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Second Chance Duet
Not yet published
Expected 10 Mar 26A swoony, slow burn romance about a struggling composer whose big break comes at a cost—working side-by-side with her college nemesis.
Celia García has always had one to compose film scores. But after a decade of advertising jingles, that dream couldn’t be further out of reach—until an old college friend presents her with a life-changing opportunity. A big-name director so desperately needs a composer for his TV debut that he’ll take a chance on someone new. There’s only one catch. Celia has to work—and live—with her college nemesis, Oliver Barlowe.
Celia remembers Oliver as arrogant, rude, and entitled—the picture-perfect scion of Hollywood royalty. Soon, though, late nights and long days together reveal how much Oliver’s changed, sparking new feelings and the discovery that their rivalry wasn’t quite as mutual as she thought. But in an industry where she needs to work twice as hard to be seen as half as good, a romance with Oliver could end Celia’s career just as it’s starting
Celia García has always had one to compose film scores. But after a decade of advertising jingles, that dream couldn’t be further out of reach—until an old college friend presents her with a life-changing opportunity. A big-name director so desperately needs a composer for his TV debut that he’ll take a chance on someone new. There’s only one catch. Celia has to work—and live—with her college nemesis, Oliver Barlowe.
Celia remembers Oliver as arrogant, rude, and entitled—the picture-perfect scion of Hollywood royalty. Soon, though, late nights and long days together reveal how much Oliver’s changed, sparking new feelings and the discovery that their rivalry wasn’t quite as mutual as she thought. But in an industry where she needs to work twice as hard to be seen as half as good, a romance with Oliver could end Celia’s career just as it’s starting
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Expected publication March 10, 2026
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About the author
Ana Holguin
2 books80 followersAna Holguin grew up in the American Southwest and eventually made her way to the other side of the Mississippi, where she landed in Chicago. She now lives and writes in the City of Broad Shoulders.
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆."... “𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔, 𝑪𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒂,”
AGHHH what is it about romance books that have music embedded into the love story? 😭🎶 I’m not talking about the typical rockstar romance. I’m talking about music notes, rhythm, composition, percussion… it made this book get to a whole new level that I enjoyed so much ✨🎼
We have Celia, a composer, who is tired of doing jingles and wants to dream bigger. When she finally has the opportunity to do so… she has to do it with her college rival that she hasn’t seen in over ten years. Oliver, the quiet and arrogant man with a famous father she met in college, is no more, and after they are forced to work together for a TV debut, she notices he is different aaaaand in a good way 👀 AYEEEE
Rivals to lovers you know why I love it?! Because there’s always a small degree of miscommunication within this trope. The whole “we rival each other in everything ” that gets converted into “I admired you, not hated you” is so delicious in this book. The best part?! They are in a secluded place to work together since they are on a deadline *forced proximity has entered the chat*🔥
What I also love about this book is the vulnerability that we see from Oliver. He explains why 10 years really changed him and his way of thinking. WHICH I LOVE! I truly believe how people can change as time passes. Not only that, but we also see growth from both of them, and to intertwine that with their slow burn was so beautiful to read and enjoy! 🥹✨
Both characters, Celia and Oliver, had so many moments throughout the book where I wanted to reach out and hug them. Celia with her insecurities and her upbringing were so powerful to see and compare with Oliver’s, which obviously, as a couple, made this even more intense!!!
Loved the book and would read more about this beautiful couple 🫶💫
tropes
🎼 rivals to lovers
🎼 forced proximity
🎼 slow burn
🎼 he falls first
🎼 "I never hated you"
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 ❀*･ I haven't read a book with rivals to lovers in a minute SO EXCITED Thank you Forever for my eARC
AGHHH what is it about romance books that have music embedded into the love story? 😭🎶 I’m not talking about the typical rockstar romance. I’m talking about music notes, rhythm, composition, percussion… it made this book get to a whole new level that I enjoyed so much ✨🎼
We have Celia, a composer, who is tired of doing jingles and wants to dream bigger. When she finally has the opportunity to do so… she has to do it with her college rival that she hasn’t seen in over ten years. Oliver, the quiet and arrogant man with a famous father she met in college, is no more, and after they are forced to work together for a TV debut, she notices he is different aaaaand in a good way 👀 AYEEEE
Rivals to lovers you know why I love it?! Because there’s always a small degree of miscommunication within this trope. The whole “we rival each other in everything ” that gets converted into “I admired you, not hated you” is so delicious in this book. The best part?! They are in a secluded place to work together since they are on a deadline *forced proximity has entered the chat*🔥
What I also love about this book is the vulnerability that we see from Oliver. He explains why 10 years really changed him and his way of thinking. WHICH I LOVE! I truly believe how people can change as time passes. Not only that, but we also see growth from both of them, and to intertwine that with their slow burn was so beautiful to read and enjoy! 🥹✨
Both characters, Celia and Oliver, had so many moments throughout the book where I wanted to reach out and hug them. Celia with her insecurities and her upbringing were so powerful to see and compare with Oliver’s, which obviously, as a couple, made this even more intense!!!
Loved the book and would read more about this beautiful couple 🫶💫
tropes
🎼 rivals to lovers
🎼 forced proximity
🎼 slow burn
🎼 he falls first
🎼 "I never hated you"
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 ❀*･ I haven't read a book with rivals to lovers in a minute SO EXCITED Thank you Forever for my eARC
they-told-me-to-read-it
December 16, 2025Excited to read another book by this author!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I almost DNF’d this book at 91%. It broke a cardinal rule of romance for me, but luckily Ana Holguin redeemed herself on that point, and I finished the book.
Celia García has been trying to break into the film and television industries since she graduated from Juilliard a little over 10 years ago. She’s been hustling, writing jingles for commercials and corporations, but that work is starting to dry up due to AI. When her best friend from college reaches out about an opportunity to compose for an upcoming prestige TV show, Celia is overjoyed—that is, until she finds out she’ll be forced to work with her college nemesis, Oliver Barlowe. Oliver is a nepobaby—the son of a famous film composer—and he drove Celia nuts in college by winning every competition, opportunity, and internship they both applied for. Now Celia will have to figure out how not only to work with Oliver, but also live with him in his family’s vacation home in Maine while they use his studio to work on the score. But as they spend time together, Celia realizes that she never really knew Oliver and that there is much more to both him and their dynamic than she thought.
I struggled with this book. I am a classical singer who went to an elite conservatory comparable to Juilliard and would have overlapped with Celia and Oliver by at least a couple of years. I am also a working singer in a major city, one of my best friends is a composer, and I dated a composer in college, so I know a little something about the content of this book. Almost every detail about the actual nuts and bolts of attending a conservatory or working as a musician was wrong. It might not seem like a big deal to most people, but it shows a fundamental flaw in the world building. I really wish authors and editors would leverage alpha and beta readers with actual musical experience to make sure the world is accurate before sending a book to press.
Where this book really fell down for me was the dual timeline. Almost all of the mistakes in the world-building were in the past timeline, so if that hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t have had such an issue with the book. Additionally, the conflict in the past timeline didn’t have any teeth. Students in the same major at a conservatory are forced to compete with each other, and there is definitely conflict. It’s why most of us were friends with people from other majors or other years (or other voice types, for the voice majors). Having lived that experience, I really didn’t see the big deal in their dynamic in college, and it wasn’t important enough to take up so much space on the page.
I also thought the male main character was severely underdeveloped. This book is heroine-only POV, so we see everything through her eyes, meaning Oliver’s character is only shown through her experience of him. I just didn’t think we got enough of his journey to make this romance make sense to me. During the act three breakup, I wanted to yeet this man into the sun because he seemed to expect Celia to give up a career opportunity for him despite the fact that they weren’t even in a relationship, and he’s a nepobaby who has no clue how hard it is for her to get in the door. I was really done with him and nearly put down the book at that point.
The only saving grace of this book was the community around Celia. I loved her relationship with her best friend from college, Rebecca, as well as her family. Her two sisters were delightful on the page, and I really liked their dynamic. I honestly would have probably enjoyed this book more if it had been women’s fiction with a romance subplot because Celia’s life was much more interesting to me than the romance plot.
Overall, I really didn’t like this one. I don’t think a non-musician would be bothered by all the inaccuracies, but the romance writing also felt flat, so I can’t recommend it. Two stars because I finished it.
Thanks to Forever for the complimentary ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Celia García has been trying to break into the film and television industries since she graduated from Juilliard a little over 10 years ago. She’s been hustling, writing jingles for commercials and corporations, but that work is starting to dry up due to AI. When her best friend from college reaches out about an opportunity to compose for an upcoming prestige TV show, Celia is overjoyed—that is, until she finds out she’ll be forced to work with her college nemesis, Oliver Barlowe. Oliver is a nepobaby—the son of a famous film composer—and he drove Celia nuts in college by winning every competition, opportunity, and internship they both applied for. Now Celia will have to figure out how not only to work with Oliver, but also live with him in his family’s vacation home in Maine while they use his studio to work on the score. But as they spend time together, Celia realizes that she never really knew Oliver and that there is much more to both him and their dynamic than she thought.
I struggled with this book. I am a classical singer who went to an elite conservatory comparable to Juilliard and would have overlapped with Celia and Oliver by at least a couple of years. I am also a working singer in a major city, one of my best friends is a composer, and I dated a composer in college, so I know a little something about the content of this book. Almost every detail about the actual nuts and bolts of attending a conservatory or working as a musician was wrong. It might not seem like a big deal to most people, but it shows a fundamental flaw in the world building. I really wish authors and editors would leverage alpha and beta readers with actual musical experience to make sure the world is accurate before sending a book to press.
Where this book really fell down for me was the dual timeline. Almost all of the mistakes in the world-building were in the past timeline, so if that hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t have had such an issue with the book. Additionally, the conflict in the past timeline didn’t have any teeth. Students in the same major at a conservatory are forced to compete with each other, and there is definitely conflict. It’s why most of us were friends with people from other majors or other years (or other voice types, for the voice majors). Having lived that experience, I really didn’t see the big deal in their dynamic in college, and it wasn’t important enough to take up so much space on the page.
I also thought the male main character was severely underdeveloped. This book is heroine-only POV, so we see everything through her eyes, meaning Oliver’s character is only shown through her experience of him. I just didn’t think we got enough of his journey to make this romance make sense to me. During the act three breakup, I wanted to yeet this man into the sun because he seemed to expect Celia to give up a career opportunity for him despite the fact that they weren’t even in a relationship, and he’s a nepobaby who has no clue how hard it is for her to get in the door. I was really done with him and nearly put down the book at that point.
