the characters had I read the first book. I also felt Denz and Braylon were unbearably cheesy, the first couple from the first book.
Jordan is still figuring himself out. He's been on a string of unsuccessful dates that he struggles to feel any interest in. He's only ever felt something for one person, his cousin's best friend who he had a practice kiss with as a child. I hated his controlling mother, who was toxic in the way she shoved women at him. At least they went to therapy by the end, but she wasn't cute or charming.
He works at a family business that I found rather unrealistic; they're high-end celebrity event planners at a firm called 24 Carter Gold. When do the event planners become celebrities themselves with tabloid coverage? It reminded me too much of the soap opera Beyond the Gates. Love that soap opera but I don't always want that vibe in a romance novel. It just made me laugh at how glitzy they were.
I found Jordan fundamentally just boring. He's a competitive workaholic without a personality or interests outside work. He's handed an important wedding to plan, where he comes into the orbit of his childhood crush, Jamie again, who's the best man and inexplicably involved in every part of wedding planning. But the book focused on him at work and I don't find event planning as glamorous as the story made it out to be. I also found him and his coworker Javi more exciting together than Jordan and Jamie.
Their angst was cute but I just found them kind of bland together.
What I did love about this was the demi/pan rep. Jamie is pansexual and Jordan spends most of the book trying to decide his label and whether he needed one, which was relatable; eventually settling on demisexual. I'm demi myself and connected with many of his struggles. I was glad it didn't take the route of "I'm romantically and sexually attracted to no one except the love interest" which I find annoying about so many demi characters. Though it had a little of that. Jamie was the only person Jordan's been romantically and sexually attracted to. Even though he was questioning, I wish there had been one other person he'd had feelings for. Demi folks aren't nuns, we just struggle to feel sexual attraction without an emotional connection first.
I also love MM romance written by queer men because they talk about consent and safe sex in a sexy way. I loved how they did a "comfort check" in the sex scenes and talked about PreP and aftercare.
I also thought the wealth difference between Jamie and Jordan was rather glossed over. He had family money and nepotism; Jamie was an incompetent bartender.
So in short... this was cute, but I just wanted a bit more from it. I'm sure Javi will be the next character in the series,
but I wouldn't read more in this series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The synopsis also didn't make it clear at all that this was a second book in an interconnected series. I would never have picked it up if I'd known. It could be read as a stand alone, but I'm sure I would have felt more emotional connection to the characters had I read the first book. I also felt Denz and Braylon were unbearably cheesy, the first couple from the first book.
Jordan is still figuring himself out. He's been on a string of unsuccessful dates that he struggles to feel any interest in. He's only ever felt something for one person, his cousin's best friend who he had a practice kiss with as a child. I hated his controlling mother, who was toxic in the way she shoved women at him. At least they went to therapy by the end, but she wasn't cute or charming.
He works at a family business that I found rather unrealistic; they're high-end celebrity event planners at a firm called 24 Carter Gold. When do the event planners become celebrities themselves with tabloid coverage? It reminded me too much of the soap opera Beyond the Gates. Love that soap opera but I don't always want that vibe in a romance novel. It just made me laugh at how glitzy they were.
I found Jordan fundamentally just boring. He's a competitive workaholic without a personality or interests outside work. He's handed an important wedding to plan, where he comes into the orbit of his childhood crush, Jamie again, who's the best man and inexplicably involved in every part of wedding planning. But the book focused on him at work and I don't find event planning as glamorous as the story made it out to be. I also found him and his coworker Javi more exciting together than Jordan and Jamie.
Their angst was cute but I just found them kind of bland together.
What I did love about this was the demi/pan rep. Jamie is pansexual and Jordan spends most of the book trying to decide his label and whether he needed one, which was relatable; eventually settling on demisexual. I'm demi myself and connected with many of his struggles. I was glad it didn't take the route of "I'm romantically and sexually attracted to no one except the love interest" which I find annoying about so many demi characters. Though it had a little of that. Jamie was the only person Jordan's been romantically and sexually attracted to. Even though he was questioning, I wish there had been one other person he'd had feelings for. Demi folks aren't nuns, we just struggle to feel sexual attraction without an emotional connection first.
I also love MM romance written by queer men because they talk about consent and safe sex in a sexy way. I loved how they did a "comfort check" in the sex scenes and talked about PreP and aftercare.
I also thought the wealth difference between Jamie and Jordan was rather glossed over. He had family money and nepotism; Jamie was an incompetent bartender.
So in short... this was cute, but I just wanted a bit more from it. I'm sure Javi will be the next character in the series,
but I wouldn't read more in this series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 1, 2026
5/5 stars
”I deserve the right to decide how much and who I share myself with.”
