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Only Friends
“A delightful romantic comedy debut!” —Olivia Dade, USA TODAY bestselling author of Zomromcom and Spoiler Alert
“An excellent and unique premise...San Andres’s love for Regency romance comes through.” —Library Journal
Fans of The Regency Vows and For the Love of Austen series will adore this sexy and charming rom-com debut about an aspiring screenwriter and a gorgeous model teaming up to create regency era thirst content for online fans.
After being fired from her day job, unceremoniously ghosted, and facing a bad case of writer’s block, twenty-six-year-old aspiring screenwriter Mariel Rivera is one spilled coffee away from crying on the subway. When she’s rescued from a Times Square kerfuffle by a very handsome model dressed in regency costume, Mariel has no idea her life is about to change.
Dashwood Bennet has been modeling for years, though recently, his current portfolio includes some more risqué shots. However, he never imagined that after his encounter with Mariel, he’d be putting on his regency breeches just to take them off again…in front of the camera.
Dash is the answer to Mariel’s prayers in more ways than one. First, he saved her from an unruly mob. Second, he’s the perfect person to play the Duke of Harding, a character she’s created that captured her attention and won’t let go. Third, he’s more than game to be the face of her spicy historical shorts. And last but not least, he’s her perfect partner both in business and in the bedroom. But being work-partners-with-benefits can complicate things. Will their partnership survive or are Mariel and Dash doomed to not have their happily ever after?
“An excellent and unique premise...San Andres’s love for Regency romance comes through.” —Library Journal
Fans of The Regency Vows and For the Love of Austen series will adore this sexy and charming rom-com debut about an aspiring screenwriter and a gorgeous model teaming up to create regency era thirst content for online fans.
After being fired from her day job, unceremoniously ghosted, and facing a bad case of writer’s block, twenty-six-year-old aspiring screenwriter Mariel Rivera is one spilled coffee away from crying on the subway. When she’s rescued from a Times Square kerfuffle by a very handsome model dressed in regency costume, Mariel has no idea her life is about to change.
Dashwood Bennet has been modeling for years, though recently, his current portfolio includes some more risqué shots. However, he never imagined that after his encounter with Mariel, he’d be putting on his regency breeches just to take them off again…in front of the camera.
Dash is the answer to Mariel’s prayers in more ways than one. First, he saved her from an unruly mob. Second, he’s the perfect person to play the Duke of Harding, a character she’s created that captured her attention and won’t let go. Third, he’s more than game to be the face of her spicy historical shorts. And last but not least, he’s her perfect partner both in business and in the bedroom. But being work-partners-with-benefits can complicate things. Will their partnership survive or are Mariel and Dash doomed to not have their happily ever after?
288 pages, Paperback
First published February 10, 2026
About the author
Lydia San Andres
26 books111 followersLydia San Andres (She/Her) lives and writes in the tropics, where she can be found reading, sipping coffee, and making excuses to stay out of the sun. As much as she enjoys air conditioning, she can sometimes be lured outside with the promise of cookies and picnics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
September 28, 2026
3.5⭐️
Goodreads Challenge
Mariel really can’t seem to catch a break. Her boyfriend cheated, she got fired, and her screenplay; the one thing she’s supposed to be focusing on, is going absolutely nowhere.
when she heads to the movies for a little escape, the last thing she expects is to be mistaken for a famous celebrity and mobbed by a crowd.
Enter Duke, who swoops in to rescue her from the chaos.
What starts as a very awkward rescue quickly turns into something neither of them expected. Is it love at first sight? Or is Duke simply the friend Mariel needs to help her find her way through the mess of her life?
Either way, with a little movie magic, unexpected friendship, and maybe a hint of romance, Mariel might just discover that sometimes the best stories are the ones you never planned to write!
Goodreads Challenge
Mariel really can’t seem to catch a break. Her boyfriend cheated, she got fired, and her screenplay; the one thing she’s supposed to be focusing on, is going absolutely nowhere.
when she heads to the movies for a little escape, the last thing she expects is to be mistaken for a famous celebrity and mobbed by a crowd.
Enter Duke, who swoops in to rescue her from the chaos.
What starts as a very awkward rescue quickly turns into something neither of them expected. Is it love at first sight? Or is Duke simply the friend Mariel needs to help her find her way through the mess of her life?
Either way, with a little movie magic, unexpected friendship, and maybe a hint of romance, Mariel might just discover that sometimes the best stories are the ones you never planned to write!
April 18, 2026
I've been dragging the audiobook for almost a week, but it's not the book's fault, at least not entirely, I've been super busy. At the same time though, I didn't feel a sense of urgency to continue the story. It was fine, don't get me wrong, and I liked it, I just wasn't in love with it.
The premise was interesting, and I mostly liked the execution, but I wish the book went a bit deeper. As is, it felt like a light, beachy read that I probably won't be thinking about for years to come. And that's okay!! I just mean that I was expecting a bit more is all.
When it comes to the MCs, I preferred Dash to Mariel, he was a lot more likable. For Mariel, it took almost until the end of the book for her to get some development, and it felt so rushed.
