Last First Kiss

Last First #2

by Tatiana Gómez

Alejandra and Clara have been best friends since forever. They’ve always been each other’s person, and they’ve heard “Are you two dating?” so often, it’s basically an inside joke. What Alejandra doesn’t know is that for Clara, it’s never been that funny, because she’s been in love with her best friend for years.

When Alejandra’s grandmother kicks off a matchmaking frenzy in preparation for her sister’s wedding, Alejandra panics and blurts out a lie: she’s already seeing someone... Clara.

As pretend starts to feel a little too real, Alejandra begins to question her own heart. Now the two must face an even scarier question: What if they can’t help but fall, even if it means risking everything they’ve always had?

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Friends To Lovers, Lesbian Fiction

Unknown Binding

Published November 2, 2025

Reviews

[Unpopmary · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐

“I’d live inside your skin if I could. You’re my favorite person in the entire world”

I’d just finished Last First Love when I was approved to read the ARC of Last First Kiss, and while I enjoyed the first book, Last First Kiss surprised me even more!

In Last First Love, we only get glimpses of Alejandra and Clara, but here we finally see their whole story. I don’t want to pit the two books against each other because each shines in its own way, but what I loved about Last First Kiss is how it stays focused on Ale and Clara’s dynamic. There’s less time spent with the larger friend group (though I still adore them—they’re such a sweet bunch!) and much more room to really explore their love story.

From the prologue you can see how their friendship has evolved over the years. Even at the beginning, their connection and chemistry are unmistakable. The intimacy is there from the start and gradually transforms into something emotionally richer. Clara’s quiet strength moved me—she hides her unrequited feelings for her best friend but stays by her side anyway, showing her selfless and loving nature. It was also endearing to watch Ale, oblivious to her own feelings, slowly realize them in such a natural way.

I also adored the family dynamics. Ale’s family taking Clara in after she lost her mother was so touching, and Lala and Diana’s, Ale's granny and older sister, supporting their “fake dating” was adorable. Ale’s mom was equally sweet, gently nudging them to see there might be something more if they took the risk. The fake dating setup itself was so much fun—the jealousy, the small touches, and that love confession that literally made me gasp for air.

And Tatiana’s writing? Ugh, I loved it —poetic yet never heavy, making the romantic moments shine even brighter. What else can I say? The friends-to-lovers arc here is just chef’s kiss!


If you’ve read Last First Love, don’t hesitate to grab this one when it comes out—you won’t regret it! And even if you haven’t read the first book, I’m sure you’ll be swept away by Tatiana’s beautiful writing.

[Sapphic Bookshelf]

Full of undeniable chemistry and tender moments, Tatiana Gómez crafts a beautiful and heartwarming love story perfect for sapphic romance fans everywhere.

I adored Last First Love and this sophomore novel continues to knock it out of the park. Make sure you check this one out when it publishes November 2nd.

Thank you to the author for a copy of this eARC.

[OceaneZw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good!

I loved seeing the progress since book one. The chemistry and the yearning were definitely there.

Alejandra's grandma was my favorite character, always playing the matchmaker and making me laugh.

While the other girls from the series were present, I would have loved to see them more involved in the main story. I'm sure they will be featured way more in Valeria's book (which I can't wait for!).

Another important detail I noticed was the improvement in the writing. You can clearly see that the author listened to her sapphic readers and created such a good novel from it.

Overall, if you're looking for a best friends to lovers romance with fake dating and a lot of funny moments, give this book a chance.

I'd like to thank Tatiana Gómez for allowing me to be a beta reader and for the chance to receive an ARC copy aswell in exchange for an honest review. I loved the experience.

[Aunt Missa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet romance! Clara and Ale have been best friends and found family since they were kids. Ale’s family took Clara in when her mom passed away. They are inseparable. But Clara has always loved Ale in secret. Ale is getting over a bad break up and Clara is her rock, her very best friend. They’ve heard it for years…why aren’t two together? Enter a meddling grandmother always looking to play matchmaker and some forced proximity and we’ve got a great set up for romance. Lala, the grandma, was a wonderful secondary character. She was smart and funny and Ale and Clara played right into her hands.

