Second First Dates

by Gabriella Gamez

One bad date, shame on you. Two bad dates, shame on me . . .

After four years of a self-imposed dating hiatus, Leti Maldonado is finally ready to get back on the apps. Dating wasn’t really that bad…right? When she matches with Julian Gutierrez, his profile pic rings the faintest bell. But it isn’t until their first date implodes that she remembers She’s been on this exact date with him before—and it’s just as awful the second time.

To make matters worse, she discovers that Julian not only lives in her apartment building . . . he’s her brother’s new roommate. Suddenly, he’s In the mailroom. In the stairwell. And witness to another one of Leti’s terrible first dates.

After one epically bad night, Julian offers to take over her dating accounts. And honestly? He can’t do any worse than she has. But as Julian’s dating app takeover draws them closer, they might just realize that true love has been right in front of them all along.

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

Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 28, 2026

Reviews

[jenny reads a lot]

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

I need it.

| IG | TikTok |

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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 🤍

[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.

[Holly Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much like the others in this series this was chaotic and messy and so much fun! I really loved the idea of the second first date!! As someone who loves a second chance, this was just a different variation of that! And really it was right person wrong time and I looooved seeing them figure it out this time around!

Julian and Leti were PERFECT. They were good together! I loved their tension at the beginning! Because of course there’s nothing better than going on a crappy date with someone and then have that someone BE EVERYWHERE! Their friendship was so important though, despite the fact that they were really FEEEEELING so many things for each other, taking the time to build a friendship, build that trust in each other! And it was exactly what they both needed!!!

One of my favorite parts of the story, and really the whole series, is the way Gabriella explores and explains and represents sexuality. And while it can be complicated and hard to explain and maybe hard to understand - even to Julian and Leti themselves. But they never made each other feel like it was a burden, or something they had to just gloss over OR make a big deal out of. It’s something very important but also it just IS. And it was just all written so well!

Thanks to Forever for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Nicole (NicoleIsBooked) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Leti and Julian meet again as they wind up on a second first date with each other. She is a school librarian, and he’s a social studies teacher. They had a disastrous first date 4 years ago, but she doesn't remember it. He's been obsessed with her for years.

They find out that they are working in the same school and live in the same building. He's also her brother's best friend and roommate. The book has ace spec rep- she’s bi romantic and he’s demisexual. It is a slow burn and dual POV story.

Leti does not get along with her brother, which leads to tension with Julian. I didn’t like how easily things wrapped up between her and her brother. I felt like they needed to talk more about the ways that he hurt her over the years. Their fighting seemed so deep seated and also immature. I didn't like that Julian and her brother got into a physical fight as well.

Julian volunteers to help Leti with dates on a dating app. I also struggled with the dates that she went on with other people. That didn’t feel fair to the other people that she was dating. I wish that Julian had been more upfront and honest about his feelings for her.

Overall, this story seemed all over the place, and I didn't feel like either of them was mature enough to be in a relationship.

[Allie Brenner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, the title and synopsis tagline are a little misleading! Leti is a librarian, but she only actually gets to do her job like once in the entire book! And while Julian is also a teacher, their jobs are only a fraction of the actual plot.
More like, forgettable bad first date turned annoying little brothers best friend! He has never been able to forget her, and she couldn't forget him fast enough! Now they're comically reunited after what can only be described as divine cosmic intervention, reliving their first date for a second time. We watch as Julian continues to fumble through his attraction to Leti, while Leti opens her eyes (and heart) to what she could not see in Julian before.
I loved this couples unique takes on relationships and love, I enjoyed that they were both queer and aspec. They were very in-tuned and open with their sexualities, which was refreshing to see that kind of visibility. Of course I hated both of their toxic families, and I wanted to scream several times. I do wish there had been more time spent on Leti actually reciprocating some of the growth that we saw Julian putting in, instead of having another fight with her brother (we get it, they suck). But all in all, solid book.

[Stephanie Chamberlin]

I was so excited for Second First Dates by Gabriella Gamez the moment Gabriella started teasing it and compared it to an episode of How I Met Your Mother. As a huge fan of her writing, I was eagerly waiting for more news, so when she announced the ARC would only be available for one day, I immediately ran to NetGalley hoping to get approved. I was so happy when I did because this book ended up being such a great read and is now my second favorite book from her.

One of my favorite parts of the story was Julian. He was such a lovable MMC, and I found myself rooting for him the entire time. Leticia was also great to read, and I appreciated how real and flawed she felt as a character. There was one moment where she acted a little selfish, in my opinion, and it frustrated me while reading, but ultimately I think that added depth to her character. What I loved most was seeing how her relationship with Julian brought out the best in her and helped her grow throughout the story.

Gabriella Gamez once again delivered a heartfelt, emotional, and engaging romance that kept me invested from beginning to end. I already know this will be one I recommend to other romance readers when it releases on July 28, 2026.

[HeadCanonHeadCase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leti matches with Julian on a dating app and enjoys their initial conversation enough to ask him out only to have their first date go badly. Only it wasn't their first date. Their friends set them up four years ago and that date was just as bad. Leti might not remember Julian right away, but he remembers her.

