Tan solo amigos

by Lydia San Andres

Los fans de las series The Regency Vows y For the Love of Austen se enamorarán de esta comedia romántica y encantadora sobre una aspirante a guionista y un modelo deslumbrante, que se unen para crear contenido jugoso sobre la era de la regencia para fanáticos en línea.

Tras ser despedida de su trabajo, sufrir un descarado ghosting y enfrentarse a un bloqueo creativo como escritora, Mariel Rivera, una aspirante a guionista de 26 años, está al borde de las lágrimas en el metro. Pero cuando un modelo increíblemente atractivo, vestido con un traje de época regencia, la rescata de un altercado en Times Square, no imagina que su vida está a punto de dar un giro inesperado.

Dashwood Bennet modela hace años, aunque el último tiempo, su portafolio ha incluido trabajos más atrevidos. Sin embargo, nunca imaginó que después de su encuentro con Mariel, se pondría sus pantalones de regencia solo para volver a quitárselos…frente a las cámaras.

Dash es la respuesta a las plegarias de Mariel en más de un sentido. Primero, la salvó de una manifestación descontrolada. Segundo, es perfecto para el papel del duque de Harding, un personaje que ella creó y en el que no puede dejar de pensar. Tercero, está más que dispuesto a ser la imagen de sus fotografías históricas picantes. Y por último, pero no menos importante, es su compañero perfecto tanto en los negocios como en la cama. Pero ser compañeros de trabajo con beneficios puede resultar algo difícil. ¿Sobrevivirá su relación o Mariel y Dash están condenados a no alcanzar su final feliz?

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?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Adult, Interracial Romance, Adult Fiction, Audiobook

320 pages, Paperback

Published February 10, 2026

About the author

Lydia 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.

Reviews

[b.andherbooks]

things 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.

[Kimberlyyyreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS WAS SO CUTE OMG 😭🩷

Muchas gracias a Primero Sueño Press for the physical ARC and finished copy 🩷

Only a Dominican Baddie would come up with the genius idea of creating regency thirst traps for the internet to feast upon

I truly had such an amazing time reading this, it's the perfect pick me up romance that'll make you laugh out loud and swoon all at once.

As a middle child, Mariel is literally who I see myself in. It's okay to not have everything figured out, we're only human. We know our gifts and abilities better than those around us. I truly have a soft spot for messy girls like us.

Mariel and Dash were so cute, their romance was really fitting to the novels premise and I just love how they both are with one another, it's the cutest. I also don't make the rules but having a bisexual character wins brownie points for me!

This is the perfect book if you're looking for a feel good romance but especially for all the Latine dreamers, readers, and writers!

[Courtney Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Samantha Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Jacob’s · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Mai H.]

Valentine's Day TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Primero Sueno Press

[Tarah Fedenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Netgalley and Atria for the ARC of the Spanish edition of this book. I enjoyed reading it in Spanish and I also listened to the audio book in English. This book is so underrated and under-hyped! It was such a genuine depiction of dating with avoidant attachment style. I'm not even into regency romance and usually get bored by spice but the spice in this book was sexy! The Manhattan setting was fun. I loved the Dominican matriarchy. This book is so effortlessly gender inclusive.

[Mari · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75/5

Fun story with great characters and Regency themes.

Didn't love that it took them literally until the end to get together.

I was happy to see the trails of flirting and an open door scene early-ish into the book. It fizzled out after and we get into the meat of the story, scenes after that are closed door.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!!

[Annalise · Rating 3 out of 5]

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🙂‍↕️👏

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this friends to buddies who bone to lovers fade to black romance set in NYC that follows a struggling screen writer who has trouble seeing projects through to the end and who gets captivated by Dash and his dreamy British accent.

Pivoting away from her current project she embarks on an online Dashing Duke social media story project for fun. When it goes viral though neither Dash or her are prepared for the increased attention and it puts a strain on their relationship.

