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Vega Family Love Stories #1
A Proposal They Can't Refuse
Natalie Caña turns up the heat, humor and heart in this debut rom-com about a Puerto Rican chef and an Irish American whiskey distiller forced into a fake engagement by their scheming octogenarian grandfathers.
Kamilah Vega is desperate to convince her family to update their Puerto Rican restaurant and enter it into the Fall Foodie Tour. With the gentrification of their Chicago neighborhood, it's the only way to save the place. The fly in her mofongo--her blackmailing abuelo says if she wants to change anything in his restaurant, she'll have to marry the one man she can't stand: his best friend's grandson.
Liam Kane spent a decade working to turn his family's distillery into a contender. Now he and his grandfather are on the verge of winning a national competition. Then Granda hits him with a one-two punch: he has cancer and he has his heart set on seeing Liam married before it's too late. And Granda knows just the girl...Kamilah Vega.
If they refuse, their grandfathers will sell the building that houses both their businesses. With their futures on the line, Kamilah and Liam plan to outfox the devious duo, faking an engagement until they both get what they want. But soon, they find themselves tangled up in more than either of them bargained for.
Kamilah Vega is desperate to convince her family to update their Puerto Rican restaurant and enter it into the Fall Foodie Tour. With the gentrification of their Chicago neighborhood, it's the only way to save the place. The fly in her mofongo--her blackmailing abuelo says if she wants to change anything in his restaurant, she'll have to marry the one man she can't stand: his best friend's grandson.
Liam Kane spent a decade working to turn his family's distillery into a contender. Now he and his grandfather are on the verge of winning a national competition. Then Granda hits him with a one-two punch: he has cancer and he has his heart set on seeing Liam married before it's too late. And Granda knows just the girl...Kamilah Vega.
If they refuse, their grandfathers will sell the building that houses both their businesses. With their futures on the line, Kamilah and Liam plan to outfox the devious duo, faking an engagement until they both get what they want. But soon, they find themselves tangled up in more than either of them bargained for.
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First published May 24, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,970 reviews
August 11, 2022
Wow! Fake relationship meets enemies to lovers tropes cannot be combined so entertainingly! Lovely characters, mischievous grandparents, tempting chemistry, so many sweet, heartfelt moments made me enjoy my read so much more that I expected!
Even though these are the formulas have been applied million times into romcoms, the author approached them very sensitively and found ways to used them many creative ways by knowing how to reach her readers’ hearts!
This heartwarming, genuine novel puts a real smile on your faces and surely guarantees a lot of fun! Highly recommended feel-good romance!
Those meddling grandparents earned extra stars from me!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/ Mira for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
Even though these are the formulas have been applied million times into romcoms, the author approached them very sensitively and found ways to used them many creative ways by knowing how to reach her readers’ hearts!
This heartwarming, genuine novel puts a real smile on your faces and surely guarantees a lot of fun! Highly recommended feel-good romance!
Those meddling grandparents earned extra stars from me!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/ Mira for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
June 26, 2022
2.5 stars. This book had a lot of potential - I enjoyed it for the most part. However, what ultimately ruined my enjoyment was the way the storyline went down and the actions of the side characters specifically. The author made both of the MCs and the side characters act irrationally and blame & belittle others without communicating their feelings or issues. I really thought that the majority of the drama in this story was overblown and unnecessary. I hated the ending, and it really ruined a book that was otherwise a four star read.
This review contains several major spoilers, so probably don’t read it if you want to give this book a try.
So basically, this is the story of Kamilah and Liam. They were best friends growing up, then Liam went through a really awful loss and started pushing Kamilah away. Unfortunately, we never really got the full story about WHY he pushed her away, it was all very wishy washy, basically amounting to how “she deserved better than he could give her”. How noble. 🖕🏻🖕🏻 There were a few mentions to how they were friends in highschool (like going to a dance together) and how he left her suddenly after they started making out, and started pushing her away after that. However, there was never a good explanation as to why he suddenly up and left her, only hints. It all eventually boiled down to how Liam is afraid of love because it’s fake and everyone who loves him, leaves him, so he pushes away first. 😑 This isn’t a very unique reason, and tbh, it makes me think less of any hero who’s willing to give up the love of his life because he’s scared.
They went their own separate ways after high school, she went to culinary school, and he got his diploma and went to work with his grandfather running the family distillery. They both had other relationships during this time. When they are reunited they supposedly hate each other. They both act like they are enemies - but the reasons for why are extremely unclear to me still. Their mutual loathing felt really convoluted, but I ignored it at the time.
Their grandfathers are best friends, and they hatch up a plan to get the MCs together. The deal is that the MCs must marry or the grandfathers will sell the family businesses. Since both the H&h are workaholics, they are willing to do almost anything - but decide they will pretend to be engaged and eventually break up. And so most of the book is dedicated to them slowly becoming friends again and then lovers. This part of the story is sweet and enjoyable. My only complaint is that the author had the tendency to sometimes tell instead of show about the MCs interactions.
The ending drama comes next, and that’s when the book really took a turn for the worst. The hero and heroine’s “fake” relationship is outed to their family and friends, along with basically every secret they had. And what does everyone do? They ditch Kamilah and make her out to be some kind of terrible person - when I never felt like what she did was actually wrong. She was maybe misguided and a little too set on one path. But they literally treat her like the crap on the bottom of their shoes. These people who supposedly love and care for her just turn their backs and leave her. Her parents, most of her siblings, aunts, uncles, her best friend, and worst of all…the hero also abandons her again.
This part, I’ll fully admit, had me crying ugly tears. It was so painful to read. But I was crying because of how unfairly they were treating her… so I expected that she would get some major apologies and groveling. But she really didn’t. She ended up apologizing just as much as everyone else, even though she was nowhere near as awful as everyone else in this story. I really felt like the author lost major respect from me for in any way insinuating that the heroine acted as badly as everyone else in this story did. No, the heroine gave up her life and her dreams because she thought she was honoring the last wishes of her dead grandmother - and also helping her family. Like I said, her actions were misguided, but they weren’t malicious. The other characters though… they treated her LIKE SHIT. Her family didn’t support her, they made a mockery of her ideas, they treated her like she was an idiot and a loser over and over and over again. And somehow… she had to apologize to them? Nope, sorry, nope. They should have groveled, and instead, she did.
