Second First Dates

by Gabriella Gamez

A librarian swipes right on a charming high school teacher, only to realize that she’d already dated him once—and it ended in disaster.

Leti Maldonado has heard all the dating horror stories, but she never expected to be part of one after coming out of a four-year dating hiatus. When she matches with Julian Gutierrez, she doesn’t think much of how familiar his profile picture looks. But when the date goes awry, it unlocks the terrible first date memory that made her quit dating in the first place—because she’s been on this date before. And it’s just as bad the second time around.

To make matters worse, at the end of the night she discovers Julian lives in the same apartment building as her and his roommate is her younger brother. From then on, he’s inescapable. In the mailroom. In the stairwell. Outside her door with a takeout mix-up. He’s even a witness to yet another of Leti’s terrible first dates.

When Julian suggests taking over her dating accounts, he makes a surprisingly convincing case. If Leti’s proved anything, it’s that she sure doesn’t know how to pick ‘em. How much worse can Julian be at picking dates for her? It’s a terrible idea, but at this point he might be her only hope of finding real, lasting love. If they don’t fall for each other in the process, that is…

Genres: Romance, Adult, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, LGBT

352 pages, Paperback

Expected publication July 28, 2026

About the author

Gabriella Gamez is a Mexican American author from South Texas. She writes about incredibly messy, well-meaning women trying their best and accidentally falling in love. When she’s not writing, she can be found drinking copious amounts of coffee, wasting too much time playing video games, and obsessing over other people’s books.

Reviews

[jenny reads a lot]

Me, staring at my inbox, willing a widget for this book to land.

I need it.

| IG | TikTok |

[Kimberlyyyreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5

Second First Dates is absolutely charming and will hopefully win your heart over just like it has mine!

Thank you to Forever for the e-arc and the physical galley through prioritized reader form!

Gabriella Gamez's Latine Queer rep is truly something special, this book features Leti, a high school librarian who is a biromantic and Julian, a demisexual high school teacher and their chaotic second chance at something more?

Leti is giving the dating apps a chance, after four years of being single she is ready to put herself out there again. She happens to swipe right and match with a cute guy named Julian, who loves rom-coms and wears an attractive set of glasses. It's immediately a match!

Deja Vu is quite the weird emotion especially if you can't even recall the moment you truly met your date, which happens to be exactly four years ago on a date that went sour.

Leti thinks she'll never have to see Julian again, but he's ironically everywhere. And happens to be her next door neighbor, who shares an apartment with Leti's younger brother (who Leti isn't a big fan of). The more they see each other, the more drawn Julian and Leti become, forming a close friendship as polar opposites.

Julian is sunshine impersonified and Leti is what Julian calls "Devil women," it's absolutely delicious and the banter between them sways you off your feet.

Leti has a complex family dynamic, growing up in a household where your siblings at times feel like your competitors more than family because of the dynamics set up by your parents is one of the most devastating and difficult experiences to have in a family. Especially because us Mexicans, come from such a collectivist culture in which family is vital to our identity. In a dynamic like this, you're constantly having to fend for yourself and at times, laying down that "protective" armor or that "defensive" sword is so difficult.

Watching Leti be prioritized by someone that she loves and cares about was so beautiful even when Leti herself couldn't acknowledge it. It truly speaks volumes as to how simply showing up and listening matters. Especially in close intimate relationships.

I had so much fun reading this, I strive to have a relationship with someone like Julian aka someone who is downbad, willing to fight for me, and is ready to commit!

This probably is one of my favorite queer books I've read this year! Seeing Ace rep in Latine spaces warms my heart.

Humbly asking to meet my own Julian soon because Leti really won fr.

This book will always hold such a special place in my heart, you guys aren't ready to meet MY PEOPLE.

[Annie K · Rating 4 out of 5]

TL;DR: Funny, messy, and super addictive with great rep—but a slightly dragged-out ending. Perfect if you love chaotic romance and dysfunctional families.

I absolutely tore through this one. Gamez has truly mastered the art of addictive prose—I couldn’t put it down. The concept is genuinely hilarious, and honestly… who wouldn’t want a second chance at a first date? We’ve all bombed one before.

I also really appreciated how Gamez explored sexuality. I came away with a better understanding of demisexuality, graysexuality, and asexuality, and some of Julian’s perspective felt surprisingly relatable. It’s not something I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about personally, so I liked how naturally it was woven into the story.

The family dynamics were… messy. Very messy. At times they felt a bit exaggerated, and some of the sibling insults didn’t totally land for me. Julian’s meddling also leaned chaotic. But it did feel true to that early-20s phase of life. As I’m approaching 30 this year (gasp lol), those dynamics feel more exhausting than entertaining—but still recognizable.

The ending dragged a bit for me, which I’m noticing more and more in romance lately. The final 60–100 pages tend to turn into fluff. I know some readers love that extended wrap-up, but I usually hit a bit of a letdown there. It’s been happening a lot where I’m ready to give a book 5 stars, and then the pacing slows enough at the end that I have to bump it down. Not just a Gamez thing—definitely a broader trend.

Overall, this was funny, messy, and incredibly addictive. If you’re into chaotic romance with even messier family dynamics, this one will absolutely hit.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Viviana]

I received a NetGalley widget from Dana at Forever today.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐️
I’m not sure this worked for me unfortunately.