I love Tatiana’s writing. It’s sweet and steamy at the same time. And the way she portray’s Clara and Ale’s emotional intimacy was just lovely. There were times when I really wanted to yell at these two characters and let them know it was gonna be so good if they would only go for it! That was the fun in reading this book. Tatiana also writes some excellent spice. Really excellent spice.

My only wish is that the conflict happened in a less dramatic location. It made it feel a bit rushed at the end. However, there is a lovely epilogue and I was really pleased with the prologue that sets up the relationship. Now, I’m hoping Tatiana is working on Valeria’s story as a 3rd book in this series!

[Britni MacDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

Alright - starting this review off with a little love for these covers. There is such a different type of appreciation to be had for authors who also design their covers...whatever **we fans** have done to deserve such beautiful mind children is wonderful and many many thanks.

I have come around to the best friends to lovers tropes, and it is exactly books like this that reinforce my enjoyment. It's a little more than, hey this is the person who knows you better than anyone, but rather that deep, to-the-core devotion to wanting the best for them even if it may not be you. Throw in one of the greatest tropes to be a trope, fake dating between these best friends...what's the worst that could happen? Who cares, when the best things can happen. Your combined family (founds/blood/chosen) all love and support - even wondering what in the world took you so long? How embarrassing, especially when we gotta keep reminding ourselves that this is all, just pretend right? What if it's not? Could it be the best case scenario? Magic in letting the person you love come around, in their own way and on their own time realize that the reason it could never work with anyone else is because it's already always been YOU.

Deep gratitude to Ms. Tatiana Gómez for a copy of Last First Kiss in exchange for this honest review.

[Emilie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of Last First Kiss! As always, all opinions are my own and this review is being left voluntarily.

4.5 stars rounded up

✨ Adult Sapphic Contemporary Romance
✨ First Person, Dual POV
✨ 3/5 Spice Level
✨ Book 2 in a series
✨ Rep: Latina rep, lesbian rep

I recommend if you enjoy…
- The first book in the series!
- Fake Dating
- (Childhood) Best Friends to Lovers
- Women-centered Romance
- Found Family
- A majority Latina cast of characters

Content warnings after review.

General thoughts…
I was an ARC reader for the first book in the series, Last First Love, and I really enjoyed it. I think it’s safe to say the second book is even better. I was hooked right from the start and ended up finishing in practically no time. It doesn’t hurt that I’m a big fan of the “fake dating” trope, which Tatiana executed well. It didn’t feel forced or convoluted.

Some things I loved…
- There are basically no men. This book (and the previous) so heavily focus women and women-loving-women relationships, that even the mention of men in passing hardly sticks in my head. When I think of the characters, I think of women, and I love that.
- The cast of characters is almost entirely Latina women. On top of basically no men, the Latina rep is off the charts, and I love to see that. I will never not love to see that.
- There is a meddling grandma… seriously, always the best. Love her.
- Major found family vibes. The friend group is great. They clearly all love each other and care so deeply. If you’ve read the previous book, you’ll notice how the events of that book are referenced in this book. (But if you haven’t, it isn’t necessary to read the first book first!) I also noticed some mentions of things that appear to be leading up to the third book in the series… which I am definitely looking forward to.
- The pacing and overall story was well done. I was invested, and I think Tatiana’s storytelling abilities have improved from book 1 to book 2 which I loved to see!
- The story is set in the Pacific Northwest, and included places I’ve been before!

Some things to consider…
- I mean, I guess if you want more men in your books to avoid this one?
- While I previously mentioned reading the first book isn’t necessary to read this book, I think reading them in order is worth it if you’re interested in the series as a whole (versus just this one due to tropes or what-have-you).

Final thoughts…
I loved this book and definitely recommend the series as a whole! I am looking forward to the third book, and I really appreciate how Tatiana centers Latina women-loving-women in her romance books. Well done, and I eagerly await the next installment!

(beware potential spoilers below)

Content Warnings
(may not be all inclusive)
loss of a parent, cancer (mention), sexually explicit content

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC for an honest review. Release date is 11/2/2025

🖤 Best friends to lovers
🖤 Fake dating
🖤 Roommates
🖤 Open door spice

I truly love Tatiana’s writing. It feels very poetic when expressing the inner thoughts of each character and the internal struggles each are having. The love, hurt, and longing ooze right off the page.

