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Only Friends
Not yet published
Expected 10 Feb 26“A delightful romantic comedy debut!” —Olivia Dade, USA TODAY bestselling author of Zomromcom and Spoiler Alert
“An excellent and unique premise...San Andres’s love for Regency romance comes through.” —Library Journal
Fans of The Regency Vows and For the Love of Austen series will adore this sexy and charming rom-com debut about an aspiring screenwriter and a gorgeous model teaming up to create regency era thirst content for online fans.
After being fired from her day job, unceremoniously ghosted, and facing a bad case of writer’s block, twenty-six-year-old aspiring screenwriter Mariel Rivera is one spilled coffee away from crying on the subway. When she’s rescued from a Times Square kerfuffle by a very handsome model dressed in regency costume, Mariel has no idea her life is about to change.
Dashwood Bennet has been modeling for years, though recently, his current portfolio includes some more risqué shots. However, he never imagined that after his encounter with Mariel, he’d be putting on his regency breeches just to take them off again…in front of the camera.
Dash is the answer to Mariel’s prayers in more ways than one. First, he saved her from an unruly mob. Second, he’s the perfect person to play the Duke of Harding, a character she’s created that captured her attention and won’t let go. Third, he’s more than game to be the face of her spicy historical shorts. And last but not least, he’s her perfect partner both in business and in the bedroom. But being work-partners-with-benefits can complicate things. Will their partnership survive or are Mariel and Dash doomed to not have their happily ever after?
“An excellent and unique premise...San Andres’s love for Regency romance comes through.” —Library Journal
Fans of The Regency Vows and For the Love of Austen series will adore this sexy and charming rom-com debut about an aspiring screenwriter and a gorgeous model teaming up to create regency era thirst content for online fans.
After being fired from her day job, unceremoniously ghosted, and facing a bad case of writer’s block, twenty-six-year-old aspiring screenwriter Mariel Rivera is one spilled coffee away from crying on the subway. When she’s rescued from a Times Square kerfuffle by a very handsome model dressed in regency costume, Mariel has no idea her life is about to change.
Dashwood Bennet has been modeling for years, though recently, his current portfolio includes some more risqué shots. However, he never imagined that after his encounter with Mariel, he’d be putting on his regency breeches just to take them off again…in front of the camera.
Dash is the answer to Mariel’s prayers in more ways than one. First, he saved her from an unruly mob. Second, he’s the perfect person to play the Duke of Harding, a character she’s created that captured her attention and won’t let go. Third, he’s more than game to be the face of her spicy historical shorts. And last but not least, he’s her perfect partner both in business and in the bedroom. But being work-partners-with-benefits can complicate things. Will their partnership survive or are Mariel and Dash doomed to not have their happily ever after?
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 10, 2026
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9801 people want to read
About the author
Lydia San Andres
23 books103 followersLydia San Andres (She/Her) lives and writes in the tropics, where she can be found reading, sipping coffee, and making excuses to stay out of the sun. As much as she enjoys air conditioning, she can sometimes be lured outside with the promise of cookies and picnics.
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July 14, 2025things i enjoyed:
the premise! struggling screen-writer teams up with social media thirst trap influencer to create a sexy regency Duke character.
Casually queer. Dash is bisexual, not at all a part of the plot besides he is. Other queer characters and characters of color yay!
setting in NYC, loved how we get to fall in love with the city and its people along with the characters, neither of whom lived there until they were adults.
amazing, punchy start that grabbed my interest.
the not so great:
the punchy start petered out for me as Dash and Mariel were having a great, horny buildup to banging, but once they did bang we got everything BUT the penetration, which felt anti-climatic especially for the premise, and then the rest of the book was mostly implied/fade to black.
Also, the discussion of Dash's sex work on OnlyFans felt, superficial at best. It was never really described as more than thirst trapping, but I'm assuming it was more than that? I wish this nuance was explored a bit more as Dash expresses discontent with previous partners who were ashamed of his work. I was pleased Mariel had no issues or qualms, but the way it was written made it seem more like simple tiktok thirst traps than for example the sex worker in Caught Up by Navessa Allen. I was also confused that this site was called a real world name while the other ones used were made up.
the premise! struggling screen-writer teams up with social media thirst trap influencer to create a sexy regency Duke character.
Casually queer. Dash is bisexual, not at all a part of the plot besides he is. Other queer characters and characters of color yay!
setting in NYC, loved how we get to fall in love with the city and its people along with the characters, neither of whom lived there until they were adults.
amazing, punchy start that grabbed my interest.
the not so great:
the punchy start petered out for me as Dash and Mariel were having a great, horny buildup to banging, but once they did bang we got everything BUT the penetration, which felt anti-climatic especially for the premise, and then the rest of the book was mostly implied/fade to black.
Also, the discussion of Dash's sex work on OnlyFans felt, superficial at best. It was never really described as more than thirst trapping, but I'm assuming it was more than that? I wish this nuance was explored a bit more as Dash expresses discontent with previous partners who were ashamed of his work. I was pleased Mariel had no issues or qualms, but the way it was written made it seem more like simple tiktok thirst traps than for example the sex worker in Caught Up by Navessa Allen. I was also confused that this site was called a real world name while the other ones used were made up.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Atria for my advanced copy of this delightful romcom! Overall, this was such a cute and fun story. Mari is a chaotic yet relatable FMC, and Dash is an absolute dreamboat. I loved the fun twist on a Regency-era romance, with Mari and Dash setting out to create a Regency-inspired character for OnlyFans.
While their instant chemistry and bond were undeniable, the miscommunication between Dash and Mari was often infuriating. Truly, just say what you’re feeling for once, please. This definitely reminded me why I so often struggle with romances centered on characters in their early twenties, but overall, it was still a fun time.
While their instant chemistry and bond were undeniable, the miscommunication between Dash and Mari was often infuriating. Truly, just say what you’re feeling for once, please. This definitely reminded me why I so often struggle with romances centered on characters in their early twenties, but overall, it was still a fun time.
September 16, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel.
Only Friends is a novel about self-love, self-respect, and being kind to yourself. This novel follows Mariel as she works to learn how to believe that she is worthy of friends, family, compassion, a career she enjoys, and most of all - love. Enter Dash, the perfect regency 'duke' to help her along the way, and a few new bookish friends too. If you like a cute, hipster romance, then this is for you. There is also LGBT+ representation that is wonderfully done, and it's nice to see LGBT+ characters written as actual people, not as how the writer believes them to behave.
Unfortunately, I did have some trouble relating to Mariel and Dash, and I think that is because I don't live in a place like NYC. This novel felt like the characters were really written a certain way because of the setting, but if the setting had been elsewhere it probably would've been a whole different novel. While I do understand the part the setting plays in a novel, I think it's also important to remember that all readers are not from places like where the novel is set, and it might be a good idea to include things for us to grab onto in the writing.
Only Friends is a novel about self-love, self-respect, and being kind to yourself. This novel follows Mariel as she works to learn how to believe that she is worthy of friends, family, compassion, a career she enjoys, and most of all - love. Enter Dash, the perfect regency 'duke' to help her along the way, and a few new bookish friends too. If you like a cute, hipster romance, then this is for you. There is also LGBT+ representation that is wonderfully done, and it's nice to see LGBT+ characters written as actual people, not as how the writer believes them to behave.
