Just Amigos

Precio Brothers #3

by Gigi Blume

A brother's best friend romantic comedy

𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫é𝐞
I do 𝘯𝘰𝘵 have a crush on Mateo Precio.
All my life, I’ve known him as the neighborhood boy who rode bikes with my brother all summer. The kid who’d come over to play video games for hours. The guy who only saw me as his best friend’s punky little sister.
But now I’ve grown out of pigtails and he’s looking at me like I’m a snack.
Mateo is so, so wrong for me.
▪Tattooed bad boy.
▪Groupie magnet.
▪Broody rocker

And last night… he accidentally kissed me.

I need to stay away from Mateo Precio. Far, far away. Which isn't easy—since he lives next door.

𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐨
Riiiight. That kiss was no accident.

Genres: Friends To Lovers

390 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 13, 2023

About the author

Gigi is a USA TODAY bestselling author and hopeless musical theatre nerd who has perfected the art of lollygagging.

Former professional wedding singer, Gigi lives in Southern California with her personal chef...er...husband and two weird and awesome teenagers.

When Gigi's not writing like a crazy woman, she likes to belt out showtunes, embarrass her kids, and spend all her free cash on books.

Reviews

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My music-loving heart loved Mateo and Desiree!

Mateo and Desiree's older brother used to be best friends and there's a strict "hands off" vibe going down. But...they're in a band together and when hot-headed and passionate Mateo gets fired, sweet Desiree follows him. I love the way these two battle and explore their feelings for one another and come into closer proximity when Mateo is forced to move back home, putting him right next door to Desiree once again. These characters are fire and life and I loved every single interaction between them.

The Precio family is one of my very favorites. I love their family dynamics and every antic and situation had me laughing so hard. Combine that with the music experiences (concerts, tour, etc) and the wonderful smoldering (and forbidden) attraction and I was a goner.

Things to love:
🏍️middle of the night "gang" activity
🏍️older brother's best friend
🏍️moody and hot and temperamental tattooed musician
🏍️swoony, angsty chemistry
🏍️wedding led by a vespa
🏍️Anthony Hopkins *aka pet bunny
🏍️Sister Monica and everything about that
🏍️soooo many laughs and banter between literally everyone

This story is the best! I laughed, I swooned, and I savored every page.

Content: mild+ romance (kissing, innuendo)

*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were voluntarily given.*

[Tricia Anson]

Mateo is the self-declared black sheep of the family and Desirée is his best friend’s younger sister and literally the girl next door. Plus, they’re in a band together.

Things I Loved:
-Rock me, Amadeus
-Paloma
-Desirée’s happy place
-“‘To brothers,’ she repeats. ‘Can’t live with ‘em, can’t kick their butts.’”
-Stealthy Yarners
-Anthony Hopkins
-“‘I knew it,’ he cries. ‘You’re on drugs.’”
-The donkey
-Plastic Ryan Gosling
-“Aye. When ye came into my class, ye were a right bugger. But ye did the work. Barely. And when ye graduated, I felt it in my heart that I’d failed ye. Aye, ye passed me class, but the human spirit is more valuable than quadratic equations.”
-The ending

The Precio family holds a place in my heart. I lived with a step dad who was from Mexico for several years growing up and having been around his family makes this series so nostalgic and fun to read. I loved all the sprinkles of past characters from this and her previous series too, it was so fun spotting all the Easter eggs.
There were a lot of fun and goofy moments and a touch of a mysterious twist in the story. I really loved how it ended.

Content: I do have to share that the type of innuendo sprinkled throughout is not something I would normally read and likely will not continue to read even though I enjoy the stories. I try to stay with what I consider sweet reads, and though I know that varies for everyone and this book (and series) does not go even fade to black or imply intimacy, the inner thoughts and dialogue are a lot more sexualized than I personally find appropriate. There are also a few uses of the D-word and one or two uses of the A-word.

[Heather.loves.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just Amigos by: Gigi Blume
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📖Desiree knows she needs to stay far away from the broody rocker, but Mateo isn't about to make that easy.

❤️Why you should read it ❤️

It's funny. I mean-spit-out-your-drink comedy. 

Gigi Blume has a way of writing a super fun, action packed plot that is also a delicious romance. 

The Precio family deserve their own sitcom! 7 brothers, 1 sister, aunts, uncles- they are ALL there

Did I mention the long haired, tattooed guitarist? 

Desiree is the MOST fun female character - between her mad musical skills, pet bunny and yarn bombing-I can't decide what I like most about her. 