I stayed up past my “bedtime” to finish this and it was so worth it. I am definitely shedding a manly tear as I type this…
What a beautiful love letter to romance, discovering yourself as an adult, and Atlanta that this book is! There is so many delightful references to different rom-coms as well as real life places around the Atlanta area.
This is hands down one of the best romance books I have read in a while; books like this remind me about what I love so much about the genre. It isn’t just about the relationship and love between two people, but also learning to love yourself. It is so rare that I see demisexuality getting its “time to shine” so to speak. I really enjoyed seeing Jordan’s journey through navigating this in his adulthood and the discussion about labeling yourself (or not). I saw so much of my early twenties in this book and related to Jordan so much. This is truly such a beautiful story even aside from the romance.
But speaking of romance, I think I fell in love with Jamie Peters myself. Julian Winters is a masterclass at writing romance and I think we all need to be reading his books. This was the perfect balance of emotional connection to spice for what I personally enjoy in a romance. All the side characters felt very dimensional and real, as well. We, of course, got some glimpses of Denz and Braylon (miss you guys) and I loved that as well.
So basically… I need all of you guys to go get this book and read it. Thank you.
”I deserve the right to decide how much and who I share myself with.”
I stayed up past my “bedtime” to finish this and it was so worth it. I am definitely shedding a manly tear as I type this…
What a beautiful love letter to romance, discovering yourself as an adult, and Atlanta that this book is! There is so many delightful references to different rom-coms as well as real life places around the Atlanta area.
This is hands down one of the best romance books I have read in a while; books like this remind me about what I love so much about the genre. It isn’t just about the relationship and love between two people, but also learning to love yourself. It is so rare that I see demisexuality getting its “time to shine” so to speak. I really enjoyed seeing Jordan’s journey through navigating this in his adulthood and the discussion about labeling yourself (or not). I saw so much of my early twenties in this book and related to Jordan so much. This is truly such a beautiful story even aside from the romance.
But speaking of romance, I think I fell in love with Jamie Peters myself. Julian Winters is a masterclass at writing romance and I think we all need to be reading his books. This was the perfect balance of emotional connection to spice for what I personally enjoy in a romance. All the side characters felt very dimensional and real, as well. We, of course, got some glimpses of Denz and Braylon (miss you guys) and I loved that as well.
So basically… I need all of you guys to go get this book and read it. Thank you.
July 13, 2025
This book was not a bad book, but it also wasn’t for me. I feel bad leaving a less than stellar review when the book doesn’t come out till next year, but I did arc read the whole thing. If it hadn’t been an arc, (and netgalley didn’t penalize you for not finishing) this would have been a DNF for me pretty early on. It did get better for me though.
This book could absolutely be for someone else. Especially if you love Hallmark movies, but wish more of them were queer.
What you can expect from this book:
-Hallmark movie vibes
-Wedding planner and the bride’s bestie
(Really why is he even there??? Idk anyone rich enough to ever use a wedding planner, but seems weird that the bestie is there?)
-Other person drama - this was sooo annoying to me
-A little cringe / cheesey at times. I had to sit it down and facepalm, but I could literally see the scenes in my head in a Hallmark movie kinda way.
-Everyone’s name starts with a J. I was confused a lot.
-Second chance - not convinced he deserved another one tbh
-Demi/Pan rep
-I did love the references to other great queer reads 👍🏻
The third act was incredibly frustrating as I felt like the wrong man in this couple was taking the brunt of everything. Jamie was extremely unlikable and didn’t show enough growth for me.
I would recommend this to someone who loves a good romcom / Hallmark vibe MM. I had a few chuckles. Thank you SMP for the review copy!
This book could absolutely be for someone else. Especially if you love Hallmark movies, but wish more of them were queer.
What you can expect from this book:
-Hallmark movie vibes
-Wedding planner and the bride’s bestie
(Really why is he even there??? Idk anyone rich enough to ever use a wedding planner, but seems weird that the bestie is there?)
-Other person drama - this was sooo annoying to me
-A little cringe / cheesey at times. I had to sit it down and facepalm, but I could literally see the scenes in my head in a Hallmark movie kinda way.
-Everyone’s name starts with a J. I was confused a lot.
-Second chance - not convinced he deserved another one tbh
-Demi/Pan rep
-I did love the references to other great queer reads 👍🏻
The third act was incredibly frustrating as I felt like the wrong man in this couple was taking the brunt of everything. Jamie was extremely unlikable and didn’t show enough growth for me.
I would recommend this to someone who loves a good romcom / Hallmark vibe MM. I had a few chuckles. Thank you SMP for the review copy!