I’ll start off with what I really appreciated in this book.
The representation across the board was fantastic. I really think this was one of the strong suits of the book. I often find that some characters can come away feeling like a caricature or a very poor execution of what someone in their shoes would think or feel but these characters don’t feel like they’re being put into a box.

I also really enjoyed the commentary of how it feels to be On The Apps in this day and age and how dating is HARD right now especially when you want to form a connection outside of physical intimacy first. I don’t think you necessarily have to fall under the ace/demisexual umbrella to appreciate the message being sent here because sometimes the apps and dating just suck and I think the majority of people will be able to relate to that.

The writing is something I struggled with. I think that for an adult book the writing was a little too simplistic and I had to remind myself sometimes that this wasn’t YA. There was a lot of telling and no real showing at some parts and I’m finding that to be an issue with the majority of the contemporaries being published these days.

At points I did wonder whether these two should have been actively looking for a relationship (in general). I love mess and I love messy characters and that’s usually the types of romances I reach for but I can’t say that it was down to them being messy because.. they weren’t (even though they both had pretty demanding lives). Again this seems to be connected to the writing, I just found them immature at times.

The sex. I think it really fit for these two that it would be a slowburn. A bit like Leti and Julian I love getting to know characters better before they jump into bed and I find the build up more rewarding when I know them so of course this aspect was done extremely well. I love the conversations they had around sex and how they engaged with each other and checked in during it.

All in all not a bad read I just felt like we could have dug a little bit deeper because they were extremely interesting characters I just wanted to see more of them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for sending me the arc. All opinions are my own.

[Ebony · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I will start with how much I loved the representation in this! Like in Kiss Me, Maybe we get to explore more of the sexuality and romance spectrum. All the scenes with conversations about their sexualities were so well written. I love how the late bloomer aspect was approached/handled. It was really nice reading something where we get to experience these things for the first time alongside the characters.

Now…the first 30%-40% was so hard for me to get through. I was not a fan of either MC, honestly any character. Everyone felt so childish. The writing in this read more like a YA durning the first part and it really took me out of it. It definitely got better for me in the back half of the book. I warmed up more to Julian but Leti fully pissed me off throughout the entire book. I like where they ended up but it definitely felt we were told more than shown. I think that’s why I had such a hard time understanding why he said he was falling in love with her around the 30% mark. I’m also the absolute biggest hater of the shitty family trope and while a part of this ended nicely with the brother, the other part felt half assed with no real work coming from her parents. This was still pretty good as a whole. The Next Best Fling still has my heart.

[_goldenchapter · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

This was a cute romance. The story follows Leti and Julian, who match on a dating app only to realize they’ve actually been on a date before. After two unsuccessful dates and some unexpected forced proximity, Julian decides to help Leti navigate her dating app, and what begins as a friendship slowly grows into something more.

Overall, this was a fun, messy, and enjoyable read. I liked the unique storyline, and watching Leti and Julian’s relationship evolve was entertaining. For me, I would have loved a bit more emotional depth, as there were topics introduced that I felt could have been explored further. However, it was an enjoyable and entertaining romance read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an advanced copy.

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Julian Gutierrez is everything, that is all.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- second chance romance, ish
- brother’s best friend and roommate
- grumpy x sunshine
- ace spec rep

[Kritikal Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance review copy (ARC). All opinions expressed are my own.
Full Review on World Review of Books
Romance has traditionally relied on familiar archetypes: protagonists who are immediately attracted to one another, for emotionally unavailable rakes seeking redemption, and moving towards milestones like marriage, children or happily-ever-after in fairly conventional ways. Gabriella Gamez deliberately broadens that landscape by creating two protagonists whose relationships with attraction, intimacy and commitment don’t fit those templates, yet whose romance feels no less compelling.

The novel follows Leti Maldonado, who reluctantly returns to dating after a four-year hiatus, only to realise she’s matched with Julian, the very same man whose disastrous date sent her into that sabbatical in the first place. It’s an intentionally unconventional setup that asks readers for a degree of suspension of disbelief. Given that Leti has avoided dating for four years, it’s reasonable to wonder whether she would remember the name of the one person connected to that experience. The novel leans into coincidence here, but grounds it well enough that the premise never feels impossible, just delightfully improbable.

That early leap of faith is rewarded by what follows.

Representation is another area where the novel quietly excels. Leti identifies as graysexual, while Julian also falls somewhere on the asexual spectrum and questions traditional relationship milestones like marriage and children. What’s particularly impressive is that Julian isn’t the familiar archetype of the commitment-phobic hero. He isn’t avoiding marriage because he wants limitless sexual freedom. Instead, he simply doesn’t see lifelong commitment as something that needs to be validated by institutions. It’s an uncommon perspective in mainstream romance and one that gives the novel a welcome sense of originality.

Romance novels have become increasingly diverse, but it’s still comparatively rare to see protagonists whose emotional intimacy develops independently of immediate physical attraction.

Despite these nuanced identities, the book never forgets to be entertaining.