Her best friend ditched her because the heroine told her ONE lie - and it wasn’t even for a bad reason. Basically the heroine told her that she didn’t get into culinary school in France, when she really did and chose not to go. BUT she chose not to go because her grandmother was dying. And since the friend was consequently not allowed to go to France alone, the lie was supposedly bad enough to end the friendship. ?!? What a great best friend.
The same is true of her reunion with the hero. I felt that he never once even gave her a true chance in their relationship. He pushed her away at the smallest obstacle, and when she was afraid of being honest with him because she feared his reaction… he did exactly what she feared. He left her, and didn’t even plan to apologize or attempt to get her back. At least not until his grandpa interfered again. 🙄🙄 And again, she apologized just as much, if not more than the hero!!
Does the author (or any of you readers) really think that what the heroine did warranted the kind of treatment she received? I thought it was ridiculous, but please enlighten me if you have a different opinion. I was super disappointed at the ending and the cherry on top of the shit sundae was the very public (TV televised) reunion between the H&h. The cringe factor was HIGH.
Also, I’m sure I’m in the minority on this… but I hateeeee second chance romance almost always, unless the reason for separation is really good. I don’t think it was in this book. On top of that, while I understood why the heroine chose to be with other men (thinking the hero hated her and thinking there wasn’t even a chance for them), I couldn’t quite understand why the hero chose to be with other women when he supposedly loved the heroine all along. I couldn’t fully forgive him for pushing her away, wasting so much precious time, and allowing both of them to be with others instead. He had the power to change everything, and he didn’t and never would have without intervention. What a great guy. 💩
Safety: I’ll call this SWE because of the long separation with other partners while the hero supposedly loved the heroine all along. It’s all safe beyond that. No cheating, no om/ow drama, no scenes with om/ow, no virgins.
This review contains several major spoilers, so probably don’t read it if you want to give this book a try.
So basically, this is the story of Kamilah and Liam. They were best friends growing up, then Liam went through a really awful loss and started pushing Kamilah away. Unfortunately, we never really got the full story about WHY he pushed her away, it was all very wishy washy, basically amounting to how “she deserved better than he could give her”. How noble. 🖕🏻🖕🏻 There were a few mentions to how they were friends in highschool (like going to a dance together) and how he left her suddenly after they started making out, and started pushing her away after that. However, there was never a good explanation as to why he suddenly up and left her, only hints. It all eventually boiled down to how Liam is afraid of love because it’s fake and everyone who loves him, leaves him, so he pushes away first. 😑 This isn’t a very unique reason, and tbh, it makes me think less of any hero who’s willing to give up the love of his life because he’s scared.
They went their own separate ways after high school, she went to culinary school, and he got his diploma and went to work with his grandfather running the family distillery. They both had other relationships during this time. When they are reunited they supposedly hate each other. They both act like they are enemies - but the reasons for why are extremely unclear to me still. Their mutual loathing felt really convoluted, but I ignored it at the time.
Their grandfathers are best friends, and they hatch up a plan to get the MCs together. The deal is that the MCs must marry or the grandfathers will sell the family businesses. Since both the H&h are workaholics, they are willing to do almost anything - but decide they will pretend to be engaged and eventually break up. And so most of the book is dedicated to them slowly becoming friends again and then lovers. This part of the story is sweet and enjoyable. My only complaint is that the author had the tendency to sometimes tell instead of show about the MCs interactions.
The ending drama comes next, and that’s when the book really took a turn for the worst. The hero and heroine’s “fake” relationship is outed to their family and friends, along with basically every secret they had. And what does everyone do? They ditch Kamilah and make her out to be some kind of terrible person - when I never felt like what she did was actually wrong. She was maybe misguided and a little too set on one path. But they literally treat her like the crap on the bottom of their shoes. These people who supposedly love and care for her just turn their backs and leave her. Her parents, most of her siblings, aunts, uncles, her best friend, and worst of all…the hero also abandons her again.
This part, I’ll fully admit, had me crying ugly tears. It was so painful to read. But I was crying because of how unfairly they were treating her… so I expected that she would get some major apologies and groveling. But she really didn’t. She ended up apologizing just as much as everyone else, even though she was nowhere near as awful as everyone else in this story. I really felt like the author lost major respect from me for in any way insinuating that the heroine acted as badly as everyone else in this story did. No, the heroine gave up her life and her dreams because she thought she was honoring the last wishes of her dead grandmother - and also helping her family. Like I said, her actions were misguided, but they weren’t malicious. The other characters though… they treated her LIKE SHIT. Her family didn’t support her, they made a mockery of her ideas, they treated her like she was an idiot and a loser over and over and over again. And somehow… she had to apologize to them? Nope, sorry, nope. They should have groveled, and instead, she did.
Her best friend ditched her because the heroine told her ONE lie - and it wasn’t even for a bad reason. Basically the heroine told her that she didn’t get into culinary school in France, when she really did and chose not to go. BUT she chose not to go because her grandmother was dying. And since the friend was consequently not allowed to go to France alone, the lie was supposedly bad enough to end the friendship. ?!? What a great best friend.
The same is true of her reunion with the hero. I felt that he never once even gave her a true chance in their relationship. He pushed her away at the smallest obstacle, and when she was afraid of being honest with him because she feared his reaction… he did exactly what she feared. He left her, and didn’t even plan to apologize or attempt to get her back. At least not until his grandpa interfered again. 🙄🙄 And again, she apologized just as much, if not more than the hero!!
Does the author (or any of you readers) really think that what the heroine did warranted the kind of treatment she received? I thought it was ridiculous, but please enlighten me if you have a different opinion. I was super disappointed at the ending and the cherry on top of the shit sundae was the very public (TV televised) reunion between the H&h. The cringe factor was HIGH.
Also, I’m sure I’m in the minority on this… but I hateeeee second chance romance almost always, unless the reason for separation is really good. I don’t think it was in this book. On top of that, while I understood why the heroine chose to be with other men (thinking the hero hated her and thinking there wasn’t even a chance for them), I couldn’t quite understand why the hero chose to be with other women when he supposedly loved the heroine all along. I couldn’t fully forgive him for pushing her away, wasting so much precious time, and allowing both of them to be with others instead. He had the power to change everything, and he didn’t and never would have without intervention. What a great guy. 💩
Safety: I’ll call this SWE because of the long separation with other partners while the hero supposedly loved the heroine all along. It’s all safe beyond that. No cheating, no om/ow drama, no scenes with om/ow, no virgins.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2022
Thanks to MiraBooks for an ARC copy for an honest review. 📕
A Proposal They Can’t Refuse by Natalie Cana is Exquisitely Delicious (pun intended)!!! I NEED the author to sequel this baby IMMEDIATELY PLEASE because you can’t get enough of Kamilah and Liam and their families and lives and their DRAMA. Foodie Rom Com—YES YES YES!! This book is absolutely a Summer 2022 Must Read.