Romance wise, I liked them together, but I gotta say that they truly felt like friends from the get go, and I wouldn't have been mad if the book had ended that way.
Only Friends gets bonus points for all the diversity, it's one of the main reasons why I'd be open to trying more books by this author in the future.
The premise was interesting, and I mostly liked the execution, but I wish the book went a bit deeper. As is, it felt like a light, beachy read that I probably won't be thinking about for years to come. And that's okay!! I just mean that I was expecting a bit more is all.
When it comes to the MCs, I preferred Dash to Mariel, he was a lot more likable. For Mariel, it took almost until the end of the book for her to get some development, and it felt so rushed.
Romance wise, I liked them together, but I gotta say that they truly felt like friends from the get go, and I wouldn't have been mad if the book had ended that way.
Only Friends gets bonus points for all the diversity, it's one of the main reasons why I'd be open to trying more books by this author in the future.
2026
July 14, 2025Latine Heritage Month TBR
Valentine's Day TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Primero Sueno Press
Valentine's Day TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Primero Sueno Press
Read
July 14, 2025things i enjoyed:
the premise! struggling screen-writer teams up with social media thirst trap influencer to create a sexy regency Duke character.
Casually queer. Dash is bisexual, not at all a part of the plot besides he is. Other queer characters and characters of color yay!
setting in NYC, loved how we get to fall in love with the city and its people along with the characters, neither of whom lived there until they were adults.
amazing, punchy start that grabbed my interest.
the not so great:
the punchy start petered out for me as Dash and Mariel were having a great, horny buildup to banging, but once they did bang we got everything BUT the penetration, which felt anti-climatic especially for the premise, and then the rest of the book was mostly implied/fade to black.
Also, the discussion of Dash's sex work on OnlyFans felt, superficial at best. It was never really described as more than thirst trapping, but I'm assuming it was more than that? I wish this nuance was explored a bit more as Dash expresses discontent with previous partners who were ashamed of his work. I was pleased Mariel had no issues or qualms, but the way it was written made it seem more like simple tiktok thirst traps than for example the sex worker in Caught Up by Navessa Allen. I was also confused that this site was called a real world name while the other ones used were made up.
the premise! struggling screen-writer teams up with social media thirst trap influencer to create a sexy regency Duke character.
Casually queer. Dash is bisexual, not at all a part of the plot besides he is. Other queer characters and characters of color yay!
setting in NYC, loved how we get to fall in love with the city and its people along with the characters, neither of whom lived there until they were adults.
amazing, punchy start that grabbed my interest.
the not so great:
the punchy start petered out for me as Dash and Mariel were having a great, horny buildup to banging, but once they did bang we got everything BUT the penetration, which felt anti-climatic especially for the premise, and then the rest of the book was mostly implied/fade to black.
Also, the discussion of Dash's sex work on OnlyFans felt, superficial at best. It was never really described as more than thirst trapping, but I'm assuming it was more than that? I wish this nuance was explored a bit more as Dash expresses discontent with previous partners who were ashamed of his work. I was pleased Mariel had no issues or qualms, but the way it was written made it seem more like simple tiktok thirst traps than for example the sex worker in Caught Up by Navessa Allen. I was also confused that this site was called a real world name while the other ones used were made up.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Atria for my advanced copy of this delightful romcom! Overall, this was such a cute and fun story. Mari is a chaotic yet relatable FMC, and Dash is an absolute dreamboat. I loved the fun twist on a Regency-era romance, with Mari and Dash setting out to create a Regency-inspired character for OnlyFans.
While their instant chemistry and bond were undeniable, the miscommunication between Dash and Mari was often infuriating. Truly, just say what you’re feeling for once, please. This definitely reminded me why I so often struggle with romances centered on characters in their early twenties, but overall, it was still a fun time.
While their instant chemistry and bond were undeniable, the miscommunication between Dash and Mari was often infuriating. Truly, just say what you’re feeling for once, please. This definitely reminded me why I so often struggle with romances centered on characters in their early twenties, but overall, it was still a fun time.
February 14, 2026
THIS WAS SO CUTE OMG 😭🩷
Muchas gracias a Primero Sueño Press for the physical ARC and finished copy 🩷
Only a Dominican Baddie would come up with the genius idea of creating regency thirst traps for the internet to feast upon
I truly had such an amazing time reading this, it's the perfect pick me up romance that'll make you laugh out loud and swoon all at once.
As a middle child, Mariel is literally who I see myself in. It's okay to not have everything figured out, we're only human. We know our gifts and abilities better than those around us. I truly have a soft spot for messy girls like us.
Mariel and Dash were so cute, their romance was really fitting to the novels premise and I just love how they both are with one another, it's the cutest. I also don't make the rules but having a bisexual character wins brownie points for me!
This is the perfect book if you're looking for a feel good romance but especially for all the Latine dreamers, readers, and writers!
