American Fairytale

Starred review from April 22, 2019
Herrera delivers an emotionally resonant, sensually charged second Dreamers contemporary (after American Dreamer) that will knock readers’ socks off. Tireless Jamaican-Cuban social worker Milo Briggs meets American-Dominican heartthrob Thomas Hughes at a fund-raising gala for homeless LGBTQ youth, and soon they escape the boring speeches for a sizzling encounter in a side room. The Monday following their steamy hookup, Milo learns that his domestic violence support organization has just received a huge donation—from Tom, who planned it before he ever met Milo. Tom, recently divorced and ready for something new, seizes this opportunity to get to know Milo better and hopefully win his heart, though Milo has many misgivings about mixing business and pleasure. The two of them are an ideal match, except that Tom is made of money and Milo has almost none. Achieving the happy ending both desire will mean navigating this difference and how it colors their views of the world. Herrera’s work remains compulsively readable. She crafts lively Latinx characters with instant, electric chemistry that sings on the page, and handles realistic relationship obstacles in a relatable manner. Series fans will find plenty to love in this installment, which acts as an expansion of the previous book, but also stands alone just fine. Agent: Linda Camacho, Gallt & Zacker.

May 1, 2019
Camilo Santiago Briggs knows that life is no fairy tale. Sure, tonight he may have scored a free ticket to a swanky charity gala, but tomorrow it's back to work as an underpaid and overwhelmed social worker. He sure never expected to meet his own Prince Charming at the fundraiser, but that is exactly what happens when some serious flirting on Milo's part leads to a steamy hookup with billionaire Thomas Hughes. What Milo imagines to be a one-and-done sexual encounter turns into something quite different when Milo shows up to work the next day for a meeting with a major new donor and discovers it is none other than Tom. With a superb understanding of human strengths and weaknesses, a genuine appreciation for the important role different cultures play in our world, a generous dash of sharp humor, and a real flair for crafting heart-tugging characters, Herrera continues her Dreamer series, following American Dreamer (2019), and puts her own sizzlingly sexy spin on the idea of a modern-day fairy-tale romance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)