Up until a certain point, the story is juggling several threads simultaneously. Leti and Julian discover they work at the same place. Julian also happens to be her brother’s roommate, in the same building as Leti. Their shared dating history resurfaces. Family tensions emerge. New revelations continue arriving one after another. It’s undeniably busy. And honestly, noisy, too.

Once the dating-coach arrangement becomes the story’s central engine, however, the novel settles into its rhythm. Julian functions almost as an audience surrogate, learning alongside readers why Leti’s family relationships are so strained, why she presents such a guarded exterior and what experiences shaped her approach to intimacy. His perspective allows readers to assemble those emotional pieces gradually rather than being handed every answer immediately. That gradual unfolding also benefits the romance.

Give the plot some time to land
For a novel that spends so much time discussing physical intimacy, it’s refreshingly patient about depicting it. Conversations around attraction, boundaries and consent arrive long before the relationship becomes physical, making every progression feel thoughtful rather than inevitable. The resulting slow burn feels earned precisely because neither character is pretending to be someone they aren’t.

It’s a deceptively simple observation that quietly asks the question sitting underneath the entire novel: what does attraction actually look like when it doesn’t follow conventional expectations?

If there’s one area where the novel could benefit from focus, it’s in its opening act. The setup introduces numerous intersecting connections before settling on the storyline that ultimately matters most. While each thread contributes something to the characters, the accumulation of inciting incidents makes those early chapters feel slightly scattered. The emotional core is always present, but it takes a little while for the narrative to settle for us to fully trust it.
Similarly, the novel’s vibrant illustrated cover suggests something considerably steamier than the story it actually tells. In reality, Second First Dates is far more interested in emotional compatibility than physical chemistry, making it a gentler, more introspective romance than its packaging might initially imply.

Ultimately, Gabriella Gamez succeeds because she makes her characters more than just representatives of identities; they feel like multi-dimensional, real people. Their views on relationships aren’t treated as lessons or plot devices. They’re simply part of who they are. That honesty gives the romance a refreshing authenticity and quietly expands the kinds of love stories the genre gets to tell. For its sheerly refreshing protagonists alone, this book is a solid 4.25 stars.

[Keke (theebookexplorer) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second First Dates was such a refreshing take on romance. After two first dates that didn’t exactly go as planned, Leti and Julian unexpectedly find themselves back in each other’s lives. Between being neighbors, spending more time together, and Julian helping Leti navigate the dating world, their connection slowly grows into something neither of them expected.

I really enjoyed the conversations this book opened up around dating, intimacy, attraction, and being a late bloomer. I loved that Leti’s journey wasn’t treated like a big shocking reveal, but instead as a normal part of her figuring herself out. One of my favorite parts was the representation and the reminder that everyone moves through relationships at different timelines. Not everyone has everything figured out in high school or college, and I really appreciated seeing characters navigate love and connection at their own pace. I also really enjoyed Julian as a love interest. He genuinely cared for Leti and showed her that she didn’t have to carry everything by herself or feel like a burden. Those moments where he supported her and showed up for her made their connection feel comforting and made it easy to understand why they worked together.

Where the book lost me a little was in the second half. I loved the setup, the banter, and watching their connection grow, but I found myself wanting more emotional depth and bigger conversations once certain conflicts came up. Some moments that felt important to the characters’ growth wrapped up quicker than I expected, so the emotional payoff didn’t hit as strongly for me.

I also struggled with moments where feelings or situations felt clearer to me as the reader than they did to the characters. I understood where some of the hesitation came from, but I wanted a little more communication between them.

Overall, Second First Date has a lot of heart. I loved the concept, the representation, and the way it explores finding love outside of society’s “expected” timeline. While the ending didn’t fully land for me, I think readers who enjoy second chances, close proximity, he-falls-first energy, slow emotional realizations, and romances about self-discovery will find a lot to connect with.

Readers who love emotional second chance romances with complicated family dynamics and a little bit of character growth will want this on their radar.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look, I am a San Antonio girl through and through. That's my hometown. I moved away 5 years ago but that is still home for me.

And wow did this transport me back! We're talking about I10 traffic (the worst), working at Whataburger corporate (I applied there), and HEB (ugh I miss you so much). I think the was Gabriella writes about San Antonio shows the love she has for it, and I really feel it.

Our FMC Leti, is the chaotic middle child in her family, and she has middle child energy. Her younger brother and her don't get along, and she feels like a massive disappointment to her parents. She also has had not much luck dating. She went on a terrible date 4 years ago with someone, and basically stopped dating after, it was so bad! She puts herself back out there and matches with Julian on a dating app. At dinner, she realizes that Julian was that guy from 4 years ago! They had another awful date, but as luck would have it, they paths continue to cross after.

Julian never forgot Leti, and decides to help her with her dating apps, taking over her swipes and even messaging people for her. Of course, since they're spending so much time together, feelings begin to build and Julian has to watch as the woman he likes goes on dates with others.

The family dynamics in this book felt so real. They were intense and mean, but I know how hard it can be to get along with your family! Leti put on a brave face but not having her family in her corner had a really deep impact on her, and I loved Julian coming in and immediately being on her side and helping put her family into place.

Also the representation in this book is incredible! I even learned new terms that I hadn't heard before and I absolutely love that! The spice in this book was very well built, and I loved the communication between the characters. Julian is just the sweetest and I enjoyed watching him break down Leti's walls.

