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, Contemporary, Adult, LGBT, Forced Proximity, Second Chance, Fiction

348 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 28, 2026

Reviews

[har. [catching up]]

┆ ⤿ 🌅 ⌗ started: july 26

pre-read 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
⤿ release date: 28th july 2026

my arc streak has been so good so far! i started this book on the train to work and oh i was giggling already!! so i'm super excited for this one!!

──★ ˙🫧 !! tropes
.ᐟ second chance
.ᐟ lgbtq rep
.ᐟ forced proximity
.ᐟ teacher x librian
.ᐟ brother’s best friend/roommate

⋆.˚ ★— thank you forever pub, netgalley and gabriella gamez for the e-arc in exchange for a honest review

[jenny reads a lot]

This was really cute!



4.25 | IG | TikTok |

Thank you Forever for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second First Dates is a grumpy x sunshine romance full of banter and chemistry between Leti, a school librarian who is tired of dating, and Julian, a teacher and her brother's best friend turned roommate. After two bad dates together, Julian convinces Leti to let him take over her dating apps and prove himself a better man. However, as the two grow closer, Leti must decide if she's willing to give Julian another chance and start something for real. This was such a fun and charming read! I loved how Julian and Leti came together and got to know one another. The two had such a good rapport going and it was so lovely to see them fall all over themselves as they realized what they wanted. Aside from the romance, I loved the added family drama and all the happenings; it added such an exciting element to the otherwise sweet story. This heartfelt romance was well worth the read with endearing characters, emotional payoff, and a perfect dash of steam.

Read if you like:
✨Ace & Demi Rep✨
✨He Falls First✨
✨Forced Proximity✨
✨Slow Burn✨
✨Second Chance✨

~Many thanks to Forever for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

[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.

[anzhelika ୨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 4 stars ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

"You're more than enough, Leticia," he says. "So much more."

"You call me your sun, but I'm the one orbiting around you, Leticia," he says. "Always have, always will."

ahhh this was such a cute and fun read! i was immediately pulled into the story because of the unique premise, i've never read anything like it before. after four years of being single, leti decides to give dating apps another chance. she happens to match with julian, and when they go on their first date she realises she's been on this exact date before. and then suddenly julian is everywhere and we just go from there.

i genuinely had so much fun reading second first dates. the book is funny, but it's also real. it explores relationships, sexuality, family dynamics, general life struggles, and that just makes it real. i also liked how the characters were written and how the writing flowed, it made it a very enjoyable read. i definitely recommend checking this out, and i'm excited to check out other books by this author!

˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Gabriella Gamez for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗

[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.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so cute and funny! This is my second book by Gabriella Gámez and I just adore her characters and all of the representation that she includes!

Leti has had no luck at dating, but when she matches with Julian she decides to give it another chance. On the date she realizes that they’ve done this before and it didn’t end well. Julian ends up offering to help Lexi find the perfect match on the dating app all the while he’s falling for her.

This book is so messy!! It was a wild ride from beginning to end! I loved all of the family drama!

Read if you like:
Latine rep!
Queer rep!
Second chance romance
Grumpy x sunshine

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Katie’s Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️

"You call me your sun, but I'm the one orbiting aroudn you, Leticia. Always have, always will."

This was a fun contemporary romance about a woman who forges back into the world of dating- only to end up on a first date with a man she had already gone on a date with. And that second date ends just as badly as the first. To make him even more unavoidable, he's ALSO her brothers roommate and recently moved into her building. When Julian decides to help Leti with her online dating woes, the two develop a friendship and that turns into more.

These two were fine together? I think they were both fine as characters but I didn't feel the chemistry between them which I think led to not connecting to the story. Sometimes they came across as a young and immature, very 'new adult freshly out in the world'.

I think I also couldn't get past the fact that Julian lived with Leti's building, with her brother and yet she didn't have ANY idea who he was at first? Like they had been out on a date before, and his name didn't even ring a bell? And yes her and her brother had a strained relationship but surely she at least knew the name of his roommate

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a lot of fun reading Second First Dates! It’s charming and sweet, but it’s also a deeply reflective journey that explores sexuality, romance, as well as family dysfunctional dynamics.