Unfortunately, I did have some trouble relating to Mariel and Dash, and I think that is because I don't live in a place like NYC. This novel felt like the characters were really written a certain way because of the setting, but if the setting had been elsewhere it probably would've been a whole different novel. While I do understand the part the setting plays in a novel, I think it's also important to remember that all readers are not from places like where the novel is set, and it might be a good idea to include things for us to grab onto in the writing.
September 25, 2025
I really loved the general idea of Only Friends, but I had a hard time actually relating to the characters. It’s a relatively short book, so that’s kind of to be expected though.
There were lots of really cute moments that I thoroughly enjoyed too. In general, if you’re looking for a quick fun read, it will definitely get the job done.
There were lots of really cute moments that I thoroughly enjoyed too. In general, if you’re looking for a quick fun read, it will definitely get the job done.
2026
October 21, 2025Valentine's Day TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Primero Sueno Press
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Primero Sueno Press
January 6, 2026
I enjoyed this book! If you like a man who knows how to weild his words, this is for you!
Dash was a dreamy, devilish duke who reminded me why I loved reading historical romance. I wish their whole project was real because boy would I eat that up. He was so kind and thoughtful, and definitely more patient that I ever will be.
I enjoyed the pacing of this book!! I also felt like the side characters were pretty well developed, and would love to read a book about them.
There were a few things that held me back from loving it. First, I didn’t love the amount of pop culture references. It’s not a bad thing, just not something I enjoy!
Second, I feel like Mariel was a touch toxic at points in this book. I understand that she was dealing with her own trauma, but I still don’t feel like it was properly addressed. She did a lot of things that were just generally bad things to do to someone, and Dash, ever the gentleman, was too quick to let it slide. There’s nuance there, and of course it’s a more complex issue than I am making it sound, but it was something I couldn’t get out of my mind reading this book.
Overall, this was a good book with just a couple quirks that kept it from being a 5 star read for me!
A huge thank you to Primero Sueno Press for the early review copy!!
Dash was a dreamy, devilish duke who reminded me why I loved reading historical romance. I wish their whole project was real because boy would I eat that up. He was so kind and thoughtful, and definitely more patient that I ever will be.
I enjoyed the pacing of this book!! I also felt like the side characters were pretty well developed, and would love to read a book about them.
There were a few things that held me back from loving it. First, I didn’t love the amount of pop culture references. It’s not a bad thing, just not something I enjoy!
Second, I feel like Mariel was a touch toxic at points in this book. I understand that she was dealing with her own trauma, but I still don’t feel like it was properly addressed. She did a lot of things that were just generally bad things to do to someone, and Dash, ever the gentleman, was too quick to let it slide. There’s nuance there, and of course it’s a more complex issue than I am making it sound, but it was something I couldn’t get out of my mind reading this book.
Overall, this was a good book with just a couple quirks that kept it from being a 5 star read for me!
A huge thank you to Primero Sueno Press for the early review copy!!
January 19, 2026
This was a really fun and quirky romcom! The characters were so fun and interesting to meet, the exploring of New York was so cool, and the amount of queer Black and Brown characters was amazing!! My only beef was with my chaotic gremlin Mariel🫠 she was such a frustrating character to read about bc of her self aware but still self destructive behavior and it was just really difficult to feel for her when she was quite literally making the choice to put herself in those situations🙃 But thankfully when she started making friends and being honest with herself WAYYYYYY later in the book, she became a much better character to stick around for. I do hope Yaz and Chase get a book bc those two were making eyes at each other and I need to see him in Prince Naveen cosplay again😭
Thank you Primero Sueño Press for the ARC!! I can’t wait to see what else this author comes out with🙂↕️👏
Thank you Primero Sueño Press for the ARC!! I can’t wait to see what else this author comes out with🙂↕️👏
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2025
Thank you for the ARC NetGalley!!
2.5 stars, rounded up!
Listen, based on the description of this book, I wasn’t expecting anything too serious or mind blowing. And, honestly, that’s why I requested an ARC. I was intrigued by the premise of it. It’s not something I’ve ever seen in a book before and I figured that even if my suspicions were correct (that’s it not mind blowing) it would still be a fun read. And, I mean, it sort of was?
It was silly and definitely had a unique concept, but I caught myself skimming the pages a few times. Not that it was boring, per se. It’s just that the plot was barely there. I mean, it stuck to what the description promised, but that’s about it. It almost read like the author had no outline and just started writing as she went along. Not that that made the book bad by any means. I just think it could have been a tad more structured. Despite being a short book, it felt like it went on forever.
I wasn’t big on either of the main characters, unfortunately. Mariel was very chaotic and she kept running away from her problems (which was mentioned A LOT—at least she’s self aware). She was OKAY, but not my favorite. As for Dash, he was also just OKAY. He was super sweet and a big cinnamon roll (also mentioned a lot), but sometimes it felt like a little too much. Like he had no flaws. And don’t get me wrong, I’m glad he wasn’t a terrible person, it’s just that he didn’t seem to have any regular ole flaws either (even his apartment was spotless).
So anyways, I think a lot of people will love this book, merely because it’s a fast read and not overly plot heavy. And I also think lots of people will love both of the main characters! There is definitely stuff to like in this book! I like how diverse the cast of characters is and, again, how unique the concept is. Unfortunately, I wasn’t overly invested in really anything that happened in it.
2.5 stars, rounded up!
Listen, based on the description of this book, I wasn’t expecting anything too serious or mind blowing. And, honestly, that’s why I requested an ARC. I was intrigued by the premise of it. It’s not something I’ve ever seen in a book before and I figured that even if my suspicions were correct (that’s it not mind blowing) it would still be a fun read. And, I mean, it sort of was?
It was silly and definitely had a unique concept, but I caught myself skimming the pages a few times. Not that it was boring, per se. It’s just that the plot was barely there. I mean, it stuck to what the description promised, but that’s about it. It almost read like the author had no outline and just started writing as she went along. Not that that made the book bad by any means. I just think it could have been a tad more structured. Despite being a short book, it felt like it went on forever.
I wasn’t big on either of the main characters, unfortunately. Mariel was very chaotic and she kept running away from her problems (which was mentioned A LOT—at least she’s self aware). She was OKAY, but not my favorite. As for Dash, he was also just OKAY. He was super sweet and a big cinnamon roll (also mentioned a lot), but sometimes it felt like a little too much. Like he had no flaws. And don’t get me wrong, I’m glad he wasn’t a terrible person, it’s just that he didn’t seem to have any regular ole flaws either (even his apartment was spotless).
So anyways, I think a lot of people will love this book, merely because it’s a fast read and not overly plot heavy. And I also think lots of people will love both of the main characters! There is definitely stuff to like in this book! I like how diverse the cast of characters is and, again, how unique the concept is. Unfortunately, I wasn’t overly invested in really anything that happened in it.
July 21, 2025
Mariel is at a crossroads - recently fired from her job and struggling with writer’s block, her dreams of finishing a screenplay seem stalled. Enter Dashwood (aka Dash), who agrees to partner with her on an unconventional creative venture: an Austen-inspired OnlyFans account. Mariel writes the content, Dash performs as a brooding, modern Mr. Darcy, and their account quickly goes viral—bringing both the rewards and complications of internet fame.