I loved getting to read Clara and Alejandra’s story after them being introduced in Last First Love. They are best friends that have literally been through everything together since birth. The book starts with the loss of Clara’s mother and how it’s affected her life. Alejandra’s family takes Clara in, and their bond only gets deeper and stronger.

Clara being in love with Alejandra since their teens and Ale being so clueless was hard to read lol I felt so bad for sweet Clara. Their chemistry and relationship was so solid and strong and beautifully written, it gives all the feels.

There is a lot of miscommunication in this book that had me screaming during the first half for them to open their eyes!! lol Once they get together, their chemistry is undeniable. This is the perfect lifelong friends to lovers romance, with just the right amount of angst and spice 🔥

[MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completed via Apple Books. I received an advance reader copy (ARC) of this book for an honest review! All comments and opinions are my own.

This is the fastest that I’ve ever read a book in a really long time. I get so nervous when I sign up for these ARC reads because I’m like “okay, there’s a deadline to reading this, and I have to do a review before that deadline,” sometimes cutting it so close, but I didn’t think I would be this much ahead of the ball game that I read it within a day. I would’ve read it two days ago whenever she gave it to me, but I didn’t realize that it was in my mailbox until I searched her email, so that information alone tells you that the book is extremely good and you won’t want to put it down until it’s finished!

I stumbled upon her sign-up on TikTok for the ARC for this book, already excited for it, but then even more excited but also nervous when I realized that this was the second book of the series and I had a book to read before she sent this book out to me. I am happy to share that I was not disappointed by the first book, and it left me feeling excited to receive this book, and I definitely was not disappointed by this second book.

We already got a kind of a glimpse into the characters for this book from the first book, so it was exciting to be able to switch gears into these characters, and the timeline be within reason and continuity with the personalities lining up. If you are ready for a good old friends-to-lovers romance story, you’ll be happy with this one. The author depicts everything just perfectly without overwhelming the reader, making everything realistic that it could happen for real.

Last First Love - Already published and read for you to read!

Last First Kiss - Will be published on November 2nd, 2025

Thank you again to Tatiana Gómez for selecting me as one of your ARC readers!!!

[Dan Lasco · Rating 4 out of 5]

i gotta say, when done right, there’s really something so sweet, so cute, so wholesome, and so genuine about the best friends to lovers trope. and this book absolutely nailed it. last first kiss reminded me why this trope works so well when it’s written with care. it’s always been a mystery to me how you can be best friends with someone for over a decade and not realize they’re the love of your life. that’s usually where i start to question the believability of the trope, but somehow, tatiana gomez made it make sense. clara and alejandra’s friendship was that once-in-a-lifetime kind of bond. they were each other’s person in every possible way. the foundation of their relationship was solid, filled with easy familiarity and quiet devotion, and it carried a spark that everyone around them could see, even if they couldn’t.

what really made me melt was how gradual everything felt. there was no rush, no forced tension to push them into romance. the story allowed both women the time and space to figure out what they were feeling, and that made it all the more satisfying when things finally clicked. clara’s quiet patience was everything. she had been in love with alejandra for fifteen years and never once made her friend feel uncomfortable or pressured. instead, she gave alejandra room to come to her own realization, to feel it and name it herself. that kind of love - steady, patient, and deeply respectful - hit me right in the chest. and alejandra’s internal struggle felt so believable, too. the confusion of wondering whether her feelings were genuine or simply a response to everyone else’s teasing, the way she second-guessed herself even when her heart was already decided, it all felt real. gomez wrote those moments with such tenderness that you could feel the love creeping in, soft and inevitable.

and then there’s their communication, which was just 💯. it’s rare to read a romance where both characters handle their emotions and misunderstandings with that much honesty and care. clara and alejandra knew each other so deeply that even when things got complicated, they never lost sight of the trust between them. their conversations were open and thoughtful, showing what emotional maturity in love really looks like. it wasn’t always perfect, but it felt so grounded. they were willing to listen, to apologize, and to meet each other halfway. that’s what made their romance feel earned. it grew out of years of understanding, small gestures, and quiet loyalty.

last first kiss was such a heartwarming read. thank you, tatiana, for the e-arc. 🖤

4.5 ⭐

[kay.grace424 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It was a good story—a classic childhood best-friends-to-lovers tale that was sweet and tender from start to finish, with healthy adult communication (with a few notable exceptions), which I always appreciate.