Leti is looking to date again after a lengthy hiatus, she wants to connect on a deep level with someone. But she’s not had much luck. In fact the first date that seems promising is quickly doomed upon Leti realizing she’s been on that date before aaand with the same person: Julian. Leti expects another negative experience with Julian so she parts ways, except they begin to become part of each others’ ways as they discover they are both neighbors and colleagues. Their proximity leads to a cautious friendship that builds into a strong connection, and it certainly serves the base for romancing but instead Julian looks to help Leti find the right date. But perhaps she already did, muahaha!

Leti and Julian are truly endearing characters, I loved them. Especially Leti. She has a very tense relationship with her brother and an almost non-existent one with her judgemental parents. It certainly leads her to situations where she may appear unkind or unfair, but I honestly had her back. Even at times she was technically wrong, I still just wanted to bring Leti into a protective embrace, to let her know she has someone steadfast on her side. That she isn’t overlooked or underestimated. That said, if I were to have the ability to do that she would have missed out some needed growing. Luckily Julian is there to do just that and he in turn does the same through her. They become such wonderful support for one another, and they have such an ease around one another that really brings impact to their inevitable romance. They make sense, in all the best possible ways. It’s absolutely easy to root for their love story, as well as their personal journeys.

An aspect I greatly enjoyed and learned much from was the narrative’s openness in exploring sexuality. Prior to this I had a limited understanding of asexuality and even less of demisexuality, but I left this book far more knowledgeable. And it never felt like a lesson, it’s presented in a beautifully natural and seamless way. Better said it’s explored in such a way that it brought me closer to our leads. I understood why Leti approaches romance the way she does, and the importance in building a deep emotional bond that may or may not lead to sexual attraction. This is a core part of Leti, as is Julian’s sexuality to him, and it's reflected with much care in the narrative.

The narrative takes its time in exploring sexuality and romance, as it does in building the friendship into something more between Letit and Julian. I only wish the same could be said for Leti’s family dynamics. Now we do explore the feud between Leti and her brother, and that does come with resolution, but her resolution with her parents felt rushed. It read more like a footnote in the epilogue. She has a tense dynamic with her parents who favor her brother over her and who have not been a positive presence in her life, instead they consistently doubt and underestimate her. There were scenes where I had to scream into my pillow to muffle my frustration towards them. So I did expect more resolution in that area but it instead read rushed, as did the ending overall. I simply wanted more, and perhaps that makes it a me problem as I never wanted to leave this story. Even with some minuscule hiccups, I had a grand time reading this one! 1000% worth both the read and the buy!

Thank you Forever and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily.

[er · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this as an arc!

Second first dates is the story of Leti, Julian and their multiple first dates.

I have to be honest, I was very intrigued by the plot of this book but I didn't expect to like it so much. It wasn't love at first sight, it took me a little bit to warm up to the story but once I did couldn't stop reading. Second first dates is funny and charming, it's messy but more importantly it's real. It feels like talking to a friend and sharing your dating (and life) struggles.

I enjoyed how Julian and Leti are written, they both felt very relatable at times and again they just felt real. I also liked the way sexuality is discussed, it felt natural and well integrated in the story. I can't say if the sibling dynamics are accurate or not (only child here!), but I found it to be a little too much at times. It made Leti sound really immature at times, which I think it's probably the whole point but it was a tad annoying. In contrast, the rest of the family also was annoying at times , some of the things they did made me go wtf??

Anyway, except this minor things, this was a very enjoyable read. I highly recommend this and I will definitely check out future works by this author!

[Viviana]

I received a NetGalley widget from Dana at Forever today.

[Nadja]

DNF

This is what happens when you cannot resist a Leni Kauffman cover on NetGalley. The cover? Adorable. The premise? So up my alley. The actual reading experience? Me slowly losing the will to continue every time the FMC opened her mouth.