Read if you like:
-Demi MMC x Ace Spec FMC
-First Date Horror Stories
-Friends to Lovers
-Slow Burn
-Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine

Second First Dates altered my brain chemistry. It was also extremely validating. I saw so much of myself in Leti that I know I will never fully recover from her journey in this book. Not to mention Julian was so charming and earnest and supportive that I was swooning through all of his chapters. I'm not sure which one of them I loved more, so let's just call it a tie. Aside from the much needed representation, the other thing I really liked about Second First Dates was how it dealt with family. Julian lost a relationship with his father by being true to himself and I loved that he fought so hard for Leti. Her relationship with her family wasn't perfect, and some boundaries were definitely needed, but Julian fought for her and was her biggest advocate when things got crazy.

[Merisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Read Forever and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

This is my second read by Gabriella Gamez, and it won't be my last. I really enjoy the books in her Librarian series, especially as a former teacher!

This book is an incredibly affirming romance for those who love and date in their own ways, as well as for those who identify with underrepresented identities. There is humor evident in the pages, and the banter between Leti and Julian satisfies that itch for a slow burn between two characters who are deserving of their chance at love.

What I liked most about this novel is how Gamez integrates Leti and Julian's lived identities into the story. This was my first encounter with characters who identified as graysexual and demisexual, and I found that Gamez offers a story that feels realistic and validating, especially for other readers who might see themselves through the same lens as the two main characters. While this offered some of the usual ingredients of a romance story, it also had additional layers that added a special flavor, enhancing it for all readers through the emotional connection between Leti and Julian.

At first, I didn't see why the inclusion of the side familial relationships was necessary to the story, but after finishing, this was just another aspect I appreciated, specifically in understanding Julian's family dynamics and how that affected how he shows up in relationships.

Overall, a great romance read full of good banter, lots of emotion, realistic representation, and a charming love story!

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leti Maldonado has decided to jump back into the dating app world even after previously bad experiences. When she matches with Julian Gutierrez, she gets super excited….even if something about Julian seems familiar. Out on their “first date”, Leti finally realizes that her and Julian have been out before - and that this second date is just as horrifying as the first. When Julian turns out to be her brother’s new roommate, its impossible to avoid him —- and maybe Leti doesn’t really want to….

***Second chance romance
***Dual POV
***Close proximity
***LGBTQIAP+ representation

This was a fun contemporary romance by an author that was new to me. Lots of banter between the main couple which I loved. The complicated family dynamic was a little overpowering at times, but still added well to the story. Julian was very sweet and a good MMC. I didn’t resonate as much with the FMC, but I appreciated how strong she was in her thoughts and feelings.


Thank you to Forever(Grand Central Publishing) and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review; all opinions are my own.

[Malorie Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second First Dates is a beautiful exploration into the complex world of modern dating. It follows Leticia as she goes on a date with a man named Julian. Halfway through their bad date, she realizes she has been here before. With the same man. Four years earlier.

This book was such a fun read! I adored the complex relationships between Leticia and Julian, and even more so, Leticia and her family. Gabriella Gamez does a wonderful job and creating fully formed characters with biases and flaws. And going through their journeys of growth as they overcome those flaws!

It was incredibly validating to read about characters on the Ace Spectrum, too! I don’t often see this and it was reassuring and done very well.

Some of the pacing between the later half felt a bit unusual to me. It felt like there were two distinct storyline high points that made me lose momentum in the later half.

Overall, a fantastic and fun read that I will recommend to those who enjoy great banter, grouchy FMCs, and realistic characters!

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second First Dates was the first book I've read by Gabriella Gamez and it won't be the last. Thank you Forever, Gabriella Gamez, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy.

The premise of Second First Dates is what hooked me, not realizing you've been on a date with a person until you're mid "first" date for the second time, and it delivered. The dynamics between Leti & Julian were perfection, the banter was hilarious, and the family complications just took the cake. If you love brother's best friend as a trope, Second First Dates is definitely for you!

After finishing Second First Dates I immediately added the first two books in the Librarians in Love series to my KU TBR. When I first requested Second First Dates I didn't know that it was part of a series, I'm now even more excited to dive in to the others because of their appearances in Second First Dates.

Overall rating: 4 stars out of 5 stars

[R Mmm · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2⭐️I had a tough time getting into this one, and around the 60% mark I was still struggling, but I stayed invested enough in the characters to finish it.

The biggest issue for me was the believability of Leti and Julian’s connection. I understood Julian recognizing Leti from the start and keeping it to himself because of his attraction to her, but I had a harder time believing Leti wouldn’t recognize him when he had been her only date in four years. I also felt like both characters acted younger than 24 considering their life experience and careers.