January 31, 2026
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
Last First Kiss by Julian Winters is an engaging second-chance romance, with a fun peek into the event planning business. While the story is not listed as part of a series, Jordan’s cousin, Denz, has his own book, I Think They Love You, that ties closely to this one. That story focused on Denz and his sister competing to be CEO of 24 Carter Gold and those events, as well as the development of his relationship with Braylon, are mentioned here. Jordan grew up close with Denz, and Jamie is Denz’s best friend, so Denz is a prominent part of both their lives. So while I had no problem following along here without having read the first book, the stories are strongly connected and those familiar with Denz and Braylon’s story will probably enjoy the way the books work together.
Overall, I found this an appealing second chance romance and liked the added element of the event planning storyline. I have enjoyed some of Winters’ young adult stories in the past, so I was happy to get a chance to check out this entertaining story.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
Last First Kiss by Julian Winters is an engaging second-chance romance, with a fun peek into the event planning business. While the story is not listed as part of a series, Jordan’s cousin, Denz, has his own book, I Think They Love You, that ties closely to this one. That story focused on Denz and his sister competing to be CEO of 24 Carter Gold and those events, as well as the development of his relationship with Braylon, are mentioned here. Jordan grew up close with Denz, and Jamie is Denz’s best friend, so Denz is a prominent part of both their lives. So while I had no problem following along here without having read the first book, the stories are strongly connected and those familiar with Denz and Braylon’s story will probably enjoy the way the books work together.
Overall, I found this an appealing second chance romance and liked the added element of the event planning storyline. I have enjoyed some of Winters’ young adult stories in the past, so I was happy to get a chance to check out this entertaining story.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
October 25, 2025
Last First Kiss by Julian Winters is like reading a queer Hallmark movie. It's a cutesy, feel-good, definitely cheesy, romcom about two childhood friends turned...something...turned nothing...getting their second chance. While the I didn't quite understand why one of the MMCs (who was the best man of a bride to be) was brought along to every meeting with the wedding planner (the other MMC) it made for a lot of easy interactions with tension and fun banter and easy set ups. I enjoyed the sexuality representation here, and I enjoyed watching one of the MMCs sort through his journey of sexuality and relationships. The entire cast of characters is fun, and I could see lots of continuation potential in this series. I wish I had known this was the second book in a series, but I think it can easily be read as a standalone. I did get a bit exhausted with the constant Mario Kart references, and like I mentioned, this does get cheesy. The tense of the book was also a little awkward, but overall a cute read!
December 15, 2025
Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the uncorrected proofs in exchange for my honest review.
I really quite enjoyed this second chance romance! The characters were varied but had a good mix of personalities (even though a couple —cough Javi cough— at times felt added as placeholders for conflict instead). I also liked that the theme of the book wasn’t just romance or some conflict around the romance, it was instead about finding yourself. And to do this, Winters included many identities we don’t often see — pansexuality and demisexuality being the two main ones. But it wasn’t just our main character Jordan finding himself — it was Kami continuing to situate herself after the events of the first book, it was Jamie finding his voice against his parents, and even Javi finding his identity in community rather than just "good press".
Side note, Julian, my guy — there are so many J names in this book, and as a double J name myself I just gotta ask: why do you hate us (yourself included)?
As for negatives/constructive critique, my main comment is that things move way too fast and it causes some decisions made by characters (and by Winters) to seem… odd? I don’t know how best to put it, they just felt off at times and I’d be taken out of the flow of the story. There’s an example of the scene in the shower after Jamie explains he's too sick to stand, and another one is how suddenly the tension between Jordan and Javi disappears after they kiss? Pacing is hard.
I really quite enjoyed this second chance romance! The characters were varied but had a good mix of personalities (even though a couple —cough Javi cough— at times felt added as placeholders for conflict instead). I also liked that the theme of the book wasn’t just romance or some conflict around the romance, it was instead about finding yourself. And to do this, Winters included many identities we don’t often see — pansexuality and demisexuality being the two main ones. But it wasn’t just our main character Jordan finding himself — it was Kami continuing to situate herself after the events of the first book, it was Jamie finding his voice against his parents, and even Javi finding his identity in community rather than just "good press".
Side note, Julian, my guy — there are so many J names in this book, and as a double J name myself I just gotta ask: why do you hate us (yourself included)?
As for negatives/constructive critique, my main comment is that things move way too fast and it causes some decisions made by characters (and by Winters) to seem… odd? I don’t know how best to put it, they just felt off at times and I’d be taken out of the flow of the story. There’s an example of the scene in the shower after Jamie explains he's too sick to stand, and another one is how suddenly the tension between Jordan and Javi disappears after they kiss? Pacing is hard.