What was really well done was the chemistry. Once Alejandra started having a crisis about how she really felt about Clara, the chemistry was intense and ever-present, and it was lovely. It really built up to them finally getting together, and I loved it. There were some beautiful, tender moments that really enriched the story and the romance. There was a lot of this book that was just sweet, and it was heartwarming to read. There are just a couple of things that, for me, bring this from 5 to 4 stars.

I wish we got to know them as characters, not just as what they mean to each other. It’s very clear that they mean the world to each other, but I would’ve loved to see more aspects of them as people and as characters. Sometimes the side characters felt a bit surface-level (not all of the time, but some moments), and I just wished we got to see more of them and know them as characters. My only other thing was that a big part of this is glimpses of the way their friendship is and has been, obviously meant to hint to the audience that it’s been teetering on the edge of not being platonic for a while. I liked these glimpses, and they clearly showed how close they were and how much they meant to each other. I just felt that sometimes it went too far, to the point of being a bit silly. I won’t give spoilers, but there were a couple of things that were very obviously not platonic, so when Alejandra thought, “we’re no closer than regular best friends,” it didn’t feel as believable that the thought would’ve never occurred to her.

I will mention this is yet another instance of me not realizing a book is in the middle of an interconnected standalone series until I’m in the middle of the book. I swear, I really need to stop doing this. The number of times this happens to me is honestly ridiculous at this point. This really has nothing to do with the review. Still, I mention it because for those who did know this piece of information and read the first book, we do get to see the previous couple in this book; they have multiple cameos, which, when I actually read interconnected standalones in the correct order, I really enjoy.

It was a good book. I’d highly recommend it for fans of the childhood best friends-to-lovers trope. This book is like the ultimate epitome of that trope, and if that’s your cup of tea, look no further; you’ve found the perfect book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
🌶️🌶️ (2 full scenes and a fair amount of explicit thoughts/comments)

Thank you to Tatiana Gómez for the advanced copy! I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

[Anna Santana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be an ARC reader for Last First Kiss, and I’m still swooning. This sapphic friends-to-lovers romance follows Alejandra and Clara, two best friends whose bond is unshakable. After Clara loses her mom, she’s taken in by Ale’s family—and slowly, feelings begin to bloom.
The emotional depth, the slow-burn tension, the found family… it all hit me right in the heart. I was yelling at the pages, desperate for them to realize what was so clearly in front of them: each other. Tatiana Gomez captures longing and love so beautifully, and this second installment in the series is everything I hoped for.
If you love queer romance, emotional storytelling, and characters that feel like your own friends, Last First Kiss is a must-read.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a wonderful book, I will not forget my feelings I had while reading the book for a very long time. My next read will for sure be the author’s debut book, Last First Love. Right after I finished Last First Kiss, I purchased and downloaded that one and I am so happy I will get another chance to experience the amazing writing and characters Tatiana Gómez is providing and I hope many more books to come soon.

Clara loses her mom, is utterly devastated but gets a new amazing family with her best friend in the world Alejandra, her mom, sister and grandma. Clara is so close with Alejandra and when they apply top college, she realizes that she is hopelessly in love with Alejandra. Clara is so afraid that if she tells Alejandra and she does not feel the same she risks losing her, that risk is not worth taking, so she keeps this a secret for 15 years.

When Alejandra’s Grandma Lala is pushing Alejandra to find a date for her sister’s wedding and is overall pushing way too hard Alejandra decides to fake that she and Clara now are together as a couple to get Lala off her back. It is so hard for Clara to fake date Alejandra, a person she has loved for so long and that is so close. Clara has never seriously dated anyone, it has all ben casual flings, her heart already full of Alejandra and it has been a struggle watching her date other women. When Lala suddenly visits them in their home, they are forced to share a room and bed, and Alejandra slowly realizes that she has more than friendship feelings for Clara, so jealous when she even looks at another woman. Maybe this is something she has felt all along just never realized it. Alejandra communicates her feelings to Clara in such a mature way, and they become lovers, and it is pure fireworks.