The only saving grace of this book was the community around Celia. I loved her relationship with her best friend from college, Rebecca, as well as her family. Her two sisters were delightful on the page, and I really liked their dynamic. I honestly would have probably enjoyed this book more if it had been women’s fiction with a romance subplot because Celia’s life was much more interesting to me than the romance plot.
Overall, I really didn’t like this one. I don’t think a non-musician would be bothered by all the inaccuracies, but the romance writing also felt flat, so I can’t recommend it. Two stars because I finished it.
Thanks to Forever for the complimentary ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 2, 2026
The way I devoured this book! I absolutely loved it! I'm realizing that a second chance enemies to lovers romance is my probably my favorite combination of tropes. The FMC, Celia, was wonderful. I felt like I could relate to her and identify with her in a lot of ways. She is smart and capable but feels like she's behind professionally and not living up to the potential that she once had. She's working and striving in a world that is about connections and a wealthy world that she wasn't born into. I also love the Hispanic representation. The supporting characters in her friends and family were great and added a layer to who the FMC is as a person. I so appreciated the connection between Celia and the MMC, Oliver. I felt for Oliver in a lot of ways, and I really enjoyed seeing how Celia's view of Oliver changed over the course of the book.
The style of writing was fluid and easy to read while still holding my attention. I liked how there were flashbacks to their college experiences and excerpts from the show they were working on as well. Overall, it flowed really well and created a beautiful story.
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), NetGalley, and the author, Ana Holguin, for the advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
The style of writing was fluid and easy to read while still holding my attention. I liked how there were flashbacks to their college experiences and excerpts from the show they were working on as well. Overall, it flowed really well and created a beautiful story.
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), NetGalley, and the author, Ana Holguin, for the advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
December 6, 2025
My latest & greatest SIX star read !!!!!!
Ana Holguin has done it AGAIN!
She has a WAY of making you FEEL.
I laughed. I cried (at literally everything; whether it was actually emotional or simply bc Ana set the scene absolutely flawlessly)
I simply cannot describe how REAL these characters felt. Every detail of their personalities, inner-thoughts, actions, goals, dialogue— it was all so consistently ✨them✨ & unique in a way that felt… natural, & memorable.
⏰ dual timeline perfection, the entire story wasn’t hanging in the balance waiting to find out what happened “before”, but it set the stage for the characters development both individually & together.
💘 rivals to lovers that actual felt like they were rivals !!!!! A span of 13 YEARS, PEOPLE.
🥁 she’s so direct, & she’s a chicken nuggets + fries type of girl, & the family dynamics were absolutely heart-warming.
🎹 he’s so troubled, but also SO CARING & THOUGHTFUL. The man goes to THERAPY & is actively working out all his kinks.
👯♀️ just another note to say that the family!!!! in this book really stood out in a way that both stood out & fell seamlessly in line with the plot.
I’m so so proud of Ana with her second published novel & feel beyond blessed to have been able to read it early 🫶🏼
Ana Holguin has done it AGAIN!
She has a WAY of making you FEEL.
I laughed. I cried (at literally everything; whether it was actually emotional or simply bc Ana set the scene absolutely flawlessly)
I simply cannot describe how REAL these characters felt. Every detail of their personalities, inner-thoughts, actions, goals, dialogue— it was all so consistently ✨them✨ & unique in a way that felt… natural, & memorable.
⏰ dual timeline perfection, the entire story wasn’t hanging in the balance waiting to find out what happened “before”, but it set the stage for the characters development both individually & together.
💘 rivals to lovers that actual felt like they were rivals !!!!! A span of 13 YEARS, PEOPLE.
🥁 she’s so direct, & she’s a chicken nuggets + fries type of girl, & the family dynamics were absolutely heart-warming.
🎹 he’s so troubled, but also SO CARING & THOUGHTFUL. The man goes to THERAPY & is actively working out all his kinks.
👯♀️ just another note to say that the family!!!! in this book really stood out in a way that both stood out & fell seamlessly in line with the plot.
I’m so so proud of Ana with her second published novel & feel beyond blessed to have been able to read it early 🫶🏼
February 27, 2026
First, thank you to Forever Publishing for this gifted ARC and ALC! All these thoughts are my own.
The narrators really brought these characters to life and I loved it!
This was such a sweet and cozy read! Celia strong Latina composer gets roped into a chance of a life time with her Juilliard school rival. She of course couldn’t turn it down but it had her wondering if she would be able to work with Oliver after how things were at school.
Oliver was a quiet and broody guy, who was an only child with a family who really didn’t care. His story made me want to give him a big hug. Seeing how much he matured over the years through therapy was great!
The relationship between Celia and Oliver was just so sweet. They had the best chemistry and I couldn’t help but swoon every time they were together.
If you enjoy music rivals turned friends to lovers, tension, yearning, growth of the characters, and a strong family relationship then I definitely recommend this one!
The narrators really brought these characters to life and I loved it!
This was such a sweet and cozy read! Celia strong Latina composer gets roped into a chance of a life time with her Juilliard school rival. She of course couldn’t turn it down but it had her wondering if she would be able to work with Oliver after how things were at school.
Oliver was a quiet and broody guy, who was an only child with a family who really didn’t care. His story made me want to give him a big hug. Seeing how much he matured over the years through therapy was great!
The relationship between Celia and Oliver was just so sweet. They had the best chemistry and I couldn’t help but swoon every time they were together.
If you enjoy music rivals turned friends to lovers, tension, yearning, growth of the characters, and a strong family relationship then I definitely recommend this one!
February 17, 2026
Thank you so much to Forever for this ARC!
I will be honest, I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. It wasn’t really even on my radar until I got an e-mail from Dana at Forever with the widget recommending it after I read Still Into You by Erin Connor (also fantastic!).
I am SO glad I read it though. What an absolutely beautiful story full of yearning! The tension, the rivalry, the pining, the flashbacks, EVERYTHING. And don’t get me started on Oliver… 😮💨 A man of few words, but when he does speak you can bet your bottom dollar I’m SAT & listening!!!! Their chemistry is so good, and the flashbacks come in at the perfect time to really give us the full picture.
Celia is also such a fantastic FMC. I love how the author really highlighted her struggle as a latina in a male-dominated field, and the juxtaposition of that with Oliver and his upbringing with his own struggles really just had me thinking about the fact that we really never know what anyone is going through behind the scenes.
Overall, this was a fantastic read. I definitely recommend you check it out when it is released on March 10th! 🎼
I will be honest, I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. It wasn’t really even on my radar until I got an e-mail from Dana at Forever with the widget recommending it after I read Still Into You by Erin Connor (also fantastic!).
I am SO glad I read it though. What an absolutely beautiful story full of yearning! The tension, the rivalry, the pining, the flashbacks, EVERYTHING. And don’t get me started on Oliver… 😮💨 A man of few words, but when he does speak you can bet your bottom dollar I’m SAT & listening!!!! Their chemistry is so good, and the flashbacks come in at the perfect time to really give us the full picture.
Celia is also such a fantastic FMC. I love how the author really highlighted her struggle as a latina in a male-dominated field, and the juxtaposition of that with Oliver and his upbringing with his own struggles really just had me thinking about the fact that we really never know what anyone is going through behind the scenes.
Overall, this was a fantastic read. I definitely recommend you check it out when it is released on March 10th! 🎼
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In a contemporary romance landscape that feels saturated with athletes and locker rooms, centering a love story around music and the arts felt like such a refreshing shift and that alone made this stand out.
The pacing is strong. This book moves quickly and stays focused, and I flew through the story in a single day. It pulls you in fast and keeps you anchored with just enough modern realism to make everything feel grounded and believable.
Celia’s family absolutely stole my heart. The support, the loyalty, the way they show up for each other without hesitation made for the kind of dynamic that makes you want to crawl into the pages and stay there. The moment where Celia tells her dad about her big, fancy new job before announcing it to the rest of the family felt especially meaningful as it honored his sacrifices and the role he played in shaping her path. That detail said more about her character than pages of exposition ever could. 🥹
I also loved the role reversal in the romantic dynamic. Having a confident, secure FMC paired with a more hesitant, guarded MMC was a welcome change. It flipped the typical contemporary romance formula in a lovely way. Celia knows she's good, knows she deserves her recognition and hes is going to get it
The dual timeline structure works well, too. I am always a fan of the slow reveal it allows, especially in a second-chance romance. Watching the past unfold alongside the present adds emotional layers and gives context to the fractures in their relationship.
The cultural elements are beautifully woven in this sotry as well. The effortless shifts between Spanish and English, the celebration of salsa music, the food, the family rhythms all felt authentic and joyful. The story is deeply rooted in those traditions while still feeling accessible to readers outside the culture. That balance is not easy to achieve, and it was handled with care.
That said, there were a few misses for me.
Because the story is single POV, it is harder to fully connect with Oliver. I love a tortured, stoic musician as much as the next reader, but we do not get enough insight into who he actually is beyond his strained relationship with his parents. Without being in his head his emotional trauma feels underdeveloped, which makes parts of the story harder to invest in. But then he pulls out the “I’d rather show you” right before their first kiss. Completely unexpected. Completely perfect. My jaw actually dropped.
I also wanted more clarity around the “why” of their love. It is obvious that they care about each other, but the specifics of what they admire, respect, or deeply value in one another are not explored enough for me. A bit more depth in that area would have elevated this from good to unforgettable for me.
Overall, this is a fast, heartfelt, culturally rich second-chance romance with a standout family dynamic and a few swoony moments that genuinely hit. It just needed a little more emotional excavation to fully land.
**Thank you to the publisher for providing me an ALC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
The pacing is strong. This book moves quickly and stays focused, and I flew through the story in a single day. It pulls you in fast and keeps you anchored with just enough modern realism to make everything feel grounded and believable.
Celia’s family absolutely stole my heart. The support, the loyalty, the way they show up for each other without hesitation made for the kind of dynamic that makes you want to crawl into the pages and stay there. The moment where Celia tells her dad about her big, fancy new job before announcing it to the rest of the family felt especially meaningful as it honored his sacrifices and the role he played in shaping her path. That detail said more about her character than pages of exposition ever could. 🥹
I also loved the role reversal in the romantic dynamic. Having a confident, secure FMC paired with a more hesitant, guarded MMC was a welcome change. It flipped the typical contemporary romance formula in a lovely way. Celia knows she's good, knows she deserves her recognition and hes is going to get it
The dual timeline structure works well, too. I am always a fan of the slow reveal it allows, especially in a second-chance romance. Watching the past unfold alongside the present adds emotional layers and gives context to the fractures in their relationship.