January 23, 2026
I love Julian Winters and his writing is so easy to just pick up and read.
I enjoyed being thrown back into the Carter family and their business but I couldn’t get into Jordan and Jamie’s friends to lovers as much as I did with Denz and Braylon’s relationship in I Think They Love You! Even though there was a HEA, there wasn’t enough compared to the amount of “will they, won’t they” and all the family drama that happened.
However, I did appreciate Jordan’s journey into discovering himself as a demisexual! And I love the Atlanta setting and knowing all the places the author put into the story.
I hope the next book focuses on Nicola and their fiery personality!
Thank you, Julian Winters and St. Martin’s Griffin for my e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
- Pansexual and Demisexual representation
- Interracial relationship
- Friend-to-Lovers
- Flashbacks
- Third Person POV
I enjoyed being thrown back into the Carter family and their business but I couldn’t get into Jordan and Jamie’s friends to lovers as much as I did with Denz and Braylon’s relationship in I Think They Love You! Even though there was a HEA, there wasn’t enough compared to the amount of “will they, won’t they” and all the family drama that happened.
However, I did appreciate Jordan’s journey into discovering himself as a demisexual! And I love the Atlanta setting and knowing all the places the author put into the story.
I hope the next book focuses on Nicola and their fiery personality!
Thank you, Julian Winters and St. Martin’s Griffin for my e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
- Pansexual and Demisexual representation
- Interracial relationship
- Friend-to-Lovers
- Flashbacks
- Third Person POV
September 15, 2025
This was fun! I loved the family dynamics in the book and I’m a sucker for a good friends to lovers dynamic with some bumps along the way. Jordan and Jamie felt natural with each other. The Carter family felt like a real loving family with their own issues to work through that was a good back drop for the rest of the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read an advanced copy in return for my honest feedback!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read an advanced copy in return for my honest feedback!
January 28, 2026
I'm not crying, you're crying.
December 24, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5/5
Ok, so I decided I'll be updating as I go for reviews because... well, because I can so there you go!
I signed up for this ARC because I fell in LOVE with I think they love you and so I NEEDED to give this one a try! I don't read the blurbs and going in blind... see you all on the other side.
Ch. 1- ahhh so Jordan is Denz's cousin! Shoutout to my babies Denz&Braylon! I love you boys so fxckn much! 🥹
15%- the ALMOST MOMENT! gahhhh. also... "Jamies smile is like the sun." bitchhhh 😭
31%- Mario Kart.. it's THEIR thing. Also... "Pink, Yellow, and Blue for Pansexual. Jamie's flag, Jordan briefly thinks." - IMMEDIATE THOUGHT: Jamie my PAN baby.
32%- BITCHHHH 🥵 Their fingers BRUSHEDDDDD! They BRUSHEDDD.
gahhhhh
43%- a Jane Austen mention ALWAYS gets me! PLUS 05’ P&P!! Stawwwp 😩
70%- JULIAN!!! Why?!!! 😭😭😭
90%- the REAL MVP, Nic, our queer yoda 🫶🏽
95%- I love that Jamie loves LOVE! He’s such a hopeless romantic but like so am I!! I love you, Jamie Babyyyyy 🥰🥹
End- “Jamie Noah Peters was his last first everything. The beginning and end to every moment Jordan loves most.”
Gahhhhhh 😭
Thoughts?!
The Last First Kiss was unbelievably romantic, centered around loving yourself & finding yourself, so you can then find the one you love.
The mentions of some of my favorite romance movies and books made it just so fxckn nostalgic.
I loved the Denz&Bray cameos, I need a book on Kami & Suraj, Nic and whatever partner she chooses!
I NEED Javi to get his own book ASAP!!
Like hellooo I have questions, Julian!!!
If you want you’re looking for an MM Romance to make you feel EVERYTHING a 90s romcom would make you feel, this THIS is it. 🫶🏽
thank you Netgalley, Julian Winters and team for this ARC. & as always are thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ok, so I decided I'll be updating as I go for reviews because... well, because I can so there you go!
I signed up for this ARC because I fell in LOVE with I think they love you and so I NEEDED to give this one a try! I don't read the blurbs and going in blind... see you all on the other side.
Ch. 1- ahhh so Jordan is Denz's cousin! Shoutout to my babies Denz&Braylon! I love you boys so fxckn much! 🥹
15%- the ALMOST MOMENT! gahhhh. also... "Jamies smile is like the sun." bitchhhh 😭
31%- Mario Kart.. it's THEIR thing. Also... "Pink, Yellow, and Blue for Pansexual. Jamie's flag, Jordan briefly thinks." - IMMEDIATE THOUGHT: Jamie my PAN baby.