A Proposal They Can’t Refuse by Natalie Cana is Exquisitely Delicious (pun intended)!!! I NEED the author to sequel this baby IMMEDIATELY PLEASE because you can’t get enough of Kamilah and Liam and their families and lives and their DRAMA. Foodie Rom Com—YES YES YES!! This book is absolutely a Summer 2022 Must Read.
July 17, 2022
A Proposal They Can’t Refuse by Natalie Caña is a contemporary romance novel. The story in A Proposal They Can’t Refuse is one that is told by changing the point of view between the characters to give both sides of their story.
Kamilah Vega has been working in her family’s Puerto Rican restaurant and knows the business inside and out and what she knows now is that they need a change to keep up with the times. Kamilah’s suggestions aren’t being taken seriously though even though she knows their best hope is to enter the Fall Foodie Tour.
Liam Kane is practically running his family’s distillery when he gets the news that his grandfather is sick and may not be around for help. Liam wants to do whatever he can for his grandfather but finding out his and Kamilah’s grandfather have this far fetched plan for them to marry may be a bit too much.
A Proposal They Can’t Refuse by Natalie Caña was right up my alley since I love a good fake dating/forced together story and that is what I found in this contemporary romance. Liam and Kamilah were also all about their family which is another thing I enjoy and the diversity with those families was a nice flare to an already fun story. Of course everything wasn’t smooth sailing for the couple but I certainly did root for them along the way and would return to this author again in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Kamilah Vega has been working in her family’s Puerto Rican restaurant and knows the business inside and out and what she knows now is that they need a change to keep up with the times. Kamilah’s suggestions aren’t being taken seriously though even though she knows their best hope is to enter the Fall Foodie Tour.
Liam Kane is practically running his family’s distillery when he gets the news that his grandfather is sick and may not be around for help. Liam wants to do whatever he can for his grandfather but finding out his and Kamilah’s grandfather have this far fetched plan for them to marry may be a bit too much.
A Proposal They Can’t Refuse by Natalie Caña was right up my alley since I love a good fake dating/forced together story and that is what I found in this contemporary romance. Liam and Kamilah were also all about their family which is another thing I enjoy and the diversity with those families was a nice flare to an already fun story. Of course everything wasn’t smooth sailing for the couple but I certainly did root for them along the way and would return to this author again in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
June 8, 2022
This book was FANTASTIC!! It touched so many personal areas of my life that I felt as if I was getting mini therapy sessions. I’ve definitely come a long way and my husband has helped me a lot with my fears of keeping folks at arms length so that they won’t hurt you when they leave. I love a book that reaches down into your own life, reassuring you that you are fine, loved and blessed with your love match.
Anyway, enough of my feels—I freakin loved this book and the audio heightened it so much. That representation gets me everytime and the Latinx rep was chefs kiss. Frenenemies+ fake engagement + childhood friends. Sign me up!! And can we talk about all the amazing food and whiskey mentions. It made me legit want to cook some of these fantastic Puerto Rican dishes y’all. I love when a story can just transport you to whatever setting it’s in. This book made me laugh, swoon and even cry. If you love a grumpy, broody, sweet hero then you will definitely love Liam.
There were also some other things I appreciated:
Liam and how he handled Kamillah’s curls.
The way he thought about the color of her skin and how she might would be treated at this certain pumpkin patch.
They way Liam showed love in every way until he felt safe enough to say the words. Swoon. Give me a doer anyday!!
Anyway, enough of my feels—I freakin loved this book and the audio heightened it so much. That representation gets me everytime and the Latinx rep was chefs kiss. Frenenemies+ fake engagement + childhood friends. Sign me up!! And can we talk about all the amazing food and whiskey mentions. It made me legit want to cook some of these fantastic Puerto Rican dishes y’all. I love when a story can just transport you to whatever setting it’s in. This book made me laugh, swoon and even cry. If you love a grumpy, broody, sweet hero then you will definitely love Liam.
There were also some other things I appreciated:
Liam and how he handled Kamillah’s curls.
The way he thought about the color of her skin and how she might would be treated at this certain pumpkin patch.
They way Liam showed love in every way until he felt safe enough to say the words. Swoon. Give me a doer anyday!!
September 16, 2025
i really thought that this book was all fluff but dang my heartstrings were pulleddddd!
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ forgetting to log in my audio again lol - puerto rican core and as a boricua I can't wait to listen to it!!
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ forgetting to log in my audio again lol - puerto rican core and as a boricua I can't wait to listen to it!!
June 11, 2022
3.25 stars
Liam & Kamilah, former childhood bffs, unexpectedly find themselves on the receiving end of one of their meddlesome Granda & Abuelo’s schemes — manipulated into a fake relationship/engagement in exchange to keep the building for both of their family distillery(his) & restaurant(hers) are located in. You see, after some heartaches & tragedies each in respective families, these two grew apart & have kept their distance for many years before the present day. Their wise, but ever-so-troublemaking-loving eighty-year-old grandpas had enough watching from the sidelines & so the scheme mentioned above was born.
A Proposal They Can’t Refuse starts pretty well. I mean - yeah, the initial plot’s a little more farcical, but isn’t that the bread & butter of many entertaining romance novels? In a lot of ways, it’s a solid romance debut, especially one written in third-person POV no less (I often feel disconnected to this style of writing in romance, so big kudos to Ms. Caña because that aspect was much less problematic than most). Overall, I liked the writing & the premise as well as the H, h, his Granda & her Abuelo. At times the story is cute, fun & kinda steamy.
I just didn’t get to loving it for a few reasons, however.
⛔️ (I tried to be as vague as I could be yet still explain what I mean. So perhaps proceed here cautiously as some may view what I’m putting under the spoiler tag {just to be safe} as spoiler-ish) ⛔️
I get the sense this might be the beginning of series. Hopefully, NC tones down the h’s family ALOT in future books & maybe just minimizes her parents' roles. Then I might be interested in Kamilah’s oldest brother’s book at least. Or I might just wait for an unrelated book because I do mean it — I like NC’s writing & despite a few issues, APTCR is mostly a decent romance debut.
This ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Liam & Kamilah, former childhood bffs, unexpectedly find themselves on the receiving end of one of their meddlesome Granda & Abuelo’s schemes — manipulated into a fake relationship/engagement in exchange to keep the building for both of their family distillery(his) & restaurant(hers) are located in. You see, after some heartaches & tragedies each in respective families, these two grew apart & have kept their distance for many years before the present day. Their wise, but ever-so-troublemaking-loving eighty-year-old grandpas had enough watching from the sidelines & so the scheme mentioned above was born.
A Proposal They Can’t Refuse starts pretty well. I mean - yeah, the initial plot’s a little more farcical, but isn’t that the bread & butter of many entertaining romance novels? In a lot of ways, it’s a solid romance debut, especially one written in third-person POV no less (I often feel disconnected to this style of writing in romance, so big kudos to Ms. Caña because that aspect was much less problematic than most). Overall, I liked the writing & the premise as well as the H, h, his Granda & her Abuelo. At times the story is cute, fun & kinda steamy.
I just didn’t get to loving it for a few reasons, however.
⛔️ (I tried to be as vague as I could be yet still explain what I mean. So perhaps proceed here cautiously as some may view what I’m putting under the spoiler tag {just to be safe} as spoiler-ish) ⛔️
I get the sense this might be the beginning of series. Hopefully, NC tones down the h’s family ALOT in future books & maybe just minimizes her parents' roles. Then I might be interested in Kamilah’s oldest brother’s book at least. Or I might just wait for an unrelated book because I do mean it — I like NC’s writing & despite a few issues, APTCR is mostly a decent romance debut.
This ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2022
I've been waiting for the right moment to read A PROPOSAL THEY CAN'T REFUSE and I'm so delighted I waited for the crisp air of Fall, as this turns out to be a Fall/Halloween romance too! Pumpkin patch, apple picking, Halloween costume dance party, huzzah!
Also, there are some difficult plot points covered, namely we know from the start Liam's Grandda has terminal cancer (see bottom of review for more info), and Liam and Kamilah have both had their fair share of struggles and hard moments leading up to their granddads asking them to get married to keep the building their businesses share.
Liam is also the sort of broody, pining, yet secretly soft hero I adore. He and Kamilah just bristle in each other's presence but both secretly still deeply care about each other, especially since they grew up as best friends (and Liam blew his chance with Kamilah when he took her to her prom).
This fake it to make everyone happy is so my jam, and oh no we must move in together and share the one bed, and ope now we cuddle every night alas. Their chemistry is fire, as is the way they fight and love each other.
We are slow-burned a bit, but never without heat, and when Liam finally has a taste of Kamilah on HIS WHISKEY TASTING TABLE whew! You are ready!
There's so much more to love here, including all of the amazing secondary characters, the meddling grandads who are hilarious and so sweet, and the sense of place (Chicago, the pumpkin patch, etc) and family the author imbues her story with. What a knockout! Best debut of the 2022? I think so.
Content notes: grandda has terminal cancer (passing mentioned in epilogue); parental death via self sacrifice (flashback). Drinking, discussion of depression & PTSD. Both live interests in therapy in epilogue.
Also, there are some difficult plot points covered, namely we know from the start Liam's Grandda has terminal cancer (see bottom of review for more info), and Liam and Kamilah have both had their fair share of struggles and hard moments leading up to their granddads asking them to get married to keep the building their businesses share.
Liam is also the sort of broody, pining, yet secretly soft hero I adore. He and Kamilah just bristle in each other's presence but both secretly still deeply care about each other, especially since they grew up as best friends (and Liam blew his chance with Kamilah when he took her to her prom).
This fake it to make everyone happy is so my jam, and oh no we must move in together and share the one bed, and ope now we cuddle every night alas. Their chemistry is fire, as is the way they fight and love each other.
We are slow-burned a bit, but never without heat, and when Liam finally has a taste of Kamilah on HIS WHISKEY TASTING TABLE whew! You are ready!
There's so much more to love here, including all of the amazing secondary characters, the meddling grandads who are hilarious and so sweet, and the sense of place (Chicago, the pumpkin patch, etc) and family the author imbues her story with. What a knockout! Best debut of the 2022? I think so.
Content notes: grandda has terminal cancer (passing mentioned in epilogue); parental death via self sacrifice (flashback). Drinking, discussion of depression & PTSD. Both live interests in therapy in epilogue.
April 27, 2022
This book came at the right time because I had just finished a huge fantasy novel and feeling burnt out. It was nice to follow Kamillah and Liam as they tried to figure out their relationship and their lives.
This book had all the tropes: second-chance romance, enemies-to-lovers, fake relationship. There was even a scene where there was only one bed! It was funny, relevant, and made me tear up at the end. I knew I would enjoy this one the moment Kamillah punches Liam in the nuts in the very first scene.
I think my favorite characters had to be the octogenarian meddlers forcing their grandchildren to get together, but once you find out more about their past and relationship, then you really see why their grandfathers would suggest something like a relationship in the first place.
I also am a huge food person, so the description of Puerto Rican fare alongside the delicious whiskeys made me crave both.
This was definitely the book I needed after feeling a bit burnt out, so I'm glad to have read it!
This book had all the tropes: second-chance romance, enemies-to-lovers, fake relationship. There was even a scene where there was only one bed! It was funny, relevant, and made me tear up at the end. I knew I would enjoy this one the moment Kamillah punches Liam in the nuts in the very first scene.
I think my favorite characters had to be the octogenarian meddlers forcing their grandchildren to get together, but once you find out more about their past and relationship, then you really see why their grandfathers would suggest something like a relationship in the first place.
I also am a huge food person, so the description of Puerto Rican fare alongside the delicious whiskeys made me crave both.
This was definitely the book I needed after feeling a bit burnt out, so I'm glad to have read it!
June 12, 2022
3.5 stars
A Proposal They Can't Refuse was a cute fake dating, second chance-ish romance between two childhood friends who have become estranged. It was surprisingly emotional, so I definitely recommend checking out the CW's before reading.
Things to look forward to:
- Tropes galore! I mentioned a few already, but also be prepared to see: only 1 bed, forced proximity, enemies-ish to lovers, grumpy + sunshine, opposites attract, and a really sweet grand gesture.
- I was very pleasantly surprised by the steam. Liam ended up being quite the dirty talker and that tasting table scene was so hot!
- The meddling grandfathers were hilarious! All of their shenanigans made me laugh and helped add some great comic relief.