Unfortunately... I DNF'd this at around the 20% mark.

My biggest issue was Leti. I usually LOVE strong, independent, black-cat FMCs. Give me sarcastic. Give me guarded. Give me emotionally unavailable women who need to be lovingly dragged into happiness kicking and screaming. But there's a very fine line between "guarded" and "just genuinely unpleasant to be around," and for me Leti sprinted past that line without ever looking back... much like she apparently drives—speeding through school zones, skipping indicators, and generally acting like everyone else on the road is just an inconvenience.

From the very beginning I couldn't understand how she didn't recognize Julian despite the book telling us they'd met multiple times before. That already had me raising an eyebrow, but once the story got going she just became more and more unbearable.

The entire catalyst for this romance is... fries.

FRIES.

The disastrous first date that apparently traumatized her enough to avoid dating for FOUR YEARS happened because he accidentally took some fries from her plate.

I'm sorry... what?

Look, I don't like sharing my food either. If you reach for my fries without asking, we're going to have words. But four years of swearing off dating because someone committed the grave crime of sampling a potato? That is not a personality trait. That is a therapy bill.

Especially when she wasn't exactly Date of the Year herself.

She's glued to her phone during that first date, barely paying attention to him, then proceeds to pull out her phone and ignore him AGAIN on their second date. Yet somehow he's the villain because... fries.

Then she gets upset that Julian is late...

...while conveniently forgetting that SHE WAS LATE TOO.

Girl.

Please.

The hypocrisy throughout the portion I read honestly drove me up the wall.

She gets annoyed because Julian notices how she looks, yet spends plenty of time internally commenting on his appearance herself. She repeatedly comes across as rude to him, sometimes even in front of coworkers, yet acts offended whenever he doesn't respond exactly how she'd like.

It felt like there was one set of rules for Leti and another set for everyone else.

And don't even get me started on her family.

By the point I DNF'd, she's so bitter toward her brother that she literally tells people she only has a sister.

I'm sorry... WHAT?

Maybe the book eventually reveals some devastating reason for this. I didn't get that far. But based on what I'd read, it just came across as incredibly petty. They're both in their early twenties, and pretending your sibling doesn't even exist because your relationship isn't great is absolutely wild behavior to me.

Then the hypocrisy continued with the conversation about children.

Leti herself doesn't want kids, which is completely fine. But then she starts talking to her brother as though he obviously will have them. When he understandably says something like, "We've only been together for a year," she immediately starts questioning how serious he is about his relationship.

So... everyone else has to live according to your expectations, but nobody gets to question yours?

Make it make sense.

By the time I put this down, I genuinely couldn't find anything about Leti that made me want to keep reading. I don't need my protagonists to be nice. I LOVE flawed women. I love morally gray women. I love messy women who make terrible decisions.

But I do need something that makes me root for them.

Humor.

Charm.

Vulnerability.

Growth.

Anything.

Instead, Leti came across as bitter, rude, self-centered, hypocritical, and exhausting.

Julian honestly deserved hazard pay.

It's such a shame because the premise sounded genuinely fun, the cover is absolutely gorgeous (curse you, Leni Kauffman, for making me request books based solely on aesthetics), and I really wanted this to work.

Instead, I got the Great French Fry Fiasco™, served with a generous helping of hypocrisy and a side order of "girl, please."

Maybe Leti has the greatest character arc ever written after the point where I DNF'd. Maybe she becomes warm, self-aware, and the patron saint of emotional growth. I genuinely wouldn't know, because by 20% she'd already exhausted every ounce of patience I had to give.

