samantha_nicole_e 's review for:

Last First Kiss by Julian Winters

4.75

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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This was my first Julian Winters book, and it definitely won't be my last! The main character, Jordan, is an event planner who works on a wedding that unexpectedly happens to have his cousin's best friend - Jamie (his first kiss!) - as the bride's man of honor. There is some history between Jamie and Jordan that reveals over the course of the book and of course romantic feelings that evolve and unfold over the time they spend together helping plan the wedding event. 

I also didn't realize this when I started reading, but the characters are connected to another book by Julian Winters. Although I really want to read it now, I didn't find it 100% necessary to read before this book, as it mostly stands alone.

A large portion of the book focuses on Jamie's journey of self-discovery and queer identity. Because of this, it ended up being the strongest plot in the book for me (which I love!) but also led to slightly less time for the romance between Jamie and Jordan. There was still plenty of slow burn romance! - but I did find myself wanting a bit more information about Jamie's experiences/thoughts/feelings and wanting more scenes of them both together. All in all, a warm, hopeful, and thoughtful romance novel that I thoroughly enjoyed!

You might love this if you're a fan of:
- friends to lovers
- slow burn
- second chance romance
- identity exploration
- asexual representation
- pansexual representation

Thanks to St. Martin's Press & Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!