Witty banter everywhere. Between the leads, between the brothers, between the parents 

Sister Monica 🤣💀😬🥰

When Mateo declares his love it's cinematic and worth-the-wait 🔥🔥🔥

If you enjoyed books 1 & 2 all your favorites are BACK, but it can be read as a standalone 

🐰There are some Easter eggs from the other books and oh.my.gnome. *perfection


🤔This book will make you a critical thinker. Let the others have War and Peace. You'll have plenty of questions 🤔


🤔Things I wondered🤔🤔🤔

🧰Why don't I have a snacklebox? 

How did Anthony Hopkins get here?

What exactly makes water holy? 

🔫Why is that water gun filled with holy water?

🐴How long will donkeys stay high? 

When did plastic Ryan Gosling arrive?

Who is in jail? 

CW: heavy innuendo, fade to black between married couple, mild language 

[LAJordan Leigh Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (0-5)
Steam: 🔥 (0-5) Kissing only.

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 Precio Brothers book 3, but it totally works as a standalone.
🤩 A brother’s best friend (& neighbors) romantic comedy.
🤩 Desiree and Mateo are both musicians.
🤩 Their back stories are interesting and help us feel why they are resistant to love and this connection—strong love for them as characters and longing for them to be together.
🤩 “Rock me, Amadeus.” Goodness, I’m totally smitten with their little kiss connection from early years. And, the churro kiss.
🤩 I love the gardening Mateo does for the retirement home and what it does for his own self-worth.
🤩 When Mateo gets turned on from riding on the back of Desiree’s Vespa.
🤩 So much laugh-out-loud fun—the Stealthy Yarners, Anthony Hopkins.
🤩 I like a little jealousy to make one of the MCs take some action.

What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 The almost kisses are so good in that such a tease kind of way. But, I like more real kissing and making out in my romcoms.

[Abby Huffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Precio family-they are in each other’s business in the best way possible💛Mateo is the musical artist brother and kind of feels alone. He feels everything so passionately and I loved the growth he went through bettering himself💛 I just love Desirée! She is quiet and caring and such a perfect complement to Mateo-they are so adorable together🥰 and can we talk about the side characters?! Sister Monica was my fave, such a hoot-and the brothers stories of her from highschool😹?! This book had so many great romcom moments!

[Kristyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Precio Brother book in the books! This one follows Mateo and Desirèe, who I couldn’t get enough of! Think misunderstood, tattooed, musician, fiercely possessive MMC and and an FMC who has sworn off men, but can’t escape the pull Mateo has on her.

“Sometimes, he says or does something that make my female organs stage a coup. They’re very organized with matching T-shirts and everything.” - Desirée

And that epilogue though! 🔥🥰

Highly recommend this series!
Expect mild swears, steamy kisses, and innuendo. Closed door

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light, easy romcom read. I like the world of the Precio brothers / family and was interested to see them all again. I enjoyed this ones, it was a light and easy read but the second book in the series with Nacho and Olive remains my favorite.

Though I was intrigued by the tropes and the musician element, I didn’t connect as well with the mains here. Still a fun read and one I know some will find to click with them exactly. I look forward to another Precio sibling story. Great for an easy, pool (or beach) side read. 😎⛱️

[Dulce Keels · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG this book is so cute!!! They're neighbors and he is her brother's best friend. They both share a love of music and are into each other. He's always kept her at a distance because he didn't want to cross that line. But the more time they spend together, the more their feelings evolve. She's ready to go all in and he is fighting it so hard.

She sees all the good in him, but he struggles with who he is and what he thinks his family thinks of him.

After an accident at a concert in a Pub, he ends up going to convent thinking he has a penance to pay, and while being there, he discovers he's not the screw up he thinks he is and starts to mature and grow.

[Peach]

Unfortunately didn't love this one as much as the last one. I didn't connect with either of the MC's, and the plot felt pretty monotone till the last 20%.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just Amigos is the third book in the Precio Brothers series, following family black sheep, Mateo, and his next door neighbor, Desirée. Mateo is a musician in a sea shanty band along with Desirée, but when a stage dive goes wrong and he's thrown out of the band, he needs to find a steady job in order to continue to access the trust fund set up by his wealthy restauranteur father. Desirée quits the band in solidarity, having always had a crush on her brother's former best friend. Mateo also has long had feelings for Desirée, but feels his bad boy, rocker ways wouldn't be good for her, so keeps her at arm's length after bouts of flirting. Understandably, Desirée gets frustrated with his hot and cold behavior. After finding a new band to join, they hit the road together again, and finally come together. Mateo is an artistic, poetic gushy type, and fawns over Desirée in a way that might be a little OTT. Desirée is your typical sweet, wide eyed ingenue, who I pictured as Zooey Deschanel while reading. This was a very quick read, but also felt a bit on the surface, and would have liked to see a little more character development, particularly from Desirée. I did like Mateo's redemption arc at the convent, and Sister Monica gave Derry Girl vibes. It was nice to see characters I recognized from the previous book in the series that I recently listened to, and I found myself more interested in older brother Dante, and am curious to see how his story unfolds next.