32%- BITCHHHH 🥵 Their fingers BRUSHEDDDDD! They BRUSHEDDD.
gahhhhh
43%- a Jane Austen mention ALWAYS gets me! PLUS 05’ P&P!! Stawwwp 😩
70%- JULIAN!!! Why?!!! 😭😭😭
90%- the REAL MVP, Nic, our queer yoda 🫶🏽
95%- I love that Jamie loves LOVE! He’s such a hopeless romantic but like so am I!! I love you, Jamie Babyyyyy 🥰🥹
End- “Jamie Noah Peters was his last first everything. The beginning and end to every moment Jordan loves most.”
Gahhhhhh 😭
Thoughts?!
The Last First Kiss was unbelievably romantic, centered around loving yourself & finding yourself, so you can then find the one you love.
The mentions of some of my favorite romance movies and books made it just so fxckn nostalgic.
I loved the Denz&Bray cameos, I need a book on Kami & Suraj, Nic and whatever partner she chooses!
I NEED Javi to get his own book ASAP!!
Like hellooo I have questions, Julian!!!
If you want you’re looking for an MM Romance to make you feel EVERYTHING a 90s romcom would make you feel, this THIS is it. 🫶🏽
thank you Netgalley, Julian Winters and team for this ARC. & as always are thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 29, 2025
Sweet as pie, but I Think They Love You still has my whole heart.
Event planner Jordan Carter is working his ass off to take his career to the next level, and when a high profile wedding gets assigned to him, he's sure this will be the event to get him the promotion he has his sights set on. However, when the happy couple shows up for their consultation, Jordan finds out the bride's Man-of-Honor is Jamie Peters - Jordan's old friend who rejected him when they nearly kissed last year. With this unfortunate turn of events, Jordan starts to lose his focus, and he must manage how out of control he feels around Jamie so he doesn't lose everything he's been working for.
This book was incredibly sweet and a really fun time. However, I think I found myself comparing it to I Think They Love You a little too much. This was still a 5 star read, but that one was 6 stars, so this one was just missing a little something. Something I really couldn't put a finger on, honestly.
I loved both Jordan and Jamie as characters, and Jordan's internal conflict of trying to figure out his sexual identity was handled so well. I appreciate that the author allowed the character to let his identity be unclearly defined while still coming to understand his feelings and accept himself.
Another thing that Julian is quite good at in his writing is having characters fighting for an end goal only to discover along the way what it is they really want and value. This journey to self-discovery and understanding is something that most people struggle with, and being able to see characters experiencing that sort of internal conflict and growth can be really comforting.
While the chemistry between the characters was definitely there, the familiarity between the characters built over their long friendship is what made these two so compelling as a couple. When they do start to get into the physical intimacy in the book, the familiarity and understanding of each other allow them to handle each other with immense care, and that is very possibly the hottest thing that can happen in spice.
Overall, Julian Winters is pretty phenomenal at writing queer romcoms that leave you equally satisfied with both the sweet and spicy side of the romance and handle difficult and important themes with care. I would absolutely recommend this one.
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.*
Event planner Jordan Carter is working his ass off to take his career to the next level, and when a high profile wedding gets assigned to him, he's sure this will be the event to get him the promotion he has his sights set on. However, when the happy couple shows up for their consultation, Jordan finds out the bride's Man-of-Honor is Jamie Peters - Jordan's old friend who rejected him when they nearly kissed last year. With this unfortunate turn of events, Jordan starts to lose his focus, and he must manage how out of control he feels around Jamie so he doesn't lose everything he's been working for.
This book was incredibly sweet and a really fun time. However, I think I found myself comparing it to I Think They Love You a little too much. This was still a 5 star read, but that one was 6 stars, so this one was just missing a little something. Something I really couldn't put a finger on, honestly.
I loved both Jordan and Jamie as characters, and Jordan's internal conflict of trying to figure out his sexual identity was handled so well. I appreciate that the author allowed the character to let his identity be unclearly defined while still coming to understand his feelings and accept himself.
Another thing that Julian is quite good at in his writing is having characters fighting for an end goal only to discover along the way what it is they really want and value. This journey to self-discovery and understanding is something that most people struggle with, and being able to see characters experiencing that sort of internal conflict and growth can be really comforting.
While the chemistry between the characters was definitely there, the familiarity between the characters built over their long friendship is what made these two so compelling as a couple. When they do start to get into the physical intimacy in the book, the familiarity and understanding of each other allow them to handle each other with immense care, and that is very possibly the hottest thing that can happen in spice.