Both characters has past trauma they work through in the story and I loved seeing how their HEA comes together. This was good on audio narrated by Stacey Gonzales and perfect for fans of books like Ana takes Manhattan by Lisette Decos. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: fade to black, kissing only

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Aamira · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Briana Bailon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️/ 2🌶️

*Thank you to Atria for providing me this book, I greatly appreciate it.

This was such a fun twist on combining the fandom of regency romances with a contemporary setting, and having our two main characters, Mariel and Dash create regency romances content! Mariel was an aspiring screenwriter and with her having the time (due to unfortunately being fired from her job) to write her screenplay, she was ready to make it happen…except she kept hitting a mental roadblock and couldn’t figure out what to write. Enter our MMC, the dashing, charming, handsome, and thoughtful, Dash! Dash was a former model, and now a content creator who did regency videos as well as ahem spicy regency content on OnlyFans. When a chance encounter brought Mariel and Dash meeting and subsequently running away from a horde of fans (you’ll understand when you read the book), the two of them struck up an idea to write, create, and produce regency videos that went beyond what Dash was already doing, and giving Mariel the chance to screen-write the type of romance books she adored!

I’ll admit, I haven’t been the biggest fan of reading regency romances, but after reading this book and the way Lydia San Andres wrote it…I may have to look into it reading regency romance books now. I think the way Lydia wrote the concept of Mariel and Dash creating regency content videos was fun and interesting especially because, it reminded me of how certain fandoms love seeing that kind of content. In addition, it felt like it was a little nod to the bookish community with the discussion of different tropes to incorporate into their videos. Seeing Mariel and Dash’s love for regency romance novels, and the overall enthusiasm as they collaborated was inspiring. Mariel and Dash knew exactly what they were doing when they wrote the scripts and brought to life the whole idea of Dash’s alter ego, and GIRL! The way I blushed whenever it was Dash’s time to film his videos and the way he spoke according to the script, PHEW MY GOODNESS I WAS GETTING ALL HOT OVER JUST A MERE BRUSH OF SOMEONE’S HAND OR NECK IN THE SCENARIOS DASH CREATED!

This wouldn’t be a romance book without the romance, and let me just say, it was a gradual build of flirty banter, playfulness, and it became evident just how much Dash and Mariel were attracted to each other from the start. The chemistry was clear as day, and I felt the connection between Mariel and Dash. The chemistry was so good that, I still keep thinking about the scene in which Dash was in the middle of filming a video, and Mariel decided she was going to play along with Dash, and….lets just say that video footage wasn’t going to be used at all! IYKYK! Plus, I enjoyed the overall way Dash and Mariel just naturally got along and they were sweet together.

My only issue with the book was how Mariel didn’t communicate with Dash. (Sigh) I know, I know that part of Mariel’s backstory was her dealing with her abandonment issues and other things that played a part in it, but the way she handled at times especially when it came to her growing connection to Dash, it frustrated me! There were times I wanted to shake Mariel and be like, “girl what are you doing?! Stop it!” There was even a point where I felt like I wasn’t liking Mariel to be honest. Although, as much as Dash was sweet and thoughtful, he also had his own flaws specifically not taking more of an initiative to say what he wanted and what he didn’t like. So, with that in mind both Marie and Dash had their flaws.

Overall, despite my minor issue with the way certain things were handled between Mariel and Dash, I still very much enjoyed this book. I think if you’re a fan of regency romances, this will be a great book to read, or even if you just want to read a book that has a fun twist on the beloved genre. I liked the sense of community and friendship that Mariel found amongst Dash and his friends who became her friends too. Mariel and Dash both felt lonely in the world, but through their collaboration they found their way to achieving the dreams they originally set out towards from Dash’s dream of designing window displays to Mariel finally finishing her screenplay and getting a deal to screen write other projects, it worked for both of them in the end. I don’t know if Lydia plans to write a sequel specifically to tell Mariel’s cousin, Yaz, whose own story seems like there might be more to discover. Anyways, this was a good book, I adored it, and more importantly I liked how Dash and Mariel eventually got to have their happy ending.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Aleia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lydia San Andres, go ahead and accept my award for rom com of the year!