Thank you so much to Gabriella Gamez, Forever Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for this ARC!.

Tropes:
Slutty little glasses
Second chance
Brothers best friend
He falls first

[kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️

Sooooooo you decide to finally break your four-year hiatus of dating and you go on a date with this guy but it’s going terrible, he’s just saying the wrong things and he’s even grabbing your food?!! And you’re like this feels strangely familiar, then it hits you that you’ve dated this guy before!!! Now you’re convinced you just suck at choosing people when it comes to dating and maybe you should go back on a hiatus or quit overall
But wait there’s more, turns out said guy also lives in the same apartments as you, is your brother’s best friend, and now you’re suddenly agreeing to have said guy set you up on dates, because why wouldn’t you?? Except….y’all get closer and lines start to blur… oh nooooo (😏)

Oh my goddd I had the loveliest time with Leti and Julian!!!
Banter was 🥰🥰 they were 🥰🥰 I’m obsessed with them
Leti, ahhhh girl 😭
She has a complicated relationship with her family, especially her brother, and has felt most of her life like she’s asking for too much or that the people she loves won’t be there for her
It’s nice that Julian does everything in his power to prove her wrong even after that rocky start, they also open up about their complicated family life and just seeing their friendship blossom to where they trust and understand each other so well was LOVELY
Julian is the epitome of Nick Miller’s, “stop being so mean to me or I swear to god I’m gonna fall in love with you!” He LOVED when Leti was mean but most importantly he made it his mission to win her over 🙂‍↕️
Gahhhhh him being so present for Leti, noticing the small details about her, coming to her defense!!!! He’s everything! And I love how it’s the same for Leti, she wanted to be his person too just as bad 🥹

I just loved Gabriella’s writing, loved these characters, I WAS ROOTING FOR THEM FROM THE BEGINNING and it was such lovely representation as both are Mexican-American and Acespec!!

Can’t wait for yall to meet them! 💛💛

Thank you so much Forever Pub for the ARC!!! And thank you Gabby for having me sob the last couple chapters because damn they both deserve love and the world 🥹🫶🏼💛

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. The characters were lovable and engaging, even if Leti was a little prickly at times (okay, more than a little 😂). And Julian? A complete cinnamon roll. The man was thoughtful, patient, and easy to root for from the very beginning.

One of the things I appreciated most was how thoughtfully the story explored different aspects of relationships and connection. Beyond the romance, it examined sexuality, attraction, desire, platonic relationships, friendships, and family dynamics—the good, the bad, and everything in between. It felt honest and relatable, particularly in its portrayal of how complicated human relationships can be.

The theme that stayed with me most throughout the book was the reminder that life is messy. Comparing your journey to someone else's rarely leads anywhere good, and no matter how carefully you plan, life often has entirely different ideas. The story did a wonderful job illustrating how growth often comes from embracing uncertainty rather than trying to control every outcome.

I also found myself feeling incredibly grateful that I no longer have to navigate modern dating. Honestly, you couldn't pay me enough to get back into the dating pool. While reading, I frequently found myself cringing on behalf of the characters, but in the best way possible. At the same time, the story offered meaningful reflections on vulnerability, communication, honesty, and the courage it takes to put yourself out there and risk being seen.

My only critique is that there were moments that felt a bit younger than I expected. While this didn't detract from my enjoyment, some interactions came across as somewhat immature or naïve, and there were a few relationship dynamics—particularly involving Leti's brother—that occasionally left me feeling confused.

That said, this was a charming, heartfelt story that ultimately proves that sometimes the third time really is the charm.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever/Grand Central Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen T · Rating 3 out of 5]

So right off the bat… HOW does one forget going on a date with another person, and then subsequently forget meeting this person again four months before the start of what happens on the page? This part definitely bugged me, but I pushed that thought to the back of my mind in the hopes that I could properly read and enjoy this book.

I got off to a bit of a rough start as I found Leti’s grudge-holding to be massively overdone at times, although I’m sure that any readers on a man-hating mission would absolutely love her sass and attitude. In the case of Julian… while I do love a sensitive golden retriever MMC, I struggled to figure out what about Leti had him so attracted to her, considering that she basically spent several chapters early on in the book overtly letting him know how much she disliked him. In any case, once the obligatory period of hatred passed, I really liked the vibe that these two brought to the page, and really liked them both as main characters. As they both have their individual challenges around dating, relationships and sex, it was rewarding to see them help each other through these challenges.

This book also grappled with some more serious issues. The professional sub-plot around Leti’s job as a school librarian who constantly is pulled out of her actual job to be a substitute teacher did a wonderful job of shining a light on the plight of an overtaxed education system. And her parents’ views of lifestyles and their measuring of their children’s success draws attention to the harm around traditional gender roles and associated expectations. I would have liked to see more resolution around Leti’s family situation, as I felt like a lot was left up in the air here, but perhaps we’ll get another book in this universe where we can see how she’s doing.

Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Reanna Abare · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to Dana Cuadrado, Forever, and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC of Second First Dates in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this one was not for me, and I ultimately decided to DNF it.