Overall, Julian Winters is pretty phenomenal at writing queer romcoms that leave you equally satisfied with both the sweet and spicy side of the romance and handle difficult and important themes with care. I would absolutely recommend this one.
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.*
Want to read
May 8, 2025WDYM I have to wait until January 🥲
August 2, 2025
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.
I got to read Julian Winters’ adult debut, I Think They Love You, earlier this year and absolutely adored it so when I saw he had another adult romance coming out, I couldn’t wait, especially when I realized it follows Jordan and Jamie, Denz’s cousin and best friend respectively, who were glimpsed as a possibility by the end of I Think They Might Love You. All that to say I needed to read this book immediately, and that’s why I finished nearly six months before it’s available 😅
Last First Kiss takes place about a year after the end of I Think They Love You, and much like Denz Jordan is working to prove his place in the family company, 24 Carter Gold, and working towards a promotion. 24 Carter Gold is finally moving back to its roots and planning weddings, and Jordan cannot wait to prove himself to his cousin Kami to get her recently vacated event manager position. The first wedding the company is planning is for Sam, the son of a famous producer and an actor, and Amy, a book nerd who fell for Sam over book sales. Amy is also a best friend of Jamie’s and he’s going to be her best man, forcing Jordan and Jamie back into proximity after distancing from each other six months ago after an attempted kiss and Jamie telling Jordan he needs space to figure himself out and Jamie isn’t the best person for him during that time.
I really enjoy how the parts of Jordan’s job and his family form so much of the story, though there’s definitely times I wish we got a dual perspective book because I would like knowing more of Jamie’s life outside his interactions with Jordan. That aside, though, I really loved this book and love seeing Jordan’s drive. For as driven as he is, though, Jordan also has things and feelings to work through regarding his worth because of his family history and feeling abandoned by his biological father, who has never been a part of his life. Pushing himself to prove himself worthy is something Jordan gradually recognizes in himself and works on through therapy and supportive family.
One of my favorite things with this book was Jordan’s journey with figuring out his sexuality. I knew very quickly that his experiences sounded very demi, but seeing him talk to others and how much support he has, as well as all the ways no one pushes him to label or define himself until he’s ready was one of my favorite things. There really is just something special about queer books by queer authors, the way own voices experiences make stories even more real and nuanced. And really I just love that there is so much community and supportive family examples. And so many different experiences with coming out and self identifying that I love seeing given space because we always need more stories and experiences and examples.
This is such a delight of a book and I kind of hope Javi will get a story next, especially cuz I just really love this world and these characters. I can’t wait for others to read Last First Kiss, and until January folks should definitely pick up I Think They Love You.
I got to read Julian Winters’ adult debut, I Think They Love You, earlier this year and absolutely adored it so when I saw he had another adult romance coming out, I couldn’t wait, especially when I realized it follows Jordan and Jamie, Denz’s cousin and best friend respectively, who were glimpsed as a possibility by the end of I Think They Might Love You. All that to say I needed to read this book immediately, and that’s why I finished nearly six months before it’s available 😅
Last First Kiss takes place about a year after the end of I Think They Love You, and much like Denz Jordan is working to prove his place in the family company, 24 Carter Gold, and working towards a promotion. 24 Carter Gold is finally moving back to its roots and planning weddings, and Jordan cannot wait to prove himself to his cousin Kami to get her recently vacated event manager position. The first wedding the company is planning is for Sam, the son of a famous producer and an actor, and Amy, a book nerd who fell for Sam over book sales. Amy is also a best friend of Jamie’s and he’s going to be her best man, forcing Jordan and Jamie back into proximity after distancing from each other six months ago after an attempted kiss and Jamie telling Jordan he needs space to figure himself out and Jamie isn’t the best person for him during that time.
I really enjoy how the parts of Jordan’s job and his family form so much of the story, though there’s definitely times I wish we got a dual perspective book because I would like knowing more of Jamie’s life outside his interactions with Jordan. That aside, though, I really loved this book and love seeing Jordan’s drive. For as driven as he is, though, Jordan also has things and feelings to work through regarding his worth because of his family history and feeling abandoned by his biological father, who has never been a part of his life. Pushing himself to prove himself worthy is something Jordan gradually recognizes in himself and works on through therapy and supportive family.
One of my favorite things with this book was Jordan’s journey with figuring out his sexuality. I knew very quickly that his experiences sounded very demi, but seeing him talk to others and how much support he has, as well as all the ways no one pushes him to label or define himself until he’s ready was one of my favorite things. There really is just something special about queer books by queer authors, the way own voices experiences make stories even more real and nuanced. And really I just love that there is so much community and supportive family examples. And so many different experiences with coming out and self identifying that I love seeing given space because we always need more stories and experiences and examples.