Muchas gracias a Primero Sueño Press for the physical ARC and finished copy 🩷
Only a Dominican Baddie would come up with the genius idea of creating regency thirst traps for the internet to feast upon
I truly had such an amazing time reading this, it's the perfect pick me up romance that'll make you laugh out loud and swoon all at once.
As a middle child, Mariel is literally who I see myself in. It's okay to not have everything figured out, we're only human. We know our gifts and abilities better than those around us. I truly have a soft spot for messy girls like us.
Mariel and Dash were so cute, their romance was really fitting to the novels premise and I just love how they both are with one another, it's the cutest. I also don't make the rules but having a bisexual character wins brownie points for me!
This is the perfect book if you're looking for a feel good romance but especially for all the Latine dreamers, readers, and writers!
July 21, 2026
So sweet and cozy!! Loveddd the mc
September 16, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel.
Only Friends is a novel about self-love, self-respect, and being kind to yourself. This novel follows Mariel as she works to learn how to believe that she is worthy of friends, family, compassion, a career she enjoys, and most of all - love. Enter Dash, the perfect regency 'duke' to help her along the way, and a few new bookish friends too. If you like a cute, hipster romance, then this is for you. There is also LGBT+ representation that is wonderfully done, and it's nice to see LGBT+ characters written as actual people, not as how the writer believes them to behave.
Unfortunately, I did have some trouble relating to Mariel and Dash, and I think that is because I don't live in a place like NYC. This novel felt like the characters were really written a certain way because of the setting, but if the setting had been elsewhere it probably would've been a whole different novel. While I do understand the part the setting plays in a novel, I think it's also important to remember that all readers are not from places like where the novel is set, and it might be a good idea to include things for us to grab onto in the writing.
Only Friends is a novel about self-love, self-respect, and being kind to yourself. This novel follows Mariel as she works to learn how to believe that she is worthy of friends, family, compassion, a career she enjoys, and most of all - love. Enter Dash, the perfect regency 'duke' to help her along the way, and a few new bookish friends too. If you like a cute, hipster romance, then this is for you. There is also LGBT+ representation that is wonderfully done, and it's nice to see LGBT+ characters written as actual people, not as how the writer believes them to behave.
Unfortunately, I did have some trouble relating to Mariel and Dash, and I think that is because I don't live in a place like NYC. This novel felt like the characters were really written a certain way because of the setting, but if the setting had been elsewhere it probably would've been a whole different novel. While I do understand the part the setting plays in a novel, I think it's also important to remember that all readers are not from places like where the novel is set, and it might be a good idea to include things for us to grab onto in the writing.
September 25, 2025
I really loved the general idea of Only Friends, but I had a hard time actually relating to the characters. It’s a relatively short book, so that’s kind of to be expected though.
There were lots of really cute moments that I thoroughly enjoyed too. In general, if you’re looking for a quick fun read, it will definitely get the job done.
There were lots of really cute moments that I thoroughly enjoyed too. In general, if you’re looking for a quick fun read, it will definitely get the job done.
April 2, 2026
• arc review •
release date - feb 10th, 2026
thank you to atria books for a gifted arc copy of only friends, in exchange for my honest review.
———————
I enjoyed this for what it was, but I'm also glad it's over. The FMC Mariel literally couldn't communicate her feelings for the life of her and the MMC Dash was...interesting. I liked the premise of the story I just think it fell flat for me.
release date - feb 10th, 2026
thank you to atria books for a gifted arc copy of only friends, in exchange for my honest review.
———————
I enjoyed this for what it was, but I'm also glad it's over. The FMC Mariel literally couldn't communicate her feelings for the life of her and the MMC Dash was...interesting. I liked the premise of the story I just think it fell flat for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5/5
—think Quinn-type content
—cinnamon roll hero
—heroine who sees herself as Too Much
The Basics:
Aspiring screenwriter Mariel is out of a job and a relationship, which is why she's desperate enough to ask the model she met in Regency costume (him, not her) to collaborate on a series of spicy~ videos in which he's the sexy historical romance hero of your dreams. She and Dash hit it off, becoming fast friends—which gets a little complicated when they hook up. It doesn't have to be complicated, though! Especially when the videos take off and they have their blossoming careers at stake. But... he's just so cute...
The Review:
Okay, so. I love the idea of more books about heroes with jobs related to the SW industry (and this is sex work!). Quinn is obviously taking off in a big way, and they do indeed have audios with historical romance vibes. (Although I should note—Dash's content does involve video, not just audio.) Even if this type of content isn't necessarily for me as a consumer, it should be normalized, and I love the idea of a hero vamping it up in front of the camera while the heroine writes the scripts and essentially directs him.
And while I've complained about friends to lovers before—this is basically friends with benefits to lovers. Although Dash and Mariel don't hook up immediately, it doesn't take them too long. From there, it's basically casual. This is a great way to do friends to lovers, in my opinion.
So a lot of things to like, and a lot of things different readers probably will like. For me, this was another book where I kept going, "I need his POV. I need his POV. I NEED HIS POV."
