Second First Dates (Librarians in Love #3)

Author: Gabriella Gamez Title: Second First Dates Publisher: Forever Date Published: 07/28/2026

Read Dates: 06/29/2026- 06/30/2026
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 📖 I received a gifted e-book ARC. The following is my honest review✍🏻

Second First Dates is a dual POV grumpy/sunshine romance. Leti is a school librarian who is frustrated with her current life: her job keeps pulling her to sub classrooms, her family relationships are strained, and she’s tired of being single. To fix the third, she swipes on Julian on a dating app. Julian is shocked when Leti matches with him, only to realize that it’s because she doesn’t remember their disappointing first date four years ago, until they’re in the middle of their second first date! Once the date bombs- AGAIN - Leti keeps bumping into Julian everywhere, and the two strike up something that might resemble friendship, if she squints hard enough. She agrees to let Julian help her navigate dating apps, and Julian plans to use the time wisely to convince Leti to give him a real chance, despite the obstacles in their way!

This was my favorite book in this series! I loved grumpy, guarded Leti and “sunshine boy” Julian. They weren’t perfect, they each had flaws, but they’re worked well together. I loved the representation for the complexity of dating and relationships on the asexual spectrum, this book articulated that really well. I also liked how well the complicated family dynamics were shown, how hurtful some relationships can be (even if the other party doesn’t fully realize it). Julian standing up for Leti is probably my favorite thing ever!

Leti Maldonado has heard all the dating horror stories, but she never expected to be part of one after coming out of a four-year dating hiatus. When she matches with Julian Gutierrez, she doesn’t think much of how familiar his profile picture looks. But when the date goes awry, it unlocks the terrible first date memory that made her quit dating in the first place—because she’s been on this date before. And it’s just as bad the second time around.

To make matters worse, at the end of the night she discovers Julian lives in the same apartment building as her and his roommate is her younger brother. From then on, he’s inescapable. In the mailroom. In the stairwell. Outside her door with a takeout mix-up. He’s even a witness to yet another of Leti’s terrible first dates.

When Julian suggests taking over her dating accounts, he makes a surprisingly convincing case. If Leti’s proved anything, it’s that she sure doesn’t know how to pick ‘em. How much worse can Julian be at picking dates for her? It’s a terrible idea, but at this point he might be her only hope of finding real, lasting love. If they don’t fall for each other in the process, that is…