There are however secrets between them that may destroy everything. Clara has been offered a job in New York, will she leave before they really have started something, and Clara has still not told Alejandra that her feelings for her everything but new.

I received a free ARC from the author and leave a review voluntarily.

[Katie (hobbitthereader) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review Copy – This book was sent to me by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

i am beyond crushed. i wanted to love this so much. it had everything i love in it - it's sapphic, there's fake dating, friends-to-lovers - like as soon as i heard about this, i was reaching through my phone screen with grabby hands saying give it to me now!!

unfortunately, nothing about this delivers.

the fake dating barely lasts five minutes. they come up with this scheme to fake date to get alejandra's grandmother to stop setting them up on dates which is pretty common for fake dating stories, so i was here for it. but then they immediately tell their friends and their other family members that they're fake dating, which makes the whole thing seem a little pointless and cruel towards the grandmother, like at this point, just tell her.

like it's great when the tension is between the two main characters to keep the secret because that leads to plot development and character/relationship growth etc, but when the onus to keep the secret is on not just you, your fake-dating partner in crime, your family, and all your friends, it stops being a fun and clever trope and starts being really weird. like why are you pretending to date in front of people who know you're pretending to date. and all for the sake of getting your poor grandmother off your back.

what made it even weirder/harder to get through was the constant 'oh we thought you were already dating' and 'we knew you loved each other' and 'we were waiting for you to just announce it' and then the two main characters being like what?!? how did you know and we didn't?

um maybe it's because you have no boundaries and you rub your noses together (why?) and you're constantly touching and you act like you're dating even though you're just friends. like where is the tension? where is the will they won't they? where is everything that comes with the friends to lovers via fake dating plot i asked for???

like at one point alejandra's ex girlfriend kicks off when she finds out alejandra and clara are dating and she's like 'i knew it!!!!' and honestly, fair enough. i too would've kicked off if my girlfriend swore blind that she felt nothing for her best friend while rubbing noses etc and then later found out they were dating.

justice for alejandra's girlfriend whose name i can no longer remember.

other than that, there wasn't much going on. there's a couple of dull subplots, but not even any of the side characters stand out. also, they're supposed to be adults, but honestly they kind of act like teenagers a bit and it reads a little ya because of that.

i don't know like if i was feeling generous i could stretch to 2.5 stars, but i'm not so 2 stars it is lol

[Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Friends to Lovers romance was adorable, pulled at my heartstrings, and had a beautiful cast of queer characters to love and cherish. The family and friendship dynamics made this feel believable and like I was spending time with loved ones. Thankful to receive an e-ARC to spread the queer joy and love!

[Eliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

'Sapphic romance that follow best friends that are basically fated to be together'.

This is the second book I read of Tatiana's and legit from the first few chapters I knew I was gonna love it. There is just a way she describes tells her stories that touches me deeply. I believe it's the way the characters feel real and have problems/struggles they are navigating not just in the relationship but within themselves. Seeing how that unfolded during the duration of the story was so beautiful and heartwarming. I love that we follow lesbians/sapphics of colour specifically of Mexican descent, I always say this but so refreshing seeing sapphic books written by BIPOC Sapphics.

The characters, how do I even talk about them. Clara and Alejandra relationship from best friend to partners but still maintaining their best friend dynamic was everything. While reading this I had the goofy as smile on my face and I love seeing how to navigated different conflicts and conversation that happened within the book. I love healthy communications between adults even when there are periods of pause, there something so nice to see within books. I obv love that we got to see their family and how they interact with on another. All the moments with their best friends; Isabella, Valeria, and Lily, I was eating all of them up because this is the second book in the series so its so nice seeing them quiet frequently and seeing another side of them from the perceptive of Clara and Alejandra.

Back to Clara, as the story went on you see her grappling with her fear of taking a risk because she is scared of the unknown and doesn’t want anything negative to happen, so she was willing to risk her heart in order to still have her family. Alejandra was dealing with broken soul because who she once thought was the one ended up destroying her and how can she handle the fact that who she thought was the love of her life had to force herself to even love her back. Obv that would cause anyone pain and seeing her navigate how she’ll move forward from that was raw and honest.