Without Dash's POV, he is just too perfect. Too sweet, too tender, too... non-problematic. And I'm not saying he needs to be terrible, at all! Obviously, if he's working in a sexual context (even if it's on the lighter side) with Mariel, I don't want him to be a creep. But he's just so... enlightened. He loves romance novels. And I'm sorry! I'm just really tired of reading about heroes who are attracted to women (notice that I don't say "straight", because Dash isn't, and I give big kudos for that—bi and pan heroes are rare in MF romances) revealing this love of romance novels.
Romances are wish fulfillment in some ways. But they have to be more than that to work for me. I don't want to read about the perfect guy. Dash would probably be a delight to date in real life. He just doesn't have enough development here.
And that's kind of highlighted more by the fact that Mariel is a lot more interested. She's a little brash, openly herself, and quirky in a way that did feel real to me, rather than put on. I wish that the Lydia San Andres had come back to a way to sum this up other than "she's afraid of being see as TOO MUCH", because... Yes, it's something lots of women struggle with, I'm sure. But I've seen it a good bit lately in romance novels and onscreen. Maybe I would be a bit less tired of it if the heroes paired with these TOO MUCH heroines weren't kinda boring. Sadsack boring or "too perfect" boring.
I think there's a lot of cuteness here, but it just felt TOO cute. A really creative premise, with a hero who just doesn't have the interiority to match our heroine. And this is just a note—I think we have too many pop culture references here. Some current, some too old. Either way, I think pop culture references date a book, the author... it throws people off the game.
If you do not mind that much cuteness, a hero who is just ready to be your feminist fantasy without any work—check this out. I'm just not quite there myself.
The Sex:
I was surprised by how tame the scenes were in a book wherein the friends with benefits element is so prominent. They are good, but I could've used something a bit hotter.
The Conclusion:
A little too sugary to really hit the emotions the way it should, Only Friends is cute... But I wanted it to be great. If a sugar rush is your thing, though, this could totally be what you need.
Thanks to Atria/Primero Sueno Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
—think Quinn-type content
—cinnamon roll hero
—heroine who sees herself as Too Much
The Basics:
Aspiring screenwriter Mariel is out of a job and a relationship, which is why she's desperate enough to ask the model she met in Regency costume (him, not her) to collaborate on a series of spicy~ videos in which he's the sexy historical romance hero of your dreams. She and Dash hit it off, becoming fast friends—which gets a little complicated when they hook up. It doesn't have to be complicated, though! Especially when the videos take off and they have their blossoming careers at stake. But... he's just so cute...
The Review:
Okay, so. I love the idea of more books about heroes with jobs related to the SW industry (and this is sex work!). Quinn is obviously taking off in a big way, and they do indeed have audios with historical romance vibes. (Although I should note—Dash's content does involve video, not just audio.) Even if this type of content isn't necessarily for me as a consumer, it should be normalized, and I love the idea of a hero vamping it up in front of the camera while the heroine writes the scripts and essentially directs him.
And while I've complained about friends to lovers before—this is basically friends with benefits to lovers. Although Dash and Mariel don't hook up immediately, it doesn't take them too long. From there, it's basically casual. This is a great way to do friends to lovers, in my opinion.
So a lot of things to like, and a lot of things different readers probably will like. For me, this was another book where I kept going, "I need his POV. I need his POV. I NEED HIS POV."
Without Dash's POV, he is just too perfect. Too sweet, too tender, too... non-problematic. And I'm not saying he needs to be terrible, at all! Obviously, if he's working in a sexual context (even if it's on the lighter side) with Mariel, I don't want him to be a creep. But he's just so... enlightened. He loves romance novels. And I'm sorry! I'm just really tired of reading about heroes who are attracted to women (notice that I don't say "straight", because Dash isn't, and I give big kudos for that—bi and pan heroes are rare in MF romances) revealing this love of romance novels.
Romances are wish fulfillment in some ways. But they have to be more than that to work for me. I don't want to read about the perfect guy. Dash would probably be a delight to date in real life. He just doesn't have enough development here.
And that's kind of highlighted more by the fact that Mariel is a lot more interested. She's a little brash, openly herself, and quirky in a way that did feel real to me, rather than put on. I wish that the Lydia San Andres had come back to a way to sum this up other than "she's afraid of being see as TOO MUCH", because... Yes, it's something lots of women struggle with, I'm sure. But I've seen it a good bit lately in romance novels and onscreen. Maybe I would be a bit less tired of it if the heroes paired with these TOO MUCH heroines weren't kinda boring. Sadsack boring or "too perfect" boring.
I think there's a lot of cuteness here, but it just felt TOO cute. A really creative premise, with a hero who just doesn't have the interiority to match our heroine. And this is just a note—I think we have too many pop culture references here. Some current, some too old. Either way, I think pop culture references date a book, the author... it throws people off the game.
If you do not mind that much cuteness, a hero who is just ready to be your feminist fantasy without any work—check this out. I'm just not quite there myself.