I don’t read a ton of historicals but when I do, I’m going to grab a Lydia San Andres Harlequin Historical. This is her first contemporary book but I’m OBSESSED.

Okay so Only Friends is the love story of Mariel, a Dominican-American New York City transplant from Miami and Dash (real name Dashwood—swoon) an OF star and her actual knight in shining armor.

When they meet, Mariel is fresh off a string of bad luck. First, she finds out she’s the other woman. Then she blows up at an event planning client and gets fired. Then she gets ghosted after what she thought was a great date. And now? She’s being chased through Times Square by tourists who mistake her for a pop star that’s bigger than Beyonce & Rihanna combined. Dash is in full regency wear which feels like kismet because she recently ideated a character she named the “the Duke of Harding” (pun intended) to star in regency era spicy content.

There was a hole in the market and she filled it with Dashwood. Together they design scripts and shoot easily viral content full of Dash making love to the camera with a baritone and suggestive language.
Dash is a bit of a cinnamon roll which is the best kind of jovial, incomprehensibly hot man. Seriously, people stop him on the street to stare at his beauty.

And he wants Mariel. Which she doesn’t get. So she calls them friends that bone. And bone they do! Hot, hot, HOT on fire. I’m not sure what’s steamier. New York in the summer or their love making sessions.

Mariel is also such a vivid woman that I feel like I would recognize her if I saw her walking down the street. She dresses like she’s the main character at all times and I love the vivid descriptions of whatever zany dress she plus more combo she just put on.

This book is very fun/funny but there’s a healthy bit of reality mixed in. When we meet Mariel, she’s insecure about how she’s going to afford her life as newly unemployed. She doesn’t want to lean on her family again because she feels like an unserious person in comparison. That is when she’s not suffering under the weight of being abandoned by her parents.

Dash is a performer who feels like he’s always performing, except for with Mariel. I love that their heavy conflict (yes, there is a third-act breakup) is the two of them falling into old patterns with one another when it’s clear they can be so much more.

This is a beautiful won HEA plus general life glow-up and I think you’ll enjoy every moment of it!

Thank you to Atria for this gifted copy.

[Camille · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Sarah Cervantes · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/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.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Only Friends-a standalone

Author: Lydia San Andres-new to me author

Publication date: 2/10/26 | Read: 2/10/26

Format: e-Book 288 pgs.

Genre:
*Multicultural Interests
*Romance

Tropes:
*interracial relationship
*book lovers
*workplace romance
*friends w/ benefits
*Regency-themed spice
*summer in NYC
*LGBTQIA+ rep

POV: 1st person single

TW: h cheated on, financial woes, parental abandonment, controlling parent

Setting: NYC

Summary: Mariel was just fired and broke up with her boyfriend. Looking to screenwriting, her Duke of Harding Regency hero appears out of nowhere to help her. Dash is dressed as a cosplayer duke, and together they collaborate in business and more.

Heroine: Mariel Rivera-26, screenwriter of spicy historical romance shorts

Hero: Dashwood Bennett-28, model, cosplayer-OnlyFans

Other Characters:
* Yazmine-Mariel's cousin, BFF engaged to Amal, Tia Nena-her mother
* Chase-Dash's friend/burlesque dancer
* Milo-Marie's ex-boyfriend, now married
*Grace Hong-college friend w/ Hollywood producer connections
*Lady Cerulean/Milady Sandoval-a famous writer of online fanfic, has a musical career
*Georgie Hart-Queen of Hearts-writes Regency romances
*Dash's father and 2 grandmothers
*Mariel's mother-travelling, father unknown
*Aria and Shy- a psychic Mariel befriends & her spouse owns an independent bookstore

🤔 My Thoughts: Mariel and Dash were two lonely people looking to make a living in NYC and join together for some Regency fun. Mariel wrote Regency spicy romances, and Dash was her muse for her Duke of Harding. It didn't hurt that he was a cosplayer on OF, comfortable with a little steam. NYC was a character on its own with their subway adventures, Times Square, and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Rating: 3.5/5⭐
Spice level: 4/5🔥

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Atria |Atria Primero Sueno Press, and Lydia San Andres for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

[mood_reading_maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Sweetest Bindings · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 🌟

[A Rush Of Emotions · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book snuck up on me in a good way. I got sucked in right away with the premise of the story, but found my interest lacking midway. But by the end I fully loved these characters and was invested in their HEA.