This is such a delight of a book and I kind of hope Javi will get a story next, especially cuz I just really love this world and these characters. I can’t wait for others to read Last First Kiss, and until January folks should definitely pick up I Think They Love You.
December 9, 2025
This means well, and it does fine, but it's a little messy.
3+ because I loved the main point.
This book proposes to be for those who still haven't found their label. Our main character Jordan wants to make his family proud, find the woman he'll marry and have a great love story to tell his children. But he hates going on dates. And when one seems to have been perfectly planned he messes it all up because he thinks he saw Jamie, the guy he had his first kiss with but had rejected him. This is probably an omen because soon he does meet the real Jamie again, as he's the best friend of the woman whose high profile wedding Jordan must coordinate.
My big problem with the book it is that it tries to be non linear, but for one I don't think the flashback chapters added enough, and second they weren't so well integrated, so not only they were showing us something the story had already told, but they also disrupted the flow.
The main couple is cute, though. It's a nice romance you will be cheering for. We do have something of a love triangle, but I'm not even sure it was needed, even if the potential story there was good, had Jordan gone the other route.
I like the initiative of writing about a character who is still figuring himself out without the typical "How will I come out?", "Oh no, what will my parents say?" cliches. Jordan's problems are more about him than others, without the easy conflict that those clichés bring. At the same time, I wish the conflict had been more real. In the end it just felt that Jordan hadn't studied enough to know which of the letters he was, and of course that's okay for real life, but it's anticlimactic for a book centered on that. Actually, because that conflict was so minor, the problem became Jamie not being so accepting of a "noob queer", and for that I needed more resolution, I needed Jamie to work harder for his redemption.
As you can see, it's a book that does make you think, with good characters (by the way, and since I didn't get a chance here, I really loved Jordan's family!), even if I think the execution needed more work.
Also, if I know my books well, there's a Javi story ready to be told, and I want to read it!
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
3+ because I loved the main point.
This book proposes to be for those who still haven't found their label. Our main character Jordan wants to make his family proud, find the woman he'll marry and have a great love story to tell his children. But he hates going on dates. And when one seems to have been perfectly planned he messes it all up because he thinks he saw Jamie, the guy he had his first kiss with but had rejected him. This is probably an omen because soon he does meet the real Jamie again, as he's the best friend of the woman whose high profile wedding Jordan must coordinate.
My big problem with the book it is that it tries to be non linear, but for one I don't think the flashback chapters added enough, and second they weren't so well integrated, so not only they were showing us something the story had already told, but they also disrupted the flow.
The main couple is cute, though. It's a nice romance you will be cheering for. We do have something of a love triangle, but I'm not even sure it was needed, even if the potential story there was good, had Jordan gone the other route.
I like the initiative of writing about a character who is still figuring himself out without the typical "How will I come out?", "Oh no, what will my parents say?" cliches. Jordan's problems are more about him than others, without the easy conflict that those clichés bring. At the same time, I wish the conflict had been more real. In the end it just felt that Jordan hadn't studied enough to know which of the letters he was, and of course that's okay for real life, but it's anticlimactic for a book centered on that. Actually, because that conflict was so minor, the problem became Jamie not being so accepting of a "noob queer", and for that I needed more resolution, I needed Jamie to work harder for his redemption.
As you can see, it's a book that does make you think, with good characters (by the way, and since I didn't get a chance here, I really loved Jordan's family!), even if I think the execution needed more work.
Also, if I know my books well, there's a Javi story ready to be told, and I want to read it!
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
November 19, 2025
I am all warm and fuzzy inside because I loved this book so much! I read it in 2 days and completely fell in love with Jordan & Jamie. Winters is a fantastic romance author and so good at rom coms. He’s really funny! If you are looking to add more BIPOC writers and BIPOC MCs in your romance books, look no further.
Last First Kiss is a perfect continuation of the characters introduced and events teased in I Think They Love You, and although this is technically a standalone I would recommend reading that first to get immersed in the world. Jamie is the “human equivalent to a border collie” and Denz’s best friend who we meet in the first book. Jordan Carter is Denz’s cousin, driven, organized and works at the family event planning company 24 Carter Gold (great name!) who is planning a big wedding where Jamie is the man of honor. He's also been crushing hard on Jamie ever since they kissed as teens and finds him handsome and distracting. What could go wrong? There is something going on between them in I Think They Love You, but you don’t find out until this book and its swoony and adorable and angsty and ultimately very satisfying. Jordan is adorably PINING and OVERTHINKING all over the place, and the entire Carter family makes an appearance throughout the story, which is very fun.