[Blair Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine getting set up...going on a date and it was just not good. It is like so bad you just want to forget it. Then years later you go onto a dating app swipe right and match. But then its déjàvu when you go out on this date you set up...but wait its because you've had this same exact date before. It is going exactly the same. Then all of a sudden you recognize the person sitting on the other side of the table. YOU HAVE BEEN ON DATE, THIS DATE, WITH THIS PERSON BEFORE! and then all of a sudden they have followed you back to your apartment complex...no they live in the same apartment complex, and they are your brothers best friend.
Well you got this book. I loved it. Leti, she is a high school librarian and she also substitute teaches when needed. She is also asexual. She has an older sister and a younger brother. When it comes to her family relationships it is harder for her as she is the middle child. The family really goes towards Andrew being the child who seems to be the "perfect one". When ever something goes wrong Andrew is always right and Leti is wrong. She is the one who "is the cause of the problems" and it has caused animosity between them and her parents.
Julian is Andrew's best friend. They are roommates, he is demisexual, he has a good relationship with his mother and her boyfriend but because of him coming out to his parents initially about him being demisexual his father and him do not have a relationship. I really like how Leti and Julians relationship really builds from a not so great date x 2, to friendship, to a budding relationship to what we get in the end. You can see that she doesn't want to open up to him about how her relationship is with her brother since they are friends. And they both have a good amount of growth in this book to come together at the end, especially her.
I think Gabriella Gamez did a fantastic job exploring family dynamics, the different relationships one can have within the family and how they can be put back together.
Thank you Forever for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Alexandria Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine matching with someone on a dating app... going on a horrible first date... only to realize halfway through that you've ALREADY BEEN ON THIS EXACT DATE WITH THIS EXACT PERSON YEARS AGO.💀🤣

What follows is one of the funniest and most heartfelt rom coms I've read this year.

Leti has spent years avoiding dating after one unforgettable disaster. Julian is the last person she expects to see again... yet he keeps showing up everywhere.
They're neighbors.
He lives with her younger brother.
He works at her school.
There's literally no escape babes!!!💀😂

Julian is the very patient….The support…The way he sees Leti exactly as she is and never asks her to become someone else completely melted my heart.🥹 He falls first, falls HARD, and never makes you question how deeply he cares.

I related to Leti so much! Beneath all her sarcasm and grumpiness is someone who's been carrying years of family expectations, hurt, and self doubt.

But wait it gets better babes….One of my favorite parts of this book was how naturally Gabriella Gamez included demisexual, graysexual, bisexual, and ace spectrum representation. It simply existed within these characters' lives, making the story feel inclusive and refreshing.

Yes, this was a romance but it was also healing family relationships, learning to prioritize yourself, and realizing that sometimes love shows up when you stop trying so hard to force it.

If you're looking for a rom com that'll make you laugh one minute but you catch yourself hugging the book the next... this one absolutely deserves a spot on your shelf.

💕 Second chance ish romance

🏢 Neighbors

😂 Awkward meet cutes

📱 Dating app romance

🏡 Forced proximity

❤️ Slow burn chemistry

📚 Brother's best friend

☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine

💛 He falls first

🌈 Latine + LGBTQIA+ Representation

✨ Romantic Comedy

[Minty Margins · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading a book from Gabriella Gamez! Very grateful for the NetGalley ARC that I was able to get as a Read Now!!

This book is a part of a series but you can read it as a standalone! I think one of my favorite things about this book was exploring what dating can look like when you are Bi, but also fit somewhere within the ace continuum/spectrum. There’s so much to explore here with relationship navigation! It can be quite different from folks who are allo. Plus, we love to see a gamer FMC!!!

Leti has almost fully sworn off dating after a number of bad experiences, she decides to give it one last shot, matching with Julian. As they are on their “first date” she starts getting flashbacks and realizes…they’ve been on a date before… and it wasn’t great. Julian has never forgotten Leti and wants to use this opportunity as a second chance, except…things go about as well as the first time they had a date lol. From here they realize they are also neighbors, work at the same school, oh and Julian is her brother’s best friend. Not great considering she’s got a strained relationship with her family(things are toxic here). Julian is determined to help Leti have a good experience dating, but basically they end up falling for each other while working through personal things along the way! There’s lots of shenanigans lol lol.

Second First Dates releases July 28th!