- This one is a pro and con, because this book definitely left me hungry for Puerto Rican food! The descriptions had my mouth watering and I would love to try all the different foods and desserts mentioned.
- I switched back and forth between the ebook/paperback and audiobook and I thought the narration by Valentina Ortiz was fantastic. Her performance had so much emotion and heart in it. She was the perfect Kamilah!
I'm a huge fan of second chance childhood friends to lovers romances, so I did find it a bit anticlimactic that the reason for the separation between Liam and Kamilah was never fully addressed. I kept waiting for there to be a reckoning of their pasts, but unfortunately vague mentions of an incident at Kamilah's prom was all readers got. The drama at the end due to a lack of communication also annoyed me and the resolution felt very rushed. I did appreciate Liam's heart to heart with his grandfather though and it seems like a book for Saint and a certain infuriating teacher might be in the works.
Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 4.5 stars
Story 3.5 stars
CW: death of parent & grandparent, drowning, PTSD, grief, parental abandonment, cancer and discussion of treatment
*I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*
A Proposal They Can't Refuse was a cute fake dating, second chance-ish romance between two childhood friends who have become estranged. It was surprisingly emotional, so I definitely recommend checking out the CW's before reading.
Things to look forward to:
- Tropes galore! I mentioned a few already, but also be prepared to see: only 1 bed, forced proximity, enemies-ish to lovers, grumpy + sunshine, opposites attract, and a really sweet grand gesture.
- I was very pleasantly surprised by the steam. Liam ended up being quite the dirty talker and that tasting table scene was so hot!
- The meddling grandfathers were hilarious! All of their shenanigans made me laugh and helped add some great comic relief.
- This one is a pro and con, because this book definitely left me hungry for Puerto Rican food! The descriptions had my mouth watering and I would love to try all the different foods and desserts mentioned.
- I switched back and forth between the ebook/paperback and audiobook and I thought the narration by Valentina Ortiz was fantastic. Her performance had so much emotion and heart in it. She was the perfect Kamilah!
I'm a huge fan of second chance childhood friends to lovers romances, so I did find it a bit anticlimactic that the reason for the separation between Liam and Kamilah was never fully addressed. I kept waiting for there to be a reckoning of their pasts, but unfortunately vague mentions of an incident at Kamilah's prom was all readers got. The drama at the end due to a lack of communication also annoyed me and the resolution felt very rushed. I did appreciate Liam's heart to heart with his grandfather though and it seems like a book for Saint and a certain infuriating teacher might be in the works.
Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 4.5 stars
Story 3.5 stars
CW: death of parent & grandparent, drowning, PTSD, grief, parental abandonment, cancer and discussion of treatment
*I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*
October 17, 2022
Beyond Five Stars
UMMM...I LOVE THIS SO MUCH
Review to come
UMMM...I LOVE THIS SO MUCH
Review to come
July 20, 2024
3.70
This was good.
Nice audio.
Didn't love the 'so old her eggs are dying' comments.
Curious about the siblings.
This was good.
Nice audio.
Didn't love the 'so old her eggs are dying' comments.
Curious about the siblings.
June 8, 2022
4.5
childhood friends to enemies to lovers being forced to fake date to please their troublemaking grandpas?!?! absolutely yes. sign me up.
Kamilah and Liam’s grandfathers have been best friends for years and run their businesses next door to each other. Kamilah’s family owns a Puerto Rican restaurant, and Liam’s family has a whiskey distillery. Though they used to be best friends growing up, Kamilah and Liam have all but become strangers in adulthood. Unfortunately for them, their meddlesome grandfathers are over it. The grandpas agree to help them with their business goals…… if they agree to get married. 👀🧡💍✨
- childhood best friends
- enemies to lovers
- fake dating / engagement
- one bed trope
- Puerto Rican chef
- Irish Whiskey distiller
- meddling grandfathers
I looove to read books centered around food/restaurants or books where one of the MCs is a chef. In another life I would’ve gone to culinary school, so maybe that’s my way of living vicariously lol. But it’s even better when foodie books have different cultures represented because then I get to learn something new in addition to being hungry the whole time. So this book was such a delight! I love the unending support Liam and Kamilah show each other and how much they care for each other despite the years of emotional distance. They know each other better than anyone else, and this was such a great representation of why childhood friends to adult lovers is such a wonderful trope!
This book had so many tropes I love and was full of soo many cute, hilarious, and heartwarming moments 🧡 A wonderful debut novel.
childhood friends to enemies to lovers being forced to fake date to please their troublemaking grandpas?!?! absolutely yes. sign me up.
Kamilah and Liam’s grandfathers have been best friends for years and run their businesses next door to each other. Kamilah’s family owns a Puerto Rican restaurant, and Liam’s family has a whiskey distillery. Though they used to be best friends growing up, Kamilah and Liam have all but become strangers in adulthood. Unfortunately for them, their meddlesome grandfathers are over it. The grandpas agree to help them with their business goals…… if they agree to get married. 👀🧡💍✨
- childhood best friends
- enemies to lovers
- fake dating / engagement
- one bed trope
- Puerto Rican chef
- Irish Whiskey distiller
- meddling grandfathers
I looove to read books centered around food/restaurants or books where one of the MCs is a chef. In another life I would’ve gone to culinary school, so maybe that’s my way of living vicariously lol. But it’s even better when foodie books have different cultures represented because then I get to learn something new in addition to being hungry the whole time. So this book was such a delight! I love the unending support Liam and Kamilah show each other and how much they care for each other despite the years of emotional distance. They know each other better than anyone else, and this was such a great representation of why childhood friends to adult lovers is such a wonderful trope!
This book had so many tropes I love and was full of soo many cute, hilarious, and heartwarming moments 🧡 A wonderful debut novel.
September 26, 2023
Oh my heart 🤧🤧🤧
March 30, 2023
A Proposal They Can't Refuse is good one. It is funny. Liam is such a sweetheart with his grumpy way.
Miss Cana done a great job making the comedy alive. The story would not work without the comedy.
The family drama is heart breaking, sweet and healing at the same time. There are some trigger warning including suicide and depression. Be careful.
4 stars
Miss Cana done a great job making the comedy alive. The story would not work without the comedy.
The family drama is heart breaking, sweet and healing at the same time. There are some trigger warning including suicide and depression. Be careful.
4 stars
December 22, 2022
Liam looked at her as if she’d just thrown up on his shoes, part astonishment but mostly disgust.