The Sex:
I was surprised by how tame the scenes were in a book wherein the friends with benefits element is so prominent. They are good, but I could've used something a bit hotter.
The Conclusion:
A little too sugary to really hit the emotions the way it should, Only Friends is cute... But I wanted it to be great. If a sugar rush is your thing, though, this could totally be what you need.
Thanks to Atria/Primero Sueno Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 17, 2026
3.75/5
Fun story with great characters and Regency themes.
Didn't love that it took them literally until the end to get together.
I was happy to see the trails of flirting and an open door scene early-ish into the book. It fizzled out after and we get into the meat of the story, scenes after that are closed door.
Fun story with great characters and Regency themes.
Didn't love that it took them literally until the end to get together.
I was happy to see the trails of flirting and an open door scene early-ish into the book. It fizzled out after and we get into the meat of the story, scenes after that are closed door.
February 16, 2026
Thanks Netgalley and Atria for the ARC of the Spanish edition of this book. I enjoyed reading it in Spanish and I also listened to the audio book in English. This book is so underrated and under-hyped! It was such a genuine depiction of dating with avoidant attachment style. I'm not even into regency romance and usually get bored by spice but the spice in this book was sexy! The Manhattan setting was fun. I loved the Dominican matriarchy. This book is so effortlessly gender inclusive.
July 30, 2025
Thank you for the ARC NetGalley!!
2.5 stars, rounded up!
Listen, based on the description of this book, I wasn’t expecting anything too serious or mind blowing. And, honestly, that’s why I requested an ARC. I was intrigued by the premise of it. It’s not something I’ve ever seen in a book before and I figured that even if my suspicions were correct (that’s it not mind blowing) it would still be a fun read. And, I mean, it sort of was?
It was silly and definitely had a unique concept, but I caught myself skimming the pages a few times. Not that it was boring, per se. It’s just that the plot was barely there. I mean, it stuck to what the description promised, but that’s about it. It almost read like the author had no outline and just started writing as she went along. Not that that made the book bad by any means. I just think it could have been a tad more structured. Despite being a short book, it felt like it went on forever.
I wasn’t big on either of the main characters, unfortunately. Mariel was very chaotic and she kept running away from her problems (which was mentioned A LOT—at least she’s self aware). She was OKAY, but not my favorite. As for Dash, he was also just OKAY. He was super sweet and a big cinnamon roll (also mentioned a lot), but sometimes it felt like a little too much. Like he had no flaws. And don’t get me wrong, I’m glad he wasn’t a terrible person, it’s just that he didn’t seem to have any regular ole flaws either (even his apartment was spotless).
So anyways, I think a lot of people will love this book, merely because it’s a fast read and not overly plot heavy. And I also think lots of people will love both of the main characters! There is definitely stuff to like in this book! I like how diverse the cast of characters is and, again, how unique the concept is. Unfortunately, I wasn’t overly invested in really anything that happened in it.
2.5 stars, rounded up!
Listen, based on the description of this book, I wasn’t expecting anything too serious or mind blowing. And, honestly, that’s why I requested an ARC. I was intrigued by the premise of it. It’s not something I’ve ever seen in a book before and I figured that even if my suspicions were correct (that’s it not mind blowing) it would still be a fun read. And, I mean, it sort of was?
It was silly and definitely had a unique concept, but I caught myself skimming the pages a few times. Not that it was boring, per se. It’s just that the plot was barely there. I mean, it stuck to what the description promised, but that’s about it. It almost read like the author had no outline and just started writing as she went along. Not that that made the book bad by any means. I just think it could have been a tad more structured. Despite being a short book, it felt like it went on forever.
I wasn’t big on either of the main characters, unfortunately. Mariel was very chaotic and she kept running away from her problems (which was mentioned A LOT—at least she’s self aware). She was OKAY, but not my favorite. As for Dash, he was also just OKAY. He was super sweet and a big cinnamon roll (also mentioned a lot), but sometimes it felt like a little too much. Like he had no flaws. And don’t get me wrong, I’m glad he wasn’t a terrible person, it’s just that he didn’t seem to have any regular ole flaws either (even his apartment was spotless).
So anyways, I think a lot of people will love this book, merely because it’s a fast read and not overly plot heavy. And I also think lots of people will love both of the main characters! There is definitely stuff to like in this book! I like how diverse the cast of characters is and, again, how unique the concept is. Unfortunately, I wasn’t overly invested in really anything that happened in it.
July 15, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
This was okay. It was a low angst, lighthearted rom com featuring a quirky manic pixie dream girl and a cinnamon roll hero. The premise was cute: an aspiring screenwriter and a model team up to create content in order to make money so that she can pay rent while pursing her dream of writing a rom com. Is it far-fetched? Sure. I think I would have been more into it if I’d connected with the heroine more. She was your standard version quirky girl who doesn’t have her life together. There wasn’t anything inherently complex about her, which was a shame because there was a missed opportunity to really delve into her fear of abandonment and her relationship with her mother. All we get is surface level, and it wasn’t engaging enough for me to be invested in her journey.