[Paige- TheBookandtheBoston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who am I, reading all this contemporary romance lately?! I’ve always loved romance but I usually like it coupled with fantasy or something else. But lately, just good ol’ fashioned romcoms are all I need. So I’m so glad BookSparks put this on my radar, because it was a breath of fresh air I needed.
Both of the main characters in this are ace-spec, which is something I needed to google to make sure I understood correctly. But I loved learning about it through these characters. (And am a little ashamed I didn’t really understand it correctly before.) But I loved that aspect of the story, and just seeing how perfect Leti and Julian really are for each other. It made me realize how easy it is for first impressions to go sideways.
This book is so sweet, the banter is great, and the characters seemed very well developed. There’s plenty of spice once the MCs stop fighting those feelings, too 😉

𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝑰'𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐:
Fans of romance with some spice, and anyone looking for some ace-spec or Latine rep!

[booksvanereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG I LOVED THIS. this series always had my heart swooning. i loved leticia and julian and getting to read their banter and dates and all of it.

wonderfully written in a way that family dynamics are relatable and honest and just loved being back in this fictional world with these characters.

i’m such a slut for meaningful tattoos and julian is such a simp.
perfection.

[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.

[kimcollectsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You call me your sun, but I’m the one orbiting around you, Leticia,” he says. “Always have, always will.” 💛

Thank you Read Forever for the gifted ARC and finished copy! All opinions are my own.

Reading Format: Physical Book 📖

✨Tropes✨
☀️ Brother's Best Friend
☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine
☀️ Forced Proximity
☀️ He Falls First
☀️ Latine, LGBTQ+, and Plus-Size Rep

✨Story Review✨
This was a book that I connected with so easily. Leti reminded me so much of myself and what it was like growing up in a Latine household. From the expectations of what your ideal timeline and life goals should be to the misunderstandings of your career and hobbies, I felt for Leti and understood how hurt she was. There were so many moments where I felt like that Euphoria meme ("Is this f*cking play about us?") because I would read more details about Leti that felt like they were describing me LOL. Plus-size. Gamer. A bit grumpy but also a romantic. Hot Cheetos fan. We just had so many similarities.

Julian, our sunshine boy, was incredibly sweet. The way he protected Leti. The way he flirted with her. The way he made her feel accepted for who she is. Loved all of it! He was the lover boy that Leti needed, and I loved watching their relationship grow throughout the book. Also the yearning and pinning?! 10/10.

I also want to say that I really appreciated how the author not only had demisexual and graysexual representation in this book but also handled it thoughtfully and realistically.

I will say this did not quite hit the 5-star mark for me because there were some moments that felt like some of the characters were not being mature enough. There was also a lot of family conflict that felt a bit rushed to resolve, and I wish more time had been devoted to that part of Leti's story.

Overall, a fun and romantic read filled with great representation!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the eARC!

I’ve previously read The Next Best Fling and Kiss Me, Maybe, so I was excited to read Adriana Gamez’s newest novel. Once again, she delivered a heartfelt romance with memorable characters and strong emotional depth.

One of my favorite aspects of Gamez’s writing is how seamlessly she incorporates family dynamics into her stories. The relationships between family members feel authentic and add meaningful layers to the characters, influencing their choices and personal growth in believable ways. I also appreciated the LGBTQ+ representation and how naturally it was woven into the story. It felt genuine and refreshing, contributing to a world where the characters’ identities were simply part of who they were.

Another highlight for me was that both main characters were somewhat late bloomers when it came to romance. It gave the story a unique perspective that set it apart from many contemporary romances and made their journey feel especially endearing.
This was the most wholesome of Gamez’s books that I’ve read so far. The characters were emotionally mature, communicated well, and genuinely wanted to grow both individually and within their relationships. Their emotional intelligence made the romance feel grounded and satisfying.

