American Dreamer: A MM Foodie Small Town Romance

by Adriana Herrera

No one ever said big dreams come easy

For Nesto Vasquez, moving his Afro-Caribbean food truck from New York City to the wilds of Upstate New York is a huge gamble. If it works? He’ll be a big fish in a little pond. If it doesn’t? He’ll have to give up the hustle and return to the day job he hates. He’s got six months to make it happen—the last thing he needs is a distraction.

Jude Fuller is proud of the life he’s built on the banks of Cayuga Lake. He has a job he loves and good friends. It’s safe. It’s quiet. And it’s damn lonely. Until he tries Ithaca’s most-talked-about new lunch spot and works up the courage to flirt with the handsome owner. Soon, he can’t get enough of Nesto’s food or of Nesto. For the first time in his life, Jude can finally taste the kind of happiness that’s always been just out of reach.

An opportunity too good to pass up could mean a way to stay together and an incredible future for them both... if Nesto can remember that happiness isn’t always measured by business success. And if Jude can overcome his past and trust his man will never let him down.


Dreamers Series
Book 1: American Dreamer
Book 2: American Fairytale
Book 3: American Love Story
Book 4: American Sweethearts
Book 5: American Christmas

339 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 21, 2026

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.

For the Romance author, see Adriana Herrera

Reviews

[amarachireads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute Queer Diverse Romance

Oooh this was a cute and pretty fast paced read that followed the Mmcs one being a food truck owner that moved to New York to grow his business and the other a city council worker with plans to start a mobile library for kids. I liked how the characters met and the instant attraction that they both had. I loved all the good food mentions and the diversity that came with it. The characters both go through some development regarding their relationship and navigating their respective careers and family dynamics. Overall an okay read.

[marisflo2024 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible! This book is a master class in how to successfully integrate the full range and depth of culture, race, and identity in romance. It was written with awareness and knowledge of the experiences of so many Black and Brown people that it made this very romantic, hopeful and swoon worthy love story feel real and authentic. All the characters in this book had depth and personality. It was easy to connect and feel for each of these characters. I didn’t even mind the 3rd act break-up too much! And the food in here had me dreaming of tasting everything for real! I highly recommend this book for the romance, feel good love story, and representation.

[shanelle maree · Rating 4 out of 5]

꧁𝒂 𝒖 𝒅 𝒊 𝒐 𝒓 𝒆 𝒄 & 𝒓 𝒆 𝒗 𝒊 𝒆 𝒘꧂

🌟:4 🌶️:2.5 🎧:5

Narrated by: Oscar Reyes & Christian Fox in duet, featuring Ramona Master

•–•Some tropes I think you’ll love•–•
▪️ MM romance
▪️ small town
▪️ foodie romance
▪️ found family

This story was so beautiful. This is my first book by Adrianna, and I’m blown away! 🥰

Nesto and Jude were so sweet together, and I really loved how open they were with each other. Both have been through some tough times in their past and it’s kind of been hard for them to connect to anyone, but they had such a strong instant connection that blossomed into a beautiful friendship turned lovers. Nesto is deeply rooted in his family and culture and he brings that out through his love of food, and I loved seeing him chase his dreams. Same with Jude, except he was working hard on getting a mobile library set up. Libraries were his safe space, and he wanted to bring that others who may need an escape too.

The audiobook was an amazing listen! Oscar gave a really authentic and totally impressive performance and I truly loved the way he portrayed Nesto. Christian Fox could narrate the newspaper and I’d listen, so of course he did amazing as Jude. Christian is one of my top 5 masc narrators for a reason, and he ain’t goin nowhere off that list! This audio was a joy to listen to and having Ramona fill in on the femme voices was such a cherry on top of an already perfect audiobook. I’m super excited to listen to the rest of the series!

HIGHLY recommend!! 💖✨

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟/🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Format: Audiobook - Duet Narration by Oscar Reyes and Christian Fox featuring Ramona Master
Series/Standalone: Interconnected Standalone (Dreamers Series Book 1)
Tropes: MM Romance, Contemporary, Multi-cultural, Small Town, Opposites Attract

Thanks to Must Love Audio, Lyric Audiobooks, and the author for this gifted audiobook - all opinions are my own

Nesto and Jude

📚There was something so refreshing about this story. Nesto and Jude have undeniable chemistry from the jump. They are the quintessential opposites attract couple and I loved experiencing the progression of their relationship. The community involvement was beautiful and painted a realistic picture of starting a new business in a small town with plenty of obstacles, some more ugly than others. The storytelling was so well done I literally wanted to go visit this food truck myself and am still kinda bummed this isn’t possible!

🎧The audio narration/production blew me away. I couldn’t have been happier with the cast choices and especially with the decision to add a third narrator for the femme characters. This was a fun audiobook and listening straight through was a breeze. No notes!!

[Isis · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a feel good story, I loved everyone except musty sorry I mean misty😒 pero que insoportable de mujer

This was heavy on the found family and it made me feel
all the feels. I loved Nesto’s support system, his food truck was his baby and he had the most loving people alongside him. Jude, my sweet angelllllllll.
Loved that his dream was a mobile library for kids who couldn’t access books and computers, tiene un corazón tan lindo 😭

Now the way Nesto was so straightforward and to the point especially with Jude, hot damnnnnnnn and in audio?! The chemistry, PORFAVORRR🗣️

The representation in this book was better than I ever imagined. It really goes to show tu cultura nunca se va y
siempre debes de estar orgulloso de donde vienes. Also the injustice and prejudice in this is so
real especially now. I don’t want to say too much but I definitely recommend reading this

[JenniferMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book from Adriana Herrera and I immediately fell in love with Nesto and Jude. Their story was fun, flirty while still hitting you emotionally. I loved the found family and the way they supported Jude when he never really had that. I loved that they supported each other’s dreams. I loved the story and I’m looking forward to the rest of this series.

This audio was performed by Oscar Reyes and Christian Fox in duet narration featuring Ramona Master. I loved this duo, they did such an amazing job at bringing Nesto and Jude’s romance from the page to your ears. Ramona has only dialogue and does so amazing at bringing all the characters to life. This audio was fantastic and I loved every moment. Thank you Adriana and Must Love Audio for an alc.

[Yadira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so incredibly thankful I was able to join the cover reveal team for Adriana Herrera’s American Dreamers series and also receive ALC/E-ARC! This was my first time reading/ listening to book 1, American Dreamer and I was in love with everything this story represented. As a Latina I didn’t realize how much I needed to read a story with Latine characters, who proudly live their culture. I connected with the characters and story immediately and loved the way the story was told. The relationships in this story were written with so much depth and heart that I felt like I was part of this family/story. This book uplifted culture and especially in this political climate, more stories like this are needed . I cannot wait to continue this series!!

[Inda Deleon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this so much

I love that not only was latino culture represented here, it was real about the obstacles we immigrants face here in the states. It was a beautiful romance and my heart broke for Jude. I loved all the culture references, the food descriptions, the Spanish, all so so so good! This is my first book by this author but not my last. Loved this so much.

[Love Veridian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The audiobook made me feel things I never felt before! ❤️I love everything about this story! The dynamic progression, the background behind each character, the characters overall support and the relationship❤️I could go for a second book with these two characters all over again! Jude is my cutie Patuti❤️

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nesto and Jude were such a great couple. I loved watching them fall for each other. I always love a book about a librarian! I enjoyed all the supporting characters as well. I look forward to the other books in this series. I read this with my eyeballs and my ears and the audiobook was really good!

[Live2readbookluva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, liked this read.