While the premise is certainly contemporary, I struggled to connect with the tone and character development. The normalization of using a platform like OnlyFans to launch a career felt somewhat underexplored and inconsistent, with fluctuating levels of explicitness that left me unclear on the intended audience or message. Additionally, the main characters felt underdeveloped—Mariel came across as flat, and Dash lacked agency.
The novel had potential, especially in its commentary on fame, content creation, and performance, but it could benefit from stronger pacing and deeper character work. It may resonate more with readers who are more in step with its generational and cultural references, but it didn’t quite land for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
While the premise is certainly contemporary, I struggled to connect with the tone and character development. The normalization of using a platform like OnlyFans to launch a career felt somewhat underexplored and inconsistent, with fluctuating levels of explicitness that left me unclear on the intended audience or message. Additionally, the main characters felt underdeveloped—Mariel came across as flat, and Dash lacked agency.
The novel had potential, especially in its commentary on fame, content creation, and performance, but it could benefit from stronger pacing and deeper character work. It may resonate more with readers who are more in step with its generational and cultural references, but it didn’t quite land for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
July 15, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
This was okay. It was a low angst, lighthearted rom com featuring a quirky manic pixie dream girl and a cinnamon roll hero. The premise was cute: an aspiring screenwriter and a model team up to create content in order to make money so that she can pay rent while pursing her dream of writing a rom com. Is it far-fetched? Sure. I think I would have been more into it if I’d connected with the heroine more. She was your standard version quirky girl who doesn’t have her life together. There wasn’t anything inherently complex about her, which was a shame because there was a missed opportunity to really delve into her fear of abandonment and her relationship with her mother. All we get is surface level, and it wasn’t engaging enough for me to be invested in her journey.
The hero was a sweet and patient man, and I did really enjoy their flirty banter. While they had chemistry, it felt more like a platonic relationship. Once they got together the pace started to drag for me, especially given the push and pull from the heroine. Dash was an amazing and earnest guy, and I felt like he could do better than Mariel.
Overall, an interesting storyline, but the execution fell short for me.
This was okay. It was a low angst, lighthearted rom com featuring a quirky manic pixie dream girl and a cinnamon roll hero. The premise was cute: an aspiring screenwriter and a model team up to create content in order to make money so that she can pay rent while pursing her dream of writing a rom com. Is it far-fetched? Sure. I think I would have been more into it if I’d connected with the heroine more. She was your standard version quirky girl who doesn’t have her life together. There wasn’t anything inherently complex about her, which was a shame because there was a missed opportunity to really delve into her fear of abandonment and her relationship with her mother. All we get is surface level, and it wasn’t engaging enough for me to be invested in her journey.
The hero was a sweet and patient man, and I did really enjoy their flirty banter. While they had chemistry, it felt more like a platonic relationship. Once they got together the pace started to drag for me, especially given the push and pull from the heroine. Dash was an amazing and earnest guy, and I felt like he could do better than Mariel.
Overall, an interesting storyline, but the execution fell short for me.
December 23, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria / Primero Sueno Press for an ARC of this book! I really enjoyed it! It was a sweet and swoony book. I loved Dash's character and how Shy and Aria become interconnected characters. I don't love a 3rd act breakup, but I could see it coming. The idea of the Regency thirst traps is so fun! I hope to see an expansion of this book into a series so we can see the love stories for Chase and Yaz. Or a prequel that shows how Shy and Aria reconnected after those 6 years. I love the queer and cultural representation that Lydia San Andres included in this book. I'm excited to read her next one!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5/5
—think Quinn-type content
—cinnamon roll hero
—heroine who sees herself as Too Much
The Basics:
Aspiring screenwriter Mariel is out of a job and a relationship, which is why she's desperate enough to ask the model she met in Regency costume (him, not her) to collaborate on a series of spicy~ videos in which he's the sexy historical romance hero of your dreams. She and Dash hit it off, becoming fast friends—which gets a little complicated when they hook up. It doesn't have to be complicated, though! Especially when the videos take off and they have their blossoming careers at stake. But... he's just so cute...
The Review:
Okay, so. I love the idea of more books about heroes with jobs related to the SW industry (and this is sex work!). Quinn is obviously taking off in a big way, and they do indeed have audios with historical romance vibes. (Although I should note—Dash's content does involve video, not just audio.) Even if this type of content isn't necessarily for me as a consumer, it should be normalized, and I love the idea of a hero vamping it up in front of the camera while the heroine writes the scripts and essentially directs him.
And while I've complained about friends to lovers before—this is basically friends with benefits to lovers. Although Dash and Mariel don't hook up immediately, it doesn't take them too long. From there, it's basically casual. This is a great way to do friends to lovers, in my opinion.
So a lot of things to like, and a lot of things different readers probably will like. For me, this was another book where I kept going, "I need his POV. I need his POV. I NEED HIS POV."
Without Dash's POV, he is just too perfect. Too sweet, too tender, too... non-problematic. And I'm not saying he needs to be terrible, at all! Obviously, if he's working in a sexual context (even if it's on the lighter side) with Mariel, I don't want him to be a creep. But he's just so... enlightened. He loves romance novels. And I'm sorry! I'm just really tired of reading about heroes who are attracted to women (notice that I don't say "straight", because Dash isn't, and I give big kudos for that—bi and pan heroes are rare in MF romances) revealing this love of romance novels.
Romances are wish fulfillment in some ways. But they have to be more than that to work for me. I don't want to read about the perfect guy. Dash would probably be a delight to date in real life. He just doesn't have enough development here.
And that's kind of highlighted more by the fact that Mariel is a lot more interested. She's a little brash, openly herself, and quirky in a way that did feel real to me, rather than put on. I wish that the Lydia San Andres had come back to a way to sum this up other than "she's afraid of being see as TOO MUCH", because... Yes, it's something lots of women struggle with, I'm sure. But I've seen it a good bit lately in romance novels and onscreen. Maybe I would be a bit less tired of it if the heroes paired with these TOO MUCH heroines weren't kinda boring. Sadsack boring or "too perfect" boring.
I think there's a lot of cuteness here, but it just felt TOO cute. A really creative premise, with a hero who just doesn't have the interiority to match our heroine. And this is just a note—I think we have too many pop culture references here. Some current, some too old. Either way, I think pop culture references date a book, the author... it throws people off the game.
If you do not mind that much cuteness, a hero who is just ready to be your feminist fantasy without any work—check this out. I'm just not quite there myself.
The Sex:
I was surprised by how tame the scenes were in a book wherein the friends with benefits element is so prominent. They are good, but I could've used something a bit hotter.
The Conclusion:
A little too sugary to really hit the emotions the way it should, Only Friends is cute... But I wanted it to be great. If a sugar rush is your thing, though, this could totally be what you need.