The hero was a sweet and patient man, and I did really enjoy their flirty banter. While they had chemistry, it felt more like a platonic relationship. Once they got together the pace started to drag for me, especially given the push and pull from the heroine. Dash was an amazing and earnest guy, and I felt like he could do better than Mariel.
Overall, an interesting storyline, but the execution fell short for me.
This was okay. It was a low angst, lighthearted rom com featuring a quirky manic pixie dream girl and a cinnamon roll hero. The premise was cute: an aspiring screenwriter and a model team up to create content in order to make money so that she can pay rent while pursing her dream of writing a rom com. Is it far-fetched? Sure. I think I would have been more into it if I’d connected with the heroine more. She was your standard version quirky girl who doesn’t have her life together. There wasn’t anything inherently complex about her, which was a shame because there was a missed opportunity to really delve into her fear of abandonment and her relationship with her mother. All we get is surface level, and it wasn’t engaging enough for me to be invested in her journey.
The hero was a sweet and patient man, and I did really enjoy their flirty banter. While they had chemistry, it felt more like a platonic relationship. Once they got together the pace started to drag for me, especially given the push and pull from the heroine. Dash was an amazing and earnest guy, and I felt like he could do better than Mariel.
Overall, an interesting storyline, but the execution fell short for me.
January 19, 2026
This was a really fun and quirky romcom! The characters were so fun and interesting to meet, the exploring of New York was so cool, and the amount of queer Black and Brown characters was amazing!! My only beef was with my chaotic gremlin Mariel🫠 she was such a frustrating character to read about bc of her self aware but still self destructive behavior and it was just really difficult to feel for her when she was quite literally making the choice to put herself in those situations🙃 But thankfully when she started making friends and being honest with herself WAYYYYYY later in the book, she became a much better character to stick around for. I do hope Yaz and Chase get a book bc those two were making eyes at each other and I need to see him in Prince Naveen cosplay again😭
Thank you Primero Sueño Press for the ARC!! I can’t wait to see what else this author comes out with🙂↕️👏
Thank you Primero Sueño Press for the ARC!! I can’t wait to see what else this author comes out with🙂↕️👏
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2026
This book was a fun little novella. This is the first book where I did feel like the girl was not good enough for the guy and this book seemed more like a love letter to New York more than a romance. The author did a great job making such a lively city seem like a small town romance, however it lost two stars because the actual romance seemed like the subaltern plot and not the main one.
Did Not Finish
April 4, 2026guys i’m so sorry i tried so hard to like this book but it was just so immature 😭 like the FMC was always breaking the fourth wall and the author kept adding “(heh)” after every joke that could be remotely dirty. so…yeah i promise i tried. back to Carley Fortune ✌️☀️🌺
April 7, 2026
I just couldnt connect with this one at all. the fmc is way too dramatic and emotional and erratic lol and the mmc just isnt my type I guess
June 25, 2026
This is one of those books I am embarrassed to say I have read
March 5, 2026
Great RomCom with a unique premise.
Once i started this book it was so hard to put it down the writing was compelling and San Andres had a way to make me feel everything Mariel was feeling in every single word, She also managed to capture the complexity of interfamilial relationships in a latinoamerican matriarchy and how it also affects other relationships.
I really enjoy it being in a single POV because it gave me as a reader time to sit with Mariel’s inner conflicts and how her inner fears restrain her and how self aware she is, but the best part is how we see her character growth, and how she affronts her abandonment issues in order to try and fix her relationship with Dash.
I loved this book all around but Mariel’s all around colorful personality and style and Dash’s swoony loving personality had me stuck to that book from beginning to end.
~Blurb~
After being fired from her day job, unceremoniously ghosted, and facing a bad case of writer’s block, twenty-six-year-old aspiring screenwriter Mariel Rivera is one spilled coffee away from crying on the subway. When she’s rescued from a Times Square kerfuffle by a very handsome model dressed in regency costume, Mariel has no idea her life is about to change.
Dash is the answer to Mariel’s prayers in more ways than one. First, he saved her from an unruly mob. Second, he’s the perfect person to play the Duke of Harding, a character she’s created that captured her attention and won’t let go. Third, he’s more than game to be the face of her spicy historical shorts. And last but not least, he’s her perfect partner both in business and in the bedroom. But being work-partners-with-benefits can complicate things. Will their partnership survive or are Mariel and Dash doomed to not have their happily ever after?
Tropes:
♥️Friends To Lovers
👩🏾❤️👨🏻Interracial romance
👩🏽💻Screenwriter FMC
🌶️Spicy Content Creator MMC
❤️🔥He Falls First (and harder)
💞Found Family
🥹Cinnamon Roll MMC
🤫Chaotic FMC
OnlyFriends is out, make sure to check it out
Thanks to Lydia San Andres, Netgalley and Atria for sending this ARC in exchange for my honest review
⭐⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Once i started this book it was so hard to put it down the writing was compelling and San Andres had a way to make me feel everything Mariel was feeling in every single word, She also managed to capture the complexity of interfamilial relationships in a latinoamerican matriarchy and how it also affects other relationships.