She knew she was getting too attached to Liam. One didn’t have to be a genius to know this wasn’t going to end well for her, but Kamilah had never been one to let things like common sense stop her. She wanted to hug, touch, and care for him, so she would.
…he knew on a gut level that their getting together was inevitable. Something that fate had in store for them from the beginning. It was like one of those fantasy stories where two people found each other in endless lives throughout time.
Childhood best friends to constantly getting on each other’s nerves to fake dating while being blackmailed to lovers. This is my new favorite trope. To say that this book had me in a chokehold is the best way I can put it. All-consuming and life-threatening.
Kamilah is so tired of being the baby of the family and never being taken seriously, that she keeps making these drastic moves, that, in hindsight, are not well thought out and feel bound to backfire. But I loved her. I understood her. Being loved and cared for by literally your entire family is the best thing in the world, up until the moment you become an adult with your own experiences, and that love and caring never translates to listening and mutual respect. But everyone made missteps here, Kamilah, and her family. I love a good family fight where everyone is forced to think about their behavior and truly understand what they did wrong and try to find a way to fix it.
Liam. This man. I love a female character that I can relate to on a fundamental level. But a male character, with damage that stems from real experiences and an inability to communicate his emotions, because society has rendered our men incapable of feeling like it’s okay to be vulnerable; I was so gone for him.
Abuelo and Granda. Fucking legends. LEGENDS.
Long hugs and forehead kisses and whispered confessions. A decade of suppressed lust, the “tasting table” and “Fuck, no. There’s nothing casual about this.” I can’t remember the last time I was so fucking desperate for a book to never, ever end.
MVP: Abuelo. Can’t wait for him to matchmake at least two more Vegas.
(Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)
She knew she was getting too attached to Liam. One didn’t have to be a genius to know this wasn’t going to end well for her, but Kamilah had never been one to let things like common sense stop her. She wanted to hug, touch, and care for him, so she would.
…he knew on a gut level that their getting together was inevitable. Something that fate had in store for them from the beginning. It was like one of those fantasy stories where two people found each other in endless lives throughout time.
Childhood best friends to constantly getting on each other’s nerves to fake dating while being blackmailed to lovers. This is my new favorite trope. To say that this book had me in a chokehold is the best way I can put it. All-consuming and life-threatening.
Kamilah is so tired of being the baby of the family and never being taken seriously, that she keeps making these drastic moves, that, in hindsight, are not well thought out and feel bound to backfire. But I loved her. I understood her. Being loved and cared for by literally your entire family is the best thing in the world, up until the moment you become an adult with your own experiences, and that love and caring never translates to listening and mutual respect. But everyone made missteps here, Kamilah, and her family. I love a good family fight where everyone is forced to think about their behavior and truly understand what they did wrong and try to find a way to fix it.
Liam. This man. I love a female character that I can relate to on a fundamental level. But a male character, with damage that stems from real experiences and an inability to communicate his emotions, because society has rendered our men incapable of feeling like it’s okay to be vulnerable; I was so gone for him.
Abuelo and Granda. Fucking legends. LEGENDS.
Long hugs and forehead kisses and whispered confessions. A decade of suppressed lust, the “tasting table” and “Fuck, no. There’s nothing casual about this.” I can’t remember the last time I was so fucking desperate for a book to never, ever end.
MVP: Abuelo. Can’t wait for him to matchmake at least two more Vegas.
(Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)
January 3, 2025
This is exactly what I needed before going on a hiatus. Exactly what I needed.
June 13, 2022
I love a fake dating romance, especially when it's orchestrated by two grouchy, mischievous grandfathers like Killian and Papo. Threatening to sell the building housing their two neighbouring family businesses, their ultimatum to push Kamilah and Liam together was definitely bizarre ... but I adored their meddling spirit.
Once childhood friends, Kamilah and Liam had a falling-out and grew apart. Now they are both committed in seeing their grandfathers' businesses succeed—Kamilah planning to enter restaurant El Coquí into the Fall Foodie Tour, and Liam longing for Kane Distillery to win the Best Craft Whiskey Distillery award.
Both workaholics with a heavy tie to their families, I loved the blend of Puerto Rican food and Irish whiskey. And who knew whiskey tasting could be so sensual and romantic. Whew! The chemistry was great.
Kamilah was such a bright light for Liam, constantly offering words of encouragement whenever his self-doubt set in. I was a bit thrown off by the pacing, though. Being childhood friends, the details of their past was very hazy to me, making the switch to lovers feel a bit out of the blue.
But! The final grand gesture scene was give-me-chills perfect. I'd still recommend you give this romance a try!
I received an advanced copy from the publisher and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own
Once childhood friends, Kamilah and Liam had a falling-out and grew apart. Now they are both committed in seeing their grandfathers' businesses succeed—Kamilah planning to enter restaurant El Coquí into the Fall Foodie Tour, and Liam longing for Kane Distillery to win the Best Craft Whiskey Distillery award.
Both workaholics with a heavy tie to their families, I loved the blend of Puerto Rican food and Irish whiskey. And who knew whiskey tasting could be so sensual and romantic. Whew! The chemistry was great.
Kamilah was such a bright light for Liam, constantly offering words of encouragement whenever his self-doubt set in. I was a bit thrown off by the pacing, though. Being childhood friends, the details of their past was very hazy to me, making the switch to lovers feel a bit out of the blue.
But! The final grand gesture scene was give-me-chills perfect. I'd still recommend you give this romance a try!
I received an advanced copy from the publisher and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own
July 1, 2022
*Thank you, NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
I’ll jump at any opportunity to read a story built on pride for Puerto Rican culture. In this story, we follow Kamilah and Liam as they navigate being forced to enter a fake marriage while being ex-childhood best friends with years of things left unsaid.
In spite of his tendency to also be jarringly immature about his feelings toward Kamilah, Liam does his best to break away from his stoicism and express affection. It’s something I actually wish we’d gotten more from, but overall this is a story of a woman who loves her family and her roots.
Kamilah is filled with love and pride and you just can’t help but root for her.
The food, the Spanish, and the slang. The book is familiar in the warmest way possible.
With that being said, though, Kamilah’s family is an absolute nightmare and my skin got itchy anytime they were on page. All they do is obsess over her “biological clock”, her love life, and nothing else. They speak over her, assume the worst in her at all times, belittle her, and dogpile any mistake she makes before repeating the cycle. Even during apologies, the bulk of remorse falls on Kamilah and her intelligence is still insulted. Kamilah is never given the benefit of the doubt and is put in a position where she has to go above and beyond in extremes to gain a crumb of decency and respect from these people. In a story about the love of family and community, the community in question is insufferable and hostile.