Thanks to Atria/Primero Sueno Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
—think Quinn-type content
—cinnamon roll hero
—heroine who sees herself as Too Much
The Basics:
Aspiring screenwriter Mariel is out of a job and a relationship, which is why she's desperate enough to ask the model she met in Regency costume (him, not her) to collaborate on a series of spicy~ videos in which he's the sexy historical romance hero of your dreams. She and Dash hit it off, becoming fast friends—which gets a little complicated when they hook up. It doesn't have to be complicated, though! Especially when the videos take off and they have their blossoming careers at stake. But... he's just so cute...
The Review:
Okay, so. I love the idea of more books about heroes with jobs related to the SW industry (and this is sex work!). Quinn is obviously taking off in a big way, and they do indeed have audios with historical romance vibes. (Although I should note—Dash's content does involve video, not just audio.) Even if this type of content isn't necessarily for me as a consumer, it should be normalized, and I love the idea of a hero vamping it up in front of the camera while the heroine writes the scripts and essentially directs him.
And while I've complained about friends to lovers before—this is basically friends with benefits to lovers. Although Dash and Mariel don't hook up immediately, it doesn't take them too long. From there, it's basically casual. This is a great way to do friends to lovers, in my opinion.
So a lot of things to like, and a lot of things different readers probably will like. For me, this was another book where I kept going, "I need his POV. I need his POV. I NEED HIS POV."
Without Dash's POV, he is just too perfect. Too sweet, too tender, too... non-problematic. And I'm not saying he needs to be terrible, at all! Obviously, if he's working in a sexual context (even if it's on the lighter side) with Mariel, I don't want him to be a creep. But he's just so... enlightened. He loves romance novels. And I'm sorry! I'm just really tired of reading about heroes who are attracted to women (notice that I don't say "straight", because Dash isn't, and I give big kudos for that—bi and pan heroes are rare in MF romances) revealing this love of romance novels.
Romances are wish fulfillment in some ways. But they have to be more than that to work for me. I don't want to read about the perfect guy. Dash would probably be a delight to date in real life. He just doesn't have enough development here.
And that's kind of highlighted more by the fact that Mariel is a lot more interested. She's a little brash, openly herself, and quirky in a way that did feel real to me, rather than put on. I wish that the Lydia San Andres had come back to a way to sum this up other than "she's afraid of being see as TOO MUCH", because... Yes, it's something lots of women struggle with, I'm sure. But I've seen it a good bit lately in romance novels and onscreen. Maybe I would be a bit less tired of it if the heroes paired with these TOO MUCH heroines weren't kinda boring. Sadsack boring or "too perfect" boring.
I think there's a lot of cuteness here, but it just felt TOO cute. A really creative premise, with a hero who just doesn't have the interiority to match our heroine. And this is just a note—I think we have too many pop culture references here. Some current, some too old. Either way, I think pop culture references date a book, the author... it throws people off the game.
If you do not mind that much cuteness, a hero who is just ready to be your feminist fantasy without any work—check this out. I'm just not quite there myself.
The Sex:
I was surprised by how tame the scenes were in a book wherein the friends with benefits element is so prominent. They are good, but I could've used something a bit hotter.
The Conclusion:
A little too sugary to really hit the emotions the way it should, Only Friends is cute... But I wanted it to be great. If a sugar rush is your thing, though, this could totally be what you need.
Thanks to Atria/Primero Sueno Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 28, 2025
Thank you to Primero Sueño Press for sending me a physical ARC of this book.
Only Friends follows aspiring screenwriter Mariel, our Latina main character, as she tries to figure out her life and passions in NYC after being fired from her job and going through a messy breakup. When she encounters the love interest, Dashwood (Dash), the two team up to create spicy regency/historical short form online content. What begins as a business partnership quickly becomes complicated when feelings and attraction get thrown into the mix.
This book might be good for you if you:
- Enjoy slow burns (and fade to black/closed door romances)
- Enjoy (sort of) workplace friends to lovers
- Don’t mind mentions of social media/pop culture in books
- Prefer books that give you a lot of description
*****
Overall, this book was a quick read, but I definitely enjoyed the first half more than the second half. In the first half, the book clearly establishes this quirky, semi-distraught, 20-something who is just trying to make it work in New York and an attractive, wholesome love interest. The book was really easy to get into and had an enjoyable and unique concept going for it while still bringing in familiar storylines and tropes.
By the midway point, though, I was struggling with the writing. There were too many similes (for my taste) and the overuse of the word “flail” was a little grating. Some points of the prose also felt like jokes were made with the reader in mind or like the main character was telling the story TO the reader rather than actively living it. Given that this dynamic wasn’t established from the beginning, it felt like the main character was breaking the fourth wall and took me out of the story every time. Funnily enough, I kept thinking this probably could have been interesting as a screenplay.
I found that throughout the book some descriptions were a little heavy-handed. At first, I interpreted this as a way to give some shape to the characters but when it continued happening through the end, it didn’t quite work for me because we already knew the characters. The description didn’t add anything to the story.
I believe there’s potential here but this didn’t feel quite polished enough to me. Regardless, I have no doubt that this book will find its audience! It’s a fun read worth giving a try if the premise sounds interesting.
Only Friends follows aspiring screenwriter Mariel, our Latina main character, as she tries to figure out her life and passions in NYC after being fired from her job and going through a messy breakup. When she encounters the love interest, Dashwood (Dash), the two team up to create spicy regency/historical short form online content. What begins as a business partnership quickly becomes complicated when feelings and attraction get thrown into the mix.
This book might be good for you if you:
- Enjoy slow burns (and fade to black/closed door romances)
- Enjoy (sort of) workplace friends to lovers
- Don’t mind mentions of social media/pop culture in books
- Prefer books that give you a lot of description
*****
Overall, this book was a quick read, but I definitely enjoyed the first half more than the second half. In the first half, the book clearly establishes this quirky, semi-distraught, 20-something who is just trying to make it work in New York and an attractive, wholesome love interest. The book was really easy to get into and had an enjoyable and unique concept going for it while still bringing in familiar storylines and tropes.
By the midway point, though, I was struggling with the writing. There were too many similes (for my taste) and the overuse of the word “flail” was a little grating. Some points of the prose also felt like jokes were made with the reader in mind or like the main character was telling the story TO the reader rather than actively living it. Given that this dynamic wasn’t established from the beginning, it felt like the main character was breaking the fourth wall and took me out of the story every time. Funnily enough, I kept thinking this probably could have been interesting as a screenplay.
I found that throughout the book some descriptions were a little heavy-handed. At first, I interpreted this as a way to give some shape to the characters but when it continued happening through the end, it didn’t quite work for me because we already knew the characters. The description didn’t add anything to the story.
I believe there’s potential here but this didn’t feel quite polished enough to me. Regardless, I have no doubt that this book will find its audience! It’s a fun read worth giving a try if the premise sounds interesting.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5
This was such a cute book, especially as I gear up to watch the new season of Bridgerton!
You can really tell Lydia’s love for regency romance in how she crafted this story and the characters. It was a fun mix because the author also blends her love for this genre with very modern day challenges, social apps, and social demographics.
This book has great representation of diverse characters including the lgbtqia+ community and latine cultural representation. These elements really add to the story and proving a better understanding of some of the lived expierence of the characters, making them more relatable. I think this type of representation is so important in what we read. On top of that, the themes that this story touches on are very relatable like being in a new city trying to find your way, scared to disappoint your family and community by failing (publicly), and the all too common feeling that you need to “have your shit together” because you think everyone else does until you find out were all fumbling through life just trying to do our best.