Mariel is a bit of a goof. She had a bad break up and was fired from a good job recently...and can't seem to bounce back. She's been eating away at her savings and only passively working on a screenplay. One random day, she meets Dash and they hit things off. He's a jack of all trades, but most notably he earns a bulk of his money off of an OF account. One thing leads to another, and before you know it they're working together on a joint spicy project. Mariel will write a bulk of the material, and Dash will play the regency era stud of your dreams...really playing off the hype of historical romance in recent years.

As all things go, they start to mingle more than their minds. They're flirtatious in nature, and their friendship quickly morphs into something more. I disliked Mariel's inner thoughts through a lot of this book, because she kept setting herself up for failing in both her professional life and her personal life. Dash was a dream of a man and I loved how he gave her space while also holding out hope that she'd get out her own way and start taking the life she wants.

I like how this book ended on a hopeful note, and I'll happily read more books in this book world, or by this author.

[Moth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 stars

Thank you Atria Books and Primero Sueno Press for the ARC!
Only Friends is a contemporary romance about Mariel, a screenwriter with writer’s block, and Dash, an OnlyFans model turned FWB.
I loved Mariel’s chaos gremlin energy. She could be grating at times, but it was realistic. I enjoyed her pop culture references and weird humor throughout the book. And also, I really needed her to believe in herself because it was just… so much.
There is a lot of casual queer and BIPOC representation in this book, which I loved. The diversity of New York City was shown really well in this book. I wish we’d gotten more about the side characters because they were all so fun.
However, despite the fact that I had fun with this book, the romance itself was annoyingly drawn-out. The “friends-with-benefits” arrangement was so clearly a sham, and it dragged itself out for too long. All for the emotional conflicts (and a third-act breakup) to take place literally in the last four chapters of the book, which is too late in my opinion.
The third-act breakup was valid and fit the characters, but I was already annoyed at how much of the book was about Mariel avoiding a love confession, so I just didn’t care by that point.
Overall, this is a fun romance and I do recommend it if you don’t mind a super chaotic main character.

CW: sexual content; infidelity; toxic relationships (past)

[Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 that I'm rounding up to a 5

This book charmed the absolute hell out of me. I've lived in NYC for most of my life and it's easy to forget how magical it can seem to other people and this book reminded me of that. It's a love story between two people but it's also a love letter to New York.

Mariel, recently both unemployed AND single, is stuck in a rut. She has a screenplay that she's been trying to get off the ground for years, but she has no inspiration or drive to continue writing it. In a chance meeting with cosplayer Dash, the wheels start turning in her head with a new idea - Regency romance is such a huge thing, so what if they can film content with Dash dressed as a Duke, and Mariel writing scripts for him? Dash is swoon worthy on his own just fine (as Mariel quickly comes to realize) but this is a chance to really go viral and make some money, which they're both desperately in need of.

I read romance novels a lot and it's not very often to find one with a new, fresh and exciting concept and this book was all of those things. There were parts that I was straight up grinning at my screen. I could not put it down and finished it in one sitting and I was sad when it was over. That's all you want in a romance.

Well that, and chemistry. And the chemistry was chemistrying between Mariel and Dash (whoops, almost called him Duke there lol). The tension, the stolen glances, all the time spent together, it was all delicious.

Dash might actually be the perfect fictional man. He's an artist who reads romance novels, he cosplays, he cooks, he ties her shoelaces and packs her picnics...major swooning was going on here and not just from Mariel! Mariel herself does get a bit frustrating at times, but she has some pretty major abandonment issues, so I totally get it.

This is my first Lydia San Andres book and it made me into a fan!

[laurakellylitfit · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[RK · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.