The cultural elements are beautifully woven in this sotry as well. The effortless shifts between Spanish and English, the celebration of salsa music, the food, the family rhythms all felt authentic and joyful. The story is deeply rooted in those traditions while still feeling accessible to readers outside the culture. That balance is not easy to achieve, and it was handled with care.
That said, there were a few misses for me.
Because the story is single POV, it is harder to fully connect with Oliver. I love a tortured, stoic musician as much as the next reader, but we do not get enough insight into who he actually is beyond his strained relationship with his parents. Without being in his head his emotional trauma feels underdeveloped, which makes parts of the story harder to invest in. But then he pulls out the “I’d rather show you” right before their first kiss. Completely unexpected. Completely perfect. My jaw actually dropped.
I also wanted more clarity around the “why” of their love. It is obvious that they care about each other, but the specifics of what they admire, respect, or deeply value in one another are not explored enough for me. A bit more depth in that area would have elevated this from good to unforgettable for me.
Overall, this is a fast, heartfelt, culturally rich second-chance romance with a standout family dynamic and a few swoony moments that genuinely hit. It just needed a little more emotional excavation to fully land.
**Thank you to the publisher for providing me an ALC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
January 7, 2026
“I am here and I’m worth it.”
I immensely enjoyed this second novel from Ana Holguin. A rivals to lovers slow burn romance, set in the competitive world of composing music.
In this day and age, it’s still rare to see Latinx representation when it comes to this field so it was beautiful to see Celia evolve in her profession. Her family dynamics felt like coming home and I loved the group chats with her family. And don’t even get me started on Professor Pendejo. The fact that was the nickname her family gave Oliver cracked me up because it’s such a thing my family would do. 🤣
The romance between Celia and Oliver was so sweet. I wish it hadn’t taken them this long to get over the competitive side that Juilliard and the industry brought out of them but it made it that much more sweet to see them finally see each other for what they were. I do have to say I wish this could have been dual POV. I wanted to see more from Oliver’s pining and yearning for her. Plus when that break happens 😭 I wish I could have known what he was thinking. I can forgive Ana Holguin for this but don’t do it again okay?! Things got slightly spicy so I give it 2 🌶️ out of 5.
I liked this book so much and I sure hope to continue seeing this author continue to write more books. Thank you so much NetGalley, Forever, and Ana Holguin for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
I immensely enjoyed this second novel from Ana Holguin. A rivals to lovers slow burn romance, set in the competitive world of composing music.
In this day and age, it’s still rare to see Latinx representation when it comes to this field so it was beautiful to see Celia evolve in her profession. Her family dynamics felt like coming home and I loved the group chats with her family. And don’t even get me started on Professor Pendejo. The fact that was the nickname her family gave Oliver cracked me up because it’s such a thing my family would do. 🤣
The romance between Celia and Oliver was so sweet. I wish it hadn’t taken them this long to get over the competitive side that Juilliard and the industry brought out of them but it made it that much more sweet to see them finally see each other for what they were. I do have to say I wish this could have been dual POV. I wanted to see more from Oliver’s pining and yearning for her. Plus when that break happens 😭 I wish I could have known what he was thinking. I can forgive Ana Holguin for this but don’t do it again okay?! Things got slightly spicy so I give it 2 🌶️ out of 5.
I liked this book so much and I sure hope to continue seeing this author continue to write more books. Thank you so much NetGalley, Forever, and Ana Holguin for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
January 24, 2026
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC of Second Chance Duet! This is a cute, heartfelt contemporary romance with a genuinely interesting premise centered around music orchestration for TV and film. I learned a lot, and the concept felt thoughtful and well executed.
That said, this one just didn’t fully click for me. It almost felt too modern, which made it harder to really sink into the story. The single POV from Celia also made Oliver come across as more meek and shy than I prefer in a romantic lead, so when the romance escalated it felt a bit like, “wait… did I miss a chapter?” Forced proximity helped, and the spice delivered, but the emotional buildup never quite landed for me.
And unfortunately, the miscommunication trope in a third-act breakup caused by ~not talking~ will always test my patience.
Not a bad book, just not my favorite. I can easily see readers who love soft MMCs and modern, heartfelt romances really enjoying this.
2.75⭐️
3🌶️
That said, this one just didn’t fully click for me. It almost felt too modern, which made it harder to really sink into the story. The single POV from Celia also made Oliver come across as more meek and shy than I prefer in a romantic lead, so when the romance escalated it felt a bit like, “wait… did I miss a chapter?” Forced proximity helped, and the spice delivered, but the emotional buildup never quite landed for me.
And unfortunately, the miscommunication trope in a third-act breakup caused by ~not talking~ will always test my patience.
Not a bad book, just not my favorite. I can easily see readers who love soft MMCs and modern, heartfelt romances really enjoying this.
2.75⭐️
3🌶️
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I've realized I'm a yearning, angst, second second chance romance type of girl. Throw in the family dynamics and a man working on himself in therapy and you seriously might have my favorite book.
These characters were real. You could relate to them so well. I really don't want to give too much away because it's all so important to the story. The dual time lines were perfect because it wasn't so much of the book it only showed the past when it was important to lay the groundwork for the present.
There is a third act breakup but not due to miscommunication its because of real life issues. The representation of the Latine family was beautiful and just made me so proud.
Thanks to NetGalley and Forever publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest reviewer as always, all words are my own.
These characters were real. You could relate to them so well. I really don't want to give too much away because it's all so important to the story. The dual time lines were perfect because it wasn't so much of the book it only showed the past when it was important to lay the groundwork for the present.
There is a third act breakup but not due to miscommunication its because of real life issues. The representation of the Latine family was beautiful and just made me so proud.
Thanks to NetGalley and Forever publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest reviewer as always, all words are my own.
February 22, 2026
i love a good musical main character! this was the absolute cutest forced proximity rivals-to-lovers romance. celia was such a relatable and fun fmc to read about. i was constantly rooting for her and got so emotional seeing all her dreams come true!! the flashback chapters really helped add some nostalgia to this story. i thought oliver was so sweet and i loved learning more about his family dynamic and loved when he finally opened up to celia! i highly recommend checking this one out.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Ana Holguin’s Second Chance Duet completely dismantled my “I don’t have patience for slow burns” attitude and replaced it with emotional chaos. Published by Forever, thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC.
I started this thinking I’d get a cute, mildly angsty rivals-to-lovers romance. You know, some banter, a little forced proximity, maybe a dramatic kiss in the rain. Instead, I got a story about ambition, insecurity, cultural identity, grief over the life you thought you’d have by now, and the kind of yearning that sits in your chest like a held breath.
At its core, this isn’t just about two former Juilliard rivals reconnecting. It’s about perception. About how easily we can build an entire narrative around someone based on our own fears. Celia García has spent over a decade grinding away at commercial jingles while holding tight to her dream of composing for film and television. She’s talented, driven, and painfully aware that as a Latina in a white, male-dominated industry, she has to be exceptional just to be considered adequate. So when her big break finally arrives, it feels like oxygen.
The catch? She has to work and live with Oliver Barlowe. Yes, that Oliver. The aloof, infuriating, allegedly entitled son of a legendary composer who, according to college-era Celia, had everything handed to him.
What makes this book work so well is that the conflict isn’t loud. It’s internal. It’s layered. Through dual timelines, we see how Celia interpreted Oliver’s quietness as arrogance, his distance as disdain. Meanwhile, in the present, that same quietness reads differently. It reads like anxiety. Like loneliness. Like a man who never quite learned how to take up space without apologizing for it.
There’s a particular tenderness to watching Celia slowly realize she may have misunderstood him for thirteen years. It’s not dramatic revelation. It’s subtle shifts. Late-night composing sessions. Shared headphones. The intimacy of creating something beautiful together. Maine in the winter becomes its own character, all isolation and stillness, forcing them to actually see each other.
And Oliver. Oh, Oliver. This man is not broody in a performative way. He’s socially anxious, emotionally guarded, deeply thoughtful. He goes to therapy. He struggles. He grows. The pining? Devastating in the best way. There’s something so satisfying about a romance where the man has been quietly in love for years and the heroine only just begins to understand it.
Celia’s family adds so much warmth to the story. The chaotic group chats. The teasing sisters. The salsa bar memories. The pressure of being the eldest daughter who feels responsible for everyone while secretly carrying her own fears. The cultural representation feels lived in rather than decorative. It matters to who she is and how she moves through the world.
And the music. I don’t know a thing about composing a television score, but Ana Holguin makes the creative process feel electric. You can sense the vulnerability in collaboration, the way art exposes you. One line that absolutely undid me was:
“Maybe we were never rivals. Maybe we were just two people trying to be heard.”
That’s the heartbeat of the entire novel. Two people fighting for space. For validation. For a chance.
Is the third act uncomfortable? Yes. It’s messy and complicated and rooted in real industry power dynamics. But it felt honest. And the resolution felt earned, not handed out like a participation trophy.
This is a strong ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ from me, and honestly closer to five on an emotional level.
If you love slow burn that actually simmers, forced proximity in a secluded setting, emotionally intelligent heroes, career-driven heroines, and romances that explore ambition as much as attraction, this one will absolutely work for you. If you’re an eldest daughter who’s ever felt the weight of expectation pressing against your ribs, you’ll feel seen. If you adore the “he was never your enemy, he was just awkward and in love” trope, welcome home.
So tell me, are you here for the quiet, aching kind of romance, or do you need fireworks to believe in love?
#SecondChanceDuet #AnaHolguin #SlowBurnRomance #RivalsToLovers #LatinaRomance #ForcedProximity #WorkplaceRomance #ContemporaryRomance #BookReview
I started this thinking I’d get a cute, mildly angsty rivals-to-lovers romance. You know, some banter, a little forced proximity, maybe a dramatic kiss in the rain. Instead, I got a story about ambition, insecurity, cultural identity, grief over the life you thought you’d have by now, and the kind of yearning that sits in your chest like a held breath.
At its core, this isn’t just about two former Juilliard rivals reconnecting. It’s about perception. About how easily we can build an entire narrative around someone based on our own fears. Celia García has spent over a decade grinding away at commercial jingles while holding tight to her dream of composing for film and television. She’s talented, driven, and painfully aware that as a Latina in a white, male-dominated industry, she has to be exceptional just to be considered adequate. So when her big break finally arrives, it feels like oxygen.
