Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this advanced copy of the audiobook.

The Broposal is the story of two best friends falling for each other. Alejandro, or Han for his friends, has never been in love. Sure he's had girlfriends, but he's always had a fear of commitment. These relationships only last a few weeks and Han believes it's because he knows he can never truly commit. Han is undocumented, and he lives daily with the fear of having his whole life taken away from him. His best friend since childhood is Kenny. Kenny is kind. He's very easy going, he has a great relationship with his family and friends and he's Kenny's support. He's also bi. A fact that his girlfriend has always ignored. Though Kenny is a very open person, he'd never admit he is in an abusive relationship. However, Han can see the signs.
When Han is even more fearful of his circumstances, Kenny offers an idea. Marrying each other so Han can stay. Though at first Han thinks it a joke, he finally accepts when he admits his situation to be worrying. And what's always been a friendship between them changes into something more when they realise what they really mean to each other.

This book was okay. I appreciate the fact that it doesn't shy away from very timely and dark themes, like immigration, racism, and abuse.
The fact that this book explores a relationship with an abusive girlfriend is also quite important. Kenny has to go through so much to finally stop excusing her behaviour and realising he has been a victim for years. It's sad but written realistically.

I really liked the cast that surrounds these two main leads. Though as always with romance books, I wish we'd get more of these secondary characters as their own person and not only when they are necessary for the romantic plot to advance. It was a little disappointing how Han's cousin was really fleshed out at the beginning, but as the story progresses they're only there to be the character that forces Han and Kenny to communicate with one another.

All in all it was a good story though predictable and very slow paced. Though the fake engagement happens early in the story, the miscommunication and lack of romantic progress were what made me struggle with the story. Han has issues with communicating his true feelings and Kenny is so respectful that he never wants to confront their issues. So, this dynamic gave way to unnecessary problems and issues with the pacing, and all of it is resolved only at the very end.

As I listened to the audiobook, I think it was the dual narration by André Santana and Alejandro Antonio Ruiz that made me want to keep reading. It was them that allowed me to finish this story in a couple of days. They brought the characters to life and improve the source material. I really recommend the audiobook if you are interested in this queer story of childhood friends to lovers.