My biggest issue was with Leti. I usually love strong, independent, black cat FMCs, but her behavior came across as unnecessarily rude rather than confident or witty. From the beginning, I struggled to understand how she didn't recognize Julian despite having met him multiple times before. That alone pulled me out of the story, and things only became more frustrating from there.

There were several moments that felt hypocritical to me. Leti was upset when Julian was late to their date despite being late herself, and there were multiple interactions where she was openly rude to him, including in front of coworkers. I also found the double standard between her reaction to Julian noticing her appearance and her own observations of him difficult to overlook.

That said, there were aspects of the book that other readers may enjoy. The story includes a brother's best friend romance, forced proximity, workplace interactions, and a second chance adjacent setup. There is also LGBTQ+ representation that I appreciated seeing included in the story.

I also appreciated that this was a dual POV. Getting both Leti and Julian's perspectives added more depth to the story, and Julian's chapters were honestly what kept me reading as long as I did.

One more thing I appreciated was discovering that this book is connected to previous books by the author. While Amazon didn't clearly indicate a reading order, I found information on the author's website showing there are earlier books in the series. As someone who loves reading interconnected stories in order, I always appreciate when that information is available.

Sadly, Leti's behavior made it impossible for me to connect with the story, and I decided it wasn't the right book for me.

[Lexie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first ever Gabriella Gamez book. So when I saw this on NetGalley as a “Read Now” I was pumped. She’s been on my author radar for a while and I couldn’t wait to give her book a go. Sadly, I don’t know if her writing is quite for me.

First off though, I want to say a big thank you Netgalley and Forever Publishing for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Now I will say when I first started this book I was thoroughly enjoying it. Was definitely trending towards upper 3 or 4 star review. But then the book spiraled from there and I felt like someone just pulled the biggest uno reverse on me.

My biggest issue with this book is our FMC Leti. Now don’t get me wrong our girl comes out of the gate strong. She has this badass energy. She accepts herself and doesn’t give a flying fart about anyones opinions. Essentially she’s out of fucks to give. I’m immensely drawn to this, especially in this era where women feel the constant need to put themselves down based on the media/others expectations of women. But then this twist comes and it makes Leti into this childish pushover mess. I had to re-read several points after that because it felt like our girl had been body snatched out of the book.

Now the only reason I continued reading was solely for Julian (MMC). I loved this man. This man gives of cinnamon role energy and I was here for it. Now Julian definitely isn’t perfect. Like sir don’t show up to dates late, that’s just rude. But overall, the man is a good loyal friend and constantly shows up when Leti needs him. Plus his support against her toxic family and ex will always have me on his side.

Overall, this book is a rollercoaster that sadly wasn’t for me. But I do think it would appeal better to the younger romance crowd. I just think I’m not the right marketing target audience for it. Plus even though this wasn’t my cup of tea, I’d still try another Gabriella Gomez book in the future

[DomsLitCorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

What happens when a black cat FMC accidentally goes on a first date (again) with the same golden retriever MMC because she has zero memory of the first one… and instead of taking the hint, this man basically says, “…actually, we’re best friends now,” and inserts himself into her life with the persistence of a thousand suns? Yep, you guessed it… you get Second First Dates.

This book is equal parts hilarious, chaotic, awkward, wholesome, and emotionally messy. The characters make questionable decisions, life keeps throwing curveballs, and I spent a solid portion of this book alternating between laughing, wanting to shake everyone, and aggressively rooting for them.

What I loved most was that this wasn’t just a romance. It digs into every kind of relationship imaginable: friendships, family, sexuality, attraction, desire, platonic love. It reminds you that humans are weird and complicated and we’re all just doing our best.

The biggest message that slapped me across the face was that life does not care about your five year plan. You can compare yourself to everyone around you, color-code your future, and convince yourself you’ve got everything under control… and then life goes, “LOL. Watch this.” This story is a great reminder that growth usually shows up disguised as chaos, and sometimes the best moments happen when you stop trying to force everything into place.

Also. Can we please talk about Julian?? Sir. You met this woman twice, got forgotten twice, and your response was basically, “No worries, I’ll simply become an unavoidable part of your life.” Peak Golden Retriever behavior. Ten out of ten. No notes.

If there’s one thing Second First Dates proves, it’s that sometimes the third time really is the charm… and sometimes your soulmate just has the patience of a saint and refuses to give up on you.

Thank you Gabriella, Forever, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of Second First Dates (publishing July 28, 2026).

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don't know how she does it, but I always relate to someone in every Gabriella Gamez book.

This one, it's Leti.

Even though I'm the eldest daughter in my family, I still empathize and relate to her feeling like a burden to her family. To feeling like she relies on them too much. And because of that, I'd 100% also sit alone in a hospital so I didn't have to bother anyone else. As sad as that sounds and is.

I didn't swoon for Leti and Julian as much as I did for Theo and Marcela, but I did like them a little more than Angela and Krystal, even if Leti tried my patience a few times. Especially when it came to her relationship with her brother, Andrew. I, too, was the target of jokes from the men in my family, but I in my early-20s I finally snapped and was brutally honest with them about how much their words hurt me. Something Leti struggled to do to any degree. Truly, this book could've been called "the Miscommunication of Leti Moldando" because this girl refuses to communicate with anyone.