The catch? She has to work and live with Oliver Barlowe. Yes, that Oliver. The aloof, infuriating, allegedly entitled son of a legendary composer who, according to college-era Celia, had everything handed to him.
What makes this book work so well is that the conflict isn’t loud. It’s internal. It’s layered. Through dual timelines, we see how Celia interpreted Oliver’s quietness as arrogance, his distance as disdain. Meanwhile, in the present, that same quietness reads differently. It reads like anxiety. Like loneliness. Like a man who never quite learned how to take up space without apologizing for it.
There’s a particular tenderness to watching Celia slowly realize she may have misunderstood him for thirteen years. It’s not dramatic revelation. It’s subtle shifts. Late-night composing sessions. Shared headphones. The intimacy of creating something beautiful together. Maine in the winter becomes its own character, all isolation and stillness, forcing them to actually see each other.
And Oliver. Oh, Oliver. This man is not broody in a performative way. He’s socially anxious, emotionally guarded, deeply thoughtful. He goes to therapy. He struggles. He grows. The pining? Devastating in the best way. There’s something so satisfying about a romance where the man has been quietly in love for years and the heroine only just begins to understand it.
Celia’s family adds so much warmth to the story. The chaotic group chats. The teasing sisters. The salsa bar memories. The pressure of being the eldest daughter who feels responsible for everyone while secretly carrying her own fears. The cultural representation feels lived in rather than decorative. It matters to who she is and how she moves through the world.
And the music. I don’t know a thing about composing a television score, but Ana Holguin makes the creative process feel electric. You can sense the vulnerability in collaboration, the way art exposes you. One line that absolutely undid me was:
“Maybe we were never rivals. Maybe we were just two people trying to be heard.”
That’s the heartbeat of the entire novel. Two people fighting for space. For validation. For a chance.
Is the third act uncomfortable? Yes. It’s messy and complicated and rooted in real industry power dynamics. But it felt honest. And the resolution felt earned, not handed out like a participation trophy.
This is a strong ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ from me, and honestly closer to five on an emotional level.
If you love slow burn that actually simmers, forced proximity in a secluded setting, emotionally intelligent heroes, career-driven heroines, and romances that explore ambition as much as attraction, this one will absolutely work for you. If you’re an eldest daughter who’s ever felt the weight of expectation pressing against your ribs, you’ll feel seen. If you adore the “he was never your enemy, he was just awkward and in love” trope, welcome home.
So tell me, are you here for the quiet, aching kind of romance, or do you need fireworks to believe in love?
#SecondChanceDuet #AnaHolguin #SlowBurnRomance #RivalsToLovers #LatinaRomance #ForcedProximity #WorkplaceRomance #ContemporaryRomance #BookReview
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.25⭐
(+):
- I love the idea of two composers being brought together, especially, as opposed to competing musicians as is more often seen. There’s a niceness to seeing them be brought together to share music and ideas and the like.
- Generally, I like Celia. I like the relationship we have with her family and what her motivations in life are. I wish we got more insight as to what draws her to music (we get only a glimpse, really).
- I like the setting of the Maine house. I actually wish we could have gotten more time there. It takes awhile to even get to the house and then they leave relatively soon after..
- I think this title is cute.
(-):
- I don’t sense chemistry with these characters at all. Especially since the escalation of their romance just kind of happens out of nowhere. We’re not shown any insight into what would have brought Celia to like him over the course of the decade they’ve known each other, and his insights (since he doesn’t have a POV) are…kind of creepy?
- Honestly, I would have cut the flashbacks entirely. They add very little and detract from the romance in the present. We’re almost shown more of Celia’s college relationship than any sort of connection to Oliver. And some of the flashback chapters don’t really add anything to either side. It’s just kind of plodding at times.
- Oliver is SO flat. I’m all for a toturted musician, an silent, stoic type. But we don’t get anything as to who he is as a person, except that he has a tumultuous relationship with his dad. It made getting through the story pretty tough.
- Also, it is worrisome when a character has no friends outside of the relationship. And Oliver has none. And that is an ick.
- “Lineage” as a show concept in this world was so underwhelming because it was just “Succession” with no visible changes. I’m fine with doing a spoof, but like…make it your own in SOME WAY. It was so distracting every time. And it’s in it SO much.
- I’m sorry., but what is this cover’s typography? I like so much of the cover, the colors, the folders and sheet music, the lighthouse. But WHY does the title look like that? It doesn’t look like music notes AND it overlaps with Oliver’s head for some reason? I’m just so confused. I’m hoping this is a non-final draft of the art.
(?):
- Why does Celia like him? She didn’t have any real interest in him besides congenial in the flashbacks but then all of a sudden she’s smitten?
- Why is Celia drawn to music? Can we see more of her love of the medium? Especially as a percussionist
Will I read the next one? : I unfortunately do not think so. I don’t think this writing style was for me.
(How Long) Do I Think They’ll Stay Together? : Apparently they get married but like..sure. Suuureee. The most boring relationship ever, man.
*Thank you to Forever & Netgalley for providing this ARC!
Similar Books :
- 'You Between the Lines' by Katie Naymon
- 'You with a View' by Jessica Joyce
- 'So We Meet Again' by Suzanne Park
- 'Give Me Butterflies' by Jillian Meadows
- 'Just My Type' by Falon Ballard
(+):
- I love the idea of two composers being brought together, especially, as opposed to competing musicians as is more often seen. There’s a niceness to seeing them be brought together to share music and ideas and the like.
- Generally, I like Celia. I like the relationship we have with her family and what her motivations in life are. I wish we got more insight as to what draws her to music (we get only a glimpse, really).
- I like the setting of the Maine house. I actually wish we could have gotten more time there. It takes awhile to even get to the house and then they leave relatively soon after..
- I think this title is cute.
(-):
- I don’t sense chemistry with these characters at all. Especially since the escalation of their romance just kind of happens out of nowhere. We’re not shown any insight into what would have brought Celia to like him over the course of the decade they’ve known each other, and his insights (since he doesn’t have a POV) are…kind of creepy?
- Honestly, I would have cut the flashbacks entirely. They add very little and detract from the romance in the present. We’re almost shown more of Celia’s college relationship than any sort of connection to Oliver. And some of the flashback chapters don’t really add anything to either side. It’s just kind of plodding at times.
- Oliver is SO flat. I’m all for a toturted musician, an silent, stoic type. But we don’t get anything as to who he is as a person, except that he has a tumultuous relationship with his dad. It made getting through the story pretty tough.
- Also, it is worrisome when a character has no friends outside of the relationship. And Oliver has none. And that is an ick.
- “Lineage” as a show concept in this world was so underwhelming because it was just “Succession” with no visible changes. I’m fine with doing a spoof, but like…make it your own in SOME WAY. It was so distracting every time. And it’s in it SO much.
- I’m sorry., but what is this cover’s typography? I like so much of the cover, the colors, the folders and sheet music, the lighthouse. But WHY does the title look like that? It doesn’t look like music notes AND it overlaps with Oliver’s head for some reason? I’m just so confused. I’m hoping this is a non-final draft of the art.
(?):
- Why does Celia like him? She didn’t have any real interest in him besides congenial in the flashbacks but then all of a sudden she’s smitten?
- Why is Celia drawn to music? Can we see more of her love of the medium? Especially as a percussionist
Will I read the next one? : I unfortunately do not think so. I don’t think this writing style was for me.
(How Long) Do I Think They’ll Stay Together? : Apparently they get married but like..sure. Suuureee. The most boring relationship ever, man.
*Thank you to Forever & Netgalley for providing this ARC!
Similar Books :
- 'You Between the Lines' by Katie Naymon
- 'You with a View' by Jessica Joyce
- 'So We Meet Again' by Suzanne Park
- 'Give Me Butterflies' by Jillian Meadows
- 'Just My Type' by Falon Ballard
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4-4.5 stars. I *loved* the concept of this book. I loved the unique take on a musical profession, so different from what is commonly found in books. Two classically, Juilliard trained composers working on the score for an upcoming television show was fascinating to me. Musical scores are having a moment in my mind right now because Heated Rivalry (yes, I can connect just about anything back to it) reminded me how much a score can impact the emotional stakes of a movie or show. To get some behind-the-scenes perspective of that combined with a romance? Yes and please.
Celia was a great character. She was someone who had been hustling at her passion for years, and it served to highlight how much harder she had to do so as not only a woman but also a Latina in her chosen industry — one that is a well-established old boys club. I had so much admiration for her determination and her belief in her own talent. It was also understandable that that was all starting to wane in the face of AI taking over in the musical space and being passed over for genuine opportunities. When the golden opportunity came for her, she grabbed it with both hands, even if that meant working alongside her former Juilliard nemesis.
Oliver was the kind of quiet, enigmatic, artsy sad boy that I always have a weakness for. He could technically be labeled a nepo baby, but it was clear very early on that he did not actually want to be associated with his famous father. He wanted make his own way on the merits of his own work and skill, and he was truly musically gifted. His personality was off-putting to his peers, but his talent earned the respect of everyone around him. While this wasn’t a traditional second chance romance by typical standards of the trope, the chapters set in the past did establish the history between Celia and Oliver in a way that made it obvious there was something missed between them all those years ago.
Things really shined between Celia and Oliver in the present as they found their groove in their work and began to open up to each other outside the studio space. Their emotional vulnerability with each other strengthened the connection between them and the lowering of their respective walls was a tender exploration. That’s not to say they didn’t also have intense physical chemistry, because they also had that in spades. When they got out of their own way, they fit together in all the ways. My only struggle was that the ending felt rushed with the conflict coming pretty late in the book and a lot of time skimmed over to bring things back around. I loved the way everything wrapped up though.
After two books, it feels safe to say I’m a big fan of Ana Holguin’s work. Thank you to Forever for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Celia was a great character. She was someone who had been hustling at her passion for years, and it served to highlight how much harder she had to do so as not only a woman but also a Latina in her chosen industry — one that is a well-established old boys club. I had so much admiration for her determination and her belief in her own talent. It was also understandable that that was all starting to wane in the face of AI taking over in the musical space and being passed over for genuine opportunities. When the golden opportunity came for her, she grabbed it with both hands, even if that meant working alongside her former Juilliard nemesis.
Oliver was the kind of quiet, enigmatic, artsy sad boy that I always have a weakness for. He could technically be labeled a nepo baby, but it was clear very early on that he did not actually want to be associated with his famous father. He wanted make his own way on the merits of his own work and skill, and he was truly musically gifted. His personality was off-putting to his peers, but his talent earned the respect of everyone around him. While this wasn’t a traditional second chance romance by typical standards of the trope, the chapters set in the past did establish the history between Celia and Oliver in a way that made it obvious there was something missed between them all those years ago.
