e-Audio, 10:22:27
Narrated by: Ruby Corazon
Release Date: May 6, 2025
Published by: Hachette Audio
Read from: May 5, 2025
Librarians in Love, #2
Source: Netgalley (I received a free e-ALC from Netgalley and the publisher. This did nothing to influence my review.)
Content Warning: Sexual Content, Acephobia/Arophobia, Bullying, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Injury/Injury Detail, Vomit, Biphobia
For Readers Interested In: Romance, Racial/Ethnic Diversity, 2sLGBTQ+, Contemporary, Realistic FictionWhen a late bloomer goes viral for coming out, she decides to use her newfound fame to get her first kiss—with the help of a sexy bartender.
Librarian Angela Gutierrez has never been kissed. But after posting a video about her late bloomer status and ace identity, she’s finally ready to get some firsts out of the way. Using her new influencer status to come up with a scavenger hunt idea in which the winner earns her first kiss, Angela realizes she may need some help to pull off the event. Enter Krystal Ramirez, hot bartender and Angela’s unrequited crush of five years. Despite vowing that romantic love isn’t for her, Krystal seems awfully determined to help Angela pull off the scavenger hunt and find true love.
There’s just one the connection between Angela and Krystal is getting stronger and stronger the more they hang out, until Angela isn’t sure she wants to go through with the scavenger hunt after all. But Krystal is convinced that she isn’t capable of love and before long, Angela realizes she’s falling head over heels for a woman who may never love her back.
*MY THOUGHTS*
I gotta say, I think I’m in the minority with this one. There were some things I loved but for the most part I just kept thinking that “this is set during COVID and she’s meeting people to try to kiss them.” lol I just couldn’t get that out of my head.
Ok so I usually LOVE books with influencers. They are usually today’s version of “celebrity romances.” But with this one, I just couldn’t get into it. I loved the thought of how she first went viral because I think that might actually happen. But the second half? When they started the contest thing? Yeahhhhhhh I didn’t care for that. ONLY because she said it was during COVID and everything was closed. And I just couldn’t get it out of my head. I know that they mentioned that it was mostly after it, but I just keep thinking to myself that I’m still wearing a mask lol So that part was a bit blah to me. And yes I know nothing happened until she wanted it to, but still, it ruined it for me.
The romance itself was cute and I loved the ace rep. And I just want to point out and praise Gamez for how she showed how identity is so fluid. I myself even went through all of the same questions that she had. I loved that she was brave enough to share it with the world tho. Definitely could never have been me lol
With that being said, I just want to point out that I don’t condone violence, but I really could have beat her family up. Those were supposed to be the people who are taking care of each other. But no they were the ones who teased her the most. And that ending?! Yeah I was mad af at her. I hated that they were STILL getting to her. She deserved to heal without them in her face.
Also, the love interest? Like were they all not paying attention? Did she seriously not know that they liked her? It was evident from the beginning. I knew who the person was immediately. But I was really confused. Does Late Bloomer mean doesn’t pay attention? Because it was immediately evident lol Maybe it’s just me and I’m being extra, but this one was not my favorite.
This wasn’t what I was expecting. I gotta say tho I’m still excited to see what else Gamez has in store. This one was just a one off with me. I’m just if these things don’t bother you, you’ll be fine.
Overall, I give this
