#julian winters

[thatsmybook]

"It's been a month since Young Royals officially ended and, if you're like me, you're still sobbing over that beautiful finale and missing Prince Wilhelm, Simon, and the entire squad from Hillerska (and Bjärstadt).

Don't worry, I've got some royally good YA book recs for your favourite characters from YOUNG ROYALS that you can add to your TBR to fill the space we're all missing after watching this fantastic series."

From YA author Julian Winters on IG @wintersjulian

[lgbtqreads]

Most Anticipated LGBTQ+ Romances: January-June 2025

So Not My Type by Dana Hawkins (January 5th) Sophie Black has clawed her way up from coffee runs to project manager at a top Seattle ad agency. She’s laser-focused on her career—until the CEO’s daughter, Ella Northwood, joins the team. Forced to work together on a high-stakes campaign, sparks fly as Sophie’s scrappy determination clashes with Ella’s polished privilege. But there’s more to both…

[vkelleyart]

“The chorus hits. Diego throws his head back, putting as much rasp into his singing as possible and that’s it. I can’t let him suffer alone. This is *our song.*” - RIGHT WHERE I LEFT YOU, by Julian Winters

I have long been a fan of Julian Winters’ work and have been so undecided about which scene to tackle first of the MANY scenes he’s written that I adore. But when I picked up this book and got to this moment between Isaac Martin and his best “friend” Diego Santoyo, the decision was made. This book is so joyful and wholesome, and more people need to read it, not the least because more Afro-Latine boys deserve their HEA and Julian is actively out here writing that world into being.

PS: I make no apologies about putting MANU’s poster on the wall. Diego is a queer Puerto Rican and my headcanon says he’d dig Manu’s story. Look close for the other Easter Eggs! ;)

[redwhiteandroyalbluesuggestions]

Be compared with many, many other books that come after you

[bookaddict24-7]

(New Young Adult Releases Coming Out Today! (August 20th, 2024)

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Have I missed any new Young Adult releases? Have you added any of these books to your TBR? Let me know!

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New Releases:

Something Like Right by H.D. Hunter

House of Thorns by Isabel Strychacz

Helga by Catherine Yu

Love Requires Chocolate by Ravynn K. Stringfield

Prince of the Palisades by Julian Winters

Mighty Millie Novak by Elizabeth Holden

A Bánh Mì for Two by Trinity Nguyen

The Darkness of Dying in the Light by S.E. Reed

New Sequel:

My Salty Mary (Mary #3) by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows

Wisteria (Belladonna #3) by Adalyn Grace

Clown in a Cornfield: The Church of Frendo (Clown in a Cornfield #3) by Adam Cesare

Drown Me with Dreams (Sing Me To Sleep #2) by Gabi Burton

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Happy reading!

[monomatica]

REVIEW : I Think They Love You by Julian Winters

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars

I typically read a book in 5 days but this one I read in 24 hours. I simply could not put it down. Maybe it’s because I love a Fake Dating Rom Com. Or that I was in the mood for a contemporary romance. Or because I fell in love with Denz and Braylon and their magnetic banter. Or because I could live vicariously through the parties featured in the story. It was probably all of the above because I absolutely loved it.

This is a fake dating mixed with second chance romance between Denzel Carter and Braylon Adams, who dated in college and then split up, and who meet again 5 years later which is where the book takes place. There are also some serious issues about meeting the expectations of your ambitious, talented family where everyone is involved in the family business, and the pressure you feel from your Father vs. finding your independence. There’s a bit of "nice Succession" in it, too, with a competition between Denz & Kami, the siblings that will inherit 24 Carter Gold, their Father’s very successful, high-end wedding-now-event planning company. It’s a wonderful framework for a romance and the extended family members are sassy and delightful.

There are super cute details like Brayson being labelled “Formerly Known as Bray” in his phone and “ex-now-fake-boyfriend” is how Denz refers to him in his POV. Braylon texts Denz random dad jokes which made me chuckle. The comedic timing is very funny. And of course there’s kissing with a 2/5 steam level!

I’ve only read Prince of the Palisades which I liked, but this grabbed me and never let go. Winters is known for writing contemporary YA romance, but I really hope he writes more queer adult romances because he’s great at it!