You don't really get much of her passed relationship like in current time but you do get flashbacks which does help the story and give you necessary information for both parties. Overall even tho I was reading the uncorrected arc I still really enjoyed it, at some parts I felt the pacing was a little slower and some moments were more tell and felt speed up but it didn’t take away from the story at least for me.

I would definitely recommend reading this book especially if you love reading best friend to lovers that blur the line between lovers and friends, family/friends dynamics, photographer/remote worker main characters, duel POV, dealing with the grief of a parent and honestly lesbians.

If I could go back to Feb me reading the arc of the first book like; “ I thought Clara and Alejandra were together”, first of all i'm laughing cause I sound like everyone else in the book but second you can’t fool me. Anyways this book felt like it was written just for me and it made me cry down bad especially with Clara omg and Alejandra's mother omg yalll. I could honestly talk for ages of this book, I dont even think I reached 20% of it but I feel like it's long enough.

* I think I’m in the process of discovering a new fav author*

Thank you Tatiana for a copy of the eArc. I enjoyed every bit of it.

[Hadiya Hayes · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

I got 80% in and had to call it quits. So many things about this book were unrealistic, lacked continuity, and just annoyed me. Both MCs were identical, and the author did a bad job trying to make them unique to each other. You could tell she either added in extra context later, or just randomly put in facts and time jumps just for the hell of it because half of them added nothing to the plot and were beyond unnecessary. The amount of times the author repeated the same facts about the MCs being each other's "favorite person", and that they "do this all the time but it means nothing"q was ridiculous. The only character that wasn't absolute unrealistic trash was the mom. She was the most sensible and the least childish. Man, the MCs were so bad at acting like adults. Nothing about their relationship felt sincere, and the one spicy scene I got to was not spicy and used the word "writhe" too many times.

It's not a horrible book, just a horrible book to me.

[Lyric Vickers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was “meh”, for a lack of a better word at the moment. The only reason this book is receiving 4 stars and not at least 4.5 stars is because of the back and forth monologue that I felt dragged the book. The best part of this book was the POC representation! As a woman of color myself it’s great to see myself in books so my imagination can run even wilder…if that’s even possible! I hoped to see more in the epilogue especially if there are no plans for a third book! The epilogue is the entire book in one chapter just best friends declaring their love (non-platonically) then resuming business as usual. I couldn’t help but compare this book to “On the Same Page” by Haley Cass as they share some similarities with exception of POC. I digress, anyway, still a great read!

[Ivy Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Last First Kiss" follows the tumultuous love story of the two childhood best friends, Clara and Alejandra. Tired of her grandmother setting her up on horrific blind dates, Alejandra jumps at the opportunity of pretending to be her best friend's fake girlfriend and partner at her sister's upcoming wedding. Unknown to her, Clara has been keeping her feelings for her now fake girlfriend since they were teenagers. The journey the two had embarked on leads them to discover more about one another and realizations none had expected.

The book is as sweet and heartwarming as it sounds. Clara is one of the sweetest lead characters I've had the pleasure to follow through her journey. The love and care she puts into her friendship with Alejandra, without having any expectation of reciprocating her feelings, is admirable. Her character is messy and full of life! Alejandra's comedic situation of endless blind dates is played off well. The book is self aware and gives itself a boost in that sense. They made me wish I could jump into their world and write on Clara's mirror to go talk with Alejandra, no joke. These lovable goofballs got me so hooked! Just talk you two, I am paying you to.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a sapphic friend-to-lovers book and to anyone who is fond of any of the following tropes:
💝 fake dating
📷 matchmaking family pressure
💝 roommates
📷 small town
💝 only one bed
📷 second chance
💝 HEA

[Jasmine Shouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Note: This is book 2 in interconnected romances, but I didn't know that going in, and it did not impact my enjoyment of this book. It can be read standalone.

This is a fun, low-stakes read full of friends-to-lovers tension in which Clara and Alejandra move their relationship in a new direction amidst the background the wedding preparations of Alejandra's sister. The one thing that prevented this from being a higher rating was that the agonizing over their feelings in the first half became repetitive. I did like their interactions with their friends and family. It was a solidly good read.

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review.

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last First Kiss was such a sweet and heartfelt sapphic romance filled with all my favorite tropes like matching tattoos, fake dating, best friends to lovers, and of course, one bed.