💛 Thank you to Gigi Blume for sending me a copy of Just Amigos to review!

[Micah (micahs.bookshelf) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you met the Precio family yet? I get such a kick out of them and this third installment of the series had some really fun scenes with all the Precio family shenanigans. I was happy to see my favorite characters from the first two books. They had so much time at the beginning, that it almost felt like a bonus epilogue for Nacho Boyfriend and The Hate Zone.

I had really high expectations for this book and was looking forward to it so much, but unfortunately it didn’t turn out to be my favorite. I didn’t connect with Mateo and Desiree as much as I did Nacho and Olive in the last book. I think it was partly the tropes - friends to lovers is not my favorite. But mainly the amount and nature of the innuendos was not my cup of tea. Their relationship didn’t seem to go much past ogling and physical attraction.

That being said, there were some really great and fun scenes. Desiree had some really fun, quirky hobbies and it was so cute when he joined her in them. I wish there was a little more music since they are both incredible musicians and I enjoyed seeing them perform. I loved the music quotes between each chapter.

I’m convinced that Gigi Blume has the prettiest paperbacks! The paperback was gorgeous with beautiful interior artwork.

🔥: Steamy kisses and heavy innuendos
CW: While this book is still closed door, the nature of the innuendos and suggestive discussion was not as sweet/clean as I prefer and made me uncomfortable. Mild language.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would rate this book about 3.5 Stars for a couple of reasons.

I have loved the Gigi Blume books that I have read. This author has consistently come out with incredible books. There were a lot of parts that I absolutely loved in this book, but some parts that I didn't love.

I was so excited by the tropes in this one, and the musician element. It was an easy read that is great for the summer.

I totally understand how incidents can shape us in our lives. I did have an issue with the way Mateo let one incident dictate his self image. I also really struggled to connect with this one.

I have seen a lot of mixed reviews and posts about this one. I think that is was harder for some to connect while others loved it. So I think this one is not for everyone, but I encourage you to give it a chance. This series is great and these brother are great. I am excited for the next book by Gigi.
.
.
CW: Some mild language, some mild innuendos, and kisses. *Still Closed-Door*
*I received an e-book from the author. All thoughts, views, and opinions are my own.*

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off this book was hilarious. It was so entertaining and I had a ton of fun reading it. The humor was non-stop. A laugh out loud closed door rom-com that was bursting at the seams with chemistry between Mateo and Desiree. With the two of them being neighbors and then touring in a band together, there was tons of forced proximity.

Desiree was such a sweet character and paired perfectly with bad boy Mateo. Man did I love when he got all jealous and protective over her. They were just adorable together and I loved their musical connection. At times I couldn't get over how well the author was able to make me feel so much chemistry between them without any steam.

This is book 3 in a series that follows Mateo's family. Although I got a little lost at times since he has such a big family and I didn't read the first 2 books, it can be read as a standalone. But I plan on working backwards and reading the other two books!

[Desiree · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I love about this book and the series is the Precio family. They are hilarious, dynamic and they're written so natural. The family members each add fabulously to the story with their own bit of witt and humor. The writing is such I can see the settings and scenes clearly. I can imagine it all! I enjoyed the easy banter between Mateo and Desiree. The volley back and forth and all their dynamics is awesome, genuine, and believable. Great and natural dialogue throughout the story. So many moments that made me laugh and some sweet moments as well. I'd watch this as a movie.
Fyi for content info: some flirty innuendo, closed door/no fade out romance, 1 swear word, lots of chemistry and connection.

[Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gigi truly puts the rom in rom-com! Her books personify 'romcom' to the latter. Just amigos is no different! It was a roller coaster of emotions while reading this book, alternating between laughing so hard, blushing and close to tears. She comes up with these mind blowing ways to inculcate loads of sexual tension in a scene. She truly deserves a price! I have one word for Mateo..dreamy and his chemistry with Desire was giving, giving, giving 👏👏👏 The chemistry of the entire Precio family makes me actually feel like they exist. She crafts a world so tangible I could watch a movie or read a 10 book series about them! An awesome read 💯. Can't wait for the next book.
P.S I'm gonna go add Mateo to my list of UBB 🙊😜

[Alayna (the.bookstrovert) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite Quote:
“She has no idea the effect she has on me. Everything about her is killing me softly. The way she smiles, her raspy giggle, her incredible musical talent. And those eyes. It's impossible how blue they are, as if they've been artificially dyed like candy.