That said, I really liked Julian. Once he saw how poorly Leti’s family treated her, he became very protective and supportive, and I appreciated how much he stood up for her. While parts of the story didn’t fully work for me, I still wanted to see these characters find happiness together.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the free advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit, I was skeptical about this book at first. I genuinely thought this would be a DNF for me because I just wasn’t vibing with it, but I’m glad I kept reading because it ended up being such a good read. I read this book in a weekend and it was such a cute slow burn rom com. I will admit that there was a point where I got angry at the characters because they finally admitted their feelings and then she still goes out on two more dates with other people! I just wanted them to be together already, but I do appreciate the time that the author took to build up the relationship so it didn’t feel forced. I will say that I really was not a fan of Andrew even towards the end, and the fact that during all that reconciliation he never admitted his fault in the quinceañera debacle still bothers me. Overall, this book was a good light read and I appreciated the representation for the ace community and how the author represented the different family dynamics.

[Keles Wyntor]

I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley.

Overall I think this is a very sweet romance. As someone who relates more to Julian, I found his struggles to be very realistic. I think this book showcases a very honest and real story of someone who is Demi and Ace. I really liked the force proximity, and how persistent Julian was. I think the family dynamic also made Leti a more complex character. Also as someone who has dated a neighbor it has its pros and cons haha. I also liked their banter! This is a very solid slow burn romance. I think we’re I struggled with this story was with Leti. I understand she was learning about herself along the way, but it was hard for me to want to keep going when she kept pushing Julian away. Miscommunication is one of my least favorite tropes and sometimes I struggled with their communication. Overall great though.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leti unknowingly swipes right on Julian, a guy she had a terrible first date with years ago. She realizes her mistake during their bad second first date and cuts it short. But encountering Julian soon becomes unavoidable : he lives in her building, works at the same school, is her brother's best friend...

This was a cute read. I enjoyed the graysexual and demisexual representation and how it impacted the characters dating experiences. The family dynamics were messy, which made Leti's cold façade feel relatable.

I did find Julian's meddling a bit too much at times, and it impacted some of my enjoyment of the story. I had a harder time believing that everything would be easily forgotten, especially knowing that Leti can hold a grudge.

Still a cute romance (if sometimes awkward) with great representation.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[Jineth Vazquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading so much dark romance, this was such a refreshing, light read..exactly what I needed to switch things up. I loved that the author is Latina, which made the story feel even more personal and relatable for me. From being Hispanic, to being the middle child, to dealing with heavy family expectations..I felt so seen in so many moments.

The dynamic with siblings especially hit home. I’ve had my own rocky relationships, and I couldn’t help but nod along while reading. Being labeled “the problem child”…too loud, too mean and learning to put on a tough exterior or pretend not to care… it all felt very real.

Despite those heavier undertones, the story still manages to feel warm and comforting. And the ending? It gave me the kind of hope I quietly wish for in my own life. Overall, it was such a cute, heartfelt romance, and Julian is honestly the perfect match for Leti.

[Nicole Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second First Dates by Gabriella Gamez is funny, charming, and full of heart. The combination of awkward dating disasters, forced proximity, and growing emotional connection makes this such an easy and enjoyable romance to fall into.
Leti was incredibly relatable as she navigated getting back into dating while carrying insecurities and frustrations from past experiences. Her dynamic with Julian develops naturally, shifting from awkward tension to genuine comfort in a way that feels believable and sweet. Their banter and growing chemistry were easily some of the best parts of the story.
The book balances humor with emotional vulnerability really well, creating a romance that feels warm, messy, and authentic. It is a great pick for readers who love romantic comedies with heart, lovable characters, and plenty of tension before the payoff.

[Laura Holley · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Sort of Spoilers?*

2.5/5 stars. I really wanted to like this book. I have previously read another book in this series and liked it but just didn’t have the same feeling for this one. Leti, in my opinion wasn’t just “grumpy,” she was mean and rude and self-centered. She didn’t have as much of a redemption as I would have liked. Julian was initially so nervous he couldn’t communicate correctly but then had the audacity to take over her dating app. It didn’t make much sense. Then the complicated family dynamics and miscommunication made me as the reader confused. I am not convinced that this couple gets a HEA, they fight entirely too much with each other and everyone around them.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

[Gladys Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second First Dates is cute, chaotic, and way too relatable if you come from a Latina family where support comes mixed with guilt, chisme, and everyone having an opinion on your love life. Leti’s dating disasters hit hard when you’ve grown up juggling family expectations and your own happiness. And honestly? This is my second book by Gabriella Gamez, and I’m obsessed, her writing has that perfect mix of humor, heart, and messy, real moments that feel like she’s been reading my diary. Brutal, honest, and somehow healing. Read this book in 2 days with a 10-hour work shift!! went to bed so late but it was so worth it.

[Jennifer Macias · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Clarissa is a chismosa,” is one of my favorite lines from this book. If you’ve been around Latino/a families, family drama and gossip is key and Gabriella Gamez does a masterful job of capturing the dynamic of Latino/a families in this book. I loved Leti’s character, she’s a middle child and she’s had to be tough and pave her own path in the family. She’s got a complicated relationship with her siblings, and when she ends up falling for her brother’s best friend/roommate, things get complicated. I loved how Julian stands up for her, defends her, and even tries to set her up on a few dates! It’s got all the fun elements of a fun rom com and it was such a fun read.