What I also liked about this book was the connection to using social media platforms as a job and gaining followers/community through an online presence. I thought it was especially clever how they made a subtle connection to the sometimes taboo platform Only Fans. I don’t think that that is a platform that should have such a stigma around it and I thought this book did such a great job or normalizing the app, and highlighting that it is a very valid form on income and work.
The only challenge I had with the book was the pacing. It started off a bit slow for me in the dynamics building between Dash and Mariel. I sometimes found myself frustrated with Mariel and her extreme avoidant attachment style. This is definitely a slow burn and I was almost worried we wouldn’t get a resolution at the end. However, I did really like the ending and how it brought the book full circle and even referenced some of the early content of the book when Dash and Mariel first met.
This was such a cute book, especially as I gear up to watch the new season of Bridgerton!
You can really tell Lydia’s love for regency romance in how she crafted this story and the characters. It was a fun mix because the author also blends her love for this genre with very modern day challenges, social apps, and social demographics.
This book has great representation of diverse characters including the lgbtqia+ community and latine cultural representation. These elements really add to the story and proving a better understanding of some of the lived expierence of the characters, making them more relatable. I think this type of representation is so important in what we read. On top of that, the themes that this story touches on are very relatable like being in a new city trying to find your way, scared to disappoint your family and community by failing (publicly), and the all too common feeling that you need to “have your shit together” because you think everyone else does until you find out were all fumbling through life just trying to do our best.
What I also liked about this book was the connection to using social media platforms as a job and gaining followers/community through an online presence. I thought it was especially clever how they made a subtle connection to the sometimes taboo platform Only Fans. I don’t think that that is a platform that should have such a stigma around it and I thought this book did such a great job or normalizing the app, and highlighting that it is a very valid form on income and work.
The only challenge I had with the book was the pacing. It started off a bit slow for me in the dynamics building between Dash and Mariel. I sometimes found myself frustrated with Mariel and her extreme avoidant attachment style. This is definitely a slow burn and I was almost worried we wouldn’t get a resolution at the end. However, I did really like the ending and how it brought the book full circle and even referenced some of the early content of the book when Dash and Mariel first met.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Primero Sueno Press for the ARC.
I had a delightful time with Only Friends. I was also under the impression for a very long time that this was some sort of time travel romance (a la Kate and Leopold), but it’s not. It’s very much rooted in a contemporary New York City, Hell’s Kitchen if we’re being specific.
It truly felt like San Andres had more room to breathe outside of the strictures of category romance, with it’s tight plotting and occasional penchant for bonkers-ness, or the novella, which strips a story back to just it’s essentials. Only Friends hit all the familiar and delightful beats of a 2000’s era rom-com, threaded with humor, vivid New York scenery, and realistically messy characters. Also, so many of these characters were queer and I was loving it. From our bisexual MMC Dashwood Bennet, aka the Duke of Harding, to the nonbinary bookshop owner Shiloh, or Mariel’s stalwart cousin Yaz. And dear sweet Mariel was a wonderfully messy FMC. Her whole: “Feelings?! You want to talk about FEELINGS?! [Running far away.]” Mariel, I’m with you. Get me out of that conversation as soon as possible. When it came to Dash and Mariel’s relationship, I liked that they both had to acknowledge where they made missteps and where they needed to compromise and grow.
As a reader who has also seen how the romance genre has become rather meta in its inclusion within the genre itself…you’ll either appreciate it or it will feel too heavy handed in Only Friends. For me, given just how integral it was to the plot and the characters, the meta romance angle felt like a sincere appreciation and nod to the strength of the romance reading community.
I had a delightful time with Only Friends. I was also under the impression for a very long time that this was some sort of time travel romance (a la Kate and Leopold), but it’s not. It’s very much rooted in a contemporary New York City, Hell’s Kitchen if we’re being specific.
It truly felt like San Andres had more room to breathe outside of the strictures of category romance, with it’s tight plotting and occasional penchant for bonkers-ness, or the novella, which strips a story back to just it’s essentials. Only Friends hit all the familiar and delightful beats of a 2000’s era rom-com, threaded with humor, vivid New York scenery, and realistically messy characters. Also, so many of these characters were queer and I was loving it. From our bisexual MMC Dashwood Bennet, aka the Duke of Harding, to the nonbinary bookshop owner Shiloh, or Mariel’s stalwart cousin Yaz. And dear sweet Mariel was a wonderfully messy FMC. Her whole: “Feelings?! You want to talk about FEELINGS?! [Running far away.]” Mariel, I’m with you. Get me out of that conversation as soon as possible. When it came to Dash and Mariel’s relationship, I liked that they both had to acknowledge where they made missteps and where they needed to compromise and grow.
As a reader who has also seen how the romance genre has become rather meta in its inclusion within the genre itself…you’ll either appreciate it or it will feel too heavy handed in Only Friends. For me, given just how integral it was to the plot and the characters, the meta romance angle felt like a sincere appreciation and nod to the strength of the romance reading community.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy.
This book felt like being gently held by a story. I'm currently at a cross-roads in my career and to see these characters just trying to figure it out, it felt right on the nose for me.
It’s about grief and first love, about being misunderstood and misheard, about the ache of wanting something deeply and not knowing if you’re brave enough to keep chasing it. The miscommunication felt real, the emotions tender and raw, and the reminder that dreams can always be found again—sometimes in new forms—landed beautifully.
The romance carries that once-in-a-lifetime feeling of first love: soft, intense, fleeting, and forever meaningful. The characters are diverse and layered, and New York City is woven into the story like a love letter—busy, beautiful, aching, and alive. The love letter to New York was everything - being a fellow New York City dweller it made me happy to see the realness of what is actually the city.
One detail I loved was how food became emotional shorthand. She loved sweet things—strawberries, ice cream—and I couldn’t stop thinking how a compost-style cookie (sweet, unexpected, a little messy, made of so many good things coming together) would be exactly her vibe. Dash, with his love of coffee, felt just as clearly drawn—coffee ice cream would absolutely be his jam. Those small, sensory details made the characters feel lived-in and real, like people you could recognize across a café.
This book left me reflective in the best way. A little heart-sore, a little hopeful, and grateful for the reminder that even when things fall apart, love and dreams don’t disappear—they transform.
This book felt like being gently held by a story. I'm currently at a cross-roads in my career and to see these characters just trying to figure it out, it felt right on the nose for me.
It’s about grief and first love, about being misunderstood and misheard, about the ache of wanting something deeply and not knowing if you’re brave enough to keep chasing it. The miscommunication felt real, the emotions tender and raw, and the reminder that dreams can always be found again—sometimes in new forms—landed beautifully.
The romance carries that once-in-a-lifetime feeling of first love: soft, intense, fleeting, and forever meaningful. The characters are diverse and layered, and New York City is woven into the story like a love letter—busy, beautiful, aching, and alive. The love letter to New York was everything - being a fellow New York City dweller it made me happy to see the realness of what is actually the city.