OUT: JAN 28, 2025

Thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the ARC

[pagesandpothos]

I Think They Love You by Julian Winters

Official Summary:

Sometimes fake dating your ex can turn into a second chance. When Denzel “Denz” Carter’s workaholic father and CEO of 24 Carter Gold unexpectedly announces his retirement, the competition is on for who will become his successor. To convince his judgmental family members that Denz is capable of commitment he impulsively lies about being in a serious relationship. Problem is the last serious relationship he was in hung him high and dry after leaving the continent. Now Denz needs to find a fake boyfriend to bring to family functions and seal the deal on the CEO position. To do so he enlists the help of his best friend and roommate, Jamie. Someone his family already accepts in their inner circle. But when his BFF is a no-show, Denz is forced to turn to the last person he wants to be in a pretend (or any) relationship Braylon, the man who broke his heart. Braylon’s sudden reappearance in Denz’s life turns everything upside down. But apparently, he needs Denz’s connections to the mayor to win his own promotion and Denz is currently up a creek without a paddle. So, they strike a deal. It’s all business, but between the funny texts and the confusing kisses soon enough Denz is struggling to separate business from the affairs of his heart. In Julian Winters's I think They Love You, sometimes fake dating your way to success can mean finding the second chance at love you've needed all along.

My Thoughts:

Two of my favorite romance tropes are fake dating and second-chance romance. Fake dating is always fun and usually results in at least a little pining (which is a requirement for me to get truly invested in a relationship). Second-chance romance can, when written properly, produce character and relationship growth that makes the happy ending feel earned. I Think They Love You is a prime example of how to do both of those tropes really well.

The book starts with Denz, the main character, preparing for a big event where his boyfriend, Braylon, will meet his family for the first time. After, we jump five years in the future, and see Denz run into Braylon again for the first time, a few years after their breakup.

Denz soon encounters a situation that makes him feel like he needs to present himself as being in a stable and committed relationship. When his best friend, Jamie, is suddenly unable to pose as his new boyfriend as planned, Braylon steps in, and the two are forced to deal with their lingering feelings and broken hearts.

The story is mostly told in the present but there are flashbacks sprinkled in that fill in their history. Through both timelines, their love for each other is clear. Denz and Braylon are a great example of the kinds of pairings I love in fiction: two people who really see each other (flaws and all) and push each other to be better and happier. These two had me laughing out loud and crying onto my Kindle at various points in the book!

Denz goes through some great character growth that I think will be relatable to many people. We don't get Braylon's POV but he's such a loveable character. Even without his POV, his personality shines through and the changes he brings about in Denzel are profound.

This story has a big focus on family: living up to family expectations, grieving lost parents, and found family are all themes. Denz's relationship with his family plays an especially large role in his life and the story. He has a close family filled with fun and realistic characters. His sister, Kami was a highlight for me. There are also parents, aunties, cousins, friends, and co-workers who fill out the cast.

One thing I really liked, as a romance fan, was all the references to rom-coms. Denz and Jamie love romance movies, so some big moments refer to some of the greats in the genre. There's also a quote about why romance appeals to so many that I adore and think other romance readers will too.

Finally, there are hints of another romance developing in the background of this book (including the epilogue). I have no idea if Julian Winters is planning a sequel but those two characters could make a great story that I would love to read! If this becomes a series, I will 100% be reading all future books.

I Think They Love You is a solid romance that does the second-chance romance and the fake-dating tropes right. It's emotional, sweet, funny, spicy, and everything that most romance readers look for.

My Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘 (4.25/5 stars).

Tropes/Tags:  romance, Achillean, contemporary, fake dating, second change romance, there's only one bed

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5. There are multiple sex scenes that are explicit and “Open Door”. 

Links: Storygraph | GoodReads | JulianWinters.com

I Think They Love You will be released on January 28, 2025, and is available for pre-order!

I received an advanced copy of this book for free thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin. The above are my honest feelings about the book provided. I don’t have any affiliate links in this post, and I do not make any money from my reviews. I review books simply because I love to read.

[ See Everything I’ve Read in 2025 ]

[bookshelvesandtealeaves]

✨ BOOK REVIEW ✨

I Think They Love You by Julian Winters

⭐️⭐️⭐️

[instagram]

Thank you St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book.

Julian Winters is definitely an author I want to read more from. The writing style was great and had me hooked immediately.

I really loved Bray as both the ex and fake boyfriend. He was funny and charming and he felt so incredibly real. I would have loved to have had his POV throughout this book.

I loved a lot of the side characters as well. Jordan, Jamie and Kami were all absolutely wonderful.