Not that Julian is all that much better. When he is ready to communicate, though, at least he's very honest. He rarely skirts around his feelings when he feels safe enough to divulge them. I do wish we'd gotten just a little more backstory with his family; I feel this book relies too much on the reader having read Kiss Me Maybe to know what went down there.

I also would've liked to see more consequences for how Andrew and Leti's parents treated her. Andrew especially; that boy irritated the crap out of me for constantly playing the victim. Even when he was clearly in the wrong, he played the victim. Irritating as hell.

But I loved the demisexual and bisexuality rep, loved the virginity rep, and really adored Julian. He's the shining star here.

[Cynder · Rating 4 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER THIS IS BASED ON AN ARC PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR

Characters: 1/1.5🌟
Plot: 1.5/2🌟
Writing Style: 1.5/1.5🌟
My Thoughts: Firstly, thank you to Forever Publishing for sending me an ARC of Second First Dates. Secondly, let's talk about the writing style of this book, there is a reason Gabriella Gamez is a best selling author! If you are looking for a book with a good explanation/representation of LGBTQ+ relationships, then this is a good book to look at. Like others say, Gabriella does a fantastic job making everything flow together in a way that is easy to understand for light readers.

Now, in terms of the overall plot, I felt like it was most definitely there. However, it seemed to drag on a bit and run on with certain parts seemingly longer than they needed to be in an attempt for it to be a slow burn. I personally would have preferred if we got to see more individual development within the book rather than Leti and Julian developing their relationship slowly. These characters seemed really interesting outside of the relationship, so I would have loved to see more of those personalities come out.

Finally, the characters themselves. Like I said a moment ago, I would have loved to see more of their unique lives outside of interactions with each other. The characters just seemed surface level and rather simplistic as opposed to other books out there in the YA space. A prime example of this is how on Earth does someone forget a first date that supposedly wasn't the best. Julian's reaction in those moments was so valid to me, because if a date went poorly then I'd think to remember it for the future.

Overall, I am extremely grateful to Forever and NetGalley for sending me this ARC. I just wish that we maybe could have seen a bit more developed emotions and scenes within the book.

[Mel Cee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up for GR.

I ate this book up, binging it in a day. If you're looking for a (semi-chaotic) fun and quick read, this might be for you.

From page one, the banter and the chemistry between Leti and Julian shone and I couldn't put this down, eager to see their interactions unfold. And when I was done, I immediately went to go read book one in this series to immerse myself into this world anew.

Leti, classic middle child, hasn't been lucky in love, or dating really, but she's ready to put herself back out there after four years. She matches with Julian, and while something about her gives that deja vu feeling, she can't put her finger on what it is. That is until their first date (which is awful btw) and she realizes they've done this before.

Normally, that would be the end of it for them, but he just so happens to be her younger brother's roommate, and her new neighbor, so their paths are bound to cross. Especially when he volunteers to help with her dating app management, setting her up on dates.

I adored the representation in this book, with Julian being demisexual and Leti being graysexual. The whole thing was handled beautifully. There was a lot to unpack with Leti and her family and I felt that all the relationships got just the right amount of air time such that nothing felt rushed.

I found myself chuckling at some of their antics, getting emotional, and swoony all throughout. I can definitely see myself picking up more of Gamez's books in the future.

Tropes/Themes:

- brother's best friend/roommate
- dating lessons
- LatinX FMC and MMC
- ace spectrum representation
- workplace romance
- black cat/golden retriever

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the eARC.

[Kat Reads Skulls · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

Fun, great representation, consent heavy, maybe on the younger end of adult romance reads but still a great time.

The ace and demi rep in this was a definite strong point, especially from a best seller series. Gabriella Gamez has quickly become my go-to author for sweet romances that aren’t shy about LGBTQIA+ or BIPOC rep and this one was no exception. I especially loved how the discussions around Leti working through her identity and the nuances of sexual versus romantic love is and what that looks like in our app based dating world.

I want to throw both of their parents off a cliff with the exception of Julian’s mom (who has deserved better since book one, the queen she is). Again, complicated family dynamics are a hallmark of her writing and this series. Somehow she made Leti’s brother semi understandable which I didn’t think was possible.

While I loved Leti and Julian’s vibe overall, I do want to highlight the sex scenes. With Leti on the ace spectrum and Julian on the demi spectrum I was pleasantly surprised with how slow of a burn it was and how carefully they both handled each other. They might be bantering and snarling back and forth the rest of the time but it was consent heavy and considerate in the spice and I loved it!