Things really shined between Celia and Oliver in the present as they found their groove in their work and began to open up to each other outside the studio space. Their emotional vulnerability with each other strengthened the connection between them and the lowering of their respective walls was a tender exploration. That’s not to say they didn’t also have intense physical chemistry, because they also had that in spades. When they got out of their own way, they fit together in all the ways. My only struggle was that the ending felt rushed with the conflict coming pretty late in the book and a lot of time skimmed over to bring things back around. I loved the way everything wrapped up though.
After two books, it feels safe to say I’m a big fan of Ana Holguin’s work. Thank you to Forever for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.75⭐️ I went into this book pretty hesitant because after I accepted the ALC (advanced listeners copy) from the publisher I remembered I didn’t love the debut book by this author but I am SO glad I gave her another shot, as I really enjoyed this book. This author does a fantastic job in including diverse Latinx characters and culture, which was easily my favorite aspect of this book. The romance was just OK, it was missing passion and tension but the story has a lot of cool perspective about composers in the film industry and experience at Juilliard, the performing arts school.
This book is from a single POV, Celia, a Puerto Rican and Cuban woman fighting for her place in the musical composition world in movies and television. Celia is 10 years out of college, where she graduated from prestigious Juilliard and is struggling to find work in her field. She finally gets a breakout gig composing the score of a TV show but the catch is she has to do it with her rival from college, Oliver. This story alternates between Celia and Oliver’s time at Juilliard and present, where they move into Oliver’s famous music producers Dad’s second home complete with fantastic music studio to complete this project together. I love that this story was more than a love story, the beauty for me what Celia’s family, including 2 very intrusive and loving sisters, loving parents and so much Spanish! I love when a book can seamlessly include Spanish slang or phrases without overtly explaining to the reader what it means. The culture was bursting through the pages and I loved it. I also loved seeing Celia’s success after so much hardship. She is a woman and a Latina woman in a male dominated field and the barriers to her are real, so let’s continue to share stories of Latina women shattering that glass ceiling.
The reason I didn’t fully connect with this book is because I think the romance was kind of boring, I didn’t see the connection, longing, or spark between these two. Oliver was an enigma from start to finish, I think his character could have been a bit stronger. Also, the writing was just OK, it wasn’t overly polished and the fact that I picked up on this via audio isn’t ideal. Overall, I am happy I was given the opportunity to listen to this story and will gladly pick up more from this author.
TLDR:
* Single POV, alternating timelines (past/present)
* Rivals to Lovers
* Forced Proximity
* Music Centric
* Puerto Rican and Cuban Representation
Thank you to Dana at Forever Publishing and Hachette Audio for the gifted ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book will publish March 10, 2026
This was my 30th book of 2026
Format: Gifted ALC
This book is from a single POV, Celia, a Puerto Rican and Cuban woman fighting for her place in the musical composition world in movies and television. Celia is 10 years out of college, where she graduated from prestigious Juilliard and is struggling to find work in her field. She finally gets a breakout gig composing the score of a TV show but the catch is she has to do it with her rival from college, Oliver. This story alternates between Celia and Oliver’s time at Juilliard and present, where they move into Oliver’s famous music producers Dad’s second home complete with fantastic music studio to complete this project together. I love that this story was more than a love story, the beauty for me what Celia’s family, including 2 very intrusive and loving sisters, loving parents and so much Spanish! I love when a book can seamlessly include Spanish slang or phrases without overtly explaining to the reader what it means. The culture was bursting through the pages and I loved it. I also loved seeing Celia’s success after so much hardship. She is a woman and a Latina woman in a male dominated field and the barriers to her are real, so let’s continue to share stories of Latina women shattering that glass ceiling.
The reason I didn’t fully connect with this book is because I think the romance was kind of boring, I didn’t see the connection, longing, or spark between these two. Oliver was an enigma from start to finish, I think his character could have been a bit stronger. Also, the writing was just OK, it wasn’t overly polished and the fact that I picked up on this via audio isn’t ideal. Overall, I am happy I was given the opportunity to listen to this story and will gladly pick up more from this author.
TLDR:
* Single POV, alternating timelines (past/present)
* Rivals to Lovers
* Forced Proximity
* Music Centric
* Puerto Rican and Cuban Representation
Thank you to Dana at Forever Publishing and Hachette Audio for the gifted ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book will publish March 10, 2026
This was my 30th book of 2026
Format: Gifted ALC
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
First of all, thank you so much to Ana Holguin and Forever Publishing for gifting me the ALC and letting me listen and review this early. I feel genuinely lucky to have gotten to experience this one ahead of release.
Music is one of my love languages, so a story centered around composing, scoring, and the way music connects people? Immediately yes🥹🩷
I loved how this book showed that music isn’t just background noise. It’s emotion, memory, tension, longing. It’s communication when words fall short. The way Celia and Oliver connect through it felt intimate in a way that just hit.🩷🎶🩷
Celia García has spent years chasing her dream of composing film scores, only to get stuck writing jingles. When her big break finally comes, it’s tied to the one person she never wanted to see again, her college nemesis, Oliver Barlowe. And let me just say… this is rivals to lovers that actually feels like rivals. Thirteen years of history. Misunderstandings. Pride. Hurt. The tension was tensioning.
Oliver completely surprised me. Yes, he’s quiet and broody, but he’s also thoughtful and trying. The therapy representation? We love to see it. Watching his growth over the years made me want to wrap him in the biggest hug. He wasn’t perfect, but he was putting in the work, and that mattered🩷
And Celia? She’s direct, determined, and unapologetically herself (chicken nuggets and fries forever). I admired how hard she fought for her place in an industry that constantly makes her feel like she has to prove herself twice as much.🥹
But can we talk about the family? Celia’s family group chat had me smiling the whole time. Their closeness, the chaos, the love underneath it all. It reminded me so much of my own family. It felt cozy and just so real. The family dynamics were woven into the story in a way that made everything richer🫶🏻
The dual timeline worked so well here. It didn’t feel like the entire plot was hinging on some dramatic “what happened before” reveal. Instead, it layered their growth, individually and together, in a way that felt natural and right 🩷
I laughed. I cried (honestly at everything, whether it was objectively emotional or just written so beautifully it got to me anyway). The characters felt real. Not dramatic-for-the-sake-of-drama real. Just… human. Flawed, ambitious, guarded, hopeful.
If you love slow burn, yearning, real character growth, music rivals to lovers, and strong family relationships, I absolutely recommend this one 🎶💖📚🎧
Music is one of my love languages, so a story centered around composing, scoring, and the way music connects people? Immediately yes🥹🩷
I loved how this book showed that music isn’t just background noise. It’s emotion, memory, tension, longing. It’s communication when words fall short. The way Celia and Oliver connect through it felt intimate in a way that just hit.🩷🎶🩷
Celia García has spent years chasing her dream of composing film scores, only to get stuck writing jingles. When her big break finally comes, it’s tied to the one person she never wanted to see again, her college nemesis, Oliver Barlowe. And let me just say… this is rivals to lovers that actually feels like rivals. Thirteen years of history. Misunderstandings. Pride. Hurt. The tension was tensioning.
Oliver completely surprised me. Yes, he’s quiet and broody, but he’s also thoughtful and trying. The therapy representation? We love to see it. Watching his growth over the years made me want to wrap him in the biggest hug. He wasn’t perfect, but he was putting in the work, and that mattered🩷
And Celia? She’s direct, determined, and unapologetically herself (chicken nuggets and fries forever). I admired how hard she fought for her place in an industry that constantly makes her feel like she has to prove herself twice as much.🥹
But can we talk about the family? Celia’s family group chat had me smiling the whole time. Their closeness, the chaos, the love underneath it all. It reminded me so much of my own family. It felt cozy and just so real. The family dynamics were woven into the story in a way that made everything richer🫶🏻
The dual timeline worked so well here. It didn’t feel like the entire plot was hinging on some dramatic “what happened before” reveal. Instead, it layered their growth, individually and together, in a way that felt natural and right 🩷
I laughed. I cried (honestly at everything, whether it was objectively emotional or just written so beautifully it got to me anyway). The characters felt real. Not dramatic-for-the-sake-of-drama real. Just… human. Flawed, ambitious, guarded, hopeful.
If you love slow burn, yearning, real character growth, music rivals to lovers, and strong family relationships, I absolutely recommend this one 🎶💖📚🎧
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In her second novel, Ana Holguin delivers an adorable romance between two composers tasked with creating the score for an upcoming TV show. Celia García is a struggling artist in NYC. When she meets up with a friend for dinner, she learns about the opportunity of a lifetime, but it comes with a catch: she can help compose the score for an upcoming TV show, but she must collaborate with her old college rival, Oliver Barlowe. Told in the past and present POVs, this book explores Celia's growth as an artist, as well as her relationship with Oliver throughout their college years and their present work on the musical score. Celia thought Oliver always hated her... but does he really?
This book was great! This was my first of Holguin's novels, and now I want to read her debut, Up Close and Personal! I thought Holguin really knew what she was talking about with the composing scenes (especially when she mentioned that AI is replacing human efforts!) I was engaged with all the musical talk and the look at the competition between students at Julliard. The settings of NYC and Maine added a lot to the story; each were beautiful in their own way.
I thought Celia and Oliver were such interesting characters with unique motivations. I really enjoyed the dichotomy between what Celia was telling us about Oliver vs. Oliver's actions on the page. You could tell that he was DOWN BAD for her from the start! He always pined for her, even if he couldn't demonstrate it. Although the alternating timelines were a bit tricky for me to follow at times, I loved how you got to see and appreciate Oliver's growth as a character throughout the years. He was a different type of MMC than many of the others in the current romance market, and I enjoyed him!
Celia's struggles as an artist were relatable, and I enjoyed getting to see her have her big break. I loved her relationship with her family and with Oliver. The intersectionality of her being a woman and a Latina in a white, male-dominated field was explored well.
My only gripe was the third-act breakup. I don't think Celia was to blame for what happened, but I can understand Oliver's side, too. I'm interested to see what other readers think about it.
Thank you, NetGalley and Forever/Grand Central Publishing, for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
This book was great! This was my first of Holguin's novels, and now I want to read her debut, Up Close and Personal! I thought Holguin really knew what she was talking about with the composing scenes (especially when she mentioned that AI is replacing human efforts!) I was engaged with all the musical talk and the look at the competition between students at Julliard. The settings of NYC and Maine added a lot to the story; each were beautiful in their own way.