The tropes are friends-to-lovers, second chance and slow burn romance with some what-and-who-am-I mixed in that's really well written. I loved all the queer rep (pan, bi, demi, gay). It’s steamy and has maybe a 2 spice level, but it’s mostly just so damn cute. Their spontaneous “date” in the park chapter had me smiling from ear to ear the whole time, as well as the über romantic ending. There are super cute details and some really funny moments.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, I really hope Winters writes more queer adult rom coms because he’s great at it!
**Thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the ARC**
Last First Kiss is a perfect continuation of the characters introduced and events teased in I Think They Love You, and although this is technically a standalone I would recommend reading that first to get immersed in the world. Jamie is the “human equivalent to a border collie” and Denz’s best friend who we meet in the first book. Jordan Carter is Denz’s cousin, driven, organized and works at the family event planning company 24 Carter Gold (great name!) who is planning a big wedding where Jamie is the man of honor. He's also been crushing hard on Jamie ever since they kissed as teens and finds him handsome and distracting. What could go wrong? There is something going on between them in I Think They Love You, but you don’t find out until this book and its swoony and adorable and angsty and ultimately very satisfying. Jordan is adorably PINING and OVERTHINKING all over the place, and the entire Carter family makes an appearance throughout the story, which is very fun.
The tropes are friends-to-lovers, second chance and slow burn romance with some what-and-who-am-I mixed in that's really well written. I loved all the queer rep (pan, bi, demi, gay). It’s steamy and has maybe a 2 spice level, but it’s mostly just so damn cute. Their spontaneous “date” in the park chapter had me smiling from ear to ear the whole time, as well as the über romantic ending. There are super cute details and some really funny moments.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, I really hope Winters writes more queer adult rom coms because he’s great at it!
**Thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the ARC**
November 21, 2025
Last First Kiss is Julian Winter’s fun follow up to his debut, I Think They Love You. If you read the previous book, this story is about Jordan and Jamie, Denz’s cousin and best friend.
The story is told solely from Jordan’s perspective, and the reader quickly finds out that he’s had feelings for Jamie since a kissing lesson when the pair were teenagers, but has struggled to define his romantic identity ever since.
Jordan is a competitive, organized type that most of the time knows exactly what he wants. And what he wants is a promotion to Events Manager in his family’s company. But his plans get derailed when Jamie shows up as the man of honor for the wedding Jordan’s been put in charge of planning, and a new rival forces him to stay on the event.
Jamie is kind of like a human golden retriever. Usually happy, easygoing, charming, and fun to be around. But his personality makes it difficult for him to stand up to his elitist parents and he doesn’t always seem to want to wait around for Jordan to unpack what he’s feeling.
When the pair are clicking with each other Winters writes romance scenes that are sweet and sexy and hard not to get into. Maybe that’s why it was hard for me to connect with the scenes where Jamie distances himself from Jordan. Maybe Winters put me enough in Jordan’s head that it felt like he was doing a majority of the work in the relationship.
I also enjoyed the other storylines with Javi and the wedding planning, and I kind of wish they’d gotten more play in the story. Javi was delightful, and Amy was a reminder of a bride who’s supposed to be planning for the rest of a life with the person she loves and other people are controlling her narrative.
And Julien? We need a story about Nic at some point, because that girl is fierce and funny in a family full of personality.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The story is told solely from Jordan’s perspective, and the reader quickly finds out that he’s had feelings for Jamie since a kissing lesson when the pair were teenagers, but has struggled to define his romantic identity ever since.
Jordan is a competitive, organized type that most of the time knows exactly what he wants. And what he wants is a promotion to Events Manager in his family’s company. But his plans get derailed when Jamie shows up as the man of honor for the wedding Jordan’s been put in charge of planning, and a new rival forces him to stay on the event.
Jamie is kind of like a human golden retriever. Usually happy, easygoing, charming, and fun to be around. But his personality makes it difficult for him to stand up to his elitist parents and he doesn’t always seem to want to wait around for Jordan to unpack what he’s feeling.
When the pair are clicking with each other Winters writes romance scenes that are sweet and sexy and hard not to get into. Maybe that’s why it was hard for me to connect with the scenes where Jamie distances himself from Jordan. Maybe Winters put me enough in Jordan’s head that it felt like he was doing a majority of the work in the relationship.
I also enjoyed the other storylines with Javi and the wedding planning, and I kind of wish they’d gotten more play in the story. Javi was delightful, and Amy was a reminder of a bride who’s supposed to be planning for the rest of a life with the person she loves and other people are controlling her narrative.
And Julien? We need a story about Nic at some point, because that girl is fierce and funny in a family full of personality.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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