Mateo and Desiree’s story was a cute friends to lovers romcom. 😍

That churro kiss! 🫠

I loved that we got to see characters form past books, and that little snippet from Dante has me excited for his book!

Gigi definitely knows how to bring the sizzle without the spice!

🚨While this is a closed door romcom, the is some mild language throughout

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Contains: some mild language, some mild innuendo, kisses. I liked the MCs. It felt like Matteo needed therapy or medication for his mood swings or to cope with his issues. I didn’t really feel like we got to know him very well. There are some cameos in this too from characters in Messy Love, Love and Loathing, and The Friend Act. I liked how there wasn’t as much Spanish. (There was a conversation in Spanish that I had to look up to understand what was going on but it wasn’t too bad).

[Laurie reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably 3.5. Hmmm…not my favorite Gigi Blume. I couldn’t relate to an impulsive Latino rock musician who was also a landscape gardener and plant lover? And the heroine who was a musical prodigy, knitter and rabbit agility handler? And they tour with a grunge rock band? It just didn’t come together for me. Granted all the couples in the Precious brothers series are unlikely matches….I guess I’m just too skeptical, and love really is blind.

[Vi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid three.
Aspiring rockstar with a long time crush on a childhood friend little sister. He doesn’t feel he is worthy due to a childhood incident that he has been guilty about.

Desiree is an interesting person. Secret knitter. Bunny owner. An genius musician with a huge crush on Matteo.

This story was very slice of life. Twist was very anticlimactic and low. The pacing could have been better.

[Kristeane Benavides · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved so much!

This series is wonderful and will have you ignoring life to finish the story. Mateo is quite the heart breaker since he finally realizes that he’s in love with Desiree. We get their journey as they dance around their feelings for one another until they finally figure out their relationship. In the meantime, we get great tidbits about the other Precio Brothers and get some pretty great laugh out loud moments.

[Lynn Hyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bad Boy of the Family

What's not to love about the Precio family, except for their questionable relatives? Mateo is the musician, the bad boy, and in love with Desiree, the girl next door. Just how much trouble can Mateo get into? It appears to be plenty. There is so much love to go around in this family and the women who love these brothers. Another totally enjoyable story about these brothers by this author.

[Mallory Bolick · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you Gigi Blume for the influencer’s copy of this book! though this read kind of fell through the cracks in my busy attempt to get through the many arcs i’ve signed up since, i finished this one and loved it. Mateo and Desirée were a fun couple to follow, and i’ve got to say the end of the book and the surprise extra chapter are my favorite! 🤩 Gigi Blume is an amazing author and i love her mix of sweet romance and delightful comedy that will have you laughing and kicking your feet.

[Dexter Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute until the end

I enjoy reading fluffy sweet rom coms and I’ve read the others in the series.
It was good until the last few chapters where it felt like the author had to stick to a limited amount of words and there were big gaps in the story that left me confused.
It could have easily ended without the last bits.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Precio family. All the different personalities and yet you know they love one another and while they may bicker, tease and battle between themselves, they would close ranks in an instant against an outside attack. Mateo is cocky and yet really unsure of his place in the family. I love the humor, the romance and family dynamics of these books. Look forward to the next one.

[Jenna Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read if you want to fall even more in love with the Precio family💕

Tropes you will find and love in Just Amigos:

🎸bad boy
🎸brother’s best friend
🎸tattooed hottie
🎸next door neighbor
🎸churro kisses
🎸Sister Monica
🎸One drugged up Donkey

[JacQueline Vaughn Roe · Rating 5 out of 5]

super fun

Never know what’s going to happen next in a Gigi Blume book and this one was super fun! Loved watching Mateo grow up and fall in love!

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just couldn't relate to Mateo's self image as he let one childhood incident color his entire life.

[Rhonda Mast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oi the Precio family just gets better every book. I’m not Catholic or a priest, but I really want to start carrying a spritz bottle of holy water around.

[Randi Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really fun read! I really enjoyed the chemistry between Desiree and Mateo. While it's definitely a closed-door RomCom, it is a little heavier on the innuendo than most that I read, so definitely something to keep in mind if that's not something you are comfortable with. There was also some mild language throughout.

[Lissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Mateo & Desiree's feisty, funny, sweet, caring, loving,swoony story!!!