I thought Celia and Oliver were such interesting characters with unique motivations. I really enjoyed the dichotomy between what Celia was telling us about Oliver vs. Oliver's actions on the page. You could tell that he was DOWN BAD for her from the start! He always pined for her, even if he couldn't demonstrate it. Although the alternating timelines were a bit tricky for me to follow at times, I loved how you got to see and appreciate Oliver's growth as a character throughout the years. He was a different type of MMC than many of the others in the current romance market, and I enjoyed him!
Celia's struggles as an artist were relatable, and I enjoyed getting to see her have her big break. I loved her relationship with her family and with Oliver. The intersectionality of her being a woman and a Latina in a white, male-dominated field was explored well.
My only gripe was the third-act breakup. I don't think Celia was to blame for what happened, but I can understand Oliver's side, too. I'm interested to see what other readers think about it.
Thank you, NetGalley and Forever/Grand Central Publishing, for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Forever/Grand Central for the e-ARC.
I've been lamenting over trad pub contemporary romance releases of late. Too much telling and not enough showing. Overexplaining character intentions. Avoiding conflict or hints of messiness. Shiny happy characters that are just a little too healed. Second Chance Duet took me by surprise. I loved it.
Celia Garcia is a woman on the brink. She's spent ten years struggling to find a foothold in the music industry after graduating from Julliard. With AI slowly but steadily chipping away at her stream of commercial music composition contracts, her already astronomical New York City rent rising, and the ever present but difficult to describe weight of being an eldest daughter, the opportunity to score compose for a highly anticipated television show is exactly what she needs. But that also means partnering with her number one Julliard competitor Oliver Barlowe.
This is a quiet romance, but it is deep and full of yearning. MY GOD THE YEARNING. And the slutty little glasses on Oliver!? Butter me up, I'm toast. Through the flashbacks to the MC's days at Julliard, you see how Celia perceived Oliver in their late teens and early 20s. It was so interesting to see how Celia's own pride, snap judgments, and insecurities colored her past interactions with Oliver, and to gradually come to understand how it was a defense mechanism in a highly competitive and elite environment. With the story unfolding through Celia's perspective, it's challenging to connect with Oliver as a character. I do think this was purposefully done to further highlight how walled off and alone he was - and it worked for me. Oliver is he kind of MMC who feels deeply but struggles with communicating those feelings. His care is better understood through actions. These two had a soft chemistry that crackled with tension before it exploded into flames. When the misunderstanding between these two came to pass, it hurt more than I expected.
Side characters, primarily Celia's Puerto Rican family, are given the appropriate amount of attention. Engaging and well rounded enough to help advance the story and character development without detracting from the main narrative focus.
Second Chance Duet is perfect for readers looking to explore the world of sad x horny vibes.
I've been lamenting over trad pub contemporary romance releases of late. Too much telling and not enough showing. Overexplaining character intentions. Avoiding conflict or hints of messiness. Shiny happy characters that are just a little too healed. Second Chance Duet took me by surprise. I loved it.
Celia Garcia is a woman on the brink. She's spent ten years struggling to find a foothold in the music industry after graduating from Julliard. With AI slowly but steadily chipping away at her stream of commercial music composition contracts, her already astronomical New York City rent rising, and the ever present but difficult to describe weight of being an eldest daughter, the opportunity to score compose for a highly anticipated television show is exactly what she needs. But that also means partnering with her number one Julliard competitor Oliver Barlowe.
This is a quiet romance, but it is deep and full of yearning. MY GOD THE YEARNING. And the slutty little glasses on Oliver!? Butter me up, I'm toast. Through the flashbacks to the MC's days at Julliard, you see how Celia perceived Oliver in their late teens and early 20s. It was so interesting to see how Celia's own pride, snap judgments, and insecurities colored her past interactions with Oliver, and to gradually come to understand how it was a defense mechanism in a highly competitive and elite environment. With the story unfolding through Celia's perspective, it's challenging to connect with Oliver as a character. I do think this was purposefully done to further highlight how walled off and alone he was - and it worked for me. Oliver is he kind of MMC who feels deeply but struggles with communicating those feelings. His care is better understood through actions. These two had a soft chemistry that crackled with tension before it exploded into flames. When the misunderstanding between these two came to pass, it hurt more than I expected.
Side characters, primarily Celia's Puerto Rican family, are given the appropriate amount of attention. Engaging and well rounded enough to help advance the story and character development without detracting from the main narrative focus.
Second Chance Duet is perfect for readers looking to explore the world of sad x horny vibes.
February 12, 2026
Celia and Oliver are two composers hired to write the score for a new tv show. They also went to Juilliard together, where Celia thought Oliver was a snobby jerk who got everything handed to him because his father is a famous composer.
Right off the bat, I had a hard time liking Celia because it was extremely obvious to me that Oliver is very introverted, shy, anxious, lonely, and socially awkward (and maybe on the spectrum?). But Celia is immediately convinced that he is a snob, despite all the contrary evidence. The whole “he’s not who I thought he was” trope only goes over well if you’re not assuming ill intent unsubstantiated.
However, I did like most of Celia's backstory and family - eldest daughter of a Cuban father and Puerto Rican mother, basically grew up in her father's salsa bar in Washington Heights, close with her parents and her two younger sisters. As a lover of classical music myself, I also love that Celia and Oliver are composers, working together for the first time and building off of each other's strengths.
Towards the end, the story leaned into the struggle of women and POC to gain a foothold in the industry. Celia's friend suggests that Celia hide that she is dating Oliver, because people will assume she didn't earn her spot. I was interested in seeing where that went, but it was sort of just tossed aside in the epilogue with a little "people didn't care, it was ok," which seemed kinda lazy.
I wouldn't say this book is bad, but there were never really any stretches where I was really enjoying myself. Also, this did not benefit from me reading it right after Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian, which is also about falling in love with someone you’ve known and misunderstood for a long time, and is truly excellent.
3.5⭐ rounded down.
(I received a free advanced review copy from the publisher/NetGalley.)
Right off the bat, I had a hard time liking Celia because it was extremely obvious to me that Oliver is very introverted, shy, anxious, lonely, and socially awkward (and maybe on the spectrum?). But Celia is immediately convinced that he is a snob, despite all the contrary evidence. The whole “he’s not who I thought he was” trope only goes over well if you’re not assuming ill intent unsubstantiated.
However, I did like most of Celia's backstory and family - eldest daughter of a Cuban father and Puerto Rican mother, basically grew up in her father's salsa bar in Washington Heights, close with her parents and her two younger sisters. As a lover of classical music myself, I also love that Celia and Oliver are composers, working together for the first time and building off of each other's strengths.
Towards the end, the story leaned into the struggle of women and POC to gain a foothold in the industry. Celia's friend suggests that Celia hide that she is dating Oliver, because people will assume she didn't earn her spot. I was interested in seeing where that went, but it was sort of just tossed aside in the epilogue with a little "people didn't care, it was ok," which seemed kinda lazy.
I wouldn't say this book is bad, but there were never really any stretches where I was really enjoying myself. Also, this did not benefit from me reading it right after Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian, which is also about falling in love with someone you’ve known and misunderstood for a long time, and is truly excellent.
3.5⭐ rounded down.
(I received a free advanced review copy from the publisher/NetGalley.)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC REVIEW
(3.5 stars) This is a deeply character-driven, slow-burn romance with a non-linear timeline that highlights how different people handle pressure and expectations personally, professionally, and socially.
There’s a lot to love about it! Ana Holguin does a great job writing dialogue that feels natural and engaging. It has great contrast between the city and coastal Maine settings that mirrors Celia’s bright, outgoing nature and Oliver’s reserve. The interstitials in between chapters work really well for me to build up the world around them and connect the past plot to the present.
Celia is a wonderfully strong character, but I struggled a bit being limited to only her POV. Her perceptions of Oliver mixed with his intensely introverted and shy personality made it really hard to connect with him and to buy into their relationship as a whole. Social anxiety plays such a big part of the story that it will either make people feel deeply seen and understood or be hard and uncomfortable to read.
I was hooked enough that I flew through the pages! I’d say the majority of the momentum for the story comes from the flashbacks to their time at Julliard. They’re a compelling glance into a highly competitive and creative environment that had the unfortunate side effect of making the present-day scenes fall flat in comparison.
Ultimately, this book does deliver on the expectations I had from reading the blurb but with more of a heavy focus on character development over plot. The way Ana Holguin explores the pressure put on young adults to be independent and successful was very satisfying. Celia and Oliver both handle this in different ways and I think that will be relatable to a lot of people.
My three star rating has more to do with my personal taste than anything else. I don’t usually gravitate towards heavily character driven books, so I think readers who are looking for that will rate this higher than me!
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for gifting me an early copy of this book!
(3.5 stars) This is a deeply character-driven, slow-burn romance with a non-linear timeline that highlights how different people handle pressure and expectations personally, professionally, and socially.
There’s a lot to love about it! Ana Holguin does a great job writing dialogue that feels natural and engaging. It has great contrast between the city and coastal Maine settings that mirrors Celia’s bright, outgoing nature and Oliver’s reserve. The interstitials in between chapters work really well for me to build up the world around them and connect the past plot to the present.
Celia is a wonderfully strong character, but I struggled a bit being limited to only her POV. Her perceptions of Oliver mixed with his intensely introverted and shy personality made it really hard to connect with him and to buy into their relationship as a whole. Social anxiety plays such a big part of the story that it will either make people feel deeply seen and understood or be hard and uncomfortable to read.
I was hooked enough that I flew through the pages! I’d say the majority of the momentum for the story comes from the flashbacks to their time at Julliard. They’re a compelling glance into a highly competitive and creative environment that had the unfortunate side effect of making the present-day scenes fall flat in comparison.
Ultimately, this book does deliver on the expectations I had from reading the blurb but with more of a heavy focus on character development over plot. The way Ana Holguin explores the pressure put on young adults to be independent and successful was very satisfying. Celia and Oliver both handle this in different ways and I think that will be relatable to a lot of people.
My three star rating has more to do with my personal taste than anything else. I don’t usually gravitate towards heavily character driven books, so I think readers who are looking for that will rate this higher than me!
Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for gifting me an early copy of this book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Forever for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
I really do love a second chance romance where the characters take time apart and focus on themselves before coming back together.
Celia and Oliver were rivals at Juilliard, constantly competing against each other for limited opportunities. Back then, Celia viewed Oliver as the arrogant son of a legendary composer (who had everything handed to him), while she was the Latina trying to show she belonged in a male-dominated industry.