I really enjoy it being in a single POV because it gave me as a reader time to sit with Mariel’s inner conflicts and how her inner fears restrain her and how self aware she is, but the best part is how we see her character growth, and how she affronts her abandonment issues in order to try and fix her relationship with Dash.
I loved this book all around but Mariel’s all around colorful personality and style and Dash’s swoony loving personality had me stuck to that book from beginning to end.
~Blurb~
After being fired from her day job, unceremoniously ghosted, and facing a bad case of writer’s block, twenty-six-year-old aspiring screenwriter Mariel Rivera is one spilled coffee away from crying on the subway. When she’s rescued from a Times Square kerfuffle by a very handsome model dressed in regency costume, Mariel has no idea her life is about to change.
Dash is the answer to Mariel’s prayers in more ways than one. First, he saved her from an unruly mob. Second, he’s the perfect person to play the Duke of Harding, a character she’s created that captured her attention and won’t let go. Third, he’s more than game to be the face of her spicy historical shorts. And last but not least, he’s her perfect partner both in business and in the bedroom. But being work-partners-with-benefits can complicate things. Will their partnership survive or are Mariel and Dash doomed to not have their happily ever after?
Tropes:
♥️Friends To Lovers
👩🏾❤️👨🏻Interracial romance
👩🏽💻Screenwriter FMC
🌶️Spicy Content Creator MMC
❤️🔥He Falls First (and harder)
💞Found Family
🥹Cinnamon Roll MMC
🤫Chaotic FMC
OnlyFriends is out, make sure to check it out
Thanks to Lydia San Andres, Netgalley and Atria for sending this ARC in exchange for my honest review
⭐⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
October 15, 2026
Man where do I begin with this fuck ass book….i know it says I started this book in September but I had been trying to start this book up for the better half of a fucking month, this shit was so long for the first 10 chapters I almost never finished
Let’s start with the horrible fucking pasting of this book, it took this book almost 11 chapters for something actually interesting to happen, the amount of times I re-read the first two pages is astounding and don’t get me started with how much fluff is in this book, if she took all her observations of dash out of this book it’s been a 1/3 of the length
And don’t get me started on how horrible of a fucking person this main character is, she is such a self serving and self centered little piece of shit who just self pity personified, she is a lazy slob of a person who doesn’t deserve half what happens to her in this book.
The other character, why is 99% gay? Like I don’t have an issue with gay characters but like the main character is the only straight person in the entire book and she is so u likeable, like you can write gay characters better than this and make them feel real, she just write them to feel more in touch it feels like, and don’t get me started with how she treats dash.
Bottom line this bitch sucks to be around and to even read about, the best part of this book was me finishing it, and I made sure I read the last page on the toilet so I could be this book justice by shitting after reading it, THATS HOW SHITTY IT WAS
Let’s start with the horrible fucking pasting of this book, it took this book almost 11 chapters for something actually interesting to happen, the amount of times I re-read the first two pages is astounding and don’t get me started with how much fluff is in this book, if she took all her observations of dash out of this book it’s been a 1/3 of the length
And don’t get me started on how horrible of a fucking person this main character is, she is such a self serving and self centered little piece of shit who just self pity personified, she is a lazy slob of a person who doesn’t deserve half what happens to her in this book.
The other character, why is 99% gay? Like I don’t have an issue with gay characters but like the main character is the only straight person in the entire book and she is so u likeable, like you can write gay characters better than this and make them feel real, she just write them to feel more in touch it feels like, and don’t get me started with how she treats dash.
Bottom line this bitch sucks to be around and to even read about, the best part of this book was me finishing it, and I made sure I read the last page on the toilet so I could be this book justice by shitting after reading it, THATS HOW SHITTY IT WAS
January 6, 2026
I enjoyed this book! If you like a man who knows how to weild his words, this is for you!
Dash was a dreamy, devilish duke who reminded me why I loved reading historical romance. I wish their whole project was real because boy would I eat that up. He was so kind and thoughtful, and definitely more patient that I ever will be.
I enjoyed the pacing of this book!! I also felt like the side characters were pretty well developed, and would love to read a book about them.
There were a few things that held me back from loving it. First, I didn’t love the amount of pop culture references. It’s not a bad thing, just not something I enjoy!
Second, I feel like Mariel was a touch toxic at points in this book. I understand that she was dealing with her own trauma, but I still don’t feel like it was properly addressed. She did a lot of things that were just generally bad things to do to someone, and Dash, ever the gentleman, was too quick to let it slide. There’s nuance there, and of course it’s a more complex issue than I am making it sound, but it was something I couldn’t get out of my mind reading this book.
Overall, this was a good book with just a couple quirks that kept it from being a 5 star read for me!
A huge thank you to Primero Sueno Press for the early review copy!!
Dash was a dreamy, devilish duke who reminded me why I loved reading historical romance. I wish their whole project was real because boy would I eat that up. He was so kind and thoughtful, and definitely more patient that I ever will be.