I think this is Gamez’s strongest work yet. My 4-star rating comes down to personal preference, as the pacing felt a bit faster than I typically enjoy. I would have loved more time to savor the emotional development of the romance before the story reached its conclusion. Even so, this was a warm, heartfelt, and engaging read that I would happily recommend to fans of contemporary romance.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to an arc in exchange for my honest review.

i’m usually not one to be excited for “second chance” romances (more of a second date romance) but after reading the synopsis i decided to give this one a go!

we have leti, who’s lowkey kind of estranged from her family, has really only had one relationship, and is on the ace spectrum. but she knows what she wants and is determined to get it.

we then have julian, who is also queer, and is the only one out of the two who remembers their horrible first date. when they get the chance to go on a date again, the universe ends up working in silly ways and not only can leti end things with him, she finds out he’s her brothers roommate. a brother who she hates.

i loved the banter between the two characters, and i just wish leti would’ve accepted that she had the hots for julian sooner! (the build up to all the spicy scenes? 10/10) and i understand the difficulty with getting along with her family, especially hating her brother (not hating really but you know what i mean)

overall, a solid read and it kept me giggling!

[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.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. After a four-year dating hiatus, Leti Maldonado is ready to brave the apps again. However, her first match is Julian, a guy she already had an epically terrible date with years ago. To make matters worse, he is her building neighbor and her brother's new roommate. When Julian offers to take over managing her disastrous dating profiles, their constant run-ins and his matchmaking project bring them closer than they ever expected.

I gave this 4.5 stars. It was such a fun, delightful read, and I actually ended up enjoying it even more than Kiss Me Maybe. As always, Gamez does an incredible job writing and handling ace-spec characters with nuance and care. I loved that both Leti and Julian are bisexual. Leti’s stubbornness made her so incredibly relatable, but Julian has officially stolen my heart and is my favorite character. If you love a great forced-proximity romance with excellent queer representation, you won't want to miss this one.

[_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

[That Book Betchhh · Rating 5 out of 5]

ROM-COMS ARE SOOO BACK! Happy Pub Day To @gabbywritesalot and Second First Dates💛 (thank you to @readforeverpub for the gifted final copy)

This book was hilariously real, had hijinks, gave the exquisite “warm hug” feeling that the family portrayal in all her books give, and it had some of my favorite tropes (brother best friend/roommate and close proximity/neighbors just to name a few). I’m saying it now, I think Leti is my favorite character in the @gabbywritesalot character universe, HANDS DOWN! She’s thattttt girl and she knows it!!!

#secondfirstdates #gabriellagamez #readforeverpub

[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.

[Alondra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you looking for a book that makes you forget what you are reading?

In Second First Date we find some unforgettable characters that will make you laugh and it is such a good read that you can read it in less than two days.


Tropes that will motivate you to read it:

🎮 Brother best friend

🎮He falls first

🎮Queer representation

🎮Force proximity

🎮Grumpy sunshine (but he is sunshine and she is grumpy🤭)

Leti considers that it is time to get a partner and love someone, searching in a dating app she found a perfect math that she does not want to accept but is the only one who has made her feel something special. The date didn't go well and Leti began to hate him but he can't do much because they live in the same building and teach at the same school, and more than now he will help him get the perfect partner who will return the butterflies in his stomach.

It's Julian's first year of class and he's ready to go out with other people, one day on the dating app he meets Leti, years ago they had a date but he ate Leti's fries ruining the date. So Julian tried for the second time and this time Leti did not recognize him in fact she was very excited until she realized who he was and another date had gone wrong.

When he decides that nothing will happen between them, Julian decides to offer his help to Leti to get a partner, he updates his profile making 4 matches arrive at the moment, prints all the information of the candidates, advises him to write in the messages and even goes to the appointments to make sure that everything is fine. But Albos got out of control, Leti wants to go back but no longer knows how to separate from Julian.

I really liked this book and I can say that it is my favorite of the author. I spent a great time reading it, I can even put in down for three days I laughed a lot with those two, I really loved the representation that Gabriella gave us about graysexuality, demisexuality, and asexuality. I managed to understand it better! It's as if he wanted to educate us on the subject but it was at the same time so good that it doesn't feel that way. I feel very real Second First Date, really like they were my own family.