Their professional partnership is initially uncomfortable, but working closely together, while isolated (hi, forced proximity!), creates an intimacy between them.
The dual timeline/flashbacks show how Celia initially interpreted Oliver’s behaviors, but she slowly realizes that she misunderstood the boy she went to school with. What she viewed as standoffish behavior was really him being anxious about taking up any space. That he has insecurities, just like she does.
In fact, it shows how our own insecurities can create narratives around others, even if they’re not true.
It’s a slow burn, as Celia and Oliver drop their walls and learn to communicate with each other, but they have a very sweet romance. And once Oliver makes his intentions known, he really starts to come out of his shell with Celia.
I wish there had been more during the third act. There’s definitely a power imbalance in the music industry, and unfortunately, Oliver will never feel it the way Celia does. Their fall out is definitely a case of misunderstanding, with their insecurities keeping them from communicating.
As always, I love the Latinx rep (especially this one, which includes a Cuban parent). Holguin keeps it feeling so authentic, with Celia’s life and inspiration for her career rooted in her family’s background and culture. I also think Holguin does an excellent job showing the pressures of being the eldest daughter.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I think it’s a great follow-up to Up Close & Personal.
I really do love a second chance romance where the characters take time apart and focus on themselves before coming back together.
Celia and Oliver were rivals at Juilliard, constantly competing against each other for limited opportunities. Back then, Celia viewed Oliver as the arrogant son of a legendary composer (who had everything handed to him), while she was the Latina trying to show she belonged in a male-dominated industry.
Their professional partnership is initially uncomfortable, but working closely together, while isolated (hi, forced proximity!), creates an intimacy between them.
The dual timeline/flashbacks show how Celia initially interpreted Oliver’s behaviors, but she slowly realizes that she misunderstood the boy she went to school with. What she viewed as standoffish behavior was really him being anxious about taking up any space. That he has insecurities, just like she does.
In fact, it shows how our own insecurities can create narratives around others, even if they’re not true.
It’s a slow burn, as Celia and Oliver drop their walls and learn to communicate with each other, but they have a very sweet romance. And once Oliver makes his intentions known, he really starts to come out of his shell with Celia.
I wish there had been more during the third act. There’s definitely a power imbalance in the music industry, and unfortunately, Oliver will never feel it the way Celia does. Their fall out is definitely a case of misunderstanding, with their insecurities keeping them from communicating.
As always, I love the Latinx rep (especially this one, which includes a Cuban parent). Holguin keeps it feeling so authentic, with Celia’s life and inspiration for her career rooted in her family’s background and culture. I also think Holguin does an excellent job showing the pressures of being the eldest daughter.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I think it’s a great follow-up to Up Close & Personal.
December 8, 2025
Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the early copy of this book!
Listen, I absolutely adored Ana’s debut novel, Up Close & Personal and was beyond thrilled to get to read her next book early. I previously compared Ana’s writing to Abby Jimenez and after this book, I still believe that. She writes romances that are so much more than romances. There’s mental health representation through out and on the MMC side, which isn’t all that common. I love seeing a man who has the same issues that I do, social anxiety and feeling isolated is not a female only issue and I am always so happy to read books that show that representation in a man.
This book focuses on Celia and Oliver, college nemesis who haven’t seen or spoken to each other since they graduated college over a decade ago. Going to Juilliard, they were both constantly competing and let that pressure turn into hate for each other. We get flashbacks back to the college days to help build their background and I really enjoyed that little bit of insight. Flash forward to today and Celia gets the opportunity from an old college friend of a lifetime to work as composer on a new but hopefully huge TV show. The catch? The director will only work with an up and coming composer if she works together with Oliver.
Not only work together, but Oliver offers his family’s home and studio to work in. Which means the old enemies now have to live together until the project is complete. This is a second chance romance/enemies to lovers with forced proximity and I ate it up the entire time. When they started to flirt through Scrabble, I was kicking my feet and giggling the whole time 😍 I love the Hispanic culture that is included from Celia’s background and her family was a riot. This was just such a delightful read even when it focused on some heavier topics, mental health issues, loneliness/isolation, and having to be that tougher, never failing older sister. I absolutely cannot wait for what Ana writes next, but I already know I will love it.
Listen, I absolutely adored Ana’s debut novel, Up Close & Personal and was beyond thrilled to get to read her next book early. I previously compared Ana’s writing to Abby Jimenez and after this book, I still believe that. She writes romances that are so much more than romances. There’s mental health representation through out and on the MMC side, which isn’t all that common. I love seeing a man who has the same issues that I do, social anxiety and feeling isolated is not a female only issue and I am always so happy to read books that show that representation in a man.
This book focuses on Celia and Oliver, college nemesis who haven’t seen or spoken to each other since they graduated college over a decade ago. Going to Juilliard, they were both constantly competing and let that pressure turn into hate for each other. We get flashbacks back to the college days to help build their background and I really enjoyed that little bit of insight. Flash forward to today and Celia gets the opportunity from an old college friend of a lifetime to work as composer on a new but hopefully huge TV show. The catch? The director will only work with an up and coming composer if she works together with Oliver.
Not only work together, but Oliver offers his family’s home and studio to work in. Which means the old enemies now have to live together until the project is complete. This is a second chance romance/enemies to lovers with forced proximity and I ate it up the entire time. When they started to flirt through Scrabble, I was kicking my feet and giggling the whole time 😍 I love the Hispanic culture that is included from Celia’s background and her family was a riot. This was just such a delightful read even when it focused on some heavier topics, mental health issues, loneliness/isolation, and having to be that tougher, never failing older sister. I absolutely cannot wait for what Ana writes next, but I already know I will love it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was super cute. Cozy-adjacent, college rivals to professional lovers. The yearning and the pining.... oh baby oh baby.
I had a really great time with this book. The pacing was really good and I felt mine there was always something happening throughout the story. I really liked the completely different FMC and MMC that we got to spend time with. They were very different from each other and really put the definition in the phrase "opposites attract". I really liked the musical component threaded into the story. The Julliard graduates find each other later in life and become musical partners really worked for me and was something different I haven't read before.
The Latinx representation with FMC was awesome. Cubana/Puerto Rican FMC. I really enjoyed the cultural representation in the form of discussions of food, family closeness, celebrations, and conversational Spanish.
This is a great example of the miscommunication trope done right. I felt like it wasn't just an easy conversation that could've been had at any time but a compilation of decades worth of unsaid conversations that just could not easily be sorted that came to a head. It felt very realistic, like something that could've actually happened in real life.
The internal struggles for our FMC also felt really relatable. However, I felt like we got into a lot of repetitiveness with her consistently having internal monologue about them. Nothing new was ever discussed or brought up, it was like a cylindrical snowball where all she did was discuss the same things over and over in her head. Worth it to mention it but absolutely a very minor issue that kept me from giving it a five star.
The narration was done very well. I felt like the Spanish was pronounced accurately and with great inflection. Really enjoyed the audiobook for this one.
I had a really great time with this book. The pacing was really good and I felt mine there was always something happening throughout the story. I really liked the completely different FMC and MMC that we got to spend time with. They were very different from each other and really put the definition in the phrase "opposites attract". I really liked the musical component threaded into the story. The Julliard graduates find each other later in life and become musical partners really worked for me and was something different I haven't read before.
The Latinx representation with FMC was awesome. Cubana/Puerto Rican FMC. I really enjoyed the cultural representation in the form of discussions of food, family closeness, celebrations, and conversational Spanish.
This is a great example of the miscommunication trope done right. I felt like it wasn't just an easy conversation that could've been had at any time but a compilation of decades worth of unsaid conversations that just could not easily be sorted that came to a head. It felt very realistic, like something that could've actually happened in real life.
The internal struggles for our FMC also felt really relatable. However, I felt like we got into a lot of repetitiveness with her consistently having internal monologue about them. Nothing new was ever discussed or brought up, it was like a cylindrical snowball where all she did was discuss the same things over and over in her head. Worth it to mention it but absolutely a very minor issue that kept me from giving it a five star.
The narration was done very well. I felt like the Spanish was pronounced accurately and with great inflection. Really enjoyed the audiobook for this one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love a second chance love story and was excited to read this offering from Ana Holguin that was kindly offered to me by the publisher for an early read. This book is like a mash-up of the movie Music and Lyrics and books "Drawn Together" by Smith and "You Between the Lines" by Naymon. Celia and "nepo baby" Oliver met at Julliard. She thinks he is haughty and hates her as they compete for the top spot in their composition program. She feels rejected by him on multiple occasions. In the present, she is asked by friend, and fellow Julliard alum, to compose the music for a new tv series as partners with Oliver. As they spend time together in his family's Maine cabin, with an in-home recording studio, she begins to wonder whether she had Oliver all wrong. I really enjoyed this book. I read it in a few hours, not wanting to put it down. I like when stories go back and forth between timelines, revealing things to the reader so they have a greater depth of understanding than the character does. These flashbacks helped the adult reader see, what teenage Celia could not, Oliver was a deeply emotional and anxious person who came across as unfeeling and stuck-up.
I loved:
Celia's family group chat
Her sisters' support
Her dad's unconditional love
How important her Latin culture was to the story
Oliver went to therapy!
They admitted when they were wrong and over-reacted
I dislike
Third act break-ups/silent treatment- I will never like this for adult characters in their 30s although I understand that people ghost each other these days, regardless of age or supposed maturity levels.
Fans of Sarah Adams would love this book! 4.25 stars. Thanks to Net Galley and Forever for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
I loved:
Celia's family group chat
Her sisters' support
Her dad's unconditional love
How important her Latin culture was to the story
Oliver went to therapy!
They admitted when they were wrong and over-reacted
I dislike
Third act break-ups/silent treatment- I will never like this for adult characters in their 30s although I understand that people ghost each other these days, regardless of age or supposed maturity levels.
Fans of Sarah Adams would love this book! 4.25 stars. Thanks to Net Galley and Forever for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Forced proximity with your academic nemesis?
Yeah… I was in from the start.
Ana Holguin’s Second Chance Duet absolutely wrecked me in the best way. I truly didn’t think I could love her writing more, but this sophomore novel came in and proved me wrong. Zero notes. No crumbs.
Meet Celia: Juilliard grad, insanely talented composer, currently surviving off jingles and commercial work while the industry refuses to be kind. When a former Juilliard friend swoops in with a career-changing opportunity, it feels like her moment has finally arrived…until she learns the catch.
She has to work with her former school nemesis, Oliver.
Cue a forced trip to Maine.