Where is the love? Where is the warmth?
There were parts of this story that I really did love but they have a tendency to get overshadowed by pure frustration and never ending conflict to the point of leaving so much to be desired. Kamilah is very rarely loved unconditionally and it made my heart hurt. I almost wished she would cut everyone off and find a new sense of community.
CW: terminally ill loved ones, references to dead loved ones, death, grief, misogyny, brief mentions of suicide, brief sexual content
I’ll jump at any opportunity to read a story built on pride for Puerto Rican culture. In this story, we follow Kamilah and Liam as they navigate being forced to enter a fake marriage while being ex-childhood best friends with years of things left unsaid.
In spite of his tendency to also be jarringly immature about his feelings toward Kamilah, Liam does his best to break away from his stoicism and express affection. It’s something I actually wish we’d gotten more from, but overall this is a story of a woman who loves her family and her roots.
Kamilah is filled with love and pride and you just can’t help but root for her.
The food, the Spanish, and the slang. The book is familiar in the warmest way possible.
With that being said, though, Kamilah’s family is an absolute nightmare and my skin got itchy anytime they were on page. All they do is obsess over her “biological clock”, her love life, and nothing else. They speak over her, assume the worst in her at all times, belittle her, and dogpile any mistake she makes before repeating the cycle. Even during apologies, the bulk of remorse falls on Kamilah and her intelligence is still insulted. Kamilah is never given the benefit of the doubt and is put in a position where she has to go above and beyond in extremes to gain a crumb of decency and respect from these people. In a story about the love of family and community, the community in question is insufferable and hostile.
Where is the love? Where is the warmth?
There were parts of this story that I really did love but they have a tendency to get overshadowed by pure frustration and never ending conflict to the point of leaving so much to be desired. Kamilah is very rarely loved unconditionally and it made my heart hurt. I almost wished she would cut everyone off and find a new sense of community.
CW: terminally ill loved ones, references to dead loved ones, death, grief, misogyny, brief mentions of suicide, brief sexual content
March 29, 2022
Theoretically, this had all the elements of a great romance: childhood friends to enemies to lovers, sunshine/grump trope, faked engagement, big loud Latinex family members, and a love of food and culture that is woven in at every opportunity. The problem I had was suspending my disbelief of these characters, their dynamics, and how they were portrayed.
For example, the backgrounds of both characters were very offhandly mentioned, casual, and didn't really give us any depth to their relationship, or real reason to root for them. Both main characters were jerked around like puppets for reasons that made me uneasy and I found it pretty unbelievable that both these "strong minded" and stubborn folk were so susceptible to the slightest pressure. They didn't communicate, weren't all that trustworthy, and treated each other in ways that made me cringe. They were caricaturish, immature, and I don't think I ever rooted for them as a couple.
I also take issue with the family dynamics...I understand the workings of a large, loud, Brown diverse family (I'm apart of two), but there was no sympathy, understanding, or concern exhibited by anyone for each other (even through toxic methods). The parents didn't seem to care about the future of their livelihoods, or show any grace or concern towards their kids, the siblings took advantage and treated each other abominably... It showed the negative side of familial obligation and pressure, and while I understand that is often the case, I don't know if this was the place for it. I guess this gets points for representation, and I did love the Spanish incorporated unapologetically throughout this...But I detested the people. 1.5 stars.
NetGalley gave me an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review...I hope they don't regret approving me
For example, the backgrounds of both characters were very offhandly mentioned, casual, and didn't really give us any depth to their relationship, or real reason to root for them. Both main characters were jerked around like puppets for reasons that made me uneasy and I found it pretty unbelievable that both these "strong minded" and stubborn folk were so susceptible to the slightest pressure. They didn't communicate, weren't all that trustworthy, and treated each other in ways that made me cringe. They were caricaturish, immature, and I don't think I ever rooted for them as a couple.
I also take issue with the family dynamics...I understand the workings of a large, loud, Brown diverse family (I'm apart of two), but there was no sympathy, understanding, or concern exhibited by anyone for each other (even through toxic methods). The parents didn't seem to care about the future of their livelihoods, or show any grace or concern towards their kids, the siblings took advantage and treated each other abominably... It showed the negative side of familial obligation and pressure, and while I understand that is often the case, I don't know if this was the place for it. I guess this gets points for representation, and I did love the Spanish incorporated unapologetically throughout this...But I detested the people. 1.5 stars.
NetGalley gave me an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review...I hope they don't regret approving me
December 18, 2022
This was really, really sweet.
October 13, 2022
Too tired to give an actual review, but if you're into these tropes:
- mutual pining
- best friends to estranged to lovers
- chaotic matchmaking relatives
- fake engagement/relationship
- Puerto Rican food descriptions
- Midwest/Chicago setting!!!!
- one bed trope
- grumpy/sunshine
- dual POVs
This is a really good read! And given the ending, I can't wait for future books in this series 😄✨
Content warning: death of parent (flashback), death of grandparent (mentioned), sexual content, loved one with cancer, parental abandonment
- mutual pining
- best friends to estranged to lovers
- chaotic matchmaking relatives
- fake engagement/relationship
- Puerto Rican food descriptions
- Midwest/Chicago setting!!!!
- one bed trope
- grumpy/sunshine
- dual POVs
This is a really good read! And given the ending, I can't wait for future books in this series 😄✨
Content warning: death of parent (flashback), death of grandparent (mentioned), sexual content, loved one with cancer, parental abandonment
September 12, 2022
4.25/5 Stars!!
This was a beautifully romantic, emotional story!
Filled with love, family struggles, food, and passion!!
I really enjoyed reading this!
This was a beautifully romantic, emotional story!
Filled with love, family struggles, food, and passion!!
I really enjoyed reading this!
![Profile Image for laurel [the suspected bibliophile].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645808644i%2F7494844._UX200_CR0%2C6%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
November 9, 2022
Okay, THIS was super cute.
Rolling up to the 90% mark when that third act break-up hit (look, it's not a spoiler if it's a genre standard), I was not sure if this was going to end up a HEA or HFN, because holy moly did these two characters have a lot to unfuck and figure out about themselves before they decided to get together.
Anywho, it was good, if not *quite* as enemies to lovers as I had been expecting.
Rolling up to the 90% mark when that third act break-up hit (look, it's not a spoiler if it's a genre standard), I was not sure if this was going to end up a HEA or HFN, because holy moly did these two characters have a lot to unfuck and figure out about themselves before they decided to get together.