The premise of two first dates four years apart is so fun and the discussions of how difficult online dating is are very timely! The writing was a bit simplistic at times and I wanted more depth to the characters, but I feel like this is meant to be or should be marketed at younger adult romance readers who might not want or need that depth. I still had a great time reading it!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions expressed are my own! 🖤

[Bojana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was shaping up to be a solid 4 star read. I was really enjoying the characters and their relationship after a rocky start (both for them and for me). Their FWB arrangement did rub me the wrong way since they were still dating other people (but okay modern dating is complicated I get it) and they were both on the ace spectrum. Now as for their sexuality, I am not asexual and cannot and will not criticize the representation or judge it in any way. I just wish the characters discussed their preferences and just talked about what their orientation means now that they started this sexual arrangement because I think that matters. Now, for the moment that made me drop that one star (that was holding on for dear life) is the family issues and more importantly FMC's relationship with her brother. It was so petty, toxic, hateful and completely immature and I mean both her and her brother but it was just over the top. And there was no logical explanation or one thing happening just years of being jealous of one another and insulting each other. But the FMC's actions towards the end were peak childishness and made me throw my phone. The entire toxic family was just done badly and the author tried so hard to make us see the FMC as a victim so she would add some ridiculous situations like her parents not celebrating her bday(??) Idk, I think if she wanted to make this main conflict it should have happened earlier and the main couple should have resolved the other issues before so that her family situation could be given proper treatment. This way it just made me mad. Julian was absolutely perfect and carried the story tbh.

[Kate Laycoax · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this, but didn’t fully love it and it kind of landed in that just okay, but still enjoyable space for me.

The concept is honestly so fun and unique. The idea that she unknowingly swipes right on a guy she already had a terrible date with was so good. And then finding out he’s basically unavoidable in her day to day life after that was a great setup because it had so much potential for chaos, awkwardness, and tension.

To be fair, the vibes were there. It’s definitely awkward in that secondhand-embarrassment way, but also really sweet and kind of charming underneath it all. There are some genuinely cute moments, and I liked seeing the growth and the lessons both characters were working through.

I also really appreciated the representation. The aroace and demisexual rep was done really well, and that’s something Gabriella Gamez consistently does great; her queer rep always feels thoughtful and intentional.

But... I do think this suffered from a lot of telling instead of showing. I felt like I was told about feelings, chemistry, and development more than I actually got to see it play out on the page, which made it a little harder to fully connect. And the pacing felt a bit off, especially in places where I wanted things to either slow down and breathe or be more fleshed out.

I think it’s a cute, slightly awkward, lesson-filled romance with great representation and a really fun premise, but I just wish the execution was better.

Thank you to NetGalley, Gabriella Gamez, and Forever for the eARC of this book.

[Deanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for this ARC!

I’m not quite sure how to feel about this book. Julian was a very charming MMC and you could tell that he had very strong feelings for Leti from the start, but I think it’s a bit odd that he lied to her about forgetting their first date. Despite his feelings, I do like that he made Leti date other people before admitting how he felt about her. In the end I found their relationship build-up sweet, because you could see he genuinely did love her.

I had more problems with Leti and her entire family, though. Sibling dynamics can be hard, not that I can speak to that as an only child, but the relationship between Leti and Andrew was positively toxic - I don’t see how they could ever act even congenially towards each other after 20+ years of this behaviour. Andrew was a prick in every interaction with Leti, and yet she was still the one who broke down and genuinely apologized to him first. What he said to her at his birthday party alone should’ve warranted no contact, so I’m glad that Julian stood up for her in that (and many other) moment even if Andrew is his best friend. Their parents made that sibling relationship more fraught and honestly, so did their sister Elena (even if she was doing so unknowingly). All of this really closed Leti off to genuine connections, which I understand, but her behaviour made me resent her a bit.

The toxic family dynamic did unfortunately irrevocably taint the story for me, which is why I can’t rate this higher than 3 stars.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one landed in that “I liked it… but didn’t fully love it” space for me 😭💛
The concept is genuinely SO fun—swiping right on someone you already had a terrible first date with?? The setup had so much potential for chaos, awkward encounters, and tension, especially once you realize how unavoidable he becomes in her everyday life.
And honestly, the vibes were there. There are cute moments, some sweet emotional beats, and that very specific secondhand embarrassment awkwardness that makes you want to hide behind your hands while still reading 😅
I also really appreciated the representation in this book. The aroace and demisexual rep felt thoughtful and well handled, and Gabriella Gamez consistently does a great job with intentional queer representation that feels grounded and meaningful.
That said, I did struggle a bit with the execution. A lot of the emotional beats felt told rather than shown, which made it harder to fully connect to the romance and character development. I kept wanting more depth in certain moments that felt a little rushed or underdeveloped.
Still, it’s a cute, slightly awkward, low-stakes romance with a really fun premise and solid representation—even if it didn’t fully hit emotionally for me.
✨ what to expect ✨
💘 Second-chance-ish romance
📱 Dating app mishap
😬 Awkward / cringe moments
🌈 Aroace & demisexual representation
💛 Slow emotional growth
📚 Light contemporary romance
Overall: enjoyable, just needed a bit more depth for me to fully fall for it 🤍

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover is what caught my eye first when I signed up for this one. The yearning and vulnerability in it, 🫠. But Julian, Julian was everything in this book. This man yearned so much for Leti and the fact they were both on the ace spec, that was huge. The fact they were both attracted to each other sexually, was huge for them in this book and I loved the representation in it.

The banter in this evolved so much from distaste to actually being playful with one another. I’m all about banter. And the growth these two both had with each other in the sense of letting people in and letting them selves love and be loved, I loved it. As the saying goes, to be seen is to be loved and they both saw each other under the surface. It growing from Leti not like Julian (Julian is obsessed the whole time) to being friends to more so gradually. It’s like why had been waiting for one another.