**SPOILERS BELOW**

Denz, on the other hand, frustrated me more and more as the book went on. He’s disorganised to the point where it made me, the reader, anxious. And yet he thinks he can be CEO? I understood him feeling the need to prove himself after his family made out like he wasn’t capable, but proving yourself is in ACTIONS, not just saying you can do something then constantly needing other people to cover up your mistakes.

All his self esteem issues didn’t really make me feel sorry for him because he wasn’t actively trying to make any of the changes he needed to make. Braylon kept telling him his family was wrong about him but all I was seeing was them pointing out his genuine flaws that wouldn’t make for a good CEO. He’s enough AS A PERSON, which is important, but not for CEO, the position he spends the whole book trying to prove he’s worthy of.

Maybe I missed the point?

There were definitely moments I enjoyed in this one, but overall not entirely for me.

[haveyoureadthisqueerbook]

[books-to-add-to-your-tbr]

Title: Fools In Love: Fresh Twists on Romantic Tales

Author: Ashley Herring Blake, Rebecca Podos, Rebecca Barrow, Gloria Chao, Mason Deaver, Sara Farizan, Claire Kann, Malinda Lo, Hannah Moskowitz, Natasha Ngan, Lilliam Rivera, Laura Silverman, Amy Spalding, Rebecca Kim Wells, Julian Winters

Series or standalone: standalone

Publication year: 2021

Genres: fiction, romance, anthology, LGBT+, contemporary

Blurb: This collection of genre-bending and original stories celebrates how love always finds a way, featuring powerful flora, a superhero and his nemesis, a fantastical sled race through snowcapped mountains, a golf tournament, the wrong ride-share, and even the end of the world.

[thatsmybook]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Julian Winters (@wintersjulian)

A book Wilmon will read to each other over the summer.

👑 A Black and queer bad boy prince

👑 A pink-haired American boy with a secret

👑 Young Royals angst

👑 Red, White and Royal Blue banter

👑 Fighting to flirting to late night sneaking around the palace

[lgbtqreads]

New Releases: January 2025

So Not My Type by Dana Hawkins (January 5th) Sophie Black has clawed her way up from coffee runs to project manager at a top Seattle ad agency. She’s laser-focused on her career—until the CEO’s daughter, Ella Northwood, joins the team. Forced to work together on a high-stakes campaign, sparks fly as Sophie’s scrappy determination clashes with Ella’s polished privilege. But there’s more to both…

[ace-artemis-fanartist]

My piece for @rainbowcrate’s January book box.

Julian Winter’s As You Walk on By.

[willmarstudios]

Warm tears cling to my eyelashes. Tears like a storm in the middle of July - unexpected but soothing. Some tears aren't for wounds. Some are for healing.

'Right Where I Left You' by Julian Winters

[daybringersol]

ordered myself more books 💪 got Running with Lions by Julian Winters & Icebreaker by A. L. Graziadei

in a sport gay romcom kinda mood at the moment idk

[stardustandrockets]

This is my last post in my series of rainbow recs. If you've enjoyed my content and can donate, my ko-fi is linked in my bio and my stories.

Thank you to everyone who has read my posts, saved them, shared them, and commented. It really means a lot that so many people have said they resonate with what I’ve said. It hasn’t been easy sharing some of this stuff as it’s not something I always like talking about. But with the #JesusJune reading challenge that was created by Christian bigots, I felt it was an opportune time to let my fellow religiously traumatized queers know that you’re not alone.

It’s been a hard journey to get to where I am today, and I don’t think I could have done that if it weren’t for my partner and queer representation in books. Before joining booksta back in 2017, I can think of only two queer books I’d really read, M or F? by Lisa Papademetriou and Chris Tebbetts and Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan. I read them both in high school and then fell off the reading wagon because college was a lot and I was too busy surviving to leisurely read. But it was the first time that I had read books with explicitly queer characters.

I am so very thankful that queer books exist at the capacity they do now. Even though scared adults are trying to ban queer content, it’s there for kids that need it and I greatly hope the ones that do need it are able to get it. If I had books like Loveless by Alice Oseman or known of any out and proud asexual authors, I might have discovered my asexuality sooner. That being said, I’m so glad that kids these days have better access to information that I did growing up (despite what some people want) and seem to know who they are at an earlier age. I think they’ll turn out okay, all things considered.

Remember: whether you are out or not, know you are greatly loved and my account is a safe space. 🌈 Bigots can't and won't win.