Anywho, it was good, if not *quite* as enemies to lovers as I had been expecting.
June 13, 2022
Kamilah and Liam are former childhood best friends. They aren't enemies per se they just don't talk anymore or really see each other outside of visiting their grandfather's who are best friends. Kamilah's family own a restaurant next door to the distillery Liam co-owns with his grandfather. Business isn't going well for either at the moment. Due to some meddling from their grandfathers they end up fake dating.
Kamilah is Puerto Rican and Liam is Irish. This book did a great job incorporating both of their cultures as well as their families. Kamilah's family wants to run the restaurant the traditional way and they don't care for the changes she wants to make to freshen up the menu. Liam's dealing with some heavier family issues as his grandfather is dying of terminal cancer. This is bringing up haunting memories of how his father and nana died.
I really liked the first half of this book but it derailed for me towards the end. I don't mind characters in romance dealing with real life issues but the tragic backstory was a lot and took away the rom-com feel of this story. Up until that point it was light hearted despite Granda's situation.
Miscommunication was also heavy at the end and Kamilah's family had a reaction that just felt over the top. It also didn't help that Kamilah and Liam barely interacted towards the end of the book.
This appears to be the first book in a series with a clear set up for the next book to center around Kamilah's brother who is a single father.
I listened to the audiobook and the narration by Valentina Ortiz was great! I usually enjoy her narration and here it really elevated the story.
Kamilah is Puerto Rican and Liam is Irish. This book did a great job incorporating both of their cultures as well as their families. Kamilah's family wants to run the restaurant the traditional way and they don't care for the changes she wants to make to freshen up the menu. Liam's dealing with some heavier family issues as his grandfather is dying of terminal cancer. This is bringing up haunting memories of how his father and nana died.
I really liked the first half of this book but it derailed for me towards the end. I don't mind characters in romance dealing with real life issues but the tragic backstory was a lot and took away the rom-com feel of this story. Up until that point it was light hearted despite Granda's situation.
Miscommunication was also heavy at the end and Kamilah's family had a reaction that just felt over the top. It also didn't help that Kamilah and Liam barely interacted towards the end of the book.
This appears to be the first book in a series with a clear set up for the next book to center around Kamilah's brother who is a single father.
I listened to the audiobook and the narration by Valentina Ortiz was great! I usually enjoy her narration and here it really elevated the story.
August 18, 2022
4.75 stars. This was incredible! Childhood friends become enemies to lovers in this family-focused fake relationship.
This was so heartfelt. I laughed in the beginning and sobbed at the end. You have two meddling grandpas who want their gkids to be happy, family who loves each other but doesn’t know how to honestly communicate (but works through things), two amazing people who adore each other but have baggage, and the most delicious descriptions of food and drink ever.
This was sooooo good.
No OW/OM drama. There is a separation before the end that broke my heart but it was about both of them growing and their families.
Definitely ends happily and I’m excited to see what else this author writes. We are definitely being set up for a family series with a meddling matchmaking grandpa.
I do want to say that there is some behavior that made me super angry and frustrated. I forgave it because the overall story is so good, but there are multiple interactions where someone dumps on another in an unhealthy way. Lots of not fighting fair. But it’s part of what the book works through.
Also, there’s some inaccuracies that made me wonder if the author is writing a story from her far past, like the Mass scene. Cause the call and repeat has changed in the last 10 years.
This was so heartfelt. I laughed in the beginning and sobbed at the end. You have two meddling grandpas who want their gkids to be happy, family who loves each other but doesn’t know how to honestly communicate (but works through things), two amazing people who adore each other but have baggage, and the most delicious descriptions of food and drink ever.
This was sooooo good.
No OW/OM drama. There is a separation before the end that broke my heart but it was about both of them growing and their families.
Definitely ends happily and I’m excited to see what else this author writes. We are definitely being set up for a family series with a meddling matchmaking grandpa.
I do want to say that there is some behavior that made me super angry and frustrated. I forgave it because the overall story is so good, but there are multiple interactions where someone dumps on another in an unhealthy way. Lots of not fighting fair. But it’s part of what the book works through.
Also, there’s some inaccuracies that made me wonder if the author is writing a story from her far past, like the Mass scene. Cause the call and repeat has changed in the last 10 years.
April 1, 2022
Enemies to lovers, fake relationship. Literally the best tropes !! The perfect ROM COM !
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
July 30, 2022
2.25 ⭐️
okay so the first 30% of the book was quite slow but i got really into it after and would’ve probably given it a 3.5 star but around the 80% mark Liam’s character just kept pissing me off so much. he blamed everything on the fmc as if he wasn’t involved in the scheming and acted like a complete entitled self obsessed asshole on her birthday. and even tho he was sweet towards the end it wasn’t enough to redeem his character.
the same goes for her family they’re toxic af and treat the female mc like shit but the book pretends as if it isn’t a big deal
okay so the first 30% of the book was quite slow but i got really into it after and would’ve probably given it a 3.5 star but around the 80% mark Liam’s character just kept pissing me off so much. he blamed everything on the fmc as if he wasn’t involved in the scheming and acted like a complete entitled self obsessed asshole on her birthday. and even tho he was sweet towards the end it wasn’t enough to redeem his character.
the same goes for her family they’re toxic af and treat the female mc like shit but the book pretends as if it isn’t a big deal
October 30, 2022
This book has so much heart, warmth, and depth that words cannot even begin to describe how much I loved it. Kamilah and Liam have known each other since childhood and that deep burning passion filled yearning is in this book, but there’s also so much more. There is a love for family, scheming grandpas, loss and so much grief. Caña does an exquisite job with a mix of hearty hard shit and beautiful deep love. I can’t recommend this book enough, but PLEASE practice self care if you have ever lost a parent or grandparent specifically to drowning or cancer.
April 5, 2022
3.5 stars
A Proposal They Can't Refuse a super cute and fun enemies to lovers rom-com. Kamilah and Liam banter was on point. I also liked the scenes of them being forced to pretend to be a couple, it’s one of my favorite romance tropes.
I would recommend if you're looking for a fun read with a lot of heart
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A Proposal They Can't Refuse a super cute and fun enemies to lovers rom-com. Kamilah and Liam banter was on point. I also liked the scenes of them being forced to pretend to be a couple, it’s one of my favorite romance tropes.
I would recommend if you're looking for a fun read with a lot of heart
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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