The only thing I can say that I didn't like is that there were a few things that I would have liked to abound a little more like an arrangement with Leti's parents. More than some scenes of Leti with her brother, they seemed somewhat exaggerated to me, but also understandable since they hurt each other with their insults for a long time so anything has been bad for the other. And in the last pages Leti can make you dislike something.


Thanks to the Forever team for another opportunity to review Gabriella books!

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Spanish Review


Leti considera que ya es el momento para conseguir pareja y amar a alguien, buscando en una app de citas encontró a un math perfecto que no quiere aceptar pero es el único que la ha hecho sentir algo especial. La cita no salió bien y Leti comenzó a odiarlo pero no puede hacer mucho porque viven en el mismo edificio y dan clase en la misma escuela, y más que ahora el le ayudará a conseguir la pareja perfecta que le devuelva las mariposas en el estómago.

Es el primer año de clase de Julián y está listo para salir con otras personas, un día en la app de cita se encuentra con Leti, hace años habían tenido una cita pero el le comió las papitas fritas de Leti haciendo que se arruinara la cita. Asique Julián lo intentó por segunda vez y en esta ocasión Leti no lo reconoció de echo estaba muy entusiasmada hasta que cayó en cuenta de quién era y otra cita había salido mal.

Cuando decide que no pasara nada entre ellos Julián decide ofrecerle su ayuda a Leti para conseguir pareja, le actualiza el perfil haciendo que llegaran 4 match al momento imprime toda la información de los candidatos, le aconseja que escribir en los mensajes y hasta va a las citas para asegurarse de que todo esté bien. Pero se le salió algo de control a albos, Leti quiere volver a atrás pero ya no sabe como separarse de Julián.

Me gustó mucho este libro y puedo decir que es mi favorito de la autora. Lo único que puedo decir que no me gustó es que hubieron unas cuantas cosas que me hubiera gustado que abundaran un poco más como un arreglo con los padres de Leti.

[Thalia Ohh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5/ 5

What to expect:
He Falls First✔️
Forced Proximity✔️
Grumpy/Sunshine✔️
Brother’s Best Friend✔️
Mexican American Leads✔️
Ace Spec Rep✔️
Bi/Greysexual FMC✔️
Bi/Demisexual MMC✔️


My name is Thalia. I don’t read the blurbs, I just go off of the Tropes & ✨Vibes✨, welcome! 💅🏽

Live Reading Updates:

7%- Nahhhh no he DIDN’T grab my girls fries like that! 😠

8%- I'm no better than Leti because I just grinned at a sassy Julian 😏 BITCHHHHH STAWWWWWWP(*as I’m twirling my hair*)

9%- nahhhhh omfg I’m dyinnnnnn. He’s DOWN BAD AND she completely forgot him LMFAO 😭😩 I’m so fxckn weak 💀💀💀

14%- the universe is like ahh ahht DONDE VAN?! Come back you two! lol

15%- GAWWDDDD I LOVE it when men love women that are mean to them 🥵

26%- NO ONEcan tell me any different! This ..THIS is where Leti started falling in love 🥹 IT HAS TO BEEEEE 😩
He gets it. In a way I continuously fear the people I date never will.
To be LOVED is to BE SEEN, BABES!

-27% why are they so fxckn... gahhh JFC! 🥹🥰

?%- WOW 🤯 just… their first kiss y’all?! I was LITERALLY holding my breath, my heart QUICKENING! Omgahhhh that was fxckn AMAZING JFC 🥵 & it was JUST kissing babes.

63%- Your Honor, I LOVE HIM. I am in love with Julian Gutierrez. My heroooo 🥰🫶🏽

74%- ”God fucking dammit, Nathaniel, READ THE ROOM!”
I’m DYING because that was my EXACT reaction! Like fxck we’re busy dude!!! 💀

-94% I didn’t think Julian could get any hotter but my gawddd he did!