Things get a little complicated thanks to family expectations, but it was so refreshing to read about a supportive family dynamic. The reference to the taking of table decorations at events was so real and I couldn’t help but laugh at how accurate that felt. The spicy scenes were done so well, I loved reading about Clara and Alejandra’s chemistry!

I can’t wait for Valeria’s story next! 💕

4.25⭐️

[Maddie Weeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was accepted by @tatianagomezauthor to be a part of the ARC team for Last First Kiss and below is my honest review.

I ate this book up! I am a sucker for friends to lovers (particularly best friends to lovers) as that’s mine and my wife’s story. This book had all that and more (fake dating trope included!)

The chemistry between Alejandra and Clara is off the scale. I love the way they’ve been written and I loved watching their story unfold.

I’m a big fan of all characters in this book. Although I haven’t read Last First Love, I still feel like I got to know the characters well. Lala is an icon 🫶🏻

It’s an all round lighthearted, hopeful sapphic romance and I will now be running to read Last First Love!

Ps I can relate to Alejandras need to have a sweet treat after every meal 😂

I recommend this to anyone who loves a sapphic romance with some fabulous tropes!

I give this 5 stars!

Thank you Tatiana for asking me to read and review!

Last First Kiss is out today! Happy publication day! 🥰

[Terpretor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read. Sweet friends to lovers. It was just okay. Maybe if it was longer, we could get a deeper character development.

[Nora · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love best friends to lovers. this was genuinely so sweet and tender and passionate and so so full of love that it got me in my feels around page 5 and i simply HAD to keep reading it. 5/5 totally would recommend!!

[sapphicliteratureirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚 ARC Review 📚 Thanks to the author for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This story follows the dual perspectives of Alejandra and Clara - best friends who spend nearly every moment together and share an intimacy that suggests something more to everyone except themselves. They flirt, they’re constantly in each other’s space, they give massages, have deep chats (even while showering 👀), insist on living together, and even have matching tattoos 🏳️‍🌈 And I adore romance narratives where friendship slowly blossoms into love. It’s something I’ve never seen happen in my own circles, which makes it all the more fun to read about ❤️📚

Clara has been secretly in love with Alejandra since their teenage years, while Alejandra is still healing from a breakup - and dealing with a grandmother who keeps trying to set her up on dates. What follows is a delightful romance that juxtaposes Clara’s long-held devotion with Alejandra’s slowly dawning realisation of her own feelings 💗

So do you risk a lifelong friendship for a chance at love? Spoiler ahead...

As a sapphic romance, the direction of the story may not come as a huge surprise - but the journey is what makes it so fun. There’s an incredible first kiss and a rather steamy 🌶️ scene that’s written beautifully. The chemistry and deep emotional connection between them is done well by the author; the tension simmers and finally erupts into passion, all underpinned by genuine care and understanding ❤️

While there are some deeper themes, including the loss of a parent (off-page/in the past), the overall tone remains light, warm, and uplifting. If you’re in the mood for a fun, heartfelt sapphic best friends-to-lovers story set in a cosy small town with a close-knit friend group - this one’s definitely for you! 📚

[Aurora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ale and Clara have been best friends since childhood and have always been super close. As they get older, Clara starts to realize that she has a crush on Alejandra, but she doesn't want to ruin their friendship. Then life happens, they get older, and date other people and remain best friends.

When Ale comes home broken-hearted, she relies on her best friend to get her through it. Meanwhile, Ale keeps getting set up on blind dates with her grandma in an attempt to get her to settle down. Newly single, Clara comes to Ale's rescue and pretends to be dating Ale to give her some reprieve from the blind dates. 😏

The way Tatiana wrote their chemistry was so beautifully done!!

Now listen, were they so oblivious to their love and connection? 100%!
They were soooo in love with each other that I did want to (lovingly) wack them over the head at some point, BUT the way they still loved each other through the lack of communication and coming to terms with all the feelings was just ✨️everything✨️.