One detail I loved was how food became emotional shorthand. She loved sweet things—strawberries, ice cream—and I couldn’t stop thinking how a compost-style cookie (sweet, unexpected, a little messy, made of so many good things coming together) would be exactly her vibe. Dash, with his love of coffee, felt just as clearly drawn—coffee ice cream would absolutely be his jam. Those small, sensory details made the characters feel lived-in and real, like people you could recognize across a café.
This book left me reflective in the best way. A little heart-sore, a little hopeful, and grateful for the reminder that even when things fall apart, love and dreams don’t disappear—they transform.
February 5, 2026
Thank you to Atria Books (and Primero Sueno Press) for the e-arc of this book! When I heard about a romcom where two characters make Regency-era thirst traps and character videos, I was over-the-moon excited. Unfortunately, I found myself let down by the reality of it. I liked the setting and I enjoyed both characters separately, but their relationship felt kinda underdeveloped. They had immediate chemistry and flirted a bunch, but the emotional connection didn’t really click with me. Dash was very good about being open about his feelings and at communicating, but Mariel was really not. While this was the crux of their relationship troubles and third-act breakup, it made me feel like their relationship (at least romantically) wouldn’t survive. Mariel being left by those she cares for over and over does give good context as to why she’s afraid to be vulnerable, but the book didn’t deal with that issue enough (in my opinion). The character growth where she understands this about herself and tries to be different only occurs in the last 15% of the book. And even then, we hear this short conversation with her mom and are told about how much she works on this screenplay and delves deep into her emotions — but we’re barely shown what this means. Like yes, she does confess her feelings to Dash, but only at the urging of friends and even then, it felt lackluster. I wanted to be shown more things in how the characters grew rather than being told — this book unfortunately didn’t deliver on that.
Between 2.75 and 3 🌟
Between 2.75 and 3 🌟
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2025
Out February 10th, 2026
If you’ve ever tried to convince yourself that “just friends” is a totally chill and sustainable arrangement—this story is here to lovingly laugh in your face. It’s a slow-burn romance wrapped in tropical breezes and emotional repression, where every glance and casual touch feels like it’s carrying the weight of a thousand unsaid things. The vibes? Immaculate. The tension? Enough to power a small island.
The characters are delightfully stubborn, emotionally tangled, and just self-aware enough to make their own lives complicated. Watching them navigate friendship while clearly pining is like watching two people try to build a sandcastle during high tide—messy, doomed, and weirdly satisfying. There’s banter, longing, and a whole lot of “oh no, they’re hot” energy that makes the pages fly by.
This is the kind of story that makes you want to text your best friend “just checking in” and then immediately delete it because feelings are terrifying. It’s romantic without being cheesy, funny without trying too hard, and full of heart. Basically, it’s a love letter to all the people who’ve ever said “we’re just friends” while secretly hoping for more.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria/Primero Sueno Press for this ARC!
If you’ve ever tried to convince yourself that “just friends” is a totally chill and sustainable arrangement—this story is here to lovingly laugh in your face. It’s a slow-burn romance wrapped in tropical breezes and emotional repression, where every glance and casual touch feels like it’s carrying the weight of a thousand unsaid things. The vibes? Immaculate. The tension? Enough to power a small island.
The characters are delightfully stubborn, emotionally tangled, and just self-aware enough to make their own lives complicated. Watching them navigate friendship while clearly pining is like watching two people try to build a sandcastle during high tide—messy, doomed, and weirdly satisfying. There’s banter, longing, and a whole lot of “oh no, they’re hot” energy that makes the pages fly by.
This is the kind of story that makes you want to text your best friend “just checking in” and then immediately delete it because feelings are terrifying. It’s romantic without being cheesy, funny without trying too hard, and full of heart. Basically, it’s a love letter to all the people who’ve ever said “we’re just friends” while secretly hoping for more.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria/Primero Sueno Press for this ARC!
July 24, 2025
I loved the premise of this book. A cosplayer/model/online sex worker meets by chance with an unemployed aspiring screenwriter. Sparks fly, and they engage in a whirlwind romance.
Mariel had a big Samantha-Irby-loveable-hot-mess vibe. Dash was the perfect foil to her with his attentiveness and devotion. That's not to say they both didn't have their own baggage to wrestle with and ultimately resolve. One thing that kind of bugged me was that while Mariel finally recognized what she was doing to Dash that picked open his old wounds (parading him around like a trophy) he didn't seem to realize he was doing the same wound-picking to her (ghosting her at the burlesque night). I also wish we could have learned a bit more about the outcome of Yaz, Mariel's cousin. I suspect she'll get her own book, but i felt like we didn't get much follow through other than a summary of what she planned to do after her own life imploded. She was such a major character at the start of the book and kind of fizzled out at the end.
Overall this was a great book and a solidly entertaining read.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
Mariel had a big Samantha-Irby-loveable-hot-mess vibe. Dash was the perfect foil to her with his attentiveness and devotion. That's not to say they both didn't have their own baggage to wrestle with and ultimately resolve. One thing that kind of bugged me was that while Mariel finally recognized what she was doing to Dash that picked open his old wounds (parading him around like a trophy) he didn't seem to realize he was doing the same wound-picking to her (ghosting her at the burlesque night). I also wish we could have learned a bit more about the outcome of Yaz, Mariel's cousin. I suspect she'll get her own book, but i felt like we didn't get much follow through other than a summary of what she planned to do after her own life imploded. She was such a major character at the start of the book and kind of fizzled out at the end.
Overall this was a great book and a solidly entertaining read.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
August 27, 2025
“The city may have its noise, but it’s in the quiet moments with you that I find peace.”
Tropes:
Opposites Attract
He Falls First
Slow Burn
Workplace Partners-to-Lovers
Second Chance at Passion/Career
Only Friends by Lydia San Andres is a fun, clever rom-com that blends Regency fantasy with the hustle of New York City. Mariel, an aspiring screenwriter at her wit's end, meets Dash, a gorgeous model who just might be the perfect Duke of Harding for her steamy historical romance project. As they team up to create online “thirst content” and bring her characters to life, their chemistry is undeniable—but so are the complications that come with mixing business and pleasure.
The character-driven romance made me feel connected to both Mariel and Dash, especially as they both try to redefine what they want out of life and love. As a fellow New Yorker, I couldn’t help but appreciate the way Lydia San Andres made the city come alive. The grit, the chaos, the hidden beauty—it’s all there.
Thank you, Atria Books and Lydia San Andres, for the ARC. This book is a must-read for fans of witty rom-coms with a touch of heat!
Tropes:
Opposites Attract
He Falls First
Slow Burn
Workplace Partners-to-Lovers
Second Chance at Passion/Career
Only Friends by Lydia San Andres is a fun, clever rom-com that blends Regency fantasy with the hustle of New York City. Mariel, an aspiring screenwriter at her wit's end, meets Dash, a gorgeous model who just might be the perfect Duke of Harding for her steamy historical romance project. As they team up to create online “thirst content” and bring her characters to life, their chemistry is undeniable—but so are the complications that come with mixing business and pleasure.
The character-driven romance made me feel connected to both Mariel and Dash, especially as they both try to redefine what they want out of life and love. As a fellow New Yorker, I couldn’t help but appreciate the way Lydia San Andres made the city come alive. The grit, the chaos, the hidden beauty—it’s all there.