-100% I LOVE THEM. 🥹


Y'allllll! The CHEMISTRY between Leti & Julian from the BEGINNING was fxckn PALPABLE! From the sexual tension to their banter. They were IMPERFECTLY PERFECT for one another and I fxckn LOVED THAT!

The Mex-Am representation through Leti was BEAUTIFUL, from the lighthearted NO SABO comment to the raw and PAINFUL place in where one is seen as the OUTSIDER due to setting boundaries- something most Mexican parents have a hard time dealing with. I LOVED Leti, even in times I wanted to SHAKE her, I LOVED HER. Seeing her go from someone who didn't let anyone in to slowly letting Julian in was fxckn AMAZING.
& JULIAN?! My sweet SUNSHINE BOY, MY little FIXER UPPER. Gawwd aveces soooo TONTO and other times he's just a cute little golden retriever and the perfect match to Leti. I can write PARAGRAPHS about Julian but just know this.. IM OBSESSED WITH HIM!

The Ace Spectrum REP?! CHEF'S KISS 💋. Gabriella Gamez wrote it so spectacularly! Their sexual attraction/connection happened because there was already an established TRUST between the two. The sex happening was a PERK NOT a motivator and that my friends was BEAUTIFUL AF to experience. It made everything SO much more intimate. 🥹

Second First Dates had me laughing at their BANTER, had me emotional at their WHAT IFS, & had me HOT with their SLOW BURN. & this is coming from someone who doesn't enjoy slow burns but THIS was done sooo fxckn GOOD! 😩 My first Gabriella Gamez book but DEFINITELY not my last.

If you love a DOWN BAD MAN that YEARNS & a GRUMPY, Black Cat VIBES, Librarian, then you NEED Second First Dates like Leti needs TWO baskets of Truffle Fries. & she HELLA needs that, y'all!

Thank you to NetGalley, Gabriella Gamez and team for this ARC. & as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up.

I want to start off by saying that if not for the fact that I wasn’t very motivated to read it when I put it down (the first quarter of the book still hadn’t quite hooked me yet), then it may have even been a full five stars, because I ended up liking this one a lot!

I’ll admit that I wasn’t too sure about the FMC Leti at first, because I felt like she was way too hard on Julian (the MMC) on their date, and really, she just wasn’t coming off as a likable character because of her cantankerous nature in general, but as I slowly grew to know her more and more, a lot of her actions made more sense, and I really came to empathize with her. For instance, her relationship with her family; she gets along just fine with her older sister, but the interactions she’d had with her parents and her brother? The things they’d say and the ways they’d put her down (thinking they needed to “get her on the right track” being the gist of it) was exhausting to even me, the reader. While my own relationship with my mother is nowhere near as awful as Leti’s with her own, I’ve had to deal with expectations of me, but not my three brothers, and it’s hard when I’ve typically been the one to help her out the most, so again, while not the exact same, I can understand how hard it is to see your parents treat your siblings differently. And her relationship with her brother? God, it was so frustrating to see how demeaning he was towards her, all while saying he “was joking”…as if that made it all okay. Whatever. 🙄

Aside from my initial uncertainty of Leti’s character, the story did come along rather well and it was fun to see her accept Julian’s advice when it came to her dating profile app. For them to come from having what Leti described as a horrible first date with Julian (twice! iykyk) to actually becoming friends is nothing short of amazing when you see what Julian had to redeem himself from, lol! But he was motivated to help, for reasons I won’t get into, and their interactions/banter made the story even more endearing and fun! ☺️

I also wanted to add that there were some elite moments of the comedy that actually had me laughing out loud or covering my mouth in shocked laughter, so kudos to the hilarity, too.

Oh, and one more thing! I really appreciated the author’s use of ace-spec characters and sharing the realities that they sometimes face being in a romantic relationship. There was a lot of terminology I didn’t know and had to google, but I ended up learning a lot more because of it and am grateful for that.

In conclusion, I really liked this book and would recommend it if you enjoy contemporary romances with real, relatable stories.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via Netgalley for giving me this copy in exchange for an honest review.