Cue close proximity.
Cue years of unresolved tension.
Cue sparks that absolutely ignite.
What unfolds is a beautifully layered, deeply emotional story about ambition, creative fulfillment, vulnerability, and second chances—both in love and in life. The romance is tender and earned, the character growth is chef’s kiss, and the emotional payoff is so satisfying.
And can we talk about the details?
💕 A fresh spin on enemies-to-lovers/friends-to-lovers
⚓️ Being stuck in a massive house with your arch nemesis
😎 An MMC with glasses and emotional intelligence (yes, he’s in therapy)
💃🏻 The most elite sisterhood/family group chat
🫶🏼 A fiercely loyal FMC who actually listens
This book hit every single note for me. If you love emotionally rich romances with heart, depth, and characters who grow together, Second Chance Duet is absolutely for you.
Huge thank you to Read Forever for the eARC and to Ana Holguin for a story I won’t be shutting up about anytime soon 🎼📚
Yeah… I was in from the start.
Ana Holguin’s Second Chance Duet absolutely wrecked me in the best way. I truly didn’t think I could love her writing more, but this sophomore novel came in and proved me wrong. Zero notes. No crumbs.
Meet Celia: Juilliard grad, insanely talented composer, currently surviving off jingles and commercial work while the industry refuses to be kind. When a former Juilliard friend swoops in with a career-changing opportunity, it feels like her moment has finally arrived…until she learns the catch.
She has to work with her former school nemesis, Oliver.
Cue a forced trip to Maine.
Cue close proximity.
Cue years of unresolved tension.
Cue sparks that absolutely ignite.
What unfolds is a beautifully layered, deeply emotional story about ambition, creative fulfillment, vulnerability, and second chances—both in love and in life. The romance is tender and earned, the character growth is chef’s kiss, and the emotional payoff is so satisfying.
And can we talk about the details?
💕 A fresh spin on enemies-to-lovers/friends-to-lovers
⚓️ Being stuck in a massive house with your arch nemesis
😎 An MMC with glasses and emotional intelligence (yes, he’s in therapy)
💃🏻 The most elite sisterhood/family group chat
🫶🏼 A fiercely loyal FMC who actually listens
This book hit every single note for me. If you love emotionally rich romances with heart, depth, and characters who grow together, Second Chance Duet is absolutely for you.
Huge thank you to Read Forever for the eARC and to Ana Holguin for a story I won’t be shutting up about anytime soon 🎼📚
February 16, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for an advanced e-arc.
I loved the premise of this story so much and gravitated towards the plot dealing with the entertainment industry. The story follows Celia, the eldest daughter in a Puerto Rican household, whose dream is to pursue music and score film/tv shows. She competes with Oliver Barlowe, the son of a renowned composer already famous in the entertainment industry. Post college graduation at Julliard, Celia is met with an opportunity to work on a high profile television show, but the only catch is that she has to work with her college competitor Oliver.
I loved Celia as a character - the pressures felt as the eldest daughter. The cultural highlights of her family group text messages and home cooked meals. The representation was there!! I especially love the father daughter dynamic and the closeness with her sisters. I would love to see some stories with her sisters!
Oliver - this man had some depth to him!! I enjoyed getting to know more under the surface and seeing the contrast of their college interactions vs present time. I do wish his communication skills developed a little sooner - at times it was frustrating to learn he wouldn't speak up or he would just shut down.
The ending I have a little issue with - but it sort of solves itself? It all happened rather fast and kind of unfair to [spoiler] (IMO!!) but I still loved that we get a HEA. Overall, a fun read with great representation! I loved the nods to the entertainment industry (being in that world myself) and feeling so in the know. It all worked out so wonderfully and can't wait to read more by Holguin!
I loved the premise of this story so much and gravitated towards the plot dealing with the entertainment industry. The story follows Celia, the eldest daughter in a Puerto Rican household, whose dream is to pursue music and score film/tv shows. She competes with Oliver Barlowe, the son of a renowned composer already famous in the entertainment industry. Post college graduation at Julliard, Celia is met with an opportunity to work on a high profile television show, but the only catch is that she has to work with her college competitor Oliver.
I loved Celia as a character - the pressures felt as the eldest daughter. The cultural highlights of her family group text messages and home cooked meals. The representation was there!! I especially love the father daughter dynamic and the closeness with her sisters. I would love to see some stories with her sisters!
Oliver - this man had some depth to him!! I enjoyed getting to know more under the surface and seeing the contrast of their college interactions vs present time. I do wish his communication skills developed a little sooner - at times it was frustrating to learn he wouldn't speak up or he would just shut down.
The ending I have a little issue with - but it sort of solves itself? It all happened rather fast and kind of unfair to [spoiler] (IMO!!) but I still loved that we get a HEA. Overall, a fun read with great representation! I loved the nods to the entertainment industry (being in that world myself) and feeling so in the know. It all worked out so wonderfully and can't wait to read more by Holguin!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Big thanks to Forever for the ARC of this one! This was such a fantastic romance! I am a huge sucker for rivals to lovers and this was one of my favorite romances in the last year! I also loved Ana Holguin's debut book, but this one is was even better! I read this in one sitting because I could not put it down. The book follows Celia, a composer, who is still waiting for her big break a decade after graduating from Julliard. When she gets a call from a former classmate offering her a last minute job composing for a tv show that is sure to be a huge hit, she jumps at the chance. There is just one catch. She has to co-compose with her college nemesis, Oliver. Oliver is basically everything she isn't and she always felt like he didn't like her. He was arrogant and rude standoffish, but with the rent on her apartment going up and the possibility that this could be her big break, she agrees to take the job. With the timeline for the show being super short, they agree to use his dad's studio in main to compose and record. This forces them into the same space for months and Celia realizes that maybe there is more to Oliver than than she thought. The flashbacks to their time back at Julliard really enhance the story and help to clarify the dynamics between them and I found both Celia and Oliver very likeable. The romance was top notch and the scene with the game of Scrabble might my favorite romantic scene I have ever read. A beautiful book! I would give it infinity stars if I could!
February 19, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
This was my first book by this author, and while I did like it, I wasn’t completely blown away. I found the romance a bit underwhelming.
There are some great tropes though like, forced proximity, former classmates, opposites attract, and a workplace romance.
I do wish it had been dual POVs, since we only get Celia’s POV. It was also dual timelines, with glimpses of Celia’s time at Juilliard and moments of her interacting with Oliver.
The premise was enjoyable, following Celia and Oliver, former Juilliard classmates, now forced to work together on a TV score. There was shared history, a heartwarming reconnection, and playful banter between them.
One of my favorite aspects was how the story explored what it takes to break into the music industry, especially as a Latina in a male dominated space versus someone who grew up in the industry from birth.
I will say though, the college nemesis angle wasn’t the strongest for me. I didn’t really feel the rivalry or tension between them. It came across more as a difference in personalities and upbringing.
The romance between them was cute and there were definitely some heartfelt and spicy moments. However, I would have liked a bit more buildup and tension between them, as their romantic shift felt rushed and I struggled to fully believe in it.
While there were a few elements that I wished had been more developed, this was still a fun, fast-paced read from an author I’m excited to read again.
**ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.**
This was my first book by this author, and while I did like it, I wasn’t completely blown away. I found the romance a bit underwhelming.
There are some great tropes though like, forced proximity, former classmates, opposites attract, and a workplace romance.
I do wish it had been dual POVs, since we only get Celia’s POV. It was also dual timelines, with glimpses of Celia’s time at Juilliard and moments of her interacting with Oliver.
The premise was enjoyable, following Celia and Oliver, former Juilliard classmates, now forced to work together on a TV score. There was shared history, a heartwarming reconnection, and playful banter between them.
One of my favorite aspects was how the story explored what it takes to break into the music industry, especially as a Latina in a male dominated space versus someone who grew up in the industry from birth.
I will say though, the college nemesis angle wasn’t the strongest for me. I didn’t really feel the rivalry or tension between them. It came across more as a difference in personalities and upbringing.
The romance between them was cute and there were definitely some heartfelt and spicy moments. However, I would have liked a bit more buildup and tension between them, as their romantic shift felt rushed and I struggled to fully believe in it.
While there were a few elements that I wished had been more developed, this was still a fun, fast-paced read from an author I’m excited to read again.
**ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.**
February 25, 2026
Work is drying up for Celia Garcia and she's staring down some tough decisions when the perfect opportunity to catapult her composing career comes along. There's one catch, though. She'll have to work side-by-side with Oliver Barlow, the pretentious, entitled son of a Hollywood big-shot, and her biggest rival all through their 4 years at Julliard.
It doesn't take long for Celia to realize that Oliver isn't the guy she thought he was, and pretty soon she's wondering if they weren't the fierce competitors she thought they were.
This slow-burn romance was beyond sweet and Oliver was the epitome of cinnamon roll MMCs. I loved how the story unfolded, giving us glimpses of their time at Julliard juxtaposed against their time in Maine working closely together and getting to know one another in new (and exciting) ways. The contrast of Celia's perception of Oliver in the past to truly seeing him in the present was powerful (and a good reminder that what we think we see isn't always the whole story).
What I loved:
★ The way Oliver showed Celia he cared about her without saying a single word
★ The behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of composing for film/TV
★ The gradual unfolding of Celia and Oliver's relationship
★ Feminist themes and how Celia deals with the inherent "boys club" mentality of her profession
★ Celia's relationship with her family
I truly am a sucker for rivals/enemies to lovers, and this one didn't disappoint!
Thank you to Forever, NetGalley and the author for a digital advanced copy of this book.
It doesn't take long for Celia to realize that Oliver isn't the guy she thought he was, and pretty soon she's wondering if they weren't the fierce competitors she thought they were.
This slow-burn romance was beyond sweet and Oliver was the epitome of cinnamon roll MMCs. I loved how the story unfolded, giving us glimpses of their time at Julliard juxtaposed against their time in Maine working closely together and getting to know one another in new (and exciting) ways. The contrast of Celia's perception of Oliver in the past to truly seeing him in the present was powerful (and a good reminder that what we think we see isn't always the whole story).
What I loved:
★ The way Oliver showed Celia he cared about her without saying a single word
★ The behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of composing for film/TV
★ The gradual unfolding of Celia and Oliver's relationship
★ Feminist themes and how Celia deals with the inherent "boys club" mentality of her profession
★ Celia's relationship with her family
I truly am a sucker for rivals/enemies to lovers, and this one didn't disappoint!
Thank you to Forever, NetGalley and the author for a digital advanced copy of this book.
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