Thank you, Atria Books and Lydia San Andres, for the ARC. This book is a must-read for fans of witty rom-coms with a touch of heat!
November 7, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
I was drawn into this book by the unique premise, I hadn't really read anything like this before and honestly my expectations were pretty low just because it seemed very light and fluffy and I was looking for something fast and fun. However I ended up really enjoying this, it was a quick and easy read and while there were a few bits that annoyed me (pop culture references, some cringe dialogue, chaotic and avoidant FMC) there were other things that made this a cute read. I really liked the development of the setting, they highlighted a lot of what felt like hidden gems in NYC and while I've never been before I loved getting to see Mariel explore the city and find her place there. I also was obsessed with Dash and how self-confident he was and how he nurtured and encouraged Mariel. Also their initial friendship/flirtation was so cute. Yes he might have been too perfect but I'm not complaining. This hits the sweet spot for anyone who loves a Bridgerton-esque thirst trap as well as an easy and cheesy romance!
I was drawn into this book by the unique premise, I hadn't really read anything like this before and honestly my expectations were pretty low just because it seemed very light and fluffy and I was looking for something fast and fun. However I ended up really enjoying this, it was a quick and easy read and while there were a few bits that annoyed me (pop culture references, some cringe dialogue, chaotic and avoidant FMC) there were other things that made this a cute read. I really liked the development of the setting, they highlighted a lot of what felt like hidden gems in NYC and while I've never been before I loved getting to see Mariel explore the city and find her place there. I also was obsessed with Dash and how self-confident he was and how he nurtured and encouraged Mariel. Also their initial friendship/flirtation was so cute. Yes he might have been too perfect but I'm not complaining. This hits the sweet spot for anyone who loves a Bridgerton-esque thirst trap as well as an easy and cheesy romance!
December 19, 2025
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC!
I really liked the premise of this book: a struggling, aspiring screenwriter who has just been fired from her full-time job teams up with a sexy influencer to create OnlyFans content. It felt fun, modern, and different.
The main characters, Mariel and Dash, were funny. I could definitely relate to Mariel because of her Hispanic background and her quirky personality. As for Dash… he honestly felt like every other NYC guy to me — a sexy model making money off thirst traps.
Since this is a romance novel, I really enjoyed Mariel and Dash’s banter. Their back-and-forth was quick and entertaining, and their first kiss made me giddy like it was my own.
That said, I would’ve loved more character development, especially for Mariel. I wanted something deeper or more interesting about her.
The book touches on self-respect, finding yourself after a breakup, and fear of abandonment, but unfortunately it stayed very surface-level. I do understand, though, that it’s a short novel, so there wasn’t much room to fully explore those themes.
Overall, this was an easy, quick read with an unique concept.
Release date: February 10, 2026
I really liked the premise of this book: a struggling, aspiring screenwriter who has just been fired from her full-time job teams up with a sexy influencer to create OnlyFans content. It felt fun, modern, and different.
The main characters, Mariel and Dash, were funny. I could definitely relate to Mariel because of her Hispanic background and her quirky personality. As for Dash… he honestly felt like every other NYC guy to me — a sexy model making money off thirst traps.
Since this is a romance novel, I really enjoyed Mariel and Dash’s banter. Their back-and-forth was quick and entertaining, and their first kiss made me giddy like it was my own.
That said, I would’ve loved more character development, especially for Mariel. I wanted something deeper or more interesting about her.
The book touches on self-respect, finding yourself after a breakup, and fear of abandonment, but unfortunately it stayed very surface-level. I do understand, though, that it’s a short novel, so there wasn’t much room to fully explore those themes.
Overall, this was an easy, quick read with an unique concept.
Release date: February 10, 2026
February 4, 2026
“I want it so badly. A happily ever after. I feel like i’ve been chasing it for as long as i’ve been alive”
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
So grateful to have received this arc, what a fun read!
Mariel Rivera is emotionally unavailable after her most recent breakup and her recent dating adventures. She has no job, is running out of money, and has a terrible case of writers block stopping her from writing her screen play. Then, she meets Dashwood Bennet, a model and content creator who might just be the answer to Mariel’s writers block, and maybe even her relationship troubles…
This book was quick, fun, and quirky. It felt like a love letter to New York and experiencing the city through the eyes of Mariel and Dash was epic. The cast of characters are wonderful, full of both bipoc and queer rep. The story is easy to follow and light hearted.
I enjoyed seeing Mariel overcome her trust issues and fear of abandonment. I thought her character arc was well done and made sense. Dash’s character was funny, and I liked his depth and background.
This book makes the perfect quick Valentine’s day read if you want to laugh and also feel the vibes that Bridgeton seems to give all of us.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
So grateful to have received this arc, what a fun read!
Mariel Rivera is emotionally unavailable after her most recent breakup and her recent dating adventures. She has no job, is running out of money, and has a terrible case of writers block stopping her from writing her screen play. Then, she meets Dashwood Bennet, a model and content creator who might just be the answer to Mariel’s writers block, and maybe even her relationship troubles…
This book was quick, fun, and quirky. It felt like a love letter to New York and experiencing the city through the eyes of Mariel and Dash was epic. The cast of characters are wonderful, full of both bipoc and queer rep. The story is easy to follow and light hearted.
I enjoyed seeing Mariel overcome her trust issues and fear of abandonment. I thought her character arc was well done and made sense. Dash’s character was funny, and I liked his depth and background.
This book makes the perfect quick Valentine’s day read if you want to laugh and also feel the vibes that Bridgeton seems to give all of us.
August 27, 2025
This was one of the most unusual romances I’ve read- and it was all down to the tone of the FMC and her path to truly discovering herself. She is A LOT, our Mariel, but she is no manic pixie clone; she is utterly unique, genuine, vulnerable, forward and, most important of all, REFRESHING!! So many stories today seem to have been cobbled together via AI prompts but this story follows a path all its own, with plot points and motivations that I haven’t seen in other books. Looking at some of the lower rated reviews, I get the feeling that those readers wanted the book to be smutty- plenty of that to be found with other books and authors- the distinction here is that this is a very SEXY story. The MMC is a swoon-worthy honey, and the side characters grab your heart as well. I’m looking forward to more stories from Lydia San Andres.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for thie free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for thie free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 24, 2025
Thank you to Primero Sueño Press via Netgalley and their influencer program for providing me with the ARC of this book!
Rating : ⭐⭐⭐.5
Only Friends is a romance novel set in NYC focusing on Mariel, our Latina FMC who is trying to figure out how to balance pursuing her passions while also facing the realities of needing to pay rent for a tiny studio.
I love the amount of representation in this book and many parts felt real and relatable. The premise is unllike anything I’ve read so far— but there were some familiar tropes I really enjoyed that reminded me of some other books I really enjoyed too.
I think this was overall a fun and easy read, but I found myself feeling less connected to the characters than I had anticipated— maybe I needed more time with them than what I had. Regardless, I’m sure the promo for this book is going to be amazing and I look forward to hearing others thoughts on it!
Release Date: Feburary 10th, 2026
Rating : ⭐⭐⭐.5
Only Friends is a romance novel set in NYC focusing on Mariel, our Latina FMC who is trying to figure out how to balance pursuing her passions while also facing the realities of needing to pay rent for a tiny studio.
