Spoiler Free Review: Kiss Me, Maybe by Gabriella Gamez

Title: Kiss Me, Maybe

Author: Gabriella Gamez

Original Pub. Date: May 6th 2025

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Latinx/Queer

Format: eARC

Publisher: Forever

 Pages: 384

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☆☆ARC PROVIDED BY PUBLISHER IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW☆☆

Kiss Me, Maybe is the second installment in the Librarians In Love series by Gabriella Gamez where we follow Angela Gutierrez as one of her TikTok videos goes viral for reasons she could’ve never anticipated. In what most would consider modest pajamas, Angela speaks on her Ace identity and the fact that she’s a late bloomer who’s never been kissed. Influencer status UNLOCKED. Viewers want to follow Angela’s journey to getting that first kiss and so she feels inspired to turn this into a scavenger hunt with the prize being her first kiss. Women start flocking to the comments and asking for the application to participate and before she knows it, the city is tuned into her journey. Including one hot bartender Krystal Ramirez who Angela has had a five year crush on and thinks it to be a case of unrequited love. Krystal seems eager to help Angela find her first kiss and doesn’t deny her attraction to her but she’s also upfront with where she stands on love. It’s simply not for her and she doesn’t wish to get attached. 

This one is sitting at 3.5 stars with me which is a smidge lower than the first book in the Librarians in Love series but still enjoyable. I did wish that like its predecessor, we had seen Angela in a library setting but instead we spend more time at the bar where Krystal works. The only time work is brought up is when Angela’s higher ups frown upon her TikTok getting so much traction for her choice of sleepwear which showed not a lick of skin to begin with. That being said, the bar was lively and had all the vibes you’d want to see when drinks are being served. What I loved? The discussion on the highs and lows of having an online presence as Angela experiences online love/support turn to attacks on her personal life. The very real possibility that your offline career could be watching and have some sort of say in the content you post. I loved seeing how respectful and supportive Krystal is of Angela as she’s figuring out where she stands with her Ace identity. The questions she wants to answer for herself as someone who’s never experienced a kiss or anything sexual with anyone else, Angela is tired of not knowing. There’s a ton of exploration between the two with open-door play that is definitely a step up in the spice meter than The Next Best Fling. What I appreciated? Krystal’s reason for staving off love actually being well within reason and not something that is contrived to keep her away from our MC. Lastly, it wouldn’t be a Latinx romance without the presence of a large family that perhaps meddles a bit too much haha! Angela has these cousins who she always has felt the need to lie to in order to keep them out of her personal life, if this means making up a boyfriend or kiss then so be it. I’ve seen this happen way too many times and have also experienced the inquisition from my own Latinx familia so on that note, same girl! same! I do we hope we get another installment in this series and soon ❤ 

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Review: First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison

Title: The Road Of Bones

Author: Demi Winters

Original Pub. Date: June 27th 2023

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Format: eARC

Publisher: Delacorte Press

 Pages: 500

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Lucie Stone is a single mom with a bright and slightly mischievous young daughter who doesn’t want to see her mom sitting on the couch in sweats every night/weekend with Netflix and wine. She decides to call into Baltimore’s late night radio station Heartstrings and chats it up with the host Aiden Valentine in hopes of getting some advice to help her mom. Aiden Valentine has a problem, he’s fallen out of love with all things love while working as a host for the segment Heartstrings on a Baltimore radio station. His interest is piqued when a child calls in talking about her mom who has a pretty dull social life and could use some advice. The segment has been struggling bringing in listeners in part because of how off Aiden has been lately, a bit jaded and burnt out from listening to spouses calling in at the end of the road with their marriages. Things take a turn when Lucie Stone walks in on her daughter on the phone (it is late night) and accuses Aiden of being weird for talking to a minor. He helpfully informs Lucie that they’re on the air and manages to get her to talk to him. One call becomes two and pretty soon all of Baltimore is HOOKED on these late night calls between Lucie and Aiden. So much so that the station head wants to start a new segment focused on Lucy’s dating life while on her journey to finding love.
There aren’t very many pitch lines I’ve acted quick upon hearing but I’ve been waiting years for a Sleepless in Seattle inspired book to be written and dare I say, this one DELIVERED! I had butterflies in my stomach at every interaction between Aiden and Lucie which really only happens when I genuinely love both the main character and their love interest. Lucie is a single mom to a daughter with a ton of personality and free spirit, mechanic, and in a healthy co-parenting relationship with her ex who happens to live next door with his husband. This was fun even when it wasn’t because we see Lucie try to go back out into the dating scene and kiss some frogs all the while slowly falling for Mr. Right. Aiden is kind, attentive, supportive even when it goes against his own self interest and protective in the best of ways. He’s also a great son who has a bit of PTSD from his mother’s battle with cancer. Though she is healthy and living life with Aiden’s dad, that experience plays a huge role in his current approach to love and relationships. Lucie entering Aiden’s life at a time where he is vocal about his wishes to not be in a committed relationship make for an interesting dynamic between the two. Throw in the SUPER invested late night radio station callers and you have an engaging read reminiscent of the classic love story that would make Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan proud 😉

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