Thank you to Tatiana for sending me a physical copy of this ARC to read and review. 💖

[Samantha Holder-Venter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, the classic I’m in love with my best friend story! I love it. This is such a sweet read, full of all the pining and love you could hope for. I really enjoyed Clara’s character, and the bond she shares with Ale feels so genuine. I’m a total sucker for fake dating, and this one absolutely nailed it.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last First Kiss by Tatiana Gómez is a friends to lovers trope, but kicked up a notch because we’re talking lifelong, been through all the darkest lows and highest highs, bestest friends ever that fall hopelessly in love while fake dating. Did that make sense?! I’m already rolling words out at an uncontrollable pace. It’s best friends to lovers in the sweetest attempt to fake dating- to keep it simple.

I had the honor of being a beta reader for Tatiana, probably because I melted after reading the first book of this series, Last First Love. All the same, Last First Kiss was equally as amazing as I knew it would be - so let’s get into it…

The book opens with Clara’s journey of losing her mom and Alejandra’s family taking her in as a member of their family. While Clara's journey is quite heavy, Gomez balances that heaviness really well with nods to the comfort and support she has from Cathia, Lala and especially Alejandra. This theme is also carried throughout the book when friends and family become critical soundboards for these women as they try to sort through their deepest thoughts and scariest decisions. It was lovely how they all help one another grow and flourish. There is a scene toward the end of the book with Isabella that I see as such a testament to who you surround yourself with matters.

We are taken through the journey of Clara and Alejandra’s friendship history up to present day and Clara’s current conundrum. Caught in a fake dating scheme, Clara is being forced to reconcile her feelings for Alejandra and how that could potentially change the trajectory of their friendship.

This love story is simple in the sense that it’s two friends who genuinely feel so much for one another. But it’s also complex in trying to navigate vulnerable moments and conversations in order to bridge the boundary between friendship and love. Clara and Alejandra have the strongest, most genuine connection and I was melting with every scene that started to blur the lines between them. I believe a note I’d left in my beta copy was, “Their spice was definitely spicy and the power dynamics between them were amazing. The teasing felt so sweet and genuine, but hot too - match made in heaven! No notes!” I won’t dive into said spice because I’ll leave that up to you all to go and read, but just take my word for it - the blurred lines were blurring and it was lovely as heck!

Last First Kiss is a must-add to your TBR, it will be published into the world on November 2nd and you will want to dive into these pages right away!


Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Rating: 🔥🔥🔥

[Alanna Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all special thanks to Tatiana for sending me this ARC.
I read Tatiana's first book and loved it so was excited when she announced she was looking for ARC readers.

This story is a perfect read for those who love a best friends to lover trope with a sprinkling of meddling family members and a little bit of open door spice.

First off this book starts highlighting the loss of Clara's mother due to cancer and how that has shaped her life.

Alejandra's family has taken Clara in after mom's death with Alejandra being her person.

While the loss of a family member can be quite heavy, I feel like Tatiana has done a great job in balancing grief with love.

This story is sweet and has you rooting for the main characters from the very first chapter.

Clara and Alejandra's relationship is so relatable, the comfort and understanding they bring each other is so easy to see in our own relationships.

I love being able to see Clara and Alejandra's through the years and how it morphs into now.

To see their connection deepen and how easy the lines blurred between friendship and relationship was so fun to read.

This is a fun and lovely read to add to your TBR. If you haven't go check out Tatiana's last book as well as some of the characters make an appearance here as well.

[Jen Betchie · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review - Thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy of the book to read and review.

This book was so freaking and frustratingly cute! Like come on! It was cute and sweet and funny! I wanted to hug and shake some sense into Clara and Alejandra on multiple occasions. Like how can you be so cute but so oblivious?!?!? The characters felt relatable and lovable, but complex… because what queer girl hasn’t secretly been in love with their best friend 😬😅….. but with healthy communication?!? Chef’s kiss 😘

Extra shoutout for realistically describing the Seattle area and surrounding towns. I appreciated how it was mentioned that everything is somehow like an hour away lol. Also the Wildrose shoutout made my heart happy!

[Beth Dennison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I had read by Tatiana Gómez and what a one to start with!

I was instantly drawn into Clara and Alejandra’s story, I couldn’t wait to see how it developed and it certainly did not disappoint. It was so well written and I loved how there was both point of views on multiple scenes as well as a good mixture of scenes of Clara or Alejandra by themselves. It gave time to get to know the characters individually.

I couldn’t put it down especially once they finally got together and worked through things together rather than keeping it from each other. I can’t wait to read more by Tatiana.