I love the amount of representation in this book and many parts felt real and relatable. The premise is unllike anything I’ve read so far— but there were some familiar tropes I really enjoyed that reminded me of some other books I really enjoyed too.
I think this was overall a fun and easy read, but I found myself feeling less connected to the characters than I had anticipated— maybe I needed more time with them than what I had. Regardless, I’m sure the promo for this book is going to be amazing and I look forward to hearing others thoughts on it!
Release Date: Feburary 10th, 2026
January 8, 2026
I would rate this book as a 3.5 ⭐️ rounded up. I won my copy from Goodreads giveaways, and it was delivered the day I finished my previous read. I’m usually a mood reader, but since it fell into my lap, I figured I’d go ahead and tackle it.
The beginning was a bit rough, I’m not going to lie. I found it to be a little too wordy for my preference. I can see how some might lose interest right there. I kept chugging along though, and I’m glad I did.
This book was full of all the things a book lover loves; book boyfriend, used bookstore, meet cutes, falling in love, a HEA, and more. I enjoyed the character development and the plot more so in the second half of the book than in the first. The core group of characters that become more like family than friends was refreshing and I enjoyed all of their interactions.
I was happy when Mariel decided to face her demons and confront her past so she could have a better future. That about sums it up. 👍🏻
The beginning was a bit rough, I’m not going to lie. I found it to be a little too wordy for my preference. I can see how some might lose interest right there. I kept chugging along though, and I’m glad I did.
This book was full of all the things a book lover loves; book boyfriend, used bookstore, meet cutes, falling in love, a HEA, and more. I enjoyed the character development and the plot more so in the second half of the book than in the first. The core group of characters that become more like family than friends was refreshing and I enjoyed all of their interactions.
I was happy when Mariel decided to face her demons and confront her past so she could have a better future. That about sums it up. 👍🏻
January 25, 2026
Probably should have DNFed this one by about 15% in when I was rolling my eyes at the premise, but I stuck it out and while I didn’t love it, I didn’t dislike it!
When Mariel’s fired from her job, she hopes to write a movie screenplay but instead gets distracted writing small scenes for a fake regency duke for the various online media (both spicy and not) with her hot new friend Dash. When feelings get involved, as they are wont to do, Mariel’s fight or flight comes up and our girl has to decide to stay and fight and not to just run at the first hint of emotion!!
I really struggled to connect here with the characters, Mariel’s inability to communicate feelings, Dash’s depth or lack thereof, and the weird limbo the two found themselves in together as they couldn’t mesh their communication styles. I was rooting for them, but also needed them to get it together!!!!
Thanks so much to Lydia San Andres and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.
When Mariel’s fired from her job, she hopes to write a movie screenplay but instead gets distracted writing small scenes for a fake regency duke for the various online media (both spicy and not) with her hot new friend Dash. When feelings get involved, as they are wont to do, Mariel’s fight or flight comes up and our girl has to decide to stay and fight and not to just run at the first hint of emotion!!
I really struggled to connect here with the characters, Mariel’s inability to communicate feelings, Dash’s depth or lack thereof, and the weird limbo the two found themselves in together as they couldn’t mesh their communication styles. I was rooting for them, but also needed them to get it together!!!!
Thanks so much to Lydia San Andres and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was such a cute romcom with such a fun, modern twist!
Mariel is a HOT MESS. She keeps getting ghosted by her dates, she lost her job, and has been trying to write her screenplay with no progress being made. She ends up having a meet cute with Dash when he rescues her. Dash is a model who is trying to explore more risqué work online. Little do they know they are about to get into a very niche, regency thirst era. They work together to create fun, seductive regency videos on soical media and online platforms.
Working together brings them closer, but this is all Mariel has been able to do right. She can't take another professional or romantic loss! Did I sometimes feel like shaking her to get it together? I did! Our FMC requires some patience and understanding, but she finds her way eventually!
This felt like a true romcom! A little cheesy, a little over the top, but all with a happy ending.
Mariel is a HOT MESS. She keeps getting ghosted by her dates, she lost her job, and has been trying to write her screenplay with no progress being made. She ends up having a meet cute with Dash when he rescues her. Dash is a model who is trying to explore more risqué work online. Little do they know they are about to get into a very niche, regency thirst era. They work together to create fun, seductive regency videos on soical media and online platforms.
Working together brings them closer, but this is all Mariel has been able to do right. She can't take another professional or romantic loss! Did I sometimes feel like shaking her to get it together? I did! Our FMC requires some patience and understanding, but she finds her way eventually!
This felt like a true romcom! A little cheesy, a little over the top, but all with a happy ending.
August 25, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!!
Okay so i really loved the premise of this book. Starting out, I actually had no idea what Regency romance was, but I loved the idea of writers/actors working together based on a common theme that they loved.
I loved Dash and his open communication. I liked the casualness of how his sexuality came up in the book. It was written really well. He was very sweet and open during conversation and an overall good character. I had a harder time loving Mariel. I tend to feel this way about chaotic characters especially those who run away from their problems.
One random thing I loved was the couple of times the narration broke the third wall to make a joke about a pun in parenthesis's, I can’t pinpoint why but it made me giggle every time.
Overall it was a good and fast read and definitely super unique!!
Okay so i really loved the premise of this book. Starting out, I actually had no idea what Regency romance was, but I loved the idea of writers/actors working together based on a common theme that they loved.
I loved Dash and his open communication. I liked the casualness of how his sexuality came up in the book. It was written really well. He was very sweet and open during conversation and an overall good character. I had a harder time loving Mariel. I tend to feel this way about chaotic characters especially those who run away from their problems.
One random thing I loved was the couple of times the narration broke the third wall to make a joke about a pun in parenthesis's, I can’t pinpoint why but it made me giggle every time.
Overall it was a good and fast read and definitely super unique!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a delight, and full of joy.
MCs Mariel and Dash meet by chance in Times Square NYC, while he is dressed in a Regency costume - and they decide to collab on a Regency themed On1y Fans. Which was both hilarious and so hot!
This contemporary romance was packed full of tropey goodness, nods to favourite Rom-Coms and pop culture. It leaned in hard enough that it totally worked for me, and was fun to see what it would reference next. Not all lightness and fluff, the MCs deal with their own issues, but they are typical real-world relationship and family dramarama that gets moved through with some actual conversations and dealing with emotions.
It could have been a little tighter in the second half, but overall I loved this and would read more if it becomes a series (Yaz gets a Romance please?)
Thank you to Atria Books for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
MCs Mariel and Dash meet by chance in Times Square NYC, while he is dressed in a Regency costume - and they decide to collab on a Regency themed On1y Fans. Which was both hilarious and so hot!
This contemporary romance was packed full of tropey goodness, nods to favourite Rom-Coms and pop culture. It leaned in hard enough that it totally worked for me, and was fun to see what it would reference next. Not all lightness and fluff, the MCs deal with their own issues, but they are typical real-world relationship and family dramarama that gets moved through with some actual conversations and dealing with emotions.
It could have been a little tighter in the second half, but overall I loved this and would read more if it becomes a series (Yaz gets a Romance please?)
Thank you to Atria Books for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
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