The family dynamic on Leti’s side upset me because not only her parents but the whole thing with her brother, they were brutal with each other.

Julian was perfect in this. Yes, he meddled but he did it with love. He wears glasses🫠 he’s has an appreciation for Taylor Swift🙌. He’s emotionally intelligent. Oh and secret tattoos. There is nothing wrong with this man in the least bit.

Thank you to Gabriella Gamez and Forever Grand Central Publishing for this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Tropes:
✨He falls first
✨Forced proximity
✨So much pining
✨Grumpy x sunshine
✨Brothers best friend
✨He wears glasses🫠

[Cam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, Leti & Julian made quite a charming cou le and I liked the slowly building a connection after two failed first dates, coincidences bringing them together and showing them that there is so much more to each other than the first impression.

I disliked Leti a lot in the first 25% because she is very rude, justifying it by saying she’s grumpy and uncomfortable but like, no. Funnily enough, she’s the one who called both first dates disastrous, and yeah he didn’t put his best foot forward, but her reaction was so much more off putting to me than anything he did. How Julian still found her cute after that is a mystery to me.

Once she started spending more time with Julian and being friendly to him, and she opened up to him, she grew on me a bit. There is a lot of her story which made it easy to sympathise with her, even if it didn’t fully justify her behaviour. I really liked their dynamic as her and Julian started to work together instead of against each other but she was still unfortunately very closed off for a long time, whereas Julian was a lot more open to her. He was trying to have real conversations and she avoided them a lot, whicy I found it very frustrating.

I thought the book was great at discussing romantic love and sexual attraction and representing how different this can be for people. I liked Julian and Leti’s story, even if I wished she had been less stubborn, it was mostly cute and I had a good time.

*I received an ARC of this book, this is my honest opinion*

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.**

Meet Leti, the middle child of a Hispanic family who feels like she’s behind in every way that matters, including love. Meet Julian, an only child who feels like he caused the break up of his nuclear family when he came out as queer.

When Julian and Leti match on a dating app, she agrees to go out with him, not realizing that they’d already been on a (clearly forgettable) date 4 years earlier. When she figures it out partway through the date, she ends it early to head home. He pulls into her apartment complex behind her and she accuses him of stalking her. The truth? He lives in her building, and her brother is his roommate and best friend. Her brother who she hates. Cue Leti hating Julian because of his proximity to her brother, and Julian patiently breaking down all of Leti’s walls because he hadn’t forgotten her after their first date.

The family dynamics are messy and chaotic, and anyone who has been made to feel like they’re too much and too needy will relate to Leti.

The way I ate this book up should be studied; I finished it in 2 days! The anticipation of will they ever get there, along with the FMC’s attraction to the MMC that she didn’t know what to do with (because she’s ace-spec) made it so much hotter than a story where they bang out the sexual tension early in the book. I really enjoyed the prolonged tension between these two.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I picked this one up not knowing much about it and was pleasantly surprised by all the queer representation-such a great way to kick off my Pride Month reading!

We are seriously lacking ace-spec and demi romances, so I loved seeing that representation handled with so much care. As someone who considers themselves on the asexual spectrum, it was really meaningful to see those experiences written, explained, and validated in such a loving way.

The relationship between Leti and Julian starts in a hilariously awkward way, and watching it develop was so entertaining. Julian being completely obsessed with her while constantly reassuring and validating her- Fictional men win again!!

I also appreciated that this book wasn't solely focused on the romance. It explored family, friendship, identity, attraction, desire, and all the messy complexities of human relationships. Leti's family absolutely drove me up the wall (for good reason), which made her growth throughout the story even more satisfying.

Overall, this was a fun, light read with thoughtful representation and a lot of heart. I'm always excited to see more ace-spec stories on shelves, and this one was a great reminder of why that representation matters. Seeing ace-spec characters centered in romance novels helps broaden our understanding of love and connection, while giving readers the chance to feel seen, understood, and celebrated♥️

[Der Elliott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Pub) for providing me an early e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was super excited when I got my request approved to read this book but I was even happier when I finished this book. I couldn't wait to finish it because Leti (FMC) was so infuriating. I went from loving the beginning to hating it immediately. The middle picked up and I was glued, then suddenly it all fell off the face of Earth.

In the beginning Leti says "At some point, I got older and started saying “fuck that” to the voice in my head and allowed myself to believe when people tell me I’m beautiful. Who am I to question their entirely correct opinion?" and I LOVE that so much! It kinda put my head in the direction of Leti coming to terms with loving/accepting of herself. Like alright girl! I'm loving this energy. Keep it going!

Enters Julian (MMC). He seems ok. He was pretty late to the date..... and then come to find out that he was cheap on their first first date. Lo and behold, Julian is younger. Sorry but I can't do the whole dating younger guys because I find them not mature enough. 😬 I mean, who goes on a date and then claims to not have money to cover what you ate??

Moving on, how do you claim someone as your best friend and not know the person you're seeing is his sister? Also, I hate the whole homie hopping trope, esp when the homies are related. 🤮

The biggest plot twist that I didn't see coming was going in thinking I'm gonna hate the MMC, turns out I hate the FMC. Leti is just so childish that it made reading this book that much harder. I love the concept of the story so much and I really wanted to love the story too.