I enjoyed the pacing of this book!! I also felt like the side characters were pretty well developed, and would love to read a book about them.
There were a few things that held me back from loving it. First, I didn’t love the amount of pop culture references. It’s not a bad thing, just not something I enjoy!
Second, I feel like Mariel was a touch toxic at points in this book. I understand that she was dealing with her own trauma, but I still don’t feel like it was properly addressed. She did a lot of things that were just generally bad things to do to someone, and Dash, ever the gentleman, was too quick to let it slide. There’s nuance there, and of course it’s a more complex issue than I am making it sound, but it was something I couldn’t get out of my mind reading this book.
Overall, this was a good book with just a couple quirks that kept it from being a 5 star read for me!
A huge thank you to Primero Sueno Press for the early review copy!!
October 8, 2026
I picked Only Friends as part of the Fall Goodreads Challenge (Hispanic Heritage bookmark), and glad I did. This book was an charming from start to finish.
What a fun romp! The premise alone had me hooked: a ridiculously attractive man dressing up in Regency-era clothing and creating content that gives serious "historical heartthrob" energy. It's a clever and modern romance that never takes itself too seriously while still giving readers characters they can genuinely root for.
The female lead was refreshingly likable and capable, and I enjoyed watching her figure things out for herself. Rather than waiting to be rescued.
The romance was sweet, the chemistry was great, and the supporting cast added so much warmth and humor to the story. By the end, I found myself wishing I could join their friend group because every character felt like someone I'd want to know in real life.
This was a funny, feel-good read with a unique premise, lovable characters, and plenty of heart. FYI: Spice level is low
What a fun romp! The premise alone had me hooked: a ridiculously attractive man dressing up in Regency-era clothing and creating content that gives serious "historical heartthrob" energy. It's a clever and modern romance that never takes itself too seriously while still giving readers characters they can genuinely root for.
The female lead was refreshingly likable and capable, and I enjoyed watching her figure things out for herself. Rather than waiting to be rescued.
The romance was sweet, the chemistry was great, and the supporting cast added so much warmth and humor to the story. By the end, I found myself wishing I could join their friend group because every character felt like someone I'd want to know in real life.
This was a funny, feel-good read with a unique premise, lovable characters, and plenty of heart. FYI: Spice level is low
February 11, 2026
I really enjoyed this friends to buddies who bone to lovers fade to black romance set in NYC that follows a struggling screen writer who has trouble seeing projects through to the end and who gets captivated by Dash and his dreamy British accent.
Pivoting away from her current project she embarks on an online Dashing Duke social media story project for fun. When it goes viral though neither Dash or her are prepared for the increased attention and it puts a strain on their relationship.
Both characters has past trauma they work through in the story and I loved seeing how their HEA comes together. This was good on audio narrated by Stacey Gonzales and perfect for fans of books like Ana takes Manhattan by Lisette Decos. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
Steam level: fade to black, kissing only
Pivoting away from her current project she embarks on an online Dashing Duke social media story project for fun. When it goes viral though neither Dash or her are prepared for the increased attention and it puts a strain on their relationship.
Both characters has past trauma they work through in the story and I loved seeing how their HEA comes together. This was good on audio narrated by Stacey Gonzales and perfect for fans of books like Ana takes Manhattan by Lisette Decos. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
Steam level: fade to black, kissing only
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was such a cute romcom with such a fun, modern twist!
Mariel is a HOT MESS. She keeps getting ghosted by her dates, she lost her job, and has been trying to write her screenplay with no progress being made. She ends up having a meet cute with Dash when he rescues her. Dash is a model who is trying to explore more risqué work online. Little do they know they are about to get into a very niche, regency thirst era. They work together to create fun, seductive regency videos on soical media and online platforms.
Working together brings them closer, but this is all Mariel has been able to do right. She can't take another professional or romantic loss! Did I sometimes feel like shaking her to get it together? I did! Our FMC requires some patience and understanding, but she finds her way eventually!
This felt like a true romcom! A little cheesy, a little over the top, but all with a happy ending.
Mariel is a HOT MESS. She keeps getting ghosted by her dates, she lost her job, and has been trying to write her screenplay with no progress being made. She ends up having a meet cute with Dash when he rescues her. Dash is a model who is trying to explore more risqué work online. Little do they know they are about to get into a very niche, regency thirst era. They work together to create fun, seductive regency videos on soical media and online platforms.
Working together brings them closer, but this is all Mariel has been able to do right. She can't take another professional or romantic loss! Did I sometimes feel like shaking her to get it together? I did! Our FMC requires some patience and understanding, but she finds her way eventually!
This felt like a true romcom! A little cheesy, a little over the top, but all with a happy ending.
May 1, 2026
this is a shitty benedict bridgerton fanfiction. the kind of smut eighth graders be writing
October 15, 2026
Why was the word "rizz" used :( Other than that I found it mostly awful.
October 15, 2026
Never read something so ass in my life but having someone to share this atrocity with made it much funner NEGATIVESTARS
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